A day at the park....
In Seattle...
Blessings,
Kim
Monday, October 29, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
366-296-300
Okay, I actually went out today just to shoot pictures! My hubs and I are in Seattle. He is on business and I get to hang out with him. I had time to run around the streets of Seattle and shoot some pics.
So, the first pictures is of a bouquet of flowers. Interesting that they put a head of cabbage in the bouquet but it is so pretty. I just saw some cabbage in a picture of Kristal's garden.
The next pic is of some blown glass ornaments. Seattle is very artsy and blown glass is a trademark of the city. Next, the bouquet of orchids and lastly, the beautiful change of colors in the trees.
Blessings,
Kim
Sunday, October 21, 2012
1000 Gifts Plus 366-293-295
Thanking Jesus for the fun weekend for my boy! He did a 5K Mud Run! Lots of mud and lots of exercise!
Still counting......
453. Fun exercise and lots of mud...
454. Cloudy days...
455. My boy running!
456. Busy weekend but lots of fun...
457. Messy games with teens from home school group...
458. Sparkly pedicure...
459. Time with Army girl : )
460. Quiet night after a busy weekend...
Blessings,
Kim
Thursday, October 18, 2012
366-292
Although the calendar says October 18th and it is technically Fall, we have had some summer weather the last week. No fall colors in this post! The never ending summer!
Blessings,
Kim
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
366-289 Plus 1000 Gifts....
He must increase and I must decrease John 3:30
How do I do that?? Only by the Spirit of God is this attainable. I have been meditating on this for the last couple of days and I have come to the conclusion that it simply means, "Die to yourself." I say it all the time, you probably hear it all the time but the act of doing is much harder. It is that little voice (Holy Spirit) that tells you to stop yelling or to stop arguing and then you out of obedience STOP! That is dying to self. It is putting the other person needs or wants ahead of yours. It is not getting your own way! Ouch! It is giving in to your pride and selfish desires. Letting go of all your wants! Really, have you watched a toddler? They are really cute and so fun to be around but if you really watch them you will notice the subtle resemblance of full grown adults wanting their own way. Some of us can hide it a little better but it is there under the surface. Next time you are around a 2 year old take a little more time to really watch them. It is a little scary. But rest assured, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God is working and can change your life!
Praise Jesus!
Still counting.....
441. God's Word...
442. Looking at a college for my boy...
443. Praising Jesus for Christian colleges where the Word is taught!
444. A nice visit with my friend Chris...
445. Dinner at her new house...
446. Time with my boy...
447. Lunch on the pier...
448. Vanilla shakes in October....
449. The ocean....
450. Normal school days...
451. Orange...
452. Fall decorations...
453. Fall flowers...
Blessings,
Kim
Saturday, October 13, 2012
366-285-288
Okay, I am having so much fun playing around with my camera. I have been shooting in manual (thanks Denise)! She encouraged me over last weekend to take the next step. I have been shooting in aperature and shutter for awhile but now I have branched out to manual. Not as difficult as I thought!
These pictures are sooc!!! No edit! Just added my name! Yay!
Blessings,
Kim
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Why I Home School
After starting my son's Senior year I have been looking back a lot lately.
Why, did I start homeschooling? Some people really have these big stories of how the Lord called them to home school. I have no doubt that it is a calling but in the beginning that was just not my story.
I started for selfish reasons....I just did not want to give up my child for x amount of hours a day. I loved being with him.
I wanted to enjoy the moments of time that someone else would have gotten.
When I started, I thought just Kindergarten. We will see... I was scared to death.. scared I would forget something, scared there would be holes in his education. The year went by so fast and I loved every minute. Honestly, I can say every minute because I really did. I loved teaching him all the fun Kindergarten stuff. Taking care of his baby sister and taking them on fun field trips. The topper was when I taught him to read. I felt like a million bucks.
After Kindergarten graduation I knew this was for our family... I did not doubt it until around Jr High again, I got scared.. am I doing all I am supposed to do.. am I doing it right? What about high school??? Scary words, right??
The Lord graciously gave me more time with them.. I learned, we learned...and we all grew and are still learning. In fact that is really what it is all about... a lifetime of learning.
I really know my kids... not always pleasant but I really know them and they really know me.. again not always pleasant.
I have learned a lot! A lot more than I did in school.. maybe because I have done the grade several times after teaching the kids.
One of the biggest thing I learned was there is NO formula! What works for one family may or may not work for the other family. And please homeschoolers, dont judge. Everyone is differernt everyone has different ideas, needs, temperments, time etc. And you may have to change your entire curriculum from one kid to another.. it may work great for one but not so much for the other.
The thing I have enjoyed the most is sitting with my kids and reading great literature. Great books that make me and my kids think. Questions, talking, laughing, disagreeing, picking them apart. Some home schoolers would never read some of the books we have read or are reading. That is up to them, their decision. But again, dont judge me because we do. Unless, God tells me it is wrong then I will continue.
14 years... a lot of time... a lot of sacrifice. some tears and a lot of happy moments. Would I change them? Some yes, mostly my stupid attitude. My sinful nature peeks its ugly head way too many times. That is one thing I have learned.. when I am trying to discipline my kids... I hear the Lord say that is what I am trying to tell you..
One thing I would suggest is to surround yourself with Godly mentors. I had a great friends to guide me, listen to my worries, bend their ear, bounce ideas etc. To be honest, I still do this with my friends. Now, we just talk about teenager stuff. That is another post.
One downfall I know home schooling mommas do is compare...don't we do that a lot? I mean really... why do we do this to ourselves? Pray, ask God to lead you and make your decisions. Learn and grow from each other but don't compare yourself to the other. AND DON'T COMPARE YOUR KIDS TO OTHER KIDS! That is a dangerous trap from the devil.
We have had many wonderful years in our home. I am so thankful to Jesus for my children and for the blessings of home schooling. It is not always easy but it is always worth the sacrifice.
These are some old pictures from around 5 years ago. Loving those baby faces!
Many Blessings,
Kim
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
366-282 Plus 1000 Gifts......
What a week and a crazy season in our lives. We are busy trying to get through school and all the activities of two teenagers. Whoever says home schoolers are not socialized has never been to my house! And I am sure most of yours! : )
I mentioned before that I am slowly reading through Ann Voskamp's book "1000 Gifts." I have to be in a place with no distractions and really get into what I am reading. This last week I had that chance and one quote that really got me was "Here me say Thank-You! Live a life of yes to Christ and no to worry."
All my life I have been someone who worries. Ugh! I hate that about myself but it is true. I have developed a bad habit of going right to worry.
So, by counting my gifts, I am trying to see joy everywhere. I am choosing to see the gifts and to live in the moment. Be where I am...
425. Brian Head weekend...
426. Changing of the leaves...
427. Cool crisp mountain air...
428. Lunch with my step mom...
429. Kissing on my daddy...
430. Time with friends playing card games...
431. Dinner and laughter with same friends...
432. Hair cut in the mountains...
433. Running with my girl...
434. Writing class in my home...
435. Saying no and being okay with it...
436. Looking over old prayer list and seeing answered prayers and growth!
437. Denise coming out to visit...
438. My boys pictures!
439. Learning something new on my camera (thanks Denise)
440. LOVE....covers a multitude of sins...
Many Blessings,
Kim
Sunday, October 7, 2012
My Girlie Girl!
While I was waiting for my boy I took some of my girl. I like the one on the top right and top left the best.
Blessings,
Kim
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
366-275 & 276
What a great weekend we had. We headed to our cabin and was able to catch the fall colors! Saturday was THE BEST day I have had in so long. We hung out and had a leisure morning and then headed out on the quads. Later we met up with our friends for dinner at the pizza place in town and then back to the cabin for a night of NERTZ!!!
Blessings,
Kim
364-274 Plus 1000 Gifts
Well, it has been a few weeks since I have counted my gifts. We got back from vacation, had house guest-TWICE and started school.
So the list goes on...
411. My sweet friend coming to visit all the way from down South.
412. A trip to Magic Mountain with my sweet friend.
413. My 14th year of home schooling starting! And yes, I am still alive. Not alway sane but alive : )
414. My girlie girl wanting to run (just like her momma) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!
415. Piano music being played again by my boy.
416. My boy
417. Home schooling (PRAISING JESUS FOR THIS) Because even in the hard times, I would not change the time spent with my kids for the world!
418. Great books... this one is for Denise... great books is the key!
419. Denise coming next week!
420. Finishing a great book with my boy... 10 Second Rule! Loved it! And yes, I still read to my boy. He can read the book in half the time that I do but I make him wait so we can read it together. I guess I won't read to him next year : (
Keep Counting...
Blessings,
Kim
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