Kevin's Red Smoothie

Okay, Kevin made another spectacular smoothie for me tonight. It's a beautiful red color and just sweet enough. Here is the recipe:
1 beet, peeled and juiced (with the tops though)
7 carrots, juiced
4 granny smith apples, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
10 strawberries
4 eggs
1 TBS maple syrup (we're out of agave)
1 tsp vanilla
Throw the whole lot in the blender and mix, then serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

We thought we'd throw in the beet, since we read yesterday that they are great for your liver.
WARNING: My kids hated this one, but one of their friends couldn't get enough.

Sabbath Ramblings - 'It Was Good'

I thought that each Sabbath I would add a thought from what I had been studying during the week. This last week was hard to narrow down to one quote, but in the end Genesis 1:31 won out.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold it was good."
I realized, God took joy in his work. He stopped, looked, and said, it's good. I need to do the same. I need to stop, look around, and enjoy what God made as well as enjoy the work I have done. I need to see the good. Because it is good! And I'm good. My children are good. See and enjoy!

Workboxes

I've been researching ways to get my home school organized again, and stumbled upon a great idea. In fact, I was almost there on my own, but seeing what these other wonderful families have done, I'm excited to start my own version. Just google Sue Patrick and workboxes, and you will see what I'm talking about!
I had decided to use file folders in a box for each child to separate their assignments for the day. I just purchased a large file box from Walmart for each. Then filled each with 12 files (to start with) and a plastic tote for glue, scissors, and such.
Then I found the workboxes. I have already spent my budget for now, so I will have to make do with what I have, but I think it will meet our needs.
I'm changing my white board to look like the schedule strips. I've picked up contact paper and velcro tabs at Walmart this morning. I'm going to make the laminated assignment tabs to turn over when done. I'm going to also take their assignments every evening and prep the boxes with everything they will need for the next day's work. Then there will be smileys that I can stick on the white board for assignments I've checked.
I love how visual the whole set up is.
I'll keep you posted on how it works!

Visiting Dad

Today I'm visiting with my dad in the ICU. They are taking great care of him. He is still on a ventilator, and is not able to wake completely, even though he is not being sedated. I'm glad for the opportunity I have though to just sit and be with him.

Update - January 12, 2010: Looking back on this, I'm glad I posted it. It brings back the memories of what was happening then, and the last days I had with my dad. I am so grateful for the moments he became coherent, where he thanked me for being with him, and told me he loved me.

I didn't realize the depth to which his death shook me. I believe it was one of the 'last straws' that created such havoc in my body and mind. Even now, I am just getting back some semblance of balance.

It really shook my son, Keegan as well, and he went through an incredibly difficult time. It's interesting, because it seems his grief is lessening too, and he has peace in his heart again.

I am forever grateful for the testimony I have that I will see my dad again. I will be able to laugh with him, and show him my love. I know he sees us, and I have felt him near on a handful of occasions. This life is not the end. I know that. He still loves us, and wants our happiness. I don't know how I would manage without this knowledge.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Boy did life get in the way of my intentions to start this blog. Within this last year we have been involved in a major car accident where I injured my back, moved, are starting our own business here in town that we hope will be a real asset to the community as well as to our family, our oldest turned 16 (!) and is starting college, both of our older boys have been working at a Boy Scout Camp, and it has just been BUSY!

I am excited about the possibilities in the future here for our family. I am in the process of creating this years plans, and am getting more and more excited as I go! We will be studying the Reformation to the Restoration, and basing most of our studies off of that. My next blog will be more of an in-depth look at what we will be doing.

Having an Action Plan

I was thinking how very grateful I am for my Action Plan. It's where I keep all my goals for my family, homeschool, individual children, and even myself. Having tried various methods for time management and goal keeping, my Action Plan is what works best for my family.

I got this from "A Recipe for Success" by Rachel and Oliver DeMille, then fitted it to my family. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, there is a routine I follow to create my Action Plan.

1. Declutter! I go through my house top to bottom getting rid of junk. Flylady.com is the place to go for help on this one if you have never done a good declutter, or you get stuck in the middle of the mess and give up. (ME!) For those that know me, I am always joking about doing my 6th month purge for 6 months! This does lay the foundation for a better education, because environment is a very important element of education.

2. I create a list of all I do, then cut out the things I don't need to be doing. Some things just stop, some are delegated, some are put on the back burner. The goal here is to cut it by 50%, freeing up more time for relationships, education, and the things that really matter.

3. For me both of these should be done by either Oct 1 or Apr 1, depending on the season. This way I can spend the next weekend at the LDS General Conference, to get a great spiritual refill and contemplate what to focus on next. It really doesn't matter your religion, find a way to refill, including study, prayer, and/or meditation to focus on what is important to you.

4. Then I find a quiet time and place, with my husband (hopefully!), to discuss and write out what we feel important about each of our children and ourselves. We like to escape somewhere, and let the kids have a weekend with the grandparents. This spring we went to a beautiful spot on a little island north of Seattle. We had so much fun, and got alot of thinking down on paper.

5. From what we write, we create (okay, let's get real, I create) a working plan that incorporates the goals we have, and the goals we have for each of our children. I do this very prayerfully, and it takes a few days.

6. Then, I use it. Weekly I review my Action Plan, and plan my week accordingly.

It really is very simple. There are simple questions suggested in the book above by DeMille that I follow, adding my own here and there. If you are interested in more information, email me at reallifeeducation@hotmail.com.

Learning Something New...

So today I enter the blogging world.

As a homeschooler, I believe in modeling a life of learning. I know computers are great, but honestly, I know very little about how to use one. So I am diving right on in, and learning how. I have a vision of being able to connect with other homeschooling families with the same ideals, and goals as I do. I also believe that I have alot to offer in many ways. I have been homeschooling for 15 years now. That includes my oldest sons early years. We were firm on our decision to homeschool before he was even born. In fact, none of my children have been to public schools. So I have alot to share with how I make homeschooling work for my family. It might help someone else! I know I sure depended on experienced homeschoolers my first few years, and beyond! I still do.