What We're Reading This Week

We are reading The BFG as a family right now.  It's pretty darn great.  Both the book and how much we all love family reading time.  My kids all look forward to it and, so far, have been willing to try out any book I want to read.

I first read The BFG in third grade.  Well, actually, it was read to me by my third grade teacher.  I can't remember her name, I do remember she was from the south and had a wonderful accent.  I loved reading time. 

So far my kids favorite chapter is "Frobscottle and Whizpoppers."  If you haven't read it, you really should, I guarantee that chapter will get a few, if not more than a few, giggles.

Makenna wants to make a giant dictionary when we're finished reading it, the Big Friendly Giant's vocabulary is unique.  And awesome. 

When I was younger, I would spend lots of time wandering around the library.  I loved to look at the spines, randomly pulling off books that looked interesting and finding new authors/series to read. 

After not doing it in years (lots and lots of years), I started perusing again a few weeks ago. 

It's been a lot of fun and while not every book I pull off has been a winner, I really enjoyed this one.  Thistle and Twigg is about two older women who, after becoming friends, discover a dead body and proceed to uncover the mystery surrounding it.  In the process they befriend an eccentric elderly man and his dog, shoot a lot of different guns, and save a beautiful forest.  It was definitely fluff, but good fluffy fun.

What have you been reading lately?

Leah

My Three Favorite Things About "The Mother Daughter Book Club"

Last summer I went up to my in-laws to visit with one of Steve's cousins who was passing through town.  One of her daughters was reading a book that sounded very interesting and when I got home, I wrote down the title so I'd remember to check the library later.

Later happened about a month ago (yeah, I know, a little on the slow side) and I'm so glad I finally took the time to look for it!  It's actually a whole series of books called The Mother Daughter Book Club and although I've only read two so far, I LOVE the whole darn series (trust me, I know).

No. 1
I love that the story is about a bunch of real girls (and real moms), they aren't perfect and they change throughout the books.  They grow and learn, they're advised and helped by their mothers, they make a few more mistakes and then they all come together in the end.  It's not only heart warming, but through watching (reading about) these girls, you get to learn some great life lessons. 

In the first book one of the characters has to choose between friends who are "cool" but mean, and her book club friends who love and support her no matter what she does.  Not to mention that her book club friends have had to forgive her for having previously chosen the "mean girls." 

No. 2
In each book in the series the girls and their moms read through one book together in their book club.  Each chapter heading contains a quote from the book they're reading.  I LOVE the quotes.  They're pretty amazing.  They usually relate somehow to the chapter, but they are pearls in their own right. 

In the second book, the club is reading through the first couple Anne of Green Gables books and, I have to say, Anne Shirley is one smart cookie.  One of my favorites is when Anne tells Marilla that she finds comfort in the fact that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it.  What a comfort it is that we can begin each day anew!!

No. 3
After starting the series I have found a great desire to start my own mother daughter book club.  I love that when they meet every month, they not only talk about the chapters they've read, but they also discuss and learn about the author's life.  How fun would that be?!  Plus, they get to deepen friendships and eat treats.  Could it get better?

Even if I'm not able to find some willing participants, Makenna and I are going to choose a book to read together.  We can talk about the characters, who we think we're like, learn about the authors and try to imagine ourselves in another world (either from the authors life or the books they've written).  Most of all, we can grow closer together (don't tell Makenna, she might groan and roll her eyes, even though I know she'll like it too).

I would love to hear about any fun, inspiration and GOOD books you've read recently!

Leah

What is Heaven?

A few weeks ago, while reading in my Book of Mormon commentary (Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon: Second Nephi Through Jacob) I came across an idea I'd never heard before.  One that I've been thinking about off and on since.

The author, Brant A. Gardner, states, "The conceptual problem we frequently have is that we consider heaven a place rather than a state of being.  We assume that our goal is to get to heaven to be with God.  Were that the purpose, we need never have left the premortal life, for we were already with God.  We are not seeking a place: we are seeking a transformation."

He's talking about 2nd Nephi 25:23, and more specifically, about how we are saved by grace after all we can do.  The grace comes into play because we can never merit the gifts God willingly gives us.  All we can do is to transform ourselves into celestial beings, as Paul said, we must put off the old man and then put on the new man.

Have you ever thought about heaven as something you can turn yourself into?  I haven't.  Hadn't.

As this thought was percolating somewhere in my brain, I was reading another book about the swimmer Michael Phelps called, No Limits, The Will to Succeed.  I really love books about athletes, probably because I find their determination and willingness to continue where almost anyone else would have some sort of mental break (I'm talking about me here) awe inspiring. 

Somehow the percolation about heaven reached out and grabbed a little section of No Limits.  Hey, I was as surprised as you, but it happened.  In the book, Michael talks about the importance of being mentally tough.  I don't have a direct quote (it was a library book that I've already returned), but he said something along the lines of, it doesn't matter how hard you've trained, the winner is the athlete who can ignore their body screaming at them to quit and continue their pace unabated.  The best athletes are able to exert control over their bodies...take control and ignore what their bodies are telling them so they are able to push themselves longer and harder.

This is my thought.  What if the ability to exert that control is our purpose in being here?  What if that is the transformation we are seeking? 

Our spirits were already with God.  We were willing to leave Him to come to earth for a body.  Now, we need to learn how to use these beautiful bodies we've been given.  We need to learn how to use them consistently for His purposes.  Talk about some serious self control. 

But, if the reward is to be able to return to our Father in Heaven and continue progressing, I'm in. 

Heart of Iron

I started reading this book last week and it's made quite an impression.  It's amazing.  I love Kyle's ability to tell ridiculous stories (like when he was drugged to make his second bone marrow test a little easier and he wasn't sure if it was the doctor or the unicorn dancing around the room that pierced his bone), detail his everyday life and then share something profound.

Seriously profound.  I keep telling everyone about this one part and each time I do, I tear up and can't get through it without sounding slightly strangled.

Kyle shares feelings experienced while waiting in his first waiting room for his first radiation treatment at the age of 17.  While waiting he watches a young boy and his mother and thinks about God.  This is what he had to say,

"Where is God when a young child like that is stricken with terminal cancer?  Where is the beauty in having a promising life snatched away before it begins?

It's in the humanity that the mother and son still maintained in spite of a lot in life that could have easily stripped them of it.  It's in the love that they shared in that small room, on that particular afternoon, that I was privileged to witness.  It's in the hundreds of thousands of people that deal with daily struggles so immense that surely their spirits should collapse - yet not only does that spirit endeavor to endure, it flourishes."

The opportunity to read and learn from the journey of others is a great blessing.  If you have the opportunity, I would greatly recommend this book.  It will make you stop and think.  It will make you thankful and hopefully, give you the urge to love your life and those around you a little more.

Book Report

In addition to adding more projects (or really, just doing projects), I've been doing a few book reports this year.  We did one with a lunch bag a few months ago where I let the kids pick any book they wanted.

This time, we're making a hamburger and I had them pick a historical fiction book.  I love "making" them pick different genres for a couple reasons.  It helps them to broaden their reading horizons (which the boys really need) and to realize that the broadening can actually be fun.  Plus, my boys get to learn what genres are (bonus).

As I was pinteresting around (is that a real phrase?), I came across this cute idea a really long time ago and looked it up again yesterday.

The original idea (or at least where I got the idea from) is a website called Unique Teaching Resources.  They turned a book report into a cheeseburger.  Hmm, that sounds messy.  Although my kids think it's funny.  And fun.  If you click the link above, you can watch a video that shoes you the different pieces up close and then you can purchase their template for $4.99.

I'm way too cheap for that.  So, I made my own.  Here are all my pieces apart...

And together...

My kids will either use mine as inspiration and draw their own (I even told them they could make it any color they wanted, can you imagine purple meat?) or they can trace mine. 

After they finish making the hamburger piece (although this particular sandwich is roast beef, it's what Josh wanted), they will cut out a piece of lined paper and glue it on top to do their writing.  Although I think the writing would probably be easier to do before the gluing, I think we'll do that from now on.

The top bun has the title, author and genre.  Then the middle pieces (in whatever order you choose) you have: the setting, main character, plot, conclusion and my favorite part.  Or if you like something else more, you can always substitute and talk all about the story line or all about the characters or anything else you can think of.  The bottom bun has a picture drawn from the story. 

I'm pretty excited to watch my kids put these together.  I'll take some pictures of them as they get finished in the next few weeks (we have next week off for Spring Break, so it'll take a little longer) and post them.

Do you have a favorite report (book report or something else)?  I'd love to hear about it or see it if it's posted online!  I'm always looking for new, fun ideas.

Poetry Curriculum

Even though I've decided to take poetry slowly for now, I eventually want to start an actual curriculum.  Right now I'm thinking the magic will begin next year, but I'm not exactly sure which (or which combination) we'll be doing just yet. 

I do have my favorites, the ones I think will work best for us now, but there are also others that look intriguing.  Either for later as my kids progress or some things I liked but don't think will work for us.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I gleaned all these wonderful sounding books and curriculum from an amazing program set up over at Pioneer Woman.  You can email questions into her Homeschooling section and get answers from homeschoolers (and non-homeschoolers) from all over.  It worked amazingly for me!

Reference

There are three books I KNOW I'm going to be purchasing for next year.  They aren't so much curriculum (at least not the detailed sort I generally buy), but more along the lines of reference material.  Each of them take you through a variety of different poetry with examples, pictures and instructions.

 A Child's Introduction to Poetry, by Michael Driscoll, even comes with a CD!  I'm pretty excited about it (betcha couldn't tell).  I'm thinking all of us will have fun listening to someone else for a change, plus it'll give us another take on the poetry (hearing how someone else reads it).

Fly With Poetry, by Avis Harley

 

A Kick in the Head, by Paul Janeczko

 

I know, I probably don't need each of these, but I like books, I like options, and I really like poetry.  Plus, I figure each book will have it's own way of describing the poems and perhaps one will resonate more with each of my kids than the others. 

 

Memorization

This group includes some books that might be considered curriculum, but not in the lesson, take poetry apart way.  They're more like phase 1, pre-curriculum curriculum.  They are meant to be memorized (if there's such a thing as memorization curriculum, this is what they are).  They help to develop an appreciation, love, and understanding of poetry without actually talking about those things. 

The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist appeals to my classical bent.  I'm a big fan of The Well Trained Mind specifically and classical homeschooling in general.  I like the idea of having poetry already broken up into a four year historical cycle to go along with what we're already studying.  I also like that there are poems geared toward children at all levels (literally, 1st through 12th).

 Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization is put out by the Institute for Excellence in Writing.  I've heard good things about IEW, but haven't yet purchased or used anything from them.  I like the idea of simple exposure combined with filling my children's heads (not to mention mine) with beautiful words.  I like this more for my younger children, but as they're currently in the majority, I'm seriously considering this for next year.

Elementary - Middle School

This next group is filled with curriculum geared towards the elementary years (and sometimes as far as middle school).  I have only held one of these, which is one of the reasons why I'm hesitant to purchase one right away.  I'm not certain which will fit best with our schooling methods, although I like something about each of them.

Kids' Poems by Regie Routman comes in grades K through 4th (that I was able to find) and is the one I was able to check out from my local library to peruse.  I liked some of the ideas in it, I especially like how she talked about making sure to teach kids that poetry does not have to rhyme or follow special rules.  It teaches how to teach and introduce poetry with less pressure (it reminds me of the awesome book, Love That Dog we finished a couple weeks ago), but it is definitely geared towards a large classroom.  Good info (I'd suggest seeing if your library has it to look over and glean from), but not one I'm planning to purchase right now.

Read and Understand Poetry made by Evan-Moor is definitely more my speed.  It has well laid out lessons (from what I was able to see on Amazons cool Click to Look Inside tool) with worksheets and review.  I like a script, not that I always use it, but it makes me feel more confident, especially when I'm traipsing into new territory.  Sort of like back-up.  You know, just in case.  They also have a variety of grades/levels to choose from. 

For the Good of the Earth and Sun by Georgia Heard feels like the opposite of the structured approach I usually go for.  As I read through some excerpts, I kept thinking it was a book I would want to read and glean goodness from.  Lots of good teaching tips, lots about loving poetry and not restricting the enjoyment of the poems with unnecessary analyzing.  Love first, figure out why later.

Grammar of Poetry is another curriculum put out by the Institute for Excellence in Writing (this one is geared towards 6th through 9th graders).  I have a confession (okay, it's not really a confession, I've said it before), I don't really know a whole lot about poetry.  Nope.  Nada.  Okay, I think nada means nothing and that's an exaggeration.  I like this course a lot because it's well laid out (like I like) and the lessons are on DVD, so I can watch and learn right along with Makenna.  If you click the link above, you can read all about it (of course), but they also have samples of what's on the DVD's.   

 

Middle - High School

These next three I haven't looked at as much.  Only enough to say, hey, I like the look of that and off it went into my amazon wishlist to delve into more when my kids are older.  All I can really say is that the reviews are really good (both from Amazon and from the Pioneer Woman's awesome readers).  Check them out, maybe they'll work wonderfully for you!

 

The Roar on the Other Side, by Suzanne Rhodes.

How Does a Poem Mean?, by John Ciardi and Miller Williams.

Sound and Sense, by Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. Arp

I was completely overwhelmed with what felt like a total lack of knowledge when I first started thinking about what and how to teach my children poetry.  After some good advice and a little (okay, a lot) of research, I am so very EXCITED to not just teach my kids, but to learn with them!! 

I hope you've found something you can use and if I've left out your very favorite, leave me a comment so I can check it out!

Library Love

If you've read very many of my posts, you'll know how much I love the library. 

In my head right now I hear my kids saying, "Why don't you marry it?" 

How do these things get passed down?  There are so many sayings I said as a child that I've never, even once, said to my kids and yet, THEY KNOW THEM ALL!  Does it just get passed down in the womb? 

Although, if it were possible, I might just think about marrying the library.  As long as Steve (my husband) didn't mind. 

I have so many memories of walking through the library as a child.  Looking for another perfect book (thank you mom!).  It all started for me in 3rd grade.  I can still see the library shelf where I found it, I was probably there with my mom, and I remember pulling out a book titled Little Red Riding Hood.  Now this wasn't a regular Little Red Riding Hood, this was a 70 page book with only a few pictures. 

I vividly remembering the feeling of pride as I finished reading it and then wondering what other books I might like.  After that I was hooked, both on books and libraries. 

Even as a teenager, I would drive myself to the library to peruse the shelves and check out new books.

The firt thing I do when I move to a new town isn't to find the local grocery store or anything else trivial like that, I find the closest library.  Then after visiting that one, I visit every library within driving distance in my county.  You know, just to see which is better.  And because I think it's fun.

Right now I use the library more than I ever have in my life.  It's an integral part of our homeschooling life.  Once a week I sit down with my different curriculum and my library's website to find books that go along with what we're learning and then we go.  Every week, without fail.

Thank goodness for inter-library loan.  I can request books from any library in my county be sent to the library closest to me.  The whole library is literally at my fingertips. 

I regularly have 70 books checked out.  My husband thinks I'm nuts.  So do most of my friends and family.  I think I'm blessed to have access to this amazing resource.

Of those 70 books, probably somewhere around a half to one third I've checked out for school (which means we keep them for 2-3 weeks) and the rest are books that my kids pick out (which means we return and exchange them weekly...usually). 

I'm thinking about making each of my kids book bags (transportation is kind of an issue).  I know they could just use their backpacks, but for some reason, the idea of having to unzip and rezip them isn't very appealing to me.  I've found some really cute ideas on Pinterest and I'm thinking this summer I'll sit down and figure something out.  If you've done (or seen) a project like this, I'd love to hear about it!

I would also love to hear how many library books you guys check out.  Do you go once a week?  Month?  Season?  Do you give your kids a 2 book limit or let them go crazy?

The Parenting Breakthrough

Several weeks ago I was playing a game with  my in-laws.  I can't remember the title (I'm TERRIBLE with names), but it was one of those games where one person reads a question and then has to guess which answer came from which person.  The question was something like, "What do you hope for your children?" 

 

My answer?  "That they'll move out and never move back in."  Everyone laughed and oooed me when they read it, like it was a mean or bad answer.  It really isn't.

 

I love my kids a ton.  I love to be with them so much that I choose to home school them.  I also love them so much that I want them to be independent enough to move out and never want to move back in.  I think I wrote about this in another post a few weeks ago, but my point today is that my journey to reach this point started when I read a very cool book.

 

You know what? It always seems to start with a book.  I love books.  I love learning.  It's such a gift and I'm constantly amazed at all I get to learn. 

Anyway, back to THE book.  I'm sure that most parents would want their kids to be responsible and independent, but might not think about exactly how that happens (or they think it'll just magically happen as they grow up).  Enter The Parenting Breakthrough by Merilee Boyack.

 

Even if it wasn't chock full of amazing advice and practical, use able information, it would be worth reading.  Merrilee is funny.  It's almost like you're sitting down with a friend and she's telling you all about her life. 

 

But it IS full of all kinds of amazing stuff.  In fact, my copy is highlighted, has notes in it and has the corners of several pages turned down for easy reference. 

 

Do you notice how the cover says it's "a real-life plan to teach kids?"  She has a PLAN, a step by step list to make your own simple, easy plan to teach your kids everything they'll need to know when they leave your home. 

 

Adapting her plan is one of my goals for this year.  I've used bits of her plan (the one she includes as an example) over the past few years, but I haven't actually sat down and adjusted it for our family.  I'm going to. 

 

If you've never heard of this book, go buy it (or be like me and see if your library has it to make sure you really like it first).  Your kids might be unhappy about it at first, but the pride that comes from knowing how to accomplish things far outweighs the negatives (eventually).

 

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book:

 

"I don't want to give offense to anyone, but I want my children to grow up and move away so I can have grandchildren I can visit!  Isn't that why we had children to begin with?  I want the icing on the cake.  Not only do I want lots of grandchildren, but I want to spend years watching my children raise them.  Talk about joy.  I don't think it can get any better than that.  I want to listen to my kids complaining about how their children won't clean their rooms, don't do what they're told, and are lazy and unmotivated.  I'm going to spend decades just laughing.  My grand kids are going to think they have the happiest grandma on the planet."

Isn't that amazing?! 

Maybe I'll post my version of Merilee's lists when we get them done.  Have any of you read her book?  Made your own plans?  Parenting is one of my favorite subjects to read about, so if you have your own favorite book, let me know so I can add it to my To Read list!

 

Book Report

A couple weeks ago I added a new line to their daily school check-off lists, Project.  We do a weekly project related to what we're studying in history every Friday, but we haven't really done anything else with any regularity.  I decided (with my new best friend, Pinterest) to change all that.

Each week we talk about books we've read and do a short story narration (depending on how old the kids are, they either narrate a few sentences to me about what they liked in the book or write it themselves and then draw a picture), but we haven't done any official book reports. 

I found a few I really liked several months ago and finally started to work on one during our project time last week. 

They got them finished yesterday and I think they turned out pretty darn good.

They each picked a book to read and then after finishing, decorated and filled a lunch sized bag describing the main character (these two are Ben and Makenna's).

The front has a picture of the main character as well as the title and author (Ben's doesn't have the author because we'd already returned the book to the library and I was to lazy to look it up on the computer while he was writing it).

The sides do two things.  One side tells either what the other characters in the story thought of your main character.  The other side tells several likes and dislikes of the character.

The back side tells either what the character learned during the story or what you learned from him/her by reading their story.

I think the most fun was the inside.  The kids put 5-10 items that would represent their character.  For example, Ben did Jack Stalwart and the water bottle represents how techie he is because in the story he uses invisible water to turn himself invisible.  And Makenna did Michael Vey and in the story they steal a van after having been captured.

Last night the kids brought their sacks upstairs after dinner and did a little presentation for my husband and I.  It was pretty entertaining. 

I'm excited to start our next project!

Story of the Orchestra

We've made it successfully through the first half of our school year. 

Yay!!! And a little yippee after that. 

Last year (my very first year homeschooling) I made myself start with a basic, bare bones curriculum.  I've mentioned before I have this tendency to take on too much and one piece of advice I read over and over while researching homeschooling was to take it slow. 

I'm very happy that I have, but this year, I wanted to add a little more.  Move outside the basics. 

I read some more and did a little more research before adding Art and Music.  One of my favorite finds has been Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine.

 

It has two sections (which I somehow didn't realize when I purchased it).  The first half is all about composers while the second half focuses on many of the different instruments found in an orchestra.  We started with instruments and have been loving it! 

 

The books breaks them down into which section of the orchestra the instruments come from (string, woodwind, brass...).  It has pictures, histories, and physical descriptions in a short and entertaining enough manner that my 11 year old loves it AND my 5 year old listens to all of it (almost a miracle). 

 

Our favorite part is the CD that comes with it.  After we talk about the instrument we get to listen to what it sounds like playing beautiful music while pretending we're the ones playing the instrument (sometimes a little wildly...okay, fine, all the time).

 

Even if you aren't a homeschooler, I highly recommend this book to any music or wannabe music lover!

Divergent

How many of you are members of Goodreads?  I have to say, I both love it and am overwhelmed by this amazing website.

I love it because I'm a huge fan of lists.  I love to keep track of things and, like I've mentioned before, mark them off.  With Goodreads you can keep track of what books you've read, what you're reading right now (although you'll probably remember that one on your own) and what books you want to read.

The want to section is where I get into trouble.  There are so many books I read about in blogs, see while browsing in stores and hear about from my friends.  I almost just typed too many books, except even though I find my list a little overwhelming, I'm not sure there can be too many books on my "to read" list. 

I know there can be so many I won't be able to read them all, but too many like I shouldn't add more?  Nope.  Never. 

As evidenced by my continual additions.  A few weeks ago, I got an email from Goodreads telling me all about their readers top picks for 2012.  They have top picks for every genre of book and then some overall categories as well.  I browsed through and ended up adding a few more books to my list (surprise, surprise).

Lately, as I add items to my "to read" list, I check my local library's website at the same time.  This way I can check them out and hopefully read them and get them off my "to read" list in a timely manner.  Sometimes it even works out that way.  Like a book I just finished last week.  I actually started it last week, too.  It only took me a couple days (like two) to read it.  It was pretty darn fun.

 

Divergent is the start of a dystopian series located in Chicago.  Right away, I was comparing it to The Hunger Games, but they're almost nothing alike.  They are both dystopian and the main characters from both are young.  That's about it.  Well, I guess not it, they're also both good and there are parts in both that are slightly disturbing.

 

In Divergent, the people of Chicago are split into 6 groups.  5 factions each epitomizing a different, admirable trait (the sixth group are those that belong to no faction, cast offs).  You see, they figured that if they only focused on being perfect at 1 trait, they would be able to remain more peaceful and prevent war.  They were wrong.  Of course. 

 

It was a super fun read for both Makenna and I.  We highly recommend it.

 

I also recommend Goodreads.  It's a great place to not only keep track of what you want to read, but to be exposed to lots of amazing books that may be outside your comfort zone.  I've loved it!

Chickens

I have a secret to share.  I am full of conflicting wishes and desires. 

There is a part of me that would love to try living downtown in a big city.  I think being able to walk or take some sort of light rail to museums and restaurants and shows would be amazing!  I was first drawn to downtown living when I heard about the Hancock Building in downtown Chicago.

 

Isn't it beautiful?  Did you know that while the first half is commercial, the top half is all residential?  Imagine being able to take an elevator to work?  To the pool?  To the grocery store?  How cool would that be?  Plus, it's relatively close to the lake which has a fantastic path for walking, jogging and just being outside (when it's not winter and freezing).

 

But then, there's this other side of me.  This other part that seems to be growing over the years.  I've been reading several books lately on gardening, raising animals, and backyard homesteading.  Yes, I did just say homestead.  My husband thinks I have some survivalist in me...and maybe I do.  Just a little. 

 

I'm intrigued by the idea of being self sufficient.  Not enough to want to do all the crazy LOT of work it would take to be entirely self sufficient, but enough to want to know how to provide for myself and my family.  And there are lots of small things I can do now while not being too survivalist-ey.

 

For example, I could have chickens.  I really want chickens.  I don't have chickens, but I have been reading about them lately.

 

My most recent read is titled Keeping Chickens.  It's also the first one I've read that focuses exclusively on chickens and it's pretty interesting.  I've learned there's an awful lot I don't know about chickens.  I do know that I don't want chickens for meat.  I think it'd be fun to have my kids help me raise them (making them pets and un-eatable) as a sort of science/life/service/responsibility project. 

 

I've loved the book (so far, almost done).  Of course, I don't have any actual experience trying to use the information she's providing, so I suppose I can't personally say it's accurate, but it has good reviews and seems to be pretty comprehensive. 

 

So comprehensive in fact that I've learned a few things I'm not sure I really wanted to know.  I mean, they are things I would need to know if I end up raising chickens, but did I really need to know that the whites of eggs are made from the mucous collected around the yolk on it's voyage through the oviduct?  Mucous is not a yummy sounding word.  Not even a little.

 

The book also includes some building plans.  One of them is for a cute, small coop.  I'm not sure exactly what type of coop I'd opt for, but there are so many CUTE ones out there.

 

Like this adorable one I found on Backyard Chickens.  Pretty great, right?  There are lots and lots of free plans and ideas online.  Even though I love the look of the permanent coops, I'm drawn to the tractor type (a coop on wheels) a little more.  Maybe because this is not our permanent home and I don't want to invest too much in something we're going to leave behind.  I also like the idea of moving the chickens around our yard and fertilizing at the very same time. 

 

So, what do you think?  Ever raised chickens and have some great advice for getting started?  Ever wanted to or read about it and have a great book/website/magazine to recommend?  I'm all ears!

Hope

I just started reading a fictional series of books called The Great and Terrible.  Today I finished the first book, Prologue: The Brothers and I really liked it. 

I like it even though it's not a super happy everything goes right sort of book, which is what I usually gravitate towards if I'm reading strictly for fun.  It talks about the forces of good and evil.  Yeah, I know, all books to some extent seem to be about the fight between good and evil, but this book had varying degrees of both and it was those degrees that I found disturbing and hard.

There were those that chose evil knowing it was evil and chose it anyway.  I can see choosing to do wrong things while thinking you are right, but to KNOWINGLY choose evil is something I don't understand. 

Then there were those that did not choose evil, but they did not choose to fight for good either.  They stayed just on this side of good, but weren't willing to do any real work.  Why?

It ended (of course) with a win for the good guys but with portents for much more hardship to come (it's a series remember).  As I already mentioned I finished the book on good note, I liked it and the ending, but it made me think about what sort of person I am today.  What do my actions say about me?

While all of this was running through my head, I called my mom and heard for the first time about the elementary school shootings in Connecticut.  Just on the heels of the mall shootings near Portland, Oregon (in the mall I grew up going to, where my family still lives) and I was reeling. 

The first few thoughts to run through my head were somewhere along the lines of, "Why?"  "How could this happen?" "What sort of world do we live in?"  Then I came across this amazing picture of a sunrise one of my friends had posted to their feed on Facebook.

Underneath it was this quote (I added the bolding):
"Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

To me, the key seems to be faith.  Do we have enough faith, enough hope to choose good?  Enough to choose to act?  To continue moving towards our Heavenly Father with love even "when the darkness may seem unbearable?"  I know that there is good out there.  I know that we all have a loving Heavenly Father who is willing to comfort and carry us if we ask.  I am so thankful for that knowledge.  If you'd like to learn more about the restored gospel mentioned by President Uchtdorf, you can go here. 

Please join me in praying for the families of the victims and for the hearts of everyone touched by this tragedy.

Homeschooling Journey - 1

Recently I came up with a fantastic way to describe how I deal with change to my husband.  I am like an old GPS unit.  Have you used one of those?  The really cool ones that freeze up when you make a wrong turn (or don't turn when you should)?  Not only does ours freeze up, but it slowly and with an awesome monotone says, "Recalculating....Recalculating...Recalculating."  It's totally me.

When my plans get changed (aka: life happens), I always have a recalculating moment.  Sometimes it's short and I'm off on my way with my newly acquired plans, but other times it takes just a "smidge" longer.

This is one of the biggest reasons I can't believe I'm homeschooling today.  It was completely and totally not in my plans.  I was counting down the years until my youngest was in kindergarten (I actually figured out which year while I was pregnant with him, it would have been 2014) when I was going to finish my degree and get a job.  I was going to find something I could be passionate about, something I loved where I could make a difference.  You know, I'm laughing right now because that is exactly what I'm doing today...and it's not even close to what I thought would give me those feelings.

Somewhere around 2 to 3 years ago I was reading a magazine (for the life of me I can't remember exactly which one it was now, but that's not the important part) and in that elusive magazine was an article (or ad) about Bakerella.  Have you heard of her?  She's pretty awesome.  Her cake pops are adorable and so are her posts.  I quickly bacame an avid reader and while on her blog one day, I read about another blogger who'd named herself the Pioneer Woman.  Huh, I thought, interesting name, who's that?  So, I clicked myself over to PW's blog and took a look around.

Okay, I'll confess, I didn't do too much looking around that first day.  I looked at her blog with all her tabs and information and I thought something along the lines of, "Holy Cow!"  And then I closed down the internet and moved on to other things.  But, another day, when I was feeling a little braver (remember, new things take a little getting used to...yes, I know I can be silly), I got back on and started to look over her site.  Did you know PW has a homeschooling section?  It's fantastic!  I've never met Heather (a contributer) but I love her anyway.  She's been instrumental in my homeschooling story.

Looking through posts one day I came across one by Heather where she talks about a book she loves called The Well-Trained Mind (which teaches how to provide a classical education at home) and as I am a lover of books myself, I decided to see if my library had it and they did.  Yipeee!  If you've never happened across it before, it's GIGANTIC!  Sort of overwhelmingly large, but thankfully easily broken down into smaller, more manageable chunks. 

The first section shows you how to homeschool kindergarten through 4th grades.  The second is 5th through 8th grades and the third is, you guessed it, 9th through 12th grades.  I skipped right over those sections the first time I checked it out (yes, I did just say first time) and only read the fourth and last section which is all about homeschooling and why you might want to (or not want to).

After I finished reading it, I returned the book and that was it.  Pretty much.  I didn't read any other books on homeschooling, I didn't really get on PW's blog much at all (not like my current daily stalking...shoot, did I type that out loud?) and the thought of ME homeschooling never crossed my mind.  It was interesting, sure, but SO not a part of my plans. 

Stay tuned for part 2 to see how masterfully my life and plans were changed a little recalculation at a time.

Just for fun

I love to read to learn new things.  I'll read anything that has to do with almost any area of my life: cookbooks, budgeting/savings books, parenting books, marriage books, finding happiness/peace/joy books, gardening books, inspirational books, exercise/triathlon/cycling books...and I not only learn a lot, I usually have a lot of fun doing it.

Sometimes though, I need a book that's good for nothing.  Well, not really nothing, but a book where I don't learn anything reading.  A fluff book.  A turn off my brain and sit for hours living in another universe sort of book.

My favorite genre of books for this fluffy-ness has always been fantasy.  Who couldn't use a little more magic in their lives (no, I have never tried to psychically move my remote control closer to me, that would just be crazy)?    One of my very favorite fantasy authors is Mercedes Lackey.  She's written more than 100 books.  Yes, I did just say more than 100.  Is that as crazy to you as it is to me?  Who has that many stories in their heads?!?

 

Okay, okay, they probably weren't all their together clamoring to get out, but it's still an amazing accomplishment.  I've been thinking about Mercedes Lackey today because I got online to update my Amazon wishlist (for Christmas, only 36 more days!  I'm not panicing, nope) and discovered she has several new books out that I haven't read! 

First, that's a travesty, how could I not have known?  Well, not checking and being fairly oblivious to most of life outside my home are probably equally culprits, but still.  And second, I need to rectify this problem immediately.  Starting with the Collegium Chronicles...I thought there was only one book and their are FOUR! I must have missed the s on the end of chronicles.

I've been reading pretty non stop over the last few months and lately I've been feeling the urge to go fluffy (I originally typed brainless where fluffy currently sits, but couldnt' leave it because instantly 10 different sarcastic -yet loving- remarks my husband would make after reading it popped into my head). 

I'm pretty seriously excited.  Library, here I come. 

What we read...

I came across a quote while looking at Gretchen Rubin’s blog (the author of The Happiness Project) yesterday that I loved.  It made me both smile and think "YES!" 

Samuel Johnson: “What we read with inclination makes a much stronger impression  If we read without inclination, half the mind is employed in fixing the attention; so there is but one half to be employed on what we read.”

There are many books that I think I should want to read.  Books that I know are good and that I would learn and grow from reading, but I have a hard time making myself start.  When I do start, I have a hard time getting engaged, staying engaged and getting the book finished.  Then I feel guilty  for not being more excited to read books that I think I should (and yes I know that’s a little silly). 

This quote resonated with me because it offers an explanation.  And more than that, just by reading this and knowing that someone else struggled with some books (and others struggle, Gretchen did post the quote) makes me feel better. 

I will still try to get myself to read books that are outside my comfort zone, books that I KNOW are good for me.  I’ll just cut myself some slack when it’s hard, after all, only half my mind is available to enjoy it.

Book Review

I finished an amazing book yesterday.  I don't usually like books that make me sad and the only thing that rescued this one for me was that it didn't stay sad forever.  It's a book about hope and finding your way through amazing hardship.

Don't get me wrong, the whole beginning is strange and hard in an almost uncomfortable way, but that's life.  No, this book is not real (at least not in a biography sort of way), but it is realistic fiction.

I just started laughing because as I'm typing that it's realistic fiction, I remember describing Sarah's symptoms (the main character) to my husband and watching the expression on his face turn to something along the lines of, "Seriously?  This sounds about as real as those fantasy books you love."  But Sarah's condition is real.  Crazily and unbelievably real.

It was so good I read it in just more than a day.  I didn't want to put it down.  I HAD to know what was going to happen, how Sarah's life was going to turn out.  If you're looking for a good book, go pick up Left Neglected by Lisa Genova.  You'll finish it thankful for your life and ready to squeeze all the loved ones a little harder.

Busy Day

Today was slightly crazy running from basketball practices (just starting up), soccer games (last of the fall season), a baby shower and trying to get ready for B's birthday party. 

Before I go on, with a show of hands, how many of you think only a terrible parent would read a book off and on during a child's soccer game?  I'm going to pretend everyone agreed unanimously that I'm not, I mean it wouldn't, and keep going.

I was reading Brene Brown's book titled The Gifts of Imperfection and I came across my favorite part so far.  To be honest, I started out not liking the book.  Then I sort of liked it, but it also sort of made me uncomfortable (in a I think this might be talking about me and I'm pretty sure I wish it wasn't way) and now I just like it.  Plain old like. 

My favorite part, and one that I am going to do with my husband/family, is to figure out what makes us happy.  Sounds complicated, right?  It's not.  Now, following through consistently after you've figured it out might be a little harder (at least it's been for Brene's family), but it sure seems worth it.

Ask yourself a simple question.  What makes your family (or yourself) work?  Not big gigantic things, but little everyday things.  When you've had a good day/week, what are the things that you've been doing?  Brene's list included things like: working out, sleep, going to church, weekends away, time with family and time to just hang out.  Not long after making the list, Brene and her husband compared it to their list of personal goals and realized that all their goals boiled down to either making more money or spending more money.  Neither of which had any influence on their family list.  So they re-prioritized and made changes in their lives. 

A year or two ago I thought about making a family mission statement and reading about this has re-energized that desire.  Except now, I want to make it based off the things that are most important.  The little, everyday things that will lead to my family being happier today (not after we finally build that dream house we've been talking about for more than a decade).  I'm pretty excited about it.

The Happiness Project

I just finished a book titled The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin.  I liked it A LOT.  I think I liked it so much because the author reminded me of myself.  It's an easy, fun read with lots of little gems sprinkled throughout.  Here are a few of my favorites:

~ "Nothing is insurmountable if I do what I know ought to be done, little by little every day."  And relatedly, but worth repeating, "Do not underestimate how much can be done in only a few minutes every day."

~ "I can do anything I want, but I can't do everything I want."  Sorry, Sharilyn.

~ "On the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet as I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it." I now want to read Benjamin Franklin's autobiography.  I love his resolutions and find his attitude, even after failing in his original goals, inspirational.  I also (like Gretchen) want to make my own resolutions chart for myself and my family.

~ And lastly, "There are times in the lives of most of us when we would have given all the world to be as we were but yesterday, though that yesterday had passed over us unappreciated and unenjoyed."  I want to engrave this quote from William Edward Hartpole Lecky on my soul.  Does that sound cheesy?  Weird?  Well, it's still true.  I want to never forget (even though I know I will) or at least remember as often as possible to cherish and treasure the small moments every day because as Gretchen said many times in her book, the "days are long but the years are short." 

If you're looking for something to read, something fun that will make you think and be grateful, go pick it up.  Or be like me and check it out from your local library.  I have some serious love for my library.  Shoot, did that sound weird again?