All Hallows' Eve

We had so much fun for Halloween! Richard went to a party with his friends...and the rest of us went to a party with ours. The weather was absolutely perfect, and we all had fun hanging out. The men took the kids out while the women handed out candy and watched the food. Then dinner, card games and candy. What fun! Didn't get home until after 11, then Michael had to try and get the sugared-up kids to bed while I went to pick up Rick and his friends. A good time was had by all. Whew! We survived it for another year! Thanks, friends!

Back To School

Bright Yellow Schoolbus, shiny red apples, squeaky new shoes, it is BACK TO SCHOOL TIME! While most parents enjoy the extra time "off", and the kids get to see their friends again, this time of year is a little different for the home educator. Now comes the ... interesting ... transition from full time Mom to Full Time Mom and Full Time Teacher. Not only does she have to pass out the homework, but check to make sure they do it, and correct it- not my strong suit. This year we started today, September 2, with the rest of the schools in Michigan. This is always a transition week for us while we start to get up on time, go to bed on time, and get used to a schedule that is much, much more structured. And then there is the dreaded homework! Yes, homeschoolers have homework, too. Sometimes quite a bit.

This year is going to be busy; 2 High Schoolers, 2 Middle Schoolers, 3 in Elementary and a new Kindergartner. Not much time for relaxing during the day. While most of my friends enjoy a much needed breather, I have to gear up to get the teaching done and maintain the household. Schooltime just came a bit too early for me this year. At least we got started, that is always to goal for the first day, just get started!

Ladies Night Out

Have you ever been new to a place? Almost 9 years ago, my husband and I moved to a new area. We were thrilled to be able to live where we wanted to live, after looking for a year. We had a great house, a great family (about to expand, again...) and everything we needed, but a church home and friends. On Memorial weekend, we found Gingellville Community Church, and tried it out. To make a long story short, we liked it and stayed. After the twins were born and we had survived most of the first year, we figured out we needed some LOCAL friends. One day at church, a group of women were talking and they were going to go together to go shopping for a gift for a woman in the church (Lenora!) that was having a baby. They invited me! I was so excited. I remember meeting them and going to Babies R Us to go shopping, and even meeting some other people there (Kim and Mawmaw). I remember that Helene paid, and I was desperately trying to remember that it was Helene that I owed money for the present to... then we went out to grab some dessert.

While we were there, someone mentioned that we should go out more often, more regularly. Someone should plan it. So, I volunteered. I knew that if I volunteered to do it, it would get done. I didn't know these people, but I knew that I needed them. Right then LNO was born! Not out of some "Higher purpose". Not out some feeling that we should have a women's ministry at the church. Not out of some obligation, but simply because I needed some friends.

It has been about 8 years since LNO was born, and most months (11 out of 12) we have a night out. We have had as few as 4 people show up (and had a blast) and as many as about 30 when we had a potluck. We have been to many varied restaurants, and I have learned what gets a bigger turn out and what doesn't, but it has always been great. These women are wonderful. It is fun to get to know new people (in and out of the church), and I love going out to dinner once a month with them.

It is wonderful to see who God brings to the table to break bread with...I have never regretted going.

With love, my Sisters,
Kristin

House Bill 5912

Dear State Representative Bert Johnson,

Thank you for your reply. While I can understand your point of view, I still do not agree. Whereas regulations similar may be applied to children in non-public schools, it is unnecessary for those who home educate. While children in non-public schools are still under some supervision by the government already, those who are home educated are under their own supervision, and performing quite well. Parents are perfectly capable of teaching their children without the "supervision" of the government.

You mention that "If this bill is passed, the children who are home schooled in a mischievous manner will be recognized and helped." If there is nothing more to this bill than
The bill would require the parent or legal guardian of a child being educated at home to furnish the following to the superintendent of your local school district: the name and age of each child who is being educated at home, the number/name of the school district and the city/township and county in which the parent or legal guardian resides and the name and address of the parent or legal guardian.
then how would you recognize that the children who were being home schooled in a "mischievous manner." It is simply another way for the government to get into the home and try to take over the task that parents have to raise their children. I can assure you that those who home educate have higher goals and more of an interest in the success of their children than the public schools demonstrate.

I again urge you to not co-sponsor this bill, and also to address your time and energies to the areas in the education field that need fixing. Again we have lay-offs for teachers. Again we have schools closing. Again we have no textbooks, leaky plumbing and buildings that are unsafe for our children. Despite all the money that comes from the lottery. These are problems that can be solved with the proper resources and the concern from those who are supposed to be working for Michigan's good. Parents who can't work, and can't trust the schools to even be there and teaching our children to an acceptable level is a problem we have in Michigan. These are the subjects that ought to be addressed in your legislative sessions.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Kristin Peake


District 5 wrote:

Dear Ms. Peake,

Thank you for contacting my office with your concerns regarding House Bill 5912. I greatly appreciate hearing from constituents and other Michigan citizens about issues of importance to them because it helps me know what I need to be paying attention to. Your willingness to communicate with us allows me to be up-to-date and aware of those whom I represent.

HB 5912, introduced by Representative Clack on March 19, is much less an intrusion on privacy and more an accounting mechanism to see who is learning where. The bill would require the parent or legal guardian of a child being educated at home to furnish the following to the superintendent of your local school district: the name and age of each child who is being educated at home, the number/name of the school district and the city/township and county in which the parent or legal guardian resides and the name and address of the parent or legal guardian. The very same regulation is already required of those that attend nonpublic school.

Please let me assure you that this bill would not affect the way you teach your children or limit your choice to home school. If the intent of this bill were to do so I most definitely would not have cosponsored this bill. The bill would simply bring home schooling under the same umbrella as other nonpublic school entities. This "umbrella" currently does not nor does it seek to regulate non-public schools. This bill is not an effort to ease in regulations on the home schooling community.

The concern of home schooling parents, children, and other advocates is reasonable, though I urge you to consider the positive aspects of the present bill as written, rather than the possibility for negative legislation in the future. If this bill is passed, the children who are home schooled in a mischievous manner will be recognized and helped. Although these children make up a very small percentage of those who are home schooled, we cannot justify leaving these children behind and letting their guardians get away with neglecting our youth's education.

Once again, I thank you for contacting me about House Bill 5912. I assure you that your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions will be considered when I am asked to vote on HB 5912. Please feel free to contact me again regarding this or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Bert Johnson

State Representative

District 5

517-373-0144

bjohnson@house.mi.gov

The Great Clothes Migration

Okay, it is spring, in Michigan, and so what do we do? We try to figure out the weather and make the appropriate switches in clothing so that the children don't
A) Freeze
B) Melt
C) have nothing to wear!

So comes the bi-annual GREAT CLOTHES MIGRATION, which you just have to write in capital letters. When you have 10 kids, both boys and girls in all sorts of sizes, this is a major undertaking! All in all, it takes about a week, including getting all the winter clothes out of their drawers (sorted into what may fit in the fall, and what won't and what is good enough to pass on, what we may sell in a garage sale and if the next child in line likes it or not!). Next comes bringing up the bins. Who needs a stairmaster, I use the stairs! It is funny how it just takes over everything...the washer and dryer, the living room, the bedrooms, and my life for a whole week, but is does. Every time. Twice a year.

The good thing about THE GREAT CLOTHES MIGRATION is that they kids are so excited to see the "new" clothes. Naturally every season they will need some new stuff, but this is really exciting for them, even to see their little sibs wear their favorite stuff from the previous year. Wouldn't change it for the world.
And, for the next few weeks, at least, all my 35 bins of clothes are all organized...well, maybe not!!
~kristin

STAND Strength Team

This last weekend we had the privilege of having the STAND Strength Team at our church for a crusade. What a weekend. It was so much fun, with phone-book ripping, telephone pole lifting, and lots of strength tests and feats. The guys are really nice, and they really preached! I saw the show on Friday night, and they were great. They presented the gospel of Jesus Christ very clearly, and there were several decisions made from people who were ready to commit their lives to Christ. One of them was James Matthew, 5 years old. He has learned about Jesus all his life, and now he has given his life to him. I know that many would say that he is too young to know what he is doing, but who knows what God will do with him. Now it is my responsibility to train him in his Godly walk. There are many strong Christians today who accepted Jesus as younger children. I can't wait to see what God will do with him and the 50+ others who either gave their lives to Jesus, or recommitted themselves to Him.

Thank you STAND Strength Team!
~kristin

Starting again...or April's Fool

Okay, here it is 11:18 or so at night, and I need to go to bed, but I decided to get this up and going again, so, here it goes!

It has been a busy day today. Up and off to the store because I forgot the Kiwi for our homeschool hometeam cooking project for Sam. Very worth it- fruit pizza for the whole hometeam! Basically it was hometeam and shopping today. That and last minute dinner changes. We tried to have steak and mango salsa fajitas. Very yummy at Costco, and the older ones liked it. At least it was quick, easy and something different.

Okay, that is enough. More than I wrote last year, so... onward and upward. We'll see how it goes.

~kristin & co.