Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

 

~ink stains on Adam's fingers

~the ability to be flexible

~breaks from school work

~blooms on the bottle brush tree

~new birds

Wordless Wednesday: Anna Turns Eleven

Fall into Reading Challenge 2012

It's the first day of fall which means it's time for the Fall into Reading Challenge at Callapidder Days. I have participated for a couple of years now, and it's always a lot of fun. Here is my list for this fall's challenge:

Everything ~ Mary Demuth

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall ~ Julie Klassen

The Girl in the Glass ~ Susan Meissner

All Things New ~ Lynn Austin

The Choice ~ Robert Whitlow

The Winter Seeking ~ Vanita Hampton Wright

Watching the Tree Limbs ~ Mary Demuth

Wishing on Dandelions ~ Mary Demuth

Persona Non Grata ~ Ruth Downie

Blame it on the Mistletoe ~ Joyce Mangin

Into the Free ~ Julie Cantrell

Unwilling Warrior ~ Andrea Boeshaar

Talking to the Dead ~ Bonnie Grove

Les Miserables ~ Victor Hugo

Transforming Grace ~ Jerry Bridges

 

I think I have a little of everything on this list. Several of these books have been languishing on my shelves for years. As always, I reserve the right to change my list to suit my whims or ditch it all together. Happy fall, and happy reading!

Thankful Thursday

                    When you are thankful, you affirm the central truth that I am good ~ Jesus Calling

                  

~saving a little money

~belly laughs around the table

~unexpected money

~beautiful weather

~new faucets

6x6 Challenge

Mary Demuth posted this challenge on her blog, and I thought it was a great idea. The point is to come up with six tasks to complete over the next six weeks. The challenge starts today and lasts through October 23rd. Here is my 6x6 list:

 

~ cook 3 never-been-tried-before meals

~ complete nine weeks of lesson plans

~perform 2 new offertories

~walk 20 miles

~read 6 books

~ get a mammogram

 

I have my list written out on an index card so I can keep it in my memory for the next few weeks. I'll post a follow-up when I'm done and have (hopefully) completed the challenge.

Summer is Gone ~ School Has Begun

This summer has zipped past us, as all summers seem to do. We started school last week. This school year is so different than the previous ones. The most obvious change is that Adam has graduated. I still have trouble wrapping my head around that thought. I have an eighteen year old, high school graduate. I remember holding him on my 22nd birthday and thinking that when I turned thirty he would be eight, and that was very, very far away.

Another change this year is that I have done very little planning. I'm actually just writing things down as I go. I have a lot of things planned in my head...they just haven't made it to paper yet. For the most part, we are in a rhythm. We just move on to the next level or the next subject. I always try to be flexible, and allow for interest led learning, so the girls have chosen some of their own subjects this year. Here is a break down of what we are learning this year:

Elin ~ 10th grade

Geometry ~ Teaching Textbook

Chemistry ~ Apologia Science

*English 2 ~ Alpha Omega

Spanish 2 ~  Alpha Omega

Home Ecomomics

 Bible ~ Family Reading Bible, church

Speech ~ CEF Training Class

 

*I usually do my own literature units for high school using a reading list and Spark notes. This year, I let Elin choose what she wanted to study. She chose: Romeo and Juliet, Persuasion, Alice in Wonderland, and The Scarlet Letter.

 

 

Anna ~ 5th grade

Math 5 ~ Teaching Textbooks

Language Arts ~ Easy Grammar, Beyond Five in a Row

Science ~ Five in a Row Nature Studies, Beyond Five in a row, interest-led unit studies

History ~ Beyond Five in a Row, interest-led unit studies

Bible ~ Family Reading Bible, church

 

I still have a few more things to purchase, but we are off to a good start. I'm hoping to get a lot accomplished and maintain a good schedule through out the year. We'll see how that goes.



Book Review: God is More Than Enough

God is More Than Enough by Tony Evans is a great little book packed with powerful reminders of God's love, protection, and provision. This book can easily be read in one sitting, but is message is deep and profound. Mr. Evans breaks down the 23rd Psalm to show us God is more than enough to meet our spiritual, directional, emotional, physical, and eternal needs. He also shows us that the 23rd Psalm is more than just beautiful poetry. It is also a study of God's character and how He interacts in the Christian life. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of review.