The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Christmas Day 2011

(Don't ask me what Delani is doing, but I have given up getting a decent picture of her!)

In my life this week…
It has been a pretty relaxing week. I took a couple of morning and lingered in bed reading. I had intended to work on some sewing, but ended up working on cleaning up my sewing table instead. I don't feel too bad since it had to be done. I also cleaned out my daughter's closet of too small clothes. I took somethings to Goodwill and have a box to go to the resale shop this coming week. Delani came down with a cold Christmas Day and I succumbed Friday evening so I went to bed.

In our homeschool this week…
The kids did absolutely nothing! I did read a few extra chapter of The Children of the New Forest so we could cut down our weekly reading amount from three chapters to two.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Children are the living messages we send to a time...we will not see. -John W. Whitehead

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We had friends over Monday for a movie afternoon and evening. Other than that we stayed around the house.

Things I’m working on…
I have some sewing projects that I need to get finished this week so I'll be busy and I also need to sit down and write out some goals I want to accomplish for this coming year.

I’m reading & read…


I’m cooking…
Another pot of gumbo since I had so much rice left over from our Christmas Eve dinner.

I’m grateful for…
God's blessings!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
A song that has really meant a lot to me this year.





See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

Book Read in 2011

My final tally for overall books read in 2011 was 170 with 22 of them being audio books. I read 120 fiction books and 50 non-fiction books.  Last year I read 60 non-fiction books so I was down this year. I've really been trying to focus on more non-fiction, but as you can see I prefer fiction. In my Bible, I read the books of Isaiah through Revelation.

Here is the list of titles read in 2011:

Fiction: (120)
Act Two - Kimberly Stuart
Adam of the Road - Elizabeth Janet Gray
Against the Wind - Brock & Bodie Thoene
Along Came a Dog - Meindert Dejong
The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
The Anonymous Bride - Vickie McDonough
Anthem for Doomed Youth - Carola Dunn
Balancing Act - Kimberly Stuart
Beyond All Measure - Dorothy Love
Black Radishes - Susan Lynn Meyer
Black Ship - Carola Dunn
Bless this Mouse - Lois Lenski (audio)
The Bloody Tower - Carola Dunn
Blue Skies Tomorrow - Sarah Sundin
Bottom Line - Kimberly Stuart
Brighty of the Grand Canyon - Marguerite Henry
Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson (audio)
A Corpse at St. Andrews Chapel - Mel Starr
Cotillion - Georgette Heyer
The Crocodile's Last Embrace - Suzanne Arruda
The Dashwood Sisters Tell All - Beth Pattillo
Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey (audio)
Devil's Cub - Georgette Heyer
The Door in the Wall - Marguerite De Angeli
The Doctor's Sweetheart - L.M. Montgomery
The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
Everything's Coming Up Josey - Susan May Warren
Fair Weather - Richard Peck (audio)
The Family Collection - Enid Blyton
The Final Storm - Jeff Shaara (audio)
Finding Stephanie - Susan May Warren
Finally a Bride - Vickie McDonough
Five Children and It - E. Nesbit
Forge - Laurie Halse Anderson (audio)
Fourth Dawn - Brock & Bodie Thoene (audio)
The Girl in the Gatehouse - Julie Klassen
Heart of Lies - Jill Marie Landis
The Help - Kathryn Stockett (audio)
Heiress - Susan May Warren
Home for the Holidays - Heather Vogel Frederick
A Hope Undaunted - Julie Lessman
An Infamous Army - Georgette Heyer
An Irish Country Courtship - Patrick Taylor
Jo's Boys - Louisa May Alcott (audio)
Kingdom's Dawn - Chuck Black
The Leopard's Prey - Suzanne Arruda
A Lesson in Secrets - Jacqueline Winspear (audio)
Letters from Home - Kristina McMorris
Licensed for Trouble - Susan May Warren
Little Men - Louisa May Alcott (audio)
The Little White Horse - Elizabeth Goudge
The Little Women Letters - Gabrielle Donnealy
Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington - Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss
Lumby On the Air - Gail Fraser
Magic or Not? - Edward Eager
Mark of the Lion - Suzanne Arruda
Mary Poppins - P.L. Travers
A Memory Between Us - Sarah Sundin
Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle - Ann B. Ross
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart - Beth Patillo
Mrs. Pollifax on Safari - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
My Foolish Heart - Susan May Warren
Nightingale - Susan May Warren
No Fear Shakespeare-Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare
No Fear Shakespeare - Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare
No Holly for Miss Quinn - Miss Read
The Nonesuch - Georgette Heyer
Operation Bonnet - Kimberly Stuart
Otto of the Silver Hand - Howard Pyle
Out of Control - Mary Connealy
A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gillman (audio)
Paper Roses - Amanda Cabot
Pearl in the Sand - Tessa Afshar
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette - Jeanne Birdsall
The Phoenix and the Carpet - E. Nesbit
The Preacher's Bride - Jody Hedlund
Reclaiming Nick - Susan May Warren
A Reluctant Queen - Joan Wolf
Restless in Carolina - Tamara Leigh
Rugged and Relentless - Kelly Eileen Hake
The Sandy Bottom Orchestra - Garisson Keillor
Second Chance Brides - Vickie McDonough
Second Touch - Brock & Bodie Thoene (audio)
Secrets at Sea - Richard Peck
Secrets of the Heart - Jillian Kent
The Serpent's Daughter - Suzanne Arruda
Seven-Day Magic - Edward Eager
Sharpshooter in Petticoats - Mary Connealy
Sheer Folly - Carola Dunn
She Walks in Beauty - Siri Mitchell
Stars Collide - Janice Thompson
Surrender the Heart - MaryLu Tyndall
Surrender the Night - MaryLu Tyndall
The Tale of Castle Cottage - Susan Wittig Albert
Taming Rafe - Susan May Warren
A Tangled Web - L.M. Montgomery
These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer
War Horse - Michael Morpurgo
The Wheel on the School - Meindert DeJong
Third Watch - Brock & Bodie Thoene (audio)
Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber (audio)
Treasure of the Golden Cheetah - Suzanne Arruda
Treasures of the Snow - Patricia St. John (audio)
Uncertain Heart - Andrea Boeshaar
Unexpected Love - Andrea Boesharr
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax - Dorothy Gilman (audio)
The Unquiet Bones - Mel Starr
Unwilling Warrior - Andrea Boeshaar
The Vigilante's Bride - Yvonne Harris
War Horse - Michael Morpurgo
The Wedding Caper - Janice Thompson
The Wednesday Wars - Gary D. Schmidt
The Well-Wishers - Edward Eager
Wildflowers of Terezin - Robert Elmer
William's Midsummer Dreams - Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Wind Blows Free - Loula Grace Erdman
The Year Money Grew On Trees - Aaron Hawkins
Young Men in Spats - P.G. Wodehouse

Non-Fiction: (50)
401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home - Bonnie McCullough & Susan Monson
Belles on Their Toes - Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Boys Passage, Man's Journey - Brian D. Molitor
Building a Winning Curriculum - Dorys Lee Horn
The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters - Andy Andrews
A Circle of Quiet - Madeleine L'engle
Clutter Rehab - Laura Wittmann
Creative Correction - Lisa Whelchel
A Cure for the Troubled Heart - Ron Mehl
Diary of Provincial Lady - E.M. Delafield
Don't Make Me Come Up There! - Kristen Welch
The Egg and I - Betty Macdonald
The Forgotten God - Francis Chan
Goodbye is not Forever - Amy George
Gospel-Powered Parenting - William P. Farley
Heavenly Hospitality - JoAnn Janssen
Howard's End is on the Landing - Susan Hill
How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One - Stanley Fish
Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime - Judy Christie
Joyful Momma's Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households - Kimberly Eddy
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School - Kathleen Flinn
Large Family Logistics - Kim Brenneman
Lessons at Blackberry Inn - Karen Andreola
Made to Crave - Lysa TerKeurst
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends - Sarah Mally
Me, Myself, & Bob - Phil Vischer
Mom's Ultimate Guide to the Tween Girl World - Nancy Rue
My Reading Life - Pat Conroy
Notes to Aspiring Writier - Brooke McGlothlin
The One-Minute Organizer - Donna Smallin
One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voskamp
Peacemaking for Families - Ken Sande
The Pen Commandments - Steven Frank
Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey - Joanie Demer & Heather Wheeler
A Positive Plan for Creating More Calm, Less Stress - Karol Ladd
Profiles of Pentecostal Missionaries - Mary Wallace
The QBQ!: The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller
Raising a Modern-Day Knight - Robert Lewis
Raising a Modern-Day Princess - Pam Farrel & Doreen Hanna
Raising Real Men - Hal & Melanie Young
Read for the Heart - Sarah Clarkson
She's Gonna Blow! - Julie Ann Barnhill
Sixpence House - Paul Collins
Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl - Dannah Gresh
Same Kind of Different As Me - Ron Hall & Denver Moore
Spiritual Parenting - Michelle Anthony
Today Matters - John Maxwell (book & audio)
Vintage Notions - Amy Barickman
Warrior Prayers - Brooke McGlothlin
What Mary & Joseph Knew About Parenting - Rick Osborne

Top Reads for 2011

Here is my top reads that I read for 2011. I have divided them by fiction and non-fiction, other than that they are listed in no particular order.

Non-fiction

1. Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill (review)

I enjoy reading stories about books and this one was a fun read. It also made me think about how I really need to read what I have in my own house, even though that wasn't the authors intent.

2. Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in your Girl by Dannah Gresh (review)

I read several books this year about mother/daughter relationships during the tween and teen years and I have to say that this book was my favorite. I loved the focus on building a relationship with your daughter.

3. Today Matters by John Maxwell (review)

I was really encouraged to make 'today matter'! There was so much in this book to digest that I need to go back and re-read it again.

4. She's Gonna Blow by Julie Ann Barnhill

Okay, this book really, really made me think and cry and pray and repent! It was also like a cool breeze that refreshes. This is written by someone who has been there and done that and offers encouragement to moms, especially when you royally blow it.

5. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

At first I found the writing style quite different, but was soon drawn into Ann's journey of learning to be thankful. A great reminder of the importance of thankfulness and the difference it can make in a person's life.

Fiction

1. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall (review)

I love the Penderwicks!

2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I listened to this on audio and it was really hard to turn it off when I needed to. This was such a captivating story. This story stayed with me a long time after finishing it and gave me much food for thought. Though I have to admit that as much as I loved this story, I hated the ending!

3. The Final Storm by Jeff Shaara

This was the final book in the Novel of World War II Series and I wasn't disappointed. Shaara does an excellent job of writing a historical novel.

4. Little Men by Lousia May Alcott (review)

This was another book I listened to and also a re-read from long ago. I loved all the creative ways Jo dealt with her 'little men and women' and was inspired by her mothering techniques.

5. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

I absolutely loved this book. You know how you have always read about Richard III and how wicked he was--he even had his nephews killed, right? Well, what if that wasn't the case? Jospehine Tey present a total different case about the wicked Richard III. A truly fascinating read!

What's On Your Nightstand - December

For January:


Since my parents will be visiting I know I won't be doing as much reading. And yes, I am still reading Educating the WholeHearted Child , which I listed last month, but I am having to read this in little snatches so it will take me awhile to get through it.

From my November post I read:
Boy's Passage, Man's Journey by Brian D. Molitor
A Corpse at St. Andrew's Chapel: The Second Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon (Hugh De Singleton 2) by Mel Starr
Home for the Holidays (Mother Daughter Book Club) by Heather Vogel Frederick
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
Sixpence House by Paul Collins

I also read:
The Tale of Castle Cottage (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter) by Susan Wittig Albert
The Kitchen Counter Cooking School: How a Few Simple Lessons Transformed Nine Culinary Novices into Fearless Home Cooks by Kathleen Flinn
Profiles of Pentecostal Missionaries by Mary Wallace
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Restless in Carolina: A Novel (Southern Discomfort) by Tamara Leigh
A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf

I listened to:
Bless this Mouse by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station by Dorothy Gilman

I am currently reading:
Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

See other's Nightstands over at 5minutesforbooks.com

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



No Holly for Miss Quinn (The Fairacre Series #12) by Miss Read

Miriam was secretly amused. If her friends could have seen the meal she had assembled, fish fingers, instant potatoes, tinned beans, and bottled tomato sauce, followed by the bought fruit pie, her standing as a first-class cook would have taken a jolt.  p. 92

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 19-23, 2011

Enjoying a Wendy's Frosty!

In my life this week…
Being that Christmas was this week I was extremely busy getting those last minute gifts taken care of, getting all of my baking done and finding some extra time to read and do crafts!

In our homeschool this week…
We took the week off, though I am reading ahead in The Children of the New Forest to Destini and Chantry to help get the book finished by the end of Term 2.

Destini and Caleb had a few thing unfinished from last week so it took quite a bit of nagging encouragement to get them to finish!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
On Monday I took the kids out to do their Christmas shopping. We made a day of it and had lunch at Wendy's, which was a big hit. I had to take the boys back out Wednesday morning to look for that elusive gift that Destini wanted. We never did find it so the boys settled on different gift instead of running all over looking for it.

On Friday, we went to a "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" Birthday Party hosted by our homeschool group. The kids had fun playing with their friends.

My favorite thing this week was…
Spending a relatively relaxing week with my family.

Things I’m working on…
I made a pillowcase and also started working on a jumper for a present for Delani.

I’m reading…


I’m cooking…
Apple bars, pumpkin rolls, Turtle Rollo Candy, & Gumbo.

I’m grateful for…
The birth of Jesus Christ!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Here is Delani singing her first solo in church last Sunday.

See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

Merry Christmas!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 12-16, 2011

In my life this week…This was a busy week.
-On Monday evening I found out we were going to have a White Elephant gift exchange at the couple's night for my homeschool group. So I scrounged around and decided to make An Apron in an Hour and include a Taste of Home Magazine.
-Tuesday we attended the couple's night and had a great time. Caleb's 16th birthday was Wednesday so we went to Famous Dave's for dinner and then quickly went home to have a small party for him for friends and family.
-Thursday evening I decorated some towels and made another hour apron for a Christmas gift for Caleb's tutor to give on Friday.
-Friday evening was spent running errands to prepare for our church's annual Christmas get together on Saturday.

In our homeschool this week…We work diligently on school work so we can have the next two weeks off. One year I am going to be so organized and start school early enough that we can fit in three weeks off.

Caleb finished his Geography book, How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger
and started Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.

Destini and Chantry are enjoying Exploring Creation with Zoology 2. I bought the Jr. Journal for Chantry to use, then I began to question the wisdom of this and wondered if I should hold off for another year. I am happy to say that so far it has been a success. He seems to enjoy it and has done it without complaining. We have only used the notebook part so far.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…The three oldest kids had dentist appointments on Tuesday and Caleb had his writing tutoring on Friday.

My favorite thing this week was…Caleb's birthday. We presented him with a toolbox and likened the different tools to his walk with God. Both of his papas gave him one of their own personal tools with a scripture to add to his tool box.

Things I’m working on…I have been getting presents wrapped and I was actually able to sew. The house has been extremely cleaned with two events in one week.

I’m reading…


I’m cooking…Chocolate Cake and Rolo Pretzel Turtles.


I’m grateful for…My oldest son, Caleb! He is such a blessing and turning into a fine young man.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…Here are the aprons and the towels that I made and decorated.

From Blogger Pictures

See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.