IEW: Whooohoo!

This year's convention brought a couple of surprises my way. One of which, though wasn't new to me, was certainly an unexpected pleasure: The Institute for Excellence in Writing.
I've heard of this program for years and I've read several people rant and rave about how good it is. I even stopped at their booth a couple of years ago. I confess that at the time, I didn't understand a word of it. Nor have I been able to make heads or tales of their catalog/newsletter which I've been receiving since then.

It wasn't until a friend took me aside and explained it and introduced me to a gal in the booth, that I was able to hear what the concept was that I was not getting. The concept that would allow me to understand the whole program.

It was really very simple, but my own preconceived ideas and thoughts about writing were keeping me from seeing it. I was getting in my own way...again! I hate that when it happens!

I began watching the DVD teaching series the other day and was having quite a few "aahhh" moments. My son is most assuredly a reluctant writer...unless. Unless he is excited to write something down. He has very good penmanship and he's a good speller. What I hadn't considered was how difficult it is for young children to complete a thought transferable to paper. That it actually uses several skills rather than just "doing" it, as I would.

Andrew Pudewa, the speaker on the DVD's, also challenged my thinking on the importance of penmanship as opposed to typing. Though we have done a little typing program, I've been resistant to the idea of replacing handwriting with it, because of my stubborn leanings regarding the passing of penmanship into oblivion and the idea that if he learns to type, he'll never have good penmanship. Reality check: one doesn't have much to do with the other.

I think we are going to get a lot of help from this program. He described my son to a tee, so I know that son's straight on, though I haven't known how to help him.

I'm encouraged. Though the initial outlay was steep, I see that this program is for the long haul. I'll even benefit from it. Yeah! So, I believe it will be worth it. I have to add that when I was at the convention and in their booth, there were a lot of happy people stopping by to say how happy they were with the program! That was encouraging. I'm sure I'll have more to say on this in the near future.

Strategy

It's funny what you can get away with when you don't tell your children what you are up to. My son had no idea I was doubling his math lessons for the past week or so. He's had no idea that I waited till his favorite part of math--geometry--to pile it on just so we could finish sooner.

He knows now. He was so surprised and delighted to find out he was doing so much more than he thought. AND, that he was going to be finishing lessons sooner because of it.

Strategy. We moms can use a little strategy now and then, don't you think? Now if I can just think of a strategic way to get everything else done...

Granola Glorious

So.

Homemade granola is just about the best thing in the world...or the worst, depending on the recipe! This recipe rocks! I've taken my old recipe and tweaked it with a very yummy outcome.

In a turkey roasting pan (with light spray of butter or no-stick magunga) mix 6 cups of whole oats, 1/3 c coconut oil, 1/4 sucanat brown sugar, and 1/2 c raw or natural honey.

Bake for 10 min at 350. Stir. Bake for another 10 min.

Then add 1c chopped walnuts, 2/3 to 1c slivered almonds (or pumpkin seeds), 1 generous tsp of cinnamon, 4 generous pinches of coarse sea salt (or kosher salt) AND 1-2 tsp of vanilla! Yummy! Mix good. Bake 10 min. Stir. Cool. Gobble up. No need to ever pay THOSE prices for store-bought granola again!

It's that simple.

Sad Morning

Our house is very somber this morning as we grieve for the Chapman family and their loss of little Maria.

As many fans, we feel "related" to our favorite Christian artist and can't even begin to fathom the anguish they are experiencing today.

Our prayers are with them; particularly for their son who was behind the wheel. How he must feel, I can only imagine.

It's amazing how this has affected our emotions this morning. All the horrors that accompany the thought of losing a child. The fact that she was our daughter's age. The whole driveway thing. It will be hard to not think about it for awhile.

But their hope is in Christ...He enfolds them in His arms and lifts them up. I have no doubt they will look to Him for their comfort. I have no doubt that they will find it there, however long it takes.

CON II

As in Chronicles of Narnia, second installment: Prince Caspian.

Son dutifully completed his reading of the book just in time for the mid-afternoon matinée on opening day. The moment we'd awaited had finally arrived!

We loved the movie because it's Narnia and C.S. Lewis. We (I, I, I!!!) did not like the typical, ever-present...why do they have to do that?...nasty "Disney" kiss. They had to ruin a perfectly good movie.

I said--out loud (because that's what I do!), "Well, C.S. Lewis just turned over in his grave!" I got a couple of nods of agreement with that one.

Truly though, the movie was very good. I don't think the people making it have any idea, really, what they are dealing with in the area of spiritual and Biblical allegory. If they did, I'm sure it wouldn't be there at all. But, we so enjoyed the struggle of the "children" as they sought to fight a battle "on their own". "In their own power" and "in their own way." And, of course, the consequences. C.S. Lewis was a brilliant man and I have no doubt, God used and will continue to greatly use his offerings.

You'll enjoy the movie! Oh, and the music was wonderful! Looking forward to getting my hands on more of that!

Dreaming of Summer: The List

Wake me when summer gets here!

It has been so miserably gray and cold. I broke out the 'ole cumfy sweater the other day. Even though it just hit 60 degrees, it felt like it was barely 50. The rain and wind has just kept coming...so has the hot tea. We've had just enough teasing to get us dreaming of summer.

So we've been working on the list. Every year our family tradition is to make a summer list. It's a list of things we really want to do, accomplish, places we want to go, and people we want to see. We started this when son was two. It's really been a blessing! In the past we have posted it prominently and enjoyed crossing off things as they have come about. Usually, we start making the list about February! That way, as we compile our ideas, we don't have too skimpy of a list ! ;)

It's growing longer each day and we look forward to posting it the day we finish our lessons--currently set for June 20th! I'm not sure, but the first thing we'll do will be outside! Hopefully, it'll involve a pool!

On our list, we have things in the following categories:

• Field trips we didn't get to this year--mostly history related and somewhat local.
• Festivals. We just haven't been to enough festivals!
• Visits with friends we rarely see.
• Other things we've put off like experiments from our Flying Creatures book.
• Strengthening our milestones: swimming, golfing, biking, dancing, basketball, picture taking.
  
• Reading, reading, reading!
• Gardening, and more gardening.

Our purposes are as important as the specifics:

• To glorify God in all we think and do.
• To be together.
• To continue to grow and learn.
• To be a blessing to others.

I encourage you to give this a try! Our whole family enjoys the process and the outcome!

Where You Are

When I was on staff with Campus Crusade, everything was about "going". As you can imagine. Going, sending, going, sending. Nothing wrong with that. I was there because that was where God wanted me at the time. But I'm not there now. I'm here. In my house in suburbia with my husband and children; homeschooling and being a child of the King, regardless of my rather obvious imperfections.

I remember during that long ago time (as a very young woman), struggling with the fact that my very Godly father wasn't a "missionary"...he was a "businessman"--just a businesssman. There was something in the environment in which I was entrenched that, though it was subtle and probably unintentional, suggested that unless you were on the "mission field", living on raised financial support, you were missing "the mark". It was then that I began to understand what the "mission field" really was and what it wasn't.

It wasn't elusive. It wasn't always in a foreign land. It wasn't for just the elite, or the unemployed. It wasn't just for the college graduate. It was in a music store in a small town. It was anywhere a person in submission to Christ was sharing His glory. Even if it wasn't with a little yellow booklet (The Four Spiritual Laws), but by word and deed. It was life in Christ.

In a recent article in Homeschooling Today magazine, there was an interview with Steve Saint. Remember him? Nate Saint's son? "End of the Spear"? Jim Elliot? The man who took his family to the jungles of Ecuador to minister to the tribe that murdered his father and five other men back in the 60's? Well, the article entitled, "Go, Make Disciples", by Mark Robinette, has several excellent quotes. One that really struck me was when he talked about how God gives us His Word, wise parents and counsel as our "fences", or boundaries and then God says (and this is Steve's quote), "'Here's your pasture.' Our job is to be faithful where He put us."

He then goes on to say, "Every assignment from God is an adventure worth taking seriously, whether it takes you to a jungle an office, or your own living room where you are teaching your children."

I love this assignment from God that I am on! He meets our daily needs. He encourages and teaches us daily. He guides, directs, strengthens, upholds us in His hands. He IS the Good Shepherd. And...He loves us. Apart from Him we are nothing. I'm grateful for my experiences in various mission "pastures", but I'm more thankful that I can teach these Biblical truths to my children.

The grass is not greener in any other pasture!

Recognizing the Question

We started our school day as usual. Prayer, memorization practice from our card files, singing and Bible time. But daughter had a question. "When can I put cards in my box?"

I know that she has been an eager 4yo. Eager to learn. Eager to do what brother does. So to answer her eagerness, I told her how in the fall she would be doing more school with brother.

She agreed and the conversation went back to our place amidst our daily routine.

It wasn't until I "woke up" the next morning that it hit me. She wasn't asking about the box. She was asking to memorize scripture. She wanted her own Bible verses to practice. She wanted to really learn what her bubba was learning. I missed it.

I didn't recognize the question.

So I talked with her about it, and we learned a verse together. She skipped away with a smile on her face. We'll add a card to her box and it will find it's place front and center beginning immediately. This is the day the Lord has made!

The Pursuit of Coverage

Having a daughter changes everything. I'd always considered myself a modest person. I've always been shocked and appalled with the amount of flesh that is in our faces constantly. No change there. But this daughter thing really bumps it up a notch.

Last week I put a one-piece swimsuit on my 4yo--one that was handed down. Too high at the hips. Too low in the front. She immediately pointed out to me how her "chest" was just barely covered. I was happy to know she was thinking properly.

She was eager to go look for swimsuits today. I've given it a lot of prayerful consideration over the last 2-3 years and have my limits. Limits, I might add, that are getting less tolerant. I used to think a one-piece was sufficient. I no longer feel that is enough. Couple that with growing older and the wisdom cellulite, plus bulges here and there I've gained and covering myself as also become priority.

I looked at a bunch of online places this week. All the standards and few surprises. There was this...
...from this company, which frankly scared me more than most swimsuits. It's a great alternative, but I'm not quite "there" yet. I realized that swim shorts and a shirt were more up my alley. Interestingly enough, I read a blog post not too long ago about a mom dressing her daughter like this and I (for a split second...or maybe an hour) thought she was nuts. I was so wrong. My apologies.

I was a bit worried that my daughter would see all the flowery, bright colored suits and have a difficult time with shorts and a surf tee, but she didn't. She actually preferred them and said she would be more comfortable. Hallelujah. I bought myself a pair of knee length swim shorts and I'll be much more comfortable too! :)

Lost and Found

He asked me why I kept checking on our 4yo. After all, she was with about 6 other kids playing away. My eyes, however, were on the swollen creek--the fast-flowing swollen creek. So I continued to check on her.

I answered his question with my mother's brain: "There are so many kids, they wouldn't know if she wasn't with them. I just want to see that she is."

Then she wasn't.

And they didn't know where she was.

Nobody knew.

The overwhelming panic and horror came on like a strong wind. I ran for the creek and looked it up and down, screaming her name. All the adults and children started looking for her. Back and forth I ran always with my eyes searching for her white tee and her smiling face. Always looking in the water; out of the water; in the water. No sign of her.

Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes.

I was shaking so bad I could hardly stand and as much as I felt myself about to collapse in a pile, I ran with that much more frantic fear.

Then I heard the voice of an adult saying they had her. I broke out in the fastest run of my life. There was another mom...a mom I didn't know, holding my baby and running toward me with the biggest smile on her face. Then I had my baby in my arms. Tears streaming down both our faces. "Mommy! I couldn't find you!"

"I know, baby. I couldn't find you either!" She was about 6-8 houses away.

The mom who found her gave me the biggest hug. "I have five kids. I know," she said. I'm so grateful for that mom who's name I didn't even get!

I don't know what the other parents were thinking during the searching, but I know what I was thinking. And now I'm nothing but grateful to God for His mercies and His loving hands upon us...and for my Mother's Day gift...

My children in my arms.

The History of Slavery

We read a really fabulous book this week: "Amos Fortune: Free Man", by Elizabeth Yates.

We've begun to near the start of the Civil War with our Truthquest History. I've looked forward to this topic for quite awhile since I learned absolutely nothing about it in school. All I've ever known I learned from movies like "Gone With the Wind", and the mini-series "North and South" (Can I just say, Patrick Swayze!). We know the north wore blue, the south wore grey. I was taught the north was right, the south was wrong. I was taught that it was all about slavery...evil people keeping slaves.

I remember very clearly reading a forum post about this war, and "hearing" very angry voices. This puzzled me a bit, and like a train wreck, I stopped to "watch". I was mortified to learn that not everyone thinks as highly of Abraham Lincoln as we always have. Gasp. I also learned that many people refuse to call it the "Civil War", but the "War Between the States". Lastly, I was shocked with declarations that this particular war was not about slavery. What could they possibly mean? As a rather entrenched northerner, I wandered. Indoctrinated? Most assuredly.

Michelle Miller, author of Truthquest, has done a fabulous job with her dialogs proceeding each area of study. Though not really that close to actually studying the war, (we probably won't get into the war until fall) she has laid the ground work for the growing un-rest. Issues of states rights are new to me (in regard to the North/South conflict).

She has also begun to show us just how entrenched in slavery this nation had become. To her credit, she speaks generally of various types of slavery. Including Biblical. That really has given us "Ah-ha" moments. As we've studied God's Word and learned about Biblical principles of self-government and "conscience as our most sacred of property" we better understand the idea that we are all slaves to sin and we often choose slavery, rather than a freedom that may be more costly. We reflect on the Israelites and their flight from Egypt; their constant turning from freedom of Godly worship to slavery of having things handed to them (compromise) and even today, we look at our country and the many loss of liberties that will eventually choke us and enslave us.

So as we read the book by Elizabeth Yates, we marveled how this slave turned free man, found his freedom in honoring God. We read how he described so many white men as being slaves to their money, their drink, their hatred, their thoughts. So many kinds of slavery!... I hadn't realized that this book was a true story. I highly recommend it!

As we've read further, and are getting more into this part of our nations HIStory, certain things have begun to make more sense to me. For instance, how a nation could actually turn guns on one another. The weird part is, I can kinda imagine it happening again. Hmmm. I look forward to studying this topic further and getting an even better picture of the truth.

Little Steps Are Nice

Recognizing little steps has been very encouraging to me on our quest for healthier, more simple living. Yesterday, for example, was the first time I poured vinegar into my rinse aid dispenser in the dish washer! Vinegar that is a lot cheaper than Jet Dry and also not toxic. My children (oldest) can even fill it now. That's a good feeling. Another thing to not have to buy!

We also made our second batch of laundry soap. Love it. We have had no adverse affects from the change over at all! Two cups lasted over a month! That's at least 30 washes; more like 45! Works like a charm. Mr. Sensitive Nose--that would be the husband--even approves! Still haven't finished my giant box of Bounce sheets yet, so not sure what I'm going to do then for softener. I'm still in "discovery" mode!

Eight Days

Only eight more days until the release of Prince Caspian. I should say, the very long awaited release. Two years and we can hardly wait another eight days! Son is still in the midst of reading the book on his own. We read it together once before. We figured it all up last night and he has to read 24 pages a day to get it done if he wants to see the movie on opening day. There are few movies that inspire us to such actions. Heehee! The Chronicles fit the bill! I hope we don't have to wait this long for the next installment.

We Saw It, and Other Bird Tales

Today we saw a Baltimore Oriole outside our schoolroom window. The screams from the children sent it across the street but not before we watched it's large streaks of orange flash before our eyes. It was beautiful and the only one we've ever seen. We want it back!

Though we thoroughly enjoy most things "bird", we had a rather bad experience with our feeder experiment during the first few chapters of "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day". We put up two, two-litre bottle feeders with different feed for the "experiment". We were literally ATTACKED and INFESTED and OVERRUN...BIG TIME...by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Yuck.


There had to be over a hundred and they devoured the seed in about 24 hours. My husband demanded we remove the offending feeder and "never put it up again!" Well, we bought a finch feeder because we'd seen numerous beautiful Yellow Finches. We weren't sorry! They came in numbers, but not offensive numbers! We truly enjoyed them. However, we'd like to attract other beauties to our yard without the Brown-headed Cowbirds descending from above. Every time we go to Lowes, we walk past the feeders and think about all the bird sightings we're missing.


We are in a relatively new development, but there are woods way behind us. Between us and the woods, is a golf course and a lake. We see all kinds of water birds, which is fascinating. We have a few Heron in the Spring that are quite exciting! Mostly, Geese and Ducks the rest of the time. The only other birds we've seen are Red-Winged Black Birds. Oh...and the Sparrows.


Let me just tell you...we have a psycho sparrow that has become rather "attached" to our house. We haven't been able to determine if there is a nest, but we have seen it with at least one other sparrow. But THIS sparrow first made itself known by attacking our patio door. And attacking. And attacking! It would flutter right against the glass and grab hold of the pane dividers. THEN, just when we thought that was weird enough, it began doing it to EVERY window in our house. We have 30+ windows! It would even attack the side-panel window by our front door! On our porch! AND our second story windows. All sides of the house. Very strange! We've been told it may like it's reflection? Who knows! Weird bird. You should see the poopy mess on my door steps! Ick! It has eased off a bit sense we've been outside most every day. I'm afraid he may be a permanent "resident" though. We saw him again today, right after our Oriole. Just what I need, MORE window cleaning. (Note: I've really, really tried to get pictures of him in the act. It's hopeless!)

So those are our up to date bird tales. If you have any experience you'd like to share to help us in our quest, I'd love the advice! Down with Cowbirds, UP with Orioles!!!

Dried Up

Boy! I just haven't had a thing to write this week. I've been so busy with the yard, that when I do get to the computer, my brain's a pile of mushy goo. I'm only writing this because once I do, I expect an onslaught of ideas to write about! Doesn't it always work that way?!!! :) Hope you all are having a great week!

The Envious Heart

Our family just watched the documentary, "The Journey Home". This is a Christian film about a father who gives up his job to take his family out into the boondocks to live more simply and spend more time as a family. It's a really good film.

Farming becomes their life and source of income. They go from 5 kids to 11. The mom goes from curled black hair--a nice 80's style!--to lower-back length grey. Mine would no doubt be the same color without Garnier Nutrisse. Designer clothes, to blue jumpers. It's a common story these days. It seems the longer we homeschool, the more of these types of stories we hear.

It all could not be further from our suberb/neighborhood existence...where you can't even have a clothes line--against the rules!

There are so many things appealing about their story and lifestyle. Spending NO money, looks good. Needing nothing looks good. Having your children unaffected and untouched by anything inappropriate, looks good. No urban drama. Nothing but reliance on God and total discipline.

It makes me a bit envious, though I know very well that God made individuals and the two grown up individuals in this house, wouldn't last a week (or a day!). But I really find myself asking why? Why couldn't we? Why haven't we?

Really, the craving--the desire--is to be in a perceived sinless life. Never making bad choices. Never spending more than we have. Never allowing our children too much computer time... Never yelling. Always having the house in order; the meals to perfection (including healthy). Being perfect role models and having the children be little saints. Utopia. Heaven?

Doing all the things we want to do and never doing the things we don't! Of course, this is not only unrealistic, but sin filled envy in it's own right. Instead of keeping up with the Jones', it's keeping up with the Smith's--the homeschool Smith's...the homeschooling, homesteading Smith's. The "look how obedient we are to God" Smith's. Though, of course, the "Smith's" would never say that or probably even think that--I'm just saying...

There is a fine line between contentment and obedience. I know that most of the time when I am discontent, I am in disobedience. Not to the world, or any lifestyle. Not to a set of rules or laws. But to God, whom in my own personal relationship, I have not followed the Holy Spirit's leading. I'll take my eyes off the Father for an instant and the instant is a week, or longer. The damage I do in that time has consequences. Now I better understand why my parents used to ask for the Lord's return. They were always so eager for better things. I get it.

I'm so thankful that the Lord has a hold on me. He gently turns my eyes toward Him and those eyes are able to see things in a new light. They see things more for what they are. Sometimes those things are unwanted and hard to envision, but they are true because of Jesus.

I want to live each moment in truth. I want to set aside my selfish affectations and do the job He has given me for such a time as this. With that goal firmly planted in my brain, the days look easier. Without it, they look impossible. I'm tired of impossible days.

Psa 90:1-17 ESV [A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.] Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (3) You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" (4) For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (5) You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: (6) in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (7) For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. (8) You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (9) For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. (10) The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. (11) Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (12) So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (13) Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! (14) Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (15) Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. (16) Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. (17) Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Getting instructions.

Ready...set...

You're alright! Get back on that bicycle!

That a Girl!

Next day... Not tentative, but at FULL speed!

The art of balancing.


You go girl!



Mission accomplished!

She learns quickly.
She is fearless.
She is determined.
She's not yet five.

Veggie Uprising

I actually did it!

I say that with elation, relief, and maybe a bit of disbelief. I actually did it. IT would be planning, building and PLANTING a vegetable garden. It's in. It's done--well, almost. Still have to put the trellis up and get a few more goodies to put in.

The first box.

The second box.


I had excellent help!

This is a big, BIG deal. This is HUGE. This is hilarious! (I giggle!) My mom, in heaven, is having a laugh over her "won't eat vegetables" daughter planting vegetables. Everyone who knows me is wondering if I'll ever eat any of them. I know they are thinking it. I can read it on their faces! :) Whether I will, or won't has yet to be determined, but I did IT. Whew!

Now, if I have to pick off bugs, I may quit. If I SEE a bug, I may quit. I'm praying for no bugs. I wonder if you're allowed to pray for no bugs?! It was one thing being up to my elbows in cow poop and compost, but I draw the line at vegetable eating bugs. Bleck!

This FIRST deserves a reward. There's ice cream, or chocolate, or chocolate ice cream....hmmm. The lawn mowing guy (not the husband, who hates to mow) is not going to be happy about having to maneuver around my gardens. I hope he doesn't find out about my bug "thing" and get even...

My inspiration? Well...there's this....

And this....

They love vegetables! Thank you, God! My little healthy eaters get to eat fresh veggies! Of course, the husband LOVES 'em too. Could never figure out how he has put up with my vegetablelessness (Is that a word?)

But there was also this mighty fine read: "The All New Square Foot Garden", by Mel Bartholomew. The best non-fiction gardening book I've ever read, and that's saying something!

Oh...We did have a near tragedy. Upon throwing down the hose, the sprayer came on and aimed directly at my precious girl, froze her to her seat (literally), soaking her to the bone and causing a short burst of tears. Thankfully, dry, warm clothes made everything just fine!

I'm definitely having a gardening "moment". Moments are a good thing!