Well Facebook has taken over the blog but I still would like to keep this thing going if possible. I haven't really been able to get into scrapbooking, heck I cannot even finish a baby book. So, I am going to attempt to keep up something.
After we got back from Idaho, Tim's parents came to visit. A first for them to see Hawaii. We went as many places as possible. Dole Pineapple plantation, Polynesian culture center and a small tour down the strip of Waikiki.
Still doing school. Most likely going to get a B in this class I am in. Cultural Diversity. Guess I am not too diverse.
Tim tested for E8 in Dec. It sure would be nice to see him promoted although its still early so I am not holding my breath. Thinking about him having to study again next year when he comes home from his deployment is not the way I want to start off the holidays next year.
Going to take down the Christmas tree before New Years Day. I need the space and Nora is going to ruin the ornaments.
Cole went to his first ever campout this week. It was hard on a mom to see her boy go. I hope he showers atleast once:)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, November 02, 2009
2 classes down, 2 A's and 11 more to go. I will be finished with my BS by this time next year hopefully. If not atleast by the turn of 2011. So far so good. I have an instructor now who is a father of seven....he and his wife homeschool. I like this class....Critical Thinking. I am sure I could use an extra dose of that but mostly it is applying common sense and things I already know then putting a fancy term to it!!
We had another space A experience that turned out quite well. On October 5th we started our journey from HI to CA. We finally made a flight out on a C5, Tues afternoon that was headed for San Diego. When we landed at this little Marine Corp base it was a shuffle to make it to the ertz rental car in time to grab a minivan and get on the road....a 13 hour journey to Inkom, ID. We did not know where we would end up. It could have been WA state, Sacramento but San Diego was an unusual route for the AF.
We were in luck. Becca Clemmons now lives in Vegas and we were driving in her direction. We made it to Vegas by 1130 that night and drove down the strip just to say we have been there. The kids liked it but they weren't impressed with their version of the Roman coliseum. Been there done that.
Found the cheapest hotel around, which is not hard to do in Vegas. Tim was please with our $59 dive. Up at 0530 to see the Hoover Damn and the sun rise. Then it was off to see Becca's new house and eat at the IHOP with Gabrielle, Isabelle and Becca. It was great to catch us and lay eyes on the kids.
We made it to ID without any issues. Utah, Arizona and Nevada made the drive beautiful. Time to have some deer stew. Deer, the reason for the season. More later on our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house and hunting season.
We had another space A experience that turned out quite well. On October 5th we started our journey from HI to CA. We finally made a flight out on a C5, Tues afternoon that was headed for San Diego. When we landed at this little Marine Corp base it was a shuffle to make it to the ertz rental car in time to grab a minivan and get on the road....a 13 hour journey to Inkom, ID. We did not know where we would end up. It could have been WA state, Sacramento but San Diego was an unusual route for the AF.
We were in luck. Becca Clemmons now lives in Vegas and we were driving in her direction. We made it to Vegas by 1130 that night and drove down the strip just to say we have been there. The kids liked it but they weren't impressed with their version of the Roman coliseum. Been there done that.
Found the cheapest hotel around, which is not hard to do in Vegas. Tim was please with our $59 dive. Up at 0530 to see the Hoover Damn and the sun rise. Then it was off to see Becca's new house and eat at the IHOP with Gabrielle, Isabelle and Becca. It was great to catch us and lay eyes on the kids.
We made it to ID without any issues. Utah, Arizona and Nevada made the drive beautiful. Time to have some deer stew. Deer, the reason for the season. More later on our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house and hunting season.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Nora in Idaho
Nora's first cold weather experience!! She loves it. Having fun at Grandma's house playing on the farm, loving on the horse Bumpy. Sunday, September 20, 2009
Online School
Last night I found out I made an A in online class. I have not been to school in over 8 years. I have been raising children as most of you know. Tried to go back to school when Sydney was a baby but Tim kept getting put on TDY and I would have to find a babysitter until 11pm at night.
Then online became popular. Sceptical at first because it is so new.....Could one really get an education that the workplace would recognise. Sounds familiar to you homeschoolers out there? Well it is good to question things. I spent my time questioning possibility, looking for the school that would give the most credit for past classes and then give a good price. Online classes are expensive.
Thankfully the military gives me an edge in the financial area. MyCAA is a program where spouse's are given money to go back to school. Its probably from Obama's stimulus but to all those taxpayers out there-your money was going to be used whether I took it or not so I promise to do something worthwhile even it is just being a better homeschooling mom.
The first class was easy but this next one is a little harder. None of them will be easy. I spend a lot of my time staring at this computer. Not doing FaceBook though.... researching, writing papers, figuring out the APA style and learning to maneuver in these online classrooms.
I hope to emerge from this stress in about a year. Tim says that there will never be a time that is good for going back to school. He is probably right.
Then online became popular. Sceptical at first because it is so new.....Could one really get an education that the workplace would recognise. Sounds familiar to you homeschoolers out there? Well it is good to question things. I spent my time questioning possibility, looking for the school that would give the most credit for past classes and then give a good price. Online classes are expensive.
Thankfully the military gives me an edge in the financial area. MyCAA is a program where spouse's are given money to go back to school. Its probably from Obama's stimulus but to all those taxpayers out there-your money was going to be used whether I took it or not so I promise to do something worthwhile even it is just being a better homeschooling mom.
The first class was easy but this next one is a little harder. None of them will be easy. I spend a lot of my time staring at this computer. Not doing FaceBook though.... researching, writing papers, figuring out the APA style and learning to maneuver in these online classrooms.
I hope to emerge from this stress in about a year. Tim says that there will never be a time that is good for going back to school. He is probably right.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
#4 HAS A #1
Pictures from this summer
Sydney Smiles
Nora likes the tutu, I think someone took something from her. This is MAD!
Cole got to deploy for a day. This is his flight the FALCON
WHO RULES THE SKY? WHO FLIES HIGH?-THE FALCONS
Summer is finished. Soccer is over and we have already begun school. Mack hasn't really embraced school with enthusiasm as the others did. Oh well you gotta have one that bucks the system or life isn't interesting.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Beach Girl
Nora is just too cute. She is the life of the party....all my children seem to be very lively babies. She loves to pose and have her picture taken. I didn't have a camera on me at the time and thankfully one of the mom's did. It was a great day to capture happy faces.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
So much to do
Well Facebook has taken over the blogs. I still want to keep this thing up though. It is the closest thing I have to a family scrapbook.
We have had a busy summer thus far. Still catching up from having baby last year and Tim's deployment. He has been home 8mths now. I don't remember having him here this long before and with just one tdy thrown in the mix. Yes this should be a good thing however, it just makes the deployments that much harder to endure when you get too use to having them home. It is best just to keep coming and going.
Tim is doing well. He has been taking a class here and there. Hopefully he will finish a degree by the time he leaves the Air Force in 5 years. He has 2 years 5 mths left to this tour. Hawaii is nice. Weather just about perfect all the time but we still long for the seasons. Drinking coffee when its cold and having an excuse to sit indoors and read because weather doesn't permit would be nice. I sure have struggled homeschooling this year due to the want for outside pleasures.
Cole will be in 6th grade this year. He swims and still plays the violin. Sheryl Shohet his violin teacher has been great for our family. She plays for the Symphony in Honolulu and is a very serious teacher who knows her stuff, makes it fun but demands good work from Cole and myself.
Sydney takes ballet and swims on the swim team too. We took Sydney to an audition for the Missoula Children's Theatre on base yesterday. She didn't get picked for a part. Tim called 3 times during rehearsal to see how it was going. We left and walked back home with tears in eyes. A very quiet walk with not much to say. She did her best and was crushed. Hard lessons. Nothing like Dad at the end of the day to give little girl a hug and tell her he loves her. It does make things better.
Mack....Well what do you say about him. You know, you give a kid a name like that, I guess you should expect him to live up to it. We struggle daily. He sad he can't help being bad he just does it. This brings us to a lot of biblical discussion. I hope the Lord continues to pierce his heart as he grows into the man God will have him be.
Nora makes everyone smile. All my kids have. They just seem to be magnets to the rest of the world. She is a show stopper in the grocery, beach and all around. I do get sad that she cannot share her joyfulness with those we are closest to. In Germany, Idaho, and NC we always have folks who genuinly want to see the children and can't wait to shake hands, hug or love on them. We don't have that here in Hawaii. We really haven't formed close relationships with anyone particular here.
There are seasons for everything I guess. I have begun to get more involved with Tim's squadron and the deployed spouse program. It involves calling and talking to others, checking in on families and finding out if they have needs that are not being met. Sometimes I get grateful folks who are thankful for the call other times, I get hung up on. I have pondered going back to school. Online is making that more possible. I hope that I can accomplish this while we are here. Like I don't have enough to do but here goes it needs to get done sometimes.
Time to start school again. Still need to order books and such. We are using Tapesty of Grace this year with Veritas for Bible and Teaching Textboks for math. I don't want to speak too soon but I think I may have found my groove with my curiculm.
We have had a busy summer thus far. Still catching up from having baby last year and Tim's deployment. He has been home 8mths now. I don't remember having him here this long before and with just one tdy thrown in the mix. Yes this should be a good thing however, it just makes the deployments that much harder to endure when you get too use to having them home. It is best just to keep coming and going.
Tim is doing well. He has been taking a class here and there. Hopefully he will finish a degree by the time he leaves the Air Force in 5 years. He has 2 years 5 mths left to this tour. Hawaii is nice. Weather just about perfect all the time but we still long for the seasons. Drinking coffee when its cold and having an excuse to sit indoors and read because weather doesn't permit would be nice. I sure have struggled homeschooling this year due to the want for outside pleasures.
Cole will be in 6th grade this year. He swims and still plays the violin. Sheryl Shohet his violin teacher has been great for our family. She plays for the Symphony in Honolulu and is a very serious teacher who knows her stuff, makes it fun but demands good work from Cole and myself.
Sydney takes ballet and swims on the swim team too. We took Sydney to an audition for the Missoula Children's Theatre on base yesterday. She didn't get picked for a part. Tim called 3 times during rehearsal to see how it was going. We left and walked back home with tears in eyes. A very quiet walk with not much to say. She did her best and was crushed. Hard lessons. Nothing like Dad at the end of the day to give little girl a hug and tell her he loves her. It does make things better.
Mack....Well what do you say about him. You know, you give a kid a name like that, I guess you should expect him to live up to it. We struggle daily. He sad he can't help being bad he just does it. This brings us to a lot of biblical discussion. I hope the Lord continues to pierce his heart as he grows into the man God will have him be.
Nora makes everyone smile. All my kids have. They just seem to be magnets to the rest of the world. She is a show stopper in the grocery, beach and all around. I do get sad that she cannot share her joyfulness with those we are closest to. In Germany, Idaho, and NC we always have folks who genuinly want to see the children and can't wait to shake hands, hug or love on them. We don't have that here in Hawaii. We really haven't formed close relationships with anyone particular here.
There are seasons for everything I guess. I have begun to get more involved with Tim's squadron and the deployed spouse program. It involves calling and talking to others, checking in on families and finding out if they have needs that are not being met. Sometimes I get grateful folks who are thankful for the call other times, I get hung up on. I have pondered going back to school. Online is making that more possible. I hope that I can accomplish this while we are here. Like I don't have enough to do but here goes it needs to get done sometimes.
Time to start school again. Still need to order books and such. We are using Tapesty of Grace this year with Veritas for Bible and Teaching Textboks for math. I don't want to speak too soon but I think I may have found my groove with my curiculm.
Monday, June 22, 2009
New Member of the Family....Chubs the Cockatiel
That is what the lady in the pet shop gave her. (We are saying a "she" for sake of argument)
Today we got her out of the cage and let her play. Up until then we were wondering if she liked us but I think we just needed to learn how to handle her properly. She was a bit scared at first. Everyone hates change. She really likes Mack.
We are looking for a Hawaiian name. So far we have Maui, Koa, Shaka....Any ideas.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday at Hickam Beach. This is the second year in a row, I have driven to the beach before church to take pics near the water. We had Easter Brunch at church followed by worship service. The rest of the day was spent lounging around the house with a short trip in between to the beach (inlet area) the kids enjoyed catching crabs and Nora gets to play in the water for the first time.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Passover Dinner
Our house for Passover dinner. It was a house full with the friends from church. An experience for us all. Wish my house was bigger to take it all in. Thursday, April 02, 2009
An Essay from an online educational newsletter I receive monthly from Veritas Press.
Entitlement, Owning the Problem, and the Classically Educated
I'm like any other red-blooded American who wonders how we are going to pay for all of this. Our federal government has been on a spending spree to rival . . . well, this kind of spending actually has no rivals-ever. Recently, trillions of dollars have been (or will be) "invested," spent, or otherwise disposed of in the name of getting our economy back on track. Consequently, we, the citizens, are the owners of a failing insurance agency and the largest lenders to two of the largest and unhealthiest auto companies.
Now I realize I'm being a bit sarcastic, maybe even cynical, here. I also realize you are as tired of hearing about this as I am, but that is partially my point, so hang in there for a minute. I also realize there is much that is hard for us, the average citizens, to understand. However, this is really quite a disturbing set of circumstances when all things are considered.
Coupled with all this spending is a new strain of entitlement-one that believes the federal government has both the obligation and the right to look into details of private transactions and make unilateral changes to contracts and existing agreements. Talks of even scarier intrusion are quite common.
It's been said that America had better repent of such financial recklessness or we will receive the judgment of God. A pastor and friend had a different take. He indicated that this is the judgment of God. Is what we've done not a bit like the man who has lost his job and promptly goes out to buy a new $75,000 recreational vehicle with borrowed money to help the economy? Taking on more debt-a lot more debt-hardly seems a wise approach to getting out of debt.
Yet a bigger problem remains. It's the problem of ownership. No one owns the national problems we face. I feel little ownership of the federal debt. I feel little ownership of the process that includes the foolishness that tacks on huge pork-barrel add-ons to popular congressional bills. Summarily speaking, I feel little ownership to community, cultural, or collective sin. I don't have a clue as to how to repent of it, either. Do you?
We might bury our heads believing that these problems were not caused by us and can't be fixed by us. And, at a micro level, we might be right. But who does own them? Who really takes responsibility? May God give us a clear sense of what it means to corporately confess our sins as so many of us pray every Sunday. And may God give us wisdom to carefully and collectively follow that repentance with godly actions-actions that include strategic efforts to bring concern for biblical wisdom and righteousness into the public square, actions that include an understanding of what God's Word means when it says that judgment begins with the House of God.
Frankly, we need godly politicians. We need godly pastors, too-ones who won't shrink from tackling the difficult or equivocate on complex matters such as these. Finally, we need godly, articulate, bold lovers of truth in the rising generation who will be not only the next politicians and pastors, but businessmen, parents, citizens, laborers, and friends of the lost.
Summarily, we need a people who know the facts, think well, and articulate their thoughts in such a winsome way that they are able to conceive what it means to own a corporate failing and know what to do about it. That is why I believe a classical Christian education is so important, because I believe that is exactly what it produces.
But we need more than that from these people. We need them "to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God." May we become those people, and may we raise a generation of those people.
Marlin Detweiler
Entitlement, Owning the Problem, and the Classically Educated
I'm like any other red-blooded American who wonders how we are going to pay for all of this. Our federal government has been on a spending spree to rival . . . well, this kind of spending actually has no rivals-ever. Recently, trillions of dollars have been (or will be) "invested," spent, or otherwise disposed of in the name of getting our economy back on track. Consequently, we, the citizens, are the owners of a failing insurance agency and the largest lenders to two of the largest and unhealthiest auto companies.
Now I realize I'm being a bit sarcastic, maybe even cynical, here. I also realize you are as tired of hearing about this as I am, but that is partially my point, so hang in there for a minute. I also realize there is much that is hard for us, the average citizens, to understand. However, this is really quite a disturbing set of circumstances when all things are considered.
Coupled with all this spending is a new strain of entitlement-one that believes the federal government has both the obligation and the right to look into details of private transactions and make unilateral changes to contracts and existing agreements. Talks of even scarier intrusion are quite common.
It's been said that America had better repent of such financial recklessness or we will receive the judgment of God. A pastor and friend had a different take. He indicated that this is the judgment of God. Is what we've done not a bit like the man who has lost his job and promptly goes out to buy a new $75,000 recreational vehicle with borrowed money to help the economy? Taking on more debt-a lot more debt-hardly seems a wise approach to getting out of debt.
Yet a bigger problem remains. It's the problem of ownership. No one owns the national problems we face. I feel little ownership of the federal debt. I feel little ownership of the process that includes the foolishness that tacks on huge pork-barrel add-ons to popular congressional bills. Summarily speaking, I feel little ownership to community, cultural, or collective sin. I don't have a clue as to how to repent of it, either. Do you?
We might bury our heads believing that these problems were not caused by us and can't be fixed by us. And, at a micro level, we might be right. But who does own them? Who really takes responsibility? May God give us a clear sense of what it means to corporately confess our sins as so many of us pray every Sunday. And may God give us wisdom to carefully and collectively follow that repentance with godly actions-actions that include strategic efforts to bring concern for biblical wisdom and righteousness into the public square, actions that include an understanding of what God's Word means when it says that judgment begins with the House of God.
Frankly, we need godly politicians. We need godly pastors, too-ones who won't shrink from tackling the difficult or equivocate on complex matters such as these. Finally, we need godly, articulate, bold lovers of truth in the rising generation who will be not only the next politicians and pastors, but businessmen, parents, citizens, laborers, and friends of the lost.
Summarily, we need a people who know the facts, think well, and articulate their thoughts in such a winsome way that they are able to conceive what it means to own a corporate failing and know what to do about it. That is why I believe a classical Christian education is so important, because I believe that is exactly what it produces.
But we need more than that from these people. We need them "to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God." May we become those people, and may we raise a generation of those people.
Marlin Detweiler
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Nora and Sydney
Sydney at the top, around 6mths and Nora below at 7mths. One of the few dresses I kept. I always liked Sydney in red. Now its Nora's turn. Our girls are all smiles!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Reasons to use Shaklee
For all my friends with small children, I would like to recommend Shaklee cleaning products.
Did you know?
• Over 90% of poison exposures happen at home.
• Common chlorine bleach is the #1 household chemical involved in poisoning.
• Organic pollutants, found in many common cleaners and even air fresheners,
have levels 2 to 5 times higher inside your home than out.
• Common cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of kids
developing asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease.
• 1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma. Rates in children under five have
increased more than 160% from 1980 –1994.
• If your home is anything like the average U.S. home, you generate more than
20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year (the EPA designates
toilet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, oven cleaners, and bleach as hazardous waste).
Shaklee
Difference
Get Clean Products offer
cleaning choices that are:
SAFE
✔ Nontoxic
✔ No harmful fumes
✔ Hypoallergenic
✔ No volatile organic cleaning
compounds
✔ Formulated without hazardous
chemicals such as:
• Kerosene
• Phenol
• Cresol
• Lye
• Hydrochloric acid
• Sulfuric acid
• Sulfamic acid
• Petroleum distillates
• Ammonia
• Sodium hydroxide
• Butyl cellosolve
• Phosphoric acid
• Formaldehyde
• Morpholine
POWERFUL
✔ Outperforms 12 national brands
✔ 100% money-back guarantee
GREEN
✔ Sustainable ingredients from
natural sources
✔ Biodegradable surfactants
✔ Recyclable packaging
✔ Recyclable wipes
✔ Recyclable dryer sheets
✔ No chlorine bleach
✔ No phosphates
✔ No nitrates
✔ No borates
✔ No volatile organic cleaning
compounds
✔ No animal testing
Did you know?• Over 90% of poison exposures happen at home.
• Common chlorine bleach is the #1 household chemical involved in poisoning.
• Organic pollutants, found in many common cleaners and even air fresheners,
have levels 2 to 5 times higher inside your home than out.
• Common cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of kids
developing asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease.
• 1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma. Rates in children under five have
increased more than 160% from 1980 –1994.
• If your home is anything like the average U.S. home, you generate more than
20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year (the EPA designates
toilet cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, oven cleaners, and bleach as hazardous waste).
Shaklee
Difference
Get Clean Products offer
cleaning choices that are:
SAFE
✔ Nontoxic
✔ No harmful fumes
✔ Hypoallergenic
✔ No volatile organic cleaning
compounds
✔ Formulated without hazardous
chemicals such as:
• Kerosene
• Phenol
• Cresol
• Lye
• Hydrochloric acid
• Sulfuric acid
• Sulfamic acid
• Petroleum distillates
• Ammonia
• Sodium hydroxide
• Butyl cellosolve
• Phosphoric acid
• Formaldehyde
• Morpholine
POWERFUL
✔ Outperforms 12 national brands
✔ 100% money-back guarantee
GREEN
✔ Sustainable ingredients from
natural sources
✔ Biodegradable surfactants
✔ Recyclable packaging
✔ Recyclable wipes
✔ Recyclable dryer sheets
✔ No chlorine bleach
✔ No phosphates
✔ No nitrates
✔ No borates
✔ No volatile organic cleaning
compounds
✔ No animal testing
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Nora Claps-6mths old
Can you get
any happier? Nora figured out how to clap today. She has done it several times own her own without being shown how. She thinks it is the coolest thing going.
Friday, March 06, 2009
All over Oahu
Rare moment
Wish I had the man sitting just in front of these trees enjoying nice and quiet until.....
Mack loves to crack Macadamia nuts, he would have stayed there all day. Job opportunity?
The kids took this shot. China Man's Hat. The wind was really kickin' that day. It was cold here for HI while my visitors were here. I was bummed but I don't think they really noticed. They just kept telling me that it was warm to them.
Submarine tour. I prefer to stay on the land. Nora was too little, that's my story and I am sticking to it.
Hawaii with PawPaw Tommy and Mimi
Polynesian Culture Center boat ride. The kids never get tired of this place.
I have no idea where to begin. 10 days and about 1,000 pics of Hawaii. We whale watched, snorkeled, some went on a Submarine, North Shored where the surf was high and watched surfers do their thing. Ate out a ton! I am still full. I don't need to eat for a really long time.Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Nora
Nora is getting bigger. She sits up, plays with her toys and has a smile that just doesn't stop. Nora also nurses every 4 hours which means I am exhausted!! She is 5.5mths so we let her eat her first cereal yesterday. It was a family event. I think she is going to like this eating thing.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Homeschooling Trials
Our friends who have 9 children in their homeschool family are starting to see their oldest leave home for college. The second oldest rattled off the names of colleges he has been accepted into, the Air Force Academy to name one. I was very excited for him. We live in an age now where the homeschooler is grown up (they actually survived), out of the house and making their way as adults in life (without having a social breakdown as some think) .
I have known 2 men (former homeschoolers) who worked with Tim in the EOD career field. OK well, maybe homeschoolers are crazy and demented but that is getting off the point I am trying to make.
It has been encouraging for me to see a finished product . I do struggle with the future for my children. How will they turn out? I am happy to see the lack of consistency in what defines a homeschool parent. They come in all shapes: 4 year degrees, high school diploma, some are real certified teachers.... most aren't. There is even the single parent thrown in the mix from time to time. Some provide a rigid curriculum, others are more laid back in their schedules and formality.
I want a how to book on everything. Tim once threatened to throw out all the "how-to" books in the house because I drive him crazy over "we need to do it this way". How to be a Christian, how to be a wife, how to be a mother, how to be a homeschool mom....then there are those "how to be __fill in the blank_____ and do it better" books.
I hate to admit that I am lazy and just want a book or a person to tell me how to do it...how to make me successful. I really just want someone to say do it this way and it will work out best. To myself I think..."Ask so and so how they do it cause their kids really seems to have it together." or "they seem really organized I must be doing it wrong". I have homeschooled for 6 years, read books, talked to many different types of homeschooling families and have never settled on any one way they have told me. Of course I have picked fruit from their trees and applied them where I need to but I haven't adopted any ONE method or copied exactly what another would do. (Against my desires to do so)
There are parenting methods, teaching methods, horse/dog training methods that are all different. Even when applying the same style, you get a different outcome. At some point (and I am slowly getting there) I am going to have to be confident in saying to myself and the world. "This is how I do it, it works for me". As long as I am not living in a world of sin that displeases God, he has given me freedom to raise my family, choose a career, live in a location that I desire and to his glory, I will be successful. He will accomplish his purpose he has for me in his way as well, unfortunately he won't provide a "HOW TO" book on that. That is where Trust comes into play.
I have known 2 men (former homeschoolers) who worked with Tim in the EOD career field. OK well, maybe homeschoolers are crazy and demented but that is getting off the point I am trying to make.
It has been encouraging for me to see a finished product . I do struggle with the future for my children. How will they turn out? I am happy to see the lack of consistency in what defines a homeschool parent. They come in all shapes: 4 year degrees, high school diploma, some are real certified teachers.... most aren't. There is even the single parent thrown in the mix from time to time. Some provide a rigid curriculum, others are more laid back in their schedules and formality.
I want a how to book on everything. Tim once threatened to throw out all the "how-to" books in the house because I drive him crazy over "we need to do it this way". How to be a Christian, how to be a wife, how to be a mother, how to be a homeschool mom....then there are those "how to be __fill in the blank_____ and do it better" books.
I hate to admit that I am lazy and just want a book or a person to tell me how to do it...how to make me successful. I really just want someone to say do it this way and it will work out best. To myself I think..."Ask so and so how they do it cause their kids really seems to have it together." or "they seem really organized I must be doing it wrong". I have homeschooled for 6 years, read books, talked to many different types of homeschooling families and have never settled on any one way they have told me. Of course I have picked fruit from their trees and applied them where I need to but I haven't adopted any ONE method or copied exactly what another would do. (Against my desires to do so)
There are parenting methods, teaching methods, horse/dog training methods that are all different. Even when applying the same style, you get a different outcome. At some point (and I am slowly getting there) I am going to have to be confident in saying to myself and the world. "This is how I do it, it works for me". As long as I am not living in a world of sin that displeases God, he has given me freedom to raise my family, choose a career, live in a location that I desire and to his glory, I will be successful. He will accomplish his purpose he has for me in his way as well, unfortunately he won't provide a "HOW TO" book on that. That is where Trust comes into play.
Homeschool
Colleges Want Your Homeschooler!
From Patti Miller, for About.com
Filed In:
Teaching and Testing
It used to be that homeschooling families approached colleges with some fear and trepidation. The path to admission was quirky and nonsensical, and the hoops that needed to be jumped through were often ridiculous…if the school would even consider accepting a non-traditionally-schooled person. Homeschoolers had no access to federal scholarships, and colleges rarely gave any money to them.
Things have changed, and definitely for the better. Homeschoolers are entering college in record numbers, with higher test scores than their public school counterparts.
“Home educated students generally score at the 65th to 80th percentile on achievement tests, 15 to 30 percentile points higher than those in public schools,” writes Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. of the National Home Education Research Institute. They also tend to stay in college and finish on time, often with above-average grades. This makes them very desirable students.
The Financial Aid picture has changed also. Thanks to the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 (Pub. L. No. 105-244), the student is eligible for Federal Aid if “the student has completed a secondary school education in a homeschool setting that is treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law. That’s all that is necessary. No GED, no special tests, just a homeschool diploma. The law also discourages colleges from discriminating against homeschoolers, and encourages them to accept students on the basis of their ability, not the accreditation of their school.
This played out very well recently when I took my seventeen-year-old son to our local community college to enroll him in their computer science program. I went armed: copies of my letters from the county board of education to prove that we were legal, a homemade high-school transcript to show what he’d studied, results of a recent standardized test, and a copy of the state homeschool regulations.
I didn’t need any of it.
I dropped Evan off to take the COMPASS exam, a placement test that many colleges use to see who needs remedial classes. Evan hadn’t studied much, but he felt ready for the challenge, and it could be retaken if he chose.
An hour and a half later, I went to pick Evan up. He was not in the testing room, and he’d left only about two minutes before. I wandered around the campus, wondering how I could lose someone twice my size. After a nice long walk, one of the ladies in the testing room said that maybe they’d sent him to the academic counselor.
When I finally caught up with Evan, all there was to do was pay.
He’d registered, been accepted, and signed up for three classes (no remedial needed).
It was a bit more complicated five years ago when his older sister, Claire, applied to a small, private, heavily academic college. She had a few small scholarships to the school from some church programs she’d participated in, but she was only sixteen, so we doubted she’d make it. On the other hand, she had a 33 on her ACT (top score is 36: national average is 19-20.)
This school had a user-friendly program for admitting homeschoolers. They asked for a list of courses taken with books used, test scores, a student essay, and recommendations. It was easy to navigate, and the admittance office was very helpful. All-in-all, though, it took a few months, not counting the dishearteningly long FAFSA application.
When all was said and done, though, Claire was offered most of her tuition paid in scholarships and a very low-interest loan for the rest.
Claire graduated last year, second –and youngest- in her class.
From Patti Miller, for About.com
Filed In:
Teaching and Testing
It used to be that homeschooling families approached colleges with some fear and trepidation. The path to admission was quirky and nonsensical, and the hoops that needed to be jumped through were often ridiculous…if the school would even consider accepting a non-traditionally-schooled person. Homeschoolers had no access to federal scholarships, and colleges rarely gave any money to them.
Things have changed, and definitely for the better. Homeschoolers are entering college in record numbers, with higher test scores than their public school counterparts.
“Home educated students generally score at the 65th to 80th percentile on achievement tests, 15 to 30 percentile points higher than those in public schools,” writes Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. of the National Home Education Research Institute. They also tend to stay in college and finish on time, often with above-average grades. This makes them very desirable students.
The Financial Aid picture has changed also. Thanks to the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 (Pub. L. No. 105-244), the student is eligible for Federal Aid if “the student has completed a secondary school education in a homeschool setting that is treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law. That’s all that is necessary. No GED, no special tests, just a homeschool diploma. The law also discourages colleges from discriminating against homeschoolers, and encourages them to accept students on the basis of their ability, not the accreditation of their school.
This played out very well recently when I took my seventeen-year-old son to our local community college to enroll him in their computer science program. I went armed: copies of my letters from the county board of education to prove that we were legal, a homemade high-school transcript to show what he’d studied, results of a recent standardized test, and a copy of the state homeschool regulations.
I didn’t need any of it.
I dropped Evan off to take the COMPASS exam, a placement test that many colleges use to see who needs remedial classes. Evan hadn’t studied much, but he felt ready for the challenge, and it could be retaken if he chose.
An hour and a half later, I went to pick Evan up. He was not in the testing room, and he’d left only about two minutes before. I wandered around the campus, wondering how I could lose someone twice my size. After a nice long walk, one of the ladies in the testing room said that maybe they’d sent him to the academic counselor.
When I finally caught up with Evan, all there was to do was pay.
He’d registered, been accepted, and signed up for three classes (no remedial needed).
It was a bit more complicated five years ago when his older sister, Claire, applied to a small, private, heavily academic college. She had a few small scholarships to the school from some church programs she’d participated in, but she was only sixteen, so we doubted she’d make it. On the other hand, she had a 33 on her ACT (top score is 36: national average is 19-20.)
This school had a user-friendly program for admitting homeschoolers. They asked for a list of courses taken with books used, test scores, a student essay, and recommendations. It was easy to navigate, and the admittance office was very helpful. All-in-all, though, it took a few months, not counting the dishearteningly long FAFSA application.
When all was said and done, though, Claire was offered most of her tuition paid in scholarships and a very low-interest loan for the rest.
Claire graduated last year, second –and youngest- in her class.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Here in Oahu this month. Ming Dynasty (1400s) Chinese Junk boat replica
The kids and I visited this boat and met with the crew today. We are studying European Explorers. This was as close as we come to seeing how ships were made in the day, even if it a different side of the world the kids got a good idea how things were on a ship in 14-1500s.
Beautiful Princess
In the year 2002, Taiwan Sailing Explorer Nelson Liu went to China searching for a dream owned by all Chinese around the world. The dream is that a genius Chinese sailing ship can sail to Western Harbour and he can share the beauty of Chinese Ships to the world.
6 years past, difficulty and obstruction did not stop him . In all these years, from searching the craftsmanship to building the ship, he conquered all kind of difficulties and followed ancient methods strictly to build the first Chinese ship Replica-Princess TaiPing. On Apr 2008, Princess TaiPing had a trial voyage from Xiamen to Hong Kong and accepted Hong Kong Maritime Museum’s invitation to have public visiting in Hong Kong. After the final adjustment, she had he final trial voyage from Hong Kong to Taiwan. On 24th Jun, 2008, Princess TaiPing launched her expedition form Taiwan via Okinawa and Japan to the Americas.
The trail of building Princess TaiPing is full of thistles and thorns. Nelson took 3 years to find the evidence in ancient books. Then he had a field research of the craftsmanship for another year. On Jan, 2007, finally, building of Princess TaiPing can be stared, but on Feb, Nelson found that there are bolts and nuts on the ship shell of Princess TaiPing, because the carpenters did not follow the ancient method to do their job. The main mast took them another 3 months to find. After that, the carpenters went really slow at building the ship for 4 months. Being reluctant to wait, Nelson decided to hire other carpenters by himself. After the trial sail to Hong Kong, Princess TaiPing was overhaul
However, the real valuable memories are many generous people willing help Princess TaiPing. Friends in Xiamen, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan help Nelson to fulfill his dream.
We believe that the real beauty of Princess TaiPing is not the high art of craftsmanship or the magnificence of the voyage, but the endeavor of ordinary people just like you and me and the generosity of friends around the world.
Princess TaiPing is not only Nelson’s dream, but also a dream of people who believe the power of dream and good will. A carrot, a hammer, a cup of tea make the dream of Princess TaiPing come true. This magnificent beauty build the ship and made the achievement to launch the Princess TaiPing’s voyage.
In the year 2002, Taiwan Sailing Explorer Nelson Liu went to China searching for a dream owned by all Chinese around the world. The dream is that a genius Chinese sailing ship can sail to Western Harbour and he can share the beauty of Chinese Ships to the world.
6 years past, difficulty and obstruction did not stop him . In all these years, from searching the craftsmanship to building the ship, he conquered all kind of difficulties and followed ancient methods strictly to build the first Chinese ship Replica-Princess TaiPing. On Apr 2008, Princess TaiPing had a trial voyage from Xiamen to Hong Kong and accepted Hong Kong Maritime Museum’s invitation to have public visiting in Hong Kong. After the final adjustment, she had he final trial voyage from Hong Kong to Taiwan. On 24th Jun, 2008, Princess TaiPing launched her expedition form Taiwan via Okinawa and Japan to the Americas.
The trail of building Princess TaiPing is full of thistles and thorns. Nelson took 3 years to find the evidence in ancient books. Then he had a field research of the craftsmanship for another year. On Jan, 2007, finally, building of Princess TaiPing can be stared, but on Feb, Nelson found that there are bolts and nuts on the ship shell of Princess TaiPing, because the carpenters did not follow the ancient method to do their job. The main mast took them another 3 months to find. After that, the carpenters went really slow at building the ship for 4 months. Being reluctant to wait, Nelson decided to hire other carpenters by himself. After the trial sail to Hong Kong, Princess TaiPing was overhaul
However, the real valuable memories are many generous people willing help Princess TaiPing. Friends in Xiamen, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan help Nelson to fulfill his dream.
We believe that the real beauty of Princess TaiPing is not the high art of craftsmanship or the magnificence of the voyage, but the endeavor of ordinary people just like you and me and the generosity of friends around the world.
Princess TaiPing is not only Nelson’s dream, but also a dream of people who believe the power of dream and good will. A carrot, a hammer, a cup of tea make the dream of Princess TaiPing come true. This magnificent beauty build the ship and made the achievement to launch the Princess TaiPing’s voyage.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Home Front Heros Medal
Tim put the kids in to receive the Home Front Medal Award for their service to the AF and our family during his time away on multiple deployments."Cole, Sydney, Mack, and Nora Sterner. Nora was born without her father being there. She endured doctors visits and plane rides without her dad there to hold her. Mack turned 4 without dad and did a good job of transitioning from youngest child to big brother when his sister was born. Sydney is a huge help with baby sister and excellent at accomplishing tasks very quickly. She turned 8 without dad being there to celebrate. She also went without his help while playing softball and learning to ride horses. This was Coles 6th deployment and as the oldest of 4 he steps up and handles the extra work without complaint. Cole was excellent at caring for his younger brother & sister. Cole often does without the sports, camping, and fun times due to his responsibilities while his dad is away. Cole, Sydney, Mack and Nora, Thank you for your service."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Ruth
This week started off in the middle of a camping trip. Well our Pastor has been really emphasizing the fact that Sunday should be the beginning of the week. Our worldly minds just don't work this way. However, if the beginning of the week was Sunday, we were in the middle of a camping trip at Bellows Beach (military recreation right on the beach). Our church is on the same side of the island so we were able to still be at church. Church going in Hawaii is not as strict with the attire as is in the south. They never even knew we were camping.
Monday was Cole's birthday. He had 2 friends that spent the night camping and then we all played at the beach until after lunch. He didn't have a cake...but we did smores the night before. He didn't seem bothered by that. I always tell the kids that I cannot believe I have kept them alive and haven't lost them in all the years they have been with us. This will be Cole's 11th year and I haven't lost him yet....I also tell them that being a wife and a mother is the longest job I have ever had.
Tuesday back to the daily grind and forgetting already what was told to me on Sunday, I was already in despair about the messy house and questioning the ability to homeschool the children. Then an email came....My friend Ruth has been fighting cancer for a long time, one who has gotten one place cleared up only to find months later that cancer has appeared somewhere else in her body. My world suddenly became very small. I wonder how she does it. How she plugs away everyday not knowing the outcome when I am so impatient everyday not knowing the outcome of so many things that are little in respect to what she has going on.
She said to me when she found out I was having #4...."I always wanted more children (she has two boys) but I guess God thought I could handle cancer better." Now that my friends is an amazing woman. But it will not stop there. She will take her cancer and give glory to God and praise him for the grace he has bestowed on her to deal with this intruder in her body. Please pray for my dear friend Ruth.
Monday was Cole's birthday. He had 2 friends that spent the night camping and then we all played at the beach until after lunch. He didn't have a cake...but we did smores the night before. He didn't seem bothered by that. I always tell the kids that I cannot believe I have kept them alive and haven't lost them in all the years they have been with us. This will be Cole's 11th year and I haven't lost him yet....I also tell them that being a wife and a mother is the longest job I have ever had.
Tuesday back to the daily grind and forgetting already what was told to me on Sunday, I was already in despair about the messy house and questioning the ability to homeschool the children. Then an email came....My friend Ruth has been fighting cancer for a long time, one who has gotten one place cleared up only to find months later that cancer has appeared somewhere else in her body. My world suddenly became very small. I wonder how she does it. How she plugs away everyday not knowing the outcome when I am so impatient everyday not knowing the outcome of so many things that are little in respect to what she has going on.
She said to me when she found out I was having #4...."I always wanted more children (she has two boys) but I guess God thought I could handle cancer better." Now that my friends is an amazing woman. But it will not stop there. She will take her cancer and give glory to God and praise him for the grace he has bestowed on her to deal with this intruder in her body. Please pray for my dear friend Ruth.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sir Peter and the Witch by Sydney Sterner
Long ago in the land of Olom lived a Knight named Peter, son of Alen the great. When he was a boy his father died of sickness. Peter had to take care of his family.
Peter had straight blond hair past his ears. He had sparkling blue eyes and lips like roses. He had six sisters and five brothers. They all looked the same. He got confused with Kary and Mary.
Peter fought dragons, trolls, beasts, birds, wizards, wolves, goblins, bears and evil knights. When Peter was on an adventure, he put his brother Jack in charge of the house.
One day Peter went on an adventure to a cave that was dark and gloomy. He was not scared to enter the cave. When he entered the cave he saw three tunnels. He didn't know which way to go. His horse did not want to go in any of the tunnels. Peter was not going to turn back for his horse. He said to his horse, "COME ON NOW! STOP SHAKING!" He finally made up his mind. He will take the darkest and gloomiest tunnel. When he went inside, he saw a fire.
Around the fire there was a witch. The witch had captured Princess Anna! Peter had to rescue the princess at once.
He did not know how to fight a witch. He said to himself, "I AM NOT AFRAID OF A WITCH". He was not going to barge in. He will come back at night and kill the witch and rescue princess Anna. That night when there was a full moon outside he went down to the witch's cave and with one stab of his sword the witch was dead. He had rescued Princess Anna.
From then on he was not called Sir Peter any more. He was named King Peter the Magnificent!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Ko'Olina lagoons
Another day at the beach without a camera. This is an awesome place. A great day all around with the kids. The lagoons have hardly any waves. Cole doesn't think that this is a plus but for a mom with four kids, its great. Nora napped in her little bed/tent, I talked on the cell most of the time and threw the nerf football with the kids. Tim hates to sit still. He threw the kids around in the ocean for a while but hanging out on the beach and resting is very hard to do when there is a mountain to hike or miles to run. The only thing I regret is that I brought a book but didn't read:(
Just click on the title and you can read and see pics of this fabulous kid friendly beach!!
Just click on the title and you can read and see pics of this fabulous kid friendly beach!!
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