Homeschool Planning, the high-school version...

I have been very busily researching and planning our homeschooling for the next year. Well, not just next year but for the high-schoolers, I have been planning out their full high school years so that they have the credits they need to do what they plan to do for college.

You may say "but Heather, you have a girl. I thought you said in your "Escaping Feminism" post that girls should not go off to college, and that the formal higher learning isn't absolutely necessary?".  Yes, I did say something like that, but this does not mean I don't think it is a bonus for anyone to have a high level of education. *MY* children will all have a good education. I do not believe that daughters (or sons, for that  matter) should be running off to University without being well prepared to stand up to the things that come with that decision. I would prefer my daughter stay home for her higher education. At some point, she may make that decision. However, her plan at this point is to go off to Texas A&M to get a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law, and then continue on to the University of Alabama to get her Juris Doctorate. Since these are her wishes, and her goals, it is my job to adequately prepare her for them. My oldest, he is going directly into the military (which I am not happy about, but, then again...I can't make the decisions for them). My second oldest is planning to attend a trade school, which we already have all of the requirements for. This has allowed me to tailor his high school education plan to those requirements and prepare him well for that.

High school planning is sure a lot more intensive than planning for the lower levels, that is for certain. Gone is the freedom to jump around to different curriculums. Now is when we need steadfast and concrete progress. That is not to say that if something is absolutely not working, that we won't switch, it is just saying that we all have to make a more concentrated effort to make what we use work. After all, in college they won't be able to just "switch" if it isn't exactly to their liking.

What did I do to make these plans? Well, first off, I looked at the requirements for admission to the choice school of higher education. For Katie, it meant that she has to follow the advance track credit system for the state of Texas. I went and printed those courses out. Then, I went to the education code and printed out all of the rules in re: to those courses, along with suitable substitutes. After that, I began writing out their plans. For her, it means no less than 26 credit hours. However, she will likely supersede those by a few (more like 32). For Tuck, he only has to have 22, but, he will also have more.  I have everything scheduled in except all of their electives.

I am so excited about these years with them...we have so much to do, but I know the effort will pay off BIG TIME!

(This post is being linked to the "Back to School Monday" Homeschool Link Up. Click on the link below to go visit the other posts in this link-up party.)

This day, Seven Years Ago

On this day, seven years ago, I gave birth to a perfectly made little boy.

He had the cutest little button nose,

and the broadest shoulders.

Both of these things were 100% like his Daddy.

He had full lips,

and "Flintstone" feet,

Just like me. 

Since Daddy and I both have very blue eyes,

we knew his would be too. 

He was beautiful.

We loved him before we ever saw him.

We loved him fully and completely even though we...

never heard his precious cries

never rejoiced in his lovely giggles

never clapped as his took his first steps

or anything else.

His Daddy and I excitedly anticipated meeting him,

but, he went to meet Jesus instead.

Our precious son, Brody Michael, was "still born".

His heart stopped beating before he left my body. 

He was perfect in every way.

My body stole away his blood supply,

robbing him of life...

and robbing us of him. 

I can rejoice that he will never know sorrow,

or pain,

or heartbreak,

or disappointment,

or struggle of any kind. 

However, every day, I think of him.

I wonder what he would be like today.

I miss all of the things I would be doing with him.

I miss him.

His father misses him.

His brothers and sister miss him.

My mother misses him.

My grandmother, my aunt, and many others in my family miss him. 

My best friend misses him.

He lived, and he lives on in our lives.

Our grief is still very real, though it is in a different place than it was 7 years ago. 

Thank you...

to those of you who still think of Brody,

Thank you...

to those of you who think of us & how our lives were forever changed 

when we said good-bye to our little man. 

Confession: I am a brand name snob

I know...this is not becoming of a Christian woman. 

But, it is the truth.

I am sitting here thinking over the things I buy and the things I turn my nose up at.

There is something to be said for good quality.

I have bought into the lie that "the higher the price, the better the quality".

For example, I decided that since VS bras were expensive, they had to be good.

Same with their underwear.

So, with my weight loss I bought me some.

Let me tell you, there is no difference in quality of their underwear vs. Hanes. 

Seriously. Actually, I think my Hanes have held up longer.

I buy my little one's clothing from Gymboree. 

This is a case where through experience I *know* that the quality is worth the cost. 

Still, I buy only during sales. 

My challenge to myself is to stop being fooled by advertising and go with the best bargain for quality.

This means I will shop for quality, not for price or brand. 

I have thankfully never bought into the Coach purse fad...

(or any luxury high-dollar fashion trend)

For that I am grateful...

Troy Says...on random subjects.

How many people does it take to change a lightbulb? 

I don't know. I'm serious.

(It's okay buddy, it seems to be an unanswered question for a lot of folks.)

What makes a car go? 

Well, a lot of engine, a lot of turbo chargers, and even more than that.

What about gas? 

What about gas?

Does it make a car go? 

YES! Because you pump it way full and then it goes 

*vrrrrrroooooommmmm* 

(imagine boy noise here) 

and speeds off fast!

Where does chocolate milk come from? 

From a black cow, duh. 

Why does a blanket make you warm? 

Just because it is made to make you warm like that.

How do you become a grandpa? 

You just get older and it happens.

What is the BEST smell in the world? 

Armpits. 

(he answered WAY too quickly this time...like he didn't even have to think on it. BOYS!)

What is the WORST smell in the world? 

Armpits, they STINK! Pa-toooey!

But you just said armpits were the best smell in the world?

Well, deodorant on armpits is the best smell in the world! 

And Dad's armpits... I like smelling Dad's armpits.

After he showers.

And puts on deodorant. 

My "Spot"

This is "my" spot...

the kids call it "Mom's chair"

When I am in it, they usually don't bother me.

"Where's Mom?"

"She's in her chair"

"Oh, well, I'll just ask her later."

They know that when I am in my "spot", it usually means business.

This is where I do my devotions.

This is where I often pray.

This is where I do my homeschool planning. 

(see the crate beside the chair? yep...homeschool stuff)

This is where I do a lot of thinking...and a lot of growing.

When I need a "break", this is where I head for a time out.

It is in my bedroom, but right by the door. 

So, I can leave the door open and have a direct view into the living room...

so I can keep an eye on the kids.

And not be totally disconnected.

But, I can also CLOSE the door and get some private time. 

I have always dreamed of having my own "spot",

and now I have it. 

What a view...

"The View".

Not the liberal-leaning network talk show. 

The view from our couch.

The view of the television screen. 

What a blessing a television is.

But something more is it...

a curse.

It draws the children in like a moth to a flame.

It is a pied piper to many adults as well.

I posted a blog back in August about how we were cutting cable. 

We did cut the cable, and we have stuck with it.

We do have "Netflix" though. 

We have the plan with both streaming & with DVD's.

It has parental controls set up.

However, it is *still* full of messages we don't need coming into our home.

Garbage.

Lots of it.

I am a firm believer in "garbage in, garbage out".

This being said, I am a wimp.

I am ready to cut it off. 

Just the streaming, not the DVD portion. 

Wimp.

Remember that.

I don't want to deal with the disappointment that the kids will express. 

I don't want the attitudes that will have to be disciplined.

Having trash coming in seems easier than dealing with my children being upset. 

But just because it is easier, doesn't mean it's right.

As a matter of fact, it seems the easy way is most often not the right way. 

Matthew 7:13 tells us:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it".

Wide Gate, broad road...Leads to destruction.

DESTRUCTION

Narrow Gate...not the easy way.

The easy way leads to destruction.

Allowing my kids to have things their way leads to...

destruction. 

So, we will cut Netflix too. 

This stinks. But it will be worth it. 

I love that RedBox is so cheap, and available too. 

Troy Says-On Life

At what age is a person an adult? 

When they're a Daddy. 

Why do you think so? 

Because then they're older than you.

If could change one rule that your family has, what would you change?

Dad wouldn't give me spankings.

What is something that makes your family special?

They love on me.

Of all the things you are learning, what do you think will be the most useful when you are an adult?

Math. I don't know why, Daddy just says so.

Are you a good friend? 

Yes.

Why do you think so?

Because I make a good friend, that's why.