pleasantly disturbed - r.i.p. little bunny, hello marcel the shell

I think Thursdays are a great day to celebrate being pleasantly disturbed. Come Thursday, I've usually had enough, so I had better start laughing to avoid crying. And who better to share that with than you - my lil' bloggy friends!?
Speaking of bloggy friends ... A new found bloggy friend give me an award for this here blog (pardon the prairie talk), and I still haven't gotten around to accepting it! Does that make me a horrible friend?

Speaking of friend ... I've been praying for a friend. A close friend. Other than my husband, of course. It's been quite some time since I've had one. This is due to several reasons (none of which have anything to do with being disturbed - I'm just sure of it!). So when I ran across this video, I knew my prayer was answered!! Marcel the shell would make a great friend, yes? I'm going to ask her if she'll be mine.




I just love her lil' doggy. And she's very lovable and not afraid to really give of herself. I mean, who else do you know who is willing to care for a lint pup? We're talkin' serious sacrifice here.

She's also hospitable enough to have friends over for a salad. Gotta love hospitality.

And self-esteem!! Lemme tell ya'. That girl's got some confidence, in spite of her .... uhh ... appearance.

Yes ... I think she'll make a perfect friend. Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers.

Speaking of perfection ... Excuse me while I drill myself:

Perfection is not the goal in homeschooling.

Perfection is not the goal in homeschooling.

Perfection is NOT the goal in homeschooling.

Perfection ... is not ... the goal ... in ... homeschooling.

Speaking of homeschooling ... A school day officially ends when you discover the pet bunny has died.

At that point ... it's funeral time.

R.I.P, little Fizzles.

This post has been part of Duane Scott's Pleasantly Disturbed carnival. It takes place every Thursday. Hop on over there and link up, or read more PDT posts!

Or both!!

homeschooled terrorists

Sometimes ... when homeschoolers get a day off ...

They work up these crazy scenarios ... 

Like they are terrorists ....

Or more like some of them are terrorists ... 

And some are good guys

And it's all fun and games ...

Right up until you lose your pants.

**Disclaimer: No homeschoolers, parents, or animals were hurt during the making of this blog post.

10 things i'm learning at school

While reading this, keep in mind that we're doing video homeschooling. That means we watch recorded class sessions. They're real classes, with real kids and teachers. It's like going to school, but I overlook student work, administer tests, etc.

So!

Ten things I'm learning at (home) school this year:

1. Some students are just one peanut short of a box of cracker jacks. We were studying verbs, right? So Miss R. calls a student up to the front of the class to act out the next verb. Said student puts her arms out in front of her, makes two fists, and begins "driving a car." Student in the back of the class raises his hand, and says, "Milking a cow!"

Ok, I know you're not supposed to laugh at the children. But seriously? Milking a cow?! I not only laughed. I turned red, couldn't stop laughing, and had to pause the video to gather my wits.

*Snort!

Milking a cow ...

2. Perfection isn't the goal. Our Pastor always says, "Direction, not perfection." Don't expect perfection from yourself (or others). Work hard in the right direction. No better way to discourage a kid than to expect all of his work to be perfect.

3. I've forgotten a lot since graduating *bleep* years ago. Ohhh. Don't look at me in that tone of voice. I bet you're in the same boat. No? Then tell me (without googling it) what a male bee is called. Go ahead. Which bees work, and which ones only mate? Which ones die and which ones hibernate? Hmmm?

4. I like the poem, The Village Blacksmith, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

5. A little encouragement goes a long way. Never underestimate the power of a positive word (or two, or more). I'm beginning to think of it as fuel in my child's gas tank.

6. If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. I loathe this saying. It's a cop out for other family members. The fact is, if there's one unhappy family member, all others suffer. So in that respect, yes. If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But let's get to the real point and admit that if Mama, Daddy, son, or daughter ain't happy ... ain't nobody happy.

7. You cannot put in what God has left out (Douglas Wilson). Best approach to take is to nurture your child's God-given talents. Don't try to turn a struggling math student into an algebra teacher, or a seamstress into a chef.

8. I no longer find history and science boring. I liked chemistry in high school, but all other science classes, and every history class I took were the biggest bore and frustrations of my young life.

Not anymore!! I love learning much more than when I was a kid. What's up with that, anyway? Anybody else experience the same? Is it a matter of maturity?

9. To help a child is to store up treasures in heaven. Every day, whether the homeschooling process is grueling or smooth, I know my efforts will not merely amount to wood, hay, and stubble. This is God's work, folks. It's work I'm happy to be doing, even if it sometimes means dirty dishes sit longer than I prefer, or late night laundry folding.

Ok, ok. The dirty dishes sitting bothers me more than I've just let on. I'm gradually (continually!) learning that a spic and span kitchen is not high on the totem pole.

10. I don't like to sit for six hours a day. Hurts my bompy, and makes me sore and sleepy.

The end.

it is finsihed (and a weird shopping spree)

Tada!!!!

The school room. is. finished! Uhh, minus a curtain and wall hangings. 

Yes, it's small. But it's ours, and we feel at home. The colors I chose keep us calm. You know ... so that during those schooling moments where frustrations are running high, I won't do anything drastic. Like ground kids until they're 56!

Where was I?

Oh yes. Decorating. I started thinking about what I'd like to work on next, and decided on my bathroom. Then I found http://www.become.com/. My bathroom is rather drab, and one of my goals is to get my bathroom looking perky. So when I found these floral bath towels: http://home-and-garden.become.com/floral-bath-towels I knew I needed them. Yes. Need. I neeeed towels that are off limits. Ones that just hang on a towel rack, looking pretty, but have absolutely no function or purpose at all. It's really quite imperative to my happiness.

Then I saw this double shower head: http://home-and-garden.become.com/double-shower-head but I don't want people suspicious that I may in fact take showers with, you know, someone else? Or that I have two heads. I mean, perhaps I do take showers with someone else (or have two heads), but I tend to equate these types of things with having mirrors on your canopy bed. And I'm just not sure I want to make those types of announcements. I know, I know. Such a prude.

And I really liked the idea of little shower stool: http://health-and-beauty.become.com/shower-stool. Yeah, yeah. I'm not even 40. Still, I know all too well that 60 (70? 80?) will creep up before I know it. Until then, it's for shaving my legs, because I get ... tipsy. Besides, it's much cheaper to buy it now than wait 20 years when inflation has bumped the price twice as high.

I don't know how I end up on these weird shopping sprees, and now I've gone and dragged you (drug you? have dragged you? druggest thou?) along in the process.

I'm mainly here to tell you about the school/sewing room, and will be waiting patiently for your shower of compliments (no pressure, of course).

Speaking of school ... it's time. Fairwell, my friends. I will be in that office until mid-afternoon, quilting little stars on the table runner you see, and helping Andrew with his seatwork.

One great day .... comin' up!!

my calling

I don't have a career.

And in my (almost) 21 years of marriage, I have never had a career. I've done a few odd jobs ... provided daycare for a few months, cleaned a few houses ... but I've purposely tried to focus on raising a family.

In five years, it'll all be over. My youngest will be all grown and well on his way to becoming independant.

I can't say I've never become distracted from my goal. I've volunteered too much at a few churches. I've spent too much time with friends. I've been selfish with my time. But as a whole, Shaun and I have kept our eye on the goal. The bullseye of us raising our kids, and not the school system or the babysitter.

As the school year starts once again in a few weeks, I've been reminding myself of our goal to stick it out until the end. Homeschooling a teenage boy can be God's #1 tool for sanctifying me. But I've come to realize that it's worth every second. I don't want to raise a kid that blends in well with the crowd. I want to raise a kid that sticks out because of his unusual, but healthy dose of character. A boy whose Christian beliefs have taken root and have changed the way he looks from other kids.

Of course it's not just homeschooling that keeps me home. I know without a doubt that all the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and loving my husband would go out the window if I were to pick up a career and run with it. I'm simply unable to physically keep up with working outside the home. Granted, that may be because of my health issues. But that simply strengthens my resolve to be a keeper of the home. I know my limitations, and I am simply reminding myself of them as I step into another year of homeschooling.

My limitations are something I've learned to embrace, and not fight against. And if that means less money, and thereby windows without frilly curtains, driving a few clunkers, and limiting our eating out ... then so be it.

I know I'm doing the right thing ... my life's calling.

How 'bout you? What is your life calling? Are you sure of it? Do you rest in knowing you are in the right place, doing God's will for your life, even if all the little details aren't what you'd like them to be?

simple woman's daybook 7//22/10

Outside My Window... Seems like the sun has been rather elusive lately. Time for it to come out with a vengeance once more!

I am thankful for... God's faithfulness.

From the kitchen... It's pretty darn clean! Lately, I've made brownies, a birthday cake, and blueberry muffins. And lots of dinners of course.

I am wearing... Blue shorts, and a blue t-shirt with an American flag on it. Woopty doo.

I am creating... I'm still on the quilt and the bread cloth (embroidery). Lame, I know.

I am going... to see my Mom and brother's in a few weeks! Woot!

I am reading... The Same Kind of Different As Me, A Lifetime of Wisdom, and The Disciplines of Grace. Too many projects at once!

I am remembering… to shampoo my carpets before school starts. I will do this. I will, I will, I WILL!

I am hoping... Ashlee and Daniel's house sells.

I am hearing... The dryer telling me the clothes are ready, the AC, and clickety click on the keyboard.

On my mind… Next school year, writing, photography, what project I could possibly make and give away  next.

I have noticed… that it's almost nap time. ;)

A Favorite Thing... Words. Music. Making music. Sunshine. Oh sorry, you said "thing."

Around the house... The laundry really is calling my name. And it's rather chilly in here. I pay good money to freeze myself out.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week.... Lunch with my sister-in-law tomorrow!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing ... A few pics, if you don't mind. Love these flowers.

**This post has been part of The Simple Woman's Daybook link up.

Snow! Glorious Snow!

Guess what happened at our house yesterday?

And it's still happening today!!

Nothin' like a few snowflakes to give everyone a day (or two) off school.

What's that?

I home school?

Oh yeah, huh?

Well ... as a home school mom, I usually go by whatever the school district schedule is. So, in that case, since they are having a few snow days - so are we!!!

Now stop bugging me. I have all these fun things to do on my snow day!

Enjoy the pics!

~Brenda

Potty Talk

Okay, folks. Here's my first video blog, or vlog as it is called. You may remember that I am a BlogFrog Community Leader, and this is our assignment for this week.

You'll notice right away that public speaking is not my forte! In fact, when Jessie watched this, she said, "That's the most I've ever heard you talk in my whole life." Ha!! So see - I am not a talker. I'm just a writer, and I'd like to keep it that way ... but noooooo ... Holly, from the BlogFrog had to step in ... :) Just kidding, Holly. You're great!!

Anyway - my first vlog. Uhm, I do apologize beforehand the location of the video (my potty). I'll explain why I'm there in the vlog. And I also would just like to say that this is a terrible testimony for homeschooler's. LOL. I totally lost my train of thought when talking about what we're learning. So you'll have to bear with me through that part. I may know how to make a video. But I have no idea how to edit one!

Enjoy, and don't forget to send me those video's of yourself that I ask for. ;)

~Brenda

P.S. This vlog is about 10 minutes long! Sorry! I didn't know I was so long winded. Come back later if you don't have 10 minutes. I'd hate to exasperate any of my readers/viewers.