Virtual Acadmemy: BIBLE CLUB~I Say YES!!

I'm excited to see a Bible Club in an online public school~I will be praying that it gets off the ground and finds loads of success~

Here's the article that appeared in the school paper:

Blog Cruise: SisterT's Talking About HSing Conventions and Resources!

Sooo, WHAT does SisterT think about Homeschool Conventions~have I  attended: what are the benefits, pitfalls, etc.~what was my experience? I am participating in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Crew weekly Blog Cruise and so I will answer again this week.  You can read the other Crew's input              !

It IS that time of year again~Spring brings with it a good many offerings in some areas of homeschooling conventions, conferences and book sales for homeschoolers of every age.  Some off classes and seminars for the whole family, while others are just sale/vendor rooms with table after table of everything from the latest curriculum product offering to some offering used book/product sale tables...What you find can be a mixed bag depending upon who is organizing and offering~Call some of them: EVERYTHING: HOMESCHOOLING events.

Photo Credit: Darcy @3boybarians.com

You know, since this is my 10th year, what I've participated in has changed a good deal.  When I first started out we lived about three states away in a little country town near a larger city that has a homeschool group.  At the time, I borrowed a good bit of my resources, and the homeschool group in that larger city offered a book sale each May~I'm assuming they still do this and maybe more, but I went a few years and even in the later years this gathering included some seminars of the vendors on various topics...I enjoyed them.  I found them useful and the biggest thing I liked was being able to actually spend some time with the products BEFORE I purchased them and also the used book sale room.  I am soo into used things, as I have found it to be a great way to go~My love for used began in the borrowing of resources and also in that time and at that particular venue.

Since those early days, we moved two states away from that place and again to another small berg, but with a much much larger city nearby.  I attended one large, and I'd call it a moderately large homeschool convention, but probably nothing like what is offered in the major cities today.  For me it was very large and the vendor room was actually overwhelming.  I really don't like HUGE crowds and while it was, as I might compare it, not the biggest that I can imagine are offered~it was really more EXPERIENCE than I enjoyed, so I have yet to return to another convention/sale like that...no all weekender stuff for me~SisterT is either too old or just not willing to put myself in that much chaos!oops, sorry..EVENT!!  But let me say that in that larger experience, I did manage to purchase a few things, but in all honesty, I bought more and did more in the earlier, smaller format.  For those who organize the large ones, I'm sure that what I am saying might be a surprise, but to me~bigger isn't always better...I like small, intimate gatherings where I have the time and space to experience the things I am looking for to take back to our homeschool.  I like being able to actually talk to the vendors and spend time with the materials...not possible with a crowd around the table/booth or loads of people asking too...I found rushing in large numbers of people exhausting as we moved from one seminar to the next...too much sugar for my dine!

Soo with this all said~would I ever do it again? Probably not.  I live relatively close (just a couple of hours) away from a HUGE major city convention, and while I'd love to meet some of you~my online buds, I'm just not cut out to make that kind of sacrifice of time, expense or effort.  But let me say too, that our needs have changed and are different too~we're doing virtual academy now, so I don't have to purchase everything we need homeschooling anymore~it just isn't a need in this way~I have homeschooling stuff currently, we will never use!  Soo NO, I won't be going...but, if I had much younger children who aren't attending the online school, I would look for a smaller venue such as a homeschool co-op book sale~and even shop on line and swap/borrow stuff...I'd look to the local group or I would ask you all to tell me...and I read your blogs and websites...

NUTSHELL VIEW:

BENEFITS:
There are some~

• Potential networking/friend making/resource ppl gathering
• Actually LOOKING and TOUCHING products
• Talking to vendors/experts
• LOADS in ONE PLACE
• FREEbies/samples
• Classes on techniques
• An event for the whole family depending on the details planned.

 PITFALLS:

There are some of these too~

• Overwhelming (to me) Large place~LOTS of people however nice! (Just too much, imho!)
• Expensive~often there is admission and travel/lodging
• Crowds (if you don't care for them.)
• NOISE~over stimulating for small children and some people
• Potential to spend more than planned or succumb to sales pressure

Alternatives in my mind:

I'd like to think that conventions and conferences are a luxury~something some can afford...

• Network within local homeschool group(s) for end of year sales/swaps
• Online purchasing/research: You can ck out the TOS CREW HERE and other blogs for curriculum insights as well as vendor websites. (CK out my sidebars and the FREEbie/GiveAway tab for free stuff! I've done loads of product reviews too!) 
• Comparing pricing online and in person.  Sometimes there is a difference!
• Shopping secondary market~look at garage sales/thrift stores/used book stores for best prices: know your pricing and have a list of things you are 'looking for' so when you find it you can seize the opportunity.
• Avail of coupons and special vendor pricing and curriculum store sales in your local area.  I recently purchased a workbook for just the price of the book w/o shipping when the vendor had it online at same price PLUS shipping. I saved about 1/2! Now, remember, I am trying to keep money IN my pocket~made no sense to pay the full price plus shipping when our local had it for the same w/o shipping!
• Join up with the CREW~applications for nxt yr are being taken now~Go  HERE!
• Online 'conventions' or group gatherings for home accessed web based conferences~there are quite a few that meet my needs for a variety of reasons ;-))

I could go on and on about how to get curriculum without a convention/larger venue, but for you who enjoy large events and loads of resources in one day or two~conventions are a good thing~

Thanks for stopping by~please leave me your thoughts on conventions and homeschooling conference~
To read more about this topic, go                    !

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 10: Slow Week...Sorta!

I've had a wierd week.  I've been doing well with my eating plan.  I did change the construct of the foods I am consuming leaving more starches off my plate and going a little higher in protein.  NOT exactly calorieless, but much lower in the sugar department which has meant that I am still feeling GREAT for the most part..all except some emotional stuff I am going through. Loads of decisions and changes ALL at once!  These wonderful creations of God, our bodies are affected by our emotions, environment, food, water balance, exercise...oh my! The list is endless, but none the less, its a fine balance we seek, and I'm revamping my life one day at a time!  It is easy to feel overwhelmed right now, but I am keeping my shoulder to the wheel and pushing forward.  NO slack time for me.  Exercise consisted of riding my stationary bike and pedaling machine each day and/or swimming.  My body is shrinking still...this is GOOD~and while I haven't weighed in for a while, I don't let that stop me.  Leaving sugar and white junk behind has been one of the BEST things I've ever done for ME.  I know it's a challenge.  BELIEVE ME, I know...I am living it.  And for the other eaters in my life such as my family, I make things very hard~no mo FUN foods for me...so I don't participate anymore.  But I've tried to ADD  IN some other stuff in our lives that equal LOVE just as much as eating together.  It's been a big change not to go out to eat for recreation.  Hub and I did THAT a lot...and for convenience.  NO MO...oh no! but I love the movies and well, biking and hopefully when the weather improves WALKING SOME...not too keen on this yet, but I will be...I also envision RUNNING...just you wait~Sister has some ideas for her future! Yes, INDEED!

What about you? Are you eying the future with your health and happiness in mind??
Head to the Fit Mommys  HERE to ck it all out!

SisterT's BEEN Cheated!

Yes, I have. Life cheats us everyday....but thoughts of my blessings have to over ride these feelings that accompany the pain of those losses.  I can tell you that being cheated STINKS! nor is it fun~

I ran across a sir name that reminded me~ONLY REMINDED ME of that gal I babysat for with her 6...READ THAT RIGHT~SIX...awful little wild kiddos...and I had been promised pay...but as a teenager, got nothing except a life's lesson that some people are not kind and lie...THEN I think sometimes about that homeschool VENDOR chick who sells STUFF ON THE NET who I paypal'd a payment to~THIS PAST FALL~who has decided b/c her schedule was quite too busy...to NEGLECT to send me the items I ordered....I've thought about Telln' It! to you all just who and what...I have plenty of 'proof'' such as her corresponding emails~but nooooo! SisterT isn't going to STOOP that low.  $15 and some change JUST isn't worth THAT kind of blight on my life and blog!  But you have to know that some people are truly full of THEMSELVES..and this has got to be the problem~SELFISHNESS which is namely, sin.  And would it be right for SisterT to decide to SIN in reciprocation?  I have a fella in my church who by the grace of God I've not taken OUT...not literally, of course...but he's HARMED ME and MINE...and trust me, (WINK*WINK) THIS GRACE I issue IS from God! b/c SisterT's natural...yeah, it's natural to wanna *fix* it, inclination is to want to grab him by the throat and put us BOTH out of our misery in letting him KNOW just what he has done~but, again....I bring these up so you can see that my cheats aren't some fabrication of my mind...and neither is the GRACE coming from God through ME!

While being cheated isn't fun~it's very painful, I have to look UP and think of that portion of the Serenity Prayer that is just the BOMB:  Taking as HE DID, this sinful world and seeing hardships as the PATHWAY to peace! What power are in those words!  You see, if we didn't have CAUSE for war, peace would come too cheaply~and it's in the struggles that grace flourishes!

Here's that WHOLE Serenity Prayer~having never been one for 'rote' prayers, this one grows on me all the time:

Thanks for coming by today~leave me a shout out as I'd love to hear your thoughts~
hugs!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal WK 7: PUNT!

I am participating each week to share WHAT IS REALLY going on in this home (almost said 'joint' LOL) and I think I've been doing this ALL wrong! First, this post is due on Fri...usually I'm one of the last posters as I generally get it up on Sat or Sun...ha! THANGS are gonna change around here!  ;-))

Virtual Academy UPDATE: Going pretty good. I have allowed, "let go" and see that my son is doing okay.  I have given Him to God and so he will either do or figure out HOW to do...Daughter is doing great! We did secure a tutor for them both in their areas of weakness, but so far~it's going fine. Daughter takes the graduation testing next week...Things are still hopping here!

I was given this poem today and it soo applies:

LETTING GO TAKES LOVE
To let go does not mean to stop caring,
   it means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off,
   it's the realization I can't control another.
To let go is not to enable,
   but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means
   the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another,
   it's to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for,
   but to care about.
To let go is not to fix,
   but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
   but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
   but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective,
   it's to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny,
   but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
   but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
   but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody,
   but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
   but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more
       and
To let go and to let God, is to find peace!
Remember: The time to love is short
 ------ author unknown

Having faced death myself and lost my sibling too, I know this is so true.  In fact, I know it all too well, and next month is the 9th year since I lost my brother~he's always on my mind...

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:

These really ARE separate entities within our home. I am a separate human being from the teacher and mother person who I am as well~sooo as for the HUMAN SisterT, I have struggled a little bit in my personal life. I am experiencing some losses and changes. NOT all bad, but definitely different.  CHANGE is here in a big way! I have continued my healthy eating and doing well with it, and so my energy and zest has returned...but not all is rosy all the time.  I'm making it though~so far, so good~One day at a time!

 My Favorite Thing This Week was...

I have essentially a person in my life you could call a life coach who is guiding me in the Word of God. I have really enjoyed studying and learning this week what God has in store for ME...yep, sometimes it's been hard defining ME from all the rest in my life.  When my kids were littles, it was even harder, but now that they are much much more independent, I am finding more of ME that I had left behind all those years ago when I traded in so much of myself for the life of doing for others much of the time. Thank God for a few minutes today to get out and shop alone and REALLY jam in the car to some oldies that make me GRIN! Sometimes I just need to DANCE in this life for joy~got to...today! ;-)) SIDEBAR: Anybody besides ME a rocker?? Oh, there's rock of ages, rock the cradle and rock n roll...well, I'm all three..but here a few links of some foot move ing stuff!! (Actually one is movin' music and the other is the fave love songs...I couldn't resist!) LOL  (I know, I'm old...but hey...I'm STILL HERE, right??? LOL)

What's Working/Not Working For Us...

CLUTTER, DIRT AND animal hair~oh my!! LOL...these animules are shedding for spring and I am sneezing and wheezing...

Also NOW that we are in virtual academy~all the little jewels of homeschooling are really in our way...I am praying about what to do...can't afford to ship them away, but thinking about some options...a sale or donation only sale???  Would like to see them GO to you all who can use them...I mean, they are awesome things, I promise! And some are pricey things that we've been blessed to have had...GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME...ring in on what you think or how you think this could work well...

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
HOW long will the positives we are experiencing with virtual academy last and will we return to traditional homeschooling in the future? I wonder... 

Here's a pic~

Thanks for coming by~
If you want to join or read more              !
How are you doing? Leave me a shout out!
;-))
You also might wanna know, 
I've Been Cheated! ;-))

Blog Cruise: SisterT's Talking About Teaching the Wiggly-Squirmy KID!

I'm part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew review team and each week we are answering a question to offer some collective wisdom on homeschooling and parenting/motherhood/family:  The question this week is: How do you teach the hyper/distracted child?  Boy, can I write the book on this one!  With two ADHD kiddos~let's just say that T I (double GUH) UR...has nothing on us for bouncy-bounce!  Let me explain~

My littles who are now, not so little~were once so wild and impetuous that we did some stuff to keep them safe that seems a little odd to some mothers who don't deal in hyper and compulsive behaviors.  When our daughters was just two, her temper was so firey that she flipped her toddler bed in temper, so we bolted it to the ground...she also took off toward to highway faster than the speed of lightening, and thank God a man caught her before she got into the street!  When I tried and believe me, we only went a few times, to the mall, I used a double stroller~well, I had to use the wrist leashes for them and connect them with tethers to the side of the stroller so they wouldn't run off before I could get them back in it~before one OR the other ran off..this way~they didn't get too far...before I could put them back...I used to walk down the isles of stores saying "shhh...sh....shhhh..." because of CONSTANT incessant nonsensical CHATTER! Let me see...I've dealt in a little fella who learned best jumping up and down~moving as we SUNG our vowl sounds so we'd learn to read!  We would RUN outside frequently up and down the driveway which was off the road a little bit when we were old to get our wiggles to calm down, AND I also used as much hands on~multi sensory stuff as I could...ARE YOU tired yet, from reading what I WENT THROUGH?? LOL...It wears me out just thinking about HOW HARD it was back them...it was truly awful! And I remember clasping my hands in prayer crying out to God to HELP US! My little daughter went to public K and the whole year she was upset by being 'fussed' at and felt her teacher disliked her...this was prior to meds~which BELIEVE ME I resisted for soooo long...in fact, it wasn't until after my son took off running as a 4 year old down the street even with me going after him and calling him back...well, I even applied the ...to the seat of knowledge~ TO NO AVAIL...I used charts and all manner of things to reign us in...I simplified our home with a less is MORE and even tried to keep our lives simple by staying home with a routine and structure while even spending beautiful days in the park which was next to the county library where we fostered a love of books~I'm SURE in those early days they HATED to see our noise and energy come through the door...

But dear friends, let me share that it took time and patience...and neither has come cheaply, for my kids to have learned just HOW to function and listen to their frames to be able to have some control.  My son STILL wiggles and is EVERYWHERE...alllllll the time! I am constantly reminding this 15 year old, "Son, sit down and get your work done!" To which he will reply, "I AM!" Well, it's hard for me to tell as he's sprinting across the room...albeit with his laptop in hand or a book or paper...but...but...LOL!

Sooo if you are dealing with the wiggly-squirmy kiddo~love, patience, structure, less stimulation that is purposeful, low sugar foods~loads of fresh/healthy raw fruits and veggies and virtually NO concentrated sweets/sugars or dies or chemicals, and PRAYER! A visit to the MD for suggestions~even therapy may be helpful to learn coping strategy and be sure to attack the problem while loving~DEEPLY loving your child.  I really have worried AND STILL DO that I don't communicate all the love I feel for my children. Remember a ADHD kiddo is really like a person with a brain who has a light switch that keeps cutting it ON then OFF...and on and on...imagine the frustration your child may feel if he/she only heard about every 3rd word you said and then caught your frustration and anger? NO COOL...no, it's not.  NOT for them or you...sooo education is key here too...and SisterT stands on this as well~that finding proper help is essential.  I've run the course on all kinds of therapies for my children because whether it was behavior related or purely physical alone, help was needed.  To deny a child the possible help is criminal in my humble opinion.  The statistics are out there that a hyperactive child IS at greater risk for all kinds of life issues...WHO wants that?

I prayed a lot too. In the face of negative~deeply negative advice and opinion, I forged ON to find help for my children...I read the conservative parenting opinions that say essentially to use physical punishment and reward..oh MY! Yes, I read it~began and then moved away, because it DID NOT help us...it created resentment and anger in my babies..NOT the desired effects...sooo if you believe a good whipping will do the trick~talk to some adults who were brought up that way...WHAT do they say about the love in their home when as a child?  Of course not all~maybe you had your tail cut as a kid...I did...but boy, I remember HATING my mother too...maybe I'm weird... but I didn't want to RISK such negative emotions being built in them BY MY actions...no, I didn't.

Sooo for the wiggly squirmer~LOVE and acceptance and look at HELP along with the things you CAN do...

And...

• Declutter the surroundings.
• Decrease loud television programing and music.
• Provide quiet and peace as much as possible.
• LOVE a lot! HUG HUG HUG and praise the good...
• I gave mine some silly puddy to play with in church to keep their hands still when gradeschool. When tiny, my son carried match box cars in his pockets...coloring books and puzzles (can be Bible centered...busy hands help the mind listen better and feet still as bottom sits!)
• We modeled table manners and sitting behaviors daily at home so in social situations it was a natural. We ATE at the table with proper manners!
• I read to them even holding them still in my arms when so little they wanted to RUN...then had them hold the books as they got older.
• Toys on a book case verses the clutter of a toy box so it wouldn't overwhelm!
• Calming colors~less clutter~
• Foods~(already mentioned this.)
• Lots of outside play~safe in a contained area or with boundaries~I was very WATCHFUL...
• Took occasional breaks with a trusted family member for hub and I to regroup: GRANDMA!
• Held their hands when crossing the street or busy areas...did this for a long time and maybe longer than some kids who will naturally follow and even PURPOSEFULLY taught walking WITH me...as a skill...
• Proper medical attention if needed...

Thanks for hearing our story and if are interested in reading how the rest of us deal or dealt~Go            !
Leave me a comment~HUGS!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal Wk 6: Lord Willing, The Creek Won't RISE...

So we are now just into week five of our virtual academy experience.  I am totally amazed b/c I've hands off my son in many ways academically so he could discover his own stride in his education.  It's been eye opening to see him develop strategies to learn and it's exciting too. He has really found that he does need some help in some areas and he's been wise enough to ask for it~his sister to is acing most all but one of her classes with hundreds plus~he's asked her to help...wow! And what a joy to see HER teach HIM! This brought about a discussion about the future~she said she's considered being a school teacher, but of course...LOL, she said it's a consideration secondary to LAW...oh wow! We SHALL SEE just where we are going ~ ~ She has a love for the underdog, but also for an intellectual challenge~I can't wait to see what happens...

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:

My week all started off with loads of rain so much that we had some localized flooding in our area by Wed. I became really thankful my kids are at home, once again, because I've been thankful more than once when they were home and not off at the public schools away from us~And then we have continued to work really hard in our schooling! They have logged in some incredible time in their educations since doing Virtual Academy.  

My life has been okay, in that I had a bit of difficulty due to all the bad weather earlier in the week getting out to exercise~but my food has stayed good; I even have learned some new insights about the dangers of high sugar in our diets...where it comes from and what it does~I'm week 22 today without white flour/sugar in my diet. and I am feeling GREAT! I measured my body today too, and so now I know just where I am, but believe me three pants sizes says something even if I didn't take time to measure before! Now that I have the number, keeping track will be easier.  I also have found a source for disposing of my big clothes...praise God!  And also I have been blessed with an exercise bike~NEW TO ME for a very reasonable price~Hub went and got it last night for me;-)) Now I can begin a morning ride before beginning my day to jump start my metabolism! 

Did I tell you that our cats got into some medications, and we had to search the floors cleaning them very well to be sure they didn't eat any??? LOL...well, sooo let's just say I got a head start on our spring cleaning! whoohoo! We worked so hard today scrubbing floors, walls, baseboards and it looks marvelous~THANKS CATS! LOL 

My Favorite Thing This Week was...
Besides the health stuff for me, I just LOVED reading my kid's papers and school work that they are doing in the virtual academy!  I can read the assignment submissions from their dropbox folders of all submissions I want to, and I was thrilled to read their work.  My son amazed me and had me laughing aloud when I saw in one assignment which was 'class participation' where the students all commented in a forum type activity and HE POSTED LINKS of screen shots from his computer to illustrate his points...ha! YOU GO, son!! I loved it~soo techy and MY BOY!  I love to see them excell~and daughter got a 100% on her biology test~AMAZING! (THIS is the class that the enrollment counselor said might give her problems....uh...no...but math, is another thing! But more on that, later....)

What's Working/Not Working For Us...
My computer crashed last week~BUMMER! And so I struggled~am still struggling to stay on task with my duties! I MISS my files and pics~Hub was able to restore me to factory settings, but what a RUDE AWAKENING to have it all go to the 'blue screen of DEATH!'

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
WHEN IS spring break and SUMMER?? LOL... (We've been YR rounders most all of our academic careers~THIS is a BIG CHANGE!) ;-)) 

HERE'S A PIC, okay, three...LOL~ 

  

Fit Mommy Friday: Wk 9~Blah, blah, blah...

It really wasn't that bad as 'blah, blah, blah', but it wasn't overly GREAT either. It was just the routines of life with a restless heart in wanting my progress to MOVE faster! I was blessed with week with a pedaling system to start biking each morning in my bedroom before warm weather arrives here in our little neck of the woods where right now the sky is all gloomy promising MO rain to an already flood riddled-water soaked community~bummer! But on the other hand, this will mean a gorgeous spring so I can look forward to riding my three wheeler bike around my neighborhood each day to see gorgeous blooms and that great spark of green that means life is and spring has sprung!  Soo I'm not gonna complain. Even though there is snow promised by weekend, because I am so blessed to be celebrating that my eating continues sound. In fact, I am learning more how nutrition really is going to be a healing fix along with exercise to this weary obese body. What I have learned is that our cells ~our bodies at its tiniest point actually breaks all foods and liquids into basically three categories: FAT, PROTEIN and....SUGAR!  Well, the first two were no new revelation to me; my goodness our government has been harping since the 90s the evils of FAT-FILLED foods and have driven some to giving up so much~and even exercising sooo much~take my dear friend who 'got the message' so to speak in the late 80's (yeah, we're THAT OLD...lol) who jazzercised and moved on to high defined body points, but her bones today??? They may likely crack out from under her should she move the wrong way..and at fifty, this is NOT good~but mention full fat eating and she cringes~but most willing to eat nonfat and loads of sugars, both hidden and not.  Of course, she's NOT obese.  I am.  But we're all learning, right? And my own lessons have been even worse.  What I'm learning is that sugar is hidden in not only evil~gorgeous~sinful~delish foods, but that it IS even my healthy mainstays such as all the green stuff and crunch...yup~you are reading me right. IF it ins't fat or protein~it's sugar. NOW, not ALL sugars are created equal.  You have the crunchy and we're not talking pure crunchy sugars, here..lol (NICE TRY),  but rather the ones the health gurus are going to tout, like our back to nature: FRESH FRUITS and VEGGIES~yes, they too have sugars but b/c of their high high fiberous INSOLUBLE fiberousness~that part passes digestion and SLOOOOOOOWS the absorbtion of SUGAR into the blood and thereby burns MORE effeciently? NEED a CHEMISTRY LESSON?? I did! In fact, three years ago I was in a nursing anatomy and physiology class and learned this stuff~sitting on that back row with my study buddies~raising my hand, "WHERE do the VEGGIES fit in???" uh..duh...well... ... SUGAR.  IS IT any wonder that I have still contracted with my MOSTLY~not kidding here or lying~MOSTLY vegetable based diet that I have developed insulin resistance?  And dear sister, do you know that just b/c I am obese and you may not be that YOU too can develop this too? Oh yes, my risks were higher, but I believed that eating just healthy foods were enough. But this strategy is not. And so what I am about to say is absolutely unbelievable:  Thin people are insulin resistant and can develop DIABETES too~This has totally blown my mind! Sooo just the thin or 'fit looking' by not really be soooo...back to judging book covers, are we??? LOL...better NOT! LOL...we had better delve a little more~

So in looking at my food, I can assure you that I have eaten my veggies, oh yes...but what is my overall CARB (sugar) intake? What's happening to me?? Well, after looking at this carefully and the changes I have made, remember that I have been 21 1/2 weeks NO processed/refined sugars or flours~and sooo I now am attacking in full force my overall sugar load each day. My neuropathy is resolving. My facial numbness is resolving.  My body is shrinking~listen, I haven't measured ME, but...I have weighed less before, but I NEVER EVER have been able to see all the liters and veins in my feet (not pretty, I'd say~), but certainly NO swelling or inflammation.  WHAT I am researching is that when the overall sugars are controlled in the body, inflammation decreases and the body can heal...boy is inflammation painful too.  For real, it is!  Soo now you know, dietary changes on are the horizon for me.  I am eating more protein and fat~don't get me wrong. I am still concerned with AMOUNTS but I am watching that load of sugar so closely. I don't even WANT sugar anymore because I feel sooo much better. I can't even describe the differences to you, but they are dramatic, and even that I WANT to exercise is just amazing! God is soo good! He's healing me! And I know that balance is key here...so don't go thinking I am advocating a pound of bacon for breakfast or anything silly LIKE that! Oh no! This sister doesn't eat pork either, no joke.  Gave it up over 10 yrs ago...not kidding! So I know I can change. I know I will change.

My week?

I only got to the pool once, but did get out and walk and even have daily worked my arms and upper body.  No high impact for me...YET...but I sense that change is coming...and it's ALL gonna be good!

Head over to ck out these other Fit Mommys HERE or JOIN US~believe me we're all in different places, but this accountability is amazing for keeping us going~
HUGS!

CONTEST WINNERS: Cereal AND Most Film

Most Congrats:  Christian @ Our Homeschool Reviews
Cereal Congrats:   Marie @ Our Best Daze      

Love/Hate~Rethinking MY Thinking

I'm a daughter, wife, mom, friend, pastor's wife...teacher..artist...blogger..uh...well, the list goes on to include past professions and future ambitions, but...WHAT in the world am I thinking about LIFE?  Am I squandering it away sitting in my chair typing on this keyboard and concerning myself with things that really don't matter while LIFE is moving~active~NOT PASSIVE~but going and doing all around me? I have a love relationship with my computer and have had since about three years ago when I got MY OWN laptop~I'm on #2, (don't hate me...LOL) but WHAT have I allowed this box to steal from me and more importantly MY FAMILY? 

I adore my children and my husband. They are the MOST important ppl in my life~but when I have neglected them for the life of escape of reality in this world~whether it was crafting or some other EVEN WORTHY cause, I have left them to move into another realm. Yes, they are all capable of getting along without me for a season or time, but is THIS the use for which I have been created and the PURPOSE to which I need to focus my resources? I THINK NOT.

In fact, I am rethinking my methods and my goals. So much has gone on these past few months. First, we totally rerouted out schooling methods from a mommy based education where I educated them to an online public school done in the convenience of our home~we have remodeled space in our home to acomodate this change AND then all the changes I've personally done to work on my health~AND I FEEL better than I have in years! Sooooo now, it's time to ACT~to jump out of this chair and GO~LIVE~L I F E!  This chair and this cyberspace world IS NOT LIFE for me. I need activity and while I am so thankful for my readers and those of you who share my passions and interests, I must say that it all has to be put into perspective! PERSPECTIVE! PRIORITY~And I'm not overly OVERLY concerned with bloggy numbers, but let me CONFESS a twinge of pain when I read that so and so gets this recognition~so and so is TOP WHATEVER MOMMY BLOGGY PERSON...b/c FRANKLY this blog~this realm of life comes at too high a cost for so little (please understand) LITTLE return in the THINGS that MATTER! Things like my family and faith...MY BLOG is ONLY a tool..ONLY...and you know, it's NOT even MY JOB. For some it is~but by cracky if THIS IS MY JOB then where oh WHERE is the MONEY? Let me tell you, there are some busting down some bucks who do this, but I'm either NOT good enough OR God has other plans for me b/c either way~I tired of padding other people's purses, and so I do not measure up! NO, I DO NOT! Sooooo WHY am I still visiting blogs and participating in stuff that brings me very little? Is it that I AM THAT generous? Maybe. Maybe, I am. But what WHATwhat are my goals with my blog? AND WHAT PRIORITY should this little spot of cyberspace hold for me and my LIFE???

I'm really rethinking my thinking, and you know...I am believing that CHANGES are coming...stay tuned and we shall see...Right now, I'm gonna jump off here and go hunt down my dusting rag (...LOL...not exactly exciting is it?) and get going...Thanks for reading and offer up a few prayers that God will show me His divine will for my life INCLUDING my blog.
SisterT;-))

FREE: National Pancake Day @I-HOP FREE Pancakes for a Children's Miracle Net Donation

MARCH 1, 2011 CK OUT the details~ENJOY! ;-))

FREE: Birthday Bible Verse Site

Birthverse~A Scripture Verse for Your Birthday!
It's pretty cool and thought you'd like it too!
hugs!!

BLOG CRUISE: SisterT's Talkin' About HSing Around Appointments

TOPIC:  How do you juggle homeschooling a child with special needs, therapy, etc? I'm part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew review blogger program and we have a weekly question that we can all participate in to answer~

Here's my take:

Boy, have we been THERE! Frankly, I've been sooo there, that I've not been at home as much as I would have liked!  To stay at home as much as I could, we actually had therapy come to us. All this running and hoop jumping really began before age 3 and so since we had baby interventions at home, and then when he was in preschool for a few hours each morning he had therapy~we've navigated all kinds of appointments!

How to make homeschooling WORK when you're not home much because you have a child with a special need can be a huge challenge!  Just having a special child is in itself a challenge and then ADD all the interventions making it EVEN rougher~I came to the conclusion YEARS AGO that it seemed like the interventions were aimed at making ME feel like we were doing something~something to help~to detract from the issues and pervasive issues that have minimized, but never quite gone away.  Oh, don't call SisterT negative  b/c I've seen tons of progress~but jumping hoops is such a challenge to families with already weakened links that just being drawn and pushed all over the place can make it even harder~I speak this from the heart.  Appointments did make it harder.  It really did. But while my child has needs, so does the entire family~each member needs things and EDUCATION is just one small facite when there are special needs to navigate that require all kinds of time and resources to make appointments all over the place.   

In hindsight we did make it.  We are now highschoolers as you know, and so we have overcome and pushed through much of the running here and running there, navigate this therapy and that intervention that honestly now seems like a far off misty dream!  ONE DAY I will graduate all of the homeschooling and appointments and wonder just where all that time went ~and HOW we made it.  To get us through, I devised some strategy.  It took STRATEGY to make it. It still does but for different reasons~isn't it GREAT we homeschoolers are so elastic and flexible?  Just call me, FLEXA-MAMA! ...LOL...

Things we did to MAKE IT:

When it came to going out of our home to appointments, we had to make some plans.  First I had to know what we needed to cover on the appointment day, so my schedule was huge for me. Then I had to find a way to fit it all into our day even if we weren't at home, so I found a rolling book bag and packed it the night or morning before leaving for the appointment so we'd have 'activities' to do while we were waiting or in transit.  Being prepared was huge as I just couldn't sit there waiting OR allow my kids to just ride and not make use of that time. We have always lived further out from most bigger cities near us, so even if it was just 20-45 minutes to ride in the car, it was well worth having something they could do on the way or waiting.

RIDE School:

I guess it's a cool idea to ride or travel and school. I had no idea I was doing something faddish when in fact, all I was trying to do was survive and keep us going. But things we did in the car were listen to tapes/ cds which could house a world of stuff~things such as our multiplication facts were learned in songs called skip counting songs...also we could listen to stories or books on tape.  We sang and practiced our facts/information whether it was math or definitions such as spelling and vocabulary.  I'd have a child read aloud to me and the sibling too~This worked great! What skills were developed in the car as we traveled to our appointments!  I would have one child read to another~this was great too! Also I would even use small manipulatives for various things~sometimes coloring activities were done too...depended upon the distance. We were always busy in the car~and IF Daddy was driving which he did on long hauls, I would sit in the back and work with them.  At that time, we had a large leisure van so this worked really well...I wonder if my kids remember that?  

Waiting Room School:

When we got into the appointments and had to wait, if I was allowed to go back with my son, I did~but that generally left my daughter with my hub or in the waiting room alone.  Either way she needed stuff to do. No TV watching or just milling around for us!  She kept busy while my son was in his therapies.  Of course, they shared and still do some doctor appointments and now that they are MUCH older, I can leave one at home to work.  Either way, we don't quit working just b/c someone has to get out for an appointment.  

Learning can occur ANYWHERE so we have taken advantage of that fact...We sung a lot too~we drilled, we did whatever we needed and could to keep up our schedule and lessons, even schooled on Saturday and Sundays if the week got too tied up~Schooling was our recreation as well with more relaxed activities, and we schooled EVEN WHEN it didn't feel like school. Educational films, read alouds and craft projects and even Bible studies centered on topics we covered in our schooling so they were natural extensions of our educational week that got too jammed with  appointments so to keep going we did these and we learned. Until  studies helped us here as the extensions were endless covering many many modalities of learning!  We hauled coloring and art and all manner of stuff~Get yourself a rolling book bag~they work great for hauling it ALL with you! An example of this is our Bible studies for our History lessons, where as the teacher the whole class has been taught early church history via ME so my kids had an additional class in it each week~WHY NOT when all the teens under my guidance need to know this stuff? KNOWLEDGE isn't just for homeschoolers! LOL

I also tried to protect our days as much a possible by scheduling appointments TOGETHER and getting providers as near to each other as possible. Just this alone allowed us to stay home more and keep up a good solid school and family routine in our household.  When we had to go it was usually a long drawn out day, but we didn't go as often as we might have if I hadn't planned it this way.  Think about how MUCH your children can take and IF being home would serve your family better~CAN YOU find a way to bring services to your home? Recently I have requested tutoring for my kids for their weaker areas and my special learner,  but I had the choice of going to a provider OR having one come to me. Frankly, I'd rather have them come to my house so that the instruction/provider time is maxed, and it's their travel time, not mine. HOW MUCH can a kid take is a question I ask myself when setting stuff up. Oh, well, I don't always like for providers to 'intrude' if you know what I mean in our little sanctuary (home) but it ultimately works out better by relieving some of the stress of leaving the home during our schooling routines.

So HOW do you handle such situations like doc, dental and other appointments? Do you have multiple therapies to navigate each week such as speech or occupational or physical therapy? What are YOU doing? 

Thanks for stopping by and if you are interested in the Crew's ideas go                ! Leave me a comment so I knew you were here~ God Bless!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal~WK 5: ROUGH WEEK BUT Made It!

I'm participating and if you want to, join up~love to hear about your week!

You know, when the weather is GORGEOUS like it was last weekend and you can get out and play like you haven't for a whole season, THEN...you almost need  to expect something DIFFERENT~yeah, that's what happened to me~I got out last Saturday and then by Monday the world turned to ICE and then we got dumped on with snow~YEP~loads of the white stuff..now, no need to complain, but just sayn' that it impacted me MORE than I was expecting!  I really was working it by getting out more and accomplishing things~THINKING spring! Well,,,,I shouldda KNOWN....lol...

In My Life and In Our Homeschool This Week:
I'm now taking a lesser role in our homeschooling with my son. I am giving him more freedom to make choices so he can figure out JUST WHAT it's gonna take for success~I know this sounds kinda silly! But this is giving ME some more freedom. I'm not attending classes with him nor watching what he's doing AS MUCH~I'm still responsible, and CARE, but I am letting him DO...better at 15 than 18 and fall flat b/c he's not gotten his feet under him! Soo in my life, I am continuing to work my food plan and also to exercise. I am looking for a stationary bike so I can move more.  I've been researching nutrition and health.  Can't go wrong there~and continue teaching youth on Wed nights~it's a busy busy life...We also signed up for a field trip in May to go on an actual archeology dig~woot!! AND daughter got her prep work on her teeth for that cosmetic dentistry since her braces are off~...BTW~yesterday early evening I got a vicious virus that shut me down and so we've had to redo all of my programs and files..NOT FUN!

My Favorite Thing This Week was...

That my daughter is pulling her math grade up~It's Amazing! whoohoo!!  It's the only class she struggles to have an A~GO GIRL!

What's Working/Not Working For Us...
What's working is that I'm feeling BETTER and that I want to DO more~what's not working is that I am worn out. I've been on a marathon for about 2 mo and I'm exhausted. Everyone in my house is...

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

What value are some of the things I am doing? Like all my computer time or phone time or...But WHAT ELSE am I gonna do? WHAT IS my life? WHAT AND HOW does it help my kids? Just thinking...

Here's a pic~

mama and me~Feb 2011

Thanks for stopping by~Leave me a shout out,plz! And if you wanna read mo, go           !

REVIEW: Math Rider~FUN WAY to LEARN and RETAIN MATH! Woot!

Galloping horse on a mission to save and defend~speed and agility~All connected to math skills~Your kids will love Math Rider!

I got a download of Math Rider as part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew Review program in exchange for my honest opinions without monetary compensation. My opinions are my own.

From the website:

Latest Generation Math Game, using Artificial Intelligence

Ride your horse on noble quests through the magical MathLands. Math Rider combines fun game play with a highly sophisticated question engine that adapts to your child. The game propels your child to mastery of all four math operations using numbers 0 to 12.
Math Rider was developed from personal need, because we wanted to help our own children who were struggling with fundamental math.

I enjoyed this interactive game. First it's for math fundamentals: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The faster you can type in your answers the faster the horse will run~and what's more is that you can set up an account for multiple children~all for the one low price~$37 normally $49 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE~woot!.

Features of the game (from the site)

• You will know when your child has completely mastered an operation. And more importantly, your child will know it, too!
• This is the fastest way to mastery of all four math operations. The artificial intelligence rehearses what is needed most, at a rate that is tailored to each player.
• The game recognises and rewards improvement, not just perfection. This builds confidence and propels children naturally towards complete mastery.
• Noble quests exemplify positive values such as family, caring, honesty and kindness.

I like the full color animation that plays in Adobe Flash~which is a free internet download. In just a short time, your child will love playing and increase his mental math skills~THESE are so essential and WHY fight over them or DRILL and KILL with flash cards?

Check out that sale HERE!  I say mostly elementary school kids, but youngers like preschool and kindergarten could play it if they already have mouse/keyboard skills and then some jr highs would love it, but others find it not action enough~Mine weren't challenged, but I say, they're just fuddie duddies in teen suits! LOL...

The Crew is talking about it              !

You won't go wrong when learning IS FUN!

Thanks for coming by, leave me a kind word~how's your math skills?

Fit Mommy Friday WK 8~Still Working, But Hit a Glitch~

It's a little glitch, but still a big one in many ways~I have not gotten to the Y as much as I need to this week~in fact, it's Wed right now when I am beginning to write this post and all that yucky snow and ice that got dumped on us on Sunday night-Monday really slowed me down...and then it kept going on Tues..but today, I've been tied up helping the kids get back into the schooling routine as we were off on Monday too...ha! Soo much for increasing my exercise! BUT you do have to know something about me~I have been continuing to MOVE MORE inside my house and have committed to HUNTING DOWN a stationary bike so I can begin working on it each morning before I start my day~just a few minutes of fast peddling before I go down the stairs to begin with God, my friend who prays and studies with me each day~and then breakfast~ALL days except Sundays when I am in a RUSH to head to church...oh yeah!  Well, so I've not found a bike YET, but I am thinking about hitting the Y after church tonight and swimming for an hour...hmmm...I COULD do that...yeah, gonna run it by the clan to see if they wanna~

Soo I am thinking MORE exercise is beneficial. My neuropathy is improving~My body is shrinking. You know, I never measured to begin with, but those smallest jeans are now gettting loose~whoohoo! I am drinking more water and working my body at intervals throughout the day~seriously..while I'm not full blown aerobic shape exercise potential YET, one day, I will be...

Also my son's PE class is discussing nutrition. I am NOT thrilled with all that I see b/c it's still too sugar based, meaning that there are too many grains in the overall make up of the suggested diet~grains however unrefined STILL turn to sugar~albeit slow..so watching them and eating them as natural as possible is a huge thing in reducing the glycemic index of a food plan. I'm thinking diabetes PREVENTION, here!

Here's some links:
Centers for Disease Control

I really like that this site is a STOREHOUSE of most anything health including current stats on the health of the nation and it doesn't help that I met someone who worked there once who said that the CDC is basically in the KNOW about all things health in our nation...okay, sounds credible to me...since I have a nursing background, this makes sense to me even more!

Okay, today is NOW Friday and I am way behind getting this post up~but I am struggling. I need to weigh and measure my food EACH meal and I don't *like* doing that~sooo I made a commitment yesterday to do this and guess WHAT? FAIL~sooo since I've had breakfast and lunch already~I will do it TONIGHT~oh boy!  I'm also snowed in so can't get out~have a level 2 travel advisory so this means I am STUCK in here~but going to begin my exercise bike research~I WANT one to begin each day with some riding~woot!

Still staying clean with the KINDS of foods~just want to address amounts at this time~AGAIN! BELIEVE it OR NOT~you CAN get fat on celery~don't believe 'em when they say YOU CAN'T...LOL...eating healthy and with proper portions with exercise fuels and keeps this body going!

Thanks for stopping by to ck on me~the pics are all Dec-just a week or two back in church~BE BLESSED and KEEP UP the great work. To ck on other Fit Mommys~go HERE!  You wanna join? GREAT, come on!

Review: Eternal Encouragement 's Newsletter~Encouraging Moments

MOTHERHOOD IS NOT for the faint of heart~nor the cowardly~NOR the profane...
SMART MOUTHED~Disrespectful~UGLY talk~RUDE~DISOBEDIENT~HURTFUL CHILDREN~and so on...are in a family's future IF some action isn't taken early in a young child's life... I ought to know...I have TEENAGERS~YIKES!  As a mom of two, I am living today the results of the upbringing and socialization of my precious children~do dare I admit they can be such?  Oh course, they can. But am I thrilled? NO.  In fact, honesty, purity, sweetness, obedience, grace and more are what I hope to have given them...but did I?  I tried.  I did.  But I haven't been perfect either~and while I have great kids, perfect they are NOT...but they are blessings to me...and they do soo try to do what is right, which pleases me, their father and our Lord.  

Since motherhood is totally TOUGH, along the way I've needed...sooo needed encouragement and HELP! HEEELP! When they were littles I listened to a radio program that discussed all things Christ-like womanhood and mothering that was a local pastor's wife in the area where we used to live...and I have found another source of support for today~Encouraging Moments~Our Moments Are Short and Sweet, the official newletter of Eternal Encouragement Magazine~formerly TEACH Magazine HERE. Yeah, for sure, my moments ARE so that~in fact...WHERE did time go?  Where DID the little babies go and bring me these great BIG adult sized children?  Life is marching by...and I desire support and some salve for my soul...a reprieve for my weary days~

Sweet kids...

Encouraging Moments won't take loads of time to dive into for you to gain that needed little nudge to keep you going. These E-newletters that are easy to join are concise timely nuggets designed for a quick pick-me -up to brighten and spur us onward in the ways of Christian mothering and womanhood.  Topics are around spiritual areas with Biblical emphasis and instruction.  This is some amazing stuff~and if you desire MORE than a weekly nudge, then you can subscribe  to the magazine Eternal Encouragement.  Mrs. Lorrie Flem is the publisher and has the depth and heart to show us Christ as we walk to do our roles in our homes~she's a wife, mother and has also homeschooled. 

Sweet kids again...

Inside you will find (from the website):

• Encouraging you with wisely spoken words.
• Convicting your heart as He refines you into His image.
• Challenging you to continue to strive for improvement.
• Touching your spirit with heart-warming stories.
• Entertaining you through life-learning lessons.
• Inspiring you to immerse yourself in the holy promises that are yours.

Each issue of TEACH covers a specific topic, topics that are relevant and revealing for homemakers and homeschoolers. You will love the tips and advice from our team of wonderful writers, or should we say experienced wives and mothers, ladies just like you?

All the sweet kids a few yrs back!

Who wouldn't WANT what this stuff? I certainly do! AND I sooo need it too~everyday...

When I received the Encouraging Moments newsletter, I found that the segment on teaching children obedience to be very good~some moms may not know how to do this in a positive way, especially if their mothering didn't model these kinds of things~The fact that it is multimedia presented Chick Flicks For Mom in a short film format made it interesting and sincere.  For their own sake, children must learn to do well in their heart which ultimately effects their actions.  Beginning now, with Encouraging Moments teaching and encouraging godly Christian character training and motherhood to we moms, our children have a better chance at life and pleasing the Lord in their future.  Christian family life and womanhood ideals are areas that Encouraging Moments is keen on, and you will find a wealth of all things from that perspective HERE!

I just had to post up a pic Maxine~as far as I know, she isn't a mom~but boy~howdee...I wonder about HER kids??!! ;-))  I definitely want to AVOID that trap...being a good wife and mother is very important...

Head over HERE to sign up for Encouraging Moments and give your spirit some support!  

Wanna know more? Go HERE to see what the other Gabby Moms are saying too! 

Thanks for stopping by~Leave me a shout out to let me know if you signed up~HUGS!!          

I am reviewing Encouraging Moments as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine.  I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.