Homeschooling the Last Child

For 30 years I have been a homeschooling mom.  Early on my husband was not on board with homeschooling, but I really didn't listen to him.  I knew it was the right thing for our child at the time, and I ignored all of his concerns.  Over the years he came to appreciate the homeschooling lifestyle.  We were able to travel, study and spend time with family more than other families.  It allowed us the ability to really know our children, and to find the perfect method for each to learn and grow to their abilities.

I have used a variety of homeschooling curriculum.  From Abeka, Saxon Math, Bob Jones, and more.  When I first began I did "school at home".  I had a classroom set up; we did the pledge and wore uniforms (we had them from private school).  Four kids later and 30 years we are a little more lax. Okay, a lot more lax.  I talk to my kids and find out what their interests are, and we tailor their education around those interests.  For example, my eldest son was special needs so we focused on reading, writing and basic math and threw in golf which he loved.  As they get older I give them a schedule of work for the week, and they finish at their speed, if they complete early they have the rest of the week to pursue their individual interests.  

My second child, a daughter started out interested in sharks and by high school she was totally invested in the Civil Air Patrol.  We used their lessons in Aerospace Science, History, Cyber Patriot, writing and testing for rank assignments as her primary curriculum for her high school years.  It was a very positive experience.  Her senior year she applied for a Leadership Academy to go to Washington D.C. for two weeks to tour our Nation's Capitol and meet with Senator Ted Cruz.  Part of the qualification process was to read the Federalist Papers and complete a variety of essays over selected material.  She applied and was accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy.  Currently, she is a stay-at-home mom pregnant with her fourth child and running her own lucrative business.

My third child, another daughter expressed an interest in Conservation and Wildlife very early.  She was our family hunter.  She solely supplied our household with venison for almost ten years. At fourteen she applied for the Summer Naturalist Youth Program at the San Antonio Zoo.  The first year she worked only the summer but due to her positive work ethic she was selected for the year round program.  She worked this program for 5 years until graduating and attending the College of the Ozarks where she will be graduating this December with a BS in Conservation and Wildlife Management.  As part of her curriculum, we used the Animal Science textbooks from the Exploring Creation series.

Last, but not least my youngest son is very interested in Conservation but also farming and being a farrier.  We will be signing him up at the local community college for a farrier course, then welding. He is 16 so not really certain what his future holds, but he has options.  I have been encouraging him to hold off on marriage and children, and pursue something he is really interested in doing, instead of being stuck in a job he hates to support a family.  Life is too short to be unhappy in a job.  I really hope he chooses to farm our land, but we will see.   

I am the director of a local library where we have our local homeschooling group out of... we are in transition as our children are growing, but our community is tight, and we love helping new homeschoolers.  We have a homeschool resource room at the library and provide free, used homeschooling curriculum to anyone in need, as well as tutoring opportunities and field trips.  

I am a very outspoken advocate for homeschooling.  I firmly believe that it would benefit ALL students and is vastly superior to any other type of education.  This isn't a popular sentiment, but my children have participated public, private and home schooling opportunities, and homeschoolings is the only one that offers the freedom to choose and tailor an education for a child.  

Testimony

**I found this old blog post in the DRAFTS and decided to publish it. It is from 2012.

In my congregation, we are being challenged to look for opportunities to live out the Great Commission.  Over the past 20 years, I am ashamed to say, I haven't told others how to accept Christ, as often as I should have, and I would like to apologize.  The thought that there are many who I haven't told, and they will end up in hell one today is very troubling to me.  I have used the excuse that I don't meet any non-Christians in my daily life, or not many.  I home school, and the homeschoolers around me are already Christians, plus I go to church.  That is about it.  Realizing that being so lackluster isn't an excuse.

I am resolved to look for opportunities to share the Gospel and my testimony so that the Kingdom of God can be advanced.  Please be in prayer for me as I forge ahead in obedience. 
I struggle daily in my own personal walk with God, so prayer in that regards would also be appreciated.

I'd like to share my testimony, or the story of how I accepted Christ.  I hope it will encourage you, and point you in the right direction.

I've always been ashamed that my conversion5 experience was so vanilla.  I mean, I've never used drugs, I am not a recovering alcoholic or a prostitute.  Nothing so dramatic.  I was fortunate to have been raised in the church my entire life.  I remember my mom and grandma Bobbe taking me to church.  I loved AWANA, and memorizing scripture. I loved reading the Chronicles of Narnia and Pilgrim's Progress out of the church library, and my all time favorite the Charity Ames series. 

At the age of six we attended Maranatha Independent Baptist Church in Oxon Hill Md.  A movie titled "The Burning Hell" was being shown, and due to it's graphic nature my parents placed me in the nursery.  I snuck out.  I commando crawled all the way to the front to watch the movie.  I was scared to death!  I was the first one down when the Pastor gave the altar call.  I remember asking Jesus into my life, and I remember being baptized in December 1975 in a freezing cold church and baptistry.  I can see my mom, Grandma Bobbe and my Great Mommy (great grandma Elsie) sitting in the front row.  I am sure there were others there, but in my mind that is all I remember. It was so cold; they were wearing their coats inside.

Sad to say from the age of six until I was 19, I didn't grow much spiritually.  I accepted Christ, and thought that was the end, not knowing it was just the beginning.  At 19 I was married and had a baby by 20.  It was at his baby dedication on Mother's Day 1989 that I realized I was promising to raise this child up to know the Lord, and I didn't know how to do this at all!  I was very frantic in my mind and began seeking all sorts of information on raising godly children, plus reading my Bible more.  This timing was actually from God, because you see I would be going through some very difficult times ahead, so being so gung-ho to learn more about the Word of God kept me sane during these times.  My baby was premature and had many health-related issues.  I was young, and easily led by doctors, something for which I regret now, but it is what it is.  My husband and I went through some very tough times over the years, but thankfully God intervened, and we have been married for almost 24 years.

God has been there for me in the raising of a disabled child and seeing him a man is awesome for me.  A man in body, though not in mind, is very heartbreaking for me, and frustrating for me.  I don't know the plans God has for him, but they are for good and not evil, and I daily trust in that..God has brought us this far, and he will continue to watch over my "little one" (my 6 foot, 240 lb little one).

I have been through persecution in a previous job, even losing that job because of my convictions and faith.  Marital strife, health, financial, loss of a loved one.  Everything that anyone else faces.  Each situation has drawn me closer and closer to the Lord.  Relying upon God to guide me has been my source of strength, and I can honestly say I wouldn't be here if I had not accepted Christ at a young age.  I am a weak, and sinful person, and knowing that God is with me is the ONLY thing that gets me through the situation.  Often times walking through the valley (rough times) is unbearable, it isn't until I am on the other side that I realize what I have learned.  I do wish that God didn't think so much of me that he continues to give me learning experiences. ;-)

I know that God loves me, and I am thankful every day that he used my disobedience to bring me to salvation.

Growing up my favorite verses were "for unto us is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord" and "For God so loved the World (me) that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish (die) but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."  John 3:16-17

I urge you today to take God's free gift, acknowledge that you have sin in your life, and that you need Him.  Believe that He sent His son to die on the cross for you and confess those sins to Him.  Ask him to come into your life and make you whole.  Give yourself over to Him, and you will be AMAZED at what wonders He works in your life if you let him. 

One Year

 It has been one year since my husband passed.  It has been a year of firsts.  Some good and some bad.

Had a 30 yard dumpster delivered this past week.  Son and I will be working on clearing the gooseneck trailer off trash and scrap metal.  I have someone interested in purchasing.  Hopefully, they will.  

I have been mentally thinking and sorting my belongings, and it is time to physically get started.  I am finding it difficult to begin.  I am torn between leaving this property and the house my husband built us, though I had plans to move before he passed.  I feel stuck. Do I move? Don't I move?  I keep praying and asking the Lord for direction.  Trying to be still to listen.  Either way this house needs decluttering, cleaning and minor repairs.

Financially, I would like to sell.  Personally, I don't want to, though at the same time I yearn for my little cabin in the Ozarks.  I need peace.  I am always anxious to go to the cabin, but there is so much work to be done here.  If I didn't have these animals, I would leave the house here for awhile.  I have one pig that needs to be butchered, and two elderly horses that need care.  Plus, 4 dogs and about six cats. The last of the cattle have been butchered, and the bees have been removed.  I do need something else in order to keep my agricultural exemption for tax purposes.

My youngest daughter married Thanksgiving week 2024.  She started her Senior Year of College January 2025.  She finishes her coursework in December of this year.  

  

October Suprise 2024

 It has been a long time since I posted here.  Many changes.

Thankfully the debacle known as Covid is over.  What a nightmare.

My FIL passed in 2022, my husband began chemo in 2023, and he passed the beginning of 2024. I am working a full time job, while trying to homeschool our last child (PS#2) - James.  

I have felt stuck in a rut since January when my husband passed.  Finally coming out of the fog and we are trying to sort through belongings, throw lots of things away and preparing to move.  Covid and family issues put that on hold.

I plan to start posting here, if only for myself.  It is a place to vent and write.  I am not sure anyone reads blog much anymore, but that is okay.

A New Adventure!

 It seems about time for my yearly post.  I get so busy "doing" that I forget to share.  I am a bad blogger, but that is okay, no one reads it but me anyway.  

Last year we accomplished a lot on the land.  We planted a garden, 8 fruit trees (5 died through various means), and we planted 300 Afghan Pine Christmas Trees (the cows subsequently ate all but 3 throughout the year).  Note to self:  the electric fence is not strong enough, I think we need a stronger solar charger.  

We moved the work shed back to the barn and reconfigured everything to run our new business (PH lost his job due to the "plandemic") from the barn for the physical work, and the front portion of the shipping container has been turned into our farm office.  We do LOTS of things.  Signed up with Angie's List to get business (bad mistake).  We do primarily wrought iron work, fencing & handyman services.  We have managed to support ourselves throughout the past year, so Praise God!

A lot of trash was burned or tossed out, broken down vehicles sold and towed off, food processed, house re-arranged, wood cut and more.

We did manage to survive the Snow Pocalypse in February.  I would say we thrived, or my family did, I was out delivering a baby and got stuck at the client's home for 6 days due to ice and snow.  No heat, or water.  It really was horrible.  At home, they had the woodstove, generator, fuel, food, stored water, etc. (thanks Mom you are awesome!  No, no one thanked me for saving their lives.)

PD#2 is applying to the College of the Ozarks and we completed a school tour in April, and visited our property in the Ozarks, and we made final plans to purchase a cabin to place on the land, it arrives end of August/First of September.  The kids and I will be transitioning (slowly) to living in the Ozarks, completing the cabin, and getting everything situated.  I am sure we will be back and forth (PS#2 and I anyway) to the land here, several times during the year.

We have been cleaning (primarily PD#2 has been) while I have worked out of town and out of state to make extra money, been busy working 3 jobs plus helping to run the family business.  

We also purchased a registered Duroc Sow to breed for 4H piglet sales.  We also have Kune Kune, and some odd ball mixes (given to us) of pigs that we have sold to pay land taxes, and butchered to eat. 

PD#2 was able to go hunting quite often this past winter, and harvested 5 deer (1 buck and 4 does I believe), plus she went on a Nilgai hunt.  She was able to bring back quite a bit of meat this year.  She has signed up for a bear hunt this year as well, but it is on a lottery system so we will see what happens with that...

**While we lived off grid in the shipping container (our cabin-tainer) when we first moved here, we transitioned to our 24 X 32 house that my husband and I built (more him than me, but I operated the forklift to help with the roof, held up my end of boards, and pulled wire through the house).  

This next adventure will be to live full-time off grid in our cabin in the Ozark Hills.  
There is zero way to get grid power there, and I am excited to get back to off grid living, as it was always my favorite to do (it stresses out my friend(s) and confuses my mother, but oh well). 

Back to the cleaning, and packing.  Sorting through what will work in the cabin, and what will stay in the main house (for now).  Thankfully, we have so many items still that we won't have to purchase the, since my main purchases will be insulation, bead board for the walls and parts to install our spare woodstove.  

I plan to share the progress along the way, and my 12 yo son is dying for his own You Tube channel to document his life "off grid".  It will be called "Shady Ridge Off Grid".  He is a loon sometimes.

I will promise it won't be so long in the documenting.  It is exciting and a little scary going off into new adventures.  Check back for pictures!

 

Quarantine 2.0 and a Grandson!

Here we are in the end of May.  Quarantine restrictions are being lifted in many places.  We initially stayed home for 2 weeks totally isolated.  After that I had to go back to work, and the kids stayed home.  

We managed to accomplish a large amount of work on the farm:

1) secured fencing around area by barn for a garden
2) removed 20 dead trees (cut and stacked wood for fire and burned brush)
3) bartered several piglets for tree work and a large water tote (300 gallons)
4) new larger pens for chicken and quail **Business prospect
5) cleaned and organized barn for addition to swine herd
6) Planted LARGE garden
7) Planted fruit trees

We have received about 15 inches of rain the past month.  Our pond is overflowing! It is always a joy to enter into the summer months with a full pond.  We have been letting the cattle and horses in the back pasture.  This will hopefully lower our water bill ( our well went dry, so we had to get on the local water system).  We have been watering a large amount of livestock, the garden, cleaning and doing a lot of laundry lately since we are home more.  

PH has been working out of town since January. Usually 4-6 weeks out then 2 weeks home.  It has been a little stressful due to store and restaurant closures.  He had a horrible experience at a military base out in El Paso.  They have been setting up FEMA camps in substandard conditions.  He has not been happy.  He has been home currently for 3 weeks, which while it impacts income, has been great for farm life.  I and PD#2 have hurt ourselves trying to do things we just are not strong enough to complete.  Even though we are in our 50s now, PH is still stronger than I am. Ha! Ha!  

We have had many new neighbors move into the area...this has caused us to allow the brush on our property to reclaim the land.  We are wanting more privacy, and the Huisache and Mesquite provide this in abundance.  So, the perimeter of the property along the fence is growing up wild again, and we are trying to keep the center tamed as much as we can. We have a large garden and have planted numerous fruit trees, and I am rooting grape vines to plant Wild Mustang Grape vines.  

It is funny about cleaning and organizing, you make a bigger mess!  We are trying to prepare for continued government regulations and additional quarantine measures for the fall, and continued food shortages.  

Planned home project schedules for the year:

January: Car repairs
February: Declutter
March: Garden expansion, planting, fencing
April: Land cleanup (removed dead branches and dead brush, clear some areas for grass growth/pasture)
May: stack wood, plant trees and bushes, chicken/quail pen, expand pig production, send animals to butcher, clean up laundry house area
June: Clean up barn area, burn trash, clean up land and repair fencing, clean front porch, fix screen, work on fuel storage, canning and food preservation, work on landscaping (
July: Succession planting of corn, etc.,, Add additional water collection on barn and back of house, split and stack wood for winter
August: Clean and organize kitchen cabinets and pantry
September: Clean, organize and repair container (level, roof, shower, storage) , Plant fall crops
October: Plant winter rye and oats for livestock, prepare location for Christmas tree seedlings, canning and food preservation
November: Clean wood stove chimney
December: Christmas preparations 

**News to share.  In late December our daughter and her husband celebrated the birth of their son.  He is definitely a cutie!  

Quarantine

Well, thought I'd write about this quarantine. Out here on the prairie it is quiet this morning. The fog is thick, making it difficult to see out into the fields. The sounds of the big rigs out on the highway is a distant hum of tires on asphalt.

Walked to the gate in the fog and mist, the sound of a mini rain storm falling to the ground from the branches of the Huisache and Mesquite trees. Unlocked the gate so that my father in law can get into the property. He is coming over this morning to plow a garden area for me...just in case this thing goes longer, I'd like food to be growing.

On the agenda today is working at the library for a bit to get last minute details of canceling the fundraiser completed, and take in some returned books.

Then back home to finish laundry, and hook up the HAM/CB radioes.

Also on the list this week is to find all the pieces to the meat grinder, get the loft ready for company, fill water containers, install water collection system, move the fridge to cover the front window, clean and organize kitchen/bedroom, plant garden, and care for livestock.

While, I am not worried about illness, I am worried about the government response, and the potential for economic collapse. Thankfully, we are pretty well situated and can be home probably until the end of the year.  So thankful we are self sufficient enough and incoming funds can be kept at a minimum due to having limited bills. 

Our county has no cases of the virus yet.  San Antonio went on "mandatory" lock down at midnight last night.  I do not know how mandatory it is with all the exceptions for work.  I am of two minds.  People should willing stay home to avoid any spread, and two it isn't the government's responsibility to violate liberties.

The talk on the news and online is all of new cases, and few deaths.  No mention ever of the 100,000 that have recovered. They thrive on the doom and gloom it seems.

No N95 masks available, though I find it hard to believe. Neighbors are sewing cloth masks for healthcare workers to wear over the few available. These at least can be changed, washed and sterilized.

Since we homeschool, we aren't affected by the school closures like the majority of others.  Maybe this will open the eyes of people and they will realize that public school is not necessary.