I made no resolutions this year. Of course, you hear many making the same statement at the beginning of a new year - they're used to quiting, or not following through with their commitments, or perhaps they are rebelling against the prevailing wisdom that the passage of the earth around the sun one more time signifies the time to try to change things about ourselves. However, that isn't why I eschewed the resolution binge. It's because of the word itself.
The original Latin root of resolve means to loosen. The idea seems to be that idea of removing the obstacle to a certain end or goal by great force. But in common English, "re" refers to a repeated action, and obviously "solve" involves the idea of a complete answer to a problem. How can one repeatedly solve the same problem? No, I prefer one complete solution, one that does not mean remaking myself, but finding what my purpose was from the beginning. It is not a resolve, it is a return. A return to the purpose that already resides in me, an affirmation that God is the real solution, not the resolution. Even in the original meaning, resolving means more than grabbing onto something, it is releasing all that is not important or central to the high prize of the calling for which I strive. The idea of letting go, of the total lack of my internal ability to change without eternal assistance, is my mandate for 2008.
In homeschooling news, we are back into our normal schedule. Marcus is working on presidential trading cards and reading "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" , and Naomi is head over heels in love with "Bridge to Teribithia". The kids seem to feel comfortable with the prospect of continuing homeschooling even as Marcus approaches middle school age. We will look into enrolling him in Florida Virtual School to allow him a taste of higher end classes.
Happy New Year to all and may God help you to maximize your mission this year!
Unto the hills,
acp
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Cash, Cheerleading, and Curriculum
Another busy two weeks - actually super busy. I try not to make negative statements about being in church every night, as people may think that being in church is a bad thing. But certainly it's tiring when you're getting home at 10 and 10:30 each evening. But it's been a good run of leadership training and learning at these services too. (We had a leadership service week.) We had time to rest today and I have a bit of time to write.
First of all, blessings to all the veterans, including in my family. Many have passed on but we still cherish their memory and their courage. I wish we could have done more to commemorate the day, but I was heartened by my children's prayers this evening - each one thanked God for the sacrifices of soldiers. Maybe some of these lessons are sinking in.
We've had varying success using the Weaver curriculum. It's very thorough in explanation but a little skimpy on activities that don't involve a lot of hands on stuff. In other words, the lessons aren't very independent learning friendly. They seem more teacher directed, and that's not great for our style. However, the bible lessons fit well into the units and I also appreciate the number of activities available - I just wish they allowed for more "stretching". When I have to stretch the activities, it seems like I'm back to square one in my planning crunch. It's only been a few weeks so we'll keep at it to make sure it's not the improper application of the material that's causing the problem (for me, at least.)
As for cash, it's time to budget for classes and sports for next year. I'm very concerned that we'll either spend too much or not enough. Perhaps that's every parent's worry - does my daughter really need that violin class and the new violin? If I don't buy in, have I deprived her? And how much is too much? Cheerleading, dance, piano, you name it, she's in it. Even as a piano teacher myself, I wouldn't want kids that are stretched too thin in my class. They usually are irritable, don't take personal interest in the lesson, and seem to just go through the motions in order to appease whatever parent forced them to learn the instrument. And that's the last thing I want for my kids to feel. On the other hand, of course, they are talented enough to excel, and I also want them to have a high level of accomplishment in something. By week's end we'll have to decide whether to leave them in their current classes, or move them into something less expensive. Miki and I are praying for a blessing that will allow us to balance their creative needs with their physical ones - so that they won't lack on either case. A fair and noble request, if I do say so myself.
Later I'll detail some of the unit lessons that have been less than interesting in the Weaver and perhaps someone will help me spice it up or find alternatives. Until then, I'll be looking unto the hills...
First of all, blessings to all the veterans, including in my family. Many have passed on but we still cherish their memory and their courage. I wish we could have done more to commemorate the day, but I was heartened by my children's prayers this evening - each one thanked God for the sacrifices of soldiers. Maybe some of these lessons are sinking in.
We've had varying success using the Weaver curriculum. It's very thorough in explanation but a little skimpy on activities that don't involve a lot of hands on stuff. In other words, the lessons aren't very independent learning friendly. They seem more teacher directed, and that's not great for our style. However, the bible lessons fit well into the units and I also appreciate the number of activities available - I just wish they allowed for more "stretching". When I have to stretch the activities, it seems like I'm back to square one in my planning crunch. It's only been a few weeks so we'll keep at it to make sure it's not the improper application of the material that's causing the problem (for me, at least.)
As for cash, it's time to budget for classes and sports for next year. I'm very concerned that we'll either spend too much or not enough. Perhaps that's every parent's worry - does my daughter really need that violin class and the new violin? If I don't buy in, have I deprived her? And how much is too much? Cheerleading, dance, piano, you name it, she's in it. Even as a piano teacher myself, I wouldn't want kids that are stretched too thin in my class. They usually are irritable, don't take personal interest in the lesson, and seem to just go through the motions in order to appease whatever parent forced them to learn the instrument. And that's the last thing I want for my kids to feel. On the other hand, of course, they are talented enough to excel, and I also want them to have a high level of accomplishment in something. By week's end we'll have to decide whether to leave them in their current classes, or move them into something less expensive. Miki and I are praying for a blessing that will allow us to balance their creative needs with their physical ones - so that they won't lack on either case. A fair and noble request, if I do say so myself.
Later I'll detail some of the unit lessons that have been less than interesting in the Weaver and perhaps someone will help me spice it up or find alternatives. Until then, I'll be looking unto the hills...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Typical...
Wow, a full three weeks and I kind of dropped of the face of the earth. Not literally, but about in every other sense of the word. I've had about as bad a period of 'blues' as I've had in a while. And during that time, I felt that "midnight of the soul" hunger for some kind of hope, even as my conscious mind related all the obvious things that were going well. Thank God that patience from my wife and a word from the Pastor helped me snap out of it. I won't accept that periods like that are necessary, only that when they happen they can teach us that faith has to outlast feelings, and this time it did again.
Now to happier thoughts - my new theme song.
Mute Math is a hybrid Christian / alternative - well I hate labels, so let's just say they're awesome musicians. I love anything that breaks boundries, and even though their lead singer is a dead ringer for Sting /early Peter Gabriel, I'm loving their electronic / pop sound. The song that I have been wearing out is their single "Typical". Just the first few lines speak directly to my (and I'm sure many others) current state of mind...
Come on, can I dream for one day?
There's nothing that can't be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone
Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?
And that became my mantra / prayer in this past week. Whatever happens, today, Lord, let it not be typical. Not predictable or run of the mill. Let this day be a breakthrough day in my relationships, work, my faith, my finances - SOMETHING. And considering that I had the same stresses today as many and still found the time to take care of some major things that were nagging me, I have to say that prayer was answered. Maybe it won't be thunder and lightning from the sky, but I'm sure that each day I'm more focused on His will for my family and my life, will not be a typical day. May your days also be anything but typical.
The kids also did something atypical - a video podcast. It's at our webpage at web.mac.com/allenpaul and also on Itunes. If you only knew how many takes it took just to make a pizza...Emeril can keep the job, and the iron chefs too. :-)
Looking unto the hills,
acp
Now to happier thoughts - my new theme song.
Mute Math is a hybrid Christian / alternative - well I hate labels, so let's just say they're awesome musicians. I love anything that breaks boundries, and even though their lead singer is a dead ringer for Sting /early Peter Gabriel, I'm loving their electronic / pop sound. The song that I have been wearing out is their single "Typical". Just the first few lines speak directly to my (and I'm sure many others) current state of mind...
Come on, can I dream for one day?
There's nothing that can't be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone
Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?
And that became my mantra / prayer in this past week. Whatever happens, today, Lord, let it not be typical. Not predictable or run of the mill. Let this day be a breakthrough day in my relationships, work, my faith, my finances - SOMETHING. And considering that I had the same stresses today as many and still found the time to take care of some major things that were nagging me, I have to say that prayer was answered. Maybe it won't be thunder and lightning from the sky, but I'm sure that each day I'm more focused on His will for my family and my life, will not be a typical day. May your days also be anything but typical.
The kids also did something atypical - a video podcast. It's at our webpage at web.mac.com/allenpaul and also on Itunes. If you only knew how many takes it took just to make a pizza...Emeril can keep the job, and the iron chefs too. :-)
Looking unto the hills,
acp
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Pushing through....
We returned to our Park group today and I felt so behind. Not because of some assignments, but just because obviously the other families were up on the current events of the group. It was tempting not to join this year in an attempt to save time, but again I have to look at the whole picture - Naomi is now helping create an environmental club with her friends, and both kids were able to get homeschool ID cards. The support group helps us find things like that that are not necessarily part of anyone's curriculum. Even though I'm still the only homeschooling dad of the group, there are other fathers that come around so I'm not the only man standing around, which helps a bit. I know the gender thing isn't the most important thing, but I do feel more and more a need to find other men to network with.
Not much else this morning, will check in later.
Looking unto the hills,
ap
Not much else this morning, will check in later.
Looking unto the hills,
ap
Sunday, October 07, 2007
What a day...
...and not just for me. I guess you can say we are "churched out" for today. We've spent a couple of days just relaxing and recovering from the week.
Friday was another great day at enrichment - I was able to volunteer in Naomi's ceramics class and help her to craft a clay bowl. They'll dry and fire them over the weekend and she'll be able to paint it next week. Saturday was spent trying to un-virus Christopher's computer...makes me even more wary about his computer time if he's downloading unfamiliar things... and preparing for Sunday Service. The kids have become "Brain Quest" fanatics - they spent all evening quizzing each other on factoids - which I can't say I object to. They could find many worse things to drive each other crazy with. Another plus was the arrival of Marcus' fraction overlays - in minutes we were practicing equivalent fractions, something that I couldn't do with my "homemade" versions. (Sometimes saving money is losing time!)
Oh yes, and we spent a lot of time watching "Travel Channel" - as a break during the day it's been nice to turn on the TV and watch "Passport to Europe w/ Samantha". She does a tour guide look at several European cities, which I promptly had the kids look up. While it wasn't a unit I was planning, it fits into our daily schedule and provides some independent study opportunities for the kids. The more they know about the world, the more they'll be able to function and relate to all the international news they hear from day to day.
Personally, I'm still working on that relaxation vs. procrastination thing - I know I need the rest today but it seems there's always a reason why I should be moving. Perhaps it's the fact that time is moving so fast. High School is now a distant memory at 15 years past, and college is quickly moving into the same place in the rear view mirror. So standing still sometimes feels like moving backward. I know there is so much to be accomplished, and yet I have to rely on bursts of energy and synergistic days where everything falls into place to feel like I got anything done. But maybe that's the way all of us have to operate - knowing that it's mostly 3 steps forward and two steps back - while realizing that progress has still been made.
I hope to connect with other homeschool dads in the near future. Feel free to write or comment on any entry - I'm always open to network and share with other fathers that are taking the lead in their children's future.
Looking unto the hills,
acp
Friday was another great day at enrichment - I was able to volunteer in Naomi's ceramics class and help her to craft a clay bowl. They'll dry and fire them over the weekend and she'll be able to paint it next week. Saturday was spent trying to un-virus Christopher's computer...makes me even more wary about his computer time if he's downloading unfamiliar things... and preparing for Sunday Service. The kids have become "Brain Quest" fanatics - they spent all evening quizzing each other on factoids - which I can't say I object to. They could find many worse things to drive each other crazy with. Another plus was the arrival of Marcus' fraction overlays - in minutes we were practicing equivalent fractions, something that I couldn't do with my "homemade" versions. (Sometimes saving money is losing time!)
Oh yes, and we spent a lot of time watching "Travel Channel" - as a break during the day it's been nice to turn on the TV and watch "Passport to Europe w/ Samantha". She does a tour guide look at several European cities, which I promptly had the kids look up. While it wasn't a unit I was planning, it fits into our daily schedule and provides some independent study opportunities for the kids. The more they know about the world, the more they'll be able to function and relate to all the international news they hear from day to day.
Personally, I'm still working on that relaxation vs. procrastination thing - I know I need the rest today but it seems there's always a reason why I should be moving. Perhaps it's the fact that time is moving so fast. High School is now a distant memory at 15 years past, and college is quickly moving into the same place in the rear view mirror. So standing still sometimes feels like moving backward. I know there is so much to be accomplished, and yet I have to rely on bursts of energy and synergistic days where everything falls into place to feel like I got anything done. But maybe that's the way all of us have to operate - knowing that it's mostly 3 steps forward and two steps back - while realizing that progress has still been made.
I hope to connect with other homeschool dads in the near future. Feel free to write or comment on any entry - I'm always open to network and share with other fathers that are taking the lead in their children's future.
Looking unto the hills,
acp
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