I Will Live and Grow in Jesus

A lesson from a leaf…
The focus of our lessons last week was Leaves. What can you learn from a leaf? Well, DD learned quite a lot. She learned about the normal kindergarten stuff like photosynthesis and transpiration…seriously (just simplified.) She also collected and classified leaves, created a few masterpieces, and read books about trees, etc. But the most important lesson she learned was that we are all very much like leaves…(not just the sweating and breathing part) but just as a leaf separated from the tree withers and dies, we too, will cease to live and grow when separated from Jesus. We need to “stay attached” to Jesus through prayer and the studying of God’s word in order to live and grow into the kind of people God wants us to be. Here are a few pictures of our week:

Observing the water given off through transpiration
Leaf Collection

Leaf Art
Yummy Leaf Cookies...Mmmmm
This week we are studying about Apples...We plan to make homemade apple sauce and an apple pie! That may not sound like much to most of you, but if you are as "domestically challenged" as I am, you'll understand why it's a big deal. I may or may not post pictures. LOL

Just Enjoying Life!

With play group friends at the park...

Or entertaining us at home...

Is she cute or what????? LOL

Sunday Fun

Sunday was a beautiful day. We had planned to go to a special event called Culture Day yesterday where the girls would have been able to experience several traditional Chinese activities, but the weather forecast convinced us to stay at home. Looking back, I wish we had gone.

Since the girls didn’t get to wear their traditional Chinese attire yesterday, I let them wear it to church this morning. I love to see them dressed like this. (Notice DB’s hair…we are considering letting her bangs grow out. I’m not sure if I like this new style or not.)

After church and a quick trip to Subway, we took the girls to the park. It was just too pretty to stay indoors.

Gray Skies are Going to Clear Up...But Not Soon Enough

I obviously should have checked the forecast before planning this week’s lesson plans. Who knew?
We’re using My Father’s World curriculum and supplementing with numerous other resources. The topic of our first two weeks was Creation. There was no need to check the forecast for that, but our topic this week was the Sun. The emphasis was actually on “Jesus being the Light of the world” and how God’s word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our paths. Just as the sun enables us to see so that we don’t stumble and get lost, God’s son provides the way to keep us from being lost and enables us to follow the path in life that we should. DD learned many interesting things about our sun, the star, as well. Of course, in order to do projects involving the sun, the sun must be shining. Well, that hasn’t happened much this week. We attempted to make raisins by leaving grapes on a plate in the sun…No sun--no raisins. We also attempted to make a sun dial…We have enough trouble getting to places on time now; it would be impossible using a sun dial on days like we’ve had this week. No sun--no time...always late!
But finally, today (Friday) we had a little sunshine, so I snapped a few pictures of our day.

Notice that DB's hand is on the wrong heart. Oh well.

Calendar Math
Working hard

Still, just grapes. Sometimes you just have to make your own sunshine. lol

Having so much fun that they don't even know they're learning.

P.E. at the PARK

One of the nice things about home schooling is being able to plan your own schedule, spending as much time as necessary on the subjects that need more attention (even if it's P.E. that needs more time.) Desheng Darling loves school and has done so well. She loves learning! She never wants to quit, not even for play time. Since she had worked so hard during the week, I decided to use part of our time on Friday for P.E. AT THE PARK! Fun! Fun!

To make it even better, our friends joined the class. lol

Freedom of Speech...Not Always a Good Thing

I took DB to her first speech session at our public school today. This is what I got when I asked her to smile for her “first day” picture. Will you please pray for her teacher? LOL

DD was her true self, too. When we first arrived at the school, it was obvious that the principal (an aquaintance from my earlier years as a school administrator and board member) was having a tough morning dealing with a very rebellious child. The school officers were eventually called to handle the situation. When the principal came back into the office where DD and I were waiting he smiled and started this conversation.
Principal: Hi. How are you? What brings you here today?
Me: Our little one is in speech here.
DD: I’m the bigger one!
Principal: Yes, I see. You are really growing.
Me: Looks like you’ve had a busy morning.
Principal: Sighing…Yes, I have.
DD: Just a little TOO busy, huh? (Another one of my "most embarassing moments")
Luckily, the principal just smiled and said, “She’s very intuitive too. Isn’t she?”

(Just another justification for home schooling DD) LOL