Circling Through This Life

I have a zillion thoughts or so it feels like running through my head and lots of stuff I want to share on my blog but alas I have not made writing a priority. I just took a peek at my blog and *gasp* I have one post. ONE.  A single post for 2017. So I'm going to do a Random 5 style update.  I miss my Random 5 posts. 1) 2016 was hard.  I lost two uncles, my beloved cat and my brother.  Never mind the celebrities that died in 2016 people (and an animal) that I love are gone.  I wrote a blog post sitting in my drafts called Saying Good-bye but I couldn't bring myself to post it. Here are a couple of family pictures with my brother.  This first one is from the late 80's  In order: my dad, my brother, me and my sister. This one is the family portrait taken at my wedding.  Look at how proud my mom was and look how tall my brother is! 2)  Turtlegirl seems to be settling in well away from home at college.  I miss her so much ...

Today many people celebrate. People eat chocolate, send cute little cards, and plan romantic dates.   My family celebrates today as well but we celebrate something else.  Something much more special.  It's all about Love.  Eternal Love. 7 years ago on Forgiveness Sunday my family was received into the Eastern Orthodox Church.  My husband and children were baptized and the six of us Chrismated.  This took place before Liturgy and at Liturgy we had our first communion. Forgiveness Sunday marks the beginning of Lent.  During the special vespers service we transition into Lent.  It's a beautiful service. This year Forgiveness Sunday falls a little later in February.  On that day we'll remember that liturgically that is our anniversary. Today my husband and I will have a little date.  We'll eat steak and shrimp and watch an episode or two of Doctor Who.  (I'm thinking the Christmas Special with River Song sounds perf...

Some friends of mine from the Homeschool Review Crew like to participate in the Five Minute Friday link up hosted by Heading Home.  The idea is to set a timer and write for 5 minutes. This week's word is "Crave". ************Start******************* The first thing I think of when I hear "crave" is food.  Food cravings. Craving is not just wanting but has the connotation of needing. When I can tell I am getting dehydrated I don't say that I crave water.  I say I need water.  But when I say someting like "I am craving Chex Mix" it is not just meeting a need such as hunger but meeting some type of psychological need? I've heard it said that craving specific foods may indicate that your body needs something that is in those foods. I don't know if that is true or not but I know that when I say I crave something it is more than just an intense "want".  I don't just want the Chex Mix.  I can't be sure that I need the Chex...

Christmas is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to be thinking about a special personalized gift for the loved ones on your list! Members of the Homeschool Review Crew have had the opportunity to choose from a variety of name meaning gifts including a Personalized Framed Plaque with Name Meaning and Bible Verse from CrossTimber . I want to share my experience with all of you. Before I could order, I had to choose. I was torn. We were given the opportunity to review ONE gift. How was I going to choose? I could not make up my mind. I started by emailing John at CrossTimber.  I shared with him that I was having a difficult time making up my mind. I have four daughters so I didn't want to pick one of them and not pick the others so I went in a different direction. I gave John my husband's name and my name. A couple's name plaque would be nice! My niece had gotten married only a few weeks before so I asked about her name and her new husband. Maybe I wo...

I am generally too wordy for a wordless post but I'll keep the words to a minimum! I present to you the lonely cat who demands attention.  Want to work?  Better give him attention first.  He's going to hold the computer hostage until you give him what he wants. Happy Mid-Week!

Today I want to tell you about a program that I wish I had years ago when my girls were just entering their teenage years.  As they began to be more independent with their school work and using the computer , I would have loved a program that created an atmosphere of building trust. Something that wouldn't necessary restrict their internet use so much that they felt constrained or couldn't do what they needed but one in which they knew mom would know what they've been viewing. Something that I could use to teach them responsibility for their actions and keep them accountable. Through the Homeschool Review Crew I have found that program.   Accountable2You is an internet accountability software application that you can install on your computer, iPad, KindleFire, or smart phone.  They offer 4 different plans: Individual Plan , Family Plan , Group Plan , and even a Small Business Plan . I chose the Family Plan. This program provides accountability but does not f...

If you are a long time reader of my blog, you might remember that Turtlegirl had the opportunity to use and review Middlebury Interactive Languages in the past.  She studied the 1st semester of High School French 1 during in her junior year and then we had the opportunity to take semester 2 in her senior year. Supergirl was a tiny bit jealous. She wanted her own online interactive course like her twin. This time around she got have her own course. But she didn't want French. If you know her, you know what her favorite language is! It should be no surprise that she picked Elementary Spanish 1 grades K-2 . Unlike the Middle School and High School courses which are sold as Semester 1, Semester 2, or Both, this level of Spanish is only available under the Both option and includes the full year of course work. Like the Middle School and High School courses Middlebury Interactive Languages offers options for With Teacher Support and Without Teacher Support.  Homeschool R...