It really does work to study!

It all started about 4 years ago. I had been hunting in eastern Washington with my father in law. We were up on the side of a mountain and the ignition broke in the van we were driving. We were literally stuck on the side of a mountain, but I had full reception on my cell phone. So I called Zindra and she picked up the appropriate parts and headed east. By the time we got everything switched out and the car running it was almost dark. The boys asked if we could go for a little hunt and so we did, nothing happened but we walked out in the woods trying to be quiet(which doesn't happen when they are 7 and 5). So we get home and it is late and I was tired so I decided to sleep in the next day. I got up around nine and Josiah begged me to call Granddaddy and see if he wanted to go hunting, he said whenever you get here we will go. So I got out to his house about 10 and to the hunting area around 10:30. So by 10:45 I had shoot a deer with Josiah standing next to me and the dream was born.

Fast forward 4 years Josiah had been talking about being able to hunt and carry gun. I told him he had to take the hunters safety course and pass it. So we looked at the requirements and what he had to do to take the test. We found that he could take the test on the Internet and then do a field course and pass a small quiz.
I called and scheduled the time for the field test and I told Josiah he had 6 weeks and 15 chapters to complete and a test to pass. He buckled down and got through all of the chapters without much prompting. It is amazing what an 11 year old will do with the proper motivation. Now it is time for the practice test. We home school and do not take many tests much less multiple choice tests. The first practice test he missed 17 questions out of 75 it was a fail he could only miss 15. So I had him read some of what he missed and he took it again and again he missed 17. The next day I sat with him and did the practice test and went through the questions we only missed 5 but I was helping. So he took it by himself again this time he missed 11 great he passed but to close for comfort. I went through the test and found his errors and taught him the answers. We had to go run some errands so he got a break and came home and took the real test, he took the test and I had to pay $15 for this one and Zindra was getting annoyed because I was taking to long to tell her if he passed. I finally submit it and Josiah missed 2 questions 2 he passed with a 96 Yeaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Now the field test, we had to be there at 8am(come on I am unemployed I do not do 8am) So we get halfway there and forget the paperwork to prove he had passed so we go home and get the paperwork and get the test a little late. Josiah passes and the 15 question quiz and we listen to an hour of conservation and an hour of sportsmanship. Then we do the field test which requires to carry a loaded gun(dummy rounds not live) and go through obstacles. Each obstacle they unload go through the obstacle with the action open and reload. They had a fence, a log, a boat and a ditch. Josiah did great with everything his loading and unloading, muzzle control, and handing off the gun to somebody else. The only thing he forgot was to keep the action open which was closed 7 of 8 times. Each time was worth 2 points so he lost 14 points for an 86 but passing was an 80, so he did it Josiah is now official and can carry a gun and buy a hunting license. I am so proud of him and all of the hard work he put in to be successful and pass his test.

So this year even if we do not get a deer we still have a hunting story to tell for this year, the year Josiah passed his test

Springtime is in the Air

Well we all know that there hasn't been much sunshine lately! One of those sunny days in late April or early May - we went to Bellingham to pick up a baby swing.

Days before, Rod had pulled the one we used with all of the rest of the kids, out of the attic. The circut board died - so we needed something new. Rod check craigslist and there were a ton on there for sale. If you need one - that is the place to look!

Anyway, on the way home, I needed to nurse Jevonna - so we stopped at a park to let the kids play for a bit. Rod took a few pictures...

Anyway, one of the places that I like to get my digital scrapbook supplies from is having a scrapbook challenge. I downloaded their free template and thought I would put in an entry.
If you're interested, here's the place to find out the challenge info:
http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/03/easy-as-pie-template-challenge-two/

Passing the Test!

Quite awhile ago, we realized that Josiah was going to need to get his hunting licence. For the last few years, he's been accompanying Rod & Dad on their hunting expeditions. This last year, we got Josiah a one year hunting licence deferral, because we just didn't think he was ready to take the written test. So we did the deferral and here we are a year later, hoping that his reading and test taking skills are good enough to pass. No pressure here, right?

Well, before Jevonna was born, I went online to see where the hunting classes were and the times. Classes are offered all over the state of Washington, but they are sporatic (that's putting it kindly.) Trying to find one in your area that fits your schedule.. well, let's just hope that you don't have a lot going on in the first place!

I knew that they had the online class. I didn't know if Josiah would like doing it online. He'd have to be responsible for his own learning - keeping track of chapters, websites, etc. And then he'd have to pass the written. (If they go to classes, they can have the test read to them.) Ack! That's putting a lot of responsibility in his hands! Well, we decided to give it a shot. With a new baby in the house, we need less to do - not more...

So, when we began, we told him what he'd have to do to pass. I made him a checkoff sheet with a black sharpie, so he could keep track of his work. Then I asked him every few days if he'd done a chapter or two.

Last week, he said he'd finsihed all of the chapters! Hooray! He took the practice test, and it was obvious that he was going to need a refresher on the earlier chapters. Then a day or so ago, I realized that his certification course is THIS weekend. In order for him to GO to the class, he had to have his test printout notarized. Which means that his test had to be taken before Friday (today!). So the last couple of days, Rod & Josiah have been going over and over the practice test in their spare time.

Late last night, Josiah took the real test. I know that $15 isn't a lot of money - but Rod's unemployed. So, I guess, right now, $15 is a lot of money. If Josiah fails the test, we have to pay to have him retake it. I was praying that the Lord would give him discernment through the questions, so that we would only have to go through the stress of the test and pay - ONCE.

I thought I was all calm and collected while he took it. Then at the end, when I expected to hear that he passed or not (Rod had to get on to pay with our credit card), Rod sat over at the laptop clicking and pecking away. How long does it take to put in a debit card number - is all I could think! I guess they asked a bunch of questions after the test was done - before it would give the test score. Finally, HE PASSED! With flying colors too! 96 percent! Way to go Josiah! (And here I was concerned - aparently for nothing!)

I am SO entirely proud of Josiah for passing the "written" exam for Hunters Ed last night.

www.hunter-ed.com/wa/wa_internet.htm

Afterwards, I realized that that is the first test in Josiah's life that he's ever taken that actually mattered for anything real in the real world in HIS life. We do standardized testing every year - but that set of scores go into a folder - and just sits there. He's done All Stars tryouts and passed - but in the scheme of life - whether or not you make it one the All Stars Team really doesn't matter. Yet, if he didn't pass his online hunting exam this summer, there are real life consequences.... no hunting in the fall.

Now, all he needs to do is pass the certification - and i'm hoping that that goes just as smoothly!

Digi Layout: YOU

Layout titled: YOU
by Zindra Nelson
Photo by sweetpeamemories.com

Wording: "Our Jevonna Jean
I say "our" simply because you are not just mine and your fathers -
You belong in an entire family. Jevonna, you were born into a family, with older brothers and a sister who smile deeply each time they see you, hold you or kiss your tiny face.
Each of whom appreciate you
Each of us claims you
You are loved"

Last night, I decided to do JS's Photoshop Phriday tutorial on recoloring a black & white image. Here it is... the template, pages and most elements are from jessicasprague.com.

I pulled in a couple of elements that I made in my Illustrator class to finish it up. I love making brushes (the line of hearts at the bottom of the picture.)!!!

I've also learned how to do templates, and at some point, when I have a few minutes, I'm going to make some for myself! In the mean time, I have a few saved up from classes I've taken that I'm going to use....

A Real Post...

Since my last "real" post, last few weeks of my pregnancy came and went... as well as a few other things. Friday School included.

(Julia in her friday school class with friends.)
I missed a couple of Friday Schools this time around - either from not feeling great or having Jevonna. Personally, it was really a great Friday School term. I have really enjoyed being available to talk to Moms. Sometimes we chat, sometimes we talk Friday School business, sometimes I have the opportunity to minister or be ministered to. It's a good place to be and I'm glad to be a part of it!

(the boys at display night with their chess awards.) Because Rod & I are in charge at FS, I've been trying to lighten my load here & there about FS business. One of the things that would help me out is finding someone to do the newsletter. In March, Julie S. & her daughter Sarah said that they would be willing to give it a shot. So, they did their first newsletter for the co-op in May. I'd have to say that when we printed it and I saw it all nicely done, that for a slight moment in time, I missed doing it. Just for a moment. Since then, I've just been proud at how well they've done & looking forward to their future issues! Thanks Julie & Sarah! I so really so much so appreciate it! Bless you!

(Jedediah with his Star Wars lego display.)
This year, Graduation was on the same night as Display Night. Display night is an evening where we can invite friends and family to come take a look at projects that the kids have been working on throughout the year - as well as introduce them to others who are homeschooling.


(the boys with granddad in front of Rod's chess class display, our Garden club display board and Josiah's artwork display - which you can't really see.)

The boys are wearing their chess awards - each of the won one in their round robin tournament that Rod does during his chess class. Not until I tallied up the class results the night before DN that I realized that ALL 3 were getting awards :D Proud Momma! (Jedediah got gold. Jaden Silver. Josiah Bronze. Jaden is in a different grouping that Josiah & Jedediah.)

(Class of 2010 and their parents.)
This year we had 9 teens graduate! We had a fantastic ceremony at Emmanuel. It was so great to see the kids get recognized as graduates as well as to see the parents of non graduating kids and their kids co-op catch the vision for graduation. Up until the last year or so, I had really stuggled with what I wanted to do with graduation for my kids. I realize that I still have a few years until Josiah is old enough, but still... I wanted him to have a real graduation. Now, we've had a "real" graduation for two years - and I think that it will continue to happen as long as we have graduates at First Class as well as someone who's willing to organize it!

Well, here's to catching up... one of a few posts I'm sure.