My Name is Not Heather

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be so many things... a Disney Animator (my name is Walt), an ice skater (my name is Dorothy), a veterinarian (my name is Tracy). Funny how when we really do grow up (at least on the outside), many of us end up in different jobs than we ever would have imagined!

Just last night I was talking about this with my husband to the kids:

"If you had told me when I was 20 that I would have 4 kids and be homeschooling them all - at home - in my pajamas half of the time - when I 'grew up', I would have LAUGHED IN YOUR FACE." I told him (mainly so the kids would know that Mama wasn't always 'mama' - but a tween just like them... wanting to be a big shot in the world).

"Yeah", he said, "I never would have imagined I'd be working in the same field at an 8-5 job, either... I wanted to DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT." He elaborated by describing some things he had dreamed of as being important and 'making a difference' to give examples to the kids who were listening in the back seat.

"What's amazing is... the little things ARE important. Providing for a family - no matter where you work - and teaching and nurturing kids... they are IMPORTANT JOBS. Even if they go un-noticed by the rest of the world." I could tell the kids were thinking about what I said when I looked back at them.

Funny thing about dreams and life... sometimes you find out that God has better dreams than you did.

HOWEVER... some of the really big dreams DO come true. Just look at all the wonderful examples of brave women and men in our past. Astronauts, sharpshooters, political activists, scientists, doctors...

I love reading picture books with the kids - even now that they are older, they still enjoy them, too. It's even more fun since we have added a new fresh mind to the Bee Hive - a 1.5 year old that is itching to be read to (great practice for future teachers and parents).



My Name is Not Isabella is a book about a little girl with big heroes - Elizabeth Blackwell, Marie Curie, Rosa Parks... etc; but the biggest one of all is her Mommy. The artwork (as you can see from this cute video above) is superb and the story line is inspirational - teaching kids that dreaming and pretend is perfectly OK. This book would be a great addition to teaching kids about careers and the importance of being yourself and "reaching for the stars".



You can pick up your own copy of My Name is Not Isabella at any children's book store or on Amazon! It would be a great addition to your home library.

And if you don't mind waiting a while, Sourcebooks is offering a FREE copy of the book to one of our category winners over at the Homeschool Blog Awards! Be sure to participate: nominate your favorite blogger and she or he might get their very own copy of this book for the homeschool kids in their life!



Disclosure: The opinion of the book is my own and was not compensated for. I received a free copy of the book to keep in exchange for my thoughts. Don't take my word for it - pick up a copy and check it out!

Carnival of Homeschooling: School Rooms and the Places We Learn

Welcome to the September 28th, 2010 edition of carnival of homeschooling - the 'School Room' episode in honor of 'where we learn'. If you have been a long-time visitor here, you'll know that I have MOVED a lot over my homeschooling years and I've 'done school' just about everywhere in the houses we have lived in. Some houses have had dedicated school rooms (sometimes frequently used, other times neglected for the kitchen table) and others haven't (read: 2 bedroom apartment living in Arkansas). This post is in no way meant to intimidate or compare - we're all about sharing ideas and bringing you little glimpses in to the homeschool areas of others. Today you get to be a 'fly on the homeschool wall'.

But first....

Just what is a Carnival? A carnival is just a blog post - but it has the fingerprints of many bloggers... links to the best posts of all those who choose to participate, in fact. Anyone who has something to add to the homeschool community - whether informative, uplifting, humorous, or crafty... anyone who has something to say about educating kids in a homeschool friendly way can join in and be a voice in the Carnival of Homeschooling. Each of us has a perspective of value to offer! We all have something wonderfully varied and interesting to add to the homeschool blogosphere. So if you are new to the carnival scene, browse through these posts and read what other homeschoolers have to say... then check out the bottom of this post to see how you can join in (maybe next time?).

School rooms and learning spots...

Perhaps the most famous and well loved school room on the blogosphere - Ann Voskamp's. I am sure she has had more than a dozen homeschool moms beg to come live with her and do school in her hand-crafted, heirloom-sprinkled space.

A Holy Experience
Best Ways to Organize a Homeschool Classroom
Quote: "Education is the atmosphere we breathe, the envelope of wonder that surrounds us, held by the gravity of our daily habits."

The Homeschool Post
The 6th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards
Quote: "While our site brings encouragement and and great parenting and homeschool-related content to the web all year round, we especially enjoy rewarding our fellow community bloggers during the annual awards season. We are partnering with some wonderful homeschool-friendly products and services to bring our winners prizes and introduce the homeschool community to a whole world of excellent blogs. Check out our 4 prize pages and see what the winner loot will be!"

Sage Parnassus
Rain, Passports and Gifts, Oh My!

HSH Mommas
Our Preschool Classroom
Notes: "Crisc shares how she organizes her Preschool Room."

It is funny how school rooms often inspire the decorator to use bright colors! Our school room walls are teal blue - a perfect match for our many wall maps. You can see photos of my school room here (in case you haven't seen it before). We call it our 'underwater school room').

Life with my Giggly Girls
The Story of a School Room
Notes: "A Story of how our friends at IKEA and Got Junk helped us transform our school room that had become a pit of despair."

Home Spun Juggling
Characterizing Learning
Notes: "A look at favorite characters and how they were educated."

A Pilgrims Heart
Weekly Writer Club: A Review
Notes: "Tipping other homeschoolers off on a Weekly Writer Club that makes reluctant writers eager to write. No more tears!"

Everything Home...with Carol
Homeschool Support Groups

Habits for a Happy Home
The Freedom of Frugal Living
Notes: "Every once in a while I need to make fun of myself. See, I’m afraid I’ve become that stereotype. That bread-baking, homeschooling, make-your-own mixes type of mama."

For more great shots of this school room, visit this post (which wasn't included in the carnival... 'All Things Chalkboard'.

HodgePodge
Make Supper at Lunch
Notes: "The secret to survival on 'those' days. There's a yummy meal waiting even if. And besides. And in spite of."

Parent Community and Forum
Make Time for Rhyme

Alasandra's Homeschool Blog
Another Bigoted View of Homeschooling
Notes: "Apparently Jacqueline Espinoza has no clue that homeschoolers belong to homeschool groups, join recreational sports teams, boy/girl scouts, theater groups and other organizations where they interact with their peers on a
regular basis. Nope according to Jacqueline Espinoza we just sit home all day & night never laying eyes on anyone outside our immediate family."

Barbara Frank Online
A Fun New Math Book
Notes: "Review of a math book good for homeschooled kids with or without developmental disabilities."

A Day in the Life
Hints for Combining Resources

You'll notice that no matter what type of room homeschoolers use for school, one thing is certainly similar about them all: BOOKS!

Home is Where You Start From
Our Learning Areas
Notes: "Photos of our learning areas (we don't have a dedicated homeschool room)."

The Thinking Mother
BIC
Notes: "ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother discusses how important the concept of BIC is for learning and content mastery to occur while homeschooling."

Tea Time with Annie Kate
This Week at Home: Frost, Salsa, and the National Parks

School Survival Blog
Free Online Homeschooling
Notes: "How to use online school to supplement homeschooling, and get a normal high school diploma"

Notes From A Homeschooling Mom
What Does an Elementary School Homeschooler Really Need to Know

Another common place for a homeschool spread-out is the kitchen or dining room table. There's nothing like opening the blinds and letting in the sunlight as you tackle the books with ample elbow room! It beats the 'traditional' school desk for sure!

No Ordinary Piece of Clay
My Classroom Tour
Notes: "My small but mighty classroom, it works for us."

Homeschooling Hearts and Minds
Homeschool for FREE: Reading

The Legacy of Home
Supper Time with Precious Helpers

Habits for a Happy Home
The Habit of Working Together

Online College Courses
50 Best Blogs for Linguistics Students

I love natural light - and the view out this window is not shabby, either. When you can't be outside, it's nice to have a little sunshine streaming in to keep things cheery.

Satori Smiles
School Room Week
Notes: "Some of us have a dream setup: a writing center, art corner, nature nook, learning loft, reading room, kraft kitchen and more!"

C h r y s a l i s ღ
NEWS: Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting
Notes: "Celebrating the Adventure. Continuing the Journey."

Two Kid Schoolhouse
Homeschooling parents, please watch your children.
Notes: "A plea to parents."

Spell Out Loud
The Art of Winging It: The Preschool Edition
Notes: "There are seasons in homeschooling where planning is done more on the fly. I've explained how I am successful at looking like I"m winging-it-- but really have a plan."

All over the house - a little in this room, a little in that...

The Kelley Eight
Schoolroom....4th Times A Charm?
Notes: "My quest to find what works for classroom organization."

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Top Ten Homeschool Lunches
Notes: "My family tends to get in a rut with lunches. I've shared our top ten favorites and would love to hear a few of yours!"

PARENT AT THE HELM
SPECIAL REPORT: U.S. Schools Embracing Technology?

Let's Play Math!
Math Project: Measure the Earth
Notes: "Now is a great time to perform Eratosthenes’ experiment of measuring the earth. My homeschool math club did this and came up with a very accurate number---fun!"

DANDELION HOUSE HOMESCHOOL
Busy Hands, BUSY WORK or both?
Notes: "Please join us for adventures in OUR CREATIVE, ECLECTIC AND INTUITIVE homeschooling adventures!"

She says she dreams of schooling in an old schoolhouse... and these lovely barn-wood walls are evidence of her style. I'm in love!

The Faithful Homeschool
Snapshots of Homeschool
Notes: "This post is about where we typically homeschool and how it is not in the traditional way or places... but rather everywhere as needed!"

Crack the Egg
Home Education: 9 Unusual Ways to Share What You Learn

Becoming THAT Family
Home School Answers - What grade are your kids in?
Notes: "This is a question I get asked a lot, even before people know that we home school."

Bachelor Of Science
96 Essential Sites & Blogs for Gifted Homeschoolers
Notes: "Homeschooled children are often ahead of the academic pack when it comes to learning and retaining information. These websites and blogs are aimed at gifted students and give parents ideas for lessons and field trips that will stimulate their gifted homeschooler."

Why Homeschool
A Break Down on the Cost of Higher Education
Notes: "Henry understands a little better why the cost of higher educations has for decades climbed so fast."

Blah, Blah, Blog
Starting the Funschooling Year at the Academy of Sciences

Here's a school room condensed... into a tiny shelf full of clear workboxes. Sometimes I prefer to shove the contents in to a duffel bag and load up the class for some 'carschooling'. Amazingly, a change of scenery often is just what we need to squelch our cabin-fever and motivate the kids to hurry with that dragging math page.

Sprittibee
The WHERE of School
Quote: "When I think of a school 'room', I just think of where to store my books. School can't be confined to a room - learning happens everywhere. Not just at home, either."

Masters in Special Education
Top 20 iPad Apps for Teachers
Notes: "Technology has transformed the classroom, teaching, and learning in general. One of the newest gadgets, the iPad, can be of great use to teachers."

Greg Laden's Blog
What is life? (New Biology Textbook)

Homeschool Bytes
Awesome Free Hovercraft Science Experiment
Notes: "Here is a source of fun free science experiments that helped my kids get excited to learn!"

The Ultimate Guide to Online University Accreditation
Top 20 Most Influential People In Online Learning
Notes: "Online learning is an incredibly important, and growing, field. This is a list of 20 people who have done wonders for distance education."

Heart of the Matter Online
Not Back to School Blog Hop, Week 2: School Room
Notes: "Can't get enough of looking at people's school rooms and finding out where they do most of their learning? Check out this treasure box of schoolroom links!"

I didn't include photos of all the other places learning happens in home schooling. Educating your kids is a way of life rather than a room inside of a house where you store your academic manipulatives and books. In the past three years our homeschool family have been through a dozen states on road trips (or more), toured and field tripped at numerous wonderful sites in off-peak traffic, learned the joys (and life-skills) of bringing another little person in to the world and caring for them (a lesson you can't get anywhere but at home)... and much more. None of these things were ever confined to a room in our house - but rather happened as we journeyed along the way. One of the best things about home education is that it is a moving, living, breathing way of life... outside of the box... built on a relationship between parent and child. Our school rooms are wonderful places where we can extend our personality and learn organizational skills - to be good stewards of our resources and blessings... but the learning continues where-ever we go!



Quick Links from Why Homeschool about the Carnival:

Submissions for CoH
CoH Archive
CoH Schedule

CREDITS:
Photos of school rooms were emailed to me by the bloggers listed on the pictures. Two of them were 'stolen' because I couldn't resist taking them. I have given proper credit through links (see below each photo for their entry).


Subscribe to Sprittibee by Email

A New History Program, a Weekend Recap, and a Swap Gift

SWAPPING IS FUN
My swap present this month (photo above)... and its contents:
2 very sweet tiny baby blankets for my baby bees
DARK GREEK CHOCOLATE (oh, my!)
UT Pez dispenser
Weekly Menu chart (framed behind glass for easy re-use with an Expo!)
Expo marker
Ring pops for the kids
Silly string for the kids (they loved this)
I did mention DARK GREEK CHOCOLATE, right? What am I to do when it is gone???

Thank you, Cheryl!

WEEKEND RECAP
Here's my weekend in a nutshell:

- I HAVE been blogging - just not HERE. Mostly I have been handling the back end stuff over at the Homeschool Post (and I usually am the one who does the Friday A B See Meme over there - which is really a fun alphabetical picture group).

- Computer angst. It isn't a good time EVER for me to have computer problems. I use my computer for everything (including school/blogging/communicating with our homeschool group/appointments/lists/getting the news, etc). However, as most VISTA-INFECTED laptops do, mine has been melting down for quite some time now... and this weekend we finally had plans to 'fix' it. I'm sure you can imagine my shock when we discovered that mama's book bag containing the software for this venture was some 300 miles behind us (on our staircase landing). So, my data is on my external drive and my laptop is still waiting for my Geek husband's axe. No time this week for that sort of thing in the middle of a school and 'work' week... it will have to wait until next weekend!

- Play practice. Our whole family on stage in the summer heat. Thankfully the cold fronts (which amount to about 5 degrees difference here in Texas) are on their way before our production at church.

- More doctor visits for more tests for my daughter's back. This time they are testing for kidney trouble. Awaiting those results still and trying not to be upset that it is 8:07 AM and the office has surely been open for the past 7 minutes (that's long enough for a phone call to a worried mama).

- Nearly losing the 13 year old to the Xbox permanently. Last night he was so excited after we unpacked our suitcases that he was told he could go play, he got careless on the stairs and careened down them on his butt and back. We were terrified when he couldn't move or breathe for a brief moment. After a bit he was up and going again, but we made him sit with an ice pack and take ibuprofen. Now we have 2 kids with back pain and mama's neck and shoulders are so tight that I might need chiropractic help as well.

- Enjoyable time with grandparents. Eating way too much good food (they like to fatten us up), swimming in Grandma Betty's pool (a last goodbye to summer), getting fun presents (glow in the dark bracelets are amazing baby toys for evening drives), and reveling in cable TV and time to do absolutely NOTHING on the couch (you can't beat it).

THE BEEHIVE GEARS UP FOR THE BUZZ
Now our busy week is beginning... doctor visits, the Homeschool Carnival (tonight for me, tomorrow for you), meeting up with a wonderful blogging friend that I admire for a Thursday lunch out, making of menu plans and trying to shop the pantry and not spend any money this week, more planning on the Relevant trip and prayers that the funds come in to stop my skeptic husband from raining on our parade, making history notebooks, putting P-touch labels all over our world, Boy Scout meetings, extra laundry from the weekend, more unpacking, and lamenting over the fact that we can't afford a maid to come help whip this house in to shape... How about you? Do you have a busy week ahead?

Hang in there... one prayer at a time it will all fall in to place.

THE MYSTERY ABOUT OUR HISTORY PROGRAM
And now this brings me to my History dilemma. Last year we were creating our own history plan with a co-op friend and it fizzled out. I couldn't keep on top of the planning and we ended up just reading for history. I wanted a curriculum that was more put together this year - but one that still allows for 'add-ons' since we love them so, and had heard about Mystery of History from a friend who is a history buff (and I think she either minored or majored in it at college as well - so she knows her stuff) told me that MOH was the best of the best. After purchasing a used copy of the Volume 1 (which we are sadly still struggling through - lost somewhere in Ancient Egypt), I discovered that it seems to be perfectly on course with what I was already torturing myself to plan... and her worldview and style is a perfect fit as well. The older kid activities I have seen in the first few lessons seem very deep and thought provoking... BUT.

A friend of mine in our local co-op told me she used to use MOH and switched to Tapestry of Grace for history because it had more meat for older kids (and more church history). She said she didn't think that MOH would be challenging enough for my kids for high school. My curriculum rush I was on vanished and I started reading as many online reviews as I could find. I discovered a note on the publisher's site telling that MOH can be used for high school with additional reading and writing added in 'to make up the hours'. In Texas we don't have hour requirements, but we "ain't no sissies, either." I want my kids to be taking a course that will challenge them and be the very best history course they can take.

That's where YOU come in. I'm at that funny stage in homeschooling where your 'elementary' kids become 'tweenagers' and are quickly becoming 'young adults'. The teacher must change all she knows to accommodate this new capability in her students. Linda Hobar is right when she says that lesson planning, grading and record keeping must vastly INCREASE as a child ages and mom steps back to allow more self-guided teaching and responsibility in the student. Lesson plans are easy for little kids. Not so much with the bigger set. I'm right in the middle of the crosshairs on Linda's teaching map... one line going up (the teacher's work in planning) and one line going down (the teacher's involvement). It makes an old homeschool teacher feel like she needs to learn new tricks - and that is quite painful.

I'd love to hear from someone out there who has tried Mystery of History with older kids - to hear your opinion of it in general - and to get suggestions or tips. It looks like a great program from my initial review and reading through it over the weekend.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Next Week's Homeschool Carnival: A Schoolroom Showcase

I love seeing people's school rooms. I figure most other homeschool moms are the same... so next week when it is my turn to host the Carnival of Homeschooling, I'll be taking submissions not only for great articles you have posted on your blogs so I can link them here... but also PHOTOS of your school rooms. I'll be sure to credit you with a link back to your blog or school room post under each photo.

My school room is still blue - still mappy ... but much more of a mess lately. Hopefully we'll get a chance to clean it up after we work through our workboxes today.

I can't wait to see your school rooms!

Here's how you can enter a post and photo for the Carnival of Homeschooling:

URL of post (example: http://yourblog.com/yourpost)
Name of post (example: A Typical Homeschool Day at Our House)
Name of author
Name of blog
Summary of Post (example: Heather shares the good, the bad and the ugly about a 'Typical Homeschool Day at Her House')
Photo (attach picture to email - best if photo is 475 pixels across, but I can resize for you if you don't know how)

Email your submissions to: carnivalofhomeschooling@gmail.com

Brownie points goes to everyone who gets their submissions in BEFORE next Monday! The cut off time is Monday evening at 6pm, I think. However, I'm going to start working on it at 5pm and try to get it done before bed that night! I can't afford an all-nighter with a 1 year old to tend to. Or maybe I'm just getting older? Stranger things have happened, I'm sure.

Finding Peace and Joy in the BUSY

It has been so crazy this week that I have been meeting myself coming and going. It would be easy to freak out ... but with prayer and focus on relationship rather than the detour our schedule has been taking, I'm holding on.

We've had:
scoliosis screening xrays
OBGYN appointments
photography orders
chats online
oil changes at Wal-Mart
bird poop on my son's head
leaky diaper incidents in public
chronic pain and a kid on the couch in tears
bills to pay
schedules we've been behind on because of our busyness

But we've also had smiles, laughs, hugs, and the BEST burger, shake and fries in the galaxy (a treat because my kids got such amazing compliments from a total stranger at the doctor's office - she said she had 'never seen anything like how well behaved they were - all three of them'... so I promised them a shake with lunch!).

You have to give yourself pats on the back and not dwell on everything that hasn't gotten done... or you'll go crazy (trust me on this).

Every time I have sat down to the computer for the last few days, I have been putting out fires in email, doing work for the Homeschool Blog Awards, handling our family's paperwork and finances or ordering pictures for my photography client. I was up until 1:30am last night getting her order in and there was NO WAY I was going to blog after that.

It is funny how you say things like "I can't wait until things slow down and I have time to relax"... but life keeps marching on at light speed. I'm guilty of that. And then there's fall... the busy time of the year with one holiday stacked on top of the next and school in full swing. I don't want life to slow down, really - I just want to be able to not DROWN in all the busy moments. I'm constantly seeking God's peace and calm every day - all day.

I pray that same peace for you. It is a true treasure.

Now we're off to grab a Subway Sandwich with Chickie before she leaves to teach piano... and maybe when the baby goes down for his nap we'll curl up on the couch and try to enjoy some reading together (my favorite part of homeschool) while mama folds about 7 loads of laundry (fun, fun).

I hope you find the simple joys in your busy days... and calm in your crazy!

I'll be Chatting at The Motherhood today at 11 Central - about Pregnancy & Motherhood

Check out this email from The Motherhood and join me at 11am!

New and expectant moms!!!!

At noon ET TODAY in TheMotherhood, we're sharing our tips, tricks and words of wisdom - everything we wish we'd known early on when we had our babies.

Everyone is welcome! Even if your baby days are behind you - come give the best gift a new mom could ever receive - our most treasured words of wisdom.

Date and Time: TODAY, Monday, at noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT) here in TheMotherhoood: http://themotherhood.com/talk/show/id/62065

Sponsor: The Talk is sponsored by Philips AVENT who is giving away an AVENT gift basket to a lucky participant.

Hosting the conversation: Dr Jen Trachtenberg, pediatrician and attending physician at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City

Co-hosting are these wonderful mom bloggers:

Aracely Worley aka Daytripping Mom

Beth Knudsvig aka Anti-Supermom

Casey Mullins aka Moosh in Indy

Christine Koh aka Boston Mamas

Heather aka Sprittibee

Jenna Gaskill aka A Mom's Balancing Act

Jennifer Bullock aka MommyB Knows Best

Jenny Rapson aka Mommin' It Up

Tricia Callahan aka Once A Month Mom

Victoria Mason aka The Mummy Chronicles

Location: Noon ET in TheMotherhood.com: http://themotherhood.com/talk/show/id/62065

The chat is all text (no phone or video). Join the conversation or just read along.

Any friends who are pregnant or new moms, send them our way!!!!! We would really LOVE to see you all there!!!!

Cooper & Emily

Co-Founders
TheMotherhood.com

P.S. On Twitter, the hashtag is #TheMotherhood.

J is for Joy

I pray you have JOY in your homeschool and household today!

More info about this alphabetical photo meme is below...

Join up for the Homeschool Post has A B See Meme (an alphabetical photo meme) for a chance to win a prize each month. Each week they put FIVE of the best alphabet pictures on their blog each week to showcase them and once a month, a random winner is selected from the best photos of the month. All you do is upload your photos to their Flickr Group - so you don't even technically have to be a blogger to join... you just have to have an alphabetical themed photo and a flickr account! By the way, flickr is free!



The meme is posted on Fridays each week and you don't necessarily have to start on the letter A or go in any particular order or at any particular speed... and you can skip weeks or not - up to you entirely.

Here are the links to the past few 'A B See' posts I have done here:
A is for antique.
B is for bugging big-sis.
C is for computer.
D is for digger.
E is for eat... and Elmers.
F is for fried rice.
G is for goofy girl.
H is for Heather.
I is for insect.

Tip: Use the dictionary to get ideas if you are stumped on a letter. No excuses! Get clicking!

You have until Friday morning (early) to load your picture on the Flickr group and be considered for the top five that will be displayed next week. This month's prize will be given out tomorrow!

Getting ALL the WAY to Relevant

30 Days Away from Relevant! The clock is ticking!

Only ONE month away from Relevant and I have to say that although we are still a little MORE than half way from our financial goal so that we can get there... I'm amazed at the progress thus far. I never imagined that we would have a wonderful (FREE) Chevy lease vehicle for two weeks - courtesy of GM Texas! I never imagined that I would have so many great sponsors and friends donate to the pot. I almost saw this trip as impossible from the get-go, honestly... and now, I see it falling in to place.

Thank you Ann Voskamp for believing FOR me that it was possible! I never would have even tried if you had not encouraged me.

I have to admit I'm a little nervous, but I am continuing to pray that God will make a way - and I see no reason to believe he won't.

Why?

I got a call from GM Texas today and they just wanted me to know that they will be delivering the vehicle to my very own driveway before the trip. I've had some unexpected ad revenue from great businesses, and I've been asked to take some more family portraits by a dear friend. Every little penny in the pot is one wheel's turn closer to our goal. For a family that never vacations together other than visiting family in Texas, this trip is a BIG DEAL.

SO... I just wanted to thank my sponsors again and share once more a little about the trip for those who are just tuning in:



Relevant is a blog conference for Christian blogging moms. Their motto is "Blessing My Family, Engaging the World".... and "Real. Intentional. Blogging." Really, it is about connecting mom bloggers and like-minded businesses, refreshing the purpose and vision of your online 'job', building blogging/writing/business skills, and teaching technical skills to bloggers so they can grow their web presence. I'll be honest, I'm heavy on the connecting and refreshing part, myself. That and the meeting of invisible friends part... which I guess you could put under 'connecting'. It is strange to be in a community of people that are tight and loyal - and yet not know them face to face (unless you count a dime-sized twitter avatar as a face?).

The other portion of this trip is the DC part for my kids. I have never been on the East Coast - just the West, so I've never seen DC. My husband spent a lot of time in DC as a teen because his father lived in Virginia for a while. He really wanted our children to have this 'American' field trip - to see the museums and historical places in DC that are so important to our nation. Thankfully for us, most of this part of the trip will be free except for transportation and lodging, I hear. I've written in to the budget to give us a day or two in DC (even though he has informed me there's NO WAY you can 'see DC in two days'). Sorry, sweetie - the trip must move onward.

QUICK FACTS:
- This trip from Austin to DC to Hershey, PA and back is going to be over 3400 miles... and over a week long (that's a lot of time in the car - pray for my "point-A-to-point-B" husband, please).
- We'll be staying with as many friends as will house us on the way up and back and inviting ourselves over for dinner, too. All in the name of saving money, eating healthier (deer meat anyone? Can't wait, Teresa!), and visiting our geographically distant buddies!
- My kids are as excited about the trip as I am (they are even begging me to let them sell candy at church to raise money - my poor church friends!)
- I already have my ticket and my #ChevySweetRIDE (hashtag to follow on twitter)... I'm just raising money for the gas/lodging/food and possibly coffee, maps, snacks and DC transportation fees.

Here's the Money Breakdown:
Gasoline: 1,200$ (as long as the prices stay steady)
Hotel: 500 (hoping we can keep it that low)
Food: 550 (for 10 days, includes 180 for groceries and eating out some meals, my meals at conf. covered)
DC Sight-Seeing/Misc.: 150




I'm over half way there!

How You can Help
Are you interested in helping me get to DC and Hershey? Want to 'sponsor' a cup of Starbucks or a few of the 3,400 miles on our long journey? You can click my donate button and drop some coins in the tip can...

Are you a sponsor that is looking for a blogger to partner with to get your business more press on the web? You can email me and request a sponsorship kit so I can share with you the packages I have set aside for those who wish to advertise here on my blog to promote their products and websites.

I can't wait to see the little ticker car reach it's destination ... so that we can all hop in our shiny Chevy and head out on the road!




Thank you to my Sponsors for Relevant:

@ GMTexas

Indiana Wesleyan University

Illusionism.TV

MyFavoritePal.com

Amy Loves It!

Math-U-See

Moneysavingmom.com

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

A Woman Inspired Conference

Pix-O-Sphere - The Family Friendly Photo Community

The HomeSpun Life

The Cutest Chaos

Layton Family Joy

My Home Sweet Home

My Previous Relevant Posts:
The Relevant 2010 Family Field Trip of the Year
Really Expensive Rambling Road to Relevant
Some Crazy Good Things (about Chevy's offer to lease us the vehicle)

Inching Ahead...

In these crazy days of busy lists, there's always this - the sleepy baby inchworm making us marvel and treasure naptime. Naptime is golden. It is our 'sweet spot' of the day... when all of us can focus entirely on the 'most important thing' of the moment.

Today it is just as busy as ever... and yesterday was 'too much computer' day (I worked hard all day on graphics, page updates, PR, and posts for the 2010 Homeschool Blog Awards instead of focusing on homeschool - so I'm having to make it up today in a huge way!).

By the way, the winner of the movie was Gwen. I already contacted her. Sorry I didn't have a post up about it sooner. The random.org number was comment #13.

I've got some fun reviews and more give-aways coming up later this week... and hopefully a few more installments on the series posts I'm working on. But first we must focus on Academics before we post about it... and that's what I'm up to today.



Stop over at the Homeschool Post today and bookmark the 2010 Awards Page before you go! That's one post you'll want to keep handy for a while.

Multitude Monday

I have this 80-mile list of things I need to be posting in here, but lately I have hardly any time to even sit down and check email. The GOOD thing is, my desk has been staying clean, the laundry is always in motion (meaning that the monstrous piles are no longer threatening to consume us), and we have actually been staying pretty much on top of the chores and school. We even made it to THREE appointments last week for our school year without missing them because I actually was using my day-planner as it is intended. [If you don't open your calendar, what's the use of having one, right?]

I've been in a pat myself on the back mode, but honestly, I can't take credit for any of our successes. God has been really working FOR us through our prayers and the desires of our hearts as we seek to honor Him.

Today (right smack in the middle of my huge to-do list and our busy homeschool day) I just want to count my blessings. I am feeling really blessed.

Here are a few of the things I'm thankful for (added to my previously started list):

41 - a fledgeling photography business... The promise of beautiful pictures and loving my 'job'.

42 - orange and black in the 'Flyway' - making their way to Mexico... the king of Butterflies makes the annual journey again.



43 - Boy Scouts ... watching my husband lead his son and my son grow in to a man [please, no hurry!]

44 - hints of winter blowing in with needed thunder-storms. sweaters and long sleeves in the closet awaiting animation.

45 - big dreams of long road trips... hoping and wishing and planning for them to begin.

46 - tiny moving limbs inside my womb, anticipating the first glance, the first touch, the first smile of someone new in our hearts, lives, home.

47 - progress in the chaos of homemaking and homeschooling... pages turned, lessons learned, chores done.

48 - date night with my beloved, and the fact that he would watch a 'chick-flick' without hessitation [he really does love me!]

49 - new school supplies and curriculum

50 - parents that bless us beyond measure by their love, example and gifts [grandparents that adore my children]



51 - the baby's new words, a new one appearing every day as he learns to communicate

52 - lists being checked off

53 - homeschool friends - the children's friends and mine



54 - golden afternoon sunlight and perfect spots to take pictures






Join me at Ann Voskamp's Gratitude Community and count your blessings on your own blog each 'Multitude Monday'. Discover how she 'unwraps beauty' in the commonplace on her blog, "A Holy Experience".

What are you thankful for?