AHHHHhhhhhhhh…..Sinking into Home

The boys and I had been gone for ten days. (I think I mentioned that.)

My husband and the dog came up to visit over New Year’s for less than twenty-four hours. We had a good visit with my father, my sister and her children. We had a very good visit. But we were gone from the nest for a long time…

I’ve been saying since I turned off the freeway today, it felt more like ten years—not anything bad, just an odd feeling of having left a long time ago. I feel like I journeyed a longer way than four hours. Maybe my heart did. It surely needed to.

Walking in the door was a shock. How odd, I forgot I left the house decorated. The dog, who did not eat the gingerbread house this year—but DID eat a whole box of puppy treats one day after my husband left, greeted me enthusiastically. The cat said, “Yeah, about time you brought the lap back.” And strolled out the door for a walk-about.

I missed my saggy, old pink recliner, also known as the blogging chair. I missed my cheap old coffee pot and coffee grinder—with my fresh ground coffee. I missed my crowded kitchen with the eight foot by four foot, industrial strength bookshelf shoved into it and my kitchen table overflowing with books and unfinished work.

I missed the dog—but not the hair. She is blowing like a cottonwood tree when they release all the white fluff. I also did not miss the neighbor’s beagle/dachshund mix who barked the whole entire time I unloaded the van.

My boys wandered around and played about ten different things—just because they were home and they could. And because they better get all the fun stuff done before school starts Monday.

I missed my husband. The comfortable one, who after fifteen years knows the way to my heart.

It was a good visit. But, aside from strangely appearing items, it is good to be home.

It Must Be Love

If this doesn’t say “love,” I don’t know what does.

“Why?” you ask, does an electric can opener set my heart aflutter?

For the last year I have been dealing with some serious pain in my right hand. Sometimes pain that shoots all the way up to the elbow.

Yes, I am aware of what it is. Call it carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive motion injury, if you will. It hurts. I have braces to wear. It helps when I do. I am stubborn and don’t always wear them. I continue to do the things that cause me pain: crafting, writing, BLOGGING, picking up too heavy objects with my right hand until it totally gives out. Blah, blah, blah…HURTS, blah, blah, blah…stubborn, blah, blah, blah…NO SURGERY, blah, blah, blah…PAIN!!!

Care for some cheese and crackers with my W(H)INE???

Often I am unable to open jars and using a manual can opener causes tears.

So when I came home, I found my shiny new electric can opener on the counter. Taken out of the box of course because…opening boxes even hurts.

Fifteen years and that man certainly knows the way to my heart!

To praise the fabulous man just a bit longer, the can opener was not all that was waiting for me.

I came home to: a clean kitchen, a clean dog (who hates baths), all the garbages emptied, and many of the truffles that I left behind!!! I fully intended to share them with him. Can you believe he limited himself to ONE little truffle a day?

So if the electric can opener does not prove I have a super guy, the fact that there was incredible chocolate left for me should!

Sigh…

Fifteen years—I think he’s doing pretty good!

The mysterious APPEARING $$$

I came home to find this...

...on the end table by my blogging chair.

My husband says he noticed IN my blogging chair about three days ago.

I have been gone. for. ten. days.

It was not there when I left.

I have never seen it before. My sons have never seen it before. My mother started a collection of these for each grandchild. If there had been two of them, (one for each boy) I would have been really freaked. For now, I am just seriously wondering how this came to be in my house.

Suggestions?

Winter Drive

The sun was ferocious and yet no heat reached the ground. The sky was delft blue, frosted where it met the horizon. The view was spectacular and frigid, temperature a balmy 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

As my passenger and I drove along I was amazed at the sparse, Iowa winter countryside, though I have it memorized from years of exposure; and once again I was filled with desire to return. I am not sure what it is about the fields and lonely stretches of road that call like a siren to my heart. Could it be the calm eyes of the angus and Hereford faces I pass? Could it be the broken corn stalks, remnants of the harvest that seems so far, far past? I am sure if I returned to reside I would curse the bitter winters and the humid summers. But perhaps it is because I grew up here. Perhaps it is because when I drive these roads there are memories.

There is no promise of work here for my husband. My children’s preferred extra-curricular activity could not be pursued at the accustomed level. And yet every time I return there is a little voice that whispers, “Peace. Slow down. Stay.”

As I age, my joints and muscles suggest warmer views, consistent and moderate temperatures. My mind knows that instead of moving closer, I will most likely move farther afield. And if family moves, it is likely I would have no reason to return. That thought makes me sad. For now, I enjoy the step away from the hustle and bustle that I see from my front and back door at home most days.

Helpful Places for Homeschoolers

If you are looking for websites to investigate about homeschooling, meet other homeschoolers or to use for your homeschool day, try these:

A Home For Homeschoolers--mostly defunct forum, but loads of info and opinions on homeschooling

Africam--a live feed of a waterhole in Africa. Check out the Bearcam too!

Elijah Company--To help you through the thinking process.

Guilt-Free Homeschooling--A wonderful place to start

Homeschool Spot Forum--wonderfully, nice people here!

Paula's Archives--so much information!

The Homeschool Library--a fun and informative hangout

Homeschool Books That Have Helped Us

New to homeschooling or looking for books to add to your curriculum? May I suggest these books that have been very helpful.

Easy Start in Arithmetic: Grades K-3 by Ruth Beechick

Home Start in Reading by Ruth Beechick

Strong Start in Language: Grades K-3 by Ruth Beechick

Phonics Pathways by Dolores G. Hiskes

A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce

You Can Teach Your Child Successfully: Grades 4-8 by Ruth Beechick

Miquon Math All Six Student Workbooks and All Three Teacher's Guides

Recommended Reads

Some books that I would highly recommend if you are looking for good reading and exploring faith issues.

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

The Cross and the Prodigal by Kenneth E. Bailey

Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church by Ron Moseley

God's Appointed Times by Barney Kasdan

God's Appointed Customs by Barney Kasdan

Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller

At the Corner of East and Now: A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy by Frederica Mathewes-Green

Under The Overpass by Mike Yankowski

A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren

Welcome 2008: Happy New Years Friends!!

.

The children (four of them--we are with Grandpa & the cousins tonight) are playing electric guitars and recorders, dancing in the kitchen and generally being very rowdy. Grandpa is providing background music consisting mostly of Willie Nelson and some occasional Daniel O'Donnell. The husband is threatening to go to bed soon. (I'll be amazed if that works out!)


2008 threatens to enter loudly. And very coldly--temperature is actually 19 but windchill feels like 10...and it is getting colder. Brrrrrrrr...

But it will be a good year. God is good--all the time. (LISTEN)

Wishing you all a beautiful, sweet and very JOYFUL Happy New Year

How Many Books Did I Manage to Squeeze In?

How many books did I read in 2007? I read 50 books. How many were really on my lists? The Spring Reading Thing had 17 on my list. I read 17 books but skipped seven on the list. The Fall Into Reading Challenge had 13 on my list. I read 14 books, eight on the list and six not on the list. So I got distracted thirteen times. I have twelve books that I really should start 2008 with. And they're really good books, I am sure!

What happened to distract me? Well The Morland Dynasty was a consuming passion this year. I gave up soap operas long ago. I rarely watch television. This series has ignited a love & respect for history and carried me along with the characters. I am on book 20 of the series. Ummm...I'm pretty sure that's 40% of my reading! And there's ten more to go!

I found some new authors that I will be reading more of. In fact I enjoyed almost every book I read. There was really only one I didn't like and one gave me a lot to disagree with think about. I found that there is a wonderful treasure in the Christian fiction world these days. The calibre of Christian writers has really impressed me. I still like fantasy and I like historical fiction more than ever. I didn't read any biographies in 2007. There were a couple I read in 2006, so I want to include more of those.

I did not count any of the craft books I checked out from the library. That would have added to the list, but in reality they distracted from my reading. My rubber stamping and my cross-stitch benefited though. I also read and browsed a lot of health books, diet books and exercise books. Maybe if I read them a little more and eat a little less there will be a thinner me for the new year. I also only counted one homeschool book and that was The Unprocessed Child. I need to read a few more of those for next year.

All in all 2007 was a great year for reading. I need to focus on a plan for the year to come so I can fit in a few more books. My "to read" list is quite extensive, I just need to figure out some priorities.

What titles did I read? Here is the list. I linked the titles I reviewed.

* The Queen's Fool--Phillipa Gregory
* Destination Void--Frank Herbert
* Hunters of Dune--Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
* Lord Foul’s Bane—The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson
* Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
* The Founding--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* My Sister's Keeper--Jodi Picoult
* The Dark Rose--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* Searching for Mary Poppins--Susan Davis and Gina Hyams, editors
* The Princeling--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Illearth War--The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson
* The Age of Innocence--Edith Wharton
* Healing ADD--Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
* Outlander--Diana Gabaldon
* The Oak Apple--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Black Pearl--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Virgin's Lover--Philippa Gregory
* Physik--Angie Sage
* The Open Door-Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer--Frederica Mathewes-Green
* The Long Shadow--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Hurried Child--Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon--David Elkind, Ph.D.
* The Chevalier--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Unprocessed Child–Living without School--Valerie Fitzenreiter
* At the Crossing Places--Kevin Crossley~Holland
* The Maiden--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Flood-Tide--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Tangled Thread--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--J.K. Rowling
* Crime and Clutter--Cyndy Salzman
*Gone with the Groom--Janice A. Thompson
* My Side of the Mountain--Jean Craighead George
* The Emperor--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Victory--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Regency--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Road--Cormac McCarthy
* The Campaigners--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Other Boleyn Girl--Phillipa Gregory
* Memoirs of a Geisha--Arthur Golden
* The Reckoning--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Brink of Death --Brandilyn Collins
* The Devil's Horse--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* Kingdom Wars I: A Hideous Beauty--Jack Cavanaugh
* The Divine Appointment--Jerome Teel
* The Heritage of Lancaster County: The Shunning--Beverly Lewis
* The Heritage of Lancaster County: The Confession--Beverly Lewis
* The Poison Tree--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Sovreign's Daughter--Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs
* Nutcracker Nation--Jennifer Fisher
* The Abyss--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Hidden Shore--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Self Conscious Back Patting

In an attempt to do some bloggy house keeping I decided to mount my awards on the bloggy mantle of 2007.

These were the sweet blessings from bloggy friends throughout 2007 and I was so overwhelmed. In no way did I feel I deserved or lived up to such kindness, but I've found when people choose to be so caring the proper response is to say "Thank you," and be nice to others in return.

And besides when you hear someone say nice things about you if it doesn't make your day, you are just too special. I blush all over the place and stammer a lot. But I'm always amazed at the people who don't feel a little flutter when they know someone thinks they've done something great.

I will say there's always the problem of who to pass awards on to, not because I can't think of someone, but because I want to share them with everyone. And of course the fear that someone else will not appreciate the token.

But fear makes us lose precious moments. And I refuse to lose any more time worrying!

I am so grateful for everyone who was so thoughtful in 2007. I hope I can bless someone in 2008.

Blog on good friends.