People Who Accomplished Great Things

In People Who Accomplished Great Things we studied Marie Curie in January.  Our students had a wonderful field trip to Dr. Bill Sullivan's Oakdale Animal Hospital to get a behind the scenes tour and to learn about how Curie's work impacts the field of veterinary medicine.  Dr. Sullivan showed the students a plethora of ways to conduct x-rays and how digital technology has changed the way x-rays are conducted.

Students also heard from Endodontist, Dr. Dusty Watts, in our class.  He talked about how x-ray technology aids his work in root canals etc.  The students were amazed to see how the x-rays guide his work.

     Jillian Crosby is showing her artwork she presented as a review of our Leonardo da Vinci study.  She is a great artist!

     The final picture is of our students getting a tour of Mission  First's Dental and Medical facility in downtown Jackson.  This field trip served as a follow up to our study on Florence Nightingale.  Charitable work like this was what Nightingale inspired.  Thanks to Brandi Crosby and Paula Stogner for helping me haul the kids back and forth.  What a great group!  I know they have learned about some truly great minds and people this year.  It is my prayer that this class inspires them to aspire to do great things for God!

Random Thoughts on Valentine's Day and Homeschooling

butnowwhat.com

If any of you spend any time on Facebook, then you know how interesting certain days can be.  Game days, or when somebody famous dies, or holidays.  Today (Valentine's Day) is no different.  Multiple pictures and posts and links that represent how the day is turning out for folks.  Some post pictures of whatever gift(s) they have received, other show their kids' cute outfits or crafts, and some post YouTube videos that highlight their current thoughts on love.  The winner on my news feed is Bon Jovi's 'You Give Love a Bad Name'.  Yes, some of my friends have issues.  :)

If we aren't careful, it is easy to fall into the comparison trap, especially for those of us who homeschool and most likely live on one very stretched salary.  Sure, if we 'worked', then maybe we could afford that...whatever.  Pretty wrapped present.  Flowers.  Night out.  Cutely coordinated kids and the professional photograph to prove it.  And the list could go on forever.  If this is your reality today and you have been feeling in a funk, I just want to remind you that what you do is important.  Your sacrifices are important, and even if no one else acknowledges that today, I want to officially do it here.

However, you may be closer to the other end of the spectrum today.  You have that whole sacrifice thing down pat.  You know that stuff doesn't matter, and that love should be celebrated all year, not just on some commercially prescribed day.  But, maybe, just maybe, that knowledge has taken the form of judgment and superiority.  Some of us homeschoolers are so good at that, aren't we?  You know that internal dialogue I am talking about:

--Well, I could have new clothes, too, if I wasn't so dedicated to meeting the spiritual needs of my family.

--What a waste of money on that date night meal.  At least I care enough to cook from scratch.  I even make my own bread from the wheat that I grinded after I harvested it from the greenhouse the 5 year old made last summer out of recycled post-it notes that we got for free after I learned extreme couponing from the 3 Somali kids we adopted last year...

--I can't believe that momma let her girl out of the house in a dress that low-cut.  Forget the fact that she is going to be alone, unchaperoned at the middle school dance.  Since when did THOSE come into fashion.  A middle school dance?  Are you kidding me?  She is just setting that girl up to get pregnant before she enters high school.  I bet they don't even have parental blocks on their TVs.  (I have to admit--this is the conversation that I have on a continuing basis whenever I see those Facebook photo posts).

Or, maybe you are just somewhere in the middle.  You have been much more involved in just surviving this day than in giving Valentine's Day a second thought.  Whatever this day represents for you, I just want to remind you that what you do matters.  You matter.  Your family matters.  Even the ones that can't spell or read or remember to pick out their clothes or put the toilet seat down.

My favorite Facebook post of the day

And one more thing, two Valentine's Day videos from the Skit Guys.  Enjoy.

Check the Box

Killer Marriage Tips 

Posted by: C. Miley

I Promise, They Don't Bite

Last week was the first official co-op interest meeting for the 2012-2013 school year (can you believe it is already time to start planning for that?).  There are MANY great classes on the agenda, and I am excited to see how the offerings turn out for my boys.  I have one kid in elementary, one in middle school, and one in high school, so I will benefit in many ways from the involvement and sacrifice that so many of you that will be making in order to assist next year.

One of the areas that was highlighted as needing additional assistance is with the teenagers, high school in particular.  It was mentioned that night, but bears repeating again--this group of ReACHE students is phenomenal.  I have been around teenagers in a ministry capacity for years, and none hold a candle to these that are involved right now.  And to be honest, until I had a kid this age, I really didn't think about getting involved in any capacity with this age group, because I had enough on my plate with my younger ones.  But, as Kim Lepone pointed out so well at the meeting, we all have a story, and a history, and a faith that needs to be shared, and it just might be that your time and place to begin doing that is through co-ops next year.  There are many opportunities, including one-time only classes.  Just think about it...these are some of the amazing kiddos you could be encouraged by (taken during a recent dissection class in my garage--this month's specimen--a clam):

A little apprehensive, but good sports nonetheless

Abby enjoys the dissections a little too much.  She named her clam Gertrude.

This was the closest Callie got to that clam.

Such concentration

Poor, poor clam

 Posted by: C.Miley

And They Looked Mighty Purty, Too.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of being able to attend the cast party for the ReACHE play, The Thread That Runs So True.  There were only a handful of other parents there, and I was only there because it wasn't in anyone's best interest for me to just drop off my younger two at Ceramis without my supervision/intervention/separation skills.

As someone who loves to just sit back and watch people, it was such an interesting night for me.  The way the event was set up, there was one 'main' table, where most (but not all) of the cast and crew were sitting.  Surrounding that table were six smaller tables, where the grown ups and most of the younger cast members were sitting, along with the older kids who weren't dropped off by their parents early enough to get a seat at the main table (like mine).

I had the perfect vantage point to watch those latecomers walk in and quickly assess the situation.  You could see the wheels turning as they realized they were going to have to sit at a side table with people they would not necessarily choose to hang out with otherwise.  And this was the cool part -- they did it anyway.  Without rolling their eyes or complaining.  No one was sitting around pouting (not visibly, at least) or ignoring the others at their table.  I have been around groups of elementary/middle school/ high school students enough to know that this is not how it usually goes down in situations like this.  Kids pout, and bully, and complain.  They tend to wreak havoc if they are not continually supervised.  They text and talk on the phone and ignore people they aren't BFFs with.  Not this group.  The evidence that they are being held to a different set of standards was evident.  So much for that whole 'homeschoolers lack socialization skills' debate.

If you were one of those (lucky) parents that were able to drop your kid off, and were wondering how they did, rest assured that they did you proud.  They were confident and well mannered and self assured.  Thanks for all you are doing to train them up in the way they should go.  I feel privileged to be walking through this journey with you all.

And now for a few pictures of your amazing kids, courtesy of Kim Lepone (who did a great job of pulling this all together in such a classy way):

Yep, these socially awkward kids really need to come out of their shells.

 





   

Posted by:  C. Miley

The Thread That Runs So True--Thanks, Kim!

ReACHE is putting on a play. It begins with two performances tomorrow.  I don't know if you have made plans to attend, or if it is just not in the cards (or budget) for you this year.  But as I sat through one of the first dress rehearsals on Monday, I was struck by overall sense of community and parallels to the Kingdom of God that this event represents.

I watched as a LOT of homeschool students prepared for the big day.  These kids are so impressive.  They have learned lines and cues and expressions.  Some are naturals who like to ham it up, and some are probably very nervous, but they work together to make it all flow.  Some sing and play instruments, and several do this cute little square dance (my boys that are extras thanked me for not encouraging them to try out for those particular parts--they didn't want to have to touch a GIRL'S hand!).

In addition to those on stage, there are SO MANY behind the scenes workers and helpers.  Set builders, soundboard/lighting people, costume/hair/makeup people, the boys counting chairs and taping them in place.  There are parents who have volunteered on many levels, and those who are doing good just to have their children at practice every week.  Each is talented and necessary in their own unique ways.  I'm thinking of one teenager in particular that would never feel comfortable on stage, but he seems to have absolutely blossomed and taken ownership as a stage hand.

Countless hours of preparation and prayer have gone into pulling this off.  When it is all said and done, and the last prop is put away, I am sure that these students will come away better people for having been a part of this.  Maybe other kids in the audience will be inspired to take part in some way in future plays.  Maybe they just need to see that there ARE older homeschooling kids that are funny and talented and THERE.  Maybe YOU need to be reminded of that.  Homeschooling can be a lonely, isolating journey, and having access to events like this can help us remember we are in community here.  We need each other, whether we are out front as teachers or leaders, or more behind the scenes supporters building our own family structures, we each have a place, and every calling is important and necessary.

I hope you can make it to the play.  If not, please keep everyone in your prayers.  This is a very big effort, with many details still yet to be nailed down.  Pray especially for Kim Lepone.  She is the mastermind behind it all, and even if I knew all that she has had to do/plan/organize/ keep straight, I wouldn't have enough time or space to list it all.  This is her baby, so to speak, and it must be some type of calling she has, because otherwise I would think she would have had some type of nervous breakdown by now. She has done an amazing job, and she (and her family) deserve all kinds of shout-outs.

I guess the bottom line is, whether or not you are involved with or even plan to attend the play, what you do is important.  Don't forget that.

Seriously, though, if you are still debating about reserving those tickets, go ahead and do it before someone comes in asking where their pencil is.  You know, the one with the good eraser that was found in between the couch cushions last week but somehow ended up next to the gecko cage yesterday?  Or maybe that kind of daily conversation just happens at my house.  Performances are Thursday at 2:00 and 6:00, and Friday at 6:00 at the Word of Life Church on Lakeland Drive.  Tickets are going fast.


Posted by: C. Miley

Field Trip on November 10th to the Agricultural and Forestry Museum!

Thank you Ashley for planning this field trip!  My kids had a great time.  Colton missed out on going with ReACHE because his Veritas class was going the next day.  His siblings came home and got him super excited about going.  What a great group - 109 is what we had signed up.  What a wonderful testimony of how God is growing homeschooling.

Oh, and Your Girls Are Modest, Too.

My husband has been a student minister for a long time.  Almost as long as we have been married.  We have lived in many places and served in churches of all sizes.  One thing that I have progressively seen is the continual decline in manners and attitudes and morals and behavior in kids/teenagers.  All it takes is a few minutes in the presence of a group of average kids for me to begin to seriously consider packing my family up and moving to some isolated area where my kids won't be negatively influenced.  I know, not very practical or realistic, but still...

That being said, I have had the privilege of hanging out with some of your kids for the last few days.  I've been on a field trip, and a birthday party, and co-op classes, and play practice.  I am so impressed and encouraged by being around your children.  They are silly, but not frivolous.  Confident, but not selfish.  They are polite, but not doormats or wall flowers.  Their Facebook statuses are not consumed with relationship statuses or drama.  You are doing something right, and it is noticeable.  Thank you.

Seriously, thank you.

Posted by: C. Miley