Anne of Green Gables

Confession: Book Reports (notice the capitals) scare me. I've never really determined their use in homeschooling - maybe I'm an idiot, but since my kids insist on recounting EVERY book they've read while we are folding laundry (or more commonly, when I am trying to send HFH emails), I sort of figured we were OK. We also do a fair amount of narration and copywork, so I've hoped we were covering our bases.
And then today in Bella's non-homeschool Barnes-and-Noble-on-sale grammar workbook, she had to write a book report. I figured I would let her have at it - and this is what we've got.

Anne of Avonlea

The book Anne of Green Gables is written by a great author named Lucy Maud Montgomery. It's a great book about Anne Shirley whose parents died when she was four. She then gets to stay at someone's house for a few years, then when she turns eleven she goes to an orphanage. She stays there for three months. Then the Cuthberts adopt her! Anne is a very lively girl and is always getting herself into scrapes. Once a little girl named Minnie May got very sick; Anne knew exactly what to do and saved her life! When Anne turned 14 she went to Queens (which is where she learned to teach school). Read this book and share it with a friend.

Not bad! A few homophone issues and puctuation errors in the first draft, but I think she's got it.

Read more...

Why I don't blog anymore...

Read more...

My friend Robin

I know I am LONG overdue for a post, but I wanted to share a few sweet pictures with you. My dear friend Robin Cornett has been taking professional pictures for nearly three years, and we had the chance to get our photos done by her while we were in FL last week. Here is just a sneak preview; for a few more hop over to her blog.

Read more...

Thankful

I wish I could record all of the funny and cute things my kids say. Tonight while daddy was cooking dinner (yes, I am exceedingly and abundantly blessed) we were playing Apples to Apples and generally being silly. We were certainly not in a particularly spiritual frame of mind. As we sat down to dinner, Daddy asked each of us what we are thankful for. Samuel (4 years old) immediately said, "Because we get to see Papa again." Now, I thought he meant Poppy, since we are heading to FL next week to see my parents. So I asked, "when do we get to see Papa again?" Sam: "when we go to heaven." Next, Izaiah said, "I am thankful for the Lord allowing us in a few years to build these cabins out here at Habitat for Hope for families to use. And also I am thankful that Mom and Dad told us we are the most important thing to them, other than God and each other." Then Bella, "I am thankful that we have clean water to drink and food to eat, and for Mom and Dad."
And then it came to me. I just sat there dumbfounded, thinking that I had nothing to say after that. Daddy came to my rescue and said, "Mommy and Daddy are thankful for three amazing children that are such a blessing to us."

I do spend a fair amount of time beating myself up for not doing "enough" with the kids - enough school, enough bible, enough life, etc...feeling like I am pulled in 700 directions. I remarked to Mark recently that I feel sometimes that God is taking the small portions I am able to impart and growing them exponentially in these kids' hearts - and allowing them to develop hearts after faith, service and love for those that can offer nothing in return.

We are thankful.

Read more...