It's almost over

Our homeschool year is coming to a  close in a few weeks . We take a three month break during the summer although we have "mini classes" throughout . It gives everyone a chance to rest and visit with family out of town and VBS and youth retreats and stuff . I have been thinking about our plans for next year . We did unit studies for social studies (history & geography ) this year and we really enjoyed them . Thats probably what we will continue with next year . There are so many great resources out there for unit studies but do any of you have a favorite you would share ? I use the library for most of our stuff we come up with . They have great books and movies and it's free . Can't beat that ! We have really been enjoying our Civil War unit , guess thats why we are dragging it out :) . Our local Dollar General is doing free 8x10 old time portraits next weekend so we are taking the kids to have a group photo made in Civil War era costumes . We are going to start our projects for the fair soon . My kids enjoy making stuff . They have placed every year they entered . I'm not sure what I will put in . Well it's time to stop rambling and get going .

Bluebirds ?

We have had a nearly 30 degree drop in temps here the last few days so it was kind of disappointing not to be able to go outside without freezing today . So sitting on my couch reading today I noticed something at the birdhouse in my front yard . Could it be ... was it ... yes... no ...maybe...yes ...YES it was ! A pair of bluebirds . I was so excited . I have always longed to have a nesting pair of blues . They hung around for a while then flew away . Now I'm waiting for them to come back . I don't want to be dissapointed  They will come back ! I know it ! Won't they ? Do you think ? ...Do ya ? !

Wanna Know a Secret ?

Ok , I'll tell ya ! I have always had a "dream" to write a book . A novel that would somhow change the world . As the years have passed that dream has faded into the far recesses of my mind , popping up only occassionally . Well yesterday was one of those "pop up" days . After thinking about this great literary work that I would never pen , I told myself , " Self , it's ok . Writing a bestseller isn't really that important anyway . " It was that moment when God spoke so clearly to me and revealed that indeed I am writing a book , a novel that will change the world . It might not be put onto paper by my hand but it is written on the pages of time by my actions , words and deeds .My "book" will affect all those around me . My husband will read it , my children will read it , so will my family and friends . What I say or do in my "book" will have a profound effect on people in this world . What kind of change will my "book" cause ? Will my children become good parents ? Will my lost loved ones be saved ? Will I lead someone astray because I was a hypocrite ? What kind of language do I use in my "book" . Does it glorify God ? More important , who is the main character in my "book" ? Is it me and mine or is it God and His Son , my Savior Jesus Christ ? Wow ! What a profound revelation God sent my way . It put a whole new spin on things . I am so grateful that as I "write" this great(?) work , I have the best Editor in the business . He always know what scene to delete and which one to add and which direction the characters need to go in . And when I kneel to accept the award (reward) for my life's work I can give credit to whom it's due , I can say "Thank you Lord , I couldn't have done it without you !" ~ Nikki

A SPRING poem

An acrostic I was inspired to write today . Enjoy !

Sunlight , golden and warm

Perfumed breezes of lilac and apple blossoms

Rain , soft and gentle or loud and strong

Innocence of newborn creatures, great and small

Notions of running barefoot in the grass

God has blessed abundantly again , it's Spring

© 2007 “Nikki” Simcox

Busy, Busy, Busy !

We have been quite busy the last few days . Saturday we went on a roadtrip to Cataloochee in North Carolina . We love it there . We were blessed enough to see 25 elk on this trip . The best part though was catching crawdads and salamanders in the river with our kids . It was so much fun . We laughed more on this trip together than we have in a long time . We needed that little stress buster and all it cost was the gas to get there .

More about the science project in the back yard : we found a nest (cocoon) full of caterpillars in one of our backyard trees . We each estimated how many we thought there were . We are keeping a close eye on it so we can watch them grow . Very interesting !

A quicknote for Sevier County residents - from April 1-8 , take your valid I.D. and get into Parrott Mountain for $5 .