You May Be Homeschooled If...

I was homeschooled every year but 8th grade, which was sometimes difficult because of the stigma homeschooling carried back then. On a ski trip when I was about 14, my best friend and I were asked by the ski instructor what school we attended. We told him we were homeschooled, and he proceeded to tell the rest of the class very matter-off-factly that homeschooling is for children who were behind or had been abused! Yikes! Finally, in my adult life, I've ceased to be embarrassed about the fact that I was homeschooled and have begun to be okay with it, even proud. Now I know what a great and interesting education I received, and I now I hear other moms saying, "Oh, wow, I wish I had been - I'm going to homeschool my kids!" Turns out homeschooling isn't just for weirdos anymore. There were times as a kid that I loathed being homeschooled. I mean, the humiliation of being different is just too much to bear when you're 12 years old and wanting to just blend in! Instead, we'd go to the grocery store at 11am and the clerk would innocently ask, "Hey there kids, school holiday?" Before I could mumble a quick, "Oh, um, just got out early!" Mom would answer loudly enough for the whole store to hear, "WE HOMESCHOOL!!!!" At least it seemed that way. It seemed like she might as well have grabbed the little microphone they use to announce the sale at the deli or "5 minutes till closing" and declared to the entire store over the PA that I was, indeed, an oddball. *Sigh* But I really wasn't bitter. Just a bit embarrassed. I grew up with it, and I didn't know just how different my school experience actually was until I became an adult! Things just keep coming up. For instance, I still have no idea what a public school cafeteria looks like. I don't understand going to school with 400 + other kids...of your exact same age. I was recently overwhelmed with disgust when we attended a church held at a high school and I used the women's bathroom - horrific! And the graffiti! I can't imagine what it must be like to have to use a facility like that every day! (I became quite convinced that if we respected those kids enough to give them a decent bathroom, they just might respect themselves a bit more and problems with poor grades and drugs and violence might improve...I wish I could test that theory somehow. ) And language - this is a funny one. Occasionally, even still, a slang word or phrase will be on TV or something, and I'll have to ask my husband what it means because I have no idea. Usually it's not something that benefited him to have learned in high school, and it's just another indication that I was homeschooled and didn't have to listen to garbage all day from my peers! Yes, I suppose I was "sheltered" a bit if you will, but only from junk that no kid needs to be exposed to. I was given all kinds of opportunities to dive into things I loved - writing, singing, and dancing, for example, and able to spend more time studying certain areas of science that I was fascinated by, like natural disasters and weather. I went on field trips several times a month, and Mom could fit learning into experiences that I found purely fun. And, oh yeah, I did have friends. That was the question EVERYONE loved to ask. ( "You're homeschooled? So, like, how do you socialize?") Youth group, various classes I took, homeschool functions, 4-H...yes, I was around many people and made many friends! Some of my best friends are ones I've known since I was in elementary school, and we grew up homeschooling together. Since homeschooling will probably never be mainstream, there will certainly always be jokes around it, but who cares? I kinda like the fact that if I don't "get" something most people picked up from their peers in high school I can smile and say, "Sorry, I was homeschooled!" Always gets a laugh out of people. ;)
You May Be a Homeschooler If...
1. You have only a few classmates, and they all have your same last name.
2. Part of your school work is to help with yard work and learn how to build a shed with Dad on Saturday.
3. You have a choice of 5 guys to have a crush on - they're the only ones you know who are the same age as you.
4. The word "homework" doesn't make any sense to you.
5. Your teacher can ground you for not finishing your math in a timely fashion.

I Love America!

Why does it seems somewhat cheesy to be openly patriotic? After 9/11, American flag t-shirts were worn by everyone and people flew flags all over the place. Then after awhile people didn't like the war or Bush anymore, and we stopped flying flags and starting getting cynical. Enter Obama, and now tons of people once again have "hope". This is just crazy to me - it's been the same American all along! Regardless of what political party you associate yourself with or how you feel about the way American is going, we still live in an amazing country of which we can all be proud. 4th of July is right around the corner, and I anticipate tears once again flowing down my face as I hear the national anthem and watch the fireworks. I refuse to complain, put down President Obama, or point out ways "things just aren't like they used to be!". Things do change. God told us they would. I am on the look out for ways He tells me to speak out and to do what I can to uphold the values important to both He and I, and while I am looking for those things I will also continue to notice the things everywhere that make American beautiful to me - churches and businesses of all kinds, people of all races going about their days doing things they need and want to do, things that brings them fulfillment. These are things we take for granted, the freedoms most important and unique to America, and they have remained no matter who was president. When my daughters ask if they can be a certain profession, which they do often, I am overjoyed everytime to tell them that they can do whatever God calls them to do. I LOVE this country, and I'm not going let myself feel cheesy for saying it!!! =)

Help for Jumbled Jewelry!

These are some things I made a few days ago, and I just had to share them! I don't know about you, but jewelry organization has always eluded me. Jewelry boxes just scramble everything up, and besides that, I have so much jewelry that it got to the point that I had 3 or 4 jewelry receptacles of various kinds that didn't match, and it drove me crazy even looking at them. One day I came across an article in Real Simple magazine (one of my faves) that explained how to turn your jewelry into a work of art. I took that idea and modified it a bit, and this is what I came up with. I love the frame shown on the left, but the glass in it recently broke, so I was planning to just Goodwill it. Instead, I picked up a large roll of cork material at Beverly Fabrics for $5.99. I cut two pieces that would fit inside the frame, glued them together with Tacky Glue to create a cork mat about 1/4 inch thick, then covered the cork with blue silk fabric I already had in my craft stash. I put that inside the frame and then hung it on the bedroom wall like a picture. I picked up a box of pretty, plain, silver straight pins from Beverly's ($2.99) and used those to hang my necklaces. I still had a lot of jewelry left to organize, so I bought another roll of cork and did the same thing with the larger matted black frame, using 1/2 yard of a cotton fabric I bought at Beverly's for about $2. Then, I decided to experiment with something that could also contain my earrings. All I did for that one was to cut a piece of white cross-stitching fabric and glue it inside of a 5x7 frame, then loop the earrings through the holes in the fabric. These were super easy projects, and I love that my necklaces and earrings are showcased as art pieces! I hung them in a cluster next to our dresser, and even my husband loves the way it looks! Let me know if any of you try this - I hope you find it to be as fun and beautiful as I do. =)

My Glorious Reality of Late

I've been away awhile - sorry about that! I guess you could say I was just dealing with some things. There are seasons in my life when I feel I am "inside myself" and have no desire to do the things that ordinarily are more enjoyable to me than most other things; namely, writing and singing. The past few weeks I haven't been doing any of either. However, last night Phil led us on the guitar in Come Thou Fount, and I found my voice again. Today I'm blogging, and it feels good to feel like me. What have I been dealing with, you ask? *Sigh* You had to ask, didn't you? First, it was the age-old (not really, but it feels like it) dilemma of the role of church and God in our lives right now. It's gotten to the point where (and this is Glorious Reality that I'm sharing with you, okay??) both Phil and I have begun to really question where God is, whether He even sees us, and why we want to follow a God who has made us look for Him so long and so hard. Yes, it's been bad. I've shed a lot of tears, and Phil has had a lot of melancholy days (cuz he's not really a crier so much). I wish that I could read the Bible and pray by myself and have that just be enough, but it isn't. Phil and I long for the connection with others that used to make us feel alive, that constantly reminded us of incredible things God is doing in people's lives. We are attending a new church that we want badly to be excited about, but living here 2 years and trying out at least 12 churches has caused us to have a pretty jaded view. Yucky, but the way it is. We've gotten to know the pastor and his wife and they seem fantastic, but again, we've held it all with an open hand. All this, coupled with my PMDD symptoms, has caused me to become rather self-centered. I admitted to Phil that I was getting pretty tired of thinking about myself, how I'm feeling, all the time. And physically I didn't feel right - why was I so bloated even though I'd been working out?! And nauseous too?! What's going on? Woah, wait... Yep. Turns out I'M PREGNANT! And self-centered me had the audacity to cry about it for a few minutes. Phil couldn't have been happier, so pretty soon I was happy too, and now, 2 1/2 weeks later, I can't believe the change that has happened in us. A baby is such a miracle, and I think that this pregnancy has done a lot to soften my heart toward God again. Tonight the pastor from the new church called Phil, wanting to talk to him about the possibilty of beginning weekly testimonies like the ones we told him about that our church in Roseville does. We are really excited about sharing our past and hearing how God has transformed others! Phil and I have come to a new realization that although we can't fully understand God, we can accept and embrace the basics - He made us, He loves us, He gives us good gifts. We have 3 and one on the way!

Proverbs 14:1

I am so burdened today over the recent turn of events in the Gosselin family of TLC's John and Kate + 8. As Phil scanned the groceries in the self check-out yesterday, I managed to keep the kids from getting us kicked out of Safeway while simultaneously reading an article in People about what Kate is going through. It was tragic. Tragic that a woman could list everything she had done right over the years, and nothing that she wished she had done differently. Tragic that their children have had to listen to their mom's sarcastic and demeaning words toward their Daddy for all these years, in their house, in public, and broadcast on cable television. And of course, tragic that now Jon has not been the faithful, honorable man he was supossed to be. Well gee, when a man doesn't quite feel like a man in his own home, he wouldn't want to be there so much, now would he? Let's not be stupid and say that Jon made the only error in this situation. Dr. Laura probably has a lot to say about this, and it's not that Kate's organic cooking should have been enough to keep Jon home. It's all about respect, which Jon wasn't getting. Proverbs says it well: "A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands." Our own hands! That is the power that we as wives have! It is time that we stop blaming men for not being men, and instead do our part better than we have. Is there anything you can say today to affirm your husband? Hasn't he done anything today worthy of your respect? Did he go to work? Take out the trash? Read to or play with the kids? Pray that God shows you something you can do or say to build up the man God gave you, and see what happens. No goodwilled man (and most are!!) will abandon his home is he feels respected there. And no, it's not about you turning into a doormat and elevating him to superior status. Reject that feminist thinking! We are ALL equally valuable. However, when we begin meeting our husband's needs for respect, they will natually show us the love that we crave. It's a win-win, and that's the way it should be, am I right?? Let's pray that Jon and Kate will take the time for their family in these next days, that they will leave stardom behind and do everything it takes to repair their marriage, and that there won't be another 8 children ripped apart by a sadly broken family.

Mother's Day

This is a picture of my mom and me, taken last Sunday. She and my dad came down from Sacramento and spent a very fun weekend with us here in Monterey. I just have to use this opportunity to list a few things I will forever be grateful for about my mom!!
1. She has been a loving and supportive wife to my dad, giving me a strong foundation and a great example.
2. She home-schooled me every year but 8th grade, even when she probably reeeeeally didn't want to. (We'll put it this way: I wasn't the most excited student all the time. ;))
3. She began each day with prayer and worship, sometimes playing guitar and sometimes playing piano. She didn't know at the time what an impact that had on me.
4. She was never too busy to listen to me or to share things that were on her heart.
5. She shared current and past struggles she dealt with, modeling transparency and giving me the opportunity to really know who she was.
6. She trained me using a lot of Proverbs, which helped me to see that what she expected of me was also God's best for me.
7. If I was down, sometimes she would put a bit of lipstick and blush on me. Amazing how looking good helps you feel better! =)
8. Her energy is contagious and often helped me get interested in things I wouldn't have been otherwise!
So there it is, just a few things off the top of my head about my amazing mom who loves me in a way that no one else on earth does. (And I know that now because I have 3 girls of my own! =))

Buy a Hat, Save a Life!

Krochet Kids is an amazing non-profit organization that is helping Ugandan women learn to support themselves and their families by crocheting hats that are then sold here in the states. This organization is especially dear to my heart because my brother and very close friend, Nic Lauten, has played a big role in making Krochet Kids what it is. He spent 11 months in Uganda getting to know the women in the organization, loving the African people, and just sitting and crocheting with them. I personally am in love with my pink Krochet Kids beanie, and when I wear it, I can't help but wonder about the precious sister somewhere across the world who made it for me. If you all wouldn't mind, would you please take a few minutes today and check out krochetkids.org? If you're anything like me, you'll be brought to tears as you read the vision and the stories of the women involved. And hey, if you can, buy a hat, because they are pretty awesome!! =)