Blog Posts I Really Liked This Week

Before I share with you my favorite blog posts from this week, I wanted to share with you some of the pictures I've been taking in my photography class. Just remember, I'm a beginner!!!!!

We've been learning how to do blurred backgrounds.

blogs i enjoyed this week
Your Care Guide: 25 Point Manifesto for Sanity in 2013 - Holy Experience
5 Things You Need to Know Before You Begin Your 2nd Term of Life - Holy Experience
How We Use Essential Oils to Fight Colds and Flus - The Prairie Homestead
2012 Homestead Yields & Cost Analysis - On Just a Couple of Acres
Encouraging Maturity in Children - Smockity Frocks
We're Going Around the World Literally - Keeper of the Home
Do I Parent Out of Fear or Faith? - Inspired to Action
A No Waste Kitchen  - New Life on a Homestead
Love Your Neighbor. Even If You Don't Think They Deserve It - New Life on a Homestead

My Favorite Blog Posts from 2012

Everyday,  my email box fills with several blogs I read and glean knowledge and inspiration from.

Today, I want to share some of them with you. I'll break them down by category.

Light a few candles, brew some tea or coffee, curl up on your sofa with a blanket and your laptop and be inspired!

parenting
51 Things You Can Do That Will Bless Your Kids - Finding Joy
5 Ways to be More Present Today - Finding Joy
Kids and Electronics - What Age and How Much is Too Much? - Smockity Frocks
I Gave Myself Away Because of a Dare Wanting to be Loved - Mom's Mustard Seeds
7 Ways to Invest in Your Kids - Finding Joy
Ten Commandments of Courtesy for Kids (and Adults) - Smockity Frocks
Keeping Kids Safe on the Homestead - New Life on a Homestead
Preparing Our Children For Marriage - Renewing Housewives
A Tearful, Joyful, Hopeful Letter to My Teenage Self - Inspired to Action
20 (more) Motherhood Tips - Finding Joy
Hope Chests 101 - A Practical Check List - Raising Homemakers
22 Activities for the Country Toddler and Preschooler  - The Prairie Homestead
How to Instill a Strong Work Ethic in Children from a Young Age  - Keeper of the Home
How Do Large Family Moms Manage Everything?  - Smockity Frocks

finances
Save Money by Purchasing White Linens and Towels - Being Frugal
Fun Fund: Saving Money for Entertainment and Travel - Being Frugal
How We Afford to Mini-Farm on One Income (Part 1)  - The Prairie Homestead
How We Afford to Mini-Farm on One Income (Part 2) - The Prairie Homestead
10 Ways to Live More Sustainably - DIY Natural
Analyzing the Family Budget - Homestead Revival
On Producing Rather Than Saving - Nourishing Days
50 Ways to Make Money  - Bible Money Matters

health
Make Your Own Cough Syrup - Raising Arrows
10+ Natural Cold Remedies - Keeper of the Home
Natural Remedies for Cold & Flu Season - Little Natural Cottage
Allergy Relief for Ragweed Season (or any Allergy Season) - Sprittibee
How I Healed My Son's Skin Infection (Without Antibiotics) - Keeper of the Home
How to Treat Bug Bites Naturally - Keeper of the Home

personal
Will I Ever Change? - Sarah Mae
The Rushing Mom Embraces Today - Finding Joy
Why It Is OK to Take a Mom Break - Finding Joy

beauty
Your Lips But Better - The Small Things Blog
Tips for an Easy Fall Wardrobe  - Simple Design

country living
Our Journey to Agrarianism - Nourishing Days
Homesteading Wherever You Are - New Life on a Homestead
Pioneer Homes - Little Homestead on a Hill
Roundup of Homesteading How-To's  - Smockity Frocks
Is It Easier? - Simply Living For Him
The Garden Plan - Homestead Revival

homemaking
Household Cleaning with Vinegar - Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling
My (Simple, Natural, Frugal) Cleaning Cabinet - The Prairie Homestead
Quick Homemaking Tips - Raising Homemakers
Clothesline Options - Homestead Revival

food
Just Add Water - Lemonade Makin' Mama
Extending the Family Table - Plan To Eat
Real Food Substitutions - Keeper of the Home
10 Things You Should Make Homemade - Gricefully Homeschooling
Managing Your Kitchen - Raising Arrows
Scenes from the Kitchen - Nourishing Days
Preserving Food - Raising Olives
Stocking Your Freezer - Gricefully Homeschooling
A Plan for Stretching the Meat Budget - Plan to Eat
4 Cheap Healthy Meal Plans for Families - Christian PF (Personal Finance)
Reducing Food Waste at Home...and a Meal Plan - Blissfully Content
Ultimate List of Easy Slow Cooker Recipes - Hodgepodge
Buying Meat in Bulk - Homestead Revival

How Our Family Is Focusing Outward This Christmas

I have been so compelled to focus our family on giving instead of getting this Christmas. My Pastor-Husband and I really want Jesus to get the attention in our family. We've been asking our kids, "What would Jesus want for His birthday?"

We've started this TOTALLY AWESOME Journey of Wonder Advent Calendar, and are seeing the wonderful fruit of it in our children's lives. It only takes maybe 10 minutes each day, and we perform the object lesson included. Sometimes, our conversations go longer just because the kids have questions or want to talk more about a certain topic. I'm enjoying it so much!

In addition to the Advent calendar, we've decided, as a family, to really reach out to others. We've been using ideas from The Grateful Christmas Project, and we're having so much fun. My children have given thank you cards with chocolate bars to the postman, trash collector, taco truck server (no joke), policemen, firemen, ambulance worker, and there's more still to deliver. They feel really good about themselves when they hand a card to someone they appreciate.

We're still adding items to our Gifts We Already Have list on the back of our front door. We do a great job of making Christmas wish lists, but this list is a "count your blessings" activity. We've enjoyed watching our children focus on what God has already blessed them with.

A few other wonderful resources full of ideas for reaching out this holiday season:

• More Than Candy eBook
• Passionate Homemaking's "Practical Ways to Reach Out to Others During the Holidays"

Enjoy teaching your children to serve and bless others this Christmas, and watch them grow in new ways you've never seen before. Everyone knows, when you bless someone else, you're truly the one who gets blessed!

Our Thoughts on Christmas Gift Giving

My husband and I use a holiday savings account to save all year long for Christmas. We still don't have a huge Christmas budget, and the family keeps growing every year (with new cousins and everyone).

We firmly believe that Christmas should be about Jesus, not getting presents. We tell our children this is Jesus's birthday, and ask what they think He would want for His birthday. They come up with many ideas of volunteerism and serving those less fortunate. We drill this concept into our children's hearts, even though everywhere we go, the opposite message is in their faces.

For the past several years, we've done the "three gifts per child" thing, because Jesus got three gifts for His birthday. I liked the concept, but found it hard to keep it balanced and fair. One child's gift could be a color book and crayons, while another child could get an iPod. It wasn't always easy to keep things even amongst all five of them.

This year, I came across this blog article, where a reader wrote a revised version of the "three gifts" idea:
“Every Christmas our five children receive three gifts: one “gold” gift, the big item they are longing for; one “myrrh” gift, which is for their body, such as clothing; and one “frankincense” gift, for their spiritual growth.It keeps spending down but also focuses on our celebration of Christmas and the gifts given to the Christ child. We send a portion of the money we’ve saved to charity.”

My husband and I both liked this new idea, and will be giving it a shot this year. I've already purchased everyone's gold gift, and all the boys' frankincense gift, so I'm half done.

As for everyone else on our list, we love to give books to children (i.e., cousins), we're opting for homemade goodies from the kitchen for many of the others on our list (ya know, the people who don't need anything), and then we're really going to focus on giving - to the homeless, the elderly, our neighbors, those who bless our lives all year long (teachers, my wonderful chiropractor who provides me service for free, our church leaders), and whomever else God lays on our hearts. This is what, we believe, Jesus would truly want for His birthday.

God, break our hearts for the things that break Your heart this Christmas. Let our family bless You by reaching out to those You'd have us to touch this year.

Discovering Your Life Purpose, and a Few Farm Updates

A FEW QUICK FARM UPDATES

Look how big the chickens have gotten! (Sorry pictures are poor quality - taken with my cell phone - my camera is broken.)

And we started tilling and planting for our fall garden.

I don't have more recent pictures, but we've already got rows and seedlings in the ground, as well as stakes up all around for a fence to keep dogs and predators out of the garden.

Also, for next week, I'll try to grab some pictures of the newest animal addition to our farm, the rabbits. My two oldest are each starting their own rabbitry, as they used to raise rabbits and wanted to do it again.

And, we got the pig pen all cleaned up in preparation for our three little pigs coming November 10th! So fun!

DISCOVERING YOUR LIFE PURPOSE
I had the privilege of hanging out with two teens this week who are at that fork in the road - one has already graduated high school, but has no idea how God wants her to use her life and what she's supposed to do now, the other is a senior faced with making decision about college, but not knowing God's purpose for his life yet makes him not confident to make those decisions. I asked them some questions, trying to steer them in identifying what God has created them to do. They replied with, "Geeze! These are hard questions!" But they both agreed the questions caused them to think about some new things.

Each human being was put on this earth on purpose - it wasn't an accident that God chose you to be on this earth at this time. He created you with a purpose, for such a time as this!

It saddens me to see how many high-schoolers and twenty-somethings, and sometimes even thirty-somethings, have no idea what to do with their lives. They flounder, not understanding what God has called them to do on this earth. High-schoolers waste away their days having fun and playing video games. College young people change their major three times before they graduate, and then go out and get a job in something entirely different than their major, because they discover they don't really care for the field they majored in. And they still spend their days unhappy, unfulfilled, empty, and playing video games.

My Pastor-Husband and I believe there is a way to avoid living aimlessly. We believe God has a purpose for each of us, and it's our job to discover what it is. We also believe it's very important, as parents, to help our young people discover their life purpose, from a very young age, so their days aren't wasted and they can live with true joy.

God has provided us many clues to discovering our purpose.

S - SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The Bible says we are all given certain gifts, and we need to discover what they are. We suggest you take approximately three spiritual gifts tests (there are many out there), and combine the results to find confirmation about how God has uniquely gifted you. Just search on the internet and you will find numerous tests online to choose from.

H - HEART
Ask yourself, "What is my passion? What weighs heavy on my heart? What do I love?"

A - ABILITIES
What are your talents and skills?

P - PERSONALITY
We all have different personalities. Some of us are introverts, some are extroverts. Some of us are people-driven, others are task-driven. Your personality is not a mistake. It plays into your overall purpose.

E - EXPERIENCE
God has orchestrated many experiences in your life that will lead you into your purpose. Some of your experiences might be awesome opportunities that couldn't have happened by chance. Some might be bad childhood experiences. Whether good or bad, God can use your life experiences in your overall life purpose.

SOME OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Your God-ordained life purpose will ALWAYS involve helping others. That's just what God is all about. You may think that being a computer programmer does nothing for the Kingdom of God. But if you are being a witness for Jesus in your workplace, than you are helping others. There's always a way God can use your skills and abilities to glorify Him.

Employment may not always be in the area of your purpose. There are seasons when God may provide for you in an area unrelated to your purpose in order to get you to the next step IN your purpose. McDonald's may not be your calling, but he can use McDonald's as provision to propel you forward.

Think about the different parts of the SHAPE acronym for your life. Help your teens evaluate this qualities in their life. It's OK if you don't have all the answers right now. What's important is that you are looking for them - now that you're aware, watch for the signs in your own life. If you pray and seek God, He will begin to show you His unique design and purpose for your life.

And I would also add one more thing:
Don't get side-tracked by the world's definition of a successful life. Don't let society define your purpose for you. God is creative. There's not a mold you have to fit into. Be open to whatever path He leads you on, even if it isn't mainstream. I do not believe EVERYONE needs to go to college. That's our world's standards. We don't live by those standards, but by the standards put forth in God's Word. Some of you can get all the training you need in an apprenticeship or a two-year specialized college. Others of you may find distance education works best for you, such as College Plus or Global University, and some of you may not need college in order to fulfill God's purpose for you. There are many ways to receive education and learn, and we all don't have to fit into the same box.

I pray you enjoy the journey God will take you on as you seek to discover God's unique purpose for you and your children. It's a wild ride that may have a few surprises, but promises to be full of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction. There's nothing like living out your God-given purpose!!!! Nothing!

September Menu & Chore Chart

I was late getting my September menu completed this month - just finished it last night. But thought I'd share it with you anyways. We're trying to transition to all organic, and since we don't buy as much processed foods, and cutting down tremendously on snacking, the budget hasn't seen that much difference. This month, I've been shopping once per week, which is new for us, but necessary, as my husband does not get paid once monthly anymore, but every two weeks instead. I shopped exclusively at Sprout's this month, and I loved it!

SEPTEMBER MENU


Here's the kids' chore chart - ever changing, especially as we settle into the new house and routine.

SEPTEMBER CHORE CHART

And some pictures Holly (my sister-in-law) and I took of the kids before she left.

Loving this Book, Visit from Cousins, & a New Chicken Coop

LOVING THIS BOOK
Thanks to a review from 100 Days of Real Food, I ordered a book entitled French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon. The subtitle reads, "How our family moved to France, cured picky eating, banned snacking, and discovered 10 simple rules for raising happy, healthy eaters." I'm only half through it, but I'm loving it! So far, I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to teach their children to eat what is served to them and enjoy a wider variety of healthful foods. We've already started implementing some of the ideas from this book in our home. Can't wait to read on!

VISIT FROM COUSINS
On Wednesday, my sister-in-law and her three children visited our new home. They were in the area (they live up near Portland, OR). My children don't get to spend a lot of time with their cousins because of distance, so this was truly a blessing. They always have such a great time together.

This is my youngest niece, Adeline, playing on her Mommie's cell phone.

This is my oldest and youngest sitting together.

A little friendly cousins game of volleyball.

Coco suggesting they play badminton instead.

All the Duncan grandchildren together - yep, that's mine who is crying and refusing to take the picture.

The girls have to stick together in the midst of all those boys running around. They got away and had some girl time and laughter.

NEW CHICKEN COOP
Last week, I told you we were having a chicken coop delivered. We got it on Saturday, and it's so awesome! The girls (hens) love it, and immediately went in and set up home. They were scratching here and there making it just right. They are very happy! We bought barn red paint to paint it.

This is the back, which actually opens to clean it out.

There's three nesting boxes on each side, for a total of six.

My Farmer Boy

We've been in our new country home for two weeks now. Time has flown! There's always something to do here. The kids find plenty of activities. They love it here, and I have heard them a couple times talking to each other and saying, "I like this house!" "Me, too!" When I call them in for lunch, they will say, "It's lunchtime already?" In our city home, it was always, "When's lunchtime?" I get so busy with projects, I look at the clock, and can't believe it's time to start cooking dinner. I'm sure time will slow a bit in the winter, but with sunny days, we're getting quite a bit done.

I have one son, in particular, who's really taken to the farm life! Perhaps it's because we read Tim Tebow's book, and Tim talks about becoming "farmer strong" as a young boy living on a farm. Or maybe it's just because he's begged to move to the country for so long. My oldest boy, Joshua, is nine years old, and very responsible. He loves to work. The first day we were here, he was helping fill some ankle-breaking holes on the land.

Everyone in our family has rubber boots. Josh loves his cowboy hat, too!

Before we moved, I was shopping for a riding lawnmower on Craigslist, and found one for sale in Wilton, where our new country home is. Turned out the guy who had the tractor lived walking distance from our new place. We bought the tractor, and the guy was nice enough to hold on to it for us until we moved. So the day finally came to go pick up our new-to-us tractor. Guess who got to drive it home?

Isn't he adorable?

And Josh wasted no time. He immediately mowed the front and back lawns, and did a fabulous job! He loved every minute of it!

The younger boys looked on with hopes that, someday, they, too, will be capable of doing big-boy jobs like their big brother!

Nathan, 4 years old, with his boots and kiddie shovel

Are You a Control Freak?

Before I delve into a very difficult and personal subject, I must give you an update on our family.

We should be getting the keys to our new farm on Wednesday!! Woohoo! We can hardly wait! We've decided to name our new place "Heritage Farm," a name my husband came up with, as we truly desire for this place to be passed down to generations after us - a heritage. 

Also, a week ago today, we picked up our first farm animal - a farm dog (well, puppy, really). She's a chocolate lab mix, maybe with retriever or border collie. My daughter thought up the name Coco, and everyone loved it. She's seven weeks old, and adjusting beautifully! She sleeps through the night until about 5:30am. She only went potty in the house the first day she was here, but hasn't since. She cries to go outside, even when she's in the garage in her pen. She gets along well with our three beagles. When they give her warnings that they don't want to play or be bitten, she obeys them. She's just been a pleasure (accept for the biting, I guess).

ARE YOU A CONTROL FREAK?

As leaders in the church, we often see commonalities in human behavior. Many people will struggle with the same character issue. We see it all the time. One particular character issue we see quite often is women who are controlling.

How is it I can spot a controlling woman so quickly?

Because it takes one to know one, and I've struggled with controlling tendencies myself in different seasons of my life. At 15 years of marriage, now, when it rears it's ugly head, my husband will point it out for me, and although I usually don't take kindly to that mirror in my face, he's usually right. Earlier in our marriage, it was the source of many problems and fights. When God finally revealed to me this major problem I had, I was so broken, disgusted with myself, and ashamed. I had to repent before God and my husband. It was painful. I realized the damage I had created in our marriage. I will never forget what he told me: "Sometimes its just easier to give in to you than to fight with you all the time." How awful that must have been for him!!! I never wanted to be the one to create such a horrible living situation for someone else. I was embarrassed and ashamed of my behavior. It led me to some serious changes in my life.

I'm not completely healed of this tendency. I find it pops up in certain seasons of my life, like when I'm really tired and exhausted, or I'm uncertain about my future.

(NOTE: This tendency can be a struggle with men as well, but this blog post is directed at women in particular.)  

What's so wrong with being controlling?

• The people who have to live with you and interact with you become miserable! Nobody likes to be controlled by someone else. Your actions will push people away. It is tiring and exhausting to live with a control freak. Others feel constant disappointment with their inability to make you happy.
• The root of controlling behaviors are usually not of God (fear, pride, insecurity, etc.).
• You get in the way of God working. He should be in control.

Symptoms of Being Controlling

• You feel anxious and frustrated when things don't go as planned
• You insist you know what is right for other people - correcting them, directing them, criticizing their conduct or way of living in general, mingling in others' affairs - you impose your thinking on others and try to align others with your value system
• You insist your way is the right way
• When you are too afraid to speak your own truth, you quietly undermine others -  manipulation is a friend of control
• You blame others for everything instead of feeling your inner conflict or taking self-responsibility
• You tend to be a perfectionist, often over trivial things - dedicating serious amounts of time and effort to unnecessary things - you are preoccupied and worry with insignificant details. Do you fret over things too small to worry about? Are you worried too much about whether things outside of your control are going to upset your life?
• You like everything to be planned and controlled, since you doubt the competence of others
• When your expectations go unmet, it results in bouts of anger and scorning - anger is also a friend of control
• You cannot forget your own past failures and move on - insecurity and fear can be roots of control
• You tend to be pessimistic and a worrier about things out of your control
• When you are not perfect, over time, it can lead to devastation and even depression
• You're not able to let things go
• You can't help but to point out others' mistakes
• Others may do things without telling you or hide things from you to avoid your criticism
• You tend to think more negatively - you engage in negative self-talk or speak out loud your negative thoughts often

What causes us to be controlling?

• Some of us are born with a more dominant personality, which isn't so bad, if kept in check and balance
• Some of us were raised by a controlling parent, and therefore, we live out what was inappropriately modeled for us as a child
• Perhaps our early life was so traumatic and uncontrollable that, in adulthood, we control so hurt cannot come to us again
• Pride may also be an issue, which is an unwillingness to accept someone else may be right and you may be wrong. You may commonly think, "I'm better educated or equipped, and I don't trust what they will do."
• Fear is, more often than not, at the root of controlling behaviors - try asking yourself, "Why do I feel the need to take control of this person or situation?" Most of the time, the answer to that is a fear that, if you don't take control, you will lose something.
• We haven't learned to trust - trust our loved ones, or ultimately, God - that He can work on behalf of imperfect people for our good - (this was the biggest one for me to come to terms with - my controlling behavior was about my lack of trust in God, not my husband)

Control is the opposite of trust.

How do I overcome controlling behaviors?

1.  Acknowledge and accept that you are controlling. Realize that your actions and words are damaging to others. Humble yourself and accept responsibility for your actions. THIS IS THE HARDEST STEP OF ALL, but you must complete it to find healing!
2. Confession - the Bible says to confess your faults to one another - you cannot skip this step. Confess your weakness to the person(s) you've offended. Explain that you acknowledge your faults, you realize your behavior is wrong, and that you are on the path to change. Let them know that you intend to do everything necessary to repair the damage done in your relationship. Ask the person for patience, as change isn't easy.
3. Invite (yes, I said invite) criticism from a close loved one or friend. This may be very hard to take. It's hard to lose this control in your own life. But a big step towards healing is relinquishing the idea that you are the only one who can tell you anything. This step also allows the other person the freedom to share their true feelings about how your actions affect them. There are many feelings they perhaps have never shared with you for fear of how you'd react. So you may be surprised at how they truly feel. Do not get defensive with what they say, even if you don't agree with them. That will destroy their belief that you truly desire to change. Accept that, in their minds, you DID hurt them. Be humble enough to listen to their thoughts and feelings.
4. Change your reactions to fear, pride, insecurity, and other roots of controlling behavior. The circumstances that cause you to control are still going to happen. You can CHOOSE, however, to react differently and in a more healthy way. IT IS A CHOICE! This is one thing you should control - how you react. 

Here are a few practical ideas on how to make changes:

• Allow others to make decisions, and don't complain if you don't like it.
• Let others do what they want to do, and smile about it, or do it with them.
• When you feel that fear rising up within you that things are about to go bad if you don't take control, take a time out. Don't allow the pressure build inside you. Take time to relax.
• Stop yourself from giving "looks" to those who don't do what you want them to do.
• Don't allow yourself to constantly criticize. (As you watch yourself for this, I would venture to say you'll be surprised at how much you do this. You will probably notice that, in almost every area of their life, you have criticized the way they've done something simply because it is not the way you would have done it. This makes others feel like they're not good enough. Others may start to do things behind your back to avoid your criticism.)
• Make it easy for others to be honest with you by not getting upset when they make a mistake. Allow them to be human, realizing that you've made plenty of mistakes in your life.
• PRAY! Ask God for help with overcoming something so natural within you. You will need His help, trust me!
• Through this time, learn how to give things over to God - to trust Him with your outcome. This can be very hard. But it can be made easier by listing all the times you have witnessed God's faithfulness in your life and the lives of others (even those in the Bible). If He was trustworthy then, He's trustworthy now.
• Begin a journey toward understanding that not everything we perceive as "bad" is truly bad. God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He has unique ways for growing us, and sometimes that involves putting us in uncomfortable places so we can learn and come out better on the other side. You are not the master of the universe. Let God do what He knows is best in our lives, even if we don't agree.

5. Create a positive environment. As you begin to keep yourself in check, you will realize how negative your thoughts, self-talk, or words coming out of your mouth tend to be. Try to find the good in every situation. THIS TAKES PRACTICE! Only allow yourself to speak positive thoughts around others. Do not talk derogatory about others. Mistakes that others make should remain private.

This is a long, hard journey, but I promise you, it is loaded with positive relational benefits. You must do this for yourself and the people you love. Although I'm not perfect, my marriage is a TON better today than in our early years, because I no longer mother my husband, but treat him like the man he is and deserves to be treated like. Let God be God in your life and in the lives of those around you.

You may also be interested in my past blog post, Carrying Loads We Weren't Intended to Carry.

Keeping Children Productive Through the Summer

If you're children are already finished with school, then you are likely looking for ways to keep them busy all day so they don't get themselves into trouble. In our home, we encourage our children to find productive activities - we do not want them sitting in front of a TV, Wii, or computer all day long. We actually allow screen time during certain hours of the day, but the rest of the day, they are responsible for finding productive activities to do.

What do we consider productive? Anything that involves learning, serving, exploring, or working.

Many times, children find it difficult to think up productive activities all on their own. So we developed this list, which I hang in the kitchen, of various productive ideas. When they seem to be wandering aimlessly or headed for trouble, I direct them to this list to find a better activity.

I hope you find this list helpful in your home this summer!    Free Time Activities List

Planning School For Next Year

My husband gifted me with the privilege of getting away for two nights to put thoughts on paper for next school year. I consider it so much fun to plan for homeschooling! I love every minute of it! I came away with a rough outline of the direction we will head. I still have more work to do, but the "skeleton" is done.

HOW DID I DO IT?
I started with interviewing the children.

The week before I went away, I talked with each child individually. Mainly, I discuss with them their passions, interests, favorite things, and what they want to learn about. I strongly believe in capitalizing on their individual interests while they have them. From this question, I gained the following insight:

 12 year old daughter

1. Singing

2. Piano

3. Volleyball

4. Reading

5. Gymnastics 

6. Art 

 

9 year old son

1. Sports

2. Building with Wood

 

7 year old son

1. Sports

2. Building with Legos

3. Art 

My younger ones are a little too young for this discussion, but I kind of know what they like and what I want them to learn.

After learning their interests, I discussed with the older children a few options about core curriculum changes we're considering. For my oldest, who will be going into Algebra 1, we're looking at changing curriculum, because she needs quite a bit of guidance with math, and Saxon, the curriculum she's used her whole life, is getting more difficult for her to learn independently (Mom can't help too much anymore). So I have her exploring online with Teaching Textbooks, ALEKS, and Math-U-See to see if she preferred one over the other. I'm doing the same with my 9yo son, just because math is his strength, and I felt like ALEKS might allow him to skip through what comes easy to him and focus on material that needs to be learned.

So, fast forward to my getaway, and here's what I've planned so far for our family.

BIBLE:
I am looking for something new this year for Bible, and haven't quite found it yet. I'm trying to treat Bible like a class just like any other, where we actually study the who, what, when, and where of the Bible, book by book. I've got a few leads, but haven't made a decision yet.

I always require my children to spend time in personal devotions to God each morning - reading their Bible alone and praying.

We also do weekly character studies, memorize the order of the books of the Bible, do Scripture memorization, and learn great hymns.

MATH:
12yo - She's thinking she likes the looks of Teaching Textbooks the best, as it's the most like Saxon in terms of format, but not as intense, which is fine for us
9yo - Probably going with ALEKS this year, as he's goal-driven and will enjoy filling in his pie chart
7yo - Saxon 3
5yo & 4yo - Saxon K

LANGUAGE ARTS:
This year, I'm going with the state-adopted curriculum for most of the children.
In addition, they all will do some regular journaling, whether it be prayer journaling, nature journaling, or journaling based on a prompt I give them.
And, of course, lots of reading!
7yo - I will add a handwriting practice book for this son. I also have a subscription for him to Headsprout, and will continue with that to strengthen his reading skills.
5yo & 4yo - For my little guys, I will not be using the state-adopted curriculum. Instead, we will use Modern Curriculum Press's Plaid Phonics - this is the curriculum I was recommended when I started homeschooling, and I've used it ever since, and really like it. In addition, these boys will also have a handwriting practice book.

HISTORY:
We've been using Story of the World for history for the past two years, and we love it. The whole family does the same history lesson together. We will continue with Level 3 this year. We are considering combining it with History Odyssey.

SCIENCE:
I'm very grateful that our charter school, Visions in Education, has science lessons for every state standard posted online at their Homeschool Hub. I've already taken the time to print them all out for the grades I will be teaching next year (8th, 4th, 2nd, & K) and put them in a binder. I then look for commonalities amongst them. For instance, the two younger grades both have Animals as a standard, and my 4th grader has Food Chains. I will spend a month covering that standard - all the children taught at the same time together the exact same lesson - and I'll use each of the lessons for their grade level. Another standard that three of the grades has is Health. Perfect! Saves mom time and energy to teach it altogether. I will not be buying a separate curriculum for science this year. We will use what's on the Hub, as well as the internet, encyclopedia, and the library to explore our topics.

In addition, we will be working through Vintage Remedies for Tweens as a family. I can't wait for this curriculum!!!! It will teach them all kinds of natural living skills, and includes projects in each chapter for them to complete. So fun!

I also have a very basic Health & Safety curriculum that I used with my older two (it's for early childhood and written by Laurie Anderson, but I couldn't find it online), and now need to complete with the younger three.

So that's all five of our core subjects.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
This year, I will be developing a very simple daily workout for each of the children to complete alone with their morning chores. It will alternate strength training with cardio (totally kid-version, though). My goal with this is for them to not only be active, but get in the habit of daily exercise.
12yo - My daughter asked to do gymnastics again. She also expressed desire to learn more about volleyball. She's not ready for a team, yet, she just wants to learn more. We have a family friend who loves volleyball that I've asked to meet with my daughter to teach her the basics. After that, we'll decide if she wants to try anything else.

9yo - This is the most athletic of all my children, and he's regularly active in sports. That's P.E. enough for us.

7yo - This son may play a sport or two in the next year. It's not his passion. He enjoys watching more than playing. But he changes his mind often, so we'll see.

5yo & 4yo - These guys are in the exploration stage. At this age, we try lots of things to discover new gifts and abilities. They also express desire to play some sports, so we'll give different ones a try this year.

FINE ARTS:
In our state, elementary children must take a fine art for one semester. That includes visual arts, music, dramatic arts, or a foreign language. Because I am a musician and play piano, I have a personal opinion that every child should take at least one to two years of piano. After that, if they don't like it, they don't have to continue. I taught my oldest piano, but she's ready for an outside teacher to take her to the next level. My boys have all tinkered on the piano and know a few things, but because of my busy schedule, I'm thinking of putting them in outside lessons as well.
12yo - Besides piano, my daughter will be doing voice lessons as well this year. We may focus on piano one semester, and voice the next. Otherwise, it can be way too costly. In addition, she wants to continue with the art class she took this year from a local woman who teaches art out of her home.
9yo - This is the child who resists all fine arts. He's an athlete. He doesn't like art of any kind. However, I'll have him take piano. In addition, he's expressed interest in learning some woodworking skills. I'm looking into a local 4-H club that offers a woodworking project that he could join next year.
7yo - This guy could possibly have a musical gift, but it's unexplored. He will do piano this year (eventually, he wants to try drums), and he also wants to continue with the art class he took last year. In addition, locally, we have a Lego class for homeschoolers that teaches introductory engineering skills. I think this guy would love it!
5yo - If I can, I will look at having this little guy do piano and art class. We'll see if he's old enough.

TECHNOLOGY:
Technology is a requirement in our state for all elementary grades. My children work on Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing until they finish the program (my daughter already has).
In addition, I plan to teach my kids very practical technology this year - how to use the computer, the internet, sending emails, Microsoft products, Google products, smartphones, etc. We only really work on this once or twice a month.

I also read "How I Am I Smart?" during my mini-retreat and gained great insight and ideas!

So that's my head start! So fun! I love this stuff!