As The Lord Leads Our 2014-2015 Homeschool Year

Another year  of changes and promises to myself and the kids to do and be better.
Another year that will be filled with more accomplishments; less failures.

There are things that are in my control because I have freedom to choose the better and best things.

I know that there will be days that I’ll sit quietly and repeat this verse to my soul when I feel defeated, because I have reason to be joyful!

“Why are you cast down, my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him,
the help of my countenance and my God.”Psalm 42:11 (NKJV)

Those thoughts will most likely come when I dwell on the past years of home educating.
That’s mainly the reason that I don’t write about the “act” of educating my children.
I hadn’t seen the successes academically like I’d like to.

This time I will not allow myself to roll around in the past!

My attitude will be one of rejoicing the opportunity I have in educating our children at home!

I’ve started getting encouragement and a “You are more than capable” from a friend that shows the realness of academics and “do-ability”.
Tricia, Hodgepodge, probably has no idea how much she’s helped me see clearly.

My list has been made. The desire has been rekindled in me and I seek God daily for direction.

I’ll fight the urge to give up or be overwhelmed.

With that said, I look forward to the coming year with great optimism and vision.

The list below is TOTALLY subject to change…and most likely will before we actually start our school year {affiliate links follow}.

• Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Apologia Human Body
• Jump In (Writing Program)
• Fix It! Grammar : Robin Hood

• A Reason For Spelling Levels C and E
• A Reason For Handwriting Level D
• Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra
• Teaching Textbooks Math 7

Dave Raymond’s American History Curriculum

Mystery of History Vol. 1




We’ll be relying heavily on Notebooking Pages this year as well. Notebooking is one of my kid’s favorite activities during study.
They pay attention more!
Here’s a special offer for you!



Visual Latin



I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about this great offer from Compass Classroom!
They’re offering a discount on special products (Including Visual Latin!)



 A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers from Bright Ideas Press


A Year of Chalk Pastels

…and various online and impromptu material will be used!
No doubt we’ll be doing Unit Studies and Interest-led studies.

Our days would be incomplete if I didn’t take time to first praise, honor, worship and seek God when we rise!
Things that we use to do this will be our tools for successful living God’s way!


The Homeschool Mother’s Prayer Journal: A New School Year




Write Through the Bible



There are also times that I need a little help with my youngest son’s focus.
This year I’ll be testing out tips and methods on how to best help him with
 The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks.



I know that this is a lot of information for one post!
I plan to put together a list of sites that I get great encouragement from while walking through this home educating journey!
In the meantime, you may find great ideas and resources through my Pinterest Boards:

• Educating at Home
• Encouraging the Home Educator

I also want to leave you with another great Spiritual tool!!
Alisha Gratehouse’s  The Ultimate List of Prayers for your Homeschool.


Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela>


*Photo credit

The Better Together Conference

THIS IS HAPPENING!!!!

I’m so super excited about The Better Together M.O.M. Conference coming up this weekend!!

The dream that God placed in Stephanie Shott’s heart is yielding much fruit because she was obedient to put hands and feet to His mission for His glory!!

The M.O.M. Initiative was birthed!

The M.O.M. Initiative is a revolution of women who are mobilized to experience Titus 2 in real life.
We are mothers on a mission to mentor other mothers
– changing the world one mom at a time.

I’ve got my mental packing list going on and I’m ready for the connection, fellowship and renewing in my spirit with the Better Together Conference!

Here’s a little bit of what to expect at the conference from The M.O.M. Initiative page:

A fun, encouraging, challenging and inspiring conference for MOMS, MENTORS and MINISTRY LEADERS where you can find solid biblical teaching, enjoying connecting with and laughing with old and new friends, and leave empowered to fulfill your God-given calling and with the confidence of knowing you don’t have to take your mom journey alone. Hey ladies… there is something at BETTER TOGETHER for women of all ages and all stages!

I’d love to share this experience with you in person! If you’re on the fence about coming, lean more to the side that puts you at the conference!

I see this as sort of a before-back-to-school rejuvenation! 
To have fresh perspective on the days ahead.

There will be 18 speakers and 40 breakout sessions. Surely one (or several) of these will speak directly to your current stage in life!

Visit the conference to get more specifics on the speakers, topics and mission.
See you soon!!!

Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela>

Pick Up The Word of God

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

28 And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

30 Moreover who He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:27-39 (NKJV)

Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela>



photo credit: Danilo Rizzuti | FreeDigitalPhoto .net

Is Your Joy Full?

These things I have spoken to you,
that My joy may remain in you,
and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11 (NKJV)

As I read through John 15, I meditated on verse 11 a little longer. The words, “that My joy may remain in you”, made me a little sad.

Sad because I know that there’s SO MUCH that I’m missing out on by not understanding the depth of joy that Jesus Himself is…and that joy is in me!

Jesus said that our joy should be full! Its even included as a fruit of the Spirit.
It’s important!
Joy is too often a take-it-or-leave-it way to live.

We sing songs about joy unspeakable and having the joy down in our hearts but do we fully comprehend it?
I know that I don’t.

I don’t walk around sad and all negative.
I usually have a really good attitude and positive outlook.
But am I living in full joy? The joy of Jesus?!

Do you know one way that our joy can be full?
Abiding in Jesus; the Word of God.
Its spelled out in 15:1-10.

Abiding is being in close fellowship with our King, the Lord of our lives.
We GET to have intimacy with Him!
After time with the Father, His joy should be shining from our faces.
Time with Him is worshipping Him.
Its not just a tingly feeling, but a life changing experience.

Need joy? 

Spend quality time with God.
Let His word sink in and let joy come up.
Take some time to read and study John 15.
Even if you’ve read it countless times, read it again!
We will NEVER exhaust the Word of God!


Living With Sword and Coffee,
Kela >

*photo credit: hyena reality|freedigitalphotos .net