Nate’s dentist journey

Please excuse my latest venture. 

When I was a teenager getting a mold done of my teeth or maybe something else was in my mouth that kept me silent, two people in the office spoke of the new orthodontist coming into Korea. Unknown to them my friend’s Dad was the present one, who was the present NEW orthodontist. They spoke of how he died oblivious that his daughter and I had just spoken the day before or maybe two. The said he’d been running, came into the ac, then showered it was too much for his heart and he died, the daughter and mother had tried CPR but it didn’t work. I never saw the girl again but I was sitting in the chair with tears falling to the side of my face trying to hold back sobs, which I did till later, as I relayed What had happened at the orthodontist. Another new one would remove them early for me. 

They didn’t let me go back with Nathan today like they did last time, just told me he’d get some gas to relax and then oxygen to flush it out of his system, ok, you’re going to want something stronger, but gas him then give him lots of Novacaine and Schools over for the year for him cause his teacher isn’t going to want him back till that junk is out of his system which will be sometime in June. 

I found out my sons dentist was overseas, they told me but my reaction was more of a panic attack when where the one guy I knew, a new one was. I had to explain to the nurse the complete reason I totally freak out among many reasons seeing so many people in one room was way out of my comfort zone.

By the time the nurse was done speaking to me she also understood switching a red head out for different colored hair causes me to freak a little bit, saying he’s overseas helped, she finally told me he was from Ireland 🇮🇪 and moved back there permanently to be with his Mom, because his Dad died.) I then explained to her,  overseas is a red headed sister of mine in Madagascar 🇲🇬, now it was her time to be surprised. To be surprised with walking in to my kid being gassed (turned out to only being oxygen, the nurse told me gas to relax, unfortunately they didn’t give me any!!) 

Dr. John Ambrsia  will certainly recall me at the next visit and I hope laugh at today’s meeting, not the dentist I thought he was, 😂 I can spot a dye job if your hair is red and then dark brown the next week, you are not the man whose supposed to be working on my kid! An emotional day to say the least. I didn’t hit him or scratch him but let’s just say he reminds me a bit of my older brother and the clown 🤡 nose oxygen, I’m not a fan, and It’s not even remotely funny 😄 but my kid bugging you with the hammerhead shark 🦈 lol swinging toys in your face, well clown 🤡 nose dentist he played you like a violin 🎻 and behaved well enough to get a reward, you on the other hand 🤚 are missing your red headed friend from Ireland 🇮🇪, and my son is getting what I would of done ✅ if I was in charge from the beginning, your office is not my practice!! I’m still laughing 😂 about your boast of being the top wrestler 🤼‍♀️. Oh dear, and your name is John, good thing cause if it was  Joseph During you’d of been the one shocked to see whose son was in the chair!! Wrestlers Yeesh, short fuse, poor dentist working too much with abandonment issues. I can empathize. I also can’t help but wonder if I was 25 years younger if I’d win and you’d need stitches by the time I was done wrestling with you. 

Don’t mess with me,  and your comments about the spectrum, guess you’re tired 💤 of dealing, Is of taken the shark 🦈 from him if I’d been permitted, see my expectations were the Redheaded guy from Ireland 🇮🇪 and I wanted him, you I’d of let work on my kid also and we’d of had NO problem if you’d explained what happened to the old dentist before taking him. 

I’m at AMBROSIA dentist and I didn’t know it was a YOUR last name. Might want to show a bit more respect when a mom you have never met walks in the room, get up and shake her hand and introduce yourself. Hello Mom, really ? How about I knock you into next week. Quick change to Ms. Mullens helped but we were already stepping on each other’s toes by then. The quick pull off the gloves 🧤 you could of kept them on, it’s my sons mouth. And note 📝 it was me who introduced myself to you, you didn’t know me from Adam and you want my business obviously 🙄 you now have way too much. 

Loved the anger you had at my willingness to knock him out, he does well like I do with anesthesia not like his father, it should be a piece of cake, or it could kill him. Either way he is getting a full physical prior to this procedure. Hemihypertrophy is one in 86,000 births the unknown of how the body processes things isn’t studied except by a few doctors, autism receives far more recognition and money. I’m not a doctor but no one ever stopped me from reading 📖 old medical books of my D.Docs, the pharmacy books etc. they were mine to explore till age 11, and then he passed away. 

Time flew and and flies by. My boy graduates next month and flies away to Toccoa College (yahoo I have finally learned how to spell Toccoa!! I did double check on my phone. Spelling and grammar and punctuation keep me often from writing but for two years I've lived on my phone, not a computer. My kids are growing up. My oldest is finishing up college, my Sar and Jay are headed off to college for the first time. They both finished their Associates at home. Pete is also attending college at age 14.

hello old computer that Sar has been using ......time flew

another school year begins

times have flown and continue to fly away, and I don't write but continue to think because I'm still breathing and my fingers are now moving so the words are out there instead of in my mind, lost to my own thought, and if you are thinking what I am thinking well what are those thoughts.

a life matters because of matter, or the space it takes up and where it is, who it is, what it does, where it is and how....... the power of the pen is mightier than the sword. So my thoughts are not my own but now on some cyberlink in a place out there for others to read, some and have said not to write things down less you become convicted.

as I watch the craziness of July 2016 quickly pass away and become history, I see my family in visits....you know the family from birth and before because I am only 47. I get to see past history and I am history in the making. who are these people I write about, great uncle and grandparents to my children. I dragged my 13 year along for the ride and I think he will recall the day a bit better than the 7 year old or one year old, maybe one day he will be able to say, I know who my Mom is talking about because she says JULY 2016. That was the summer I turned 14 and she is talking about xyz and pdq. a moment in time but one I hope he can recall and remember.

I am sure he will remember bacon and tofu, because he blames me for having songs that are unknown to many now stuck in his head. As I look at the world we have one thing in common or most of us do, and that is a song

OH GOOD GRIEF SONIC BOOM!! THAT'LL TAKE ME A WHILE TO GET OVER.

skip to salmon and quiz meets and find my 17 year old, snowbird you'll find my 20 year old, and struggling with life the 22 year old as she adjusts to moving out of one apartment into another.

school year 2016-2017 begins ready or not....... NOT!!

I'll feel this way until September 2016, I'll continue to long for the leaves the cold that my brain recalls from 30 years ago my senior year, of driving for the first time to school and all the memories of that one final year of being part of a high school..... a taste of college soon to begin and another chapter where life turns a page....

the pages keep turning so quickly and trying to keep up with a new job that takes my husband out of the home, I miss the conversations already but enjoy the silence I can steal away in his office, now mine for the moment and I might make it more my space now that I'll be here more than he is.

turning pages, 22 her year as a senior in college, 20 her year as a sophomore in college, 17 senior year of high school duel enrolled and finishing up his sophomore year in college, 13 eighth grade, 7 first grade and age 1 just hope he's out of diapers.

and so time flew again and all too soon it'll be 2017 or 2027 .........

crazy election year too.......

Happy Birthday to Me

My 45th birthday came and went, but something was different this year and I found out two days after my 45th that another life was being added to mine. In 14 weeks or so I will be having another baby boy.

The Mother Daughter Relationship

There isn't much else that is more complex as the mother daughter relationship. It is a continuing thing from generation to generation.

Learning Disabled or Learning ability

Friday, May 23, 2014

And so it goes, for the child who is told you learn differently. You are ahead of the game because you are already outside the box that society will try to put you in. Finding who and what and where and how you want to learn is something that society will try to dictate to you. Finding what works for you is a journey. For me, writing it down works, but others might not understand what I am saying. Do you want me to explain? Lead, follow, or get the **** out of the way, is an old Army saying, it pretty much is a philosophy that I have embraced. I'm going to be me, I'm too old to stop my brain from thinking so I may as well say it.

Years of wondering why I wasn't learning as fast (memorizing) was diagnosed when I was 16. I knew I had an issue when I was 5. I also didn't care, I just wanted to be left alone. Was it important that I memorize everything, or knew where to get the answers. For me, knowing I could find the answers became my quest. I didn't want to be the one figuring out the answers but being able to say that is the answer.

I didn't like reading. Observation of animals was more my thing, exploring and learning about the world was my life. I differed from other family members this way but if there was a book about animals I read it. I learned to read by reading the Bible for family devotions and the upper room. Once we switched to animal stories my interest in knowing what happened next helped in my liking of books.

I would struggle through school. The first time I visited that special room, I was in 4th grade and they said I was brilliant. They said I had no issues. I knew differently I cheated my way through 5th grade, and tried in 6th grade but my teacher caught me, from then on it was on my own often receiving an E which meant effort but failing. School tests were exhausting and took extra tutors in spelling and math to get through it.

Somehow I squeaked by each grade, by my sophomore year I suffered my first nervous breakdown when my brain cracked, trying to learn too much and going through a lot in life also the doctor didn't diagnose me correctly and administered the wrong drugs, almost costing me my freedom to the point it was suggested that I be sent state side. I was living overseas at the time.

My junior year once again I went to the special room at school. This time the testing was intense and hours were spent, but no one could pin point my issues. I could flip letters, put numbers together (having had to learn chinese in 3rd and 4th grade must of helped something because I did learn to see what I feel the rest of the world does.) I often don't think I make any sense because my thinking is different and it is frustrating to explain or sometimes I just don't want to talk, I prefer the silence.

I probably drive the average people nuts with my personal reminders made public in Houston County Home School Happenings and my family calendar. This is how I umm learn, no this is how I remember. I have very little short term memory but a long term memory is weirder than most. I can remember a memory from early ages but what happened yesterday and you are asking my brain to do something it wants to put in the past and move on until three days later or so.

It becomes frustrating to look at something and be told what to be done when I see something that should be done and cause and effect is figured out in my brain but not the other persons. I am not wrong, in what I am saying, it just isn't what is seen by other people, it's just the way my brain works. It scatters and must sit down to write a list and then focus with an A,B,C, D plan. For the most part I just let it go and let God, realizing in the end He is the one who knows so much more than anyone. Focusing on the day at hand and what needs to be accomplished gets me through my learning ability.

I used to be the action person, and drive some people at my work bonkers. I no longer am all action, more of a thinker and letting life go, and letting others lead, follow, and often I just get out of the way saying nothing but every once in a while I do remind my family, didn't I tell you.....Letting Go There's Room Enough to Fly....

You Blinded Me With Science

In 1983 I had a science teacher that taught me both sides of the story or theory of how the world came to be. He was pretty amazing, in that out of the box he found another book that did teach me all about evolution. He was a bit older than the man I would get assigned to the following year. I would not only change schools, I would change worlds and be put into a city, at age 15, I quickly adjusted. I was also alone to get places and do things for the first time in my life. It was an adventure I will never forget, but it would also prepare me to be with two little girls a little more than a decade later. I think about that girl who was 15 and all the things I did those 2 years and the places I went.

 I learned more about the history of Korea then I knew about my own country. My Dad had been there in 1961 and had worked there on and off for as long as I could remember. By 1986 he had finished what he strongly wanted, some fiber optics cable was finally laid between some place and another.

My husband would go there, and  I followed with our daughters in 1997. We were able to see with a camera my father in law at the college he worked at...technology had moved so fast in those 12 years. When I was a 15 often my Dad would bring me to his work early in the morning, and I would talk to a friend in the states. Hello...hello, how are you, how are you....the constant echo of your own voice waiting for the other person to respond was interesting, you'd wait to finally hear the other person on the end of the line.

Nice rabbit trail my brain went on....but it brings me back to science class in school. The teacher I got in 1985-1986 truly believed that the world was put here by evolution and taught me so many theories as fact, like he had been there. He wasn't your old science teacher either, he was a young boyish looking married guy who could of passed for a student. We went head to head with our brains and I often wonder whose brain won. I was taken out of the game with a short circuit of sorts taking a wrong step into his court and trying to see the world with out God in it, while he continued with his class. I would talk to him again in 1997 via my art teacher. Not sure what all either one knew about me, but it was interesting to have to leave at certain times in my life and not know the rest of the story as Paul Harvey puts it.

I often wonder what it is like to live in one place all your life, and see how other people live for your entire life. As my seventh year in this town ends in July...I wonder if there will be an 8th, and what a decade in the same location feels like. Part of me wants to settle down and spend the next how ever long God would have me on this planet in one spot and the other, says OH LET'S PACK, LET'S SEE MORE OF THE WORLD, let's change the location of the silver ware one more time. Then I think just bury it somewhere with a note and let some one else find it. Maybe by then I would be dead but someone else would have it to learn about an adventure.

Just Because Your Cat Has Kittens in the Oven, Doesn't make them Biscuits

Where am I from? It is easy to answer, New Jersey. I visit New Jersey and they say, I am from Georgia. It's simple for them, I no longer live there, I live in Georgia. Ummm.....so when I am in Georgia, I am from New Jersey because I am not from there.

Georgia is so different from any world I have ever lived in. Really there should be a culture education upon entry to this state. Similar to what you get when you live overseas. This is okay, this is offensive.... Hey, we are all Americans. But not all Americans are created equal.

February 1996 I believe is when my journey South began. I arrived here from, Ft. Riley, Kansas and I was pregnant with my second child. I'd spend that year in Augusta, Ga. my little girl would be born there and at 8 months flown to Korea to spend a year. Then return to Ga.

I was educated by a southerner when this kid was an adorable jumping around little girl had her son following her. For me, they were kids and happy playing and running around while he had scouts and she had brownies.

This woman met me in Walmart and educated me that although my daughter was raised in the south particularly Georgia, she wasn't a southerner because "Just Because Your Cat has Kittens in the Oven, doesn't make the Biscuits." I was puzzled, and it dawned on me a while later that the Southern Bitch had just showed me that Georgia born and breed women could be far worse than any woman I had ever dealt with in New Jersey. I was shocked to say the least that my child was considered less than desirable to her as any future relationship. Wow, just wow, as I realized she could be so nice and kind to males from other states but my daughter, had no place near her son.

I never saw America as being so backwards as that day. My daughter is free to like or not like anyone, but I tell her we are called to love all people. That doesn't mean you have to like them, but love them because they are people and part of the human race is something I have taught her over the years. What doesn't like, is important for me to hear and know. I ignored this woman's ignorance and noticed that it wasn't my daughter that had any interest in her son, he would follow her given the opportunity. I was thankful when all relationships halted with this family for reasons of moving on in life.

You get to Live with It

I am not a neighbor type of person. I am not a people person. Rarely do I really want to take the time, energy, and money to form relationships. When I do find people I enjoy, I am there. I am not the military wife. I grew up in that environment but I didn't like it, nor did I want to be part of it. Trying to grasp people and the who, what, where, and when. Getting screwed because someone is a jerk. I just would rather not have to be part of the entire business but 21 years ago, I signed up for that. Later my husband resigned.

Welcome to the semi-civilian world. Finding myself all over again in a world where, I just don't get it, things have to be explained to me that the average person knows about. I am doing better at asking questions and learning.

Stepping out of my comfort zone is living in a neighborhood. I grew up on a semi secluded piece of property where kids flocked but it was my world they were flocking to, so my Mother ruled it. Dealing with living in a neighborhood is a pain in the butt. I have lived in one for six years now, I am still wanting my secluded area. The lack of control over who shows up and I have to deal with so that my kids can play, and ahem yes my older child babysit these children....and then more kids show up. Ummm..... yeah where do I draw the line.

My Mother was pretty good at ruling but she didn't have a huge age gap, and I don't remember incidence happening without my Dad being able to be there. Oh there was the issues, and his way of handling it was to go ahead and spank the bully. I'm with ya Dad, enough is enough, a good swift spanking was well deserved by that kid.

Amazing daughter handles things very well, a huge part of me just wants to continue hibernating in my own little world, but my four year old brings me out into his, once again I am in the sandbox. Watching things form, and watching relationships.

 I get to live with it, my own little world ahem.....it just doesn't take a village dear Mom whose a real pain in the butt supporting her children instead of another adult that has dealt with her children for 5 plus hours and watched as my own daughter babysits an extra child that was thrown at her, (so that this mother and her can go hang out.) while she ditches her annoying 13 and 16 year old boys to play basketball with another set of annoying group of two 14 year olds and one 18 year old. My own little world plus who ever else shows up, without adult supervision.

Ummm.....yeah, could we please move to a secluded house in the woods. Nope instead I get to stay here and work on loving my neighbor. I do umm but can I skip the who is my neighbor and just have it be the two houses next to each other!!! UGH... I remember as kid not getting that passage. I'm trying okay, trying, but yeesh.

I guess I am Inappropriate for most secular homeschoolers

I've had a journey in life that most children haven't been blessed with. I grew up in a conservative home. I had the Bible read to me daily or I read it a loud to my family. Every night but I didn't read the entire Bible from what I recall.

My life wasn't just my family bring in the Vietnam war and you'll find that my Dad was one of many that were lead to this country by orders. He went in 1967-1968. By 1969 my life began at Ft. Monmouth. This was what I was born into. By 1969 he was going back again, by some intervention he would have his prior service to Korea of 1961 count and not have to do this tour.

I vaguely remember in first grade a bracelet on a girl that I sat near and tried to take off. It was jade, her skin color was darker than mine, other than that I don't have a memory more of this family but they lived with us I am fairly certain but only briefly.

My life continued in Taiwan for two years. My growth in who God was grew in the Catholic school I attended and on the weekends the protestant chapel I attended. The pastor lived across the road from me. God had always been a part of my life and the Bible readings and prayer continued at night.

Fast forward to my ninth grade year and I was taught about the evolution theory, I was also taught about different theories of the six days of creation. My mind wasn't made up as to how all this came together.

Once again Vietnam had been introduced to me in sixth grade by another family living with me. Through some choices made by this family my life was put into a turmoil of leaving for Korea and leaving behind my mother and sister while they dealt with their issues. My closest friend was also dealing with life changing events as her parents went through a divorce.

I was starting tenth grade and was taking biology with a man who strongly believed all that he had been taught about evolution. At this point in life, I was put in a battle I am not sure I was ready for. He fed into the life of children theories that were taught to him and put in the science book, I wasn't sure what I was doing but I really wanted answers.

He and I did go head to head with questions and he was thinking more at the things I introduced to him. Years later I would talk to this man from Korea once again. Years later the facts came together for me with Ken Ham asking, "Were you there?" how simple a question to ask my teacher.

So yes, I am inappropriate for most secular homeschoolers. I laugh as my daughter tells me stories of how her homeschool life has effected her church life and how her church life spills over to her theater life. She's a mix of cluelessness and open mouth, but she loves you really she might not like you but this kid is hysterical to listen too from my perspective. I adore her and I usually agree with her from a Biblical perspective but we are both still learning.

As I look at my life and from what I have come from, it's been a journey. How did I come to hold onto a six day creation theory.....well I wasn't there, but I can read a history book, and believe it was only the turn of the earth. Many creationist have different theories but for me this one is believable and what was written how you interpret a day in the Hebrew. Right? It was written in Hebrew....well anyway..... I still have some studying to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B98ycm5kH0E

Flashback 25 years ago....

Time Flies!! 25 years ago, I was thinking next month, Feb. (no it was March of 1989..)  I would be in Florida. My daughter is busy planning her senior trip there for yes next month Feb. 2014. Guess I am wondering what I am doing so close to the state of Florida. Weird where life takes you!! I am hoping there is enough work to keep us here until at least Peter graduates, but I don't know how the government works. I only know the Army life growing up. Someone put me in a different ballgame.

Like I was at Eastern College.....25 years ago, someone thought I'd make a good manager, we did get to Florida, but keeping score was not my thing, I hated it because I wanted to watch the game. I was glad to be there, but really wanted to be playing softball, not managing the who, what, where, and when.

It took a lot of work to be able to make that trip, but I failed of all things Art class that year. College at least from where I see it is where your skills or strengths are looked at and found by professors who may want you to do something.  The gym teacher wanted me to do a number of things, my art teacher wanted me to focus on my painting.

I made choices. I chose not to be a runner for the school. I chose to manage the softball team. I left my artist paper in the hands of an upperclassman and left for Florida. The art teacher gave me an F on the paper, with a D in Bible I was put on academic probation. Overpriced was what I felt about this college, so I went back to the community college and finished my degree in Early Childhood.

I loved where I worked, I had started my senior year in highschool, but it came with a price, I didn't get to play softball in spring of 1987 because I wanted to work at Kings Kids Learning Center, more than play ball.

There are certain things that stand out in my mind and 25 years ago in February 1989 is when I met a guy....yep, the Dad of the daughter planning the trip for February 2014....TIME FLIES.

It's Time to Light the Lights

Oh my friend inspired me to write about yes, the MUPPETS.  Do you remember when the Muppets first happened?? I do, I was in second grade and that little weekly reader talked about THE MUPPPETS. I am sure if you google you can find the first show. The Muppets have been a part of my life since I was in second grade but right after second grade I would have to take a break from any of the shows because I was headed overseas, and so for my 3rd and 4th grade of life, NO MUPPETS.

There is one Muppets movie that I remember the excitement when my sister saw the commercial. She loved Miss Piggy. In this movie they add a special effect (yes this was the 80's) Miss Piggy has bubbles coming from HER NOSE. She's underwater, and swimming.

The Muppets have added so much to our entertainment. My highschool years of singing, "The Rainbow Connection". All my friends in the Muppet gang, and more were part of my growing up years.

Yoda, who could forget the brilliance of this puppet and all the things the art work added to in the Star Wars series of the 80's. Something was lost when the creator of these characters died. I cried, knowing Jim Henson was gone and with him many happy memories of creatures.

Somewhere along the way, I went behind the scenes and learned about the power in the creation part of muppeting. I also learned how much work it is. A full time job if one is to film it the way one wants to, getting those creatures to become human is not as easy as they make it. Hours must be spent to get things the way one creates the being in ones mind.

I've only done a few shows with puppets, it isn't easy. I started and realized the power in puppets when I was about 17 and working at a pre-school. You can terrify a three year old with just the sight of a puppet. Being able to come out from behind a puppet show and share with the child what is real and what is fake is a gift. You can't see this from a television screen.  The key of a child overcoming this fear is often their relationship with you. Puppets can be a great teaching tool.

One of the wonders of puppetry is they can speak another language with the hit of a switch. You just need to know the timing of the tape (ahem now that would be CD or whatever you use.) Although my puppeteers could speak Korean and English, I could not. I found local Bible stores and purchased CD's in Korean. Our puppets did the entertaining to their own language, as we visited orphanages and anywhere asked to perform.

One I was in USA, I learned of Puppet Productions and One Way Street (now called Creative Ministry Solution). I enjoyed visiting Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Colleges have puppet degrees? yes, they do. For years I stood in front of a puppet screen watching puppeteers achieve the levels of puppeteers. All this began with probably Sesame Street, but that scholastic reader in second grade first told me about The Muppets. Time to find that first show on youtube.

Time Flies and so does my baby girl

Ah sigh, and cry for a while because time passes so quickly. Senior and graduating...today it is photos for her scattered homeschool class, we'll get together for a moment and click some pics.

Halloween Meanderings from my Youth and Now.....

October 31st.... yes this day occurs every year and once again I find myself wishing November 1st was here.....this day a distant memory. I've chosen to enjoy this day, not celebrate it but to enjoy it. I don't get into the pretending, dressing up part, spending hours on a creative costume.

This year my daughter will be pretending, she'll be acting...no by October 31st her play will be over...but I am trying to think what the reason is that I do not like costumes....I guess it's because I don't know who is behind the mask, but God does.

I was raised in a home that gave out candy and tracks in foreign countries, in America I don't remember the tracks. Overseas you'd find them days after on the road or other places, always wondered if anyone learned anything from them....perhaps.

This year I took a stand that I would not be part of anything involving witches or ghost. Mostly because my son who has hemihypertrophy says, "I a ghost..wooooo...or I a witch." it's kinda funny but not something I want him doing later in life so I'm not going to anything that encourages this type of thing. Also if I wanted to pull a Bible card it's Biblical but let's just say after hearing this a few times from my son....it is annoying!!!

So I've learned to say on October 31st, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.....and hey ummm yeah eating a carmel apple but then again why wait, this is also the day that the Lord has made!!

Time Flies....

Over the years it has often been just me....but not with so many children that are older, more grown up, still children but yet more independent so sure of themselves and yet for a moment still the babies I remember. The wonder years they are in, or have passed with so many different ages under one roof, it is the Wonder Years for me.

Reflections of who I once was and what I have become.... a Mom of five children, I'm not a writer and it's hard to recall things they just happen around here. I wonder how often my Mother just listened to the laughter and sat there quietly enjoying just being. I know she did it. I wish I could remember how the conversation went but I loved listening to my children talk to each other.

I miss my husband being here to hear them and smile at his little boy all too soon he's going to grow up and I can't believe how quickly his brothers have.

Apologia Science

Oh the journey of Apologia, I love the elementary program Astronomy, Botany, Swimming Creatures, Animals, Animals, Human Body......

The year I did astronomy I was pregnant with Nate but it was the year my son Jay, became aware of Apologia. He loved the book, and we moved on to Botany, and then Swimming creatures this past year.....our adventure has continued by purchasing plants, birds, an aquarium or two. Turtles, clown fish, and others.

The adventure continues for his younger brother as he moves on to Biology.

June 2013

Church Picnic...pretty sure it's that week at my folks farm. Growing up we had these every year at the Owens farm in New Jersey...I guess over the years it was held at different places. It is where I get my ideas for parties often. We seemed to do something different each year but it was fun.

This week I'll be doing something I haven't done since I was in Highschool. I'll be packing up my van (as a kid it was a camper.) I won't have a dog, or a cat to make the adventure more of one. I'm thinking the last time I did this it was with my two brothers and my parents oh it's a blur.

The last trip driving across country I remember is with Jelly Bean aka JB. JB was the dog I picked up from Collingswood auction. She was a mutt....no a serious mutt, she had beagle in her and was a bit of an idiot but in the end one awesome dog, filled with memories of my childhood. Wondering if you should get your child a dog....do it.

My adventure across country will be different. I'll be going with my two daughters and my 4 year old son. I'm sad that my husband hasn't made it a priority to do a trip with just our family each year, but he's wrapped up with getting our sons that Eagle award or as many scout trips in as he can. It's memories for my sons but leaves my daughters out. I feel that the girls have become unattached to family and do whatever they want to do.

At least my oldest wants to return for her college years. We shall see. For now she has a job to do for the summer.

End of 2013 School Year!!!!

Congratulations to me, I have survived another year of homeschooling. I'm going to start with my youngest, Nate, he actually has his own blog as he has hemihypertrphy. The twist and turns of this child. He started at preschool but I pulled him out. He ended the year, still challenging and not up to age level, but he graduated to the 4 year old program. He'll keep moving on as best as he can.

My 10 year old....whew, now a scout he's bridge over. He's done well at Trinity, enjoyed his homeschool days there, at co-op, and Classical Conversations.

14 years-whew many challenges lie ahead as he continues to learn at his own pace. He's doing great for all the times we struggled to get this child reading, he seems to of taken his own way of studying and succeeds at learning and doing it by himself.

16....could she be a little less independent. Sure this was my goal, I didn't want my kids relying on me to get things finished, but she doesn't want any help or guidance. Glad she has had some teachers that really care about her. Not enjoying the Administration of her school, and she is debating on what to do next year. First her SAT and then she will decide what and where she wants to graduate. ONE YEAR LEFT!!!

19-2 semesters of college done, and on her own!! She's loving learning, a goal met!!

Keep going kiddos, the journey continues. Love of Learning is my goal.

Are you a Male Chauvinist Pig?

Are you a man that doesn't listen to or respect a woman? I hope my sons listen to and respect all people, for being people. So far I think I have done a good job of showing them that this is the way life should be. I hope I have taught them to help people, love, people, and listen to other people.

Life will bring you across all walks of life, if you let it. Many chose to not leave their upbringing and miss out on loving others for who they are, and their life experiences. Lately I keep having to deal with men that don't respect their wives, much less me or my children.

I hope I can teach my children to not be a doormat. Often I feel as if I am still wiping a footprint off my face, and I need to be better about standing up for my feelings and opinions.  I have a right to them. (note I am not talking about my husband.)

Public School

I put my girls in Public school yesterday. I have lost my mind!! I thought they were really behind....NOT. I thought they would struggle....NOT!! I wondered how they would do. They are doing awesome. Proof in point that homeschooling is benificial for my children. So why are they continuing in the public school next week. Their Dad doesn't want them to switch back again. He feels they have changed enough. We'll see.

A girl is "gay" in my 6th graders gym class. She says this along with the other girls. "gay means lesbian right??" My daughter asks....well okey dokey.... Sex education, discussion about the week. Curse words.....The big F and P word.....angry P word....so they hear it all the time now..... I think it was a nice two days of learning and it is time to homeschool them.