Changes and Happenings

TEXAS!!!!!  My DH approached me with a possible change in late October.  After prayers and negotiations, the final decision was made in mid November.  We are moving to Houston.   I grew up in Houston, but left 20 years ago.

Life has been crazy since.  Getting the house ready for sale, homeschool and Christmas.  Understand that for the last 18 months my DH has been commuting every week from Birmingham to Lafayette, LA.  This will continue until around March 2012.  He comes in on Friday (sometimes Saturday) and out by Sunday afternoons.  So all this is going on as I am a temporary single parent.

School has lost some of its momentum, but I am trying to get back on track.  As the holidays wind down, we are nearing the end of repairs, touch-ups and general prep for putting the house on the market.  Hopefully in the next week we will have decluttered and packed excess and "STAGED" the house.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep us in your prayers and thoughts.  Texas is set up different with homeschooling, so I am doing my due diligence now to know what to expect.  I get to travel with DH the week of my birthday to Houston and I can get the feel of the changes that have happened in the last 20 years and look at prospects for housing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!  Blessings and prayers to all.

Oh FATHER please walk with me

Feeling overwhelmed, out of control, impatient and can't put it in words.

I know in my heart and believe that the Lord will not forsake me or give me more than I can handle.  Lately I am feeling pulled, tugged and in a battle that the Lord can only take care of.

Curriculum, schedule and children not wanting to cooperate are only a small part of the issue.  My husband came to me a few weeks ago with a job offer he was offered, in another city and state.  An opportunity that is very good financially and would keep him from traveling so much.

Let me back up in time and let you know more.  Since July 2010, he has been traveling back and forth from home (Bham, AL) to a client's site in Lafayette, LA.  We see him an average of 24-36 hours every week and we have had him home for 9 weeks over this time for holidays and a vacation this year.  So putting us in one location together would be wonderful.

What's the problem?  Well, the house.  The housing market is mediocre and we still have in progress updates going on.  I have little time with homeschooling and our schedule, dad is not home to help, I need another set of hands to do most of the task (yes I am the handyman in the family) and two little girls who want to play, watch TV and do very little to help around the house.

I (we) need prayers for direction and blessing in what is to be decided and things to come.

On a better note, the girls are doing good this first year of school.  I am pleased but feel that we could do better in our school.  Gave the girls their report cards this morning and discussed why they did not receive A's but B's and B+'s.

I am a proud mom for their effort this first part of our first year at home.

Homeschooling Update

We are having a grand time.  We have our moments, but I do not regret this decision.  We have gone on field trips, taken classes, bonded and feel more relaxed.  This was not possible when they were in public school.

These items listed above mean more to me at this moment than completing 5 subjects in one day.  I am trying to find a better grammar, spelling and spanish learning program/lessons.  But we are moving forward and I feel making progress.  Not giant leaps but pretty good baby hops or stumble steps.

Blog Help!!!!

I am so blog dumb that I have not been blogging because of it.  I have so much to show and tell and no clue what to do.  So those who are following or listening.  Be patient.

I am finding some tutorials and tips on websites, but I feel even more lost when I read them.  My wonderful husband, who could probably figure this all out is not here but out working so that I may be able to do this great adventure.  I LOVE YOU, honey and miss you.

Unbloggily yours,

Lanelle (Mama Fry)

Routines - Part 2

I am finding that using a routine mind frame is easier to set up our "day".  It gets the 3 ladies of the house moving.  I admit that I am not "lazy", but when it comes to getting going, I am a PROCRASTINATOR.  I like having the routine, because it creates a set thing to do then move onto the next thing.

I joined FlyLady a few weeks ago, and I love this site.  I am still doing baby steps, and have not gotten very far, but I am making sure that I am consistent.  This site has you work on routine, rather than clean everything.  Little steps and then you see no need for the big steps as often.

Here is what our routine looks like now.

- Get up, dressed, beds made, teeth and hair brushed
- Eat breakfast
- Do household chores for that day (I split the chores into smaller segments, instead of the big segment we used to do on Saturday) Aleluia!!!!  It has worked wonders.
- Morning Class Routine begins at 8:30 (The girls love that they can begin some of their work if they get to the classroom before 8:30)  We have 10 things we do in the MCR and I still have 2 items to add
- Morning lessons
- Snack around 10:00
- Continue work if not finished
- Lunch around 12:00-12:30ish
- Read Alone - Quiet time for 30 minutes

NO TV till school work is complete but not until after 3:00.  If they are finished they can play before 3:00.

I have introduced one - two new things a week to help in the routine and to allow me time to make better preparations and planning.  As I have watched and listened to the girls over the last 5 weeks, I have had to reconsider some choices and items I did or did not want to do.  Remember that this is my first year homeschooling, but they have many years of public schooling in them (Ry 5th gr and Ash 3rd gr).  They are feeling underwhelmed and overwhelmed at the same time.  Things are different and we need this transition and gradual increase to best fit each child, and MOMMY.

Routine vs Schedule

Yes we have started school.  We started July 11th.  This was so that we could start slow and establish the change or difference between public schooling and home schooling.

Routine vs Schedule is what my biggest breakthrough has been these first days. Having a consistent routine and gradually adding to it has shown great progress.  I have tried to create routines that the girls would follow when they were in public school, so that they knew what was expected of them and to teach them responsibility.

Homeschooling changes the schedule, but we also change the routine.  We used to have to be at the bus stop before 6:50 every morning, but now they "can" sleep till 7:00.  This change has created a little less grumpiness.   I am still trying to establish a me routine for the morning, where I can have some exercise time and soul prepping for the day.  Have not got it down yet.  I am not setting a good example for being with the Lord and sometimes it shows with frustration and getting upset with them.

My goals for the next week will be to add 15-20 minutes of treadmill with working on a Bible Study I have been trying to do.

Please send your prayers!!!!

PS  I am still learning how to blog, so I will try to add buttons and links to my favorites soon.

It's all Greek

Charlotte Mason, Eclectic, text-book, living books, FIAR, etc.  It is all starts to sound like and feel like another language.  How to choose what is best for our family and individual child.  With a HF-ASD child, I am focusing on her first and then the other child.  Lapbooking and notebooking look interesting.  I can use this with some text-book, then do unit studies.  I'll try this first then grow from there.  But the choses will make your head spin.

Not on the Fence

I have spent many months in prayer.  Then months in research.  Now is the planning.  Wait and see what comes next.