tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372327752024-03-05T11:32:45.611-08:00Me and ThreeThree what?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-13896610746156940142011-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:002011-05-07T05:44:23.535-07:00Hands and Hearts History Kits<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmDmfYKIIZ4vgyaTcabS43HsrXxAR6ifXihFXQb66r1NrmxVMzkAAKRLrgaI8p4BJb_8q-YIHgmO1eNvpnYV6iF8R0V0ZlXbvY6BLE50W1wUznFFy39mjXQZV846h5ZzijO4s/s1600/pouch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QywnnaRdtaLkC1NkkrL_vNa24FAHig2Dt038pbcc1EPG9WKmGLE09em6fAj2ii29j0DCrjkxbgGb8TwqShf2vAuDREiHqlbwXv5qZlRVjo8yUvYj7HA1ZkXTsayOYRPAAd-a/s1600/pomander.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>In my email today I received an opportunity to share my thoughts about Hands and Hearts history kits. Have you seen them? You can view these kits at www.handsandhearts.com<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: 17px; font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"></span><div><br /></div><div>I have to tell you, I am going to get a coupon for doing this review. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why do I want a coupon for something I have already used, anyway?</div><div><br /></div><div>Because it was JUST THAT GOOD.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a daughter who would just love to do these crafts. She wasnt big enough to help before. And my middle son, who has done these in the past, will love to do the Early American kit again as we begin our study of US History this June.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our family has used:</div><div><a href="http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=40">The Ancient Greece and Rome Kit </a></div><div><a href="http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=65">The Middle Ages Kit</a></div><div><a href="http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=154">The Early American Kit</a></div><div><a href="http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=155">The Western Expansion Kit</a></div><div><a href="http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=255">The Far East Kit</a></div><div><br /></div><div>We generally have used one a year as we have studied different SonLight cores. These really added the hands on that SL lacks. Its hard to pick one favorite. But if pressed, maybe it would be the Early American kit. I have a few favorite activities from the other kits as well.</div><div><br /></div><div> Hands and Hearts does such a great job choosing doable activities for a wide range of ages and abilities in these kits. One of the simple and enjoyable projects from Early American History was the pomander. So simple, easy and kept little fingers busy and happy. Also kept the closet smelling nice!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QywnnaRdtaLkC1NkkrL_vNa24FAHig2Dt038pbcc1EPG9WKmGLE09em6fAj2ii29j0DCrjkxbgGb8TwqShf2vAuDREiHqlbwXv5qZlRVjo8yUvYj7HA1ZkXTsayOYRPAAd-a/s200/pomander.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603947799561456370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another great activity (this one from the Western Expansion kit) was the leather pouch. The pouch was pre punched to be sewn by little fingers. Every necessary supply was included. It was a great activity for building motor skills in a kindergartener and a darn useful pouch when it was finished. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmDmfYKIIZ4vgyaTcabS43HsrXxAR6ifXihFXQb66r1NrmxVMzkAAKRLrgaI8p4BJb_8q-YIHgmO1eNvpnYV6iF8R0V0ZlXbvY6BLE50W1wUznFFy39mjXQZV846h5ZzijO4s/s200/pouch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603948281750485506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><div> Though we made this several years ago, my sons are still using these for odds and ends around the house- like marbles, nerf darts and the like! </div><div><br /></div><div>I also want to mention the all time most amazing project of all, from the Eastern Hemisphere kit- Gyotaku. I wish I had pictures of this amazing activity. Hands and Hearts supplied us with a dead fish. We painted carefully onto the fish and pressed the fish to a piece of delicate paper. The imprint of the fish was left on the page and it was amazing. This traditional Japanese way to make a trophy of your fish was probably the coolest art project my kids had ever encountered. Though one of my boys was completely grossed out initially, he soon realised the fish wasn't going to be hard to handle or particularly stinky. I have framed these. They are that cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we purchased the Ancients kit it was available with a Roman Coin. Though this sounded spectacular to me, we all gave up on cleaning it before the desired results were acchieved. Because my children were 7 and 4 when they did this kit, their greek vases were probably not the most amazing creations either. But they had a lot of fun, learnt to recognize the forms of greek pottery (or at least to acknowledge there were forms) and enjoyed painting something. The reliefs they made from plaster of paris are still displayed on our shelf though! </div><div><br /></div><div>From the Western Expansion Kit, panning for gold was an extra for the additional student which I was glad I had invested in. This was one which kids can do for hours on a nice day outside.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can not believe how many projects we have done over the years with these kits! I have two boys and I always bought the Aditional Student kit. I'd realy recommend that option in addition to the basic kit so that children each have their own keepsakes from your studies</div><div><br /></div><div>. Without Hands and Hearts I have a nasty feeling we would not have accomplished half so much. it seems that despite my best efforts, when I try to plan a craft I forget some essential at the store. With Hands and Hearts History Kits this is not a problem because the Estes' family packs in everything you need, down to paper towels. </div><div><br /></div><div>This business has blessed our homeschool. I can not recommend these kits enough!</div><div><br /></div><div>Please visit Hands and Hearts.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you use this <a href="http://HANDSANDHEARTS.COM/index.asp?DC=Sarah">link</a>, you will get 15% off your purchase!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-39324549954112327552010-01-03T13:53:00.000-08:002010-01-07T06:06:55.538-08:00Fern wishes I still bloggedThat is so nice of her. I wish I still blogged too, occassionally, but it seems like a dangerous pastime. What if I say the wrong thing? My mother told me to never write anything you do not want the whole world to see.<div><br /></div><div>Here's the low down on a year with no blogging.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. got a puppy. a mutt. she is now 55-60 lbs. we feed her food that is not recommended by the dog food nazis. she doesnt even mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. did SL core 5 only we didnt really do what they said because it was weird, yo. Who studies other cultures by reading about missionaries who basically attempt to obliterate a major facet of these cultures? We read a million books and watched a billion movies. See here:</div><div>http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc97tp5n_0cmzcj7cs&hl=en</div><div><br /></div><div>3. were genetically and otherwise sound.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. went to Niagara Falls. Went to Baseball Hall of Fame (ok, I didnt go to the Hall of Fame. The boys did. Bee and me went to a Farming Museum and had a girly lunch. )</div><div><br /></div><div>5. continued to eschew capital letters and punctuation out of sheer laziness.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. lost the neighbor I never thought I'd like when they moved to CA. miss them terribly. giant hole in life now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Upcoming in 2010:</div><div>1. brother will be released from prison in May. very exciting for everyone who loves him. We know he can go on to become what he could have been before his poor choices ended him in prison.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Kalahari waterpark in february. Unschooler convention. Im not actually an unschooler. Pray for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. indoor soccer and wrestling starting soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. my other wonderful neighbor also moving to CA. I hate her. No, I love her. She and I laugh a lot together. I need that so badly.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. starting SL core 6 on Jan 11 after one week of studing "prehistory" which is a sort of stupid name for it because its still history even if its before the other stuff, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>ok fern. there you have it. a blog. a laugh riot, no?!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is why I quit blogging I think: I even bore myself. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-91076788460358291332008-12-23T08:48:00.000-08:002008-12-23T08:54:18.233-08:00TWO things I must clear up"Jesus had other brothers and sisters."<br /><br />Oh Luke. Im so sorry... no. Tsk tsk.<br /><br />I see you are laboring under the protestant delusion that Mary was a normal wife and mother. Dear me.<br /><br />This isnt a point I even care about actually, but since im a catholic Im supposed to? I guess?<br /><br />Anyway just to clear that up, no. Mary is ever virgin. Brothers and sisters are actually cousins. Its that convoluted old timey extended family family stuff.<br /><br /><br /><br />And then, the next thing I feel like I must address is this:<br /><br />Texting. For Fern.<br /><br />I have never. Not Once. Ever. In my whole life. Texted.<br /><br />I know. Its so lame of me. But I dont have that in my plan and Im not sure my phone (which doesnt even have a camera...so lame) can text.<br /><br />But if I could text you, I would text MANY snarky things. 16 hours worth of snark. near constant snark. and it would ALL be hilarious and witty. Rest assured.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-33482768266900803922008-12-22T06:44:00.000-08:002008-12-22T06:49:28.131-08:00LOOK AT MEIm blogging real fast.<br /><br />Not sure why.<br /><br />As it turns out Im just not that into you, blogworld. I dont really read them and I apparently do not write them either!<br /><br />None the less, in the interest of getting a few things off my chest, here goes.<br /><br />1. I want a Havanese dog. I never knew I would like these tiny pocket sized creatures but we do. they are tiny and non shedding and they think they are real dogs. But they are 10 lbs of fluff. The children really want one called Harry who lives in OH. Its a problem. <br /><br />2. Its a problem because Harry is a puppy and we are travelling at Christmas, otherwise Harry would be ours. sigh<br /><br />3. 16 hrs in the car with my husband sounds like a version of Hell Dante didnt even conceive of.<br /><br />4. Im so so sick. Its only been a week, so I feel as if Im a major whiner for even mentioning. My friend has been sick since September after all. She needs pity WAY more than I. But I pity me too.<br /><br />5. I need to go to the grocery store. Can you even imagine what that will be like? CURSES!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-14069449966390126602008-11-05T09:31:00.000-08:002008-11-05T09:34:26.262-08:00Oh yes we did!<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY</a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-47270612930272505792008-10-28T19:10:00.001-07:002008-10-28T19:28:01.139-07:004 things, which matter to no one but me1. My new iPod arrives Friday. My nights are so cold and lonely without my audio book.<br /><br />2. My daughter is being referred to a geneticist. First the stubby fingers, second the leg length discrepancy (which possibly caused the ginormous cyst behind he knee?) and third the possible enamel issue with her teeth. My daughter and my second son are so similar, physically. Their little bodies are nearly identical: same big ribcage and narrow waist, same weird chicken bones when their arms are raised, same oddly situated legs, flat feet and same large head. Very different from my eldest, with his straight slim build and lovely legs and feet. I'm making them sound so attractive. Really, 2/3 of my kids look a little like aliens. I first noticed it with the second boy when he was an infant. He just didnt look too bright to me, to be frank. And then the girl came along and people said how pretty she was and how nice her coloring was and I thought, hmmmm. Maybe... Of course, both are lovely looking now. For aliens.<br /><br />3. The football team lost tonight, ending a great season. I have never been prouder of my son. He was a real trooper. He met his goals that he set at the beginning of the season and the coach informed me he is one of the most improved players. He never missed a game or a practice. He was captain tonight and called the coin toss, too. Though I had thought we'd hear a ton of complaining about the grueling sport, in fact he loved it. He has set a goal of playing first team next year. I'm setting a goal of learning what the hell is going on out there.<br /><br />4. If this election doesn't come soon Im going to need a rubber room and an IV with narcotics in it. I have a feeling I'm not alone.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-17789742071724162222008-10-23T20:30:00.000-07:002008-10-23T20:33:56.273-07:00Insomnia- uncuredFor two years I have been relying on my iPod to banish my insomnia.<br /><br />Today the iPod died. <br /><br />140 dollar 30 gig refurb photo, how I long for you.<br />I am not yet finished with the Wordy Shipmates. <br />I hear Sarah Vowell calling my name in her slightly lisping nasal twang.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-30993105147898900732008-10-22T05:41:00.000-07:002008-10-22T05:53:40.980-07:00Uncle Ernie and the Apple TreeWay back in the good old days, after the Prohibition era but before Vatican II, my Great Uncle Ernie and his friends used to have a little passtime which irritated their mothers. It seems that in those days of lax environmental standards, those who braved the icy waters of the Pawtuxet River could claim the reward of a nice cold beer simply by swimming up near to a beer bottling factory and drinking the swill that ran off, through a pipe, into the river. MMMMMmmmmmm.<br /><br />So naturally, all the teen boys, being irish and poor and more or less naughty, found this to be the One Best Way to spend an afternoon. Who would blame them? Frankly, it sounds pretty fabulous to me, too. In a ghetto irish way.<br /><br />Let's be clear- Ernie's mom, Susan, was not into ghetto fabulous. She was a little prim. She had 3 girls and only 1 horrible boy. Her daughters were well behaved to a fault. They did as they were told. They shared. (My grandmother, for instance, married her sister's ex boyfriend.) So Ernie was probably to his mother what my eldest boy is to me. You know, a real PITA. and Im not talking about bread.<br /><br />So at any rate, Susan forbade this activity and Ernie disobeyed. He came home one day, inebriated, stinking of beer run off and river water and my great-grandmother decided enough was enough. And so, in his less than coherent state, she wrangled him into his sister's dress and tied him to an apple tree in the front yard. Needless to say, all the neighborhood kids walking by found it a very entertaining sight.<br /><br />And that, my friends, is Time Out. Old School.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-78089387957052458382008-10-21T05:30:00.000-07:002008-10-21T05:45:08.438-07:00Religious Zealots for 1000, AlexLook, God knows crazy when he sees it. If you are very wrapped up in the Old Testament's description of how to decorate your church, you may need to step outside and take a breather once in a while and realise that this is not 370 BC.<br /><br />Also, the catechism of the Catholic church isnt available pocket sized and it doesnt always address your every crying need. So occassionally you are going to have to wing it. We all sin all the time so you better just accept that first and move on from there. If you are going through your daily life patting yourself on the back for your utterly perfect catholicism you should probably look up Pride in the list of the 7 Big Ones. If you have ever called someone a cafeteria catholic you need to step up to the line and grab a tray. because you are one too.<br /><br />And another thing. Your 8 child family is not any holier than my 3 child family. The Holy Family itself was a small family. Mary didnt even need to consider a 15 passenger van. Or donkey. Or camel. Whatever.<br /><br />Last of all, there were no good old days. The good old days were pretty crummy for blacks, women, and even catholics here in the good old USA. Let's not waste our time grieving for an age where our government didnt allow certain people to drink from the same water fountains as others. Or when as a nation, we were firmly convinced there was nothing wrong with advertising for a position and actually saying, "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." Or when women left alone by their deadbeat husbands were committed to mental "hospitals" (miserable fetid warehouses) and their children given up for adoption, which was a misnomer for being sent into white slavery. What? That didnt happen? Oh yes it did. To my maternal grandfather's family. Of the 8 children, only one was "Adopted," thank goodness. The others were parcelled out to live in various states of misery among their less than nurturing (but catholic!) family members. And that is a long story for another time.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-60545113177808531082008-10-15T08:05:00.000-07:002008-10-15T08:17:25.338-07:00Shouldn't a catholic church look catholic?I think so. I like a few statues, a big gigantic crucifix with those 4 letters I-N-R-I (which baffled me as a child, and which I still can't recall the meaning of except its something latin for King of the Jews))and I really prefer the altar to have some sort of throne like structure for the priest to sit on, and I like a shiny golden Tabernacle with a glowing candle nearby.<br /><br />My church has none of that. My church is large and round and plain. The Tabernacle, which is a big box where the Blessed Sacrament resides, is in the back. In fact you can't see it at all unless you really go over to the small chapel and peek in. Im not really sure I ever have done that.<br /><br />I miss the visible banks of lit candles near the front. I like the really reverant old school mass of my childhood, with all boys on the altar and very formal priestly garb.<br /><br />But so what.<br /><br />None of that matters all that much in the long run. My preferences are relatively unimportant.<br /><br />Our church serves and that matters way more. WWJD? quibble about the decor of his house or get out there and help people?<br /><br />Im no bible scholar but I am guessing I know where Jesus stands on the relative importance of human trappings of the Body of Christ.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-16761567706692520662008-10-14T02:20:00.000-07:002008-10-14T02:24:03.600-07:00My daughter is a blessingMy daughter's birthday is next Monday. The memory of her birth day is still with me so vividly, kept alive by the sensation of her gift to me on that day- a hemmorhoid which will not be tamed.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-34844326668463178722008-10-12T12:50:00.001-07:002008-10-12T13:00:50.276-07:00Eagles get RammedThe Rams took out our football team today in a 13-0 victory.<br /><br />It was interesting. I have a couple issues with football- one, I don't understand a single thing that goes on out there at all. Two, I have no real desire to understand. Three, my kid plays an average about 5 plays a game and so I feel no real <em>need</em> to learn.<br /><br />My son missed their walk thru practice on Saturday, but apparently the team has been a little over confident. So at practice the coach kicked them all off the field and said they weren't worth bothering with. And though they played hard in the first quarter, the following three they didnt play <em>well</em>.<br /><br />In addition, the starting quarterback was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct and arguing with a ref. Im guessing he won't be starting for a game or two.<br /><br />All in all I predict a weight loss of about 2-3 lbs for Al this week.<br /><br />Because there is going to be an incredible amount of running happening. These coaches do not mess around. The punitive running starts at about a mile (on top of regular practice running, which is substantial) and goes up in relation to the severity of the offense.<br /><br />These boys are in the best shape of any kids in the city and the coaches are the reason. I have gained a real appreciation for them over the last few months.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-72860190878742384862008-10-10T12:23:00.000-07:002008-10-10T12:28:56.613-07:00Nothing to see hereI thought I had til Thanksgiving to get it together with my refurbishment of core 5 but it looks more and more like I only have until Halloween. Yes, that's right. We are ahead of my imagined schedule. Terrifying!<br /><br />In other news, the house is still untidy, the football team still undefeated, the soccer team fighting for every victory, the dancer still dancing and the less important members of the family are doing a lot of driving.<br /><br />Speaking of which, gas hit the low low price of 2.99 today at the costco in Indy. Im going to party like its late 2007.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-44120948978352711392008-10-08T14:40:00.000-07:002008-10-08T14:44:58.719-07:00Obama Rally- wordless Wednesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuE6kASSWFGLUojE6ZKA2kt0FoJouMkU75VWsQ5Ekwf3lhHpThHAODZLd37BGDAhFAkAHad3jIAmMrmqICkh0DWNRPb6DEPbovwO5woxEuB6McFb6QcsLq_O84DeV2jdTQZft/s1600-h/Obama+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254902333425947458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuE6kASSWFGLUojE6ZKA2kt0FoJouMkU75VWsQ5Ekwf3lhHpThHAODZLd37BGDAhFAkAHad3jIAmMrmqICkh0DWNRPb6DEPbovwO5woxEuB6McFb6QcsLq_O84DeV2jdTQZft/s200/Obama+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNMlTIBz9G2OPJbc1WmUTYRMki0p5bgtQ7omdMDuD-dbJh1du_nOkiV7-AjTMUE4q7V9msN37AtACG2r5cErUmBR4x8d7ISiNlaDXYZdvFPRh0sartmGtrmSAbJC_-xDFBJqk/s1600-h/Obama+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254902108410642338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNMlTIBz9G2OPJbc1WmUTYRMki0p5bgtQ7omdMDuD-dbJh1du_nOkiV7-AjTMUE4q7V9msN37AtACG2r5cErUmBR4x8d7ISiNlaDXYZdvFPRh0sartmGtrmSAbJC_-xDFBJqk/s200/Obama+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaiNPysC4X7NfsBqqH7WTW_ba7Fj6NBS5jhTJPOmrd8nP66Y_tVGjACQgTRxcsD2ZvtQ8BVXWgC0BRf0dsdXN3XM6uqNR3cOmHJ4oYICQkOCmtQC7UwJsoOXLcQxO6dqVFRdO/s1600-h/Obama+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254902111211880690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaiNPysC4X7NfsBqqH7WTW_ba7Fj6NBS5jhTJPOmrd8nP66Y_tVGjACQgTRxcsD2ZvtQ8BVXWgC0BRf0dsdXN3XM6uqNR3cOmHJ4oYICQkOCmtQC7UwJsoOXLcQxO6dqVFRdO/s200/Obama+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R6q6mCzSJUbRvSuW7-Es0JMpBYzAIGh4r1kZAeIg8iPvrVaZSRvFU4gdInGlhPJIsb8xBU8f8IX4MYlSccPJAVFMK6KiKe1wxS08vCy4WgfOWmNgIlarKaTqeMJSq2zTvnXU/s1600-h/Obama+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254901816605605986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R6q6mCzSJUbRvSuW7-Es0JMpBYzAIGh4r1kZAeIg8iPvrVaZSRvFU4gdInGlhPJIsb8xBU8f8IX4MYlSccPJAVFMK6KiKe1wxS08vCy4WgfOWmNgIlarKaTqeMJSq2zTvnXU/s200/Obama+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB34Dc37yNgNNMjPjFbUvhIUdG2FBFvj0LcjOXjmqkvE_8-Xs1PCmZ7Rxq3ioS8H0iUg_00-dVHREFyDSYY7FjbniHNKi9ix4NUBYcpzK1qrrY3j_FQHFd7a0LNQVQ27f4BnLJ/s1600-h/Obama+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254901816091845330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB34Dc37yNgNNMjPjFbUvhIUdG2FBFvj0LcjOXjmqkvE_8-Xs1PCmZ7Rxq3ioS8H0iUg_00-dVHREFyDSYY7FjbniHNKi9ix4NUBYcpzK1qrrY3j_FQHFd7a0LNQVQ27f4BnLJ/s200/Obama+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ09Ak9FQkzeB3UqPyUGzVlzyzc-CZeuaqYqG2VdMIavn8ErhatIzKpKE99-cz253boDAEHffRPb9JbiPBiV4IqXTZiM116n0IIDHnNjqGG5yKwZWe-JCQ7DGFiXtqzAH-SrK/s1600-h/Obama+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254901818328637106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJ09Ak9FQkzeB3UqPyUGzVlzyzc-CZeuaqYqG2VdMIavn8ErhatIzKpKE99-cz253boDAEHffRPb9JbiPBiV4IqXTZiM116n0IIDHnNjqGG5yKwZWe-JCQ7DGFiXtqzAH-SrK/s200/Obama+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hGVEF0qZdjzETm04nc4Ws2xM0hblmf0aExpiGz6vnTIZqeGb27b67cegmWIVzUUVycst61GA6yhUamPT_dcaVrMzmT1eO9dJDREvG6Mqu4LxFqfF1EuzaHPgMHRDReSAjre5/s1600-h/Obama+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254901820019523986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hGVEF0qZdjzETm04nc4Ws2xM0hblmf0aExpiGz6vnTIZqeGb27b67cegmWIVzUUVycst61GA6yhUamPT_dcaVrMzmT1eO9dJDREvG6Mqu4LxFqfF1EuzaHPgMHRDReSAjre5/s200/Obama+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFbwfSHwwGEwiUdiiGCh8WOIGu_XL73vTS_dTvFInFMeVvRSNYIUpowelY6u8dipAqMDcndFPFbTJUD5af_3iDJmGOAIegGzC_upBMt8clfBma1-RPnIJsiGynk28KJtKiTlQ/s1600-h/Obama+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254901822675519746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFbwfSHwwGEwiUdiiGCh8WOIGu_XL73vTS_dTvFInFMeVvRSNYIUpowelY6u8dipAqMDcndFPFbTJUD5af_3iDJmGOAIegGzC_upBMt8clfBma1-RPnIJsiGynk28KJtKiTlQ/s200/Obama+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-1480075360595256852008-10-07T06:14:00.000-07:002008-10-07T06:25:18.961-07:00Yesterday I got my vote onIt was a really exciting day. My kids and I headed out to the Obama campaign headquarters at about 10 for a quick brunch and a little mixing before we walked down town to vote.<br /><br />In our state we can vote early, using absentee in person voting. This is encouraged by the campaign because we feel it will help alleviate crowded venues on election day.<br /><br />All early votes are sealed and counted on election day. YES THEY COUNT. <br /><br />If your state has early voting, you may want to look into it. Its a matter of convenience for some people and a matter of getting to vote for others. Don't be disenfranchised! Get out and vote (unless you're a McCain supporter. if that's the case..wel, you know, if you get around to casting your vote...its not important. I wouldnt worry.)<br />kidding!<br /><br />anyway<br /><br />So we walked down to the courthouse and we stood in line and we went in and cast our (diverse) ballot. (We vote republican on a lot of state matters because the democratic party and the teachers union have a little romance going on. And we dislike where that is headed for homeschoolers.)<br /><br />After voting we went back to the campaign office and volunteered! The boys ran the shredder, Brenna provided ample amusement. And I did some cutting and stuffing and the like.<br /><br />Its exciting to be a part of something so big and of which yuou can be proud.<br /><br />And it was exciting to see that Catholics were heavily represented among the voters and voluteers. And I thank God for our parish and our pastor, who do not mis-use the Mass as a mere opportunity to preach party politics from the pulpit.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-16622848761183091022008-10-04T17:26:00.000-07:002008-10-04T17:51:33.423-07:002 Topics, 1 Post1. When I say you can't stubbornly disagree with church teaching what I mean is, you can't stridently argue against Catholic theology. I mean, you can't be Catholic and suggest your child have an abortion because her pregnancy doesnt suit your timing. You can't be Catholic and be pro death penalty. I don't mean you can't think to yourself that the church's position on X is out of touch. Like married priests. I dont think if you believe the church should consider allowing priests to marry that you ought to step back from the communion rail. If we had one still. No. You are entitled to your HUMBLE opinion. It's cool.<br /><br />2. Now, no less controversial: Let's talk about children's literature.<br /><br />Im a connoisseur. I have read a lot of kids lit and I remember a good bit of it because I was a re reader. And this is why Sonlight holds SUCH tremendous appeal to me. They seem to have distilled the elementary school experience down to my favorite books. And I am enjoying them every bit as much this time around. in fact Im learning more from them than ever.<br /><br />As an 11 year old, I didnt quite grasp the level of deception involved in the white boys' plot to lay the blame on TJ in <em>Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry</em>. But in reading it with the kids I did. And I was able to point it out to them. We were all astonished at the audacity of it.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, the Newbery is under fire! Read more here:<br /><a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/...CA6600688.html" target="_blank">http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/...CA6600688.html</a><br /><br />and a nice and interesting rebuttal here:<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.bccls.org/carlie/index....-to-read..html" target="_blank">http://blogs.bccls.org/carlie/index....-to-read..html</a><br /><br />interesting stats here:<br /><br /><a href="http://dymphna79.livejournal.com/39031.html">http://dymphna79.livejournal.com/39031.html</a><br /><br /><br />I disagree strongly with the first and third articles on one count. <em>Charlotte's Web</em> is no <em>Secret of the Andes</em>.<br /><br />I hate Charlotte's Web.<br /><br />but Im terrified of spiders and I think pigs really stink.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-4635818400955965862008-10-04T05:44:00.000-07:002008-10-04T05:49:34.035-07:00I just need to say outloudThat I have kicked off 20 pounds of flab.<br /><br />TWENTY<br /><br />Do you hear me, blog world?<br /><br />That is 20 boxes of butter. That is 5 bags of sugar (the new generic ones at the Kroger are 4 lbs, did you notice? sugar cheaters.) That is 4 bags of flour. That is almost the weight of my 4 yo (she's 29 and gaining, we hope.) <br /><br />I never ever thought it could happen for me but wa la. There it is.<br /><br />Now if I can steadily trim away the last 10 I'll be a happy woman. I have sort of slowed on journalling and tracking using the wonderful Weight Watchers tools and system. But Im still losing, regardless. About 0.7 lbs a week, on average.<br /><br />now, off to burn some calories by cleaning the wretched house.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-16722919565097974542008-10-02T11:52:00.000-07:002008-10-02T12:03:15.289-07:00A vague sense of uneasiness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5IJTbTqB-9tjpfbVQicduffuApJsK03FVLIyf4p6NYony_nQRlafXEmw2e1NnK4zaF58k9dqDSlD1HqzG9CNHjLCJjg7SkAvKCum-6HypefBozguEEMiRZyQ471n0CNCyZtW/s1600-h/icon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252634016511149602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5IJTbTqB-9tjpfbVQicduffuApJsK03FVLIyf4p6NYony_nQRlafXEmw2e1NnK4zaF58k9dqDSlD1HqzG9CNHjLCJjg7SkAvKCum-6HypefBozguEEMiRZyQ471n0CNCyZtW/s200/icon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>What is it? Its like I have forgotten something. Like Im about to blow it.</div><br /><br /><div>We have had a year of peace. That's an excessive amount of happiness. In 11.5 years of marriage we have never had a period of ease which lasted much longer than this.</div><div>Is the other shoe going to be the election results? It really matters to me. Or is it going to be the total collapse of the credit industry? We owe them a lot of money, between some consumer debt and massive student loan debt and a mortgage.</div><br /><div>On this feast day of the Guardian Angels, I suppose I should just offer the angst up. To quote Sister Mary Martha over there in the side bar, that's catholic for let it go.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-15984860547675628942008-09-30T14:37:00.000-07:002008-09-30T15:06:34.483-07:00Can a Catholic Be Catholic and Disagree with Church Teaching?This is a follow up to the idea that voting for a candidate who fails to live up to the Catholic ideal is a mortal sin.<br /><br />I spent the first five years of my marriage completely eschewing church. I was pretty happy with my Mass-less schedule. My husband was in grad school and Sunday was the one day when I could generally rely on him being there when I woke up. Grad school is a bear. Going to mass was a really low priority. We decided when our kids came along that we would NOT baptise them and I think that was correct- we didnt baptise them because we had no intention of bringing them up Catholic.<br /><br />I guess around 5 or 6 years ago a friend told me I was the most Catholic non practicing Catholic she knew. After all, I was born and raised Catholic and had happily walked away from the church. I was pretty convinced during that time that i'd never <em>really</em> be a Catholic again. Still, I was somewhat fascinated with Catholicism on an academic level and spent a lot of time investigating the Church's teachings- especially the ones which seemed most annoying to me.<br /><br />I found a level of logic which surprised me. I gained a respect for the logic and scholarship of the Church. And I grew more comfortable with the more irritating aspects of the faith as I became aquainted with the reason behind the teachings.<br /><br />Our kids were finally baptized a year or so ago, having been back in church for a number of years. Maybe 5ish years.<br /><br />We don't rush things around here.<br /><br />The question is, can I continue to stubbornly disagree with church teaching and still be a Catholic. The answer is no. You can't either.<br /><br />However, you can submit to church teaching without agreeing wholeheartedly. You can accept the church's teaching without agreeing wholeheartedly. How?<br /><br />It's pretty simple.<br /><br />All you have to do is acknowledge that you are at point A while the Church is at point B.<br /><br />And then realise that you, one small person, with the brain of an ant, are no match for the great theologians of the Church.<br /><br />You can merely hope to gain enough understanding via educating yourself to get 1/2 way to where the Church is.<br /><br />And you get the rest of the way there through prayer. Glory Be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.<br /><br />Meanwhile, you can still love the gays, vote for Obama, and probably even watch Desperate Housewives. God can work on you during the commercials.<br /><br />You may not be the perfect Catholic if you struggle to conform to the teachings of your church but the good news is those who find it easy to conform to the teachings and "rules" of the church may find it really REALLY tough to fulfill the rest of the teachings of Jesus. But everyone who tries is Catholic. Or maybe catholic. And none of them are any better than the others.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com218tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-28199191233459490042008-09-29T10:15:00.000-07:002008-09-29T10:29:13.840-07:00My Vote and Mortal SinToday I awoke to read that casting my ballot for Obama is a mortal sin.<br /><br />You know, opinions are like assholes. And if yours is that voting for Obama is a mortal sin you can have an opinion but you are an asshole.<br /><br />The UCCB has spoken about voting. They put out a pretty darn good document about civic duty and voting is part of that. In that document they fail to say that casting your vote for a democrat is a mortal sin and I think there is probably a reason for that. Chances are good that the reason is they know the matter isnt so clear cut.<br /><br />I am pretty sure that for most Catholics abortion is a big issue and Obama is certainly not a pro life candidate by most common measures. Still, the so called pro life party has managed to effect little change despite their control of the White House for 8 years. Obama's statements on abortion are clearly not in line with Church teaching, which isnt surprising given that he isnt a Catholic. But they are not the statements of a radical pro abortion politician either.<br /><br />Some of us hate abortion but also see that the presidency isnt a simple choice between more abortion and outlawing abortion, Rarely are things just that simple.<br /><br />While no one issue on its own is more important than the dignity of human life, the variety of issues our country currently faces, coupled with the scant chance that McCain could end abortion in this country adds up to a clear conscience for me.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-45431775523634736272008-09-26T12:41:00.000-07:002008-09-26T12:48:55.198-07:00Some thoughts on my loveyIt was one of those blankets with pink, yellow and blue stripes. It had a satin edging. When I was little, at my grandma's, I got tangled in it while in a crib and my earliest memory is of my mom coming to my rescue by cutting it in half and sewing the cut edge up with a yellow zig zag stitch and giving it back.<br /><br />So I had it forever and it wore away, bit by bit, til all that was left was a bit of satin edging and some knotted stringy pieces of the original blanket.<br /><br />One day when C was a baby I cut off the knotty pieces and put them in my underwear drawer. So then it was just the satiny edge, which was my favorite part anyway. When we moved to NJ we first went to stay in IL and we stayed at a flea bag hotel in town called the Red Rooster. While we were out of the room a maid stripped the bed, taking MY pillow case off MY pillow (where I had stowed my blanket.)<br /><br />The blanket got thrown away, we presume. We found the pillow case in the laundry. As soon as we got into our house in NJ, which was not for about 2 weeks, I got out the knotty bit of string which is all that is left of my blanket.<br /><br />I have 2 other which look just like it did in its hey day but they are of no use to me.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-91034278289221955372008-09-15T06:09:00.001-07:002008-09-15T06:16:58.483-07:00Im not entirely stupidbut there are a few things I just can not understand. Things like how the picture gets in my TV. And what makes the radio play. And how the telephone works. Especially cell phones because Im pretty clear on the old fashioned kind being a little like the homemade telephone with the string and the cup. <br /><br />I hate to fly. And yesterday as we were literally hurdling through space and bumping down from a million feet in the air i realised that not only do I not know how planes fly, I actually do not entirely believe they can and do. I was dead sure we were going to crash at the end. There were high winds in IN and we took off late. Coming down we endured a few nasty shifts where the plane dropped and my stomach stayed up and then FLOPPED down at the last minute. If motion sickness is a personal failing, I have failed it all now.<br /><br />At any rate, the children seem to have survived the weekend and my Dad seemed really pretty cheerful about the whole experience.<br /><br />A few things I learned this weekend:<br />I hate bars<br />I really hate smoky bars<br />I really REALLY hate loud smoky bars.<br />The sneaking suspicion that Im OLD was confirmed. Give me a couch and a beer over a bar anyday!<br /><br />The wedding was nice. The weather co-operated to a large degree, if not fully.<br /><br />We got to the car in the airport parking lot and had the flattest tire I have ever seen in my life.<br /><br />That's the way we roll. always about a step behind.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-33567492638464481462008-09-04T08:17:00.001-07:002008-09-04T08:23:14.604-07:00What I think about Sarah PalinIt is really pretty cut and dry for me.<br /><br />When you have a 5 month old and you have enough money to ensure that you can be there for your baby, you should be.<br /><br />And if that means turning down the veep slot, then so be it.<br /><br />I left a lot of things undone to be there with my kids.<br /><br />Its the one issue on which I am apparently more conservative than the conservatives. And I am sure its considered appallingly anti woman by the more liberal people I know.<br /><br />Mothers of infants belong with their babies. God's design for motherhood couldn't be more apparent in our biology. <br /><br />The oft heard "What if they don't want to be home with their babies?" line confuses me. Why would you want to be anywhere else? What could possibly be more enthralling than the small person you have been entrusted with?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-35151256211603405792008-09-02T12:14:00.000-07:002008-09-02T12:18:53.839-07:00Sick DayOne of the problems which confounds me is what to do when I have a cold. Im not up for arguing today, and so...school will get done in a half assed lazy way which I don't care for.<br /><br />My son isnt feeling well either. In view of the fact that he has a 2 hour football practice in 93 degree heat later I can't get really excited about drilling grammar with him when he is crying about a headache already.<br /><br />But part of me knows that if we were regular schoolers he'd have to go off and do a full day in spite of his sinus pain and football practice. Maybe I'm babying him too much. Maybe Im babying ME too much.<br /><br />In any case, we leave for practice in an hour and whatever didnt get done today will be there tomorrow.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37232775.post-62091877616472611672008-08-28T18:05:00.000-07:002008-08-28T18:09:55.044-07:00School is InWe are cruising along, in week 2 or 3 or something. School is going well enough that I begin to feel I should be doing MORE! Grammar with Easy Grammar is fabulous, Sonlight core 4 is great, singapore and teaching textbook math are wonderful. Handwriting Without Tears is fun, especially for the 5th and preK kids. Science kits from Young Scientist Club and Snap Circuits are wonderful. Singapore Science is easy but good.<br /><br /><br />The football schedule isnt too bad at all. My son loves it. He is doing better every week and getting leaner, faster and getting to know the catholic school kids.<br /><br />Soccer starts soon. Ballet starts soon.<br /><br />We are settling down to a good routine and I like it.<br /><br />Our weekends are full of a good mix of kid and adult stuff.<br /><br />Moving back to IN from NJ was the best thing we ever did for our family.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12047865348179235916noreply@blogger.com1