Whyyy, Mom?

Why do you keep stealing my favourite clothes and throwing them away when I'm not looking?  It's not faair!

Have You Ever Misplaced an Important Document?

I have. My birth certificate has gone missing.  Well, it was very, very faded anyway.  And it wasn't on normal paper but some odd metallic-like thing, and all the creases destroyed the lettering.  But it was real.  Now I have no proof I exist!  I need to get another.

A recorded message at the health department in the county where I was born has about a zillion prompts.  Are you in a life-threatening emergency?  Hang up and dial 911.

Do you need to report toxic waste?  Press 1.

Do you need HIV testing?  Press 2.

Do you need to be tested for a "communicable disease?"  Press 3.

Do you need a birth or death record?  Press 4.

Wow.  I asked the lady who answered the phone what kind of town they were running that this is the sort of first impression you get of the place.

"Ma'am?" she answered.  "This is Cleveland.  Nobody going to be here that doesn't have to be here." 

Yep.  "This is Cleveland" is actually a marketing/tourist-y gimmick.  She was just being a bit honest about it.  :)

Pray for Orrick!

One of my friends and his wife and children were hiding under tables in a local church when the tornado struck.  No warning.  His home is spared, but the family has lost the van.  His wife's family's home was damaged.  Most of the town looks like God got a lawnmower out over it.   Take a look.  Isn't it amazing no one was hurt??

Wrapping up our School Year!

My complicated method of storing records:  pop an occasional worksheet or writing sample into a three-ring binder.  When the school year is over, use yarn and an oversized needle, and thread through the holes.  Tie the ends so you have a little "book."  It doesn't have to be super-durable, as it's just "proof you did something this school year" and not an item for the National Archives.

Emperor's packet was stacked on Woodjie and Rose's packet, and a few science workbooks were thrown in the middle somewhere. 

Now it's all tied together like a package and labelled.  School year is finished.  Ta-da!  I have a ton of these in the basement.    I don't know who would ever want records or proof that Elf and Emperor did their work in 2006, but it's all in the basement "just in case."  It feels good to have it all squared away and in a safe place.

Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

We went to the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary today.  Once a month, they have a program for homeschoolers.  On our walk, we found a little turtle!

Rose was brave enough to pet the "hissing cockroach" that was on display.

Yikes!  We found this on our nature walk, too! It was about 20 feet long.  Okay... maybe closer to about two feet.  But we all jumped when we discovered one another.

Leopard slugs. 

Salamanders.

A Prayer for Homeschoolers

I think one of the hardest challenges new homeschoolers face is letting go of how it "should" be. If I have one prayer for new homeschoolers, it is peace. Peace from struggling to find the "right" curriculum for a 5-year-old. Peace from worrying about how to "schedule" their time. Peace from the fear that they will "miss" covering a subject sufficiently. I think public school has created a culture that has damaged many parents. It has minimized their sense of importance, and their confidence. To all of you just starting out - You've got this!!! It will be ok!!! And may you feel the love and peace of The Lord surround you as you answer His call!!

- Anonymous, on a homeschooling facebook group.

"Fair?" Skin Colour in India.

I don't get it. These people lived under the boot of the English. WHY would they want to look white? The products they use to "bleach" themselves won't make people white.  The fathers in the film saying such nasty things about their kids, and the teachers even saying mean things because children are "too dark?"  Poor kid, to hear his own mom saying what do you think?  That he goes to school with the English children that he should expect to be treated well and be able to study?  Schools for people like them are schools where no-one cares.  The little boy douses himself with powder to try to fool the other children... but he always sweats and the ruse is up.