Wednesday, April 28, 2010 10:17 a.m.

We here at our home strive to make our lives as commercial-free as possible.  Our modern environment is saturated with advertising, and we try to make our home and lives as safe a haven as possible, including minimizing the amount of advertising to which we are exposed.  Not simply for our children's well being, but also for our own.  Few things arouse a spirit of discontentment for Self-Reliant Man and me more than advertising.

Now I do enjoy listening to music, usually in the car, but over the years our options for doing so have narrowed.  I have been very unsatisfied with broadcast radio, and I am not in the habit, anymore, of shopping for recorded music.  Whereas at one time, about ten or so years ago, I spent a lot of time and attention acquiring music CDs, I am no longer interested in doing so.  I have relied on the radio, and been unhappy with it, so there has been a dearth of recorded music in my life.  Strange, for a family that spends so much time learning how to play string instruments.

In the last year, our local public radio station has stopped broadcasting classical music due to lack of listener support. The major city near us is not exactly a Mecca for the fine arts, I am sorry to say. So, no more classical music, except for a few well worn, tiresome CDs that I play in the car. The local contemporary Christian radio station seems to have a playlist of about 20 songs, and when an especially good one is released, it is played to death. So I can't stomach that anymore. For awhile, I got excited about a new radio station in town that plays music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. So I would put that on (or Sweet Girl would request it) and that was fine for about a month. Then I found some of the advertising so offensive that I had to stay alert to quickly change stations. Well, this happened twice, maybe, and then I was sick of it and shut it off.

As Chips would say: "Blah!"

But this post does have a happy ending, I promise. While Self-Reliant Man had his car in the body shop for two weeks (due to his encounter with a garbage truck) we were loaned a rental car that had satellite radio. What a blessed discovery this was for me!!! 100% Commercial Free digital music stations of all kinds: pop, country, classical, jazz, Christian, world music and a station for many various sub-categories of musical styles. Plus all kinds of news, weather, and talk stations.

So this week, Self-Reliant Man announced to me that he is going to install a Sirius/XM radio in my car as well as purchase a free-standing portable radio for listening inside the house and in our yard. So I am happy as a lark. I can now hear all the music I haven't heard in years -- including music I remember from when I was age 7 or under, sitting in the back seat of the car when my mother was driving, nostalgic music for me, as well as classical music 24/7. I especially appreciate the display that identifies the name of the piece and the artist. Very nice. So although there are about 120 stations to listen to, we will be picking the Sirius "A la Carte" option whereby you select 50 stations that you particularly want (and there are many that I don't!) and pay $7 a month.

So that is my latest way to de-commercialize our lives; money well spent, I think.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 9:48 p.m.

Sorry, but that's just the way I feel about it.  And yet we go back.  And -- help me here -- we are learning perseverance, perhaps?  longsuffering?  deferred gratification?

Or are we simply learning to do our very best to glorify the Lord, perfecting our music far above and beyond what we would have done if we were not going?

But we are going, again, to Jacks*nville this weekend for our annual pilgrimage to the state competitions.  It is difficult to not get our hopes up every year.  Every year, we think he is doing so well.  And Sweet Girl will be trying her hand at the competition this year, for the first time.  She, too, is playing fine.

Quick run down of events.

Chips -- Friday --  Violin Solo, Medium I -- Kuchler's Concertino in the style of Antonio Vivaldi

then

Violin Concerto, Junior II -- Concerto #1 in A minor, by J.B. Accolay

then

Piano Trio Chamber ensemble, Medium  -- "Uluru", from Summits, by C. McMichael



Sweet Girl -- Saturday --  Violin Solo, Primary I -- Oh Come Little Children, from Suzuki Book 1.


So, thinking we are ready for the emotional sandpaper, I say let's go for it!  And may this be the year we return home feeling differently than all those other years.  We all could use the encouragement around here.

April 27, 2010 11:05 a.m.

Yesterday was the final practice of the boys' chamber piano trio of which Chips is the violinist.  They were practicing for state competition this coming weekend in Jacks*nville.  This is "Uluru", from the Summits compositions of C. McMichael.  This was the selection that gave Chips such grief this year, but I feel has resulted in good lessons learned for him.  Lessons in perseverance and patience, for example.

So the coming weeks will bring the final performance of this group.  Hopefully, though, they will always remains friends as they are today.  For me this is the "end of an era".  I have mixed feelings.  First, it will be lovely to get the latter half of our Monday afternoons back; but I will miss hanging with these boys and their wonderful moms, as well as benefitting from the teaching of this particular group's director.  But life moves along, children grow older, transitions occur, seasons change.  In most cases everything we have done, and finished well, has been replaced by something else even better.  That's called Providence.  Hopefully, what is being relinquished now will be filled anew with bigger and better things.

There is more that is changing, but I am not at liberty to talk about it just yet.  In a few weeks I will be able to.

If you can spare three minutes, please view this final "practice" performance of a rather modern musical selection.

 Monday, April 26, 2010 12:27 p.m.

My children bring their friends home with them every day.  Sometimes physically, but most often in their imaginations.  It all began a few years ago when they would make references in their play to the friends they saw regularly at church small group, and then at AWANA, and then at Saints (PE class).  This practice continued on a daily basis, and grew to become more and more elaborate over time.

Eventually, it took on some of the structure they had learned from AWANA.  For instance, Chips had his group of friends, and Sweet Girl had hers; Chips became the Commander of his Group, and Sweet Girl was the Leader of her group.  Both children were in charge over their respective group of friends, but the Commander, of course, was in authority over the Leader.

Soon there were lists prepared on paper of each of the Groups.  Each child's group had membership of between ten and twenty children, identifiable by their real first names (although in the case where there were two children of the same first name, as in Madison, the first initial of the last name would be used).

Since then, the Groups have accompanied our children everywhere: in the car, to meals, to lessons, in the yard, and around the house, even to the bedrooms at night.  I am sure it became quite crowded when Chips had to share his bed with his entire group.  Good thing he has a double bed.

Then the Groups became "National Groups" because children were joining from all over the country.  They began to acquire special characteristics.  For instance, they travel in special vehicles called Sprint Cars, and Sprockets.  Yes, several drawings have been made of Sprint Cars and Sprockets, and each type of vehicle has a description and special uses to the Groups.

The Groups are very adventurous children.  They are able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...... when inside their Sprockets, of course.  The groups are extremely inventive, putting their collective brains together to invent many useful things.  For example, Moving Belts, which they put different things on to transport them, and Dual Rockets, motorcycles that fly with rockets.  One of the boys in the Group races against the space shuttle in a Sprocket and always wins a million dollars each time he wins.  He is up to seven million.  They have superhuman qualities in some ways, yet they, too, are members of our fallen human race as they struggle with their own weaknesses: poor judgment in managing their money, overeating (or eating too many sweets and getting stomach aches), reckless driving of the Sprint Cars, disagreements amongst themselves, failure to heed the warnings of their Commander or Leader, failure to floss their teeth regularly, reluctance to practice their instruments every day, or whatever.

We parents continue to marvel at the level of imagination that Chips and Sweet Girl exhibit when playing with their Groups.  I just when I am driving and I overhear Sweet Girl say to Chips: "Let's talk about our Groups." Self-Reliant Man and I cherish it, and we see that through the National Groups, our kids are able to safely and securely process the realities of life in the real world with the assistance of their friends ---- each other.

 April 20, 2010 6:33 p.m.

I truly want to share some of the highlights of the past several weeks /  months here, and have included some photos here.  Having said that, I must add that there aren't as many photos as I would have liked to include.  Most of the pictures included friends' children, and I don't post pictures of other folks' kids on my blog (unless they are generally unrecognizable in the picture).  So that left me with few photos to use, and I shall have to paint the remaining photos in your mind with words alone.

We had two birthdays here in our family.  Sweet Girl turned seven in March, and we had a quiet and peaceful home celebration for her.  This is the cake that Chips decorated for her.  Our children have a custom of treating each other like royalty on their birthdays.  When it is time to open the gifts, the non-birthday child sets up a type of "throne" for the birthday child to sit on while opening presents.  The throne may be outfitted with cushions, signs, a parasol over it, and a special gift opening table covered with a brightly colored cloth or blanket.  We capture it all on video.  It's pretty funny!

Chips turned ten earlier this month, and this is a moment from his bowling party.  He invited sixteen friends, and they were all able to come.  Chips had an ear-to-ear grin the entire time!

Back to February, now.  Here are the children watching the Olympics, complete with flags for the team members they were rooting for.  Notice Sweet Girl's handmade Korea flag. 
For any new readers, yes, we are a TV-free family, but over the seven years of not watching, we have made exceptions for the Olympics, for Presidential inaugurations, space shuttle landings (there was one here just this morning), and hurricane / tornado coverage (because our internet is the first thing to be knocked out).

Uh, yes, that's Self-Reliant Man teaching Chips to shoot targets with his air rifle.  Goodness, but what has country living done to me?!  Chips was still just nine in that photo.

We had a "field trip" for our homeschool fellowship group at our home.  One especially skilled mom led a terrific class on DNA, complete with hands on experimentation, and then the "field trip" morphed into frolicking in the field.

The children were in a musical production at church, singing "Do-Re-Mi" as the von Trapp children, and "So Long, Farewell".  It was a great show, but alas I cannot show it here...

Sweet Girl made a profession of faith at church on Maundy Thursday and became a communicant member.  She was one of eleven such children, and I have a sweet photo of all those children, too, but darn, I can't show it.  Sorry.  They really are cute, too.

Finally, our dry erase board in our school room doesn't owe us anything.  It has been used, and used, and used, and will need to be replaced rather soon.  But what can you do to thank a dry erase board that has consistently passed along to me such priceless messages?

April 15, 2010 11:08 p.m.

It has been a very busy week, and the busyness will not let up at all over the next few days.  I will write again when the dust settles a bit.
Until then, I leave you with a meaningful photo from our recent life:

We're just guessing that these gentlemen needed to stop in and get some more superglue to firmly affix that sign.  And we're pretty excited about the new dining option we will have soon.

April 6, 2010 8:42 p.m.

Chips is now a published writer. Back in December, for his final fourth grade composition with Calvert School, he wrote about Benjamin Franklin, imagining his reaction were he to come back to earth today. His A.T.S. (Calvert's supervisory teacher) wrote back recommending that we submit his composition to Calvert Connection. Calvert Connection is a quarterly publication for, and about, Calvert's home education community.

Imagine our surprise when we received a packet in the mail, yesterday, containing several copies of Calvert Connection and a cover letter telling us that Chips' composition had been published!

We were excited. I have retyped his composition here for those of you who don't receive Calvert Connection.

FOR TODAY... April 6, 2010 5:15 p.m.

Outside my window... lavender colored wildflowers have sprouted all over our property, and that of adjacent properties as well. These flowers give off a very sweet and floral scent, so that it really smells like Easter time around here.

I am thinking and praying... for the children of three different friends; children who are each dealing with their own issues and pain related to their school lives.

I am thankful for... fellowship time yesterday evening with my homeschool mom friends.

I am wearing... khaki capri pants, a periwinkle blue top, and my trademark athletic shoes.

I am remembering... a fun time at our house last week when one of our talented homeschool mom friends skillfully taught us about DNA and provided a laboratory experience for all the children in our group.

I am going... to host many friends at Chips' TENTH birthday bowling party this coming Saturday. He is very excited, and expects to see 14 friends there.

I am reading... creeping my way through all the books I mentioned within the past few weeks, but now have added the following into the mix: Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can Do About It by Jane M. Healy, a book recommended by Sandy at Falling Like Rain .

I am hoping and praying... for as painless an adjustment as possible for my MIL to a new facility for her care. She is making the transition from assisted living to nursing home, and unfortunately has to be on a waiting list for a preferred facility. We hope that she doesn't have to be relocated more than once before finding the right permanent spot.

On my mind... two friends whose kids are at brick and mortar schools, and suffering quite a bit in school. I realize that homeschooling cannot solve every problem, nor is it for everyone, but I wonder how much suffering could have been avoided had they been homeschooled from the start. Praying for wisdom for them as well.

From the learning rooms... Chips is now a published writer, and I will write more about this in my next post.

Noticing that... the academic portion of our homeschool day is taking longer and longer lately. Some of it is from a more advanced and extended workload, some of it is from daudling. Trying to tell which is which, and maybe not wanting to know.

Pondering these words... He's alive and I'm forgiven -- heaven's gates are open wide! -- Don Francisco, circa 1977(?)

From the kitchen... Skillet burritos and canteloupe for supper tonight.

Around the house... roof repairs about done here. Now we need to tear down some patio screening to get at another place that needs patching and painting. I guess that means we will be having to learn how to rescreen next. I hope it can get done before the summer heat arrives.

One of my favorite things... watching the children sleeping comfortably in their beds and marveling at the miracles that brought them into our lives.

From my picture journal......

Well, I think it is high time to tell my faithful readers about all the changes that will be occurring around here. There are so many that I am going to give them numbers.

1. We decided to enroll both children in the local public school. We have had this nagging guilt about socialization and secret concerns about their academic prowess, so we decided that their needs could best be met by professionals in the field.

2. We also decided to discontinue their violin lessons at the same time. The reason for this is that we think they will be spending more time each day with school and homework, and requiring this activity on top of everything else will be too demanding. They will need some time for fun, you know? After all, you're only young once.

3. Since there will be several long hours to fill while they are away at school, I will fortunately be able to spend a lot more time shopping in the local malls. After all, we expect to save thousands every year not buying curriculum and paying for violin lessons. More $$ for me to spend, right?

4. We decided to sign up for cable television and we have an order in place for a brand new 55 inch LED high definition TV. This will better facilitate my being able to watch the Oprah show and more daytime TV on non-shopping days.

5. Chips' tenth birthday is coming up, and instead of a birthday party, we decided to buy him an XBox 360, his own laptop, and an Ipod. We have been concerned about his lack of technological skills, and figure these gifts will help. Also, the Xbox should continue to hone his fine motor skills since he won't be playing the violin anymore.

6. We decided that Sweet Girl's wardrobe needs some spicing up. After all she is 7, practically a teenager. So I ordered her some tube tops, short shorts, and bikinis for the upcoming summer. I am sure she will look great.

7. We're finally getting around to registering to vote in our county. I know, we've been here five years already, but didn't have the time. We're registering as Democrats.

8. I will be changing the name of this blog to "Free at Last!"

A lot of thought has gone into making these decisions. What do you all think? If you are still with me, scroll down some....







































APRIL FOOLS!!!!!

Now if you believe all that, I have some great oceanfront property for sale in Nebraska.

FOR TODAY... March 30, 2010 7:04 a.m.

Outside my window... still dark this morning, but clear, with a full moon.

I am thinking and praying... the parents of my friend (illness), another friend's son (trouble in school), my other friend's niece (bulimia and rebellion) and for renewal and repentance within me and our family as we approach the climax of Lent.

I am thankful for... the work, presence, and promise of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Also thankful for no headaches, after enduring nine days in a row with annoying pressure headaches.

I am wearing... fleece pants and sweatshirt, as it is chilly once again this morning. What else??

I am remembering... the home I lived in from age 3 until age 31. It is in New Jersey, and its photo is below.

Also, remembering the nice quiet birthday celebration we had for Sweet Girl last week as she turned 7.

I am going... headlong into a cold, I believe. That's because I started a diet a week ago. Any time I start a diet, I end up with a bug a week later. I'm at the "scratchy throat" stage.

I am reading... Stott's Basic Christianity, Barrie's Peter Pan, Created for Work by Bob Schultz, and more recently When You Rise Up by R. C. Sproul, Jr. The Sproul, Jr. family have recently moved here to our church community. They homeschool and have 7 kids.

I am hoping... for a happy, memorable, and blessed evening this coming Thursday as Sweet Girl makes her Profession of Faith and takes her first Lord's Supper! Now our family is complete!

On my mind... the changes coming down in our country, and the agenda that the gov't has in mind for the spring. Not sure where it is all going, but I know two things. ONE: We're going to have to pay for it, literally, with real money, and TWO: God is still 100% sovereign over it all.

From the learning rooms... I cannot believe how many compositions Chips and Sweet Girl are writing these days for their Calvert curriculum. One thing I can say about Calvert, it really challenges them, makes them think, discuss, and work, and especially write. Writing, like touch typing and reading music, can only develop ease and fluency when one is made to practice it over and over again. I can see their skills developing before my eyes. I see Chips creating outlines of his history reading and then turning the outline into a factual composition. I know that this is developing good study skills for when he is older. I see Sweet Girl letting her imagination loose as she turns most of her writing projects into fantasy stories. She is loving writing, always has.

Noticing that... the cortisone injection that our dog, Beau, received last week has turned him into a different dog. He is loving life again! But we have to be careful that he doesn't overdo it, because he hasn't been used to it. Missing his younger days.

Pondering these words... Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11.

I especially want that undivided heart part.

From the kitchen... Italian Casserole with Caesar Salad for supper tonight.

Around the house... Self-Reliant Man is still making minor improvements to the roof. All I have to do is spot him and mind the ladder.

Also, cleaning up the breezeway after our dog decided to "mark" the entire thing when we were at church on Sunday. And that's all I'm going to say about THAT!

One of my favorite things... the smells of spring time, and that first whiff you get when you open up a window.

From my picture journal......


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March 29, 2010 11:19 p.m.

If you are ever driving behind a garbage truck, keep this in mind.

You could be happily driving behind it, minding your own business, on your way to work in the morning. It could be a major thoroughfare; a six lane highway, such as Alfalfa Trail.

The truck in front of you could pass by a stuffed garbage can, and not realize it until it has driven an addition 150 feet or so. The driver might not have any way of notifying you that it missed a trash can and wants to get closer to it, now, to pick up the trash. At that point, it could stop, suddenly, in its lane in traffic. After a few seconds, it could begin to back up. You might immediately honk your horn to announce your presence behind it, but the driver might not hear you. It might just continue to back up. You might try to shift your vehicle into reverse, but before being able to do so, the truck might have smooshed your front bumper and hood. Or even worse. At that moment, thankfully, the driver might realize that something is resisting his backing motion. He might stop, get out, and look behind the truck. Or he might have his buddy do it.

If this should happen, do not hesitate to call the police to the scene. And make sure the officer reminds the driver how he is required, driving such a truck, to refrain from backing up until he has sent his buddy behind the truck to make sure all is clear.

Yes, this did happen to Self-Reliant Man last week. And yes, the lowest estimate he got was for the repair was $3000. I am just so thankful that the driver realized his error when he did, and not later. I am also thankful that the business that employs these garbage trucks has good insurance.

This has been a public safety announcement.

March 27, 2010 8:18 p.m.

The judge wrote: "listen for the melodic line. Make the melodies more fluid & expressive -- not just correct...I look forward to your future development. You play very well."

The italicized words above were actually underlined by the judge.

There were two contestants today. Chips, and an older girl. They both played the same piece. Chips played flawlessly (as far as I could tell), and with plenty of artistry and expression, the likes of which we haven't heard from him until now. The older girl played well, too, although some notes were out of tune, her trills weren't always clean, and she actually stopped for a few seconds in the middle of the piece, as if she was having a memory lapse.

All the adults there who heard them both play agreed that Chips played it best. Actually, Chips was technically perfect, to the extent that my untrained ear can hear. And my ear is better than it used to be (it has to be, I've been a violin mom for seven years, now!) Our teacher, Miss S, was thrilled with his playing, saying that he played extremely well and that he even surprised her today. That's a lot, coming from her.

However, First Place went to the girl, and Chips took Second (loser) Place. Remember there were only two competing today.

So here I am again, singin' the same tune. Completely stumped as to why First Place is always so elusive. I know it sounds like sour grapes to ya'll, but we continue to be baffled by this. Nobody could understand it today, and the judge's decision is always final. Violin competitions, like figure skating and gymnastics, can be so subjective.

But it was a positive day. Chips himself said that he figured this was another one of those "character building" competitions. And since he played as perfectly as we ever could have hoped or imagined, we were happy to give him the $20 cash prize we had reserved for him for "winning" today, even if it was only in our imaginations. I so wish I could have videotaped him today to share with everyone; it was so amazing. He made it all sound so easy. But contest rules forbade videotaping. Had we known how it would turn out, we would have recorded it!!

Yes, times like these are discouraging. But we are just amazed at what our son can do. No matter, we are so proud of our son today!

And if you haven't seen him play this concerto before, it is six pages long, it takes nine minutes to play through, and of course he had to play it from memory. I posted a link to a video from early February, but he played it so much better today.

March 25, 2010 8:27 a.m.

The MSM (mainstream media) have done such a poor job of reporting. Of course we know it has been deliberate. It would have been impossible for anybody relying on the MSM to have any idea of what is really in the Health Care legislation, except for hints here and there about the candy to be dispensed to some. They have done all they can to make the bill appear palatable, but like the tasty pill pockets we use for our dog, the inside contains a bitter, expensive pill.

The PIC (Party in Charge) claims that they are looking out for the workers. The reality is that the working people will be footing the bill. It amazes me how few people would seriously ask questions like "but how is this going to be paid for?" Why was the answer so obvious to some of us, but not to the rest? Too late now.

We working stiffs (and retirees, too) will be finding out all too soon. Pardon me but I think I am going to be sick.




p.s. if for some odd reason the hyperlink doesn't work for you, the article is here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703312504575141642402986422.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion

March 20, 2010 4:20 p.m.

Would love for some like-minded folks to move in next door to us. Our neighbor is selling their beautiful home, and is motivated to sell. Anybody looking to come south and live in the country, while not too far out from towns and cities? Elementary school age kids? We'd love some new friends. How about our online friends in Kansas? Any takers?

March 19, 2010 1:26 p.m. (the feast of Saint Joseph)

I have a pet peeve regarding the way we speak. I say "we" because, although I severely dislike this way of talking, I self-consciously discover myself doing it much more often than I would like. Despite my age, I apparently was caught up in the first wave of those generations who, unfortunately, talk like this.

I am so sorry. I tell my children that I am sorry. I try to teach them to be aware of it -- to be sensitive to it -- so that they don't grow up partially handicapped like their poor mother. This is one of those many areas in life where I want my children to grow up better off than I have been.

Hopefully, my efforts to enrich their lives by reading aloud good literature, as often as possible, and making video and image-based entertainment as scarce as possible, will bear good fruit. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, I share this with you. I like this poem. I like the message.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:50 p.m.

I mentioned in my last post that my mind has been very scattered. So, I haven't been able to sit and concentrate deeply enough to write a thoughtful blog post. The only thing I can come up with is a smattering of scattered thoughts, much like the present condition of my mind.

So here goes...

**********************************

I went to the Mall yesterday to shop for Sweet Girl's seventh birthday next week. I usually don't go to the Mall. It is a strange thing, but whenever I go to a Mall, especially when I am alone, a strange depression comes over me. I feel completely out of my element. I feel like a visitor from another planet. I get clumsy, and I am in danger of making poor shopping choices so I usually just walk on by. There is nothing I see that I want. I avoid eye contact with anybody. I race-walk through the cosmetics department as fast as I can. I purchase, maybe, one thing, and then hustle out to my car. Then I go to complete my shopping at Mal-Wart, or Bull's-Eye, and breathe a sigh of relief. Here is where I feel at home. Weird, I know.

**********************************

Although I am not particularly tickled by the girls' clothing styles that prevail in stores today, I realize that Sweet Girl is getting older, and I reconcile myself to the idea of her wearing certain styles. I have come up with a new criteria: I don't have to actually like the styles, but they do have to be modest. This is the only way I am going to be able to buy her anything new and not have to rely on thrift stores.

**********************************

I am blown away by both my children's Calvert School advisory teachers. They put so much time and energy into grading my children's work. Chips' teacher is a man, which is a change for us, too. Sweet Girl got her second work packet back yesterday and got Straight 1s this time. She felt really proud, and so did we.

**********************************

We've been cutting back some on the violin competitions, voluntarily deciding to skip the scholarship competition this year. We just don't want it all to be too much. Both children are doing great, but we have enough going on this spring without yet another competition. As a result, this coming weekend should be somewhat normal. I think. And then, what will we do next year? Youth orchestra, or not?

**********************************

We continue to be completely satisfied with the richness and challenge present in the Calvert homeschool curricula. I say this after seven years of using it. I see the struggles and worries of other homeschool moms, and I am happy to say that I am at peace regarding the academic preparation of my children. I can hardly imagine their lesson work being any better.

Nevertheless, I do worry that as a homeschool mom, I will seriously drop the ball with one or both of my kids some day. Self-Reliant Man and I are so mindful of preparing ourselves for everything that might come down the pike in the future as our children grow older. But what about the unforeseen? Will we be blindsided by something that comes along that we are totally unprepared for? Will that one area of parenting where we tended to let things slip by a little bit come back to bite us one day?

I have noticed among conservative families of young children that the younger the children are, the more black and white their parents tend to see things. And then their children grow older, and life gets more complicated, and then the parents need to redefine their priorities. Or evaluate anew how they feel about the parenting issues of the day. Things start to become less black and white.

We have definite convictions about many different things regarding the upbringing of our children. Some we share with most of our friends. For some convictions, I have only found common ground in a few online friends. As my children near ages 7 and 10, I am questioning more and more our stance on certain things, like media usage within our home and family life. When our son is already asking for his own laptop, for instance, and his own Facebook account, we have to think long and deeply about our objectives. This is certainly a time to walk closely with the Lord, for every day that our children develop and mature. I am sure things have been relatively easy until now.

***********************************

A bright spot in our lives is the planning and preparation for our whirlwind trip out West this September. The trip is to be 23 days in length, and on the agenda are Mammoth Cave Nat'l Park (NP), Badlands NP, Black Hills, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, Beartooth Highway, Yellowstone NP, Grand Tetons NP, and Rocky Mountain NP. All in one big loop drive. It is amazing what can be discovered about potential campgrounds, sights, and stopover places simply through using Google Maps, Youtube, and R.V. Park Reviews. I can actually virtually drive by a place, and check out the surroundings. I can choose another campground if I don't like the looks of the area. I can check out a steep mountain drive and decide whether our van can make it over all the switchbacks. It is all rather amazing. But of course, the consistent flood of information across my field of view is probably the root cause of..... my........ scattered ............... mind!!!!

FOR TODAY... March 17, 2010 4:49 p.m.

Outside my window... overcast and cool. It never got out of the 60s today. You can tell winter is coming...

(That last sentence was meant to be a joke. I do very much live in the northern hemisphere.)

I am thinking and praying... for an extended family member who is fighting off sepsis right now.

I am thankful for... the saving faith of my children.

I am wearing... fleece pants and a sweatshirt. I haven't been able to wear anything else for the past 5 months!

I am remembering... what a beautiful morning it was last Saturday at the children's fishing tournament. We didn't get so much as a nibble, but plenty of fish were caught.

I am going... to see our children perform a number from The Sound of Music with the children's chorus at a fund raising dinner Friday evening. Dress rehearsal is tomorrow. I am thankful that they can enjoy these experiences. We have had happily singing children in our home for weeks now.

I am reading... Stott's Basic Christianity, for me, and Barrie's Peter Pan, to my family. Also, Created for Work by Bob Schultz as an after dinner read aloud.

I am hoping... that our dog's back leg issues improve without me having to spend too much more money on Deramaxx. Wow!

On my mind... Everything. My mind is so scattered these days. In fact, it has been difficult for me to keep it focused enough to construct a blog post. "Disjointed" is the best word I can think of.

From the learning rooms... I can't believe the children have learned 39 questions and answers from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. With all the work I have been doing with them, I have only learned one answer! New brain cells vs. Old brain cells.

Noticing that... this is a cool brisk Saint Patrick's Day today. The kind I remember from when I lived in New Jersey. The kind where I have to wear a green SWEATER, not just a green T-shirt, as I could have these past 15 years. This year is different. This year is the Endless Winter.

Pondering these words..."The joy of the LORD is your strength. [Nehemiah 8:10b]. Holy joy will be oil to the wheels of our obedience." quotation from Matthew Henry's Commentary.

From the kitchen... Mexican Chicken Skillet with yellow rice and sauteed zucchini. A friend introduced me to E-Mealz . This is something new for our family because for the past 3 years or so we have referred to recipes from Leanne Ely's "Saving Dinner" . We are in our second week of E-Mealz recipes, and Self-Reliant Man has enjoyed nearly every one. I can't say that the meals are healthier than Leanne's (they're probably not!) but they are easier to prepare and easier on the wallet so we will be using them here for a little while, anyway.

Around the house... Self-Reliant Man needs to make some minor repairs to our roof, but there is never a good day to do it. The weather simply won't cooperate on those rare Saturdays when nothing else has been already scheduled.

One of my favorite things... listening to my children pray each morning.


From my picture journal......



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March 10, 2010 8:32 p.m.

Sweet Girl loves to write. That's a good thing, because our curriculum, Calvert School, requires her to do plenty of it. Nearly every day, there is some form of composition in the works. Which makes it all the more amazing that she even happily writes during her free time.

The other day, Sweet Girl approached me with the following poem (see the image below). She specifically asked me to post it on the blog. I am obviously proud of her writing efforts, and I especially appreciated the illustration in the "sidebar" of her poem. Whenever Sweet Girl draws somebody, they are happy!

March 6, 2010 6:50 p.m.

Here are a few more drawings of various Winter Olympic events, courtesy of Sweet Girl. She certainly loves to draw! We haven't forgotten the Olympics here.