I am all for technology--such a blessing!
Take, for instance, the CD case that I found yesterday left between the crockpot heater and the crockpot itself for hours while I cooked my soup. It was mutilated grotesquely but the CD itself was miraculously preserved.
We also checked out some great nature biology DVDs from the library, full of marvelous cinematography about the beautiful world God created for us. It goes along with our "finish up ancient history"/"biology" theme with our 4 year-plan (still forthcoming). I love to inspire my kids with a love of nature, its mystery and grandeur.
Of course, it is also all the better when my sweet Hava, every few moments, calls out breathlessly, "Woah, mom! Did you see that?! Wow, mom, mom, mom!!! Look!!"
A passion for an area of study will do wonders for the students ability to learn the subject :). I'm just planting seeds today.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Blessed with friends--learning Hungarian, Biesinger-style
We just had the third blessed visit from friends in a week! We love it!! My kids are soaking up all this time. We had the Jensen boys last week, the Bates on Monday, and Housholders today...what a blessing! It was just what we needed to distract us. :)
As I was explaining to my friend today, I have to maintain as much "normal" as I can, giving the kids some stability in this time. They are already on edge, I can tell, so the "normal" keeps their minds off of our major change ahead. If I spent all my time looking at luggage stuff, cleaning house, finishing up projects, moving our remaining small amount of things into storage, I don't think they would know what to do with themselves :). However, it makes it a little challenging for me to get some things done. Fortunately, most of the little projects I want to do are not things that will make or break our success on this venture...they're just little things like consolidating, cleaning, fixing, and finishing.
The other day, I put up a bunch of little wordstrips around our kitchen with Hungarian words for things like chair, table, hand, and cat. The kids are so cute with it. They are also game for my weird adaptations of familiar songs, interjecting foreign words here and there, like "The itsy-pitsy pok climbed up the water spout."
Whatever works, right? :)
Now all I need is a bunch more suitcases--20 total, to be exact. Well, actually 19, since I want to use one of Papaya's for the stroller. With 19, I should be able to get all of our books on--you should see the stacks of them on the upstairs mantle in the "blue room," as we call it. 50# each for the big ones (10 of those), and 22# for the remaining 9--no problem! My friend today said she was impressed that I was able to consolidate my "library" down to that many to take with us; thank goodness for friends who know just what to say and when to say it to make us feel good :)!
Anyway, I have some luggage already, but am not even half-way. Time to go garage sale-ing and look online!
As I was explaining to my friend today, I have to maintain as much "normal" as I can, giving the kids some stability in this time. They are already on edge, I can tell, so the "normal" keeps their minds off of our major change ahead. If I spent all my time looking at luggage stuff, cleaning house, finishing up projects, moving our remaining small amount of things into storage, I don't think they would know what to do with themselves :). However, it makes it a little challenging for me to get some things done. Fortunately, most of the little projects I want to do are not things that will make or break our success on this venture...they're just little things like consolidating, cleaning, fixing, and finishing.
The other day, I put up a bunch of little wordstrips around our kitchen with Hungarian words for things like chair, table, hand, and cat. The kids are so cute with it. They are also game for my weird adaptations of familiar songs, interjecting foreign words here and there, like "The itsy-pitsy pok climbed up the water spout."
Whatever works, right? :)
Now all I need is a bunch more suitcases--20 total, to be exact. Well, actually 19, since I want to use one of Papaya's for the stroller. With 19, I should be able to get all of our books on--you should see the stacks of them on the upstairs mantle in the "blue room," as we call it. 50# each for the big ones (10 of those), and 22# for the remaining 9--no problem! My friend today said she was impressed that I was able to consolidate my "library" down to that many to take with us; thank goodness for friends who know just what to say and when to say it to make us feel good :)!
Anyway, I have some luggage already, but am not even half-way. Time to go garage sale-ing and look online!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Master, brilliant schedule, Part 3--The Months
Okay, been up since a little after 2, went to bed just before midnight, have a mini-triathalon this morning...I think I will be using my "mom school" today for a NAP!!! I would go to bed now, but my brain won't shut off :S...
I liked the idea we use in Vanguard Youth of having a monthly principle we focus on. This fits in well to our devotional topics, to make the selection of stories and quotes we read and talk about a little less random. (Of course, on that note, the kids pick their own stories too, along with their own little media clips, and there are also times that I feel inspired to choose something else, but this works overall.) For instance, this last July we really focused on "courage," which fit in well with discussions on liberty and patriotism, not to mention or pioneer heritage. I chose principles of truth that I wanted my children to be familiar with, understand, and come to love and cherish as I do.
I tried to pick months that seem to fit the "feel" of the virtue, or that followed well behind the previous month. I will include a little of my "reasoning" behind the ones I have in place. During the school months, I plan on following the outline of whichever Vanguard Group we are a part of as a guide, so those will be more flexible, but the same basic ideas. I wanted to partner the principles up with "virtues" to reinforce them, and included "virtues" from the Book of Virtues and the scriptures.
The math is more for the littles, for preschool focus, and also for Cyberchase themes. I used E.D. Hirsch's "What your...Needs to Know" books for a basic outline. Most of these concepts, if approached a little at a time over a period of years, become comfortable, and they can learn it as their age allows. This way, though, I have discussed it at least once or twice in that month or done some type of activity with it, so they are exposed to all of what I consider "basics."
For art, I just wanted to use different mediums, and I tended to default to the same one each time. I want to try to have at least one project for the month using that medium. By the time they will have left the house, they will have had several opportunities to use these different mediums...and there are so many different art projects to do with each one!
I have a lot of reasons for including things when I did, some of which I have included. There are only a few things in their by default (the only month left and one more art medium to go), as I like to make connections! :)
JANUARY
Principle: Role of God and Religion in our personal lives and society (I think it is good to include this with the changing of the year, with New Year resolutions.)
Virtue: Faith
Math: Addition and shapes
Art: Contrast (I liked this because it fits with the concept of good and evil, God and Satan, etc.)
Letters: Q, S, T (Q is this month because it is Daddy's birthday)
FEBRUARY
Principle: Service-Oriented Leadership
Virtue: Charity/Good workds
Math: Place values, lines
Art: Crayon
Letters: U, V ("Valentine's Day")
MARCH
Principle: Proper Role of Government
Virtue: Self-discipline
Math: Digits and length
Art: Pencil
Letters: W, X, Y
APRIL
Principle: My Role: Being a responsible member of my family, my community, and the world
(This is the end of our more focused school year, and a good time to evaluate "what should I do now with what I have learned?")
Virtue: Responsibility
Math: Subtraction, weight
Art: Watercolor (this is a fun time of year to capture the emerging beauty of Spring with the softened tones of watercolor)
Letters: Z, A ("April")
MAY
Principle: Seasons (Ecclesiastes)
Virtue: Hope
Math: Commas and Angles
Art: Chalk (a fun time to draw on the sidewalk with spring fever...or, for more sophisticated "chalking," we have so many flowers to capture)
Letters: B, C
JUNE
Principle: Learning, Your Mission (a good time to review the old year, while enjoying a pause before the new one)
Virtue: Knowledge
Math: number line, shapes
Letters: D, E ("Daddy" for Father's Day)
JULY
Principle: Acting Courageous
Virtue: Courage
Math: multiplication, area
Art: Charcoal (dramatic, like "courage")
Letters: F, G (Flag, Freedom, Fireworks...)
AUGUST
Principle: Everyone's Divine Nature (I like using this one and the virtue with it to help the kids remember before the school year starts just who they are and how awesome they are!)
Virtue: Individual Worth
Math: comparing, circumference
Art: Carving
Letters: H, I
SEPTEMBER
Principle: What makes a meaningful life and how do we pursue true happiness?
Virtue: Virtue (and Hope)
Math: Negative Numbers, logic
Art: Perspective (perspective....meaningful life...awesome connections!)
Letters: J, K
OCTOBER
Principle: Liberty
Virtue: Choice and Accountability
Math: Division, volume (division)
Art: Texture (freedom of expression :)...)
Letters: L, M
NOVEMBER
Principle: Property, Work, and Stewardship
Virtue: Work, integrity, and honesty
Math: Roman Numerals, Time (accountability of time :)...)
Art: Colored Pencils
Letters: N, O ("November")
DECEMBER
Principle: Gratitude
Virtue: Humility, Love
Math: Graphs, puzzles
Art: Oil Paint
Letters: P, R (presents, reverence)
Time for a power nap...my mind finally decided to crash :)!
I liked the idea we use in Vanguard Youth of having a monthly principle we focus on. This fits in well to our devotional topics, to make the selection of stories and quotes we read and talk about a little less random. (Of course, on that note, the kids pick their own stories too, along with their own little media clips, and there are also times that I feel inspired to choose something else, but this works overall.) For instance, this last July we really focused on "courage," which fit in well with discussions on liberty and patriotism, not to mention or pioneer heritage. I chose principles of truth that I wanted my children to be familiar with, understand, and come to love and cherish as I do.
I tried to pick months that seem to fit the "feel" of the virtue, or that followed well behind the previous month. I will include a little of my "reasoning" behind the ones I have in place. During the school months, I plan on following the outline of whichever Vanguard Group we are a part of as a guide, so those will be more flexible, but the same basic ideas. I wanted to partner the principles up with "virtues" to reinforce them, and included "virtues" from the Book of Virtues and the scriptures.
The math is more for the littles, for preschool focus, and also for Cyberchase themes. I used E.D. Hirsch's "What your...Needs to Know" books for a basic outline. Most of these concepts, if approached a little at a time over a period of years, become comfortable, and they can learn it as their age allows. This way, though, I have discussed it at least once or twice in that month or done some type of activity with it, so they are exposed to all of what I consider "basics."
For art, I just wanted to use different mediums, and I tended to default to the same one each time. I want to try to have at least one project for the month using that medium. By the time they will have left the house, they will have had several opportunities to use these different mediums...and there are so many different art projects to do with each one!
I have a lot of reasons for including things when I did, some of which I have included. There are only a few things in their by default (the only month left and one more art medium to go), as I like to make connections! :)
JANUARY
Principle: Role of God and Religion in our personal lives and society (I think it is good to include this with the changing of the year, with New Year resolutions.)
Virtue: Faith
Math: Addition and shapes
Art: Contrast (I liked this because it fits with the concept of good and evil, God and Satan, etc.)
Letters: Q, S, T (Q is this month because it is Daddy's birthday)
FEBRUARY
Principle: Service-Oriented Leadership
Virtue: Charity/Good workds
Math: Place values, lines
Art: Crayon
Letters: U, V ("Valentine's Day")
MARCH
Principle: Proper Role of Government
Virtue: Self-discipline
Math: Digits and length
Art: Pencil
Letters: W, X, Y
APRIL
Principle: My Role: Being a responsible member of my family, my community, and the world
(This is the end of our more focused school year, and a good time to evaluate "what should I do now with what I have learned?")
Virtue: Responsibility
Math: Subtraction, weight
Art: Watercolor (this is a fun time of year to capture the emerging beauty of Spring with the softened tones of watercolor)
Letters: Z, A ("April")
MAY
Principle: Seasons (Ecclesiastes)
Virtue: Hope
Math: Commas and Angles
Art: Chalk (a fun time to draw on the sidewalk with spring fever...or, for more sophisticated "chalking," we have so many flowers to capture)
Letters: B, C
JUNE
Principle: Learning, Your Mission (a good time to review the old year, while enjoying a pause before the new one)
Virtue: Knowledge
Math: number line, shapes
Letters: D, E ("Daddy" for Father's Day)
JULY
Principle: Acting Courageous
Virtue: Courage
Math: multiplication, area
Art: Charcoal (dramatic, like "courage")
Letters: F, G (Flag, Freedom, Fireworks...)
AUGUST
Principle: Everyone's Divine Nature (I like using this one and the virtue with it to help the kids remember before the school year starts just who they are and how awesome they are!)
Virtue: Individual Worth
Math: comparing, circumference
Art: Carving
Letters: H, I
SEPTEMBER
Principle: What makes a meaningful life and how do we pursue true happiness?
Virtue: Virtue (and Hope)
Math: Negative Numbers, logic
Art: Perspective (perspective....meaningful life...awesome connections!)
Letters: J, K
OCTOBER
Principle: Liberty
Virtue: Choice and Accountability
Math: Division, volume (division)
Art: Texture (freedom of expression :)...)
Letters: L, M
NOVEMBER
Principle: Property, Work, and Stewardship
Virtue: Work, integrity, and honesty
Math: Roman Numerals, Time (accountability of time :)...)
Art: Colored Pencils
Letters: N, O ("November")
DECEMBER
Principle: Gratitude
Virtue: Humility, Love
Math: Graphs, puzzles
Art: Oil Paint
Letters: P, R (presents, reverence)
Time for a power nap...my mind finally decided to crash :)!
Master, brilliant schedule, part 2--The Week
For the week, I have found it an ideal time to focus on particular subjects more than others. Of course, art invariably overlaps with history, and science normally includes math and sometimes art and history, but it gives me somewhere to start with. I have general month and year overviews for each of these to help know what direction I could go in for my Mom School classes to make things more orderly and, therefore, make more sense to the kids :). Like I said in my intro, there are just so many cool things to study, and I tend to want to do it all at once! This helps me calm down, gives me time to "play" with all the subjects I want to, and even helps it fit together better than the random way I was doing it before :).
Math I try to incorporate with at least one or two games a week (like Greed, M&M dice, Spot it!, etc.), and encourage the younger kids to do Khan academy on their own during Quiet Time. The older ones have specific "math times" with Mom.
Planning out a week also gives me a better way to spread things out that are important to our family, but not daily. The older five kids also all pick a day to make dinner for the week. (Lek was incredible and actually figured out how to make home-made corn dogs on his own! The Goob loves alfredo, so it has become a weekly favorite. Avot is just awesome at doing it well and timely. They younger two need a lot of help, but seem to enjoy it...especially that they get to pick what we are having :).)
The kids each have "days," which include their piano lesson for the week with me, picking of song and saying prayer at breakfast, selecting the patriotic song and leading the patriotic march at devotional, and picking the story and poem and song for devotional. The oldest two pinch hit on the weekends and help with devotionals or picking "I am Mormon" or "Mormon Message" movies to go along with devotional.
SUNDAY:
FHE (Family Home Evening, generally, unless we have family things and then we do it on Monday)
PPI's (Personal Priesthood interviews with Daddy...he tries to do it with every child at least once a month, so a few each Sunday)
Church
Skype with Grandparents (so cool!)
Mom-update pictures on blog
Family Planning meeting (look at the week...so wonderful when we do this!)
MONDAY:
Hava's Day
Lek's Piano Lesson
Mom School topic: Preschool-ish stuff: focusing on one of our two or three letters for the month, doing a small craft, tracing letters, singing preschool-type songs, reading books that go with the letter or preschool concept
Lunch watch an episode of Cyber Chase (I love it, I must confess...)
2:30 class: Family (aka whatever kids come that day) Choir (Avot helps with this, selecting songs and accompanying)
Some kind of "go and do" activity in the afternoon--park, swimming, biking.
Family activity (if not FHE itself)
TUESDAY:
Early morning math with Avot
Pipalicious's Day (and Piano...generally 5-10 minutes :)...)
Also Liliputian's Piano
Mom School Topic: Time machine (history)-to simplify for my sake, I generally pick something Avot and I are studying, grab a couple library books, and ideally have some type of activity or project with it (one of my favorites was when Lek set up a "gladiator training school" when we learned about the Romans and the Colosseum). I generally use the chapter from Bauer's "Story of the World" for the basis.
2:30 class: History with Avot (this will revert to just Friday when we finish the Ancient history book, and begin the Medieval History book...we were trying to catch up.)
Evening:Author's in the Attic (see "Definitions" page)--which can be moved to another night, if the evening activities are crazy this night...we generally get to this once or twice a month, ideally :).
WEDNESDAY:
Chugger-dude's Day (with Piano)
Mom School Topic: Science
Lunch with Cyber Chase (or not...I do it about twice a week during lunch)
2:30 class: Family Choir
Evening: Church activities for youth
Daddy basketball
THURSDAY:
Early morning Avot math
Liliputian's Day
Avot's Piano
Mom School: Art
2:30 class: (currently) Capitalism for Kids (we read aloud together or on their own a chapter or two, and then we come together and talk about it and do an activity)
Evening activity: Spelling Bee (see "Definitions" page)--like Author's in the Attic, we often change this day, and generally only end up having one or two of these a month, if we are lucky :).
FRIDAY:
The Goob's Day (with Piano)
Mom School topic...whatever needs to be done around the house, or personal projects :).
2:30 class: History with Avot
Evening activity: I have been trying to start a "Scholar Night," but we have only really done it twice in the few months I have tried to get it going. This Friday we have scheduled to watch the recent Webinar by Oliver DeMille, talk about it, and play a game chosen by one of us. This is an activity just for 12 and older and included Dad.
The week generally gets less and less structured, as that is how my energy level flows during the week. I am almost completely unscheduled by Saturday, a great day for house cleaning, errands, projects and Dad Work (see "Definitions"). Sunday is truly a day of rest and rejuvenation that is perfect (of course, for Who made the Sabbath :)?), and gets me ready for a generally intense and crazy Monday. :)
Math I try to incorporate with at least one or two games a week (like Greed, M&M dice, Spot it!, etc.), and encourage the younger kids to do Khan academy on their own during Quiet Time. The older ones have specific "math times" with Mom.
Planning out a week also gives me a better way to spread things out that are important to our family, but not daily. The older five kids also all pick a day to make dinner for the week. (Lek was incredible and actually figured out how to make home-made corn dogs on his own! The Goob loves alfredo, so it has become a weekly favorite. Avot is just awesome at doing it well and timely. They younger two need a lot of help, but seem to enjoy it...especially that they get to pick what we are having :).)
The kids each have "days," which include their piano lesson for the week with me, picking of song and saying prayer at breakfast, selecting the patriotic song and leading the patriotic march at devotional, and picking the story and poem and song for devotional. The oldest two pinch hit on the weekends and help with devotionals or picking "I am Mormon" or "Mormon Message" movies to go along with devotional.
SUNDAY:
FHE (Family Home Evening, generally, unless we have family things and then we do it on Monday)
PPI's (Personal Priesthood interviews with Daddy...he tries to do it with every child at least once a month, so a few each Sunday)
Church
Skype with Grandparents (so cool!)
Mom-update pictures on blog
Family Planning meeting (look at the week...so wonderful when we do this!)
MONDAY:
Hava's Day
Lek's Piano Lesson
Mom School topic: Preschool-ish stuff: focusing on one of our two or three letters for the month, doing a small craft, tracing letters, singing preschool-type songs, reading books that go with the letter or preschool concept
Lunch watch an episode of Cyber Chase (I love it, I must confess...)
2:30 class: Family (aka whatever kids come that day) Choir (Avot helps with this, selecting songs and accompanying)
Some kind of "go and do" activity in the afternoon--park, swimming, biking.
Family activity (if not FHE itself)
TUESDAY:
Early morning math with Avot
Pipalicious's Day (and Piano...generally 5-10 minutes :)...)
Also Liliputian's Piano
Mom School Topic: Time machine (history)-to simplify for my sake, I generally pick something Avot and I are studying, grab a couple library books, and ideally have some type of activity or project with it (one of my favorites was when Lek set up a "gladiator training school" when we learned about the Romans and the Colosseum). I generally use the chapter from Bauer's "Story of the World" for the basis.
2:30 class: History with Avot (this will revert to just Friday when we finish the Ancient history book, and begin the Medieval History book...we were trying to catch up.)
Evening:Author's in the Attic (see "Definitions" page)--which can be moved to another night, if the evening activities are crazy this night...we generally get to this once or twice a month, ideally :).
WEDNESDAY:
Chugger-dude's Day (with Piano)
Mom School Topic: Science
Lunch with Cyber Chase (or not...I do it about twice a week during lunch)
2:30 class: Family Choir
Evening: Church activities for youth
Daddy basketball
THURSDAY:
Early morning Avot math
Liliputian's Day
Avot's Piano
Mom School: Art
2:30 class: (currently) Capitalism for Kids (we read aloud together or on their own a chapter or two, and then we come together and talk about it and do an activity)
Evening activity: Spelling Bee (see "Definitions" page)--like Author's in the Attic, we often change this day, and generally only end up having one or two of these a month, if we are lucky :).
FRIDAY:
The Goob's Day (with Piano)
Mom School topic...whatever needs to be done around the house, or personal projects :).
2:30 class: History with Avot
Evening activity: I have been trying to start a "Scholar Night," but we have only really done it twice in the few months I have tried to get it going. This Friday we have scheduled to watch the recent Webinar by Oliver DeMille, talk about it, and play a game chosen by one of us. This is an activity just for 12 and older and included Dad.
The week generally gets less and less structured, as that is how my energy level flows during the week. I am almost completely unscheduled by Saturday, a great day for house cleaning, errands, projects and Dad Work (see "Definitions"). Sunday is truly a day of rest and rejuvenation that is perfect (of course, for Who made the Sabbath :)?), and gets me ready for a generally intense and crazy Monday. :)
Master, brilliant schedule, part 1--Intro and the Day
INTRO:
There are a few things that I have struggled with over the years with homeschooling:
- setting up unrealistic expectations in my scheduling and "mini-classes" I teach, and then getting frustrated or feeling guilty in trying to make things happen
-wanting all my kids to be excited all the time about what I am teaching, and subsequently using every means I can to entice, bribe, or coerce into attending whatever "fabulous" class I have put together--sure it was a one time deal, and, if they missed it, I was not giving them "what they needed"
-knowing what to teach when. In TJEd--the educational philosophy I use--the DeMille's suggest teaching "what you love and are passionate about" as a way to know what to teach them...unfortunately, I find that I love just about everything we can learn about, and kept trying to cram in every possibly scholastic application into every class.
-knowing when to use the natural "ebb and flow" of our family dynamics, and when to try and patiently re-train or guide it.
-fear of "missing something"...like when the Goob didn't know the months of the year at the age of 10--at least, their context and order.
Anyway, this summer I felt really driven to put together a guideline for myself and our family's homeschooling "schedule"...not so much a commitment of what I had to teach and when, but a guide for me--allowing myself to lose myself in a subject for a while, without feeling driven to include too much, afraid I was "forgetting something"--knowing I would get a chance to delve into everything eventually.
NOTE!!!!! EVERYTHING I DO IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!!! :) This is just a guideline for when things happen to be "normal-ish" (aka, just us) and is open enough to allow for transition times, wonderful visits from friends and family, and projects. I have found the kids actually enjoy this basic routine as a default because it includes things they want to know (when and what they are eating), activities they want to do, and helps my "planners" know what to expect, but allows for a lot of wiggle room as to how long each activity takes and what it actually is. It is not a minute to minute guide, unless I "get behind" and really want to do lots of things that day.
DAILY:
So, I started with our "day schedule," which I have actually been using for quite some time, and works well for our family. Each morning (ideally, for my "red" personalities who want to know), I write down something like the following on a big white board. (Writing it down prevents multiple re-tellings and helps me not forget quite as many things :)...)
This daily schedule is very personalized, as I have done what Thoreau suggests in "Walden"..."letting the bells ring" in my day and watching what really happens (I covered it in a post on my "Lazarus blog"...I think I talk about this somewhere in the middle of it). My kids tend to wake up energized and crazy, so I have channeled that into our work time. They can be brought together and focused for a short while at around 9 am to kick off our "school" on a good note. Then, the little ones are generally done, and the older ones will stay for a little reading, but they all generally need some "do something on my own" time. They are ready to do some "class time" with me between 10 and 11, and it generally continues on into nap time for the littles, the length depending upon the age and maturity of the child (which don't always come together :)!). By 4 pm, we are all generally "done" with focused together time (most of us, much earlier than 4 pm :)...), and then the evening schedule is great to have since we have older ones that have outside commitments.
Oh, and pretty much every time on my board is "-ish"...the kids know that, and if it is even more "-ish" than usual, I will actually write "10:30-ish" to make sure it is understood...again, for my reds.
8:30 Job check (Job=Zones+Basics...see "definitions" page on blog)
9:00 Devotional (a must, even if it is just a principle based story, song and prayer)
*here I generally write some type of book I am reading to the older ones, and I just read a chapter or two. Current favorite: Tales of the shimmering sky: ten global folktales with activities, retold by Susan Milord, which has some fun, easy activities that some of the kids will take and do for some of their morning fun.
10 Piano Lesson(s) for whoever is scheduled on that day (see earlier post)
10:30-ish Whatever class or activity I have planned before (see weekly schedule on later post) I try to limit it to one, because generally the older ones want to take more time doing it, and the younger ones are done with focusing.
11:30-ish Lunch (I have found having a general idea of what we are having, even if it is "sandwiches" saves me the grief of my "reds")
12:30-ish, reading time to "littles" and any "project" reading I am doing to the older ones, like "Capitalism for Kids" currently.
At this stage in my pregnancy, the kids will often tell me during this time, "Mom, if you want to stop reading and take a nap now, you can," an indication that I have been falling asleep while reading :).
1-3 "Quiet Time," which means, "by yourself time." This is good for all of us, and is a good time for me to do my own studies, projects, sleep, or do a class with my older scholars.
2:30 I try to do a class (see "part 2: week schedule"), because it is generally quieter then, and is incentive, too, for kids to get ready or come to it so they can be "done with Quiet time" earlier, depending upon the class.
5 or 6 ish I will put dinner down, who is making it, maybe what we are having (again, for the "reds"), so we know when to shoot for having it done
Evening activities as they come up
8 pm Family Scripture, Prayer, and Daddy read time (current one, "Where the Red Fern Grows")*
*Some ones we have done in the past: "The Yearling," "The Summer of the Monkeys," "The Princess Bride," and "Fish." Q-dawg generally picks them...the few times I have picked them have not really worked out, so it's his "thing" to do :).
There are a few things that I have struggled with over the years with homeschooling:
- setting up unrealistic expectations in my scheduling and "mini-classes" I teach, and then getting frustrated or feeling guilty in trying to make things happen
-wanting all my kids to be excited all the time about what I am teaching, and subsequently using every means I can to entice, bribe, or coerce into attending whatever "fabulous" class I have put together--sure it was a one time deal, and, if they missed it, I was not giving them "what they needed"
-knowing what to teach when. In TJEd--the educational philosophy I use--the DeMille's suggest teaching "what you love and are passionate about" as a way to know what to teach them...unfortunately, I find that I love just about everything we can learn about, and kept trying to cram in every possibly scholastic application into every class.
-knowing when to use the natural "ebb and flow" of our family dynamics, and when to try and patiently re-train or guide it.
-fear of "missing something"...like when the Goob didn't know the months of the year at the age of 10--at least, their context and order.
Anyway, this summer I felt really driven to put together a guideline for myself and our family's homeschooling "schedule"...not so much a commitment of what I had to teach and when, but a guide for me--allowing myself to lose myself in a subject for a while, without feeling driven to include too much, afraid I was "forgetting something"--knowing I would get a chance to delve into everything eventually.
NOTE!!!!! EVERYTHING I DO IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!!! :) This is just a guideline for when things happen to be "normal-ish" (aka, just us) and is open enough to allow for transition times, wonderful visits from friends and family, and projects. I have found the kids actually enjoy this basic routine as a default because it includes things they want to know (when and what they are eating), activities they want to do, and helps my "planners" know what to expect, but allows for a lot of wiggle room as to how long each activity takes and what it actually is. It is not a minute to minute guide, unless I "get behind" and really want to do lots of things that day.
DAILY:
So, I started with our "day schedule," which I have actually been using for quite some time, and works well for our family. Each morning (ideally, for my "red" personalities who want to know), I write down something like the following on a big white board. (Writing it down prevents multiple re-tellings and helps me not forget quite as many things :)...)
This daily schedule is very personalized, as I have done what Thoreau suggests in "Walden"..."letting the bells ring" in my day and watching what really happens (I covered it in a post on my "Lazarus blog"...I think I talk about this somewhere in the middle of it). My kids tend to wake up energized and crazy, so I have channeled that into our work time. They can be brought together and focused for a short while at around 9 am to kick off our "school" on a good note. Then, the little ones are generally done, and the older ones will stay for a little reading, but they all generally need some "do something on my own" time. They are ready to do some "class time" with me between 10 and 11, and it generally continues on into nap time for the littles, the length depending upon the age and maturity of the child (which don't always come together :)!). By 4 pm, we are all generally "done" with focused together time (most of us, much earlier than 4 pm :)...), and then the evening schedule is great to have since we have older ones that have outside commitments.
Oh, and pretty much every time on my board is "-ish"...the kids know that, and if it is even more "-ish" than usual, I will actually write "10:30-ish" to make sure it is understood...again, for my reds.
8:30 Job check (Job=Zones+Basics...see "definitions" page on blog)
9:00 Devotional (a must, even if it is just a principle based story, song and prayer)
*here I generally write some type of book I am reading to the older ones, and I just read a chapter or two. Current favorite: Tales of the shimmering sky: ten global folktales with activities, retold by Susan Milord, which has some fun, easy activities that some of the kids will take and do for some of their morning fun.
10 Piano Lesson(s) for whoever is scheduled on that day (see earlier post)
10:30-ish Whatever class or activity I have planned before (see weekly schedule on later post) I try to limit it to one, because generally the older ones want to take more time doing it, and the younger ones are done with focusing.
11:30-ish Lunch (I have found having a general idea of what we are having, even if it is "sandwiches" saves me the grief of my "reds")
12:30-ish, reading time to "littles" and any "project" reading I am doing to the older ones, like "Capitalism for Kids" currently.
At this stage in my pregnancy, the kids will often tell me during this time, "Mom, if you want to stop reading and take a nap now, you can," an indication that I have been falling asleep while reading :).
1-3 "Quiet Time," which means, "by yourself time." This is good for all of us, and is a good time for me to do my own studies, projects, sleep, or do a class with my older scholars.
2:30 I try to do a class (see "part 2: week schedule"), because it is generally quieter then, and is incentive, too, for kids to get ready or come to it so they can be "done with Quiet time" earlier, depending upon the class.
5 or 6 ish I will put dinner down, who is making it, maybe what we are having (again, for the "reds"), so we know when to shoot for having it done
Evening activities as they come up
8 pm Family Scripture, Prayer, and Daddy read time (current one, "Where the Red Fern Grows")*
*Some ones we have done in the past: "The Yearling," "The Summer of the Monkeys," "The Princess Bride," and "Fish." Q-dawg generally picks them...the few times I have picked them have not really worked out, so it's his "thing" to do :).
Power of positive thinking!
Last night, Q-dawg and I were doing some last-minute prep for our own family "mini-triathalon" we are holding for the kids tomorrow morning...well, the kids and myself. We were going to try and get the Goob to an official one, but the only one we saw that would fit his age and ability was up in Kamas this weekend, a long trip for any car and family, but definitely not something our van was up to (after dying a few times on the way home from a family reunion in Bountiful last weekend!).
So, we came up with one, and even designed some t-shirts together:
Lek insists that "pink is a man's color" so often, we thought we would take him at his word, bought some basic T's at the Great and Abominable (aka Walmart), and came up with this design together. Q-dawg also has mini drinking cups for us to drink en route and crush, with sports drinks to rehydrate us. We have prizes, the grand one being Dinner with the Trainer (aka Daddy), and treats. It's only a 200 m swim, 4 mile bike, and 1 mile run, but will be a race between the Goob, Lek, Avot, and yours truly :). (Q-dawg is betting I will win...what a nice husband.)
Anyway, we were faced with a dilemma created by our procrastination: the T-shirts needed to be prewashed (and dried) before I could apply the puffy paint for the design, and the puffy paint takes 4 hours to dry. We got back from Walmart at 10:22 pm. Hmmm....
Well, I told Q-dawg, "That's alright. I've been up at around 2 am every night anyway...I'll just do it then." What was I thinking!
Sure enough, despite going to bed a little before midnight, my obedient body and mind woke up a little after 2 am.
I sleep like a baby all night. I sleep like a baby all night. I sleep like a baby all night.
I tried chanting this to myself to get myself back to sleep (after getting up and doing the designs above, of course), and was halted by this thought: "What does it really mean to 'sleep like a baby'?" After thinking about my own dear babies, I promptly stopped that chant, and tried to go to sleep.
45 minutes later, here I am, blogging. I've got to reset my self-talk: "I don't get up at 2 am every morning...I sleep all through the night--soundly!"
So, we came up with one, and even designed some t-shirts together:
Anyway, we were faced with a dilemma created by our procrastination: the T-shirts needed to be prewashed (and dried) before I could apply the puffy paint for the design, and the puffy paint takes 4 hours to dry. We got back from Walmart at 10:22 pm. Hmmm....
Well, I told Q-dawg, "That's alright. I've been up at around 2 am every night anyway...I'll just do it then." What was I thinking!
Sure enough, despite going to bed a little before midnight, my obedient body and mind woke up a little after 2 am.
I sleep like a baby all night. I sleep like a baby all night. I sleep like a baby all night.
I tried chanting this to myself to get myself back to sleep (after getting up and doing the designs above, of course), and was halted by this thought: "What does it really mean to 'sleep like a baby'?" After thinking about my own dear babies, I promptly stopped that chant, and tried to go to sleep.
45 minutes later, here I am, blogging. I've got to reset my self-talk: "I don't get up at 2 am every morning...I sleep all through the night--soundly!"
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tickets bought, and some good news and bad news
After hours online and on the phone, we are official. Q-dawg leaves on October 3, and the kids and I follow on October 10, going through Dublin, Ireland, with plenty of time (hopefully!) for layovers.
Who knew it would be so hard to just purchase tickets after months of keeping track of the cheapest places to go for them online? I didn't realize that most sites have limits that don't allow for 9 people. I cannot tell you the sinking feeling in my gut when I was faced with this, and the unacceptable option of sending any kids on their own across the globe, no matter how responsible. (Yes, RaNae, I draw the line somewhere with what I let my kids do on their own :)...even with cell phones in hand.) Lek actually offered to take his brothers and go it alone. I don't think so!
A few days ago, we finally were able to confirm that we can buy one-way tickets into the country, which gave us the go ahead to purchase Q-dawg's on Monday. The price went up $150-170 per ticket in the next two days, apparently. Sigh! That began the fiasco of finding an airline that would let me schedule all my darling children with me at the same time. The thought of trying to purchase two sets of tickets popped into my brain, followed by the horrific possibility of filling up that flight with the first purchase, and having the rest of my kids scheduled to go through Poland, while I was going through Ireland. Ahhhhhhhh!
I don't think this is good on my already-elevated pregnancy blood pressure :)! It is a relief to get it done, but opens all the finality of doing this, which brings on its own wave of emotion.
I did find out today something to help the blood-pressure (or at least the concern) of the grandparents of our unborn babe: our health coverage actually has participating doctors and hospitals in Hungary...Budapest, to be specific. Imagine that: in-network providers half a world away! Now, that's what I call service. I have had to change doctors last minute before, and, while it is not very desirable, at least it is safer than many of the other alternatives that have passed through my mind in the wee hours of the morning. Now, I just need to make sure that my beloved is near to translate...and hopefully he is up-to-date on medical terminology in Hungarian :). In the desperation of the moment and the universality of child-birth, however, I am sure communication will happen :).
Final official news for the day...the Goob just checked in after being awakened by Chugger-dude...who was sleep-walking. His "somniatic" path involved getting to the entrance to the bathroom, promptly turning before entering and facing the wall next to the bathroom door, pulling down his pants and...well, apparently, I have a mess to clean up before I go to bed. At least when Lek did it when he was a little kid, he aimed for the toilet under the bathroom sink!
Other "quickies" for the day: Chugger-dude had a great piano lesson--apparently, louder is better, but he's having fun, so bring on the banging! (Between him and the Goob, it makes my fingers hurt just watching them...); Lek began doing Saxon Math again...woohoo!; Avot and I had an awesome history class in our "mommy-censored" history book (blegh, but fortunately, "editing" is not necessary very often, and worth it); Pipalicious and Hava spent hours outside wearing bonnets, playing with blankets, and making mudballs; Papaya has discovered the advantage of dragging around a small bathroom stool to get better access to those "just out of reach" places; I made a slew of cards to send to friends and family while struggling through Pimsleur's Hungarian lesson 15 out of 16...woohoo!; I found two more pieces of a puzzle that we lost 6 pieces to three months ago...only two more to go :); Avot found and showed me a book with beautiful photos of wolves and their surroundings that she wants to recreate in art; Liliputian spent a day full of nurturing and loving, and has recently discovered a talent for drawing horses; Lek, Avot, and the Goob had a great time at the park doing the speed workout segment of Q-dawg's training program...while there, Lek bribed the Goob to climb a tree, the lowest branch of which was 10 feet up--Go, Goob!; I wept a couple times today, imagining those first, challenging moments (and more, I am sure) when my children are in church or other settings, and completely lost and possibly discouraged due to lack of Hungarian speaking skills; Papaya does the "baby sign" for cracker (banging a fist against the opposite elbow) by banging her fist in her armpit...so cute!; Lek and Q-dawg went and played basketball tonight--great male bonding; all but Avot and Liliputian (who was at Activity days) went to the swimming pool where I did laps, and the boys (and man...daddy) tried to drown each other, while Hava insisted she was a mermaid, and Pipalicious enjoyed the freedom that comes with comfort in the water...going down the huge slide; and the Goob is learning "Ode to Joy" on the guitar, much to his delight.
And that's our Day in a Minute! Time to go and clean-up...
Who knew it would be so hard to just purchase tickets after months of keeping track of the cheapest places to go for them online? I didn't realize that most sites have limits that don't allow for 9 people. I cannot tell you the sinking feeling in my gut when I was faced with this, and the unacceptable option of sending any kids on their own across the globe, no matter how responsible. (Yes, RaNae, I draw the line somewhere with what I let my kids do on their own :)...even with cell phones in hand.) Lek actually offered to take his brothers and go it alone. I don't think so!
A few days ago, we finally were able to confirm that we can buy one-way tickets into the country, which gave us the go ahead to purchase Q-dawg's on Monday. The price went up $150-170 per ticket in the next two days, apparently. Sigh! That began the fiasco of finding an airline that would let me schedule all my darling children with me at the same time. The thought of trying to purchase two sets of tickets popped into my brain, followed by the horrific possibility of filling up that flight with the first purchase, and having the rest of my kids scheduled to go through Poland, while I was going through Ireland. Ahhhhhhhh!
I don't think this is good on my already-elevated pregnancy blood pressure :)! It is a relief to get it done, but opens all the finality of doing this, which brings on its own wave of emotion.
I did find out today something to help the blood-pressure (or at least the concern) of the grandparents of our unborn babe: our health coverage actually has participating doctors and hospitals in Hungary...Budapest, to be specific. Imagine that: in-network providers half a world away! Now, that's what I call service. I have had to change doctors last minute before, and, while it is not very desirable, at least it is safer than many of the other alternatives that have passed through my mind in the wee hours of the morning. Now, I just need to make sure that my beloved is near to translate...and hopefully he is up-to-date on medical terminology in Hungarian :). In the desperation of the moment and the universality of child-birth, however, I am sure communication will happen :).
Final official news for the day...the Goob just checked in after being awakened by Chugger-dude...who was sleep-walking. His "somniatic" path involved getting to the entrance to the bathroom, promptly turning before entering and facing the wall next to the bathroom door, pulling down his pants and...well, apparently, I have a mess to clean up before I go to bed. At least when Lek did it when he was a little kid, he aimed for the toilet under the bathroom sink!
Other "quickies" for the day: Chugger-dude had a great piano lesson--apparently, louder is better, but he's having fun, so bring on the banging! (Between him and the Goob, it makes my fingers hurt just watching them...); Lek began doing Saxon Math again...woohoo!; Avot and I had an awesome history class in our "mommy-censored" history book (blegh, but fortunately, "editing" is not necessary very often, and worth it); Pipalicious and Hava spent hours outside wearing bonnets, playing with blankets, and making mudballs; Papaya has discovered the advantage of dragging around a small bathroom stool to get better access to those "just out of reach" places; I made a slew of cards to send to friends and family while struggling through Pimsleur's Hungarian lesson 15 out of 16...woohoo!; I found two more pieces of a puzzle that we lost 6 pieces to three months ago...only two more to go :); Avot found and showed me a book with beautiful photos of wolves and their surroundings that she wants to recreate in art; Liliputian spent a day full of nurturing and loving, and has recently discovered a talent for drawing horses; Lek, Avot, and the Goob had a great time at the park doing the speed workout segment of Q-dawg's training program...while there, Lek bribed the Goob to climb a tree, the lowest branch of which was 10 feet up--Go, Goob!; I wept a couple times today, imagining those first, challenging moments (and more, I am sure) when my children are in church or other settings, and completely lost and possibly discouraged due to lack of Hungarian speaking skills; Papaya does the "baby sign" for cracker (banging a fist against the opposite elbow) by banging her fist in her armpit...so cute!; Lek and Q-dawg went and played basketball tonight--great male bonding; all but Avot and Liliputian (who was at Activity days) went to the swimming pool where I did laps, and the boys (and man...daddy) tried to drown each other, while Hava insisted she was a mermaid, and Pipalicious enjoyed the freedom that comes with comfort in the water...going down the huge slide; and the Goob is learning "Ode to Joy" on the guitar, much to his delight.
And that's our Day in a Minute! Time to go and clean-up...
Friday, August 17, 2012
"Your epidermis is showing!!!"
Table time conversation for this morning: this phrase used, changed, and re-used...
The highlight, I heard a strangled yell from Hava: "My epidermis is showing!!"
She has no idea what an epidermis is...
The highlight, I heard a strangled yell from Hava: "My epidermis is showing!!"
She has no idea what an epidermis is...
Sleeping outside
My kids have loved sleeping outside whenever they can this summer. I have realized that, if they get out and put away all their things (and try to be patient with a little under-rested kids :)...), it is a fun way for them to enjoy the summer with minimal work on my part (lazy, I know :)...).
Well, last night, I told them that the sprinklers would be coming on, but that didn't deter them...they had slept outside the other night when it had lightly rained and they thought it was fabulous. Well, at about 6:15 am (15 minutes ago) they started coming in...sopping wet.
When Hava came in, she described it this way: "I'm smoking!" "You're what?" was my answer. "You're soaking?" Avot asked. "Yes! I'm soaking wet!" Hava indignantly replied, as though it had been obvious. Good ol' Hava. (She regularly tells me what to do and where to go...hmmmm.)
Thank goodness for Avot: the universal Hava-translator.
I told them to go back to bed and get some real sleep (the sprinklers come on and off all night) and the Goob's first paranoid response was--"If I go to sleep now, Chugger-dude and I will be late with our jobs and we'll get extra ones!" Dum, dum, dum....
I told him not to worry about it. This morning's not going to be normal anyway, with the departure of my bookshelves. My blood pressure is already a little high with this pregnancy, despite my regular exercising, so I need to take a morning to mourn and relax, I think :).
Well, last night, I told them that the sprinklers would be coming on, but that didn't deter them...they had slept outside the other night when it had lightly rained and they thought it was fabulous. Well, at about 6:15 am (15 minutes ago) they started coming in...sopping wet.
When Hava came in, she described it this way: "I'm smoking!" "You're what?" was my answer. "You're soaking?" Avot asked. "Yes! I'm soaking wet!" Hava indignantly replied, as though it had been obvious. Good ol' Hava. (She regularly tells me what to do and where to go...hmmmm.)
Thank goodness for Avot: the universal Hava-translator.
I told them to go back to bed and get some real sleep (the sprinklers come on and off all night) and the Goob's first paranoid response was--"If I go to sleep now, Chugger-dude and I will be late with our jobs and we'll get extra ones!" Dum, dum, dum....
I told him not to worry about it. This morning's not going to be normal anyway, with the departure of my bookshelves. My blood pressure is already a little high with this pregnancy, despite my regular exercising, so I need to take a morning to mourn and relax, I think :).
Pregnancy....
Just went to the doctors for my ultrasound yesterday, and found out we are having a......
Baby! Woohoo! :) Yes, it is not a mutant in my tummy, nor an elephant (thank goodness! A gestation period of 2 years blows my mind!), but a healthy little baby with their daddy's nose and ears :), at least, that is what Q-dawg said after looking at the video. I also guess it is a boy, but Q-dawg isn't so sure. We asked the other kids if they cared that we spent as long on their ultrasound videos trying to figure out their genders on our own, for those we didn't "find out" with...hmmm....
Anyway, just a few thoughts about my pregnancy this last week:
Crazy dreams! I have awakened in the morning, already exhausted from a night full of dreams of chasing kids through a store, all while preparing a meal for some friends on the counter-tops, and trying to make new acquaintances and remember names and how many children I had. Oh well...at least my body got to rest :).
I also blame my pregnancy for crying last night while taking down one of my last bookshelves and considering which of my babies...oh! I mean books...that I will be leaving behind while we live in Hungary. It's funny. It was one of the hardest things I have done so far, but maybe that is the timing of pregnancy, or the finality of it all :). Some, I just couldn't part with, like "The Hiding Place," "The Phantom Tollbooth," not to mention the plethora of children's books that I figure I will somehow place in all our carry-ons. (I couldn't find a weight limit on the carry-ons in my initial perusal, but will make sure, when we have the final airline secured...we have three right now that we are deciding between, based upon Q-dawg's answer that he gets from the Hungarian Office of Immigration on Monday--after he practices asking his questions and praying that he will understand all the answers :)--about whether or not a two-way ticket is required to enter the country in our situation.)
As I was moving the books back and forth, the sheer weight of them made me realize my dreams of moving even half of them overseas is not realistic...sigh :). Thank goodness for the Nook Q-dawg gave me as a surprise for my birthday! :) For some of the "leavers," I just had to think about both how easy it would be to get it on my Nook, and whether or not the personal notes I had in those books was worth taking over for a few years...there's always life after Hungary, right, and who knows how long we will end up being there :)?
Baby! Woohoo! :) Yes, it is not a mutant in my tummy, nor an elephant (thank goodness! A gestation period of 2 years blows my mind!), but a healthy little baby with their daddy's nose and ears :), at least, that is what Q-dawg said after looking at the video. I also guess it is a boy, but Q-dawg isn't so sure. We asked the other kids if they cared that we spent as long on their ultrasound videos trying to figure out their genders on our own, for those we didn't "find out" with...hmmm....
Anyway, just a few thoughts about my pregnancy this last week:
Crazy dreams! I have awakened in the morning, already exhausted from a night full of dreams of chasing kids through a store, all while preparing a meal for some friends on the counter-tops, and trying to make new acquaintances and remember names and how many children I had. Oh well...at least my body got to rest :).
I also blame my pregnancy for crying last night while taking down one of my last bookshelves and considering which of my babies...oh! I mean books...that I will be leaving behind while we live in Hungary. It's funny. It was one of the hardest things I have done so far, but maybe that is the timing of pregnancy, or the finality of it all :). Some, I just couldn't part with, like "The Hiding Place," "The Phantom Tollbooth," not to mention the plethora of children's books that I figure I will somehow place in all our carry-ons. (I couldn't find a weight limit on the carry-ons in my initial perusal, but will make sure, when we have the final airline secured...we have three right now that we are deciding between, based upon Q-dawg's answer that he gets from the Hungarian Office of Immigration on Monday--after he practices asking his questions and praying that he will understand all the answers :)--about whether or not a two-way ticket is required to enter the country in our situation.)
As I was moving the books back and forth, the sheer weight of them made me realize my dreams of moving even half of them overseas is not realistic...sigh :). Thank goodness for the Nook Q-dawg gave me as a surprise for my birthday! :) For some of the "leavers," I just had to think about both how easy it would be to get it on my Nook, and whether or not the personal notes I had in those books was worth taking over for a few years...there's always life after Hungary, right, and who knows how long we will end up being there :)?
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Lek, the chocolate chip cookie master
Cool music link!
I have long loved many of the songs created for youth from our church, especially some from the Especially For Youth program, but haven't bitten the bullet to pay for downloading them.
Good news!
Avot found an awesome youth music station that features many of my favorites at lds.org youth music. It streams in a bunch of incredibly peaceful and inspiring numbers that is a great mix.
What a great daughter :).
Good news!
Avot found an awesome youth music station that features many of my favorites at lds.org youth music. It streams in a bunch of incredibly peaceful and inspiring numbers that is a great mix.
What a great daughter :).
Picture update August 2012
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| Hava taking after her Aunt Heidi and sleeping anywhere :) |
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| ...on the tramp, too. |
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| Nice "look," Pipalicious! :) |
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| Sweet buddies...can you see her arm resting on his? |
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| Here they are again...snuggling! :) |
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| Movie-star Papaya...another relative look alike. I have a great picture of my brother Jonathan similarly decked out at about the same age. |
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| Avot modeling the latest in slings...or not :). |
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| Pipalicious and Liliputian modeling their Terra Cotta Warriors out of clay. We learned about them and the construction of the Great Wall of China that week. What a fun week! (See Pipalicious's lego gun in the background? Can you tell she has older brothers :)?) |
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| Papaya was sick this week, so we found her falling asleep all over the house. I felt for her, but, honestly, don't mind this kind of sickness too much when it makes her tired, cuddly, and easy to put to sleep :). |
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| This is an art craft Q-dawg made with the Primary kids at one of the Primary activities: "We were the only group to use all of our supplies" was the proud report :). Time to take a picture and toss it--I love picture memories! So versatile and portable! |
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| A couple looks at the new fitness program Q-dawg designed for the older kids. This is the CORE work-out they do twice a week. The first time they started it, I found myself quite alone in the house. Wandering around, trying to discover the meaning of the silence, I looked out the window to see what you see in these pictures. Awesome! What a fun group! (I promised Lek I wouldn't post a video, so this is all you get :)...) |
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| This is a perfect capture of my free-spirit Liliputian...lover of nature, water, the outdoors, and experiencing life to the fullest. She was just standing out there in the morning sun, holding up the sprinkler, enjoying the moment. Beautiful... |
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| Hava, striped from bottom to top (just in case you can't see the socks very well, they're striped too :)!) This will be one of those pictures where the kids look at it in the future and say, "Mom! I can't believe you dressed me like that!" and I can safely say, for the record, that I had absolutely no say in any of it :)....as if I would pick something as trivial as what she wears everyday as a place to battle the iron will of my Hava. I save those battles for special occasions :). |
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Fix-up time!--Van--Sleeping--"death day" athletics
Today we tried to go shopping to replace or fix some of the things that have broken since we came here:
-door knob to the downstairs bathroom: check.
-Light panels in the kitchen (small crack in one of them...but there were no comparable models so we had to get new panels for the whole thing): check.
-Replacement glass for the antique lamps in the front room that I didn't realize were made the way they were: definitely not-check. (Apparently, I didn't get everything unbreakable up and out of the way when we moved in :S.) Thank goodness for online searching!
-Super power Magic Eraser for Papaya's endless ability to track down any marker or crayon even remotely close to her level (the regular power ones just don't cut it): check.
-Wood glue to fix the rolling pin that Papaya got out and dropped on the floor: check...only to discover we lost one of the components. New item for list: new rolling pin.
-Saggy patch in the ceiling in one of the room upstairs from a leak in the swamp cooler: uncheck.
-New rollers for the screen door: uncheck.
Oh well! At least it is a head start! :)
Q-dawg's parents are awesome, knowing what might happen when we moved in. Sometimes, though, I wish it could just be our own stuff that we broke and ruined :). I guess we are doing pretty well for a family as large as our that homeschools (i.e. is home a lot).
We had a great visit with our sister today, and am loving having her kids over for a few days. As our van's days get "more numbered" (if there is such a thing :)...), we find that other people is the only way to see anyone, unless they are within biking distance :). I am getting better at biking, though. I figured it cost us $1 for every 3 miles, but, hey! The van is still working :), so we will enjoy it while we can when we feel we must use it. Considering the "service engine light soon" light has been coming on and off since last October, I say we are doing very well :). Only a few kids groan when we load up for church on our bikes to bike the 2 miles to our ward, and the Sundays have been blessedly more cool than the other days, for the most part.
Hava woke me up this morning, trying to be quiet. I pretended to stay asleep when I saw how quiet she was being, relishing a few more moments of rest, until I saw her become interested in her sleeping baby sister sprawled on the floor by my bed. (Papaya can be a wanderer at night. I awoke to find a few puzzle pieces from the puzzle she dismantled in the middle of the night last night before coming into our room to sleep on the floor.) Quickly, I diverted Hava to give Papaya, who is just getting over her cold, a few more moments of rest. Hava began singing to me, one of her favorite things, and then demanded I sing with her. Knowing the consequences of failing to oblige her when she wants something (and weighing it to see if it was worth it), I sang quietly with her. Papaya stirred soon thereafter, joining in the song. It was so fun to see Hava "helping" show Papaya how to do the actions for "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam," and so I tried not to begrudge her the rest my pregnant body seems to be craving more and more lately.
Today was "Death Day" in Q-dawg's new physical regime for the three oldest kids, which included pushing our car around the block (in neutral), jumping over a water barrel (apparently Avot is not a jumper :)...), and doing somersaults (something Avot struggled with when she was five, and apparently has the same difficulty :)...). Avot said pushing the car around wasn't too bad--Lek took the brunt of it, apparently, at times, and she was struggling to keep up with his pushing. :) Funny.
After watching the Olympics tonight, there was a hilarious commercial. "Abilify," I think was the name of the drug, is an anti-depressant, but both Q-dawg and I agreed that we would be depressed just thinking of the long list of possible side-effects (death, stroke, seizures) that the commercial spokesperson spent 4/5ths of the commercial covering. Crazy. And it was all done with cute little cartoons, too, with happy music in the background, as they read all these terrible possible effects. Curious.
-door knob to the downstairs bathroom: check.
-Light panels in the kitchen (small crack in one of them...but there were no comparable models so we had to get new panels for the whole thing): check.
-Replacement glass for the antique lamps in the front room that I didn't realize were made the way they were: definitely not-check. (Apparently, I didn't get everything unbreakable up and out of the way when we moved in :S.) Thank goodness for online searching!
-Super power Magic Eraser for Papaya's endless ability to track down any marker or crayon even remotely close to her level (the regular power ones just don't cut it): check.
-Wood glue to fix the rolling pin that Papaya got out and dropped on the floor: check...only to discover we lost one of the components. New item for list: new rolling pin.
-Saggy patch in the ceiling in one of the room upstairs from a leak in the swamp cooler: uncheck.
-New rollers for the screen door: uncheck.
Oh well! At least it is a head start! :)
Q-dawg's parents are awesome, knowing what might happen when we moved in. Sometimes, though, I wish it could just be our own stuff that we broke and ruined :). I guess we are doing pretty well for a family as large as our that homeschools (i.e. is home a lot).
We had a great visit with our sister today, and am loving having her kids over for a few days. As our van's days get "more numbered" (if there is such a thing :)...), we find that other people is the only way to see anyone, unless they are within biking distance :). I am getting better at biking, though. I figured it cost us $1 for every 3 miles, but, hey! The van is still working :), so we will enjoy it while we can when we feel we must use it. Considering the "service engine light soon" light has been coming on and off since last October, I say we are doing very well :). Only a few kids groan when we load up for church on our bikes to bike the 2 miles to our ward, and the Sundays have been blessedly more cool than the other days, for the most part.
Hava woke me up this morning, trying to be quiet. I pretended to stay asleep when I saw how quiet she was being, relishing a few more moments of rest, until I saw her become interested in her sleeping baby sister sprawled on the floor by my bed. (Papaya can be a wanderer at night. I awoke to find a few puzzle pieces from the puzzle she dismantled in the middle of the night last night before coming into our room to sleep on the floor.) Quickly, I diverted Hava to give Papaya, who is just getting over her cold, a few more moments of rest. Hava began singing to me, one of her favorite things, and then demanded I sing with her. Knowing the consequences of failing to oblige her when she wants something (and weighing it to see if it was worth it), I sang quietly with her. Papaya stirred soon thereafter, joining in the song. It was so fun to see Hava "helping" show Papaya how to do the actions for "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam," and so I tried not to begrudge her the rest my pregnant body seems to be craving more and more lately.
Today was "Death Day" in Q-dawg's new physical regime for the three oldest kids, which included pushing our car around the block (in neutral), jumping over a water barrel (apparently Avot is not a jumper :)...), and doing somersaults (something Avot struggled with when she was five, and apparently has the same difficulty :)...). Avot said pushing the car around wasn't too bad--Lek took the brunt of it, apparently, at times, and she was struggling to keep up with his pushing. :) Funny.
After watching the Olympics tonight, there was a hilarious commercial. "Abilify," I think was the name of the drug, is an anti-depressant, but both Q-dawg and I agreed that we would be depressed just thinking of the long list of possible side-effects (death, stroke, seizures) that the commercial spokesperson spent 4/5ths of the commercial covering. Crazy. And it was all done with cute little cartoons, too, with happy music in the background, as they read all these terrible possible effects. Curious.
Bread recipe
One thing that I always wanted to learn how to do was make bread...consistently, good bread.
For years, I was so discouraged. I would have a good batch here and there, but it always seemed to be a matter of luck. I wanted something I could make sandwiches out of, whole-wheat preferably, and something that tasted good beyond the day it was made. So I would try once, give up for several months, and then give it a half-hearted try again.
My friend Lisa came along and offered to share with my how she did it regularly. Her patient coaches and support were so valuable, not to mention her recipe. (Since then, a couple of my "bread-making heroes"--Julie, Laurissa--have shared with me their slightly different recipes...I don't think the recipe matters so much as the ability to tell when you have kneaded it enough, and when it has enough flour, but that is my opinion...) Here it is!
Avot now makes it regularly, and does a fabulous job! Thanks, Avot and Lisa!
Lisa's bread:
Mix and dissolve together:
1 c. warm water
2/3 c honey (or 1 c. sugar)
2 1/2 T. yeast
Add: 7 c. whole wheat flour and 4 c. hot tap water
Mix.
Add:
2 T salt
2 1/2 T. lemon juice (opt)
2/3 c. oil
1/2 c. gluten
Mix.
-Gradually add up to 5 more cups whole wheat flour. Knead well. If it is really sticky to your fingers, keep adding more flour and kneading until it is only slightly sticky to the touch.
-Place in oiled bowl, cover with towel, and allow to rise until double in size
-Grease 4 bread pans
-Oil surface on counter (or use flour) and knead well. Separate into 4 loaves and place in pans.
-Preheat oven to 200 degrees and then turn off.
-Place pans in oven and allow to rise until a little over the tops of the pans.
-Turn oven on to 350 and set a timer for 35 minutes.
(If you accidentally let it raise too much on the step right before cooking, the bread will be airy and fall apart. If you do let them raise too much, you can take them out of the pans, knead them down again, and restart that part of the process. Far from ruining it, I have found that an extra round of kneading makes the bread better. If it gets sticky again while kneading, go ahead and add more flour. Sometimes--whether due to humidity in air or some other factor--it seems I have to add quite a bit more flour. As long as it is kneaded well in, and allowed to raise correctly, I have found the consistency of the bread is still great.)
For years, I was so discouraged. I would have a good batch here and there, but it always seemed to be a matter of luck. I wanted something I could make sandwiches out of, whole-wheat preferably, and something that tasted good beyond the day it was made. So I would try once, give up for several months, and then give it a half-hearted try again.
My friend Lisa came along and offered to share with my how she did it regularly. Her patient coaches and support were so valuable, not to mention her recipe. (Since then, a couple of my "bread-making heroes"--Julie, Laurissa--have shared with me their slightly different recipes...I don't think the recipe matters so much as the ability to tell when you have kneaded it enough, and when it has enough flour, but that is my opinion...) Here it is!
Avot now makes it regularly, and does a fabulous job! Thanks, Avot and Lisa!
Lisa's bread:
Mix and dissolve together:
1 c. warm water
2/3 c honey (or 1 c. sugar)
2 1/2 T. yeast
Add: 7 c. whole wheat flour and 4 c. hot tap water
Mix.
Add:
2 T salt
2 1/2 T. lemon juice (opt)
2/3 c. oil
1/2 c. gluten
Mix.
-Gradually add up to 5 more cups whole wheat flour. Knead well. If it is really sticky to your fingers, keep adding more flour and kneading until it is only slightly sticky to the touch.
-Place in oiled bowl, cover with towel, and allow to rise until double in size
-Grease 4 bread pans
-Oil surface on counter (or use flour) and knead well. Separate into 4 loaves and place in pans.
-Preheat oven to 200 degrees and then turn off.
-Place pans in oven and allow to rise until a little over the tops of the pans.
-Turn oven on to 350 and set a timer for 35 minutes.
(If you accidentally let it raise too much on the step right before cooking, the bread will be airy and fall apart. If you do let them raise too much, you can take them out of the pans, knead them down again, and restart that part of the process. Far from ruining it, I have found that an extra round of kneading makes the bread better. If it gets sticky again while kneading, go ahead and add more flour. Sometimes--whether due to humidity in air or some other factor--it seems I have to add quite a bit more flour. As long as it is kneaded well in, and allowed to raise correctly, I have found the consistency of the bread is still great.)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Updates-Servant Heart-Piano Epiphany-Sick baby
UPDATE:
Pipalicious had a new friend move in next door...another cute, adorable five year old. They love to play together, and Pipalicious is especially excited to play with her dogs at her house. Her mom is a dog-trainer who, after hearing about Chugger-dude's traumatic experience being attacked by a dog, is determined to help him overcome it in anyway she can. Pipalicious loves playing with her cousin Aspyn, too, and "I also like playing with her dogs, too." She is amazing in the water, jumping forwards and backwards into it in the deeper places, spinning flat, and being like a little dolphin in the pool. She also loves riding on the back of the bike behind Avot on the way too and from church or the pool. They are a cute little pair, with Avot wiggling on purpose to liven up the trip, and taking really good care of her little sister. Pipalicious did the laundry really well this last week, and is great at sorting and folding towels and washcloths.
Hava is playing with a puzzle block we got from my parents (a favorite childhood 3D blue "tetris" type game). Her intensity for being right and doing things her way doesn't work so well with things like this, so Lek is patiently playing it with her until he leaves for Fast Offerings. What a great older brother!
SERVANT HEART:
We have been putting into practice something we read about in the Duggar's book: buddies! It is when an older child has a more or less permanent younger sibling to help with the basics each morning and in getting ready for the day or ready to go somewhere...and generally just looking out for them. The Duggars implement it in conjunction with the teachings of the Savior, that"he who is greatest among you to also be a servant," and call it having a "servant-heart." We have carefully prayed and consulted with the older kids, asking if they would be interested in taking on this responsibility and opportunity to serve. With only a few occasional exceptions, it has been a beautiful thing to watch, as we see the love for each other blossom with service and being served. It has also led to many great discussions this week about what a "servant-heart" looks like, with some concerns by some of the older kids that they would need to be "careful" to make sure the younger sibling doesn't "take advantage of it." As we have put it into practice, where the older sibling is genuine and loving offering to help, they have seen the younger ones eagerly step up to do more, to work together, and to show the older sibling how much they can do :). Of course, we are clear that we always "share our buddies" and it is not an exclusive thing, but that hasn't been much of an issue. The buddies help their buddy get cleaned up after a meal, gently encourage and ask how they can help (most of the time), and sit by them so they can help them with reaching, pouring, and handling of food. It has been such a blessing to me! Like all families, we have hitches--older buddies taking upon themselves the role of boss, king and god, but I quickly step in, and, after a few adjustments, I think we have some combinations that will work splendidly...at least, for now :).
UPDATE:
Liliputian, the Goob, and Chugger-dude have enjoyed some freedom and responsibility this week in riding their bikes to the store on their own, which is just down the street. We give them their "allowances" (compensation for taking some of my responsibilities and handling them for me) at the beginning of the next month, and, after setting aside their specific proportions towards tithing, donations, short-term and long-term savings, they think about using their left-over "spending" for something big, see all the "great" things they can buy now for cheaper, and quickly get it spent before a few days are gone past. Sigh! At least they are learning they can get more for their buck by purchasing a 2 liter of pop than individual cans.
Avot is keeping me on my toes with keeping up with her in our history "catch-up" class, but I do enjoy learning what we are studying...history can be so fascinating when told as a story! She is currently working on a vocal piece and a violin piece for church. We also had a great piano recital at my parent's house last Sunday that she prepared several pieces for. I love having that music in our home! The other kids all had some things to play, and it was great incentive to practice.
PIANO EPIPHANY:
Speaking of piano playing, I was inspired by my friends in Kaysville that I visited with last month. When a few of them had to leave in order to make it to piano lessons, it made me think: theoretically, I have been teaching my kids "piano lessons" off and on for years, but never consistently. I feel it is important enough I try to inspire them and motivate them, but haven't yet taken the step to real commitment. So I decided that I would hold piano lessons every day at 10 am and plan around it. Novel idea. Homeschooling it is so easy to put aside our commitments to our own kids to make accommodations for others. :S As I have committed and set aside time to do this, one on one, I have seen some great benefits:
-the kids are improving more regularly (of course :)...)
-I get some one-on-one time to praise and support them in something. I try to do the Suzuki concept of 10 positive statements or actions for every one negative.
-I have been able to see better where they are at developmentally and appreciate their differences more. Liliputian just needs love and encouragement. Specific skills and techniques turn her off...I can see her shutting down the more I criticize and be specific. If she can just feel positive emotions and play music, she does it her own way, but she loves the music she is playing and will go in and play more. Pipalicious is there just for the fun of being with mom, and will be quick to tell me, "That's enough today, mom!" Chugger-dude, on the other hand, is driven to do it right, over and over again, and will stay there as long as I am willing. I can drill him, add technique, give him details and he thrives on it. He will methodically go through the piano book, good-naturedly going through the boring and the fun alike. The Goob, however, needs something feisty and spunky to keep his interest, so as long as it grooves and is not too hard, he will have lots of fun with it and keep at it. Lek loves a piece that sounds good, no matter how challenging, and he will attack it with determination. In fact, he will practice more than most of the other kids if he likes the piece enough. Avot, after years of recovery from our initial painful lessons (she was 5 and 6 and I was determined to drive her into perfection in piano playing...killed it for many years), has finally decided to give me another chance :), thankfully, and we have had some joyful times enjoying her musical abilities grow. As I tell her, she plays many of the pieces better than I could right now, but I still have a couple things I could help mentor her with. When we get to the point where she gets to our lessons and I have nothing else to say, she having perfected everything on her own more than I know how to help at that point, we will prayerfully look for something else.
Yes, I have really enjoyed the one on one time with them, and I think they are too. I love music.
SICK BABY:
Just briefly, a note about Papaya, the sweet darling came down with a fever on Friday...unfortunate, but my favorite kind of illness: lots of laying around, snuggling, sleeping on her own, and mellowness. She is still fighting it, but I'll take the snuggling :).
Pipalicious had a new friend move in next door...another cute, adorable five year old. They love to play together, and Pipalicious is especially excited to play with her dogs at her house. Her mom is a dog-trainer who, after hearing about Chugger-dude's traumatic experience being attacked by a dog, is determined to help him overcome it in anyway she can. Pipalicious loves playing with her cousin Aspyn, too, and "I also like playing with her dogs, too." She is amazing in the water, jumping forwards and backwards into it in the deeper places, spinning flat, and being like a little dolphin in the pool. She also loves riding on the back of the bike behind Avot on the way too and from church or the pool. They are a cute little pair, with Avot wiggling on purpose to liven up the trip, and taking really good care of her little sister. Pipalicious did the laundry really well this last week, and is great at sorting and folding towels and washcloths.
Hava is playing with a puzzle block we got from my parents (a favorite childhood 3D blue "tetris" type game). Her intensity for being right and doing things her way doesn't work so well with things like this, so Lek is patiently playing it with her until he leaves for Fast Offerings. What a great older brother!
SERVANT HEART:
We have been putting into practice something we read about in the Duggar's book: buddies! It is when an older child has a more or less permanent younger sibling to help with the basics each morning and in getting ready for the day or ready to go somewhere...and generally just looking out for them. The Duggars implement it in conjunction with the teachings of the Savior, that"he who is greatest among you to also be a servant," and call it having a "servant-heart." We have carefully prayed and consulted with the older kids, asking if they would be interested in taking on this responsibility and opportunity to serve. With only a few occasional exceptions, it has been a beautiful thing to watch, as we see the love for each other blossom with service and being served. It has also led to many great discussions this week about what a "servant-heart" looks like, with some concerns by some of the older kids that they would need to be "careful" to make sure the younger sibling doesn't "take advantage of it." As we have put it into practice, where the older sibling is genuine and loving offering to help, they have seen the younger ones eagerly step up to do more, to work together, and to show the older sibling how much they can do :). Of course, we are clear that we always "share our buddies" and it is not an exclusive thing, but that hasn't been much of an issue. The buddies help their buddy get cleaned up after a meal, gently encourage and ask how they can help (most of the time), and sit by them so they can help them with reaching, pouring, and handling of food. It has been such a blessing to me! Like all families, we have hitches--older buddies taking upon themselves the role of boss, king and god, but I quickly step in, and, after a few adjustments, I think we have some combinations that will work splendidly...at least, for now :).
UPDATE:
Liliputian, the Goob, and Chugger-dude have enjoyed some freedom and responsibility this week in riding their bikes to the store on their own, which is just down the street. We give them their "allowances" (compensation for taking some of my responsibilities and handling them for me) at the beginning of the next month, and, after setting aside their specific proportions towards tithing, donations, short-term and long-term savings, they think about using their left-over "spending" for something big, see all the "great" things they can buy now for cheaper, and quickly get it spent before a few days are gone past. Sigh! At least they are learning they can get more for their buck by purchasing a 2 liter of pop than individual cans.
Avot is keeping me on my toes with keeping up with her in our history "catch-up" class, but I do enjoy learning what we are studying...history can be so fascinating when told as a story! She is currently working on a vocal piece and a violin piece for church. We also had a great piano recital at my parent's house last Sunday that she prepared several pieces for. I love having that music in our home! The other kids all had some things to play, and it was great incentive to practice.
PIANO EPIPHANY:
Speaking of piano playing, I was inspired by my friends in Kaysville that I visited with last month. When a few of them had to leave in order to make it to piano lessons, it made me think: theoretically, I have been teaching my kids "piano lessons" off and on for years, but never consistently. I feel it is important enough I try to inspire them and motivate them, but haven't yet taken the step to real commitment. So I decided that I would hold piano lessons every day at 10 am and plan around it. Novel idea. Homeschooling it is so easy to put aside our commitments to our own kids to make accommodations for others. :S As I have committed and set aside time to do this, one on one, I have seen some great benefits:
-the kids are improving more regularly (of course :)...)
-I get some one-on-one time to praise and support them in something. I try to do the Suzuki concept of 10 positive statements or actions for every one negative.
-I have been able to see better where they are at developmentally and appreciate their differences more. Liliputian just needs love and encouragement. Specific skills and techniques turn her off...I can see her shutting down the more I criticize and be specific. If she can just feel positive emotions and play music, she does it her own way, but she loves the music she is playing and will go in and play more. Pipalicious is there just for the fun of being with mom, and will be quick to tell me, "That's enough today, mom!" Chugger-dude, on the other hand, is driven to do it right, over and over again, and will stay there as long as I am willing. I can drill him, add technique, give him details and he thrives on it. He will methodically go through the piano book, good-naturedly going through the boring and the fun alike. The Goob, however, needs something feisty and spunky to keep his interest, so as long as it grooves and is not too hard, he will have lots of fun with it and keep at it. Lek loves a piece that sounds good, no matter how challenging, and he will attack it with determination. In fact, he will practice more than most of the other kids if he likes the piece enough. Avot, after years of recovery from our initial painful lessons (she was 5 and 6 and I was determined to drive her into perfection in piano playing...killed it for many years), has finally decided to give me another chance :), thankfully, and we have had some joyful times enjoying her musical abilities grow. As I tell her, she plays many of the pieces better than I could right now, but I still have a couple things I could help mentor her with. When we get to the point where she gets to our lessons and I have nothing else to say, she having perfected everything on her own more than I know how to help at that point, we will prayerfully look for something else.
Yes, I have really enjoyed the one on one time with them, and I think they are too. I love music.
SICK BABY:
Just briefly, a note about Papaya, the sweet darling came down with a fever on Friday...unfortunate, but my favorite kind of illness: lots of laying around, snuggling, sleeping on her own, and mellowness. She is still fighting it, but I'll take the snuggling :).
Friday, August 3, 2012
The story behind going to Hungary...
In response to the request of a friend, I will share brief account of "why" we are going to Hungary. Many of the experiences "en route" have been inspirational and frustrating--some too sacred or too exasperating to mention so publicly (interesting combination of concepts, eh?)--but here are the highlights:
About a year ago, we felt that we were being strongly directed in many external and internal ways that we needed to change where we lived. This was a very difficult thing for both my husband and I to do, as we both had (and have!) wonderful connections with people in the church and community in Kaysville.
My husband served his LDS mission in Hungary about 17 years ago. We visited there again about 10 years ago and both felt it would be wonderful for us and our children to live there someday, but it seemed like more of a dream, and we never really talked about it as a reality, barely touching on it off and on.
Despite my tendencies towards permanence, security, and comfort, last fall I felt very strong personal spiritual direction that we should look at moving our large family overseas. My dear husband has had his own confirmations on the matter, so we put our house on the market (after much fixing up) in late January.
Being both an appraiser and a real estate agent, my husband found a realistic range for our house at a disappointingly low price for our market, but we trusted that following God's will for us was the right thing, and "things would work out."
We had many, many people look at our house, and, for one reason or another, not make offers on it...they all said it was priced right, but there was always one or two things wrong with it. We even lowered it twice by $10,000 each, but nothing seemed to happen.
In the meanwhile, we were able to finish up some things with our dear homeschooling groups (plays, competitions like Odyssey of the Mind, and "regular school") in a less abrupt way than if we had left the country. We also found out in March that we are pregnant with our tenth child, which was followed by a short period of debilitating sickness for me...a condition that would not have accommodated moving or transitioning out of my various youth groups at all! :)
We were blessed to live with my parents and one brother, and see my other brother come home from his mission and get to know him better again. We also have been blessed and have blessed the ward my parents live in, the former particularly with confidence and esteem for my children in unique and heaven-sent ways.
I have learned great lessons in patience and trust in God as I realize His will is always on His time table. Sometimes our prayers of good intent are simply not the right time, like dear Hava's prayer that "the baby in mommy's tummy will come out soon." Just as I lovingly see her good heart and sweet intent contrast with the danger such an immediate delivery would be to my baby's well-being, I am sure Heavenly Father has been lovingly listening to our prayers for expedient transition and looking at our well-being. Just like Hava, I don't see the end from the beginning, but sometimes, it can sure be hard to be in so much of a "fishbowl" and wait for things to "slowly" unfold. However, just as in my past experiences in such matters, I know I will look back and see the reason why someday.
We had several people ask to rent our property, and, towards the end of June, we decided to rent it out on a Friday, told one of the more persistent couples about our decision on Saturday, they looked at it on Monday, and signed the contract on Tuesday. (As per an earlier post, she was putting the garden in on the Wednesday following...awesome!) The only down-side we could see was now we no longer had the equity we were hoping to use from our home for paying for some of our journey to Hungary. The family is wonderful who moved in (family of eight kids, whom the neighbor insists are much quieter than we were....sigh!), and would like to consider buying it after the contract of a year, if their own house in Idaho sells and if they still want to after living there for a year.
So now we are learning Hungarian like mad, looking at apartments oversees (hurrah for the internet!), and saving up to cover the cost of tickets, the "safety net" of return tickets, other initial expenses we foresee, and a year's worth of rent in Hungary...just in case.
We hope to be able to learn what we need to learn while we are there, allow for the kids to learn by experience culture, diversity, and love for other people, and serve in whatever humanitarian and religious capacity we can.
My main reason for going:
I have felt this kind of spiritual direction in the past, on large and small scales, although never for something this life-changing. I know (unfortunately) what it feels like to not follow promptings from the Holy Ghost like this in the past, as well as what it feels like to follow it. No matter the cost, I know I cannot live with the feeling and "fruits" of not following it. I have had several personal instances of confirmation since then, as I ask God in my sometimes weakening faith. He has been gracious enough to confirm it :).
The peace I feel about different things ofttimes seems ludicrous to me: "things" from cooking in a foreign country to (a little more significant) delivering my tenth child a month after getting there (assuming our current look at the beginning of October is accurate). I find that if I try really hard to think about these things, I can stir up some worry, but overall, feel quiet peace and direction in small things like...passports, organizing belongings and downsizing, finishing up some projects, etc. We will see where this all leads us! I am also very aware that sometimes, just because we prepare for one direction, it often turns out different than we thought it would. Like I said, it will be interesting to see where this takes us...
Quinn may have a different answer to the "reason why," but I have enjoyed this year of learning better how to follow my dear husband's lead in doing things the way he feels are the best for our family. (Notice I said "better" and not "perfectly"...) Of course, he has always respected me, and given me the freedom to do what I feel is best in many ways. This last year, I have felt very strongly that I should support Quinn in what he feels is best in this process, and have felt great peace in doing so. The final decision to move our family to Hungary was definitely not mine alone, and it has been a joy and a growing experience to prepare together.
About a year ago, we felt that we were being strongly directed in many external and internal ways that we needed to change where we lived. This was a very difficult thing for both my husband and I to do, as we both had (and have!) wonderful connections with people in the church and community in Kaysville.
My husband served his LDS mission in Hungary about 17 years ago. We visited there again about 10 years ago and both felt it would be wonderful for us and our children to live there someday, but it seemed like more of a dream, and we never really talked about it as a reality, barely touching on it off and on.
Despite my tendencies towards permanence, security, and comfort, last fall I felt very strong personal spiritual direction that we should look at moving our large family overseas. My dear husband has had his own confirmations on the matter, so we put our house on the market (after much fixing up) in late January.
Being both an appraiser and a real estate agent, my husband found a realistic range for our house at a disappointingly low price for our market, but we trusted that following God's will for us was the right thing, and "things would work out."
We had many, many people look at our house, and, for one reason or another, not make offers on it...they all said it was priced right, but there was always one or two things wrong with it. We even lowered it twice by $10,000 each, but nothing seemed to happen.
In the meanwhile, we were able to finish up some things with our dear homeschooling groups (plays, competitions like Odyssey of the Mind, and "regular school") in a less abrupt way than if we had left the country. We also found out in March that we are pregnant with our tenth child, which was followed by a short period of debilitating sickness for me...a condition that would not have accommodated moving or transitioning out of my various youth groups at all! :)
We were blessed to live with my parents and one brother, and see my other brother come home from his mission and get to know him better again. We also have been blessed and have blessed the ward my parents live in, the former particularly with confidence and esteem for my children in unique and heaven-sent ways.
I have learned great lessons in patience and trust in God as I realize His will is always on His time table. Sometimes our prayers of good intent are simply not the right time, like dear Hava's prayer that "the baby in mommy's tummy will come out soon." Just as I lovingly see her good heart and sweet intent contrast with the danger such an immediate delivery would be to my baby's well-being, I am sure Heavenly Father has been lovingly listening to our prayers for expedient transition and looking at our well-being. Just like Hava, I don't see the end from the beginning, but sometimes, it can sure be hard to be in so much of a "fishbowl" and wait for things to "slowly" unfold. However, just as in my past experiences in such matters, I know I will look back and see the reason why someday.
We had several people ask to rent our property, and, towards the end of June, we decided to rent it out on a Friday, told one of the more persistent couples about our decision on Saturday, they looked at it on Monday, and signed the contract on Tuesday. (As per an earlier post, she was putting the garden in on the Wednesday following...awesome!) The only down-side we could see was now we no longer had the equity we were hoping to use from our home for paying for some of our journey to Hungary. The family is wonderful who moved in (family of eight kids, whom the neighbor insists are much quieter than we were....sigh!), and would like to consider buying it after the contract of a year, if their own house in Idaho sells and if they still want to after living there for a year.
So now we are learning Hungarian like mad, looking at apartments oversees (hurrah for the internet!), and saving up to cover the cost of tickets, the "safety net" of return tickets, other initial expenses we foresee, and a year's worth of rent in Hungary...just in case.
We hope to be able to learn what we need to learn while we are there, allow for the kids to learn by experience culture, diversity, and love for other people, and serve in whatever humanitarian and religious capacity we can.
My main reason for going:
I have felt this kind of spiritual direction in the past, on large and small scales, although never for something this life-changing. I know (unfortunately) what it feels like to not follow promptings from the Holy Ghost like this in the past, as well as what it feels like to follow it. No matter the cost, I know I cannot live with the feeling and "fruits" of not following it. I have had several personal instances of confirmation since then, as I ask God in my sometimes weakening faith. He has been gracious enough to confirm it :).
The peace I feel about different things ofttimes seems ludicrous to me: "things" from cooking in a foreign country to (a little more significant) delivering my tenth child a month after getting there (assuming our current look at the beginning of October is accurate). I find that if I try really hard to think about these things, I can stir up some worry, but overall, feel quiet peace and direction in small things like...passports, organizing belongings and downsizing, finishing up some projects, etc. We will see where this all leads us! I am also very aware that sometimes, just because we prepare for one direction, it often turns out different than we thought it would. Like I said, it will be interesting to see where this takes us...
Quinn may have a different answer to the "reason why," but I have enjoyed this year of learning better how to follow my dear husband's lead in doing things the way he feels are the best for our family. (Notice I said "better" and not "perfectly"...) Of course, he has always respected me, and given me the freedom to do what I feel is best in many ways. This last year, I have felt very strongly that I should support Quinn in what he feels is best in this process, and have felt great peace in doing so. The final decision to move our family to Hungary was definitely not mine alone, and it has been a joy and a growing experience to prepare together.
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