Athena in a Minivan

Blessed Easter - CHRIST HAS RISEN

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul!What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down; when I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb I will sing! To God and to the Lamb, who is the great "I AM", while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on! And when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be, and trough eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on, and through eternity I'll sing on! (traditional Appalachian hymn)

Blessed and Happy Easter.  Christ has risen, Christ has RISEN, CHRIST HAS RISEN, CHRIST HAS RISEN INDEED.

Tokens and Sleep

Each night my neighbor and I walk. Our husbands think we are getting some exercise. We call it our therapy. It is great to have a friend who is like minded that is willing to listen to my wild ideas and thoughts. We trade off each night. Some nights she has something on her mind, other nights it is my junk.

I have been having MAJOR problems getting Butch and Sundance to bed each night. It is like they turn into these crazy wild boys at 8:00 pm. They bounce off the bed, fight, talk, laugh, and generally do ANYTHING to keep from going to sleep. It makes the evenings around here quite unpleasant.

My walking buddy and I came up with a new token system. You would think I would have thought of this seeing as I studied behavior management from so many years but alas when it is close to home sometimes you forget.

The boys each get 5 tokens each night. For each infraction of the bedtime rules they get one taken away. If either one gets down to two tokens the night light gets turned off. Any tokens they have left can be turned in for either 20 minutes of computer or PlayStation or 25 cents.

Last night was the first night and Butch lost 4 if his tokens. Sundance lost only one. I was kinda of suspicious that Butch was the culprit in keeping everyone awake and now I am more sure. Today, Sundance has decide to use 2 tokens for PlayStation and save two. Butch is going to use his only token on computer.

I'll keep you posted on if it makes bedtime any easier.

Keeping them young.

I said I was going to say more about keeping my children young. How quickly they grow up. The world around us is so eager to bring them into her charms. McDonald's wants them to have scary  toys and card with their food, Burger King wants them to have video games. What would happen if McDonalds gave a set of blocks, or a kite or maybe some sand toys?

In our state, Kindergarten starts at 5 years old and lasts all day (7 hours). Have you seen the energy level of a 5 year old boy? I honestly don't think it is fair to ask them to sit down and be quiet for any period of time. It is not in their nature. It is not as God designed them. We have decided to let Butch and Sundance wait until they are 6 to make a decision about school. We will do some school here at home and then make a decision on sending them to school.

I see two major advantages to this. One is that they will have another year of maturity and growth. Hopefully this will give them the ability to sit still for some period of time in school. The second advantage is that I will be able to see that they receive the basic background that I see as important for becoming a life long learner, not just a good test taker.

God has blessed each of my sons with beautiful spirits and wonderful minds. I want to provide them with the opportunity to discover for themselves. Where better than in the arms of the one person on earth who loves them the most!!