Mid-Year Lesson Plan Changes

2015 is sure to bring much change and many rewards!  This is what I spent all day yesterday doing:

Changing up our lesson plans for the New Year!  We will be doing Vision Therapy with all three boys as they all exhibit signs of fatigue and/or disabilities of some kind that supposedly can be fixed with this system.  I'm hopeful that this will work for all of them!

So while I've always said I wished curriculum came in six-month chunks instead of full school year long sets, I guess I'm getting my wish!  The next six months will be focused on Eye and Vision Therapy, and adjusting curriculum accordingly.

And while I've been looking at Joshua 1:9 for our next family verse to memorize, I found it quietly comforting for myself as I've been working diligently on this next phase and journey.

"Be strong and courageous.  Do no be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  

I am not afraid, although, I do find myself getting anxious about it.  Nervous, even.  But the Lord has led us to this, and I'm confident he will lead us through it.  I feel somewhat out of my element with doing therapy on my own until we start up with the Optometrist, but in some ways this is the perfect place to be: in complete reliance on my Heavenly Father.

Vision Therapy Recommended

CJ had his follow-up eyeglasses appointment today!  He had some testing done to determine if they thought Vision Therapy would be recommended.  It is.

A typical eye will be able to focus on an object up to a few inches away from their eyeball before it blurs.  CJ's eyes don't focus properly.  He is 8" out on the right eye (meaning the object goes out of focus at that distance) and 10" out on his left eye.  In other words, his eyes are taxed easily.  A 2" difference between the two eyes working together is also a big concern.  The eye doctor said this is something to work on because he hardly did anything to his eyes, and they were already tired.

They gave him a tracking test, where he had to read numbers in columns and in rows.  He is accurate in terms of keeping place, however he is on the slow side for his age on the timed test.  His eye tracking could be improved along with the speed of his eye movement.

(If you can see past my middle son in the green, you can see CJ being tested for eye tracking)

His convergence and focus issues are making learning difficult because these things are not linking to the brain properly, making understanding hard.

Because we are on winter break, we haven't been studying or learning like we usually do.  It was recommended to wait one month so we get a good handle on how he's doing with just his glasses in school, and then meet back together if we feel Vision Therapy is needed.  I’m pretty confident it’s needed, but I’ll move forward with Dianne Craft’s therapy manual in the meantime.



When I asked if his eyes would get better over time with just his glasses, the answer was no...as good as his eyes are now, are as good as they will ever be.  So, this means, we just need to start therapy.  However, with waiting and observing one month, we'll have more knowledge to move forward with.

Once Vision Therapy starts, he will go through a battery of two hours of testing.  This will include remembering details on a picture, figure ground, reading into a machine that tracks eye movements, timed images, and looking into fine motor skills.

Let this journey begin!

Busy Is Right Where Satan Wants Us

I'm happy I only have one person to answer to.  I've had to make some pretty drastic decisions lately to accommodate the growing needs of my family.  They were not popular decisions or ones that were approved of by probably anyone outside of our family.  But the only approval I'm seeking is God's.  If he says go, I go.  If he says stay, I stay.  Regardless of who thinks what or if I'm thought to be a fool.

Some of the decisions I've had to make are withdrawing from activities that we love, but that create more work for us in the long run, and not agreeing to every activity that presents itself.  I've found myself struggling to keep up with the daily grind, much less extra activities.  If I cannot return a text, a phone call, an email or a message because I'm too busy....maybe I'm just too busy.  If I cannot handle the demands at home to maintain a healthy environment (laundry, dishes, food, time) because I'm too busy....maybe I'm just too busy.  If the boys are not seeing their dad at all at night when he gets home because we're too busy....then maybe we're just too busy.

Cutting out all of the excess that doesn't promote a family and God-centered home is a must. There is no way we can have a family-centered and God-centered home when we are on the go all the time.  After removing us from extra activities, we've had time for family devotions again, we've had time to play games together and really talk again, we've had time to grow together without having to run to another place, or organize another thing, or be somewhere else again.  We're free to enjoy each other, our home, and God.

I believe satan wants us to be busy.  When we're busy, we try to fit in more than we can handle, and the things that we think we can cut out are the most important things that we need to fit in.  We do what we need to do to "get by" and all of the things that mean the most to our family are forgotten or dismissed.  In our home, we always pray together at night, whether busy or not.  But we tend to skip our family worship times and devotions.  We tend to see each other and be together, but not really spend quality time together.  And we tend to be grumpier, snap easier, and w'ere not as patient with each other.

I usually notice there's a busy-ness problem when one of the boys mentions they would like to do something as a family that we haven't done in awhile.  I may hear, "Hey, Mom...I'd like to play games as a family" or "Maybe we could all go to the park together" or "Mom, can you sleep in my bed tonight?" or "When do I get a date night with you and Dad?" or "Can Dad shoot bb guns with me soon?"  The final clincher when I decided to quit my photography business years back was my oldest son saying, "Mom, you love the computer more than you love me."  Well now.  That did it.  It's hard to let go and step back.  But when we do, we have peace and rest.

Think of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.  Mary sits at Jesus' feet and listens as he teaches.  Martha was distracted with serving and doing.  She was trying to make everything perfect, but in the process, didn't realize perfection was sitting in front of her.  The Bible never tells us to be busy.  It tells us to rest and be at peace.

Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..."

It's not popular to go against the world's standards of living.  It's not easy, either.  But listening and obeying God regardless of what man thinks or says is what God requires: an open, willing heart that fears God more than man.  Lord, give me strength to do what you have us do regardless of how popular the decision is within our circle of friends and family, and give us wisdom to know how to carry it out.  We know we will be blessed in our obedience and we pray we will live our lives to the fullest while we serve and worship you...not our schedules and calendars.  

Merry Christmas 2014

As we have been studying in school about history in depth, it has opened a love for studying the background to stories, and not just learning facts and highlights.  This Christmas, we have been reading books and watching videos to learn and understand what life was like when Jesus was born, and to really understand what the culture was during his birth.

We truly enjoyed a book called, "Jotham's Journey" by Arnold Ytreeide that has opened our eyes to so many details surrounding Christ's birth.  I highly recommend this book to use with kids during Advent.  We read one short chapter each night through December, while lighting the Advent candles.  After each story was a very short prayer, devotional, or thought to leave you with.



While we celebrate Jesus' birthday this year, I hope to be like Mary as she walked in blind faith and obedience, not knowing what the next step held.  I pray to be like Joseph, who lead his family in God's steps and who had integrity and fear of the Lord.  I pray to be like the shepherds, who proclaimed the news of Jesus' birth to the people and were the ones who spread the news of his coming.  I strive to be like the wisemen, who sought Jesus out, and believed in Him without having seen him yet.  Above all, I pray every part of my being is like Jesus, who was selfless in his act of love to come to our broken world and live among us, who was born a helpless and dependent baby, who walked among sinners and yet was one with the Father, who came knowing what his outcome would be and yet came willingly and with love for me.  For you.  For all.

Merry Christmas to you as we celebrate the best gift we could have ever asked for!  Jesus!

My Three Sons

I adore their smiles

I cherish their hugs

I admire their hearts

But most of all, I love

That they are my sons!

I'm Not Trendy

Sometimes I think I should have grown up on a remote homestead somewhere far from cities and vehicles, where not everything is concrete and crowds.  You know, where you live off of the land, growing your own food, but also enjoying the world God created in it's raw form.  But then I think I'd miss friends and people.  

I'm not a trendy person.  I don't get caught up in the latest fashion, the latest health fad, the latest discipline technique, the latest home decorating trend.  I gravitate toward simple and classic, which turns out to be plain and boring.

This is not to say that I don't throw on a pretty necklace or dress once in awhile, or zip up some cute boots.  But I don't pay full price and the thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance racks are my stores.  My favorite times with my friends are when we're in sweats and tshirts.  Sure, I'll dress up once in awhile when we go out (even then I have to force myself), but lounging in my jammies and sweats will never be beat in my mind.  Come on over with your sweatshirt and jeans and I'll throw in some hot chocolate for you while we sit on the couch and chat - you'll just have to push toys, books, and probably a fork and plate over first.

I'm not into the latest lotions and potions.  As a matter of fact, I usually make my own.  It's healthier that way, too, but not exactly easier.  There are so many really neat products out there that are supposed to defy age and growing old...but growing old is part of life.  If I lose friends because of my many wrinkles or extra rolls on my belly, then maybe they weren't really friends.  I'd like to think we look at the inside more so than the outside; at knowledge and wisdom and friendship and spirituality more so than brand name clothes and stylish hair and what lotion we used that morning. 

I don't eliminate a complete food group, knowing that there is balance to everything and eventually you'll become deficient in something.  I don't follow a point system, a calorie counting system, purchase vitamin drinks or shakes, remove a portion of a food (like gluten from wheat or juice from a fruit or vegetable), or follow any other of the newest trends in eating.  If God made it for consumption, then it is good.  If man has tampered with it, then more than likely, it's bad.  Keeping food whole and untouched, eating many veggies and fruit, and adding in some meats and wheats is our style.  Oh.  And chocolate.

Exercising is not done a certain way in order to obtain perfection here.  I don't have fancy gym equipment, I don't use a wrap, a pill or run the latest 5k to get results.  My philosophy is MOVE!  If your body is in movement, it is exercising.  I have run 5k's before but honestly, it seems like a fad and research is discovering walking to be better on your joints anyway.  Phew!  That's more my style.  I can walk until the cows come home.  I do use weights for arms and sometimes I'll do crunches when my back allows for it.  I go with a mix of cardio, weight training, and mix in some work on specific areas when it's needed.  But everybody has a different body and they all require different exercises and movement to get the results they need.  That's the beauty of it!  

I'm not one to use tricks and trends to discipline and/or reward my kids for their behavior.  I would rather they know right and wrong for what it is than to have them feel like they get a reward for everything they do.  The Bible is our guide on this.  We don't give them only four gifts at Christmas that are gifts that we get them all throughout the year (want, need, wear, read).  We give gifts that match their personalities.  We give gifts that will be loved and appreciated.  Gifts in our home are given a lot of thought to the individual - not a system of giving.  And yes, they are grateful children.  They know the value of money (they earn it and save up for those things they really want), they know to be thankful for something even if it's not exactly what they were hoping for, they understand there are kids who have far less than them and that they are privileged to have what they do.  

My house isn't decorated like Martha's.  I'll pick things up here and there that I love, and when I put it all together, it usually makes a beautiful display.  But there is no theme, there is no style.  It's what I love, mixed with things that are meaningful, and things that are durable (there is no such thing as having something delicate in a home with three boys).  

I'm not a trend-setter, and I'm not a trend-follower.  I run to my own drum beat.  But I feel like that's where God gave us creativity.  He didn't tell us to do as others do or to keep up with the Jones'.  So while I don't follow the latest and greatest, we do approach each challenge using specific creativity with God's help (not man's), knowing if we let him lead us, we'll be following the best trend of all.

Adoption and Ministry

I have a friend who I've connected with especially on the topic of adoption.  She and I are in the exact same spot: We both want to foster to adopt.  We both are nervous about it.  We both have hesitations about everything involved.  We both feel unworthy.  We both wonder what it will be like having social services in our homes.  We both wonder if we're qualified to do this.  We both homeschool and wonder how that will come into play.  We both have messy houses at times (okay, a lot of the time).

But...

We both have a passion for children who don't currently get to share the love of a family.  It's growing in our hearts.  We can feel it.  It's anticipation.  It's excitement.  It's nervousness.  It's God and we know it.

And yet...

Neither of us have filled out an application.  Neither of us have felt like we need to heavily pursue it right at this moment.  Neither of us are being prompted to move, but know it will happen.

Being patient and waiting has never been a strong suit of mine.  But I've learned that you truly get the best of what God has to offer when you do.  You are letting him make his gift perfect before you jump in demanding that which isn't quite finished.

So even though she has the application in her hands, she hasn't filled it out yet.  Even though I am in waiting for a phone call that was promised, I am in the beginning stages.

Something this friend said just the other day really has stuck with me.  "Adoption is a ministry.  If that child ends up gelling with your family after they are with you, that's just an added blessing."  Wow.  I didn't really think about the child never really fitting in with us.  All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them, right?  I mean, can't you just give them love and help them work through their past (with as difficult as I've heard that can be), and all is well?  And all the foster-to-adopt moms out there smile a knowing smile and think oh, sweet, naive, newbie.

I am the first to admit I have no idea what I'm doing.  I know there are children out there that right now have nobody to hug them with a hug that means they are loved for being them.  There are children who never hear the words I love you.  There are children who have no physical home to call theirs.  There are children who don't get to do a "normal" life.  There are children who need a family.  We are opening ours to one of these children.  I'd love to adopt them all and snuggle with them and tell them Jesus loves them.  But for now, God will give us one.  One boy.

God called us to this, he will equip us through it.  God chose Mary, a girl who had never had children, who had never been married, who had no life experience.  Yet, she was willing.  Ok, Lord.  I'm clueless.  I don't know what this will look like or how messy it's going to get, but I'm willing.  Make this all about you and lead us to be what that little guy needs in this world.

Family Pictures

We had our family photos taken this past week.  We have a friend and her family who we "trade" with.  She takes pictures of us, I take pictures of them, and we all live happily ever after.

It becomes an all-day event, where the two families walk around together, staking out the best spots for pictures in locations that are gorgeous no matter where you turn.  We let the boys explore (she also has three boys) and play along the way, which makes them much more willing to smile when the time comes.

Would you believe me if I told you this was not posed?  It wasn't, I promise!

We both said it was photo-worthy as soon as they all went over there to check out the creek that ran through the park.  These six little guys have spent the last three-ish years growing up together and playing together.  I can't imagine what memories they will share with us once they are old and grown.  You know, those memories where the Mom says, "You did WHAT?!" years after it happened.

And in light of the Thanksgiving holiday that just passed, I'm going to say again that I am so very thankful for my family, friends, and life that God has given us.  It's not without it's challenges, and I wouldn't want it to be, because that's where my faith grows.  But it is beautiful.

Adoption Beginnings

"Adoption was a dream that had planted itself in my mind like a seed and I watered it with wishes and fed it with hope."

 -The Adoption Magazine

While I have been saying all along to friends that we are looking into adopting, or we are considering adopting, I finally said it to a friend just this past week: "We are going to adopt, too!"  We ARE going to.  Not we are looking into it.  Not we are considering it.  We are. 

As a little girl, I walked around my house with a trail of six imaginary children behind me as you would imagine a mother duck with her ducklings.  It was upsetting to me when one day my mother closed a door behind me, only to close out some of my "children." 

Having children was always my dream as a girl.  I just wanted to be a mom.  Although I had talents with secretarial and bookkeeping skills, I always just wanted to be a mom.  

When my husband and I talked about having children early in our marriage, we started off with wanting a boy and a girl (as if we had a choice in the matter).  After we had our first boy, CJ, I changed.  Or maybe it's that he changed me.  When we became pregnant with our second child, I knew I wanted another boy, but of course would have been content with either.  The second ultrasound revealed our second boy, Isaiah.  What a joy he has been.  We were going to stop, but I really knew in my heart we weren't done.  After a little convincing and prayer on my husbands part, we were pregnant again, with our third boy, Eli.  

After making our three boys a permanent thing, I didn't really handle it well.  Maybe it was my memories of having six kids as a young girl, maybe it was that I couldn't handle knowing we were officially done, but this caused a major rift in our relationship for awhile.  

It took some time, but we started to heal, and when we did, we talked about having kids again.  At that time, my husband mentioned adoption as opposed to a biological child.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for kids without parents.  All children deserve a loving home with parents who will guide them and love them.  But never did I think I would be the one to do it.  

That was the seed that was planted and from there it grew in my heart.  Suddenly, it seemed we saw adoption sources everywhere.  We received a random flyer in the mail for an adoption agency.  We seemed to run into family upon family who had adopted, were adopted, or planned on adopting.  A woman asked me to pray for her and a family member at church with adoption.  And unexpectedly we were on a journey to adopting.

Talking with our three boys about adopting, we wanted their honest opinions about it, so we eliminated our personal thoughts and approached them.  Surprisingly, it was unanimous!  They were excited to welcome a brother to our family.  We explained the complications, the long road ahead, the hurt that would take time to heal, the love that we could share, and what God's word says about the orphans and the widows.  All three boys were more than willing to do this.  

"...When widows and children who have no parents are in trouble, take care of them..."

James 1:27 

While I was more eager to get started, my husband felt after praying, that we not pursue adoption, but knew that God would bring the source and situation to us.  Oh, how my heart ached to move forward.  But I have patiently waited.  I have been on the outskirts of two separate situations that were brought to our attention that we did not pursue with adoption but could have had we felt led in that direction.  I believe God was showing us how easy it is going to be to adopt.  Meanwhile we have been preparing in small ways for a couple of years with small, little things: buying that fourth stocking for Christmas, preparing our home in ways that will accommodate a fourth child, reading articles on adoption, praying, and talking with others who have went down this path.

Just a week ago an agency called us back that we had initially contacted at the beginning of the year.  We hadn't heard anything back, so assumed it was a closed door.  When they called, they told us to wait until the beginning of next year to begin paperwork, but they are excited to start working with us!  We have been busily working on our house.  We have been working on our hearts.  We have been working on as much as we can to prepare our hearts and home for another little child to love on and call ours.  

While we pray and wait, we have been praying specifically for the next member of our little family that will join us.  We pray he will be God's perfect fit for our family, that he will settle right in with us, that God will protect him even now, that God will prepare his heart for a permanent home transition, that God will show him how much he's loved.  

Train Up A Child

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22:6) 

What does it mean to train up a child in the way he should go? The definition of “train” is: “to develop or form the habits, thoughts,or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction.”  What is the "way he should go"?  The way he should go is God's way.  As parents, we are to train our children to go God's way.  What a responsibility and yet potentially rewarding task!  

In looking for help with training our boys in God's ways and in practical ways at home, we have looked to scripture.  There are many Bible verses about children, how to train them, and what blessings they are: Deuteronomy 11:19, Deuteronomy 4:9, Proverbs 1:8-9, Proverbs 29:17, Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:7, Proverbs 22:6, Luke 18:15-17, Mark 10:13-16, 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Psalm 127:3-5, just to name a few.  (See below to read all scriptures)

As homeschoolers, we have an opportunity to teach our boys all day long in God's ways.  This has proved to be one of the biggest blessings we have.  When we first began our homeschooling journey in 2011, we used a charter school for one school year.  This was the kick start we needed to get our feet wet and propel us on to discovering all of the benefits that homeschooling has to offer.  We are now our own private school, and with that comes flexibility we wouldn't have otherwise had with curriculum and with training the boys the way we feel God is having us do.  There are days we skip the day’s schoolwork to dig deeper into the Bible, or to focus on the Bible topic our curriculum has us learning right now.  My boys tend to learn the best when we can learn about what interests them at that moment, not when the curriculum dictates what we should learn and when.  This is especially true of Bible topics.  The most important thing we can teach our children is about God.  While we are a blessed nation where our children are able to learn, read, and write, we are even more blessed that we can learn, read, write, and study freely about our God.  And to us, that is far more important than traditional education. 

In Deuteronomy 6:7, God says, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."  In context, this scripture was speaking of the Ten Commandments.  But along with the Ten Commandments (which is one of many scriptures we are memorizing this school year), we include all topics of the Bible.  We read straight from the Bible together and discuss what we read, we have family conversations about God's principles, his love, his forgiveness, his laws, his protection, his disciplines and promises.  We put scripture up and around our house, we talk in the car together about God, we worship together, we listen to Christian audio books that encourage godly character, the boys get one-on-one time with their dad who encourages and trains them in God's word, we pray together through the day and again at night about the things that we've discussed through the day, we memorize scriptures as part of our schoolwork, we study the scripture together, and we stop and make time for questions as they arise.

We don’t rely on programs, or even Sunday School, or church to teach and train them the fundamentals of what they should know.  These things come from our home as we have the responsibility and privilege to teach and train our kids first and foremost about God, as the Bible tells us to.  All else we consider supplementary and the “icing on the cake.”

These suggestions are not a complete, all-encompassing list of what we feel we should be doing.  It’s just a beginning of where God has brought us and where he’s taking us on our family journey of being closer with him.  We are doing our best to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) and do our best not to “hinder the little children” to go to Christ (Luke 18:15-17), but instead provide as much opportunity for them to drink deeply of our Savior. 

And while I realize I've listed the things we do together, the biggest and most important thing is for our kids to see God's work in action, through us as their parents.  They watch what we do.  In school, they learn from seeing how to do a task or problem.  And in the same way, they watch how we, as their parents, act and behave spiritually, too.  Do they see us worshiping?  Do they see us praying?  Do they see us reading our Bible?  Do they see us reaching out to others?  I'm reminded of the saying, "Monkey see, monkey do."  

We have much to learn, but we’re open and willing for God to guide us and our young boys to him!  

You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

(Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV)

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children–
(Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV)

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
(Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV)

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
(Proverbs 29:17 ESV)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:4 ESV)

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
(Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV)

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
(Luke 18:15-17 ESV)

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
(Mark 10:13-16 ESV)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(2 Timothy 3:14-15 Holy Bible ESV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
(Psalms 127:3-5 ESV)