Part 2 of this shindig

I hear so many complaints and concerns from parents about their kids' experiences.  I hear about things like bullying happening in the 2nd Grade classroom, teachers showing cartoons in English for the high school Spanish class, homosexuality and drugs in the school hallways, and having to force their children to do hours of homework.

I hear these things, and in my mind I think to myself: Why?  Why is the world like that, first of all?  And second, why are you willingly putting them in that environment?!?

Here is my version of why:
Because the great and mighty "They" say it's what is best.
It is best to take a child from their mother at a young age and stick them into an age-segregated classroom.  It is best to tell them where to sit, and how to think and who to spend their few minutes of freedom with.  It is best to educate them all the same way, and to discourage creative thought (except when creativity is needful, and then it is called forward on demand.)  It is best to minimize family time and community mindedness in the name of busy-work and cliques.

Because, our tax dollars are going toward public education, so we might as well use it.

Because, the teachers are trained professionals, and I am just a mother...

Because, it's how it's always been done.

It works great.  Millions of people have survived it, and millions more will yet!

But therein lies the rub!  Public school is something to merely be survived.

And that, folks, is why we find the world in it's current state.

That's all for now.  I can't write more without getting myself in trouble.  That's worth about 2 cents anyway...

Part 1 of this thing

Life is an occasion.    Rise to it.

              I believe in you.

                                   I believe in your children.

                                                         And that is why I continue to stand for what I know.

The other night, we watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which is a wonderfully geeky movie.  I get something more out of it every time I watch it.  I totally love it.  Mr. Magorium's parting words are "Life is an occasion.  Rise to it."   I repeated this sage advice over and over in my mind after watching it.  Because I truly want to rise.

And in truth:  I want us all to rise to the occasion that this life is.

I believe that the youth of today are meant for big things.  Big Things.  BIG Things.

The rules are different for them, all bets are off.

So why are we treating them according to the same old rules?

They deserve innovation.  They invite it, by their very natures:  A new way.

The past several generations were fine with the "old" way.

Which is our challenge, I suppose.  We need to open our minds to learn the new way, so we can lead out...so we can be prepared to teach them and be their guides.

We need to rise to the occasion of raising up a generation of thinkers and leaders and do-ers!

More on this soon.

Do hard things!!!

To blog or not to blog...

I have been wanting to blog more regularly for a while now.  I even have topics I would like to blog about!  (Well, I did...
                    but I didn't write them down...
                                                                so now i don't, really.)

I love my blog.  It is underloved, underused and underappreciated, but loyally it sits, waiting for me to jump on in and write something.

Thank you little blog!

I have no visions of grandeur.  I don't hope to become famous with my blogging skills.  (I don't even know if I HAVE any blogging skills...)

I just want to write.
          To get it off my chest.
                          To gain clarity.
                                         To understand what I'm thinking.
                                                         I want to share what I've learned, and what I'm passionate about.
                                         I want to celebrate the little things.
                          To find a way to be happy about the ouchy things.
           To be grateful for the beautiful things.
And to share that on my bloggy.

I will begin today.


I hope.

And one more thing:  I love my family.  I love my Father in Heaven.  I am thankful that I get to homeschool. I love my computer.  And I am in awe of all of my blessings.

That is all.

These are my favorite people.

I can write a new entry!

A-ha!  I have foiled you, Net Nanny!

She wouldn't let me on here last week, and I could NOT figure out what the deal was.    But today I am victorious!  And I didn't even have to get mad at her, and say mean words.  Phew....

I was so excited to write some great Celebration items on here.  Who can remember what they were?  Not I...

....so here are a few things we have been celebrating lately:

We "Mustache" you a question:  do you think Grampa will like his Birthday Present?

So....these lambies are almost full sized now.  But look how tiny they were 2 months ago!  Awwww....

Photo by Miss O.  Spring has Sprung at the new casa, and holy cow, cool things are popping up all over the yard!

This is our poor orphan kitty.  Shorty is smitten with her.  We named her Minnie because she looks a lot like her mommy.  (Come home soon, Callie!)

And I HAVE to put a picture on here of the Between the Rivers Gathering.  We had such a great time being the camp cooks, and learning lots and lots and lots.  We absolutely love the family feel of the Primitive Skills Gatherings. Everyone who attends is so generous with their knowledge.  It's like a smorgasbord.  Can't wait for Rabbitstick!


And, in other news...
Bandi is living up to her name....

 she has become very naughty.  I bought some very pretty flowers to put in my pots on the porch, and I keep finding them dug out and spread all over.  I have cleaned it up a few times, now.  and I just don't know what to do with her besides just keep her tied up so she can't reach.   Ugh....and she was such a nice puppy....

Agonizingly sloooow internet

So here is my February/March report (in my real world, I post much more frequently than once bimonthly.  But for you, here, in reality....this is all you get.)

Ya.  That's why I haven't posted lately.  This has taken me like 3 hours, because my internet keeps kicking me out. 

Phooey.

With the encouragement of a weenie dog, and a bunch of delicious purple grapes, 2 teenage boys, 2 10 year old boys, aaaaand Miss O, I have endured with much wandering, retries and eating lunch as I wait...

(nobody look...Miss O just dropped her lunch on the floor.  I'm sad to inform you that it didn't bounce.  It splatted.  How sanitary is that floor?)

Anyway:  Feb/Mar:  Fruitful months.  We did a few races.  Triumphantly.  We celebrated some birthdays, made some good memories, and most recently:  we went on an epic hike on Dirtbike Rider's home turf.  Check it out:

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Celebrations to kick off 2013

There is so much to celebrate, and we're only a week in!  I love it!  And I love having a place and an excuse to write all about what is going on in our world.  It helps me to feel gratitude and a sense of accomplishment.

My goals for 2013 are:

 to continue Celebrating! and sharing on this blog.

to do at least ONE of the "Big 5"* perfectly (as a family we chose one to work on.)

to have a happy attitude

and

to prepare myself in all the ways necessary for the future.

I guess I'll be able to see how well I did at the end of the year if I post regularly on this blog!

On to this week's celebrations:

Celebrating this handsome guy.  He makes my world go around.  It was his birthday on Monday, and it was wonderful to celebrate the Dirtbike Rider...may he have an amazing race season in 2013!  And may 36 be the year for magic to happen for him!  I think he is getting hotter every day...I just had to say that.

Celebrating the Dad by decorating a cake

Shorty was our head-decorator.  We made a yellow cake from scratch
then we made Cake Boss's Fudge Frosting.  Oh my yum.

Celebrating long awaited inside puppies.  This is Chassis (no top-secret blog name for her...she already underwent 2 changes of identity...we shall not confuse her further...)  She is a dappled dachsund, but in our home, she is more commonly referred to as our Weenie.  We like her quite a bit.

Celebrating neighbors.  Ours are real turkeys.  heehee.  We have a herd...a gaggle?  A School! of Turkeys who like to visit us often.  There are also a bunch of deer who gratefully accept our offering of hay.  The kids like to open the back door and yell "Hee-Hawww!" at them.  Honestly, that seems silly to me.

Celebrating creativity!  Shorty is making a doggy bed for Miss Chassis.  She loved it right away.
The best part is that it was all recycled stuff, so I saved a few bucks, and Shorty got to practice his sewing skills.



And last, but not least:  Look which wish came true on Dirtbike Rider's birthday!  Whoopee!  It's keeping the house toasty and warm, and I am so thankful.  Now if I could just keep Chassis from eating the bark off of the wood we bring in....

 *The Big 5 are a suggestion from our church that will help families grow closer, individuals grow stronger spiritually and I think they will just generally help things flow much better.  The Big 5, in case you wonder, are Personal Prayer, Personal Scripture Study, Family Prayer, Family Scripture Study, and Family Home Evening.  Today, we got 100%.  Onward Christian Soldiers!!!
 

Catching up...

So it got kinda hectic there for about a month and a half.  I didn't have much time (or patience) to post.  But today, a snowy, cold, lazy day, is THE day to catch up on all that has happened since our last post.  Well, it will be abridged.  But we hope you enjoy.  And we intend to continue to add more things to celebrate in days to come.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Yay!

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