SchoolHouse Library

 

I have been homeschooling for awhile, going on 9 years.
Shocking for me to know that too. Every year over the summer
I like to work on lesson plans. I'm always looking for that new
thing to keep my children engaged. As the years go it can become
more difficult to think of different things to do. I often feel I keep
copying my style but I want the kids to get more out of their learning
environment. Not just a one sided perspective.


I'd like to introduce to you  The Schoolhouse Library .
For a one time Fee of $25. you will have access to over 170+
E-books or Audio books . It's my understanding that it will
continue being added to over time.  Now That is a Great deal.
Here are some of the things you get.

Draw Write Now Sampler E-book

2 Study Guides from YWAM

2 Lapbooks form Journey through learning and one from
a Hands of a child.

Teaching Writing E-Book from Write Shop

15 Audio E-Books from my Audio School History and Literature

Map Trek Outline maps and Atlas of World History from
Knowledge Quest

Unit Studies


And so much more.

This is a  Deal!!! I will receive  access to the library for my
endorsement, However I would have shared it anyway because
It is a Great Deal. So many resources at such a good price.


Warm Blessings,

Nikki

Life Lessons By Little Old Me.

Lessons of Life that I didn't Learn in School.

31 Day Blog Challenge Things Life Told Me

When I was little God Told me to trust in Him.
I didn't listen. He told me again later on in my teen
years. I didn't listen. He told me again as I grew older
I didn't listen. Then he told me again closer to my age
now and I realized I need to listen. Things went much
easier after that. Follow your heart and Trust in the Lord.
I also learned I'm a little hard headed.



I Learned to Breathe in Life because it goes all to
fast. Your little ones go off to college before you know it.
If you aren't paying attention and you blink its all gone.
Life has a way of slipping through your hands if you aren't
watching and paying attention to it.



The toilet roll only changes if Mom does it.
There are just some things that I do and I might as
well get over being mad about it. God placed me here
to be a keeper of the home and if doing that one thing or
the thousandth thing ministers to my families heart will
then I guess I got the TP. No worries.



There are some people that just anger easy and I can't
control how they are feeling. So I can sit on it all night
and day, feeling upset. But that isn't going to help a thing. I've
learned that it's best to let it go. To allow that person to feel their
way out of their mood and then forgive them when they come.
While they do that though I get to smile and laugh continuing
life. Their frustration does not have to be mine.





I Learned that I love to homeschool my children. Despite what
others comment. I get to spend time day in and out with my children.
You might think that is horrible but I promise you it isn't. I have been

given so many gifts and they have received many as well. I know
where they are , who they are with, what they are hearing, and what they

are learning. I get to share that experience with them and help
them grow in faith and love. Because one thing I know is that
family is important.


And that's the one I'll leave you with. I learned that family is
so important. Life is so much easier if you can be close to those
that have been a part of your life since birth. Moments mean
so much more if you have someone to share it with.



Warm Blessings,

Nikki

"Lower Class"

31 Day Blog Challenge A Rant
Day 22 of the 31 day Blog challenge
Rant about something.
Get up on your soapbox and
tell us how you really feel.


It's really hard for me to rant about anything. I just
woke up for one so I'm rather sleepy but I just don' t typically
get involved in big political conversations or am one to be
a complainer out loud.  However I do get upset when I
hear people that were given everything in life complaining about
those who are one welfare. Yes, Yes, I know that there are some
that try to scam the system but lets face it not everyone is lazy
or scamming someone just because they are in need of  a hand up.
When you spout those things out in front of co- workers and friends
you really  might be hurting one of them. You think you know but
in reality more are in need of assistance then you may be aware.
It's really not something someone wants to talk about. They don't
walk around saying Hi, I'm on welfare. Yes I'm poor. Now that
I said that I know you are going to place me in a box in your mind.
No people don't want that. They don't want to be labeled.

This is something that has bothered me for a very long time.
It started when I was younger and I saw how people were
placed in neat little packages and labeled by their financial
and social status. It unnerved me way back in grade school
before it became a world view perspective. For some  people
things just fall in place (Yes some of you have worked very had
to get where you are)  but for others it isn't always so
easy. I was taught that God loved all people. It was hard to see
people being placed on lower level status. Why do we do this
to each other. Why do we generalize and think that each individual
can be categorized. I just don't think it is that simple.

I guess the term try walking a mile in someone else's shoes comes
into play here. You don't know their background or what they
have had to overcome. It may just be more than you can fathom.
Do you know what it's like to have to humble yourself and ask
for help? Do you know what it's like not to have clothes or enough
to eat? Do you know what it's like to sleep on the floor because
you have no bed to sleep in. It's their reality. Don't pretend you
know. Don't judge and place people in a box. It's not for you
to decide what one person should have done or another. We all
learn lessons in life. Perhaps this one is what they need to learn.
I guess what I'm asking is for you to be compassionate. Think about
the feelings of those who had to struggle through life and are working
hard to figure it all out. Don't judge that.


Warm Blessings,

Nikki

My Favorite Links

This is the part of the 31 day blog challenge where I get to
toot my own horn. Hee hee...

 

Nativity

My favorite post are the ones on our Crafts that went with
learning about the Nativity. I plan to save these for future toddler
classes. They were so much fun.

Robinson Crusoe


This is one of our favorite projects. I love when we can
do activities with books. Finding ideas with chapter books
is often harder than finding things with picture books. So enjoy.









A is for Alligator

For the longest time this was my top most viewed blog post.
I think it was just the adorable costume. (wink) This photo
was used in a cutest kids contest. We were contacted by the
company setting up the contest. My little guy and I enjoyed
learning about the Letter A . He was a big costume guy at the
time.

If you give a Moose a Muffin

The boys and I enjoyed making muffins along with the story.
I'm not sure if it was the blog post I enjoyed the most or the
actual activity. :)


Warm Blessings,

Nikki

Mom's Balancing Act

Blog Challenge for Monday ... A day late by the way.

Something you are struggling with.

Story of My Life Blog - Blog Every Day in May Challenge


I think my biggest struggle right now is balancing it all.
This isn't  an uncommon place as a mother to be.
There are so many parts of me. I can try to compartmentalize
motherhood but it would be impossible. I am many titles and
with in those titles, I'm just me.

I enjoy all that I do, all that I am but balancing it, now that is
something that keeps me up at night, Literally.  I'm not sure
how I get it all done. When I look at it or try to list it all I'm
suddenly amazed at myself. How do I do it? Where did this all
come from? Who would have ever thought this would be
my life. I'm not complaining at all mind you. I love every
minute of every moment in my life.  In the morning
when I wake up and see the To do list. I wonder how but
somehow at the dawn of the day I have most of it checked
off. Not all but most.

Being a mom has its challenges. If you are one then
you know the ups and downs of potty training and trying
to keep the mess at a low murmur when the kids are running
around. Figuring out each child's needs when they can be so
different. It's such a complex intricate weaving of lives.


Then there is the ministry me. The part that goes out and
tries to spread Gods word. That person who plans and establishes
herself within the walls of the church and outside of it too.


There's that part of me that has to balance a relationship. Give it time

and nurture its growth even when I feel like I have nothing left.
 I find that spot that just makes it spiral through its own
living organism of love and laughter.


On top of that there is me with my interests and college courses.
All that I am all that I will be. Its a balance that words can not
comprehend.

How do you balance it all???


Warm Blessings,

Nikki




My 5 Bloggity Love...

Hello everyone. Today I get to share with you my 5 favorite
blogs. Yes, yes, I admit I didn't quite make the blog
every day challenge. I am cheating a little and catching up
today. I have so many fun things going on here . Our school

session is coming to a close and Summer is on its way. I am
ready to relax just as much as the kids are ready.




My Very top favorite blog site is Good Morning Girls
I have been so blessed by this ministry. I have
enjoyed them so much that I started my own bible
Study Group with in the big world of GMG. I also volunteer
and help with the children's ministry part of the group.
This summer we are participating in the Anything
book study. If you are interested in joining in please
click the Good Morning Girls website and then request
an invite to our study group. Hopefully it will bless you
as much as it has me. I have become accountable for my
study time and that is what I love most about GMG.



My next Favorite Blog is A Holy Experience. The writer is the
author of the Book One thousand Gifts, Ann VosKamp. I
enjoy her poetic words of Grace and many of her study materials.
I have been participating in her Joy Dare. I'm a little behind in posting

my journal pages here but will catch up with it here in June when Our
31 days of blogging is over. Ann is such a blessings.

Then there is the Pioneer Women. Her site has everything
I could possibly want on it. I love reading all about her life
as a rancher, homeschool mom, photographer, author and Cook.
So many yummy recipes. She has two cook books on the Market
called the Pioneer Women Cooks and two children's books
about her Dog Charlie. Seriously you have to try one of her
recipes they are so amazingly good

Well I wouldn't be a homeschool if I didn't like
free homeschool deals. This site has been so amazing
at finding and directing me to many goodies for my kids.
If you are trying to save money as a homeschooler or are
just looking for some fun things to do this summer than you
might want to stop by Free Homeschool Deals


 

My other favorite homeschool site is
Confessions of a Homeschooler . I have always been
a fan but recently found Erica on You tube as well. Love
her schoolroom by the way. I'll be taking a few tips from her.

I hope you enjoy my top 5 Favorite bloggers. I could
seriously name at least 5 more.


Hugs to all,

Nikki

High School Prep Genius by College Prep Genius

I was given for review from College Prep Genius the book

High School Prep Genius by Jean Burk and Judah Burk

through the School House Review Crew .

College Prep Genius is dedicated to helping your child

prepare for College or a trade school. The high school

years are often the scariest as a parent who home educates.

Especially if it is your first child going through it. I have had

one go through the process but she attended public school. This

is our first child going through it virtually by ourselves. It can

be a little unnerving. This particular daughter has some learning

disabilities' and this very thing could become a big stress issue

for her. She has to be prepared as to what is to come. I was

happy to be able to review High School Prep Genius.

The price of the book is $29.95. It is set up for teens who

are in 9th -12th grade, Although there are a few notes for

7-8th graders as well. In fact I would encourage you as a

parent to research the information before 9th grade. It can be

overwhelming otherwise but this book does help to put it

all in order for you. Let me tell you more about it.

Originally when I got this book in the mail I handed it to

my oldest daughter to take off with it. She was thrilled

about the topic right away and did just that. I had to ask

her for it again later so I could take a look and see if she

had completed anything . She had. I'll start off first though by

giving you a little background as to what High School

Prep Genius is all about.

Every College prep that I have read or heard about has suggested

a notebook to help your child prepare. It is suggested to write in

interests and various volunteer activity. It also becomes very

helpful to have a place to keep letters form colleges, scholarship

information, where you have applied and information about your

college once you find the place of your choice. I learned this on

my own with my first child.

In the very front of High School Prep Genius you will find a

table of the credits needed for high school. This was very helpful to

us as we could see what we still had left to complete. My daughter

I might add is heading into the 11th grade in the fall. You will also

find various charts in the front of the book that would be helpful to

place in your child's notebook or a variation of the ones provided.

Princess was most excited about these as she can now see in her

organized why what she has done and what she has to do. This is

so helpful for any child.

Next you will find a timeline of what needs to be done by what

grade level beginning in the 7th grade. I can see we have a bit

of work to do this summer to get our records up to date. I'm so

glad we were able to review this book for that very reason.

After this is the portion  there is a section that you child can do own

their own.  The chapters take your child through personal success,

Academic and future success. After each section of reading are some

questions to get your child thinking. These become great discussion

sections Which my daughter had taken upon herself to complete  on

her own. I went back later to review with her what she learned

about herself.  As the parent there are sections for you too such as how

to build a transcript, other book resources and admissions terminology.

This book is very well organized and though out . Don't wait

till its to late. Find out now what you will need to do to prepare

for your child's future.

Warm Blessings,

Nikki

Weekly Finds

Getting ready for planning for the fall. Some
of us homeschool moms like to plan over the summer
months I know I did. Did you happen to see the planning
pages offered by Free Homeschool Deals. I thought
there were some good ones but my pin page still takes the
cake on that one. Homeschool Helps


In Preschool, Kindergarten and sometimes 1st grade it's fun
to do an all about you book. It is always hard to do because
they are usually written for children that attend school. Well
look what I found a All about a Homeschooling Family.
Perfect printable for those early years.



It was a pretty slow week this week. I don't have as many links
as I usually do. A friend did send me this video of
Louie Giglio - How Great is Our God  . The great thing about
this video is that my son and I have been studying space and
when you watch you'll see why that is interesting. We
were using a rather secular book at the time and when it would
talk about how the world was created his favorite thing to say
after it was " AND GOD" :) When I saw this I had to show it
to him. We both enjoyed it and it was pretty neat how it matched
what we were doing.

Warm Blessings,


Nikki

Red Baron



Story of My Life Blog - Blog Every Day in May Challenge


Todays Topic... Tell a Story from your Childhood


I know this might sound sad but I spend a lot of time as a child
playing by myself. It really wasn't lonely like you might think.
 I enjoyed using my imagination to play. I had a good time with
myself. I wasn't  bored. I liked who I was and who I am.  We
lived on a farm with lots of animals to talk to. I would fall
asleep on the backs of Ponies. I would sit for hours on end
waiting for a skittish kitten to come and eat from my hand.
Our dog acted as protector and would bark if anything was about
to cause any kind of harm. My parents had the best babysitter.

I would climb on the backs of the horses with no bridle or saddle
and lay on their backs feeling the warmth from their bodies and
the heat left over from the sun. My bare legs and feet would dangle
and I'd hug their necks and watch them eat the grass and day
dream of what was to come. What my life would one day be like.
I already had the best of the best. I really did. They were especially
soft in the fall when they would grow in their winter fur. I had
a special bond with the animals. Something I didn't realize how
much I missed. I see this same thing within my daughter.

When I was 5 I was pretty wise as the story goes. Our little
farm was by a highway. One day our biggest horse and most
loved Red Baron escaped from the corral. Something spooked
him. I don't remember what it was but he sprinted down the
highway. My dad he ran after him calling his name. Mom
told me to wait there and  got the car. Red was about 17
hands high. Pretty big as horses go. Thinking like a 5 year old
with no fear at all in my little heart. I ran into the barn and grabbed
the feed dipper. I grabbed it and some food and ran to the corral
fence. I began banging on the metal fence as hard as I could. Both
my parents were ensuing after Red. I was banging the feeder
with my whole heart. Standing on that fence not thinking.
Red must have heard it. Well I know he did because he abruptly
turned on my dad and ran past him right for the corral where
I had been banging. He knew his food call. He knew what that
security meant. I saw him coming like light speed and jumped
down opening the gate wide. Then stood on the fence while
he ran right in. Then I shut it quick and gave him the feed
from the bucket. Dad found me feeding Red. All was well.
I was the hero for the day or so my dad said. I'm sure I really
wasn't. Many farm children would have done the same thing
but it was that knowing that proud feeling  that I was loved by
my parents that mattered the most. Much more than saving the day.

I can even smell the fresh air from my window and see
the hard wood floors of our farm house. Mom had it clean
and smelling like lemons... Oh sweet childhood.


Warm blessings,

Nikki

Random 5 Mother's Day

1. On Mother's day I was surprised when Dad invited  family
to the house for Mother's day. He made food on the grill and
all I had to do was sit and enjoy the grandkids. Dad found time
to sit with Aunt Sweet pea (My little girl) and her nephew
(Grandson) . So funny to say that. 

2. Everything we do seems to be a big family event. On Wed. I think
it was Princess finally got her ears pierced. The whole family met
in the middle of the mall to watch and then we went for pizza.
I didn't get photos I was to nervous for her. 



3. Carl's dad came over too we always enjoy when he drops in
For dinner with us and this time Baby allowed him to hold him.
I really need nicknames for my grandkids for my blog. 

4. This is our new favorite past time.. Pool noodle wars.


 

5. Even through we aren't completely done with school yet for
the year  I am already planning next year. I finished all our plans
till the end of the year and thought to get started on the next. 
I love lesson planning. Have I mentioned that.


Warm Blessings,

Nikki