Loving the Curriculum

I started a preschool curriculum with Joshua! He is loving it! He wants to work on it every day and I have already seen improvement. It is amazing! They have curriculum for age 2, age 3 and ages 4-6. I purchased all three as a download for only $49. You can purchase them all put together in a binder for a lot more. Using this workbook with the workboxes is great! When you put the worksheets in page protectors you can use them over and over! What a great idea for all printables!

WORKBOXES All Set Up!

Here are the steps I did with putting the workboxes together. I highly suggest a good quality paper cutter (like the one from Stampin' Up!) and using the little velcro dots. If you can afford it, I'd also get a heat laminator. That is on my wish list for sure! For this, I used laminating sheets, which were ok but... I plan on getting a different shelf, this is one I had. We are limited living in podunk, Sicily. [Sidebar-Less that NINE months to go in Sicily] I also included some examples that we did today.

I love it but...

I love reading. Books, magazines, blogs. I love to fill my mind with new information or romantic notions. I try to read a book (not including a Bible or Bible study) at least ten minutes a day. If I commit to ten minutes, then I can usually get enough time to finish a chapter.

Here is my current book list for your enjoyment...
1. California (4 short Christian fiction stories)~Billerbeck, Leonhardt-Koehly, Laity & Yapp
2. Adobe CS4 Master Premium for Dummies ~This book is thick and I probably won't ever finish it but it is full of information for the Adobe programs that I (TRY) to use.
3. John 3:16 ~Nancy Moser, technically I haven't started this one yet but I might when I'm done here.

I also am doing two Bible studies and hopefully one more soon.
1. First Place 4 Health's Begin With Christ -This is a weight loss study that I am leading.
2. A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George -This is great and I highly recommend it!
3. I'm really hoping that my husband will be able to re-prioritize so that we can do The Love Dare study together.

As I am writing this, I'm really thinking that I need to put more book time on my schedule! Happy reading!

Scheduling Your Life

I've been doing a lot of research and reading (A TON of) blogs about cleaning, homeschooling, organizing and staying sane all at the same time. I asked friends how they do it. I've come to a conclusion (one that my husband came to a long time ago) that I really need to schedule everything I do. And then the key is... drum roll, please... STICKING TO IT! I am using the week view on Microsoft Outlook. Here is the plan for now... Every week I sit down and go over the plan for the next work week, adjusting and adding appointments or changes. Most of the things I do are recurring, so I set it up that way in Outlook then when I plan the next week I just make changes as I need to. At the start of the week I print three copies, one for my desk, one for the fridge and one for my purse. I make sure to schedule showers and prayer/quiet time, too. I desperately need both! I have also started something that will hopefully help me keep the house a bit cleaner. FlyLady is a CHAOS solver kind of thing. I'm just getting started but am very excited to do more than day one! I'll let you know how that goes. I'd love to know your tips for organizing your days!

Balancing Brains and Brawn

I have recently started homeschooling my son, Joshua. He will be three on March 24th. Time flies! I recently started a preschool curriculum with him. We really needed some structure around our house and this is helping. We go over a letter, color/shape, number and animal/thing each week. As well as read stories and do nursery rhymes. I am adding more ideas all the time. I am trying to make a schedule for our daily activities and all the things I need to get done around the house. Any suggestions? I'd like to get a maid but I don't see that happening. ;)

Beat The Family Up!

What!? Beat your family up? I don't mean physically beat them. I mean beat them up in the morning. Get up before the kids. I have just started the Bible study "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. She suggests making an appointment with God at the beginning of every day. Here are some verses that she references about when to pray...

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation. ~Psalm 5:3

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ~Mark 1:35

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ~Matthew 6:6

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And how to pray...

Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart. ~Psalm 119:2

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. ~Hebrews 11:6

Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts. ~1 Chronicles 16:9

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ~1 Chronicles 28:9

So to summarize; Pray with your whole heart with faith in our God, that He will provide all your needs. Start your day with God and know that He is with you all day and you can pray to Him all day. Give Him all your needs, worries and troubles. Praise God with your whole heart and mind.