Welcome!

Welcome to the KidsROCK Academy blog. This is a place of encouragement and inspiration. I am not an expert in all things, so I am eager to hear from those with different perspectives. Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comment lines.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Time is running out!

Our fundraiser is quickly coming to an end.  This is our first ever fundraiser designed to benefit the individual families of KidsROCK.  The economic slump has forced KidsROCK to raise rates.  We hate to do this to homeschoolers who feel the money pinch so severely as single income families who choose the added expense of educating their children at home.

In order to continue to offer the best support we can, the higher fees were coupled with the opportunity for families to raise money by selling cookie dough with coupon cards that serve the customer with discounts for 12 months! 

If cookies aren’t your thing, you can give the dough and/or the discount card as gifts.  Or you can keep the dough in the freezer for guests.

Before time runs out, please head over to the website to make an order.  You can type in a family name and the profits will help pay for the members of that family to participate in activities like Art History, Club PALS and Cooking Class.  If you want to support homeschoolers in general, you can type in KidsROCK or leave the sponsor field blank and the money will go to running KidsROCK and scholarships.

Your order makes a difference!  Our deadline is December 2.  Please consider making a delicious cookie dough purchase, and then you can use the discount card to pay for itself!  Help us reach our goal of providing support and enrichment through community for homeschool families!!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Registration

We’ve got some fun planned for the last month of 2010.  Be sure to register by the first of the month so that you don’t miss out on a single minute!

First thing on the December agenda is to finalize all cookie sales.  The goal is for KidsROCK families to participate in supportive and enriching activities within the community of fellow homeschoolers for free, or as inexpensively as possible.  If you love a KidsROCKer, please consider purchasing some cookie dough that comes with a 12 month discount in that family’s name before December 2.  All orders and money must be turned in by that deadline.  We have worked to make this as easy as possible by setting up the information and order options on the website.  You can also call your KidsROCK family to make an order, or send an order through snail mail to the address on the order page.

Lego Club meets each Wednesday except the one before Christmas this month.  The brick master can choose to bring a creation from home to show-and-tell, and then the kids use the Club supplies to complete the week’s mission.  Cost is $4 per child at the first meeting of the month or $2 per child per week.

On December 7 we have the first of three Drama classes.  The classes are free and the kids will be learning all sorts of acting skills. 

On the 10th of the month is our town tour to the optometrist.  We will tour the offices and get an opportunity to ask questions.  It is also free!  Gotta love the free stuff, right?  The class is limited in size.

On the same day, we celebrate the return—by popular demand—of Art History Class.  Anyone whose been able to attend one of these awesome classes knows that calls for celebration!  We will be learning about Norman Rockwell this month.  This class is limited in size and costs $3 per participant—see that?  Parents have the option to get creative!!

Moms’ Night Out is on December 13.  I sure don’t get to have a lot of time as just a lady, so this is a real treat for me personally.  I enjoy the moms in KidsROCK so tremendously, that I really look forward to just hanging out and chatting without an agenda and without interruptions.  Meet us at Hart’s Cafe for a break from it all!  The cost is just what you order at the restaurant.

If you are going to have an entry in our second annual History Faire on January 10, the theme this year is US History.  The deadline for registration and the $10 fee is December 11 and the due date for the outline is the 27th.  If you are just wanting to show your support, attendance is free and the registration deadline is January 1.

What a great month!!  You can get all the information and registration options at our website.  Join us!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A riddle

There are three light switches and only one of them controls a light bulb in another room.  You must figure out which switch it is.  You may turn on and off all the switches as many times as you like, but you may only go into the room with the light bulb once.

How will you do it?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Come on, Tooth Fairy

My daughter has earned herself a reputation for ripping loose teeth out of her head before the tooth is really ready to come out.  More than once she has come to me after bedtime, dripping in blood, triumphantly holding a tooth between her fingers.  Ugh!

This time around, she had a loose tooth that was giving her a lot of pain.  In the course of the day, she would accidentally bite too hard, pinch her cheek or smack it with her tongue (?).  All would leave her in pain.

I offered to pull it out, and to my surprise she resisted.  My girl, who wrenches teeth with the slightest wiggle, was afraid I would hurt her.  I told her that getting it out might hurt, but then it would be over.  If she waited, she would continue to be in pain for days.  She agreed.

So, I got to pull her tooth.  I have pulled many teeth—most of my son’s, my nephew’s, friends’ kids.  But never my girl’s, because she always beats me to the punch.  Most people are squeamish about such things—which explains why I have pulled the teeth of friends’ kids.  I really don’t mind doing it—it is better than watching a kid twirl the thing at the dinner table, or listening to the squishy sound of it wiggling.  That is gross!

Since pulling the tooth, she has been dancing around the house composing celebratory songs on the fly.  I like playing my own small part in her life. 

Friday, November 26, 2010

You are the perfect shape

My husband was playing around with my daughter today—dancing, twirling, spinning.  He held her upside down and challenged her to do a sit up.  She said she couldn’t, until he threatened to zerbert her tummy—you know, blow a raspberry on her.  She popped right up then.
He told her that he used to be able to do those, but could not now.  She asked why not.  His answer was that he is old and out of shape.  She replied in this way.
You are not out of shape.  Your head is a circle, your nose is a triangle, your eyes are round.  You are in the perfect shape!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

 

The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you,
         And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
         And give you peace.'  Number 6:24-26

I pray your Thanksgiving Day is blessed to overflowing.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Kids’ Thankful List

This is from my personal blog post.
The boy:
I am thankful for my sister and how we get to play together.
The girl:
I am thankful for Ava, and that Bailey and Ava have so much fun together.
The boy:
I am thankful that Daddy doesn’t have to work overtime too often.
The girl:
I am thankful for our toys.  We may not have very much, but I am still thankful for them.  (the stenographer is trying to not choke as she types here)
The boy:
I’m thankful for our family and the time that we get to spend together during lunch time and school.
The girl:
I’m thankful for a nice home.
The boy:
I’m thankful for all the things that we have like my Legos and the snow gear that we have so that we can play outside in the snow.
The girl:
For my amazing scrapbooking stuff.
The boy:
That Madi does get to do all her creative girl stuff.
The girl:
Well, I’m happy that I have three dances a week and also that we have such a happy and peaceful family and life.
The boy:
Have I said dogs yet?  Ok, Dogs.

Monday, November 22, 2010

My blessings list

I don’t think I could actually list all of my blessings—even if I were given all the time in the world.  I am sure the Lord has protected and provided for me in ways I will never know.  I am also sure that things I saw as inconveniences or even heartaches were actually blessings that I will appreciate only after all has been revealed to me.

I will still make a list and thank Him for His wonderful generosity and love.

First I am thankful for salvation.  As messed up as I am, and as I continue to choose poorly each day, His grace is sufficient.  He is bigger than my sin, Christ’s sacrifice covered me, and for that I can actually be eternally grateful!

Next I am thankful for the fact that eternal life isn’t something for the future, but it begins now.  I have access to my Creator as my adoptive Daddy, and I can crawl into His lap for anything.

I am also thankful that I was created for community, and the Lord has given in my life so many wonderful people throughout time with whom I can be in community.  The opportunities to give and receive have molded me, sanded me, smoothed me and prepared me for more.  I am thankful for His holy wisdom as he brings people in and out of my life.

I am abundantly thankful for my husband.  As I look back upon our meeting and coming together, I see supernatural intervention and protection.  We couldn’t have made it without the third entity in our marriage, knitting us together.  The holes of pain were merely paths for the thread that would ultimately pull us ever closer.

My children!  Thank you for my kids, God!!  They are perfect for me!

I am also thankful that we have our home into which we can welcome people—and no one will feel uncomfortable because of any lavishness or it being overly clean.  That is a good one, right?  I am thankful we have food, clothes, blankets, and heat.  I am thankful and humbled by our access to entertainment through electricity and games.  I am so grateful that we can homeschool! 

How wonderful to be able to adjust my schedule to accommodate blessings like snow days, visiting family, unexpected days off for Daddy…  I am blessed to be able to push beyond their grade levels to provide challenging and interesting activities.  I get to watch the struggles with learning disabilities or particularly challenging ideas.  I get to come along side and push that impossible boulder up the mountain with them.  And I get to celebrate with my whole heart when we reach the summit.

I am thankful for my past—my experiences and the people.  I am blessed to be able to use memories of both to make better decisions and respond with wisdom and compassion.

I am thankful Jesus heals.

 

How about you?

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Do you like Veggie Tales?

We sure do!  We have since before the kids were born, actually.  So, it should come as no surprise that my kids know most of the songs by heart.  One of our favorites is, ‘Oh, no! What We Gonna Do,’ from the story of Daniel and the Lions Den.  I searched for it at youtube, then the internet in general, and couldn’t find it.  I did find lyrics, though the melody, and later harmony, are worth finding the music.  I won’t include a link, because the sites I have found are loaded with pop-up ads.

The song begins this way:

Wisemen:
Oh no! What we gonna do?
The king likes Daniel
More than me and you
Oh, no! What we gonna do?
We gotta get him out of here.
(repeat)

So, we were playing Uno over lunch and my son’s hand was steadily dwindling.  Each time he put down a card, she would say, ‘oh no!’

When he finally declared Uno, she couldn’t seem to help but to burst into song.  This is what she sang:

Oh no! What we gonna do?
Max is gonna win
Not me and you!

She cracks me up!!  My boy did win, as it turns out, and as much as I like to win myself, I was relieved.  That girl has been wiping the floor with us for over a week!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Identifying the problem is half the battle, right?

For Club PALS this session we are learning about Responsibility.  One of the ways we are teaching the kids to show responsibility is to do what is expected before they are asked to do it.  We just completed the seventh of this eight week course, and I told the kids in my house this is the last week to ‘practice’ the trait before we release them as experts! 

This morning my husband almost knocked over my daughter’s left over cereal bowl.  He asked whose bowl he almost spilled.  She claimed it sheepishly and said that she didn’t put it away.  He replied that he KNEW she didn’t put it away, and that he shouldn’t have to tell her to put it away.  She said, ‘I know, I’m sorry, Daddy.  I have been very irresponsible.’

Friday, November 19, 2010

Check out our store!

bagRun over to our store to see our new products and designs!! There are more designs in the works, too, so check back often. Remember that if you see a product you like or a design you like, we can put those together for you! Just email with the design and product description of your choice, and we will notify you when that item is ready for purchase.  onsie

When you shop at our store, we get a percentage of the profits. When you shop at our store through iGive, we get even more, at no cost to you!! 

http://www.cafepress.com/kidsrockacademy

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Contact us

We have an open door policy for our council and an opt-in format to our organization. The foundation of both is communication.  In order to facilitate that, we have a bunch of ways to contact us.  Communication for the whole group happens on our yahoogroups.  We also have this very blog, where readers may leave comments.  Before that, we loaded our website with information and contact resources.  And if that isn’t enough, we have more email addresses than anyone really needs! 
What I lack in articulation, I make up for in tenacity. That means that I will maintain the conversation as long as needed to be sure everyone is properly understood.
So contact us!  Questions, comments, complaints and suggestions. We want to hear from you!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gotta love it

We are currently studying New Zealand.  We use a notebook as we study, recording essential and notable facts.  We began today with my asking my son what the first question was.  He announced, ‘Official Name.’

Immediately my daughter answered, ‘M-A-D-I-K-A-L-B-A-C-H.’  Yeah…Not exactly the name we were looking for!  She is so cute!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I love my grandma

Today is my late grandma’s birthday.  We lived with her for five and a half years after my parents divorced.  God is so very good in providing and protecting us, and my grandma’s presence in my life is testimony to that.  When my parents divorced, my mom was forced to go to work.  Before then, she was a stay-at-home mom.  In a very real way, the divorce took both of my parents out of my life.  Just when I desperately needed stability and tangible love on which I could depend, my mom moved in with Grandma.

With the storm of emotions coursing through me in those years where I was healing from my parents’ split, going through puberty, and adjusting to the new normal, my grandma was there for me.  She cooked and cleaned, scolded and raised her expectations, painted my nails and kept me in the latest fashion for handbags—she worked in the handbag department at Gottschalk’s, and it was one of the few luxuries she could afford us.

I still think of her weekly, and often daily.  I hear her when I leave the laundry for tomorrow to take better care of my things.  I see her gnarled-by-arthritis hands whenever I pull down one of her bowls.  I laugh each time I vacuum when I remember that she used to wear a robe, slippers and curlers while vacuuming the weird plastic ‘grass’ on our porch to the utter humiliation of my older sister.  Whenever I have been on my feet and they begin to scream, I remember how she always told me after a day on her feet at work that she hoped I would never feel that type of pain.  And when she got angry or silly, she would stretch her crazy-long fingers in a ‘grandma hug,’ which was really just a clawed pinch on our shoulders. 

We used to joke about how unconventional a grandma she was, telling her that our memories would never be about rockers, knitting and fresh cookies.  They aren’t!  But she made the best fried fish, watched old movies with me, and taught me to appreciate others.  She was fiercely loyal and nursed grudges.  She had a temper and smoked like a chimney.  She was prejudiced and open-minded.  She was so very human; hopelessly flawed, self-contradictory and always trying. 

My grandma shaped me.  She gives me hope that even in my failures, I can be a positive force in my kids’ lives.  I don’t need to be perfect to be good.  And Someone loves me, no matter what.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Perfect Timing

One of the aspects of our schooling this year is current events.  I confess this isn’t something that has been super exciting to me.  But God is so good and we have had some very notable events in our world that have wonderfully tied into our daily lessons.  I am not so self-centered as to think these have been orchestrated to compensate for my own stunted sense of worldly savvy.  Nor is it lost on me that the events are tragedies to thousands of lives.  But I am still thankful that the Lord has brought the world to our doorstep, so to speak, so that our awareness of the need to pray and to identify ourselves as world sojourners is ever vigilant.

We have a prayer list that includes KidsROCK families and our own family and friends.  This week we prayed for my mom’s family.  It also happens to be my Uncle’s and my grandma’s birthdays.  Right after we studied the Pacific Islands, volcanoes and Irian Jaya, Indonesia was hit by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.  It brought the cerebral wonder of these natural disasters a degree of reality we needed.  We took our kids along with us to vote, driving home how precious this gift is when we pray for cities under governments that suppress God-given freedoms.  And today, we celebrated as we prayed for Burma/Myanmar when Aung San Suu Kyi was finally freed from house arrest.  We prayed with more background knowledge (and thus more fervency) for the city of Yangon—which was an assigned city this week!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Tour coming up!

The last tour of the season is approaching.  Please join us!

Monday, November 15th at 12:45 is our tour for the Frontier Company.  Have you ever wanted to know what happens when you make a phone call?  Well, FrontierNovember 15th is your opportunity to learn all about our local phone system.  Everything from your dial tone to the internet to our local 911 will be explained to the children in this exciting, technology-based Town Tour of Frontier! This is a free tour, November 15th, 2010 at 1 o'clock at the Frontier Building next to the LHS.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The lesson? Just order stuff for yourself!

Club PALS was a blast this week.  Our overall lesson this time around is Responsibility.  We see examples of responsibility each week by looking at nature, to the Bible, and in history.  This time we were learning about being ‘green.’  For a lot of our centers, we were focusing on the power of our imaginations, and learning to rely a little less on other sources of power for entertainment.

We did crossword puzzles, made electromagnets and played with cars and tops.  But the hit of the day were the boxes.  The theory that kids have more fun with the box the toy came in than the toy itself was certainly upheld at KidsROCK Club PALS this week!

Even the teens in my house spent free time ‘instant messaging’ one another on their self-made computers.  The irony that many of the boxes were turned into iPods, iPads, Facebook pages, computer games, robots and laptop computers wasn’t lost on us giggling moms. 

It was a wonderful day of play!

Friday, November 12, 2010

It’s a full time job

A while ago, I was talking with my husband while preparing dinner, sharing that I was feeling a little frantic about keeping up with the housework.  While he was on vacation from work, and I from schooling the kids, he helped a lot around the house.  Oh, I have to face it: I got positively lazy!
I thought things would snap back to normal when work and school resumed.  But it hasn’t.  Far from it.  I feel like I am in a constant state of scrambling to keep up—and failing miserably.  Laundry, dishes, meal planning (and making)…I get overwhelmed.
It shames me to even type that.  I give advice to homeschoolers all the time, encouraging them to give themselves grace, reminding them that children, homeschooling and clean don’t easily go hand in hand.  I hear my own words rattling around in my head by the end of the school day, when the house is mired in clutter and I know my husband is going to walk through the door, wondering the plan for dinner.
The other voice echoing inside me says things like, ‘You’ve been doing this for almost a decade.  Get it together.  You should know how to do this by now.  If you knew anything, at the very least your kids should be better equipped to help.’
Gosh, that voice is mean!  Sometimes it gets really loud, too.
Thankfully I do have a supportive husband with whom I can talk.  I praise the Lord he hasn’t ever expected perfection from me, even when I was a little insulted that he didn’t think I was capable of it.  I have certainly at times convinced myself that I at least should be perfect, even if I haven’t ever achieved it.
He reminded me that evening in the kitchen that we both work full time jobs.  He works out of the house, and I school the kids.  He let me know that he doesn’t mind helping with housework.  It is a shared responsibility and he doesn’t expect me to carry the full burden.
What a load off!  Maybe I can shut that voice up and focus on the wonder of learning, even with the dryer calling my name.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veteran’s Day

Happy Veteran’s Day!  KidsROCK is in the parade this year, so please come out to give a wave and catch some candy.

May the Lord bless and keep all those who sacrifice themselves to preserve the freedom to choose how we will live—freedom to praise the Lord, freedom to homeschool, freedom to speak our thoughts and freedom to forgive!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Calendar!

I was looking at our earlier posts and came across the second entry for KidsROCK.  As I read it, I had to laugh.  It reveals the condition KidsROCK planners face every three months.  We just made it through another engagement of coordinating, juggling and dancing.

We made it!  The calendar is final and you can view the classes, tours and events we have planned for winter at our website.  There is also a printable calendar available for your convenience.

Remember, if you are interested, or if you know anyone looking for homeschool support and enrichment through community, you can join KidsROCK before December 31 for half off the normal registration fee!  So go check out what we offer, attend one of the activities for free, then join us for the rest of the fun to come!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

It’s time to raise some dough!

We have a fabulous fundraiser going on that has no geographical limits!!  So if you love a KidsROCKing family, you can support that family now matter how far away you live.

Please go to our website to get all the information you need and to order cookie dough discount cards.  Each $16 card gives you a 2.7 pound tub of cookie dough, shipping and 12 months of discounts to cool stores like Barnes & Noble, 1-800-Flowers and Target.com.  Pretty good, right?  When you order online, there is a place to type in a family name.  All the profits will then go to that particular family.  You can also choose to leave it blank or type in KidsROCK Academy.  That option will allot the profit to the KidsROCK general fund that supports the business side of KidsROCK and scholarships for families.

KidsROCK has been a failing business from its inception.  In order to provide quality classes and events, it costs money.  But we are serving primarily single income families and do our best to bless and not burden.  However, this method of conducting business is just not honest or practical.  Because of that, our costs have been raised in order for KidsROCK to sustain itself.

But our hearts to provide support and enrichment for everyone wanting to participate has not changed.  That brings us to the fundraiser.  This is a way for every single family to fully participate in every activity they choose without ever touching the family budget.  We want this to be a resounding success.  Can you help?

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Real Math Book

My son finished his math book and needed to start a new one.  Because I am often empty-headed, it hadn’t occurred to me that I don’t actually have the next level.  I have my daughter set for the next two years, however, so I am guessing I planned twice for her and not at all for my boy.  Tell me I am not the only one who does things like that!

Regardless of why, the fact remains that in the moment, I needed to find something for him to do.  So I handed him a "Key to..." book.  I glanced through it and saw it was below his level, so I told him to do ten pages and sent him on his way.

I busied myself with…well, I can’t really remember what I was doing, but I am sure you can imagine I was doing something like cleaning, organizing or teaching my daughter.  At some point, I saw my son digging through the bookshelf.  I asked him what he was doing.  You wanna know what he said?

“The book you gave me is just introducing the concept.  Can I have a real math book, please?”

How cool is that??  My kid wasn’t taking the easy route and wanted to be challenged.  When did that happen?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

What’s mine is yours

I saw this blog post yesterday morning and it really struck my heart.  The truth is that I have been in all three mindsets (or people types, as the blog categorizes it) at different times.  I know that I feel most alive and at my best when I live with the attitude that reflects, ‘what’s mine is yours.’

While I exist in the mindset of, ‘what’s yours is mine,’ least often, I know I am there more than I like to admit—or probably am able to recognize.  The thought, ‘what’s mine is mine,’ is the one I find to be most troubling.  I know I personally fall into that after being hurt.  It is a protective stance and certainly easy for me to rationalize.

I have been teased many a time for idealizing the commune way of life.  I have fantasized for years that the Lord would bring into our lives a family or more with whom we might live in a state of sharing—kids coming and going, equally safe and loved in any of the families’ homes; sharing our material earnings, work and time.  It is a dream of mine to work side by side, serving the community, schooling our children, sharing meals…

And, boy, do friends give me a hard time about it!  We live in a, ‘what’s mine is mine,’ society.  It isn’t considered even wise to be so open with one’s life and possessions.  And when I am feeling unsafe or bruised, I tend to agree with this society.  I pull back, live for me and mine, and let the chips fall where they may.

But my soul isn’t at rest in that state of being.  The fact is, I like giving.  I like being open, even in my flaws.  And I like sharing.  Not only that, I like trusting and depending on other people. 

I don’t believe I am all that special, either.  I think most people do like these things, but they’ve been so well trained in the idea that, ‘what’s mine is mine,’ that they’ve forgotten the blessings that come from living with others.  Instead, we live with a mantra, ‘keep to yourself, take care of yourself.’

What does the Lord ask of us?  To love our neighbor.  It is the work of our daily lives to determine who is our neighbor and how do we love him.

If you know anyone in need, anyone who is hurting, please reach out.  You may be more blessed than you know.

 

 

~~Here is a bit of a plug~~If there is a homeschooler in need, or if you want to help provide for needy homeschooling families, please contact me personally.  Through the Ambassador Program from the Homeschool Foundation, we can make a difference by loving our neighbors.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Fun with Math

We had a two-day class about multiplication that just ended yesterday.  We made a lap book, exercised our math skills and ate some pizza!  I enjoyed seeing how all these kids at different levels, taught with different methods with different learning styles were able to come together for some mathematical fun.

I was impressed with how they all related to one another.  There was playful banter, encouragement and a surprising amount of mastery over the topic.  I am never in the other homes when math is being taught, but in my home, I am not always sure if things are really getting through.  It is heartening to see that even in a rather chaotic environment, the kids were all able to keep up!

I wish I had managed my time better, but I hope all the kids relished in the hour or so of free play.  Most often when KidsROCK has a gathering, there is an agenda.  Very rarely do the kids get to just fool around with no plan.  Well, it hadn’t been my original plan for it to work out this way, but I think it was a happy accident for the kids.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Learning through cooking

My sister bought my daughter a cookbook for her birthday.  It is the best kids’ cookbook I’ve ever seen—and I have seen a few!  The recipes are yummy, doable and don’t call for outlandish ingredients, which is a big plus in a little town with limited supplies.  In addition to the great recipes, there are games and tips that make it a fun playbook, too.

We have been choosing recipes and making shopping lists and at last payday has come.  We finally get to play!  So my son made his first choice for lunch.  We had mini pizzas with the fruity smoothies that were my daughter’s first choice.

The book has easy to follow instructions, and the kids did a great job making lunch today.

As fun as the cooking was, there was something else that was really neat.  The kids were cooperative, helpful and cheerful.  I needed extra help with other chores while we were cooking, and they were happy to oblige. I think letting them have the privileges that come with cooking, changed how they saw themselves, and it showed.

I love days like this!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Lego Club is back!

After taking an impromptu couple-month hiatus due to demanding soccer schedules, Lego Club is back!  What a treat!  I know a few kids who’ve been eagerly waiting for the meetings to resume.

It is a new month with a new Leader.  For the first Mission, the brickmasters engaged in some free building, but it looks like most of them opted to create 3D board games.  They looked amazing!  Man, it is so neat what the kids can create with these bricks.  I marvel at the ingenuity and imagination revealed in their finished products.

Go, Lego Club!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Electives

Foreign Language, music, arts, home economics, health, woodshop….  The list of enriching lessons, skills and activities we can offer our kids goes on and on.  Love them and hate them, they can serve as dessert or as the dreaded vegetable.  Why is that?

Sometimes our eyes get bigger than our stomachs, so to speak.  I know that I want my kids equipped and competitive by the time they reach college, and the clock ticks more and more loudly as each year passes.

How do we choose wisely so that we aren’t just cramming our kids’ lives with busy-ness that doesn’t provide any lasting benefits—like junk food? 

This is my current conundrum.  We are doing all sorts of cool things right now.  Piano, recorder, drawing, Spanish, health, typing, root words…goodness!  I have regretfully dropped a couple out of necessity.  But things still aren’t working.

I am dreading school, because it feels overwhelming.  I argue with myself against dropping any more because they are each so simple; they don’t really take that much time.  Each subject and each program I have hand-selected is so very sweet.  Fun, easy, delicious!  The problem is that even the sweetest food causes indigestion when you overindulge.  So what do I do? 

Have you struggled with the same issues?  Are you feeling a little green around gills from lingering too long at the buffet table?  How have you learned to sample wisely?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

First time offer!

We have something special going on.  For the first time, we are offering a half-off discount to all new members who join before December 31.  If you are homeschooling and looking for a community in which you can find support and enrichment, KidsROCK may be just the organization for you.

We welcome all schooling styles from traditional to unschooling.  We also welcome charter school families and members of other homeschooling associations.  Attendance to our activities are all opt-in, except for the Quarterly Meeting.  That means you have the freedom to make KidsROCK work into your family’s schedule, rather than it being the other way around.

Joining KidsROCK is comparable to joining AWANA, soccer or scouts.  We are an elective-style community that offers fun for the whole family.

Please check out our website and FAQs for more information.  Feel free to contact us personally, as well. 

Monday, November 1, 2010

Happy November!

Holiday time!  I just read some neat articles about making holiday traditions reflect your values.  It gave me a lot to think about.  I am big about doing things on purpose, so the idea of planning our decorations and activities to show what the holidays mean to us appeals to me.

I am constantly reminding my kids that it is the heart that counts.  Our actions matter, but only as they reveal the truth of our motives.  With that in mind, I don’t want to go overboard with planning the holidays to the point that we become bound by self-made mandates. 

Striking that healthy balance between thoughtfully choosing through the season and the freedom to be spontaneous and even occasionally frivolous is my goal.

I want to make cherished memories, enjoy good company and not waste my time with anything that would be overtaxing.  I want to be wise with our money and our days.  I want to be not so caught up in myself so I can catch opportunities to love on the people around me.  I also want to take lots of photos!! 

But most of all, I want to pause long enough to breathe in the Spirit who sustains me, comforts me and guides me.  I want to enjoy the riches of this life without being caught in the trappings of the world.

Big goals…Now, practically speaking, how to achieve them?