Playing School

Hands in soapy water, I field one question after another from my daughters as they work on their school tasks. A spelling question, a historical fact, a question of logic; all of these flow freely back and forth in a natural dialogue. This is the learning lifestyle I had longed for 12 years ago when we first began our home school journey.

Of course, I don't always have the answers. This leads to some questions of my own:

I don't know. How could we find out?

Where would you look for that information?

What do you think?

Is the dictionary nearby? What about the thesaurus?

Learning by osmosis keeps a level of anticipated discovery in all of us. When we go to the encyclopedia to look up a fact, we can't help but read a few tidbits surrounding our quest. I love when I hear, "Hey, Mom! Did you know that . . . " or "Hey, Mom! Check out what this says!" or "Hey, Mom! This says one thing, but I'm pretty sure the other book said another thing. Do you remember?" This would be missed if we simply hit up Google or wikipedia! They only display one fact at a time!

So what if my encyclopedias are dated 1988. As long as we're not looking for current events . . .

This same principle applies to map work. Any time spent looking at a map will teach volumes more than a textbook with a workbook. At the R Zoo, they have a map placed under the glass of their dining room table. Perfect! I can't tell you the pleasure we've all had at their home, pouring over countries and continents. I can't tell you the stories of travels and peoples that come up in conversation because of it.

The part I hate about home schooling is how quickly I become the enemy. Unfortunately, I must also ask questions such as "Have you finished your science?" and "Did you do your vocabulary?" and "Have you started your math?" I have been reassured countless times that they're not mad at me, per se, but they're angry at the fact that they have slacked off and have fallen behind - again.

My favorite part of home schooling, however, comes when God shows me a glimpse of the work He is doing in the lives of my children. I am privilege to watch Diligence triumph over Laziness. I am a witness to Selfishness dying to Service. I watch intense spiritual battles turn into spiritual victory, and I want to sink to my knees in thankfulness. (I may have to do this one time, just for effect!)

How much I would have missed if my stubborn will had not given in to home schooling.

I had no idea it would be like this.

I had no idea it COULD be like this.

It has, unequivocally, been worth it.

I laugh with my fellow home school moms and count down to the day I will be finished with all of this and free from the tyranny of schedules and grades (four and a half years left, to any who are wondering). Still, there's a stronger voice telling me how precious and sweet this is. I'm not to wish it away or count it down, for just as that 9 pound, downy-soft infant became a 6ft tall man too soon, so this will end.

Too soon.

The Pain of Loyalty

Becoming a rabid college football fan can be extremely painful!

When I lived in California, we rarely paid attention to college teams. We had so many professional teams to enjoy! I will ever be a Chargers, Padres, and Lakers fan. Forever!

Since moving to Florida, we have caught the passion that comes with being the fan of a college team. There are three sides to choose - Miami (bleh), Florida State (meh), or University of Florida (roaring crowd noise here!). We have pretty much become Gator fans!

For tonight's game, Himself went to a friend's house to watch while I stayed with one-who-needed-to-finish-school-on-a-Saturday. About the third quarter, I decided to see if I could catch the game live on line.

I was in luck, but I didn't like what I saw. Gators were behind!

I knew I needed to hit the shower, so I thought I'd be super clever and put the laptop in the bathroom and take a tub bath. I had everything safely away from the water and tilted at just the right angle. I hopped into the tub and looked triumphantly up at the screen on the bathroom counter.

I couldn't see a thing.

I definitely can't see any distance without my glasses! Since I was already in the tub and my mother's warnings through the ages were ringing in my head, I did NOT try to move the laptop closer. Instead, I fumbled around for my glasses and decided to wash my face last.

I'm sure everyone reading this knows what happened next.

Yes, after 10 minutes, the screen saver came on. [sigh] Fortunately, I could still HEAR the game. UNfortunately, the Gators did not come through with a win. By the time I got out of the tub, I was fighting tears along with our quarterback.

Thank you, Tim Tebow . . . for everything.

I hope we see MANY MORE just like you.

Oh Lord . . .

Dear Lord,

This has been a great week! I don't hate anyone, I don't blame anyone for the trials of life, and the house isn't overwhelming me.

But, Lord, I know the hormones are coming around again soon. Would you please protect my mind, my family, and my friends?

Thank You.

Well, What Do You Know?

After we stood in line in the third world country to buy our raw milk, I was curious to see if I could skim the cream and make butter.

It worked!

I put it in a Tupperware container used to mix protein shakes and shook it for all it was worth. I'm not sure how long it took, but my arms certainly got a workout! The end result was enough butter to put in my butter bell.

Now I know why the man who invented the butter churn, on a rocker, was popular. During the entire shaking process, I was trying to think of easier ways to make the butter. After all, I'm a modern woman living in modern times!

I also wonder what on earth families did with all that milk when they milked a cow daily.

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

It's been a while since we've heard from Jess at Making Home.

I like the attitude adjustment she gave this morning! Moment by moment, we can choose the way we think of others.

Monday Musings

What a sweet holiday. I loved eating at the R's! They made it so fun (and full) for all of us.

I hopped on the scale at Publix today. My cell phone must weigh a ton because it was in my pocket and my weight was more than it should be. Maybe I should go for a slim phone? [yuk]

Ty had a horrible cold, and now his sisters have the same horrible cold! We're so thankful that he made the long drive to be with us. On the way home there was so much traffic, it took him 13 hours to make the 10.5 hour drive! I'm glad he didn't stay for church but got an early start.

We don't have a working camera right now, so no pictures!

On Sunday evening Glenna, Himself, and I went to pick up some raw milk. After reading Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck, we're convinced that raw milk is the way to go. Himself says it was like a weird, third world experience as we stood in line in someone's driveway, waiting to buy milk. At least we had an adorable boxer with a deflated soccer ball to entertain us! She would take turns bringing the ball to people in line so they could kick it for her.

We came home and did the taste test of the raw whole milk vs. the store bought whole milk. The raw milk was definitely richer, while the store milk has a watery after-taste. Still, for what we pay for it, it's almost used for medicinal purposes only. Raw milk = white gold. I wish Florida would make it legal to sell raw milk as other states have done. Then maybe we wouldn't have to stand in a driveway to buy some.

I've started my Christmas shopping. Going to be a light year, but I know it won't be light in the area of God's blessings! Already, He has done so much for us to be thankful for.

Happiness

I looked out my kitchen window this morning as I do every morning.

This time, a white Blazer was parked in its usual spot.

OH YES.

All of my chicks are back in the nest until Sunday! The hugs I received from my son were so precious. Gladly, I'm wading through his piles of laundry. (I insisted he bring his laundry. Isn't it a tradition when a child comes home from college?)

I'm determined NOT to be on the computer much, so I won't be blogging until Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Table Talk

I made a hearty minestrone soup and placed it before my family.

Himself: Whenever I eat something like this, I feel like I'm in a Louis L'Amour novel. I'm one of the cowboys sitting around eating the stew that's thick and good.

Kelly: Really? When I eat something like this, I feel like I'm a sailor. I've come into the galley for a bite before going back on deck. I put on my thick, itchy sweater because it's the only one I own.

Glenna: When I eat something like this, I feel like an orphan.

:/

My son comes home tomorrow! I've not seen him since Labor Day weekend. I can't wait!

Oh!

My head was relaxing in the shampoo bowl as Ruthie began to pull the foil strips off. I've been looking forward to this shampoo for so long! Suddenly, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.

I wait. If it's a text message, it will only vibrate twice. This, however, continues vibrating in an urgent manner. I dig under towel and cape and pocket to retrieve the phone and see that it's Kelly.

"I'd better take this, Ruthie." I knew that Kelly wouldn't interrupt my singular alone time for a trivial matter.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Kelly!"

Silence.

"Kelly?"

"Mom! I've just been accepted at CC College! They just called on the phone!"

"What????!!!!??" I sit bolt upright and leave Ruthie scrambling for towels. I ask her to repeat it, and the poor girl is understandably "freaking out" with the news. We both start screaming.

Then we tell Ruthie, and Ruthie starts screaming along with us!

Just like that, my life is changed. Again.

My daughter is going to college. Not just any college, but the college her heart has been set on since her Junior year of high school!

We can't stop smiling!

A Poem

A Poem, by Kelly W.

I hate doing dishes
I hate them a lot
Next time I do them
I'll die on the spot

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

I know I post from this gal often, but you have to see this.

I would love to be able to reduce my grocery bill to what she pays, but the truth is, I wouldn't even know what to DO with half of the items she purchases!

And if I were doing all those things, where would be the time for my selfishness and sin nature?

Maybe that's the point?

Oh No She Didn't!

This amateur real-food advocate did NOT feed her husband Top Ramen with cocktail weenies.

Oh no she didn't!

Strange

Strange things that I find in my inbox:



Today is Domestic Duty Day, then Missions Conference begins tonight!

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

Our pastor has been talking about this for a couple of weeks now, and over at Jenny Hope she posted this video to put us in our place. This, my friends, is perspective!

You're welcome. =)

More of This, Less o f That

Something that made me smile this weekend.


I love watching The Amazing Race. Himself and I would never be able to do it. I would try to take over and he would get stubborn and one of us would be buried in a cornfield with the travel gnome.

I gave Jack a haircut this weekend. He actually looks really good! This time, I put him on a table so he was at my level. I figured out the right angle for the clippers, and he even let me do his ears. He has been much less miserable since his haircut and bath. However, that leads me to -

I've been up since 3 a.m.

While giving Jack a haircut, night came and mosquitoes arrived. My feet and ankles are so bitten that I can hardly sleep.

Welcome to Florida.

The Little Engine that Could . . .

. . . should!

Praying for a certain small engine to START today! Go Ty!

Feeling pretty good about some things, pretty cruddy about others. I'm having an "I quit!" season where I just want to check out of everything and stay in my room and read. I know the best thing for that is to get out and DO, so here goes!

Looking forward to a Beautiful Girlhood evening with my Glenna!





God Bless Texas.

Overheard and Overseen

The tanned and burly landscaper on his phone, "Ok, so you'll wear the tights? Let's do it!"

Outside my kitchen window:

The recycle truck pulls up. The muscled laborer in his coveralls dumps the recyclables, places the containers back on the lawn, then does several fantastic dance moves (including a spin and booty shake) on the way to the other side of the truck. With a double toot on the horn, they were off.

I love when God sends me smiles like these!

Back in the Day . . . .

. . . people ate beef stew or beans.

And they liked it.

Now, if I don't have a menu plan printed and posted on the fridge, I'm less likely to make something other than leftovers.

Tuesday is Guest Star Day!

Here's a myth that just needs busting.

Enjoy!

Registration

Today is the day Kelly's scheduled to register for her classes. We researched classes and professors and we're ready to go as soon as the clock says 4 pm! Even though she's considered a "returning student," she still had to wait. Trusting God for her classes.

Sending in applications for college and scholarships for NEXT year is a new territory for us. Prayerfully, she'll be attending a Christian college about 2 hours from here.

I don't know how we're going to pay for it at this point.

Everywhere else, it seems, people go into debt up to their eyeballs for college. At my church, it seems everyone is able to go debt-free. How do they do this? I know they earn state scholarships, but where are these magical grants everyone talks about?

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I thought I would want to stay home at for at least the first six months. When they put that newborn in my arms, however, I knew there was no way on earth I was leaving him. Himself and I made the decision to live without so many things so I could be home with the children. We drove clunker cars, didn't go out to movies, didn't take expensive vacations, wore our clothes until they fell off (or bought some on clearance or at the thrift store), and made myriad other sacrifices in order for me to stay home.

When we decided to home school, this decision was even more relevant. It was sacrificial, but we wanted to be the ones to train our children and give them a biblical world view. The reward has been that we really like our kids. Honestly, we'd rather hang out with our kids more than anyone! They're so fun and so easy to talk to. We laugh like crazy, but we can have deep, serious discussions as well.

Now is when the true financial implication of me staying home is most evident. We have no money for college! Himself and I never went to college, but we certainly hope our children will be able to go. Ty's doing well in Tennessee, but he'll now have student loans to pay once he graduates. Kelly will have to enter the work study program . . . I pray she'll be able to keep up with her school, her work, AND have time to enjoy the activities of her college family.

So much to pray for.

So little time.