Zachariah's & Wylie's Special Days

Today is Zachariah's 4th Birthday!!! Yeah! I asked him what he would like for his birthday dinner and of course I got "Well mom you guys can take me to Red Lobster!" haha After I explained he needed to pick something for us to cook at home he decided on hamburgers. =0)

Normally we have a birthday party for the boys together but this year we decided to just take the boys to do something for their birthdays. Saturday we took Logan snow tubing at the Peek and Peak and than tomorrow we will be taking Zach and Wylie bowling for the first time. They are so very excited!

I can hardly believe that my 2nd little boy is already 4 years old!

Feb. 2nd, 2012

This week has been so very busy! Having birthdays for both Zach and Wylie, bowling on Tuesday. ST for Katelyn today and school and housework on top of everything else I need a nap! haha

Yesterday was Wylie's 2nd birthday, I think he enjoyed all the extra attention he got but I don't think he really understand it's all just yet, still to young I guess. It's funny to see how the other children react to one of their siblings getting gifts and themselves not getting any. Logan doesn't handle it very well. Even though he is the oldest it seems hard for him to understand why someone else gets a gift but he doesn't. So that has been the big lesson of the week, being thankful for others and not jealous of what others have.

I just pray I can instill these important traits in the children, somedays it feels like I don't get anywhere when other days it's like it just clicks.... those are the days us mamas are sooooooooo proud of and thankful God has help and answered our prayers. This has been such a week of thankgiving and joy, seeing two of my boys grow another year older, it is bittersweet. I love seeing them grow but it sure does go by so fast! Thank you Lord for these wonderful little blessings!

A Job Worth Having

While sitting here finishing up our school day I thought about everything I still need to complete today. Well things I would like to complete I should say. There are at least 2 main meals to plan and prepare. Nonstop clothes to wash, fold, and put away. On top of that dishes to do, floors to sweep, windows to wash. After all of this I think about the things I would like to do myself like sewing a number of projects I have started and haven't gotten to finish, scrapbook pages and baby books to work on. Not to mention how I have been trying to work preparing our lesson plans for the 2012-2013 school year.

Most importantly today I must, give hugs and kisses, take time to read a story, teach a lesson, hold a hand, wipe a tear, say I love you and show God's love by example. I am a mother... what a wonderful job it is, a job worth having. I wear many hats throughout a day, wife, mother, teacher, cook, maid, nurse and this is just to name a few but my favorite of all is being a wife first and a mother second to my little blessings.

While Jess and Benji were home they had me read an article.... here it is if you are interested in reading it. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201554.html?referrer=emailarticle

After reading this I thought about how little people without children really understand what it is like to have children. I know myself personality I was one of them 6 years ago, wondering what in the world could a person possibly do all day long as a stay at home mom. Especially if her children when to school outside the home. Funny part is I never wanted to be a stay at home mommy.

Then I had Logan, my sweet baby boy who will be 6 in the middle of February. Our world turned upside down, things changed, we were no longer just responsible for ourselves. There was another little life we had to take care of, raise and train, to mold into the person God wanted him to be. From than on every 2 years God has blessed us with another child. Some say it gets easier with each child you have, I say easier isn't the word I would use. Comfortable is more my style, fits better for us. Some days go so simple while others I tell Matt "I need a vacation!" There are days I wish bedtime wouldn't come, while others I am watching the minutes waiting for the time to say get your PJs on! Come on admit it moms, you all have had days like this as well. Doesn't mean we love our children any less, being a parent is just hard work sometimes, especially if you take it seriously. I always say my job is from SON UP TIL SON DOWN now I can add daughter up til daughter down haha.

I think that article explains what a mother does with her time very well, the only other part I would add is even though the lady who works outside the home with no children does laundry and dishes..... with children there is just ALOT more of the two! =0)

Well with that being said I am going to go make lunch, fold two loads of laundry while my little take their naps.

Mirror Image

Last night I decided to let the boys watch a movie... which isn't very often. We don't have cable and only let them watch certain movies. Matt and I agreed a few years back that if we wouldn't want our children to watch a movie than we ourselves shouldn't watch it either.

The one Logan picked out was The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. When this movie first came out Matt and I wondered if it was a little too scary or not something the children should see at such a young age, but the positive meaning behind the movie is great. Children understand so much more than we think they do, they are like little sponges, and if you use these moments to explain things to them and teach them they really will retain alot of it. Plus my boys are very hands on and visual, by seeing something it helps them understand things better.

After we watched the movie and got ready for bed, than we sat on my bed and discussed the day while waiting for daddy to get home from Bible Study. Logan said "man mom, I just love watching movies about God" =0) than went on to say "it's amazing to see how people trust God like they did in the movie and prayed for help." I was so proud of how much he took from it at the age of almost 6! Some adults don't even understand this. Out if the mouth of babes huh!

After that he said "mama wasn't that crazy how when Lucy looked into the mirror she saw a different person with different clothes on, why would someone want to be someone different?" This really made me think, how often do we try to be someone or something we aren't. Why can't we just be comfortable with the way God has made us.

Another thing that this made me think about was the mirror image of being an example and letting others be an example for us. Sometimes we may not want to look or be something different but we may be influenced by things and people around us. These influences may change the way we act, our personalities, morals, and reactions towards other people, even how we handle situations as well.

Being a mother of 4 little ones leaves a huge responsibility on me to set a good example. I have to say I am very far from perfect and fall short from setting a good example sometimes. There are days when all I want to do is be selfish, I may yell alot, or get frustrated over simple things. Than I am upset with myself for the way I acted that day and regret things I have done or said. The worst part is when one of my children model the same attitude or reaction I have sat in front of them. My first thought is were in the world did they learn or see that from, than the conviction comes flooding in and I know that was something I showed them through my own actions.

I am so thankful that I don't have to raise these little ones on my own. God has blessed me with a great husband and father to our children... in Matt and we both are learning from the best father of them all the Lord! By God's grace He forgives me for my faults and helps teach me the ways I should act and live through His Word.

My prayer is that with God's help I am able to overcome some of these faults and pass on positive traits to my children. That when they look at the "Mirror Image" of mommy that they can see their heavenly Father shine through me. It overwhelms me how God can use a simple sentence from a child to teach so much! Thank You Lord for these little reflections I call my children! =0)

Reflecting on 2011

As many other people I have talked to have said it's hard to believe 2011 is already behind us. There is no going back, some would say that's fine with them, others would say it was the best year of their lives. For us it was a wonderful journey, a year of growth... growing closer to God and trusting Him more than we ever have.

I remember at the beginning of 2011 writing on facebook I wonder what God has in store for our family this year... knowing full well that Lord Willing Matt and I were praying God would bless our family with another child in His perfect timing. Little did we know that only weeks after this statement we would find out we were expecting our 4th child due October 8, 2011. From there it all seems kind of a blur since the year past by so fast. I don't know if it was the excitement of the pregnancy, it is such pure joy to have a child growing inside your belly, knowing full well that
the Lord is working on this tiny persons every little detail or if the year seem to fly by just by keeping busy with life itself, taking care of 3 boys, a husband and house.

All I know within no time we were sitting in the doctors office waiting to be called back for our 12 week sonogram and check-up appt. That morning I was very unease, I told Matt for some reason I was nerves about the appt., shaking it off as just excitement we when in for our sonogram.
How amazing it was to see our little baby moving around in my belly, which at that point I hadn't felt yet. After only a few short minutes in that little room, my nervousness returned but this time for a reason. The sonogram tech. was very short about what she was doing and her findings. I new something wasn't right, all she said was the back of our baby's neck was a little thick and she
wasn't sure if she could see a nose bone. My heart sank, I held back the tears as she said "I'm still looking" and she asked "you are getting blood work with this right?!?"

After that we had to wait for the regular OBGYN to come in to give us any information. We were told that there was a chance our baby could have something wrong with him/her and they were suspecting Down Syndrome. I broke down crying, I'm not one that is good with unknowns but knowing that God knows best we decided not to do any advanced testing. We figured God doesn't make mistakes and if our baby was going to have Down Syndrome than that was fine
with us. When Matt and I prayed together for God to bless us with another child we never prayed, please only give us one with this this this and this. No we asked that His Will be done in our lives and we were willing to take whatever blessings He had to offer.

From then on I started to do research about Down Syndrome, it may sound funny or strange but deep down I somehow knew our baby would have it. I remember praying Lord please let Your Will be done, if our child is to have Downs please let him/ her be overall health and able to
breastfeed. We found out the baby was a little girl at 20 weeks, she finally had a name Katelyn Noel meaning Pure Gift, Pure Hope, Pure Peace, Pure Happiness! Logan was so excited he wanted a little sister soooo bad, he would say "mama I already have 2 little brothers I would like a little sister."

Throughout the next 17 weeks I kept going back and forth with feelings sometimes I would cry, sometimes I would be strong and ready to take on the world. I even ended up with Gestational Diabetic during my pregnancy and had to watch my diet and sugars from 28 weeks on. It's crazy how hard it is to fully count on God. To give Him all the pieces and say here do as You see fit and help me to deal with whatever You have to offer.

Throughout this time we when on with life, taking care of the boys, planning our new school year then starting school. The boys were soooooo excited to met their little sister and we were too! I remember doing calendar time with them and explaining how Katelyn could come anytime from the middle of Sept-Oct. When I put it in that time frame it made them even more excited! Never did I expect she would decide to come 3 weeks early.

After a very short and amazing labor and delivery Katelyn Noel joined our family in person... 6lbs 6ozs of pure cuteness! We were completely in love from the moment they handed her to us, our beautiful little girl with her almond shaped eyes, tiny nose, curved pinky finger and extra chromosome... yes our little girl has Down Syndrome, we were able to tell the moment she was born and are so thankful she does. She is exactly the person God wanted her to be, our sweet daughter who we love very much just the way she is.

Even having the GD was a blessing in itself since most babies with a GD mama are bigger. Katelyn was able to pack on a few extra ozs that was great for her since she was born a little early. Another amazing gift was our little girl was and is able to breastfeed, what a HUGE answer to prayer this was. I am so thankful to be able to nurture my child this way, and that she is strong enough and able to do it! Thank You Lord!!! Now we are praying that God continues to be with our little girl, keeping her healthy and strong. At 1 month we found out Kate has a VSD small hole in her heart, very common with DS babies, we pray it heals up on it's own or continues to not cause her any problems.

I remember wondering during the pregnancy how I would feel if Katelyn ended up having Downs... would I be sad or upset even for a moment. I am so grateful to say that by God's grace I didn't feel any of that only happiness and contentment. Fully relying on God, it felt and feels wonderful!

Katelyn is now 3 1/2 months old and as wonderful as ever! Her big brothers completely adore her, they think she is soooooo cute. They are her biggest fans too and are so very proud of her when she does something new. At 6 weeks she rolled over from her belly to back and last Friday she decided to roll over from her back to belly. I am always in awe of how strong she is, what she is able to do and the little person she is! Yesterday Zach was talking to baby Kate and said sis you are a princess, I love you and want to marry you someday! How sweet is that! Logan always tells me "mama I am sooooo thankful God made baby Kate." Wylie is our busy boy always on the go nonstop Wild Wylie and when it comes to baby Kate he will give her kisses but is a little bit more of a jelly bean then the other boys.

Looking back it seems like most of the year was about Katelyn and not about the other children, the thing is though they were with us throughout every step of the way. We were together as a family enjoying the ups and downs. Walking through the year holding onto one another learning new things and trusting in the Lord more. We did many fun things in 2011 like going to Port Farms and the zoo, taking trips to the Falls and taking our first plane trip to see Matt's sister
get married.

Each one of them Logan, Zachariah, Wylie and Katelyn are truly a treasure and blessing. They each have their own personalities and have brought such joy to Matt and I. Being a parent is such a wonderful experience, one I am so thankful that God has allowed me to take care of these little gems for Him.

I'm not sure what God has in store for us in 2012, I know I am for sure excited to see. Each year brings new trials and tests. I pray God helps us through them all this year like He did in 2011. I know He will, His Word promises it. =0)

2011-2012 Curriculum

Here is an overview of what we decided to use for our 2011-2012 school year! Logan's Kindergarten school year!

Bible: God's Word Book A

Plus we have already learned the 10 Commandments this year and are learning the books of the Bible right now. We have planned too touch on the Armor of God and the Fruit of the Spirit this year as well.

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Handwriting: Weaver Penmanship To Praise (I picked our own 40 Bible verses to learn throughout the year, 1 per week and starting part way through the year Logan had to start writing out the verses he was memorizing for that week. I typed them all out so Logan would have his own little example in front of him each week.) The boys also enjoy using the chalkboards or dry erase boards to practice this names, numbers and letters.

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Phonics: Saxon Phonics K (Great program we have enjoyed this very much so far, very easy to teach and Logan is already starting to read some after only 20 weeks of school! SO proud of him!

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Science: The World God Made (we do science 2 times a week they normally are only short lessons and sometimes we add a experiment or activity to go along with what we are learning.)

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Health: Horizons K Health (we do Health once a week normally Wednesdays, very simple lessons about family or feelings, safety things, different jobs.) I sometimes add extra devotions into this area as well, things like being content or being humble.

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Art: All of our art projects are things I have made up myself that go along with what we are learning about in the other subjects. Sometimes it may just be coloring a picture or drawing our family, to playing with play dough or painting and cutting.

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Math: Lifepac K Math (when I first was checking into math programs it came down to two choices either Lifepac math or Horizons math. Final choice ended up being Lifepac, the price was more reasonable and I liked how it was layed out. Then after doing the first few weeks I was overwhelmed with this feeling like I picked a math that was too easy for Logan. After some more prayer I decided since this was the math program the Lord had lead me to I was going to stick with it. I am so glad we did. I realized that this program lays out the foundation at the beginning of the program that each child needs to be strong at before they can learn more difficult things like adding. So even though we spend weeks reviewing things that were simple to Logan at the time like colors and shapes we now at 20 weeks into the school year are learning how to add number, sets, write number words.)

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History: For history we picked History for Little Pilgrims or American People and Nation, after reviewing both of them I decided History for Little Pilgrims was a little too advanced for a Kindergartner just starting to learn about such things and the American People and Nation touched on many topics but not too in dept, I had to split this book up into my own lessons but it has worked out great. Each week we do our history lesson on Mondays and review things about it during the rest of the week.)

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Beyond these things we have been playing games, putting puzzles together, cooking, learning about maps, telling time, calendar and weather, senses, reading lots of books and just plain enjoying our time together. =0)

Where We Started and Have Been

When we first decided to homeschool there was alot of work to do. I knew I wanted a Bible based curriculum and had no idea about where to start or what was even out there. I would say for a good 2 weeks I surfed the web, reading HUNDREDS of reviews, (mind you I was just looking for a curriculum for pre-k) I was determined to put my whole self into this and really find what God wanted us to use.

After much thought, research and prayer I decided to use the Weaver Interlock Curriculum for both Logan and Zach ages 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. It was wonderful I would completely recommend this curriculum to anyone. We had so much fun learning, the Interlock teaches starting at Genesis and goes through the Flood.

On top of this we also added handwriting, calendar time, reading time and a craft. The Interlock is set up to be used 3 days a week, so we did Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Little minds can learn so much just by playing and don't need as much sit down time. Plus just starting out school, it was a great way to get the children and me started in understanding the concept of organized learning. Any parent knows that teaching listen skills and sitting still are a normal part of raising children, trying to teach your child brings on a whole new level of this.

(FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2010 PRE-K)

That first year we learned so many things from the life cycle of a butterfly, about each day of creation, how to count to 100, learning our address and phone number, even to more in dept things like the Trinity 3 in 1 God the Father, God the Son God the Holy Spirit. I loved how the Weaver curriculum introduced this at such a young age, yes it is something over their heads but as they put it, by teaching it at this age puts a hook or stepping stone for later learning.

By the time we were done with school for our first year I was so happily overwhelmed with how God had used me to teach our children so many things that alot of children placed in a public school setting would have never learned at this age or at all for that matter. It made me excited to start research for the uncoming school year, which we are currently in and also for the future.

As most of our family and friends know I am the kind of person that LOVES a good deal and I love to save money on things we need. I will shop around, use eBay, and buy from classified ads before I would ever purchase anything new.

Again after many hours of reading reviews and even taking a trip to our PA CHAP Homeschool Convention with Matt, I decided our family would use the Weaver Curriculum as our main curriculum starting in 1st grade, it would work great with our children and I could use it for multi grade levels at the same time learning the same things. Then started my hunt for the Volumes 1-5, Supplements 7-12 and other items that would work great with the curriculum. After searching and purchasing I am happy to say I have our whole curriculum up to 12th grade, other then math or other extra subjects we decide to learn and teach. Thankfully we have saved $1000s of dollars already and my hardwork searching for this items as paid off.

It has been so amazing to see how God has provided for us and opened doors for us to find what we need at great prices. It really has just reconfirmed for us that this is His Will for our lives. Some may wonder why I would ever purchase curriculum that far ahead, the answer is simply I love a good deal! Everything I have purchased with the intent to use but with the flexibly to resell if need be. I'm sure others are thinking are they really planning on homeschooling their children all the way through 12th grade, again the answer is simple YES! =0) I have heard some families that decide to homeschool say they are planning on taking a year at a time and see how it goes, that is fine but for us I decided I didn't want to make it easy on myself that I had to put my whole self into this. That it was either all or nothing and that I was going to make a commitment to the Lord to use me to teach our children.

Mother's Sheaves

Some say that my life is so narrow,
Environed by four square walls;
And ever across my threshold
The shadow of duty falls.
My eyes wander oft to the hilltops,
But my heart ever stoops down
With passion of love for my babies
Who, helpless, cling to my gown.
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In the light of each new day dawning,
I see an evangel stand;
And to fields that are ripe for the harvest,
I am lured by a beckoning hand.
But I have a small part with the reapers,
Small place in the soul-stirring strife;
I must care for the babes at my fireside
And teach them the lessons of life.
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I must answer their eager questions,
From childhood to early youth;
I must lead them in paths of wisdom,
And guide them in ways of truth;
I must nourish their bodies
With untiring, watchful care,
Take thought for "the loaves and the fishes,"
And the garments which they must wear.
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But at night when the lessons are ended,
And the last little prayer is said,
When the questions are asked and answered,
And I've cuddled each sleepy head;
When the nameless unrest has vanished
That has troubled my heart through the day,
I will kneel in the midst of my children
And humbly and thankfully pray;
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"Dear Lord, when I come with the reapers
To Thee at the set of the sun;
When the sheaves of the harvest are garnered,
And life and its labors are done,
I will lay at Thy feet these, my children-
To my heart and my garments they cling;
Though I might not go forth with the reapers,
These- These are the sheaves that I bring."
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"The most important work you and I will
ever do will be within the walls of our own homes."

OUR CLASSROOM

Summertime 2010 we started our classroom projected. It was so fun working together with our family drywalling, painting and then finally setting up the room. We were so thankful that a local college was having an auction to get rid of some extra desks and such and we got a lot of great items for our classroom cheap! Including my desk, 2 very nice filing cabinets, 2 chalkboards, and our 4 bookshelf desks for the children. The finally results were breath taking for me. I was so excited to start the first school year! Here are some pictures of it! A few of the finished job and a few before and during drywall. I really need to take some new pictures of it since we have added more things since these pictures have been taken.

Why Homeschool?!?

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not turn from it.

Dear
Family and Friends,

As some of you may know Matt and I have decided to homeschool our children.
This decision is not one we made hastily, or just out of nowhere. A little over
3 year ago, I (Misty) was really thinking about my responsibility as a parent,
how God has entrusted us with our children, to raise them up to know and serve Him.

Everything I did and everywhere I went, Homeschooling kept coming up. I talked
it over with Matt and at first it seemed like a brilliant idea, then an
enormous amount of doubt set in. I found myself making excuses as to why
Homeschooling wasn’t for us and how it just wouldn’t work out. Most of which
were just selfish reasons on my part. God didn’t give up on me though.
Throughout the next months the topic continued to be apart of my thoughts, and
everyday life. I made a commitment to pray about it and have been ever since.
From putting these questions in God’s hands, I have come to the understanding,
that the Lord has laid this on my heart, and I know without a doubt, this is
His Will and calling for our lives.

Therefore, we decided to finish off part of our basement for this purpose
and make a 14’ x 24’ classroom. To complete a job like this the big
things we had to do was seal the basement walls/floor and do
heating and duct work down there. Along with these expenses, we understood that
we would need classroom supplies and curriculums.

After praying about these expenses, I got the idea of doing some sort of a
fundraiser or bake sale like regular schools do to raise some of the money,
which I did. I ended up selling monkey bread, cookies, craft items, had a big yard sale to help us support this ministry, and yes I said ministry. Some may travel across the world to preach and reach people for the Lord, being a stay at home mom and teacher, my ministry is here in my home, raising warriors for Christ.

We know it isn’t going to be easy and there are going to be days we want to
quit, that is were you all come in, we are asking you to come along side us and
pray with and for us. We know without a doubt God will see us through and
provide for our needs, if we seek to follow after Him.

Thank you all for your support and prayers, each one is very encouraging to us.
We will be sure to keep everyone updated on what's going on in our little
school and what we are learning about!!! =)
LOVE,
Matt, Misty, Logan, Zachariah, Wylie, Katelyn Hovis

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he
will make your paths straight.