Weekly Wrap-Up for September 11 2020

So for the last few months I have been rather silent around here beyond reviews. For the last year and a half we have been on a rollercoaster ride of trying to find a retirement assignment, finding out the military eliminated our current duty assignment and more. In December, we found out we were moving to a new duty station in Charlotte for our last duty assignment. The move came quickly and without a lot of time to prepare.

In February, we moved, spent roughly a month living in hotels while the military movers packed our home in Texas up and then us traveling to North Carolina and finally trying to find somewhere to live in our “new-to-my husband and children” town. We are in Charlotte, NC somewhere I became familiar with as a girl. From 1978 to 1987 we lived close to Charlotte, and my first actual job was at Carowinds. It thrilled me with the idea my children would get to visit the theme park I worked out. But then COVID-19 occurred, and our ideas for this past spring and summer went out the window.

Yet, today, I think back and remember where I was on this day in 2001 when the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon and a place in Pennsylvania changed forever when airplanes crashed into these areas. I think of all those who lost loved ones, of all the children who grew up without a parent or parents, and even those children who lost their lives that day.

I think of the brave men and women who answered the call of their country and willingly stepped up to defend the United States. On this day, may our country remember what happened that day and the emotions and courage that came forth from the ashes.

May we never forget 9-11!

A Lesson In Civic Responsibility

Ever since my oldest son was born, every year, either my husband and I or just me alone would take our children along with us when we went to vote.  I felt it was important for them to learn about the process and the importance of voting.  We need to let our voices be heard and counted.  Most years, we went as a family.  Ever since we started homeschooling, I count it as an educational field trip.

Two years ago at the midterm election, our oldest son became old enough to vote.  This year our second son was going to be eighteen in time to vote in the election.  Back in March, we moved from Pennsylvania to Texas.  Upon arriving, my husband and I were registered to vote when we changed our drivers’ licenses from one state to the other.  Then a few months later, my mom and two oldest sons were registered to vote.

So yesterday afternoon, we  loaded everyone up into the van and drove to the voting location, even our youngest two who could not vote.  Upon arrival, I saw a line of people and expected we would have to wait.  But, they were in a different line from the one we needed to be in to actually vote.  Because nothing is ever simple for our family, I had hidden my second son’s voter registration card from myself.  So I quickly said a prayer that he would have no problem.  I stepped up to sign in first. Once I signed in, I asked about our second son.  The lady informed me she would use his identification information to look him up.  My daughter, our youngest who is not a crowd person, chose to walk with me.  We were taken to the voting booth and the lady made sure I knew how to use the machine.  I began the voting process while my daughter watched.  My husband and oldest two sons were each shown a booth in turn.  Finally, our youngest son decided to stay with my mother.  I finished first and exited the voting area with our daughter.  We waited in the hallway for everyone else.

My husband was the next to exit the room.  Then our oldest son exited followed shortly by my mom and youngest son.  So  all that was left for us to do was wait for my second son to exit.  I suggested my oldest son take the keys to our van so my mom, youngest two and himself could get settled into the van.  As they headed to the exit, my husband and I waited for our other son.  I could not figure out what was taking him so long.  About the time I was ready to look back at the voting room, I saw him.  Uninformed by the person instructing him on the proper voting procedures, he exited the same door we had entered the room.  So we did not see him come out since he went and sat on a bench to wait for us.

The funnier or scarier thought is when the next election rolls around, my other two children will be old enough to vote.  I pray we have instructed them in the way they should go so they will take this responsibility seriously.

So if you have children, do you take them with you to vote?

#ivoted #familyouting

 

 

Math, Math and More Math

So I was looking back through my past posts and I realized I have been rather neglectful of this blog.  So I plan on changing that starting today.  The first topic I want to cover is math.

I have three sons: ages 20, 18, and 16 plus a daughter who is 14.  With the exception of the 16-year-old, they somehow all missed getting a love of math from their father and me.  It seems ironic to me with having a mom who has actually taught math in the Public School System, that some of that knowledge and love would have been passed on to them.  Maybe that is why only the 16-year old has it (seeing how I was actually teaching math when I was pregnant with him).

But the facts remain the rest of my children do not love math!  So through the years, we have tried a variety of math products.  Some we have loved.  Some I have been the only one that loved them.  Others have been miserable failures.  Over the next several days, I will share what has worked and what has not worked for our family or even for particular children.

What is working for you right now?  I would love to hear from you.

 

Preparing for a Move

We are in the process of preparing for a cross-country move, so school has been suspended.  We are using this time to purge, clean and otherwise prepare for our move.  It is always fun getting ready for a move, okay maybe I am exaggerating slightly or even a bunch.  I think it can become tedious at times.  It is no fun going through all the last minute preparations and purging that is necessary to move.  In our case, we are blessed to have packers and movers come in to deal with some of the tedious stuff.  But then we are left with the task of cleaning and making sure the house we are leaving meets the landlord’s standards.

Some landlords spell out very specifically their requirements in the lease.  One of our landlords required us to have the carpets professionally cleaned.  Other landlords have been much more vague, which makes it a lot harder to satisfy them.  It is no fun having to guess at what expectations the landlords might have.  Nor is it fun to be out part of a deposit because we did not know what requirements the landlords had.  So we try to be proactive and work towards meeting expectations.

Since the military is moving us, we are limited on the amount of weight we can move.  As a result when we go to try to find a new home to rent, we are planning on loading a lot of boxes into our twelve passenger van and leave them in Texas.  Of course, these boxes will primarily contain books since books weigh the most.  Then when the packers come we will not have those books to worry about.  In the meantime, I am trying to get rid of as many books as I can that I know we will not use again.

So what is going on in your world?  I would love to hear from you.

 

Bible Journaling

So this is day 8 of the #Write365 project and I would like to incorporate the principle of the idea into our homeschool. I want to get our children writing.  I know the more writing they do now, the easier it will be for them later – when they have to write.  So I want some of the writing assignments to be ones they enjoy and want to write.

Another activity I want to incorporate into our homeschool is the idea of Bible Journaling.  This year I am attempting to participate in both the Documented Life project and the Documented Faith project.    Now I have to confess, life interfered and I did not get to really start either of these projects this past week.  But I am determined to spend some time this weekend catching up.  For Documented Faith, I choose to order the binder kit and spent some time this evening working on the cover.  This is what I have accomplished so far:

 

We now have a better idea of when we are going to be moving to Texas – so it makes it easier for my to make plans and decide what to do.  For the moment, I decided it is in the best interest to do a limited amount of school until we move.  So this means Math and Language Arts will be where we focus.  Of course, the children will be able to continue working on anything of interest to them as well.  The remainder of our time will be spent preparing for the move.

Several boxes of books have already made their way out of our home, but we still have more to purge.  In the meantime, we are purging other items as well.  The more I get done on this end will result in less we have to do on the other end.  This will result in us returning to school faster.

So what is going on where you are?  I would love to hear from you.  Also, if there is anything I can pray about for you, let me know.

#Write365 #Homeschooling #DemandsofMoving

 

Plans for 2016

With 2016, comes 366 days of brand new possibilities.  But for our family, it not only brings the normal types of changes but the change of a cross-country move.  We are going to a part of the country I have never been before – not even to visit.  So it is going to be all new to me.

So with this impending change, decisions have to be made.  Some of those decisions involve when we will resume school.  In theory, we could be in the process of moving in less than 30 days.  At the same time, we could be looking at almost 60 days.  If we have only 30 days, we will probably choose to wait until after we move to resume school.  If it is more like 60 days, we will choose to resume school next week.

With a new year, we need to figure out what changes we need to introduce in our homeschool.  With a new area, we will have new possibilities for outside activities.  I am excited to see what new adventures lie ahead.

What is going on in your life today?  I would love tp hear from you.

#Write365  #2016  #ANewYear

New Beginnings

So a new year is under way.  This means we will be resuming school shortly.  In just two days, the learning will start in our home.  But it may quickly be interrupted by cleaning and preparing for packers and movers to come to our home.  The anticipation of waiting is getting old now.  I am ready to begin this new stage of our life.

Because I know where we are going, I joined an email group for the place we will moving to earlier this week.  Yesterday, I received several emails regarding activities and possible friends for our children.  The local homeschool group has an amazing variety of items to choose from and I think my children are really excited.  From an Archery club to involvement with Habitat for Humanity to Golf lessons to dance to art to music to singing and even drama, the possibilities are endless.  We also began searching online for a church and already have several possibilities to check out.

So what is going on where you are?

#Write365   #ANewYear  #Beginnings

Preparing for 2016

  So 2015 is quickly winding down and 2016 is fast approaching.  Last year, I read all over the Internet about picking a word for the year.  So I picked “Create” and I still plan on using that as one of my words and verses for the year.

I want to continue “creating” in 2016.  I wat to create memories, dreams and new adventures with our family as we transition from life in central Pennsylvania to life in Texas.  I want to “delight” in where we are being placed by God.  I want to find the desires of my heart and work towards reaching those dreams.  I want to look to God as the source of my strenght and delight.  Even though I may not understand His plan for my life, I can choose to bloom where He has and is planting me.

In 2016, I want to strive to help my children reach towards these ideas ass well – especially in our homeschooling adventure.  Some many opportunities and doors will be opening with this move even though some doors are closing.  All my life I have lived on the East Coast, so this is a new adventure.  May God bless our steps and lead our paths in the ways He would have us go.

I also want to work on my Bible Journaling more.  I want to spend more time in meaningful interaction with my heavenly Father.  I also want to spend more time on creative pursuits – including crocheting, quilting,  and learning other artisitic pursuits.

I pray for your Christmas or holidays to be blessed.  Enjoy your time with your family and friends.

Beauty of Homeschooling

  So we know we are getting orders, but we just don’t know when yet.  We know we are expecting to report tentatively in February to Texas.  So the fun now is getting ready for a move that is surrounded by uncertainty.

Homeschooling allows us the flexibility to prepare for the move while still accomplishing some of my goals for homeschooling.  Also, it gives me time to evaluate what is working and what needs to be changed.  So how are things going where you are?  I would love to hear from you.

Books, Books and Books – Oh Which Ones to Depart With

Our family is now in our tenth year of homeschooling.  Plus, I freely admit I am a bookaholic.  I love books of all shapes and sizes.  But when you are a military family and the military is moving you, weight becomes an incredible part of deciding to keep or get rid of things.  This includes our books.  Since we know we are slotted for new orders to Texas, this means we have to start the purging process.  It will be tedious and time consuming and most of it will rest solely on my shoulders.  I will ultimately be the one to decide what we want to keep and what we want to get release.  I know we will probably be able to send most of to good homes.  Others I am sure will go off to a local homeschool group’s library.  This gives me some small sense of satisfaction.

So for the next few months scaling down our books and other household items will be the priority.  Then once we have actually moved, the fun will be finding a church, friends and homeschool activities as well as a dance studio.

So what is going on in your world.