Famous Homeschoolers

I've always found it fascinating each time I learn of some other well-known individual who was homeschooled. Part of me thinks that if that person did so well in life "despite" being homeschooled, there is hope for my kids!

If you've never read about any famous homeschoolers, take a few minutes to do so with your kids. You may be surprised ... they may be encouraged. It's an exercise worth pursuing.

Now we can add another prestigious name to that list ... Willard S. Boyle was recently awarded 1/4 of the Nobel prize for physics. How exciting to learn that he was homeschooled! His mama (if she is still living) is surely proud of him.

Who knows what potential sits around your kitchen table today ... sleepily working their way through their spelling words or the intricacies of chemistry.

Blessings ...

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I love new pencils

One by one, homeschools are gearing up and beginning a new school year. A friend recently Facebooked a picture of her elementary aged kids on their first day of school. The picture shows brother and sister sitting at the dining room table with eager smiles on their faces. On the table are folders and notebooks and of course ... new pencils.

I always made a special day out of our first day of school ... some years it was a special breakfast ... other years the day included a picnic at a local park. But every year included new school "treats" that I had purchased in the weeks prior to beginning. My kids always anticipated that first day ... excited to see what fun folders I had purchased or if I had found special shaped erasers or pencils with their names on them.

These days I have one in college and two in high school. Nobody gets excited about folders and pencils any longer. But I have decided it's still important to "celebrate" in some fashion ... despite the moans and groans that I will hear when I present them with their planning notebooks and pile of books and computer software. This year we'll take a day and drive a couple hours to a favorite amusement park. We'll eat junk food, get sunburned, and end the day at the local burger joint. While we won't have new pencils to admire, we'll have some new memories and peeling skin to kick off another year of learning and growing.

What do you do to kick off the new school year?

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The stuff that curriculum doesn't cover . . .

I had the opportunity to be away from home for about 5 days this past week. As I talked with my kids over the phone and then returned home, it occurred to me that I've had to teach my children far more than reading, writing and arithmetic all these years. And in some cases, I suspect those "non-curriculum" subjects were far more important than the academics ever were.

I may never know if the Algebra stuck or if the Chemistry made sense, but it is truly a blessing to see the fruits of hours invested in teaching a son how to cook, or a daughter how to do laundry. And beyond the tangible fruits of completed chores without mom's nagging, there's the sense of accomplishment that comes from returning home to a house still standing and family members smiling and at peace with one another.

Lest you think I've somehow reached the end of the journey in teaching my children the practical aspects of life ... I did find some rather interesting left-overs in the 'fridge and a rather suspicious-looking new stain on the living room carpet. So I'm obviously not done with this part of the trip. But let me encourage you to look for the fruit ... though it may seem few and far between sometimes. When the math and science skills seem long in coming, don't despair. Realize that homeschooling is far more than just academics.

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

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Cookie Makin' Day

Today is our annual cookie (and other treats) making day. We start off with a list of our favorites and everyone pitches in, making those items that they enjoy the most. Our kitchen is small, and we're often tripping over one another, but with the Christmas music cranked up and the laughter floating around, no one seems to mind. This year is especially fun because our oldest is home from college on Christmas break. If I close my eyes and listen (and smell) it's "almost" like years past, but not quiet the same. Bittersweet indeed.

When we're all finished we'll have a large tray of assorted cookies that we'll enjoy through the rest of the week. We'll also have goody "gift" bags made up for friends that we'll see on Christmas Eve, and some baked goods that we'll enjoy on Christmas day.

Here's another perennial (and easy) favorite recipe.

MINTY RITZ

This is one of those recipes for which I never had a recipe. Just buy as much as you think you'll enjoy (which will never be enough), and have at it!

Ritz crackers
Milk (or dark) chocolate melting wafers
Mint or Peppermint extract
Cookie sheets lined with wax paper

In the microwave, melt 1 or 2 cups of melting wafers at a time. Once melted, stir in 3 or 4 drops of the extract (to taste). Using a fork, dip Ritz crackers, one at a time, into the melted chocolate mixture. Drop gently onto lined cookie sheet. Cool until hardened (my front porch works great for this).

Enjoy!
~Judy

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Church Christmas programs

Our 2008 church Christmas program is now a thing of the past. I'm heaving an extra sigh of relief this year since I was the director. I have always loved this annual chance for kids to dress up in shepherd costumes, and memorize lines, and sing like angels. And what an awesome opportunity for homeschoolers who may not have the benefit of a local drama group. Here's their chance to experience and overcome stage fright, and to perform for family and friends, all wrapped up in the ultimate opportunity to share the story of Christ's birth. It's an exhausting process ... but so very worth it when you watch the toddlers singing a song about baby Jesus at the top of their lungs, complete with hand motions. Or when you listen to that 16 year old young man (who I'm sure was one of those toddlers just yesterday!) recite Luke chapter 2 in his deep, grown-up voice. Somehow it serves to re-focus my mind and my heart on the true message of the Christmas season ... the love of God all wrapped up in swaddling cloths.

Following our church service, and the treacherous ride home in blustery, blowing, snowy weather, we enjoyed some yummy homemade soup by our woodstove. Here are a couple of recipes for our all-time favorite soups ... perfect for making ahead and having available during the crazy, busy holiday.

SHRIMP AND CORN CHOWDER

2 teaspoons canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup diced ham or kielbasa
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
3 cups milk
1 - 16 oz package frozen corn
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup brown minute rice
1 can tiny shrimp (can substitute frozen shrimp defrosted and diced)

Heat oil in 4 quart saucepan. Add onion and meat. Cook and stir until tender. Stir in flour and Thyme. Add milk, corn and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice and shrimp. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Serve piping hot.

POTATO SOUP

3 Tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, diced
4 cups potatoes, diced
1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cups milk
4 cups chicken broth
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 teaspoons Basil

Melt butter in pan. Add onions and cook until tender. Add chicken broth, potatoes, carrots and seasonings. Cover and cook gently until potatoes and carrots are tender. Stir in milk and crumbled bacon; bring back to a simmer. Thicken, if desired, with potato flakes or flour/milk paste.

Note: Additional veggies can be added as desired. This is a great soup for emptying out the refrigerator left-overs!

Enjoy!
~Judy

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Another holiday tradition

Since our kids were little, we've had a fun tradition of making "goody bags" to share with friends and family. This primarily involves decorating some sort of container/bag and filling it with baked and hand-made creations from our kitchen. Some years I've purchased a package of brown paper lunch bags and my kids have used rubber stamps or stencils to decorate the outsides. Other years I've visited our local WalMart or other craft store and found brown paper gift bags (with handles) which we've decorated with stamps, stencils or glitter and cut-outs. Whatever the outside decoration might be, it's the stuff inside that's always a huge hit!

Here's a perennial favorite ... easy (and inexpensive) to make.

Toffee Chocolate Crunch Bars

Line a greased cookie sheet (jelly-roll style, with sides) with one layer of saltine crackers. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, melt 1 cup of butter and whisk in 1 cup of brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour sugar mixture evenly over layer of saltine crackers. Bake for 7 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with a 12 oz package of chocolate chips. Using a rubber spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the top once the chips have melted. Cool and break apart into irregular pieces.

Enjoy!
~Judy

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Holiday Enticements

I love this time of year, and I love sharing the traditions we share as a family, and those I hear about from others. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to post more regularly (notice how I didn't commit to anything?!) with some quick ideas for holiday gifts, treats and traditions.

When my kids were little, we loved to express our creativity every Christmas by making paper snowflakes. A friend recently shared this phenomenal paper snowflake project which I can't wait to try. Definitely a grown-up version of paper cutting! I'll try to snap some photos and post here once we get them done.

Earlier this week another friend asked for a good recipe to use in a cookie press. Here's my grandmother's recipe ... an all-time favorite:

SPRITZ

3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Stir together flour and baking powder. Beat butter for 30 seconds, add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almost extract; beat well. Gradually add dry mixture to beaten mix. Beat till well combined. Do NOT chill. Force dough through a cookie press onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 7-8 minutes.

I usually do a couple of recipes and add different food coloring to each of them. This makes a gorgeous platter of cookies to take to your next holiday gathering.

Enjoy!
~Judy

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Giving Thanks . . .

Unlike my friend Luke, who is enjoying the holiday in an undisclosed location (how much will you pay folks to keep your location a secret?!) ... I'm giving thanks from chilly, snowy upstate NY today. Our college student is home with friend in tow, we're enjoying the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade in front of a toasty fire, and goodies are lined up on the counter in the kitchen. As we enjoy today with family and friends, I've purposed to stop periodically and appreciate what God has provided and to thank Him for all He has done.

Speaking of those goodies out in the kitchen, here's our fresh pumpkin pie recipe ... a real favorite with a dollop of real whipped cream.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

Pie pumpkin(s) (cook and puree to produce 3 cups pumpkin)
1 cup sugar
1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3 eggs
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
10-11" pie crust

Mix all ingredients well and pour into pie crust (mixture will be very runny). Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 45 - 60 minutes longer until a clean knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

May you be blessed today with whatever goodies and traditions your family usually enjoys.

Blessings ...
~Judy

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Homeschool Holiday Traditions

My childhood memories of holidays are so sweet that for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to create long-lasting holiday traditions for my own children. I was reminded the other day that some of our holiday traditions have always centered around good books. During a recent chemistry lab at our house, one of the moms was gazing at a couple of our many bookshelves (I too love checking out peoples' books) and remarked on a group of obviously older books on one of the lower shelves. I explained that this was a well-loved collection of holiday books with which I refuse to part. It is a group of books that I someday hope will become as much a part of my grandchildren's holiday traditions as they were of ours.

I thought I would share a short list of some of our holiday titles. These aren't necessarily award winners or what I would classify as "classics", but we have enjoyed them over and over as our children grew ...

• Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
• Jotham's Journey: A Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide - This advent favorite was used over and over in our home.
• The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden
• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg - which was made into a movie not long ago, but the kids and I agree that the book is still better!
• Becky's Christmas by Tasha Tudor
• An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon
• Winter Poems selected by Barbara Rogasky and published by Scholastic
• A Story a Day Til Christmas published by Current - this was a series published by Current in the late '80s and early '90s. We owned Volumes 1 and 3.

Each year as our kids were growing I would create holiday "units" that included some of these books as well as two or three craft projects and some yummy baking. One craft project I remember in particular involved creating paper snowflakes. The Internet has some wonderful pattern ideas which combined with a little creativity of our own, resulted in some gorgeous snowflakes decorating our home one year. Check out the free patterns at Craft Ideas, Paper Snowflakes.com , and Dave's Snowflake Patterns (these are quite intricate). Use some colorful origami paper and glitter to spice up your designs.

Maybe I'll share some of our favorite holiday recipes in my next few blog entries. There are some phenomenal holiday recipes changing hands over on the Holiday Forum on the Sonlight Forums site. A one-month subscription is definitely worth the $4.99 (if you don't qualify for a free subscription) for all the great recipes and holiday ideas.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season with your family!
~Judy

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Milestones

My husband and I got away for a couple of days to celebrate our 24th anniversary this week. We love to hike, so we escaped to a wonderful Bed & Breakfast on one of the Finger Lakes here in upstate NY. Across the road from the B&B was the entrance to an awesome gorge which was just ablaze with color.

Autumn colors in the Finger Lakes

Down the gorge out to the lake

Perfect for hiking!

Sunset over the lake

People tend to make more of someone's 25th anniversary than they do the 24th. But for us, it's a milestone ... because this year we also survived the launching of our first homeschool graduate. Anyone who doesn't believe homeschooling puts some strain on a marriage isn't dealing in reality. While parenting in and of itself can be brutal on a relationship, tossing homeschooling into the mix brings its own unique stressors. While we both are extremely proud of the first one we've launched, we are also acutely aware that any success is entirely due to God's grace and His daily provision of wisdom.

So if you're new to homeschooling, or just considering the option, do be realistic enough to recognize the stresses and strains it will put on your marriage. Then establish some relationship "builders" to help shore up the foundation and strengthen the ties. Perhaps you'll set a goal to have a date night every other week or once a month. Maybe a night away can be scheduled a couple times a year. For the short-term, consider a 2-hour break for mom or dad (whomever carries the bulk of the teaching load) once a week. Even an uninterrupted time for devotions or a chapter from a favorite book each day goes a long way toward maintaining sanity and a good attitude. Whatever you choose, just making the effort demonstrates to both parties that your relationship is worth the effort. And let me assure you, it is well worth the effort!

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Mom's aren't supposed to get sick

Well ... almost a month later I'm finally back to blog again! A rather nasty case of the flu which morphed into strep throat knocked me off my feet for longer than I liked. Why is it that I can't bounce back as quickly as my kids do?

So you might be wondering how homeschooling is affected when the main teacher (aka mom) is sick in bed. While some creative souls may use it as a learning opportunity (picture a field trip to the doctor, kids lining up to peer down mom's throat, book reports on the history of modern medicine) I'm just not of that caliber. I want people to serve me cold milkshakes or warm soup, cover me with a warm blanket and rub my feet. And then leave me alone! I suspect reality is somewhere in the middle.

I do find that whenever I'm out of commission, we see both the best and worst come out in our family. I'm always surprised by, and incredibly grateful for, how caring and available my kids and husband are. I'm also very aware of just how little dirt and clutter bothers everyone in this family but me! So yes, mom's illness definitely becomes a learning experience for all of us. I especially learn patience and a dependence on God like no other experience can generate. My kids get to put to use those cooking and cleaning skills we've worked on all year long. And I suspect my husband is reminded how much he appreciates going "off" to work somewhere!

And you know ... homeschooling goes on. Even mom's sickness is a time for education. Not of the academic kind necessarily, but definitely in practical life skills. It's also an opportunity to see just how well kids can work and learn independently. So when life "happens" ... even if it means that mom is side-lined for a bit, don't despair that your chldren will fall behind. See it as an opportunity for a different kind of "school".

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