Good, Bad, and Life In-Between

Well, in the order of occurance. . .first the good! My dh and I just celebrated 14 years of married life together! I get such a kick thinking about it. I remember the day we met him like it was yesterday. My sister and I were waiting for her "date" and "his friend" to arrive - we were all going out together. Not really a date, just a night out. Who knew? lol! Anywho, we eagerly watched for their arrival so we could decide whether or not to "be home" - hee, hee! My first memory is that he had on an atrocious tye-dye shirt, and in all my years of wisdom the best I could say was "he's cute, but that's an ugly shirt!" Long story short, we were engaged a month later and married 5 months after the day we met. Romantic or insane? I think a bit of both. . .and then there's life in-between.


Now the bad. My dd had a seizure again on Nov. 19th, actually a series of them. Her head had been hurting that morning so she was taking it easy. She layed in my bed and I sat reading her a story about "Ida B.". I had only just started reading when I realized she wasn't laughing at a funny part. I no sooner looked over and vomit spewed up. She was seizing. The whole experience was too unsettling to relive for this entry, but she was admitted to the hosptial and experience a few more seizures throughout the day. They refer to this as "cluster seizures". Once in a room that night, she had a brief episode and then went into a non-stop seizure. The gave her medicine to stop it and she was out for the night. We remained there a couple days and are now home with a new medication plan. Trusting God for her care and grateful she is well. She doesn't remember anything when she comes too, so we keep the explanation and details simple.

So there's good, bad, and then there's life in-between!

Our Day!

Today was our first official full day after summer break. It always seems like the day is gone and there's still more to do! It was nice to have a schedule to follow (well it's sort of a schedule, more like a list, but nevertheless, it helps me see what we've completed and what's still left for the day!) Of course, schedules are subject to change :-)

We began MOH and started the Creation book activity (once I figured out how to put it together!) We still have a some lessons from the yellow LLATL book, so we are going to try and complete those before starting in the orange. Copy work went well, (we used Intermediate Language Lessons today (handwriting has improved so much!) Typing and cursive lessons were met with resistance, but she does pretty well with both, once we can get past all the efforts to avoid them! (an extra chore was awarded for this unpleasantness!) We did share reading today and I am delighed with the progress dd has made and the skills she's retained! She remembers everything we've done and learned with Wilson and that my friends - is amazing!! Decoding has improved by leaps and bounds, but we still have to work on eliminating the guessing habits. We did a lesson in McCall Crabbs today, dd scored at 5.2 grade level - yeah! (I generally take the average from 10 lessons to get a more accurate overall grade level though) We also started poem 4 of Poetry Memorization since we had done the first 3 over the last few weeks. We began reading from "Everyday Graces" - a neat book! Classical music/composer today was Edvard Grieg. (this is from the Masterpiece Collection - a wonderful set!)

My little one is preschooling this year, so today I wrote the letter "a" on the board to model it for her and she kept saying "do it again", "do it again", so I obliged. She copied it almost perfectly!! Big sis read her a book for naptime "Ruby and the Bubbles" and she fell fast asleep. It was so sweet!

Our Curriculum 2006-2007

Copywork/Dictation - Intermediate Language Lessons, The Harp & Laurel Wreath, Ambleside Copywork

Bible - Egermeier's Bible Stories, Calvary Chapel

Math - Saxon 5/4, Mathematical Reasoning through Verbal Analysis

Language, Reading Dev. & Spelling - Wilson Reading, LLATL, Megawords, Spelling Plus, Reading Detective & will be finishing up Rewards

History - MOH I, Trail Guide to World Geography, All through the Ages (for supplemental reading selections)

Writing/Literature - IEW Student Writing Intensive A, Teaching the Classics, Ambleside Online (adapted to fit our needs)

Science - Considering God's Creation, Science Detective

Poetry Memorization - IEW's Poetry Memorization

Typing - Mavis Beacon Deluxe

Critical Thinking - Building Thinking Skills

Music - The Masterpiece Collection (classical), Wee Sing CD's (Bible, Fun n' Folk, American/Patriotic), Hymn's for A Kid's Heart, etc.

Art - EM's How to Teach Art, Mona Brookes Drawing with Children

Nature Studies - The Handbook of Nature Study, Usbourne's The Natural World

We have a few other resources that we'll pull from and utilize to support our studies, but that's about the core of it.

For my youngest dd, we'll be doing a mesh of AO Year 0 and SL PreK, sprinkled with lots of reading!

Playing In The Rain

When was the last time you played in the rain? For me, it had been quite a while. It's easy to get so busy with our grown-up responsibilities that we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, isn't it? Well, we had a breakthrough. . .in a moment of spontaneity, I took the girls outside to play in the rain the other day. They danced with the umbrella, splashed in puddles and we filled a float up with water, pretending it was a boat :-) Such fun!!

There's something so refreshing and simple about being outside running free when the rain is coming down! The water dripped from their heads and their smiles were bright as the morning sun.

Where Do You Hide Your Wings?

I just experienced probably the most frightening day of my life. As I was getting reading to go to a local homeschool conference Friday, my 10 yo dd had what we have since learned was a clonic-tonic seizure. She then went limp and was incoherent. We were frightened beyond words and the ambulance seemed to take forever.

Once we arrived at the children's hospital, they did lab work, an EEG, and an MRI. The EEG showed activity (brain sparks) that indicated she may be at increased risk for more, so she was started on medication. We pray this will prevent future episodes and all will be well for our baby.

I know I have to be strong, that's my job right? It's just that this dc has had so much difficulting with eveything over the years - motor skills, coordination, reading, learning, I mean you name it. The basic little things that we do without a second thought have all been a battle for her. She has to work so hard and it's so frustrating to watch your child struggle. My heart just aches for her. I often wish I could fix it all with one of the "mommy" kisses. The thing that amazes me though, is that despite these struggles - she has such a joyful, forgiving and resiliant sprit. A real heart of gold, that so many do not give her the opportunity to show. Her smile brightens my day and inspires my soul. I have long teased her by frequently asking "Where do you hide your wings?"

I know she is an angel, my angel. How very lucky am I :-)

Mirror, Mirror, Go Away!

Here's a poem I wrote for a women's conference I coordinated a few years back and I share it in hopes that it will bring someone encouragement to persevere and press on when the day to day tasks of life (or the reflection in the mirror) get you down!

MIRROR, MIRROR, MOVE ASIDE

Mirror, mirror, move aside
I'm more than what you see
Your stark reflection cannot reveal
The true woman inside of me

My heart is full, I have much to give
And I'm starting new this day
I'll show this world that I'm unique
And made special in God's way

He brought me here, he has a plan
He wants me to succeed
He gave the life of his only son
And met my greatest need

So mirror, mirror, move aside
You cannot hold me down
This world is only temporary
And I am heavenbound!

NOW. . .just for fun - this is version 2 that developed in the works

MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Why do you exist at all?
To look at you, makes me depressed
You surely don't reflect my best!

My face looks tired, I'm uninspired
But what's a girl to do?
With PMS, hormones and pantyhose
It's no wonder I'm so blue

So mirror, mirror, go away
I do not like what you display
There must be something you don't see
We can't all be a wee size 3!!

The Robe of Judgement

What does your social circle look like? Do you only develop friendships with others who have the same level of education, live in the same type of neighborhood, drive the same type of cars, or belong in the same income bracket? Is your church comprised of members who fit neatly within those "familiar" categories too? Do you pursue friendships for yourself, your family, and/or your children with any of those things in mind - consciously or subconsciously? Do you neglect to build and nuture friendships with those you feel have nothing to offer "you"?

I recently saw a show that discussed social status and it disturbed me - particularly a comment to the effect of "the social status you're born into is the biggest indicator of your future social status". That's not a precise quote, but it's close - and I found it sad, very sad. Women seem particularly prone to crushing, comparing and judging themselves and others by outward standards. Admittedly, I too, have at one time or another, been "the judge" and "the judged" and from either perspective - it's an ugly view. Have you taken off the robe of judgement and stepped out of your comfort zone lately?

My Hubby, The Saboteur

Over the years, I've noticed a disturbing pattern in my marriage. . .maybe you recognize it? It's begins with me mentioning the idea of trying to eat a little healthier and start exercising more. Then like a shadow in the night, my hubby quietly begins to implement a subtle plan of sabotage.



This week I mentioned working toward better health as a family and ask him not to bring home any more soda's and junk food. Well, tonight he goes to the store and comes back with 2 bags of donuts - not 1, but 2! He doesn't even eat donuts!! - and when I gave him "the look", you know the one, he quickly responded with "oh, I forgot!". Now mind you this is not a one time thing, he's been very consistent with this saboteur behavior over the years. Have you experienced this? - maybe I'll just throw them out! :-) Got milk?