Down Mulberry Lane

Homeschool Record Keeping

I have been at this 10 years now?  And each year or every 6 months or so, I find something new to keep my progress recorded.  I do really REALLY love Homeschool Tracker, as I've stated on my homeschool blog, but in the current arrangement in the house, my computer is upstairs and we do most of our school downstairs.  I went back to paper record keeping.  I will use my Homeschool Tracker by recording our grades in that, so I can make up a transcript, quick and easy like, when the time comes. 

I was trying to find the perfect tool to record and to plan and I realized that what worked for some, didn't work for all classes.  I also had two notebooks and two children with two notebooks and it was getting to be a handful to carry around all these books.  I tried combining my record keeping with my home management binder, but I found I didn't use it at all because it was HUGE and cumbersome!   However, today, I decided just to put our study courses in a 3 ring binder.  I have dividers separating the different courses, and I made copies of one simple master sheet that works well.  The sheet is simple enough that I can modify it for both kids if they are studying the same material.  I can also add a column for listing grades on some assignments, when necessary. 

I like pretty.  I like unique and creative forms.  But when it really comes right down to it... I SOOOO love simple! Simple works.  Simple can be easily modified and still look uncluttered.  I've realized that I don't need fancy record keeping books.  But I do need to have records.  So, simple just seems to work all around. 

My plans are usually made on loose leaf paper, so sliding that in the appropriate course worked really well.  I've tried other planners, I actually like the CLASS record planner book and I like Rod and Staff's simple record keeping book, but with both books, I tend to get ahead in a subject or two and pretty soon I am flipping pages trying to keep track of a full day's work.  I've also tried a ring bound notebook or a ring bound project notebook.  Those work better, but when we change directions, it is hard to reorganize a ring bound plan.  I realized I needed a different system that worked with our style of learning. 

I like several things about the new record keeping book.  I have both students in ONE book.  Everything is clean, simple and clutter free; I have what I need and nothing more.  It is only the study subjects, so once books are put away, I put the record book away and it slides away in a drawer.  It is a small handy binder, only 1/2 inch wide.  I can see it will make school so much easier.  AND, I even allowed for some creativity.  I used a 1/2 inch 3 ring binder with the clear plastic pockets on the outside, so I can decorate and redecorate as I desire. 

I used it the first time today and my oh my did things run smoother and better.  I wasn't fumbling for a different book for a different subject.  When the girls asked a question, the book was handy for both of them.  If I was working on one subject and another came in to ask a question about another subject... I had the information right there...(each divider has the needed sheets filed with finished items filed to the back... so no flipping through all the pages to find the information I needed)... SOOOO NICE!  

I know it is hard to believe that I may have stumbled upon something that works, finally, especially since I've only used it one day.  But I have a hope and a peace about this that is different than other tries before.  Before I wanted something pretty, or something educational looking, something that was like what everyone else was using, or something that made me look intelligent if someone happened to snoop upon it.  LOL.  All the other ideas were motivated by selfish thoughts in some way or another.   I realized that isn't what I needed.  I simply needed a way to record our happenings that had some ability to shift and change when I did.  I was excited this morning to discover that something so simple can work. 

Now parts of my book are parts of systems that I have used in the past... the ones I tend to fall back on when I LOSE my book and when life is busy and I don't have time to fill in all the blank spots in the other planners and record keeping books.  That is likely the key to finding success in my record keeping system. They are tools I have used before, but ones I kept running away from because something new caught my eye!  When time was scrunched these simple pages worked.  When I misplaced my book, or my kids misplaced my book, I could grab a sheet and still work on some planning and add it to the notebook another time.  No more running to and fro looking for something better... may my heart be satisfied with simple! 

I'd post a picture, but thought that perhaps that wasn't best, afterall, what worked for me was finding those things that I needed to use for my specific area, for my specific family.  If you are searching for that perfect tool, consider the fact that perhaps, just perhaps you already have the materials to make your own simple record/planner book.  I just used the word processor on my computer to create a simple table that I could print out.  It included the items that I needed, period.  I placed it into a 3 ring binder, which worked best for me... what I discovered was that the size really made a difference.  I've used 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, and even a 3 inch binder... but wow a small 1/2 inch binder feels JUST right for me!   May you find what works just right for YOU! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Cleaning up.

I am slowly going through old posts and deleting some off my blog,  the ones that have day to day nonsense that friends enjoy hearing, but a year later... no one really cares.   So far, I started on page 18 and eliminated a half page of entries, I am now down to 17 pages, having deleted another half page or so of entries today.  My posts are now down from 372 to 339.   The number will continue to decline as I go through more of the old entries. 

I limit myself to one page a day so that I don't get bug eyed!  Afterall, I've got more to clean out than just my blog! 

Freecycled:  3 child sized sleeping bags. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Making preparations...

We had a New Year's Eve party last night.  Five from our church showed up.  One youth and 4 adults.  I'm not sure why the decline.  In past years, we've had quite the full house.  However having only 5 guests... and 5 home from my family (Dh was on a transfer for work) caused us to focus more on just each other than perhaps when we have a full house and everyone is running around. 

The pastor played a game of ping pong with my daughter and a friend.  And a couple others played mario cart on the Wii.  I made supper which consisted of hot dogs, baked beans and potato chips... so I really didn't cook... just warmed up what needed warming.  After we ate, we played Apples to Apples.  The Pastor's family really enjoyed this game.  About this time, the one youth that came over started feeling sick and got a fever.  She spent the night, but spent most the night curled up in a blanket on the couch or curled up by the fire.  We played a couple rounds of scattergories, but by 9pm the guests were ready to leave. 

At about that time, a friend who lives almost 2 hours away showed up for the party and the girls were so happy to see him.  (He's the son of a previous pastor).   They all stayed up to see the new year in.  Steve finally got home about 12:30 AM and talked with the kids for about an hour and then all went to bed... I went to bed around 11:30 PM with little Paige. 

Anyways, I noticed something... the disappointment of so little showing up for the New Years party really bothered the girls.  They've enjoyed hosting this party every year for several years now and this year was quite low in numbers.  It got me to thinking about other church events... when we show up... we're 5 in number usually, so when we don't show up, it's a small crowd.  I'm sure many others have spent many hours preparing for guests, only to be disappointed that so few or none at all showed up. 

Oh what a lesson for our hearts!  Jesus is preparing for us to come home!  He is making preparations and is so excited and wants all of us to come.   Yet we linger, find something else to do instead of making our own preparations for the trip home.  We find something better to do rather than attending a celebration that we are invited to.  While we were happy for the few guests that came, we also felt for those that didn't come.  I am almost sure that Jesus will do the same.    Oh the disappointment of those that choose not to come, yet eager anticipation over those that are planning to come and the joy to see them when they arrive. 

Something to think about.  I want to be sure I am ready for Jesus to come take me home... and my family, too. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Just checking in...

Tonight is a quiet night at home.  It is raining and I hear the pattering of drops on the roof above me.  The wood stove is keeping us warm.   I'm not posting much, but I am trying to keep up with all my blog reading.  I am trying to reevaluate how I spend my time so that I get done what I want to get done and limit my time doing that which later appears to have been a waste of time.

Warmly, ~Melissa 

Lots of blowing snow here!

Yesterday we were going to try and go out and get a couple nice pictures in the lightly falling snow, but by the time we were ready to do that, the winds started howling and the opportunity was gone.  We stayed in yesterday from church because of the huge possibility of us being stuck out or in the drive.  Dh had the 4-wheel drive truck and we've been stuck in the lane our fair share of times and we just didn't want to test the lane with our lifeless vehicles and below freezing temperatures! 

Last night I made some almond cookies.  They are a new recipe.  I thought they were ok, but I made them with margarine instead of butter and I think that changed the texture a bit.  I may try again with real butter.  I think they would be good dipped in a warm drink like cocoa, a tea, or my favorite... warmed almond milk with a touch of Roma. 

Today, our plans for the week are getting settled.  We're getting meals planned, our shopping plans made (this is the worst week for shopping, isn't it?... but I need groceries!)  We're making our Baking list so we can share with others some cookies and bread.  I'd like to try brown bread this year, but I need to find a recipe.  A friend of mine used to make several batches of this and put it into tin cans to bake.  Very authentic and fun to share! 

Our Christmas plans are dwindling a bit.  We usually share it with extended family, but travel, work, and distance has put some changes to our normal celebrations.  That is ok, it gives us more a chance to focus on others than trying to prepare for guests and huge meals!   Our Christmas plans are to enjoy a nice meal together and likely open our gifts on Christmas Eve.  Dh has to work on Christmas day.  On Christmas day we will go over to my sister's house if her plans fall through (we're back up plans *grin*), if her original plans work out, we will just stay home and enjoy a quiet day together, although we may visit the Fire Station and drop off some Baklava and a couple funny gifts. 

My husband and another guy at work really enjoy each other's friendship and in about two weeks, they are changing all the staff to different shifts and he is getting split up from his friend.  I found at the mall some marshmallow shooters that I can get for $5 each and a bag of marshmallows for a dollar.  I thought they could enjoy their last week together shooting marshmallows at each other (on their break time, of course!).  Now my challenge is to figure out how to get those gifts down to the station without it looking like "we" brought them.  This friend of Dh's pranked him on his birthday last month with a over the hill basket... as he hit 40yo.  Black balloons, old people stuff (depends, enemas, prunes, and lots more...).   They share a love of sheep and both work together with their farms, but being on different shifts makes that extremely hard and they've been together for one year and have so enjoyed doing stuff together again, they went to Maryland to a sheep convention together, went to North Dakota to a sheep convention together as well.  They are both a bit bummed that this time is just about over.  So the funny gift of marshmallow shooters might just raise their spirits this last week or so together. 

So, I better get back to my lists and on to my baking.  We're gonna make some baskets for some of the shut-ins we know. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

The Holiday Season...

In past years, I haven't struggled so much with the holiday season.  I've had plans for the kids and kept them enticed with activities and projects that pointed them to Christ.  We've done Advent readings, been involved at church with Christmas programs, had baking projects (to bless others), we write a newsletter in December for school, etc.  But this year, we haven't done any of it. 

I have struggled in small ways with my daughter Chelsea (who will be 17yo TOMORROW).   Her birthday is on the 13th of December.  Some years she likes Christmas, other years she hates that it takes away from her birthday.  This year... is a good year, she is looking forward to her birthday and Christmas. 

For some reason this year is the first year that I realized that after her birthday we have 12 days to Christmas (the 12th being Christmas Day).  I had heard the song the 12 days of Christmas had something to do with persecuted Christians being able to share their faith in a type of "clothed" language....but snopes says it isn't true.   It has put my mind to thinking about the 12 days of Christmas and seems that maybe this year might be a year that I might use it for a theme this year.  I haven't gotten any details worked out, other than checking a book that I like to read out of called the Messiah and I counted 12 readings and in those 12 readings... I make it through the birth of Christ. All in all, I have 12 days that I'd like to plan some things around.  If I figure it out, I'll post what we plan to do.  Although, I highly doubt it will revolve around the song the 12 days of Christmas.  *grin*

The ages of my children span quite a ways.  From 19yo to 3yo.  So various activities are needed to turn their hearts to Jesus during this season.  The TV and the programs are so quick to steal the real joy of the season away from us and it seems I work harder this very month to show a different side.  I'll admit this year, I haven't done "much" in the way of projecting joy at home.  High School doesn't allow for many hands on projects and with my last two in high school, I feel that sometimes doing the extra stuff bogs them down even more with accomplishing any school.  So up against me are many challenges and it just made this year seem a bigger hill to climb than I was wanting. 

However, I was reading blogs and remembering why we celebrate Christmas and started praying about putting my head on straight.  LOL.  (Sometimes I have to snap myself out of my pity parties that I tend to take when life gets too big for me!)  We celebrate Christmas not because we believe that December 25th was the day Jesus was born, but because it is an accepted holiday that we remember this fact on.  We also are able to do more service projects and touch others with simple acts of kindness during this season than we are almost the entire rest of the year.  Our Christianity can shine during this season of hustling and bustling and more people are willing to accept our acts of kindness and they are more willing to hear about Jesus. 

Also, I recall memories of Christmas that brings my mind of family, of fellowship, of once a year visits to some that we don't see all year long.    I don't recall much of the gifts, but more of the anticipation of being with family, meeting cousins once again, and going to church programs not only at our church, but others as well.  Talking of God was accepted and normal and a big part of Christmas.  While I have tried to instill that this can be normal all year long to my own children, Christmas time we find more openness of others.  My Dad who rarely talks of church, come Christmas would take us to a church program and get quite sentimental.  I treasured that.  My grandfather, I remember him watching "church" more often on tv during December than I remember him watching the ball games that were always on his TV.  Something about this season tugs at our hearts.  Memories for many have religious roots and even those that don't often live an outward walk with Christ will turn to him come Christmas.  Their hearts are open yet tender towards the expectations of the season... what opportunity we have to share if we only take that opportunity.  To share may cause them to try to bring these thoughts into their lives more than just at Christmas.  

I've tossed around my mind the idea of not celebrating, but when I look at Old Testament festivals and holidays... they were celebrating events that happened or ones that were to come.  Christmas is an opportunity to celebrate with many and share about Jesus coming to earth and His plan of salvation.  Yes there is much commercialism during this season.  Yes there is much to avoid.  Perhaps this Christmas season makes it more apparent, this conflict between Satan and Christ.  Where worldly values and our religious values can clash on a daily or even hourly basis during the Christmas season, we are reminded that our choices... what we decide is precious.  Do we take for granted the opportunities to witness?  Do we take for granted the opportunity to choose right each day?  Do we take for granted the opportunities to serve others?

Ultimately our children relish the season, don't they?  You cannot escape it.  It is in every store.  It is in so many of the houses on the streets.  Greetings of strangers even share the famed "Merry Christmas".  To hide doesn't seem an option... you can't not celebrate this season without choosing to make a difference in our children.  A trip to the grocery store may mean explanations of why Santa is on so many foods.  How we decide to counteract this worldliness will make an impression on our children.  Are we ugly with strangers that share something we don't believe in?  Are we ugly with those that don't believe the same?  Or do we accept where they are at and enjoy the heart felt expressions of the season that they are trying to share and in turn share some with them as well? 

As I remember Christmas pasts and even ponder the ones to come... I pray that I will make right choices.  I pray that the things I tell my children will be cherished in their hearts.  I pray that the people I meet on the street or at the stores, will see my Jesus just a bit more than they did the day before.   I pray that my life will glorify God in all that I do, even during the Christmas season.  The way we have celebrated hasn't always been the same.  There is growth in our ideals, in our expecations, and in how we touch others.  I suspect that this will not be the last year for change because as we grow closer to Christ, we simply make changes as we reflect more of Him. 

No matter what happens in the stores, no matter how others may celebrate, no matter how worldly the holiday becomes to others... To me, Christmas is a reminder of my dear Jesus coming to share His love with ME and anyone else who will accept it.  My heart is looking forward to something this season that will be a blessing in our home.  Perhaps it is how we touch someone else's life.  Perhaps it is a child whose wonder brings hope to the entire family.  Whatever it is... I plan to cherish it as this year's Christmas gift. 

Now, to get on the ball with those traditions that make this season so special for my family.... as I know they enjoy this season of remembering how Jesus came down to earth to share His love with us.

Warmly, ~Melissa

I learned how to clean from my daughter...

Our Christmas tree is finally decorated.  We put the tree up last week, but no one wanted to put lights on the tree.  But yesterday, my Megan decided she would do that.  She was quite the busy bee yesterday.  We finished up some odds and ends from school that we hadn't gotten done last week, then we cleaned up from the past couple days of comings and goings. 

After watching Megan clean and get much of it done in such a quick fashion... I mean she really buzzed the house, I realized I have some stuff to learn from her!  I am such a perfectionist that I would take me all day to clean one room to my satisfaction... taking an hour to dust a piece, as I would then take all the drawers out and clean them one by one and then sort all the stuff in that drawer... I just get carried away and then it takes FOREVER to get the entire house done... but Megan just went to work, vacumned, swept, piled items to destinations and then dropped them off and it all looked very nice.  Her goal was to pick up... to clean the major messes (like fuzzed up carpet, dirty wood floors, etc.)  She didn't linger on the minor details (that's where I get lost!)  I looked in the bathroom... sink was clean, floor swept and it looked quite nice and I looked and saw she didn't empty the dirty laundry, just made sure it was all in the basket for when I do laundry next time.  Funny how just seeing that step averted... made me think... why do I think that every time I clean a room, I have to completely take it apart and clean it with a toothbrush?  Why can't I save dusting... for another time and do all my dusting at the same time?  Why not leave the laundry in the bathroom basket until I'm ready to do the laundry?  I began to realize that I often add steps to my day's work that are not needed and likely cause me to lose alot of time.  I deviate from the task of Picking up... to one of detailed cleaning! 

Well, I've got much to ponder on how to incorporate this into my life... How do I accomplish the task at hand?  How do I pick up with out getting carried away in the silverware drawer once again!  I realized I am fanatical about my kitchen organization... when the kids put things away in a wrong drawer... it literally drives me nuts!  I will spend an hour cleaning the kitchen reorganizing it to my specific needs before making a meal, even... no wonder my meals are NEVER on time!  Oh to let loose of these details without losing my mind! 

What a wonder that God will use our own children to show us our own weaknesses, yet within that I was given the power to change!  God is good!  I pray that God will give me the strength to change in this area that He has led my heart to change. 

Warmly, ~Melissa 

Refreshing the wood stove...

Today I spent a couple hours cleaning and working on the wood stove.  The fire was still burning, so I did not clean the window as of yet, but you can see what was done today.   The stove was all rusted from the wet moist weather we had this summer, you know, when Iowa had all that flooding.   Well, I took a toothbrush and scrubbed all of the cast iron details.  I also cleaned up the cast iron pot on top of the stove.  After that, I took some vegetable shortening and a clean toothbrush and wiped down the entire stove.  I had only intended to do the cast iron, but the splatters ended up getting onto the soapstone so I just oiled them completely down. 

It looks nice, now.  The oiled stone brings out it's details... with our home being so dry, the stone had almost turned... flakey white.   You can notice that a bit on the top of the stove by the pot, where the oil has already seasoned into the stone... it is still a bit white.  However, I am still quite pleased with the results as the stone looks better than it has in years and the cast iron is nice and black again.  Along the top edge the cast iron looks a shiny brown color, but that is an error from the flash... it all looks nice and black.   I was a bit concerned about getting the oil onto the stone, but it has not appeared to have altered the stone color. 

Now, I need to get back down there and clean up the tiled areas.   I told the girls before I put up the tree, the fire area is getting a good cleaning and a good spiffing.  We need to redo the tile, you may have noticed the missing tiles in front of the stove.  Hopefully that will get done next summer.  It looks like the stove pipe could use a bit of oil as well!  LOL... too bad my toothbrush has melted into a hard piece of plastic from doing the door of the stove... that was quite warm and melted it very quick. 

Well, I've delayed long enough...

Warmly, ~Melissa

Funny!

My 3yo likes to sing along with the older girls.  They like the song Emmanuel... the refrain goes like this... Rejoice, rejoice, emmanuel, shall come to .....

My little one starts the refrain... Be Joyed!  Be Joyed! 

Too cute!

Warmly, ~Melissa

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