Welcome to the final Keep on Track issue of 2008!

Christmas Greetings

My husband, Gerald, wrote this into our church newsletter this week:

"As one gets older, there is a feeling that the years get shorter – at least that is how it feels to me. The shops herald the Christmas Season, annoying me that they begin their trumpeting so early each year. Heading to the post office reminds me that this is a serious time of year as the queue was surely 50 people in length! Parking space at the shops is certainly scarce at this time of year and requires some fore-thought. No wonder people say, "It’s the silly season." which must mean it is the "busy season."

So how does one handle the Christmas Season? I suppose I don’t really mind how you handle it, as long as you remember what Christmas is all about. Ask any number of people the question, "What is Christmas all about?" and you will invariably get a number of answers. Some will say, "Family times"; "End of year break-ups"; "The beginning of Summer Holidays"; "Children"; "Santa"; "presents"; "food"; "decorations"; "Christmas cards"; "parties" and so on. The Christian, Lord willing, will add to the list, "Jesus birth"! Yet, all the other things are still there. How can we make things meaningful for ourselves and others? Can I offer some suggestions?

Enjoy the Christmas story once again.... the old, old story.... which gives us new beginnings every day!

Enjoy it, Sing it, Act it, Read and memorize the Christmas story.

Download and print off this Christmas Carol book and use it in your family.

Build your own web business

Are you interested in building your own website about your own passion or particular interest or product to sell? Or would you like to encourage your children to learn all about a web business? Are you worried that you won't be able to "teach" it to them? Don't worry one bit about that!

Site Build It! teaches and guides you all the steps, one step at a time. There are video or written tutorials, an amazing forum of people who continue to build their sites and absolutely everything you need and more! Truly it is amazing. You'll know I love SBI from my video and also from my SBI Diary pages.

In this special, you can buy 2 sites for the price of one. Give one away or use it yourself - 9 months down the track.

You can read more about how you can create your own web business as a work-at-home mum (or mom) in this wahm free ebook.. All you'll need to know.

Want to learn some more. Subscribe to my free E-course, "How to Build a Profitable Web Business"

Remember your Big Picture Goals

Then determine the steps you need to reach your goal.

I read about this SMART criteria to check your goals:

S- Specific. - Be specific as to what you want to achtieve, or what your children want to achieve over the next year.

M - Measurable. - Can you measure your goal? How will you do this? Is it about completing a book or improving a behaviour? Set out a measurable set of goals for 2009.

A- Achieveable. - Is it achieveable in this lifetime? Are you expecting too much of your young child? Are you expecting your 14 to be an adult?

R- Realistic and Relevant. -Make the goals in relation to you, your children, your unique family and the circumstances you live in. Be relevant - remind yourself of the big picture - goals are not just academic, but personal and relationship also. Set realistic goals and goals which relate to your child, his/her age.

T- Time-limited. -Make the goal something achieveable in the year or in a term. Set a defineable goal for a certain period. We all like to complete goals, but if we set goals for 12 years in the future - we never quite feel like we have achieved anything. On the other hand, it is good to have the big picture goals of what really is important to maintain your ultimate and overall focus.

I hope this helps you review 2008 and also plan ahead for the next year of homeschooling. I know for me, this holiday period will be a time I will look at goals and use them to determine the path we will follow in the new year.

Make God guide you in this.

Favourite Read Alouds

Remember, Add to the Homeschool Gallery and be chosen to be the next Monthly Top Pick!! to receive a free copy of Modeling the Classics- Language Arts lessons from The Hobbit."

Wondering how to plan for the next year? The Homeschool Planner is a way in which I will happily join with you and make a fantastic completely customized planner! Looking forward to it!

Well, that is all from me. I'm looking forward to spending 2009 with you all and may God continue to bless all your homeschooling efforts and the way you nurture, teach and develop your children to be useful servants to Him. To God be the glory.

With love, Marianne

www.design-your-homeschool.com