Transitioning...again.

Hello! I haven't blogged in awhile but I NEED to blog today.

Life is great but busy. I got my new position at work, PRAISE THE LORD! I needed insurance so I can get my health concerns under control and now I am going to be able to do so. However I am having to work 40 hours min per week. Couple this with homeschool and my health problems and I have been stretched VERY thin.

We have been homeschooling since July and we honestly have had a ball so far. Don't get me wrong it is SUCH a challenge but it has been so much fun. That is why the decision I am facing is b.r.e.a.k.i.n.g me. I know God led me to homeschool. I felt it so strongly and I still feel such a great need to educate my children. However I am not super woman and I am putting in some MAJOR hours right now at work. I honestly have no choice. I need back surgery that means I need insurance and my job is the only way to provide that insurance. I have prayed so hard about all of this and I feel very defeated at the idea of "giving in" and putting my children back in school.

The only sense I can make of it is that God wants me to take a more active role in my children's education. I plan on still teaching the Science portion of our curriculum because I know they are not learning about creation at school and it is my job to teach them the truth. I have also developed a new love of reading with my children that will continue no matter what I decided to do. We have also made daily bible study priority and I want that to continue as well. But is that enough? Is that enough to satisfy the longing God has given me to teach these children? I am not sure. But I do know that my plate is full and the last thing I want is my children's education suffering because of something I have done or not done. Opinions, comments, and general chatter are welcome but please be gentle and kind...even if your opinion is that I am making a huge mistake say it in love. I want to hear what you guys think. Is there anyone out there that supplements what the schools teach...how is that working for you?!

Also please pray for my children the school they were going to is very crowded and has lost a few teachers so we may have to make a switch to a new school. They are both ok with it but I am worried about how they will fit in. Please pray for my family during this time.

In Christ Alone,

Sherri

Hello Friends!

* insert quiet clearing throat sound here* Umm Hello bloggy friends, I have missed you guys. I love you all. I have been on-line for a little while catching up with some of you, reading your blogs, looking at your pictures, and feeling very ashamed of myself. You see part of my calling is to pray for those like-minded people who are adopting or have adopted or will adopt but I have been kinda in love with my flesh, and blinded by my pet sins for a few weeks. I have sort of been in limbo. As I have told you before to read your stories and to follow your journeys has a tendency to make my heart bleed quite a bit and I decided to take a break but unconfessed sin is still sin and an unfulfilled calling is still a calling and things have been pretty miserable here in the land of disobedience so I think I better get off my kester and do a little something.

I can't visit bloggyland as often because I homeschool 20 hours a week and work 30 hours a week outside the home but I can visit for a few minutes every day and I can spend a couple of minutes blogging. I can let people in...matter of fact I need to.

My back, that I firmly believe God touched and healed, has begun to give me fits again. My left leg is completely numb and my left knee is in bad shape. I am in MAJOR pain and I have an appointment with my the surgeon who did my first surgery on Wednesday. Please pray about all of this.

We are leaving for a MUCH needed vacation on Thursday and I know that this will lift my spirits, being at the ocean is always a time of soul searching and renewal for me. It reminds me of my BIG huge GOD and I really need that now. I am going to go catch up with a few more of you and then start to pack. Love you all!
In Christ Alone,

Sherri

I'm still here!

Things have took a turn toward busy and I haven't been in bloggy land much lately but I thought I would check in. I have started a new position that lasts until October 1st. I am homeschooling from 8-12 and working from 1:30-8. With the two hours of driving I have to do to get to work and back that means I am going for over 13 hours...so I am pretty tired and I normally fall into bed before I even think about blogging.

It is very hard to get everything done right now but I keep telling myself I can do anything for three months, RIGHT?!

I received some bad news from the doctor a few weeks ago. My back has another pinched nerve and I am losing feeling in my left foot and leg. I need another surgery but I am uninsured right now. I am going to call a local hospital today and see if there is anything they can do for me there. Please keep this situation in your prayers.

Homeschool is going great and I am very surprised with how quickly the kids are picking up on things. I will tell you it is the hardest, most rewarding thing I have ever done. Maybe I can post more about that later. Hope everyone is well! God Bless!

Sherri

Sunday Snapshot: In Love

These two, they have my heart, I am completely in love with both of them. I can tell you that the last week and a half with them at home has only cemented my will to homeschool. They are amazing, they are wonderful and they are mine. I might be a little biased but I am pretty sure that if you met them you would feel the same.

Now I am going to go and spread cream cheese on their bagels because I live for that sort of thing these days.

One blessed Mama,

P.S. Before I got this posted I ran in the kitchen to check the bagels and they were burnt...black....so I called Mitch who is preaching at an outreach of our church this morning and asked him to stop and get biscuits. Glad you don't have to be perfect to be a mom!

Thankful Thursday: No Grumbling Allowed!

Thankful Thursday

I have been a little grumpy today for no good reason but then I visited Renee at "My Autumn Years"  and remembered that I sure have a lot to be thankful for.

1. I am thankful for my relationship with Christ. He is so real in my life and I could not face this life without him.

2. I am thankful for my husband of the past 11 years. He has been out of town and he comes home today!

3. I am thankful for my children Sarah (10) and Colton (7) my mom just sent me this picture of them swimming. I am so glad they are healthy and happy.

4. I am thankful for my church family.

5. I am thankful for living in a country where I am free to homeschool and living in a community where I have such a great group of homeschool Mom's willing to help out a newbie.

6. I am thankful I do not have to work full time and I can enjoy these summer days with my children.

7. I am thankful for a loving Father, Step-Mother, Mother, and Step-Father who support us in all we do.

8. I am thankful for my loving Step-Mother, Mother, and Aunt who help with the kids during the times I do have to work. I could not leave them anywhere that I wasn't sure they would be taken care of completely.

9. I am thankful I have a roof over my head and food in my cabinets. (And for power, air conditioning, telephone, internet, indoor plumbing and all of the other comforts I take for granted.)

10. I am thankful God has opened my eyes to the needs of others and has lit a fire in my heart to help be a part of the solution.

Have you been grumbling and complaining today?! I challenge you to find 10 things to be thankful about today!

In Christ Alone,

Memorial Box Monday ~ Homeschooling on a Shoestring

We made the decision to homeschool a month or so ago, we prayed about it and thought about it for sometime before that and we felt that God was leading us to do it. So I researched curriculum and I picked it all out and priced it and I was thinking it would cost us about $599. Well I found out about several used book sales in the area so on Thursday I went to two of them and when I walked into the first place I found Sarah's grammar book that I was prepared to pay almost $20 plus tax and shipping for and it was only $10.00. Well we left there and went to another sale and I told my Step-Sister Ashley and the kids what I was looking for, the places was crowded and we were about 10th in line to go in, when the doors opened the first table I went to had my Science curriculum and the lady there told me the workbooks were free on-line, the book was only $15.00 so the Science that I was prepared to spend $140.00 on cost me $15.00! A few minutes later Ashley yelled for me and she had found my History curriculum for $15.00 and it was in great shape! We also found some teaching aids and a large map there and I got about $100.00 worth of History Curriculum for about $38.00. Well I had been a little on the fence about what to do for Colton's Grammar curriculum and I really wanted the Charlotte Mason Simply Grammar but it was a little pricy so I was going to settle for another book, well guess what I found at the sale?! A NEVER used Simply Grammar book for $10.00! So I spent $63.00 and got every bit of my curriculum except for the Simply Spelling book I want and our Math Curriculum (still a little on the fence with what to use there...any suggestions?!).

I knew I felt God leading me into this path but I can tell you it sure felt GREAT to have the material I needed practically handed to me for a small percentage of what I planned on paying. Not to mention I also wanted some organizational shelves and things for my homeschool room and I got the cubes I have stared at for several months on CLEARANCE for $19.00 each, and I found a great little three shelf organizer at a yard sale for $3.00 and at one of the book fairs a lady had a rolling shelf for sale and as she picked it up to show it to me the top shelf broke and she said "Oh well, you can have it for $1.00" well I gave her a dollar and my husband fixed it in about 10 seconds.

Our map and a few posters and charts.

My beloved cubes with our curriculum inside!

A poster and a Cursive Alphabet guide.

The window into my kitchen and two pie graph’s the kids did today.

Mom’s corner, my chair, my yard sale find (on the right), and some art supplies.

A close up of the cubes.

I have only spent $200.00 on anything to do with homeschooling and a family member emailed me to tell me they want to give me $100.00 toward our supplies so I really have only spent $100.00! Praise the Lord for His Provision! So here are some pictures of my new homeschool room! Praise God for giving us just what we need when we need it! I will put a picture of my beloved cubes in my memorial box to remind me that when you say "YES!" to God's way he will provide everything you need to walk the path.

Homeschooling Fun!!

So let me go ahead and say this will be a boring blog unless you homeschool or want to but I just have to share my excitement and my husband is sick of hearing it!


I needed to purchase my Science, English, History, Math, Spelling, and Typing curriculum for this next school year. I had checked online and I was expecting to pay around $599 for all of it. Well today I found my Science, English, History, and Typing programs at used book sales and on sale at a teacher’s supply store. And I spent a grand total of $65 on it all!!!! I still need Math and Spelling and the Math is a set and costs a couple of hundred dollars but I am just so excited that I found the things I needed today!

I also spent about $40 at a school supply store getting some supplies as well as $100 at Wal-Mart getting an organizing system, corkboard and other supplies but I think I did great! Tomorrow we are going to re-do our Dining room and I hope to post some pictures here tomorrow or Saturday.

I know I am way ahead but I am expecting to work a lot in June and I want to start homeschooling on July 5th. I am really looking forward to spending the time with my kids and watching them learn. Please say a prayer for us during this time!

In Christ Alone,