I thought I'd share one of my favorite Christmas comics:

Hope you're enjoying this time of the year rather than stressing out!!!

Happy Homeschool

So, last week we officially started our school year. I always start nice and easy then move into the more full schedule the second and third week of the new school year.  I usually post what I'm doing for the new year before I start but this year I thought I'd shake things up some...and do it after we started school. Really, it hasn't nothing to do with the fact I wasn't sure what I was doing this year, really.

So here it is, this years curriculum plan:

Jacob: Teaching Textbooks 5, Jr. Analytical Grammar, Spelling Wisdom Book 1 (Middle of book)

Luke: Teaching Textbooks 4, Language Lessons for the Very Young 2, Spelling Wisdom Book 1

Laura: Teaching Textbooks 3, Language Lessons for the Very Young 2, Spelling Wisdom Book 1

Grace: Math U See Primer, Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons, Read Aloud time w/mommy, math and reading apps on tablet

Boys: Christian Manhood with Dad

Girls: Little Lady series with mom

All together: *Bible Memory, *2012 Election Unit Study, *Mystery of History VL. 1, *copywork, *hymn study, *artist study *Science Unit Studies (September- Autumn Treasures, October- Horses & Weather, November/December- Birds, January/February/March- All About Bugs, April/May/June- Mammals)Eco-Systems (make terrariums)

Extra Unit Studies:September~ 9/11 mini study, November~  Veteran's Day Book (older 3) & Veterans Day mini book (Grace), Final 25 Days of Thanksgiving(older 3) & Thanksgiving Week (Grace), December~ Christmas (Amanda Bennet Unit Study), January~ Famous Black Inventors, February~ Presidentential Lapbook, March~ Easter (Amanda Bennet Unit Study), May~ Memorial Day unit study

Literature & Creative Writing: The older three will be reading various genres of books and keeping a journal on each book.  *Still working on different ideas for creative writing.*

The most Important thing I do is pray for each day, it sooo shows when I do not pray! After 17 years of homeschooling there is one thing I have learned: PRAY! Simple, I know. But oh, so true! It is the one thing that gives me patience, peace, patience, strength and patience (notice a theme?)

I take very seriously my job as mom, I nurture them, guide them, educate them and most importantly show them Jesus. I am the Jesus they see day in and day out. If He's real for me, He will be real for them. That's why it is so important to start my day with my Heavenly Father and to end it with Him too. I wish I was perfect in this area, but I so am not!!! :(  It is something I strive for though, to be close to Him on a daily basis.

I also know it is important to weave Christ throughout my school day, especially with my curriculum choices. No humanist slants here! No having to tell my children to just "ignore that paragraph" or just "skip that question." No government money buying my curriculum, just trusting God to provide.

I remember when I first started homeschooling, how nervous I was. As I look over my year plan, I have to laugh, I used to think women who homeschooled "eclectic" were crazy. Guess I'm crazy now. LOL!

Instead of describing this summer I thought I'd share pictures instead.

Now, onto fall and school.

Ok, so summer is my LEAST favorite time of the year. BUT, there is one day that makes having summer worth it, Independence Day! I love this holiday, I love the fact that we take time to remember the birth of our country, remember all that our forefathers gave up for our freedoms and remember God's providence in it all. And yes, the family and friends time together too. It is strictly an American holiday, I love that!

Flag raising ceremony at our church (Central Valley Baptist Church)

Love our country Sunday at Central Valley Baptist Church

Some of our heroes raising "Old Glory"

My daughters Sunday School class waving their flags and their little book of the Constitution & Declaration of Independence









I know, it's been quite some time since I've blogged. It's just been a busy and emotional few months. The main thing that has happened is our oldest son graduated from West Coast Baptist College. He was home for about three weeks then moved to Surrey, BC, Canada where he'll be on staff at Grace Baptist Church for the next two years. Bittersweet for sure. :-)  He truly has a heart for God.

Our second son is in New Jersey serving with the Jewish Restoration Ministries this summer. He could use your prayers, actually all the young people serving in this ministry could use your prayers. Brett will be a junior at WCBC when school starts up in September. We are so proud of him and his heart for the things of God. Mel and I are so blessed to have the children we have.

The younger four are enjoying their semi-summer. We have a very relaxed summer schedule: math, reading and the occasional activity/project. We don't do school everyday, more like 3 days a week unless something comes up (going to the lake, beach, mountains, camping, VBS, etc...)

The Taylor Six at WCBC





Jacob and Luke were baptized last month, Jacob was saved about a year ago and Luke was saved about a year and a half ago. Watching your children trust Christ as their Savior, grow and begin to have a servants heart is such a humbling thing. God is so good to us, so much more than we deserve!



  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.  3 John 1:4

Say hello to my new best friend! :-)

 We have been together for about 5 weeks now, and I grow to love her more and more. hehe  My husband and I are determined to get healthy and stay that way! We still have young children in the house and We want to be able to give them what we were able to give the older children. Mainly healthy parents who still have enough energy to keep up with them (without collapsing before noon at least). The only bummer about this whole thing is how my husband can eat right for a week and exercise for the same amount of time I do and lose 5 lbs. and at least an inch! That is so wrong on so many levels! :-p Oh well, such is life. lol

I know one thing, I want to end my forties feeling and looking better than I did when I started my 40's.

Titus 2:6-8 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. ♥ This has been my prayer for my boys since #1 was about 3 yrs. old. (when we started growing in the Lord) Praising the Lord for my older two sons! They are true blessing to this mom and dad! ♥ As are my younger two sons, they are growing in the Lord day by day. ♥

We've just been plugging along with school, church and life. The one thing that has been awesome is how much my children are growing in their love for Jesus. The more you have the Word saturated in your home the more it wears off on the children (and adults for that matter).

Deuteronomy 6:5-9  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.



The #1 thing I want (and pray) for my children is that they will grow to love the Lord more than themselves. So, that means that I have to be that way also...ya, we all know how that can go...;p  I just keep reading my Bible, praying and trying to live God's will for my life as a wife and mother. I'm definitely not perfect, but by God's grace and strength I will be the example they need in their lives.

Daily Life

We've been back in the swing of things for awhile now, daily routines, school, daily routines and oh ya, daily routines. Notice a theme going on? :-D  During the holidays things tend to get out of wack concerning our daily routines. I am so glad when we can resume our normal lives again. It is taking us a little longer to get back into the swing of things though. It didn't help that I decided to switch the boys room with the school room. Still recovering from that! :-P

 Well, time to get dinner finished up (we eat early on Wed. because of church). I must admit, Wednesday night service is my favorite!!!

Happy New Year!

The beginning of last year was not a great one. As a matter of fact last New Years really depressed me. God is so good and so amazing, by the time we got to July God was really starting to move us in a positive direction. He blessed us with a new church that was the major healing factor for my husband and myself.

I am looking forward to this year, to see what God has in store for us. My oldest son graduates from Bible college this May. He will be serving in a church in Surrey, British Columbia after he graduates. My youngest will be seven, that alone is a miracle in itself!

I was so blessed to have all six of my children together this Christmas, my husband and I were truly blessed. For the first time in many, many, many years I finally felt like myself this holiday season. God is so amazing and kind and loving, He never ceases to amaze me!