Paleo Time!!!

I just had my first bite of meat (land animal) in four years.  Here's a picture of my dinner tonight:

Roasted carrots with a hint of cinnamon, Himalayan Sea Salt & Maple Syrup (100% Pure).  Red Swiss Chard sauteed in garlic oil and 1/4 cup of organic vegetable stock with a hint of Himalayan Sea Salt.  Organic roasted chicken breast seasoned with sage and rosemary, smothered with white onions, all cooked in organic chicken stock.

Did I enjoy it?  Yes!!!  

It was delicious.  I ate very, very slow.  Chewing my chicken especially more thorough.  Guess I'm not a vegetarian anymore...LOL!

Life with more changes

I mentioned in my previous post about my meal planning.  Well me being me, open for change and all, decided to look more into the Paleolithic diet, you know the "caveman diet".  Basically, I may be about to go back to eating meat, but grass fed, organic free range variety.

This past week I have used the family as guinea pigs trying out some Paleo recipes.  My husband has been about 95% all this week strictly Paleo.  The kids have been more like 60%.  Mostly because it's sort of expensive and more importantly it is truly all new to me.  My planning was off.  I keep buying more fresh veggies and fruits.  So far I've been at least twice to the market replenishing our produce supplies!  First world problem, eh?

I know it's been more than a minute since I've posted anything here, which goes into my post's title.  Change!  I've been working again.  I'm working for an awesome company and the perks are sort of even better than how awesome the job has been.  However, I've had to work full time, and now I'm finally working my part time hours.  Good for me and good for my family!

I'm still homeschooling my son, who after three weeks of me working full time fell a little behind in some of his assignments.  Momma's focus is back, so that's already been addressed.

My daughter is killing it at FGCU!  Nuff said about that.

The hubby is putting up with the new diet and after a week, I see a slight difference in his waistline, so HOORAY for that!

Now for more changes.  Looks like the hubby may be getting back on the road for work.  I know we'll stay in Naples while Arianna is attending FGCU for the first year, which is until next May.  After May, she'll be either continuing at FGCU, but in a dorm otherwise she'll be away at one of the colleges she's applying to.  Changes!

How do I feel about being a sometimes full time, sometimes part time stay at home mom, working from home sometimes part time and sometimes full time, and homeschooling, and being a decent wife?  Excited.  Scared.  Overwhelmed most times.  But I have been meditating and working on my craft, which leads me to more good changes!

So, this last full moon in October, Friday to be exact was life changing for me.  I was out and about with the hubby Friday night.  I very much felt the power of the moon.  And I'm not talking metaphorically!  I mean I literally felt the power.  Electricity coursed through me.  I felt almost drunk on it!  But unlike feeling tipsy or drunk, I was aware and cognizant.  I made good use of the energy Friday night.  I can't wait to see the changes that will come from my working!!!

I always felt a special affinity to the fall months.  Probably because of school, I always felt this time of year represents major change.

In the swing of things

We have been moving full speed ahead.

This is a very unique homeschooling year because I'm only schooling one kid now!  I do miss having my daughter around during the day.  However I much rather she get to enjoy the awesome opportunity to do her dual enrollment at FGCU.

I'm having some issues with my son staying on task keeping to a schedule without my nagging.  It's a real bummer because he's super smart.  He's just not interested in keeping tracking of time, commitments, or schedules.  I threatened to tell his dad today if he didn't pull it together.  Yup, I pulled out the oldie but goody dad trump card.  Hey, I do what works!

I have successfully planned a month's worth of menus.  I am hard at work on using the Crock-pot as much as possible.  Glad it's fall, although here in Naples, it's still very much the summer :-)  I will post later because I hand wrote our menus on a printed template, which I'll also share.  I must admit, it has truly saved me time and angst by having a detailed shopping list, another template I'll share and thought out menus.  I'm talking breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We have made some on the fly modifications maybe once a week, but nothing too different from the menu, more like switching days.

I have been working from home too!  I am struggling to stay on top of housework, but as my blog's name implies I consider myself a bit of a domestic goddess, so sloppy just won't due.  I delegate, but probably not as much as I should.  Yeah, I know I need to work on that.

I can't believe so much time went by between posts, about a month!  I honestly have been rather busy between work and home.  I'll keep up with this blog, though, it's really good for me :-)

Curriculum Planning Part Two

I'm pretty much finished with my homeschooling plans for the 2013/2014 school year.  We officially start on August 5th.  My son is hoping the date never approaches, but he'll be ready to start whether he wants to or not.  Gosh, this phase he's in is exhausting at times.  Thirteen.  If I ask him what he would like to do, I can never get an answer, if I make suggestions, he doesn't like anything.  Yuck, these are not the most fun times around here.  Hopefully this phase will fizzle sooner rather than later :-).

Any who... Here's the plan for 2013/2014 for my eighth grader.

Geometry - FLVA (Connections Academy)

Yes, we're actually doing a virtual course.  I'm nervous but I think this may be a good fit for my us.

Physical Science - Classically designed, by yours truly.

I borrowed heavily from The Well Trained Mind when I created the lesson plans for this course.  I used the experiments from Real Science For Kids - Physics for Middle School, but instead of using their text book, I'm supplementing with ck-12.org's Physical Science for Middle School.  This year my son will continue to focus on experimentation.  He'll log his experiments and results.  I've tied inventors, specifically of African descent, to study also.  

Language Arts - Writing With Skill 1, Analytical Grammar (Season 3), Classical Roots Vocabulary

This year we've stepped away from Writing Strands.  I prefer the approach of WWS over Writing Strands.  Both speak to the student directly, but WWS gives more guidance to the instructor/mentor.  Analytical Grammar has served us well, which is why we're continuing on to the final season this year.  Ditto for the Vocabulary text as well.

History - Classically designed, by me again. (Late Renaissance-Early modern period)

I have had the luxury, and yes it has been a luxury, of using lesson plans from classicalhouseoflearning.com.  I am ever so grateful to this woman, who put together a top notch curriculum for FREE!  However, this year the author is changing things up so I will not benefit from her time-freeing lesson plans.  So I went through the work of creating my own, again using The Well Trained Mind as my guide.  Since it is classically designed I included rich literature to read this year.  I don't know if we'll get all the way through, but we're going to try.  Here's the list with ISBN for my own use:

1. Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, abridged.  0060188707

2. John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress. 

3. Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe. 9781602707030

4. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/151/151-h/151-h.htm

5. Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. 9781577658191

6. Robert Browning, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” in My Last Duchess and Other Poems. 0679428127 

7. Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. 0448405601 

8. Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.  0789434288

9. Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”. 0385074077

10. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. 0679601791

11. Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself. 0192832506

12. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein. 9781847490230

13. Herman Melville.  Moby Dick. 1593080182

14. Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island. 0895772620

15. Arthur Conan Doyle, one of the Sherlock Holmes stories. 0766607674

16. Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express.  0553030000

17. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind. 1419827391 film

Poetry

1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Song of Hiawatha”. 0895773376

2. Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” and other poems. 0030725356

3. E. E. Cummings, collected poems. 0802130720

4. Langston Hughes, The Dream Keeper and Other Poems or The Block: Poems. 0679426310

Resources:

Story of the World, Volume 3:  Early Modern Times From Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners

The Dorling Kindersley History of the World

National Geographic Almanac of World History

History:  The Definitive Visual Guide

Timelines of World History, published by Dorling Kindersley 

Online primary sources: the Internet Modern History Sourcebook at www.fordham.edu./halsall/mod/modsbook.html.

Battle, Eyewitness books, Dorling Kindersley, by Richard Holmes, 9780756650278

North American Indian written by David Murdoch, Eyewitness book 0679961690

Pirate, Eyewitness books, Dorling Kindersley, by Richard Platt, 9780756607135

The First Americans, from the series “A history of US ; bk 1”, by Joy Hakim, 0195077466 or 0195095065

Making thirteen colonies, from the series “A history of US; bk 2”, by Joy Hakim, 0195077482 or 0195095073

From colonies to country, from the series “A history of US; bk 3”, by Joy Hakim, 0195077504 or 0195095081

The new nation, from the series “A history of US; bk 4”, by Joy Hakim, 019509509x

Encyclopedia of Native American tribes, Carl Waldman, 0816062749

Samuel Eaton’s day: a day in the life of a Pilgrim boy, by Kate Waters 0590463128 or 059046311X

Sarah Morton’s day a day in the life of a Pilgrim girl, by Kate Waters 0590426354

Tapenum’s day: a Wampanoag Indian boy in pilgrim times by Kate Waters. 0590202375

The boy’s war: Confederate and Union soldiers talk about the Civil War, by Jim Murphy. 0899198937

Tell them we remember: the story of the Holocaust, Susan D. Bachrach.  0316692646

Buried in ice, by Owen Beattie and John Geiger 0590438484

Lincoln: a photobiography, by Russell Freedman. 0899193803

Wilbur & Orville Wright by Theodore Rowland-Entwistle 086307927X

The life and death of Adolf Hitler, by James Cross Giblin 0395903718

Liberty for all?, “A history of US; bk 5”, by Joy Hakim 0195095103

War, terrible war “A history of US; bk 6”, by Joy Hakim 0195095111

Reconstruction and reform, “A history of US; bk 7”, by Joy Hakim 019509512x

An age of extremes, “A history of US; bk 8”, by Joy Hakim 0195095138

War, peace, and all that jazz, “A history of US; bk 9”, by Joy Hakim 0195095146

All the people, “A history of US; bk 10”, by Joy Hakim 0195095154

Florida, by Ann Heinrichs 0756503094

A nation challenged: a visual history of 9/11 and its aftermath, 0935112766

Air raid – Pearl Harbor!: the story of December 7, 1941, Theodore Taylor, 0152164219

Girls think of everything, Catherine Thimmesh, 0395937442

Yeah, I know, these are healthy list.  But remember, we're not using a text book to study history.  I've broken down the topics to study.  I've tied the first half to Story of the World.  I haven't purchased version 4 yet, so that's the only reason I haven't completed the list.

Topics to Explore:

1. The Mayflower – SOTW Ch.6

2. Early American settlements – SOTW Ch.3

3. Russia under Peter the Great and his successors – SOTW Ch.17

4. Prussia in the eighteenth century –SOTW Ch.14

5. The agricultural revolution – SOTW Ch.16

6. Native American cultures - Multiple Chapters

7. British in India – SOTW Ch.11

8. The French Revolution – SOTW Ch.25

9. British-French conflict in Canada – SOTW Ch.21

10. The American Revolution – SOTW Ch.22

11. The Napoleonic Wars – SOTW Ch.29

12. The industrial revolution – SOTW Ch.27

13. Simon Bolivar’s fight for independence in South America – SOTW Ch. 34-35

14. The siege of the Alamo - SOTW Ch.42 

15. The California gold rush – SOTW Ch.42

16. The Lewis and Clark expedition – SOTW Ch.32

17. The U.S. acquisition of North American territories

18. Australia’s beginnings as a penal colony. – SOTW Ch.24

19. Africa under European control - 

20. The Crimean War

21. The Victorian era

22. The War between the States (Civil War)

23. Exploration in the American West

24. Euro-American conflict with the Native American tribes

25. The Boxer Rebellion

26. The World War I

27. The Russian Revolution

28. The Soviet Union

29. The Great Depression

30. The New Deal

31. World War II

32. Nazi Germany/Hitler

33. Apartheid/South African segregation

34. China under Mao

35. The Korean War

36. The civil-rights movement

37. The Vietnam War

Electives & Foreign Language - Critical Thinking and Rosetta Stone Spanish

The Critical Thinking course is being delivered by FLVS.  We're continuing with Level 1 Spanish and finally completing this year.  If my son chooses to continue with learning Spanish, then 9th grade will start with Spanish Level 2, but we'll see.  After we get past our Winter break, I'll introduce another elective, but I think we have enough to keep busy for now.

Curriculum Planning Time

It's that time of year again.  Curriculum planning time!

It is truly one of my favorite things about homeschooling.  I love the planning portion.  So, without further ado, here's what we're planning for the 2013/2014 semester for Rodney, my rising eighth grader.

I started by printing my Curriculum Planner worksheet.  I like writing things down, in pencil, to get some of the curriculum choices fleshed out.

After I list the details on the Curriculum Planner, I begin to build lesson plans, which is where I am with my planning currently.  I am working on creating lesson plans for Physical Science.  The resources I'm using are ck-12.org's Middle School Physical Science, experiments from Real Science 4 Kids Physics, library books and encyclopedias.  Since we follow a classical homeschool philosophy I'll tie in biographies for various individuals that fit, to some degree, the time frame in  history we're studying and who have made significant contributions to any and all things in the physical science world.  I'm really excited about Rodney's experiments.  He's hands-on with most things, so I know he'll find this part of science enjoyable.  Once the experiments are completed, that's when I've planned the writing portion.  Summaries, reports and biographies will be a half of Physics this year.  Oh, and of course lab reports.

I am thinking of changing things with math this year.  I am still on the fence about continuing with Teaching Textbooks, this time Geometry.  I appreciate the built in "tutor" aspect of TT, however, I question how well Rodney would do on some of the problems if I gave him a Saxon math text book.  I have Barron's E-Z Geometry and Khan Academy as a "tutor" so it is possible to avoid spending $184 for TT Geometry.  Yes, money is another factor.  It's really pricey, so I'm hoping I can trade my TT Algebra I with someone for TT Geometry, all version 2.  I've been checking out vegsource.com, so I'll see.  Right now, I still have some time to waver.

Next up is history.  I feel I'm pretty covered for the most part.  For the last two years I relied heavily on the lesson plans I got for free from classicalhouseoflearning.com. However, for the age/point in history we're at this year, the author is doing something different and so far has only posted 5 lessons.  I think I will take a more literal approach toward history using the book The Well Trained Mind.  Basically, I will need to review the book lists mentioned and assign the appropriate titles to wherever we are timeline wise in the Story of The World v.3 book.  It's more planning on my end, but I think I'll manage.  I can always get help at the library.

Literature and history are combined, however, writing will be done differently this year.  I've had Rodney using Writing Strands since we began homeschooling.  I feel Writing With Skill may be more meaty.  I think Writing Strands is great, however I'm concerned at the pace.  I need more focused, compact writing skills taught so come 10th or 11th grade, my son is ready for PSAT, SAT, ACT etc. writing portion.

Rosetta Stone, Spanish, will be completed this year.

Art history and music for half the year.  This is where field trips will come in handy and give us a break, while being educational.  I plan for us to visit art museums within the area.

Physical education requirements will be satisfied with soccer this fall.

I'm thinking about purchasing the Art of Argument.  I've been thinking about this curriculum for two years, but maybe this year I'll do more than think.  Last year I bought a workbook from the Critical Thinking series and Rodney and I both found the whole book confusing as heck.  And yes I had the teacher's manual.  I abandoned it within the first quarter.  We used brain teasers and free worksheets online.  Believe me, that was enough some mornings!

Electives.  I like to spend the first half of the school year on the subjects mentioned above, and the second half we then incorporate elective subjects.  I find its a welcome break from the rigorous study and it becomes something to look forward to.  I know I'll throw in a middle school level health course.  Outside of that, I will listen to Rodney on what he would like to study as an elective.

Wow, I have a lot of lesson planning to do.  Did I mention I plan on working part time again, from home.  I will definitely have a full plate, however, I would not have things any other way.

Oops, one more thing... Geography.  I plan to tie in with history, however we'll be using MapTrek, however more often than we did last year.

The News, Marco Island, Homeschool etc.

So much has been going on in the news lately.  Paula Deen, SCOTUS' decision on gay marriage and voters rights, and the Zimmerman court case.  I've commented on each of this issue both verbally and on Facebook.  I am not going to comment further, because I truly do not believe there is more I can add at this point.  

I am still excited about this past weekend where the hubby and I drove to Marco Island.  It's a really pleasant place, very colorful too.  Oh and so clean!  Also, out of our price range, LOL!!! I don't know if we would seriously want to live there at this age, but when I'm about 65, watch out Marco Island :-) 

I also have started planning Rodney's 8th grade curriculum.  Yeah, I'm still a little sad about not having to plan for Ari.  I still have my son for the next few years to school and I'm really grateful for that.  I really do enjoy teaching my children.  

In my researching I found some wonderful resources for African and African American history.  I plan to infuse a good portion of each into our classical model.  After all, if I don't who will?  The husband and I strongly believe it is really important for our children, especially our son, to know the strong, diverse people who sacrificed for us.  He's also interested in learning more as well.

Ari goes to FGCU's orientation today for freshman, dual enrollment and early admission students.  We are all so proud of her.  I think she's going to do great there this semester.  

Lastly, I am working on practicing my focus and intent.  Those doubtful thoughts pop up, but I think I have a cure for that too!  I feel like this is a great time for study and self discovery.  Although, technically as solitaire, I'm about that life anyways.  I'm not just randomly studying all things spiritual this time.  I will post more on this throughout the summer.  

Looking forward to fireworks on the 4th at one Naples' beautiful parks.

Current Events and Other Mayhem

This past weekend I went to my first ever pagan festival.  It was the 1st Annual Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Festival held in Pahokee, FL.  The festival was on the smaller side but I gained some knowledge that was immeasurable.  I sat in on a Rootwork 101 class, which echoed what I have been reading the last few months.  Plus I got some clarification on a few things too!

I saw Hecate's Wheel perform and even participated in a circle.  The intriguing part about my experiences at the festival is that my southern Baptist husband attended and participated right along with me.

This is Hecate's Wheel performing.

This is me posing by a tree at the campsite.  Nope, we didn't camp, maybe next time though.

This is what I saw as we drove to and from the festival, miles and miles of sugar cane farm.

Although I'm a vegetarian, I recently tried my hand at steak fritz, which is the French's precursor to America's burger and fries.  Hubby loved it!

That moment when you realize you're done.

As I sat in the Registrar Office at Florida Gulf Coast University it hit me like a pillowcase filled with nickels.  My baby girl is going to college.  She is not registering for high school-like transitional courses this fall (not that there are any).  Nope, she's got a full course load of college freshman classes.  I consider myself to be a rational person.  A little far out with my thinking at times, but I feel I've got a good handle on reality.  So, with this knowledge, I still teared up in the Registrar Office.

I will no longer home school Arianna.

Arianna is starting actual college on the track for a Biology major.

This is all starting in August.

She will be driving herself!

She is not my baby.

She is not a little girl.

She's my seventeen year old daughter who stands taller than me and is killer smart.

Damn those nickels, they hurt.

Relaxing Weekend

This weekend has been a wonderfully relaxing time for my family and I.  We definitely did the beach thing, and today is BBQ.

I have been purposefully trying to avoid watching anything other than local news, because lately CNN has me completely bummed.  I can not withstand so much negativity, on a 24-hour basis.  It's ridiculous really when you think about it.  Negativity, which is scandal, crime, and yes sometimes the handling of the coverage of national disasters too.  It's all just too much for me lately.  I'm aware of the balance in life, light and dark, positive and negative etc.  One doesn't exist without the other.  I just wish our news organizations, like CNN, would apply this more balanced approach on reporting news.

Now, it's off to eat french toast, drink mint tea with honey and be grateful for health, safety and family.

Sometimes you just need that validation from test scores.

My very talented daughter Arianna received her SAT scores online today.  I am very proud of her.  Her reading score is a 750!  That's nearly a perfect score.  She did great on her math score, 630, and writing score 560.  She was so worried about math, so it's a really, really good thing her score is what is.  I know we're going to work on her writing so she'll get even her scores next year.

In a Place of Good

What can I say?  Life's good.

I am finding my way around Naples and my days have developed a nice rhythm.  Sort of like the ocean.  

Mother's Day was relaxing and fun for me because we ended the day at the beach.  Here's a pic I took of my sweet family.

I feel so privileged and grateful to live so close to the beach.  It's literally 15 minutes down the street!

We are definitely back on track with our homeschooling studies.  I have found the main library in Naples to be pretty awesome.  There's a good amount of books that the kids and I need and want to read.  The library also has an outdoor area with crisp white columns, a gently trickling water fountain and bistro style tables and chairs all in a courtyard setting.  Pics to come (it's that nice)!

Here are more pics of our life in Naples, FL.

This pic is hubby and I on a beautiful date night at The Real Seafood Restaurant here in Naples FL.

Ari doing her final dissection for Advanced Biology.  It's a fetal pig in that plastic bag!

Ari and Rodney posing behind a display at the local movie theater where we saw Iron Man 3, which was friggin' great by the way!!!

Finally settled in Naples and loving it!

We're Here

No pictures to share just yet, but we're loving our new place.  The weather has been great this past week and I can't get enough of the palm trees making a "whish" sound when a breeze blows through.

I have relaxed ALOT since getting everything unpacked, and yes, everything is unpacked.  I am so fortunate to live here.  It really feels like paradise.

The kids start back up with their school work this Monday after having a full month off for Spring break.  I'm happy to get some routine back into our schedule.  I already have their lesson plans ready to go.  I'm actually already thinking about the next school year!  I know for my son, we'll stay with Teaching Textbooks series and I will align more closely with the "Well Trained Mind" Classical approach when it comes to science for eighth grade.  For instance, I plan to purchase a physics kit that we'll use for the year.  Of course, we'll use other resources like encyclopedias, bio's, etc. along the way.

I will post picture soon!  Believe it or not we haven't had time to make it to the pool or the beach yet!!!

Ever so careful with my wishes...

It's a done deal now.  We're on our way to Florida.  Naples, Florida to be exact.  I'm so excited and scared and worried and hopeful and nervous and positive all at the same time.  How, you ask?  That's pretty much how I am internally on any given day.  Yeah, I'm kinda deep.  Or a little touched but who knows for sure?

Back to Naples... Hubby starts working there in a week and a half.  Lease is signed on a new place and we pretty much stayed within our budget.

Oh now about the beaches!!!  We will be only 20 minutes (15 if hubby drives) to the beach!  The community we're moving to has a pool that looks awesome.  Oh and it's a gated community.  So fancy, right?  Not!  Almost every community in Naples is gated, which allows me to believe I'm living the life of the rich and famous.  :-)

 

This picture is of Vanderbilt Beach in Naples.  I'll be 20 minutes from this!  

The best news ever is that I will NOT be packing or unpacking.  The moving company is doing all of it.  This is a big deal and I'm ever so grateful.  

I really wanted to live in Florida nine years ago.  I got the chance in 2005, then again in 2007 and once again in 2010.  Each time I moved back to Jacksonville, where we made friends that became family.  Not to mention my actual sister who's still in JAX.  I wished for Florida while sitting outside having lunch with an ex in February 2004.  I didn't even wish for him to come with me.  Now that was some serious intuition by the way!  I wanted something beyond New Jersey and I believe Florida is that something beyond.  Corny, yes.  Not everyone loves the state, but my roots run deep there.  Actually from Georgia to Florida.  I feel compelled to live there.  I know my kids may move on but it's really where I want to be.  I am ever so happy my husband feels the same way I do.  

I can't wait to update this blog with our new adventures in Naples!

Lists and Labels

As promised, I've begun to get my moving list in order.  Along the way I found these cute labels from Martha Stewart.  I also found Microsoft Excel has a moving checklist template that I can customize.  Getting even more excited!!!

Spring Has Sprung

Well, I'm glad to know that our move to Florida is on track.  I'm excited!  No, I'm relieved.  I am really looking forward to more sunshine, warm weather and oh the humidity.  I don't mind the humidity too much, just makes my hair curlier!

Along with relocating comes the practicalities of organizing, packing, moving; followed by unpacking, organizing and rearranging.  Not all fun, but I don't mind as long as I have a plan.  I need to take inventory of electronics/computers etc.  You know, serial numbers and what not for insurance purposes.  Then I need to start getting rid of some stuff.  This is my least favorite activity because truthfully, I want to keep ALL of my things!!!  Can we say HOARDER?!  Ok, maybe I'm not that bad.  I don't love the process of sorting through clothes, shoes or old knick-knacks and deciding what to get rid of though.  It's so blah.

To make my inner organizer happy, I plan to start compiling a worksheet that includes when to pack what and other moving essentials.  I know I can find something online and I'll just tailor it to our family.  I'll share just as soon as I pull it all together.

"Funny" things kids say.

This morning I was bringing up my browser and one of the headlines from my homepage caught my attention.    Apparently, the miniseries now playing, called "The Bible" cast a character to play Satan who some suggest looks like our President.  Now, I immediately giggled and read it out loud to my kids.  My son, who has always had sarcasm racing through his veins with a dash wit says "I thought Obama was the anti-Christ."

Here's the link:
http://www.rr.com/tv/topic/article/rr/55255090/82952760/Bible_producers_dismiss_Obama-Satan_connection

We watch news programs and read reputable news stories often around here, so no surprise to me when my son made this joke.  However, the fact that he has heard it so often to readily put it in joke is interesting indeed.

On to the girl!  So earlier we're sitting down having tea/coffee this morning and the Stuebenville, OH rape case was further reported on CNN.  My daughter is so pissed, for lack of a better word, over the coverage as it relates to the victim.  My son asked my daughter why is she getting so upset.  My daughter had the look of someone who may literally produce steam out of their ears.  I took a step back to watch how these two would carry on this conversation.

My daughter, in her best controlled voice, attempted to explain the seriousness of rape and the impact on the victim.  She further went on to explain to my son how wrong it is that someone (a reporter) asked the victim if she has extended forgiveness to her attackers is insensitive.

My son's response was to tell his sister to calm down.  Then he finished his breakfast and left the room.  My daughter let me know how it bothered her that her brother would question why she is so upset about this.  I immediately remembered being 16 years old and having such strong convictions against racism, sexism etc.  I explained to my lovely girl that her brother is 13 years old and from his stance, the boys who raped the girl are being punished (rightfully so).  Case closed.  He feels sorry for the victim of the rape, but he has no frame of reference to begin to view this crime from my teenage daughter's eyes.  My daughter got what I was saying.

I think these types of conversations are great.  It encourages balance.  Because of my daughter's response, my son may begin to view situations like this with a broader view in the future.  Because of my son's response, my daughter may remember not everyone shares her views so strongly.  My kids are both against attacking an unconscious young woman.  There mom and dad are too, by the way.  I am sorry that this happened to this young woman and my heart goes out to her and her family.  However, I am grateful for the dialogue that has occurred because of this crime.

I'm writing. Again.

Wow, I haven't posted anything since September?  I mean I was aware I wasn't blogging, but wow, September?  Really?

There has been loads of good things and not-so-great things that have transpired.

We're about to take a much deserved spring break and then wrap up the school "year" by May.  Currently Ari is studying for SAT's and Rodney is giving Algebra 1 the business.  The kids are finishing up other subjects and are ready to move on to something else (just after that well deserved break I just mentioned).

I am back to being a full time wife, mom and teacher.  It became painfully obvious the kids needed my full attention during the day when it comes to their schoolwork.  Also, I didn't realize to the extent of how much I do around here!  Taking 25 hours of productive time really screwed some things up.

The really, really exciting change is that I'm hoping  we can relocate back to Florida in the near future.  I have nothing against NC, it's just that I am a Florida girl at heart.  Hopefully we'll know sooner, than later when we can embark on yet another journey to a new community.

I have grown substantially with regards to divination and previously unknown gifts.  I'm not overly into labels, actually, I sort of despise being labeled in general.  I just know I can now "hear" spirits.  I receive relevant and sometimes startling real, messages in my dreams.  I use tarot cards and have discovered my talent of interpretation of the messages I receive.  I have basically allowed my intuition to flourish.  I trust it completely.  I trust my guides completely.  I have allowed this "otherness" to integrate within and around me so that there's now a completeness that I've never felt.  I know my mind.  I know my heart.  I know who I am.

I have definitely experienced some challenges over this non-blogging time period.  I have been actively and intentionally allowing myself to feel what I'm feeling and attempt to stay true to myself while going through whatever the challenge was at that time.  This is hard work because it is very easy to block out all of the hard earned progress of learning to handle challenges life can through your way when the crap really hits the fan.  Fear can be a b**ch!  I'm grateful I am "awake" and "present" enough to even feel, good or bad.  Although I'd be lying if I didn't say I want more of the good!

I promise not to wait so long between posts.  I enjoy blogging, but with any and everything, sometimes a girl just needs a break!