Wildlife Wednesday - Link up - More freebies with All about Crabs

I am honored to be joining forces with Creation Conversations and Kathy Balman @Kathy's Cluttered Mind
to bring you Wildlife Wednesday posts about nature with a giveaway and a link up for your nature posts -

Each month the kind folks @ Master Books  will be giving away a different book for Wildlife Wednesday
Each week Kathy or I will be bringing you a new post with pictures, information, and ideas for exploring God's beautiful creation with your family. Some weeks we will have interviews with authors of NLPG as well
Each week we will post the Linky for you to add your nature posts - which will in turn be added to the Master Books Pinterest board and shared! Look for the twitter hashtag #hswildlife

Don't miss out on great freebies - including unit studies and more - this week Kathy Balman offers her
wonderful bumble bee resources:

• Bee coloring pages
• Bee crafts 
• Bee unit study 
• And plenty of interesting information on the amazing bumble bee 

Join Creation Conversations and the Wildlife Wednesday group today for access to these freebies and more

Here's a peek at our families recent experience exploring God's creation: 

Florida Blue Crab 

Quick tip: 

Nature walks don't have to be an all day complicated event. We had errands to run last week, and on our way home we passed by a small park. It consisted of a parking lot and a pier for fishermen. At the last minute, we decided to check it out and we were glad we did. Our 15 minute adventure turned into a great experience and an opportunity to learn about one of God's Creatures.

Quick stop for a nature adventure - It works for me! 

In case you are missing it - that is a blue crab on the left and a tiny fiddler crab on the right! We enjoyed a quick stop at the pier, a little fresh air, and went home to learn more about crabs. 

Bible verse for studying God's creatures with your children: 

Psalm 104:25 

25 Here is the sea, great and wide,

which teems with creatures innumerable,

living things both small and great.

Crabs are benthos - living in the benthic zone which means the bottom layer of a body of water - such as a lake or, in our case, the Gulf of Mexico.  They play an important role in the food chain from both directions. They are often thought of as the "vultures of the sea" as they eat decaying plant and animal matter they find. 

For your homeschool: 

• Crabs coloring page
• Bible verse printable - print and cursive
• Crab fast facts from Kids Konnect
• Lots of fun Crab crafts from Artists helping Kids
• Crab word search 
• Dot to Dot Crab picture
• Ocean animals memory game
• Under the sea dominoes game 

Enter the Wildlife Wednesday Giveaway for November Here

Marvels of Creation - Magnificent Mammals 

linking up with Works for Me Wednesday - What Works - Wordless Wednesday - Kids in the Word

Link up your nature posts: 

31 days of Homeschool Encouragement . . . . . when things are hard

It's easy enough to be the happy mom when things are all hunky dory.

When children are eager to learn, sitting quietly in their seats, diligently soaking up the wisdom you skillfully impart to them from the homeschool lesson you've prepared ahead of time (of course) - when everyone is smiling, and even the birds are singing - you know you are doing it right.

During those times it's simple to see that you are the person, teacher, mother your children need. 

Clearly, you are the woman God intended you to be. You know it. They know it. Your husband knows it. Even the neighbors know it. 

Surely, everyone can tell from the peaceful expression on your face, bouncy hair, and totally stylin' ensemble - not to mention -  your perfectly well behaved little angels - how pulled together you are! 

You probably feel sorry for that other mother. You know the one. She looks frazzled, a bit disheveled, tired, and completely stressed out. Her children can be wild, they even fight with each other.

 She is obviously not even hearing those birds as they sing. She can't seem to manage to get through the check out line at the grocery store without having to talk between her teeth at her children (who, by the way appear to be rather unruly).  How could she possibly conduct a peaceful homeschool (like yours)? 

O.K. so, here's the punch line - I may or may not be that woman - at least every once in awhile.

The truth of the matter is - we most all have those times when we at least feel like that woman. 

Some may not admit it. And, this may or may not be a picture of my son laying in the floor - right out in front of God and everybody - at a Christian homeschool conference - while I was working

 - in the front of the room - in the front - middle - of - the - room. 

I may or may not have just finished talking through my teeth while he completely ignored me.

I want you to know - I don't often think to pull out the camera to take a picture of my little cuties when they are whining or disrupting - but sometimes they do. 

We don't allow our children to fight with each other - but sometimes they do. 

I don't believe in raising my voice or yelling at my kids - but - I totally have. 

Most of the time, my children are helpful and cooperative at the grocery store. They take part in finding the things on our list, they stay by my side, and wait patiently during the check out line. Usually, I get comments about how well behaved my boys are. Sometimes they follow all the rules. Sometimes they don't. 

I have boys. 3 little boys under the age of 11. Four years ago, they were all under the age of 7.

I love my children. They are cute. Sometimes - that is what saves them. It's a good thing they're cute! 

They are full of testosterone - they are boys.

They are good boys, but they are all boy, and some days are hard. Some days are really hard. 

It is easy to be the happy mom when all is hunky dory. It's the other days when it's really hard. 

These are the days when we must lean even more heavily - on the Lord. In our home - we have "do-overs". On those days that are not going well - we've been known to go back to our rooms and reemerge - pretending that it's the start of a new day. The really good news - at that point - it is! Stopping in your tracks and praying right out loud doesn't hurt either. (Sometimes THAT can really get their attention!) 

Pulling out the bible to read a few verses together always helps us clear the air. 

On those days - what we need is a mantra. This makes a good one: 

 Psalm 118: 24 says - 

-printable-

Thank you for visiting  - I'll be posting daily doses of homeschool encouragement - with some detailed information about how we manage our homeschool - and struggles - daily throughout October. 

Please let me know if you find these reminders and information useful or if there is something else you are looking for. I am happy to share what God has led us through (some pretty big challenges) and how He continues to carry us through each day.

 - visit others participating in 31 days series from The Nester here -
- Read my other posts of encouragement for your homeschool here-

 Better Mom  Modest Mom  God Bumps Welcome Home  The Wellspring #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday -  Gratituesday  

 Soli Deo Gloria    From My Mountain View     Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows -

Good Morning Girls - 1000Gifts   Thankful Thurs Kids in the Word   Thursday Quick Tip   What Works Wed   Works-4-Me  Fresh Brew   

A day in the life - homeschooling our boys!

As a family of 3 boys - I like to keep things moving a bit. They don't like to write - or sit still (or be quiet and listen) but they are required to do some of each. We are relaxed homeschoolers, bordering on unschooling, but we start each day with Jesus and the pledge of allegiance and some desk time. 

We haven't confined our school to one room in the house - we use the family room area (pictured above) and dining table if we need to spread out info for a project or lapbook. We use the kitchen open area for art and other projects - and spend plenty of time in the kitchen doing "cooking 101" which includes planning meals, budgeting, and shopping. We go over kitchen safety and nutrition as well as measuring and other kitchen science. 

 We have more of a "routine" than we do a strict schedule. An average day would go as follows: Wake up and cuddle in mommy's room - breakfast - computer time. Get ready for the day, cleaned up and meet at the "school area". Do Bible time and pray together. Take turns holding the flag and say the pledge.  Then, depending on what day it is - I will read out loud from our Apologia Science or Trail Guide to Learning (which is full curriculum other than math) from Geography Matters for History - Paths of Settlement. I use it for most of our reading, social studies, geography, history, spelling and vocabulary. We do math every day.

 Depending on how I'm doing in the mornings (I have RA and mornings are tough) makes a difference on when we actually start. Sometimes it's easier to just start a little before lunch - and then finish up after lunch.

We try to get outside as much as possible to explore God's creation. My boys are big fans of bug collecting.

The boys help me run around and clean the house each day. We have age appropriate chores - such as emptying the dish washer, taking out the trash, putting clean clothes away and doing some laundry. They take turns running the vacuum cleaner, dusting, and fight over who gets to clean the sliding glass doors with the squeegee. I try to focus on getting one major thing done a week along with general cleaning. 

Several times each week we will either then go meet with friends, go to the beach for a swim and to collect shells, go to the pool, or (when it's a little cooler here in Southwest Florida) go for a nature walk. 

We have quite a few museums within reasonable driving distance and plan regular field trips. 

Living near the beach and on the water has provided us with a unique outlook that fits right in to our lifestyle of learning. We never cease to be amazed at God's beautiful creation and get excited about learning more about how things work. We try to never take it for granted. 

We most always have dinner at home as a family - usually we participate together in planning and preparing it. The boys love their daddy time - he works hard so we can enjoy our homeschool life. In everything we study and learn - we look back to the Creator and give Him the glory. We are surrounded by natural beauty which makes a wonderful platform for learning - but mostly for admiring the handiwork of our Maker.  Reading and writing and arithmetic are all very important - but our number one goal is to teach the boys to live for the Lord. 

God's Word is the foundation of our homeschool. 

Homeschool at the beach - is a rough life - but someone has to do it! 

(I'm so very thankful we can - thank you Jesus!) 

#1000 Gifts 

* sandy toes 

*supportive homeschool daddy 

*sunsets that take my breath away 

* boys excited to learn Bible verses 

* family time in nature 

*getting back to a more steady routine 

*hearing the boys prayers change as they get to know the Lord better

*brothers supporting and helping each other 

Linking with - Holy Spirit Led Homeschool , The Imagination Tree , Creative Family Fun ,
  Camera Phone Friday,   Collage Friday, ihomeschoolnetwork Mommy Teaches  Miscellany Monday  Better Mom  Modest Mom  God Bumps Welcome Home  The Wellspring #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday -
Soli Deo Gloria From My Mountain View Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows
Good Morning Girls - 1000Gifts   Thankful Thurs Kids in the Word

7 Tools Book Club - Preparing the way

 Our Mission is to prepare them (our children) to fulfill the God-ordained places in this world – their occupational calling, their calling as future spouses and parents, their calling as citizens, and their callings as Christians.” -pg. 20

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30: 21

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness…but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 38:8-10

In our family - we've decided that time is one of the main factors in training and preparing our children to lead the life God has for them. Each of them has special gifts and character traits God intends to use for good in this life. It's our job to nurture and encourage them. 

God puts families together in various ways - through birth and through adoption are the ways He chose to put ours together. As parents, we need to believe that He gives us the resources and abilities we need to nurture and train our children to serve Him. 

  “Train up a child in the way he should go,

 and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 

We lead by example. Our children are ever watching and listening to the way we handle life's challenges. When the going gets tough . . . they see to Whom we turn for direction. When others don't see . . . they do. Our children know our hearts and they follow our lead. 

By investing time in our children, by leading a good example and continually turning to the Lord - by listening carefully to their needs, thoughts, and desires - and loving unconditionally  we can show them Jesus. 

We prepare and teach them in many ways including discipline, responsibility, accountability to God. We teach obedience to God, and personal relationship with Him. We lead the way by digging in and sharing the Word with them. 

We can't be afraid to admit when we are wrong, and to ask them for forgiveness. We must be quick to forgive and quick to point to Jesus. We must open our hearts and share our failures, not be (or appear to be) something they can never live up to. 

We must remind them in word and deed that God has a plan for their life and expect them to live up to that potential. We must encourage and build them up. 

God has placed our children in our homes because we have what it takes to train them. If we only lean on Him - seek His truth for them and rely on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to  guide us- His plan will be fulfilled in our families.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6

Linking with #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - The Better Mom
From My Mountain View Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows - Good Morning Girls

   

                            

Happy 4th of July - Fellowship and Fun with #HSTTD Bloggers - Wish you were here

We are enjoying our time with Rebecca @MomsMustardSeed and her sweet family
How are you celebrating the holiday? 

God Bless America! 

2 Chronicles 7: 14 

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Have you heard the news? 

The locations for the 3 locations of the 2013 TTD Convention have been announced: 

If you are attending - let me know where you'll be! If not . . . why? :) 

linking with Wordless Wednesday - 5 Min 4 Mom Mama to 4 blessings - Judy H Wordless Wed