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.

A Family Unitied

Apparently Mom's current cancer is the cause of her physical deterioration over the last 3 years. It is not uncommon for breast cancer to return years later in the nervous system. Yet when that happens life expectancy is usually less than 6 months when treated, less than 5 weeks when not. So Mom's case is very unusual. The cancer apparently has "encrusted" itself on her spinal cord and was not floating around in the fluid. This is why the 4 lumbar punctures of 2 years ago never found it. They seemed sure it was cancer, it acted like cancer, but they couldn't find it. They finally determined that it must be some unknown virus that swept through her body.

Since this cancer is not acting typical, the typical time lines are not applicable. But the oncologist is sure that she won't last the year. If she continues to eat such small meals, it will be just a couple of months.

So we are getting ready. My father and siblings met via conference call last Sunday. I LOVE my siblings. They really are the best and I miss them. Even through the seriousness of the topic, the lightheartedness and humor was shining through.

Sam is flying in tomorrow with his family. We will have a chance to see him and Emily and meet my niece Abby tomorrow at the Volkman family reunion. Can't wait!!

pictures

just a few days old

Self portrait

If you can get past the TEETH...

The kid's a looker

Sometimes she lets me put her hair up

So handsome

can you tell how devious?

My Mom

YAY, we finally are getting some answers! After more than three years of experiencing Mom's declining health, we are finally getting some real diagnoses. The hard part is that the news is not good. They found cancer. We do not yet know what kind. Hopefully we will find out on Monday. Mom had breast cancer 16 years ago and decided then that if cancer returned she would not want treatment. This cancer has attached itself to the nervous system, likely as a result of that massive nervous system infection that brought her to rely on the wheelchair three years ago. At least it isn't dementia. But we are loosing her. I'll keep you informed.