A Day in our New and Improved Homeschool!

October means Table Time in costume regalia

For those following our homeschool changes, I have a new blog post up today on my "Lead, Guide, Walk Beside" blog. 

You can check it out here: http://www.mamarachel.net/2015/10/a-day-in-our-homeschool.html

Love, Mama Rachel

A New Chapter

Dear friends,

After 15 years of homeschooling, I have decided to change some things in our family's approach. as part of these changes, I have started a new blog. If you'd like to follow me on my new homeschool journey, you can check it out here: http://www.mamarachel.net/2015/08/changes-in-our-homeschool.html

The new blog is not finished-- hopefully it will look better designed in the future, and it will have a new domain name-- but I wanted to get started writing, at least as the new school year begins.

Happy homeschooling!!!

Love, Mama Rachel

Holding on to Hope

I think most bloggers would agree with me that it is not easy to blog when we are going through tough times.

That's how I feel, anyway.

I am normally obnoxiously candid and transparent on my blog. But my candor in real life has recently really bit me. Hard. And I am still reeling from the trouble and heartache it's created.

So, even though I HATE ambiguity, I just can't be more explicit about what's going on in my life right now.

However, I DO know that Jesus loves me. And I know that joy WILL come again. And I have HOPE in happier tomorrows, all because of Christ and His all-encompassing Atonement.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.
Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me, He was crucified.
That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled, and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me,
Enough to die for me.
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful, to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me,
Enough to die for me.
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful, to me!

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me,
Enough to die for me.
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful, to me!

Love, Mama Rachel

A Facebook Fast

The kids' Halloween artwork is dominating the wipe-board.

The nights are getting cooler-- YES! Autumn is here, at last.

With the change in season, I always find that *I* need a change, as well.

So, to my dear family and friends on Facebook: If you need me, check my blogs! I am officially on a "Facebook Fast," which means that I'm not going to the social network right now.

I'm not sure how long I'll be away, but for now, I'll be getting back to writing on my blogs, doing some sewing for my home and for Christmas, cleaning out my garage (since with the cooler weather, I won't melt if I spend time there!), and generally trying to get more done.

I'll miss you!!! Call me, email me, text me, and follow me on Pinterest. (Christmas is coming-- WOO-HOO!!!)

Hopefully, I'll get a better handle on how I spend my time before I venture back.

Love, Mama Rachel

Slacking Off

I need to apologize-- I have been sooo neglectful of my blogs! But I always need to readjust after a new baby arrives, and now it's the Christmas season, and I have reached my quota of free picture space on Blogger (Hey, I've been blogging since 2006, ya know...) so that stopped me from updating, and... and...

Yeah, excuses, excuses!

So until I can delete some pictures (gasp!) or somehow figure out stupid Picasa (grumble-grumble), I won't be posting many updates.

I DO think I'll finally publish the draft of my birth story, however, even though it's not very thorough. Who wants to read too many details of a traumatic experience, anyway? Right?

Yeah.

Love you all!!!

Mama Rachel

Pressing Forward

William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon

For more than a year I've been writing what can only be described as a "curriculum" for teaching Shakespeare. Last summer, I finished the first part, which is for teaching students about the Bard and the Elizabethan Age. It has weekly lessons that can be taught as a precursor to putting on a Shakespeare play. While it's meant to be used for homeschooling moms who want to teach their children and their kids' friends in a class atmosphere, it could be used for one family.

But right now, I'm working hard to finish the acting and directing guide for putting on a Shakespeare play. It's been a much bigger effort than I had supposed it would be, even though I have a lot of experience teaching acting and directing shows. Some things are just not easy to translate into words! I mean, most of what I learned before I jumped in the directing trenches was from the examples of the many teachers and directors I worked with throughout my youth. Putting all those lessons I learned into words is not the easiest thing for me to do. *whew!*

Today, I've been sitting at the computer, pounding out what to do and expect in the audition process. With only a few breaks for things like perusing Pinterest, it has taken me this entire day!

In contrast to the writing I've been doing, compared to posting on my blogs, I can say that blogging is a process that takes much less effort! I'm not sure what that says about the quality of my writing on my blogs, but...

I hope all my blogging buddies are enjoying their summers! I promise not to completely abandon my blogs, but hopefully this is a good explanation as to why I've been away.

On to the next!!!

Love,
Mama

Blog Remodeling!

My good friend has been very busy!

I am so blessed to have a very talented and willing friend who has revamped and upgraded this blog in a way I never could have dreamed possible! Don't you just love it?

THANK YOU, Misty!!! You've done it again. I am so grateful that you so willingly share your amazing talents with me and my readers. You are awesome!!!

Love,

Rachel

Facing the Difficult

Sometimes, God inspires us to do things that are hard-- things that intimidate us. Does that mean we don't do them? Or that we should put them off indefinitely?

Hmmm. No.

SO, I am now starting a project that both scares and excites me at the same time. I'm beginning the process of writing some curricula God inspired me to create a year or so ago. I've procrastinated long enough, and now I'm ready to face them head-on! I thought this blog would be a good place to keep a journal of sorts for recording my progress.

The first involves putting together a treasury of classic poems and stories. The other two are lessons that mothers can do at home with their daughters and sons. They're in rough-draft form, and need a lot of tweaking, but I feel really good about tackling them. If this is what the Lord wants me to do, He'll help me, right?

:-D

Wish me luck...

The Idyllic Hearth...

This is the picture I used for my first blog header.

Hooray! Thanks to my wonderful husband, I now have a lovely picture at the top of my page.

I like this painting for a number of reasons. It looks peaceful and quiet and humble. It is just big enough for a family, yet it is not an imposing manor. Life appears to move very slowly there. I can hear the birds singing, and I imagine I hear the voices of children hiding in the trees, ringing through the air. There are clouds in the sky, but there are also patches of blue to indicate that all is well, and that the storms are not yet gathering.

Someday, this place will be my home.

This is all new for me...

Dierdre, MacKenna, Bonny

Happy birthday to my blog! I am excited to begin this record of my life as a wife, mother and homemaker. Today, I had a couple of successes, and a few defeats. The kids and I baked and decorated Christmas cookies. Ta-Da! I bought the dough in the refrigerated section, but hey, we made some positive memories!

My 4 1/2 week old baby girl slept fairly well today, so I got some dishes done, started some laundry and ran to the store. My internet addiction is still going strong, unfortunately, and I think I may have exacerbated it today by creating my own blog. BUT I will also finally have a journal, and that can only be a good thing!

Speaking of my baby, (her name is MacKenna) she is now asleep in her baby seat at my feet, and so I should really be getting dinner done. Tacos tonight! That should make my DH a happy guy! :) Hmmm... said husband is late, and the kids are fighting over which movie to watch. Ah, "It's a Wonderful Life." We'll see how long the 2yo sits and watches that!

Okay, I will now remove my rear end from this uncomfortable office chair and heat up the oil, defrost the hamburger, and prepare to nourish and nurture my family!

Welcome to my life...