Awesome student video on Liberal vs. Progressive Educaiton

Reflecting on Palm Sunday

 
"Dear Lord, today we remember Your triumphant journey into Jerusalem, but let us not turn our backs on you in the coming days, weeks, months and years as the rejoicing crowd did after that day! Help us to stay on our journey with You day by day. Keep us ever faithful to our commitment to spend more time with you. 

To give just an hour a day in Your company through prayer and the scriptures, and perhaps even an hour a week keeping You company in front of Your Divine Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Help us to forgo the temptation to return to our lazy ways when this Lenten Period is over. Into Your Hands Dear Lord I commend my spirit!."

Joy on a bottle of BBQ Sauce?

I guess we are officially fostering the two homeless dogs.  The neighborhood is helping but we don't have a home yet and I today I call shelters in earnest.

The girls have calmed down a bit (they were very jumpy and the rain this weekend turned into a mudfest) but they have calmed. I think they are grateful for shelter, a routine, some love and scheduled meals.  I think everyone appreciates that.

It is still a challenge as our resident indoor dog, Ralphie has lost access completely to the backyard as we have not have them checked for worms or whatever else a stray dog might have.  And getting to our garage is always an adventure, which we do often since we have a fridge out there.

Last night at dinner I proclaimed we need to name these dogs.
"I am tired of calling them Mama Dog and Little Pup." I stated with passion.

So we went around for 15 minutes coming up with names and everyone vetoed everyone else. Dh kept naming them after relatives: first after the grandmothers, then after the sisters in law.


Oldest son was coming up with medievel names or those after characters he has created.

I was going after movie stars.


Finally youngest son looked at the table and said:
"How about Spite for the puppy."  we liked it.
"And Joy for the mom."  we agreed.


Then we laughed- the names came off his soft drink can and the back of the BBQ sauce bottle.  They talk about joy on the BBQ, well that is ok.
So, now to find Joy and Sprite a home.  Dh just told me she is digging out of the yard.  Need to accelerate the search!

A Strong Woman...

Well- here I find myself often trying to be the former in these lists... and really need God's grace to strive for the latter.

A strong woman works out everyday to keep her body in shape… But a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape A strong woman isn't afraid of anything… But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of fear. A strong woman won't let anyone get the better of her… But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone. A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future… A woman of strength realises life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings, and capitalises on them A strong woman wears a look of confidence on her face… But a woman of strength wears grace. A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey… But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong. --- Copyright © 2005 Dee Cheeks

Sharing the JOY of learning... we can change these stats

The twilight of American Culture: �2000, by Morris Berman
National Science Foundation: Oct. 1995
58% said electrons are larger than Atoms.
63% believe humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time.
53% believe the Earth revolves around the Sun in a day or month, while only 47 % had the correct answer, one year.
91% cannot state what a molecule is.
42% or Americans cannot find Japan on a map. (Garrison Keillor NPR, 22 March 1997)
15% could not find the U.S.A. on a map. (Garrison Keillor NPR, 22 March 1997)
40% of Americans were not aware that Germany was part of World War Two.
(NY Times, 1995)
58% of high school students cannot understand a newspaper editorial.
84% of college seniors could not answer which President ignited the Korean War.
50% of high school students were void of knowledge of the Cold War. (US Dept. of Education, 1995)
60% of students had not clue how the U.S.A. was formed. (US Dept. of Education, 1995)
41% of teens cannot name the three branches of government. (National Constitution Cent. 1998)
50% of students in the 1990’s National Assessment of Education Program cannot give the time line of the Civil War.
21% of adults believe that the Sun revolved around the Earth, while 7% could not decide either way. (Northern IL, University survey of two thousand random adults)
49th � Is the ranking of the US out of 158 countries, by the UN, when it pertains to Literacy.
60% of Americans never read a book of any form.
6% of Americans read a book a year.

Doggy Weekend

Well, the story of the lost dogs continues.  They showed up in our driveway and are sweet as can be.  Mother dog is friendly and intelligent.  Pup is cute as a button. They are so sweet together, play and mother keeps daughter out of trouble.

We asked around the neighborhood and it seems they are neglected. What happened to the other pups?  No telling.  We have heard stories of the mother resucing the pup from behind a car that was backing out (picking Pup up by the scruff of the neck and carrying her to safety!) and other stories.  When we heard it all my son commented it sounded like a Disney movie.. 

It just drives me crazy how people are so careless.  Listen up! Spay and neuter your pets! And if you take on an animal, care for it!  ARGH!

We may have a foster home for them, but if that does not work out, we will have to find a shelter soon.  It is not too great as they have taken over the backyard and do not mix well with our resident dog who is now relegated to the indoors.  Also every time we head through the breezeway to the garage refridgerator for something we are bombarded with muddy paws!  Yikes..


Good news is I think they are very adoptable. Used to volunteer in a shelter and pups go fast.  Mom is adoptable, too. Just wish they could stay togehter... don't know if dogs really care, but they seem to be so close.

Please say a little prayer they find just the right home.

Wonder

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."  ~Albert Einstein

To CLEP or Not to CLEP

My sons had planned on tackling the English Literature CLEP this week, but alas the local college where they take tests was booked up due to Spring Break. And, there they were, all studied up and no where to go.

Humm... someone forgot to call ahead?  The overbearing mom in me is dying to speak those words!

So, they are having a hiatus week. But, such is life and so cool to see them organize their time and really enjoy their time off. Work hard, play hard and all that.  They will have to shift their schedule and tell their coach.  :)

Found a neat book called "Painless Poetry" that should help.  That poetry is a bear... I think most of those guys were really depressed a few hundred years ago when they wrote the stuff.  I apologize to any English majors reading this.

I think one of the best things of this experience for them is taking their education further into their own hands. They set a goal, they are getting there.

Date with my 16yo son to Casting Crowns Concerts

I was in San Antonio all week with the absolutely wonderful people at College Plus!, but bee-lined it home Friday afternoon to catch the Casting Crowns concert with my son.

What mom could resist an invitation from their teen son to attend a concert?  Plus I am a huge fan of Casting Crowns.   Awesome music, enough edge and some 80s rock feel to me, plus the message is awesome. Mark Hall the lead singer and songwriter knows about the cross.. and how we have to embrace it every day to find the pure joy.

He cracked me up when he said he not only had ADHD but dyslexia... how school was so hard for him but God can do anything with any of us.... all us imperfect people running around here.  He said his double-whammy LD was so cruel.. even if he could read (dyslexia), it would not matter because he could not pay attention! (ADHD)

If they come to town go see them (Cay, this means you!)---  humble, funny, great music.

Oh and Bryan and I laughed that this crowd was the nicest group of people you would ever want to see.  Polite, happy and just really kewl!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello friends, old and new!

I am beginning on a new blogspot site and am glad you found me!  All my old homeschooling friends.. thanks for following me here and sorry for the url change. Long story.  Sometimes technology just causes problems, but I hope to keep this my home.

For my new friends.. welcome!  Glad you all are here.  Please comment and let me know your blog, twitter, facebook... and I love to learn about new resources... please share!

Blessings,
Cindy