Randomly Selected Goings On

Yes, we are still homeschooling.  I don't say much about it, because it just happens. Sort of.  I appreciated Lady of Virtue's recent post on how to reduce homeschooling stress, in which she shared these pieces of wise advice:

No parent, it doesn't matter how affluent or dedicated, will ever be able to give a child "everything"--God doesn't even promise His children that! Give them what they need--this is what you need to concentrate on.  

[...]Concentrate on teaching them to speak, read and write legibly and well. Then be sure they can cipher well enough so that they can make change and eventually manage their own finances. Instruct them to make honest and wise decisions. This is as far as some children will be able to go and still retain what they've learned. There are others you will want to take further, but don't stress on these points; unless they are planning on entering a profession with stringent math requirements, you just may find it a waste of your time and energy.

I read this last statement just as I was praying and having a personal internal battle about whether or not to insist one of my children continue to struggle with the algorithms of a falling rock and its velocity at the point of impact.  Is there any point on insisting we do chemistry or higher algebra, when the resident teacher, who has a chemistry minor, doesn't remember it and never uses it?  We aren't raising our girls to be scientists or engineers, and they are already much more ready to function in the real world than I was at their age... 

On the other hand, Emily's proverb does have some merit:

When all else fails,

Do not gasp at the check marks. They merely indicate the math question was answered orally. :)

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I am happy to announce that I conquered my chocolate selfishness (previous post), realizing that seeing the delight on my girls' faces as I generously shared my M&M's would be as much fun as, or more fun than (I can't believe I said that), eating them myself.  Besides, I was convicted by a recollection of a Wisdom With the Millers story of a girl who was stingy with her chocolate, and it was eaten by ants.  It is a lesson I should have learned when I was about six years old.

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Although I still can't remember to get the coupons, I am hard at work being the frugal and prudent wife.  The other day I rescued one of my DH's favorite wool sweaters by picking up a pair of matching corduroy pants for $.75 and making patches for the elbows. Hand sewn patches!  Does that say "love" or what? Now Betsy needs a black skirt, so I also picked up a nice women's skirt (I do believe long girls' skirts are non-existent) which could easily be cut down to size for Betz.  It is awaiting my attention at the sewing machine.  Also among my thrift store treasures were a denim skirt for her and one for Emily.  Emily's also happens to fit Alison, who loves it, so little sister generously announced that she would share. 

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Desert girl in Minnesota:

We'll be traveling to tropical North Dakota this weekend.  I think I'll remind her to take some real shoes.

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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 9:10