Rough Day...

Welllll, today was rough. I barely slept the night before and had to be awake by 7am as usual. I also had a few errands to run, including the Dollar Tree (LOVE THAT PLACE!) and the Library (one of my absolute favorite places in the world) So really the day was a strong start, aside from being really sleepy...as the day wore on though, my exhaustion started showing and Olivia was being out of character, very demanding, very thoughtless...of course she's only 10, I know, and my patience was already on the thin side, so that, along with extended family issues (My so-called mother,the one that raised me, her husband, her daughter, the sister I was raised with, are all very...screwy. For lack of a better term and I don't mean to be offensive but believe me when I say this. It's true. Anyway, with all that going on, the evening came to a screeching halt when Dan said something very innocent and mundane that sent me into waves of tears. Poor Dan. Before he could even try to comprehend what he had said wrong, it all came spilling out. After that, he sent me to bed with lots of hugs and kisses and I awoke a couple hours later feeling much, much better. Of course it'll be hard to sleep tonight but that's okay as tomorrow is only a half day and I'll be able to rest up some. So anyway. The first "not wonderful very close to being awful" day of Homeschooling has come and passed and guess what?! We survived! YAY! And I'm still loving it.

Favorite Things...

These are some of my favorite things...

1. Sofa throws. I collect them. I LOVE them! So comfy and cozy.
2. Thunderstorms. Oddly enough, I find them comforting and peaceful.
3. Folgers Vanilla Biscotti. YUMMY stuff right there.
4. Cadbury Creme Eggs. Again. YUMMY!
5. Micro-plush blankets. These things are soooo warm and comfortable.
6. Sandals. If I HAVE to wear shoes, I prefer sandals.
7. Italian food. See why I have trouble losing weight??? HELLO!
8. Water. I love to swim. I love to watch the ocean. I love water period. Except DRINKING it. LOL
9. Bouquets of wildflowers.
10. White gold.
11. A fireplace. (NOT the artificial ones. The REAL ones!)
12. Fall. I love all the colors...and the breeze...and the mild weather...I just love fall period.
13. Soy candles. These things are AWESOME. They smell wonderful, fill the entire room and they burn cleanly. (No soot!) And wait...get this. They're good for your skin! You can actually pour the hot (actually only warm) wax onto your skin and it not only nourishes it but will NOT burn you! (I know this for fact.)
14. My grandma's biscuits and gravy. She makes them the best EVER! I practically grew up on them.
15. Pedicures. A rare treat for me but a treat nonetheless.

Another day complete...

Another day of Homeschooling completed. I have to say, I'm really loving it! So is Olivia. I think Danielle might be starting to get jealous, but I don't want her to choose homeschooling based on that, know what I mean? That's not an acceptable reason for me, although I would LOVE to Homeschool her as well and I have no doubt that she will choose that option down the road. Anyway, my plan is to just reinforce how much I love her and spend more one on one time with her. I think that will ease her worries. I sure hope so, I love my lil Danielle. My girls are my heart.

This week we rearranged Olivia's subjects so that we could spend more time on one subject and have lighter Fridays and although we're only through with two days, it's really working out. We've finished early both days, which allows me to go over topics we've covered, to reinforce them. The more days that pass, the more confident I feel about what a great decision this has been for my family.

I also have more ammunition when I face opposition from those I know. (Including some family members) Although some days I have felt really annoyed, my goal is to educate rather than be defensive and further advance their already questionable opinions of me. A few times I have been able to stop the judgements in their tracks just by taking the time to explain the reasons that this is the route we've chosen, along with facts and experience to go along with it. Of course there are those just looking for a reaction and have meanness in their heart. Those you can't really do anything about. I've found, though, that a lot of people are as uneducated on the subject as I was, and have formed opinions based on misinformation and negative hearsay.

Anyway...the point of all this, is that Homeschooling is going really well and my family is really content with this, and that's really all I can ask for! :-)

So I was on FB earlier...

And the topic of L-O-V-E came up. Love is one of the most debated, irritating, wonderful, terrible, amazing things life has to offer us, and we have to offer life. Ya know? So I just want to put my .02 cents out there.
I have single friends, okay, and most of their ideas regarding love is FANTASY. Big time. White knights. No fights. All blissful and happy and all things fiction. Even though I know that 11 years isn't all that long of a time to be married, I do feel like I have a valid thought on the idea...My husband and I have been through a LOT. And let me tell you this, there were many nights I didn't think we were going to last. No one did. And without God we probably wouldn't have. And who knows what the future holds, but as for right now...I just want to say this.

LOVE is way more than a feeling. It is a CHOICE. There are going to be days when you don't FEEL like loving someone. You're angry. You're tired. You're busy. You're whatever...but you're not always going to look at this person and say, Ohhh I just love you so much kissey kissey kissey. Sorry. Not going to happen. So what do we do in those situations? We say Okay. Even though I don't FEEL like loving you right now, I'm going to choose to love you anyway. I don't know of any lasting relationship that is solely based on feelings. Not even our relationship with Jesus is based on feelings. It's based on FAITH. And that is really similar to our spousal relationships. I choose to love my husband even though I don't have any guarantees that he will always be faithful. That he will always love me back. Know what I mean?

I got married 3 days after I turned 18 and we had every possible odd stacked against us. I THOUGHT I loved him. But guess what? That was pure and simple lust. Now...having been married literally through good and bad, rich and poor, sickness and health, 2 children and so on and so forth...I KNOW that I love him. Not because I always FEEL like it. And I'm sure there are days when he doesn't feel like loving me! Heck, I can be so mean my own dog probably doesn't feel like loving me! LOL But anyway...I don't really know what my point is...or was...but I just felt like sharing this.

Subjects Schedule...

This is what our schedule looks like for the week, in regards to which subjects on what days:

Monday-
Math (2 lessons)
Literature
Vocabulary
Language Skills
American History
Science

Tuesday-
Math
Literature (2 lessons)
Spelling
Vocabulary
American History
Art

Wednesday-
Math
Literature
Spelling
Language Skills
American History
Music

Thursday-
Spelling (2 lessons)
Language Skills
Vocabulary
American History (2 lessons)
Science

Friday-
Math
Literature
Spelling test
Language Skills
Art

*We also do physical education and Bible study

Lessons Learned...

I just thought I'd share this...

Lessons I've learned...

1. You get what you pay for.
2. Smiling for no reason...when in a bad mood, really does lift your spirits. If for
no other reason than you look pretty silly driving around with a huge grin plastered on your face.
3. Kindness is free.
4. Love is infectious. So is Hate. It spreads.
5. If they cheat with you, they'll cheat on you.
6. When one door closes, another one is sure to open.
7. You always have a choice in life. No matter what situation. Even if it's only in the attitude you choose to take.
8. You really do reap what you sow.
9. Karma is real.
10. There are 3 sides to every story. His version. Her version. And the truth. Which
is usually somewhere in the middle.
11. Everybody has a story. Some happy, some heartbreaking. But everybody has one.
12. The Bible is the road map to life.
13. While it's true that drugs may make you forget...more than anything, they make
you WANT to forget.
14. Everybody has a motive. Whether good or bad, everybody has one.
15. Monsters really do exist. The scariest ones take on a human form.
16. The more money you have, the more money you spend, the more problems you have.
17. Nothing lasts forever.
18. Usually, the person in the right is the one doing the least amount of talking.
19. Anything can change in an instant.
20. Everybody has an opinion.
21. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
22. It's better to just say what you mean and mean what you say.

I'm sure I've got a whole bunch more but this is it for now.

Schedule...

This is our current schedule:

(It goes without saying that many times we will be running either early or late. Unfortunately for me, you can't schedule everything! So this is just a basic idea...
Also, on Fridays we will only have half days or less as those will be reserved for Field Trips, Fun Friday, etc.

7 A.M.- Wake up; Breakfast; Showers; Dressed

8 A.M.- Danielle on the bus; Prepare for day; downtime for Olivia, snack

9 A.M.- Lessons begin

10 A.M.- Snack/Break

10:30 A.M- Lessons resume

Noon- Lunch/Break

1 P.M.- Lessons resume

2 P.M. Snack/Break

2:30 P.M.- Lessons resume

4 P.M.- Dinner

5 P.M.- Downtime

7 P.M.- Homework/Chores

8 P.M.- Downtime

9 P.M.- Bedtime

My daily To-Do list includes:

1. School (obviously)
And in between times when Olivia can work independently, I can get my list completed.
2. Clean
3. Laundry
4. Dinner
5. Errands
6. And much more!

Every Friday I will grade papers, enter grades, go over schedule, print out homework pages for the week, make and print new schedule, prepare upcoming week's lessons.
This is just a general guideline!

School Supply List...

In addition to everything that was sent to us from K12 including:

Computer
Monitor
Printer
Computer Accesories
Software
Textbooks
Workbooks
Music, Science, and Art Kits
Miscellaneous Supplies

We also needed much more. The following is an extensive list:

Folders
3 ring Binders
Pens
Pencils
Calculator
Hi-Liters
Crayons
Markers
Colored Pencils
Craft Supplies
Glue
Construction Paper
Stapler
Staples
Staple Remover
Bulletin Board
White Board (Old, clean socks make awesome erasers and you can keep the markers inside of them!)
Dry Erase Markers
Notebooks
Thumbtacks
Paperclips
Rubber bands
Sharpies
White-Out
Post-Its
Organizational Boxes/Crates/Filing Cabinet/ETC
Printer Paper
Ink Cartridges
Lots of Bookmarks
3 Hole Puncher
Single Hole Puncher
Index Cards
Book Bag (On-the-go Learning)
Tape
Desk Calendar
Poster Board
Erasers
Ruler
Compass (Math)
Protractor
Pencil Sharpener
Loose Leaf Notebook Paper
Day Planner

Whew. I *think* that's everything.

Also recommended is:

Desk for Mom
Desk for Student
(or large work area)
Tylenol/Advil- heheh just had to throw some humor in!

Now I know this list is really extensive but bare with me as I'm new to this! I was so afraid of not having enough and truthfully, we've already used many, many items on this list! I'm sure there are ways of going around some of this stuff, but I am ashamed to admit, I'm a woman of convenience!

And so it begins...

Our first day of Homeschool began last week on Monday, Aug. 17th. It was L-O-N-G anticipated, let me tell you! Although I was really excited, I was also worried about so many things. Did I have enough school supplies? (I didn't) Was I prepared enough (YES!) Can I really teach? (YES! Guess what? As Moms, we've been doing it since the day we gave birth!) What if I get stumped? (I did. A few times. Yet funny enough, the earth didn't shatter and I was quickly able to figure things out, using the easy to understand "Teacher Guides") What if I'm not patient enough? And on...and on...and on... But at the end of the day, guess what? We. Did. Great.

Olivia and I have made it through week one and are eagerly anticipating week 2! We've figured out a great schedule, though we'll have to see how it works (this is all a learning process) and I'm all set on the school supplies. We've got the program down (the online school; how to log-in, set attendance, mark lessons complete, etc.) and I'm totally organized, including already having the week's lessons in each Lessons folder! Can ya tell I'm excited?! I think I might be a bit more excited than Olivia, lol, if that's possible...

But you know what makes me overjoyed and know that this is all going to work out? Watching Olivia's face as she figures something out. Seeing her wake up in the morning, excited to learn. This amazes me. This is why parents Homeschool!
Now I know there will be tough days, and I will get frustrated and Olivia will get frustrated. One or both of us will lose our patience. I know all this, expect all this. But I also know that we will remember the reasons we have taken this challenge! And everything will be just fine. Soooo. I will definitely have more to post about tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Why I Homeschool...

A year ago, Olivia came to me and began begging to be Homeschooled. My first reaction was NO WAY. I am NOT a teacher. Kids need to be IN school. I'm selfish and I enjoy my calm, quiet days. My daughter's education is IMPORTANT! I can't be responsible for ruining it! AND WHAT ABOUT SOCIALIZATION!?!?! So I listened to more whining and begging and this went on for about 6 months. Finally, out of sheer frustration I said, Fine. I will look into it. I thought that's the least I can do, right? What would it hurt? And most importantly, it got her off my back.
So...true to my word, I began doing some research. The more I looked, the more I found that homeschooling has changed sooooo much since my days of youth! Everything I've ever heard on the subject was wrong. So wrong. Finally, I found someone at our church who is an avid Homeschooler and I met with her. She was thrilled to talk to me about it and even invited me into her home to see how she has things set up. That was it for me. I was a believer! Since I've made this decision, I feel really good about it. No wishy-washiness. No worry. Only calm, peaceful. I know this is the right decision for my daughter.
Now, I know it will be a challenge. Especially while we're getting into our "groove." But...my daughter is worth it.
That being said...Is homeschooling right for everyone? Absolutely not. Just like traditional schooling isn't right for every child. My youngest daughter, Danielle, is the opposite of Olivia socially (and many other ways) and I firmly believe she could blossom in a traditional school setting. As of right now, she wants to stay in school and that is totally okay by me. If she changes her mind in a few years, I will definitely be open to homeschooling her.
As for the dreaded SOCIALIZATION issue... Liv is a Girl Scout. She's a member of our church's Choir and Drama team. I feel really certain that she won't have any trouble in this area.
Let me tell you a little bit about her... First, she is a beautiful child. She has her daddy's metabolism so she's a little feather of a thing. She's kind, compassionate, loving, shy and sensitive. She's incredibly smart and introspective. She longs to fit in, but she never will. She's different from most kids because she has a huge heart that loves God. She's got an anointing on her life, a true calling. She's so innocent and as her Mother, I want to protect her as much as possible. I know I can't protect her from everything...and it's a delicate balance as a parent. But, I will do everything in my power to protect her innocence for as long as I can.
Okay. Now for the program we're going to be using this Fall. It's really structured as far as homeschooling goes. You have to keep excellent records. The school year consists of 180 days and 920 hours. Since it's considered public school, she will have to take all tests required by the state. Here's the website to learn more. K12

Introducing...Love Along the Way

Hi there. I'm Kel. I'm a 29 year old Christian, Mother of 2 girls, aged 10 and 6, as well as a 3 year old Black Lab. I've been married to Dan for 11 years. I'm a Stay at Home Mom, as well as a Homeschooler. My youngest is happily attending public school and my oldest is home schooled. We are a very typical, American family.

This blog has been created to record our journey. Our journey into Christianity, Homeschooling, Parenthood, Marriage, Life. (In no particular order!) Since this is my first year homeschooling, I'm sure there's going to be much to write about! It's definitely not an easy task, but it's one well worth it. Most journeys in life are not easy, but well worth it, right?

To let you know who I am, I'm just going to tell you flat out that I'm a drug addict. Drug addiction/alcoholism runs deeply in my family. I was delivered from this affliction 2 years ago, Praise God. That being said, I still struggle. My parents married at the age of 18 and 19. They divorced about a year later. My birth Mom allowed my Dad to adopt me, along with his new wife and they raised me with my younger sister until they divorced when I was 15 and my Dad remarried my birth Mom. Crazy right? They proceeded to marry and divorce/split up and get back together for the next 12 years. Finally they called it quits and my step-Mom (aka Birth Mom, crazy confusion, trust me I know this) remarried, while my Dad is dating my best friend who just so happens to be 1 year older than me. heheh Gotta love family, right?! Along with the sister I already mentioned, I have another sister and brother. I also have 4 beautiful nieces and 1 very handsome nephew.

I met Dan when I was 17, 2 months shy of turning 18 and 3 days after my 18th birthday, we were wed. In a small church, with just me, Dan and a sister in attendance. Three months after we married, I became pregnant with my Olivia (my oldest) and 4 years after that, I became pregnant with Danielle, and the rest, as they say, is history. Of course there's a whooollllleee lotta history in between but we'll save that for another post! Along with being a drug addict, my husband is an alcoholic. He was delivered 2 years ago as well. Thank you Lord! Together, we have battled many demons, let me tell you. Our marriage has been intense and difficult at times, but it's a timeless love we share. An unconditional love. Along with the bad, there's also been amazing good. Much more good than bad. Especially now that we're both SOBER! LOL Since I've told you much of the bad of my "story" I'd also like to share with you my good points! (I promise I have some!)

First I want to say...I've learned and grown from every single experience I've ever had. I've taken that wisdom with me, and applied it to my life. I became a born again Christian 2 years ago, on September 9, 2007. God is my strength and my salvation. Although, I'm about as unworthy as one can get, He loves me regardless and I can never repay the debt He took upon Himself.

Aside from being a Christian, I am a Mommy. I love my children with everything inside of me. With a love only God can give you. I love being a Mom and a Wife. It's what I live for. What I was meant to be. Along with this...I also LOVE TO LAUGH! I'm very friendly and loving and have compassion to spare. I try very hard to always remain NON-JUDGMENTAL. It's very hurtful to be judged and Lord knows I have no right (none of us do) to judge another person. I love to be surrounded by those I love, family and friends...I also enjoy quiet time which as any Mom knows, doesn't come around to often! In my free time (what very little I have) I enjoy reading, watching movies, playing and of course...laughing and enjoying the beautiful life God has given me. We're a very simple...many would say boring, family but I love it. I couldn't ask for anything more. Even though life can be so hard sometimes, the burdens are always a little lighter having someone/s to share them with you!

So this is me. And now that you know my story, if you still want to read this, I welcome you! I hope you come along this ever-interesting journey with me!