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Summer is passing by us quickly. Before too long, it will be time to start the new school year. I have been looking at curriculum and brainstorming on what to use for this year. While I have nailed down a couple of choices for 2 of my children, I am still having doubts about what to do with my oldest daughter. My oldest son will be doing the majority of his school work through dual enrollment at the local community college. I just need to choose a couple of electives for him to do for his senior year of high school.

For my 2 youngest children, who will be 4 and 6 when we start the new school year, I will be using Sonlight Core K History. I was very blessed to have found this used at a book sale. I also plan to get the Grade K Readers for the 4 year old. Using Sonlight this year is something new to us. I wanted to give it a try, since my children love to read books so much. Sonlight has a wide array of books that I am hoping will open up a whole new world for us.

We will also be using Saxon Phonics for Samuel and Claire. I was also blessed by being able to find it at the same curriculum sale as the Sonlight. It looks very promising and the kids seem to be excited about it also. That is definitely a plus!

For science, I will be reading to them (as well as my oldest daughter) Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology. The kids will sit down with this book now and look at all the neat pictures that they have in it. I know we will have a blast once we start doing all the projects and activities that they have listed in the book.


Math curriculum for Samuel and Claire is what I am having trouble deciding on what to get. I have looked at Horizons Grade One for Samuel and Horizons Grade K for Claire. However, I just am not comfortable with that decision just yet. It will definitely take more prayer time to decide on what to use.

Most important to us is the Bible curriculum. We will definitely be using our Bible. We will read scripture out loud and then talk about what it means. I have found some awesome websites that has lesson plans to go along with a bible story. I will use those as a base to start with. I must say, one of my favorites is DLTK’s Bible Activities. Not only does it have the story and lesson plans, it also will suggest crafts and activities to go along with the story! Another website I used a lot with the preschool co-op in our homeschool group is First-School Preschool Activities and Crafts. They have a wonderful Bible section.


After writing everything out, it seems like a lot. However, I know that once I start writing daily lesson plans, it won’t seem as overwhelming. If, I feel like this is too much once we get started, we will pull something out. That is the wonderful thing about homeschooling. You can change or switch whatever is not working for you or your children.


I am just very thankful that God has blessed me with 4 wonderful children who love to learn.

The topic for this week on Homeschool Village is, ” Ladies and Gentlemen – what practical teaching methods/exercises are you using to teach etiquette and manners?”

When I first saw the topic, I got concerned. I have never used any sort of book to teach my children etiquette or manners, other than the Bible. Being raised in the South, I was taught from the beginning to say “yes, ma’am”, “no, ma’am”, “yes, sir” and so forth. I was taught to respect authority and be polite. I was also taught that the Bible says to “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”, Matthew 7:12. So, I just automatically started working with my children from a very young age to do the same.

I have always tried to be a good example to my children when it comes to manners. I feel like children learn better if you lead by example. Have I always acted like I am supposed to? No! We all make mistakes. That is when the real lesson comes into play. You need to correct what you did wrong and show your children that mistakes do happen and it is important to correct the mistakes as soon as possible.

I know there are many resources out there I could use. Many books have been published on the subject as well as websites. I may try to find a proper etiquette book to use with my children. I look forward to reading what other homeschooling moms do to teach their children etiquette and manners. Won’t you join us at the Homeschool Village Facebook page?

The topic for this week on Homeschool Village is, ” Ladies and Gentlemen – what practical teaching methods/exercises are you using to teach etiquette and manners?”

When I first saw the topic, I got concerned. I have never used any sort of book to teach my children etiquette or manners, other than the Bible. Being raised in the South, I was taught from the beginning to say “yes, ma’am”, “no, ma’am”, “yes, sir” and so forth. I was taught to respect authority and be polite. I was also taught that the Bible says to “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”, Matthew 7:12. So, I just automatically started working with my children from a very young age to do the same.

I have always tried to be a good example to my children when it comes to manners. I feel like children learn better if you lead by example. Have I always acted like I am supposed to? No! We all make mistakes. That is when the real lesson comes into play. You need to correct what you did wrong and show your children that mistakes do happen and it is important to correct the mistakes as soon as possible.

I know there are many resources out there I could use. Many books have been published on the subject as well as websites. I may try to find a proper etiquette book to use with my children. I look forward to reading what other homeschooling moms do to teach their children etiquette and manners. Won’t you join us at the Homeschool Village Facebook page?

Wow.  It  has been a rough emotional day.  It has taken me all day just to try and write something, however  June 22nd, 2007, 3 years ago today, we lost my dad to cancer.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.  We would talk daily on the phone, sometimes a couple of times a day.  We talked about everything.

Oh the memories I have of my dad.  The ones that really stick out are of him taking me to church and seeing him lead the church during the song service.  He loved singing to the Lord.  I can just hear him now singing bass with the angels.  I remember getting up and singing harmony with him.    I haven’t sang in front of a church again since that last time I sang with him.  It just isn’t the same. 

Other memories include him being there cheering me on in the sports I played, him being their when I marched in the band, him being their when I graduated, him walking me down the aisle and eventually him being there when I had my children.  He was there for all of us no matter what.  He never judged us, he just loved us.

Unconditionally.

I know there was times I disappointed him, but he never let on.  He just kept loving me no matter what.

This is the last picture I got of my dad with all my kids. I will never forget the day. He and my mom had come to visit us not long after we had moved into the house. This was also during the time that he had gotten cancer for the second time. He never let on that he was so sick.  He just kept on going.  Such a strong man.  He knew where he was going when the Lord took him from the earth.  He was ready to go. 

Thank you dad for so many wonderful memories.  I know you not only made a huge impact in my life but many others.  You are still loved and missed very much.

Wow.  It  has been a rough emotional day.  It has taken me all day just to try and write something, however  June 22nd, 2007, 3 years ago today, we lost my dad to cancer.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.  We would talk daily on the phone, sometimes a couple of times a day.  We talked about everything.

Oh the memories I have of my dad.  The ones that really stick out are of him taking me to church and seeing him lead the church during the song service.  He loved singing to the Lord.  I can just hear him now singing bass with the angels.  I remember getting up and singing harmony with him.    I haven’t sang in front of a church again since that last time I sang with him.  It just isn’t the same. 

Other memories include him being there cheering me on in the sports I played, him being their when I marched in the band, him being their when I graduated, him walking me down the aisle and eventually him being there when I had my children.  He was there for all of us no matter what.  He never judged us, he just loved us.

Unconditionally.

I know there was times I disappointed him, but he never let on.  He just kept loving me no matter what.

This is the last picture I got of my dad with all my kids. I will never forget the day. He and my mom had come to visit us not long after we had moved into the house. This was also during the time that he had gotten cancer for the second time. He never let on that he was so sick.  He just kept on going.  Such a strong man.  He knew where he was going when the Lord took him from the earth.  He was ready to go. 

Thank you dad for so many wonderful memories.  I know you not only made a huge impact in my life but many others.  You are still loved and missed very much.