homeschool tracker

The End leads to the Beginning

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I don’t think there is anything more exciting than the end of the school year!  It means summer is just around the corner and that calls for LOTS of outdoor time, beach, sun, and lots of fun!  As I looked through my digital pictures {we store them by year and then quarterly by season} I realized that the season we take most pictures is the summer! 

Maybe it’s because we have more time or just because it’s so pretty outside, I’m not sure but we have so many wonderful shots of our five little (and not so little) blessings!  I think the one that is most excited this year is my seventh grader.  He gets to go to Miami, FL for the entire summer this year and I’m certain he misses the beach as much as his Mama does 😉

I find this time of year particularly stressful though.  Why?  Because I’m already thinking about next year!  My beloved says I stress myself out unnessarily but I have to be frank, if I don’t start early (and I think I’m running late) I get more stressed than not. 

Another reason I want to finish my textbook selection early this year is that I want to try something that a friend does.  She plans during the summer and just prints the lessons out during the year.  I’ve been planning a month at a time these past two years but I think this is burning me out.  So what’s the first item to purchase on my list?  Actually, there are two:

1.  Homeschool Tracker
2.  Family-Centered Press’s Liturgical Calendar & Planner

I’ve been using the free edition of the Homeschool Tracker all these years but we are now ready for the real deal….so we’ve been playing with the full version the past couple of months.  {IF you decide to buy, please give them my referral code: HQHGB.  Thank you!}

I also got a great deal on the the Liturgical Calendar in January.  The one I got lasts until next January.  I don’t know how I survived without this, oh wait I do, I use to get a regular planner and then go through all the months and write in all the Feast Days…it was super time consumming.  Time is something I do not have, so I’m feeling very blessed {and spoiled} with this new Liturgical Calendar & Planner!  Definitely something I want for Christmas {hint, hint for my Beloved}.

These are two items that I wouldn’t want to start year three without!
Blessings,
Mama Erika

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college fair, conferences, IHM Conference, Immaculate Heart of Mary, speakers

Immaculate Heart of Mary Homeschool Conference Coming Up

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Anyone going to the IHM Conference?  I wish I could go this year but won’t be able to.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see below.  From their website:
The largest Catholic homeschooling conference in the country has now entered its 10th year, and has returned to the place where it all began!
Join us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary with special new speakers including Sr. Rosalind Moss, Mr. Andrew Pudewa, and Mr. Steve Wood!
We are especially pleased to have the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, The Hon. Ken Cuccinelli, scheduled for Saturday.
Not only has he gained the national spotlight by filing a lawsuit which resulted in having the universal healthcare mandate of Obamacare ruled unconstitutional,
but he is a Catholic homeschooling father. Please visit our Speakers page for a full listing of confirmed speakers.

FREE ADMISSION!

Although we love children, attendence is restricted to adults, teens accompanied by an adult, and nursing babies.
This policy will be more heavily enforced than it has been in recent years.

Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel

13869 Park Center Road
Herndon, Virginia 20171
(703) 478-2900
Free Parking!

Friday June 10th, 2011 @ 9:00am to 9:00pm

Saturday June 11th, 2011 @ 9:30am to 4:00pm

Got this from the Catholic Charlotte Mason Yahoo Group:

National Conference in Virginia – http://www.ihmconference.org/national/

List of Speakers…wow! http://www.ihmconference.org/national/speakers/

Daily Schedules including NEW Beginners sessions!
http://www.ihmconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IHM-National-Schedule-2011.pdf

See site for info on new College Fair presentations and Teen programs.

For those on TWITTER, let’s use the hashtag of #ihmVA11 for tweeting about this.

In +JMJ+,

Allison

www.TotusTuusFamily.blogspot.com


To join the Catholic Charlotte Mason Yahoo Group: Blesssings,

CatholicCMason-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Mama Erika

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link up, Susie Lloyd

Susie Lloyd – UNEDITED: JOKE – Poopy Doopy Pee Poo!

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Susie Lloyd – UNEDITED: JOKE – Poopy Doopy Pee Poo!: “If there IS anything hard about writing humor it is that people sometimes take you seriously. For instance, – Somebody wanted to know …”


LOVE Susie Lloyd!  On the hardest days of homeschooling, I survive off of her books!  Go check her blog out!

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agendas, homeschooling, public schools

Goodbye Old Navy!

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My stomach turns when I read this stuff…as a former teacher, I cannot imagine the idea that this is what is being feed to our youth!

First, I found this blog post: Old Navy Debuts Gay Pride T-Shirts For It Gets Better.  The author of that blog is all giddy about this idea.  Promoting Gay Pride.  Then, I clicked on the links out of curiosity, and found that Old Navy will donate 10% of the proceeds to the It Gets Better Project

The It Gets Better Project is benefiting two organizations:
1. The Trevor Project
2. GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network

The Trevor Project’s National Corporate Partners are: Google, C2B (same company as Crate &; Barrel, The Land of Nod), and Levi Strauss & Co.

GLSEN’s National Corporate Partners are: CitiFinancial, Cisco, AT&T, UBS Bank, Merck, HP, Barclays Capital, American Express, Disney/ABC Television Group, Wells Fargo, IBM, & KPMG

While all this may not be shocking news it just amazes me how this agenda is being force fed to our children (look arond on both these sites they have books, pamphletes and book marks that are being given away across the country in the public schools).

I am not a gay hater, I know two that I love dearly.  But I am NOT going to accept that lifestyle.  As a great priest I know says, “sorry but the parts don’t fit!” I have TWO gay cousins, one male one female, and I love them but they KNOW I don’t like nor approve of their lifestyle. I don’t bully them nor treat them bad but I also don’t select them as godparents to my children NOR do I allow them to bad mouth my faith (which I’ve had problems in the past with my male cousin)! I just can’t imagine why this is allowed in the schools????

What I don’t understand about most of these corporate sponsors is that they won’t support religious organizations but it’s okay to support sexual orientation organizations?  Someone help me understand this please. 

I leave you with just one last thought, thank God for the freedom to homeschool and for private schools!

Praying hard for the non-closing of Catholic schools and the continued freedom to home educate.
Blessings,
Mama Erika

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curriculum, homeschooling

Curriculum: What to do?

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There are so many programs or texts to choose from out there: Secular, Christian, Catholic, which to choose? I read an article, when I first started homeschooling, that stated that if you are Catholic and homeschooling, you should NOT use Christian material as they sometimes have text that directly attacks the Catholic Church and it’s history.

I’ve seen it first hand in a History book for 6th grade published by A Beka (a Christian publisher). The problem with secular books (of which MANY Catholic Parochial schools use these days) is that they bring in too many outside world views. Many times VERY contradictory to the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ as well as the Catholic Church (one in the same). The BEST route is to use a Catholic text. Unfortunately, it is my personally belief that there are slim pickings when it comes to this because of the decline in Catholic Publishers for children.

The author of this article (of which I cannot remember where I read this, if I do and find the link, I’ll update this post) suggests that if you can’t find Catholic publishers/books to use, you should use Christian books and then supplement the Catholic perspective/component instead of using a secular ones.

I’m not too convinced about this.  For example, we use secular books (for my 7th grader) in all subjects except Social Studies, Science, and Religion.  The only book we’ve had a little “trouble” with is our English Composition book (content…something about fashion and another one about dating-in middle school, really?).  But bumping into these subjects gave us a good opportunity to chat about these things and realities of life.  The only Christian (non-Catholic) text we use is Science.  It does not have anything contradictory to Catholic teaching so we haven’t had a problem with it at all.  But I guess bumping into something Protestant would also spark good converstaions.  With as much as I’d love to live in a bubble and not expose my kids to this world, it’s not realistic nor safe to do so. 

What are your views on this? Do you think it is safe to use secular books? Do you think it is better to go secular than to go Christian or vice versa? Also, do you recommend a Catholic Publisher which you have had a good experience with (price, quality, etc.). Give us your two cents!

In Christ,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Belmont abbey, Catholic Camps, Envoy Institute, Patrick Madrid

Catholic Camp Alert: Summer Apologetics Camp

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What?  2nd Annual Envoy Institute Summer Apologetics Camp
Who?  Patrick Madrid, Director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College
Ages?  Boys and Girls ages 15-19
Dates? August 14-20, 2011
Cost?  $600 {with different payment options}
Location?  North Carolina

Description {from their website}:

“Come enjoy deepening your faith and learning how to better defend it from some of America’s leading Catholic apologists, while having a blast in the great outdoors in a setting that’s close to heaven: nestled in the Pisgah National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. (Go to http://www.2funcamps.com/ to check out our gorgeous conference site and check out the video of the camp HERE. Boys and girls will sleep in separate camps, but will be together during the day.) In between our speaker’s sessions, you’ll have ample opportunities to enjoy fun activities like whitewater rafting, rope climbing, swimming, hiking, or just reading in the shade of a tree.”

CAMP INFORMATION

Space is limited so register today!

QUESTIONS? Please contact Joan Bradley at 704-461-6009 or via email JoanBradley@bac.edu.

Disclaimer: This Summer Apologetics Camp is sponsored by the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College and is not affiliated with any other religious order or movement in the Catholic Church.

Hope one of you can benefit from this information!
Blessings,
Mama Erika

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catholicism, homeschooling

Are your kids HB?

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As our second year of home educating comes to an end and I reflect on these past two years in our homeschool journey, I am reminded of times when we laughed, cried, learned, prayed, and loved.  Early in our journey I recall one specific time, in Confessional….it went something like this:

“Father, I am new to homeschooling and I am worried.  I don’t think I’m doing a good job at it.”  He asked, “Why do you think this?”  “I don’t know Father, there are so many things I would love to do with the kids but the days seem so short and time flies.  Plus all the housework, some days I just think I may not be doing a good job teaching them.”  –silence–

He then asked, “Mom, do your kids know who Jesus is? the Blessed Mother? Do they know their prayers? Do they talk to you about God and involve him in their every day lives?” “Yes Father,” I answered, “then that is all you need to worry about, the rest will happen, they will learn to add and read but what is important is that they know God!”
I’ll never forget that day! Keep the focus, Heaven bound not Harvard!  😉

Blessings,
Mama Erika

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baby clothes, blog hop, giveaway, winners

Baby Clothes Boutique $25 Gift Winner!!

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We would like to thank all of the readers who participated in the Baby Clothes Boutique Review and Giveaway!  Also Baby Clothes Boutique for sponsoring this lovely product review and giveaway!

We have a winner:

GrannyLove38

I have your e-mail and will be forwarding it to the company so that they can give you further instructions.

Remember friends, you can place your order with FREE shipping and find great deals on:  tutus, baby headbands, baby clothes and baby hats from newborns to 4T!

Thanks again Baby Clothes Boutique for sponsoring us!

Blessings,

Love big families?  Join our “Be fruitful and multiply!” Genesis 1:28 BLOG HOP!

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be fruitful and multiply, blog hop, link up, we follow the rules

Be Fruitful & Multiply BLOG HOP: 10 Reasons by Cristina

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OK, my family is not big yet but here it goes….

  1. Because each child comes with two helping hands and one very loving heart.
  2. Because the more children we have, the more chances we get to finally raise one right!
  3. Because Jesus said we had to be like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and I am a visual learner, so every extra example helps me remember how to get to Heaven.
  4. Because I enjoy the opportunity to tell people that they are all mine, that we are far from rich, and that there is so much more joy in the simplicity of a large family than they can imagine.
  5. Because they grow up too quickly!
  6. Because the smell of a newly baptized baby is addictive.
  7. Because we need to practice compromise and tolerance and what better place to practice than a home full of different people of different ages and different ways of looking at life?
  8. Because every once in a while, you get a glimpse of the fruit of your labor, and that, is priceless.
  9. Because there is no sweeter way to suffer than to have to sit through hours of whining, crying, messy diapers, illness and know that all they need is you to feel better. God has given us such a grace in the ability to bring comfort to our little needy ones.
  10. Because a child’s kiss makes the whole world better and the more children you have, the more kisses you get so the world gets better a lot quicker and a lot more often.
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be fruitful and multiply, blog hop, Kristy, large family, link up

Be Fruitful & Multiply BLOG HOP: 10 Reasons by Kristy

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1. We are trying our best to “be fruitful and multiply”

2. We know that at least one will offer to take us in when we get old and we will have lots of grandchildren to dote on.

3. We’re trying hard to outnumber the liberals.

4. We consider each child a blessing from God so more children just equals more blessings.

5. We enjoy taking up at least one pew at church.

6. I trust God in other areas of my life so why shouldn’t I trust him with my fertility.

7. Though I have more dishes and laundry in my home than a small family, I also have more love, kisses, and laughter 🙂

8. With a large family greater chance that one or more will have a religious vocation.

9. It’s fun-there is never a dull moment in our house!

10. We always have enough people for a game or to play a board game and have lots of hands to chip in and help with household chores.

Don’t forget to visit the original post and link up!  Or leave a comment if you don’t have a blog.

Blessings,


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