Collage Friday - A Weird Place I Found LEGOS and Other Observations
Friday, November 9, 2012 at 5:00AM 
Looking back on our week, this picture of my sweet boy doing his math in the warm fall sunshine sums it up perfectly. I feel like God has been lighting our path in all we do.
It's been such an odd week. I've felt uneasy because of the electon, the weather is changing, and we had a time change. I also celebrated a birthday last Saturday! My dear husband let me pick out new furniture for the family room (this was HUGE because we just don't go out and buy furniture often) and then he and I enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at a restaurant we had been wanting to try.
Amidst the celebrations of birthdays and the changing of seasons, I also had feelings of disappointment and worry (mostly from the election, I think).
I found myself feeling a bit melancholy and quiet this week.
God sent me two signs this week that were truly gifts. The first was a friend of mine in our co-op who came to me and thanked me for writing Don't Be A Drill Sergeant Mom. She told me God had used me to speak to her through that post. (Thank you, Shelley!) The second was also at our co-op. A woman I had never met introduced herself to me and thanked me for writing the blog. (Thank you, Amy!)
Friends, this is what I love about blogging. It is the friends I can make and the lives that can be touched through the REAL experiences in my life. I am a homeschool mom in need of A LOT of grace, and I just want to share that with readers and hope they can relate in some way.
My friend Jen is doing a lot of blogging for National Adoption Awareness Month. A friend of mine saw her vlog about adoption and they have been corresponding about adoption. THIS is what blogging is all about. We have the power to touch each other's lives through sharing our stories. I'm so proud of Jen (and can't wait to meet her at BEECH Retreat!)
Now, on to our collages for the week:
1. This was the last week of our LEGO Co-Op class. I've had a fabulous middle school boy as my assistant. He was kind enough to come to my house and help sort the buckets of LEGO bricks to be sure they were all organized for the final day. He and Grant sorted 12 buckets and made sure every one had the EXACT SAME pieces. Meanwhile, his mom and I enjoyed some time together while his sister and Anna spent time together. It was a good afternoon! I am telling you: You have NEVER lived until you teach a class of 12 LEGO obsessed seven and eight year olds.
2. The Pick a Brick buckets are a great deal! (Remember when my husband and I stopped at the LEGO store on the way home from our anniversary getaway?) We made these buckets for $8/each and it has absolutely been the favorite thing for our class. Each class they spend 10 minutes doing a "speed build"... I will be writing a post about LEGO Class Plans in the next couple of weeks.
3. Cupcakes for our class - Of course I had to bake treats.
4. The Strangest Place I Ever Found a LEGO was down my shirt! I was sitting waiting for my daughter during her chorus rehearsal and felt a lump in the back of my shirt. As I investigated further, a LEGO creation fell out of my shirt. How did I miss this? One of my kids thought it was funny to put it down my shirt, but what's truly disturbing is that I didn't even realize it. Oy. Sometimes my days are long and I'm tired!
5. LEGO treat buckets - We actually took the bricks out of the buckets and put them in Zip Lock bags. We then filled the buckets with LEGO stickers, memory games, and LEGO candy. I think our class will love their last day goodies!
I've made a conscious effort to NOT let the election affect me. Believe me, it wasn't easy, because I had some strong feelings about it this year.
On election day we encountered a young lady working in a store. I asked her if she had voted and she replied:
Oh no, I never vote. I just don't want to feel guilty if I make the wrong decision.
I couldn't contain myself and politely began to lecture her on the importance of her vote and what an honor it is to be able to vote. I think she just wanted me to leave her alone, but maybe it got her thinking. I sure hope so. The apathy is what got to me.
We are dealing with an UNIFORMED and APATHETIC ELECTORATE. Regardless of who the president is, this fact alone scares me to death.
Yes, I'm well aware of who is ultimately in control and that God's will is being done. {I read a million of those obligatory posts the day after the election. What's interesting is that a lot of those same people had some very UNChristian remarks in the days leading up to the electon. Anyone else see this as odd?}
Let me just say this: Our country is broken and it worries me that as a nation we are so polarized; polarized to the point of NOT being able to repair that brokenness.
One house on our street displayed a flagpole and an empty chair on election day. I LOVE IT!
Anna did several election day worksheets and learned quite a bit. We had several excellent discussions about the process and what an amazing thing it is to be able to vote. We also printed the map of the US and colored in states as they were called on election night.
When it's all said and done I am still extremely worried about the future of our country. I know, however, that we will still continue to work hard, homeschool our children, and be the best neighbors, friends, and family members we can be.
I believe it is only the love of Jesus that can bring us together. So, are we being Jesus' hands and feet in this world? I need to work on that.
I've heard enough vitriol and hate in the past few weeks and I have turned off the television and talk radio and chosen JOY.
I'm finding that our homeschool is rapidly changing. A large part of this is because my daughter is growing and changing so rapidly. She is no longer a "little" girl. Her interests are changing and she is spreading her wings.
I am proud of the young lady she is becoming, but I feel like we're losing some of the wonder in our homeschool. My husband and I have been doing some serious thinking about the direction of our homeschool and the focus we need for Anna's education. I'm thankful we have options and choices we can make.
Some things, however, are remaining constant. Anna is in LOVE with her dog. He is by her side 24 hours a day! She also LOVES to read. She has been making her way through the Inkheart series the past two weeks. She also LOVES her music. Much time is spent at the piano!
She takes a weekly piano lesson and practices each day. She's also been printing music she loves (Taylor Swift) and learning that on her own. She's becoming an independent player and I think she is playing now for her own enjoyment.
Giving our sixth grader bits of freedom like an Instagram account or the responsibility of watching her brother for the afternoon while mom and dad have a coffee date has helped her feel more grown up.
I'm curious: Those of you with pre-teens - what advice can you give me for this age?
Each Monday evening she and I make the trek to her children's chorus. It's an hour from our house, but I value this time with her in the car. She is learning some gorgeous choral music and making new friends. Rehearsals include theory homework and sight singing tests. It's a QUALITY music education and I'm so pleased. Her concert is coming up in December and we're all very excited!
It's so important for kids to have ANCHORS - things that they love and are good at. It appears music is Anna's anchor.
Additional Thoughts:
- We've been reading aloud a lot - this week it was Shakespeare and also The Great Turkey Walk. Our Favorite Resource This Week was the Animated Shakespeare Stories. You can watch them for free on YouTube.
- We are nearly done with Writing With Ease Volume 4 (Anna) and Volume 1 (Grant) - we will be starting new levels in January.
- A lot of Christmas music has been heard around here. Anna is playing a beautiful arrangement of Carol of the Bells. I'm thinking of using this as our SQUILT music next week.
- We had friends over Wednesday afternoon. I don't do this nearly enough - the kids had a blast and my friend and I enjoyed coffee and cookies!
- Operation Christmas Child collection week is next week! Have you packed your shoeboxes?
- I'm giving away a soap box from Discovery Boulevard. We are using their monthly Why Box and love it!
- I'm very thankful for my homeschool friends. I've had to pick a few of their brains recently about serious educational issues and I am so pleased to have them in my life!
Grab a Collage Friday button or text link back to this post. We are a blessing to each other. Please take the time to visit the blogs of these dedicated souls that link each week. You will learn so many new homeschool things, be inspired by their stories, and quite possibly make new friends. It makes me so happy to read your blogs each week and see you all interacting with each other!
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Reader Comments (20)
Mary, last week I missed the Collage, and this week I was the first post!
Thank you for this post, Mary. Our family is racially blended, and the terrible things that I have heard said, from all sides, over the past year have been so disturbing, regardless of who a person wanted for president, and from those who claim to be the keepers of the Word. God was, and is, and always will be, in control. I appreciate so much you sharing your feelings. Be blessed. ~ Kim
Anna is sandwiched right between my girls who are 10 and 12. The only advice I can give it to keep doing what you are doing....reflect all the time. Be willing to change. Adapt. Never drop your expectations but work with them on how to meet and exceed them.
When I was a first year teacher my mentor encouraged me to write daily about my experience in the classroom. She said teachers by nature are some of the most reflective people because each day is different and the success of one day is greatly dependent of the success of the previous day. Knowing what works and what does not work certainly helps. Unlike teachers, we do not have to stick it out with a set curriculum that is not working. We can change and adapt mid year, mid week! We are constantly seeking to meet our children's needs.
You are doing this. Just keep on keeping on!
It has been an, um, interesting week, hasn't it?? Although we had a productive week and it really wasn't all that bad, it was a little "down" though. I think for us it's the sharp, sudden fall of temperatures and coming down with colds and returning to school after 2 weeks of sadness and stress from a family loss. Looking forward to an upswing this coming week! You too?
Love the cute little Lego buckets! We could have a Lego STORE here. ::sigh:: I think we have about 200 pounds worth! Maybe more! I've put a ban on purchasing more of them! LOL
I think I'm in the same boat with you with my own daughter. She turns 11 in a few months and things are changing. She had such a challenging attitude last year, but over the summer she seemed to mature and things are much better this school year. But she is asking for changed in her schoolwork. She wants to be more independent and in control. So, I'm slowly making changes for her to "take over" more of her learning. It's hard for me! LOL
So sorry you found a Lego in your shirt!!! Boys!! I'm with you all the way on the election and the state of our country. I'm determined that my kids won't grow up to be apathetic, uninformed citizens of this great country. I do still believe this is the greatest country in the world, we have just lost our way. We have started giving our 11 yo some more responsibility too. Last week we had our last soccer night and he stayed him with one of his sisters for a bit. They have fun together and neither wanted to go to soccer - it was a win/win for all of us. Thanks for the shout out and I can't wait to meet at BEECH Retreat either, a weekend might not be long enough to talk!!
Thanks for this link-up and for sharing your heart, Mary!
I also appreciated your Drill Sergeant Mom post. That's my tendency for sure! I have not figured out how to tone that done while still making sure all three of my children are getting a quality education and the house doesn't fall down around us. Praying about that!
As for your thoughts about the electorate, I completely agree! I would add also that the electorate is angry and does not tolerate ideas other than the mainstream liberal ones. This scares me because I often feel silenced- especially on social media - because I do not have the energy to combat the vitriol that will ensue in the comments of a conservative posting.
Anyway, we can take heart, sister, for He has overcome the world. Focusing on Him, our families and our communities, we can still make a difference in this life! (((HUGS))) to you!
I enjoyed your post. Your love for your daughter (and son) is so great and I smile when you talk so admiringly about them. They make you so proud of them.
I wish I could offer advice to you on raising preteens, but I find my teen is a bit hard to handle. I fear I went wrong with her somewhere, but not sure where. I noticed a decline in the positive behavior back when we moved our family over seas. It was a big change. I think perhaps it was more than she could handle. I don't think she likes having a lot of siblings either. This is a shame.
At any rate, you have done a great job and your kids are evident of it.
Taking off my lurker hat to tell you how much I enjoy your blog! I don't have a preteen yet - my daughter is 10 - but I discovered a letter recently that I'm saving to read with her when she's older. It may not be applicable to your current situation, but almost certainly will be appropriate at some point! It's a letter written by William James to his 13-year-old daughter who was away at boarding school and having a difficult time emotionally. Enjoy!
I'm sorry you've been feeling a bit down this week. Hope it lifts soon! I know how hard it is not to let the election results worry us, but somehow life must go on. And as you said we can take comfort in knowing that our God is in control and that He knows what He's doing even if it doesn't seem right to us!!! Love the lego down the shirt experience. Stuff like that has happened to me too. That sure does make life interesting! Have a great weekend Mary!
P.S. I voted!
I agree completely about people who say nasty things about our leaders and then follow it up with, "God is still the King." Not that I don't know without a doubt that God is powerful enough and will do what He knows is best regardless of His sinful people, but let's walk the walk all the time, or at least try our best to do so.
That being said, I loved the Shakespeare and Drill Sergeant mom posts. Keep writing. I'll keep reading.
I love how in the midst of Anna growing and changing and your desire to have joy in your schooling, that you and your husband have been discussing it. The love and support of your little family is always so apparent in everything you do. Have a wonderful weekend!
" {I read a million of those obligatory posts the day after the election. What's interesting is that a lot of those same people had some very UNChristian remarks in the days leading up to the electon. Anyone else see this as odd?}"
YES! And I also noticed this same thing the day after the election. I find it more than odd; I find it irritating. And yes, our country is frighteningly polarized. No longer does: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death for your right to say it" (Voltaire) apply. Now, it's "I do not agree with what you say; therefore you are an idiot and should shut up."
This is why I do not listen to talk radio and I rarely watch TV.
About Anna: my girls are sixth and seventh grades this year. I found I needed to up the ante with their schoolwork. I try to stay focused on my overall goals for their education, and I strive to make that education rigorous and meaningful. I'll be interested to read more of your thoughts on this!
I, too, have had a rough week after the election. I have felt off all week. This was the first election I really paid attention to. I agree that too many of us are apathetic about voting (although since our state still has yet to figure out our votes, my vote really did not do any good). This year, I really embraced my role as a citizen, did my research, and voted. I hope to teach my children how important voting is. We are also praying about our country.
As far as your daughter goes, I have no advice:( My children are still so young that we have not encountered too many problems. I love your blog, and I love that you share everything!!
What a week! I just have amoment and wanted to comment. First, tell Anna that Makayla is in the middle of the first Inkheart book today - neat coincidence. I'm wading into the preteen waters with you and it's not so cut and dry anymore, is it? Balancing privelages with responsiblities.
On the election - it didn't go the way I hoped, but I recognize that when we look at scripture we know things are not going to become all nice/happy/peaceful again until Jesus comes and we move through that final process. Needless to say we're preparing for things to get worse and praying God reaches the hearts of our nation's current leaders in some way.
I also love Jen's adoption month posts!! She is an awesome advocate for adoption. Advice about preteens- treasure this time. It is time to discover new books together, introduce her some old movies, share a bible study together... because she will still want to. Don't be intimidated by homeschooling older children. They are a wonder. We tried to keep high school as informal as reasonably possible and let our daughters explore. When else in their life can the follow their own sense of wonder- Helen Keller said something along the lines of being disappointed that college got in the way of her education. My teens taught themselves piano, drawing, woodworking, they volunteered to coach younger children in homeschool PE programs, they took some classes outside the home (Latin and higher math), and spent much time treasuring our family time. It was not always roses, but it was wonderful. Hope I am not rambling on too much!
Each week when I read your posts, I think to myself, "I sure would like to sit down and have coffee with this woman." We both share a love for coffee, music, LEGOS, our families, our country, and the list could go on and on.
Thank you again for building such a fun and encouraging community.
I love that picture of Grant :)
My heart is on the mend. Tuesday was a hard pill to swallow. Lord knows I have my opinions, and I was probably one that made "unchristian" posts before and after the election. This election has sharply reminded me that God is in control and that I don't have to know or like His plans, but instead try to be a better Christian. It's hard, really hard, for an opinoinated person such as myself to find self-control when I feel so strongly about something. You have been inspiring.
That said, I will continue to spread the word about our corrupt government. Some people never watch the news so if one or two people read a story I post about something they didn't hear about, then that makes it worth it to post. I had to "unfriend" some people that were making vile posts about Romney and Republicans in general. Why must body parts be mentioned and used to describe the other side? Sigh.
I love reading your posts, Mary. My daughter is 10 and I feel you may just be a bit ahead of me on a similar path. I am seeing a little difficulty this year with motivation and my daughter appears to have a very similar personality to your daughter's. My daughter and I also are alike in many ways and that makes some things easier and some things very hard. I'm really glad to have someone like you traveling the road ahead of me, I look forward to learning from (and along with) you.
Keep writing!
I'm glad you had a good birthday, but sorry to hear that the week felt unsettled.
The LEGO class looks like such fun! I know Grant had such a great time :) How funny to find a LEGO creation down your shirt!
I found the Animated Shakespeare Tales on DVD through Netflix. I think we might try those out in the near future.
I know just what you mean about pre-teen girls, since I'm dealing with two myself. I cannot believe that Jenna is going to be twelve soon! We try to give our girls as much independence as we reasonably can, but let them know what our expectations are. We've been having various struggles with lack of motivation, bad attitudes, not wanting to take responsibility, but also they both are capable of doing so many things that make us so proud! It's a wonderful time, but also challenging.
I love this post. As the mom of girls who are 10 & 12, I understand completely what you mean. I feel I have to run sometimes to catch up with them. The last two years my goal was to really get them writing well. I feel we have accomplished that, although of course they keep writing. Now we are focused on discussion and debate, we continue to use our same curriculum but I try to ask leading questions and get them to discuss more or sometimes ask them to each take a different position and debate. We have also begun to use Critical Thinking Company's Critical Thinking Book One that is excellent at explaining how to think logically, when to debate and how to debate and the difference between what we know and what we feel. Teachers could use it in a classroom as a written exercise, but we use it as a discussion because I want to work on the girls ability express themselves verbally with confidence in an argument--if that makes any sense!
As for things we know and things we feel---I am definitely more left-leaning than you are, but I am also very concerned about our country and the future of our country and the world. The extremes on both sides really frighten me. The polarization frightens me. I don't think we can solve these huge problems this way and it all only seems to be getting worse. There are things that I don't like about the Obama Administration and two years ago I started praying for a moderate candidate on the Republican side. While it is really easy and tempting for me to dig in my heels about certain (liberal) issues, I realize we are not going to get anywhere if we keep doing that. We need to be open to the other side and willing to make compromises, make sacrifices in certain areas and work together for the good of every American.