Wordless Wednesday: Freeze. Right there. *sniffle*

Wordless Wednesday: Heirlooms in the mail

Wordless Wednesday: Moonglow

Wordless Wednesday: The Musician

Wordless Wednesday: Sibling Rivalry

Pan Out

Welcome to my Keepin' It Real post, hosted by Brenda at The Family Revised. Here at Restoring the Years, we're raising daughters. Lovely daughters. Our world is filled with books, togetherness, love, tenderness and music...

We're always careful to mind our social graces.

And we're sure to close our lips while we chew.

We're always grateful for whatever we get.

We are never idle.

And we care well for our animals.

But never so well as to worship them as did the Ancient Egyptians.

From infancy, we need never be reminded to be sober and reverent of God's Word during its reading.

Sibling relationships are nurtured and always in perfect harmony.



Little hands are eager to be mentored and to practice their stitches.

And Mother is always equally eager and blessed to train up her little women in art of handcrafting.

And is always patient and joyful.

Before we say goodbye, let's play a round of a little game I call, "Pan Out."

Here, Fifi is unaware that I have caught her in a pious, prayerful moment. What a spiritual 12 year old she is!

Though, when we Pan Out, we find she's actually exasperated over her Math.
Here we see Cuddlebug happily playing the piano in what could be a music conservatory.

But when we Pan Out, we discover she's actually playing piano in a sweat shop of sorts, as the yards and yards of fabric waiting beside the sewing machine in the background suggest.

And finally, here's Dumpling studiously answering her questions for her Bible Study Fellowship class.

But when we Pan Out, we see the area littered with accidents waiting to happen, and the noise and shushing that go with them. Although, I must honestly interject that this picture does not adequately capture the panic that results from waiting to do 4 of 6 days worth of study in the last 2 hours before class.

The moral of the story is: be careful as you blog-jog through this wonderful world of cyberspace! Things aren't always as you perceive them to be.

Wordless Wednesday: Pen Pals

Randomness

Tomorrow: is Wednesday, in which we will build a new habit and NOT go out to dinner--even to a "Kids Eat Free" restaurant.

Feeling: resigned to the fact that this household needs to pause the regular studies to improve our transition times...because it should NOT take 45 minutes for little girls to dress, make their beds and come downstairs in the morning.

Happy because: this morning, they did it all in 4 minutes--the second time around. Which is to say that after they were ready for their day, we went back into p.j.s, and into bed, and started over....which the little one thought was great fun--enthusiasm enough for all of them.

Today I: will listen to Fifi laugh out LOUD at old episodes on TV Land, on the treadmill, at the gym. (And so will everyone within 100 feet.) Later, Dumpling will strip off the braces and enjoy her dance class.

Laundry: A load a day, and a day behind.

Something I know: we are going to hear Joseph confess his identity to his brothers today, and we are looking forward to that!

Currently reading: Around the World in 80 Days and A Child's History of the World.

Wanting: the "Quick Yoyo Makers" I purchased on-line last night.

Favorite gadget: I guess I'm not impressed enough with anything to call any of them my favorite: laptop? Cell phone? Mp3? (That last one does hold the most beautiful music in the world from my Baroque Choir--so I guess it wins.)

Thankful that: the Lord showed us--without any ambiguity at all--where we are to worship after a long decade of visiting.

Wondering why: we spent so much time driving all over this metro area, when the church was nearly within walking distance all this time?

Feel free to copy and paste...it's going around.

Wordless Wednesday: Time's a Flyin'--October 2003

Wordless Wednesday: I Spy SNAP!

More WW here.

My past WW here:

The Best Dog Ever
A Cheerful Giver
My Beagle Climbs Trees
Texas Snow Angel
Learning To Sew
How Puppies Play
Living History At Hearst Castle
The Beagle
Share
A Daddy That Reads
Guests For Brunch
Precarious Portrait
Ministering To The Least Of Us
Touring The Courthouse (Santa Barbara)

Wordless Wednesday: Snail Mail

More WW here.

My past WW here:

The Best Dog Ever
A Cheerful Giver
My Beagle Climbs Trees
Texas Snow Angel
Learning To Sew
How Puppies Play
Living History At Hearst Castle
The Beagle
Share
A Daddy That Reads
Guests For Brunch
Precarious Portrait
Ministering To The Least Of Us
Touring The Courthouse (Santa Barbara)

Wordless Wednesday: Tortilla Soup

Click here to visit more Wordless Wednesdays.

Click here to visit more of my WW posts.

A Day In the One-Room Homeschool 2007-2008

Tiany, at Less of Me, More of Him is hosting an homeschool open house! Thanks, Tiany!

A short intro about you

I'm a wife of one man for 19 years, a believer in Christ for 10, mother of three daughters aged 12, 7 and 5. We've been homeschooling since the beginning--this will be our 8th year.

Your Homeschool Day, what does it look like?

We rise, groom, and do some household chores before breakfast. Or, I can spend the balance of the morning nagging the girls to finish their chores in between this distraction and that. No thank you. You don't work, you don't eat.

The first thing we do after we fill our stomaches is fill our spirits and souls with God's Word. In the young years especially, knowledge of God, Godly wisdom and a strong sense of character are paramount. More important than math. Or science. Or even reading. We most often utilize Pictures from Proverbs curriculum with coloring books. It gives a good explanation of select verses, encourages memorization, applies a story from the Scripture (Scripture interpreting Scripture) and offers comprehension questions which we don't use as often as we do just plain narration, Charlotte Mason style. And it's very affordable.

If we're not already there, we need to move to the table now for handwriting through copywork--or dictation for my oldest. Our selections vary. Sometimes it's the passage we're memorizing that month. Other times, we'll write out a hymn we're learning, a verse a day.

Before I let them leave the table, I hope to consistently pop in the next cd lesson for this year's attempt to learn conversational Spanish through Speak in a Week. We did a class with other homeschoolers last year and it. was. a. bust. If you're not learning Spanish with phrases and some amount of increasing immersion, you're not learning Spanish. (Or whatever language for your region; I'm in San Antonio.)

After language, my oldest, 12 year old Fifi, and I tag-team the little ones: she takes 5 year old Cuddlebug for "sister-mentor time," in which she might help her learn a new workbook skill like dot-to-dot, word search or Sudoko. Meanwhile I take 7 year old Dumpling to the piano to supervise her practice and theory work. 20 minutes.

Next, Fifi gets the music room for at least an hour to practice violin (6 years @ many $ = top priority) while Dumpling previews her read-aloud book (that makes our lesson time smoother and shorter) and I sit with Cuddlebug for the next lesson in Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Then we switch and Dumpling comes to read a chapter or so on her level. Sometimes, Cuddlebug listens in too, other times she plays quietly with the kitten. Afterward, we're free to read storybooks together or practice math through games (Yatzee, Bingo, Rack-O, Blokus, etc.) or the occasional worksheet from our Math U See lesson cd.

This brings us up to "recess" time where I'll kick the kids outside for 30 minutes, scarf down my own lunch, prepare theirs, call them in and read aloud to them from (usually) an historical fiction while they eat. In the summer, we're definitely inside the house, but when the weather permits, we love to spend this hour outside on the patio. Maybe this year we'll venture out further with a picnic lunch. One step at a time, as LindaFay says.

What curriculum will you be using? Do you not use a curriculum? Do you homeschool for FREE? Tell us about it!

After lunch, I need to accomplish lesson time. The subject matter determines who should attend. Monday, I like to get Fifi's grammar and writing assignments introduced. She also knows to get started on the next vocabulary assignment. Tuesday, we'll hope get the math lesson under our belt (though Tuesday is ballet and orchestra, so it might be that we have to move this to Monday; we'll see). Wednesday we'll hit history and correlating geography hard, with reading assignments and map work on the side throughout the week. We have an excellent library system here; I can shop online and simply pick up the books when they've been pulled. It's like having a book butler! Thursday is the day I dream of making Science the priority because it has been seriously neglected until now and I'd like to start Fifi on Apologia next year. Friday will be a day for art lesson and appreciation, instruction in handicraft, literature and homemaking (which is code for we're gonna clean our house and relax with a good book).

Do you schedule your day to the minute or go with the flow with no real structure?

Last year I made a beautiful, repositionable-subject schedule map. Spent hours on it. Hung it up. And never looked at it again. I've decided that a daily to-do list, with a weekly overview will suffice. We'll get it all in as we can. And as He deems. I expect we'll be done around 2. And the rest of the afternoon will be swallowed up by doctors, dentists and other...things. Like laundry. And sewing. I do hope to start a weekly play group this year for the little ones, and a monthly book club tea for Fifi. I also hope to see a strong enough repertoire of music between the four of us to minister to nursing homes or hospitals. Maybe my voice teacher and her girls will join us? *hint, hint, Katherine*

I think I'm going to have to hit the gym in the early a.m. half of the week to fit it all in from now on. When I do go in the afternoon, Fifi will come walk the treadmill or eliptical with me; the "puppies" I'm not so worried about. They get exercise!

And it looks as if I'll have to accomplish the shopping -- ugh -- on Saturday morning. Unless Husband continues to be willing to pick up our daily bread on his way home. He's awesome that way.

Do you homeschool in a homeschool room, at the kitchen table, at a desk, in the park on the grass?

Whatever works. We try not to hunker down at the table if we don't need to be there.

Do you have any “must share” tips?

1. Remember it's a marathon, not a sprint.
2. Childhood is precious--let them play! Unstructured and often.
3. Turn off the t.v. and the computer. Use these helps very sparingly. The use of the phrase, "I'm bored" increases in direct relation to the frequency and duration of their use.
   
4. Use discretion; resist the temptation to teach little ones things they can't use and will only loose once they've fulfilled their duty as a trophy in your case, i.e. "My little Johnny can name all the Pharaohs in Egypt--in order." That time is better spent on teaching little Johnny to respect and protect the girls instead of chasing them with a big stick.
5. Oh! And one more thing! Blog it or scrapbook it. Take pictures. Keep a record. Do something that you can put your eyes and hands on; it really helps boost confidence that you're really, truly doing it!

Do you have a question or concern? Throw that in there too!

1. I'm always looking for new ideas for keeping little ones occupied during another child's lesson time.
2. And how much housework is too much housework for a 12 year old? What, specifically, are your child's chores and household responsibilities?

Thursday Thirteen: I Always...

I always smile when...

My three very different girls, at three very different ages, find a common ground on which to play together. And all the more when it involves dress up and role-playing and finding orphans on the doorstep.

I always smirk when...

Dumpling smiles at me first. She's usually got an agenda, and she doesn't even try to pretend she doesn't.

I always relax when...

Cuddlebug crawls into my lap and snuggles up with me. Even if she is sucking her thumb.

I always praise God when...

I see true repentance wash over the countenance of a child who has just been relieved of the weight of her guilt by God's prescription. Even though--or maybe especially because--it is so counter-intuitive.

I always laugh when...

Fifi giggles her loud, high, uninhibited giggle because the kitten has done something. Anything. It doesn't take much.

I always cry when...

Tzeitle is whisked into her wedding reception by a proud and quiet Golde and then greeted by the wide happy grins of her adoring sisters in Fiddler on the Roof.

I see the happiness shown on the children's faces in The Sound of Music as their father answers their song by joining in with harmony on Eidleweiss.

I think too long about the suffering in the world and how helpless I am to affect it.

I always think of...

Girl Scout camp when I smell strawberry-scented shampoo.
The "young me" when I smell Calvin Klein's Obsession.
My mother, when I smell White Shoulders.

I always get frustrated when...

I try to make changes in my life that the Lord hasn't called me to, just because they work well or look good for someone else.

I always feel confused when...

Someone asks, "What's for dinner?"

I always feel bad when...

Husband cooks dinner on a weekday.

I always feel better when...

I restore the kitchen to its tidy, shiny brilliance because Husband is a very messy cook.

I always feel protected when...

Husband sends me upstairs to check the children while he locks up the house nice and tight.

I always feel confident when...

I have my heart right with the Lord and am living my faith before Him as if He and I were the only two in existence.

I got this idea from Melanie at This Ain't New York.

8 Random Things Meme

A new blog-friend from my sister's hometown of Chandler, Arizona--Karly at An Indescribable Life, has tagged me for this meme. It's always fun to be included! If you've read my 100 Things list, my apologies because there are going to be repeats!

1. I can sew.
2. I'm a tea-totaler.
3. I am a recovered morning rock-and-roll radio show host.
4. I grew up in Mesa, Arizona.
5. I hosted Jimmy Kimmel for Thanksgiving dinner in 1991 when he was my husband's morning show host in Palm Springs. That was before he sold his soul for fame and fortune.
6. I am a night owl. I should go to bed earlier, but I do my best only thinking at night.
7. My first car was a '78 Volare, and I tried to wax it with Armor All.
   
8. I desperately want more babies, and am terrified at the possibility!
   

Wordless Wednesday: The Best Dog Ever

More Wordless Wednesday participants here.

More of my pics:

A Cheerful Giver
My Beagle Climbs Trees
Texas Snow Angel
Learning To Sew
How Puppies Play
Living History At Hearst Castle
The Beagle
Share
A Daddy That Reads
Guests For Brunch
Precarious Portrait
Ministering To The Least Of Us
Touring The Courthouse (Santa Barbara)

Blogging: Why, When, How and How Come?

This is Chilihead. And her family, I'm guessing. Chili is hosting a carnival. The carnival is all about the why, when, how and how come? of blogging. So...

How did you start blogging?

The short answer is that I thought I was going to die, and tragically someone else did.

I discovered blogging after a tragic car accident outside Houston two years ago claimed the lives of a family of 4 that I knew: a mother, a father and two of their three grown children. The college-aged girls in the car used to babysit for us. In their local paper in Amarillo, the younger's blog address was printed as an invitation for all to read.

Months later, I would suffer the loss of a second pregnancy that year, this one requiring a d&c. Having never been "under" for anything other than having my wisdom teeth pulled as a teen, I was just. so. sure. that I wasn't coming home from my early morning surgery. When I did in fact, awaken, return to my girls, and recover, I started this blog to be my voice should I ever be called Home early. Having my memories and impressions written down in one, orderly place has been a tremendous relief to me.

Did you intend to be a blog w/a big following? If so, how did you go about it?

No way. My main focus was getting stuff down for the girls. But, I kept it public and even joined the CWO blogring hoping to be blessed, and perhaps be a blessing because in years past I had naively placed myself under the teaching and influence of women who would later reveal themselves as something other than the Godly example they thought or pretended themselves to be. If ever I'm not here when my daughters begin their families, I do not want them falling under such spells! Read my blog, girls! I'll give it to you straight!

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

It's cathartic. That was one of my primary goals, and I'm constantly achieving it.

Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

My motive is mostly the same, but my focus has broadened. I have met some wonderful women whose lives I'm sincerely interested in, and praying for--and I sense the reciprocity.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

Labels (or tags). I'm glad that blogger upgraded and now I have labels. And I think I've mostly caught up with my 360 some-odd posts.

Do you make money with your blog?

No. For the glory of God, I need complete control over what appears on my blog. That goes for comments, links and most certainly ads. I'm guessing that taking on advertisers costs a blogger some control.

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

All of my family knows. My husband reads it fairly regularly. My oldest daughter reads some posts with permission. My mother found it by covert methods. She's not a believer, and was pretty disappointed at my conversion a decade ago, and for that, I didn't think my content would bless her.

What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

1. Speak in first person more often than second person unless you are Ann V. from Holy Experience or Oswald Chambers.
2. Do not use real names. Ever. And if you do, certainly don't post pictures and names.

Thanks, Chilihead! You can visit more blogging testimonies here.

The E V Me Me

Telling people about Jesus can be a little intimidating. I worry that I won't say it right. I'm concerned that, out of context, I will only to make Jesus seem like a Southern platitude. But I do it anyway. I pray for opportunities. I pray that I'll be sensitive to recognize the opportunities.

And I'm wondering what y'all's experience is? When is the last time--or your favorite time--that you shared the Gospel with someone outside your own household, and just knew that it was a moment of divine appointment. A work ordained by Him in which you were asked to walk...or talk as the case may be.

I'm tagging everyone in my blogroll! Write a post and link it in my comments, or write it up in my comments if brevity is your gift.

And don't forget to pass it on!

Friday Feast

Appetizer

What are you proud of?

I'm proud of anything I sew that fits where and how it is supposed to: slipcovers, skirts, jumpers. I'm about to take on 9 little girls' Israeli folk dance dresses for Dumpling's ballet dance class recital. I hope I'll be able to be proud of those! Ahem.

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?

I won a blue ribbon for an art contest in 6th grade. But, no. I won a silver candle at a Christmas "white elephant" gift exchange. No, that's not it either. I think I'm more about experience than material, so I'd say that my favorite prize was a spot in the 1983 Arizona All-State Choir.

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.

I check my sitemeter -- more than once a day.

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?

I changed a lot with many a milestone: graduation, independence, marriage and motherhood. But I think last year was perhaps the biggest change. My faith was stretched through private personal circumstances as well as a bitter experience with an unreliable person. And it was the first year anyone ever breathed a word to me about my being on the older side of the Titus 2 exhortation.

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?

In the car -- alone.

Thinking Blogger Award

On my last post, Barb from A Chelsea Morning commented that she had awarded me something and that I better scoot on over to check it out. Of course I abandoned all blogging to do just that!

This one is kind of a tag, so now I am invited to name 5 blogs that make me think. More on that in a minute.

Here's what Barb said about me that made Husband and me laugh out loud!

"Grafted Branch at Restoring the Years riles me up all the time and she seriously makes me think - her dedication to raising three daughters to become the best they can be is truly inspirational. And she doesn't mince words when she has something on her mind. She makes me feel like a real weenie."

And about passing it on, or "paying it forward" as the saying goes, I'll have to save that for another day. I'm too tired to think about thinking.