How Fragile Life Can Be!

It actually happened on Friday. Good Friday. The call came about 4:00 PM. PRAY! There had been an accident at my son's work...involving him! He actually was the lucky one, compared to his partner. Some sort of electrical malfunction had caused his partner to get shocked and literally catch on fire. My son was only a few feet away and had to extinguish the flames...with his own hands! He enhaled a lot of smoke and some heat. Since he is an asthmatic, that was a serious situation, along with the burns on his hands.

But on Saturday, his response was that they were all counting their blessings! They had survived! Even the burn victim is going to make it! He is in a lot of pain, but he should make a full recovery...eventually...

My son was able to attend the family Easter celebration. He is still not fully recovered from the enhaled smoke nor the burned hands. But he is grateful for his life and family. He is thankful that his friend, partner and boss, is going to make it.

It is incredible how fragile life is. Somebody dies every minute...somewhere. Some suffer through terrible diseases. Some leave for their daily routines of life, never to return home. It only takes one ill-timed turn, one wrong decision, being at the wrong place and the wrong time, one moment of someone's wrath...and it is eternity! Life as we know it here is done...It only takes one little spark to end or at least change a life!

More Easter Pix...

Laughter of Children!

Happy Easter! Thank God we live in the desert! It rained on our "parade" but the end result was simply a delay rather than a cancellatation. We had planned a big dinner with 22 people---10 children and 12 adults for Saturday so the whole family could be here. Some had other-side of the family plans for today. So, we spent the last few weeks cleaning the yard, doing things that take some real motivation to actually do. Grandpa Steve fixed the baby swing for Mr. Boo and Baby Girl, and put new sand in the sandbox. We cleaned out the playhouse and the fort and dusted the slide and rest of the playground. We planted colorful flowers and fed the garden. Then we tackled the inside of the house. Cleaning carpets and counters that usually settle for a "Lick and promise". We even had the dogs groomed. THEN IT RAINED!!!

At first I thought we would have to move the whole "parade" to my daughter's house, as she has more inside room for the kids. But, because the desert was so dry, the ground soaked it all up quickly. The rain left no puddles and even the playground dried rapidly. The sandbox had been covered! So, we moved the picnic tables inside to eat and then let the kids outside for the egg hunt. Baby Girl and Mr. Boo loved their new swing and had to learn the beginning of the lesson of taking turns. The squeals of delight from their mouths made the day for me. They had gales of laughter as Grandpa Steve and moms and I took turns pushing the swing!

All the other children raced through the yard discovering eggs and different toys. The trampoline was also a hit! One extended family girl, (the only other girl) picked herself a ripe tomato from the garden. They chased each other and then got Easter goodies to enjoy, such as bubbles, etc.

Today we will gather for lunch at my daughter's house. Her sister (Mr. Boo's mom) and hubby and Mr. Boo (boo hoo for me) have to leave from there to return to CA.

It has already been a fantastic Easter with all my family here. And I thank God for all of them! I thank Him for Easter and the Resurrection and all the other miracles of every day life!

The Joys of Challenges!

I started this blog to write about homeschooling and Cystic Fibrosis challenges. Little did I realize that CF creates its own set of homeschooling challenges. Handsome is becoming a student with a desire to learn. But, like most of us, does not find every topic appealing nor easily learned. My brain used to be challenged by Science and Math. Handsome's bent is science and math. Mine, obviously, is reading and writing and the creative endeavors. Not to imply that he isn't creative, for he is very much so. Just not in the same genres as I am.

He has struggled to learn to read. I didn't pick up on the struggle as early as I should have because it did not manifest in kindergarten curriculum. Learning the letters and sounds, etc. and small words did not reveal any learning difficulties. However, first grade is another story... I blamed myself for being a poor teacher.

As I accessed the CF info online, I discovered that due to meds and treatment schedules, etc, learning difficulties of one nature or another is very very common in CF kids. Then I realized that I, myself, have difficulty focusing when I am on the totality of meds for extreme allergies. On those days, I feel drained as having to force myself to focus on one task at time takes its toll. Some of my meds are also steroid based...and no fun. I imagine that Handsome has to begin each day with these types of meds, that it is difficult to focus. He must put forth much effort just to stay focused, and it is not his fault. I cannot make this become an excuse, but I certainly can understand the struggle.

There is more to this picture, though, than just the CF. Handsome is creative in his own way...much like some famous inventors and scientist were. For example, in the middle of reading...learning about, say, rules for vowels, etc. Handsome will be triggered by a given word, to lapse into questions regarding science experiments (what would happen if...? AND maybe we could build a ...OR wouldn't it be cool if we exploded some soda in the volcano?...) OR physics...(Do you think if we balanced all those bricks on one end of that board, and put some bags of sand on the other end, that...???) or off into a world of designing garages on the side of his worksheets, etc.

I read where Woodrow Wilson did not master the alphabet until he was nine and was not considered a "reader" until the age of eleven. His parents focused instead on teaching him what he was interested in...politics and ethics.

Einstein, Edison, and Newton all did not fit into the average schooling situations and required homeschooling. Newton could not relate to the math taught in his day...I wonder why? His brain was wired to discover something no one else could master before him. Edison was labeled "addled" (the word of his day for "mentally challenged") and his mother told he could not learn. Guess he fooled them!

I'm not saying that Handsome is a budding genius. And I am not saying that we don't have legitimate struggles to contend with. My sis has helped by sending curruiculum from the California Public schools system from which she retired as a Masters Degreed Special Ed teacher and resource specialist. Now when I get the time to retrain myself...

I am saying that in spite of the challenges, in spite of the meds and the allergies and the distractions and labels...we shall overcome! Handsome will be reading well one day soon...and then a lot more school will seem easier. My sis did say another encouraging thing...that first grade is the hardest because you know basically nothing except the alphabet and numbers. Much of what is learned later is developed in first grade.
And then I wonder---I showed Handsome the first grade reader I learned to read from. Dick, Jane and Baby Sally. See Spot run. Run, Spot, run! He laughed. I told him how lucky he is to have books on monster cars, sports, and animals to learn from. And then I realized how "lame" those Dick, Jane, and Sally books look compared to today's curruiculum. And my generation has a better rating of success than many college grads of this current world. Are we pushing too hard? Are we trying to rush our kids into reading and learning when they would still rather play? I and most of my peers can read WELL. We can use a computer and actually WRITE stories and reports without all kinds of abbreviations...and yes we can also SPELL! And to think, we learned it all from Dick, Jane and Sally!

The Week Goes On!

Last night we had dinner and Uncle Matt's house. He is quite the good cook. I told him that had I known how well he can cook, he would have had the opportunity a LOT more when he was growing up in my house! He rolled his eyes! Another thing he is good at!

But, we brought Jomo home with us. Today we are going out to the Air Force Base for an air show. Grandpa has only been to one other, and as far as I can recall, the same is true for me. And mine was not a military show. Should be quite interesting.

I have been planting like crazy. The front yard dons pansies and marigolds in pots as well as the in-ground things of previous years. The daisies are still blooming happily and the roses are all budding in spite of my late pruning. My garden in the back is now sporting well-established tomatoes, a hearty and healthy-looking strawberry plant with green berries on it, a beginning summer squash plant, two seedlings of zucchini, two or three sprouts of peas, some teeny blades of lettuce and cucumbers, and a I think, possibly, a carrot sprout. I am still planting okra and some more berries this weekend. I finally got some big pots. Our ground garden area is very over-grown with weeds and in spite of our treatments and pulling efforts, they remain the victor. Thus, we have resulted to our raised box garden and large pots. This worked well last year also. The squash, cucmbers, and beans (oh, yes, those are sprouting too!) can climb up trellises attached to the side of the box, which is quite large...about 12 ft. by 8 ft or so. I can also put a trellis or a teepee type of support around the large pots as well. I may also send the strawberries up a wire.

Enough about my garden. I am going to a yard sale at my neighbor's house and then get ready for the air show. The pictures are of random crafts or events...just to show off my family and life! And I forgot to mention that Jomo went with us to Pioneeer Village, (another outing but not for homeschool, since he attend public school!) We went on Valentine's day, which happens to be the Statehood Day of Arizona, so we had a lot of characters and history...it was a great time! Ah, such vanity...

We've Been Everywhere!

Well, maybe not everywhere, but we have been touring the city a lot since I have blogged about anything significant. Part of the reason for the lack of blogging is that my computer had decided to take on some male characterisitics...like...having to be asked numerous times to boot up. Having to turn it off and on over and over to get its attention...having it pull up whatever it decided no matter what it was asked to do...failing to take "charge" when it was fully plugged in...etc...

Another reason for the decline of writing is that in spite of allergy injections and lots of meds, I have been struggling with extreme allergy reactions. I saw a NP who just loaded me with more meds...it is all I can do to focus on one task at a time. I am still debating as to which is worse..the allergies or the treatments.

In the meantime, on days when all such things were under control, we have been out exploring. Some of these occurred before my last blog and some after...but all within this year.

We went fishing with Uncle Matt. We all got up before dawn (quite an achievement for my boys) and greeted the fish. They were not very hungry that day, however, and it turned into more of a casting and reeling event. Jomo went also, and that in itself was quite a treat. We had a lot of fun.

Then we went to the Phoenix zoo and saw elephants, tigers, and bears...no..the bear was hybernating! Handomse rode a camel, though. Again,we had a blast!

The most recent trip was to the Arizona Science Center. I had not been there in quite a while and they had all kinds of exhibits I had not seen. They are very kid friendly and had lots of hand-on things to explore. And then we got to visit with some Phoenix Police officers on horseback in the historical area of downtown.

We are studying about gardens. Worms. Dirt. Plants. Today we shall transplant our bean and squash seedlings we nurtured into the big potted garden. Later we may add worms and possibly some ladybugs to the scene. Handsome loves squash and Baby Girl is the Queen of Beans, so that is part of why we selected those veggies. WE had a "mud day" to celebrate what we learned about dirt and soil and mud.

As you can see, my life is not uninteresting. It is challenging however. Trying to teach a first-grader, four-year-old preschooler, and a potty-training toddler at the same time lacks no amount of challenge!

Well, speaking of such, all three are up and at it...watching educational TV, but it is time for "regular" school!

I Must've Done Something Right!

Okay, I believe. There just HAS to be a fairy or angel of some sort with some angel dust of some kind...no, not drugs...real angels...that has or have transformed my grandsons into some wonderful little persons.

Now, don't get me wrong...they have always been wonderful...they're MY flesh and blood...but they have not always been good listeners nor "perfect" little angels. There have been days when I wondered why in the world I took on this challenge. Why did I leave my job with ADULTS and professionals to spend days changing diapers, chasing children, cleaning up messes, etc. WHY???

BUT, I must have done something right, to have my daughter ask me to care for her children, even rear them, so to speak. It IS an honor to be able to guide my grandchildren, to teach them and nurture them. It truly is. I cannot honestly say, though, that I have always thought I was the right person for the job...

And then the angel of mercy appeared...somewhere between last Monday and Tuesday...sometime where no one saw the magic...and what different boys I have! And just in time, because Baby Girl is almost fully-blown in the terrible twos!

We have a sticker chart to earn each day. Never before have the boys accomplished more than three days in a given week of earning all their stickers, yet they have soared to FOUR days this last week...

The angel may have partly been in the form of my sister who gave me great advice regarding homeschooling and attention/focus/distraction problems. It really works! She was a teacher for many years and a special ed teacher and resource specialist as well. Probably knows what she is talking about!

But, I think I must have done something right...in taking her advice...in raising (rearing) my own daughter...in loving my grandchildren...and in believing...

in the magic of love and respect, in God, in education, that all children can learn well, and perhaps, in that angel of mercy who flew in one day...and...

given the grace and space to be "children" and more emphatically "boys", made them truly "perfect".