This Rugged JoyFull Home

"When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad." Maria Favorite Things "The Sound of Music" Things that make me happy... just a few of them... 1. Twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep, zzz, zzzzz, zzzzzz. The last one I had was 2 decades ago. 2. Rising up every morning with my kids lying down next to me all cuddled up. I smell their heads, lay may hands on them to pray for them. 3. Two freshly cooked eggs sunny side up pls. 4. A cup of instant coffee that we have at the pantry now, one that says "7-in-one." 5. Scents of things: L'occitane hand cream and their Verbena cologne, Johnson's liquid baby bath color blue and white, Chloe rose parfum, my husband's outfit after a day's work. 6. Scents of herbs in my greenhouse: tarragons, oreganos, rosemarys 7. The thought of "shopping....

Just recently, I came across this short poem that left me quiet for a awhile and thought about how my children view me as a Mom. This untitled poem is a sure tear-jerker but rubbed in a good way. If I had my child to raise over again, I would finger-paint more, and point the finger less. I’d do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know to care more. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d stop playing serious and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging. I’d build self esteem first and the house later. I’d teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love Anonymous

Some common misconceptions about our homeschooled kids are that they may lack socialization skills, may not adapt to group activities, may be too shy, introvert, anti-social, weird of sort, and so on. But my patient reaction would be that they should try to start a conversation with them and see for themselves. Minyong (boy 4), is the type who always blended with the swarm. You would find him seated with a group of bigger kids just goofing around,and "chasing varmints near and far."* Minyang (girl 9), is the type who would easily make friends and talked to people eye to eye.She goes to church with her colorful Sunday journal and highlighters jotting down notes.(That's without having to be told.) She blended just as well with kids of different ages. Minyang being comfortable performing with her cousins CJ and Clarence. The boys give her the moral support she needed. I'm wondering at times if she had ever becom...

First, what is a "staycation?" "A staycation (also spelled stay-cation , stacation , or staykation ) (in the United Kingdom: stoliday or holistay ) is a neologism for a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions. Staycations have achieved high popularity in the US during the financial crisis of 2007–2010 in which unemployment levels and gas prices were high. Staycations also became a popular phenomenon in the UK in 2009 as a weak pound made overseas holidays significantly more expensive.The term was added to the 2009 version of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary .( From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Common activities of a staycation include use of the backyard pool , visits to local parks and museums , and attendance at local festivals . Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start and end...

One of the greatest rewards of being a stay-at-home mom is that you get to witness on a 24/7 basis how your baby or babies metamorphose from being "cute" to "superlatively cute". The development of their speech is critical especially for boys who tend to develop it later than girls. My girl who’s now 7 y/o, started mumbling one-syllabic words and humming familiar melodies when she was just 4 1/2mos. When she turned 1y/o, she could talk just like any of us adults around her. My boy, on the other hand, was the total opposite of his Ate. When my boy turned 1y/o, he could only say "Mommy" and "Daddy" and a few indistinctive words which probably meant I want this, I hate this, give me this, I’m pissed off…usually followed by fits of crying.  Now that my boy turned 2, things have changed a lot with his speech. He would make sure every now and then that his message would come across and taken seriously no matter how they sounded. Unfamiliar the sounds ...

Conversations with “Mr. Noah,” Son of “Funny-Daddy Clown” Originally Written in July 29, 2008 Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee poh-keee! poh-keee!pokeee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him). Mom : Yes honey (puts red pen down and stops checking Ate Euy’s Math lifepac), that looks funny (pretending to look on the small dvd screen and tried to look “excited” like Noah). Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee “poh-keee! poh-keee!pokee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him) (this second time louder and a lil bit annoyed) Mom : Oh! That’s a very pretty dance number anak, I love it too…( again, pretending to look on the small dvd screen and tried to look “excited” like Noah). Noah : Mommy!!!Mommy!!! Meee shee “poh-keee! poh-keee!pokee! Gee-tawrr! Gee-tawr” (pointing to the dvd screen right in front of him) (this third time louder and a lil bit annoyed that he knows Mommy is just pretendi...

August 8, 2008 AVAILABILITY / AVAILABLE Definitions : -Qualified and willing to be of service or assistance -Capable of bringing about a beneficial result or effect (www.thefreedictionary.com) “AVAILABILITY,” a character trait awarded to Eunice Bethany when she was on K-5 during their Moving-up Ceremony last July 28, 2007 at The Master’s Academy Homeschool, Christ’s Commission Fellowship 3rd Flr. Auditorium, St. Francis Square Bldg, Mandaluyong City. Text was written and read by Mom. At TMA Homeschool we believe in honoring the parents as we received recognition on the same day for “surviving” the entire school year “unscathed.” We also believe in honoring our children for putting up with us, parents. Kidding aside, here’s a verse from the Bible that continues to inspire us to school at home where our classroom is the world: “And He (Jesus) went down with them (His parents) and came to Nazareth , and He continued in subjection to them; and...