The Challenge

So today while shopping at Barnes and Noble for some books we need for our Ancient Greece study with my dd Bridget, also affectionately known as Gidget, I was presented with a challenge.

While perusing the shelves after we picked up "The Iliad and "The Odyssey", I was pointing out works of literature I had to read growing up and pointing out to my dd that she to would have to read the very same books.

Now I have always loved to read and besides reading Jane Austen (my favorite classic literary) from time to time, I usually don't read much anymore. Though I did recently read "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, and I loved it. Then Gidget commented that I was lucky, because now I get to read books that are just for fun. Then she said, "I bet you couldn't read a book that isn't just for fun".  Thus, "The Challenge" was born. I said I could read any book she brought to me. She went on a scavenger hunt to pick me out a book. Now the rule was the book had to be a book of literature, not a 400 page book on business taxes or the like. Still even with that rule I was a little scared, and I was right to do so. She came back with a copy of War and Peace by Tolstoy.

Now I really wanted to back out at this point, but pride wouldn't allow that. Plus what kind of example am I setting if I can't read a book I don't care for. Right??

So that's "The Challenge", I am going to read War and Peace. It will probably take me 6 months, but I will read this book. Who knows, I may even enjoy it!!! Hoping this finds you and yours well.

God Bless,

Kimmie

Words from an inspirational woman

I really want to say a huge thank you to Carolyn from http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org for her wonderful email. Carolyn and her daughter work side by side to inform, educate, and inspire others. Besides their blog, they also speak at homeschool conferences and have a few other surprises in the works.
Since starting homeschooling last November, I have been inspired by reading so many wonderful blogs, by wonderful women who not only care about their families but really care about other families as well. It's with thanks to these wonderful women that so many of us are able to try new things and have the confidence to so, because they have paved the way.
I am not at all sure of my cofidence in my abilities to make this whole blogging thing work. I have no clue what I am doing or if I am even capable of providing content that will inspire others the way I have been inspired. In her email to me today Carolyn gave me some wonderful advice to help me in this new journey. Carolyn like others view what they do as a ministry, they use their faith in God to have the confidence to do what they do. I have always admired that quality my fellow woman. Don't get me wrong, I have faith and I am a firm believer that we all have a plan, I have just never figured out how to things from a standpoint of pure faith. I don't know if that is one of those things you either have or you don't, or it's one of those things you can look inside yourself and learn to do things based on one's faith. Maybe that is just another part of our journey. Carloyn said something to me that I'd like to share,she said, " I have often said that if someone wants to do a great work for God, they should first look at where their feet are (that's your mission field), they should look at who they are talking to (that's your audience), listen to what they are saying (that's your message), and look at what their hands are doing (those are your tools). God doesn't want us to go somewhere else and learn a new message -- He put us here where we are for a good reason, and He's already taught us what we need to know to get started. "
Definitely an affirmation. Thank you Carolyn for those inspiring words. I'd also like to share with you all that Carolyn's son Nate has recently joined the Army. I am thankful that young men like Carolyn's son choose to do such a brave thing for their country, especially in times such as these. I will keep him in my prayers.
Well once agin I'd like to thank you for reading what I have to say. Please feel free to share this site with others, and to leave your words of wisdom, or encouragement, or advice, or what it is you have faith in. One thing I do believe is we can all learn these things from one another. Hoping this finds you and yours well.
God Bless!!!
Kimmie

My kids, because they inspire me everyday.

Co-op Classes: A Primer

Co-op Classes: A Primer
guiltfreehomeschooling.org:Guilt-Free Homeschooling  is a site created by an 11 yr vetran homeschool mom of two daughters. Their choice to homeschool came out of their frustrations over public schools. I know that is was my proverbial straw to switch to homeschool after over 20 years of dealing with the public school systems.

CarolynMorrison and her daughter
Jennifer Leonhard.

Carolyn covers a wide variety of topics from first time homeschoolers, to co-ops, leaving public school, or just considering homeschool. She has links for a lot of different topics for any new homeschooler, or a seasoned one as well.I hope you enjoy!! :)
God Bless,Kimmie

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehogan7/
Feel free to link to this address. I would be happy to share my family photos with other moms, and dads. I have pics of our homeschooling projects, my daughter Bridgets Irish Dance, and so on. Feel free to please comment as well,
God Bless, Kim

I know I posted an entry a short bit ago, but I have been trying to the point of a short mental break down to add a google badge to my blog. I finally seem to have succeeded, but my former entries seem to have disappeared from my blog. I knew I was technologically inept, but trying to figure out the whole badge thing about sent me over the edge. I know we teach our children patients and understanding, but I seemed to have lost all that while trying to learn some new computer skills.
In my last entry I tried to add photos of my daughter and granddaughter doing their lapbooks, but deleted them because I couldn't figure out how to line them up in rows. I managed to lay one pic on top of another, had them scattered in no discernible order, or in a big long row taking up unnecessary room. Googling "how-to's" only managed to add to my frustration. Google even has a whole FAQ's on their blogs. Only for some of it you need an engineering degree to figure it out. I may as well have been reading in Swahili.
Well I have ranted long enough. Hopefully this will get easier, and I won't feel so inadequate.
God Bless!!!!!

Well I have given my blog a face lift. Looking at so many others online, mine looked so pitiful. My goal is to hopefully be more disciplined to write more consistently, and in doing so my blog will become more professional.
I have to admit my jealously over the creative genius behind so many of the wonderful blogs I visit in my quest to to gain knowledge in my homeschool journey. Among my favorites are those blog moms and dads who incorporate notebooking and lapbooking into their homeschool curriculum. I have become a huge fan and advocate of these two methods. I have learned in my research that notebooking is directly related to the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling. (PLEASE correct me if I am wrong on that last statement)
My daughter Bridget has graciously accepted these as part of our curriculum. She finds learning more fun and exciting. It also allows for more freedom in content for individual projects or unit studies. My 2 year old granddaughter Kaya also loves to do lapbook projects as well. I watch her occasionally during the day when her mom is at school. Kaya's mom, my oldest daughter Kady, was very interested and excited over the very first one I did with my granddaughter. Kaya had lots of fun as well. (Her favorite part was using the glue stick.) We have since done 3 more with her. Bridget has done several lapbooks on her own as well. We are getting reay to do a huge unit study on Ancient Greece and Greek mythology. Inspired by what is one of my favorite blogs, jimmiescollage.com.
I found lots of great websites that offer free printables for this unit study from jimmie's Squidoo page.I got free printables from homeschoolshare.com, I also am a member of notebookingpages.com, which offers 1,000's of printable notebooking and some lapbook templates on just about anything you can think of. There is a section that offers free printables, or you can buy by the subject or topic, I paid for a treasury membership. That is usually $74.00, but I found a code online and got it for around $63.00. I realize that this may seem like a lot, I went back and forth for a few months, but I have a lifetime access to all the printables, I just lose access to updates after a year, and renewal is only $29.95.
Well I I hope you enjoy the facelift. Hoping this finds you well.
God Bless!!!!