A Place to Write...

Going on Hiatus...

2012-02-06T12:14:00.002-07:00

This blog is going to be going on hiatus for a few weeks. I was thinking of doing an internet fast for Lent but it is becoming very apparent to me that I'd better take one sooner rather than later.

I'll be seeing you after Easter!

Don't mess with an "Autism Mom"!!

2012-02-06T09:48:00.001-07:00

This is too funny and too true to keep to myself. The women at the Facebook page called "Single Mothers who have Children with Autism" have complied a list of reasons why "YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE MESSING WITH AN AUTISM MOM."

I can especially identify with the number one reason:

Some of us have given up on social skills and don’t care what we say or do.

Check out the rest of the list here....

Weekend Links to Share...

2012-02-04T09:57:00.028-07:00

As is true with many of you, I imagine, I will often run into stuff online that is simply too good not to share. Here's some of what I ran across this past week or two...

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Lenten Bible Study...

A few years ago in the place that we used to live, I was part of a small Bible study that met every Wednesday during Lent for a "Lenten Bible Study." Usually, we used a study based on my NAB Catholic Serendipity Bible. (I love this bible, it fostered many great discussions in our little group and I am so saddened that it is no longer in publication.) Anyway, this study group became a great source of friendship and spiritual growth for me. I haven't been able to find such a group since moving but this online option is intriguing. The Word Among Us is offering a free Lenten Bible Study!

Check out Bible Study for Lent for more info.

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The Greatest Homeschool advice EVER!!!

I absolutely LOVED this little post. Kicking Curriculum to the Curb with Living Learning Lists

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Finding the Photographer in Me...
It's hard to tell from this blog but I actually am interested in taking more and better pictures. Sadly, my camera is determined to fall apart so photography has been a rather frustrating experience these days. But, with these tips from Kim I may be able to improve my skills anyway.

If you are like me and don't know your aperture from your F-speed, see Weekend Photography Tips for some helpful tips.

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Things that make me go hmmm...
I really enjoy reading posts that make me examine how I live my life and view the world. The following posts have all challenged me in some way or another.

Screaming Babies and Praying Mommas reminded me that I can pray while attending to the needs of my children and household. And that ignoring crying children so that I can finish my "quiet time with God" may not be what the good Lord wants of me. Not that I do that you understand...
To Whom Are You Listening? - Colleen reminds me that even though no one may give me any positive reinforcement for doing the work that needs doing around here, it's never a waste of time.
Disability: It Really Is Okay - From my new favourite blog about life with autism in it, Susan neatly sums up my feelings about the neurodiversity movement.
He's Not Just Anyone... This blog is a poignant reminder of the need for compassion when dealing with fellow human beings. And to not be so quick to judge. Because, if my own life circumstances or abilities were different, I may have also made the same poor choices.
Why My Big Family Is Not Overpopulating the Earth... Thank you Jennifer for explaining the obvious, that children are a necessary part of a better future for our planet. They are not the cause of our world's problems. But they may help find the solutions.
Could I Be A Racist?... Again, I am reminded of the importance of humility. And of what truly loving my fellow human beings means.
The Story of a Misunderstood Maritial Vow. A Necessary Rebuttal to a Washington Post Story... Msgr. Charles Pope gives a lot of food for thought in this article. And I agree with what he says. And I hope and pray that I will never face such a situation.
Why Not Take All of Me... Motherhood requires the greatest sacrifice in life. And the greatest joy. Giving in to the sacrifice is what will allow me to reap the greatest joy and satisfaction in my life.

See you again soon!

WLW... Progress and a Recipe

2012-02-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

This post is going to be quick. I meant to have it done earlier but slept in this morning and have been behind ever since!

Progress seemed nil until Monday. It was very discouraging. But on the weekend I started tracking my food intake better and saw that I was eating a bit more than I thought (sheepish grin). I had figured that as an experienced cook of over twenty years now I should be able to eyeball amounts accurately. Guess I was wrong.

Here's a quick tip I learned a while ago that makes food tracking so much easier. Get a digital kitchen scale and weigh everything that you eat. This is really easy. Zero (or calibrate) the scale with your plate on top and any food that's already been accounted for. Add the new food to the plate and record the weight. SparkPeople.com has weights for most of their foods so it's really easy to record this way. It's what I do now and it just might make tracking food tolerable enough for me to stick with now.

Alicia the Snowflake has asked us to share recipes this week. Here's one that we discovered last year that is SO good! Since my oldest and I are gluten free, getting soup from a can isn't an option. This tomato soup tastes better anyway and is super easy to make! It's a great base and I will often add veggies, beans or meat to it to make it a full meal. It originally contained noodles but I don't always use them and I've substituted quinoa flour for the wheat flour that was in the original recipe. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!

Best Tomato Soup Recipe

Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp quinoa flour (you can use wheat flour if your wish)
2 Cups tomato juice
1/2 Cup water
1/2 Tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Directions
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour; stir to form a smooth paste. Gradually add tomato juice and water, stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add sugar and salt.

Yield: 2 servings.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 188.1, Total Fat 12.0 g, Saturated Fat 7.3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g, Monounsaturated Fat 3.0 g, Cholesterol 30.5 mg, Sodium 106.2 mg, Potassium 560.0 mg, Total Carbohydrate 20.3 g, Dietary Fiber 1.3 g, Sugars 15.3 g, Protein 2.7 g

A chronicle of creativity...

2012-01-31T05:30:00.001-07:00

I thought it might be fun to chronicle my crafting efforts here. So often, my crafting efforts are for gifts and, once they are complete, they are gone and all I'm left with is a photo (provided that I remembered to take one). All in all, that's a fine system. I'm not one to toot my own horn and as long as the recipient is happy with their gift, I'm satisfied.

But crafting is a learning process. With each new project I learn new tips and generate new ideas. Most of the time, these tips and ideas are gone within a few weeks.

So, I thought that if I chronicle my crafting efforts, I might be able to hold on to some of these thoughts and be able to retrieve the better ones for future creations.

I've mentioned my most recent projects here in previous daybook entries. BG's knitted doll was a big hit! I'd love to make another of these.

The pattern instructions from Dollytime were clear and easy to follow and I am very happy with the result. So is BG!

And I really enjoyed making this Christmas ornament for my mom...

I simply cross stitched the pattern on some white Aida (18 ct) and made a little pillow with it. I didn't take a photo that showed the back but I used some light blue satiny material. The effect was rather nice I think, it complemented the stitching quite nicely. I had thought that the stitched border would look better than it did. I think it might have looked better with some kind of edging. Maybe a crocheted border?

Many moons ago, when I was expecting my firstborn, I created a blanket for him. It turned out pretty nice I think and he liked it well enough. Since then, my husband has strongly encouraged me to make one for each of our children.

LB received his blanket before his birth date. It's a bit worn now and I think that I would have used different colours but it still turned out well enough. Unfortunately, I can't show you a photo though as it's packed away in a box somewhere.

BB received this blanket when he was 5. This pattern was way more finicky than I thought it would be and I just dawdled with getting it done. As you can see, this blanket has been well loved and is showing signs of wear. That's OK with me. This was a nice blanket to make but I've learned that I'd rather not use afghan stitch again if possible.

TB received this blanket on his 8th birthday last year. It was my third attempt at a blanket for him. But I'm quite happy with this one and so is he. It reminded me of train tracks and TB loves trains.

This is my current work in progress (WIP), a crochet blanket for BG.The original pattern is from Lion Brand and can be found here.

So far, I've got just under a quarter of it done. BG turns 5 this summer. What are the odds that she'll have it for her birthday? I wonder...

Daybook... Almost February

2012-01-30T05:15:00.008-07:00

Outside...
This winter has been so strange! Two weeks ago, temperatures dropped to a low of -51˚C with the windchill. Last week was milder and yesterday it was raining! Not that I mind the milder temperatures.

Looking outside, I realize that I've neglected to refill the bird feeders. Poor little sparrows. I'll get them filled up before lunch though.

Pondering...
I wonder how other moms get so much done? It's a mystery I've been trying to solve for a while now. Obviously, they have a better grip on getting things done than I do...

Working on...
Lately, my number one priority has been to try and lose weight. And I haven't been doing a very good job. Very frustrating! But, I'm not giving up. Hopefully, there will be good news to report on that front soon.

Learning...
As I mentioned yesterday, LB had a breakthrough with his listening skills. I'm going to keep up this habit of having him repeat stories and poems back to me. Eventually, I hope this will lead to full narrations but, for the time being, I am simply looking for evidence that he is actually listening.

We're kind of floundering around with the Visualizing and Verbalizing. He could probably use some more work with verbalizing a description of a picture that he can see. But it has been very difficult to keep his attention focussed and he's obviously getting bored. So, I think we're going to move on. We're going to review the "Making Sentences" section, do a bit more work with picture verbalization and then go on to visualizing and verbalizing a single word.

Homemaking...
Still working on the bare basics. It's hard to focus on homemaking when one is never home! Last week was a whirlwind of activities with swimming lessons for TB, dance for BG, archery for BB and piano lessons for the boys. Today promises to be just as busy but, thankfully, things will slow down for tomorrow!

Cooking...
I've been keeping my own breakfasts and lunches the same from day to day in order to making food tracking easier. Breakfast is oatmeal with blueberries and a glass of skim milk plus a hard boiled egg. Lunch is a tuna/rice/corn mix with extra veggies. Supper is going to be taco beef with pasta and veggies. The rest of the family get a lot more variety than I do. They have to or the complaining from the kids would drive me round the bend! Don't ask me about the rest of the week though. I'm still mastering the art of following meal plans for more than a day at a time.

Reading...
Not much last week at all.

Listening to...
The peaceful quiet of children all fast asleep in bed and the hum of the furnace.

Creating...
I've picked up BG's blanket that I'm crocheting. It has gotten sidelined many times but, with any luck, it will be ready for her before March.

Thankful...
I'm very thankful that we have proper winter tires on our vehicle. Considering how much time I spend on the road with five children and no adults, I am so very, very thankful that I haven't had a breakdown yet. Whoops, I hope I haven't jinxed myself now...

Hoping...
BG has really been having some attitude problems for quite a while now. I'm at a bit of a loss for how to deal with it. I'm sure that there's some help in all the mediated learning notes I have from the workshops I've attended but time to review them is at a premium. I'm hoping that we find a solution to help her control her temper better soon.

Praying...
My husband really needs to find a better job, this one is simply not meeting our financial needs enough. Praying that a good job can be found soon. A job that he enjoys, pays well enough to meet our family's needs, and is in a location that our family can be happy in.

One of my favourite things...
Watching the birds at the feeders, especially in winter. The first two winters we were here, I didn't bother with them. It was so quiet in our yard, no signs of life at all. Having the birds come to feed reminds me that, even in the dead of winter, life is still here. And that this land hasn't been forsaken by all.

A picture thought...

Bliss

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the other Daybook entries found at The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Progress!!

2012-01-29T09:09:00.003-07:00

Last night, LB accomplished a wonderful thing. He had an actual converstaion on the phone with his dad!

I'm jumping ahead here though.

As I've mentioned here several times, LB has the annoying habit of talking when someone else is trying to talk to him, or read to him. I am pretty confident that this habit developed due to his hearing sensitivities. But, as you can imagine, it has been very frustrating trying to teach him when he's talking over my words all the time.

Of course, one asks the question, why didn't we resort to written communication instead? I did try to. But, LB also has a very short attention span most of the time. As soon as I try and redirect, he starts babbling. So, while he has been able to read and write, it hasn't been a very usable instructive tool.

Out of frustration this week, I hit upon the idea of having LB repeat back a book to me. I got the notion that forcing him to pay attention to short series of words that were interesting and formed a story would help him to increase his auditory attention span. At least, I figured, he could get through a read-aloud and maybe become motivated to actually listen to what others are saying to him instead of relying almost exclusively on non-verbal communication.

So, that's what we did. I had him go through "Mr. Snow" with me, a book that he's read several times on his own. (He's been on a Mr. Men kick lately so I hoped that would help retain his interest.) I'd read a sentence and he would repeat it verbatim. If he couldn't repeat the sentence properly, I would stay on that sentence until he did. Once he did, we progressed through the story.

I'm not sure if this activity has helped much but I have noted that he seems to be paying attention when people are talking to him now and trying to hear what people are saying. It's like a switch has been turned on in his ears/head.

So, while on the phone with his dad last night, LB actually was able to hear what his dad said and respond appropriately. They actually had a real conversation! Until last night, every time LB got on the phone, he would start humming to himself and basically babble without really hearing what the person on the other end had to say. Last night he actually was attentive and answering his dad's questions. He was even volunteering information on his own!

Yay!

Weight Loss Wednesday... Finding Support

2012-01-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

This week was another mixed bag. I worked out with the Wii Fit every day except Sunday. I'm also getting more consistent about following a meal plan. According to my Wii, my BMI has decreased this week. I've been staying away from the scale since I want to focus more on developing good habits. I have a very poor tendency of getting lazy about keeping up new good habits once I see a weight loss. Since I don't see any numbers when letting the Wii monitor my weight, I'm hoping that this way I'll do better. Once my BMI drops to the merely overweight range I might weigh myself. Or maybe I'll wait until I reach a normal BMI range. It will be a while either way.

I'm still struggling with getting enough sleep though.

This week's topic is on finding support. I'm finding that my biggest obstacle is my own inner voice. So anything that re-directs all my negative self-talk is helpful.

My husband is getting more and more supportive. He's a very positive voice in my life, always has been. But he is also naturally slim. He often forgets to eat and doesn't struggle with overeating like I do. He really can't relate to my struggles. And it is taking him a long time to understand my need to keep junk food out of the house.

I enjoy reading success stories from others who've lost weight, especially from those facing similar struggles as myself. The SparkPeople and Weight Watchers websites are great places to find them.

Another source of support is prayer, I really need to use this more than I do. I'm coming to realize how sinful gluttony really is and how much it keeps me from doing God's will. Facing this sin in my prayer life and in the confessional is hard, but also a way for me to find support.

Well, off to face another seven days before the next check-in. Wish me luck!

Weight Loss Wednesday... A Day Late and a Dollar Short

2012-01-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

Well, the title of this little post says it all for me this week actually. On the plus side, I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep. I don't do well with no sleep anymore and it's very true that lack of sleep causes one to eat more. Especially me. Sigh.

Another positive thing that I did this week was to use my Wii Fit almost daily. It's gentle exercise has been great for keeping me motivated as has its interactive nature.

This week's topic is supposed to be about exercise. Since I'm late with this post, I'll keep it very brief. (I have to, the munchkins are getting restless!)

Anyway, I've always loved being active although I've always hated P.E. in school. I'm a bit of a klutz and have always been on the chunky side. Combine these two factors and you have a girl who's always picked last for teams and dreads being passed the ball when playing any team sport.

I've always loved being outdoors though, riding my bike, going for long walks and horseback riding whenever I had the chance. So why was I always on the chunky side?

There's an easy question to answer. I love to eat too much.

While I will continue to pursue a more active lifestyle for the many advantages it brings, I know that I will personally have to pay far more attention to what I am eating if I want to lose weight. Being active is a lot easier when I'm not lugging around an extra 80 pounds!

On to a more successful week!

Weight Loss Wednesday... Making a Change or Two

2012-01-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

One of my resolutions for this year is to lose the excess pounds and gain a healthy level of fitness.

I wish that I didn't have this issue. And I really wish that I haven't failed at trying to overcome this issue so many times. It's embarrassing. It's depressing. And it's irritating. Why is losing weight so damn hard? On the surface, it's really quite simple... eat less and exercise more. But, as with so many things, theory is very different from real life. When food becomes a coping mechanism for dealing with the ups and downs of life, it can become very difficult to leave it behind and find a replacement for dealing with stress.

And, let's face it. Exercise or any activity that requires exertion, becomes much less enjoyable when you are carrying excess weight. Realistically, I'd like to lose between 80-90 pounds. Now, think of going for a hike or a run or whatever activity you enjoy. Then think about doing the same activity with an 80-pound pack. What does that do for your motivation?

I'm tired of feeling tired. I'm tired of watching life pass me by. And I'm tired of failing.

But, as I've said many times before, the only way to truly fail in my pursuit of health and fitness is to quit trying so here I am, ready to try again.

Next question... how will I accomplish my goal?

Well, I know that tracking my food is the gold standard for weight loss. It really works. However, I also know that I can never keep up with it for more than two weeks. It is time consuming and overwhelming, especially when dealing with the many food issues that my family has. Heck, cooking for 6-7 people on a daily basis is challenging enough. Throw in dairy intolerance for one, gluten intolerance for two, soy intolerance and a strong possibility of needing to go grain free very soon and that's a lot to think about when it comes to figuring out what to feed everybody.

It makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.

So, what to do?

Well, I think I'm going to give the Vice Busting Diet a try. It advocates making gradual and permanent changes to your lifestyle to reach your fitness goals. I first ran into this plan a couple of years ago and remember brushing the idea off as too simple and too slow. After all, don't we want results right away? And don't we want to be able to return to our comfortable way of doing things once we finish the hard work of losing weight? But I've come to realize that going on a diet is never going to work for me. Food is such a coping mechanism for me that to overhaul my diet too quickly will cause my stress level to go through the roof and create another failed weight loss attempt. So, I'm going to give Harvey's methods my full attention and dedication. It worked for her and many others, I hope that it will work for me too.

So, following the Vice Busting Diet's guidelines, my big change for this week is to make water my beverage of choice. No juice, no soft drinks or iced tea. Milk only at meal times. And limited coffee as well. (I like my coffee black and made the switch to decaf a month ago so I don't think it will jeopardize my weight loss efforts. I also have problems with migraines and have found that have a cup of regular coffee when I feel one coming on really helps with lessening the migraine's intensity.)

(By the way, this program is available for free at PGX.com. You can download a copy of the book for free or listen to the audio files. The author, Julia Harvey, is also available to help you fine-tune her approach to your own particular needs and goals, at no cost!)

The other change I'm making is daily exercise. Because of the demands of life right now, I need to have something that I can do at home. I've tried exercise DVDs and routines in the past and inevitably quit due to boredom.

But this year I have a Wii Fit Plus (a family Christmas present). I am finding the interactive fitness activities quite enjoyable and have actually been looking forward to my morning exercise for a week now. So, that is the exercise part of my plan, a daily workout with my Wii Fit Plus trainer.

OK, that's a long enough post for this week. I'm linking this post up with Weight-Loss Wednesday at Confessions of a Snowflake. Thanks for stopping by and wish me luck!

Daybook... On an Unusually Mild Evening in January

2012-01-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

Outside...
Old Man Winter seems to be having an identity cries and thinks it is supposed to be spring! This must be the warmest January I've ever experienced since moving out to the prairies. Not to worry though...the weatherman says that cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Bummer...

Pondering...
We've been slowly working through Talkies, the precursor to the Visualizing and Verbalizing program that I have high hopes for. It's been pretty rough. Mostly because this program is designed for an environment that is one on one with minimal distractions. We don't have that here. I've considered hiring child care but funds are low so I've been looking for other solutions. I think I've figured out how to get this to work. Time will tell, it always does. I'm hoping to have some success to report later this week.

Working on...
I have spent far too much time figuring out how to fit everything I want and need to do in a 24- hour day. Just as it is for most moms, this was not an easy task but I think I've done it. Just need to keep my fingers crossed that nothing breaks down, the kids and I stay healthy and that SG learns to get to sleep at a decent hour. It's after ten right now and she is wide awake beside me. My wake up call is 5 AM. If I'm not going to turn into the wicked witch from the west, this girl needs to fall asleep already!

Learning...
Not much to report here at the moment. We've celebrated the season with a variety of fun activities for the twelve days of Christmas. We've gone to town to spend gift cards, we've had fun at the wave pool and waterslide. We've taken in a movie, Tin Tin, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the boys and I. (Not surprisingly, BG didn't enjoy it much. I didn't think she would.) And we enjoyed a rare evening supper at a local restaurant to spend a gift card received well over a year ago. We also enjoyed movie nights at home and we simply enjoyed the mild weather outside. Unfortunately, we ended on a whimper and didn't do anything special for Epiphany. The three kings of our little Nativity set finally found baby Jesus though and that's the important thing.

Homemaking...
Sigh. Home maintenance is the name of the game around here. I've been trying to focus on the people within. And more and more I am realizing that my family doesn't want perfection. They want a safe and comfortable refuge. They want routine. They want basic, regular meals. And they want a happy mom.

Cooking...
I've decided to give menu planning another try. For the past few days, I've made a point of not going to bed without knowing what the next day's meals would be. And things went so much more smoothly, even when I changed my mind at the last minute. Such a no-brainer habit to have, meal planning is. Yet it is one that I have resisted for a very long time.

Reading...
Trying to anyway! The following are slowly being read through...
• Talkies is being read and re-read
• For the Children's Sake... Have to finish this by Wednesday as it's a library book
• 1000 Gifts is on my iPod

Listening to...
We splurged on Wii Fit Plus and Mario Kart games for Christmas and both have been thoroughly enjoyed by all. I am LOVING hearing the kids play together on it, especially LB.

Creating...
Now that Christmas is over, I can share my latest little creation here. I had grand plans of making all my Christmas gifts this year but I grossly underestimated how much time I had to get things done. So only this little ornament got done in time. It was for my mom and she seemed happy with it. I am too, for the most part. It was fun to make and knowing that it was appreciated makes the work feel very worthwhile.

What do you think?

Thankful...
I am thankful to still be healthy. About 8 months ago, one of my cousins had a sudden cerebellar stroke and died a week later without regaining consciousness. He had high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes. He was a year older than me. I know that I need to make some significant changes to avoid a similar fate.

Hoping...
I'm really hoping that the time spent getting things organized on my iCal will be worth it. I am terrible about keeping to schedules, especially the schedules I make for myself.

Praying...
As always, I am praying for all who suffer from autism and are imprisoned by their inability to communicate with the outside world.
I'm praying that some expected money will come sooner rather than later.
I'm praying for my husband to find a better job soon.
And I'm praying for children everywhere who have nobody praying or caring for them. How can God stand the way we treat each other? Especially the most vulnerable among us?

One of my favourite things...
J. R. R. Tolkien's writing, especially this quote from The Two Towers.

Frodo Baggins : I can't do this Sam.

Sam Gamgee: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?

Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

--- Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Whenever I feel blue, I find comfort in these words.

Well, it's now way past my bedtime! Praying that the wicked witch doesn't show up tomorrow...

Thanks for dropping by and be sure to visit more Daybook entries at The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Focus - My word for 2012

2012-01-03T23:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who first started the idea of selecting a word to be the primary focus of a new year. I've seen many of the bloggers I visit decide on a word for the past few years and this year I've decided to hop aboard this trend too.

As you can see by my subject line, my word for this year is FOCUS. The first obvious question is why? Why pick a word for the year and why choose the word "focus?"

Well, for me, the answer to both of these questions are one and the same. I've been really unhappy with the lack of progress on so many fronts last year. Only one or two of my goals for 2011 were even close to completed. And I am finding myself feeling very far behind where I want to be. There are several reasons for why this happened. Feeling overwhelmed by life in general is one of them. Lack of organization is another. And getting distracted way too easily is probably one of the biggest.

I have a ridiculously huge list of things I want to read. And a ridiculously huge list of things I want to make. Then there's the challenge of keeping the kids fed and clothed when my mind is elsewhere. Plus the overwhelming task of helping LB to communicate better.

You'd think that I have enough on my plate and that I have no need to waste time online and elsewhere. Yet, waste time I have done. An embarrassingly large amount of time.

It's so easy to escape online when faced with chores I don't want to do or overwhelmed with tasks of the day. I tell myself that since I don't post or write much online that I'm not wasting much time but you know, spending time just reading online when I should be doing something productive is usually time wasted.

So, how to gain focus for this year? Well, I've got a list of goals in mind. I'm not going to post them here yet - I want to narrow things down a bit still. I really like Jon Acuff's suggestions for how to clarify goals and building a "Finish List." I still need to apply them to my own goals. Jennifer Fulweiler reminded me of the importance of including my goals on my calendar and I am taking them to heart as well. Using my iCal well is an important priority this year.

I was all set to finish this little post when I read this wonderful quote at Dawn's blog...

peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." (unknown)

It almost made me wonder if what I was really after was peace and that I should change my word for this year. (See, I'm highly distractible!) But I do think that focus is more my priority for now with the hope that peace will follow.

And now, it's off to bed. One thing that I know is true is that my ability to focus is directly related to how much good sleep I get. Time to stop my habit of shortchanging my zzz's for other things. Thanks for stopping by!

Recently Read... Singalong Books

2011-12-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever read sing-a-long books to your kids? My girls just love them. My daughters both love this one so much that it's been committed to memory and sung to them whenever cranky and in need of a good nap...

You might know this song from listening to Raffi's tunes as I did. I hadn't heard or thought of it in years until my daughter picked up a copy of this book at the library. The tune came back to me quickly enough though.

The pictures in Baby Beluga are what I enjoy most about this book. The artist really seems to capture the essence of the arctic landscape. SG in particular enjoys the page with the polar bear, inuit girl and various other animals all gathered around an ice-hole to listen to the baby beluga's song.

Don't remember the tune or you've never heard it? Here's a version from YouTube with the lyrics...

And yesterday, my husband found a copy of The Cat Came Back: A Traditional Song at our local library. Here's the story being sung with the lyrics included...

BG liked it somewhat. I got a kick out of it because it reminded me of a silly little cartoon that was often shown on TV when I was growing up. A warning though, those who are very fond of cats may find it a bit disturbing. I don't remember if I liked it or disliked it as a child but I did like the tune enough to remember it all these years later...

Anyways, just thought I'd share these little reading treasures with you. The best thing about sing-a-long books, for me, is that they are relatively easy to commit to memory making them very useful for those long drives with cranky kids in need of entertainment!

Book Study... Keeping House... Ch.1 What's Christian About Housework?

2011-12-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Chapter 1 of Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life delves into the innate characteristics of "keeping house" that meld seamlessly with the Christian life.

Margaret Peterson begins the discussion by defining what she believes the term "keeping house" to mean. I'm gratified to discover that it involves things other than keeping the house clean. More importantly, the homemaker must strive to keep those residing in the home fed, dressed and sheltered. The author is reminded of the importance of these tasks during the last few months of her first husband's life...

I understood then, with a clarity that I have experienced at few other times in my life, that getting to the grocery store was one of the things that Really Mattered. The dissertation could wait; dinner could not. Forget all the abstruse theological ideas that my classmates and teachers seemed to debate with such verve in the graduate seminars I was attending. Forget fantasies of "accomplishing something." Perhaps somewhere in the world there were people who measured their days by how much they get done - at work, in class, wherever. I measured my days by whether, at the end of them, the members of my household had been dressed and fed and bathed and put to bed. If we had been, then that was a good day. I had done what mattered most. Everything else was gravy.

As I reflected on these words, I must admit that I've never looked at things this way before. Meals have always been something that I could grab "on the go." Laundry was easily done without much thought (no need to make daily decisions compared with meal prep). And I've never been too picky about the clutter. I had a hard time seeing the importance of housekeeping.

So often, one gets the idea that keeping house is not a challenging occupation. We are fed commercials and blog posts of household tasks being done with little effort and with spectacular results! Why, who wouldn't want to enjoy a domestic life of ease?

Of course, the reality is that in order to create that scrumptious meal, one must have a reasonably tidy and clean kitchen area. In order to create those wonderful decorative adornments for the home, one must have a clean work surface and be able to find the necessary supplies. This means that the cleaning must be done and things must have been put away. Boring! Who wants to be stuck with tidying and cleaning?

As I mentioned in my previous post in this topic, I was always reminded that "women's work" was not as important as men's "paid work" while growing up. This mindset followed me into marriage where I struggled to find value in the everyday life of a stay-at-home mom and homemaker.

How did this great divide happen in the first place? Well, I'm sure that you can guess the answer. The rise of the Industrial Age led to family members leaving the home in order to work for wages. Prior to this, most people, both men and women, made their living at home. There was no such thing as "housework;" rather, there was husbandry and housewifery. These two terms were used to identify those household tasks which were done by the men of the household versus those tasks done by the women. For instance, the men would make the lye while the women made the soap. The men would butcher the pig while the women cooked and stored the meat. Both contributed to the maintenance and upkeep of the household in a very tangible way.

Industrialization led to the change in family dynamics in that people now went out of the home to work for wages for someone else whereas before this everyone earned a living through their work at home. Now, family members were divided into those who went out into the workforce to earn a living wage (generally the men) and those who worked at home for free.

Gradually, money became the value system with which we judge the usefulness of work. And because the keeper of the home generally doesn't bring home the bulk, if any, of the monetary wages, the keeper of the home became seen as less important.

In fact, anyone who takes too much time to cook (or clean or iron) runs the risk of being regarded as a parasitic blot on society. One study on attitudes toward gender and the workplace found that "while 'business women' were rated as similar in competence to 'business men' and 'millionaires,' 'housewives' were rated as similar in competence to the 'elderly,' 'blind,' 'retarded,' and 'disabled.'" Attitudes like these appear not to reflect gender bias pure and simple, for if they did, businesswomen would presumably rank lower than businessmen. They appear, on the contrary, to be a reflection of judgements about housewives as such. I have a friend, a housewife, who says she cringes every time she fills out a form and is asked to state her occupation. Is it any wonder why?"

When faced with such a distressing worldview on my chosen profession of homemaker, is it any wonder that so many struggle to find meaning in the day-to-day repetitive tasks of preparing and serving meals, laundering the clothes, picking up the clutter and washing dishes that will again be dirty within hours?

But then Ms. Peterson reminds the reader that Christ Himself exhorts us to be more mindful of the needs of others, especially those we share our homes with...

There is a tendency, I think, on the part of those of us who are well fed, clothed, and housed to imagine that the needy people to whom Jesus refers in Matthew 25 are people we don't know-the sort of people who are served at homeless shelters and soup kitchens, at which we ought therefore to volunteer at least occassionally. But housework is all about feeding and clothing and sheltering people who, in the absence of that daily work, would otherwise be hungry and ill-clad and ill-housed.

How true these words are. After all, doesn't charity begin at home?

For clarity's sake, these are the words that Ms. Peterson is referring to in the quote above...

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Matthew 25:31-46

But still, who wants to deal with the drudgery of repetitious chores with no end in sight?

The prevailing mantra to help the overwhelmed housewife is "simplicity." Declutter, get rid of all the excess, to get on top of things and find serenity. But while this does offer temporary help, it does not solve the problem of how to keep oneself motivated to continue to keep the members of a household fed, clothed and comfortably sheltered.

Ms. Peterson's answer to this question is to liken the repetitive nature of household activities to the Christian practice of praying a litany. (For a good explanation of what praying a litany is all about, check out this link.)

But repetition, in itself, is not equivalent to oppressive futility. The sun comes up every morning. Christians gather every Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Every year brings the cycle of the seasons and of the Christian calendar: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, Ordinary Time.

So, just because the tasks of running a household are never-ending does not mean that they are without importance. In fact, they are fundamental to following God's law to love one another as we would like ourselves to be loved.

"...I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35

One of the original 10 commandments that God gave us is to not take the name of God in vain. If we are to call ourselves Christian, then we must go to great lengths to ensure that our actions and lifestyle reflect our commitment to following Christ. Keeping house, and keeping to the litany of everyday life, is one way that we can share God's love with one another.

This is my second post to link with Willa's book study. Please join in and share your thoughts! And, as always, thanks for reading!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

On the first week of Advent,
the thought that came to me was,
"What's with this Christmas music so early?!"

On the second week of Advent,
my children begged me,
"Can we put up the tree now Mommy?"

On the third week of Advent,
smells were tempting me,
"Christmas baking is SO yummy!"

On the fourth week of Advent,
reality smacked me,
"It's not this close to Christmas already!"

Today, on Christmas Eve,
my Saviour asked me,
"It's almost Christmas now,
are you ready to welcome Me?"

I hope so.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing my thoughts here. Your visits mean a lot to me and I treasure every comment you've made.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season!

A Book Study... Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life - Preface

2011-12-12T06:16:00.001-07:00

I never planned to be a homemaker.

Growing up, household tasks and chores were always considered as "women's work" and beneath the dignity of a man's time. And, of course, women were not as important because we didn't earn the money - we were too busy staying at home and doing "women's work."

So, when I found myself unexpectedly awaiting the birth of my oldest child, I had no intention of taking time from school and work to stay home and "be a mom." I returned to school full-time when LB was 1 week old and did not get "maternity leave" until seven months later when I graduated.

I discovered something about myself during that time. I hated leaving my baby behind while I went to work/study. I had very little time or patience for others and was not nice to be around. So, when I had a chance to stay home after the course was finished, I took it with pleasure.

But I was still left with this gnawing feeling that I was "wasting my time" at home. Was I letting all my hard-earned education going to waste?

I first heard of this book, Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life, by Margaret Kim Peterson, through Willa's blog. The reviews at amazon.com intrigued me, so I went ahead and downloaded the Kindle version. And, after getting through the preface, I knew that Ms. Peterson had something important to say to me.

Ms. Peterson certainly understands this feeling, that the tasks of keeping the home are unimportant and not of any real value. In her preface, she writes:

...But we had no children, and when new acquaintances discovered that I worked "only" half time, they would ask, "So what do you do with the rest of your time?" "I keep house," I would say.

That was always the end of the conversation. I had the uncomfortable sense that virtually any other answer would have been more acceptable. People would have been happy to hear that I was an artist or a writer, that I was developing a small business, that I was practicing the piano or taking flying lessons. But keeping house? I might as well have said, "I'm wasting my time."

I now know that staying home to "be a mom" is of great value and I have never regretted making this decision. But I still struggle with the "homemaking" aspect of my role as a wife and mother. I don't naturally enjoy homemaking. Growing up, I always preferred to be outside. I'm not very organized and don't generally care if the house is neat and orderly.

But I am finding that a well-organized and neat and clean home are very important to my family. When I am on top of things and the house is clean, when the laundry is caught up, and when meals are made on time, we are all happier. Myself included.

So, the question becomes one of finding a way to enjoy these mundane tasks that are a "women's work." And how to teach my children the value of "keeping house" as well. My hope is that Ms. Peterson's book will enlighten me.

I'm joining in with Willa's book study even though I am hopelessly late to the party. And I hope that blogging my way through this book will help me to internalize the message that "keeping house" is an important thing with a lot of value. And certainly not a waste of time.

What are your thoughts on "keeping house"? Is it important to you or something to be delegated to paid help?

Daybook... Is it December already?

2011-12-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

Outside...
It's been snowing off and on all day. The temperatures have been quite mild and I'm grateful for that. But the sky has remained dreary and grey to winter white all week. I'm wanting to see the sun and a clear blue day, even if it does mean being a bit colder.

Thinking...
About sleep and the amount of things that need to get done in a day. I really miss my husband during the week. I never realized how much simply having him around lightens the load for me. By Friday when he comes home for the weekend I am ready for a nice long sleep!

Working on...
Trying to get my head wrapped around how to get LB to cooperate with this Visualizing and Verbalizing program. He's been having a tough time controlling his temper lately and is easily frustrated. Trying to capture and keep his attention has been very tough lately, especially with his sisters distracting us. So I am trying to figure out how to be in two places at once!

Learning...
That keeping to a schedule is a necessary evil!

Homemaking...
I'm going to join Willa in her book study of Keeping House: A Litany of Everyday Life this week. I'm very behind so I hope to catch up quickly. I'd read it during the summer and found it full of encouragement and inspiration and I need a lot of both right now!

Cooking...
Keeping things very simple in the kitchen right now. We've been so busy during the week that cooking time is at a premium. I've been doing some bulk cooking on the weekends and that's been very helpful. The ground beef gets cooked up into taco beef or made up into hamburger patties which make for quick and easy meals. I've been coating chicken with gluten free breading and freezing to cook later. Add a salad and some potatoes or rice and we're good to go!

Reading...
Four books on the go right now. I'm re-reading Talkies for our homeschool. I'm reading Keeping House: A Litany of Everyday Life for our home. I'm reading through the New American Bible for inspiration and I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on my iPod for fun.

Listening to...
Christmas music when the boys practice piano. Thinking about incorporating some singing into our days. I find myself feeling relaxed and refreshed after singing in church or in the shower. Maybe it's a good thing to incorporate into our everyday life?

Creating...
A few months ago, I shared my latest creation with you, BG's birthday gift. Alas, her doll still lacked a sweater and slippers. I'm happy to report that BG's little doll is topless no longer! This is what she looked like last summer...

And here she is now!

All dressed and ready for winter!

Thankful...
For my family. As crazy as they make me sometimes, I'm always so grateful to be allowed to share my life with them.

Hoping...
That LB will make a language breakthrough soon! And that SG gets rid of her nasty diaper rash!

Praying...
Lately, I've been really fighting building resentment in my heart. The reasons for this are unimportant but these bad feelings were really weighing me down. The prayer of St. Francis has really been helping me to get over myself already!

Besides this, I'm praying for LB to make a breakthrough and for all others who've been struck dumb by autism.

One of my favourite things...

The surprises I find on my camera when I let the kids take pictures with it! Too cute!

Something to ponder...
I've been singing the hymn of "The Prayer of St. Francis" during times of stress for the past week and it has been SO helpful and calming for me! Here are the lyrics and a youtube video featuring Susan Boyle singing this classic hymn. Enjoy!

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul!

Make me a channel of your peace:
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the other Daybook entries found at The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Let's see, what have we been up to this week?

2011-11-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

I wish that I could say that we've started with the Visualizing and Verbalizing Kit that arrived over a week ago now. But no, we haven't.

I did spend some time going through the teacher's manual and discerning where our starting point will be. Now I have to figure out when we'll work on it and how to keep the girls occupied or incorporate them into LB's learning time.

This morning, we had a visit from Mark, our homeschool facilitator. We had a nice chat and he liked the program plan that I drew up for LB this year. He asked some good questions which generated a lot of thought for me. He also asked me if I'd had the opportunity to attend the workshops on Mediated Learning and if they were useful. I replied honestly that I had and that they were. While we were chatting, I realized that I haven't been spending the time studying and learning about Feurestein's theories that I've wanted to. Frankly, I haven't been spending anywhere near the amount of time on learning and teaching that I need or want to.

Things this year have just been really, really hard.

But I'm not going to complain here on this blog. Nope. Not me.

I've come to the realization that this year is a "do or die" year for us. If LB doesn't show some significant improvement within the next few months, I'm going to have to find him a better teacher and find a way to pay him or her.

Somehow, I've got to find a way to balance everything in. I've got to find a way to keep the girls busy and happy while I focus attention on LB. I've got to find a way to get everything done without going crazy.

Sigh.

Well, on the plus side, I got a LOT of Christmas shopping done this week. Basically everyone is taken care of except for my children and spouse. So, at least Advent should be relatively calm. Which is a very good thing indeed.

Maybe I should start looking for a timeturner?

Or a self-cleaning house?

Well, I can dream anyway...

So true...

2011-11-13T09:03:00.002-07:00

It is not particularly difficult to find thousands who will spend two or three hours a day exercising, but if you ask them to bend their knees to God for five minutes of prayer, they protest that it is too long.
– Bishop Fulton Sheen

Making changes already...

2011-11-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

I've decided to re-write my education plans for this year to reflect our increased time spent on LB's language issues.

And because I am constantly losing things, and to give myself some accountability, I'm going to post my goals here for all to see.

So, our revised plans until September 2012...

For LB, age 14 (almost 15)

struggling with poor communication skills due to autism

The Visualizing and Verbalizing Kit - we will be following this program closely and spending the majority of our time on it. It will form the backbone of our language arts learning for this year.

MathUSee - This has been working well. We will finish with the Delta level and move on to Epsilon. We will also spend some time on Math Vocabulary using the techniques from Visualizing and Verbalizing to solidify concepts such as time and money.

Science and Social Studies - These will be largely unschooled and addressed through daily reading and life experiences.

Physical Education - We have found that regular, VIGOROUS, exercise is very important to help LB focus on the world around him more easily. So, we will continue with weekly swimming and workouts at the gym 3-4 days/week. So far, we've been focussing on cardio but I'm thinking we will move on to some work with free weights in the new year.

Art - One of my biggest regrets is that we haven't devoted much time to art in the past. LB has a strong creative side that really needs to be encouraged and I've been far too neglectful of it. So, we are going to spend two to three days a week going through the lessons found in the book Drawing with Children, by Mona Brooks.

Nature Study - Another thing we have neglected in favour of the 3R's. This is such a valuable way to improve observation skills though so I hope to devote some time to it daily. Just a little something like a weather journal and a prompt to draw or write about something.

Piano - No need to change anything here. The boys' piano teacher is working out very well and LB has been making good progress.

Cooking / Life Skills - At least once a week LB will help with meal prep and begin creating a personal recipe book.

For BB, age 12

Afterschooling only

Homework Help - No description needed here.

Supplementary Math - My husband, a math teacher, really dislikes the math curriculum in the schools here as it does a poor job of cementing foundational math skills so we are providing supplementary work. It's been lax lately though, only so many hours in a day!

Piano - Lessons continue

Archery or Horseback Riding - His chosen activity for this year.

For TB, age 8

Afterschooling only

Homework Help - No description needed here.

Supplementary Math - As for BB

Reading Log - I think that I'll be using some of the activities from the Visualizing and Verbalizing kit with him to help improve his reading comprehension and enjoyment.

Piano - Lessons continue

Swimming Lessons - His chosen activity for this year.

For BG, age 4

Pre-School / Kindergarten

We will be using Workboxes daily, twelve activities ready for every day. Within these boxes, reading activities will be consistent as will math. We will also try to incorporate the activities that include those from "A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six"

And I must not neglect to mention her beloved dance class once a week!

For SG, age 1+

Toddler Activities

The plan is to have at least twelve different activities or sensory items ready for her daily.

Whew, I'm getting tired just reading this! Wish us luck!

Our Alphabet File Folders

2011-11-07T06:00:00.115-07:00

Hello! I thought I'd share a little something that BG and I have been doing together to help her learn her letter sounds.

We've been going through Phonics Pathways very, very slowly. While BG has gotten pretty good at saying the right sound when seeing the letter, I've noticed that she's not so good at recognizing beginning sounds when hearing a word. So I thought we'd create a "Word Wall" following the letter learning order from the Phonics Pathways text.

These are pretty easy to do and BG is enjoying putting them together. First, I printed out a cover page for the letter. You could make some up yourself but I had a copy of Alphabet File Folder Word Walls which supplied some nice ones for me. BG helped me colour these pictures. Hopefully, as we continue on with the alphabet, she'll graduate to colouring the entire picture herself.

Once the picture is coloured, glue it onto the front of the file folder making sure to line up the edge of the picture with the folded edge of the file folder. Then, cut out the picture and file folder together.

On the inside, I pasted the "writing connections," suggestions of activities that highlight words starting with the letter for the folder. For instance, the "A" folder suggestions are to: 1) make a list of all the short-a sound words you can think of, and 2) Tell about a favourite apple recipe you like to eat.

Then, I found some pictures of things that start with the letter on the cover. Since we are following the Phonics Pathways learning format, I wanted to get words that started with the vowel short sounds. This was really easy to do at the Enchanted Learning website. This page has a whole bunch of assorted letter activities listed. I was able to find what I needed for the A words here, and for the E words here.

Since BG was interested, she coloured the pictures for me. Then I cut out the pictures with their name and mixed the A words and the E words together into one big pile. BG's job was to glue the words into the right folder. I think she did a great job!

I'm glad I decided to include the word with the picture this time since BG did have some trouble finding the right folder for the picture even with the word printed beside it.

Anyway, the plan is to add a letter a week until we've done the whole alphabet. We will hopefully get more adventurous with these as we go. Hopefully we'll add some photos of letter associated activities into the folders such as letter shaped cookies, etc. If BG were older, I would probably have her write the letter and include that in the folders. But, since she's only 4, we're keeping things as simple as possible.

Thanks for visiting! And if you have any suggestions for making these more fun or interesting, I'm all ears!

Homeschool Mother's Journal - The frazzled mom edition

2011-11-05T15:29:00.000-06:00

In my life this week…

LB and I had started going to the gym two weeks ago in an effort to help him settle down better - it's been very difficult to keep his attention on anything for more than a few minutes and his hearing sensitivities seem worse. He's also been far more emotional about things than he used to be (as have I). In trying to figure out what might be the cause, it occurred to me that he wasn't going for his regular workouts with his dad anymore. So, we've started it up again. I had no idea how out of shape I was. I mean, I knew that it would be bad but not this bad. Time to face reality.

In our homeschool this week…

It's been pretty light. I'm putting some things on hold and we are going to be doing the Visualizing and Verbalizing program full-time starting next week. I just got the kit last Tuesday and am doing the prep work this weekend to be ready for Monday.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Perseverance is the name of the game. I came very close to quitting these past few weeks. Needless to say, I haven't yet. We are going to give this Visualizing and Verbalizing program our full attention for the next few months. If we don't see a marked improvement in LB's ability to comprehend both written and oral language, and respond with appropriate language of his own, then I'll have to throw in the towel. Teaching with minimal language is getting the best of me and him. But I also remember that few professionals will be as determined and dedicated to helping LB flourish. They simply don't have as much at stake as parents do in ensuring that children receive good education. Sigh.

I am inspired by…

Elizabeth Foss has been inspiring me for years with her books, blog and postings to message boards and email groups. This post in particular really inspired me this week.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Just the usual. Twice daily trips to and from school to drop off and pick up BB and TB. Dance class for BG, piano for the three boys, swimming, and the gym. We're out of the house so much that a day at home feels like a vacation!

My favorite thing this week was…

My other half has all the kids with him to get groceries so that I can have some peace and quiet to get some work done on homeschool prep. Don't get me wrong, I adore my children. But it is a very rare treat to have the whole house to myself. It's bliss. Even though I'm supposed to be working, it's still bliss.

What’s working/not working for us…

MUS has been working out very well, I'm very glad my husband talked me into returning to it. Everything else hasn't been working at all. It's so frustrating. It doesn't seem to matter how much reading we do, comprehension has been so elusive. Praying and hoping that the Visualizing and Verbalizing program works well for us.

Questions/thoughts I have…

I'm trying to figure out how to get supper on the table at a reasonable time when we are always getting home so late. Meal planning is only part of the answer, it's the finding the time for meal prep that is slowing me down!

Things I’m working on…

Meal plans, school prep, Christmas gifts, staying sane...

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This inspired me this week...

Joining up with Sue, the Homeschool Chick. Click here to join the fun!

Peace...

2011-10-16T18:32:00.000-06:00

So many in our world today are suffering from isolation, war and oppression. So much money is spent on the construction of armaments.... Today as never before, we need communities of welcome; communities that are a sign of peace in a world of war. There is no point in praying for peace in the Middle East, for example, if we are not peace-makers in our own community; if we are not forgiving those in our community who have hurt us or with whom we find it difficult to live. Young people, as well as those who are older, are sensitive to this vision of peace. It must continually be announced so that hearts and minds are nourished.
- Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, p. 177

This is my goal for the next few months- to establish this kind of peace in my home and make it a refuge from the nastiness that occurs in our world.

Such a task is hard enough to do in the "real world," but it occurs to me that we need such a place to retreat to online as well. There is a lot of nastiness in the online world, even in places where we wouldn't expect. Here are some of my favorite places to go online when I want to be reminded that there is good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

In the Heart of my Home... Elizabeth Foss shares the beauty of life in a large, homeschooling family. Her love of her faith and family, people, and life in general shines through in her writing and is a salve to the battered soul.
A Holy Experience.. Ann Voskamp's popular blog is full of pictures and poetic writing that exude the beauty of our world and its people.
Starry Sky Ranch (and points beyond)... Kim Fry started her blog about homeschooling her ten children when they lived on a ranch in Colorado. She and her family now live in Germany! Kim is a wonderful writer and photographer and I know when I visit her blog that I will be treated to some excellent photos and sound parenting advice.
on earth as it is in heaven... Katie Davis is a phenomenal young woman who followed God's call for her to drop everything in her comfortable life at the age of 18 (including her boyfriend/fiance) and serve the poor in Uganda. Her writing doesn't hide the costs she was and is required to pay to serve God so completely. Yet, I am simply amazed and inspired by her faith and obvious love for the people she lives with and serves, warts and all.

I hope you spend some time at blogs that bring you peace this week. Thanks for visiting.

Homeschool Journal... Week 1

2011-10-09T21:59:00.007-06:00

In my life this week…
In many ways, life was the same old, same old. BG went to her dance class, LB had his swimming lesson and the three boys their piano lesson. But emotionally, life was full of ups and downs for me.

In our homeschool this week…
I've been very, very busy but in many ways things feel like we're in a standstill. We went through a screening for Irlen lenses for LB and found out that he doesn't need them. It left me feeling so disappointed as I'd hoped that these lenses might help with his reading issues. To know that no help will be forthcoming is another setback. So, I've resolved to quit looking for easy answers and face up to the fact that we simply have to put more time and energy into learning. There's no escaping it. What most children will learn in an hour will take LB more than ten because of the language/reading comprehension issues. We will simply have to work harder and longer. That's all.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
I'm finally realizing that it's best to limit lessons by time versus assignment. For this week, the plan is to spend ONLY 30 minutes a day on a math lesson, and we will stop at the end of 30 minutes whether we are done or not. And, we'll be having set "school hours" too. While I can't see us following the clock directly, we will make sure that we spend a set amount of time on lessons only. Once that time is done, I am free to simply be "mom" and the kids are free to get to their chores or recreation.

I am inspired by…
Joyce Swann educated her ten children at home through to their masters level before they were seventeen. That kind of effort and dedication is simply awe-inspiring!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We went to Edmonton on Friday for the Irlen lens screening but didn't do anything special there. Unless you count supper at Dairy Queen as special.

My favorite thing this week was…
Hmmm, ice cream at Dairy Queen was nice.

What’s working/not working for us…
One can only do "relaxed homeschooling" for so long before starting to panic. Time to step things up a notch.

Questions/thoughts I have…
I've been trying to discern what specific habits to work on with the kids right now, LB in particular. Also trying to discern if LB should have a different teacher, and if so, who?

Things I’m working on…
Well, I guess that I'm working on staying sane and improving my time management skills.

I’m reading…
For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School and Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years as a Homeschooling Mother

I’m cooking…
A Thanksgiving feast for tonight! Tomorrow is officially our Thanksgiving Day here in Canada but we generally celebrate on Sunday. By now, it's habit, but in previous years it was due to travel time needed for us or others to get home in time for work on Monday.

I’m grateful for…
So, so many blessings have been granted to my family and I. We are finding that we need to do some serious decluttering here and I'm so thankful - it's a much better problem to have than not having enough.

I’m praying for…
Guidance and strength to do what I need to do. Praying for my three nephews who are affected by autism in various degrees, one rather severely. Praying for their sister, my niece, who has to deal with so much more than she should have to because of it. And praying for their mom, my sister, all the time.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.

~Stacia Tauscher

BG stands next to her painting of me. Don't I look lovely?

Talk is Cheap

2011-09-19T06:19:00.000-06:00

Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.
– St. Vincent Pallotti

In other words, talk is cheap. If I truly believe what I say I believe, I need to get up and prove it through the choices I make and the actions I take throughout the day.

Weight Loss Restart Number ???????

2011-09-14T07:28:00.003-06:00

I've started over so many times, it's embarrassing! But, the only way to never lose the extra weight is to quit trying so, here we go again.

This time, I want to try a food exchange type of diet. Years ago, I lost a substantial amount of weight on the old Weight Watchers food exchange program. It's an easy system to learn and implement although it is much easier if you eat as plainly as possible. There are ways to spice things up which I'm going to explore later but, for this week, I think that eating plainly will be the way to go.

The old Weight Watchers exchange plan is still available online but I've decided to implement a diabetes exchange program instead. In my copy of Diabetes for Dummies, the exchange lest for a 1500 calorie/day plan is as follows...

Breakfast:

1 fruit exchange
1 starch exchange
1 medium fat exchange
1 fat exchange
1 low fat milk exchange

Lunch:

3 lean meat exchanges
1 vegetable exchange
2 fat exchanges
1 starch exchange
2 fruit exchanges

Supper:

4 lean meat exchanges
2 starch exchanges
2 vegetable exchanges
1 fruit exchange
2 fat exchanges
1/2 low fat milk exchange

Snack:

1 starch exchange
1/2 low fat milk exchange
1 lean meat exchange

And the exchange values are...

1 Starch exchange = 15 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams protein, 1/2 - 1 gram fat, 80 calories
1 Fruit exchange = 15 grams carbohydrate, 60 calories
1 Vegetable exchange = 5 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams protein, 20-25 calories
1 Milk exchange = 12 grams carbohydrate, 8 grams protein, trace amounts of fat, 90 calories
1 Medium Fat Meat exchange = 7 grams protein, 5 grams fat, 75 calories (low fat meat exchanges would have fewer grams of fat)
1 Fat exchange = 5 grams fat, 45 calories

If your main concern is calories, just use the calorie guidelines to make substitutions, using your judgement to guide you in determining what food groups the calories will be allocated to.

Or, you can use a handy pocket resource such as Exchanges for all Occasions. That's what I'm using.

Why an exchange system instead of simply logging my calorie intake? Well, I really need to control my carbohydrate intake and am simply not very good at doing this when I'm allowed free rein on my food choices. Simply refusing to eat sugar or flour doesn't work very well for me either, at least not for very long. And I am simply terrible about eating enough fruits and vegetables. My taste buds are happy enough eating starchy foods all day long but my body is quite fed up with that kind of diet. Time to adjust my palate to a more healthy way of eating.

Anyway, that's all I have time to post for today. I'll be starting this plan tomorrow I hope. Maybe the 86th attempt at this whole weight loss thing will be the one that works, eh?

Mediated Learning Notes... Transcendence

2011-09-12T19:39:00.001-06:00

It's been a while! I considered abandoning this little series since it seemed kind of dull to read but I've changed my mind. I've found this information incredibly useful in learning how to be a better educator and a better parent. Sharing my notes forces me to digest the information and eases my own transition towards a new (to me) way of parenting and teaching. Hopefully, this information will be interesting and useful to some of you.

So, this is the next installment in my series of posts that detail my notes on the book Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential. Again, please note that I have no formal training in this field. These are simply my notes and an effort to learn and share what I learn. If anything I write seems useful or of interest to you, I strongly encourage you to purchase the book (of which I am not associated with in any way), attend some workshops, and learn more. And, please, share your insights with me! I am very much the student in this field and am very interested in learning more myself!

Conversely, if reading these posts is about as interesting as watching paint dry, you can easily avoid them. I will always have the words "Mediated Learning" in the title. And I hope that you'll find the other things that I write about more interesting, [smile].

In my last mediated learning post, I talked about one of the three core elements of a Mediated Learning Experience (MLE), Intentionality and Reciprocity. Today, I'd like to talk about another core element, Transcendence or Bridging.

In simplest terms, transcendence refers to the parent/teacher/mediator relating what was just learned to other things that the student already knows and to past experiences related to the topic at hand. This process is essential to allow the student to cement new information into the brain. Think about it. If I were to teach you how to knit a sweater with a particular pattern in mind, how easy would it be to remember my instructions? If you were an experienced knitter who has already knit many sweaters, you would automatically relate my instructions to previous knitting projects and visualize how you will go about with knitting your own sweater. But, what if you'd never knit a sweater before? What if you'd only ever knit socks? How would this affect your ability to understand my sweater instructions? What if you'd only started knitting yesterday and were still figuring out how to knit with an even tension? Would you be able to remember any of my instructions in sweater-making? Probably not.

By developing the habit of bridging the concepts being learned to concepts already familiar with the student, the student will develop...

a deeper understanding of the world at large and where s/he fits into it
an awareness of how things are interconnected
curiosity prompting him/her to ask questions and discover relationships among things
a desire to know more about things and seek explanations

Another way to think of transcendence. Let's say that our daughter has learned that one way to get ice cream for desert is by saying "please." She knows that by using this word she will probably be given some ice cream. But what happens if she don't want ice cream? What if she wants her dad to quit working and read her a story instead. Maybe, she thinks, dad will be more likely to say "yes" if she asks using the word "please." Success! Our daughter has learned that the word "please" is good for more than just getting ice cream. Her meaning of the term has expanded.

Some ways that we can help our children make more connections with the things they are learning...

Find a general rule that applies to related situations. (Making a hypothesis and testing it out)
Link events in the present with future and past events. (Scrapbooks and family albums are great for this!)
Engaging in reflective thinking to reach an underlying understanding of a situation. (Narrate the experience or book - explaining thoughts in terms that others can understand really helps develop bridges in learning!)
Thinking laterally about experiences and issues. (Act out how a character in a story from ancient Rome would react to using the internet - just an example...)

Anyway, this is how I understand the role of transcendence (bridging) in learning. I hope this made sense and helped build some bridges for you too! Thanks for reading!

Previously in this series...

Daybook... Fall is here!

2011-09-11T20:00:00.008-06:00

Outside my window...
The fall weather has finally arrived. After a week of blissfully warm and sunny days today was full of rain and quite cool.

I am thinking...
So many things to get done, so little time to do it all. It's amazing how little you notice your spouse's contributions to general housekeeping until he is gone.

I am working on...
Plans for this week. But, it seems as though I spend all my time planning and not enough time on doing. One day I'll find the right balance.

From the learning room...
Routine and stability. For most of the past few years, I have resisted the need to have a regular schedule for my family. I've learned the errors of my ways. The predictability of a stable home life really does help us all deal with life's surprises so much more easily.

Around the house...
I totally rearranged our office/learning space last weekend and it has actually been staying clean and organized! Hooray! I can now find things when I'm looking for them! And I've discovered that we sure have a lot more stuff than I thought we did.

From the kitchen...
Quick and easy is the name of the game right now. I'm also trying to get in the habit of making fruits and vegetable the main focus of our meals and snacks. Quite the learning curve for this starch lover!

I am reading...
The Autism Book: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Early Detection, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention (Sears Parenting Library). Actually, I haven't started it yet but it is due back to the library this week so I'd better get cracking on it!

I am listening to...
The kids doing their kitchen chores.

I am creating...

BG's doll - not quite done for her birthday but she seems happy with it nonetheless! Still have to finish the sweater, hat and shoes...

A doll for BG and some Christmas presents.

I am thankful for...
Everything. The good, the bad, and the funny. Life is good.

I am hoping...
We are looking into something new to help LB overcome his communication barriers. Hopefully, we'll know more about it soon and I'll have more to share then...

I am praying...
For a good job for my husband in a place well suited to our needs and that pays well enough for us to get by. I'm praying for the strength to get through the trials of life with my temper intact and without falling into the evil one's temptations. And I'm praying for a cure for autism.

One of my favourite things...
Sleep. A restful, good night's sleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Living, learning and loving! Piano lessons start this week and we'll be back on a full schedule tomorrow.

Something to ponder...
From today's first reading at Mass...

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?
Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins?
If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?
Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults.
~Sirach 27:30 - 28:7

Keep on Blogging...

2011-08-30T08:00:00.001-06:00

We have been a bunch of busy bees here lately! Last Monday, my husband drove to several neighbouring school districts to get on to their respective substitute teacher lists. After several hours of driving from office to office and dealing with various levels of beurocracy, he was left feeling very discouraged. The next day, Tuesday, he receives a request for an interview to teach high school maths and sciences at a regional college. Can he come for an interview on Wednesday? Why yes, yes he can!

Long story short, he got the job and started his new position today. The good news is that we haven't had to resort to dipping into our savings or using unemployment insurance at all through this crisis. The bad news is that the job is located in a very small town three hours away from here. So, I'll be a single mom during the week until we know how long-term this position is going to be. We are hedging our bets.

Just like that, life can turn around on a dime leaving you stretched and wondering how you will meet the new demands that you're faced with. I remember finding out that I was going to be a mother for the first time. Unprepared doesn't even begin to describe how I felt. In fact, I think that I was in denial about my impending motherhood until LB arrived! It was the same when I realized that he faced a whole extra set of challenges than the average child would. Could we handle this? Could we deal with his special needs?

So often in life, I feel so unable to reach my goals. So often, I feel like I'm only able to react to what life brings. But you know, even though I may never reach the goals that I've started out with, the struggle to reach them has always produced many good things.

My goals when I started blogging were very simple. I wanted to have a place online that I call home. It would house favourite links, useful tidbits gleaned from the web, and share personal anecdotes of what has worked in our homeschooling journey.

A few days ago though, I gave up. Blogging does take up a bit of time and effort and I had decided that the payback wasn't worth it.

But you know, I wound up missing it. Even though I'm mostly writing to empty space, I miss the activity of writing out my thoughts and ideas in a way that's understood by someone other than myself. I miss messing around with my template. I miss the occasional comment that comes my way!

I may never reach my goals with blogging. But, the rewards are worth it to me.

Remember, you don’t need to blog as a means to get rich or as a means to gather a huge following. You don’t even need to blog as a means to change the Internet… the change that a blog will cause in your life is reason enough.
~ Joshua Becker @ Becoming Minimalist

Catching Up...

2011-08-21T21:04:00.000-06:00

Well, I guess I dropped out of sight of this blog for the past week!

I had such good intentions too. I really wanted to try and write something every day.

But I found out that, while I could do it, it caused me to become a little obsessive about this teeny tiny blog of mine.

So, I took a little "blogging fast."

It was a good thing to do.

Now, I am feeling refreshed and ready to write again.

I have always had a very hard time with balancing the things in my life. All too often, I will spend far too much time on the current "pet project" and let other things fall by the wayside. Often, sleep is what gets left behind.

And I need my sleep!

Things have been plugging along here rather well. Our days are becoming more structured and we are getting more things done.

The weight loss had stalled during my blog break. Not that it was going that well to begin with, but I've now received confirmation that my body is edging even closer to diabetes. I'm now officially pre-diabetic. Blech.

In order to save my sanity, I've decided to follow the pre-diabetic meal plan offered at Sparkpeople. It's a little on the bland side but I've been able to stick to it while still feeding my family so I'm going to stick with it for now. Hopefully, as the weight comes off I will find a way to eat nicer foods while still being healthy. I'm keeping a haphazard journal over there so I won't bother updating my weight loss here on a regular basis anymore. If you're curious about how I'm doing or would like to send some encouraging thoughts my way, please come visit!

As for homeschooling, we're getting back into the swing of things. As it stands right now, only LB will be officially homeschooled. The girls are too young for school so we'll be learning here at home. BB and TB are heading back to their old school. TB had a rough time in school last year; if things go downhill at school for him this year, he'll be homeschooled too.

Hmmm, there's more I could say but this point is disjointed enough as it is. Anyhow, that's what's been happening around here. Now, back to the kids...

Hello Kermit!

2011-08-11T20:09:00.007-06:00

BB saved this little guy from getting run over by the lawn mower...

He was our honored guest for several hours yesterday afternoon. I hope he enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed his (although I suspect that he was much happier after he was released back outside)!

Finding Fitness... Logbook Week 2

2011-08-10T20:05:00.000-06:00

I wasn't sure what to write today for my weigh-in post. As I was stuck with blogger block, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have a prompt like the Simple Woman's Daybook to record my weight-loss progress. So, I promptly created this little Logbook. Here's my weight loss progress for this past week:

This week I ~~lost~~... GAINED 1.2 pounds

I still need to lose... 88 pounds. Sigh

My measurements have shrunk by... Don't ask

I spent extra calories by... I've been fighting some kind of virus for the past week. The last swim I did was Friday morning and it was a token swim only as I've been feeling so yucky.

I ate fewer calories by... I didn't. My coping mechanism when feeling sick is to eat carbs. Obviously, I need to do something different.

I overcame... I overcame the urge to not post my awful results this week.

I am going to continue to lose weight because... I have to. My health and my life depend on it and I have too many things to be here for.

By next week I will... be smaller.

An encouraging word... The only way to fail is to quit trying. So, success will find me sooner or later. I WILL make the lifestyle changes I need to.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Alicia's blog for other interesting and inspiring Weight-Loss Wednesday journals!

Daybook... for today

2011-08-09T19:53:00.000-06:00

Outside my window...
A beautiful, warm and sunny day.

I am thinking...
Organization is the name of the game around here today. I bought a large "cling" calendar to put on our wall and also found a visual organizer. Hoping that these two items will put us one step closer to getting things done for the day. Just had a brain wave about the visual organizer, maybe have one for each child? But that would take up an awful lot of wall space. Maybe I'll simply use multiple colours, one for each child, and write their tasks in their own colour. SG is too young to need organizing yet, LOL!

From the learning room...
Active learning, I hope! Actively trying to engage all four learners today with some math, bible study, and art! I know for sure that LB and BG will be home for school this year but am still unsure about BB and TB. I would like to have them both home too. BB for social reasons (school is teaching him to be lazy) and TB because he has so much difficulty learning in a classroom setting. But I am not sure yet of what my dear husband wants and I won't pull them out of school without his blessing. So, we're kind of full-steam ahead and kind of hesitating all at the same time.

I am thankful for...
So many things. Received a request from WorldVision to help famine victims in Somalia. We will donate of course. How can we not?

From the kitchen...
Homemade burgers tonight. Chili tomorrow. Homemade chicken nuggets on Thursday. So nice to have a meal plan ready for once - even if the meals are very basic for now. Simple food is good food too.

I am reading...
A mishmosh of stuff. Still trying to finish The Ten Habits of Happy Mothers even though I don't find it very engaging. I want to like it, I really do, but I don't feel like the author and I live on the same planet. Also still trying to wrap up Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life. I like this book a lot more, but I do find that I have to be in the right mood to read it. I've yet to start Creative Therapy for Children with Autism, ADD and Asperger even though I've mentioned this book in so many previous Daybook entries. 50 lashes for me. I'll get started on it tonight!

I am hoping...
To have BG's birthday surprise ready on time! I'll give you a "sneak peak" if you promise not to tell. I'm making her one of these, although I'm sure that the colours I use will be different. I'm not sure if I would violate copyright by posting the picture here so you'll have to click the link to have a peak. I hope she likes it!

I am creating...
Ooops, I guess I should have mentioned that birthday gift under this prompt? I'm also working on a crochet blanket for her but that might end up being a Christmas gift. Crochet blankets seem more of a winter time gift after all...

I am listening to...
Nothing in particular.

Around the house...
Nothing right now - still being a slacker in the housekeeping department.

One of my favourite things...
Hmmm... making gifts for people is a favourite activity. Especially when the gift is well received. It's kind of a tricky thing. After all, who wants to spend a bunch of time and effort on a gift that's going to live in a closet or get quickly thrown away?

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Nothing special. Lots of learning and having fun!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

BG's been busy enjoying her new adjustable easel!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

Things I wish I'd done earlier...

2011-08-08T07:32:00.000-06:00

I've been in the midst of re-evaluating and discerning this past summer with how to educate my 14 year old boy with PDD. He has moderate delays in social skills and language. I've been seeing things in terms of what I/we should have done differently and, overwhelmingly, the answer is this:

Play.

LB as Batman with his sidekick Robin (played by BB)

Children on the spectrum play a lot in their own way but not very socially and that is what needs targeting. I wish I'd been more dedicated to spending time in play versus math, etc.

Read books together and re-enact the stories using puppets, drawing and painting. We read plenty of books but didn't re-enact things nearly as much as we should have.

LB as SpongeBob

I wish we'd played more turn-taking games. Simple ones at first like "Hot Potato" or musical chairs. Exaggerated my reactions and pleasure in waiting to see his next move and reaction. Encouraged his enjoyment in watching for facial expressions, changes in voice, etc. I wish I'd played trains with him until I didn't want to ever see another train again.

I wish we'd read more books together and taken turns reading the text. We did do this a lot but I wish I'd done it more. Read together and pause at various points in the story. Asked him what will happen next and why. Do the pictures give any clues? Asked him to describe the pictures, to figure out what characters might be thinking based on their expressions and actions. My son was an early reader and he still has a great deal of difficulty with doing these kinds of things as he's so used to reading the words and simply parroting back what's in the book. I wish I'd used the pre-reading state to really expand on comprehension as much as possible!

TB as Thomas the Tank Engine

I've found the Charlotte Mason methods are great for those with autism - particularly learning to narrate readings and experiences. But I've yet to find a curriculum that we can use without making serious adaptations to it.

Visual schedules is something else I wish I'd used more of. I am so not a schedule person but they really are helpful and my son absolutely craves having them. I wish I hadn't downplayed their use as much as I have in the past and am using them a lot more now.

LB with his creation. "Tigger"

As far as the motor skills go... play is also wonderful for that, in particular, play with others who won't express frustration from your son's difficulties. He'll have enough of his own frustrations to deal with. As well, painting on a vertical surface is helpful. Mechanical pencils are helpful for those who press down too hard when writing - they really help teach writers to use a lighter touch.

These are just some thoughts going through my head this morning. And I wanted to notes these thoughts down for future reference so, here they are, in all their jumbled glory!

Following Jesus' Call is not for the Faint of Heart

2011-08-07T09:06:00.002-06:00

We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We must say, “I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.” And this is our strength, and this is the joy of the Lord.
– Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Sometimes I really don't want to be doing what I should. Really, really don't want to. Sometimes, when my child is acting especially rude or embarrassing, I want to simply run and hide and pretend that I'm no one's parent.

But, that is not what Jesus calls us to do. We must act out of love, always. We must never be afraid to parent. We must never be afraid to humble ourselves before others. We must never be afraid to claim our child who is old enough to know that he should not just grab a drink from a complete stranger just because he's thirsty. It's hard enough to step in and parent when the young offender is only three. And even tougher when he is 14. I know that I've disciplined, instructed, and guided him many, many, many times on why stealing others' food and drinks is wrong. It's bloody embarrassing to still have to do it.

Thankfully, most people realize that my son isn't as mature as his body suggests. But not always.

And Jesus calls me to discipline/instruct again. And to apologize on my child's behalf. And to guide my child to apologize. Again.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes, cleaning toilets is easier and preferable.

Yet, the rewards of parenting are much greater. In loving my child through the hard, embarrassing times, I am comforted in knowing that I'm following the narrow path, God's path. The route to my loving father who understands the pitfalls of parenting more than anyone. And who loves his children anyway.

To Him be the glory...

Learning Log... Needing some more intentional living and learning here!

2011-08-06T08:56:00.001-06:00

I'm finding that I like these "daybook" type of posts, especially when I want to record our progress on various projects. Having the writing prompts reminds me of all the areas that I want to review from the past week and focus on areas that we did well and on areas that need improvement. So, that's the format that I'm going to use for my "learning log" posts from now on.

And, yes I probably should call this "week 1," especially in light of how little we've been doing lately, but, since this is the end of the fifth week of our summer quarter, I'm going to label it thus. Just to help me keep dates straight when I make my year-end review.

Hope this isn't too boring to read. If you like the format and/or graphic I'm using, feel free to copy. And let me know, it's nice to hear that someone's found something here helpful!

And now, our week in review...

What’s working/not working for us...
Relaxed homeschooling. Or relaxed living for that matter. We really, really need a more structured schedule around here and I am really, really struggling with making it work.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice I found online this week...
I was reminded of the importance of using VISUAL SCHEDULES this week! This is definitely something that will be implemented and happening this week. While I don't think I will use a whole wall like Jamie @ Simple Homeschool does...

This simpler schedule shown by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home looks doable...

Our favorite thing this week was...
Probably the captured ladybug that lived in a jar for a few days. And the dead moth that BG found and gave me was interesting to examine.

Mama's learning...
Learning all the time! Too many things have been sliding around here and we are in need of more intentional living.

Just for next week we will...
Follow a plan and start taking more pictures

I am inspired by...

If we enquire into any person's habits of life, mental preoccupation, devotion to a cause or pursuit, he will usually tell us that such and such an idea struck him. This potency of an idea is matter of common recognition. No phrase is more common and more promising than, 'I have an idea'; we rise to such an opening as trout to a well-chosen fly. There is but one sphere in which the word idea never occurs, in which the conception of an idea is curiously absent, and that sphere is education! Look at any publisher's list of school books and you shall find that the books recommended are carefully dessicated, drained of the least suspicion of an idea, reduced to the driest statements of fact. Here perhaps the Public Schools have a little pull over the rest of us--the diet they afford may be meagre, meagre almost to starvation point for the average boy, but it is not destitute of ideas; for, however sparsely, boys are nourished on the best thoughts of the best minds.
(Charlotte Mason Homeschool Series, Vol. 6, p. 105, )

Because Change is Possible...
You know that you will find a fuller and more interesting Learning Log here next week! With pictures!

Well, maybe I should have let this slide until next week but I wanted to get this habit started again right away. Thanks for stopping by and, rest assured, next week's post will be more interesting!

From around the web this week...

2011-08-05T05:39:00.000-06:00

A snapshot of what's been striking me as interesting and important in my on-web wanderings...

"Fun" Blog Posts...

metamorphosis - Maura shares her children's interesting find of a pond of tadpoles. Wonderful pictures of tadpoles transforming into frogs
How to Make a Homemade Sprinkler with PVC Pipe a real "cool" way to beat the heat!
Snigel-race a real-life snail race resulting in a work of art

Education...

Three Questions for the Homeschool Mother: Why? is a wonderful essay that reminds me of the major goal of education. We are not looking to feed our children knowledge, but ideas. Sonya writes...
But the real answer to Why? is that we educate our children so they may grow. And just as their physical bodies grow on the food that is good for them, so their minds grow on a certain type of mind-food. “The mind is capable of dealing with only one kind of food; it lives, grows and is nourished upon ideas only; mere information is to it as a meal of sawdust to the body” (Vol. 6, p. 105).

Those who believe we learn in order to know emphasize information. But those who agree with Charlotte Mason that we learn in order to grow give their children ideas.
Next week will cover the topic of what to teach and you can be sure I'll be reading!
180 Page Undated Planner - NEW BEGINNINGS the last planner you'll ever need! Unless...
Misty shares some wonderful words of wisdom in her post, Training our Children. Some things that come naturally to many children need to be specifically taught to others and we should be mindful of this.
And Misty shares some sound advice on what we as homeschool mothers need to be in her post, The Bad News about Homeschooling

Thoughts that make me go Hmmm...

A Different Kind of Mommy War, Rachel Evans shares WorldVision's dedication to help those children and their families who need a hand up, in this case for a community in Bolivia who have decided not to leave their special needs children behind
my hero, Adeye shares her adopted daughter's remarkable transformation. Hailee has Downs Syndrome and had been given up on in her orphanage in her native country, spending her days in a drugged state and left in her crib. One year after coming home to a loving family, she is a different child.
Broken Promise Shoots "Passion" Star into Action, the story of Jim Caviezel's transformation to being pro-life in word only to living out Jesus' call to value each and every life we meet.
one decade later, where Adeye also share how following Jesus' call to sacrifice everything for Him has changed her life for the better
Kindness Is Contagious Kate Wicker shares her method for changing her thoughts from negative to positive ones
"I'm Not Adoptable" Jane shares the thoughts of a 15 year old who has given up on finding a family and stretches me to try harder
Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank) Rachel shares a thought-provoking post that has me re-evaluating how I spend my time
(title unknown) Katie's most recent post. Katie is the founder of the charity Amazima. Now at the ripe old age of 24, she is the adopted mother of 13 girls in Uganda where she works to better the lives of everyone she meets. Katie is such a talented writer and I am NEVER sorry to read her words. She challenges me to stretch further. To do more. To love more. She never titles her posts but her most recent post, this one, begins...
“I thought that if she was just going to die anyway, I should let her die quickly. Then I wouldn’t have to love her, and it wouldn’t have to hurt. Anyway, if she lives, she’ll just grow up to be like this. Who wants to live like this?”

Love is messy. And so worth it. Love often. Love freely. And love always.

Recently Read: Healing Autism Naturally

2011-08-04T10:32:00.002-06:00

As I've mentioned on this blog before, LB is on a gluten free diet in order to deal with digestive issues that he has. When we first went in search of answers for his digestive ills, over ten years ago now, we received little to no help from the medical establishment. When he was having so much trouble with "the runs" that he was unable to potty-train, for over eight months, we were told that autism disorders and digestive issues often go hand in had. There was nothing to be done except learn to accept it and deal with it.

We've explored natural and biomedical interventions for LB ever since our success with going gluten free. Now, there is a new book available for those who are new to autism and trying to discern the best way to overcome it... Becky Cash's book, Healing Autism Naturally.

How I wish we had this book back then! And even now, although there is very little in this book that is new to me, I am finding it to be a very good resource for us to explore in our efforts to improve LB's health. It covers the important aspects of what autism is and what treatment options are available, both traditional and alternative, in a clear and concise manner. The importance of being a strong advocate for your affected loved one is emphasized without going over the top. The explanations for why diet and nutritional interventions are useful and appropriate are clear and the case for supplementing the diet with extra nutrition is nicely made.

I was a bit disappointed in the strong favoritism shown toward Shaklee products. Not that I have anything against Shaklee; rather, it was disconcerting to see them being held as so much better than other products. I've learned long ago that there is no one brand that can claim supremacy in the world of supplements. Some are better with fish oils, some with probiotics, some with enzymes, etc. The fact that Ms. Cash is also a Shaklee representative probably has something to do with her overemphasis with using their products, not a fact that I find comforting.

I was very pleased to read Ms. Cash's opinions on how one should approach treatment in autism. She very much wants people to remember that autism is not your child. Yes, children and adults with autism do necessitate different methods in parenting and communication. Yes, raising children with autism can be very stressful. But these children have many positive points too. Their needs should be accommodated as best as possible and they should be treated and educated in a way that respects their dignity as persons who are equal in every way to their peers.

This quote highlights what I'm trying to say here:

Yes, there are people who are going to tell you that the only way to extinguish bad behaviours is to ignore them and let them run their course. However, many of these "bad"' behaviours arise because we're not listening. We wouldn't expect an adult who needs our attention to "extinguish" their attempts to get our attention before we would listen to them; why would we expect that from a child on the spectrum?

So often we expect children with ASD to simply "get with the program" and start behaving the way their non-affected peers do. But, realistically, how can they and why should they? Their senses may not work the same way, making regular school and social situations much more difficult to deal with. And, instead of being listened too and valued, they are rejected and isolated further from their communities.

I also like the way that Ms. Cash reminds us that loving our spectrum children is more important that "curing" them. Not that we shouldn't work hard to help them overcome their difficulties in dealing with our world. Indeed, she firmly advocates the need to be persistent and determined in our efforts to advocate and help our children become independent and happy adults. But, we also need to remember that we love them even if our best efforts fail. Even if our child remains trapped by their autism well into adulthood, they deserve our love and friendship. They deserve to be appreciated, listened to and respected as equal members of our family and social circles.

The final chapter provides the parents with valuable information to help them become better advocates for their child. Unfortunately for us, the information pertains to American laws and schools. Some of the information is transferable but one needs to be aware that the laws and schooling options in their own country may be different and require different handling.

All in all, this book gets a "thumbs up" from me. I learned some useful information and may even seek out Ms. Cash's services that she offers on her website, ASD Perspectives. You can purchase your own copy of her book at the same site. It is also available here at Amazon.com in both electronic and paper book format. If there is a child on the autism spectrum in your life, this is a book well worth your time to read.

BTW, in the interest of full disclosure... I receive absolutely no compensation for anyone for this review. Ms. Cash and the people involved in publishing the book, Healing Autism Naturally, have no knowledge of who I am or that I am writing this review. I am, however, a member of Amazon.com's affiliate program and will receive a small credit from them should you choose to purchase this book through the links provided here that can be used towards future purchases.

A Dress for BG...

2011-08-03T09:50:00.000-06:00

I've posted this on my other blog already but thought it deserved a post here. After all, this is my blog for needlework and all things crafty!

This dress was super easy to make and a great first time project for someone who is new or timid with machine sewing. The pink princess fabric came "pre-smocked" in that all that gathering around the bodice was already done. The edging on the top and bottom of the dress was already done. All I had to do was sew up the seam to join the two sides to the dress together.

I could even have simply put on spaghetti straps to make the whole project take about fifteen minutes but I really don't care for spaghetti straps. So, I made the wider straps and a matching yellow belt. BG wouldn't let me take a picture but the belt is tied up in a big yellow bow in the back.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. Machine sewing is still somewhat foreign to me so this was a great beginner project with a big payoff.

And BG seems somewhat happy with it. My lovely little princess is growing up.

My First Dress...

2011-08-02T12:23:00.001-06:00

The first one that I've ever sewn that is. What do you think?

Although, I'm not sure that saying I made it is a truly accurate statement. The pink princess fabric came "pre-smocked" in that all that gathering around the bodice was already done. The edging on the top and bottom of the dress was already done. All I had to do was sew up the seam to join the two sides to the dress together.

I could even have simply put on spaghetti straps to make the whole project take about fifteen minutes but I really don't care for spaghetti straps. So, I made the wider straps and a matching yellow belt. BG wouldn't let me take a picture but the belt is tied up in a big yellow bow in the back.

All in all, I'm quite pleased. Machine sewing is still somewhat foreign to me so this was a great beginner project with a big payoff.

And BG seems somewhat happy with it. My lovely little princess is growing up.

Mediated Learning Notes... Intentionality and Reciprocity

2011-08-02T12:20:00.001-06:00

Continuing my series of posts that detail my notes on the book Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential. Again, please note that I have no formal training in this field. These are simply my notes and an effort to learn and share what I learn. If anything I write seems useful or of interest to you, I strongly encourage you to purchase the book (of which I am not associated with in any way), attend some workshops, and learn more. And, please, share your insights with me! I am very much the student in this field and am very interested in learning more myself!

Conversely, if reading these posts is about as interesting as watching paint dry, you can easily avoid them. I will always have the words "Mediated Learning" in the title. And I hope that you'll find the other things that I write about more interesting, [smile].

So, in my last mediated learning post, I mentioned the twelve points to consider when mediating. Here they are in graphic form:

The three points in the center are core to any mediated learning exercise. In order for real learning to take place there must be intentionality and reciprocity, transcendence (bridging), and meaning in the learning experience. The other nine components are often necessary as well but they are not as integral. They act mostly to reinforce and enhance the three core principles. At least I think they do. In this post, I'd like to talk about one of the core components of the Mediated Learning Experience (MLE), Intentionality and Reciprocity.

First, let's define what intentionality and reciprocity refer to.

Intentionality refers to the mediator having a goal in teaching. For instance, a mother wishes to teach her son to look both ways and ensure that it is safe before crossing a street. The mother has a specific goal in mind and will use a variety of methods to help her son understand that it is important to check for traffic before crossing a street.

Contrast this with a parent giving their child paints, crayons, and paper and directing him to "Have fun." There is no specific intention for learning to happen. The child may indeed have fun but learning may or may not happen.

Reciprocity refers to the learner / student / child showing that they've learned. Going back to our first example, the child may tell his mother what he is should do when it is time to cross the street. Or, he may demonstrate this. Whatever, the method, the child is able to show that he understood the message that his mother had sent him.

Note that the mediator needs to ensure that the material is presented in a way that the learner can understand. The ideas and material presented must have some interest for the learner. And the learner must be able to pay attention to the lesson being taught. These things will help ensure that intentionality and reciprocity are taking place.

Many times, when dealing with a person affected with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is a breakdown in this system. For example, the child can't understand or focus on the message being sent to him. He may have trouble following a procedure to it's logical conclusion. He may become so overwhelmed with the sounds of traffic that he cannot focus on the message being given to him and simply can't hear his mother explaining traffic safety to him.

Often, there is also an inability to reciprocate. The child with ASD may be unable to communicate to his mother that he understood what she said. He may understand what the rules of traffic safety are but becomes overwhelmed when facing a busy street thus forgetting all that he's learned.

As a mediator / parent / teacher, it is important to break down the information into digestible bits in order to get a response from the learner. Only break things down to the level where learning is achieved - don't go overboard. One child may be able to understand what the moral of the story of "The Three Little Pigs" is when first presented with it. Another child may need to have things broken down a bit before understanding that the third little pig's house survived the big bad wolf's efforts to blow it down because, being made out of bricks, it was stronger than the other pigs' houses.

Without a response from the learner, no effective learning can take place. The type of response can vary. Maybe it's a narration. Maybe it's a demonstration of the principles learned. Maybe it's completing a worksheet. Maybe it's something else. The point is that there must be a response. The child who is watching you clean the table is not necessarily learning how to do it. Until the child can clean the table himself, he has not shown you that he's learned how.

Well, I hope this all makes some sense. It's a lot to think about but I'm finding that time spent on considering these things when parenting or teaching is generally well rewarded. Tomorrow I'll talk about "transcendence" or "bridging" and its importance to the learning experience. Hope to see you then.

Mediated Learning - The Belief in Change

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

As promised, here is the beginning of a series of posts that detail my notes on the book Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential. Please note that I have no formal training in this field. These are simply my notes and an effort to learn and share what I learn. If anything I write seems useful or of interest to you, I strongly encourage you to purchase the book (of which I am not associated with in any way), attend some workshops, and learn more. And, please, share your insights with me! I am very much the student in this field and am very interested in learning more myself!

Rather than pessimistically predict future outcomes based on the student's current low level of functioning, the teacher should optimistically view this as the baseline for potential change in the student's ability to learn. This change should be seen as being dependent on the quality of teacher-student and parent-student interaction. It is through this interaction that the cognitive and motivational functions needed for learning will be modified. This approach is based on having a belief that change is possible, and then having the skills and strategies to bring about that change.
p. x, Preface, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential

This book is organized into three major sections and that is how I will organize my study. They are:

Structural Cognitive Modifiability - the belief in change

Mediated Learning Experience - the method of change
Cognitive Functions and Cognitive Tools - tools of change

So, let's begin...

1. Structural Cognitive Modifiability - the belief in change
Well, how's that for a mouthful, "Structural Cognitive Modifiability." What the heck is that supposed to mean anyway?

Let's break it down word by word.

Structural refers to the organization and integration of the components that make up our thinking. An analogy might be to think of a computer. The hardware, the microchips, etc are the physical elements that make up the computer. The physical components of the computer must all be working in order for the computer to work. And they must all be put together in such a way to allow them to work efficiently. A misplaced wire could render the whole machine useless.

Cognitive refers to the ability to think, reason and to learn. Again, going back to our computer analogy, one can think of the software as being the method through which the computer "thinks." Even if the computer is put together well, until it has its programming installed and working, it remains useless. Once the software is installed, suddenly one can use a computer to do a great many things.

Modifiability refers to the ability to adapt, to alter and to regulate. Thinking of the computer again, imagine that your computer's browser is malfunctioning. For whatever reason, it is not able to access the web. The fact that the software can be "modified" or changed means that the computer is not stuck at its less than useful state. It can be improved. It is modifiable. To stretch the analogy a little more, think of the computer accessing a site that you are forbidden access to. A hacker could install new programming to gain entry into the previously forbidden site. The computer has been modified to improve its usefulness to the user.

Now, replace the computer in the analogies above with the most powerful computer known to us, the human brain. One can see how an imperfection in its structure or cognition can cause difficulties in learning. However, a person who is skilled at programming, or teaching, and knows how to find the problem and overcome it can improve the brain's ability to think, to learn and to grow.

Do you believe that it is possible to change? Can a person who seems delayed in so many ways change and improve their mental functions? Can my delayed son learn to carry a conversation, stop running out into traffic, pay attention to his surroundings and become more independent?

According to Feuerstein, the answer to these questions is yes, but only with teachers, parents, mediators who are hopelessly optimistic that CHANGE IS POSSIBLE! And, that this is change can happen through the interactions between teacher/parent and student/child.

Is this what I believe? Is this what you believe? Really? What would have been your first thought when presented with the case of M (found here)? I know that my first thought was that this poor boy had no hope of ever living an independent life given his poor start. I am finding that I really need to work on this whole aspect of a positive attitude towards LB's future. But that is definitely what I need to do. Forget the past failures and mistakes by all concerned, including my own, and move forward. He will succeed in spite of it all.

That's what's needed for ALL teachers and learners, isn't it?

Another important difference in Feuerstein's methods is found in its purpose. Most teaching is done towards helping the learner to accomplish a specific skill. Not so with Feuerstein. He aims to teach learners how to learn so that they can adapt their own learning to their current environment and LEARN TO TEACH THEMSELVES.

Isn't that the goal of any teacher? It's certainly mine.

So how does Feurestein propose to accomplish this? That's where Mediated Learning comes in.

2. Mediated Learning Experience - the method of change
There are two basic modes of learning. The Direct Approach involves the student learning directly from their environment with no help from a teacher or helping tool. For example, a child sees a bee flying. Right away the child can learn several things. Bees can fly. Bees are small. Bees have stripes. No instructor is needed for the child to learn this, though prior knowledge (what are stripes, what is flight) is. The learning is direct and instantaneous. This kind of learning is also incidental and, according to Feurestein, not enough for optimal development.

In the Mediated Approach, a human mediator acts to provide meaning to what the child is seeing. She may point out that the bee is feeding on a flower. She may point out where the bee is coming from and that it makes honey. She might then remind the child of much they enjoy a spoonful of honey as a treat. In short, she acts to give meaning to what the child is learning and bring attention to the fact that the child is learning something new and worth remembering.

Both forms of learning are necessary. The mediator's role is to act to improve the student's ability to learn directly from the environment more easily and effectively on their own without the need for mediation.

There are 12 points to consider when acting as a mediator. They include...

Intentionality and Reciprocity
Transcendence
Meaning
Competence
Self-Regulation and Control of Behaviour
Sharing
Individuation
Goal Planning
Challenge
Self-Change
Optimistic Alternative
Sense of Belonging

I'll be talking about them in future posts over the next few days as each deserve a post of their own. Stay tuned...

If you believe there is a way, you will find a solution, irrespective of the difficulties that have come before.
p. 7, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential

Daybook... It's August!

2011-07-31T23:55:00.000-06:00

Outside my window...
It's a nice cool night. Today started off quite cool but became very hot as the day progressed. It was an aberration though. Tomorrow is supposed to return to milder temperatures.

I am thinking...
I am really feeling so much better since I've started swimming on a regular basis again. It's been giving me more energy and even has been helping me control my appetite. Definitely worth the hassle and cost for me.

From the learning room...
Still in "light mode." Hopefully there'll be more reading happening very, very soon...

I am thankful for...
Cool nights. Hot days are so much more bearable when I know that the night will be cooler.

From the kitchen...
O.K. Don't laugh but I have been so happy to actually get three meals a day prepped in a timely manner this past week. It's only taken me over 15 years of married life to accomplish this feat. What can I say, when one's husband isn't too interested in food and often forgets to eat, one loses motivation to cook regular meals. But, I've decided to make the effort and am happy with the results. Definitely something to keep up.

I am reading...
Still reading Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life, The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers, and Creative Therapy for Children With Autism, ADD, and Asperger. Plus, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential.

I am hoping...
It will be nice if I can get things as organized as I need them to be here soon. The plan is in place. Now, to implement it!

I am creating...
The swim bags are all done. Next up, a crochet blanket for BG's birthday plus another little knitted surprise. More on that soon...

I am listening to...
Quiet. Ah, how I love quiet! I must be getting old, LOL!

Around the house...
Need to pick up the pace on the housework. This will mean unexpected company will arrive soon. Am I the only one who only gets company when my home is looking "less than its best?"

One of my favourite things...
Long walks on a mild day with my family. Yup, that's me. Simple mind, simple pleasure.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Establishing routines and getting work done.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Mmmm... Yummy pink princess cookies!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

One Hundred Years From Now...

2011-07-31T09:03:00.003-06:00

Children Making Their Grandmother a Present on Her Name Day
Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller (1793-1865)
Oil on panel

One Hundred Years from now
It will not matter
what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
how much money was in my bank account
nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a better place because
I was important in the life of a child.
(excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft)

I first read this many years ago from the wall of a Humpty's restaurant. It spoke to me so much that I wrote it down on a napkin and took it home. And it still continues to speak to me and make me question the validity of the choices I make.

Learning Log... What the heck have we been doing and what are we going to do next anyway?

2011-07-30T07:40:00.001-06:00

This past week has again been very light. Still a lot of sleeping in happening here with lessons coming "when we have time." But now as we are entering August, I'm finding a need for more structure and routine in our days. One of my biggest struggles with homeschooling has been organization. This is very been closely followed by poor follow-through. A very frustrating and poor combination of bad habits to have.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about how to improve on these two things this past week... reviewing things that I've tried, what has worked and what hasn't. And, I hope that the system I've settled on will make the next few months far more productive. So, I thought I'd talk about that here today.

When I received my iPad last Christmas, I was so excited. I really hoped that it would end my problems with organization as it could act as a central hub for all my notebooks and little bits of paper that I used to record notes and thoughts on. These notebooks and little bits of paper were always getting lost and I've wasted a lot of time looking for them. Finally, I would have a central place that I could record appointments, booklists, schedules, and thoughts that was completely portable! And, to a certain extent, that is what's happening.

It took me a while to find the most effective way to use it. At first, I tried out the Simply Charlotte Mason curriculum planner. I tried it out for a full two weeks and it was great! Exactly what I needed! Until the site went down for a day. And until we lost internet access for another day due to a summer storm. I hadn't made any paper backups to our plans and found myself unable to carry on as usual. Really, I should have been able to carry on anyways but it was like there a was a mental block in my head. "I can't access our homeschool plans; therefore, school is out for the day!" Yes, you're right. It shouldn't have mattered. What can I say, I am an undisciplined slob.

OK, no problem. There are a whole lot of apps out there for the iPad. Surely there is one that will be useful?

iStudiez was the first one I ran into. And it is absolutely fabulous for students. But, I found that I needed something with a bit more flexibility as a teacher. Something that would let me plan for a week at a time and make changes without requiring a lot of extra data entry by me.

The Smart Pad was going to be the answer to my problems. A complete planner/organizer that allowed me to schedule things that had a set time and enter tasks that could be done "whenever." It worked well for about a week. Then, I found myself ignoring it. Again, too much time spent on data entry. Plus, it crashed a lot. Maybe it doesn't for the iPad 2 but I have the original and have no plans to upgrade anytime soon.

Apps like Toodledo and To-Do are great task organizers. But again, I found them easy to ignore.

The ThinkBook app has become my go-to planner. It is a great place to work out ideas and make plans, project lists, and organize. It's easy to make changes without having to re-enter a bunch of data and to insert or delete ideas at will. I really like the project list icon (?). Not sure what the proper name is but there is a large circle that appears to the left of a project title. As each item in the project list is completed, the circle is shaded in proportionally. (What I mean by this is that, for instance, if a project had three items, when one item is completed a third of the circle is shaded in. When all items are completed, the circle is completely filled and contains a checkmark.) This makes it very easy to see what things have been done and what needs to happen next. It is easy to make notes too. Really, its name fits perfectly. It allows me to think through ideas and projects without needing to add a lot of details or time schedules. It is easily backed up with DropBox and also allows email and printing of whatever you've written. Very happy to have found it and highly recommend it.

But I was still having trouble with the simpler aspects of organization. Things like finding books and pencils when I need them. And it is virtually impossible to eliminate the paper aspect of organizing. Where did I put that lab requisition? That bill? Those receipts? That great learning idea that is not online and 5 pages long?

Dawn, from By Sun and Candlelight, has answered that question for me. Her File Crate System is something that I've been trying to implement for a while now with limited success but I think I've finally got it working for me. I spent some time during the past two weeks going through her File Crate System series of posts, trying to find out why things weren't working and how to improve. Most of the problems I ran into she had already addressed. If this is an area you find challenging, I highly recommend reading what she has to say!

Here is how the "File Crate System" looks like for me...

These are a few of our dishpan "inboxes." There is one for each child and one for me. My husband has his own system ;) In each box go things like school supplies, current notebooks and texts, and any loose paper found throughout the house. Most of the "mystery paper" gets put into my box. (Each box has the person's name on it but I've erased them for the photo.)

Here's my File Crate Box. I've got it set up almost the same way as Dawn has hers except that I've divided the year into four seasons: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring. I've also got extra hanging files for correspondence with our homeschool organization and a file for each child.

Here's my planner book. Yes, I am still using one even though I rely heavily on my iPad. My biggest reason for keeping it is that I have an easier time planning things out on paper. Once I have a more solid idea of what we are going to do, then I can put it into my iPad. Also, this works to hold papers that we will need throughout the day/week and hard copies of general routines, homeschool checklists, and other things. On the cover is a quote from Catherine Doherty that helps remind me to keep on task.

Inside my planner book. On the left is this week's folder and any paperwork associated with the week. On the right is a list of ten ways to simplify homeschooling. It is something that I'm trying hard to remember.

Here is where I put our plans for the week. I plan for only four children at the moment.

Here's a better look at my weekly homeschool planning page.

And here's a look at my weekly planning page for general life and homemaking.

Hopefully, all of this reflecting and organizing will make 2011 - 2012 a stellar year for us.

I hope this post gives you some ideas or helps you feel better about things are going on in your home. This past week I've been running into free planners all over the net. I've checked out a few and have downloaded some. Each time I do this, my head starts to hurt as I try and revamp what I am doing here. I am going to concentrate on keeping things very simple and focus on what has been working for me already. I would like to encourage you to look at what you're already using and what has been working and what hasn't and create a system that suits YOU. Writing this post has really helped me do just that and I encourage you to do the same.

Have a great day!

Scenes from the Fair...

2011-07-29T20:59:00.001-06:00

We all spent a large part of today at the local fair where a fun time was had by all. Here are some of the highlights...

SG and a sheep checking each other out...

"I'm not so sure about this critter mom!"

I'm just impressed with how clean these guys are!

I've been around. Most of the sheep I run into are a lot scruffier looking. But just as cute!

Because I love needlework and all things crafty, I forced my family to join me in viewing some exhibits.

All the displays were behind chicken wire. I thought it was to discourage people from touching them. my husband figured it might discourage theft too.

This quilt was absolutely beautiful - my photo doesn't do it any justice at all. The needlework was absolutely exquisite.

And I love the use of colour in this quilt.

Another example of beautiful needlework on this pillow.

I finally listened to my children and we set off for the rides - the BEST part of the fair according to them.

LB and BB look like they're having fun, don't they?

BB just loved it!

BG was happier on the more sedate rides.

Anyway, a fun time was had by all and I'm now the proud owner of a bright red sunburn. Hope your day was just as happy!

Mediated Learning... Beginning

2011-07-28T08:05:00.002-06:00

Well, this is a little embarrassing.

Last February, I mentioned that I want to dedicate Mondays to writing about Mediated Learning and how we are using it in our home. Since then, I have written a grand total of ZERO posts about it.

Well, better late than never!

I'll be posting my notes on the book Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential starting this Monday. For real this time, the posts are already in my Drafts here and set to publish. But, since it has been awhile since I've talked about it, I've decided that the best way to begin is to re-post my blog about why I am studying Mediated Learning in the first place. I hope you'll return Monday to learn more along with me. If you're interested in learning more right away, might I suggest hopping over to Holly's blog at 5 Minute Mom? She's been blogging about mediated learning for a while now and has a nice overview there. And the folks at Wisdom Homeschool have a lot more information there too. And starting Monday, I'll be writing about it here. I hope you'll join me.

Here's my post from last February...

As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to dedicate Mondays to writing about Mediated Learning and how we are using it within our home. Since it's been a while since I've talked about it here, I thought I'd re-post some of my brief introduction to it from last April.

The goal of Mediated Learning is to help the learner learn how to learn from his/her environment. In other words, it seeks to help the student to eventually be self-taught. The emphasis is on developing the cognitive processes necessary to learn from the world around him, without the need of a mediator or dumbed down explanation. Professor Feuerstein, the creator of the mediated learning method and an internationally renowned Israeli professor of child psychology for over 50 years, rejects the belief that people are born with a certain intelligence that remains fixed throughout life. He has shown that people all have the potential to change and are able to improve their cognitive skills if they are provided with opportunities to engage in the right kind of interactions. In fact, he has many amazing case studies that show the effectiveness of his methods and I'd encourage you to check out them out for yourself.

This is our eventual goal for LB, independence and the ability to cope with and thrive in his natural environment.

While I've got quite a few notes from the workshops I've already attended that I need to review, I felt that I needed to get a more basic understanding of what Mediated Learning is and how it works. At the first seminar, I purchased this book: Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential. I've begun an intense study of it and hope to share what I learn here on this blog. I've found that forcing myself to narrate what I've learned really helps to cement things in my mind and that is my main reason for blogging my study. But, I also hope to share whatever I learn with anyone who comes across my notes in case they may find some benefit from it.

I am feeling such a renewed sense of optimism for LB's future now and am excited to find where this new journey into his education will take us! YAY!

While this explains, briefly, why I am pursuing this area of study, there are a few other things I need to mention. I came upon some research recently that showed positive outcomes for its use with autistic students. You can read the paper summary here (pdf document). I also need to share a little anecdote that is included in the book I mentioned above, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, etc. Beginning on page 4, the story of "M" is shared along with an explanation of the different approaches to dealing with such a case. From the book...

THE CASE OF M
Eleven years ago, M was referred to the Feurerstein Institute for life-long placement in custodial care. At the time of his referral, he was 15-years-old and his IQ, according to the reports, was in the 35-44 range. His vocabulary consisted of 40-50 words and he manifested severe impairment of spatio-temporal orientation, imitation, retention, and social behavior. Echolalia (repetition of words) and echopraxia (repetition of movement) were observed, but no psychotic-autistic signs were detected. Trainability had been considered very poor, and custodial care seemed unavoidable.

M was the second of three brothers. His father, a schizophrenic, alcoholic and poorly adjusted Foreign Legion soldier, met and married M's mother in an Asian country. The mother was retarded and illiterate and died as a hospitalized, diagnosed psychotic. M suffered from brain damage caused by prematurity and low weight at birth and required prolonged incubator care. His infancy was marked by nutritional difficulties and by repeated and prolonged separations in nurseries and foster homes. His early adolescence was spent largely in socially and educationally restrictive environments.

The book goes on to detail two main approaches to dealing with such a case. The passive approach focuses on accepting M's abilities as they are now. The past is seen as insurmountable and the task is to find a place where M can function within his current state of ability. This is all too often the course of action with these difficulties. I mean, really, this boy's past seems to doom him and, at the age 15, many, if not most, would see M as too old to learn how to function in regular society. He seems doomed to live out his days in a very restricted environment.

Feuerstein takes a different and active approach to this case. He sees this boy's past as merely a starting point. What he looks for is the boy's ability to change, to learn and to grow. His intelligence is not measured as a fixed state but as something that can grow with intensive intervention. All too often, we hear that a student who is 15 is beyond educating. The prevailing notion seems to be that once the brain matures, it is fixed and unable to repair itself any further. Feuerstein maintains that the brain is capable of growing and learning throughout the lifespan.

Back to the book...

Consider the actual outcome of the case of M as reported by Feuerstein.

Contrary to all expectations, our assessment of M, using the learning Potential Assessment Device, yielded a surprising level of modifiability. Accordingly, M was placed in a foster home, group care treatment program for the redevelopment of severely disturbed, low functioning adolescents. As a result of the intensive and concerted investment in M's development over the past 11 years, he has emerged as an independently functioning individual, oriented in space and time, with a full and rich command of spoken and written Hebrew, a sense of humor, social skills, and vocational ambitions. He is responsible for the maintenance of a large indoor swimming pool and has learned to speak French and some German.

In spite of M's charged heredity, organic damage, maternal deprivation, and stimulus deprivation from his restricted early environments, all of which are considered responsible for retarded performance, he proved receptive to intervention, albeit of a sustained and systematic nature. The development of his capacity to use hierarchically higher levels of cognitive processes, such as representational, anticipatory and inferential thinking, to a large extent determined his general behavioral adaptations. Thus his entire destiny was changed from anticipated placement in life-long custodial care to the life of an autonomous, independent, adaptive young man, looking forward to building a future and starting a family.

How does this relate to LB or others with autism? All too often, we hear of sensory problems afflicting those with autism. I firmly believe that in my son's case, his problems with over-sensitivities to light and sound interfered with his development. I am convinced that the vast majority of those diagnosed with autism are suffering physical problems that interfere with learning and may even make learning from the environment painful. The child who is deaf suffers when learning to communicate but is generally still able to fully use their other senses to compensate. The child with over-sensitive hearing learns to simply turn their hearing off. Instead of using their other senses to compensate for their troubled hearing, they avoid the painful and loud environment and run to one that is more static and less painful. In some cases, these sensitivities are tempered with age. Or, other compensations are made so that the autistic person can cope with the difficulties more easily. However, there is still all the early learning that did not take place that must occur. By the time this happens, most educators take the passive approach and assume that there is no hope for improvement. Feuerstein's active and optimistic approach is the one that I want to adopt and gives me hope for LB's future. This, ultimately, is why we are pursuing Mediated Learning in helping our son.

Weigh-In Wednesday... A Slow Week and a Yummy Cake Recipe!

2011-07-27T11:00:00.050-06:00

Very little news on the weight loss front I'm afraid. By simply trying to eat less and not tracking what I ate I lost a whopping 0.2 pounds last week! At that rate I'll be dead and buried before I reach my weight loss goal! So, as of this morning, I'm tracking everything I eat, pre-planning be damned! Of course, pre-planning certainly does make life easier but I can't count on sticking to a pre-planned menu. Simply doesn't work for me. So, this week's plan is to simply track what I eat, pre-plan menus so that I'm not constantly wondering what I'm feeding the family next (but not pre-planning my calorie consumption, etc.), and stop eating for the day once I've reached my daily limit.

I did notice that not weighing myself every morning has kept me from over-eating a bit so I'll keep that up.

The swimming is going well. I've had to cut back on distance with each swim as I was overdoing it and my body was getting really mad at me. Now that I've cut back my daily swims, I'm not as sore but still feeling stronger. Hopefully, I'll be able to increase those distances soon - I'd really like to reach my long-term goal of 100 km by next summer if possible.

Alicia over at Confessions of a Snowflake has a linky for Weight-Loss Wednesday reports. She asks us to post a recipe to share. I hope you like this one, it's one of my favourites!

Angel Food Cake
I got this recipe from Faith and Family website

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups Egg whites
1 1/4 Cups Icing sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp Cream of tartar
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Almond extract
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Cup White Sugar

Directions

Separate eggs. Measure egg whites, adding or removing whites as needed to equal 1-1/2 cups. Place in a mixing bowl and let come to room temperature.

Sift confectioners’ sugar and flour together three times; set aside.

Add cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites, and beat on high speed.

Gradually add sugar, beating until sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form.

Fold in flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time. Gently spoon into an ungreased10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets.

Bake at 350 degrees, 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Invert and cool completely before removing cake from pan.

Frost with whipped cream mixed with crushed raspberries if desired.

(To make gluten-free, substitute with 1 Cup GF flour mix and 1 tsp Xanthan gum. The GF flour mix I use is 2 parts rice flour, 1/3 part tapioca starch, 2/3 part potato starch flour)

Nutritional Info (for cake only)...
Cake makes 12 servings
Each serving contains: 172 calories, 0.1 g fat, 0.0 mg cholesterol, 37.4 g carbohydrates, 5.1 g protein)

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Alicia's blog for more recipes and other Weight-Loss Wednesday journals!

Daybook... Feeling Unsettled

2011-07-25T16:13:00.000-06:00

Outside my window...
There is a very pleasant day on the horizon and the weatherman is predicting a warm sunny day with a chance of thundershowers tonight. We don't seem to be under the "heat dome" that seems to be affecting so many in the prairies. Yay!

I am thinking...
One of the worst things about autism is that there is no true definitive diagnosis. All diagnoses are based on observed behaviours which may have multiple causes. It's like being told you have cancer but have no idea where the cancer is. There are similarities in the ways that all cancers are treated but there are differences in the way bone cancer is treated compared to leukemia, for instance. It makes things so very confusing when trying to find effective treatments or help for our loved ones who are affected by autism in a negative way.

From the learning room...
It's been pretty light. We've managed to spend time with family bible study and math. I'm hoping to add more to the routine this week, especially some funner stuff.

I am thankful for...
So many things. As I watch the pictures of the famine victims in Africa, pictures of war and political conflict, pictures of natural disasters, pictures of abandoned children, I am struck with a great deal of guilt. How dare I take a single minute of my life for granted. How dare I not live every moment to the fullest. How dare I kill myself slowly with overeating. I am a spoiled woman indeed and thankful for every living breath I have.

From the kitchen...
Fast and easy meals as much as possible. My interest in cooking lately has been pretty minimal.

I am reading...
Still reading Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life, The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers, and Creative Therapy for Children With Autism, ADD, and Asperger. Plus, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential.

I am hoping...
I really need to break some very bad habits right now and am hoping for the strength and discipline to be able to do it.

I am creating...
Still need to finish the swim bags and I'm working on a couple of birthday surprises for BG.

I am listening to...
BG chattering with her father about the ladybug she's found and is keeping for a pet,

Around the house...
There is some major decluttering that needs to happen. I try to just look at a small part at a time, otherwise I get overwhelmed.

One of my favourite things...
I just discovered a new money-saving blog today that has got my interest. Mrs. January is a blog for Canadian freebies, coupons, deals and free stuff. It is sometimes frustrating to see the savings opportunities available to those south of the border but not for Canadians so I'm excited to find some savings opportunities that I'll be able to take advantage of! I'm an Organizing Junkie is also a new Canadian find that I'm getting a lot of mileage from lately.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
More organizing and slowly getting routines established here. There are many bad habits that need changing and change can sometimes be quite slow.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

BB and BG enjoying life and having fun!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

What she said... You Can't Keep Both Eyes...

2011-07-22T06:00:00.009-06:00

A young man was delivered from a life of self-destruction in the form of drug abuse. He turned from his old ways, but of course was pursued by the enemy and tempted back. It was clear to him that he could not afford to be lenient with himself in allowing the least indulgence in the old habit. One day he said to his pastor, "Don't ever allow me to use the word 'struggle.' Every time I use it I am excusing disobedience, I am really preferring to 'struggle' rather than to quit."

Jesus made this necessity sharply clear when He said, "If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell" (Mt 5:29).

To struggle--that is, to allow a "little bit" of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience, is to try to keep both eyes.

Elisabeth Elliot

Weigh-In Wednesday... A so-so week

2011-07-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

Well, as you can see from these two progress tickers, the past week has been less than stellar in reaching my goal of a lighter me.

A few notes... swimming has been going really well. My ankle has been getting stronger and so have my core muscles. My only complaint is that I live so far away from the pool. That and feeling sore and tired is no fun - but it's a good kind of tired.

As for my food intake, well that certainly needs improvement. I'm having a LOT of trouble with planning and tracking my food. I'm working on it but it's difficult. I've also discovered that I should not weigh myself every day. I had a two-pound loss last Saturday and I think that made me less diligent about what I put into my mouth. Better for my weight to remain a mystery until Wednesday morning's weigh-in. That way I'll be more likely to make better food choices.

Could write more but don't want to bore and I'm fighting a migraine. Will be back soon!

What he said... Success...

2011-07-15T13:06:00.000-06:00

You can use most any measure
When you're speaking of success.
You can measure it in fancy home,
Expensive car or dress.
But the measure of your real success
Is the one you cannot spend.
It's the way your kids describe you
When they're talking to a friend.

Martin Buxbaum

Time to be with the kids...

Book Review: More Than Words

2011-07-14T11:00:00.006-06:00

I want to start an index of resources that I've found helpful in dealing with LB's autism here. While the web is overflowing with information about autism nowadays, a lot of it is full of confusing and conflicting information. While I can't help clarify the muck at all (I'm as confused about autism as everyone else) I did want to share what resources have been helpful for us. If my descriptions of LB here on this blog sound similar to your child, maybe some of what's worked for us will work for you.

I am not a salesperson and don't receive any monies for these reviews aside from the small credit received through amazon.com should you decide to purchase from them via my link here.

I first read More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder over ten years ago. A copy was given to me by LB's speech therapist at that time and I quickly knew that I would need to have my own copy to refer to at home. This is an excellent starter book for parents new to the world of autism disorders and gives thorough and clear explanations on what communication is all about as well as the importance of non-verbal communication.

I think that most parents who are struggling with a child who isn't talking are most concerned in getting words to come out of their child's mouth. I know that this was certainly the case for my husband and I. This book was my first introduction to the fact that communication is so much more than the spoken word. If you've ever travelled to a foreign country where you did not know the language, or tried to communicate something with a person who didn't speak a language that you could understand, you will have experienced this first hand.

The difference with children is that their background of knowledge is a lot smaller than most adults. So, the challenges in non-verbal communication become greater. For example, an adult would understand the bringing of a finger to one's lips as a cue to be quiet. Most adults have learned what this action means. For a young child who'd never seen this before the action is a mystery. This book helps parents learn how to use actions and body language to engage their hard-to-reach child and encourage learning and language development.

I liked the way that the author differentiates between the stages of language development. The "Own Agenda" stage describes the child who seems locked in their own little world, the child who doesn't respond to their name, who never asks for help with anything. Next is the "Requester" stage which describes a child who has learned how to ask for things they want either by pointing or saying the name of the wanted item. This is followed by the "Early Communicator" stage. This stage includes children who are just beginning to seek out interaction for more than just having their own needs met. The final stage is the "Partner" stage which describes the child whose language proficiency is such that they can carry on simple conversations and are starting to share their own thoughts and ideas with others. Each stage is given helpful advice for how to further engage the child and encourage communication.

This books was a wonderful introduction into the world of autism. It is a hopeful and encouraging book for parents. While it's tips and guides are too general for more intense help, it's a great start. And, most important, it will help you connect with your distant and hard-to-reach child and discern what further therapies are needed.

For more information, and a look at the table of contents or further training in the teaching techniques described in this book, check out the following:

More Than Words® Autism Resources for Parents

More Than Words® Workshop for Speech-language Pathologists

More Than Words® — The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Weigh-In Wednesday... Here we go again!

2011-07-13T05:57:00.003-06:00

Sadly, this week's weigh-in shows no change from when I started these little reports way back in June. This is largely due to my ankle problem which now seems to be resolving finally. The infection is still there but the discomfort is minimal and I can get around quite easily now. So, time to start this weight loss battle anew!

When I started this back in June, my plan was to follow the South Beach plan. And that is what i did for the first week. There were pluses and minuses to using it though. On the one hand, my cravings for starches and grains went WAY down. On the other hand, I didn't pay attention to the quantity of what I ate (since I was battling an infection, this seemed wise) and only lost 1 pound that week. I tried it again 2 weeks ago and was saddened to find that, if I stuck to the diet recommendations for how much of each food to eat, I was still very hungry.

So, I've decided to switch to food tracking and counting calories. I HATE food tracking with a passion. But, it seems to be a universal key to true weight loss. I'm a member of SparkPeople and have found their diet plans easy to manipulate to suit my tastes in food. I can eat whatever I want and it has the tools available to help me track what I eat and create my own recipes. And it's all free!

I'm also returning to swimming for exercise for awhile. The closest pool is a 20 minute drive away so it's not all that convenient for me. But, I have found walking to aggravate my ankle too much right now. I went for a good lane swim last Monday for the first time in several years and it felt SO GOOD! I only managed 700 meters with lots of stops and starts but am happy with that as it has been awhile. And my ankle seemed to handle it just fine.

To make these goals more visual for me, I set up the tickers below. For right now, my weight loss goal is to lose 90 pounds and my exercise goal is to swim 100 km. Wish me luck!

Daybook... for this day in July

2011-07-11T06:38:00.000-06:00

Outside my window... Windy, rainy, breaks of sunshine and basically unsettled.

I am thinking... That life really is so short. We always go through each day with the assumption that there will be another one when, really, there is no certainty of it. I remember hearing Dr. Phil once, shortly after the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. He was answering the question, "I feel so helpless. What can I do to protect myself from something like this?" Dr. Phil's answer was spot on. He said that we simply can't prepare for this kind of attack. The best thing we can do is to live our life as best we can with the knowledge that it could all end in an instant. Be prepared to meet your Maker. Kind of morbid thinking, I guess, but that's been what's on my mind. Oh, and this blog that was recently brought to my attention, don't waste your cancer. Especially this post, how we got our blog title.

From the learning room... Still thinking about the wisdom I found in Willa's blog post on "Poetic Knowledge." This kind of knowledge, the kind that is not found in books, has been something that I've neglected for far too long in both my personal education as well as my children's. It is so easy to fall into the trap of believing that education is useful only as a means towards reaching a goal. That it's only useful to get that career, to learn how to build a deck, to figure out how to fix my fridge. I've long ignored the value of education in the arts. Of the many ways that our lives are enriched by learning simply for enjoyment...

I am thankful for... My husband. So many mothers have to go through it alone or with a husband who acts more like a child or worse. How I was lucky enough to wind up with the man I call "husband" is an utter mystery to me. But I am eternally grateful for having him as I journey through life and motherhood.

From the kitchen... A desperate need for some meal planning. We have, within this family, one son who can't tolerate gluten or soy, one son who can't handle dairy products, another son who needs to avoid rice, a husband who hates fish, and a desire to cook homemade to avoid all those icky things found in so many processed foods. Every time I start to get a plan together, I wind up getting so frustrated that I throw my hands in the air and quit. Sigh.

I am wearing... Clothes. I always wonder about this question. Why does anyone care what I'm wearing?

I am reading... Three books on the go at the moment:

I am hoping... That my ankle will get better soon. It's been 4 weeks now and, while it is significantly improved, it is still not back to normal.

I am creating... Just finished a cute crocheted stacking toy for SG and have started an afghan for BG. I hope to have a post about it soon. Or you can check it out at Ravelry if you're a member.

I am listening to... The birds are singing outside and doing their thing. The rest of the house is quiet.

Around the house... Really need to tackle some housework this week. My ankle has forced me to spend a lot of time sitting down with my foot elevated. And you can tell when you look in my home.

One of my favourite things... Baby kisses and hugs from kids young and old.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Doctor's visit today to find out why this ankle is being so slow to heal. Swimming lessons for one son and hopefully some time at the pool for the rest.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I saw these ducks at a farm in BC last spring and just thought they were so pretty. I've no idea what kind of duck they are though. I was told it was an Asian breed?

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

Do I have to go?

2011-07-10T09:15:00.000-06:00

One of the many fun things we do together as a family is attend Mass every Sunday.

Yeah, right.

Yet we do it. Every Sunday we haul all five kids who all enjoy going so much - it's the time to see how far they can push the envelope before Mom explodes at them, you know?

So why? Why do we put ourselves through this every Sunday? Wouldn't life be so much easier if we just stayed home and had a leisurely breakfast?

THE SILENT SERMON

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace...and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'

~ author unknown

We go to remind ourselves that we aren't the center of the universe. We are part of the Christian body and we go to Mass to publicly declare our allegiance to God, to share our faith with others, and to worship. We go to remind ourselves that we are not alone.

Learning Log... Starting Anew

2011-07-09T17:03:00.003-06:00

Time to start up my learning logs again! I´ve been suffering some motivation problems lately. Maybe chronicling our learning throughout the week will have a positive effect?

Not that I can really remember what we've done this week. Swimming lessons and LB's morning workout with his dad slowed down our morning activities. We could have got more done but simply didn't. The afternoon was spent, yet again, at the doctor's office to get my ankle checked out. My husband drove and kept the kids entertained during my visit. Followed by a trip to the store to pick up more meds. By the time we got home, we just vegged out.

Tuesday was fairly productive. I was gone in the afternoon with SG for her vaccination appointment but the kids had their lists all made out and got the majority of their tasks done.

Wednesday, the kids stayed with a friend while my husband and I went with SG to the city so that I could get a bone scan. The city is two hours away. By the time we all got home it was time for bed.

Thursday and Friday were kind of write-offs. My ankle was really bothering me so we decided that I should try resting and elevating it as much as possible. As a result, I've been mostly stuck on the couch and the kids have been left to their own devices.

Not that I was totally unproductive. The kids had fun doing chores (ha ha), and I managed to spend some time crocheting. I also joined Ravelry and spent some time there.

I made some renovations to this little blog of mine. I've finally organized things somewhat and have my pages all sorted out. The links are in the toolbar at the top.

And, I posted my reading list here to help remind me to get it done. It's huge! No need to visit Chapters for a while, that's for sure!

Anyhow, that's all I have to report for this week's log. Stay tuned though, I'm sure that next week will be much more interesting!

{this moment}

2011-07-08T14:33:00.000-06:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

My niece and nephew with BB while visiting with them last spring. Their mom, my sister, volunteers at the farm which offers pet therapy and riding - a special interest of mine.

Doesn't she look so happy?

Nerds...

2011-07-07T16:12:00.000-06:00

I was watching Bill Cosby's Keynote Speech and just had to record this little soundbite...

Nerd: a prepared person who doesn't give a damn about the dance.

Be true to yourself and keep your eyes on your own work. Love it!

Check out the whole speech on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY-WFfajWq8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

This and That and the Other Thing...

2011-07-05T20:53:00.000-06:00

Oh, the old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be,
Ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be.
The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be,
Many long years ago.

About three weeks ago now, my body reminded me that I'm not getting any younger. My ankle started feeling sore.

I'd assumed that I'd simply sprained it as it is a weak ankle that is prone to hurting itself whenever I look at it funny. So, I simply carried on and tried to rest it as much as possible. But five days later it was getting progressively more painful and was rivaling the size of a watermelon. Finally, I listened to my husband and went to the hospital to get it checked out.

Anyhow, I was surprised to learn that my ankle hadn't wimped out on me at all. I was, in fact, stricken with a case of cellulitis. How I got it, no one knows, but there it was. I left the ER with a prescription for antibiotics and orders to stay off my feet as much as possible. No problem for a stay at home mom of five, right?

Two days later, there had been no improvement at all. My ankle was still huge and very sore. I managed to get in to see my regular doctor (a miracle in itself - unless I'm pregnant and in my third trimester I'm usually told to wait for 2-4 weeks for the next available appointment) and my husband took time off of work to drive me in. At this point I was barely able to walk, never mind drive. I got a new prescription for some antibiotics that were tougher and meaner and told again to stay off my feet again.

The new antibiotics meant immediate weaning for little SG. I was a little worried about this as she'd never had a bottle before. It was so funny introducing her to it. She would take a sip of the bottle, get a funny look on her face, then smile at me and tug at my shirt. "Very funny Mommy, come on now, I'm hungry," she seemed to say.

It has been almost three weeks now and my ankle is still sore. The swelling is mostly gone though. I'm on new meds after developing a reaction to the previous ones and need to go in for further testing to rule out a bone infection. My kids have been learning how much they depend on their mom and I've learned that I still have a bit of training to do regarding my children's housekeeping skills. Guess what this summer's number one project will be?

What he said... On Finding Happiness...

2011-06-21T08:45:00.002-06:00

Happiness is accepting and choosing life, not just submitting grudgingly to it. It comes when we choose to be who we are, to be ourselves, at this present moment of our lives; we choose life as it is, with all its joys, pain, and conflicts. Happiness is living and seeking the truth, together with others in community, and assuming responsibility for our lives and the lives of others. It is accepting the fact that we are not infinite, but can enter into a personal relationship with the Infinite, discovering the universal truth and justice that transcends all cultures: each person is unique and sacred. We are not just seeking to be what others want us to be or to conform to the expectations of family, friends, or local ways of being. We have chosen to be who we are, with all that is beautiful and broken in us. We do not slip away from life and live in a world of illusions, dreams, or nightmares. We become present to reality and to life so that we are free to live according to our personal conscience, our sacred sanctuary, where love resides within us and we see others as they are in the depth of their being. We are not letting the light of life within us be crushed, and we are not crushing it in others. On the contrary, all we want is for the light of others to shine.
Jean Vanier, Finding Peace, pp. 54-55

We aren't allowed to be different anymore...

2011-06-20T06:50:00.001-06:00

I was recently browsing a message board and was startled with a topic. The question was about one mother's 20 year old son who was diagnosed with aspergers. She was concerned because he didn't consider this a disorder.

I'm puzzled. Why should her son consider aspergers a disorder?

Yes, there are certain traits that those with aspergers possess that need some fine-tuning. For instance, the classic sign of perseveration on a topic of interest while ignoring the boredom of others should probably be tempered. One needs to learn to give equal time to their peers after all. Rigidity in how things should work or how others should behave needs to be made more flexible. And one should know how to express curiosity and share interests in a socially acceptable manner.

But why is aspergers a disability?

To me, that is like saying that a child who is poorly disciplined is disabled. Or a child who has trouble keeping his room tidy is disabled.

"But social skills are SO important!" Well, yes they are, to a certain extent. One must know how to talk to others nicely and with respect. One must know how to handle being bullied and deal with it proactively. If one wishes to marry, then an understanding on the needs and maintenance of keeping a spouse are definitely important. But these are all skills that are certainly lacking across many different types of people and not specific to aspergers. We've all run into jerks in our daily life. We've all run into bullies or people who try and intimidate us into doing things that we'd rather not. And considering the high divorce rate in the world, one can certainly see that keeping a spouse is no easy task, even for those who have little trouble in finding one!

All of these skills can be taught with some degree of success. A child who struggles with self-discipline may always struggle. That does not mean that she will never get better at it. And the child who has trouble keeping things tidy may always struggle with organization. That doesn't mean that he will never learn how to do it. And it certainly doesn't mean they're disabled!

You know, I wonder how much of this is due to the public school system. As schools become larger and more organized, they depend on certain qualities being available in their students. Children are expected to start kindergarten already knowing how to communicate with their peers, how to behave and to do as they're told. These things are essential to growing up and becoming responsible adults. But, children are also expected to do many of these things with little adult intervention. While within a family or in a group of five children to one adult, a child can look to their parent or guardian to intervene and mediate difficulties that the children may have with each other. But children have little recourse for help when the adult is dealing with 20 or more students. Do we really need to question why so many problems happen in the schoolyard when the adults supervising are expected to deal with so many? Children are expected to deal with many others at once, even though they may find it easier to develop friendships one-on-one. They are expected to follow the schedule of the classroom with no regard to their own personal needs. And we wonder why some may have trouble?

So, what happens when you have trouble dealing with all of these expectations? Why, you must be disabled!

This is getting long but I want to end on a positive note. Autism isn't all bad...

Top 10 Terrific Traits of Autistic People
By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide
Updated February 09, 2010

If you're sick of hearing about all the "deficits" challenging people on the autism spectrum, join the club. But for every down side to autism, there seems to be a positive -- an unusual trait that rarely appears among the "typical" community, but shines out among autistic folk. These plusses are well worth celebrating.

1. Autistic People Rarely Lie
We all claim to value the truth, but almost all of us tell little white lies. All, that is, except people on the autism spectrum. To them, truth is truth -- and a good word from a person on the spectrum is the real deal.

2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment
How often do typical people fail to notice what's in front of their eyes because they're distracted by social cues or random chitchat? People on the autism spectrum truely attend to the sensory input that surrounds them. Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others
Who's fatter? Richer? Smarter? For people on the autism spectrum, these distinctions hold much less importance than for typical folks. In fact, people on the spectrum often see through such surface appearances to discover the real person.

4. Autistic People are Passionate
Of course, not all autistic people are alike. But many are truly passionate about the things, ideas and people in their lives. How many "typical" people can say the same?

5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations
If you've ever bought a car, played a game or joined a club to fit in, you know how hard it is to be true to yourself. But for people with autism, social expectations can be honestly irrelevant. What matters is true liking, interest and passion -- not keeping up with the Joneses.

6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories
How often do typical people forget directions, or fail to take note of colors, names, and other details? People on the autism spectrum are often much more tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kind of critical details.

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic
Of course, this is not universally true -- but in general, people with autism are far less concerned with outward appearance than their typical peers. As a result, they worry less about brand names, hairstyles and other expensive but unimportant externals than most people do.

8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games
Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her? I know I TOLD you I didn't mind if you went out, but why did you believe me? Most autistic people don't play games like these -- and they assume that you won't either. It's a refreshing and wonderful change from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster that mars too many typical relationships!

9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas
Most of the time, if a person on the autism spectrum tells you what he wants -- he is telling you what he wants. No need to beat around the bush, second guess, and hope you're reading between the lines!

10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals
For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person in our lives has had a profound positive impact on our perceptions, beliefs and expectations. For me, at least, being the mom of a son on the autism spectrum has released me from a lifetime of "should" -- and offered me a new world of "is."

Lisa Jo Rudy
Autism Spectrum Disorders Guide

And, if you made it to the end of this meandering post, bless you! I hope you have a great day!

Weigh-In Wednesday... Sorry, it's a day late

2011-06-09T06:29:00.000-06:00

Obviously, I need to work a bit on my punctuality too...

Anyway, last week's weight loss total amounted to 2 pounds. Yay me!

Unfortunately, I don't think that these pounds are going to stay away as I've already fallen off the wagon. I freely admit it - food is my way of dealing with stress. Any kind of stress.

Being a stay-at-home mother of five is full of little daily stresses. Being a mom of a sick baby who is having trouble sleeping is filled with even more.

I started off well. For two whole days, I logged my food intake dutifully. But I found myself reaching for those comfort foods far too often and the will power to avoid them simply wasn't enough.

In reflection, I think that a large part of my problem is my over-dependance on starchy carbs. They are easy to access and my comfort food of choice. This needs to change. I need to start eating a LOT more fruits and veggies. I've known this for a long time. But, it seems as though my brain starts to hyperventilate at the notion of substituting an apple for that tortilla with cheese. I get tired of garden salad really fast. And it generally requires more work to prepare fruits and veggies than to grab a few crackers.

So, how can I change this? By building new habits. And that is going to be my focus for the next few weeks.

The plan for this week...

spend time each morning preparing fruits and veggies to be munched on through the day
cultivate some good soup and salad recipes

By next week I hope to...

include fruits and veggies at every meal and pre-planned snack
snack only on fruits and veggies in between pre-planned meals and snacks
have some tasty soup and salad recipes stocked up in the fridge and freezer

I'm not going to focus on my weight as I develop these habits so I won't be reporting any gains or losses here for the next thirty days. By keeping my focus on developing a taste for foods that are better for me I hope to have an easier time with weight loss once I re-start in July. But, I will continue to report on my progress and setbacks with these goals, if only to keep myself accountable. Hopefully, I'll have some good recipes and hints to share soon!

Again, prayers and wishes of luck are asked for and gratefully accepted - I need all the help I can get!

Summer School? Plans for continuing education...

2011-06-02T05:00:00.010-06:00

We school year-round here for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the feeling that we're constantly behind where we should be and need to be. So, while all the local homeschoolers around me are talking about wrapping things up for the year and summer plans, I've been working on education plans for the next few months.

I try to organize our terms with the seasons so, technically, I should be using our old plans until July. But, I recently purchased several new books that I want to start using right away so these plans are in effect until October. I've learned long ago to not state how much we will accomplish within that time. One can only get disappointed so many times after all! But, these are the things we are working on right now...

Numbers

LB will continue to do speed drills to improve recall of math facts and attention. We will revert to answering questions orally. Once he can complete 40 questions in 3 minutes orally, we will go back to written answers. We've decided to abandon Singapore Math for a curriculum that is not so language dependant and have had to do some extra work to make up some curriculum differences with Math-U-See. He is now using Math-U-See Delta and math is becoming much more manageable and not monopolizing our learning time as much now. LB will also start a notebook for math vocabulary and math rules that we encounter.
BB will focus on his homework first. If there is no math assigned for homework from school, he will continue with Singapore Math 5A and do a daily lesson for max of 30 min.
TB will also focus on his homework first and will do a daily math puzzle and/or page from his MathSmart workbook if he has time.
BG will focus on learning and recognizing the numbers and quantities of 1 to 20. She will also learn to tell a number story from a picture.

Critical Thinking

LB will do a daily lesson page from Building Thinking Skills, followed by a daily sequencing activity and a lesson from No Glamour Inferences. These will all be combined into a notebook.
BB will do a daily page from Building Thinking Skills
TB will do a daily page from Building Thinking Skills
And BG will do a daily page from Building Thinking Skills

Language

LB will go through the HELP series to address his word finding and usage skills. We will notebook our work from this series with vocabulary pages and copywork pages. Once he has completed the HELP series we will reassess.

Piano

LB will practice for 15 min/day - Play by ear and sight reading practice
LB will practice for 15 min/day - Play by ear and sight reading practice
TB will practice for 10 min/day on a song and repeat three rhythms by ear/day
BG will learn some simple tunes and how to read music and repeat three rhythms by ear/day

Reading

LB will continue to work through his Hyperlexia book and follow the same format with new stories until he becomes a proficient narrator. These stories will be note booked/lapbooked. He will also practice free reading for 30 minutes a day and keep a reading log.
BB will read for 30 min daily from 1000 Good Books list and keep a reading log
TB will read for 30 min daily from 1000 Good Books list and keep a reading log
BG will read for 30 min daily from 1000 Good Books list and keep a reading log

Conversation

LB will practice a Daily skill from Teach Me Language
All will participate in nightly discussion at supper

Science

LB will work on Biology for the Grammar Stage
BG will join with LB on lapbooking activities and discussion/experiments

History

LB will build a Book of Occupations/People in our community
LB will build a book of Sports and learn to play some
BG will join with LB when interested and where appropriate

Geography

LB will build a book of Places in our community
BG will join with LB when interested and appropriate

Fitness

LB - Gym with dad, Swimming lessons, 1 hour/day outside minimum
BB - Swimming Lessons, 1 hour/day outside minimum
TB - Swimming Lessons, 1 hour/day outside minimum
BG - 1 hour/day outside minimum

Creativity

Learn to draw

Spiritual Life

Daily morning prayer and nightly prayer plus note booking through Faith and Life series.

Weigh-in Wednesday... The Beginning

2011-06-01T08:54:00.000-06:00

As I alluded to in my last post, change is in the offing for this prairie girl in so many ways. And while I know that many, if not most, of these changes are very necessary, I find myself balking at getting started with them.

A major change that I started this week was to go on a diet. Not that I've never been on a diet before, but this time I find myself approaching things very cautiously.

There are a whole lot of reasons why this change is necessary. First, of course, is the fact that I have a huge amount of extra weight that is making me far too lovable. Combined with all the white hair that I'm not so diligent about hiding, all this extra weight has people confusing me with a much older grandma type. If one more person asks me how I like having the grandkids to babysit for the day I will scream! For the record, I am not a grandmother! I am not even 40! My oldest is only 14 and that baby and preschooler you see me hanging around with are my own children, thank you very much!

I would also really like to be able to buy clothes that will look good on me again. Trying to look good when you are carrying 90 extra pounds is a feat that is far beyond my meager capabilities. My husband is refusing to let me hire a personal dresser and I don't have the fashion sense to find clothes that look good and are comfortable and non-tent-like so the only option left is to shrink and fit into the cuter clothes in the smaller size racks.

Last, but not least, are the very real health threats that are rearing their ugly heads. Diabetes runs rampant in my mom's side of the family. A couple of weeks ago, I lost a cousin who suffered a massive stroke. He had high blood pressure and diabetes that wasn't being monitored and he was only 41. A huge wake-up call for me. While I don't like being called a grandma right now I would like to become one some day. I want to meet not only my grandkids, but my great-grandkids, great-great grandkids and great-great-great grandkids too!

So, the diet begins. Starting stats...

Weight lost so far: 0 lbs
Weight left to lose: 90 lbs

Wish me luck and pray please. I need all the help I can get.

Monday Musing...

2011-05-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

You see the problem with us is that we can be governed by fear. Fear of not being loved, fear of being abandoned, fear of suffering, fear of death. It is very important for human beings that we touch our fears -- to know where our fears are -- because we cannot let ourselves be governed by our fears.

- Jean Vanier, Address to the Business Community, April 05

Pondering these thoughts today as I struggle to make some changes in my personal habits and life. Change is always so hard - and scary too. I fear how I will handle a different lifestyle. Will I face different expectations from others? Will I be able to meet their expectations? Will I be able to meet my own?

Fear of failure is such a paralyzing thing. It's what keeps me stuck in my ruts. But these ruts are leading me to places I don't want to be and it's time to carve some new tracks.

Sigh. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the outcome of our decisions will be? Would that make it easier or harder to make the choices we must, to make the sacrifices we must? I doubt it - after all, if we knew what the future held we wouldn't be in charge of our own destiny.

Change is coming, whether I like it or not. Will I have the courage to meet these challenges? I can only hope.

Daybook... For today in the middle of May

2011-05-15T22:31:00.000-06:00

Outside my window...It is a beautiful, bright and sunny evening. And incredibly windy! Finally into a beautiful spring, almost summer, not too hot or too cold, but far too windy to enjoy being outside. Bummer. Oh well, that's the weather for you. At least there is some comfort in knowing that when the weather is not to your liking that it won't be forever.

I am thinking...That it's probably time for bed!

From the learning room...On the light side this week. My mom has been visiting us for the past few weeks and she is headed for home next weekend. Grandma lives quite far away so we don't get to see her very often at all so we'll be soaking up the time we have left with her as much as we can on this visit. So we'll be keeping it simple - math, reading comprehension and piano with some workouts thrown in.

Our learning facilitator from Wisdom visited last week so in a way it feels like we are "done" as far as our school board is concerned for this year. I've already been reworking our learning plans and will have them "done" soon. I am thinking of doing away with year-long plans. Much simpler to plan things a week at a time with long-term objectives. Not sure how that will look yet in my plans...

I am thankful for...My mom's company. I've really been enjoying having her here for the past few weeks. And her cooking! Mom's a great cook and it's been SO good having her here to make tortillas and tamales with. Too good in fact. My pants are feeling rather snug lately...

From the kitchen...Well, tonight it was take-out pizza! I'd gotten distracted this afternoon and the next thing I knew it was 5:00 and supper was still a mystery. I didn't want us up late eating supper just because I didn't have my act together so I made the call. Can't let this be a habit though. Too expensive.

I am wearing...Track pants and a T-shirt.

I am reading...Nothing at the moment.

I am hoping...For my husband to find a good job soon. His current one will end at the end of June and there have been very few, none really, employment opportunities. I know that something will turn up eventually. But it is very hard to wait.

I am creating...Nothing fancy right now. Mom and I spent yesterday re-covering the kitchen chairs. I bought some flowers to plant outside yesterday. I was going to plant them today but it's too windy.

I am listening to...this song thanks to Holly from 5 Minute Mom. It's becoming an ear-worm!

Around the house...Nothing new for this week. Maintenance is the key work for now.

One of my favourite things...Mom's cooking!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Hopefully a trip to the city with Mom to do some shopping. BB has a soccer game tomorrow and I'm hoping his team wins.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Don't forget, the Easter season lasts until Pentecost which isn't until June 12 this year. So join my beautiful niece and enjoy this chocolatey season!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

Celebrating with Meals...

2011-05-01T10:25:00.000-06:00

A community that does not celebrate is in danger of becoming just a group of people that gets things done. It becomes an institution. It is not really a community. Where there is mutual trust and love, people want to open themselves to one another, to celebrate and be together. This celebration is expressed in smiling and laughter, in simple sharing, in mutual concern and sensitivity and in the way that people relax when they come together. But it finds its fullest expression in shared meals, good meals with good wine. Aristotle says that for two people to be friends, they must eat a sack of salt together; they must share many meals.
- Jean Vanier, Our Journey Home, p. 199

This must be why I enjoy eating so much!

Remembering the Cost...

2011-04-22T09:30:00.001-06:00

Today, on Good Friday, I am thinking about God's ultimate sacrifice for us. Jesus died on a cross. Because of us. Because of the choices that we have made.

Adam and Eve chose death when they listened to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. And we choose death in the way we live our daily lives. We choose to fall into despair as we watch the evil around us. We choose to give up when faced with adversity. We choose to ignore the cry or the poor and oppressed.

We choose the believe that it is better to die than embrace a life of suffering. We choose to kill our children because we cannot face the suffering of an unexpected pregnancy. Or because we cannot face a life of poverty (which may or may not be overcome).

We choose death for the poor and oppressed when we do nothing to help them. We choose death for the lonely and socially awkward when we ignore them instead of offering friendship.

Yet, Jesus dies for us. He paid the ultimate price to show us that death is not the only option. He chose life, for Himself and for us! Am I willing to choose life too?

Am I willing to persevere in the face of adversity? Am I willing to reach out to the poor and oppressed? Am I willing to offer friendship to those not easy to like? Am I willing to sacrifice my time, my talent, my money so that others may receive love in return? While I know what the answers I'm supposed to give are, I'm not sure I like what my life's actions have shown me to believe.

Jesus showed us the path to eternal life. But we cannot ever forget what it cost Him to do it.

Thank you, Lord. And have mercy.

Easy, Simple, Tasty Supper

2011-04-19T07:30:00.000-06:00

One of the harder things to adjust to in my parenting journey has been having to deal with my children's different dietary needs. LB has been on several different types of diets in an effort to help with his digestion difficulties. He is currently on a gluten free, soy free diet. BB has a dairy intolerance. TB is currently having some digestion issues so we are trying out different diets with him (he will soon be rice free when I can figure out the logistics), and I try to keep artificial foods, colours and preservatives out of my family's diet as much as possible. This makes the question, "What's for supper?" even more daunting than usual and we have had far too many meals that are less than healthy for my family. How to combat this problem? Short of hiring a cook to solve it for me, I thought that if I blogged some meal ideas that are good for my family I might have an easier time in figuring out what to cook. Blogging forces me to think things out and having all these thoughts put somewhere that I can easily find them would be a good idea. So, here's my first tasty meal idea that I'm sharing with you today...

Well, at least we think it's tasty here. What is this gourmet delight? Why it's my simple, humble, taco salad.

Actually, it's not simply salad. It's kind of a "make your own" Mexican meal.

Essentially, what I do is throw a bunch of different things on the table and have everyone help themselves to what they like. Salad greens, tomatoes, corn, salsa, shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella), beans (any kind although canned beans in tomato sauce is a popular pick here), tortillas, and taco beef. See, like I said, simple and easy!

In fact, the hardest part is making the taco beef but with my handy recipe you won't go wrong. First, you need to gather your ingredients...

about 1 to 2 pounds of ground beef
1 to 1 1/2 cups water
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (NOT garlic salt!)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon dried red chili pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Now, here's what you do. First, brown the beef over medium heat. Be sure that the meat is completely cooked. Once the meat is nice and brown, add the water and spices. Mix thoroughly and cook until the water has evaporated off. What you'll have left is a very tasty taco beef!

The beauty of this recipe is that you can play around with the spices to make it more or less spicy to your liking. Although there are limits. Once, I confused the cayenne pepper for chili powder. Talk about a red-hot meal!

Throw the meat in a bowl and have everyone serve themselves to make a salad or tortilla wrap. Everyone will eat what they like and leave the table satisfied. What could be better?!

Daybook - For today, the week before Easter...

2011-04-18T09:33:00.000-06:00

Outside my window...
The sun is out,
The sky is blue
The air is warm and
There's LOTS to do!

I am thinking...
That simple is better. There is a lot more on the agenda this week than usual, lots to think about and do. It's so easy for me to be distracted. I need to remember to focus on the task that's in front of me and set aside distractions for later. Maybe Flylady's rule of using the timer would help me... stay on task for 15 minutes before allowing myself to get distracted. Seems simple but I know from experience that it's a hard a thing for me, the queen of distractibility, to do.

From the learning room...
Plain and simple. After a discussion with the spouse, I've decided to ditch the Singapore Math for LB and use Math-U-See instead. Singapore Math is a great program but is far to language-based for LB to use well. He can do the math but always gets bogged down in story problems. My husband reminded me that math is a language all its own and that it's one LB speaks well! Math-U-See will be a better fit for him. =)

I am thankful for...
My husband who is a far more organized person than I am!

From the kitchen...
Something edible I hope! Yesterday, BB was making gravy at the stove. He was wondering why it wasn't heating up when he noticed that he had the wrong burner turned on. Then he noticed that a pyrex liquid measuring cup was on the now very hot burner. He acted quickly to move the hot measuring cup onto the counter (without a hot pad). You can guess what happened next. The cup exploded and pieces of glass shrapnel flew everywhere! Luckily, no one was hurt. And everyone learned a very important lesson about not putting glass onto a hot burner.

I am wearing...
Still in my jammies and I'm expecting a delivery from UPS today. Aaack! Better get dressed soon!

I am reading...
Nothing at the moment.

I am hoping...
For a good night's sleep. SG has not slept well for the past two nights which means that I've not slept well either. Unlike SG though, I don't get the luxury of napping throughout the day to make up for it. She's sprouted two new teeth (for a grand total of six so far - three on top and three on the bottom) so that's probably the cause for the sleepless nights. I'm hoping that her teeth stop bothering her soon!

I am creating...
Still have a bit to do on TB's blanket but I still hope it will be done for Wednesday, his birthday. And, thanks to Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight, we're going to be trying our hand at making some of these today.

I am listening to...
Still listening to the book The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel on to my iPod shuffle. It's OK. A little boring at times but still entertaining.

Around the house...
Messes here, messes there, messes, messes everywhere! Spring cleaning is still going on...

One of my favourite things...
A good night's sleep! Looking forward to having one some day...

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Cleaning, crocheting that blanket, birthday celebrations and more! The fun never stops around here...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Need coffee! I need coffee now!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out some other Daybook entries here!

Talk is Cheap...

2011-04-17T08:19:00.000-06:00

This week, I found myself distracted by an online conversation. I didn't actively participate in it very much - out of close to 300 posts I made only 3 - but I found myself constantly going back to check in the flow of the conversation. While the debate was about something I strongly believe, in the end I realized that it was wasting my time. I could not keep up with the pace, and I could not convince the other side of my point of view through my words alone. So, why was I constantly going back to read how the debate was unfolding?

Then I remembered these words...

The duty of the moment is what you should be doing at any given time, in whatever place God has put you.

You may not have Christ in a homeless person at your door, but you may have a little child.

If you have a child, your duty of the moment may be to change a dirty diaper.

So you do it.

But you don't just change that diaper, you change it to the best of your ability, with great love for both God and that child....

There are all kinds of good Catholic things you can do, but whatever they are, you have to realize that there is always the duty of the moment to be done.

And it must be done, because the duty of the moment is the duty of God.

~ Catherine Doherty

Even though this debate was defending God's word and my faith, it was causing me to neglect my family, the ones God has given me to serve as well as delight in.

James 2:14-17...

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?

So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

I will not be able to raise children who know and live God's love if I don't show them this love myself with both my actions and my words.

Sanctity through a clean home and children who are loved and well cared for. That is my path to salvation.

Daybook... Spring has finally arrived!

2011-04-09T16:42:00.002-06:00

For today...

Outside my window...
Lots of mud, snow, and debris from the long, cold winter. But it's finally getting warmer!

I am thinking...
I have really been neglecting this little blog! Lots of "blog thoughts" have been popping into my head but I haven't been able to articulate them well at all. Lately, every time I sit at the computer and try to write down what I'm thinking my mind comes up blank. Maybe a daybook post will help loosen them up a bit...

From the learning room...
PANIC! I have been having SUCH a hard time lately. LB is doing well and is waking up ready to learn on a regular basis. Such a good thing. But I have been constantly unprepared for him. Maybe I'm burned out. I have been having such a hard time mustering up the energy to teach lately.

I am thankful for...
Warmer temperatures! And more time outside!

From the kitchen...
Easy pizza for tonight. As in, pre-made pizza crusts that just need toppings added. Simple. And good.

I am wearing...
Old track pants and an old hoodie. We just came in from a walk outside and it's very sloppy out there. In fact, this morning as I was hauling in the groceries I slipped and fell outside my front door. What a mess!

I am reading...
Not much of anything really. I've purchased some new curriculum and need to go through it and I'm reviewing my notes from Mediated Learning seminars.

I am hoping...
For a good night's sleep. My husband will be out of a job by July and hasn't been having much luck with finding a new one. Several people remarked to me this week that they were impressed with how calm I seem about it all. I'm not calm anymore. Hopefully something good will happen soon.

Also, a local friend may need to have a C-section Monday pending test results. There might be a problem with the baby due to Rh incompatibility. I've been praying for both her and her baby daughter.

I am creating...
Finally finishing TB's baby blanket. It should be ready for his 8th birthday which is coming up. Yes, he is a bit old for a baby blanket but, better late than never! I've made him a pretty big one. I'm hoping that he'll enjoy having his own special blanket to snuggle on the couch with.

I am listening to...
I've recently downloaded the book The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel on to my iPod shuffle. Looking forward to starting it tonight when I give my dog a walk.

Around the house...
Spring cleaning is on the agenda. When I'll get it done I'm not sure but I'll somehow have to find a way to add a few hours to the days to get it done...

One of my favourite things...
The sound of birds singing! I don't know why but during the winter I haven't heard any bird song at all. This is our second winter here and it seems that once the cold weather hits the birds go silent and stay silent until spring. I miss it and am very happy to hear the birds singing again!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
School, school and more school. Something has got to change in that department for LB's sake.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Now, where did I leave that post-it note?

Be sure to check out more daybook entries!

Sleeping Baby

2011-03-25T08:55:00.003-06:00

Don't wake the sleeping baby!

Feeling very overwhelmed this week. Maybe I should follow SG's lead?

Make time to play...

2011-03-12T06:11:00.001-07:00

Relaxation is finding new sources of energy, and being affirmed and supported in the awakening of these energies, it is rediscovering trust in our mission and what is deepest in us. It is the opposite of slumping in sadness, apathy, lack of self-confidence and doubt. Real rest involves relaxing the heart with friends and family through celebration, laughing, singing, joy, humour. It means feeling well and happy in our body, house, family and community.

- Jean Vanier, Our Journey Home, p. 154

I'd never thought of rest that way before. It sure explains why I'll often feel more refreshed after a busy day when a lot of the items on my to-do lists are checked off compared to a day of doing little to nothing. I wonder if that's a large cause of my stress. Too many days which aren't purposeful. Too many days spent simply wondering what to do next and being so overwhelmed with all that there is still left to do that nothing at all gets done.

As I ponder this quote a little further, I realize that I'm missing a large chunk of it's meaning. We need to spend time in play. We need to spend time simply being with our loved ones.

I once came upon a conversation online regarding the question, "Do I HAVE to play with my children?" Many mothers voiced their feelings that they spent so much of their time caring for their little ones that they had little interet in playing with them too. The things that the children wanted to play were of little interest and they were happy enough playing without involving mom after all. The conversation ended in general agreement, and relief, that playing with their children wasn't a requirement to being a good mother. At the time, I also felt relieved but now I wonder if I was simply wanting to let myself off the hook. Play is such an important part of learning, of bonding, and of being social with each other.

Something to think about anyway.

Celebrating the Positives!

2011-03-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

The gals at Faith and Family have a weekly tradition of celebrating the small successes of life every Thursday. I thought I'd join in this week...

1. Made it through a long and excruciating day in town yesterday without losing my temper or my kids! I had to drive BB and TB to school, LB's swimming lesson was an hour later, followed by Ash Wednesday Mass, a trip to the Dollar store, the library and picking up BB and TB as well as a few groceries. "Why's that a big deal?" you ask? I did all this with a 3-year old girl who does NOT enjoy being dragged around town because of her brothers, and a baby who is getting heavier by the day, and the fact that LB, while being 14, still has the propensity to act like a large three-year old when at Mass or aggravated. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when we got home though...

2. I was actually prepared for the beginning of Lent yesterday! We prayed the Rosary and read the first story in A Family's Journey Through Lent. Will we be able to keep up these two simple activities through Lent? Time will tell...

3. We had a breakthrough with long division yesterday! LB was really struggling with it. I was able to calm myself down and mediate his learning through it and he's finally getting it! The old me would have gone back too many steps and re-taught stuff to no avail. This time, I chose to think positively and have patience with LB and it proved successful. YAY!

So there they are, my recent small successes. Check out some more small successes here and share yours too!

Fun with a white board

2011-03-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

"Look Mom! I'm writing a letter to Grandma!"

Here's a picture of me...

All signed and ready to go.

Space...

2011-03-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

We need space, our own private space, the place of solitude where we can really be in touch with our deepest being. If we do not have this, if our space is taken away or violated, if we are under too much pressure, or overwhelmed with things to do, then we risk falling into confusion. We can no longer really welcome people to come close to us. We are unable to understand and love them. We are forced to defend and protect ourselves, because the pressure is too great. If the waters of our hearts are to run freely, and if we are to remain fully open to life, we must have that inner and outer space where we can find peace and rest.

- Jean Vanier, Our Journey Home, p. 155

As an introvert, I find this quote very reassuring. While I do think that everyone needs their "space," I've often noticed how different people need different amounts. My husband and I both need and enjoy quite a bit. We're often content to enjoy quiet evenings at home with family or close friends and rarely feel the need to have a "night on the town." (A good thing since babysitters can cost a fortune!) And I know that I function much better when I have some quiet times to myself during the day.

It's only recently that I appreciated my children's need for quiet times during the day. As our family has grown, so has the noise and social requirements. I've been noticing how much having an hour designated to "quiet time" for everyone is helping us all function better. It's often so tempting to go into high gear when the baby is asleep but I think that we might instill a quiet 30 minutes of solitude during baby's nap time too. Call it a "mental health break."

Daybook... March is coming in like a lion

2011-03-02T08:46:00.002-07:00

For today...

Outside my window...
It is very, very, very cold. I am so tired of it being so cold outside. How cold? TB asked me yesterday how cold it was in the North Pole. We asked google and found out that North Pole, Alaska, in central Alaska, was the same temperature as we were! So, we are colder than the North Pole! Thankfully, this current cold snap is supposed to be over by next week. Can't wait.

I am thinking...
About swimming later this morning. LB gets to start some private swimming lessons at our local pool and I'm anxious about how it will go. He can shut down when overwhelmed and the family change rooms are under renovations so we'll have to use the regular change rooms and I'll have a tough time keeping an eye on him. The girls and I will get to spend some time swimming as his lesson is during public swimming.

From the learning room...
Trying to bring more fun into our learning. I've been relying on workbooks for the past few weeks and we're all tired of it. Time to add some fun!

I am thankful for...
A peaceful home. With so much uncertainty in the world and with life itself, it's nice to live in a home full of peace.

From the kitchen...
Gack! I haven't a clue! Oatmeal for breakfast, leftover stew for lunch but am not sure about supper yet. Maybe something with chicken.

I am wearing...
Warm track pants and a warm hoodie.

I am reading...
Just finished The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Faster Weight Loss and Better Health for Life. Will be starting that as soon as possible. I have Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition uploaded on my iPad and have been reading that before bed. Also, Mediated Learning: Teaching, Tasks, and Tools to Unlock Cognitive Potential is still being studied.

I am hoping...
That LB's swimming lesson will go well.

I am creating...
When I cleaned out the office last week, I also reorganized all my crafting/sewing supplies. It is so much easier to find things now that I might actually get more crafting and sewing done. So far, the only things that I'm focused on creating is a smaller mending pile though.

I am listening to...
Still finishing up with the Harry Potter series on my iPod. I've been listening to a chapter every night while I take our dog out for a walk. It's my "me" time to recharge. I've got about nine chapters left, then I'll have to find else.

Around the house...
Same old, same old. I've been thinking of a few things to try and brighten the walls a bit but haven't found the motivation to actually change things yet.

One of my favourite things...
Being "cute". My daughter, BG, has decided that most of the family are cute and reminds us of this several times a day. (BB and TB, being boys who are far too cool for the term "cute" are called "awesome" and "cool" instead.) I could get used to being called "cute" all day. Much better than being called old and fat.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
More fun and time spent simply being together and sharing thoughts and ideas while at play.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

What happens when your three year old daughter is left alone with her baby sister and a stamper pad.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check Peggy's site for more daybook entries!