Sunday, December 28, 2008
I have twins!
My husband and I found out about a week and a half ago that we are adopting twin babies. It's crazy but wonderful situation. You can read about it on this blog http://jarrettfamilyadventure.blogspot.com/ that my Aunt is managing for us. Due to a sudden lack of time I won't be posting a whole lot on Mavenhood for awhile. Maybe in a few months when we bring our babies home and I get the mother of twins thing figured out...I'm sure some of you are laughing now:)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
All Things Pumpkin
I love pumpkin.
In addition to pumpkin pie, for Thanksgiving I make pumpkin biscuits and serve them with cranberry butter. I think Isabel lived on these for a couple of days.
Pumpkin Biscuits (Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe)
12 tbls unsalted butter
4 c flour
2 tbls baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt
6 tbls brown sugar
pinch of ginger
2 c cooked pumpkin
1 ½ c buttermilk
Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in small bowl. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, and ginger. Cut in butter. Make a well in the center, and add pumpkin with a fork. Stir in buttermilk till dough comes together. Dust dough with flour and knead 8 times. Pat dough out and cut biscuits. Brush tops with butter and bake until golden brown, 15 – 18 minutes.
Cranberry Butter (from Martha Stewart)
1c cranberry sauce
1 c butter
Blend in food processor until smooth
Last weekend we went to the University District farmers market (it’s open all year!) and Isabel just had to have a pumpkin. So I hunted up a few more pumpkin recipes and we’ve tried them over the last two days. 1 pumpkin goes a long way…
Pumpkin Risotto (adapted from a Sweet Potato Risotto recipe in Real Simple magazine)
2 T olive oil
½ c onion finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound of uncooked, peeled pumpkin, cut into ¼ inch pieces
2 cloves of garlic
1 c rice (I used par-boiled brown rice that cook’s in 20-30 minutes)
2 c chicken broth
½ c grated Parmesan (I’m sure I used more than this)
5 leaves of fresh sage, finely chopped
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, ½ t salt, and ¼ t pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the pumpkin and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add the broth and cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed. Measure 3 ½ c water. Add ¾ c at a time and cook, stirring occasionally and waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding the next. It should take 25 – 30 minutes for all the water to be absorbed (It took me more water, probably because my rice was brown). Check that the rice is tender, if not add more water and cook longer. Stir in parmesan and sage.
Isabel and I loved this for dinner last night. Great comfort food. I will definitely make it again.
Toasted Pumpkin seeds
Handful or more of pumpkin seeds
1 T olive oil
Salt to taste
In a small non-stick skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add pumpkin seeds and toast stirring constantly. When the seeds puff and turn golden brown remove from heat. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
These were so satisfying to crunch and they hit that salty snack craving perfectly.
Pumpkin Blender Wheat Waffles (My friend Christina shared this recipe with me. She got it here.)
1 Cup Milk (3 T. Powdered Milk and 1 C. Water)
1 Cup + 2 Tbs Wheat Kernels, whole &; uncooked
2 Eggs (2 T. Powdered Eggs and 1/4 C. Water)
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Pureed, Cooked Pumpkin
1-1/2 t. Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 Tbs. Sugar
Put milk and wheat kernels in blender. Blend on highest speed for 4 or 5 minutes or until batter is smooth. Add eggs, oil, baking powder, salt, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and honey or sugar to above batter. Blend on low. Pour batter into hot prepared waffle iron from the actual blender jar (only one thing to wash!)
For a yummy variation, put chopped pecans on the top of the batter in the waffle iron before closing.
There was a recipe with this for caramel syrup but we loved it with plain old maple syrup. This was so easy to make and they were some of the best waffles I’ve ever had. Can’t wait to make them again!
I haven’t tried this recipe yet but it sounds amazing and the reviews were great. I bet the candied pumpkin seeds alone will be worth it.
Warm Pumpkin Salad with Polenta and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
In addition to pumpkin pie, for Thanksgiving I make pumpkin biscuits and serve them with cranberry butter. I think Isabel lived on these for a couple of days.
Pumpkin Biscuits (Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe)
12 tbls unsalted butter
4 c flour
2 tbls baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt
6 tbls brown sugar
pinch of ginger
2 c cooked pumpkin
1 ½ c buttermilk
Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in small bowl. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, and ginger. Cut in butter. Make a well in the center, and add pumpkin with a fork. Stir in buttermilk till dough comes together. Dust dough with flour and knead 8 times. Pat dough out and cut biscuits. Brush tops with butter and bake until golden brown, 15 – 18 minutes.
Cranberry Butter (from Martha Stewart)
1c cranberry sauce
1 c butter
Blend in food processor until smooth
Last weekend we went to the University District farmers market (it’s open all year!) and Isabel just had to have a pumpkin. So I hunted up a few more pumpkin recipes and we’ve tried them over the last two days. 1 pumpkin goes a long way…
Pumpkin Risotto (adapted from a Sweet Potato Risotto recipe in Real Simple magazine)
2 T olive oil
½ c onion finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound of uncooked, peeled pumpkin, cut into ¼ inch pieces
2 cloves of garlic
1 c rice (I used par-boiled brown rice that cook’s in 20-30 minutes)
2 c chicken broth
½ c grated Parmesan (I’m sure I used more than this)
5 leaves of fresh sage, finely chopped
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, ½ t salt, and ¼ t pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the pumpkin and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add the broth and cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed. Measure 3 ½ c water. Add ¾ c at a time and cook, stirring occasionally and waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding the next. It should take 25 – 30 minutes for all the water to be absorbed (It took me more water, probably because my rice was brown). Check that the rice is tender, if not add more water and cook longer. Stir in parmesan and sage.
Isabel and I loved this for dinner last night. Great comfort food. I will definitely make it again.
Toasted Pumpkin seeds
Handful or more of pumpkin seeds
1 T olive oil
Salt to taste
In a small non-stick skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add pumpkin seeds and toast stirring constantly. When the seeds puff and turn golden brown remove from heat. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
These were so satisfying to crunch and they hit that salty snack craving perfectly.
Pumpkin Blender Wheat Waffles (My friend Christina shared this recipe with me. She got it here.)
1 Cup Milk (3 T. Powdered Milk and 1 C. Water)
1 Cup + 2 Tbs Wheat Kernels, whole &; uncooked
2 Eggs (2 T. Powdered Eggs and 1/4 C. Water)
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Pureed, Cooked Pumpkin
1-1/2 t. Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 Tbs. Sugar
Put milk and wheat kernels in blender. Blend on highest speed for 4 or 5 minutes or until batter is smooth. Add eggs, oil, baking powder, salt, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and honey or sugar to above batter. Blend on low. Pour batter into hot prepared waffle iron from the actual blender jar (only one thing to wash!)
For a yummy variation, put chopped pecans on the top of the batter in the waffle iron before closing.
There was a recipe with this for caramel syrup but we loved it with plain old maple syrup. This was so easy to make and they were some of the best waffles I’ve ever had. Can’t wait to make them again!
I haven’t tried this recipe yet but it sounds amazing and the reviews were great. I bet the candied pumpkin seeds alone will be worth it.
Warm Pumpkin Salad with Polenta and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Comfort Salad
I love comfort food. Relying on food to soothe or enhance my emotions is one of my ongoing struggles. I hope to someday conquer it. In the meantime I try to find healthy recipes that feel like comfort food to me.
Avocado Tomato Salad is one of my current favorites. The avocado is creamy, the tomato, lime juice, and salt make it super-flavorful, and it totally satisfies me. I also love knowing that the avocado and tomato have tons of disease-preventing nutrients and heart-healthy fat. You could serve this over a bed of greens for a bigger salad.
Avocado Tomato Salad (Makes 1 lunch-size serving)
1 tomato
1 avocado
EVOO
Lime Juice
Salt
1. Dice the tomato and avocado and combine in a bowl
2. Drizzle with EVOO
3. Add lime Juice and Salt to taste. Start with just a little of each and keep adding until it tastes just right.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Green Smoothies
I absolutely refuse to be sick this Christmas. I have spent too many Holiday seasons with a cold or the flu and last year was the worst. I came down with a make-you-want-to-die version of the flu on Christmas Day and the next 10 days were terrible. I missed out on many family plans, including Christmas Dinner and instead of enjoying time with my husband off from work, I barely remember it. I know he was thrilled with the experience too.
I’m one of those people who believe that good nutrition, good sleep, and exercise can solve a majority of health problems. I’ve experienced it myself and I know it works. So this year I’m going to do everything in my power to stay healthy and prevent illness. The problem is, it’s hard to eat really healthy all the time and it’s especially hard during the holidays. I struggle most with getting enough greens and veggies in. I recently discovered a shortcut: Green Smoothies. My friend Rachel introduced me to the concept. Thanks Rach!
A Green Smoothie is packed with disease preventing nutrients, yet it’s much easier to eat than a plate of salad or vegetables and especially useful when you’re in a hurry. It takes 5 minutes to make and about 10 minutes to eat. After I drink two glassfuls, I feel really satisfied and my energy level goes way up for the rest of the day. It also minimizes my desire for less healthy options. I’m betting that this year, if I eat at least one green smoothie a day, I will avoid the dreaded Christmas cold or flu.
So what’s in a green smoothie you ask? You can make a Green Smoothie with any combination of fruits, leafy greens, and water that can be pureed in a blender. It sounds weird, I know, but it really does taste good. Some versions actually look green while my favorite version looks dark purple. I shared my pitcher of green smoothie today with my daughter and her 3 visiting friends.
Their faces tell the story--they loved it.
My Favorite Green Smoothie
3 bananas
2 satsumas, mandarins, or tangerines
4-6 cups of spinach
2 cups of frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
Enough water to make it a smoothie
1. Puree bananas, oranges and some water
2. Add spinach a handful at a time, puree and add more until you’ve added it all. Add water as needed
3. Add frozen berries a handful at a time until pureed. Add more water as needed.
4. Serve it up and enjoy. This makes 7-8 cups.
I’m one of those people who believe that good nutrition, good sleep, and exercise can solve a majority of health problems. I’ve experienced it myself and I know it works. So this year I’m going to do everything in my power to stay healthy and prevent illness. The problem is, it’s hard to eat really healthy all the time and it’s especially hard during the holidays. I struggle most with getting enough greens and veggies in. I recently discovered a shortcut: Green Smoothies. My friend Rachel introduced me to the concept. Thanks Rach!
A Green Smoothie is packed with disease preventing nutrients, yet it’s much easier to eat than a plate of salad or vegetables and especially useful when you’re in a hurry. It takes 5 minutes to make and about 10 minutes to eat. After I drink two glassfuls, I feel really satisfied and my energy level goes way up for the rest of the day. It also minimizes my desire for less healthy options. I’m betting that this year, if I eat at least one green smoothie a day, I will avoid the dreaded Christmas cold or flu.
So what’s in a green smoothie you ask? You can make a Green Smoothie with any combination of fruits, leafy greens, and water that can be pureed in a blender. It sounds weird, I know, but it really does taste good. Some versions actually look green while my favorite version looks dark purple. I shared my pitcher of green smoothie today with my daughter and her 3 visiting friends.
Their faces tell the story--they loved it.
My Favorite Green Smoothie
3 bananas
2 satsumas, mandarins, or tangerines
4-6 cups of spinach
2 cups of frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
Enough water to make it a smoothie
1. Puree bananas, oranges and some water
2. Add spinach a handful at a time, puree and add more until you’ve added it all. Add water as needed
3. Add frozen berries a handful at a time until pureed. Add more water as needed.
4. Serve it up and enjoy. This makes 7-8 cups.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Pieta and Motherhood
I was first exposed to Michelangelo’s Pieta when I read My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. The story’s protagonist, Asher Lev, is drawn to and studies various Pieta sculptures, including this one. The first time I saw a picture of this Pieta, I was stunned by the beauty of the work. The word “pieta” is Italian for “piety”. Piety is often thought of as an insincere show of religious devotion but the true meaning of the word is reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations. As I’ve continued to study Michelangelo’s Pieta, I have come to see it as a symbol of motherhood and the many types of suffering associated with motherhood. There are many Pieta paintings and sculptures that attempt to depict the suffering of Mary as she holds the dead body of her son, but most of them depict suffering as grotesque and terrible. For me, only this Pieta captures the beauty inherent in this kind of suffering.
Though the suffering of Christ was a result of evil and destructive forces, God consecrated it, making it productive and purpose-filled. For the atonement to have the power of redeeming men from sin, Christ had to allow himself to be sacrificed. He didn’t want to but He knew it was necessary and submitted His will to the Father’s. As Christ said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Christ’s willing submission made all the difference.
Suffering can become a gateway to the greatest blessings the Father has to offer us. As C.S. Lewis wrote in his essay A Slip of the Tongue, “For it is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is ourselves...For He has, in the last resort, nothing to give us but Himself; and He can give that only insofar as our self-affirming will retires and makes room for Him in our souls.” Lewis continues, “For He claims all, because He is love and must bless. He cannot bless us unless He has us.” That is where this kind of suffering can lead us. Michelangelo’s Pieta embodies this truth.
I relate to this piece of art on a personal level. In my own small way, I know about this kind of suffering. I spent several long years desperately trying to become a mother and ultimately learning that my husband and I could not have children biologically. It wasn’t until I accepted this truth and learned to live with it that we were finally able to become parents through adoption.
When I look at Michelangelo’s Pieta, I see an expression of my personal experience with suffering and submitting to God’s will. Though Mary holds her son’s body, her arms are really empty. He is not there. His spirit is gone. I remember the ache I felt in my arms, longing to hold a baby of my own.
Mary though in the midst of her greatest suffering appears young, beautiful and God-like. She has been transformed by the experience. The agony I felt seemed unbearable but I survived it and it transformed me. Mary contemplates her son with a pained but peaceful expression. Her left hand questions “why” while the rest of her body rests calmly and submissively in acceptance of God’s will. I remember asking why and learning to be content with the answer, “Someday you will understand. For now, accept it as my will.”
This moment is for Mary the ultimate fulfillment of the commitment she made years before, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” I loved that scripture as a young woman and had a picture of Mary talking to the angel, hanging in my bedroom. I thought of Mary as the quintessential mother and wanted to be like her when I grew up. I knew that God wanted me to be a mother someday and that motherhood would be my greatest work on earth. I did not understand then what I would go through to fulfill that commitment.
Mary gently cradles her full grown son as if to say, there are no limits on the depth and breadth of a mother’s love. It is eternal. That is how I feel about my daughter. It doesn’t matter that we are not biologically connected. I am her mother therefore my love for her is boundless. Mary doesn’t cling to Christ with desperation or possessiveness as many mothers would in this moment. She is fully present and feels the pain and anguish deeply, but she possesses such self-mastery that she is able to simultaneously accept this as God’s will. This reminds me of the peace and hope that came when I finally accepted God’s will for my family. I still felt the pain but somehow I could bear it.
The hard, permanent, stone of the sculpture is much like Mary’s quite determination. She is not looking for an escape or distraction — she will remain in this painful moment until God will’s it otherwise. I did not know how long I would wait to become a mother but I accepted that it would be on God’s timetable and learned to wait patiently.
For me, the great weight of Mary’s robes folding and piling up around her symbolize the weight of all she bears. Now that I am a mother, I have discovered a range of new fears and pains and I see them in Mary’s suffering too. There is the constant worry that I will fail as a mother. There is the fear that my precious child will die before I do. There is the agony of watching my daughter suffer. There is the knowledge that I cannot make her choices for her and the fear that she will reject the things I’ve taught her about good and bad, right and wrong, true and false. All these are the burdens of motherhood and there is something in Mary’s countenance that tells me she knows these too.
Though the suffering of Christ was a result of evil and destructive forces, God consecrated it, making it productive and purpose-filled. For the atonement to have the power of redeeming men from sin, Christ had to allow himself to be sacrificed. He didn’t want to but He knew it was necessary and submitted His will to the Father’s. As Christ said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Christ’s willing submission made all the difference.
Suffering can become a gateway to the greatest blessings the Father has to offer us. As C.S. Lewis wrote in his essay A Slip of the Tongue, “For it is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is ourselves...For He has, in the last resort, nothing to give us but Himself; and He can give that only insofar as our self-affirming will retires and makes room for Him in our souls.” Lewis continues, “For He claims all, because He is love and must bless. He cannot bless us unless He has us.” That is where this kind of suffering can lead us. Michelangelo’s Pieta embodies this truth.
I relate to this piece of art on a personal level. In my own small way, I know about this kind of suffering. I spent several long years desperately trying to become a mother and ultimately learning that my husband and I could not have children biologically. It wasn’t until I accepted this truth and learned to live with it that we were finally able to become parents through adoption.
When I look at Michelangelo’s Pieta, I see an expression of my personal experience with suffering and submitting to God’s will. Though Mary holds her son’s body, her arms are really empty. He is not there. His spirit is gone. I remember the ache I felt in my arms, longing to hold a baby of my own.
Mary though in the midst of her greatest suffering appears young, beautiful and God-like. She has been transformed by the experience. The agony I felt seemed unbearable but I survived it and it transformed me. Mary contemplates her son with a pained but peaceful expression. Her left hand questions “why” while the rest of her body rests calmly and submissively in acceptance of God’s will. I remember asking why and learning to be content with the answer, “Someday you will understand. For now, accept it as my will.”
This moment is for Mary the ultimate fulfillment of the commitment she made years before, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” I loved that scripture as a young woman and had a picture of Mary talking to the angel, hanging in my bedroom. I thought of Mary as the quintessential mother and wanted to be like her when I grew up. I knew that God wanted me to be a mother someday and that motherhood would be my greatest work on earth. I did not understand then what I would go through to fulfill that commitment.
Mary gently cradles her full grown son as if to say, there are no limits on the depth and breadth of a mother’s love. It is eternal. That is how I feel about my daughter. It doesn’t matter that we are not biologically connected. I am her mother therefore my love for her is boundless. Mary doesn’t cling to Christ with desperation or possessiveness as many mothers would in this moment. She is fully present and feels the pain and anguish deeply, but she possesses such self-mastery that she is able to simultaneously accept this as God’s will. This reminds me of the peace and hope that came when I finally accepted God’s will for my family. I still felt the pain but somehow I could bear it.
The hard, permanent, stone of the sculpture is much like Mary’s quite determination. She is not looking for an escape or distraction — she will remain in this painful moment until God will’s it otherwise. I did not know how long I would wait to become a mother but I accepted that it would be on God’s timetable and learned to wait patiently.
For me, the great weight of Mary’s robes folding and piling up around her symbolize the weight of all she bears. Now that I am a mother, I have discovered a range of new fears and pains and I see them in Mary’s suffering too. There is the constant worry that I will fail as a mother. There is the fear that my precious child will die before I do. There is the agony of watching my daughter suffer. There is the knowledge that I cannot make her choices for her and the fear that she will reject the things I’ve taught her about good and bad, right and wrong, true and false. All these are the burdens of motherhood and there is something in Mary’s countenance that tells me she knows these too.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Dorothy's Halloween
Isabel was Dorothy for Halloween and thoroughly enjoyed the role. She especially liked wearing makeup and after we finished putting it on she batted her eyelashes and said in her attempt at a demure southern accent, "Do I look like the character?" Thanks to Grandma Tresa for making the dress. It turned out so cute!
After trick-or-treating we came back to the Bradbury's house for a family party. Dinner-in-a-pumpkin has become a much anticipated tradition thanks to Aunt Jodi. This year dinner was in little individual pumpkins. Yummm!!!
After trick-or-treating we came back to the Bradbury's house for a family party. Dinner-in-a-pumpkin has become a much anticipated tradition thanks to Aunt Jodi. This year dinner was in little individual pumpkins. Yummm!!!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Politics for Toddlers
There is something different about this election--it's on everyone's mind. Including, apparently, my 5 yr old and her friends. She's having a slumber party tonight with a 4 yr old friend. While I was listening to the news, I overheard Isabel say something to her friend about John McCain and Obama. Her friend responded with, "And Sarah Palin." Did I really just hear that? If this is what today's children talk about at slumber parties, what will they be doing as adults? I can't wait to watch them do it! They followed up their dinner conversation by watching Alvin and the Chipmunks - seems like a nice balance.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Isabel's Scarecrow, It's a casual thing
On Monday Isabel and I read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. She just kept begging me to read one more chapter and one more chapter until we finished it. This was the first time I've ever seen her completely engaged by a book and it was so fun. We've had lots of discussions about the book and characters since then. Isabel was particularly taken with the scarecrow. While visiting family in Utah this summer she got to see Grandpa Jarrett's farm in Nephi and his scarecrow. With all that inspiration, Isabel decided we should make our own scarecrow, so that's what we did today. It was a lot of fun. The best part was hearing Isabel talk about the scarecrow and his significance in her life. Check out the video for a really good laugh.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Isabel ABC
Isabel brought me this picture the other day. I thought it was really cute and it's exciting to see her learning to read and write. I particularly like the family inserted into the alphabet. That's sort of how I see our family - swimming in a sea of books and words. Isabel is very interested in writing at the moment. She carries crayons and pencils and a notebook around the house and yard. Most of her writing is very cute gibberish and then she'll surprise me with something like this. It is so fun to be a mommy!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Follow the Leader
Because I didn't have enough to do, I decided to enroll in distance studies with George Wythe College. Just kidding. I have plenty to do. My husband thinks I'm crazy (secretly I agree with him), but I need a Leadership Education and working with a George Wythe College mentor is the best way I know of to get one.
What is a Leadership Education you ask? It’s education for leaders. No really, that’s what it is. Leaders throughout history have been educated with a common set of principles and experiences. These principles used to be common knowledge in the U.S. and then we got sidetracked by socialization and job training.
You may now be wondering, “But don’t you have a degree from BYU?” Yes I do, and it was a wonderful professional degree that has served me well but it wasn’t a Leadership Education. There is a movement underway to go back to this classical model of education. A lot of people have become alarmed by the lack of truly great leadership in America today. We’re not just talking about politicians either. It’s much bigger than that. We need people who know how to think for themselves and solve problems in our families, homes, communities, businesses, and of course government – that’s what leadership is.
I want to prepare my children to be leaders and I don’t think I can do that without setting the example first. So, I need a Leadership Education. I’ve spent the last 4 years learning about Leadership Education (read the book, A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille if you’re curious) and studying on my own. It’s been a wonderful love of learning phase for me but I know it’s time for me to move into scholar phase and for that, I need a mentor. So, I enrolled with George Wythe College distance studies.
How’s it going you ask? Amazing! I’m learning so much! I love having a mentor! I can hardly keep up with everything I’m trying to do but it’s worth it. I’m currently studying leadership and art history. I’m reading and writing and discussing and growing and it’s affecting every area of my life. I highly recommend the experience.
I’m going to start posting my school papers here. Following is my first one.
Principles of Leadership
Inspired by Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
I have been studying Marcus Aurelius’s “Meditations” and though I find much of his Stoic philosophy repugnant, I have been inspired to learn and apply some of the principles he discusses.
Listen
Aurelius urges one to develop the skill of listening to others. He wrote: “Accustom yourself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as it is possible, try to inhabit the speaker’s mind.”
“In discourse you must attend to what is said, and in every action you must observe what is being done. And in the latter you should see immediately what end is intended, but in the former watch carefully what thing is signified. “
“Direct your attention to what is said. Let your understanding enter into the things that are done and the things that are doing them.”
I like the way Steven Covey says it even better, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” I believe this is an important principle for a leader to master. Recently I had an epiphany regarding this principle, followed by an opportunity to apply it. I am currently working with a leadership committee to build a TJED community with several LEMI certified Commonwealth Schools. This week I had the opportunity to listen to an experienced Commonwealth School founder describe her experience working with other parents to organize a school. One part of her story really struck me. She spoke about the process they went through to create a constitution for their school. She said they had to work through a lot of contention before achieving resolution and “it was a beautiful thing.” She went on to explain that because she and the other parents had great respect for one another they began the discussion with the assumption that there must be something important and valid at the heart of each person’s strong opinions. They continued to talk and listen until they could understand the other person’s perspective. It became clear and simple to resolve each issue. In addition, the outcome was far better than anyone could have achieved independently.
As I listened to this story I realized that my group never experienced contention and that I did most of the talking while others nodded their heads. It occurred to me that this was ridiculous and couldn’t possibly reflect how everyone really felt. So, on our next conference call, I shared my epiphany with the group. I told them I wanted to hear how they really felt about our work. I asked them to share their reasons for participating in the group, what they hoped to get out of it, and any concerns they had. Then I listened. I really listened. I tried to “direct my attention to what [was] said” and “inhabit the speaker’s mind”. Each person talked for a few minutes and there was a fervent tone in their voices that I had not heard before. There was still a surprising amount of unanimity but everyone expressed their thoughts uniquely and it really was better than head nodding. I felt inspired. I felt more respect for my colleagues. I hope that with continued practice, I will talk less and hear more.
Am I Qualified for the Work?
Aurelius urges frequent personal reflection. In one passage he suggests that we should ask ourselves whether we are qualified for a given task or not. He questioned, “Is my understanding sufficient for this or not? If it is sufficient, I use it for the work as an instrument given by universal nature. But if it is not sufficient, then either I retire from the work and give way to him who is able to do it better—unless there be some reason why I ought not to do so—or I do it as well as I can, taking to help me the man who, with the aid of my ruling principle, can do what is now fit and useful for the general good.” He refers to understanding or, what I would call knowledge, but I believe the principle encompasses more. I would state it this way: If we do not have the knowledge, skill, and resources to perform a given task well, we should abandon the work until we become qualified or revise the task to fit our situation.
This idea surprised me. It is bold and logical. A coward could not do it. I am reminded of a time when I should have applied this principle and didn’t. I was working as an Account Executive for a small marketing agency. The agency was struggling financially which led to layoffs and increased workloads for the remaining employees. I was assigned a number of projects and accounts far beyond what I could manage well. One coworker saw my workload and told me, “That’s impossible.” I knew he was right but I was scared. I was scared that if I didn’t say yes and try to do it, I would probably be laid off immediately. I did not have the courage to “abandon the work.” I should have talked to my boss and made it clear that I could not possibly do a good job on that amount of work. I said yes when I should have said no. There may have been unpleasant consequences but I believe they would have been preferable to the ones I experienced.
I began spending 12-18 hours each day at the office to try and get my work done. I taxed my body and spirit beyond their capacity and they began to fail me. My work became sloppy. After several weeks, the agency fired me. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. It took me years to recover my confidence and personal integrity. If I had said no in the beginning I might have been laid off but I wouldn’t have been humiliated and I would have retained my integrity.
Press Forward with Compassion
Frequently, when someone is trying to do good, opposition rises up to stop them. Aurelius warns us of the real danger we may face at such a moment,
“As to those who try to stand in your way when you are proceeding according to right reason will not be able to turn you aside from your proper action, so neither let them drive you from your benevolent feelings toward them, but be on your guard equally in both matters, not only in the matter of steady judgment and action, but also in the matter of gentleness toward those who try to hinder or otherwise trouble you. For this also is a weakness, to be vexed at them, as well as to be diverted from your course of action and to give way through fear; for both are equally deserters from their post, the man who does it through fear, and the man who is alienated from him who is by nature a kinsman and a friend.”
I believe this advice contains a true principle: When you are doing good and someone tries to stop you, press forward and do not let yourself be poisoned with bad feelings towards your opposition.
This week I had an opportunity to apply this principle. I have been working with others to build a Leadership Education community in my local area. I participate in a few online home school discussion boards where I frequently post invitations to Leadership Education seminars and events. This week a raging debate about whether the Leadership Education philosophy was good or bad erupted on one of these discussion boards. Things got very heated on both sides of the debate. One individual posted a sincere question, wanting to know if Leadership Education was a valid philosophy. I responded with my opinion that it was and offered encouragement and suggestions for how a family could investigate and decide the question themselves. Another individual responded to my comment with a personal attack. It was a difficult moment for me, but I was able to stop and think before acting. After pondering the situation, I was able to imagine how my attacker might have been feeling and what was motivating her. I decided to ignore the attack and remove myself from the debate. She had not diverted me from my course. She may affect the result I’m trying to achieve, but I will continue to press forward. As I continued to ponder the incident, I stopped feeling hurt or angry at her, and instead felt compassion for her. I sensed that she was scared and defensive. I doubt she is proud of how she handled herself. Instead of letting her actions poison my feelings for her, I prayed that she would be able to overcome her fear and find some peace.
What is a Leadership Education you ask? It’s education for leaders. No really, that’s what it is. Leaders throughout history have been educated with a common set of principles and experiences. These principles used to be common knowledge in the U.S. and then we got sidetracked by socialization and job training.
You may now be wondering, “But don’t you have a degree from BYU?” Yes I do, and it was a wonderful professional degree that has served me well but it wasn’t a Leadership Education. There is a movement underway to go back to this classical model of education. A lot of people have become alarmed by the lack of truly great leadership in America today. We’re not just talking about politicians either. It’s much bigger than that. We need people who know how to think for themselves and solve problems in our families, homes, communities, businesses, and of course government – that’s what leadership is.
I want to prepare my children to be leaders and I don’t think I can do that without setting the example first. So, I need a Leadership Education. I’ve spent the last 4 years learning about Leadership Education (read the book, A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille if you’re curious) and studying on my own. It’s been a wonderful love of learning phase for me but I know it’s time for me to move into scholar phase and for that, I need a mentor. So, I enrolled with George Wythe College distance studies.
How’s it going you ask? Amazing! I’m learning so much! I love having a mentor! I can hardly keep up with everything I’m trying to do but it’s worth it. I’m currently studying leadership and art history. I’m reading and writing and discussing and growing and it’s affecting every area of my life. I highly recommend the experience.
I’m going to start posting my school papers here. Following is my first one.
Principles of Leadership
Inspired by Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
I have been studying Marcus Aurelius’s “Meditations” and though I find much of his Stoic philosophy repugnant, I have been inspired to learn and apply some of the principles he discusses.
Listen
Aurelius urges one to develop the skill of listening to others. He wrote: “Accustom yourself to attend carefully to what is said by another, and as much as it is possible, try to inhabit the speaker’s mind.”
“In discourse you must attend to what is said, and in every action you must observe what is being done. And in the latter you should see immediately what end is intended, but in the former watch carefully what thing is signified. “
“Direct your attention to what is said. Let your understanding enter into the things that are done and the things that are doing them.”
I like the way Steven Covey says it even better, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” I believe this is an important principle for a leader to master. Recently I had an epiphany regarding this principle, followed by an opportunity to apply it. I am currently working with a leadership committee to build a TJED community with several LEMI certified Commonwealth Schools. This week I had the opportunity to listen to an experienced Commonwealth School founder describe her experience working with other parents to organize a school. One part of her story really struck me. She spoke about the process they went through to create a constitution for their school. She said they had to work through a lot of contention before achieving resolution and “it was a beautiful thing.” She went on to explain that because she and the other parents had great respect for one another they began the discussion with the assumption that there must be something important and valid at the heart of each person’s strong opinions. They continued to talk and listen until they could understand the other person’s perspective. It became clear and simple to resolve each issue. In addition, the outcome was far better than anyone could have achieved independently.
As I listened to this story I realized that my group never experienced contention and that I did most of the talking while others nodded their heads. It occurred to me that this was ridiculous and couldn’t possibly reflect how everyone really felt. So, on our next conference call, I shared my epiphany with the group. I told them I wanted to hear how they really felt about our work. I asked them to share their reasons for participating in the group, what they hoped to get out of it, and any concerns they had. Then I listened. I really listened. I tried to “direct my attention to what [was] said” and “inhabit the speaker’s mind”. Each person talked for a few minutes and there was a fervent tone in their voices that I had not heard before. There was still a surprising amount of unanimity but everyone expressed their thoughts uniquely and it really was better than head nodding. I felt inspired. I felt more respect for my colleagues. I hope that with continued practice, I will talk less and hear more.
Am I Qualified for the Work?
Aurelius urges frequent personal reflection. In one passage he suggests that we should ask ourselves whether we are qualified for a given task or not. He questioned, “Is my understanding sufficient for this or not? If it is sufficient, I use it for the work as an instrument given by universal nature. But if it is not sufficient, then either I retire from the work and give way to him who is able to do it better—unless there be some reason why I ought not to do so—or I do it as well as I can, taking to help me the man who, with the aid of my ruling principle, can do what is now fit and useful for the general good.” He refers to understanding or, what I would call knowledge, but I believe the principle encompasses more. I would state it this way: If we do not have the knowledge, skill, and resources to perform a given task well, we should abandon the work until we become qualified or revise the task to fit our situation.
This idea surprised me. It is bold and logical. A coward could not do it. I am reminded of a time when I should have applied this principle and didn’t. I was working as an Account Executive for a small marketing agency. The agency was struggling financially which led to layoffs and increased workloads for the remaining employees. I was assigned a number of projects and accounts far beyond what I could manage well. One coworker saw my workload and told me, “That’s impossible.” I knew he was right but I was scared. I was scared that if I didn’t say yes and try to do it, I would probably be laid off immediately. I did not have the courage to “abandon the work.” I should have talked to my boss and made it clear that I could not possibly do a good job on that amount of work. I said yes when I should have said no. There may have been unpleasant consequences but I believe they would have been preferable to the ones I experienced.
I began spending 12-18 hours each day at the office to try and get my work done. I taxed my body and spirit beyond their capacity and they began to fail me. My work became sloppy. After several weeks, the agency fired me. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. It took me years to recover my confidence and personal integrity. If I had said no in the beginning I might have been laid off but I wouldn’t have been humiliated and I would have retained my integrity.
Press Forward with Compassion
Frequently, when someone is trying to do good, opposition rises up to stop them. Aurelius warns us of the real danger we may face at such a moment,
“As to those who try to stand in your way when you are proceeding according to right reason will not be able to turn you aside from your proper action, so neither let them drive you from your benevolent feelings toward them, but be on your guard equally in both matters, not only in the matter of steady judgment and action, but also in the matter of gentleness toward those who try to hinder or otherwise trouble you. For this also is a weakness, to be vexed at them, as well as to be diverted from your course of action and to give way through fear; for both are equally deserters from their post, the man who does it through fear, and the man who is alienated from him who is by nature a kinsman and a friend.”
I believe this advice contains a true principle: When you are doing good and someone tries to stop you, press forward and do not let yourself be poisoned with bad feelings towards your opposition.
This week I had an opportunity to apply this principle. I have been working with others to build a Leadership Education community in my local area. I participate in a few online home school discussion boards where I frequently post invitations to Leadership Education seminars and events. This week a raging debate about whether the Leadership Education philosophy was good or bad erupted on one of these discussion boards. Things got very heated on both sides of the debate. One individual posted a sincere question, wanting to know if Leadership Education was a valid philosophy. I responded with my opinion that it was and offered encouragement and suggestions for how a family could investigate and decide the question themselves. Another individual responded to my comment with a personal attack. It was a difficult moment for me, but I was able to stop and think before acting. After pondering the situation, I was able to imagine how my attacker might have been feeling and what was motivating her. I decided to ignore the attack and remove myself from the debate. She had not diverted me from my course. She may affect the result I’m trying to achieve, but I will continue to press forward. As I continued to ponder the incident, I stopped feeling hurt or angry at her, and instead felt compassion for her. I sensed that she was scared and defensive. I doubt she is proud of how she handled herself. Instead of letting her actions poison my feelings for her, I prayed that she would be able to overcome her fear and find some peace.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Searching for Baby # 2
It has taken longer than we planned but we have finally been approved for adoption again with LDS Family Services. Most people don't know that for every baby that becomes available for adoption, there are 6 or 7 families hoping to adopt the baby. The statistics are not in our favor but we feel confident that our children will get to us somehow.
We found Isabel because my cousin felt inspired to share our story with a birthmother. We are hopeful that another friend or family member can help us make a connection with our next birth mother. Here's a link to our profile, http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/viewsingleprofile/0,12272,2133-1-5321-1-1,00.html
Please share it freely!
We found Isabel because my cousin felt inspired to share our story with a birthmother. We are hopeful that another friend or family member can help us make a connection with our next birth mother. Here's a link to our profile, http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/viewsingleprofile/0,12272,2133-1-5321-1-1,00.html
Please share it freely!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Kelly's Birthday
We celebrated Kelly's birthday Monday. Once again he asked for a soccer cake. I was bored with blue and white so I changed up the colors but it looks more like a basketball than anything else. Isabel wanted to make a candy poster for Daddy like the ones she's seen me make for Young Women. She's fascinated by a book called, "And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon" which is based on a nursery rhyme. So we wrote our own version of a silly rhyme for Kelly's candy poster. Isabel memorized it and has a little dance to go with it.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Lysomes, and Ribosomes, and Mitochondria, Oh My!
Today we made cell models out of play-dough and craft stuff. It was so fun! It all began yesterday when we walked past a Usborne book display at the Dr.'s office and of course I couldn't just walk past it. We left with, "First 1000 words in French", "100 Things to Spot in the Night Sky", and "The Complete Book of the Human Body". Isabel has been particularly curious about "the inside of the body" as she refers to it. I am very pleased with the book. Kelly had fun reading it with Belle last night and I was amazed this afternoon when I sat down to read it with her - she retained a lot of info. Her favorite organelle is the mitochondria which, she will tell you "gives energy".
While we were reading I remembered a cell modeling project from my school days and I asked Isabel if she'd like to make a model of a cell. I'm sure she had no idea what that meant but she enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I wasn't sure where to start so I googled "making a cell model". After reading a few different ideas and staring at diagrams I felt ready to start. We had a lot of fun and I suspect we will repeat this activity a few times. I usually struggle to "play" with play-dough but this activity was fun for both of us and now she's inspired and doing other things with all the craft stuff that is out on the table.
For anyone who wants to evaluate the accuracy of our model (I'm sure we made mistakes!) or who just wants to know, these are the parts of our cell models:
Cytoplasm - orange play-dough
Nucleus - red cotton ball surrounded by green play-dough (Isabel wanted her nucleolus to stay warm inside so it's not showing)
Endoplasmic Reticulum - long folds of blue play-dough
Golgi Complex - folds of yellow play-dough
Cytoskeleton - pipe cleaners
Lysomes - blue/light blue cotton balls
Ribosomes - small beads
Mitochondria - rotini noodles
While we were reading I remembered a cell modeling project from my school days and I asked Isabel if she'd like to make a model of a cell. I'm sure she had no idea what that meant but she enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I wasn't sure where to start so I googled "making a cell model". After reading a few different ideas and staring at diagrams I felt ready to start. We had a lot of fun and I suspect we will repeat this activity a few times. I usually struggle to "play" with play-dough but this activity was fun for both of us and now she's inspired and doing other things with all the craft stuff that is out on the table.
For anyone who wants to evaluate the accuracy of our model (I'm sure we made mistakes!) or who just wants to know, these are the parts of our cell models:
Cytoplasm - orange play-dough
Nucleus - red cotton ball surrounded by green play-dough (Isabel wanted her nucleolus to stay warm inside so it's not showing)
Endoplasmic Reticulum - long folds of blue play-dough
Golgi Complex - folds of yellow play-dough
Cytoskeleton - pipe cleaners
Lysomes - blue/light blue cotton balls
Ribosomes - small beads
Mitochondria - rotini noodles
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Fun Weekend
Here's some pictures from our weekend. My sister Jill's friend came to visit and we took him to greenlake, our new favorite place to enjoy nice weather.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
One for the Grandparents (click a pic to enlarge it)
I haven't posted any pictures for a while and I owe the Grandparents...
Books that changed my life
Insomnia is a great opportunity to catch up on things you’ve been meaning to do. I love the website: http://www.goodreads.com/. It’s fun to see what all my friends are reading and even better to have a record of what I’ve read for myself. I finally updated my bookshelves with the things I’ve read over the past few years – it was especially fun to rate them. Check out my list if you are curious. I included reviews of some of my favorites.
I used the rating system this way:
1 star – Not worth reading
2 stars – Ok but probably not worth the time
3 stars – I’m glad I read it, probably won’t or at least shouldn’t read it again
4 stars – Loved it, part of my personal classics lists, will read it again
5 stars – One of my very favorites, have read it many times and will keep reading it over and over
Within my 5-star category are a handful of books that have changed my life. I try to read these books every year. They are foundational to my family’s lifestyle and culture. They all support and compliment each other too. Each one calls for pretty intense and dramatic lifestyle changes. I consider it my life’s work to learn to live according to the principles in each of these books. When and if I do, I will be perfect. I’m trying to accomplish this with a small but consistent daily effort. I can measure the success of any given day, week or month by how well I followed the principles of these books. Here are my top 5 life-changing books:
1. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ
This is the central classic of my life. I try to read from it every day. I took Moroni’s challenge when I was 12 and my testimony of Christ has continued to grow throughout my life. Moroni wrote,
“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
2. The Bible
I confess I have not completely read this book. I am halfway through the Old Testament. I have referenced it my whole life and am very familiar with the stories and I love it. I believe it is divine. I am amazed at how many references there are to the Bible in classic literature. You can’t fully understand the classics if you haven’t read the Bible. I will have more to say on this book once I’ve finished it.
3. A Thomas Jefferson Education
My life is dramatically different because of this book. It was a major part of mine and my husband’s decision to homeschool our daughter. It is about much more than just education. It’s about leadership and the purpose of life.
4. Eat to Live
I don’t know how anyone can deny the author’s conclusions about the right way to eat after reading this book. This is not a theory or philosophy; its conclusions are based on scientific fact, proven over and over by more than one group of scientists or doctors. I believe it fits right in line with the Word of Wisdom guidelines taught by my Faith. I followed the Eat to Live plan perfectly for 6 weeks and the results were astounding. I lost 12 pounds in just a few weeks, my very severe acid reflux problem went away within a week, my painful shoulder tendonitis disappeared, frequent migraines vanished, I slept spectacularly, and my complexion rivaled Nicole Kidman’s. I know I’m enthusiastic by nature but this is not an exaggeration. Staying on the plan is difficult and I have not done it consistently. As I resumed my old ways, all my ailments resurfaced but they disappear whenever I follow the plan closely. It is empowering to realize how much you can control your health without drugs.
5. Money: It’s not just for Rich People
My family’s finances will never be the same. We’ve never been horrible with our finances but we’ve also never been great. We’ve struggled to achieve our financial goals. This is the first financial advice that has made a material difference in our lives. Here are some of results of our efforts to follow these principles over the last year:
· Eliminated all credit card debt
· Husband received a pay raise that was retroactive for the previous 8 months
· Husband received multiple bonuses
· Finally established a significant emergency savings fund that earns interest every month
· Increased our retirement savings rate
· Finally figured out how to control our daily spending habits
· Learned many new ways to spend less
· Have increased our charitable contributions
In addition to all of these fantastic results, we have clarity about our financial goals and are confident that we will be able to achieve them.
So what are the books that have changed your life?
I used the rating system this way:
1 star – Not worth reading
2 stars – Ok but probably not worth the time
3 stars – I’m glad I read it, probably won’t or at least shouldn’t read it again
4 stars – Loved it, part of my personal classics lists, will read it again
5 stars – One of my very favorites, have read it many times and will keep reading it over and over
Within my 5-star category are a handful of books that have changed my life. I try to read these books every year. They are foundational to my family’s lifestyle and culture. They all support and compliment each other too. Each one calls for pretty intense and dramatic lifestyle changes. I consider it my life’s work to learn to live according to the principles in each of these books. When and if I do, I will be perfect. I’m trying to accomplish this with a small but consistent daily effort. I can measure the success of any given day, week or month by how well I followed the principles of these books. Here are my top 5 life-changing books:
1. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ
This is the central classic of my life. I try to read from it every day. I took Moroni’s challenge when I was 12 and my testimony of Christ has continued to grow throughout my life. Moroni wrote,
“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
2. The Bible
I confess I have not completely read this book. I am halfway through the Old Testament. I have referenced it my whole life and am very familiar with the stories and I love it. I believe it is divine. I am amazed at how many references there are to the Bible in classic literature. You can’t fully understand the classics if you haven’t read the Bible. I will have more to say on this book once I’ve finished it.
3. A Thomas Jefferson Education
My life is dramatically different because of this book. It was a major part of mine and my husband’s decision to homeschool our daughter. It is about much more than just education. It’s about leadership and the purpose of life.
4. Eat to Live
I don’t know how anyone can deny the author’s conclusions about the right way to eat after reading this book. This is not a theory or philosophy; its conclusions are based on scientific fact, proven over and over by more than one group of scientists or doctors. I believe it fits right in line with the Word of Wisdom guidelines taught by my Faith. I followed the Eat to Live plan perfectly for 6 weeks and the results were astounding. I lost 12 pounds in just a few weeks, my very severe acid reflux problem went away within a week, my painful shoulder tendonitis disappeared, frequent migraines vanished, I slept spectacularly, and my complexion rivaled Nicole Kidman’s. I know I’m enthusiastic by nature but this is not an exaggeration. Staying on the plan is difficult and I have not done it consistently. As I resumed my old ways, all my ailments resurfaced but they disappear whenever I follow the plan closely. It is empowering to realize how much you can control your health without drugs.
5. Money: It’s not just for Rich People
My family’s finances will never be the same. We’ve never been horrible with our finances but we’ve also never been great. We’ve struggled to achieve our financial goals. This is the first financial advice that has made a material difference in our lives. Here are some of results of our efforts to follow these principles over the last year:
· Eliminated all credit card debt
· Husband received a pay raise that was retroactive for the previous 8 months
· Husband received multiple bonuses
· Finally established a significant emergency savings fund that earns interest every month
· Increased our retirement savings rate
· Finally figured out how to control our daily spending habits
· Learned many new ways to spend less
· Have increased our charitable contributions
In addition to all of these fantastic results, we have clarity about our financial goals and are confident that we will be able to achieve them.
So what are the books that have changed your life?
Friday, February 22, 2008
Roman Art
There's too many wonderful things to learn about and do! My latest obsession is Roman Art. I was very excited when I saw that an exhibit of Roman Art from the Louvre was coming to the Seattle Art Museum.
A few years ago I had the amazing experience of visiting some friends in England. It was a wonderful trip but I learned later what an opportunity I missed. I didn't spend any time learning about the art, history, architecture or other things I would be seeing in England before my trip. I was perfectly content with my experience at the time. It wasn't until I began to study art and history several months later that I realized how much art and history I had stood in front of without the ability to appreciate it. I was like a pig wallowing in creme brulee who couldn't tell the difference between it and Jello. I vowed to never make that mistake again.
So begins my study of Roman Art. I will be prepared when I come face to face with these treasures from the Louvre.
I started with a bunch of children's picture books on Roman Art, History, and Civilization. I've read through those and feel like I've got a basic understanding of things. Now I'm going to study the great Roman Classics. I'm getting my book titles from the list in the back of Mortimer J. Adler's classic work, How to Read a Book. The list is organized chronologically and includes what Adler considers to be the greatest books of the western world. He makes a compelling argument for reading and studying the books on this list. I hope to read them all. Right now I'm going to focus on the books written during and about the Roman Age. I'm beginning with Plutarch's Lives. I'll let you know how it goes...
A few years ago I had the amazing experience of visiting some friends in England. It was a wonderful trip but I learned later what an opportunity I missed. I didn't spend any time learning about the art, history, architecture or other things I would be seeing in England before my trip. I was perfectly content with my experience at the time. It wasn't until I began to study art and history several months later that I realized how much art and history I had stood in front of without the ability to appreciate it. I was like a pig wallowing in creme brulee who couldn't tell the difference between it and Jello. I vowed to never make that mistake again.
So begins my study of Roman Art. I will be prepared when I come face to face with these treasures from the Louvre.
I started with a bunch of children's picture books on Roman Art, History, and Civilization. I've read through those and feel like I've got a basic understanding of things. Now I'm going to study the great Roman Classics. I'm getting my book titles from the list in the back of Mortimer J. Adler's classic work, How to Read a Book. The list is organized chronologically and includes what Adler considers to be the greatest books of the western world. He makes a compelling argument for reading and studying the books on this list. I hope to read them all. Right now I'm going to focus on the books written during and about the Roman Age. I'm beginning with Plutarch's Lives. I'll let you know how it goes...
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