HEAT Robot Club at work again!

I am long overdue to post the happenings of our illustrious Robot club in these parts of the world. The challenge officially started September 13th with Kickoff day and six of our representatives (4 team members and 2 adults) were allowed to participate in viewing the challenge before us. For those of you who don't remember from last year, we have six weeks to complete the assignment and compete at the BEST Robot Game day slated for October 24th! Our mission was to establish a make believe company, employ team members (they learned the skill of writing a resume and a cover letter and submitting it as any employee seeking a position would), split up the teams, and build, display, cheer, notify the public, notebook, and photograph all the happenings of building a robot. The Robot, SLICK (Supercatalyst Liquid Isoctane Conversion Kontraption), will perform several duties of gathering catalyst (tennis balls), energy (tomato paste cans), H2O (racket balls), CO2 (Small beach balls), Benzene tankers (small back of truck like an 18 wheeler would haul), and more and the team that puts these together to make a formula that would equal Isoctane and Ethanol wins! Now if you haven't figured out as well as building a robot we had to learn a little chemistry along the way. Our Robot picks up, scoops, presses buttons, and so much more. The drivers and spotters are this week working on their strategy to decide what piece of the formula is most important and how many of them they need. We have 3 minutes each round to finish our assignment. This year is different however because we are allowed to build upon what we have already gathered from the previous rounds. Our media/PR team have worked non stop in getting the word out to the public about our mission, our needs (monetary), and our sponsors. The display team continues to work furiously ensuring that our display shows our hard work to the judges come game day. The Jr. build team will meet tomorrow to put the finishing touches on our robot (decor)! The notebook that contains all the demographics of our teams, our technical side of building the robot, all our work thus far and more was proudly turned in last weekend at Mall day. Sarah continues to battle for the best driving position. Her and a friend gathered many supplies this weekend when they practiced and as in the words of a gentlemen beside me (not part of our team or any team, just a spectator) said, "She has changed my opinion on women drivers!" LOL! She was neck and neck with competing for a CO2 (beach ball) with another robot. We all had a good laugh, but in the end our fearless leader of our team agreed that when she and her friend Jordi obtain their drivers licence we don't want to having parking wars with them, because they would win hands down. Sarah is also part of the media/PR team (she might be on TV come this Wednesday nightly news!) Zech is a spotter this year and working well with the drivers and helping them observe the field and part of the Website Team (check it out at http://www.wfmars.com/ ). Isabella continues her cheer leading skills by being part of the Spirit team and Media/PR. Sarah and Isabella are part of the display team as well.

This year has proven to be a challenge of late night meetings, day meetings, dealing with school in the midst of that, and the curve of learning chemistry as well. HEAT Robot club has met the challenge though and their goal is to win 1st or 2nd to go all the way to state! I'll keep you posted!

In the name of Science!

Pungent smells and aromas that I don't quite have words to explain are exuding from my kitchen as I sit 15 to 20 ft away to type this message. My counters, window sills, and even a dark closet has science experiments awaiting to see if the hypothesis my children have written down will show to be true or false. We are trying to grow bacteria, grow a Lima bean, decompose bananas (not sure why, other than something about yeast being a decomposer), show vegetative reproduction (in which my dear son asked me politely that his plant was supposed to stay warm and could I not turn on the fan? this is the kitchen I might add!), and to produce turgor pressure (which is cells expanding). Not only are their aroma's from the kitchen and closet, but my back porch was a pond feeding frenzy last week. Sarah had taken four jars of pond water and placed cultures (rice, hay, pond soil, & egg) in each container to see which one would grow living organisms. Reaked would be a mild word for the smells that oozed from those containers (thankfully they were on my back porch and not my house). My husband might ask the Biology class just to come clean my refrigerator and they might find all kinds of biology experiments growing in there (not on purpose either! LOL). The pictures above represent the different experiments going on at the Roberson Academy just today! Who knows what will happen next? Biology and General Science have been stinky and yet interesting to study. Next year we will be experimenting with chemistry (we might end up blowing something up!).

Musings of Homeschool Mom - Part I

Questions and comments of the general public to a homeschool mom are often amusing. Yesterday, after I had finished my grocery shopping, a gentleman helped me out with my bulging two baskets (yes I know that's a ton of groceries, but that's another story), started questioning me on the amount of food I was buying and guessed that I had at least 2 children at home to scarf down these delectables that I was trying to stuff into my truck. I informed him of my three precious children and then he politely asked what school were they attending. I immediately and profoundly stated, "I homeschool." And this is were I found myself chuckle because he then flatly stated, "Well, there is nothing wrong with that." Hmmm.... I thought, no there isn't anything wrong with that, but why would someone say that to me? Why would I think there is anything wrong with homeschooling my children and found myself giggling under my breath. My giggle was a result of numerous years of hearing comments from, "Are you stupid?", and, "Christian schools are a great alternative", and "Do you know everything you teach?" Also being accosted by flying words from individuals who are vehemently against my homeschooling. I've been the but of jokes and the topic of conversations. Our family has been labled, upholded, put on a pedestal, made fun of, and so much more that we find it amusing anymore to hear the views of the public when they find out our homeschooling ways.

Another interesting subject that I like to broach as people bring up the topic is, "How do you teach all those subject that per say you struggle in or don't know anything about?" Good question I tell them and then I proceed with my explanation. "I haven't a clue how to teach trigonometry, but I'm not past learning yet myself. I have the ability to learn that subject and teach it with my children or I proceed with a tutor in that subject." Every subject I am not an expert in. However I can receive help if I need it or learn it myself and then teach it. The other night I studied biology, mythology, and freshened up with my Algebra II. I was beginning to wonder just who was going to school, but amazingly I find myself enjoying new subjects. Just for you sciencey people, Biology though I still don't get. This is where other moms help out. There are some in our city that LOVE science, and there are some in community that LOVE English, and so on. We all partner with one another in our different interest and either form a group where we learn individually but gather together once a week to discuss what we've learned and do labs (biology, I'm loving that teacher!)or we discuss with one another on different areas in which we can improve.



There are difficulties and joys with this particular job I have chosen. But with any job I believe the same is true. I love how some people believe that what I do at home is not a job. As if I just sit at home all day and really do nothing (Please come sit at my house for just a day and it will change your mind). I am usually up by 5 am and do not lay my head down until 10 and some nights 11. (Last night while laying in bed I was able to slay every Algebra dragon my dear daughter brought in from the school room because she was doing homework very late at night! Okay teaching her how to slay them!) EVERYTHING my children learn is usually produced, bought, studied, or glanced at by me. If you've lost count, I have 3 children, with at least 6 to 7 subjects each, and that would be up to 21 subjects everyday that I'm helping, reading, glancing, teaching, sweating over, grading, and planning for the next day, next month, next year. I'm always, always on the clock. The pay is horrible if you consider it monetarily. There are some days in which at the end of the day your child looks at you and asked you a question that you KNOW you covered in school that very day and they so effectively spit it back out at you, but their mind goes blank and you feel as though all you are doing is talking to a wall and therefore wanting to bang your head up against a wall at the very moment (I know that is a run on sentence but say it out loud without taking a breath and that is how I feel some days). Even so, the pay is received when you children are riding with you and all discussing the eight Kingdoms of Biology and all of them can tell you with relative ease the 1st law of Thermodynamics. The pay is received when they accomplish something and you grade it and your smile shows them your approval and they know they GOT it! Your pay is when your children are always around you giggling, laughing with each other, and expressing to each other something that they learned that day because they enjoyed their day of learning! The pay isn't what I do this for but it is a great luxury knowing that I've done what the Lord has called me to do.

Kendrick

Yesterday I attended a beautiful funeral for 5 year old Kendrick Little. He is dancing with the angels and in the arms of Jesus now after a year long battle with cancer. Oh, how precious his family is and I ask in the Mighty name of Jesus that you pray for them with all your heart. I can't and won't even try to imagine their pain, their hurt, and their suffering. However yesterday, I was given a glimpse of their family and God's grace is shining through them. It was standing room only kind of funeral because he and they touched so very many people all their lives. How glorious it was as they praised God throughout and gave Him all the glory! I was blessed beyond measure to view the wonderful photographs of their family and to stand near them as they entered the sanctuary. Their boys so wonderfully poised and their smiles so childlike. I have no doubt they know where their brother is and with a child's faith they believe. They believe that Kendrick received his victory and is there awaiting their arrival one day. I was convicted that I don't take enough family pictures together with all of us. I would love to be able to tell our story through pictures of our joys and our trials. I tend to only photograph our joys, not our sorrows. It's a thought though. Could you? Thank you to the Littles for allowing us to be part of your lives!

All the way my Savior Leads Me

An 'aha' moment ushered it's way into my Yukon today! I've been praying ever so fervently the last several days asking God to guide me through the dark. My darkness isn't anything more than unanswered prayer and unrealized expectations. I'm needing Him to truly guide me and show me the path that He has me on. It is difficult, steep, and continues to get harder. That is not a reason for me to stop or to venture off the path, it is all the more reason to take it as a stepping stone each step of the way to see All the ways my Savior leads me! So as I was driving home from dropping my dear son off at bible study (my heart swells here and so glad he is focused and wants to do this), I punch in a random CD number and up pops Chris Tomlin's "All the Way my Savior Leads Me." That is when He spoke. He spoke through this simple song, that no matter how dark the road ahead, He is there. And it was that simple. He is there and He isn't going anywhere and my heart swelled with Joy. Defining joy is precarious some days, but today it is simply having confidence in God. That deep confidence that goes to the bottom of your soul. No matter the circumstances, whether we are happy or not, we can have joy! Oh, you will see me smile because of that joy and I can honestly tell you when asked, "Are you okay?" that "Yes, I am or I will be!" Because He will guide me, keep me, answer me, but as David proclaims in many of his Psalms after an agonizing prayer with no apparent answer, I will trust and sing to my Lord! Am I happy about my circumstances, not really. Am I joyful that He is taking me on a journey that will strengthen my faith, produce character, and show me endurance, depends on the day you ask me, but today it is well with my soul. Enjoy the song below:


All the way my Savior leads me, What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me, Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal, Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:Jesus led me all the way.

You ever have just one of those days?

Oh my goodness, am I having one of those weeks! Between Sarah's studies, Isabella's lack of studying, Zech's struggling with other things, robotics, Gracie, dishes, house, dinner, groceries, 3 meetings in one day, school in general, and I'm sure I could name a list a mile long, my patience, time, and any mercy I had is wearing thin (for those of you who know me too well know mercy wasn't very much to begin with). To top all of this off, I cannot hear! I mean literally my ears are reacting to the low pressure that has been over us and all day long this loud roaring and ringing permeates every bit of my ears and head and blocks out the sound I so long to hear.

Even so, I'm remembering a bible study that I'm going through is teaching me to walk in the dark. The lady who wrote the bible study is blind and has quite a bit of experience about walking in the dark. She is teaching me that God really wanted us to be well with our soul (with Him and our spirit with Him) even when our circumstances aren't well. I've been amazed at how many scriptures are written about walking in the dark with God!

"... Who walks in the darkness and has no light? (there are so many days I feel like this, Kari insert) Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God." Isaiah 50:10

". . . even the darkness will not be dark to you;the night will shine like the day,for darkness is as light to you. " Ps 139:12

There are more scriptures, but amazing to me is that even when it feels as though the darkness is closing in, when there is no escape, He is there. He is always there. In that fact, I am well with my soul even though my circumstances aren't, because He is guiding me, and He is the Light! That doesn't mean I'm not struggling still. We all find ourselves in situations where we feel isolated from others because we think nobody is going through the same thing or we isolate ourselves. However the truth is that He is with us, has never left us, and is guiding us and so we are not alone.

He is strengthening me day by day no matter what I see. My faith is strengthened by what I hope for, not for what I see because it is the evidence of things not seen! I might see darkness today surrounding me, but I am reassured that He is guiding me and He is not going to leave me! May you walk in the darkness and let Him be your light.

Is the school year over yet?

Yes, I'm already ready for summer again! We are 6 weeks into school right now and it's flying faster than I can keep up. Managing a freshman in high school, one in Junior High, and elementary as well as keeping up with the little toddler running around is keeping me maneuvering more miles than I do on my jogging days! Our schedules are packed so tight with robotics squeezing into the schedule, two other high school classes starting this coming week, and enrichment that I've actually told Sarah just to hang on tight because some Saturday school days are coming soon. Next week alone she has 2 lessons in biology with 37 new vocabulary words to add to her already 50 terms and 2 lectures, 2 labs, and her first quiz! We have robotic meetings scheduled for most of next week on top of all the other conflicting affairs on the agenda!

Can you tell I'm just a little stressed? Well stressed spelled backwards is DESSERTS!!! So I'm going to take a big breath, talk to God, remind myself of the verse on the top of my blogspot page, and splurge a little with some desserts. God will see me through and once robotics is done then our schedule will return to a little less than hectic and we will begin the Holiday season for just more items to find room on my schedule! God has called me to do this and He will see me through it! Do I have the ability? No! Does He? Certainly! He knows it all and knows how this school year is going to end. Are we there yet? Just joking, come along for the fast and exciting ride we are on this year!