Description
My children belong to the Hero Generation... we are striving to raise them to fulfill their personal missions. We strive to make our home a haven from the turmoils of today's society. Come visit us as we share some of our story.
Aspire to Inspire before you Expire
Have a specific interest?
Browse this blog by Category!
Just personal stuff to keep the family and friends up to date.
These are stories about my children who belong to the hero generation (from The Fourth Turning).
Knowing where you are headed helps keep you on track. Here is where I keep my "flight plan".
Anything about our homeschool - funny stories to new schedules... never know what's going on here.
Stories about the family from my memory or others. Plus, memories in the making.
The papers I've written for the Five Pillar Certification
Simply thoughts and comments on the classics I'm reading.
Quotes of interest to me... may or may not include commentary.
Browse through my recipe folder. Food and non-food recipes.
Scripture references, usually with commentary. Very personal - might not be open to comments.
Anything Thomas Jefferson Education related.
Little tidbits here and there about what it takes to lead a healthier life. Including mine.
My deeper thoughts, or sometimes a thought provoking/inspiring story.
My blog for CU writings & ponderings
My other blog, generally more lighthearted.
I'm wanted to practice writing in a different genre. So I decided to write some fan fiction for fun. That's what you'll find here.
![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
My Heroes
Redbeard - 39
Me (Texasblu)- 38
Athena - 15
Venus - 12
Iris - 8
Orion - 5
Mercury - 5
Apollo - 3
Hercules - 3
Catch the Wave - Surf's Up Baby!
LDS News SourceLDS News Source is a LDS news portal that currently searches over 5000 news sources daily.
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
� Homeschool Buyers Co-op
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
Folks That Make Blogging Fun
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
Homeschool Blogger Friends
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
�
<<
?
|
LDS Blogs
|
list
>>
Get your own calendar
|
Tomorrow we hit the grindstone again.
My thoughts at 10:35 PM, January 7, 2010
Homeschooling Daze
I have been teaching Creative Writing at the girl's commonwealth - the first semester I got the kid's feet wet. This semester I am only taking those students who are serious about wanting to write creatively. One of the board members asked me how many students did I think I would have?
I laughed and said, "If I have five, I'll be surprised. If I have none, my Friday's just got easier."
This is what happens when you have a bunch of kids in your commonwealth whose parents do not share the same educational philosophy as the school. "Inspire not require" does not work when kids have not been taught how to think. There was one time I was trying to have the kids play dialogue games so they could see the need for punctuation. Unfortunately, some of them were so creatively stumped all they could do was reenact the Apple Dumpling Gang.
Sad.
Changed my whole format for the class last semester, because instead of focusing on writing, I was trying to ignite creative sparks in a wet woodland. It's not that the timbre isn't there, it just isn't ready - it's too green. Even sadder - no one cared. Except me. Not even MOST the parents - although there were a few that were just as concerned.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. IF I have any students that choose to stay with me, we'll be working hard - and they'll be earning a Barnes and Noble gift card to boot. :) |
| Shared Thoughts(3) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Thoughts from Mother Teresa this morning.
My thoughts at 12:11 PM, September 15, 2009
Quotes
"The child is God's gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things; to love and to be loved." ~ Mother Teresa
I love this woman's comments on abortion. She gave so much to the world... I want to share these two quotes with you as well:
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." and "Please don’t kill the child. I want the child. Give the child to me."
I am a huge advocate of adoption. We have several friends who would not have children if it weren't for the adoption process. They are happy. Their children are happy. I've seen open and closed adoptions. My mother and sister knew some that went south when the child grew older because the adoption was kept from them. But I know many who parents were lovingly open about it and it all turned out good.
Adoption, not abortion. That's my belief. |
| Link Me |
|
Hello Again
My thoughts at 07:33 PM, August 2, 2009
Homeschooling Daze
I can't believe I'm still getting hits for this blog when I've basically abandoned it. I guess it's just people randomly hitting the archives.
I'm a very busy woman these days. Not busy as in chasing my tail, but running as in making things happen. I am creating a Princess Academy in my home - you can read about those HERE. I've been busy getting people rounded up for Donna, the lady that dreamed them up, to come speak to us this coming week. This on top of getting my family rhythms renewed, helping my husband with his business and writing my y/a novel, and making sure the kids are all secure in their CORE has been a juggling act.
But I'm happy. :) |
| Shared Thoughts(1) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Support for LDS Homeschoolers
My thoughts at 02:21 PM, June 3, 2009
Personal Notes
From time to time I meet Bishops (or have friends that do) who think they have the right to ascertain whether or not a family should homeschool or not. They are mistaken. Here is a copy of a letter sent out in 2000 that was read in sacrament mtg. to dispel all the controversy. Unfortunately, it seems many people were missing that day, or at the water fountain. Please note NUMBER ONE.
 So the next time a Bishop or ANYONE in the church starts to misuse their authority, you might refer them to this letter. It has not been revoked. They have no right to tell you how your children should be educated, no matter what their opinion is.
Personally, I think this is a shame. Homeschooling families don't need the added stress of fighting those their supposed to look for love and support. Ah, but the church is perfect, not the people, so we move forward with faith. Those paradigms can't be shifted without help and inspiration - and who better to do it than a homeschooler? :) |
| Shared Thoughts(1) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
You've Gotta Sleep Sometime
My thoughts at 08:10 AM, May 7, 2009
Master Plan
I went to the LDS Natural Mom's conference in Jordan, UT a few weeks ago. It was an interesting experience for me, because I had no concept on how I was going to make it happen - I just knew I needed to be there, so I signed up and said, "I'm going". It all fell into place without me having to spend a whole lot of brain power on it. Amazing.
While there, I gleaned a lot of old information that I hadn't given thought to in a long time as well as some new information that helped spur me on to doing things that I knew I COULD do, but didn't have the HOW. So that's what the next few blog posts (spanned over days - can't do it all at once) are about - just stuff that was really pertinent to me.
Today I want to share about early to bed, early to rise.
WAIT! Before you run off screaming, let me explain. ;)
I have been working on going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. I just felt that I needed to do that. Well, two sources confirmed this for me. The first was Donna Goff. She said that it was her experience (and she has plenty) that any time a mother said she felt out of sorts, overwhelmed, and burned out, she wasn't reading her scriptures. She might try to do family scriptures, or spouse scriptures, but most often, she was not taking the time for PERSONAL scripture study. She said the best time to do this was in the morning. It sets the tone for the day, etc. "Being a nightowl is a habit," she insisted. Then she went on to describe the benefits of going to bed. (If I could find my notes, I'd list them. :P You can laugh - it's okay.)
Then we were priviliged to hear Cliff Dunston who used to be a BYU professor talk about natural healing, and while he spoke he talked about going to bed early. He said at 10pm you hit your second wind, so you don't feel tired. By 11pm you are running purely on adrenals. Adrenals are a key part of your endocrine system - which is what gives you the ability to fight illness, heal, etc. Adrenals are something I had to work with a lot with my thyroid when it was hypo - and I was notriously up all night.
So I've been experiementing. (You know me.) Confession time. Redbeard and I have been discussing what we are going to be doing next year for the kids. I am very serious about following my patriarcal blessing and writing on a serious level. It's my mission, and the pull is so strong I don't think it's appropriate in my case to say this is not the season. It IS. So there's that, plus my boys turned 5 this year. They're already asking about letter recognition and wanting to do more love of learning things at their age than any of my girls did. Add this to Athena wanting to prepare to go to college when she's 17, Venus and Iris' schooling, and I'm wondering can I really do this?
I took Donna at her word. I'll be the first to admit my personal scripture study suffers at the hand of living. I wrote on my personal blog that no matter what time of morning I wake up, within 15 min. I have a child up with me. I don't have a lot of "alone time" - I take extra long showers. But the alternatives to not homeschooling left me empty. Redbeard and I pray over these decisions - both of us have been blessed with discernment. Neither of us felt good with public school, or charter schools. Neither of us felt good about me giving up my writing. So when she said this, it was like she was speaking right to me.
So I went to bed at 10pm, got up about 6am, and read my scriptures. Magic. I'm not kidding - the whole day flowed and was so easy, I couldn't imagine what in the world I was so overwhelmed about. Kids were learning, I had time to work on my book, chores were completed, etc. The next day, I didn't read my scriptures. What a yucky day. It was a mess, and that's all I have to say about it.
Not that every day is as perfect as that first day, but it makes a huge difference for me. Somedays I don't get much read, and somedays I feast. For those who believe we are a creator of our own lives, and there is nothing to reading your scriptures that makes a real difference - it's all in my head, I've got an answer for that. Beliving in God the way I do, I believe that He gives us those instructions (we HAVE been instructed to read our scriptures everyday) knowing that it puts that intention in our heads/hearts, helping us create that experience, creating our own acceptance to His blessings. Or, in other words, why fight collective intention?
As for the going to bed early thing - I am really focusing on changing those life habits. It has not proven to be a simple thing. Most of the time (it's only been a few weeks) I make it to bed by 10pm. Sometimes though, when I really get into my writing, or I'm out with hubby and it gets late, I meet the wee hour of 1am again. I'm working on being forgiving of myself, because logically I know it takes time to make a lifestyle change. Esp. since it was a lifestyle my husband and I collaborated together. Now he says, "I never see you".... but I refuse to go back - my physical health and the health of my homeschool/home depend on my willingness to change for the better. I hope I don't sound like Redbeard is making this difficult - he isn't - he's actually been very supportive. But there are sacrifices being made, and I want to acknowledge those too, so a clear picture is painted.
I'm not a perfect woman. I've never claimed to be. But I am very clear that when I am in obedience to the Lord, my ability to do more is increased, and I don't understand how. The nice thing is, I don't have to understand. Sometimes, it's just about doing.
I'll write more later on the rest of that conference (hopefully with my notes.) |
| Shared Thoughts(2) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Letting pain get in the way
My thoughts at 07:54 AM, May 5, 2009
Quotes
Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever. - Lance Armstrong
Don't you love this? A friend of mine shared it with us on Twitter, and I could feel my breath suck in. Lovely thought.
I didn't get my Commonwealth pics and video posted over here because I was having issues, so they're on my Making My Own Colors blog. Patience is a virtue I've always struggled with.... *grin* |
| Shared Thoughts(0) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Little Golden Books Online
My thoughts at 09:12 PM, March 29, 2009
Homeschooling Daze
I grew up with Little Golden Books. Most of us in the 70's did I think. Anyway, I haven't felt compelled to buy any of the reprints that I've seen in the bookstores, but I stumbled across this blog that has put scanned images of vintage Little Golden Books online. You can find it here:
|
| Shared Thoughts(0) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Porter Rockwell
My thoughts at 02:14 PM, March 28, 2009
Quotes
“Porter Rockwell was yesterday afternoon ushered into heaven clothed with immortality and eternal life, and crowned with all the glory which belongs to a departed Saint. He had his little faults but Porter’s life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God.”
~ Joseph F. Smith June 1878
It always bothers me how there is so much controversy surrounding this man in the church. We once performed a piece I wrote concerning him and his first wife's courtship. It was a little rowdy (as one can expect), but at the end my husband read something about how he never lost his love for Joseph Smith or the church, and his voice broke. I remember feeling a witness that this was true, and that he was a magnificent man. We are all so imperfect - I think it's harder for those whose lives have been well aired. Sometimes I wonder what kind of fiend I would be made out to be if my life were under a microscope. |
| Shared Thoughts(1) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
Truth
My thoughts at 08:50 PM, February 16, 2009
Quotes
All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident,
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) |
| Shared Thoughts(1) | Care to Share? | Link Me |
|
|
