Ummmmm ...

So I'm totally offended by the name of this website but, well, see for yourself. It's a bit long but worth it.

Homeschool mom

home school starts at half past nine
- at least, that's if we start on time

at ten till nine we clear the table
and get dressed if we are able

we yawn and stretch and get to work
or play and dig up backyard dirt

we take big breaks from boring stuff
and decide just when we've had enough

read science in a book - absurd
we'll stare mesmerized at a bird
that eats its morning feed
from our birdhouse filled with seed

learning math at the dollar store
learning art as we color on the floor

we'll learn from the library shelf
from all the books we pick ourself

undisciplined? unruled?
it doesn't mean we're all unschooled
hey, for the wages that I'm earning
I'm just happy that they're learning.

worth it?

Shopping on the internet for shoes tonight ('cause ... I'm a nerd) I came to the startling conclusion that the most expensive shoes out there are not necessarily the prettiest shoes out there. Take for instance the following










which do you think was the most expensive? Which was the least? Guess how much and I'll tell you where you can buy them.
I know, I know ... I'm wasting time right now but my little infidels are in bed for the night and I'm enjoying the quiet.

What she said ...

Reply to the Question: "How can You Become a Poet?"
by Eve Merriam

take the leaf of a tree
trace its exact shape
the outside edges
and inner lines

memorize the way it is fastened to the twig
(and how the twig arches from the branch)
how it springs forth in April
how it is panoplied in July

by late August
crumple it in your hand
so that you smell its end-of-summer sadness

chew its woody stem

listen to its autumn rattle

watch it as it atomizes in the November air

then in winter
when there is no leaf left

invent one

(Thanks H!)

Not so different

Jack and Coke
Eliannah and bud

Mom ... ?
was i such fun as a two year old?
was i such fun at three?
did i walk around in a dress
with my hair in a mess
did i try to stand up to pee?

did i screech like that
did i hit and bite
did i win each and every fight
(by the strength of my teeth, not due to my height)

did i love my dolls?
did i wrap them up tight?
did I ask for one thousand kisses goodnight?

did i hug you?
did i bug you?
did i ever flat out slug you?

was i like you, were you like me?
is my baby like your baby -
or in the case of us three
did the apples fall a mile from the tree.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Zak drew this at church on Sunday. I have no idea what the sermon was on since I was with a sick child.

Looney

I doubt anyone but family will be "instrested" in viewing Zak's school project. The paramaters: learn all that you can about a bug, build a model of said bug and present at least 3 facts to your classmates.

Phillip got pretty excited about this project and after 2 hours spent in Michaels we had the raw material. It wasn't the fully articulated giant, nor the hand dyed silk on a bamboo frame that Phillip had to be talked down from (at one point he had a huge round piece of wood and was thinking through who we might know that had a lathe). We went overboard, but at least I was able to steer us into shallow waters. I couldn't prevent Phillip from staying up all night making the "how to" video but hopefully it was awe inspiring to 10 little kindergarteners. (I'll buy anyone coffee who can recognize the intro music and give me an approximate guess as to where he got it.)

Because you asked Brianna

This is Paolo Nutini - love the voice, love the simplicity, love the accent, hate the hair

Re-Lent?

When I was in highschool I practiced Lent. It was pretty much a joke and simply a way for me to put myself on yet another diet. It was great; fast for 6 days of the week and gorge yourself on Sundays. I totally missed the point and made it about me instead of using the time for reflecting on the suffering, sacrifice, life and death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. As I understand it, Lent is supposed to be a time of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Of course, anything can be turned into a practice in legalism and self righteousness but I'm wondering if I have matured enough in my faith to give it another shot.

When Phillip and I were studying in Israel we "celebrated" the Day of Atonement (Yom Kipper) which is a genuine biblical fast that lasts 25 hours and forbids both food and drink (even water). The purpose is to reflect on one's sinfulness and is the culmination of the "Days of Awe" that preceed it. A fascinating study if you have the time, but if you do look in to it you will soon realize how drastically different the perspective of those that celebrate it today when you contrast it with the picture it was supposed to paint when it was given in Leviticus 23:27-32

In a world with no temple, there can be no sacrifice and Hebrew 9:22 says that "Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgivness" so it makes sense that one would substitute good works, prayers and dead chickens for the atonemtent that was made for the people (for, not by) but I digress... or do I?

Lent cannot be compared to the Day of Atonement or the Days of Awe because it is neither mandated nor mentioned in the Bible that I know of. However I think one can easily see a parallel between the Biblical Jewish celebration and the traditional Christian celebration so this year I am entering the season of Lent with a zeal to persue introspection, reflection, repentance and rejoicing as I prepaire for Easter, after all, we pretty much spend Thanksgiving until Christmas ( which was 34 days in 2007) ramping up for the big day. Why shouldn't Easter get a little more early attention?

For more on how the Yom Kipper anticipates Easter read this, a little long, but well worth it.

Ever feel like this?

Let's play dress up
jewels and jeans
sword fighting knights
beautiful queens
.. all alone by myself in a houseful of kids

What's next you say?
hand print flowers
finger paint rainbows?
They've been painting for hours
... all alone by myself in a houseful of kids

heading to bed
brush your teeth
say your prayers
thank goodness they never found me
in my hiding place downstairs!!