Wednesday - A Day at Both Ends of the Pendulum

We've had a sad event in our small town today. Two youth were hit and killed as they drove down a fairly "sane" road....by a 26 YO who swerved into their lane. The boy was the son of a MSgt on base. Please pray for these families, and the driver, as led.

We had an exciting event in our town today, as well. Jamin got news that one of his articles will be published - in our church's magazine. It's a start.

Jared had 3 or 4 hours of Honor Guard training. This had to do with Civil Air Patrol. I THINK the base honor guard was showing them the tricks of the trade.

Since I was on base dropping Jared off, I went to the gym. A gentleman there noticed my Alton Gansky book, "Crime Scene, Jerusalem", and wanted to talk about the author. I've not read his series. He likes them. Liz doesn't...hmmm...I think he was about to offer me $ for my book - and I plan to mail it to the girls.

I had the fun of hosting a friend and her new baby this afternoon.  She wanted me to show her how the United order process works; it was fun.

We made "nola" bars.  Stacia was my helper. It was a challenge but she seemed to enjoy "helping".

I went out for dinner with a couple of friends tonight. It was fun and relaxing. No, I didn't take pictures. My friends don't pose quite as easily as some of youz friends or y'alls friends. ::Snort::

I got home in time to clean up quickly, read a few blogs, and go retrieve Jamin from Chick-Fil-A.  I dod not put any new diapers in the freezer - today.

Senior Moment

ACK - it happened. This is NOT a staged photo. ::snort:: An aging, Quiver Full, Senior moment......

I could not for the life of me figure out where I'd set down Stacia's diaper. I KNEW I had one in my hand and was ready to change her...but where did it go?


I found it when I went to get Spaghetti sauce from the freezer...which I'd also started to do several times during the day. ::snort::   Yes, it was a clean one.

GRADUATION???

I consider our schooling to be very strong *average.* By that, I mean that we are not learning Latin; my children are not winning Spelling Bees nor Science Fairs - we've never even entered.  Krista took Calculus, etc, but no one else has gone beyond Alg 2, the older 3 have taken Chemistry as their top level science, but we've not required it of Jamin as his "bent" is obviously tracking to writing and business. In other words - we are an average family. Our focus has always been character development and "strong" academics, but we aren't the "super-performers" of the world.
I did actually READ the Tapestry of Grace manual last year (after 3 years of use) and discovered if you do each assignment (as our boys do) that it is considered honors and AP.....well this is NEWS to me. ::snort::
I got a call a few days ago from NARHS. They were reviewing Jamin's portfolio. She was VERY impressed. She told me again that our work always shines in the stack. She said that what we are doing is "wonderful," "amazing," "stands out in the crowd," and I'm always shocked. Honestly. We are NOT, by far, the most academic family around. We plod along. We aren't the least academic family I know - we're just a solid average. LOL
She asked about Jamin graduating this year. He's in his Jr year. She said he only needed to take 2 credits to graduate this year. He's taking 12, I think. She said it is totally our decision, but after looking over his work she began to wonder if he may be ready to be "done" with high school and ready to pursue his future.
The state of Maine, where NARHS is situated, only requires 17.5 credits. We wanted him to have at least the 22 that are typically required in states such as TX. He'll have those at the end of this year.
Hmmm.... Jamin had asked about graduating this year and spending his "Sr" year writing. He then came up with 22 credits he wanted to take THIS year, and so, we opted to say this was his Jr year and give him another year to pursue those other credits. We're re-thinking. I don't know if we could get into the whole graduation thing with our support group this late in the year.
The disadvantage of graduating this year is that he would not be able to take dual-credit courses at the local university. He's not talked about doing that - he's talked about writing next year, but I hate to close options.  The advantage is that he could concentrate on his passion - writing. I KNOW he would still do the reading and such for year 2 of TOG as he considers it research for his writing. He'd have time to pursue those tracks (filmmaking, et. al.) that he wants to pursue - he just wouldn't be getting CREDIT for it...but do you need CREDIT in order for learning to be meaningful?
Pray for Jamin and for Mike and I as we seek God's face about what Jamin should do next year. Honestly, is there any reason to graduate EARLY?????? I can't think of a reason to encourage accelerated growing up - they seem to do that all on their own at the speed of light. ::snort::

The Grand Surprise

When the older ones were younger (jr high and high school age), they saved up and bought two canoes. They were wonderful for family outings in San Antonio, in ID, in AK, on the Smith River... We had a pop up trailer and could easily cart both all over America - which we did. We have noted that as the older ones quit going on so many of our outings the canoes got heavier. AND.....then....I bought the trailer at Mike's request when he was deployed. There is no way to put two canoes on the top of the trailer......

Mike has been dreaming of a kayak. The obvious advantages are that it is lighter, we can carry it on the top of the Honda, in a storage bin of the trailer, and one person can carry it down to the lake easily. The disadvantage: only one person can ride in it at a time. I've become accustomed to sitting in the canoe while Mike paddles it furiously around the lake, up and down rivers...you get the idea. I like the canoes, they are very romantic...though currently they lay upside down in our back yard with bird droppings all over them....the kids SAVED for them. It makes me sad to get rid of such a tangible part of their childhood. I suspect we'll sell them shortly. They should get a good price. They are in great shape, and we'll most likely buy kayaks....


to match this one......

Mike used the rest of his birthday money and a bit extra and bought this while it was on sale.

I admit that it is lighter....and it will be fun to get ON the water....but we could get all of our family in those two canoes....sigh....

The kids took turns trying out the grand surprise.

The Iditarod started today and I found that photo of the last one we attended as a family - 2005. I'm missing the girls, the guys are growing up way to fast, and now we have a kayak. I'm nostalgic. (I'm also wondering what that glow above NOLAN'S head is in these photos). ::snort::

Monday? Again? Didn't We Just DO this?

7:15 a.m. boys to local church. A very wonderful homeschool Mom arranged to take a van load of homeschool youth to a nearby town (90 miles) for a Huckabee Rally. It turned into an "election workshop" - and was lots of fun for all. Jamin and Jared both went. I was to pick them up at the church at 2:30 p.m. - remember that number - it's important.

7:30 a.m - found me at base Lab getting blood drawn. It's been 4 weeks on the cholesterol meds.

8:00 - 12:00 School. The younger 3 and I are trying to keep up our pace of 1.5 weeks/week. We hope to catch up with Jamin and Jared "shortly."

1:00 - Today, I had to take the younger 4 with me to Speech as the older 3 were all out and about.

2:00 - Let's run ERRANDS....

2:20 In line at the bank when I REMEMBER - oh yeah - I need to be at the church to pick up the boys so that Jamin can get to work on time.

2:30 We're sitting at the church waiting for the van.

2:40 SNOW FLAKES - not a lot of snow - but there were FLAKES. Yes - it WAS warm yesterday - and today it is not. ::snort:: Boys arrive and we zip home to pick up Jamin's uniform which I forgot.

2:58 - Jamin runs in the door to work. Oops.

3:00 - 4:00 I am back at the bank to close out a savings account. I run to Sam's and buy um....oh yeah PAPER TOWELS and TOILET PAPER.

4:00 - 5:00 - I cook - chicken, soup, salad, fruit, bread, oven fries

I have no CLUE what I did the rest of the evening but it's 9:00 p.m. so the day is done. I know Mike and Jared ran back to base. Mike had a volleyball game. They also bought "the GRAND surprise".

Weekly Fitness Goals

Weekly Goal - 240 Minutes (40 minutes most days)
Total Weekly Minutes - 260 Minutes!!!!

Monday - 30 minutes Belly, Bohonkus, Thighs

Tuesday - TOO BUSY

Wednesday - 65 minutes - 5 mile Advance Walk - This is another new workout DVD for me. I think I have one more that I've not used yet that I got for Christmas. This one has 1 mile with weights, 1 fast mile, 1 mile with a belt thing, 1 fast mile and then 1 mile with a band (included). You can mix and match the workouts to have either a fast 1 mile workout or a 60 minute workout with a 5 min stretch.

Thursday - Migraine

Friday - 85 minutes - 45 minutes on elliptical and 40 minutes on recumbent bike at the base gym

Saturday - 20 minutes that Mike says I can count for walking around the Stock Show and playing at the Lake.

Sunday - 60 minutes plus - power cleaning - and YES my heart rate was UP! Good workout and the house is clean!

* I barely made it this week. I'm limping along. Mike says that I have to realize that the gym is priority for me....so he sent me in on Friday - his afternoon off. I'm not sure HOW to make it a priority - when Bible Study and School are already tied for number 1.  I'm doing better and getting the overall minutes in, but for my health, we are still aiming to do at least 40 minutes each DAY, not 80 minutes every other day. ARGH.

This is a good spot to mention that I lost 5 lbs in Feb. Still 15 lbs away from where I was when my thyroid hiccupped., but I'm starting back down. ::snort::

Go here for this week's participant links. (I think) If not look for a Monday post with the above logo and you're there. LOL

Setting up the Pool - In March

I think it's far too cold, but Mike and Jamin are trying to write; Josiah and Jared went to the paint ball field, and I needed something fun for the younger ones. They have been begging to fill the pool. We did.




She's shivering...

Interesting twist on bobbing for apples.
Now, they are watching Anastasia, which we got from Netflix. Kathy, I made your roasted asparagus today, and it was yummy!