Minivan Moments

In teaching my children about World War II, i have discovered a newfound passion for the topic.  I recall sitting in fifth grade civics class, watching videos of the atrocities of the Holocaust: the concentration camps, the gas chambers, the starvation and wasting away, the devastating separation of families.  Now, as a suburban mother in a middle-income American home, i am deeply moved by all that i did not even understand back then (and i understood more than some of my peers did). This week, i have been watching the documentary, Forgiving Dr. Mengele , which is about a surviving twin of horrific scientific experimentation at Auschwitz.  In the documentary, there is quite a rage about her decision to forgive the Germans, the Nazis, and the doctor who was the perpetrator of the heinous crimes committed against her and her sister.  The outcry reminds me that a great many people, religious and non-religious alike, seem to have a misconception (or at least no full co...

Yesterday, the kids got the hair-brained idea to dig up the old (read "ignored"), overgrown garden and plant flowers in it. The last week of sunshine and nice temps has really motivated them to start up the gardening again, and i had a tough time saying "no" - so, i didn't. :^)  So, 2 hours later, we had tired backs, weak muscles, a giant trash bag full of weeds, and a beautiful little garden where once a nightmare had been.  This morning, i had to go out back and look at it just to appreciate all our hard work again.  Now, maybe we'll be able to control ourselves until we can plant the veggies! $6 for organic garden soil (we only needed a little on top) + $7 in fresh pansies of many colors + elbow grease and determination = perfect! (you may not know what it looked like before this shot, but i do... and what an improvement!)

So, the kids and i have discovered this fabulous game called The Scrambled States of America . We LOVE playing (okay, The Littlest Princess is left out, but we try to include her some) and the kids are actually learning a bit about the U.S. States in the process! Just the other day, my son's workbook wanted him to use a map of the United States (included in the workbook) to write down each State's capital city. Okay, fine... except he couldn't find Hawaii where he thought it should be and Alaska was nowhere near where he had begun learning it should be. Then, in trying to locate a Southwestern State, he says, "oh, New Mexico is by the Pacific Ocean!" Huh? I walk over and look at his book, explaining, "no, son, New Mexico is right above Mexico..." only to notice that THERE WAS NO MEXICO ON HIS MAP. (or Canada, for that matter) Well, no wonder other countries think the United States is so self-absorbed: we teach our children that we are on our own ...

Last summer, we began a tedious journey through a difficult season in our lives: family trials coupled with unprecedented numbers of illnesses in our home have just about driven me batty.  So, after a frayed rotator cuff in my right arm (why i don't blog as often anymore), the discovery of a couple of possible learning disabilities in my kiddos (not covered by our insurance, naturally, so we're on our own), two stomach viruses (TWO!!), possible RSV that led to pneumonia (myself and the Littlest Princess), bronchitis (hubby), and an ear infection (the Man-Child)... i was deeply touched to be sent the " Stylish Blogger Award " by a friend from my reviewing days on The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Homeschool Crew !  Wow! I needed that reminder that there is life out there and i used to be a part of it!! Thank you, Heather!! :^) Check out her awesome site at http://faithfamilyandfun.com/ I don't know how she does it, but there is always something new and inspirin...

Well, it's a new year, it's a new day, it's a new YOU! Or is it?? I take issue with New Year's Resolutions in general because i feel that if it's worth resolving to do it, it's worth starting NOW, not on some arbitrary square on the calendar .  However, i understand... mostly. After the holiday festivities involving too many meals with too many calories and too little exercising because of too little sun, it can sure seem like that magical day on the calendar brings with it a new resolve: to do something differently. For me, i am trying to get a grasp of my children's hang-ups so i can find the sweet spot that will lead to less conflict.  I am also trying to get healthier, both by increasing my daily activity levels and by watching my junk food consumption (neither of which comes easily, i might add).  I also want to declutter the house enough to make it less of a chore to keep clean - no, not tidy; we're not that family. But clean would be nice. ...

I find it interesting that the day after i investigated my lost packages, which the post office didn't have, FedEx didn't have, and Amazon.com couldn't track, 2 out of 3 of them arrived.  Then, the day i called Amazon for a replacement, they informed me the post office had it and they couldn't refund or replace it.  The next day, the package arrived.  Hmmm.... So, a package can be lost in the system for 8 days, but the day i inquire after it, it shows up and gets delivered?  Interesting.... Well, at least all of my packages have now arrived safe and sound.  Odd, but happy, ending. :^)

i want to know REALLY BADLY what happens to all the millions of dollars of merchandise "lost" in the shipping system.  FedEx/UPS/USPS had it in their hands, they say they lost track of it in such-and-such a location, but they can't find it?  REALLY??   Well, someone found it.  It didn't just disappear !  When someone found it, where did he/she take it??  IT HAS MY NAME AND ADDRESS ON IT.  It wouldn't be so very hard to get it to the right person, so i am left to believe that A STRANGER GETS TO KEEP MY STUFF. This is especially frustrating at the holidays when multiple packages i am counting on for Christmas will not be here because someone "misplaced" my boxes.  In the past, i have lost personal boxes that contain items that cannot be replaced, some various curricula, a Nintendo Wii, and now several different things this year.  It doesn't just frustrate me that they will not arrive in time, but the fact that the shippers involved are always...