Apologize???

So when you mess up as a parent and lose your cool and start yelling like a maniac at your kids, do you apologize to them? If so,how do you approach it?  Cuz I feel like I owe my kids so many apologies lately but my prideful nature holds me back.  Ugh. Parenting is so hard!!!!

So...here I am...making a public vow to STOP YELLING at my kids. I feel like an idiot when I do it and I know it's not effective, but I do it anyways. Ugh. Not anymore!!!!!!

Planning sucks

The title of this blog post is a common phrase that has been texted back and forth between another homeschooling mom and myself over the past few days. I am super excited about the curriculum that I have chosen for this coming year but this is my first attempt at planning out the entire school year. It is very overwhelming. I'm getting caught up in trying to figure out how deeply I want to plan. And how to make the plan strict enough to get us through enough material but still having flexibility for sick days and delight directed learning tangents. And then to top it all off Caitlin is asking more and more each day about letters and numbers. I was hoping to just keep her occupied this year but its looking like she is ready for some actual preschool work. How do I homeschool three kids???? 

Ugh!!

Ok. That was my rant.  I honestly am excited about this coming year and I will post some details of our curriculum choices soon...oh and pics of our new schoolroom which has been moved to be combined with the playroom for more light and space!! 

My pretty planner that I already want to start over cuz I'm not sure about so many things I've marked in it....

Memory verses for the new school year

One of my goals this next year is to make a bigger focus on things of God.  One of the ways I plan on doing that is through Bible verse memorization.  I am making an index card box of memory verses that will be used to rotate through a weekly verse and also review the verses we've already learned using the Charlotte Mason system.  I am really excited about it!  I've compiled a list of verses that I'd like us all to memorize.  I somewhat know most of them, but I'm looking forward to mastering them with the kids.

Here's the list of verses I've chosen :)

Memory Verses

for the

2013-2014 School Year

Week 1  2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Week 2    Joshua 24:15

Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Week 3   Mark 12:30-31

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Week 4  1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Week 5  Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Week 6   1 Timothy 4:7

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Week 7   1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Week 8   Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Week 9   James 3:3-4

If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

Week 10    John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Week 11   Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Week 12   Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Week 13   Acts 16:31

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Week 14   John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Week 15    2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Week 16    Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Week 17    John 20:31

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Week 18    Matthew 15:15-16

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Week 19    Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Week 20    Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Week 21   Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Week 22   Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Week 23    Romans 12:10

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Week 24    Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Week 25    Psalm 34:13

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Week 26    Psalm 118:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Week 27    James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Week 28    1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

Week 29    Psalm 119:9-11

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!  I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Week 30    Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Week 31    Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Week 32    Isaiah 40:28

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Week 33    Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Week 34    Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Week 35    Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Week 36    Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Week 37    Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Week 38    2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Week 39    Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Week 40    2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Week 41    Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Week 42    Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Week 43    Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Week 44    1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Week 45    Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Week 46    Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Week 47   1 Timothy 4:12 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Week 48   Psalm 121: 1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Week 49   Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Week 50    Psalm 1: 1-2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.