Bible in 90 Days- Day 58 Check In

And the prophecies come to pass. Jeremiah 52 and the book of Lamentations confirm that Jeremiah was not a liar or a false prophet as the Israelites tried to make him.

God's Word is true. His prophecies are accurate, and we would do well to take note of the prophecies and the fulfillment.

Weekly Wrap Up- The Date Night Edition

School went well this week. I sat down and figured out what we need to do to be finishing up this quarter's material by the end of April. I plan on taking the month of May off. We school through the summer, so we will take May off and then start our summer unit in June. We will easily have our required 180 days by the end of April, and I think, with my schedule, we can actually finish our material also!

Math is becoming an issue for us. Charles has done well this year using Spectrum, but Kathryne, who is in her second year of Math U See has sooo many gaps in her math knowledge. I think Math U See was NOT a good choice for us. At the time, I think being able to see the concepts illustrated really helped her, but now I think she is really lacking in areas. So, I have ordered Saxon curriculum. I am going to start her now through the rest of this quarter and cover as much as we can. It will mean she starts half a year behind in the fall, but I think in the long run, this will be better for her. I ordered materials for Charles also and plan to have him start in the fall. He is right on track with math.

One thing I have learned about homeschooling is that this is always an adaptation and adjustment. We do what works and evaluate and change when it doesn't. That is a benefit of homeschooling (even though it can seem frustrating sometimes). I have the ability to see what my children need and adapt as they need it.

This weekend, we had a special treat. All of our kids and their two cousins spent the night with Jason's mom and dad Friday. We had a date night and a date day on Saturday. I always miss the kiddos, but I enjoy getting to spend time with Jason.

Bible in 90 Days- Day 57 Check-in

I have just finished Day 57 of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I should be on day 58, but I decided to use a grace day for yesterday. I didn't get my reading done because me dear children spent the night at grandparents and Jason and I had a date night!

I am reading in Jeremiah now- almost through with the book. Jeremiah, along with the other prophetic books, is deep reading and often sad. It is sad to see how far away Israel has gone from God and how they suffer because of it.

I have been really struck in the book of Jeremiah by how quick the kings were to dismiss Jeremiah's words and just blame him as a bearer of bad news. They were always quick to blame and him and accuse him of lying when he prophesied against them. Instead of taking his words as the warnings they were meant to be, they just wanted him to be quiet!

Week in Review- February 21

We took Monday off of school this week. I thought that because the local schools were making up a snow day that we could go to Discovery Place (about 30 minutes away in Charlotte) and miss the crowds. I was wrong. We headed to Charlotte in the rain, and when we got there the parking deck and adjoining alley were full! I got lost circling around trying to find a place to park, so we gave up and headed to the Pineville mall for lunch and shopping in the Disney Store.

On Tuesday, we picked back up with school work. Because we school through the summer, we only need 40 more days to complete our 180 that our state requires. We are working on finishing up some different things, so that when we break- hopefully for the month of May- we will have reached a good stopping place.

On Wednesday we had our usual busy midweek day- dance, supper at church, and AWANA.

On Thursday, Kathryne had her first drama class at our local community theater. I think she is really going to like it. She would like to try out for Suessical the Musical which is being performed this summer.

The weather at the end of our week was beautiful! After the cold and rain (and snow) we've had lately, it was so mice to get outside!

On Saturday we headed to my aunt and uncle's to help celebrate his 70th birthday. They have a beautiful yard with a creek behind. The kids loved playing outside, and the great weather was a good opportunity for me to get some pictures of them.






The slide show below is actually from last week when we had our Valentine Party with some other homeschooling friends. This has become almost an annual tradition now. It took me a while to get the pictures together this week!

Make a Smilebox digital greeting

Bible in 90 Days- Day 51 Check In

I am reading in Isaiah now on day 51 of Read Through the Bible in 90 days.

I am finding Isaiah, a book of Messianic prophecy, especially interesting right now in light of a fiction book I've been reading. The AD Chronicles by Brock and Bodie Thoene is a fictionalized series about the life of Christ. The Thoene's books center around Israel's role in ancient and modern times.

It always causes me pause when I read the gospels and realize how many people did not accept the fact that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. Reading Isaiah and seeing the prophecies, I just don't understand how people missed it! But, then I read books like the Thoene's and think of what Israel was like when Christ came- the cruel and harsh Roman rule- and I can see why people were looking for a different kind of Messiah and why it may have been difficult for them to realize that Jesus really was Who He said.

So, reading through the Bible this way is really helping me to get a big overall picture and is helping me to make some connections that I haven't made before.

Kathryne's Take on Proverbs

I am now reading in Proverbs. Tonight I chose to read aloud this passage to Kathryne and Charles who were still up:

13 Withhold not discipline from the child; for if you strike and punish him with the [reedlike] rod, he will not die.

14 You shall whip him with the rod and deliver his life from Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead).

Kathryne's response: "I think that is just metaphorical."

So, umm, should I be pleased that she knows what "metaphorical" means? Or should I correct her perception of the proverb?

Bible in 90 Days- Day 45 Check In

I have completed half of my days reading through the Bible! It is hard to believe I have already been reading for 45 days! Tonight I finished up Psalms and began the book of Proverbs. I always enjoy Proverbs, but like Psalm, it is difficult to read through so quickly.

My favorite psalm is the last one. I think it is a beautiful ending to a book of praise:

Psalm 150
1PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

2Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!(DW)

3Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

4Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

5Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

6Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Bible in 90 Days- Day 43 Check In

I am reading through Psalm now. I must say, it is difficult to speed through the Psalms in this way! Reading so many at one time makes it really difficult to process what I'm reading.

I do enjoy skimming through the Psalms and recognizing the words to some of my favorite praise and worship songs. It helps to know that most of these were songs meant to be put to music.

The other thing I always find interesting in the psalms is the depths of David's despair in many of the psalms. David is often despairing, questioning God, in the depths because of his cricumstances. But then we'll read another psalm where he is praising and celebrating God. That encourages me: When I am in despair because of my circumstances, I can still praise God too!

Here is one of my favorite psalms that is used in praise and worship singing:

Psalm 98
A Psalm.
1O SING to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.

2The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations.(X)

3He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.(Y)

4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!

5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody.

6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world, and those who dwell in it!

8Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy

9Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge [and rule] the earth; with righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples with equity.

Bible in 90 Days- Day 38 Check In

I am on day 38 of reading through the Bible in 90 days. I am reading in the book of Job.

Job has often been a difficult book for me to wrestle with. The whole concept of Job's tremendous suffering and God's responsibility in it and reactions to it is a hard one for me to grasp. The book deals with the question of suffering in the life of God's people. I believe it has much relevance because we do live in a fallen world full of sin and suffering.

I found this neat site that has an outline and study notes for the book of Job. I know with reading the Bible through so quickly, I can't take the time to study each book in depth. But, it was interesting to look through some of the notes on the book of Job found here.

Snow Day

 

Last Saturday we had some snow/ice/slush. I have to confess, I do NOT like cold, wet weather. The kids, on the other hand, enjoy anything that faintly resembles snow. So, I stayed inside in the warm and took pictures out the window as they enjoyed the messy weather.

Charles had neighborhood friends that came down and waged a snow/ice ball war. Jason participated in this for quite a while. Kathryne chose to make a snow sculpture of the cat. Ashlyne and Rachel played on the deck for a while. Rachel gave up early and came inside. I think her feelings about wet, cold weather are going to be more like mine.

More snow/ice mess was called for today, but so far, all we've had is rain for two days- lots and lots of rain.

I think I'd like to move to Arizona. Isn't it hot and dry?

Bible in 90 Days- Day 35 Check In

I was reading in Ezra and Nehemiah today. This has always been a confusing part in Israel's history to me. It is difficult for me to keep these time periods straight and have a good picture of when it all happens.

I found this article that is a good explanation of these book.