The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

September 1, 2017

No.25: Our Farmhouse Schoolhouse in Photos (Week 02)

Week two went much more smoothly than the first, praise the Lord! The big kids are beginning to understand what is expected of them and are generally happy to get to work. But just like Ana, I’m still pretty frazzled about TJ’s “involvement” and his frequent two-year-old trouble making. Hands down, the hardest part of homeschooling.

Notes and highlights:

HISTORY

+ After their begging last week, we upped our history to every day. The Beautiful Feet guide is so gentle at this age that it really doesn’t feel like that much more work. While I read from Leif the Lucky or d’Aulaire’s Book of Norwegian Folktales, the boys (and sometimes Sophie) drew and colored pictures I found on the Internet.

+ For M’s history, he finished Across Five Aprils. In terms of pace, the book is much different than what he usually likes to read (Action! Mystery! Fast, fast, fast!), so it took some prodding to get him through. He really enjoyed watching the animated battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. He also did his first project from Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself: a lean-to shelter.

K-3 SCIENCE: ZOOLOGY

+ We’re really enjoying Sassafras Science! This week, we read the chapter on the African grasslands and our first two animals there: the lion and the cheetah. We investigated both animals in our DK Animal Encyclopedia and then made art! I love that we can take the time to connect the two subjects. We also watched the first two episodes of Africa’s Deadliest on Netflix.

AFRICAN STUDIES

+ This was probably the highlight of our week! Our first country was Nigeria. We found and colored it on our huge wall map, read Master Man: A Tall Tale from Nigeria (BIG hit with the kids!), played a Nigerian strategy game called Dara and had a Nigerian feast! Our menu consisted of peanut chicken kabobs, jollof rice, virgin Chapman cocktails and pineapple ice cream for dessert. We even listened to groovy 70’s Nigerian music during dinner, which cracked me up. So random, so awesome.

MATH

+ D (3rd grade) began a section on line segments and angles. He had some trouble so we played Line Segment Simon Says to reinforce the concept.

Current 1000 Books Project Total: 27/1000
Poetry Teatime Treat: Blueberry Cake

MOTHER CULTURE & SELF-CARE

+ Exercise: Back to running three days a week! After a week off, I’m realizing how crucial it is for me if I’m going to do this whole homeschooling thing. I need that time to be in my own head a bit.
+ Reading: Still working on a few chapters of Anne of Green Gables before bed
+ Fun: Closing Big White Farmhouse on such a high note! We raised over $500 to donate to the Houston Food Bank.

August 30, 2017

No.24: Your Story Matters & Other Lessons Learned at the CWBN Mid-Atlantic Conference

I almost didn’t go.

Our first week of homeschooling had been rough and I was mentally (and physically!) exhausted. The idea of interacting with so many women overwhelmed my very introverted heart and I tried to come up with reasons to stay home: You’re kinda awkward. You have to bring your baby and that will just ruin the whole experience. No one reads your blog anyway. Thank goodness, I didn’t listen to those negative voices in my head.

The conference was generously hosted at Ana‘s home and the three main speakers were Elizabeth, Kelly and Mary. All four women spoke so beautifully and I’ve been thinking about their wisdom ever since. Here are just a few:

Your Story Matters

Have you ever had truth spoken to you that almost shakes you to your core? This one line was that for me. For years, I’ve struggled with the idea that I’m just adding to the Internet noise, that my blog sounds like a narcissist who only talks about herself, that I really have nothing of any substance to offer the world. To have someone tell me (well, the whole group, but it felt like it was said just for me) that the little things I write here matter…I was speechless and humbled. Now to begin to believe it.

You Can Still Have Joy Amidst the Suffering

What’s the saying? “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” It’s so true. Because many stories are not just mine to tell, I often don’t share much of the difficult parts of my life. But like everyone else, my life is messy and complicated and sometimes really, really hard. So in an attempt to combat the negative, I use this blog as a way to seek joy even in the suffering. I intentionally seek gratitude when it feels like there’s nothing really to be thankful for. Mary said that, despite all of her suffering, people still tell her that she’s so filled with joy. I really hope that I can live my life so people will say the same about me.

Your Blog Can Be What You Make of It

I started this blog six years ago, a young mom of three little boys and in need of something that fueled my creativity. Through the years, my writing has ebbed and flowed. I’ve grown and changed and the blog has done the same. During my break this past spring, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to share and the direction I wanted to take. Now, months later, I don’t have many clear answers, but I’m still showing up. I think that’s a good thing.

A Community of Like-Minded Bloggers is a Gift

Being in community with so many like-minded women is so special. Shortly after returning home from the conference, I was reading in St. Josemaria Escriva’s The Way and came across this passage:

…Unity and variety. You have to be different from one another, as the saints in Heaven are different, each having his own personal and very special characteristics. But also, you have to be as identical as the saints, who would not be saints if each of them had not identified himself with Christ. – #947

The bloggers at the conference represented a beautifully wide range and yet we all had our faith in common. Unity and variety. What a privilege and a gift.

P.S. In case you’re curious, P was a good baby conference attendee! He wouldn’t stay with the sitters, but was happy and mostly non-distracting.

Thank you, Rosie, for the pictures!

August 28, 2017

No.23: Five August Favorites

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1. DATE NIGHTS WITH HOME CHEF
At the risk of sounding like total fat kids, Mark and I love food. We aren’t “foodies” by any stretch, but we love sitting down to a good meal together. There’s just something about dinner and good conversation…I don’t know, it’s our mutual love language. When we moved to our new home two months ago, I wanted to find something special that we could do as a couple. And randomly, I stumbled on Home Chef. I know there are a ton of these dinner box subscriptions out there, but the price was right (with $30 off the first delivery, it ended up being less than $20 for 4 meals) and we tried it out, fully planning to cancel if we weren’t impressed. GUYS. Friday nights have become our favorite time in the entire week. I have our delivery set to Friday, so our friendly Fed/Ex lady drops the box off in the afternoon. We usually make pizza with the kids, watch a movie and then whisk them off to bed so we can cook together. For whatever reason – maybe because we didn’t have to grocery shop or make the menu? – just following the instructions together is so fun. And almost every single thing we’ve made has been delicious. We have the “two meals for two” plan, so we’ll usually cook one to eat together on Friday night and then make the other to give Mark two lunches for work. If our budget is extra tight one paycheck, we skip one week’s delivery and just spread the two meals out. It’s a bit of a frivolous expense, but I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been for my marriage. (If you’re interested, you can use my referral link to get $30 off your first delivery too!)

2. NUUN
I love this stuff. Nuun is basically an electrolyte replenisher but without all the sugar and artificial coloring. I use one tablet in a big glass of ice water after every run, along with a scoop of collagen peptides. They are easy to transport, so we’ve also brought them for the boys after a hard soccer practice too. My favorite flavor is Citrus Fruit, but they’re all really good.

3. AUDREY ASSAD’S VERSION OF “BE THOU MY VISION”
My favorite hymn. I randomly had it stuck in my head one day and a quick YouTube search revealed a version by Audrey Assad. She sings it so beautifully!

4. FITTEST ON EARTH DOCUMENTARIES ON NETFLIX
Since I started lifting weights, CrossFit has begun to pique my interest. Who am I?! I don’t recognize myself either, hah! There are two documentary-type movies on Netflix about the CrossFit Games and I’ve watched them at least two or three times each. (My favorite is Tia-Clair Toomey!) I’ll never be in the shape these athletes are in, but it’s so amazing to see what the human body can do.
5. SWAGBUCKS
I think I’ve mentioned how much I love Swagbucks on the blog before. I’m always searching for something on the Internet anyway, so why not earn points and eventually get paid for it? You can also earn points by completing surveys, shopping through their links or even watching videos. I’ve been saving my points this summer and just cashed in for a $10 Amazon gift card. I’ve got six birthdays and Christmas on the horizon, so every little bit helps!

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What are five of your favorite things this month? Comment with your five or write a post and leave the link in the comments. I’ll officially be making this a monthly link-up starting next month. I’m so excited to read your lists!

August 25, 2017

No.22: Our Farmhouse Schoolhouse in Photos (Week 01)

Whew. What a roller coaster of a week. I feel like this is the first time I’ve come up for air! There were days when I was in that perfect “this is the life” bubble of happiness and then there were days where I was questioning whether to send them all off to the local public school. After being home with them all summer, I (naively) didn’t expect to experience such a transition period for the beginning of the school year. Clearly, I have no idea what I’m doing.

All in all, we survived and I think I’m more focused going into week two. You should see all of my beautifully pre-made schedules and plans! All marked up and switched around. God loves to stretch my Type-A, “everything just so” personality.

Notes and highlights:

MORNING BASKET

Still working out the kinks in our Morning Basket routine. We are looping Aesop’s Fables (although I’m not impressed with my copy and in need of a new version), Beatrix Potter, and Once Upon a Time Saints. Morning basket is primarily for the younger kids, but the big boys stuck around to listen and draw. To keep little hands busy while listening, I brought out the one surprise I’ve kept all summer: gears! (Big hit.) We also practiced saying the Pledge of Allegiance, prayed the Morning Offering and then started on this month’s poem, “About the Teeth of Sharks” by John Ciardi. I’m amazed at the ease in which children can memorize things. After three days, Sophie could say just about the entire thing! We finish Morning Basket time with our read aloud: The Cricket in Times Square.