Monthly Archives: September 2016

Laughing and Learning

Posted on September 20, 2016 | 2 comments

It is beautiful outside right now. The weather is beautiful, the laughs and giggles are beautiful. And the learning is beautiful.

Patrice is having some trouble learning sight words so I am trying to incorporate some new methods…one involves a beach ball with some of her words written on it–when you catch the ball you have to read whatever word your right hand is closest too.
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“Look”

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I also sported some handmade bling for the sight word of the day, which you might have guessed is THE. Patrice also wrote the word of the day on the whiteboard. We’ve been having some trouble with the word the because Patrice finds it boring and she doesn’t like to read boring words–so I decided to jazz things up around here!!

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Posted in Homeschool, Patrice

Homeschooling Light

Posted on September 15, 2016 | Leave a comment

So one of my quirks, is to not take up doctor and eye appointments right before school starts. I know there are a ton of people who need to get their kids in those appointments before school starts, while we, on the other hand, have the flexibility to do those appointments while other kids are in school…so, this week was eye doctor appointment week for Sue. I thought it would be a quick 30 minute deal, but I was mistaken. Her appointment on Monday was over an hour and they decided they needed a follow up today to check some other things and they have already told us this appointment will be an hour plus.

So, this week became homeschool light!

Tuesday, the weather was beautiful so we did some of our work outside. Grammar, art, and reading.

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Yesterday we went on a field trip to a local nature center and learned about migration.

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Today, I have reading, phonics, and grammar packed for the non-eye-patients to work on while we wait. We have already done our history read-aloud for the day. Now, the get some eyes checked!!

This is how we homeschool–light!

The Balance

Posted on September 9, 2016 | Leave a comment

Three girls. I have three girls. I have no idea how that happened–well, okay, I know HOW it happened, I just can’t believe it did even 10 years into this mom gig. I had given up on marriage and kids, but God had other plans.

These plans.

I have three girls, I homeschool three girls, they are pretty much my constant side kicks. They see how I handle, and don’t handle, life. I am completely aware their eyes are always on me.

Sometimes, I can handle it with grace, but much of the time I am second guessing how I handle it all. I want my reactions to be balanced and healthy. I am used to finding that difficult with the Bipolar in my life, but recently it has gotten complicated for another reason…sports.

My girls (2 of them anyway) have joined the world of sports–cross country to be exact.

It is the one sport I sort of, not really, know anything about and is truly the only sport I have ever enjoyed. Seeing them get to run at practice reminded me how much I love to run and has me back out there pounding out a few miles. I love having them run.

One, is a little older than the other, a little more serious about life, and a little more interested in running.

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She even joined me on my Sunday morning run last week.

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I am so proud.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Sue is also going to practice, never complains about it, and seems to have fun, but she just hasn’t caught the running bug. She’s there for the socializing; Caitlyn says, “I want to run, that’s what I am there for!!!”

I am so pleased with both of them, but I want to just gush all over Caitlyn. I love her can do spirit, she never gives up, I love her desire to run, I love her determination. I like to talk to her about running. I am seeking out help from others who run to help Caitlyn become a stronger runner. I’m not kidding, I could go on forever about how proud I am of Caitlyns’ running.

But I don’t want to discourage Sue. I want her to grow to love it, if it turns out to be her thing. I want her to work hard. I want her to know I care about her skills too.

Balancing the two is hard!!!

How do I encourage them both when their experiences so far are very different? How do I let Caitlyn know how pleased I am without seeming to diminish Sue’s progress? How do I show my pride in Caitlyn, without making Sue feel like she has to prove herself to me by running?

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I sincerely don’t know how to balance it all. I catch myself when I feel like I am going overboard. I try to remember to speak highly of both of them within their hearing.

I try. I really do.

Social Anxiety and Jesus

Posted on September 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

This could be one of those posts about how all you need is Jesus to get rid of your social anxiety. But it’s not. Because I don’t believe that social anxiety is “just” a spiritual issue. I also don’t believe it is just a medical issue. I believe it is a little bit of both, and as such, needs both Jesus and medication for proper treatment.

But then what I think gets a little murky. And I just realized tonight, why.

So, if my social anxiety needs Jesus to be part of the treatment equation, what do I do when that social anxiety keeps me from Jesus? Yup. It keeps me from Jesus, because I have social anxiety when it comes to Jesus.

I love to pray. I always have. It has always made sense to me. It brings me a lot of comfort to pray. I love to pray about the struggles of life and the joys of life.

But sometimes I just can’t pray. Like tonight. I was so excited about tonight. I was going to have the house to myself for a little bit and I was going to be able to sit down and pray and just enjoy it and immerse myself in the time. But then the social anxiety came up. Every half minute my praying was being interrupted by me–“Am I doing this right Jesus?” “Am I talking too much Jesus?” “How do I shut up and let you talk, Jesus?”

“Am I doing this right Jesus?” “Am I talking too much Jesus?” “How do I shut up and let you talk, Jesus?”

“Am I talking too much Jesus?” “How do I shut up and let you talk, Jesus?”

“How do I shut up and let you talk, Jesus?”

And I just didn’t make it very far. I got myself too confused and worked up. I ended up just falling back on a basic, standard prayer, with none of the fellowship, none of the comfort, none of the joy.

Social Anxiety and Jesus at its finest.