tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64134479723080120262024-03-05T19:42:04.356-08:00Wasted TextbooksIf history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten (Rudyard Kipling).Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-36816151474211661552012-06-30T00:17:00.001-07:002018-02-17T18:48:03.989-08:00Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-39962706001881650622012-06-20T13:46:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:04.108-08:00My Ebay Auctions for June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Summer Solstice!</div>
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Check out the bounty I'm auctioning at ebay this month by clicking <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/wastd_textbooks/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Perhaps you'll find something to breathe new life into your home school or something you've been wanting to purchase but never at retail. Either way - enjoy!</div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-13708717025578051052012-05-24T14:59:00.002-07:002018-02-17T18:48:03.846-08:00My Ebay Auctions for May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8_ZgKs-DbmJk9sHnn45irPlswWXPAjApPVerYb0WSZtk30yIBMD4NcJ9xqgoeQAkrDxM7CnUaXd47YqxCOLU-Ins8s0falXJfxaE6q-jaRsxfi4BG_u1SAMZbmc5aDytc2pD41YZlab8/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8_ZgKs-DbmJk9sHnn45irPlswWXPAjApPVerYb0WSZtk30yIBMD4NcJ9xqgoeQAkrDxM7CnUaXd47YqxCOLU-Ins8s0falXJfxaE6q-jaRsxfi4BG_u1SAMZbmc5aDytc2pD41YZlab8/s320/288.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Spring cleaning means ten items are now available at auction on ebay. Click <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/wastd_textbooks/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check out my listings</span><span style="color: black;"> and see if any are calling your name.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now that ebay has a limit as to how many items one may post each month, you'll have to wait until June 1st for more. Keep your eyes peeled and your trigger fingers ready for Apologia Science - Botany, Flying and Land Animals!</span><br />
<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-2345129866589426222012-05-04T07:54:00.003-07:002018-02-17T18:48:03.892-08:00Farmer's Market Fundraising<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pb32BSa712k" width="480"></iframe><br />
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With Olivia's local efforts and my dear friends' kindness, Olivia's need just decreased. Receiving her acceptance letter in March from Ballet West Academy, Olivia single-handedly is raising much of the $2750 needed for tuition, housing, travel, dancewear, and spending money for a prestigious summer ballet program for pre-professional dancers.<br />
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Sure, I may have provided postcards, emails, and blog posts, and a friend with sales' savvy may have pointed her in all the right directions, but Olivia's dedication to her craft, plus her fearless pursuit in fundraising, truly brought home the bacon.<br />
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On Tuesday, Olivia and other members of Sonoma Ballet Theatre opened the 2012 season of Sonoma's famous Farmer's Market. After a series of short and sweet performances, Olivia dove into the crowd and received generous contributions exceeding $200.<br />
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In addition, Olivia received Paypal donations from a couple of my coolest high school friends who cannot be thanked enough.<br />
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With less than four weeks to go, Olivia's need is now $750!<br />
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Thank you to all who have helped my lovely babe! And for those of you also willing to help get Olivia closer to her dream of dancing professionally for a top-notch ballet company, you can contact her here:<br />
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Olivia Cole</div>
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PO Box 73</div>
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Sonoma, CA 95476</div>
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Paypal: <a href="mailto:ograce.cole@gmail.com">ograce.cole@gmail.com</a></div>
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Thank you!!</div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-69456570749765381952012-05-01T08:36:00.003-07:002018-02-17T18:48:04.202-08:00Fundraising Update for My Ballet West Babe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I posted <a href="http://www.wastedtextbooks.com/2012/03/my-baby-girl-is-ballet-west-bound.html">previously</a>, Olivia auditioned for and was accepted to Ballet West Academy's highly esteemed summer intensive program. Attending this program is a big and important step towards her goal to dance professionally with a classical ballet company, and, at fourteen, she doesn't have very many summers left before she soars from my coop and into the wide-world of dance.</div>
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Last year Olivia didn't quite make the cut for Ballet West, so when she got the neon green light for this summer, we put our heads and pennies together to see how we could make this happen. For a single mum of four, it's a big challenge ... to say the very least.<br />
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So, Olivia has been fundraising in and around our hometown, and appealing to her friends and family for support. And yesterday, she paid her very first Ballet West bill -- so there's no looking back now! With such displays of beauty, potential, spirit, and tenacity, I couldn't be more proud of my babe nor more willing to do all I can to help her best ballet dreams come true. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFfo4rNhTtnf-da7G3CNhZOVe5qU0pKGN6zmH92w31GAqEkqNu4JfApf3cqJCDJJ_DFtQud4dn7wI5Jyf8A3FfKVC4BXZezhyUHEwv9-xCoMxyfv0HMFMUAIDbpeWxcJcO1wheEPmxPo9/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFfo4rNhTtnf-da7G3CNhZOVe5qU0pKGN6zmH92w31GAqEkqNu4JfApf3cqJCDJJ_DFtQud4dn7wI5Jyf8A3FfKVC4BXZezhyUHEwv9-xCoMxyfv0HMFMUAIDbpeWxcJcO1wheEPmxPo9/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But we're not done. There is still the balance of her tuition, a plane ticket to Salt Lake City, food, and dancewear, which includes four pair of pointe shoes and a handful of leotards and tights! Oh, and she hopes to attend the scheduled field trips too...<br />
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<b>...AND WITH ONLY FOUR WEEKS LEFT TO RAISE WHAT SHE NEEDS!</b></div>
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And so I appeal to you, my blogging friends and my lurking family: <b>please help my babe by sharing Olivia's story and/or supporting her through a sweet donation!</b> As you know, every itty-bit helps when one's reaching towards a dream!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Olivia Cole</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">PO Box 73</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Sonoma, CA 95476</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Paypal: ograce.cole@gmail.com</b></span><br />
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<b>THANK YOU! XOXO</b></div>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-29575835453935460742012-03-28T19:13:00.003-07:002018-02-17T18:48:03.942-08:00My Baby Girl is Ballet West Bound!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Olivia is working her sweet fanny off, fundraising for this amazing opportunity--to attend the summer intensive for <a href="http://www.balletwest.org/Academy/SummerIntensive">Ballet West Academy</a>, one of the finest classical programs in the United States! She's baking, babysitting, working snack bars, and performing on the historical Sonoma Square, with top hat in hand for donations! </div>
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<i><b>Please wish her well, and if you feel led, please help!</b></i></div>
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Last year, Olivia was rejected by Ballet West, so this single mama totally hopes to make this happen for her baby girl. Olivia's worked uber-hard all year, taking as many classes as possible, as well as taking advantage of every opportunity to perform locally, atop of working as a dance aide for the youngest of ballerinas at her conservatory, in order to offset tuition. </div>
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With more than a touch of natural talent and ability, combined with a hardcore work ethic and heartfelt dedication, Olivia is bound for Ballet West and the wide-world of Classical Ballet!</div>
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<i><b>Please, won't you share this post with your friends and help me make her biggest ballet dreams come true? THANKS!</b></i></div>
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Olivia Cole</div>
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PO Box 73</div>
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Sonoma, CA 95476</div>
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Paypal: <a href="mailto:ograce.cole@gmail.com">ograce.cole@gmail.com</a></div>
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<br /></div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-5465479696744879262011-11-19T18:43:00.001-08:002018-02-17T18:48:04.154-08:00They Would Sell Their Souls for Love<div style="text-align: justify;">
Daughter.</div>
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There are some days when this tomboy of a mother wishes she had four sons, and today was one of those days.</div>
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Although her transgression is six months past, today I discovered something desperately heartbreaking about my daughter: <i>she needs me</i>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auditioning for The Royal Ballet School, London</td></tr>
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As a single mum, I am more often than not uber-busy, struggling under deadlines both professional and personal. I spin too many plates as I care for my seed, meeting their needs and sacrificing much to grant many of their wants too. My children eat well, have clothes upon their backs, shoes upon their feet; they dance, play soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and swim. I often coach at least one respective team each season. We watch movies, walk, play and read together.</div>
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People who become acquainted with my wee family confess they "don't know how I do it." I often return that I don't know either. I just do it. (I also workout like an animal, but that's another post for another time.)</div>
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Perhaps it's my way of [over]compensating for the failures of our broken family. It hurts deeply that I could and cannot in myself provide what is lacking. It could be my way of atoning for my own mother's neglect and reservation. In her own immaturity, having given birth to me yet in her teens, she showed little love for me after I turned six, declaring I had pushed her away, that she had not withheld. I dunno. I'm still gazing at that crevasse of a belly-button, seeking and searching for answers.</div>
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I just do it.</div>
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Until today I thought it was enough, enough to sacrifice and give and enable and serve. I thought she felt all that daring and stalwart love that runs so deep and wide and high in my heart and veins for her, my firstborn. How had I missed this?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Actions do not speak louder than words to a young heart; [she] must feel it in your touch, see it in your eye, hear it in your tones, or you will never convince child or [girl] that you love [her], though you labour day and night for [her] good and [her] pleasure (Charlotte Mason, Vol 5, p. 116).</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween, wearing the Poodle Skirt I made for her when she was eight</td></tr>
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<i>She needs me.</i></div>
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<b>She needs me to tell her that I love her.</b> It's not enough to sacrifice. She's yet too young to understand all I do to make her biggest dreams come true, and I am dense and dull to expect her to interpret on her own my love through works. She must hear it from my own lips. </div>
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<i>I cannot be too busy to tell her how much she means to me; how I cannot imagine my life without her; how she makes me a better person by her examples.</i></div>
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<b>She needs me to touch her.</b> When did it become so uncommon to hold her? Today I reached out to her in my own frenzied pain, my own sense of the greater consequences <strike>somehow</strike> by grace avoided. I wanted to yell more. I wanted to shake her until she understood the gravity of her foolishness. I wanted to shame her as my mother often shamed me. But, ever the tomboy, I just tackled her and held on for her dear life. She melted and cried and confessed and was restored. </div>
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<i>I cannot be too busy to love her with my mother's touch, to hold her hand, to place her big body on my strong lap, to cuddle or pat on the back.</i></div>
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<b>She needs to see approval in my eye. </b>I admit, I give "the look." I don't know exactly how I look when I give it--I've considered allowing them to provoke and videotape me--but I know that I give it and sometimes often. With four at home at nearly all times, there is much conflict and much sin, but "the look" stops each and every one. It's a powerful look.</div>
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I wonder if my look of approval, of acceptance, of delight is given equally as often. I doubt it. We are all such fallen creatures...we are all such fallen creatures that I should be less surprised. I should be less provoked. I should be more gracious and long-suffering. I have my moments. Most times (if I've spent myself well in the gym and have stayed to my diet--another post), I use humor and the warmth of my touch to diffuse much. I grab and hug and tickle and giggle. I tell them I see their sinny-sin-sin. I pick them up like babies and tell them I'm putting them in a "time-out." We have fun. </div>
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<i>I cannot be too busy to approve of her, to share with her the intimacy of relationship with her mother, to model God's own infinite approval of her in Christ.</i></div>
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<b>She needs to hear that I value her.</b> Being a Marine, I know how to command. I can fling an imperative sentence around with the best of 'em on Parris Island. I never say "now" because it's always and definitely implied. Often I lack gentleness, even when the command is benign and my heart is light. It's my greatest weakness, and I really have no idea how to change, but I keep trying. Perhaps today's shock was enough to convince me that <i>I cannot be too busy to touch her heart with the kind and respectful tones of my voice; to convey my love, my approval, my acceptance of such a valuable and lovely soul--my daughter.</i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">But, dear mother, take your big schoolgirl in your arms just once in the holidays, and let her have a good talk, all to your two selves; it will be to her like a meal to a hungry man. For the youths and maidens––remember, they would sell their souls for love; they do it too, and that is the reason of many of the ruined lives we sigh over. Who will break down the partition between supply and demand in many a home where there are hungry hearts on either side of the wall? (Charlotte Mason, Vol. 5, p. 117)</span></blockquote>
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May I feed her hungry heart with the heartiest meal of my love for her. May I never be too busy to take her into my arms and allow her to talk and share and dream and confide, just and all to our two selves. May she never know ruin for my reservation, for my lack of demonstration. May I never sigh.</div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-11134949308531136622011-11-08T21:58:00.000-08:002013-03-18T08:55:06.202-07:00I Heart Heritage History, Always and Forever<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have you ever stumbled upon providence?</div>
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<br /></div>
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You know, that feeling you're tripping on your own shoestrings yet you wind up not in the gutter with scraped knees but in a springtime meadow with blossoms galore surrounding you, cradling your head like a sweetly scented pillow of awesomesauce?</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is exactly word for word my experience not long ago, as I was searching and searching the internet for those out-of-print gems I so love to use in my homeschool. I was bent on finding another in the 'Our Little *** Cousin of Long Ago' series of historical fiction for my dearest Fiona to read this year. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Determined to find a copy in nearly any condition, I searched and searched for that Viking cousin, through the lowlands and deep into Valhalla, and yet each time I plugged any number of related words and in any combination, the machine that is Google brought me again and again to <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php">Heritage History</a>, or to its many links at least.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In disgusted defeat, I finally clicked and...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
--->WHOA!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuBtsjLxcBlT-W8_qIArnxBdy6p3sokhI-bGNzFnrx0W76qWclge7SOduFMZfn5b17ZFjpH8VBHSblw9fKuzdY7lz3FMJIuTxl1iPY-MDsMWoOS25qJpATDLazGpd_0PKYW_2y3_b3zjx/s1600/british_middle_ages_cover_200-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuBtsjLxcBlT-W8_qIArnxBdy6p3sokhI-bGNzFnrx0W76qWclge7SOduFMZfn5b17ZFjpH8VBHSblw9fKuzdY7lz3FMJIuTxl1iPY-MDsMWoOS25qJpATDLazGpd_0PKYW_2y3_b3zjx/s400/british_middle_ages_cover_200-1.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there was ever a curriculum tailor-made for me and my seed at this point in our homeschool journey, <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php">Heritage History</a> is it. A curriculum for grades four through eight, steeped neck-deep in a living books' philosophy of education, and drawn much from the dense and well-written books of old, Heritage History allows my kids to dig into the depths of whichev historical time period and encourages them to work at their own pace, whether it be a trot or a full-blown history-lover's sprint through literally dozens of fantastic books cannot fail but bring history to life.</div>
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Warmly embracing the full curriculum set of British Middle Ages on CD, I scoured the Study Guide which is chock-full of "color maps and charts, timelines, recommended core reading for beginner, intermediate, and advanced readers, geography terms, outline maps, binder covers, historical era summaries, list of prominant characters, and accountability records." Entirely void of droll busywork, Heritage History's supplements just make sense and simply. Here, <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=guide">have a sample</a>. No napkin required.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGNjbfplozC3q-sbgu3zVL4mwLHAujX0w0YEVgoxr39ZqkRQVEZG_dG81U8nsn0Do0JdG-wX93oI5gbc1r5ls37zFgn-BhzAyKw34y9Z_9E3Tb3P2KyToY1odrNVybcXfKzKkctfU3n7m/s1600/sample_hmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGNjbfplozC3q-sbgu3zVL4mwLHAujX0w0YEVgoxr39ZqkRQVEZG_dG81U8nsn0Do0JdG-wX93oI5gbc1r5ls37zFgn-BhzAyKw34y9Z_9E3Tb3P2KyToY1odrNVybcXfKzKkctfU3n7m/s1600/sample_hmap.jpg" /></a>Although I was forever hooked on the beautiful, vintage maps that are more complete than most if any modern mapping aids I've yet seen, the foundation of Heritage History's curriculum is the dozens upon dozens of books from which you or your children choose as their core. As in any basic, nuts-and-bolts Charlotte Mason education, I was tickled to find that Heritage History too recommends a child choose a history, a biography, and an historical fiction book upon which to focus each term, and each book's link is color-coded for beginning, intermediate, and advanced readers for easy-peasy, organizational goodness.</div>
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</div>
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That's it.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Oh, wait. Did I mention that each of these dozens of books are available in three formats? Yep--> Kindle, PDF, and even audio. </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>History that truly comes to life: narrative histories, biographies, legends, hero stories, literature. </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Books written in beautifully dense language during an age that thought higher of the minds of children instead of the watered-down folly of today.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Supplements that make sense and waste not your time or money.</b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Wait again! Did I even mention money?! </i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>This full year's living books curriculum for my entire family retails for $24.99.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oh em gee.</div>
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How can one miss the mark with <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=hcc_hcc_british-middle-ages_1">Heritage History</a>?!</div>
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I dunno.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Seriously, I've no clue.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But from what I hear, you always miss the shots you never take (Wayne Gretzky).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPqn72lKzTrk3MPIBHVGTj-1K7QnVcJ4gEYF_7V3NsXfoDe9eNdKx1VtZKnAb_EJJpE4CrlvNIYCY72Wf4nn74Utj1FBXWWdb0lc-1zh-FAbipFjyfSBkLYP7mXrlao40O8d-stwSuMEt/s1600/logo_wht_ds.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPqn72lKzTrk3MPIBHVGTj-1K7QnVcJ4gEYF_7V3NsXfoDe9eNdKx1VtZKnAb_EJJpE4CrlvNIYCY72Wf4nn74Utj1FBXWWdb0lc-1zh-FAbipFjyfSBkLYP7mXrlao40O8d-stwSuMEt/s1600/logo_wht_ds.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>So, if a living books education is your homeschool's goal, take the shot, babies. </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Take the shot.</b></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Disclaimer: I received Heritage History's British Middle Ages Classical Curriculum on CD in exchange for a fair and honest review.</i></div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-50819324166912712432011-10-31T15:02:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.415-08:00P-P-P-Pressure, Pressing Down on Me...Sometimes the pressure of being a single mum of four can be, well, rather pressing. I mean, all the responsibility for success or failure rests with me. No one else helps to shoulder the burden of raising well these four wonderful people without injuring their hearts much along the way.<br />
<br />
I know, I know: God is with me ... and He is, but sometimes a tangible helping hand doesn't hurt much either ... nor a coconut milk latte. <i>That</i> <i>never hurts at all.</i><br />
<br />
Lately, I've been feeling really crazy--like, loca-in-the-cabeza crazy. I have way too much going on, and the distractions are driving me to distraction. I cannot tune in to my kids without letting some deadline press further and heavier, so I tell them I'm working ... I tell them this a lot. Sometimes they understand, but mostly they just want to play ... or talk ... or hug. I love it when they just want to hug. Almost always, it's exactly what I've been needing, too, without even knowing it.<br />
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They're smart little buggers. <br />
<br />
They know things are now different, that I don't have the leisure to just hang out, cook, clean, and homeschool. Now they do the bulk of the cleaning and washing; they're more independent with much of their school work; and each is responsible for his or her own breakfasts ... whilst I work. <br />
<br />
They don't like it, and I don't blame them.<br />
<br />
Most days I don't like it either.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H6CywSi2pb9XsLT3848ew8eWOOHBEgZZQ2-JjPfpg8vm8w9rhZ6emESEc-kbkDz5OCwlwQLsZJT0QhsiybSHsQLw3Rvz1-eCjza4YqiWUmgJeKptci6eZO9jcks6qfMYGIaAQwIvmA9A/s1600/382076_10150913262920454_716195453_21442800_849930395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H6CywSi2pb9XsLT3848ew8eWOOHBEgZZQ2-JjPfpg8vm8w9rhZ6emESEc-kbkDz5OCwlwQLsZJT0QhsiybSHsQLw3Rvz1-eCjza4YqiWUmgJeKptci6eZO9jcks6qfMYGIaAQwIvmA9A/s400/382076_10150913262920454_716195453_21442800_849930395_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What greeted me when I arrived home from the gym <3</td></tr>
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<br />Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-78218495972121111272011-10-17T10:43:00.000-07:002013-03-18T08:55:06.234-07:00TOS Review: Visual Latin<i>Warning: RAVE REVIEW, bound to have many and mucho adjectives and adverbs.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Foreign%20Language/?action=view&current=visuallatinbanner.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Foreign%20Language/visuallatinbanner.jpg" /></a>
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<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Ahem.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Considering yourself well warned ... <b>Visual Latin is the shizzle</b>. <br />
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I was excited when offered the opportunity to review this product--you know, the whole jumping up and down while screaming, "Pick me! pick me!" But I never expected to love it as much as I do, and neither did my kids who both have sat through the video lessons of <i>other </i>Latin curricula, glassy-eyed and sometimes doing movements that somewhat resemble breakdancing of the 80's but just ... not ... quite ... right.<br />
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As a Charlotte-Masonite, a proponent of a liberal education, Latin is an important component in our home school. <br />
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As a single with four fab wee folk to nurture and educate whilst spinning many other plates, I don't have time to personally teach Latin. I need something or someone else to hold the reins of subjects which require little to no discussion, subjects like Latin.<br />
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So, what set <a href="http://www.visuallatin.com/">Visual Latin</a> apart? Why am I raving like a lunatic ... about Latin? (We'll only cover my raving about Latin, not raving in general. That would require too much time and I've four fab wee folk to nurture and educate whilst spinning plates.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Foreign%20Language/?action=view&current=visuallatinscreens.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/Foreign%20Language/visuallatinscreens.jpg" /></a><br />
<i>Whoa. Do you see this^? Your wee folk can even download their lessons to a computer, iPad, or iPod. And there are audio files included too!</i><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Dude is hilarious!</b><br />
I sat with my kids during the introductory and first three lessons. He was cracking me up. I mean, I was totally Laughing-out-Loud, and I don't often really LOL. It's more of a smirk and sometimes an additional nasal exhale if I find something really amusing, but LOL I did, "Ha!" And so did my kids, "Ha! Ha!" We were having so much fun, the little ones wandered into the room and wanted to watch the funny show too.<br />
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<b>Dude is organized!</b><br />
I love the simple but effective layout of the three separate and short video segments of each lesson: Grammar, Sentences, and Reading. Requiring only fifteen to twenty minutes each day, my kids were pressing play first thing in the morning and talking about Latin throughout the rest of the day. What I loved best was the clearly marked "stopping points" and subsequent yet brief worksheets. The kids knew when the lesson ended and exactly what to do next. That's some serious awesome sauce.<br />
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<b>Visual Latin is affordable!</b><br />
At <a href="http://store.compasscinema.com/categories.php?category=Visual-Latin/Latin-1">The Compass Store</a>, there are so many purchase options available: DVD of all thirty lessons, DVD of the first (second, last) ten lessons, download of lessons, home and school, etc. You just cannot go wrong! <b> </b>And at a special price <i>available right now</i>,<b> $80 for the full year's curriculum </b>makes Visual Latin less expensive than anything comparable on the market!<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Let's recap: <i>FUN, EFFECTIVE, AFFORDABLE.</i><br />
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Oh, and did I mention <b>The Compass Store also offers affordable <a href="http://store.compasscinema.com/categories.php?category=Online-Classes">Online Classes</a> </b>taught by Dwane, AKA Mister Hilarious?<br />
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We've put our chips all in on this one, but don't make a decision based on a raving lunatic. <b><a href="http://www.visuallatin.com/watch">Try a free and complete lesson</a></b>. And with this coupon code worth $10 off your purchase, you'll soon be raving too! <br />
<br />
OCT$10<br />
<br />The more the merrier I always say ... and now in Latin.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: I received the first ten lessons of Visual Latin in exchange for a fair and honest review. You can read more reviews at the <a href="http://homeschoolcrew.com/784084/">The Old Schoolhouse blog</a>.</i>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-37535714256721598752011-09-18T22:49:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.345-08:00Homeschooling Mother's Journal<a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/about-the-homeschool-mothers-journal/" title="The Homeschool Mother's Journal"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/THSMJbutton.jpg" /> </a><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>In my life this week…</b><br />
As always, we'll be uber-busy with soccer and school and work. I cannot believe how quickly this month is passing because we're way busy running to and fro.<br />
<br />
<b>In our homeschool this week…</b><br />
This is our second "official" week of lessons, returning to a more pure thread of Charlotte Masonism. Last week was fantastic, except I got distracted on Friday and lessons flopped without ever meeting King Lear or Plutarch's Dion. Boo.<br />
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<b>Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…</b><br />
Listen to your kids, especially when they're olderish and should have a [valid] opinion about their studies. I'm glad I listened to mine.<br />
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<b>I am inspired by…</b><br />
the joy in a child's laugh and the warm welcome of long-missed friend.<br />
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<b>Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…</b><br />
Soccer practices, soccer scrimmages, and this weekend: a soccer tournament.<br />
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<b>My favorite thing this week was…</b><br />
Re-starting the school year, using resources my kids are just loving.<br />
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<b>What’s working/not working for us…</b><br />
Heritage History is definitely working for us. Meal planning is not, but I think that's my fault, right?<br />
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<b>Questions/thoughts I have…</b><br />
I need more sleep in my life. That's a thought.<br />
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<b>Things I’m working on…</b><br />
I'm working to de-clutter several areas of our home, especially including the play room which is home to a third-world of misfit and abandoned toys.<br />
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<b>I’m reading…</b><br />
A lot of nutrition blogs, but I'd like to pick up <i>Morte d'Arthur</i> by Thomas Mallory, if I can find a spare 20 minutes each day.<br />
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<b>I’m cooking…</b><br />
as little as possible, trying to get my eldest two in the kitchen more. They aren't very excited about it.<br />
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<b>I’m grateful for…</b><br />
the many blessings I'm able to count each day--at least four.<br />
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<b>I’m praying for…</b><br />
my sweet baby boy split open his eyebrow today while horse-playing with his older brother in a hot tub. Praying it heals quickly and well, without splitting reopen often and requiring a stitch. We're right now without health insurance and I cannot afford a hospital bill. Double-booo.<br />
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<b>A photo, video, link, or quote to share…</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFB4cHH2FtBYGxu6O__6trAS5G21zdRUABTEqiY7Q7oGjgkk5gg1RDo4zdMc_e9HvMdqKuK9r8NfJ_jh9BGgnw0iPMGhpFl7FGKua4YRKg1KP_KgMUZekEwM1JY0y9kWXuU44TvS_im7j/s1600/P1050166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFB4cHH2FtBYGxu6O__6trAS5G21zdRUABTEqiY7Q7oGjgkk5gg1RDo4zdMc_e9HvMdqKuK9r8NfJ_jh9BGgnw0iPMGhpFl7FGKua4YRKg1KP_KgMUZekEwM1JY0y9kWXuU44TvS_im7j/s400/P1050166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before.</td></tr>
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Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-81642730031355421762011-09-10T18:23:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.650-08:00At Least They Still Need Me---for NowLast week, during our first-though-unofficial week of school, my eldest two [ungrateful] children decided they no longer dug the novelty of doing most of our subjects together. Nope, they were feeling held back and not quite as challenged nor as "in charge" of their own schedules. They had the nerve to ask me to reconsider our newish approach and give them books to read. <br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Shocking!</i><br />
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Yeah, I have all kinds of time on my hands to research and revamp a school year. Like tons...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1FdcOgQhd64_Fiiacuo3B6CUSon6_-3qDSsIRn6oKQx-9EfjgJ3jEX1uXAdc1zgYnVwwEY2BbLZ9y6qvpCNxLlqdS5lGonhc0gl5YuuPd1PyR43AjU10WqKzc12zNouf4Lr4kEcjEaK9/s1600/P1040677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1FdcOgQhd64_Fiiacuo3B6CUSon6_-3qDSsIRn6oKQx-9EfjgJ3jEX1uXAdc1zgYnVwwEY2BbLZ9y6qvpCNxLlqdS5lGonhc0gl5YuuPd1PyR43AjU10WqKzc12zNouf4Lr4kEcjEaK9/s400/P1040677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touche'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I've been researching stuff . . . okay, just books. And in all of my Google-searching one company was stalking me like crazy: <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php">Heritage History</a>. Seriously, like every out-of-print book I wanted to use this term, Heritage History has it and in many formats. Finally, after not being able to find a partic book<i> anywhere else</i>--this how it always starts for me--I clicked the link and took a li'l look-see.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whoa.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If we weren't made for one another, I don't know who else in this world could be my soulmate: completely Charlotte Mason in philosophy, old and trusty books by authors whom I adore, independence in learning my kids are totally behind, and a price tag that doesn't cause me to weep (unlike Tapestry of Grace).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you didn't already guess, we're gonna jump the family-integrated-home-school ship and try it out. It seems to provide the CMason kind of home school I need and want without stuffing us into different time periods (like Ambleside Online), and this I like, like, <i>like</i>!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To offer you just a taste of our new year: according to my [meany-weany] seed, these are the only books I'm allowed to read aloud to them this term:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Poetry: <i>Beowulf; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight </i>(one-at-a-time, thrice weekly)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">History: <i>The Story of the Middle Ages,</i> Guerber/Miller (four days/week)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">History: <i>Discovery of New Worlds</i>, Synge (once/week)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">History: <i>Children of Odin, The Life of Saint Patrick (World Landmark), The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow, Door to the North, and The Dragon and the Raven </i>(one-at-a-time, daily)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll post the rest of the plans next week, once I get my grubby paws more on <a href="http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-store.php?pid=hcc_hcc_british-middle-ages_1">Heritage History: British Middle Ages</a> and my butt in a seat for several consecutive minutes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm actually feeling really good about this, since it will give them greater independence over and responsibility for their educations and me even more time on my hands. Like mega-tons.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-19015006937337572572011-08-22T13:36:00.000-07:002013-03-18T08:58:09.772-07:00A Day in the Life...er, Kinda<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_Yk-Y_lQxCHoXIeYXr3VmLmtRqgqaTRV-pSPzm8nPXtCstEqwdmHZhvaKQFABReD1kHv-dNNsnMbMpOn0kaHIB4L8rbIQ44tsl3l3aegodaykGXB4zDvcuY3nZ0bJr594v2IpTMXf0SI/s1600/P1040373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_Yk-Y_lQxCHoXIeYXr3VmLmtRqgqaTRV-pSPzm8nPXtCstEqwdmHZhvaKQFABReD1kHv-dNNsnMbMpOn0kaHIB4L8rbIQ44tsl3l3aegodaykGXB4zDvcuY3nZ0bJr594v2IpTMXf0SI/s320/P1040373.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dropping Liv at LINES Ballet in San Francisco</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Because we’ve not yet started our new school year, I’ve been taking this time to consider the changes I’d like, based on last year’s experiences. You might think homeschooling would be challenge enough for this single mom, but you would be wrong. To this first and foremost job of training up and nurturing my fab-four, I add profitable work, soccer coaching, biggest-sports-fan cheerleading, a gym membership, curricula review for The Old Schoolhouse, and work-study hours of writing-support-in-exchange-for-ballet-tuition-for-three. <br />
<br />
I’ll say it for you. Heh, I do it each and every day anyway:<br />
<br />
<i>PHEW.</i><br />
<br />
The keys to our mediocre success and my sanity are the P-words:<br />
<br />
<b>Priorities</b><br />
There are so many good things we can do, so many things tempting me to say, Yes, sure, why not? But, for my family, being stretched thinly and having little time at home or out of doors to decompress, relax, or chill is just no bueno--no good. So, when considering our new year, I ask myself what it is I want to accomplish through our home school, what it is my kids need most. Usually, the answers to these questions weed out the good and leave me with what’s best.<br />
<br />
<b>Planning</b><br />
I have always been a box-maker and -checker. If there’s a project, I make lists. Give me a weekend alone--yeah, right...dream on! Okay, give me a few consecutive late-nights, and I’ll have the whole school year planned for my fab-four---and an acute case of carpal tunnel. This part comes easily for me because I was born crazy like dat. I need and have a plan for our day, week, month, and year.<br />
<br />
<b>Purpose</b><br />
This is the challenging portion for me: carrying out my plans with purpose. Often, I can get easily derailed by good things---more work, extra play-dates for kiddos or moms, more volunteering of my time, and even more chill time. Sometimes it’s great stuff which presents itself and we happily ditch the good for better things, but more often I have to drive myself back to the first and then to the final and most important P-words:<br />
<br />
<b>Prayer</b><br />
Yep, and tons of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGLjXQN_j4KahqLwtrzWkzyH8kag8qnNkgj6kk_UoP3lsNrfuXmdRfrMXNnrd-qLCE5vdWuuELVcV-N9scMDqb4rfbQO3Md5oaBjnOV6Nb5cQ3HqjkPZQfVuVJOd3iKkK6qXSGBi7EPLr/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGLjXQN_j4KahqLwtrzWkzyH8kag8qnNkgj6kk_UoP3lsNrfuXmdRfrMXNnrd-qLCE5vdWuuELVcV-N9scMDqb4rfbQO3Md5oaBjnOV6Nb5cQ3HqjkPZQfVuVJOd3iKkK6qXSGBi7EPLr/s400/DSC_0140.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although a bit blurry, they were all together. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So, armed with the above, here’s a teeny peek at our home-school schedule, effective next week:<br />
<br />
5:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mom wakes & preps for gym<br />
6:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gym-time<br />
7:30<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mom showers; kiddos wake & feed animals<br />
8:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bible- & hymn-study<br />
8:30<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breakfast w/poetry-readings; tidy<br />
9:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Truthquest History readings<br />
9:30<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> German (M/W); Geography (T/R); Map Drills (F)<br />
10:00 Composer-study (M); Poetry-study (T); Art Lesson (W); Logic (R); Nature-study (F)<br />
10:30 Curricula-review time<br />
11:00 Maths<br />
11:30 Phonics & reading w/Ian; kiddos prep lunch<br />
12:00 Lunch & Literature: Fairytales (M/W); Pilgrim’s Progress (T/R); Shakespeare (F)<br />
12:30 Sciences<br />
13:00 Latin (M-R); Plutarch’s Lives (F)<br />
13:30 Grammar & Composition<br />
14:00 Mom reads w/one kiddo, others read independently (M-R); Spelling tests (F)<br />
14:30 Mom works/writes; Kiddos work/play independently<br />
<br />
Into our schedule, I build enough wiggle-room that we’re often done well before 14:00. But, on those days when we or any individual doesn’t finish within the allotted time for that partic item of study, we stop anyway. I know, I’m such a rebel---<i>so dangerous and wild</i>.<br />
<br />
Thanks for popping over to peek at what I've penned. I pray that your year is piled high with purposeful priorities properly planned too. <br />
<br />
Yes, you can shoot me now. Indeed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://heartofthematteronline.com/"><img alt="Not Back to School Blog Hop" height="125" src="http://heartofthematteronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/nbts-blog-hop-2011.png" width="125" /></a>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-67164991922226782302011-08-08T12:12:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.507-08:00What I've Been Doing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG4uQEGxSnzmKFoQsW6GvbzlpxYmOQtCPM1z_IuJdb3VaSwemgg2wvMfpRfCs7Pb9b6nS77IkGvHGYMwtjcLyKLBI7849TCD3temth_3M-_NMMUy7d9E_z8xhGPGIOJUUYQgL8fZxkV2w/s1600/DSC_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG4uQEGxSnzmKFoQsW6GvbzlpxYmOQtCPM1z_IuJdb3VaSwemgg2wvMfpRfCs7Pb9b6nS77IkGvHGYMwtjcLyKLBI7849TCD3temth_3M-_NMMUy7d9E_z8xhGPGIOJUUYQgL8fZxkV2w/s320/DSC_0138.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>For the past month, three of my four children have been involved in a local, summer dance experience at the studio which I help manage. It was the first year that so many derived of my own DNA took a single stage. Up until this year, we've had one dancer: Olivia. But in spring, Fiona and then Ian slipped their pointy toes into crisp pairs of canvas slippers too. Let me say it was both exhilarating and <i>stressful</i> to see it all come together this past weekend, and I thought I'd share a link to the images captured by our photog. So, <a href="http://naturalight.instaproofs.com/enterEvent.php?id=428435&returnURL=%2Fcollection.php%3Fevent%3D428435">check out our show</a> at the lovely, historical theatre in the heart of our hometown and consider it a view of a day-in-the-life of a single, dance-crazed and need-to-take-time-to-plan-a-schoolyear-mom. <br />
<br />
Now that the curtain has closed on our summer busyness, we're off to an annual church-family camping trip in a region of bear-country of northern California. Time to relax, reconnect, read, plan, and <i>sleep.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<b>Do you too start school soon? Any big plans to close the summer break? </b><br />
<br />
<i>A mother's disclaimer: many of you know--and some of you helped (THANKS AGAIN!)--that Olivia was blessed to spend a month in San Francisco, studying ballet and modern and contemporary and-and-and with Alonzo King's LINES Ballet. It was an amazing time for her as a dancer and as a blossoming young Christian lady. I MUST SAY it was blood, sweat, and tears well spent! She's returned an even more delightful and enchanting balletic dancer than before--and that's saying something indeed. :D</i>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-65018319686053431752011-07-15T16:29:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.461-08:00Catching My BreathI thought I'd do it with you.<br />
<br />
I'll warn you now: I might ramble a bitty. I'm that tired.<br />
<br />
One month without my eldest really taxed our little family with regards to chores and time, making me realize that when they are all grown up and move into homes of their own, I'll need to hire a maid.<br />
<br />
It's been a long time since I've done so many chores.<br />
<br />
The one I liked best was feeding the chickens. I'm always up with the sun anyways, so it made sense to be the first one out the door, greeting our delightful hens who give us all those wonderfully nutrient-dense eggs. I most enjoyed playing mother to our three pullets, one we purchased and two outta eleven who survived this spring's hatching. You see, the hens and rooster are big bad bullies. I've never seen brokenness so clearly as the way in which chickens socialize: the roosters gets the most food, using pecking or physical threats of mounting; thereafter, the hens fight amongst each other and a "pecking order" is presumed; and at the bottom of the food chain are the pullets and chicks, who, without intervention, will only get what's ground fine enough that the hens can no longer tell the diff between scratch and dirt. So, I enjoyed standing over the three beauties for several minutes each morning as they filled their gullets and I considered the sunlight dappling against the leaves of the walnut trees, or the smells of manure and drying dew and grass.<br />
<br />
After a couple of days, my chicks flocked immediately to my feet when released from the safety of the coop. They followed me wither I went and waited [impatiently] until I provided that which they wanted. It was a sweet communion, and I will miss it.<br />
<br />
But I'm glad she's finally home. She had a rough go of it and learned many life lessons as well as fine ballet technique. I plan to have her write a bit about her experience and share it with you very, very soon. Although she's not moved from her desire to dance professionally, she sees the world more for what it is, and now knows better her place in it. Time away well spent, I'd say.<br />
<br />
But I'm glad she's finally home.Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-80804750291768112202011-06-07T13:08:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.602-08:00The Food Renegade: Summer e-Course ((Shhhhhh-->I've got a discount code just for YOU))<center><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="280" width="336"> <param name="movie" target="_blank" value="http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/banners/frnutrioncourse336x280_tag.swf?actionURL=http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=129_3_1_27"><param name=quality value=high><embed src="http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/banners/frnutrioncourse336x280_tag.swf?actionURL=http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=129_3_1_27" quality=high pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="336" height="280"> </embed></object><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Do you want to learn more about the science of health and nutrition? Have you ever wondered what exactly is in your food and how it all affects your body? Were you hoping to study nutrition with your middle or high schooler but were too busy this year to add just one. more. thing? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hear ya.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so did Kristen Michaelis AKA The Food Renegade. <i>Doesn't she just sound so mysterious and powerful??</i></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><br />
</i></span></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;">This summer, Kristen is offering her very popular <a href="http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=129&url=http://www.foodrenegade.com/realfoodnutrition/nutritioncourse.html">Real Food Nutrition and Health E-Course</a> at a summer snail's pace. Actually, during this course, you can work at your own pace. And no, I didn't just call you a snail. <b>For summer, the e-course is entirely self-paced and ungraded</b>, making it super-duper flexi for summer family schedules. You do not want to miss out on this amazing, educational e-course--a fun, interactive, online learning experience designed for ages 12 & up! It's ideal for homeschoolers, but EVERYONE is welcome. In fact, some of the liveliest students last semester were adults!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Enrollment closes on June 16th, and the first class begins on June 20th.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now c'mon over here. Yeah...over here in this out of the way dark corner of the room.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shhhhh! If you use my fancy-dancy coupon code of SUMMERSAVE20, you'll ... guess... yep, save $20 off the regular tuition!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Still not sure? Check out a sample chapter of Kristen's fantastic book:</div></center><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=129_0_1_17" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" src="http://www.foodrenegade.com/idevaffiliate/banners/rfnhtextbutton.jpg" width="150" /></a></center><center><br />
</center><center><b>Hope to see you there!</b></center>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-74784503665479748902011-06-06T08:55:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:48:43.555-08:00The Homeschool Mother's Journal...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB6UOUib553euE69bc62DudI3cqoXiBY5zg-k3Mt56Di_id9Nc7ZpZcq4EOR19VagzVSCVeXUx5yaEXZpkvata1fJur-CdCdaVZzjWmRKFd4Y5mPVQOCPZxr1sixRdI8ZMpurFdO8xfja/s1600/P1040236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmB6UOUib553euE69bc62DudI3cqoXiBY5zg-k3Mt56Di_id9Nc7ZpZcq4EOR19VagzVSCVeXUx5yaEXZpkvata1fJur-CdCdaVZzjWmRKFd4Y5mPVQOCPZxr1sixRdI8ZMpurFdO8xfja/s320/P1040236.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK...<br />
Last week was just crazy-nutso-busy! With two boys playing baseball, I had two baseball season's end parties to attend--plus tournaments!--on top of a field trip to see the Royal Danish Ballet mid-week, <i>on top of </i>a specially-arranged and private class taught by beknighted THOMAS LUND the following day, <i>on top of</i> weekend rehearsals for our fall production of The Magic Toy Shop! Perhaps I was the only one praying for rain, or we would've been on top of a public performance at a community event too. Sunday was indeed a day in which we sought rest and mind-numbing films--like dear, sweet 'Nanny McPhee Returns'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmCyaPJiVr_TOnP_a2zAVlnGAH3k9m3wf8RxZ2HoEhmaLPEjwBAQR7NFurF21sOVGqZXAIyg2lhdpmVIjq5qGOz3CfDiGeJMi4fYrDXW-fRMTlWFdThQQ1FlWDn3qpsJQS3q2e3agwngM/s1600/P1040246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmCyaPJiVr_TOnP_a2zAVlnGAH3k9m3wf8RxZ2HoEhmaLPEjwBAQR7NFurF21sOVGqZXAIyg2lhdpmVIjq5qGOz3CfDiGeJMi4fYrDXW-fRMTlWFdThQQ1FlWDn3qpsJQS3q2e3agwngM/s320/P1040246.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
MY FAVORITE THING THIS WEEK...<br />
Hands down, my favorite thing this week was watching Thomas Lund, and his companions, soloist Diana Cuni and pianist (beautifully warm and dear woman) Alison Smith, in action. He taught company-level combinations and exercises to our Intermediate/Advanced dancers, to which group my deary-heart belongs. It was such a fantastic and <i>Once in a Lifetime</i> opportunity for one and all!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYZaAZRgHaPejz8aQ77GemTAYMEGJ_nOsmGRvM7xUNwsoFWzu3_JTVGqstP3pRu3pdJH2_JxSXHAnqIO8MVy0CZzdHLJ4O-75x_2rmBGkciVB0N0G3F44wjbnBkxHHp7WmCfQ4I50lXJ8/s1600/P1040270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYZaAZRgHaPejz8aQ77GemTAYMEGJ_nOsmGRvM7xUNwsoFWzu3_JTVGqstP3pRu3pdJH2_JxSXHAnqIO8MVy0CZzdHLJ4O-75x_2rmBGkciVB0N0G3F44wjbnBkxHHp7WmCfQ4I50lXJ8/s320/P1040270.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
PLACES I'M GOING...<br />
This week is going to be just as nutso-crazy busy too: I've a checking account to open, a contact-fitting, a trip to the DMV for a state ID, a gift certificate for a massage--plus laundry, packing, and family-time spending--<i><b>all for Katara</b></i>, who's off to <a href="http://www.wastedtextbooks.com/2011/06/daughter-with-dream-requires-load-of_01.html">a month-long pre-professional ballet intensive</a> at Alonzo King's LINES Ballet School in San Francisco! She is so very excited...and I'm terrified, enlisting everyone I see and barely know in prayer for her and for me: that God would protect and provide a like-minded friend; and would lead her far away from temptation as she obediently follows! And, for me: although she received a scholarship for tuition, this single-mum-of-four needs to pay for room & board yet, which is not easy-peasy! It involves lots of sacrificing and praying and fasting, and just a few restless nights. Pray I have more faith!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rC8D-ggLHVqTfCdeDYs9XRF5Od72nHEz_2dG9r32h7RsXh80WOa0sczNUvB3FtgAJ7HgXkqJstLJaccXXZ3siA79mBNY2tE5txjOEhLJzKv-VlZhODXlVynhHcgz3MHc8OfVWPqHiPeE/s1600/P1040266_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rC8D-ggLHVqTfCdeDYs9XRF5Od72nHEz_2dG9r32h7RsXh80WOa0sczNUvB3FtgAJ7HgXkqJstLJaccXXZ3siA79mBNY2tE5txjOEhLJzKv-VlZhODXlVynhHcgz3MHc8OfVWPqHiPeE/s320/P1040266_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
THINGS I'M WORKING ON...<br />
Saying no. I've been overcommitting and thereby overextending myself. I've allowed some things and some people to cross clear boundaries, leaving my time for work and my time with my children compromised. This is a Bozo-no-no, so this week I'm re-staking my fence posts and tossing up a li'l barbed-wire too. <br />
<br />
Does this ever happen to you? Let's practice together:<br />
<br />
"No no no no no no no no no, <i>but thank you</i>."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoa84rOI_HCVv1_OERAPweVnBdC84mPFkdvYNj4ouf-Dr8bTJeuKbKHO51ZwGsbliIvIwkD9FTk2rjC17h9KQ_63NzzgDN3t_oAqM-oBWFrxBTyyCPWIsuQXjVks8OuSvTdAHkSHGauUB/s1600/P1040329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoa84rOI_HCVv1_OERAPweVnBdC84mPFkdvYNj4ouf-Dr8bTJeuKbKHO51ZwGsbliIvIwkD9FTk2rjC17h9KQ_63NzzgDN3t_oAqM-oBWFrxBTyyCPWIsuQXjVks8OuSvTdAHkSHGauUB/s320/P1040329.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
BOOKS I'M READING...<br />
Ugh, I'm so not reading anything right now. I feel like a dummy. But the big plan for summer is to read with some friends through <i>War of Words</i> by Paul Tripp. About a decade ago (when I was just a wee fawn), I studied this book with my in-laws and it made such a huge impact on my heart, which hopefully was reflected in my life. Words are powerful, we oh-so-well know! May we use them for His glory!<br />
<br />
A VIDEO TO SHARE...<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yHJmD37hqaw" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<b>How was last week for you? Any big plans for this week? Is your brain turning to mush through neglect, too?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
If you feel led to join us looney tunes, link up with <a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/">The Homeschool Chick</a> and get journaling, even if it has <i>absolutely nothing to do with homeschooling</i>...obviously. :)Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-88832673846717619352011-06-01T10:27:00.001-07:002018-02-17T18:49:39.244-08:00'A Daughter with a Dream' Requires A Load...of Faith<div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqNr3oVFEvbd-tPpYrW6T_Bs3VNRwR_bRCRGJ1sFpuWUgGbu2-4QqYx2V5mkpZcNZggr7TmVEZrpWQt509HH5wXeAUta7dsarDck7NxVGYe-qAbDObCy-xtgt0Lr_wnZwGFKiN5BqVD6/s1600/Olivia+arabesque-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqNr3oVFEvbd-tPpYrW6T_Bs3VNRwR_bRCRGJ1sFpuWUgGbu2-4QqYx2V5mkpZcNZggr7TmVEZrpWQt509HH5wXeAUta7dsarDck7NxVGYe-qAbDObCy-xtgt0Lr_wnZwGFKiN5BqVD6/s400/Olivia+arabesque-1.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet belle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Much earlier this year, my sweet-teen daughter told me of a local auditioning opportunity for a pre-professional ballet program in the <i>Big City </i>and asked if she could attend. She's been dancing since she could walk and dreams of nothing but ballet, so I kinda knew this day would come, but just not yet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My heart cringed slightly before I said yes, thinking it would be a good experience overall: she could see the local pool of dancers her age, and when she was rejected, she could set her own bar higher and work towards a new goal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So she auditioned.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">She was one of four kids crammed into a packed room of more than eighty young adults for a coveted spot at the summer intensive of a highly esteemed ballet school in the <i>Big City</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My heart broke for her.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">With poise and grace, she danced her heart with combinations well beyond her scope and left the audition hall sweaty and yet with satisfaction. She did her best and left her dear heart on that springy dance-floor, and she knew it. She and I were both proud of her, no matter the outcome. And yet I was so sure I already knew the outcome...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two weeks later, we received the brief email that would change our lives: she was accepted, and she was a scholarship recipient! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now the question was, could this single mother of four make this happen for her eldest blessing, the one who sacrifices much and serves much to help make this household work even somewhat on those somedays? Could I scrape together the necessary one month's room & board from our slim pickings budget?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was willing to pray.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was willing to try.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There wasn't a bone in my body that wanted to say no, no matter what it cost me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, we are less than two weeks away from this amazing experience that will form and shape the life of my daughter, a beautifully-spirited young lady who has a dream so much bigger than I could have ever dreamed for her. We've purchased the horde of clothing, tights, and shoes needed. We've a stash of hairbands and pins and spray. We're opening checking accounts, hunkering down at the DMV for a state ID, and spending lots of mommy-girly times together, talking about the weeks away from home that are coming oh-too-soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5966QYy5CHU6IzwBdMxJQIPVF0lLARkreSazPtJWToLxONNA_UWP2wg8Fq07XyTHX_wv_7Uar5E06rl0XHngTAOW6fqa-u_FLeI7AOn24iC93BdV8mPtq62XMatGyUkI6Uk5mg9wCdDd/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5966QYy5CHU6IzwBdMxJQIPVF0lLARkreSazPtJWToLxONNA_UWP2wg8Fq07XyTHX_wv_7Uar5E06rl0XHngTAOW6fqa-u_FLeI7AOn24iC93BdV8mPtq62XMatGyUkI6Uk5mg9wCdDd/s400/photo-6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't need a little jazz in her life?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">But we could use your heartfelt prayers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You see, I'm still praying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm still trying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There isn't a bone in my body that wants to say no---not at this point. But I'm just not sure I have all it will cost me, and <i>I'm waiting on Him</i>... as patiently as I can, telling myself not to panic, not to panic, n o t t o p a n i c.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There isn't much I wouldn't do to make this happen for her. If there's anyone in my life that has made these past five turbulent years just a wee bitty easier for me, it's her, my sweet Deary-lou. She's endured my moments of frustration, of defeat, of sorrow, with more grace than I have, and yet these years have cost her much too. In the midst of her own pain, she has been my best cheerleader and encourager and supporter--<i>and she even thinks I'm awesome.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And so<i> </i>I can't stop praying (<i>Lord hear me!)</i> or trying... to bring her one step closer to her dream, even if that step takes her far from me... for a time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Please pray with me?</b></div>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-21773509688185135242011-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:38.331-08:00Redeeming the Time, a Confession<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_A41KgnLrjXsx5L1uf8r-FTWoeETA6BdcLfoOzqogQxpONg7P0sE3Iy7f4e5FlH3wcYefB0sLiGlttvEjEeT8l3-zIjQclUQhMb0zQw10nurNrHpd3DAVdHy5BtIF-Ia983_7NCoXF2r/s1600/227710_2011838501787_1418497438_2403296_1885720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_A41KgnLrjXsx5L1uf8r-FTWoeETA6BdcLfoOzqogQxpONg7P0sE3Iy7f4e5FlH3wcYefB0sLiGlttvEjEeT8l3-zIjQclUQhMb0zQw10nurNrHpd3DAVdHy5BtIF-Ia983_7NCoXF2r/s400/227710_2011838501787_1418497438_2403296_1885720_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sokka, kayaking in Bodega Bay with his beloved uncle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lately I've been struggling with my home <s>and</s> school--they are one for me. I've been struggling to find my way back to the atmosphere of "learning through living" that I once sought and felt rather close to having . . . for a time.<br />
<br />
Some of you may remember that last summer I started writing for pay, not merely for fun. I was super-thrilled to add something to my little nest, but it did shake things up around here. We all had to pull together as a team, kicking up the responsibility level more than a notch, but we were happy to do it if it meant we ate real meat more often, and wore new shoes too. But just when we got into a groove, I received an offer to write for a company I've supported since the start of my homeschool journey with the fab four. Never could I imagine turning down this offer--and I didn't! <br />
<br />
<i>Shake it up, shake it up...baby, shake it up!</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevN1D8Mqak-ooMYze0UWyOKr8Ln1EG5e7nus7gmjWmfRSYGkwxTAJod-Fc1kDxZ1ky3AY9HrtBZDi09B32ih5rXJJpHBfuNcbzNUSUTuWqX1pF8N0J_JXSd0_W__1yMDAE5RewlCaXgBZ/s1600/227495_195665223811646_123310651047104_542758_5126622_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevN1D8Mqak-ooMYze0UWyOKr8Ln1EG5e7nus7gmjWmfRSYGkwxTAJod-Fc1kDxZ1ky3AY9HrtBZDi09B32ih5rXJJpHBfuNcbzNUSUTuWqX1pF8N0J_JXSd0_W__1yMDAE5RewlCaXgBZ/s400/227495_195665223811646_123310651047104_542758_5126622_n.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katara's ballet theatre group opened the Farmers' Market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But I lost something in the mix. I lost my quiet and relaxed style of home and school.<br />
<br />
Now I live and give lessons by the clock. Our nature-study and walks are scheduled, there's no time for, "Just one more chapter!" And my new watch never leaves my wrist (I haven't worn a watch since my time with the Marine Corps; we'll be polite and not ask how long).<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong: I love eating meat. I'm a total carnivore--nom nom nom. And who doesn't dig new kicks?? Plus I love how proud the kids are of their mum who now writes for a cutting-edge company, providing quality products and services for home-schoolers and more. Am I allowed to admit I'm pretty dang proud of me too?<br />
<br />
I guess I'm just trying to find a sanctuary within all the busyness . . . a Sabbath?<br />
<br />
<i>How easy was that?! </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IW2NpJ-lDOvis5Lq3gYeRioxOGofNEVIpftPTmMFS12OsuBtPnG_WOvX5JABvBnHEqp9D6KVtBaHoQMX-hPcfgBwedVgrIrLO3O8yhHQJWEOIBBf1oqRqzpEXxbUoFKkOlZH5bWKNv6I/s1600/P1040224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IW2NpJ-lDOvis5Lq3gYeRioxOGofNEVIpftPTmMFS12OsuBtPnG_WOvX5JABvBnHEqp9D6KVtBaHoQMX-hPcfgBwedVgrIrLO3O8yhHQJWEOIBBf1oqRqzpEXxbUoFKkOlZH5bWKNv6I/s400/P1040224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday party tattoos galore--yes, the parents now love me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>God provided it for me long before I knew I needed it. A day of rest, of quiet reflection, of community, of family. <br />
<br />
<b>I confess, I've been working on the Sabbath</b>--answering emails and calls, just because someone writes or phones. I've had no self-control in this area and it shows. My kids are crying out for, "More time!" Even when they don't say it, their actions scream it. Like last night: I had two boys in my bed, smothering me with the needs of their wee hearts. And as I lay there unable to move, hardly sleeping and mostly sweating, I heard over and over again, "Please, more time!" <br />
<br />
And this is what I too beg and yet have already received--what a do-do, loser bird I can be! Now I pray He'll through me redeem it . . . for their sakes and for His glory!<br />
<br />
So don't write or call on Sunday, peeps and 'puter. We're shutting you and all of life out, creating our own sanctuary--no mail, no phone, no computer, no work, no films, no Wii--but maybe a hike in the hills and a picnic for five with just one more chapter from a favorite ol'book.<br />
<br />
<i>Will we even know how to act?! </i>I'll let'cha know . . . but not 'til Monday.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<b>How do you carve out a sanctuary in the midst of life's demands? Do any of you work and homeschool too?</b>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-46379077926973249332011-05-21T21:17:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:38.664-08:00Homeschooling Mother's Journal<a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/about-the-homeschool-mothers-journal/" title="The Homeschool Mother's Journal"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/THSMJbutton.jpg" /> </a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In my life this week...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I </span>[finally] started the on-ramp at the Crossfit gym nearby. I've been dying to get some real coaching for about two years, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I. had. to. try. <i>And I'm loving it!</i> I've two more weeks of intro-classes, working on my powerlifting form and testing the my weight-limits of each exercise, before I can go all-out, so to speak. No, seriously speaking... ALL OUT. I'm kinda crazy like that, which is why I chose a strength and conditioning community that caters to and fosters nut-heads like myself. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>FYI: Lots of current and former Marines dig these places. Consider yourself warned.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday, our wee family had an interview with a PSP I'm considering joining. The weekly Campus Day at which my kids can take their science and elective courses is a big draw for all of us. We've never really been a part of a co-op, except for when they were really young--too young to really gain much more than a time to socialize with friends. Wait--that was me. Hmmm...they got certificates?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday I had my first health exam since I gave birth to my man-cub, Aang. I know, I know--I'm a bad, bad girl; but I was busy and poor and really, really scared. I'm always afraid of things like these, especially since so many of my friends have been diagnosed with something or other, and so I put them off. Stupid, I admit; but I finally went. Now I've gotta get the courage to have my first mammo--<i>blech!</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><s>This week</s> last night I planned my daughter's birthday party... that's happening tomorrow at 2pm. I used to be sooo good at over-doing these things. Singleness will do that to a girl, make her the sucky, last-minute mom who then must cause everyone stress by keeping them out and up for long hours of shopping and preparing and baking, just so we can throw away a buttload of paper and plastic. My kids love it, and I love how their memories reboot after 364 days. Or is that grace? Because <i>they think I throw the BEST parties!</i> How does that happen?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In Our Homeschool This Week...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">W</span>e're so psyched to be almost done with Ancient Rome. Or is that just me? I did so much planning and digging for used and cheap books to use that I cannot wait to get into these Middle Ages already! Beowulf here we come. Rrrrawr.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I'm realizing that I need to take a couple days to purge and organize what we have before we move forward with the next course (we school year-round, four days each week). Lately, I've been feeling restless and frustrated with our system which usually indicates we've too. much. stuff. Clutter makes me irritable. And with five of us in a wee farmhouse... yeah. >:(</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Oh! Aang started ballet last week and <i>he loves it!</i> He was moved up a level after two classes, which made him rather obnoxious for awhile, but he's back to his normal, awesome self now. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Places we're going & peeps we be seein'...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">T</span>omorrow we've the big birthday party for Toph, who turned nine earlier this month. It's her first "friend" party and she's pretty much outta her mind about it, which is sooo cool to experience. Mostly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week is the end of our baseball season, so we've two parties to <s>pay for and</s> attend. It's sometimes amazing to me that two teams with the same number of coaches and players can come to such differing amounts when throwing these end-of-season bashes. One party is nearly twice as much as the other, and my only other choice is to deny my kid the ability to stand up with the rest of the boys and receive his medal. I hate being bullied and like that especially.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went to Zumba today--now that was fun stuff! Toph and Aang grooved along the sidelines while pointing fingers and smiling a little too broadly in my direction, but I sweated and fatigued my legs, which made me smile broadly too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My favorite thing this week...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Was h</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">aving</span> my man-cub, Aang, wrap his arms around me in a big bear-hug and tell me how much he's missed me... everyday. I started this one day when I felt like I hadn't seen him as much--he's usually attached near my hip if not to it--and he's been faithful to tear my heart out everyday and in such a great way. Love that li'l fella.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What's working/not working for us...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">C</span>lutter is not working, but the kids have agreed to get rid of most of their toys, and that is sooo working for me--I mean, us. They're old enough now that most of their stuff has to do with interests or talents, like pointe shoes, helicopters, bicycles, scooters, Legos, skateboards, and a new obsession: Playmobile. The blocks and puppets and such have been gathering dust for many moons now, and we all agree: It's time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm only a wee bit sniffly about it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Homeschool questions I have...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>'ve not yet decided what to do next--keep on with <b>Truth-quest</b> married <b>with Ambleside Online</b> or shuffle over to <b>Tapestry of Grace</b> and see what trouble I can create for myself there...?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Has anyone put into Apologia's General Science a sixth grader with a strong interest in mathematics and sciences? He wants more of a challenge--and many more experiments. Or, does anyone else use something really cool for science; have a recommendation? Help!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A video...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">c</span>ause it makes me giggle.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z0GFRcFm-aY" width="480"></iframe>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-8846366192515761382011-05-17T17:22:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:39.200-08:00The Great Hugely Sad Grand Finale!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EhMILEFKwRI" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
It was great hands-on homeschool fun that consumed us for <i>days.</i><br />
<div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nqp_sbD2Dew" width="640"></iframe><br />
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...and taught us many unkind lessons about life on a broken planet.<br />
<br />
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<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oX8AhOGuiXI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Out of the eleven eggs to hatch, only seven chicks survived. The first sad wee soul found its end by an accidental crushing by mother-hen. It was promptly inspected and dissected by Toph, our resident biologist.<br />
<br />
The second loss was also stepped upon by mother-hen, who broke the shell badly enough that the chick could gain no strength to emerge. <br />
<br />
The third emerged, but was trampled by mother-hen.<br />
<br />
Finally, the last was thrown into the compost by Katara, only to start cheeping. Mother-hen lost interest after busying herself with the seven and pushed this lone, last egg to the side, no longer keeping it warm. We read that not all would hatch, so we expected li'l Omega to be non-existent and therefore a possible stink-bomb if kept in the next too long. Although we saved O from the compost pile and placed it underneath mother-hen, she again rolled O away and he perished.<br />
<br />
It was a very bittersweet week.<br />
<br />
Isn't that just like life?<br />
<br />
Teaching us the heart-lessons we cannot truly learn from books.Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-90892310190778441802011-05-11T07:50:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:39.333-08:00Our Very First Chicks!We're uber-proud parents. <br />
<br />
I mean, it's our very first batch of chicks since we city-folk stumbled into this world of raising chickens for eggs, glorious golden eggs. So, please bear with us: after suffering through all the scat that stains our drives and walks and deck, even though one (or three) daily sweeps, and after losing more chickens than these hatched to predators and such (one rooster just plain ran away; we see him strutting around nearby, footloose and fancy-free), we plan to relive this pleasure in <i>s l o w - m o t i o n. </i>So, enjoy this clip.<br />
<br />
Time to sweep... again.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZV7lNyKSc0" width="640"></iframe>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-26460992962722197772011-05-10T14:12:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:38.419-08:00She's a Marvel, My Toph<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDis3-l9X__Zl6Pwn52vQMK7rl7mNUPfMKLD82U1xbki_lOP4RCi_jr_ZMjDdjVSZqUmiiIZKQpPk7gAbP5P_FNLf6CfUMqBt9dA-mcJWeHxIXE7iIIk4zUleGiUgBtaR282Jr7CbtsgPs/s1600/P1040186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDis3-l9X__Zl6Pwn52vQMK7rl7mNUPfMKLD82U1xbki_lOP4RCi_jr_ZMjDdjVSZqUmiiIZKQpPk7gAbP5P_FNLf6CfUMqBt9dA-mcJWeHxIXE7iIIk4zUleGiUgBtaR282Jr7CbtsgPs/s200/P1040186.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eassside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was certain they had made a mistake. Certain.<br />
<br />
When, after only a few hours of strange labor, the doctor handed me a short, pink bundle of flesh covered with flaxen hair, I was shocked. My first two children had come into this world bearing a mane of black hair; they were loooongg and olive-y. So, <i>what was this?!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Meet Toph.<br />
<br />
She was the most serious and content baby I ever had, or met.<br />
<br />
She looked away from me and anyone else who dared meet her gaze.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMkqLGpFsdlPGx91OeBnTBTXy3fQDD5O-jZozlUdfihw-XIkbW7kJUVPrdiVldYyseWagMgqLi9OpImbDSbJtpY9fPV-Bc92Nq4IriPBC4eP7LBF4TKbbnJLKdeyrsp31_VYKF9GQskd1/s1600/P1040199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMkqLGpFsdlPGx91OeBnTBTXy3fQDD5O-jZozlUdfihw-XIkbW7kJUVPrdiVldYyseWagMgqLi9OpImbDSbJtpY9fPV-Bc92Nq4IriPBC4eP7LBF4TKbbnJLKdeyrsp31_VYKF9GQskd1/s200/P1040199.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>She rarely smiled.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
She sat for hours contentedly sucking upon her fingers, whether it was for a drive, an outing, or while mum made dinner.<br />
<br />
I thought she was weird: as babies, Katara cried and Sokka wished to be held <b>all the time.</b><br />
<br />
But now I know: she was <i>watching.</i> And <i>waiting.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
And <i>waiting.</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2CMJImFIeGem0wDUDCQI-3sXD-CO6Umep2OM6gVTEV58D_y3ZkZVihyphenhyphenQa5VnSrL_IE1Fgjs8Qegg_ywSVCDCaigL4YXFdNXhAhQ9ER2x_6zZcJjhzYuGKyT1Bi1WerKIi87kPUsLU9fL/s1600/P1040198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2CMJImFIeGem0wDUDCQI-3sXD-CO6Umep2OM6gVTEV58D_y3ZkZVihyphenhyphenQa5VnSrL_IE1Fgjs8Qegg_ywSVCDCaigL4YXFdNXhAhQ9ER2x_6zZcJjhzYuGKyT1Bi1WerKIi87kPUsLU9fL/s200/P1040198.JPG" width="200" /></a><i><br />
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div>It wasn't until Toph was more than two years old when the first signs of her personality began to show: she refused to remove her fancy hot-pink sunglasses one summer and later refused to wear her socks and shoes that autumn, as we drove cross-country from Chicago to our new home in northern California.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5DmCoyjrb113x-sbBCDM8EO1JkgbB3dUgHTYxO7U_RTiBIC4HuYXxF0UvzPi_x_m3Pi8Jm6Zlg-VVdx2F6jO2bIg5YZloPQPw9XlnMHeiXNXf1zVKVKruTG1bv4-HUeBWvoyvF3kLSuW/s1600/P1040197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5DmCoyjrb113x-sbBCDM8EO1JkgbB3dUgHTYxO7U_RTiBIC4HuYXxF0UvzPi_x_m3Pi8Jm6Zlg-VVdx2F6jO2bIg5YZloPQPw9XlnMHeiXNXf1zVKVKruTG1bv4-HUeBWvoyvF3kLSuW/s200/P1040197.JPG" width="150" /></a>The next month she learned to escape from her crib. After that, she could not be again confined, and I woke to the sound of her wee feet running to and fro in the upstairs hallway... at six exactly and yep, on weekends.<br />
<br />
Once Toph's personality emerged, it was on--always on.<br />
<br />
We all learned that she had an independent spirit which ran from any and all forms of government. <br />
<br />
We learned she lived every minute of her life to the fullest and in the extreme: when she was happy, she was exuberant, but when she was angry, there was hell to pay and by the thousands.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoqxfqGXbvYUhYlRyyz3IzW-EbRRmkO0jzrtIPO2gPj5Y63dd4XMrHTwxQRJCgOzxpD4hJEl-zt5IX_FfkXPxz-SmU15eyeGmMtn-T8GFdNz-TZuosjJ38WnZlnlEmeL7-5InGDv8_-dI/s1600/P1040193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoqxfqGXbvYUhYlRyyz3IzW-EbRRmkO0jzrtIPO2gPj5Y63dd4XMrHTwxQRJCgOzxpD4hJEl-zt5IX_FfkXPxz-SmU15eyeGmMtn-T8GFdNz-TZuosjJ38WnZlnlEmeL7-5InGDv8_-dI/s200/P1040193.JPG" width="150" /></a>We learned that she loved us all with her whole heart... and loathed us that much too sometimes. Attached to this is her love for all creatures, most times loving them more than people and often loving them to death. <br />
<br />
<i>She's killed more insects than Charlotte and yet on total accident. Many tears and even some funerals, I'm telling ya.</i><br />
<br />
Today, she coddles and handles our chickens better than any who reside here; she gathers insects and worms to give them as candy-treats and deftly rounds them up when they stubbornly decide to roost elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwifDhxZbcWFQpCJDGkyZt2rYOcaygzz-rjINzu2m6ru5xunLezqbiDv2AWjYtt_MiIczeP8IDFLGKtceMy8oug01Mey0Jv9O1gNFINewNzON5D8DMxa2EC6CmW6tHn9Jg3kOZvVPBhuw/s1600/P1040201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwifDhxZbcWFQpCJDGkyZt2rYOcaygzz-rjINzu2m6ru5xunLezqbiDv2AWjYtt_MiIczeP8IDFLGKtceMy8oug01Mey0Jv9O1gNFINewNzON5D8DMxa2EC6CmW6tHn9Jg3kOZvVPBhuw/s200/P1040201.JPG" width="200" /></a>We learned she desired more than anything to be loved as passionately in return, but never wished to be in our disfavor. Although she's killed more creatures by loving them uber-much, today she finally has the loyal love of a dog and could not be more happy. She says she's been waiting <i>all her life </i>for this. <br />
<br />
<i>Should we be offended?</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnavx35SbLg38P8XzLlxuQb8IDmkiFmUUDa84OxTyLqNjQfRzUltJ9GHBu46vIRai3aP2VzflGIguZEPFmwj7BWOhYgMjh7zEQKgj3AZeig_NNwF-yzq-qPlV2vUWQuotIVW5hCrg2O38/s1600/P1040203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnavx35SbLg38P8XzLlxuQb8IDmkiFmUUDa84OxTyLqNjQfRzUltJ9GHBu46vIRai3aP2VzflGIguZEPFmwj7BWOhYgMjh7zEQKgj3AZeig_NNwF-yzq-qPlV2vUWQuotIVW5hCrg2O38/s200/P1040203.JPG" width="150" /></a>We learned she loved to dance, and yet--completely unlike her sister, the ballerina--Toph loved hip-hop and any music that let her crank her neck and stomp on the floor. Although she started ballet this year, if she finds my eyes or camera upon her, she'll put on a show indeed and <b>nothing</b> like the Sleeping Beauty.<br />
<br />
If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up: "a singer and a dancer, but a cool one."<br />
<br />
We learned she was brilliant and yet without a filter: she spoke without considering her words <i>always--</i>most times it made us laugh, sometimes it made us blush, only more recently have I been a wee bitty shocked. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nuBlBoeCHYkTdXppmUGDkF_OIR9Pzo62MVAwbno7oJdDJrAKpXp3KR0vf41HZnu-drDciplihvY91lG7g0cMKEnXdkF4QtnytWr9WrSl57TI9PTU6yyfrBJLLB-vM3gpe3A1_UAmaw0s/s1600/31517_10150186848115454_716195453_12287574_8275664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nuBlBoeCHYkTdXppmUGDkF_OIR9Pzo62MVAwbno7oJdDJrAKpXp3KR0vf41HZnu-drDciplihvY91lG7g0cMKEnXdkF4QtnytWr9WrSl57TI9PTU6yyfrBJLLB-vM3gpe3A1_UAmaw0s/s200/31517_10150186848115454_716195453_12287574_8275664_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>Yesterday was her ninth birthday. We spent the afternoon together, shopping for new clothes and shoes and accessories. As we rolled north, the deep bass and synthesizer of the music she chose vibrated the panels of our van and scared passersby. We held hands and twisted our necks like chickens to the beat. We smiled at each other and I smiled at her longer when she stopped looking. And I marveled...<br />
<br />
I love this amazing creature that God brought forth from my womb. She's a bright-shining star in my life and I cannot even imagine how I got so lucky as to hold the reigns and guide her passions. <br />
<br />
<i>Note to self: you need to get stronger and hold on tighter.</i><br />
<br />
May God help me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoMhI4LzG_O-hT4zCng34wKHwGp2bTGGoXYhTqakn8f2JPczceN6CwsP5hnOAwFMxopY7ZzQb0xTN42790PhfngbpEhUWbHAhebxRBuIJMawwq6goEgnT_PQQX2IKcoUDHvtrMs9DwEQy/s1600/7622_304924020453_716195453_9284892_1382987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoMhI4LzG_O-hT4zCng34wKHwGp2bTGGoXYhTqakn8f2JPczceN6CwsP5hnOAwFMxopY7ZzQb0xTN42790PhfngbpEhUWbHAhebxRBuIJMawwq6goEgnT_PQQX2IKcoUDHvtrMs9DwEQy/s200/7622_304924020453_716195453_9284892_1382987_n.jpg" width="152" /></a>That's my prayer.<br />
<br />
May he help me and guide me and lead me so that I may be a better mother to this mustang of a girl whom I love so dearly. May I be wiser than the serpent and swifter than the cheetah, to keep one step ahead of her charging pace.<br />
<br />
May she never desire to be too cool. May she always seek after the heart of her Savior and may His love be the quenching waters to satisfy the longing of her sweet and sassy heart. Most of all, may she find her worth and work in Him!<br />
<br />
Toph was and is a marvel, and if the hospital made a mistake, I'm certainly thankful. Certainly.<br />
<br />
<i>No take-backs!</i><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XhcyyFF51qE" width="425"></iframe>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-5886222208893370532011-05-07T16:56:00.001-07:002018-02-17T18:49:38.861-08:00My Wee Folk Are the Best People I KnowLaura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413447972308012026.post-37167640318885237782011-05-06T12:25:00.000-07:002018-02-17T18:49:38.487-08:00Homeschooling Mother's Journal<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/about-the-homeschool-mothers-journal/" title="The Homeschool Mother's Journal"><img alt="The Homeschool Mother's Journal" src="http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/THSMJbutton.jpg" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In my life this week...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span> had a lovely bunch of friends bless me more than they could ever know. These three gracious ladies wrote and submitted an essay as to why I am a good citizen and why I should win a new car. Although I see my life as a series of challenges not more difficult than any other, and often easier than some, my heart was greatly moved: to be tangibly blessed like this, in a world in which we Christians (and I'm totally guilty of this too) get so over-extended and busy that the most we feel we can do for another sister or brother in Christ is pray, is <b>a big deal</b>. Not that praying isn't commanded nor beneficial--much of my life is upheld by the prayers of the faithful, this I fully know; but to <i>do something</i> truly touches a life and gives courage to a heart that may be feeling pressed down or stretched too thin. This I'm also blessed to know and fully.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I am privileged to hear the struggles or troubles of another friend, I always beg God to make me more creative--more perceptive--in order that I might know how to be a blessing through more than my prayers. You see, I often am so practical and ordered in my thinking that I cannot easily discern how to <i>help</i> without giving advice or creating a plan or... But, although it's not my natural gift to instinctively know how to bless another in a <i>tangible way</i>, I'm praying, reading <i>Treasures of Encouragement</i> by Sharon W. Betters, and googling my heart out in order to make a list--my natural gifting--of ideas that will lift the spirits of another soul the way my sweet and darling friends lifted my own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, even if I don't receive this car tomorrow, I have won already. And if I do find myself loading my fab four into a new and safer vehicle, I will wear this badge of honor proudly and yet most humbly. Thank you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In our homeschool this week...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">w</span>e've been immersed in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ancient Roman history</b></span>: we read from Jennie Hall's <i>Buried Cities</i> the tragic tale of Pompeii and Herculaneum and then watched online in six parts at youtube a BBC film that brought my son to tears. We also read a gripping and gritty tale of a gladiatorial battle during the opening days of the Colosseum from <i>Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Rome</i> by James Baikie, and then watched another fabulous BBC film found at youtube.com--<b>I just love the giggle I get when Latins speak with a Welsh/Scotch/Irish/English accent! </b><br />
<br />
<b></b>Why, yes, I am a nerd. Why do you ask?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Maths </b></span>is always lovely although uneventful--wait! Aang officially started Year 1 of MEP, coupled with <i>Arithmetic for Young Children. </i>Oh! and he read to me without much help. This is the fourth child with whom I've used <i>Adventures in Phonics</i>, published by Christian Liberty Press, and over the years I've become less satisfied and more critical of the full-phonics method of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>language instruction</b></span>, especially when English--and <i>American English</i> most of all--is riddled with confusing exceptions, so yesterday I placed an order for SCM's <i><a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/delightful-reading/">Delightful Reading</a></i>, which approaches reading instruction armed with this knowledge of our imperfect language. Wish contentment for me and less frustration for Aang, who seems to learn best through his ears.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Poetry</b></span> we were all stirred to high emotions by readings by Mum of <i>Gunga Din </i>and <i>If</i> by Rudyard Kipling. They were truly things upon which to chew and chew, and I found Sokka crying, "Din! Din! Din!" as he went about his days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Citizenship</b></span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Literature</b></span>, we are still working through Plutarch's <i>Dion</i> and Shakespeare's <i>Antony and Cleopatra</i>. Other than <b>Nature-study</b> and History and <b>Art</b>, these are our favorites times of the week!</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nt80PYaeyEQ" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Places we're going and people we're seeing...T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">omorrow, we're going downtown to find out if we are the happy owners of a new car or not; then, we're off to a day filled with baseball games and photographs at the ballet studio for an upcoming press-release, authored by yours truly. On Mother's Day we'll celebrate the gift I received nine years ago--Toph--and my privilege to be Mum to them all. On Monday, Toph and I will head out for a luncheon date and a little birthday shopping; all she wants for her special day is some time alone with me and some of the gaudiest clothes one can find on God's green earth--I'll be sure to post pics! Then, throughout the rest of the week, we'll be at it again: ballet and baseball until we're doing pirouettes atop the dug-out. Hope you all have another wonderful week of comings and goings!</span></b></center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My favorite thing this week...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">O</span>ther than the Biggest Blessing, I enjoyed getting out of the house for a midday <b>Zumba</b> class with a friend and also watching my wee slugger, Aang, play his heart out this week at a baseball game, but the most emotional moment of the week was when Aang lost his first tooth! He's no longer my baby, but a man-cub. <i>Sigh...</i></center><center style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What's not working for us...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>'m still trying to reign my kids in from the <b>Spring Break</b> we had last week. I never learn that briefly relaxing the rules is not really loving my kids, when afterwards they seem utterly out of control and I feel compelled to crack the whip, so to speak. No bueno! As much as they & I need a short break every now and again, especially when project-deadlines are looming for me, someone please remind me that consistency is key, um'kay? Big thanks in advance.</center><center style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A homeschool question I have...</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A</span> dear friend of mine is tempting me to switch courses from <a href="http://truthquesthistory.com/store/products.php?categoryParentName=Books&categoryName=Middle+Ages&itemId=40">Truthquest History</a> to try <a href="http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/year2/">Tapestry of Grace</a><b> </b>so that we might be able to co-op some projects together. Although I'm not Classical in method, for the most part, I do see the advantage of having an audience greater than those bearing the same surname and whose toothbrushes are neighbors, and I do believe I can Charlotte Mason-ize almost any curriculum and make it fit our family, but I'm wondering if it would be too much of a shift for us, or too much work for me before we start again in August. Can anyone compare Truthquest and Tapestry for me? or tell me of your own experience with either? I'd love to know more before I make a decision!</center><center style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</center><center style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A photo to share...</span></b></center><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxGawYGqpXRj9VvMlj9M2CnCBvp30K2PLOvc8tFro28J6kX-wSm1_dG1Y4SyJ_-_-Ke8a3-zvDXI5D_-SkKjyUh0IJhGwy8FiKHAjMuQiDy-lZgxeDqkwTLh0RCmp9AjOPheGPEd6UdXu/s1600/photo-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxGawYGqpXRj9VvMlj9M2CnCBvp30K2PLOvc8tFro28J6kX-wSm1_dG1Y4SyJ_-_-Ke8a3-zvDXI5D_-SkKjyUh0IJhGwy8FiKHAjMuQiDy-lZgxeDqkwTLh0RCmp9AjOPheGPEd6UdXu/s400/photo-13.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you hear my man-cub roar?!<br />
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</tbody></table>Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13647042898235118427noreply@blogger.com2