|
So TOG Co-op went well on Friday. I was nervous about the Middle Grammar students. I have only taught the Lower Grammar and was a preschool teacher for several years so that is my comfort zone. The day went great. The kids really got into the experiments with motion and the graphing and averaging the data. We made Newton's Cradles, button yo-yo's and Silhoutte Portraits. We also had a mock 18th century dinner party. The boys had to pull out the girl's chairs. They had to stand when two of the girl guests arrived late. They had to wait until the hostess took her first bite and boy, did she make them suffer. She waited a good 3 minutes to take a bite, an eternity for the hungry boys! It was too funny. Here are some pictures of the day and the things they did.
Number 3 child acting in the role of servant.
Teaching them to set a table. Only one cup was broken and thankfully by one of my children.
He was reluctant to do his mannerly duties, but in the end he was a perfect gentleman.
Cutie Patootie #5 child...the Upper Grammar did some kind of experiment w/ the skateboard.
Adorable #4 child hanging out on the skateboard. The two did a nice job taking turns.
#1 child with her Silhoutte portrait. The UG portraits turned out a little better than the MG. They must hold still better. Every time I said hold still my group of kids wiggled more.
It appears that my #2 & #3 children have posture issues.
The button yo-yo's really do work and so did the Newton's cradle. I was so excited that it did what it was supposed to. Ya never know! Hope you enjoyed. I am spending today getting the week planned out. I will hopefully write it here and hold to what the Lord shows me. Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment. I love knowing that this is being read and encouraging others. |
Don't you love the eyelashes of #3...it is not exaggerated! They really are that long.|
As a child I remember my dad reading us the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy over and over. He may have only read it through once to us and it was so special that it seemed as though it was a reoccurring event. (Dad, when you read this...set me straight. How many times was it read to us?) Anyway, last year I read the 7 books of Narnia to the girls over the winter because they are amazing reads and in anticipation of the movie coming out. I didn't want them to see the movie without having read the books. (We all know that the books are always, far and beyond, better than the movies.) This winter I started our nightly reading time before bed again. I had wanted to continue all year long, but the summer nights are extremely long and the kids are happily playing in the streets until bed time and I am usually exhausted from a long day that we quickly abandoned the ritual. A few weeks ago I told the girls I wanted to start reading The Lord of the Rings. They said they weren't ready. They think they will be too scared. They have seen the covers of my Extended Versions of the movies and have seen the old cartoon version of The Hobbit. I used to love that movie as a kid. Anyway, they begged me to let them hear The Chronicles again. Since these books never get old, I had no problem saying ok. As I started the first book, (not in the order they were written, but the chronological order) The Magician's Nephew, I tried using my pathetic English accent. It wasn't pretty. Then one day I was looking on Ebay for a new set of books (we have the big monster compilation book and it is looking ragged) I saw a collection of audio books. I bid on them and won. What a gem I found! It is incredible! The voice actors are top-caliber. Dreamy, some of them. The Magician's Nephew is voiced by Kenneth Branaugh (love him!)
They are on sale on Amazon for $47, normally $75. Absolutely worth the money! |
. We are just starting The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the voice is Michael York. The other actors are Patrick Stewart 
|
I get the priviledge of leading the Middle Grammar Co-op class this Friday. For co-op I am going to do a number of simple experiments on the Laws of Motion by Sir Isaac.
I am also going to discuss manners of the 17th & 18th century as it pertains to dining. As I set up for snack I am going to have a handful of servants, a host (female), and guests (male and female).
We will do a Silhoutte Portrait. These were typical for the average colonial child to have as a record of their appearance. We are going to discuss the book they read Boys and Girls of Colonial Days. Then we are going to do a Story Thread game. I start a story and then each child goes around and adds to the story. Pray for me...I am out of my comfort zone with the older kids. I hope this all will fill the 3 hours of time. |
We are at the end of the 17th century and starting the 18th. We are at the Great Reformation and Sir Isaac Newton. I am not going to focus too much on the Reformation right now because I haven't gone too indepth with the girls this year. |
It is a new year and the Lord has really been impressing on me the need for consistency and discipline in the little and big things in life, especially as it pertains to the rearing of my girls. Over the last year I have felt defeated and frustrated and sorrowful over the weaknesses and sins in my life. I have, more often than not, allowed myself to become lazy both in my home and in my heart. The point of complete failure and the desire to stop trying to do and be better always just before me. But that is where God wants me, right? He wants me at the end of myself so that I know that He is enough! He is sufficient! He is the ONLY ONE who can change me. He gave me the picture this morning of the hardened lump of clay on the potter's wheel. The potter must chip off the hard edges, wet the clay, push hard into it to form anything distinguishable. But as his skillful hands work the clay it becomes pliable and yields to his hands. He is able to mold definition into the piece of dirt and create a work of beauty. ("For we are God's workmanship (work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10) Am I yielded to the Potter's hand? Or do I just want to do things my own way, in my own time? Why do I try in my own strength to do better, to be better? Sometimes I am frustrated with who I am and my continual struggles because of the weaknesses I have, but then God showed me this verse...Romans 9:20-21 "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" ' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" Isn't it in my weaknesses that His power is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9)? Paul said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I am weak, but the power of Christ and His resurrection are in me. His grace is sufficient for me. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 How as a homeschool mom do I tap into this power so that my day is ordered by His will and not my own? How do I stop failing? How do I demonstrate a life yielded to Christ to my children? I can't, but He can through me!
So, as I am going through my day with the girls, when I am overwhelmed and needed to breathe the air of freedom...REST!
He is faithful regardless of my faithlessness. |
|
Week One of our experimental discipline technique has ended. We are well-pleased! It needs a little time to see how we can make it most effective. I also know that this isn't permanent and will eventually become ineffective. But for now, the girl's attitudes have remarkably changed. In the morning when we needed to get out of the house and I needed help with the "babies" I had volunteers out my ear and sometimes without even asking. It is an outward motivation, but their hearts were more cheerful and less complaining. They are each close to the hundred pebble goal for their $5 so today I am having them do extra chores to make their goal. Plus the house needs a serious overall this week and I am too tired to do it all myself. If you read this and think, "I should try this"...pray first and ask God to help you come up with something creative that will be a perfect fit for your family and that helps to foster the areas that need growth in your children. Money management was one of the big things that we needed to work on and this hits their attitude/behavior problems while also helping me to grow them in the area of time and money stewardship. I am so grateful to my Eternal Father for caring enough about the little things in my life that cause me grief and for His Spirit that gives me inspiration and motivation to do and be better. I am most thankful for the New Beginnings He offers me daily! Like Michael Card's song..."He says, 'My child, begin again.'" He knows I am a hopeless screw-up apart from Him and yet He gives me the strength, power, and desire to start again. |
|
|
|
Day One at only 8:11 in the morning (with the girls being awake for only 45 minutes)- the girls are rushing around seeking to do good. They come up with a new thing to accomplish only to find that another sister already thought of it. They are very motivated-especially number 2 child! She is full of excitement. Over Christmas break she even created her own schedule to adhere to when we started school again. Tell me we don't all crave some amount of structure in our life. If only that was a strong suit of either me or the hubby. We are both very weak in the area of structure and schedule of time. As we are doing this I am trying to explain the heart behind the deed. Explaining that when they choose to help their baby sisters it is them really helping Jesus (they are "the least of these" in this household). I also am reminding them that this is an external motivator that I hope with teach them to be internally motivated to please the Only One that matters! They have really been struggling with their attitudes and bickering and I want them to begin to consider the effect (or is it affect? Please post and let me know. I always forget when to use affect instead of effect.) their attitudes and words have on the family. I feel empowered at this moment in time in regards to their discipline. Because they are excited about the Pebbles of Purity, I can use them as both a positive reinforcement and a negative reinforcement. When they are arguing, bickering, using unkind words, having a bad attitude I can simply say, "Go take a pebble out of the jar.". I can say it without anger, without condemnation. We will have to tweak some things, I am sure. Right now, they receive a pebble in their jar when they do their daily expectations (making beds, putting their dishes in the dishwasher, school work -one for each subject), when they are "caught" doing good (helping the little ones, cleaning something without being asked, encouraging each other). They also can have one removed if they make bad choices. We counted out a hundred of the pebbles and put them in a jar and made a mark on the jar. The girls decorated the jar and put a ribbon around the mark. When the pebbles reach the mark they receive $5 (This is the allowance I have wanted to give to them, but always forget to give them.). The $5 will be split into three catagories - tithe, savings, spending - so that they learn financial responsibility. This is an area I struggled with as an adult. I have always found it easy to tithe-that was ingrained in us as children, but we never learned to save. I have friends who learned to tithe 10%, save 10%, and spend the rest for whatever and it is amazing to see them now as adults tithing and saving 20% in both areas with ease b/c it is as natural as breathing for them. Ok, the money thing is for another blog. I have to go and teach at the Y. Chris will have to take over the Pebbles for this morning, but I am sure the girls will remind him of their good deeds. |
|
I am finding as the girls get older that it is becoming harder to effectively discipline them. The issues are sometimes more subtle and a hardness of heart. We don't have to deal too much with blatant defiance in the older three, although it does occur. Most of the time, it is them treating each other with disregard or just plain meanness. Or, as is the case with one of the girls on a regular basis, the issue is a bad attitude. I have been praying for a solution because, quite frankly, I feel powerless and tend to erupt with anger. In the past, I rarely became angry, but now it is a daily thing. I hate it! It doesn't feel right. I end up apologizing for my anger while they are apologizing for the infraction. I know it doesn't have to be like this. I know that if I had a way of disciplining set out in advance with the consequences clearly stated for whatever the problem is that I could handle it without anger and with a calm and maybe even a cheerful heart. I was thinking of a reward/consequence system. One idea I might try is having a jar on the counter that they fill with pebbles (or some other small item) and as they show positive fruit: obedience, diligence, helpfulness, love towards the sisters, accomplishing chores, etc., I would reward them with a pebble. At the end of the week we would see if they filled the jar and they would be rewarded with an allowance (which we haven't really been good at remembering-which the allowance thing and money stewardship is a whole other issue that I need to work through and get started). During the week, if they display negative traits and behaviors then I would remove a pebble from their jar and give them a chore to do. This is my idea. If you read this and have any helpful suggestions or see some major problems with this...please comment! I just received the book Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel. I am excited to see if it offers any insight that I can use. |
|
Ok...now the brass tacks. Here is a partial review of the things the girls have accomplished in the past three months. It will not be comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination because there is so much that is done that isn't written down or even quantifiable (is that a word?) I like it anyway. For example, the girls draw all the time and their work is becoming more and more complex without much guidance from me. They just love to draw and will spend hours drawing together and I am not even aware that is what they are doing. If they were in school, when would they find the time to be free to do that? Ok, I always drew in class when the teacher was talking. I made notebooks of cartoon characters during lectures. Another thing that can't be listed is how often the girls cook and bake, either alone or with me. This is something that I am thankful that they get the time to enjoy that. So, here is a list of books they have read on their own for school...don't worry, J, I won't list the endless twaddle that they choose, just strictly literature. They have read 5-6 other Colonial story books in their studies, but I neglected to write them down. I chose them from the library when they had time to read more in a two week period. They also read a ton of non-fiction books on William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania. We were supposed to present an extensive project on Pennsylvania (the greatest state in the union, imho The two MG (Middle Grammar) girls read: Pocahontas by D'Aulaire Pocahontas and the Stranger by Bulla Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz Homes in the Wilderness by Margaret Brown The Legend of New Amsterdam by Peter Spier William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy By Bradford Smith Galileo by Leonard Fisher The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by John Bierhorst Boys and Girls of Colonial Days by Carolyn Bailey The one, reluctant reader in UG (Upper Grammar): Pocahontas & the Stranger by Bulla Pocahontas by D'Aulaire William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare Galileo by Leonard Fisher A Piece of the Mountain by Joyce McPherson Diary of an Early American Boy by Noah Blake (ok, technically she still is working on this one. It is pain-staking for her. She hates it, but it is required for the co-op. She will finish it, even if it takes a month. Some of the Books I have read to them: The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster Making Thirteen Colonies by Joy Hakim The Story of the Thirteen Colonies by H.A. Guerber If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster (still reading) From Colonies to Country by Joy Hakim (still reading) There are a couple other "spines" that I have read to them, but I can't think of them. I really need to write these things down. Too bad you can't retain a listing of the books borrowed from the library, then I could go back through and see the ones we read and liked. Oh well, this is a good sampling of the last three months. On Tuesday afternoon I couldn't find Number 2 & 3 dd. I looked and eventually found them in secret hiding spots having "alone time". They were reading. My reader's heart filled with joy, until I asked them what they were reading....Junie B. Jones (blech!!!) I am glad that they are enjoying reading and will not throw away the twaddle...sorry J One other cool thing that is worth mentioning, in Co-op, they have Science. They know more about Chemistry than I ever have learned. We are blessed with an actual Chemistry teacher to teach them. I still don't know what they are talking about and at this point in my life I have no desire to learn. I have made it this far without knowing how or why certain elements bond or not. Finally...man, am I in the mood to write today or what? Gotta go with it when the urge strikes and the three cups of java are kicked into action! I am very excited that they are half way finished with their Math and Language books. I figured out that if they stay the course, they will be finished by the first week of April. I will push for this to happen because we will have freedom on our trip to the East Coast. I want to have them make an extensive journal/scrapbook of our trip to historic landmarks. That is another blessing of homeschooling, we can start whenever we want and take breaks when we want and go on a three week trip in the middle of the school year. I had the girls start their English and Math the first week of July. It was no-pressure, short spurts of work, but it helped us get ahead. YEAH!
|
)
I am thankful they are getting the explosure because they will have an easier time later in classes.
|
I am a big LOSER, I know! I was all hopped up and ready to go in September and yes, dear sil, you called it...you knew I was going to bail. You were nice enough not to say it in those words, but your meaning was the same. Three different new people have looked and commented on my blog this week and I feel obligated to update and get back on the "Reflective Wagon". I do love it once I sit down and make the time to do it. So sorry if you have been checking my blog for updates and you have felt the sting of disappointment. I will try to do better. I had forgotten that I had the link attached to my email. I was filled with delusions of grandure when I did that...assuming that I would finally become the diligent woman I was meant to become. One of the loftiest, yet completely bogus, things that people say when they find out that I have 5 children and I homeschool is, "You must be so busy and have no time." The sad truth is I have plenty of time and will find time to be lazy and do whatever I want, sometimes the choices not being the best choices. I am not saying that we can't have down time or time to do the things we enjoy. I just tend to go towards things that are not edifying, that have no eternal-value, that produce no fruit in my life. I just want to "veg-out", "tune-out, "zone-out" and not have to think about anything. Is this wrong? Maybe not always, but for me it is a conviction. I am convicted that it is wrong when I spend a healthy (or unhealthy, as the case may be) portion of time trying to escape this life. There is so much I am missing out on. If I have the right attitude and depend upon the Spirit of God to give me strength and let Him demonstrate His fruit in my life....oh, the things we could accomplish....the dreams we could dream....the time of blessing I would have with my family and the people in my life. I know there is more that God wants to have me experience if I would just yield and deny myself and my selfish tendencies. How much more at peace and contented I would find myself! The freedom I would experience by resting in His will for my life and my family! JOY! "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" He has come. He is Truth! He has come to free me from the burden of sin and from the misery of this world. I know this joy and have experienced it deeply. Why do I choose to bind myself back up in the sin and misery when the joy and freedom are already mine? God of the universe became flesh and dwelt among us (Emmanuel, aka, Jesus). Two thousand years ago, in a dirty, smelly barn...God of eternity stepped down from glory and became a slimey, wrinkled newborn and our Salvation was born. Our faith is crazy...but we also know it is absolutely true! So...that was a journey of thought...it may not be completely cohesive in this blog, but in my heart I know what I am learning and it is good. The past is the past. God's mercies are new every morning and my sin has been cast away as far as the east is from the west. I am free! This moment is new and I am thankful for it. Believe it or not, this ramble has everything to do with homeschooling! If I am in the right place in my heart and mind with the Lord, then my kids benefit and schooling goes to a whole different level. Merry Christmas! Spend time remembering why and who we celebrate. |
|
Here are some fun photos when my older sister and her family came for a visit. We had such a great time. Even though it wasn't as long as we would have liked, we enjoy the time with them. It had been years since we had seen each other's children. That was a blessing. It is like a breath of fresh air visiting my family, especially my sisters! If only we didn't live on opposite sides of the country.
  |
  |
|
The first day of Tapestry of Grace Co-op was last week and we all had a great time. I couldn't believe all the things they did. Upper Grammar made Dream Catchers, Candles, and a minature fort of Jamestown. Middle Grammar made Johnny Cakes (like pancakes, but with cornmeal), Map of the 13 Colonies, and something else...I am drawing a blank. Oh, they learned how to trade beads for things that they wanted. Lower Grammar made headdresses, bead necklaces, colored pictures of the Susan Constant, and had authentic snacks. I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted b/c I dropped my camera and the screen went out.
|
|
I am very sad and trying to not be bothered...which would be just selfish and not seeking the interests of others. But, the girls loved co-op so much and I don't want them to miss. I purposely planned my trip to MN so that we wouldn't miss and now next week they are cancelling because three families can't make it and rescheduling to the following week. All the families, but ours, could make it the first week in October. I know it was a hard decision for them, but part of me (ok, the sin part -nasty flesh) wants to say too bad, it is scheduled so stick with it. What a sinner I am. I guess that is a sign of a good co-op when it causes you to sin if they reschedule and you miss. Ok, so that is a blessing and I am thankful for the group and the wonderful ladies that work hard to make it happen! I am excited to spend time with my wonderul sil and know she will make it all worth it, right, J? Books, books and more books....haha. I feel better now. Just writing my sorrow and letting it go has helped. Plus, Rachel is glad. She was nervous about making the speech that was required. She will still prepare it and we will have her share it with her cousins in MN. |
|
It has been and still is my intention to blog a few times a week. Life is just a crazy mess lately! I haven't been home with time to sit and think in over a week. Last week the girls started homeschool gym, swim lessons, Spanish class, and their first co-op. All of it was wonderful and they loved every bit of it. We also went camping for dh's last triathlon of the summer. That was a great time, as well. This week I wanted to sit down and plan out the week, but the week has started and while the girls are busy doing different things for school, not much of it is organized ahead of time. I take my National Certification next weekend for Group Fitness and when that is said and done and I don't have to spend time studying for it, I will attempt to start every week with a plan or at least a course of action. I know life sometimes interrupts our best-laid plans, but I think it can be so much better and calmer if I can sit alone and pray, think through the up-coming week. So, until the next quiet moment.... |
  |
  
Thank you, Michelle...it was the Source button that I wasn't using. You are worthy of the Nice Award. Ok, yesterday, we had a day of craft fun. We read aloud from our "spines", as they are called in TOG (Tapestry of Grace). We accomplished everything on my previous list, except Science and baking a loaf of bread. I became too lazy and decided I didn't want to clean the kitchen again. We had a great day. Next week starts our activities for the year. They start homeschool gym, swim lessons, and Spanish class at the YMCA. Basically, we are going to spend all of Monday at the Y. I teach two classes in the morning (the girls do their seatwork during that time) and then we eat lunch there. They then have gym and swim lessons. We will have two hours of free time and eating dinner. Spanish is at 5 and 6 (two different times for the different ages). My friend is teaching the class and the girls are jazzed about it. I chose to squish it all in one day so that we can be done and have few other obligations for the week. I may change my mind later, come November, December, when it cold, bleak, and dreary. I think it will work for us. I also thought that kids do this everyday, if their parents work late and they go to after-school programs, so I know it won't kill us. We were suppose to start our co-op this next Friday (it is every other week, including History, LIterature and Science), but the Daddy decided we were camping one last time. He borrowed a pop-up camper. We want to buy one, so we are trying it out. He has a triathlon race on Saturday and we are camping nearby. The girls are going to miss the co-op and we are a little bummed. They are doing some incredibly fun things, but family time is more important. Tonight, I have to sit down and write out some goals for this next week. Dh and I are leaving tomorrow a.m. at 6 to go to Madison and watch our friend race in the Ironman. We get to spend the night in a hotel afterwards and then dh is going to sign up for the Ironman for next year.....Aaaahhhh! I am excited for him. It will be a great experience for him. That is 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, topped off with a 26 miles run. Sounds like fun, huh? |
|
We made it through a full day of school, but not with joy and peace and it is all my fault. I was preoccupied and busy listing a lot of things on eBay. I have been putting it off for a long time and it was time to do it. I started last night and was up until the wee hours and I mean weeeeee hours trying to list as many things as I could before the school day, but alas, it wasn't enough. I slept for just about 5 hours. Guess who was a little groggy this morning and, of course, Mr. Monthly had to come knocking. So, in regards to productivity...we were successful. In regards to training their hearts and really enjoy the process...not so much! There is always tomorrow. : ) It is a big school day tomorrow. We will be doing some science experiments, baking (8 loaves of banana bread...bananas were on sale for $.15/lb and a fun kind of bread, which as not yet been chosen), an Indian craft (corn husk dolls and something else that I have forgotten), History read alouds, expanding and editting a story they began today on being a "younker" aboard the early settlers ships. (J, if you don't know what a younker is and want to know call tomorrow and have the girls tell you so that they can teach someone else.). They have finished their Math and English for the week, except I think #2 child. I think she still has two more pages in her Math, but it is something she understands (Hallelujah!) so it shouldn't take her too long. I am glad I wrote this all down right now so that I have a good reference tomorrow. I haven't been so good about writing out what we are doing the week before. It has been hard to find a time to leave the chaos of home and go off to a quiet spot to reflect and plan in advance. My house has not been in order and I feel always three steps behind in upkeep since my family left and I had surgery. I need to regain order by next week or I will go crazy! I'd say by this weekend, but dh and I are going away this weekend and the person watching the girls NEVER cleans or picks up...so there is no use in killing myself tomorrow. (graciousness, I hope she never reads this...oh, she wouldn't care anyway. She freely admits to not picking up.) Thanks for keeping me faithful...dear friend and sil....someday maybe others will read this, but I am good with an audience of one....oh, make that two (thank you, Jesus!) Signing off for today...btw, I am not aiming at writing everyday...just mainly Tues, Thurs, Fri...Monday and Wednesday are seatwork/reading days...not much fun and not much to write about. But oh so necessary! |
|
Ok, we did a full morning of school today. It went well. The girls focused. Only needed one intervention from the Daddy for a bad attitude. But after over 3 hours of constant communication with my five dds...I am done, shot, exhausted of their talk! Is that terrible? At lunch I was edgy, but trying to show only love and patience. Inside I couldn't wait for lunch to be done as I ordered the older three outside for the next hour and the younger two to bed for naps. Ahhhh, serenity of quiet and chaos of a messy house. All in all, that is the hope I have for the rest of the year (at least on Tues, Thurs, and Fri). This was my litmus day. We didn't accomplish everything, of course, but darn near it. They still have to do their quiet reading time for literature/history. I know it is Labor Day and all, but since we had no plans until this evening I decided to make the most of the day. Their was no complaints about starting...then again...they don't know it is a holiday. We didn't get to those worksheets and activities. I learned a lot preparing to tell them about Labor Day. I always wondered why we had the holiday and now I know. Education isn't only for the young! |
|
This new template made me remember how much I am missing coffee! When they did the test to see about the cyst on my vocal cord, they found that I had a mild case of acid reflux. I had no idea! It has never bothered me. The conversation with the doctor was something like this: Dr: It appears you have some acid reflux. We are going to have to get that under control before surgery. me: What could be causing it? Dr: Do you drink a lot of coffee? me: What do you mean by "a lot'? Dr: How many cups do you drink in a day? me: What do you consider a cup? So, it turns out drink a pot or two a day is a little too much. Who knew? Does she know what it takes to sanely homeschool five children and be a lively fitness instructor? I need the java. Hey, maybe that is why I am so tired. Anyway, I had to cut down on the coffee before my surgery. That meant for me...stopping cold turkey. I weaned myself off, but it didn't help the migraine I received the day I had none. It has been three weeks since my last cup of coffee.....oh, I mean, "My name is Rebecca and I am a coffee addict. It has been three weeks since my last drink." That's how I feel. I want to drink the coffee. I need the coffee. Ok, I am not that desperate. I miss the warmth of the cup in my hand. I miss having something to keep me from putting food in my mouth. The aroma of it brewing. I have two more weeks of healing before I can freely drink without worry of scarring my ever-fragile vocal cords and I can't wait! |