Practicing Joy

life in pictures

2012-02-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

This is such a glimpse of daily living...trying to help Josiah face tasks that seem overwhelming at first glance without him breaking down and giving up. He did end up putting this puzzle together, all by himself. His smile of accomplishment made it worth it!!

With gluten out of the picture, it has been easier for us to spot lingering food issues, especially with corn derivatives. Most powdered sugar is made with cornstarch, an ingredient we have found really inhibits Josiah's impulse control. We found a way around it, thanks to help from some other Feingold friends who helped me brainstorm. Grind up regular sugar in the food processor and proceed as usual!!

There is a reason why he loves cooking SO MUCH: taste tests.

A boy and his dog...I was asked to please take this picture.

I think this was a self-portrait? Rachel has lost all but one of her baby teeth. I have a sinking feeling we will soon have two children in braces.

The boys like to act out "I love to laugh" from Mary Poppins. Josiah is supposed to laugh so hard he rises into the air... It is so much fun to have boys almost 8 years apart and see them enjoy each other.

rescue from a dead end road

2012-02-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Like it or not, the world we live in is interconnected more than ever before. I grew up on a farm in small town America, and remember encountering one student at our small school who was from another race. Moving on to college brought my first experience interacting with and living beside people from all over the world. (It helped that I lived in International House.) Now, a trip to the mall may mean brushing shoulders with people who have come here from the other side of the world. My husband has sat and worked between a Muslim and a Hindu. If we haven't thought deeply about matters of faith yet, most certainly we will need to do so in the days to come.

In the name of tolerance for other peoples and ideas, there are a couple of statements that have gained favor in our culture, and Green addresses these in chapters 2 and 3 of his book, But Don't All Religions Lead to God. The first is, "All religions are pretty much the same." Mahatma Gandhi sought to unify India's people of many differing religions with thoughts along these lines. "The soul of religion is one, but it is encased in a multitude of forms." We have probably heard the story of the elephant. One can feel his tail, another his trunk, and each describes what seems to be a conflicting part of something bigger. We assume that is how religion is expressed: we are all describing something about God, even if it is expressed in different ways.

The problem with this argument is that religions all describe something that is quite different and these ideas cannot be recast into anything that will unify. Even a cursory examination of the major religions will show opposing views of what God is like. Buddhism is a religion without God and without an afterlife. Hindus do not believe in a personal god yet worship many deities. Muslims believe in an impersonal God (Allah) who reveals only his will and never himself. To claim a personal relationship with Allah is blasphemy to a Muslim. Christianity proclaims an all-knowing God who desires relationship with man.

What God is like is one essential element of religion, and it appears that there is not agreement on that between the major religions of the world. But there is also not agreement on the goal of religion. Buddhists hope to achieve nirvana, which is not heaven but extinction of self. Hindus hope for nirvana as well, a final union with the Absolute. Muslims look forward to a paradise of wine, women, and song. Christians hope to "know God and enjoy him forever in the company of his redeemed people." (Green, p. 15) If there is not agreement on the essentials of religion, how can we say that religions are all pretty much the same?

The second argument often heard in the marketplace of ideas is that all religions lead to God. The fact is, many religions don't even have God as their goal. There are religions that seek to appease the spirit world, those that demand total allegiance to rulers and their ways of thinking (like Stalin, Hitler, and communist ideas), and religions that promote self-renunciation. There are others that celebrate fertility and worship sex, those that celebrate self-improvement, and those which were started as ideas by dynamic leaders who quickly gained a following. There are only two religions in the world that teach a personal God who can be known by those who believe in Him: Judaism and Christianity. Not all religions lead to God.

In fact, it is in the belief that "all religions lead to God" we find the human argument about religion completely breaks down when examined in the light of Christianity. The Bible teaches not only that not all religions lead to God, but that relationship with God is not possible unless He first comes to us. As Greene states: "If there is a God at all, He must be the source both of humankind and our environment. The prophet Isaiah asks, 'Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told to you from the beginning? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers...the nations are like a drop from a bucket, like dust on the scales.' (Isaiah 40:21, 22, 15)" How can we climb to a place where we can know a God like that?

The sobering fact is, we can't. The amazing reality is that God has come to us, first by revelation of His promises and character to a small rag-tag nation called Israel, and then by coming to us Himself through the person of His own Son, Jesus Christ. If it hadn't been for God's own intervention, not one of us could make it to Him.

There are no religions that lead to God, but He has come that we might know Him. "The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14).

sincerity is not enough

2012-02-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

In our exploration of the Eastern Hemisphere, we have seen all kinds of people who believe all sorts of things. Hindus, Buddhists, animists, ancestor worship, appeasing household gods, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians: their ideas and way of life have peppered each book we have read. It came as no surprise when my daughter recently asked me at bedtime, "Mom, how do we know Christianity is the right religion?"

I love the way Rachel's heart was prepared for our next book, But Don't All Religions Lead to God? by Michael Green. In this short, easy-to-read book the author examines the questions common to our culture about faith issues. Many in America today promote tolerance and acceptance of all religions. I thought I would summarize the things we are learning here, because Rachel's question, or one like it, "What IS the right religion?" is one we all must wrestle with at some point if we are going to be serious about the pursuit of truth in matters of faith.

Micah did an excellent job summarizing the first chapter, so I will let his words speak here.

The world says, "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere." That doesn't work. Sincerity is good, but not enough. You can be sincere but still be very wrong. People nowadays aren't known for philosophical thinking. We don't like to think about "life and death" issues, so we just pick a religion, be sincere, and hope we get to heaven. What if you were sincere, but wrong? We would not apply the sincerity question to science or math, so why apply it to religion? Belief is the spring of action, so right belief leads to right action.

I can sincerely believe that 2+2=5, but I am sincerely wrong. Hitler sincerely believed that exterminating Jews was necessary for a better world, but he was sincerely wrong. We are quick to spot error in examples like this, but are we willing to pursue truth to its end and bank our eternal destiny on an answer that may not even make sense, let alone be right?

Have you encountered this thinking, that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere? If this statement is incorrect, then the conclusion that follows is that what we believe matters very much. More on that to come!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2012-02-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

FOR TODAY, February 3, 2012

Outside my window...it is 52 degrees again!! I am excited to think about spring but we've barely had winter. The kids are out on the swing set with no coats. Yesterday we just laughed at the groundhog's prediction of a longer winter.

I am thinking...a lot more about the persecuted church these days. Our study of the Eastern Hemisphere has transported us to places and people that we barely knew existed knew a few months ago. For our study of Vietnam, we watched a video produced by Voice of the Martyrs about 8 teens who visited the underground church there. It is riveting, and has me thinking about our brothers and sisters in hostile nations more than ever. And I've finally reached the point I can read their newsletters--it was so disturbing to me at one time I could barely bring myself to open the envelopes. Now I can't wait to hear the latest stories; what an encouragement they are to my faith.

I am thankful...for a country where we are free to worship without fear of harassment by authorities.

In the kitchen...we tried the gluten free experiment and made it a whole 2 weeks!! (I know that a real test should take 3-6 months, but at least this was a start.) The outcome: I found that my heartburn was virtually gone. Eric felt a little more tired and felt like he had some brain fog after eating it again. However, work has been stressful for him so he's not sure if it wasn't just the way life is right now. The biggest help to me was the intensive training on cooking and buying food for Josiah. I think we will continue to avoid gluten much of the time--it makes cooking for Josiah easier. However, we're not completely cutting it out if that's not necessary for the rest of us.

I am wearing...slippers with non-slip soles. About this time last year I broke my thumb while slipping my way down the stairs. I thought that perhaps spending a little more for these was better than the money we had to spend on X-rays and physical therapy.

I am creating...not much at the moment. Our good health broke this week and I've spent most of it trying to quit coughing. Not much energy left for other things!

I am reading...more Sonlight books! Last night I finished Ali and the Golden Eagle. It was a magnificent book in many ways, but thought provoking to think about how western culture is arriving at the doorstep of people who have done things the same way for centuries and are quite content with their way of life. What does materialism do to cultures like that? What has it done to us, for that matter?

I am hoping...that the changes I've seen in my eldest son are going to stick and keep coming. It's quite an adventure of grace watching him grow into a young man.

I am looking forward to...March and empty weekends. To fill them up, of course.

I am learning...to listen for the still small voice of God even in the midst of busyness. Genesis says Enoch walked with God after he had many children, so it must be possible!! It helps when I am immersed in His word and pondering what it means, looking for ways to put it into practice in daily living. Sometimes it thunders the loudest at night when all other voices have gone to sleep. "I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me." (Ps. 16:7)

Around the house...there are places where I'm trying to remember what the floor looks like. I find it to vacuum, only to have it disappear again. Am I the only person with this problem?

From the learning rooms...what really thrills me in homeschooling my children this year is when I give them an assignment and then see them do above and beyond what I have asked because they are so interested in the subject matter. We are at a time in the year where I am seeing many improvements, and it is so very rewarding.

I am pondering...a summer ministry opportunity for my oldest. He is ready to give his summer to serving the Lord, and I'm feeling the pull of a little boy suddenly growing up, knowing this is just the beginning. But would I really rather he stay home and play Wii all summer, or do something that has eternal significance?

A favorite quote for today..."For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." (1 Corinthians 4:20) It's one thing to say I believe certain things, another to really live by them.

One of my favorite things...is my almost 15 year old cat. She is such a sweet little creature, ready with a purr whenever I stop long enough to pet her. She spends most of her days camped out on our bed, and she seems to be enjoying her golden years.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a tumbling class for Josiah and cheerleading for Rachel, followed the next day by a birthday party for 2 nieces. I really should be grading papers right now.

A peek into my day...my kids have taken to building tents for the dog, who doesn't seem to mind.

passion according to Paul

2012-02-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

There are a few key things I am passionate about, and they most likely show up here on my blog pretty often. I have a passion to raise godly children in a loving family, to help them each discover and develop according to their own unique God-design; a passion for good food as a means to good health (physical and emotional), and a passion to spend time daily with God to know His word and grow in relationship with Him.

But sometimes, my passions get out of balance.

Reading Acts 20:24 this week spoke deeply to this:
"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." (NLT, which I am really loving right now!)

I am off balance if I focus mostly on my family, diet, or even mostly on my own personal relationship with God. We know Christ that we may make Him known. The gospel is news that is too good to be kept to ourselves. Around us is a world that is crumbling under the weight of sin and people need to know there is a rescue. God's sheep will hear His voice as His truth is made known to the world, and many will be saved.

I'm thankful Paul reminded me.

GF chocolate cupcakes

2012-01-30T07:42:00.000-08:00

When we celebrated Rachel's birthday this weekend, I used my sister-in-law's recipe to make a delicious chocolate cake with mint chocolate chip ice cream in the middle per my daughter's request. However, I was concerned with the number of people we might need some cupcakes to add to the mix and thought I would try this GF recipe made with coconut flour. The cake did cover everyone until the dog decided he wanted a piece that had been left unguarded...so I pulled out a cupcake for the sweet nephew who had been robbed. I've never tried these chocolate cupcakes before since Josiah can't do chocolate, but after tasting them I can say we'll be having them again often! It will be easy to scoop out a vanilla cupcake or two for him before adding the cocoa, so long as I remember to do it.

Today Tropical Traditions is offering free shipping so it was a good time for me to stock up on coconut flour. It looks expensive at first, but when you only use 1/2 c. or so at a time in recipes, it really lasts a long time. I store it in the freezer because it loves to soak up liquid, perhaps not such a problem in the winter but I'm not sure how it would do on a humid summer day.

The benefits of coconut flour are high fiber and protein, along with B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. It is really a nutrient dense food. Add the eggs and you have even more protein--great for kids like my youngest who aren't big meat eaters. The cupcakes are a filling and delicious treat, but I've also used it to make everything from bread to waffles.

Chocolate Coconut Flour Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Line cupcake tin with 12 paper liners
Makes 12 large cupcakes

1/2 cup coconut flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
1 cup organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients and beat on low until well combined. Turn mixer to medium and let it go for about two minutes or until the mixture starts to turn lighter and glossy.
Scoop batter evenly into the liners – they will be at least ¾ full. Bake approximately 25 minutes. Use a toothpick in the center to test for doneness.

Frost with your favorite frosting. There is one on Cha Cha's website (less sugar?) and I have used a powdered sugar frosting (way more sugar!!)

winter days at home...

2012-01-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

This little boy loves numbers and reminds me more and more of his daddy every day. It is amazing how much a child can learn in the span of any year, but this age really wows me when I think about where he was when we started school last fall versus where we are today.

The boys are eight years apart, and if Micah were at school, I doubt they'd have the kind of relationship that has developed this year. And how does Micah like doing science with his brother on his back?

Can you see the smiles on both faces?

Josiah is so focused on learning how to hula hoop, and he's actually getting the hang of it.

Can I just say teenagers are incredibly goofy? Rachel's smiling for a different reason...her birthday.

Dad came home at noon and she was glad to f-i-n-a-l-l-y open her presents.

a healthier house

2012-01-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

It struck me suddenly this week that we are halfway through winter and my. Kids. Have. Not. Been. Sick.

If you've followed our doings for the past couple of winters, it's possible that you will marvel at that as much as I will. Well, maybe not quite, but it is a pretty remarkable change. Here's the lowdown on each one as best as I can understand.

Micah
After years of increasing tummy troubles, we determined he has an intolerance to MSG and we've finally learned what foods he needs to stay away from. This, however, was only half the story (although it was decidedly the half that took us the longest time to understand!) He's also been troubled with chronic sinus infections. A CT scan last winter indicated no blockages and no reason to pursue sinus surgery. The ENT finally helped me understand his infections were more due to allergies than to actual sinus problems. This fall we gulped and took the plunge to have our air ducts cleaned. After an afternoon of misery for Micah the day the dust was stirred up, he was able to get off two allergy medicines in a matter of weeks. He's had a great winter so far and as long as we keep his sheets washed frequently, he really feels great. In fact, his allergies only get out of control when he is away from home now. We are rejoicing!!

Rachel
I can't get over the changes in this girl! She is so much healthier and happier these days. What did it take for her? A diet free of artificial additives. We would never have known what a difference this would make for her if it weren't for Josiah and the things we've done for him. She can certainly eat off diet here and there, but more than about two meals and she begins to complain about joint pain and her attitude goes south. She is a very healthy eater, naturally drawn to all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and doesn't seem to mind the way we eat one bit. She still makes her yummy cookies frequently and we love indulging in her special treats.

Josiah
Almost two months into gluten free now, he's doing really well. The biggest change we've seen with him this time around is his emotional control. Just today, I left him to change his clothes by himself and he started calling to me for help. I firmly and lovingly reminded him that I never ask him to do something unless I know he can do it. Instead of falling on the ground in a heap of disgusted tears, (his usual response in moments of frustration) he took a deep breath and said, "OK, Mommy. I'll try." It was me who had to pull my jaw back up off the floor! It has been three winters since he's needed an antibiotic. The turning point for his health was having his adenoids removed and a second set of tubes inserted. Those tubes get to come out in May!

So that's it. So far this winter no one has even needed an antibiotic. After years of sometimes biweekly trips to the pharmacy, it's nothing short of amazing. One could argue that being home keeps them away from exposure to so many germs, and I'm sure that helps, but I've known plenty of homeschooling families who get sick often enough in the winter. We could be one of them by tomorrow morning!! But we are so grateful to see such a dramatic change in our health in a year's time. It is an answer to many years of many people's prayers.

winter birthdays

2012-01-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

Birthdays are such a wonderful excuse to celebrate people God has placed into our lives. Two of my children have celebrated their winter birthdays, and as I think back on these parties they seem to be a snapshot in time, capturing a bit of who they are, where they've been, and then pointing us ahead to where they have yet to go.

Micah's party captured his personality with an all-out Nerf war, time playing games and Wii with his friends, and his first ~~slumber party~~ oops, I mean sleepover; I'm pretty sure boys don't have slumber parties. Our goal was to let the boys have fun and wear them out so they would actually be tired. Would ending the evening with a late night movie lull them to sleep? It seemed to work (only two of the five actually stayed to spend the night, so that helped, too.)

Eric played Labyrinth with some of Micah's friends while the others played Wii.

We tend to see the same select group of boys each year, with new faces here and there. I can honestly say we enjoy these teen and preteen boys very much; he has chosen his friends well.

A former neighbor, former classmates, and a friend from church yet all seemed to enjoy each other. What's not to enjoy when there are Nerf guns and Wii controls involved??

Rachel's party was just last night and quite a bit of fun, too. Ever since we studied the Pacific Islands in school last fall, she's been scheming to have a Hawaiian themed party. Walmart had an ocean craft kit and the girls spent quite a bit of time carefully designing a sea scene. I have seen through the years that girls+crafts=great party activity.

As I looked around the table, I realized that not one of these girls goes to the same school (three are homeschooled), but many knew each other directly or indirectly. It was fun to hear several exclaim that they knew each other from somewhere.

Another beach theme: sand art!

We served this banana pie and a tropical punch drink along with ice cream. Yum!!! Josiah was quite the tag-a-long for this party, with Micah gone on a Jr. High retreat.

We tried hula hoops and Rachel's friend M. was really good at it!!

Surfing on a board with balloons taped to the bottom; it worked!

We ended the evening with a great game of Snipe Hunt. The girls tore apart two levels of our house looking for the little critter hidden by the other team.

I am really not that gifted at planning and throwing birthday parties (the thought generally tends to overwhelm my introverted side), but we always seem to have fun anyway. It seems like God always brings the right things together at just the right time, and keeping things simple might actually make it more enjoyable. But the best part of all is seeing the heart of a child gladdened by the joy of friendship.

our version of Paleo bread

2012-01-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

This is one of Josiah's favorite snacks. Once again, Cha Cha's blog has been a treasure trove of ideas for gluten free baking and that's where I first saw this, but it originally came from Elana's Pantry, and there are some great recipes there, too! Almonds are "stage 2" on the Feingold diet, and a little test last week showed me that Josiah can tolerate almonds in Larabars. Still, I like using pecans in something he's eating on a daily basis. The original recipe also calls for apple cider vinegar which is also stage 2. I'm sure that using regular vinegar changes the taste a bit, but I hear no complaints. Eric and I like this bread, too, but the older kids aren't fans. That's Ok, it means a loaf can be cut up and put in the freezer to last Josiah over a week. That makes it great for a grab and go snack that actually fills him up.

Pecan Bread
1 1/2 c. ground pecans (the original recipe calls for almond flour)
2 T. coconut flour
1/4 c. flaxseed meal
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 t. baking soda
5 eggs
1/4 c. coconut oil
1 T. honey
1 T. vinegar

Place pecans, coconut flour, flax, salt, and baking soda in a food processor. Pulse ingredients together. Pulse in eggs, honey, and vinegar. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool and serve.

keeping up with the cooking

2012-01-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Things have been getting pretty busy at our house lately, but cooking is a matter of survival when there is a gluten free diet to consider. I've made these rolls from Cha Cha's blog before, but after some trouble with gooey middles it seems this week I've finally been able to get them to come out right. The secret (besides following the directions) seems to be making sure I get the rolls flat enough before I bake them. The kids are devouring them, and it is a good example that gluten free bread can not only be delicious but also incredibly nutritious!! The only tinkering I've done with Cha Cha's recipe is to leave out the garlic since I tend to have an allergic-type reaction to that particular ingredient. My garlic-loving kids dip them in olive oil mixed with basil, oregano, Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt so they don't miss out on taste.

Easy Hummus Pitas

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare two large baking sheets by lightly oiling.

In a blender, puree:
1 can organic garbanzo beans with liquid
¾ cup olive oil
2T lemon juice
2 large eggs
4T finely milled golden flax
1T sunflower seed butter
1 clove garlic

In a large bowl mix hummus mixture and:
1 lb bag tapioca flour
1T baking powder
½ t sea salt

Mix until well incorporated. Using lightly oiled hands to shape the breads divide into 12 pieces and shape into circles about 1/3 inch thick. Bake them for ten minutes, flip them over and baked for about ten more.

These would be great with any Italian meal; we've even had them for breakfast. I just ordered more tapioca starch and stocked up on garbanzo beans so we can make more soon.

making Fridays fun

2012-01-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

I didn't set out to make Fridays any different, but things sort of fell into place. Isn't that the way with life--the best plans sometimes flow out of the ones we didn't mean to make?

Switch up math:
We do Business Math or Critical Thinking

Science:
Cool Stuff and How it Works--they have loved this book. Some of the descriptions are technical, but they capture the kids' imagination and interest.

Art:
Preschool art for everyone! We check out art books from the library and get some ideas that way, or just come up with our own. Josiah and I have been reading about fingerprints, so that was our theme today.

Throw in band lessons and a sometimes a trip to the library, and the day is complete. (We do have many of the usual academics, too.) It makes the kids look forward to Fridays!

bunnies to the rescue!

2012-01-12T16:53:00.001-08:00

Because sometimes it's just nice to have a cracker like everyone else. Subscribe and save on Amazon is great!!

hoping...

2012-01-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

There are still patches of green in the lawn, the kids have been playing outside without coats, and today we noticed dandelions along the road!!!

I have the boots, the snowpants, and the mittens ready to go and everything has been hanging neatly in the closet. I have a brand new winter coat and have worn it once.

But they say tomorrow it will snow.

I am like a kid about this.

Did I mention I don't have to shovel?

the true root cause?

2012-01-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

One month of gluten free has meant amazing changes for Josiah. I continue to be astounded every day by the things I am seeing in him not just as a mother but also as a teacher. So where does that leave us now?

Here is what I have learned over the past 1 1/2 years on this diet journey after reading numerous books and talking to other parents who are successfully addressing their children's behavioral issues through diet:

1. ADHD type behavior can often be a symptom of food sensitivities. (However, there are many other symptoms of food sensitivities that can also include cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or physical health issues.)

2. Numerous food sensitivities are often a symptom of gut damage.

In theory, if you can address what is damaging the gut, you may eventually be able to decrease the number of food sensitivities.

Things that can damage the gut include:
-antibiotics (which destroy good gut bacteria and allow yeast to proliferate)--Josiah was on these almost constantly for a year when he was a toddler
-inflammation (due to food sensitivities like gluten)
-lack of nutrients in a diet of over-processed foods and/or an inability to absorb nutrients (especially when gluten or casein sensitivity is a factor)
-other environmental factors (food additives, pesticides, even the many chemicals released through scented products or absorbed through the skin from soaps)

How to address gut damage:
-pull irritating foods and chemicals
-probiotics
-appropriate supplements
-improve the nutritional value of diet

We've addressed sensitivities, now we are addressing the gut and praying that sensitivities improve. Only time will tell, but we are amazed and thankful that God has brought us this far.

Mr. Organization

2012-01-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

He IS the child who always puts his clothes in the hamper and likes everything just so. When I organized this desk for Josiah and showed it to him today, he immediately took over. "Mommy, we have to put my crayon box back in here." "The math blocks go here in this drawer. Put the papers on top."

Five years old and he has become his father. (I thought I was organized until I married my husband and saw what organization really looks like.)

cooking around the world: Russia

2012-01-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

Next week we will be back in the swing of things with school, but even with time off this week we were able to accomplish some school-related activities. Last night we tried our Russian meal of blinis and made some raspberry kisel. For every country or region we study, the kids choose a project to do, and if there is something to cook, Rachel is always on it!!

Our blini recipe was well tolerated by the kids, but the pancakes turned out rather chewy so I'm not going to post it here. Eric stopped on the way home and picked up fresh raspberries and we all did enjoy those as a pancake topping!! We used a blini recipe that called for regular flour, but the more authentic version uses buckwheat. That idea intrigues me since buckwheat is gluten free, but I wasn't able to find any in my usual grocery spots in town. I do think I'd try again with buckwheat someday. We made Josiah his favorite gluten free pumpkin pancake recipe so he didn't feel left out.

The kisel seems like a good alternative to jello, something else that caught our attention since Micah can't have gelatin. Ours didn't set up quite as well as I would have liked, but I'm pretty sure boiling the mixture longer would have taken care of that problem. It had been a long day in the kitchen for me and Rachel gets impatient after standing so long. :) And once again, there are some problem ingredients for Josiah so we always make sure he has a favorite alternative treat around when we cook things he can't eat.

Raspberry Kisel

1 lb. raspberries (fresh or frozen and thawed)
1/2 c. cornstarch
8 1/2 c. water
1 c. sugar
whipped cream or nondairy topping (we love Tru Whip and I just stocked up on a great price at our local health food store)

Wash and crush raspberries in large bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with 1/2 c. water and stir until completely dissolved. Set aside. In large saucepan, combine sugar and remaining 8 c. water and stir well. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Add crushed fruit and cornstarch mixture to boiling syrup and stir for 4-8 min. or until mixture begins to thicken. Remove pan from heat and let kisel cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and serve chilled in glasses. Top with whipped cream.

This makes a large quantity; the recipe could easily be cut in half.

pictures

2012-01-04T12:55:00.000-08:00

Once neighbors, still friends. I think playing with Katherine day after day is one big reason Rachel decided being girly was a good thing after all. And they were always happiest playing in the midst of a mess! (Good thing I couldn't get the panoramic view!)

Micah has been wanting this (a pocket knife) for so long, he forgot the promise about getting one when he turned 13. Good thing we remembered! I think the smile says it all.

"How do you like my jellyfish?" It truly is a trophy when one has a craft-challenged mom.

Simple Woman's Daybook

2012-01-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

FOR TODAY, January 3, 2012

Outside my window...there is a dusting of snow on the ground, enough to make small children want to venture outside but not enough to make grown men shovel. Has winter finally arrived? Perhaps, but it is supposed to be 50 by the weekend.

I am thinking...it is both good to have a break from a routine and good to go back to one.

I am thankful...for the safe arrival of a precious little niece, for a blessed Christmas with family, for good health, and that God is my sure anchor even when things may not always be so good. Seeing others suffer loss reminds me of what is truly important and lasting about this life.

In the kitchen...I can't seem to break away from gluten with the season of birthdays still upon us, and good things to eat still in the freezer. Can I make February my new start date? There is only a little sugar left in the cupboards now after Christmas and a birthday, and I count that as a very good thing. The latest hit for Josiah is a paleo bread made from ground up pecans as a flour base. It is amazing to me what he will eat these days!

I am wearing...something warm. Clothes are mostly utilitarian here.

I am creating...ideas for the next school year in my head. My mind changes often so it's good there is nothing yet set in stone and many months before firm decisions must be made.

I am reading...The Story of the World: Ancient Times and enjoying the glimpse of Biblical history interspersed with tidbits about the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Indians, Chinese, and Phoenicians. I may have to find the adult version of this book someday. I just finished Around the World in 80 Days (fun!) and am now plodding through Les Miserables. Since it was ordered to my our new Kindle, I had no idea it was over 1000 pages and now know I have bit off a bit more than I can chew. No stopping now, and can I just say that a built in dictionary is THE reason to splurge for a Kindle? (That reason comes just before the free books, of course!)

I am hoping...that Josiah can get through this year without falling too many more times. (Stitches, a bloody lip, and a nasty bump on the head are his trophies from the past 2 months alone.)

I am looking forward to...planning a trip out west this summer, Lord willing.

I am learning...to meal plan without much bread. Think potatoes and salad.

Around the house...there is not much going on beyond Christmas cleanup but that is a very, very good feeling.

From the learning rooms...we are looking forward to some new things for this semester. Math for Josiah, more fraction practice for Rachel, and current events via a great deal I was given on God's World News.

I am pondering...why I can get so darn excited about earthly things while too often neglecting the unseen spiritual realities? It may be a matter of how I am spending my time and energy. At least possibly.

A favorite quote for today..."Let us never fear robbers nor murderers. Those are dangers from without, petty dangers. Let us fear ourselves, prejudices are the real robbers; vices are the real murderers. The great dangers lie within ourselves. What matters it what threatens our head or our purse! Let us think only of that which threatens our soul." (Les Mis)

One of my favorite things...is being curled up in front of the fire with a good book. Now to acquire some wood to enjoy such a thing...

A few plans for the rest of the week: my daughter has arranged a roller skating outing with a new friend. This should be as interesting as ice skating was a few weeks ago!

A peek into my day...or at least one that we had here recently...

A is for avocado

2012-01-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Just a few weeks ago, I could count on one hand the number of times I had eaten avocado. I had to research how to buy them and what to do with them once I had one home. In the midst of that research, I found many reasons to make avocado part of our regular diet. Once I found an easy guacamole recipe, there was no turning back.

Just a few of the health benefits of avocados:

-In one study, 45 volunteers experienced an average drop in cholesterol of 17% after eating avocados for only one week. This is due to a compound that naturally lowers cholesterol.

-Low glycemic value means it's great for regulating blood sugar.

-Cancer and stroke prevention

-When avocados are eaten with other foods (like salad), it boosts absorption of key nutrients up to five times!

-Great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and fiber.

-Although high in fat, avocado has unique properties in the fat that are great health benefits such as lowering inflammation and the risk of heart disease.

Although you can easily slice avocado and add it to a salad, my favorite way to eat them is in guacamole. I use the following recipe, but often just use one avocado and thus less of the other ingredients. It's best to eat this the same day you make it because mashed avocado does quickly turn brown. (Lemon juice helps slow that down.) I can also scoop out a little for Josiah before adding the tomato and he will eat it with corn chips.

Leah's Favorite Guacamole

3 avocados
2 T. lemon juice (or juice of 1 lemon)
1 t. salt
1/2 c. diced onion
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro (I also use dried if I don't have fresh on hand and actually prefer it)
2 roma tomatoes
1 t. minced garlic

Mash avocados in juice and salt. mix remaining ingredients and refrigerate one hour. (If you can wait that long.)

Great dip with tortilla chips or raw veggies.

Christmas blessings

2011-12-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

Three precious children...each a gift year-round.

Smiles over books (and hugs for the dog),

new activities and buddies to carry around,

and new toys for three kids with late fall and winter birthdays--it is always time for something more age appropriate.

Reading the Christmas story with family,

watching surprised faces,

and a new cousin to hold! It's a girl and is she ever sweet.

I could kick myself for forgetting my camera when celebrating with my side of the family, so here's a special picture from Thanksgiving. We love being with them.

Celebrating a birthday a few days early...we always give Micah the choice of how he'd like to celebrate with long distance relatives and he likes to do what is easiest for everyone else.

What can't be captured in pictures: five years ago, I held my own newborn at Christmas. Josiah gave me a new appreciation for what it is to be human and frail, as he struggled from the beginning against a body that was not incredibly comfortable or cooperative. Holding a new niece at Christmas again this year, I was struck once again at the reality of Jesus' incarnation and the humiliation it was for Him to leave behind His heavenly glory and take on the flesh of man as a helpless baby, totally dependent on others for nourishment and care. What an amazing God we have! Once again I bow to worship the Savior who gave everything that we may be reconciled to God.

Carol of the Bells

2011-12-25T17:28:00.001-08:00

Nothing professional here but it is sure fun to watch them learn.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-24T16:53:00.000-08:00

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

setbacks and yet encouragements

2011-12-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

This week has been one of ups and downs as we continue to test what is and is not tolerable in Josiah's diet. One question I had was how many supposed food sensitivities were masked by his trouble with gluten. Rather than finding he has fewer, what we've seen is more problems with things we thought were okay (probably because we are now getting a clearer reading). Still, there are days that are very, very good and help us know we are on the right track. It's not that we endeavor to change Josiah, but that we keep pressing on to peel back the layers until we find the child we know is really there. We've seen glimpses of that child and look forward to seeing more of him in the future!

The setbacks:

I tried making Paleo peppermint patties using the purest peppermint oil I could find. After we saw some old things cropping up (crying, throwing fits), I did some research and found that the mint extract had alcohol that contained gluten. This was actually rather confirming that we are on the right track with gluten and not just experiencing the effects of healthier eating. Would anyone like some barely used peppermint oil?

Hoping that tomatoes were less of a problem than we thought, we devoured chili one night. Bad idea. Enter child in overdrive. It takes a few days for that to wear off.

We thought the mustard we were using was okay even though it had a questionable ingredient, but apparently not. Scratch that one and find another. Aha! Much better. (Yes, he is really this sensitive.)

And so on it goes. But there are good things being spotted in Josiah's favor, too. My most picky eater is now much more accepting of new foods (including those he did not like before), eating more meat, and staying full much longer. It has been my most convincing evidence yet that extremely picky eating or craving for particular foods at the exclusion of others is a telltale sign of food intolerances. He was my most adventurous eater as a toddler, and I'm starting to see signs of that returning!!

If gluten is causing damage to the small intestines, it can take 3-6 months for the body to fully heal. One slip-up can do a lot of damage. This is part of the reason I'd like to take us all gluten free after the holidays. Another is because gluten sensitivity tends to run in families, and it would be interesting to see if anyone else has issues. Finally, there can be an issue with cross contamination, which I'd like to keep at a minimum. We're looking forward to seeing what the new year brings!

the right wardrobe

2011-12-22T20:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the kids and I were traveling home from Josiah's preschool class at Sugar Grove Nature Center. We had a conversation that went something like this:

Mom: Maybe sometime this winter, we can come down here and hike after it snows. Wouldn't that be fun? (Mind begins to wander to the educational opportunity it would be to see animal tracks in the snow, compare the surroundings to our summer hikes, spot winter birds, etc.)

Micah: I'll wear my long underwear.

Josiah: And I'll wear my short underwear!

where good research/treatment on ADHD is landing...

2011-12-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

An interesting article about the link between handwriting, behavior and health issues, and diet.

GFCF chicken nuggets? Yes, it can be done!

2011-12-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite pre-Feingold restaurants was Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunately, their food is loaded with additives and MSG. I'm so thankful for the mom who shared this recipe recently. We tried it before removing dairy and gluten and it was wonderful, but it will be easy to adapt to our new way of doing things as a once-in-awhile-treat with a couple of simple substitutes. Enjoy!!

Chicken Nuggets

Oil for frying
2 eggs
2 cups milk (CF-try substituting a milk replacement or just omit and use only eggs)
2 cups flour (GF-use rice flour)
2 TBSP powdered sugar (I will probably omit or substitute another kind of sugar)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1.75 - 2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips for fingers or bite-sized pieces for nuggets

Mix together the egg and milk. Place the chicken in this mixture, and let sit for at least an hour. While the breasts are sitting, mix together the flour, sugar, pepper, and salt. Once the sitting is done, dredge in the flour. (Optional: for a thicker coating, after the first dredging, put the chicken pieces back in the milk bath for a few seconds, and re-dredge in the flour.)

Heat oil in a deep fat fryer to 375 F., gently drop chicken pieces into the oil, and let cook until golden brown.

first week!

2011-12-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

It has felt a bit like a cooking marathon, but we've made it through our first week of gluten free. There have been some recipe flops but most have been winners. The biggest prize however is seeing a side of Josiah that I've never seen before. Feingold was good, but this is off the charts.

A few nights into his new diet, I was tucking Josiah into bed when he told me, "I love gluten free. My tummy is not hurting anymore." I was suspecting some digestive troubles, since Josiah has complained of gnawing hunger since he learned how to talk, often demanding a snack even after a good meal. Lately he's not been eating much at once, saying he was full--another subtle sign that something may be going on. As a baby, there were all those feeding issues (even beyond normal reflux) that I've never quite been able to explain. But still, he never complained of an actual tummy ache with words. To hear him say his tummy felt better was almost a shock but also very confirming that there was indeed digestive discomfort going on.

So it makes me wonder, what do we do when we are uncomfortable? Even as adults, can't we be demanding of everyone around us, irritable, and have trouble paying attention? Seeing changes this week has filled us with hope as well as sympathy for other children who may be having similar difficulties, and those parents who are doing their best to manage them.

Here are a couple of our favorite recipes from the week!

If the mention of sweet potatoes gives you a mental picture of a casserole with marshmallows on top, it's time to try something new. Who would have thought of fixing them like this??

Sweet Potato French Fries (recipe adapted from Everyday Paleo)

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, cut lengthwise into strips
1/4 c. olive oil
2 t. cumin
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover two cookie sheets with aluminum foil. Toss sweet potatoes with oil and spices. Spread evenly on cookie sheets, being careful not to crowd spears. Turn once or twice during cooking, baking about 30-40 min. Potatoes are done when slightly crispy. Serve with salsa.

A new staple at our house has been muffins made with coconut flour. They are loaded with protein and therefore help keep Josiah's blood sugar stable and his tummy feeling full. He does not do well at all with sugar on an empty stomach, but if we can serve one of these muffins alongside fruit or a cookie, his day goes much better! The lemon poppyseed muffins were tasty, but our favorite is definitely the pumpkin pie muffins from fastpaleo.com.

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

3/4 Pumpkin Puree
1/2 Cup Coconut Flour
1/2 Cup Coconut oil, melted
6 eggs
2 Tsp Vanilla
1/4 Honey, melted
2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
Handful of walnuts (if desired)
2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder (Optional for chocolate muffins)

Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F. Sift the coconut flour and spices together, then add baking soda. In a separate bowl, mix all remaining ingredients except walnuts until well blended. Add the sifted flour and spices to the pumpkin puree. Mix well and divide the batter between the muffin pans and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until done.

Today I was able to get a little Christmas cooking done. After trying a couple of things with Josiah and sugar, I decided to chance it and make his sister's favorite Jackpot Drop cookie recipe by subbing some GF flour for regular flour, GF oatmeal, and carob chips for chocolate. The cookies turned out beautifully and he did well with one after a hearty lunch. Sweets have become more rare around here than they used to be, and most of the things I have made this week have been sugar free. But it IS Christmas time!!

There have been many reasons for smiling today, as I have often lifted my heart to the Lord in tremendous gratitude for answered prayer.

I think I can stop holding my breath...

2011-12-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

and admit gluten free was exactly what he needed.

More to come!

before and after

2011-12-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

There are some very positive signs at our house that being gluten free is a good thing for Josiah.

This is a sample of his coloring last spring.

Here's a page from this fall. Not much change.

Here's a sample from tonight. Yes, it is in marker but his crayon coloring from the past few days shows the same improvement. Not only is it about 10 times better, he actually enjoys coloring now and also loves writing his name, which he would only do through much complaining about it being too hard before.

We're still working out some kinks. It seems like sugar is a trigger for hyperactivity so we're working through that puzzle as well. Yesterday was one of his best days in recent memory, and gives us hope we are on the right track. If you can imagine the kind of organization above transfering to a behavioral component, you have a picture of what we are starting to see in him.

this week's read aloud...

2011-12-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

They've loved learning about a man persecuted for his unwavering devotion to Christ; they've groaned over how he was elevated to idol status, found clues that link him to Santa Claus, and longed to mirror his generosity.

iband

2011-12-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

Micah shared this with us. You have to watch long enough to get to Feliz Navidad!

naturally gluten free

2011-12-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

Gluten free: we have been here before. Last fall when Rachel was having numerous health issues including shoulder pain, digestive discomfort, chronic constipation and UTI's, I put her on a gluten free diet. We bought the look-alike animal crackers, mixed three kinds of flours to make cookies, and spent more money on groceries than ever. Even though I knew the gluten free (GF) diet was also recommended for children with ADHD, I never put Josiah on it. With his numerous food sensitivities, very few of the processed products worked for him. He did eat the cookies and other baked goods I was able to make, but he was never completely gluten free.

Why things got more challenging for Josiah this fall is a question for which I have no real answer. But I do know that Eric and I reached a point where we felt that trying a GF diet would be worth a shot. However, this time I had done more reading, visited more blogs (her recipes always make my mouth water!), and talked to more people. It seemed that trying a more natural approach to gluten free than finding numerous substitutes was in order. I wanted something our whole family could benefit from, and the rest of us have a list of things we'd like to address in terms of our own health. Thus, our entrance into the world of the Paleo diet.

I have to admit, the name rubs me the wrong way. I don't believe in evolution and the whole "caveman" approach is just a bit much sometimes. But I do think I may understand why there are people flocking to this way of eating in droves and find they are feeling better. It virtually eliminates all processed and genetically modified food. When you look around at where the Standard American Diet has gotten most of us, it isn't very pretty. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other health issues are on the rise. Gluten sensitivity and celiac are becoming more commonplace. Allergies (including those that are life-threatening), asthma, ADHD, and autism are almost at epidemic proportions. So many people are suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental illness. While I am not blaming it all on diet, I've seen enough in our food journey to know it has to be a big factor. We are eating food, and plenty of it, but we are not really getting good nutrition.

So what is the Paleo diet? While it is still all pretty new to me, I think I've gathered that it is gluten free, dairy free (most of the time), grain free, sugar free and even avoids legumes like beans and peanuts. (Sorry, dad!) What is left to eat is a beautiful, nutritious assortment of meats (grass fed are promoted to be best), fruits (in moderation), and vegetables, along with nut flours and animal/nut fats. Before you start to think that is just way too limiting in terms of food, check out some recipe websites like this one, where I even found a recipe for peppermint patties (we can still have chocolate!) The hardest thing to wrap my mind around is the addition of fat to the diet, but it seems that without the constant intake of high carbohydrate grains, our bodies actually do well with fat. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels actually drop, pounds come off, and people feel better, emotionally and physically. At least that's the testimony of those who have tried eating this way.

How "perfectly paleo" our family will be remains to be seen. In our first three days, we've continued to eat our peanut butter, corn chips, grain fed animal products, and other offending ingredients. My main goal right now is getting rid of gluten and keeping Josiah away from most sugar. What is amazing is how much more we are eating real food! I'm getting to know our grocery store's produce section a lot better. I don't have to search ingredient lists to make sure there aren't any forbidden foods; instead, I am buying ingredients and using them to make the things we love to eat. What we love has yet to be discovered, but already we've found several new foods (or ways of making foods) that are quite tasty. You may notice the recipes I share here getting strange, but they really aren't if you think about how people ate in this country 100 years ago (minus the bread that was eaten and now adding coconut which wasn't exactly readily abundant then!) Because of my aversion to the word Paleo, I will label these recipes naturally gluten free. :) And best of all, so far our grocery bill has not gone up.

It's really too early to tell how this will help Josiah because his body is still adjusting, but there have been glimmers of good things. More on that to come. Meanwhile, we can rejoice that our kids are eating things like sweet potato french fries and actually enjoying them.

first day gluten free

2011-12-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

So far, so good. Breakfast was eggs, bacon, and a pear. For snack, we had to get creative. As you can see, we figured out what to do with an avocado. It is amazing how readily kids will try food they have helped make. This was yummy! First we tried the dip with carrots but of course corn chips tasted even better.

Josiah's Avocado Dip

one avocado, mashed with fork

one clove of garlic, chopped or diced

1 T. lemon juice

black pepper to taste

Serve with vegetables or (sigh!) corn chips.

meditating on this...

2011-12-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

I love the New Living Translation of Hebrews 10:22:

"Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting in Him."

After considering how the sacrificial system in place in the Old Testament kept sinful people far away from a holy God, with a once-a-year intercessor, it becomes even more precious to consider the accessibility of God under the New Covenant.

All because of Jesus, our Great High Priest who entered the Most Holy Place by His blood and who lives to intercede for us!

It sort of takes the boring-ritual-feeling out of prayer.

from the trenches

2011-12-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

This article was written by a woman who struggled with ADHD and used medication until finally finding diet as a way to manage her symptoms as an adult. All I can say is WOW.

In her words, after waking up out of an ADHD fog by going gluten free and sugar free via the Paleo diet:

"What we are doing by medicating (ADHD children) is creating a generation of kids who only know how to march in time with the masses, and don't understand that the things that make them unique also make them wonderful. We are teaching them that anything that makes them “different” makes them a problem. We aren't cultivating their unique talents and strengths and we are suppressing their creative abilities. We are breeding a generation of robots, and suppressing creativity, passion, and individuality."

The pursuit of managing ADHD with diet is difficult, but stories like this encourage me to keep trying.

Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-12-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

FOR TODAY: December 2, 2011

Outside my window...the grass is still green. This has been the warmest fall in recent memory, with truly cold days just now arriving.

I am thinking...pondering, meditating on what it is to have Jesus as my great high priest, and how his priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. Hebrews is a great book!

I am thankful...so very thankful, that we have finally tracked down Micah's MSG sensitivity. Now we've seen it cause allergy flare-ups, and all the pieces of the puzzle of the past few years are falling into place.

From the learning rooms...we just finished our study of China and are moving on to Mongolia. In science Rachel has been learning the parts of a seed and Micah has been studying scientific theory. We have started All About Spelling for the two younger kids. After talking with a sister-in-law, I decided it was worth it to take Rachel back to the beginning and cover all the bases. Everyone loves preschool art on Fridays...including the 7th grader. Next week we will start reading The True Saint Nicholas by William Bennett.

In the kitchen...I am staring down a Paleo cookbook, daring myself to try this for the new year. It seems like a good fit: gluten free, dairy free, low in carbs and sugar, packed with nutrient-rich foods...with all our eating issues, this might just be a way we can all eat alike and be happy. (And maybe even healthy!) So long as I can add in a little So Delicious chocolate milk and a coconut cupcake from time to time, I think I could do it. Pass me an avocado, will you? And then teach me what to do with it.

I am wearing...a Christmas sweater I donned on this morning in an effort to be festive for the Nutcracker. Sitting next to a 5-year-old during the ballet meant a barrage of questions. "Is that Clara? Is she having a dream? Is this still a dream? Is that the Nutcracker?" And then at the entrance of the Snow Queen: "Is she good? Is she on Clara's team?"

I am creating...it is December. We must keep secrets.

I am going...to have to split Micah and Rachel up for school next year, I think. We are loving this year, but they have different needs beyond this Core, and an extremely wide range between their reading levels. I can't seem to get my nose out of my Sonlight catalog or away from the Simply Charlotte Mason website. Delightful Reading seems to be tailor-made for Josiah, although for now Phonics Pathways is fantastic. Ok, I could dwell on homeschooling but we must move on...

I am wondering...why I can post success with no dairy one day and wonder what I am doing wrong the next. It is one reason why gluten free seems less like a foe to fear and more like a friend to embrace. This journey of diet can be a roller coaster sometimes.

I am reading...Around the World in Eighty Days. It is so much fun to read the books my kids will be reading and enjoy great literature I missed as a child. I am so grateful to this day for the band teacher who introduced me to A Little Princess and Anne of Green Gables. I already loved to read; those books took a to a new level I will never get over.

I am hoping...there will be enough time in December to do everything on my to do list. The most important things are the ones that matter anyway, and I trust they will get done.

I am looking forward to...a new little niece or nephew in the next few weeks. Can't wait!

I am hearing...a snake hissing in the background. Why a snake, I am not sure, but it one way to use your imagination when you're five.

Around the house...we tore the outside plastic off our first story windows after the smell meant a daily headache for me. I'd rather be cold.

I am pondering...how to spend less time on the computer these days. Since when did it become essential for daily living? If you see me here less, you'll know why.

One of my favorite things...is having our school principal join us for a field trip and getting to hold his hand.

A few plans for the rest of the week: A Santa visit in the morning with the youngest. Christmas shopping with my sweetheart later in the day. When is the last time we did that together?? And a homeschool band concert next week. The kids have been working hard.

Here is picture I am sharing...of Eric helping Josiah with basketball skills just before Thanksgiving break.

no more dairy

2011-12-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

After weeks of wondering what is "off" with our youngest boy, I finally took a deep breath and pulled milk again this week. The change is amazing! Instead of bouncing on and off the furniture, he is currently laying on the couch, hardly moving a muscle, quietly waiting for breakfast. His little body is so still it is almost eerie.*

We love So Delicious Coconut milk. It took Josiah awhile to get used it it the first time we took out dairy, but eventually he began to drink it. This time, he didn't flinch--and I couldn't even find the vanilla so he's drinking it unsweetened. It works great in recipes or as a beverage. There are some decent cheese substitutes (although experience tells me using less cheese in general is easiest), and we are working on finding a soy-free margarine even while using more coconut oil in baking. The health benefits of coconut are incredible.

Rachel has already been drinking coconut milk. Staying away from lots of dairy has helped her lifelong issues of chronic constipation. The tummy aches she complained of for years have completely disappeared. She's so much healthier and happier. I guess we're learning there are just some of us who don't do well with milk!

*Now I know he wasn't feeling well this morning. :(

dictation

2011-11-30T18:07:00.000-08:00

Storms of Adversity

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner. Neither do uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify a man for usefulness or happiness. The storms of adversity, like the storms of the ocean, rouse the faculties and excite the invention, prudence, skill, and fortitude of the voyager.

from Sanders' Union Fourth Reader by Charles W. Sanders, Spelling Wisdom Vol. 3

our newest 5-year-old

2011-11-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Josiah celebrated his fifth birthday recently, leaving those of us who know him best wondering how that happened so fast!!

Making sure to add the "cha-cha-chas" to the Happy Birthday song.

He doesn't like being the center of attention at all, does he? Unlike his mother, who crawled under the table at about this age when they sang to me. It may have been the blow horn along with all the eyes on me, but I digress...

All three loved the Wedgits and played with them for hours. To be honest, Josiah played with everything he got for hours.

The only toy he really asked for... I think his older brother would have loved it at his age, too. Or maybe now?

Thanksgiving quote

2011-11-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

"All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties; and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages. It was granted that the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible. For though there were many of them likely, yet they were not certain. It might be that sundry of the things feared might never befall; others, by provident care and the use of good means, might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome."

-Governor William Bradford

field trip!

2011-11-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

The week before Thanksgiving...we are using it to play catch up on some school projects and not starting anything new. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a field trip, too! I've lived in McLean County long enough to remember what kids did for fun before a fantastic children's museum and other kid-friendly activities arrived. I've taken many children to the McLean County Museum of History, but never my own. They loved it!!

We started with an airplane and won Josiah's heart immediately.

They look like they should be locked up, don't they?

Well, maybe not this poor soul.

The hands-on pioneer room was the favorite, favorite place to spend time. Rachel kept reminding me that pioneers did not smile. Umm, for the camera, anyway.

He couldn't help but smile.

The reason I wanted to go the museum now: there is a temporary exhibit showcasing how our food has changed from the 1820's to the present. There were 4 kitchens representing 4 different eras in our county's history.

I took a picture of each menu, telling the kids I was looking for supper ideas. Liver pie wasn't really on their list of fun things they wanted to try.

I found some of this information to be fascinating, considering the food journey we have been on with Josiah.

This sign is particularly telling. We can eat nothing with the name Campbell's on it now. Eric laughed when he read "better tasting than homemade."

"Since 1969 some 3,000 additives have been put in American foods. The impact of these additives can be both good and bad, but additives are unnecessary if one eats an ample and varied diet of whole foods."

The food exhibit is only here until January, and is well worth the effort to see.

When we left for the musuem, my kids have never even considered that their WAS history in McLean County. Now they know even Abraham Lincoln spent a considerable amount of time here, and that we can boast a vice president. I heard my junior high son exclaiming over things I cannot believe he didn't know! Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a Monday afternoon.

first stitches

2011-11-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

and they come out today! We felt that God hand-picked the doctor and nurses in the emergency room. He learned that God does give courage when you're really, really scared!

brand new

2011-11-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

This is the kind of resource that makes me excited about what is ahead for Josiah and I in homeschooling!!

math website

2011-11-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

This must be my week to showcase other websites. Here's an online site for extra math practice. I really love how they break it down by grade.

healthy eating website

2011-11-14T17:16:00.000-08:00

I need to look at this more often! Really, really good stuff. She actually makes me want to try brussel sprouts.

http://www.summertomato.com/

ADHD, Feingold, and the gospel

2011-11-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

"When they came to Jesus, they saw the man...sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." Mark 5:15

This is a post long overdue. For over a year now, I have documented our Feingold journey in overcoming ADHD symptoms with our youngest son, posting successes and failures, and celebrating the progress he has made.

I have failed, however, to link the gospel to this (sometimes miraculous!) journey. In no way do I want to ignore it, substitute it, or fail to give God the glory for how it plays into what He is doing in Josiah's life.

In the time of Jesus' ministry, he encountered a man who was possessed by demons. In fact, there were so many evil spirits dwelling in this man, they gave their name as Legion. Before he met Jesus the man was unable to control his impulses or even have them controlled by others. His life was a ruin, and he was injuring both himself and others. In his encounter with Jesus, Legion was cast into a herd of pigs, leaving the man in his right mind, healed, and able to listen to Jesus and tell others of the things He had done for him.

For some it may be satanic influences, for others alcoholism, drugs, or other addictions, that keep a man or woman from being able to fully apprehend the person of Jesus Christ. Rather than being drawn to Him, they may mock Him or ignore Him. Personally encountering Jesus gives power to cast aside those things that command control of lives, allowing for His Person to minister to a life that has been broken by sin.

For others, like my son, there is something thrust upon their bodies from the outside which they have had no part in choosing. Not unlike the chemical influence alcohol may have over someone who is drunk, toxins not originally meant for the body to ingest can cause a chemically sensitive child to engage in behavior that truly is beyond their ability to control. In discovering this connection and removing the offending chemicals in our son's diet, there has been healing.

Hidden underneath these things is another powerful, more destructive force: the sin nature. While we treat the root cause of chemical sensitivity with diet, we treat the sin nature with the gospel.

So in no way do I leave off godly parenting, discipline, or the truth that sin brings consequences when dealing with misbehavior in my son. We talk about the love of Jesus our Savior, who always pleased God yet took the punishment for our sin on a cross so that we could be close to God rather than be punished ourselves. There is a constant tension between using diet as a treatment for the body, and the gospel as treatment for the soul.

Without the intervention of diet, my son used to say "Jesus makes me sad." To him, it seemed impossible to ever control his body in a way that would please the Lord.* Now, he loves to learn about the Lord Jesus and is growing in his desire to please Him. When he sins, he may come to Jesus and tell him he is sorry, and then go on in the confidence that he is loved and forgiven. He can ask Jesus for help to live the way he should. He reminds me of the man in this passage, sitting at Jesus feet listening to His teaching as a life that is under His control, and living to share with others the testimony of His work.

For what is the greater miracle in this Bible story: casting out demons or the surrender of a soul to the very God he was rebelling against?

Diet is not Josiah's savior; Jesus is.

*That is not to say that using diet is the means to bring such a child to Christ! I do not know if Josiah has yet learned to trust Jesus as his Savior. However, diet removed a barrier he was having trouble overcoming in knowing and loving Jesus. When Jesus heals a life, what joy we have in the barriers He removes in allowing us to overcome sin and separation from God!!

we miss her

2011-11-12T06:08:00.000-08:00

We weren't looking for her, but when we saw a sign that said "free kittens" at a friends' farm, we couldn't resist. She had barely been handled and came with a guarantee we could return her if she didn't warm up. A challenging chase ensued to catch her, but we never had to consider taking her back.

Naming pets is usually a chore for us but hers came easily. I had just returned from a trip to New York City, so we named her Brooklyn. Rachel was three and Micah was five.

Her affection was on her terms, but when she was in a loving mood you could not pet her enough. She did not meow--she talked, leading the vet to believe she might have been part Siamese. She became Micah's cat first; all others were second.

She disappeared on Halloween or the next morning, darting out the door and leaving a hole that won't quickly be filled. We're hoping another loving family has started their story with a slightly aloof cat who was part of our family's story for 7 delightful years.

a whole lotta science going on

2011-11-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

There are times I still feel like I need to pinch myself to believe we are really homeschooling this year. When I see science experiments taking place, it seems even more surreal.

How do airplanes fly? Josiah learned how slow air pushes on an object to create lift. (His faster air in the middle meant the slow air pushed the balloons together.) It was the first time this year I pulled out our preschool science book, but after his reaction it appears it won't be the last.

We did it!! Rachel's light hut for botany.

Baking soda, vinegar, and a balloon. I know you've seen this one, but Micah hadn't yet. Throw in a little cabbage indicator to make it even more interesting.

available today only!

2011-11-11T05:25:00.000-08:00

For those who homeschool or just love audio books! For $11, you can download these collections for the next 11 months. However, it is only available for purchase today in celebration of 11/11/11.

Sherlock Holmes, Charles Dickens, Tom Sawyer, Moby Dick, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Robin Hood, King Arthur, The Three Musketeers, fairy tales, and so much more!!!

High Protein Pancakes

2011-11-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

Here's a high protein breakfast food that we all loved. It never ceases to amaze me what extra protein in the morning does for my youngest!

Yogurt Pancakes

2 c. all purpose flour
2 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
2 eggs
2 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. water
Optional: semisweet chocolate chips, dried cranberries, sliced ripe bananas, coarsely chopped pecans, etc.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, yogurt and water. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Cook on griddle by 1/4 cupfuls. These freeze well.

Two pancakes contain 9 grams of protein!

gotta love science!

2011-11-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

We're on our second week of Apologia science here, and as hoped for, it has been a great fit...so far! Micah was so excited about doing his own science experiments, he had one going in the kitchen at 7:30 a.m. last week.

Rachel is studying the Jeannie Fulbright botany textbook borrowed from a friend. We found the notebooking journal that goes along with it. Between the journal, daily narration, and an engaging textbook, I feel like she is learning and retaining quite a bit. Incorporating Latin roots helps with remembering vocabulary, and anything I can do to enhance her vocabulary at this point is a plus. The hands-on experiments look very engaging and will support what she is learning. Getting engaged with her on a higher level has been very helpful in encouraging her understanding of the material.

If the elementary Apologia continues to work well, I look forward to using it next year with Rachel and Josiah. It is appealing to think of using the same textbook for a kindergartener and sixth grader!! Here I go again, trying to find a way to do science together. There are some fun lapbooks designed for younger children that would draw Josiah into the lessons, and Rachel could continue with the notebooking journal more suited for older students. (I may change my mind about this several times, but it's always fun to dream!)

Micah has started General Science, the 7th grade Apologia text, again borrowed from a friend. (Thank you, Lord, for the generosity of friends!) My goal at the beginning was to combine the older kids for science, but this just wasn't working the way I had hoped. Micah is currently entertaining thoughts of a career in science, so moving into challenging text seems to be a great fit for him. That's not to say what we were using wasn't challenging--it was. However, the next book would have been mostly a science overview, and a review of things he has already studied. General Science will cover some of those same topics but at a higher level and from a little different perspective--young earth creation.

We are holding onto the Friday science from our Sonlight curriculum because the kids love it so much. It means doubling up science for Micah, but so far no complaints. (Not promising that will last!)

My entry into the world of homeschooling seems to be one of adjustments, finding what does and does not work with my children, and constantly tweaking what I thought would work 2 weeks ago, or what I thought would not. This is not an attempt to endorse a particular curriculum so much as to highlight that process for one mom.

And I'm lovin' it!!!

digging up fond memories

2011-11-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

Rachel came home from church today and showed us the cup routine she had learned from a missionary in Sunday School. One thing let to another, and we were watching this video.

best read-aloud yet...

2011-11-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

and this one wasn't on our school list.

"He gave his life for me, that's what he did--just laid down his life for me. How can I forget something like that?"

-Where the Red Fern Grows

we found the antidote!!

2011-11-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

I apparently spoke too soon about our Halloween success. Hidden in the trick or treating candy were a few packages of Smarties, which I eyed with great suspicion but forgot to warn Micah about. I had let the older kids pick out a few of the safer treats and then thought all the candy had exited our house. Then Micah woke up sick yesterday morning. "Uh, Mom? Do you think Smarties have gelatin?"

After researching MSG remedies, I had picked up a bottle of taurine to try in case of accidental ingestion. This was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. By noon, Micah was beginning to feel better, and today he is fine. That is a great improvement over the 2 day recovery he usually needs.

We're grateful to have found this! The last time Micah had an accidental ingestion of gelatin, he had a more severe reaction. I'm not sure if his blood pressure or blood sugar fell, but the instant and extreme fatigue was somewhat alarming.

More about taurine from msgtruth.org:

Taurine

Some MSG sensitive individuals report relief from some MSG symptoms by taking taurine. The rationale behind this approach is that glutamate competes with the amino acid cysteine for uptake in the body. An excess of glutamate will interfere with the body's ability to convert cysteine into taurine, the other free form amino acid which acts as the body's heartbeat regulator. Taurine is the body's water soluble anti-oxidant, and inhibitory neurotransmitter. The body also uses taurine to make bile, which aids in the digestion of fats.

The idea of taking taurine for accidental MSG ingestion is that since MSG may inhibit taurine formation, and those with irregular heartbeat, digestive problems, epilepsy, vision disturbance, and panic attacks from MSG may benefit from ingesting taurine instead of waiting for the body to make it.

Unfortunately, most food scientists are not taught about taurine because adults are assumed to be able to make it and shouldn't need to eat it. It isn't even listed in most tables of the amino acids. However, taurine is so important in the body, that since 1986 it has been added to baby formula because it is essential for proper growth and development in humans. Also, studies of people with epilepsy have shown that taurine levels in the brain after a seizure are unusually low. Taurine is now being considered as treatment for diabetes as well as epilepsy.

Foods high in taurine include fresh fish and meat. It is not found in significant amounts in foods of non-meat origin. Heat for long periods of time destroys it. It is interesting that the Japanese use much MSG, but also eat diets high in fish, and raw fish at that. A Japanese meal of sushi contains much taurine, as well as MSG. Chinese food, which often is cooked at high heat and also contains mushrooms, another source of free glutamate, and often mostly vegetables, would contain less protective taurine.

Halloween success!!

2011-11-01T14:56:00.001-07:00

My youngest is not in reaction mode, no one got sick...it was a great Halloween. These candies were a hit with Josiah, who rarely eats any candy except Yummy Earth Lollipops. I may be somewhat less Scroogish about candy next year after watching how excited he got about his very own special candy "without artificials, Mommy!"

ready for Halloween

2011-10-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

After 15 months on the Feingold diet and seeing how food additives affect all three of my children, I am having trouble with the idea of handing out candy filled with chemicals to our trick or treaters this year, even if that is what they get at every other house. However, finding a suitable alternative is not easy. Most candy is loaded with artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Grab your favorite candy bar and read the label.

At my weekly grocery trip last week, I found what I was looking for: small treat bags of Teddy Grahams. Coupled with Life Saver Pep-O-Mints, I have some reasonably priced treats without artificials to hand out! However, even Josiah can't eat either of these. They have a corn sweetner which causes him to react behaviorally.

What will he be having for Halloween? We ordered him some white rock candy, naturally flavored and colored gummies made without corn syrup, and a Jack-O-Lantern shaped piece of maple candy. Rachel will probably get a Gharadelli all natural chocolate bar, and Micah is getting some special gelatin-free "marshmallows." This is so complicated, my boys can't even share their treats without having issues!

They are looking forward to turning their trick or treating candy in for some small toys. Halloween is fun even without the candy!! I'm thinking next year we may skip the special candy and just make cookies.

multi-tasking

2011-10-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Josiah has decided it is time to teach himself how to count to 100. He can manage pretty well if he has a 100 chart in front of him, but not so well without it yet. Today, I was reading a book to the older kids about a city in China, filled with locations that I can't pronounce. It was at this moment Josiah decided to start practice his counting. Our lesson sounded something like this:

Mom (attempting to pronounce Weihuaninggong): "Major Relgious Sites: Wee--xhgiahtome--gong! Imperial Residence"

Josiah: "26, 27, 28, 29..."

Mom: "Watchtowers top the many buildings of the tree-lined avenues of... (30!)... Changchun.

Josiah: "31, 32,...,37, 38, 39..."

Mom: Most of these buildings were built by the Japanese (40!) during their military occupation of this region..."

All the way to 100.

So now I can teach geography and preschool math at the same time. But then again, I think we might giggle too much.

you're kidding, right?

2011-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday someone put a long hockey stick in the hand of my 4-year-old son, and then patiently explained to him how to keep it on the floor, stop spinning around while holding it, and generally not whack anyone on the head with it. Then they put an orange puck down in front of him and set him loose with about 8 other kids under the age of 8. He followed the puck with the intensity of a hungry dog stalking its prey.

I didn't know whether to laugh hysterically or be very afraid. I found both worked.

humility

2011-10-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dreams of grandeur shattered,
trophies broken down,
treasure abandoned,
all forgotten
at the foot of the cross.

It is
a beautiful wreck
in the eyes of the Savior
as well as
to those who have come.

cooking around the world: Korea

2011-10-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

Exploring Korea has been a special part of our Eastern Hemisphere journey. To read about a country first oppressed for a decade by Japan, then divided after 1945 was eye-opening and tugged at my heart for those who were and still are affected. It is no wonder the good news of the gospel spread quickly in South Korea after WWII among such brokenness. We certainly didn't want to miss out on Korean food! Kimchi is a staple, once kept in jars buried in the inner courts of Korean households, and the dumplings just sounded delicious.

Kimchi
5 c. green or Chinese cabbage, cut into bite-sized pieces
6 tsp. salt
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. to 2 T. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t. finely chopped ginger root
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped

In a large colander, mix cabbage with 5 tsp. salt. Let stand for 3 hours. Rinse cabbage thoroughly two or three times. Gently squeeze out excess liquid with your hands. Place the drained cabbage in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the remaining 1 tsp. slat and the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Cover cabbage mixture tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 1 or 2 days. Chill kimchi before serving. Store tightly covered. It keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator.

Kimchi is actually a very nutritious food, filled with friendly bacteria that is good for your gut. Think of it as Korean yogurt!

Korean Dumplings
Filling:
1/4 lb. ground beef, pork, or chicken or 1/2 c. cubed firm tofu
1 T. vegetable oil
1/2 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
3/4 c. shredded cabbage (I will admit for our first time through, I left the cabbage, bean sprouts, and green onion out and just used more meat. It was a good call.)
1/2 c. chopped bean sprouts
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 t. salt
black pepper to taste

In a large frying pan, cook meat about 3-5 minutes. Set aside. Wash pan and dry thoroughly. Heat 1 T. vegetable oil over high heat for 1 min. Add onions and stir fry 2-3 min., or until crisp-tender. Add cabbage and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for another 2-3 min, or until cabbage is crisp-tender. Add bean sprouts and green onion, mix well, and cook 1-2 min. more. Remove pan from heat and pour vegetable mixture into colander to drain off excess liquid. Return to pan. Add meat, salt, and black pepper and mix well.

For dumplings:
dumpling filling
25 wonton skins
1 egg, beaten
1 c. vegetable oil for frying
soy sauce for dipping

Place wonton skin on flat surface. Cover remaining skins with damp towel so they won't dry out. Have beaten egg and pastry brush ready. Place one wonton skin on work surface with one corner pointed upward. Brush all 4 edges with beaten egg. Place about 1 T. of filling just above center of skin. Fold skin in half over filling to form triangle. Press edges together to seal. Repeat with remaining skins.

In a large frying pan or wok, heat oil over medium heat for 2 min. Carefully place 6 dumplings into oil with tongs. Fry 3-4 min., or until golden brown. Turn and fry other side for 2-3 min. Keep dumplings warm in 200 degree oven while frying rest. Serve with soy sauce.

Both recipes are from Cooking the Korean Way, by Okwha Chung and Judy Monroe

The verdict: We all loved this meal! It is so fun to see the sense of adventure on the kids' faces as they explore new foods. The dumplings were delicious. There was a lot of hooting going on over the kimchi, which was much more spicy than we'd expected. (I would suggest starting with 1 t. of red pepper unless you know you like hot food; we misread the directions and started with 1 T.) But, kimchi on top of dumplings was delightful. We will definitely be making this recipe again and again.

in chains for Christ

2011-10-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

Asia Bibi is a young woman in Pakistan who was arrested and sentenced to death for blasphemy when she took a stand for Christ. Please go to this Voice of the Martyrs website (A Call for Mercy) and sign the petition that will soon be delivered on her behalf to government officials. Asia has been in prison for 2 years, separated from her husband and 2 daughters. God is sustaining her in miraculous ways!

Voice of the Martyrs is hoping for 1 million signatures and already have 300,000. This is a way to make a difference in the life of a sister in Christ on the other side of the world.

feeling bookish?

2011-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

"There is open to us a society of people of the very first rank who will meet us and converse with us so long as we like, whatever our ignorance, poverty, or low estate--namely, the society of authors; and the key that unlocks their private audience-chamber is their books."

A.T. Pierson from George Muller of Bristol

Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-10-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY, October 18, 2011

Outside my window...the sky and trees are competing for the mood. The gray skies say cold and sad but the changing colors add warmth and beauty. Today, I think the leaves win.

I am thinking...about how God is using the events of my life and the lives of those around me for the progress of the gospel in the midst of the larger story He is writing. So often I reduce my circumstances to a puzzle that needs to be solved instead of a walk of obedience in response to God's word. It is good to be reminded often of His sovereignty, trustworthiness, and bigger plan.

I am thankful...for difficulties that shave off the rough spots and make more more like Christ. Looks like I can expect more, because there's a lot of work to be done here!

From the learning rooms...we've been taking a few mini-field trips while the warm weather lasts. Our zoo pass expires at the end of the month, so I'm looking for a warmish day to go. We are thoroughly enjoying Sonlight's Core F. I'm not sure how it compares to their other cores, but I think we are hooked! Feathered dinosaurs have been our science pursuit this week. Micah loved it so much, he finished a week's worth of lessons in one day.

In the kitchen...'tis the season for pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, and pumkin pancakes. My husband couldn't be happier!

I am wearing...a mulberry sweater and jeans. Cozy and comfortable, which is my idea of fashion. (Mulberry helps!)

I am wondering...if Micah will get out of braces before his sister needs them as well? It's looking a bit doubtful.

I am reading...When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park. Homeschooling the kids has reignited my own wonder for learning. This book gives a fascinating and sobering background to a darker time in Korean history, a "forgotten decade" when Japan had control of the country and ruled with oppression until the end of World War II. Studying the Eastern Hemisphere is filling in the gaps in my own education. I remember we talked a lot about Hitler and his rise to power, by why not Japan?

I am looking forward to...our church's mission conference. It is exciting to see God's hand at work around the world, and this is only one glimpse!!

I am hearing...Micah practicing trumpet, making it sound as ugly as possible. It makes the dog bark, which seems to be the point.

Around the house...Eric brought home flowers on Friday night and it was Saturday morning before I noticed them. I'll leave it to your imagination what that means.

I am pondering...the ugliness of my own pride and the incredible humility of the Savior. It seems that gazing on Him is my only antidote.

One of my favorite things...is walking through crisp, fallen leaves with a small hand in mine.

A few plans for the rest of the week: The kids are trying out a homeschooling swim and gym class. We were so excited to find a vending machine where all three kids can find treats. They have Late July cheese crackers!! Really, sometimes it is the little things around here, especially when it comes to food.

Here is picture I am sharing of a friend we loved so much, we set him free...

family photos with a cause

2011-10-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Running, pictures, and little girls in India. You can see how they all fit together at this website. We were excited to have Gail take our family's pictures and support As Our Own. She does a great job!!

(By the way, the first beautiful family on Gail's website is pretty special to us!)

working toward a goal...

2011-10-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

oculomotor dysfunction

2011-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

So apparently, this may be how Rachel sees things.

cooking around the world: Japan

2011-10-15T03:59:00.000-07:00

Learning about Japanese food was a fascinating study. School children are encouraged to try and eat 30 different foods a day and include 100 different foods a week. The health benefits of a Japanese diet--which is low in calories, rich in fish and has a very different balance of food types than the typical American diet--are fairly well known. The more we read, the more intrigued we became with trying this food, even though it is so different from what we are accustomed to eating. There is a wonderful restaurant in town with a reasonably priced lunch buffet, but even though they said they do not add MSG to their food, this Asian cuisine is chock full of naturally-occuring MSG in seaweed along with soy products. There is an interesting thought that perhaps the Japanese are naturally protected from MSG reactions due to the large amounts of taurine in a diet that relies so heavily on fish. Still, not knowing how Micah's body will respond, I finally decided that we'll put the restaurant idea on hold for now and try something homemade. Scouring my two cookbooks, I eventually came up with this recipe to try.

Moon Noodle Soup

~~1 bouillon cube~~
~~2 c. water~~
I substituted one carton Organic Pacific Chicken Broth, because I have yet to find bouillon without MSG or other additives.
4 oz. cooked Japanese noodles (almost made my own, but found a package at Meijer. They were delicious!)
2 eggs
bunch of scallions, chopped

Cook Japanese noodles and set aside. Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Put noodles in frying pan and break eggs over them, taking care to not break the yolks. Pour boiling broth over mixture and bring to a boil again if necessary to fully cook eggs. Sprinkle scallions on top and serve immediately.

I wasn't sure what we would think of egg in our soup, but it was a hit! This recipe gets five thumbs up, one from each member of the Rhodes family.

My pickiest eater didn't even flinch when he found an egg in his soup. He loved slurping the noodles!

The only thing missing was the chopsticks, which we don't know how to use yet anyway. It was not easy to eat with a fork or a spoon, but we managed!

vision therapy

2011-10-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

There are times as a mom when you see something going on with your kids, sense there is something amiss, but just can't quite put your finger on it. I had one of those moments this summer as I observed Rachel during a violin lesson. She was playing out of a book that had several lines of music, and kept losing her place. Her teacher was very patient, but I could tell even he was perplexed at how often she skipped down a line or two while playing.

I thought about things like trouble with cutting, illegible handwriting, skipping words when reading, and lack of comprehension of things she had read. After doing some reading and hearing others' stories about vision therapy, I began to suspect these things may have a visual component. We made an appointment with a developmental optometrist, and waited for 2 months to get in.

Yesterday was that appointment. It was intriguing to watch the testing. Some of it was what you would see at any eye appointment, along with other vision tests. The most telling was when the Dr. did some muscle testing. She had Rachel follow her finger with her eyes, and I could see them jump rather than stay fluid in their tracking. Sure enough, her diagnosis involved a tracking problem that can be addressed with a few sessions of vision therapy followed by a home program.

When Rachel reads, she sees one word and then skips to the beginning of another further on or perhaps even a line or two down! This means that she skips shorter words, and spends so much effort and energy on making sense what she sees, there is little left for remembering and understanding. The handwriting, cutting, skipping words are all due to this eye muscle difficulty. I find it amazing that even with this vision problem, she has stayed mostly on grade level with her reading and spelling and still enjoys learning. Comprehension is my biggest concern for her. I'm not expecting vision therapy to be the whole solution, but at least it is a place to start.

I wish we had known about this when Rachel was younger! I post it here hoping to raise awareness that when there is a reading problem, there truly may be more going on than meets the eye.

time for soup!!

2011-10-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

It has been the most beautiful fall I can remember, but today there was enough chill in the air to make soup. This recipe from my aunt is sooo easy and a family favorite!! There is even enough for leftovers, which are becoming a rarity around this house with growing children.

Taco Soup

1-2 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. cumin
1-2 onions
2 jars Pace Picante Sauce
1 can whole kernel corn (undrained)
1 can red beans (undrained)
1 can black beans (undrained)

Toppings:
Fritos
shredded cheese
sour cream

Cook taco meat and onions. Add picante sauce; add rest of ingredients and simmer, simmer, simmer. (You can use a crockpot if desired.) To serve put Fritos in bottom of bowl; add soup, top with cheese and sour cream.

do you see what I see?

2011-10-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

"Your children are very different from each other." That was a new friend's comment recently when I picked my oldest two children up from her house. After spending 10 and 12 years in the same home with this son and daughter, I knew exactly what she meant. One of the joys of parenting is discovering the unique way God has wired each of my children and encouraging them to use their God-design for His glory. I look at the youngest and wonder what sorts of things we have yet to learn about him as well!

When we rewrote stories for school recently, I had an interesting glimpse into two uniquely crafted personalities. The story was about a fox, a crow, and some cheese, but each child added his or her own twist.

Rachel's version has a redemptive thread, as has every story she has written since. This girl desires everyone act righteously and that there be a happy ending.

The fox the crow and the cheese

It was a foggy and early morning. A sly, hungry fox was searching for something to devour. Above him something dark caught his eye. It was a crow and it caught his eye quickly. The crow looked vain and dull but in her mouth was new and fresh Colby Jack cheese. He trotted off towards the crow.

“Good morning” exclaimed the fox trying not to show his desire for the cheese. He flattered the crow because he wanted the cheese. He slyly and dramatically sweet-talked the crow. She was pleased but still didn’t open her mouth. He pleaded, “Crow, please sing for me”.

She opened her mouth, squawked, and hawed. The cheese tumbled; the fox carefully moved himself into position, and the cheese fell right smack dab in the middle of his mouth. He devoured it quickly because he was so hungry. He said to the crow “Next time don’t believe everything you hear”. But when he was walking off he felt guilty and the next day he gave the crow a present, a piece of cheese.

Micah had recently learned that "murder" was an old term for a group of crows. He put this piece of information to good use in his somewhat darker story.

Glibberglodder by Micah

Freddy the fox was famished. On this stormy morning during the Most Terribly Oppressive Drought in the Land, even the weather seemed to be mocking him. The sky was dark, and there were frequent flashes of lightning, but it was not raining. Wait, what was that he could catch a whiff of? Cheese, in this withered deciduous forest? He could tell it was Swiss cheese, his favorite. What he failed to notice was that the cheese was moldy. Who had the cheese? There, in the blasted oak still smoldering from the lightning strike. It was a crow; she looked sort of dull and very vain.

Exploiting her vanity, Freddy flattered the crow irresistibly. He had no idea that he was speaking to the Crafty and Evil Duchess of the Fourteenth Murder, Augulus. She was very fortunate to find this victim of which to test the new fungus she was growing on her cheese, Glibberglodder. Freddy begged Augulus to cantillate, and, playing her part to perfection, she did, croaking harshly.

The cheese plunged straight towards Freddy’s mouth, and, feeling proud, he basically inhaled the cheese. He wondered, though, why the crow was flying away, cackling. After all, wasn’t she the one who was tricked?

A few days later, Augulus scanned the forest, wanting to record her research. Ah, there he was. Lying flat out, and completely transformed into Swiss cheese, was Freddy the fox. Augulus cackled and called the 14th Murder to a celebrative feast.

phonics, math patterns, and more, oh my!

2011-10-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

This has been a fun website to find activities for my preschooler... manipulatives are fun, too, but at this age it's the variety of activities that keep him happy.

incredible change

2011-10-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled across the behavior checklist used to rate Josiah's behavior before we started the Feingold program in July of 2010. I had 32 symptoms checked. Even six months ago, I still had about 20 areas listed as improved but still somewhat problematic. Today, there are only a couple of things I might check: low frustration tolerance and difficulty with writing. The former is improving daily, and experience has shown me that my children are late bloomers when it comes to writing. Amazing! When I think of all the times we were broken and on our knees before the Lord, I am humbled beyond words to think of what He has done in answer to our prayers.

One other thing to celebrate: he can have tomatoes about once a week now!! Pizza, spaghetti, and chili are back on the menu for him.

immersed in God's classroom: quotes from Friday reflections

2011-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

"What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Romans 1:19-20

"If you're not careful, you could have a walnut on your head." -Rachel

(My kids didn't know what walnuts were before this week, except for the ones that come in a bag.)

He learned that it is easy to fall out of a tree. I didn't get a picture of that.

"Even dying things can be beautiful." -Micah

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:6

"I like seeing the 'pretty' mantis with Rachel." -Josiah

"I learned that hay makes me sneeze."-Micah

"He's wonderful that He sends every leaf down a different way. That He doesn't just snap His fingers and all the leaves fall out of the tree."-Rachel

"I learned that stepping in corn feels like a foot massage."-Micah

"The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Rom. 8:21, 23

more homemade crackers

2011-10-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

Graham crackers used to mean a high price tag or a trip to Whole Foods (not really an "or" since it's so far away!) A big, big thank you to the Feingold moms who shared their recipes with me! It was hard to pick which one to try first. I think these would be even better with a little cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top, which is basically what Rachel did with them anyway.

Homemade Graham Crackers

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, packed

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Cup Butter, chilled & cubed

1/4 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a food processor or mixer combine the first 6 ingredients.

3. Add cubed and chilled butter to the mix and pulse/mix until it resembles coarse meal.

4. Add honey and water and continue to mix until it all combines.

5. Remove and shape the dough into a flat disk and place between two pieces of parchment paper.

6. Roll dough out until 1/4 inch thick. Cut into crackers or shapes.

7. Place cookies on aluminum foil or parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

8. Cool and serve.

Gems of Proverbs

2011-10-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Meditating on the gems of Proverbs leads to a life of beauty.

how I feel about homeschooling this week...

2011-10-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Who is Great?

2011-10-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

There are often times I need to reset my dial of importance. This video, which I wrote about soon after our trip to the Creation Museum, does the trick. There are 2 parts, hence two videos. It is amazing information. Please watch. Great for kids!

Youth Exodus from the Church, a post by Ken Ham

2011-10-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

The more we learn about the authority of the true words of the Bible, the more equipped our children will be to live by it without reservation.

Youth Exodus from the Church

cooking around the world: Antarctica

2011-10-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

This recipe is really a stretch of the imagination. With no cultures represented in Antarctica, I didn't really plan on sampling cuisine from this fascinating continent. There has been food eaten here, of course, but krill isn't on our menu and we're not planning to kill weak sled dogs for sustenance. The meringue we tried last week was still on my mind, and brought back memories of these cookies. I found the recipe, changed the name, and made them last night. They were a hit, and Josiah keeps asking for the "freeze cookies."

Iceberg Cookies

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Ingredients:
2 egg whites
1/8 t. salt
1/8 t. cream of tartar
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
Less than 1 c. chocolate (or carob!) chips

Beat first four ingredients until soft peaks form. Add sugar gradually while beating until stiff peaks form (be patient, this takes time!) Fold in chocolate chips. Cover cookie sheet with baking paper or aluminum foil. Drop by teaspoonful on to cookie sheet. Bake 25 minutes.

Our next country is Japan. Not sure how to do this with Micah's MSG trouble. Even if it is not an added ingredient, it is naturally present in many of the ingredients used in Asian food, and we don't yet know what his reaction will be. I'll be putting my thinking cap on!!

aha! we found his weakness...

2011-09-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Once again this week, Micah has had an MSG reaction to food and is recuperating as best he can. Today, on his Friday homeschooling reflections, Micah wrote he had learned this about himself:

"I am pitifully weak against gelatin."

Sort of like styrofoam for Bolt or Kryptonite for Superman.

Saul and David

2011-09-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

Two men, two responses to God's grace.

Ten Questions about Homeschooling

2011-09-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

My friend had these questions on her blog yesterday, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her responses. I don't feel like we've been homeschooling long enough to be any sort of expert on the subject, but her offer to play along was so gracious and inviting, I couldn't help myself.

1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed.

So far one of my favorites has been Genghis Kahn and the Mongol Horde. Before I read this book, Genghis Kahn was just a name whose story I had really never heard. He was terror in his time, but conquering most of Asia and parts of Europe connected the east to the west for the first time in history. That led to a certain explorer looking for a water route to the West Indies, which led to the discovery of America, which eventually led to an explosion in missions. Man looks on this and sees an advance in technology and globalization, but in God's hands it has led to the spread of the gospel. Seeing His story woven into history is amazing!

2. One resource you wouldn’t be without.

Our writing program. I have watched my children's eyes light up as they have begun to play with words and write stories. What a delight for this grammar-loving, wish-I-could-spend-more-time-on developing-my-writing, language arts oriented mom. (We're all wired differently, and may as well let our passions spill over to our kids, right?)

3. One resource you wish you had never bought.

I think I was a classic first year homeschooler and overbought. But, it's hard to know what you're going to like until you use it. Anxious to get everything organized, I bought a cheap planning program, and then found something free on the internet that is much more user friendly. There are still some fun templates I may use, so not all is lost.

4. One resource you enjoyed last year.

Since Josiah was my only student last year, I'd have to say his preschool curriculum. Oddly enough, I'm not enjoying the second half, perhaps because it took a turn into academics I'm not anxious to tackle with him until kindergarten. I've mostly shelved it to use real books and other resources that cover the same things in a different way.

5. One resource you will be using next year.

Not sure yet, beyond knowing I'd like do to Sonlight World History part 1 with Rachel and their one year world history with Micah. I think I have hatched a plan to keep them in basically the same Core for the next three years. That's assuming there will be more years to come, which I think we are all excited to think about but it's too early to know the final decision. Oh, and I'm hoping to love Apologia Science (sometimes anticipation is more fun than reality). A glance at Rachel's notebooking journal made me wish I had one, too! We'll know more in a few weeks.

6. One resource you would like to buy.

I don't know yet. I'm hoping to go to a conference this spring to ~~salivate over~~ look at curriculum. I do know I'd really like a ~~Nook~~ Kindle Fire. That qualifies as a homeschooling resource, doesn't it?

7. One resource you wish existed.

A perfect spelling program for my daughter that would transform her overnight. Ha!! And really, she's not a bad speller, I am just a perfectionist in this area. (Ahem, except for my own typos, which I'm sure rarely appear here.)

8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading.

Sonlight and Rainbow Resource. What more is there? I will now be checking out the art supply catalog mentioned by my friend in answer to this question on her blog.

9. What homeschool subject gives you the most frustration or anxiety?

I thought it would be science, but instead I'm fascinated. Still a little nervous about experiments, though, especially with two children in different curriculums. We'll make it somehow. I'm trying a pre-made supplies kit for one student and if it helps, next year we'll get them for both.

10. What is your greatest challenge in homeschooling right now?

I love, love, love homeschooling, but also have an unspent passion for the ministry I had to leave and the dear women God is drawing to Himself through His Word. My heart sometimes feels torn in two, but it has been precious to cling to God and trust Him with the things He has called me to do. My eyes are on Him to see what He has in mind, as I believe both passions are God-given.

How about you? Feel free to join our party and play along!

our youngest student

2011-09-26T05:04:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe Josiah's homeschooling journey began almost three years ago. Shortly after his second birthday, we snuggled on the couch together and started reading through the books in the curriculum Before Five in a Row. It was a sweet time of bonding for us, as it had been with two little children who came before him.

When Josiah turned three, I ordered pieces of Sonlight's 3/4 program for him. We loved these books and still read many of them. The Usborne Flip Flap Body Book is probably one of our favorites! There were some fun learning games, activities suggested for each book in the instructor's guide, and plenty of activities we could find to do around the house. Much of our time was spent reading or playing with playdoh, the two activities that seemed to calm my ever-moving son. He had my undivided attention in those days, and he needed it. To be honest, what I often needed was a break!

It was around the time Josiah was 3 1/2 that he was diagnosed with AHDH. Over a year later, I doubt that label would able to be attached to him. He's full of energy and all boy, but far from the out-of-control child we used to know. There are rare times we see old behaviors coming back, and we can always trace it to something going on in his diet. These are far different from the normal misbehaviors you would expect from a child his age.

Yet I do think there are little lingering signs of his first 3 1/2 years. When your body is raging out of your control, it's hard to learn things like how to engage in independent play, color, or have the confidence to try something new. Anxiety is still his ever-present companion, although it's beginning to fade a bit. However, when I'm doing school with the older children, keeping Josiah busy and engaged in something constructive is my biggest challenge.

It's something we are working on, though! Some helpful friends suggested I read up on using workboxes, an idea we are trying. Perhaps the bit of independence required in these activities will be a good stepping stone to greater confidence. Or perhaps he just needs a little more time to mature, something I do see rapidly growing in this little boy.

When we work one on one, he's a charmer. We found a great handwriting curriculum that seems to be made for kids like Josiah. Just about any preschool book published by Kumon has found its way to our table. We're reading through the Sonlight 4/5 books I once used with Micah and Rachel, along with a few new Sonlight titles thrown in, and anything we can find at the library. We are working a little on reading only because he's interested and seems ready, but it took on a new dimension when we started acting out phrases he read. That's when it hit me that this little boy is every bit of a kinesthetic learner. That could also be what's behind his "do-it-with-me" and "play-with-me" mentality.

Our decision to homeschool this year has as much to do with Josiah as with the other two kids. Sending him to preschool with his eating sensitivities is a thought that makes me shudder (although I know there are many Feingold moms who do this with success). When so much learning is celebrated through food in the early years, why not keep him home and do it with food we know is safe for him? He attends church, Awana, and a Bible Study Fellowship class where they have been more than gracious with his food sensitivities, allowing us to bring in the snacks he needs or even purchasing special ones just for him. Besides, I taught preschool-aged children in the classroom many years ago. It's one of my favorite ages, and I don't really have any desire or reason to send him elsewhere.

The challenges we are facing now are minimal compared to a year or two ago. I can't help but think they are not all that uncommon for any homeschooling mom with active preschool children. So every week, we'll learn something new about how to do this a little more successfully, and we'll enjoy our journey together in all the difficulties, mess, and fun.

Someday, he will be putting bigger sets of Legos together completely on his own, and I'll probably have to pull him away to do school!

not quite a symphony, but it's a start

2011-09-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

When we started homeschooling six weeks ago, it was impossible for me to know just what to expect. How long would our school days last? Did I have enough material, too much, or was it about right? So much of our curriculum uses the computer--would one be enough, or would we need to purchase a second? How would it go having Micah and Rachel use the same core curriculum, including many of the same books, with such different skill sets? Would the curriculum even be a good match for their learning styles and learning needs? How would teaching Josiah and keeping him occupied fit in to our day? How would everyone adjust to such a different lifestyle?

Now several weeks into our school year, we have the answers to most of those questions. Overall, it's amazing how quickly everyone has adjusted and how smoothly things are going. The kids wake up ready to go and start most mornings by 7:15, which wasn't part of the plan but we've adjusted. I've learned it really did help to start slowly, tweak as needed, and gradually raise the expectations. A couple of workbooks had to be taken out, some things are being set aside for later while a few new ideas were added, but overall we've found a good fit for everyone. And happily, one computer is enough!

In the past six weeks, my oldest was able to travel with my dad to the Farm Progress Show. We've watched a spider feast on crickets, and examined a grasshopper and leaves with a magnifier. My daughter has been sketching every time she has a spare moment, and started writing a homework paper in cursive without any prompting from me. (This relieves my eyesight; her cursive is so much more readable than print!) The science issues we were having when we started have melted away as she's found her groove. My youngest has talked about "people in other lands who don't know about Jesus" and prayed for them. Trying to keep Josiah busy continues to be a challenge, but he's made tremendous strides in the things we've been doing together one on one. I've been reading a challenging book to the older kids during read aloud time, and Josiah asks me to stop if he has to go to the bathroom. When Micah flew through a reader last week because he just couldn't quit, I handed him another book. It's not like the boy doesn't read much.

What started as a bit of a cacophony of noise a few weeks ago has given way to a beautiful tune where most instruments have learned their parts and are playing them well. Now if I can just get Josiah to crash his cymbals at the proper moment, all will be well.

It's been fun finding our rhythm.

cooking around the world: New Zealand

2011-09-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

This light, airy dessert came out of our Australia cookbook, but it was included as a project for New Zealand this week so it must be well-loved there, too. What a great way for kids to learn how to work with meringue!

This summer Christmas favorite is named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is best eaten the day you make it, and the kids couldn't believe it when I said they could have as much as they wanted. They gobbled it down! No complaints from my husband, either, who had a double serving as well.

Pavlova
4 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla extract
3/4 t. white vinegar
1 c. heavy whipping cream
kiwifruit, strawberries, bananas, passion fruit, or other fresh or well-drained can fruit

Cover baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Trace a 7 inch circle using a bowl or plate. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Add 1/3 c. sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is very thick. Add remaining sugar one or two T. at a time, beating well after each addition. When all sugar is dissolved and mixture is very stiff, add vanilla and vinegar. Beat well. The meringue mixture should be thick and glossy.

Spoon meringue into the circle marked on paper or foil. Using back of kitchen spoon, spread meringue evenly and form bowl. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until firm to the touch. Turn off oven and allow meringue to cool with door ajar.

In a chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff. Spread the whipped cream over the top of pavlova. Wash and slice fruit, using one kind or combination of fruits. Arrange attractively on top of whipped cream. Cut in wedges and serve immediately.

why we're homeschooling (well, not the only reason!)

2011-09-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

Micah woke up with another stomach ache this morning. Funny how often these happen the morning after youth group*! All he had was Cheetos, so I looked up the ingredients. There, near the bottom of the list, was MSG. A few weeks ago he was sick after eating scotcharoos. Marshmallows are made with gelatin, which contains a naturally occuring form of MSG.

This is the fifth time since we started the school year that he's had to work through a day sick, although only two have been from MSG. At least he can keep going now, and he's not counted absent from school. And slowly, he's learning what not to eat.

*By the way, this isn't meant to be an indictment against youth group; it's just an indication of how many foods that teens like to snack on contain MSG!

no mirrors or smoke

2011-09-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, our family sat viewing a 4-D film at Shedd Aquarium. Donning on 3-D glasses, we saw figures on the screen that seemed to leap out at us as if they were alive. Our faces were sprayed with water, our chairs shook, the air grew cold, and our backs were poked as we were led to believe we were about to be eaten by a killer whale.

The movie was a lot of fun, but in spite of many convincing special effects, we knew we had never left our seats. We could almost imagine what it was like to be there, without being literally transported to another place in the world where such adventure really happens.

We live in a world filled with virtual reality. From new 3-D televisions and video games, to reality TV, to forming profiles to display to others on the internet, much of our day is spent in a world that borders on but never completely transports us to reality.
I'm so thankful that for Jesus' followers, things were different.

"After (Jesus') suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3

There were no special effects involved here. With their own eyes, the disciples saw and touched the tangible body of Jesus. They heard His actual voice, and observed undeniable proofs like watching Him eat. Over a period of 40 days, their senses took in the physical and spiritual reality that Jesus had risen in bodily form. As amazing and far-fetched as that seemed, it was all real.

I wonder if today, many lives are being lived with a sense of virtual reality. In such cases, life is robbed of meaning, and there is a sense of existence without purpose.

In the case of Jesus' followers, nothing is more real than His resurrection, or the promise He gave to return again for His own. He is our reality; living and acting on such knowledge of Him is the greatest adventure we will ever experience.

what I really want this year...

2011-09-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'd love to see spelling and math improve.

To see excellence sought after, rather than simply doing enough to get something done.

To teach life skills alongside academic skills.

To make Bible study a part of their daily lives, and gain knowledge of the book as a whole.

To improve writing and grammar.

To think of someone besides themselves.

But what I really want is not something I can teach, or even anything I can do. (I'm not sure I can really do any of the above, either!)

I want God to stir our hearts to reach after His dreams for their lives, His glory, and a greater longing for His presence.

I'd better get on my knees.

trusting God with the educational journey

2011-09-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Starting with the time my oldest son was born, I began dreaming of homeschooling. I read every book I could get my hands on, poured over methods, and picked out curriculum. When we bought our first house, we didn't worry at all about the neighborhood school, because our kids wouldn't be going there.

However, the year before Micah started kindergarten, I began to feel a pull in a different direction for him. Prayerfully, trustingly, and contrary to my carefully-laid plans, God led us to enroll him in a private Christian school. Two years later, his sister joined him.

Looking back, we have wonderful and treasured memories of that school.  Special friends were made and the staff welcomed parents in every aspect of learning.  I felt like the teachers had a perspective on my children I didn't always see myself, and appreciated the things they saw in them and pointed out to me. The kids loved chapel, and although both professed faith in Christ during their preschool years, they remember the challenges given at chapel as special and defining moments in their Christian walk. A strong phonics and foundational math curriculum gave them a strong start in academics. Class parties and field trips welcomed all parents, and I was even able to help in the classrooms for a year. School felt like a family affair, as we participated in our children's education within the body of Christ.

There were challenges in those years as well. A tight group of girls made it hard for my less social child to fit in, leaving her vulnerable to friendship issues. Challenges are often God's way of helping us to grow, and we can look back on that time and know that hard as it was, lessons were learned that she will carry throughout her life. And of course, one of the biggest challenges of a private education is the price tag. Tuition hikes coupled with a move changed our financial situation a bit. I am still amazed we were able to swing private school tuition for two children at all, and we are simply grateful for the way the Lord provided as He directed us through those years.

Public education was the next bend in our journey. Larger classes meant more opportunities to find friends with something in common. We loved the feeling of community that school brought to our lives, of doing life alongside neighbors and then in Jr. High, with those from other areas across town. Opportunities to pursue sports, music, and other interests abounded.  Many of the teachers were good if not outstanding, standards for learning were high, and there were many really nice kids.

Our children's eyes were also opened to see what it looked like to live a life apart from knowing Christ. One searched for references to God in every textbook and on every wall, and often came up empty. How she mourned to see God left out of learning! There were so many opportunities to talk and share about why we do things different than other families. Some kids from school found their way to Awana and youth group as the kids began to reach out to others. There were some scary moments, too, as we had to talk to the kids about things like attempted kidnappings at bus stops and one witnessed a fight. I kept a close eye on them and prayed often, trusting God as their protector. The world is not a safe place, and we were often reminded of what sin has done to the perfect world God had intended.

Now we have begun where we started, and returned to homeschooling. Although we're only a few weeks in, I'll admit it's my favorite way of educating by far. We love the cozy, relaxed environment where faith is considered in every subject area. It's God's world we are studying, and we love to find how He is involved in it. I can tailor education to both strengths and weaknesses. The world is our classroom, and learning doesn't stop when school hours are over.

Yet home education is not without its pitfalls. It is too easy for this introverted mom to shut the doors of my house and forget there is a world outside. I can already see how easy it would be to let life revolve around our family and our children's education. When Jesus gave His great commission, He told His disciples to "Go and make disciples of all nations" and that's hard to do if my mind, heart, and prayers do not leave my home. I pray God will give us wisdom and discernment to be about His business in the days to come and involve the kids in His work in our church, community, and around the world in a way that makes faith a living reality and not a theory imbedded in our minds.

As I look back on our educational journey, I can't feel any loss. God had lessons in each of our school choices both for my children and for me. Education is a great influence in their lives, but the gospel is the greatest power there is.  The God who made my children and sent His Son to save them is the one directing their life's curriculum, and He can be trusted.  I think about Moses, who was rescued from the Nile and spent the formative years of his life at his mother's side, only to then be educated in the royal courts of Egypt. God used his education as he recorded Israel's history and gave them God's laws.  Yet Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father, probably received little formal education and spent most of his life under the formative influence of his mother and father. The disciples were unschooled men who spent time with Jesus, and their lives turned the world as we know it upside down. God directs families and individuals in the ways He knows are best. We can trust Him with the education of our children, however He has called!

cooking around the world: Australia (part 2!)

2011-09-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

After trying some Aussie desserts, the crispness of last night seemed like a perfect time for a fall meal. Simple, yet delicious, and the kids enjoyed it more than I thought they might.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1/4 t. salt
2 c. half and half (can substitute evaporated milk if desired)
2 1/2 c. chicken or vegetable broth
1/8 t. cinnamon
2 t. minced parsley
1/3 c. sour cream

Melt butter in saucepan. Add chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is soft but not brown. Add curry powder and cook 1-2 min. longer.

Place curried onion in a food processor or blender. Add pumpkin and salt and process until smooth. Add half and half and process again until smooth.

Pour pumpkin mixture back into sauce pan and stir in broth. Heat soup slowly over low heat, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, stir cinnamon and minced parsley into the sour cream.

Serve soup steaming hot with a dollop of seasoned sour cream atop each bowl.

Damper

This is a bread used in the Australian bush, simple to make with self-rising flour. Apparently cooks like this flour whether they dwell in the bush or the city!

4 c. self-rising flour
1/2 t. salt (called for 1 t. but this was way too much!)
1 T. butter, softened
1 c. milk
1/2 c. water

Preheat over to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour and salt. Use a pastry knife to cut in butter until dough has a coarse, crumbly texture. Use hands to make a hole in the center of flour mixture. Pour milk and water into hole and stir until liquid is evenly distributed and dough holds together.

Turn the dough out onto a lighly floured countertop and shape into a round loaf. Place loaf onto lightly greased cookie sheet and use a knife to cut a cross in top of dough. Place dough in over and bake at 425 for 25 min. Lower oven to 350 and bake for 5-10 min. more, until loaf is golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped. (I wish I'd known how to do that, as mine was a bit undercooked!)

homemade goldfish crackers

2011-09-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

A fellow Feingold mom recently shared this recipe on the member's board. Since these are the only cheese crackers I can find for Josiah, I can only find them online or a Whole Foods, and they cost more than I'd like to pay, it was time to give them a try. They were incredibly easy! I didn't bother with cutting out goldfish shapes, just used a knife or pizza cutter to cut them in squares. The kids raved that these are way better than anything we have ever bought.

Ingredients

8 ounces, weight Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded

4 Tablespoons Butter, Cut Into Cubes

1 cup Flour

¾ teaspoons Salt

2 Tablespoons Cold Water

Preparation Instructions:

Pulse everything (except water) together in the food processor until the dough resembles coarse sand. Pulse in water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove dough from the processor, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes. Roll out the dough and cut into desired shapes. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until crispy.

Makes approximately 7 dozen crackers.

Just some notes: I cut down the salt and am going to see how half whole wheat flour tastes. Shh...they'll never know.

Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-09-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

Outside my window...there is a hint of fall in the air most days. The garden is neglected and dying but still forgiving in producing tomatoes and peppers. Today I picked most of the carrots. They were either huge or tiny. I have a lot to learn about gardening.

I am thinking...that the scope of human suffering since creation is greater than I ever imagined. There are so many people without hope in this world. Why should I be numbered among those who have it?

I am thankful...for our new neighbors. They are a homeschooling family with 4 kids. Who but God can think up things like this?

From the learning rooms...we are leaving Australia soon for New Zealand. This week we added dress ups to our writing. Suddenly and amazingly, the kids thought up a myriad of -ly words and soon were calling me "Mommily." Even Josiah did it, though he hadn't a clue why. We abandoned vocabulary workbooks in favor of vocabulary notebooks. The kids are required to find at least 5 words a day in their reading and then define the words using a dictionary, then choose a special few to use in a sentence. Micah prefers using the book version of a dictionary; Rachel likes to use the one online. I'm praying the one who struggles with vocabulary is learning, and already see progress. Clarinet has been a great switch for Rachel. She sounds better every day.

In the kitchen...as many recipes as I post here, I still feel like I should be cooking more. I'm finding inspiration in scouring cookbooks for ethnic food, so that's a start. Josiah is perpetually hungry so we are using his Judy clock to show him the next time he will be eating. It has helped immensely.

I am going...to have to find some way to keep my kids clothed during growth spurts.

I am wondering...how making such a small commitment to read the Bible together as a family could be such a blessing? This morning Josiah sat and "read" his little picture Bible by himself because he knows his brother and sister read theirs first thing in the morning, too.

I am reading...about the Mongols and Genghis Khan. And finding out how very ignorant I am of the world I live in. It's humbling.

I am hoping...to grow in humility and not get proud about it.

I am looking forward to...a field trip to Shedd Aquarium very soon. The last time we were there, Rachel was still a baby.

Around the house...we are working on replacing broken blinds and outdated curtains. A little at a time so it doesn't add up all at once.

One of my favorite things...is hearing my kids giggle together.

A few plans for the rest of the week: the first Awana for my youngest son. I wasn't going to sign him up but was swayed by the enthusiasm of a friend. And I'm so glad...he already loves learning the verses!

Here is a picture I am sharing of my oldest son being baptized. He has waited a long time for this day and his face was radiant with joy.

oatmeal packets

2011-09-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal. Nothing sticks to your ribs quite like it. What a great breakfast for kids who otherwise get hungry, um, about 5 minutes after they are done. These make-ahead packets are healthy and frugal, not to mention yummy! For each, measure dry ingredients into plastic containers or ziplock bags. It makes a huge bowl so I will probably halve the recipe next time around. The varieties are endless, but I can't replicate the tiny eggs hatching into candy dinosaurs that my oldest kids still pine after. Maybe someday I'll add some sprinkles for a special surprise.

Cherries and Cream Oatmeal (otherwise known as Eric's Oatmeal)
1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
handful of dried cherries (the original recipe calls for 1/4 c. dried blueberries)
2 t. nonfat milk powder (I used Organic Valley)
1 t. brown sugar
pinch of salt (I leave this out)

Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
1 t. nonfat milk powder
1 t. brown sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
If desired, you can also add 2 T. chopped pecans.
After cooking, add maple syrup to taste

To prepare packet: Use ziplock bags or small plastic containers and add ingredients. When ready to eat, add 1 1/4 c. boiling water, or 1 c. water and microwave on high for 1 1/2 min. Stir vigorously for 30 sec. Packets can be stored in airtight containers for up to 4 weeks.

cooking around the world: Australia (part 1?)

2011-09-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

As the kids read about exotic places far from our Midwest town, they are temporarily transported to another culture, climate, and landscape. Why not add to their experience with a little exotic food? Our menu could certainly use the variety! This week they have been studying Australia, the land down under. We've really enjoyed these Australian desserts. And it has made me wonder, do Australians like coconut? Oh, wait a minute...they grow there. I'm so jealous!!

Anzac Biscuits
(Named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) which fought in WWI.)

1 c. rolled oats
3/4 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 T. honey
1 1/2 t. baking soda
2 T. boiling water

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Measure oats, coconut, flour, and sugar into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir well. In a small pan over medium-low heat, melt butter or margarine and stir in honey. Place baking soda in a cup or small bowl. Pour boiling water over baking soda and stir to dissolve. Add to melted butter mixture. Pour butter mixture over oat mixture. Mix well. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil (dull side up). Drop teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto sheets. Bake 10-12 min. or until biscuits spread and are evenly browned. Cool on bakin sheet for 1-2 min. Remove with spatula and finish cooling on wire racks.

We cheated and added chocolate chips. Yum!!

Lamingtons

These cakes are name after Baroness Lamington, wife of the governor of an Australian state in the early 1900's. There was a recipe in one of the kids' readers, but I opted to make this one instead. These are soooo delicious!!

Cake:
1 package yellow cake mix

Icing:
3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. cocoa
3 T. butter or margarine, melted
1/2 c. boiling water
3 c. shredded coconut

Bake cake as directed in 9x13 pan. When cake is cool, cut into 12 pieces, about 2 1/2 inches square each. To make icing, combine powdered sugar and cocoa in mixing bowl. Add melted butter and boiling water and mix until smooth. Place coconut in shallow bowl.

Form an assembly line with cakes, icing, and coconut. Using tongs, dip cakes into chocolate and cover all sides. Next, place cake into coconut and roll to cover all sides. Let cool on wire rack and repeat with remaining pieces of cake. When all lamingtons are iced, put in a cool place until the icing hardens.

not because I am good

2011-09-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

The story of the Passover is one of grace.

emotional, riveting, violent video

2011-09-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Just kidding. Grab your kids and watch.

dark chocolate brownies

2011-09-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

Brownies, they're not from a mix anymore. It's been ages since we've had them. And yes, I'm doing better with chocolate lately, as long as I'm careful. It's hard to be careful when something tastes this good!!

Brownies
2 c. sugar
1/4 c. dark cocoa
1 c. melted butter or margarine
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt

Melt butter over low heat in sauce pan; add cocoa and sugar. Stir together until sugar is melted. Pour into mixing bowl; blend with mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla, flour, and salt; mix well. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan and dust with flour. Pour in batter; bake at 350 degrees for 25 min.

when you don't know the end of the story

2011-09-06T05:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes our lives take twists and turns that leave us wondering what God is up to. How will it all end? Jacob's story has some insights that can give God's people hope when everything looks hopeless.

the learning curve

2011-09-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

We're roughly 4 weeks into our school year! The transition has gone very smoothly for our family so far, with a few kinks here and there that need to be worked out. Here's a peek into what we're doing:

History/Geography and Reading
I've been intrigued with Sonlight for a long time, mostly because of the strong literature base. A lot of prayer, pouring over the catalog looking at Core F, and ongoing school absences last year combined to finally push me over the edge to homeschool. This Core is best suited for 10-13 year-olds, so we combined Micah and Rachel to do it together. So far we are loving it! The kids have real books for history, geography, and readers that all correlate. They use the World Book Encyclopedia for daily research projects and have a larger project due every couple of weeks for each region they study. We also do daily Read Alouds that correlate to the region we are studying. We do those right after lunch, and they are a great way to start the afternoon together.

Math
This was my biggest dilemma but so far it seems to be working out. Rachel is using Teaching Textbooks for 6th grade, because it's where she placed on their pre-test. This math curriculum is all on the computer; she just listens to a lecture and watches problems being worked on a "legal pad", and then does the assignment, entering all her answers into the computer. There's even a gradebook included! She's stronger in math than I expected, really just needing a bump with math facts practice. I try to work that into our schedule as well.

Micah is using Saxon's 8/7. I had him take a pretest early in the summer and this was where he placed. However, throughout the summer I caught him up on some missing skills and now I think it's a bit on the easy side for him, although it may get harder once we're beyond the first few weeks. We have the DIVE CD to go with it, which has a lecture for each lesson.

Fridays are our business math days. We have loved this, and the kids beg me for time to do more math, even though they generally work on it for an hour. I can't argue with that! We'll probably finish this about mid-year. We've thrown in a Critical Thinking book, too, and may use that more for our Friday math once the business math is completed.

Spanish
We're borrowing a copy of Rosetta Stone, a computer based curriculum that uses immersion to teach foreign language. The kids are enjoying this immensely and try to sneak Spanish into their morning routine even though it's really an afternoon subject. It is fairly easy for them after having Spanish in early elementary school, although I'm noticing the lessons are getting more challenging.

Language Arts
This is my favorite subject area (besides all the reading!), so it was fun to piece together a curriculum for the kids. Again, a friend is letting us borrow a copy of Institute for Excellence in Writing. I love the method of teaching--using excellent writing as a model to learn from, then adding "dress ups" to learn how to play with words. Right now the kids are learning to write key word outlines, and soon we'll be slowly adding in the dress ups. By the end of the year, I'm hoping they can both complete a fairly extensive research project. Micah has already done things like this, but it will be Rachel's first time.

I'm not a fan of DOL (Daily Oral Language) and have chosen the Charlotte Mason method of dictation instead. Why teach children to learn to fix mistakes when instead they can be learning from correct models? Spelling Wisdom is a very helpful resource although certainly not necessary to do dictation. Rachel is in Level 1 and Micah is using Level 3. It takes just a few minutes a day, and is a good way to practice spelling and punctuation with real models.

I've got one student who is not a strong speller, so after finding an inexpensive copy of Sequential Spelling at a homeschool book sale, I've added that to our daily routine. For vocabulary we are using Wordly Wise, but we'll reevaluate after this year to see if it's really sticking with them. It's the most "workbooky" thing in my arsenal. We are using Winston Grammar, too, which has been a lot of fun (for me, at least!) Language Arts is full, but most of these things don't take long and we don't do everything every day.

Science
Here is where I have the most kinks to work out. I thought for sure we'd love Sonlight Science 6, but it has its strengths and weaknesses. The kids are really enjoying Evolution: The Grand Experiment, where they are learning Darwin's theory of evolution in light of current scientific evidence. Yesterday Micah looked up from his book, shaking his head with the thought of hyenas evolving into whales. What we're struggling with is the vocabulary in the book, which is probably just right for Micah but a stretch for Rachel. Sometimes I think she may as well be reading it in Greek. Still, I can tell from our conversations that she's learning, and it will be an excellent reference book for years to come. Looking ahead, there is another core book that doesn't excite me at all (it's just not a good fit right now), so I'm looking to switch to Apologia for our Mon.-Wed. science after the first 9 weeks or so. We already have the 7th grade text for Micah (did I mention I have a friend who is letting us borrow things?) and the elementary books look great. I think we could even get Josiah in on the action. We'll see!

What we do love about science are our Thursday TOPS experiments and the Friday readings. Cool Stuff and How it Works is definitely intriguing. The Young Naturalist sounds like something written just for my kids.

P.E.
My kids had a very strong P.E. teacher in their later elementary years, and his influence is sticking with us. Micah is determined we not skimp on this subject, and I need his inspiration. So far we've been running laps around the basin behind our house (about a half mile, and even Josiah and I run!), biking, and even doing weights and the exercise ball when we have to be indoors. We're toying with the idea of joining a swim and gym class at the Y later in the year. They even have a class for Josiah once he turns 5.

Other subjects
Music has been fun: we are doing an introduction to composers and the instruments of the orchestra, and next will tackle the Classical Music Start Up CD's for a taste of musical compositions through the centuries starting at about 1500. Homeschool band for both kids and piano lessons for Micah round out the music curriculum. For Art we are using Artistic Pursuits 4-6 grade, which is easily adaptable to Micah's grade level. Rachel's working on handwriting; Micah does a typing program on the computer. For Bible we are reading through What the Bible is All About for Young Explorers, an adaptation of Henrietta Mears' book. It fits well with the E100 reading challenge our church is doing right now, and the kids are reading their Bibles first thing every morning. Well, almost every morning. The kids have daily chores to help out around the house. Finally, Micah just joined an 8 week long Toastmasters class with other homeschoolers his age on Thursday nights. There is a strong network here and we're enjoying getting to know people!

We pack a lot into our schedule, but are usually done by mid-afternoon. It's amazing how much can be accomplished in a day! As we ease into this new way of doing things, I'm intrigued by the Charlotte Mason approach and am trying to integrate more of her methods into our homeschool. The atmosphere of our home feels relaxed and full of curiosity. I'm hoping that carries on into the year.

Next up: our youngest student. How do you keep a preschooler busy while the others are doing their work? That is probably my biggest challenge!