Walking Therein

>Please continue to pray for the Lirette family who lost their husband and daddy.<

Sarah, the daughter, wrote about what happened.

The Fort Wayne Homeschool Expo is this weekend. We weren’t planning to go, but is anyone else?? We can go. We only live about 20m away. Here is a link to the info: Fort Wayne Expo.

Friday, May 16, 2007 starting at 6pm

There is a preview that will be held at First Assembly of God Church from 6- 9 p.m. Workshops are also being planned.
Parents will actually be sharing their own materials, and there will be informations sessions.

Saturday, May 17, 2007 8a-5p
Memorial Coliseum. Curriculum fair with many workshops.

The registration fees for the Expo Preview and Resource Expo are as follows: Adults and Teens - $3.00, Children (ages 3-12) - $1.00, Children two and under -free, maximum charge per family - $10.00. Those who attend the Expo Preview will be given a free pass to Saturday’s Expo. Parking fees at the Memorial Coliseum are $4.00 per vehicle.

They also have a list of vendors on the site.

If you are a seasoned homeschooler or a new one or even thinking about homeschooling, it would be a good way for you to check into it and meet some homeschoolers in our area.

My friend Robin has a blog with other homeschooling information for homeschooling and homeschooling in Indiana.

Please pray for a dear family on HSB.
Dixiecajun and her daughters blog on hsb, and I just learned that her husband was tragically killed in a car accident last night. You can leave a comment and read about that on Dixiecajun’s blog. He was a much loved husband, father, and grandfather. This family has been through a lot, and I know they would appreciate your prayers. They moved to Alabama after losing everything to Hurricane Katrina. I don’t know them as well as the girls do, but I have read their blogs, and they are fine Christians.
Their children’s blogs are:
• Sandy
• Celeste
• Jordan
• Sarah

We at the Dixon house are so sad right now with this family. We don’t know them personally, just another family God has placed in our lives through blogging that we have come to love.

blessings~

I have the privilege of writing for The Homeschool Blog Awards site with some fantastic ladies. Here is my Memo Monday post for this week. For more posts about homeschooling, visit the site!

It’s May, and it’s the time of year when the weather is finally getting warmer to stay, many of us are planting our gardens, and our children are finishing up another official year of homeschool. Time for us to go through our old papers and plans and put time and energy into planning for the next year. For some of us that means unit studies to plan through the summer or vacations, anything to learn! The carnivals will also continue through the summer, so take a look at what other homeschool families will be doing as the year winds down.

Leave me a comment and tell me your homeschool plans for summer. If you’ve posted about it already, leave your link in the comments so we can visit it!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Carnivals

I am a bit partial to this first carnival. First of all, because Amanda and Jocelyn created it and run it, and second of all, because Amanda is such a sweetie! She is hosting The Homesteading Carnival #49: My Mama Edition. You have to see it. I am blessed to have such wonderful children who are also my friends.

Henry Cate, of WhyHomeschool, has announced the Winners of the Carnival of Homeschooling images contest. Frankly, I am partial to this one on the left, because Jocelyn designed it. Henry posted the codes for the winning icons, so go grab one if you like!

Other carnivals of interest are:

The next edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling will be at Mom is Teaching.

Last week’s Carnival of Homeschooling is at Melissa’s Idea Garden.

The current issue, from April 28, of the Charlotte Mason Carnival is up at The Family Zoo. The next issue, May 13, will be at The Heart of Harmony.

The 3rd edition of the Canadian Canadian Home Educators Blog Carnival is up.

The Carnival of Education, the current issue, from May 07 is up at Bellringers. The next issue, on May 14, will be up at Instructify.

The Carnival of Mathematics, May 02 issue, is up at Teaching College Math Technology Blog.

The Carnival of Learning in The Great Outdoors, May 05 edition, is up at 10,000 Birds.

The Active Learning Carnival, Apr 07, is up at Active Learning Blog Carnival. The next issue will be Jun 14, at Active Learning Blog Carnival.

Thank you for joining me for Memo Monday! Have a super week!!

blessings~

Every year, my children ask me what I want for Mother’s Day and my birthday, and my reply has become pretty consistent: “I want the house cleaned up and my children to behave. ” That’s all: simple. Each year, I guess they figure that buying me a gift is a lot easier than my request!

This year, we are blessed because my mother is here with my sister. Yes, Jen and Mom drove all the way up here from NM for Jocelyn’ birthday party and Mother’s Day. I was so happy to spend time with them. I don’t know how our children, especially the little boys, are going to handle their leaving.

::HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM and Mom Dixon!!::

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in my life!

We had a wonderful day today. We went out to eat with my brother/Lydia, my sister and my mom. I got such nice gifts for Mother’s Day. The kids got me a Boston Fern, which I have wanted for some time. My Grandmother always had one, and I have always wanted one. It is so neat, especially with the thought behind it. They also got me some body spray, scrub and lotion, with a nice little four-way scrub brush from The Healing Garden. It is Organic Wild Honey. I am not a perfume-y person, and this is perfect!

Thank you to my dear children and my husband,

who worked long hours to provide a way for Mom and Jen to come up and for a really lovely lunch! It was the best Mother’s Day ever! Thanks! I love you all!

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As I was mowing the lawn a couple of days ago, Eric, who is almost 11, called down from the porch, “Mom, are you doing alright?”. It was raining, and I was mowing by the road, and he felt protective of me (which I love, don’t you?), and he wanted to make sure I was “alright”. I told him I was alright. He asked if there was anything he could get me. I told him if he wanted to get me a ball cap to keep the rain out of my face, he could. He brought me the cap and ended up standing down with me for the next 30-40 minutes as I mowed some more.

This gave me the opportunity to talk to him about things in general, you know, those little moments that make up life that we miss if we are not paying attention? We talked, walking and enjoying each others’ company as I mowed. The first thing I told him was that by asking me if I was alright, he had showed me he really loves me. That he could have just looked out and made sure things were fine, but by asking me and bringing me my hat, he was telling me he cared and was willing to offer his love and go the extra mile.

It made me think of all the little things my children do that say, “I love you, Mom.” It is not about giving gifts, and it is not about a simple “I love you.” It is about putting those words into action in our everyday lives.

Eric asking if I need anything and then standing with me in the rain as I mowed the lawn.

Any one of our children, from Hannah to Amanda, changing Loolie’s diaper.

Making a delicious dinner.

Serving me my plate for dinner.

Smiles

Hugs

Kisses

Keeping things neat and tidy.

Cooking for the big parties… and doing it with joy and having fun in the process!

Joining me in any task I do, to make it easier and fun.

Laughing at all hours of the day.

Always being there. Always.

Isaac making me a peanut butter sandwich. He’s four.

Caleb splitting a pickle with me. He’s two.

Rachel loves to serve me coffee after dinner.

Either Hannah makes the coffee or Rachel does.

Chasing the chickens off my porch and from eating my hostas.

The little things.

IMing with me.

Getting my opinion on a decision.

Mothering the Littles.

All of the html learning together.

Remembering things I forget!

Praising me when I am not all I could or should be, but doing it because they see beyond my faults and love me in spite of them!

There are so many more things that I could (and probably will) list. My children listen everyday and give everyday and are a blessing to our family more than I ever thought imaginable.

Mother’s Day posts:

Amanda: To The SUPEREST Mama In The World!

Rachel: Happy Mother’s Day… Mother Dear…

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I hope I can post about Jocelyn’s party later. She posted some pictures already, if you want to see them: A Perfect Day!

blessings~

My oldest daughter, who is also my dearest and best friend, sent me an e-card this week with a Scripture on it that is not just a Psalm, but a song too.

Psalm 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Oh how I love the Lord. Oh how I love the undeserved gifts He has given me. Gifts like my husband and my children. Next to my salvation and relationship with the Lord, they are IT.

This verse was a great encouragement to me, and instantly I started singing it. God, our God who is our ever-present shield, is also our glory, and the lifter of our heads.

Psalm 3

1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

blessings~

Did you know that The Old Schoolhouse Store offers Freebie Fridays?

This week’s free download is the E-Book: Happy Handwriting – Theme Tablet by Barker Creek, so click on over there and peruse the store, and be sure to get your free EBook.

blessings~