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Homeschool Diploma {Crew Review}

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Here is something I bet many of you did not know about Homeschoolers: You can graduate and you can issue a full diploma to your student.  Homeschool Diploma can help you make this happen.  They provide you with everything you need for your Homeschool Grad.  They offer a full package with Cap, Gown, Tassel and Personalized Diploma.  We were also able to receive a copy of the standard diploma, a Laminated Wallet Diploma, and a Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover as well. 
It is hard for me to believe that we are at the point of Graduation already but my 17 year old is almost grown.  It’s hard on a Momma’s heart to see the years pass so quickly by.  As homeschoolers, we don’t do things like Public Schoolers most days but I did want him to have something to commemorate this experience as well as a real diploma to show he did his schooling through the years.
This child has been such a joy to raise and love.  I want nothing but the best for him and that included for his Cap, Gown, Tassel and Diploma.  Homeschool Diploma was more than we could ever have wished for.
You order online with ease through their professionally designed website.  The process is very easy.  There are so many choices to make as you decide what you want for your Cap, Gown, Tassel and Personalized Diploma package.

Personalized Diploma

First, let’s talk about the Personalized Diploma.  I was able to choose between a smaller, standard sized diploma and the larger size.  In the beginning, I chose the smaller size but after designing I asked to switch to the larger format.  This was easily done, even after submitting, by emailing the company right away.  They were happy to change it for us.

They also offer a Standard Diploma that does not come with all these bells and whistles but is just as nice as the Personalized Diploma.

There are so many options to choose from for your diploma.  First, you’ll need to choose a School Name to represent your Homeschool.  Some states require a school name while others do not.  Our state does not so we decided to create a new one.  It took a few days but our family finally decided upon Ocean Mountain Academy.  We chose this because my children have been educated from the Ocean to the Mountains during our time homeschooling.  For us, it means a lot.
There are many elements to the process of creating the diploma.  You can choose to make a standard school diploma that looks much like a Public School diploma.  You can choose to develop a diploma that contains many elements that point towards your child having been homeschooled in the phrasing.  For us, I chose to create a Christian based diploma that represents our style of education, as well as our hopes for the future.
My son’s diploma says:
With thanks to God and acknowledgement of his enabling grace,
we joyfully present
NAME
With this diploma.  It is the culmination of twelve years of home education,
a milestone at which we recognize his many accomplishments, and evidence
that he has fulfilled all requirements for graduation. 
It is followed with the date we have chosen for his graduation which has not happened yet.
Additionally, I was able to choose a Bible verse or a quote to add to our diploma. 
I chose a Bible verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11
I was able to choose between having  two names listed as the signature line like a Public School diploma or to list one name and the date.  There were several options for this. I chose to list Instructor on the left and the Date on the right since I have been the main educator throughout my children’s lives.
In between these, I was able to choose a seal.  There were also several options for this from embossing, a foil seal and a colorful foiled seal.  Different seals were available and I chose the one I felt represented us best.  I chose a gold and blue seal with a cross and crown in the middle that states Soli Deo Gloria: To God Alone Be The Glory.  You can also choose an Honors foil seal.
I love my son’s diploma and can hardly wait to create my daughters because this process was simple and fun.  Additionally, I was able to order a second diploma in case something happens to the original, as well as a Laminated Wallet Diploma.  The second diploma is formatted exactly as the first.

Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover

Our Personalized Diploma also came with a Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover.  I was a little disappointed that the cover was limited on color options but I’m happy with it in the end.  I choose a solid black cover for my son’s diploma.  
The Diploma cover also come with multiple options to choose from.  I choose to place a replica of the seal on the diploma on the cover. This replica is simply gold embossing that fits the style of the rest of the embossing on the cover.
I also had our School Name, Ocean Mountain Academy added to the cover and my son’s full name is written at the bottom right corner.  I love how beautifully this turned out.  It truly stands out and is beautiful.

Cap, Gown and Tassel

The next step in the diploma process was choosing our Cap, Gown and Tassel.  I knew immediately, if it was available, we wanted purple.  Purple is my son’s favorite color, it’s my daughter’s favorite color and it’s the color for Epilepsy.  Purple means a great deal to our family. 
 I’m thankful that Purple was indeed one of the color options.  I chose a length I felt would work for my son and hit submit.  The selection process for this was just as easy as the rest.
The Tassel also had many options available.  We could choose various colors, or even two colors.  I asked the kids what they wanted for their graduation tassel and together they chose purple only.  We were also able to chose between a silver and a gold 2018 charm.  They chose silver.

Other Options Available

There are so many options available at Homeschool Diploma.  You can order a class ring.  You can order additional graduation jewelry.  You can order mugs, shirts, picture frames.  Almost anything that you can order for a public school homeschooler, you will find on Homeschool Diploma’s website.  Honors accessories are also available to be purchased.

Kindergarten and 8th Grade Graduation Options:

You can find Homeschool Diploma online at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/homescldiploma  Tag: @homeschldiploma
Read More Reviews by Clicking The Banner Below:

Kindergarten Graduation and Junior High Diploma for your Homeschool {Homeschool Diploma Reviews}

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Winston’s Turning 12 {Thoughts From Me}

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Christmas is finally past and we move onto the last birthday of the year, which starts our birthday season around here.  Winston turns 12 on December 28.  I can hardly believe he’s already 12.  My baby has grown up way too quickly.

Every day he comes one day closer to being a strong, patient and loving man.  In a few months, I expect that he will be taller than me.  In a few years, he will be grown and moving on.  Momma is sooo not ready for all of this.

I’m proud of my baby.  He’s always supportive of me.  He does all I ask with very little attitude.  He’s a servant and a man of strength.  He’s kind to his siblings.  He enjoys working hard.

Recently, he’s discovered a love of nature.  He enjoys hunting.  For Christmas, he shot his first gun. One of his presents was a starter bow set to learn archery, something he requested to do.

The years are getting shorter and I am trying to make the best of the time I have left with him as my child.  Children grow up way too fast.  They leave the nest before Momma is ready to let them go.  But every precious moment and memory they bring us is worth the process of going through it all.  I will never forget a single day, I’ve spent with my handsome son.

Happy Birthday to my precious boy.  May his life be all he wishes and his dreams come true.  He’s been a blessing to my life and I pray he always knows love and happiness in his future.

The Birth Of My Son

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For me, this week not just about the joys of Christ’s birth but also the joys of family. 10 years ago this week my life changed forever.  My first-born, my son was born.  It was the best day of my life (next to the later births of his sisters).
It was possibly the longest week of my life.  Signs of my labor began Christmas day.  The actual labor started on Dec. 26th.  I can remember walking miles with my best friend in the freezing cold, still feeling quite warm myself, trying to walk my boy out and increase our labor.  I remember the squeezing pain as a contraction hit and breathing through it, praying God would be good to us and would take care of my sweet baby boy.

The next day was no better and at some point I went into the hospital to be checked but was told it was not time yet.  My contractions were too irregular. 

On December 28, 2000, I called my doctors office and begged for an appointment with my midwife.  I was told to come in right after lunch, so I did.  I walked for two hours around the office while I waited for my midwife to be able to squeeze me into her busy day, all the while being monitered by nurses.  Finally, she was able to take me back and check but there was no major changes, though she did “accidently” break my water while checking me.  I will never forget the look on her face or the “opps!” that came out of her mouth when that happened.  I was told to call who I needed, gather my things (we lived in a small town at the time) and go straight to the hospital.

I went home, called my son’s father, gathered my stuff and ate 4 bowls of spaghetti with light sauce before heading back to the hospital.  It was around 4pm when I finally got there. 

All seemed to be going well.  I arrived and was immediately taken into the back.  I was hooked to moniters.  The midwife said we’d be a while waiting on this boy to arrive.  My DH left to get himself something to eat but before he was out of the room good the midwife returned to tell me something was wrong.

My monitors showed that my heart rate was increasing and my baby’s was dropping.  We were in too much stress.  I wasn’t dilating past 1 and my boy was ready to come out.  He was under excessive stress and so was I.  A c-section was necessary for a safe arrival.

By this time, I could feel myself floating out of my body and I knew something was wrong.  I was scared for my son and I didn’t want to lose him before I even got the chance to hold him.  I immediately agreed to the c-section.  It was around this time that my then-husband returned, after my Dad tracked him down, banged upon our door to wake him and got him back up to the hospital.  His only disagreement was that he didn’t like my surgeon but by this point I just wanted it all over and our baby to be safe and sound. 

I don’t remember much after that.  It all went so fast.  The pain was intense and I remember biting down on my DH’s finger, concentrating on not hurting him, to get through the contractions.  It wasn’t long before I was rolled into the ER, put to sleep and in surgery.  My beautiful boy was born to his sleeping Momma at 6:07 pm on December 28, 2000.

When I came out of surgery, I was in so much pain.  The doctors had me hooked onto an IV/Morphine drip but I was unable to get out of my bed.  My DH and my Mom greeted me with a picture of my beautiful boy, all fat and swollen from his birth with a perfectly round head.  His heart-rate was a little off and his grand-father’s heart specialist had him in a incubator running tests to make sure he was strong and heathly before they brought him to me.  It was the longest 6 hours of my life, at that point.
On December 29, 2000, right after midnight, the nurse brought my sweet boy to me, placed him into my arms and in this moment my life forever changed for the better. I knew what my life was meant to be, who I was meant to be – his mother.  I was and forever am, the mother of Winston Lee Grant.  I could not imagine a better job than this one, even on that day I could not imagine how wonderful this job was going to be.
10 years have passed since that day, that moment but I still remember it like it just happened.  I can feel the weight of his sweet body as it lay in my arms.  I can feel his weight as he grew into the tall boy he now is today.  He made my arms full, and my heart fuller.  The joys of Heaven brought to Earth through a small child.  There is no better feeling than knowing you love and are loved by someone so precious and sweet.
My son has grown into a handsome, caring, hard-working young man.  His heart is patient and peaceful.  Some day he will be a wonderful father and husband.  For now, he’s a wonderful son.  His hugs bring my heart peace.  His smiles bring me joy.  His laughter makes my heart ring with love.  He is everything I never knew I wanted and his life is the meaning of mine.  Being his Mother is the best gift I have ever received, the best job I will ever have.  I am forever Thankful for this child who is blessing my life.  I know how God feels as a parent to each of us.  Unconditional love.  

Thankful for Winston {30 Days of Thankfulness – Day 5}

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I’m am beyond thankful for my son, Winston.  He is such an inspiration to me and a huge help.  He rarely complains about anything asked of him and he does most things with a joyful heart.

When he was born, I was so thrilled to be having a baby but I was disappointed because I really wanted a girl.  I knew God had his reasons for giving me this sweet little boy but I did not realize those reasons at that time.

My sweet boy and I had two fun, learning years with just me and him together.  He was such a joy in those times, always wanting to be with me and always loving me regardless of my lacking parenting skills. 

When he was two, his baby sister was born.  I remember when I came home from the hospital, Win had to have a bandaid on his tummy so he could be like Mommy with her incision.  He was and still is the most adorable boy.

As his sister and he have grown, they have become best friends.  They don’t always get along but they always love one another.  Their love for one another also inspires me and thrills my heart.

By the time baby sister, Laycie, came along, Winston was a pro at being a Big Brother.  He’s been so helpful with her and loves the time he gets to spend with her when he does help take care of her.  She loves him and her sister too.

My boy isn’t perfect by any means.  He was a whiner for a long time, whining when he was upset or frustrated.  He also has ADHD, though I’ve never had it officially diagnosed.  We’ve been able to manage this, along with his sisters’ health, with routines, structure and plenty of rest.  Homeschooling helps to provide these things for all three of them.  He has days where he’s overwhelmed and frustrated with things but he’s always quick to get over the humps life throws at him. 

His spirit is warm and loving.  He’s very shy and struggles with school due to ADHD but he always tries hard.  He does his work and helps out with a smile most of the time.

I know now why God gifted me this sweet little man first.  He has shown me love like no one before him.  He has encouraged me to be a better Momma.  He increases my faith in the Lord above. 

I’m thankful for this boy of mine, for all of his love and encouragement.  For his strong, yet meek spirit and his faithful love.  He’s proof to me that God really does know what he’s doing.

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