The Benefits, Blessing’s and Blissfulness of a Schedule!

The Benefits, Blessing’s and Blissfulness of a Schedule!

I will be going into my second year of homeschooling full time. Before our big move to Texas Zach and I shared the responsibility. We never really could set a schedule because our schedules always changed. 
Now that the boys are getting older  we are so glad we made the changes for me to be home full time. We have made a lot of sacrifices and I will tell you every bit of them have been worth it.

For the last year I have taken the schedule suggestions from the book called  The Well-Trained Mind .  I have at some points failed miserably trying to stick to it this first year. I’m sure moving here and getting situated in a new house didn't help because it was a little chaotic at first.  I don't get to down on myself and I realize I must keep working at it. We are all living a new life here in the country so I cut myself a lot of slack!

I have implemented another method to help me with our schedule and that is the Google calendar.  You can look at the calendar on my home school blog. http://andersonsyearntolearn.blogspot.com/ . I put it up there to share it and once I learn more about it, I will share what I learn. I have only used it this month and it is proving to me to be better then a written day planner. I plan on printing it out each week and keeping a print out for my home school records. I also can write notes on it if we didn’t finish a certain lesson or if we need to finish a few more tasks I can write those down for the next week calendar.  I do our schedule for 3 weeks straight and the last week of the month I prepare the next months lessons. Right now it is fairly simple because the kids are young and finding stuff to do is so easy. It is keeping to the darn routine that I find challenging!

Benefits:

1.   There is more order in my house, less fighting and no boredom.

2.   The kids know what is expected of them and I know what is expected of myself.

3.   The baby always gets his nap/bedtimes occur on time

4.   The meals are always healthy and well prepared (sticking to a meal plan).

5.   My house stays clean.

6.   My kids learn discipline and a routine (which amazes me how fast a kid can learn a routine).

7.   We get more accomplished.

8.   We feel rested, energized and healthy(because we went to bed on time)

9.   We feel good when we set goals and reach them/ I don’t feel like a fish out of water!

10.We appreciate our free time so much more

Blessings:

      1.   Self discipline has a lot of rewards spiritual and physical

      2.   There is something miraculous when you can act on what you say you are going to do. 

      3.   Choosing to live your life to the fullest(that means get up when the birds do!) and realizing the liberty we have in this Country to even make our own schedule.

      4.   Accomplishing what you intended brings great joy and happiness.

      5.   We make sure the days aren’t wasted and that idleness in thought and deed does not become a part of our daily lives.

      6.   We set goals and reach them and then we reap the benefits and blessing’s

      7.   The content of our character is usually more perceivable by our actions and deed.

8.   Striving to be something more by striving and pushing ourselves 

9.   I love it more and more each day teaching my kids at home. I love it more when I follow our schedule.

10. The bonds created when I set aside the proper time for each child is surely a blessing! Making memories they will never forget!

In the dictionary benefits and blessings are similar and I could really call all my trials with a schedule a blessing. I feel good when we are sticking to it and I try not be hard on myself when things sometimes don’t work out that day or week.  

Some days I don’t feel like it. Some days it is hard when you are lacking sleep or when your body is just so worn out. It only takes one snooze on the alarm to send my day in to a swirl. As a home school Mom we have our kids 24/7 so that means you do everything with them under your feet. Well not literally but some days I wonder what it would be like to keep a clean house for more than an hour.  I realize I cannot do it all and I have started this calendar to try to help myself and my kiddo’s get more organized.

 Blissful!

Friday, Sat, and Sunday are what I call my blissful days!  Well not literally. Because technically Mommy still has to cook, clean and do other daily tasks to keep the house functioning.

Fridays are the days we can sleep in, eat Popsicle's for breakfast or maybe chocolate ice cream (just kidding) Giving my twins chocolate ice cream for breakfast would be mere suicide he,he but I can still eat right.

Friday is what I call our free day!  I try to cook stuff that is simple. The kids can watch movies after 5:00 p.m. I can play on Photoshop. Write on my blog, play my guitar, read one of the 10 books I’m currently reading and the list goes on.. It is a free for all and I love Fridays!  Saturdays and Sundays are spent with family or friends or working on house projects. I also love the blissful days because Zach is home from work and we get to spend time with him!

Even though our schedule is not followed perfectly we try our best each week (yup that’s right even over the summer). It never fails that one of the kids has to go potty in the middle of math. Or one of them stubbed their toe on the way to their workspace. Or my 3 year old is screaming his head off (while I’m teaching phonics) because the buzz light year fell and stopped making loud obnoxious noises. The fed ex guy shows up early and the list goes on of what gets in the way.

As I was revamping the schedule and implementing it into my Google calendar. I came across a very funny post from a blog that makes me laugh and is constantly inspiring me. I also can relate to not wanting to fold laundry at a certain time of day. So I wasn’t so specific on my schedule for  what I would be cleaning. I just put my cleaning into fly lady zones and I’m working on which zones I do each day. Here is the post:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2010/03/why-i-homeschool-and-what-my-approach-is/

The morning after reading this post I had a few cute incidences with Keynan that reminded me of PW's post. One day I might be like Ree/PW and wipe my baby’s butt with our schedule but for now I’m trying  my best to stick to my plan!

This might just be the reason I home school! :)

I turned around after photographing the garden and this is what I seen!

Hi, Mom," look at me"!

There is evidence that he was dressed before this with a pair of undies on the ground!

I happened to have these photo's of me around the same age I think!

I guess I have the same no shirt trend!

Peek-A -Boo!

I get packages from amazon frequently and one day I received a big package and set the box aside. A few hours later the kids told me we received another package. I thought to myself what did I order because I was pretty sure I had received everything? To my surprise they stuffed Keynan willingly in the box and then they each tried to fit inside the box before it tore!

 Later that evening I wanted to clean up the ice chest so I stuck it in the bathtub, another fun surprise finding Keynan hiding in it naked!!!

"Another One Bites the Dust"

We decided on Sunday that the new puppies we got were not working out.  We were going to take them into the shelter this weekend. As much as I didn't want to, I knew it was the best decision.  We got the dogs to help herd the chickens. Unfortunatly, trying to train a mut is proving some what impossible. The dogs would not come to us and there were numerous incidents that we made the call that we would give them away.
At 2:00 a.m. this morning  I awoke in a panic hearing the water running.  I  had double checked the hose twice last night after watering the garden but I went out to check again.  Our house is on stilts(or bricks) and one of the problems we kept having with the dogs was that they both were digging and going under the house. Well we waited to long and that water sound happened to be the main water line to our house broken and gushing water. I'm crossing my fingers that the problem isn't a huge one to fix. Until then we are without running water and I had Zach take the dogs this morning. Once again a lesson learned about following my gut.. Do not wait 5 days after your guts says something, you might be a little to late!

Waiting For Superman and I'm Glad I'm Not Waiting!

 Any of you who know me well, knows that I love documentaries(yes I'm getting as nerdy as they come)! I guess I just love to learn and I have a need and want for it everyday. I'm also a big dork that loves quotes and sayings.. and there is that saying,"You learn something new everyday". Lately it has been like learning 3 or 4 things in a day. I should start posting on those things just so I won't forget! Just for laughs I learned the other day that a water hose or bucket of water will break up any kind of domestic animal fight!

  There was a time in my life when I was only eager to learn about what I wanted to learn. I spent my high school years studying the Gnostic writings, Edgar Cayce, The healing of stones/food and meditation. I also loved reading about what my dreams meant and I kept a detailed dream journal. I also read a lot about history, photography and music.  Now in my 30's I am eager to learn not only what I want to learn but what might be intimidating to me.. I know deep down the reasons for this desire and why I lacked it in my teenage years. I'm officially in the love of learning stage and I believe I will be here for quit a while.  There is another saying that I just love and I'm not sure who it is by but it goes something like this, " In 5 years the only difference within yourself will be the people in your life and the books that you have read". Now that isn't the quote exactly but you get my drift. Anyhow, I'm kind of rambling about nothing so I will just get to my original post!

I came across this documentary a few months back called Waiting For Superman. Backed by many other documentaries on our current Public Education System. I wanted to get a better understanding of what goes on behind closed doors and I figured that this documentary would be a good start. I also have read the likes of Gatto and others on the current system.
  I recently had a friend here in Texas call me for advice about one of her daughters.  The school had my friend take her daughter to a few psychologists. The psychologists ended up diagnosing the 7 year old girl with bi-polar disorder. My friend was then told by the school that the young child would need to be medicated in order for her to be more successful in school. Even though my friend is pretty young she knew her daughter was not bi-polar. She thought of her daughter to be strong willed and of course your active 7 year old.  That is when she decided to call me for advice. My friend told me that the little girl was having trouble with the teacher. The teacher claimed that because the little girl was not up to speed on her reading skills that she was deemed having a learning disability and having other mental issue's.  My friend also informed me that her daughter would beg her not to go to school because the teacher would call her names. I then was showed a video of how upset the girl was coming home after school. My friend tried to remove the little girl from this teachers class and the school and principle refused. Come to find out this wasn't the only family having trouble with this particular teacher. This teacher was also under the protection of tenure and could not be touched. These days all over the country the states have truancy laws and they are a lot more enforced then when I was in school. My friend informed me if her daughter missed 3 or more scheduled school days she would be subpoenaed to court. I quickly informed my friend of her constitutional rights here in Texas(which are the finest in the country). At any given time you can sign your child out of the school with no explanations. The state wants to see proof of curriculum and be assured the child will be taught at home or in another private or public institution(yes, I called an institution). I quickly informed her that informing the school of such curriculum was also against her constitutional rights here in Texas.  I drafted a letter to the school to help my friend which stated that she is in fact teaching her daughter at home and if they have any further concerns the school can submit it in writing. This wouldn't of gone down so easy in other states but Texas is one of the few that allows Parents to be their own private school! So lesson learned that it is good to know your rights!

  There was a time in my life when I didn't trust my gut and when I didn't know my rights!  I had read up on a certain subject and then went ahead and chose to go through with it, even with the staggering evidence against it(I'm not going to mention what that issue is because it might be a sensitive subject for some). I trusted those of  leadership positions and Doctoral degree's. I didn't follow my gut.
   I didn't always know I would home school. For that matter I thought I would be selfish with my time after my boys were old enough for school. Something hit me though when the boys were about 3 months.  A book called A Thomas  Jefferson Education was introduced to me by one of my sister in laws(who has home schooled from the get go the last 13 years) and  I couldn't deny what I read and at that point Zach and I decided that home schooling is what we were going to do.

Here is the link to the most recent book published. I just finished reading it for the 3rd time! I recommend it to anyone who might be considering homeschooling or wondering why, what and how to home school!
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-Education-Generation-Twenty-First/dp/1615399917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311874280&sr=8-1



Getting back to the documentary waiting for Superman. It was heartbreaking to watch this film. The numbers are staggering. The money spent on such a broken system is just ugly.  The thought of my child away for 5 to 8 or more hours a day in the hands of a stranger is just madness to me. I  also  learned if a teacher is a horrible teacher the chances of them leaving the system was like 3000 to 1 or statistically close that.   I would of written my review like I planned but I came across this a few days ago and would have to agree whole heartily. I think Andrea Schwartz has the best take on it!


http://chalcedon.edu/blog/homeschooling/2011/7/17/still-waiting-for-superman/


I recommend checking out the film and doing your own research.  Even if you are not considering home school, this film will let you in on some of the practices that go on within the bureaucracy and what you might be up against if your children do go to Public School.

The Fat Flush Plan

In 13 days I will be starting , The Flat Flush Plan with my hubby and sis Tiffany.   I have lost 60lbs within the last 12 months but have an extra 20lbs hanging around my waistline to still get rid of. I want to be strong and have long endurance when I run and exercise. I also want to have more self control with my eating and drinking habits.  I have never really been a junk food junkie but don't get me wrong I love Rocky road ice cream once in awhile. I think my worst down fall within my diet is that I love to drink something flavorful. Mostly juices(cranberry) but I avoid drinking plain water unless I'm exercising.. I don't even dislike water, I just think I have created a terrible habit of not drinking enough water.

 http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Flush-Plan-Louise-Gittleman/dp/0071383832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311102355&sr=8-1

 The Fat Flush in simple terms is a liver cleanse. I got the book about a month ago and I'm so glad my sis told me about it.  The body for one is a very complex system with more amazing things inside then one could possibly imagine. I love how this book breaks down the functions of the liver and other bodily systems. These next two weeks I will be preparing my body for this by eliminating most sugars and drinking water.

  I think this program will be very affective once started. In the first two weeks you follow a strict regimen outlined in the book.  Incorporated with the diet plan and drinking regimen there will be a simple exercise program. I plan on continuing my current exercise regimen but adding the fat flushes exercise regimen in the evening.  We all have decided that the weekends after the first 2 weeks (Phase 1) will be a time where we can have carbohydrates and something other then water to drink.

  I'm taking the next two weeks to prepare mentally and physically. I will post the recipes and my progress on my cooking blog.  Dr. Anne suggests that you journal your progress in the chapter called the power of ritual. 

For now I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with their weight loss, hormone imbalances, an autoimmune disorder like celiac disease or rheumatoid arthritis. For those that might have so much weight to lose that it becomes painful to exercise, this is the book for you.  Even though I have not started this flush yet, I can tell you I have learned so much more about how the body breaks down fats, proteins and sugar. I would just recommend reading it for this knowledge alone.

 Here’s to the next 13 days of getting prepared for The Fat Flush Plan, something I feel will be life changing events!

"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"

Before Thomas Jefferson wrote the Deceleration of Independence he attended a speech given by Patrick Henry http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm(short version). This speech was one of the many things that inspired Thomas Jefferson to write the Deceleration of Independence. My favorite line from that speech besides of course the "give me liberty or give me death," is "Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings".

  

This Independence Day was a quiet one this year. We were unable to make the Anderson family reunion in Wyoming so we went to a friend’s house here and enjoyed a bbq.   Here in Texas all fireworks were banned due to the severe drought we have been having. I was okay with that because this year the last thing that was on my mind was a firework. Of course my hubby and I talked politics the whole day and he jammed with his buddies, while I watched the kids play on the slip and slide.

   We are fortunate to have been born in such a great Country called America. I am very fortunate that I grew up learning about America's true principals by reading some of the great works like The Deceleration of Independence. I also had the privilege as a child to memorize such great writings. I value the importance of such writings and hold dear the sacrifices made for the content that is represented in them.   I hope to give my boys the same privilege by knowing and understanding what makes America so great in the first place.

  

I recently made a decision about my religious endeavors and I am grateful to be in a Country that I can decide such a thing.   I am grateful for the price that our countrymen made long ago that I might be able to choose what I want for my life. I am aware that, that price was not free and many lives were lost for just this principal alone.

  Unfortunately the Country that our Founding Fathers tried to imply is slowly slipping away. We are headed down a very destructive path if we as a nation do not wake up soon.

  The Government might not be looting our homes personally yet, or dropping bombs on us in the name of democracy but they are doing it in other countries around the world. While the central bank (The Federal Reserve) prints more money out of thin air to fund more wars in the name of humanitarian aid. As our children and grandchildren inherit all of this while all in the name of security, is just so absurd to me!

  Our Founding Fathers works and sacrifices will soon be in vain if we do not change the beaten path we have been on for the last 100 years.

While we are distracted by the likes or dislikes of Casey Anthony, Osama Bin Laden, and all the other fiascos within the media today. While we give away our liberty in the name of security.

  As a people we must set aside our differences. We must preserve liberty at all costs. We must come together and agree that no matter what our differences are, our liberties are at risk. Our liberty's will not be given freely anymore but rather we will have to continue to fight for them. We must resist this current tyranny or all the lives that have fought so diligently in our past & present will be lost.  We must be steadfast and strong. May we have the courage and integrity to try to change and grow.

I will continue down the path I have been on by getting more involved with my community and neighbors. I will try to educate myself the best I can. I will be open to new and old ideas and I will try my best to preserve them. I will try to inspire my children to do the same.  

How do we remain free and how do we get back the liberty we have lost? Those answers are within each individual and how much they are willing to sacrifice. First and foremost we must work together.  We must get outraged and be inspired to make a difference. I am willing to die in the name of liberty, are you?


Let us Restore the Constitution!!!!! 
Please spread the word, join the Ron Paul movement!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GR4WYqabTxU#at=3548

http://www.dailypaul.com/


The Three Greatest Gifts

A What, A What, A Whatsi !!!!!

When we went to pick up the puppies we approached the driveway saying " OH MY GOSH"!! We have seen some Long Horn Bulls out here but nothing like this big guy!  The lady that had all the puppies refereed to him as her guard dog. She also said he was an African bull that is called a Whatsi. I'm sure I got the spelling wrong but I did a Google search and came up empty handed. I wanted to try to gt the name somewhat correct so I wouldn't forget it!

In the first few photo's the Whatsi is eating without any bother. In the next few photo's he lifts his head and  looks directly at me. Then towards the end of my photographing session of  him, he lifts his legs forward and gives me the straight stare down. That was my que to walk away and put my camera away as well. I've been really looking forward to getting a beast like this in my collection and now I have one. I think I might have to invest more to get some better guard dogs though~!

Puppies!!!

  I finally broke down and let the kids gets some puppies. With all the troubles we have been having with the raccoons and possums, I figured a few guard dogs would be good. I also wanted to get puppies so we could raise them up around the chickens. The last thing I need is our dogs eating them.  I would of got dogs from the shelter but I needed to train the pups to heard chickens and it is much easier when the dogs are puppies.
 We went to the ladies house that was giving them away and we let each of the twins pick their pup. We got the pups 6 days ago and we have been waiting for the boys to give them their names. Thayne came up with the name Donna a few days ago and Ayden came up with the name Darla today. I would of probably came up with something a little different for our new soon to be guards dogs.. You gotta laugh though the kids are just way too cute!!!  I'm not sure where they got these names but I always sing that old Richie Valens tune.. The twins love that little Rascals movie and the little girl on there is named Darla... ha,ha so funny each time I think of the names they picked!!

Introducing!

Thayne and Donna

The gals are a Aussie/Mastiff mix!

They love to follow the boys and play with them.

oh Donna. I had a dog and Donna was her name. ha,ha

Ms. Darla

I'm sure I will have some stories in the future of these two!

Gotcha!

  Well I am down to 1 Rooster! Yes, that is right folks I have lost 18 chickens in the past 2 months due to the critters that live in the woods. Why they can't find their own food in the woods is a question I ask myself?  Come to find out that chickens are an easy prey because they can't see at night. A little hole in the coop can become a big hole very easily.

   I noticed we had a family of raccoons living under our house. I thought it was kind of strange that my cats were no longer under the house. The cats had moved into my pumpkin patch a few weeks prior.  These raccoons seem some what domesticated because they would show themselves in the day time. Casually just eating my chicken scraps and cat food.
 I left for grocery shopping one evening(which is unusual because I usually go in the early morning) a few days back I  came home to Zach upset. He said he had to shoot a raccoon.  He has not liked this whole animal killing business.  He has had to be the one to do the dirty work because I am a terrible aim. Seriously, my boys can shoot a rifle better then I can, how sad is that. If left up to me I 'd probably load the bullet backwards(well I doubt you can do that) in a panic and then shoot my foot. I defiantly need some more time at the range.  Well after that fiasco we decided there has to be a better way. We knew we could use traps but also couldn't afford our own at this time.  Our brother in law said we could use his new ones and also Uncle Eric. I guess Zach and I hate borrowing everything under the sun from everybody so we were reluctant.  Of course Warren next door came home one night set out the trap without me knowing about it and I woke up to this raccoon. Warren has been our saving grace many times out here and I appreciate all his help.

On the next night we caught a Possum which I thought was giving birth. She was very aggressive and panting like she was in labor. Come to find out that the hole that I thought was a birthing hole was her pouch. Possums are marsupials and one of the only ones in North America. I guess they are also technically called a opossum.. For more info check out Wikipedia here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial

Zach had me leave her in the trap until he got home because he wanted to see her. It's not everyday you get to see a possum and her babies. I gave her some food(turkey lunch meat) and put her in the shade. I checked on her throughout the day to make sure she was okay. She was alive and kicking and did not like my camera or me getting close to the cage. Come to find out that she had 6 baby possums.  Of course my boys reaction was to all this was Mom, can we hold them? Not only did they want to hold the baby Possums but they wanted to hold the Mama.  They also wanted to keep the Raccoon for a pet but Mom objected to all requests.
  We eventually let her go after Zach got home from work and it was so cute, she had 2 baby possums on her back and the rest in her pouch. She calmed down before we let her go, somehow she could sense we were not going to hurt her.  Setting her and the raccoon free was certainly easier then killing these helpless animals. They don't seem so helpless when their eating your live stock but we have learned we have to be a little smarter than the critters in these parts.

Yes, a nuisance they are when they eat all of our cat food!

It has no problem showing it's face in the day time!

Gotcha!

Keynan trying to poke it with a stick of course when Mommy isn't looking.

I think it was a she and she started to get real excited when we were moving the trap into Warren's truck.

The raccoon was doing flips in the trap.

We let Warren's Dog Charlie get acquainted with the little fella. To my surprise the Raccoon was pretty tough and made some interesting defense noises.

Charlie a little scared from the raccoons defense tactics but Charlie is still a puppy!

This is how she looked when I first found her.

She is not happy and certainly does not look nice.

You can kind of see the pouch opening which I thought was a birthing hole at first!

She was very protective of her young and was a very good Mama to them.

"I'm free at last, thank god almighty I'm free at last!"