tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347404592024-03-13T11:50:56.938-04:00A Quiver FullLike arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them...Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-13791780470357234772011-04-02T16:13:00.003-04:002011-04-02T16:26:16.922-04:00my arch enemy, the stomach buglast night, clara joy woke up vomitting. i deserted my husband and puking daughter and fled to the guest room in the hopes that i wouldn't phsyche myself into throwing up too. i'm so nauseous lately that listening to someone throw up is almost unbearable. thankfully, matt handled it well and like the great hubby he is, he woke up with her throughout the night and cleaned up as needed. thankfully, i slept and didn't spend the night throwing up! i woke up discouraged though, thinking of the doom that now lay over matt's spring break and the next several days for us. i confess that i am very afraid of stomach bugs. i know they pass quickly and that God has not forgotten us, but i struggle with even the thought that my nausea is possibly going to get worse. i spent the morning feeling depressed and talking to God about it. i snuggled up in bed while the kids watched a movie and rested. i checked email and facebook. i read an update from a missionary couple in Japan, the aoyagis and a woman they met who had lost all three of her children during the earthquake/tsunami. i read about an officer who was shot and killed this morning in chattanooga. suddenly, i was thankful. when i think about my four healthy children and my husband who is alive and well it doesn't seem to matter so much about stomach bugs or nausea. i am blessed and humbled that i have been so fearful with so little to be afraid of and so much to praise God for.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-72600531364486326522011-04-01T11:42:00.002-04:002011-04-01T12:01:31.264-04:00a fresh start?after some deliberation on the merits and challenges of facebook, i have decided to try to blog again, even though i have surely lost my followers for good. it serves as a kind of journal for me, and with as much as i am cooped up lately, i think this will be good for me.<div><br /></div><div>as for why i have been cooped up, i'm pregnant with our fifth baby. this was a huge adjustment for us, because we had hoped to be done having children. God has better plans though and we are thankful that He's in charge. right now, i'm 12 weeks and counting. it's been a rough transition so far. i've been very nauseous and unable to keep up with much of our busy family life. thankfully, we made the choice to put our older two in school this year, so i'm only home with two during the day and i'm able to rest. if we were homeschooling, i'm pretty sure things would be a little bit crazier around here.</div><div><br /></div><div>we sold our house last may. i wish i had been blogging then, because i would have posted some pictures of the house finished. it was beautiful. the only mistake we made with it was buying a smaller house to start with. it was very hard to outgrow it and leave. we love the house we're in now. it's much larger and older, with so many amazing little details, but nothing will ever feel the same as the house my husband put so much loving care into. maybe this house will feel more like home to me when our new baby comes home to it. there's such a connection with the place you have brought your babies home to. i can't think about the old house without seeing snapshots of my life as a mother in it flashing through my mind. i used to feel so cramped and crowded there, with laundry piled up and children running laps around the house. it was our life though, our family. there were messes and accidental art on the walls and delicious smells and happy screeches. </div><div><br /></div><div>thankfully, our family is a family in this big beautiful house too. we have suddenly found a way to make every square inch of a large house messy too! we have lovely neighbors, old and young. we have flowers blooming, little friends knocking on the door, and thankful hearts. i suppose these are precious things, aren't they?</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-63447385982940172972010-01-05T16:45:00.002-05:002010-01-05T17:12:27.967-05:00still here and busy as usualwell we've gone through a long season of illness and sleeplessness. that and everything else that goes into keeping a family of six running has left me too tired to write much. the idea of catching up is so daunting, that i'm just going to start with today.<br /><br />during bean's morning nap today, dana and i started our school routine with a half-day. we worked on reading and handwriting this morning and as odd as it sounds, we both needed it. i loved being able to connect with him again and it's so satisfying for him and for me to see how much he's learning. even though we haven't done any formal learning times over Christmas break, he's been stealing away with books here and there and spelling out words for me to help him with when he gets stuck. reading isn't something i have to motivate him to do anymore. he loves it and i'm so thankful that i get to watch it all happen.<br /><br />while dana did some independent work, janie and i filled out our calendar for january, drew a picture of the weather for her weather journal, and started her work on /i/ for this week. in the meantime, clara joy insisted that she get to do school too. i dug out some handwriting and early phonics sheets from an early learning workbook and she happily filled out 10 pages worth of information. she loves worksheets, which of course makes things easier for me when i'm working with the big kids.<br /><br />later, we went to a friend's house for a playdate. the kids had big fun dumping out their friends' toys and making huge messes, while i got to catch up with a friend i see far too little of lately.<br /><br />thankfully, tonight we're eating leftovers, so i'm currently sitting in the kitchen freezing my hiney off, waiting for matt and janie to get home so we can microwave some leftover goodness for dinner.<br /><br />and i'm writing in lowercase... maybe it will save me time? maybe i won't spend so much time searching for the caps key? or mistakenly hitting it when i shouldn't?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-9889200656104933812009-11-29T15:26:00.002-05:002009-11-29T15:30:28.462-05:00some progress:)Again, this is just a small update...<br /><br />I finally got my pants' size down to a single digit number! I'm glad that all of the early morning trips to the Y and south beachin' it have paid off. I've indulged a little bit over Thanksgiving, but I'm going to keep at it and hopefully keep those pesky pounds from coming back.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-91688825662940708392009-11-02T22:56:00.002-05:002009-11-02T23:00:00.120-05:00So I'm pretty busy lately and our hard drive is dead, but I'm going to try to leave little posts here and there when I get a chance. I've just started the south beach diet, which is my first attempt ever at a formal diet. My thirties haven't been very good for the bottom or waistline. Ahem...<br /><br />I'm encouraged about my progress so far, but would love to hear some suggestions from anyone who has tried this diet or a similar one. Did you have any favorite recipes or websites that were helpful?<br /><br />Stay tuned for another brief and choppy update...Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-12111972915976446702009-10-15T08:25:00.001-04:002009-10-15T08:25:36.152-04:00a good reminder borrowed from another woman's blog“Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king’s palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension (2 Kings 25:30). Herein he well pictures the happy Position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenced in February for we do not feel it as yet. If we have enough for each day as the days arrive, we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy…You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above…In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you…enjoy your continual allowance. ~C.H.SpurgeonKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-2718380590626829352009-09-20T17:13:00.001-04:002009-09-20T17:13:39.604-04:00a little something newtrying to spice up the old bloggy :)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-80733656417829740642009-09-20T16:06:00.000-04:002009-09-20T16:07:24.862-04:00Matt, Papi, and kids at blue hole<a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34766&id=1068845218&l=864b947215">click here to see the photos</a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-33214493848813807802009-09-16T16:30:00.008-04:002009-09-17T12:50:12.593-04:00another song<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H9xL65d0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H9xL65d0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The shape note documentary I saw at St. Elmo Pres. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Awake My Soul</span>) has left me craving more. I keep thinking of getting away to one of the local singings to try it out and I would LOVE to host a showing of the documentary and a sample singing at our church in Flintstone too. The community we're in would probably love it. At our church on Sunday, we sang a an old hymn that was adapted from the Sacred Harp hymnal. This hymn was also sung a few times during the documentary and I was so excited to sing it, even if the tune was slightly changed. Here it is, and I hope it edifies you and encourages you as much as it has me. Click on the link below to hear the tune. The organ doesn't really do the song justice, but you'll get the idea. It's hauntingly beautiful to hear it sung in the shape note way, with over a hundred people belting out the notes and keeping time together. For now though, I have to be satisfied with humming it to myself while I do the dishes.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-size:85%;" >I know that my Re-deem-er lives— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> What com-fort this sweet sent-ence gives— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br />Shout on, pray on, we're gain-ing ground— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> The dead's a-live and the lost is found— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /><br />He lives, He lives, who once was dead— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> He lives, my ev-er-last-ing Head— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br />Shout on, pray on, we're gain-ing ground— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> The dead's a-live and the lost is found— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /><br />He lives to bless me with His love— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> He lives to plead for me a-bove— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br />Shout on, pray on, we're gain-ing ground— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> The dead's a-live and the lost is found— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /><br />He lives, all glo-ry to His name!— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> He lives, my Je-sus, still the same— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br />Shout on, pray on, we're gain-ing ground— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah!<br /> The dead's a-live and the lost is found— Glo-ry, hal-le-lu-jah! </span><br /><br /><a href="http://members.toast.net/puritan/Hymns/Hymns.htm">http://members.toast.net/puritan/Hymns/Hymns.htm</a><br /><br /><a href="http://fasola.org/">More about shape note/sacred harp music...</a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-88561674189722158212009-09-06T22:33:00.000-04:002009-09-06T22:34:20.360-04:00what i'm humming todayHallelujah! Praise Jehovah<br /><br />Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,<br />O my soul, Jehovah praise;<br />I will sing the glorious praises<br />Of my God through all my days.<br />Put no confidence in princes,<br />Nor for help on man depend;<br />He shall die, to dust returning,<br />And his purposes shall end.<br /><br />Happy is the man that chooses<br />Israel’s God to be his aid;<br />He is blest whose hope of blessing<br />On the Lord his God is stayed.<br />Heaven and earth the Lord created,<br />Seas and all that they contain;<br />He delivers from oppression,<br />Righteousness He will maintain.<br /><br />Food He daily gives the hungry,<br />Sets the mourning prisoner free,<br />Raises those bowed down with anguish,<br />Makes the sightless eyes to see.<br />Well Jehovah loves the righteous,<br />And the stranger He befriends,<br />Helps the fatherless and the widow,<br />Judgment on the wicked sends.<br /><br />Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,<br />O my soul, Jehovah praise;<br />I will sing the glorious praises<br />Of my God through all my days.<br />Over all God reigns forever,<br />Through all ages He is King;<br />Unto Him, thy God, O Zion,<br />Joyful hallelujahs sing.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-29912837988995588192009-08-25T16:01:00.004-04:002009-08-25T20:58:45.702-04:00keeping it real<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SpRDozLLx2I/AAAAAAAAE40/EkfPf8KoYkE/s1600-h/IMG_2667.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SpRDozLLx2I/AAAAAAAAE40/EkfPf8KoYkE/s400/IMG_2667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373994623570790242" border="0" /></a><br />I've gotten a few very nice compliments that I didn't deserve lately and I think it's due to the fact that I only post when I'm in a good mood and I've had a productive enough day to sit down and tell about it. Consequently, most of my posts are about good days and things that are working for me. I suppose those who know me know me well enough to understand that our life is much messier than that and I, like most people, really don't have it all together.<br /><br />In the spirit of keeping it real, and hopefully opening a few minds, I am going to put myself out there a bit and share something that is a real struggle in my family. Growing up, ADHD was something like the sixth member of my five person family. It affected all of us to some degree, even if it was just by association. Back then, there weren't really labels for it and even when pediatricians and teachers finally recognized it as a real problem, they didn't know what to do about it aside from pushing meds like ritalin on desperate parents. Now, years later, practically everyone says their kid has ADHD and our society has been so inundated with information on it, that no one really takes it seriously anymore. More often than I would like, I've heard people tell me that it's just an excuse not to parent your children, or that it's just another label we put on kids to explain away their bad behavior. To me, it seems like we've gone from bad to worse. ADHD is real, just as real as dyslexia or any other disorder that profoundly affects learning that way. And, despite it's notoriety, it's really misunderstood.<br /><br />Now, I find myself in a really unexpected role. My son, Dana clearly has ADHD and I am struggling with what to do to encourage and equip him to learn and thrive. Thankfully, Dana is homeschooled and his world has been a fairly safe one so far. At home he has the freedom to be his quirky little self without being ridiculed or bullied. At church, in Sunday school and evening classes, he has to interact with other children and obey his teacher, which has been a needed challenge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SpSIp2LMacI/AAAAAAAAE48/jZrdtkYYA7A/s1600-h/IMG_2523.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SpSIp2LMacI/AAAAAAAAE48/jZrdtkYYA7A/s400/IMG_2523.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374070507858323906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Still, at soccer practice and any other place where there are lots of children and a good amount of noise, he's completely overwhelmed and he shuts down. Poor Matt. He coaches Dana's team and to every other parent watching from the sidelines, it probably looks like we're making the kid play soccer against his will. In reality, Dana begs us to let him play and then by the second or third practice, he refuses to try. Fear of failure and inattention take over and the pep talks begin. Thankfully, we had a great practice tonight. Between Matt coaching and me shouting encouragement from the sideline, Dana was fairly focussed and really proud of himself. At one point, a parent kindly volunteered to step in and assist Matt with the coaching. He started barking orders at Dana and the three other boys he was working with. He spoke so fast and he seemed to be talking over them. Within seconds, Dana was flopping his arms and legs around and walking like a straw man, completely tuning this well-meaning father out. I'll be honest, I was angry and fighting back tears. Thankfully, Dana listened to me as I did my best to repeat the man's instructions and he was able to stay on task. Tonight was a good night, but lately I'm weighed down with the struggles that he'll have to face as he gets older. Especially, because no one seems to care that he's struggling and very few people are willing to accomodate his needs. I know he's not the only kid that struggles with this either.<br /><br />Lately, I've been spending my spare time learning about what Matt and I can do to help him. Here are my main goals, at least for now:<br /><br />1- Encouragement... he needs a lot of that, and at the very least, he needs as much encouragement as he gets discipline. There's so much to praise him for anyway. I didn't mention this earlier (shame on me), but ADHD kids have some kick-butt attributes too. They're usually very bright and incredibly creative, not to mention good at problem-solving.<br /><br />2- Structure... each day needs to be pretty much the same around here, with the exception of friends visiting and Sundays. Dana thrives on routine and I bet most kids do, but when we don't have one, he flounders.<br /><br />3- Consistent, godly discipline... I need to work on keeping my cool when I'm at my wits' end. Tired or not, he needs to know that no matter what, the rules in our house don't change and neither do the consequences.<br /><br />4. Diet... this is a work in progress, but gradually, I'm going to try to keep sugary foods out of the house and stick to all natural foods.<br /><br />5. Exercise... as much as he struggles with it, I really think he needs the social and mental benefit of playing a team sport. It's good for him to learn to work in a team and to stretch himself to persevere when he's tired. Unless he really starts to hate it, we're going to keep plugging away at this. Thankfully, the soccer program he's playing in is really low key and kid-friendly anyway.<br /><br />6. Open communication... we haven't done it yet, but Matt and I are going to sit down and talk about this with Dana. It's time that he understood why he struggles more than other children do. I'm sure those of you who are anti-labels will have a hard time with this. Why would we put a label on our child? It's simple. He knows he's different and he's struggling with feeling inadequate. He needs us to say, Dana these are your strengths and weaknesses and this is why you are the way you are. God made you this way. He doesn't make mistakes.<br /><br />Again, keeping it real, I know I'm going to botch this all up over and over again, but here I am again, clinging to my God's hand, asking for mercy along the way. God made us who we are for a purpose and I'm trusting that He knows exactly what He's doing with Dana.<br /><br />In the meantime, if you have any great insights or resources, send them my way.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-30136431967577536162009-08-12T20:59:00.003-04:002009-08-15T20:37:14.267-04:00pictures in my mindWe did it. We completed our first week of homeschool. I somehow managed to perform all (most) of my regular daily chores as well as parent four children with vastly different needs, teach a first grade curriculum for the first time and start kindergarten with Janie. I'm not bragging, but I have to stop and admit that it was a tall order and I did it. It's possible and it was a good week, not a horrible one. Today I need to make up for the laundry I didn't do all week, or at least the rumpled clean laundry I didn't fold, and clean the bathroom. Neither one is looking appealing. I'm groggy and waiting for my iced coffee to kick in.<br /><br />For now, I'm going to allow myself a blog post. I don't have tons of photos of our week. I wish I did. It was enough that I did what I planned to do, which was a lot. Looking back, though there were some moments that I've saved and pictured in my mind. I hope my memory is good enough to always remember these things, but just in case I forget they'll be recorded here.<br /><br />On Monday, my biggest surprise came from Janie. I knew that she had learned from watching Dana do his schoolwork. I knew she was smart. Still, she wowed me. She sat up straight and expectant as I gave her first one task and then another. Each time, she looked at me with eager eyes and said, "What's next Mommy?" AND, at the very end, when I had run out of things to do with her, she said, "Is that it?" She was smiling, but I could tell she expected more of a challenge. After all, she's been working quietly beside Dana for over a year, listening as we work and singing along to the little kindergarten songs we sing. Why am I surprised at all?<br /><br />One of the greatest joys of teaching my children at home is watching their God-given desire to learn flourish and blossom all on it's own. I can't take any credit for their desire to learn. God made them curious and creative, and I get to be the one to guide their discoveries. This week, I have so enjoyed watching my little Clara Joy learn along side her big sister. She sits quietly next to me while Janie works on this or that project. Every so often, Clara shows me a letter she has drawn or asks me to recreate the work Janie is doing, so that Clara can do it too. Her drawing and hand-eye coordination have come so far, and I'm not making her do anything. I just get to watch her learn and grow all on her own.<br /><br />Dana is doing well too. Handwriting has been a little painstaking, but he's making improvements and as far as I can tell, he's right where he should be. So far, Math appears to be his strong subject, which is funny, if you know me. Math was always a struggle for me. What struck me about this week wasn't his lessons or the strides he made in Reading or Math. It was his compassion for his little sisters and brother. This morning, as he left for the first soccer practice of the season, he wouldn't leave until he kissed each one of his sisters and his baby brother goodbye. He also took a minute to reassure Janie that it wouldn't be long until she had her first practice too and that he wouldn't be gone very long. She really is his closest friend and he knew she was sad that they were on separate teams this year. I can't help but look forward to the day when he shows that kind of sympathy and love with his own children. He's my sweet boy.<br /><br />It's been a good week and I'm ready for that lazy Sunday nap, even though it's still Saturday.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-46850707922948765512009-08-06T09:14:00.003-04:002009-08-06T10:08:32.053-04:00It's begunI'll actually start teaching next Monday, but really, the school year has begun. Matt's back to work, I'm planning and brainstorming for Dana's 1st grade curriculum, and we're back to our normal daily routines, minus a formal teaching time (we're always learning). It's a good feeling over all, but still a bit hard to say goodbye to our fun summer. The kids are sad that Daddy's gone all day again, but life is simpler and Matt's got a clear daily purpose again.<br /><br />And while I'm feeling inspired and energetic, I'll put in a little plug for our curriculum. So far we have used My Father's World for Kindergarten and we're about to use it for 1st grade as well. It's been a perfect fit for us, because it's very hands-on Charlotte Mason approach to education, and yet it's planned out for me, with careful lesson plans for each day of the year. Kindergarten took us about an hour or more to complete each day, with a lot of our play and outings focused on the same weekly themes. Dana seemed to catch concepts instead of me having to drill it into him. On the whole, it was very natural and it suited Dana's personal learning style so well. The fact that he still loves learning is testimony to that. The next best thing about it, though was that it was so inexpensive, literally less than half the price of other comprehensive curriculums. This year, I'm really excited about his 1st grade curr. It's very hands-on again, and the theme for the year is Bible History. Everything he will study falls under that umbrella, which reminds me of something I forgot to mention. I have really appreciated the way MFW teaches from a biblical world view without being isolationist. MFW does a great job of insulating children from the secular world around them, not isolating them from it. Children study the world that they're actually in, and they engage their culture, while at the same time understanding that God is sovereign over it. MFW isn't the only curriculum like this, but I'm thankful that it's so well-done. I'm too mentally scattered to pull something like this off on my own, and that's the truth.<br /><br />So, even if you're not clicking over to their website to order their stuff :), I have to put in another plug for the art program we're starting this year. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Children-Mona-Brookes/dp/0874778271">This book</a> is amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61XTFB2TK9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61XTFB2TK9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The cover illustration was drawn by a 5 year old after taking an art class with the monart method. The monart method teaches children (or adults) to recognize basic line shapes (squiggly, curly, angled, etc.) in what they see and to use that art alphabet and their imagination to draw (or paint) a creative and more skilled picture. Before I teach it, I'm supposed to go through the exercises myself, which may take a few days. In the meantime, I'm really excited to see how Dana does. He's already showing so much natural artistic talent that I know he'll love this.<br /><br />What about you? Anything you're excited about teaching this year?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-75116807430664690642009-07-27T08:51:00.002-04:002009-07-27T08:56:42.606-04:00It's been awhile...I'll post something soon I promise, even if it's just for myself. We've been soooo busy and I am just plain tuckered out from it all. But here we are, one week left of summer. Matt has inservice next week, starting Monday. As hard as it is to say goodbye to the summer break, I think we'll all benefit from some sort of regular routine again. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the spontenaity a little longer and procrastinate my homeschool to do list for a bit. Whatever it is that I need to do can certainly wait one more week, right?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-45640141823638708292009-05-24T20:37:00.001-04:002009-05-24T20:39:26.535-04:00what to do with broken crayons no one will use<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/chunky-crayons-minis-out.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 203px;" src="http://www.makeandtakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/chunky-crayons-minis-out.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A <a href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/recycled-chunky-crayons">fun project</a> for this week. I'm excited.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-65426112870997343962009-05-18T12:47:00.004-04:002009-05-18T13:19:15.270-04:00our butterflies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX7FoVZnI/AAAAAAAAEeU/dZSU6m_c7r8/s1600-h/IMG_0908.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX7FoVZnI/AAAAAAAAEeU/dZSU6m_c7r8/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214074790176370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX63Z-4bI/AAAAAAAAEeM/6hACJyk301Q/s1600-h/IMG_0907.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX63Z-4bI/AAAAAAAAEeM/6hACJyk301Q/s400/IMG_0907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214070971883954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX63OH7hI/AAAAAAAAEeE/elLcAXMZnls/s1600-h/IMG_0885.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGX63OH7hI/AAAAAAAAEeE/elLcAXMZnls/s400/IMG_0885.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214070922145298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSn9GCu2I/AAAAAAAAEd8/WGNfLlnH5y4/s1600-h/IMG_1070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSn9GCu2I/AAAAAAAAEd8/WGNfLlnH5y4/s400/IMG_1070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208248523209570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSnuZQ7lI/AAAAAAAAEd0/SE6Alc6w-lQ/s1600-h/IMG_1063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSnuZQ7lI/AAAAAAAAEd0/SE6Alc6w-lQ/s400/IMG_1063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208244577300050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSndQwLyI/AAAAAAAAEds/A2LCU8Upwi4/s1600-h/IMG_1065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/ShGSndQwLyI/AAAAAAAAEds/A2LCU8Upwi4/s400/IMG_1065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208239978196770" border="0" /></a><br />are dead, but we enjoyed watching them grow in our butterfly gardenKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-15927558641384516162009-05-13T13:05:00.001-04:002009-05-13T13:07:35.458-04:00need I say more?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/Sgr-UOHm9TI/AAAAAAAAEdM/pnExIbVW6Ow/s1600-h/IMG_0951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/Sgr-UOHm9TI/AAAAAAAAEdM/pnExIbVW6Ow/s400/IMG_0951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335356331914622258" /></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-21376581201252127142009-05-11T15:15:00.002-04:002009-05-11T15:19:00.008-04:00My sister...is a cooking genius! I'm definitely not a cooking genius, but I love to cook too and in honor of our shared interest, we've launched a cooking blog. It's all about what we're making for dinner. She's providing the adventurous recipes and I'm providing the kid-oriented ones. Well, it probably won't be that cut and dry, but check it out <a href="http://twosistersinthekitchen.blogspot.com">here</a>.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-68933690017824211252009-05-05T09:50:00.000-04:002009-05-05T09:51:02.743-04:00something funny<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VM6uqj0_jQc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VM6uqj0_jQc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-67073857055809659032009-04-25T15:02:00.003-04:002009-04-25T15:16:28.226-04:00the warm weather is here<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SfNhDK7r6UI/AAAAAAAAEa8/ZA7EOkysMFk/s1600-h/IMG_0783.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SfNhDK7r6UI/AAAAAAAAEa8/ZA7EOkysMFk/s400/IMG_0783.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328709491211626818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SfNhCvDFAyI/AAAAAAAAEas/gpoGBbzt4mY/s1600-h/IMG_0730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SfNhCvDFAyI/AAAAAAAAEas/gpoGBbzt4mY/s400/IMG_0730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328709483726439202" /></a>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-75326310433063819752009-04-16T20:33:00.001-04:002009-04-16T20:33:28.669-04:00more fun<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3nG1ckY7thw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3nG1ckY7thw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-721927936171462412009-04-15T09:06:00.003-04:002009-04-15T13:18:40.202-04:00ABCs and 123sIf you have kids and you like They Might Be Giants even a little bit, you've got to check these videos out. They're on youtube, but I think we'll need to buy the DVD/CD combo sets sometime soon. Thanks to Michelle for reminding me about these last night. Now I'm wondering how we could get the whole family to a concert somewhere.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mf3YWn28nIU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mf3YWn28nIU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ca_5BnBB170&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ca_5BnBB170&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-12791078414398505572009-04-14T13:47:00.008-04:002009-04-14T14:02:33.064-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SeTMpRGDH0I/AAAAAAAAEac/zdKtzP4SYuk/s1600-h/image001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8IfKh9opNAI/SeTMpRGDH0I/AAAAAAAAEac/zdKtzP4SYuk/s400/image001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324605668794244930" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///Users/matthewmonahan/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Check this out. It's part funny, part true, part offensive. Click on it to enlarge and read he text this is a Good Housekeeping article from 1955 and I've had it emailed to me a few times.<br /><br />What I do like about it is that it encourages wives to put their husbands first. What I don't like is the underlying assumption that husbands shouldn't be expected to lift a finger or that men are somehow superior to women. Obviously, some of the comments are a little over the top. You can't help but laugh at most of it. Thankfully, I have a husband who sacrifices himself daily for me and for our kids. He's very helpful and doesn't get bent out of shape about our cluttered house, because he knows I'm doing my best.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-85275204595833512682009-04-11T20:36:00.002-04:002009-04-11T21:05:58.992-04:00todayThis week was Matt's spring break and we just wrapped up our restful week with a very busy work day at our house. I'm lacking the mental power to explain it all, so I'll just say that I'm so grateful for the generosity of the folks who came to share their labor today. We are so blessed with great friends.<br /><br />And on top of all of this, it's Easter weekend. In all of the hustle to get the house ready for the work day and keep the work day running, I've had no time to reflect or to share the Easter story with the kids again. Even though the kids got to bed late tonight, I kept them up just a bit longer to tell the Easter story to them. I tried to tell it simply, though that's hard to do with certian details. I told them more about how Jesus suffered than I've ever shared with them and thankfully, instead of squirming and being silly, they took it all in and listened with thoughtful eyes. At one point, when I told them about Jesus' loved ones standing close to him as he died, Dana's eyes welled up with tears. He said, "Mommy? Was His mommy so sad?" He wiped his eyes and I couldn't help crying with him. Dana's only 6, but he knows what it cost Jesus to die that horrible death. Thankfully the story doesn't end there and we were able to talk about Jesus coming to life again with a new body, just like we will some day. You know, even with the diaper changes, messy bath times, stomach viruses, and sleepless nights it's my joy to be their mommy and there's little in this world that compares with watching their eyes light up with love for Jesus. And as I bumble through the daily tasks that make up my life with them I'm clinging to the power that Jesus showed when He conquered death and saved us from ourselves. I don't have it all together and my crazy messy house stands as a testament to that. I need my Savior and I'm so glad He lives.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34740459.post-16213651238032827432009-04-02T09:36:00.002-04:002009-04-02T09:40:39.691-04:00Matt updated our mac from tiger to leopard and now I can't upload pictures to my blog or to anything else... we're working on it, but I have a feeling that there won't be much progress until after Spring break. Both of us are teaching Sunday school this quarter and Matt's finishing up a seminary class and taking an exam.<br /><br />So no pictures. But, I'll leave you with this fabulous quote from Dana.<br /><br />I'm ironing in the kitchen and Dana says (as if I'm the child and he's the Daddy), "Wow, Mommy! You're ironing! Good for you!"Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04143247856547488744noreply@blogger.com0