Teaching in the Mini House
• Sep. 22, 2007 - OH I would love to win these books!
Keeping in ming that we are moving next week (I will blog more on that later) and what I should be doing in packing and cleaning, I couldn't resist checking out The Old Schoolhouse's Friday Freebies. I would love these books, and so would my boys!
Enter to win the complete set of
Terrestria Chronicles
on the HSB Company Porch!
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• Jun. 26, 2007 - Our Day at the State Capital
We are one step closer!!! Praise God that PA leadership have taken up the cause for providing services for autistic individuals. Thanks to the many of you who have prayed for the success of this essential legislation. We had a great day at the capitol. While it was really heartwarming to be encouraged and commended, our greatest joy was that this measure has become a bipartisan effort to serve those affected with autism despite the strong arm lobbying from insurance companies. We have so often considered ourselves blessed to have been able to find the appropriate resources that have brought Gabriel so far these past years. We met many families today with similar stories. Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois (yay Craig family!!!) and Indiana join PA as states leading the battle cry. If you live in a state where this type of legislation has not been introduced and you are interested in how to get the ball rolling, please contact me.
Thanks again for your encouragement and support throughout the years. You all have played a part in this victory, and for that we are truly grateful.
Love,
Phil, Dawn and the kids
PS - The picture is Gabriel with Speaker O'Brien.
Office of Speaker Dennis M. O’Brien
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
139 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bill Patton
717-787-4610
HARRISBURG, June 25 – A measure advocated by Speaker Dennis O’Brien to require private insurance companies to offer coverage of autism-related health services received impassioned support at a rally in the Capitol today.
The House is poised to vote this week on Senate Bill 550, which the Insurance Committee amended last week to include O’Brien’s language requiring fair treatment by insurance companies for patients living with autism.
“This is, quite simply, an issue of civil rights for thousands of Pennsylvanians,” O’Brien said. “It’s a matter of justice.”
Showing bipartisan support, the Democratic and Republican chairmen of the House Insurance Committee both stood at O’Brien’s side at the rally along with 22 other lawmakers and dozens of families from around Pennsylvania.
U.S. Sen. Robert Casey arrived during the rally and spoke briefly to add his support for passing the legislation in Pennsylvania.
“When there’s a barrier in the way of insurance coverage, we should do everything we can to remove that barrier,” Casey said.
Sen. Jane Orie of Allegheny County praised O’Brien’s leadership on the autism issue. She said Pennsylvania’s academic researchers have put the state in position to be the national leader in developing effective treatments.
O’Brien’s measure would improve insurance industry fairness in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by requiring private insurers to cover up to $36,000 per year for autism services. This in turn would save state taxpayers millions of dollars that are now paid from the Medical Assistance program.
Public Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman said private insurers have avoided bearing a large share of the cost of autism by disputing whether it is a medical condition.
“Autism is a medical condition with a neurological basis,” Richman said. “The earlier that autism spectrum disorders can be diagnosed, the better.”
“The autism avalanche is upon us,” O’Brien said, “but we will not let it bury us.”
During his remarks, O’Brien was joined by Gabriel Craig, a youngster from Northampton County. O’Brien said Gabriel, his parents Philip and Dawn, and his siblings “put a face on the facts. They talked about the stress, the cost, the closed doors, the reality of discrimination, and the love that would not yield.”
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The fight against autism spectrum disorders has been a top legislative priority of O’Brien for many years. When he became Speaker in January, he made a commitment to use his increased visibility to help children and young adults with disabilities.
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http://shutter08.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/11/008/79/9F/D8/7A/Nb2tIuNETHyNddnC41wpQPoXoXafMWL70300.jpg
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• Jun. 24, 2007 - In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 saving time and money in the kitchen contest
I love Amy's blog. If you haven't checked it out, please do. You will be blessed.
As for saving time and money in the kitchen. First, we are a big family (6 of us in total), and we have a little tiny kitchen; exactly what you would expect from the mini house. We also have some special dietary needs as my son is gluen intolerant. So our main tips include - make lots, make it flavorful and eat like a caveman.
First, we make a lot. To help us do this, we buy in bulk whenever we can. Because we stay away from processed foods, we spend a little extra to buy all natural or organic whenever possible. We have a small health food store near by and they let us tack on bits and pieces to their orders at whole sale price. I never make a pot of rice, I make a vat. Then I freeze it - some in family sized portions, some in individual. Soup, which is made weekly from all of the leftover veggies and meat from the week, is stored in individual servings is there is any left. I always hit the grocery store early in the morning and look for all natural meats that have been marked down for quick sale. If the price is good, I buy it. I always make at least 6 chickens at a time. One gets eaten and the other five get picked apart, bagged and frozen. This is were some of the flavorful stuff comes in. Before we roast 'em we season 'em. White chicken chili tastes better when the chicken was seasoned with cumin and cayene before he was tossed in the oven. Lastly, we eat like cave men - meat, fish, grains, fruit and veggies. The more we stick to this type of diet, the less I spend and the better we all feel. With the exception of the rice/beans isle, I try to stay out of the center of the grocery store, which makes the trips shorter. During these fabulous summer months, we go to farmers markets or pick your own establishments. All of these things keep our bellies happy, our wallets happy and the daddy happy ... and that's what we are really going for! |
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• Feb. 11, 2007 - What's in a Name?
It is Sunday morning, and for the fourth Sunday in a row, I am here instead of at church. The first Sunday, our Gabe was sick, then there was 2 weeks of me recovering from surgery, and now Gabe is running a fever again. This is his lot in life during the winter. It is one cold after another. It has definately improved over the years, and I pray it just keeps getting better.
Our house is so quiet. Gabe is watching "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" which he knows by heart, and everyone else it at church. I thought I would spend some time catching up on computer work and lesson plans, but here I am reading blogs. It is so inspiring to read how the rest of you are living your lives and raising your children. I have already gotten many ideas on how to be a better mom, wife and person.
I just wanted to take a moment and explain the name of my blog. Gabriel's Gate is my life's dream. In my mind's eye, I see this wonderful place for kids like Gabriel. Here they can play and explore in an environment that is safe for them both physically ane emotionally. There will be support for families, activities for siblings, classes for parents. I see a room with comfortable furniture where moms and dads can go to just let it out without any fear of judgement. There's a library of resources where people can go to explore the possibilities of treating their child. There is a big homey kitchen for classes and coffee talk. It is the place that I needed when we first discovered Gabriel's challenges, and the place I still long for today. As the mother of an autistic child, all I am really looking for is a place where people understand, where the accept us as we are and where they understand that we are not taking this lying down.
Years ago, I was arguing with God about his timeline. In my small mindedness, I thought that God was taking far too long to heal Gabriel. I had no doubt at all that complete healing would occur, but I was getting impatient. My thoughts, my needs and my childish tantrums had drowned out what God was saying. On day, as I stood at the kitchen sink in full tantrum, I yelled out to God, "FINE! Don't heal him. I love him just as he is, and will do whatever it takes to give him the best life possible. You don't have to heal him, just help me know what I need to do for him". I honestly think I heard God sigh and say, "Finally! You get it.". And I did. I needed to love Gabe and accept him just where he was before God could ever give me more. Within days, things began to happen, doors began to open, services became available, and we found the key to one of Gabe's biggest locks. All because I finally gave this child back to whom he truly belongs. As we took steps forward, I was blessed with the vision of Gabriel's Gate. While I fully believe God can make it happen, I also know that some of the greatest lessons are learned during the race, not at the finish line. So every day we thank God we are blessed with a neat kid like Gabe. We keep out eyes on Him and keep taking those forward steps.
The Mini House could use a good cleaning, and I can't remember the last time I saw th surface of the computer table, but tomorrow is another day. For now, I think there is some snuggling to do!
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• Feb. 10, 2007 - Teaching in the Mini House
Welcome to what I am sure will become the ramblings of a partially sane homeschooling mom. Even as I sit typing this, part of my brain is concentrating more on what the three boys are doing in the living room, but that's part of the joy of the mini house - they are never too far away. You can usually hear disaster coming before it hits.
We came to the Mini House (as my youngest calls it) a little over a year ago. Our old home was a big old half of a double with tons of character. Unfortunately, all sorts of characters had begun moving in the neighborhood, and things were getting hairy. After prayer, thought and my mother screaming, "Get my grandchildren out of that neighborhood!", we decided to pack up and move. Uncertain as to where we wanted to be long term (our history includes stays in Colorado, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania), we gave it up to God. Much to our suprise, he moved us a few miles to a nicer little community into a much smaller house. The six of us have all managed to squeeze in. and the dog, the rabbit and the 2 guinea pigs have made this home as well. We have come to a whole new understanding of togetherness, and now we couldn't imagine living anywhere else!
When we moved to the Mini House, we were homeschooling all 4 kids (PS, K, 2, 5). After about 5 months in a new, better school district. we made the decision to send the kids to the local public school. Why? Looking back, it's because I had lost it. I had lost the faith that God knew what He was doing when He gave me these four lovlies. Somewhere along the road I had misplaced the knowledge that this is not about me and what I can do. It is about my Lord, my Savior, my Strength. It is about what He can do through me when I stop trying to fix everything and just listen to Him. It is about His plan being far better than anyhing I can imagine. So after Christmas break this year, 2 of our 4 began homeschooling again. Gabriel, our seven year old, has been diagnosed as PDD-NOS; commonly referred to as High Functioning Autism. School was more than he could take. He was using all of his coping skills just to get through the day, and by the time he got home, there was nothing left of him. I am a jealous mommy. No way I was going to let some teacher we hardly knew get the best times with our little elf. Alison, our 11 year old and only daughter, knew the local middle school wasn't for her shortly after the first day of school. She is back home and enjoying the opportunity to explore her interests without all of the social malarky. Josiah and Thomas still attend school. Jo is in the third grade, and he does well in school and really wanted to stay. I see this beginning to change. As he heads out the door while his siblings are doing spelling in their slippers or building light boxes to grow plants, I can see the longing in him beginning to grow. I have no doubt he will be back at the table next year. Tommy, our 6 year old, goes to kindergarten in the afternoon. This has been a very valuable experience for him. A lot of his identity is tied up with Gabriel. He has been his big brother's best friend and protector his whole life. He needed a little chance to see who Tommy is, and to discover what we already know. Tommy is a hoot! He will definately be staying home next year. He looks forward to it, and so do we!
We are classical homeschoolers. We use Tapestry of Grace, Saxon Math and Apologia Science. We are into Botany this year because the Mini House has a Not So Mini Yard, and we plan on having a great garden. We are interested in homesteading as it is a goal of ours. We do what we can with the space that we have knowing that God may someday bless with the room to do more. Until then, you can find us at the Mini House. If you don't mind squeezing in, we are always up for visitors!
Blessings,
Dawn
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