I’m not super familiar with how the concept of having a bucket list originated.  But I kept thinking of things that would be awesome to do someday…..so I finally made myself a bucket list.  I keep adding to it as things come up, but here’s what I have so far!

1. See the Dead Sea Scrolls

2. Go on a cruise.

3. Visit Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.

4. Go to Rome. See the Coliseum and the catacombs.

5. Participate in a mud run.

6. Participate in a color run.

7. Own a grand piano.

8. See the Aurora Borealis.

9. Go to Club 33, the “secret” restaurant at Disneyland.

10. Visit Hawaii.

11. Visit the Caribbean.

12. European road trip.

13. Go to Concord in April to see the re-enactments.

14. Write a book.

15. Visit Israel.

16. Visit Machu Picchu.

17. Hike down the Grand Canyon.

18. Visit Colombia.

19. Learn every piano piece by Chopin.

20. Read every book and short story by Dickens.

What is on your bucket list?

-Bonnie

Both my amazing husband and myself were homeschooled growing up….all the way from preschool to our senior year of high school.  We both had very positive experiences with it.

One of the things I love most about homeschooling is the fact that each child can get one-on-one time from the teacher.  We were able to explore and pursue our individual talents and interests.  While I have great respect for public school teachers, they are limited as to how much they can help each individual.  In some class rooms, the student/teacher ratio is 30 to 1.  I have heard it said that teachers have to teach to the “average” student in the class.  Unfortunately, this can leave the advanced students bored and the struggling students frustrated.

I also love the real world experience that homeschooling allows.  Rather than sitting in a classroom with their peers all day, homeschoolers get to interact with people of all ages and in various places.

But this is not a blog post about why people should homeschool.  I believe that God can lead different families to do different things.  Homeschooling was amazing for both of our families growing up and, at this point, we do plan on homeschooling our children.  But homeschooling is not the only way.  My only caution for parents who are unsure or who have decided to go the public/private school route is to just remember that you are still the parents.  You are still responsible for their spiritual upbringing.  Whether you homeschool, private school or public school….your child’s ultimate education and spiritual upbringing lies in your lap…not the teacher’s.

All that aside, my purpose in writing now is to talk about the big S word.  Socialization.  I find it somewhat humorous when, in discussions on schooling options, people put homeschooling and socialization in juxtaposition to each other.  It’s as if you can only choose one or the other and people are torn as to which to choose.  Should you homeschool?  Or have your children socialized?

Obviously, there are a lot of different kinds of homeschooling….but for us growing up, homeschooling and socialization went hand in hand.

As I already mentioned, I love that growing up, my sisters and I were around people of all ages, not just our peer group.  We were around babies, young kids, kids our age, older kids, adults, and seniors.  We knew how to interact well with them.  There were so many opportunities for us to socialize….whether it was park days, play dates, field trips, co-op classes, and more.  Lots of homeschoolers participate in things like Girl Scouts, 4H, dance, or karate.

According to research done by the Home School Legal Defense Association, adults who had been homeschooled are flourishing socially.  “In all areas of life, from gaining employment, to being satisfied with their home-schooling, to participating in community activities, to voting, home-schoolers were more active and involved than their public school counterparts.” (see this Washington Times article)

Studies have shown that homeschooled kids have fewer behavioral problems, avoid a lot of negative peer pressure, and tend to enter college as adults, rather than kids looking to party.

I really appreciate this blogger who explains well the importance of socialization and how you can accomplish both socializing and homeschooling!

HSLDA offers more insight and research here.

Again, this is not to say that homeschooling is the magical solution for all children.  This is merely to point out that homeschooling does not doom a child to sitting at home all day, staring at the same four walls, never to see another person (much less someone their own age).  Socialization is very important, and homeschooling can offer that in unique ways.

-Bonnie

I might have heard about ebates.com before, but I assumed it was a scam.  It’s too good to be true.  Well, a few weeks ago I heard about it again.

Here in Del Rio, there is very little in the way of shopping.  Most purchases have to be made online, or we have to drive about 2 1/2 hours to the city.  When a friend told me about ebates, I decided to give it a try.  It is indeed legit.  My friend has earned $80 in cash back and I know of others from here in Del Rio that have also earned cash back.  The stores are willing to partner with ebates because they get so much more business from them.

Here’s how it works.  You sign up for ebates (it’s free), and any time you do online shopping, just visit ebates.com first.  Enter the web site you want to shop at, then click the store link directly from ebates.  There is also a handy button you can get on your toolbar that will let you know when you are on a web site that could earn cash back.  With your first qualifying $25 purchase, you receive a $10 gift card.

So far I have earned cash back from Kohls, Target, Alibris, Walmart, and Amazon.  The good news about shopping from Target and Amazon is that I also get free shipping (due to the Target Red Card, and Amazon Prime).  Make sure you check ebates.com before shopping, as some departments within a store do not qualify for cash back.

It really is a good deal.  I am super excited to be earning cash back on purchases and helping our family save money!

Anyone doing online Black Friday shopping?  Sign up here!  (And, when people sign up using my link, I can earn an amount back as well!)

-Bonnie

For some reason, I have been contemplating pet peeves.  It’s interesting the things that bother me.  Here are a few….

When people quote a Psalm and say the reference is “Psalms 23” or “Psalms 139,” etc.  They are quoting a Psalm.  Therefore, the reference is Psalm 23….Psalm 139.

When Christians take God’s name in vain.  Okay, this is more than a pet peeve.  This really, really bothers me.

When people put pens in their mouths….when both their hands are perfectly free and capable of holding the pen.

The fast food chain is called Chipotle.  Not Chipoltle.

When people say they wrote a blog.  Chances are, unless you are good with computer code, you wrote a blog post, not a blog.

People who don’t use their car turn signals.  Also people who speed.

Intentionally misspelling words for advertising.  Like the “Bedder Mattress Shop” or “Eat Mor Chikin” (sorry Chick-Fil-A).

Sorry, folks….the word is “supposedly,” not “supposably.”

When people clump Europe together.  “Europeans do this/never do this”  “In Europe, they…..”  Europe is big….I’ve only been to two European countries, but I know there is a LOT of diversity in Europe.

This web site was interesting.  Read at your own risk.  You might realize you have more pet peeves than you thought.  😉

What are YOUR pet peeves?

-Bonnie

We have now lived in Del Rio for about 8 months.  It’s a great little place to live.  Sure, we don’t have Target.  Or Starbucks.  Or Kohl’s.  Or (fill in the blank with pretty much anything and it probably makes the list of things/places not in Del Rio).  But….it doesn’t really matter.  We love it here.  Not only do we have each other and wonderful friends that we have made, but we are seriously enjoying the area.

Most people struggle with finding things that they like about this place.  Personally, I think that there are good things about every single place in the world.  Why?  Mostly because God is the Creator of all…and if He created it, there must be things of beauty there that reflect His glory.  If every place were exactly the same, or had the same features….I feel like it would get kind of boring.  Plus one of the awesome things that I love about military life is the fact that we will have to spend time in lots of different places in the States (and hopefully around the world!).

So.  What are some of the things that we seriously love about this place?

• Awesome thunder/rain storms!  We have had so many storms since we’ve been here.  (Okay, bear in mind that we are from So Cal, so our definition of “storm” might be different than other people’s definition.  😉 )  Several times we have just gone outside onto the porch and just….watched the rain or hail, watched the lightening, and listened to the thunder.  Amazing.
• The sky is big here and it is almost always full of amazingly beautiful clouds!!!
• The desert is so quiet.  I love it.  It’s so beautiful and calming.
• Our movie theater is amazing.  We can both go to a movie for less than one ticket back in CA.  We can even both go see a 3D movie for just a little more than one ticket in CA.
• There are awesome old buildings.  I love old buildings.  It’s so fun driving downtown or driving through the small cities nearby to just see their old brick buildings!

• There is a variety of animals.  Okay…this one is definitely a mixed blessing.  I do NOT like having all these different kinds of beetles and spiders and flying creatures making themselves at home in our house or porch…..but if I stop and think about it, it’s still pretty amazing how many different kinds of insects and animals there are.  God’s creativity is amazing!
• Along the same line as above, there are some beautiful houses downtown!  I love old houses with pillars and porches and just so much cuteness and wonderfulness!

• We have an awesome store here on our main street where we can get dresses as low as $4.99.  Full length dresses for $13.99.  Go ahead.  Be jealous.
• When we go to San Antonio for whatever reason, I get 2+ hours just with my husband.  If you live in Del Rio, you get built-in date time just to go to SA for a Target trip!  😉  I am definitely a fan of that.

• We also have a lake.  Granted, it is very very low right now.  But I have seen pictures of friends hanging out at the lake, renting kayaks, etc.  Once our baby is older I would love to rent some kayaks!

• We get to be close to Mexico.  Again, a mixed blessing.  This one actually tortures me right now.  Due to various things, military is currently not allowed to cross the border….and spouses are allowed to, but encouraged not to.  I have heard about some of the cultural experiences, awesome stores, and food places there, though.  If we were allowed to go, you’d better believe we’d be visiting!
• Rudy’s.  Now…..to be honest, The Pilot and I are not fans of Rudy’s.  But we seem to be pretty much the only people who are not…so I included it on the list to be fair.  😉
• People follow the speed limit.  (Usually.)  This seriously blesses my heart.

The residents of Del Rio love it here.  I really think that we visitors could learn a lot from them.  So often when we move to a new area all we can see is what’s not there or how it doesn’t compare to the place we just left.  But there is always beauty in a place…always things to love.

-Bonnie