Homeschool and Mother's Journal Nov 1

In my life this week…

Every week the Holy Spirit has something to reveal to me about my own heart, and usually, I'm not proud of the revelation. This morning as I was putting my contacts in, I heard a knock at the door...at 8:15 AM.

As soon as I heard it, I knew.

Dread and irritation flooded my heart. Still dressed in PJ's myself, I asked my oldest to throw on some sweats and answer the door. Sure enough, three of the four siblings across the street needed a ride to the elementary school. This time it was a flat tire.

We aren't morning people here and we hate rushing out the door. My kids dread these knocks as much as I do.

I made sure all four of my kids had clothes laid out, and I showered as quickly as I could, telling them to be dressed to shoes by the time I got out of the shower. Breakfast would have to wait, but bananas were on the counter, I added.

Forty minutes later we stopped in their driveway, and all three kids were waiting outside, ages 6, 7, and 10 (their teen gets a ride with a friend). This is a family that doesn't care a hoot about safety. As always, they offered me no booster seats; they don't use car seats of any kind.

They would rather I take all the kids at once and just fit them in anyway I can, because that's what they always do. I've seen this family of six crowd into a mid-sized car many times, though right now they have a van.

I'm a rule follower and a safety nut, so I take two trips in my van, loaded with my four kids and two of theirs, going back for their third child on the second trip. Only in the past couple months have I allowed my 11 year old to ride up front, and only when we have to accommodate another child is this done.

This morning, like other such mornings, I couldn't stop judging this family. Everything I don't like about them flooded my heart: they don't care about education, they don't care about books (they burned books I gave their 7-year-old daughter), they're smokers and pay more for cigarettes per week than a booster seat costs at Walmart. They buy toys for their kids sometimes and then don't have money for utilities.

You name it, they've done it, even borrowing money and regular milk and sugar and bandaids and whatever else they've needed, with nary a thank you. Once, after we quit giving them money, they asked me for $5, saying they would give me $10 in food stamps in trade. I was appalled.

Always, the requests come through their kids, often through handwritten notes.

I didn't want to take the 6 and 7 year olds without boosters, but neither did I want them to miss school, since truancy is common for them. My girls are both in boosters and we don't have any extras, and as much as I wanted to get them a couple boosters, my husband needs shoes and my son needs a birthday present, both of which will clean us out.

I took them to school anyway and thankfully all went well, but I judged the parents in my heart for two hours this morning, before I finally listened to the Holy Spirit.

He humbled me, reminding me that my neighbors need to be received in Christian love, because God desires mercy. God takes us where we're at, not looking at us in disgust, but focusing on who we will become in Him. He sees the transformed heart to come and loves that.

I think I want to be a missionary, but I haven't near the level of humility required to reflect Jesus' love adequately. How can I escort someone to the throne of grace, if I get bogged down by how much better I am than they are?

My neighbors live a different style of life, yes, but a more "educated" or refined style in which Anne of Green Gables and The Swiss Family Robinson are read aloud, is not more pleasing to the Lord. Professor Higgins is not better than Eliza Dolittle, just different.

Carseats and bicycle helmets are not next to godliness, any more than the 8 PM bedtime is.

We can get bogged down in so much judgement as we try to help people, and shame on us. Judgement cancels out any good deed we do, because God knows our hearts. If we give away a booster seat or a winter coat to make ourselves feel more holy--even if only subconsciously--for example, what good have we really done? God is grieved by our pride, by our impure motives.

Praise Him for his gracious forgiveness! He doesn't give up on us.

I had to apologize to my kids and to God, explaining that Mommy was wrong to judge their parents over carseats or anything else. The last thing I want is to raise haughty Christian kids who think they've arrived. It's hard enough for them to comprehend this on the average day: the Holy Spirit dwells in their hearts not because of their goodness, but because of his grace.

I think it's hard for us adults to grasp this, too?

In our homeschool this week…

During school hours the boys, ages 9 and 11, are reading Torches of Joy, Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, and The Big Wave.







After read-aloud time, they've started reading for pleasure at night before bed; it keeps them out of trouble while they get drowsy. Right now, Encyclopedia Brown is all the rage, a series for 8 - 12 year olds they've just discovered. I'm a little surprised at them reading such easy books, but for the first time my Paul is reading copiously for pleasure without complaint, so I'm going to leave this alone and put few restraints (other than moral ones) on their bedtime reading.

I read a couple of these mysteries; they're short and somewhat brainy and the boys will be through most of them in a couple weeks anyway. Not classic literature, but not exactly twaddle either. Sonlight is providing plenty of heady, well-crafted books to devour in the daylight hours, thank goodness.

In science they're still focusing on the various organs and systems of the human body (Sonlight Science F).



I've written before about my girls, ages 4 and 6, using Sing, Spell, Read ,Write, the K-1 combo version.



What I haven't yet said is that the reading primers in this kit are very pleasing, compared to any I've seen. When Peter was in first grade I used Sonlight Beginning to Read, and the primers about drove me insane! They were dry and lifeless and we both hated them, but Sue Dickson, who wrote this program after teaching reading for over 2 decades, really put effort into that big stack of primers you see on the middle right (she put great skill and effort into every component of this program). My daughter enjoys them, as do I.  I'm so thankful to Sue for sharing her expertise and writing an outstanding reading program that has stood the test of time. It's expensive, but worth every penny. (No, not a commercial; I don't do commercials. Just a tip from a mom who's been tortured by bad reading primers.)

My favorite read-alouds for my girls this week:



Goodreads Synopsis: In the month of the Maple Sugar Moon, the snow's too wet for angel making, icicles rain from Grandpa's porch roof, and something is stirring in the woods. It's sugarbush spring--time to tap the trees, prepare the bottles, then gather round the cook fire to eat chicken and dumplings, roast marshmallows, and tell stories while the cold sap heats through, thickens, and boils to make syrup.

Chall's timeless story and Daly's glowing paintings invite children to share in the pleasure of making maple syrup--a process that's the same today as it was two hundred years ago.

Jim Daly's paintings are exquisite in this book. Loved it for so many reasons. All four of my children were glued to it as I read.

These next two are by the same author, and beautifully espouse the biblical truth: It is more blessed to give than to receive. We so enjoyed both of these and yes, there were tears (nobody dies--don't worry).


Goodreads Synopsis: Escaping from the protective walls of wealth and privilege, a young girl discovers the harsh world outside, where some people don't have as much as others. When she realizes that she has the power to help them, the young girl finds a strength and peace she never knew before. Making the loveliest quilts in all the land, the young girl decides to give them away.




Goodreads Synopsis: When a generous quilt maker finally agrees to make a quilt for a greedy king but only under certain conditions, she causes him to undergo a change of heart.



Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

A consistent daily schedule leads to steady progress, and over time, to mastery of subject matter. That said, don't forget to enjoy the gifts God provides in the form of seasons. On the first snow day, let them stop the book work and marvel at the snowflakes. Make that day special--make snowmen inside or out, read snow books, bake some comfort food, etc.

When the leaves are falling, rake them into piles and have fun. Start some leaf compost, read leaf books, press leaves into paint and make a masterpiece. Take a nature walk to enjoy the blanket of color all around. 

Homeschooling has to be a discipline, yes, but it's also about living a one-piece life--responding to the gifts and the work God provides on each day, and living fully in his presence. We don't want to just "get through" a day, but enjoy its gifts...savor it as a God-given opportunity to praise Him and acknowledge him, even in the mundane things. He's given us an abundant life...and we need to notice it!

My favorite thing this week was…

Watching the children enjoy fall.
















My kiddos favorite thing this week was…

Enjoying fall, and the Quiltmaker books shown above, and getting free candy. This is only our third year doing the Halloween thing, and the candy is amazing to them....all this for free?! We figured if we're going to minister to neighbors and have a children's Bible study, we have to get out there and mingle.

This is the second year my youngest's candy is disappearing faster than the other bags. Someone, besides Momma, is sneaking chocolate from her bucket. (I keep them up high.) I can't wait until this candy is gone, let me tell you. They want a piece after every meal, and they spend time mildly arguing over the trades they make...about whether a Snickers is worth a box of Nerds, for example.

My husband tried to protect our four year old as soon as the trading started: "The chocolates are the best, Beth. Don't let them take your chocolates."

Maybe he's been dipping into her candy? :)

Things I’m working on…

I'm working on expanding our dinner menus. We've eaten the same things for a while now, and it was time to mix things up.

I'm also praying for a humble heart that loves instead of judges.

I’m cooking…

chicken noodle soup

garlic cheddar chicken

taco soup

meat loaf

crockpot chicken enchiladas

potato soup

roasted chicken

We're baking apple crisp and chocolate-chip cookie bars, and maybe some homemade wheat bread for the potato soup night.

One of the reasons my husband loves me is that I make him a whole chicken about once a week. Chicken is a close third behind his love for God and me...and sometimes chicken is second. :).

I’m grateful for…

~ my husband

~ four children to share my days and dreams with

~ morning devotions in Matthew

~ the Holy Spirit, who never lies to me about my own heart

~ four seasons and beautiful leaves raining down today

~ a warm house with blankets to cuddle under

~ a little boy turning 10, and I'm not crying yet that I can't call him little anymore

~ grace for the long haul

~ homemade birthday cake

~ Beth's arthritic knees were so swollen this week (following a cold virus I guess, since this is auto-immune and gets worse with illnesses). I feared they would raise her methotrexate dose at next week's appointment, so I started praying in earnest for a miraculous, overnight change. I did definitely detect a decrease in her swelling today--praise God!

~ my pretty red coat from Goodwill for $7

A quote to share...

James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Colossians 3:12
And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Thank you for reading, friend. How was your week?




 

Let's Talk Meatloaf

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The quest to expand my cooking horizons continues. Ya'll can come along for the ride, if only just for laughs at the novice cook.

On day one I made garlic cheddar chicken, on day two I made crockpot taco soup, and last night we had meatloaf.

My son Peter, who lives to eat though he's slim, loved the garlic cheddar chicken and said, "Can we have this more often?"

Peter and my husband, who also lives to eat though he's slim (how do they get away with that?), thought the taco soup was too fiery. Secretly, I loved the fire.

Already in my arsenal I had a wonderful upside-down meatloaf recipe that included oatmeal along with the usual suspects, baked on top of a tomato sauce/brown sugar base. After baking, I would flip it right side up to reveal the tangy, sweet topping, just like the pineapple upside-down cake phenomena. It was delicious and one of my favorite meals.

But alas, the oatmeal texture made my son Paul gag, literally. He's got a texture problem that really puts a damper on things, but I'm choosing to ignore it for now, hoping it goes away. He'll be ten this Sunday and it's time for him to brave uncharted culinary waters.

Anyway, for a couple years I stopped making meatloaf.

Enter a new recipe and a new generation of meatloaf lovers. All four kids looked at it doubtfully (meatloaf ain't the prettiest beast, after all), but in spite of themselves, they liked it. 

The thing is, this recipe calls for 2 pounds of meat and 4 eggs! I kept taking it out of the oven, expecting it to done, but still, it seemed too moist inside.

I enlisted my husband's help in deciding if the beast was actually done or not. He looked at it, tasted it, and commented, "I've tasted some dried out meatloaf in my time. Believe me, moisture in a meatloaf is a positive thing."

My own opinion is this: Extra moisture in a meatloaf is a positive thing when you're warming it for lunch the next day. Otherwise, cut some of those eggs, for heaven's sake! I did a search and found that overwhelmingly, the standard rule is 1 egg per pound of meat.

I will write this out with all the eggs, but you make your own decision as to cutting them. I'm going to make it again with three eggs, and then two eggs, and decide which combination works best.

Overall, a very tasty meatloaf with no offending textures to bother the kids.

Egg-Loaded Meatloaf (not the real title of course)

Ingredients

2 pounds ground meat (Combinations of meat give the best flavor. I prefer a lean loaf, so I use 93/7 ground turkey and/or beef)

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (make your own breadcrumbs for a more homemade flavor)

1/4 of a large onion, or 2 T onion flakes

2-3 cloves garlic, or 1 T garlic powder, or 2 1/2 to 3 tsp. jarred garlic

1 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T steak sauce

1 cup ketchup (or 8 oz. tomato sauce for less sugar, salt, and a more homemade flavor)

1 tsp. salt (I suggest leaving this out because of the salt content in the steak sauce and Worcestershire)

1-2 tsp. black pepper

1-2 tsp. dry mustard

In a 9 x 15 baking dish, combine all ingredients to form a loaf. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 - 60 minutes, or until juices run clear. Top will be slightly crispy but the inside will be moist.

Should you already have a similar recipe and want something new, here is my recipe for Upside-Down Meatloaf, from Saving Dinner by Leanne Ely.

Upside-Down Meatloaf

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 1/4 pounds extra-lean ground beef

1 3/4 cups oats

3/4 cups buttermilk (or 3/4 cup whole milk)

2 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ginger

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 5 x 9 inch loaf pan.

On the bottom of the pan, press brown sugar, then spread ketchup over the sugar.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Make a loaf out of the mixture and place it carefully on top of the sugar/ketchup mixture in the loaf pan.

Bake for 45 minutes or until juices run clear. Turn meatloaf over onto a platter and serve.

Crockpot Taco Soup

image credit

I'm taking ya'll with me as I seek to expand our regular menu selections. Last time it was Garlic Cheddar Chicken, which my husband declared a restaurant-quality meal.

Last night we tried Taco Soup, which I loved and even had for lunch today. But let me warn you...it's mighty spicy! Try decreasing the cumin to make it more child-friendly.

There are a couple packaged-food items included in this, but below the recipe I'll give you whole-food friendly substitutions for those.

Crockpot Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey (93/7 lean; or ground beef)

1 packet ranch dressing mix (I will substitute for you below)

1 packet of taco seasoning (substitution below)

1 can corn (I used a whole bag of steamed corn)

1 can of diced tomatoes, not drained

1 can of tomato sauce

1 can of Rotel (a salsa-like tomato and onion mixture found in the mexican section)

1 can of water

2 cans of beans, not drained (I used 1 can black beans, 1 can pinto beans)

1 T cumin

2 tsp. minced garlic

Procedure

1. Brown the meat a little, and then add the garlic and cumin to blend the flavors.

2. Dump meat mixture in the crockpot with all the other ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours (or simmer in soup pot for one hour). It will look like chili to you, but really, it comes out as a unique soup.

Yeah, it's that easy!

I had never used Rotel and it took time for me to find it in the store, but Walmart did have it. I don't know if that made it so fiery, or the cumin, but if you find it too spicy, you can reduce one or the other.

I served with grated cheese to cut the spiciness, and with honey cornbread. You could serve with cheese quesadillas, or homemade bread, or tortilla chips.

I suggest vanilla ice cream with berries on top for dessert, to wash away the spiciness, too.

Okay, now for the substitutions:

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Store it and use for every recipe calling for taco seasoning mix. Use 2 T per 1 pound of meat. I usually triple the batch for greater convenience, but these measurements are for a single batch.)

2 T chili powder

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. paprika

1 T cumin

2 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. pepper

Ranch Dressing Mix (Makes 1 T; use for recipes calling for 1 packet of Ranch dressing mix)

1 tsp. dried parsley

3/4 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/8 tsp. dried thyme


Honey Wheat Cornbread (the wheat and honey make this delicious)

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup white sugar

1 T baking powder

1 cup milk (I use the kids' 2% milk, but I've seen similar recipes written with 1 cup heavy cream instead of milk)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

2. In large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, and baking powder. Make a well in the center, and add the milk, oil, honey, and eggs; stir to combine. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.


* Image credit given above is for a good picture of taco soup, and shows ideal garnishes, but I didn't get this recipe at that sight. The recipe shown at that sight sounds equally good, though, and is for a larger batch.
 

Garlic Cheddar Chicken

I'm not a good cook.

I was single for far too long, and back then I would just as soon eat a bowl of cereal and read a good book, then make a full dinner.

Having admitted that, let me add that three years ago I decided to start cooking from scratch, for both health and financial reasons.

I don't know what the term scratch means to you, but to me it means buying no boxed foods or spice packs or anything containing suspicious chemicals. I purchase whole foods and prepare them myself; I want to know where our food comes from.

This doesn't mean I always bake my own bread, make my own yogurt, sprout grains, and buy steel-cut oats, for heaven's sake.

I don't even know what a steel-cut oat is, to be honest.

I also don't can produce. For one thing, I still lack the equipment, and secondly, I'd feel better watching someone do it first. My mother wasn't domestic and only did the minimum in the kitchen, though she wasn't a bad cook, just basic.

About now I'm looking for a domestic-goddess role model with time on her hands.

Though I don't can, I do check labels carefully on canned tomato products, and I only use canned beans when there's no time to soak beans overnight.

I don't buy organic produce unless it's fairly cheap, and although pesticides scare me, I only have so much money to spend on food, and by golly, the Lord is just going to have to protect us.

I tend to cook the same things week after week, unfortunately, because when I do start hunting for new recipes, I find ingredients lists that are full of spice packets and canned soups and the like.

It's discouraging and I give up too soon, instead of hunting for ways to modify the recipes. Time is never on my side.

But. I prayed and the Lord is helping! Recently I've had better luck hunting for whole-foods recipes, so our menus will find variety in the coming weeks, and as I use the oven more I'll stop shivering, thank goodness.

Today I have an easy, tasty recipe to share, which everyone liked and some of us really loved.

photo credit

Garlic Cheddar Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

4 cloves garlic

3/4 cup dry bread crumbs* (Italian style or plain)

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ( I used colby jack successfully)

1/4 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp salt

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Procedure:

Melt butter over low heat, then cook garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.

In shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, pepper and salt.

Dip chicken breasts in the garlic butter to coat, then press into the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a 9 X 13 baking dish. Top with remaining bread crumb mixture.

Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees in preheated oven, or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink.

*Making your own bread crumbs: Place whole pieces of bread, or torn bread, on a cookie sheet, single-layered. Bake at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Let dried bread cool, and then place in plastic bag. Crush with rolling pin (kids can crush them for you). 4 slices of bread make about 1 cup of crumbs. Boxed versions are salty, have chemicals, and taste processed.

Recipe originally found here. It says to pour the remaining melted butter/garlic over the chicken breasts before baking. I skipped that step to lower the fat grams and calories, and just discarded the butter mixture.

The recipe also calls for thin breasts. Mine were rather thick in parts but they were fully done and deliciously juicy at 30 minutes.

I served with plain brown rice and steamed veggies. Enjoy!

Bright Spot in our Homeschooling Today

Today in our Writing With Ease Level 4 resource, I read a passage from The Siege of Washington, D.C., by Captain E. Colburn Adams. This is a very old book, not readily available, but the writing is superb and exactly what I want my children to emulate. Susan Wise Bauer chose only the best as she penned this resource, and I'm indebted to her.

Following the reading (just a passage, not the whole book), the boys were required to narrate orally why the Civil War started, using 3 or 4 sentences. Specifically, what did the South want, what did the North and West do to provoke the South, and what was the result?

After they narrated and we discussed it together, the boys began writing their narration. I have them write all their narrations after we discuss the passage, which is a modified use of the resource. In Level 4, I'm supposed to write down my student's narration as they speak, and then they are to memorize the first two sentences only, and then write just those down. My boys are capable of more, since this resource is for grades 4-5.

I always say, boss the curriculum, don't let it boss you. Modify it to work for your child.

Shortly I will probably purchase Writing With Skill, the next resource in the series, and move the boys into that.

I am so proud of my Peter!

Regular, long-time readers might remember that he has always struggled with spelling, and that organizing his thoughts on paper was difficult too. He has a little dysgraphia, which is difficulty with handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts on paper. You would be shocked at his handwriting, which is large for his age, though neat enough as long as he uses 2nd-grade lined paper. He's no where near ready for college-ruled paper, for example, which is very unusual for a sixth grader. And cursive is very difficult for him.

But his spelling and writing organization! They are so much improved, and no tears or fits! I was so excited at his work today!

Peter, age 11 (first draft, with his spelling and punctuation)

The people of the south wanted 3 things: slavery, a president who agreed with them, and independence. The people of the north and west offended the south by electing Abraham Lincoln as president. Becasue of this the Civil War started.

What shining spot did you experience in your school today?