We had a good week this week. The kids all got their work done, and had some fun, too.

Hannah made another skirt for herself this week. She sewed it mostly by hand, she prefers it that way. She did a great job!

She wore it to the volleyball and basketball banquet on Monday night. We had a potluck “Italian Feast”, then your usual sports banquet doings. Recognitions, awards, pictures, etc. It was a very nice banquet. We brought macaroni and cheese, as well as bread. Hannah made the bread, two loaves of plain french bread, and two loaves of french bread turned into garlic bread. They were delicious. She is quite the baker. Here’s a picture of Abby and Hannah sitting at our table at the banquet with one of their teammates. (faces blurred to protect the innocent. lol)

I never have much to share about Calen. He’s working to finish up and graduate. I’m trying to get him to hurry up and finish, but he’s dragging his feet. He spends his time working at church, playing the guitar, and playing with wires. He works in the media room at church. At home, he seems to always be working with wires. Soldering and such things. I really have no idea what. lol I managed to snap a picture of him working on “something” the other day.

I posted to homeschool posts this week as part of a homeschool blog hop.  I shared Homeschooling with Games and Homeschooling in a Crisis. Stop by and check them out!

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.

When we have kids we think everything is going to be all sunshine, kittens, and rainbows. And most of the time it is. Then when we start homeschooling we think that the good times are going to continue. And most of the time they do.

But sometimes, things happen beyond our control. Jobs are lost, kids get diagnosed with diseases, Mom or Dad get really sick. Our worst nightmares sometimes come true.

That was the case for me, when in 2000, my then 5 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia. Want to talk about having the rug ripped out from underneath you. Your worst nightmare has been brought to the light of day. And come true.

So your looking for another job, or fighting hard for your child’s health or your own. But wait! You homeschool. How can you wage war in this battle and still homeschool? I know I questioned myself. A lot. “How can I keep homeschooling with “this” going on?”

I’m here to say you can do. Because I did. And I’m no different from you.

Like in everything else, though, you can’t do it all. Something is going to have to give. Fancy meals will have to be traded for simple, homecooked meals. In depth unit studies, detailed science experiments, and lots of field trips will have to be traded for just the basics for a season. It can be done, though. Kids will be fine if they don’t do every experiment or go on every field trip possible.

You will have to set the priorities for your family. Meals, laundry, medical needs, and emotional needs of the children will likely be at the top of your list. Then you can fit in school work in between. Math will be a homeschool priority. You don’t want to get too far behind in math, as it takes too long to catch up. For elementary and middle school aged kids, every other subject can be covered by reading good books. Read aloud when you can, have whoever is watching the other kids while your at doctors appointments or in the hospital read to the kids. The kids can also read for themselves. High schoolers can take responsibility for their own schoolwork and do the majority of their work by themselves. Really. Yes, you are still involved. Picking the curriculum, helping them when they get stuck, correcting their work when needed.  But they can do most of their daily work by themselves.

If you have to take off two weeks because of a hospitalization, the kids will be ok taking an extra two weeks off. Think about it. Over the course of 12 or 13 years of school, is an extra two weeks off going to make a difference? No, it’s not. Even if you take off a week or two several times a year, your kids will still be fine. They will quickly catch up. They will have learned much from reading. Their reading speed and comprehension levels will have increased. This will benefit them in their lessons when they are returned to.

My son received chemo treatments for over three years. During that time, we didn’t do any schoolwork to speak of on clinic days or when he was hospitalized. The remaining kids at home didn’t do any schoolwork on those days either. When my son was diagnosed, our children were 14, 12, 5-the one diagnosed, 3, 2, and almost 3 months old. When he finished treatments three years and three months later, they were 17, 15, 9, 8, 5 and 3. I have been there and done that.

My advice for homeschooling in a crisis is to pray. Then pray some more. Then set your priorities. Daily living, (meals, laundry, etc.), medical needs, (or job hunt, or whatever is needed for your crisis), the emotional needs of the kids. Then school. Relax. Cut your self and your children some slack. If you can barely concentrate on anything because of the overwhelming feelings caused by a crisis, how can your kids concentrate on schoolwork? Circle the wagons. Gather together as a family. Gain strength from each other. Your family can draw closer together and learn much together in a time of crisis. These life and family lessons will be of greater benefit to your children than another science experiment, workbook page, art project, or field trip will be.

You can deal with a crisis and keep homeschooling. I’m living proof.

This week, Zach has been working on a Knights and Castles Lapbook. We’re reviewing it for The Homeschool Review Crew, so look for the review in the next couple of weeks. Zach’s really enjoying it. I can usually coax him into letting me post a picture. But this week, he wouldn’t even let me take a picture with his hand in it. lol

It has been nice this last week with no volleyball practices. Abby did play in an all star tournament today. Unfortunately, the East team she played on lost. As far as I know, that’s the last game any of my girls will be in. It will be so nice to regain the family time that is lost with practices and games. Sports are good for kids, they just take so much time.

The two 12th graders have been working on their schoolwork, too. It’s just not very exciting to see a picture of a teenager doing Algebra or Geometry. lol

It’s been a busy week for homeschool reviews. Check out some of the homeschool products and books we’ve been using lately. Lone Star Learning Science Vocabulary Cards,   Abraham’s Journey,    College Common Sense

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.

Last weekend, Hannah played in the volleyball state championship on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Abigail was too sick to play all three days. They lost the game on Thursday, and won both games they played on Friday. On Saturday they played in the finals for the state championship! Unfortunately, they lost that game and finished as runner up, 2nd in the state.

This was only the second year for this homeschool volleyball team and the third year for the boys basketball team. The boys came in 1st place! We play in a Christian school league, I think there is one other homeschool organization from a different part of the state. Our teams did amazing this year!  Great kids and great coaches!

So we thought that was the end of the season. However, I got a message this past Thursday night that there was an opening on the All Star team, and Abby was asked to play on it next weekend. She is so happy, since she wasn’t able to play in the State Championship. So one more game, about an hour away, then the volleyball season will be officially over for us. I think.

This picture was taken during Saturday’s championship game.

I’m so proud of Hannah and Abby for all their hard work this season!

Believe it or not, there has been actual schoolwork going on, too. Shocking, I know! lol The sick kids have only had to work on items that we’re reviewing. I have three reviews going up in the next few days. I did post a review for Classical Academic Press God’s Great Covenant Old Testament 1 last week.

I also wanted to share this review that I posted, Beyond the Rapidsby Evelyn Puerto. This is an incredible book about a Christian family in the Ukraine that faces persecution for generations. I’m going to make it required reading for my high schoolers.  It really is an awesome book, and I’m not saying that just because I got one free to review. You should really read it!

This week coming up, other than regular church services and band practice for two of the kids, I don’t think we have anything on the schedule. Outside the home, that is. There is plenty of school work scheduled!  Oh, I do have to take one kid to take the driving permit test. And renew my license before it expires. Can’t forget that! lol Having two kids with learners permits should be interesting. Oh, wait, I’ve already done this before! My older two had their permits at the same time! How could I forget that? I’m not twitching yet, but I just might be in a couple of months! lol

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.

The most exciting thing that happened this week was a volleyball tournament. Abby played in a 14 and under tournament. They won! Abby was also chosen as one of two MVP’s for her team!

The team won a trophy, and Abby received this dog tag. It has a volleyball in a star on the front, and the tournament name and info on the back. Pretty cool! The team plays again next week in the state tournament! Both Hannah and Abby will play in those games. Go Trailblazers!!

Yes, among volleyball practices, games, church services, and volunteering at church, schoolwork did get done! Phew! I will certainly be glad for slower times!

Calen and Hannah are working towards graduation. One of the good things about homeschooling is not having to work on the public school schedule. When they finish the work, they will graduate. So it’s entirely up to them. They both will graduate sometime this year, though. So I’ll be stocking up on graduation party supplies when they go on sale. We don’t participate in a group graduation, so far we’ve held graduations here in our house with invited guests. Then a party. My older daughter combined her graduation and 18th birthday into one party. I did a big cake half graduation and half birthday. That was fun.

It’s hard to believe that by the end of the year, I’ll only have two students left!

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:

The Hobbit Copywork
Folder Planner for School Time
Scripture Memory System
If You Give a Homeschool Mom Some Money – very funny!

Homeschooling Held Hostage – Are you free to homeschool or are you being held hostage?
Homeschooling Using Movies
Homeschooling and Going Beyond Minimum Legal Requirements – Are we as homeschoolers giving too much to the public school?
How to Inspire Your Reluctant Child to Write

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.

After our cold and snow, we had mild temperatures this week. Which prompted Zach to take some of his work outside to the front porch. He started out just laying on on the blanket doing his work. Until I went out with the camera. He didn’t want his picture taken, lol, so he covered up. He working on an Old Testament study that we’re reviewing. I’ll be sharing that review next week. So be on the look out for it.

I had a birthday this week, so Hannah made my favorite chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. yum! Birthday cake – where real life and home ec meet. lol

The girls had more volleyball games and practices this week. Thursday night was their last home game of the season, so it was also Senior Night. Hannah is the only senior on the volleyball team. There are two seniors on the basketball team, so they were all recognized that night. Here’s a pic, the basketball coach on the left, the two basketball seniors, the volleyball coach and little Hannah. 5 feet is short, but looks even shorter next to tall basketball players. lol

All the volleyball venues have been too dark to take pictures during the game. I managed to get this on at Thursday nights game that isn’t too dark. That’s Hannah running for the ball. Look! She can run! roflol Just kidding Hannah!

Yes, they are playing in culottes. This is a homeschool team, but we play in a Christian school league and there is a dress code. On one of the teams, the girls play in skirts, and the boys play basketball in pants. Proof that girls (and boys) can play sports AND be modest!

Our church has also been having a youth revival, so we’ve had to be out every night, several nights found us in two different places, volleyball and church. Very tiring, but so worth it for the kids to be at the youth revival.

Why yes, there was book work done, too. Or in Zach’s case, book work avoidance as he tried his best to not have to do math. Hannah is plowing through Algebra. She very much dislikes algebra. We’re also working on a few reviews, besides the Old Testament study I mentioned above.

I’m thankful for that this busy week is finally over. Tomorrow we will work together as a family at our church’s clothes closet like we do every Saturday morning. Then we will most likely all collapse in the living room for a little family R & R and a movie or two. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Here are a few links I found interesting and helpful:

Art Lessons
Free downloads for every subject
Paper Crafts
3d Paper Models and Toys
Free Charlotte Mason Planner

To see more homeschooling posts, visit Weekly Wrap Up.