Home Education

We have been home educating our children since our oldest was 5. For the past 9 years we have been a part of a homeschool co-op. The kids have gym, and music and then get to choose electives such as science, art, manners, geography, US Presidents, history, literature, speech, Spanish. The parents ( or grandparents) provide all the instruction.

The families in our group are so amazing. These parents are faithfully, day in and day out, educating their children. Sometimes they get very little encouragement from their families. Friends often aren't very sympathetic when they have had a hard day, saying "Why do you do this to yourself? Just send them to school." They are with their children 24/7. Their houses are messy with the creativity that is unleashed in home educated children, and, let's face it, toys, shoes, jackets, papers...They deal with their children's bad attitudes and hatred for math. They cook, clean, do laundry, run their children to music lessons, sports, co-op, church...
These parents, especially the mothers are ordinary extraordinary people. I am honored to know them.

Our co-op had a fine arts program this past Thursday. It was wonderful! The theme was "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" The children sang songs in foreign languages, recited poetry, performed recital pieces; some that had been written by the student. They displayed their artwork.

These families show everyday that home education works.

Well done, everyone!

Happy Spring!

I know this is nearly a week late, but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Spring! I have a few daffodils blooming and some crocus'. The weather has been rainy alot here at the cottage, but yesterday was beautiful! Hopefully our mud will dry up now!

Our Horses

This is our horse Sandy. She is a chesnut/sorrel quarter horse mare. She is almost 18 years old. She is a great horse. She has quite a personality. As long as she knows you are her leader she is fine. However, she likes to be queen, so if she thinks you will let her lead...well, she will try. She is not a mean horse at all, just strong minded!

This is Cheyenne, our boarder! She is a black and white paint mare, almost 6 years old. Cheyenne is special - she has a club hoof. It doesn't hinder her daily life and she can be ridden. She has a very sweet temperment. She is a great pasture pal for Sandy.

Horses

My daughters have been horse crazy for some time now. It was a dream for years to own their own horse, take riding lessons, eat, sleep, breathe horses. In December the Lord provided two wonderful horses. One which we now own, and one we board. They were owned by the same lovely lady, who wanted them to be able to stay together.

It is a long story, but one worth telling some day. Suffice it to say that God answered the prayers of my sweet girls, in a month's time. He can do anything!

Mrs. Rabe

Recent Photos

I started this blog in part because our family is spread out across the United States and even in Africa!

So for those we haven't seen in awhile, here are some recent photos of the younger kids.

My picket fence

I have wanted a picket fence forever! As I said in my previous post, my husband and my girls painted and put up this fence while I was away at a retreat. I was so surprised and thrilled that they did this for me!

Soon, I will be able to put a flower bed in front of the fence and to rearrange somethings in the beds that are already there. I am not a professional gardener by any means. I just know what I like and then I rush ahead to do it. I have a great friend who is a terrific gardener and I go over and drool over her gardens. She often has shared plants with me, when hers have gotten out of hand, and I in turn do that with others. Right now I have an abundance of Iris's. I will need to divide them up, and send them to new homes.

This year I plan to add a new climbing rose, can't you just see it rambling over the fence? I can't wait!

Mrs. Rabe

Weekend Retreat

This past weekend, I went on a retreat with the ladies from my church. It was a great time. We had almost 80 ladies there. The speaker was very good, speaking to us on the principle of sowing and reaping. It was a good reminder to me to make sure that I am sowing good seed among my family.

When I returned home, I not only had excited children meet me, but my husband had put up some picket fencing I had been wanting for a long time! When it is all done there will be an archway over the sidewalk and a flower bed in front of the fencing. Also there will be climbing roses, hollyhocks, boxwood, lavendar, Iris, purple coneflower, daisies...ahhhh, I can't wait.

Mrs. Rabe

Welcome

Welcome to Creekside Cottage.

We like to practice hospitality at the Cottage, and I hope you feel welcome here. I trust this will be a place of encouragement and friendship.

I have a wonderful husband, and 6 great kids. We home educate. Some of my interests are homemaking, decorating, gardening, sewing, taking tea, reading and Jane Austen.

So again welcome, make yourself at home.

Mrs. Rabe