I have survived lots of firsts!

I survived in the last three months:

• homeschooling our first term, our 4 really inquisitive, motivated, spirited, (sometimes whiney) children
• a half marathon
• an election
• gas at $4.24 a gallon (ok, that was in August, but I still survived!)
• 24 hours of Foster Parenting classes
• lay offs
• bailouts
• paycuts
• no 24 (Jack Bauer) since before the writer's strike
• missing family
• my oldest turning 12
• Just So Stories...again...
• a women's Bible study after MANY years (though I did sweat a little)
• my own mental lists

See, so I have been busy;) And I have lots to share!

Blog the Vote

For some encouraging reads for you to get to the polls check out Chasing Ray-Blog the Vote! Many great posts here! The kids want to go with us, so we will be voting in the afternoon, probably in a humungously long line, but Shaye is hoping to run into Palin;)

Things I am thinking about...

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

• Try some how to get outside the "I AM WHO I AM" part...I dare you...
• We are now the people of Israel, spiritually speaking...
• We are sent. (PERIOD)
• There are lost out there.
• Everywhere.

Humility, conviction, love, gratefulness, encouragement, hope, hope, hope, small, yet big, confident, then back to humility, conviction, love...it encompasses it all.

Be Informed!

My friend Mish posted some history bullets of our financial crisis. The sources are cited at the bottom, so please, look them up for yourself to see. I am just sick of hearing that Bush, for the last 8 years, led us into THIS financial crisis. PLEASE! (insert sarcastic tone! or better yet, insert it BEFORE the please) We all are smart enough to know that this started WAY before...and don't get me wrong; there are MANY things that Bush has decided that I don't really appreciate. But, I don't believe the Bush hating hype. I am smarter than that! I am just really tired of spin and hype and media bias and our political process.

Update: For all those skeptics out there, please visit Doctor Bulldog and Ronin. He is an independant and apparently the history bullets started as a Power Point Presentation and was emailed out. His post has cute little pictures to go with it. ;) But even more interesting, are the comments. Please scroll down and read them ALL! The author of the above blog responded to everyone. Express your thoughts;)

I did it!!

I am so excited to have been pushed to where I never thought I would go!! My friend Kelly asked me to power walk a half marathon with her, and we had such a great experience. She is such an inspiration to me for just wanting to do it. I always use the excuse that I was a sprinter and NEVER really wanted to do distance. But, training for this once she asked me, really focused me and my workouts.

Everything was going ok, until Henry asked me to do hills with him ten days ago. It would have been fine if my achilles wasn't already in a tendinitus state, and if I wasn't two weeks out of a 1/2 marathon (and if I could just say NO...). But it was, and I didn't...I am so weak to a challenge;)

So today we arrived at the Lansing Center at 7am and went to pick up our stuff;) It was so fun just being around athletes who had trained for something like this. I cannot explain it. Total adrenalin rush;)

We took care of blister hot spots and stretches! I so relied on Kelly for details, she brought everything we needed and researched it all. It was so frustrating to me to not be on top of my training and researching all the details. All the things I used to take for granted of just knowing, because it was a job (that I LOVED). Its been so long, and I was so trusting Kel to just know the details;) We have been taking foster parenting classes and just our school schedule has been llllooooonnnngggg! I just haven't been able to focus on it like I have wanted. Thank GOD for her, she just led me to the line!

I took some cool pictures on the line (well, actually, we were quite far from the *line*;)) But it was a beautiful morning and great weather. NO humidity and it was cloudy, so not real hot.

We look so cute *before* the run starts;)

The course was so beautiful. We ran downtown at first, then to MSU, through parks, trails, neighborhoods. Now trying to think about it, we were so concerned on how we felt through the run, that I almost would need to do the course again to take it all in. My first impressions, are that it was a beautiful course, lots of shade, lots of woods, lots of water (mostly by the Grand River), but the details are lost on me. What I remember is, mile 1, our anterior tibialis' (shin muscles) were SORE and it took almost a mile for them to loosen for both of us. I think because it was a slight incline for the first 1/2 mile (at least) and we were so motivated, we started pretty quickly. We walked on Michigan Ave for most of that, and it smelled of exhaust. I hate that smell when I am working out. We turned onto Michigan State University and came out by the Breslin Center, that is where I was confused on how I got there;) You end up being so concerned on how you are performing, and then start to recognize where you really are;) Strange experience. I look at the Google maps running map, and don't even recoginize most of it! Is that normal? So weird! Makes me want to do parts of it again;) THATS probably weird! Ha! I have NO idea why I look like that...I think I was anxious about stopping to take pics, but still that is NO excuse!

Here is Kelly at our half way mark. This is when most people are finishing I am sure, or are at least close. But, we were so EXCITED to be ahead of schedule. We kept each other going and trying to take it all in;)

We came out of some woods and started walking along a lake I had taken the kids swimming at. All of a sudden, Kelly sees my family!!!

Steve had decided to take the kids and cheer us on along the run. It was SO fun to see him and the kids!!! Such and encouragement;)

The kids and Steve met us in another area of the race in a neighborhood! I asked Seth, did you have this planned?!? He said "NO! We had a map!" It was so fun to see where they would turn up.

We kept talking to each other about how we felt, so as to know how to encourage each other, and keep tabs. About mile 10-11, the muscles trials started. But once I reached the Lansing Center again, I was so pumped about finishing (about 1 1/2 miles out) and knew we were close. I felt so strong, it was CRAZY!! But it did show me, that it IS possible to train for something like this. We trained to walk it, but yet, we ran many parts of it. Imagine if we trained to RUN it;) It was great to talk and have the same goal as Kelly, to do our BEST! I am proud of us!!

Thats MY church!!

I got forwarded this blog post about our church this week and immediately was so thankful (or MORE thankful) of where God has us! Thats MY church I wanted to tell whoever was near me (except most of those people around me at the time, go there too;).

Steve and I love our church! We love the vision our Pastor has, and we love to serve our church and be under his leadership. God has already used him in so many ways in my life personally, our family, and my extended family. Its nice to read others articulate what Steve and I have felt for MONTHS!! Just felt proud, and thankful, and blessed and wanted to share!

One of the times my father was here visiting, I remember him sharing with my Pastor's wife that it wouldn't surprise him if God used our church as a proto-type for the area! It wouldn't surprise me either!!

Chris Tomlin is Stalking Us

Ok, not really, but on Thursday mornings, we have worship as a family to a CD. Chris Tomlin's new CD is the new family favorite! (Which really needed to happen because my kids were starting to dread Jeremy Riddle...) I printed out words to Sing, Sing, Sing and Exalted and we had worship to those. Well, we started praying afterwards with the CD still playing, and the last song on the CD is our HYMN we are studying Fanny Crosby's All the Way my Savior Leads Me started playing. I stopped praying and we all looked at each other in amazment, we had no idea that it was on this CD! Is God trying to say something to us? hehe If I was a true Charismatic I would think it was a confirmation to something;) Nik bursts out, "Chris Tomlin is stalking us!" Yeah, I am sure that is it!

We went ahead and finished praying and then sang his version. The kids were pretty proud they knew most of the words. God's moving in our worship time;);)

There is a line drawn in the sand

Milehimama designed this poster about the infanticide/born alive issues that Obama seems to have! Well done!

There are many issues that are preference when it comes to politics...this is not one of them, and when we thought that the abortion issue couldn't get any more horrific, it does! It doesn't surprise me, but it does grieve me. And its not just Obama, hardly. But where is his line? Where do Christians draw the line? When will enough be enough? How much more women's choice can we take? We at least need to be moving in a direction of LIFE! And besides all that, Palin is BAD A! :)

Composer, Artist, Hymn, Shakespeare Monday

We discussed the Last Supper today. The kids were pretty fascinated by it. One of the resources we used said that the pictures that we hold in our hand is probably in better condition than what is left on the Refectory wall now in Milan. I also found this link for detailed discussion. We will spend more time on that next I am hoping. Breaks down the painting piece by piece to understand it. Nice that they built a door way right through the bottom of the painting!

We re-started As You Like It by Shakespeare. We are using the Lamb version of the tales until the kids get older. Nik could actually probably handle reading the actual plays right now, but the point right now is MY sanity, so we are sticking with Lamb for a bit more. I was reminded last night on one of my lists to not keep stopping and rephrasing everything for the kids understanding. For one, this makes the readings LONG and tedious! But, yet, I was still doing it. Here is what Charlotte Mason says about that:

Volume 1, pg 232
The points to be borne in mind are, that he should have no book which is not
a child's classic; and that, given the right book, it must not be diluted with
talk or broken up with questions, but given to the boy in fit proportions as
wholesome meat for his mind, in the full trust that a child's mind is able to
deal with its proper food.

Before the reading for the day begins, the teacher should talk a little(and
get the children to talk) about the last lesson, with a few words about what is
to be read, in order that the children may be animated by expectation; but she
should beware of explanation and, especially, of forestalling the narrative.
Then, she may read two or three pages, enough to include an episode; after that,
let her call upon the children to narrate,--in turns, if there be several of
them. They not only narrate with spirit and accuracy, but succeed in catching the
style of their author. It is not wise to tease them with corrections; they may
begin with an endless chain of 'ands,' but they soon leave this off, and their
narrations become good enough in style and composition to be put in a 'print
book'!
This sort of narration lesson should not occupy more than a quarter of
an hour. The book should always be deeply interesting, and when the
narration is over, there should be a little talk in which moral points are
brought out, pictures shown to illustrate the lesson, or diagrams drawn on
the blackboard.

Isn't she so smart? So, I put it to the test, (I have been timid to try it with dealing with 3 different ages, but I do KNOW better!). I read 10 minutes of As You Like It, and asked for a narration from anyone who could give it to me. Seth went first and gave really good details (of the wrestling match of course;) of the story line. Nik filled in most of the gaps. Lesson accomplished in a mere 15-20 minutes! If only I would always just follow the method... The first time I read it, I got 2 pages and stopped and explained every strange word and innuendo, its just unnecessary! And they would really hate Shakespeare when I was done with them;)

Bach we watched 2 more episodes on YouTube of The Great Composer~Bach series. They are interested. I just need to somehow get us listening to classical music during the day. I think that would help them.

I still have half a day to do with them, but its close to 2pm, guess we will get in the major stuff!;) It is getting smoother for sure!

An Education *funny*

Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950’s:

Teaching Math In 1950’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?

Teaching Math In 1960’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100 His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990’s: A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.
He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it’s ok. )

Teaching Math In 2008: Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

Things I am thinking about...

Grace, Grace, Grace

Because we have entered through the veil, which is his torn flesh, we can go boldly to the throne of Grace. People think that is arrogance, they don't realize that arrogance is presuming you have really done enough.

Ken Jones

But have the godly no sense of law-wrath? yea, so far as they are under the law, for the are never wholly free from a legal temper while here. The dead ghost of the law may rise up and frighten them. But so far as they are dead to the law, it is not law-wrath but fatherly judgement that affects them. Indeed, through unbelief they may fear hell, but they cannot do so by faith, seeing there is no foundation for that fear, since there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. It is not easy to get the law killed, something of the legal disposition remains even in the believer while he is still in the world.

Ralph Erskin from a sermon titled: Law-Death, Gospel-Life

Composer, Artist and Hymn Study

On Mondays, I try to combine as many things as I can and teach them as a *class*. This works really well with the Composer, Artist and Hymn of the term (I also combine Handbook of Nature Studies, Shakespeare & Folksongs, but so far I am not as creative with those three, ha!, but we still do those on Mondays also). This school year, with all the crunches most of us are going through, I basically do not have a school budget. So for these three I use itunes and YouTube alot. I just wanted to share some of the links that I have been using.

Johann Sabastian Bach
For Bach, the first four weeks we are focusing on the Magnificat. I am finding it so fun to have to teach the kids something that, on a regular basis, I would not take the time to study or listen to on my own. (this is all about my education, right?) Anyway, I found lots of great links and info!
The Magnificat was written for an Orchestra and (I believe) 5 vocalists. So the first week we talked a lot about what an Orchestra is and what instruments make it up. I got to show the kids the different instruments and listen to them. I think they appreciated the music after they got to hear all the different types that go into it. I found this on YouTube:



Then I found this breakdown of the Latin of the Magnificat for them. Of course you could just look it up in the book of Luke;) Then a short bio with LOTS of MIDI files are here. A longer bio is of course on Wikepedia;) Also, since this wasn't enough (ha!) I searched Bach's full name in YouTube and found a Great Composer Series from BBC! We spent a slight bit of time around the computer screen on Monday morning.


Leonardo Da Vinci
Ok, then for Mr. Da Vinci...we have been studying him for LITERALLY a year! UGH! He was the Artist for the first term of September 2007! I was so good and got the prints off to Office Max and got copies for all the kids, laminated, etc. But, well, then our house got literally turned upside downside;) (Ok, just the back of the house got ripped off, but still.) So, since I had the prints and the books, I kept on with him. So beside the prints, we are using a couple books that guide us through some of the portraits. One is Leonardo Da Vinci by Ernest Raboff and the other is Leonardo Da Vinci (haha) by Bruno Santi. I did find some websites also. One is from the Louvre that takes a close up view the Mona Lisa. And then Nik is reading this Landmark book by Emily Hahne.

All the Way my Savior Leads Me, by Fanny Crosby

This is our hymn to study for the next twelve weeks. It is a beautiful hymn, but learning more about Fanny Crosby has really impacted my kids. She went blind at 6 weeks from a mere eye infection, and a *doctor* gave her a wrong remedy and ruined her eye sight. She wrote this poem when she was 8:

Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

And she is quoted as saying:

It seemed in­tend­ed by the bless­ed prov­i­dence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dis­pen­sa­tion. If per­fect earth­ly sight were of­fered me to­mor­row I would not ac­cept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been dis­tract­ed by the beau­ti­ful and in­ter­est­ing things about me.

And then good ol' youtube helped me out again;) A pastor used her as a sermon illustration. The kids had heard most of it, but I think it was like they were getting to watch TV during school, so I let them see it. The only thing that was questionable, was how he presented her getting saved...but beside that it was good information, and it brought up good conversation starters. (Not that my kids really need any of those;))

She definitely led an extraordinary life, writing over 8000 hymns and poems! Her concepts and dependence on her Lord is quite inspiring.

Its that time...

The school bell is almost ringing around here! Oh, wait, that was the coffee pot;)

If you have read this blog for any amount of time at all (all five of you;) you know that I am ready for a *normal* year! Well, I have MUCH to communicate, but first, step into this ADD mind of mine and see how our schedule came together.

First, it started with fear and trepidation at homeschooling a middle schooler, a 3rd grader and a 1st grader who thinks she is a middle schooler...

Then, I needed to figure out HOW in the world I was going to do it. I use the BEST curriculum guide in the world, with the BEST philosophy (IMHO of course;). But there is that applying thing that gets the best of us stuck at times! Plus, three kids, with three different book lists, one three year old, four days a week equals crying out to God (and of course a glass of wine...).

Here is what I did:

wrote everyone's initial and subject needed to be covered in the next 12 weeks on a piece of paper and threw it on the floor:

this is just a portion

I am not good at processing AND making a chart on the computer at the same time, and I needed to see the whole week at once.

Then I put the lessons times along one side of the room and started to fill in the gaps.

On Monday mornings, I decided to do everything we can together, which isn't too much, but every little minute I can squeeze out of the week helps. Together we are going to do our quartly Composer Study, Artist Study, Shakespeare, Hymn Study, Folksongs, scripture reading, and handwriting.

I worked on one day at a time, and I think I have it all figured out. At least it looks really good on paper!

Here is what my paper squares week looks like after rearranging a couple times. We only school 4 days a week and each column under each day is one of the kids schedules. Nik was a little overwhelmed at the amount of his squares.

The final schedules are here...they even each got their own font;) So, it fits on paper (even with some of the books they didn't finish up last year), we will see if it works in real life!! I will keep you posted!

Still not home yet...

I am still not calling this home yet, so if you have found yourself here...and wondering why its so empty;) I am still at Dolce Domum over at homeschoolblogger for a bit longer. I am a slow HTML learner...and a perfectionist;)

May. 16, 2008
Happy Birthday, (Steve A. Steitz) Babe!
Things that I LOVE about my man!
1. He is teachable.
2. He loves his Creator.
3. He loves his family.
4. He takes his job as a provider seriously.
5. He is punctual.
6. He is a handyman.
7. He is clean (but still a messy...ahem...sorry).
8. He is thoughtful.
9. He likes to wrestle with his kids.
10. He does my errands for me.
11. He picks up the household slack without being asked to.
12. He is courageous.
13. He takes Sunday mornings very seriously.
14. He has GREAT boundaries.
15. He looks good in a suit.
16. Ok, he kinda looks good bald .
17. He is taking up breadmaking.
18. Better yet, he is taking up YOGA!
19. He is a good researcher.
20. He has an awesome work ethic.
21. He cannot be manipulated (I like this now...).
22. He has TONS of common sense.
23. He is a beer snob.
24. He has a soft heart.
25. He supports me and my endeavors.
26. He values character.
27. He is pretty funny.
28. He SEEKS God.
29. He automatically sees us as a team.
30. He is God's gift to ME.
31. God is starting to renew his missions desire, and Steve is letting him!!
32. He is loyal.
33. He is interested in the character of his children.
34. He is good at doing favors.
35. He loves to serve his church.
36. He is not intimidated easily.
37. He knows when to draw the line in the sand.
38. He doesn't let me mow the lawn .
39. He started cleaning bathrooms when I was pregnant and hasn't stopped!
40. He is good at making our huge bed.
41. He is good at pushing people to do better.
42. He tricked me into thinking he was layed back before we were married (only knew him for six months...)
43. He respects my need to sometimes be alone.
44. He's got good (ahem...expensive) taste in clothing.
45. He brushes his teeth for the FULL two recommended minutes at least three times a day.
46. He is a rule keeper.
47. He is a good neighbor.
48. He is really good at poneytails.
49. He was good at taking care of his Grandma.
50. His gift is serving.
51. He washed my kitchen and dining room floors the day before his birthday.
52. He is open to adoption.
53. He likes to laugh.
54. He loves to worship.
55. He likes politics.
56. He wants the best for our family.
57. He loves to do what is RIGHT.
58. He is so much like my mom personality wise, that sometimes we joke that I married my mother;)
59. He is *man* enough to let me decorate our room as flowery as I would like it.
60. He is starting to eat vegetables!
61. Did I mention that he bakes bread for our family?!?
62. He has prayed about our relationship from the VERY beginning.
63. He secretly wants to be Amish.
64. He took a huge risk in starting his own business.
65. He is black and white.
66. He bought a wheatgrass puree-er and knows (because he researched it) the benefits of it.
67. All kids love him as their soccer coach.
68. He loves ME!

Test

Testing

Week in Review

From Palm Sunday to Easter was one packed week for us! My little brother was here visiting, and he kept getting extended (which was of course fine with us!!)because of flying standby and Spring Break. I love sharing our life here with our family back home. Monday was St. Patricks day and my daddy's birthday! I also got to experience my first Maundy Thursday service as an Anglican. SO powerful!! We did our Spring Celebration this week also, to free up Resurrection Sunday for the resurrection! The Easter Bunny came Friday morning, so that morning we decorated eggs, found baskets, ate chocolate, etc. Then by noonish on Good Friday we were trying to bring it in a little for some contemplation on the cross. Full gamut of emotions on Friday;) It just all happened in the same week, so I don't know how separated it seemed to the kiddos. Good Friday ended up so good. We took our time throughout the day to do the Stations of the Cross, have some quiet time, make our playdough tombs, and barely make it to our Service that night because of a snow storm. But even that service was worth the struggle to get there. God met me in ways I haven't experienced in a LONG time!
The next couple weeks are going to seem anti-climatic in comparison. Of course Easter Sunday was wonderful. We made Resurrection Cookies on Saturday night, pulled out our Alleluia banner on Sunday after church. We worshipped the resurrected Christ on Sunday.
After listing it all, it sounds like a crazy busy week, but it really didn't feel like it. God's grace I think;) I took my time with the kids at the end of the week to get across what I thought was worth their attention.
Here are our pictures, what would be a post from me without them?
The kids watching Father Jack anoint the Palms with Holy Water.
Our awesome Pastor's wife Amy doing the children's sermon~the kids love this time!
Green Pancakes for St. Paddy's Day that Allie wanted to make for Bekop's birthday!
My little helper!
Our green pancakes with bacon...not so good;)
Uncle Mike and Shaye enjoying the green;)
Stinkin' cute Shaye
Made Corned Beef and Cabbage with Guiness for the first time without my mom;)
Me and my baby brother Mikey;)
The stripped altar on Maundy Thursday!
Celebrating
Spring!
Niky's egg creatures;)
Watching daddy be creative;)
Making our clay tombs.
Rolling our saved change to give to Rwandan Blessing.
Making our resurrection cookies.
Sealing the tomb!
Christ has Risen! He has risen indeed!
Happy Resurrection Day!