...you count your school as successful when your 7 year old decides that she wants to learn how to do magic and then fills her library bag with books on the subject.
Bonus: She has no desire to become a magician, she just wants to be a magic teacher.
Cute side note: Since her speech isn't perfect, she gets mixed up and instead of "magician," she says, "mugician." Like a combination of musician and magician.
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Thursday, August 13, 2015
First Day of School 2015
Thanks to a fun tradition (our Schultuten), the first day of school is exciting! It's like Christmas!
After they opened their Schultuten and ate breakfast, I did calendar time with the boys then spelling review with the girls. They each also had a small independent assignment.
After that, we did "history" time, which consisted of the girls practicing our favorite Horrible Histories sketch (eventually we will record and post it). Then we read a story book about an origami girl coming to life, a la Pinocchio, because we ended last school year learning about Japan.
Before lunch we did "P.E." at the bowling alley, which was empty! After lunch we did a little bit of our new literature studies and a quick, messy art project.
Today was a success and a great way to start the school year! Primus kept telling me several times that "Today is the best first day of school ever!" I think it helped that she won at bowling.
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| Primus, 4th grade |
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| Secundus, 2nd grade |
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| Tertius, Kinder |
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| Quartus, 2 year old |
Spouse and Family Support Guide, Ch 4 Draw Near Unto Me
My intro from Chapter 1: "Last semester Hubby had a class on Tuesday nights which made it difficult for me to attend the Family Support Group that I used to facilitate. But now I have started going back and am loving it!
"I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
"I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
"These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!"
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
"I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
"I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
"These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!"
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
I need to take care of my spirit just
like I need to take care of my body. My body needs sleep, healthy
food, exercise. My spirit needs faith, feasting on the scriptures,
prayer, etc.
It is easier for me to receive
revelation, and easier to recognize it when I receive it, when I am
doing all I can to be closer to the Lord. When I am praying
sincerely every morning and night, and when I am studying and
pondering the scriptures and other gospel resources every day.
Journal writing helps, too.
Taking the sacrament is my opportunity
to reflect on myself and my own conduct. The sacrament and renewing
my covenants has nothing to do with anyone else. It's just between
me and my Savior. So when I take the sacrament, I should be focusing
not on what blessings my loved ones need (that can be done in prayer
at a different time), but rather on what transgressions I have done
and what I need to do to better align myself with His will.
He knows my heart.
When I am in the temple, I feel
profound peace. I feel that everything is ok, there is nothing to
worry about, God is in control. I need to go often so that I can
continually be bolstered by that testimony so I can get through the
struggles and trials in between.
I'm still learning to recognize the
promptings of the Holy Ghost vs. my own ideas and emotions. It is
easier to feel confident about it when I am doing what I need to to
feel close to my Heavenly Father. And I put a lot of faith in the
scripture that talks about a burning in the bosom vs. a stupor of
thought.
“Did I not speak peace to your mind
concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from
God?”
The Holy Ghost speaks to our minds and
to our hearts.
The Spirit enlightens our minds and
fills our souls with joy.
Heavenly Father, through the Spirit,
teaches and guides us with peace and joy, not FEAR.
“If ye will NOT HARDEN your hearts,
and ask me in FAITH, BELIEVING that ye shall receive, with diligence
in KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS, surely these things shall be made known
unto you.”
Scripture study, prayer, and fasting
are needed to receive revelation.
My testimony is strong even though I
haven't received “frequent, miraculous, or strong impressions.”
It has grown line upon line over my whole life.
I have to CHOOSE to be faithful,
humble, and obedient to God's laws as I understand them. THAT is how
I will receive revelation and a testimony of the truth.
What am I sacrificing to serve and
bless others?
Holy Ghost = feeling of light and joy;
calm, quiet, peaceful. Confusion, doubt, anxiety, fear all come from
darkness.
When we perceive the light through the
fog, we can only take a few steps at a time. We can't see the end of
the path.
In addition to all the obvious and
oft-repeated things we should do to increase our spirituality and be
more receptive to the Spirit, we also need to take care of our
physical bodies! Taking care of the temple of my spirit
“increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation.”
I need to be better about recording
direction, inspiration, and revelation I receive.
“Sanctify yourselves” = keep the
commandments
I'm thankful for good friends that took
me up on my crazy idea of exchanging babysitting each month so we
each have a guaranteed date night/temple night. And I'm especially
thankful that they are so good about remembering it! If it were up
to me, I'm sure we would frequently miss our temple night due to my
own failure to write it down and plan for it each month!
Thank the Lord for the “trust He
places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome
difficulties.” Ask what am I supposed to learn from this
experience?
I need to stop complaining!
Friday, August 7, 2015
One personal story of addiction, and another on the way...
I want to share a blogger with you who is very special to me. My friend-in-real life, Alysha, blogs at Millennial Mormon Mom. Read her, bookmark her, subscribe to her.
We have been attending the Spouse and Family Support Group (part of the Addiction Recovery Program) together and hearing about her journey in life is really inspiring to me. She's decided to write about her experiences with the addictions of herself, her spouse, and a parent.
She begins her new series with this wonderful piece: "Why I Chose to Blog About Addiction Recovery."
Through the Family Support Group, I have met countless other wonderful people who have struggled in the depths of despair because of the addiction of a loved one. Many women have been drawn to our group because of their husbands' Pornography Addiction. Follow that link for information from a secular source, Fight the New Drug, about how pornography addiction is like any other drug addiction.
Pornography addiction and how it harms individuals, spouses, and families, is something I am fired up about! I would love to share one of their stories here on my blog. I'm working with one couple in particular and hope to post that heartbreaking, yet touching piece soon.
If your life has been touched by addiction, whether yours or a loved one's, whether pornography or something else, please consider attending a support group near you. And if you would like to share your story here on my blog, contact me (shirleypretzel at gmail dot com). I fully support the confidentiality and anonymity that are so important to making the Addiction Recovery Program a safe place to share. Therefore, your name and personal information would be kept completely secret.
Addiction and Co-dependency thrive in darkness and isolation. The more we talk about it, the more we realize that we are not alone! And the more we talk about it, the more we can help ourselves and others rise out of the darkness toward peace, hope, and healing!
We have been attending the Spouse and Family Support Group (part of the Addiction Recovery Program) together and hearing about her journey in life is really inspiring to me. She's decided to write about her experiences with the addictions of herself, her spouse, and a parent.
She begins her new series with this wonderful piece: "Why I Chose to Blog About Addiction Recovery."
Through the Family Support Group, I have met countless other wonderful people who have struggled in the depths of despair because of the addiction of a loved one. Many women have been drawn to our group because of their husbands' Pornography Addiction. Follow that link for information from a secular source, Fight the New Drug, about how pornography addiction is like any other drug addiction.
Pornography addiction and how it harms individuals, spouses, and families, is something I am fired up about! I would love to share one of their stories here on my blog. I'm working with one couple in particular and hope to post that heartbreaking, yet touching piece soon.
If your life has been touched by addiction, whether yours or a loved one's, whether pornography or something else, please consider attending a support group near you. And if you would like to share your story here on my blog, contact me (shirleypretzel at gmail dot com). I fully support the confidentiality and anonymity that are so important to making the Addiction Recovery Program a safe place to share. Therefore, your name and personal information would be kept completely secret.
Addiction and Co-dependency thrive in darkness and isolation. The more we talk about it, the more we realize that we are not alone! And the more we talk about it, the more we can help ourselves and others rise out of the darkness toward peace, hope, and healing!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
My Nephew Was Bullied
Today my sister-in-law, "Sarah," joined us at the park. We weren't there long before I noticed that some new kid in a red hat punched my 8 year old nephew in the arm. Then I watched as "Red Hat", his friend "Blondie," and his sister chased him around the playground.
With my four, Sarah's four, four of our friends, plus extra kids we didn't know, there was a lot of children of all ages running around the playground today. My nephew, "Andrew," his brother, and Tertius always play really rough together. From where we were sitting, I couldn't tell if that was what was going on or if these new kids were being mean. Therefore I turned to Sarah and told her what I saw so we could keep an eye on the situation.
After seeing them chase him some more and whack him with toy handcuffs, it became clear that Andrew was not playing with these mean kids.
At one point, Andrew had moved to a different area and was minding his own business, playing with my kids. Red Hat strolled over, took off his hat, and whacked Andrew with it! I could feel the Mama Bear inside me start to rise. I wanted to run over there and pounce on that kid!
Andrew, though, is no sissy, so he quickly yanked the hat away and whacked the kid back. At the same time Sarah jumped up and separated the boys. Andrew's older brother and sister were instructed to shield and defend their brother and tell the bullies to leave him alone.
After that, we hovered a little and continued to keep a close eye on the situation. As I was standing right there, just a couple feet away, Red Hat and Blondie walked past Andrew to stick their tongues out at him and tease him by saying, "Greenie Grinch," or something equally stupid and nonsensical. Each time, Andrew's older brother and sister stepped up.
A little later Red Hat was sitting with his posse, which had grown to include a few much younger girls who didn't really know what was going on, and Red Hat's sister noticed Andrew climbing up a slide nearby. She declared, "Look, he's going up the ramp! Let's get him!" I was standing very close to them and just said, "Ya know, there's lots of adults around here watching." I think my niece said something to him, too, that was more direct.
So the group ran off into the trees next to the playground to plot how to lure Andrew away so they can "get him" or something like that (my niece listened in a little.)
Thankfully, nothing more happened. A little later, Blondie started playing with our group of kids and had a really fun time. Apparently Red Hat took issue with that and claimed our kids were "stealing his friend." The group told him that "well, if you act like a jerk, you won't have many friends."
The whole thing was so crazy! Even a couple hours later, as I thought about the situation, my blood pressure would rise. I was never bullied as a child but Hubby was, mercilessly, all through elementary and middle school. It's something I don't think I had ever truly witnessed before, outside of movies.
Perhaps we should have told the kids' mothers what their little darlings were doing. But I'm a fan of letting kids figure out things on their own, as long as nothing physical is going on (one more punch and this Mama Bear would have dragged the brat so quick to his mother!)
It wasn't my child directly involved so I definitely let my sister-in-law take the lead. I think it was a good learning experience for all the kids involved (well, I don't know if Red Hat and his sister learned anything...)
Andrew hopefully learned how to stand up for himself and not put up with crap. His brother and sister learned to stick by their brother and defend their family. My kids got to see what bullying looks like first-hand and learn what to do in that kind of situation.
With my four, Sarah's four, four of our friends, plus extra kids we didn't know, there was a lot of children of all ages running around the playground today. My nephew, "Andrew," his brother, and Tertius always play really rough together. From where we were sitting, I couldn't tell if that was what was going on or if these new kids were being mean. Therefore I turned to Sarah and told her what I saw so we could keep an eye on the situation.
After seeing them chase him some more and whack him with toy handcuffs, it became clear that Andrew was not playing with these mean kids.
At one point, Andrew had moved to a different area and was minding his own business, playing with my kids. Red Hat strolled over, took off his hat, and whacked Andrew with it! I could feel the Mama Bear inside me start to rise. I wanted to run over there and pounce on that kid!
Andrew, though, is no sissy, so he quickly yanked the hat away and whacked the kid back. At the same time Sarah jumped up and separated the boys. Andrew's older brother and sister were instructed to shield and defend their brother and tell the bullies to leave him alone.
After that, we hovered a little and continued to keep a close eye on the situation. As I was standing right there, just a couple feet away, Red Hat and Blondie walked past Andrew to stick their tongues out at him and tease him by saying, "Greenie Grinch," or something equally stupid and nonsensical. Each time, Andrew's older brother and sister stepped up.
A little later Red Hat was sitting with his posse, which had grown to include a few much younger girls who didn't really know what was going on, and Red Hat's sister noticed Andrew climbing up a slide nearby. She declared, "Look, he's going up the ramp! Let's get him!" I was standing very close to them and just said, "Ya know, there's lots of adults around here watching." I think my niece said something to him, too, that was more direct.
So the group ran off into the trees next to the playground to plot how to lure Andrew away so they can "get him" or something like that (my niece listened in a little.)
Thankfully, nothing more happened. A little later, Blondie started playing with our group of kids and had a really fun time. Apparently Red Hat took issue with that and claimed our kids were "stealing his friend." The group told him that "well, if you act like a jerk, you won't have many friends."
The whole thing was so crazy! Even a couple hours later, as I thought about the situation, my blood pressure would rise. I was never bullied as a child but Hubby was, mercilessly, all through elementary and middle school. It's something I don't think I had ever truly witnessed before, outside of movies.
Perhaps we should have told the kids' mothers what their little darlings were doing. But I'm a fan of letting kids figure out things on their own, as long as nothing physical is going on (one more punch and this Mama Bear would have dragged the brat so quick to his mother!)
It wasn't my child directly involved so I definitely let my sister-in-law take the lead. I think it was a good learning experience for all the kids involved (well, I don't know if Red Hat and his sister learned anything...)
Andrew hopefully learned how to stand up for himself and not put up with crap. His brother and sister learned to stick by their brother and defend their family. My kids got to see what bullying looks like first-hand and learn what to do in that kind of situation.
Spouse and Family Support Guide, Ch 3 He Will Take upon Him the Pains and the Sicknesses of His People
My intro from Chapter 1: "Last semester Hubby had a class on Tuesday nights which made it difficult for me to attend the Family Support Group that I used to facilitate. But now I have started going back and am loving it!
"I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
"I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
"These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!"
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
Chapter 3 He Will Take upon Him the Pains and the Sicknesses of His People
"I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
"I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
"These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!"
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
Chapter 3 He Will Take upon Him the Pains and the Sicknesses of His People
Christ took upon him not just my sins,
but my PAINS and SICKNESSES. Which I believe includes pains and
sicknesses of the heart.
There is a difference between believing
in Heavenly Father and Jesus, and believing in Their promises. If I
believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus are real beings, that doesn't
necessarily mean that I believe they actually care about me.
I
believe that they exist and that they know me AND love me. I believe
that they love my loved ones AND me. I believe they bless those
that seek them INCLUDING me. I believe that they keep their promises
to others AND me. I need to not lose faith in that when Their
timetable is not the same as mine.
The healing power of Christ's Atonement
“is available for every affliction in mortality.”
We have had limited income for over 5 years
now. These 5 years have been very hard. It has been a huge struggle
for me to be patient, faithful, and optimistic during this time. But
I have had large portions of time (and getting larger and more
frequent) of feeling at peace and content. This is only possible
through my Savior.
The thing that prevents me from coming
unto Christ and exercising faith in Him so that He can heal me is my
pride. The thought that I can do it on my own. That I should be
able to fix things by my own power. But really I have no control
over so much that happens in this life. I have to let go of that
pride, put my life at His feet, exercise faith in Him, and patiently
wait on His plan for me. This is Steps 1-3 of ARP! I can't, He can,
I think I'll let Him.
I think “lay your burdens at the feet
of the Savior” means to go to Him in prayer and admit, “I'm
powerless. My way isn't working. I give this burden to thee. I
commit to being patient and following thy counsel on the matter, even
though I don't understand why.”
I don't understand all the details of what will
happen in the Spirit World prior to the Resurrection. But it is so
nice to hear an apostle of the Lord state with confidence that there
is still time for improvement even after death.
A nursing mother CANNOT forget her
sucking child. Just like the Savior CANNOT forget and forsake us for
He has a very permanent, physical connection to us.
Christ came into the world to “save
all men if they will hearken unto his voice.” He came to save us
from death. He came to save us from hell. He came to save us from
the pain, despair, loneliness, grief, anxiety that we experience in
mortality.
“Behold, mine arm of mercy is
extended towards you...” He's just waiting there, holding out His
hand to rescue us. We just need to put away our pride, exercise
faith, and reach up!
Key for repentance: Confess sins and
Forsake them.
Jesus suffered so we wouldn't have to.
He doesn't want us to suffer!
Satan wants us to be confused. He
wants us to be depressed. He wants us to doubt.
Grace: “Divine means of help or
strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus
Christ.”
Without Him (our Savior Jesus Christ),
we are truly nothing. Without Him, we would not be resurrected,
would not be able to repent of our transgressions, would not have the
strength to endure or accomplish what we need to in this life.
Without Him, our lives would be lost.
Grace = enabling power
We put our selves in darkness by
our choices.
He loves all of His creations. He
especially loves us, His crowning creation, made on the 6th
day after all else was prepared.
In my "seasons of distress and grief", my soul has, can, and will find relief
when I lay my burdens at His feet in sincere prayer. I also love
that the hymn calls is “seasons” of distress. Seasons come and
go. They are constantly changing. We know that they will pass away,
and we know that they will come again in their due time. Just like
our trials and tribulations. “This too shall pass.” New or
similar trials will come again later, but we know that they are with
us for only a short time in the eternal perspective.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Homeschooling Means...#11
...dragging the kids along to check out the Korean market I've heard so much about to look for poi, and calling it a field trip.
Probably the most exciting part was looking at the live catfish, crab, and lobster. Unfortunately they had no live turtles that day. They sadly had no poi, but we'll be going back again. The kids loved getting treats to taste from other countries.
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
Probably the most exciting part was looking at the live catfish, crab, and lobster. Unfortunately they had no live turtles that day. They sadly had no poi, but we'll be going back again. The kids loved getting treats to taste from other countries.
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Two Quick Tips for Distar
Click the link on the sidebar for "Distar" under "Labels" to understand what this reading program I'm talking about is.
1. Take Wiggle Breaks
One thing that I love about Distar is that each lesson is pretty short. But once your child approaches the middle of the book, the stories get longer and the child is expected to read them twice in a row. That can be hard for short attention spans and wiggly bottoms! A little bit of physical activity, and then he can focus on the task at hand better.
As soon as Tertius is done reading the story the first time, I have him stand up and do jumping jacks. He doesn't know how to do them correctly, but at least it's getting his body moving and blood pumping. He thinks they're really fun, too. I used to just have him do 10. But recently he started insisting on doing more. The first day he wanted to do 11. Then the next day was 12. He is now up to doing 18 jumping jacks before sitting to read the story for a second time.
2. Skip the Writing Section
I'm sure it's meant to serve a wonderful purpose. And I'm sure it's great for some families. But I have always skipped it.
Once my kids are done reading the story for the second time and have answered the comprehension questions while looking at the picture, they're done. Everyone of them was eager to jump up and do something else. And that "something else" does not include sitting still and putting pencil to blank paper.
Instead, I teach my Kindergartners to write their letters using colorful handwriting books in the D'nealian/Modern Manuscript style (I can never remember what it's actually officially called-it's the one where all the printed letters have little "kicks" at the end as a way to ease into cursive in later grades.)
I had a setback...
I've been so good for so long. Almost 3 months. I haven't yelled at my kids at all for almost three months. I haven't been speaking in a permanently saccharine-sweet voice, but I have been in control of my tone of voice. Our home has been a happier, calmer place where the Holy Spirit has been able to be present.
But then I slipped up.
Two of the children were playing in the living room. When these two are together they can go very quickly from happily playing to fighting. On this day, child One accidentally hit child Two in the face with a toy. One quickly apologized. But Two didn't hear over the sounds of it's own screaming and exaggerated crying as it hit One with a balloon in retaliation.
I like to let them try to figure things out on their own, but it was clear this time that I needed to step in. I told them both to sit down and began talking to Two about the situation. Two refused to listen to what I had to say and kept defending itself, talking over me, being rude, etc. Very typical for this child.
I finally told Two to go to a different room. If Two is not ready to listen to me in matters of discipline, then Two just needs to go to the bedroom and give us both space to calm down before we can talk with more level heads.
On this day, I let Two push me too far. This child refused to leave the room. I was frustrated and sick of not being able to get a word in edgewise without the arguing and backtalk. So I chose to command the situation and screamed, "GOOD BYE!"
That scared Two enough to shut it's mouth and leave. But then I felt horrible. All that divine help I have had! The miracle I had received! I felt like I had been walking on a clear path in a beautiful meadow but then suddenly decided to jump onto the dark, twisting, rocky, dangerous path to the left.
Thankfully after a couple minutes both of us were calmer and had a really good discussion. We both did some repenting. And then we both felt better.
This ended up being a good learning opportunity for the both of us. Two learned that Mommy is willing to admit when I screw up, and that I'm trying to be better. I learned, again, that I need to continue to rely on my Heavenly Father and on my Savior Jesus Christ daily. Hourly! I need His guidance to know how best to parent, teach, and discipline each of my children. I need His grace as I try to exercise greater faith and patience. And I need His Atonement because unlike Him, I am not perfect! If I sincerely repent He makes it possible for me to walk once again in that beautiful meadow toward His kingdom.
But then I slipped up.
Two of the children were playing in the living room. When these two are together they can go very quickly from happily playing to fighting. On this day, child One accidentally hit child Two in the face with a toy. One quickly apologized. But Two didn't hear over the sounds of it's own screaming and exaggerated crying as it hit One with a balloon in retaliation.
I like to let them try to figure things out on their own, but it was clear this time that I needed to step in. I told them both to sit down and began talking to Two about the situation. Two refused to listen to what I had to say and kept defending itself, talking over me, being rude, etc. Very typical for this child.
I finally told Two to go to a different room. If Two is not ready to listen to me in matters of discipline, then Two just needs to go to the bedroom and give us both space to calm down before we can talk with more level heads.
On this day, I let Two push me too far. This child refused to leave the room. I was frustrated and sick of not being able to get a word in edgewise without the arguing and backtalk. So I chose to command the situation and screamed, "GOOD BYE!"
That scared Two enough to shut it's mouth and leave. But then I felt horrible. All that divine help I have had! The miracle I had received! I felt like I had been walking on a clear path in a beautiful meadow but then suddenly decided to jump onto the dark, twisting, rocky, dangerous path to the left.
Thankfully after a couple minutes both of us were calmer and had a really good discussion. We both did some repenting. And then we both felt better.
This ended up being a good learning opportunity for the both of us. Two learned that Mommy is willing to admit when I screw up, and that I'm trying to be better. I learned, again, that I need to continue to rely on my Heavenly Father and on my Savior Jesus Christ daily. Hourly! I need His guidance to know how best to parent, teach, and discipline each of my children. I need His grace as I try to exercise greater faith and patience. And I need His Atonement because unlike Him, I am not perfect! If I sincerely repent He makes it possible for me to walk once again in that beautiful meadow toward His kingdom.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Spouse and Family Support Guide, Ch 2 Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound
My intro from last week: Last semester Hubby had a class on Tuesday nights which made it difficult for me to attend the Family Support Group that I used to facilitate. But now I have started going back and am loving it!
I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
For too long I think I felt some
responsibility, not for the way my loved ones act, but for fixing them. I felt
like I was the one who could understand, reach, change,
and soften them. It was draining. Beating my head against the wall
didn't work and it didn't work and it didn't work and it was only was
causing harm to my own life and family. I finally had to realize
that and step away.
When my relationship with Heavenly
Father is strong, I find it easier to be optimistic and patient
through trials. I know that I am His child and that He loves me and
my family. Because of this love, I know that He wants what's best
for me. Sometimes what's best for me is that I learn difficult
lessons. So I have to trust and have faith that all will come out
better in the end.
I can use my agency to choose to move
forward with positive experiences for my children rather than
dwelling on pain.
I will be punished for my own negative
actions, and not for the actions of anyone else.
Because of my divine nature, I am
capable of amazing things.
God is not a dumb idol. He is a living
being who knows our needs and hears our cries.
We had agency, the freedom of choice, from the beginning.
I had no idea “agency” was not
defined as we know it in the dictionary!
“Agency is the ability and privilege
God gives us to choose and 'to act for ourselves and not to be acted
upon' Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for
our actions.”
Satan's plan wasn't a plan of love, but
of rebellion “for it would have denied us our agency.”
In this life, we sometimes
use our agency to give up our agency.
Christ had to exercise agency to be our
Savior.
I want my home to be filled with FHE,
family prayer, family scripture study, etc to make my home an
“incubator for spiritual growth" I want my home
to be more spiritual.
The Atonement is available to me. The Atonement is available to my family. The Atonement is available to
my friends.
I need to put my trust in God
CONTINUALLY like the stripling warriors.
“Choose to put everything, literally
everything, on the altar before Him.” Reminds me of Step 3.
B of M prophets prayed for strength
(the enabling power of the Atonement) rather than praying for trials
to be taken away. I need to pray for strength to overcome/endure my
challenges like they did.
Sister Bednar experienced the same as
me: unending morning sickness in pregnancy. I prayed for that trial
to be removed. She prayed for strength, that enabling power of the
Atonement, and was able to “do physically what she could not do in
her own power.” I need to learn from this! During my tough
pregnancies, I was constantly counseled by the Lord to study the
scriptures. Is this what I was supposed to learn from the
scriptures? To pray for strength to persevere rather than pray for
the HG to end?
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Homeschooling Means...#10
...I get super excited when I catch my preschooler (5 year old) concentrating on his fingers at dinner time and whispering, "1, 3, 5...1, 3...1, 3, 5...7..."
He was trying to figure out how to skip count doing only odd numbers. By the next day he was able to confidentially say the odd numbers up to 11 and the even numbers up to 10.
This is a concept I have not introduced to him formally yet. It's amazing what the Littles are able to learn just by being in the same room while the Bigs are learning. They absorb so much!
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
He was trying to figure out how to skip count doing only odd numbers. By the next day he was able to confidentially say the odd numbers up to 11 and the even numbers up to 10.
This is a concept I have not introduced to him formally yet. It's amazing what the Littles are able to learn just by being in the same room while the Bigs are learning. They absorb so much!
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
Friday, July 24, 2015
Spouse and Family Support Guide, Ch 1 God Will Console Us
Last semester Hubby had a class on Tuesday nights which made it difficult for me to attend the Family Support Group that I used to facilitate. But now I have started going back and am loving it!
I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
Chapter 1. God Will Console Us
I used to go primarily to help other people. But now I have to choose to go for myself. It's a wonderful mid-week gospel study and testimony meeting. You don't have to have an addiction or know someone who has an addiction to benefit from this group!
I'm trying to be better (again) about my personal nightly scripture study. I've decided that every night I am going to study the Spouse and Family Support Guide. This is the manual we discuss in the meetings. I'm journaling my answers to the discussion questions, and thoughts I have as I study the Personal Learning and Application section. And since I do better at sticking to things when I have outside accountability and feel obligated, I'm going to blog my journals here.
These will not be my unedited journal entries. The really personal stuff will be saved for my own reflection and for sharing in the confidential meetings. I also won't be including the many, many quotes that touched my heart and that I highlighted in the additional readings linked at the end of each chapter. You're going to have to go read and find those gems yourself!
Please follow the link, read along, and share your own thoughts in the comments if you feel so inspired.
Chapter 1. God Will Console Us
I know that God knows me. He helped me
get through many trials in the past and overcome my
codependent thoughts and behaviors. There is no way that I could have come out of that all
on my own. I felt his influence giving me strength and changing my
heart. If I remember how He has helped me in the past, it will give
me faith and courage to overcome in the future.
I know that if I feel that God is
ignoring me, then the problem is actually with me! I'm probably the
one who stepped away and isn't listening to Him. Another explanation
is that sometimes it is His plan for us to struggle on our own for a
time so that we can learn important things.
I know that God knows and loves me and
my family. I feel it.
One huge way that Heavenly Father has
supported me in my trials is to simply send his Holy Spirit to
comfort me. When I break down in tears, He has sent the Holy Ghost
to literally hug me. Sometimes that's all I need to make it through
the day.
If you feel that He is not supporting
you, then you have to look at yourself. Are you doing all you can to
invite Him into your life?
I need to wax bolder in mighty prayer.
I need to work on my “addiction” to
sugar/overeating, and facebook. These are not healthy for me and not
a good example to my children. If I can overcome addictions/bad
habits, then I will have further spiritual strength and be closer to
my Heavenly Father.
God is aware of my challenges and is
supporting me. I've received powerful priesthood blessings. I've
felt the Holy Ghost as I've poured out my soul in prayer. Our family
is not homeless. We have rarely had to buy clothes. We've always
been well fed. Hubby is doing well in school. We are all
healthy. We have been physically sustained in so many ways. We have
amazing friends who have given us pick-me-ups in the form of kind
words, temporal help, etc. My faith is strengthened when I remember
all these blessings. I need to write them down more often and focus
on the positives in my life.
I know that God is aware of my
personally and what I am going through. I have always known and felt
this. The hard part for me is to wait patiently on His timetable for
my trials. I need more faith to trust in His plan for me and my
family.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Buying the Fun Kinder Stuff
This week I got an email confirming that Tertius is officially enrolled in Kindergarten with our charter school. Our ES is coming tomorrow to have us sign the student agreements.
When I told him, Tertius could hardly control his excitement. To celebrate, I took him to Lakeshore to order some things just for him. With sales and coupons, we were able to get some great deals today!
One huge benefit of him being the third homeschooled kid is that our school money stretches further. We already have all the basics we need. So now a lot of the money allocated for him goes to fun stuff!
I'm really excited about this Gear Builder set. I found this Safari Gears set at a thrift store many years ago and it's been a big hit. It was very handy last year when we were learning about Simple Machines. But it's seen better days. And this new set has more gears and looks like it will be a lot easier to put together and with more options for creativity.
When Tertius wasn't looking, I put a couple things into the cart that would be fun surprises. I love it when our ES brings our orders. It's like Christmas!
This first surprise is going to be these What's Inside Animals Xrays. (I couldn't find it on Lakeshore's website so this link is for another school supplier.) I've been eyeing them for a while and decided with the sale price, this was a good time to add these to our science exploration box.
The second surprise is going to be this simple Dough Tool Set. Our playdough drawer is mostly cookie cutters and tongue depressors. It will be fun to finally have some cheap basic tools. Why the heck didn't I ever order these sooner?
I can't wait for school to start in a month!
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Story of the World: Edible Oasis
This was a fun project we did way back in February. We were learning about the Arabian desert in Story of the World volume 2. Snack this day was our own edible oases.
Crushed graham crackers for sand.
Blue sugar for water (put a couple drops of food coloring in a bag with sugar and smoosh it around.)
Palm trees made of Tootsie Rolls and cut up gum drops, glued together with peanut butter.
Complete with animal cracker camels.
Homeschooling Means...#9
...outside recess doesn't get cancelled because of rain.
Instead, the kids make time to search for snails and jump in some puddles before breakfast.
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
Instead, the kids make time to search for snails and jump in some puddles before breakfast.
(This series is meant to be mostly lighthearted and fun. Some may be serious, but most will be silly, braggy, or of the keepin'-it-real variety. Not every homeschool is the same. And some of these things could be said by public school parents. This is just to highlight MY experience with MY homeschool and MY children. Enjoy these little insights into our life and feel free to share your own "Homeschooling means..." in the comments!)
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