Romans 8:28

Illness couldn't have struck at a better time for homeschool since last week was merely review of the prior three weeks. We did some art projects but mostly piled up on the rocker or couch watching Tom and Jerry while eating popsicles. Creed still has a cough now and then, but no longer sounds like a baby seal, which makes mama's heart super happy.

colors of the week, red and blue

fine motor skill practice

This morning we started exercising Creed's fine motor skills, cutting paper into pieces for our rainbow art project, that also doubles as using this week's colors blue and red. He opted for red mostly, which he identifies as his favorite color. While three and four-year-olds have the skills needed to snip and cut, scissor skills aren't fully developed until around age six. Tearing paper improves the ability to use both hands in a coordinated manner, also part of our curriculum this week. Using a hole punch on index cards with a handheld puncher strengthens hand muscles and improves bilateral skills. We will be practicing this using a star puncher to make our stars for Day 4 Creation, catch-up, from last week.

Day 5 Creation Project
Fish of the Sea/Birds of the Air

"Let the waters be filled with living creatures, and let birds fly through the skies." So God made creatures of every kind that live in the sea and every winged bird that soars above. And God saw that it was good and He blessed them. And so ended the fifth day of God's marvelous creation. Again, using our fine motor skills, Creed practiced stamping the sea creatures onto Day 5 Creation Project. We also added some birds. He got a little over zealous and decided to stamp his hands onto the paper taped to the coffee table, but this was more than acceptable as it's all part of our "strewing experiment" (from The Artful Parent book by Jean Van'T Hul) but more commonly known as, this year's Christmas paper. Presents will be wrapped with custom created works of art as the year goes by. 

Easy Change Artwork Frame
holds up to 50 pieces of art

Since we're started homeschool we're collecting various works of art every single week. Now the question is, "What do we do with them?" I can't possibly throw them away. At the end of the year I'll collect them all together and store them as, "Creed's Art Work, Age 3." However, until then, I've found a pretty clever way of displaying them using Easy Change Artwork Frames from ABC Distributing. They're available in 8.5x11 and 9x12. What makes these unique is the storage space inside the frame. After it's been displayed and the next work of art is ready to go in, simply slide it into the pocket, along with the rest of the beauties! The compartment holds up to 50 more pictures. The frame is made of wood and one of the most common sense features is it's not glass, it's plexiglass. So much more safer if it fell, in case inquiring toddlers find their way to the frame. The door is also held snug by a magnet. Both are under $10. I haven't found any cheaper than this. Find them here: http://www.abcdistributing.com/For-the-Home/Decorative-Accents/Wall%2BArt/Easy-Change-Artwork-Frames/prod121045.jmp?navAction=jump&fm=search.

Five Little Speckled Frogs googly eyes placement

Our book of the week is "Five Little Speckled Frogs," illustrated by Nikki Smith. After printing the frogs we cut them out on construction paper and Creed glued goggly eyes on them. Next we pasted them on felt. Creed has a very small felt board, along with the one I made on the wall, that we can use interacting with the story during story time. Fun, fun!

This week has already been trying. Last week was a struggle. I know that we are going to thrown curve ball after curve ball during our life as a family and that must mean we're doing something right. I know we're on the right path spiritually and our faith has been tested in so many ways recently. Having faith, after all, I think, is choosing to believe no mater what. Believing anyway. Doing anyway. Living anyway. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26. I have prayed for several days, standing on Romans 8:28, "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." I also believe that there is a "season for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven," Ecclesiastes 3:1. How exciting is not knowing what's going to happen? It's also terribly terrifying at times, but wouldn't it spoil the surprise of God's goodness of what's yet to come?!   

"A Love That Multiples"

This week I finished, "A Love That Multiplies, by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar. I found a bounty of priceless information, especially about homeschool. I looked at their resource list in the back and went online to http://store.iblp.org/categories/CH/ to order the character cards, character booklets on obedience and truthfulness (I picked what I thought we needed right now), as well as, seven basic needs of a husband booklet, from The Institute in Basic Life Principles online store. It was all surprisingly affordable. The first reason they decided to homeschool was to fulfill the teaching of Deuteronomy 6:5-7, "teaching your children to love God with all of their heart, soul and might, talking with them with they sit in the house, walk by the way, lie down and rise up."

The book was a great inspiration to me, not just for homeschool, but for my marriage, furthermore raising our child and possibly children to come. As a stay-at-home-mother I deeply related to the poem, "Continue On," by Roy Lessin, that Michelle lists as encouragement to other women. The excerpt most touching was, "… she heard the still, small voice of her Heavenly Father speak to her heart: You are a wife and mother because this is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye, but I notice. Most of what you give is done without remuneration. But I am your reward. Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support. Your influence on him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love. Your children are precious to me. Even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me. …" How profound, "Your husband cannot be the man I called him to be without your support." Well, when you put it that way . . .