I have not been blogging because I don't know what I should be writing about. This blog has taken a whole other direction then what I had originally intended. Originally it was just a way for me to let my family see pictures and hear stories about the kids. Now it is more about my life and my walk with the Lord. Don't get me wrong. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
I have been thinking about starting a new blog. Really a second one. One that is for me. Just about my journey. The kids are a part of my journey but I really want this blog (A Day in the Life of the Brown's) to be about the whole family. Not just me.
So these are some things that I have been thinkin' about. What do you all think?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
New Curriculum
Every homeschool mom knows that it can be very overwhelming when it comes to choosing curriculum. Especially if you have a bunch of friends that homeschool or are a part of several homeschool forums. They all have opinions and every single one them is doing something different.
I received a new curriculum (I believe it is new this year maybe even came out in 2010) for free in the mail last week. It is a 13 unit study (per series) and I received unit 1 from series 1 for free. It came with a DVD and PDF files so that the curriculum could be used by more than one student. It is based on the Friends and Heroes DVD series. The unit includes; history, geography, science, Bible, character building and art. Because I got it for free we are going to try it. But just looking at it I think this is the route we are going to go. Check out the website here. They have free online games and coloring pages too!
We need a good Language Arts curriculum. Up until now we have relied on Sing Spell Read and Write and more recently Hooked on Phonics. It was a great curriculum for J but he needs more. So I am going with Rod and Staff English 2. I know that he is in 3rd grade but we have not had any other formal LA teaching. (My main focus has been on reading!). So we are starting with 2nd grade. If he gets it quickly we will be in 3rd faster! :) Jackson will also continue with Hooked on Phonics. He is doing very well with it! We are also continuing with Explode the Code (for Jackson) and the pre-requisites to ETC, Get Ready/Get Set/and Go For the Code (for Ellie). She is actually almost done with book A; Get Ready for the Code. And she loves it!
*Edit* Here is the link for the store for Friends and Heroes. It is a different website. Sorry about that! :)
We are sticking with Horizon's Math. Jackson does well with it and now Ellie has started it. She loves it. Jackson hates it (but it is not because of the curriculum).
We are also going to sprinkle in some other Unit Studies. We did a few last year and are continuing through the summer. We are making mini-lapbooks on the 50 states. The kids will really enjoy it.
So what are you doing next year?
I received a new curriculum (I believe it is new this year maybe even came out in 2010) for free in the mail last week. It is a 13 unit study (per series) and I received unit 1 from series 1 for free. It came with a DVD and PDF files so that the curriculum could be used by more than one student. It is based on the Friends and Heroes DVD series. The unit includes; history, geography, science, Bible, character building and art. Because I got it for free we are going to try it. But just looking at it I think this is the route we are going to go. Check out the website here. They have free online games and coloring pages too!
We need a good Language Arts curriculum. Up until now we have relied on Sing Spell Read and Write and more recently Hooked on Phonics. It was a great curriculum for J but he needs more. So I am going with Rod and Staff English 2. I know that he is in 3rd grade but we have not had any other formal LA teaching. (My main focus has been on reading!). So we are starting with 2nd grade. If he gets it quickly we will be in 3rd faster! :) Jackson will also continue with Hooked on Phonics. He is doing very well with it! We are also continuing with Explode the Code (for Jackson) and the pre-requisites to ETC, Get Ready/Get Set/and Go For the Code (for Ellie). She is actually almost done with book A; Get Ready for the Code. And she loves it!
*Edit* Here is the link for the store for Friends and Heroes. It is a different website. Sorry about that! :)
We are sticking with Horizon's Math. Jackson does well with it and now Ellie has started it. She loves it. Jackson hates it (but it is not because of the curriculum).
We are also going to sprinkle in some other Unit Studies. We did a few last year and are continuing through the summer. We are making mini-lapbooks on the 50 states. The kids will really enjoy it.
So what are you doing next year?
Friday, June 3, 2011
New Curriculum...Why do we have to change?
Something you may not know about the homeschool world is that there are SO MANY CHOICES! Oh my goodness! I love that there are a million blogs and I have a ton of friends that homeschool but goodness me...there is so much to choose from. Everybody has their favorites, including me.
This is the time of year that everything goes on sale. So I am reading blogs and forums and even receiving emails from websites about all of the great deals. I am getting sucked into thinking that I need to change. Well it ain't broke so I shouldn't fix it! So I am not. But I am! Ha! I know same old Christi, can't make up her mind! :)
I purchased Hooked on Phonics. Not because I wanted to use it (no comments Mindy) but because I wanted to resell it. I bought it for a super cheap price and I knew I could make some cash off of it. It arrived. I opened it and now I think I want to use it! It is for older kids 2nd-6th grade. Jackson is almost done with Sing Spell Read and Write that he has been doing since we pulled him out. So we actually do need something new. This is actually a perfect transition. SSRW is extremely expensive and I just don't have the money for it right now. So I guess God had a different plan for J. Hunter this year! So on Monday we are starting Hooked on Phonics! I will let you know how it goes! :)
This is the time of year that everything goes on sale. So I am reading blogs and forums and even receiving emails from websites about all of the great deals. I am getting sucked into thinking that I need to change. Well it ain't broke so I shouldn't fix it! So I am not. But I am! Ha! I know same old Christi, can't make up her mind! :)
I purchased Hooked on Phonics. Not because I wanted to use it (no comments Mindy) but because I wanted to resell it. I bought it for a super cheap price and I knew I could make some cash off of it. It arrived. I opened it and now I think I want to use it! It is for older kids 2nd-6th grade. Jackson is almost done with Sing Spell Read and Write that he has been doing since we pulled him out. So we actually do need something new. This is actually a perfect transition. SSRW is extremely expensive and I just don't have the money for it right now. So I guess God had a different plan for J. Hunter this year! So on Monday we are starting Hooked on Phonics! I will let you know how it goes! :)
A leap of faith...and a new baby!
No I AM NOT HAVING A BABY! :)
I want to share something that I think it is really cool. Two years ago our church began calling on us to pray for the most unreached people group in the world, the preborn. These little lives are so precious and ordained by our Maker and they are being mercilessly killed everyday..by the thousands. Now I am so against abortion it is not even funny, but there are instances where even some Christians think it is okay to do this. One of them is after a test that you get in the early stages of pregnancy that lets you know of any birth defects. One of those "defects" is Down Syndrome. This test by the way is not very accurate (I have known many to have a positive test result just to have a baby born with the correct amount of chromosomes). These babies are more often then not....aborted.
Over the last year I have become very close to a beautiful family with a little boy that has an extra one of these chromosomes. His name is Jonas. He is one of the most precious human beings I have ever come in contact with. Sure, he is delayed. But I believe that he is closer to God than I could ever be. He is innocent. He is precious. He is just the way God wants him to be.
That being said. His parents, Roger and Mindy, have decided to be accountable for those preborn babies. They have been called by the Lord to be the alternative to abortion; to adopt a child that is just as special, just as precious, and with a purpose just like Jonas. This is not an ordinary adoption. They have to go through a private agency and a national network. They don't have a ton of money, but this is what the Lord has called them to do. This is considered a "private adoption" and there are costs involved.
Oh I forgot to mention that Mindy is a phenomenal quilter/sewer. So she decided to make quilts and raffle them off! She also makes bags that you can purchase here. She will also make a quilt for you. Just let her know the size and the type of fabric you like and she will quote a price. Her email is (mindychurchill at yahoo dot com). All of the money raised will go to saving the life of a child that God made with a purpose.
I hope you take the time to check out her blog and her facebook page! This is a special family and they are doing a great thing!
I want to share something that I think it is really cool. Two years ago our church began calling on us to pray for the most unreached people group in the world, the preborn. These little lives are so precious and ordained by our Maker and they are being mercilessly killed everyday..by the thousands. Now I am so against abortion it is not even funny, but there are instances where even some Christians think it is okay to do this. One of them is after a test that you get in the early stages of pregnancy that lets you know of any birth defects. One of those "defects" is Down Syndrome. This test by the way is not very accurate (I have known many to have a positive test result just to have a baby born with the correct amount of chromosomes). These babies are more often then not....aborted.
Over the last year I have become very close to a beautiful family with a little boy that has an extra one of these chromosomes. His name is Jonas. He is one of the most precious human beings I have ever come in contact with. Sure, he is delayed. But I believe that he is closer to God than I could ever be. He is innocent. He is precious. He is just the way God wants him to be.
That being said. His parents, Roger and Mindy, have decided to be accountable for those preborn babies. They have been called by the Lord to be the alternative to abortion; to adopt a child that is just as special, just as precious, and with a purpose just like Jonas. This is not an ordinary adoption. They have to go through a private agency and a national network. They don't have a ton of money, but this is what the Lord has called them to do. This is considered a "private adoption" and there are costs involved.
Oh I forgot to mention that Mindy is a phenomenal quilter/sewer. So she decided to make quilts and raffle them off! She also makes bags that you can purchase here. She will also make a quilt for you. Just let her know the size and the type of fabric you like and she will quote a price. Her email is (mindychurchill at yahoo dot com). All of the money raised will go to saving the life of a child that God made with a purpose.
I hope you take the time to check out her blog and her facebook page! This is a special family and they are doing a great thing!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Bringing Elliot Home-Pampered Chef Fundraiser
Hello friends,
Many of you are my friends on facebook (and in real life for that matter) but I wanted to post on here too because, well, some of you are not.
If you don't know..I sell Pampered Chef. I have a friend that is trying to adopt from Eastern Europe. He is a precious, precious gift from the Lord and they are working hard to raise enough funds to bring him home. It is terribly expensive. I have actually only known this sweet family for a short while (they are in our homeschool co-op) but already I love them so much. They have such a heart for the Lord and for the orphans that the Lord calls us to care for. You can read her blog to learn more about their journey and also where the money is going!
Okay I feel as though this is all over the place. What I am trying to say is that I have offered to sell Pampered Chef to help raise money for them. We could have done a raffle but I felt like people would want to get something for their money...and who doesn't like a good-quality kitchen tool (many which have lifetime guarantees!)? Pampered Chef does do fundraisers but because it is for a family and not an organization they won't contribute for it like it is a fundraiser. I have offered to give all of my commission. So the more purchased-the more I make and the closer we are to bringing Elliot home.
So if you need some new products check out the website and order! You have to go under the host name-Jennifer Johnson. You DO NOT have to live in Houston or Texas for that matter to purchase something. All you have to do is place your order and let us know where to send it if you are out of town.
Many of you are my friends on facebook (and in real life for that matter) but I wanted to post on here too because, well, some of you are not.
If you don't know..I sell Pampered Chef. I have a friend that is trying to adopt from Eastern Europe. He is a precious, precious gift from the Lord and they are working hard to raise enough funds to bring him home. It is terribly expensive. I have actually only known this sweet family for a short while (they are in our homeschool co-op) but already I love them so much. They have such a heart for the Lord and for the orphans that the Lord calls us to care for. You can read her blog to learn more about their journey and also where the money is going!
Okay I feel as though this is all over the place. What I am trying to say is that I have offered to sell Pampered Chef to help raise money for them. We could have done a raffle but I felt like people would want to get something for their money...and who doesn't like a good-quality kitchen tool (many which have lifetime guarantees!)? Pampered Chef does do fundraisers but because it is for a family and not an organization they won't contribute for it like it is a fundraiser. I have offered to give all of my commission. So the more purchased-the more I make and the closer we are to bringing Elliot home.
So if you need some new products check out the website and order! You have to go under the host name-Jennifer Johnson. You DO NOT have to live in Houston or Texas for that matter to purchase something. All you have to do is place your order and let us know where to send it if you are out of town.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
I feel as though I should post something. It has been a while. I have thought of several posts but I have scratched each one. Not because the content wasn't important but really because it was too emotionally charged. I have struggled over the last week or so with some strong emotions. Part of me wants to blame others the other part knows that it is me and me alone that can take the blame for the hurt feelings or anger. So I choose not to blog about it.
We are still unsure of Troy's job situation. It looks like he has two offers on the table by two different companies. Now it is time to pray. I can't imagine that God would so clearly shut doors in this process (7 months to be exact) just to give us this very difficult decision at the very end. The thing is one job would be extremely rewarding..he would be helping those in need (much like we have been). But the pay is not that great...actually it is not good at all. But there is a possibility that they will offer more (we will know on Monday). The next job is much more rewarding financially. The pay is more than he made at BAE and we would be comfortable when it came to paying bills (something that has not happened in a while). To many this is a no-brainer, but to us it is a difficult decision. God calls us to do things that are not the "norm" and if we are obedient then he will reward us in that.
So that is all I've got. At least about the Troy-job stuff. We are still schooling. It is hard because I am done and so are the kids. But we are going to school all summer. I know it sounds crazy but I really want to take off November and December. If we school this summer we should not get off schedule too much.
I still don't have a camera, but I am working on it. The kids are enjoying our unit study on shells (yes we are still doing it!). Hopefully we will actually get it finished soon and get to move on. I have a Memorial Day study that I would like to do...so we better get crackin'!
Until next time....Be blessed!
We are still unsure of Troy's job situation. It looks like he has two offers on the table by two different companies. Now it is time to pray. I can't imagine that God would so clearly shut doors in this process (7 months to be exact) just to give us this very difficult decision at the very end. The thing is one job would be extremely rewarding..he would be helping those in need (much like we have been). But the pay is not that great...actually it is not good at all. But there is a possibility that they will offer more (we will know on Monday). The next job is much more rewarding financially. The pay is more than he made at BAE and we would be comfortable when it came to paying bills (something that has not happened in a while). To many this is a no-brainer, but to us it is a difficult decision. God calls us to do things that are not the "norm" and if we are obedient then he will reward us in that.
So that is all I've got. At least about the Troy-job stuff. We are still schooling. It is hard because I am done and so are the kids. But we are going to school all summer. I know it sounds crazy but I really want to take off November and December. If we school this summer we should not get off schedule too much.
I still don't have a camera, but I am working on it. The kids are enjoying our unit study on shells (yes we are still doing it!). Hopefully we will actually get it finished soon and get to move on. I have a Memorial Day study that I would like to do...so we better get crackin'!
Until next time....Be blessed!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
I am God
Last Sunday we had an awesome lesson on "doing good" (Galations 6:9-10). I walked away feeling refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Before I got to my car someone handed me an envelope with cash and a post-it. The post-it read: "Be still and know I am God" (with a smiley face). The amount of money was substantial and I was overwhelmed with the feeling that another believer was "doing good" for us out of obedience to His Word.
Monday, Troy had a job interview. It went really well. He felt like he was going to get it. They would call on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, we got a letter in the mail from the unemployment office. We have not received benefits from them for the entire month of April and in actuality he had only been paid $20 from Lowe's in April. So our total income for the month of April was $86 (only because I worked a couple of days at the church). In all of that every single bill was paid on time. We received the right amount of money from others (without asking) to pay for ALL of our bills. That is a substantial amount let me just tell you!
Also on Tuesday, I had to go to the ER, but first went to Urgent Care. I am fine but the total cost between the two places was the amount that was in the envelope on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Troy talked to the place he interviewed at and they said wait til Friday.
We have been receiving medical benefits for the kids (more of a safety net) while Troy has been unemployed. (Most of our debt is due to medical bills that occurred when he was unemployed before.) We also have been receiving food stamps. Not something that we are proud of but a necessity (especially when your mortgage is 85% of your income). On Thursday we received a letter that they were no longer going to allow us these benefits. Why you say? Well there is no good reason...
Friday has come and gone. We still don't know about the job. My children do not have insurance. I really don't know how we will pay for food. But what I do know is that I was told on Sunday to "Be still and know that I am God". This was no coincidence. That post-it is on my refrigerator door right now. All week whenever I have had a conversation or the phone has rang or I have felt overwhelmed with it all, I hear the words; "Be still and know I am God".
I wonderful lesson for me this week. The lesson is still not over. Who knows when it will be. But what I do know is that He is God-Redeemer, Maker, Healer, Provider, King of kings, Lord of lords, Hosanna, Messiah, Alpha and Omega. Without Him there would be no hope.
Monday, Troy had a job interview. It went really well. He felt like he was going to get it. They would call on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, we got a letter in the mail from the unemployment office. We have not received benefits from them for the entire month of April and in actuality he had only been paid $20 from Lowe's in April. So our total income for the month of April was $86 (only because I worked a couple of days at the church). In all of that every single bill was paid on time. We received the right amount of money from others (without asking) to pay for ALL of our bills. That is a substantial amount let me just tell you!
Also on Tuesday, I had to go to the ER, but first went to Urgent Care. I am fine but the total cost between the two places was the amount that was in the envelope on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Troy talked to the place he interviewed at and they said wait til Friday.
We have been receiving medical benefits for the kids (more of a safety net) while Troy has been unemployed. (Most of our debt is due to medical bills that occurred when he was unemployed before.) We also have been receiving food stamps. Not something that we are proud of but a necessity (especially when your mortgage is 85% of your income). On Thursday we received a letter that they were no longer going to allow us these benefits. Why you say? Well there is no good reason...
Friday has come and gone. We still don't know about the job. My children do not have insurance. I really don't know how we will pay for food. But what I do know is that I was told on Sunday to "Be still and know that I am God". This was no coincidence. That post-it is on my refrigerator door right now. All week whenever I have had a conversation or the phone has rang or I have felt overwhelmed with it all, I hear the words; "Be still and know I am God".
I wonderful lesson for me this week. The lesson is still not over. Who knows when it will be. But what I do know is that He is God-Redeemer, Maker, Healer, Provider, King of kings, Lord of lords, Hosanna, Messiah, Alpha and Omega. Without Him there would be no hope.
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