There aren't words for this one.
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...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Thanksgiving Obsession
Several years ago (when we still traveled for holidays), the night before Thanksgiving, our flight to Utah was cancelled. After a few devastating hours of disappointment I decided I better make sure we had some kind of a Thanksgiving dinner the next day. I rushed to the grocery store and grabbed whatever I could find. It was just me and my husband but that wasn’t going to stop me. In my world, you eat turkey on Thanksgiving no matter what. I had so much fun preparing the meal and Kelly and I had such a pleasant weekend together that we decided to make it a tradition. It’s been 7 or 8 years now (I’ve lost count) and we look forward to our own Thanksgiving every year. I love to cook but it’s time consuming and my favorite foods aren’t exactly healthy. So, I save the big stuff for holidays and Thanksgiving is the biggest food event of my year. We love to share the meal with family or friends but even when it’s just the two of us, I still go all out. Ridiculous? Maybe, but the fun is worth it for me and we never have a hard time finding friends to come share leftovers with us. That has become a tradition in itself.
Here’s my menu for 2007:
Core Menu
Turkey
Gravy
Stuffing
Rolls
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry butter
Appetizers
Puff Pastry Brie Melts
Side Dishes
Green Bean Casserole
Baked Yams
Fettuccine Alfredo
Desserts
Pumpkin Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
Drinks
Hot Chocolate
Sparkling Cider
Figuring out how to prepare and serve a full Thanksgiving menu all by myself has been an exciting challenge. To that end, I’ve created a series of documents that help me plan and execute Thanksgiving each year. I can't upload the actual documents but I'll post the text of them here. They include my
Recipes
Shopping List
Thanksgiving Day Schedule
It’s everything needed to plan, shop for, prepare, and serve my 2007 Thanksgiving Menu. I’ve tested all the recipes multiple times and they are my very favorites. You could do three things with this info:
1) Use it to do exactly as I do for Thanksgiving. If you’ve never done Thanksgiving before I promise this will save you a lot of work and stress. You might want to eliminate a few dishes though your first time around.
2) Customize my plans to your menu and schedule.
3) Just read them and laugh at my obsession. You won’t be the first.
UPDATE: I can't figure out how to post the docs and they are all in tables so they don't post well on the blog. I'll keep working on this and find a way to post the info.
Here’s my menu for 2007:
Core Menu
Turkey
Gravy
Stuffing
Rolls
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry butter
Appetizers
Puff Pastry Brie Melts
Side Dishes
Green Bean Casserole
Baked Yams
Fettuccine Alfredo
Desserts
Pumpkin Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
Drinks
Hot Chocolate
Sparkling Cider
Figuring out how to prepare and serve a full Thanksgiving menu all by myself has been an exciting challenge. To that end, I’ve created a series of documents that help me plan and execute Thanksgiving each year. I can't upload the actual documents but I'll post the text of them here. They include my
Recipes
Shopping List
Thanksgiving Day Schedule
It’s everything needed to plan, shop for, prepare, and serve my 2007 Thanksgiving Menu. I’ve tested all the recipes multiple times and they are my very favorites. You could do three things with this info:
1) Use it to do exactly as I do for Thanksgiving. If you’ve never done Thanksgiving before I promise this will save you a lot of work and stress. You might want to eliminate a few dishes though your first time around.
2) Customize my plans to your menu and schedule.
3) Just read them and laugh at my obsession. You won’t be the first.
UPDATE: I can't figure out how to post the docs and they are all in tables so they don't post well on the blog. I'll keep working on this and find a way to post the info.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Gift Ideas
Thanks to http://www.organizedchristmas.com/, I'm halfway through my Christmas shopping. I am always on the lookout for unique and quality gift ideas and have accumulated a list of favorite stores and websites that I think everyone should know about. So here there are:
Red Envelope
This is a great place for high-quality, sophisticated, and unique gifts. I often get ideas from this site and then find or make a less expensive version. If you do purchase from them the packaging really makes a statement. I especially love the "Shop by recipient" feature of the website. They also have a catalog. Some friends and I recently figured out how to make our own $10 version of a $100 Famly Tree display that they sell. I'll post a picture of my tree as soon as it's complete.
The Land of Nod
I first found this store at the University Village Shopping Center in Seattle. They have a unique collection of old fashioned toys, books, furniture, and decor items that you don't see everyday. Again, you can get great ideas here and then find or make it for less.
Constructive Playthings
A friend just turned me on to this site. Toys for kids that actually require imagination and activity. I found some reasonably priced items and some over-priced ideas. My favorite section is "creativity" (from the left hand list on the home page). I want to get the Monet Art Activity Pack Item #: CHR-35L and the Masterpiece Board Books Item #: CHR-4L. I haven't ordered from them yet so I can't speak to quality.
Discount School Supply
I found this site while looking for art supplies. They have a broad and deep selection of anything and everything you might find in a classroom. And I think their prices are phenomenal. They offer free shipping on orders over $79. I once placed a large order that included lots of heavy items and didn't pay a cent in shipping. I was very happy with the quality too. Get a group of friends together and place one order to get the free shipping deal. Love their catalog too.
Dover Publications
Fantastic collection of classic books for all ages and interests. My favorites are the Dover Thrift titles that sell for as little as $1 each. We often give "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens instead of candy and cookies to friends and acquaintances at Christmas time. Thanks for the idea Alyson and Steve! I also love their art activity books and coloring books for kids. And to avoid shipping, ask your favorite bookstore to special order any title you want. They'll call you when it comes in and you go to the store and pay for it there.
Amazon.com
Did you know amazon sells more than books? My husband loves the electronics selection. This is where I go to actually purchase many of the ideas I get from other places. I almost always find the lowest price on books here. With free shipping on orders over $25 it’s a no-brainer. We are also big fans of the site’s wish list feature. We keep an amazon wish list for each member of our family. Anyone who knows our names can find our wish lists and it’s a fun place to dream. There are some pretty preposterous things on my husband’s wish list. Check mine out if you’re curious: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1WZQ3DI0GLD5N/
One of the best received gifts we found here was the annual Mathematics Calendar by Theoni Pappas. Every day on the calendar poses a math problem whose answer is the day’s date. It’s a unique but not too personal gift for the math geek in your life. I’m surrounded by engineers and finance guys so I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of this one.
Creative Custom Lettering
If you're remotely crafty and want to give an inexpensive, personal gift this site has some great ideas. They specialize in custom vinyl lettering that you can apply to nearly anything. Last year I made and gave a couple family name signs like this: http://www.creativecustomlettering.com/inc/iview/257?idx=16&p=3236.
Lillian Vernon
This site reminds me of Red Envelope, but a little more focused on items for the home. I often see items I like from this site listed in Real Simple magazine. Great ideas and they have great sales too.
So I've shared my list, will you share yours? What are the best gifts you've given or recieved and what are your sources? I'm always looking for good ideas...
UPDATE: A couple friends have emailed their ideas to me:
- homemade jam (made in the summer) for neighbor gifts
- http://www.mindwareonline.com/ they sell "brainy toys for kids of all ages." Looks great. I'm excited to explore this one
- http://www.rainbowresource.com/ this looks like a collection of educational stuff (books, workbooks, science kits, toys, games etc.) I was especially interested in their Holiday and Gift Section, then within that, the stocking stuffers.
Red Envelope
This is a great place for high-quality, sophisticated, and unique gifts. I often get ideas from this site and then find or make a less expensive version. If you do purchase from them the packaging really makes a statement. I especially love the "Shop by recipient" feature of the website. They also have a catalog. Some friends and I recently figured out how to make our own $10 version of a $100 Famly Tree display that they sell. I'll post a picture of my tree as soon as it's complete.
The Land of Nod
I first found this store at the University Village Shopping Center in Seattle. They have a unique collection of old fashioned toys, books, furniture, and decor items that you don't see everyday. Again, you can get great ideas here and then find or make it for less.
Constructive Playthings
A friend just turned me on to this site. Toys for kids that actually require imagination and activity. I found some reasonably priced items and some over-priced ideas. My favorite section is "creativity" (from the left hand list on the home page). I want to get the Monet Art Activity Pack Item #: CHR-35L and the Masterpiece Board Books Item #: CHR-4L. I haven't ordered from them yet so I can't speak to quality.
Discount School Supply
I found this site while looking for art supplies. They have a broad and deep selection of anything and everything you might find in a classroom. And I think their prices are phenomenal. They offer free shipping on orders over $79. I once placed a large order that included lots of heavy items and didn't pay a cent in shipping. I was very happy with the quality too. Get a group of friends together and place one order to get the free shipping deal. Love their catalog too.
Dover Publications
Fantastic collection of classic books for all ages and interests. My favorites are the Dover Thrift titles that sell for as little as $1 each. We often give "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens instead of candy and cookies to friends and acquaintances at Christmas time. Thanks for the idea Alyson and Steve! I also love their art activity books and coloring books for kids. And to avoid shipping, ask your favorite bookstore to special order any title you want. They'll call you when it comes in and you go to the store and pay for it there.
Amazon.com
Did you know amazon sells more than books? My husband loves the electronics selection. This is where I go to actually purchase many of the ideas I get from other places. I almost always find the lowest price on books here. With free shipping on orders over $25 it’s a no-brainer. We are also big fans of the site’s wish list feature. We keep an amazon wish list for each member of our family. Anyone who knows our names can find our wish lists and it’s a fun place to dream. There are some pretty preposterous things on my husband’s wish list. Check mine out if you’re curious: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1WZQ3DI0GLD5N/
One of the best received gifts we found here was the annual Mathematics Calendar by Theoni Pappas. Every day on the calendar poses a math problem whose answer is the day’s date. It’s a unique but not too personal gift for the math geek in your life. I’m surrounded by engineers and finance guys so I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of this one.
Creative Custom Lettering
If you're remotely crafty and want to give an inexpensive, personal gift this site has some great ideas. They specialize in custom vinyl lettering that you can apply to nearly anything. Last year I made and gave a couple family name signs like this: http://www.creativecustomlettering.com/inc/iview/257?idx=16&p=3236.
Lillian Vernon
This site reminds me of Red Envelope, but a little more focused on items for the home. I often see items I like from this site listed in Real Simple magazine. Great ideas and they have great sales too.
So I've shared my list, will you share yours? What are the best gifts you've given or recieved and what are your sources? I'm always looking for good ideas...
UPDATE: A couple friends have emailed their ideas to me:
- homemade jam (made in the summer) for neighbor gifts
- http://www.mindwareonline.com/ they sell "brainy toys for kids of all ages." Looks great. I'm excited to explore this one
- http://www.rainbowresource.com/ this looks like a collection of educational stuff (books, workbooks, science kits, toys, games etc.) I was especially interested in their Holiday and Gift Section, then within that, the stocking stuffers.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Halloween
Isabel went through about 5 different costume ideas before finally settling on being an Angel. We were at the party store to look for a cat costume when we saw the angel costume. I asked Isabel what she thought about being an angel instead of a cat. She responded enthusiastically so I picked up the costume to check it out. It was only $10 which seemed reasonable - until I looked more closely. It didn't include wings, just a halo, and the dress was a flimsy, uninspired, piece of polyester. I noticed wing and halo sets nearby for $5. I said to Isabel, “Look at this angel dress. It’s not very pretty. Mommy can make you a more beautiful dress than this. What do you think?” She consented and we left the store with the wings and halo. I had a lot of fun making her robe. I had a general idea of what I thought it should look like in my head but I didn’t sketch anything out or make a pattern. I went through all of my white, gold, and silver fabrics and let that inspire me. I sort of felt like a designer, draping fabrics over her shoulders, tucking and pinning, and then sewing a little here a little there. It won’t win any awards but we were both quite pleased with the result. It helps that Isabel already looks like an angel. Forgive me for being a proud parent. Aunt Jill did her makeup and that was fun to watch. Trick or treating with our cousins, Luke and Mercedes, was a blast. Isabel and Luke really "got it" this year. Their excitement was catching. It feels like a second childhood for me.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Organized Christmas
This is on my list of top 10 websites that have improved my life: http://organizedchristmas.com/
This is my 4th year following the site's 6-week Christmas Countdown. My family's last 3 Christmases have been more peaceful, joyful, and meaningful than I dreamed possible, thanks to the countdown. I'm betting this year will be the best ever as I learn more each year from the countdown process.
This year’s countdown began 10/21/07 but it's not too late to catch up. It requires about 2-3 hours/week of work on Christmas prep and by December 1st, you are totally ready for Christmas. By nature, I'm an 11th-hour-addict but honestly, the last 3 Christmases, by December 1st, the only thing left on my to-do list was "enjoy the season". Try it, you'll be amazed!
The site has a sister site that I also love, http://www.organizedhome.com/. I especially love the section on freezer cooking. If you don't know what that is, you should. I find it euphoric to walk in the house from a day of playing tour guide for visiting family or friends, excuse myself for 5 minutes to take homemade lasagna from the freezer, pop it in the oven and then wander back into the living room to chat with everyone while the lasagna bakes. Within 30 minutes my guests notice the aroma of dinner cooking and start wondering how I did that while also realizing they are as hungry as they are tired from the day's adventure. I just smile and relax knowing that a delicious, home-made dinner is minutes away; relieved that I didn't have to persuade my husband to drag his tired body back out the door for takeout, and thrilled not to be wasting a week's worth of grocery-money on one dinner. And of course I share my secret with my guests – I can't keep something so good to myself!
This is my 4th year following the site's 6-week Christmas Countdown. My family's last 3 Christmases have been more peaceful, joyful, and meaningful than I dreamed possible, thanks to the countdown. I'm betting this year will be the best ever as I learn more each year from the countdown process.
This year’s countdown began 10/21/07 but it's not too late to catch up. It requires about 2-3 hours/week of work on Christmas prep and by December 1st, you are totally ready for Christmas. By nature, I'm an 11th-hour-addict but honestly, the last 3 Christmases, by December 1st, the only thing left on my to-do list was "enjoy the season". Try it, you'll be amazed!
The site has a sister site that I also love, http://www.organizedhome.com/. I especially love the section on freezer cooking. If you don't know what that is, you should. I find it euphoric to walk in the house from a day of playing tour guide for visiting family or friends, excuse myself for 5 minutes to take homemade lasagna from the freezer, pop it in the oven and then wander back into the living room to chat with everyone while the lasagna bakes. Within 30 minutes my guests notice the aroma of dinner cooking and start wondering how I did that while also realizing they are as hungry as they are tired from the day's adventure. I just smile and relax knowing that a delicious, home-made dinner is minutes away; relieved that I didn't have to persuade my husband to drag his tired body back out the door for takeout, and thrilled not to be wasting a week's worth of grocery-money on one dinner. And of course I share my secret with my guests – I can't keep something so good to myself!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
UW Campus is Unbelievably Gorgeous in the Fall
We decided to tour the UW Campus Saturday and we couldn't have picked a better day. I wish we had taken more pictures. We were astounded by the architecture and landscaping. The library's reading room looked like a cathedral chapel. The leaves are all changing right now and the effect was marvelous. It was a storybook day.
A Lovely Day at the Seattle Center - Umbrella's Optional
Friday we visited the Seattle Children's Museum with friends. There is a fabulous exhibit there now called Moneyville. It was a little over our heads but would be awesome for kids that can read.
The weather was gorgeous and after enjoying the Museum exhibits we basked in the sun by the Seattle Center fountain. Isabel's friend bought her an umbrella from the museum for her birthday (usually quite useful in Seattle) and the girls insisted on using it in the sun.
Thank You Grandma!
Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) is a favorite around here and knowing that, GranMary created this gorgeous dress-up for Isabel. Belle wears it as often as possible and doesn't understand why it won't work for church.
Happy Birthday Isabel!
Isabel turned 4 this month. We celebrated with family and friends. In preparation for the event I asked her what gift she wanted and what kind of cake she would like. I was suprised by her very specific answers: An ironing board and a pink and purple cake with polka dots and Princess Belle on the top. She was pretty pleased with the results and can't wait to turn 5.
Blueberries for Belle
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey is one of our favorite books. We got to live the story a few weeks ago when we went blueberry picking at a nearby farm. We even took a break to sit down in the dirt between the rows of blueberries to read the story.
Taking the Bus to the Library
The Seattle Central Library is one of our favorite places to go. It has the best storytime we've ever been to, fabulous book displays that are meant to be touched, stacks and stacks of books and adorable miniature modern furniture. We decided to take the bus with some friends this time--quite the adventure.
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