Inspiring Tuesdays - Quotes that Challenge Us to Live Better - Kari Jobe

I have had a bit of an break with blogging just because of life.  Life comes in with so many demands and expectations.  Before you know it you are feeling overwhelmed and that's when a lot of negative emotions tend to bubble up.  So many times in my tiredness and frustration I have had to apologize to my children or husband for snapping at them.  These are moments we have to take a time out and realize that even in our weaknesses God is with us.  I have felt incredibly weak for some time.  Feelings of condemnation and accusation have been surrounding me more than feelings of approval.  However, while in quite time this morning I listened to a Kari Jobe song that really hit home.  Today is not much of a quote but I want to highlight a lyric in her song "You Are For Me".  So often we feel God is not with us because of how we act or things we do.  However, this is contrary to his character.  His utmost desire is to be with us and he delights in us.  I love the following verse from Zephaniah that sums up his delight in us:

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.   - Zephaniah 3:17

In no uncertain terms God has pour out his love to fill our hearts (Romans 5:5).  During these valleys of accusation I pray I can remember that.  Below is the part of Kari's song I want to highlight today:



So faithful. So constant.
So loving and so true.
So powerful in all You do.
You fill me. You see me.
You know my every move
and You love for me to sing to You.

I know that You are for me.

I know that You are for me.

I know that You will never, 
forsake me in my weaknesses

I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me who You are.

So patient, So gracious,
So merciful and true…
So wonderful in all You do.
You know me. You see me.
You know my every move.
You love for me to sing to You

Lord, I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never, 
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.

To remind me that
I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never, 
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You have come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me who You are.

I know that You are for me.
I know that You are for me.
I know that You will never,
forsake me in my weaknesses.
I know that You will come now,
even if to write upon my heart.
To remind me of who You are.

Inspiring Tuesdays - Quotes that Challenge us to Live Better - George Washington Carver

I think life is all about perspective.  We get so wrapped up in our everyday lives that we often become very inward focused.  We think about what will make us happy, successful, comfortable, really the list goes on. One thing I pray my husband and I are instilling in our children is to live beyond themselves.  This world is made up of different people with different needs and this life that has been given to us is not all about us.  We have to look beyond ourselves to really see others.  For today I want to bring you a quote that helps to keep life in perspective.  It is from one of the greatest Americans that has ever lived.  George Washington Carver.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. - 
George Washington Carver

Creamy Vegetable Noodle Soup

I absolutely love vegetable soup.  Topped off with cheddar cheese and sour cream this recipe is sure to please even your most pickiest eaters.  We eat soup all year round and tend to have vegetable soup early in the week especially if we have had a weekend full of junk food :-)

Enjoy!

1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
4 cups of chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 medium onion chopped
1 clove of minced garlic
1 tbsp of olive oil
16 oz of frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup (or more) whole wheat rotini pasta
1 to 2 tsp of chili powder
salt to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions al dente

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent.  Add in chicken broth and cream of chicken soup and bring to a boil.  Once boiling add in the rest of the ingredients.  Cook until vegetables are done or to desired consistency.  Add cooked noodles cook about 3 more minutes and serve warm.

Top off with cheddar cheese and sour cream.  Serve with crackers

Help Your Children Master Math Facts with XtraMath

You have to take a look at a free program online that will help your children excel with their math facts.  A good indicator of how well your child will do in math is how quickly they can recall and understand their math facts.  In a world full of computers and calculators I often fear our students don't get a solid foundation in mathematics.  I can't tell you how many kids I have seen in middle school that can't do basic fundamental math.

XtraMath is a math facts fluency program that helps your child master addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts in a fun interactive way.  The program assesses where your child is and tailors problems to their level.  The lessons are short enough to be done in just 5 to 10 minutes each day.  Visit their website at www.xtramath.org for more information.

Click here for a short video about XtraMath

Inspiring Tuesdays - Quotes that Challenge us to Live Better - Janice Mayo Mathers

This Tuesday I would like to bring you a quote from Janice Mayo Mathers.  This quote really hits home to me because I am really evaluating priorities right now.  There is so many things pulling at our time and attention it is often hard to even find the time to sift through them all.  However, I know the closer we are to God the easier it becomes to distinguish between good priorities and God priorities. I pray this quote will offer you some insight when looking at your to do list for today.



"Sometimes my expectations lead to discouragement or exhaustion, but God's expectations bring rest and balance." - Janice Mayo Mathers

Yummy Spinach Breakfast Smoothies

OK I know it may sound yucky but thanks to my very good friend Patricia my family and I are trying to eat healthier.   You see Patricia is taking this nutrition class and I am reaping the benefits of getting all of this healthy insider information for free.   Recently, I discussed with her how it is almost impossible to get my middle daughter to eat vegetables.  It has really been a challenge up until recently.  Patricia simply said why don't you try putting it in a smoothie.  So lo and behold I introduce to you the perfect make-your-4-year-old-eat-veggies breakfast smoothie:

Half a blender full of spinach leaves
2 tablespoons of milled flax seed
1 banana
2 handfuls of blueberries
1/2 can of pineapples with juice or 1/2 pack of strawberries
Some crushed ice
Keifer yogurt (this is optional but I use it for protein)
Some Agave Nectar or Honey

The kids love it and ask for it every morning.  Thanks so much Patricia!

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum - What Are Using This Year

It is now April and I am reviewing what we are using as far as curriculum to try to decide what I want to keep and what I would like to change for next year.  So this post will just include the books and resources we are using.  I will have a future post that will discuss why we are keeping what we are keeping and why we are changing what we are changing.  As you probably guess from the variety of resources I am an eclectic homeschooler.  So here we go:

Bible:

The Bible

Scripture Adventures

The Complete Guide to the Bible by: Stephen M. Miller 

DTLK Bible Activities  - online resource

Language Arts:

Phonics 

Hooked on Phonics - I have an older version that is a hand me down from my nephew

Explode the Code 5

Readingresource.net - online resource

Various online reading sites

Grammar

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, Level 1 and Level 2

Reading

Various Library Books

Harcourt Trophies Reading Series - Banner Days

Math:

Singapore Math: Primary Math Textbook 2A US Edition and Workbook

Grade 2 Math "Working Arithmetic" Set published by Rod and Staff Publishers
Scott Foresman Mathematics Grade 1 - used as supplement for review


Science:
Exploring Creation with Astronomy, Textbook with Astronomy Junior Notebooking Journal
Apologia Educational Ministries


History:
Our History, HIS-Story: Using Literature to Weave the African-American Presence
Various Online Resources

Online Curriculum:

Time4Learning
Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies - I call this my substitute teacher.  This is an online educational curriculum.  Perfect to use as a supplement or as part of your primary curriculum. I used this solely for social studies because I did not have a separete Social Studies curriculum.

Other Resoures:
I use various online websites and resources as well.  I will post many of these resources at a later date.  In addition we use the local library a lot.  It's amazing what is out there for free!