tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59149937247639823062024-03-06T21:35:05.795-06:00Journey to ExcellenceNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.comBlogger1430125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-65229992453449777262019-01-23T11:31:00.000-06:002019-01-23T11:31:05.463-06:00So What Does My Fitness Journey Look Like Now?<br />
In my last post I shot rocket launchers at Beachbody. I have reviewed that post, and I meant every word written. But one positive thing that came out of my Beachbody experience is that it gave me even more insight into what works for me in my fitness journey.<br />
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Facts:<br />
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<ul>
<li>I am not 25 years old.</li>
<li>I will, actually, be 48 years old this August.</li>
<li>There are things a 48 year old body should not be trying to do like a 25 year old body.</li>
<li>Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.</li>
<li>Don't try to fix what ain't broke.</li>
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And what this all means is that doing heavy lifting and harsh movements on my body was not wise and even caused some injuries that might be more than long term. I have a jacked up calf muscle and wrist all because I was making my body do things it really didn't need to do. I proved that I could do all of the workouts, but that doesn't mean all of the workouts were what was best for my body. When I looked back over the past five or so years and identified the types of workouts that provided me with the most joy, consistency, and strength, it was running. </div>
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But even with running I had to be careful. I enjoyed running when I did it consistently for about 30 minutes a day, or about 2 miles. I did not enjoy running when I was training for a certain run or trying to increase my distance or trying to increase my speed or when I was running with other people doing the same. That, I did not enjoy at all.</div>
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Once running became something I <i>had </i>to do instead of something I <i>got</i> to do, it lost its allure.</div>
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So after Christmas I bought me a cheap, compact treadmill (no bells and whistles) to have in my bedroom in front of my t.v. Yes, I enjoy running on a treadmill, especially when it's 20 degrees outside, while watching t.v. I don't dread it. I actually enjoy it. And, it gives me the opportunity to catch up on binge-worthy shows on Netflix and Hulu when I don't have the time to actually binge watch them. I just got caught up on <i>Game of Thrones</i> and am now watching <i>You</i>. I look forward to the time because I enjoy what I am doing. And some days, when I have just been sitting too much (which is most days because I work at my desk at home 6-9 hours a day), I just hop on my treadmill for a midday 15 minute speed walk to get my body moving.</div>
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Every once in a while I get in the mood for a strength routine. When that (rarely) happens, I get on Youtube and pull up a Pop Sugar workout routine (aka FREE Beachbody, because the workouts are virtually the same without the annoying trainers). I can do anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on what I am wanting to accomplish.</div>
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And when the weather gets nicer, I will get back out and run on the pavement. Fresh air is nice. And I like to ride my bike on the trails, so I will make that more of a priority this spring and summer.</div>
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Other than just taking the stairs, parking as far away from the entrance to a store as possible, and walking to in-town errands when the weather is nice, that's all I am doing right .... 30-40 minutes a day of low impact (because I am 47 years old, not 25) walking and running while trying to eat healthy 70% of the time. But that's for another post.</div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-33768378541524010002019-01-03T08:02:00.004-06:002019-01-03T08:02:31.361-06:00Why I Abandoned Beachbody<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.marshaapsley.com/no-longer-beachbody-coach/">Photo Credit</a></td></tr>
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My workout journey has been topsy turvy over the past few years. I have gone to early morning classes at the Y or other local gym, done home workouts either with television shows or dvds or off the internet, run outside, run on the treadmill, and ridden my bike. In November of 2017, against my better judgment, I allowed a Beachbody coach (who turns out had stalked me on Instagram for the sole purpose of signing me onto her "team") to talk me into signing up to be a coach. For several months, for my own accountability, I had been posting my workouts on Instagram. That is where she found me. I hate direct sales. I hate pyramid schemes. I always SWORE I would not do it. But, she made it sound great and, hey, I would be helping people get fit! If only that was the true intent behind Beachbody. They can say it is all they want, but what they really want is to make money. And you need to know that. And you need to know that you are only a dollar sign. And you need to know that you can get the same results without spending a penny.<br />
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The way the coaches get you is by asking you to join a Challenge Group. And, I am going to be honest. I loved the Challenge Groups ... both as a participant and as a coach. It is an online accountability (private) group where you check in daily and post your workouts, whether or not you have consumed the all-important Shakeology, and provide and receive encouragement from others. I actually have made some really great friends from Challenge Groups. I was so excited by the comaraderie that I decided to jump in so I could lead my own groups. This part of the process I really did enjoy.<br />
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I also didn't hate the Shakeology, although it is crazy expensive. Prior to using it as the protein in my daily green smoothie, I just used plain Greek yogurt. Shakeology supposedly has all kinds of other healthy goodness to it. And, I will say, I was healthy all last winter when every person around me ended up with every kind of sickness. But, could that health have been because I was daily working out and drinking lots of water and getting adequate sleep and washing my hands? Who knows.<br />
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So I signed on some friends because there are always friends who see what you are doing and want to have some of it, too. I was sincere with my friends when I told them that I didn't care if they bought a thing, that I just wanted to help them on their health journey and work with them. I still felt so guilty anytime I received a little paycheck from Beachbody because they had purchased something. I knew this direct sales thing was just not for me.<br />
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And I was not about to spend hours every day stalking strangers on Instagram, leaving stupid fake comments every day, then waiting for that just-right moment to ask them to sign on. I hated it. I wasn't good at it. And I wasn't committed to doing it.<br />
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It just wasn't for me. I knew it wasn't for me. But, I kept working at it, encouraging those few friends who were in it with me, and trying to do some of the things taught to us for our success. But, here are the things that happened that made me decide to cancel my membership and stop doing all things Beachbody for good:<br />
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* To my own personal coach, I was just a number. Once I signed on, she really didn't invest in me. I had to remind her to provide me with the next step in the first 30 days (there were certain things we were supposed to do). I asked to do a FaceTime call with her, and she seemed annoyed the entire time we were on the phone. I really wanted to be involved in a challenge with her and some other coaches and she poo-pooed me off, until it was down to the sign-up deadline and she realized they needed one more person (by the way, I was more successful than her in that challenge). When she talked of her "team", I was not one of her coaches included in it. I was a number making her money. Period.<br />
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* Once I learned the Instagram "tricks" (ways to stand in your video, where to position the camera, filters to use, catch phases, things to do), I couldn't stand to do it anymore and couldn't stand to see other coaches doing it. If you watch one of their videos in their stories, you will see all the coaches doing all the same things. They became so disingenuous that it made me sick.<br />
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* I listened in on some of the podcast/conference calls and there was one particular coach, a leader, who just outright admitted that she mind *ucks people to get them to sign up. She even colored her hair pink so that she could relate to others on Instagram who had pink hair and get an "in" to start hounding them to sign up. This was a turning point for me. She berated coaches who were doing Challenge Groups. She basically said that if coaches wanted to help people, then fine, but they weren't going to make any money. I was disgusted.<br />
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* All of the workout programs on Beachbody are the same. If you have done one, you have done them all. It really just depends on which trainer you can stand. Years ago I bought the 21 Day Fix dvds with Autumn Calabrese. What I realized is that every workout program is just a modification of 21 Day Fix. Some have more weights, some have more cardio. You can do all of those same workout moves for free watching Pop Sugar workouts on Youtube.<br />
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* Trying to prove something to ..... others? myself? ... I injured my calf and my wrists, probably for good. It all happened because I felt like I needed to post a video of myself doing something women my age probably shouldn't do but should leave to 20 year olds. Dumb.<br />
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* And the straw that broke the camel's back. Beachbody releases new programs a couple of times a year. They are given a release date. Then they are given an early access date. If you wait for the release date, it's included in your yearly subscription fee. You don't pay anything for it. But, if you want it early you have to pay extra. Even coaches have to do this! So, in order to promote a new program early, like all the other coaches, you have to PAY for the program when it comes out for free a few months later. I just never understood that! Sure, if regular subscribers wanted to pay for early access, then okay. But COACHES? Come on! And that, for me, was it.<br />
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When I decided to stop coaching, I never told my coach. And, guess what, she never contacted me about it. She got points for signing me up and, beyond that, she really didn't care. I made her a little money, but not a lot, so I was inconsequential. But I am sure my sign on was part of a challenge she was doing and she needed my commitment to earn her the points for whatever water bottle or t-shirt she won.<br />
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It is all ludicrous and a joke. All getting fit takes is a commitment to working out, in some way, for 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy and lean diet heavy in fruits and veggies, protein, and limited fats and carbs. Drink lots of water. Get good sleep. Practice self care. Period.<br />
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In a later post I will share what my workout routine consists of now that I have banned Beachbody from my life.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-53394170956197212342019-01-01T09:03:00.001-06:002019-01-01T09:05:26.013-06:00A New Year, the Same Me<br />
Happy 2019!<br />
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It is that day of the year where everybody is up extra early starting their new exercise routine, eating only healthy foods, cracking open the pages of a new planner and Bible study, and debuting their Word for the year.<br />
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You chuckle or roll your eyes, but you are doing at least three of these things. By the way, so am I.<br />
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So let's start with the Word of the Year. Mine this year is Lagom. It's the Swedish word for "not too little, not too much, just right". It's a concept of being, doing or having just enough.<br />
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So let's rewind to last New Year's Day. My Word was Might. And that's how I planned to tackle my year. And, I did. I worked out hard, I mommed hard, I traveled hard, I worked hard. And it was a good season. It prepared the way for this year. I accepted the Challenge I set for myself and succeeded.<br />
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But, I don't need to keep up that pace. I am at a place in my life where I can kind of sit back and enjoy my life without feeling like I need to prove anything to myself or anyone else. I have enough and really don't want more, from a materialistic standpoint. I have a wonderful family, flawed and all, to fulfill the socialization and intimacies needed in my life. I have great kids and grandkid(s), a wonderful home, and the means to live a peaceful life. Why muck it up with more schedules and expectations and stress?<br />
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So this year, it's kind of a "going back to the basics" kind of year with these goals ...<br />
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* as empty a schedule as I can muster<br />
* attempting to get in 30 minutes of cardio walking/jogging a day, either outside or on my treadmill with a little bit of strength training thrown in<br />
* working to put nourishing foods in my body, paying attention to my blood sugar, and attempting to reduce chemicals and too many carbs<br />
* drinking water throughout the day to keep my body hydrated and my energy level up<br />
* sticking to my budget I have so carefully prepared<br />
* saving money for experiences<br />
* having experiences<br />
* daily self care in the way of a glass of wine, an epsom bath, and a good book<br />
* priority of a good night's sleep<br />
* daily devotion to my job of which God has blessed me immensely<br />
* a chapter a day of the Bible with some thought to life application<br />
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And that's pretty much it.<br />
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I am going to do just enough, not too little and not too much.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-48212974974525884312018-09-10T07:49:00.001-05:002018-09-10T07:49:46.741-05:00Motherhood<br />
Being a mother is my most cherished accomplishment. I have made so many mistakes. I have failed my children, sometimes when I was doing what I thought was right and sometimes because I was being selfish and stubborn. I look at my four children and just swell with pride as to the good humans they are despite my many failures.<br />
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Whether it's one child remaining true to herself when those around her are conforming to the world and just thriving with humor and dignity no matter what she does, or whether it's one who has suffered through heartache and betrayal again to be in the right place at the right time to receive accolades for just being who he is and to keep putting one foot in front of the other toward his future, or whether it's one who loves her husband and little boy and future baby so very much and has stood her ground to be the best wife and mom she can be, or whether it's one who daily faces his fears and weaknesses and anxieties with integrity and dignity and makes them his strengths. These four are all completely different but so much the same in that they have made me who I am.<br />
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I thank God for loving me and trusting me enough to give me these children to love and to love me back.<br />
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And then there is this little guy who just lights up our lives. He is funny and willful and smart and sweet.<br />
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In these times of overreaching opinions and anger and criticism and discontent, I just choose to focus on loving these whom God has entrusted me. Being their mom and nana is all I need.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-41851825917814744462018-08-25T09:35:00.001-05:002018-08-25T09:41:23.543-05:00Week in Review and Life Happenings<br />
Welcome back! It's a new school year for us here at Journey to Excellence and lots is happening around our house.<br />
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Two weeks ago Dawson graduated from the Air Force Security Forces Academy and is now Airman First Class Suhr and a Defender in the United States Air Force. Kyndal, Brynne, Bennett, and I took a trip to San Antonio to be at his graduation. We are so very proud of him and his accomplishments!<br />
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While we were there, Brynne turned 13! We spent her birthday at the San Antonio Zoo where she got to feed the giraffes. The morning started out stressful waiting for Dawson to get his Orders, but once we got the call that they were in hand we were able to relax and enjoy our day.<br />
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Bennett LOVED the hippos! We had to go see them twice, and he always asks me to watch the hippo video I have on my phone.</div>
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We were able to bring Dawson home with us for two weeks of working in the Recruiter Assistance Program (aka FREE LEAVE). We have been so glad to have him home. Unfortunately, once he got home he realized that it was necessary for him to call off his wedding that was scheduled while he was here for these two weeks and end his relationship with Alyssa. It has been a very difficult two weeks for him and for us. This changed all of his living plans for South Carolina, so he and I are going to leave on Monday morning, take a few days of travel, and go to get him set up there.<br />
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In the past couple of weeks we have also learned some happy news .... Kyndal and Collin are expecting another baby! Baby Werths 2 is scheduled to arrive at the end of March 2019. Benny is going to be a big brother!<br />
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Speaking of Bennett, he turned two years old this past week! We celebrated his birthday Mickey Mouse style with a huge Mickey Mouse Clubhouse bounce house and Hot Diggity Hot Dog bar, and fun with family.<br />
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Eli and Brynne started school this past week. I am not sure how it happened, but Eli became a high schooler. He wants to homeschool through high school, so it's just the two of us. We learned last year that it is a relief to us to outsource some of his subjects. This year he will be taking an online Algebra class with Mr. D's Math, attending a small classical center for Biology, Spanish, and writing (IEW), and will take history and literature at home with me. We are studying the Ancients this year.<br />
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We started slow this week knowing that I will be gone all next week, so it was all about trying to figure out how to fit things into his day. Last year he developed a pretty good independent schedule, and seems to be following it again this year.<br />
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Brynne started the 8th grade at our local public high school. This is her second year there. Last year she did so great, got all straight A's (except for one pesky A- the first quarter of Science), played sports, wowed the teachers, and had a great time with her friends. She's back at it again this year. We were thrilled to learn that as an 8th grader she was able to take two high school credits this year. She is taking Algebra I and Spanish, along with her other junior high courses. Her volleyball season has just begun, and she is excited for her season.<br />
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I have begun to settle into a new routine. Since Brynne has to be at volleyball practice at 5:45 a.m., that has me getting up at 5:00, getting my workout in by 6:30, and ready to begin working by 8:00 a.m. I work in my home office until 1:00 p.m. when Eli and I do our history and literature lessons together. Then I head back to my office to work until I have to pick Brynne up from school and then again until I got downstairs with a glass of wine in hand to fix dinner. I am so incredibly blessed to be able to work from home.<br />
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It is going to be a great year here at Journey Homeschool and, generally, for our family. There are lots of fun and exciting things happening!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-58283951649774908882018-07-18T09:54:00.001-05:002018-07-18T09:54:54.361-05:00Wednesday Hodgepodge<br />
<div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 273px;">
<a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9TTBrIy0NqLHlnzJxZXWV2icEySWuyIg8c4DTNoVtuacFZemoXfkAxpEvu1IkF2dqbAV4NxMoVdYk4WEHFVqLuTifV298BTZYKlLAzSZCHMocng87imk1ZJyPFX-Gil78A3RrMBAVQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>
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The <i>Wednesday Hodgepodge</i> is something else I have missed doing. The questions are always fun, and the community at <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/">From This Side of the Pond</a> is great.<br />
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<h3>
I feel most energized when I ...</h3>
have a day equally laced with productivity and relaxation.<br />
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<h3>
Where were you ten years ago?</h3>
It's easiest for me to think about what my kids were doing then. Kyndal was in the 7th grade. Dawson was in the 5th grade. Eli was 4 and attending the developmental delay preschool. Brynne was getting ready to turn 3. We had been in our recently built house in the swanky neighborhood for just under a year. We had "arrived". It was a busy time for us. This was also the beginning of the end ... when things were getting ready to take a drastic turn. We were not where we should be. We were not doing what we should be doing. We were trying to be people we were not. I would have done things so differently 10 years ago, because this is the time that I can pinpoint when things went all wrong.<br />
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<h3>
July 17th is World Emoji Day. Do you use emoji's? Which one's your favorite? Your most used?</h3>
I do use some emojis, especially when I Instagram (I'm <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nikki_taulman/">nikki_taulman</a>, btw). I most often use the kissy face, the rolling eyes, and the wink. I love the American Flag, cause if it's been used it means someone is actually honoring our country instead of bashing it.<br />
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<h3>
What song would you put on a wedding DO NOT PLAY list?</h3>
"You Make Me Wanna Shout". I hate that song! I think good DJs stay away from that song.<br />
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<h3>
What deserves less of your attention? More of your attention?</h3>
I think the obvious answer for less of my attention would be my phone/social media. I mean, who really cares about what we are looking at? Really, I don't. More of my attention? More reading (and not anything on my phone). I learn so much reading, and I enjoy so much reading, and I can't think of a time that I am anything but happy when I am reading. I read in the evenings before bed, but I would like to get in the habit of more routinely grabbing my book than my phone to fill my time.<br />
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<h3>
Insert your own random thought here.</h3>
I have been a <a href="https://www.beachbody.com/">Beachbody</a> coach for the past 6 months. Although I am still very devoted to health and fitness, come back tomorrow when I write an expose on why I am not coaching anymore. Hint: Amway.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-88826370560450128752018-07-17T20:37:00.000-05:002018-07-17T20:37:02.556-05:00Daybook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many, many years ago I started participating in the <a href="https://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/">Simple Woman's Daybook</a>. It was here that I made friends, shared my soul, and started my consistent journey of blogging. I desperately miss blogging. This morning I felt pulled back to the Daybook. So, for today ...<br />
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<b>Looking out my window ...</b> This past weekend I moved my bedroom around, flip-flopped my sleeping area and workspace. Now when I sit in bed sipping my coffee in the mornings I can look out the window. Since I am upstairs, all I really see is a tree across the street, which is perfect! It gets me into nature first thing in the morning.<br />
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<b>I am thinking ...</b> about so. many. things. I'm a thinker, an internalizer. This is why I really need to get back into a consistent habit of blogging.<br />
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<b>I am thankful ...</b> for my life. That is truth. I have a home I love, a job I love, children who fulfill me, the most amazing and entertaining grandson ever, books to read, wine to sip. This is a good life.<br />
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<b>One of my favorite things ...</b> is my morning quiet time before the day begins.<br />
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<b>I am wearing ...</b> pj shorts, a tank top, and my summer robe. It's cold in my bedroom. I have to cover up in the mornings because it's chilly, but I have to keep it chilly because by mid-afternoon it will be 80 degrees up here, even with the air conditioner blowing at full speed.<br />
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<b>I am creating ...</b> the home I always wanted ... STILL! Next month it will be ONE YEAR since we started our renovations. It has been an awful experience, one I will NEVER do again! We STILL have projects for our contractor to complete. I had to get a different contractor to finish the job because it just wasn't getting done with the other one. Now we are mostly left with trim, paint, and finishing the new staircase. I know that seems so close, yet it is still so far away.<br />
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<b>I am watching ...</b> <i>Grey's Anatomy</i> on Netflix while I work. I am on Season 3. I loved Seasons 1 and 2, but Season 3 not so much.<br />
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<b>I am reading ...</b> <u>Beautiful Boy</u> by David Sheff. It's a memoir about his son's drug addition. It has been made into a movie.<br />
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<b>I am listening to ...</b> <u>Love Does</u> by Bob Goff. An excellent book.<br />
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<b>I am hoping ...</b> that we are able to find the right combination of things to help with Eli's anxiety. Some of it is just typical teenage boy stuff. But, he does tend to suffer more than the average person his age because he is just such a thoughtful young man.<br />
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<b>I am learning ... </b>that we can't successfully change to be the version of ourselves others want us to be. We can only change to be the best version of ourselves that God created us to be. I know I have spent a great majority of my life, especially in marriage, getting this all wrong. I am who He created me to be. I can't be someone else, especially for someone else.<br />
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<b>In the garden ...</b> No garden for us. After we tore down our nasty garage and redid our backyard, the gardening boxes came out. I am not sure if I will ever put in another garden. My dad keeps me supplied with tomatoes, and that's all I found myself eating out of it anyway.<br />
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<b>In the kitchen ...</b> I am teaching the kids how to cook. I want them to each have four full meals they can cook so they can each be responsible for dinner one night per week of the month. (Plus, their spouses will thank me some day!) Last night Brynne made garlic chicken and angel hair pasta with supervision. Each time she makes it I plan to have her do more and more of it alone until she is able to make it from beginning to end all by herself. It was DELICIOUS!! Eli starts his lesson on Wednesday.<br />
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<b>Shared Quote ...</b><br />
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<b>A moment from my day ...</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi262v5pSbsT6ITUhI_mFJkCzEyZlPDOQQGw7Wj3AdWN42Wo930ggKb3XS3rvskVQhIjLrALUo42AV_tvNXoz-b96M-ShDpHtbS23FPSCIjcYQbiYPGyHztlxhe69u2ZxbzHYyVspGMtIg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1435.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1574" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi262v5pSbsT6ITUhI_mFJkCzEyZlPDOQQGw7Wj3AdWN42Wo930ggKb3XS3rvskVQhIjLrALUo42AV_tvNXoz-b96M-ShDpHtbS23FPSCIjcYQbiYPGyHztlxhe69u2ZxbzHYyVspGMtIg/s400/fullsizeoutput_1435.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working from home is the best thing ever! I've never been so happy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Post Script ...</b><br />
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<a href="https://introvertspring.com/6-crucial-self-care-tips-introverted-women/">6 Crucial Self-Care Tips for Introverted Women.</a> Number 5 is a priority for me! I set an alarm to make sure I have a full 45 minutes to 1 hour of white space time (which means laying in bed with my coffee reading, journaling, thinking, praying, scrolling social media) before I get up and work out and start my day. And I go up to my room at 8:00 p.m. every night so I have a full hour to read, finish a glass of wine, reflect before I shut the light off for bed.<br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-60201954113993926482018-06-18T08:34:00.000-05:002018-06-18T08:34:49.801-05:00When Father's Day is Hard<br />
Father's Day is a tough day for me. It's the one day each year when I am confronted with all of my greatest failures, with my weaknesses. It is the day that I understand that my best is not good enough.<br />
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I spend the day thinking about all of the mistakes I have made in relationships, and owning them. But I also lament in the fact that many of the relationships were fractured when I was doing what I truly believed was best for me and my children, when I was doing things for all the right reasons. Maybe I was right, maybe I was wrong. I am sure it's been a little bit of both.<br />
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I am like anybody else. I just want to be loved and accepted for who I am, despite my mistakes, and maybe even in spite of them. Unfortunately, that has not been the case in my life.<br />
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So what do I do with that?<br />
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I try really, really hard to remember that God loves me unconditionally, and He always will. He will not leave me, He will not forsake me, He won't even be mad at me. When I am victorious He will be my biggest cheerleader. And when I fail He will say, gently, "well, that's not exactly the path you probably should have taken, but it's okay .. it will be okay ... I love you, and I always will."<br />
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I am thankful for such a faithful Father.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-53144800543542708772018-06-15T08:27:00.002-05:002018-06-15T08:27:09.300-05:00I Stand for Jesus<br />
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Several years ago a lady and her son rented a house behind us. Her name was Pam. She was a reading resource teacher at the elementary school. Although she and I were not ever going to sit and have a glass of wine together, I really liked spending time with her. She was into natural healing and foods, life as education, was a Christian woman. Her son was a nice kid and my kids enjoyed playing with him. She got married to a local man, kind of known for being a zealot, and they moved away.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago I learned that they moved back to town. She came into the library the other day and recognized me. She asked if we were still homeschooling, and I told her that Eli wants to homeschool through high school but that Brynne had decided to go to public school because she wanted to play sports and take advantage of the A+ scholarship opportunities for college. She told me she had pulled her son out of school, told me she no longer works for the public school system, and then almost yelled, "I stand for Jesus!" And then she started in on a rant. The phone rang, and I needed to answer it, so she just walked out.<br />
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What I wish I could have said to her, other than "Chill, lady" and "library voices" was, "Can you not stand for Jesus in the public school?"<br />
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And here is where I start my rant ....<br />
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I love Jesus, yes I do. I love Him when I am attending worship services on Sundays. I love Him when I am reading my Bible and devotional in the mornings. I love Him when we are serving the community with delivered meals. I love Him when I listen to Christian music on Pandora or when I am listening to a Christian podcast. I love Him when I am at the grocery story and I have just enough money to buy our groceries for the week and I know it's because of Him. I love Him when I just barely escape a fender bender or worse. But I also love Him when I am enjoying a glass of wine at the end of the day, when I am wearing jeans, when I am dropping my daughter off at public school, when I get angry or gossip or fail to forgive someone. I love Him on my good days and, especially, my bad days.<br />
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I don't just love Him and stand for Him when I am around others who think and act just like I do.<br />
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When we get to that point, we have missed the whole point.<br />
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Our public schools may need Christians more than any other place. We have children in very dark places, most times because of no fault of their own. We have poor children, orphaned children, divorced teachers, teachers who sin, maybe a custodian who likes children a little too much, individuals who feel crapped on by life and need a little encouragement and hope. We have many living in a fog of darkness and need just a small flicker of light.<br />
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If all of the "Christian" teachers step out of the public school because they think their religion or devotion to God precludes them from being around sinners, then we are sunk. And those "Christian" teachers are modern day pharisees who are not going to get any closer to the pearly gates of Heaven than me as I stumble up there in my jeans with a glass of wine in my hand.<br />
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What I really wanted to say was, "Lady, get your butt back in that school and spread the love of Jesus!" But, really, I guess I am grateful that she's not. She is not wanting to spread the love of Jesus. She is wanting to spread the legalism of her religion. And that's what turns so many off from the Christian faith.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-63036883238966653182018-06-05T11:47:00.001-05:002018-06-05T11:47:14.712-05:00Life Lately<br />
See, I told you that would happen. I would blog for a few days and then get busy. And now it's been a month since I last posted.<br />
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So what have we been doing around here?<br />
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Brynne finished her 7th grade year in public school. She walked away with Straight A's all year except for one semester grade of an A- the first semester in Science. She had a successful year in sports playing volleyball and basketball and is now two-thirds of the way through her summer softball season.<br />
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Eli finished his 8th grade year in our homeschool and had a very productive year. Although it was hard on both of us with him being home alone the majority of the time doing his work, it was also good for him as he learned what he is capable of doing on his own. One of the biggest things he learned was time management. And we can all benefit from a healthy dose of that.<br />
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This year I have really concentrated on teaching the kids some life skills, not only because they need to know how to do these things but because I needed some help. With working, I just did not have the time to get everything done at home by myself. And I shouldn't have to anyway. We are a family and should work together. Eli started being responsible for taking out the trash and recycling, and Brynne's job became unloading the dishwasher. They learned how to do their own laundry and are now responsible for doing it each week. They have to choose one day of the weekend and completely clean their own rooms, vacuuming and dusting and straightening, etc., and have to keep their own sink clean in the bathroom. These things are in addition to just picking up after themselves, which they have always been pretty good at doing anyway. This past week I taught them how to mow the yard, so they each have a portion they mow each time it needs to be done. They will thank me someday for all of these lessons. Next up is to each learn how to cook two dinners so that we can start sharing some of the responsibility for evening meals. What chores do your kids do?<br />
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I have been working from home for about a month now, and I love it! I have settled into a pretty good routine where I get up early to workout and have some quiet time, and then I jump right into my workload. I pretty much work all day, taking a break here and there to eat or step outside for some fresh air. It's a pretty good gig.<br />
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Although I have Eli's next school year pretty much mapped out, he and I have been discussing some of the specifics of his course load. He has also expressed an interest in joining some kind of coop so we are looking into a couple of options for fall.<br />
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Our summer is going to be crazy busy, as usual. We have softball games, medical appointments, library activities, a trip to Chicago for National Stuttering Association conference, Dawson's graduation from tech school, my niece's wedding, Dawson and Alyssa's wedding, Dawson's leave here at home and their move to South Carolina, a lake trip with friends, volleyball camps, and birthdays. The days are just flying by.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-41237944990222679252018-05-02T09:57:00.003-05:002018-05-02T09:57:57.580-05:00Go Get ItI'm not even going to lie .. I am so gosh-darn excited about starting my new job working from home! Recently I listened to the book <u>You are a Badass</u> by Jen Sincero. It's a little hokey-pokey advising you to tap into your "source energy" and the power of the universe, to manifest your beliefs, and to love yourself. But, really, the book is all about allowing yourself to be positive, have faith, take risks, and believe that good things will happen in your life.<br />
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Lordy, we have become so bogged down with 'ho hums' and 'I wishes' and have just resigned ourselves to the conclusion that all things are bad, we aren't allowed to enjoy our lives, and money is evil. We are a depressing lot.<br />
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I remember a time in my life when if I wanted something I believed I could get it and then went out and did just that. And then somewhere along the way I became a cynical, grouchy, pessimist allowing myself to believe that I was not entitled to happiness. Sadly, I think the church lulled me into a 'less than' attitude and one where happiness was replaced with 'joy' but only 'joy' could be achieved by giving all I had to someone else. We <i>should</i> give to others. We should <i>do</i> for others. But we have lost the ability to have balance! We have forgotten that God actually wants <i>us</i> to be happy, too!<br />
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God has blessed my life, and I am sick of acting like He hasn't. What a waste if I take the blessings but not use them and enjoy them. If I am not going to take advantage of them then He might just stop giving them to me and give them to someone else who will appreciate them. Hmmm ...<br />
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At some point in the past couple of weeks I just decided that I am going to live a good last half of my life. I decided that what I was currently doing was not what I wanted to do forever. I decided that I needed to go get what I wanted. And just as soon as I decided it was what I was GOING to do, instead of <i>hoping</i> to do, it was there. It all fell into place. I am getting what I want. I am one step closer to living the life I want to live. I will be able to have the future I want to have. I decided what I needed, and that's what I got.<br />
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From this point forward I am opening myself up to the possibilities in my life. It's going to be as good as I want it to be.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-21561813564336661162018-04-27T08:47:00.000-05:002018-04-27T08:47:19.992-05:00Things I Have Learned About MyselfI might have mentioned a time or two that this year has been one of transition. Boy, has it been. Last June I took a part-time job at our local library. I really felt that the job was exactly in my wheelhouse. It's a quiet place. There are books. The end. However, I learned some things about myself at this job, things I knew were true but didn't realize were <i>so</i> true. Next week I will close that chapter of my life to go back to working full-time at home doing what I started out doing 28 years ago, being a legal assistant. My how the circle of life turns.<br />
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What did I learn about myself this past year?<br />
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<b>I am not a people person</b>. I can <i>appear</i> to be a people person, but deep down I absolutely am not one. And all the energy I expel pretending completely wears me out. Like, I-need-to-go-home-and-go-to-bed wears me out. Small talk zaps me of my energy. I am not a talker, I'm a thinker. And when people come into the library, they want to talk. I just want them to check out a book and head on back home.<br />
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<b>The majority of library patrons only want to use the free internet</b>. This is one that has saddened me to the core. I would say 80% of our patrons only have library cards so they can come into the library to use our computers. We do have our regular patrons who are in at least once a week checking out books. But most just want to use the internet. Sad.<br />
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<b>Kids and teenagers are not interested in learning or participating in programs</b>. We spend a lot of time coming up with fun and educational programs for our children and teens. And they don't participate and they don't care if they <i>are</i> here participating when a parent has made them do it. But there aren't very many parents signing their kids up for library activities. Being a home educator, my LIFE is education. I get excited about it! I want everyone to be excited about it! There is so much to learn and experience in this world and so few want to take advantage of it. We are a "have to" society and only do what we have to do to get by. Again sad.<br />
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<b>The schools do not work with local libraries to get kids reading.</b> I was told at our local high school that they do not keep library records on how much or what the kids are reading. When Brynne started back to public school I knew that her reading time would take a hit. And it has. She doesn't read at all. Occasionally she will pick up a book at home. But, honestly, she is so tired from a full day at school that all she wants to do is veg out. Eli still reads at least 30 minutes a day, sometimes an hour, and listens to an audio book another 30 minutes to an hour. I have reached out to both our elementary and high school school to try to get some cooperation between us to get kids excited about reading, with no real response. Triple sad because non-reading kids will be non-reading adults.<br />
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<b>A great majority of people are entitled, hateful, and rude.</b> This I already knew. But I have to experience it every day. The IRS no longer provides tax forms at libraries? That's my fault. Our printer is down? That's my fault. A patron didn't turn in their dvds that were due last week and now they owe $30 and have lost library privileges until the fines are paid? Somehow that is also my fault. The Amish (who aren't supposed to use electricity) give me crap because our copy machine doesn't do what they want it to do? Yeah.<br />
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<b>If I wanted to be a video store I would put in a Redbox at my house.</b> I spend much more time shelving dvds than books. I want to make it a rule that for every dvd you check out, you have to check out a book and then give me a report on it when you return it. Read, people, please!<br />
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<b>I am too grouchy to be let outside my house for more than an hour a day.</b> All of these things combined make me a grouch because I don't like what I see in society. We are a bunch of technology-driven (hey, I get it .. we need technology .. I use technology ... I'd be sad without technology .. I wouldn't be starting this new job without technology), spoiled, entitled, angry, bored, zoned-out people who need to expand our minds, read, get out and get some exercise and enjoy nature. I need to not spend 5 hours a day around these types of people.<br />
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<b>I love my home even more than I thought I did.</b> I love being home. I didn't think I would miss it that much when I went back to work part-time, but I do. With the exception of some leisure travel, I could be in my home all day every day without any need to leave. We have worked hard and spent a lot of money getting the house exactly the way I want it and I just don't want to leave it. I love it, and I am so excited I get to spend every day there.<br />
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Working at the library, overall, has been a good experience. I do believe it is what I needed at the time. It has also allowed me to really learn these things about myself which will only help me in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to work there, but am more excited about the opportunity to go back home.<br />
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<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-5910286108105636132018-04-26T08:40:00.001-05:002018-04-26T08:40:16.744-05:00One YearIt was one year ago this week that my life took a different direction, and this past year has definitely been a year of transition. But, finally, FINALLY things are settling down and I feel like I am steering my own life instead of my life steering me.<br />
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The kids and I have settled into a good routine. The older two kids, who are now adults, are living their own lives. Our home renovations are getting close to being completed. I eased back into the workforce and am getting ready to start a dream job working from home. Spring is here, and I feel peaceful.<br />
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Life is tough and we spend so much time being reactionary as the world dictates to us how we should live. But I decided I was tired of living that way. I have to live with so many regrets based on decisions made while in those reactionary moments. I've often spoken about my "Florida State of Mind", which is the way I always felt when visiting my parents' vacation home in Florida. Things weren't that much different while I was there ... I still had activities to do with the kids, a house to keep clean, meals to fix, laundry to do. But <i>there</i> I was just able to breathe! I was able to sit on the back patio with a book and my Bible and my journal and my crossword puzzle and a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just BE. I was able to be present in each moment of my day. Daily life was simple: do this, then do this, then do this, then relax. Why is it that within a few minutes of being back home I was back to rushing and doing and grumbling and stress? Honestly, I am not really sure. I think it was just because at home I was doing a whole lot of things I didn't want to do for a whole lot of people I didn't want to do them for. And in this last year I have given myself permission to just STOP!<br />
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I don't follow people on social media who make me agitated. I don't say "yes" to doing things I don't want to do. I intentionally make white space in my day to just remain calm and quiet. I don't apologize anymore for being who I am. I have allowed myself to have the solitude in my life that I so desperately need without feeling bad to those who think I don't need it. I have made a priority in my day of the things that are important to me ... caring for my kids, taking care of my body with exercise and nutrition, enjoying my home, drinking a nice cup of coffee, reading, power napping, enjoying nature, enjoying quiet, taking a hot bath, sipping a glass of wine. These were all the things I did in Florida when I was there. These were all of the things that I had to squeeze back into my regular life when I got home.<br />
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I have taken out the squeeze, and I am happier than I have ever been. It has been a tough year, but we have to walk through tough times to get to the other side where it's good. And it is worth the journey to get there.<br />
<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-66098776671416442732018-04-25T12:38:00.001-05:002018-04-25T12:42:31.445-05:00New ChaptersWelcome back to Journey to Excellence. Tap .. tap .. tap ... Is this thing on?? I hopped over to Taulman Times for a bit, but it just didn't feel right, so I am back here to, hopefully, resume regular postings.<br />
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I hate it when people say that, when people do that. Because, usually, I know they are only going to last a week or two and they'll stop blogging again. Let's face it: Instagram, Snapchat, and other easy forms of Social Media have taken the place of the time-consuming Blog. And I might end up being one of those bloggers that annoyingly come back for a gung ho two weeks to just fade out again. But, I hope not.<br />
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What's been going on? Whew! It's been nuts around these parts!<br />
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We are still in the midst of our renovation, but starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I am desperately hoping that in the next couple of weeks I will be able to use my upstairs bathroom. Once that is completed then we just have some finish work to do. The final project will be replacing some windows and completing the upstairs library. Right now I'd just be happy with a nearby toilet.<br />
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Updates on the kids:<br />
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Kyndal and Collin moved back to Collin's hometown about 45 minutes away from here. It was hard to let my Benny go, but the town there is just nicer and the schools better. It was the right move for them, and I get to see them often. Collin has been promoted to an ironworkers foreman which is a huge accomplishment for a young man his age. I am super proud of him. Kyndal has taken a part-time job as a vet tech, and she seems to really enjoy her job. It also allows her extra time home with Bennett. Bennett has started attending an at-home preschool, and he loves it!<br />
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Dawson graduated from Basic Military Training for the Air Force last weekend and starts Tech School on Monday. While we were at graduation last weekend has asked Alyssa to marry him in a beautiful proposal on the San Antonio Riverwalk in front of both of their families and lots of friends. They are planning to get married right between Tech School graduation and assignment to his first duty station. Then they will be off to live their lives wherever the Air Force takes them. We will find out his first assignment in about two weeks.<br />
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Eli is finishing up his 8th grade year at home. With me working at the library most of the day, he has really had to step up this year and learn to work independently. I have been so proud of him! He has tackled some tough subjects this year with the help of online teachers, has done a lot of reading and listening to audio books, has drawn dozens of historical maps for geography, and has excelled in his grammar program (which has been a struggle for him in the past). Other than schoolwork he spends a great majority of his time on his Xbox. He still bowls in a league, with state tournament this weekend, and is getting to do a little traveling this year, which he loves. In a few weeks he is getting braces. But he'll be in good company because I am getting them, too.<br />
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Brynne has had an amazing 7th grade year back in public school. I just got her last progress report for the year and she has all A's again. She has only had one little A-, and that was first quarter. She is killing this school thing like I knew she would. She played school volleyball and basketball. And now she has started softball practices for summer league. She is running the Girls on the Run 5k this Saturday, and then we are headed to state bowling tournament. The girl is worn out all the time. In her spare time she likes to play Magic, the card game, and watch Friends reruns on t.v. She and I spend some time in the evenings watching shows together. We are enjoying Survivor, Masterchef, Rise, Timeless, and The Zoo on Animal Planet. In fact, she is thinking she might want to be a mammalogist and work in a zoo when she gets older.<br />
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What about me? I just handed in my Notice at the library because I have been offered a job as a legal assistant for an attorney out of Florida working remotely from home. It is such an exciting opportunity for me, and I couldn't be happier! Working, gaining some financial independence, being in my beloved home, being right there for the kids, having the ability to travel to see the kids wherever they live because I can take my work with me ... it's a dream job. I have wanted to do this my whole life. In my spare time (ha!), I am just taking care of our home, running the kids from here to there, working out and coaching some ladies through Beachbody, and reading when I can. I just don't need much more of a life than that.<br />
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I've got some things I want to share here on the blog in the coming weeks. I hope to see you here.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-56181908697647440682017-12-21T09:14:00.001-06:002017-12-21T09:14:53.346-06:00Life Lately<br />
Well, it's almost the end of 2017. And to sum up this year I would have to use the word Chaos. Our lives have been flipped upside down in so many ways, some good and some bad, with TONS of changes. Quite honestly, I'm just ready for this year to be OVER!<br />
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Instead of dwelling on the past, I am going to look forward to the future.<br />
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I have sure missed blogging. I mean, I have missed the old blogging of days gone by where I spilled my guts on a daily basis, shared EVERYTHING our family was doing, made some people laugh, pissed off some people, and really just bared it all.<br />
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Our <i>Journey to Excellence</i> blog has seemed to have run its course. The only student I have at home now is Eli and his days are so orderly and ordinary that we really don't have much to share there. My definition of Excellence has changed so much that, really, I am much more concerned with our family just living and being who we are than trying to live up to some subjective definition of Excellence. I don't know if we are Excellent. In fact, I reckon we are far from it. And, honestly, most days we are too pooped to work toward it.<br />
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So, I am saying "good-bye" to <i>Journey to Excellence</i>.<br />
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But I am saying "hello" again to <i><a href="http://nicole-taulmantimes.blogspot.com/">Taulman Times</a></i>. Starting in January, if you care to, you can follow us over there. If you don't, that's also fine with me. Let's be honest, when it comes down to it we who blog really do it just for ourselves anyway. And if you really want a daily dose of reality, follow me on Instagram at nikki_taulman.<br />
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<i>Esse Quam Videri</i>.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-37712611791039834402017-10-08T15:31:00.002-05:002017-10-08T15:31:45.362-05:00Journey Journal ~ The Past Two Weeks<br />
Our life right now is all home renovation with homeschooling on the side.<br />
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Let's start with the homeschooling. It's going so great! Every single day I tell Eli how proud I am of him and what he is accomplishing in his schooling. He is left on his own the majority of the time with a couple of hours of me in the afternoons with a one year old hanging on my leg. He is ROCKING school! I leave him a list of about four things to accomplish while I am at work in the mornings, and when I get home those things are done and done well! Pre-algebra, grammar, writing, reading. Check, check, check, check. When I ask him how things went he is smiling! He is smiling because he is feeling such a sense of pride in accomplishing hard things.<br />
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The last two weeks we have not touched geology just because I have, frankly, been too busy to plan out enriching lessons. Plus I am interested in it, as well, so I want to have the time to learn alongside him. Geography/cartography is a little easier for him to do alone so he is still working through that.<br />
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When we drive to speech therapy Eli reads his lesson to me out of Mapping Through Art. This sparks several discussions and usually has him searching the internet for more information or pulling up Youtube videos for him to watch and me to listen to while we drive.<br />
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Then Eli spends the rest of the week drawing the corresponding maps and doing the assigned activities. This is a neat program that he is really enjoying. The history of cartography is an interest of his, and he is not only getting a good education in that but is also learning a whole heap of ancient history and historical geography with the mapping. It's neat.<br />
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I did ask him if he is truly okay with our current schedule whereby he works primarily independently, or if he is missing our one-on-one time learning together. He said the he enjoys doing his work alone (hello fellow introvert) (and I don't take offense to that because I get it!) because he has less distractions. I also think he is seeing what he is capable of on his own. In the past everything has been done as a group, and I'm not sure if he really saw what <i>he</i> was doing. Now it's all him, so successes are all his.<br />
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Proud mom, right here.<br />
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So we will continue what we are doing until we feel that we should be doing something else.<br />
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What about Brynne? This is homecoming week at her school so she has gotten her first taste of dress-up days. She has actually dressed up every day, with our favorite outfit being Twins Day with her bestie Rilee. These girls are so fun. Check out the cool shoes I picked up for them on clearance at Rue 21 for $5. Score! And on Friday she found out that their Twinsies outfit tied for winning outfit in the whole school!<br />
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Brynne's volleyball team was in the homecoming parade on Friday afternoon. She is really having fun with her friends at school. She also went to the football game Friday night, which is something she has never been interested in doing.<br />
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She is continuing to do really well in school. She said she thinks most kids hate her because she is smart. She has found that she loves the German language, enjoys her history teacher and class, and is the fastest typist in all of the school's Keyboarding I classes at about 50 wpm (and it's funny because I made her take keyboarding and she was SO mad at me but she LOVES it!). Brynne is a great student, and I am certain her teachers are happy to have her in their classes.<br />
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Look at their cute class shirts ...<br />
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Other things going on at home? Well, the big one is that Dawson has moved back home for the next couple of months! Living in Dallas was just not a financial win for him, and I really needed his help on our renovations, so he packed it up and came back home. It's really nice to have him back!<br />
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Speaking of renovations, Oi!<br />
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This has been a messy week. Last weekend we tore down the eye sore that was our garage. I just do not understand what the previous owners were thinking when they erected that thing taking up the entire back yard and butting it directly up against the covered back deck. It, literally, looks like a tornado hit it right now with piles of lumber everywhere. And both my front porch and back deck are completely covered in building materials to keep them out of the rain.<br />
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We also tore down the chain link fence to make way for a new privacy fence.<br />
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Then on Tuesday I came home and our only bathroom had been completely gutted. We can still use the toilet and sink but we are now going to my mom's for showers. It's a tad inconvenient, but I just keep imagining the new bathroom we will have soon.<br />
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The attic renovations are making some progress as we now have some drywall up. It's taking great shape!<br />
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There is still so much more to do, however, and I am hoping that all of it can be done by Thanksgiving. My sanity has been tested, I can assure you. I have never taken so many deep cleansing breaths in my life. Lord help me.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-53724221286846325042017-10-04T06:12:00.001-05:002017-10-04T06:12:33.453-05:00Wednesday Hodgepodge<div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 273px;">
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<h3>
Have you ever spent time on a farm? Tell us a little about it. Have you ever grown your own pumpkin? Been on a hayride? Driven a tractor? Milked a cow?</h3>
I live in Small Town, Missouri, so I have been on several farms. I tried to grow pumpkins one year and ended up with one tiny one. I've been on multiple hayrides over the years. I have driven a tractor to help pick up hay. And I used to go with my high school boyfriend to a dairy farm while he milked cows on Sunday mornings. I didn't actually milk them, but I watched him do it.<br />
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<h3>
What's something 'younger you' would like about you now?</h3>
The younger me didn't understand what it meant to be an introvert. She spent her whole time trying to fit in with a bunch of extroverts because she wanted to be part of the "in" crowd. But she was always miserable. She looks at me now and says, "Ah, so that's what was 'wrong' with me. I didn't know that to be truly happy I needed to be exactly who I was and form friendships (albeit very few of them) with others like <i>me</i>!" She was always okay with being alone, hanging out in her bedroom listening to music or reading magazines. She likes those qualities in me now. I would be her best friend. She would like hanging out with me because I wouldn't have any expectations of her. I would just let her <i>be</i>.<br />
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What are three things you'd like to do more often? Three things you'd like to do less often?</h3>
<b>More often:</b> Have a night where I can just lay on the couch and watch t.v. until bed, read, have my laundry caught up and put away.<br />
<b>Less often:</b> that laundry, cleaning the kitchen (do we have to eat 3 meals a day?), vacuuming up dog hair.<br />
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<h3>
What's on your nachos?</h3>
black beans, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, black olives, diced onions, shredded lettuce, sour cream, taco sauce.<br />
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<h3>
What's the most random thing in your purse or wallet? Does it need to stay there?</h3>
A white chalkboard marker. No, it needs to go back to my daughter's because I swiped it from her house to use at work.<br />
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<h3>
Insert your own random thought here?</h3>
My life is so chaotic right now with the renovations going on at our house. I don't think people, even my family, understand how hard this is for me mentally. My son-in-law asked my daughter why I get like this. I am feeling the squeezing vice grip of not having any order. Everybody is walking in and out, letting in flies, tracking in footprints. The dogs are barking incessantly. Every room is filled to the max with things from other rooms. There are so many questions, so much noise. To a normal person this is no big deal. To an introvert with mild anxiety this is torture. I am not just stressed, I am completely drained. It saps me of all energy to the point that I do not feel good physically. It makes me bitchy, as I was told. Believe me, I know all this and I am even bitchier on the inside. I am trying to take deep breaths and remember that it's temporary, that there are those who have been part of hurricanes and floods whose houses are like this right now with no end in sight, and to look ahead to how great it's going to be when it's done. But it still affects me, more me than the normal person. So I just need everybody in my life to understand that and give me some extra space. I am looking forward to this weekend because after I work on Saturday morning I do not have anywhere I need to be or anything I need to do, so I can spend some time reorganizing and recharging. And it is much needed.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-55750582916464304222017-09-28T08:32:00.002-05:002017-09-28T08:32:40.931-05:00The Things I Do for Me<br />
It's 4:51 a.m. and I'm sitting on the couch with a blanket and my doggies having a cup of tea, and decided this might be a good time to share some of he things I do for myself each day. I have had a couple people ask what types of things I do to help myself be healthy, mostly in regard to exercise, but then I realized that exercise is only a small part of it. There are so many small habits I have developed over the years that work with exercise to help keep me on the path to healthy.<br />
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Several years ago I had this mantra in my head to "just do a little more" and the idea was to try to do just a little better all the time, nothing drastic. I know so many wake up on a specific day with this list of insurmountable new daily tasks to change their lives, and most of those days land on January 1. And then failure happens by January 15th and another year feels wasted.<br />
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As I think about all of my daily routines and habits I realize that these are mostly things I sprinkled in here and there in an attempt to do "just a little more" toward the road to healthy living.<br />
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So when I share my day don't be discouraged. I did not just wake up one day and start successfully doing each and every one of these things. And there are some days that I don't do any of them. I give myself a break from the rigor on the weekends. But I figure doing the majority of these things 70% of the time is better than 0% so I feel pretty good about it.<br />
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Here goes.<br />
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<b>* I set an alarm and wake up at 4:30 a.m</b>. This is a new one. It used to be 6 a.m. then moved to 5 a.m. and in the past two weeks has moved to 4:30 a.m. I am someone who needs white space. I have to have peace and quiet ALONE time. With a busy life, that's hard to find, so I purposefully wake up at 4:30 a.m. to take advantage of the peace and quiet. And, I assure you, I am alone.<br />
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<b>* I start my morning with a cup of hot green tea with Stevia and a few drops of lemon oil</b>. I am not going to go into the sciences behind all of my decisions, but I know that green tea is good for you and something about a cup of hot lemon water is supposed to do something great for you when done first thing in the morning. Plus, it tastes good. (I have found that drinking this tea before exercising makes me feel better than starting with coffee.)<br />
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<b>* Stevia</b>. Several years ago I stopped using sugar (for the most part) and completely stopped using artificial sweeteners. I use pure liquid Stevia that I purchase at the Amish store. It does take a bit to get used to the slightly different taste, but it's all-natural and I love it as my sweetener. I do still use sugar sometimes while cooking, but it occurred to me this morning that I don't remember the last time I purchased a bag of sugar. I have the kids using Stevia for the most part, too.<br />
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<b>* Early morning workout</b>. If I do not work out first thing in the morning, I WILL NOT DO IT! Period. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I run 2-3 miles at 6:00 a.m. after I have taken Brynne to volleyball practice at school. In the winter I run on the treadmill. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I attend a local workout class where we do <i>Insanity! Live</i> one day and <i>Piyo</i> on the other. There are evening classes I could attend on Monday and Wednesday, but I just can't do evening workouts. Can't.<br />
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<b>* Oil pulling.</b> Recently I started oil pulling with coconut oil for about 15-20 minutes while I am getting ready in the morning. This is just where you swish oil around in your mouth, pulling it through your teeth. This is supposed to pull toxins out of your body and help with dental health. Whether it works, I don't know, but it's harmless so I do it. I heat my oil for 10 seconds before I begin swishing and spit it out in the trash when I am done.<br />
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<b>* Green smoothies.</b> For breakfast each day I make myself and Kyndal a green smoothie. Ours include Greek yogurt, spinach, half an avocado, frozen mixed berries, half a banana, flaxseeds, oats, and a splash of extra virgin olive oil.<br />
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<b>* Coffee</b>. I do drink coffee after I get done working out in the morning. As I am walking out the door to work I blend my coffee, some milk, Stevia, and a tablespoon of coconut oil. It's so yummy.<br />
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<b>* Lunch.</b> This is where I can easily fall apart because I love lunch foods! And lunch is the meal that I want to pig out. And I am usually starving because I don't get to eat lunch until 1:30 p.m. and am not patient to make something healthy that takes any time. If I'm going to fail, it's going to be here. I try to eat some soup, or some crackers and hummus with fruit, or some tuna, or a wrap. I have to pay very close attention at this time of day. I do think I would like to start juicing and having a veggie juice with my lunch each day. I am researching that right now (again "just a little more"). And I am thinking I will just go back to purchasing Lean Cuisine meals to heat up at lunch on those days that I feel like grabbing something crappy instead because of time and starvation.<br />
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<b>* Dinner</b>. At dinner I allow myself to eat whatever we are having as a family. We don't get too out there for dinner, but usually just eat pretty simple things. I try to always have a protein, a carb (usually a small pasta or potato), and everybody has to have a veggie and usually some fruit. I like mine steamed, but Eli likes raw carrots and Brynne likes raw mini colored peppers. I try to stick to the healthiest foods as possible, but I really don't go overboard because of time and laziness.<br />
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<b>* Water</b>. We are a water-drinking family. In fact, I hardly ever buy soda or tea. We do have apple juice available at most times, but the kids are only allowed one glass per day. And there is always milk, but nobody really just drinks milk. We drink water. I try really hard to drink 60-90 ounces of water each day. I drink out of my 30 ounce Yeti and attempt to drain it three times a day.<br />
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<b>* We do as much nothing in the evenings as we can, weekends, too</b>. Brynne plays sports so we do have games to attend. But on the nights and weekends that we don't have something like that on the calendar, we just veg out at home. We are all homebodies and introverts and we thoroughly enjoy our quiet time. Most evenings/weekends we will all be in our own rooms doing our own thing. There are a few television shows that we like to watch together as a family, so we do that regularly. But when they are over we separate again.<br />
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<b>* Early bedtimes are important!</b> I get up at 4:30 a.m. Brynne gets up at 5:30 a.m. most days. So we are ready for bed early! She is asleep by 8:00 p.m. most nights and I do my best to be in bed reading by 9:00 p.m. My goal is to have the lights off at 9:30 p.m. so I can, hopefully, get a full 7 hours of sleep. Ideally I would like 8 hours, but try as I might I cannot get everything done in the evenings and to bed in time to be asleep by 8:30 p.m. Eli has a different schedule than us because he homeschools, so he goes to bed at 10:30 p.m. and gets up each morning at about 9:00 a.m.<br />
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<b>* Right before bed I take a hot bath.</b> This is something new I started about a month ago. I am not really a bath girl, but I have read about the health benefits of taking a steaming bath at the end of the day with 2 cups of epsom salts and some lavender oil. This is supposed to draw out all of the toxins from your body from the day. The goal is to last 12-20 minutes, and that's about all I can take. By that time I am sweating profusely and am so hot and tired. But, I will say, that when I get in bed right after that I am more relaxed than I have ever been in my life, and when I am ready to shut off the light I fall instantly asleep.<br />
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<b>* After my bath I do not add any chemicals to my skin.</b> I do not put on deodorant or lotion. I do not moisturize my face (although I am looking into non-toxic facial moisturizers at this time). I figure that I am giving my body a break of about 8-9 hours of chemicals while I sleep. Somehow that makes me feel better. I do wear deodorant after my shower in the morning, and I do completely moisturize my body, as well. I am also a huge fan of Bath and Body Works body fragrance sprays and completely cover myself with them each morning. I wear makeup that contains toxins. No matter how "green" I try to get with my cleaning products, those toxins are still there. This is my little bit of care I give myself at the end of the day to help counter-balance some of that.<br />
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<b>* I end my day reading.</b> My goal used to be to read 50 pages a night. Now I am usually too tired to do that. So I try to get in about 30 minutes of reading. As I start to read the last chapter I chew a Melatonin gummy and shut off the light. And BOOM I am asleep.<br />
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Mindfulness is a big word for me these days. To do all of these things I have listed, I have to be mindful. These things take a schedule, and a pretty strict one, at that. Like I said, I try to do all of this about 70% of the time. So I don't feel bad when I don't get it done the other 30%. It takes a lot of planning. And when we are on vacation, all bets are off. Again, these are not things that I woke up one day and said, "I am going to start doing every one of these things starting today!" Nope. Many are things I started doing years ago, and I have added in new things even as early as a couple of weeks ago. If something is not working, I stop doing it and try something else that does work. So far, at this stage in my life, these things are all working for me.<br />
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I feel better physically and mentally than I have in years. I feel healthy, am well-rested, and am satisfied and not deprived. It's all good.<br />
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<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-50421069831020688812017-09-27T06:00:00.000-05:002017-09-27T06:00:34.197-05:00Wednesday Hodgepodge<div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 273px;">
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<h3>
What pets did you have growing up? Tell us a little something about them.</h3>
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We had various dogs, a couple of cats, a bunny for a night, and a pig for a night. Our longest running pets were Squeaky, my dog who hated everybody but me and hid under the couch all the time and snapped at everyone; Frisky, my brother's sheltie mix who was such a love; Cassie, the stray cat we fed behind my parents' back and then kept; and then her kitten, Battle Cat (named after HeMan that my brother LOVED). Battle Cat was such a big baby and still nursed to go to sleep off his mama when he was a grown cat. Cassie disappeared one day and Battle Cat was so distraught we had to give him away.<br />
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<h3>
What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?</h3>
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You know, this is the first day in many, many days where I don't have ANYTHING I must accomplish! So if I had to choose something, I guess I would say getting some one-on-one schoolwork done with Eli. He's been doing an abundance of independent work while I have been putting in some extra hours at the library. He has done so great, and I am so incredibly proud of him! But I miss our couch time reading and activities.</div>
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<h3>
Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?</h3>
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It was actually almost exactly 10 years ago (like within a week or two) that we were moving into our newly built custom home in Owasso, Oklahoma. What were we doing there? Making the biggest mistake ever.</div>
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<h3>
September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, Xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi ... which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?</h3>
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First of all I thought that said National DUMPING Day. Knowing what it really says changes my answer dramatically! (lol!) Chicken and dumplings would be my choice. I have made them homemade before, but really I just prefer dropping some cut up refrigerated biscuits into my creamy homemade thick chicken soup and serving it over rice.</div>
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<h3>
<i>There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.</i> ~ William Trogdon. So which kind are you?</h3>
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I do love to find adventure, even though I am not extremely adventurous. That's not really true. I love adventure, I'm just not a thrill-seeker. I love to dig deep and find meaning and history and hidden treasure.</div>
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<h3>
Insert your own random thought here.</h3>
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Exciting news .... Dawson is moving back home for the next couple of months! He has been living in Dallas and, financially, it is just not the best situation. Since our contractor could use an extra pair of hands to help him finish our attic renovation, Dawson has taken me up on my offer to move back home until it's completed. He will get to live back home for free, save any money he can (he's hoping to go back to his former job part-time), and get everything prepared to get enlisted into the Air Force. We are very happy to have him coming back home, especially for his birthday and the upcoming holidays. This is a win-win situation for all of us.</div>
Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-74388677850702195742017-09-24T19:44:00.003-05:002017-09-24T19:44:50.258-05:00Journey Journal ~ Banned Books Week Kickoff<br />
I feel like I say the same thing every week ... life is CRAZY! I truly feel like we are just making it through each day. Thankfully, when I look back at our planner I realize that Eli has managed to get the majority of his schoolwork completed despite our wacky schedule. I am incredibly proud of how he has managed his work with the chaos.<br />
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There were no photos taken this week. Most of Eli's work was standard stuff .. math, grammar, reading, writing, drawing maps, watching geology videos, etc.<br />
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But, on Friday evening my library hosted a Banned Books Party to kick off Banned Books Week that begins today and runs through September 30th.<br />
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We discussed the history of banning books, including burnings and imprisonment, and current challenges and bans. We took some fun photos, had themed snacks, played Banned Book Bingo, and made posters to hang in our schools and community businesses. Eli and Brynne attended, and we had a good time. We are hoping that our party, posters, and wearing stickers will help educate others as to the importance of our fREADom to read without censorship.<br />
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<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-19715783931483655612017-09-20T05:02:00.002-05:002017-09-20T05:02:17.840-05:00Wednesday Hodgepodge<div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 273px;">
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It's Tuesday night and I'm preparing my Wednesday Hodgepodge answers. I really should be going to bed because I am, seriously, so tired I could cry. But, I just feel like I need some quiet time, some reflecting time, some time to do something I want to do instead of something I have to do.<br />
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So let's dig into this week's questions ...<br />
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What's something you'd rate a 10/10? Tell us why.</h3>
Why this immediately came to my mind I will never know, but instantly I thought of the Monster Cookie from Cheddar's. You order it with your meal because it is made fresh and takes time. A large chocolate chip cookie is baked in a small cast iron skillet and then topped with ice cream, hot fudge, whipped topping ... you get the point. Heaven. Pure Heaven.<br />
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<h3>
What job would you be terrible at? What makes you think so?</h3>
Any job where I had to be calling people on the phone. I was just thinking about this tonight. Kyndal just got a job as an administrative assistant and her first task was to call around to try to find some businesses to partner with the medical clinic where she works to provide shoes for needy kids. I would hate having to do that! But she loves it, which is awesome.<br />
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<h3>
When did you last take a fall? What's something you're falling for (in a good way) these days?</h3>
In May I fell down the two steps from our kitchen to the back door. The next day I felt like someone had taken me into a back alley and kicked the you-know-what out of me. I could hardly breathe or move. What am I falling for these days? The upcoming Fall television lineup. I love it when all my shows, and new ones I don't even know I love yet, get started back up. I can't wait to sit and watch my favorites.<br />
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<h3>
According to the Travel Channel, here are some of America's best fall festivals ... National Apple Harvest Festival (near Arendtsville, Pennsylvania, close to Gettysburg), Harvest on the Harbor (Portland, Maine), German Village Festival (Columbus, Ohio), Wellfleet Oyster Fest (Cape Cod), and Wine and Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe, New Mexico). Have you ever been to any of the festivals listed? Which one appeals to you most? Does your hometown have any sort of fall celebration, and if so will you make it a point to attend?</h3>
I have never gone to any of these fall festivals, but I think the National Apple Harvest Festival appeals to me most. Our town has a festival called Septemberfest which is Labor Day weekend. I attended more of the festivities this year than I have in year's past. I ran in the memorial 5k, went to the "beer garden" (which is really just a blocked off part of town by the liquor store where they put up a grandstand and have bands come play), and went to the Stroll in the Park which is a wine stroll. That was so much fun! I wish I would have been a tad cooler, but the yummy wines cooled me off!<br />
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<h3>
What is your goodbye message to summer?</h3>
"You know how much I detest you and your steamy ways, so good riddance!"<br />
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<h3>
Insert your own random thought here.</h3>
It's now 4:30 a.m. and I am finishing up this week's questions with coffee in hand. What do you do for white space in your day? Or are you someone who even needs it? I need it. I need to be able to sit and just stare into space, doing nothing, with a cup of coffee in hand (or a glass of wine when it's late in the day). I have found myself scheduled to the minute the past four weeks, and it takes its toll on me mentally and physically. I crave peace and quiet, no light and no noise. And those are things I do not get much of these days. I am praying that this is only a season and that things will calm down just a bit. I have said 'no' to as much as I can, and the things I have said 'yes' to are necessary things. What do you do to protect your inner sanctuary of sanity and peace? Getting up early is the only thing I can really think of to do right now to carve out a little extra quiet time. Any other suggestions?Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-13944553101105549642017-09-19T06:18:00.001-05:002017-09-19T06:18:04.771-05:00Our Schedule<br />
This year we have found ourselves with a completely new schedule. This has proven to be a real adjustment for us. Having one child re-enter public school for the first time in 8 years, having me start a part-time job, and having Bennett here every afternoon has shaken us up a bit. But, we are starting to get into a groove and hope to actually get it more perfected soon, especially after our home renovations are complete.<br />
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So far, this is how things look for us:<br />
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4:30 a.m. Mom is up and dressed for a cup of coffee.<br />
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5:15 a.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Brynne gets up to get ready for 6 a.m. volleyball practice and Mom goes to work out at her Insanity class. (Brynne gets a ride from a friend on these days).<br />
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5:30 a.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Brynne gets up to get ready for 6 a.m. volleyball practice.<br />
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5:45 a.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Mom takes Brynne to practice.<br />
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6:00 a.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays Mom runs.<br />
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6:30 a.m. Mom is home for some coffee and a shower to get ready for the day.<br />
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7:15 a.m. Mom makes smoothies for herself and Kyndal who will be by soon to drop off her dog Chloe for us to watch while she's at work.<br />
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7:45 a.m. Mom is at work and Brynne is now starting school.<br />
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9:00 a.m. Eli is up for breakfast and a shower.<br />
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10:00 a.m. Eli starts independent work at home alone. He typically does his pre-algebra, writing, grammar, and reads out of a book of his choice. He takes lunch at 12:30 p.m.<br />
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1:00 p.m. Mom goes to pick Bennett up from Gamma who has been watching him all morning and brings him home. Then she has lunch.<br />
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1:30 p.m. Mom and Eli do schoolwork together. This is usually finishing up anything not completed in the morning, most often grammar, and then working on geology and/or geography/cartography and doing read alouds.<br />
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Somewhere in here Bennett takes a nap. (fingers crossed)<br />
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3:00 p.m. Mom picks Brynne up from school.<br />
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4:00 p.m. Eli completes school.<br />
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4:30 p.m. Mom starts on dinner and straightens up the house from a hectic day. House renovation comes to a conclusion for the day. Somebody comes to pick up Bennett and Chloe.<br />
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Evenings: We try to eat dinner around 5:30 p.m. and hope that it's a night that we are home with nothing to do. But, Brynne has volleyball games a couple of nights a week so those are factored in.<br />
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7:00 p.m. Mom starts getting things ready for the next day: gets Brynne's gym and school bags packed, gets clothes out for the next day, prepares coffee pot, gets everyone their vitamins, picks up house, maybe does a load of laundry, gets Eli's assignments for the next day prepared.<br />
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8:00 p.m. Brynne goes to bed and Mom takes a hot bath with a glass of wine.<br />
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8:30 p.m. (again, fingers crossed) Mom gets in bed to do a little reading.<br />
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10:30 p.m. Mom and Brynne and all dogs are peacefully sleeping, Eli goes to bed.<br />
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And then we do it all over again.<br />
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Getting up at 4:30 a.m. is tough, but I am naturally a morning person so once I am up I am usually fine. I am thinking about pushing it back to 4:00 a.m., though, to give me just that extra time I need to sit in the quiet and do nothing (maybe blog!) before I hit the ground running. The only problem is that I do not know if I can successfully get myself to bed early enough at night to get in enough hours of sleep. I am still doing some tweaking.<br />
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This is us. What about you?Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-33159813074804032332017-09-15T19:25:00.001-05:002017-09-15T19:25:41.471-05:00Journey Journal ~ Sick<br />
It stinks because I have really intended to get back into a more regular schedule of blogging, one where I blog about the weekend on Monday, do Wednesday Hodgepodge, blog about a family event on Thursday, and then do our Journey Journal on Friday or Saturday. But, life! Yikes! Adding in a part-time job, a child attending an actual school building and playing sports, and a home renovation has completely zapped me of all extra time! I already get up at 5:00 a.m. but have found that I hit the floor running and don't stop until I collapse into bed at night. I'm considering getting up at 4:00 a.m. from now on just so I can regain some of that white space I have lost.<br />
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This week we added Bennett back into our mix now that Kyndal has started her new job. I pick him up from my mom's as soon as I get off work at 1:00 p.m. and take him home with me for the afternoon until his mama or daddy gets off to pick him up. It's made it a little more difficult for Eli and I to get some school time together, but we just make sure we take advantage of his nap time.<br />
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On top of all of that craziness, all three of us ended up sick with fevers yesterday. I couldn't go to work; Brynne couldn't go to school; and Eli couldn't do any schoolwork. We each stayed in our beds all day. Finally by the evening we were starting to feel a little better. Brynne and I recovered enough to get to school and work today, and Eli did some math work in bed since he was still feeling under the weather.<br />
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What did we accomplish before we all crashed an burned? Not a whole lot, to be honest. We only completed two of our four days of grammar, missed a rotation in writing, and only read out of our books one day. Eli worked hard on pre-algebra, but is a little behind so is going to have to do some catch up this weekend.<br />
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We didn't get as much done in geography and geology. Eli read and learned about Ptolemy and drew the boot of Italy. In geology he watched a video about snowflakes, read the book <u>Snowflake Bentley</u> (we still love picture books), looked up photographs of Bentley's snowflakes the internet, and then made some Borax snowflakes of our own.<br />
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Eli also picked away at a Crystal Mining block I bought at Hobby Lobby years ago. It wasn't as easy as we thought it would be, and so far he has only found a rose quartz. We'll keep working on it when we are feeling better to see what we can unearth.<br />
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Meanwhile, Brynne is chugging away at school and seems to enjoy it. She went to her first volleyball tournament and game this week. She played really good, and I was very proud of her!<br />
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We are certainly hoping for a smoother week this next week.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-20295067522704861532017-09-10T22:26:00.001-05:002017-09-10T22:26:10.654-05:00Journey Journal ~ A FAIRly good week!<br />
For the past two weekends we have enjoyed some local fall festivals. Our town's Septemberfest was last weekend and the Fall Festival in the town where Kyndal and Collin graduated from high school was this weekend. We attended baby contests, wee queen contests, carnivals, 5Ks, wine strolls, and more. We have had a lot of fun, but we are certainly worn out!<br />
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In between the fairs we had schoolwork to do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map tracing ... awesome!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEpjEz_JQy0TZrCikrRbmQOnUIqZbIPPSnr7STyKOYZLs97TcdMnSFzJf2omLWAWOLCvX0gUamxRaQ3nk9Ry-MKMwiscch0_x-thbzJB-Q_ULrBh0M1cy-DvvG7m2_zn7Gvt3GnJEse8/s1600/IMG_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEpjEz_JQy0TZrCikrRbmQOnUIqZbIPPSnr7STyKOYZLs97TcdMnSFzJf2omLWAWOLCvX0gUamxRaQ3nk9Ry-MKMwiscch0_x-thbzJB-Q_ULrBh0M1cy-DvvG7m2_zn7Gvt3GnJEse8/s400/IMG_0695.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We still love our read alouds. Right now it's <u>The Selected Works <br />of T.S. Spivet</u>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also reading aloud out of <u>Brighty of the Grand Canyon</u>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli learned to use a protractor and compass this week.<br />He did great and especially loved making perfect circles.<br />Measuring angles was a brand new skill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQgrtHf_pcv0uhbwaiVPk8thf860sgd5K7MkI4v3_Yk3buBYnLYz5w8TaZ8Q-KktTtZe-ZlAymDvXHhkb_3OrHLoqCiL8PUg7FHy1hQqYpqi3kO8F63keNQMVplHmqO3oXudaG7RNI-g/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQgrtHf_pcv0uhbwaiVPk8thf860sgd5K7MkI4v3_Yk3buBYnLYz5w8TaZ8Q-KktTtZe-ZlAymDvXHhkb_3OrHLoqCiL8PUg7FHy1hQqYpqi3kO8F63keNQMVplHmqO3oXudaG7RNI-g/s400/IMG_0711.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks using Starbursts.<br />#photobomb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEstTQqoOTGS4EpeCLiuKSrOtpF771QJiz4rGfT8D3RM2oFapQxKanRnyU6uXXtk9UhhlsCcOJ1rDkp1pnef-mO7gOGR6tH0I23hZ6Ppo7nHNUXVheTtzLEYB_bIj2lS9k2ciR82Ll6U/s1600/IMG_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEstTQqoOTGS4EpeCLiuKSrOtpF771QJiz4rGfT8D3RM2oFapQxKanRnyU6uXXtk9UhhlsCcOJ1rDkp1pnef-mO7gOGR6tH0I23hZ6Ppo7nHNUXVheTtzLEYB_bIj2lS9k2ciR82Ll6U/s400/IMG_0712.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our egg shell geodes turned out pretty nice. The table salt<br />produced the best crystals.</td></tr>
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I am very proud of Eli with his schoolwork so far this year. I am gone in the mornings until 1:00 p.m., so he is on his own to do independent work. When I get home he has it all completed and is, usually, reading. Then we do some group work and projects in the afternoons. The independence has been awesome for him.<br />
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The Influenza made an early appearance at our house and took Brynne out for a week. Because of the holiday she only actually missed two days of school. She was a little stressed about the amount of homework she might have to make up for those days, but she was able to get it all done at school the first day back. She brought home a grade update on Friday and has all A's. I knew she would do well in school.<br />
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Thankfully, Brynne was over the flu in time to go to the fair this past Friday night and then to the junior high volleyball tournament on Saturday (she missed her first volleyball game last week). She finally got the courage to ride a couple of rides at the fair that she has always been too chicken to ride. Eli opted out of the fair, so Brynne took her pal, Rilee.<br />
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At the volleyball tournament she only got to play a little bit because she is not technically on the A Team because she is in 7th grade (I think it is such a stupid decision to automatically make all 8th graders A Team and all 7th graders B Team instead of placing them on the teams based on skill level. God forbid we reward girls who are skilled at a sport and play hard with good attitudes. Let's reward the girls who aren't because we don't want to ruin their self esteem. Don't get me started on that rant. I better stop now). Brynne did get to play some and I can very proudly say that she showed her skills when she hit the court. She is a really good player, and has a much better attitude than her mama. Her team won 3rd place out of 8 teams, and could have won 1st had the better skilled players actually played. But I guess if they are happy placing 3rd then all power to them. For me, I am just proud of my girl for how she always gives her sports her 100%, playing hard, playing consistently skilled, and having a winning attitude. That's what really matters to me. Plus she is absolutely as cute as can be!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's on the back left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The benchwarmers.</td></tr>
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<br />Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914993724763982306.post-947283859386935592017-09-04T08:39:00.002-05:002017-09-04T08:39:36.007-05:00Journey Journal ~ We Rocked It<br />
I hope everyone had a great week! We really did. Do I dare say that I think we might be getting a small handle on our new schedule? Things went much more smoothly this week and felt a whole lot less scattered.<br />
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In geology this week Eli concentrated on the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. We read all about them in our Geology text, and then he watched <i>All About Rocks and Minerals</i>, <i>Bill Nye: Rocks and Minerals</i>, and four episodes of <i>Geology Kitchen</i>.<br />
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We attend a small country Methodist church. The elderly ladies there all know that Eli has a love of geology so they bring him samples from their properties pretty regularly. Ms. Lois has taken a special interest in Eli. She brought him three rocks a couple of weeks ago that looked like they could be geodes. He wanted to keep one intact, but we studied all of them and then broke two open. There weren't any beautiful crystals, but one did have a sandy core. It was interesting!<br />
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We decided to make some of our own egg shell geodes using three different kinds of salt.<br />
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In geography Eli is still learning about the earliest maps. We made our own paprys paper using corn husks and he drew an aerial map of the furniture in his bedroom. In addition he learned about Strabo and Erathosthenes and how geometry was used to measure the distance around the earth. Those were some smart dudes.<br />
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His map drawing this week was of the Nile River. And then he traced a current map of the region that includes the Nile River.<br />
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As our roof was being torn off our house this week with lots of noise and dust, Eli came up to the library to do some of his schoolwork. I love looking out over my desk to see him working away. He's a good boy.<br />
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Although I am not planning to report much on our everyday subjects of math and language arts, I do have to brag on Eli. We have used <i>Fix It Grammar</i> by IEW for the past three years. It has been a slow but steady process for him in editing and diagramming sentences. But the past two weeks he has shown how much it has all started to click for him. He is really doing great, and I am so proud of him! (And Brynne reports to me from public school how so many kids in her 7th grade class still do not know how to identify basic parts of speech like adverbs and adjectives. She is appalled! This <i>Fix It Grammar</i> program has been excellent, and I love hearing confirmation that what we have been doing has worked!)<br />
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And in math Eli takes a live online pre-algebra class with Mr. D. He has become completely independent in his study of math, working with Mr. D. Other than helping him schedule out his work for the week, I do not have to do anything in this subject. He does all his own work and then grading, enters his grades in the online gradebook, takes his own quizzes, and logs into his own classes. I am just here to check up on him. It's great!<br />
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School life is good.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08053965057224582328noreply@blogger.com1