Saturday, December 29, 2012

2012 in Review

It has been a great year for the Britt family.  I can say that now that it is coming to an end. 

Tyler turned 16 (January)  and finally go his drivers licence in November.  I have to say he doesn't go anywhere.  I really don't have to share my van at all...fine by me.  Its a lot easier not having him out driving.  He also started his first job, as a bat boy for the Louisville Bats (the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds).  It was a total new experience for him and a little uncomfortable at times, but he did enjoy it.   He will be going back this spring!  He started his Junior year of high school and is doing all of his classes here at home.  He still isn't to sure what he is going to do after graduation, but he is working hard in the mean time.  He just recently started work at PCA (same place Steve works) and he has found it is a bit easier to make money there then at the Bats.  



Samantha turned 14 (April) and has grown into a beautiful young women.  She finished up her first volleyball season with the homeschool team here in town, Heart For Christ Panthers.  She really loves playing and has really gotten good.  She FINALLY got her braces off, and she has beautiful teeth.  She has started her freshman year of high school and it has some what kicked her butt.  The work load is much different and it has taken her sometime to adjust.  She is a very hard worker so that helps.  Samantha started her second season of volleyball and is a starter.  Her game has really improved.  We had a little scare with her knee, but luckily it wasn't anything.  She has some knee issues and has had to do some PT to help it. 

Caroline turned 12 in August, but she is really like 40, just like her daddy.  She has had a somewhat difficult year with different things, but has recently made great strides.  She is like a second mom around here which is helpful at times.  She is in her first year of middle school and it can be hard at times she is always willing to work as hard as needed.  She has great ambitions to be a Physical Therapist.  Caroline started playing volleyball on the Heart For Christ Panthers this year.  She played for the first time at SECC and really liked it and has found her sport.  After just two months of playing she has be come a starter on the JV team.  She now eats, breathes, and sleeps volleyball.  She is looking forward to the 1-3 next August.

Jack turned 9 in May and things are really the same with him. Jack played baseball at SECC this last spring and did really well.  He was signed up for the 8-9 year old league, but they moved him up to the 10 year old league which was really cool to me.  He played really well and loved playing pitcher.  He played basketball through the Upward program and really enjoys that.  I see him playing on the HFC Panthers basketball team in a couple years. He enjoys hanging out with his best friend, Bubba and playing Bionicals.  He is doing ok in school, still suffers with "I don't like this..." at times, but is beginning to get it moving.  Health wise he has done great.  We had his A1c checked back this summer and it was 5.0.  Which is normal.  We keep praising God for his healing.  

Evan turned 6 in January and is the BABY of the family.  No matter how hard we try we treat him like a baby and he proceeds to act like one!!  He has had some issues with the his glands swelling around his jaw.  Finally the ENT suggested removing a tooth.  We had already done a root canal on it and it was a really ugly tooth.  Once it was removed he hasn't had any more trouble. He played  Tee-ball at SECC and enjoyed it.  He is really the most athletic kid!!  Evan has really enjoyed hanging out with new friend Jonah.  Luckily, Evan does go with the flow which is good since we have volleyball practices and games that he has to hang out at.  The concession stands to keep him happy.


This was a really big year for Steve.  The beginning of the year he was trying to get back surgery approved by the insurance company, that stated in January.  Then by May he was really bad.  He was admitted to the hospital for pain management while we waited for the insurance company to do what we pay them for.  After five days and another herniated disk they finally approved the surgery.  The doctor came in on a Saturday to do the surgery which was a spinal fusion and discectomy.  The surgery went well, but he had a lot of nerve damage in this right leg from the bulge that occurred while waiting for the approval.  Once home it was a long recovery, on a walker for about four weeks then about six with a cane.  He was actually off from work for four months which felt like forever.  He is back to work and his recovery is great.  He hasn't felt this good in years.  It is nice to see him feeling better.  He has bought himself a nice bike and is looking forward riding it this spring.  He has one residual issue from the whole situation...steroid induced diabetes.  Bummer!!!  He has been taking meds and watching his diet which is helping.  He has also lost a lot of weight and is trying to get healthy.  He was able to see his dad, Frank, turn 90.  It has been a hard few months for his family as his dad hasn't been doing well.  He was in and out of the hospital in October, was at a nursing home for a short stint for rehab, but he is back at home.  He is bedridden and the kids have had to help take care of him.  Which I think is a blessing because Steve has spent time with his parents he wouldn't have had under normal circumstances.  We continue to help his mom in every way we can.  We are praying that God have mercy on them through this very time.  

Me, well it is about the same.  I spend my time trying to do my best taking care of my family.  It was stretched a little this year because of having to handle everything during Steve's recovery, but I have been rewarded with a husband who isn't hurting any more!! We were able to take a two week vacation to Destin this fall and it was very relaxing.  A great advantage to homeschooling!!!  School is going well, but I will say having two high schoolers makes it a little bit scary!  I did start a diet this last year and lost quite a bit of weight through the first 5 months, but with Steve's surgery life got in the way and I have gain a bit of my weight back (getting started again next year).  I applied to be part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew (reviewing homeschool curriculum).  So this next year I will be working on that.   






A whirlwind of a year...ready to start 2013 and see what God has in store for our family!!!




Monday, December 24, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Top 10 Reasons We Homeschool


10.  Safety!  That wasn't a thought back in 2003 when we started this journey, but after several years of seeing the horrible things that happen in this fallen world I see it is a GREAT reason to homeschool. 

9.  Family time!  We are able to spend so much time together as a family this way.  As it has turned out Steve's work schedule is great for a homeschooling family.  He works 7 days then he is off 7 days, the days he works his hours are 2:00 pm- 12:00 am.  That way his is with us during our school time.  Also, I think I have been able to develop great relationships with all the kids.  We talk about everything!!!  We also get to take LONG vacations usually when most other people are in school!! 

8.  Friends.  That was a concern when we started, "Maybe they won't have any friends."  As it turns out we have very social kids and they have LOTS of friends.  The older two are always hanging out with their fellow homeschoolers.  I have also made lots of friends (not that I really wanted any :)).  I have great friends who are a great support system to me.  

7.  I can teach my children what I think is important, I can teach them from a Biblical perspective.  EVERY book we use has scripture through out!!!

6.  God called me to homeschool.  When I wasn't expecting it I hear the call and today, nine years later, I'm so glad we listened. 
 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Reason 5-1
  
These are the best five reasons to homeschool...

















Sunday, December 16, 2012

Letting Go and Letting God

As a Momma to a 16 year old son I am experiencing the challenge of letting go!!  I have always known that they need to gain their independence and that it is important in their development and getting to adulthood, but it is so hard to let go.

Tyler is a great kid, very respectful, trustworthy and dependable.  I don't really have an issue with trusting him or anything like that, but I know that my time with him here at home is really short and I'm starting to have issues.

He has recently gotten his drivers license and handing over the keys is really hard.  I find myself very fearful and anxious about him while he is out on his own.  I actually found myself on my knees the other evening.  He was on his way to our church (about a 20 minute drive) at rush hour for a youth mission project with my oldest daughter.  The fear crept up on me unexpectedly. It was a moment when I found myself humbled before God asking for His total protection.  I pray protection over all of my children daily, but this was a moment when I realized that I have no power over anything.

God has given us these five children to raise, His five children and I am called to raise them up in Him.  Teach them to love Him, follow Him and obey Him.  We have strived to do just that and see those things in Tyler, but ultimately God is in total control.  His Way will always be above my ways.  I am so glad to know that when Tyler is out and about I'm not in control of anything, but God is holding him in His hand and where do we find protection, but in the Hand's of God!!


Sunday, December 9, 2012

SchoolhouseTeachers.com

I am so excited to share with you my first "official" review for Schoolhouse Review Crew.


  SchoolhouseTeachers.com  is a website which is a division of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. If you think The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is a great resource wait till you take a look at SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  It is filled with tons of resources for any homeschooling family.  SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers lesson plans, daily activities, unit studies as well as many other things for Pre-K through High School.  You will find MANY other things for every member of the family.  Believe it or not, you can have all this and much more for just $5.95 per month, right now you can actually get your first month for $1!!!!

There is so much offered on the site that at first glance it can be quite overwhelming.  That is why I suggest checking out the Site Tour link right off the bat.  There are two videos that would guide you through the site.

 You can choose literature, math, history, geography, writing and many other subjects for all grade levels; elementary through high school.  There is also Career Exploration, College Choice 
Guidance, Special Needs help and Monthly reading lists.  With all that is available on the site you could use it for your total curriculum or you can choose to use it for supplemental work.  SchoolhouseTeachers.com gives us a great way to add new and fun stuff to a sometime boring school day.  My family has done the Logic lessons and we love them.

Now you maybe wondering who has created all of these lessons, well there are 27 different teachers who have written all of these great lessons.  Take a look at some of the sample lessons here.

After going through the SchoolhouseTeachers.com site one thing I decided to try was the  Dailies, in this section there are TONS of daily activities. Daily Math, Daily Writing, Spelling (Pre-K--High School), Pre-K activities, This Day in History and even This Month's Menu (a recipe for everyday of the month).  We decided to focus on the Daily Grammar .  One of my children has been struggling with grammar and this gives her some extra daily work to reinforce her grammar knowledge.
I also liked the Extras tab on  SchoolhouseTeachers.com site.  Here you will find a free E-book each month, access the Old Schoolhouse Magazine current issue plus back issues and TOS Supplements. There are also tons and tons of downloads; unit studies, Curiosity Files and WannaBes to just name a few.  As a member you can download free homeschool planners: 2013-2014 planner, one for Special Learners, Primary, Intermediate and High School Planners.

My over all thoughts of SchoolhouseTeachers.com are....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.  There are so many things to use for all of my children.  I have five children, 1st grade through a high school Junior and when I find something that I can use with all my grade levels it makes my job a lot easier.  So check it out for yourself and get started today.  Remember you can get all this for only $5.95 per month with your first month only $1


Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.




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