LivingStones Academy 2009-2010

8:00-8:30-CIRCLE TIME
Daily Devotional & memory verse work, English From the Roots Up-Word of the Day, Art/Artist of the week etc. (I'm still building this...but you get these gist)

8:35-9:00-
Pre-K work with AE, the boys will work on their handwriting during this time...kind of warms them up for the day--let's their brains get awake before too much is required. :D

9:05-12:30
ELIJAH: 100 Easy Lessons (halfway done!), 1st Grade Math , Grammar, History will consist of An Island Story , Fifty Famous Stories Retold & Trial & Triumph (these are read alouds...the older two did these two years ago...but will hear them again with Elijah...Elijah will also work with them in their geography & history so that they cross over and learn from each others work)

Nathan & Daniel: Miquon Math , Grammar as listed in Elijah's just their grade levels-also working in Primary Language Lessons & Intermediate Language Lessons, All three boys will be working through Exploring Countries & Cultures .
EDITED TO ADD:
Spelling Power! (LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PROGRAM!)

Lunch 12:30-1:15

1:30-3:00
All will work on keyboarding skills HERE
Math Facts Drills HERE
Spanish with Rosetta Stone

& finishing up any stuff from the a.m. sessions

Edited to Add:
I also use Ambleside Online & Old Fashioned Education as resources to supplement our stuff.

The Enclave--A bloggy book tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Enclave
Bethany House (August 1, 2009)
by
Karen Hancock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Hancock has won Christy Awards for each of her first four novels--Arena and the first three books in the Legends of the Guardian-King series, The Light of Eidon, The Shadow Within, and Shadow over Kiriath. She graduated from the University of Arizona with bachelor's degrees in biology and wildlife biology. Along with writing, she is a semi-professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of national juried shows. She and her family reside in Arizona.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly. The Enclave is characterized by adventure, intrigue, spiritual analogy, and romance, all set in an unusual but fully realized world--one that may have its foundations on earth but which, the more one learns of it, doesn't seem much like the earth we know at all.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Enclave, go HERE

Wanna buy a copy? Go HERE

*****-----*****-----*****

I am currently reading this one. A branch off of my 'usual' reading--but such a good story and I'm really enjoying it, a lot!

Things Left Unspoken--a bloggy book tour

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Things Left Unspoken
Revell (June 1, 2009)
by
Eva Marie Everson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eva Marie Everson taught Old Testament theology for six years at Life Training Center in Longwood, Florida and has written numerous articles for Crosswalk.com (including the acclaimed Falling Into The Bible series), and has had articles featured in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Evangel, Christian Bride, Christian Retailing, The Godly BusinessWoman and Marriage Partnership magazines. Eva Marie has been interviewed by radio, television, newspaper, and Internet media outlets. In 2002Eva Marie was one of six Christian journalists sent to Israel for a special ten-day press tour.

Eva Marie’s work includes the award-winning titles Reflections of God's Holy Land; A Personal Journey Through Israel, Shadow of Dreams, Sex, Lies and the Media, and The Potluck Club series.

She is married, has four children and five grandchildren, and lives in Central Florida.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Every family--and every house--has its secrets. Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family manse in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. And it's the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends.

Beneath the dust and the peeling wallpaper, things are not what they seem, and what Jo-Lynn doesn't know about her family holds just as many surprises. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will her own marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn't sure she wants to know the truth--but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Things Left Unspoken, go HERE

Buy your copy HERE

****I really enjoyed this book. I love the way the story was weaved and the characters were built. I loved the realness of the Southern aspects and how she worked in parts of history into the story. Just a really, good read.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Who Made You a Princess
FaithWords (May 13, 2009)
by
Shelley Adina


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Shelley Adina wrote her first teen novel when she was 13. It was rejected by the literary publisher to whom she sent it, but he did say she knew how to tell a story. That was enough to keep her going through the rest of her adolescence, a career, a move to another country, a B.A. in Literature, an M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, and countless manuscript pages.

Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She writes books about fun and faith--with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes.

The All About Us book series has its own home over on the Hachette website. Stop by and see what the five fabulous girls at Spencer Acadenmy are up to! Series Website.

Her other books in this series includes book one, It's All About Us, oook Two, The Fruit of my Lipstick, and book three, Be Strong & Curvaceous. This present book is book four.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Shani Hanna returns to SpencerAcademy for her senior year after an amazing summer spent with her friends Lissa, Gillian, and Carly. But the best part about summer was meeting Danyel Johnstone. Danyel is cute, smart, cool, and super nice. All Shani has to do is get him to see her as more than just one of the gang.

But when the girls return to school, they find a new addition to the distinguished student body: Prince Rashid al Amir of Yasir, an oil-rich desert kingdom in the Middle East. Prince Rashid moved to California to prepare for an eventual MBA at Stanford...and to romance his future wife: Shani Hanna!

It turns out, Shani's family and the prince's go back for generations, entwined in tradition, obligation, and family honor. In each generation, members of the two families have expanded their business interests through arranged marriage. Will Shani put aside her feelings for Danyel to pursue her family's wishes? Or will God answer her prayers for an intervention?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Who Made You a Princess , go HERE

a lot

that's it

a lot

heh, that pretty much sums up things. I feel like everything, happens, a lot.

I've been researching curriculum and putting together next years stuff, a lot.
I've been working on weeds in my childrens lives, a lot.
I've been working on weeds in my life, and fleshly attitudes within myself, a lot.
I've been working in the garden, a lot.
I've been working on that stinking pool, a lot.
I've been reading a lot.
I've been emotiona, a lot.

a lot.

The curriculum is coming together--I'm still making some decisions, not sure what the final decision will be..but that brings me to my next little blurb. :)

I'm taking the next two weeks to restart. I made my summer goals and I can honestly say that I am not displeased with my progress in all areas--BUT, the last week and a half or so has served to distract enough that I feel like I need to REFOCUS. That is what I plan to do. Two weeks of focused attention on diet, exercise and plans for schooling.

My twin from another mother, Alicia-sent me a delicious journal and I plan to dive into it during this time too.

My mom currently is suffering from shingles--my kiddos were not vaccinated with the chicken pox vaccine and have yet to have them--so I am assuming I will have at least one kiddo come down with that in the next 2 ish weeks...but we'll have to wait and see.

I pulled out "my utmost for his highest'' this weekend. It has always been one of my favorite 'go to' devotionals. I love Oswald. I love how he shares Truth!

I'm scared about a lot of different things. Not scared like, fearful. Just scared of the unknown. I'm thankful that God goes before me.

I'm learning that it's ok to say things are not ok. People don't recoil in horror or surprise when they realize you are having a yucky day.

I love the Psalms. I identify with David, so often.

I was reminded again, that you just never know what people are dealing with today. It's so easy to just assume. I am praying that God keeps me aware. That I stop long enough to really talk and more importantly to listen . I have been so guilty of not doing that.

I pray that this week is a good one for yall! We are half way done with summer. WOW.

four

today she turns four




she loves pink & sparkly
toenail polish
purses
and
shoes



she is high drama
and can turn it on and off like a switch





she has the most animated facial expressions
and the purest heart





she's grumpy upon waking
& loves cinnamon toast





she pushes the cat around in the stroller and craddles it like a baby
she swims like a fish and has no fear





she's a master of the front roll
her ABC's
shapes
colors
and counting

she wants to learn.to.read.


she loves to snuggle
and rub your ear as she falls asleep



she twirls with no regard to who may be watching



she's magic
little miss magic



out of all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
to be blessed with the chance
for her to call me
Momma.



happy birthday, anna-elizabeth
everyday with you is my favorite

Grace that is greater than all my sin [archive dive May 2006]

I yelled.

Today I yelled at my oldest child. I'm not proud of it. And I can say that I am not a yeller in general. Because really, yelling accomplishes nothing. And when someone yells at me...I simply tune them out. So for me I've always worked pretty hard not to be a yeller.

Well all that went by the wayside and I yelled.

And then I cried and felt like poo. I apologized for handling myself wrongly and asked for forgivness and it was given.

Later in the day I must have apologized again or mentioned it. Then as I was tucking him in I apologized again. He kind of sighed and said ''momma you've already apologized three times today. I forgive you''

And at that moment my son modeled Jesus to me, yet again. How often do I go to God and ask forgivness..only to go back and remind him I need forgivness time and time again. And all the while He's saying ''Cheri you've already asked, I've already given it...MOVE ON''

Why do we let our failures consume us? I'm not saying we should just brush it off when we fail. But the fact of the matter is we are human...we are flesh. We are not perfect. We ARE GOING TO FAIL. But the thing is, while failure is assured, wallowing in it is optional.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how blessed I am with these kiddos God has trusted me with.