There is a story behind why the boys look so horrified in the heading picture...
1. What you don't see is that they are praying, and hoping for their friends to come pick them up and rescue them from the 10 squealing 8 years olds at the feet!
2. They "love" their sister, but really mom this is just too much to ask of us...
3. They are jealous of all her Littlest Pet Shop presents, but would NEVER EVER admit it!
The grin on Julia's face is...
1. I'm so excited to have all 10 of my squealing friends around me at my feet!
2. I love it when mom "makes" the boys put me in the middle and gives me all the attention!
3. I can't wait to get my brothers to help me open all these Littlest Pet Shop presents and play with me!
It is just hilarious to watch my three kiddos interact and love so big and real one second and then want to have each other for supper the next! It keeps it real and real interesting around here, and now that we are having all kinds of togetherness we have had plenty of opportunities to get to truly KNOW each other over these past few months of summer.
JCA will begin next week, and the kids and I can hardly wait! Julia would do school year around if I would let her...and I just might! We will begin with testing, and some review to get the brain matter in some kind of shape to actually begin learning again. I also want to take some time to just brainstorm, dream, collaborate, and write out some personal goals, family goals, and school year goals. What do they hope to learn this year? What are their favorite subjects, topics, or fun things to do? I want to really try and have them journal through this year so that we can look back on this first year and see what it was really like to experience this new adventure we are about to embark on.
I also thought we might make our own JCA (Jolly Christian Academy) shirts to celebrate the fun and spirit that we will be learning in. Another neat idea that came to me last week as I was brainstorming all the different things we could do to begin and get ready is go to the library and let each kid get their own library card...well we ended up going to day and man was it just the coolest thing! I found out that our new city library has a homeschool connection that is special just for us homeschoolers! What an amazing network of support and fun! I'm so thankful for all of the amazing people that I have met, have emailed me, or just plain walked up to me and wrote down their contact info so knowing that I would need it!
Thank you Father for your peace, grace, patience, and encouragement through all the other homeschooling families out there!!! Y'all know who you are and I praise God for you each and everyone!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Homeschooling Heroes
Well it's official...we have decided to homeschool...yes all three kids. It's been one of the first questions everyone asks. What would be the point in only homeschooling one child, or two, and having to continue keeping up with the rat race with the other one...that would defeat the whole purpose... right?
I knew without a doubt when I was pregnant with Jeffrey that I would quit teaching and stay home with him at all cost. Now it wasn't always easy, and I did have all kinds of part time jobs like tutoring, babysitting, mother's day out director, preschool teacher, secret shopper (shhhh! don't tell anyone!), sold discovery toys, substitute teacher, and the list goes on. God has always supplied every penny we needed and it has been a true all most 13 years of learning to trust and lean on the one true PROVIDER. As each baby was born I would dream about what our future would hold...would I go back to teaching full time in the public school, or possibly homeschool, or....and the possibilities can be endless.
Over the past year there have been many things happening that have brought us to seek God in our personal walks with the Lord, in our marriage, in our family, and in the way we feel God wants us to live this life in total abandon to his will and plan for our lives. It was clear that if we continued in the way we were going then we could loose our family. From crazy middle school homework, Marv traveling alot, and just trying to keep up with the crazy rat race of life we literally all most lost us in the craziness of trying to keep up with this world. It's as if we have been feasting on the all you can eat buffet of this world and now we are stuffed and done with this way of life.
We have several friends in our lives who homeschool, or are are also about to begin on this new homeschool journey. It seemed like a big, hard, and scary thing everytime I would consider it in the past. I would always make excuses like..."I'm not disciplined enough.", or "There's no way I could do math in the higher levels!" Now I have learned and see all the awesome possibilities and support that is out there to help me do this. The choices of curriculum have been amazing and overwhelming to say the least, but wow...there are so many choices! Now we will have time to learn and study from the bible, truly understand math, and everything else in our own time. AND the best and neatest part is the creation-based science and biblical-based history. No more having to hope that we get a Christian teacher, and knowing that they still won't be able to bring God into anything they do.
I don't pretend to think that this will be easy, but I do know that sending them to public school wasn't easy either. I can't tell you the straight up freedom and peace that came over this family when we made the final decision to step out of the rat race and take this step. We now have TIME to do anything, and everything that we feel is best for our family. We now have TIME to go see history instead of just sitting and reading about it. We feel like we have been given the gift of TIME back like I think God originally intended for it to be.
We have named our school the Jolly Christian Academy (a.k.a. JCA), and are currently trying to pick out a mascot. I think the HOMESCHOOL HEROES sounds great. I am getting to homeschool my kiddos and help them become the Heroes that they are supposed to be! I don't know if the kids will go for it...they will get a vote, but I think it has a nice ring!
I will be blogging at least once a week now to share what we are doing and keep you up to date on our progress. We covet your prayers and are so thankful for the precious friends and family that have walked with us, prayed with us, and encouraged us as over the past year to help us get to this point in our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
I knew without a doubt when I was pregnant with Jeffrey that I would quit teaching and stay home with him at all cost. Now it wasn't always easy, and I did have all kinds of part time jobs like tutoring, babysitting, mother's day out director, preschool teacher, secret shopper (shhhh! don't tell anyone!), sold discovery toys, substitute teacher, and the list goes on. God has always supplied every penny we needed and it has been a true all most 13 years of learning to trust and lean on the one true PROVIDER. As each baby was born I would dream about what our future would hold...would I go back to teaching full time in the public school, or possibly homeschool, or....and the possibilities can be endless.
Over the past year there have been many things happening that have brought us to seek God in our personal walks with the Lord, in our marriage, in our family, and in the way we feel God wants us to live this life in total abandon to his will and plan for our lives. It was clear that if we continued in the way we were going then we could loose our family. From crazy middle school homework, Marv traveling alot, and just trying to keep up with the crazy rat race of life we literally all most lost us in the craziness of trying to keep up with this world. It's as if we have been feasting on the all you can eat buffet of this world and now we are stuffed and done with this way of life.
We have several friends in our lives who homeschool, or are are also about to begin on this new homeschool journey. It seemed like a big, hard, and scary thing everytime I would consider it in the past. I would always make excuses like..."I'm not disciplined enough.", or "There's no way I could do math in the higher levels!" Now I have learned and see all the awesome possibilities and support that is out there to help me do this. The choices of curriculum have been amazing and overwhelming to say the least, but wow...there are so many choices! Now we will have time to learn and study from the bible, truly understand math, and everything else in our own time. AND the best and neatest part is the creation-based science and biblical-based history. No more having to hope that we get a Christian teacher, and knowing that they still won't be able to bring God into anything they do.
I don't pretend to think that this will be easy, but I do know that sending them to public school wasn't easy either. I can't tell you the straight up freedom and peace that came over this family when we made the final decision to step out of the rat race and take this step. We now have TIME to do anything, and everything that we feel is best for our family. We now have TIME to go see history instead of just sitting and reading about it. We feel like we have been given the gift of TIME back like I think God originally intended for it to be.
We have named our school the Jolly Christian Academy (a.k.a. JCA), and are currently trying to pick out a mascot. I think the HOMESCHOOL HEROES sounds great. I am getting to homeschool my kiddos and help them become the Heroes that they are supposed to be! I don't know if the kids will go for it...they will get a vote, but I think it has a nice ring!
I will be blogging at least once a week now to share what we are doing and keep you up to date on our progress. We covet your prayers and are so thankful for the precious friends and family that have walked with us, prayed with us, and encouraged us as over the past year to help us get to this point in our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wow where has the time gone?
Hey y'all! It's been an awesome summer so far~SO GOOD!!! We did make it up to Colorado...I'll do a post on that trip alone with pics later on....and had a super vaca away from the real world. It was beautiful, warmer than I thought it would be, and we discovered doing a vaca for cheap, and actually relaxing instead of beating the roads every day and trying to fit in all kinds of sights to see. Instead we really enjoyed just piling into the car and driving all over mountains and finding neat cabins, rivers, streams, lakes, animals, snow, etc... The views in Colorado have always made my heart go pitter patter...literally sometimes because of the altitude! We did venture out one day and found the coolest, most dream like thing I've never thought you could find in Colorado....THE GREAT SAND DUNES....have you ever? Well if not you've gotta put that on your for sure to see before you die list. The amazing landscaping all coming together as one is really just dream like and amazing. I kept thinking okay God really does have a sense of humor, or was just having so much fun experimenting with this part to see what it would be like to have snow capped mountains, desert sand dunes, and wet lands all crashing into each other....okay well I 'll write more about that later also in another post!
We had a really fun Fourth of July...which if anyone knows me well then you know this is my all time favorite holiday!!! I have great memories of my childhood having fireworks on the lake down in Kingsland with everyone in the area coming to our little area to enjoy. I think it was the crowds of people that I really liked the most along with the picnics and watermelon! This year we celebrated at my brother-in-laws lake house with my parents, mother-in-law, and once it grew dark around 30 people showed up with their own fireworks. We were already enjoying all the fireworks that people were shooting off of their docks...probably 50-100 different shows all going off at the same time (you could tell the doctors and lawyers cause their firework shows could rival a small towns grand finale)...well then when all the friends showed up with their own fireworks then we got to experience the fireworks right above our heads! We topped it off with my dad, mom, and Marv playing some bluegrass on their mandolin, bass, and guitar. It was so fun to sing along and celebrate this great country with our family.
After that I have continued to study for my exams and as of two days ago have finished all five courses and test YIPPEE!...now I hope to take the final state exam by the end of August. We have spent the majority of July having our nephew and niece come and stay with us, helping Amy unpack and get moved into their apartment in Austin, and helping Michelle have a garage sale, pack, and paint her home to get ready for market so that she can move to Austin as well.
The other big news in the Jolly household is that we have decided to homeschool!!! We are so excited and are busy trying to pick out the best curriculum and move some rooms around so that we can have a space for everyone and a space for our classroom. I will post later on the details of our decision. Please pray for me as I try to get everything ready to get started.
I hope each of your summer days have been filled with fun, family, and great memories.
We had a really fun Fourth of July...which if anyone knows me well then you know this is my all time favorite holiday!!! I have great memories of my childhood having fireworks on the lake down in Kingsland with everyone in the area coming to our little area to enjoy. I think it was the crowds of people that I really liked the most along with the picnics and watermelon! This year we celebrated at my brother-in-laws lake house with my parents, mother-in-law, and once it grew dark around 30 people showed up with their own fireworks. We were already enjoying all the fireworks that people were shooting off of their docks...probably 50-100 different shows all going off at the same time (you could tell the doctors and lawyers cause their firework shows could rival a small towns grand finale)...well then when all the friends showed up with their own fireworks then we got to experience the fireworks right above our heads! We topped it off with my dad, mom, and Marv playing some bluegrass on their mandolin, bass, and guitar. It was so fun to sing along and celebrate this great country with our family.
After that I have continued to study for my exams and as of two days ago have finished all five courses and test YIPPEE!...now I hope to take the final state exam by the end of August. We have spent the majority of July having our nephew and niece come and stay with us, helping Amy unpack and get moved into their apartment in Austin, and helping Michelle have a garage sale, pack, and paint her home to get ready for market so that she can move to Austin as well.
The other big news in the Jolly household is that we have decided to homeschool!!! We are so excited and are busy trying to pick out the best curriculum and move some rooms around so that we can have a space for everyone and a space for our classroom. I will post later on the details of our decision. Please pray for me as I try to get everything ready to get started.
I hope each of your summer days have been filled with fun, family, and great memories.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy!
One of my all time favorite songs...and one that I sing often buzzin' around the house is Summer Time from Porgy and Bess. It's a song that I sang with the Howard Payne Choir in college. I just love it, and my kids do too! Even though they pretend to get tired of hearing me busting out this favorite tune of mine!
Summertime is one of my all time favorites because...well the kids are home from school. So many mommas out there seem to be frustrated with summer because it means they have to BE with their kids, but I just love having all my little...or not so little anymore... chicks around me, and not having a real schedule! Now don't get me wrong there are times over these past two weeks that I have thought...okay I'm tired of hearing the fussing, but that's part of growing up and learning to get along. The biggest bummer so far is that I was sick last week. So sick that I literally was in bed for several days with high fever...ugh! We have all had more sickness this past month in our family, but I think we are on the mend now and ready to enjoy getting out of the house and actually doing summery type things. The other different thing about this summer so far is that it has rained for like the past 20 something days now, and we have only been in the 80's! We've been in a drought for the past couple of years and it is so nice to have plenty of rain to cool things off and keep things green! Some hate all this rain and complain, but I say bring it on...just keep the humidity please!
We try and keep summer simple by just being and not running to all the camps offered to truly have some down time!
Jeffrey is doing a football camp and conditioning camp this summer...he says it's time to tuffin' up so I think this will be a way for that to happen! He has grown up so fast in this past year...his voice is super deep, and our whole family is rejoicing to see that he has three armpit hairs now! It's a big deal y'all, and we are all proud for him! Little sister keeps checking her pits hoping that she'll feel grown up as well...bless her heart she just doesn't understand how good she has it now! Jeffrey is also doing a guitar camp this week...he is getting pretty good! In July Jeffrey is going with the youth group and choir on a mission trip to New York City. They will be there a week doing a VBS for a church there, and helping build a playground. I can't believe he is old enough to go by himself that far away, but it will be good to see him experience God working in the city through the things they do!
Jacob is doing a piano camp this week and will be going to children's church camp later in July. He loves playing the piano and fills our home with beautiful music every day! That boy makes me cry with his sweet-melancholy tunes! I will have to figure out how to record and get that on here someday!
Julia is also doing piano camp this week, and may be doing a ballet class later in the summer. Right now though she and Jacob are busy building forts in the game room, playing games, playing school, and getting outside between the rain storms for some trampoline and tree climbing time! We also hope to get some grandparent time this summer. The kids love going to "cousin camp" and spending some time making great memories with their grandparents!
I have been continuing to study for my real estate classes, and have as of this morning finished two of the courses and made A's on the test. Only three more to go and then it's state exam time! We are going to our friend's cabin in Colorado this year for our summer vacation. It will be so nice to get away and just be together in beautiful Colorado! I will make sure and post pictures from all the fun this summer, and from the highlights of our school year soon!
Summertime is one of my all time favorites because...well the kids are home from school. So many mommas out there seem to be frustrated with summer because it means they have to BE with their kids, but I just love having all my little...or not so little anymore... chicks around me, and not having a real schedule! Now don't get me wrong there are times over these past two weeks that I have thought...okay I'm tired of hearing the fussing, but that's part of growing up and learning to get along. The biggest bummer so far is that I was sick last week. So sick that I literally was in bed for several days with high fever...ugh! We have all had more sickness this past month in our family, but I think we are on the mend now and ready to enjoy getting out of the house and actually doing summery type things. The other different thing about this summer so far is that it has rained for like the past 20 something days now, and we have only been in the 80's! We've been in a drought for the past couple of years and it is so nice to have plenty of rain to cool things off and keep things green! Some hate all this rain and complain, but I say bring it on...just keep the humidity please!
We try and keep summer simple by just being and not running to all the camps offered to truly have some down time!
Jeffrey is doing a football camp and conditioning camp this summer...he says it's time to tuffin' up so I think this will be a way for that to happen! He has grown up so fast in this past year...his voice is super deep, and our whole family is rejoicing to see that he has three armpit hairs now! It's a big deal y'all, and we are all proud for him! Little sister keeps checking her pits hoping that she'll feel grown up as well...bless her heart she just doesn't understand how good she has it now! Jeffrey is also doing a guitar camp this week...he is getting pretty good! In July Jeffrey is going with the youth group and choir on a mission trip to New York City. They will be there a week doing a VBS for a church there, and helping build a playground. I can't believe he is old enough to go by himself that far away, but it will be good to see him experience God working in the city through the things they do!
Jacob is doing a piano camp this week and will be going to children's church camp later in July. He loves playing the piano and fills our home with beautiful music every day! That boy makes me cry with his sweet-melancholy tunes! I will have to figure out how to record and get that on here someday!
Julia is also doing piano camp this week, and may be doing a ballet class later in the summer. Right now though she and Jacob are busy building forts in the game room, playing games, playing school, and getting outside between the rain storms for some trampoline and tree climbing time! We also hope to get some grandparent time this summer. The kids love going to "cousin camp" and spending some time making great memories with their grandparents!
I have been continuing to study for my real estate classes, and have as of this morning finished two of the courses and made A's on the test. Only three more to go and then it's state exam time! We are going to our friend's cabin in Colorado this year for our summer vacation. It will be so nice to get away and just be together in beautiful Colorado! I will make sure and post pictures from all the fun this summer, and from the highlights of our school year soon!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Field Trip to Sharkarosa
Today the second graders went on a field trip to a place in Pilot Point called Sharkarosa. It was possibly gonna rain today, but it turned out to be a beautiful dry and sunny day! I didn't go since I've been doing my real estate courses this week...bummer! But Marv did get to go! He took the day off to be with her and get out into the country. Mrs. Slomosky was very thankful to have a dad going since her group of boys can get a little rowdy. Julia was just glad that Marv decided to put her before his work for this fun day in the outdoors. I love you Marv for being the most amazing dad to our three precious babies!!!
The drive is just amazing!!!! Rolling hills, trees, and country (we drove through there on our way to camp in Oklahoma) so you know Marv was in heaven just getting to be one with nature in his truck! Some how he took all the dirt roads home so it took him alot longer to get home than it took the buses to make it home! He's got the country fever bad y'all!
I forgot to send the camera, but I know if this one mom goes... there will always be some excellent pictures coming my way...she is a great photographer and sure enough had some pictures emailed to me within an hour after school today! Thanks Cyndy!!!
There were all kinds of neat wild animals there, and from the pictures it looks like Julia and Marv made friends with a camel! I love all the fun faces that Julia is making as they are trying to get just one decent picture! Can't you just see the little thoughts buzzin' through her freckled faced brain as she tries to not be too concerned with where the camel is!
I'm so thankful for fun days like this...great memories are made and time away from the worksheets are awesome! Glad y'all had fun Marv and Julia...momma will make sure and make it next time!
The drive is just amazing!!!! Rolling hills, trees, and country (we drove through there on our way to camp in Oklahoma) so you know Marv was in heaven just getting to be one with nature in his truck! Some how he took all the dirt roads home so it took him alot longer to get home than it took the buses to make it home! He's got the country fever bad y'all!
I forgot to send the camera, but I know if this one mom goes... there will always be some excellent pictures coming my way...she is a great photographer and sure enough had some pictures emailed to me within an hour after school today! Thanks Cyndy!!!
There were all kinds of neat wild animals there, and from the pictures it looks like Julia and Marv made friends with a camel! I love all the fun faces that Julia is making as they are trying to get just one decent picture! Can't you just see the little thoughts buzzin' through her freckled faced brain as she tries to not be too concerned with where the camel is!
I'm so thankful for fun days like this...great memories are made and time away from the worksheets are awesome! Glad y'all had fun Marv and Julia...momma will make sure and make it next time!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Marv and his fine china
Okay there are only 11 cups here...I think one is in the dish washer...and I am having trouble getting my pics to sit up straight!!! UGH :)
My man cracks me up! He is so obsessed with everything country, and has been probably since he was born, but went through a time when he seemed to be content with the good ole concrete city life...about 3 years ago Marv started voicing a need, want, dream, and big desire to move back to the country with horses, land, tractors, ATVs, fish ponds, barns, and even stickers!!! He misses the experiences that he had growing up raising all kinds of animals. Most people don't realize what a true country boy he is. I remember when we first meet comparing how we each grew up out in the boons and although thankful didn't really think that we would end up there again. Well as they say you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. When Marv got his pick up truck he started itchin' for a horse trailer to pull behind it (ever heard of the book if you give a mouse a cookie?). Well we don't have the trailer yet, or even the horse to put in it, but we are praying hard about that!!! SOMEDAY!!!!
Marv's other favorite thing in life other than God, family, and his truck is BBQ! And not just any BBQ, but CHEAP BBQ at Dickie's!!! He LOVES LOVES LOVES the "fine china" (a.k.a. big, free, yellow cups) that we collect from each Sunday meal that we have there. He pointed out to me just yesterday that we now officially have a whole set of 12 of HIS fine china. He was seriously overjoyed by this!!! I'm so thankful it doesn't take much to make this man of mine happy.
I love you babe and I know that God will reveal his plan for our future in the country!!! Until then we will just keep on watching old westerns and dreaming of the day our dreams will come true! wink wink
Monday, May 07, 2007
Great Weekend
Well we are finishing off a wonderful three day weekend! The kids had off today I guess for a teacher's work day, or something....I'm not sure, but who cares.....we got the day off! Saturday we all got up fairly early and had cinnamon rolls before the boys headed off to work in some yards to help Jeffrey raise money for the youth mission trip to New York this summer. Julia and I stayed home in our pj's and caught up on dancing with the stars, and american idol...we like them all, but hope Blake will win even though Jordin is getting big votes from the Keller Williams group since her parents are KW agents. Julia and I then got done up to go and sign up for my correspondence classes through the Champions real estate school! I'm so excited to finally have the time and dough to get these classes done....once I finish the five courses then all that's left is to take the state exam! I'm already all most done with one of the classes after just getting started Saturday night! The classes that I have been taking at Marv's office the past 5 weeks have really taught me so much and will help greatly with these classes! I will be able to do this and still be the momma that I want so I can't wait to get started. It will be so much fun to help my friends, family, and clients find the home of their dreams!
The boys came home after stopping off at Lowe's to get some supplies to fix a towel rack, stopped up tub, and toilet paper holder and watched some rented John Wayne movies....the girls were super happy to have something better to do and not have to get in on that one! Julia and I went to see K'lee McKinney's dance recital....fun and man are they good! We had fun singing Hannah Montana and stopping off for a bite at our all time favorite...Sonic!
Sunday was a wonderful day of worship and family time. Jacob and Julia had their choir musical..KINGDOM QUEST. It was a musical about putting on the full armor of God. Jacob had two solos and Julia was on the dance team. They both did super and really enjoyed the choir this year. We came home and caught up on some planet earth on tv...if you haven't seen this on discovery channel...check it out....God's creation IS so amazing!!!
Monday...today....we slept till all most the crack of noon when our eyeballs were just about poppin' out of our head and our tummies and backs were hurting from all the deep breathing! It was good to catch up on much needed rest! Daddy made us awesome waffles which we drown in peanut butter and syrup! We then caught up on laundry and watched Flicka...makes us want horses soooo bad! Someday! Kids still had piano, guitar, and dance lessons so from 3:30 on it felt like a normal Monday. Marv just got home from trying out a BSF bible study...he is gonna start next fall and try and do all 7 years...I may just have to join him....sounds really great!
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