T.G.I.F.

Elijah, in response to a toy ambulance that kept making sound: "That's drivin' me coconuts, Mom!"

I finished the last sip of my root beer float while holding Eden.  I put the cup on the kitchen counter and looked back at her hugely-grinning face.  That girl lunged forward, tongue sticking waaaay out, to LICK MY LIPS.  Naturally, I recoiled quickly saying "Eww!" with a smile.  Then I looked back at her.  She did it AGAIN.  This time, she was fast enough to really lick me!  Think she likes her sweets?  :-P

While driving in the car, I asked the boys if they wanted to listen to music or news (thinking they would of course say music).  "NEWS!" they both said.  Well, ok then.

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes prayer and a handful is what gets you through the day.

Tippy Tuesday: Homeschool File System

Last week, I showed you my notebook system for keeping track of all the paper stuff homeschooling throws at you (which I'm sure I've only seen the tip of that iceberg...).  This week, I'll show you the beginning of what I hope is a filing system that will work for years to come.

As I took time to thank my Home Ec professors for instilling in me a love of (read: dependence upon) notebooks, I need to take time to thank the Engineering Department at Union University for the opportunity to learn what a good filing system looks like.  When you are the secretary of a department that is working towards accreditation, you work with files.  Lots of files.  Engineering had 13 areas in which it wanted to document achievement.  So each student had to have a file for each of the 13 areas in which various copies of their work could be stowed away for the people who were to come view the department for accreditation approval.  The entire back wall of my closet-office was file cabinets!  It was hard work to set that kind of a filing system up; but once it was finished, it ran seamlessly and served its purpose well.  The department received accreditation!

So, fast-forward from newlywed secretary to homeschool mom of three.  I have one big independent file box for homeschooling.  Thank you, Crayola, for providing colored markers -- because I'm a woman of color!  :-)  (See previous post...)

The first set of files are for adult purposes.  There is an unlabeled file in front to hold labels for notebook divider tabs and Sonlight's sticker label sheets (see previous post...).  Legal for things dealing with state requirements.  Hope Academy for our church's oversight group and Co-op information.  Sonlight to archive information, receipts, and such from them.  Archway Academy -- because that's the name Matt and I chose for our home school!  In each of these folders, I paperclip together all the information for one year and put a labeled post-it on the front.  Tips & Advice for random information I receive that will help us in our homeschooling endeavor.

Adult Files

Labeled post-its for each year, including which student was in which grade.

The second set of files are for archiving purposes.  I could easily be a pack rat when it comes to things my children do...if space allowed.  But then, I really don't like a lot of excess either.  Makes me feel cluttered.  So I've decided this is how it will work.  Throughout the year, each student's completed work will be kept in that year's notebook (again, see previous post...).  At the end of that year, Matt & I will go through the notebook with each student and choose several worksheets and projects that were favorites.  Those will then be placed in the "archive" file for that student in that grade.  Enter color!  Judah's favorite is red.  Elijah's blue.  Eden's purple (well, her mom's fav...).  So I used that color to label their files so it's more at-a-glance friendly.  I started with the Toddler folders because there are things I like to keep from the toddler years -- especially the first time they used a crayon, etc.

All this not to say "I will never change the system" or find ways it could be improved... But for our family, I really think this will work for many years!

Thursday TOPS

Things Only Parents Say


There's a stealth bomber in the living room corner.

Don't put my underwear on your head.

Those aren't sunbeams.  That's your spit.  (Now stop.)

Eww, don't lick the clock!

You like the taste of your muffin dipped in WATER?

The plane just crashed into my leg.

Tippy Tuesday: Homeschool Notebook System

I'm a newbie to homeschooling.  So what is contained herein may be ridiculously elementary to some of my more seasoned readers (pun intended).  But I truly believe that keeping organized when it comes to papers, records, and such is a HUGE help to a woman's stress level and enjoyment of whatever tasks are allotted to her.

I would like to first say thank you... a HUGE thank you... to all of my college Home Ec professors for instilling in their students the idea of "notebooks."  As grueling (and sometimes silly) as it seemed to put together notebook after notebook for every single class, some of them even being the final for the class, it was a priceless lesson in keeping information organized in a way that sets you up for smooth sailing and easy recall.  I still reference several of my Home Ec notebooks for various things in life, and it is so wonderful to just go to a shelf, immediately locate the subject I need, and then quickly turn to the information I want.  About as fast as a real-life Google machine!  ;-)

Some of...MANY

So for those who are not familiar with a "notebook" system or the curious who just want to see pictures of mine, here ya go.

1) Purchase a clear-view binder in the right size for all the areas you need.  For example, I am teaching two children this year in two grades.  I know I need a notebook for unfinished worksheets to pull from as we go through lessons.  I know I need a notebook for completed work.  I also need one for Judah's official co-op work as well as one for his attendance record since Kindergarten is official.

2) Create spine labels and title pages in Word (or whatever you use, Mac people).  I like to have the school, subject/contents, and the year.  It can be tailored to whatever you wish!

3) Print.  Carefully cut the spine labels and gently slip them in the spine.  It can be frustrating, but patience is key.  Then slip the title pages in the front cover.  Include labelled tab dividers for what you need.  Judah's "Completed Work" notebook has tabs for Handwriting and Math as those are the two subjects he has worksheets/papers for this year.  I also have the same dividers in his "Kindergarten Worksheets" notebook. When tearing out and hole-punching the worksheets (now I know why "Teacher Work Days" exist...), I like to also tear off the front cover and title pages of the workbook.  It makes the separation nice and also allows me to have the workbook information for whenever I want to reorder that book (for Elijah and then Eden in a few years).

 4) Admire your shelf of neatness and ease of use.  :-D

As an added tip, I've always been a woman of color.  I used it for high school research papers, undergraduate thesis, home decor, Bible marking, organizing, classification, you name it!  How lovely it was when I discovered that Sonlight knows how well color can help one organize!  With each core, they send a sheet of colored label paper so that you can mark each book if you choose.  So far, I've learned that preschool is orange, and Core A is pink.  Easy to tell at a glance which books go with which grade.  Especially once we retire the books to our family shelves until the next round of homeschool begins with Eden!

Next week, I'll show you my homeschool filing system...

Wordless Wednesday: Lotsa Learnin' Goin' On

Ps - Target has double sided WHITE BOARD tablet "paper."  For a buck each.  Unbelievable idea and price!

Monday Meditations: The Most Buying Power

Part of the wonder of the Bible and doctrines of the Christian faith is that there is always something new to learn, a new perspective to view.  You can read the same verse or hear the same principle over and over and yet hear it anew time after time.  It is impossible to exhaust the depths of Scripture and to know God wholly this side of heaven.  How awesome!  With that...

For years, I've believed that Christ died for my sins.  That He purchased me with His blood.  My sins are forgiven.  I'm part of His church.  He saved His own from eternal damnation.  Etc.  But Pastor Leake put two thoughts together and gave a fresh perspective on Christ's work on the cross.

"What did Christ do on the cross?  He purchased His church."


Seems like a simple question and answer.  But when you put deep thought into it, this perspective brings instant humility.  Here's the train of thought:

What did Christ do on the cross?  He purchased His church.
Purchased with what?  His very life.
Purchased from what?  Eternal damnation, separation from God, fiery punishment.
Who is the church?  A select group of people who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him as Lord.
Who selects?  God the Father.
Based upon what?  Nothing that we have done.  It was His choice.
So then why on earth did He choose me to be a part of this select group that was purchased?  Uh....

Christ spilled His blood and endured the agony of the cross to purchase His church, a group of sinful human beings, from the eternal punishment we all deserve.  What He did removed His followers from the world and set them apart, righteous in God's eyes based upon nothing we have done but upon what Christ did.  Who am I to forget how AMAZING that is?  How precious salvation is!  How undeserving I am of God's grace and mercy -- and yet He still gives it!

With His death, Jesus Christ bought my soul from Satan's realm.  What an amazing perspective in which to present the work of the Cross.

Oh, victory in Jesus,
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him