About Me
Wife of a great man. Mom of four. Homeschooling. Private music teacher.
Recent Posts
• What, Can you not do this one thing for me for ten minutes?
• Update to Great Reads Jul8,2008
• Global Education
• Wanda's reading list
• Have you seen the sticky notes experiment?
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Music Alley
Aug. 11, 2009
What, Can you not do this one thing for me for ten minutes?

I asked my oldest ds (19) to sit with my youngest dd(11) while I left the house to pick up my ds #2 from a friend's house around 930 last night.  I requested he stay until I got back, which would take me just ten minutes. When I got to the 4 way stop sign 1/2 mile to  our house - he was stopped at  the same 4 way going the direction away from our house!
Can you picture it?
I suddenly felt like Jesus must have felt when he asked his disciples to wait and pray with him for just one hour but they fell asleep?
I know I am stretching the analogy, but I see something here.
Respect? or lack thereof.
Desires of flesh?
You see, he just had to get to the convienience store - for whatever it was he wanted - before it closed at 10PM! His needs were above mine. If he can't respect this small request, do you think he is going to respect our request in moral , life altering issues?
Jesus was hurt when the disciples could not stay awake for one hour to pray with him. They too did not respect him and gave in to fleshly desires.


This is much to ponder.
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Aug. 11, 2009
Update to Great Reads Jul8,2008

"Patrick Carman has some new books out. We read "The Land of Elyon." He has written another series, Atherton : the House of Power and Rivers of Fire (I have not read these)."
I did get through these this summer. Pretty good,

Currently reading: The Time Traveler's Wife
planning on seeing the movie!

While I have read articles on Julie & Julia...haven't read the book , plan to see the movie - at least on Netflix.

I got a series called The 39 Clues written by various authors for my youngest dd to read. She doesn't seen interested, but I just let them lie around the house in hopes she will pick them up. Patrick Carman wrote the fifth installment which is on the way to my front door. We are reading Into the Mist aloud kind of the 4th installment of The Land of Elyon series, going back to where it began.

Has anyone read any of the same, if so, what was your opinion?
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Jul. 19, 2009
Global Education

Just finished reading and passed on to hubby and even though it's written for parents, will require the 3 oldest kids to read The New Global Student by Maya Frost.  I loved the book. Here's what others are saying about it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-06-08-college-book_N.htm
http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/06/09/usa-today/
http://www.amazon.com/New-Global-Student-Thousands-International/dp/0307450627
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Jun. 10, 2009
Wanda's reading list

Wanda is reading

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Handoff - Jeff Myers
Always Looking Up - Michael J.Fox
Body Clutter - Marla Cilley and Leanne Ely
Live through this - Debra Gwartney
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Jun. 10, 2009
Have you seen the sticky notes experiment?

From the guys that brought you Coke and Mentos experiment;


http://www.eepybird.com/stickynote.html

okay, so what if this is all I do all summer!
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Jun. 10, 2009
Ruth's reading list

Funny how the previous post, last year, was about great reads.
Anyway...  Ruth will be reading this summer.
Harry Potter and the sorcerer stone

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs

Where the Wild things Are
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Jul. 8, 2008
Great reads

I am so pumped to share about some books I ran across! 
I love a good story too, so I almost always say what I want to say by way of the long way around the barn! So, I was in this children's educational store, saw a book with a gold sticker indicating it was an honor book, picked it up, thought, 'hmmm... looks interesting, I'll see if they have it at the library.' By the time I got home, I had forgotten the title. Tried to describe it to the librarian - she even called the store - it had just sold, and the employee could not remember the title. whatever! so I kind of forgot about it. Fast forward, can't tell you how many days and after a hair appointment, my daughter and I and I enjoy walking through The Book Corner, and there in front of my bright blue eyes was THAT  book. I swiped it up right away! literally swiping my debit card! No chance I was forgetting that title again! I'm spontaneous that way. I know you are dying to turn to the end of this story to find out the ending, anyway, the great summer reading title of the book that we enjoyed reading together is The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall! Then, because I need to sell my beloved books because I have been spontaneous with the debit card found a sequel to it, I have it ON HOLD at the library. I LEARNED MY LESSON     That title is
The Pendewicks on Gardam Street.
Speaking of sequels! 
Don't put down this story yet.
The Neverland adventures have another installment from the team of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Cave of the Dark Wind, the first being Escape from the Carnivale : a Never Land Adventure. For our family, the long anticipated 3rd book to Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadowthieves, called Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.
Okay, hang with me.
Patrick Carman has some new books out. We read "The Land of Elyon." He has written another series, Atherton : the House of Power and Rivers of Fire (I have not read these).
Finally, "The City of Ember" is being made into a movie, haven't read the book or trilogy by  Jeanne Duprau but it looks interesting. My mom read "The Secret Life of Bees" and that is being made into a movie this fall. Last but not least to mention, "The Tale of Despereaux" based on the book by Kate DiCamillo coming this Christmas. We did "listen" to this book. We listen to a lot of our books, we love those read by Jim Dale (the narrator of Pushing Daises). My kids make fun of the ones read by Jim Weiss but we like them none the less, we would know that voice anywhere.
happy reading, or listening, or watching?!?
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Mar. 14, 2008
marinate your heart.

What? How weird. No - marinate in order to change. Change my heart?  Yes.  I am reading a book by Gary Smalley "Change Your Heart, Change Your Life. " It's understanding is hide God's word in your heart. Mr. Smalley says chew on it, meditate on it, day and night. I attended a retreat hosted by our church, Simmons Loop if you live in the area and are interestred in a Southern Baptist. anyway. The retreat speaker was Aprile Sweers - she too spoke of God's Word changing your heart. Her illustration was a meat that was changed by marinating, basically pickled it and it wouldn't grill.  I have memorized scripture and participated/encouraged Bible drills, but I agree with the premise. I also have John Macarther's scripture memory system that I kicked off this week. I'm am finding myself, instead of complaining, quoting the scripture. This week's verse. Psalm 103:1-4 "Bless the Lord, O my sould. All that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who heals, forgives, saves, crowns." I'm still working on the memorization.
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Feb. 8, 2008
Because

why? because I need to grow. much has changed in life since the posting in October when I was crying out, why? because I need to change. because with every trial comes perseverance. because - that's why
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Oct. 22, 2007
Why? WHY! WHY! WHY?

Why is it that I have done what I was supposed to do as a parent that I have a prodigal child? Why? I was reading an article in "another" homeschooling magazine by a dad about doing what he was supposed to do with  his son - he has not strayed away.  Why mine? I know, I am not supposed to ask why? I am not supposed to look at other families. WHY?  Is there ANYBODY out there wearing the same shoes?
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Mar. 18, 2007
Permission to fail

In a blog several months back, I wrote on the importance of letting your children fail. I still believe that, but I was pointing one finger and three were pointing back at me. Through some difficult days, I am learning that I need to give myself permission to fail. I do not want to be a failure at homeschooling, or as a parent. That is not the most important thing. I have to know that I know that I know what God is leading me to do, and put it ALL in His hands. There is a song that says, "I will never let you fall - any further than your knees!" That's the most important thing. Never failing to trust God for his grace and mercy, and rest in His everlasting arms.
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Mar. 10, 2007
Kindermusik

I am so excited about getting my license as a Kindermusik educator. I already teach piano privately out of a studio at my house but this really expands my horizons. I don't know why I didn't do this a very long time ago, because it is something I am called to do. Music is like my fifth love, after God, Husband, Family, and Church. I heard Andrew Pudewa's talk on "The Influence of Music on Life", then really sensed a pressing to offer Kindermusik out of my studio.  More comments on his talk are for another time, just WOW! for now, and THANK YOU Mr. Pudewa. Kindermusik is child-centered, developmentally appropriate, concerned with the whole child, process not performance oriented, fun for the child and for families.  I am thrilled to offer this philosophy of learning and music from babies to young children and their parents.
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Mar. 10, 2007
I didn't lie, it just took time

I posted in June that I would be published. I finally saw my article in print in the FPEA Almanac. It was the same thing I blogged about last May called Baskets. So I didn't fib about being published, it just took a while. Maybe next time I will wait to see it in print beofre blabbing my mouth about it.
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Oct. 20, 2006
Peter Pan in Scarlet

We are listening to the audiobook of the first authorized sequel to Peter Pan, Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. My 16 year old son read the book the day it was delivered from Amazon. It is very good so far. My ds said he wished he has read Peter Pan first, but having seen Hook he wasn't lost with the sequel.
On a different note, Dave Barry has three prequel Peter Pan stories out. Peter and the Star Catchers, Peter and the Shadow theives, and Escape from the Caravel which he wrote with Ridley Pearson who wrote Kingdom Keepers, another great listen!
We love books,what homeschooler doesn't?
We are also enjoying reading Patrick Carman's, The Land of Elyon. His fourth in that series is due out soon.   

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Oct. 5, 2006
NEED HELP WITH DYSLEXIA/ADD

Does anybody use Barton Reading System? My homeschool friend's nine year old son was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and mild add. The evaluator told her she should not teach her own son, that's a post for another time! There is a resource and we are looking for it. We have the website, but need some input from anyone that may use it.

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Sep. 28, 2006
COFFEE

I go to COFFEE once a month. A friend shared the idea with me. COFFEE stands for conversations over family faith and ecclectic education. We gather for one hour at a coffee house and SIP Share Inspire and Pray. It was a real blessing tonight. We all had something we felt was our fault; A child with dyslexia, teen with depression, husband that doesn't want to come home. It felt so good to share one another's burdens. We realized that we all stuggle with something. God is so good and cares for us.

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Jul. 27, 2006
Where did you get your love of reading?

My oldest son was read to from birth. We played music and books on tape for him in his crib, held him in our lap and read to him. His father read The Chronicles of Narnia series to him aloud  at the age of three and continues to read aloud to all the children. He learned to read at an average age. As we went about our day talking, we never used little words with him. When he was thirteen he took a Latin class which  put a  strong desire for English grammar in him.  After his second year of Latin, he desired to learn Spanish. We got him a tutor, he is in his second year, and this is where he was posed the question. "Where did you get your love of reading?" while he was conversing with his tutor in Spanish, she asked him what he did this week and he answered that he read. The conversation continued in English about how some people in her family liked to read and others didn't, he said the same. He told her that he figures his love of reading came from being read to all his life. He pondered it a while longer and talked about a book he read by George Orwell called 1984 that put a desire in him to read all that he could. He even enjoys  reading Shakespeare. We have a large budget and space for books in our home. His younger sister is like him, except she struggled to learn to read, when she got it, she went right past the beginning readers to The Lord of the Rings  while his younger brother could care less to read, and his youngest sister the same. Why do I enjoy reading? When I think about it, my parents read to me, encouraged me to read. I was a library assistant in elementary school and the librarian was an encourager - a mentor to my love of reading. I wonder, if he is blessed to be a father, will my son's children love to read?

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Jul. 11, 2006
Summer Movie Camp from AMC theatres

AMC is offering FREE movies. Free movies are limited to those on the Summer MovieCamp schedule and are subject to change without notice. Limited seating. Tickets available one week in advance at the box office only.

http://www.amctheatres.com/amctheatres/user-controller/summermoviecamp

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Jul. 11, 2006
FOUND! fun activity for family.

Letterboxing. Go hi-tech, use a GPS, and call it Geocaching! In a feature article of BJUP's Homeschool Helper Vol.18, No. 3 July 2006, I found a unique opportunity for my family to have fun exploring our world. What is it? I looked it up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching
I also went to www.letterboxing.org and was surprised to find an opportunity to go exploring within a twenty mile radius of my home. My husband laughs when I get so excited about something, I know nothing about, and want to tell the whole world how great it is! I guess I am doing that now. I just can't wait to go on my first treasure hunt - I only  hope my excitement will rub off on the rest my bunch. We are excited about doing this around Vero Beach when we go on vacation over Labor Day.

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Jun. 30, 2006
Trip to dentist teaches "pain"staking lesson

I do not know who coined the phrase, "No pain, No Gain" and I didn't realize the full impact of that phrase until yesterday following a trip to the dentist with my 13 yo ds. The lesson I learned, unfortunately was through some pain my ds had to endure. He had several baby teeth that he just would not pull out, or let anyone pull. He wouldn't wiggle them, or brush them, at times, he even pushed them back into his gums. He did this because he was afraid of the pain it would cause him to pull them out... and the blood, oh how he hates the sight of blood. He has zero pain tolerance. Over time, his permanent teeth erupted, all the while his baby teeth had make their place in his gums, the only reason they were there, because there were no roots. When the dentist looked in his mouth for the exam, he stated that simply would not do! The dentist told my son that under no circumstance was he going to allow him to leave his office looking like that! So, the numbing juice and and painful shots pursued with what my son describes as a four inch needle down into his jaw, followed by pulling out four baby teeth with pliers! The lesson I found in this experience is one that is painstaking. How many times do I avoid doing what I should do for the benefit of my health, family, homeschooling because it is painfully tedious, boring, redundant... only to be faced with more pain: dishes that won't come clean with out a chisel and elbow grease, stains that won't come out of clothes that then have to be thrown away, relationships that won't mend for fear of hurting someones feelings, spiritual growth that won't take place because of the time it would take to spend with God! Isn't painstaking a synonym for endurance and patience? I really do not want pain for myself or children for the sake of gain, but the Holy scripture says, "count it all joy with faced with various trials, knowing that the testing produces patience, But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

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