The Sweetest Things

The Quarter Jars-Our Chore System

2011-04-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you struggle with keeping your house in order and clean, the kids on task to help, and most importantly, doing it all with the right attitude.

Teaching our kids how to take care of their things (and our things) is part of growing up and learning stewardship. Are you being intentional in how you go about teaching that? One day after getting on my kids for all the things they weren't doing to help me around the house, I had to admit that I hadn't been very intentional about training them to do it. I had taught them how to clean and put away, but I wasn't encouraging them in it. I expected them to see all the things around the house that needed to get done, and do it. I also expected them to do it with very little encouragement or reward. Here are a few tips I've learned and have helped us work towards a system of taking care of the house TOGETHER!

Have a plan
If I fail to implement a plan, I am planning to fail. Most children don't naturally want to do chores. They usually don't volunteer to help around the house. And they most certainly don't "see" all that needs to get done the way mom does. So we must teach them. As my kids have gotten bigger, I've started a few different chore systems. If the system is cumbersome to establish or to follow through on, or if it is overly dependent on me to work, it will quickly be abandonned. Often, we will start out strong, and then I'll forget to put the stickers on the chart, or calculate how much they've done and what I owe them, or fill out the next week's list of to-do items. And before you know it, we're essentially living like we don't have a system.

Let them be a part in establishing the system

My kids will be much more enthusiastic about our new chore system, if there is a craft involved. So, I bought 4 jars at Hobby Lobby for $1 each. I let the kids pick out their own wooden decoration and we decorated our jars with stickers and paint. I also bought a bag of pre-colored wooden blocks for about $3. These jars were going to help us keep track of work accomplished.

If they are old enough, let them keep track of their progress

It's not my job to keep track of what they've done or haven't done. With 4 kids to keep up with, I can't use up valuable brain cells on this! With our system, every time they do a chore it is their responsibility to come and add a wooden block from my jar into theirs. Every block is worth $.25. Chores that are more difficult can be worth more blocks.

Establish what the daily chores are that need to be done for each child There are certain things that need to be done everyday, and that changes based on the age of the child. For us right now, that includes making the bed, brushing teeth, getting dressed, keeping their rooms clean, putting away their laundry, doing their own dishes and helping keep toys picked up. Those things are expected. We've determined that all those things are worth a quarter every day. Those chores need to be done without my reminding and in a timely manner.

Reward them for taking initative
When they choose to do a chore (without my asking) they can earn extra blocks. It's been amazing to me to observe this. If they know there is a reward (a quarter) waiting for them, they miraculously know that the dishes need to be washed after every meal, or that the dog poop needs to be picked up. I realize that life doesn't always reward us moms for every time we take care of something that needs to be taken care of. However, that responsiblility has to be learned some time. Why not encourage it at young age? It's a whole lot better than the alternative: frustrated mommy yelling at her kids for not helping out more around the house.

Involve the little ones
If you have younger kids too, involve them. Kids as little as 3 can help pick up toys, organize the silverware drawer, wipe the counter off. Our 3 year old loves doing something just like her big brother and sister. She loves to put a block in her jar for helping mom. Earning quarters isn't quite on her radar yet, but she does love an occassional trip to the dollar bins at Target!

Delegate!
My kids are very good at reminding me to pay up. However, that's one very important detail I'm good at putting off. Your system is only as good as your willingness to be consistent at it. So, delegate areas that you are weak in to your spouse. If the whole family is involved in some way, you are more likely to be successful.

Model the right attitude
Lastly, it's important for us to model the right attitude about our chores. Being a mom involves a lot of thankless, unseen service to our families. I often remind myself of Jesus' words: "What you've done unto the least of these, you've done unto me." Matt 25:40. Somehow in God's amazing economy, our countless loads of laundry and endless meal preparation and upkeep of our homes are seen. They are seen by Him.

Our home routines and housekeeping are a long way off from what I would call being a "well-oiled machine." We are still working at it, and a lot of training still needs to be done; both for my kids and for me.

What are some of the things you're doing that are working in your house?

Heaven's Heroes

2011-04-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

Who do your kids want to be when they grow up? If you have sons, do they desire to be like Superman, saving the damsel in distress? If you have daughters, do they desire fame and beauty? None of these aspirations are wrong in an of themselves, but are they ultimate?

The Bible is full of stories and accounts of unlikely heros. Men who didn't fear the lion's den, the firey furnace or the executioners' stones. Women who hid spies, or mothers who hid their babes in baskets. Forgiven women who made radical acts of worship at the Savior's feet. We know and love these characters.

From time to time we all need stories that will rekindle our love and passion for Christ and for missions. Stories that ignite our spirits to live fully for Christ. We all need "heros" to look up to and emulate. For that reason, I commend for your reading, Heaven's Heroes by David Shibley. This devotional-like book introduces 22 ordinary men and women who do extraordinary things for missions and ultimately-the Kingdom.

Take for example: Eric Liddell. He was an athlete. But not just any athlete, he was an Olympic gold medalist runner. He left the fame and glory that was his in Scotland for the unreached people in China. In the village he was serving in, a man was sentenced to die by beheading. The executioner missed his mark and the man was left for dead. Liddell placed the man in a cart and pushed the man for 18 miles to the nearest hospital. The man's life was saved and he converted to Christ. I could see the wheels turning in my son's head as we read these amazing accounts, and he exclaimed, "I want to be like Eric Liddell, when I grow up!"

What makes a real hero? I submit it's not a latex suit and super-human powers. But a real hero is made by men and women, boys and girls who take God at His Word and live, and maybe even die for Him.

William Carey, missionary to India so aptly put it, "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God." Get this book, be inspired and fall in love with some real heroes.

We don't do Santa...

2011-02-02T12:54:00.001-08:00

We don't do Santa or the Easter Bunny and I accidently spilled the beans on the Tooth Fairy. But a few years ago I came up with some new characters for Valentine's Day...the Lovebugs.

Maybe I did it out of guilt, or maybe I was just bored, but I wanted to create some of that childish wonder and imigination for my kids that I had as a child. We felt that for our household, Santa and the Easter Bunny both detracted from the ability to saturate Christmas and Easter with the gospel. So, I thought, "Why not take the historically-pagan "Tamus" day and turn it around for Christ?" Thus, the Lovebugs were born.

From February 1-14 mysterious little bugs sneak into our house, leave goodies and notes in the the children's mailboxes. Sometimes its a note, sometimes a joke or a riddle, sometimes there's a gift, sometimes there's not. And sometimes, the bugs get caught in the winter storm and are running a little late. (A.K.A. Mom forgot that it was February 1st and had to run to Target last minute.) But the message remains the same, the Lovebugs try to remind and point us back to the most amazing love during this season and every season-God's love for us through Jesus Christ.

The best part of the Lovebugs are some of the notes the kids leave behind. "What's your favorite color?" "Where do you live?" or my favorite, "I love you Lovebugs, we'll miss you!"

I've been surprised at how quickly and passionately the kids have latched on to the Lovebugs. My oldest is pushing 10 and she doesn't "seem" to suspect. Maybe she knows deep down, but fears that if she verbalizes her doubts the fun tradition might stop.

If you see any of my kids between now and Valentine's Day, help me keep the secret, and don't spill the beans!

A Summer in Review-2010

2010-08-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

Summer flies by, even as an adult. Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights) from the "R" household over the last 2 1/2 months.

Horseback riding lessons
Friend playdates
New photos
A friend's visit from out of town
Start-up of new Silpada business
Sweet family time in Durango
The smell of 4th of July fireworks
A weekend with friends in Chama at a friend's cabin
Matt Whitling, our houseguest
Teacher training and new family interviews
3 trips to the zoo
1 trip to Explora
1 trip to the Natural History Musuem
2 trips to the Botanical gardens
1 trip to Cliff's, or lovingly renamed in our house "Clifford's"
1 NAUMS conference in Dallas
1 Sweet get-a-way with husband and 4 month old
1 extra movie role in "Let Them Shine"
"Little House in the Big Woods"
"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane"
3 rooms in the house re-arranged and cleaned out
1 loft repainted
2 bike rides along the Bosque
4 board meetings
Family Education Week
Oak Grove projects-galore
Countless "owies" kissed
Countless forgivenesses extended
Sister-in-law's scary car accident
Outpouring of love and prayers
New mercies every day...

A good reminder, and my prayer today is, "Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom" Psalm 90:12

Ella Faith

2010-05-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, I'm terrible at this blogging thing. I've been so sweetly reminded by several friends, of late. So here it is. I'll try to do better. Promise.

Since my last post announced our pregnancy, I thought it would be appropriate to post the first pictures of our sweetest addition, Ella Faith. She was born 2.5 weeks early on St. Patricks Day. She's already 11 weeks old. She was 7lbs 15 oz, 20inches long.

My labor with her was unlike any of my previous 3. Tim and I had taken some Hypnobirthing classes. (I know, it sounds weird, but it really works!) For the first time, I felt that we were in control of our birth experience. We decided to birth at home as long as possible. The Lord's timing was really amazing as I look back. It was spring break, so thankfully we had no school responsibilities. Tim and I had toyed around with the idea of taking a vacay to southern Colorado, while the in-laws kept the kids for us. On Tuesday morning we decided that we'd have a stay-cation instead. The idea of driving for 3-4 hours was less than appealing to me. So we had a great day hanging around ABQ. We ate out, went shopping, saw a movie, and just had a great time together. I had no idea that I'd have a baby in less than 24 hours.

The next morning at 3am I woke up in labor. We ended up going to the hospital to get checked (just in case). I was 5cm, and we decided to go home and labor at home naturally. The nurses looked at me like I was crazy when I said I wanted to go home at 5cm. We were there all day, working through my contractions. At about 5pm I knew it was time to go in. All of a sudden I was very nervous that I'd be having a baby on the Big-I. By the time we got to the hospital, I was about 7cm. I'll spare you all the gorey details, but just 2 hours and 2 pushes later we had a baby.

The HB worked really well for me. I was amazed at how much I learned in the class. I thought after 3 kids, I knew what I was doing. On our last class our instructor brought a 2 lb bag of ice to our house. Our, I should say, my "test" to graduate from the class was that I had to stick my hand in a bucket of ice for about 3 minutes. I had to use all the relaxation techniques I had learned to get through the pain of the cold. If you've never tried keeping your hand in a bucket of ice for an extended period of time, you should try it. It hurts!!! After about 30 seconds of tensing up and wanting to pull my hand out, I was able to give in to "it" and actually relax. That's the whole concept of HB. Learning to relax your mind and body through labor and delivery.

I'd always dreamed of being one of these women who barely made a sound and refused all medical intervention. I did, ahem, make a few sounds, but was happy that I felt in control of my experience. The Lord was so gracious to even let my midwife be on duty that day and she delivered Ella!

Right after Ella was born they placed her on my belly and she nursed right away. This was one of our requests that she wasn't wisked off to be tested and rubbed down. She was definitely more relaxed and less traumatized by the whole thing. It was a beautiful experience with an even more beautiful result. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

A sampling from the last 11 crazy weeks of our lives...

A Welcome Home board for me and Ella coming home from the hospital.

The "Wild Card" was how Grace would accept her new sister. So far, that hasn't been an issue. She's quite smitten with her.

A Post-NY Surprise

2009-08-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

I suspected all week in NY, but kept talking myself out of it. We've never been surprised before, so I was sure my mind was playing tricks on me. So, the first morning we returned home, a test confirmed my suspicions. Next April, our quiver will be +1 and complete. We're anxious to meet this new little one, known right now only to the Lord.

Children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward.-Psalm 127

First Day of School-take 2

2009-08-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

#1 with 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Nixon

#2 with Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kinney

Ok, so once again, I'm a bit behind on posting since this happened over 2 weeks ago. #1 started 3rd grade, her second year at Oak Grove, and my #2 started Kindergarten. Neither he nor I cried, which surprised me. I was fully prepared for this to be the case. I had been dreading and looking forward to this day for over a year. The realization of how big this day was didn't really occur to him. He just knew that he was getting "big" and was able to go to school just like his big sister.

Maybe I didn't cry because I realize it's only 2 days a week, and the thought of actually getting some chores done during the week sounds really nice. Nonetheless, it feels like such a monumental step in life to send off yet another child to start at least a 13 year journey towards hopefully more fully grasping Christ-likeness and understanding the world around him.

When I picked him up from school the first day I asked him, "How was your first day of school?" He replied, "It was so hard! We worked all day!"

I know one day I'll blink and they'll be graduating. I'll try not to think about that too much, and I'll just appreciate the fact that they are both just so darn cute in their school uniforms and excited about going to school.

NYC-American Girl Store

2009-08-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

When we first told the kids that we were going to New York, they didn't ask if they were going to see the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. The first thing Caitlyn asked was if we were going to the American Girl Store. So of course, this was a HUGE event and I must admit one of the highlights of the trip for me too.

We started our experience with afternoon tea on the 3rd floor in the American Girl cafe. We had our friends Greta and Christiana with us (who live in NY) and of course Jana and Emilie. This cafe was a sight to behold. The theme was carried out beautifully in black, white and pink. The dolls had a place of honor at the table with their own special highchairs. When we sat down Caitlyn said, "This is the best day of my life!" She was so excited and really "ate it up." The dolls were even given their own tea cups and saucers.

After tea, we spent hours looking through all three floors and myriads of overpriced accessories, outfits and paraphenalia. They even had their own hair salon. Hannah and Julie (our 2 AGs)were in dire need of a trip to the salon and got quite the treatment. I will not confess how much I spent on this, but I will say that Caitlyn spent her own hard earned money for a mini-facial for each of them as well as a very special outfit.

I can imagine that the workers in this store have seen some very spoiled little girls go through there that weren't denied a single pleasure. But for Caitlyn, she knew that if she wanted to purchase anything, it would be out of her own hard earned cash. She would see the price tag on items and be blown away by how expensive it was. As a result, we didn't fight or have pout-y spells, because she knew this going in. It was fun for me to help her make the best possible purchase. She decided on a flower girl outfit (for $30) and a set of earrings (for $7).

I seriously enjoyed myself at the store! Maybe it was because I could imagine myself at 8 years old again and enjoying this as much as Caitlyn did! But even more so, it was the pleasure of providing my daughter this one small desire of her heart. Sadly, one day she'll outgrow Julie and Hannah, but I hope she'll always remember how special this day was and that we got to share it together.

NYC-Day 1

2009-07-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm kicking myself right now for not bringing my cable to download my pictures! Ugh!!! Those will have to wait. We've had such a nice, exciting, exhilarating, exhausting day. We got a late start this a.m. mostly because we didn't get into bed until 1am the night before after an exhausting but good day of travel.

There were a few things about our travel yesterday that were noteworthy. Grace did pretty well and only cried inconsolably about 2 or 3 times. But what was really amazing was hearing the conversations our children had with the strangers they were sitting by. Because we were such a large group we had to split up a bit. On the first flight Caitlyn and Emilie sat next to "Joel". He was the nicest guy, and seriously enjoyed talking to the girls. There were TVs in the seats, and he said to them "you can watch TV anytime, let's talk." You just got the feeling he got a kick out of these girls. Then on the second stretch Caitlyn and Jake sat next to a little old Hindu woman. Can you tell where this is going? If you know Caitlyn, you do. Anyway, she just comes right out and asks this lady if she worships Mary. To which the lady replied, "Yes, I worship a lot of people." (Or something to that effect.) Caitlyn asked, "Well, are you a sinner?" And the lady said "No." Then Caitlyn said, "Well, if we aren't all sinners, then Christ didn't have to die." Then, that was it. On to the next subject. I was amazed. I wish I had my daughter's boldness.

On the other side of the aisle, Cole and Emilie sat next to an older gentleman. Out of curiosity he asked them, "Do you know who our President is?" Emilie answered, "Yeah, Obama's our President, but we don't like him."
Cole: "Yeah, we don't like Obama, he's a mean man."
Emilie: "He's not a mean man; we just don't like what he's doing."
Cole: "Well Obama's not a Christian."
Man: "He says he's a Christian."
Cole: "He's not a Christian, he doesn't know the gospel."

Tim and I are hearing bits of this conversation carry over the white noise of the plane and are helpless to do anything about it. Later, we found out from Rob and Jana that this man was probably the only conservative living in NYC and was quite pleased with their answers. Whew...!

TODAY:

The best and most challenging part of the day is having the kids with us. I seriously don't know how the locals do it. I'm so paranoid about losing sight of any of them. (And remember we're traveling with Rob and Jana so there are 5 kids to keep tabs on.) I'm scared to death of getting separated on the subway, or that a crazy cab driver is going to plow us down as we cross a street, or that some crazy person will snatch them away when my back is turned. Not to mention, the challenges of navigating a very un-stroller-friendly subways. Tim and Rob have gotten their workout today carrying that stroller up and down stairs and setting off alarm bells, because we can't get through a turnstile. Come on, NY does no one else have this problem? Ah...life in the big city. I'm conscientious of these safety issues at home, but here, it's cranked up times 100. Ok, that's the challenge, but the joy is getting to see the city through their eyes for the first time.

Today, we visited some new sights. We started down on Wall Street and saw Trinity Church. You know, the one Nicholas Cage digs down below and finds the world's biggest treasure. It was actually quite beautiful. We explored the old graveyard next door seeing headstones dating back to the 1700s. The church was a beautiful gothic building. It's Episcopal, so while it reminds me of some the Catholic cathedrals I've visited, there weren't any crucifixes, or over-the-top Mary-worship. The stained glass behind the altar had Jesus in the center, rightfully sitting on the throne.

Then we went down Wall Street. Very cool! One of the most striking things about it was the security measures they’ve taken. It’s totally closed off to traffic and there are metal barricades in the middle of the street. We also got to see the NYSE. The kids didn’t get it, but I thought it was really cool to see in person what I’ve only seen on TV. Then we say the place George Washington was sworn in as President. That felt like hallowed ground to me. Talk about a piece of real estate that changed the world.

Speaking of changing the world: then we walked over the WTC site. They are building at 100 story building and beautiful memorial gardens there.
After that we headed down to Battery Park. We were amazed and how tired and lifeless the kids were until they saw a playground and ran around for a half hour. Then we walked over to the Staten Island Ferry to go by the Statue of Liberty. The kids leapt with excitement the first time they saw “her”. After that roundtrip, Gracie finally fell asleep in her stroller and we headed up to lunch in SoHo, and then found a little chocolate factory for some sweets.

Then we headed back up to Central Park. Ah…Central Park! I love it every time I’m there. It’s so refreshing to see green and trees after wandering through the concrete jungle of Manhattan. Central Park was teeming with life. People were playing softball, reading, rock-climbing, splashing, making out (seriously), riding bikes and walking. It was like this microcosm of life. The kids loved it and enjoyed climbing the big boulders most of all. Again, where they get their energy is beyond me.

After that instead if hailing a cab (which was my idea), we drug those tired little
monkeys another 10 or so blocks back home. Everyone really did awesome today. It was just exhausting. Tomorrow, we’re going to go to the shore with our local friends. It’s supposed to rain, but it will at least be a nice change to the miles we put on today.

If anyone has read this far, I’m impressed. I’ll try to blog again soon. Signing off.

Mom turns 5

2009-06-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

For those who are in Christ, we all can boast of having 2 birthdays, our physical birthday as well as a spiritual one. But my mom is the only one I know who can boast of having 3! Five years ago yesterday, Mom received her long-awaited for, and prayed for bone-marrow. Back then, the doctors told her that they would not consider her "cured" until she had survived 5 years without relapse. While, we praise the Lord for doctors, we never put our faith in them, nor did we believe that their "magic" number 5 was proof of God's healing power. Long before we hit the 5-year mark, we knew that the Lord in his mercy had spared my mom (and us). But, nonetheless, it marks a significant milestone and we continue to praise Him for his faithfulness.

Last night, the whole family surprised her with a celebration of this milestone at El Pinto. M & C and their fam brought balloons, I made a birthday cake, and the kids all contributed their cards. Dad pulled off the surprise, by organizing us and casually suggesting they go out to eat instead of staying in. She couldn't have been more surprised when she walked out on the patio and saw all 11 of us there waiting for her.

Psalm 103:1-5 says it all: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle."

Spring in Review

2009-06-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

I just downloaded my camera, sheesh... a lot has happened in the last few months! Here's the lowdown.

May 1st, #1 had her 2nd recital with her piano teacher, Penny Patz. She was so excited and confident and showed very little nerves, she certainly didn't get that from me. It's wonderful to see her enjoying piano and desiring to learn more.

Then #1 also turned 8 on Mother's Day. We had a great birthday bash for her this year. Over 40 people showed up at a local park for the party. I think fun was had by all.

To fit our butterfly-themed birthday, we released our own butterflies.

C & C both graduated from their Awanas classes. We can't wait for next year!

We celebrated the end of 2nd grade at Mrs. G's house! What a tremendous blessing she's been to our school and family! We love you Mrs. G!

In a bittersweet finale, the whole school participated in an end-of-the-year performance on the last day of school. It's amazing to see what these children have learned this year. Kinder recited Psalm 53 and sang some songs, 1-2 recited the Table Blessing in Latin and sang their history chronology song. (This was a feat in itself: 32 events from 2200BC to 476 AD, I sometimes wake up to parts of this song running through my head in the middle of the night!) 3rd graders recited Psalm 23 in latin as well. It was so great to see how faithful the Lord's been to us this year at Oak Grove.

And finally, we spent Memorial Day in Pagosa with some of our dearest friends. About 20 of us (half of us being under 10 years old) rented a great house in the Springs. We got a lot of rain, but it was great to let the kids play, grown-ups relax, and enjoy having nothing to do! Can't wait to do it again next year!

Easter Story Cookies

2009-04-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so encouraged by those who visited my blog and actually told me they made the dioramas with their own kids! I'm not used to anyone reading my blog besides my family. So here's another project I do every year to illustrate Christ's amazing sacrifice for us. The kids love this!

This is to be done the night before Easter.

You need:
1 cup pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar

Bible
ziploc
wooden spoon
tape

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (*this is important-don't wait til halfway done with the recipe!!)

Place the nuts in a ziploc and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let the kids smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our sins. Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and died for our sins. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! ON the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9

He is Risen!

Diorama Mania!

2009-04-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Over spring break we started this craft and just got around to finishing it yesterday. It was a several stage project. The idea was to create an Easter scene inside the egg, and use this as another opportunity to teach my kids about the true meaning and significance of Easter.

In case your interested, here's how to make a diorama:

First you do paper mache over a balloon. This was a messy, but really fun step. We cut up a ton of different colored tissue papers and made a mixture of flour and water. Then, you dip the tissue in the mixture and slap it on your balloon. It's important to do several layers to make it more thick and sturdy.

Let the balloon dry overnight. Then cut the balloon at the tie and pull it out through the hole in the top.

Next cut out the opening for your scene.

First we painted wooden crosses to be placed at the back of each scene.

Then, we used Modeling clay and had fun creating different scenes from the Bible out of the clay. Modeling clay is really lightweight and easy to work with. It comes in a ton of different colors too.

Then place your scene inside your hollowed-out balloon. Tie a ribbon on top, and viola your done!

Caitlyn added a figurine of Jesus, a tree with a serpent and an apple hanging from it, and a rainbow and flowers. Cole added a zebra, rainbow, flowers and tree.

It was a great time to talk about the significance of the cross and what Easter really means. It isn't about cute little chicks and candy and new clothes, although those are all a fun part of Easter. It's about the perfect, sinless lamb of God, Jesus, laying down his life for ours. Substituting his perfect spotless righteousness for our sin-stained lives. What a wonderful season this is, and what a wonderful Savior we have!

It's official: "We have a Walker!"

2009-03-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Each child is so unique in their own ways and does things according to their own timetable. Gracie is 14 months and has been "flirting" with walking for weeks now. She'd cruise along the couch, or would feel confident with someone's hand to hold, but doing it by herself was another story. In the last few days, she's taken off! Walking, turning and even going backwards. It's also created a "Miss Independent" attitude. If I pull her in one direction, all of the sudden, the opposite seems quite tempting. Those first steps are so precious. There's something really sacred about watching first steps. It marks the beginning of so many new joys yet undiscovered and challenges and bruises yet to be faced.

Some new pics of my babes

2009-03-20T13:35:00.001-07:00

Better late than never-Gracie turns 1!

2009-02-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

My blogging skills aren't much to be desired, but here it is almost 2 months later.

Gracie Zane turned 1 on January 7, 2009. It's amazing that a year has come and gone.

Here are some of her milestones at age one...

Says "uh-oh" to perfection!
Crawls
Climbs the stairs
Waves bye-bye
Smiles and lights up our hearts
Says "bah" for please with a little tummy rub
Loves her big bro and sis
She's definitely a carnivore and loves meat
Not a fan of veggies (surprise, surprise)
Is sleeping through the night "Hallelujah!"
Has effortlessly stolen our hearts

Happy 1st Birthday Grace!

One of the best books I've ever read!

2008-12-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

I just finished the 500+ page novel Ishmael by E.D.E.N. Southworth. A friend lent me this precious find. It is a Lamplighter book. Lampligher is a Christian company that searches for old out-of-print novels and reprints them with a beautiful binding to treasure forever. These books have a wonderful Christian message that many books seem to lack these days.

I simply devoured this book. It's about a young man named Ishmael as he overcomes every adversity imaginable and yet with honesty, integrity and bravery. The book takes place in the mid-1800s in America. Ishmael lives to overcome his ignoble birth and poverty to become something great; and succeeds. His honesty and God-fearing nature makes you want to do more for the glory of God. This is definitely on the list of books I would love my children to read when they are older. It speaks so much to character, godly relationships, overcoming hardships, perserverance and hard work!

I found that there is no copyright on this book and you can read it for free online. I don't know if you could possibly read it off of the computer because it's so long, but here it is nonetheless. For all who do so: Enjoy!
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15774/15774-h/15774-h.htm

"I can't believe he's 5!"

2008-12-06T12:37:00.001-08:00

"Can you say, precious?"

The nightvision goggles, he wanted.

Today we celebrated Cole's 5th birthday.

I remember the ultrasound when I found out I was having a boy. I remember being really awed and excited to have a boy, but quite frankly, a bit bewildered by it as well. I worried about typical things (at least I thought they were typical). Like, how am I going to know what toys to buy him? (Tim's department.) How will I know how to change a boy diaper? (Much easier than a girl, I decided.) And, what about boy clothes? Those aren't nearly as cute as the girl clothes. (Not really true.) And the zinger: Am I going to love him as much as I love Caitlyn? Well, to answer that, all I can say is that this little guy pulls on my heartstrings in a totally new and different way. I'm like all moms who absolutely loves all her children. But a mom and her boy? How can I explain it? If you have a son, you understand.

Heading South: A Visit to Bosque Del Apache

2008-11-22T21:34:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day we had! The whole family went south today to visit the wildlife preserve of Bosque Del Apache just south of Socorro.

We had never visited it before and we didn't know what to expect. It far exceeded our expectations. We ate lunch at the visitor's center and walked through an arts and crafts show. We also saw lots of wildlife that had been rescued, including owls, foxes, snakes and even a wolf. Then we drove the loop around the preserve. My photos just don't do it justice. I have never seen so many birds and cranes at the same time! They were innumerable. On the first little lake there even lived 2 bald eagles. This was the first time I'd ever seen bald eagles in the wild.

When you really think it, it is an amazing journey these birds take. Traveling thousands of miles every year. They start in Canada and head towards the equator for the winter. This is just a spot of rest for them.

The kids really enjoyed themselves too. I was satisfied that they were able to see all of this beautiful creation and appreciate it. Sometimes I wonder if I would've appreciated this as a kid, or if it would've been too "boring" for me. But I think it helped that they saw all the adults thoroughly enjoying themselves and glorying in God's creation too.

It also helped that they had their best buds/cousins there to play with too. They are all so precious with eachother. I love it! Listening to Cole and Ben in the backseat of the car, I overheard Cole explaining a game he concocted to Ben. It went like this: "Ok Ben, we are going to be ninjas and then we are going to get lots of snacks and have a tea party." Can you tell he has an older sister?

At the end of the day, as we were nearing the end of the loop, we saw the most spectacular sight of all: the "Landing". Countless numbers of birds (we never did figure out what kind they were: maybe geese of some kind), swooped down into this field to eat. It was like watching bomber plans coming in on a target; wave after wave of birds. We thought they were all in, and then off in the distance we'd see more coming in. It was awesome! Tim and I decided this was definitely an activity we'll want to repeat next year.

Ok, I'm not a professional photographer, but this photo is my absolute fav!

Cranes, cranes and more cranes

Our mystery birds

Coming in for a landing

A Visit to Sacramento

2008-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Last week Tim and I had a little getaway to Sacramento. He had a conference to attend, and Gracie and I tagged along for the ride. We had a wonderful time. I was also able to visit and reconnect with my dear friend, Amy and her sweet daughter Faith. We had such a wonderful visit. She drove 5 hours from Oregon just to hang out with us.

Old Sacramento. Cute and Quaint.

Cara and Amy with our sweet girlies.

During Tim's conference days, Gracie and I managed to fill up our time. I finished a book, walked the mall and a visited some beautiful Victorian museums in town. I also toured the Capitol building and found the "Governator's" office. There were press and security waiting outside his door for a press conference. I waited and waited for him to come out, but Gracie was getting cranky and I had to leave. Bummer. Would've been a better story if he'd come out.

The Governor's Mansion. Only a musuem now, but I loved visiting it. It was like walking through a time machine. So much history!

Of course, I had to visit the "old Schoolhouse". This was so sweet. I felt like I was on Little House on the Prairie.

Give me an O-A-K G-R-O-V-E

2008-11-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

Just in case anyone reads my blog, besides my mom, Oak Grove is hosting our first Informational Meeting this Thursday at 6:30 at DSC. Please come and hear about what neat things are going on a OGCA!

Here's a testimonial from one of our teachers...

"I just wanted to share a fun instance where I have really seen the 'tools of learning' coming into play at school. In science, we are studying earth science currently. As part of our unit on water and erosion, we have studied the Grand Canyon. On a home day, I asked the students to find some interesting information about the Grand Canyon at the library, in an encyclopedia, etc. Two students in particular shared stated an interesting fact or two, but then quickly added something to the effect of, " . . . and, this is totally wrong, but the book I read said that the earth was millions of years old" or "well, it says this, but we all know that it's not true . . " I love, LOVE hearing - and really seeing - that these kids are already at a stage where they are discerning the things that they read. Those library books can sure look 'authoritative'. But our kids are gaining skills to really call things what they are, and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to see it happening. And I know that the curriculum isn't shoving the 'right' answer down their throats. It is really giving them the tools to approach other things - things that are definitely outside of the curriculum - with the confidence of the truth. Just thought I'd share! What a great blessing God has given us in Oak Grove."

All Hallow's Eve

2008-10-31T21:04:00.000-07:00

My little pumpkin's first Halloween!
Even I got into it this year. I just had a wild hair to dress up this afternoon. I've had this poodle skirt since 6th grade. Thank goodness for elastic waistbands!
My little ninja, pumpkin and princess Buttercup.

What beauties!
Jake the Army-man, and Emilie the Beauty (Belle that is.)

What a blast we had tonight! We trick-or-treated down in Mom and Dad's neighborhood, which didn't disappoint! They seriously got into it. I wish the kids dove into their chores and schoolwork with the same gusto as they collected candy! For that matter, I wish I did too.

Zeus' Family Reunion

2008-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Caitlyn's 2nd grade class had a Greek party to celebrate the end of a history unit on Greek mythology. All the kids dressed up as a different Greek god or goddess. Caitlyn was so excited to be Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. (We decided it was best not to mention how Aphrodite is linked to false religion and worship throughout history.) In her mind, it was all about love and beauty. We fashioned a homemade toga out of a bedsheet, and a single red rose, a great up-do and a dash of lipstick.

Mrs. Green once again pulled off a very special event. She had Greek music playing, tablescapes and ambrosia (the food of the gods)for us all to enjoy. I got the biggest kick out of all the student's costumes. We were graced with the presence of Hera, Athena, Poisden, Zeus, Apollo and Demeter. I know I'm forgetting some, but the point is they were adorable.

A trip to the Aquarium

2008-10-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

A beautiful autumn day at the Aquarium. Diamond days...

A Visit to Dad's New Shop

2008-10-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today the kids and I visited my dad and brother's new shop. This has certainly been a walk of faith and a labor of love for both of them. I'm so happy to see it coming together and anxious to see the end result!

Atypical baby shower

2008-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

All right, this is a little late, but better late than never, right? Leah, Kim and I took Ruth out in celebration of the birth of her impending little one. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Indigo Crow out on the patio. I can't remember what we all ate, but I do know it was delicious, and more importantly the company was fabulous! The weather was perfect; the village of Corrales was celebrating fall with hay rides down the street. We even heard the faint sound of a bag-piper. We followed lunch with a massage at Massage Envy. A story in it's own right, right Ruth?

Up, up and Away!

2008-10-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Friday, my dad, Caitlyn and I had a wonderful opportunity to go up in a hot-air balloon. This was the kick-off event for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, and balloons took off from schools all around town.

How did we get here? Well, let me back up. This summer, Oak Grove held a Silent Auction/Fundraiser event. This balloon ride was an item up for bid. I got in a bidding war with another person, and in the end, I had the winning bid. (Partly, because I was stalking the bid sheet, and giving dirty looks to anyone who might attempt to outbid me.) Dad and I decided this was going to be our thing. My sweet husband took me on a hot-air balloon ride on our honeymoon 11 years ago and vowed never to do it again. I knew he must really love me to do this, since he is afraid of heights.

The pilot of our balloon "Sky Draggin" was kind enough to allow me to bring my adventure seeking daughter, Caitlyn for the ride of her life thus far. I think it's funny that my dad is over 60 and this was his first flight, and Caitlyn, at 7 has already had this awesome experience.

So we got up at the "butt-crack" and went to Northstar Elementary. It was a thrill to have all these kids screaming and waving at us as we lifted up off the ground. Our ride took us over the Sandia Reservation. Albuquerque looks beautiful, calm and diverse from 1000 feet off the ground. The river valley was green,blue mountains and brown landscape all added to the beauty. It was fun to try to locate familiar landmarks. We saw our neighborhood, dad's new shop, downtown, Sandia Resort, Placitas, the Railrunner train, volcanoes way out west, and almost to Santa Fe.

Our pilot, Buzz, told us that he didn't want to land on the Res because our crew wouldn't be able to get on and we'd have to call the Indian police to be escorted off. When we landed we just barely made it to the other side of the Sandia boundary If you look closely in one of the photos you can see the fence just a stone's throw from where we landed. There was very little wind and so we ended up just "sitting" up there for a very long time. Which was totally okay with us. We were in no hurry to get down. (Buzz probably felt differently. By the time we landed, the fuel was very low.) Most flights are about 20-40 minutes; ours was about an hour and a half. The landing in and of itself was quite impressive. Buzz brought us down very smoothly in the middle of a cactus-filled landscape.

It was really neat to see how the crew works together to make a flight take place. It takes a lot of people to see these balloons safely off the earth, and safely back again. The crew initiated us by having us help deflate the balloon (quite a job!), a champagne toast, and certificate, and signing the official Balloon Fiesta banner that hangs on the gondola.

I think my favorite part of this whole experience was taking my dad. He kept saying how this was one of the highlights of his life. I could tell he was diggin' the whole experience. I love that it was a memory made for the books and we shared it together!

Family Camp and the Grand Canyon

2008-09-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to Young Life family camp at Lost Canyon near Williams, AZ. It was a blast--again. We went to this camp last year and enjoyed it so much we went back with the Didricksons and invited the Burdicks to join us.

The skits were side-splitting funny, the food was great, activities galore, and a beautiful setting to top it all off. This year, since I wasn't preggers, I was able to do the ropes course. I didn't do the zip line because that would've required getting in a bathing suit and landing in the cold lake. Caitlyn did it though and I was so proud of her! The kids loved the water slides, games and mostly just hanging out with their friends. It feels so weird, but we're able to let them just run around and play, not knowing where they were every second, but knowing that they were safe. A totally new concept for us city-dwellers!

On Saturday night we were able to put the kids to bed early. (YL even provided babysitters to sit outside our cabins and call us if we were needed.) We went to club and watched some of the funniest skits and YouTube videos I'd seen in a long time. The night culminated with a congo line to the pool and parents and kids jumping in with their clothes on. Then ice cream to top off the evening. I was glad our kids were asleep for this one. But what fun it was to see parents being silly and doing crazy things for their kids.

Yesterday, after our last club we decided to make a "quick stop" by the Grand Canyon. I was really so excited to go there again. There is nothing quite like standing on the edge of that massive canyon and realizing how majestic the Lord is, and how small I am. His creation is a wonder to behold.

The kids enjoyed it more than we expected. I was trying to explain what they were going to see on the drive. "Well, it's this really big hole, that's been carved out by the Colorado river. But you'll be amazed at how beautiful and colorful it is."

I tried my best to explain the differing views of 2 billion years old vs. a result of the flood. It ends up that they really didn't care that much, but hopefully it will be a great reference point in their memory as they study this in the future.

Our "little" stop got us home after 11pm, but it was so worth it!

My 5 seconds of fame

2008-08-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Last September Tim, Rob and Jana and I went to NYC for a week. One evening, while the guys were at a Yankee game, Jana and I and our friends who live in NY were walking around near Grand Central Station when we saw a commerical being shot. We stopped and were peering over shoulders to watch what was happening. I was about 6 months pregnant and one of the crew members on the set wanted to put a pregnant lady in the shot. The commercial was a "truth" ad which talks about the evils of smoking. So, they told me to stand over here and do nothing, and if I made the final cut I'd get a $600 check in the mail.

It was a great experience. I stood next to "professional" extras who were very nice and asked all kinds of questions about me and my baby. It was actually dusk when I showed up on the set. I think they had been filming for quite awhile, but they took one final shot and that was a wrap. They had me sign a waiver, and gave me $1 for my time.

I totally forgot about this until a friend found it and sent it to me. I never got my $600 check and you'll see they blurred my face.

So watch very carefully...at the end of the commerical you'll see me, I'm wearing a brown sweater over an aqua blue shirt and blue jeans. If you blink you'll miss it.

Some people get 15 minutes of fame, I get 2.5 seconds with my face blurred out.

Oak Grove officially opens today!

2008-08-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, I can say to myself there is more to my life than Oak Grove, but lately this hasn't been true. So much time, planning, prayer and preparation has gone into today, it really is staggering! It's the culmination of so many people's hard work, ideas and energy. What a blessing it's been to be a part of this new work! I remember saying a year ago, "If this school actually opens, I'm going to cry." Well, I didn't cry today, but I felt like it. Not only because today is the day we've been working towards, but because I'm missing Caitlyn already. This is something I haven't given much thought to. Oh yeah, Oak Grove will be a wonderful place to learn and grow, but that means I have to drop Caitlyn off each day. Even though she's 7 years old, she's been home with me for her first 2 years of school. I know because of that, I'm going to appreciate OG and the partnership aspect that much more. But right now Cole and I are missing her.

SWR Training- I'm getting it...

2008-07-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

This last week has been a crazy whirlwind week for me. Next year at Oak Grove we are implementing the curriculum, Spell to Write and Read (SWR). I first learned about this curriculum from a friend after I finished homeschooling Caitlyn in Kindergarten. I remember thinking that it was a very organized and superior method to the one I had been using. I thought that I could teach her to spell later. I was more concerned about getting her to read comfortably and "fast". While I did successfully teach her to read, I've had to go back a little bit this last year to get her comfortable with her phonograms. I've been using SWR all year, but have felt that I've been doing it "wrong". The Lord in His graciousness, has blessed even my feeble attempts at this program. I recently tested Caitlyn and found that she was testing at 2.4 level. It wasn't as high as I was wanting, but very satisfactory considering we just finished first grade.

I admit that it is an overwhelming curriculum at first glance. After this seminar, I feel that I have a much better understanding of the philosophy of SWR and how to implement it.

So, with the start of Oak Grove we decided that we needed to hire a certified SWR trainer to come out and train all of us; teachers and co-teachers. This is where the craziness of the last week has come in. I've been running errands, making copies, sending e-mails, gathering materials, trying to track payments of those attending, cleaning in my house (the trainer is staying with me), put together packets for the parents and attend the seminar myself. In addition, I'm nursing Gracie so I get called out of the seminar every 3 hours or so to run home to feed her. I'm exhaused. But, at the same time I'm rejuevenated with enthusiasm for SWR.

I hope and pray that the parents and teachers at Oak Grove will see the long term vision here. It's hard! It takes some serious commitment on everyone's part, but I think the results will be worth it. I predict that if we stick to this program, we will have students who not only know how to read fluently (which is really the easy part), but will also know how to spell (the harder part) well beyond their years.

Isn't this part of the goal of classical education? We want to produce students who not only know "how" to think, but who also know how to communicate what they think, clearly and persuasively. How do we do that? We teach them language. I firmly believe that SWR will be one of those tools in our toolboxes of learning that will help us accomplish that goal.

As we seek to do this, may God get the glory!

Interesting Dinner Conversation

2008-07-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the rare treat of eating out with my girlfriends. Because life has been so busy of late, I haven't been able to enjoy the company of these women in a long time. Over, pizza, salad and many refills of ice tea, we somehow got on the topic of what would be your dream job if you could come back in another life. Now, of course, being the Christian women that we are, none of us believe in reincarnation. I also know that each of us enjoy the privileges and great responsibilities that come with being home full-time raising our families. But, nonetheless, it was an interesting topic that revealed a lot about our dreams, aspirations and secret fantasies.

Jana, my long time friend, has no aspirations of being a rocket-scientist. Rather, she wants to grace the stage of Radio City Music Hall as long-legged Rockette. After watching the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular in New York City a couple of years ago, I can understand why. It did look pretty glamourous and fun.

Lisa, desires the more genteel times of Scarlett O'Hara and wants to be cinched in a corsette every day. She want to wear opulent gowns to afternoon tea and be waited on hand and foot. One caveat however, she wants running water, indoor plumbing and air conditioning. Good thing, those petticoats can get pretty hot.

Kelly, who never seems stressed out, or bothered much by anything, wants to be a famous French novelist. I can just see her relaxing at her laptop, sipping on a latte on her veranda, over looking the Eiffel Tower. (Can I change my answer and join Kelly?)

Amy, content with her life, would just love to pursue her innate talents. She'd like her own Food Network Show, and to become a famous photographer. Maybe we could combine the two somehow? She is a great cook, and photographer. Last time I was in her kitchen she had taken a photo of herbs, blown it up and hung it on her wall. They looked delicious.

Meredith and I are cut from the same cloth. We'd like to come back in our next life as Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel. You know the one? The cute blonde girl, brimming with personality. She is always imaculately dressed touring the sites of exotic locations. Even worse, she looks great in a bikini, and whenever I see her, she seems to be sipping on something wonderful on the deck of a cruise ship. It must be tough to be her. Jet-setting around the world, seeing in person all the things we only see on TV and dream about. I do wonder if she gets lonely, though. In my fantasy, I have a caveat too..., I want to take my husband and kids with me. We could homeschool on the road and let the world be our classroom.

Well, my life is far from that of Samantha Brown's. I stick pretty close to home and I like it that way. I'm not famous, and I don't think I'll ever wear a bikini again. Last night, I came home to my lovely home and family and went to sleep laying my head on my pillow in my comfortable bed. It may not be glamourous, but my life is good and consists of simple, sweet things.