Profile of Our Day

"Describe yourself, your family, or one of your children. What is it like to be home educated in your family? What is "normal" for you?"

We are fairly structured in our days. I have found that it is me who needs the most structure! If I don't plan it, it doesn't happen!


Record keeping is not required for homeschoolers in my state but because I homeschool a child with special needs (and my own obsessive-compulsive nature) I do plan and record our days. I use a very basic template of my own design to plan and monitor progress of our daughter with Down syndrome. I have found it is the best way to keep ME on track and I can see the baby steps (and giant steps!) my daughter makes daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. Our daily schedule is quite flexible though. I learned long ago that flexibility is the only way to stay sane!!!

I confess to needing lots of sleep. I am at my best with 8 (or more) hours of sleep. My children are older (13 & 16) so my life is a bit more relaxed than when we first started our journey. My 16 y.o. is more like her dad - she is up at the crack of dawn to get her day started so she can get to her beloved books, writing, knitting etc. - all the things she loves that come after school! She is a gifted student and quite independent these days. She is artistically inclined while I am not.

Miss R, my 13 y.o. with Down syndrome, thrives on our one-on-one learning time. This year I have added a lot of software and online learning programs and have found them quite valuable because they are high interest and visual - a perfect fit for her learning style.

Our days usually flow smoothly. The girls know what is expected and they are fairly compliant. Miss R has rewards built into her day to keep her motivated and enthusiastic. We do reading and math - then she gets a little computer time. After science, social studies and writing, she gets to watch a DVD. I truly think lunch is her biggest motivator because we eat when she is done!

We are generally done with formal schooling by 12:30-1:00 p.m. I remember our early days on this homeschooling adventure where we didn't finish until the middle of the afternoon. Then we often are able to do errands or fun things like socialize with friends. It wasn't always this easy but that is another story for another day!

Read more about the lives of homeschoolers: Principled Discovery

Looking Back....

"Share your personal history...before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things for family have gained."

What was life like before I was a homeschooling mom? I guess that would be the time before I had children!

Before kids, I was an emergency department(ED) RN at a Level 1 Trauma Center. I loved my job but it was very demanding of me physically and emotionally. Every afternoon I would go to work and find my name assigned to first trauma - meaning I would get the first trauma that came through the doors. The first trauma generally arrived fairly early in the afternoon/evening. The average time per trauma patient was 4-6 hours unless their injuries were so life threatening and they went quickly to the operating room.

I took care of people of all ages - from newborn babies to the elderly. It was never boring and always challenging. I often wonder since leaving just how I did it for so long....all the pain and suffering of humanity right there every day.

I used to save lives - now I nurture souls growing my children in faith and knowledge as a homeschooling mom. My work today is much more rewarding. The investment I make today in my sweet girls will reap benefits for this life and all eternity. Today I know plentiful hugs and kisses (still!), the secrets of their hearts, their prayers to the Lord. I hope they will be well prepared for life as adults - ready to face the trials that will surely come and the joys of all the blessings of this life with strong faith that the Lord will always be there to provide.

Home Education Week

Hosted by Dana at Principled Discovery.

For more information: Home Education Week



Participate as you can and join the fun!

Blue Roses

by Pastor Hal Steenson

Why do I always have to be the one who starts to do laundry and there’s no detergent? I guess it was time for me to do my “Dollar Store” run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. So off I go.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, “Mommy, I’m over here.” It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also shocked as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, “Hey Buddy, what’s your name?”

“My name is Denny and I’m shopping with my mother,” he responded proudly.

“Wow,” I said, “that’s a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Hal.”

“Hal like Halloween?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “How old are you Denny?

“How old am I now Mommy?” he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle. “You’re fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by.”

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someone’s attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny’s mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn’t even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

I told her that there are plenty of red, pink and yellow roses in God’s garden, however, “Blue Roses” are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a “Blue Rose” and if someone doesn’t stop and smell that rose with their heart or touch that rose with their kindness, then they’ve missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, “Who are you?”

Without thinking I said, “Oh, I’m probably just a “daffodil or maybe even a dandelion,” but I sure love living in God’s garden.

Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Alleluia!

Christ is risen!

In the Anglican tradition, we do not say alleluia during Lent but it returns at the Easter Vigil with great joy. It is a song in my heart today.

During the Great Vigil of Easter our youngest, Miss R, was confirmed.



Miss R has Down syndrome. In case anyone wonders how she was prepared for her confirmation, I used materials from Bethesda Lutheran Services. They have a confirmation curriculum for people with special needs as well as many other materials (some materials are free) that target the spiritual needs of a generally underserved population. Take a look at their resources in the special education and disability ministry catalog.

As with most learning materials, I needed to adapt to meet her specific needs. My daughter is a very hands-on, visual learner so to add interest we made (together) visuals to help her remember what we had worked through. A little more adaptation was needed to bring in our Anglican faith.

An Ordinary Miracle

Tissue warning....also some of the post-operative pictures may be difficult for some:

A New Friend

Hidden Treasures

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Lenten Prayer

Oh Lord Jesus Christ,
you who forgave the sins of the paralytic
before you let him walk again,
I pray that [this Lenten period] may make me more
aware of your forgiving presence in my life
and less concerned about performing well in the eyes
of my world.
Let me recognize you
at that virginal point in the depth of my heart
where you dwell and heal me.
Let me experience you in that center of my being
from which you want to teach and guide me.
Let me know you as my loving brother
who holds nothing --
not even my worst sins --
against me,
but who wants to touch me in gentle embrace.
Take away the many fears, suspicions, and doubts
by which I prevent you from being my Lord,
and give me the courage and freedome to appear naked
and vulnerable
in the light of your presence,
confident in your unfathomable mercy.

I know how great my resistance is,
how quickly I choose the darkness instead of the light.
But I also know that you keep calling me into the light,
where I can see not only my sins
but your gracious face as well.
Be with me every hour of my days.

Praise and glory to you, now and forever.
Amen.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
From Show Me the Way, Readings for Each Day of Lent

Our Trip to the Holy Land...

We went to the Holy Land as a family in the fall of 2006. I wish every Christian could visit the land where our Lord lived...and died for us. Our visit made The Holy Bible come to life for me in a new way - the memories are priceless. The spiritual growth we experienced deepened our faith tremendously - as a family. We were so blessed by the opportunity that I hope to return again someday. We met some very special people on our pilgrimage who have become the kind of friends we want to keep for eternity!

I thought I would share a few (I have more than 1000!) of our trip - they won't tell the whole story but give you a little glimpse of our trip of a lifetime!

Amazing....

Akiane Kramarik - truly gifted