Another day to wake up.
Another day to cook breakfast.
Another day to remind.
Another day to smile.
Another day to teach.
Another day to play.
Another day to remind.
Another day to tickle.
Another day to wipe.
Another day to giggle.
Another day to imagine.
Another day to feed.
Another day to need patience.
Another day to hold.
Another day to read.
Another day to drink.
Another day to cry.
Another day to wash clothes.
Another day to connect.
Another day to train.
Another day to need grace.
Another day to hug.
Another day to discipline.
Another day to be silly.
Another day to kiss.
Another day to frown.
Another day to change a diaper.
Another day to empty the dishwasher.
Another day to fold the laundry.
Another day to seek hope.
Another day to call a friend.
Another day to pick up toys.
Another day to prepare supper.
Another day to say "I love you."
Another day to give a bath.
Another day to kiss goodnight.
Another day to live.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Just another day for me
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Virginia
This past weekend Scott, Brayden and I were able to visit Charlottesville, Va. My Mom and Annette offered to keep Julian, Madelyn and Kalen. With Scott's recent acceptance, we wanted to take this opportunity to see the University of Virginia and see what the town has to offer our family.
We all had a grand time. Virginia is gorgeous. The town of Charlottesville is very neat and clean. The downtown area is unique and a cool place to walk around. Charlottesville has every store you would hope a city to have. It even has a Whole Foods. Yes, we ate every meal there! The campus of UVA is breathtaking. It is very historical. Most of the buildings have columns. Virginia is full of mountains, farms and wide open spaces. We were in awe.
Scott spoiled Brayden and I by letting us stay at the elegant Boar's Head Inn. If you ever need to stay in Charlottesville, it would be a real treat.
Overall, we really like Charlottesville. The school is amazing, you can feel that just walking around it. We really have no negative responses, except it is four hours from family. For us, being close (an hour or two) to family is something we really value. I imagine, Scott could still go to UVA. We will wait, patiently, to hear back from the other three schools he applied to.
By the way, Julian, Madelyn and Kalen had such a great time with Grandma and Annette. Grandma sewed some really neat knight, king, queen and princess costumes for them all.
After a weekend away, we are glad to be home here in Boone.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Advise on Raising Children
Help children to see and love the beautiful.
To develop self-reliance and strength,
a child should have as much liberty as possible,
as much as is consistent with the rights of others.
She should be treated with respect,
not laughed at when she makes mistakes
or tries to show off before visitors.
Let us not nag the poor little things.
As early as possible,
children should have tasks assigned to them
that they may be led to feel that mankind must work
and that even small children may help a little.
The habitual tone of a mother should be
suggestions rather than commands.
We can praise their work, say that it is well-done,
lovely, or beautiful, if we can do so truthfully*
I sincerely believe it would be a wise thing never to threaten.
The most important thing, then,
in training a child is to surround him,
to fill his life, with what is good.
-From Clara Ueland’s 1890 paper “Child Discipline”
Presented to the Mother’s Council in Minneapolis
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Parent Resolutions for the New Year
No matter what's happened in the past, you can raise happy, confident, and responsible kids starting right now
By Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller
In 2007, I resolve not to teach my children to have a happy, productive life, but rather to help them choose a happy, productive day.
I resolve to help my children appreciate that there is no such thing as failure, only temporary results that they can use as feedback to determine their next step.
I resolve to fix problems rather than fix blame by maintaining a solution-seeking mindset and teaching my children a problem-solving process.
I resolve to aid my children in their struggle with autonomy by creating a balance of power through a shared control style of parenting.
I resolve to remember that I want children to behave in ways that reflect what THEY find unacceptable, not in ways that I, the parent, find unacceptable.
I resolve to welcome interpersonal skill errors as learning experiences and as important opportunities to implement consequences.
I resolve to parent in a way that demonstrates that I believe the only authority children take with them everywhere they go is their inner authority.
I resolve to allow my responses to my children to reflect a knowing that some lapses in self-control are developmentally appropriate. I will remember that they behave in certain ways because they are five or eight or fourteen years old.
I resolve to parent in a way that reflects my belief that the process is as important as the product.
When I am stumped and don't know how to respond to one of my children, I promise to ask myself, "What would love do now?" I also intend to listen internally for an answer.
I resolve to recall that I can choose to see any parenting situation differently from the way I have been seeing it. I will remember that perception is always a choice.
I resolve to relax, while remembering that relaxing does not mean resigning.
I resolve to make my approach to parenting reflect the notion that raising a child is more about drawing out what already exists in a youngster rather than about putting in to fill perceived deficiencies.
I resolve to focus on the main purpose of parenting, the creation of who and what we really are as human beings.
I resolve to remember that "being right" doesn't work.
I resolve to parent as if I believe that a child's I AM (I am athletic, I am creative, etc.) is more important than his or her IQ.
I resolve to live today as if attitudes were more easily caught than taught.
I resolve to help my children and myself stay conscious of the choices we are making.
I resolve to remember the adage, "If you want a behavior, you have to teach a behavior," and I resolve to put that adage into practice in my home.
I resolve to see the hurting child in the child that hurts others.
I resolve to "be" the change I wish to see in my family.
I resolve to talk less and listen more.
I resolve to remember that experience can be messy. I will allow my children to learn from the messes they make and the cleanup that follows.
I resolve to hold my children accountable for their actions and choices with gentleness and love. I will implement consequences consistently and allow my children to experience the related, respectful, reality-based consequences that flow directly from their actions.
I resolve to make myself dispensable and assist my children in becoming increasingly in charge of themselves and their own lives.
I resolve to refrain from making my children wrong for their choices, even as I hold them accountable for their actions.
I resolve to recognize that my children are in my life as much so I can learn from them as they are so they can learn from me. I will be open to the lessons my children offer me and honor them for helping me learn and grow.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
My Hero
I have always admired my husband. I would say even since the first day we met. Today, I can officially call him my hero. He truly rescued me throughout the entire day. From an early morning with our 8 month old and 2 year old to a cramping wife on the bed, he stepped up. He put on love all day. He stayed positive. He chose love.
Honestly, I was frustrated that my two youngest were up at the crack of dawn. I wanted to sleep. I wore that on my face for a long while. Yet, Scott served me orange juice and said, "good morning, can I get you anything?" What an angel. He made us french toast and patiently had a response to each of our two year old's 87 questions.
Our day was filled with his goodness. He took the three big kids outside for an hour it seemed. They played hard with bows, arrows, and swords. He would fall to the ground, after losing a battle with one of his "enemies." Soon, those same enemies (Kalen and Julian) would come to kiss his head to revive him. Scott would jump back up and run after them.
Just after the two little ones were sleeping he takes Julian out to the bookstore for a little time of reading. During this visit, Julian decides he wants a rather large book by an author he is familar with. Scott convinces Julian to wait and they can look for it at the library. As soon as they get home, Scott looks for the book at both libraries in town. He soon tells me he wants to take the three big kids to the ASU library to get the book he promised Julian. He made it clear to me that he wanted to follow through with what he had told Julian. What an honorable man!
Later, after supper he reads to the children on the couch as I clean up the kitchen. This is when I was able to really reflect over all the days events. I ask myself, "how can so much heroism happen here in this home in one day?" It became clear to me that my husband chose to love unconditionally today. He put on love in the most amazing way. He met our needs and loved us even when we were unlovable.
How many of us can say that we love unconditionally? It is an amazing gift to be loved unconditionally. I find it very inspiring. I admire my husband. I can honestly say that he is rescuing me from myself and the circumstances that surround me daily, just like Jesus,
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Capturing Christmas
Our Christmas 2006 was indeed joyful. We will take away many memories from this special time with family.
We started our holiday off right with a performance by Madelyn in the Nutcracker. She did an amazing job and really enjoyed herself. We are so proud of you, Madelyn!
The kids and I tried to learn some carols throughout the month of December. It would crack me up to be walking through the house and hear Kalen (our two year old) singing "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Of course, the chorus was repeated over and over.
We talked about the manger scene a couple of times. Curious to hear their responses, I asked them, "if you could have been there when Jesus was born, who would you have liked to have been." Madelyn replied with the angel. Julian said, "I would like to have been a shepherd." Without hesitation, Kalen said, "Jesus." Of course, the star of the show, right?
Overall, fun was had by all this Christmas. We are thankful for the time to spend with family. That was truly the greatest gift.
There are several photos of various glimpses into some gift receiving and visiting with family, such as my grandmother, my sister-in-law Shanda, my brother Ryan and his two children, Grayson and Anna Kristin.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
UVA
"Congratulations! On behalf of the Curry School of Education it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the Ph.D. Program in Social Foundations."
This is what Scott read a week ago today from the University of Virginia. I know he will not toot his own horn about this so I would be glad to . . . WAY TO GO SCOTT!! He has been selected from a group of many qualified candidates to attend this prestigious school in Charlottesville, Virginia.
This is truly an honor to be accepted. I am very thankful, proud and excited; I know Scott is.
He is still waiting to hear back from three other schools. We will weigh his options and decide at the first of this year where we will spend the next four or more years.
I am confident in Scott. I want him to follow this dream. I know the Lord will truly honor his efforts.