"Rev" Preaches the Word

In case you're not on facebook - here's a link to Ian's sermon from February. Enjoy!

Cyber School Update

So a few have asked "how things are going" with Cyberschool ... I can't answer that :)

We received our materials but not the computer yet, so we're doing our own thing (Monday that involved discussing different Bible translations and translating the "Dude" Budweiser commercial and talking about body language/non-verbal communication, how dolphins communicate using a system of "keys" and how they communicate differently than other animals and in what way.  Also, she rocked the "helicopter" breakdance move, after checking out a YouTube video.)

I anticipate receiving the computer and scanner tomorrow and jumping in - tonight I'm getting a handle on where we'll start in the current module and get my lesson plan book in order.  Awesome!

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag

It's always an adventure here at Maize, Inc.

This week, our new adventure: Cyber School.

In a flurry of tough decisions and amazingly smooth transition, we signed Audrey up for cyber school.

What does this mean??

I have no idea. All I know is that our way was paved. Paved, with a personal invitation, an escort, and a champagne to sip along the way.

Ok, that's an exaggeration. I cried (I love her school, she'll miss her friends, I don't want to make it seem like I'm anti her school, or public school, or her teacher ... nothing!!  I plan to send Ezra next year - and even Audrey, if that's what will work for her, us, etc).

But:

We made the leap. There's not much to say about it other than we're giving it a shot; I only know a little about the program through friends who are involved. I plan to post updates about how we're doing, but not to fear; this is not going to veer into HomeSchoolMammaBlog.  

I post this because it's not a "secret" - but there's no good way to tell people. Honestly the answer to "why??" is "Just Because." It really is. It seems to make sense. It seems to be a good fit. It seems to coincide with our goals as a a family and for Audrey specifically. It's about Doing, not Being. It's also about cyber, and not NOT public school. Make sense? 

Note: mid year? Yes. We went this route so we could give it a try before a whole new year. Because finding out mid-year that it's NOT a good fit and sending her into a new classroom with students already "bonded" and on with their year sounds like a BAD idea. This means I am completely open to the possibility this is NOT the right fit and she'll be returning. Keeping nearly EVERY option open, even the possibility of sending her back THIS year. Just ... we need to try this, so we are. The end.

Fun Fact

It was discovered on a space mission that a frog can throw up.  The frog throws up its stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of its mouth.  Then the frog uses its forearms to dig out all the stomach contents and then swallows the stomach back down.

Do Be Do Be Do ...

God has been prodding me (via others, mostly) about something.

"Audrey, your Daddy and I have been talking about maybe having you do school at home instead of going to school. What would you think of that?"

THAT IS HOW THE CONVERSATION BEGAN. NO LEAD IN, NO WORK UP, NO CONTEXT - WE CAME OUT OF STARBUCKS, GOT INTO THE CAR, AND I LAID THAT ON HER.

I'M SHOUTING, BECAUSE THIS IS THE VERY NEXT THING SPOKEN IN THAT CAR:

"That's exciting! *clasps hands together* You know what? I really like to do research. Like, a book about animals, but not a little book like this with no chapters (makes measurement with hands), but like a big book with chapters so I can find stuff and read about it."

-- no prompting, folks. That's what she had to say about that. Where her mind went FIRST. --

This was accompanied by swinging legs ... the kind you get when you're giddy about a pony ride.

We continued the conversation - we discussed pros and cons. We talked about how this wasn't a "for sure" yet, and that it was NOT a punishment for having problems at school. We also talked about the differences between attending school with her friend(s), and with staying home with mom; this brought tears, as I expected. I asked her to consider which would be more important to her; being at school with her friends or doing school at home without distractions. She didn't hesitate; with tears still streaming, she said, "Doing is more important than being."

Huh.

Fun Fact

A cockroach's favorite food is the glue on the back of stamps.

Happy Sixth Anniversary, to Ian ...

Last year at this time, I was soliciting letters of support for Ian, to celebrate his five years cancer free. Sort of an artificial attaboy from friends and family. We got a few letters (I won't lie - I was disappointed with the meager response). But even as we were celebrating (I bought a commemorative plant for the sanctuary), we sensed an impending damper on our triumph.

I went on a church retreat and spent a great deal of time calling out to God, pleading: "God, he's such a good man. He has such a witness. Please don't take him from us. Please don't take him from his kids!!" And yet, the tingling and numbness in his right side grew stronger.

No need to rehash - you can get into the Wayback Machine here.

What happened in response to that March 2011 "incident," however, was heartfelt, genuine, urgent and immediate. Care and love and support from all sides of the GLOBE. Letters and cards? Sure! But prayers and food and visits and rides.

God didn't spare us the pain and trauma. But He DID see us through. He used us in the lives of others, some we will never meet or know, and for that we are honored.

A year later - what can I say? We're here. Ian's with us. He is healthy other than his affectations/limitations. We are incredibly grateful for the year, the blessings, the lessons. And the miracle.

Happy February 15th = Ian's Sixth year, cancer free.  Amen.