Homeschool Mother’s Journal–Week 8

A post about our weekend is here. Otherwise, I’m going back to the THMJ’s format and will just have to see what I remember.

In my life this week…
…It was on Friday, my ‘dad’ passed away at the age of 54. The last time I’d seen him was when I was around 11 years old. He was a step-dad but he was the one I called ‘dad’. Still is. 

In our homeschool this week…
…most went well. I seem to have forgotten to plan out my schedule, which includes our together subjects. We didn’t have school on Monday. Instead we went grocery shopping and did some errand running. Also I had to prepare the week for the kids’ subjects. Just missed my schedule somehow.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
…You don’t have to do what every one else is doing. What works for one or many of your friends or other homeschoolers might not be what’s best for your family. Don’t worry about going against the stream.

I am inspired by…
…I had a list of places and people but if it’s not written down, well I don’t remember.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
…library tomorrow, church Sunday (I guess I’m also going to dinner Sunday with my dh), the 1st there is something at the local library called “Tales from the Beyond”, Monday Lee babysits, hope to get to an outing in there somewhere.

My favorite thing this week was…
…the freedom to take the day off if needed.

What’s working/not working for us…
…all is going quite well.

Questions/thoughts I have…
…In school-stuffs, I do wonder if Fox’s comprehension is where it ‘should’ be. We use narration as a way of showing what’s learned and lately his narrations are incredibly short. Very non-descript. I need to find out if it is because he is not comprehending what he is reading, if he is reading to fast, if he is skipping, or simply if it’s a phase of short narrations.

In life-stuffs, I’ve been thinking about being close to others. Honestly I have very few friends. I have many many acquaintances. I have quite a few people that I look to for advice but none that I just can call and pour out my heart to. With my dad’s passing, it’s brought to mind how we weren’t close. When my parents divorced, I fairly let him go. It was easier to just let him go than to hold on over a distance. It hurts much less that way. I’ve been that way for as long as I can recall. It’s a character flaw. It’s why I don’t make friends easily or keep them well. My immediate family, those in my house, are the ones I call friends. It makes it a bit difficult to understand others who easily embrace those who they’ve only known awhile, and keep that closeness all their lives.

Things I’m working on…
…lol this post at the moment. I’m trying to get myself into a schedule again. Seriously taking that month off from the computer in August, while it was great for the house cleaning, sure wreaked havoc on my other schedules! I have so many things I want to do! But I lack follow-through too often or there is something else that prevents it from happening.

And tax training school. I’m actually enjoying it. All the silly laws made so that money- and some physical things- can be taxed has all been …interesting. I’m still doing well thus far. Only 16 more exams to go lol.

I’m reading…
…Colossians (with the Good Morning Girls), Ezekiel (my daily Bible reading in a year *snort*- I’m going on year #2, I think), Life with Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher (a LitFuse Blog Tour book- coming soon), what matters most by Leonard Sweet, Volume 1: Home Education and Volume 6: Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (following along with a discussion group), Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock (following along with a discussion group), Pershing: Commander of the Great War by John Perry (long overdue review book)

I’m We’re cooking…
…Here was our menu for the week (which starts over on Monday this time):
Monday- breakfast and lunch weren’t planned, I don’t remember what we had lol
dinner: chicken chili, in the crockpot
Tuesday- breakfast: omelets with cheese
lunch: rice stew leftovers from freezer
dinner: leftovers (there was chili, chicken and something else- no one starved)
Wednesday- breakfast: pancakes (Lee made them from scratch- she can do it without the recipe now)
lunch: homemade mac-n-cheese
dinner: burritos (homemade tortillas- yum!)
Thursday- breakfast: cold cereal
lunch: burritos
dinner: baked fish with broccoli (from the garden) and peas
Friday- breakfast: muffins (Fox made them from scratch)
lunch: meat and cheese sandwiches/pb & j sandwich (Fox)
dinner: sausage and cheese pizza (homemade)
Saturday- breakfast: eggs and toast
lunch: salad
dinner: hamburgers
Sunday- breakfast: oatmeal
lunch: sandwiches (Lee and I might have pb&j; dh and Fox probably have meat and cheese)
dinner: creamed sausage over rice with mashed potatoes and gravy (for the kids- dh and I are going out to eat)

I’m grateful for…
…my life. Every single day that I wake up and can see the sky, smell the air, kiss my husband (my Mr. Wonderful) and my kids. Every time I check my email and it’s my mom or my sister or my mother-in-law saying hi.

I’m praying for…
…Janie, my dad’s wife, that she may have strength during this time, and long after; for his kids and grandkids; for my sister, Mel –she was the closest to him; praying for my dh- for his health and heart; for myself- my health and heart; my kids.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

I’m linking up with The Homeschool Mother’s Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Finally.