All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
September 20, 2016
Our Creator
"Momma, will you hold this for me?"
"Sure, Baby."
I hold the tiny creature in my hand and marvel at the transformation in my heart. A short time ago I would not have reached out to hold the Cicada. I would have told my son, "No! That's awful!" But not this day. This day I hold the lifeless creature and admire its Creator.
We have these weird looking bugs here in Middle Tennessee-Cicadas. I use to think they were gross and would try my best to avoid the little buggers. My Joseph, however, thinks they are sooo cool!! He's asked lots of questions about them and I've done the homeschool mom thing and Googled the questions because I, of course, knew nothing about them. I grossed out and said "Ewe!" a number of times while studying the answers to his questions. Did you know that they can make extraordinary loud sounds? They have drumlike tymbals that they vibrate rapidly. When aboveground they mostly live in trees feeding on sap. Some of their species live underground for 13-17 years as nymphs. These are called periodical cicadas. After spending most of their lives underground they mysteriously emerge in throngs. After arriving aboveground, it goes through an amazing process called molting. I could write on and on about this unique little bug called the Cicada. I have learned so much about them that I no longer fear them. Fearing something we know nothing about is not new. I think we are born this way. Sometimes just learning about something and studying how it works can transform our thinking about that particular thing. When I hear the Cicada sing I no longer wish they would stop. Standing outside on our deck in the late afternoons and hearing them chime is now a favorite activity of mine. Hearing them sing together like a mighty army is inspiring to say the least. How our Creator put so much effort into just this little bug is mind boggling. About 2,500 species of Cicada's have been identified so far. 2,500!! And yet I am constantly concerned for my daily affairs as if He, the Creator, has nothing to do with them. As if the Creator of 2,500 Cicada species and counting is somehow distant and not able to reach into my daily concerns. I'm so blessed to have a son who is curious about creation and who in turn leads me to study and know more about creation and our wonderful CREATOR!
Psalm 46:8a "Come, behold the works of the Lord...."
Our Creator
"Momma, will you hold this for me?"
"Sure, Baby."
I hold the tiny creature in my hand and marvel at the transformation in my heart. A short time ago I would not have reached out to hold the Cicada. I would have told my son, "No! That's awful!" But not this day. This day I hold the lifeless creature and admire its Creator.
We have these weird looking bugs here in Middle Tennessee-Cicadas. I use to think they were gross and would try my best to avoid the little buggers. My Joseph, however, thinks they are sooo cool!! He's asked lots of questions about them and I've done the homeschool mom thing and Googled the questions because I, of course, knew nothing about them. I grossed out and said "Ewe!" a number of times while studying the answers to his questions. Did you know that they can make extraordinary loud sounds? They have drumlike tymbals that they vibrate rapidly. When aboveground they mostly live in trees feeding on sap. Some of their species live underground for 13-17 years as nymphs. These are called periodical cicadas. After spending most of their lives underground they mysteriously emerge in throngs. After arriving aboveground, it goes through an amazing process called molting. I could write on and on about this unique little bug called the Cicada. I have learned so much about them that I no longer fear them. Fearing something we know nothing about is not new. I think we are born this way. Sometimes just learning about something and studying how it works can transform our thinking about that particular thing. When I hear the Cicada sing I no longer wish they would stop. Standing outside on our deck in the late afternoons and hearing them chime is now a favorite activity of mine. Hearing them sing together like a mighty army is inspiring to say the least. How our Creator put so much effort into just this little bug is mind boggling. About 2,500 species of Cicada's have been identified so far. 2,500!! And yet I am constantly concerned for my daily affairs as if He, the Creator, has nothing to do with them. As if the Creator of 2,500 Cicada species and counting is somehow distant and not able to reach into my daily concerns. I'm so blessed to have a son who is curious about creation and who in turn leads me to study and know more about creation and our wonderful CREATOR!
Psalm 46:8a "Come, behold the works of the Lord...."
February 9, 2016
Magical math
I don’t know why or how it works. I tried it one day out of desperation. My son had been taking a reallllllly looooooong time to do his multiplication. He was not a happy kid. He stared into the distance and was vaguely aware of me. I said, “Let’s write these on the board so you can stand up for awhile.” Simple idea. Maybe if he stands up he won’t look so sleepy I thought. Then the magic began to happen. He picked up the dry erase marker, stood in front of the multiplication problem and became---engaged, thoughtful, into it. Wow! It’s magic with both my boys. I wish I knew to try it with the girls at their age also. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they are standing. A little bit to do with the change of view. I write them large so there is no problem with fine motor skills. They get the Math problems done in literally half the time. Makes them happy, makes me happy. Magic.
Magical math
I don’t know why or how it works. I tried it one day out of desperation. My son had been taking a reallllllly looooooong time to do his multiplication. He was not a happy kid. He stared into the distance and was vaguely aware of me. I said, “Let’s write these on the board so you can stand up for awhile.” Simple idea. Maybe if he stands up he won’t look so sleepy I thought. Then the magic began to happen. He picked up the dry erase marker, stood in front of the multiplication problem and became---engaged, thoughtful, into it. Wow! It’s magic with both my boys. I wish I knew to try it with the girls at their age also. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they are standing. A little bit to do with the change of view. I write them large so there is no problem with fine motor skills. They get the Math problems done in literally half the time. Makes them happy, makes me happy. Magic.
October 28, 2015
Joseph the "Animalologist"
Our little Joseph loves critters of all kinds. When we asked him if he wanted to be a Zoologist (a person who takes care of zoo animals) or a Marine Biologist (a person who studies ocean animals) or a veterinarian (a person who takes care of domesticated animals) or an entomologist (a person who studies insects) he said, "Can I just be an Animalologist--because I like all animals"? Our homeschool life leads us to various creeks, and ponds, and places Momma isn't as comfortable as the boys. We've captured frogs, turtles, snakes, bugs of all kinds, and watched them grow and eat and sometimes watched as they died despite our best rescue efforts. We've learned to be in awe of God's Creation and the more we learn, the more we see how much we don't know about this awesome thing called Nature.
Joseph the "Animalologist"
Our little Joseph loves critters of all kinds. When we asked him if he wanted to be a Zoologist (a person who takes care of zoo animals) or a Marine Biologist (a person who studies ocean animals) or a veterinarian (a person who takes care of domesticated animals) or an entomologist (a person who studies insects) he said, "Can I just be an Animalologist--because I like all animals"? Our homeschool life leads us to various creeks, and ponds, and places Momma isn't as comfortable as the boys. We've captured frogs, turtles, snakes, bugs of all kinds, and watched them grow and eat and sometimes watched as they died despite our best rescue efforts. We've learned to be in awe of God's Creation and the more we learn, the more we see how much we don't know about this awesome thing called Nature.
I don't know what God has for my son in the future, but I'm happy to be able to be along side him each day as he learns about this great world we live in.
February 10, 2015
How We Encourage Reading In Our Home
Make It Easy:
Sometimes I put books on the kitchen table and the kids look at pictures and read and talk about them while eating breakfast.
We have always had a basket of books in the living room. I change these out periodically. This makes it convenient for me to read books to them when I have a few moments to cuddle on the couch.
There is a bookshelf in both the boys and girls rooms. We read books at a younger age at bedtime from these books. Now that the girls are older, they have plenty of books to choose from right there in arms reach.
We keep books in the car for longer car rides or times when we have to wait in the car for whatever reason.
I take books with us to Doctor appointments (the books there are probably contaminated with germs anyway.)
We allow them to read in bed with flashlights. I tell my daughters goodnight then give them a time limit.
Small Rewards:
We give the children stickers on a chart, hole punches on a card, or any other creative idea. When the chart/card is full they get a prize. My 6 yr. old gets to go to the dollar tree and pick an item when he fills his punch card. When my girls were younger we offered them money for each larger chapter book they finished.
Take Advantage of Reading Programs:
We always do the Summer Reading program at our local library. Some of the prizes the kids have won are: free books, bookbags, and tickets to the local water park.
Read Aloud As a Family:
We read books aloud at lunchtime and dinner time.
Some of the books we have read together are:
Grandpa's Box
Keeping Holiday
The Lost Clue (from Lamplighter)
Sugar Creek Gang Series
Great For God
Several of the Christian Heroes of the Faith Series
Tabitha's Travels
Jotham's Journey
How We Encourage Reading In Our Home
Make It Easy:
Sometimes I put books on the kitchen table and the kids look at pictures and read and talk about them while eating breakfast.
We have always had a basket of books in the living room. I change these out periodically. This makes it convenient for me to read books to them when I have a few moments to cuddle on the couch.
There is a bookshelf in both the boys and girls rooms. We read books at a younger age at bedtime from these books. Now that the girls are older, they have plenty of books to choose from right there in arms reach.
We keep books in the car for longer car rides or times when we have to wait in the car for whatever reason.
I take books with us to Doctor appointments (the books there are probably contaminated with germs anyway.)
We allow them to read in bed with flashlights. I tell my daughters goodnight then give them a time limit.
Small Rewards:
We give the children stickers on a chart, hole punches on a card, or any other creative idea. When the chart/card is full they get a prize. My 6 yr. old gets to go to the dollar tree and pick an item when he fills his punch card. When my girls were younger we offered them money for each larger chapter book they finished.
Take Advantage of Reading Programs:
We always do the Summer Reading program at our local library. Some of the prizes the kids have won are: free books, bookbags, and tickets to the local water park.
Read Aloud As a Family:
We read books aloud at lunchtime and dinner time.
Some of the books we have read together are:
Grandpa's Box
Keeping Holiday
The Lost Clue (from Lamplighter)
Sugar Creek Gang Series
Great For God
Several of the Christian Heroes of the Faith Series
Tabitha's Travels
Jotham's Journey
We have a delayed reader in our family. It's been a joy to help and encourage this child and watch the love for reading slowly develop. This particular child did 18 months of Vision Therapy after we discovered they were seeing double. If your child is struggling and you need extra help other than the regular eye doctor, the book, When Your Child Struggles--the Myth of 20/20 Vision, really got us started in a new, helpful direction with our child.
I have a punch card for this child and require a chapter of reading a day. When the punch card is full they get a prize. So, I require the reading but they still get a prize. Win/win for all! :))
We also have one child who prefers to read chapter books on only a particular subject. So, a rule was made for this one child. You read 3 books of your choice then mom gets to pick. Then 3 more of your choice, then mom gets to pick. This has worked well so far and I'm able to push a few new genres on this child in hopes of expanding their interests. I also pick books of things I want this child in particular to learn.
Audio Books:
Our favorites so far are from Lamplighter.
I have a punch card for this child and require a chapter of reading a day. When the punch card is full they get a prize. So, I require the reading but they still get a prize. Win/win for all! :))
We also have one child who prefers to read chapter books on only a particular subject. So, a rule was made for this one child. You read 3 books of your choice then mom gets to pick. Then 3 more of your choice, then mom gets to pick. This has worked well so far and I'm able to push a few new genres on this child in hopes of expanding their interests. I also pick books of things I want this child in particular to learn.
Audio Books:
Our favorites so far are from Lamplighter.