Top 5 Posts of 2016!

Each new year I try to take some time to evaluate the blog and decide where I want to go with it, and even if I want to continue to write.  What started out as an avenue to simply review homeschool products evolved into a place for me to ramble about life.  Sometimes life in general, but often my family's life.  They graciously allow me to still do that with very little censorship.

This space has turned into a place where I bear my heart, often to a fault, and share my opinion, hopefully in a respectful manner.  It is a place where I have made many online friends, and have met several of those in person.  You have laughed with me, loved with me, and endured the ups and downs of life.  I am blessed by you, friends, and I pray daily that I can bless you in some small way in return.


I know each of you come for different reasons.  Whether you are here for homeschooling advice, curriculum reviews, or just to hear my crazy ramblings, let me take this time to say thank you!  I value the time you spend here on Family, Faith, and Fridays and I appreciate your readership.  More importantly, I appreciate your friendship and support!

THANK YOU!

You make this blog what it is and you make me smile daily!

So what did you all enjoy the most this year according to numbers?

34 Weeks of Clean Returns
Grief is Great
When A+B Does Not Equal C
6 Tips of Dual Crediting High School 
Blessing in Waiting 

Here's to a GREAT 2017!  Be blessed!

 

Blessings,

Our Curriculum Choices for 2016-2017

I can hardly believe that I just graduated one child, and now only have two more left to send through the system.  Our system, of course, seeing that we homeschool.  This fall we will have a 4th grader and a 9th grader!  It is mind boggling.  Considering I have a crate full of books for each grade, K-12th, you would think that this school planning thing would get easier.

Ummmm, nope!

If nothing else, it is more complicated now than it ever has been.  For one, it seems that I have about one of everything available in my possession.  Seriously.  Add to that the fact that I review homeschool curriculum and new stuff is released every day, it gets rather confusing at times.  Oh, and there is that curriculum junkie syndrome, but that is a whole different post!

There is just not enough time in the day nor kids in our family to use all that I would like to use. Each year I have to reevaluate, pick and choose, and pray that God covers my inadequacies.  There are good things I used for the girls that are just not the best fit for the boys.  As the years go by I see more and more often that just because I love a product does not mean that it is necessarily the best fit for a child's learning style.  I have learned that the hard way in a few cases, and so am working hard to tailor what I choose to each individual child, not to me.  I am a slow learner! ;)

So, that being said here is the current plan for 2016-2017!  If they are highlighted, then they are linked to a review or post I have done in the past in case you are interested!

Salem- 9th Grade

Sonlight History
Sonlight Bible
Sonlight Literature
Teaching Textbooks Algebra
IEW- Level C
Traditional Logic 1/2 Semester
Music Appreciation 1/2 Semester
Science Shepherd Biology
Vocabulary from the Classical Roots
Wordly Wise
Dave Ramsey's Foundations


Colby- 4th Grade

Veritas Press Self Paced History, Third Year
Memoria Press Literature & Penmanship
All About Spelling
Grammar Ace
Writing- Here to Help Learning
Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids
Science Shepherd, Introductory Science
Veritas Press Bible
Music Appreciation (with Salem)
Teaching Textbooks- 4th grade

I am sure I have missed something and I am sure something will change between now and September, but at least I feel like I have a handle on most of it.  For the moment!

Linking up with friends today!

Blessings,

New Year, New Word

Each New Year, bloggers from around the globe grab a word to inspire them for the many days to come.  It seemed like a funny idea to me for a while but the past two years I have embraced the tradition with A New Word for 2015 and What's the Word?.  For me it has been a way to regroup, refresh, and motivate me onward.

This year is no different, except this year the new word, or words in my case, fell into my lap.  No doubt God knew what I needed!

2015 was a difficult and challenging year for our family.  My husband's unexpected year-long deployment rocked our world, as did several other family events.  Such is life for many.  We are not alone in our struggles, we know.  But truly, just days prior to our long awaited reunion, this verse popped up in my devotions...

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold. I will do a new thing...I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

Probably no surprise to you that it made me suck in my breath and almost cry.  I could just hear God speaking directly to me.

Oh friends, how we need A New Thing in our lives.  Oh, how we are so ready!

And the part about "do not remember the former things?"  How we need that even more.  It is time to more forward for sure.

Just like when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the furnace "...and there was no smell of fire on them," (Daniel 3:26-27) so our family desires to come off this year with fresh hearts and minds, not even smelling of smoke.

Some things are important to remember.  Others, we need to learn from and move on with our lives, waiting for God to do a new thing!

We wait in anticipation!

How about you?

Blessings and Happy 2016!  May it be a year of New Things for you and your family as well.