I have never ever heard that one. Then again, the old woman with the twigs was news to me yesterday lol. Now I am going to have to look for a bunny in the full moon! OT a bit... but that reminded me that we have a mountain near us, that is a natural formation and looks just like an indian cheif lying on his back. It is the neatest thing, I love to show it to people and see their reactions! I believe God has allowed these formations for us to marvel at. At sunset, the way the shadows fall you can see all of the feathers in his headdress even. Here is a link to my blog (that I have neglected lately) with pics of it if anyone is interested. http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-sJC_Vsc8dKhvFDUTUzCOkaJLLHKUBdsBGw--?cq=1&p=3 *edited to add, this mountain is called Heart Mountain and the Heart Mountain relocation center was situated at the base of it. It was a Japanese internment camp during WW2. If you don't know about it, it is VERY interesting. I took the kids there for a field trip and remembered thinking, I NEVER learned or heard a thing about the place in all my studies of WW2.
I think I may have seen that before, where iS CODY? I have been through Wyoming several times on way to and from Rapid City in SD
I could have typed those exact words. I am so thankful mine choose to hs, because in our home, ultimately it is their choice in the upper grades. My kids feel sorry for ps kids, not the other way around. Michelle
Yeah, my oldest said he wants to homeschool through highschool. The other two are saying that right now also, I hope they stick with it!
I was sure mine would school all the way through because that was what my hubby said they would, up to when his parents offered to help oldest get to Private School. Now for the most part dd wants to home school,but said she would like to go out to school when brother is 12th grade and she is 11th so they can be in teh same class ( our private school groups 9-10th and 11-12) She doesn't really care where she graduates from, but would like a real graduation.... when the time comes. How do you all plan on doing graduations? I know this is an important part of our children's schooling...
I learn new stuff every day too, and am forever boring my family and friends with it all. I live in Gosford, Australia, and it's true that the moon appears the other way up here (we thought it was upside down for you!!!), and it is consistently that way regardless of setting, rising or in-between. It has to do with the way the earth and the moon rotate in their orbits I think, but we only ever see one side, and then always up the same way unless we cross the equator. From here it doesn't look much like a man, either. I have never been able to see any picture in the moon, although that could be lack of creative vision..hmmm...
This is what I truly love about homeschooling: I get to learn new things and share my love of learning with my daughter. I think that this really helps our children to develop a love of learning themselves. If nothing else it should motivate them to want to learn and read when they see us doing these things.
I'm not to that stage yet, but there are several groups here that have hs graduations-cap and gowns and all. I would think that there are options available of that's all your dd wants.
no, I was just curious about it, I know the kids have seen movies , I know my friend who used to homeschool had agraduation from Grade school that her oldest was in back many years ago.. but she was involved in the ps homeschool program so that was different. Here we do have a local group I have yet to join because of my up coming surgery didnt wnat to start getting together then poof cant do it you know? But I was just curious because it is defninately somethign I want to plan ahead for, for something special and fun!
Can I share this? You really wouldn't mind? It's so special that I'm glad you asked! Our older dd planned her own graduation, complete with invitations, (which included her Sr. picture), decorations which included specially-painted miniature flower pots with tiny potted plants in them up & down each table, matching table cloths & plastic dinnerware, & a reception with elaborate watermelon fruit bowls, nuts, cake (baked by a fellow hs friend), & punch. She displayed a scrapbook of her life. It was held in our church. She chose songs, wrote a graduation speech, & asked her uncle (for whom she had been a legislative intern for one term when he was a KS state senator) to deliver the graduation address. My MFH (mighty fine husband--pardon me, I never tire of typing that!) gave her the diploma we had ordered from HSLD. The publisher of our local paper was impressed enough to give the occasion a large, front-page spread. Relatives & friends came, & everyone was a real blessing to her. As side note that I treasure that no one else can probably appreciate is how she honored me & displayed great faith! by asking me to play the piano piece, "Fur Elise," by Beethoven, for the postlude, considering my level of ability. (Ahem--inability is more like it!) How I resisted! But that's her name-sake song, so I did it just for her! And it was a near-miracle that I did not panic &, in fact, made it through very well! PTL! The graduation was truly God-honoring from beginning to end. For example, here was this beautiful, articulate, accomplished teenager (I can say that--I'm her Mom!)asking the audience to sing "Jesus Loves Me" with her! She said something like that was the most profound thing she had learned! Planning the event & doing it to her specifications of perfection are some of my favorite memories with her. She finished her 11th-12th grade in one yr. when she was 16 & then graduated on her 17th b.day. She enrolled in college with great scholarships, so don't believe it that a student has to graduate from ps to get scholarships. There are some specifically for homeschoolers which some colleges offer. Anyway, design your own graduations to your hearts' content. Or some prefer to do without--like our older son did. That's another interesting & wonderful story,too, but he just requested Sr. pictures & then sent out announcements that he had graduated. Now, here comes a dilema that I'd welcome your ideas on--one of our twins would like the whole thing, including a cap & gown, and the other wants absolutely nothing! What will he do at her celebration? Say he didn't graduate?? Life is interesting, & homeschooling & twins make it even more interesting!
Wow, that is so special and sweet PrairieHome that sounds so wonderful. Sounds like you have one special daughter. On the twins well how old are they? they might change there mind before they get to that date. If not let the one who wants to do it, do it and let the other one know what is going on give them another change to make up there mind if they want to go or not. If not let them do what they want.
Well, OK, I'm feeling like I want to mention the surprising way in which our older son honored us with his graduation, also. It, too, is a treasured memory in a vastly different way. Ds (the eldest) was discontent with homeschooling from early on, which feelings, we believe, were constantly fueled by comments from some of the people near & dear to us. He enrolled in ps for his Jr. yr. & reported after three days that he was bored but was enjoying it, mostly because homeschool girls dress so modestly & he could see more legs in the ps! He soon started helping teach his geometry class, because the teacher didn't know how to bissect an angle. He only received a "C" in Spanish because he refused to mispronounce the words (the teacher was not a native speaker, & we speak Spanish a little bit at home). He did well in other classes & was reported as being a model student; but having an obsessive-compulsive condition, which he could squelch only so long, he brought filthy language home & spit it out each evening. We heard more raw expressions than we ever could have imagined, including curses & blasphemy which no Christian parent would ever want in their home. (Perhaps others on this forum deal with special needs, too, & my previous post related a scenario which most people would consider more ideal. So, I felt the need to relate one of the special blessings which only those who deal with prolonged heartache can fully appreciate.) His Sr. yr was split between another ps & then a structured living environment in another state, where he completed hs graduation requirements in an adult learning center. To our great surprise, when he returned home he asked if he could graduate from our school! "Absolutely not!" I immediately responded. "You pushed & pulled & yanked your way out of here, & now you're asking to have our school's name on your diploma?! Unthinkable! I know--you probably didn't acutally graduate from -----. (The other school.) Give me your principal's name, I'm going to call him right now." When the principal answered & I told him who I was, he interrupted me & said, "Oh! You're J's mother! Well, you have a fine young man for a son! We were so glad to have him as a student! What can I do for you?" So, I told ds what was said & that I had made arrangements to have his transcript sent to our home. When my MFH came in that evening, I said, "Honey, I have something amazing to tell you: J said he'd like to graduate from our homeschool! Can you imagine?! What do you think?" "Absolutely, he can graduate from our homeschool!" My MFH didn't hesitate any longer than I did, but his reaction was the exact opposite. He continued, "I don't know what his reasons are, but it's an honor, & we're going to do it!" I called HSLD & they said there was no precedent to this type of proceedings, but that we should, indeed, consider it an honor. Like I said before, he said he wanted no celebration, but, yes, he'd kind of like Sr. pictures taken. We scheduled them, & I went with him, & he even let me pose in one of them with him! We printed neat announcements (not invitations) & sent them out. My MFH & I still treasure that experience. So. Here are two different "graduations." I'm sure you got a longer answer than what you were expecting! Now, any ideas for the twins???
Kris, we must have been writing at the same time. Thank you for your thoughts. I just don't know how to "let them do what they want," because it seems awkward. If people want to bring gifts, for example, would they just bring something for one & not the other? The twins are sophomores, so, you're right, they still have time to think about things, & I know it'll work out to be just as special as the older ones' grad's were; but dd (15) is such a perfectionist that she's already wanting to start planning, & ds just says, "Leave me totally out of it!" I know there will be a way.
I have a hard time seeing a man in the moon here, so don't feel bad lol. Do you homeschool in Australia? Just curious! :lol: *edited to add I just found your intro post! So...WELCOME AND HELLO FROM MONTANA!!! Michelle
thank you so much Prairie for sharing those two accounts! You have really encoruaged me! I have a question what does HSdl do in way of a diploma and does it make it any different than one I could print up with my school name on it like any otherprivate schol does? I actually have my own grad cap and gown that I had high hopes of letting my kids use for thier grad stuff, but then saw you can actuallys end away for them too! I knwo I am a couple few years off here but I like to plan ahead!
I'm editing this to say that I noticed your post & enjoyed your blog. I see we kind of have two different topics going here, so I copied TMom's post & responded to that, but I don't want to interefere with either of the directions of this conversation. HSLD sends out a very professional looking diploma for about $20 with blanks on it to fill in your school name, the graduate's name, & the principal & teacher or whatever titles you want to give yourselves. Recently our older dd's diploma was questioned, because we had filled it out in cursive, rather than typing, we hadn't put in the usual things, like school address, & we had written "Principal/Dad" and "Teacher/Mother," which really raised the eye-brows of a state mental hospital where dd is hoping to do an internship for a psychology major. So, yes, you can certainly do your own, but make it a "professional" looking as possible!
