Final Friday

In the words of James 1:27

True religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

At the Homeschool, the attempt to focus on the practice of this true religion comes on Final Friday of each month.

Down the street to sweet Miss Margaret's home, rolled the Homeschool parade!



This colorful card and caramel apple wrapped in sunflower paper were delivered with love. Student and Warrior colored her day with true religion, as she colored ours with kindness. Everything else on Friday seemed to be not-so-full of life! Really, since Miss Margaret turned 90 this past summer, she really knows how to work those spiritual gifts,
and she is a BIG BLESSING to all of those around her.



Prize fishing on Fridays, both kiddos were able to catch a glow-in-the-dark outer space puzzle of 100 pieces each. Student was determined to get it together and matte it asap...and so she did!



Student also jumped right into the teaching role as she assisted Warrior with his counting. These repetitive exercises have only proven tiresome for Teacher, thus far. Warrior just keeps on chipping away and his brain keeps soaking it up! Praise God for boys who sit and learn for 20 minutes at a time!



Switching library day to Friday this week, Mascot tried out his newly acquired walking skills at the play area. Right past the fence and in with the chickens...that boy is unstoppable!

Final Friday

To practice true religion:James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Being Final Friday, Student set out on her mission to look after a certain widow loved dearly by the Homeschool. Student spent a snowy morning inside Miss Jane's farmhouse dusting spots just her size!
Dining table legs
Shutter slats
Dining chair spindles



Student and Miss Jane completed their time together preparing lunch for the Homeschool. Packing ourselves over the creek and past the woods, we landed at her dining table for a classic winter luncheon: grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup!

After giving thanks to God for the food, Miss Jane shared about Student's helpful heart. When Principal asked Student how she responded when asked to complete a task that morning, she said...
"I thought I could be polite and do it right. I didn't complain, she's not my MOM!" All laughed, and laughed some more. Yes, we know we often save the illest responses for our loved ones, we all fall short there! Lord forgive us.

Re-booting each foot that walked, the Homeschool headed home just in time for the arrival of little blonde guests for a Kansas Day activity.




Celebrating God's provisions for both the birds of the air and our families, we used Miss Jane's hog lard and mixed up some suet-stuffed oranges to provide for the local birds during these cold days.



Finished and resting in the freezer until tomorrow, Student will eye just the perfect places for her feeders. For this we know is true: God is the source of all we need, and He works through many channels. The girls were delighted to be a channel of provision for the Kansas birds...HAPPY 149th KANSAS DAY!

Connecting to Kansas Day, History taught Student of Lewis & Clark. She was so excited to connect her newly acquired tooth-traded golden coin to the lesson. Checking the map for the Kansas locations Lewis & Clark traveled along, and just what significance Sacajawea is thought to have. Officaially, we have skipped from the 16th president doen to the 3rd, and will continue a steady countdown to prepare for President's Day.

February, yes, the month that begins MONDAY! Where will the semester go? Student is the furthest along in Math & Science. As for the rest that First Grade is to hold, the Homeschool relies on the sufficient grace of God!

Field Trip

Unscramble! Well, not just a morning brain to unscramble, but words, silly!

Student worked on Language seatwork with a smile today. The unscramble exercise was a nice change of monotony in her seatwork. Also in Language, she worked on sentence structure, correcting the incorrect examples. What a self-booster to see that even the book author doesn't get every sentence perfect!

Grammar continued with pronoun and suffix review. Student has a list of her favorite fancy words with a suffix:

fragrantly

strolled

feasting

strokes

classified

What blessings God grants us through Homeschool, may we recognize this on days that seem not-so-blessed, but truly are! Amen.

Violin has brought Student to new heights...literally. On her bow, the markings of her "yard" have gotten higher, and it is just the boost she needed! Also, her Christmas selections are preparing for their blog debut! :)

Toddler was on sharpening duty today.

As God is a part of our daily lives, we felt His presence and care through a Field Trip opportunity today. As Principal is around, he has had the opportunity to be more hands-on in Homeschool. And just in time for Student's recent measuring and mapping skills, our church needed help measuring the new building that's on it's way to our campus this week!

So, armed with her sketchbook, measuring tape and architectural ruler, Student and Principal headed for a roadtrippn' field trip.

And right in time for the extended-due-date, our Final Friday quilt project is completed! Student's tag reads:

"Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you." Deut 31:6, Homeschool 2009

Final Friday

We are here, we are here, we are here! It is Final Friday and our quilting goes on!

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The local quilt drive for foster children at Christmas. Student was really enjoying the roller-cutting today! She turned these stripes, into checkers!

Final Friday is falling close to Orphan Sunday. Can't wait to see how God works in the hearts of His people for this occasion!

Classifying in Science today, Student grouped leaves by their color. Truly, she is also enjoying toning her photos for posting and playing around with borders and such. She'll be one of the few First Graders in town to be familiar with Photoshop! Principal will be so proud!

And for seatwork...well, it's Final Friday, who needs seatwork? Our focus today was certainly on The Lord, as we are quilting in His name, and enjoying the leaves He created. Thanks, God.

Holiday Expidition

Yes, we are having a holiday! No school, specifically. But my eyes are opened to see all of the learning that naturally takes place at home. Because this isn't one of a few scheduled holidays, we aren't rushing into filling the day with together time. As homeschool provides opportunity to have much together time, we have decided to spend our day of together time just being us!

We began our morning with a 3 mile bike ride. Yes, that arrangement of the donut shop and park in the middle sure make for a great break! No, we didn't choose to go into detail about the dog droppings we found at the base of the slide, or the God-provided Mrs. Tonya to help with our frustrated Toddler, or the construction worker with the miracle wrench to solve the frustrated Toddler...well, he fixed the loosened training wheels, of course! Rather, we are thinking and writing of sewing;;;what else!

Our favorite second-hand shop is also along the path. And Student and I have been eyeing fabric to go together for a local Christmas project for Foster Children in the area. Looking to have 900 quilts donated for Christmas gifts, we are ready with our fabric!

Student is looking to make a small quilt, her first self-lead quilt. And with our other circus fabric and flannel, we plan to include a message of strength and courage as The Lord our God is with us wherever we go...to parallell the images of lion tamers and such from the ol' circus days. So, we'll see if we can turn these fabrics into projects for our next Final Friday!

Final Friday

Our beloved sister, Sherri, just became a widow 2 weeks ago. In honor of our Final Friday Ministry from James 1:27, we are making cards and taking some baked goods to her house this weekend. To take care of her, and bring her joy of The Lord, as she does for so many!

She is part of our family at church, so we are sure to see her there if we can't get a hold of her. Last month was a bit of a challenge since we didn't hear back from our friend we had hoped to bless. So, we have devised a sure-to-bless plan!

History, Language, Reading and Phonics. All in a day's homeschool, a Friday that is! We are looking forward to no rain so camping can consume the weekend...so hard to think about pencils and paper when the great outdoors await!

Student:

Final Friday

Why homeschool? What is our purpose?

In the state of Kansas one must register their homeschool as a private learning institution, legally. And that institution needs a name and a purpose. Well, today I had a prompting from the Holy Spirit about our purpose.

After sharing some books this morning, we peddled our 1 mile ride today at the Manner. The kiddos love the freedom and I love the safety! But, to get home again, we passed the home of a widow we know. Miss Margaret. She used to be an active part of our lives when Student was younger. We worked in Weekday Bible School together for the public schools, back in the day. We used to remember her often and visit regularly.

Well, our priorities have somewhere been lost. In comes Final Friday!

In a close-by metropolitan area, Final Friday is a reason to have Art socials, drinking brigades and music played all-through-the-night just to glorify the world. However, our version of Final Friday will be for His glory...the whole purpose of homeschooling. Thus, Final Friday will be our realization to care for orphans and widows. What if this were our Final Friday to complete this service for The Lord? We shall act on this command of our religion today, and each Final Friday we are given.

We will make our way back to Miss Margaret's place and with us bring blessings of music and cards! May Student's music bless all in His name.

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.