stranded on an island

The kids and I went to Pizza Hut today to celebrate their completion of at least 500 minutes of reading in the kcls summer reading program. They got their own personal pan pizzas and since reading 500 (or 5,000 for that matter) minutes is a no-brainer for my crowd, we thought, "Hey, free lunch!"

While waiting for the pizza, the kids busily colored their place mats. Rosalind noticed there were questions for discussion. She was intrigued by one question and posed it to the rest of us. "What one thing would you bring with you if you were stranded on an island?

I remember hashing out these types of questions myself while in school. Knowing the types of answers people generally give to this question, I was interested as to what their answers would be. Assuming they would begin to list "survival items", I was surprised by the way they read the question literally. Since the question didn't specify being on a desert island, they figured any island would do, so they picked England. At that point, they figured any of the following would be acceptable: a plane ticket home, a big bag of money, or a loaded debit card (both of the latter affording for the opportunity to enjoy their time in England and allow them to purchase a ticket home!).

Impressed with their creative interpretation of the question, I posed the desert island angle. They immediately agreed among themselves that they'd bring--a plane!

The whole conversation reminded me of a anecdote I read once about a famous individual (perhaps Mark Twain) who when presented with nearly the same question as on the place mat promptly replied he'd bring along a well-known book on shipbuilding!

It's moments like these that bring me joy in having a major role in educating my kids. They are the moments that boost my confidence and whisper encouragement to my heart. These are the moments that keep me going.

on the job training

One of the occupational hazzards of being a Christian public speaker is that God often gives me opportunities to "practice what I preach." When I'm scheduled to speak on Menu Planning, we have a crazy week that makes me throw out my planned menu and feel a failure in that area. When I'm planning to talk about chores training, I have a week where my kids would perish in the flames before cleaning their rooms! Last week, was (another) chance to practice choosing joy as a mom. Jennifer was hospitalized for another kidney infection from August 31 to September 3rd. This time, she was on antibiotics that should have stopped this infection, but didn't. We are now facing more testing, uncertainty and a referral to a clinical psychologist who specializes in kids who have trouble with toileting issues.

I'd like to say I'm thrilled I have this opportunity--but I'm still working on that. I speak on this topic on 9/23, so that gives me about two weeks to get my act together!

So, I forge ahead....making myself choose joy. I choose to have a better perspective on my situation. The weather is lovely and cheering....our bills are paid and we have a great home and neighborhood to live in....we have a wonderful church with a supportive network and many people praying for us....Jennifer's health issues truly could be worse--they could be life-threatening...I have the distinct pleasure of staying home with my children and the privilege of schooling them at home...we live within driving distance of one of the world's best hospitals for children--with not only competent staff, but an atmosphere of care for the whole family....I have faithful friends to support and uphold me and a loving husband to walk this path along with me...I have a God who has promised to never leave me or forsake me...(I could keep going...)

This gets easier as I "count my blessings". I guess that is a huge key to choosing joy...keeping the blessings in my life at the forefront when the difficulties loom.

I think I need to look at my "on the job training" from a different perspective, too. Instead of seeing the hardships as if I am forced to grit my teeth and be happy--I need to look at them as an opportunity to practice being grateful for all the ways God has blessed my life. That's a lesson I don't mind learning...and training that will make my job so much easier.

sand dollars and sea shells

Just over a week ago, my dear, sweet friend, Kay (or as my kids call her "Gramma Kay"), entertained the kids and me for a couple of days at her lovely beach house on Hood Canal . It was a delightful time (as it is every year) and the weather cooperated beautifully for playing on the beach. One highlight was the looooong walk we took one morning to see the sand dollar beds.







Now, I'm assuming I'm not the only one who didn't know that sand dollars live in these HUGE beds together and when they are alive--they are black. When the water becomes extremely shallow in the beds, they lay down and somehow burrow a bit under the sand. When the water is a bit higher, the stand up on their sides (see next pic). There must have been hundreds of thousands of these sand dollars in beds scattered all over that area of the beach.









Another amazing part of that walk was the discussion we had about sea shells. The kids observed that many sea shells that are plain on the outside are beautiful on the inside and vice versa. Kay and I shared how we had often observed the same pattern in people. Just because someone looks great on the outside, doesn't mean they are beautiful on the inside. And, some of the people we've known who weren't much to look at on the outside had some of the most beautiful hearts. We also observed that just in the same way a shell's beautiful, pearly inside is usually made by the animal inside experiencing some sort of irritation, so it's the same with people. Usually, the "beautiful people" I know have experienced some sort of tragedy, pain or hardship that, while difficult to endure while it's going on, helps produce the loveliness left behind.


I love the Deuteronomy 6 principle of parenting--teaching your children God's wisdom, "...when you sit in your in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up...."--and I'll add, "When you're on the beach!"

Life is full of teachable moments. There are so many lessons all around us just waiting to be used to help our children understand the ways of the Lord. I love how He encases nuggets of wisdom in the most surprising places....like sand dollars and sea shells!

waving goodbye to summer

So, I'm finally sitting down to blog...it's been a fun, busy, challenging summer and I haven't been as disciplined in blogging as I want to be. I sometimes have a hard time balancing what's important.

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As I type this, I'm watching my 4 year old pour out water onto our sports court and watch facinatedly as it spreads out before her. Such are the images of summer that stay with me...the time when the press of schedules was less and the chance to pursue activities that we would call "a waste of time" during the rest of the year. After all, there are "places to go, things to do".

Right now I am reminded of how important it is (as fall approaches) to create my routines in such a way as to make sure we have time to enjoy simple moments that don't appear to have much value on the surface...

I guess this is one of the things that reminds me of one reason homeschooling appeals to me. Yes, I know that routine is important, but being able to lay on your stomach on the carpet all afternoon with a good book isn't a waste of time, IT'S SCHOOL!

I remember when I first started "officially" schooling at home and (not being a "school at home" type--but having been schooled as a child) often questioning myself as to whether particular activities could be "counted" as school. I mean, who would have thought sorting socks is math for a young child? And don't get me started on the possibilities that exist with sidewalk chalk!

So, I'm off to do some planning for this year. I'll make sure to fit in all the important subjects like math, science, history....and pouring water onto the sports court!

Random thoughts

I confess, I've kind of been waiting for inspiration to hit--but when it does, it's usually not the most convenient time and then I forget what it was (yes, the pleasures of middle-age approaching!)

Recently, I was paging through a Target ad and noticed they had large totes on sale. Why do they list the sizes for large plastic containers we use in our garages in LIQUID measurements? It's true. The ad will list "30 gallon tote". Do you know anyone that stores liquid in these things? I don't. Why don't they just make it easy and say something like,"20 winter sweaters size" or how about, "1 Christmas Tree worth of ornaments size" or even, "15 sets of Lego size". That way, I'd at least have an idea of what I could store in them!

Well, it's that sleepy time of afternoon on a warm day that makes even typing too much exercise, so I'll sign off after just a few words....

Washing soap!

Today I survived my 9-year-old son's birthday party! 9 little boys, ranging in age from 6-11 (two of them mine)....whew! Overall, it went well. We only had to confiscate 3 weapons (fake, of course) and keep them moving, moving, moving--which is right within their nature. I admire my friends who have only sons and seem to thrive in that environment. I love my boys, don't get me wrong, but boys in general wear me out! The are constantly in motion and emit the strangest sounds and odors. And, I've also found that you know you have boys when you have to wash a bar of soap! Mind you, boys are also very sweet and even a smelly, sticky, sweaty hug fills my hear with joy.

I've never bought into the modern rhetoric of "boys and girls are basically the same." It truly has me wondering if the proponents of it were at some time struck on the head with a blunt object!? I have friends with only girls who confidently tell me that they have at least one who is "just like having a boy." As much as I love you women, I must tell you....you are wrong! Here's an idea. One of you can volunteer to take my boys for a day and make sure you take them grocery shopping (because the male anti-shopping gene WILL kick in on aisle one). Then I recommend you put them in the same room and expect them to sit quietly, play quietly together or color. Finally, when you have them change for bed (you are keeping them for 24 hours, aren't you?), make sure you gather their clothing (which I promise will be scattered into the farthest corners) and a take a whiff for good measure. These are just a few suggested activities, you may want to just do the same things you do with your girls and see if they behave exactly the same way. Let me know how it goes. In the meantime, I have some bars of soap to wash.

Tummy Bears and Kidney Infections

My four-year-old has a bear in her tummy. At least that's what she tells me. Sometimes he plays on a playground in there (located in her bladder) and sometimes he visits his grandma (who, apparently, lives near her left kidney). She has quite a story to tell of his escapades. While I find it cute and am amazed at the detail she puts into her stories about him, I confess to some discomfort in it all, too. You see, she had 3 kidney infections in one month this last spring. She was twice hospitalized for treatment at Seattle's Children's Hospital. The doctors have yet to tell us how she came by these infections--so far the tests have been negative. Presently, we are still in limbo with it all and I hate living here. If she gets a fever for any reason, she must have testing to make sure her kidneys aren't infected. So we make sure she takes her meds and we wait. We wait for follow-up appointments, wait for test results, wait for calls back from doctors, wait... to see where this will take us. In the meantime, she continues along in her happy preschool world. She doesn't seem concerned at all about any of this and her tummy bear must be a friendly bear because he doesn't seem to frighten her. I guess I'm glad she is coping so well with it all. I wish I could visit with that bear in her tummy. Maybe he could tell us what's up. After all, he is on the scene.