My Paul's Fictional Story: Charlie

Oh, but this blog is sorely neglected. There's always something else that needs to be done lately. Writing blows off steam for me, so I really miss it.

I did want to jump on here quickly and write out my Paul's fictional story. He's been writing it in ten-minute increments of time during our morning Quick Writes. I think it's worthy of sharing because it highlights the benefit of assigning copious amounts of reading texts, whether fiction or non-fiction. Over time, widely-read students begin to use "book language" when they speak and write, transforming them into articulate speakers and solid writers.

Paul, age 10, is working 18 months to 2 years ahead in school (which is why I can school him with his older brother), but he'll be the first to tell you that he doesn't like reading. He'd much rather study maps, design maps, design original card games, play board games or card games, or study almanacs and history time lines. He's a nerd, but not a book-loving nerd. Nevertheless, the books he whines about are benefiting him enormously.

Charlie

Once upon a time there was a boy named Charlie. He had a mom and a dad, and a best friend, Tike, but no brothers or sisters. He had just moved to New York, near Albany.

It was a warm summer day, June 9th. Tike and Charlie were going swimming.

"Last one there is a rotten egg," said Tike.

Despite being ten, one year younger than Charlie, Tike was faster.

They plunged into the deep, cool lake. And of course, Tike was a better swimmer. They challenged each other to see who could swim faster across the half-mile lake.

"I don't like this idea," said Charlie, after thinking about it more.

"It will be fine," said the younger Tike.

So, Tike and Charlie started across. By the time they were halfway across the lake, Charlie turned back.

"I don't think this is going well. What if we start drowning?", said Charlie, partly because he was losing.

"I'll win without you," said Tike.

"Fine", said Charlie.

Tike was almost across when Charlie called to him, "Watch it. There are rocks over there."

But Tike didn't hear him.

Tike was excited when he made it across. "I won! I won!", he sang.

"Whoo", said Tike soon after that, slipping and falling face-down on a rock.

When Tike didn't come back, Charlie walked to the other side of the lake.

"Tike! Tike!," he called.

Charlie finally found Tike, lying unconscious on a rock. He called for help.

"Help! Help!"

When Tike woke up, he was in a bed in the hospital. And, of course, his mom was next to him.

"Are you alright? Are you?", said his mom.

"Yes, I'm fine", said Tike. "But why am I in the hospital?"

"Well", said Charlie. "I'll tell you my story."

"We were racing across the lake", started Charlie. "I turned back, but Tike kept going. When he was almost across, I reminded him of the rocks. I guess he didn't hear me, because I found him lying on a rock, unconscious."

"After that, I got your mom and we took you to the hospital," he said to Tike.

He hasn't finished this story yet, but I'm so tickled by it.

Tell me about your own children? What are they doing that is inspiring you lately, or affirming your methods? Parenting is hard, and we really need to celebrate when our efforts bring fruit. (Or rather, when God blesses our efforts and allows them to grow fruit.)

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Bright Spot in our Homeschooling Today

Today in our Writing With Ease Level 4 resource, I read a passage from The Siege of Washington, D.C., by Captain E. Colburn Adams. This is a very old book, not readily available, but the writing is superb and exactly what I want my children to emulate. Susan Wise Bauer chose only the best as she penned this resource, and I'm indebted to her.

Following the reading (just a passage, not the whole book), the boys were required to narrate orally why the Civil War started, using 3 or 4 sentences. Specifically, what did the South want, what did the North and West do to provoke the South, and what was the result?

After they narrated and we discussed it together, the boys began writing their narration. I have them write all their narrations after we discuss the passage, which is a modified use of the resource. In Level 4, I'm supposed to write down my student's narration as they speak, and then they are to memorize the first two sentences only, and then write just those down. My boys are capable of more, since this resource is for grades 4-5.

I always say, boss the curriculum, don't let it boss you. Modify it to work for your child.

Shortly I will probably purchase Writing With Skill, the next resource in the series, and move the boys into that.

I am so proud of my Peter!

Regular, long-time readers might remember that he has always struggled with spelling, and that organizing his thoughts on paper was difficult too. He has a little dysgraphia, which is difficulty with handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts on paper. You would be shocked at his handwriting, which is large for his age, though neat enough as long as he uses 2nd-grade lined paper. He's no where near ready for college-ruled paper, for example, which is very unusual for a sixth grader. And cursive is very difficult for him.

But his spelling and writing organization! They are so much improved, and no tears or fits! I was so excited at his work today!

Peter, age 11 (first draft, with his spelling and punctuation)

The people of the south wanted 3 things: slavery, a president who agreed with them, and independence. The people of the north and west offended the south by electing Abraham Lincoln as president. Becasue of this the Civil War started.

What shining spot did you experience in your school today?
 

Homeschool and Mother's Journal, Sept 7

Don't I wish I was that young and pretty--my dresses so lovely!

In my life this week:
I'm struggling to find time to get our fall school and chore schedule completed. If you've made one, you know it's a huge chunk of time requiring serious concentration (i.e. no children around, preferably). Of course praying through makes it go as smoothly as possible, as with anything else. Right now I'd just be thankful for some time!

I'll have to resign myself to a few late-night sessions--sessions that don't interfere with supervising the children, making their meals, and shuffling laundry.

In Our Homeschool This Week:

We're on break for one more week, only doing reading and read-alouds. I wanted to introduce a series I found at the library last week.

We've enjoyed all the Lois Lowry books we've read, and when I came across a series called Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry, I thought we'd like them. And we do!




Scholastic Synopsis: From the moment Gooney Bird Greene arrives at Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second-graders are intrigued by her unique sense of style and her unusual lunches. So when story time arrives, the choice is unanimous: they want to hear about Gooney Bird Greene. And that suits her just fine, because, as it turns out, Gooney Bird has quite a few interesting and "absolutely true" stories to tell. Through Gooney Bird and her tales, acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the concepts and elements of storytelling. By demonstrating some of the simple techniques that reveal the extraordinary in everyday events, this book will encourage the storyteller in everyone.

This book really does teach storytelling elements, even to middle-grade children. I read it to the whole family and even Daddy wore a smile. We're on our second book as they're pretty short reads.

Other books in the series:                                                                                                                   









As for 2013-14 curriculum, here's the scoop.

80% of what we use comes used, through homeschool classifieds, Amazon, or ebay.

Bible: I continue my quest to have my children memorize all the significant Bible stories--the characters, outcomes, and impact on individual faith. In addition, the boys will follow the Bible curriculum that comes with Sonlight Core F. They'll also work their way through The Message, by Peterson.

All four children also participate in AWANA from September to May. I'll be helping with Cubbies again this year.

Science: All my children are doing Sonlight Science, with the girls, ages 4 and 6, sharing the Core A science package, and the boys, ages 9 and 11, sharing the Core F science package.

Writing: The boys are using Writing With Ease Level 4, by Susan Wise Bauer, and my 6-year-old is using Writing With Ease Level 1. All the children will also write in journals.

Grammar: As we have time, my 6-year-old will also benefit from First Language Lessons Level 1, written by Susan's mother, Jessie Wise. The boys and I will go through First Language Lessons Level 4.

Math: My 4-year-old will slowly (as we have time and as she's interested) work through a BJU kinder math workbook. My 6-year-old will use Saxon Math Level 1; my 4-year-old will join in for the manipulative parts as appropriate. I'll also teach my girls to read graphs and design a few of their own. Graphing is a fun activity I can incorporate into each season of the year, using all four children.

My boys will use Teaching Textbooks, which we love and have used for three years.

Language Arts: My boys are doing Core F Sonlight this year, focusing on the Eastern Hemisphere. Sonlight is the only literature-based curriculum company that provides materials on the eastern hemisphere. I will learn along with my boys, since I've never had any eastern-hemisphere education. My prayer is that my 11-year-old, who has OCD, will not have a difficult time with this curriculum. It includes information and stories depicting eastern religions, and a component of his OCD involves religious distortion, in which he worries his Christian beliefs will be corrupted by false religions.

In order to understand the 10/40 missionary window (missionary materials are included in this package), I believe we all need some knowledge of unreached people groups and their spiritual identities, so I'm willing to take a chance on this curriculum.

My girls will be doing their second year of Sing, Spell, Read, Write. I purchased the K-1 combo kit last year and I'm still very pleased.

Social Studies/History - All the boys' history is included in the Sonlight Core F Eastern Hemisphere package, along with a World Book DVD Rom.

My girls will be learning from all the content-area trade books I purchased as a first grade teacher (1992 - 2001). I have more than enough to write my own curriculum, and the library has excellent social studies-themed books as well. I don't see any reason to purchase anything for social studies at this level, especially if you have access to a good fiction and non-fiction library.

Art: We've accumulated quite a few art and drawing books. I'm also going to teach the boys, using the Internet and library books, to recognize famous paintings. I'll be learning along with them on this one too. We'll also read about each artist.

P.E. and Music: The children will participate in a Christmas Choir at our church; my 9-year-old will continue playing the piano; and we'll go to as many homeschool gym classes as our schedule reasonably allows, along with bike riding and walking. My husband is putting together some CD's for a short music-appreciation class for all of us.

Places We're Going and People We're Seeing:

Today is homeschool day at our local zoo and we're really looking forward to that! Grizzly Bears arrived this year, along with other new exhibits.

Earlier this week we met with a mom of five whom we know from AWANA. She invited us to lunch to talk about homeschooling. Her children are ages 2 months to 6 years (one set of twins). She's just beginning her homeschool journey and was homeschooled herself.  In fact, her mother began homeschooling four children back when homeschooling was extremely unusual. She did an outstanding job. This young mother went to college, knows how to cook from scratch, can her own produce, garden, do woodworking, quilt, sew, and play the piano. She was baffled, however, on how much to teach in one year. "How do you make sure you're not leaving holes?"

They have five acres, 20 apples trees, 3 pear trees, 3 peach trees, a big garden, a playground, a dog, and two kittens to catch mice in the barn.

I held the 2-month-old baby the whole time I talked. I. was. in. heaven.

I'm cooking:

I'm trying to find the time to look for new recipes, but this week it was much of the same:
baked ziti, crockpot whole chicken, chicken noodle soup, taco bake, cheesy eggs and cafe potatoes, grilled chicken breasts

Looking forward to more applesauce, soups, and chili, now that fall weather is approaching...and more that I can do in the oven without making the house feel like a furnace. Our air conditioning broke last week and we've already paid for two new parts this summer. We'll have to wait until tax money comes to have a new motor put on. No air conditioning aggravates my migraines so I consider this a need, not a want.

I'm grateful for:

~ four children to love, cuddle with, and teach

~ a Christian husband

~ four seasons

~ our Compassion children

~ fall leaves coming soon

~ that my youngest is only 4; I have a lot of mothering years to look forward to.

~ transforming words of Scripture

~ the written word

~ homeschooling resources

~ homeschooling friends

~ books to get lost in

~ faith to see me through

~ the wonder of learning

Have a wonderful week and thank you for reading! How was your week?

Homeschool and Mother's Journal, June 28

In my life this week:
Our pastor came over on Tuesday night to make us members of the church--something which had to be done for me to work as a children's ministry coordinator. Prior to the meeting we had to take a spiritual gifts inventory and read through the church constitution and statement of faith.

We had such a pleasant time with this young man! At 35 years old, he's the most down-to-earth pastor we've ever had. Most of the congregation is at least 35 or older, so at times that must feel strange to him, but he does a wonderful job.

The first six years in Ohio we had salesman-personality pastors. You know the ones--good with people, but often disingenuous. They say all the right things at the right times, keeping a persona going that's more confident than humble, more calculated than natural.

Our young pastor is so refreshing in comparison. No, he doesn't stand by the door and shake everyone's hand as they leave; that isn't his personality.

It feels wonderful to have finally found a church home here, after leaving a jewel of a church behind in California, which outside of its mega-church size, we really loved.

My husband will help with hospital visits and possibly, in the future, do some pastoral counseling. This is even a pastor who lets other Bible-scholar types preach occasionally, which could mean a thrilling opportunity for my husband, who went to Bible college and a year of seminary. (Pastor gets a lot of sudden kidney stones, for one thing.)

In our homeschool this week:
We do half-days from June to August (followed by 6 weeks off--but they read 5 days a week year round). Half-day means the boys read a novel for 30 minutes, read the Bible, and then alternate between reading another half-hour of non-fiction in science or history. Math is 2-3 times a week, and writing is daily, alternating between dictation and narration. We're short on art samples so ahead of our August 5th portfolio appointment, I'm having them do more art.

Both boys are still reading Johnny Tremain, a revolutionary war novel by Esther Forbes. I happen to think it's a well-written, thoughtful novel, but both boys have complained about it at times.



Some interesting information about this author: She was a historian, not a novelist, and she had dyslexia. She rarely spelled a word the same way twice, and she used dashes as her only punctuation. Apparently quite stubborn, she refused to clean up her copy for editors. The novel persevered through these obstacles, as well as another big one: it was released during World War II.

I find the writing genius, with the character development particularly strong, but the boys don't like her detail-oriented writing style, which makes the novel move slower than it might. I'm making them persevere and I think in the end they'll admit this is excellent literature.

A few months ago we checked out a Kit American Girl movie about the Great Depression. It was outstanding, as are most of the American girl characters and stories. Peter liked these characters in particular, so when he recently stumbled upon a couple Kit American Girl Mysteries, he checked them out. Of course he was sort of embarrassed about it, but I assured him they were fine for boys too.

Many a mom has wished the wholesome American Girl series could be followed up by a similar series for boys, but nothing yet as far as I know. The Kit series has plenty of boys in it, thank goodness.

When a book's main character is a girl, I always tell my sons that reading about wholesome girls helps them recognize wholesomeness--knowledge they'll need when they're ready for courtship.

Two library finds are thrilling my Karl Rove-clone, statistician son: The New Big Book of America, and the Smithsonian Children's Encyclopedia of American History. 9-year-old Paul sits down with these books and keeps saying, "All of this is so interesting!"



Publisher Synopsis: Bright, lively, and informative, this state-by-state guide to America was designed for children ages 9 to 12. Each state is represented by a colorful topographical map accompanied by illustrations and text of the famous people, places, and events that have shaped its history. This comprehensive volume provides a well-rounded look at the United States in a format that's appealing and easy to use.



Publisher Synopsis: Current events discussions are now an integral learning tool in classrooms across the country. With its up-to-the-moment content and engaging style, this major reference book is an essential resource for helping children relate today's news to the events of the past. Focusing on the who, what, when, where, and how, with stunning pictures and a cutting-edge visual style, DK's Children's Encyclopedia of American History is published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution to present a completely unique survey of the story of America. Featuring more than 1,000 photographs, plus maps, charts, and profiles of famous Americans, the design of the book has been painstakingly considered to pull in even the most reluctant reader.

Things my Paul loves beyond measure are maps and charts and diagrams and statistics. How he can get lost in those! 



In honor of Independence Day, I checked out five Lynne Cheney picture books (Vice President Dick Cheney's wife). She happens to be an acclaimed novelist who loves America. No matter your opinion of her husband, know that she's a wonderful writer with a heart for her country and its children. All product descriptions below are from christianbook.com.

We The People: The Story of Our Constitution, by Lynne Cheney




Product Description: Though the Revolution was over, the troubles of this new nation were far from over. The states were squabbling, the country could not pay its bills, and in Massachusetts farmers had taken up arms against the government. Would this new country even survive? Delegates from across the country--including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin--gathered in Philadelphia in May 1787. Over the course of the summer, they created a new framework for governing: the Constitution of the United States. Their efforts turned a shaky alliance of states into a nation that would prosper and grow powerful, drawing its strength for centuries to come from "We the people" and inspiring hope for freedom around the world. Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

America: A Patriotic Primer, by Lynne Cheney


Product description: "L is for Lincoln, M is for Madison." Teach your kids the ABCs of American history with this "stars and stripes" book. Lynne Cheney---wife of the vice president---reinforces the godly values, ideals, people, and events that make our country great. Features delightful illustrations and explanatory notes. Ages 4 to 8. 40 pages, hardcover from Simon & Schuster.


Our Fifty States: A Family Adventure Across America, by Lynne Cheney



Product Description:
An endless path of whimsical illustrations will keep kids' (and adults'!) eyes glued to the pages. Following the adventures of a family and their dog around each of the fifty states, they begin in Massachusetts (where the Pilgrims landed) and finish in Hawaii (our newest state), visiting all the major famous sites, people, symbols, and events along the way! With tons of tiny illustrations and captions highlighting the unique features of each state that together comprise America! 72 pages, hardcover.

When George Washington Crossed the Delaware, by Lynne Cheney



Product Description: This boldly illustrated book captures the danger and bravado of Washington's crossing of the Delaware. Written by vice president's wife Lynne Cheney as a Christmas time story, quotes from revolutionary leaders (with accompanying end notes) and stirring prose bring Washington's story of Continental triumph to life. 40 pages, hardcover with dust jacket and reinforced binding. Ages 4-8.

A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women, by Lynne Cheney



Product Description: Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser collaborated on America: A Patriotic Primer, which captured the imagination of American children and became a national best-seller. Now they turn their hands to A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women and bring the great women of American history to life. Filled to the brim with words and pictures that celebrate the remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women, this is a book to relish and to read again and again.

Mothers, daughters, schoolchildren, generations of families -- everyone -- will take Abigail Adam's words to heart and "remember the ladies" once they read the stories of these astonishing, astounding, amazing American women.

Places We're Going and People We're Seeing:
We might head to a local lake beach this weekend, weather permitting. Lake swimming is my children's favorite summer outing, besides the county fair. For my part, I try not to obsess about the dangers of lake swimming, but it's hard when stories about brain-eating amoebas float around. The water shouldn't be over 80 degrees yet, however, so we're probably okay this weekend. We'll invite our friend Dean along; it's hard to keep an eye on four children in the water, by ourselves.

We've been to the Tuesday young learners library program, entailing story time, movement, and story-related craft, and we've been to our twice-monthly speech appointment for the three younger ones.

Why three speech kids in the same family, you ask? I think our tongues are too large. Seriously. The speech teacher thinks this is a possibility as well. If I don't slow down, I easily sound like I have marbles in my mouth when I speak.

My Favorite Things This Week:.
Reading to my kids, the pleasant meeting with the pastor, playing baseball in the backyard with my children, and watching my 4-year-old daughter dance around skillfully, as if an accomplished ballerina. Music and dancing are her favorites, though I don't know if dancing is the best thing for her arthritic knees and left ankle. Her body sure moves with an uncommon grace.



My Kiddos Favorite Things This Week:

Mary, age 6: Catching fireflies, going to my library program, learning to ride without training wheels.

The no-training wheels happened last week, but I was too busy blogging for Compassion (covering their Nicaragua trip for my readers) to do a mother's journal. A neighbor boy with a head for mechanics took off my daughter's training wheels. No one asked me my opinion about this, but that is typical when it comes to the kids' bikes. They try to do all their own bike mechanics, with this 9-year-old neighbor's help. I would have said yes, since of course at 6 she is ready--we just hadn't thought about it and she hadn't asked.

By the time I was done with the lunch dishes, she rode pretty well. By dinner she was a champ! Not on the street yet though, as the back tire promptly went out soon after she learned. We're on the hunt for a 14-inch tire. (It's always something with kids' bikes, isn't it? Our bikes are older so there's some problem almost weekly).

Paul, age 9: Inventing a battleship game with paper and then playing it with my brother; catching fireflies and looking at history books.

Peter, age 11: Catching fireflies, tending to the garden, watching an African cats DVD, playing baseball with Mommy.

Beth, age 4: All the music and dancing, playing with my dolls and my books.

Things I'm Working On:
I'm doing the main teaching for preschool VBS in two weeks, and I don't have my materials yet! Organizational skills aren't the strong point at the church we go to for AWANA and VBS (not our home church). I will be very busy, obviously, the night before each teaching is due; with preschoolers you can never be too well prepared.

I'm trying to work out what combination of exercise tapes and walking I can put together to make up a consistent exercise routine, with homemade weights thrown in. I have a Richard Simmons and something that looks like it was put out by Shape magazine--both from the thrift store so not current, and both never used by me yet.

I'm Cooking:
For dinner this week:
taco bake
shepherd's pie
sloppy turkey joes
omelets, cafe potatoes, and fresh-frozen mixed berries
crockpot whole chicken
grilled chicken
Little Caesar's Pizza (Tuesday, so I could clean the house ahead of Pastor's visit)

I'm Grateful For:
My children's interests and passions, their love and fellowship, the opportunity to disciple them, my husband's hard work and love for his family, good books, our Compassion children's letters, our church family

I'm Praying For:
My children and family, my own heart growth, our neighbors, our Compassion children and their families, my friends and their children, money for a new Internet router. The living-area computer I write on at night while everyone sleeps is completely unreliable as far as the signal goes. The signal originates from the master bedroom, where of course my husband is sleeping when I have time to write.

Getting a new, $500 computer back in February, which we badly needed, did nothing to help our speed and reliability problem. I pass many a frustrated hour with my computer situation, chanting I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...including handling frustration over poor equipment, gracefully. We have a $29 a month Internet service (no cable or land phone), which is the lowest broadband speed. But that shouldn't result in the wireless signal going out so frequently. We've tried other things, and now we need to replace the router.

Sorry to bore you with all that....

Quote or Link to Share:

Another poem by my favorite poet, Edgar Guest. Have a wonderful weekend, friends! And now it's your turn: What neat things did you enjoy this week?

Home

BY EDGAR ALBERT GUEST

It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home,

A heap o’ sun an’ shadder, an’ ye sometimes have t’ roam

Afore ye really ’preciate the things ye lef’ behind,

An’ hunger fer ’em somehow, with ’em allus on yer mind.

It don’t make any differunce how rich ye get t’ be,

How much yer chairs an’ tables cost, how great yer luxury;

It ain’t home t’ ye, though it be the palace of a king,

Until somehow yer soul is sort o’ wrapped round everything.

Home ain’t a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;

Afore it’s home there’s got t’ be a heap o’ livin’ in it;

Within the walls there’s got t’ be some babies born, and then

Right there ye’ve got t’ bring ‘em up t’ women good, an’ men;

And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn’t part

With anything they ever used—they’ve grown into yer heart:

The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore

Ye hoard; an’ if ye could ye’d keep the thumbmarks on the door.

Ye’ve got t’ weep t’ make it home, ye’ve got t’ sit an’ sigh

An’ watch beside a loved one’s bed, an’ know that Death is nigh;

An’ in the stillness o’ the night t’ see Death’s angel come,

An’ close the eyes o’ her that smiled, an’ leave her sweet voice dumb.

Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an’ when yer tears are dried,

Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an’ sanctified;

An’ tuggin’ at ye always are the pleasant memories

O’ her that was an’ is no more—ye can’t escape from these.

Ye’ve got t’ sing an’ dance fer years, ye’ve got t’ romp an’ play,

An’ learn t’ love the things ye have by usin’ ’em each day;

Even the roses ’round the porch must blossom year by year

Afore they ’come a part o’ ye, suggestin’ someone dear

Who used t’ love ’em long ago, an’ trained ’em jes’ t’ run

The way they do, so’s they would get the early mornin’ sun;

Ye’ve got t’ love each brick an’ stone from cellar up t’ dome:

It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home.

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12 Reasons to Love Your Daughters

I love to write. It's soothing. It's cathartic. It's a window to the heart. After words flow free, and the last line is punctuated, I feel lighter.

But it's also complicated and messy, requiring hours, months, years, before true beauty emerges. Some say it's a craft, some say an art.

Blogging archives make it easy to look back at old work......and cringe.  Yes, all writers, professional or amateur, cringe at their old work. The 10,000 hour principal is at work here. The more you practice, the better you write.  So old stuff stinks, and new stuff rocks. And finally, after ten thousand hours, you're an expert. (Or so it's said.)

Last night I wrote something that made me cringe the next morning. Yet I didn't want to delete it. It contained something my heart felt, and something my mind knew. I wanted to share it. When the kids went with Daddy to the park, I spent some time trying to fix it. It was too long, too unclear, didn't use examples or anecdotes, contained too many ideas, and the title didn't fit.  I can spot good writing, but I can't always produce it in the time available to me.

After revisions, which I posted, I still hated it.

So, to ward off further frustration, I will post lists for a few days. It's hard to mess up lists. Every writer knows that and uses lists when other words and ideas won't flow.

Top 12 Reasons I Love My Girls

~ They cuddle with me a lot.

~ Their pretty hair smells divine.

~ The look in the mirror at their behinds, mimicking Mommy.

~ They have beautiful smiles.

~ They love to bake with me.

~ They love to boss their brothers, repeating whatever Mommy says.  "You're fooling around in there! Be done with your shower in three minutes!" (Okay, right now it's just the two year old doing this, in her less-than-perfect enunciation of the English language.)

~ They are so sensitive, you have to speak sweetly to get the best results.

~ They always want to do it themselves. The boys are happy to be served.

~ Some day, Lord willing, I'll be able to hold their babies for hours, while they catch up on the house. Sometimes I think I was born to hold babies.

~ They are as gentle as they are stubborn.

~ When they put on a dress, they feel special.

~ They love their Daddy.  So do I.

I hate feed readers!

I owe an apology and a heads up to all the readers who follow this blog using various feed readers.

May I just say, I hate this modern convenience called feeds!

A majority of my readers use them, and unfortunately, when I edit a post, the readers never pick up the edits.  Likewise, when I hate a post and decide to delete it, the feed readers never delete it.  As a writer this makes me feel like I have no control over my own message--as though someone has stolen it, almost.

I was working on a post about the first two words of the Lord's Prayer (Our Father), and it accidentally posted before I was finished.  It won't make any sense the way it posted, as I planned to delete some of it and take a different angle.  I don't think there is a way to amend this mistake, so if you use a feed reader, please accept my apology.

And know that you never get the best of my work, using a feed reader.  I often edit posts five or six times after I've posted them.

Okay....so I got it off my chest.  Thank you for listening.  And as Ann would say....thank you for grace.

spring announcement

It's time for me to take a spring blogging break.  We've got a lot going on here and I don't anticipate having any writing time.

Have a good week!

With Love,

Christine

Spelling City

Have you heard of the award-winning site, Spelling City?

If not, here are a few details:

- It's free.  For a few more perks, you can join for a modest fee, but it isn't necessary, trust me.

- You type in your child's list of spelling words, and the site uses those words to generate these options:

Spelling Test 

Vocab Test

Teach Me

Play a Game 

Printable handwriting worksheet using the words 

Write a sentence or paragraph using the words

- This site is incredible!  You will be both thrilled and amazed at the convenience and the technology.  It is multi-sensory, so all learners benefit!

- For public- or private-schooling families:  You can use the weekly spelling lists given by your child's teacher with this website.  You simply type in the weekly words, and the site teaches the words individually, generates multi-sensory practice games, gives meanings, and tests your child--keeping track of scores and previous lists.

- For homeschooling families:  You can use an individualized spelling program offered by the site, or your own word lists.  There are many types of lists available, including:

Compound Words
Contractions
Dolch - Sight Words
Geography Lists
Homophones and Homonyms
Literature Based Word Lists
Monthly Holiday Lists
Phonics & Sight Word Curriculum
Popular Word Lists
Possessive Nouns
Sample Lists

Sequential Spelling Program

Sound Alike Words
Word Abbreviations
SAT words, list 1 & 2


This post probably seems like an ad for the site, but really, it isn't.  I came across a reader comment on the Pioneer Woman's Homeschooling site that mentioned Spelling City, so I took the time tonight to peruse the site. So glad I did!

There are many aspects of education that simply cannot be automated, and thank goodness for that!  But if spelling and math automation truly helps students excel, I'm all for it.  There are still plenty of subjects left that require discussion and cooperative interaction.

new screen guidelines

A couple weeks ago my sister, who is going through teacher education courses, sent us a few learning websites her professor spoke about.  One of them, this math site, has created quite the obsession in my number lovin' Paul.  This intensive focus isn't a healthy thing, so I've set new guidelines for our family regarding screen time.

On Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, we won't turn on the computer at all, starting this morning.

I just wanted to tip you off, because I won't be able to return e-mails as timely, or write as often.

Good Tuesday to you!

Paul's writings (grade 1)

One day there was a boy who liked football.  His fovart taem was Arkansas.  He liked to cheer and he watched it and learned more and more.

The End

________________________

A Poem

Our hamster is so funny
He's better than a bunny
For good sakes his name is Jack the Black!
He is so gentel
Better than a mule
He's not such an eater
he doesn't drink that much
But he's still the perfit pet

________________________

One day there was a butterfly and a ladybug.  The butterfly was blue and red.  The ladybug was black and yellow.  They liked kickball and soccer.  They got some friends to play with.  There names were Fastfly and Big-bug and Go-bug and Go-fly.  The butter-flys team won.

simple gifts, simple pleasures

There are so many things my soul wants to say.  I feel as though deep inside me there is poetry waiting to spill onto the screen, but somehow, right now, I can't reach it.  Instead, thoughts spill out wordy and choppy and chaotic.  I can spot the writing problems but I can't fix them in this season.  Maybe I'll never write something great or even very good, but there is that feeling of tension, of wanting to release something hidden.  Something good.

I suppose all who love the written word feel this same tension.  Some eventually tap the beauty inside, producing art, but even those who never quite get there bless at least themselves through their words, through their soul searching.  A soul story spills out, meaningful to the one penning it.

Right now I'm too invested in raising these children to have other ambitions--literary ambitions.  That is just me. I am fulfilled as a mother more than I will ever be as a word spiller.  The desire to raise and dwell with these children, to nurture them, is so central to who I am, that there's no question as to who is responsible.  He is.  He chose this--motherhood--as my contribution, my occupation.  It feels so good to be so sure of that.

While I tread water as I mother, to keep from sinking, words are my life vest.  Through my gratitude lists I worship God, thank Him, learn from Him, and listen to Him.  He reminds me that he's still there--I can still trust Him, draw strength and wisdom from Him.

I'm thankful for:

- the time spent hugging each child in turn on the couch, while they watched a Veggie Tales video about obeying your parents in the Lord (Colossians 3:20).  Okay, Miss Beth didn't exactly watch it.  She more made it challenging for the rest of us to watch it.

I'm too conscientious a parent to be a fun parent.  I don't tell jokes or come up with spontaneous new games.  Every mother has her strength; mine is to nurture.  I pray the Lord brings in other people to teach the value of laughter, for I feel its scarcity in our lives.

- The Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas stories.  Laura and Mary and Carrie got pretty peppermint candy and new mittens in their stockings--often their only presents--and they were happy, excited. My boys learned that simpler can be sweet and precious.  Peter asked that we begin this same tradition--of pretty candy and something homemade for Christmas.  He's already planning what he will make each family member.  (Yikes! Where's a knitting teacher when you need her?!)

- I love the Ingalls-Wilder books for this treasure most of all: they teach simplicity and gratefulness.  And good character, of course.  So much of the old literature teaches that good character--Godly values--are invaluable endeavors.  In current culture, good character now takes a back seat to success and recognition and individualism.

- Cheek-to-cheek tight hugs with Miss Beth

- That precious we're-in-this-together feeling produced through marriage.  Hardships richen that feeling, as does time, making the bond inexpressibly beautiful.

- A monetary gift from my aunt before she left for Florida, used to buy Mary a new coat, allowing us to pass Mary's well-cared-for coat down to Beth.   Everyone is warm.  Thrift stores don't get many coats in (kids seem to wear them out).  Burlington Coat Factory always has good quality coats for decent prices.  Thank God we have one close enough!  Washing a Walmart coat too often means it falls apart at the seams.  Not so with Burlington Coat Factory--many washings still leave their coats looking wonderful.

- Miss Beth suffers from a UTI, the doctor confirmed Friday.  She is on an antibiotic and will hopefully be sleeping comfortably soon.

Well, Miss Beth has managed to interrupt this writing a few times before my bedtime, a few times in the middle of the night, and now a few times this morning.  That's my frustrated cue to end this.

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend, friends!

Glory to God in the Blogosphere

I think the greatest blessing of the Christian blogosphere is the spread of personal testimony.  Many people--especially those who find writing cathartic--will share boldly, honestly, through writing.  There is an illusion of safety when the audience is invisible.   Anonymously, it's easier to humble ourselves, revealing how God brought us low.

But the stories don't end there--in lowness.  They end triumphantly, because in low living there is Kingdom-style blessing.  Remember the upside-down nature of God's Kingdom?

When we continue to follow the story, we are never disappointed.  While at first we feel pity for the author, in the end we are only amazed.  At God.  At his Glory.  His Majesty.  His provision.  His faithfulness.  His way.

It is human nature to attempt self-exaltation--think Facebook, Twitter and constant status checking.  As Christian bloggers (or Christian FB or Twitter users), we must strive to exalt God.  It is only in giving Him the glory, that we truly find fulfillment.

Thinking on these verses today:

You will save the humble people; but your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.  

2 Samuel 22:28 (NKJ)

The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

Psalm 25:9 (NKJ)

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJ)

But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says:  "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up.

James 4:6-7,10

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.  

1 Corinthians 10:12

A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

Proverbs 29:23 (NKJ)

comfort eats and poetry

I was looking for a Shepherd's Pie without beef broth and found the one below on Cooks.com.  Easy and very tasty.

Peter said, "I can't believe how good this is!"  He ate two hearty helpings, making himself so full he had to lie down on the couch before having some apple crumble dessert (which he made himself!).

MOUNTAIN SHEPHERD'S PIE (link to recipe)

1 lb. hamburger ( I used 93% lean ground turkey)
1/2 c. onion, chopped
16 oz. tomato sauce
12 oz. corn (without liquid)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 to 1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. sugar ( I didn't use any sugar.)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 c. potatoes (mashed) 6 to 8
2 c. packed Cheddar cheese (grated)

Brown meat in medium cooking pot.  Add onion and cook until tender.  Add rest of ingredients except potatoes and cheese.  Simmer 5 to 10 minutes.  Pour into 13 x 9 x 2 pan, top with potatoes, add cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 25 minutes.

________________________________________

I use a basic black bean soup recipe and add in different things each time.  It's a great comfort food!

Crockpot Spicy Black Bean Soup

- 1 pound of black beans, soaked for 8 to 48 hours.
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbs. chili powder
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 3/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

I set the crockpot on low and cook for about 9 hours.  Near the end I crush the beans with a masher for a thicker consistency.  Black beans are an extremely healthy choice!

Options:
- add in corn
- drop some of the spices, and add in Newman's Own Black Bean and Corn Salsa
- top with grated cheese
- top with a spoon of sour cream
- top with grated cheese and crushed tortilla chips
- add in diced tomatoes

__________________________________________

I've been reading poetry aloud to the kids.  After several readings, Peter was inspired.  He wrote this out of the blue one day.

Bugs

dragonflies hovering
in the air
mantises eating
crane flies dancing
water bugs racing
cicadas singing
grasshoppers hopping
crickets too
around the pond

according to your purpose

When God is working on you, he is purposeful, kind, and patient, but also unrelenting.

Recall I posted that I sometimes obsessively check e-mail?  Apparently God thinks I can't solve this problem on my own.  I must have shown a lack of cooperation with the Holy Spirit's whispers.

As I crunched the numbers for bills and incoming resources, it became clear.  Our in-home Internet service days are numbered.  By the end of the month, I think we'll be visiting the library to go online.

What does this mean?  It's all good!

I'll be able to publish a blog post and check e-mail two to three days a week.

"And we know that in all things the Lord works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28


Praise God to be called!  Yes, Lord!  


Search me.  Help me.  Change me....


according to your purpose.

Sticky Glue

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2

"Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
1 John 2:15

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."
John 17:14
___________________________________

Peter, Paul and Mary went to AWANA tonight.  I'm not helping this year, so far, so I have no control over the interactions my kids will have with other kids.  This makes me nervous.  I believe we are the only homeschooling family attending this year.

My children are going to be exposed to new things--not just to new verses.  I have to be ready to ask a lot of questions, or I may miss something big--something that needs to be filtered through a Scriptural lens, lest my children adopt a worldly view on something.

Peter got a lesson tonight in what it means to be "set apart" by God.

Two boys in his class were talking about computer video games.  Peter told them about a game he borrows from the library--Backyard Soccer (there is also one called Train Town they sometimes choose).  We don't buy any computer games or other kids' software (too expensive).

The boys have a twenty-minute daily limit for their library pick, which I think is enough to allow them amusement time...but not enough to cause screen addiction.

One of the AWANA boys, upon hearing that Peter can only play for twenty minutes, bragged that he has lots of games and can play them for "three or five hours".  And this boy also said "darn it".  Peter mentioned that matter to me because we ask our kids not to use any "fake" cuss words, lest doing so trains their tongues to use real ones, someday.

Peter became uncomfortable and stayed out of the boys' conversation after that.

I have spoken to both my boys about computer screens causing addiction in people's lives.  To me, this is a scary possibility, especially for highly visual kids, like my Paul.

I'm sure I don't have to mention that adults suffer too.  You frequently hear people joke about their compulsive e-mail checking, Twitter checking, or Facebook checking.  What's up with that, anyway?  It's a newer problem, I presume.  Are we addicted to approval, suddenly?  To validation by our peers?  If so, why aren't we more grounded in God's Word.....and in His view of us?

Is this rampant approval addiction caused by social networking, or did we always have it, but in a more hidden form?  Is it merely a "keep up with the Joneses" phenomenon?  We want to fit in...or lead the pack, even?

I struggle with a certain computer-related something.

If I spend a lot of time on a blog post, and feel it's a useful one with good insight, I rarely ever get any comments.

"Oh, my.  I thought that was a good post.  I must be out of my mind....nobody said a word.  Did I offend someone?" 

I shake off these feelings by reminding myself that, number one, I'm fortunate (and grateful) anyone takes the time to read my musings at all.  Second,  I remind myself that I just started writing 2.5 years ago.  That's really nothing, as far as practice time goes.  It takes 10,000  hours to become an expert at something!

So after my 10,000 practice hours, if there are still no comments on what I think is a good post,  I might have something to complain about.  Until then, I need to shut up and keep trying.


Or just shut up.

Anyhow, after I publish one of these "good" posts, I compulsively check my e-mail--just like I hear people joke about.  I don't use Twitter or Facebook, however.  Our lives are too uneventful to bother!

As an aside, I understand if you publish a book nowadays, you're expected to join these social networking sites and use them to promote your book.  Eeww.  I bet Ann Voskamp, who has a book coming out next year, hates the self-promoting part of authoring books.  I know I would have a hard time with that, as a fellow introvert.

Blog comments almost always show up in a blogger's inbox as a function of Blogger.  Now unfortunately, the boys notice when I'm having a compulsive e-mail-checking day.  Their noticing always makes me feel like a terrible parent who preaches one thing and lives another.  I feel so weak, low, despicable.  I hate it.

Okay.  Enough with my long confession digression.  Back to Peter's computer-game conversation.

After hearing of this boy's comments, I told Peter and Paul that it was none of our business how many hours someone uses a computer game--we are not to judge.  There could be a newborn baby in the household, or an illness, which might explain a relaxing of regular computer rules.  We never know what people are going through--or whether kids are telling a tall tale, for that matter.

But I felt they needed to know something else, too.  God expects us to be set apart from the crowd, as Christians.  We have to live for God and not covet the things of this world.  And we must use our time wisely.  We are bought and paid for by Jesus.   He owns us, and wants us set apart for his purposes.

If we spend three hours playing a computer game, can God work on us during that time--molding and changing us?  Can we focus on the Holy Spirit's whispers during that time?

In a word, no.  We can't.

I think I saw comprehension in their eyes over this "set apart" concept, but I'm sure we'll be covering it more and more.

Perhaps the harder part is making sure our kids--and ourselves--are "set apart", without also being prideful or legalistic.


How do we live daily in the tension that exists between this world and the "set apart" one?  

There is only one way.

We have to think of ourselves as having a covering of sticky glue.  If we stay near to God....through our Bible...our prayer life....our quiet listening times....our spiritual music, then we'll be "stuck" to Him.  If we venture too close to e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, computer games, new fashion, new phones, new cars, new decor--whatever we are making a god of--we'll stick to that instead.

We must pause during the day, asking: 


"What am I stuck to, today?  How can I pull away, and adhere only to God?'

My Charlotte Mason Makeover

My homeschooling identity crisis is over!  No, I've haven't spoken of a crisis here, but for three months I've searched for truth.  Truth in education.

And the conclusion?  I'm a Charlotte Mason kind of gal!  I wouldn't generally describe myself as a purist, but in this case, I really am.  Everything I've observed about children and learning lines up perfectly with what Charlotte believed and taught.

To get to the heart of what I knew to be true and right, I had to toss out practices I've adhered to simply because they were mainstream and expected.  I had to really think!

Charlotte's beliefs are fairly straightforward:  

- No formal schooling until six years old.  Children younger than six need to play and be outside, observing nature.  They also need to hear good stories throughout the day.

- Character development and knowledge of God are of utmost importance.

- Nature study is the best way to introduce children to God.

- The formation of good life habits, concentrated attention, and excellent execution, are all paramount.

- Short lessons of 10 to 20 minutes for primary children.

- All lessons complete by lunchtime, so that students can develop their interests in the remaining hours of the day.

- Reading only the best that literature has to offer (living books) in all subject areas, even if it means Mom does all the reading at first.  The literature Charlotte emphasized supported and furthered character development in her students.

- Having students ( 6+ years old) give a short narration of everything that has been read, in every subject.  The narration is simply an oral summary; length is not important.

- Elements of good writing are first introduced through copywork and dictation.  Copywork (transcription) is simply copying a small portion of Scripture or other good piece of literature (at first this is just handwriting practice).  Dictation consists of a student briefly studying a short passage, and then writing that passage as teacher dictates it. 

- Writing composition is delayed until about age ten.  This sounds shocking, and at first I thought--no way!  But as I thought more and more and remembered many experiences as a teacher, it began to ring true and right.  A student doesn't have much to aptly say until they've been exposed to years of the best literature, and until they've narrated much of that good literature.  The cohesive thoughts, the rich language, the complex sentence structure, all happen so naturally, after they've had a proper filling!  

Of course they can learn to write earlier than this (both my sons write), but it takes a lot more time and effort, leading to frustration for both parent and child.  Yes, there have been tears here.

My conclusion on this writing issue comes partially from my blog reading.  While I only have time to read three or four blogs a day, I make sure that most of the posts are written by published writers (while still keeping up with my online friends).  I've learned so much!  This next truth isn't new to me, but lately I've relearned it.  Exceptional writers are avid readers.  They're always in the middle of a book--whether fiction or non-fiction.  

Being regularly bathed in prose means beautiful words just spill out, effortlessly.  

The following is an excerpt from Ambleside Online's FAQ page, regarding the use of narration.  Ambleside is a free Charlotte Mason Curriculum resource.  They don't sell anything or earn any money.  The site was put together by devoted homeschool moms.  It's an incredible resource!

Why is narration so important and how do I do it?

"Narration - your child telling back what he's heard or read - is perhaps the most important key to making this kind of education work. Narration requires the higher-level mental activities of processing, sorting, sequencing, sifting and articulating information. Filling in blanks in a workbook can't match narration as a comprehension exercise. Oral narration is also the first step toward composition - the child becomes adept at articulating his thoughts in order, which is required in writing. Thoughts should be formulated in the mind before they are put on paper. Although simply 'telling back' is the most focused form of narration and probably the most challenging to the mental processes we are seeking to develop, some parents occasionally break up the usual routine by using other forms of narration, such as acting out, playing out, or drawing what children have heard. You can have a CM education without classical music, art, or Shakespeare--but you can't have a CM education without narration from living books. In fact, it isn't too extreme to say that a lesson that isn't narrated may be a wasted lesson! "





So, my task now is to collect all of the good literature suggested by Ambleside Online, across the many subject areas.  Some I've already found by searching Ohio libraries.  A few of the inexpensive pieces of literature (less than ten dollars), I've ordered from Amazon.


Suffice it to say, I'm excited!

thankful for..

I'm thankful for...

...the sight of my small-boned, petite toddler frolicking in her new swimsuit--gift from Auntie Lorrie, who noticed that it's hard to have a clean swimsuit ready for daily swimming, when there's only one per girl.  I tried so hard to take a freeze frame of Beth running through the grass, exuding joy and abandon, giggles escaping.

...my husband's interview today for a twenty-hour cleaning position, which won't conflict with school or with his second and third-shift cleaning contracts.  No benefits of course, but we apply for everything, not knowing what God's plans are.  Saving the house in any piece-meal way we can is the goal. We prayed leading up to and before, and I prayed during the interview.  We also perused interview tip sites.  Then, we put it all in God's hands.  Interviews are very hard for him, as first impressions aren't his strong point.  Some days it seems like everything is stacked against us.  Is that because when we finally get out of this, God wants it clear that it was HIM, and not us, who did the rescuing?

...my husband, and his reliance on God.  He knows not to pray for a particular job.  God might have something better in mind, no?  Instead, we pray that he will do well, relax, and be quick on his feet.  His resume includes his education, which exposes him as a Christian.  Sometimes having that out there hurts his chances.  Once he saw an interviewer change expressions drastically, upon hearing of husband's Bible education, when the co-interviewer brought it up in a question.  Husband knew it was all over after that, for that particular job anyway.  In some cases the degree makes him look overqualified, but his resume consists of custodial/building maintenance positions, and direct-care (with the mentally challenged) positions.  So the degree is just there, not fitting in anywhere.  To leave it off feels dishonest.  And besides, no one should shy away from claiming a devotion to God.  What would be the point?  God is the author of our biography--our days were decided before we were even born!  It's good to be reminded of that sometimes, when we get caught up in what ifs, or in what-should-I-dos.

...a toddler who isn't sleeping through the night, by a long shot.  The more hundreds of times I go in there to nurse her back to sleep, the easier it will be, many years from now, to return to the blessing of cradling and nourishing a sweet-smelling, eager-for-Momma baby.

...my sons, who know how to vacuum well and who happen to love it--same as they do windexing everything in sight.

...the time to sit and write, to create, to reflect, even though it means my house is less than neat.  My husband could take serious issue with the lack of progress on the laundry folding, but he never does.  I'm learning to delegate a bit with the folding, by the way.  The kids process their own socks/underwear and pajamas now.  No, the process is not neat, but the items get put away in a timely manner.

...online friends, who bless me with the gift of friendship.  Your comments and prayers mean so much!  Thank you!

...this post about contentment.

...this post about preparing five essential things from scratch, for the nutritional boost and for economy.  I'm not in a position to prepare all these things myself yet, due to caring for a toddler, but I am still blessed by the education.

authentic writing

I picked up a good literary article from Amy's Humble Musings.  It discusses the relationships between a writer and himself, and between the writer and his audience, emphasizing that writing is a very personal act in which the author's disorganized thoughts miraculously organize themselves on paper (or on keyboard, as the case may be.)

I loved the article.  I also loved the confirmation about what my own writing must be.  My own.  The value of writing is in the gift it gives the writer--clarification of thought.  Sometimes, that gift of clarified thought blesses others, as well.  More often it does not, which is why most writers don't make a living from their craft.  The moment an author starts writing for an audience, authenticity is lost.  And with that authenticity, value.

This is not to say that if you have a magazine writing gig, or other commercial gig, that you can't still manage  authentic writing.  If you have a passion for your topic, you can.

creating from scratch, and other musings

Things currently blessing me, and some random musings:

- Kiddos and I made our first homemade (from scratch) chocolate cake.  You'll never eat a boxed cake again!  Try homemade.  Really.  It is so easy.  Faster than a batch of cookies.  Any old recipe will do.  We used a recipe called "Basic Chocolate Cake".  We love recipes that have the word "basic" in them.  "Basic" works well when you have eight little hands helping.

Best part about the cake?  I was depressed (hormonal onslaught already upon me again) for half the day.  (Yes, I realize that my mentioning "hormonal onslaught" every month means my blog will not grow in readership.  Besides, to grow a famous blog you have to (A) be funny  (B) never whine unless you're only joking about whining, and (C) take a picture of a really hunky, Wrangler-Jean clad hiney, and make it real prominent like, on your sidebar.)

Let me just say, if posting my husband's hiney in some Wranglers would get me invited on a  Compassion International sponsorship mission trip, I would do it.  I really want to go.  Ann Voskamp is going in Sept. to Guatemala.  Ann is quite famous as a blogger.  And, true, she is decidedly not funny.  But she is so exceptional in every literary sense, they invited her anyway.  I can't wait to read her beautiful, inspiring words--about abject poverty, no less!

Since I am too lazy to go through my posts and replace is, are, was, were, and been with beefy, colorful verbs, I will never be exceptional.  But at least I'll be sane.  Stream-of-consciousness blogging keeps me sane.

And so....about that cake.  I discovered that throwing myself into a creation really helped with the depression.  I'm learning why so many people enjoy cooking.  Some, of course, just love food.  I'm an eat-to-live type person, so for me it isn't the food.  It is the act of creating something from nothing.  Another perk is that my creations bless my family.  Okay.  Usually, they bless my family.  I still make soggy or burnt fruit crisps, to my utter frustration.  I finally own a pastry cutter, so maybe that's the ticket.

Now, if I can only get a sifter.  Cakes, I learned, require a sifter.  But guess what?  Shhh.  Don't tell.  My cake turned out quite delicious without one.  But I'm generally a rule follower, so I'll probably get one.

A note about creating.  I am not crafty.  I do not sew, knit, paint, draw, make hanging wreaths, do needle point, or crochet.  I don't dislike them.  I just wasn't taught, and have no time to take lessons.  So, cooking is my creative thing now.  We have to eat.  And following recipes isn't all that hard.  Once you learn to read through the entire recipe first.  Before jumping in.

- It's 11:22  p.m. and my baby hasn't awoken.  Yet.

- When you make a chocolate cake, you can say to your witching-hour-affected sweeties:   "If I don't get cooperation during __________, you will not get a piece of the cake tomorrow.  For as long as the cake lasts, you can say it every night.  Works like a charm, I tell ya.

- I love nursing.  Love it!  But when my nurslings reach eighteen months, they pick at my moles while they nurse.  Ouch.  Can't they find some other comfort fixation, while they partake?  This is no small problem.  If you have a perfectly moleless torso, I congratulate you.  Toddler nursing will delight you.  I highly recommend it, either way.

And that said, I just now hear my little sweety (mole picker that she is).

Sweet dreams, friends!