Ramblings of a TJEd Mom

ON my Mind

2012-05-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

It's late. I'm still awake. Can't sleep. I've got my baby girl on my mind. Our whole family is poised to find her! We talk about her multiple times a day. We all feel the urgency to find her and bring her home! Heavenly Father always works this way, with our family...when it comes to finding a missing kiddo! He fills me with an urgency to find them and I go through a "nesting" period, similar to a birth mother who is awaiting the arrival of her baby.

Her room is ready to go! Since we aren't sure if she's already born and a little older, or if she's not born yet, I've washed every age of baby girl clothes, from zero to 24 months. We've always said that we'd be willing and excited to adopt a baby up to the age of 18 months, and could be hearing about a baby girl, tomorrow, who is somewhere around a year old, African American and whose birth mother is no longer able to parent her. We shall see what Heavenly Father has in store for our family! Please keep us in your prayers! Describing what it's like to wait for a missing part of your family, and to search everywhere for her, is really difficult. It's somewhat like being pregnant, I'm sure...and yet it's nothing like it. We don't know when she'll be here. We don't know how old she'll be, either. We don't know what to get ready for. We've been ready for a newborn, but are trying not to counsel the Lord in His decision of which sweet baby girl is meant to be ours. We are just trying to have open hearts and minds and just praying that we will know our baby girl, when we hear about her. Please add your prayers to ours!

Wiggle Bug had his 3 month Cardiology appt. on Friday. The doctor is concerned as to the reason why his heart is still so large. He sees no explanation for it, and so he's ordered a Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization for Mr. Wiggle Bug. They'll go in there with a camera, and take pictures of the heart to see if possible during his Open Heart Surgery (OHS), one or both coronary arteries were bumped somehow, which may have created scar tissue, partially blocking an artery and causing the decreased function in his heart. I won't lie. I'm nervous! The Cardiologist dropped the words "heart transplant" about 6 months ago and decided we should try Wiggle Bug on Enalipril. When that didn't help his heart any, and only decreased his quality of life (lots of naps, really moody and cranky, no increased heart function), he took him off of it. Wiggles heart just has a mind of it's own and didn't respond to the Enalipril. He's a medical miracle boy! He amazes me with all that he goes through in his life, and how resilient and happy he is! He's on a mission, that boy! I'm tellin' ya'! But now I have those words "Heart Transplant", looming in the back of my mind, with the knowledge that his heart function is still not good and that they don't know why! So...I'm doing the only 2 things I know how to do: 1. Pray! 2. Learn about the heart, as much as I can! (Okay, okay...there's a 3rd thing I'm doing...that would be eating chocolate and baking much more than I should!) Between all the studying I'm doing about Wiggle Bug...and all the studying I'm doing about Ladybug (and all her gut issues), I should be earning a P.h.,d (or however you spell that), in Super Human Mommy Knowledge or something. I still have SO much more to learn about!

I am so grateful for the gals on my heart group on Facebook, who teach me so much everyday and who never make me feel like any of the questions I ask are stupid or silly. They are a rock for me, and keep me from flying off the handle, with worry, and they help me learn and understand more all the time! Whenever it is that we go up to get Baby Bug, I am definitely making time to meet as many of them as I can, somewhere! I have found a kinship with them that transcends an internet chat group and has become such a strength for me! Hugs to all the brave Heart Mama's out there who are such a wonderful support and example to me! I love em' all!

Alas, I'm falling asleep now! (Hearing me talk will do that to people...especially myself!) I shall keep everyone posted about the goings on of our Rambling Castle, and of course, my handsome prince, and 5 wonderful lads and ladies! May peace and joy attend us all!

Love,
The Lady Rambler

I'm Baaaaaaack!!!!

2012-04-26T16:23:00.002-07:00

Whew! I've got access to my email again, and I've gotten my blog back! I thought I'd lost it forever, and that was a sad thought for me! I don't write here often, but what I share is a journal of my life's experiences, and more importantly, of the experiences of my children and my family! I am grateful to have it restored to me again! Getting your email hacked, isn't cool!

We had a great day of homeschooling today! Today was day one of our Old Testament Timeline from www.timelinesetc.com It's really cool, and the kids are excited about it! I know we will learn a lot together this year! They have this little chant or what they call History In Action, which puts an action, picture and saying, with each story! It's a fun way for them to remember history! Today we covered, the creation, Adam and Eve, Enoch and Noah! We made a trip to the public library, earlier this week, and the kids all picked out a few books they are interested in, so we just so happen to have some books about Giraffe's, Wolves and Chipmunk's, which will go along with our Noah's Ark studies! Should be fun!

And She Pondered These Things In Her Heart

2012-04-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

I have been filled to overflowing, by my experiences listening to, watching and participating in General Conference this weekend! Oh how I love Conference! It is a lifeline to heaven, for me! I feel as though Heavenly Father has placed words into the minds and hearts of the speakers, which are directly for me and my little family! As I thought of how these inspired words filled me...I immediately thought of Mary, Mother of Jesus. I SO desire, to ponder on all these things and keep them in my heart, to be called up when life's situations have need of them! I took pretty good notes, so that I can feast on them until the conference issue of the Ensign, comes out!

This time, when I was writing my notes, I really tried to pay careful attention not just to the actual words that were said, but also to the promptings I felt from the Holy Ghost, about how those things apply specifically to our family! It was a superb way of learning, for me! It's late this evening, and I must get some shut eye while the babes slumber...but I will share my notes with you hopefully later this week. Speaking of this week...if is Easter week! I plan to have an amazingly inspirational week with our children! Don't know yet, all that we will do...but I know that it will be blessed by our Heavenly Father, because I have such a strong desire for Him to sanctify the things we do and learn about this week! I'll let you know how it goes! :0)

Moving

2012-03-23T22:02:00.001-07:00

I have decided that moving is difficult! It's wonderful, but extremely burdensome! My poor husband has exhausted himself moving everything from place to place and it makes me sad to see him so tired and worn out! He is such a good man! He does SO MUCH for me and the children! Speaking of the children, they are some of the most patient individuals on the planet! It is not very fun to wake up each morning, to more boxes that need unpacking and unloading. They have handled this move with grace and sweetness! They amaze me!

Our new neighbors amaze me too! I was told that from us on back down to the end of the street, on our side of the street, we are all members of the church! Wow! That's pretty cool and totally exciting to me! I have been visited no less than 9 people/families who came to welcome us to the neighborhood and say "Hello!" Totally amazing and completely awesome! I am SO excited to be potentially living in the same kind of neighborhood that my parents live in...everyone knows everyone, watches out for one another, brings treats and flowers to say hello and genuinely wants to be friendly and kind! This MY KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD! I am seriously excited about it! :0)

I must say, that I feel a bit like a fish out of water! I have always considered myself to be one who rolls with change pretty easily. After all...there are no 2 days that are the same, when you are a homeschooling, special needs family of beautiful, adopted, medically fragile cuteness! Change is our middle name around here. But this move has happened slowly and without rhyme or reason, in lots of ways. We have been without our library of books, for the past 3 months. We have worked hard to clean and pack the home we just moved from, and have worked hard to clean and move into that home we just came to! Exhausting work, I tell you! I suppose all things happen for a reason, for example, I think Heavenly Father wanted to teach us to truly appreciate the great, classic works which adorn our bookshelves, and which we have not appreciated like we should! Lesson learned, there! So...now we find ourselves moving into new, uncharted territory again!

I've prayed for simplicity and a clear understanding, as I embark to inspire greatness in our family! I continuously pray for the wherewithal to engage in my own education, that I might be an example and that I might motivate the cause of freedom and virtue in our family! I continuously pray that I won't completely screw my family up, the way so many naysayers apparently hope that I will! (If only they knew how hurtful their words can be sometimes!) I pray that we won't stand still, in our pursuit of a Leadership Education! I pray that we will be moved by what we read, write, study, discuss and learn! I pray, that the children will move through the proper phases of a good leadership education...that I will nurture them through that movement, and that they will come through their youth with a love for learning and work, and that they will still love me as their mother, in the process! I pray that my precious husband, will have success in his sought for college education...that he can meet his aspirations head on, and feel righteous pride in his accomplishments! I pray that he will know of my great love for him...that I will adequately express it to him daily, amidst the many things on my plate! I pray that the children will express their great love to him also, and that he will know how important he is in their lives! I pray to be humble and submissive, amidst the changes that are coming for us all!

I want so badly, to leave the world at our doorstep! The world is not for me and not for my family...and yet it still pulls at us in ways that are so subtle and sneaky! If I'm being honest, it makes me just a bit angry! I am really disappointed in what I see, when I take a look at the way the world is going right now (and has been going for quite some time!) It is heart wrenching to me! I want to move as far away from it as humanly possible! I have said it before, and I'll say it again! I feel such a pull toward simplicity! I'm talking, living like the pioneers did...working hard to provide for basic needs...faith that could move mountains...none of the worldly distractions that so easily beset me...a very "less is more" way of life! Their lives were SO difficult, in ways that we cannot fathom, and yet I know that they look down on us from Heaven, shocked at the many difficulties we deal with here, which did not exist during their time. I want to have pioneer faith!

I don't know why I get so easily distracted from my goals! I am hard on myself, but with good reason! There is so much I don't do like I should! I have such a desire to be like Jesus Christ...to live and love as He did! I want to move closer to Him! I want to move my ideals and desires, into alignment with His desires for me! I feel so inadequate! I fall short daily! I want to better understand His atoning sacrifice for me, that I can learn what it means to truly cast my burdens on Him! I want to change my heart! I want to let the Savior change my heart! I don't want to stand still any longer! We all know that when you stand still, you are only going backwards slowly!

I've got a lot of praying to do! (I pretty much have a lot of praying to do, all the time!) :0) Satan likes to make me feel uneasy, discontent and doubtful about my abilities to perform my mission in this life; that of teaching and raising our children up righteously before the Lord! I'd really like to make him a knuckle sandwich...with a sour pickle on the side! I'd like him to move out of my way...THAT'S what I'd like! :)

I've been thinking lately, about living a more intentional life! Being purposeful about all of the essentials that should be done, and making sure that those things have room to work in our lives! I want to do something moving, inspiring and uplifting...or as Emma Smith would say, something extraordinary! I think I'll move to my knees now, and tell Heavenly Father everything I just wrote! Peace out! :)

Belated Blogs about Birthdays

2012-03-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

Since getting back on Facebook, my blogging has gone downhill. I plan to become better at it again. Anyway...Luv Bug had her 7th birthday in December, and Cuddle Bug had his birthday in February. We went to Joe's Farmhouse Grill for Luv's birthday supper and she got lots of fun gifts including a cute stuffed bear,from Pete and I and also a mini baby and crib,( to name a few gifts she got.) For Cuddle's birthday fun, we went to the zoo! He also got some Star Wars guys and a space ship for them! He turned 6 this year.
I can't believe how fast they're all growing up! =D We love you, Luv and Cuddle!

Random Thoughts from Ladybug

2012-03-08T20:15:00.001-08:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled study session, to bring you "Random Thoughts from Ladybuuuuuug!". Tonight she asked the following question, in this way:
"Mom...Chuck E. Cheese is Chinese?"
And ther hou have it folks! (She is referring to the last time we went there, in Nov. 2010 for her biological half sister's birthday party.) =D

2012-02-23T10:46:00.001-08:00

How To Support Foster and Adoptive Families~

1. Realize that we aren't doing foster care or adopting, so we can make you feel inferior!

2. Realize that we love EACH child who comes into our hearts and homes, and we always will.

3. Don't insult us for following case plans, therapist's recommendations, doctor's orders or birth parents wishes. We respectfully remind you, IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

4. Don't tell us we are "Saints" for doing something "you could never do." It doesn't make us feel good and it doesn't make our children feel good. We don't want to be praised and put on a pedestal for loving our kids. Do you? We certainly don't want our children to be made to feel like they are poor, pathetic souls who are just lucky we "rescued" them. Would you like us to make you or your children feel this way?

5. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! (Just because it sounds good to you, doesn't mean it will be taken that way!) Put yourself in our shoes and the shoes of the children who are standing right by us when you speak!

6. Don't ask questions like: "Do you have any of your own?" " Which ones are you REAL kids?" "Which country is he/she from?" "What's wrong with him/her?" "Was her mother/father on drugs?", "How much did he/she cost? And don't wave your finger around at my family, while saying "How did this happen?" And most certainly, don't refer to the birth mothers of our children in any kind of negative light. Just because you are ignorant and judgmental, doesn't mean we are. We love the birth parents of our children. We will NOT tolerate your speaking about them as if they are slime. On the contrary...we will vigilantly defend them and the fact that regardless of the choices they've made in their lives, they still loved and did the best they could for their children. Oh!...and ANOTHER THING! In case your mother never taught you...it is absolutely rude and disgusting, to ask questions that involve the words "couldn't keep their pants zipped." (Sorry! Has to be said! And, Yes, I was asked that very question!)

7. Don't PET our children's hair, like they are animals! Would you like it if someone treated you like a dog? On the contrary, respect the fact that we and our children take pride in their appearance and that it takes a LONG time to make their hair look that way!

8. Don't expect us to understand and/or condone your ignorance! While we are nice people and enjoy talking about the wonderful ways our children became ours, this doesn't mean that you can ask stupid or rude questions and expect us to brush it aside as "acceptable." It's NOT! I reserve the right to gape my mouth wide open at you, and look at you in shock and disbelief, when you ask questions that cross the line! AND I WILL!

9. Be supportive! (Let me define "supportive".) Be NORMAL! Don't create issues that don't exist, and don't downgrade issues that DO! If you are a family member or a friend of someone who has adopted children, be kind. Be courteous and respectful. Feel free to ask, genuine, well meaning questions, but please be careful of what you say or ask in front of our children. They have ears and they are smart! Think about how your words will affect them. And ABOVE ALL---please respect our right to raise our children as we see fit! Don't lecture us in front of our children, and don't insult our way of life either! In fact, don't lecture us, PERIOD!

10. Don't say "I could never do what YOU do!", unless you're prepared to not be offended when we answer back "Of course you could!" When we respond that way, it's not to offend you, but rather to instill confidence in all we meet, that foster care and adoption are not only do-able things, but also to spread our belief and hope that it's a worthy cause so that others will want to do it too! There are so many children who need good parents (foster or adoptive or both)!

11. Show Up! Show up for things that are important! Here is a brief list of things that you could "show up" for, which might seem like nothing to you, but which mean everything to us:

~ Court Hearings (especially adoption court hearings!) When that judge finally bangs that gavel and declares our children "legally' ours, it's a big deal! BE THERE! (Can you imagine loving and serving your children every day of their lives with that constant possibility that they could leave, looming over your head?) They've been ours in every way but the one that really counts, from the moment they came. SHOW UP!

~ Surgeries and Hospital Visits for kiddo's! It's really hard to sit in waiting room, after waiting room by yourself and cry by the side of your child's bed in the recovery room, alone. Learn about the children and the issues and challenges they face. Learn to care for them, so as to provide trusted support to us parents who need a break once in a while. We will NOT leave our children with you, if we feel that you don't know them and their issues, and if we feel that you won't follow instructions or that you question ours or our doctor's orders or intentions for our children. We will also not leave our children with you, if you treat us as their parents, as though we are paranoid, or their issues are only in our heads! Just because we have adopted our children into part of YOUR family, does not mean that you automatically have a right to have them whenever you want. That right is only EARNED!

~ Show up for the births of children who are adopted through private adoption. (Why wouldn't you?)

~ Show Up for training! Be willing to listen and learn about ways to care for the children or about the medical/behavioral issues they face. Again...we won't leave them with you, if you don't.

12. Don't EVER say: "You shouldn't expect us to be supportive of you...YOU chose this, not us!" HOW RUDE! Honestly! If you are the family member or friend of someone who has chosen to do foster care and/or adopt, don't assume that we must ask your permission or approval for what we are doing, Last I checked, doing foster care and adopting children is a very honorable thing! Do your other family members or friends ask your permission before getting pregnant? SERIOUSLY! If you can't support us and the issues that our children face, then SAY IT! Then...kindly leave us alone! You can't have your cake and eat it too! While we're on this subject...don't ask adoptive families if they're quite sure they can't "have one of their own" or if they're "doing it" right! Unless of course you are okay with my response, which will be "Did you want to bring a flashlight over and let us know?" (Again, had to be said!)

13. BE EXCITED for us! We are excited about what we're doing! We want our family members and friends to be excited about it too! If you can't be excited about what we're doing...then frankly there's something wrong with you! We are changing the world! We are loving those who the world would toss aside! Oh...and BY THE WAY...WE are the ones who are being saved! OUR CHILDREN saved us! It's NOT the other way around!

14. Realize that families can come in all colors, sizes and dynamics! Teach your children that brown kids can in fact have a white mom and/or dad, and vice versa! Teach your children that it's not polite for them to tell my children that they aren't siblings. They ARE! One thing I teach my children to say, is "Our hearts match!" And really, there are lots of biological families where the members of those families look nothing alike. Think outside the BOX!

15. Take an opportunity to learn about the issues that are important to foster and adoptive families! Ignorance is not bliss! It's hurtful and ridiculous!

16. Contrary to popular belief, us foster/adoptive families are NOT in fact wearing signs on our foreheads, which state "Please tell me EVERYTHING you feel about my life and my choices! Please realize that your opinions are just that! If you can't say something nice (or respectful or supportive)...then don't say anything at all.

OH, and one more thing! If you find yourself in a situation where you can't or WON'T support a family member or friend who has chosen to adopt or do foster care or both...Don't be surprised when we feel hurt, unsupported or angry about it! Supporting us is not rocket science! It's common courtesy and decency! It's showing love for your fellow man! It's realizing that there is more to life than just YOU! It's what families and friends do for one another!

'Nuff Said!

Written by Ranee Hansen

Intentional Living

2011-12-14T17:36:00.000-08:00

My thoughts as of late, have been drawn to the New Year that is coming. Not to downgrade the beauty and wonder of Christmastime, by any means...but to have some time to plan and prepare for greatness as a family this next year, so that life doesn't just happen to us. I find myself thinking about what ways I can be intentional as a wife, intentional as a mother, and in what ways we can be intentional as a family this upcoming year! Scripture Study will by my main, personal focus in 2012. I have felt for a little while now, that my area of study needs to be focused on the scriptures. Everyone's life is difficult. Mine is no exception. Every time I think that I need to focus on something else, I am drawn back to gospel learning with my family. It makes perfect sense, really. The only way I will be able to get through the riggers of life, is to anchor myself to The Anchor, Himself! 2012 will be the year of Gospel Learning for my family! I am prayerfully searching for the way and means by which this important work should be accomplished. I so desperately want to be successful in my homeschooling efforts with the children this year! I pray for Heavenly Father's guidance and love as I seek to continually know His will, for what and how to inspire the children, and I know that those answers will come, as I seek to keep myself close to His spirit, and as I seek to become a scholar of the scriptures. That will take a lifetime to accomplish, but I know that every effort I make, will bring me and my family that much closer to knowing Him and His ways. I feel so strongly, that I must find a way of keeping better track of the areas of inspiration for each of our children. This is easier said than done. I don't want to put my family on a conveyor belt, but need to find some way to balance out what they are learning. Much prayer is continually required, for me to know how to do this! I feel a pull, to set aside a few hours on a Saturday morning...to go to a peaceful place, with my scriptures, my pen and a notebook and ask Heavenly Father to just fill up my mind with His will for our family and with the ideas and inspiration as to how to accomplish it. This, I must do...and sometime soon! I know that my problem in the past, has been that I don't stay diligent in my study of His word, and then I lose my way. The first part of our year will likely be chaotic due to a move to a new home, along with the normal doctor's appointments, a couple of upcoming surgeries for some of the children, homeschooling, etc. But I'm going to plan ahead, to overcome the chaos of it all. I think I might plan a booklist for Read-Aloud's this year, as well as a method for morning devotional, gospel study and life skills. I'd like to encourage the children to keep a journal this year, and I'd like to attend some cultural events such as music concerts, museums and maybe incorporate some real nature study this year too! Ramble...ramble...ramble. That's what I do best! LOL :0) This post is more for me than anything, but if any of my readers have any suggestions or insights they'd like to share, I'd be open to them! :0) Lastly, I want to bear my testimony. If there is anything I am learning, it's that life is full of a million different choices. It's full of a million different distractions too, and it's difficult to keep your focus when they get out of hand. I am grateful for a loving and all knowing Father in Heaven. I am grateful for His guidance and wisdom, and for the scriptures. I am so grateful for The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for His perfect love and example! I am so grateful for a living prophet, President Monson, and for great leaders and teachers. I am grateful for Joseph Smith, and for my pioneer heritage. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a Celestial family, and for the opportunity to be a wife and a mother to a wonderful husband and precious children. I am grateful for new beginnings and for the opportunity to start again! It is my prayer that I can receive increased focus, vision and insight for the upcoming year, that I can live intentionally and on purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Facebook Post This Evening and My Testimony of Pioneers and My Family Legacy!

2011-12-11T19:47:00.001-08:00

Funnies for today: Ladybug put her underwear on over her jammie pants (which were on over her pull-up) and wore them like that for an hour or two. Luv Bug wanted to know how many months she's been alive, so we sat down to have an impromptu math lesson (the best kind of math lesson in my opinion.) I asked her if she knew how to skip count and she said "Yep! I can skip count by ones!" LOL :0) And all of the children said their favorite part of 17 Miracles was when Albert said "If you see a wolf walkin' around with one eye...that's the one I got!" LOL I loved snuggling with Wiggle as we watched, and I loved that Cuddle Bug said he was a hard worker when he sorted out his own laundry to fold! I loved sweet smelling hugs from my Snug-a-Bug! Oh that Heavenly Father will help them not to grow up too fast, so that I can relish the joys they bring to me as their mother! Oh how I LOVED the movie 17 Miracles! I cried and cried through the whole thing and just sat and watched in awe at the trials and hardships that these amazing Saints of God endured for me! I am so proud of and honored by my pioneer heritage. I have such a desire to help them all receive their temple blessings! That is going to be my New Years Resolution. I want to go to the Temple at least once a month next year! (Twice a month or more would be awesome!) I am so grateful to live in a day when technology allows us to walk in the shoes of those who have gone before us, via the making of wonderful productions such as this movie! The beautiful music and wonderful acting were truly sanctified by our Heavenly Father, for the strengthening and uplifting of our testimonies! As I watched this movie, I just wanted to get to the temple and make sure that all those who are still waiting to receive their own temple endowment and other temple ordinances, get that opportunity. I was especially touched by the sweet couple who never married, but who were waiting to be sealed together in the temple when they reached Zion. He never made it there. He died on the trail and she had him buried in a tree so the wolves wouldn't get him. But President James E. Faust had them sealed to one another in something like 1987. Such a special story! I wonder how many other couples there were with similar circumstances. How blessed I feel, to be living the life I am living. My life is hard. Each of our lives are filled with trials, difficulties and challenges. I am learning to be grateful for each trial. I know that blessings await us not only after the trials but often times in the midst of them. I hope that I can leave a legacy of faith for my children and my children's children and all of my posterity. I hope that through my imperfect example, I can somehow impart to them all, my unwavering love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I want my husband to know of my undying love for him! He truly is my Eternal Companion! We have the beautiful family that we have, because it is our Heavenly Father's will that we be together for eternity. How blessed I am to have each of my children and to be sealed to their father and each of them, as a Celestial family for eternity. I cannot wait to meet these brave and faithful pioneers who sacrificed their all for the building of the Kingdom of God!

Learning How to Govern Ourselves...Again!

2011-11-28T06:38:00.001-08:00

We had a really good FEC and family meeting yesterday! We've been struggling with behavior in our home and family, and we've been trying to re-gain our focus when it comes to Teaching Self-Government. In re-reading Nicholeen's book yesterday (we started with the chapters for a family in "Crisis Mode", to get some important things in place right now), I realized that while we've had a Family Vision statement for a few years now, what was missing for us, is what I've named our "Here and Now Vision Statement!" We brainstormed as a family and have come up with a list of important vision principals that we can live every day, in addition to looking ahead to our Family Vision twenty years from now! Our Here and Now Vision Statement is as follows: The Hansen Family Here and Now Vision Statement: We are the Hansen's and in our family: ~ We love each other ~ We have fun together ~ We're best friends ~ We work together ~ We read and write together ~ We play together ~ We respect ourselves and others ~ We respect our home and personal property ~ We love and know the gospel ~ We speak respectfully, quietly and calmly ~ We have integrity ~ We're honest and trustworthy ~ We're neat, tidy and clean ~ We help each other ~ We're healthy ~ We eat right and exercise ~ We enjoy nature ~ We live simply and within our means ~ We are content and self-disciplined ~ We obey the Commandments and the laws of the land ~ We read the scriptures ~ We choose the right ~ We dress modestly ~ We obey the Word of Wisdom ~ We love and follow our Savior~ We will be printing this and framing it, and reciting it each day, as a family, along with our family mission statement!

2011-10-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

One of my FB posts from today. Cuddle Bug: "Mom...can you learn about me, with my L's right now?" He wants me to work on speech with him! SO sweet! :0) Our speech therapist came back today, after maternity leave and he knows he needs some help with his "L's." I NEED to get blogging again! So much to share! Blog ya' later! :0)

2011-10-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

My FB post today: wishes that telling my children "No" in an opera voice had enough "Wow Factor" or "Shock Factor" to get the point across...but alas....it does not! In other news...in our MTC orientation this morning, we were talking about how missionaries have to know how to eat healthily. Cuddle tells me..."Yeah, my favorite fruits are cherries and oranges and pie!" Ummmmm.....apparently we need further study about food groups! :) We've officially become our own MTC today! (Missionary Training Center.) As you can see from the above Facebook post, it's going swimmingly. :0) I'll keep ya' posted!

My Little Sweetheart

2011-09-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

Wiggle Bug saw his cardiologist today and his left ventricle is still dilated. The doctor is putting him on meds. to see if we can get the dilation to slow down or possibly stop. This would give him some more time before a possible heart transplant would be needed. I am in shock about those words "heart transplant!" I have cried all day today about the possibility of him needing one in even 10 years. And while we don't know for sure that he does need one, he may. So...keep him in your prayers, will you?! Thank you! :0)

2011-09-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Loved THIS tonight! Dating is such an important topic and one that requires prayer, fasting and common sense! I hope I am ready when the time comes, to be the kind of parent who will encourage my children to be smart and seek and obey wise counsel during their dating years! I am hoping that I can properly and adequately prepare them for their future dating experiences and all that entails! :0)

FB Post this evening! :0)

2011-08-29T22:00:00.001-07:00

Josh was singing nonsense words today and I said "You're singing words that don't even exist," to which he replied "But I'm pretending they exist, Mom!" Then...I had asked Lynz to sit at the table and calm down and a few minutes later, she gets up and says "Mom...I'm blue in the face now!" I guess I say that to my other kiddo's a lot...for example "You can whine about folding laundry til' you're blue in the face but it will still be there when your done! I LOVE my kiddo's and their cuteness! :0)

Lately

2011-08-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been SO super busy planning for our commonwealth school, that I can't see straight! We named it Liber Leaders and it's going to be completely awesome! I am team teaching a Music and Movement class. ( I already affectionately refer to my little 2 and 3 year old students as my M&M's.) I will also be teaching a dance class in the afternoons, as I grew up dancing, competing and performing my whole life. Haven't had my dancin' shoes on in a few years, but I'm excited to do it again! Snug and Luv will be doing Knights of Liberty and Liberty Belle's. Cuddle and Wiggle will be doing Book Play and Fun Phonics together, and Miss Lady will be in my class as a fellow M&M'er!

As part of the group, we have also started a colloquium for adults, entitled Liber Lads and Ladies! This is by far, one of the things I am most excited about! I know that I am going to learn and grow SO much, from this experience! This will be my first colloquium and I can't wait! We will be meeting once a month, instead of once a week, so this will be more reasonable for my schedule! I can't wait to read, write and discuss it all with our group! Our first book of course, will be A Thomas Jefferson Education, and I am excited to read it again! It's been a while!

I also feel like I've finally arrived, when it comes to having a plan for our learning season, this year! I had decided a few weeks ago, to teach the children about a time period in history, through a study of our ancestors, and then was re-inspired to do that when I watched a short video that Nicholeen Peck had on her site the other day. In doing some family research about Mr.'s side of the family, I have found out that he is related to Anson Call, who was a great supporter and friend to the Prophet Joseph Smith, as well as Brigham Young. I have been reading his autobiography today and just soaking it all in. It's even cooler to realize that he could possibly have known my 6th great grandfather, John Tanner, who was also a friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the church. I have yet to find where their paths may have crossed, IF they crossed at all, but I know circles were smaller in the church back then, and it's a real possibility! I am excited to share some amazing stories, ideas and projects with the children, all inspired by pioneer ancestors on both sides of our family, who really lived and loved the gospel! I'll let you know how our learning season goes, but I can already tell we're onto something good! :0)

Makin' Bread

2011-08-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

That's what we'll be doing today...making bread! If I am strong enough, I may even end up getting the wheat grinder down, for some hand-cranked wheat. It's SO HARD to use that thing though! I think it even hurts Mr. Man's hands to use it! We really ought to buy an electric wheat grinder...we just figured we ought to have the one that wasn't dependent on electricity. Who knows...maybe while we're at it, we'll throw in some homemade soft pretzels, some yummy dinner rolls and maybe some hot dog or hamburger buns just for fun! Or...maybe we won't. (That all of a sudden sounds exhausting!)

I am sitting here waiting for kiddo's to get their morning basics done. Why is it SO hard for them to get in gear every morning?? It's starting to drive me just a little bonkers! I have felt strongly prompted to concentrate on spiritual learning for our mornings, but can't seem to get them to complete their morning basics in any normal amount of time! We are really having the hardest time getting our morning routine not to take forever! Ugh! I might have to go back to the drawing board with this one! :0)

Drama

2011-08-15T00:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Drama~

We can't be friends anymore!

Sincerely,
Me

I LOVED this quote today! :0)

2011-08-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me."
Erma Bombeck

Funny Family Night

2011-08-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

We are studying and trying to memorize The Living Christ, one small section at a time. (check out Discover the Scriptures for some awesome visuals for this.) Anyway...I always take each section and make a lesson out of it, by asking or explaining about what it all means. We were on the 3rd section today. We talked about how the Savior would teach using parables and some of the people did not understand what He was trying to teach them. To illustrate this point, we talked about the parable of the Talents. I told the story and explained that we should share the gifts Heavenly Father has given, with others and that if we do they will multiply and bless others and ourselves. I used the example of poetry, since I write poetry. That got all of the children excited about poetry and they each wanted to share their poems. So here's what they talked about:

Cuddle: Humpty Dumpty sat on a Fence
Luv: There was an old man who sat on a tree.
Lady: Ladybug Ladybug
Snug: Once there was a cowboy
Wiggle: The Pig that rolled in the mud.

As you can imagine, their poems/stories were FABULOUS and very animated! I told them we could talk more about poetry this week! It should be fun! We had a nice discussion about Jesus Christ and His mission in life! :0)

"Mom...Why You Put Underwear On My Head?"

2011-08-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

For starters...I did NOT put underwear on any of our children's heads. But Miss Ladybug did ask me that question this morning. I am still laughing about it. :0) Last night we got a doozy of a rain storm. The sound on the windowpanes was AWESOME! That is...unless you were Ladybug. When it started really raining hard, I knew I better go in to check on her and see how she was handling it, since she hates loud noises. Sure enough, poor thing was laying her little body completely sideways across her pillow, with both hands on her ears and her eyes shut tight. When I tried to pull a hand away she opened her eyes a little startled and said in a loud voice "It too woud(loud) Mom!" and then put her hand back on her ear and closed those eyes tight again. So...I did what any good mom does, I improvised some ear muffs. I went in my room and got my terry cloth hair headband that I use when I'm taking my makeup off. I folded a sock (doubled up) for each ear and then put the headband around her head and Wa-La...instant noise reduction. When the storm stopped and she had fallen asleep, I went in and took the rigging off so whe would be a little more comfortable. It just cracks me up that in the dark of her room she thought I had put a pair of underwear around her head. LOL :0) Ya' gotta' love her!

Why We Homeschool

2011-07-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

In an effort to remind myself of the very important reasons that I do what I do and that WE do what WE do as a family, (ie. Homeschooling), I am going to list them here: (Bear with me...some of this might not make sense to all of you.) :0)

1. I have a testimony of homeschooling. Not only just a testimony of it, but specifically a testimony of using the principles of Leadership Education, in our home and family life. The Spirit has spoken peace to my soul, about the place where our children should learn and grow each day. I KNOW that they shouldn't be growing up in the care of strangers at the public school. A lot of people feel threatened by this statement, somehow thinking that because I feel that that environment is not right for my children, means that I think it's not right for theirs. I had just such a conversation with a family member recently. As a mother, I believe in doing what you feel is best for your family. I do not think that my home schooling our children, has anything to do with what anyone else chooses to do or not do with theirs. It is the right decision for our family. It is Divinely Inspired for us.

2. The very first reason why we decided to homeschool had everything to do with the fact that it killed me to send my preschooler to school with a bunch of 8th graders every day. It also had everything to do with the fact that I was getting notices sent home involving (I kid you not): 1. A principal in our school district who was found to have inappropriate pictures of children on his computer. 2. An inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student, involving many things including alcohol, etc. 3. The police coming to my child's classroom with "drug-sniffing dogs", to go through their things and look for drugs. (Luckily my son wasn't in his classroom when they came. He's deathly afraid of dogs. The notice came home in his backpack, after the fact. Had I known it was going to happen, I wouldn't have sent him that day.) After receiving these notices, would YOU want to send your child to school??? What kind of parent could answer "Yes" to that question? Top it off with the fact the special needs preschool kept taking my son's special services away (the whole reason he was there), and you have our motivation for homeschooling, in a nutshell! Oh and to top it off even more...I don't approve of what they teach in public schools today. I believe as parents, that Mr. Man and I are the ones who should decide the doctrine our children learn.

3. Our children have quite a few different special needs. Their gift are unique, their challenges are unique, their learning styles are unique and the issues with which they are faced, cause them to be especially innocent and fragile. They could be easily victimized and/or tossed aside. (Our son's special needs were tossed aside when he was in the public school system, and he had a potty accident at least once, when the teachers wouldn't allow him to use the bathroom after repeated asking. That borders on vicitimization if you ask me.) I LOVE that our children get to pursue their passions and interests! I LOVE that they aren't held to some standard of what an education should be. I LOVE the lessons we are learning together!

4. The gospel is EVERYTHING! I have felt time and time again, the inspiration to teach the gospel strongly in our homeschooling efforts. The gospel cannot be found in the public school system. I believe that our children are here to be spiritual leaders and giants! This is part of their mission in this life. I have a great responsibility and stewardship to help our children reach their full potential and accomplish the reasons for which they came here.

5. We enjoy family time together! I cannot imagine being away from our children for 6 hours a day (or more.) How much I would miss! We are tight knit and close family and are SO enjoying growing together! We have fun together, we learn truth together, we talk about difficult subjects together, in an environment that fosters unity and love. Our kiddo's ask LOTS of questions! I can't imagine the ways that our kiddos' characters would be molded and shaped by having strangers give them answers (that I don't even know about) to questions (that I don't even know are being asked.)

6. I think the biggest reason that we have chosen to homeschool, is to preserve freedom! There are so many ways the world can enslave you. It is nice to leave the world at our doorstep, come inside, and learn about the virtues that will help us to stay free in a world that is in bondage. The stories we are telling in our family and the stories (from history and geneology) that we are learning about in our family, are SO inspiring! The ideals our founding fathers courageously fought for, are SO important and applicable to our lives, even and especially today!

I am sure I will think of more reasons! For now, it's nice to remind myself why I chose to do this very difficult and very rewarding and important duty! Homeschooling is a blessing for our family!

What Do You Want For Breakast?

2011-07-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

This morning Cuddle Bug and I had the following conversation about breakfast:

I asked him "Do you want Pancakes and Bacon and Eggs or just Bacon and Eggs?"

And what do you think that he said????

"Bacon!"

He is constantly cracking me up with his cute personality! He makes me smile! :0)

He is officially known as the "Bacon Boy" when we go to IHOP...because the waitresses there always know that we order a side of bacon and a side of french fries for everyone to share. This is all requested by Cuddle. Now you can see why we don't go there too often! LOL :0)

Melatonin and Vivid Dreams or Nightmares

2011-07-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

So we've been using melatonin to help our kiddo's sleep, for the last little while. I think we'll be stopping that, though. Kiddo's keep waking up with nightmares and for all the greatness about it helping them off to sleep, it certainly isn't helping them sleep soundly. This morning, Cuddle Bug was telling me about a dream he had last night. It went a little something like this:

"Um, Mom...last night I had a bad dream that there was a snake crawling up my leg and I asked you for a knife and I cut his head off!"

"Okay...FIRST of all", I said..."You won't ever find me handing you a knife to do anything with." Cuddle then said "No Mom! I was SIX!"

He is the funniest kiddo'! He really does crack me up! Luv was the one that woke up with a nightmare about a snake last night, and I think Cuddle may have created his story...you know...for moral support for her. Yep...I think Melatonin is taking a vacation or a permanent trip "Bye Bye." I've GOT to order more essential oils around here! :0)

Take a Hike

2011-07-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

I wanna' take a hike. No...I'm not talking about leaving. I'm talking about my desire to be in nature! It was said once at a HIP night not long ago, that one of the best ways to ponder something in life and come up with answers, is to take a walk somewhere and just think (and pray) it out. I really need to do this! Life just requires that, for me, right now. Too bad that it's virtually impossible. Mr. Man's work schedule is not conducive to having a wife that needs a hike right now...and I don't have a single soul that I can completely trust to know anything and everything about our kiddo's and their issues. We've kinda' been living in crisis for the last 2 1/2 months. Mr.'s work schedule only switched to nights, three weeks ago, but even before that, we've had sickness for 2 months straight. Ugh! Miss Lady is still not completely out of the woods with that.

For example...today we had Lady at the ENT's office to check out the hole in her ear drum. He said it's not quite healed and that we need to keep it out of water for at least a month. There goes swim lessons. We went ahead and pulled Wiggle out too, since we're pretty sure that the water is what brought on his illness. (Ah! On no! I just heard a cough...it was Luv Bug! Great!) Anyway...sorry I am rambling and venting but hey...this is kinda' like therapy for me. LOL :0) It's probably the result of having so many things on my mind at one time, that I can't see straight. I think I'll go sit in the middle of my loft, and just think for a while, feel the stillness, hear the hum of the air conditioner, read my scriptures and try to catch some semblance of peace. Maybe I'll go on a mental hike...you know...in my mind. Meditation might be a good thing for me!