Tradition! Tradition!

When I wrote that title, I was singing the song from Fiddler on the Roof.  Go back and sing it, just for me, won't you?

Thanks.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day traditions.  What do you do for these?

New Year's Eve we are total party animals.

We start a 500-1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and work to finish it by midnight.  (When I say "we," I mean mostly John.  I am ready for bed by 10 pm.) Whomever helps gets to sign the back of the puzzle after we ModPodge it together.  It'll be hung in the basement hallway later.

Party food for New Year's Eve consists of Velveeta-Rotel dip with tortilla chips, stuffed dates (cram a walnut half into a pitted date and then roll it in powdered sugar), popcorn balls (made like Rice Krispie Treats), and sparking grape juice (thanks Welch's, for making me feel guilty as I walk through WalMart with my bottle of bubbly, afraid that someone from church will think I'm buying wine).

 Puzzles from years past:

New Year's Day

We sleep in, because that's what wild and crazy people like us do.

This year for our New Year's Lunch we will have grilled pork chops, four bean salad (one of the beans will be black eyed peas for good luck--here's a recipe that is nearly identical to mine), turnip greens (for money in the new year) and corn bread.  

Do you have special traditions?  I'd love to hear them!

Mother's Day Surprise

I got the very best, ever, letter today. 

Bryan wrote a whole page of letter, saying such sweet things. 

He is my quiet one. He's the one, when he's sick, you never know it--when he mentions he doesn't feel well, call the doctor because it's serious! 

Before we started the Feingold diet, he never said, "I love you" without some prodding (I love you, Bryan, what do you say?). Never. 

He was 7 1/2 when we started Feingold, and after one week this non-demonstrative child climbed up into my lap (CLIMBED UP INTO MY LAP!) and said, "I love you, Mommy." 

I didn't care how hard Feingold was to do, I was in it for the long haul after seeing and hearing that! 

Today he surprised me by giving me that letter full of sweet, sweet words. 

Oh my goodness. 

I love that boy!

Palm Sunday

Luci has such a tender heart.

She can't bear to hear the story of Jesus' crucifixion.  She ends up in tears every time, sometimes running from the room.

The first time Luci did this was in second grade at Sunday school.  She sat at the table, tears streaming down her face as the teacher put up a flannelgraph of Jesus on the cross.  Our children's minister happened to be in the room at the time, and told me all about it.  She had never seen a child react that way. She took Luci out into the hall and talked to her, and calmed her down.

Fast forward twelve months, and it hasn't gotten any easier for Luci.  A few weeks ago during the sermon, the preacher talked about Jesus on the cross, and that was it.  Luci covered her ears and bolted to the classroom in the back of the auditorium.  I grabbed my purse and followed her.  John looked around at the other kids and none of them even looked up...they were going about their drawing or coloring, or whatever, as if nothing was going on.  I told John to be thankful at least one kid in there was listening.  :)

Then there was this morning.

It was hard to get Luci to the table for breakfast.  She was not interested in the bacon:  something was wrong.  I asked her if she felt well.  Are you sick?  I said if you stay home, no video games all day (that usually clears up any fake illness).

Huge tears began to fall.  What is wrong?  Please tell me.  I gathered her up and hugged on her.  She would not speak.  She left me, went into the kitchen and wrote a note.

(please remember that Luci spells phonetically)

Of course, Bryan cracked up and said, He did?   I told him to can it.

Luci stayed home with me.  I knew she'd be a basket case, worrying the whole time that the Sunday school teacher or the preacher would bring up Jesus' death, which of course, they did.

She knows that Jesus came back to life, that He defeated death.

We all should be so tender-hearted.

Susie Homemaker

This has been a busy weekend here at home.  John worked on the deck, replacing boards and the stairs to the deck.

JT taught Luci a new video game.

Bryan went to a friend's house to play video games.

And I baked.

First came meatloaf--three ready-to-go meatloaves in the freezer for days when I am short on time.

Then came meatballs, enough for three dinners of spaghetti and meatballs.  (Yum!)

The remainder of Saturday was spent making (and sampling!) a yummy sugar cinnamon bread.  I made this gluten free and it is so good.

Luci approved of the sugar cinnamon bread!  She looks too grown up in this photo.

 

Strawberries came in this weekend--I bought a flat from a young man at church, who was selling them for his baseball team.  Sunday afternoon was spent making freezer jam: 10 half-pints, plus a little bit more in that plastic container.  Why aren't they just called cups instead of half-pints??

Now to just master making good gluten free biscuits.

Sweet Dream

Luci woke up this morning asking me, "Where is Quay-non?"

I asked her several times to repeat what she said since I didn't understand the last word.

"Quay-non.  My little sister.  Where is she?"

Then wakefulness and realization kicked in and she, so disappointed, said, "It was just a dream."

Almost to the point of tears, she told me that she dreamed we adopted a little girl, Quay-non, when Luci was three years old.  She was playing with Quay-non in the dream when she woke up.

:'(

Resistance is Futile...Except in Art Class

Luci is taking an art class in Huntsville this month.  Thursdays for an hour.  I sit outside the classroom and listen to the hub-bub inside.

Luci has learned about colors, shades, tints, complementary colors and secondary and tertiary colors (although she probably could not tell you what a secondary or tertiary color is).

Here is today's lesson--Color Wash Over a Wax Resist, Using Complementary Colors (if I use capital letters, it sounds more School-y)

Friday: In the Kitchen with Luci

We are starting a new way of learning with Luci.  Well, I am.  John just goes along for the ride most of the time with the educational stuff.  :)

I am doing that weird thing, unschooling, with Luci. (A good definition of unschooling is here.)  Reading lots, doing lots of things that interest her. 

One of the things she told me she wants to do is to learn to cook.  Every Friday we make something for the family, with her doing the lion's share of the work. 

So far, she's made spaghetti and meatballs, brownies and a Pokemon cake.  This week, it's an apple pie.

Here are the results:

Washing apples and twisting the stem to see how many kids she'll have:

Slicing those apples! She is thrilled and a bit nervous to be using a "really big knife."

Stirring the filling.  She was irritated with me, because this was photo #4 of the same action, and she was getting tired, mama!  But JT was happy:  Look for him, photobombing this shot:

Rolling out the crust:

Patting out the cracks in the crust:

We used Pillsbury's Gluten Free Pie and Pastry Dough.  Very expensive.  I did not want to experiment with homemade gluten free dough, so I splurged on this.  It is pretty good.

Finished! 

Mmmm.

John knew I was taking his picture, enjoying the pie.  Had to tell him to SMILE.  So he did.

The recipe we used:  Caramel Apple Pie II from allrecipes.com 

Two Things Heard Today

I read this article to the kids this afternoon:  Voyager 1 has officially made it into interstellar space. 

I mentioned that the space probe was launched, "in 1977, the same year Audrey was born."  

Luci's thoughts on this momentous occasion?

"Wow, she's old."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luci, telling about her school teacher:

"My teacher kisses my principal."   giggle, giggle

Teaching Reading

I guess it's not a surprise to any of you that our daughter has taken longer than most to learn how to read.  We've tried everything (well, I have), going through quite a few curricula. (That's the plural of curriculum--see here.  Who knew?  Not me, until now.)  We are now using Level 1 of All About Reading and it seems to be working.  Maybe it's working because Luci is just ready for it now.

Dyslexia is one of the struggles we've diagnosed, which was rather apparent today in the switching of "d" and "b" throughout.  That is a classic sign.  Until a few months ago, entire words were moving on Luci and she could not sound out even the easiest of words.  I am so thankful she is overcoming some of this!  Her brain has developed more, I suppose, and is able to comprehend.  The other struggle is Auditory Processing Disorder, which is closely related to dyslexia.  Dyslexia covers so much, that it is all intertwined and quite a puzzle to figure out in this little girl.

Today Luci had her LPS (Littlest Pet Shop) characters reading.  She set them up in a "classroom" and had them come up two-by-two to read each line.  They got a little crazy and I had to have them start over a few times!  This method works well with Luci.  If we had more children at this stage, it would be quite crazy trying to "get it all in," but with one, it is not too vexing for the mama.

Four LPS characters were stuck behind at their desks, taking tests, according to Luci.

Back to School Ice Cream Social

Our church prays for each student and teacher, and all the support personnel as the new school year begins.  This has been a tradition for several years.  Different men, involved in schools somehow, take turns praying for preschoolers, elementary kids, junior high and high school kids, college kids, and all those who work with them.

John was given the assignment last night to pray for the homeschoolers.  As "principal" of our school here at our house, he was qualified as a school leader and prayed for the small group of homeschoolers at our church.

At the end, we have an ice cream social!  Or, as the preacher put it, "Let's get these kids sugared up for school in the morning!"  (paraphrased, but that's pretty close to what Bro. Frank said!)

Luci with Rachel.  I told Luci to "sit still!" and this is what I got.

 Betty scooping up her homemade ice cream.  It was great!

Luci looking too grown up in her mod dress.

Luci with Lyric

JT even stood still for me!

And the happy (?) JT with Bryan this morning, on the first day of a new college year.  JT's taking a dual-enrollment course, which means he is still in high school and the course counts for both college and high school.  Pretty neat!  Bryan is ready for his new year of study, or maybe he's just fooling his mama. 

I think it's pretty nice that they both still pose for me.

Here is the very first time Bryan posed for me:  His very first day of Kindergarten in 1997:

and now he's almost as tall as that hutch! 

Sometimes, at least one of my children needs a reminder that I am a real teacher (okay, sometimes I need that reminder, too!):

Notice that it says it does not expire--it is a teaching certificate for life.  Texas quit giving those out not long after I got this.  So thankful to have it!

Just Like My Mama

The first time I can remember my mother taking me clothes shopping was in 1974.  August.  The mini-mall in Boise.  The Bon Marche.  Lots of polyester.  Trying on lots of clothes, and everything that fit, I was able to take home!  Wow.  That was the first time I can remember Mom not balking at the price tag.  (I'm sure there was a big sale going on for back to school clothes.  Plus, we got those handled bags that said, "Bon Marche," perfect for toting gym clothes back and forth to school.) 

Many of my clothes until then had been sewn by mom, or picked out when I wasn't with her. While shopping that day, there was one particular blouse, one that had a drive-in movie scene printed on the polyester:  I said, "We can't get this one, there is another one almost just like it in my pile." Mom said, "Yes, we can."  Wow.  That was rare! 

Mom always was generous when shopping for her grandchildren (and that time for me at The Bon--and probably for Janet, too, but my child-memory has just mom and me being there).  When we'd go to Boise, she'd say, "Let's go to Penney's!"  By that time, Boise had a HUGE mall, with a HUGE and very nice JC Penney's.  That usually meant new clothes for the boys, and later for Luci, too (she got Gymboree!).

Which brings us to Today.  Today I had a coupon for 30% off my total at Kohl's and they were also having a big sale.  Plus, I had a girl who has outgrown most of her things, even the clothing that Santa brought not that long ago!

Luci tried on, and tried on, and everything that fit went into my basket.  She was so happy!  We found a dress that fit and looked so cute, and then went and found two others with the same cut--and asked Luci if she liked those colors, too.

She said, "I like them, but I'd rather have the one we already picked out.  I don't want to trade."  I said, "Yes, I know--but we can get both of these, too."  She was thrilled, but sort of in disbelief.  Just like I was back in 1974. 


Modeling some of her bounty, with JT's help.

Seasons of a Mother's Heart

That's a book written by Sally Clarkson, a homeschool mom who has been there and done that.  Her book, Educating the Wholehearted Child, was the first book I ever read on homeschooling.  It was such a help!  I had the 1994 version--I am sure the updated versions are even better.

A friend of mine IRL (in real life!! I actually know real, live people--they are not all bloggy friends! :) ) had suggested a book study, and Seasons of a Mother's Heart was her choice.  We are to read and then "talk" about what we've read on our blogs.  Amy is a librarian-turned-homeschooler, and is quite eloquent.  With me, you get the third-grade-understanding version.  Amy has a lovely blog here:  Hope is the Word.

This portion of the book study covers the first section of the book, Spring:  Season of Renewal.  If you have a newer copy, your book will have four chapters per "season."  My copy has only three.

My thoughts on the first three chapters (due tomorrow, July 8th! I'm a bit slow):

Chapter One:  Celebrating Life

This chapter hit home with me (as will probably every chapter in this book, since I've been homeschooling a long time now).  We must choose joy instead of constantly looking at what's wrong around us.

Choosing joy changes my perspective and lets me see that God is in control, and not me. I have had this pounded into my head over the past three years (I am a slow learner).  Luci has had some learning difficulties and has not progressed as I thought she ought.  Her reading is just now beginning, and math?  Please.  That's a subject for this year.  I hope she catches on to something with math this year.  But--I am seeing the joy Luci has in "doing school."  She LOVES coming to the table and working with me, even when I was getting so exasperated.  I am choosing to see the JOY in her delight with anything "schooly," and will rejoice again whenever a new word or math concept is learned.

This chapter was about cleaning your heart-attitude and making different choices.  Knowing that God is in control.  When I complain, I am telling God that I am not happy with how He chooses to let my life unfold.

Chapter Two:  Changing My Will

I love this chapter.  It is all about choosing to do what God has set before me, and letting go of that which seems good, but is not the best for me.  I may think of grand and glorious things to do away from home (or even from home, as Sally did, working from her home with her husband setting up a Journal that helped many people).  But God has put on my heart the homeschool challenge.  So this is my place, at least until the last one graduates.  Things that get in the way of my role as wife, mommy, and teacher need to be given up.  

It's not always a popular decision, to retreat from the world a little bit.  I have gotten some flak for retreating from some good things.  I do try so hard to not put my ideals on others, to make them "see where they are in error" when it is a matter of opinion and they are doing what is best for their families.  (John is probably laughing at me right now, because I do have opinions, but I also try to not share them when I shouldn't.)

Chapter Three:  Beside Still Waters

You can guess what this chapter is about!  Taking time to be with the Lord in personal reflection, and taking time for yourself to recharge your batteries if needed.

I am an introvert.  I was surprised to see that Sally Clarkson is, too, since she has such an out-going ministry.  It has taken me until this past year (that would be 52 years or so) to realize that it is okay to need time away from my children.  I don't take much time (sometimes it is just a trip to WalMart) but time with quiet and no one touching me or yelling about a sibling is necessary for me.  Last week I took off for the commissary, an hour and a half away just to have time with quiet and to get a meal that I didn't have to share, or listen to someone tell me all about paint ball for the entire trip.  I also had the bonus of going to a teacher's supply store, which was like Christmas to me!  I was only gone about five hours but I came back a new person.  It has been at least two and a half months since I've been able to do something like that.  I didn't even mind the super-long line in the commissary.

As for being with the Lord more, this year I've prayed more for others than I ever have.  I've also been reading through the Bible for my own study, not for a homeschool class with the kids.  It's been wonderful.  I've used different methods (Bible in a Year, different topics, etc) but this year and last I've just read three, four or five chapters every day and that will get me through the entire Bible by Christmas.  I like using different versions--this year I'm using a version meant for children, and it is surprising how reading something familiar worded a different way can make me perk up and pay more attention.

Get the book for yourself:  Seasons of a Mother's Heart.  It's only $11.97 on amazon

Two Things ....

Today I read The Little Red Hen to Luci.

She wanted to know why the animals kept saying, "Not I!" when the little red hen asked them to help.

I said, "That's the same as when Daddy asks Bryan, or JT, or you to go help in the garden, and you all say, 'No.'"

"Oh.  They're lazy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luci asked me to sing to her tonight, so I did.  I told her I'd sing a song that her daddy sang to her when she was little.

Summer time and the livin' is easy
Catfish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich and your mama's good lookin'
Hush little baby, don't you cry.

Did you make that part up?

Which part?

"Your mama's good lookin'"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good thing she's cute.

The Sweetest Little Girl in the World

Our air conditioner has not been doing a good job all week.  We thought it was just the hot, hot muggy days--it never does well on very hot and humid days.

It finally gave out on Saturday morning.

John found the papers on our unit and found our warranty is still good (yay! because this week we also discovered our washing machine was not doing its job, either, and it is out of warranty--boo!).  The man could not come until Sunday afternoon.

Saturday afternoon, Luci wanted to work on her photo album.  The only room in the house where we can work on it is the dining room--because of the big table.  It is also the only room that does not have a ceiling fan (we are not counting the bathrooms).

I was sticking to the table cloth (vinyl, because we have kids who do crafts).  Busy fanning myself, Luci said,

I wish I was an ice cube.

Me: If you were an ice cube, would you rub yourself on me?

Yes.

Awww.   We managed to complete two pages in her scrapbook before we melted.  

Later, proving she is indeed the sweetest thing, she brought me our little Frogg Toggs Cooling Towel all ready to go.  What a keeper!

JT and Luci using our Frogg Toggs:

PS:  the air conditioner needed a new something-or-other and will get more coolant later this week.  Right now it's doing its job and we are no longer melting.

Chaperone

Yes, we've been married for twenty-two years, but we still need a chaperone.  

Or, that's what we got anyways when our babysitter fell through.  Luci went to lunch with us on our anniversary date.

She got to hear a couple of stories about our wedding and where it took place.  Such sweet memories from the early years of our marriage!

Story One:

Our wedding was just for family, in an old church set on the campus of Boise State University.  The family was inside, waiting for the Bride (me!) and the Father of the Bride (Dad!) to enter. 

A young lady walked up to the chapel and tried to get in.  I asked her why was she there?  She said her friend was getting married at 11 a.m., and she wanted in to watch. 

I said, "I'm the bride, and I don't know you.  You're at the wrong wedding."

She left, a bit confused.

Story Two:

I wanted to get John a fantastic Christmas present a few years after that.  A local man, Ford Brown, made quite a name for himself making bird houses that looked just like Alabama historical places.  Quaint barns, little cottages, small shops.  I found out where he lived and went to his home with pictures of the little church in Boise.  I hoped he would make something not-from-Alabama, and have it done by Christmas (months away at that point). 

Happily, he said yes, but the price was way beyond what I could scrape up.  One hundred dollars!  I left, quite sad.

On Christmas Day, I got the best present ever from John...a birdhouse made by Ford Brown, to look just like our little wedding chapel!

 The day I got this sweet gift (that's JT):

 And where it lives now:

I'm just like Billy Graham

We heard someone on the radio this morning, telling about a Billy Graham crusade that happened back in the early 60's. 

Do you remember watching those crusades on television?  They were almost always in a huge stadium, packed with people.  At the end, the song Just as I am would be sung, with about a hundred verses, not wanting to miss anyone who wanted to "come down front."

The speaker on the radio today told about that early 60's crusade: 

Billy Graham told the people:  We are not racists.  You will sit next to each other.  You will be quiet, and you'll enjoy it!

Luci said, "Hey!  He sounds just like Mom!"

Wednesday: Wyoming is Wet and Windy (of course it's windy)

Today's trip was the same as yesterday's in time, but 100 miles longer!  LOVE going 75-ish. 

And I love Wyoming.  It is wild and wonderful (hmmm, no wonder they use that for their slogans).

As we pulled in to the McDonald's in Cheyenne, Luci heard tales of the haunted houses on FE Warren Air Force Base, which is right next to Cheyenne. We used to live there.  Our time there was a strange year!  Haunted houses and Dad's last year in the Air Force.

John called from the South Pacific as we pulled into the parking lot.  Poor guy, I had to cut the call short because ... well ... when I stop the car on a long trip, that's the signal for my body to have to go to the bathroom.  NOW.  

Today we got lots of rain around Laramie and the temp plummeted to 45....quite a difference from Tuesday's 102. 

Here are a couple of the things we saw today:

Mr. Bean's car!

 and, Abraham Lincoln.  Luci said he must like ham, since his name is Abra-Ham

Tuesday: Temps & Tunes

Monday was a day of highs in the low 70's...in the South in May!  Rare.  Lovely.

Tuesday, moving through the midwest, we had 102!  Wow. 

We also had some songwriting going on.  Sing this to the tune, Majesty (the worship song):

Missouri

JT's in Misery

Riding with us

In our Prius

A really long way.

JT was not amused.

Monday means Missouri

Well. Today was fun.

We left Bryan sleeping (jealous!) and hit the gas station before heading out.  Gas was $3.27, up ten cents from the previous week.  I felt kind of gypped.

I forgot to call the credit card people to let them know we were going to be traveling; they have put holds on our card before, thinking someone had stolen it.  I sure didn't want that to happen on this trip.  As we sat in the car, me calling the credit card company, the kids in the backseat kept talking to me.  I kept telling them to hush.  After I got off the phone, I said, "What do you not understand about 'hush'?"  JT told me that he was trying to get me to lock the car doors because there was some commotion going on at the gas station.  Apparently, a woman left the store and a man ran out, shouting, "Stop that woman!"  There was lots of shouting and all I heard were my two in the backseat. 

Of course, on the way out of the gas station parking lot, Luci pipes up that we forgot her breakfast at home...so back we went to get that.  Finally, at 8:45, we left town.

Thought it would be fun to take the kids straight north, then west.  That way they could count two more states on their "I've been there!" lists.  So, up through TN, then KY and then IL.  Kentucky and Illinois were new.  Long before we could get to Kentucky, we had an emergency bathroom stop for Luci.  She was so happy to announce that "This is the first potty stop of the whole trip!"  Woo-hoo.  It also won awards for the ickiest bathroom in a gas station.

At least we got a good view of this:

JT took that photo.


We finally made it to Columbia, Missouri.  It was a long, long day.  Ten hours in the car!  I won't ever go through KY and IL again.  We didn't get to go 70 mph until we'd passed St. Louis.  Gas popped up to $3.65 the second we crossed the Alabama line.  We are spoiled at home!

The only thing worse than this ten hour day would be driving this distance (540 miles) at 55mph.  When Jimmy Carter changed the speed limits to 55 mph back in the 70's it was torture!  He only had Amy, and he got to ride around in Air Force One.  I'd like to see him drive from Idaho to Tennessee (our trips back in the 70's, to visit the grandparents and cousins).  Oh my goodness.  Five kids, their parents, luggage (how on earth did it fit in the car?), crackers, Vienna sausage and warm Shasta soda (there was no room for a cooler) for lunches.  And JT thinks he has it bad!

Where to Take Mama for Lunch?

Isn't that the great question for Mother's Day?  Who wants to cook? Not the kids, that's for certain.

This Mother's Day is the second or third (I think it's the third) that John has missed with his overseas trips.  The first one (and I think it's two) were spent in war zones.  This year he's on a church mission trip in the South Pacific. 

So, I learned that first Mother's Day spent without John that the BEST place to eat lunch on Mother's Day is at a fast food place.  We went to Fazoli's and had a fun time, and watched many, many people waiting in the rocking chairs at the Cracker Barrel across the street. 

The second Mother's Day John was gone was (and I think this is the right memory) spent in Idaho with my mom.  I think we had a big grilled lunch at my brother's house that year.

This year, John's working hard in the beautiful South Pacific and we are home alone.  But not to worry.  I made plans!

The Sunday before John left, I told everyone at lunch one day what I wanted to do for Mother's Day.  Here is how the lecture speech conversation went:


Me:  For Mother's Day this year, Taco Bell, I want to go to Taco Bell.  Dad Taco Bell does not like Taco Bell Mexican food,  so going when he's gone Taco Bell is a good idea.  The regular  Taco Bell restaurants Taco Bell will be crowded.  Taco Bell is my choice Taco Bell.  That's where Taco Bell I want to go, Taco Bell, for you to treat me Taco Bell to a lunch that I will enjoy, Taco Bell, and that, even though you Taco Bell are taking me, I will happily pay for Taco Bell.  Do you know where I want to go? Taco Bell

Luci:  McDonald's!