A Doula's Perspective

This was written by Leigh, my friend and my doula. I will always cherish my birth experience with little Yaffa Joy, thanks in part to my wonderful team, which Leigh was a part of.

Julie,

I was excited to be asked to be a part of your baby’s birth. After we talked early in your pregnancy about the uniqueness and significance you sensed surrounding this baby, I prayed that your Holy Father would give you wisdom and peace in walking through this pregnancy and that His Presence would fill your home during the labor and birth experience.

 

Your friend Sunshine and I had met only once, briefly, before coming to your home a few weeks before the birth to discuss your birth plan. I knew quickly that she and I were well suited as team mates for your labor and delivery. I was more comfortable in the role of helping manage labor, and she in the role of birthing assistant, and we were both committed to submitting all to the control of the Father.

 

A couple of things stand out to me as unexpected in your labor and delivery of Yaffa Joy. The first is that I was very impressed with your calm and composure throughout the labor, but especially toward the end. You had told us to expect a little panic from you during transition. I would have expected it anyway, but I appreciated the humble warning. I was fully prepared to dodge unseemly remarks and rice socks, but you stayed focused and remarkably well-spoken concerning your needs.

 

Another interesting aspect to this birth was the seeming lack of a pushing stage. At one point, Sunshine and I could tell that things were changing, but we could not tell how close to the delivery we were. You were managing well and still wanting to change positions. During this time, after indicating that you wanted to stand up, you walked surprisingly quickly toward the bathroom. Less than a minute later you were calling for Sunshine, and little Yaffa made her appearance.

 

It bothered me that I was not able to get Tom before Yaffa arrived, and that he heard of her birth from her own little lips. I know it was a disappointment to him to not be with you at her birth, and I pray the Father gives him a special peace to fill that void.

 

I feel very blessed to have been a part of welcoming Yaffa Joy to your family. I know that there is a unique calling on her life and that she will be a source of joy and comfort to you all.

Because of Him,

Leigh

 

It's Been 1 Month!

It never ceases to amaze me how time flies with a newborn. If only pregnancy would fly by that quickly :) I'm also amazed that even though this is the ninth life I've given birth to it still feels just as much a miracle as the first. How awesome Yahweh has been to me! 

Each month I'm going to try to blog about little Yaffa and ten things I'm thankful for that are related to her being in our lives. I hope you'll enjoy our trips down memory lane.

I'm thankful for.......

1. The heavenly smell of a newborn.

2. The velvety feel of Yaffa's face against mine.

3. The dozens of times a day that I get asked, "Can I hold Yaffa?"

4. The way Analise wants reaffirmed every day that when her "Waffa" gets big "she play with me?"

  

5. Snuggles with her each evening as we spend family time together.

6. Getting to dress up a little girl again. (I L O V E putting bows in her hair)

7. Nursing and rocking her until midnight each night.

8. Eight wonderful siblings to love and hold their sister.

9. The way Daddy gets jealous if he hasn't gotten to hold his Yaffa much that day.

10. Eyes that can gaze so contentedly at this very special and beautiful life in front of me each day.

Thank you, Yahweh, for this blessed life You have given me!

Julie

 

Who's In Control?

This is from a Note that I wrote for Face Book last year. I thought I'd add it to my blog. Enjoy!

A friend recently asked what my position on birth control was. Below is my answer. I though I'd share it with whoever was interested.

Wellllll.... my position is to not judge anyone. What my husband and I practice is to not use ANY form of birth control. We completely allow the Father to open and close my womb. It's a very hard decision, especially now.Eight seems overwhelming right now, but Father continues to give me strength and endurance. Isn't that what we pray for, strength and endurance? Well, unless we have to endure and lift something heavy, how can we grow? Anyway, just preaching to myself : )

Scripture says children are gifts, reward, blessing, etc.... Our Greek mentality cannot grasp that. We consider wealth, homes, cars, vacations as blessings. All of that will pass away, but our children will live eternally, either in hell or in the Kingdom to come. It's a great responsibility. Also, in Scripture you see over and over Yahweh talking about opening and closing the womb. My stance is that pregnancy is not a mere biological function, but something mindfully controlled by the creator. Do I have all the answers? NO! But I can see the Father's hand in so many ways through pregnancy, birth, and the lives of my children.

I read an article about how Scripture says "and the woman will be saved through childbirth". Yes, this is an implication of the Messiah, but I've also seen how the Father has changed me more like Him through out the years and I believe that it has been through my children. I just told a friend embarking on marriage over Sukkot that I believe that I am a better mom now than I would have been had we stopped with just two children. I explain this in this way: I could have ran an immaculate house, seemed to have it all together, trained my children, had plenty of time and cushion to be a wife and mother, but through being maxed out I've been able to see what's truly in my heart. I've yelled and screamed, been impatient, been ugly, and on and on. All of this was in my heart then and even now, but it would have been easier to cover it up with less going on in my life. My children have brought out the ugliness in my heart so that I would have to deal with it and change. Just when I think I have overcome these things, along comes a pregnancy and out pops more. You see there is no refinement without pressure. My children are the pressure that the Father uses to refine me. Could He use other thing? Of course, but He is using blessings to refine me. After I'm through with the refinement I still have these wonderful blessings surrounding me. Did that make sense? I also HIGHLY recommend the book A Full Quiver. It is great. It answers all those questions you have and that others will have of you with Scripture and statistics.

Seven of my nine children.

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Shalom,

Julie 

Yaffa Joy's Birth Story

Dad is helping Joel cut the cord while Analise and Brice watch.

On September 25 at 7:56, Yahweh blessed us with the birth of our ninth child, Yaffa Joy. Yaffa in Hebrew means "beautiful". She is our Beautiful Joy! Here is my birth journey. 

The week before Yaffa's birth I had some very strong contractions, strong enough that I decided to time them. They were pretty regular so I decided to take a shower, go to bed, and get some rest in case this was it. I awoke in the night with even stronger contractions that I tried to sleep in between. This went on for about three hours. BUT I awoke in the morning like normal, no contractions, no signs of baby coming. Boy was that a bummer, especially since  every time in the past when I had felt contractions that strong I was in labor.

Fast forward through a semi-hormonal week, some very cranky moments, and almost no contractions to the 22nd.  During that week I could tell that the baby's head was cockeyed in my pelvis. I called Val, the doula I had with Analise, to ask what I could do to get her head to straighten out. The two tips she gave were to get upside-down for a little while to pull baby out and possibly she would settle back in straight or to put a cold pack where her head was and a heating pad where her head needed to be. I did the first and her head went back cockeyed after a couple days. I did the second a couple days later and her head seemed to straighten back out and stay.

The nights of the 22nd and 23rd I awoke with strong, but sporadic contractions that lasted about three hours both nights. One of the contractions was so strong it made me jump out of bed and breathe through it. I also had bloody mucus throughout both days. Those two nights wore me out and I was so confused by the way this was going. You see, compared to all of my other births this was so different. If I'm feeling pain during a contraction I'm in labor and I don't remotely lose my mucus plug until transition. I'm not at all good at not knowing. I can  pretty much handle the whats of life as long as I know the whens. So, not knowing when labor would begin and having all of the "signs" of labor was really wearing on me.

 Usually my husband delivers my babies, but this time, because of a back injury, I would need to find someone brave and who understood labor to not be a medical emergency but a natural bodily function to deliver my baby (homebirth with a midwife is illegal here in Alabama) and another naturally minded woman to assist her and help and support me. The first people who came to mind were my friends Sunshine and Leigh. Sunshine had had a natural homebirth with a midwife and advocates midwifery and homebirth along with the dangers and misuse of the medical field during pregnancy and labor. I thought she'd be the perfect person to ask to do the delivery. She was thrilled to get to help her friend out in this way. Boy was I thankful that Yahweh had brought this bold and sweet friend in my life. I had previously asked my friend Leigh to help with my last birth, since she had attended births for friends and done some doula training, so I asked her if she'd be willing to help this time. She said she would! Baruch hashem, Yahweh!


The night of the 24th I called my labor partners, Sunshine and Leigh, to give them an update and for some prayer and emotional support. They both encouraged me that it would be soon and that they would be praying. Just talking to them really helped me to relax a bit about the whole thing.


That night the contractions started up just like the previous two nights. I tried to sleep in between them thinking, here we go again, another night of contractions all for nothing :/ Around 3:00 a.m. they kept coming and seemed to get stronger and more regular. I couldn't sleep so I decided to time the contractions. They were coming about every five minutes and lasting about a minute. They weren't letting up so I woke my husband up and told him I was going to take a shower and call Sunshine and Leigh. I took my shower and decided to wait a while longer to call since I still was leery of the contractions just stopping. I didn't want to bother anyone for nothing at that hour. 


My husband got me some pregnancy tea and he sat out in the living room with me while I sat on my birth ball and waited....waited to see if this was indeed going to be it. They did get stronger and so I decided to call Sunshine around 4:30 and have her come since she lived the furthest away. My husband put on our favorite Messianic radio station so we could have a worshipful atmosphere. It was really nice to concentrate on praise for a time while I'd still be conscious of the music playing. 


Sunshine arrived around 4:45 and my contractions slowed a bit. I told her I figured that would happen. We visited with one another in between contractions until they suddenly got intense and I had to concentrate more. The best way I could handle the contractions was to stand up and lean on the back of the love seat. Anything else made the contractions unbearable. Sunshine rubbed my back and pressed on my lower back which really helped. I told Sunshine to go ahead and call Leigh at what I believe was around 5:30. 


By the time Leigh got here I was in the middle of a very strong contraction. She came right in and got to business. She brought cold rice socks and placed them on my neck and lower back. It was a great relief, especially the one on my neck since I was feeling nauseous from the intensity of the contractions. She reminded me to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. I seemed to be gasping through my mouth instead. Breathing in through my nose cut the pain in half so I was very grateful for the reminder. She continued to remind me of this throughout my entire labor. Leigh also was right there physically for every contraction rubbing my back, squeezing my hips, suggesting position changes, helping me squat and on and on. I never felt alone or like a watched pot the whole labor. Sunshine was there getting things and being the servant that she usually is. All three of us were flowing so well together, I thought. It was just beautiful. I couldn't have asked for a better team.


Tom was in and out checking on me. He came in once and was with me holding my hand. It was so sweet to have him there in that way even though I know his back was hurting so badly. It also was such a blessing to know he was out with the children and that they were taken care of by the best person who could do that.


I mostly stood and leaned on things while swaying my hips through my contractions. Usually I want to lie down during my labor and I did at one point, which is when my water broke, but it was much more painful to lie down, so stand I did, stand, sway, and breathe. I sat on a low stool for a while, but as soon as I would have a contraction I wanted to be on my knees leaned over or standing. Leigh suggested I squat and lean up against her for some contractions. I did and I could feel more pressure from the baby's head coming down. I told Sunshine to get her gloves on since I didn't know how soon it would be and wanted her to be ready.


I started to worry a little that it was going to be much longer since there was only about a half second thought of not being able to do this. Besides that, it was all very tolerable. I was still waiting for that "I can't do this anymore!, make it stop now!" anxiety to come. Like I said, besides that half a second it never happened. 


Leigh suggested I get on my hands and knees so I got on my knees and put my elbows on the frame of the bed. I felt a lot of pressure and like my body was starting to feel "pushy", but I wanted to get to the bathroom in case it was just a bowel movement. I told them I needed to go to the bathroom and got up and sat on the toilet. 

As soon as I sat down my body started pushing even though I was breathing through the contractions. I called for Sunshine and told her that I thought the baby was coming. I reached down and could feel myself opening up and I could feel the head coming down. I braced myself on the tub and sink counter while lifting myself up off the toilet for just enough room for Sunshine to be able to grasp the baby. She came right out in no time. My body mostly pushed her out on its own. I didn't even feel that ring of fire feeling when she crowned that I had always felt with my previous births. It was P E R F E C T! Sunshine lifted her to me and I held my baby with such gratefulness to Yahweh for his goodness and mercy to me.


Tom missed the birth. He didn't think it would be that soon. He had just been in not too long before and went out. He was telling my oldest son that he thought it would be another half hour or so and then he heard baby cries. He came in and was amazed that it happened so quickly. In the past I usually push for a while. Being upright must have really helped.


I sat on the toilet enjoying my baby while we waited for the cord to stop pulsing and then Tom tied off the cord and cut it. Someone took baby while I got back in bed to await the placenta. I took angelica to help bring the placenta since it usually takes quite a while for it to come. I also took arnica to reduce any swelling. Placenta came pretty quickly, but was missing a baseball size piece and was very shredded looking. More of the rest of the placenta came out, so I took a dropper of Shephard's Purse and got up and went to take a bath. I was bleeding quite a bit so I showered instead. Yaffa was a mess, too, so I got to shower with her. It was such a sweet time together.

I lost quite a bit of blood and was having a lot of clots while showering. I got out quickly, got got dressed and got in bed. I tried nursing Yaffa to see if that would help, but I realized that I was still bleeding quite a bit. I had bled through all the way to the bed so I got up to change. Blood was pouring out of me. I got cleaned up again while Tom went to get the  cayenne pepper capsules. I took two and laid down quickly since I was feeling very light headed. I  don't know how long I laid there, but it wasn't long before I felt a bit better and could tell the bleeding had subsided. I'm very thankful for the cayenne and the knowledge to use it. I'm convinced that it would have been an emergency situation without it.

Looking back, I would not have taken the Angelica unless there was a problem with the placenta detaching. I believe it was what caused the placenta to release unevenly causing all the bleeding.  Praise Yah, the bleeding was completely normal by noon that day.


After I was settled, they weighed and measured my "Beautiful Joy". She was 7lbs. 15 oz. and 20 1/2 in. One of my smallest babies! Both Bethany and Jordan weighed the same when they were born. No wonder I was so comfortable while I was pregnant! She was so small compared to my other births. The last one weighed 10lbs. 2 oz. : )

Sunshine and Leigh, my heroes!, with little Yaffa Joy

Besides being v e r y  sick for the first 5 months of this pregnancy, it was the best and easiest pregnancy I've ever had. I really only started feeling half way miserable the week before she was born. I feel so grateful and blessed that Yahweh showered His great mercy and grace upon me. He truly only gives us what we can handle. Besides being such a great pregnancy, this was the easiest and least painful birth I've had. I'm a little tired since I'm getting a little less sleep, but besides my abdomen feeling a little sore I don't even feel like I just had a baby. I have no tears, swelling, or tenderness in my perineum. Not bad for nine births.

HalleluYAH!

Julie

One day old

Big sister Bethany and Yaffa

Yaffa at four days old getting ready to celebrater her first Yom Teruah

This past Tuesday some very sweet and loving ladies from my MOPS group threw me a baby shower. I haven't had a baby shower in seven years. I was really needing some things. Over time things wear out or break, so it was much needed. 

BUT more importantly, every baby deserves to be celebrated no matter what number he or she is in a family and the sweet fellowship that comes from a baby shower is much needed. 

I am so thankful to Yahweh for all the ladies He's placed in my life. They have been such a blessing!I pray that I can also be a blessing to them. 

Below is a Smilebox creation of some of the pictures from the shower. Enjoy! 

Shalom, 

Julie

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This free scrapbook design made with Smilebox

Herbs for Use in Pregnancy and Labor

What are my favorite herbs to use for pregnancy and labor?

I have been so blessed to discover that our Creator YHVH gave us everything we need for life and healing right in His own creation. I've tried my best for the last nine years to live as natural and chemical free as I know how. In that journey I've discovered that my pregnancies and labors have been much more pleasant when I add certain herbs to my daily routine. So, I thought I'd share with you the herbal supplements that I use and highly recommend.

The first and most important is Red Raspberry leaf. RRL is excellent before, during, and after pregnancy. Here is an excerpt from "The How To Herb Book":

Red Raspberry is used as a basic herbal foundation for all female organs and problems. It is in many female combinations.

• Strengthens wall of uterus and entire female reproductive system.
• Decreases profuse menstrual flow.
• Good during all months of pregnancy. Alleviates morning sickness and nausea. Has been used as a preventative for hemorrhaging during labor. Assists labor, makes delivery easier and relieves after pains. Tones and regulates before, during and after childbirth.
• Increases and enriches milk for lactation, can be combined with marshmallow tea.
• Raspberry tea is mild and pleasant to taste. It is good for stomachaches and bowel problems in children. For diarrhea in babies.
• Soothing to stomach and bowels and cankerous conditions of mucous membranes in the alimentary canal.
• High mineral and vitamin source.

As you can see RRL is an excellent pregnancy herb. You can drink it in tea form or take it in tincture form. I keep both around. I find that it's easier with my life to just take a tincture. I don't have much time to sit around and sip tea : ) However, you can brew up a whole pot and make a pitcher of iced RRL tea to enjoy. I sell a pregnancy tincture from my herb page called Julie's Pregnancy Support. It has RRL, alfalfa, nettle, and  peppermint. Each have great properties for supporting pregnancy. I take two droppers under the tongue 2-3 times a day.

I also take a nettle tincture twice a day. I have always been prone to UTIs and have gotten horrible kidney infections requiring antibiotics after three of my births. A couple pregnancies ago my naturopathic doctor recommended taking a nettle supplement during my pregnancy. To my amazement, I had no symptoms of a kidney infection at all after the birth. I've taken it every pregnancy since and have not had to go on antibiotics since! Nettle is also very high in vitamin K, also important before, during, and after pregnancy. Nettle is also found on my herb page.

When the last five weeks of my pregnancy arrive I take a tincture that I get at HerbalRemedies.com called Childbirth, 5 Weeks Before. It has Red Raspberry Leaf, Blue Cohosh Root, Motherwort, False Unicorn Root, Wild Yam Root, Bayberry Bark, Squaw Vine, and Blessed Thistle to help prepare a woman's body for an easier birth. 

When labor begins I will refresh my self with RRL tea, EmergenC, and water with lemon. I will also take a calcium supplement, that I will make myself out of eggshells, to increase pain tolerance. You can learn how to do that here. 

During transition when things get really crazy and I just want to give up I'll take a homeopath of Aconite.

Aconite

Aconite is very useful when overly emotional or distressed. It brings back a sense of well being. 

This will be the first time I will be trying this particular herb. I'll let you know how it goes : )))

When the urge to push comes I will be taking Arnica, also in homeopath form, to avoid swelling of the perineum. I will also take it directly after baby is born to reduce swelling of the perineum.

Arnica

After baby has nursed I will take a dropperful of Angelica to help release and bring the entire placenta.

Angelica

After the placenta is looked over to make sure it is complete, I will be given a dropper of Shepherd's Purse to cause the uterus to clamp down and stop the bleeding.

Yahweh forbid, but if hemorrhaging should happen I will take 3 capsules of Cayenne Pepper that we make ourselves with our encapsulater. Cayenne Pepper is known to stop heavy bleeding when taken internally or rubbed on externally.

 I get terrible afterbirth pains, especially while nursing, for about 1-2 weeks after delivery. I will be taking a tincture of Crampbark to help with the pain and make the contractions more productive to shrinking my uterus back to its original size.

These are the herbs that I highly recommend and I hope you will be blessed with the opportunity to use them as well. I challenge you also to study and find out the many things our Creator has given us right in His creation so that you will be blessed and healed!

Shalom,

Julie

 

 

 

     

My New Adventure

I've had a bunch of things run through my mind that I thought, "I should blog about that". Every time I think to sit down and write, something comes up. But I think what it is really is that I'm a bit intimidated about putting my thoughts out here for everyone to read. Can that truly be so? If you know me for very long at all, you figure out really quickly that I lack not in opinion :) SO, why am I avoiding writing until I have something "great" to say? 

Anyways, I thought I might share with you my new adventure.

So, I've decided to cloth diaper this baby and Zion has been my guinea pig the last couple of weeks. I started out with two G Diapers, and two Fuzzibunz diapers. I just figured that would be at least four diapers less a day that I would go through. A few days later, a friend heard that I was braving the cloth diaper thing and gave me her stash to use (she's got 5 blessings 7 and under, therefor there's no room in her life for cloth diapering). Boy can I understand that. I'm just now in at a place in my life that I feel I can even consider CDing.

How has it been going you ask? It's been going much better than I expected, even though I was planning on just doing this no matter. You know, you just have to make up your mind that you're going to do things or you'll let "stuff" get in the way and make excuses. I had to decide the same thing about breastfeeding. I had it in my mind that I was going for it no matter how hard or inconvenient it was. Boy was I glad I did. I could never go back to a bottle.


I did discover, as my husband and I had been dunking and swishing poopy diapers for a week, that I'd really like to have one of those toilet sprayers. So, my husband, the jack of all trades, master of none, made me one using these instructions. It was more expensive than what they said, but so worth it.

It's really not been that big of a deal to change over to CDers. I'm even using cloth wipes, which I thought would be totally disgusting, but it's not. I actually feel like his bottom is way more clean than using disposable wipes AND I'm saving a little more money. 

I was having a little trouble getting the Fuzzibunz diapers to come out smelling clean, but I read more about cleaning CDers at Green Mountain Diapers and voila, my problems are gone.

I throw my dirty diapers and the wet/dry bag I have to stash them in the wash and use every cycle I have plus a soak, washing them with Charlies Soap using cold water. Then I put them through a quick hot wash without soap. I hang some out to dry in the house (I don't have much room) and dry the rest in the dryer. Problem solved!

Cloth diapering is for super moms, I've always thought. I guess that's why I feel such a sense of accomplishment having been doing it now for three whole weeks (big cheesy grin). I don't feel like I'm in the league of super moms yet, but I'm on my way : )))

Z sporting his Fuzzibunz

Homeschool Plans at Our House

Last year we decided to experiment with a different homeschool approach than I've ever used before. I very much like systematic textbook learning. I'm comfortable teaching with textbooks, but we found ourselves in a position that we could not just purchase whatever my little heart desired. This led me to do some searching the internet and picking my out-of-the-box friends' brains : )

Last year we experimented mostly with Ambleside Online. It was kinda scary stepping out of my comfort zone, but I was pleasantly pleased with the things we learned and the improvements I saw. For one, my children have always been horrible at spelling no matter the program we chose. For a few years we just quit doing it. Last year, using the Charlotte Mason influenced AO, my children's spelling improved greatly. We also got to try some science and history curriculum suggested by Timberdoodle. We absolutely loved it. It made me realize how boring the textbooks and workbooks I had been using in the past were.

So, with that said, we're choosing to do most of the same things again this year. It is extremely cost effective and enjoyable for us all.

I decided to share with you what I plan on doing this year. I'm doing ninth, sixth, fifth, and second grades. I bought planners for each child and have their daily assignments written in each planner. We work in three twelve week terms. Each day the student is to do their assignments and then highlight them. I have time slots assigned for computer work and studies done as a group, such as Hebrew, elementary history and science, etc. I highly recommend Managers of Their Homes by Steve and Teri Maxwell. It has been such a life saver for me for the last nine years. I keep a weekday schedule going, but do not schedule every aspect of our day, only those things that help a family of ten to run smoother and more efficiently throughout the day.

So, here it is by grade:

Ninth Grade

Bible- The weekly Parsha as assigned here, and the Classbook to go along with it.

They will also read the Restoration of Torah commentary for the week.

Memorize at least a 20 verse passage of Scripture, 2 Tehillim (Psalms), and 2 hymns

History- The Story of the Constitution , a freebie given to me by a friend : ), Books on the Salem Witch Trials, read verbatim court cases from the trials, read "Founding Father- Rediscovering George Washington", watch "Liberty! The American Revolution" (a documentary found on Netflix), "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation", and watch "John Adams" an HBO series.

Geography- Books on the Lewis and Clark expedition and follow their trail on a US map, "Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins also following along with a map, and play US geography games here.

Citizenship- Charlotte Mason's "Ourselves"

Composition and Current Events-   Re-write 2 new stories a week.

Literature- "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Pride and Predjudice", and ?

Science- We plan on doing Biology, but I cannot afford what I'd like to get right now. We're still praying that Father YHVH provides : ) We have Biology 101that we got from Timberdoodle, but it will not be worth a whole credit. 

Typing- Ten Thumbs

Art- How Great Thou Art

Foreign Language-  Pimslours Hebrew

Music- Memorize 2 hymns, 3 Hebrew songs, and 3 patriotic songs

Health- Shonda Parker's "Mommy Diagnostics"

Life Skills- Small Engine Repair, Cooking and Canning, Making herbal salves and tinctures, and drivers ed

Money Management- "Using Your Money Wisely" by Burkett

Additional Free Reading:

Northanger Abbey

A Tale of Two Cities

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Rob Roy

Horatio Hornblower series

Sixth Grade

Daily: Copywork from current reading, math (Teaching Textbooks 6), oral narration of readings, literature, and Bible

Weekly: art, typing, written narration, dictation, history, science, geography, nature study, Hebrew 3x a week, and poetry

Bible: Same as ninth minus the commentary, 1 Psalm and 1 hymn per term

History- "Mystery of History" (borrowed from a friend)

Geography- Read "The True Story of David Livingstone, Explorer" following along on a map and Shepherd Software's geography games

Nature Study- Keep a journal of nature and read herb books

Science- Anatomy and Physiology  

and read " Relativity" by Clarice Swisher

Foreign Language- Pimsluer's Hebrew and memorize 3 songs in Hebrew

Typing- Ten Thumbs

Poetry- Study Robert Frost,Carl Sandburg, and Longfellow. Memorize 1 poem from each poet

Literature- "Animal Farm", and choose two other books from free reading list

Free Reading List:

Where the Red Fern Grows

Letters From Rifka

Snow Treasure 

Miracles on Maple Hill

Number the Stars

Rob Roy

Jack and Jill

Fifth Grade

Daily: Copywork from current reading, math (Teaching Textbooks 5), oral narration of readings, literature, and Bible

Weekly: art, typing, written narration, dictation, history, science, geography, nature study, Hebrew 3x a week, and poetry

Bible: Same as ninth minus the commentary, 1 Psalm and 1 hymn per term

History- "Mystery of History" (borrowed from a friend)

Geography- Shepherd Software's geography games

Science- Anatomy and Physiology   and read biographies on "Isaac Newton", "Alexander Graham Bell", and "George Washington Carver".

Math- Teaching Textbooks 5 (borrowed from a friend)

Foreign Language- same as other grades

Poetry- Memorize one poem each term. Term 1 Rudyard Kipling, Term 2 Longfellow, Term3 Whittier

Literature- Read "Kim", "Captains Courageous", & "The Prince and the Pauper"

Typing- We're using a program called Ten Thumbs, but there are multiple free ones you can find on the Internet for free

Free Reading- same as sixth grade list

Second Grade

Bible- Read through Mathew and answer the Classbook questions orally. Memorize 10 verses each term plus one hymn

Copywork- Three days a week he will copy part of his verse memorization using Print Handwriting Worksheets. 

Two days a week he'll spend 20-30 minutes copying one of his reading books.

History- Mystery of History and read "Joan of Arc" ~ Diane Stanley

Geography- Shepherd Software geography games and read "Tree in the Trail" and "Seabird" by Holling C. Holling

Science- Apologia's Anatomy and Physiology

For Language and Math he is using Time4Learning. Time 4 Learning has been an excellent and inexpensive way to homeschool on those years I've been overwhelmed. It uses my children's love for computer learning to teach the subjects Pre-school through 8th grade. I used it a couple years ago for two of my children when I had just had my seventh baby. We also used it last year just for math since my children are very visual and Time4Learning fits their learning style to a tee. It is $20 a month for the first student and $15 a month for each additional student. They offer all of your core subjects for this one price. I highly recommend it.

Literature- "Heidi" and The Little House on the Prairie books

This homeschool year, (thanks to endless valuable Internet resources, giving friends, and our own collection over the years) we'll be homeschooling pretty cheaply, but very richly. 

My prayer is that we will, "Do your utmost to present yourself approved to Elohim, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15, and that we will become more like Messiah Yeshua this year. 

May you be blessed this school year with the shalom that surpasses all understanding that can only be found in Yeshua ha Moshiach!

Blessings!

Julie

 







 

 







 



 

Sabbath at Our Home

Exo 31:13  “And you, speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign1 between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, יהוה, am setting you apart. 

Our Sabbath has been a real delight that we guard so that nothing gets in the way of our day to rest and commune with our Creator. We made Barbecue Chicken Breasts, Mashed Potatoes, Salad, and Poppy Seed Challah for our erev Shabbat dinner. We also made some yummy Pumpkin-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert. 

Bethany and Dylan went to a homeschool co op Bible study and got to say good-bye to some friends who are going off to college. They learned about praise and played volley ball. 

While they were gone, us and our younger children worshiped with Monte Judah via the Internet. The little ones joined in a circle and danced before YHVH. It's such a joy to watch them enjoy the Sabbath.

Today we joined my MOPS group at the Underwater Bridge for some fun and fellowship. It was a good time to be had by all. 

Next week, when Friday evening comes a calling, why don't you try taking the Creator's permission to spend a whole 24 hours in His rest. I think you'll find that He'll bring a refreshment to your soul, too.

Shabbat shalom from the Nitz Tribe : )

Joel, Brice, and Asher

Analise, Joel, and Brice

Dancing the hora

Analise

Asher

Dylan and Josiah Speck

This is a rarity for Analise. She's usually so serious.

Zion holding on to Mommy's hand.

Analise

Zion standing, but not walking yet.

Baby Z is too cute!

Bethany hanging out in the sun : )