Preschool

I shared this with a friend and thought I'd post it if anyone was wondering about other preschool schedules.

The website that I really like to use to help me with themes for preschool is at www.pammshouse.com/toddler. It says it's for 2 year olds, but I use it to base my week on and then add extra things as needed. I just make sure that each week we have a theme, letter, color, shape, and tactile activity like counting beans, playing with rice, throwing bean bags in a pan, etc. that we do all week long. Plus I have Reagan do a few "pages" a day from a preschool book that you can buy at Sams for like $8.
I also use the library like a crazy person. :-) But I do it ALL online that way I just run in and pick it up. So this weeks theme is grandparents so I would get like 10 kids books that have something to do with grandparents.....perhaps make a family tree....call a grandparent that the kids haven't spoken with in a while, make a card or craft for a grandparent, etc. For me and Reagan, an hour and a half seems to be a good time span for us. I do 1 full hour, take a fruit break for 1/2 hour, and then do another 1/2 hour to finish up. Then we read books and do other things throughout the day. I'm more structured with her simply because of Javon's schedule. It works fine with her personality though. Hope this helps some. Feel free to ask questions as you think of them.

Twelve rules for raising delinquent children

by Robby Robinson

Being with infancy to give your child everything they want. They will then grow up to believe the world owes them a living.

When they pick up bad words, laugh. This will make them think they are cute. It will also encourage them to pick up cuter phrases that will make you blow your top off later.

Never give them any religious training. Wait until they are 21 and then let them decide for themselves. Don't be surprised if they decide to be nothing.

Avoid using the word "wrong." They might develop a guilt complex. This will condition them to believe later, when they are arrested for shoplifting or stealing a car, that society is against them and they are being persecuted.

Pick up everything they leave lying around - books, shoes and clothing. Do everything for them so they will become experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.

Let them read any printed matter they can lay their hands on. Make sure the silverware and glasses are sterilized but allow their little minds to feast on garbage.

Have plenty of knockdown drag-out fights in the presence of you children. Then, after you are divorced, they won't be surprised.

Give your children all the spending money they want. Never let them earn their own. Why should they have things as tough as you had them?

Satisfy their every craving for food, drink and comfort. See to it that every sensual desire is gratified. Childhood should be fun. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

Always take their side against neighbors, playmate, friends, teachers and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.

When they get into real trouble apologize by saying, "I never could do a thing with them."

Prepare yourself for a life of grief. You are apt to have it.

:-)

A miracle 12 years in the making!

Just a little (HUGE) encourager for all those in need of a miracle....

This morning my friends, Victor and Ivania, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Asah. He is truly a miracle. They have been trying to get pregnant for 12 years! At one point they decided to start fertility treatments and Ivania very quickly into the process felt the Lord say to her, "Why are you trying to help me?" So they stopped the treatments. That was several years ago. The miracle of a baby seemed impossible after 12 years. But today, August 23rd, 2009 God answered their cry for a child!

He is a beautiful, healthy, miracle baby! God knew all this time as they prayed, mourned, wept, feared, hoped, and prayed some more that today was the day. Isn't that amazing that He knew all along! Wow, if we could only understand how much He loves us and cares and has everything planned out in His PERFECT timing!

So, if you're praying for a miracle and it's been 12 days, or 12 weeks, or 12 months, or even 12 years.....don't give up hope! Trust Him!!! He IS a miracle working God!

1 hour challenge

I am very proud of myself so I thought I'd post about my accomplishment. :-)

About a year ago or so I discovered flylady.com. I really enjoy her website and implemented a lot of her cleaning tips. Then I got a book at the library called "A house that cleans itself" and I really, really enjoyed it. I felt like it was the missing link for me. I liked flylady's tips but I didn't feel like I was on top everything all at once. I always felt like there was a room or area or spot that was not done. "A house that cleans itself" really focuses on getting each room of your home decluttered, cleaned, organized, etc. and THEN do your daily routine. I like how flylady has you work on your entire house each month, but I always felt behind with it. I felt like I hadn't really accomplished everything I wanted to get done in one room when it was time to move on to another room.

So I've done two things:
1) I made a weekly chore sheet with my daily tasks and LAMINATED it! That made it more permanent and real. Then I put it on my fridge. I simply put a little dot w/ a dry erase marker by each task as I complete it. This list covers ALL my basic weekly chores like dishes, floors, bathroom, kids' rooms, trash, etc. Then on Wednesday I focus on paperwork first and foremost before anything else and Thursday is laundry day. I do loads throughout the week, but Thursday is the BIG day that everything has to be washed, folded, and put away. Every Monday I have a different "monthly" task like clean out the fridge, clean the carpets, etc.

2) I broke my house down room by room and focus on just ONE room per week. This is where I veered off of the flylady schedule although I still love her lists and helps. Trying to get my whole house deepcleaned in a month wasn't working, but I can focus on one room per week. It only takes about 3 months to get everything done then I can rotate through again. I just officially started this process although I've been kindof doing it for a few months now. My goal is to simply start at one end of the house and work my way to the other end. I want to treat each room with love and respect on it's week. :-) If something needs a repair, I want to tend to it. If pans need organized, I'm going to organize them. (etc.)Here's my areas:
1) Laundry Room
2) Kitchen
3) Dining Room (school area)
4) Living Room and Entry
5) Javon's Room
6) Bathroom
7) Reagan's Room
8) Hall closet - This is where I keep all my Christmas/bday gifts I've accumulated. So on this week, I want to organize it, write down the new gifts I've purchased in my "gift" notebook, and then with the extra time work on a Christmas craft project with the kids.
9) Office and Den
10) Backyard
11) Front Porch Area

I used to not be as organized and I'm still not as wonderful as my mother at it :-) however I'm learning what a blessing it is not only for me but for the kids and Josh to simply be organized. I used to feel like I didn't have time to get everything done due to working part time, homeschooling my kids, being a pastor's wife, directing children's ministries at our church, and just being a fun mom but now I'm really understanding that I can't NOT stay on top of things.

Anyways, back to my accomplishment. I wanted to be able to clean my ENTIRE house in under 1 hour at ANY given moment (sweep, mom, the kids' rooms, dishes, etc.) and I did it. This Monday I was hosting our monthly Girls' Bible Study and the house was really good so I was doing other things all day. Including taking a meal to a friend who is on bedrest with her pregnancy. Well, I made a bigger mess than I wanted while cooking and stayed longer than I had planned to at her house so as I was driving home I felt my stress starting to rise as I realized that I hadn't really done much in the way of cleaning during the day because I was on top of things. But now I only had 1 hour to actually clean. And I did it! The floors swept, mopped, vacuumed. Bathroom done. Nothing just thrown in closets. But I will have to admit that the dishes where still drying on the counter because I've been trying not to use my dishwasher. AND Reagan had a few articles of clothes on her bed because I'm trying to teach her to clean up and we didn't quite get in there, but after the party we finished up. I hung up her clothes and finished up the last few little things before bed and she dusted, straightened, etc. and felt so good about herself. There is such a peaceful feeling that comes when everything is in it's place.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Martha Stewart by any means. We live in a fixer-upper that will probably have a project until the day I die, but I'm learning to do what I can to provide a warm and welcoming environment for my family and friends. There may be dry wall in my hall but it is a neatly stacked pile of drywall. :-) I want to make memories of people laughing and loving in my home and this is a way for me to find that road.

Have you found a system that works for you?

Happy cleaning to all you busy moms out there just trying to keep all the balls in the air!!!

Music

There is something so healing, encouraging, calming, powerful, amazing, humbling, emotional......about worshipping Jesus through music. I am so very grateful to the Lord for creating music and giving it to us as a gift. It is a gift that I want to pass down to my children and I pray that they will pass it down to their children.

I am not the most gifted pianist by any means. All my high school friends will atest to that. :-) But I have learned over the past 10 years that my gift isn't necessarily in playing written music, but rather chording and being free to flow with the music that I'm singing. For me, the piano is a means of expression and singing is very connected to the playing for me. I rarely play without singing as well.

I'm not sure if even my family (mom, sister, etc.) know just how much ruckus I make around our house playing the piano. Especially late into the night. The kids have grown up with me playing after they go to bed. They don't even budge.:-) I'm probably ruining them for later on in life because I've turned them into such sound sleepers! But I also hope that they remember a home that was filled with music! Javon already plays the piano very well for 6. He loves to memorize things (which I hated!) and after he's mastered a song wants to quickly move on to the next.
Reagan is my singer. She loves to pretend to play the piano and sing whatever I'm singing.

A piano-What a wonderful gift that my grandma got me many years ago. It used to be a burden. I hated lessons (although Mrs. Mickey was a fabulous teacher :-) ) and I don't play by ear. But I honestly believe that over the years the Lord has gifted me in a different area and that is simply "being in the moment" when I worship Him on the piano. I can't explain it except to say, "Thank you Lord for the gift of music."

Psalm 7:17 (New International Version)

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 13:6
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 30:12
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Psalm 33:1
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
76.Psalm 33:3
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Marriage

Here's a shocker...I haven't always been the best wife! Yes, it is true. :-) Josh and I just celebrated our 10th anniversary with a wonderful cruise to Alaska that I never thought we'd be able to afford but God opened up an amazing deal for us. It was unbelievably nice to get away with just Josh.

Last year at the annual homeschool convention I picked up a book called "His Help Meet" and spent several month reading through it. While I don't totally agree with everything in the book I do have to admit that I fell short in many, many areas when it came to being a good helpmeet. Yes, I could argue that I do a LOT around the house, in both mine and Josh's ministries, homeschool our children, pay the bills, tend to...........and the list could go on and on, but I have not always done it with a submissive and servant filled heart. I have to admit that I tend to "keep score" a lot of times. Not on paper and not even on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis but subcontiously and then about 2 days before I start my period I like to bring random things up.

Over the past year, but especially in the months following our anniversary I have really been trying to see my primary goal as "keeper of my home" and "helpmate". Since the book I got last year was so good I decided to make it a tradition to pick up a new "learning to be a better wife" book each year at the homeschool convention. This year I picked up Excellent Wife. It has been really good.

The thing that I struggled with for many of the first years of my marriage was being a "strong" woman yet still having a gentle spirit. I am by nature a "go-getter", a slight loud-mouth :-), stong-willed, determined, a people pleaser, and have watched my mom do whatever she set her mind to. So I thought that when the Bible said that I was supposed to have a gentle and quiet spirit I thought God must not have been speaking to me because He designed me how I am, right? He made me outgoing, loud, fun, determined, etc., right? My personality and that verse never seemed to mesh, but the older I get and the longer I've been married I am coming to a new understanding of that verse. It doesn't mean that I have to change who God made me to be, but it does mean that I am to have a servant's heart and ATTITUDE in everything I do. In my home, in my marriage, with my family, in ministry.....

I will fail. I know that for a fact, but I am trying. I am trying to be a "helper" for Josh that is suitable for him. Someone that lifts up and NEVER tears down, someone that seems the good not the evil, someone that encouages not nags, someone that always believes, always hopes, always loves. My period will come around next month and I will have the urge to vere away from my naturally happy nature for a brief 24 time stent, but I will CHOSE to not give into my flesh. I will CHOSE to be Christ-like, I will CHOSE to be content, I will CHOSE to be happy, I will CHOSE to be encouraging, I will CHOSE to be a servant, and I will do it with a happy heart because I love Jesus and that's what he's called me to do.

Thank you Lord for a wonderful husband who has chosen to serve you, love you, and raise his family for you. I am very blessed! Help me to always look for the good. You are amazing and so is the family you gave me!!!

Crocodile Dock

One of my favorite things each summer is directing Vacation Bible Adventure. Is it a ton of work? Absolutetly! Can is be stressful at times? Most definently! Do I love seeing the kids learning about Jesus and having fun while doing so? Yes! Is it always easy working with 50 helpers? No, but I love seeing us work together as a body of Christ! Is it worth it? Totally!

We did Crocodile Dock and had 107 kids 3 days, but 120+ actually walked through out doors. Of course, some of those already have a church home, but some do not. Even if only one child didn't know about Jesus and left with a new found knowledge of Him then it was totally worth it. The reality is that some of those kids will grow up and not serve Jesus, but they will look back and remember things that have been spoken into their life by a VBA teacher. I am absolutely sure of it. My mom does the Bible Lesson and there is no doubt that each child leaves hearing about how much Jesus loves and cares for them and wants a relationship with them.

My other favorite part is seeing all the teens help out. Without our teenagers we couldn't run a program. They are such a huge help. Most of them have all grown up in VBA and now have the opportunity to give back. There were a few years in ministry that I was pretty discouraged thinking that all the time, energy, training, and love that we put into these kids didn't really make a difference, but I now know better. Even if some of them walk away from the Lord I know that the words, actions, love, and Word of God that we have put into them will not return void. They all have decisions to make regarding their future. I cannot make it for them. Neither can Josh, Pastor, or their parents. What we can do though is continue to pray for them, love on them, and have open arms for them.

It is so neat to see those who are faithfully serving Jesus though! Wow, how cool to see these kids serving Jesus. By "kids" I mean Jr. Highers on up to High School graduates who still seem like they should be in my kids' church. Where has the time gone? Honestly, they were all just little kids!!!

Thank you Lord that You have allowed me the honor and priviledge of serving You and others. May I never take it lightly or for granted or begrudgingly!

I only want to please You, Lord
I only want to make You smile
I only want to live my life for You
'cause You deserve it all!

Mrs. Alphabet

I came across another website that has a lot of links to alphabet helps.

www.mrsalphabet.com

Happy school planning!

www.funbrain.com

I just came across a GREAT website for kids. It's called funbrain.com and it has a ton of great resources. Go check it out!

Grateful

I absolutetly can't believe that summer is almost over! Well, when you live in the Seattle area summer doesn't last very long. I couldn't believe when people complained and complained and complained about the hot weather that we had for 3 days! Are you kidding me? We have rain and clouds the majority of the year and you are going to complain about a little heat!

I'm really trying to live a complaint free life. Of course that doesn't always happen, but I find that not only does it affect others for the better but I live a much happier life I focus on the good. I've always been an upbeat, happy person, but the reality is that sometimes life can get a bit frustrating and it gets easier and easier to focus on the things that aren't going right.

I have really been trying this year especially to focus on how good that I do have it. Yes, it would be nice to make a bit more, or not be so busy, or have a house and car that didn't need constant repair.....but then I remember how blessed I am to even have a house and car and ministry that keeps me busy and kids that I can train and good health and friends that are there for me and a family that loves me even when I fuss at them and a Safeway right down the street if I need something in the middle of the night and a library that carries an endless supply of books that I can use for FREE and amazing garage sales and dogs that have babies for a little extra cash and a piano that I can play late into the night and a voice that loves to worship Jesus and a grandma that paid for me to have lasic eye surgery so I can actually see the alarm clock and a church full of people who love my kids and $1 Saturdays at the swimming pool and Taco Bell and a husband who loves me even when I'm not lovable and a mom who supports every single thing that I do and sisters who are turning into my best friends the older we get and the privilage I have as an American to homeschool my children and the fact that we have a church building that is paid for and food to eat every single day and green grass 9 monthes out of the year and a neighborhood I can take walks in and family campouts with friends and teenagers who ask me to pray with them because they can trust me and a son who gives me foot massages and tells me I'm the best mom in the whole world and a little girl who has curly hair and a very kind heart..............

Yeah, I'd say that there are a lot more things in my life to be grateful for than grumble about. What are you grateful for today?

Summer '09

Some would look at my life and say that I'm crazy busy....others would look at it and say that I'm just plain crazy! :-) But I love my crazy busy life.

I have had the wonderful priviledge of going on a Disney Cruise in May with my Granny and two amazing sisters. It was fabulous. The first trip that I've really just let myself relax, leave work/church and my cares behind and have a great time not having responsibilites. Courtney and Cassidy are old enough now to not have a second mother and it was fun to see them having fun. My mom has a hard time swallowing the amount of money that Granny spends on our every other year vacation but let me say that the memories I have from all of them are truly priceless!

Then 2 weeks later I was able to celebrate my 10 year anniversary the way Josh and I had dreamt of 10 years ago! We went on a cruise to Alaska and enjoyed EVERY minute of it!!! We never thought that we could go, but God saw the desire of our heart and opened up a door. We got tickets for $314 each for a 7 day cruise!!! We'll never find a deal like that again. I really struggled with spending the money because we are so tight right now and could have used it on a million other things, but now I am very thankful that we went. Josh and I really needed it! We needed the time away from church, kids, dogs, chores, problems, responsibility, etc. I wish we could get away for a week somewhere every year, but we'll just shoot for our 15 year anniversary.

Then we had lots of other church events plus finishing up school and moving into summer school stuff in June. The end of June my other grandma (Momo) came up and spent two weeks. It was really nice. She is 81 and I pray that I look as great and get around as good as her when I'm that age. It's amazing when you think that most people are dead at that age and she's still truckin'! We went to the Auburn 4th of July celebration and it was really neat. We all had a great time and then went over to Mom and Gar's for dinner and fireworks.

Josh did the Seattle to Portland bike ride that past weekend for Speed the Light...our youth missions program. He loves cycling now. It's really neat to watch him on his bike because he really does love to ride.

I spent this past weekend working down at Kent Cornucopia Days advertising for our upcoming Vacation Bible Adventure. It's always a lot of work, but hopefully some from the community will join us!

This week Josh is at Jr. High camp and I'm home with the kids and dogs getting ready to go to our church family campout this Friday. That means I have to get everything ready on my own, but that's okay. It's actually less stressful because I can take whatever I want and not debate whether or not we "really" need it or not! :-) I'm actually a very light packer. I don't think you have to take the kitchen sink to have a good time. If I need something that I didn't take, I figure we can live without it for 3 days! :-)

I actually have to pack for two camping trips because right after our church campout gets over we are heading straight to Sr. High camp with a van load of kids. It's going to be a great week. There are lots of kids going!

Again....I love my crazy busy life and couldn't imagine it any other way!

Broken Nose?

I think I might have broken my own nose yesterday!? Yeah, strange I know. I was trying to open a magazine that was inside of a plastic wrapper and when it finally opened the edge of the magazine (actually more of a large booklet type thing) jammed me really hard in the nose. It immediately started bleeding very badly and I never get bloody noses. I took a few deep breaths. Got the bleeding stopped. Put some ice on it for a minute and then moved on with my day. But today it has actually bothered me quite a bit. It's red in the spot where I hit it and now is VERY tender.

I've never had a broken nose so I'm not sure what one feels like. I went online and looked it up and I think it might be a small fracture which should heal itself in about a month. I put more ice on it tonight so hopefully that will help. It has a bump though off to the side and that's not cool. I don't want a bump on my nose forever. But I also don't want to pay to go to the doctor because I'm sure they'll want to xray it. So I'll just pray and wait. :-)

It is funny how fast things like that happen. You just never know what a day's going to hold!

Ramblings

It's been a long time...I won't even try to catch up from where I was in April to now. I simply want to write about this, that, and a bit of nothing. :-)

Upon leaving for a week long Disney Cruise with my Granny and two sisters I wasn't sure that my children would be happy while I was away. After all, I am the one that they run to when their knee is scratched or they need their bottom wiped or they need milk out of the fridge....but to my delight they had a fabulous week with their dad! I knew they would. I knew that Josh was more than capable, but they simply haven't been away from me for an entire 8 days. Now, some that know me may say, but they've been away from you for 5 days each summer during youth camps. Yes, that is true. But they were with Nana. Which is in essence their second home. They are completely comfortable with Nana and the life that they have at her house. I can't imagine my life nor the children's lives away from my mom because it simply always has been. Now, to some of you out there it may be that you would say, "No one should be dependent on their mother when they are 30." And to that I would agree. But I would also say to you naysayers, "Why not have all the love and support for your children possible?" Josh is very understanding about my closeness to my family. It was difficult at times at first because he didn't come from a close family but now he values their help, time, and love.

Josh did a great job with the kids though. He took them to the beach. Went bowling. Took them to movies. Filled them up with more junk food than I care to even know about. :-) Gave them showers and even combed Reagan's hair. Which is a task - especially for a dad. I was very proud of him. I have often thought I didn't know how they would survive if I were to ever die but I can honestly say that I know now that Josh would make an amazing dad even if I weren't around. Morbid? Yes, but it's still a nice thought that they would be totally taken care of. I have never doubted Josh's love and devotion to the kids - he is a great dad that does WAY more than most dads I grew up around. (Didn't really have one of my own.)

So, from me to you Babe - You're amazing!

Great Library Find!

Although I use a curriculum that we stick to, I also enjoy coming up with lots of great library books to work along side whatever we're studying that week. I also love finding great preschool resources for Reagan. I found a fabulous book and thought I'd share!

It's called Home Learning Year by Year: How to design a homeschool curriculum from preschool through high school by Rebecca Rupp

I got mine from the library, but Amazon also has it for $10.42.

There are a TON of great resources! It has some great ideas plus the best book list I've ever seen to walk you through a year of schooling using books that can almost all be picked up at the library. I still am a believer in curriculum, but this is a fabulous resource. I've said that already haven't I. :-)

I really had a fun time putting dozens of books on hold today for Reagan.

Another good series that I found was the Henry Pluckrose Series - There are 62 books in our library system that cover everything from letters and number to building a bridge, cooking, etc. They are "how to" books for kids.

Reagan's Week

My two kids have been very different in their learning styles. Javon is extremely smart since he was very young. He could write his name perfectly at 3 1/2, does math like no ones business, and picks up on things very easily. Reagan is very smart. Her strengths though have not been in writing. She just turned 4 and her name consists of "ololololo". :-) She signs everything that way and wants nothing to do with spelling "Reagan". She says that "ololololol" is how you spell Reagan. However, the girl has the memory of an elephant. She can seriously remember thinks that the average adult wouldn't even remember. And she does VERY good at concept things like "what three pictures go together" kind of thing.

It has been really fun watching her learn because it has been different than the way Javon learns. I'm having fun with her. Today we did her preschool work and she did sooooo good. She really has started loving doing her "pages" over the past few months. Today we worked on colors and numbers and the letter "T" which she did fabulous at writing a big T and little t without any help.
She had her 4 year checkup today and the Dr. asked if she was attending preschool and I said that we homeschooled. She asked what we were doing and I gave her a brief rundown, but she said that Reagan was very articulate for her age. Both of the kids have spoken very well from a really early age. She is just more selective with whom she speaks than Javon. He'll speak to a board...Reagan has to warm up a bit first.

Next week we'll be working on PIZZA. It should be fun. Then we'll end it with pizza and a movie on Friday night. I get ideas from a great website www.pammshouse.com. It has a year's worth of toddler lessons. They are a bit too simple now, but they're a great springboard for weekly ideas.

Tuesday - Nana Day! Yeah....the kids LOVE Nana days.
Math: Number Recognition
English: 4 books
Penmanship: Trace "Reagan" 4 times
Bible: Memory verse from Sunday School
4 pages of concept work
Game: Toss items into a PIZZA box (of onto a frozen pizza box) :-)
Craft: Paint a paper plate with red paint, sprinkle with cornmeal (cheese), onion flakes, other spices.

Wednesday -
Math: Cut out pepperoni circles and count them (Shape - Circle)
English: 4 books
Penmanship: Trace "Reagan" 4 times
Bible: Sunday School page
4 pages in preschool book
Game: Patti Cake Pizza Man style
Craft: Look through magazines and find pictures of pizza or pizza toppings, cut out and glue on a paper pizza

Thursday -
Math, English, Penmanship, Bible, Preschool Pages (same as above)
Game: Toss items into a pizza box
Craft: Make pizza counting game/Make Playdo pizzas

Friday - Math, English, Penmanship, Bible, Preschool Pages (same as above)
Game: Not sure yet?
Craft: Not sure yet?

Any ideas?