Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Perspective
My family is safe. I have a roof over my head. The families in my community have roofs over their heads. My husband still has a place to work.
There are those in Sanford who have none of these things.
The devastation is about 12 miles from our house. Our usual Lowes now lies in rubble. About 100 people were inside when the tornado hit. All escaped with only minor injuries. We have friends who live on streets where their houses survived while others are unlivable. We have no damage. Our power and landlines were out for about 13 hours. We are fortunate.
Once again, I am humbled before God. Thank you for sparing us and our friends and family. Surely Your hand protects.
There are those in Sanford who have none of these things.
The devastation is about 12 miles from our house. Our usual Lowes now lies in rubble. About 100 people were inside when the tornado hit. All escaped with only minor injuries. We have friends who live on streets where their houses survived while others are unlivable. We have no damage. Our power and landlines were out for about 13 hours. We are fortunate.
Once again, I am humbled before God. Thank you for sparing us and our friends and family. Surely Your hand protects.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Wordless Wednesday--Alice in Wonderland
The Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit
See more Wordless Wednesday photos here. Wordless Wednesday
Monday, April 4, 2011
Standardized Tests
The Crafter and Wild Thing take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills next week. Yearly testing is required in our state beginning at age seven. It will be Wild Thing's first time.
We work through a test prep book each year to prepare. We always find interesting holes in the children's educations. For example, this year Wild Thing had to complete the poem "I was walking by the lake. There I saw a black and yellow __________." His choices were a picture of a duck, a picture of a rabbit, and a picture of a snake. Poor Wild Thing was so confused. He asked if the duck was male or female. He was thinking drake. I said that my instructions didn't say anything about the duck and to go with the one that he knew. Sigh.
The Crafter needs to brush up on her emoticons. I kid you not. She was supposed to identify the one for being bored. On a serious note she also needs review her literary terms and some basic government.
Next week shall tell the tale of how my homeschooled scholars measure up against the rest of the country. They may not do so well in "social studies", but I know the real story, and my son knows what a drake is.
We work through a test prep book each year to prepare. We always find interesting holes in the children's educations. For example, this year Wild Thing had to complete the poem "I was walking by the lake. There I saw a black and yellow __________." His choices were a picture of a duck, a picture of a rabbit, and a picture of a snake. Poor Wild Thing was so confused. He asked if the duck was male or female. He was thinking drake. I said that my instructions didn't say anything about the duck and to go with the one that he knew. Sigh.
The Crafter needs to brush up on her emoticons. I kid you not. She was supposed to identify the one for being bored. On a serious note she also needs review her literary terms and some basic government.
Next week shall tell the tale of how my homeschooled scholars measure up against the rest of the country. They may not do so well in "social studies", but I know the real story, and my son knows what a drake is.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wild Thing Vs. the Magnolia
or How I Earned My New Gray Hairs
We have a magnolia tree. It's an awesome climbing tree. All of my children are accomplished tree climbers. But sometime the tree wins. The picture below is not our tree, but it is very similar in height and shape.
As near as I can piece together the situation, here is what happened. Wild Thing took a piece of rope that he found in the back of the truck up the tree. He climbed up around 15 feet, looped the rope over a branch and jumped. The rope broke and Wild Thing fell. He landed on his upper back and bumped his head. The Crafter came into the kitchen and yelled that Wild Thing fell out of the tree. He was screaming. His arms and legs were drawn up. I scooped him up and brought him into the living room. (Dumb I know.) He kept screaming and his breathing sounded rough. He said it hurt to move his arms or legs and his back hurt. I told the Crafter to pack a bag for her and Princess Pink. I put in calls to a neighbor to come help. Wild Thing said he was "churny" as he lay on the floor. I called 911.
Our neighbor got here first. Wild Thing stayed remarkably calm the entire time. I made some more calls and lined up a friend to come and get the girls. I could not get the Historian on the phone. He has changed numbers at his work. I hadn't memorized the new number yet. The new number was stored in my cell phone which was with the Historian. I tried his old number, but no one answered. The Crafter sent emails.
EMS arrived and went through their protocol. Wild Thing answered their questions, but kept getting a distant look in his eyes. One of the paramedics took me aside and said that he had put the helicopter on standby. They put a cervical collar on Wild Thing and strapped him to a back board. The decision was made that he could be safely transported by ambulance. My friend arrived and took the girls home with her. I boarded an ambulance with my son bound for the hospital. My neighbor followed us. It was tough keeping Wild Thing awake on the trip.
We arrived at the hospital. The helicopter pilot met us and said he bet Wild Thing was disappointed that he didn't get to go up in his whirly bird. I was not amused. We get to a room and Wild Thing said that nothing hurt anymore except that his back felt asleep. The Historian made it to the hospital soon after we got settled for our time of observation. Wild Thing's tests came out fine. He had some bruising and a mild closed head trauma (code for concussion).
Thank you God for sending one of your angels to catch my son.
We have a magnolia tree. It's an awesome climbing tree. All of my children are accomplished tree climbers. But sometime the tree wins. The picture below is not our tree, but it is very similar in height and shape.
As near as I can piece together the situation, here is what happened. Wild Thing took a piece of rope that he found in the back of the truck up the tree. He climbed up around 15 feet, looped the rope over a branch and jumped. The rope broke and Wild Thing fell. He landed on his upper back and bumped his head. The Crafter came into the kitchen and yelled that Wild Thing fell out of the tree. He was screaming. His arms and legs were drawn up. I scooped him up and brought him into the living room. (Dumb I know.) He kept screaming and his breathing sounded rough. He said it hurt to move his arms or legs and his back hurt. I told the Crafter to pack a bag for her and Princess Pink. I put in calls to a neighbor to come help. Wild Thing said he was "churny" as he lay on the floor. I called 911.
Our neighbor got here first. Wild Thing stayed remarkably calm the entire time. I made some more calls and lined up a friend to come and get the girls. I could not get the Historian on the phone. He has changed numbers at his work. I hadn't memorized the new number yet. The new number was stored in my cell phone which was with the Historian. I tried his old number, but no one answered. The Crafter sent emails.
EMS arrived and went through their protocol. Wild Thing answered their questions, but kept getting a distant look in his eyes. One of the paramedics took me aside and said that he had put the helicopter on standby. They put a cervical collar on Wild Thing and strapped him to a back board. The decision was made that he could be safely transported by ambulance. My friend arrived and took the girls home with her. I boarded an ambulance with my son bound for the hospital. My neighbor followed us. It was tough keeping Wild Thing awake on the trip.
We arrived at the hospital. The helicopter pilot met us and said he bet Wild Thing was disappointed that he didn't get to go up in his whirly bird. I was not amused. We get to a room and Wild Thing said that nothing hurt anymore except that his back felt asleep. The Historian made it to the hospital soon after we got settled for our time of observation. Wild Thing's tests came out fine. He had some bruising and a mild closed head trauma (code for concussion).
Thank you God for sending one of your angels to catch my son.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wordless Wednesday--With Words
I've been battling insomnia and it's ugly friend fatigue for the past couple of weeks. I tried to keep up and continue to cook balanced, nutritious meals for my family. Today the tiredness caught up with me. I wimped out and succumbed to the temptation of an easy meal.
Inevitably the question came: "Mama, what's for supper?" The answer brought cheers of joy and dancing. What delightful morsel could cause such bliss?
I will try to not think of this as criticism of my cooking abilities.
Inevitably the question came: "Mama, what's for supper?" The answer brought cheers of joy and dancing. What delightful morsel could cause such bliss?
I will try to not think of this as criticism of my cooking abilities.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Happy Pi Day
Every year I annoy my family by celebrating Pi Day.
We shall start the day with pancakes (circles).
Then we will read Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi.
It's a cute story. Wild Thing and Princess Pink like it. The Crafter just rolled her eyes. She is not a math person and has a low tolerance for puns.
We will finish the day with pizza pi and maybe a fudge pie with a whipped cream pi on top.
We shall start the day with pancakes (circles).
Then we will read Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi.
We will finish the day with pizza pi and maybe a fudge pie with a whipped cream pi on top.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Mama's New Toy
Yesterday I did something that normally don't do. I bought a toy. For me. I can argue that it is for the family. I can make a case that it will make The Crafter's school work easier. I can even say that it will save money in the long run. It will. Really. And since I didn't get anything but long johns and a foam picture frame for Christmas, and Valentine's Day came and went without so much as a card from the Historian, I felt that it was time I got a present.
Do you want to know what I got? Drum roll please!
Do you want to know what I got? Drum roll please!
It's a Kindle!
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