Our First Week

We have finished our first week of school. Only 35 more to go, LOL!!! We began our week by studying Moses. Of course, I rented the movie. I know it's 18 hours long but it's still a good movie. A lot of the information in it was useful to us especially the brick making scences. We use visuals around here and C. B. DeMille gave us a good one.



We did go ahead and watch the whole movie one evening since we will be talking about the plagues, the Ten Commandments and the parting of the Red Sea.
Math is a review for the first couple of weeks: addition, subtraction, place value. Manipulative's are used regularly in this course. Mom needs them! I also ran across this website http://www.cheqsoft.com/mathsown.html it's a free down load.

Spelling gets right into the lessons. Amanda had to start her journal, dictionary skills and a spelling test. She made an 88 which is pretty good since my child spells EVERYTHING Phonetically. She will even have to learn how to spell the books of the Bible this year, she missed Leviticus. "LAVITECUS" but that's OK.

In English we are taking my cousin Nancy's advice and beginning with writing. Amanda wrote a letter to her brother and in the process had to learn the 5 parts of a letter. Heading, greeting, body, closing and signature. Next week she will have to write a letter giving instructions about something using "Time Order Words". I know this will thrill her! How do you make English fun??

Her handwriting lessons this year of course will be cursive but her book also includes US state information. I am excited about this! And if you think cursive handwriting is easy, think again, especially the way BJU wants students to form the letters. I combine cursive and printing when I write.

In Reading this year it will help her, well, with reading??? Vocabulary will have to be looked up and written down. Skill Station day that will help with phonics, recognizing settings in stories, reading maps, tall tales, main ideas and morals of stories.

The first semester will be Science. History will be after Christmas. In Science we went over the origins of the moon. Creation and Evolution. Has anyone ever heard of the "Break away theory"? Of course we had visuals in this subject also. That's key words for soccer and tennis balls. Then we proceeded to make a huge mess by making a paper mache moon.

We began today by making breakfast, Break away bread, which was part of our science lesson. Amanda helped cut the biscuits in half, dip them into melted butter and roll them into sugar and cinnamon. The picture of it looks gross but it was very good!

It was a very good week and I think Amanda enjoyed it. I'm tired and heading out to eat now. It's been rough week on Mom. I've added pictures from our week, hope you enjoy!

Oh, this picture is for Michael and Melissa...I didn't want to leave them out. Miss YA!!!

8 Things about me

Dale over at Riches and Grace tagged me so, here it goes:

The rules of Tag are:

Each person posts the rules before their list, then list 8 things about themselves.
At the end of the post that person tags and links to 8 other people
and visits those people's spaces and comments letting them know that they have been tagged, and to come and read the post, so they know what they have to do.

Eight things about me:

1. I am short.
2. I can wear a kids size 3 shoe.
3. I wish that I could sing.
4. I do not like going to Wal-Mart or the Post Office.
5. I wear a toe ring. REBEL!!!
6. I have my ears pierced 9 times, 5 on the left, 4 on the right.
7. I had a dog named Tiga.
8. I don't know 8 people I can send this to!

These people have now been tagged:
Cherie at Heart2Heart Conversations http://heart2heartconversations.blogspot.com/
John at His blog http://jssorc.wordpress.com/
Leslie at Recovering Noah http://www.recoveringnoah.blogspot.com/
Cousin Nancy at Not all who wander http://imransomed.blogspot.com/
Melissa at Servant2Servant http://melkrieger.blogspot.com/
Mike at Shallow Mind http://thoughtsfromashallowmind.blogspot.com/
Michael at The best of all is... http://mcoopjr.blogspot.com/
Kenya at Uncomfort Zone http://kenyablack.wordpress.com/

WoW, I guess I did know 8 people.

A little Self-Indulgence

It is 12:05pm in the afternoon, it seems like I have been spending quite a bit of time on this here computer since we have finished all of our home projects. Except for the back yard...I want the Garden of Eden back there and that will take some time.

Next week we will begin our 2nd year at Cooper Academy. I am so excited! probably more so than Amanda. Mike won't be at home on Monday to help begin our year, he was last year. He mentioned that we could start school early so he could pray with us then head off to work...6:00am??? I don't think so.

I have been going thru a Beth Moore study David, 90 days with a Heart Like His. I'm not finished by any means. I am on Day 31. It has been very insightful and I am totally enjoying finding out more about David. Of course we all know about "David and Goliath", "Bethsheba", keeping the sheep and being the youngest child. But there is more than those stories.

This past week, no, this WHOLE month has been really tough for me! Why, I don't know. I have some pent up anger, I am finding it hard to determine if my "perception" is reality or if it's off. Am I just imagining things or are they real??? I feel like I'm in a pit or cave and cannot get out.
Like I am being persecuted from all sides!

While going thru my study last night I read about David hiding from King Saul. And hiding, and hiding. Anyway I came across Psalm 142. In my bible it says "A Plea for Relief from Persecutors". It really touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes.

1 I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Then it dawned on me: I have been so worried about trying to find who I'm suppose to minister to, what I am "suppose" to do and with whom. Maybe I'm the one who has been persecuting myself?
I have a daughter and husband here at home that probably need to be ministred to. That can be my mission field. And as long as people see: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control in me and my family then maybe I've done my job?

Now, is that self-indulgence or what a Mom is "suppose" to do?

After thought

P.S. Thought I would post a picture to show Wild Hair!

WOW WEE

GFA Headquarters in Carrollton
I'm thinking about putting signs like this up around our church!
Michael's new house
Man, what a week! I love roller coasters and this week has been one but it wasn't as fun as the
Titan! Saturday, Aug. 18th came faster than I expected! This whole week has been truly emotional, miscommunications, hurt feelings, true observations and sending my son off to GFA.

It is only 76 miles from my house to where he lives, One hour and 22 minutes. It would be longer for me since I would get lost. In fact by the time we got home Saturday, my head and stomach hurt so bad from the riding, road construction and the driving that my husband seems to think is a nascar race! I was totally praying for a fire proof suit! You know what I mean?

Anyway...

For 18 years Michael has been a joy...it isn't as though he still isn't it's just he isn't that little boy with the wild hair. Who was really kind of dutchy when he talked. Whatcha doing Michael? I'm wooking. Your what? I'm wooking out the window.

So many years it was just he and I. Mike worked a lot so it was us. I couldn't go anywhere without him. To the store, to bathroom, outside...NO WHERE!



It's really pretty funny since I do not want him to be a "moma's boy". I married one of those and for the first 5, 6 years of our marriage "the other woman" in my marriage was my MIL. That's another story...know what I mean?




I am hard on my kids. I will be the first to admit it. I love them dearly! I don't love one more than the other but I love them differently. I want to push them and make sure that they are not lazy, that they take the initiative in things, to be the best that they can be in whatever it is they do. To make sure they are respectful and loving.

I have recently read about Hannah and Samuel. How she longed for a child and prayed for one, finally God granted her what she wanted. She made a deal...If you give me a child I will give him to You. Haven't we all made deals with God at some point in our life?


I remember going into labor with Michael and saying "God if you get me through this I will NEVER do this again!!! I tried to keep my part of the bargain until 10 years later! It takes me a long time to forget pain!! LOL!!!
Anyway...

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. (1Sa 1:24)
And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. (1Sa 1:25)
And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. (1Sa 1:26)
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: (1Sa 1:27)
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. (1Sa 1:28)

It's time to let go, I know...he's 18. But he will always be that cute little boy with the wild hair and a little dutchy!!!


Everything will be alright! He's only 76 miles, one hour and 22 minutes away. I Love ya, Michael and if you need to come home I'll be there asap...I mean, Dad will be driving up there asap. The next time I come up I'll have to take Dramamine!

Elvis is dead and so is my grass...

Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11. People remember where they were when Kennedy was shot. I remember being 10 years old sitting in front of the tv watching reruns of "The Dick Van Dyke Show".
Mind you, they were RERUNS, in black and white. The year was 1977 and school was about to start in a few weeks. While watching my wholesome entertainment the show was interrupted to bring me this terrible news...Elvis has left the building for good.
Now, lets keep in mind that I am 10 years old, aka Drama Queen. My best bud called, she had just heard the news also. We sat on the phone for quite some time crying...until our moms made us get off. We were both Elvis fans, we had him on our walls, on the record players. You know, the big black CD's.
To this day, I laugh about that! I cannot believe we were so into Elvis at the age of 10! I look at my own daughter and she likes High School musical and stuff like that. But as far as having boys posters hanging in her room?? Nope or even having a crush on anyone...we can Thank God for that. I don't think I can do that just yet!

Now onto my grass...it is dying and the city insist on tearing up my lawn every chance they get! First it was putting in the new hydrant, now it's to run pipe from the hydrant, under the road and up the street.

These guys have had it rough! This week the temperature has been in the 100's plus the humidity makes it unbearable!
See the brown places in the yard.

Here are a few pictures of a Praise and Worship band here around town called Common Saints . They are pretty good so if you get a chance to check them out, please do so! You will be blessed by their music and meeting them. Not to mention the boy playing the bongos was so cute!!!

Keyboard, Mouse, Keyboard, Mouse

For the past two days we have been without Internet service! Keyboard, mouse...help me!

I have had withdrawals!!!! I had so many emails (mostly junk) but still it's always nice when the homeschool websites send me something!!

Tonight is the first scrimage between Dallas and Indianapolis! Go Cowboys!

We have one week until we take Michael to GFA. Guess I need to google his new address and make sure there are no "predators" around his area! Ok, that's too much Momma, isn't it? What is that called "helicopter mommy" because they "hover". LOL!!

This is cool and thought I would share it: My mom works for a school district around here and a new woman started this week with mom. She happens to be a preachers wife and graduated from Criswell College plus got her Masters from Texas A&M. Now how good is that? a Godly Aggie!!!

Anyway, she was talking to mom and mentioned that she wanted to find a missionary to support. Well, Mom being the proud "nana" that she is told her about Michael and Gospel for Asia. Lo and behold, this woman who has NEVER met Michael is going to send money to support him. I did meet her one day, she seems like a very nice lady. Mom said she's glad to get someone like her in the office and she thinks they will be able to work good together.

After some fine tuning...here is what our 2007-08 Homeschool Schedule looks like:

I know, it looks kind of BORING but during those hours many different things will be happening, projects, computer games, learning, we even have to make bricks from mud and straw in our Bible lesson. Not to mention the Co Op all day on Fridays.

We are only doing 4 subjects a day...it's all I can handle!

I really want to try making a lapbook, Amanda really likes to make things/crafts so maybe this would be a great way to do history or science.

I truly think Amanda will break through this year. I will continue to pray Blessings over her so she can actually witness her progress! Lord, just don't let me mess her up!

OOOPPSS, Cowboys are back...see ya!

I can't even imagine

Can you imagine that in one moment your whole life can change?

I can't even imagine and don't ever want to. Tonight a wife and mother will spend a night alone in her bed. Wake up and think, try to go back to sleep only to wake up and think some more.

Tonight a young woman who is two weeks from going off to college is without a Dad. It breaks my heart that this friend of mine is going through this. I didn't hear about it until today and ran out to see her. I just had to find out if there wasn't some kind of mistake or if I could do anything.

I would have been there sooner but I got lost...what a goof!!

I don't know if he was saved or what he believed or if he even believed in God. It's odd that when someone is gone that question pops into your head. Shouldn't that be asked at some point before death? Some people would even say that it's none of your business.

But I can't help but wonder. I see Carolyn and pray that everything will be alright. I totally lost it in front of people tonight asking for prayer for her and her daughter...I don't normally do that...loose it.

I guess maybe in my old age I'm softening up. Maybe I look at my own children or husband and I can't even imagine one of them not being there. It would be like an arm or leg missing, well, not really but a huge chunk would be gone.

In one moment everything changes...

Please keep the Bolding family in your prayers.

1 Year Blog Anniversary

Tomorrow will be my one year blogging anniversary. Can you believe how fast a year goes by?

My oldest graduated in May and will be leaving for Gospel for Asia in 2 weeks. We bought him sheets, towels, passport to go to India, my little boy is grown up. Oh, in case you have decided to sponsor Michael, please do so and send in your $$$$$. As of right now he will be able to stay for 4 months!!
Gospel for Asia

We will begin our 2 year of . We have a schedule ready, lesson plans and I am so looking forward to it! Yes, it is scary and at times you want to pull your hair out! But when your child FINALLY gets something...it is so AMAZING!!!

So much has happened in a year...where do I start??? I began this "blog" as a way of keeping up with the kids, it was MY secret. A way of putting down feelings about anything and everything, a way of venting, a brain dump. Now come to find out there are more people than I thought who have blogs and I have been fortunate to be able to add them to my links. There goes my secret, LOL!!!

1)Mike is still doing the DBA thing
2) football season is about to start with NO marching band for us, boo hoo.
3)We got carpet!!! and painted the entire house.
4)Michael and I fixed the little storage building roof and floor.
5)Cornerstone is stronger than ever! Thank you God!!!
6)VBS turned out to be a wonderful time!
7)I have made new friends and hope to get to know them all even better.
8)We have LIVE music at church!!! BLESSING!!! Michael got to play the drums in the praise group, I knew those hours of drumming would pay off somehow!!!
9)Amanda has made new friends, which she is excited about! And most of them are homeschooled also.
10)Mike is coming together with like minded men who have become great friends and accountability partners.
11)and how could I forget...Melissa
Wow!!! That's just 11 and I could go on!!!

Melissa is Michael's "friend"...I am secretly betrothing them...don't tell them!!! She is a wonderful, precious young lady that I have known since she was in the 7th grade. They "went
together" in Middle school. They were "team supremes" together for the white team and started hanging around again their senior year. If it is meant to be then God will get them to the point where they need to be. But I'm still secretly...Hey, one day I will be a grandma and I intend on having pretty grandbabies!!!

We would all go to Whataburger after football games and eat. She usually would get a pancake while we were "pigging" out. She will be attending DBU this year and will leave about 4 days before Michael. So be sure to keep her in your prayers.

It seems like everything is finally working the way it should. Mike mentioned today that "pioneer Buddy" wants to begin a class on Wednesday nights, which would be wonderful. I did mention to him that between all of the ministries, lifegroups and Oak street that he shouldn't forget his ministry at home. I know I'm being selfish again but he wasn't around and sober all the time when Michael was growing up. I just want stability for Amanda and a good relationship between him and his little girl!! I probably want that most of all for her, since I didn't have it.

One thing we decided to do as a family is take time in the evenings at 8pm to read a book together. We began reading With Daring Faith by Rebecca Henry Davis. It's a biography of Amy Carmichael. If you ever get the chance to read it, do so. This woman had DARING FAITH!!!
We haven't finished yet and I'm anxious to see what happens.

The next book on our list is John Bunyan: The Tinker of Bedford by William Deal. He is the man who wrote Pilgrims Progress.

The one thing I would like to figure out to do is design websites...it can not be that hard!! All you need are the right programs. Then I can make my blog "pretty"!! You see I'm cheap and don't want to pay someone to do it for me. But I am all about "pretty"!! Maybe during the course of the school year I will be able to achieve that.

Anyway, God has been so good to us! We are so fortunate to be where we are! We will see how fortunate we are after the first week of school and we are back to our routines! We've been staying up late and getting up late...I am WAY TO OLD to do that!

This week I have been worthless and I am totally regretting that feeling! Beginning Monday, we are getting back into the swing of things. So much happens in a year, wonder what I will be blogging about in August of 2008?