Circling Through This Life

I don't have any idea how regularly I will do a Menu Monday post but I like the idea of sharing a menu, recipe, or meal idea on a Monday. Today I want to share a lunch idea using up leftovers. Not so much a recipe, but sharing what I did to use up left over broccoli. If you were to ask my family if they like broccoli I am fairly certain they would look at you like you had two heads.  Like broccoli? I don't think so. They might say "well I'll eat it," or they might respond with "I prefer it raw." I've discovered though that Supergirl loves broccoli with cheese. Since I'm trying to get her to eat more veggies and we we are trying to get her to eat more protein we eat broccoli a few times a week.  Steamed.  For Supergirl I might sprinkle some Parmesan or shredded Cheddar on it.  Sometimes I splurge and buy those "microwave-in-a-bag" broccoli with cheese sauce. Don't let them fool you though.  They like broccoli.  They just se...

I have been teaching reading in one way shape or form in my home school for nearly 18 years. I have tried so many different reading programs with each of my daughters that I have lost count. Most of those learn to read programs I used with Supergirl. I've learned that I really prefer a phonics based approach. I've learned reading is complex skill that is as much about a child's developmental readiness as it is on the program you use and, that no matter what program you use, fluency seems to come best when real sentences and stories are used. The one approach I hadn't tried yet was the old fashioned curriculum idea.  How about using McGuffey's Eclectic Readers to teach reading? I was excited to see that Eclectic Foundations would be offering their Language Arts Levels A, B, and C to the Homeschool Review Crew.  Let me start by telling you how I settled on using Eclectic Foundations Language Arts Level A with Supergirl. Because I am a crew leader, I received...

I would have posted this last week but we were in recovery mode and I was too tired: Last week Supergirl had a cardiac catherization .  She's doing great and all looks well with her heart I snapped this picture of her chilling on the couch after we got home from the hospital. She needed to lay low for a while longer and keep her leg straight as much as possible.  She thought it was great to lay back on the couch and watch Netflix.

We've entered into Great Lent.  Most people are familiar with the idea of "giving up something" for lent or fasting but Lent is also a time of increased prayer and almsgiving. I want to take just a moment to talk about increasing prayer. The other night at the Soup Supper and Talk my priest said that we can increase our prayers through repetitive prayers.  He specifically mentioned the Jesus prayer and the most simplest prayer of all "Lord have mercy". The Jesus prayer is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." If you think in terms of mercy being "not given what you deserve" , then it might seem that our simplest prayer is just a cry to avoid punishment for sins.  That's more a judicial or legal term view. But the words in Hebrew and Greek that are translated into our English word "mercy" have deeper broader meanings.  The Hebrew word means lovingkindness.  In Greek the word is closely related t...

One of my favorite curriculum companies is Home School in the Woods .  I first encountered Amy Pak through her wonderful Timeline Figures that we used with our history program.  Through the Homeschool Review Crew, I've discovered that Home School in the Woods offers so much more than just figures we can use on a time line. Supergirl and I have been visiting and exploring Ancient Egypt with the HISTORY Through the Ages Project Passport World History Study: Ancient Egypt . I prepared for our journey by printing out the Travel Planner: Quick Stop Itinerary.  This 3 page document gives a brief overview of the 25 Stops we will make on our trip. Stop 1 and Stop 2 Lay the Foundation.  During these two lessons students will prepare their passport, luggage, and Scrapbook of Sights. The passport and luggage will be used for each Project Passport Study.  I'm kind of relieved that we will not have to make a new luggage folder for each study! During the first two ...

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...