All Good Things Must Come to an End!

Well, it has been a great adventure! But, alas! All good things must come to an end! I am no longer homeschooling Handsome! He will embark on the great adventure of a Charter School come Monday. And Girlfriend will start official preschool! And I will return to a much-loved career of Activity Director at a nursing home.

I was extremely blessed to have obtained the position I held for almost nine years, in the same company. It is a different facility, right down the street from my house, but the same company and position! I am very excited to begin on Wednesday. It was supposed to be Monday, but with Thanksgiving and all, it changed to Wednesday.

I am already planning out some events and exciting activities. It feels so good to be welcomed back and wanted in the company I worked for so long. Even the CEO came in to welcome me back.

I do feel sad regarding leaving my kids. But, due to the economy, it became necessary for me to find a way to make more, and for my daughter to find a way not to have to pay so much for child care. With our church having a preschool, and the Charter School being free, and this opportunity for me coming up now, it was obviously the right timing to make a move!

I think Handsome will have some difficulty adjusting, but overall will do okay. I think it will be a good opportunity for him to make new friends and experience different teachers' ideas. It will expand his knowledge base. Girlfriend will do fine! She is very social and up to snuff on her preschool stuff. The only thing is that the preschool teaches that what I call a diamond (and all of her books do too) they call a rhombus. That might confuse her a bit. A rhombus really is NOT the same as a diamond, but whatever! They seem to want to advance kids these days!

Well, I probably will not be blogging much on this site. I used it more for everyday (although I transgressed greatly on writing daily) events with the kids. That shall no longer be. I may start one regarding the nursing home adventures, because they will be many.

The Promised Pictures!

Change, It Is A-comin'?

Change! That's a word we don't like to hear at times. But sometimes it is necessary. I haven't written in this blog for awhile for various reasons. I am going to abandon this blog for a season. I will try to return in the near future to post the promised pix...I truly cannot find the attachments for doing so...but after that, I will not be blogging on THIS site for some time. At least, that is my plan. There are changes occurring with what I am doing with Handsome, and the other kids, the details of which are too uncertan at this timeto share here. I am still homeschooling right now just as before. But, sometimes, God wants us to explore ideas and try different things...so...we shall see what that means.

I honestly do not know what lies ahead. For now, all is the same. Did you ever get a feeling that change is coming, yet you weren't quite sure what it was? If so, then you know where I'm coming from! In the end, nothing may change very much...OR everything could change a LOT! At this point, there is a feeling in my heart...a sensing of a different direction, not because of anything bad, just because...

So, I will let you know when whatever is going to happen happens. I will inform you when the actual changes occur...if they do! And, if they don't, then I will resume this blog as before, with more attention and frequency...but probably not until the Holidays are over anyway.

I am starting a new blog, however, for the sake of sharing some of the stories I have written for, and with, my grandchildren, and children, over the years!

The new blog will have a new story on it AT LEAST weekly. It is my goal to eventually post one a day during the weekdays...we shall see.

You can find the new one at gr8stories4kids.blogspot.com I hope you enjoy it and find the stories valuable (or at least entertaining). Some of them teach life-lessons, or educational lessons, and some are just silly and fun! Enjoy!

Where has all the time gone?

Wow! We have finished a quarter of the school year already! Just can't be true! Handsome and I have harvested watermelon, planted corn and pumpkins, learned about bees, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators of the flora of this land. We have observed seeds, in various settings, sprout and have enjoyed caring for the many plants and animals so far this year.

We have anew student in the school. Her name is Roxie. She is a labador/dalmatian mix and an absolute great student. She sits, lies down, stays, etc. on command. She should be the teacher...the kids could learn from her! ha, ha!

I know I keep saying I am posting pix, but I really WILL get to it this week and will email the followers that they are up! My hubby thinks he knows where the cable is now for the camera to computer!

Change is in the air! Fall is here and we are trying some new things as well. Please return to this blog for further update as it unfolds...

Back in the Swing Again

I guess I could entitle this "Back in the Saddle" again, but with homeschooling there is definitely more swinging than saddling. Although, I suppose, if you use the word "saddling" to mean "trying to change the rules" then there could be a toss-up.

Hunky is in first grade now and goes to a local school. Girlfriend is excited to do her "school time" on a daily basis. She has her colors down now, and is working on her shapes. She gets about half of them right. "Rectangle" seems to be a bit of a hard word for her, so she looks up at me with big pleading eyes and says "I think its a tangle. What is it?" She does however, seem to get "triangle" right. Hmmm...
She enjoys joining Handsome in some of his science, history, and fine arts. I try to have learning centers each day of things that she cannot play with other than at times Handsome is in school. That way, they stay exciting and anticipated. Most days it works. Some days it doesn't.

Handsome is studying Botany for his main Science topic this year. He has a garden already planted that is growing watermelon. His pumpkin patch just sprouted. And we plant the autumn corn this week. We have herbs growing inside in a light hut we made as a project. Although we no longer have the saltwater aquarium, we do still have gold fish and they are growing contentedly in their bowls, in spite of the predictions of the store where they were purchased.

Next Tuesday we go to the Science Center for a class on Magnetisim. Hopefully we will have a great time and meet up with some of the kids from last year's classes.

Handsome's only truly "new" class is computer keyboarding. He liked it the first week, but not the second, so we shall see where that ends up on his enjoyment list.

We are officially doing music and art twice a week and the computers only once. And we rotate history, geography, and health as well. All other topics are daily. Third grade is quite a challenge! So far, though, we BOTH like it a lot!

What an Adventure!

It has always been my intent to keep up with the blogs and let my friends know what I am up to. However, sometimes the adventures of my life take over and I find the time to write less optimal.

I have added a precious granddaughter to my collection of grandchildren since I last wrote in this blog. She arrived on July 21, 2010 at 5:02 AM. Even though I normally use code names for this, I shall reveal her true identity this once...her name is Faith Elaine and she is beautiful! She weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and is 19 inches long. The birth was normal, without incident and she was "perfect" in every way. She took a long time to arrive, making for an eventful few weeks. Hereafter on this blog, she shall be referred to as "Baby Girl" as her cousin is now "Girlfriend". I shall post pictures as soon as I find the cord to the computer and phone and camera! AGAIN!

The last few weeks have been quite exciting. I boarded a plane on July 5th heading for Long Beach, CA, due to the fact that my daughter was having contractions that had been strong enough to be monitored at the hospital. Since this had occurred only for three days with her first child, it was assumed that Baby Girl was on her way. The next few days went the same...and then the contractions stopped...and started again...stopped and started again. The Dr. thought on Monday that it would definitely be that week. Baby Girl liked to tease us...the contractions kept us up several nights, and two more trips to the hospital worth...She seemed to be saying, "Yes, I coming on out to play today! No! I'm not! Just kidding!" This went on for several days.

I was beginning to feel discouraged. Seeing my daughter in actual pain, with strong contractions and even some breathing issues for so long was difficult enough in itself. Thinking I would have to come hoime before the birth was very disturbing. Fortunately for the children on the AZ side of my life, they had their aunt available as well as a "sister" and her family visiting. (Another day, another story) So, I was able to stay another week.

I made some "cook ahead" freezable dishes for my daughter to bake and eat on days when her husband, a doctor, has to work late or overnight. I cleaned everything I could find to clean. I washed up all the laundry the closets and drawers would hold. Apparently that worked for Baby Girl. She must have realized that Grandma had done everything necessary to perpare for her arrival.

So, on July 20, the water broke! YAY! Into the hospital we went, knowing we would not be sent home this time! There was still a long labor ahead, but our Baby Girl arrived in perfect order.

In the waiting time, I had quite an interesting time. We took public transportation all over Long Beach. Met lots of interesting people. It was obvious at times that certain types of people did not want to sit with certain other types. But overall, most people were friendly and courteous to one another, especially a pregnant woman with a toddler in tow.


We visited the library for story time. (I will try to post video of that later...I promise...not too much later...just check in a few days!)
One day we went to the pier and watched some boats take off for Catalina Island. It was a speed boat race. Quite a sight! There was a fireboat spraying water for a display of its powers and to make its prescence known should there be a need. Due to the crowds there, we decided to go on to Seal Beach, where Mr. Boo could play in the water. We had such a blast! We and I jumped the waves and waded out as deep as we dared. We found shells, seaweed, and some interesting critters. We built sandcastles (more or less) and had a great time. We had hoped that Mommy walking in the sand might trigger Baby Girl to decide to come out and play with us...

But the great thing is, that she came at just the right time! You see, her middle name, Elaine, was given in honor of her daddy's grandmother, Elaine, who passed away a few years ago. Grandma Elaine's birthday was July 21, so I guess our little one wanted to share the date as well as the name. This did make Great-grandpa very happy!

Well,now I am back to the drawing board as they say, which, actually, is quite appropriate right now. I am in the final stages of planning Handsome's third grade school year. And of course, Girlfriend's preschool year as well.

Hope all is well with the readers of this blog. I did learn a lesson through all of this: All things good are worth waiting for...and God has a better plan than I do!

Come On Out and Play!

Here I sit. On Friday evening, yes after my dose of silliness with Girlfriend, I boarded a plane for Long Beach, CA. The reason: My daughter informed me that she was having consistent contractions on her way to having my next grandaughter! Her doctor said she predicted it would be soon and quick. So, I got on a plane and headed here.

So much for doctor's predictions! We have walked many miles all over downtown and between, trying to keep the contractions going. They seem to start and go for hours, seeming like they are intensifying. Then they suddenly (or sometimes gradually) stop. (or lessen in intensity and frequency). It is like the baby is playing a game of "I want to come out and play today! No, I don't! I was just kidding!"
This has been going on the whole time I have been here. She is dialated to 3 which is where she got stuck on her first child. For two days! So, if that pattern continues, tomorrow will be day 2 of that. The difference is that her actual due date is not until July 26. Her first child was born exactly on his due date.

But, this one is a GIRL! Girls don't do things the same way as boys...at least not when they start life out with a big brother already! I do believe the doctor that this one will not make it to her due date. I certainly hope not! My budget cannot afford for me to miss out on the money making opportunities back home for more than a week. And, then, my hubby is already missing me! And he has a work sponsored retreat on the 23-25th that he desires me to attend with him.

So, here we sit. Doctor says Baby Girl is ready...now mom is trying to get ready...so, we wait for God to get ready, I guess. My daughter is still contracting. So, here is hoping we get a baby really soon...for her sake...I think she has had enough of those contractions. I did not labor this way. I guess I was fortunate. I had 3 babies. With first girl I just started contracting and she came out 18 hours later. The second, a boy,got in a hurry to compete with his sis in life, and only took 6 hours after one day of pre-contractions and a day of nothing in between. His little sis (this daughter I write about today) did likewise...only nine hours instead of six. And that was that! No long days of contractions getting nowhere...well, I guess if you have to do it this way, then they ARE getting somewhere...if nothing more than getting out of the way!

This is difficult for me. I don't want to miss my grandaughter's birth! I can barely stand to see my daughter hurt so much so long. So, if you have an "in" with God, please ask Him to help us out a bit! I am trying to wait patiently...but I don't do that very well...I know, I know, perhaps that is what He is trying to teach me! He has been trying to teach me that for a very long time. Good thing HE waits well!
So, Little One, Precious Babe, Come on out and play! Grandma is waiting!

The Sillies

Some days you just can't justify a nap! Girlfriend and I have a routine for hers. I lie beside her and we sing songs together. We have a regular routine. "Do Your Ears Hang Low"..."ABCs"..."Twinkle, Twinkle"..."The Itsy Bitsy Spider"..."Achen Drum"..."3 Little Ducks"..."Five Little Ducks"..."Jesus Loves Me"...and then I go away and the Princess sleeps.

Last Friday, she was seeing very little need for a nap. I rarely try to make her sleep. I do, however, insist upon her resting in bed, which usually results in her falling asleep. But, it was Friday! She had such a good time singing, but the two duck songs in a row with their "quack, quack, quacks" at the end, was just to much to resist. Off she went to Sillyville, quacking away repeatedly.

Grandma said, "Well, if we can't stop being silly, maybe we will have to stop singing the duckie songs at nap time."

To which she replied, "Ptew!"

I said, "What was that about?"

She said, "I just spit out my sillies!" To which we both cracked (er, I mean quacked) up! So much for spitting out any silliness!

I think she did actually fall asleep eventually, having tuckered herself out being silly!

But, as I said, some days you just can't justify a nap!

Eight Kids and NOT Counting!

That's right! At this moment in time, there are eight children runnning (literally) around the house! You see, we have visitors, extended family, with whom Handsome, Hunky, and Girlfriend went camping last weekend. They consist of: Nine-year old twin boys, a four year old boy, and a two-year old girl. That makes seven! And then, for the moment, we have one of the boys of my daughter's best friend, who is seven. His mom had to go to the hospital to encourage a friend who is having a baby.

It resembles mild bedlam around here. Perhaps I shouldn't actually say that, as they really are being quite good...for SIX BOYS and two little girls! Three are playing WII, two are playing squirt gun, one is laying down for a "nap",(more or less) and two are watching TV. It could be MUCH worse. The noise level rises and subsides, depending on the game results, and water-gun surprises.

The entire day has been weird. They slept in and ate breakfast in strange shifts, mostly two at a time! This continued up until the normal lunch time for us. Then the routine began again. Usually, I have planned activites and organized games. But trying to find such that would achieve the cooperation of all eight, would be really close to a miracle. Just having them taking turns on their own, and not having "issues" with each other, is close enough to a miracle for me, to not interrupt a good thing!

Speaking of friends having babies...this girl was due two days before my other daughter...in two weeks! I am hoping perhaps, that all this contractions and pain that my daughter has endured over the last few days will mean that our little one will make her appearance soon as well. I have my bags all packed and am ready to go. All I need is a phone call and an airline ticket and I'm out the door!

Today would be a good day for a departure...but, alas, she is on her way to the doctor for a routine visit, not expecting any news of delivery soon. Her contractions have been inconsistent, both in duration and strength. It is hard to believe they haven't accomplished anything, though. Her first child was not quite this difficult to get here. I wish I had the option of just going there to be with her until the time comes...but I don't. For several reasons. My daughter here could find someone to help her with the kids, but I cannot afford the time off. And

I also have some commitments both in church and community that I can only void when actually necessary. I will, however, be making phone calls along that line this evening! And, besides, my husband is no longer a bachelor...and no longer lives like one. I don't want my garden or house neglected...he will take good care of the dogs!

Today there are eight kids in the house. That does not bother me...mostly. I can handle 60 or 70 kids in VBS or Kids Church, or half that in a classroom...
Somehow, a home setting is different...oh well, it is NOT my house! Ha ha!

So, today there are eight kids here...perhaps next week there will be more...but for now, I am NOT counting...

Manners and Media

We have had quite an adventuresome summer thus far! Yesterday we went to the Phoenix Childrens Museum where we wore out all three kids and their cousin, known on this blog as TDH, who is fifteen. I knew that with the new "amazing maze" the museum recently installed, I would definitely need help keeping track of everyone! But, as they say, "fun was had by all".

After several hours of this fantastic fun, we drug ourselves to the car...the kids were so tired, they did not protest the departure. However, it was not meant to be! Approaching the car, I noticed it was leaning to one side. We had a flat tire! So, back inside we went, given the outside temp was well over 100 degrees! The kids did not complain about this either! One more (at least) time around the maze! TDH felt certain he could change the tire, so I let him attempt it. But, given the heat, and the fact that the spare was a barely-inflated donut, I decided to let Grandpa bail us out instead. We ended up trading cars with Grandpa which only required switching out the car seats. And then the final departure transpired.

There was little conversation on the way home and I thought perhaps they had fallen asleep. I think they spent their remaining energy attempting to stay awake. Girlfriend did fall asleep once at home near her bed.

And then today...I realize that we have entered the world of media savvy, when the boys were playing secret clubhouse. "We need a password", Handsome states.

"How about I'm sorry dot com?" offers Hunky. As in Imsorry.com I couldn't help but chuckle. I guess the emphasis on apologizing to each other for less-than-kind actions is wearing off on them! And the time spent in simple computer instructions apparently is "taking" also! This suggestion caused an inaudible (to me) discussion and some kind of compromise. Those boys can be so very funny!

Girlfriend is getting cuter and more independent by the day! She was very "up" on what to do at the museum...and she did not allow any older kids push her around or steal the objects she waited patiently to get a turn with.

She, also, is "up" on the media of computers. She can independently play one of the games in purble land. And needs only minimal help with two others. Kids these days! Good thing this "granny" keeps up with the times...sort of...well, I try!

I WILL post pix of our great time at the museum really soon! Watch for them!

Summer Daze

I think that is what it must be...I am in a daze...it is hot, and the natives are restless! Not that they are overly acting out anything...they aren't. But it IS summer. And restlessness comes along with it. When it is so hot in the back yard, with no shade, that one cannot safely even use the above-ground pool (sunburn danger), there is nothing else to do but get restless.

Oh, we plan things...yesterday we painted with stamps and brushes, strung beads, and made donuts. We also play educational games daily, along with reading books, and a small amount of "school" work. We sing songs, and play hide and seek, master obstacle courses, and watch videos, not mention play the WII. We have gone to the park and the fountain when the sun was a bit gentler.

We have a "bean contest" going on...each child receives at least one bean for every good deed they do, including participation in planned events, volunteering for clean ups, and showing kindness to each other (and me!). When they get to 200 beans all together, we go on a real outing, like to the Children's Museum, or Science Center, or bowling, movies such. We definitely will stick with inside events. The child with the most beans gets to choose the place of the outing...when possible. I haven't told them yet, but there will be other "unearned" outings when time and money coincide and cooperation reigns as well. Better save that "trump" card for later.

Handsome and I planted tomatoes and watermelon, both of which are doing well. He waters them faithfully and protects them from the wind and scorching sun. Our goldfish are all still doing well also. Amazing! They are at least 3 months old or more, and with proper food and water changes, they are thriving! The lady at the pet store said they would not survive without a full tank set-up with all the pumps, etc. They are in bowls. And doing well.

My hunt for curriculum is about over. I found most of what I needed from Ebay or local sales. Even found some specifically desired books at thrift stores! I did order new math workbooks through Ebay and found really good deals.

Well, that is about all of the update for now. I know this is not very creative, but it is too hot to be overly creative!

We will write more when life gets more exciting!

The Hunt is On!

I like adventure! I have been known to make my own adventures out of the simplest of things or events! Sometimes those end up being more exhausting than exhilarating, but they were adventures just the same!

So, now my quest is for curriculum. Oh, I know I could go the easy way out and just get a whole series that encompasses ALL topics in one big bundle. But, first of all, those tend to be expensive, or...boring!...or BOTH! Besides, one of the advantages of homeschooling is the ability to customize the learning to fit the needs and interests of the child. Handsome is not a child with few interests, nor one that would be satisfied with mundane curriculum...And neither am I!!

So, the hunt in on! It began when I made a simple pnone call to a long-time friend who homeschooled her two kids into high school. Where, or where, is that TEACHING Tools store on the west side? Apparently...on the EAST side! But the conversation led to my discovering that there would be a curriculm fair at a college on the east side on a Saturday that I could actually accommodate!

And find, I did! A much desired Science Book was available for about a third (or less) of the price of new. This one is used, true, but absolutely no markings of any kind, or much signs of usage, other than the luster of the outside cover is waning! Wow! Great find! One down!

I continued on and found the History/Geography book of choice. (I had made a list from previous experiences and online resources coupled with advice from more experienced homeschoolers.) A few marking, yes, but in pencil and easily erasable! That one was about 1/5 of the online price! The map skills book was not found, so I can still be a seeker! And I got two reader books about the historical topics related to the text book! Two down!

I also found most of the Language Arts/Reading materials that we will need. I tend to supplement those with my own worksheets or some from other resources along the way anyway. Those were a total of about 10% of the retail price! Three down!

I found a wonderful big book about the human body with full color pictures and cool explanations! What a great buy! And there was a book of puzzles of all the continents! Handsome loves puzzles! A great way to sneak in extra geography!

And, for incentives, I have been having a "bean jar" where Handsome earns beans for every subject daily which he then "cashes" in to "buy" a prize. He has really scored this year! From a jr size wheelbarrow, a gears marble game, a legos crane, to smaller things like games, and whoopie cushions, he has earned quite a lot of loot. At the beginning of the school year, he got an Air Hog pressure engine airplane that I had gotten at a yard sale a very long time ago! He loved it, but alas! It finally crashed one too many times! And I have been unable to find any online or at yard sales. But, there were TWO at this curriculum sale, still new in the box! Unfortunately, I didn't notice immediately, and one got away...the smaller one just like he had had before! But, I was able to get the twin-engine one for only a few bucks more than the lady in front of me paid for the smaller one! Yippee! Handsome will be so excited...but that is a summer secret!

Well, I still am hunting for the math curriculum that we like. And the health book. And an additional Science kit...along with books about art and artists, music, and computers! And, yes, that map skills book too!

All this hunting gives me plenty of ammunition for "needing" to go to yard sales and such. And the online hunt is fun too! Ebay, here we come!

The End of a Journey

All good things must come to an end. At least that is what they tell me! And so, our saltwater aquarium days have finally ended. We lost the fish! Then we lost the snails! And finally, Mr. Crab succumbed to the perils of my lack of knowledge! So, Handsome has decided not to pursue this any further. We considered raising tadpoles into frogs. But, I think we have decided to just move on. Our Science topic of choice (supplemented with many others) for the upcoming school year is Botany. Perhaps we will have better success with a terrarium! I do have a garden and Handsome has some plants...hm... I will post pictures of our aquarium efforts as soon as I find the cord to the camera! It DID move with us, I KNOW! But it is hiding somewhere! Come out! Come out, wherever you are!

Jumping for Joy

Wow! School is out! I should be jumping for joy...if I was a real teacher...you know, one of those in public school, who gets at least a semi-vacation. I AM jumping for joy, but not for vacation. I have new plans for the summer, including some summer school moments, outings, and crafts.

I went to a curriculum fair yesterday and found some of our desired curriculum at really good prices. We have the bulk of Science, Reading and Language arts, and History/Geography under control. Now I need to find the math books and one health book,a map skills book, and some fine arts books...found them online...just looking for even cheaper! Bargain hunting is not only a hobby of mine, but it makes me feel good about myself! It makes me jump for joy!

But, where has the year gone? It seems only yesterday that I was devising strategies to motivate an eight year old. I was preparing Science projects and lessons for a series now completed. It seems like just a few short moments ago, I was reciting the mulitplication tables, spelling rules, and parts of speech. Now we have moved on. Oh, I will be reciting those things again, along with others, but there will be new dimensions, and topics, and information.

In the mean time, I have three little minds to care for all summer...well, most of it anyway. They have a trip planned to see the other grandparents for a week, and I must take some time to assist in the miraculous process of seeing my newest grandchild born. She is due towards the end of July. My, how time flies!

There have been days when the year seemed to drag on as well; days when I thought we would never get through certain topics or exercises. Girlfriend had her moments; especially during the potty-training days. Handsome had his struggles like any other child; voicing his opinions of topics he would rather not attempt. But he can ask the most marvelous questions in topics of interest. He has been the reason for many side tracks onto the computer to find an answer to a fantastic question beyond my present knowledge. He keeps me learning and researching...more stuff that makes me jump for joy.

And the days when Girlfriend did not want to take a nap, but her own body betrayed her desire. She begged me to lie down with her. Then she hooked her arm into mine, cuddled up and with her beaming smile said, "You're my faaavorite gramma!" Nothing melts my heart more. Now, I realize that she may have been hoping for a nap reprieve, but I also know she does love me and was so precious in trying to express it. Moments like that make this job worth everything!

And now I will have privilege of having Hunky in my care as well. Keeping him busy after his great Kindergarten year in public school, will, no doubt, be challenging!
But he's my funny man! And he wants to learn. So, we will have a great summer!

Yes, it would be nice to have the summer off like "real" teachers do, but what would I do with myself? And where would I get those cuddles and questions? The more I think about it, the less a summer off sounds good. After, all, my grandchildren are what really makes me jump for joy! And the summer affords me the opportunity to see TDH and Jommo, too, perhaps quite frequently...and little Mr. Boo, too! They are all growing up too fast!

With all the jumping for joy I have to do this summer, perhaps I can lose a little more weight!

The Great Escape

Somewhere, out there is Lizardland, there is a large lizard...using the term "large" witth reference to the "type" of lizard he is. I say "he" because of the size and the adventurous spirit. He may well be a grandfather lizard, currently sharing his tales of adventure with his grandchildren.

Speaking of grandchildren, that is where this adventure begins. With MY grandchildren who discovered this lizard in their backyard. As boys do, they chased the poor creature until he ran between the sliding patio door and the screen. There he waited, panting, and scared, I suppose, wishing the boys would go back inside.

Hunky squealed with delight and shouted "There he is! There he is!" I, in my ignorance of the lizard's plight, opened the door. Hunky screamed "Grandma! You're gonna kill him!" Once I learned of the situation, I gently pulled the screen back a bit. The lizard scampered away as fast as he could go. (And that was pretty fast!) The boys chased after him, only to discover he was hiding under the barbeque. We discovered this by noting his tail protruding from beneath the barbeque!

Believe it or not, the patience of the lizard withstood the curiousity of the boys, and they finally gave up staring at the barbeque. Eventually, they came inside and the lizard dashed off to tell his tale...dragging his tail behind him! (I had to put that in!)

And so goes the ongoing saga of lizard life in the desert! I do wish saltwater fish faired as well! That's another story for another day!

Two New Neighbors for our Sea World

Well, we finally did it! After thoroughly cleaning the tank, we successfully got a clean report on our saltwater aquarium. Even the nitrates are right! Wow! And I didn't even have to add the clams...

So, now we have two new tenants. Both are damsel fish. The store was out of blue damsels, and Handsome did not want to wait til Monday...so...we have one black and white striped damsel, and one black with two white spots. They are supposed to be compatible so we will see! I will post pictures soon...I promise. Anyway, the striped one seems to be brave and is checking out its new environment, while the other one is hiding behind the filter sponge. It is not stuck...just easily frightened. Hopefully, they will survive and be content. Eventually we hope to add one clown fish...and that will complete our community. We have a snail still, and a baby snail...and at least one crab. All these are survivors of original purchase!

Handsome is also growing tomatoes! He is a natural care-giver when it comes to plants and animals! He is so excited that he has green tomatoes on his vine. Me, well, I already knocked one off of my biggest plant...oh well!

Pictures will be coming of our tank...and maybe the garden and some others too...hurry back!

Sometimes I wonder...

My mother used to respond whenever I would say, "I was wondering", by commenting, "While you are wandering, don't get lost!" She was trying to be funny. Which, actually, for her, was an accomplishment. She rarely was funny or even tried to be. So, really, that is a fond memory.

But I have spent a lot of time "wondering" about a lot of things. I do enjoy learning. Learning with Handsome is especially fun and rewarding. I like to spend time at the library, museums, and other educational venues. I think sometimes that I am learning as much as Handsome is, only perhaps, different details!

However, I still wonder if I am doing a good job. When I look at the public school curriculum, part of me thinks we are doing wonderfully. Another part of me starts to panic and feel as though I am not an adequate teacher. I know Handsome gets the benefits of one-on-one instruction. He gets the privilege of museums and community programs such as the Science Center and libraries offer for home schooled children. He gets to do many more "hands-on" types of learning activities than could be handled in a classroom full of inquisitive kids. And he gets to choose some of the Science topics. Few classrooms would hassle the saltwater aquarium, for instance. And then we have our ocean room full of stuffed whales, walruses, sharks, etc, along with real shells and star fish and sea horses. And then we have plastic lobsters and crabs, squid and octopuses!

He gets to experience music and art and history in the form of "hands-on" activities and videos, etc.

Yet, when Hunky comes home from kindergarten and spells "symmetry" (a word Handsome just had in math) and tells me he learned it in art in KINDERGARTEN...I feel the panic rising. Yet, at the same time, the neighbor girl in third grade just finished learning her multiplication table, which is one thing we are almost done with in second grade! Handsome also has algebraic and geometrical problems in his math book that they have not yet covered. And he has started cursive, although we have not emphasized it. Public school starts that in mid third grade here.

So, you see...I am wondering...am I on the right track? I love the Science we do! He does too! And he likes math. (I know that to be my weakness) But...it seems to me that the public system pushes reading and spelling more than I have been able to. I spend a lot of time trying to find the right methods, motivators, and inspiring, interesting books...and trying to compete with the system. I wonder still... Am I doing this right?

Am I the best teacher I can be? And, if so, is that good enough?

My sister (who spent years as a public school teacher and still substitutes in CA) tells me that most teachers, if not all, feel this way from time to time. But they were completely trained as teachers. I was trained in Christian Education, somewhat more administrative, and in geriatric behavioral and social (quality of life,etc) topics. I spent time learning about Alzheimer's and arthritis, macular degeneration, and dementia...about physical therapy and care plans. I wonder...am I good enough? Teaching is such an important calling...and I certainly don't want to get lost!

A Fish Tale

Yes, the saltwater fish all died. So we have a goldfish...actually three goldfish! And we still have Mr. Hermit Crab and Sea Snail roaming through the tank. PetCO has tested our water three times now and seem to find something new and different every time. I don't doubt their credibility...I am at a loss to fix the problems. I have been able to maintain a proper salinity level in spite of a broken hydrometer. But the nitrates go up and down, along with other chemicals. Well, we are now down to nitrates...and they tell me a possible fix is clams! I must go to an Asian market(or a saltwater specialty store)and find live clams and put them in the tank. I inquired if our snail would not devour them, and was told most likely not since he has plenty to eat in the tank. And even he if did manage to eat one, if I put a dozen in they will likely eat up all the nitrate issues quickly and escape his appetite.

Next question: What do I do with the clams when the nitrate is all in balance? I don't particularly want yet another species to care for!

In the meantime, we have the goldfish. They are in three separate containers. One on the kitchen island downstairs. One in Handsome's bedroom, and one downstairs on another counter. Each being cared for by a different child. Of course, Girlfriend needs some extra help!

So, moving on in the Ocean studies...we collected, via actual trips to the Ocean, and yard sales, a nice variety of shells. We even have a cowry! Yes, we have clams and scallops and mussels. We have oysters and wentletraps and cone shells. We have winkles and possibly a slipper shell. Some are not so easy to identify, being the novices we are. But Handsome did his report on them and glued some into a box and labeled the ones we could figure out. We do have one we entitiled "Mystery shell". We have some clams that obviously fell prey to snails and have the holes in their shells to prove it. Those nasty radulas!

And Handsome has a 10 year old clam, age-identified by the clearly marked rings on his shell. We also have some real sea horses and sea stars! Quite the collection. We have decided that the shells are MUCH easier to care for and quite interesting and pretty! Perhpas we shall concentrate more on these!

For any of you desiring to study the Sea...when you reach the chapters on the shells...there is a wonderful children's fictional book called "Island Eyes" by Laney Lee. It is a whimsical saga of a King's Crown shell that begins with his original animal and continues with a hermit crab taking him on adventure after adventure...we don't know where it ends, as we haven't finished it yet. It is like a novelette for kids, but reinforces the facts about the life of a shell of the sea. I recommend it! Even Girlfriend will sit through a chapter, if I flex my voices with the various characters he encounters. The hermit crab, Maggie, makes it a nice mix of male and female fun as well! Hope you can enjoy it some day!

So, we shall continue on. This next week we will learn about sponges and sea stars and sea anemones...and more! This IS quite an adventure, even with the fish and crab, and snail, and...clams...

He Comes By It Naturally

Yes, I think Handsome comes by it naturally. It is in his blood; his genetic makeup! The "it" I am referring to is his instinct for gardening and caring for creatures. He cannot have a dog or a cat or a bird due to potential allergies or diseases. But he can have, and does have, fish! And a hermit crab! And a sea snail!
Even though the saltwater fish have all died, the snail and hermit crab keep him excited. He watches closely for their food levels, salinity levels, and water temperatures and levels. He now also has a gold fish in a regular aquarium which he monitors daily.

He also loves to garden! He has a tomato plant that we bought when he came to help me plant my garden. He monitors the water intake, its exposure to sunlight and wind, and its progress. He wants to get a bean plant too, really soon!

I say he comes by this naturally because of his heritage. I love to garden as well. And I love animals of all kinds...almost, anyway! But my father grew up on a farm. My grandfather was a farmer in Kansas and Oklahoma for a long time. My mother had a garden. My grandmother had a garden. My grandmother had an orchard as well. She cannned and froze fruit and vegetables regularly as I watched at her side before I could even read.

My father raised animals. I remember at various times having chickens, geese, cows, (both beef and dairy), hogs, sheep, and ducks. Some we ate. Some we loved. And we always had horses...I had my own "pony" from age five to about age 15. Her name was Patsy. She was ornery and tried several times to wipe me off by running under a tree. But she was my horse!

So, I say Handsome has gardening, farming, animal care in his blood! Our family roots have traced back to the days of Native Americans who lived off the land.

I am glad to have Handsome share this interest with me. It gives us something to talk about and share besides classroom topics. And, Handsome WILL eat what we grow! He also enjoys cooking...especially if he grew it himself!

The Thanks We Get!

It was Monday. Spooky was quietly swimming in the aquarium. I saw him. Then I took another glance at him. Something was definitely wrong! He is a yellow-tailed blue damsel fish, but looked more "see-through" as the kids said, at the moment! Yes, he was rapidly losing his color as he skimmed the surface of the tank. I quickly noticed that the water level had depleted to the point of raising the salinity level to a dangerous place.

I quickly remedied this by adding RO water to the tank and rechecking the salt level. Then I fed Spooky. It was only a matter of an hour or so until his color returned to normal and he was swimming contentedly all over the tank. Whew! We had saved his life!

Then came Thursday. Mind you, we had carefully changed out a portion of the water earlier in the week as instructed by owners of such aquariums and workers at the pet store. All had seemed very well. The crabs and baby snail were letting us know they were thankful for the attention.

Spooky, on the other hand, decided to "give up the ghost". One minute he was swimming normally, and eating, and within ten minutes, he lay belly-up under the coral...dead! THIS IS THE THANKS WE GET!

The truth is, Spooky may have died anyway, given that we did not know how old he was in the first place, and that his previous owner stated he might not survive the move anyway. But, it is sad.

The plan now is to have the tank checked, go over the instructions on everything, and THEN get two more damsels...and try again. This time, we can know a little more about the fish, and they will come from the same tank in the store. If they survive for 2 months, we may get a clown fish to join them. But that is all our little tank can handle.

Learning about marine life, even from an aquarium, is interesting. We got to go to the homeschool class at the Science Center last week. The topic was on ocean life. They have a much bigger aquarium with sea stars, snails, live coral, and other creatures, some of which were available to touch and hold. Handsome declined that opportunity, but observed them very closely.

We are learning about the facts of life as well...the fact that life begins and ends in the animal world. That life is unpredictable...that life is delicate.

The true thanks we get is knowledge. Sometimes that comes, not just by studying books, but by trial and error also. And we get the joy of observing life...from the tiny crabs to humans...we are all wonderfully made! Enjoy!

The Crazy Fish

Swimmy is dead! Even though he was the bigger fish in the tank, he succumbed to the stress of the move. He put up a valiant fight, however, swimming vertically instead of horizontally for two days. But, alas! He eventually died and ended up with his tail stuck in the filter.

So, we went to Petco to find a replacement for a friend for Spooky. We got another blue damsel just like Spooky, only without the yellow tail. At first they seemed to be good friends and Spooky came out of hiding and swam all over the tank, seemingly delighted. We introduced the new one into the tank exactly as directed. We checked the water temperature and salt level. Everything was perfect! Until the lights went out!

There were no witnesses, no forensic evidence. So, we can only make guesses as to what happened. The man at the store had mentioned that the new one might be agressive for a few days, but did not think they would hurt each other. But, that evening we find the new one dead also. And all day today Spooky has acted more like Snoopy or Adventurer...swimming all over the tank and hardly hiding at all! So, methinks perhaps we should change Spooky's name...to something more like Shark! Or Villian or King-of-this-tank-and-don't-you-forget-it! I haven't even seen the snails or crabs all day!

So, for now, little yellow-tail blue damsel gets his or her kingdom unchallenged...but only until I get to the store to talk to the salt water aquarium specialist. THEN, he/she may get solitary confinement!

For the Love of Fish

Today we embarked on a new adventure. We bought a saltwater aquarium. I found it on Craigslist for a great price, especially considering it had two fish, a snail and several crabs in it and ALL the equipment. The guy even gave me a brief lesson on caring for the fish.

We have been studying the Ocean from Apologia's Zoology 102...and just came upon the chapter on fishes. Yes, you DO say fishes...IF you are talking about more than one KIND of fish. And of course, the ocean has too many for my mind to imagine. In fact, our aquarium has fishes..two different kinds of fish! Handsome has them named. The tiny blue one is "Spooky" because he hides in the coral. The previous owner said it is his habit and you have to coax him out by moving the coral from time to time. The larger one is "Swimmy"...I guess because that is HIS habit. The snail is "Slimy" and the crabs are "Crawly" (and Crawly Jr., the second, etc.)

It has been a fun day setting all of this up. We stopped at Petco to get them some food and look at potential tank mates for later. And we bought a black goldfish for an experiment tomorrow. Hopefully, it will survive. He is lonely in the kitchen in a glass bowl. Perhaps he too, shall get a bowl-mate!

Well, I never knew that fishes were so interesting. Other sea creatures had struck my fancy much more. But they are an amazing creation! Oh, for the love of fish!

The Weekend is Here Already!

Handsome is taking a math test. Teacher is only allowed to give instructions for the test and then he must complete it on his own. He usually does quite well with these. But he is overjoyed to have discovered today is Friday! Yesterday was a short school day since we follow the same schedule as the public school here. That short day threw him off a bit on where we were in the week. Most non-school days are MOndays!

Girlfriend is having a bit of a clingy day. I don't mind when it is test day, since I can't be immensely involved in the test. Handsome, though, may not realize he has two more tests today! And a science review! A reading test, a spelling test...but then he will earn lots of beans towards a nice prize!

We decided to go for the house we looked at. It is going to start off as a rental...with us as tenants until we get ahead a bit, and the property regains a little value. So, we are headed for a new house, new community and new neighbors! There are things that are inconvenient, and things that are much better, and things that are exciting, about this move! But it is all happening in a few weeks! Yikes! I started packing up the current house and am hoping to bring along fond memories of family gatherings there! Lots of pictures of fun times...egg hunts, luaus, camp-outs, swimming parties...and hoping to create new fond memories of things yet to be discovered.

Well, tomorrow morning, my daughter and I are having a yard sale here at this current house...hopefully, we can get enough stuff out of the way and enough money aside to make the move easier. I have some concerns about what my current neighbors will think of this move. Only two of the original neighbors are still there, but we are fairly good friends to one of them. He has helped us out a lot. Perhaps he can help find a buyer for this place. I know he was disappointed that one other neighbor left abruptly and never told him he was selling and moving on.

Oh well...the weekend is here...already!

Swinging Right Along!

Yesterday we ventured out to the Science Center for a homeschooling class on pendulums. Handsome loves to swing things around, so he found the class quite interesting. We discovered some of our hypothesis were correct, and some were not. The variables of length of string, weight of bob, and size of arc, were rather fasinating to consider. Watching the teacher challenge a powling ball suspended in a net produced various responses. She found that if someone started the ball in a pendulum swing, without pushing, she could start with her face nearly smashed against the ball and still would not get hit by the back swing, as long as she did not move forward, even slightly. Some students wanted to try it, but were forbidden, for obvious reasons.

Girlfriend was not quite so interested. It is a curiousity why the potty seats at home seem to be too cold to sit but only momentarily, and yet the public ones are satisfactory enough to take a long time sitting! Perhaps it was more the undivided attention they afforded her. Perhaps next time, I shall bring more snacks and less drink!

Driving home brought my attention to the variety of people roaming the streets of downtown. We came a little different way than usual. I don't know if it was the route, or the nice weather, but there were many pedestrians to observe. A middle-aged lady in casual dress sauntered down the sidewalk, followed closely by a younger man who appeared to be trying to talk to her. Her rapid pace seemed to be diswaying any such communication. A toothless man who appeared to be homeless, smiled and waved as we stopped at the red light. He was attempting to be animated, it seemed, to delight the children. They turned away, not sure how to respond. I nodded and smiled back, knowing I was safely inside the car, should he have improper motives. It seemed more likely that he was just a lonely man who once liked children...perhaps even had a family himself.

A young man dressed in a business suit rushed down the street with his cell phone to his ear. A group of teenagers, most likely college students from the downtown campus, herded themselves across the street, daring the light to change not in their favor. They all seemed oblivous to the world of cars around them.

As I merged onto the freeway, the variety of attitudes became even more apparent. Some pushed their way into lanes, others hesistantly merged with blinkers flashing. Some honked to be let in; others drove steadily ahead not looking to the right or left, apparently hoping that by ignoring the other drivers, someone would let them end...before their lane ended!

We arrived home safe and sound in spite of all the vehicles. We continued briefly to talk about pendulums and swinging washers on strings. Then we journeyed out again with Grandpa and Jomo and TDH to see a house we may try to buy...

What a total contrast it was to take the southern route across the farm fields and undeveloped land! The dirt fields, the green fields, the military jets flying overhead from the base nearby... all of these brought a sense of peace. I think I like living in this area! To be close to city life with tall buildings and interesting people, and also farmland and larger properties, and knowing that we are protected by the greatest military in the world! What a place to swing!

The Things We Catch!

Soon after I started this job, a few years ago, Hunky was tossing a nerf football to me. I caught it most of the time and sent it back to him. Apparently, my hurling technique was not refined enough for a three-year old! He commented "Grandma, you do a lot of things good...but throwing a football is not one of them!" Such wisdom from such young lips! I caught the football that day...and I caught what he was saying...and I do try to stick with those things I do "good".

Catching a frisbee is a challenge. But try throwing and catching a boomer-rang! I must admit, that most of the time, the boomerrang won! And the only thing I caught was the sound of laughter from Handsome's lips, while he was shaking his head at his clumsy grandma!

We spent an afternoon chasing butterflies as well. Butterflies that we had hatched! Yes, we watched them go from caterpillars to cocoons to butterflies. When we became concerned as to our ability to care for them properly in the habitat, we decided to set them free. We did catch them again for a brief time, but convinced them to enjoy the freedom of the entire yard. That was quite an experience!

Another afternoon found us catching other bugs and insects. We captured a bee which we put in the freezer and then revived. We caught a fly that we drowned in the sink and then revived with salt! All these were part of science experiments!

Yes, working with children gives ample opportunity to catch something. Most of the time the "somethings" are interesting or fun or enlightening. But sometimes children give you other things to catch...like colds! I caught one of those from Girlfriend this week! So hopefully, much like the football, I will drop it quickly!

Some Days

I guess it is true in everyone's life that some days are better than others and some days are worse than others. This week has not been a stellar week, starting with world news, clear up to personal challenges.

Girlfriend had a cold. Colds don't make pretty princesses live happily ever after! Fortunately, they are "once upon a time!" In other words, they are here for just a time. And I suppose princesses deserve special treatment and pampering during such times! Therefore, the fairy grandmother must hone her patience and comforting skills, and pray this cold rides off into the sunset quickly!

As for Handsome, well, he has been off to the Science Center to learn about Robots. And then checking out a kit with which to make arches and bridges without mortar or nails! Pretty clever!

Hunky is getting back into the swing of things in Kindergarten. Jomo is rising to the challenge of fourth grade and TDH is exploring high school full scale! And Mr. Boo! I forgot to mentiono that on his visit here during Christmas, he made an announcement via a tee shirt, that he is going to be a big brother! The little one is due in July!

I will mention that each has had their challenges this week, as have I, but we still have plenty to smile about. We are family! We are well and happy and safe!

And we will pray for those across the ocean whose week has been shaken, literally, by earthquake! God help each of us to count our daily blessings and not take our lives or families for granted!

A Trip to the Amusement park!

Over the Christmas break, I took TDH and Jomo to Castles and Coasters, which is an amusement park here in Phoenix. I shall publish pictures of that great day as soon as I get them downloaded off of my camera! Perhaps today...perhaps not!

Anyway, though I was tired and fighting the fatigue and pain of fibromyalgia, I had a terrific day. I played a game of miniature golf with Jomo...and we shall not reveal the score card here. TDH was the scorekeeper and he got plenty of laughs!

I declined to partake of the rides, mostly due to the cost. But I was actually glad that was a factor, since they did not appeal to me that day. TDH rode what they call "Desert Storm", a roller coaster that does at least three total flips! He rode it TWICE! Jomo joined him on the smaller one, whose name I cannot currently recall. They only tackled that one once. But they did enjoy two trips on the ride that goes backwards and forwards while its track manages rocking and rolling. The bumper cars were a hit as their second time around turned into many. The line had depleted by the end of their second round, so the attendant let them keep going. Good thing there were benches close by for Grandma!

And the swinging boat! Jomo only handled that once, but TDH got at least two rounds! Made my stomach turn just to watch! The speedway was crowded and took quite awhile to get to their turns. TDH is quite a good driver, even though he got slowed down due to an amateur girl swerving and slowing the line. Passing her was risky and TDH was afraid he would make her spin out, so he laid of the pedal to the metal! Jomo was not tall enough to be a driver, although I am sure he would have done better than the girl! He was a great passenger for TDH though! They had a great time. It was good to see them enjoying each other so much!

We spent nearly 4 hours there and exhausted all of us. But the memories we made will never fade. I was thrilled to have a day to spend with them. Handsome, Hunky, and Girlfriend were off in CA exploring Lego Land! They, too, had a wonderful time. They called me in the evening to report how cold the ocean was, and how big the slide was at Legoland, along with a lot of other details. Hunky gave me a full report of the day, down to the discovery of s crab, and shells.

Being a grandma is a very good thing. The smiles of the children and their hugs and excited reports, are worth all it took to get to grandmothering. So, for those of you who are younger, and on occasion feel frustrated with the little charges you are currently raising, be of good cheer! Some day YOU will get to be the GRANDMA!

The Man in the Moon

Handsome and I have been studying the moon this week. We did at least one experiment from the kit we checked out from the Science Museum each day. It was fun and a good way to start back to school. Science is the first subject of the day.

To add a little humor to the event and get a bit of reaction...I shared with Handsome this poem I wrote years ago...just for fun!

THERE'S A MAN IN THE MOON!

I think there is a man in the moon;
Or else the moon, itself, is a man!
Because of the many faces it shows
As across the sky it does span!

Sometimes it shows us part of a face;
Twinkly eyes with a turned up nose;
Other times, bravely facing us all,
A full bald head it seems to expose!

Sometimes it appears to be hiding;
Other times, gives a flirtatious wink.
Sometimes it is shy, sometimes a tease!
Moody, like a man, I think!

It loves to keep us guessing,
with the clouds, plays hide and seek;
Sometimes a sliver, sometimes full-faced
From the pillows of clouds it will peek!

There's a moon with male personality,
As he floats with his head in the air.
Yes, there's a man in the moon, quite likely...
I know there's no WOMAN up there!

by charlotte howard-saben 1990

Because You Asked

Several of you have asked to see pictures of Mr. Boo's quilt. And some have inquired about Girlfriends dollhouse that I made her for Christmas. I am attempting here to share them with you. I think Boo's quilt pix came out okay, but I forgot to turn the dollhouse! Oh well!~ Happy head-turning! PS-click on the pix and it will enlarge and you can see details. PSS-the dollhouse was not finished when the pix was taken!

Through the Eyes of a Child

Can you look in the mirror and say to yourself that you are pretty, or handsome, as the case may be? I found several years ago that it is not that easy. Oh, sometimes I could think it, but trying to say it aloud was a difficult task. I also tried to face myself in the mirror and say some good things about me. I thought I had a healthy self-image, but the challenge of the task made me rethink how I looked at myself.

I am taking lessons from Girlfriend. She looks in the mirror and giggles and smiles. Then I say something like "Look at that pretty, pretty Princess!" which creates even more giggles. Sometimes she turns away, but that is all part of the game. She knows that will make me say she is a pretty, pretty, Princess all the more!

The other day as I was combing her hair, I asked her how she would like me to fix it. There have been times when she preferred two pigtails to one, or a ponytail on the side instead of the back, etc. On this day she looked up at me and said, "Pretty!"

I responded, "You just want your hair done pretty?" She nodded adamantly. Once finished, she looked in the mirror for approval. "Pretty, Pretty!" she said.

I grew up in a home where my mother thought it a sin, apparently, to think highly of oneself. She not only did not make any attempts to tell me I was pretty, but she pooh-poohed anyone else who did. She feared pride more than anything. I realize now, that she had no idea of what pride is, nor how God intended us to use it.

He is proud of us. He made us just as we are! I think He gets the same types of feelings for us that I get as a grandma, when Girlfriend giggles and calls herself a pretty princess! I feel great!

I have, since my childhood, learned to think highly of myself. Even the Bible does not say not to think highly of yourself...it says not to think MORE highly than you ought to! And if you read the rest of it, you will find that you ought to think pretty highly of yourself. You are made in God's image. You are thought highly of by Him! You are seated in heavenly places! Wow! We girls ARE princesses, daughters of the King of Kings!

Regardless of how you feel about God or religion, you have good reason to be proud of yourself. I know pride has been the downfall of many people, men and women alike. And pride has brought about lies and pain. But, I wonder if those people built up all that false pride because down deep they really did not like themselves?

I think pride is a lot less fearful thing than self-abasement. A realistic approach to oneself takes courage. Admitting our faults can sometimes be easier than admitting our strengths. Perhaps it is because the power of our strengths scares us and places responsibilities and accountability on us. I know some people who readily admit their strengths and try to hide their weaknesses. But, often, later in life, they discover they really did not know themselves as well as they thought they did.

Take a look in the mirror. Who do you see? I hope you see a great person who can love themselves and others as themselves. I hope you see someone who can address both weaknesses and strengths without flinching. Acknowledging weaknesses means we are growing. (Personally, I have never had a garden without a few weed problems!)

I hope you find a person in the mirror who can acknowledge their beauty. You are beautiful! Enjoy life!

Ah, the memories!

I decided to look back over the more memorable, unwritten moments of 2009. There are some things I want to forget, and others I wish to remember. Some are worth sharing for the lessons learned or the laughter gained. So, I shall share a "moment" of my creative Girlfriend!

It was a day when Handsome was taking a test. I needed Girlfriend to be occupied with things other than interruptions or needing attention for a while. So, I set up her water/sand table in an unusual place...the family room, complete with a tablecloth beneath. I knew that if the usual set up occurred (the bathroom shower) that it would only be a short time before she would come looking for us. So, we went about our normal routine for such a day. She chose to have sand that day, and sat contentedly playing with it like an angel.

It was after lunch, I believe, when I realized Girlfriend was not in sight and I went upstairs to check on her. There she was! Not at the sand table, but rather at the sink in the bathroom, with a pan of sand...rather a pail of sand that she was "washing". The entire sink was full of sand, backing up the running water which was very close to running over. Oh no!

Play sand is particularly fine-grained. That does not mean that it is easy to rescue from a drain! Especially one that is packed and the sand is wet. I scooped and scooped and made little progress.

Fortunately, Daddy was home and so was a wet-vac! Yes, It did the trick without damage, except to lose some of the sand! I learned a lesson that day. Two year olds are creative people and when their usual routine is changed, they will find a way to make it extra interesting!

The table will stay in the shower and primarily be a water play table! I think the whole house will like that better!

Happy New Year

This will be a better year. Last year was the year of good intentions. My desire is that THIS year will be the year of good ACTIONS! I have laid aside the idea that making resolutions will assist in bringing this about. All that ends up happening is that the resolutions haunt me and add to my guilty feelings. However, without goals, nothing will be accomplished.

Therefore, I am making some goals today. One of those is that I will write daily. I have three blogs. I will write something on one of those daily. Therefore, at least two times per week there should be some news on each of them. Knowing myself as I do, however, I realize that this is probably too lofty a goal. I am leaving it as my goal and promising myself and my friends that I will do my best to accomplish this goal. I should have at LEAST ONE item on each blog weekly. If I achieve this, I will consider myself successful.

I am writing at least weekly for our church as well. I write the curriculum for our kids church, along with puppet skits, etc. so that really is partly why I have been so lax in attending these blogs. And I also write quite a bit for my homeschooler. Teaching him some of the weirdness of the English language often works better by writing my own stories that fit the subjects. He is much more interested in reading about topics that peek his interest, and finding those at the library takes a lot of time. Not only that, but finding interesting topics that also fit the English rules of the week, can be a daunting task! This probably sounds like another excuse, and perhaps it is...

The point is, I shall truly attempt to do better at keeping up with the blogs. The request I have from you, my friends, is to encourage me, by making comments from time to time, or at least letting me know that you are reading them. Sometimes, I am tempted to make the blogs more like a journal or diary, which, I guess, is okay. However, daily, thoughts go through my mind that may well be of interest to my readers. So, if I know I have readers, I will be more motivated to get my thoughts onto the blogs. THANK YOU!

I love to write. I love to share. I love my friends. Happy New Year!

ps- this is the only time that all my blogs will say the same thing! THAT I promise!