Unknown kindness

  There are some people of this world who have a pure soul.  When you meet them you automatically feel better.  You feel a connection.  Sometimes you need not even be near, to feel it, as a friend of mine found out.  Recently, a friend of theirs sent them a hand made, knitted bunny-for their rainbow baby.  This was a surprise for them.  The overwhelming joy they felt...to read it, made me want to write about it.  My own soul was happy for them.
   Because in my own struggle, a part of me realizes that there may be hope.  It's a very small part.  Waiting there in the shadows.  And yesterday, for once, I forgot my troubles.  My heart felt healed, at least for a little while.  I was able to visit with a friend, and her aura, probably unknown to her, is very calming and soothing. I'm not even sure how to thank her.  Perhaps one day I'll be able to return a kindness.

GMO battle continues

   I wanted to share the clip for the video of the Bill Maher show where he speaks about Obama backing out of labelling GMO foods.  I had the email this morning when I woke up via Organic Consumers.  Here is my old post about Monsanto- millions against... Nothing's changed.  Or if it has, it's just getting worse.

Reiki?

  Other than feeling like a ball of yarn, I feel a closing in.  A wall, with turmoil inside.  I'm doing all these things to help.  Herbs.  Running.  Kick boxing.  Writing.  Trying to let the stress just go away.  Trying to enjoy everything around me.  To relax.
  I pray at night.  That might be surprising.  But I do.  And yet each morning I greet the day with a thank you to the earth.  It's wonderful to stand outside and look up at the stars.  It's wonderful to stand in the morning sun and watch the flowers wake up.
  But, my patience is still thin.  Anger, that I had not before is bubbling and irritating.  I feel ragged and worn. A friend of mine suggested Reiki and I'm going to try it.  I believe that it will help open up blocks that I have. I have to believe.  Because at some point over the last three years I have lost an intricate part of myself.

Full Circle

  Well, co op is over.  But school is not for us.  I'll school through the summer, to keep things fresh.  Plus, we always do a lot of outdoor exploring and learning.
  As for other things.  I feel like I have come full circle.  I spoke about my marriage some quite awhile ago.    Does the trust and lasting love that gets you through the rough spots, eventually come?  And when?  After the children are grown?  In the beginning of your journey?  Because the journey changes.  In the past three years, I feel as if I've been to hell and back.  Personally at least.  This spring I feel the same way.  It's a pattern that we are stuck in.  And here we go again.
  For me, I don't know the answers to those questions.
 

Meanderings

  I'm never here, I know.  I have once more combined my other blog about health, back to this one.  It's honestly too much work for me to keep two, they are both part of me, I'm working now and making a serious attempt to write my book.  I'm going to make the effort to stop here weekly.

Thanksgiving 2011

  What a nice holiday.  I will clap myself on the back and say the food was good.  I tried to make everyone's favourites.   I hope everyone had a wonderful one with family and friends.  My inlaws were here.  It was a nice visit, though it had some tense days.  Schooling was of course brought up, and that set the tone for the week.  Nothing was mentioned aloud of our eating, but the whispering was there, and that was annoying.  I held my tongue for once.  I really miss being around the rest of our family during the holidays.  It's a large and loud family.  Things are fun and interesting!
 
   I realized today that I have to plan the school week.  I completely forgot.  I'm happy I filed away the last week of school before holiday vacation.  I'm happy with our progress, so there are no real complaints.  This will possibly be a review week.

  Today I also reorganized my kitchen.  The cupboards should flow much nicer now.  Of course I went to the wrong one at least three times already.  Next I need to organize the guest room and office closets.  They bug me.

  On that note, a good friend of mine had her baby on Thanksgiving.  What a surprise.  I am very happy for her.  It's bitter-sweet and maybe that's wrong, but it's how I feel.  I wonder if I shall ever get past that.

Yer Blues

  I like the Beatles, guess that explains the title.  But I am feeling a bit blue.  Perhaps I'm just tired.  The school year is going well, at least I think so.  My husband is teaching the two days that I work, and I think that's great.  He and the boys are learning how to school and do whatever it is boys do.
  I like my job.  The people are nice.  Because it's a low cost vet clinic, I don't feel like I robbed someone, when I leave work.  I meet quite the array of interesting people.
  Co op is going wonderful.  We haven't been able to meet with our TWIGGS co op at all this year.  They meet on the same day that we have classes at our other co op, and the field trips are on days that I work.  It's a little disappointing  but there's not much I can do about it.  I am very happy with our curriculum this year.  Phonics Road 2 is excellent so far, as is Singapore math.  We've done a unit study on weather-we have quite the little meteorologist, and will be starting a unit on rocks.  The little guy is doing a little more letter work.  My husband is a little frustrated that he doesn't know all the letters yet, but he'll be fine.  I didn't teach our oldest to read until a little after he turned 5.  And we are slowly going through the history timeline.  The boys are both enjoying Egypt currently, and being mummies!

The school year is getting started

  We've joined a new co op.  It's called TWIGGS.  We actually went to a few of their open play dates last spring, and enjoyed ourselves.  So this year we submitted an application.  It's nice in that they take applications yearly, so that they can weed out the folks who never participated the year before, or moved away.  It keeps the group small enough that the families get to know each other, yet large enough where there is a variety of activities.  We have a beach play date coming up next week.
  We also have orientation with the co op we were in last spring.  Our boys are both taking an art class and book club, and then Superman is taking a herp class.
  This year we are also officially registered as homeschoolers.  This past week I printed up some review work to go over, and we've done a few worksheets.  Just slowly getting back into our school pattern.  We'll be doing a little more this year, and it looks like it may be busier with field trips.  I am also working part time, so it's going to be an adjustment, but I'm confident everything will work out.

Home school tees

home school tee giveaway
 Wanted to share a link for home school shirt give-a-way.

What to do

  Okay, so I quit the last job I had.  The woman was just not a nice person.  When I quit, she left me such a horrible voice mail full of profanity, that I can't believe she considers herself a good Christian.  Oh well.  I've had another interview for another stable.  It's a nice one.  There are a lot of clients, and some who are never around, so it would be nice to be able to work their horses.  I have a reception interview and have called a vet clinic about setting up an interview.  A lot of interviews.  I feel very, very stressed out.  I had thought finding something a few days a week would be okay, but I feel pressured to find more.  I was working over full time at the last job I had, and it was so disrupting.  I just don't know what to do.  I feel like I need to put my family first.  Yet if I'm away from them, how do I do that?  The boys are thrown off.  They don't see their buddies.  I don't see my friends.  How would I homeschool?

New job

  Okay, thought I'd quickly update.  I'm working at a new job and just trying to sort out my day.  It's so busy now.  We've taken a break from schooling for the past month, though my guy has started asking for some work to do.  That makes me happy.  I've started searching for our curriculum, and found his Singapore math at a great deal from another mom.
  Summer is going well so far.  It's so very hot here.  Dad is home with the boys, while I'm at work.

A job come and gone

  I know, it's been almost two months!  The past two months have been so hectic here.  I was getting very stressed out in May at not having an income producing job.  The school year was ending and I had 10 weeks to go yet in our LA program.  Not that I follow the school year, but my husband has different ideas about schooling through the summer than I do.  And mom was coming for a vist-greatly looked forward to though.
  So, mid May I find a job working with my first love-horses.  To say I was happy is an understatement.  Yes I was doing stalls again-but only 3, so I couldn't complain much.  I had a mare to work and train, which was great.    I could pursue my dressage training.  Hours were good-morning work.
  It was an adjustment though.  I felt like I was missing a lot with my boys, since we do a lot in the mornings.  It helped when mom got here and kept them going.  Dad learned to be more patient with them and the boys ate up being with him more.  His job took a very downward turn and he started working for himself, which is actually working out.

Mother's Day

   Happy Mother's Day!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  I hope my sister has a fantastic day with her family, (she doesn't live here).  We have never spent a Mother's Day together.  It's something we'll have to do.  I hope all my mom friends have a fantastic day as well.

Invesigators and families of vaccine injured children report

 I received an email this morning with this news article.  I'm pasting it here.  At first I could only find a few places which had the news, and those were Age of Autism and a few Autism boards.  I haven't seen any mainstream news pick it up yet, and I'm not surprised. 

Investigators and Families of Vaccine-Injured Children to Unveil Report Detailing Clear Vaccine-Autism Link Based on Government’s Own Data

Posted on: 05-6-2011 Posted in: Media

Watch the press conference live! Click on the Facebook icon in the lower right of the video player window to easily embed the video on the FB page to share with friends and family. Also, the video can also easily be embedded into web pages and blogs just like a YouTube video. The event will be archived immediately for those who are unable to watch the live webcast.

You can also post your comments and participate in chat on the press conference page.

Report Demands Immediate Congressional Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law & Advocacy (EBCALA)

Contact Nicole Williams, (301) 625-7772
or Danielle Orso, (480) 200-4411

Directors of the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy (EBCALA), parents and vaccine-injured children will hold a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (717 Madison Place, NW in Washington, DC) on Tuesday, May 10 at 12:00 PM EST to unveil an investigation linking vaccine injury to autism. For over 20 years, the federal government has publicly denied a vaccine-autism link, while at the same time its Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has been awarding damages for vaccine injury to children with brain damage, seizures and autism. This investigation, based on public, verifiable government data, breaks new ground in the controversial vaccine-autism debate.

The investigation found that a substantial number of children compensated for vaccine injury also have autism. The government has asserted that it “does not track” autism among the vaccine-injured. Based on this preliminary investigation, the evidence suggests that autism is at least three times more prevalent among vaccine-injured children than among children in the general population.

The federal government has called autism a “national health emergency,” conservatively affecting 1 in 110 children and costing the country billions of dollars each year.

Because almost all children in the United States are required by law to receive between 30-45 vaccines in order to attend public school, it is crucial that the VICP decide cases with justice and transparency.

EBCALA and the families of the vaccine-injured call on Congress to investigate the VICP, the only forum in which parents may bring claims of vaccine injury on behalf of their children.

Where	United States Court of Claims 717 Madison Place, NW Washington, DC
When	Tuesday, May 10 12 noon EST

http://www.ebcala.org/media/investigators-and-families-of-vaccine-injured-children-to-unveil-report-detailing-clear-vaccine-autism-link-based-on-government%E2%80%99s-own-data


 I believe we are supposed to be able to view it live here- http://www.ustream.tv/user/zenworks, according to Age of Autism.

Butterflies

  Sigh,  I have a lot of home school photos to share of our work, but alas, they are still on the camera, and not downloaded yet.  The last day of co op was Thursday.  Our showcase is next week.  I'm excited to see the kids perform and the displays of their work.  Our son is excited to play his rock and roll songs, and display his art too.  And though co op is over, and public school ends next month,  we are not finished.  I plan to school lightly through the summer.  A few worksheets through the week, to keep the mind fresh.
   Other than school, I've been informed that by our oldest that when he grows up, he will build a robot that will do what we tell it to do and help us.  I immediately thought of the movie, I Robot, where the robots all revolt and try to take over!  Along with robots, he said he also wants to study bugs.  Already, I think he memorized half the bugs of Florida, especially the butterflies.  Butterflies are perhaps one of his favourite things.  Just last week, he had a Monarch climb up his arm, up his face and set there.  For him, it was one of the best things in the world.  Happiness just radiated out.

Our week so far

  Running a few days behind, it's been an active week already. We started off our Sunday with a hike at a local park.  There, my oldest spotted a baby Chicken Turtle, which the staff at the nature center told us was a rare thing.  Next, as we were on the off beaten path, (seeing a lot of brush pile clean up from the tornado), we stopped to read a sign about Gopher Tortoises.  Hearing a sound we looked past a bush and saw one just walking right along.  What a handsome fellow, or gal it was.  The Gopher Tortoise is a threatened species here in Florida.  You are not allowed to bother or touch them, unless they are injured, or happen to be crossing a parking lot.

                          
                                           Had to get a photo of the boys next to him/her.

Monday, we went on another hike.  We didn't see too much, but the boys had fun.

   I also took Superman to our local library to check out the Chess club.  He had tried a few games when our family was in last month and seemed to like it.  So he sat down with a coach, who showed him how each piece moved and then I played a game with him.  I haven't played chess in at least ten years, and not paying attention, he beat me.  He liked it and so we are going to continue going.  I'm going to pick up a chess board for home.  The coach gave me a book to read on it so we can practice.  There was another six year old there that Superman wants to play a game with next time.  Though hard, I think he may pick up the game well.   When learning a new game, we always ask him what moves we can make.  Since in chess, he needs to learn to think ahead a few moves, I hope this comes in handy. 

    Today we had story time at the library.  We are at the library at least twice a week.  Some weeks more.  For example, tomorrow we'll be there for Lego club, and since I ordered some books, will check to see if they are in.  We visited with the normal story time families, and then met a friend from home school co op after, for a picnic and some playground time.  The kids had a blast.  I think they ran for two hours straight.  

For the afternoon, after some creative comic drawing and trio building, some school work was finished up, dinner was eaten, plants outside were watered in the midst of a water gun battle and then lastly, bath, story and bed.  I started The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S.Lewis.  The boys had enjoyed listening it to it a few months ago, and finally I decided to read it to them. 

   My week feels like it's over already, and it's not only half done.  

Last week home school review

  Whew, I really have no idea where the time goes.  Last week we started on week 20 of Phonics Road.  I realize now that I skipped a review of week 19, not sure what happened there.  We did it though, because the complete sheet and book is in the Apprentice binder.
     Nothing new to introduce, just spelling words and the illustrating of a book.  The same actually goes for this week as well.  So we reviewed a little of the days of the week, worked in some categorizing and then a worksheet on observation.  I know some weeks may not seem like much, but don't forget, we do a lot of reading- I read to the boys and Superman reads his share.

                            

  For math I introduced some telling time.  Hours, half hours and minutes.  We reviewed number placement on a number line.  And of course the norm of addition/subtraction drill.  I also tossed in a page of word problems.

 

 

  I don't have a photo of our complete science week, but we went over flowers and some types of flowers.  Our experiment was to see how water travels through the stem.  We placed four white Carnations in four glasses of dyed water.  After a few days, the flowers in the blue dye looked like this.  They and the red ones are now quite pretty and colorful.  There will be a follow up photo at the end of this week.

Letting Children Go

  My thought for awhile has been about letting children go.  I think we look at our children and want them to remain young for as long as possible.  But are we stunting them?  Are we sending them a message that they can't do it?
   When we get in the car, I make my six year old buckle himself in, then I help to make sure the belt is locked.   My husband buckles him in, because in his mind, he wants him to be a little boy as long as possible, so shouldn't have to do it.
  He can make himself a simple breakfast.  That's fine with me.  It's not that I don't enjoy making them their meals, but they have to learn to do it themselves at some point.  This doesn't mean I stop making breakfast.
  How old are our kids when we let them go at the playground.  You know what I'm talking about.  We moms and dads hover anxiously, afraid to let the kids play, for fear of getting hurt.  At some point, they will fall and get hurt.  It's part of life. They have to learn through experience what they can do or not do.  We have to learn to let them do for themselves.
  This doesn't take childhood away though.  At least not in my eyes.

Play and nature

  I'm a huge fan of play.  That said, we limit tv greatly-it's a weekend morning thing, and no real video game play-but good old fashioned, use your imagination, go outside and play, play.
   Being a home school family, allows us a lot of play time.  And, most of the public schools in my area do not have recess.  A lot of schools across the US do not have recess.  Play is so important to a child's development.  To expect a 6 year old to sit still in a class all day, is to me, ridiculous.  And that's the age of most first graders.  Even as adults, we take a break of our work.  Those of us who lead active lifestyles, are healthier and happier.  So why do we want to take play away from our kids?

                                             Batcave

                                                Puddles are just too much fun

                                                  The off-beaten path

  Along with play and exploring, our boys love nature.

Homeschool catch up & family

  Whew, I need to catch up.  I was pretty much off the pc for awhile.  We had some family in for a few weeks last month.  Our cousin brought her mom down with her, so that was a huge surprise.  It was very nice to see them.
   Then some of my in-laws came for a visit.  They rented a beach house near us.  In all, it was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be.  Both women are former teachers, though one was an elementary teacher.  When they visited last summer, they were very against home school.  I'm sure they still are.  But, after looking at our Phonics Road, math and some of the things we have gone over, as well as just observation, the former elem teacher, was impressed.  She mentioned that what we are doing is good for right now.  We talked briefly about what we would do with our little guy if we had to place him in school.  Would he be bored?  How far ahead would he be?  Things like that.  And, my husband is coming around a little more.  He said we would continue with home school for now, though he'd have questions later on.  I am happy, but sad because it is causing friction between him and his folks.
  Anyhow, on to my review.  Last was week 16, and if you count the weeks, you'll see we took a small break.  I think I took 2 weeks to cover one of those weeks, and then with family here...But, that's the great thing about home school.  We can go at our own pace.  And considering we are technically kindergarten....