Pausing for Snow

I open the door

And the cat

Usually so anxious for escape

Stops

Nose in the wind

Sniffing the unfamiliar whiteness

One paw suspended

She reconsiders

 

He opens the garage

To a flurry of cold

And a gusty unexpected breath

His black shoes

Become dusted in white

He is surprised

At the deepness he sees

From here

Of drifts piled

Where the door had been

He sets down his briefcase

And fumbles

For the phone in his pocket

 

She bounces from the window

Across the room

Still in her pajamas

Collared shirt and blue slacks

Forgotten

Excitement

In every leap

She hollers

Downstairs

That the spelling test

Won’t happen

Today

 

I close the door

On chills

And shovels scraping

And squeals

About fast rides

Down steep hills

Into the empty street

 

 

 

Carefully

I make my way

Over piles

Of crumpled hats

Damp mittens

And puddles

Of melted boot tracks

To pull a blanket

Over my lap

And open my book

Almost forgotten

 

The cat is curled

Beside my feet

While the world

Pauses

For snow

 

A poem is never finished, only abandoned.

I found a great translation of a quote that I love on 

http://www.austinkleon.com/

"In the eyes of those who anxiously seek perfection, a work is never truly completed- a word that for them has no sense- but abandoned." Paul Valery 

I have been editing and rewriting and editing and rewriting some more, and the more I do, the more I see that needs to be done.  Sort of like cleaning the house.  If I start scrubbing places like under the fridge and in the corners of the window wells, I find more and more dirt until I eventually realize I must either abandon all other pursuits in my life and devote my entire existence to housecleaning, or go to bed and give up on the project entirely.  I'm not ready to abandon this novel yet.  There are still things- the written equivalent of wiping off the kitchen counters- that simply must be done.  But it is truly impossible, I am convinced, for any mortal to ever "Complete" a work of fiction.  One word could always be better, one phrase more enlightening.  

sigh.

I keep writing. 

=)  

Unique Positions in the History of the World

Have you ever thought about the few-- and I think there are only a few-- people who have held completely unique positions in the history of the world? 

Consider Eve.  There is no one with whom she can sit down and say, "You know that feeling you get when people accuse you of causing the whole human race to suffer because you ate one piece of fruit?"  I mean, she could say that to me, but I would have to give her a blank stare, or at best some trite phrase, like, "I can imagine that must be really hard."  But there is no one else that has been through anything similar.  Ditto for Adam.  (Although, of course, he and Eve have had very similar experiences.  But I bet they have a lot of , "She says such and such, but I'll tell you what really happened."  What married couple doesn't?  And they had So Many years together!  Lots of stuff to get mixed up about.)

And then there is Noah.  He is only in a sort-of-unique position, since there are 7 others who can relate pretty well to his unusual experiences.  He must be really grateful for those 7 people. It could have just been one woman, pregnant with twins, who was on the ark.  That would have been a miserable experience.  Thank Heaven (literally) that that was not the case!  

And how about Mary.  Totally unique.  I think my favorite verse in all scripture is Luke 2:19-"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."  What else could she do?  There was no one else going through a similar experience with whom she could go to lunch and talk things through.  What a lot of silent pondering she must have done.  

And Joseph Smith.  (Some of you may not know his story, but he belongs on the list nonetheless.)  To be, for a very long time, the only one living to have seen the plates, must have felt like Atlas.  He could tell people, and others were being persecuted for believing him, but his position was still unique.  What a relief it must have been- the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders- when he was told he could finally show the plates to others.  

And of course, the Savior, Jesus Christ.  While I can, in some degree, imagine what it must be like to be the others, I can not even begin to imagine what it would be like to be the Savior of the world.  But the fact that it is a unique position is true by definition.  And all the others, from Eve (and Adam) to the end of the world, who have held- or feel like they have held- unique positions, do have at least One person who can relate to them- because when Jesus was suffering for us, and performing the atonement, He had to experience everything-- every single emotion and feeling-- that anyone on earth had ever, or would ever, feel.  So he felt what it was like to be Eve, accused of bringing the whole human race out of Eden. And he felt what it was like to be Noah letting people die while he climbed onto the ark, and Mary, and Joseph, and me.  Not that I belong in that list.  But he still felt everything I've felt.  "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  He knows exactly what it felt like to be the mother of young children, home all day, with no other adults to talk to, because he felt it.  Or a homeschooling mom.  Or a college student with a late assignment.  

I just wonder sometimes, who else there will be in this world with unique positions.  I really do.

Brief Notes from the Sunday Morning Session of General Conference

My notes are brief, and I've left out most of the stories (and all of the songs) because I have a hard time listening and taking notes at the same time. But this will gave you a small taste.  You can find the whole broadcast, or just one talk at a time, on www.lds.org.

Elder Eyring-

Love one another. 

Sorrow comes from selfishness, which is the absence of love

Choices we can make to assure no empty chairs for our family in heaven:

         -Husbands and wives: Pray for love to see the good in your companion, to make weaknesses appear small, to want to lessen their load and make the sorrows smaller.

          -Parents: Pray for your children, love them, have confidence that Jesus reaches for them with you;

          -To children: (all children, young and old) honor thy father and thy mother… your quality of life will be improved if you remember your parents and love them.

           -Parents: Ask children for pardon when you make a mistake.

"And great shall be the peace of thy children.  And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord."  

Look for opportunities to love, and you will feel the peace, assurance of a child.

L. Tom Perry

Swedish ship builders in the 1800's built the roof for the Manti Temple in Utah.  They did not know how to build a building's roof, so they decided to build a ship, and then turn it upside down.  The top of a building needs to be waterproof, like the bottom of a ship.  It needs to be well- constructed.  So that is what they did!

They desired to share what they knew to help build the kingdom of God.  We can do the same!

H. David Burton

When I was 12 there were several requirements for graduation from Primary, including memorizing and reciting all 13 Articles of Faith in order.  The first 12 were easy!  The 13th is very long and I could not say it without help and prompting.    

Many virtues end in -ity.  Charity, Civility, Integrity, Fidelity, Humility, Generosity, Morality, etc.  I call these the "ity" virtues, and many of them are missing from our society today.

We need not be a part of the virtue malaise that is plaguing our society. Teaching virtuous traits begins in the home, and is taught by example.  

15 yo grandson is an avid skier.  He would be allowed to compete if his grades were high enough.  He worked and worked, but in the end, fell just short of the goal.  He was not allowed to compete, and lost the opportunity to compete for a place in the junior olympics.  But he learned a valuable lesson in integrity.    

Lost Battalion of WWI, Lost Boys of Peter Pan, The Forgotten Carols... Do not let the "ity" virtues become the lost virtues.  Now is the time for us to rescue those virtues that are virtuous, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy. 

Ann M. Dibb

Several workers had been painting a bridge for about a year.  Toward the end of their job, they fell to their deaths.  People asked why they had not safety equipment.  The answer: They did.  But they did not choose to wear it.

We may also be in challenging circumstances.  The dangers we live with today, including society's tolerance on sin.  This is just as dangerous as falling from a 125 ft high bridge to our deaths.  

In the scriptures there are very few (any?) of people living in blissful happiness without challenges.  But our Heavenly Father has confidence in you!  He will convert your supposed inadequacies into strengths.  He has given us all the safety equipment we need to return to him.  Scriptures, prayer, the Holy Ghost.  It may seem cumbersome and unfashionable.  But I for one choose to use it!

In the Book of Mormon we learn about another safety device: the iron rod, running along the straight and narrow path.  The iron rod is the Word of God.  I invite you to read it again.  Hold on tight to the iron rod-- get a grip!  When we let go, we easily got lost in the mists of darkness.  If this happens, we can find our way back through repentance.  

Use the safety equipment Heavenly Father has provided for you. They are, literally, everything. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson

My wife, Wendy, and I were overseas and received news almost instantly that we had a new grandchild born on the other side of the world!  Prayer is available to all of us with no equipment necessary, no monthly service fee!

To access info from Heaven, we must ask with Real Intent.  Which means we must really intend to follow the divine direction given.

We must Study it out in our own minds, and then ask God.  If it is right, we will feel that it is right.  We will know it inside ourselves.

God has a long pattern of teaching people through prophets.  If we follow God's prophets, we will be blessed.  

The natural man is an enemy to God, and will be forever and ever unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.

Personal revelation can be honed to become the gift of spiritual discernment.  With this gift we can see things not visible- recognizing the needs of those around us, trends in the earth that will damage our spirits.

How can we have this gift?  Develop Faith, Hope Charity and Love.  Ask and you will receive.  Knock and it will be opened unto you.  Revelation need not come all at once.  Line upon line, precept upon precept.  To him that recieveth will the Lord reveal more.

Revelation exists because God lives.  This is His Living church.  Thomas S. Monson is His living prophet.

President Thomas S. Monson

Told of a man from southern VA whose father was a minister and who asked his children every night at the dinner table, "What did you do today for someone else?"  This man went on to develop medical clinics all over the world where doctors volunteer their time to serve the poor.

Man's greatest happiness comes from loosing ourselves in the service of others.

I am confident it is each member's intention to serve those in need.  How often have you intended to be the one to help, but daily life interferes, and we leave it to someone else.  Have we lost ourselves in things that do not really matter at all, neglecting the more important causes?

I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight...

... but I never have yet felt a tinge of regret for being a little too kind. 

For my birthday I asked members of the church to perform acts of service.  (several good stories) For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat... naked and ye clothed me... sick and ye visited me... Lord, when saw we thee hungry or naked, or sick?  Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Ask yourself, What have I done for someone today?  (The words of the hymn Have I Done any Good in the World Today?)  We have all been called to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He says, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  May we qualify for that blessing. 

The closing hymn: Have I Done Any Good in the World Today? by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. =) 

Looking Forward

It's fall and I'm getting ready for the onslaught of holidays.  ... thinking of Christmas presents... wondering what to do about Thanksgiving... thinking I should call around and find a place for a bon fire on Halloween... and wondering where I can get all natural candy corn!

I have found wonderful, amazingly tasty, incredibly delicious, all-natural candies at the Natural Candy Store.  They have a huge selection and everything we have ordered from them has been candy to die for.  Homemade-style root beer barrels, nougat sweetened with honey, real fruit flavored gummy bears, even rose flavored hard candies!  But-- no candy corn.  I think it's about as artificial as "food" can get.  Which actually doesn't bother me personally.  I don't like candy corn.  But my kids- especially Rachel- do, and it would be nice to find some.

Ok, Bethany needs the computer to work on her Physical Science.  So I'd better get off.

Rebecca  =)

(If you find any all-natural candy corn-- call me immediately!) 

odds and ends

There is a kitty asleep on the foot of my bed.  I know she's not supposed to be there, but she is so cute and little and asleep, that I am pretending I don't notice her.  (Mike, I am sorry.  But you are out of town, and I will wash the covers before you get back.)

I spent the afternoon at the pool with Naomi and I'm a bit burnt.  And sore.  Emily- I thought of you.  Those laps were killers!  I did two, stood up, and thought... "I'm about to faint.  They'll have to fish me off the bottom of the pool."  I made it to the edge very slowly, not in a straight line, and rested at the ladder for a few minutes before climbing out.  After that I only did one lap at a time, and rested between them.  I'm pretty sure my cardio-vascular system would benefit from my doing that a little more often!  

We have had the windows all open and the AC turned off for a couple of days now.  The weather is scrumptious.  We should have days like this all the time.  Warm sun, cool breezes, low humidity... aahhh... 

I've been able to write a bit with Mike, Bethany and Peter gone, and Josh working.  Jacob's Peak is getting plunged in the water, scrubbed, stretched and blocked.  What will be different?  I hope you'll find more accurate fight scenes, more realistic emotions, a longer passage over the mountains with more time for romance-- and fighting, more training for espionage and covert operations, more character development for Varik,  and a stronger, more pro-active main character.  Not to mention, an all-around better-written, edge of your seat, cry and laugh-out-loud novel.  That's the plan, anyway.   

At the moment, my eyes are burning almost as much as my sunburn.  I should probably go to sleep.  Sadie- I am reading a book that reminds me of you!  It's called Viola in Reel Life.  You should read it.  But not till the semester is over.

Good Night!

=)

CrossFit and a retraction

After thinking about my last post, it occurred to me that the story cannot possibly be true.  I hate it when people post things like that.  Why can it not be true?  Well, first of all, the guy supposedly started, taught-- and failed-- a class, all since Obama was elected, and since Obama's tactics became widely seen as socialistic.  Not likely.  Also it gives no location for the class, no year, no identifying info.  I'm sorry I posted it.  

But... I still think the concept is a correct one.  So.

And now, since I'm sure you've all been wondering.... CrossFit!  How is it going?  What are we doing?  I know, I know.  You've been dying to hear all about it.  =)

We wake up at 8 each morning.  (Yes, it's shockingly early.  But we have pioneer ancestors.  Early hours are in our blood.)  After morning songs and prayers we do the WOD.  (Work Out of the Day)  I don't remember what we did on Monday (probably something from CrossFit Kids), but on Tuesday we did a five-minute warm up (push ups, sits ups and such) followed by 7 individual push presses.  I can hear you asking "Push press?  What is that?"  (No-- not you, Mike R.  I know you know.  You're probably asking, Just 7?  I mean the rest of them.)   It's a weight lifting thing.  With one of those bars with heavy round things on the end.  That's the technical description.  You can watch a video of it here.  After that we did overhead squats to the end of the driveway and back.

Wednesday we did 1 minute of the basic dot drill and one minute of double unders for warm up.  Gasp!  Pant!  (No, that's not me in the double unders video.  I know you were wondering) followed by-- in 15 minutes -- a 400 meter dash and AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of 10 pull-ups and 20 squats.  We installed another pull-up bar upstairs, since all of us were waiting for turns on the one in Josh's doorway, and it was really making the work out too easy.  Mike promptly pulled himself up right into the top of Naomi's door frame and did the rest of his pull-ups with an ice bad on his head, poor guy.   I made it through 6 rounds before our timer rang.  That's 60 pull-ups and 120 squats.  I thought I was going to either throw up or pass out-- or both-- by the time I was done.  (I am such a wimp)

Today we warmed up balancing on the 55 gallon water drum (turned on it's side so it rolls) in the backyard, followed by push-ups.  Then we did 150 wall-balls for time.  Mike creamed us all, finishing in just over 2 minutes, and not even looking winded afterwards.  (He said, "Was that it?")  Josh came in next at 3 minutes, followed closely by Bethany.  None of them looked too pooped.  But then, we were using an 8# ball instead of the prescribed 20# ball.  Ugh!  Do you have any idea how heavy 20 pounds are when you have been throwing them over your head and catching them for several minutes?  My arms ache just to think of it.  Or maybe that's from the WOD.  My own 5.5 minutes were not the slowest in the family.  Peter, bless his little heart, took a whole 10 minutes.  Probably just to make me feel better.  =)  

Believe it or not, I think we get a harder WOD when we do CrossFit Kids than the regular CrossFit  I guess maybe they think kids are able to be more active than adults?  (Huh.  Why would that be?  =)  Everything I've posted here is from the adult WOD, but I'm thinking tomorrow we'll do the kids' WOD.  You can read the kids' work out here.  (Scroll down past the picture of Junior doing an overhead squat.)  Then give it a try.  If your name is Mr. Incredible, it will be a snap.  If your name is Mrs.SitOnTheCouchAnd CorrectMathMostDays... well.... just come over about 8:45 some morning to see what you'll look like.

So, I may not be Super Girl yet, but I''m working on it!  

=)

Socialism

I know many of you will not agree with this post, and I'm fine with that.  I'd like to hear your thoughts- for and against- as long as they are not just attacks.  I would really like to know how people who are pro-socialism see the world.

I got the following from my dad.  Enjoy!

Rebecca  =)

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, 
but had once failed an entire class.

That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan". 

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. 

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. 
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.  

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.  
The second test average was a D! 
No one was happy. 

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. 

The scores never increased as bickering, 
blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.  

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.   It could not be any simpler than that.

The Problem with Facebook

It's been over a month now since I've written here.  And it's all facebook's fault.  

When I have 2.5 minutes, I can log on, check what everyone is up to, post one sentence about my life, and feel like I have communicated with the world.  No more complete thoughts.  We need Paul Harvey and the rest of the story.

So, for those of you who have been keeping up with my little blurbs on facebook, but who wonder, What has she really been doing this summer?  Here  is the rest of the story...

Driving.

No seriously.  My new address is KEZ 1332.  I have a 6 CD changer, a pretty comfortable chair, AC, and a cool cup holder.  

But when I'm not in the car (which does happen sometimes!) I have been at my family reunion, traveling to Utah, and pulling up carpet and knocking holes in my wall.

The reunion was great.  My parents, all my siblings, and all my siblings' kids came out to our area and we went to Mt. Vernon, visited DC, went to the top of the Washington Monument, rode paddle boats around the tidal basin, and watched the fireworks from the lawn of the Pentagon.  We also celebrated my birthday, and all my family pitched in to make a book for me of stories and poems, compiled by Elizabeth and published by Lulu.  They were SO awesome!  The first story is by my Dad, the last by my Mom.  Elizabeth illustrated the cover.  Wonderful.  Really very well done and amazing all around.  (One poem by Casey still makes me laugh every time I think of it.  I should ask him if I can post it here.  Aahh... facebook.  Just the place fir such things.)

Right after the reunion my house started smelling like formaldehyde, and to make a very long story short, we ripped up the family room carpet and knocked a sizable hole in the wall to figure out what was going on.  (know that this was at the advice of Everyone, including the EPA, lest you think us crazy.)  We have since solved the problem (sub-flooring) and have not fixed either the hole or the floor.  We're working on that.  (Much of that driving has been to Home Depot.)

The trip to Utah was great.  I went with Bethany and we had a blast.  First, I went to the doctor with my mom, and we got some better-than-expected news.  Then we just had fun-- Alpine Slide, Brick Oven, BYU campus, Lara and her babies, and more BYU campus.  My parent's house is beautiful and calm, and I'd forgotten what real grass looks like!  That stuff does not grow in Virginia.  Everywhere I went I exclaimed over the grass.  And I converted.  not to Mormonism.  I already did that.  To Crossfit.  A gym.  For the first time in my life, exercising is not boring and pointless!   What an amazing concept!  You should all look into it right now.  Really.  

http://www.crossfit.com

The we came home and... I drove some more.  Moved back into my house at KEZ 1332.  It's small, but cute.    I took Rachel and Elizabeth both to the cardiologist.  Rachel's heart is fine, thank you very much.  And Elizabeth DOES NOT have heart failure!  WOO HOO!!!  =)  This is good news.  We've done that twice already, and really do not need to do it again. 

And I've been writing.  Some.  I finally received a rejection from a publisher who held my book, asking fro more time and more copies for a year, just last week.  I went from shocked, to angry, to thoughtful, to grateful all in about 24 hours.  She made some very specific comments, and I have to say, some of them are right on the mark.  And so I am making changes accordingly.  I was sort of working on two other novels (the sort of is because of a lack of time) but they have been set aside until I get JP whipped into shape.  A friend who knows about these things has been kind enough to agree to help me out with the fight scenes and other writing.   (Thank you!)  And somehow that is a catalyst for me to get moving.  That, and the rejection, of course.  But rejections can be positive.  (I keep telling myself that.)

So, that is my summer.  Friends are moving-- or have moved-- out here.  But even my friends who live here I seldom see.  Except on facebook, that is.

Rebecca  =) 

Getting Stuff Done

I have wonderful news!  It has Finally Stopped Raining!  After weeks and weeks without two consecutive rain-free days, we finally have a forecast for sunny skies!  Hurray!  

Which means it's time to start getting stuff done.  The backyard patio that the kids and I laid a few weeks ago still needs a cement border.  (Not good to pour cement in the rain)  The paving stones for the paths can now be laid without our being covered in huge mud splatters.  And the grass can finally be mowed again!

  

Yesterday I figured out a way to walk on my left foot without being in too much pain, and now feel "stable" enough (foot-wise, that is) to finish painting The Wall in the front room.  I didn't think standing on a stool with only one foot would have been the brightest thing I'd ever done.  One broken bone is enough.  So now the wall can get painted, too!  

And... our hollyhocks that we started indoors are finally large enough to be transplanted out next to the fence!  I love hollyhocks, and I really hope these will live, and grow, and be covered in flowers.  They just seem like what every house should have.  Along with peonies and white picket fences.  And kittens.  And a swing.  

So, enough typing!  Come by for a visit some time and see how our hollyhocks are doing.  Check out The Wall.  And maybe we'll bake cookies.  =) 

My Toe

I wasn't kicking old ladies on the street, as my friend Karen suggested I might have done.  It was Bethany.  Not that I meant to kick her.  And she was definitely not kicking me.  It's just that our kitchen it small.  So really, it's the architect's fault.  If he had designed a little more space between the kitchen sink and the island, I would have fit easily behind Bethany as she washed the breakfast dishes.  And then my toe would never have caught her ankle.  And it wouldn't have stayed there, caught on her foot, as I passed her, and the bone would not have snapped.  But since the architect was trying to save space, and probably earned enough that he did not ever need to wash dishes himself, he did not understand the dangerous situation he was creating, and my toe is now broken.

I went to the ER yesterday, and as my friend Jill pointed out, "All they're going to do is tape you up and tell you to go see a real doctor."  One roll of tape, two crutches and several hours later, Rachel and I left to find a "real" doctor.

Which happened this morning.  He was nice, and his kids are homeschooled, and they even use Singapore Math, which means they are probably smart, which suggests he is probably smart, too.  All of which is good, because tomorrow morning I'm trusting him to put a pin (he said, "think finishing nail") into my pinkie toe.  But not all the way in. The end will be sticking out the tip of my toe.  =/  And then, in about 3 weeks, I'll go back into his office where he will-- (you should sit, if you're not already)-- Pull It Out with PLIERS!    <=O   

Does anyone else think this sounds like something from the middle ages?  Or some combination of Star Trek meets Atilla the Hun?  He assured me it wouldn't hurt anymore than what I've already gone through while breaking it.  Considering that I was gasping for breath, unable to speak, trying not to cry out loud from pain in front of my kids... that's not really comforting.  But the alternative is a permanently  weird, likely-to-be-re-broken toe sticking out the side of my foot.  So, I guess I'll go with the pliers.

One odd thing is that I broke my right pinkie toe (this time it's the left) in exactly the same way 9 years ago-- two days before Mike and I left for Ukraine to adopt Peter and Naomi. Weird, huh?  When I told Mike what I'd done, he said, "We're not adopting any kids any time soon, are we?"  I think I need to work on my proprioceptive skills, to become more in tune with my pinkie toes.      

That's all the news today from The Cottage on the Hill, where the yellow rose bush talks (thanks for the heads-up warning there, Dan-- I'll keep an eye on it) and the dahlias are finally showing their... um.... sprouts?  despite the almost constant rain lately.  YAY!  

Feel free to keep me in your prayers.

=)

It's getting black outside, about to pour.  A moment ago, an enormous crash of thunder shook the house and rattled the windows.  The kids just got in from HTT- even Naomi- and I have been here at home painting the front room wall, since I don't have a car today and can't go anywhere at all.  When I get more batteries in my camera, and when the wall is finished, I'll post a photo of it.  I think it's looking good.  =)

Besides painting the wall, I've been working in the yard.  I put in a stone patio, planted gardenia bushes, planted the dahlias I got for Mother's Day,  put flowers in the front terrace, and planted a small yellow rose bush in the back yard.  The rose bush called to me at the garden center.  I swear, as I passed, it said, "hello!"  I did a double take and thought, huh.  cute little bush.  But as I walked off to the stone section I just kept thinking, "that was a really cute little bush.  When I passed it again it almost leaped into my cart.  So I brought it home and planted it.  It really is very cute.

Gotta go.  This storm is getting bad.  Power surge possible,

Thoughts on an Eagle Scout project

Today was going to be the big day-- concert, bake sale, hundreds of people, and thoughts and donations for Uganda.  But...

While Josh was brainstorming ideas about publicity a few weeks ago, concerned that he might plan a great event and have no one show up, he contacted the Potomac News about running a story on his project- which they did.  The reporter and photographer were very nice.  They came to his sound check when his band and another band brought all their equipment to make sure everything would work and to see where and how to set up.  The story in the paper was very nice, but, unbeknown to us, caused some alarm in the local city offices.

Apparently they had just been discussing an incident in Baltimore where a girl's birthday party at a city park had to be shut down by the police, and they were all saying "Thank Heaven that didn't happen here!"  The following morning the paper carried the story of Josh's Eagle Scout project and they all panicked, picturing thousands of rowdy teens running over the park and needing to be arrested.  

Josh got a call that morning from the city council, and another from the chief of police.  They wanted to meet with him to discuss the project.  He and I went to the town hall that afternoon and met with two women from the city council and the chief of police.  While they were all very nice, it was clear that they had already decided Joshua's event was not going to happen.  The woman who had called the meeting kept saying, "It would have been a nice event..."  Bad sign.

They had called the health department to inform them of our bake sale and to recommend it be inspected (and consequently shut down).  They said there were not enough police in the city to patrol that sort of event.  They said Josh needed permits and insurance and thousands of dollars to pay police, pull permits, and so on and so forth.  It felt a bit like deja vu.  (Similar thing happened with our home owner's association, after they had approved it)

So, today was the big day.  The day we were going to be having a benefit concert.  But Josh is going to work at a neighbor's house cleaning up their back yard, removing trees and cleaning out the garage.  Which is a good thing to do!  Just not what we were planning on.  

On the bright side, how many young men get to meet with the chief of police and city council, besides the home owner's association board, all for one Eagle Scout project?  Actually, he'll get to meet with the city council twice.  They asked him to come back on June 2 to discuss the possibility of still having the concert.  (For some reason, holding it at a later date might be better.)  We'll see how that goes.  As we were leaving the meeting, one of the women who had really sounded sorry about shutting this down said, "There will be a new head of the town council on June 1, but I'm sure it will still work out."  Like I said- major deja vu!

I'm glad Josh is getting to really work for this award.  I think, at some future point in his life, all these problems and set-backs will be seen by him as a great preparation time.  In the mean time, I hope he can keep his chin up and make the best of a discouraging situation.

And if he ever does get his project to actually happen, I hope he has a whopping turn out, and is able to help tons of kids in Uganda.

=)

Bookmarks

Just a short brag.  A while ago our county library system had an art contest for adults to design bookmarks.  On the day the contest closed (procrastination is one of my strong suits) I decided that if I wanted to enter, I'd better draw something.  So I drew two designs (well... three actually, but one went in the trash) and ran them over to the local library.  

A few weeks later I got a phone call saying my bookmarks-- both of them!-- were chosen as runners up, and that 1,500 copies of each would be printed for people to take home from the libraries.  My prize was a library book bag.  Green and black and wonderfully sturdy.  =)

Today we ran into the library-- literally, because we were in a huge hurry-- and Surprise!  There were my bookmarks!  One has a dragon reading a book, and one has a girl in front of a library holding some books in her arms.  Should you happen to wander into one of our local libraries, pick one up!  Hold your place, and enjoy some of my sketches.  =)

Mother's Day

I missed talking to my mom yesterday.  First it was too early, then we went to church, then she was in church, then it was suddenly 11 pm here-- 9 pm there.  I called,  but no one answered.  =(  It's a sad thing not to get to talk to your mom on Mother's Day.

But I did think about her, and her mother, and my mother in law, and my other grandmother.  here are some things I thought.

My mother is amazing.  She has not been handed easy children to raise, but she has done a wonderful job.  She can cook anything, sew anything, keep her house beautiful, offer recipes over the phone, and cater weddings.  She is creative and an amazingly hard worker.  I hope I can be like her, someday.  =)  If she had not been a mother I wonder sometimes what she would have been.  Maybe a private investigator, or  CIA operative, maybe a stewardess or travel agent, maybe a seamstress, or perhaps a school teacher.  I don't know.  I had a really good time with her in Panama and on a cruise to Mexico a couple of summers ago.  Besides being a wonderful mother, she is just really fun to be with.  (Oh.  Sorry.  I know that last sentence should not have ended with a preposition.  She's also Really good at grammar! =)  She grew up in Provo- on 9th East, right across the street from BYU- so after many years in the frozen waste lands on Minnesota, she is now back home.  =)

Her mother is my Grandma Jones, and I lived with her my freshman year of college.  She grew up in Delta Utah (they grow pomegranates there, I believe) and worked in a bank for many years.  (Secretary to the President, I think?) She had a tiny bedroom in her basement with a bookshelf above the bed that was well-stocked with Nancy Drew, Brighty of the Grand Canyon, and many others.  She had dried apricots in her freezer- which I helped myself to more often than I should have- Lladro figurines in her living room, and roses on her fence that I loved.  The heavily-scented evergreen bushes by the side of her driveway are, to me, the scent of Utah.  From her I learned to keep my underwear drawer tidy, that "beautiful" matters, and that spending time and thought on gifts is worth while.  She seems like a queen in my mind, tall and dignified.

My mother-in-law is the kind everyone must wish for. (Sorry-  another preposition at the end.)  She compliments my skills with my children, tells me my house is lovely, and gives hugs all around.  =)  Very nice.  My only complaint?  She has a spotlessly clean house, so I have this standard of perfection for when she comes to visit.  Sometimes I just tell myself, "It's ok.  You have kids, and are running 24/7.  She'll understand."  And she probably does.  It would just be nice if my house was as clean as hers.  Or if I found dirty socks on her living room floor just once.  =)  But all around, she wonderful.

My Dad's mom is Grandma Crookston.  She was tiny-- apparently she fit in a quart jar when she was born, and she did not ever get very big.  She had this contraption in her bedroom on which she would hang upside down every day.  I think it helped her back.  She had a jar of pink and white peppermints that I loved, and when I got married she gave me the jar.  Her house was old-- one of my some-number-of-great grandpas built it, I think in Brigham Young's time.  And it had the most amazing climbing tree in the side yard.  There were kittens by the back steps, and cows in the back pasture.  I stayed with her one summer and loved it.  From her I learned that it's good to have cookies in the cookie jar- preferable snicker doodles- that there is nothing wrong with taking the chipped china dishes into the yard to play tea party, and that if you shred cat tails in the yard, you have to clean them up.  (Not easy!)  She grew up next to the Cardston Alberta temple, and she loved it.  Temples, peonies and petunias make me think of her.   As I was weeding the front flower bed on Saturday I thought of her checking my work, and how she would make me get out even the tiny ones before I was finished.  =)

I have been blessed by a whole lot of wonderful mothers.  And wonderful children!  Aahh... life is good!          

What I forgot...

Last night as I was typing my post I was really tired, and toward the end a few things slipped my mind.  (Imagine that)  

While in Panama City we also visited the Miraflores Locks and the LDS temple.  They were both wonderful in very different ways.

We went to the locks first, since they were pre-programmed into our GPS.  A ship was passing through, and it was Huge!  There were thousands of boxes on board, and each one was the size of a semi truck trailer.  Actually, "thousands" is probably an underestimate.  I would love to have known what they were all carrying.  We watched the lock be drained of water to lower the ship, and then watched the ship move out of the lock into the open canal.  Even before the ship was all the way out, the lock began filling again for another ship.  It was quite cool.

As we were leaving the locks, Mike asked a gate guard (in Spanish) if he knew where the LDS temple was.  He beamed at us and said in perfect English, "You're from Salt Lake City!"  We told him we were actually from Virginia, and I asked where he was from.  He said, "Panama."  When I asked how he'd learned English he said, "From talking to people!"  He told us the temple was just down the street and around the corner.  (We knew it was close.)

The temple was amazing.  It's beautiful, of course, but the feeling was so... peaceful, wonderful, calm, and in many ways very different from the other places we had been.  We took pictures that night, and Mike talked to a man from Venezuela who is thinking of moving his family to Panama because he is concerned that Venezuela is moving quickly toward communism.  The kids all exclaimed, in quiet voices, how wonderful it was to be there.

We returned the following morning-- minus Peter, Naomi and Grandma-- to do baptisms for the dead.  We joined a Panamanian ward from Colon, and everything was done in Spanish.  The Panamanian kids were beautiful.  Some were clearly native Kuna indian, and some were black, and some were Hispanic, but they all were smiling and reverent and although we could not communicate very well, they made us feel very welcome.  

Ok, I'm off to read stories to my kids.

Good night!  =)

Trip to Panama

The first day we arrived and planned to take a taxi to the bus station, and then a bus to El Valle-- a village in the crater of an extinct volcano.  But there were some problems with the taxi part of this plan, to the tune of $200.  Yes, that's right.  The taxi drivers wanted $200 to drive us across the street to the bus station.  (We would have walked but we didn't know the way.) Mike made a wise choice and found us a rental car- for not too much more than the taxis!  And so we missed the Panamanian bus experience, but gained the ability to stop wherever, whenever we wanted.  It was a really great thing!  =)

We stopped for lunch on the way to El Valle at a little Columbian restaurant and enjoyed grilled chicken and pork and cold drinks.  Peter chased their chickens and we found a cashew tree and sampled the fruit.  (the juice made our mouths very dry)

In El Valle we checked out a couple of hotels and decided on a cute little place.  The woman looked pleased that we would stay there and said she would make up the beds while we saw the petroglyphs and found a place to eat supper.  It was 6 pm and we told her when we'd be back--but when we returned, the hotel was closed, locked and completely dark.  We were baffled.  After calling, "Hello!"  and walking all around, beeping the horn, and deciding there was really no one there, we drove back to the restaurant to borrow their phone.  Mike called (our only Spanish speaker) and the woman from the hotel said she goes home at 6 pm every night.   

What?

We drove around town looking at one dark hotel after another.  Apparently the whole town-- other than restaurant owners-- goes home and to bed at 6 pm.  Naomi was crying in the back seat, afraid we'd be spending the night in the mini-van.  (10 people+ luggage, 8 seats)  I was just glad we had a mini-van!  Finally Mike found a hotel with an actual living, breathing person in sight, and we stayed there.

When we woke up in the morning we were surprised to see that we were in paradise!  Misty hills, squawking parrots, bright flowers, mangos falling at our feet, hammocks to swing in, and a little stream running by.  

We drove to the zip line hut (wooden beams with palm fronds for a roof, with various plants growing in the fronds on the roof), strapped on harnesses and hiked (about 45 minutes, I think) through the rain forest to the first zip line.  The guide explained he would strap us onto the steel cables that were strung from one platform to another.  I felt sick.  The fall to the forest floor was hundreds of feet below us.  I get vertigo just looking down a couple of flights of stairs.  And my children!  What kinds of a mother would swing her children- Tarzan-like- out into the jungle?  I had to sit down.  The kids were ecstatic. 

I don't know who went first.  But I know when they said it was my turn I knew I would pass out.  Click.  My harness was attached to the cable.  Thick leather gloves were put on my hands, and I was told to "hold here" (behind the pulley system) "not here" (in front of the pulley system).  I sat in the harness seat, like I was told to do, and they shoved me off the platform into the mists of the jungle.  

Aauugghh!!!

The other platform loomed closer and closer and I gripped the steel cable to slow myself.  Thud.  I landed.  And...

gulp.  I was alive.  and...

Woo Hoo!  Was that ever fun!

I turned around to take pictures of my kids following me across the river below.

We went over several lines, including one that crossed the El Macho waterfalls, which were gorgeous from the platform after I landed, and which I photographed mid-air while I was on the zip line, but my memory is mostly of terror at being suspended above the ground and letting go of the cable to get out my camera.  My feet are sweating even as I think about it.

When we got back to the hut, we changed into swimming suits and went swimming in the Freezing pond below the falls.  It was gorgeous.  Some Panamanian teen-aged boys were there, clearly showing off for the girls.  We took photos with them, and talked for a while.  They were nice, and the flowers were amazing.  I had never considered that the Impatience flowers we plant in our yard must grow wild somewhere.  Well, that somewhere is Panama.

Later we went horseback riding around the streets of El Valle, and visited the little zoo there, where we saw caymen, ocelots, a puma, and the famed golden frogs of El Valle.  The frogs only live in El Valle, and they are seriously facing extinction because of a fungus that grows on their skin and suffocates them.  The zoo is trying to preserve some of them.  We were not allowed into the building where they were kept, but could see them through the windows.  They were bright yellow with black spots.  Very cute. Lots of other animals were there, too, including capybaras, and some enormous pig things that I did not photograph.   

The next day we drove to Portobello, on the northern (Atlantic/Caribbean) side of Panama.  We stopped at some 1600's Spanish fort ruins where the Spaniards tried to defend Panama from Pirates of the Caribbean.  It didn't go too well, from the looks of it.  The kids found a baby bird and secret passage ways, and we all enjoyed hiking around the ruins.

Our hotel was called Scuba Panama, and it was... umm.... scary.  Mike escorted a cockroach out of our bedroom, and most of us chose to shower outside, in the places designed to rinse off after swimming.  Not that the ocean water was inviting.  Naomi went in and came out with her feet stained black-- I think from an oil spill.  It was all quite disheartening.  But pretty-- as long as you didn't look at the water.  Flowers and coconuts and amazing birds.  

But we were there to snorkel.  We asked them to boat us to a distant island that was supposed to have clear water, but they refused.  So we settled for their recommendation of a closer beach.  Bad plan.  I swam around the cove and saw lots and lots of sand and dead leaves.  The kids, however, were pleased.  They found a few fish and some coral, while Mike, my mom and I walked along the tiny strip of beach.  Mike saw a toucan fly away, and we all saw hundreds of hermit crabs.  But the most amazing thing was the ant highway.  The ants had cleared a path about 5 inches wide and hundreds of feet long through the forest floor, and they were carrying pieces of leaves in one direction along the path, and returning empty-handed, so to speak, back the other way.  I wished I'd been an ant reporter and could have interviewed them to find out why they were doing this.  The path had forks in the road, and branched off in several directions.  It was amazing.

We did not stay there two nights, as planned, but returned to Panama City where we found a clean hotel with hot water (our first since we'd arrived- it was heaven!) and beds we felt safe in.  

Let me pause to say:

We are SO spoiled as Americans!

While in Portobello we were parked outside a cinderblock house.  A mother and several mostly-naked children were there and they had nothing.  The door stood open and I could see into their empty house.  A few clothes hung on a barbed wire.  Two thin cats prowled the yard keeping their eyes on a rooster, and coconuts littered the ground.  The ocean was across the street, and people were catching lobsters, so I knew they could get food, but I turned from looking at them to look at my children-- dressed, clean, in an air conditioned car, with multiple changes of clothes in their colorful, cute suitcases, reading books and listening to music on their cell phones.  I felt absurdly wealthy.  

But I digress, I was talking about our hotel with polished stone floors, white soft beds and fluffy clean towels in Panama City.  This is the life we are used to.  A pool downstairs, a concierge to hep us find dinner, and tiny bottles of sweetly scented shampoo.  It was so nice to have a hot shower that I shampooed my hair twice and shaved my legs, just so I could soak in the warm water.  

In Panama City we had the most wonderful fruit smoothies, visited Old Panama and saw the palace, went to the Smithsonian marine research center and saw cool animals, shopped at the handicrafts market, and drank more smoothies.  The kids stuck their hands in the Pacific the day we got there so they could be in the Atlantic and Pacific both on the same day.  

And then it was time to go home!  My mom almost was not allowed to get on the plane- but she made a fuss and they let her on.  The flight home was uneventful (thank heavens!) and we saw Inkheart on the plane.  It was pretty good.  We got home at 3 am.  

And went to bed.  =)   

 

Flight to Panama!

We did it!  (Panama-- that is.) And it was really, really fun.  =)

Our adventures began at 3:30 am when we got up to get dressed (yes, we were dressed that early- even though we homeschool-  amazing, I know) to get on the plane that left at 6:30 in the morning.   Sacrificing sleep for vacation.  Go figure.   

I had pulled up our flight schedule the night before, just to be sure I had the right flight number and-- shock!-- we were not flying out of Reagan National!  We were leaving from Dulles!  Boy, was that a good thing to find out before we were sitting at Reagan wondering where our plane was.  

I fell asleep on the plane right away- pretty soundly, apparently- and was surprised when we started landing.  Short flight!   Then I heard the captain say we had a medical emergency on board and were landing in North Carolina, and I noticed the guy doing CPR on someone at the front of the plane.  We had the closest thing to a crash landing I ever hope to experience.  Stuff went flying everywhere.  Rachel said afterwards, "So that's why you have to have your seat back and tray in the upright position and locked position.  So you don't knock your teeth out!"  Ambulances, police cars, more ambulances.   A woman was carried off the plane and into an ambulance.  We waited.  And watched out the windows.  And waited more.  The captain said, "Hopefully we will still have permission to fly to Panama today."  Was that in question?  The ambulance with the woman left, and so did we.  Being in America they did not share the woman's medical information with the passengers.  (In some places we've lived they probably would have announced to the whole plane exactly what was going on.)  I hope she recovered.  

The rest of the flight was uneventful.  At least for me.  I fell back to sleep- I thought only lightly- but when I awoke I was disappointed that they had not even served beverages, let alone food.  Until my kids started talking about their apple pancakes, and I said, "Hey!  You got food and you didn't wake me?"  I was well-rested, though!  =)

Now, speaking of being well-rested, I'm going to bed.  I'll try to write more and post some photos tomorrow.  (Today was laundry, grocery shopping, and clean the house day. I have never been so happy to do things I usually loath.) 

Rebecca =)

who finished The Chrysalis by Heather Turrell and recommends it to any who enjoy a lawyer/mystery/historical fiction-type novel  (some mild adult-type content)     

Productive in Pajamas

I had an interesting conversation a couple of days ago that I just keep thinking about.  

A woman asked if I homeschool my kids, and I told her I do.  She said that she has been considering homeschooling her kids for the coming school year.  (This is common, in case you wonder.  Everybody is apparently thinking about it.  Many think, but few act-- which is not necessarily bad!)  

She said she just can not imagine what a homeschool day would look like.  How would it be scheduled?  What would she and her kids do?  I invited her to come over some time and see one family in action.  (Just FYI: Lumping all homeschoolers together would be like lumping all mothers together.  You cannot watch one mother in action and decide you have seen how all-- or even most-- mothers behave.)

She said, "That would be great!  I can tell you're an organized mom.  I've been to some homeschooler's houses at noon and..." she leaned in little closer to share a horrible secret, "their kids are still in their pajamas!"

Oh! goodness!  how shocking!  Like young George, I cannot tell a lie, but I felt like I was confessing on the spot to raising lazy, unsocialized, uneducated bums, as I cleared my throat and said, "Well, actually.... we have days like that ourselves."

She looked embarrassed-- although if that was for her comment or my confession, I couldn't tell.  

Since then I have been especially sensitive to how my kids and I are dressed.  I have been remembering the other day when my friend Emma showed up at the door at around 9 am and looked surprised.  "You're dressed!" she said.  Well, yes.  I do occasionally shower and pull on a pair of jeans before noon.  Not often.  But sometimes.  

But here's the thing this woman did not consider.  It is possible to be productive in your pajamas!  I know those people who go out into the world at the break of dawn have a reason to force themselves into the shower and shirts with buttons before the sun comes up.  But, as Bill Nye would say, Consider the Following...

Suzy wakes up and comes downstairs to breakfast.  On her way to the table she sees the book on iguanas she checked out from the library yesterday.  She brings it to the table and reads about different species while eating her Cheerios.  The book mentions the ancient Aztecs, so after putting her bowl in the dishwasher, she pulls out the A encyclopedia and looks up the Aztecs.  Her brother sees what she's reading, and tells her they own a book about Aztec artwork, which she finds and reads, cover to cover, on the couch.  When she's done, she pulls out her clay and beads and creates some Aztec artwork of her own.  She includes some pretty realistic iguanas in her mosaics.  Mom walks in and asks if she's done her math, and Suzy quickly gets up and grabs her math book from the bookshelf.  She lays on the front room floor to work out her problems.  Some of them don't make a lot of sense, so she gets out the counting blocks and the play money to figure them out. 

Ding dong!  The doorbell rings-- and there is the lady who's thinking of homeschooling.  And what does she see?  Suzy-- in her pajamas at noon-- laying on the front room floor with blocks and pretend money all around her.  A kitchen table with clay, beads and construction paper out.  Books and an encyclopedia on the couch.  hmmm... this doesn't look good, does it?

(Granted, Suzy could use some practice at putting her things away when she's done with them.  Her mom is probably working on that.  Don't worry.)

I suspect that Suzy might remember more about the Aztecs, iguanas, and her math than Betsy, who is in her fashionable mall-bought clothes, with her hair brushed, sitting in a school desk passing notes to Billy and wondering where Amy got her new shoes.

Not that there is anything wrong with getting dressed.  I do it myself almost every day.  I simply propose that it is possible to be productive in your pajamas!  =)     

  

The Odyssey, Homecomings, Vacations, and Rock Concerts

Our play for this spring is The Odyssey, and our kids are excited!  Peter and Naomi have non-speaking parts.  Peter's only request was that he be on stage as much as possible.  (surprise!)  Naomi's was that she be in a scene where she gets to eat.  (surprise again!)  Bethany is Helen of Troy (yes, she's lovely) and the Muse of Epics (whose name I do not remember).  She will, I believe, narrate much of the play along with the other Muses.  And Josh is Odysseus!  Lots of lines.  Lots of work.  He's happy.  In fact, they are all happy!

Rachel and Elizabeth get home in TWO DAYS!  Can you believe it? We are So excited to have them home!  =)   They will only be here a couple of days, and then we're off to Panama!  a break!  a vacation!  no school!  no appointments to remember!  no deadlines!  My brain seriously needs this.  If only I didn't have to plan it before we go... but that's ok.  It's for a good cause.    Do you ever have that feeling that you have shoved so many things into your brain that it's about to burst?  And when you look behind you-- there are your thoughts all spilled out on the floor?  It's not a good feeling.  I'm hoping-- really hoping!-- that a vacation will give my brain time to recover from the beating it's taken lately.  Mental exercise is one thing.  The breaking point is something else all together.

Josh has been working on his Eagle Scout project.  I used to wish-- many, many years ago-- that I could be a Boy Scout.  They earned badges and got awards and people clapped for them at award ceremonies while I sat on a folding chair in the audience.  They built model rockets and launched them in the field behind our church while I stood to the side and watched.  Need I say more?  But there is one thing I Do Not envy...  The paperwork!  Josh has filled out, written, lost and kept track of more paperwork for this project than most kids do in all of high school.   Granted-- he is doing an amazing project.   He's putting together a charity rock concert to raise money for a children's home in Uganda.  No small deal.  But if that was all he was doing, it would be no sweat.  Josh is an amazing kid.  It's the paperwork!  All I can say is, Wow.  

And-- you can do it, Josh!  (assuming you get yourself un-grounded, of course.)  =) 

Finally, speaking of paperwork-- about 300 pages of it, actually-- the publisher who has my YA novel, The Other Side of Jacob's Peak, emailed me to say she has finished reading it and would like an electronic copy to share with her coworkers!  =)  Incase you're not sure, this is good news.

I sent out a few copies of the first three chapters of this book last August.  They were accompanied by a synopsis of the entire book.  Before Christmas Lisa Graff from Farrar, Straus & Giroux emailed and asked for the whole manuscript.  She's now read it all, and is interested enough to want to share it with others in the company!  In order for a company to publish a book, the editors all have to agree that it's a good risk, the acquiring editor has to present it to a group including marketing and several others, and everyone has to agree.  Not a short process.  To put it mildly.  Even after they accept it, they almost always ask for edits, and then printing can take another 12 to 24 months.  (sometimes longer)   If it's a picture book,  you have to add time (lots of it) for the illustrator to create the artwork.  And no.  The author does not usually choose the illustrator.  That's the editor's job.  It's amazing anything ever gets into bookstores and libraries.  But I'm working on it!  If this publisher does not work out, I'll send it out again.  If this one does... well... I hardly dare to even think about that.  Like wishing to hard might break the spell.    

      

Now, since my girls are coming home soon, and my mom and sister come a couple of days later, and I haven't cleaned the house or done the laundry, and since I'm LATE to pick up my kids-- I'd better go!

=)

Cool! Fun! and Free!

I was looking on the Hoagies web site today and found an online site I really like.  They have online lessons on a variety of subjects-- from the Periodic Table and Amusement Park Physics to the Renaissance and Cinema, all online, all interactive, and all free!  Each "class" has a few different lessons, with decent animations, and is followed by an online quiz.  Most of them are on a high school level, but there are a couple for younger grades.  

This reminds me of when I found EdVentures online several years ago.  At the time they were just getting their site together, adding more things, and I was amazed at all the classes online, for up to 10 kids in one family, for $60/year.  Now, I have to say, they have gone more toward the public school venue, and are not nearly as homeschool friendly.  Which is too bad.  They had some fun stuff.

Anyway, enjoy! 

A little Patch of Spring

The Time! The Time! Who's Got the TIme?

I'm getting so bad about writing on here regularly.  Sorry.  I run from one thing to the next, and fall into bed at night wondering why I did not get more done.  I keep thinking any day now things will slow down.  

After Utah I'll have time... After we get our passports submitted I'll have time... After I finish the backyard I'll have time... When the play starts I'll have time (yes, I should know better, but I do think this sometimes!).... When the kids get older I'll have time...

Anyway, you get the idea.  In reality, I probably won't have more time 'till I'm in my grave.  Nothing to do but lie about all day...  And night...  Forever... With the worms... Ugh.  Sorry. 

My friends Emma and Karen have invited me to go to Nepal with them next month to visit our friend Michelle.  But... you guessed it!  I don't have time!  In this case, however, it's ok.  They will be getting back two days before my family leaves for Panama.  If I went, I'd miss being here when my girls get back from school, celebrating Elizabeth's birthday, being here when my mom and sister arrive, and would just be back in time for our Easter celebration.  (Which is not going to be on Easter this year.)  I'd also miss auditions for the Odyssey with my kids.  And who would pack for Panama and prepare for Easter?  Umm... probably nobody.  Or I'd get to Panama and discover my kids had packed swimsuits, a Gameboy and Mad Libs, but nothing else.  That would be a real adventure!  I can just imagine.  

So, I am passing on Nepal.  And while part of me can't believe I'm saying that, it is true.  

And, just in case you wonder, Rachel seems to be recovering well from her surgery.  Our friends Dan and Kim have a new little boy!  (Congratulations!)  =)  Elizabeth is learning to SCUBA dive.  (See her blog for more info)  And while I was in Utah, Spring came to Virginia.    Life is good.  =)   

Rachel's Surgery

Just FYI-- Rachel had her gallbladder out on Friday and is doing well.  The surgery took about an hour, was done laproscopically (sp?), and although she is bruised and sore, she is doing well.  =)

I'm here in Utah helping her- driving her to classes, handing out Ibuprofen, and giving hugs.  Airplanes make so many things possible!

When I get a chance, I'll post some photos of the mountains (and a moose!) that Elizabeth and I took the day after surgery while Rachel was sleeping.

Love you all!  =)   

Winter Comes to Virginia! Better Late than Never!

This beautiful window is from the National Cathedral in DC.  I just love that place!  =)

We had a snow day yesterday.  A real one.  10 inches of snow, no school, and all.  This is the first time since I've been in Virginia that I've seen a real snowfall!  We have had dustings, and even an inch or-- maybe if you measure a place where it's drifted-- two inches.  So when the wether men were saying we'd get anywhere from 2 to 13 inches of snow overnight, I knew which it would be.  We'd get one and a half.

That night as I slept I dreamed, like Ezra Jack Keats' Peter in The Snowy Day, that all the snow had melted.  I dreamed of rivulets of water running down the street and little slush piles beside the sidewalk.  But when I woke and looked out the window I could almost see Keats' pink and blue snowflakes.   It had snowed!  For real!  And for just a moment I was back in Minnesota, land of 10,000 snow storms, land of my childhood.  

My kids, who did not grow up in Minnesota, were very impressed.  They kept pointing out to each other the snow on the grill, the way it clung to the bushes,  and how amazingly DEEP it was.  =)  

And I began to remember why, other than my husband's job, we do not live in Minnesota.  Coats, hats and gloves all over the floor.  Clumps of snow and puddles of snow-melt on the wood floors and carpet.  Boots to trip over in the entry way.  And sleds dropped in the front room, of all places.  

All of which begs the questions-- why do we own sleds, boots and gloves if this is the first time it has really snowed in 5 years?  To tell you the truth, I have no idea.  

Perhaps next time AmVets calls about donations I'll have lots of things to put out.  Then in another 5 years, when it snows again, we can all wonder what ever happened to that sled that used to be in the garage.  And by that time I will have completely forgotten about what I did, and I'll be able to honestly answer, "Hmm.... I have no idea!"

Happy snow days Virginia!  =) 

Women's Conference and Wildlife

No-- the women at the Stake Women's conference were not wild.   They were all very well behaved, mostly in Sunday dress, even.  I was a rebel and wore slacks.  Mike saw what I was wearing this morning and asked, "Are you going like that?"  When I informed him I was, he said, "Don't you want to call some friends and ask what they are wearing?"  Maybe it was my lack of sleep, I don't know, but I said I didn't care what anyone else was wearing.  It was a Saturday and I was Not putting on a dress.  So ha!  (Ok, I didn't say that last bit, but it was implied.)

The conference was a success.  If anything it went a bit too smoothly.  I'm not sure how many of these we've done now-- maybe 4?  But I can definitely say that planning a conference for over 200 women is now something we can pull off like clockwork.  So afterwards we decided that if we're still at this next year, we're shaking things up a bit- doing something completely new and unusual.  (Notice that "if".  It seems pretty big to me.)  

We had wonderful speakers presenting on many aspects of happiness.  My favorite was Rachel Ashbey (hmm... don't think I spelled that right), a psychologist we imported from Virginia Beach (and Karen's sister!) who talked about The Psychology of Happiness.  Why do some things make us happy and others not?  I had a bit of an "Ah ha!" moment during her class when she was talking about how we identify ourselves in certain ways, and then when those things change, we go through a bit of a crisis, wondering who we are.  And yes, I am 40.  I've scheduled my mid-life crisis for this April.  It was good of Rachel to point out what I might do to avoid it, if I should decide I'd like to cancel that appointment.  =)

We've had a few run-ins with wildlife over that past few days.  Since it's after midnight I'll be brief.  (Remember how the lack of sleep affected me this morning?  If I don't go to bed soon I will undoubtedly be going to church in my pajamas tomorrow.  And my bathrobe.  It's COLD in that chapel!)  

While walking Heidi yesterday, Bethany encountered a fox.  She and the dog gave chase (whether Bethany wanted to or not), but the fox got away.  Bethany lost her earbuds in the process and got a few scratches, but had a good run through the woods.  I assume she'll write more about it on her blog.  It was quite the little adventure!

And then Rachel told me about the ducks.  Apparently she and Elizabeth were walking past the duck pond on their way to school (wild ducks live in a little pond just south of campus) when they noticed one duck across the street from the others.  When they went to investigate, the duck came up to look at them, followed them, ate from their hands, let Rachel pick it up, and eventually came and sat on Elizabeth's lap!  Rachel had her camera and got some pictures which she said she'll post on her blog.  I won't tell you the end of the story.  Check out Rachel's blog to find out why the duck crossed the street and to hear the Paul Harvey.  =)

And!  You'll never guess!  Naomi actually made a joke!  And it was funny!  (First I need to explain that Naomi rocks from side to side during the night.  We have to move her bed away from the wall so she doesn't bang-bang-bang on the wall while she rocks, and when she wakes up in the morning her hair would make any London hairstylist proud.  I have tried for 9 years now to get her to stop rocking, but nothing works.  Sharing a bed with her is simply impossible.)   

Anyway, I was telling Mike that I've figured out what activity hurts my elbow the most.  (Sore elbow-- orthopedic doctors, PT, no improvement-- don't recommend it)  It's sleeping.  During the day my elbow is bearable unless I do something stupid- like pick up my purse.  But at night I think heavy duty pain killers would be in order.  Or just general anesthesia.  Mike suggested I try a brace at night, but I said that I think the problem might actually be that I'm holding still.  Naomi piped right up and said, "Mom!  You should try rocking!"

And now, to bed.  And tomorrow, church!  Who knows what I'll be wearing?  =)  

Notes on a Violin Recital

Today was our solo violin recital, and as you can see from the photos, three of our kids played.   Bethany was third on the program, right after the amazing Andrew, who is 8, (I think) and played like he belongs in Carnegie Hall.  The teacher introduced Bethany, saying it was her first recital, and Bethany said, "And I have to play after Andrew!"  We all laughed.  Bethany played Andantino by Suzuki very nicely.  =)  Naomi was a couple of students later and played Minuet 1 by Bach with beautiful dynamics.  And several students later the teacher announced a special guest.  Peter got up with his chicken puppet (the guest) and had the chicken announce his piece, The Happy Farmer, by Schumann.  

These recitals are a wonderful mixture of advanced students playing amazing pieces, and young beginners squeaking out a few notes of a Twinkle variation on their tiny 1/16 size violins.  

While some of the students merely play notes which fall onto the floor of the church panting and gasping for breath-- others play music that rises like light, filling the air with emotions drawn from the very souls of those who hear.  The difference has nothing to do with age or technical proficiency.  Little Andrew can play like a gypsy and coax the cold stones from the wall into dance, and some of the very beginning students bring feeling to a Twinkle variation-- while a technically advanced student may, when she is done playing, find her notes lying in a puddle on the floor before her.

    

The US Constitution and Religion

I have been thinking a lot about the US Constitution lately, and how American history, American government, and American laws are taught in the public schools and in our homes.  I have also been thinking about how people do-- or more often do not-- discuss religion in America.

I have been struck several times lately by what seems to me an odd thing.  Friends have said that they hope I am not offended if they ask questions about my religion.  How odd!   To me, religion is not a hidden thing.  And yet, it seems to be becoming more and more hidden in America. 

I think, throughout the history of the world, nothing has been more dangerous to individuals, families and nations than coercions of Church and State.  Wars, bloodshed, hatred and tears have been the legacy of these two powers combined.  Understanding this, the founding fathers of the US Constitution took great pains to see that two remain separate.   And yet, recently, the division between these two has been eroded-- in a back handed, sly and sometimes misunderstood way.  Instead of prescribing Catholicism or Protestantism, the government has been pushing and coercing us to adopt atheism.  

(One method is by confusing the idea of public with the idea of government sponsored.  These two are not the same.  Public prayer is not government sponsored prayer.) 

I was deeply bothered several years ago when I heard Bethany's kindergarten teacher telling the children about the first Thanksgiving.  She said that the Pilgrims gathered to have a big meal and give thanks.  "Who did they thank?" she asked the class.  One of the children said, "God!"  The teacher shook her head no.  "They were thanking the indians," she said, and the poor little boy who had given the correct answer looked very confused.  Afterwards I asked the teacher if she knew that her lesson on Thanksgiving had been incorrect.  She said, "Yes, but that is what I have to teach."

WHAT?? Are we in a communist state here?  Is our government rewriting history to fit the current version of politically correct?  Who gave the school district, the state, or even the federal government the right to change what really happened?  I was horrified and sick about what I had seen.  And I still am.  

I'd like to quote President David O. McKay in his remarks made in 1962 in response to the US Supreme Court's ruling on prayer in public schools.  "By law, the public schools of the United States must be non-denominational.  They can have no part in securing acceptance of any one of the numerous systems of belief regarding God and the relation of mankind thereto.  Now let us remember and emphasize that restriction applies to the atheist as well as to the believer in God."

It seems to me that trying to teach US history without mentioning God is like trying to teach the settlement of California without mentioning gold.  How can we teach about any of world history-- the everlasting conflicts in the middle east, great pieces of music, art of the middle ages, even the cold war-- without talking about God and religion?  A person simply cannot be well-educated without knowledge of different religions.  Curiosity about other's beliefs is a hallmark of an intelligent being.  

 

Does this mean public schools should teach religion?  Yes, and no.  I think they should teach about all religions in an academic manner.  Our children should understand the basic beliefs of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and all other major world religions.  They should be taught the parts these religions have played-- good and bad-- in world history, in the lives of great leaders, and in current events.  Without this, their education is fractured and incomplete.

Now, I will get off my soap box and go get into the shower.  Have a wonderful day.  And please, discuss religion with someone today.  =)       

 

Grandpa Joe and Some Awards! =)

Naomi sculpts people's faces out of clay, Play Dough, and stuff like that.  They are really quite good.  A couple of days ago she made-- out of green Play Dough-- Grandpa Joe from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the book she's reading right now.   I thought you might get a kick out of seeing him.  =)

I keep forgetting to mention that my blog-- this blog-- won an award!  I entered the Book Arts Bash, a writing and arts competition, in a couple of different categories.  I entered my poem, Exiting Eden, the first three chapters of Jacob's Peak, and my blog, all in their respective categories.  Apparently the novel and poetry competitions were the stiffest, with hundreds of entries from around the world in each age group.  Bethany and Josh both had poems chosen as finalists, Elizabeth had a movie preview and a book cover (made with Rachel and Sadie) chosen as finalists, and my poem, book and blog were all chosen as finalists!  Pretty darn good for one family, if I may say so myself!

The judges were a great group of people, including Lois Lowry (The Giver), Jack Prelutsky (First Children's Poet Laureate), Bruce Coville (Unicorn Chronicles, Shakespeare retellings and lots more), Robert Pinsky (US Poet Laureate),  and Mir Kamen, (eminent blogger and author of Woulda Coulda Shoulda).  

Bethany's poem, Finishing Twelve, won first place!  Elizabeth's, Rachel's and Sadie's book art for The Goose Girl won first place!  Elizabeth's movie preview for Saving LiZZy Fish won first place! And my blog-- the very one you are reading-- won first place!   =)  

Here's what Mir Kamen had to say about my blog:

Rebecca's blog has everything I tend to look for in a regular read-- she has a sense of humor, but it's not all comedy; she writes about serious maters, but in a genuine, thoughtful way; the topics are varied.  I come away feeling like I've learned something about her, but without the over-sharing that can result in TMI or stultifying boredom for the reader.  My favorite blogs feel like a chat with a friend, and that's what I get from Rebecca's writing.  A little of this, a little of that-- a lovely little peek into her life, her family, her history and her writing.

 Thank you Mir!  What a wonderful compliment, especially from someone who knows blogging like she does.  =) 

And just one more note.  I recently finished reading A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was fun, lighthearted, page-turning, old-fashioned romance, and I highly recommend it.  =)