What to blog about?

Part of the issue is I took so much time off of blogging because real life got in the way -- well not in the way -- but my focus and energy was on helping to build, get the word out about a co-op I was co-starting that I got sucked into facebook.

Wow, facebook truly does suck you in once you are there -- I had no clue. Now, that the kids are older teenagers, high schoolers, I feel a bit lost on what to blog about.  I look at all the blogs I have followed, new blogs I'm following and I see all the projects, arts, crafts, hands on activities and while we have had our share in recent years of those things -- life here is well -- boring -- not blog worthy.  That with one in public school (against my wishes) and the other might be going there too (against my wishes) -- I won't have much to blog about in terms of homeschooling and high school -- at least not from a personal experience.  Of course I'm praying, hoping, talking with my husband (the reason public school is even on the radar) and trying to have that changed.  I truly want my kids home, I want to be homeschooling, them and seeing them through until college.

In the mean time it has left me kind of in limbo for the blogging world.  My time off has lost me my steady readership and make feel alone at time -- seeing interaction is next to nothing now.  I feel like readers would want to come here and see posting filled with cute pictures, tips, and other things about homeschool -- every much like how it was in the beginning of this blog.  Oh look we went to the museum today, we did this art project, we did this craft --- etc.

We do things but not weekly -- not at the level that it was -- we have clearly gone more of the textbook type of schooling as the kids have gotten older and honestly there is nothing fun about hey here is a picture of the girl once again sitting at the table doing her math work, or on the computer working on her reading skills,  Just last week we dissected owl pellets and I did post pictures up on my facebook page, but that was the first thing we had done in months -- that was perhaps blog worthy -- or least what I felt was blog worthy.  However, instead of blogging about it. I opted for the easier route of just posting a few pictures up on facebook.

I want to blog, I would like my readership back, I would like new readers to interact with, but I'm lost on what to actually blog about, talk about, do.  Even though my kids are older and actively homeschooling is coming to a fast close for me, homeschooling, parenting, etc is still a huge passion of mine.  I just don't want to fill my time with blogging about all these things that I'm not actually doing myself -- any more -- or blogging about the pass, etc.  Remember that time when my kids and I did this, or that time my daughter threw a tantrum over math.  That is what made blogging someone fun back in the day -- I was able to vent and share and know I wasn't alone and show others hey you are not the only one. Homeschooling is not prefect, there was some bad days, days that perhaps make you want to throw in the towel -- but even then it's still worth it.  We can over come the bad days, the tantrums, and our kids will be great because of it.

So I'm in limbo it seems? What would you want to hear about from a veteran homeschooler. I guess that's what I am now -- someone that has been there, done that -- I still want to be in the trenches. I got high schoolers now, so raising the kids is not done with -- but homeschooling high schoolers is not the same as elementary kids.  Most of the blogging I have done here my kids were elementary age.   High schoolers, at least for us, you give them a stack of books, list of assignments, and they read and do it. If they have questions they come to your or an consult and you check the work over just to be sure they got it and didn't blow it off -- but there really isn't much more to it. Sometimes there is a couple of labs to do in science which you again might work with them or just give it to them and say here you go.  -- sigh. This mama just doesn't know what to do anymore.

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Why haven't I been blogging? That is the question for the ages!!

So recently my husband out of the blue said to me "February 16th; February 16th what a shame!" or something along those lines. Confused I said to him, "What are you talking about?" He cheekily replied that's the last time you blogged I'm very disappointed!  Yes it's been nearly a month since I've blogged last.

I'm not sure why other then I don't think there is much to blog about lately. Homeschooling is homeschooling nothing new really going on, nothing exciting. Of course my kids have witty things to say and I'm sure some of my reader miss reading those witty things, but I just haven't been drawn to blog about it.

My nephew is here now and that's really not and excuse for not blogging. He's been here only for a week. My lack of blogging has been much longer then that. My nephew, little man, is a real gem! I'm thrilled to have him here! Although, I am not thrilled with the reasons he's here! Prayers for my sister. I can't share much about what's going on with her deployment other then it's pretty scary for her. We have been able to do video chat via skype so not only do I get to talk to to her, but I get to see her and you can see she's stressed out from the environment. I worry about what post-war will be like for her.  For the last 2 months Little Man has been at my Mom's, and after 2 months here he'll go back to my Moms. We are going to rotate homes every 2 months until my sister's 1 year deployment is done.

On a personal front I've decided to tackle my weight and other health issues again! This time I'm using sparkpeople.com as a means to track my nutrition, fitness, etc. If you are on sparkpeople.com you can find me. My screen name is the same there as it is here: SAHMinIL

I don't really have much to say other then I hope I'm finally out of this blogging funk and will star blogging again more regularly.

School Has Started!

Who knew trying to start up a new homeschooling group/co-op and lessons would eat up all of my computer time? It really hasn't been the group stuff, just the building the website: I-H.O.P.E. Illinois Homeschoolers for Peaceful Open Education.  Luckily webs.com, the service the site is built on, makes it "easy" to build the site. Even though it's "easy" it still takes TIME to add content, tweak things, and submit it to google, yahoo, bing, etc.

On the school front we are 4 days into our lessons! Kids are enjoy getting into the grove of things, although yesterday and today due to unforeseen errands we haven't really stuck to our schedule.  Although we are getting the work done!  In the near future, I'll post what materials we are using this year, lesson plans, and our ideal schedule for this school year.

Well, I'm off to the races....
Okay not really, but I do have work around the house that needs to be done, lessons to be taught, and all the other "mom" activities. I just really wanted to post to say, I'm alive and well! Some of my more faithful followers may have thought it was odd that over a week had pass without any new content, posting, etc.

Hopefully things will iron itself out here shortly and I'll be able to better manage all of my online activities.

Timeline In Toolbar

I am sure many of you have noticed the toolbar at the bottom of the blog page. This toolbar is powered by wibiya.com.

I have added a new feature to the toolbar today. The time-line:

The time-line just like the Recent Post link in the toolbar shows ABOUT the last 2 months of posting. However it's different in that it shows the postings in a time-line grid.

If a blog post looks interesting to you then you can click on it. Unlike the recent post link it won't take you to the post. It will first show you a preview of the post.

If you like the preview or want to read more, just click on "more". After clicking more it will take you to that post!

145 out of 200 Top Catholic Blogs

I was very surprise to see my blog Catholic Christian Homeschooling listed as one of the Top 200 Catholic Blogs. The list is based on google reader subscriptions (which is a very public number).

Although I should point out if you go check it out you'll actually see the blog name as "My Adventures into Christian Homeschooling 2". This was THIS blog name in the very, very, very beginning! LOL I changed it very early on to Catholic Christian Homeschooling to match the URL of the blog! :)  The only reason it had a 2 in the very, very, very beginning is because this is my SECOND homeschooling blog.

My first blog became fried due to my tinkering. I didn't know (and still don't know) HTML coding. I totally screwed up the blog by messing with the HTML so I had no choice but delete it and start completely over!!!! I off course became HTML smarter! Backing up the blog before making changes, reading and learning what the changes can do. However I'll be honest and say I still don't know much! :)

He blogged!

Yesterday, my DH posted his every first blog post on his blog. He's had the blog for a while now, but never made a post. If you are a lostie (lost fan) you might like what he wrote on his blog.

VBS and General House Keeping

This week we are going to be doing a FREE At-Home-VBS program thanks to Holy Heroes. We are supper excited about this! Especially seeing our pen-pals will be doing the same VBS this week. They are in PA and we are in IL, but thanks to Holy Heroes and the internet we get to do VBS together. I got the first email for this week and as promise it was load with all kind of fun things for the kids to do. At the end of the week I'll post an update on how things went.

Now the General House Keeping: First you may have noticed that I changed the name of my blog to Catholic Christian Homeschooling. Catholic Christian Homeschooling reflects my url better and this is important seeing I'm considering getting my own custom domain. This isn't going to be any time supper soon, but it is something in the works. You may have also noticed the custom banner. That is something that I made with photoshop. I'm not very good with photoshop, but I'm happy with the results. I hope you like it.

Also, in the right hand side bar you may have noticed the Yahoo Messenger Pingbox, that was added this weekend. This widget will allow my visitors to chat with me LIVE assuming I'm online when visitors are visiting my blog. If I'm online just enter in a nickname and start typing right there in the widget. I'll see your message and will type back assuming I'm not busy at that moment. :) Oh and it's a private chat (IM). This means the only people that can see the chat would be me and the visitor that I am chatting with.

Rediscovering Catholicism Winners have been announced. A list of winners can be found here.

Golden Heart Award

Judy @ Benmakesten has awarded me with the "Golden Heart Award"! ~~Thanks Judy!

Seeing I have "accepted" this award I must pass it forward by giving this award to 5 more people.

--1--

Karinann @ Daughter of the King. Karinann has been a faithful follower of both of my blogs. This one and SAHMinIL Daybook! Not only that but I find her blog to be inspirational.

--2--

DarkPinguis @ Scene in Spirit Okay, I will admit that if you visit the blog it's "empty". However, I personally know DarkPinguis! He is the love of my life! It's because of him I'm able to be a SAH, homeschooling, Mama! I wouldn't be 1/2 the person I am without my beloved DH! He has great plans for his blog, if only he would do it! LOL (perhaps this is what you need honey to get started)

--3--

Shawntele @ Saved by Grace I met Shawntele via THL! She not only follows this blog, but is a member of my website. I also find her posting to be informational and fun to read.

My last 2 nominees I don't know as well as I know the others. However I enjoy reading their blogs. I have found them to be very informational especially for homeschoolers. It is for that reason I will also give them this award!

--4--

Susieqtpie @ The Homeschool Messenger

--5--

Evann @ Homeschool Goodies resources for Catholic Homeschoolers

Congrats to everyone!

Sunday Snippets-Catholic Carnival

I have 2 post this week that are my favorites:

Planting Socks: The Results This post is about how we planted socks to watch them grow. Okay so socks don't really grow, but when you go walking.....

Summer Reading: FREE book This post is about how ANY child 1st-6th grade can participate in Barnes and Nobles Summer Reading program. If they do they can "earn" a free book. Also it has the information that HOMESCHOOLERS need to to sign up for Pizza-Hut's Fall book-it program. The fall program allows homeschool children to read x amount of books (amount set by the teacher) per month to "earn" a coupon for a FREE pizza hut personal pan pizza. It's jut like the program that many school do, but this is for homeschoolers. If you are a homeschooler and you want your child to do the fall program then you need to resister NOW! Registration ends sometime in July. So do it today before you forget!

For more Sunday Snippets from other bloggers then check out Sunday Snippets-A Catholic Carnival @ This That and the Other Thing

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

These are my favorite (best) postings of this week:

Frog and Toad- about the toad we found in our yard
Costumes- pictures of the costumes I finished up for the kiddos.
Ditches, Rules, and Honesty- about my DS being honest even when he didn't "have" too.

For more Sunday Snippets from other bloggers then check out "Sunday Snippets-A Catholic Carnival" @ This That and the Other Thing

Inspiration Award

I've received the "Inspiration Award" from Judy @ Daily Blessings. Thank-you Judy. I'm thankful to know that my blog has inspired you.

I also find Judy and all of her sites to be helpful and inspiring to me. So thank-you Judy!

Judy's sites include:
Her blog: Benmakesten
Her sites: Daily Blessings and Homeschool Faith and Family Life. Check Them Out!

Top 100 Blogs on Christian Families

So, I was checking my yahoo account today sahminil(at)yahoo.com. It is my public email account, and is only something I check about once a week to once every 2 weeks. However, after the email I found in the inbox today I might be checking it more often.

I got a very nice email from a fellow blogger at "Becoming A Radiologist Technician" letting me know that they had complied a list of what THEY feel to be the top 100 Blogs on Christian Families, and "My Adventures into Christian Homeschooling" made the cut. This blog is number 76 on the list!

It's very humbling to know that a fellow blogger consider my blog to be among the top 100 blogs on Christian Families. Please check out the list, and check out the other 99 blogs on the list!

I just wanted to say, publicly, thank-you to the blogger at Becoming A Radiologist Technician for adding my blog to your top 100 list.

God Bless
SAHMinIL

TEST: All 3 blogs

Please bear with me. I’m trying to see if I can send “email” post to all 3 of my blogs at the same time. This will be the last test for now LOL!

Testing Email

This is just a test really! I set up the blog to be able to post “emails”. I don’t really have anything to say nor do I have any real content right now. I just wanted to test this email thing out and see how it works. I wonder how I can set up labels and keywords with emails? Hmmm…

 

If I can’t figure that out I may not use this feature that much, but it could come in handy if I get an email or find something of interest. I don’t know just something more to monkey with I guess! LOL

Tiny URL

I came across what I feel is a cool feature! It allows you to shorten LONG URLS! Not only do they become shorten but they are still usable! Try it out!

Enter a long URL to make tiny:

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase something. See our full disclosure policy for more details.