A great article on marriage–The Secret to a Husband’s Love
Another thought provoking on homeschooling by the same blog–The Best Homeschool Curriculum
How to make homemade Beeswax crayons
Analyze your writing and see which famous author you write like.
Lee and I got to spend a little bit of time together this morning. He handed me his diploma!
It looks so nice in the frame I found. Now, I just need to find my diploma and we can hang them up next to each other.
I’m so proud of him. I’m thankful he didn’t give up when it got tough.
Thank you for praying for him.
A couple weeks ago, James used a coupon to buy a paint by numbers kit. He’s been working on his painting and exclaiming over the clouds.
He props the canvas up and looks at it from across the room and hollers, “Mom! The clouds look like real clouds!” I love watching him work on it and exclaim over his work.
He said, “I think this is more like an Impressionist painting. It doesn’t look good up close, but from far away it looks nice.”
I shared that with a friend and she snorted, “What does he know about Impressionist paintings?”
I told her that we studied artists for school but as I thought about it I decided it’s sad. It’s sad that people assume children don’t care about art or that a 9 year old boy shouldn’t know what Impressionists are.
I’ve shared before how we study artists. We don’t spend a ton of time on them, but we do learn and remember what we’ve learned.
I enjoy studying artists. I’m learning a lot too. I only knew the “big” artists before. I’ve learned right along with James and enjoyed every minute.
I was excited (and proud) when I put this term’s prints in our binder. We had 12 artists in the binder already. That means that I haven’t fallen behind in the artist study. 4 years of school=12 artists!
A friend asked me a few questions about studying artists this week. I sent her a bunch of links which I’m going to share with you.
She said she didn’t even know which artists to study. I suggested to her to start with the Ambleside list. Even if you’re not using Ambleside the lists of artists and prints is nicely put together and free to use.
This Yahoo group has the art selections in pdf format you can print yourself.
Here are a few other art links I have found.
Fine art as jigsaw puzzles–game to play online
Mr. Picassohead–just for fun
Books–
The Katie Meets series is fun and easy.
Art books from the Simply Charlotte Mason bookfinder
Art projects for kids–by an art teacher. Some good ideas
This term, we’re going to deviate from the Ambleside selection and study Raphael. I’ll tell you why in another post on another day!
Please share any art resources you’ve found.
James and I added strawberry picking to our summer “to do” list this year. We waited too long though!
My friend alerted me to a great sale on berries at the store and so I stocked up on berries there and came home to make some delicious jam.
MMM! Did you make anything with berries this year?
I just made freezer jam but I love seeing all these little containers lined up in the freezer.
One batch was plain strawberry, one was strawberry-raspberry, and one was strawberry-raspberry with the leftover blueberries in it. They all turned out delicious.
Last night, I had trouble sleeping. I was concerned about Lee’s day today.
I was surprised I wasn’t concerned about his day on Monday. On Monday, they drove the semis through standing water and had to hit the brakes and control the truck. I’m glad I didn’t witness that one!
Lee said his instructor told him he was brilliant. Lee’s partner said it’s a good thing school is almost done because Lee has the big head now!
Today was their field trip. They were driving their semis on a 250 mile trip. Lee was looking forward to it for a long time, but I was concerned because he works so late and had to go back to work after a day in the semi.
He called me early this morning and said they excluded him from the trip because of his work hours. He was a little bummed but glad too. I’m sad he missed his day in the semi because I know he was excited about that.
But I’m thankful the Lord answered my prayers with a good solution. I’m thankful that the instructors are working with Lee and his crazy schedule too.
Most of all I’m thankful he had time to rest today and that he’s safe!
Lee has 3 more days of school!
This schedule has been Rough with a capital “R” for him. Thank you for praying for him. Please keep it up. He still has to survive a few more days.
His teacher told him he will finish this week and I think he has all his requirements in.
So exciting!
(this is not my shoulder or my hair but this IS the side of me that hurts–and aren’t those cables pretty on that sweater?….)
I know that in the past I’ve mentioned my neck and it’s crazy problems, but I don’t think I’ve ever really explained them.
15 years ago, my life changed in a split second.
You can’t see my neck injury. I don’t limp. I don’t hobble. I don’t have trouble breathing. I don’t have to use any special equipment.
I worked in a day care at the time. One of my students spilled their milk and I cleaned it up. Since I was the only teacher, I was a bit nervous about them returning to the classroom alone while I cleaned it up but I could hear them. I wiped it up quickly and returned the cloth to the cleaning area.
I heard the kids getting louder so I hurried back to the classroom. Apparently, I hadn’t completely dried the floor and it was just wet enough for me to slip.
I fell with my hand behind my back. My head snapped to the right and then to the back. I felt completely numb but got up and went into the class. I worked all day that day, but the pain was getting worse and worse. A co-worker said I should file a report and then go to the doctor.
By the next morning, I could barely turn my head. I went to a chiropractor for the first time in my life. They xrayed and I had only tissue damage. Unfortunately, I think that may be the worst type of damage but it’s not the “right” kind of damage for a workman’s comp claim.
I began receiving treatment and physical therapy. I called it my “Chinese torture”. I sat in a chair attached to a weight machine and moved weights with my neck up an incline. Then I had to use my neck to stop the weights from slamming my head back to the other side.
I only let it slam one time–which means I didn’t use my neck muscles to move it but allowed the machine to swing back on it’s own. That was a horrible experience! I decided that no matter how much it hurt, I would engage my neck muscles and move the weights slowly.
My treatment usually included heat and some sort of light massage too. I lived on icy hot for my rock hard shoulder muscles
I remember riding in the back of our family’s van and crying every time it hit a bump. At the beginning, I was in horrible pain all the time. Pain relievers didn’t do anything for me. I could barely feel it when someone massaged my shoulder. The doctor suggested that people use their elbow to push their bone into my shoulder to help relieve the tightness. To this day, that’s what I have to have people do or I simply cannot feel it.
Workman’s comp paid for some initial visits and therapy and then began their campaign that I was lying and that I had fallen on purpose to collect money. Man! I wish they could see me 15 years later. I definitely didn’t do this to myself.
The day care center took the side of the workman’s comp doctor and my job got very bad. Due to my physical pain, I couldn’t stand the mess at work and I did quit.
I don’t remember when it was, but one day I asked the doctor when I would be better. He said, “You will never be better. You will always deal with this.” I went back to my new job and my boss asked how the appointment went. When I voiced the doctor’s horrible words, I started crying! Up until then, I really thought that I would get better and be back to normal. I didn’t realize it was a permanent problem.
At this point, I’m not constantly in pain, but I’d definitely say I’m often in pain. I avoid things that cause my neck to flare up because I don’t want to cause extra pain.
I can’t look up for more than a few seconds.
I haven’t cross stitched once since that day–my hands fall asleep and the looking down at the pattern starts causing pain.
I rarely play the piano for fun anymore. I used to sit at the piano for hours just to play. I’m not physically capable of doing that anymore–mostly due to my hands falling asleep. This is from the area that the soft tissue damage is in. If it’s flaring up, it causes the nerves in my hands to fall asleep.
I don’t ride bumper cars or amusement park rides. I tried once and decided that the pain wasn’t worth the couple minutes of fun.
I don’t carry or lift heavy things unless I absolutely have to.
I have trouble lifting things over my head–this includes my hands unless very briefly.
My current chiropractor is a fabulous blessing. She cured my frequent migraines. I went through a period of years where I suffered from them constantly. Until recently, I’ve had headaches and neck pain often, but the migraines were gone. (The exercise program I was doing is the culprit of my recent migraines in my opinion.)
She has fixed a lot of my issues and when I see her regularly, I am able to manage everything quite well.
When I first started seeing her, she took new xrays. She came back into the room and showed me the xrays. I’d never seen them before. She said, “This was a very bad accident.”
I cried again just to have someone validate my pain. She explained what happened to me.
When I fell, I threw my hand behind my back. This is a common reaction but it’s a bad one. She said I probably would have healed more quickly if I had hit my head on the floor rather than stopping myself like I did. When my hand hit the floor, and I fell, my shoulder bones shoved up to my spine and rotated when they moved back.
When my head snapped, it caused my neck to curve in the opposite direction it’s supposed to curve. I have a big “c” in my neck rather than a gentle curve.
My upper back is curved in a slight “c” as well.
When I first got hurt, I prayed and prayed that God would heal me. As time went on and I realized I would never be back to normal, I had difficulty accepting that. I still get frustrated at my limitations. I think of Paul and his infirmity and how diligently he asked God to remove it from his life. I’ve definitely asked more than three times to have this removed.
In many ways, I think this prepared me for the trial we are living in now. I came to know that God gives strength when I don’t have any of my own. I learned that God carries me through when I think I can’t go on. I learned that God doesn’t always answer my prayers how I want him to. I learned to have more compassion for others who hurt. I learned that I can keep moving and living even though I hurt.
I really didn’t compare my neck problem to our life’s trial until I was typing this out tonight. So many things God taught me years before I really had to live them out.
Why doesn’t God always heal? It’s hard to know and I can’t really answer that. Some people and religions say that I’m not healed because I didn’t have enough faith. That’s not true and frankly it’s a bit insulting!
Paul had more faith than many of us ever will. God didn’t heal him.
Sometimes it is God’s will and for his glory to heal. Sometimes it’s God’s will and for his glory to allow us to live with pain or trials. It’s times like these that I have to rest in the sovereignty of God. His way is best and he knows what each of us need.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Hello! I’ve been super busy and tired this week so my posts have been a bit sparse!
However, I did find some interesting things this week to share with you!
These hydrangea cupcakes are so pretty!
A helpful article on training children to manage money.
A funny blast from the past–strange fashion fads from our childhoods.
A lesson on fabric types with gorgeous photos!
A couple crazy things from the fishing world. A huge catfish & A whale mangles a yacht
Fun water toys you can make at home.
Ok–how cool is this? You can make a purse from a tank top.
This is a simple idea for teaching colors to little ones.
Make a wallet from duct tape. I have a suspicion my son will be trying this one!
I haven’t blogged any true confessions for awhile have I?
Here are few more.
1. I prefer to be lazy.
2. I have an inner “Monk”. I make James put the bath mat straight–I can’t stand having crooked things on the walls–I move tables at Bible study if they’re crooked!
3. I enjoy scaring our little black kitty. I know it’s mean but I can’t help it. I love seeing her jump.
4. I really love the color red.
5. I crack my knuckles.
6. I’m really bad at reversing the car.
7. I always run over curbs when I turn.
8. I don’t like some of the books on our reading list for school. Blech!
9. I don’t like talking on the phone.
10. James’ input is that I like pretzels and mustard. He thinks that’s really weird and asks, “Is that normal?”
What about you? Any weird quirks you’d like to share?
Welcome to this edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival. I’m excited to host these lovely posts today. Learning about Charlotte Mason and how other homeschool families incorporate her ideas into their schooling always interests me.
History
Pamela presents a visit to Old Shasta posted at Blah, Blah, Blog.I had to smile at her comment about the buildings surviving so long only to be threatened by her kids. I’d have the same worry, Pamela!
Play
Keri presents PLAY! posted at SunnyKeri.I like the Charlotte Mason quotes about play that she included.
Nature Study
Shannon shares More Great Free Nature Study Resources posted at Mountaineer Country. I need to peek at the tree guide she included!
Shannon also found printable one page field guides to share. Free Nature Study Resource posted at Mountaineer Country.
Melissa shares a lovely post baby bluebird bonanza…well, not really a bonanza…but bluebirds, for sure! posted at Bugs, Knights, and Turkeys In the Yard. She says, “Enjoying a little summertime fun with some Eastern Bluebirds!” I enjoyed seeing your nature journal entries.
Art
Jeanne presents Putting together the pieces together posted at A peaceful day. I like her ideas for artist study. I’ll have to incorporate some of them in our school. Thank you!
Laura Grace Weldon presents Strong Enough to Be Ourselves posted at The Relentless Optimist. She says, “Cameron is 9 years old. Under his bed is an entire world.”
Nancy shares what her children learned when they studied Van Gogh. La joie d’apprendre!: Vincent Van Gogh posted at La joie d’apprendre!. (Google automatically translated this for me. Hopefully your internet browser will offer you the same service!)
Tricia Hodges presents Homeschool Highlights posted at Weather – A Pastels Tutorial. Nana offers a pastel lesson inspired by our summer weather outdoor hour challenge. Clouds at sunrise plus a bonus technique of drawing with the right side of the brain. This entry is both nature study and art!
Social Studies
NAK presents CITIZENSHIP Part I: Claiming Magnanimity posted at Sage Parnassus. I like her definition and thoughts on a great subject.
