Holidays

We are having a wonderful holiday season. My friend put together a 24 days of Christmas Devotional with songs and stories for each day of December leading up to Christmas. We weren't as faithful in reading them every night as I had hoped, but I did like what we did. That, in addition to reading"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" that we got from cousins, we were able to keep the feeling of Christmas pretty well. On Christmas Eve we were invited to a potluckish dinner at a friend's house. We ate, enjoyed company, and read from Luke chapter 2.

I have been purging lately, so I didn't want to just fill up the house with things this year for Christmas. The kids got a lot of needed clothing and one or two special toys. They have been playing chess on the computer lately so they received a real chess game so that they didn't have to stare at the screen as much. Steven has been asking for a pan flute for months and he finally got one. A family in the ward holds an annual Christmas fireside/concert at their homes. Steven and I decided that next year we will do a Christmas duet so he can perform on his pan flute. He has been practicing every day since he got his flute.

Dad, Sage, and Hyrum came up for Christmas Day. We ate good food, Skyped with family far away, and watched A Christmas Carol. A fun and peaceful day.

Steven is now a Tenderfoot in scouts, he is only one camp out away from becoming a Second Class too.

Uhhh

Sometimes my camera disappears. Then when I find it again...

my education favorites blog

OK, I went and did it. I'll just go with another blog for now. Now I have all my education stuff on the other one What do you think?


Additon: Now it is a real website called Island Schoolhouse

Should I build a Web Site?

I wonder if I should build a website for all of my homeschooling junk. That way I can keep this blog for family and friends. I would like to make my homeschooling resources more public and accessible, not something I really want for a private blog.
Since my family doesn't homeschool, and my homeschooling friends don't visit my blog, (for the most part) sniff, sniff, it doesn't make much sense to have everything here. That and I am reluctant to give out my blog address to just anyone I meet in the store or library. With a web site it would be easier to become a homeschooling consultant.

Hmmm. Oh, but then I would have to learn HTML and CSS and stuff. ARRGG. Not exactly how I was planning on spending my school break.

random news

Before her hair cut

And after



Rebecca went and chopped her hair off. Now it is practically a mullet.

AARRGGGHH!!!!

Isaac made a pretty cool foil boat.

All his own design. I did some minimal help with the rigging.

In other news, Joshua thinks he is big enough to start crawling. He can also push himself from his belly into a sitting position. Now I really have to make sure the legos are off the floor.

For about 9 years I have put the kid's hand prints on a Christmas tree skirt. We finally filled one and have begun on the second. When babies are involved I usually strip them so that they don't get paint on their clothing. I never thought I should have to worry about my clothing though-- Thank you Joshua!! 5 sets of hand prints take up a lot of space. Maybe I should think up a new tradition.

Well, I better get going for now.

Joshua

Well, little man Joshua is 6 months old now.

I am still pumping for him, but it is no longer exclusively. It was until about 4 months, but then my supply went down and I didn't want to put in the work to get it back up again. Now it has dropped again so I am giving him about half of his daily food.

But he is a great little guy. We love having him around. Can you tell he likes to hear his song? He always stops to listen to his song.

Reading

After we finished Pinocchio, we started on Heidi. Have I told you how much I love that book? I love that book! It is so sweet, she has such faith, and she blesses everyone she meets. Of course there is the not so subtle 'nature can heal anything' theme, but I go for that anyway. I was really struck this time with the simplicity of how they lived. I am going into minimalist mode anyway, so that is probably why I noticed it so much.

Then we started on the Little house books. I didn't know if the boys would like it especially after just reading a girl type book (Heidi), but they are liking it. We have read the Big Woods, Prairie and Plum Creek, now we are reading On the Shores of Silver Lake. When it snowed last week, they begged me to make the snow candy Laura described in Little house in the Big Woods. You cook the candy and then dribble it on snow in curlicues. Well ours looked more like spiders, but it was pretty good. Not the best molasses candy, but not bad. I would like to try it again with real maple syrup.

But I am inspired again how simple they have it. I walked around the house today tempted to chuck just about everything. It wouldn't take much to get me to do it: just a little encouragement.

A song link

Ever sense I saw this one, I have become quite the Jon Schmidt fan. There is another link that would actually embed, but it doesn't show them playing it. I like this one better - you can just tell those guys are having SO MUCH FUN!! I had heard the Taylor Swift song before, but it never struck me till I heard this arrangement.

Trans-Siberian Christmas Canon

I love sweet, simple, powerful music. This is one that I just can't hear enough of.

September???

Student teaching can happen one of 2 times during the year, September of January.

Well, in my weekly talk with my WGU advisor last week, he decided to totally stress me out. Not intentionally, of course, but it doesn't take much anymore. He said that I am doing well enough, that he really thinks I could be ready for my student teaching NEXT SEPTEMBER, if I want to try for it. Well, I love the idea of being done that soon. But I am not as convinced as he is. Granted, he knows better than I do what is required, so maybe it is possible.

But now I have to figure out what I am going to do with my kids again. Sage was going to come last time, but now she has made other college plans and I don't know if they will be adaptable or not, or if she will still want to. Oh and there is the hours I will have to spend in the classroom before that to get my other observations and assignments in.

Oh, I do not do well under pressure. I cannot procrastinate or I just lose sleep worrying. We will likely have to move next spring, we wanted to take a trip to CA and AZ, and Jonny is already spending tons of time with scouting. I'm sure I could do it if I wasn't also homeschooling, but that is more important. Jonny calmed me down and assured me I didn't have to rush to meet any deadlines; it's not like I have to hurry and get a job that much sooner.

When I talked to adviser guy today, he said the same thing. There won't be any penalty for trying for September and not making it and then just going for January. Either outcome is way sooner than I had hoped. So even if I finish everything up at the end of September and have to wait until January, I have decided to be OK with that. Funny how I have to talk myself into that. I am just a Gotta-have-it-all-planned-out sort of person. It is hard to go with the flow on something like this. I wonder why. For a lot of things I am very laid back, but not when you give me a deadline, then I have to do it.

So I am not going to push for September. I am going to go at my regular pace and just see what happens. I know there is an answer about child care when the time comes. I have no idea what that answer is, but I know it will present itself. Now that right there is a huge growing up I have done. Last year at this time I was really worried about what I was going to do with them. I was losing sleep over it and everything. So I think I have gained a little bit of faith, wisdom, and patience in the last year.

Update

I know, I am way behind. Let's see if I can catch up. OK, Mom died on Oct 18. Of course we expected this and I was grateful that it finally came. But I still walked around kind of out of it for a few days. Then all the kids got colds and I was up all night for several days with a baby and at least one kid at a time that wasn't sleeping. Hence I was not sleeping. Come Saturday I was not a very pleasant person to be around. I needed to kick everyone out of the house anyway so that I could take a test, so Jonny left a few hours early and said, "call us when you want us back." He is so good to me. I took my test, and called them with an the all clear, and I took a nap. It still took several days for my sleep to catch up.

Steven wanted to be a Obi-Wan Kenobi for Halloween. He found some good pants and a karate uniform that looked great. But he also wanted the robe. I do not have a working sewing machine, but he didn't care, he sewed it by hand. I helped guide him and did some of it, but he did most of it while we listened to a librivox recording of Treasure Island. It turned out pretty good. I didn't get pictures, cuz well, it's me and I always think of it after. I will see if I can get them all to dress up again and do a picture. We went to the trunk or treat - carnival - chili cook-off. A trunk or treat is when we go to the church parking lot, people decorate their cars and hand out candy to the kids going from car to car. It is safer and quicker, but it ends up being a lot of candy for very little work.

Mom's funeral was the 5th. It was a long time to wait for closure, but we needed the time so that everyone could come from the 4 corners of the world to make it. I went down and help dress Mom for the burial. I actually was grateful for the opportunity. Not that I would like to do that all the time, but I was glad I could perform that service for her. The funeral was good even though I had to speak. The service was in the morning in Shoreline, and then we traveled to Bremerton for the burial. That was followed by a reception at the Bremerton church building. We were able to see all sorts of people we hadn't seen in years. Actually, quite enjoyable.

This last week I was finishing up an assignment for my literature class. That is all of my prerequisites. As soon as I pass this assignment I will have finished 21 credits so far this term and I am only a little more than half way through. YAY!!! Now I can get back to the education classes. My advisor said that most people go slower through the pre-reqs and then accelerate through the education classes. It is unusual for people to make the progress that I have. So I should probably feel pretty good about my progress.

Jonny is the new scout master. He figures that this will be his job for the next 18 years until Joshua get's he Eagle. The man who called him felt the need to assure me (multiple times) that even though it will be time away from my family, we will be blessed. I had thought about the Wednesday activity nights gone, but I hadn't thought about the monthly camping trips and other trainings it would be. So our Wednesday's are crazy right now. Steven has 11year old scouts from 4:30-6. Isaac has Cub Scouts from 6:00-7. and Jonny's is 7:00 to 8:00. AAHHH (blessings, blessings, blessings). Actually I am kind of happy about it. I do think that good things will come of this and I am excited to watch the results.

Well I am sure I forgot things and I didn't even add any pictures. But I am kind of tired of staring at a computer so I'll chat later.

Gerald McBoing Boing

I know I need to update, and I will soon. But until I do...
As a boy my father had a school assignment to memorize a poem and recite it. He memorized Gerald McBoing Boing and recited it the next day. He has always remembered it and would recite, often at ward talent shows and if we begged a lot. Well I found the original recording today from which Dad memorized the story. Of course Dad did the sound effects himself.

	The Great Gildersleeve - Gerald McBoing Boing .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Enjoy

Subjectivity

I am taking a literature analysis class right now. One of the assignments deals with subjectivity. We all have subjectivities. This is natural. For this assignment we are asked to analyze a work and attempt to discover the authors subjectivities. We then think of our own subjectivities and apply it to the role of a teacher. What if I am required to teach something contrary to my subjectivity or if my subjectivity differs from a student in my class, how would I handle that? I certainly do not want to alienate a students or create an us verses them atmosphere is the class. So how would I go about mediating my role as teacher and my subjectivity.

The underlying premise in this line of thinking is that it is unacceptable for a teacher to expose or talk about his or her personal world view. I disagree with this assumption. Granted, I would not want to ridicule or belittle anyone just because he or she thinks differently than I do. I do not have to push my view on others, but do I really need to deny that I have any? It does not seem right to be forced to divorce myself from my worldview for a few hours each day. To do so for the years of my career, at some level would I not become divided? If I deny my beliefs, then I am separating my job from my passion. If I attempt to teach without my passion, then I cannot share my passion for learning with my students. If I cannot share my passion and love of learning with my students, then I cannot inspire them to find their own passion. No wonder students often feel that their teachers do not really care about what they are teaching. Yes, I suppose I could parrot the curriculum. But that is not why I want to teach. I want to share my love of learning with others; that requires passion.

Why are we so afraid of offending others? Yes, I disagree with others about religion or politics, but we usually have more in common than not. I believe it is certainly possible to be diplomatic; to acknowledge that there are many points of view. To even discuss those differences. I don't have to insist that Snape (Harry Potter character) really is a bad guy and alienate you just because you think he was a good guy. We could discuss it and we both might learn something new.

To take it one step further, Steven pointed out that after lessons at church his teacher usually bares her testimony about the topic of the lesson. Then she encourages the students to pray and find out if it is true. What if a teacher could bare testimony about the math principle just taught? Truth is truth after all. OK, maybe math is a little too much. But what about other topics? What about evolution, or climate change, or civil rights, or repealing the 17th amendment or...?

Maybe I am thinking too hard.

Or not hard enough.

C.S. Lewis would have been able to think this through much better than I did. I am amazed at his ability to take a line of reasoning through several steps to its logical conclusion. I am not that good of a thinker. I can follow him for about two steps. Then I just sit there with my mouth open, amazed at how well he continues for another 5 or 8 steps, long past the point of my brain getting muddled. The man was a genius. Anyway, I'll work on it. Maybe in another few decades I will be able to come back to this topic and do it right.

Some Joshua Pictures

Just for fun

OK, so he is teething and slobbery...

And rather blurry,

But he is still pretty cute.

Ivy Lee Berg my mother

Ivy Lee Berg, Born Terri Lee Volkman



12 April 1949 - 18 October 2010.

She leads me, she guides me, she walks beside me. She is my friend. She is my cheer leader. She is my teacher.

This life was not easy for her. She struggled with bipolar and insecurities. There was much that she could not do, but she did the most important; she shared her testimony with her children. She taught me about the Savior and I felt His love for me. Her earthly test is now over and she did great. I am so proud of her.

I Love My Mom. She is such an amazing woman. I will miss her so much.

Although "thank you" will never convey everything, Thank you Mom, I will always honor you.

Pumpkin Patch

Last Thursday we went to Stoney Ridge Farm outside of Bellingham for their pumpkin patch and corn maze


They have an apple orchard so we bought 2 boxes of apples. Oh, are they good. I was asked, "what are you going to do with two boxes?" Eat them of course. If I was planning on canning them I would have gotten more. I doubt they will last the winter they are just too yummy.



I was hoping to see the apple pressing too, but we missed that. At least we got some cider.



We lost Rebecca in the Maze. Actually, we were the lost ones. She made it out and was waiting for us while we were still inside looking for her. I told those boys to stay together. ARGGG




They have Christmas trees too (in the background) and lots of animals to see.

I loved their pumpkin tree. There are fun scarecrows all over the place. It was just a fun place to visit. They also sell ice cream, cider doughnuts, and fresh baked pies. It was a drive to get there, but the experience was just fun. I am bummed that we are not closer. The owner even said that if any of the kids wanted a job to let her know. Steven really wanted to volunteer and I would love to have him gain that experience of working on a farm. Well, maybe another opportunity will arise that is not an hour away.

Family Reading

Over the last couple of months we have done much better with bed time reading. We read Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, How to Eat Fried Worms, and are now finishing up Pinocchio. I was not planning on How to Eat Fried Worms, but Jonny got the movie from Netflix, so I thought we would read it first and then watch it. I remember my teacher reading it when I was in about fourth grade. I really didn't like it then and that hasn't changed much. But it was interesting to compare with the movie. The book was about accepting dares and how that almost ruined the friendships of the boys. The movie changed the premise to all about bullying. Reading about worms before bed turned out to not be such a great idea. We had to finish that one during day light hours.

We watched the Wizard of Oz after reading that book too. Isaac has always loved the scarecrow and now Rebecca has to carry around her oil can.

I love Pinocchio. We read it about 4 years ago too. I was so impressed with how undisney it was. Every time Pinocchio made a mistake it was bigger than the last and it took that much longer to recover and pull himself back. By the time he finally becomes a real boy, he has truly had a change of heart. Jonny doesn't sit and listen, but he does overhear sometimes. He laughed when the cricket told Pinocchio that "boys who do not obey their parents and listen to bad companions all turn into little donkeys." We would have finished it last week, but I got a cold and would lose my voice after a half a page.

I wonder what we should read next.

Happy Birthday Isaac

Isaac had a birthday on Sunday. He is now 9.
We went to Shoreline between Conference sessions and had a little party.

Isaac really wanted a pinata

So we managed to find one. They are not so easy to find when you are looking for them.

Next time we will just make it.

Steven beheaded it. His trophy.


Uncle Hyrum climbed the tree to get a better view.

It was simple and fun.

Another School Report

Well, I took my first objective assessment last Saturday. Instead of going to a proctored testing site they are starting something new. I use a wide lens web cam and take the test from home. I need to set up the camera so that they can see my work area and my face. It was kind of freaky knowing someone was watching me through that thing. I guess they have someone watching 10 people or so and then if he/she sees a problem with one of the testers, that tester is sent to someone watching 3 people. If that person sees something suspicious then it is sent to someone watching just the one and he/she can stop the test. It apparently works pretty well. I will probably get use to it though. I did have to kick the rest of the family out of the house though. I am not suppose to have anyone else in the room. Probably because they could conceivable be feeding me answers. They would distract me anyway. If the computer was in its own room we probably wouldn't need to do that, but we have the computer in the living room.

So I passed my health and wellness test. As I was looking at the vast amount of resources for the constitution/government class, I was impressed. Students can choose from not just the text but more than 30 hours of video lectures and other resources. I decided that I wanted to focus my study energies and asked my mentor if I could take the pre-test to see where I was at. I passed that with a 92% with out studying. Hey, it pays to be a nerd sometimes. So I am ready to take that test too. I will do that tomorrow. Good thing I didn't spend $50 for the book.

Then I looked at my next class. It is a math class, but wait. This test requires the same text that I used in my UoP math class two years ago. So I decided to take that pre-test also. I passed it too - barely though. But at least I know what I need to study. I like math, but if I am not using it all the time I forget it. Even on the problems I couldn't answer, I was just staring at them knowing I knew how to do it, but it wasn't coming to me. As soon as I look it over it will come back. So I think I will take that test in the next 10 days or so too.

That will complete my scheduled 12 credits for this term. The term isn't over until the end of January so I will be able to squeeze in a couple more. You pay a flat rate per term and you can do as many classes as you want to in that time.

School Report

Well, I am almost finished with my 2nd class (not counting the 2 week introductory class) with Western Governors University. So far I am really liking it. My first class was a communications, public speaking class. I needed to do research on a topic of my choice and prepare a 5 minute presentation. Once the outline was approved, I taped the presentation and submitted the file. As soon as I was done with that one, I could move on the class #2.

My second class is a Health Wellness and Fitness class. This course has an objective assessment instead of the performance assessment like the oral presentation. As soon as I felt ready I took the pre-assessment. I passed that so now I am ready for the real test.

My next one will be a US constitution and government class. I did a study on that on my own two years ago. So this should just be a review. Seems almost a waste to by the $50 dollar book for the course when I already have the resources at home (just not in the order of the class) especially when I would only need it for about 3 weeks. (It's only a 1 credit class). Oh well.

But it is going well. I meet with my "mentor" by phone weekly for the first term and the less often after that. But he is a decent fellow and I enjoy talking with him.

My new projected graduation date is May of 2013. I could do it quicker if I really wanted to, but I think I like the casual pace. I can spend more time with my children and their education. It drags out the pain, but the pain is not as intense.

grace vs tolerance

I have never been comfortable with the concept of tolerance. Yes, it is good to show unconditional love, but if I practice "tolerance" then I cannot judge. Does that mean that I ignore what I believe is right, true, and good? Judging is important; discrimination is important, needed, and natural.

I have been reading a Princess Academy and the Hope Chest Journey: Rediscovering the Lost Arts of Godly Womanhood by my friend and mentor Donna Goff. In this thesis Donna spoke of the difference between grace and tolerance. Grace means favor, kindness, esteem. Some of its synonyms are attractiveness, charm, love, leniency, embellish, beautify enhance, honor. It is charity; the pure love of Christ, it is long-suffering. If you have grace you know the difference between right and wrong, but you are forgiving and have unconditional love.

Tolerance on the other hand does not distinguish between right and wrong. All views are equal.
Donna mentioned that grace is mentioned in the bible 237 times; tolerance never.

So I had an ah-ha moment. It isn't tolerance that I should be exercising but grace. I was buying into the modern showing-everyone-tolerance movement. I should instead be nurturing and cultivating grace. (Why do I fall for the philosophies of man?)

After discussing the difference between grace and tolerance, Donna proceeds to discuss many aspects of grace and how one can cultivate grace: comeliness, eloquence, grace of writing, etiquette, sisterhood, diplomacy, generosity, hospitality, hand work, and making a home.

EEAAKKK!!

Steven can wear my shoes
He is showering regularly of his own accord.
He has asked for deodorant.

I don't think I am ready for this.

Catch up

I am way behind






Jennifer came to visit from Germany. I haven't seen my sister in almost 5 years. My auntie Caron came from California at the same time. It was wonderful to have them here. We all went to the Island County fair. It was a lot of fun.



I made Jonny take the day off of work, but hey; the fair is only once a year.




Everyone got to play along with the one man band. His lyrics were fun and original. He was really good.



















On what looked to be the last nice day of the summer, we had a picnic at the beach. It was beautiful!













Aunt Pooh (Jennifer C) posted some pictures of her boys watching Star Wars. We had a bit of a Star Wars marathon in the last days of summer. Joshua was engrossed.

If I had a million dollars

I know this is an old song, but my family has recently discovered it. Jonny and Steven can both play it on the guitar and everyone joins in the singing. It's all pretty amusing!!

If I had a million dollars, I sure wouldn't spend it this way; I would be way smarter.

My favorite silly song

Happy Birthday Rebecca

My little girl is THREE!!!



Her pretty pink birthday dress

so much lace

this was suppose to be her mad face

Catch up

Well, I got behind. Allen came to visit the last weekend in July. Satoko didn't like him gone, but it was good to see him again. Our church meetings are in the afternoon, so we skipped church and went down to see him. Sam was still in town so we were able to spend more time with him, Emily and Abby. I visited Mom while I was there. Wow! just not the same. I don't think I really want to remember her like this. Hyrum left this week for boot camp- he is going into "military intelligence" - one of my father's favorite oxymorons. So I actually said good by to all of my brothers that day. I am excited for Hyrum; this should be a great experience for him. I will miss him, Tawni, and the girls though.

And I started my first class. Actually it is kind of an orientation, get-use-to-being-back-at-school sort of class. I think I could actually go through this school pretty quickly since it is so self paced. But right now I am leaning towards going slowly and casually. It will lengthen out the pain, but that pain won't be as intense for me or my family. We will see how it goes. I can always sign up for more classes if I have time during the term, but if I sign up for too many and can't finish, I will have a "not passed" on my transcript. This would be equivalent to failing the class one term, but passing it in the next. So I will opt for the cautious route, especially with Mom's cancer. I have an appointment with my mentor latter today to schedule my classes for the term. I like to have things planned out; I feel more secure that way. Yet, at the same time, I don't like being stuck to schedules. I am so confusing to myself.

In honor of my return to school

Back to School (do I have to?)

Well, I have two days of freedom left before I go back to school. I cannot tell you how much I have both loved and desperately needed this break. Although I was not happy when it came and it still upsets me to think about. If you missed that saga it is here, here, here, and here


I have transferred to Western Governors University. I am actually looking forward to the new experience. This University doesn't have "classes" it has "assessments" and is competency based. If you can pass the assessment, you get the credit without sitting through a class. They take into account you background and what you currently know. Then with my mentor, we decide what resources would be best for me to prepare for the assessment (text, audio lectures, video, a class, etc.). As soon as I am ready I take the assessment, I can and move on. Some assessments are exams, others are projects or presentations. At least this is the sales pitch. It is an intriguing set up and I want to see how it actually works out.

I was actually scheduled to begin at the beginning of July, but I postponed it a month. In dealing with Joshua's eating issues, I had lost a whole month. I don't remember June happening at all.

So August is the month. But I am not getting enough sleep as it is. WHAT AM I THINKING?!?

Well, for one, I will have to start paying back my loans if I do not return. I looked into deferment due to unemployment, but I would have to be actively seeking employment to qualify.

So do I really HAVE to go back? No I really don't. I could just say no and focus on my family and the other things I have been wanting to do. But I also know that I will forever regret it if I don't. So here I go (full of trepidation)

Life

Life is a very fascinating journey. Our trials, our joys, our growth or lack of it, and how we leave it. Especially curious are the ones who leave this life at a young age. Illness is a difficult trial to deal with. But the sudden ones get to me.

Ten years ago, I lost Tiffany, my best friend from high school, to a car accident. She was 26.

About 5 years ago a newly married young woman from my church ward simply died in her sleep. She was 7 months pregnant with their first child. They were buried together.

Two days ago, a young man Jonny grew up with from Lakeside, Hans Hansen, was killed in a work accident. His wife is pregnant with their second child. They were in our ward when we lived there. I knew them, but not very well.

These are the deaths that I most often ask, "Why?" Why so young? Why at this point? What about those left behind? I do believe there is a plan and a reason; I believe that good will come from all of this. But I am curious why someones earthly missions might be so short. What will they do now?
What of Hans's wife? She was born in Russia and adopted by an American family. Now in her twenties, she looses her husband. Wow! I hope she and her children will be OK.

Back to Zones

We have been functioning on minimal maintenance (if even that) since Joshua arrived. Next week I want to get back to our work zones and do a deeper cleaning each day. I use to think that I had to do one zone a week because that is what was always recommended. This was because they were always trying to tell me "this is all you have to do today so you can do it." Instead, I will work on a zone until it is finished and then move on to the next zone whether it takes 2 days or 2 weeks. What was happening was I was finishing early and then getting a break. This is not good if I am trying to create a habit. The idea is to get into the habit of consistently working through them.

Zone 1 Laundry Room / Garage, Playroom and Outside
Zone 2 Bathrooms and Bedrooms
Zone 3 Kitchen and Dining Room
Zone 4 Living Room and Desk

It is good to have a smaller house!

Now Daniel likes to use the chore cards. Steven prefers a simple list. I wonder if I can accommodate both of their preferences without doing too much myself.

The other trick is working in our rhythm. (Of course the flow of the day is often determined by the level of successfulness of the bed time routine from the night before.) I want to include:

Clean bedrooms
Breakfast
Scriptures
Chores
With feeding Joshua and pumping somewhere in the mix. This is what is messing up the flow.

By this time, they usually need a good break. Now during the school year, this would all happen before we begin school for the day. If we are slow then school doesn't start until almost lunch time.

I need to figure out when I will do my own studying too. I would like to do as much before they wake up as possible, (without starting the day out too late) and then have an hour or two in the afternoon when I have uninterrupted time. (Yeah right, with Joshua?!?)

Be prayerful. Take it one day at a time. Create a victory list.
I think I need someone to report to; someone who will keep me accountable, not to perfection, but to progression.

Art

I have never been much of an "art lover." I guess I just never really understood the hype over some of these famous artists. I have become kind of picky about what types of art I like. A few years ago George Wythe College commissioned a painting that I loved; it is entitled "Seeds of Greatness." you can see it here. In this painting are elements that represent many of the things I want for my family and their education. The home represents safety; The farm represents the value of work, working together as a family, opportunities to teach children. The light represents the divine overseeing our lives. In the basket is a copy of the Bible and Shakespeare. The father is gently guiding and teaching. The younger son too is growing and will soon be ready to be mentored by his father. I decided I would like a copy of this painting in my home.

Three years ago, some friends and I traveled to Salt Lake for an Education conference. While there we visited the Deseret Book store. I found my painting, and it was even on sale. As I continued to look though the other paintings, I found another one that just spoke to me. It was of Christ surrounded by His sheep. I decided to look who the author was. It was the same one. This happened once more before leaving the store. I decided I must just like this artist.

For some reason I decided to look up the artist today. His name is Jon McNaughton. Low and behold, he has painted other pictures that I have seen around that I liked and spoke to me. Like this one. What do you know?!? I really do like this artist. I have enjoyed exploring his online gallery. I hope you enjoy it too.

Another Week

Well, Isaac was able to go to cub scout day camp last week. He had an absolute blast. Actually, it was twilight camp. From 4:00-9:00 pm. That meant that he came home late, all excited and not even ready to go to bed. Hopefully we can do better this week. Mom and Dad need their beauty rest.




On Saturday we drove to Cle Elum, Washington, for the Volkman Family Reunion. It was a long drive.







































But we were able to meet my little niece Abby, she had brought her dad and mum from England in order to visit us all. David was even able to come. He was on his way back to Germany from a business trip in Mexico. We were bummed that Jennifer and the girls were not able to be there, but it was great to see him. Jennifer will be coming for a visit next month.