Are you feeling the pinch of high gas prices?? My jaw keeps dropping at the look of how high gas prices are right now and the worse part is that it's not really new news for anyone.

In Bethel City, Alaska, gas prices is reported to be around 4.83, and I've heard that in Missouri, it's already 4.13.

This is going to put a huge crimp on holiday plans but on top of that, there is also concern how this is going to affect grocery bills, energy costs and more.

Wood stoves and backyard gardens anyone?

So yes, we've made the decision to home school so for all you moms out there who home school, would love to hear your advice and links and references.

It was a case of weighing a lot of pros and cons that are individual based. We realized that homeschooling is not for everyone just like public school isn't for everyone so we really looked at our individual situation and factor in time, temperament and teachings would be.

We spent a lot of time talking not only to people who home school (and knew a few personally who did) but also talked to teachers and we also have friends who are teachers in public schools to help us weigh the pros and cons of the decision and eventually we were led by not only prayer to our Heavenly Father but the list we had written down on paper, that this is the best option for us to consider.

So not only joining local homeschooling groups but we found a state based home school for our state that I will be joining AND joining the national home-schooling association and right now I've begun working on lesson plans and a curriculum to begin home schooling at home.

I found a great software that not only lets me create lesson plans via the computer, but also record grades, absences (i.e. when the kids have a 100 plus fever and vomiting and no way would be going to school either publicaly or privately), but also helps me create a year long based curriculum to follow.

We are getting a dry erase board (more sense than a blackboard and I can't get that screeching noise out of my head when I see a blackboard, lol) and binders, one for me to keep printed lesson plans and worksheets in and one for the kids to "decorate" as their own and to keep what they have worked on in for record purposes.

One of the things we liked about homeschooling is that this isn't a set, 8-3 schedule...so if we have to go to a doctor's appointment or their not feeling good that day, we can delay the "class" for later in the day or after a trip to the doctor's office (sorry Johnny, not getting off that easy).

Honestly and this is just an opinion so no "flaming" but homeschooling is not for the weak hearted or weak discipline.

It takes a lot of self-discipline and organization and if your dayplanner keeps turning up, dusty and cover with 2 years worth of mold, you or the kids are easily distracted, the t.v. is kept on all day, or one find oneself finding reasons to put off starting class work,I wouldn't recommend homeschooling and would suggest either public school or if you can afford it, private school.

Now we just need prayers...lots of prayers. LOL

but now that we've got a Wii, the poor thing has spent a lot of time under the entertainment center since Grandma came to stay a few days and in the process of bowling, knocked the dog, and just about everything but the kitchen sink down.

So what happen?

Grandma got her own Wii, so, as long as Grandpa stays out of her way, things should be fine.

WOW...This has been an awesome but busy month for me...I've moved to a new blog site, I've been asked to participate in another part of the church ministry and SO excited about that; Thinking of homeschooling..when am I going to stop?? Lol

I'm just thankful to our Heavenly Father that He is calling me to do His service and at the same time, tempering me with not only humility but to really focus on where I am really needed and not needed the most so I don't get burn out the most.

I thank God for His strength throughout this and what He is doing to refine me.

So I get a call from the church asking if I would like to volunteer my services to help with the ministries and it's one of those things where a complete faith in God starts coming into being.

A mixture of feeling of not wanting to get overwhelm comes rushing in but in the craziness of it all...there is this persistant stillness where God just holds His hands out and says, we are His vessel and He comes not to overwhelm but to encourage, minister and use us for His loving Glory.

So it was so overwhelming and fantastic to know that I can step in and contribute more to our church and at the same know that through that, I will be able to give praise and Glory to an awesome God!

Psalms 139:14-18 NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. {15} My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. {16} Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. {17} How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! {18} If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.