Athena in a Minivan

Following the Star

Following the Star,

the online devotion site for Advent, returns to the

web on Sunday, December 2, 2007. Scripture, prayer,

and meditative thoughts, accompanied by gentle music,

can be accessed every day at

www.followingthestar.org.

New devotions on the themes of Hope, Peace, Love,

Joy, and Christmastide will be available daily through

Epiphany Sunday, January 6. Make this unique meditative

resource a part of your personal preparation for the

coming Christ child!

Following the Star is now part of the year-round devotion

site, d365, a ministry of Passport, Inc. Visit www.d365.org

for new devotions all through the year. Sponsored by

Passport, Inc., the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the

Presbyterian Church (USA) and The Episcopal Church.

My Sunday Modern Hymn Post

Yahweh

Take these shoes                             
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
A  make them fit
Take this shirt Polyester white trash
made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist
Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a
child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Still waiting for the dawn,

the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a
child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

Four by Four

4 Things about me.
This is kind of fun, Have a nice Day!

Four jobs I have had in my life: 1. MOM; 2.  Leonard Middle School Special Ed Teacher; 3.  New Day Psychiatric Hospital (Teacher) ; 4.  Girl's Camp Tennis Counselor

Four places I've been on vacation: 1.  London; 2.  Disney Land; 3. Santa Fe; 4. Paris

Four of my favorite Foods: 1.Chocolate Chip Cookies; 2. Enchiladas; 3. Pizza; 4.  Fried Chicken

Four places I would rather be right now: 1.  London; 2.  Anywhere with Honey, My kids, my dad, my sister, and my brother; 3. The Plaza, Santa Fe, NM ; 4.  Joe T. Garcia's Patio with my family and a plate of Enchiladas

Four friends or relatives I think will respond first:  Just let me know if you play..

Peeking in the Minivan Windows Part 1

I've been reading posts over at Melissa Wiley's blog Here in the Bonny Glen about her "Tidal Homeschooling". It is an interesting read and I highly recommend reading the entire group of posts.

She poses a question, "What does homeschooling look like in your home?" Here is a glimpse into our home. Be for warned, there are toys on the floor and the carpets need to be cleaned. The dishes need to be loaded (hey, I did empty the dishwasher) and the floor mopped. There are three loads of laundry on the floor behind my desk. Here is the first in some posts about how we homeschool. Feel free to peek in our windows.

Our enrichment group meets 10 Fridays during the Fall and 10 Fridays during the Spring. The last hour, I "teach" (and I use the term lightly here) 3 and 4 yr old Play With Me. I basically take them out on the wonderful playground at the church where we meet. Today there were some moms who go to the church with their preschool children playing. One very beautiful, well coiffed, and dressed mother asked if we were a Mother's Day Out group. I explained that this was our homeschool coop and these were the little brother and sisters of school age children.

The next words out of her mouth just floored me. She said, "I could never do that, I just don't have the patience." I very kindly smiled and replied, "Neither do I but daily the Lord supplies me with patience and whatever else  I need to teach and care for my children. I love being with my kids, matter of fact that one (pointing to Hopalong) is mine."

I am grateful for what I do have that has prepared me to homeschool. As a single adult,  I taught special education in the public and the private sector. I have state credentials to teach regular education K-6 and special education K-12. I also have a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Neither of these fully prepared me to teach my own children. What these degrees mean in my life is that I do not have to do as much research into curriculum, teaching methods, correcting reading difficulties, math methods and assessment. I can teach off the top of my head because I have had years (11 to be exact) of teaching experience before I had children. Any homeschool parent can learn these things it just may take a few years. I just had a head start.

My training for teaching Butch, Sundance and Hopalong started from the day they came into this world. I began building a relationship with them from day one. I know their likes, their dislikes, and their quirks. I love them each with a passion built on late night feedings, nursing them through illnesses, potty training, all the twin antics, seeing them taste their first cotton candy, teaching them to swim, being there when they asked Jesus in their heart (Butch and Sundance), tears, laughs, walks, movies, vacations and uninhibited playtime.

It was through this relationship that I knew my children's hearts and spirits so well that it became obvious to me(with the Lord's help) that homeschooling  was the best option for them. I am not sure how I knew, I just knew.  I know their hearts and I did not want to break their spirits.  I know when Butch is upset that he didn't  get to go first and can gently teach him that he does not always have to be first. I know that Sundance needs extra help with fine motor skills and I know how to teach them to him without embarrassing him or pointing out his difficulty to 20 of his peers.  I can kiss and hug them when they give a good effort and I can lovingly correct them when they would rather watch Pokemon than complete phonics.

God gives children to parents. I am the best parent and teacher (along with Honey) for Butch, Sundance and Hopalong. Some days I do not feel like I have the patience to teach and parent. It is a full time job to homeschool just as my teaching jobs were full time. Homeschooling is not a short cut to my children's education. I am grateful I get to be there when the light bulbs go off. I am glad I get to discipline them. I am grateful I get to teach them to read. I am thankful that the Lord supplies all my needs to homeschool especially patience.  Now Lord, about that helper for the housework......

What is in your shopping cart?

Some other North Texas ladies have posted their lists, Javamom over at Books n Coffee and Mother Auma at CM, Children and Lots of Grace. I think Javamom started this.

I have been thinking a lot about groceries lately. My mother only had a few choices for groceries, A&P or Buddies. Close to my house, I mean close, like within 3 miles are Tom Thumb, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and Central Market. There is a Walgreens down the street also. I love to shop at Tom Thumb and Central Market  because the stores are beautiful and the have gourmet foods which I love to try. Alas, my budget can not afford them. So I have resigned myself to Kroger and Tom Thumb for the sale items.

I just did a big shop. I try to buy what we will eat and not over buy but I alway find myself with food we just didn't eat.

• 5cans of spaghetti and meatballs which Honey takes to work
• 8 packages of Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
• 4 lb ground beef
• 2 lb butter
• Hamburger Helper (Lasagna, Beef and cheese and Southwestern Beef)
• Chicken Broth
• Dried Cilantro
• Baking Soda
• 3 Boxes Ritz
• 1 box each Trisket and Wheat Thins
• Vanilla Chai Tea
• English Breakfast Tea
• 4 Gallons of Milk (and I will need more by Monday)
• 2 Loaves of wheat bread
• 1 loaf Lumpy Bumpy Bread
• 2 pkg Frozen Waffles
• Syrup
• Cheese Slices 24 count
• 2lb packaged ham
• turkey wings
• celery
• green peppers
• apples
• bananas
• oranges
• cucumbers
• cabbage
• 3 cans of green beans
• 3 cans of corn
• 3 cans of sweet peas
• pkg frozen mixed veggies
• 4 cans beans (2 great northern, 2 pinto)
• zip lock baggies
• baby wipes (Little Guy still having some accidents)
• sippy cups for Hopalong
• 3 lb onions
• 1 doz eggs
• 4 boxes variety fruit snacks

The Turkey wings, celery, corn bread, onions, butter and all the dried bread I have been saving in the freezer are going into 4 pans of Cornbread dressing. Two are going in the freezer for Thanksgiving, two are going to church on Saturday for our Thanksgiving feast. I also made 3 lbs of chili this week for Bible Study. We will eat out 2-3 meals this week. Wednesday nights our small church meets at Wendy's to eat on the $1 menu before prayer meeting.  My dad usually takes us out to eat on the weekends.

I don't think like putting this all together in one post. It sounds like so much. It does not feel like it when I am buying it an putting it away. (Highlighted items were bought with a coupon and italicized were on sale.)

So, what is in your shopping cart?

Halloween Fun

THIS IS FROM HALLOWEEN 2005

From the time I was a child, I have always gone trick or treating. (Yes, I grew up in a Christian home and yes, I know what some people think and this post is not about that so just save it.).

It is one of the best times of the year. In my childhood neighborhood, we knew almost everyone so going around was just saying "HI" to the neighbors. There was always Lynn and Leslie's big brother and their friends who made a haunted house with of a bowl of spaghetti and peeled grapes. The Holmgrens always had a movie playing full screen in the front yard and Mrs. Smith made homemade donuts.

My grownup neighborhood is the very similar. We build our house in 1998 and have lived here ever since. My children were brought home to this house. We have welcomed new neighbors. We all get to know each other around the pool in the summer and our kids get together and play whenever possible. My front yard is always full of kids playing Star Wars, chase, Monkey in the Middle, or football. Some of these children we have know since they were babies and some of them are new friends but either way, they have become friends.  

This year we managed to make it to every house in our neighborhood that had on the front porch light. Many people commented "how big your boys have grown!" We had a lovely addition to our trick or treating, a sweet boy who lives in our neighborhood who is an only child went around with us.  He fit right into our theme of Star Wars.

We made the rounds in two hours. The bags were overflowing with candy. Hopalong had to empty his bag into a smaller one because it was too heavy to carry. Masks were dumped because in typical Texas style, it was hot on Halloween. Actually, it was a perfect night. 

Butch is a Clone Trooper, Sundance is Bobo Fett and Hopalong is R2D2. (You'll remember it is his favorite.) I bought costumes this year because I was just not up to making them. Our neighbor was Darth Vader. Grandad, Auntie and Uncle Mitchell drove along in the Halloween Support Vehicle (aka Grandad's minivan). We ate great hotdogs (Hebrew Nationals) for supper and Ruffles chips. (my favorite)

I know there are many places where children are not safe. I won't even let my kids go around the block by themselves but this one night a year, our neighborhood resembles the one that reside in my memory and I am thankful.

Just a little parable...

The boys and I attend Community Bible Study each week. This year we are studying Mark and Ephesians.  We are right in the middle of some of Jesus's parables and we were given the challenge to write a parable of our own. I got my inspiration from this post over in the Common Room.  For just a little background information, the Equuschick has been a bit under the weather ( to say the least) due to an ill tempered equus. She is now thankfully at home and resting her weary body. All canines and equus are, I am sure, quite glad.

A certain little dog loved his master. She took such good care of him. She fed him, bathed him, let him sleep in her room and she gave him special treats. One day the master got sick and had to go away for a while. The dog was put outside in The pen with other dogs who were not as well behaved as he was. Someone came along and fed him Adan gave him water but he longed for the master's return. He dreamed of her at night. He would remember her kind words  and loving touches.

One day, while napping in the shade, he heard her voice. His tale began to wag. He jumped up and down looking for one glance of his master. When she opened the pen, he lept on her and smothered her with kisses. This little dog was not as he had been left. His master lovingly took him into a warm house and bathed him, washing away all the dirt and smell of the pen. Washing away his time away from her. She fed him his favorite treats and he was warm, full and happy. The little dog curled up in the warm bed that the master had lovingly prepared for him. He slept for hours, warm and content in his master's love and care.

(I obviously am the little dog, the master is Jesus and the pen is the world and  I look forward to his return when he lovingly takes me to the place he has prepared for me. You see, I know I am washed clean by the blood of Jesus but sometimes I feel like the world and my sin get its grimminess all over me and I need to return to the master for forgiveness.)

My Best Friend

40 years and one day ago, I was blessed with the best gift a girl can have, one little sister. As I am only two years, two weeks and two days older, I really do not remember life without her in it. We have shared a room, toys, a record player which we pooled our money to buy, dolls and lots of laughs. We have shared schools, friends, clothes, shoes and money. We have shared a tan Volare station wagon, a yellow Buick Skylark and a Blue Ford Explorer (the old kind). We have shared joys, sorrows, problems and solutions. We went to the same high school, same college and pledged the same sorority.

When she went to England to complete a Master's Degree, I cried for days. I looked forward to the one hour once a week when we could talk on the phone. We talk on the phone and email many times each day now. She loves my children with a love usually attributed to grandmothers. They are crazy about her!!

Happy Birthday to the best little sister a girl could have!! I love you from the ends of the earth and back again.

I am a Hufflepuff and I am proud!

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Digory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Take the most scientific Harry Potter Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!

What is your mothering type?

My type is: ENFP —The “Kids R Fun” Mother

“Whatever I enjoy—playing tag or singing in the car—I can do it with kids around. And it’s totally legitimate!”

• Playful and energetic, the ENFP mother finds her children to be good company and enjoys being with them. In fact, she says being with children justifies her own “being a kid again.” And children say she’s fun to be with — spontaneous, hearty, and imaginative.
• Naturally drawn to introducing her children to the joys of life, the ENFP is something of a free spirit. She is less concerned with rules, routines, and schedules, and more inclined to give her children plenty of free time to play, explore on their own or with her, and have fun together.
• Tuned in to her children, the ENFP mother enthusiastically encourages each one’s individuality and unique potential through a great variety of experiences. She is also quick to identify with others’ feelings and thoughts, making her an empathetic supporter of her children, not to mention her mate and many, many friends.

I saw this a Brew*crew Adventure. I think Beth and I would get along great!!

You can take the quiz at http://www.motherstyles.com/quiz.asp.