CANDYLAND

I love it when the kids abandon themselves to their imagination. These three children spent hours playing “Candyland”.

They began by painting their faces and staffs. They then created a whole obstacle course through our backyard and came up with a host of scenarios and tasks to complete.

I know Zander HATES clothes and I figure when we are home and it is 70* or above it simply isn’t a battle that needs to be fought.

Mock Funeral

There was no funeral.
No flowers.
No Ceremony.
No one had died.
No weeping or wailing.
Just in my heart.
I can’t…
But I did anyway,
And nobody knew I couldn’t.
I don’t want to…
But nobody else said they didn’t.
So I put down my panic
And picked up my luggage
And got on the plane.
There was no funeral.

“Mock Funeral” by Alex Graham James

THIS describes so many plane trips in my childhood but mostly the one that took me from the Philippines for the last time to “home” – America.

I’ve finished reading “Third Culture Kids” by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken. This book is about people who have lived in a “culture other than their parents during their developmental years”. I had thought I had “no issues” from my childhood but I realize I probably do. Basically, I’ve refused to dwell in the past and be a “maladjusted MK”. {G} I’ve realized it’s o.k. to grieve now for the continual gain/loss cycle that is inherent in the missionary lifestyle. I realize that it’s OK to admit that we lost out on some important things. That doesn’t change the importance of what was accomplished or the depth of the friendships and memories from boarding school.

Some other thoughts I had while reading this book: Military children are certainly classified in the book as “Third Culture Kids”. The chapel could do more to create the “alternate culture” for these kids. I can do more to help my children in this lifestyle.

With the high divorce rates I think more and more children are experiencing many of the things that typically characterized “Third Culture Kids”.

I recommend this book to anyone who grew up as a TCK or to anyone who is a parent of military children. Yes, my copy is well-marked. {G}

“I Can Fly…I Can Fly…Can I FLY?

We’re studying Contour Feathers and Flight Feathers today. The textbook “Exploring Creation with Zoology: Flying Creatures” suggested we try to run with umbrellas behind us to catch the air. We dutifully tried….even added the variable of different sized umbrellas….


and of course someone would get the idea of pulling a Mary Poppins off the trampoline….”wow, didn’t work like I expected”. {grin}

Molting

We are studying feathers this week. While studying molting we read the fun fact that some birds actually get new winter colors when they molt. We immediately thought of the AK state bird the Ptarmigan.

The kids and I had taken a railway trip in the summer to Denali State Park. One of the animals we saw were these Ptarmigan.



We were so blessed to be given tickets to ride into Denali State Park in our OWN vehicle later in the year. They limit how many cars can do this a year. We went with Tracy and Darshia and the Moncrief family. We camped on the outskirts of the park on Friday night and spent all day Saturday driving through the park. It remains one of our favorite AK memories...great scenery…great company…great wildlife added up to a grand adventure!

Here’s a Ptarmigan in September – note the feather changes! He was turning white…..our text book pointed this out and we were excited to say “We’ve SEEN that”.

Tuesday – 31 January

We finished school in good speed and rushed to get ready to leave the house. My plan was to take the younger 4 to lunch, speech therapy, the library and Sam’s Club. I’d then come home, fix dinner and head to PWOC.

Literally, as I walked out the door, the phone rang. It was Adrienne wondering if we could join her family at the park at about 1:30. That worked perfectly as speech would be done at 1:30 and we’d planned to be at the park at 1:45 anyway. Jared decided to join us.

Lunch was uneventful. Speech was GREAT. Miss Natalie reports that Nolan is moving right along. He is able to make many (if not most) sounds now….but needs to SLOW down and say them correctly. We’re attacking this problem both at home and at speech.

Park was great. Adrienne had invited several of her friends. We walked 1 ½ miles around the park and the kids had major light saber tag/wars…We didn’t make it to the library. While here we learned that one family who have been looking for a home to buy are moving a short mile from our house. They have a 17 year old son (who reminds us of Craig in AK) and a little girl just 2 days older than Stacia…and a 12 yo girl. We are looking forward to having them so close.

We DID make it to Sam’s Club. While in there I heard a young military spouse (could tell by the hair cut and demeanor of said spouse) saying “I can SURVIVE now” and I smiled knowing just how she felt. What a joy to have a touch of the familiar in an unfamiliar place. I still haven’t located the frozen juice concentrate and have asked 3 sales folk for answers…but I’ll keep looking. Zander did the strangest thing while we were in there. It wasn’t very busy, was fairly slow in fact. He was being excellent. All of a sudden, at the top of his voice he yelled “Quiet – quiet in this store”. This caused Stacia to wake up and begin screaming – she hates loud noises. I do wonder if Zander has some sensory issues. It was bright and we were standing by a flashing light – but it WAS quiet in the store BEFORE his pronouncement.

I fixed dinner; Mike wasn’t home as planned so I took Stacia and Arielle with me to PWOC. Once a month instead of Bible study we have a fellowship or seminar. Tonight we were stamping Valentine Cards. We had 14 show up – that’s great for a monthly activity…..I’d say about ½ of our Bible Study group came and then new faces…which is what you’d like to see….well you’d like to see everyone all the time . . . I’m greatly encouraged at the things happening in our midst. From “there just isn’t an interest” we are now up to what I’d consider a healthy, fledgling group. {g}

Shannon (another chaplain’s wife) shared that she is at the gym every a.m. at 5. I wonder if I could do that. I’ve struggled with finding a way to get out of the house to work out now that girls aren’t here. I’ve also struggled with the pain in my feet and sporadic pain in my hip…but I need to do something. I weighed yesterday and have lost 7 or 8 lbs in January. I’m trying to walk while the kids are at the park….I’m not sure how much I can do at the gym these days but I suppose I can give it a try and let my pain be the guide…but I’m going to have to pray about this.

I made it home at 8:30 in time to catch the last bit of President Bush’s State of the Union address.


5 min before we left the house I told Zander to get some clothes on. He did...but he added his brothers black socks that go all the way to his thighs. Josiah said it was the 70's look. {bg} I decieded he had a vision, it wouldn't hurt and let him wear them. Josiah snapped a picture.

Missionaries of Learning

Chris, on SHS, posted a Breakpoint article yesterday that struck a chord with me. I debated posting the whole article here or just commenting…and then decided to post a few excerpts and the link to the article. You can go to the link, click on “Breakpoint Articles”, then “Missionaries of Learning” to read the whole article. There are also many resources listed at the website.

Here’s the link: http://www.pfm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=BreakPoint1

Background….Chuck Colson tells of a class on Romans that RC Sproul was teaching some years back. RC asked the class of 200 the simple question “Why should God let you into heaven?” Those familiar with RC Sproul and his teaching KNOW that a class sitting under his teaching of the book of Romans should be able to easily answer correctly, “justification is by faith alone in Christ, the son of God”. Only 30 could. Mr. Colson goes on to discuss the issue of Christians that can’t think.

Here are some excerpts:
. “…Modern technology teaches us in the same way cartoons teach us: images, rather than demanding that we wrestle with tough, analytical concepts. Experts tell us that learning through images rather than words results in a diminished capacity for complex thought.”

“Of all people, Christians must learn how to engage the mind and to employ reason and logic, to understand difficult concepts and grapple with complex propositions. After all, the Gospel is revealed propositional truth, communicated to us in a complex book. This is why Christians have always championed public education and launched so many institutions of higher learning.”

I LOVED this article…which won’t come as a surprise to any who’ve attended any Bible Study seminars I’ve led, will it? {grin} I think I may change my occupation from Domestic Goddess (MIKE’S designation) or homeschooler to “Missionary of Learning” which encompasses so very much.

It will be well worth your time to follow the link and read the whole article. I saved it for future thought.

"Sorry"

I'm reading "Third Culture Kids" and having a great time with the book. This a.m. I'm considering that I may define words differently than the majority of Americans because of my background. An example was given of a lady whose friends were upset that she said "sorry" all the time. The book went on to say that in many cultures the word "sorry" encompasses far more than an apology.. She said that to most Americans when they hear you say "sorry" it means you are saying "I apologize". I honestly couldn't believe THIS and so I asked Mike. He assured me that that is what he thinks of if someone says "I'm sorry" without added words for context.

Wow. I queried further. I told him I say "I'm sorry" a lot of times and I'm thinking sympathy, empathy and I have no reason to apologize! He said he noticed that about me and often wonders "Why is she apologizing to that person? She had nothing to do with the situation." I suppose I assumed the hearer would KNOW when a person is expressing sympathy or apology....but it seems that I may be reading into this. {g} He said if there is added context that he includes sympathy as a meaning but if a person simply says "I'm sorry" he FIRST thinks of "I apologize".

I'm still surprised by this. I've had friends mention this “apologizing/guilt” thing to me for years. I remember a dear friend, Susan, in Hardin who told me I was the "most guilt-ridden Protestant" (she was Catholic) she'd ever met. She called us the "guilt-sisters" and it was because I said I'm sorry lot - I never really understood why saying sorry made me guilt-ridden. WHY would sympathizing with someone make me a guilt sister?

As recently as Elmendorf AFB Carleen would often tell me to "quit apologizing" and I never could figure out WHAT she meant. I don't remember apologizing when I teach. But now I'm thinking - it's this issue again. I say "I'm sorry" and I'm thinking I sympathize with your thoughts and feelings on this and she heard "I apologize for my belief" which isn't at all what I thought I was communicating and would explain why I never could figure out why she wanted me to quit apologizing....I didn't think I WAS apologizing. {g}

The advantage to this is that many probably think I apologized for things I had no intention of apologizing for - thus avoiding conflict? The disadvantage is that those I was sympathizing with may have been totally confused and think I'm a flake. Or maybe THEY were raised overseas too and understood exactly what I meant. {vbg} To further complicate the issue *I’M* teaching 9 children how to say they are sorry. I think I’m going to ask *them* what the word means.

If this is boring you to tears, "I'm sorry". :::snort::::