Warning: Levels Dangerously Low

I found this over at "Rocks in my Dryer" - in her FAQ's section. I've been popping in and out of her blog to check it out. There's a lot of content in her dryer - so you can't just sit down and read everything at once. Or at least I can't.

What advice do you have for a beginning blogger?
Keep your posts as short as possible, use paragraph indentations OFTEN, keep posts to one general topic, and don't whine. Leave comments generously at other sites, don't live by your stat counter, and for Heaven's sake don't take yourself too seriously.

After I read that I got to thinking about my own postings.
They are not always short. I'm not sure I should apologize or not.

I do, however, like hitting enter twice. There's something that makes me happy when I do that. It might be because I've managed to complete a thought. Or complete it as much as I can. Sometimes I think ***ooo I could have said one more thing*** and then I decide editing isn't worth it.

"Don't Whine" she says. This is the hardest one for me but also the easiest - as I'm easily amused and really, not being braggy, but I have oodles of God-given Joy. What happens, often times, though, is that I start off wanting to whine - and then as I type, My whine changes into something un-whine like. And I either start to see the humor in the situation or start to realize it's not as bad as it could be. And I'll go back and re-word something - until it's not whining.

It's actually fun to see my own words morph into a thought other than what I started out thinking.

I've not had a happy couple of days. And I haven't exactly figured out why. At least until a bit ago. We've done lots of school work. And I've done some house work. The sunflowers are sprouting. We had rain. We got to ride bikes today. Yet during all of it - there was an undercurrent of crankiness in me that I couldn't quite seem to get rid of.

I think it was because I was trying too hard to blog along with other things. It's hard to blog when you're doing lots of school work. So I was focused more on me than usual.

And then today I realized what my major problem has been. I bought a new Clint Brown CD. New to me, I suppose. And listened to it on the way home from the store. I danced (as well as I could while driving) to a song called "Crazy Praise". I began to feel my old joy. (like an old friend) and realized with shock - that my Praise level was way down.

Which is funny, because if I"m nothing else - I'm a worshipper. First and foremost that's my heart. (Again, not braggy - just the way it is) So it was funny to realize that the thing I've missed most this week - was Worship! How silly of me. It should have been the first thing I thought of.

I'm sure this could preach. I'm not sure exactly how - I just know it could.

I had to laugh at myself - because I knew a level of some sort was low. Kind of like a car. Something was low. I thought maybe my "mommy juice" was low. I know it's not the windshield wiper fluid. That words really well. What was low was my Worship Level.

Tommy Tenney has a great book on the subject called "God's Eye View" - and I had reached a place in my heart where I was looking at things around me: No time to myself, a tyrannical two-year old, bickering siblings, school work, etc, and forgetting to look up! To the one who gives me time, wisdom and talent.

So I feel silly - but ..
Victory is mine because now I worship!!

I wish I knew how to load up music on this blog-o-mine.
- so we could all listen to Crazy Praise together.

But if your levels are low - maybe you'd feel like joining me in a little Praise and Worship?

A Gem in our Day

I'd be the first to tell you that A Beka curriculum is a workbook curriculum. I don't think it's the workbook of all workbooks because I haven't seen them all. I like ABeka because it's colorful. It's all laid out - and, well, It works for us. (We're using it for Phonics, math and writing) (though, we're gradually heading into copy work)

So when we have a gem that makes us laugh - we just soak it in.

Is it possible to soak in a gem?

I probably need a better comparison.

Since this made Mini-Me laugh - I deem it worthy of sharing.

From the ABeka "Handbook for Reading"

A title-less poem about water.

(partially written by John R. Crossland)

Water has no taste at all;

Water has no smell;

Water's in the waterfall,

In pump, and tap, and well.

I like it when I'm thirsty

I like it when I'm hot.

I like it when I'm dirty

(And even when I'm not).

I like the feel of water

Tickling my toes.

But I do not like water

When it gets in my nose!

My Father's Dragon

We got our first box yesterday from the result of my book-ordering marathon last week. This was all reading books that seemed like a good idea. And among them were "My Father's Dragon". Mini-Me looked through the few reading books. She almost chose "The Borrowers" (a favorite of mine) but instead chose, My Father's Dragon. She has not put it down. I'll post pictures in a bit.

"Lions are especially fond of chewing gum."

She came to me, at one point, and asked, "ARE Tigers especially fond of chewing gum?" and I, having never read the book, read the passage she referred to. After all, I had no idea if they were fond of chewing gum or not.

I grinned and told her that Tigers, in real life, don't really like to eat gum - but she should keep reading - it gets better.

"As fond as we are of chewing gum, we're sure we'd like you even better!"

She has giggled and laughed...and said "This book is full of things that are not true" -

".... If you keep on chewing it long enough it will turn green, and then if you plant it, it will grow more chewing gum..."

But it's a fun story, I remind her. And she grins and goes back to reading. She's currently in her closet reading. (She can avoid disturbing brothers in her closet.)

She's reading and I'm loving this.

I'm raising a biblio-holic!!

Yesterday was quite amusing. Mini-Me had a picture appointment - and it took us 2 hours. It was not the fault of the photographer - but of the manager and I just don't know how to complain adequately. Considering this studio has a district manager that's a turkey.

So our morning was gone.

And then our afternoon was gone. Partly because I chose to do nothing and sit there... (Thanks Quirky Quote Contest!) ... for just a wee bit that turned into longer than just a "wee". And we had challenges only little kids can bring.

We tried to do some schoolwork once the professor came home and we ate dinner.

At one point, the professor was playing with J-man to entertain him out of our way, Mini-E snuck in and discovered the cat box. ICK!! It looks like a sand box, I know. It looks like fun, I know. And it's only fun for her. It gives the Professor the heebie jeebies and just creates more work for a grown up. Cleaning her - and cleaning the floor.

It was an interesting glimpse The Professor had into our school and the little-kid challenges we face. And one day, I'll figure out how to handle these challenges myself. Probably in time for them to change. Because that's how it is in the Laundry pile, you know, everything cycles through.

I just told myself a funny.

"Everything cycles through" - so I guess my question is "bleach, or no bleach?" - "Fabric softener or not?"

Fabric softener! Definitely! Unscented, though. Scented makes the Professor sneeze.

Homeschooling decisions and sunflowers

We had a very busy weekend. It started on Friday, as all good weekends will do.

I had been lamenting to Thoughfulmom about some decisions I needed to make in my schooling. Mini-Me wants to learn more than just the basics - and I needed to figure out a way to teach her.

We had been trying KONOS - and while it's a great program - it wasn't working for us. Part of it was the fact that I never had the time (or maybe the fore-thought?) to plan very far ahead and get all the supplies we'd need. I had all the books etc...from the Library - but then something would happen.

Like this last time we were going to do seasons/calendars, etc. And ended up with ear infections in the wee ones. I just couldn't make it work. Every time I looked at a lesson plan, I saw confusion. Which I know doesn't come from God as He's the author of order. So I began to look for another good thing for us.

So Thoughtful (ever the researcher) hooked me up with My Father's World. She knew the reason we liked Konos was the hands on aspect - but we weren't like that Baby Season and Konos weren't meshing well.

I'm proud to announce that we're going to do Adventures in My Father's World.
*L*I'm a KONOS dropout. It's so much fun to have a plan in action!! I'm not sorry we tried it because I still like the thought of all that it entails. We're keeping the volumes that I have - but we're moving on to something else. So if you found my blog because of the Konos loop..sorry.

I did decide that we're going to stick with ABeka Book for phonics, math and writing for G.
Mini-Me is going into 3rd Grade. She will still be doing ABeka math but their natural progression is to drop the intense phonics workout and pick up grammar instead.

She's thrilled, by the way, to hear that I've ordered her 3rd grade books. She was quite concerned that she might be stuck in 2nd grade forever. (I found out today that my books from ABeka weighed 28lbs!!)

On Friday, I ordered all our curriculum for the next year.

The other decision made was that I'll be implementing a summer school. The kids will be thrilled, I hope, but because of that I'm trying my best to finish the '06/'07 school year finished by the end of May. Today was not successful - as I'm sure, you've heard. Tomorrow will be better. G said tonight, "Mom, are we going to do LOTS of schoolwork tomorrow? I like doing lots of schoolwork."

On Saturday the big kids and I went to the Eye doctor for check ups. Mini-me gleefully reported to her dad that she "passed her test". Which tickled us both - as it was a check up and not a test.

G doesn't need glasses yet - but he's a bit near sighted. If he'd been in public school that little bit of a prescription would have caused him to need glasses. Another plus for Homeschooling. No glasses necessary.

We went to buy a wedding gift for a couple at church and then came home and had lunch.

Then the work began. We have this flower bed on the west side of the house. I'm still not sure why it's there, except they didn't put the sidewalk close to the house. It's had nothing but grass in it since the few boxwood shrubs died out. (I don't like box woods, by the way) So we worked on digging out the grass - and stirring up the soil and mixing it with peat soil - and then we planted Sunflowers. It's a very sunny place. So we planted 3 kids of sunflowers. I'm hoping the kids will be able to watch them grow and enjoy God's creation.

Remember, we planted the sunflowers Saturday. Sunday morning, mini-me says "Can I go out and see what the sunflowers look like?" "Sure" says I, "they'll look like mud."
She would not be deterred though - she wanted to see them for herself. She was thrilled to have the chance to water them today.

And *drats* I forgot to take pictures of the whole thing. I could kick myself.

The other major decision we've made is to hunt down speech therapy for Jman. He's almost 3 -- April 5th is his b-day -- and he's not able to complete a whole sentence. And can't say many sounds. I know he hears us - and I know that he wants to communicate because he cries and hits when we don't understand. But for some reason - he just can't get his tongue to work out the words.

So I spent a lot of time on the phone today calling and trying to find a speech therapist. I was going from the book provided by our insurance - and the first two I called, I had no answer and got weird answering machines. The third one I called bothered me because she was telling me I had to do something that my insurance told me I didn't need to do (get a referral). The fourth one has a very friendly lady in the office and is a go-getter. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to get my J-man to talking either.

Mini-E might just talk first.

So we've got an appointment the first week in April.
Gosh - is that next week?
It sounds so far away!!

Where in the world did March go??
Did I loose it in the laundry pile?
Do you have it?

Bloggity Brain Waves

I was thinking today about all that I wanted to blog - which will, in all probability, lead to more than one posting in a day. (A "When it rains it pours" kind of thing.)

I think I need a notebook to have lying around - so when I get a bloggy idea I could just write it down. Oh - wait. I have one of those.


I call it a journal.
I crack me up.

I have had one of those days - where little foxes have been stealing my grapes.
It's getting quite annoying, too. And it started first thing and hasn't gotten any better as the day has progressed.

It started out with Mini-E biting The Professor on the shoulder when he was hugging her.

Then it didn't rain, like it was supposed to, so we had to water our new sunflower seeds. (That's what we did this weekend, should you want to know)

Then we had Mini-E meltdown and breakfast. or was it the other way around? A run to the pharmacy.

Mini-Me went out and to check the mail and found ants instead. Ick. Ants do not need to be reading my mail. They just don't. So Antspray and I went out to see what was up. The ants had made a home in the grass around the base of the mailbox post. Then they outgrew that and climbed up to the place wood crossed. And they out grew that - and started taking over the mail box. Ick. So Antspray doused them really well. Oddly, I felt no mercy. Mini-Me watched and tried to keep everyone back. Then she said, "I think you need to wipe out the mailbox so that the mail-lady doesn't get poisoned."

That's logical - even if it is wrong. I did wipe out the mail box - but mostly to keep the ants off my mail. Well, because, too, the thought of me sticking my hand in there and coming out with slimed ants just kind of creeped me out.

By lunch time, we'd only talked about school work. I felt like the parable of the foxes and the grapes. I felt there were tiny foxes stealing my grapes of productivity. Which would explain my Swiper picture...If I had only thought to say "Swiper no swiping, Swiper, no Swiping! Swiper, no swiping!" Aw, man... hindsight and all that.

We did manage to have the babies take naps. And we managed to do Math & Phonics. The Lord says it's time to shift and change - but I'm not exactly sure what it is that's supposed to shift and change. I'm praying and asking because I know He'll answer those who are desperate for Him. And I'm desperate.

I want this to work out for the good of my kids and for me - and for God's glory. I have a feeling that the shifting and changing is going to be in my heart. I'm so glad that God loves me - because I have a feeling this could be painful.

I'll blog about the other fox that was doing some stealing in a bit.