We have been planning for the last few months with some friends of ours to surprise all our kids with a trip to Disneyland the day after Thanksgiving. To cut down on cost we took our 15 passenger van and drove together. The original plan was to leave late in the evening the day after Thanksgiving and let the kids sleep on the 16 hours it would take to get there. But as we got closer to the date we decided to leave at 5 in the morning so we could make it over the Siskiyou Mountain range during the day. That changed our "SUPRISE" plan too. We ended up giving them their Mickey shirts at 5 in the morning and only 1 out of the 8 kids go it....to early for them to comprehend or believe us :-) But about an hour later they all got it and were super surprised and excited. 17 hours of driving and one hotel stay later we arrived at Disneyland.
We had such a great time at Disneyland with great friends and our children. And during the week we learned all sorts of stuff so I thought I'd take some time to share. Maybe this can help you in your plans if your going.
We took our 5 children ages 13, 11, 9, 4 and 2. We were very excited because we were celebrating our 15th year anniversary, 2 birthday's, and 2 first time visit to the park. So the first thing we did was go to City Hall just inside the gates of the Park to get our buttons. They are free! and they make you stand out. Have you ever had strangers wish you "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary" it's pretty cool. Our kids were so excited as so many people wished them happy birthday.
One of the biggest lessons we learned was that 2 years old is really a tough age to take. Not because of the terrible two's but because the line between reality and fiction is not there yet. We discovered that our 2 year old was not able to distinguish between the fact that the evil characters were not real, that the bad guys weren't real. She adored meeting all the characters but we couldn't take her on very many rides due to the fact that most, especially the little kid rides, all had a dark part or character that scared her. What made it worse was the dark music. She would hear the music and start to panic. She loved the roller coasters and rides but began to suspect that there was a bad guy around every corner, taking a lot of the fun out of the ride. She loved Buzz Light year! That was the one ride she would do over and over because there was nothing scary. We attached her to one of the backpacks with a leash and she had a great time and we didn't have to spend the week chasing her!
Next lesson - We took a double jogging stroller which was great because we could load both little ones up and they could nap in the stroller. The bad part was the front wheel was fixed and I got the arm workout of my life lifting the front of the stroller so I could maneuver through the park. SO a must have, unless you want to spend 15 - 25 dollars a day at the park to rent a stroller, is to bring a stroller with a movable front wheel! NO fixed wheeled strollers! There are just to many turns to make and people to avoid. But a stroller is essential to a fun day at the park even if it's just to hold all your stuff.
Food- If you have a child with a food allergy Disneyland is a great place to go. They really accommodate families with food allergies. We have Celiac in our family (an allergy to all things wheat and gluten) and we had no problem getting food. When you go to City hall to get your buttons just ask for the food Allergies menu and they give you about 6 pages of places you can eat at both Disneyland and Adventure. Also you can call the head Chef and he can educate you on places to eat or prepare the chef of where your going if your doing a character breakfast. For GF eaters it's so easy and each of the eateries/cooks that we came to knew what we were talking about! We had no issues eating in the park.
We didn't eat park food often. We chose to make our meals so we visited the Costco about 5 minutes from Disneyland. It's worth the stop just to pick up snacks because eating in the park is so expensive. You can bring your own food in the park so it's very convenient.
Don't miss the shows. I have to say the shows are worth the crowds!! They were beyond amazing and well worth the wait, crowds and planning to get there. Special note about World of Color which is a must see. If you don't go to any other show go to World of Color! World of color is arranged on a Fast Pass system so when California Adventure opens you need to be one of the first ones in the park. You go over to the Grizzly Bear Rapids ride (the water one over by The Grand California Adventure hotel) to stand in line for your fast passes. Don't forget to bring the tickets of everyone in your party so you can be together.
Our first time seeing it we didn't know what we were doing, we happened on the fast pass by accident. Then at the show we tried to get as close to the water as possible. But we learned that the closer to the water you are the less you see. It was just my friend Nicole and I with the big boys at the first show and it was amazing so we came back the next night with everyone. The second time we we're in the last row and we got to see the whole show! It was incredible. It kept everyone's attention ages 2-adult.
Disneyland Candy Shop - If your there during the holidays they make fresh Candy Canes on certain days. Inquire at the candy shop when they will have fresh Candy canes available. You have to stand in line for a ticket as they only make 600 of them! We missed out on this because we didn't know about it until the last day.
*If you see a line of people that looks out of the ordinary (ie not for a ride or character) ask! Always ask why people are standing in an unknown line. Most likely they know something you don't know and it's probably something you or your kids will love.
Charaters - You can only see Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow (between the Castle and Tomorrow land), Buzz Lightyear is only in Tomorrow Land, Woody and Jessie are only in California Adventure, Prinesses are all back at the Princess Faire (back by Toontown) And if there is a character that you really want to see and can't find just ask at one of the shops. They have a number they can call to find the characters.
IF you want to see the Princess back by toontown in the morning when there is no line, it's best to take the train back it's fast and you don't get there with the masses :-)
A very fun area that we have never done before was Innoventions the spinning building next to Space Mountain and Autotopia. We spend over an hour in there, it was really cool.
Over in Adventure you'll want to go to Play House Disney Live. They do a great job and we all enjoyed it! And the new Toy Story 3 ride is worth the wait (there was always a line). It was super fun!!
And last but not least we drank Spark everyday and we kept up with all our kids! Now if that isn't amazing I don't know what is! So for all 4 adults Spark was an essential ingredient to everyday. 6:30am to closing for 6 days was super busy.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Battle for bed
The two year old has won! It is a headline that could be read if our home had a newspaper. The article that would follow might look something like this....
Last night around 10:15 the strong willed 2 year old of the Baker household won a major victory over her mother. Yes the repercussions of this loss to Mama Baker will be felt for days, weeks and possibly months to come. Mama Baker faced with another night of broken sleep by a yelling, crying, kicking, singing two year old was just more than she could bear.
The night began easy enough with all the children heading up to bed after watching the "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" special. But the rumble of war began as Daddy fell asleep with Miss Callie next to him. Only she was not sleeping. She was just lying in wait for him to not notice she when she was leaving the bed. First skirmish as Mama Baker firmly told her to get back to bed. One for Mama. Second skirmish as the little girl was sent back to bed again a few minutes later. Two for Mama. Then Mama joins them all in bed just to be kicked as little girl fights sleep. Mama again firmly informs the little girl it is time for bed be quiet and go to sleep. Silence....three for mama. Then the singing begins....."twinkle, twinkle, little star"..."the bunny song"....another firm shhhhsh from Mama's side of the bed. Ladies and gentlemen I think the tide is beginning to turn as the two year old puts all her effort into winning this battle for bed. Little girl is no longer under the blankets and mama is beginning to drift off. But wait what do we have here! Mama is getting up, picking up little girl and taking her to her own bed! Ah the wailing begins. Followed by the cough that is traveling around the Baker household. More wailing, more coughing. Begging to sleep with Daddy...Mama replies with a firm "No"...wailing, coughing....now mama's coughing and she's looking like she's wavering from her resolve for a good nights sleep. By now it's 10:00 and all the lights come on. Mama's enlisted the help of two of her big boys and my oh my she's come up with an upset to the two years old plans! She's moving the little girl's bed into her parents room!! What is she thinking? Does she really think this will work? Yes, ladies and gentlemen I think she does. With the bed moved into Mama's room, the Mama places her coughing little girl in her own bed in Mama and Daddy's room. The house resumes it's quiet. The lights are turned off and all are back in bed.
Well I'm not sure who this is a victory for? The Mama who gets to sleep the whole night without being kicked or the Little Girl who has moved in to her parents room. It's going to be a bigger battle to move her out again. So if I'd have to chose I'd say the Mama has won the skirmish but the little one has won the battle, tonight.
You might be asking why she was in our bed to start out.....with but that is another story for another time :-)
Last night around 10:15 the strong willed 2 year old of the Baker household won a major victory over her mother. Yes the repercussions of this loss to Mama Baker will be felt for days, weeks and possibly months to come. Mama Baker faced with another night of broken sleep by a yelling, crying, kicking, singing two year old was just more than she could bear.
The night began easy enough with all the children heading up to bed after watching the "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" special. But the rumble of war began as Daddy fell asleep with Miss Callie next to him. Only she was not sleeping. She was just lying in wait for him to not notice she when she was leaving the bed. First skirmish as Mama Baker firmly told her to get back to bed. One for Mama. Second skirmish as the little girl was sent back to bed again a few minutes later. Two for Mama. Then Mama joins them all in bed just to be kicked as little girl fights sleep. Mama again firmly informs the little girl it is time for bed be quiet and go to sleep. Silence....three for mama. Then the singing begins....."twinkle, twinkle, little star"..."the bunny song"....another firm shhhhsh from Mama's side of the bed. Ladies and gentlemen I think the tide is beginning to turn as the two year old puts all her effort into winning this battle for bed. Little girl is no longer under the blankets and mama is beginning to drift off. But wait what do we have here! Mama is getting up, picking up little girl and taking her to her own bed! Ah the wailing begins. Followed by the cough that is traveling around the Baker household. More wailing, more coughing. Begging to sleep with Daddy...Mama replies with a firm "No"...wailing, coughing....now mama's coughing and she's looking like she's wavering from her resolve for a good nights sleep. By now it's 10:00 and all the lights come on. Mama's enlisted the help of two of her big boys and my oh my she's come up with an upset to the two years old plans! She's moving the little girl's bed into her parents room!! What is she thinking? Does she really think this will work? Yes, ladies and gentlemen I think she does. With the bed moved into Mama's room, the Mama places her coughing little girl in her own bed in Mama and Daddy's room. The house resumes it's quiet. The lights are turned off and all are back in bed.
Well I'm not sure who this is a victory for? The Mama who gets to sleep the whole night without being kicked or the Little Girl who has moved in to her parents room. It's going to be a bigger battle to move her out again. So if I'd have to chose I'd say the Mama has won the skirmish but the little one has won the battle, tonight.
You might be asking why she was in our bed to start out.....with but that is another story for another time :-)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Need to write revisited
I feel the need to write.... So much has happened since deciding to bring Ethan home, since realizing that Home Schooling is more than a necessity but a high calling.
It has been amazing to me in the last few weeks as I came to the conclusion of being called to home school, how much our schooling has changed. It has a better flow now. I'd like to say that it's just because my kids are back in the rhythm of things with Ethan home. But the truth is that I've been changed. My attitude, heart and trust has changed. I now genuinely see the opportunity to home school as a blessing, not a burden. My heart has turned toward my children in love and compassion to teach them new and wonderful things while seeing the blessings in the tedious. And my trust in God is growing day by day. Our home is running smoother and I have found success and encouragement in a new business, Advocare. Because things are flowing smoothly I have time to invest in my children, husband and home. School has become not a burden but a blessing for all of us. We are learning and growing together and it's awesome as a parent to see that my children love each other.
If you had told me a few weeks ago that I would be running a healthier home, new home business, losing 10+ lbs, running and exercising 5 times a week, spending daily time in God's word and blessing my children and husband. I would have called you crazy. I've always felt I was running a little behind. You know what I mean....behind the pile of laundry, my children, finances and so on. There is always so much to do and it seems so little time.
Business: Our family has begun taking fantastic supplements that have radically changed my energy level and ability to focus. I've lost 10+ lbs and 12 inches on them, Jason's energy has improved and he's lost 7lbs. That has lead me to a distributorship with Advocare the makers of these great products. If you want to see what is rocking our health world take a look at our web site www.doitwithspark.com we've just been amazed. With the extra energy I've been able to keep up not only with my kids, but with my house! To me that's revolutionary and worth being a part of.
But one best parts of the extra energy are that I get up with Jason every morning, make him breakfast and then send him off to work. Then the best part is the quiet time I get with the Lord every morning. I can't believe how much I've been learning. My mind has so many questions each time I study the Bible and I love having the time to seek the answers!! There is nothing better than time with God! My whole day looks different when I view it as a gift from God for me to discover.
Usual Disclaimer.....lol...I'm not perfect! I'm not everyday consistent....and I still do the things I don't want to do, even when I know what I should do. I've still got so much to learn. Not every school day is heaven, not every quiet time is quiet, my house is not Martha Stewart perfect and not every Advocare product is for every person.....
So how about you? What are you involved in? What have you been learning?
Are you learning as you go? I hope I always will be....
It has been amazing to me in the last few weeks as I came to the conclusion of being called to home school, how much our schooling has changed. It has a better flow now. I'd like to say that it's just because my kids are back in the rhythm of things with Ethan home. But the truth is that I've been changed. My attitude, heart and trust has changed. I now genuinely see the opportunity to home school as a blessing, not a burden. My heart has turned toward my children in love and compassion to teach them new and wonderful things while seeing the blessings in the tedious. And my trust in God is growing day by day. Our home is running smoother and I have found success and encouragement in a new business, Advocare. Because things are flowing smoothly I have time to invest in my children, husband and home. School has become not a burden but a blessing for all of us. We are learning and growing together and it's awesome as a parent to see that my children love each other.
If you had told me a few weeks ago that I would be running a healthier home, new home business, losing 10+ lbs, running and exercising 5 times a week, spending daily time in God's word and blessing my children and husband. I would have called you crazy. I've always felt I was running a little behind. You know what I mean....behind the pile of laundry, my children, finances and so on. There is always so much to do and it seems so little time.
Business: Our family has begun taking fantastic supplements that have radically changed my energy level and ability to focus. I've lost 10+ lbs and 12 inches on them, Jason's energy has improved and he's lost 7lbs. That has lead me to a distributorship with Advocare the makers of these great products. If you want to see what is rocking our health world take a look at our web site www.doitwithspark.com we've just been amazed. With the extra energy I've been able to keep up not only with my kids, but with my house! To me that's revolutionary and worth being a part of.
But one best parts of the extra energy are that I get up with Jason every morning, make him breakfast and then send him off to work. Then the best part is the quiet time I get with the Lord every morning. I can't believe how much I've been learning. My mind has so many questions each time I study the Bible and I love having the time to seek the answers!! There is nothing better than time with God! My whole day looks different when I view it as a gift from God for me to discover.
Usual Disclaimer.....lol...I'm not perfect! I'm not everyday consistent....and I still do the things I don't want to do, even when I know what I should do. I've still got so much to learn. Not every school day is heaven, not every quiet time is quiet, my house is not Martha Stewart perfect and not every Advocare product is for every person.....
So how about you? What are you involved in? What have you been learning?
Are you learning as you go? I hope I always will be....
Monday, November 1, 2010
Home School Revelation
As a home school Mom for the last 6 years I have learned so much! But this year has exceeded all the rest. Why you ask? Why after 6 years of working with my children teaching, training, shaping, learning and growing is this year so different?
Well this year I discovered it really is a calling to home school my children. It's not just second best because we couldn't afford to send 4 children to private school. It's because we have been called to raise our children up in the way they should go. And for our family that translates into home school. How did I learn that this year? Let me take you back to the beginning.....
Six years ago we pulled our children out of private school for a few reasons....financially it was so expensive to send 3 kids to school and both my husband and I were working full time, we were struggling with Ethan falling behind in math and reading, Austin as a kindergartner was in the principals office for bad behavior and Issac was getting lost in the mix. At that time our kids we're in daycare, then to school, back to daycare, then we would pick them up, feed them dinner, do homework, go to sylvan for tutoring, then off to bed. Just to repeat the next day. The cycle was driving us all apart. We had no clue how our kids were doing and we had no time to help them. Life tends to fall apart when your fighting God's plan for your family. And that's what it was doing to our family, we were falling apart at the seams. About 9 months into this cycle we hit a wall and I quit my job and removed our kids from daycare, private school and sylvan.
Going back to being a stay at home, home school mom. It was incredibly intimidating and scary at first. Then I realized that I had taken my kids out of the "school" system and now we could work on what they were struggling in until they got it. We could study things that they loved to learn about. School could be what we made of it. Now that first year was rough! (understatement) many days I wondered if I'd gone crazy. I wasn't a teacher! I didn't go to college for this! You name it...any doubt and I considered it's validity. Looking back I can see how looking at my viewed inadequacies was in the wrong light. It's good to know things your not great at because then you can look outside your home for help. But to focus on those things really undermines what your good at.
We survived that first year with the attitude that for us pubic school was not an option, so home schooling was second best to private school. I have believed that for 6 years now.
Each year I would review our finances to see if we could begin sending our children back to school for a more structured learning environment with teachers. What a small view I've had.
Well this year 2010 that year came. We decided to send Ethan, our oldest, back to school for 8th grade. We found a great school just around the corner from our home. Excellent teachers, school programs, and they used most of the same curriculum I was already using. It seemed a perfect fit. He's been in school since September 1st and we will be bringing him home this month (November). Back to home schooling. Now I need to add that we really love the school. The families are great, as are the teachers. We are not removing him because of any inadequacies of the school.
We have created a culture in our family of mastery. And I've discovered that in a school environment mastery is difficult to achieve as each child learns at their own rate. But I also discovered that I can and have been doing what the classroom teachers do everyday. I've been teaching my children! Now they may not finish all their books (what school does?) but by the end of the year my children have mastered what we've been working on. They are able to learn about what interest them and what they feel God is calling them to be as they grow up. We are able to work on character and heart issues as they arise. They are growing to be men that know and love their Creator and God. Our lives are enriched by living, working and playing together.
It's been interesting to Jason and I that Ethan's biggest complaint about school is not the work, it's that he doesn't get to spend more time with the family. He genuinely misses spending time with his siblings and Jason and I. It's pretty special to us that our kids are all friends. Even thought we have such a large age span they love to be together and I think that is a testimony to the last 6 years of learn and growing together.
We have been called to home school and the rewards of obeying that call can never be measured here on earth. Our time of being a part of a traditional school has taught us that. Ethan has been praised over and over during the last few months in school of how mature, respectful and articulate he is. He has been chosen as student of the month of September for compassion. He has had full weeks of school, crew, and homework with a good attitude. Now it's time to have him return home to master math and to dive back into the subjects he loves. While having good family time. He'll be able to be well rested for crew so he can do his best.
I'm so thankful for the things I have learned from his school. They have opened my eyes to the truth. Am I a perfect teacher? No. Are my weaknesses in subjects gone? No. Am I called to train up my children at home? Yes. Will God direct me to people and programs that can fill my deficiencies? Yes. Will my children get a good education? You bet they will! And it will happen at home.
Well this year I discovered it really is a calling to home school my children. It's not just second best because we couldn't afford to send 4 children to private school. It's because we have been called to raise our children up in the way they should go. And for our family that translates into home school. How did I learn that this year? Let me take you back to the beginning.....
Six years ago we pulled our children out of private school for a few reasons....financially it was so expensive to send 3 kids to school and both my husband and I were working full time, we were struggling with Ethan falling behind in math and reading, Austin as a kindergartner was in the principals office for bad behavior and Issac was getting lost in the mix. At that time our kids we're in daycare, then to school, back to daycare, then we would pick them up, feed them dinner, do homework, go to sylvan for tutoring, then off to bed. Just to repeat the next day. The cycle was driving us all apart. We had no clue how our kids were doing and we had no time to help them. Life tends to fall apart when your fighting God's plan for your family. And that's what it was doing to our family, we were falling apart at the seams. About 9 months into this cycle we hit a wall and I quit my job and removed our kids from daycare, private school and sylvan.
Going back to being a stay at home, home school mom. It was incredibly intimidating and scary at first. Then I realized that I had taken my kids out of the "school" system and now we could work on what they were struggling in until they got it. We could study things that they loved to learn about. School could be what we made of it. Now that first year was rough! (understatement) many days I wondered if I'd gone crazy. I wasn't a teacher! I didn't go to college for this! You name it...any doubt and I considered it's validity. Looking back I can see how looking at my viewed inadequacies was in the wrong light. It's good to know things your not great at because then you can look outside your home for help. But to focus on those things really undermines what your good at.
We survived that first year with the attitude that for us pubic school was not an option, so home schooling was second best to private school. I have believed that for 6 years now.
Each year I would review our finances to see if we could begin sending our children back to school for a more structured learning environment with teachers. What a small view I've had.
Well this year 2010 that year came. We decided to send Ethan, our oldest, back to school for 8th grade. We found a great school just around the corner from our home. Excellent teachers, school programs, and they used most of the same curriculum I was already using. It seemed a perfect fit. He's been in school since September 1st and we will be bringing him home this month (November). Back to home schooling. Now I need to add that we really love the school. The families are great, as are the teachers. We are not removing him because of any inadequacies of the school.
We have created a culture in our family of mastery. And I've discovered that in a school environment mastery is difficult to achieve as each child learns at their own rate. But I also discovered that I can and have been doing what the classroom teachers do everyday. I've been teaching my children! Now they may not finish all their books (what school does?) but by the end of the year my children have mastered what we've been working on. They are able to learn about what interest them and what they feel God is calling them to be as they grow up. We are able to work on character and heart issues as they arise. They are growing to be men that know and love their Creator and God. Our lives are enriched by living, working and playing together.
It's been interesting to Jason and I that Ethan's biggest complaint about school is not the work, it's that he doesn't get to spend more time with the family. He genuinely misses spending time with his siblings and Jason and I. It's pretty special to us that our kids are all friends. Even thought we have such a large age span they love to be together and I think that is a testimony to the last 6 years of learn and growing together.
We have been called to home school and the rewards of obeying that call can never be measured here on earth. Our time of being a part of a traditional school has taught us that. Ethan has been praised over and over during the last few months in school of how mature, respectful and articulate he is. He has been chosen as student of the month of September for compassion. He has had full weeks of school, crew, and homework with a good attitude. Now it's time to have him return home to master math and to dive back into the subjects he loves. While having good family time. He'll be able to be well rested for crew so he can do his best.
I'm so thankful for the things I have learned from his school. They have opened my eyes to the truth. Am I a perfect teacher? No. Are my weaknesses in subjects gone? No. Am I called to train up my children at home? Yes. Will God direct me to people and programs that can fill my deficiencies? Yes. Will my children get a good education? You bet they will! And it will happen at home.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Bandaids and Chocolate Chips
When your adopting a major focus or concern you have is bonding. Will we be able to bond? What can I do to promote bonding etc. I have to honestly say at the beginning this wasn't really a question for me, or so I thought. I just assumed that bonding would not be an issue for me. I had my Ergo, I'd been praying for these children for 2 years, and I was called to adopt. I loved my children and in my mind, even before I knew them, they were my children. So my focus was how to get them to bond to me, to us as a family.
One of the first things I read (when your adopting you read a lot!) about bonding was the importance of skin to skin contact with something yummy to share. Like a caramel or sucker, something that would force you both to slow down and for the child something oral that would release something in them that brings them back to being a baby (like nursing). The act of nursing (skin to skin and sucking) releases something amazing in a child's mind and body -so the hope is that by reaching into that closeness a special bonding can be reached. Now the something yummy to share is for children who are over the age for a bottle, bottles or nursing are natural stop and bond moments. It's a great idea and I latched right on....I purchased my yummies in wait for the new children. My big kids thought it was a great idea too so at any available moment they'd come yummy in hand to cuddle. In the end they ate all the candy I first purchased so I went out purchased more and hid them! But as life get's busy yummy, sit down, quiet time just doesn't seem to happen naturally.
Which brings me to band-aids. Band-aids are something that we naturally use in our home of 4 boys and 1 girl. We gladly go through Costco size boxes of band-aids and neosporin. They get put on everything from imaginary owies to gushers. I am very free with them....they even get character band-aids in their stockings every year for Christmas. Zaya and I have had many times with him and I in the kitchen cleaning a scrape or cut or unknown owie. Talking, touching and always ending in a kiss and word of comfort or warning. We do this without thinking many times a week. Today I was reading an article in my Adoption magazine about bonding over band-aids. It usually takes more than one person to successfully put one on giving the opportunity to bond. Mom's who lovingly apply band-aids can take even the oldest child to a place of security and comfort. In the end we as parents become the living band-aids. Healing, loving, touching, and connecting with our children, adopted or not, and they trust us to do this for them. I was so comforted to hear this as I know my littlest man knows I love him and he trust me to heal his wounds.
Now Callie on the other hand hates band-aids on her. She'll play with them and put them on anyone who will hold still long enough but if she has to have one....look out! But bring out the chocolate chips (or chocolate of any kind) and we cuddle, calm, share and connect on a totally girl level! Chocolate will never be the same for me.
Looking back at our adoption bonding experience and how different our two little ones are I can see areas I'd do differently. In hind sight I wish I'd given Zaya (22 months at the time) a bottle so we could have had that natural, one on one quiet gazing, touching bonding time that we missed out on. It's taken longer for him to bond with our family. He had struggles uniquely his that we needed to go through to become trustworthy in his eyes. And we needed to learn to love a child who for quite a while would not love us back. We made many mistakes and we faced much hardship but in the end the Lord brought us all through the fire that melted us together as a family. So even though I see opportunities missed in my early bonding time with my son I am thankful that God had a better plan knowing what we all needed to make the bond strong. God our heavenly Father was our band-aid. Lovingly touching, ministering, healing and caring for us. Bring us not only closer together but helping us to connect with Him too. How thankful I am.....for band-aids, chocolate chips and always learning as I go......
One of the first things I read (when your adopting you read a lot!) about bonding was the importance of skin to skin contact with something yummy to share. Like a caramel or sucker, something that would force you both to slow down and for the child something oral that would release something in them that brings them back to being a baby (like nursing). The act of nursing (skin to skin and sucking) releases something amazing in a child's mind and body -so the hope is that by reaching into that closeness a special bonding can be reached. Now the something yummy to share is for children who are over the age for a bottle, bottles or nursing are natural stop and bond moments. It's a great idea and I latched right on....I purchased my yummies in wait for the new children. My big kids thought it was a great idea too so at any available moment they'd come yummy in hand to cuddle. In the end they ate all the candy I first purchased so I went out purchased more and hid them! But as life get's busy yummy, sit down, quiet time just doesn't seem to happen naturally.
Which brings me to band-aids. Band-aids are something that we naturally use in our home of 4 boys and 1 girl. We gladly go through Costco size boxes of band-aids and neosporin. They get put on everything from imaginary owies to gushers. I am very free with them....they even get character band-aids in their stockings every year for Christmas. Zaya and I have had many times with him and I in the kitchen cleaning a scrape or cut or unknown owie. Talking, touching and always ending in a kiss and word of comfort or warning. We do this without thinking many times a week. Today I was reading an article in my Adoption magazine about bonding over band-aids. It usually takes more than one person to successfully put one on giving the opportunity to bond. Mom's who lovingly apply band-aids can take even the oldest child to a place of security and comfort. In the end we as parents become the living band-aids. Healing, loving, touching, and connecting with our children, adopted or not, and they trust us to do this for them. I was so comforted to hear this as I know my littlest man knows I love him and he trust me to heal his wounds.
Now Callie on the other hand hates band-aids on her. She'll play with them and put them on anyone who will hold still long enough but if she has to have one....look out! But bring out the chocolate chips (or chocolate of any kind) and we cuddle, calm, share and connect on a totally girl level! Chocolate will never be the same for me.
Looking back at our adoption bonding experience and how different our two little ones are I can see areas I'd do differently. In hind sight I wish I'd given Zaya (22 months at the time) a bottle so we could have had that natural, one on one quiet gazing, touching bonding time that we missed out on. It's taken longer for him to bond with our family. He had struggles uniquely his that we needed to go through to become trustworthy in his eyes. And we needed to learn to love a child who for quite a while would not love us back. We made many mistakes and we faced much hardship but in the end the Lord brought us all through the fire that melted us together as a family. So even though I see opportunities missed in my early bonding time with my son I am thankful that God had a better plan knowing what we all needed to make the bond strong. God our heavenly Father was our band-aid. Lovingly touching, ministering, healing and caring for us. Bring us not only closer together but helping us to connect with Him too. How thankful I am.....for band-aids, chocolate chips and always learning as I go......
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Date Night....what?
We are one of "those" couples who try to have a date night, either out or in, once a week. We enjoy spending time together even if it's just watching a movie at home. Well last night was suppose to be that night but our date night went horribly domestic...let me explain....
In the mail yesterday we got a red box movie we'd been waiting to see, "Date Night". So it seemed like a natural lead into a date night for my hubby and I. Pizza for dinner and then off to bed for the kids. Now with the day I'd had (see previous post) involving a 2.5 hour trip to the Urgent Care and 3 children up before 6am I figured it would be easy to get all 5 kids down to bed or quiet reading early. Yes, you can laugh at me now! Because as all parents know, but selectively forget, is that when something like this looks to be a piece of cake, that cake inevitably will end up being flipped on the holder causing a huge mess, laughter or tears :-) A side effect of my urgent care trip was that the pain meds my little girl was on would make her sleepy so that she wouldn't re-injure her hand. My only concern was that they cause constipation and that might be a problem the next day. (But I wanted her comfortable first, we could deal with the side effect later) But sleep for a busy injured 2 year old sounded great!
So all looked good until right after pizza when the night began to unfold. It went something like this....
"Ok guys Mom and Dad are having a movie date night everyone up stairs" ...."I'm not tired"..."it's only 7, I can't sleep this early"...."Mama stinky poopy"(not toward me she really was stinky poopy) So with Daddy riding herd and helping Mom wrangle the crew up stairs and one diaper changed, I was feeling pretty optimistic. We might actually get to watch a whole movie together!!
We we're allowing the big boys to play legos, Ethan had homework and Zaya had been up since before 6 so he should have crashed. But alas that was not to be the case....
J and I headed down stairs and started the movie. Not even through the previews Ethan comes downstairs to get a drink, you know home work for 2 minutes is thirsty stuff, and proceeds to visit with us. With a stern warning to get his work done he returns up stairs to be replaced by Miss Callie who once again is poopy and wants to play. Still in previews....I carry her back up stairs change another diaper. Checking on the boys who are now at war because Zaya is in their room playing lego's too and they are soooo tired (while playing legos) they want him out. So again I put Zaya to bed and order my sleepy, somewhat manipulative, middle boys to bed. One starts crying and the other pouts so I call in reinforcements....movie is now paused....within minutes the crier is in the shower to mellow out and the other two are in bed. Back down stairs we go to restart the movie. About 5 minutes into it Callie returns and is again "stinky poopy" and demands to be changed immediately while dancing and singing in front of the television. Soooo another diaper later I just surrender and let her stay downstairs hoping she'll fall asleep on the couch. We resume our snuggle position and restart the movie. She wants to play so we ignore her and make it oh about 15 minutes into the movie. Have you seen it? It's a funny movie (not for kids). Well we make it to the part where the husband (Steve Carell) asks his wife (Tina Fey) Why she doesn't light up for him anymore. It's a serious part of the movie and she begins to list all the things she does (kids up, dressed, breakfast, work etc.) just to fall into bed each night exhausted and she's sorry she just didn't find the time to remember to "light up" for him! So as she is sharing her frustration....Callie begins the "poopy, stinky" dance again holding out her diaper so we can see she needs changed again....Ethan returns for another drink....and Jason and I just look at each other, laugh, share a quick kiss and turn the movie off. I change another diaper and Jason, in his great love for me, takes our NOT tired and NOT constipated daughter up to bed with him and I watch the beginning of Dancing with the stars just to follow him up to bed an hour later.
So much for a "Date Night" date night....but in the end we love our life and wouldn't change a thing...we may even try again tonight to finish the movie :-P lol
In the mail yesterday we got a red box movie we'd been waiting to see, "Date Night". So it seemed like a natural lead into a date night for my hubby and I. Pizza for dinner and then off to bed for the kids. Now with the day I'd had (see previous post) involving a 2.5 hour trip to the Urgent Care and 3 children up before 6am I figured it would be easy to get all 5 kids down to bed or quiet reading early. Yes, you can laugh at me now! Because as all parents know, but selectively forget, is that when something like this looks to be a piece of cake, that cake inevitably will end up being flipped on the holder causing a huge mess, laughter or tears :-) A side effect of my urgent care trip was that the pain meds my little girl was on would make her sleepy so that she wouldn't re-injure her hand. My only concern was that they cause constipation and that might be a problem the next day. (But I wanted her comfortable first, we could deal with the side effect later) But sleep for a busy injured 2 year old sounded great!
So all looked good until right after pizza when the night began to unfold. It went something like this....
"Ok guys Mom and Dad are having a movie date night everyone up stairs" ...."I'm not tired"..."it's only 7, I can't sleep this early"...."Mama stinky poopy"(not toward me she really was stinky poopy) So with Daddy riding herd and helping Mom wrangle the crew up stairs and one diaper changed, I was feeling pretty optimistic. We might actually get to watch a whole movie together!!
We we're allowing the big boys to play legos, Ethan had homework and Zaya had been up since before 6 so he should have crashed. But alas that was not to be the case....
J and I headed down stairs and started the movie. Not even through the previews Ethan comes downstairs to get a drink, you know home work for 2 minutes is thirsty stuff, and proceeds to visit with us. With a stern warning to get his work done he returns up stairs to be replaced by Miss Callie who once again is poopy and wants to play. Still in previews....I carry her back up stairs change another diaper. Checking on the boys who are now at war because Zaya is in their room playing lego's too and they are soooo tired (while playing legos) they want him out. So again I put Zaya to bed and order my sleepy, somewhat manipulative, middle boys to bed. One starts crying and the other pouts so I call in reinforcements....movie is now paused....within minutes the crier is in the shower to mellow out and the other two are in bed. Back down stairs we go to restart the movie. About 5 minutes into it Callie returns and is again "stinky poopy" and demands to be changed immediately while dancing and singing in front of the television. Soooo another diaper later I just surrender and let her stay downstairs hoping she'll fall asleep on the couch. We resume our snuggle position and restart the movie. She wants to play so we ignore her and make it oh about 15 minutes into the movie. Have you seen it? It's a funny movie (not for kids). Well we make it to the part where the husband (Steve Carell) asks his wife (Tina Fey) Why she doesn't light up for him anymore. It's a serious part of the movie and she begins to list all the things she does (kids up, dressed, breakfast, work etc.) just to fall into bed each night exhausted and she's sorry she just didn't find the time to remember to "light up" for him! So as she is sharing her frustration....Callie begins the "poopy, stinky" dance again holding out her diaper so we can see she needs changed again....Ethan returns for another drink....and Jason and I just look at each other, laugh, share a quick kiss and turn the movie off. I change another diaper and Jason, in his great love for me, takes our NOT tired and NOT constipated daughter up to bed with him and I watch the beginning of Dancing with the stars just to follow him up to bed an hour later.
So much for a "Date Night" date night....but in the end we love our life and wouldn't change a thing...we may even try again tonight to finish the movie :-P lol
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Split chins and splints
I don't think my daughter is capable of just exploring with out injury as of late...
She has been to our local Urgent care twice in the last month. Once for a split chin and just today to splint her right hand. Silly girl has to do everything above and beyond. Oh and I mean that literally!
In her two little years she has gone to the ER for a split toe by dropping a can on it, drinking white out prompted a call to poison control etc.. She is the child that gets into locked places and can climb the walls to get whatever she thinks is up there. Prompting those people without children to look badly on us as parents in their ignorance and encouraging those parents with children like ours to laugh and share what their child did last week. And to be honest I love those stories because it reminds me that no matter what mischief my little girl gets into someone has already been there done that :-)
So this months activities so far have included...
At the beginning of the month she just had to get something off the half wall in our entry. She was determined as only our little Miss can be. So when, surprise, we heard the thump we weren't entirely surprised. What did surprise us was the blood...lots and lots of blood. She had managed to get what she wanted and in an effort to keep it had landed on her chin. I had no idea your chin could bleed like that :-( within minutes she had calmed down and was ready to go to the urgent care. Where she was a model patient. Showing everyone who would look at her owie and giving them a running babel of what transpired for the wound. She held perfectly still as they glued it shut and used her please and thank you's to everyone who helped. They awarded her with stickers and a ball. She felt like the queen! She spent the next week showing everyone her owie with great pride and pulled all the glue off her chin awarding herself with a little scar. nice....
Today was very different. In fact today was her biggest self injury yet. Kids love to play in closets....they are little cubbies of adventure! Only today my very flexible little miss grabbed the door handle and the door hinge at the same time. Yes you may cringe now...because you can imagine what happened next. She leaned back with the door nob closing the hinge on three fingers of her right hand. It was one of those cries that send the whole household to run and see what is wrong. I honestly was afraid she had crushed the first joints on her fingers....but thank God that in his infinite wisdom little people have very soft bones with lots of cartilage! But what made this injury even more unique was that she couldn't stop crying, she is my ubber tough girl so crying from pain is not her thing. So off we rushed to the Urgent care....still crying....and crying and crying.... it was so sad :-( The compassionate staff tried everything to help but no one can rush the benefits of Motrin and Tylenol. We waited for an hour to get x-rays because the guy before us had 2 broken legs...we prayed for him. At this point it doesn't look like she has any broken bones, praise the Lord! But what she does have is supper bruised and wounded fingers. In an effort to help her heal and not re-injure her fingers she is in a hand splint with some pain meds. We'll find out for sure later this week if anything is broken.
I think of all her escapades and am amazed that we haven't had more injuries. I'm so thankful that she is a little girl who always wonders why, how and what. She loves to learn and be and do. Life with her will never be dull! I think of my friends with "busy" children and realize how incredibly blessed we are to have such active children. Yes they may give us a few heart attacks but the laughter, joy and adventure they bring are well worth it.
So we'll keep the splint on as long as I can keep it on her ;-) and then we'll be off on our next adventure in life. So cheers to you parents and God bless!
She has been to our local Urgent care twice in the last month. Once for a split chin and just today to splint her right hand. Silly girl has to do everything above and beyond. Oh and I mean that literally!
In her two little years she has gone to the ER for a split toe by dropping a can on it, drinking white out prompted a call to poison control etc.. She is the child that gets into locked places and can climb the walls to get whatever she thinks is up there. Prompting those people without children to look badly on us as parents in their ignorance and encouraging those parents with children like ours to laugh and share what their child did last week. And to be honest I love those stories because it reminds me that no matter what mischief my little girl gets into someone has already been there done that :-)
So this months activities so far have included...
At the beginning of the month she just had to get something off the half wall in our entry. She was determined as only our little Miss can be. So when, surprise, we heard the thump we weren't entirely surprised. What did surprise us was the blood...lots and lots of blood. She had managed to get what she wanted and in an effort to keep it had landed on her chin. I had no idea your chin could bleed like that :-( within minutes she had calmed down and was ready to go to the urgent care. Where she was a model patient. Showing everyone who would look at her owie and giving them a running babel of what transpired for the wound. She held perfectly still as they glued it shut and used her please and thank you's to everyone who helped. They awarded her with stickers and a ball. She felt like the queen! She spent the next week showing everyone her owie with great pride and pulled all the glue off her chin awarding herself with a little scar. nice....
Today was very different. In fact today was her biggest self injury yet. Kids love to play in closets....they are little cubbies of adventure! Only today my very flexible little miss grabbed the door handle and the door hinge at the same time. Yes you may cringe now...because you can imagine what happened next. She leaned back with the door nob closing the hinge on three fingers of her right hand. It was one of those cries that send the whole household to run and see what is wrong. I honestly was afraid she had crushed the first joints on her fingers....but thank God that in his infinite wisdom little people have very soft bones with lots of cartilage! But what made this injury even more unique was that she couldn't stop crying, she is my ubber tough girl so crying from pain is not her thing. So off we rushed to the Urgent care....still crying....and crying and crying.... it was so sad :-( The compassionate staff tried everything to help but no one can rush the benefits of Motrin and Tylenol. We waited for an hour to get x-rays because the guy before us had 2 broken legs...we prayed for him. At this point it doesn't look like she has any broken bones, praise the Lord! But what she does have is supper bruised and wounded fingers. In an effort to help her heal and not re-injure her fingers she is in a hand splint with some pain meds. We'll find out for sure later this week if anything is broken.
I think of all her escapades and am amazed that we haven't had more injuries. I'm so thankful that she is a little girl who always wonders why, how and what. She loves to learn and be and do. Life with her will never be dull! I think of my friends with "busy" children and realize how incredibly blessed we are to have such active children. Yes they may give us a few heart attacks but the laughter, joy and adventure they bring are well worth it.
So we'll keep the splint on as long as I can keep it on her ;-) and then we'll be off on our next adventure in life. So cheers to you parents and God bless!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Adoption
I watched a movie this weekend and was surprised to find that in the end it was all about adoption, with a bunch of other issues thrown in.
The main character a 39 year old woman who desperately want's a baby of her own. She is a teacher surrounded by children and her faith (Jewish) is very prominent. But to her adoption is not an option. She herself is a child of adoption and she's always felt as if she was less than, even though her whole family denies it and the actions of the family confirm she is fully theirs. She is fully her adopted families...but in her mind it can't be true. When her adoptive mom dies her birth-mother returns to meet her and build a relationship. But the main character struggles with that relationship as well. It's the struggle within her that we watch as she wants a baby so much but continues to struggle with infertility. We watch as she get's pregnant and loses the baby...then tries with the help of her doctor. As she struggles with the fertility treatments a relationship is begun with her birth-mother. And like her Mom her birth-mother encourages her to adopt. When the movie fades back in she is the mother of a beautiful Asian daughter. Holding and loving her like her own. Teaching her that there is no different between biological and adopted children.
I completely agree....
I know it's no surprise to anyone who knows me but I loved the ending. As a mom of both bio and adopted children. I know for a fact that there is no difference between them. I'm a little sad that I wasn't at the birth of my adopted children but that doesn't change the fact that they are all mine. I know each of my children and I love them fully. They are each special and unique individuals but again they are all mine! I find it hard to even express because in my mind, heart and actions they all have been here since the beginning. Adoption just took longer than pregnancy did. Adoption was on my heart 2 years before we began the process. In my mother's journals I can look back and I started praying for my Isaiah the week before he was born. It just took us 22 months to find him. We got our foster/adoption paperwork approved when Callie was born and we picked her up 3 months later. They were in our minds and hearts because God knew we were their family. We had the added blessing of getting to know the birth parents so we actually know a lot of their history. What a gift that has been to us. I'll have some answers as they grow older and have questions. I knew the bonding wouldn't be an issue for me....just because that's the way I'm made.
God has taught our family that family is so much more than biological. In turn we have walked with others on their journey's through adoption in the foster system. It's been so exciting to see the new families that God is creating. For family is family because God has joined us together into one.
The main character a 39 year old woman who desperately want's a baby of her own. She is a teacher surrounded by children and her faith (Jewish) is very prominent. But to her adoption is not an option. She herself is a child of adoption and she's always felt as if she was less than, even though her whole family denies it and the actions of the family confirm she is fully theirs. She is fully her adopted families...but in her mind it can't be true. When her adoptive mom dies her birth-mother returns to meet her and build a relationship. But the main character struggles with that relationship as well. It's the struggle within her that we watch as she wants a baby so much but continues to struggle with infertility. We watch as she get's pregnant and loses the baby...then tries with the help of her doctor. As she struggles with the fertility treatments a relationship is begun with her birth-mother. And like her Mom her birth-mother encourages her to adopt. When the movie fades back in she is the mother of a beautiful Asian daughter. Holding and loving her like her own. Teaching her that there is no different between biological and adopted children.
I completely agree....
I know it's no surprise to anyone who knows me but I loved the ending. As a mom of both bio and adopted children. I know for a fact that there is no difference between them. I'm a little sad that I wasn't at the birth of my adopted children but that doesn't change the fact that they are all mine. I know each of my children and I love them fully. They are each special and unique individuals but again they are all mine! I find it hard to even express because in my mind, heart and actions they all have been here since the beginning. Adoption just took longer than pregnancy did. Adoption was on my heart 2 years before we began the process. In my mother's journals I can look back and I started praying for my Isaiah the week before he was born. It just took us 22 months to find him. We got our foster/adoption paperwork approved when Callie was born and we picked her up 3 months later. They were in our minds and hearts because God knew we were their family. We had the added blessing of getting to know the birth parents so we actually know a lot of their history. What a gift that has been to us. I'll have some answers as they grow older and have questions. I knew the bonding wouldn't be an issue for me....just because that's the way I'm made.
God has taught our family that family is so much more than biological. In turn we have walked with others on their journey's through adoption in the foster system. It's been so exciting to see the new families that God is creating. For family is family because God has joined us together into one.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Girls vs. Boys
There is an age old question of what children are easier to raise....Boys or Girls... I've heard all sorts of reasons of one over the other and they all cause me to laugh. Because I find that one of the silliest questions ever.
We have children ranging in age from 2 to 13 ,boys and a girls, and we're around kids birth to 18 quite frequently, again boys and girls,....I've found that the question is not boys vs girls but that each child is such an individual that the question can only be applied to an individual. With a range to look at and with very close friends with many girls and boys I've found they are equal in "issues" to raise.
My boys are "what you see is what you get" young men....if their happy they show it, unhappy the same, each emotion or feeling is clearly displayed to us because we know them so well. So while it's all on their sleeves our lives are a roller coaster of "in the moment" emotions.
Our daughter on the other hand is a walking contradiction....happy when she's sad, unhappy looking when she's content....but again we know this because we know her so very well. But she is in turn incredibly lovey and honest when asked a direct question.
Boys low maintenance for some but not others. Girls high maintenance for some but not others. Moody or stoic, hyper or mellow, cuddly or not....each thing is interchangeable between both sexes.
I am a huge fan of both...boys and girls....I love having children (which is good when I have 5 already) but when it comes to which is easier I'd have to say both!
Now if you asked me what child is easier to raise.....well that's a whole different topic! And even that answer changes from year to year :-)
You know it's all about learning as you go!
We have children ranging in age from 2 to 13 ,boys and a girls, and we're around kids birth to 18 quite frequently, again boys and girls,....I've found that the question is not boys vs girls but that each child is such an individual that the question can only be applied to an individual. With a range to look at and with very close friends with many girls and boys I've found they are equal in "issues" to raise.
My boys are "what you see is what you get" young men....if their happy they show it, unhappy the same, each emotion or feeling is clearly displayed to us because we know them so well. So while it's all on their sleeves our lives are a roller coaster of "in the moment" emotions.
Our daughter on the other hand is a walking contradiction....happy when she's sad, unhappy looking when she's content....but again we know this because we know her so very well. But she is in turn incredibly lovey and honest when asked a direct question.
Boys low maintenance for some but not others. Girls high maintenance for some but not others. Moody or stoic, hyper or mellow, cuddly or not....each thing is interchangeable between both sexes.
I am a huge fan of both...boys and girls....I love having children (which is good when I have 5 already) but when it comes to which is easier I'd have to say both!
Now if you asked me what child is easier to raise.....well that's a whole different topic! And even that answer changes from year to year :-)
You know it's all about learning as you go!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Love and learning in books...
I'm one of those people who loves school starting. You know the smell of new penciled, paper, binders....fresh crayons, markers and row upon row of supplies you can get at the store. But for me the best of all supplies are books. If I had one material weakness it would be books. I love them old, new and in-between, but especially old books. I love the smell of a library or used book store. I want to curl up and read or wander for hours through the books for my finds. I can't leave a book store without making a purchase, small or large.
Home schooling just feeds this addiction! Each fall with my husbands blessing I get to purchase books. It's just the icing on the cake in my mind of home schooling. I spend hours looking through catalogs for just the perfect purchases to inspire my children to learn and to keep my mind sharp...and I'm passing my passion on to my kids. They race to see who get's the Rainbow, timber doodle, Alpha Omega, Home School Science and oriental trading catalog etc. first, to see who can find the coolest things to add to the want list. How I would love to have an unlimited budget! But alas after tabbing and marking my purchases we begin the work of finding the best deals for the books we want. Even that part I enjoy...it's a challenge to see how much I can get for my budget. Kinda like a scavenger hunt.
This year has been the best ever for preparing for school. It's our slimmest budget yet but the purchases I've made are like gold. This is a huge reading year for us as I now have an 8th grader going to private school (but I still do things with him at home) and a 4th, 6th and preschooler. 4th, 6th and 8th grade are working on biographies and I was able to get a group of "Hero's of the faith" books. My children are eating them up.
Real life stories are the best! They lead you into a world that is so much bigger than self. And biography's are by far some of the most valuable books around in my opinion. Because they are real. These people really lived, struggled and triumphed. They are not fictional folks with made up issues. They are the real deal. They have real issues to deal with and real problems to solve and the best part....they aren't perfect. A real biography will show the good with the bad the ugly with the beautiful. It's nice to know that we're not the only ones to make the wrong choices. Just look at the Bible it's full of imperfect people with real life issues, trials and triumphs. Imperfect people that God chose to use. Guess what we are imperfect people that God chooses to use!! I think books, the bible included, remind us that being human is not such a bad thing. We are human because God made us human. The difference between being a sinful human and a forgiven human is simple. Those who are forgive live in a state of redemption from themselves and the sin state that we are born into, surrender to our loving Creator and dependence on His leading in their lives. and those who chose to live in a fully human state live lead by whatever they deem appropriate.
Just pick up any biography and you'll see this lived out in Christian and non-Christian lives.
A biography always challenges me with the questions of...
Who or what do you live for and what would your biography say about you? I can only hope that I live a life full of joy and love and that Jesus shines through more than I do!
See what books can do....
Oh as far as schooling goes I think this will be our best year ever! I'm sure if you stick around you'll hear more about that too :-)
Good Home school books or learning resources are:
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
http://www.aleks.com/ for math
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
http://rainbowresource.com/index.php
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/science-curriculum/c/7/
Home schooling just feeds this addiction! Each fall with my husbands blessing I get to purchase books. It's just the icing on the cake in my mind of home schooling. I spend hours looking through catalogs for just the perfect purchases to inspire my children to learn and to keep my mind sharp...and I'm passing my passion on to my kids. They race to see who get's the Rainbow, timber doodle, Alpha Omega, Home School Science and oriental trading catalog etc. first, to see who can find the coolest things to add to the want list. How I would love to have an unlimited budget! But alas after tabbing and marking my purchases we begin the work of finding the best deals for the books we want. Even that part I enjoy...it's a challenge to see how much I can get for my budget. Kinda like a scavenger hunt.
This year has been the best ever for preparing for school. It's our slimmest budget yet but the purchases I've made are like gold. This is a huge reading year for us as I now have an 8th grader going to private school (but I still do things with him at home) and a 4th, 6th and preschooler. 4th, 6th and 8th grade are working on biographies and I was able to get a group of "Hero's of the faith" books. My children are eating them up.
Real life stories are the best! They lead you into a world that is so much bigger than self. And biography's are by far some of the most valuable books around in my opinion. Because they are real. These people really lived, struggled and triumphed. They are not fictional folks with made up issues. They are the real deal. They have real issues to deal with and real problems to solve and the best part....they aren't perfect. A real biography will show the good with the bad the ugly with the beautiful. It's nice to know that we're not the only ones to make the wrong choices. Just look at the Bible it's full of imperfect people with real life issues, trials and triumphs. Imperfect people that God chose to use. Guess what we are imperfect people that God chooses to use!! I think books, the bible included, remind us that being human is not such a bad thing. We are human because God made us human. The difference between being a sinful human and a forgiven human is simple. Those who are forgive live in a state of redemption from themselves and the sin state that we are born into, surrender to our loving Creator and dependence on His leading in their lives. and those who chose to live in a fully human state live lead by whatever they deem appropriate.
Just pick up any biography and you'll see this lived out in Christian and non-Christian lives.
A biography always challenges me with the questions of...
Who or what do you live for and what would your biography say about you? I can only hope that I live a life full of joy and love and that Jesus shines through more than I do!
See what books can do....
Oh as far as schooling goes I think this will be our best year ever! I'm sure if you stick around you'll hear more about that too :-)
Good Home school books or learning resources are:
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
http://www.aleks.com/ for math
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
http://rainbowresource.com/index.php
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/science-curriculum/c/7/
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Signs to ponder
My hubby and I ran away to the beach this weekend to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. A little early but with 5 busy kids we take time when we can :-)
While wandering the town and all the little shops we came across some great 'saying' signs. You know the kind...the quick sayings on a sign...."faith, hope, love"..."I'm the queen" things like that.... We had a few favorites "I kiss better than I cook, and I'm a great cook"...."It's hard to be the princess".... "I cook with wine, sometimes I even use it in food"...."life is full of choices, remove your shoes or scrub the floors" things like that. But the one that really caught us was a little magnet.
"God already has my stupidity factored into my eternity"
How perfect is that! God does have a sense of humor to work with us imperfect people. And how often do we have those..."oh man" moments we wish we could redo or just tweak the moment to come out better.
All weekend the saying has stayed with me and I can't believe how comforted I am in that simple truth. No matter how "stupid" I can be God is not surprised, worried or flustered. He's got it covered! And He'll use my imperfect moments and choices to draw me to Himself for His glory! Awesome
So don't forget to take the time to laugh at yourself in your "stupid" moments....it's already factored in ;-)
While wandering the town and all the little shops we came across some great 'saying' signs. You know the kind...the quick sayings on a sign...."faith, hope, love"..."I'm the queen" things like that.... We had a few favorites "I kiss better than I cook, and I'm a great cook"...."It's hard to be the princess".... "I cook with wine, sometimes I even use it in food"...."life is full of choices, remove your shoes or scrub the floors" things like that. But the one that really caught us was a little magnet.
"God already has my stupidity factored into my eternity"
How perfect is that! God does have a sense of humor to work with us imperfect people. And how often do we have those..."oh man" moments we wish we could redo or just tweak the moment to come out better.
All weekend the saying has stayed with me and I can't believe how comforted I am in that simple truth. No matter how "stupid" I can be God is not surprised, worried or flustered. He's got it covered! And He'll use my imperfect moments and choices to draw me to Himself for His glory! Awesome
So don't forget to take the time to laugh at yourself in your "stupid" moments....it's already factored in ;-)
Friday, September 3, 2010
A Blogging Experiment
If you've found me welcome to my experiment! I'm not sure what I think of myself blogging yet but I'm interested in giving it a try....
I am a child of God, wife, mother (adoptive and birth), home school teacher, carpool for my child who is going to school....Home Executive and all that jazz...youth worker, foster mother, friend, mentor, bible study host and so on. I try to be an active person. Always learning new things and trying to move and stay healthy. I have Celiac disease, a gluten/wheat allergy which has lead me to cook, eat and be healthier. I try to eat Organically grown foods when it counts, locally food as much as possible and to avoid GMO's/GE food's. I enjoy reading, being with my family, taking long walks with good friends, spending time in the Bible and prayer. I love watching my children grow and learn. I love growing up with my High School Sweetheart. I live in beautiful SW Washington which allows me warm Summers, beautiful Fall, cold Winters, and full of life Springs. I feel incredibly blessed to be where I am.
That is a short bit about me....and a good overview of what my blog will be about. I hope those who find their way here will be encouraged.
I don't claim to be an expert on anything..
but I definitely have my opinions...
like everyone else...
I'm just learning as I go...
I am a child of God, wife, mother (adoptive and birth), home school teacher, carpool for my child who is going to school....Home Executive and all that jazz...youth worker, foster mother, friend, mentor, bible study host and so on. I try to be an active person. Always learning new things and trying to move and stay healthy. I have Celiac disease, a gluten/wheat allergy which has lead me to cook, eat and be healthier. I try to eat Organically grown foods when it counts, locally food as much as possible and to avoid GMO's/GE food's. I enjoy reading, being with my family, taking long walks with good friends, spending time in the Bible and prayer. I love watching my children grow and learn. I love growing up with my High School Sweetheart. I live in beautiful SW Washington which allows me warm Summers, beautiful Fall, cold Winters, and full of life Springs. I feel incredibly blessed to be where I am.
That is a short bit about me....and a good overview of what my blog will be about. I hope those who find their way here will be encouraged.
I don't claim to be an expert on anything..
but I definitely have my opinions...
like everyone else...
I'm just learning as I go...
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