Drain-O

As a homeschooling mom, I need to constantly be on the alert against brain-drain. This is a condition where any information sought or stored in your mind that would be relevant, applicable or interesting to an ADULT is mysteriously shoved into the back recesses of your cranium...only leaving things like 4th grade mathematics, 2nd grade phonics, and Schoolhouse Rock songs about the parts of speech at the very forefront of your thoughts. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy the refresher course on these elementary subjects. It's just that I have been feeling the need to THINK more, and more deeply... and think thoughts don't come with a cutsie jingle to help remember them? Crazy, huh?

Anyway, I highly recommend visiting http://www.thegreatcourses.com/. They essentially bring great professors in from Universities all over the country, and tape all the lectures from their most popular courses. They are pretty expensive, but I have found some at my library. The girls and I have been watching (don't laugh): "The Joy of Thinking: The Beauty and Power of Classical Mathematical Ideas". The three of us are all at about the same level of competency in mathematics (only a slight hyperbole), and I thought that I was up to a challenge.

It has been fascinating! Lots to share, but this was Professor Starbird's illustration that seemed so mind numbingly applicable for today:

"In 2003, the national debt was 6.6 trillion. If a legislator presented a bill to pay down the national debt, claiming that this bill would reduce the national debt by $1 million dollars per hour...how long would it take to pay off the national debt? Well, at 24 hours a day, every day, it would take about 660 years to pay down the debt."

Yikes. That seems like something way beyond what our children and grandchildren will have to deal with.

Math Trivia:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55...*

What do mathmeticians call this special sequence of numbers?

*For reasons that are still mysterious to biologists and mathematicians, this number sequence is seen all over the natural world....in the spirals on pineapple and pinecones, the spiral patterns in the center of daisies and other composite flowers...in the reproductive predictions of pairs of rabbits...all over!

It's Here...pt. 2

Homeschool Vocabulary Word of the Day: Nausey

Belle was finally able to nap for an hour or so. When she woke up, she looked good-as-new, and cheerfully quipped: "Hey Momma, I don't think I feel nausey any more."

It's Here...

I've stated from the beginning that this blog was a place to post those things that I don't want faded over time in my memory...all sorts of stuff...the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is a little bit of the ugly:

Belle has it. The stomach bug. Ewwww.
Our poor Belle is feeling really bad.
(Just so you know, she was fine with me taking this picture.)
Although I treasure every memory lived out with my children, I don't post this simply to remember my youngest gripping the porcelain throne. I do, however, want to remember her sincere and pathetic cry: "Help me, Lord!" when she first got sick. It was achingly touching and hysterical at the same time.

Surgery

I've been doing a lot of thinking these days about the kind of person I want to be, and what my life should be characterized by as a child of God and follower of Christ.

I usually have a general focus on such matters. First, my life as a child of God is to look, well, different. Peculiar at times. But definitely different from the culture that surrounds me. I am confident that believers really should stand out among us--that the fruit of our lives spoken of in scripture are to be seen. You know...that whole "don't hide your light under a bushel" thing? It implies that our lives should shine a bit, don't you think?

But I guess my focus as of late has been specifically about self-absorption. There have been dozens of little things that have caused me discomfort about myself and others over the years....but I never found a category of description that I could file them under....there was just this "thing", be it attitude or action....this behavioral tic...that seemed so unfitting for those who claim themselves to be children of God.

In case this is read by someone who doesn't know me...or can't discern from the text my full heart or intention in penning these words....let's be clear. I have both of my hands fully grasped around the log in my own eye on these matters. And I am committed to tugging it loose. Is it gone yet? Nope. But I'm in the midst of surgery right now. And at the risk of becoming even more obnoxious, I can go a step further: if Jesus' words are to looked at more closely, it could be that once the log is out of my eye...I may be able to see that speck in your eye even more clearly to help you remove it! Ack.

What if that was the kind of community that we created for ourselves as believers? One in which we are engaging in a different kind of "self-absorption". Not the kind of life that is absorbed--impressed or depressed-- by self, appearance, abilities, possessions and knowledge. What if we were focused on ourselves only in order to live up to our calling...and to remove that which forbids us from making progress in such things? And what if we knew that such proper self-focus would ultimately help us to help others in their walk?

I've gotta go scrub for eye surgery. I hope to be out of the recovery room and able to be a better friend, wife, mother and daughter soon. I've got a Great Physician, if you ever need a reference. :)

He's Got My Vote!

Think it was just a portion of the voting public in the United States that viewed the presidential election with messianic expectation? Think again...this is an billboard in Israel. Translation? "King Messiah for President, '08".

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may those who love you be secure. ~Psalm 122:6

Of Pandas and Little People

Yesterday, while our family drove downtown to Northwestern University's Garrett Theological Seminary Library in an effort to track down a very old and pretty rare publication, our girls did what they do in the car...they chattered away, pretending to be in their own imaginary world. Seriously, they can go for HOURS. For the most part, this is a wonderful thing. Occasionally, they will get too loud. Or dramatic. Or obnoxious. Whatever the case, my mommy intervention skills are only needed every once in awhile. This is a good thing, as I need a break sometimes.

This was the snippet of the girls' imaginary play that I wanted to share, and maybe only I find it to be really funny.

Ellie: Pretend I'm a bear, and you found me...
Moo: No, I'm a bear too...and we found each other....
Ellie: Yeah, we're both bears...and you found me...
Moo: Pretend I'm a panda bear.
Ellie: Pretend I'm a builda bear.

Trust me, after much clarification on the part of her elder sister, it became clear that a "build-a-bear" was understood by Ellie to be a whole new species of bear.

*sigh*

So glad I homeschool....

A Timely Thought

He that gives good advice builds with one hand;

he that gives good counsel and example builds with both.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Belle's Blessing

As some of you know, I had a nasty case of the stomach bug this past Monday. During that time, Steve stayed home from work and kept me quarantined in my room, while he homeschooled the girls, went to the store and brought the girls to the park. (Yes, my luck would have it that I get the stomach flu on the one day in February where it reached 60 degrees!)

By the end of the day, the girls were really missing me and at bedtime they stood at my doorway and looked in at me, pathetically whining "goodnight Momma, we wish we could hug you". I said "goodnight, I'll be better tomorrow, love you", and thought that was the end of it. A few moments later, Belle showed up alone at my doorway and said, "God bless you, Momma". She continued to say it over the course of my getting better over the remainder of this week.

How God instantly granted her request, as at that very moment and each time she spoke those words to me--even in the midst of my tummy troubles--I found myself so profoundly blessed by her blessing.

I truly am the luckiest--ahem, most blessed--Momma in the world!

Woe is Mitten

The thrummed mitten. A local fiber studio (fancy-talk for "knitting supplies shop") advertised this class as being suitable for "adventurous beginners".

*sigh*

It's been well over a month, and I FINALLY finished the body of my mitten this morning, and I can't imagine how long the thumb will take me!!! I purchased yarn that was not ideal, so it has been really hard to see what I'm doing, so there are lots of mistakes. Also, I made the "thrumming" too big...so my mitten looks more like a cuff with a football attached than a mitten. Even my sweet, encouraging eldest said, "So it kinda looks like a boxing glove...it's okay...what do you expect for your first try?"

*sigh*

I am posting this picture so that those closest to me can see what silliness has consumed me for over a month now. The thumb just may never make it on....I just can't say right now. I no longer feel adventurous.

Argh. My eldest just ran up to me bobbing and weaving like Muhammed Ali, with my mitten on one hand. I think I'm going to take up origami.

I'm Such a Lemming

Okay, I'm such a follower with these silly things. Here is what you are supposed to do ...copy and paste into your own email note or blog, and type in your ONE WORD answers.

Where is your cell phone?....... car
Your hair .......... brown
Your father? ........ironman
Your favorite thing? ..........knitting
Your dream last night?....knitting
Your favorite drink? .......water
Your dream/goal? ........travel
The room you are in? ......bedroom
Your fear? .......loss
Where do you want to be in 6 years? .....here
Muffins? ........maybe
One of your wish list items?.......peace
Where you grew up? ...........Bloomingdale
The last thing you did? ......FAJITAS!
What are you wearing?.....flannel
Your TV?......off
Your pets? ......Shih Tzu
Your computer? .....eMachine
Your life? .....comfortable
Your mood? .....contemplative
Missing someone? .....Grandpa
Your car? ....minivan
Favorite store?.....Borders
Your summer? .....garden
Your favorite color? ....red
When is the last time you laughed? ....now
Last time you cried? .....yesterday
Three people who email me? .....Aunt Sug, Kate, Donna
Three of my favorite foods? .....Fajitas, Pepperoncini Chicken, Mom's salads
Three places I would rather be right now? ..... Italy, Greece, Jerusalem

Happy Birthday!

Like a good wife, I am calling attention to my sweet husband's birthday.

Today he celebrates the 15th anniversary of his 29th birthday.

I love you honey!

Global Warming Protest

Global warming? Yeah, right. I could use a little global warming right about now, couldn't you?