Weekly Wrap-Up: Surpassing Survival!

Survival at Its Finest...
Well, we've survived again!  I'm just so glad that I've decided this year is a survival year, cause then, when we have great weeks like this one, I can say I've surpassed my goals!

Monday I "survived" on 1.5 hours of sleep!  Actually I thrived.  I managed to leave work almost 2 hours late, run some errands, get home, nap (hence the 1.5 hours), run another (unsuccessful errand) and get our free JCP haircuts.  Well, mine wasn't free, but the 3 chilies were!  Hubby showed up and got his cut too!  Who new haircuts could be a family affair!?  Then, I planned, organized, put together all the amazing things for our "Back to School/Not Back to School" party!!! Whew... it was 2300 before I made it to bed! By Wednesday I was dragging!

Back to School/Not Back to School Party
So.... I guess you're wondering about our "Back to School/Not Back to School" party.  I started feeling guilty reading all these blogs with people who have great back to school traditions. We have just always started... no fun, no traditions, no frills or lace.  So, I thought I'd do something fun for a change! Well, my God-daughter and niece both go to school and one of our homeschooling friends follows the county schedule too.  And we, as you know, have been schooling since June... so it's a back to school/not back to school party.

At our party, I set up stations.  At one station, each child had their foot outline drawn, weighed themself, cut yarn to match their height, and put all of that on a piece of construction paper.  Another station had different "About Me Printables" and suggestions to add to them.  And, at the last station, each child painted their hand print onto a piece of construction paper.  Next year they can pull all of these things out and compare how much they've grown.

We had pizza, this amazingly cool cake I made (though it wasn't as pretty as the picture) and we debuted the first "First Coast Kids News" video! I had mentioned that I might post that here, but the kids' first and last names are in the video, and I'm just not comfortable with that. So, you'll have to believe me when I say it was so amazing!  It was phenomenal, and while I was ready for it to be over with, I am motivated to engage in another project, and I think the kids are too!  WOW!!!
















School
Well, aside from the party- Hey, public school has party days too!!!  Aside from our party day, we did very minimal school.  This is our last week with Crazy K before she goes back to PS.  We did have Grommy tutor this week, Bean Boy is doing great with LOF and has kept up with it, we had one science lesson, and I didn't really work with the girls much.  The kids did learn about opposable thumbs, and walked around for about 10 minutes with their thumbs taped to their hands!  They hated it!  So, I'm sure that will be added to the list of things they are thankful for!!! We didn't necessarily do "Bible" but we have sung our hymns and Bible verses...we even sang our verses while we were preparing for our party!

I'm starting to fizzle out, and will need a break soon I think! I looked at the calendar and figured out we've done 8 weeks of school already!  We started, did 2 weeks, then took 2 weeks off...one for VBS, and the other to recover from VBS! We've done light schooling for sure, but have had a great summer.  I think I'll be taking a week or two in the near future, to clean out my school room, work a few extra hours to pay for some things, and to just have a break.  I never take off long because the kids drive me crazy when they don't have scheduled activities! 

Other Miscellaneous
We had hair cuts, eye doctor appointments, movies again, and gymnastics, and gymnastics!  Gymnastics already takes up so much of our lives, and there is more to come I'm sure.... Crazy K, Little Bit and I will be at Yes You Canvas again Friday, and if I have time, I'll post pics...they are doing koala bears this time.


Crazy K
Crazy K has had a tough life.  Things are really looking up for her.  I can really tell a difference this summer compared to previous summers.  Her mom swears she's moody and frustrating....hey Bean Boy is 3 weeks younger and I want to strangle him more often than not... but this year, I've enjoyed K more than any other!  She gave her life to the Lord last school year, and I can really tell the Holy Spirit has calmed her heart.  She has been a major blessing to me and our family, and I am truly sad to have her going back to school!  And, not just because she won't be here to make lunch anymore! LOL! She's added so much to my life!  I am excited that she said she'd continue with her Thankfulness Journal and will email them to me...and I promised to email her our singing verses! I'm so proud of her, and am sure God has big plans for her.  How blessed am I to get to watch her journey!  I'm adding that to the list!!!

Work
Well, I'll be working 3 in a row this weekend and next weekend.  That is including an actual overtime shift.  Hopefully that will help pay for the dog's tooth extraction (probably 3 he goes in on Friday morning) the eye doctor, glasses, and contacts for me and Bean Boy, and groceries!  So, you probably won't hear from me until Tuesday when I link up with Time-Warp Wife.  I'm working on another piece on gratitude... maybe it will be done by then!

Have a great weekend!!!


Wrapping up the week with Kris again!

Singing Verses

You may remember, I wrote before that my main focus this year was to have a consistent time of Bible study with the kids.  Part of that includes our Hymn Study and our Scripture Memory.  I'm happy to report it is going well.  There are times, like this week, that we'll miss a couple of days of Bible because I won't be there, or I'll be sleeping due to work. But, for the most part, I have been sure to make this the last subject we skip, instead of the first.  I do that just as much to remind me that God's Word is more important than math, as it is to show the children that God's Word should be a priority in life...

Several years ago I was blessed (and have been many times) to hear Pam Tebow speak.  One of the many gems I picked up from her was that they put their memory verses to music.  What a cute idea, right?  Well, my son absolutely loves this idea too and is such a great help at coming up with song suggestions and helping me to fit the verse into the song.  Now, sometimes the verses are short, and we just use motions.We are using Simply Charlotte Mason's Scripture Memory System to keep reviewing our verses and it is working really well!  SO, we've taken two great ideas, and combined them!!!  I thought I'd give you a list of verses that fit easily into some popular kids' songs.  There are others that aren't as easy to fit, so this will not be an exhaustive list of verses that we have done, but some of the easier ones.  Maybe you can have as much fun as we have!

Tip: I write/type the verse on one side of the index card, and put the title of the song we use on the back.

Phillipians 2:14-16 (Jingle Bell Rock) *repeat 1st line at the end.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 (The Birdies in the Treetops)

Acts 2:17 (Jesus Loves Me)

Luke 11:13 (Keep Walking- from Veggie Tales)

Psalm 46:1 (God is so Good)

John 4:24 (Pizza Angel- from Veggie Tales) *speak the address at the end

Colosians 1:16-17 (Keep Your Tongue From Evil...which is another verse!)

Psalm 56:3-4a (Big Bad Wolf)

Psalm 22:28 (3 Blind Mice)

Revelation 4:11 (Doe a Dear) *This verse fits such that you sing it twice and the second time through starts at so (a needle pulling thread).  I really like this one!

Judges 5:3 (Jingle Bells)

Deuteronomy 6:18 (Row Row Your Boat)

1 Samuel 16:7b (London Bridges) repeating the words so that the first sentence is verse 1 and the 2nd verse 2.

My personal favorite:  The Great Commission fits perfectly into.... Yankee Doodle!  Matthew 28:19-20


*Disclaimer* Some of these verses were put to songs by one of our very talented teachers from CBS.  Others my son and I did. 

Have fun!

Music

It's a funny thing how my love of music has progressed over the years.... It has actually been less consuming due to the fact that I married someone who doesn't care for it.  But, every once in a while, when I need peace in my soul, there is no better way than through the soothing balm of music, the Holy Spirit, and well, belting it out!!!!

Lately, for belting it, I have been enjoying a gift from my best friend, a copy of Come to the Well by Casting Crowns, my favorite band.  The words to their songs are so very thought provoking and just really lead me to worship.  Today in the car we had some deep thinking (as much as the 11 year olds and 5 & 6 year olds can....).  I love the song, Jesus Friend of Sinners. I encouraged the kids to listen to the words and figure out what in the world it meant to "open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers".  Another line, "help us remember we are all the least of these, let the memory of your mercy bring your people to their knees;" and another, "you are good and your love endures forever".

This is soooo what God is teaching me. Mercy.  It all boils down to mercy.  I got it for free. I should give it for free.  It should "lead my heart".  But, I'm too busy noticing all the wrongs that have been done to me!  Thank God that He is not like that!!!  Instead, He has befriended me.  His love endures forever.  He is good.  So, thank you Casting Crowns!!! Love how your music helps me worship!

Here is a link to the youtube video.... song for thought! 

Please also consider watching the "behind the song" clip too... It was really thought provoking and humbly honest!