INSPIRE...DISCOVER...CREATE

Dale Carnegie is Right!

2012-01-24T21:22:00.000-08:00

Today my husband and I got our drivers licenses renewed. I was prepared to wait for an eternity but surprisingly it wasn't too busy. A man helped us at the information desk and I decided while watching him that I would try some new skills I'm learning from Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends and Influence People.

He asked us if we knew a gentleman with our same last name. My husband responded that he didn't and the subject seemed to be dropped. But I noticed he was interested in his friend so I said enthusiastically, "I bet his a great guy though!"

The man immediately brightened up and said, "You better believe he's a **** good person." He proceeded to tell us exactly what we should do so that we could be helped the quickest. And then, while we filled out our applications in the waiting area, he came over and gave us numbers so that we would be called next! He totally went out of his way just because I had showed interest in a friend of his. I'm a convert : )

Reprogramming the Elephant

2012-01-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

I recently listened to a talk about the concept of the subconscious vs. the conscious mind. In the speech by Orrin Woodward, he refers to the book The Ant and the Elephant: Leadership For the Self by Vince Poscente. I have yet to read the book but it is definitely on the must-read list.

The basic idea is that as humans, we have so much untapped potential in our subconscious minds. The subconscious mind fires something like 4 billion neurons per second while the conscious mind fires approximately 2,000 neurons per second. The author compares the subconscious with all this activity to an elephant while the conscious mind is likened to an ant.

How do we tap into that powerful potential of our elephants? When you think about how much an elephant eats compared to an ant, you can easily understand that our elephants eat everyday, whether or not WE feed it. Our minds are constantly being programmed with images, ideas, scripting, etc. Take for example watching the television. Images are constantly flashing on our mind's eye with words and ideas. Just the thought makes me feel vulnerable.

I remember after serving a mission for my church, some friends took me to a movie. It was one of the "Mission Impossible" movies and I just remember feeling assaulted. It was an overload of visual chaos to me after not having watched any kind of show for almost 2 years.

Media is not the only food we feed our elephants. Each of us has a script running through our minds. We are constantly creating our story by the way we think of ourselves, our relationships and surroundings, etc. Have you ever stopped to think, "What am I thinking?"

In order to tap into the power of the elephant and get him to do what our ant wants, we need to reprogram him. Positive affirmations are one way we can do this. I pay attention to my negative scripting and then rewrite my story according to what I really want. Then I read them to myself at least once a day.

My husband and I also have a HUGE vision board on the wall in our room with images that show our affirmations. We started writing things on our mirror 10 years ago when we wanted to move back to the west to be near my father-in-law who was in poor health. We posted a map with stickers on the cities we would like to live and we wrote on it: "We are back in the west by Oct. 2003". Within a month of that date we were moving into our new house in one of the cities with a sticker on it.

Reprogramming the elephant really works. I want to be in charge of what I put into my mind! Imagine what we can do if the elephant and the ant worked together to accomplish our personal purposes while we are here on earth. I can see the ant riding the elephant right now...I got another image for my vision board!

A Great Quote

2012-01-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

“Woman is God’s supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good.

“Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth.”

~Gordon B. Hinckley

The Principle of Preparation

2012-01-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

This is a paper I wrote last year. I needed to review the principle so I thought I'd share it here. It's a bit lengthy so feel free to skim...

My eyelids pop open with the realization that today promises to be an impossible day. The tasks before me loom like an ominous, dark cloud and that familiar feeling of dread begins to creep into my being. My feet barely hit the floor before to-dos tumble around in my mind: home school, chores, morning routine, laundry, Liberty Girls, basketball practice, drama class, and the decision of what to make for dinner that would be easy, quick and healthy, knowing we have little food to work with because I need to go shopping. Just the thought makes me want to lie back down and pull the covers over my head.

We’ve all had those days where it is not humanly possible to squeeze in all that we think we need to accomplish. Yet there are people who seem to pull it off. Mr. Gilbreth in Cheaper by the Dozen achieves record time as his family prepares for an outing or when all twelve children are dressed, the morning routine done like clockwork. What is the difference? Why can some seem to accomplish so much in little time while others scramble to keep their heads on straight?

Some may argue that having systems in place ensure the Gilbreth family success with the to-dos in a family of fourteen. While certainly systems account for their time breaking records, I wish to explore an even more fundamental level of his accomplishments—preparation. In Webster’s Dictionary the word “prepare” is defined as “to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use or activity” and also “to put in a proper state of mind.” The motion study expert and father of twelve had to identify what end result he desired and then prepare a system that would answer that end. He spent time teaching and drilling the children to respond quickly when asked. His whole profession involved an in-depth study of the most efficient way to carry out tasks and then spent his time preparing his subjects to execute at that level.

The definition “to make ready beforehand for some purpose” calls to mind another large family on the other side of the globe. Imagine for a moment that you are in the countryside surrounding Salzburg, Austria in the early 1940s on Easter Sunday. “This morning, when the families walk to church, you see them carrying bundles large and small. On the Sunday of Sundays even the food which will be on the table later for sumptuous Easter breakfast is blessed [by the priest]. The father carries the big ham, the mother, the artistically baked Easter bread with raisins popping out all over, and the children are entrusted with the basketsful of Easter eggs and little dishes of salt.” In The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, Maria Augusta Trapp details how all this food is then blessed by the priest.

In our day and age we would scoff at all that extra work while chiding to “keep it simple”. However the longer I consider the Catholics in Austria, the more I realize the “extra” work they did was a form of worship, a way to adore the Lord for His ultimate sacrifice. They spent the beginning of Easter holidays in “feverish” spring cleaning mirroring the internal cleansing that occurs during Lent. Everything they did during the Easter season symbolized their adoration for the Lord.

The Austrian Easter ceremony caused me to reflect on the scriptures. What does God have to say about the topic of preparation? The entire mission of John the Baptist was to “prepare” the way of the Lord. Why was his calling so important? What would cause the Lord to say to the multitudes about John, “But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist…” (Matthew 11:9-11)?

These questions lead to more which in turn lead me to the answer for which I seek. What if John the Baptist never came? What would have happened when the Lord came into the world? I can imagine that the people would not be, using Webster’s words, “put in the proper state of mind.” There is that theme again, anticipating or preparing for the Lord is part of worshipping him. The people needed to know he was coming so they would be ready to accept him as their Savior.

Another prophet spent a good portion of his life preparing. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world…” (Hebrews 11:7) Not only did he build the physical structure, he gathered two of every animal, seeds and food, not to mention preparing his family for the impending journey. Noah showed his great faith by acting when the Lord commanded. Each act of preparation must have been for Noah an act of faith, a way to worship God.

Just as God commanded Noah, He has given us commandments that if we heed can allow us to show our faith in Him. In Doctrine and Covenants 85:3 it states, “He may tithe his people to prepare them.” How is living the law of the tithe preparation? By sacrificing we learn to a small degree to be like the Savior who sacrificed His life. We will also be prepared to live the law of consecration. God teaches his children in Doctrine and Covenants 38:30, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” We can find comfort in preparing for emergencies, storing food, saving money for a rainy day and doing our family history. Many of God’s commandments share an element of preparation since the scriptures tell us that “this life is a time to prepare to meet God.” (Alma 12:24) By preparing we can show our love and devotion to God. We are promised that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

We get a glimpse of these blessings in the temple. Everything we do in the temple has to do with preparation. The ordinances help prepare us and others to return to live with our Heavenly Father. Once while living in New York I arrived just in time, but rushed to a temple session. My mind was racing with everything I needed to do before I could enter the endowment room. Later as I sat pondering how I treated a trip to the Lord’s holy house, I was struck by my lack of devotion. My mind was not clear and ready to worship or receive much needed revelation. I vowed to be better prepared when attending the temple. Around that same time, a sweet, elderly sister taught us how to care for our temple clothes. As I did as she had taught and washed my temple clothes, I was again struck at how even preparing to enter the temple is a form of worship.

Formally worshipping the Lord in the temple obviously shows our faith and devotion, but does the principle of preparation apply temporally? How does the Gilbreth children executing record time in anticipation of an outing show adoration to the Lord? Everyone is given the same amount of time in this life. We are stewards over that time. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. counsels, “Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” By using the time we have been given wisely, we can in effect show our respect to the Giver of the gift.

Attitude and awareness are the defining elements. The manner in which I prepare a meal for my family, prepare clothes by doing the laundry, or prepare my children for bedtime can show my adoration and faith if I do so with an attitude of devotion. Making time for each activity throughout my week creates space: space to love and play with my children, space to pray, space to hear and act upon promptings. This space can potentially eliminate impatience, hurrying, tardiness, frustration and the destructive effects to relationships and our personal state of being these negative experiences can cause. By using the time God has given me in an efficient way, I can show my gratitude and respect. I will become an instrument in the Lord’s hands available to His inspiration and guidance. No longer will I crawl back in bed defeated, I will welcome each day with peace and confidence. It’s about time.

Bad Frogs

2012-01-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the scene in "Bedtime Stories" with Adam Sandler where he's reading story books to his niece and nephew? I can't remember the titles exactly but the books were something like Chipmunk Wears a Bike Helmet and Larry the Alligator Recycles. Under his breath he remarks that he refuses to read these socialist books. It's what causes him to tell his own story.

Yesterday I came home from running errands and my little ones were purposely trying to be naughty. The older kids explained that while I was gone, my mom had read a library book one of my children randomly chose from off the shelf. It is entitled Bad Frogs by Thacher Hurd. These bad frogs do everything possible wrong including kissing their girlfriends late into the night.

Usually books with naughty characters have a redeeming ending. Much like the story of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Johnson, the Herdmans are an unruly set of siblings who terrorize the neighborhood only to end up stars of the local church Christmas pageant. It was a touching version of the Christ's birth that gives the reader a different perspective of the age old history.

Bad Frogs had no such redeeming value. These bad frogs slurp, burp, wear bad hats, smell yucky, talk crummy, make messes, spill water out of the bath tub, never say please, never say thank you, and it goes on. Pretty much everything we painstakingly try to teach our little ones not to do everyday. The truly alarming thing is how well it works. My children copied every behavior possible.

It appeals to the natural man disregarding conscience and morals. About this book the author says, "This has been a fascinating experience for me; to create a book about pure, unadulterated froggy joy."

When preparing a lecture or writing a paper, I've been taught to ask the questions, "What do I want my reader/listener to know as a result of my presentation? What do I want them to feel? and What do I want them to do?" I frequently ask these questions about the books I read so that I can uncover the author's message. These questions reveal to me a scary agenda now infiltrating literature meant for the rising generation.

This book skips socialism and goes straight to promoting communism. If there are no morals, no religion, and everyone seeks to please #1, then we will need a government that controls with a heavy hand. Our key to freedom is self-government and as we drift from that ideal, government puts more laws in place to keep order. Benjamin Franklin said, "[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."

Let's borrow a page from Adam Sandler (never thought I'd say that ;-) and write our own story. I told my children the true story of Bad Frogs and they keep looking over my shoulder as I write this post. I can to appeal to my library and write a letter to the publisher. My own story will be fighting for freedom, even in the small and simple things like a seemingly harmless children's book...

Consistency

2012-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's 8:22 am, I haven't finished my Morning Routine from my previous post, and I'm rushing to write a post so that I can begin our Morning Devotional on time. I take great comfort in a journal entry by John Adams recorded on July 21, 1756:

I am resolved to rise with the sun and to study Scriptures on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, and to study some Latin author the other three mornings. Noons and nights I intend to read English authors....I will rouse up my mind and fix my attention. I will stand collected within myself and think upon what I read and what I see. I will strive with all my soul to be something more than persons who have had less advantages than myself.

But the next morning he slept until seven and a one-line entry the following week read, "A very rainy day. Dreamed away the time." (McCullough, John Adams, p. 41)

He became a great statesman so I am hoping there is a wide margin for error : )

Habits

2012-01-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." What kind of habits do we have? Are they leading us toward excellence or mediocrity?

In Noah Websters 1828 Dictionary, habit is defined as "a disposition or condition of the mind or body acquired by custom or a frequent repetition of the same act. Habit is that which is held or retained, the effect of custom or frequent repetition."

I take heart in this definition since the "condition of the mind or body" are faculties over which we have control. We do not have to become victims to our default habits. We have power to create habits that will lead us to success.

How do you know which habits to make? That may seem like a simple question, but LEMI offers a whole conference call on "Forms". A form is a model, system or pattern. Simply stated a form is the way we do things. Once I learned about forms, all of a sudden they started to pop up all over the place.

We see different ways to govern, ways we handle the preparation of food, ways we get up in the morning, ways we clean the house, etc. The reason this is so crucial is because seeing forms allows us to proactively create success-leading habits. First we need to define what kind of form we are operating under. For example, how do we govern our homes and family? If we find ourselves yelling and ordering everyone around, then we can zoom out and realize the form of government we are following is akin to a dictatorship. Once recognized we can align our behavior with the form of government we desire in our home.

Since I'm in love with Fly Lady's system, I will use that as an example. What she does in essence is give those willing to be mentored a system or form for cleaning our homes. She has created a Morning Routine (to which I added some of my own) that I follow everyday (or almost everyday ; )

Morning Routine:

Plan

Read Scriptures & Pray

Exercise for Well Being

Get Dressed from head to toe, including make-up and brushing teeth

Swish & Swipe (1-2 minute wipe down of bathroom)

Check Calendar

Unload Dishwasher

Reboot Laundry (sort, wash, dry, fold, put away one load)

After following this routine for 4 months, it has started to become my own. I realized this morning that these habits I am creating help set the proper tone for my entire day. They are habits that lead me to success.

As I develop these success-promoting habits, I naturally turn to my children to help them establish good habits of their own. Then it hit me! That is really the Core (yes as in Core Phase : ) of a Thomas Jefferson Education. We are not trying to fill their minds with all sorts of facts, we are teaching them excellent habits that help to create the inspiring environment that will ignite their fire of curiosity and learning.

If you don't like the way your morning goes or how you handle the dinner hour, simply zoom out and recognize what form you follow. Then choose which form you would like and begin making the habits that lead to success! I'm off to practice what I preach : )

Planning

2012-01-17T04:59:00.000-08:00

I've noticed my best days happen when I take the time to plan. Planning involves more than list making, although creating lists are a big part of it for me. I just spent almost a half-an-hour planning. Today it included making a menu for at least a week and from that making a grocery list, looking at my calendar and putting any events on my daily to-do list to keep them present in my mind (I've been known to forget many an activity), looking at what I want to accomplish and when I will do those things.

It is important to think thoroughly and detailed at these items if I want to be effective. I can stuff my daily to-dos full of things that would be nice to accomplish but at the end of the day it only leaves me feeling unproductive and frustrated. I've learned to be realistic and only write down those things I really want to accomplish. That way I can commit to those items and begin my day with determination to finish the list.

I noticed this crazy phenomenon when I have become more consistent in my planning, scheduling and execution: my children follow my lead. If I am haphazard about my day, everything is harder. It's harder to get the kids to clean, do school, follow anything I say. When I try to stay on task, my kiddos follow suit. Sometimes it's not fair I think that so much depends on us moms. If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody's happy--that kind of thing. Sometimes I wish I could just be grumpy! But when you look at the other side of coin, isn't nice to have much of the power to create wonderful days and happy children?

Let's Get Cozi

2012-01-16T04:38:00.000-08:00

To help me live a proactive life, I have found yet another friend :-) Fly Lady told me about an online family planner called Cozi that I now use everyday! It can be shared with the whole family although I am currently the only user. I mainly use it for the To-Do Lists you can create--I am an avid list maker. I have lists for the family schedule, kids school, Fly Lady zone cleaning lists, and of course the daily to-dos.

There is also a place to plan meals, keep shopping lists, calendar and journal. I love the shopping lists because I can have a list for each store I frequent. I have one for Costco, Walmart, etc. and when I run out of something I need from that particular store, I simply add it to my list.

The real genius for me is the smart phone app. It really has saved my bacon with everything that I have going on with homeschooling, our commonwealth school, cleaning on the FLY and all the kids' activities. I can also take it to the store with shopping lists and not forget everything I need. The phone app has yet to include the meal planning, but they are working on that.

The only thing I need to work on is looking at it later in the day. I seem to get my day rolling just fine, but then it must really get rolling because I forget to stop and check back. Occasionally I leave important items undone. Too bad there's not an app to teach me self-discipline ;-)

A Mathematical Journey

2012-01-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

My daughter (12 years) and I have been going on a math journey every (school) day since the new year. Both of us are trying to change our paradigm about mathematics, but for different reasons. She has a mindset that math is difficult for her and I, having loved math in school, am trying to see math in a more holistic, artistic sense.

We began by reading "A Mathematician's Lament" by Paul Lockhart (I should note that the friend that recommended these resources to me mentioned there is a reference to something inappropriate but I didn't notice it since my daughter was reading and it went over her head--thought I'd give you a heads up though). We both enjoyed it again probably for different reasons. She liked the dialogue and big words and I enjoyed his refreshing perspective on math.

We are also reading some wonderful resources that have helped us to enjoy doing math together.

Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks by Arthur Benjamin is a great way to instantly increase the confidence of a child who knows her basic facts.

We do one puzzle a day from Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles by Martin Gardner. It has been good for us to talk through the puzzles and even if we don't get it right, we feel good about exploring all the options we can think of first and then seeing how it should be solved.

Lastly we read from The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures by Malba Tahan. My daughter LOVES to read so this has been fun to follow their adventures. We don't always figure out all the math but she enjoys the story so I am focusing on exposure.

I hesitate to mention this one but since I feel like it has helped me think in a new way, I should mention I started to read The Thirteen Books of the Elements, Vol. 1: Books 1-2 by Euclid on my own. Before you get too impressed, I should clarify that I have only read the definitions which is a little over a page! However, just pondering on the meaning of the first definition broadened my mind. And I am holding onto the belief that if we lead out, our children will follow.

(A great article on some math resources can be found at tjed.org.)

Since we've begun our mathematical journey, I am looking at things in a new way. Particularly in the scriptures, I have noticed mathematical concepts. Today while studying to teach Sunday School, I noticed a pattern. I looked the word pattern up on dictionary.com and didn't find a satisfactory definition so I pulled out my Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary and this is what I found:

Pattern--An original or model proposed for imitation; the archtype; an exemplar; that which is to be copied or imitated, either in things or in actions; as in the pattern of a machine; a pattern of patience. Christ was the most perfect pattern of rectitude, patience and submission ever exhibited on earth.

Suddenly, mathematical concepts came jumping out at me all during church. A man spoke of the sequence of things, there were symbols in a vision, I recognized a dichotomy of ideas (a distribution of ideas by pairs), etc. It is as if God uses the language of mathematics to get our attention, to tell us THIS IS IMPORTANT--DO THIS! I feel like an infant exploring the rudimentary elements of life but my desire and capacity to learn, ponder and search is being magnified and increased. My paradigm is shifting...

Lead Out

2012-01-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a simulation at our combine Shakespeare and Key of Liberty Parent Night. It was the first one that I made up from scratch and I had no real way of trying it out first to see if it would be successful. To add to my insecurity, both the parents and students would be participating.

A simulation, for those who have yet to participate in one, is an experience in which the participants take on a role in a fictitious setting. This type of learning is hands-on and very enlightening since you are actually experiencing first hand history, life, leadership, etc. Whereas reading a book or watching an educational program is more of a third person, somewhat removed experience. Simulations can be powerful because you learn crucial aspects about yourself, for example, how you react in different situations, but in a safe environment. That way if there is something you don't like about yourself, you can take steps to improve before you are placed in a situation where it is too late.

In creating last night's simulation, which was really quite simple, I had to think of a need or purpose, create a scenario and environment for that scenario, create roles and gather materials, devise a time bomb that would help the experience come to a climax by adding pressure for the students to act and lastly prepare to conduct a debriefing where the participants share their individual experiences. The last part is the most critical since it helps students to see their experience through other's eyes, to share insights and epiphanies they may have had and to go deeper into what principles made the experience so meaningful.

I realized while brainstorming and using people as sounding boards for my ideas that I felt very vulnerable. I wanted everyone to have a meaningful experience and for my purpose to be accomplished--I just wanted something I knew would work! So many times when we become a leader in whatever capacity, we put ourselves out on a limb. We open ourselves up to criticism and even ridicule by leading out.

Last night I learned (while watching the participants feel that same vulnerability I felt in creating the simulation) that if you don't take that risk then you will never know if you will succeed. I knew this already but it was reinforced by my experience. The fear of failure sometimes paralyzes us from acting. I love Thomas Edison's perspective on failure. He said,"Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward..."

Next time I feel that vulnerability, I will change my perspective from worrying I will make a fool out of myself to being excited that I have an opportunity to grow and learn--a step closer to the person I want to be.

One of My NEW Best Friends

2012-01-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to someone you may have heard of already. I had met her before, but didn't REALLY appreciate her (you may have had a similar experience). But now, she is one of my new best friends since she saved my life! She has brought order to my chaos. She is a little chubby and has wings. Have you guessed yet? I'd like you to meet FLY Lady :-)

Before I met her I had it all backwards. I used to think that I had to clean my house and THEN I could start to declutter since the house usually falls apart when you focus on a project. I thought by having a clean house to begin with that I wouldn't get as frustrated if I focused on gutting out a closet because I could look around and everything would be generally clean. So what happened? I would clean my house, get pooped out and be done! I would never get to the decluttering--the part that really makes me feel my house is clean.

Fly Lady has a much better way. She has me decluttering for 15 minutes every day. That's it! I never get tired out (she has me take regular breaks) and my house is the cleanest it has ever been. I love how she starts you with baby steps so that you can establish the habit before moving on to the next thing. I have a tendency to jump into a new thing with both feet and then get burned-out.

I have a secret though. Only read on if you think you might really want a clean house (if you don't have one already). I know the key to succeeding using the Fly Lady system. Are you ready for this one? The key to succeeding with Fly Lady is SUBMISSION. I have learned well that if you submit to a mentor's style, even though it may not be the way you do something (i.e. getting dressed down to your shoes or shining your sink before bed), that you should DO IT ANYWAY. Once you learn her way and see why it works, then you can tweak it to fit your style. Happy cleaning!

Quiet Time...Ahhh

2012-01-12T05:46:00.000-08:00

I was recently listening to an inspirational CD about how to help children to fall in love with reading. One of the suggestions that I added to my schedule was Quiet Time. I've tried it before, but like most things, my inconsistency failed to make it a successful. After homeschooling for four years, my capacity to develop new habits has increased and Quiet Time is a wonderful addition to our schedule. After two weeks of it, I wonder how I ever did without it!

After lunch, we clean up (the kitchen and their zones) and everyone goes to their designated space (mostly their bedrooms minus my oldest who reads in the loft/schoolroom area). I give one of the children a timer so they know it will end (if I didn't I might stretch the hour into two!) The younger ones who cannot read yet listen to CDs such as Brite, Scripture Scouts, etc. while the older ones may read classics. And I? I STUDY! I've always wanted to incorporate consistent study time into my daily routine, but it was rather elusive (I take full responsibility for making it so!). It has been incredible that a small, consistent habit like this leads to learning in leaps and bounds for me.

The craziest thing of all is that the kids LOVE it. I'm not sure if they love the structure, consistency or the actual quiet time but so far they ask for it everyday like it's something to look forward to. I've been told it takes 21 days to make a habit. In that case, one more week to go!

Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

2012-01-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

I'm reading How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and I have been pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but he tells great stories to make his points and I have been not only entertained but instructed as well. In the book, he gives suggestions on how to make the study of this book most effective. One tip is to read the chapter twice. Initially, I thought that would be cumbersome but I have actually enjoyed it. It's amazing how much I miss the first time through and like I mentioned his stories are impactful and touching--definitely worth a second read.

His first three "fundamental techniques to handling people" are: 1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain, 2. Give honest and sincere appreciation and 3. Arouse in the other person an eager want. It's funny, but I again anticipated reading this with the intent of applying his advice in dealing with people in my commonwealth school and other more professional settings, but I find my mind drifting continually to my children. I have read Part I in it's entirety twice now and my children kept returning to my mind.

Equally as unfortunate is my inability to apply Rule #1! It seems like too frequently I slip back into a mom that thinks she needs to "nip things in the bud" before they develop bad habits when in reality no one likes to be criticized. If someone tells me I did a lousy job at something, my first reaction is NOT, "Oh you're right, I want to do that better next time!" It automatically puts people on the defensive instead of them opening up and deciding to change on their own. I need to make a picture in my house crooked or put a string on my finger as a reminder to keep checking myself because sometimes I respond in negative ways as naturally as if I'm taking a breath.

I think I'm pretty adept at Rule #2 Give honest and sincere appreciation. I've practiced that over the years and I think I do OK although I'm sure there is always room for improvement : ) It's number 3 that I'm still trying to wrap my brain around. "Arouse in them [again my children instantly come to mind] an eager want." Wow, if I could bottle that I think I'd become a millionaire overnight! Can you imagine not having to ask your children to make their beds or do their kitchen jobs because they already WANT to do them? I think that section deserves a third read.

The Need to Write

2012-01-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

My last post was over a year ago. Over that year I feel like I've been on an amazing journey of learning and have often thought I should start posting again. Just recently I have had a more pressing and reoccurring need to process new information that comes to me.

I taught a writing workshop at our Freedom Project last Friday and we discussed why we write. I like to compare it to digesting food. Writing is the way we internalize and assimilate new information into our being. There is something in the process of thoughts traveling from our mind through our hands onto paper that helps us to make a truth our own.

So I would like to make myself a commitment to write something everyday. I have to be honest I am a little nervous to make that promise since I am already juggling many important things in my life. My entries can be short and simple, just so I establish a habit of writing something that I have learned. I'll do it! This is for my own benefit but if there is anyone listening, I welcome your thoughts and insights. I love this journey we call life and hearing from fellow travelers always enriches and enlivens my experience and hopefully does the same for you. So welcome back and happy traveling.

The Whole Truth

2010-10-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

I am in the middle of a moment where things I've been reading, studying, listening to and pondering along with life experiences are all culminating into a mega epiphany. Having this experience serves as a red flag for me to write! The best way I know of to really grasp and internalize a new principle is to write about it.

Today I was listening to a classic conference call from LEMI entitled “SayGoBeDo” which in a nutshell talks about following inspiration, promptings and/or revelation from God. For example, we may have a thought to call a friend or have a feeling to spend time with a child. During the discussion one of the mentors said, “To become charactered, we need to be motivated by serving others.” When I heard that all the pieces of the puzzle came together perfectly and I saw truth clearly.

The whole purpose I am seeking to educate myself and my children is to help us develop or become charactered. And yet as I read Bonds That Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves (yes I’m still working on that one) and Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box by the Arbinger Institute, I learn that how I regard others or how I truly feel about them will be communicated to them regardless of what I am actually saying.

In Leadership and Self-Deception in teaching this principle, one of the characters asks this poignant question, “When you’re going out of your way to do all those things for Leon so that he’ll know you have an interest in him, what are you most interested in—him or his opinion of you?” Yikes! If I am painfully honest with myself I would have to say the latter would answer for the majority of my interactions with others. I am having a sort of out-of-body experience lately as I see myself communicate with others in such a self-centered way. It’s as if my mind knows what is right but my body is on auto pilot just doing what it has always done and there seems to be no way to stop it!

Of course that is not true. Recognition is the first step to change. As I practice getting “out of the box” or viewing others as fellow human beings with hopes and struggles just like me, I can focus outward and serve others on a more meaningful level which is truly my heart’s desire. Practice makes perfect : ), right?

Heart at Peace

2010-09-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished participating in an introductory series of webinars for the Leadership Education Family Builder program offered by Diann Jeppson and Jodie Palmer (which I highly recommend for those of you who are applying a TJEd philosophy in your homes). The first session focuses on our first job as parents to build, nurture and heal relationships in our family. They use the Arbinger Institute philosophy to show how to accomplish this job.

In the webinar, Jodie referenced an article entitled Parenting Pyramid you can download from their website and I would again highly recommend it and any of their books. The Arbinger Institute's main premise is that there are two ways to do anything--with a heart at peace or a heart at war. When your heart is at war you treat others like objects while with a heart of peace you realize that others are human beings.

It is all too easy with 5 children to get caught up in getting things checked off my list or herding my family around to various activities--too easily my children can become objects to move from here to there. I have really stilled myself in the last couple of weeks and made myself aware of my heart especially during morning devotional and learning time.

This has helped me to create and nurture quality relationships with my children. All of our learning has been more effective as we focus on treating each other with respect. Morning devotional (minus a two-year old) is more peaceful.

However, I should have entitled this post "No Pain, No Gain" since I have been seeing myself through different eyes and what I see is PAINFUL. As I read Bonds That Make Us Free: Healing Our Relationships, Coming to Ourselves by C. Terry Warner (an Arbinger Institute book), I see a little too clearly what a self-centered person I really am!! Ouch! Caution: Read this book when you feel good about yourself ; )

What is most fascinating is how our perceptions and experiences create a reality (that is NOT reality) in our interactions with others. We project our own ideas onto others' motives and create painful interactions with those we love! Maybe I'll post some realizations when they aren't quite so painful...

Still MORE Thoughts on Chores

2010-08-26T08:30:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of telling the "rest of the story", I have changed my tune about chores…yet again. I still think the HAnnDi Work System is very useful and comprehensive however I would imagine that it would work really well for children that already know their jobs. I was having 4 children simultaneously cleaning and not correctly and I felt torn as to who to help first while others waited…you can imagine the scene I’m sure.

I had an epiphany one day when my oldest daughter came to show me with face beaming and chest puffed out that she had just folded the perfect towel. She was so pleased with herself and was sure that she could pass that chore off on her adult skills list that finally the light bulb went off. Children need practice! And lots of it…

So I temporarily set that system aside and changed to zones. I divided the house into zones and let the children choose what rooms they wanted to be responsible for. They will have their zones for at least 6 months. They all know how to tidy a space so that buys me a little time to teach whoever needs a little extra attention. Also I’m kicking around the idea of having a cleaning class once a week where everyone learns how to wipe off a counter or sweep the floor for example.

We’ve been doing zones for about 2 months. Here are some issues we’ve had to iron out. All children need to respect others’ zones by cleaning up their own messes. Toddlers are not respectful ; ) and everyone needs to pick up after them. Return and report is key to teaching proper technique. On the days I don’t pay attention to their work, I’m always disappointed.

I had a payday last week when I heard my son teaching a friend how to wipe off the table in sections and then dry it so they could go play. I’ll have a clean house yet!

Disclaimer

2010-08-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago a friend of mine told me she stopped reading my blog because she felt overwhelmed and pressured to do what I was doing. I really had to take a step back and search my motives and intentions for this blog. I originally thought I could create a place where people would share ideas—an ongoing brainstorming session—that would get a reader’s creative juices flowing. The idea was to use what would work well for their family and disregard the rest. But was that what I was really accomplishing? Or was I simply overwhelming my readers?

I took the summer off from my blog to mull these questions over in my mind. Upon closer inspection I remembered I do have the tendency to want to fix people’s problem (I come by it honestly from my mother ; ). Perhaps that was coming through in my writing. Also as a human I think I naturally put my best foot forward—was I being authentic with my audience? I could do better with follow-up posts as well telling if things worked out over time. Perhaps most importantly I learned or relearned that each family has the ability and stewardship to know what they should be doing in their families.

My friend and I had a good talk. She told me that she had decided there were a few simple things she felt her family needed right then and that was what she was going to do. You as parents will know as you seek inspiration from God what you should be doing with your children. This is simply a place to spark ideas that will ignite your children’s fire for learning.

I have really missed posting this summer. Blogging for me is like thinking out loud. Writing helps me to wrap my mind around principles and assimilate them into my life. So when you read, please take what I say with a grain of salt and hopefully you will share some ideas and find one or two that inspire you.

Great Quote

2010-06-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quote I found while reading Up From Slavery: An Autobiography (The Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading). I want to be like this!

"I make it a rule to clear my desk every day, before leaving my office, of all correspondence and memoranda, so that on the morrow I can begin a new day of work. I make it a rule never to let my work drive me, but to so master it, and keep it in such complete control, and to keep so far ahead of it, that I will be the master instead of the servant. There is a physical and mental and spiritual enjoyment that comes from a consciousness of being the absolute master of one's work, in all its details, that is very satisfactory and inspiring. My experience teaches that, if one learns to follow this plan, he gets a freshness of body and vigor of mind out of work that goes a long way toward keeping him strong and healthy. I believe that when one can grow to the point where he loves his work, this gives him a kind of strength that is most valuable." --Booker T. Washington

Didn't We Just Eat?!

2010-06-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been hearing, "I'm hungry." and "I'm starving!" or "Tengo hambre." And all I can think of is that we just ate an hour ago!! So this week since we have company and no school, I decided to declare war on hunger! I have planned every meal of the day and two snack times at 10 and 3 for the next week. I thought I would share some of the snack ideas I found in my search because sometimes we need some ideas to get us out of our food ruts.

Homemade Trail Mix--these are less expensive than store-bought, easy to throw together, they'll always be a hit since you can put the ingredients they like in it. Some of the mixes I've done: peanuts, pretzels and craisins; almonds, chocolate chips, pretzels, Rice Chex and banana chips; really the possibilities are endless!

Apples, Almonds, String Cheese

Yogurt Parfait--again your only limits here is your creativity and your kids' taste buds. I've done layered granola, vanilla yogurt and strawberries. My mom threw together frozen blueberries, yogurt, almonds and a dash of cinnamon.

Veggies and Dip--one recipe I'm trying this week: Peel and chop 1 ripe avocado; place in a medium bowl; mash with a fork. Stir in 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/4 tsp cumin or oregano. Makes 2 cups. Serve with cut-up raw vegetables.

Another recipe I found--Apple-Cheese English Muffin Pizzas
Split and toast 2 English muffins, slice1 large apple and cut 4 square slices of Cheddar cheese in half. Spread each muffin half with 1 tbsp of cream cheese; top with apple slices and 2 pieces of cheese. Heat in toaster oven 30 seconds or until cheese melts. Dot with dried cranberries.

Green/Fruit Smoothies--My friend Tammie has delicious smoothie recipes on her blog Simple, Healthy, Tasty

Homemade Protein/Energy Bars--I'm trying some recipes here (if you look on the left side bar there are more recipes like that one). I've yet to try them but they look good.

Any good ideas? Please add to the list! Have a great snack!

Here Are A Few Of My NEW Favorite Things

2010-05-18T20:22:00.001-07:00

There are several really WONDERFUL things about this picture.

First, I now have my very own CLASSROOM! It has been soooo nice to have a space set apart for learning. It seems to set the mood for hitting the books helping keep my children's attention. I have switched from nomad homeschooling to a homesteader style : )

Notice behind the studious people there are IKEA bookshelves that contribute to my sanity and organization. Yay! Happy space, happy price.

Please note my two oldest children studying diligently (and willingly I might add) with their grandfather. You may want to be seated for this next part...they are studying MATH! Grandparents and other relatives have so much to offer in way of enriching our children's education. Take advantage of your resources!

I will add another view of our classroom to point out a couple more of my new favorite things...

Posters are a great way to "inspire, not require" learning. Earlier this year I bought two posters at a museum and they have been the best investment. My children love to read, memorize, talk about, make up stories about the facts listed on these posters. Even my two-year old points to mammals and asks me to name them.

I'm not sure where I read this idea but I love it! All along three walls of our school room I put up some butcher paper to make a time line of the history of the world. We only have a handful of events on there, but already I have seen how it helps to order historic events in my mind. My children actually get excited when we come across a date when studying history.

Not pictured is a white board that has helped not only as a way of explaining a concept but also encourages art, writing, self-expression. I feel like I am getting closer to my vision of home education. I would love to hear other tips that have helped you!

So UNinspiring

2010-05-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

My children found cute, fuzzy little mice in our window wells and begged me to let them keep the mice as pets. I should insert here that I love all of Gene Stratton-Porter's novels and I delight in her descriptions of plants, animals and insects and somehow fancy myself a lover of nature BUT...I draw the line at mice. BUT because I am a fun homeschool mom I graciously promised my children that if they researched mice and found out about their natural habitat and what they liked to eat, etc. and wrote me a page about it, I would allow them to care for the mice properly. (Are you cringing yet?)

It just so happened the very next day the pest control company came to service our home. I also just so happened to mention our little problem with the mice and the technician assured me that he would take care of it. Feeling rather relieved I shut the door and was faced with three crushed children. They were crying and appealing to their father for mercy (and making plans to thwart the pest control guy's work). I remembered my empty promise and was suddenly filled with a sick feeling.

My oldest came to me and scolded me, "If you are always talking about catching your children's sparks of interest and building them into bonfires, why do you squelch every flame of interest we have!" Talk about calling me on the carpet! I really felt bad...for about 5 minutes...

Great Quote

2010-04-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

I need to memorize this one!

"Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you will be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrow's; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."
~Benjamin Franklin

Kayaking on Scappoose River

2010-04-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

I thought I would add some pictures for fun. It was
such a beautiful, lazy day.The turtles were coming out of hibernation.I spy an eagle...(I took this picture by the way!)Sometimes I had trouble navigating...
They nicknamed these tandem kayaks the "divorce" kayaks. We found out why : ) We're smiling here because
we haven't left yet.Really it was a perfect way to unwind...nature, fresh air, beautiful weather...

Fast Recovery

2010-04-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just got back from Portland, Oregon (that's right, no kids!). We kayaked on the Scappoose River and ate Thai food in downtown Portland. I finished a book, slept in late and ate whatever I wanted (oh yeah and I exercised too ; ) It was heavenly!

Although my mom did a phenomenal job of caring for the kids and straightening the house, come Monday we were in a mess! The house was in disarray, the laundry (that I just did before I left) was piled high, all the receipts from my trip (and before my trip) needed to be entered into my Money program, etc. The thought of conquering it all and learn something with the children was overwhelming.

So I tried another fabulous tip from the Lazy Organizer. When returning from a trip, take a day or two to get things back into order before plunging back into school. My natural instinct was to think I had to get right back to the books...but today all we did was clean. I can't tell you how nice it was to have a clean house TODAY and not sometime next week when I would haven gotten caught up!

We started in the basement and worked our way to the second floor straightening and cleaning where needed. We even hit the garage and the car! You're not going to believe this but we weeded the garden and the flower beds (just maintenance weeding) and planted some spinach.

During morning devotional before we started to work, I read them some stories and poems on work from The BOOK OF VIRTUES by William J. Bennett. Then I opened a short discussion by asking them to finish the saying, "Cleanliness is next to __________(godliness)." and by asking them why they thought that was true. I ended my pep talk with a good old-fashioned bribe and viola! a clean and orderly house.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2010-04-19T22:34:00.001-07:00

I'm in the process of finding my new look. I thought I'd clean up and organize as well as find a new image. I just purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements and I'm trying to learn how to use it. Fun! So please have patience with me while I CREATE...

Great Quote

2010-04-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor."
~Henry David Thoreau

Messy

2010-04-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am in a mess! I'm not talking about my house being any messier than usual, just my life. I am in the process of implementing new ideas and fine tuning old ones. I should look at it as if I were cleaning out a closet...it always gets messier before you see the floor.

Here's what I'm changing or trying to:

*First I posted about schedules. That post was really pretend. I have only had one day since then that I actually followed it close enough to my liking. I'm still refining that one. The day we actually had "blanket time"--I LOVED it! I could actually read a book and I learned how to knit (well started to anyway...my daughter was reading over my shoulder just now and gave me a questioning look ; ). That is a definite keeper. I'm finding it all comes down to my self-discipline which is quite frankly gestating right now.

*I started to be a little Lazy copycat. I have implemented her morning and evening cards and I'm LOVING them. The cards help me teach the little ones what they need to learn to do by themselves and provide an accountability for the older ones who are perfecting these skills. Like everything new thing I begin there is a learning curve. It took us a week to get the routine down. I'm working on consequences to encourage prompt action.

*I am maintaining the two closets I have gutted out and organized--my master bedroom closet and the homeschool closet. Upkeep is far easier than my signature Zorro way of cleaning.

*I don't think I've mentioned quite enough lately how LEMI (Leadership Education Mentoring Institute) has enhanced and improved my life. The latest is Tiffany and Aneladee's conference call on "The 5 Levels of Communication". Can I say WOW!? I listened to it for the first time last year but this time I heard it. They outline five levels that we navigate when communicating with others. The fifth level is where our needs and the needs of our loved ones and/or those we mentor are met. Getting to the fifth level takes trust, humility, stillness and LISTENING. Let's just say I am working out a muscle somewhere deep in my ear that hasn't been used near as much as it should.

*I'm also loving and taking care of plants in my basement. It is so exciting for the kids and probably mostly for me to see them sprout and watch them grow. Positively healing after the snow we received last night! With my past gardening history I am concerned for their welfare. Will they survive? Will they help me to be a more careful and diligent gardener since I've known them since birth? I will keep you posted on their fate.

These are a few of the concepts and ideas I'm wrestling with. I'm beginning to see that this whole process is really LIFE. Life is messy and we are blessed enough to see a glimpse of godly order here and there and strive for that. I am a fighter and will always strive for order...it's my Zorro way : )

Schedules

2010-03-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended the Thomas Jefferson Education Forum and spent a day being inspired. I was sick and felt like I was not fully present but got some great ideas nonetheless. One little tidbit I picked up was from the Lazy Organizer who taught us about how to teach children how to work. One of the many things she shared that caught my interest was her schedule.

My husband has been requesting for some time that I move chores from the morning to later in the day because he thought it broke momentum for school. True to form, I resisted at first until of course I heard it from a second witness. Sorry honey!! Oh but he's happy now because I keep telling him how right he is ; ) So I tweaked her schedule to fit our needs and this is loosely what we do now (this week anyway):

7:00 Scriptures
7:15 Daily Dos
7:45 Breakfast/Clean-Up
8:30 Morning Devotional
10:45 Chores
12:30 Lunch/Clean-Up
1:00 Blanket Time
4:00 Dinner Prep (kid of the day helps)
5:30 Dinner/Clean-Up (next kid of day helps/rest of kids clean sweep house)
6:45 PJs
7:00 Read
8:00 Bed

So looking over the plan we are not even following that yet. BUT just swapping chores with learning time has made the day go so smoothly for me. I suppose every family is different and you do what works best for you. I'm on the right track for ours!

What works for you?

Great Quote

2010-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

I read this today in The Making of America: The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution by W. Cleon Skousen and in light of current events thought it appropriate to share:

"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power."
~Thomas Jefferson

It's That Time Again!

2010-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

It's not too late to break out the seeds and pots and start preparing for this year's garden. I found this wonderful website that has made gardening easy and exciting!

First of all she has valuable information like a how-to video on growing seeds indoors, an easy-to-read companion planting chart, and helpful links among other things. She also groups areas into colors according to your last spring frost date. Once you determine your color, you can sign up for a weekly newsletter where she reminds you what gardening activity you should do that week. I don't know about you but I need reminding!

On her site there is also a link to a gardening planning website that has software which helps you plot and plan your garden. It has a activity log and other great tools to help you get organized. There is a free 45-day trial and then if it is worth it you can sign up for a $20/year subscription.

My husband good-naturedly teases me about a gardening weakness I have. For some reason I have a hard time harvesting my garden. I have phenomenal starting (of a project) power, pretty strong staying power to carry it through, but this year I am going to work on finishing power. Hopefully these tools help me with that.

Happy Gardening!

Great Quote

2010-03-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

"Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: Every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Classical Music

2010-03-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

I have had the Classics for Kids link on my side bar since I began blogging. I have always enjoyed their radio show for children, games and activities but today I found some lesson plans for teachers. I decided this morning we needed to change things up a bit and have some fun. So I loosely followed the first lesson in the K-2 curriculum for Gioachino Rossini (found in "Lesson Plans" under the pull down menu "Grown Ups") and instead of me teaching a nearby stuffed animal taught the children about dynamics and tempo. The teddy bear captured his audience and sang loudly, softly, slowly and quickly. The lesson has links to all the resources you need and I printed some coloring pages of different instruments and musical notes that they colored as they listened to William Tell Overture: Finale. I had so much fun and judging by the giggles, I think they did too.

Speaking of Family Videos...

2010-03-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

My husband interviews my children formally on the first Sunday of every month. Occasionally like last Sunday during interviews, he turns the video camera on and taped their answers to his questions. My two-year old was so serious as he shared his thoughts. I love it! I enjoy their thoughtful answers and see how important they feel to be the star of the show. I find that as I have more children, I forget to record as much as I did when I only had one or two so I'm so grateful to my husband for capturing their different stages of growth and development. Thanks sweetheart!

Favorite Pastime

2010-03-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

On Sundays after church and dinner we love to watch videos of the kids when they were younger. Last night we spent hours watching our oldest as a baby and toddler. It was fun for her to see that she got A LOT of attention when she was a baby and it was fun for her siblings to say how cute she was, something she usually says about the others.

All the children feel important and like they are a part of something great. The videos help reinforce special family memories, make us feel more united as a family, and remind us of family members who have passed away. So don't wait until they are grown and gone to break out the old home videos!

Great Quote

2010-03-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

"Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience."

~ Benjamin Franklin

Sacred Time

2010-02-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

A pep talk to myself (feedback welcome):

I am just getting a handle on the idea of our home education time being "sacred". Ideally, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. in my home should be sacred, uninterrupted time where my children and I focus on learning. I say "ideally" because inevitably there are some interruptions. First, there is the phone. Most of my family and friends do not call during those hours or if they do, they know I probably won't answer. I am tempted at times, knowing it will be a "quick" conversation just to answer it and check it off my list so to speak. More times than not my quick conversation transforms into a 20-minute correspondence that could have been received later on in the day.

Secondly, I should exercise self-control and schedule my computer time for before or after school hours (except today when my mom comes : ) It is so tempting to check something real quick throughout the day but again that usually leads to a 20-minute diversion.

Lastly, there is the possible participation in events or service that is worthy of consideration. This is the most difficult for me. A friend needs me to take her kids for an hour (which historically turns into a play day for my children) or there is another event that is scheduled during those hours, i.e. service project, etc. Sometimes these things could be used as school material, but unless I can honestly say my children will learn from them, do I sacrifice our sacred time for them?

I suppose it is a case of "good, better, best". There are many good things that I can be involved in, but if it comes at the price of the best things, then I am putting the most important priority (in this case my children) second and sometimes last. That is inconsistent with my goals and dreams. I choose the best part!

Inspiring Olympics

2010-02-17T05:02:00.000-08:00

My husband suggested that we study the Olympics and I am so glad! I found this great little site done by a fourth grade class. There is an overview in slide show form with illustrations by the children, a summary of each sport and all sorts of activities. Keep your atlas handy while you explore and discover things like where the first Winter Olympics was held. This page is a fun worksheet showing the symbolism of the Olympic logo. We have watched videos found all over the Internet on the different events my children are interested in. If you search "Olympics for kids" you will find great sites that have printables and ideas on how to teach it. So have fun this Winter Olympics! It only comes every four years : )

Where in the World?

2010-02-10T07:39:00.000-08:00

I found a great website for geography on Brianna's blog list (thanks Brianna!). Homeschool Creations has wonderful printables, activities and ideas on how to make traveling the world exciting. We just finished visiting Italy which was so fun and now we're off to France! Bon Voyage...

President's Day

2010-02-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share this fun website I found as I was searching for ways to teach my children about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Garden of Praise has a great page dedicated to biographies of famous leaders for young readers. There are crossword puzzles, word scrambles, quizzes, slide shows and more. Enjoy and Happy President's Day!

MAJOR Breakthrough, Part II

2010-02-03T20:47:00.000-08:00

As recommended by Smith and Assaraf, I wrote a page (which has turned into two!) of positive affirmations that I read three times a day. These are powerful, present-tense statements of what I would like to be, develop, obtain, wish for and desire. One of my positive affirmations, for example, is "I go to bed by 9:30 or 10:00 every night and sleep soundly for a sufficient time (notice the wording to allow for baby awakenings : ). I wake up at 5 am refreshed and motivated to complete my goals."

Now at this point you may be thinking, "If I said that, it would be a lie!" I often felt the same way as I said these things and went to bed late and got up late. However I realized from truths I learned from studying that I could be patient. I would believe that change was coming.

So each day I would say my positive affirmations and be gentle with myself letting go of negative energy or thoughts about myself. Then one day it happened! I began reading another classic The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People - Powerful Lessons In Personal Change, Restoring The Character Ethic by Steven R. Covey for probably the fourth time (another book I have yet to finish ; ). This time was different though. Instead of reading his thoughts and thinking it was true but somehow elusive to me, something clicked.

I read that being proactive (the first habit) is keeping commitments and promises to myself and others. I decided I could do that. I could keep one promise to myself this week. I chose getting up at 5 am since many of my other desires would fall into place if I could achieve that one (i.e. time to exercise and study, etc.).

Last week I got up everyday at 5 am and it was EASY...way TOO easy! One of those mornings while I was reading my positive affirmations I received a huge revelation. I had been training my unconscious mind to accept these new ideas for months. Now when I chose to make the decision with my conscious mind, my body knew just what to do. I actually had a feeling of relief, as if my body was saying, "Finally!"

I'm nearing the end of my second week and I have kept that promise to myself even when a couple of nights I stayed up a little too late. Again I am gentle with myself and allow myself to take a cat nap if possible to show respect for my body. I am blown away at my ability to accomplish tasks that just a couple of weeks ago seemed insurmountable.

We are our own obstacles. I believe we have an immense power that we can access by creating pathways in our minds. We are created in God's image which means we have incredible potential! Let's get out of our own way!!

MAJOR Breakthrough, Part I

2010-01-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

Last week was most definitely up there with the BEST weeks of my life!!!!! To tell you why I have to give some background...

Ever since I began to homeschool, I felt like there was so much that I wanted to have happen in my own life and in the life of my family. In reality I felt like all I could do was stay afloat and put out occasional fires. How was I going to change so drastically to become the person I needed to be to offer my children a quality education!?

I began my search for an answer to this seemingly unanswerable question. My journey began in the classics. I read books such as The One Minute Teacher: How to Teach Others to Teach Themselves by Spencer Johnson and As a Man Thinketh by James Allen (an absolute gem!). I listened to a CD of Napoleon Hill my husband had. Our book group read The Jackrabbit Factor: Why You Can by Leslie Householder and The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life by John Assaraf and Murray Smith. All these books and along with scripture and prayer helped to shift my existing paradigm and give me hope for my desire to teach my children.

The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life was probably one of the most life changing books for me and I didn't even finish it! The first 8 chapters are dedicated to a clear explanation of how our brains function and why we limit ourselves with self-defeating thoughts and behaviors.

Smith and Assaraf explained that our unconscious brain is in charge of 96-98% of all our body does. Right now we are breathing, our hearts are beating, millions of cells are being destroyed and millions are being created all without us even thinking about it. In fact our conscious brain is in charge of only 2-4% of all we do. The authors estimate the average adult's attention span is 6-10 seconds! Can you imagine if our conscious brain was in charge of our unconscious brain's duties. "Don't forget to breathe! Is my heart beating? OK, now walk!" Within 6-10 seconds we would be dead!

Now when we think about the goals and dreams we want to accomplish, we do this with our CONSCIOUS brain...the one that has A.D.D.! We wonder why we fail when the desire of our hearts is to SUCCEED. Instead of trusting our conscious brain to follow through with these important tasks we need to program and/or reprogram our unconscious to carry out our goals.

Assaraf and Smith explain that our unconscious can be programmed visually, audibly and emotionally. They suggest creating a vision board with pictures and words that would illustrate and support your dreams and goals. In addition to this, the authors suggest writing positive, present-tense statements that describe what you want to become. They encourage you to piggyback these statements with an emotion of when you were successful or happy in your past. Assaraf uses an example of when he scored a winning touchdown for his high school football team. Reliving those emotions while reciting your positive affirmations help to cement them in our unconcious mind.

I'm sure you want to know what happened next...but since we've exceeded our attention spans I'll finish the story in Part II. Stay tuned!

Quick Clean

2010-01-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law Tina has a fun way of involving her children in a quick pick-up of the house. They have a race and each thing the child puts away count for one point. Everyone gets a prize if they participate and the winner gets two prizes. I even like to play : ) Mostly because counting gets my attention instead of all the mess around me. Before we know it the house is straightened and in order.

Helping the little ones with their counting helps them learn to clean, work as a team AND how to count! Tina says her kids will actually LOOK for things that are disorganized and organize them. She offers more points if she needs a counter wiped off and the floor swept or vacuumed. The other day we had the whole house looking spiffy in less than a half an hour! (If my husband is reading this, don't get too excited since you CAN have too much of a good thing ; )

Traveling Tip

2010-01-20T15:48:00.001-08:00

I would like to share a quick tip that has contributed to keeping me sane on long trips. My good friend Eliza heard it from a friend and I'm glad she shared with me!

The friend of my friend : ) suggested when packing to put each child's outfit with underwear and socks for each day in a gallon-sized Ziploc. So I got my recently purchased gallon-sized Ziplocs from Costco and used probably 25-30 bags to pack all my little people for a week.

I store these bags in our suitcases so they will be ready for the next trip. This is a great way to keep track of socks and underwear (they seem to disappear for some reason!). This system also helps keep our suitcases tidy when traveling. For some reason without Ziplocs, I can never find what I need! Also no matter how neatly I pack as soon as someone looks for one thing the whole suitcase looks like a tornado hit.

Each night I have the kids put their clothes in the Ziploc with their jammies and I put those clothes in a separate bag so I can easily do laundry if available. I didn't over pack either because I put just enough clothes in for how many days we'll be gone (formally I would forget what I had put in the suitcase and just start stuffing it with extra clothes just in case).

Thanks to this tip traveling with all my peeps has become DREAMY!

Food for Thought

2010-01-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

"My experience has been that there are times to teach and times not to teach. When relationships are strained and the air charged with emotion, an attempt to teach is often perceived as a form of judgment and rejection. But to take the child alone, quietly, when the relationship is good and to discuss the teaching or the value seems to have much greater impact."

--Steven R. Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

A Conversation Between Two Cousins

2010-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

T: Don't you wish you'd do homeschool?

L: I do do homeschool.

T (confused): You doo-doo homeschool?!! (followed by giggles)

Why is potty humor so funny?

Save 20% at Joann's

2010-01-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me a coupon via email about Joann's Teacher Appreciation Day. Saturday, January 9, 2010 is Teacher Appreciation Day (including home school teachers!) and we can save 20% off our total purchase. So stock up on your craft supplies at Joann's!! (Check link to see if your state is participating.) You may need to bring some sort of proof i.e. notarized affidavit.

Bloggin' Kids

2010-01-07T19:24:00.001-08:00

A quick, great idea from a my sis-in-law and my friend Amanda. My nephews and niece have blogs and they post really cool games and activities. My friend Amanda's daughter does her writing assignments on her blog. I recently helped my daughter set up her own and have found these great benefits:

A great way to encourage writing and typing skills (all of sudden my daughter wants to learn how to type).
Gives an opportunity for extended family to take part in your children's education and for family to love and encourage them.
Creates an opportunity for my daughter to encourage fellow homeschoolers by leaving comments on their blog and creates a support system.
My daughter's blog is something of her own creation and provides something that she is proud of and excited about.

Just a note to keep in mind...remember to teach your children Internet safety and role-play what to do if they encounter inappropriate material. I am adding links to her fellow bloggers' sites to decrease outside exposure but teaching correct principles will empower them to govern themselves. Have fun!

My Random Thoughts on the New Year

2010-01-05T13:52:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!! I always love the new year partly because it's my birthday ; ) but mostly because I love a fresh start! I enjoy taking stock of the last year and pondering who I really want to become this year.

I was thinking about how I always start with such grand ideas of things I want to accomplish or change about myself only to be disppointed with how human I am. I thought of how my sister-in-law was so annoyed in January last year at how packed the gym was. She said this happened every year and by February everything calmed down again.

After reading The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life by John Assaraf and Murray Smith, I learned people have a tendency to peter out on their goals because of their negative self-talk. We actually tell ourselves we cannot succeed even though success is the desire of our hearts. You've heard it before, "I just can't lose this weight!" "I always do that." Etc. So according to Asaraf and Smith we actually program our sub-concious NOT to help us achieve our goals.

After reading that book I wrote a couple of pages of positive statements I tell myself everyday. Prior to this I felt stagnant but literally my progess skyrocketed after only a short time of saying my postive affirmations (3xs/day). Every morning I look forward to visiting my whole self (on paper).

So as I ponder my new goals (which are really old ones just revisited) I am hopeful. Then my husband shared a story of a woman who was trying to quit smoking for the rest of her life. A friend suggested she quit just for today. Then quit again tomorrow. She was able to do it one day at a time.

I think God made the day and night as a mini fresh start for us. You know what they say about eating an elephant... Just for today I am a fun homeschool mom who speaks kindly to her children and has a quality relationship with each of them. I can do that just for today...

Building Relationships

2010-01-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I recommend this book to everyone! Greg Mortenson is one ordinary guy that is changing the world. Here is an excerpt from the back cover:

"In 1993 a mountaineer named Greg Mortenson drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram mountains after a failed attempt to climb K2. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools--especially for girls--in the forbidding terrain that gave birth to the Taliban. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit."

The whole book has been inspiring and yet another testimony to me that we all have a special mission here on this earth and God will help us to fulfill that mission. One of the most significant parts of the book is during the construction of the first school. He is so uptight that construction goes according to plan that he is standing over the workers and checking every detail being, in short, rather annoying to the villagers. His mentor and village leader, Haji Ali, takes him aside and says:

"If you want to thrive in Baltistan, you must respect our ways. The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die," he said, laying his band warmly on Morenson's own. "Doctor Greg, you must make time to share three cups of tea..."

Mortensens says, "Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I've ever learned in my life. We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly...Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them."

As we begin home education (I like that better than home schooling ; ) again this week, I am once again struggling to slow down and connect with my children. I am trying to find the balance between what I envision "has to be done" with making them not the task the most important thing.

What has help to shift your paradigms? How do you focus on relationships in your home? Any feedback will be like manna...

Classic Book & Gifts 50% Off

2009-12-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

Classic Book & Gifts on Lehi Main Street is going exclusively online so everything in their store is 50% off this week only. If you live in the area, it is definitely worth a visit. They have books, kids art supplies and toys and more! Have fun!

Personal Power

2009-12-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

I participated in yet another life-changing conference call with the folks at LEMI. The topic of the call was Personal Power which Tiffany and Aneladee defined as (in a nutshell) the ability to manage our state of being. This call has truly been a treasure that I have been seeking. I may not have referred to it in those words. I may have had pieces of the puzzle already. However, they put a name on my desire and gave me all the pieces I need to develop it in my own life.

Here are the key points of what I learned. They began by sharing four states of being (the first three from Plato and the last from Stephen Covey). By recognizing our levels in each of these states, we can trigger or return to a state of courage or personal power.

1. Physical State
When we are in a state of receiving, we are in a state of courage because we become open to truth.
It is important to recognize when you receive best: studying in bed vs. sitting at a desk, in pajamas vs. fully dressed, etc.
If you feel you are in a disempowered state--MOVE YOUR BODY!!! This changes the physical state the quickest.

2. Emotional State
Listen to the story you are telling yourself and if it is negative--stop it, control it, change it.

3. Mental State
Be present and be REAL!

4. Spiritual State
A process that begins with courage and humility with love being its fruit.

Tiffany and Aneladee gave detailed descriptions of each of these states as well as used stories and examples to illustrate the principles clearly. I have only a simple summary of great truths they shared but hopefully you get the idea that we have the power to manage how we act even when a storm is raging around us. Developing personal power puts us in a place of choice, on a positive frequency, in a state of pro-action and courage, and helps us be unafraid to feel feelings.

Not only do I now have the tools to practice personal power, little by little I am sharing with my children how they can manage their state. Now that's power!

It's About Time

2009-12-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

I would like to share some insights I have learned after doing a little experiment. A few of us from my LEMI group decided to plan every 15 minutes of one week. Here's what I learned...

First of all with a family of seven I decided to give myself a break and schedule every half an hour. It just so happened that was the week my computer died. It was fried in a power outage the previous night...it's amazing how these things just happen ; ) As a result I not only saw myself clearly (loud & clear) but I was also able to come up with a solution that works for me! (Read more in Confessions of A Time Abuser).

I also learned that I waste an amazing amount of time looking for things. One night I was getting in bed and my glasses slid between the bed and my nightstand. I was too tired to pick them up. (Sound pathetic? It gets worse.) Keep in mind it would literally take me two maybe three seconds to bend over, pick them up, put them in the case and stick it in my drawer. I forgot the whole thing happened because I was sooo tired. The next morning I spent literally 45 minutes searching frantically for my glasses (which were within my grasp the entire time). I was so grumpy and put out even resorting to my usual find-it-right-away prayer didn't work. Had I minded my three seconds, I could have managed my time and state of being more efficiently.

It reminded me of when I took my children to the local fire station. The fire engine has a compartment for EVERYTHING. EVERY fireman (is fire person the politically-correct term?!) puts things back in their correct place. If a fireman is careless and puts the hatchet away in the wrong place, it could possibly cost a life in an emergency. I feel a family council comin' on...

On Thursdays my mom comes to spend time with my kids and I get to run errands by myself (yes, she is the best mom!) I struggled all week to keep my schedule and Voila! on Thursday everything worked like clockwork! What was different? No kids. I realized I need to schedule literally an extra 15 minutes just for little people needs. I found by allowing myself more time, I not only stay on schedule but I maintain relationships with the most important people in my life. When I tried to barrel through tasks in order to stay on schedule, I often sacrifice relationships which take MORE time to mend.

Last but not least, my husband shared the sun dial quote with me from Franklin Covey seminars when I was moping about the result of project I had been working on.

The shadow by my finger cast,
Divides the future from the past.
Behind its unreturning line,
The vanished hour no longer thine.
Before it lies the unknown hour,
In darkness and beyond thy power.
One hour alone is in thine hand,
The now on which the hour stands.

I was wasting time in the past. I realized living in the present is a key to managing my time.

I would love to hear how you have learned to better manage your time. Please share!

Inspired Anew

2009-12-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to get back into the habit of posting since I got my "new" (really my husband's old) laptop. Yay! I am working on being disciplined with my time so I need to schedule this back into my life. I have been learning so much from so many places...I need to share!

Since this is an illegal computer time for me : ), I thought I would make this short. This morning I had to take care of some family business on the computer so after morning devotional I needed an activity that would keep the kids busy AND learning. I found this fun list of 101 Ideas to Add Spice to Your Homeschooling Days.

I gave the kids some blank address label stickers cut in half and sent them to the kitchen pantry to play store. They decide the value of each item and they have monopoly money and change to buy and sell with. I allow them to check their math with the calculator which makes it more store-like. Wow it's quiet and everyone (even the baby!) is happy. What else do I need to get done?...

Confessions of A Time Abuser

2009-10-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hello my dear friends!

Where in the world have I been!? My last post was October 1st. Well, my computer was fried by a power outage a few weeks ago and my only other means of reaching the world wide web is through my husband's work computer. Unfortunately he has to work ; ) and I have only had snippets of time to check my email (if I'm lucky). Why not buy a new computer some may ask? Since I am being a good steward over my finances I have decided to only buy it with cash of which I haven't quite enough...yet.

I wanted to share an insight I gained by not having a computer. Wow! I waste a TON of time on the computer!! Only having a short time to get my business done, I came up with a system to help me get the most out of my computer time. Every time I think I need to use the computer, I make a list of the activities I need to do. Throughout the day I add things on the list, i.e. email a friend, check the price of an item, pay bills, etc. Then when I get my minute on the computer, I go down my list and can literally get through it in less than 1/2 hour!

Time management is a skill I've been trying to develop and loosing my computer taught me how to schedule my time more efficiently. In order to fulfill our missions on this earth, we need to be master over our schedule so we do the most important things first. I'm so grateful for power outages and hard life lessons (well almost...)

Creating Beauty

2009-10-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

My amazing friend Ali posted this on her blog the other day. I love it!! Thanks for letting me share Ali!

Acorns $ 0.00

Berries $0.00

Flowers from the park $0.00

Cattails from the river $0.00

Sticks and weeds $0.00

Using a bunch of weeds, leaves, flowers, and berries to make something beautiful........

P r i c e l e s s

Teasing

2009-09-29T09:23:00.001-07:00

I had had ENOUGH!!! I felt like I've tried EVERYTHING I had ever heard of to help my son to STOP teasing. Desperately, I said a silent prayer as I once again sat my son down for a talk to somehow help him make better choices. I reminded myself and him how this was really just temporary and that I saw a glimpse of the son I know when he complimented his sister earlier that morning (literally the ONE nice thing he did that day!). Something HAD to change but HOW?

In answer to my prayer, I saw a picture of a hiker climbing a mountain flash into my mind. We talked about how we hiked the "Y" on the mountain behind Brigham Young University as a family. It's a pretty steep climb but he was able to make it to the top. I told him that changing a bad habit is like climbing a steep mountain. We decided we would make our own mountain and hiker to help my son overcome his bad habit of teasing and being unkind to his siblings.

We decided together that if he slips and makes a poor choice, his hiker will slip too. Immediately, my son named his hiker Adam because he said, "He is a son of God." He went on to explain that Adam represents him.

We've had a whole morning without teasing or fighting!!! That may not seem like a very long time to you but it is truly an accomplishment that we celebrated with a couple of steps up the mountain ; ) Now my daughter wants one...she's trying to think of something she needs to improve. I'll post a picture of it when our hiker reaches the top!

You, Not Them Illustrated

2009-09-29T09:16:00.001-07:00

Another fun example of the principle of "You, Not Them". My husband and I decided to put our mattress on the ground to see if that would help our lower backs from hurting. That morning I walked into my sons' room and this is what I found...

CraziBeautiful

2009-09-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

My latest post can be found on this awesome website!

You can access it here.

Be sure to check out the yummy recipes, fun crafts, humanitarian info and much more!

Create Community

2009-09-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Rachelle DeMille shared this video clip at a Thomas Jefferson Education Conference last year. I was really touched by the message. When applied to education this clip speaks volume about our roles as parents. We need to create a strong community of educated adults to mentor our children! We cannot do it alone...

Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies

2009-09-19T08:33:00.001-07:00

Check out the new blog for the Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies !

Click W. Cleon Skousen's Healing of America

Where Love Is...

2009-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

My (super) hero Cherish Newman is preparing to adopt 7 children from Ethiopia. While visiting and caring for her new brood on a trip to Africa, she met a young man named Jason who started a home for street boys. Instantly with her big heart, she agreed to find sponsers for the boys. Click here to read about Jason, his street boys and how you can help!

Accountability

2009-09-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a quick suggestion my husband made during our weekly planning meeting on Sunday. He interviews the children regularly and asks them about what they have learned. To help him in this discussion, he recommended I make a chart where the children could keep track of what they did each day. So (after some grumbling ; ) I made an Excel spreadsheet titled "This is What I Did Today!" with 3 columns with the headings--date, subject, and activity.

Wow, I can't tell you how that simple spreadsheet has enhanced our home school! It helps me to remember to follow-up with them at the end of the day and they proudly show me all of their work (previously I didn't have a system to encourage accountability). The children are more excited to do their different activities (even hard ones!) because they know Dad is going to ask them about it. Recording their progress each day sets good habits that will benefit them especially when they want to go to college and have to prove their home school achievements and studies. The spreadsheet goes in the front of their binder.

Thanks honey for the great idea! What do you do at home to encourage accountability? I would love to hear your comments.

Sing & Dance!!

2009-09-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Aneladee Milne shared this video clip during the LEMI training I attended this July. I love it! Check it out...it's definitely worth the couple of minutes it takes to watch. (You'll have to pause the music on my blog so it doesn't interfere.)

"Free" from the Government!

2009-09-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Just wanted to pass along an awesome resource my brother-in-law Daniel shared with me. This website http://free.ed.gov/ has some great information. As I check in out in depth, I'll let you know what we've done with it. Have fun exploring!! Now here's something I will take for "free" from my government!

Dryer Lint

2009-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

In several seminars I've attended with LEMI and at George Wythe University I have heard this proverb or saying:

The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.

I was thinking about that this morning when I emptied my dryer lint. My husband is always trying to get me to do it after every load, but I like to have something to grab onto not just scrape the lint off. So often to his dismay I wait too long to remove it. I was thinking this morning how that sums up the way I do a lot of things. For example, I will wait until my desk is piled high with papers before I will pay attention to it. I read in an organizing book once that I am a "Zorro" house cleaner. I attack a job with zeal and enjoy seeing the great change only to let it pile up soon after, then I repeat the whole process over again. A very exhausting approach that causes the cleaning process to happen only when the mess can't be tolerated any longer.

So my thoughts are, should I put away the mask and change my natural tendencies? I think it is important to recognize that I like to accomplish things in chunks of time rather than a little here and a little there. This knowledge could be helpful if I recognize when writing, for example, I do better if I have a chunk of time to get my thoughts on paper then I know I need to schedule it. But honestly, in the life I lead, I do not have chunks of time to devote to things like house cleaning or tracking my finances. I really only have little gifts of time to accomplish these tasks.

In contemplating this I remembered that my friend Tamera was telling me she liked the post "It's a Snap!". Funny...I should take my own advice. So I had a wonderful idea. I could capitalize on my Zorro tendencies and attack a bunch of little jobs with zeal by thinking, "This is a snap!" Do you think I can do it? I would stay on top of things and expend less energy.

I probably sound like I'm repeating myself but really I'm wrestling with the natural man. I have a clear picture of who I want to be and I'm determined to come off conqueror. Afterall, I have Zorro-like tendencies ; ) I think I could possibly start enjoying scraping the dryer lint off the screen thing...and I'll have a really happy hubby ; ) I feel a positive affirmation coming on...

Stewardship

2009-09-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

Webster's Dictionary defines stewardship as "the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." I have recently learned a very painful experience about that word.

After procrastinating updating my Money program with all of my recent purchases and paying my bills, I finally sat down to do one of my least favorite jobs (afterall it was in my chore pocket and I had to set a good example ; ) To my dismay, the program had somehow been updated and when I restored the backup file, I realized that I hadn't backed-up since the middle of April!! I had to go in and manually enter every purchase, bill and deposit in the last four months. It took me two days (with interruptions of course) of sitting at my desk tediously re-entering all that data.

You may be asking, "What does this have to do with inspiring children?" My reply, EVERYTHING!! I alluded to it in the post with my sis-in-law's beautiful shelves. If we are master of our stewardships, then we will be free to inspire our children and fulfill our missions. Tiffany Earl shared this concept in the LEMI Parent Mentoring Conference Calls I participated in last year. Our stewardships may include our bodies, time, home, finances, family (with all the different relationships), church responsibilities, etc. If we are out of control on these most basic areas of our lives, we will not be available to be instruments in God's hands.

So although it was painful to re-enter all of my financial information, I learned some very valuable lessons.

I am out of control with my finances and I need to work on disciplining myself not only keeping track of what I spend but how I spend it!
I have to get back to the basics--first things first. Imagine what I will be able to accomplish when I have my basic stewarships under my control and them not controlling me!
When I don't carefully manage my stewardships, I lose valuable time. My husband played with the children while I finished updating Money last night. I could have played with them and created memories with my family.
Whether I like it or not, my children are watching me. They see Mom freaking out about the hard job I made for myself because of my poor management.
Last but definitely not least, I backup after every entry ; )

It gives me hope that God has entrusted me with the stewardships I have. That means He will help me and in the strength of the Lord I can do all things!

Quote for the Day

2009-09-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

"The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship."

A Tip for the Pencil...Put it Down!

2009-09-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

I recently watched a borrowed copy of the teacher's training from The Institute for Excellence in Writing and Andrew Pudewa gave a great tip. He says generally speaking boys do not like to write (if you have one you've probably figured that out!) They want to build forts not write paragraphs so to encourage boys to write, let them learn how to type.

Of course we still use our printing and cursive workbooks. However, when you want your children to express themselves in writing, making them write neatly is not your main objective. (That is also why you shouldn't correct their spelling...let them concentrate on the task at hand.)

Boys like to use the computer and I found this fun free typing site that has lessons and games. Try your hand and improve your skills...it's pretty fun!

Pure Inspiration

2009-08-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

Wow! Getting ready for school and wrapping up the summer...quite honestly I've been a bit overwhelmed. My sis-in-law Tina shared these beautiful pictures with me and added a ray of sunshine in my crazy life. I love to look at the way she organized her school shelves!! From what she's told me, organization makes inspiring her kids a lot easier. Enjoy!

Back to School

2009-08-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have previously mentioned I am MENTALLY ready for school to start but I'm not quite physically ready. So I thought I would make a shopping list with you and you can add your ideas. I have purchased my "curriculum" so-to-speak which I'd be happy to share and would love to find out what works for you as well. But first I would like to make a list of all the crafty supplies and activities I will need to keep little hands busy while I read them from classics that will help build their character! I already bought or have:

pencils
crayons
markers
colored pencils
glue
glue sticks
water colors
rulers
scissors
lined paper
blank paper
construction paper

I need to buy (or collect):

hat looms
(I have loads of yarn already)
Lincoln Logs
Legos
another set of Tinker Toys (more means less fighting ; )
feathers
buttons
ribbon
(add beans and pasta which I already have)
beads
string (for bead geckos)

What else do I need? Any ideas?

Love of Learning

2009-08-14T10:43:00.001-07:00

I attended the next class at Classic Books & Gifts with Victoria Hatch about the Love of Learning Phase. I now have a new positive affirmation (or an old one reborn ; )...

I AM a FUN mom!

Mostly the class was a great review for me but I thought I would share some of the golden nuggets I took home with me. Probably the most important one was that I felt liberated from the idea that I have to drill knowledge into my children. I can stop being scared that they won't learn academic skills. If I can give them a solid Core and Love of Learning Phase, I am giving them a strong foundation that will act as a spring board to future academic learning. Victoria shared wonderful examples of "playing" school and I walked away with an excitement to learn and play WITH my children.

Another topic I have a new perspective on is the binder and the compass. Victoria explained that she allows her children to decorate their own binder and then supplies them with page protectors so they can display their work. For projects that don't fit in page protectors, someone suggested taking pictures and displaying them in a scrapbook-like fashion in their binders.

The compass is a tool children can add to their binders to help them remember what things they want to learn. I interviewed my kids last year and asked their interests but simply putting that list in their binders will empower them to make great choices with their time.

With this paradigm shift, I feel mentally prepared to offer my children quality Core and Love of Learning phases.

Yet Another Word On Chores

2009-08-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest ah-ha from our now not-so-new work system. First of all, it's working! For the last two weeks...get this...I haven't mopped the floor!!! My 8-year old does it, not only really well, but VOLUNTARILY. That's right, he picks it!...I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My latest lesson has been to help the children do their chores first and then get mine done. It's rather discouraging to work all morning (only some of the mornings : ) with the kids doing things the long way, only to have more of my own chores to do after. BUT I see (now that my son mops : ) it won't be for long!

At a class on the Core Phase* at Classic Books & Gifts, Gaylene Victoria Hatch shared something that really help me. She said people often ask, "How can I expect to teach my children perseverance and quality work if I allow them in Core Phase and Love of Learning* to explore as long as they want and never force them to follow through with their studies?" She said it is while teaching them to work (chores, service projects, etc.) that you can teach them what a quality job is. Then when they become scholars they will know what is required of them to achieve quality academic work.

*Core and Love of Learning Phases are discussed in A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver DeMille...a must-read if you haven't done so yet!)

So as I teach my children how to clean a toilet (over and over again), I can see the quality of their work improving, slowly albeit, but improving nonetheless. Also when I get impatient or frustrated with the process, I remind myself that this is my job! I signed up for this, so why not enjoy it? That's the next thing on my list ; ) Have fun doing chores...I'll let you know how that goes!

The Constitution

2009-08-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Aahhh summer! We celebrated 12 wonderful years being married, took a trip without kids (now that's inspiring!! ; ), enjoyed guests in our home, had a mini family reunion...we've been busy!

Just wanted to post a great idea I heard at the Liber Community Series Training I attended at the beginning of this month. We read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for our book group for our last meeting. I realized I lack the language skills to just read it. It must be studied to fully understand. One suggestion that LEMI gives to reach this understanding is to rewrite the document in your own words. You don't have to improve on the language or make it flowery, as a matter of fact being overly concerned about your writing detracts from the purpose. Simply rewrite the document sentence by sentence so that you capture the meaning in words you can relate to and in essence you will "own" the idea. It is an excellent way to digest concepts that seem difficult to comprehend.

One training participant shared that she did this with the Constitution at dinnertime. Every night they would take a section of this document and rewrite it on a white board for a mealtime activity. What better way to get you and your children familiar with the most important ingredient to maintaining our freedom. A great resource to consult in this practice is called The Making of America by Cleon Skousen. He breaks the Constitution down clause by clause and discusses the meaning, pertinent quotes from the Founding Fathers and the history behind each section.

Enjoy becoming aquainted with what has made our country great!

Fun Summer Science

2009-07-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

My fun friend Linda M. shared these easy science experiments she did with her kids.

Centrifugal Force is the apparent force that is felt by an object that is moving in a curved path that acts outwardly away from the center of rotation.

To help your children understand this definition, try this easy experiment. Fill a bucket (she used an ice cream gallon bucket) half-way with water. Ask your kids what they think will happen if you swing your arm while holding the bucket in circles. Let each child discuss what they think. Go outside swing the bucket (the center of rotation being your shoulder) and watch centrifugal force in action! Ask them what would happen if you stopped at the top. Let the kids try swinging it and then let them stop mid-swing. I feel a water fight coming on...

Go to this website for a fun explanation and experiment about Isotropy and Thixotrophy.

Thanks Linda for sharing what a fun mom you are! ; )

More Thoughts on Chores

2009-07-18T10:16:00.001-07:00

It has been about 3 weeks since we have established our new work system. There is definitely a learning curve but I am hopeful!! I just wanted to share a quote from A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola that is inspirational to me. Just the pep talk I need : )

Charlotte claimed that as much as one third of education is the discipline of habit. That's a pretty big chunk, isn't it? She emplored, "The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; on the other hand she who lets habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction." The latter will come about because, she says, if we "fail to ease life by laying down habits of right thinking and right doing, habits of wrong thinking and wrong doing fix themselves of their own accord." We begin with an awareness of any repeated action becoming either a bad habit or a good one. The actions a mother wishes repeated (the good ones) become her endowment.

I wish to give my children the gift of good habits so I will press forward teaching the good habits from our work system. To be continued...

Unconditional Parenting, Part II

2009-07-17T12:55:00.001-07:00

I FINALLY finished Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn and I thought I would share some of "the good stuff".

I must begin by saying I'm not sure this book makes my classics list. I really appreciate his opening my eyes that parenting is not as cut and dry as my former positive reinforcement books have led me to believe. I also appreciate his reasoning for the most part about why that isn't so. He gives very helpful general tips and guidelines on how to develop caring and lasting relationship with our children.

Something is bothering me though. I feel like his sarcastic tone somewhat undermines his objective of helping parents become unconditional. Also I'm not sure I buy into some of the analogies he uses to support his claims.

Nevertheless, I will let you decide for yourselves. Here are some golden nuggets I took away from this book:

Unconditional Parenting Guidelines

Be reflective. (Don't just react.)

Reconsider your requests.

Keep your eye on your long-term goals. (That is you want to raise caring, independent adults.)

Put the relationship first.

Change how you see, not just how you act. (Try to see things from a child's perspective.)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Talk to them the way you would like to be spoken to.)

Be authentic.

Talk less, ask more.

Keep their ages in mind.

Attribuite to children the best possible motive consistent with the facts.

Don't stick your no's in unnecessarily.

Don't be rigid.

Don't be in a hurry.

This one was a real eye-opener for me:

Ask yourself, What is your mood like when you are with your kids?

What to Minimize

Limit the number of your criticisms.

Limit the scope of each criticism. (Like "The way you spoke to your sister just now sounded unkind" instead of "You are so mean to people!")

Limit the intensity of each criticism.

Look for alternatives to criticism.

**Your goal is not to make them feel bad or stamp bad behavior out of exsistence. "Rather, what we want is to influence the way they think and feel, to help them become the kind of people who wouldn't want to act cruelly."

**Never hold a grudge--Be the PARENT!!

**Reassure them of your love frequently especially during conflict.

**Remind them this behavior is temporary and out of character; it doesn't reflect the child you know and love.

Hope that is helpful! I know I have had a major paradigm shift and I have really been enjoying my children. Go give yours a hug!!

Leadership Education Mentoring Institute

2009-07-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended an amazing training called Liber Community Series with LEMI, Leadership Education Mentoring Institute. It was INCREDIBLE! There were about 24 people I had never met before in the training and I left that weekend feeling like I had known them for years! This sense of community was created in such a short time through experiences that I will now be able to take into and recreate in my own community.

In the manual it states the following:
The Liber Community Series is empowering families and communities by:

Encouraging a progessive Scholar Phase* while teaching abilities and skills needed for its success; in preparation for a broad and deep study of the classics.
Teaching and encouraging principles of leadership.
Offering a peer enviornment that encourages growth of knowledge, understanding and character.
Providing mentoring and tools for individuals who desire to influence the cause of liberty through education and virtue.

*Scholar Phase is "a readiness to apply a new level of effort to personal and academic achievement through a process of commitments and accountability" (definition taken from A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver DeMille).

We were immersed in experiences such as oral exams, writing workshops, book discussions, and oral presentations that required us to dig deep within us and share our personal growth with each other. It was beautiful to watch each other struggle with a concept and come out with greater understanding of it and of ourselves. I encourage you to check out the LEMI Website for more information about their mission and how they accomplish it!

Can't Be Beet!

2009-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

I bought seeds for my garden way back in February and my husband did most of the planting. I had been cutting greens off a plant that I thought was swiss chard but upon closer inspection I realized it was really beets!

So I tried this fun smoothie from Tammie's blog called Can't Be Beet Smoothie. ALL my kids loved it! It is unusual to have unanimous approval. Don't skip all the wonderful nutritional information about beets before the recipe. The son that is "inspired" to get dressed on Sunday mornings said I HAVE to post it! He's really getting into this : )

This morning while weeding the garden my other little boy said he was going to pick a carrot. He pulled with all his might and up came his "carrot" (it was really a HUGE beet). He was so proud of his find he showed everyone in the family and everyone was begging for the smoothie. Try it...you'll say it can't be beet!

Sunday Dress

2009-07-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

After being late for church a couple of times and feeling rushed and irritable, I had to change! I went to my friend Becca's and saw her children getting their own Sunday clothes out on Saturday. I used to get them out myself when we went to church at 8 AM in Arizona but I loved the idea of them doing it.

So now my kids get all their Sunday clothes out including shoes, socks, ties, belt, even hair bows out as part of their Saturday chores. Also instead of frantically ironing all the boys' shirts, girls' dresses, etc. late Saturday, with the help of my new chore chart, I iron (and pretty soon I'll teach the kids!) during the week so that everything is ready on Saturday.

This morning my son remarked, "I love getting my suit coat out on Saturday because I really like it. When I see it in the morning I feel inspired to get dressed and ready for church!" He even used the right words ; ) Instead of feeling frustrated and grumpy at church, I enjoy my children and feel the peace I'm suppose to in the house of the Lord.

Meaningful Mealtimes

2009-07-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Gathering for meals as a family as often as possible can strengthen family relationships thereby ensuring the ideal climate for inspiring children to greatness! By connecting the pleasant experience of filling your empty stomach with communicating with those you love, you can nurture your children physically as well as emotionally. A couple of friends shared these great mealtime ideas in church this Sunday:

Becca B. said to have each child share the best, worst and funniest thing that happened to them that day. This not only helps you know what's going on in their lives but provides an effective exercise in helping them to identify feelings and communicate them in a safe environment.
Eliza K. started a fun tradition that she occasionally does at meal times. She cut out large different colored hearts from card stock and laminated them. She catches her kids doing kind things and writes them with dry erase markers on the hearts. She places the hearts face down on the table next to each child's plate. Immediately following prayer the kids reach for the hearts instead of the food excited to see what their heart says!
Another idea from Eliza is the "Family Preservation Jar". A variety of get-to-know-you-better questions fill the jar and each family member alternately share their thoughts pertaining to each inquiry. Your family will end up sharing their thoughts on a wide range of topics.
Angela A. had a super fun idea too! In their family they play True or False. Each member takes turn sharing something about their day and then everyone decides if it is "true or false". If they have nothing interesting to tell they can use their imaginations and make something fun up.

Have fun getting to know your family better with these fun ideas. Please share what you do to make mealtimes more meaningful!

Teaching Patriotism

2009-07-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

All "Take Your Hat Off" products are 50% off through July 31st. Check it out by clicking this button...

Thoughts on Chores

2009-06-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Today was DAY #1 of implementing our new chore system. It is called HAnnDi Household Work Systems by Diann Jeppson and Annette Jones. Here's the lowdown..

This system is actually two systems in one. The first system (Diann's) is for those who have a pretty good handle on keeping their house clean but just need a system to teach their children to do so. Then there is a more involved system (Annette's) to teach the children and the mother to maintain a clean household. I think I'm somewhere in between but have opted to set up Annette's system to help me to create good habits.

Here are the objectives of Annette's work system (Diann's are included in these):

1. Get the work done that MUST be done and the work that SHOULD be done -- define both.
2. Allow for teaching children how to do the work.
3. Be comprehensive.
4. Be fair and include the element of choice.
5. Provide an easy way to supervise in a positive manner and help us stay motivated.
6. Allow for flexibility and is easy to operate.
7. Offer a long-term work solution.
8. Integrate Adult Skills classes.
9. Help me to organize the amount of work to be done in manageable amounts.
10. Help to establish habits of order and cleanliness.

Here is a picture of our "work system headquarters". You can click on the picture for more detail. I made the pockets. You could buy them, but if you like to sew these cost around $8 to make ($6 for the vinyl lettering). The clear vinyl I got at Wal-Mart in their remnants section and paid under $2. I had to sew it with tissue paper (wrapping kind) on each side to help feed the material through the machine. You could also choose a different material or material and the vinyl...the possibilities are endless! It took me a day to make them. (By the way, Diann explains her version in her book A Thomas Jefferson Home Companion.)

At the home school convention I attended last year I asked Angela Baker advice about homeschooling and she said if she could go back to where I was at the time, she would just take the entire school year to teach her children how to work. I thought that seemed pretty drastic, but at the end of this year I realize I should have listened! When everyone in the family knows how to work and pitches in, there will be more time to inspire, discover and create! Today went very smoothly and I've decided THIS is our school until we all learn how to work!

Here are some other ideas on chores that might be helpful:

My friend Becca has laminated charts for each child that has set chores each week. When the child has accomplished the job, he fills in a bubble by the chore completed. This system helps children get really good at a few jobs.
My sister Angie told me about Handipoints. It is a fun, free program that allows children and parents to track chores on the computer or print out weekly chore charts. Each chore has a value attached that are accumulated and used for a "cool cat" they get to create and play with in HandiLand.
My friend Emily rotates one job weekly allowing children to get familiar with a different job for smaller periods of time so they don't get bored. Because they know what their weekly job is, her kids just do it without having to be reminded. The children are still responsible for their everyday jobs like taking care of their person (teeth, hair, getting dressed) and their personal belongings like making their beds.

If you have any ideas that have worked for you, please share! Once you've found something that works for you--stick with it!! I think my stick-with-itability will be the key to my success. I'll keep you posted...

Kindness

2009-06-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have been concerned as I observe how my children interact with each other and with their friends lately. So for our morning devotional yesterday we sang "Kindness Begins With Me" and then we read "Friendship Bracelets". It's a great story about a little girl who learns to be kind and love her friend even when her friend was being unkind to her. We discussed the article and then we made friendship bracelets from embrodiery floss. I just braided the floss for the little ones while they held it and I'm teaching the older ones how to make their own friendship bracelets. This link leads to a site that has pretty detailed instructions and I figured it out in about 15 minutes...but I like that kind of stuff : ) We talked about how the bracelet can serve as a reminder to be kind to everyone and to be the kind of friend you would like to have. Later in the day, I was able to gently refer to what the bracelet signified to help them make better choices and it was effective. The devotional helped to remind me about "You, Not Them" and how I need to remember that "Kindness Begins With Me"!

Second Chances

2009-06-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I frequently mess up. For example, I've started a handful of household chore systems only to watch them fail one after the other. Partly I need to find something that works for my family and partly it's just me learning how to follow through.

When I keep failing at something and could easily get discouraged, I try to remember to be grateful for second chances. My mother-in-law gave me this card. Notice the girl's bandaged arms, hands, knees and legs...yet she's smiling and she's on her feet. On the card it says:

"Success consists of getting up once oftener than you fall down."

I love that! I love how each day is a brand new start and how even the seasons denote a rebirth. I love how especially this spring there has been an abundance of rain that washes away sidewalk chalk and dirt from construction making everything clean and green. I love that we have a Savior who sacrificed for us giving us a second chance. Everything points to a loving God that is trying to tell us that we can do it!

So if at first you don't succeed...try, try again! (I'll let you know when this new chore system works ; )

An Inspirational Independence Day

2009-06-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am so glad Jen asked for ideas on how to teach the importance and meaning of Independence Day. With the weather so rainy and cloudy here it doesn't seem like the 4th of July is a little over two weeks away...but it is!

For Simple Abundance (our book group) we are reading John Adams by David McCullough this month (I've been told that Costco has it for $11). Following the "You, Not Them" principle, this is a great read to get inspired yourself! Once you are inspired, share what you've learned with your children...your excitement will be contagious!

I am right at the part where they are signing the Declaration of Independence and I am blown away by the daunting task it was to merely decide to break away from their mother country. Speaking of the 4th of July, John Adams wrote to Abigail, his wife:

It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pop and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.

Lest she judge him overly 'transported,' he said he was well aware of the 'toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this declaration.' Still (McCullough continues), the end was more than worth all the means. (p. 130)

I'm sure we all agree! A great teaching tool for children about the founding of our country is called "Take Your Hat Off" by Brite Music (check it out by clicking the button below, go to the pull down menu titled "Brite Series" and click on "Take Your Hat Off").

It teaches children through music in a very simple way what it means to be a patriot and why they should show respect for their country.

My friend Tammie N. highly recommends American History Stories You Never Read in School but Should Have Vol.1 & American History Stories You Never Read in School but Should Have Vol.2 by Mara L. Pratt, MD. She said both she and her children are learning so many interesting stories about our country.

Then for the "pop and parade" part of your celebration I always love Family Fun Magazine. They have a great list of crafts, games, activities and recipes to make your 4th of July a great celebration.

I am excited to share these things with my children. Thanks Jen!

You, Not Them

2009-06-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

One of the principles Dr. DeMille shares as an effective key to teaching in his book A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century is called "You, Not Them". In a nutshell, if you want your child to excel or be interested in something, you try it out first. My good friend Amanda W. has told me that has been the driving force in her homeschooling. If a son likes to draw, she studies and practices drawing. If a daughter is interested in a foreign language, she starts to learn Spanish. It is amazing how by leading out like this, your children will follow.

I've been noticing that my son who loves to play the piano has gradually stopped practicing. Instead he tries to cram the day of the lesson and usually ends up frustrated and his love for the instrument has diminished. Instead of harping on him about practicing, I decided to try out the "You, Not Them" principle. I sat down at the piano and learned a song. I excitedly called him over one day and played it for him. "That's cool Mom," he said nonchalantly.

I still didn't see him practice but I kept plugging away learning new songs. Pretty soon without a word from me, he was practicing regularly again and not only that...he was enjoying it! Now we have "piano wars" we call it (...hey...he's a little boy ; ) and at the end of family council on Sundays we see who plays their song the best. I lost last Sunday, but he cheers me up by saying that he still loves me even though he'll beat me next week too...

And I think...it'll be Me, Not YOU! Isn't that how it goes? Oh, not really..You, Not Them ; ) Try it, it really works!!

Independence Day

2009-06-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

My good friend Jen M. sent this question to me:

"I am looking for a way to teach my kids about the meaning and importance of Independence Day. Do you have any ideas and materials that might help me do this?"

I'm glad she's thinking ahead! Let me know your ideas by emailing me at inspireyourkids@gmail.com. Thanks!

Unconditional Parenting

2009-06-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

I think I have been stunned into silence (hence my lack of posting). I have slowly been reading (along with 2 other books ; ) Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn and in short it has rocked my parental world. Previously I have been all about positive reinforcement in the form of praise and rewards. I have been known to bribe and threaten when desperate but I tried to stay on the positive side when interacting with my children. Kohn basically says that method of parenting is "conditional" and teaches my children that I only love them when they do what I want them to do.

He asks hard questions like "Are my everyday practices likely to help my children grow into the kind of people I'd like them to be?" I would like my children to be confident, self-starters who are motivated intrinsically to help and be kind to others. So are my everyday practices in line with this vision? Or will I wake up one day to this description quoted in Kohn's book by author Barabara Coloroso? She often hears parents of teenagers complain, "He was such a good kid, so well behaved, so well mannered, so well dressed. Now look at him!" To this, she replies:

"From the time he was young, he dressed the way you told him, to dress; he acted the way you told him to act; he said the things you told him to say. He's been listening to somebody else tell him what to do...He hasn't changed. He is still listening to somebody else tell him what to do. The problem is, it isn't you anymore; it's his peers." (p.7)

Yuck!! If you are not convinced praising a child can cause them to feel conditionally loved I invite you to read this book. It is an eye-opener! Unfortunately I am still in the chapters where he tells me all that I'm doing wrong and I haven't gotten to Chapter 7: "Principles of Unconditional Parenting" where he will tell me what to do.

I do know he suggests helping the child identify how he or another person may feel as a result of his actions. For example, this morning instead of praising my children for the great job they did cleaning their rooms, I asked them how they felt to have a clean room. We talked about how nice it smelled, how clean it felt and how enjoyable it will be to read and sleep in there.

I know some of you have read this book so I'd love to hear your story. Feel free to comment! I'll let you know when I reach the good stuff!!

This Week's Inspiring Devotionals

2009-06-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

I had one of those ah-has when I taught a Sunday school class for kids at church last Sunday. I always put so much time and preparation into any lessons I give at church because I feel a personal duty to God to inspire and love His children.

As I was thinking about how to make my morning devotionals with my own children more powerful and meaningful, I realized I should approach it like I do my church responsibilities. I should give it thought and preparation.

This week we have had beautiful, spiritual morning devotionals and it hasn't even taken any extra time really. As I study my scriptures personally I begin with a prayer in my heart and a question as simple as "What do my children need to know today?" Or "How can I help my children see the importance of forgiveness or kindness?" Each day I have come across a wonderful scripture or story that illustrates the principle they need to know.

How powerful to know that each morning I can prepare my children with the armour of God to be His valiant children!

Morning Devotionals

2009-06-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

This time I need your help! What do you do to make your morning devotionals inspiring? I envision starting the day with a powerful devotional that teaches core phase values (right vs. wrong, true vs. false) and inspires learning.
Please email me with your ideas at

inspireyourkids@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Inspire Learning

2009-06-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Let's tackle Janet's question about how to inspire learning. She has recently taken her children out of public school and sounds like everyone (including her) is burned out. In school there is so much "teaching to the test" and meeting government standards etc. that often children's love of learning is squelched.

I was in a similar situation last year at this time. I highly recommend reading materials about a Thomas Jefferson Education. Through my reading, I discovered that summer is the perfect "detox" time. It's a time to heal family relationships and rekindle our love of learning.

My veteran TJEd friend Amanda W. suggests to do nothing! There was a time when I would have shuddered at the suggestion. I used to be scared of the dreaded complaint "Mom, I'm bored!" But Amanda is right! I have since discovered that being bored creates the necessary vacuum needed for children to discover and explore. My children have come up with wonderful activities and games when left to themselves. Now when I hear "Mom, I'm bored!", my response is always the same. "That's great! I love when you're bored!! You come up with the best things to do when you're bored." And they have!

Amanda also shared with me that much of what inspires her children simply comes from following her instincts as their mother. I would love to share more about that on a later post. Stay tuned!

We also read great books together. See What We've Learned From the Classics for some ideas (more to come!). Discussions and activities natuarally flow from sharing a great book together.

Camping is another great detoxing activity. It's a great time to work together as a family and heal relationships by being present in nature. On Memorial Day weekend we (by "we" I really mean my husband and kids ; ) camped in our backyard...just for fun!

Any family work projects like caring for a garden and yard where we all work together has a healing effect as well.

The key is being together and spending quality time with your children. More and more my husband and I are realizing that our children are only with us a short time. Make use of every moment.

These are only some ideas of how to rekindle our (yes, ours too : ) love of learning and is by no means comprehensive. Please share any ideas you have done to inspire learning.

All in Favor...Part II

2009-06-02T09:30:00.001-07:00

I posted what family council is and the benefits of holding one about a month ago. For about two months now we've been holding one every Sunday and I am amazed!

My children look forward to our meeting where we spend time talking together. Everyone has a voice, even the little ones, and it has been enlightening for us as parents to hear how our children feel and think about certain topics. We have resolved issues that previously seemed insurmountable. The resolutions stick since the kids are the ones making them and everyone agrees on them.

I keep a small binder on the kitchen counter that holds our past family council agendas with the topics we've discussed and the decisions we've made. If there is ever a question, I can flip to where a decision was made and everyone is satisfied.

On the first page there is a place where the children can list any concerns they may have. This allows involved parties to cool off a bit and usually by the time we discuss it, the offended child has often lost interest. As a mom, I don't get as frustrated with problems in the home since I know I can bring up topics for discussion in family council (a.k.a. an environment where everyone is listening and ready to participate!).

My son even came up with a great idea all on his own and presented it to the family council. By great I mean an adult-like, self-governing sort of idea that makes me want to jump for joy!

All in favor?

Aye, Aye, Aye!!

Teaching Kids with Music

2009-06-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

Brite Music is having a buy one get 50% off one sale that ends this Friday. In case you are not familiar with Brite, it is a company that teaches children through music. On their website it says:

Every Brite Music product follows a simple formula for success:

Music increases a child’s ability to learn and retain information.
Kids love to have fun and Brite Music products are fun!
Brite Music products teach valuable lessons and principles.

I have really enjoyed the Standin' Tall series by Brite Music that has taught my children about values like courage, love, forgiveness, kindness, happiness, gratitude, work and obedience. Probably my absolute favorite CD is the one on pornography called "Protect Your Mind". On the CD, a group of kids are in a club called the Safety Kids and they explain in a very simple, understandable and entertaining way what pornography is and why kids should stay far away from it. Check it out by clicking on the button below.

How Do You Inspire Learning?

2009-05-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

One of my new friends Janet B. recently sought for our homeschool group's advice:

"I was wondering if any of you had some fun ideas to help me inspire my children toward learning. We are still stuck in the traditional school mode and now my daughter is talking more about wanting to go back to public school. I am at a loss to know what to do for her and my son whom I will be homeschooling this next coming year."

I had some ideas I will share but I also wanted to find out what you think! Please email me at inspireyourkids@gmail.com with ideas of how you inspire learning.

Love Languages

2009-05-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

A good friend shared The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman with me. Wow! Basically Chapman explains that there are five basic ways we communicate love to others: Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Receiving Gifts, Physical Touch and Quality Time. Each one of us feels most loved by at least one of these ways; Chapman calls it our primary love language. For example, my primary love language is Words of Affirmation. I feel most loved when showered with compliments and praises (feel free to leave any in the comments section ; )

We tend to (but not always) express love to others in our primary love language. This is great if everyone around us shares the same love language but if not we need to learn to speak a new language!

I am amazed at the difference knowing and speaking my husband's love language has made in a matter of days. We already have a pretty healthy, happy marriage but it has only gotten better!

Naturally I began thinking about my other loved ones, especially my children. I remember growing up often feeling like my "love tank" was on empty. I realize now that I'm older that my parents love me very much but they spoke their own love language, not mine. I explained the five love languages to my big kids separately and we discussed what their primary love language might be. I was enlightened by their comments and insights. (I haven't read it yet but there is a book specifically about children called The Five Love Languages of Children by the same author.)

I have the opportunity to identify, learn and speak my children's primary love languages. Hopefully I can help to fill their tanks to overflowing!

Eat Your Vegetables!

2009-05-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't met a kid who doesn't like ranch dressing. My kids love it on their salads or to dip veggies in. I always have slight misgivings since by eating the dressing I'm wondering if it cancels out the benefits of eating vegetables! Wonder no longer. Tammie has this yummy recipe for

Ranch Dressing

that tastes great (even better than regular I think!) and my kids loved it! I put the "healthy" ranch and the other ranch on the table and all but one said they wanted the "healthy" ranch.

Thanks Tammie!

What We've Learned from the Classics, Part I

2009-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last spring I accompanied my sister-in-law to the UHEA (Utah Home Education Association) Convention without any serious intentions to home school again. (I had home schooled my oldest for first grade only to crash and burn rather miserably.) I attended an inspiring workshop given by Angela Baker entitled "The Power of Classics" that was transformational for me. Here is a quote she shared:

"Great literature helps us, as we are growing...to widen our world from ourselves so that we can better choose what kind of person we are going to be. It helps us to choose ourselves out of the many selves there have been. By losing ourselves in great art and literature, we can find what we ought to be, we can find our highest selves" (Arm the Children, Arthur Henry King: p. 128).

Sitting in her workshop I realized this is what I wanted for my children! I wanted them to choose their highest selves. Last spring this was only wishful thinking...now I have seen it taking place in my home! I would like to share some of the treasures we've discovered through reading classics together.

For a child who is sure she cannot do math or learn to read, Heidi by Johanna Spyri is the perfect book. Heidi thinks because Peter, her friend, told her it was impossible to learn how to read that she will not be able to do it. Heidi overcoming this obstacle is a great inspiration to children who feel the same way.

We just finished reading A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and it was extremely helpful in solving a teasing epidemic that let loose in our home. Sara, the heroine, is mocked and scolded frequently but decides to react as a princess would. Her courage and self-control is contagious!

Almanzo in Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder works hard and never complains. It is a great book to read while spring cleaning!

Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry was wonderful for my shy son. He saw how Mafatu overcomes his fears by facing them.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery is delightful in many ways but Anne is particularly influencial with my daughter in her manner of conduct as she grows and matures, especially how hard she works at her least favorite subject, geometry, and at learning to clean, cook, and care for a home.

These are just a few examples of the wonderful and lasting impact classics have had on my children. In the future I hope to share more as we continue to uncover these hidden gems!

Please feel free to share classics that have impacted you and your family for good.

Paper Making

2009-05-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am a FUN homeschool mom!

This is my new positive affirmation. Today we made paper and everyone had a hand in the process. We followed the directions found here.

We decided not to blend the paper pulp too much so that there are colorful flakes left in the paper. We used a lot of color so our paper actually came out sort of purplish.

We just let it dry in the sun instead of squeezing the water out with cookies sheets and hanging it on the clothes line. Simplify!

To tell you the truth it made me feel sort of powerful. While we made our paper we chatted about this and my daughter decided to write a story about how she and her siblings saved the country by covertly making paper and sending a crucial message to the White House while we were at war. Can't wait to read it!