Deut 11:18 “Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. TEACH THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.
If I cannot teach my kids anything else But To LOVE The Lord with all that's in them...then I am successful! And the decency of being Humble and kindhearted and treating others as they want to be treated. Respect their elders, honoring their parents, being Self Less and thinking only on How to Please God. That's What the Lord requires....Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God THEN all others things will be added to you
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Feb. Post by Sandra Saenz
When my son was much younger, I used to wonder and daydream about what he would be like if he was a "normal" one year old. Every year around his birthday those same feelings would come around and remind me just how severly delayed and disabled he was. My son was born with a life threatening illness and was sent home from the hospital after six long months to die. I refused to listen to all the negative talk from the doctors and decided to trust in the Lord instead. I have been working with my son for six and a half years now. Homeschooling him, working on therapy and feeding skills. He has come a long way and no longer resembles that little boy in a wheelchair , attached to a breathing machine and on oxygen. The Lord has been merciful and has completely healed him. He no longer needs any special equipment or nursing care. He is a good student and likes running around , playing with his younger brother. I love to seeing his smiling face as he signs to his favorite songs and I no longer wonder what he would be like anymore.
Sandra C. Saenz
Sandra C. Saenz
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Chewsa Mom of the Month/Jan
Monica Sibbing
1) How many children? Ages and grades you teach?
Jacob (8) third grade
Tabitha (6) first grade
Madeline (5) kindergarten
Caden (2) tot school
2) How long have you been homeschooling?
Four years officially, but I did home daycare and had an extensive preschool curriculum
3) What curriculims have you tried and which are your fav? Have you tried something everyone prasies and hate it?
We started using K12 while we were in DC because it was completely free. I used it for two years- long enough to figure out what was and wasn't working for us. Since then I've used an odd-ball collection of things with a recent mid-year change to Zaner-Bloser for writing, vocabulary, and handwriting. I use First Language Lessons and History of the World from Peace Hill Press, Real Science 4 Kids, Math-U-See, and I absolutely love All About Spelling which is really phonics, spelling, and reading all in one. I also use several on-line sights to supplement like Starfall, National Geographic Young Explorer/Expeditions/Pioneer/Little Kids, and Scholastic Printables. I also subscribe to Weekly Reader and use the kids' Sunday School papers during the week for Bible study. We take Wednesday's off to catch up, rest, or do the fun stuff.
One program I started with was An Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading which was highly recommended worked great with Jake because he'd already had a great program with K12. It was a different story with Tabi so we looked for something new and found All About Spelling.
4) What is your biggest lesson you have learned as a Homeschooling mom?
Something I heard once about how you can take a horse to water... I've found it is vitally important to listen to their cues and follow their interests while still teaching them the core of what they need to know. Curriculum isn't the end-all be-all of how and what they learn. A good friend of mine told me that you just cross out the silly stuff, and the silly stuff is defined as anything you think is unnecessary (Thanks Andrea!).
5) What keeps you motivated and going as a homeschool mom?
I will only hold these precious little hands in my own for a few more short years before they begin to put into practice all they have learned at home. At times I may feel like I need a moment or two to catch my breath, but I would never trade a moment of this special time with them.
1) How many children? Ages and grades you teach?
Jacob (8) third grade
Tabitha (6) first grade
Madeline (5) kindergarten
Caden (2) tot school
2) How long have you been homeschooling?
Four years officially, but I did home daycare and had an extensive preschool curriculum
3) What curriculims have you tried and which are your fav? Have you tried something everyone prasies and hate it?
We started using K12 while we were in DC because it was completely free. I used it for two years- long enough to figure out what was and wasn't working for us. Since then I've used an odd-ball collection of things with a recent mid-year change to Zaner-Bloser for writing, vocabulary, and handwriting. I use First Language Lessons and History of the World from Peace Hill Press, Real Science 4 Kids, Math-U-See, and I absolutely love All About Spelling which is really phonics, spelling, and reading all in one. I also use several on-line sights to supplement like Starfall, National Geographic Young Explorer/Expeditions/Pioneer/Little Kids, and Scholastic Printables. I also subscribe to Weekly Reader and use the kids' Sunday School papers during the week for Bible study. We take Wednesday's off to catch up, rest, or do the fun stuff.
One program I started with was An Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading which was highly recommended worked great with Jake because he'd already had a great program with K12. It was a different story with Tabi so we looked for something new and found All About Spelling.
4) What is your biggest lesson you have learned as a Homeschooling mom?
Something I heard once about how you can take a horse to water... I've found it is vitally important to listen to their cues and follow their interests while still teaching them the core of what they need to know. Curriculum isn't the end-all be-all of how and what they learn. A good friend of mine told me that you just cross out the silly stuff, and the silly stuff is defined as anything you think is unnecessary (Thanks Andrea!).
5) What keeps you motivated and going as a homeschool mom?
I will only hold these precious little hands in my own for a few more short years before they begin to put into practice all they have learned at home. At times I may feel like I need a moment or two to catch my breath, but I would never trade a moment of this special time with them.
Consider the Lilies by Monica Sibbing
Monica Sibbing Shared for this month's blog....
In September Pastor Doug Marks of Northwest Hills Christian Church started a year-long sermon series called "Transformation", and during recent weeks he's taught us about 'bling' and 'chic'. While the entire series is making an impact on my life in all areas, these two really struck home with me in regards to my role as a home school mother. Here's just a little of what I'm learning about having "bling" and being "chic".
"Bling" has moved from being a term referring to jewelry and outside appearance to being a philosophy of lifestyle. Our culture says we're here for the "bling".
"Chic" means conforming to the current fashion. It has taken over culture/society much like "bling" has.
So I asked myself what was becoming my "bling and chic" and discovered it is in part wanting the perfect curriculum, the awesome academic performance, an organized school room, a 1950's-style clean house with dinner on the table, and our children's outstanding self-control (even when their mother is in danger of losing all of hers most days trying to do too much), to name just a few. Add to that the desire to have quality face-time with my husband and a quiet conversation or two with him (I won't even go into the "bling and chic" in that department!) and it's the makings of a very worn out woman.
The illegitimate expectations I have created for myself could fill a book and they aren't things I'm proud of. In the course of submitting to the world's "bling and chic" I have denied God's plan for my life, turned my back on my family heritage, and let the attitudes and habits turn me from the true desires of my heart. God has called me and has put into my very own hands everything I need to live an abundant life and to insure that my husband and children also have that blessing.
One of the purposes our family has for homeschooling is to control worldly influence on our children. I often tell my husband that the great state of Texas has made it possible for me to answer to no one but God and my children when it comes to their education. In the interest of raising fully functioning adults its important that all aspects of their childhood reflect all of our family's values, and not just academic excellence. There's no better way I can do this than to turn away from the "bling and chic" myself.
-Monica
http://nwhcc.webs.com/
God not only wants to save us, He wants to transform us into a new personthat is most like the image of His Son. Transformation is initiated bysalvation, sustained by God’s grace, and gathers momentum as our willis brought into ever-increasing alignment with God’s will. Paulwrote, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let Godtransform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then youwill learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing andperfect.” (Romans 12:2; NLT)
Mankind in the natural world is just the wrong nature to enjoy the life God has planned for us. Soin order to bring us to His life, God causes us to be born againthrough His finished work in Jesus and then transforms us into theperson who is able to live this new and amazing life in Him. Our lives are changed forever.
The results are that...
We enjoy this life with God.
We are able to pour ourselves into others, enabling them to find this same life.
We are able to come together as the Community of God and encourage one another in this abundant journey.
We are able to engage this culture with changes that enrich its life. CDs with sermon notes are available each week or you can go on line and listen and view sermon notes at sermon.net/nwhcc
In September Pastor Doug Marks of Northwest Hills Christian Church started a year-long sermon series called "Transformation", and during recent weeks he's taught us about 'bling' and 'chic'. While the entire series is making an impact on my life in all areas, these two really struck home with me in regards to my role as a home school mother. Here's just a little of what I'm learning about having "bling" and being "chic".
"Bling" has moved from being a term referring to jewelry and outside appearance to being a philosophy of lifestyle. Our culture says we're here for the "bling".
"Chic" means conforming to the current fashion. It has taken over culture/society much like "bling" has.
So I asked myself what was becoming my "bling and chic" and discovered it is in part wanting the perfect curriculum, the awesome academic performance, an organized school room, a 1950's-style clean house with dinner on the table, and our children's outstanding self-control (even when their mother is in danger of losing all of hers most days trying to do too much), to name just a few. Add to that the desire to have quality face-time with my husband and a quiet conversation or two with him (I won't even go into the "bling and chic" in that department!) and it's the makings of a very worn out woman.
The illegitimate expectations I have created for myself could fill a book and they aren't things I'm proud of. In the course of submitting to the world's "bling and chic" I have denied God's plan for my life, turned my back on my family heritage, and let the attitudes and habits turn me from the true desires of my heart. God has called me and has put into my very own hands everything I need to live an abundant life and to insure that my husband and children also have that blessing.
One of the purposes our family has for homeschooling is to control worldly influence on our children. I often tell my husband that the great state of Texas has made it possible for me to answer to no one but God and my children when it comes to their education. In the interest of raising fully functioning adults its important that all aspects of their childhood reflect all of our family's values, and not just academic excellence. There's no better way I can do this than to turn away from the "bling and chic" myself.
-Monica
http://nwhcc.webs.com/
God not only wants to save us, He wants to transform us into a new personthat is most like the image of His Son. Transformation is initiated bysalvation, sustained by God’s grace, and gathers momentum as our willis brought into ever-increasing alignment with God’s will. Paulwrote, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let Godtransform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then youwill learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing andperfect.” (Romans 12:2; NLT)
Mankind in the natural world is just the wrong nature to enjoy the life God has planned for us. Soin order to bring us to His life, God causes us to be born againthrough His finished work in Jesus and then transforms us into theperson who is able to live this new and amazing life in Him. Our lives are changed forever.
The results are that...
We enjoy this life with God.
We are able to pour ourselves into others, enabling them to find this same life.
We are able to come together as the Community of God and encourage one another in this abundant journey.
We are able to engage this culture with changes that enrich its life. CDs with sermon notes are available each week or you can go on line and listen and view sermon notes at sermon.net/nwhcc
Friday, November 12, 2010
Let's Be Real
Hello Ladies,
I just wanted to share with you about the need for total realness in Homeschooling. When you go to alot of homeschooling functions and read articles and books and coops you will often find a bunch of "talk", "fluff" and just ladies not being real.
I have been homeschooling for quite some time now and I have seen much of this. When we realize we are all on the same team and we all want what's best for our children, and that total honesty and realness when we open up ourselves for support then we see the bigger picture.
Say for instance, when I had my 5th child , I had a rough spot trying to schedule our day. With night wakings and feedings thruout the day, a house a mess, and colic setting in..... you can believe Science and art projects did not get done that much that year. So I find my encouragement and support from like- minded homeschooling friends and walk thru that season into the next. When one season ended, here comes the next... my 6th child..easier adjustment that time. Now whenever I run into a lady that is going thru a new season similar to mine because I am willing and open to share..maybe can be a support for her...who knows. During this season , I had fallen behind a little in Math drills with my 1st grader, I was really beating myself up about it, comparing myself to others, etc... Do you know what I really felt God say to me..." You are Homeschooling him so what isn't covered this year, cover next year...and Where you lack.. I fill in the gaps!" Go figure.... Doesn't the word say " In Your weakness...he is strong!" So now.. I look back and wonder why did I panic... He is a straight A student and Math is his best subject!
In our walk with God, What is it that really helps new believers or weaker Christians? Our Testimony, our realness with daily struggles and what we do! Well In similar ways so is our stories, our testimonies in homeschooling. Homeschooling is a journey with new seasons every year. One child maybe in pre-k with another middle school. Or maybe you have one starting college like mine did this last year. Always new seasons, always new growth.
Be available for others and always be open for growth and encouragement from others.
We are NOT weak when we are real , we actually are saying we are human and need new ideas and freshness to our day and schedule. Take a week off if you need, you are not bound to any other schedule. Change what your using if it's not working. Laugh and enjoy homeschooling and encourage other moms to do the same. It is not a competition, It is not a contest...we all will cross the finish line! And We ALL Need each other. No one family is alike and your not going to Homeschool just like everyone else either.
So Leaving you with this thought... Keep it Real :)
Cheryl Blake
I just wanted to share with you about the need for total realness in Homeschooling. When you go to alot of homeschooling functions and read articles and books and coops you will often find a bunch of "talk", "fluff" and just ladies not being real.
I have been homeschooling for quite some time now and I have seen much of this. When we realize we are all on the same team and we all want what's best for our children, and that total honesty and realness when we open up ourselves for support then we see the bigger picture.
Say for instance, when I had my 5th child , I had a rough spot trying to schedule our day. With night wakings and feedings thruout the day, a house a mess, and colic setting in..... you can believe Science and art projects did not get done that much that year. So I find my encouragement and support from like- minded homeschooling friends and walk thru that season into the next. When one season ended, here comes the next... my 6th child..easier adjustment that time. Now whenever I run into a lady that is going thru a new season similar to mine because I am willing and open to share..maybe can be a support for her...who knows. During this season , I had fallen behind a little in Math drills with my 1st grader, I was really beating myself up about it, comparing myself to others, etc... Do you know what I really felt God say to me..." You are Homeschooling him so what isn't covered this year, cover next year...and Where you lack.. I fill in the gaps!" Go figure.... Doesn't the word say " In Your weakness...he is strong!" So now.. I look back and wonder why did I panic... He is a straight A student and Math is his best subject!
In our walk with God, What is it that really helps new believers or weaker Christians? Our Testimony, our realness with daily struggles and what we do! Well In similar ways so is our stories, our testimonies in homeschooling. Homeschooling is a journey with new seasons every year. One child maybe in pre-k with another middle school. Or maybe you have one starting college like mine did this last year. Always new seasons, always new growth.
Be available for others and always be open for growth and encouragement from others.
We are NOT weak when we are real , we actually are saying we are human and need new ideas and freshness to our day and schedule. Take a week off if you need, you are not bound to any other schedule. Change what your using if it's not working. Laugh and enjoy homeschooling and encourage other moms to do the same. It is not a competition, It is not a contest...we all will cross the finish line! And We ALL Need each other. No one family is alike and your not going to Homeschool just like everyone else either.
So Leaving you with this thought... Keep it Real :)
Cheryl Blake
Friday, October 22, 2010
Real Mothers
Our First post for Chewsa Moms Blog was submitted by Andrea Mabey. Thankyou Andrea!!
REAL MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche : they don't have time to make it.
Real mothers know their kitchen utensils are probally in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens, and happy kids.
Real mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpets.
Real mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get the anwser when a
little voice says, "because I love you the best".
Real Mothers know that a child's growth isnot measured by height,
years or grade....it is marked by the progression of Mamma to Mommy to Mom.
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