Lessons from Zeke

Sung by Zeke to a little made up tune: “ … because Mom is a Mom, and she’s very smart and wise”

Pause by Zeke, while he thinks and then says: “Well, she’s actually more wise than smart.”

Me:  Yes, but how does that work??

Monday DayLook: March 8, 2010

For Today: March 8, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... it’s pitch black and the yard light from my in-laws’ farm is barely visible due to dense fog.

I am thinking about… how fast these weeks of Lent are passing and how did it get to be 9:30pm already!


I am thankful for... cell phones (my mom had car trouble on the way to my brother’s this afternoon).

I am reading… still reading Introduction to the Devout Life.  Every time I pick up the book I only have time to read a page … and I was so hoping my goal of a page a day would spur the ability to read more.

I am hoping... for a somewhat more ‘obedient’ day tomorrow.

I am hearing... Baby Louis’ soft breathing as he nurses in my arms and the slow clicks of one-handed typing.

I am wearing… jeans and a grey t-shirt with God’s Peace embroidered on the left side.

From the school room... trying to focus on getting Dash and Angelina through their current piano lesson. 
They’ve both been stalled at the same lessons for a few weeks.

From the kitchen... still on a bread kick.  The King Arthur Flour order arrived Saturday, so I can make whole wheat bread again.

State of the house… Eric and the kids did a whirl wind cleaning session on Saturday.  The floors and bathrooms were all spiffed up.


A successful moment… we FINALLY used our home-made stations of the cross to do the Way of the Cross meditations with my mom earlier today.

Lenten Musing and Observations…  I didn’t realize that 14 Stations has not always been the norm.  Three of the booklets I own for stations include the Resurrection as the 15th stations … I hadn’t seen or observed that before today. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday:  Eric is gone all week for his District meeting.  Angelina had dance tonight.  The rest of us went to the library to stock up on books.

Tuesday-Friday: Just planning to stay home.

Saturday/Sunday:   4-H Family Fun Night on Saturday.  We start up our NFP class series on Sunday afternoon.

A picture wish… need to order those chicklets!

As Graham sees it…

 

Graham and I were planning to have carrot sticks for a snack…

Me:  “Just give me two, three or four carrots.”

Graham, 3yo:  “Well, how old are you?”

Me, 35+ yo: “Just give me four, I’m not going to eat my age in carrots!”

Fallacies observed

 

On Sunday, a college friend voiced that ‘I must be so patient’ to be able to homeschool.  I have to admit this wasn’t the first time I’ve been told such a thing.

Then, yesterday Dash commented about how easy it is for me to ‘give up’ Dr. Pepper during Lent and he thought I ‘always’ gave it up because it was easy for me. 

But, what neither of them see is the inward struggle that is hidden from the outside.  I am NOT patient – at least I don’t view myself as patient.  I may have been patient before I had kids, but I wonder if I was tested then!!  At any rate, I have never claimed to be patient and never will.

Dash’s observation may have been closer to truth because once I set my mind to it, I can be pretty steadfast.  Some would call it a gift and some a character trait.  It is easy for me to give up ‘things’.  It’s harder to change how I feel about  or treat people and it’s harder to add to my day (especially when I’m not fully committed or it’s not my idea).  However, I wondered if that meant he thought I have never failed.  It’s dangerous to believe that our parents never fail … because they (we) do fail.  EVERY DAY I fail and sin.

Dr. Pepper isn’t the only sacrifice during my Lent, but I don’t choose to share everything I’m doing – particularly with my kids.  It’s not that I don’t want my kids to see my failures, it’s just that some ‘things’ are better left to be an interior struggle. 

So, should I let my kids see me fail in ‘my sacrifice’, let them believe I purposely chose an easy ‘sacrifice’, or choose a different visible sacrifice.  That is my question to ponder for today.

Lessons from Zeke

Math question for today … Use tally marks to show how many days are in a week.

Zeke: “Oh yea, that’s 40.”

LONG pause while I think: It sure feels like a homeschooling week is forty days long sometimes … especially with a head cold.

And, lest you think I’m failing in teaching the number of days in a week, Zeke quickly corrected:  “Oh, that’s 7.”

Me: Phew!  Back to the daily grind…

Monday DayLook – March 1, 2010

For Today: March 1, 2010


I am thankful for... Graham asking to play with tractors, which lead to Zeke finding our ‘Uncle Josh’s Outline Maps CD-ROM’ under a stack of 3 large Rubbermaid tubs - unbroken.  The little stinker who put it there should be thankful I didn’t catch ‘the little stinker’ in the act!


I am reading… ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’ … barely … at least I’m caught up on my one page a day commitment.


I am hoping... the head cold I woke up with this morn goes away just as quickly.


I am hearing... sounds of sword play from Zeke & Graham, pencil scratching and then erasing across the pages from Dash who is taking his time doing MATH.

I am wearing… comfy worn jeans and a bright orange sweat-shirt.


From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… while checking out another resource on CurrClick – Curriculum on a Click, I found a FREE quilting magazine.  If you’re a member (and membership is free), search for ‘Cotton Spice Quilting Magazine’.  It’s absolutely cute, filled with adorable patterns, and also features quilting stories.


From the school room... Zeke finished up the dictation exercises in Sound Beginnings – he was thrilled!  He started Writing Can Help: Level A and is excited to be working toward cursive writing.  That he is excited is exciting for ME!




From the kitchen... we’ve all been enjoying home-made bread this week.  The bread machine usage has definitely increased the past couple months!


State of the house… it’s in a state and let’s leave it at that.



A successful moment… I am once again caught up on personal finance and filing!


Lenten Musings & Observations…  One of our family sacrifices is to eat from our pantry and NOT purchase any cold cereals (think Quaker Scooters, Crispy Rice, Special K, Raisin Bran, etc.) during Lent.  This might not seem like a big deal to most, but our kids get up VERY early and cereal is the easiest breakfast for the kids to prepare themselves, thus letting parents sleep until a reasonable waking hour … that’s 6:30/7:00am around here.  They’ve been very good about spreading out our pre-Lenten supply, but this past Saturday I opened the remaining box of cold cereal. 


A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: The Valley City Winter Show is this week; hubby will be attending for work.  The boys and I will head to the library while Angelina is at dance tonight.

Thursday:  I have a mtg. in Fargo this evening, so Louis and I will make the trek there and back.  Thank goodness he’s been a good traveler.

Friday/: Dash & Angelina will compete in the State 4-H crop judging contest at the Winter Show.  The youngest boys and I may go into town for the award ceremony. 

Saturday/Sunday:  If plans hold, Eric will take the oldest three skiing on Saturday.  Eric leaves Sunday afternoon for a week-long meeting … AGAIN!


A picture memory...