Pearl of great price

Matthew 13:45-46 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

One perfect day last week

I'm trying to get the hang of blogging so I'm a little behind, lol! I should have blogged this the day it happened but it slipped my mind so here it is.....

Did you ever just have the *best* homeschool day ever?

Our days homeschooling have been so productive and fun lately. Ever since I went into boot camp with the girls life in general has been so good.

Today though was simply a blessing. We started out our day with Teaching With God's Heart For The World. We talked about missionaries and other less fortunate countries. We talked about God's word and His plan for us. We prayed. We had a huge breakfast. Then we came back and prayed again for specific ministries and a special mission family the Lord has led us to know. We prayed for a good friend of mine from another board who is battling cancer. We took turns praying and hearing my 11 and 5yo pour out their hearts to God was precious.

Then we started school. Meadow done her math and bible. Sky and I done her SWR, and New World Explorers. Both girls are working on brochures for the new land they just founded! This has taken them hours but they are getting along and working together. Not to mention their projects look great! It is now 5:30 and Sky still has math and a few other things to do but no-one is complaining.

This is what I've always dreamed! God is so good.

Bootcamp

I didn't know that was what it was called when I started it though. I just know that things were not running smoothly and something had to be done because I couldn't take much more. I cut off our cable a couple of years ago. I have T.V.'s but only for dvds that we own. I have every entertainment dvd in a box hidden. I allowed my girls to draw numbers to see who would go 1st, 2nd and 3rd and then each Saturday IF everything for the week is done withOUT attitude one movie is chosen out of the box. #1 the first week and so forth. The only movies available on our shelves are now spiritual or educational.

Each day the older two now set their clocks to get up at 9 o'clock. I think this is a very fair time, not too early ~ not too late. Fair. I leave instuctions on the dry erase board each day to tell them who needs to do what. They do those chores first. Sometimes I'm up already and if I am I have some quiet time to pray, read or whatever else I may need to do but often times I'm not and they let me sleep in. I tend to be somewhat of a night owl and I enjoy the house at night when everyone else is asleep. Now if we are sick or have Dr.s appointment we have to make acceptions but when things are normal this is how we are operating.

School begins when chores are done so the time varies day to day depending on what chores are listed for that day. There is some school they can do without me and they know to start on this immediately if I am not available. We are into week 3 of this. If there is any rebellion including complaining, they lose music, computer and phone. Let me say that these activities are very limited they do not get free use of any of these. They are having to ask permission and when I grant it I also tell them how long they have. I expect yes mam the first time. My 5yo is having the hardest time adjusting because I haven't trained her this way and she is forgetful, but the other day when she didn't say yes mam first thing, she tucked her head and said, Ah man...she knew it was quiet time in her room. Period. :)

Right now my 16 yo has no phone, no computer, no music, no company, no going anywhere. I almost feel sorry for her. I am hoping dh agrees she can come off tomorrow. I am very tender hearted and this has not been easy on me by any means but it works and it beats screaming all the time. We have peace, a clean house and are completing our school. They are actually learning to get along with one another and like school (better). Really!

It was this or my sanity. I wish I had done it years ago. Consistency IS the key.

We are very relaxed in our school (except for my 16yo) we focus on the 3R's, Bible and are doing a mini-study lap book of New World Explorers. My 11yo doesn't like writing or reading by the way. If you ask her if she likes school she will tell you NO. But she is doing her work and doing it without complaining to me. I think they prefer school to chores now though! Once obedience comes natural I will ease on the chores some. We will see.

Reminiscing

My what a journey we have been on, what a journey we are still on! The Lord called us to homeschool six years ago, my how time flies. I am amazed at how we started and how we have changed. The fear of thinking I would hurt my children if they weren't learning everything public schools were learning on their time frame. I recreated what I knew from my own experiences in public school. It didn't take long to burn us all out. Thankfully the Lord led me to homeschooling boards where there were ladies with years of experience and so much wisdom.

I heard that it would be fine if we took six months off to try and detox from what we had all been exposed to. Fear tried to creep in and thoughts of abuse! LOL! I am so glad I can laugh now. We took the plunge and put the texts away and we learned to relax. We learned to know one another. We learned how much fun life could be without all the stress. Thank-You my Savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank-You for revelation, perserverance and Your protection.

During this time I researched different materials, different learning styles. I decided to try Unit Studies and fell in love with Learning-Adventures. I wish I had pictures of those days. I also found that as much as we loved Unit Studies we didn't always have a schedule that would allow them so we had to supplement with a few textbooks and find some independant work for the girls when life happened. It did and it worked!

My oldest daughter started out here in our home in the sixth grade. This year she is a junior. She spent last semester in the local community college with a full load and made all A's and B's. (only one B I believe) I had so badly wanted her to graduate with her Associate's Degree in general education at the same time she was awarded her highschool diploma from me. Wouldn't that make me look good? All the persecution I suffered over the years for bringing them home to school them would finally pay off! I would show them all. Not so quick though.....the Lord spoke to me again, oh so unmistakably, so clear. He said, "My child, do you remember your call? Do you remember what I asked you to do? I have a plan for your daughter and it isn't what you have planned. I need your obedience. Stop doubting yourself and do what I have called you to do." Now that was an awakening for me. My husband heard the Lord loud and clear also. I believe had we not both heard the same thing from our Lord I might have ignored it, thinking myself insane or ridiculous. After all other Christians send their children to college surely it isn't wrong? For many it isn't but for us I'm afraid it is.

So this semester we are starting fresh with new agendas. We are excited because we know our Lord is faithful and He has a great plan. We can't wait to watch as it unfolds.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1 & 2

My Family

E-Mail Jenileigh

jenferleigh@yahoo.com

About Me

I'm Jenileigh.

The wife to one wonderful man.

The mother to three beautiful daughters.

I am a Christian, I love Jesus Christ, and my beliefs are listed below.

I will be 38 this year. (2009)

This is our 8th year of homeschooling.

I'm real.

I'm not perfect.

I share the details of my life.

I'm silly at times.

I love to laugh.

I cry alot, often when I laugh.

I love to read.

I want more children.

My bedroom is my favorite room.

I love praise and worship music.

I love pretty things.

I love to cook.

I love homeschooling.

I'm a planner.....

although I don't always complete the tasks.

I'm working on that.

I desire to grow in Christ and to help others along the way.

I believe in sharing myself so that others know they aren't alone.

My eyes are brown.

I have a temper.

I want to lose about 60 lbs.

I'm happy with my size even though it'd be nice to lose some weight.

I love sitting up late laying in my daughter's bed talking to them.

I take turns doing this with them so they each have time alone with me.

I find they love to tell me their secrets during this time.

I'm happy, very happy!

I love my life!

I want to speak in front of others....
..but I battle with it.

I LOVE my church.

I love teaching.

I have one brother.

I have one sister.

I love the beach but I also love the mountains.

I love the smell of rain on a warm sunny day.

I love canning food from the garden.

I love gardens but I don't care for the work.

I love flowers.

I love candles.

Background noises get on my nerves.

My mom almost named me Bambi.

I love chocolate!

I'm a romantic at heart.

I'm very tender hearted.

I love comments.

I don't like to feel alone.

I love to read.

Francine Rivers is one my most favorite authors.

I'd like to have a son.

The Fall is my favorite time of year.

I like going out to eat.

I love shopping.

Buying homeschool curriculum is a weakness of mine.

I love to swim.

I sing my heart out when no one can hear me.

I want to be a missionary.

I love holding children.

I created this blog in January 2007 as a way to journal my life, my feelings, emotions and happenings. I had no idea how it would grow and bring to relationships with women all over the world. I have met wonderful caring friends. The Lord has grown me through blogging, fed me and nourished me through His word and other Christian blogs. It is my prayer that this blog would bless you in some way.



My Beliefs

* THE BIBLE is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written Word of God.

* There is ONE GOD, eternally existent in three Persons:

1. God the Father
2. God the Son
3. God the Holy Spirit

* In the Deity of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule.

* The only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

* The redemptive work of Christ on THE CROSS provides SALVATION in response to believing prayer. This SALVATION includes spiritual salvation, physical healing for the body, protection, deliverance, safety and soundness.

* The Baptism in THE HOLY SPIRIT, according to Acts 1:8 and Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it, for the primary purpose of "POWER" to be a witness of Christ. We believe in the Biblical evidences of the baptism in the Holy Spirit -- including praying in tongues and the gifts of the Spirit.

* In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is able to live a HOLY LIFE. Enabled by God's grace, it is the believer's responsibility to walk in PURITY AND HOLINESS before the Lord.

* In the BLESSED HOPE - the rapture of the Church and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

* In the RESURRECTION of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation. Because of this and Christ's GREAT COMMISSION in Mark 16:15...

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

* The SUPREME TASK of the Church is the evangelization of the lost.