Wednesday

I have no clue what I did today but I began running at 4:20 a.m and haven't stopped. Have you had days like that. What DID I do?

I made laundry soap. I added baking soda this time as Stephanie suggested. I like this stuff.

I talked with friends.

We did lots of school. I thought we'd be WAY behind because of Mon/Tuesday but Arielle had spearheaded couch school and we were AHEAD....so we began next week's work. YES!

We planned to go birthday shopping. Arielle will be 11 on Friday - but we haven't done it yet.

I began surfing the net for retreat centers near us for a PWOC spring retreat. I read Kathy's great post on planning a retreat again. THEN I realized that PWOC also has this on their website. ::Snort::

I made dinner. I am on the hunt for a recipe for "parmesan encrusted tilapia." There are 10 pages on google but if someone has one they KNOW they like....

The boys are all gone. The littles are in bed. Mike is at work. I think I'll go to bed too....or write a book review or two.....those nagging things....I must cross of the box. ::snort::

Tryst Journal & Other Journals

I first heard the idea of a Garden Tryst from Marcia of TOG. I'd insert a link but they aren't working for me today. Marcia is not the first to have talked about having a personal quiet time with the Lord each day....I just loved the whole concept of a "garden tryst". Actually I'm doing a few word studies and spring boarding for a talk at a tea......but I digress.

Lampstand Press (again link won't work) sells forms that Marcia has developed. I thought of buying them but....I have THIS.....originally I called it a prayer journal; but it's really so much more than that.

I realized that while my prayer journal uses different titles it still does have sections for ACT (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving). It also has sections for prayers, sermon notes, reminders, Bible reading notes, Proverb's notes....and it is very versatile....I can just add another sheet of notepaper if I use up a form, and I don't have to print anything. I'm a chart-a-holic so I may yet order the garden tryst forms....but for now this little journal is working well for me....and I've taken to calling it my tryst journal.

One Sunday I left my previous journal at chapel. I quickly realized that I don't really want all my thoughts in a notebook that is carried everywhere. ::snort:: This little Tryst Journal/Prayer Journal has all the portable info in one spot and leaves my most private thoughts at home.

Previously, I had a journal that had EVERYTHING in it, in no orderly fashion. It housed my personal thoughts, whatever I'd been reading in the Bible, prayers, sermon notes, food journal, to do lists....all jumbled together in a bound journal. It wasn't very practical , but I do sort of miss the creative chaos. I'm still working to find a system that works well for me.

I've always wanted to journal but never pulled it off until I began blogging a few years ago. That seemed to develop the habit needed. Now I have multiple journals.

Blog - daily life, a bit of everything, homeschooling, studies etc

Tryst Notebook - all I mentioned above

These two - One for my personal thoughts that I don't want to blog or put in the Tryst notebook and one for my notes on the illusive Princess Study

I also have my "LIFE Notebook" which has sections for each co-op I run, all the directories I collect, a food journal, an exercise journal, a calendar (which I rarely look at), a section for local ads, a pocket folder with address labels and stamps and a section for a printed address book but I keep losing my computer address book before I figure out how to print it from Outlook...a bit of everything.

I don't know if I like this system. I miss being able to thumb through my "journal" and find it all....but I suppose that is the problem....it WAS hard to FIND IT ALL without any organization but date. What do you all do for journaling?

As an aside Trish created and sent my Tryst Journal to me. She has detailed instructions here on how to make your own and if you are intersted in her making one for you, you can drop her an email from her blog.

For more of my WFMW posts click here . To view hundreds of this week's tips from others go here. I'm posting this late in the day. I decided to go for "last" instead of "first" link. ::snort::

*Updated - Kathy asks how often I write in each journal in the comment section. Good question. LOL

Blog - nearly every day (it's for my family far away)

Tryst Journal - nearly every day - though not all sections every day....

Personal Journal - when I have something to work through that I'm not ready to share on the blog .....

Princess Study - whenever I get an idea for that study. LOL

Interview on HSBA -

I published an interview today on Dana Hanley of Principled Discovery over at Homeschool Blog Awards. Thanks to Dawn for helping with the photos - I don't think I'll ever fully be comfortable with Word Press. LOL

Homeschool Senior 08 Giveaway


Amanda (Super Angel) from The Daily Planet and The Homeschool Class of 2008 blog is hosting a giveaway of 5 very cool Senior 08 t-shirts from the Homeschool Boutique. Amanda is also a contributor on the Homeschool Blog Award blog.





Go here to read about the contest and see photos of the t-shirts.

Staging a Sit In at Walmart

That's the best title for the day? I got up and had my garden tryst, headed to the gym and spent the entire rest of the day getting things ready for the PWOC Planning Meeting. I am NOT a procrastinator but the weeks have been too busy. I made handouts, printed, printed and printed. I went shopping. I made up notebooks. I don't know what else I did. All PWOC - all the time. ::snort::

I took Arielle and Stacia with me to Office Depot and Walmart. In Walmart Stacia wanted to try on make up. WHAT? I told her to come with me....she stalked ahead, plopped herself on the ground, crossed her arms, and gave me her pouty look. I realized this was HER twist on the 2 year old temper tantrum. I mean really....she is nearly 3. It still surprised me.

I laughed and started looking for my camera. It wasn't in my purse.

Meanwhile, someone headed towards her with a cart. She was in the middle of the aisle. She picked herself up, stalked a few feet away and replayed the scene. She did this several times.

Yes, I told her this was ugly.

Secretly, I think I like this quiet sit in tantrum better than the out and out meltdowns I've had to endure with other children over the year. Only those nearby saw (and they laughed too) as opposed to years past where all in the store (and some in the parking lot) knew a child was tantruming....and then they don't smile.

The meeting went well. Much was accomplished. We have a great team working together this year.

This really is ALL I did today...and I was literally running to get done by 4:00 p.m. so I could go set up. My email folders are exploding. Mike is studying for ACSC...so I'll go deal with those next.

Nolan's GRAND Achievement

Nolan is 9 years old. He has spent the past S*I*X years in speech therapy. The first three years it was 3x a week, the 3rd-5th year it was 2x a week, this year it's been once a week.

His therapist has said that he has all the sounds now, except for "R". We'll work on that. He still has some processing issues....but we can work on that as well. This is a huge step for us. SIX years is a long time to have speech. I'm relieved to be able to school without the pressure of breaking to run to appointments.....I'm excited that he can usually be understood these days. It's all good.

EXCEPT - Nolan has always gotten very attached to his therapists. It was hard to say goodbye in Alaska and move here. It was hard to say goodbye today to Miss Natalie. She is moving to San Antonio so I explained that he wouldn't see her even if we DID go to therapy next year. LOL

He wanted to get Miss Natalie a gift. I had several choices for him. He said, "I'd like to do flowers and chocolate". FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE. I was rather proud at having raised such a thoughtful and insightful young man.

He didn't really love any of the ones that the florist had made up. He told them he thought Miss Natalie would like sunflowers and daisies. What a sweetheart. They made up this and he agreed that they were perfect.

We didn't get the chocolates. We delivered the card and flowers....and everyone ooed and ahed over the sweet boy.

On the way out I told Nolan, "Wow, I've taught you how to treat women WELL. You did that just right."

He replied, "Actually, Mom, I've been watching what Dad gives you all the time and flowers and chocolate are what you like."

Score - Mike was gloating over this one. He deserves to gloat. His young son has learned how to treat a special woman in his life. Way to go Mike and Nolan.

When we got home the other kids had decorated the house with signs and streamers...and a giant blanket fort that they will sleep in tonight.

When Nolan walked in they all yelled SURPRISE!

Great kids one and all! I love the care they have for each other. We weren't able to use the celebrate plate or do a special dinner as I was out tonight...and will be tomorrow...but WEDNESDAY we'll celebrate.

They're all out and about watching the Spurs game tonight....I think I'll give up on crunching numbers and sleep on it.

MONDAY

I worked out - that was "good".

We did not do school - that was not good.

I took Nolan to speech.

I visited with a friend who stopped by.

I visited with a friend on the phone.

I raced to Mom's Night Out - last one of the year. We spent our time together sharing things we were thankful for this year. It was great. Encouraging. Meaningful.

I spent most of my day crunching numbers for a PWOC budget, checking out costs online, well....doing PWOC stuff both local and regional. Tomorrow night is our PWOC planning meeting - to plan the upcoming year....and then things are shutting down for the summer and we'll be able to get some quality school done! Yippee!