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apologia science

apologia science, gratefulness, math us see

A Grateful Monday…

Today was a good Monday.  Luke finished his Math U See book for the year.  I am looking at various math ideas to supplement for the remainder of the year.  I got some great advice from the Homeschool Lounge today.  I am going to look at the Living Math site as well as some other great sites for hands on activities and living books for math.

We are also getting near the end of our Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Astronomy book.  Since we have studied all of the planets in the solar system this year, the children are each working on their own “book” about the solar system and what they have learned.  Luke so far completed his “sun” page and “Mercury.”  He is illustrating it as well and it looks great.  Grace is using Power Point to make her project.  She is doing a great job using all the skills she learned at her recent Power Point class at a local community college. 

Then this evening we all went over to Grace’s softball game.  This is her first year of softball on our local recreation league.  She is having lots of fun, and it’s great for her to get out there and learn the sport.  She is learning to be part of a team and it is all very encouraging.

Most of all it was an evening where I felt so incredibly grateful.  My parents came up to see the game, even after working a long day at work all day.  My kids are so blessed to have grandparents who would do anything to be there for them, and cheer them on when they need it.

I am also feeling grateful overall for just this life I live.  Four beautiful friends just returned from a missions trip to Haiti.  Words can’t describe the pictures they came home with.  They stayed at an orphanage and had so many experiences that I can’t even begin to imagine.  What has struck me the most were the stories of the parents trying to give their babies to the missionaries to take home to the U.S.  Unfathomable.  To be so desperate to try and give your baby away knowing that its life can be better or even saved by doing so.  We in the U.S. can not even begin to understand that kind of desperation.  I think about it, and my heart breaks.  I am just so grateful for all that I have…A beautiful family, beautiful children that we can provide for, and parents who would do anything for us…


“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 
1 Thessalonians 5:18

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim

apologia science, character traits, colonial america, spring

I can taste Spring!

I can taste Spring!  The weather man says after today it will be (finally!) nice out for the next few days.  Halleluja! It’s been a long, cold, wet winter and I am ready!  We will be taking a day off (finally!) on one of the sunny warm days…we’ll head to the park or for a hike…a nice treat for the kids after working through all those snow days when most kids had “off.”

Today was a smooth day.  We are continuing our studies of colonial American and the Revolutionary War.  We will be going to Philadelphia in 2 weeks, which will be an AWESOME addition to our studies!  We are also getting toward the end of Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Astronomy.  We have loved this curriculum.  What I am in awe of most is how much the kids have retained.  My just~turned 5 year old is amazing! Last week we studied Uranus.  Today when I reviewed what we learned last week, he quickly blurted out EVERY fact about Uranus!  He remembered EVERYTHING!  It was amazing, a great feeling to know that even  he is just absorbing so much information.  (We were also pleasantly surprise to learn that Uranus was discovered by 2 homeschooled kids!)

Our devotions were also really good today.  Our church is studying the book of Isaiah right now, and there happened to be a verse in our devotion time from Isaiah.  Grace immediately remembered it, and we were able to tie our sermon in with our lesson today. I love when God works like that!

Our new character trait we are working on as a family is humility.  We are to have humble attitudes and put others first.  This is clearly important for the family to work together, as well as one of the fruits of the Spirit.  We are going to make a conscience effort to practice humility, especially with each other.  Pride, the opposite of humility,  is the one sin that can really destroy.

Grace also finished reading Swiss Family Robinson today.  She really enjoyed that book.  She has chosen C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian for her next book.

I am excited as the year winds down and I have seen so many wonderful changes happen in our family.  I am excited to see God’s plans unfold for our future too.  Right now, what I know most is, that He has blessed our decisions and our family in so many ways. In my Bible time with the Lord this morning, I read this verse and it remains on my mind this evening.


 “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law 
       and obey it with all my heart.

 Direct me in the path of your commands, 
       for there I find delight.

 Turn my heart toward your statutes 
       and not toward selfish gain.

 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; 
       preserve my life according to your word.”
Psalm 119:34-38

© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved

SimplyLivingforHim