The Greaves Family, homeschooling in South Africa

Our Journey into Homeschooling

2011-10-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

So, why are you homeschooling? I have to say, though I am often asked this question, I honestly do not tell people the full answer that you'll read here. Why? Because quite frankly, most of the time people are not really interested in your answer, they are just making conversation. So for their sake and mine, I keep it brief. For my kindred homeschoolers who visit my blog, here is how our homeschool journey started ;-)

In 2001 our first child, a son, was born. Sometime before Joel's third birthday there was pressure from our social circles to send him to play school. I had a deep sense of sadness about this, and wanted to keep Joel at home. I was surprised that other parents were so keen to send their children off to school at such a young age. Already I was the only one left who had not returned to work. But I was loving my time at home, enjoying every moment of learning alongside my little one.

Everyday, whilst I nursed his sister, my son and I would read books. Then we would go for walks in the veld, and discover new birds and plants. I really learned a lot more than I had ever learned because my little guy asked so many questions. We did crafts, and also just "mucked about" in mud or sand or water ;-) it was glorious. My daughter was a most obliging baby, always willing to join in.

Around this time, my husband read a book, in which Dr. James Dobson called for parents incertain states of the United States to pull their children out of school, and home educate them. The books is called Bringing up Boys. When my husband suggested that we homeschool our child, I thought it was a ridiculous idea. Surely, only weird people and those living in the sticks homeschooled? And, in any case, was homeschooling in South Africa even legal?

Well, the Lord certainly had a lot to teach me. Because of my husband’s insistence that I at least look into homeschooling, I began a season of intense research. This endeavour was less fruitful than I had hoped- I had expected there would be some sort of National Council for homeschoolers’ and of course books.

Despite the lack of information, by the end of 2004 my husband and I both reached a place where we knew the Lord was calling us to homeschool. And so we stepped out in faith and began.

From our first days of parenting, this verse from Deuteronomy 6 was laid on our hearts:

⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

We had often wondered why, but now we felt this was precisely the type of homeschooling we were being called to, a complete way of life, a walk with our children, workingalongside our children, from sunrise to sunset, so that we could impart our beliefs on our children.

Though we have tried many things over the years we are back to what the Lord led us to initally and we regret the time spent (and money wasted) in curriculum searching. We use the Weaver curriculum, a Bible based unit study which teaches multiple levels, with hands-on methods to teach all three children at once. The older two children use Christian Light Education Maths, Reading and Language Arts. And my preschooler does a little Rod and Staff Preschool and a lot of playing.

To Facebook or not to Facebook- there is no question!

2011-10-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, so zillions of people out there love Facebook. And they are enjoying connecting with each other via this social networking system. Some have met long lost friends. Others have found new friends. Mostly every day, at best these people log into Facebook and check out what is happening and who is doing what. At its worst, they're checking in every few minutes or constantly logged in. I'm not sure how this is going to effect the worlds productivity levels.

The Homeschool world has not been left out of this, with many homeschool groups now moving onto Facebook. I recently read that the days of Yahoo e-mail groups is "old school"! Oh dear. If that is the case, I'm afraid I am about to be left behind. You see, I don't do Facebook. I won't do Facebook. I'm not on Facebook.

Four years ago, I did Facebook. Not for long. I had a few friends. One day, whilst in my little world of FB, in amidst searching through my "wall posts" and cyberhugs, I suddenly realised that my children were trying to talk to me. They had been repeating something, but I was in another world, and hadn't heard them. It struck me then- this is real life, these children need me to be communicating with them, not staring at a screen.

Sure, I liked the people I was connecting with, but it was beginning to stop me from connecting with real life people. (It's so much easier and less messy to visit on FB, isn't it)see Were my children watching as visitors came into our home and conversed, seeing me support a crying friend, were they learning anything from FB about real friendship? Was I still reaching out to others who were shut in, visiting them, taking them meals or was I sending them cyberhugs and then ignoring them? What was I actually teaching my children about real life communication and love when I was on FB? That those relationships and that type of communication was important, even more important than they were?! These, and many other sentiments hit hard and deep! I shut down my FB profile, only to discover that it never really shut down. Since then I have attmepted to follow a really complicated process to delete myself, I hope I was successful.

In the past few years I know of 2 marriages ruined, where FB played a role in deception and adultery. Sure, adultery can succeed without FB.

I am probably going to get nailed for saying this, but I feel that married women having male friends, and married men having women friends on FB, particularily those from their pasts, is just playing with fire. I saw how people were inclined to be a lot more personal on FB than they would be in real life and that is dangerous. I shudder to think how many more wonderful marriages are going to be ruined by FB, people innocently connecting with others, only to get deeper and deeper into a "unreal" relationship.

I am sure FB has it's uses. I hear it's great if you own a business, and is the way forward. So, I'm old fashioned and backward. If all the homeschool groups move over to Facebook, I'll be very alone. Especially if notices of homeschool events and such are only posted on FB. I'll just take my chances.

Facebook user? No thanks, I'll take real life anyday.

New baby cousin Kirsty

2011-09-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some early pictures of my new niece, Kirsty, born on Thursday 15th September.
She gets more and more beautiful every day I see her.
The centre pic is me holding her, about two hours after birth, it was so special.
The children are thrilled, especially her big sister Amy, seen below holding her.

Congratulations Tracy and Neil on your precious bundle.

Weaving again

2011-09-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Basic Weaver Set

Ihaven't posted much here these past years. And I have not updated anyone about our homeschooling. Well, after about two years absence, we have started our beloved Weaver Curriculum again. When the girls were smaller, I found they could not keep up and got bored. Now Emma is 7yo and Shelley is almost 5yo and their attention span is much better.

We are now on Chapter 3 and really enjoying it. Shelley does the activities that she wants to and wanders off if she doesn't feel interested.

The children have re-acted so well to the Weaver and I honestly think God has brought this into our lives again at the right time. Twice this week Joel has looked at me in disbelief and said, "Mommy, you're different, you've changed!" I think he can visibly see the tension has gone from me and I feel at peace about curriculum choices.

A seasoned fellow South African Weaverette gave me some very wise advise. She said once you have chosen what you are going to use, do not even look at anything else. Excellent!

I am also doing Interlock with Shel, I'm so blessed to be able to do it again. I am wondering which I prefer mroe Interlock or the Volume? It is not advised to do a Volume and Interlock together, but since I've done Interlock and some of Vol 1, I think it will be ok. Though I am lost as to how to schedule my day. I am thinking we'll progress through both these slowly at this rate!

We have one more week of school before our Spring break. Yeah, I am really wanting to organise my school room again and throw out clutter in the house.

Warming up the chill!

2011-07-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah! I got my new camera. Thanks so much James ;-) I've been playing with Picassa and created a collage.

We've had some really freezing weather and have been cooped up for days. So it feels as if we have not done anything in ages. I have also not been well, the children have been so good, even though I've spent most days in bed, they've really understood and being so well-behaved. Some family friends popped by on Sunday past for lunch, so I quickly snapped the children, all looking scruffy.

The girls and I went for a drive with my sister and niece to the farm her husband manages, for a change of scenery. It's situated in the Belmont Valley, in summer, it's lush and green. We all bundled on our coats and beanies. Joel was feeling poorly, so decided not to risk the car trip along the twisty Stoneshill road. The background, which of course you cannot see, is a grove of pecan nut trees in their winter colours and some old cabbage lands. I really thought the trees looked stunning, all naked and bare, but my sister disagreed. We had a cuppa coffee and Milo as we watched a tractor and some machinery attached to it, fertilise a current cabbage field, which the girls enjoyed. There is a backdrop of mountains, so we were huddled down in the valley, it was beautiful to get out. And...we came home with some farm produce, an enormous butternut and a pumpkin, so some soup will be on the menu soon.

The centre pic is a little love from my Emma-lee, top left, a little note and some lavender and felicia in a vase. These are the things I want to remember.

Stepping back in time

2011-07-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

We did this outing 4 years ago, in 2007 and for some reason after I added to SA blog carnival code, I oculd not save it under it's original date. Mmmmm.

Yesterday our homeschool group visited the gracious little Settler village, Bathurst. We spent a long time at the Bathurst agricultural museum, and found it extremely interesting. The children were allowed to touch and pick up old butter churns and various farm implements and see how they work.
The boys were thrilled with the variety of wagons, carriages and carts. We were allowed to climb on them for photographs.

After that we went to a Settler church. This is where Settlers hid during the Xhosa-Settler wars. One lady even had a baby in the Anglican church there during a raid, poor soul. It was a lovely day, which we ended by having a picnic in the veld next to the old Settler Powder magazine. We'll be back for more exploring.

This post features on the South African Carnival of Homeschool Bloggers where South African home schoolers share experiences, ideas, philosophies and much more. You can join the carnival too by heading to the South African Carnival of Homeschool Bloggers sign up page. In the meantime, head to SACH Carnival #2 - Outings for this week's carnival. We hope you enjoy the carnival as much as we have!

Sad news

2010-01-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to have to post this, but for some of our friends, it's the only way you'll get the news. I was 12 weeks pregnant and started miscarrying on Thursday. I had all the usual tests and scans and the Dr's found the baby must have died quite a while back as there was no heart beat, a large rather empty sac and development had stopped. I had a D&C today.

We don't understand and I'm trying not to ask questions. Having been there before, 9 years ago, I know it's futile to ask why, you never get the answers, but the pain eventually heals. I just keep thinking how God never said life would be easy, this is part of the broken, imperfect world we live in, but that He's promised He'll be there. I'm clinging on that, to Him. His ways are perfect and He has a plan for our family.

Another blessing on the way

2009-11-29T03:02:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to tell you all that we've another baby on the way. It is still very early days and I think the baby is due about July next year. James and the children are very excited about it. We've told a few people, many have blessed us with their positive reaction. It has not been easy with some negative reactions however.

I keep returning to the Word and thanking God for choosing us to nurture this little soul. I believe children are a blessing, yes a reward, and I'll just tell people that when they pity me or think I'm crazy for having a fourth child.

I have been asked if we'll still homeschool, and yes, of course we will. I plan to do a lot when I can and take it easy when we cannot. And I want to spend time enjoying my baby, watching those early days that pass so quickly.

I'll see the doctor on Tuesday.

Catching up!

2009-08-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

I have not blogged for such a long time. I thought I'd better tell a bit of our Winter months. Above is a picture of the family at Hogsback. We went up to the mountains in early July, it was great. We just missed the fantastic snow which came the following week.

Below is a photo of the dresses I made for the girls. I used a soft denim and appliqued a picture on the front and sewed ric-rac just above the hem. I have not sewn since I had children so it was such fun to get back into it and now I feel inspired. I only wish I could find some decent old fashioned dress patterns.

\The above three pictures are of us during the Womens Day long weekend, at the beach. We stayed with my sister at her holiday cottage. It was so relaxing and the weather was mild for early August. Chilly nights. James and I have not had a photo in years, so I really like this one.

Here the children are dressed for a neighbours party. This was late June.

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

To all the dear mothers reading this, may you be blessed today. It is great to be honoured on this day, but it is also worthwhile re-thinking exactly what we're doing and why.

The Girl I Used To Be

by Rowena K. Lewis

She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be.

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye, and questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?

The great career, the splendid fame, all the wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height, with all of its gardens rare?

The silken robes that I dreamed for you, and the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad, for I wanted her pleased with me.

This slender girl from the shadowy past, the girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay, innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;

That silken robe is my motherhood, of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know

Is serving each day in these sheltered walls, for the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl that I used to be.

Autumn 2009

2009-05-02T23:33:00.000-07:00

It is Autumn here in South Africa. Everything is looking tired and dry after a long hot summer. We also need rain rather badly. But the trees are looking lovely, of course it's mainly the exotics, but no matter. When we went to the lawns James also took some pretty shots.

Family Pictures April

2009-05-02T23:12:00.000-07:00

On my birthday we went for a picnic on the lawns outside an old chapel. The chapel is on the campus of Rhodes University, so lots of students do this. However, as it was a public holiday it was actually very quiet. It was a lovely mild day, and in fact it started drizzling twice whilst we were there. We had a "Mama treat", ready bought take away meal, so I did not have to prepare on my birthday. That was a break!

The students passing by enjoyed the children and they in turn had fun running around and jumping all over the grass. Isn't it beautiful how a large area of grass always makes a child want to run?

We took a short stroll around the lovely old buildings and just before we left a choir assembled in the chapel and we listened to a them singing some beautiful spiritual songs.
I had a happy birthday, indeed.

Time to change my ticker!

2009-04-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Newsflash!

After months of not blogging, I have to make a quick entry here tonight. About a month ago, Shelley, our youngest, was finally weaned, after feeding for 2 years and 5 months. Yippee! So, for the first time in seven years, I am not pregnant, breastfeeding or both ;-)

I thought I would be rather sad about this, but it was a very happy ending for us both, the time was ripe, and I feel I need a bit of "re-charging" now.

So, I'll be on the look out for a new ticker to put on my blog... I wonder what else is out there...

Addo Elephant Park

2009-02-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Last night our family did our first real camping trip- to a nearby national game reserve, called Addo elephant park. We took along two tents, some food, eating utensils and I think for a first camping trip it was all very civilised indeed. The loo was a long walk away for (me) and a child who only wants to use the loo now (Miss S), but very clean and so that was fine.

The animal viewing was stunning. We thought we'd struck it bad because we hit an unusual heat wave and had been told the animals would be hiding in the bushes. Well, maybe we could have seen other species, but we saw elephant aplenty. It was beautiful. The park is well set up with drives around water holes for good viewing and then also hidouts at various spots were you can get out in safety and take a closer look. We never saw lion or caracal, but we did see jackal. We also saw and heard a variety of birds: different barbets types, plovers, dikkops, weavers, red and yellow bishops, and larger birds of prey which I am not great at identifying. We also say Kudu, male and female, lots of warthog, some with cute little babies, and tortoise.

The elephant enjoyed bathing at the waterholes, squirting themselves with water, rolling in the mud and splashing with their feet. It was quite noisy as they made low rumbling noises, and occasional soft trumpets. Beautiful music to the ears. Though the water hole was a distance from our tent you could hear the sounds from our tent, they carry far.

When the warthog tried to get near the mud the make elephant were a bit cheeky and chased them off, often giving a mock charge, or squirting them with water, which I do not think they minded too much. Amongst the warthog there was much squealing for a spot of cool mud to roll in as they faught for a little patch of coolth between the sessions when there were no elephant.

I was amazed to see the tiniest elephant calf I have ever seen. It was still very hairy and it really struggled to reach up to drink to its mother. I could not get a good shot as it was very well protected by the herd. It was a lovely sighting.

Just before we left this morning we stopped at a hideout and were a few metres from a waterhole, we were able to get the closest to the sound, sights and smell of the elephant. First one herd was at the water, then it was joined by another herd, which had a calf. The calf had an absolute ball in the water, it rolled over and over in the muddy poolo, squirting the water and flapping it's ears. It was very clumsy so it looked so sweet. The adult protectively draped their trunks over it every now and again.

I hope we can go back again. It was about a 3 hour drive to the camp site, taking the slow scenic route.

Partial Eclispe of the Sun

2009-01-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

Today we experienced a partial eclipse of the sun, in South Africa. It proved a great Science lesson, presented by Dad, who was extremely clever at the various ways he showed the children the eclipse.

Firstly let me say that we are blessed to own 2 telescopes, the one is a (I may be wrong here) 8 inch one. And then, I must add that Dad is an amateur astonomer and LOVES this type of thing. It seems that Joel is going to follow in his steps.

The sighting was due at 7am, but it was very over cast where we live. This turned out to be a blessing, as we slowly viewed it becoming clearer as the cloud cover cleared. See below. The cresent is actually the sun and therefore the shadow on it is the moon. Joel points to it in the sky. Click on these photos to enlarge them.

We also had some special viewing glasses that were safe to use. Then Daddy took the telescope and reflected the sun onto paper first and then onto each persons hand. See below. Then we reflected it onto a large poster board, and Joel drew the outline and watched how it moved every few seconds.

Daddy also gave a lesson using the globe, and explained the rotation of the earth and moon, and it all so that it made sense, even to me! Ihave seen eclipses before but I really appreciated it this time. I wonder what the ancient folk thought of them?

Then he took a large projector screen, the type used for movies, and reflected the sun onto that. It was an awesome sight.

To explain to the children the danger of looking at the sun throuh a telescope, and the dangers of looking at the sun without correct eye protection, James took a feather and reflected the sun onto it. Within seconds it burned, it was a very visiual lesson.

I thought that the sun may be watery today and cooler but it ended up being a whopping 37 degrees celsius (98.6 degrees farenheit) and 28 degrees inside. And at last we had a thunder storm and some rain. Yeah!

Let me hold on longer, God

2009-01-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

I recently heard a broadcast at Familylife.com, where author Karen Kigsbury read from her book, "Let me hold you longer". I was absolutely moved to tears by the poem she read, below:

Let me Hold you Longer

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts;
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.
The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip,
The last night when you woke up crying,
Needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
Wanting to be rocked.
The last time when you ran to me still small enough to hold
The last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious simple moments and bright flashes from your past
Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long past
So what about tomorrow? Will I recognize your lasts?
The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond
The last that you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn
Silly, scattered moments and bright flashes from your past
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your last.
The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight,
The last time that I tuck you in and pray with you at night.
The last time when we cuddled with a book just me and you,
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson, the last vacation to the lake
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass
But as I do I sometimes miss today's sweet precious lasts.
The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test
The last time when I shout that "Yes! Your room is still a mess!"
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.
My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass
I want to hold on longer, want to recognize your lasts.
The last thing that you need my help with, details of a dance,
And the last time that you asked me for advice about romance.
The last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold onto your lasts.
For come some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way
One last hug, one last goodbye, one quick and hurried kiss,
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed
So let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last."

My hay box

2009-01-20T04:58:00.000-08:00

A friend in Cape Town requested that I post some pics and info about my haybox (hot box) here, so after yesterdays post I thought a bit of light hearted cheer would be in order.

A simple hot box or hay box

A hot box is any type of bag that is filled with insulative material, used to cook foods. Traditionally hay was used in these boxes, I've also heard of newspaper but we use polystyrene chips. (ONE good use for these dreadful things) You can usually find these chips or balls at a chemist shop or some other shop that receives packages of fragile goods regularily and they will probably be happy to give them to you. The chips are placed in a cloth bag, like a pillow slip. It helps if you make a cover for the pillows are they sometimes get food spills on them. Mine have velcro strips and were made by my Mom. (Thanks Mom) The pillows are placed in a cardboard box, which also helps keep the heat in. My mother has a box with a lid flaps, but mine is open, simply cos it is all I could find and it works well.

Note the inner cover cushion and removable slip.

Obviously the box has no heat source of its' own, so hot/boiling food must be placed in it, to cook. Once food is brought to the boil or a high temperature on a conventional stove the pot is placed in the hot box and cooking continues as the insulative materials keep the food at a constant temperature for long peroids. Food that is suitable to be cooked in the hay box include pulses and legumes, porridges, rice and such.

At the moment I am using it to cook porridge for my family. In the evening I bring 1 cup of cereal grain and 4 cups of hot water to boil in a pot on the stove. Add a bit of salt. I boil it only a bit and stir till the liquid is a little thicker. Less than 5 min on the stove. Then I pop on the lid of the pot and once the pot lid is very hot to touch I put it in the hot box, closing it up well and making sure their are no gaps.

Pot snug in the cushion

We are using oats, maize meal and tasty wheat at the moment and everyone is enjoying it for breakfast and I'm cutting my shopping bills as I am no longer buying heaps of ready made cereals and Pro-Nutro.

You may need to find a spot for the box in your kitchen before you make your box as they tend to take up a bit of room. I tuck mine in the bottom shelf of the dinner trolley.

The REAL moments of homeschooling

2009-01-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

I love reading other blogs by homeschooling Moms, I mean you guys are so encouraging and you inspire me. I love being reminded why I am homeschooling, and when our homeschool days are going well, I mentally write blog posts. I want to share all the lovely things we did, my childrens funny comments and of course how clever they are!

Of course not too many of us write about our dull days, our days of struggling, the days when we secretely wonder,"Lord is this really worth it?" and "What am I doing to these kids?"

It's hard to confess that I have to grit my teeth at times and remind myself to be patient when my son forgets a Math fact he learned months ago...again. When my toddler whines for my attention for what seems like all morning, despite all attempts to distract her and my four year old starts and unfinishes about a dozen projects, leaving little bits of paper and glue and supplies scattered all over, I think, "oh boy, this would be a terrible advert for homeschooling"

You see, I visualise you other sweet Moms, smiling, as you tackle the math problem with your smoothly thought out tactics, whilst you have a toddler playing quietly at your feet with her toys in your neatly organised school room. Your 4 year old is of course coloring in her "school books" and playing with the educational games you specially laid out the night before, packing each one away before she takes out another, just as you trained her.

Right?

Well, let me tell you about today then, honestly. It started with me reminding Mr J that it was school in about an hour. (You know, it is Monday, this happens. SA only starts school officially on Wed but we've been at it for a while, easing in slowly) That was a BAD thing to say. My sweet content 7 year old who had been spooning his way through a bowl of porridge turned into a little dark thunder cloud.

The storm drifted upstairs for a little chat with pappa. (this never happens in your house of course) And returned downstairs as a deluge, 30 in later, as floods of tears erupted all over my couch, with me and pappa trying hard to be firm but express the need for consistency in doing school, sticking to the job etc etc

Eventually he sobbed, "I hate school" (your children all love homeschooling and always thank you for homeschooling them :-)

When we asked him if he particularily liked anything about school, he said, "only reading, none of the rest" So me, forever hopeful, asked, "But what about Weaver?" No.
"You seem to love your CLE LA"
No no no, it is all too much. All the CLE is too hard. I am only seven.
Too much work, too hard, school goes on forever.

We graciously point out that at the worst we're doing formal work for 3 hours and that is not solid time and that the neighbours children are at school from before 8 till way after 1pm. No effect.

Pappa makes an exit for work at this stage, (wise man) and leaves me with the chap, who is now just eager to "get school over with" so that he can go play. Upstairs, slump at the desk. Rigid, stares in front of him. A pencil. Fumble fumble, clatter goes the whole bunch of stationery. Never mind, I'll get it....

Ok, which subject shall we do first. You choose. Okay, CLE Social Science, that's great. See you get a sticker for each subject you complete today. Ten minutes pass. No great enthusiasm but one subject completed and sticker applied on chart. Well done, that is lovely. See you're doing fine, now just a little more. You ony need to do corrections for LA today and the rest of your lst Math lesson and Science.

What next? CLE Math. Okay. We work together just fine for 5 min till he needs to do the "on my own" part. He can't concentrate. Stares into space, throws a fit, thumps the desk with his fist. I count slowly under my breath. "Do you need a quiet spot to work in?" Yes, that is what he needs. Off he goes, down the passage. To the spare room desk. ( I think) No, no no, he's heading for our room. Now what 7 yo can write neatly on a bed or concentrate amongst cuddly pink pillows? But I must try make allowances, after all this is homeschool. Trying to think rationally balancing mommy thoughts and teacher thoughts. Interuppted by "Mommmmmmy I need to go potty" I exit to sort out toddler whilst Mr J settles to his Math lesson. (Amongst the puffy pillows)

Duty done, I now engage Shelley in a bit of quality time whilst Mr J is occupied. Miss Emma is playing with a friend so no problem there today. We do lots together. Time check, how are you doing J. No, we're not doing well. We just cannot concentrate. Try the desk, no no just needed fresh air. Returns to puffy pillow spot.

Then Emma, Lusanda and Shelley and I make elephants with paper plates. Crayone, glue, paper and mess everywhere. Shelley is petrified of hers and won't even look at it. Emma wants to cut holes in her plate for eyes with a craft knife, so it can be a mask. Now Shelley is beside herself with fear. It's alive! Lusands also wants mask. Okay, two happy elephants charge around the house. Shelley is glued to my hip. Time check. Oh my has half an hour already passed?

Proceed to bedroom, to find Mr J crumpled up asleep over Math book. Hard to control feelings at this point. Things are not looking good. My Monday schedule and all it's goals lay crumpled on my pink duvet. He awakes bleary eyed. I say he should just sleep and forget school today.

The nap must have revivied him. He insists that we do school NOW. I agree. (why?) Painstackingly complete the Math lesson. Attempt to do speed drill. Give up after each sum is repeated about five times and returned with that look. You know the one that says, "I am miles away from here"

Okay let's do some drill work instead, with manipulatives and other Math stuff. (thanks Mark Shuttleworth, you're an inspiration to a 7 yo) Sticker applied to chart very half heartedly as I glance at how little of our goal we accomplished.

Right LA corrections, some arguing about the grammar rules, intense shaking and thumping again, then a "oh, yes I remember now".

By now Shelley is whining for Barney. You see she is on a rehab program for Barney addicts and bwing weaned. The new rule in 2009 is NO BARNEY DURING SCHOOL! My head is thumping and I could do with a cup of tea. Shall we have a short break and then finish up? NO, I want to do it all now, I can do it. Otherwise we won't get to it. Right okay, press on...

LA done. Now spelling. I excitedly pull out my trump card of the day. "Today you do not have to write out your spelling words. We are going to use Spell City on the computer, and it's going to be fun" Eyes lighten up, like the day is at last saved. Ready to go... yes?

NO.... Mom underestimated the skill required for typing and thinking and spelling all at once. First word is t-y-p-e-d. Shall I type and you spell aloud? NO! I can do it. Melt down, tears... Okay let us do it slowly, it will be ok, it is just ten words, see? Restored we press on at snails pace. Shelley likes the sound effects and repeats each word, American accent and all.

Number nine at last, ooops the return key is pressed. Disaster. Test erased. Mr J falls off chair dramatically in tears. I hurriedly re-enter all the words as he had them. Final score 2 wrong. Crisis. Not full marks. Want to do them over? (pleeez say no, I pray) Yes, typing a bit faster now, we're getting the hang of this. BINGO 100%. Yeah well done, okay now you can put the sticker on your chart.

Are we done yet? Just CLE Science level 100 LU 1 . Slump, head rolls back. Take book out, open pages, show him how little it is and how easy the lesson is for him. Growl. What is this stuff? You call this science? I explain patiently. Enthusiasm, or the closest I have seen to it rises.

Joel, it says to colour (color in US) the pictures in, would you like to leave that since it is so late? NO, I must do it all. Pages completed, lesson all about colours, beautifully. Well done Joel, you really tried there. Sticker on chart. At last we're all done.

Barney dvd slides into place, Shelley slides into her comfy chair, happy at last to be re-united with the purple creature that loves her.

Suddenly there is a spark in his step and a twinkle in his eyes, "Can I have computer time now?" I look at the clock. When are we going to do Weaver I wonder? With a sigh I realise we that we have no milk and nappies (diapers) and still have to go shopping and it's after 12. Daddy will be home at 1pm.

I hurry downstairs, though I feel like crawling into bed. Set the table and lay it all pretty for lunch with a loaf of bread out the bread maker (at least I got something right today) Time for a quick cup of tea and a headache tablet.

Later, over lunch, Pappa asks Joel, so how was school?
"It was the best day we've had this year" he says.

Mmmm.... I feel like I have been hit with a ten pound hammer. My thought race about, "Lord if this was a good day, how bad can it get?" I think I hear Him saying "Trust me" But I think of my beautiful schedule that I took so long to write. I want to trust the schedule. I hear him saying somewhere in the noise that there are other lessons to be learned this year. And I remember what it is all about, wearily, and thank Him for the opportunity to work with His gift to me. Scrap the schedule, I'm going to pray about tomorrow.

But of course, these things never happen in your house.

Right?

On the go: Transportation Chapter

2009-01-17T23:58:00.000-08:00

School has started for 2009. We've started with lots of fun field trips for our Weaver curriculum chapter.

We've been studying the transportation chapter in Weaver Vol 1, and had the opportunity to go to various places in Port Elizabeth with children.We did the airport, the harbour, and the highlight was a visit to the Volkswagen Museum in Uitenhage, also known as Auto Pavilion. It really was an awesome place, we'll have to visit when the children are older.
There was an interesting display where a new model beetle (what do you call them?) had been cut in half with a laser, and every few minutes the car would "open up" in half so that you could view the interior. That was amazing.

We also had some fun with Dad, who made the balloon project. (Okay slightly revised, it became a parachute instead) We cheated a bit, I was clearing out my sewing stuff and found an old umbrella, you know the plasticy kind with mulit-colours? How why I had not thrown that out, is just a mystery, but it now has a good use. The children were all for testing it by jumping off the deck, but we managed to persuade them to test drive it with Barbie dolls instead. It really worked better than we had anticipated and a gust of wind had barbie on the roof withthe parachute. What fun!
Dad also took out the old steam engine and demonstrated some science there. Joel really enjoyed it and it was quite amusing hearing him explain it all to Emma. I learned alot too!

And if anybody can leave a comment on how to figure out posting my images in blogspot, as well as adding movies from my camera it would be a great help! They keep coming out centred wrong and I can't move them. Arghhh....

Stepping back in time: July 2007

2008-12-29T10:14:00.000-08:00

My cousin found some of her older photos and gave me copies and I was thrilled to see these ones of our children in the snow. You see we do not often get snow here in South Africa, and even then only certain areas get it. We had to ride 2.5 hours away from home to a Mountain pass to see this little sprinkling of snow but the children were thrilled. Can you see how they have grown?

December collage

2008-12-27T22:47:00.000-08:00

This is the first time I'm trying this, I made a collage in Picassa, of all our December holiday pictures, as there were so many. Let's see if we can see them all nicely like this...

Fish River Break

2008-12-13T11:10:00.001-08:00

Bouncing back!

2008-12-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to report that Emma did so well with the surgery. She suffered quite a bit the first day from pain but today was much better. She is eating and drinking as normal now, and is her cheery self. I really felt God was there holding our hands. Unfortunately, she was last on the theatre list, and we were surrounded by 5 other squalling post operative toddlers, enough to break even steel nerves. Once I'd taken her to the theatre I returned to the ward for a cup of tea and I was shaking!

But she did so well. We were able to pray through it all and even in the theatre as she "blew up her balloon". Medical staff at this hospital were so caring of the child-parent relationship and God blessed us with friendly caring staff.

In the end the ENT surgeon inserted grommets and removed her adenoids, so we should see an improvment in her sleep apnea and hearing loss soon.

Thanks for all the prayers and concern.

We are off to the beach tomorrow. We are very excited as we'll be seeing my brother and his family from Australia. We have not seen them in about 3 years and they have not even met Shelley or Amy. The children are so excited to see their cousins.

Emma-lee surgery

2008-12-01T06:59:00.001-08:00

Just a brief note to say on Wednesday Emma must go to day hospital to have surgery that will hopefully improve her hearing and sleep apnea. Her adenoids must be removed, and they may insert grommmets (tubes) but we'll have to wait and see what the ENT sees.
We'll update as soon as possible. Not too keen on the anaesthetic but it's essential to get the adenoids out in these cases.

Cookies and Cakes and Kittens

2008-11-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well, the reason i have not been blogging or visiting other peoples blogs is all because of cookies. Yes, not the kind you eat, but something on your computer that does something. As you can hear, I don't know much about these cookies and so for a long while I could not log on here. Today i had some time, and step by step followed the instructions, so I hope no more cookie trouble for me.

Now, about cakes. We recently went to a bazaar and in amongst the books Joel spotted a recipe book, which he bought with his own money. As soon as we got home he wanted to make a chocolate cake to take to church next day.

So I said he could, if he did it all alone. We got all the ingredients out together and then he began. it was a great math lesson, for me and him, as the recipe was in pounds and ounces and we've got used to metric. Anyway he plodded on and finally out came a really good cake. All i helped with was the hot bits as I was afraid of an accident. He iced (frosted) it himself and I think it tasted and looked much better than my first, second and ... cake.

We recently added two new members to the family, two lovely little kittens. One for Joel, a black male he has named Smokey and a beige female who Emma has named Cameo. They really are very little indeed, I think they were malnourished, and need some fattening up. Anyway they love their milk and kitty food and everyday seem a little rounder. They were also rather dirty as they had lived outdoors, so on Friday I gave them both a bath, something I have never done in my life, and they are looking and smelling fresher.

We've finished off our formal school for the year but still have one more week of Weaver. We started the transport chapter in Volume 1, but we'll have to pick it up again in January. South Africa has there biggest holiday now, over Christmas and early January.

Joel finished off the first semester of Level 100 Christian Light Education, and has really done well. I am just amazed how the language skills he is using have been put to practical use. I look forward to next year, when we complete the semester. i am still so happy with this curriculum and have also started to add the Science and Social studies when they tie in with our Weaver. The first CLE Social Studies workbook, 101, was a perfect fit for the Weaver Volume 1, chapter 2.

Last, but not least, some new pictures of the children in our household. Isn't little Amy too cute, "pony girl".

Shew, I think that just about catches us up to speed with the latest happenings.

Potty training fun!

2008-10-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

Shelley is doing potty training. She stills wears a nappy (diaper) most the time, but occasionally she will let me put underwear on her.

Anyway she came down the passage today, proudly announcing,"Look Mommy!" and lifted her dress. "Wow," I said, seeing that she had removed her nappy herself, "Panties"

Then I peered closer, and saw, not one, two or three...but FIVE pairs of nickers on her!
She was so pleased with herself and I was in stitches;-)

Weaver in South Africa

2008-10-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

As many of my Weaver friends know, I was recently asked to put a Weaver table up at a little Curriculum expo held here in SA, in East London. It was really done as a ministry, as I am in no way a legal representative of Weaver or AOP here. And you can see in the pics, it was a very humble affair. I was very nervous because at the last moment I was also asked to give a few minutes talk about Weaver. I really wanted to do justice to Weaver and promote it and I pray that I did that.

Then 6 days later I held a little Homeschool Open Day in my town, amidst having a sick family. We had open house from 12- 4pm, and I gave a talk, with a discussion over lunch time. It went really well. My girls were so sick that they slept through the presentation, so I could give it my full attention. The homeschool families in our group rallied to my support and it was just so great to share with new/potential homeschool families.

After that we've had a few days where the children were actually too sick to do school. It's been bronchitis and ear infections! Exhausting.

With Weaver, we're on Chapter 3, studying the ear. I usually love it when the topics you're studying tie in with what's happening at home, but I could have done without 3 sick children with Otitis Media!

Belles birthday

2008-10-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Shelley turned two today. The centre picture was taken early this morning as she opened her presents. Actually Joel and Emma opened them for her!

The picture on the left is Tracy, Amy and the birthday girl enjoying cake. And to the right is Shelley with her cake. Mommy did not bake and decorate this time, as the whole house is sick and my energy levels are low.

Lastly a picture of a chocolate faced 2 year old.

Mini-tornado and rain at last

2008-10-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today, after the intense heat of yesterday, our little town was suddenly struck by a huge storm. We haven't had rain in ages and the children were playing outside when they asked if they could swim. I looked up at the black clouds looming, and said,"Before we set up the pool, let's wait and see if it rains" And I started praying, hoping that perhaps this time we'd get rain.

Within minutes the rain poured down, hail stones began to fall and the wind whipped about. We all ran inside. I watched from our upstairs school room trying to make out what was happening, but couldn't see through the heavy rain. Actually it was a mini-tornado sweeping through our town. Our area was not harmed besides normal wind and rain damage. And our house was a bit wet in places as it leaks all over!

The other parts of town had roofs blown off houses and other structural damage. I'm so thankful we were not in it's path as I am unsure how this timber home would fare.

Also, I am so grateful to the Lord for the rain. Our garden is a soggy swamp, yeah! I hope the drought has been broken for the farmers too.

More holiday fun at another farm

2008-10-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

And so we finished the last bit of our lovely holiday, on another cousins farm. It has been so great to be out of town and closer to the veld. Only thing is, with the drought, the dust and wind have been non-stop since August. Yuck! The children do not seem to mind and spent a lot of time outdoors.

Chasing the chickens into the coop with a knob-kierie (stick) was Joel's and Colby's favourite part of each day. It was not very easy as the chickens were newly acquired and still very wild. It took a good 20 minutes some evenings.

The great reason for our visit was to celebrate a special boys fifth birthday.
And there he is with his ocean birthday cake, masquerading as a tiger. Isn't childhood magnificent? How many children can you fit in sand pit- at least five were in this farm style one, a tractor tyre!

The young ladies enjoyed the finer things, like the sun, pretty painted faces and of course, the food.

School begins again on Monday...mmm. I think we'll take the fourth term really slow

September holiday

2008-09-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

The first week of our September holiday is over. Despite bad weather we've been having a lovely time. We left for my parents home in PE on Monday. We spent a good week there. The children always enjoy being at Granny and Grandad. We also saw alot of my sister and her children, who we have not seen much of over the past few years. Wow, how they have grown up. Joel especially had a great time with his boy cousins, who, though they are older really entertained him so well. Thanks guys!

On Friday we returned home, and then this morning we went out for the day to my cousins farm. James had to photograph a wedding, so Tracy and Amy came with us. It was a chilly day, but we managed to look at most parts of the farm, that I have not seen in a while. Of course the children enjoyed then animals. We went to feed the pigs and hens.

Shelley was a little wary of the 200 odd mixed herd of cattle though! Emma enjoyed collecting eggs. the girls enjoyed holding the baby chicks, and i held my first one ever too. there were two new day old calves, so sweet.

Joel was pretty hands off the whole animal thing, but had lots of thought provoking questions. We've got to do some research into how many stomachs a cow has on Monday! He was exceptionally thrilled at his amazing find- cow teeth. These are now sitting on my bathroom shelf, awaiting a good scrub. (No, not with any of our toothbrushes) Yuck!

My cousins have two teenage children. Their daughter made some beautiful cupcakes for us all, which the children helped her decorate. Their son kindly pushed all the little people about in a miniture tractor and a small old fashioned car. Two homemade "broom brooms" also made wonderful toys. The children had such a fantastic time in the beautiful garden, and also climbed trees. It was a pity that the day had to end. But fortunately there is still another week of holiday, a visit to another cousin, a party and lots more relaxing. Yeah!

Weaver birds and pretty girls

2008-09-21T00:36:00.000-07:00

We've been studying Animal builders in our Weaver curriculum. They suggested Weaver birds, and we were so fortunate to see a male Weaver bird constructing a nest in amongst some dry reeds in a nearby veld. We watched for as long as Shelley could keep still, it was very interesting. It is amazing that this little creature will spend so much time creating something that may well be ripped apart or rejected by it's mate. What a self-less act.

We also drove around our town and spotted all the the castle like buildings we could find. I forgot my camera- there is a fantastic example of one just down the road. I love it when the children can see what they learning outside of a book!

Here is a picture of little madam the other day at church. It was so cute- the girls wanted to go dressed up in dresses and hats, with their little handbags.
I tried to snap Emma too, but she wouldn't oblige.

My new blog about homeschooling in South Africa

2008-09-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well we're on our third term holiday. This past term has gone well, and it seems we'll be able to take the Fourth term gently. I can really do with a more relaxed pace. So, we'll focus more on our Weaver Volume 1 as we're reaching our academic goals just fine.

Getting into the volumes has been harder than I'd expected. Sometimes it feels as though I am missing something. See, I'm still learning to WEAVE it all together.

The children enjoy our hands on activities. We made a volcanoe on Friday- that was fun. I am learning that less book knowledge and more hands on is good. I tend to gather a whole pack of books on our themes- forgetting that in Grade 1/2 it is not neccesary to cover topics completely- in any case with Weaver we'll hit the topic again sometime or with the supplement. Next term I plan to have a whole lot more fun, and to stress less.

In amidst the chaos of raising three children and homeschooling, I have started another blog, Homeschooling-in-South-Africa. I want to help homeschoolers in South Africa, and I hope the blog does that. I really want to bless other families who want to homeschool, but who are frustrated by lack of resources and information. It will be a slow process but something I want to do.

Print This!

Turning 7

2008-09-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

Joel turned seven years old yesterday.

I went over some of our photos from the past few years. Just look how he has grown.

Happy Birthday Joel. Thank you for being such a blessing to our family. May you always stay true to the Lord.

Donkey Cart

2008-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show those of you who are not familiar with it, the mode of transport used for goods, by the large majority of the population in our town. Small loads are pushed in wheelbarrows, but larger loads require a donkey cart, such as this one.

A cart can be hired for about R80 for an "in town" job. That's about $10. These beasts of burden do not always lead an easy life. Annually the community raises funds for the care of these donkeys with a Donkey Carnival.

These carts are permissible on all our roads, even the main street. They slow down traffic, but it is an acceptable part of our town life. Another common site is untethered donkeys, cattle and occasionally goats grazing on the verges in town or in the suburbs. Those of us without fences often have our garden plants nibbled at or trodden on by a hungry cow.

Naturally the children love it, on all our car rides about town they see who can spot an animal. Back at home its: " Hey Mom, there's a cow in David's garden, he's chasing it with a broom, come quick" Luckily we have a fence- so my plants are safe!

Medieval Banquet

2008-09-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

We were Invited to a Medieval Banquet on Saturday night, in aid of a friends sons' seventh birthday. It was rather sudden, so a bit of a rush, but great fun. We created some costumes and the effect was good. I was surprised how Joel keen was to dress up. He took his wooden shield and sword and wore long johns with a long T-shirt and belt over the top. To Emma, dress up means wings and fairy costumes so it was a bit disappointing for her. There were three families and each family organised a bit of entertainment. Shelley loved this part and shrieked and clapped for each act.

The children and I did a ribbon dance to a Medieval tune I downloaded off the Internet. We attached ribbons to longs sticks and moved them around. I had wanted to do a Maypole dance, but that was bit more complicated with three little ones. At the last moment the birthday boy joined in, impromptu style. Too cute!

The family that invited us really did it all beautifully. They hung up big shields with heraldry, and draped long curtains. We didn't use plates- each of us had a chunk of bread for a plate. And then there were all sorts of yummy goodies. there were tin cups, goblets and pitchers. It was an evening with a difference for sure!

I was so impressed with the other children who participated, all homeschooled children. They were so confident and natural. So lovely to see.

This week we're gearing up for Joel's birthday, starting with his homeschool group party tomorrow.

Homeschool Curriculum

2008-09-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

All my American friends are getting into the swing of a new year, so I thought it would be a good time to list what we're using for homeschool now.

We started using some of Christian Light Education items in May, and we were impressed, so since then we've ordered their LA, Reading and Math. The curriculum is set out like this: most subjects for a year, (which is termed a level not a grade), consist of a set of ten workbooks called Light units.

The main CLE website, http://www.clp.org/index.shtml is not great, in terms of online samples to view. To view online samples, there is a CLE Yahoo Group, called Christian Light Families: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christianlightfamilies/
If you're in Australia, you could try Christian Light Education Australia Yahoo group: http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianLightEducation/

Unlike a typical workbook curriculum, there is a Teacher guide too. This is what makes it different. The teacher guide has other teaching ideas too, and explains everything so well, but it is not overloaded for a busy homeschool Mom. I find that if I glance through my lessons the night before I can easily manage.

The activities in the workbooks are varied and interesting. Though not filled with colorful cartoony pictures, they are pleasant and every now and then a little puzzle or challenge keeps the students interest. As the student gets to higher levels they can complete some material on their own. Already there are sections that Joel is able to do alone. This works well for multilevel teaching. After I have taught, he gets on, and I attend to the girls.

I have really been impressed with the quality of the curriculum, especially for the price. I've used other workbook curriculum, but they are not as complete, and usually were boringly repetitive, and not challenging enough.

CLE also offer an umbrella school type program, called Homeschool Plus which we've joined. The annual fee is worth the peace of mind to me. I have a personal academic counselor whom I can contact with any questions, problems. We get credits for what we've done and our Weaver was accepted for a credit.

Then, of course, we're sticking with our wonderful Weaver Curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications. We finished off Interlock, and have now started Volume 1. Weaver continues to be a blessing to our family. It covers Bible, and in fact all the Science, Health, History, Geography and much more is based on the current Bible lesson. It is a hands on unit study type curriculum, perfect for multilevel teaching. The file has different objectives for each Grade, so it's really neat.

Part of the Weaver Homeschool experience for me is the Weaver Yahoo groups. I receive much support and encouragement from this wonderful group of ladies (and a few Dad's), who are scattered around the globe.

We've also added the Weaver Wisdom Words Language Arts curriculum. Though I feel the CLE is wonderful, I enjoy the emphasis placed on self expression and creative writing in WW. It is not a must, but we do a bit of it each week. Something special happens when you a child a blank piece of paper.

For Emma, we're using Weaver 123 Read phonics program. We're still reviewing letters so I won't be pushing this. Then we use the Rod and Staff ABC series for some preschool readiness.

Then, on each day, I've added a different "elective", so we're covering Recorder lessons, Xhosa lesson,Nature journaling, Physical Education, Art, Baking and computer time.

I set up a little schedule, and Joel is enjoying being able to "see" what is expected of him each day. On Tuesday we attend our local homeschool support group.

It's been good to finally settle into a bit of routine, but every day is different here.

Happy homeschooling!

Motherhood is a humbling experience

2008-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well, as usual, I've put the feather in my cap too soon. Weaning is not going well at all. Shelley has caught a cold and is not a happy little girl.

So miserable she is, and requiring a lot of distraction. I thought last week required energy, well this is exhausting!

Is motherhood not such a humbling experience? Just when we think we're so on track, something new comes along. It helps me to remember that these things are also here to mould and make me as a follower of Christ. How do I react to all these things that come across my path of mothering? Do I ask the Lord for His help and guidance, or do I attempt to "handle them" in my own strength?

I'd have to admit that often, I try "go it alone". How foolish! I have so much help available to me, just for the asking. Does God care about nursing, discipline, bad manners, character issues and piles of dirty laundry? Well, I know that He made me, loves me, and wants more of me. All of me. He wants me to cast my care upon Him, and so that includes the burdens of mothering.

But, it's the same with the happy moments. Often, when I look at my children, and feel proud of them, (and my parenting), I am reminded by the Spirit that these children were made by the Lord, and are His. And any good thing in them is due to the work of the Spirit and the Lord in their life.

I'm just a tool in His Hand. I hope that I will learn to surrender more to Him, and give up more of me, as I lean on Him.

We're weaning!

2008-08-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Very soon I'll be removing the ticker from the bottom of my blog page.

You see, I've decided to wean my "baby"! Shelley turns 2 years old in October. Over the last while I have felt it is time to let go, and move onto a new stage with her.

Shelley has got through 4 whole daytimes without nursing and from tonight we'll try limit the night time nurses. She went down tonight peacefully with her very first bottle. She did not even ask for nursing.

I am feeling very at peace with the weaning, not at all sad this time. Funny, this has been such a good school week too. Despite having to distract her alot during school, so that she would not nurse, I found out how much fun we can have together! I've discovered how clever she is at things I never even knew that she could do. And we've talked alot!

It is like our whole relationship has changed, for the better. I had got into the rut of just nursing her whenever she grumbled, and I was feeling so irritable at her, and that made her more whiney. I think she actually needed more attention and stimulation. It's like she's been showing me this week the little girl she is turning into.

Thank you Lord, that so far this has been a blessed transition time.
Thank you that the next steps in Shelleys' little life are safely held in Your hands.

I am NOT the perfect homeschool Mom!

2008-06-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today, I received an e-mail from one of my dear support groups. It was from another homeschool Mom, across the world. She's feeling unmotivated about her homeschool. She's tired, and still needs to plan her schedule, and order curriculum on a limited budget. Perhaps she should send her children back to school, she wonders.

Yes, it could have been written by me, that e-mail.

She said what so many of us homeschool Moms are feeling or feel at some time. We just do not like to admit it. It is nicer to flash around our "perfect homeschool Mom" image, cos it makes us look good! You know, I think we all pretend to be the gal who gets it all done: school, meals, church, home. The lady who paints with her children, gardens and still shines like a smiling queen when hubby comes home. We want to be like her. But, actually, therein lies the problem, we've been told a lie, from the Master of lies, about ourself.

The truth is we cannot homeschool at all by ourselves. And we cannot do it all. I am feeling so overwhelmed by the task of mothering 3 children, and homeschooling right now. I also have health and financial issues. I am feeling very unmotivated, and I can't even blame it on the Summer heat and vacation!

I find myself wondering some days if we're doing the right thing for our children by homeschooling. There are discipline and character issues that I feel like running away from. Child training does not often show it's fruits in a few minutes, it is going to take years before I can see what the Lord has done with my childrens' lives, working thro me, the daily grind.

I have been spending some time thinking about why the Lord called our family to homeschooling. I am taking this and next week off, to spend time with the Lord and my Bible, do some reading and write down some of the things I really hear Him saying are the things I need to focus on. I really feel a strong panicky message of, "How can I do it all" going around in my head. And I really feel Him saying that actually I cannot, and am not meant to.

If I just do what He has called me to do specifically for my family and its special needs, that is enough. I must not compare with other families/mothers, God has a plan for each family, and it is different for yours and mine.

If you're a homeschool Mom, and feel like me, and probably a thousand others, let's get back to the basics: hearing what the Lord has planned for our unique situation. And let us encourage each other in prayer, instead of striving to be perfect!

Two little girls

2008-05-06T04:29:00.001-07:00

I managed to get some photos of the girls' today. Life moves at such a pace that they seem to have changed so much since my last posts. Some of my friends and family had commented that they had not seen pictures for a while...so here they are. I look forward to seeing the girls' playing together more and more as they get bigger. Already it's such fun observing them all together, especially as Shelley' vocabulary expands.

Emma is very eager to do school and learn new skills right now. Although we'll be taking it really slow, I've ordered Weaver 123 Read for her. It should arrive in July. What I like is that it has 3 parts. The first is reading readiness skills. I am looking forward to doing something alone with Em.

Shelley has turned into our climber. She can easily scale the jungle gym, the bunk bed and our burglar bars! She adds new words to her list each week. This week she has said Emma and Joel's names. Useful indeed. I must try and wean her soon but part of me wants her to stay all baby.

Joel was inside whilst I was snapping and the girls were camera happy, so he missed out on this round. But here is a photo of him at a recent pirate party.Joel's work was assessed at a local school at the end of last term and he was ahead in everything. He is really enjoying creative writing and dictation. I am enjoying teaching phonics especially. Joel is choosing and reading more difficult books now and such a large number of sight words. Recently Joel discovered that he can type and send e-mails all by himself. Keep an eye on your Inbox!

Our homeschool keeps on buzzing. We have got a baby sitter for Amy now in the mornings, which is easier. We're progressing through Interlock, and still enjoying it. We take longer than three days for each unit, and we often read stories or add an activity to the theme. This week we start studying reptiles. I am unsure when we'll start Volume 1 as Interlock is taking us quite a while!

We've been looking at changing our curricula for Phonics and Math to something that will eventually be less teacher intensive. We've decided on Christian Light Education. I received my samples and am impressed with what I have seen. Although the student fills in a type of workbook, it is not a "fill in the blanks" type curriculum. There is quite a bit of extra thought required by the student and it is a rather challenging curriculum. In Grade 1 Language Arts they learn contractions! The curriculum is written by conservative Mennonites, and their peaceful ways are reflected in their publications.

World Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe

2008-04-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

I know that I do not usually post about things beyond my family, but this is something that moves me and stirs me. Please read this, especially if you have not been following what has been happening in Zimbabwe lately. We all need to take action.

World Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe- Sunday 27th April 2008

A desperate cry from the hearts of Zimbabwe screams across the world.

It calls upon all Christians of every denomination in every nation to
focus their prayers, in churches, halls, homes or elsewhere, on Sunday
27th April, 2008 on the critical situation in Zimbabwe, a nation in
dire distress and teetering on the brink of human disaster.

Let the cry for help touch your heart and mind. Let it move you to do
what you can immediately to ensure this Day of Prayer takes place in
your country and neighbourhood.

Please pass on this message right now to all the churches and
Christian organisations known to you and to the media as well as to
everyone anxious to rescue Zimbabwe from violence, the concealing and
juggling of election results, deceit, oppression and corruption, and
to bring about righteousness, joy, peace, compassion, honesty,
justice, democracy and freedom from fear and want.

May a continual strong stream of prayer and supplication flow up to
the Lord on behalf of all the people on this Day of Prayer, exhorting
His divine intervention throughout the nation.

"It is by making the truth publicly known that we recommend ourselves
to the honest judgment of mankind in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians
4:2)

-Bob Stumbles, Chancellor - The Anglican Diocese of Harare.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
An article wherein the Archbishop of Capetown pleas for the people of
Zimbabwe:

The Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba of Capetown, South Africa has released a
statement on Zimbabwe pleading for help from the world for the people
of that country.

Statement from the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd
Thabo Makgoba:

"The plight of the people of Zimbabwe is heart-breaking. Already
bruised, broken and crushed by oppression and economic hardship before
the elections, they are now even more divided, despondent and, in many
cases, hopeless than they were before. At a time of growing global
hunger, their situation is particularly acute – four million
Zimbabweans depend on food aid and NGOs are reporting that in some
areas political violence is making it difficult to supply food.

After the March 29 elections we were told that if there had to be
a second round of voting in the presidential election, it would be
held within 21 days. That date has now passed, and every day that goes
by without the release of presidential election results erodes yet
further any remaining trust people may have in the electoral process.

From the church in Limpopo Province (South Africa), we receive
reports that the influx of Zimbabwean refugees is steadily growing.
Within Zimbabwe, those who have benefitted from Zanu PF rule are
locked in fear of what may happen to them; those who support the
opposition live in fear of retribution for voting against the government.

It is distressing to South Africans that our rulers, whom we know
to be compassionate people, currently appear to many beyond our
borders as heartless and unmoved by the suffering of Zimbabweans. We
recognise that the imperatives of acting as honest brokers in a
mediation impose constraints on our leaders. However, our failure to
communicate our reverence for the dignity of every individual
threatens the success of our diplomacy just as surely as would the
perception of bias. I appeal to President Thabo Mbeki urgently to seek
creative ways of reaching out to our neighbours to reassure them that
we care about them deeply.

As a church committed to fighting the arms trade in Africa and the
world, we strenuously oppose the sale and transport of weapons to
Zimbabwe. We commend the successful efforts of the Bishop of Natal,
the Right Revd Rubin Phillip, and the Diakonia Council of Churches to
prevent a consignment of weapons for Zimbabwe from being offloaded in
Durban, and I intend consulting with my brother bishops in Namibia and
Angola on ecumenical action to prevent the shipment from being
transported through their countries.

On the basis that a heavily-armed Zimbabwe would threaten peace,
security and stability in southern Africa, we call upon the Security
Council of the United Nations to impose an arms embargo on its
government. We appeal to the South African Government to support such
an embargo. We will ask our sister churches in countries which are
also members of the Security Council to urge their governments to do
likewise.

The Most Revd Thabo Makgoba
Archbishop of Cape Town

April 22, 2008

Very important: All churches are asked to pray for Zimbabwe on April 27th

Easter Holidays

2008-03-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have not had much of a chance to post in a while. SO here are our latest pics. I finally got a new camera. I am finding it quite an adjustment and must still figure it out.

We were so fortunate to have a lovely visit from the family in the UK. Joel, Emma and Shelley loved the time they spent with cousin Daniel. They had much fun, and Joel and Daniel got up to quite a few tricks.

We had a quiet Easter weekend. James was already preparing for the shops' biggest job of the year- photographing the Rhodes University Graduation. The Graduation is on right now, and we have not seen much of James since last Monday. Hopefully it will all quiet down on Monday. I am looking forward to hearing what the takings have been. (hee hee)

On Easter Sunday we had a slow morning. I was so surprised that the children did not even ask about the Easter bunny or getting eggs. So we had a lovely family devotion time. James took about ten objects, each one symbolizing something of the death of Jesus. There was a nail, sponge, thorns, spear, purple cloth etc. He discussed each thing as he read the story again to them from the children's Bible. The last thing he showed them was an empty box, representing the tomb. I was so happy when Emma said," That's okay, Jesus rose up and is alive. He went to heaven, and he left his Holy Spirit. The holy spirit is with us every day" The previous week we had done a fun teaching on the fruits of the spirit, and something must have stuck!

Today we went to a little village nearby us, called Bathurst. There is an annual agricultural show held there. I must say I have not been since I was a child and it is a lot more commercialized than I recall. I remember pens of stock, now there are stalls of colorful goodies for sale. There was much to see. I took the children to the amusement park area, and so they got to experience their first rides. They went on little boats, and the cups and saucers. Emma was very keen at first to go on everything, but those 2 rides were the only ones that looked safe enough. There was a children's play area too, where they could try their hand at various games, and then win prizes. Joel really enjoyed this and was very happy to go to each stand without me, once he had got the hang of it. He won 3 prizes, and Emma won one. Those of you who know Joel will be surprised to hear that he won 2 of his prizes for boxing a target! He was actually very good at it.

Emma-lee turns four!

2008-02-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Emma will turn four years old. This afternoon we had a little party for her. She wanted a butterfly party. We don't really go wild over parties in this family, but I think it was special and that she enjoyed it.

My biggest concern is to limit the sweets. So I put water melon, grapes, chips and popcorn on the table first. Later I brought out some iced biscuits, the cake and a small bag for each child. In the bag was a biscuit, a toffee and a sucker. That seemed like plenty to me, considering the cake was plastered with Smarties too!

Some of the guests wore wings, and we stuck butterfly stickers on the windows. I made a butterfly cake. We played pass-the-parcel and the children hunted for Easter eggs in the garden. I hid those ones with marshmallow in them. I always use those at Em's party as an extra sweet.

Now I'm having a good old soak and early bed, I'm exhausted.

Rainbow Nation

2008-02-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

There is so much to tell you about South Africa, but I'll just jump right in.

In South Africa many, if not most African woman carry their babies on their backs, wrapped on tightly with a towel, or blanket. Emma demonstrates on the left. In some areas you very seldom see an African woman pushing a pram.

Standard transport for the majority of South Africans, is the taxi. This is not a yellow cab, this is a minibus, which is called a "kwela-kwela". These vehicles are oft criticized for being speed devils and road hogs, though this is not always true. Over loading and lack of maintenance to vehicles is a problem. People are not usually transported right to their front door, as you'd expect with this service. The taxi follows a route, like a bus, and has a spot where it always stops. This place is not marked, as a bus route is, and may be a corner, an empty lot, or simply in middle of the street! Folk often have to walk long distances to the nearest taxi pick up point. In towns/city centres many leave from a central point called a taxi rank.

This place is a hub of excitement. Each taxi driver usually has a helper who takes the money(no tickets given). There are usually fruit sellers and sometimes other vendors in and around the rank. The air is filled with beats of loud rhythmic music, and the shouts of the taxi drivers, asking for passengers.

Many pavements in streets in South Africa are lined with street vendors. This is especially in the urban areas, in the shopping areas. Vendors sell an array of goods. In our main street there are fruit vendors, folk selling hand bags, hats and sunglasses, and another stand selling clothing, face cloths, sweets, takkies, purses and beanies. Some areas have prohibited vending. Something I thankfully have not yet seen been vended is fresh meat. Now that really does not go down well with me! It does happen all over Africa, but I have not seen it.

Another unusual sight is the telephone table. A person can be seen, standing, making a call, on the pavement of a busy street. This is a portable telephone system, sold by leading cell phone companies here. People pay to make a call. By the way there are the normal public telephone booths available too. Cellular (mobile) telephones are seen everywhere, carried by rich and poor alike.

Some of the words I've just used may need some explaining: Sweets are candy, and takkies, or tekkies are sneakers. A beanie is a knitted cap, with a big fold turned up. They often have the South African flag, or some rugby teams emblem on them.

That's all I have time for now. I'm busy preparing for Emma's party. She's turning four years old on Sunday!

Has this been of interest to you?

Cultural confusions

2008-02-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

Through corresponding with other 'Weaverettes' across the globe, and browsing other blogs recently, I have realized how we do things differently down here.

For example, words like realize and organize, we spell with a s not a z. Yes, I "correct" all my words when I post anything here, for my American friends.
But when I post on South African loops, I use SA English.

Another thing that I have noticed is that we leave the word "that " out of sentences a great deal. For example, my last sentence would have been spoken as: "Another thing I've noticed is we leave the word "that" out of sentences a great deal."

I am very aware of adding my that now that I know that Americans use that correctly ;-)

I've found Google a rather useful tool. I had to look up the the meaning of 'mahalo' today. It means thank you in Hawaiian, by the way.

Other expressions and simple cultural differences that I've had trouble with are: sweaters, sneakers, binders, lolly-gagging and math to name a few.

One expression that I have not quite grasped is "you could shake a stick at it".
My mind conjures up an image of a fairy waving wand, but I'm probably miles away from the true meaning.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in hearing about some more cultural differences?

Perhaps you'd like to know why most South Africans would turn up their nose to a plate of gravy and biscuits?

Would you like to read more of our varied land and bright culture? Post your comments, or e-mail me!

Capturing the memories with photos

2008-02-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the busy routine of life, that we forget to stop and just enjoy our children, as they are now. We are so busy with teaching our children, character training and thinking of what needs do be done next that we forget about NOW! With my first child, Joel, I was obsessed with milestone charts. Now I am cherishing every moment with my youngest, Shelley, almost wishing that she won't grow up too fast. At least we now have another baby in the house, Amy!

I was recently going through older photographs of my children. I was fascinated at seeing how they have changed and grown. I cannot help but thinking that, although they are still so young, it is passing all too quickly. Our Emma-lee Rose turns four years old at the beginning of March. I was particularly intrigued at how she has blossomed over the past two years.

So, I'll keep taking photographs of the children, so that I can remember how they looked. One day, all too soon I am told, I will miss the sweet slobbery kisses, the smell of peanut butter and the noise. I'll forget that "all-touched out" feeling, and long to hold them. They'll have moved away. But I'll have the photographs, and the memories.

Playing dolls

2008-02-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

I know I've already posted today, but when I saw this pic I had to put it up.

Emma-lee adores Amy. "Mom, I love God better than anyone in the whole world, except Amy of course", she said on Monday. Here Em is giving Amy her bottle of milk, under my watchful eye. It was too sweet, Amy was patting her face and really enjoying her cousin as she sipped her meal.
We love having her with us!

Our crazy weather

2008-02-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

"Mom, how come it's freeeeeezing, when it's supposed to be Summer?"

Our little town (okay, it's actually a city... we have a Cathedral!) here in the Eastern Cape is known to have extremely strange, changeable weather.

Tis true. Take today, for example. A beautiful clear day, not a cloud in sight, a scorching hot day. Suddenly a bank of cloud comes rolling in from the south, over the mountains, and the temperature drops rapidly. Within 30 min the sky is overcast, and rain is threatening. On with the jerseys, change the menu and cover up that paddling pool.

I am told that our city is situated on the edge of four different biomes. A biome is "a climatic and geographically defined area of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, often referred to as ecosystems" according to Wikipedia.

This certainly is evident. If you take the one road out my town, you are met with fantastic scenery. The landscape is semi arid. Shale koppies, (little hills) dotted with Cape aloes and other succulent plants abound.

The southerly road out of town takes you through a forested, mountainous area. Damp mist often hangs here, and plants grow rampant and green.

Visitors scoff and declare, "You have four seasons in one day, I can't bear your weather "

Yip, summer, winter, autumn, and spring are difficult concepts to teach to teach my children.
Biomes...they really wreak havoc with our weather, here in the valley.

There is always room for one more

2008-02-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

From tomorrow, we're going to have a new little looker-on whilst we do school, in the morning. My beautiful niece Amy, aged 6 months, will be joining us. I told the children about the new plan. I explained to them how special it is that Amy can come to us, and how she does not have to go to a Day Care Centre. I re-assured them that I would still be able to give them attention and love, and that I have plenty of love to go around to all of them. I expressed that it is also a privilege for us to look after her.

Speaking to them reminded me of how I'd felt when I was expecting Emma. I was afraid that I would never love another child as much as I loved Joel. Would I have enough love for both of them?

Now I know that love is just about the only thing that multiplies when you divide it. It seems no matter how much love I give, I still have some more to give, and that I am so much happier when I am giving. I realize now, that there is always space for one more person in my heart.

And it got me thinking.... are we teaching our children to be "takers" as we love and care for them, or are they learning to share the love that we give them, with others?

How often do you read to your children?

2008-01-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

Since my last post, I've been thinking of how, in the past, I used to spend HOURS reading to my children. Since Shelley has got more active, and Joel started more formal school, those times happen less and less. It's very sad, and I miss it, as do the children. Yet there always seems to be something to do, something else that needs my attention, a phone call or whatever, that takes away our precious reading time.

But... I've decided what I am going to do. From now on we're going to have a set time each day for me to read to the children, after lunch. It's going to be a special time with Mom, no interruptions, no exception. Each child can choose their own short book and then I'll read something else too. I am feeling rather excited about this, as I have really missed reading time, and feel it is so important. I'll keep you posted.

How about you? How often do you read to your children?

The tooth mouse

2008-01-30T00:42:00.000-08:00

The tooth mouse paid our house a visit again the other night. Joel lost his third wiggly "baby" tooth.

SO at bedtime, under the pillow went the little tooth, and voila, there in it's place in the morning were six coins. That dear old tooth mouse left Six South African One Rand coins, in exchange for a fairly well worn little tooth.

Why six rand? Well, because Joel is 6 years old. Last year, when his teeth fell out, Joel was five years old and he got R5, so the tooth mouse kindly considered inflation when he paid his first visit this year. (I do hope that the dear tooth mouse realizes how many milk teeth a child has.)

Emma eagerly awaits the time when she too can have a wiggly tooth.
Only, she insists that the Tooth Fairy is going to come and pop a coin under her pillow, not some common mouse!

A friend told us that in her Xhosa culture, it is customary for the young child to throw the lost tooth over the house and wish for good luck whilst doing so.

One wonders how many different traditions there are around the world celebrating this milestone in a child's life.

So, who comes to visit your house when a milk tooth falls out?

Books are fun

2008-01-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have to admit that we, like many homeschool families, were running out of bookshelf space. We recently acquired a lovely HUGE bookshelf for our school room, which has helped. You see, we all LOVE books, from the oldest to the youngest. Books are constantly scattered around the house, and unfortunately, the shelves seldom stay neat.
But...the children are "reading" and not watching TV, and that has to be a good thing. We do watch selected video's inour home, but we actuallyhave never tuned in our TV set to receive South African TV aka SABC. No great loss.

Now, isn't a book so much more fun to read aloud when YOU enjoy the story too? Here are some of my Favorite children's books:

The Little House- VL Burton
Caps for Sale- E. Slobodkina
Little Bear- E. Minarik
Where does the butterfly go when it rains? -M. Garelick
Three ducks went wandering -R. Roy
The Year at Maple Hill Farm -A and M. Provensen
Treasury for Children -James Herriot
The Saggy baggy elephant - K and B Jackson
Petunia - R. Duvoisin
The Sneetches, and other books by - Dr Seuss
Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel- VL Burton
Berenstain Bears - S and J Berenstain
Guess how much I love you? -S. Mc Bratney
Books by Shirley Hughes, especially Alfie and Annie Rose books, and Out and About
Stellaluna -J.Cannon

All things bright and beautiful

2008-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

We've finished off the moon in Interlock, and here are Emma and Joel with their little rockets.

This dear little tortoise was wandering around our garden last Friday. We do not live in the country, so this is not a common occurence. I have checked in my field guide but I am unsure which type of tortoise he is. I've never seen one like this before.

I snapped this picture of Shelley and Emma absolutely engrossed
in examining a tiny beetle.

Shelley had her first swim in our kiddie pool today, she usually does not like it, but the temperature was 34 degrees so the water was lukewarm!
The last picture is of my beautiful niece, Amy, now six months old.

Our house

2008-01-18T09:25:00.001-08:00

Left, view from the street, and right, looking back onto the house whilst standing in the garden

I recently realised that many of my dear family and friends have never seen our little home, now that it is completed. So here is the guided tour of the exterior, which is all you're going to get till I win a session with a professional organiser ;-)

Some stepping stones lead from the driveway to the front door. The stoep (aka verandah) is under the deck, and is lovely and shady. We tiled it with some rustic handmade tiles, in earthy colours.
We have had the odd beautiful evening braai (barbecue) out on the deck, and watched the stars. We hope to use the deck more in the future, I find it a bit dangerous still with young children.

Standing on our very unpopular driveway, and a view of the garden.

Due to the nature of or property, we have a very steep driveway, leading to a large level area where the house and most the garden is. At the little railing which you see at the end of the lawn, there is another steep drop, and then a smaller level section of garden which we have not developed, aside from a veggie patch. The Wendy house is also down there.

80 % of the garden is indigenous, and then the lovely view of our little town and the hills.

What visitors comment on most is our view firstly, and then on the garden. The garden is not a flower filled English paradise, it's a South African garden filled with plants that occur here naturally. There is always something in bloom, and love the different seasonal associations I now have from my garden. For example I am looking forward to my ribbon bush flowering in April.

Honestly, our home still needs tons of work but lately I been thinking about how blessed we are to have this home and garden.

Family likeness

2008-01-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

I took this picture of Shelley feeding herself, on Saturday, and when I viewed it I was immediately reminded of a cheeky photo of myself as a baby. I dug it out my old albums, and here it is. I am amazed at the resemblence. Not too sure which of us looks the most cheeky, but I think Shelley wins!

The heat is on!

2008-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

We finished up our Weaver study of the seasons this week. We had a fun laugh the day that we did Winter- there we were creating snowmen and snow for our Winter scene, and outside the temperature was 39 degrees celsius (I think that is above 100 degrees Farenheit)
After discussing Winter the children went outside and ran through the sprinkler to cool down. Suddenly some big clouds came up, and covered the sun, and they were able to feel how when the sun is blocked, it is so much cooler. We were able to actually see the sun rays sticking out from behind the clouds, without hurting our eyes. Earlier they had both asked me why people always draw the sun with "those lines" and now they saw first hand why.

Next we're heading for the moon...as we continue to learn about the the wonderful solar system that God created.

The Seasons in our School

2008-01-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

I took this picture this week. I told the family it was time for school and was amazed to find them ALL upstairs waiting for me even before I was ready. Emma and Shelley were "reading" books. It is great to see Joel and Emma are so keen to learn. Interlock keeps them interested and involved. Shelley has given us real fun as she has learnt to sit at the little table on a chair. She is so involved but is SO little. Today the children were acting like bears hibernating in a cave, and crawled under the couch, which I must tell you is a very small space. Shelley followed them, growling all the way...under the couch...with much bumping of her head and tears!

This is the Summer collage that the children made this week, for our season study. Joel was a
bit annoyed as Emma added some creative strokes on the picture. Part of learning to work in a group.
I try to let the children do as much for themselves as they want to/can.

I have been really blessed by James' (alias Dad) contribution to Weaver, in the family devotions.
I like to call the father devotions the "missing link" in homeschool. It is so great that Dad knows what
we are doing, asks about our day, and tells his own little story about the topic. This week James
very aptly told us about how life too has many different times and seasons, as Ecclesiates tells us.
I think it is good for children to realise that life is NOT all rosy and fun, it can be tough, but that
God has an ultimate plan in it all.

School starts again!

2008-01-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

We started our new school year earlier than the government schools here. The first day was a special one for Joel, as it was his first day in "Grade 1". I took a pic of him at his desk. The day went well, and it has been smoother than I expected. There are murmurs about the length of the school day however. I thought 8:30 to 12 with breaks was fair.
Joel on his first day of Grade one

We have been studying the sun and day and night in Weaver Interlock, and now we are on seasons. Today we did Summer and made a lovely wall collage. We will add to it each day over the next while, and so I'll take a pic when we're done. We had collected sea sand and shells at the beach which we added to our collage.

I have done a bit of planning ahead for the year and am finding that it certainly helps. I've also designed a form, to ensure that I am keeping up with the SA school curricula requirements which has made that bit much easier. I plot each day out, recording our Weaver Interlock, Phonics, reading and Math, and the SA subjects like "life orientation" on the form. I have also been summarizing all my records and saved them on my pc, using Homeschool Tracker, which is great. Looking forward to a great year.
I snapped this sweet picture of the girls at their little table

Journal of December Holidays

2008-01-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

We returned in early January from a lovely almost two week holiday at the beach. We had a restful time. We went to my parents cottage, at Fish River mouth, and unfortunately the river came down twice whilst we were there, so the beach was strew with reeds, and branches of acacia and their fierce thorns. The sea was extremely muddy and only safe to swim in on two days, when we enjoyed it. The children actually had their first seaside swims. Shelley did not enjoy the beach! She has a thing about sand on her feet and so she sat on my lap all the time.

Here she is enjoying Joels' Australia cap which he received from our family in Aus.

Joel and Emma-lee had some time on the beach each day to dig in the sand and they had great fun sliding down the dunes.

We took the children to the rock pools one afternoon and spent a lovely afternoon catching fish and exploring. Two of my cousins joined us, with their respective children, and in all there were 5 little people aged 8 and under splashing about. It was a special time I'll always remember.

Plants, plants, plants

2007-12-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

What joy, my camera is fixed! In this short time Shelley has changed so much, she's walikng all over now. I'll have to post more pictures later.

We've been doing all sorts about plants in our Interlock Weaver this term, which has come to an end. We have covered grasses, herbs, bushes and trees. We all really enjoyed and it was fortunate that the weather allowed us outdoors so much, collecting plants, playing on the grass and examining seeds, leaves and trees. We used the opportunity to plant seedlings in all our outdoor containers. They are looking really colorful as Summer rolls along. The children each got their own planter and chose the plant they wanted. They both chose Petunias. We also each made a miniature garden. I found it so interesting how their personalities came out in their creations. I do wish my photographs were better.

Joel had very little shrubbery, plenty of rocks and stick structures, and his army men placed in between, for his real boy garden!

Emma had a bit of greenery, interspersed with small colorful flowers, and fairies and little animals sitting on rocks in her garden.

I want to be just like you...

2007-10-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

There is a beautiful song by Phillips, Craig and Dean, that I often hear on Positive Life radio, the online radio station I listen to. The words mean a lot to me, even if it's a song for Dads'.
So read them here if you have the time. The music is also stirring, by the way.

I'm so blessed that my children have a loving Dad! Thank you James for all you are to them.

I Want To Be Just Like You Lyrics

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bub
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall
But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

My baby is one year old today

2007-10-13T01:37:00.000-07:00

This is just a little post, to share my joy, mixed with a tinge of sadness.
Shelley turned one year old today. Soon my little baby will be walking on her own, stepping out of babyhood. It has gone so fast, too fast. I'd like to capture her as she is now for a bit longer...but I know she's got to (and going to) grow up, faster than I wish.

Shelley is doing sweet things, she says "hello" for a phone, and holds it up to her ear, she is crazy about James, and lunges out my arms to him. She continues to be thrilled by Joel and Emma. It never fails to amaze me how they all are so excited to see each other in the morning, as if they've been parted for days. It is too precious. The bigger ones are still very helpful with her, and watch out for her too, it's lovely to see involved how siblings can be.

This may sound funny, but I've gotta keep remembering to enjoy these precious times, no matter how tired I am, despite illness, and heaps of work, and sleep deprivation.

For this too shall pass, and all too quickly.

My camera is broken!

2007-10-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am praying that God will make a plan for me, because my camera is broken. I really want to keep up this blog. I find it is rather therapeutic recording our days. Without my camera I feel lost!

We've just finished off air and clouds in our Weaver Interlock. We did lots of fun extra experiments and read library books. I can't show you photos of what we've made, but our butterflies were too beautiful. Today we started Day 3 of creation, and discussed about how God created dry land and the seas.

Superheroes sometimes wear Mom's kitchen gloves!This is Joel's birthday thank you note, too sweet

I am so proud of Joel, in his academic progress. His reading has progressed beyond what I ever imagined this year, and he is on book 3A of the Ladybird readers. He also uses the Christian Liberty Press phonics readers, for variety.

On Sunday we had even more reason to be proud. At a special award ceremony at church Joel received a certificate in recognition of his determination to remember his memory verses each week for "Sunday School". He was very shy about it, at the time of course. You know it is not about the award...it is the fact that he has hidden the Word in his heart that makes me swell inside my heart. (I know that child is going to put me to shame at this rate.) He is so keen to learn the Word. The great thing is, as I teach and remind him his verses, for school and Sunday I am learning scripture too. Emma is also learning the memory verses. We do it in a really fun way and often put music to it or jump around and do actions.
"You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." Deut 6:7 ASV

Reflections

2007-10-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

We have been so enjoying our Interlock these last two weeks. We've just finished off light, where we learned about reflections, shadows and colours. And this week we started to learn about the second day of creation, and about the air. I have been impressed at how well the children are retaining what we have learned. Not just the memory verses, but the "academic" stuff too. And I am learning with them, it's such fun. Occasionally I add something to the days' work, like a poem, a story or an additional experiment. This week I learnt how to prove that there is air in an empty glass...wish someone had done hands-on things with me at school.

Photos, from the top; Emma obliges for a picture at last, and top right, baby carrier South African style,
Below: James and I, and Shelley all smiles

I have been doing a bit of "reflection" myself, and have decided that I was probably on the edge of burnout, just before our holiday. I was SO tired and irritable, and had lost my joy, though it was hard to admit it out loud. Yes, I do have a lot to do, with the children, a baby, house work, meals etc, but I think it is more than that.

I have realised that when I go "ahead" of myself with the homeschooling, and start fretting about the next Grade, the next book (and everything for that matter,) I leave the Lord out of it, and everything crumbles and crashes down. That endless fascination with Homeschool catalogs... it shows up an element of mistrust in the Lord. As long as I keep "researching" the newest curriculum I hear of, doubting myself and what we are doing, and asking other people their opinion about my childrens performance, I am not really fully trusting the Lord for His plan for us. Sure, advice is helpful at times. But if I have not really gone and "seeked" the Lord about something, before I discuss it with a friend, I've left Him out, and missed a valuable opportunity to place this area into His hands. I cut Him out, and do not act in His will in this area, because I did not care to put it at His feet.

I think back to when I first started reading up about homeschooling and how some authors really put a lot of emphasis on prayer and our personal walk, more than on curriculum choice and teaching styles. I now realise that is so, so very wise.

I know it is Gods' will that we homeschool and follow this lifestyle, despite its' challenges. But I am I prepared to actually give my ideals and aspirations for my family over to Him, and begin to be molded into His plan? It's a day to day choice, not a once off decision.

I have been getting a Daily Focus e-mail (see top corner banner) It is so encouraging. Everyday, I get an e mail in my Inbox, and it re-directs my thoughts to the real reason we homeschool. So often it has addressed an area of concern and put to rest needless anxiety. I am beginning to understand how much of an instrument I really am in this...

Spring colours

2007-09-29T10:45:00.001-07:00

So, the holiday?
Well we did go away and had two beautiful days at the Kleinemonde estuary. Alas, we came back early, as all the children were sick. We picked up some strange virus, with high fevers and sore bodies, resulting in listless little people. I felt happier having everyone at home, and then I got it last Monday, for two days. We've all recovered and thus far Dad has remained strong.

We had some HOT days this week, and I pulled out the splash pool and filled it. The girls enjoyed playing it. Lollie, less so, could be that he does not fit into it well anymore!

We did a lovely Weaver lesson on "Shadows" which involved drawing our shadows on the paving, at various times of day, and observing the change. The children loved it. We did all our "school" outdoors in the shadow the house casts. Standing out in the sweltering hot sun, to draw their shapes, they had a hands-on lesson of thankfulness for shade, as we have no trees yet, our yard is VERY hot.

This week we also did "Reflection" and Dad did a really great devotion about reflections that evening, in candle light.

Uncle R is staying with us for a few days, and the children are so enjoying his visit. It is good to catch up with family.

Picnic in the veld

2007-09-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Princess loves Baby coz

Today went out of town, to a local game reserve, with family. The weather forecast had predicted bad weather, but the day was lovely and sunny, and warm. We had a picnic alongside the Settlers dam, on the grass. We had a braai for lunch, and then the other adults attempted to take a nap on blankets spread out under the shade of an acacia tree. I took the children for a little stroll.

Along the waters edge we saw buffalo spoor and there was evidence that the rhino had been around, but we never spotted them. The children enjoyed poking at little tadpoles in the shallow water. Princess (aka Embie Tembie) was feeling a little jittery about the possibility of bumping into a rhino without Daddy by her side. (I thought it best not to even mention the buffalo!) I wanted to go on further and a bit into the bush too but she was not at all happy. Alas princess was also feeling camera shy, and then a fall and resultant bump on her chin ended the happy time for her. We saw a small herd of impala along the road as we left later.

Lowly playing with pollywiggles

We are GOING ON HOLIDAY to the seaside, on Tuesday, for almost a week.
I am so excited, can you tell?
We have not been on holiday that long for more than a year, and we have been invited to join family, so it's a real blessing. Hubby dearest needs a good break.

Birthdays and baby days

2007-09-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

Top: Shell bell with crazy baby hair, and above: Birthday boy with his cake and friends

Lowly worm had his birthday party yesterday. Since his last party was the year that he turned three, due to various family emergencies, we wanted to make it really special. And it was. He had 12 friends over, and we played 2 games, pass the parcel, and a treasure hunt. Then the children all had time for free play. The cake turned out well and everyone enjoyed the eats. So until Christmas, I can rest;-)
I snapped this shot of Dad and Lollie at the party, and I love it!

Dad and his big boy

Lollie enjoys taking pictures with my camera, and he took this in the garden this morning, of Princess Beauty Bright and me. It was a lovely warm Spring morning, and we played some cricket.

Mom and the princess

While we were playing, Shell-bell was investigating the garden, and found the dog's water bucket. She had such fun, and then began to play in the muddy patch she had created, enjoying every moment as it squished in her fingers. Then it was upstairs for a clean up.

Happy as a piggy in the mud

Settling down

2007-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the Spring garden

We've been having some really calm, ordinary stay-at-home days, and that has been good. We have gone to the library, baked together, had a few visitors and just played. I have really felt rather introspective, now that I am a mother of a SIX year old!

Lowly worm is now SIX, with his own Clivia

I have realised with shock at how fast time flies, and feel that we need to slow down the academics for a while and live and learn more of life lessons. We have not done Weaver for about 2 weeks, but we've been re-connecting as a family. And I think it is great.

Next year, the big boy, by law must start school. Then I am going to have to do much more serious work with my almost official First Grader. Until then, we are taking it slow...enjoying our family moments.

Forest Fairies having a picnic

I visited our local boys' school this week to view their resources. Initially my mind was reeling, as I tried to compare what we are doing, academic wise, here at home, with the school system. The teachers were very clear that we are really are not doing our children a favour, and that socially they will be maladjusted;-) I began to feel discouraged.

Happy friends on the go-kart

It got me thinking about how as Christians, we also do not "fit in". Our choices are not the same as the world's choices, so obviously we do not fit into this world. (The Bible tells it so too) I understand now that my children too, will be different. They probably will struggle to adjust to the systems of this world, be it school or something else. Here in their home, that is not what we are ultimately preparing them for. Hopefully we are preparing them for a high calling, as we train character and disciple them in the ways of the Lord, even if it means in this world they are "different".

The Weaver Curriculum

2007-09-01T11:54:00.001-07:00

This year our family has struggled to find a homeschool curriculum/method that is the right fit for us. After trying a really traditional, workbook based curriculum until April, which crushed our son's natural love for books, we were ready for a change.

After much prayer we felt that a curriculum based more on the Word of God, than academics would be the ideal curricula. I read a great book, "When you rise up", by RC Sproul which challenged me to take Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 seriously, and literally.

And so I began the painstaking process of trying to create my own curricula around the Word. Searching through books, teaching resources and Internet for what I needed required large amounts of time, and often I struggled to find how to combine the Word with certain subjects. And I ended up "tagging" the Bible in after the academics were covered.

Somehow this was not working. Also, Emma was really struggling during school time. All the work was pitched at Joel's level and she was left out. I really struggled to keep her happy. And the rest of the day Shelley needed so much attention(she still does) that Em was missing out on Mom time BIG time! Something had to change. I began to research curricula again...what a mission that was. Nights spent surfing the Web.

(Drum roll)Enter the Weaver curriculum. I had heard about Weaver from only one other South African. I began to scour anything on the Internet that I could find about it, and at last I decided we would give it a try. In the last two weeks of August we started The Weaver Curriculum.

Because of the ages of our children, we have begun with The Interlock, the preschool Weaver program. We are thoroughly enjoying it. It is, firstly, based on the Word, relaxed enough to cover neccesary academics, and includes little ones and Kindergarten (which is equal to Grade R in South Africa) The program is bringing us closer as a family, as it encourages family devotions too. This seems to be the missing part of other curricula...involvement from Dad. There are many hands on activities, but they are meaningful, not just done for the sake of doing.

We really are thrilled, and plan to learn as much from fellow Weaver users as we can. We belong to a Yahoo group, which has helped me not feel so lonely. I do wish more South Africans knew about Weaver. It's so perfect!

Warmer days

2007-08-15T10:03:00.001-07:00

Spring has sprung, the grass is ris...
I wonder when the next cold front is.....

We have been enjoying some more lovely days,
with warm weather from early morning
to late afternoon. The peach trees around
our neighbourhood are telling us Spring
is around the corner. We even had school
out doors on the deck one morning, it was delicious!

We went with my cousin Margot and her
family to PE for the weekend. We stayed
in their timeshare, what a treat!
We were expecting a cold front
but we had a lovely time.
On Sunday the children went with
James to Bayworld, and
watched the dolphins performing.

We went to the beach on Sunday morning. It was a lovely lazy morning. We visited Dad and Mom after that, and had lunch together.

A week of teeth

2007-07-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

This past week at "homeschool" we studied Dentists and Teeth in great detail. We learned about brushing and flossing, different types of teeth, and we did experiments on eggs to show how different foods effect (or is that affect?) our teeth enamel. On Tuesday last week, Joel said his tooth felt funny, and we discovered it was loose.So we discussed milk teeth and permanent teeth too. And Joel wiggled his tooth.

Today we went to the dentist. The children behaved really well, and co-operated. Their teeth were all fine and the dentist was great! Whilst we were there the dentist by mistake bumped the loose tooth out. Here is the story Joel composed for school today. I have not changed any of his words:

"Today we all went to the dentist and my tooth came out, because it was loose. Dr Chris was brushing my teeth because I wanted him to brush my teeth. Then my tooth came out. Now I have 19 teeth. I put my tooth under my pillow, that the toothmouse could come. He will leave a coin in its' place. The End."

Though I was fascinated at how much of our week was linked to our school theme, quite honestly I am relieved to see the end of teeth for a while. We celebrated by eating junk food at Wimpy. (Not logic, I know)

Tomorrow we start Fireman and fire safety. One school topic I do not want to bring "home"!!!

July 2007

2007-07-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a busy few months. Winter has treated us well. We have had many very warm days and lovely walks in between chilly, windy weather.
James is busy building a Wendy house/Fort down at the bottom of the garden. When the weather is fine AND it is weekend, he has been hard at work.

We have also changed our school room and we now have a long desk/counter all along one side. Eventually it will have shelves underneath and we will make one whole other wall for shelves. Above the counter is a new HUGE pinboard.

We have got into a lovely routine of doing school from 9am to 12 am. Some days we finish up early. We always do "work" first, and crafts later. Our day largely depends on Shelley. Joel is reading really well. He likes Maths, but dislikes colouring in. I am busy compiling his mid year assesment/report. Emma has been so keen to join in school that I now have to prepare "work" for her too.

Shelley is a slow teether. She is sporting two new teeth. She crawls around fast now and pulls herself up against furniture too. She is very sweet with the children. She can wave and say "meouw". She really loves Dad, and squeals in delight for him.

I am finding it rewarding being at home with the children. We now have our house help only twice a week and I have not found it stressful, I have enjoyed doing things myself.

Well, there is still a lot I could say about this last month, but I may post again.

Why am I doing a blog?

2007-05-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I am wondering to myself: why I am setting up this blog thing?
I hardly have any time to two seconds in a row by myself, and now ANOTHER responsibility....

Guess what? I am NOT going to post here often, you all know how slack I am at this type of thing.
However, I will try from time to time fill you in on family happenings, and of course post some pictures. (That is the only reason you are here anyway to see the children's pictures, hey?)
I am sure you don't really want to read EVERYTHING about our life, blah blah blah. There was much sense in good old fashioned diaries with LOCKS on them. It is healthier for you folks not to read my soppy lengthy entries. But alas I, like the modern generation, no longer know how to hold a pen, it is a dying art.

So...I will not bore you, and I will not let myself down at yet another commitment.
LIFE IS SO GOOD!

PS: Honestly, I think there may be some therapy in this, and hey, it IS cheaper than a psychiatrist! But please DON"T post nasty comments. My ego will not handle them!

Shell Bell

2007-05-26T02:54:00.000-07:00

Shelley sitting!

Cheeky Beaks

2007-05-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

This was taken in the middle of this month, out on our lawn. We had some beautiful weather.
Shelley learned to sit and so we had lovely outdoor time.

Now the icy cold has arrived!