One month

SCHOOL

One month into our school this week. Heart of Dakota is still going strong for us!

Last year just getting school done was work. I dreaded it the kids dreaded it and many times I took the easy road.

This year the struggle I am having is fitting in a daily curriculum into my get out of the house for school style . So far just being relaxed and not stressing about what unit and day we are on compared to school days is working (unit or week 4 day 3 in case anybody is wondering how far behind we are.). The girls LOVE doing school, there are some items or things that are working for us above and beyond or included in Bigger Hearts for his glory.



Cheerful cursive and happy handwriting

Both girls use these books and they love them!I love that they are not writing on a dotted line but filling in a letter. It has helped both with their confidence while improving their handwriting.

Dreambox learning.

Okay so we are still just working on the trial, and to be honest I usually do not like to put the kids on the computer. It is 20 bucks a month which I thought was high before getting the free trial now I know ill pay it. It is not a math game like others it actually explains to the players how and why to solve EACH problem even if they get it right. I think I read on the website and it seems very true that they try make the most use out of each instructional moment.

So in summary one month into it and the kids are learning and growing. We are all still happy. I'll call that a win.

I abandoned our homeschool playdate

Last year when I started homeschooling I joined a play group. Then grudgingly I dragged myself and my children to a park, in the middle of the day (hot) on Wednesday (our long day). I would try to squeeze school in before and after. I tried making friends but found myself leaving stressed and frustrated because I was not building any deep relationship. Actually It was good to make it through a day were the other moms didn’t stare at me mouths gapped for some comment I made or my kids made.

In my head this scheduled “recess” was necessary. Then something funny happened, I STOPPED going! I do not remember one mothers name, the girls never asked why we stopped.

What replaced that is truly one of the most beautiful things I have encountered.

I have two friends. One home schools , one is a teacher.

Our children get along. Our Husbands get along. We get along.

On random nights text messages start flying our phones start going crazy…

“tiger point park”

“when”

“We leave 20mns”

“K behind you”

“Wilsons coming?”

“yep”

Then with our husbands and children,  some or all of us show up at the park we sit on the bench and there is a comfort that comes from a special friendship as we take turns wrangling kids not just our own. We cheer for a baby walking and not just our own. We love on children and not just our own. There isn’t segregation between men and women the kids are not ignored but in some strange flow everyone becomes a family. 2.5 hours later someone realizes the sun is down and its past bed time.

Sometimes if we feel lucky we try to eat dinner together, sometimes we realize that the men had their own text messages flying and they want to catch a movie after (hum no wonder one husband just randomly drove separate! Sneaky guys).

I remember their names, I know their stories. My children love them.

So I abandoned our homeschool playdate!!!! for actual personal relationships!!! and realized once again that I don’t have to follow the crowd but do what is right for my family!

It will end with this house.

This year as I looking through pintrest I came across packets and ideas for teaching about September 11. At first interested I began tossing the idea around (along with election and Olympics).

 I tossed it aside. I did not agree with how the subject was being presented.

My children will learn about the event that took place even before they were born. They will understand the reason it affected their lives specifically.

 However when they learn of that day it will be based on an understanding of extremists.

I hope to pass on to my children just as was passed on to me a love, a deep unwavering love for every culture/ religion.  I also hope to pass on the understanding that each culture has its extremists and that these extremist have through history and will continue to wreak havoc on the relationships of the world.

I am a Christian.

I have been saved, asked Jesus Christ into my heart.

I have Jewish friends.

I have Muslim friends

In fact it may surprise many of my friends but I have….

Worn traditional Muslim head coverings

Read passages of the Quran

Lite candles on a Menorah.

Spun a dreidel.

I enjoyed learning about and even participating in these traditional activities.

When I teach my children about 9/11 it will not be attached with a wrong label like “Terrorist Muslim men attacked the primarily Christian United States.”  It will be truthful

“Men who were extremists and corrupt; who perverted a religion and used it as an excuse to demean another culture and murder innocent people by ……..”

As the rest of this week events unfold I think the same thing….

“That a perverted and corrupt man used a movie to demean another culture/ religion and another group of perverted and corrupt men used it as a chance to attack and murder…….”

I have had enough these men are not Christian, Muslim or Jewish they are corrupt. They are criminals, terrorist who achieve their happiness by inflicting wounds on others. These men do not deserve a religious label. These men do not speak for the bulk of the population but in fact are a minority.

So to my Christian, Muslim and Jewish friends the mothers and fathers of the next generation it is my promise to you that my children will love your children not matter your culture and religion. That the false labels and hate will end with my house!

It is my deepest wish that others join me. That the change in our hearts, that the love for one another is seen by my children and their children.  

Hanscom

That is where we are headed. BIG blessing since it was #2 on our list and because i wrote such a whiney blog yesterday!

Hanscom AFB is located 20 miles from downtown Boston.

Just looking at the base and surrounding area last night it has some unique options for families!

More to come!

It happened last night

I made the mistake of looking at the calender.

My heart started racing......
My voice rose a few octaves....
My skin became clammy....

4-5 weeks and still no orders

4-5 weeks and I have not began cleaning.
The house is only partially organized.
clothes are not sorted.
I don't even have winter clothes that fit.
they are going to have to start showing the house. That will be new and interesting.

Ryan is leaving for 2 of our last four weekends.
School must go on.
soccer games and practice 5 days a week.
Youth and church.

Then Ryan reminded me.
We don't live on base! We already payed a cleaning deposit.
My house is fairly clean and with a few hours work will be ready to show.
I actually sorted clothes a few weeks ago and just forgot!
Really am I making shopping for me an issue and not a reward that I rarely get to do!
I already had a garage sale.
I already have a dump pile (outside stuff because everything here grows because of the humidity)  and a donation pile.
We have a friend with a truck willing to help us haul the piles so it takes one trip!

Seems I was getting ready with out my Master List of doom.

Now off I go to make my Master List of DOOM!

updates!

 I stopped running about 2 months ago. It had again become painful to run on the treadmill and outside well we will just say that isn't an option for several reasons. This morning though some girlfriends were doing a poker run on base. Their sales pitch to me was that it was a "fun" run!

(I will forever more be weary of anyone who speaks those words together. Rewarding, satisfying, worthwhile yes, fun nope I have never really thought running was "fun"!)

So after 2 months of not running, I still work out daily just not running, I did a 4.7 mile poker run. My friends are training for a half marathon in November so they kicked my butt. I was at the back of the pack but after 1 hour and 5 minutes I completed the run without hurling quiting.

Once again I could have cried but this time I did not have a sense of accomplishment as I crossed the finish line,  Ryan's co-workers and my friends (who all finished way in front of me) watched, with the girls beside me.

 I was initially embarrassed. Ryan sensed my unease as did another friend and they kindly turned the attention else where. After some thought and regrouping I realized I was embarrassed because Ryan would have won the race, his friends would have cheered as he received his awards and gifts. Here I was Ryan's wife and he would have finished the race 3 times in the time it took me.

When we walked to the car Ryan put his arm around me and waited for me to gather my thoughts. I apologized for embarrassing him with my time.

He stopped me right there. He told me how proud he was of me, that everyone was. That just because I am his wife I do not have to be a fast runner and that I should never let the time I run something in stop me from running. That if he had not ran in 2 months he would have not even placed. He lied, he would probably still would have won but it was a cute attempt.

So here I sit with my coffee and coffee cake (my reward who needs medals), after much thought I finally feel that since of accomplishment! I was tired, out of shape for a run that long and self conscious about my abilities and that is okay!

(thanks S, M and E you are the reason i finish every single time)

So here are my fitness updates for this time around(after Emmett)

• Starting weight 162 (November 2011) current weight 131(September 2012)
• 3.2 mile mud run
• 4.7 mile run
• favorite cardio is spinning
• favorite recovery/ stretching hot yoga
• I work out 6 to 10 hours a week
• I started out working out 10-14 but cut back! 
• I have lost almost 10% body fat
• have stopped trying to lose weight (if I do great but I am comfortable where i am at for now)

Is homeschooling lonely????

A question asked at one of the blogs I stalk read. Except this time I actually replied! Stepping out!

Picnic 2012 Arizona with papa while hiking.

 

my answer....

I live in a community with many homeschoolers and have plenty of friends that homeschool. I found that homeschooling for me is lonely because of the choices I have to make. To go to the gym and work out for an hour and leave not stopping for coffee or to talk because getting home at the right time is essential to the flow of our day. Same with missing activities that regularly interfere with our nap/ quiet time. Lunch or brunch with girlfriends is regularly off the table because the kids are not at school but with me. This is where I am self aware that my loneliness stems from mourning the loss of that part of my life. The relationships I am building with my children are defiantly more important and the benefits of homeschooling outweigh the negative. That however, does not mean there are not days I do not mourn the loss of drinking a coffee in silence or having a quiet lunch with a girlfriend and when that happens homeschooling can feel lonely for me.

I took the challenge

I DID!!! I signed up for the 100 postcard challenge.

Today the sermon was part of a series called iServe.

Which is about service we specifically talked about serving who Jesus would have served and who that would be.

Then I clicked on Holly's link to see what her post was all about and my heart skipped a beat.

http://www.ijm.org/100-postcard-challenge

I talked to Ryan about signing up and as we did I had tears in my eyes... totally stepping out of our comfort zone.

 

This is just a start to what I hope is a BIG change in our lives, last year we made the move to serve in the church and it has greatly changed our lives.

 

Then today before reading Holly's link I stood before our church family and made a public proclamation to serve those outside the church. To serve the poor, the captive, the blind and oppressed.

 

Twice in the past week or so 2 separate friends, Melissa and Kiley, expressed the need for school supplies and other items for children in Africa! Then Holly post this!

 

Two things

•  Don't I have some AMAZING friends! Really such passionate women who love the Lord!
•  Who wants to join me?