A Memory of Mom

A memory assailed me today that left a huge smile on my face .It was a memory of a shopping trip with my Mom , whom by the way is a wonderful woman . My Mom is in her mid fifties and thin except for a little tummy that comes with middle age . I on the other hand have left the days of thinness far behind (although I have lost weight but that’s another story ). My Mom and I are thrift store junkies . There is in our genes some malformation of our DNA that prohibits us from passing up a thrift store . We have the grandest time digging up treasure in these islands of unwanted stuff . We get excited over such wonderful finds as old books , antiques and tattered old quilts (my fave) . Many a treasure has found its way into our car .It was one such shopping trip where I learned that my Mom is not only smart and beautiful with the singing voice of an angel but she is also very optimistic . She can take the worst of situations and this case compliments and see the good and funny side of them . We were having a wonderful time at a little out of the way thrift store one day . We had once again found some wonderful treasure . When we went to check out the cashier (actually a young lady) looks at my Mom and gushes out “Oh , when are you due ?” My Mom looks at me with raised eyebrows and I try so hard not to giggle (really , I tried !). She looks at the lady and says “ I’m not pregnant , just pudgy “ That poor girl's eyes bugged out of her head , she turned four shades of red and I was sure she was going to try to find a hole to crawl into . The lady beside her begins to choke and cough and this poor girl starts pouring forth with all kinds of apologies . My Mom’s favorite was when she said “ It’s just you have such a small perfectly round little belly , I was sure you must be pregnant “. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry at this point because the poor girl was embarrassed beyond measure , so I went ahead and cried because I was laughing so hard . Of course through her chuckles my Mom tells the girl to stop apologizing that she didn’t feel insulted . She was actually pleased that she looked young enough to be having a baby . Well to make a long story short we all had a good laugh over it before we left and my Mom and I laughed all the way home . A lot of women would have been extremely angry if that had happened to them , some would even have been verbally abusive to that girl . Not my Mom . She found the humor and good in it and ran with it . I treasure that memory of that shopping trip . I try to treasure every moment we spend together . My Mom was diagnosed with MS last year and there are times she can’t walk at all now . Our trips together have dwindled some but if you do see us out in some thrift store someday , come on up and ask her when she is due . I’m sure she would smile and say thanks .

Free printable

I posted some Easter papers on the website . They are free for you to use .

Wonderful video

We watched a wonderful video today . We picked it up at our library . It's called  The Wonders of God's Creation , Planet Earth . We really liked it . We are learning about weather and this video gave a great explanation of the water cycle , even my smallest DD understood it . Spring is trying so hard to get a grip here , my flowers are pushing up , I even have one daffodil that has bloomed . There is a 30% chance of snow forcast for Saturday though . I enjoyed the snow we had but my heart yearns for Spring . All this warm weather is giving me cabin fever . We are already making plans for camping .

Our Saturday

We took a road trip yesterday afternoon . We were on our way to Clingman's Dome but it is closed . We got so see some beautiful ice flows on the drive though . I wished I had taken my camera but alas I did not . It was very cold at Newfound Gap , it started snowing while we were walking on the Rockefeller Monument . Since Clingman's was closed we drove on over to Cherokee , NC and visited a couple of shops . My husband bought an Indian flute . He has already learned to play Amazing Grace on it . He is so musical , myself I only function in one key , that's OFF key . It was fun just to get away and be together as a family and have fun . We have not been able to take a pleasure trip in months . Usually when we go somewhere it's with a purpose other than vacation .

Yesterday and today were so warm and spring like . The wildflowers are blooming in our yard ! I have been hanging our laundry out to dry on the line since it has been so warm . It helps cut the electric bill plus the clothes smell great . We had to babysit for my best friend yesterday afternoon . She has two little boys and another on the way . I was so proud of my kids , they took her boys for walks and helped me feed them , they were so helpful . Today was our day off from school so we went to the store and then picked up sticks and branches out of the yard that the storms knocked down . I like having Fridays off so we can get housework done and have some "down" time .

Thunderstorms and a learning oppurtunity

We had some awesome thunderstorms last night and they are continuing this morning . Right now it is hailing real hard and thundering . Spring is coming in like a lion I suppose  After it calms down a little we are going to head to the library to check out some books and videos about weather . This has turned into a true learning moment for us . The kids are excited about storms and are eager to learn . I thank God for the freedom to be able to throw out a schedule and pick up something else to teach my kids . I believe we should take learning moments when we can . Kids don't often get excited about learning .

Great resource book $1

Hey all you fellow Smky Mtn. homeschoolers ! I went to the Discount Christian Book store on Hwy 66 last night and bought a great resource book for $1 . It's called Learning through Research by Shirley Cook . It has a lot of notebooking style pages in it . Its a great deal at $1 . They have lots of stuff on sale . Check it out .

Notebooking Printables

All the notebooking printables can be found by clicking on the Simcox Homeschool website link on the right .

Spring is almost here

I am getting a late start this morning for school but I just wanted to know , is anyone else ready for Spring ? We had a beautiful 3" snow this weekend but I'm ready for warm weather and flowers . Yesterday we were at 57 degrees and it was great . Some of my flowers are coming up so I know Spring is coming . I enjoy being out in the yard with the family . We are expecting highs near 70 this week so I think we will have a picnic under the chestnut trees .

Snow Day

We actually had some snow yesterday morning so I sent the kids outside to enjoy it . They had a great time . We have been looking forward to some snow this winter but it has come sparingly . We made snow cream as a special treat . Of course today it is very cold , some of the snow is still on the ground . Don't forget that the Great Backyard Bird Count starts tomorrow . I have some free printables on the notebooking site to help you keep track of how many you see .

Christian themed valentines

I posted some valentines with Scripture on the notebooking site . You will find the links on the right . ~ Nikki

Praying with expectation

I wanted to share this with everyone . I posted this on a message board that I'm a member of . I wanted to post it here too . I'm sure someone else has felt this way . I love how God opens our eyes so that we can see clearer .

"I wanted to share something with everyone . The focus of our church in January was prayer . We had a prayer revival (met for a week and prayed for ourselves and each other) and studies on prayer . Last week we had two speakers come and share with us , one was the Prayer Coordinator of our association . He shared some words that have been running through my mind every since . He said , "pray with excpectation , faith believing ." Now , I thought about that for a while and realized that alot of times when I pray , although I have faith that God can answer , I don't always expect Him too . Does that make sense to anyone ? I guess I have a little bit of a "your gonna do what your gonna do God" attitude sometimes . How awful is that ! Anyway , God has really been dealing with me over this . He reminded me how clear His words were on this subject . John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. God wants us to pray with the expectation that He will answer . Hebrews 4:15 - 16 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. I need to apologize to everyone who I have been praying for , I haven't been praying with expectation . I'm glad God opened my eyes to this and I assure you I will be praying for your more and EXPECTING , not just believing God will answer . ~ Nikki"

Washington-Lincoln Venn Diagram

I posted a venn diagram for President's Day on the website (find link under my notebooking pages heading). All those notebooking pages are free so help yourself .   Have a great day ! ~ Nikki

New President's Day printables

I put some new President's Day printables on the website . Look under the notebooking pages heading for a link to the site . Enjoy ! ~ Nikki

Notebooking Pages

I moved all the pages to one webpage . You will find the website link under the notebooking heading . Maybe this will be easier to navigate . ~ Nikki

Great Backyard Bird Count

My family enjoys birdwatching . We have feeders everywhere . We all get excited when we have a new visitor . We even have some goofy squirrels we love . February 16 - 19 is the GBBC . You can get more info here Audubon . I created some notebooking pages to use for your birdwatching . Look under the notebooking link . ~ Nikki

New Valentine Printable

I posted a new valentine printable under the notebooking links . It can be used for stationery or notebooking . ~ Nikki

Free printables about rocks

We studied how rocks were formed today and the different types of rock . The kids really enjoyed it . I love how they participate when we study something they really enjoy . I found this website that has some great printables for a rock unit . Just wanted to share it with everyone . rocks Click on the teaching tools link .

~ Nikki