tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28816352203957670682024-03-12T21:18:40.083-04:00Raising up God's ChildrenRaising up Gods ChildrenBill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.comBlogger573125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-58316968911504443802011-10-05T09:50:00.000-04:002011-10-05T09:50:05.761-04:00What I love to do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiDxj2xXODLxmO40mre6XUkrht0ZbBFdqRj9tzbwqegPogyhnwcNUXl5S768sPq5ulvEZor5cM00fN9jNTDPqpqnqyKZHaAq548he1IUd_TLzCGM_VNq86SISmZRqAgR7amdYBpTEuM6g/s1600/septmeber+layout+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiDxj2xXODLxmO40mre6XUkrht0ZbBFdqRj9tzbwqegPogyhnwcNUXl5S768sPq5ulvEZor5cM00fN9jNTDPqpqnqyKZHaAq548he1IUd_TLzCGM_VNq86SISmZRqAgR7amdYBpTEuM6g/s1600/septmeber+layout+2011.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt1uZEtO2Jod_Z22LCgDYMUdF7TlnjQJCfcyFAIH13Zy1HZNnaSfZH1tk49izDaxobUchfW3aJMzdx2l6I3pjSkg03jNvKPsYYd8ncHnMUffqHt7NglHURWcG2oWrE0KVLU-4tlSAEFbW/s1600/septmeber+card+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGt1uZEtO2Jod_Z22LCgDYMUdF7TlnjQJCfcyFAIH13Zy1HZNnaSfZH1tk49izDaxobUchfW3aJMzdx2l6I3pjSkg03jNvKPsYYd8ncHnMUffqHt7NglHURWcG2oWrE0KVLU-4tlSAEFbW/s1600/septmeber+card+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh320yGwnc7PASvdZk0Dx7uKB6yQX5tZx1WkA_lOiR1DV6fvAb3X3B9WLnpJp8g3EmheJ5ib_AEttxeLJz4uYawbNwTJis4N79L8d_AX0huo38MULXEEmGKVFPWgFBv6XqXSpvkrKTserIB/s1600/acopywrite.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh320yGwnc7PASvdZk0Dx7uKB6yQX5tZx1WkA_lOiR1DV6fvAb3X3B9WLnpJp8g3EmheJ5ib_AEttxeLJz4uYawbNwTJis4N79L8d_AX0huo38MULXEEmGKVFPWgFBv6XqXSpvkrKTserIB/s1600/acopywrite.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the items that I made for last months Close To My Heart workshop that I hold here at my home. I really enjoy creating them and teaching others how to do them. It is the one thing that I get to do to relax and enjoy myself. I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-22734677706194290442011-09-14T10:56:00.000-04:002011-09-14T10:56:04.222-04:00Home schoolingWell the year is planned out and I am mentally ready. I think. Having a child that learns differently and takes a little bit longer to grasp things can be truly trying. It gets frustrating when you have explained the same thing what seems to be a million times. But I have to say when I seek God he shows me how to get said child to understand. It still may take a while but said child gets it. I know it is just as frustrating for the child as it is for me. There are times where I feel like I have been in battle and I am totally exhausted. But I am so grateful that I am able to teach my children at home. I am able to move at the pace that they are at and able to go over the same thing until the child gets it even if that means a month of doing the same thing over and over again. One of my goals is to spend more time pouring into myself that I might be able to pour into them. There are weeks at a time that I don't leave the house but only to go to church. That can't be good. Anyway. I am so excited to see where school takes us this year!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-38320334520213583742011-09-10T10:02:00.001-04:002011-09-10T10:32:22.064-04:00New BlogGood morning everyone! I wanted to humbly ask you all to stop over and check out my new blog. I am now a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. What is that you ask? Well, I am so glad that you asked! It's SCRAPBOOKING! I just love scrapbooking and I love their products! So please hop on over and follow me on my blog, FB, follow by email, Networkedblogs. Please follow one follow all! Thank you guys for supporting me in this new adventure! If you would like to hold a workshop or Host a party please let me know!<br />
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<a href="http://www.christinawyattscrappersheart.blogspot.com/">www.christinawyattscrappersheart.blogspot.com</a>Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-47134142831902336822011-08-30T11:42:00.000-04:002011-08-30T11:42:03.871-04:00UpdateI don't have a great post so I am going to do a bullet point of events<br />
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<ul><li>I have one child in the public school system and I am finding myself bound by that schedule and it's hard to adjust to.</li>
<li>Taekwondo three nights a week</li>
<li>cheerleading one night a week</li>
<li>praise practice one night a week</li>
<li>church 2 days a week</li>
<li>many Doctor's appointments</li>
<li>Close to my Heart workshops-which I love and really enjoy</li>
<li>getting things ready to start school</li>
</ul>Those are just the things that I can think of off the top of my head. Life is a little busy right now but that's okay. The only problem is, that I don't take the time for myself. Not sure how to work that out. But praise God I have all the blessings that I have!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-57848594694536564892011-08-27T12:40:00.000-04:002011-08-27T12:40:07.896-04:00Hair pretties!If you have a little girl you have to hop on over and see my friends creations! She has some really cute things. <a href="http://www.shadesofusbows.com/index.php?route=common/home">http://www.shadesofusbows.com/index.php?route=common/home</a> I am all about supporting my friends in their businesses! So please check it out and get some of your Christmas shopping started early!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-40598176833915861092011-08-26T08:41:00.001-04:002011-08-26T10:22:18.483-04:00Adopting!We are adopting again! So excited to have this little guy to become a permanent part of our family! He has been with us a little over a year now and it seems as though he has always been with us. He is so full of joy and his laugh is contagious! He has the bluest eyes ever and they seem to dance when he smiles. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. I can't post pictures yet. Sorry. We are often asked how many children are you going to have. Quickly followed by don't you think you have enough already. My answer to this is this, we will have as many as God sees fit to give us. As long as the Lord gives we will continue to receive. How would I ever begin to choose which one of my children I would keep and which one I would turn away. Jesus never turned me away and I am not about to turn away a child that He has asked me to love and raise for His Kingdom. Sometimes walking out the path that God has set before me feels lonely but I find that those are the times that I am letting the world speak to my heart and not listening to the voice of God. Children are a beautiful gift from God there are so many places in His word that He tells us so. So once again I am humbled by God's awesome gift of a son! Thank you God for little C! Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-40610317404008168862011-08-25T16:50:00.000-04:002011-08-25T16:50:37.942-04:00Beautiful!Since it has been a while since I have blogged I wanted to take a moment to direct to my friend Lisa's website <a href="http://www.keeferstylecreations.com/">http://www.keeferstylecreations.com/</a> you can find her here too <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassy2225?ref=em">http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassy2225?ref=em</a> she has the most beautiful jewelry that she personalizes for you. God has given a gift and a talent, well not just one she has many! But this is the one that I would like to highlight today. She is doing wonderful things for God's Kingdom and she makes her "moment in time" capturing jewelry to do the wonderful things she does. She is just about the sweetest person you would ever want to meet and she loves the Lord with all her heart with a passion for those who are in need. So please hop right over and take a look I KNOW you will be blessed! This is one of my favorites!<br />
<img alt="Hand Stamped Family Tree Initial Necklace" height="135" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_170x135.266277841.jpg" width="170" />Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-2490640757127669552011-08-25T09:35:00.000-04:002011-08-25T09:35:08.170-04:00Hi!It has been such a long time since I last posted! I have missed you all! Well, school is close to starting for us and I am excited to begin the new year with a new battle plan! There was great success last year but I am believing for greater growth in all the children this year. Summer has come and gone. I would like to tell you that we took this amazing trip and did amazing things but sadly we did not. We have had a lot of birthday's to celebrate and that is always fun! Church is going very well and it growing! I am here to tell ya, that if you live in the area you won't want to miss what's going on at <a href="http://www.truelifemarion.com/">True Life Church</a>! We have a two new exciting adventures that we have begun! More to come on those soon. We have grown by a few pets and a few children too! Wow how God blesses us! The children are taking Taekwondo at <a href="http://www.truelifemarion.com/">True Life Church</a> and they are really enjoying that. Rheanna is cheerleading with Upwards at our church <a href="http://www.truelifemarion.com/">True Life Church</a> it has just started but I know that she is going to really enjoy it. Saintania and Eveline have become more involved in ministry and are doing a great job. At this point all our children that are old enough to serve in ministry do so. Rheanna who is not old enough serves with us when we clean the church. What a blessing it is to have children that serve in the ministry for God! More updates to come so keep checking back!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-5459829402343805462011-03-01T10:24:00.000-05:002011-03-01T10:24:22.318-05:00Jesus WeptHow often do you hear that scripture? What does your mind think caused Him to weep? The loss of Lazarus? The Bible says in John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in the spirit and troubled. As I read this my heart was moved like never before. Even though Jesus knew that he was going to bring Lazarus back to life He was moved by their pain. More than that I think He was mad at the enemy for the destruction he had caused. For the pain and doubt he caused in His loved ones. I want the things that deeply moved Jesus to move me. What God loves I want to love. What He hates I want to hate. Lord show me where I can be used to apply your healing balm to hurting hearts. Move me Lord!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-8863477815262464152011-02-24T08:35:00.001-05:002011-02-24T08:35:31.435-05:00I dream of.....the lazy days of summer when I was a child. When the world stopped, time stood still and I was care free. As an adult I tend to get so caught up in the day to day things that need to be done and the there are times that I tend to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. But I believe that God does not want that for us. I believe He wants us to have that wonder and excitement that we had when we were kids. Everything was an adventure and it was exciting! When I turn over my cares to Him as he asks us to I can have that excitement and sense of adventure. Somewhere between being a child and becoming an adult we think we gain vision but sometimes I think we lost some vision. We see things in a way that God never intended us to see them. Maybe it was the fall of man that changed our vision I don't know. But thing I do know is that I want to see all things with child like faith. Minute by minute I want to turn my cares over to Him and be as carefree as a child. To enjoy life to the fullest! I want to enjoy all the blessings (Dakotah, Tristen, Zach, Alisha, Rheanna, Saintania, Eveline, Cornelia, Abel, Caleb and Bill) he has given me. Of coarse he blesses me in other ways but my family is the greatest blessing He can give me this side of heaven and I want to enjoy them just as much as I enjoyed the amazing summer days of my childhood.Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-8465951297056173092011-02-23T09:00:00.000-05:002011-02-23T09:00:34.377-05:00The statement I hear the most..is " I don't know how you do it all." My response "I don't do it all." We are a family and we work together as one body. If one of the body parts doesn't do it's job then it hinders the rest of us. That's how God created the body of Christ to function as one body. So that is how we function as a family too. Of coarse it hasn't happened overnight. It took and does take work and training. Our family only functions as well as I teach them and as well as we are all willing. It also takes prayer. I seek guidance on how and what to do to teach them and how to help them gain understanding as well as for myself. When you have a large family things work differently. Also when you have adopted, you have to sometimes think out side of the box on how to reach in, through all of the pain and adjusting to new things, and touch their heart. It takes a great deal of creativity when you have a big family and things are always changing. That's what makes it so exciting. But the one constant and center must be Christ.Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-19996580967028212762011-02-22T07:54:00.000-05:002011-02-22T07:54:38.560-05:00How do you plan?Homeschoolers how do you plan your year? From deciding what books to buy to mapping out your year or not mapping out your year. What are the deciding factors in what you will do the up coming year? I would love to hear from you! Sound off ladies and gentlemen!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-85632154858675205522011-02-21T08:27:00.000-05:002011-02-21T08:27:16.214-05:00Change There has been a lot of things that God and I have been talking about. I haven't posted much here because well, I didn't feel like I had much to say that anyone would be interested in. But I must say I miss it! So what I have been up to lately is order. I have really worked on ordering my day and teaching my children to order their day as well. At first it was difficult but I am beginning to see the fruit from it. Now I am not saying that my days were never ordered and they were mass chaos but they are more fine tuned now and God and I are not finished yet. There is so much more peace now. <br />
School is going well. Everyone is progressing and eager to do school which is a blessing. I do have one though that struggles way more than the rest. This child knows how to do the work but when switching gears from doing one kind of math problem to another kind of math problem that is where the trouble comes in. Said child has to be told it's this way and then they can work the problem out. Does that make sense?<br />
Also on the home front I have two children that desperately need to be potty trained and neither seems to have an interest. One is okay if they are taken and really doesn't seem to mind it but the other goes kicking and screaming so I have totally backed off. Only one of my other children were this old before they were potty trained and there was a lot going on in our home at the time. Not sure why these two are not ready yet. I sure would be a financial relief to not have three in diapers anymore that is for sure.<br />
Personally I am looking forward to spring. I am ready to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, cook outs and summer fun. I am ready for a new season in so many ways in my life. I am ready for the finality of the girls paper work to be finished and done with. I am tired of having this hanging over my head like a dark cloud looming. This process for us started six years ago and I am ready for it to be finished. They know also that there is more to do before it is finally over and I have to think that is looms over them as well. We are going to readopt them just because getting an original birth certificate for them will never be possible for them. What if some day they too wish to adopt? But I know that God's timing is perfect and these trials and tribulations causes a great work and change in us and I wouldn't change any of them. It's good to be back!<br />
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ChristinaBill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-16054436612837122182011-01-20T08:30:00.000-05:002011-01-20T08:30:25.667-05:00ReadingI have never had a child so hard to teach how to read. I would like to believe that it is because English is the second language but I am not sure that it is. I am unsure of how to move forward from where we are at right now. Can thinking be taught? I mean like with a curriculum? I think I am going to check into that. It makes me want to pull my hair out reading with this child and it's no good for either of us. I need to find a way to work through this.<br />
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R has just finished reading Island of the Blue Dolphin, she really enjoyed the book. Along with this book she completed a lapbook to go along with it. I can't seem to pinpoint the reading level of this book. I have found so many different levels for it ranging from 4th grade to 8th grade. Considering she is in 4th grade she is right on target or really advanced in her reading. Either way it is a win so I am going to leave it at that.<br />
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The twins as we like to refer to them as, love reading books too. They will sit for hours and with tons of books reading themselves or better yet being read to. I love that they love books. Through the many years of having foster children, I have learned that the love of books is a precious gift to be given. I have had so many foster children that had no idea what to do with books but by the time they left our home they had a love of books. I have such a hard time resisting buying books. We have our own mini library in our home and I love it! <br />
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ChristinaBill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-61303791641618645912011-01-19T09:39:00.000-05:002011-01-19T09:39:24.625-05:00PreparingI have begun to prepare for the next school year. Taking a look at what I have and what I need to get. I have just about got all the <a href="http://www.mathusee.com/">Math U See</a> that I need. It is hard with two of my girls, one is really moving forward and grasps things easily and the other one has a harder time processing things which makes it more difficult on both of us. But I am determined to pray and believe that we will find a way to conquer this and be over comers together. It is exciting to see all of them progress. I must say that when they get into high school the price of their books goes way up! I think I have ran out of things that keep my preschoolers attention though. Things they can do pretty much on their own because I have the bigger kids doing school at the same time. Suggestions would be great!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-80037454883560796062011-01-12T09:20:00.002-05:002011-01-12T11:44:49.473-05:00Adopting HaitiToday is the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. Most days it feels like a distant memory. As I watched this video again the tears flowed down my face as I relived the events surrounding that day. No I was not in the earthquake in Haiti but it sure rocked my world like I was right there. Though my world felt like it was rocked hard there was a solid rock beneath my feet. That rock was and is Christ Jesus. Adopting itself opens you to a whole new world of questions about raising children, but adopting older children from a third world country and a homecoming through a tragic natural disaster brings a whole realm of questions and situations not experienced by many adoptive parents. If it were not for God I know that I could not have done, this past year, what my children have needed. So on this one year anniversary I want to thank God for all that He has done for all of us! I want to thank Him for the awesome testimony that I carry of His goodness and His love for me and my family!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-38641471009177661032010-12-10T09:52:00.000-05:002010-12-10T09:52:02.968-05:00It's been a while... I would like to say that I have been gone because my life is filled with adventure and I have been way to busy to post but that is not the case. I have been home schooling my little heart out and pouring into my children. Now, don't get me wrong schooling my children can be an adventure all on its own. Everyday that I sit down at the table to school my children I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am to be able to do so. I enjoy it so much. There are times that I get totally frustrated and I am sure that they do to and well that's okay. But to watch them grow and learn is a priceless gift. <br />
Right now I am working on a literature study for Rheanna to do a lapbook. Some how we can to own a book called, I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, I have searched the Internet over for a study of this book and I have found absolutely nothing. So I am making one. In doing so I am having to read this book and so far it is a very good and I am hooked. Yes, I am hooked on a 5th grade book. But I look at it as a chance to share something with my daughter. I love doing lapooks with her. It's our thing that we do together.<br />
A question that I am asked often is "How are the girls doing?" I have to say that they are adjusting well. One we deal with heart issues way more than the other. Sometimes I wonder if it is a communication issues but really I feel it is a heart issue at the bottom of it because even though they will admit that they did whatever the issue is at hand they always try to turn it into a word war. They get caught up in the smallest details of a single word. I have tried very hard not to let them deflect the issue at hand and allow one word said or lack of one word said the main issue. There is no doubt in my mind that they have to understand what is expected and where they went wrong. they admit to it every time. It is very frustrating to me and those are the times I have to step back and remember where it is that we started at. Thank God he is there to show me the way because without him I would be totally at a loss. <br />
Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-21146763127355577502010-11-11T09:43:00.000-05:002010-11-11T09:43:21.245-05:00Preschool craftI am not sure how many of you enjoyed the preschool crafts that I was posting every day but the batteries died in my camera and I have yet to pick some up. So if you have enjoyed the posting of crafts for the preschoolers please let me know and I will make an effort to pick up some batteries.Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-72455426051828037482010-11-05T12:03:00.000-04:002010-11-05T12:03:39.743-04:00Haiti and my girlsI have such mixed feelings about what is going on in Haiti right now. So thankful that my girls are home and yet at the same time so heart broken that their family and the people of Haiti are still suffering. For much of the world the Earthquake hit 10 months ago and it is but a distant memory but for the people of Haiti they are still living it and breathing it. I have chosen to keep our girls sheltered from what is going on in Haiti right now. I am at peace that this is the right thing for them right now. My heart is breaking and I feel so helpless and so small. I feel so unable to make a difference for the people of Haiti. I want to help the girls birth family and I have no idea how to do that or what that looks like. So I do the best and only thing that I can and that is to turn it over to God an trust that He, in all of wisdom and love, will take care of all the people of Haiti who call upon him and those who stand in the gap for Haiti. This is where I must lay it and this is where I must leave it.Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-70388379227235903442010-11-04T09:58:00.000-04:002010-11-04T09:58:51.761-04:00HolidaysI must admit that I am slacking on making my Christmas gifts. I need to get in gear and make sure that I have them all done. Dakotah and I went last night to find a Christmas puzzle or a winter scene so that we as a family could put it together on a table in the office however puzzles must not be very popular. We went to 6 stores and only found 3 puzzles that met our requirements, two of them we found at the very last store. The one puzzle was so very small that we all would have been blind by the time we were finished putting it together. As the holidays are approaching there are many things that are floating in my thoughts. I am not sure how to sort them all out. Thoughts of family and love, traditions and my children, what I am teaching them about and through each holiday, what each holiday means to them and what they are taking with them. I want them to know some very specific things and I am searching and asking God how to put it all together outside of my mind. First and foremost I want my family to walk in love. Love that heals and comforts a love that sees beyond the hurt and pain of others, a love that see past someones outward appearance, past someones status, past all natural things and gives of themselves all the while not counting the cost. I wonder so they see this in me? Do they see me walk this out every day of my life? Am I living a life with the love of Christ Jesus? I am afraid that every single day I fall short but praise God I have a Father in Heaven who is faithful to forgive and will never forsake me. Thank God that my Father will never allow me to stay the same. I am thankful that He is gentle and patient. I would love to hear your hearts, so if you are comfortable to share, I would love to hear it :)Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-39214001851515432292010-11-03T11:31:00.001-04:002010-11-03T11:37:33.724-04:00Thrift storeWho doesn't love the thrift store!?! I didn't go as a kid but my kids love to go, I love to go. They realize that they can get way more clothes for way less money and the thing is they are totally happy about that. They get brand name clothes too. I call that being wise. But what blessed me the most today is that one of my children had birthday money and they used it to not only buy themselves something but their siblings too. Sometimes it is hard to see the wonderful things about your children if you stay home with them all the time, but I am so very grateful that God reveals their beauty to me for sometimes I don't take the time to see it because I don't slow down enough to see it.<br />
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Oh I neglected to say that today is half off day! Love it even more!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-50101058120837614572010-11-02T10:56:00.001-04:002010-11-02T10:57:48.136-04:00Thanksgiving Lapbook, today's preschool craft and a New Family TraditionSo I was having a hard time finding a free Thanksgiving lapbook. I found one I really liked for twenty dollars but don't have that to spend nor if I did have it, did not want to spend that kind of money. So I took the book that I have and printed off some sheets and my husband and I sat down last night and put one together. With that being said, I have never put together a lapook on my own and my husband didn't even know what a lapbook was. I am hoping that it works out okay and when they are finished I will post picutres. Something else we are doing is a Thanksgiving box. I cut litle strips of paper and placed them in a box and each evening at dinner we will all take a strip of paper and write what we are thankful for with our name and date and then place it back in the box, then on Thanksgiving day we will read all the strips of paper. I am trying to come up with a way to save all strips and make a book or something to pass down through the generations.<br />
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Today's preschool craft<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqnl1Ftc4eAI7nZ0CUPbsTdMTi-EzT_bTSUbSRoCfc4D0zSATG0yprWfxi3QiAaJJgXpfTJ5QFLnBKcbFumjfZ0dtH1duAz6ucnQrzB6luLkieUpmgzl0mHpGpAHqZMby88NXgZoyARed/s1600/PICT1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqnl1Ftc4eAI7nZ0CUPbsTdMTi-EzT_bTSUbSRoCfc4D0zSATG0yprWfxi3QiAaJJgXpfTJ5QFLnBKcbFumjfZ0dtH1duAz6ucnQrzB6luLkieUpmgzl0mHpGpAHqZMby88NXgZoyARed/s320/PICT1298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-19126809814226485782010-11-01T15:30:00.000-04:002010-11-01T15:30:59.381-04:00LapbookingWhile the children were working on their school, I was looking for some lapbooks to do with Rheanna. She loves doing them and as long as we are doing literature unit studies we should enjoy them with lapbooks. I think I am going to pray and seek God's wisdom on doing them with the girls. I think that it would have to improve their reading comprehension. So as we complete them I will post pictures of them. Would love to hear from you all about your best lapbooking site.Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-81160251481290765412010-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:002010-10-29T09:48:24.620-04:00Friday'sFriday is the day that I prepare their school work for the following week and do tests. I look at the week and decide from there if I need to adjust anything for them, make copies and prepare their spelling lists and things like that. It is free day today for the little ones they will watch a movie. This morning the little ones started to crawl up in their chairs to do their school and was a little disappointed that I was not doing school with them today. All in all it was a very good week and I am pleased with all the we accomplished. So for November we are going to be learning and doing Thanksgiving things! I am so excited! Have a great weekend!Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2881635220395767068.post-27106027967502316242010-10-28T11:38:00.000-04:002010-10-28T11:38:32.093-04:00Fun with School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbav7HU6q15EJNDKbkcSjf-MQwgjF3UQT20Zidn63sL_zWUuhQUPml9cXw4Y8qKXflwPlH9Lu6BilwTWItDvBmI2-EIpqOOoQAr5z2bru1nMZUV1-N_Q9quhld_ht2HUoN7847UrdBvI6H/s1600/PICT1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbav7HU6q15EJNDKbkcSjf-MQwgjF3UQT20Zidn63sL_zWUuhQUPml9cXw4Y8qKXflwPlH9Lu6BilwTWItDvBmI2-EIpqOOoQAr5z2bru1nMZUV1-N_Q9quhld_ht2HUoN7847UrdBvI6H/s320/PICT1287.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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So one of the fun math games that we play here whether you are learning to multiply, add or subtract is well- I really don't have a name for it so we will just call it dice math. So at the dollar store years ago I bought these very large dice, we roll them and then multiply what ever two numbers come up or add or subtract. They don't see it as math but just a fun game to play with mom or even by themselves. To do the higher numbers we use three die and add two together and multiply it by the third one. Does that make sense? I hope so.<br />
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For my ESL child I am using word slides (<a href="http://www.abcteach.com/search.php?q=word+slides&search_type=1&match_words=2&limit_search=1&search_form1_form_visited=1">which you can find here</a>) and spelling tiles. I find that if I address all of the senses she learns better. So the slides are guides for her and then I make her use the tiles to make tactile slides. With that are these dry erase cards that I picked up at the Dollar Store years ago. I punched holes in the corner and put them on a key ring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmyJucZ_oY07PgzR9BNCyo1s8B4K8wgn2kyGe99YbZomr4sZBQZl9gAB84VpHsnMJOXq-og-NWadiqMVdMFL0En5SwdVJnH01I91qY3xuP2BgRKxLG5WlgWclDAi5GUbZqrvmj2PHntoG/s1600/PICT1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmyJucZ_oY07PgzR9BNCyo1s8B4K8wgn2kyGe99YbZomr4sZBQZl9gAB84VpHsnMJOXq-og-NWadiqMVdMFL0En5SwdVJnH01I91qY3xuP2BgRKxLG5WlgWclDAi5GUbZqrvmj2PHntoG/s320/PICT1291.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I am also going to try the tiles with the spelling words. As I say them she will build them with the tiles. We will see. She was doing so well and then she graduated from one book to the next and now it is not good. <br />
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Today's preschooler craft is similar to yesterday's as it is another fall tree however they are painted fall tree's. I have dotters or whatever they are called, like what they use for bingo, (no I have never played Bingo) and I thought it would be great fun for them to pound out their creation's today. I am trying to use what I have here at the house in creative ways. I hope you enjoy them:)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNawwYPeQDxGT9M9-dx21r1lkpjfApnooAc-zByx5qmaXlVB80i7fHRWpirvqHdmv5_Zpw9pu6QM9KIl7BkLtRQZSfpMIfKgeTAE1K3THczL6HgWcZnb98GMatQD0y5ll08bGGDSbvPg0i/s1600/PICT1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNawwYPeQDxGT9M9-dx21r1lkpjfApnooAc-zByx5qmaXlVB80i7fHRWpirvqHdmv5_Zpw9pu6QM9KIl7BkLtRQZSfpMIfKgeTAE1K3THczL6HgWcZnb98GMatQD0y5ll08bGGDSbvPg0i/s320/PICT1294.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzR_IZeakANXRMQjEnIiGkOUfdf4-Wd5qS73cn1RG3oqdd653hFwqvDAjQi1sNX6MqH4ymiwL8oe1Luvv9zS0SS7aoZLs1Mc6Qm81Kf_NvN6d_5EoQQiTKCNXyfkbDZ4G_ySnDvEpBdAW/s1600/PICT1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzR_IZeakANXRMQjEnIiGkOUfdf4-Wd5qS73cn1RG3oqdd653hFwqvDAjQi1sNX6MqH4ymiwL8oe1Luvv9zS0SS7aoZLs1Mc6Qm81Kf_NvN6d_5EoQQiTKCNXyfkbDZ4G_ySnDvEpBdAW/s320/PICT1295.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>What are some creative things that you do with your children? I would love to hear them:)Bill and Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361521090616338263noreply@blogger.com4