CATCH OF THE DAY - CRAB

Another fun catch of the day...CRAB!

 

 

We're still trying to research exactly what type of crab we found at the beach yesterday, but in the meantime we have had lots of fun learning that there are WAY more varieties of interesting crabs in the sea than we ever realized!

 

For example, we discovered that the Japanese Spider Crab has a leg span reaching up to 12 feet wide and can weigh up to 41 pounds!! That's a HUGE crab!

 

 

 

What a creative God we have!!

 

Thanks to our catch of the day, we've learned how to cook live crab (something I've never personally done...but perhaps it's time??) as well as the correct way to shell and eat crab too.

 

We also found a unit study here which we will check out this week. Mostly we've grown in our curiosity of God's creation under the sea. Who knows where else that could lead?

 

 

(He wanted to love it...but he didn't.)

 

 

(They did!)

 

It's awe-inspiring to explore the wonders that exist beneath our beautiful oceans.

 

How great is our God!

 

 

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure."

Psalm 145:7

 "O LORD, how manifold are your works!

In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures."

Psalm 104:24

STUDYING THE WORLD...FOLLOWING OUR HEARTS

Over the years, God has inspired our hearts more and more to expose our children to the least of these, the desperate places of our world, our global neighbors. We see our school year as an opportunity to teach our children about cultures that differ (some significantly!) from our own and to apply our personal experiences to the equation.

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Mark 12:31

We find that when we follow our natural curiosities and God-given interests, we're most likely to enjoy and absorb what we're studying...and so goes our strategy for global prayer, studying God's Word, geography, literature, language, biographies, music, missions, global economics, history...to name merely a few!

It all started in 2011 when our school year began with Brodie and Aida's mission trip to Beijing in September. In excitement and preparation for their trip, we focused our attentions on China the first half of the year. We prayed for the Chinese people by province, watched DVDs, dabbled in the language, prayed for orphans and ministries we discovered through their trip, did reports on the country, read biographies of missionaries who gave their lives to the Chinese people, and grasped an understanding of the underground church movement/persecution of Christians in China that still exists today. My kids know WAY more about the history and modern condition of China than I ever did!

Our experience that year was eye opening and began a new theme for each year since.

 

In 2012, we focused on the continent of Africa while we were in the adoption process for Noble and India as well as preparing for Brodie's trip to Malawi and South Africa.  Specifically, we studied each country in light of our Operation World book. We printed out a blank labeled map of Africa, colored in a different country each day, looked up photos on the internet, and most importantly prayed for each one. I bought this puzzle of Africa which was really helpful (even though Sudan is now divided) and I dreamt of buying this one. We highlighted the Democratic Republic of the Congo since that's where our children were born and we all learned a ton! I know I learned more about Africa that school year than I ever had in my whole life...one of the best blessings of homeschool!

We parents get to learn new things too!!



In 2013, we turned our attentions to Haiti in anticipation of our Kids Around the World mission trip. To allow our older children (and our younger vicariously) to actually smell, feel, live, breath, taste, touch Haiti in addition to our home studies is what homeschooling and all of life really is about for us. We'd like to be doers as well as thinkers. The kids learned about ministries that are doing amazing things in Haiti and got to visit them firsthand. Aida has become particularly inspired to gear her life toward the goal of becoming a medical missionary of some sort as a result of the trip and the clinic she learned about which is currently being built at Respire Haiti. Also, Aida felt very inspired to learn to play guitar before the trip so she could sing with the Haitian kids (a prime example of Delight Directed Learning). :) This led to now all 3 of our oldest picking up the instrument which will be a wonderful addition to our 2013-2014 year and has already blessed our family worship time abundantly! I'm amazed by all that God taught us this past year as a result of our preparation for Haiti! I couldn't possibly capture all of the details just here...and more is yet to be revealed...

This coming school year, 2013-2014, we are anticipating another Kids Around the World trip, this time to Puerto Escondido in southern Mexico. We'll be learning some Spanish, celebrating Mexican culture, studying the country's geography and history, following the ministry where the trip is heading (which is run by my brother-in-law's cousin's family), praying for the people of Mexico as we understand the challenges unique to them, learning some authentic Mexican cooking and baking, singing Spanish worship, and I have a fun plan to lead up to a big fiesta at the end of the year! I'm hoping by the time the trip comes, those who GO will be able to communicate in Spanish on some level with those they interact with as well as have a genuine understanding for and appreciation for the culture. We're excited!

One of our most appreciated blessings from homeschooling has been this experience to use our time learning about the cultures of the world, applying our knowledge to practical experiences, and immersing ourselves spiritually and physically in what God is doing around the globe. We pray these studies and life lessons will open doors our whole lives long as we follow God's lead each step of the way...studying the world...following our hearts...and hopefully making a difference for God's glory!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

Matthew 28:19

DELIGHT DIRECTED LEARNING

Over the years as a newer homeschooling mom, I had heard periodically about this "delight directed learning" style of homeschool education...and my curiosity was constantly perked. In particular, I found that the sources which generally advocated for such learning were interesting people, typically out-of-the-box thinkers, and those I've found myself identifying with for our own homeschooling family.

Delight directed learning involves following the natural, God-given gifts, talents, and curiosities of individual children and families, exploring the world around us and making almost anything and everything into a learning experience. This makes much intuitive sense to a mom like me and so I've become increasingly open to the idea of adding more and more "delightful" learning to our homeschooling experience.

Choosing a homeschooling style isn't so tricky when we're aware of the many options, but the catch is to experiment prayerfully and ask God to guide our hearts into alignment with His will. God has unique plans for each of our unique children in life and He is quite the creative God with infinite possibilities to use His creation for His glory. If only we would all be brave enough to search outside of the molds of society and step into His individualized plans for each one of us. How much time we could save following man...if we would wholeheartedly follow HIM!

"And he said to them, 'Follow me.'"

Matthew 4:19

Though our family remains eclectic in our homeschooling approach and we choose to follow curriculum for core subjects, we also intentionally seek to allow the delights of our hearts to lead us into learning of all kinds according to God's best design. We strive to remain flexible learners, navigating life together, and we're intent on prioritizing matters of the heart. We're following God and His Word most earnestly of all and we're confident He will forge the right paths for each of us as we do. His plans are always best and sometimes rather surprising...

And so, with the coming school year and each day between here and there and well after, I'm eager to encourage my family members (big and small) to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that all we need will be added to us when we do (Matthew 6:33), knowing that God will give us the desires of our heart and lead us into His will for our part in {His story} through whatever means He deems best. Here's to a year filled with delight directed learning!

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."

Psalm 37:4-6

CATCH OF THE DAY - GUITAR SHARKS

You can imagine how excited we were as our beach day Friday turned into a science lesson when we and our friends found not one, but TWO guitar sharks! How fitting to end our oceanography study this year!

(Are we ever not studying the ocean??)

 

  Looks like we have more marine life lessons in store thanks to our catch of the day!

 

Learn more about guitar sharks with us here...

 

and guitar fish here.

 

 

 

"So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds...And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:21

AQUARIUM

Remember THIS POST about an oceanography lesson which
somehow landed us at the pet store looking for fish to call our own?
Well, here's the latest:

 

 

We bought a tank last month after careful consideration. 

We waited patiently as the chemistry acclimated.

Then, came the big day...FISH!

 

The following week, our birthday boy (Noble) proudly added a 

couple more along with some surfboard statues for inside.

 

 

 We've officially added 7 new family members!

Tiger, Patches, Leo, Sunset, and Al live in an aquarium in the boys room

(complete with Noble's favorite happy tiki-man and woodie).

 

 

 Blue and Magenta (both Beta fish) live in the kids bathroom.

 

 

It hasn't been seamless, learning how to care for an aquarium,
but I'm thinking we're getting the hang of it now. Less smell, less algae, less fish food!

More responsibility and definitely more FUN!!

Oh, the places homeschooling takes us...

{Our next pet adventure just might be a salt water aquarium.
We've heard they can be difficult, yet a challenging lesson in chemistry and studying God's creation under the sea....sounds like a perfect way to learn science if you ask me! More to come on that...}

“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you."
Nehemiah 9:6

IT WILL ALL WORK OUT

There's a common thread that weaves through the homeschooling mom syndrome of ambition to train our children well. There's an effortful well-meaningness that can cause even the most intentional, loving moms to crumble.
There's a "trying hard" called over-achieving and it masquerades under the guise of stress.

It's not God-honoring. It doesn't trust. And it deserves a thoughtful response.

To counter such discouraging inclinations that slither into homeschooling homes, I'm here to share the motto that God has used to encourage me time and time again. It's really rather simple, yet biblical when we digest and I believe it's worth etching on hearts that carry burdens we just aren't intended to bear.

Here it is...let's prepare ourselves with open-mindedness and carefully think this one through:

 

It will all work out...

 

I'm sure of it!

 

It will all work out...

 

Let's chant it in our minds.

 

It will all work out...

 

Because here's the thing...God is in control. He is wise. He is good. His plans CANNOT be thwarted. They cannot.

So, even if we feel we've accomplished a massive fail, we haven't. God is over all and He never makes mistakes.
He uses everything for His purposes, even our lowest valleys, even our flailingest fails, even our worst regret.

 

It will all work out...

 

I'm really sure it will!

 

It will all work out...

 

We serve a great God who is trustworthy beyond compare.

 

It will all work out...

 

So let's homeschool parents take some pressure off and enjoy our kids while they're ours! Let's dedicate their (and our) lives to Him. Let's loosen the reigns and let God drive. (He's the one driving anyway...so why don't we just admit it?!)

 

It will all work out...

 

Let's homeschool moms and dads relax. Let's let the small stuff go. Let's realize what will and will not impact our children's eternal experience. Let's let our little ones be little. (There's plenty of time to prepare for college should that be God's will.) And, let's make a choice to stop sinning in our efforts to do good. Really so much of what we moms stress over just simply is unnecessary and often sorrowful upon post-reflection.

 

It will all work out...

 

Even if it seems as though things haven't worked out...and everything feels all messed up. It's not.

Because God uses ALL things for good. He does! I believe it.

 

It will all work out...

 

So, here's to exhhhhaaaling...and tending to the hearts of our children.
Here's to trusting God for the outcome of things we can't control.
Here's to letting stressors fall by the wayside that really just don't matter.

Let's remain eternally focused. Let's seek Him first above all else and realize like we really mean it...
that it WILL all work out because God is good!

 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28



DRESS UP HISTORY

We're always looking for ways to make learning fun and interactive, conquering the stigma that "school" equals sitting at a desk all day hammering through textbooks and worksheets.

Not that textbooks or worksheets are bad...we use them too, but if I were a kid (or the adult teaching my kids) I'd much rather learn (and teach) in creative ways...especially while they're young.

Hence, dress up history.

 

Our costume closet wardrobe is stocked with time period learning fun.

The kids of all ages LOVE it!!

 

We love historical fiction and we're always reading as a primary method of learning.

I'm constantly encouraging the kids to open up our Big Book of History (from Answers in Genesis) and see where their history reading plugs into the BIG picture. It's a great resource!

 

What a blessing to see siblings big and small putting their learning into action, playing together on an ordinary school day, traveling back in time, letting their imaginations lead the way, cooperating with one another...to name a few of the many reasons why we homeschool!

 

 

It's true that learning is always more fun when you (literally) get into it! It warms my heart to listen to them play, it's a privilege to have them home, and I can't imagine a more interactive way to "dress up" learning good old fashioned history than what my kids are up to today.

 

"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy."

Psalm 33:3

READING BUDDIES

We like the buddy system around here and I'm all for creativity to make our schooling FUN!

 

 

Today, I laughed out loud when I found Aida pulling her reading buddy around in the wagon as Elka read aloud. Hey...whatever it takes, right? I LOVE it & I LOVE them!

 

 

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

OCEANOGRAPHY

I love when a school lesson becomes a life lesson. Yesterday we had one of those days. What started as a science study of marine life wandered us over to the ocean for some surf and play and eventually landed us at Petco at 8pm! Ha! I laugh when we get ourselves into such events. It's fun! All 10 of us browsed the isles last night (half in PJs), looking for just the right aquarium for our home. We're still debating if it's the right choice for us (after all aquariums can be complicated), but the kids were excellent about leaving the pet store empty handed, though not empty hearted. We all had a great time!

Also, I think we were able to encourage the store manager who helped us out. We talked about adoption and God's love through ordinary folks like us and it seemed she felt the LOVE. Perhaps she's the reason we went on our aquarium outing in the first place. Time will tell if we'll be welcoming new pets into our family in the near future or not...stay tuned!

This year we used: The Ocean Book from Answers in Genesis

We also love: Oceans by Disneynature

...and some of the cool Oceans videos here.

God's creation under the sea is absolutely AMAZING!!

"The sea is his, for he made it."

Psalm 95:5

HAITI FUNDRAISER

On an ordinary school day, we found ourselves baking for Haiti.

The kids also made cookies for their dad's coworkers who have kindly donated toward our Haiti Fundraiser Garage Sale. These are the things that can get squished out of our lives if we let ourselves get too busy. I'm glad we're keeping it simple around here and I know it's making a difference in these little hearts who mean the world to me!

 

 I'm so proud of Aida! She organized this whole event

all by herself and she has done an outstanding job!

 

 



A few sweet friends baked to help out and everyone had a fun time!

 

 

Later that evening, we went for a walk in the neighborhood to give away the remaining baked goods to our neighbors.

One kind neighbor insisted on giving the kids $100 toward their Haiti trip

because he said he felt the Lord had led him to do so...What a blessing!!!

 

"He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God." 2

 Corinthians 9:10-12