birthblessed! (working title)

What should we do on Friday mornings?

2009-11-13T09:59:00.000-06:00

I would like to make an argument for just doing nothing.

Especially since you have something else planned every other morning of the week.

Just do nothing.

Maybe my kids have too much of nothing. They've never had daycare, or mother's day out, or even play groups to go to regularly. Occasionally I've committed to once-a-week storytime at the library but that has been perhaps 20 months worth out of the last 16 years.

This morning, this wonderful blessed Friday morning, was much like every other Friday morning. I slept in until 9:30. I was laying in bed awake since about 7:30 but was snoozing, then listening, then snoozing, etc. Listening to the sounds my kids made.

Well, the oldest don't make sounds. They're reading. My 12yo is still snuggled in bed reading; my 16yo got up and got on computer which he does every day. He checks his assignment lists and starts working, checking email and facebook as he goes.

But the 10yo, 8yo, 5yo and 3yo have been playing in the school room next to my door and the porch and yard outside my window. They have played with chickens and got chicken snot on their face when they tried kissing them. They decided to look at chicken snot under the microscope so came inside and smeared a slide across their cheek. (I know it's not chicken snot, but I haven't had enough coffee to figure out what they are really talking about.) They collected beetles and bugs and are looking at them under the magnifying glass. They are making a chart comparing the characteristics of each of the different beetles-- this one can fly, that one has horn things on its exoskeleton, this one has no exoskeleton.

Sometimes you just have to let them be "bored" and not. schedule. anything.

A mom with a 2yo and a newborn asked this question which prompted this post-- he has daycare or playgroups every other day and she's scared to death to have him home with nothing scheduled on Fridays. So I answer again. Just do nothing. Don't offer any excitement and then sit and watch what he does. Let him play, explore. Let him just have a quiet day at home with nothing to do.

You know WE love that right?

Yes I know it was different when Jacob was 2 and Ed was a newborn. Back then I honest to goodness put a waterbottle and a bowl of dry cereal out, and the child could honestly get himself up, pop a VHS in the machine and eat cereal as he watched a 2 hour movie and I could wake up slowly. Once when I was newly pregnant with John and Ed was snuggled in his crib near my bed, Jacob came tearing into my room, "ACCK I ate the RED SUGAR" and puked red all over my floor. It was cayenne pepper. Hahaha.... So please, do childproof or keep him contained to only his one, childproofed room. :O

Think Hybrid?

2009-11-12T09:47:00.000-06:00

What an excellent name for a blog post, it got my attention. And it is something that has been on my mind, lately. I was raised in a church atmosphere of "We're the only ones who really have this right. You depend on us for your spiritual needs, and you'll be ok." Visiting other churches occasionally at a friend's invitation was seen as suspect-- and you certainly could not have gotten your spiritual fill there. Worse, you probably were given wrong doctrine and will require "damage control." Add to this the rule-- spoken or unspoken-- that your regular attendance was required or you'd miss the best seats on the train to heaven.

The truth about church, Dustin Neeley points out, is "many movements and denominations market their brands as 'the way' to get the job done. However, because of our fallen world, none of us are entirely right about anything." He encourages, "'Thinking hybrid' is about drawing from a number of wells instead of just one. In doing so, we are able to maximize the strengths of our heroes while minimizing their weaknesses, instead of reproducing them in our own ministries."

Be warned, however. When you step out of your doctrinal comfort zone and consider other views, sometimes you are stretched. You see things in a new way. You actually start exercising your discernment, and you find yourself testing the things you've always believed against what Jesus actually said. Dustin says during this process you should do three things:

Read and listen widely: draw what you can and leave the rest.
Befriend someone from another "tribe" and see what God may say to you through him.
Be humble: is your insecurity so strong that you can't question what you've always believed?

Art in Books

2009-11-11T20:08:00.000-06:00

For Art Every Day Month, I introduced some books to my kids.
We browsed the books, talking about the pictures. I read some to the kids, let them read the rest. We also have this old board game from my childhood, Masterpiece. This game taught me to recognize many pieces by sight.

Iron Man 6 man football tournament

2009-11-09T21:06:00.000-06:00

Forgive me for not blogging the rest of last week. I was running teens around. I put about 500 miles on the vehicles, and never was more than 60 miles from home.

And the only camera I had with me, again, is my iPhone.

It was mostly really fun, though exhausting. I had 2 boys stay with us Thursday night. This was fun:

Remember when I used to have a line of diapers? Sigh.

Art in Hand

2009-11-03T22:44:00.000-06:00

November 3... Art Everyday is knitting. How FUN! The 5yo is learning, the 8yo is grumpy because he's had to pull out his knitting 5 times.

My favorite Christmas Music

2009-11-03T08:25:00.002-06:00

They were a YouTube viral sensation 2 years ago, and last year their work was released on this c.d. We love it. And not to disappoint, they have another release today:

A Creating Image

2009-11-02T20:50:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine on the Sonlight forums mentioned Art Every Day Month.

It seemed like fun, so we're trying it. I know you're on the edge of your seats, so I'll try to update regularly on our progress.

Today, my little artists made their daily foray into the manila paper and crayons, markers and colored pencils. By the end of the month my hope would be that we see more diversity in their creativity.

I picked up books from the public library to explore, Linnea in Monet's Garden, What makes a Rembrandt a Rembrandt, and more. I am looking for field trips as well- this won't be hard, we've been really lacking in this type of field trip. It was overwhelming to even think of taking a bunch of little kids to art museums. But now they are all getting bigger.....

Microgiving.

2009-10-29T13:54:00.000-05:00

On AustinMama listserv the other day, a Mama asked what other people did when they wished they could give leftovers to hungry people rather than letting them waste. She's asking about microgiving.

I mean, we'd all love to be Brangelina and build neighborhoods full of houses in New Orleans, adopt a housefull of orphans, give millions to various causes (don't bother googling, the first pages of hits are all the haters jealous that they can't have it all). Most of us barely have an extra $10 after meeting the demands of the exponentially increasing American standard of living.

My husband sent me a link to HopeMongers. A clearing-house of sorts for some of the kinds of projects in which we wish we could participate. Visit HopeMongers today. Or Kiva. Make a MicroGift to a project. Here's an idea-- make a MicroGift to each of the different projects, cut and paste the button each project has and create a gift card, and knock every person off your holiday gift list.

Mothering is so hard, it's easy.

2009-10-27T12:05:00.000-05:00

I was on the phone with a friend today, one who still has a young brood. Her thoughts and plans are still on difficulties of pregnancy, diapering, potty training... although her older kids are giving her a dose of reading instruction and even 3rd grade. We were discussing issues she's had with teenage foster daughters... and co-miserating over the struggle, strength and significance of mothering teenagers. The conversation shifted back to the physical discomforts of her 8-month-pregnant body, and I had a realization. There is nothing I miss about being pregnant or expecting a new baby. I have become that post-fertile woman who has little patience for the needs of babies and toddlers. I love to visit them, sure. I love to help new mamas and make sure they are steady on their feet.

But I don't want to DO it again.

I'm so busy in the life stage I'm at-- the needs of teenagers are ever so more pressing than I'd ever imagined. The large family boosters that I knew in my young motherhood were insistent that "more children aren't expensive, you don't need all that stuff being marketed" and "you train them when they're young and by the time they're teens, they are no work at all."

By the way, those are lies.

I'm not sure why they tell those lies--- or maybe more accurately, fail to tell you the disclaimers:

They are free for the first year or five, but then the costs start increasing exponentially. True, health insurance costs don't increase with the number of children and the deductible is the same. Once you have "3" there is no increase above that. BUT-- the increase in time to stay on the phone to make 7 appointments, and then the driving back and forth for 7 appointments, and the co-pays for 7 appointments can start to take a toll. And as much as none "need" extracurriculars the flat out truth is that you all want them, kids and parents alike. And even if I could afford $145/mo for martial arts, $145/mo for dance, $75 for soccer, $380 for football, $300 for all the various uniforms, jerseys, protective equipment and costumes... getting each of the kids to each of their various appointments, practices, games, picture days and parties starts to become ridiculous.
You train them when they are young, yes.... but when mom is sick for months on end during early pregnancy, and then on bedrest, and then newly postpartum and consumed with eat-play-sleep-repeat-ad nauseum, mom is often too tired for effective, long term rewards training. The oldest child become de facto caregiver and starts to think of himself as having authority never rightfully bestowed upon him. Which really does a number on his ego, superego, id and fantasy life.
....and when they are teens they are no work at all. This one was a lie from a pit. I have no idea where they came up with this one. When they are teens, they start getting their own ideas. You have to suddenly deal with dating. With planning out education to affect their futures. With driver education (you thought potty training was hard!?). With their social lives- you have to know their friends, and their friends' parents. You have to drive hundreds of miles a week. And education- well, I just can't go there without reverting to a fetal position and sucking my thumb.

The struggle of mothering is itself a full time job, and I've yet to meet a mother who wasn't also responsible for any number of other full or part-time positions, including keeping her own house, working from home, working outside the home (at a "real job"). Then there are the mothers like my friend who opens her home and life to foster care services, my friend whose child has a lifelong permanent disability, my friends who homeschool, my friends who support the family because their husbands are disabled. The strength this job takes is incredible, and anyone who is not a mother will never understand. The significance of what we do is mind-shattering: our entire futures depend upon it.

Consciousness Sunday

2009-10-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

My e-friend Robin posted this today, and it goes along so perfectly with the type of stuff I have said here.

Live simply so others can simply live.

My friend Tanya made a suggestion recently that I just love. How about finding ways to give gifts without increasing our piles of stuff and also helping someone who needs help? Here are a few suggestions (in no particular order).

Making a financial donation to an organization like Compassion International?

How about this one: Heifer International

I know some people don't really appreciate getting a note that says "A donation has been made in your name to ______." How about this idea instead? Their focus: "Fair trade allows you to give unique, high-quality gifts to family and friends— while giving hope and income to the poor."

If you still need a little encouragement to let go of the idea of "getting more stuff" - lets see if Bono can inspire you.

Biscuits and Gravy, Austin style

2009-10-17T13:07:00.003-05:00

Here are Reuben and Belen in December 07, visiting with Dusty Biscuit after a Christmas concert at Gateway Church. This was their first introduction to The Biscuit Brothers, an Austin original. [Note, turn on your speakers and click that link, and enjoy listening while you finish reading my post.] These guys have sweet, sweet vocals (as Buford says) and catchy rhythms and tunes. The kids love them, particularly Eden, who asks for "Bickit Wuber" any time she thinks we'll turn on a CD or DVD.

Belen and her friend Lucca, with Buford in Nov 08.

The Biscuit Brothers teach the children about music, as they sing and play from Old MacDonald's Magical Musical Farm. They also teach children about interpersonal relationships and community values with Austin's unique style and spirit on this EMMY® Award winning show.

Of course my little girls love Buttermilk Biscuit the best. She is Buford & Dusty's beautiful dancing sister. She's smart, sassy, spectacular.

And today I got in my inbox, special news! All their stuff is on a special sale~ You really should get the "Live in Concert" DVD because my kids are on it. ;) Our Christmas would not be complete without the Biscuits' "Twelve Days" or Tiny Scarecrow's "I left out bad sushi for Santa" so be sure you get the Christmas CD as well. You can't go wrong with any of their DVDs that contain the shows that play on PBS. And at these prices, you may as well just get one of everything~

(if you are one of my kids' aunts or uncles reading this, please be aware I already have copies of "Live in Concert" for my nieces and nephews, so buy something else!)

The Big Biscuit Size Pre-Holiday Sale!
All our music CDs have been marked down to $10 for a limited time! Yes, you heard a-right. Visit our online store at CD Baby to purchase with a credit card, or if you'd like to send a check "old-school" you can mail your CD request and a check for $10 each (plus $3 shipping) to:

Biscuit Biz
9109 Wampton Way
Austin, Texas 78749

As an added bonus for you folk who decide to support both the postal service and the Biscuits - if you mail us a check AND order more than one CD, we'll waive the shipping charge!

BUT WAIT, there's MORE! If you decide to mail us a check and order more than one CD (remember, they make great Holiday gifts!) you can also request a personal autograph from the Biscuit Brothers! Just tell us who to sign them to and we'll get the Biscuits to make their mark on your music. If you want them to, that is.

So, to recap the Big Biscuit Size Pre-Holiday sale:

All CDs are $10 for a limited time

Order online here with a credit card

Send a check to the address above for $10 + $3 shipping if you'd like to pay that way.

Or, the best deal of all, pay by check to our direct address above, order more than one CD at $10 each and we'll ship them for free plus the Biscuit Brothers will even sign your CDs if you include a note asking for it.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have read this far, you could possibly be a winner of a Biscuit Brothers' LIVE IN CONCERT DVD.

Well, my friend Lyme gets the DVD... She's the winner, I'm obviously the loser since no one comments on my blog. Oh well. :)

Marrying home repairs with knowing Jesus

2009-10-10T14:59:00.000-05:00

On a day to day basis, it's not always easy to remember, but this is what it's all about. That's basically what my dear husband said to me after listening to John Piper in the van as we drove 9+ hours home from Mississippi yesterday.

Almost a month ago [ironically now I'm realizing it was Sept 11, which folks want to make a Day of Service....] I noticed a Facebook friend posted, "I'd give anything to just have a full hamper. I've got the fence lying down in the backyard, the pool is too heavy for me to get in the attic (but I will still try), there are holes in most of the walls, some of the doors are off the hinges or won't close, the closets are so full you can't close the doors, and I have to get everything out of the storage unit and into this house somehow so I won't have the bill hanging over my head. I'd rather just put it all in a dumpster and start over. Or put it all in a dumpster and NOT start over. But most of it isn't mine, so I can't do that."

My heart was immediately touched. I knew she'd been dealing with some pretty hard times. I sent her a message almost a week later-- asking if I could help. Her response was, "Would people really want to do all that? You would do that for me?" And I replied back, "I offered, because if you were my sister I'd be a wreck over this."

"And well, Jesus told me you ARE my sister."

So we put aside our own home repair/renovation project and drove to Mississippi for Fall Break. Fixing the fence was so much easier than we'd imagined-- digging in Mississippi mud was ever so much faster than hard Texas clay and rock. My 8 year old kept insisting we must have hit a water line, as the hole was filling up with water faster than he dig! We had an impromptu lesson on the water table and maximum saturation.

While Jeff and some of the boys worked on the fence, I worked indoors with other boys. They were happy to make holes in the drywall into nice neat squares that could be patched. There were about 18 holes that varied in size from 3x3" to 18x32" as well as another dozen holes that were small enough to just fill with putty and not patch.

Every room had holes where the doorknobs had just gone through, so one son was put to work taking out broken door stoppers and installing new ones. Jeff also repaired a door that was ripped off its hinges.

Last but not least, the support column whose failure was causing the porch roof to sag. It's doing its job now.

A little serious discussion to my women friends out there.... (the next snippet used with permission from my forum friend who wrote it).

While I do not wish to fearmonger, I do feel it is wise to educate. Therefore, for your perusal, and possible need-to-share-with-a-friend-one-day need, I post the following:

1. The Non-Violence Wheel. This wheel represents healthy relationships wherein two people give regard and value to one another. (This will open a .pdf file, for which you need Adobe Acrobat to read.)

2. The Violence Wheel. This wheel represents unhealthy relationships wherein one, or both partners are attempting to assert and maintain power and control of the relationship. (This also opens a .pdf file.)

3. A link to an Abuse Cycle Wheel. This chart notes the repeated cycle of abuse-pattern behaviors.

4. A link to an excellent Abuse resource. This website can be used to walk a person through abuse education one step at a time. Literally. The information is segmented so that the reader need not feel overwhelmed by content, but can read a bit day by day as they learn and grow; or, all at once.

Extracting oneself from this crippling cycle is possible. A heathy, normal life is attainable. The Lord restoring the years the locusts have eaten [Joel 2:25-27] is a real promise.

If you or someone you love is in need of help, please do not hesitate to pass this information on.

Many thanks to the 15 other ladies from the Sonlight forums, and their families, who sacrificed in order to fund this project. So much was raised in just a few days, that there are leftover Lowe's cards to use for another need.

Every Day

2009-10-05T12:07:00.001-05:00

It would be well if professing Christians in modern days studied the four Gospels more than they do. No doubt all Scripture is profitable. It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of another. But I think it would be good for some who are very familiar with the Epistles, if they knew a little more about Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Now, why do I say this? I say it because I want professing Christians to know more about Christ. It is well to be acquainted with all the doctrines and principles of Christianity. It is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself. It is well to be familiar with faith and grace and justification and sanctification. They are all matters "pertaining to the King." But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself, to see the King’s own face, and to behold His beauty. This is one secret of eminent holiness. He that would be conformed to Christ’s image, and become a Christ–like man, must be constantly studying Christ Himself. [http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/h12.htm]

Remodel means re-arranging

2009-10-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Yes, we're still remodeling. If you've been with me that long, you may remember that last October we bought Ikea flooring on sale for about 60 cents per square foot. We laid that floor in one bedroom and the hall last Christmas break, and this week we finally did the other bedroom.

You may remember that last Christmas break, we also happily emptied the room that was the "office" and relocated mom's and dad's computers to the master bedroom, to make this front room the Girls' Room. We painted, set up their loft, and it seemed perfect.

We crammed the clothes for all 3 girls into this old wardrobe I picked up for $30, and 2 old dressers that are pass-alongs from other family members.

What, exactly, was I thinking? Did I really think 3 girls, all their multiplying clothes and multiplying dolls and accoutrements would fit comfortably in a 108sf bedroom?

When we emptied the back bedroom so we could fix the walls (what IS it with boys putting holes in drywall?), paint and put down the flooring, we made the decision to put the 3 younger boys in the front bedroom and the 3 girls into the back bedroom, and the teen will get the front den all to himself.

The girls wasted no time reclaiming this bedroom.

In no time, they filled both closets. And honestly, the teen is so happy to have that front den to himself, he hasn't fussed that the walls are apple green and blossom pink.

(an observation) I have pretty much never......

2009-09-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

(or did it once and never again)....drilled phonics sounds. Sat with "first readers" and asked my child to sound out words. Done flash cards with math facts.

But each of my kids over age 10 just knows these things.

Not all the under 10s do. Not all the kids who know these things now knew them a couple years ago.

But they picked it up somehow. Where?

I didn't have any stress sitting next to them waiting for them to sound out a word. There were no power struggles over 9+7.

I never really even drilled multiplication facts. Yeah, sometimes we play doing drills and have little competitions, calling out facts. But it's not something we do daily.

They just seem to have figured it out.

Honestly, sometimes I think I'm doing things wrong when I read the way other homeschoolers do these types of things with their kids ages 5-10.

My kids are playing Lego, building in a sandbox, playing with their pet laying hens, playing dollies, watching TV and playing computer games.

But then I read posts on the homeschool forum where someone is frustrated with a power struggle with a younger child who "doesn't get it" or is "refusing" to perform on command. I read suggestions to "make" the child perform. And honestly?

I feel grieved. And I think, it doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem natural. Yet- I know I get frustrated with my kids too--- just this morning I raised my voice to emphasize how unhappy I was that their floor was covered with Lego when no-one is playing... and that the bathroom was an absolute disaster area. I told them I wanted them to each copy the Bathroom Rules poster.

Then I went back to MY activity and smiled seeing them in my peripheral vision, cleaning their bathroom and bedroom.....

And my 12yo just brought me the Bathroom Rules poster and showed me the first few lines he's copied and asked if it was OK if he copied it that way---

in what appears to be Elvish Runes.

:giggle:

"Sure, if you can read it."

I sat down to type this and through my window can hear happy childish sounds on the back porch.

Throughout all this, my teen has been at the table doing his high school work. It's all loaded on Home School Tracker Plus, he just opens HST+ and checks his agenda, does the work and emails it to me, and marks it "done" on the agenda. Then he does the Teen homeschool forum some.

He knows all his multiplication tables. And his Algebra 2, personal finance, and all the math he needs to do his Physics. He knows how to sound out pretty much any word, but he also knows how to look it up at Dictionary.com to see the pronunciation. In fact, he knows how to find the answer to anything he questions.

Einstein is said to have said, it's a waste of brainpower to memorize anything one can look up. I still recommend the books, Einstein Never Used Flashcards, Hard Times in Paradise, and Better Late than Early (see widget in sidebar).

Imagine-- an inspiration from the blog, 22.

2009-09-28T12:06:00.000-05:00

Today's inspiration is from the blog, 22 words and from my personal journey.

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

no hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...

[John Lennon, 1971]

Why did John Lennon pen these words? He was a hurting person in a lost and dying world. Why is the world lost and dying? Because the Redeemer tarries out of mercy.

Mercy? We want it NOW. But He tarries for our mercy? Making us wait is mercy?

There are still hurting people out there in this lost and dying world who have not met the Redeemer. It is a mercy for Him to wait until these have the chance to hear and respond.

And sometimes instead of working to bless others with the Reality of the Redeemer, religious people work on religion. Paul answers that, in Romans. When Paul was writing, the religious people were the converted Jews who wanted everyone to perfect the Jewish laws- Jesus was a Jew and never sinned, so presumably He kept all the Jewish laws (except of course, in the gospels there are examples of Jewish laws He broke... a tiny detail to the ones who loved the law, I suppose). Paul expresses to us the folly of religion:

^1-3Believe me, friends, all I want for Israel is what's best for Israel: salvation, nothing less. I want it with all my heart and pray to God for it all the time. I readily admit that the Jews are impressively energetic regarding God—but they are doing everything exactly backward. They don't seem to realize that this comprehensive setting-things-right that is salvation is God's business, and a most flourishing business it is. Right across the street they set up their own salvation shops and noisily hawk their wares. After all these years of refusing to really deal with God on his terms, insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show for it.

^4-10The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story— no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?

   The word that saves is right here,
      as near as the tongue in your mouth,
      as close as the heart in your chest.
It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"
^11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."
^14-17But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims,

   A sight to take your breath away!
   Grand processions of people
      telling all the good things of God!
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.
^18-21But haven't there been plenty of opportunities for Israel to listen and understand what's going on? Plenty, I'd say.

   Preachers' voices have gone 'round the world,
   Their message to earth's seven seas.
So the big question is, Why didn't Israel understand that she had no corner on this message? Moses had it right when he predicted,

   When you see God reach out to those
      you consider your inferiors—outsiders!—
      you'll become insanely jealous.
   When you see God reach out to people
      you think are religiously stupid,
      you'll throw temper tantrums.
Isaiah dared to speak out these words of God:
   People found and welcomed me
      who never so much as looked for me.
   And I found and welcomed people
      who had never even asked about me.
Then he capped it with a damning indictment:
   Day after day after day,
      I beckoned Israel with open arms,
   And got nothing for my trouble
      but cold shoulders and icy stares. (Romans 10, The Message)

Whiskey Wednesday

2009-09-23T16:27:00.001-05:00

So there is Works for Me Wednesday and Waste Not Wednesday. But what if we had something called Whiskey Wednesday? Pour a little mountain moonshine (or not, that's ok, you can use your imagination) and listen to this:

She's still blogging

2009-09-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

Ever feel like you are so busy with real life that you can't think of what to write about in a blog?

I haven't even been reading half the blogs I try to keep up with. I've been learning more about blogging, and helping Jeff with his blog. And I'm learning HomeSchoolTracker Plus and getting my teen going on his home schooling. The rest of the kids are thriving with unschooling, making mostly wise choices of their time. My 7th grader has been designing with Google Sketch-Up. Wait, that's SO last week. This week, he's exploring with Paint. In addition, he's been reading about the Reconstruction period and Westward Expansion. My younger kids have been playing Oregon Trail, reading the history book basket books and every other book they can get their hands on. They all keep up with their math workbooks on their own paces.... Okay, I gotta go back to work~ what are y'all up to? How is your school year going?

repost from my dh's blog:God’s Work in Atlanta

2009-09-12T18:22:00.003-05:00

(from MediaArtsDad.com)

Amy and I had a very encouraging time in Atlanta this last weekend and met some incredible folks. I wanted to give a shout out to these ministries and people and thank them again for their encouragement and their faithfulness in serving Jesus where they have been called.

First, a big thank you to Nate Ledbetter for sharing some time with us, showing us what they are doing at MetroMerge and FCS Urban ministries and giving us a glimpse of his heart for the people in South Atlanta. We were introduced to Nate by Christie Norwood, who it was also a pleasure to meet and get to know a little. Christie works with Charis Community Housing, which is another one of FCS Urban ministries outreaches into that neighborhood. The whole FCS Urban family of ministries is doing some great work, reaching out to people and ministering to people on many different levels in many different ways. Very encouraging and I would encourage you to take a few minutes and explore their websites.

Second, a big shout out to Anthony Carter and East Point Church. An amazing church plant intentionally reaching out into the neighborhood in an area where most of the big established churches are slowly dying, it was a breath of fresh air to get to fellowship, worship and break bread together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

We had a good time of seeking the Lord’s will for us, talking about and planning the future for our family and some good time in prayer. We skipped most of the “attractions”, but spent our time exploring the city by rail, bus and on foot, learning about the people, neighborhoods, history and what is happening now. And yes, we did a LOT of walking – through neighborhoods, down “main streets” and through various places in the city. We met quite a few people, often with just a friendly “hello”, but others we stopped and talked to for a while.

We also fell in love with Joe’s coffee house (their site is not currently up, but here) in East Atlanta Village. We kept finding ourselves ending up there for coffee or other drink and to rest and talk – even if we were on the other side of Atlanta when we decided we needed coffee!

It's still Monday, by the way.

2009-09-07T22:18:00.002-05:00

Labor Day is past, and in the U. S. that means it's now, for everyone, time for school (if you haven't started already). The archaic school calendar that runs roughly September to June, or August to May in some locales, makes very little sense in today's modern world, but there you have it. If you aren't in school yet, why not? Put away your flip flops, pull on your big girl panties and get back with the program.

And quit blaming Monday!

(And that was my big motivational speech.)

Control? Chisel?

2009-08-30T21:21:00.002-05:00

Starting a School Year

2009-08-26T10:21:00.002-05:00

One thing that any home schooling mom needs, this time of year especially, is support. The reasons for home schooling are as many and varied as the families who choose it (and listing them all is not the theme of this post), but I choose home schooling because I am not content with the mundane. Mediocrity is living the 9 to 5, go-to-an-institution life; we rebel against that. My husband doesn't have that kind of job, either. We don't need that kind of life to feel successful. Being forced into that kind of life would feel confining. But even after having made a very careful and conscious decision to be counter-cultural, staying steady and sticking to it can be hard without support.

That's why I am glad that Monday I received encouragement from unschoolers at the AAH annual Not Back To School party. Yesterday I received encouragement from Sonlight friends who are relaxed home schoolers and "get me." So today at home I stayed in the background. Worked on my blog and editing, reading, researching, and giving and receiving encouragement on the Sonlight forums with my e-maginary friends. At first, my tween was at a table in the School Room doing sums in her math workbook, my preteen was at his desk doing a math workbook, my teen was at the breakfast bar with the computer digging into his history software, my 3rd grader was at the table in the living room doing his math page. After a while it got quiet.

I silently moved through the house, and found my tween and 3rd grader at the couch discussing her lesson in Serl's (Intermediate Language Lessons). She was sharing an original creative writing piece she'd just written- and he was sharing one he'd written. My preteen was story-boarding for a history project. My teen was digging into his Personal Finance class (DVD and workbook). They were all learning. And laughing. And engaging in relationship.

My productive time today has been punctuated with requests to print spelling worksheets and handwriting practice worksheets. I've punctuated their time with requests to listen to me read a story to them. Everyone is happy and productive. We're encouraging and supporting each other through relationship.

Homeschooling 5 this year!

2009-08-20T20:15:00.005-05:00

This will be my 11th year homeschooling! And my 9th using Sonlight Curriculum.

We'll be doing Core 100 and Core 4 together this year to study U. S. History, Geography, Literature and Science. 7th grader is using Key To maths including Decimals, Algebra, and Geometry and The Key To Tracker. 5th grader is using Horizons Math. 3rd grader is finishing up Miquon this year.

My 11th grader: I'm putting him on a modified schedule, with a slightly lighter load during football season. To the Core 100, he will add in Honors U. S. History and Honors U. S. Literature & Composition from Hewitt, Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2, Rosetta Stone German, Dave Ramsey's Personal Finance, test prep classes and driver's ed. In January he'll sign up for dual enrollment classes at the community college- he wants to sign up for Physics and German or ASL there.

My kindergartner will use My Father's World K.

Gotta case of the Mondays?

2009-08-17T15:41:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I realize that my job as mom to a large family is a really big, really hard job.

[Greenies, don't read this paragraph- I violated everything I stand for!] Last night, I treated the 5 kids with me to McDonald's. The girls had heard there were American Girl toys. We ordered 4 Happy Meals- and the receipt clearly shows 3 girls, 1 boy... but we got 4 girl toys. We were in the drive-through so the error wasn't noticed until we were home.

So my oldest starts badgering me from before my first coffee, "When can we go get my paycheck?" The youngest son is badgering me, "When are we going back to get my boy toy?"
The 2nd son forgot to take his wallet to school, so he has no bus pass or money to get home- will I be there to get him?
My 3rd son is working on some project for his closet- he's out in the woodshop. He is using power tools. He's 12.
My daughters are trying to declutter, sort, clean their room- it seemed so big and nice when we last re-did it in December, but lately it's been half the size they need.
What's for lunch? What's going to be for dinner for that matter? I need to get my menu and grocery list done- I had done one for 2 weeks but the 2nd week got lost. Besides, I think that was almost 3 weeks ago now. I still have the ingredients for some of the meals on that menu, some of them anyway. Someone helped themselves to some of the ingredients so I can't make that dish. Or this other one. We're outta milk! We're outta bread! No tortillas either!
Have I finished my editing work for DH? Have I got the stuff done for Boy Scouts? Then I look in my email~ big mistake! The Cub Scouts still are needing 5 more leaders, there's a meeting Sept 1. Meetings will change from Weds to Tues, meaning that my 7 year long habit now much change. Oh, there's a City Planner meeting Sept 2. I'm leaving town Sept 3, get back late the night of the 6th. Orthodontist Sept 8. Oh yeah- that reminds me! The dentist appointment we had to make for John six months ago-- for Weds at 10? He'll be with the Youth Group at Six Flags. Gotta call and cancel the appointment today or we'll get a no-show fee.

"Mom, when can we go to get my boy toy?" That again? I just got home from taking the teen diagonally all the way across town to get his paycheck, stopping at the bank to make deposits, running into the CVS for milk, and dropping off a bus pass at ds2's school. I am working on editing and staring at this pile of papers on my desk, wondering when I'll finally get home school materials ready to start a new school year. There are still dishes at the sink-- I can still hear a few of them arguing, "They're not my dishes." I still need to pull something out of the freezer to thaw for supper. I have to leave in a few to take the oldest to football practice, then come home and make supper- I'll whip up some biscuits and gravy I guess.
"Honey, be ready when it's time to go get your brother after practice. I'll drop him off at home and run to the store. You can come with me, and we'll stop to get the toy they owe you then."
Of course this will put him late for bed. And it's not the store I want to shop at, but it's the one nearest the Maccas (as my Aussie friends call it).

This is fascinating- the newest in baby bottles

2009-08-12T14:13:00.002-05:00

Babble Best: Bottles

Many of my friends and contacts are new mothers, or work with new mothers. This article on bottles is very informative and helpful. It's even possibly something doulas and breastfeeding educators may want to print and keep in their materials.