Marine Corps Nomads » Nature Pictures

Gazing into a Summer Night Sky

Heather — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:43:09 +0000

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to see 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Just Wait and See

Heather — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 07:54:41 +0000

I received this poem in an email and thought I would add some pictures and share it here.

JUST WAIT AND SEE!
by Marian Hanna

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

When your thinking is confused,
And your senses are bemused,
Look to Christ!
He will tell you what to do —
Through His Spirit within you
You will find His truth infused.
Just wait and see!

When you’re anxious, tired, and stressed,
And your spirit feels depressed,
Look to Christ!
He is loving, good, and kind —
He will calm your troubled mind
And give gracious peace and rest.
Just wait and see!

When your throbbing nerves benumb,
Or to panic you succumb,
Look to Christ!
Make His name your lofty tower —
He’ll exert His mighty power
And deliverance will come.
Just wait and see!

When you’re suffering and sighing,
Maybe even close to dying,
Look to Christ!
Think ahead to life eternal —
God’s great glory, joys supernal,
Far outweigh our pain and crying.
Just you wait and see!

I sought the LORD, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened:
and their faces were not ashamed.
Psalm 34:4,5

Curriculum: Choices, Choices, Choices

Heather — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:08:51 +0000

At the end of June, I wrote about our planned curriculum choices for the new year. While most things are staying the same, it looks like we may be changing our math curriculum. We’re going to be trying out Life of Fred for math. While we both like Teaching Textbooks, some changes needed to be made. We may end up going to back to Teaching Textbooks. Right now, I’m just in a wait and see mode.

Our art program using the Picturing America program is working great for us. Munchkin looks forward to that part of the day. We work on art Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Generally, on Monday, we look at the new art piece for the week, and I read the information from the teacher’s guide. We talk about the piece a little. Wednesday, Munchkin works on a handout that I created based upon the end of unit questions. On Friday, we try to do a hands on activity that goes along with what we learned for the week.

On Tuesday and Thursday, we are working on finishing up our composer study. I’m not sure what we will be doing once we complete the curriculum. I believe that Munchkin will be starting back up with her guitar as that is what D wants. We took a bit of a break from the guitar due to life, so we need to get back into that program. She needs to really work on notes and reading music, so I’ll probably come up with something to do on T and Th to help her with that task.

Munchkin is enjoying her Grapevine Studies New Testament Overview. She is now doing this pretty much on her own. She’ll ask me questions now and then, but she has chosen to take on the learning by herself.

We have about 2 months left in Apologia Marine Biology. As a reward for completing the course, we’ll be heading to Sea World in September/October. (We have to see when that works out with D’s work schedule.) I think it will be a fun close to the course. We’ll probably stop by the ocean while we’re over there.

I still need to put something together for Munchkin for her computer skills. I want her to learn to use all of the programs in the Windows Office suite. I’m still deciding how to handle that. I haven’t started her back up on typing yet, but that will be starting back up soon. For typing, I’ll just be having her type out passages from things she is studying.

At least one day per week, we spend time working on homemaking skills (home economics) such as sewing, baking, cooking, cake decorating… We both enjoy these times. Last week, we had her friend join us which made for quite the exciting day. We may start having little “classes” together more in the future. I guess it all depends on if I can get things together more in advance.

Our choices for schooling are constantly changing as the school year goes on. While we have the base curriculum in place, I’ve learned to be flexible. Sometimes, things need to be tweaked. Other times, they need to be set aside for now. I’m doing my best to listen to the Lord’s leading in our homeschool.

The Lord Directs His Steps

Heather — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:08:11 +0000

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God is a Sun and a Shield

Heather — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00:11 +0000

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to see 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

For more Word Filled Wednesday, head over to Internet Cafe Devotions.

WW: The Ant and The Flower

Heather — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:53:49 +0000

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to see 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

A new week begins…

Heather — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:46:05 +0000

Mrs. White over at Legacy of Home does a weekly front porch visit. I love the idea as it starts the week on a positive note, but I tend to forget about it until it’s too late. Since I have a little time on my hands today, I decided to have my own little front porch visit as we get ready to jump start our week. Since our front porch is a wee bit hot today, I’ll invite y’all inside to sit in the cool air conditioning.

This week, Munchkin will be attending day VBS on base. Last year, she had lots of fun at the VBS here on base, so she asked if she could go this year. Yes, she attended VBS at our church, but she wanted to go to this one as well. At least one of her friends will be there daily with her. Another friend will be going as she is able. So, from 9 – 12 each day this week, I will have some free time to get things done.

After lunch, Munchkin will work on her school work. She had last week off, so, much to her dismay, she will have school work to complete this week. I’m such a mean mommy. **grin** In all honesty, she doesn’t mind too much, but she will want to play with her friends. Good motivation to get things done in a timely manner? I think so.

I have several reviews that I need to finish writing and get posted, so I’ll be working on those this week. I need to work on clearing out some no longer needed curriculum as well as sorting through various items left over from the move. I basically set a bunch of stuff aside as I wasn’t sure if we needed the items. It’s been long enough now that I know that we don’t, so I’ll need to sell and donate the extra things.

On a side note: have you seen that the school supply sales have begun? Oh, how I so enjoy shopping the back-to-school sales. It’s fun to be able to pick up folders, pencils, and paper for a penny at Staples. I keep my eye out for deals that will allow me to stock up not only on our supplies, but also to stock up on supplies to donate to the school supply drives. It’s fun to look at each weeks ads and search for the best deals. Have you seen any really good deals this week?

Well, I’m off to finish up the laundry and set something out for super. I’m thinking we may have some chicken taco soup. I may bake some chocolate chip cookies, but we’ll have to see how hot the house gets as the afternoon temps hit. They may need to wait until tomorrow morning. Have a lovely day!

You are the Salt of the Earth

Heather — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:00:20 +0000

This week at VBS D and I have been quite challenged with some of the kids in our group. We spend so much time focusing on keeping them in line that we’re concerned with whether or not they are learning anything. We walk away completely spent each evening. Yet, there are moments here and there where we can see a little glimmer of hope coming from these particular kids. It is in these moments that we can really see that we are the salt and light here. We have to keep going even when we feel that we’ve reached our limits. We have to get our strength from the Lord and pray that He can use us to honor and glorify Him.

We can pray that by being the salt and light for some of these kids that they will in turn be salt and light to their family and friends. Maybe seeds of hope and God’s love are being planted in the lives of these young kids. The Lord has placed these kids in our group for a reason. I need to remember this as I start to grow weary as the evening passes. I need to allow the love of the Lord to flow through me a I guide the kids, instruct the kids, and mentor the kids.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:13-16 ~

Find more Word Filled Wednesday at the Internet Cafe Devotions.

Nature’s Tiny Critters

Heather — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:25:01 +0000

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to see 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Random Thoughts

Heather — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:21:17 +0000

My mind is jumping all over the place today, so I figured I would just post one of my random thoughts posts instead of trying to sort out everything. **grin** I’ll also be posting random pictures from our camping trip within this crazy, random post.

Soon, I’ll be embarking on my 2nd year with the TOS Crew. You might have seen the new button that I created on my sidebar. There are several things that will be different with my voyage this year, but I’ll write a little more about that later. For now, I’m just getting everything ready and organized for the upcoming year.

Yesterday, we had an impromptu party that featured the new Kung Zhu line of Zhu Zhu pets. The kids had so much fun. Once again, I’ll be blogging more about that later. I’ll just say that we’ve found a new summer activity for the kids indoors.

Munchkin’s last baseball game is on Saturday. We’ll be handing out team pictures and trophies after the game.

Next week, we have Vacation Bible School (VBS) at church. Munchkin will be attending, and D and I will be helping out with the kids.

We have one week off before the base summer reading program begins. They will have an activity at the library once a week in addition to their reading challenges. Munchkin is also participating in the reading program activities at the off base library.

Two weeks after the base summer reading program begins, Munchkin will be attending VBS on base with her friends.

As you can see, the summer activities have begun. The bad thing is that the beginning of summer is also the beginning of moving season, so we’ll be saying goodbye to more friends. Our new neighbors next door just moved in yesterday. Military life is always an adventure.

As normal, we will be schooling through the summer. Munchkin is getting ready to wrap up some of her main classes, and she did well with her end of the year testing. We’ll probably take a short break before moving on to the new classes and “new year”.