Red Neck Liber

Moving

2008-10-20T16:21:00.001-06:00

I am moving to

redneckliber.wordpress.com

What is Off The Conveyor Belt?

2008-10-19T11:04:00.005-06:00

I have been emailing back and forth with a young friend of mine. The last email I sent her got me to thinking a bit about the all cursed and dreaded conveyor belt.
Now in the Tjed world the conveyor belt can and usually means the public school system. Dr. Demille choose a conveyor belt analogy because it shows everyone going along getting the same thing at the same time regardless of talents, interests, or personality.
I have also discovered that our current public school system is based on the Prussian Factory model.
Alvin Toffler said in his book the Third Wave,
"Built on the factory model, mass education taught basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, a bit of history and other subjects. This was the 'overt curriculum.' But beneath it lay an invisible or 'covert curriculum' that was far more basic. It consisted - and still does in most industrial nations - of three courses: one in punctuality, one in obedience, and one in rote, repetitive work. Factory labor demanded workers who showed up on time, especially assembly-line hands. It demanded workers who would take orders from a management hierarchy without questioning. And it demanded men and women prepared to slave away at machines or in offices, performing brutally repetitious operations."
I have only found this quote, I have not read the book but plan to in the near future. Actually I think its on my book shelf right now. Great I can it start today.

So that all being said, is Public school a bad thing? In my opinion...No, its not.
If we know what educational program we are putting our children into and studied it out, like any method of educating our children should be studied out, we can at home overcome the deficiencies of any educational program.
Dr. Demille encourages us to get off the conveyor belt. I know of and have been one of those people who when I first heard this concept thought "Ok, I'm off that conveyor belt, but it feels so comfortable to be on one that I will now get on this Tjed conveyor belt." But guess what that's not right either. If our end goal is to have a superb liber education, or as the Demilles say on their new website www.tjedonline.com, an education to match our mission, then we need to be off all conveyor belts. Including the Tjed conveyor belt.
A friend of mine has defined off the conveyor belt and I think I will stick with it.

"To me on the conveyor belt is when I am going with the flow of society, friends,
family or whoever instead of prayerfully seeking out what is best for
each individual child and their needs and then following that path for
that child. I am off the conveyor belt when that individuals
spiritual, educational, emotional and social needs are being met in
the way I'm being inspired to fulfill them, no matter what form that
may look like or take. I know I'm on the 'conveyor belt' when I don't
feel comfortable with the way things are progressing and off when I
know deep inside that what I'm doing is right no matter what other
outside voices may say.
To me conveyor belt is not some taboo system, or formal education
but more of doing what others are doing without really questioning it
and studying it out in my mind and asking God if it is best for me and
my family in our circumstances. Thus public school may or may not be
conveyor belt as well as TJED or any other system of education."

I have also come to the conclusion that you can be in public school and off the conveyor belt.
This is not an announcement that I am putting my kids back in public school. No I still feel they are doing better, for what they need, at home.
Thank you for listening to my ramblings on the Conveyor belt.

My mission your mission

2008-10-11T10:32:00.005-06:00

O.K. so we know that I dabble in the way of believing that all people were sent to earth to fulfill a mission. I believe that every single person born was sent here to complete a work of some sort or another. I also believe that everyone has a different one or a different way to go about it. A trap we can sometimes find ourselves in is coveting the mission of another person just as we covet another persons talent. I had a hard experience in this a few weeks ago and almost lost a friend. She is forgiving and things are better now.
If you follow the principles of Leadership Education as outlined in "Thomas Jefferson Education" by Dr. Oliver Demille. He outlines 7 or so missions (not in the book) and a dear friend of mine as added a few more to the list.
They are as follows
-Feed the Hungry
-Heal the sick
-Comfort the Lonely
-Create Beauty
-Preach the gospel/ Spread Truth
-Liberate the Captive
-Educate the ignorant

-Protect the innocent
-Ad Minister

I think some of the wording could be reworked but I hope you get the general idea. The last 2 my friend and mentor has added to the list so I keep them with my list.
Educate the ignorant could be taken as bad form so I would like to call it "educate the unlearned". (this is not my epiphany it came from a dear friend, but is one I agree with)
Some go hand in hand, Like spread truth, Liberate the captive, and educate the unlearned. They can be taken as interchangeable and the same thing, at least for me.
For example my mission is to liberate the captive. I am going to fulfill that mission by educating the unlearned and spreading truth.
I am really looking into Earl Shorris' project of the Clement course. I feel a real pull to it. He has created a program that helps to get people living in poverty out of poverty by teaching the humanity's. He created a free course, provides bus tokens for transportation, childcare, and a meal. The books are covered and he gets actual University professors to teach the courses. They study philosophy, poetry, literature, and American history.
There are a few classes in Canada at this time. There is one in Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax. I think they change the curriculum slightly to make it more adaptable to Canadians. They have one course in the Yukon and it is taught in the native Inuit language. There area few in Mexico that are taught in Spanish and other Native languages.
The whole thing is absolutely genius and I cry every time I read about it. That's what I want to do. I want to liberate the captive by teaching them how to think.
Here is the real kicker. I have to get the education first.

What I learned from The discussion on Core phase.

2008-10-08T16:18:00.002-06:00

I learned:
1. I am not alone in my trials
2. Not all people necessarily see Core phase the same way I do.
3. I have really great and spectacular kids.
4. That it is possible to not like someone but to love them anyway. (very strange)
5. I have found and am living my mission and it is so exciting.

I want to have another discussion on core phase and see how different people view it. I want to hear peoples obstacles, and successes.
Did I strengthen and uplift? I really don't know. I felt much better when I left so I was uplifted.
If you read my blog and understand what Core phase as Tjed explains it is, will you please respond and tell me what you think of it....? Please...?

My First Core Phase for moms day

2008-10-06T11:32:00.003-06:00

Well, I have asked a very kind lady to host a project for me. Its not a hard one. I want to host what I call "Time Out for Core phase moms". I am stealing the title a bit from Time Out for Women that Deseret books put on. If I am infringing on rites I can change the name. Besides I doubt it will get that popular.
It is a group of moms getting together having a colloquium on and about Core Phase. What we have learned from it, what it looks like in our homes, where we feel we are going with it. Life experiences they may want to share. The main idea I want to give people from it is that they can do it. It is possible amid the chaos or the lack there of, that core phase is possible, natural and necessary. I am hoping to strengthen them in their resolve.
I am going to write an outline of what I hope is discussed but I will also honour the natural flow of how it happens.
I am excited and nervous at the same time.
I am also planning, with their permission, to take their wisdom nuggets and put it in the paper I am going to write on Core Phase.
I will report how it went tomorrow.

Crazy times

2008-10-02T07:26:00.004-06:00

We have been pretty busy around here. I have taken one 3 ton truck load to the dump and there is still more. I feel lighter already.

We took the kids to the Zoo and had a blast.
Megan started what she called the Entrepreneurship club. She invited a few friends and they worked together all summer raising money. They had a car wash, a bake sale, a bottle drive and we sold goodies at the local fair in July. They made almost $150 and they wanted to spend the money by going to the Zoo.
We has a good time 2 other families came a long with us. Some of the kids didn't make it out of the parking lot awake.

De cluttering, Going to the Zoo, Girl Guides. It has been busy.

I read some great books. The Ugly American, Reading Lolita in Tehran, trying to get through Walden, but just to show my literal ignorance, I think I would rather gnaw off my leg. Some people say it changed their lives and they have reevaluated everything. I am wondering when that happens?

Organization

2008-09-06T10:10:00.004-06:00

As I am focusing on Core phase this year I feel I need to organize my house. But the kicker is as I look around I realize how unorganized it truly is, I get overwhelmed and want to give up.
This me announcing here and now I will get my house organized by Christmas 2008.
I shall be focusing on my Core,

C - Cleaning
O - Organization
R - Relationships
E - Example

Core Phase as the foundation

2008-08-21T22:27:00.002-06:00

In Thomas Jefferson Education people talk about Core phase all the time. It is the time of life we learn our values, our virtues, our morality and core beliefs. The lessons of core are Good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, True Vs. False. It is in essence the foundational phase of a superb leadership education.
Here is a quote I found on foundations and I think it applies to our Leadership Education.

"Foundations do not typically contribute to the architectural aesthetics of a building. Yet, without suitable foundations, a building will not function effectively, will be unsafe and its architectural merits will rapidly fade"

Core phase is the ultimate foundation.

2008-08-21T08:10:00.000-06:00

This one makes me laugh....

Theodore Roosevelt Quote

2008-08-19T19:22:00.001-06:00

A great quote I just read and had to share.
Theodore Roosevelt said "It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again-because there is not effort without error and shortcomings-but he who does actually strive to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievements and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat"
I am in tears.

Core Phase... Relax

2008-08-18T08:43:00.003-06:00

Just to tell all 4 people who read my blog, I am going to write a paper on what Core Phase is to me. I have also decided that as I go along and come up with ideas I will post them here for your feed back.
I wrote an email to a Yahoo! group I belong to about core phase and a friend of mine wrote in saying you need to RELAX. The fact that she capitalized the words caught my attention so I came up with an acronym. What can I say I'm a sucker for acronyms.
We need to RELAX in core phase
R - Read to your kids in all phases, Core, Love of Learning, and Scholar
E - Example we need to behave the way we want our kids to behave
L - Laugh with your kids. There is a ton of studies on how laughing and having fun can reduce stress and lessen a stressful situation so better learning can happen.
A - Attitude have a good attitude about how you are being have an attitude of Joy
X - Explain things, explain what is good, true, and right. Be the sounding board of explanation.

I would honestly like to know what you think. If you have a comment please leave one.

Where do you want to go?

2008-08-16T19:57:00.005-06:00

"Cheshire Cat, would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where----" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

"---so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

This year I have decided to focus on our Core Phase (look on the Right hand side of page). We will be structuring time not content and will be inspiring not requiring this year. I really think we have neglected this side of development and I am going to honour the natural phases of leadership education this year.
I feel like I know where I am going. I have a direction and it feels good.
I am not going to go back to school. Part of my mission is to be a mother and after the incredibly stressful year we just came through I have decided to focus mainly on my family and being a mom, we need to heal.
I have given myself some assignments though. I am going to look very deeply into Core phase and write on my findings and share them hear. If you are interested. If not that is fine to.
It will be the year of honouring senses, and following my intuition regardless of others thoughts of uncomfortableness. (is that a word.) (Thats why this is Redneck Liber).
I am feeling confident in a humble out of the box way.

Laziness Gene

2008-07-30T20:39:00.001-06:00

I knew it wasn't my fault.....

The Call

2008-07-09T21:15:00.004-06:00

I am going to take a plunge. I am feeling the call. Has anyone here heard of the Hero cycle. Joseph Cambell has studied mythology and has drawn the diagram as above he calls the Hero Cycle. Its not quite as I learned it but its close. He has written a book called the hero of a thousand faces.
I am about to embark on an adventure of my own. I am feeling the call to go back to school. How very exciting. I will be taking distance study classes, one at a time because keep in mind I still have 6 children that I home school. I am on the 10 year plan to a bachelors degree. It will probably take that long but I feel it needs to be done. The thought keeps me up at night. I want to study the humanities, Philosophy, History, Literature, Art, Music, and yes I guess Math. I guess because math is truth math is beautiful. I need to search more to find the beauty in Math.
I will be starting this fall, and away I go.
Dr Demille of George Wythe College teaches the hero cycle slightly differently, but the call and roadblocks are still the same. Needing a mentor, knowing your Tests, Traps, and trials. This can be the path to success.
But the Call is coming in loud and clear. I will answer or I will stay on the path to mediocrity.

Just an update on August 18 I have decided not to go back this year. It is a right thing for me to do but not a right now thing... Odd but true...

Warming of the Heart

2008-06-29T10:40:00.006-06:00

Somethings just warm my heart. I saw this today and got emotional about it. I am getting emotional about a lot of things lately. But this will be my research project for the day.
In the Lift organization that I am a part of my Friend Stacy Nicol talks about See a Need Fill a Need, and to me this is a great example. 77% of people involved turn their lives around.
I will be learning more on this.

Update
I love Wikipedia, it can answer so many questions.

How great for the world to unite on this. This is a good thing happening in the world.
Canada is having a championship game in Calgary to see who represents Canada in Melbourne in December. Do you think TSN will air it?

Service is love

2008-06-22T23:41:00.004-06:00

In Joshua 14 Joshua says he has strength yet for another mountain. I hear this and it makes me tired.

I understand Valleys are a natural part of taking on a mountain and maybe I should realize I am in a metaphorical valley at the moment. It seems to me that a way out of my Valley is to serve others and to love them.

My kids are angels because even thought I am not a picnic to live with right now they are still really really great kids.

We are going to learn to serve each other this week. I have decided that when there is a fight or quarrel we will work together. So we will either learn to love work or learn to love each other.

2008-05-27T13:03:00.004-06:00

There are days when I feel completely at ease that I am creating the village I want my children raised in, I am planting the Oaks to shade them. Then there are days when the Laundry isn't done in 5 loads and I think I am drowning in house work and realize that I have neglected the home front a little to long. Where is the balance?
I have a mission yes that I know, but some days I feel that my mission is doing laundry. H.G. wells said that "Men who think in lifetimes are of no use to statesmanship." Meaning, and I agree with this, that we need to think Generational. What kind of mothers am I raising? Another scary question.
To many rhetorical questions going through my head today.

So much on the go

2008-05-08T16:17:00.002-06:00

I have been busy planning and writing and organizing the Second Annual Thomas Jefferson Education Forum. It is going very well. I have 85 people signed up and who knows how many people will come to the door.
We have a great line up this year and I am so excite for it to happen. Anyway thats why I have been busy.
Thanks,
Peggy

Guilty

2008-04-13T08:54:00.000-06:00

I am guilty of this one.

They were seperated

2008-04-09T09:40:00.002-06:00

Due to the miracle of adoption my youngest 2 are 7 1/2 months apart in age. People always ask if they are twins, I say no, they ask how far apart are they I tell them 7.5 months and then I get looks of great wonder. I have actually thought of carrying around a camera to take pictures. I usually say well I am wonder woman,... no one was adopted.
Any way I digress. Yesterday Birth dad came for a visit. Fred, Haley, Kirsten and birthdad all went into town yesterday. Poor Hunter stood at the door in total and complete shock that Haley was leaving without him. Then it hit me this is probably one of the first times they haven't gone out together. They do everything together. He couldn't believe it. All day he kept asking to go in the van. "I go in van mom". He kept opening the door to see if they were home yet. I finally talked Megan into taking him to the park across the street from our house.
It was kind of interesting. I never realized how much they were together until yesterday.
Should they do more separate things? Should we take them out one at a time?

A great day

2008-04-06T21:57:00.002-06:00

I want to talk about a great day I had the other day. It was on Friday. It was a defining day. One that says you are a Homeschooling Scholar Mom.
My 7 year old Daughter was bouncing on the exercise ball reading Harry Potter to me, I was changing a poopy diaper and between wipes I was writing out math equations on the white board for my 5 and 6 year old daughters.
For some people this may seem quite hectic and really it is but I remember thinking at that moment that this is who I am, I home school my children and this is what it looks like. I felt a great surge of happiness well over me and it was a great day. I was in the company of the greatest souls who ever lived and I was humbled and inspired because of them.
We read many books that day. I was inspiring as the mother mentor, and some of my reluctant readers went on to start books on their own, HURRAY!! That to me is a good sign of great inspiration.
I am happy to be in the mind set I am in. I am a mother and an educator. At this moment I wouldn't change that for anything.

Its Forum Time again

2008-03-27T22:48:00.002-06:00

So I either like planning big crazy events or I am a glutton for punishment. I am planning the Second Annual Canadian Thomas Jefferson Education Forum. The date is set for May 10 and we are hosting it at the Lethbridge College Campus again.
It is getting a lot more buzz this year. My friend Heather Burton and I have an interview with Mark Campbell booked, to be on his show Scene and Heard. I am a bit nervous about that.
We have 13 great speakers lined up to speak and tell us their words of wisdom. I am trying not to speak this year because I feel I did a horrible job last year. I will just stick to planning this year. But I have one spot left to fill.
It is getting exciting.
I have been wanting to write essays lately. Perhaps I'll try to write one a month or so and just post them on here for the whole 2 people that read this blog.
hmmm great idea. So all 2 of you look out...

Dixie Chix

2008-03-18T16:11:00.003-06:00

I love it when someone expresses how your feeling through song. I have been feeling like this towards certain members of my extended family, and when I heard this song I felt validated and then got over it... for now.

Happy St. Patricks Day

2008-03-17T15:44:00.000-06:00

I am White

2008-03-06T21:28:00.003-07:00

Thank you Paul for introducing me to this Blog. I find it Hilarious.

I'm it

2008-02-26T16:13:00.002-07:00

I was tagged by Kathleen, Hey can we tag the butcher?? Here are the rules
RULES

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Random facts about me hmmm

1. When I was 12 I licked a slug on a dare

2.I have a tattoo on my back

3.My middle name is Ethel.

4.I Love Country music (sorry Kathleen)

5. I was born in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan

6.My favorite vehicle is a 1983 Dodge Ram truck

7. When I was in grade 10 I accidentally died my hair green and my Uncle John would sing "Beauty School Drop Out" from Grease every time he would look at me.

I shall tag Stacy, Karina, Beth,

Fun with the Camera again

2008-02-25T14:53:00.004-07:00

If you follow this post you will know I LOVE hoar frost. so here are some more pics I took the other day.

Yes the Christmas Lights are still up. I am guessing they will never come down...

Taiko Drumming

2008-02-23T17:39:00.002-07:00

I took some of my kids to a Nature In Mind Arts Festival today. There was one very neat number with Taiko Drums. It was a great experience to sit and listen to them play. There were probably 10 or so drummers and the sound was great. The drums are big and as my 6 year old pointed out as she covered her ears, very loud.
I did a quick Google on the internet to find out more about Taiko drum and found out they were used in Japan in war and in royal court and became a symbol of religion. Thank you Wikipedia.
What was interesting is that as I sat listening to these great and awesome drums, I was moved to tears. I welled up with emotion and cried, not a sad cry, but a hey there are things greater than you, and time to get to work on being better cry. It was humbling and inspiring at the same time. I greatly enjoyed the Taiko Drums.

I feel like writing

2008-02-19T13:14:00.002-07:00

Well I have come to the self diagnosis that I have SAD. Seasonal Affect disorder or whatever its called. The sun is shining today and it looks like spring and it makes me so very happy. I feel confident and light. But being this is Alberta you know that when the sun shines in February it won't last for long. So make Hay while the sun shines.
The kids played outside today for 2 hours which for them is quite a feat. I can barely get them to go outside for 30 minutes.
The thermometer from my window says 12 C How great is that?
I also got the flyer done for my big Forum in May. On the 10th. For those of you Tjeders I organize a big forum like the one Dianne Jeppson does in Salt Lake city. It should be good and exciting this year.

The Weather

2008-02-18T11:21:00.002-07:00

The weather here today is fantastic. I have sent the kids out to play and to see if there is enough Snow left to make a snowman. Heres hoping.

Propaganda

2008-02-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

I just watched a video on you tube that killed a Mickey Mouse look alike then blamed it on the jews.............

How do you fight propaganda like this? I can not believe they are teaching their children this......
I am speechless....

Kids fun

2008-02-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

The kids wanted to build a fort out of blankets. This is their masterpiece.

Hard knock life

2008-01-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

Well I have been learning a few lessons from the book of Hard Knox. Man am I tired. I think I am failing the test because it seems that things are not easing up. Its moment like this I think Of the Song from Annie Its a hard knock life. Although I do have warm blankets and hot food.....
Maybe I should Hire a choreographer to help make life a little better, or maybe I'll just try a hands free cart wheel. That should make everything better.

I am aware that it is a lesson I am to be learning and not just pain that I should be feeling. I feel happy today.
I am working on personal acceptance meaning that when the house is a mess and The kids are running around screaming that it is that way because it is a home filled with love and its OK for me to sit and read. I have taken a lot of pressure Off myself that I was putting on myself. Its that constant pressure for perfection that I was no where near attaining anyway so I gave it up. Guess what happened? Life got happier, the kids are more co operative and I feel better. Just by letting go of that perfection that was always just out of my reach. One step at a time. One small step. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.
I am the Vice president of a newly formed organization called Leadership Education Association of Family and Friends, LEAFF. In the meeting over the phone this morning the president said that last quote by small and simple things are great things come to pass and we that she was a simple thing and I will add my part, I too am a simple thing.

Interesting thoughts

2008-01-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

I am sad

This picture makes me happy.

question... Does life get easier or do we get tougher??????

a few pictures

2008-01-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

My kids

kids

2008-01-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Why is it when we want to go out Kids find it he right time to go crazy?
I was getting ready to go visiting teaching, and thanks to Girl Guides I only had to take 3 kids. My companion called and said we were canceled for one appointment but still had one other appointment. This left me with 15 minutes to flat iron my hair. I got a sexy new hair cut that requires a bit of flat ironing. I thought I'd never say this but my hair just isn't straight enough.
So I left myself 3 minutes to drive 3 blocks with 3 kids. I come out of the bathroom and Hunter is completely naked and just did some business in the potty. That boy has impeccable timing.
We were only 6 minutes late however.

At a cross roads

2008-01-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am at a cross road in my life. I can change paths if I choose, but here's the kicker, I don't have a map and I don't know where I want to end up. Is it possible to feel lost if you don't know where you are going?

Food Fight

2008-01-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

If we have bad hair days are we allowed to have bad Mom days? The only difference being your hair may not not need hours of therapy to be able to cope with life after it moves out. I mean really you don't hear bad Freudian accents asking "Tell me about your hair".
So since we have established being a mother is more important than hair.
So this is my evening. Supper goes along really well, (of course Fred was home). Then the after dinner clean up. The 4 older girls were supposed to be clearing the table. An hour later it was not done yet so I redirected them yet again and sent them on their merry way when the dryer buzzer rang. (oh dreaded dryer buzzer) So I went happily to fold the clothes in the dryer.
When I finished the clothes we were now into 88 minutes of supposed table clearing, with 4 girls it should not be taking this long. Then I looked around, (bad idea). There is food all over the floor, apparently one of them thought throwing peas might be a good idea, then bread. Water puddles here and there, another thought it might be good fun to get the one throwing peas and bread with water. The other 2 joined in by quickly throwing the dishes into the dishwasher un-scraped, and put the salad on the counter. Needless to say I lost it but good.
Can I still be a good mother tomorrow? Of course I can. Would a good mother have gotten mad at her kids for having a food fight instead of clearing the table? I would like to think so. I feel bad about my reaction to it. It was as immature as the food fight and I am the mother.
When I calmed down enough to be coherent, I had the girls tell me the steps to clearing a table and they knew them quite well. So now perhaps I should think and write down how to be a good mother.
I hope they have a good memory of it. Some of my best memories were playing to hard then getting in trouble at the end. I think it was worth it to them because they went to bed giggling, but grounded.

My Family

2007-12-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well here we are legally a family. Hurray!!!!! we are all so happy

They are mine

2007-12-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

It been a long hard ride but the adoption was finalized today. What a relief and enjoyment. I am so happy to have a complete family. Even with them fighting in the other room right now.

Christmas Log

2007-12-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist Merry Christmas

2007-12-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

I can not log onto one of my Favourite websites anymore hillbillyhousewife.com It tells me I need a username and password. When did this happen? I am sad. If anyone knows how to get back onto Hillbilly housewife please let me know.

2007-12-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

Interesting how trees with Hoar Frost can make me happy

More things to look at

2007-12-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Some more pictures I took late this summer

2007-12-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

I want to be so many things. One thing that gives me joy is taking pictures. I don't post them often though. Perhaps I will start to.

Battle of wits

2007-12-01T23:19:00.001-07:00

I miss my Princess Bride DVD

Here I am

2007-12-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a stressful week. I got sick right after Fred got sick and it has been pretty hard, but we are on the up swing. I like the up swing.
I have decided that I want to be a writer. Which is strange because I've always wanted to be a writer but now I really want to be a writer.
Also the joyful thing is My Lift seminar is on Friday Dec 7 and I am so excited to get to it. I think it will be wonderful. Like I said things are on the up swing.
Please excuse my lack of editing I am on my way to bed.

2007-11-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

As a Man Thinketh James Allan

Mind is the master power that moulds and makes,
and Man is Mind and evermore he takes
The tools of Thought, and shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:-
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking glass.

I am still here

2007-11-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

I am still here. I haven't left. I was at an amazing seminar in Lethbridge. It was from the Arbinger Institute. They wrote the books "Leadership and Self Deception" and "Anatomy of Peace" I've only read the first book and planning to read the second when I attract a copy into my life.
It was life changing. I really recommend those books. It can change the way you look at everything, your children, your spouse, yourself. And the beautiful thing is they don't change you do.
They have a small booklet journal type thing call 30 days to better children and its a journal you write in positive things about your kids. Everyday for a month. I have done 2 whole days now and see a difference. So good.
So theres my plug for the day "Read those Books", and the world will improve because you will.
I am going to go over my notes everyday for the 30 days as well to try and keep motivated. I am finding myself returning to the boxes I need to banish.

A Love Affair

2007-10-30T08:42:00.000-06:00

I have discovered a new love. I like to call them books. Some are written by men and some are written by women. I have been a bit upset and nervous about the upcoming events in my life and a good book can usually put it all in perspective. One line from a great and wonderful book can put so much in line that you are able to go on and relax you know life will be OK. "that book or that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." Louis L'Amour.
The ones I am particularly enjoying right now are the ones written by Louis L'Amour. He has written many many books, most of them westerns. I have been trying to read the Sackett series which are good and bad at the same time. Good because you can learn a lot from them, and bad because when I pick one up I tend to forget the house. But luckily enough most of them are thin enough I can finish them in one day, with the welcome interruptions of runny noses, poopy bums, and meals. Laundry on a Sackett day forget it.
I am reading right now Louis L'Amour's Autobiography "Education of a Wandering Man" What a great book and I am only on chapter 3. I have been having epiphanies one after the other.
Is reading a book about learning facts or learning about yourself? I think if you read a book and are better for it then you are getting an education.
"If I were asked what education should give, I would say it should offer breadth of view, ease of understanding, tolerance for others, and a background from which the mind can explore in any direction. Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life, for increased appreciation for all one sees or experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness" Louis L'Amour "Education of a Wandering Man"
I have been searching for what education means to me and here he sums it up and 3 sentences.
I have not been this epiphenated (for lack of a better word) since I read Viktor Frankle's "Mans Search for Meaning"
So for those of you out there this is a borrowed book and Christmas is coming ....hint hint.

A vote I feel pretty

2007-10-29T11:38:00.000-06:00

Which version do you prefer? Adam or Maria

To much stress

2007-10-27T09:43:00.000-06:00

I am feeling overwhelmed in all I need to do in the next few months. The thought that I may lose 2 children is debilitating at times. I have wonderful family and friends who have offered to come help me clean for the home study which is absolutely great. But the thought that I am being judged as a mother is a bit much. I try really hard to be a good mom but let me tell you there are days. What if the house is too clean or not clean in the right way? What if at the child psychologist it comes out that I spanked once and that is seen as bad? What if I am not the best choice?
I homeschool, my husband is unemployed but has decided that ya maybe I should look for work. (rambling to the point of distraction, I think my head is spinning)
I have a new project on the go with 2 wonderful friends. That is good right now because it is something to take my mind off things and I can do something. I am impatient and all this waiting to find out if the courts think I'm a good mom or not is a bit daunting, annoying, insert word of choice. And I'm low on my empower plus so things always look harder around this time io the bottle looking empty. (Good stuff that empower plus)

To what point does an author own the characters.

2007-10-20T11:59:00.001-06:00

So J.K. Rowling just outed Dumbledore. I find this as unnecessary as having a gay Teletubbie. Truly, why must we work that into everyday life? So just because the world says it OK to be gay why does everything now have to have a homosexual aspect to it? Why can't it just be? I'm OK with Sesame Street becoming multi cultural and I'm glad they have a character with a speech impediment but are they next on the gay rights agenda to have the kid with 2 Moms or 2 dads? Why can't things just be?
When we read a book we give part of our life to it and part of it becomes us. I was Ok with Dumbledore being asexual. Why give him the aspect of a love life now after the books are written, after the movies are in progress? Was it truly necessary?

Funny Story

2007-10-16T19:20:00.000-06:00

Well this is so funny I had to share. My almost 6 year old daughter (that we are trying to adopt) was pretending to be dumb. I have no idea why but she does it from time to time. I get frustrated when she does it so I told her to stop it we all know she is very smart and she should act it. She said "Yeah I know, the only thing I don't know is the difference from a tiger roar to a lion roar. I don't know why but I just can't tell them apart". I said "Yeah its hard for most people" then excused myself to the bathroom to laugh my little head off.
She has a very interesting view of the world.

Hi

2007-10-11T15:27:00.000-06:00

I posted a funny post the other day I apologize. I was trying to be creative by posting a home video but couldn't figure it out and then my attention was diverted and I completely forgot. sorry for the confusion. I am excited there was an article in the paper today praising Home School. Fraser Institute did a big study in praise of Home School and the Lethbridge Herald did a bit of an article on it.
Very exciting to have positive research done. I know you can find research either way so really what is the point of research? I have been emailed a copy so if anyone would like to read the 18 page essay let me know and I can forward it. Its called "Homeschooling From Extreme to Mainstream". It is an interesting read.

2007-10-10T17:11:00.000-06:00

My Dad The Hero

2007-10-03T23:14:00.000-06:00

I have a very exciting story to tell about my Dad the Hero. IF you are familiar with Thomas Jefferson Education you are familiar with the basic Missions. Feed the Hungry, Liberate the Captive, Educate the Innocent, Create Beauty, Heal the sick, I don't have my notes in front of me but I believe there were 7 or so and then an Other. Well my Dad fits into the "Other" category. A friend of mine penned it "Protect the Innocent". There is no other way to describe my Dad the Hero. He is a protector of the innocent.
He is in this part of the world to help us get our house ready for the winter. He is also my landlord. He needed some supplies and headed into Lethbridge. On his way into town he noticed some very strange track marks on the road and lawns of peoples homes. As he traveled down the road a bit more he noticed a Truck through the outside wall of a neighbors house. thinking this to be very strange he noticed another on looker. My dad backed up his truck a little and started talking to the other man about he strangeness of it all when they both heard a struggle looked over and noticed a lady being car jacked. She was being pulled from her car and fighting the guy attacking her. The other man with my dad advised the lady to let the vehicle go as it was not worth her life. The bad guy got the car and drove off at what point the lady victim told my dad this the other man that she had a great deal of money in the car, and other valuables. So my Dad being the protector of the innocent followed at a safe distance the Jeep that had just been hijacked. The bad guy who stole the jeep was driving through peoples yards and feilds, he was plowing through barbwire fences and other fences. He ran a few stop signs, he ran over a few stop signs. All the while me Dad keeping an eye on where he might be going.
At one point do to a slight hill my Dad lost sight of him but noticed the much relieving sight of the red and blue. My dad thought "Oh good the police have him" So my Dad continued on up the road to where the blue and red were flashing but noticed a very sad scene. The bad guy had used the jeep to ram the police car off the road turned around and rammed into the drivers side of the police car. By the time my Dad the hero noticed this, the bad guy has half way into the police car reaching across the stunned and pinned police man reaching for his Gun. My dad at this point got out of his truck ran down the ditch to the police car Hauled the bad guy out the drivers side window and grabbed him a half Nelson. They struggled a bit but my dad had a good hold on him. The Police (actually RCMP) officer was then able to get out of the vehicle. He asked my dad to let the Bad guy go but my dad noticed something in the bad guys hand. My dad said"I'm not letting him go he as a box cutter in his hand." The RCMP officer said "It's not a box cutter its full ammo clip to my weapon" At which point my Dad turned into Superman and slammed the bad guy into the Hood and said "You shit head if you move I am going to ram your head through this hood". At this point after the expletive the bad guy stopped struggling and was trying to give his hands to the RCMP officer to be cuffed. AS other help arrived my Dad then noticed the bad guy had been bleeding very profusely due to breaking into a house through a broken window, and ramming a truck into a house, and ramming a jeep into a police car.
Yes it does sound like a good episode of 24 my Dad being Jack Bauer, but it is all true.

Is Potty training really attainable?

2007-09-26T16:42:00.000-06:00

So my kids have been running around half naked for 3 days now, I need to shampoo my carpet and I am wondering will it ever come. Hailey is doing really well, she has even stayed dry in her panties for one full day now and prefers the big toilet to her little potty. Hurray!!!! But the boy on the other hand (we really do call him "The Boy") is having a bit of a problem. He goes when it is in the same room as him but doesn't leave what he is doing to go on the potty. The other day we had a solid hazardous waste mess to clean up but I was a few moments behind him and he decided to do an un-gloved texture test. It was a bit gross but we moved on.
I am excited because it is almost done and I look forward to a life free of diapers. This experience is actually my best ever I am taking it one mess at a time, but I mean come on I have been changing diapers for 9 years with the end in sight I am a bit excited.
P.S. Kathleen I lost your blog address some how can you leave it on a comment?

I am not cool And I'm OK with that.

2007-09-25T16:49:00.002-06:00

I was reading a blog about pop culture and TMZ and some man Perez, and guess what I have no idea what that means. So I did a little Googling and found out TMZ is "A telepictures production and America Online joint venture that provides an inside look at the latest celebrity scandals." So I guess basically it is an online tabloid. To shame with me for not knowing.
And also who is Perez? Try googling that. Anyway needless to say if it has nothing to do with Disney Princess, Scooby Doo, or Barbie's latest movie I don't know what it is.
Actually thats not true, I have been studying other things that just take me in a different direction than that. I get my celebrity gossip updates when I am in line at the grocery store and the old lady in front of me is trying to barter with the check out clerk on every item.
Needless to say when the news headlines is a celebrity scandal it makes me sad. I saw a video of a news anchor woman who was supposed to headline Paris Hiltons latest scandal and wouldn't I was very proud of her. That is not news.
The kids I want my kids to associate with are the ones who know who Aung San Suu Kyi, and Marie Curie is, not Paris Hilton. I want my kids to read about heroes like Gandhi, Benito Juarez, Margaret Mead, not the latest arrest in Hollywood, or the Who's married to who this week. I quite honestly see it as a colossal waste of time.
I really did not intend to turn this into a soap box. But there you have it. I disagree with our cultures tend to worship scantly clad, skeletal thin people.
Thanks,

p.s. I think I found out who "Perez" is

Adventures in Potty Training

2007-09-20T12:39:00.001-06:00

Well we received a Potty yesterday, and with grand illusions I thought "Hurray we can potty train them now" Them being my 2 toddlers that are 7 1/2 months apart due to the miracle of adoption.
So we started off the day with great energy and enthusiasm. I was excited we sang a potty song, we made special potty training Chocolate milk.
Then it began......2 toddlers, one potty, you do the math. World war 17 broke out at my house. It was evil, the fighting and gnashing of teeth. It was OK for about 2 hours but man it got rough. Hunter wanted to sit on it, then Hailey had to sit on it, so we tried taking turns, but toddler property laws rules all. I called it quits when Hunter got physical with Hailey.
But hey got 2 hours of potty training in which is 2 hours closer than yesterday. And Hailey actually produced. Whoo Hooo
So conclusion to experiment "Training two" is have two potties before you begin.

I am so happy and grateful for my healthy body

2007-09-16T11:21:00.000-06:00

I have had a sinus cold for 14 days now. I haven't been able to smell anything for 14 days which is not so bad when you have 2 almost potty trained toddlers. But the thing that amazes me the most is the amount of snot the human body can make. It is really amazing and also the colours. Its like a rainbow coming out of my nose, red and green. It is very exciting.
So if anyone nose (pun totally intended) of some good remedies to help with a head cold I am about ready to try anything. The Sinutab is not working and the Advil Cold and Sinus works but for only about an hour than I am plugged up again. My Aunt suggested a neti pot but I don't think I'm talented enough for that. That is a pot you put a saline solution into and put it into one nostril as it runs out the other side. I might just end up choking on snot and saline solution. It would sound good in an obituary. I could be in the ranks right along with Momma Cass.
I am thankful for my children. They are excited to learn every day and I am excited because I get to learn right along beside them.
If you could do anything to change the world for a better place what would it be?

p.s. sometimes I think I have ADD. "Hey guess what I can do? I can ride my bike, hey look a cat."

Today

2007-09-10T21:35:00.000-06:00

Well I am sick sick sick. I have had a horrible head cold for a few days now and it will not go away. I just laid around the house feeling sorry for myself shivering then getting hot. You know the feeling.
We actually had a fantastic Family Home Evening. People co operated and shared. Their was only one fight and that was between Hunter and Hailey and who got to sing first. Hunter wanted to do Sunbeam and Hailey just likes to pretend she's in in the opera. SO it was pretty funny to have Hunter saying Sunbeam (its the only word he knows) and jumping then screaming at Hailey "no Lailey SUN BEAM" And Hailey continues on with her "Ahhh Ahhh Ahhh". Hunter has also picked up a horrible scream that he does when he does not get his own way. So much fun.

Its about time

2007-09-09T21:33:00.000-06:00

I have started to blog many time only to be interrupted in the activity and had to abort and hopefully try again.
I have been doing so many things I need to sit and sort them out. I have been attending a mastermind group on how to increase productivity and how to realize your unlimited potential. What an eye opener!! It has been fantastic. I am learning so much on the Law of Attraction, positive thinking and faith. So many thought I haven't thought and epiphanies coming from all over now.
I have also been trying to get our life in order so we can have a good schedule for our homeschooling day. I wan to study art history this year, get to know painting and artists, and get some dollar store canvases for the girls to paint on. Megan wants to study Yoga. I have asked a woman I know to be our mentor/ teacher and she is thinking about it. I am very excited about that.
I had a bit of a set back with some house guests. they were here for 10 days. It is a very shaky time for me to have house guests. I tried to stay on schedule but it just couldn't happen. It is a bit unnerving to realize I get so easily overwhelmed. I know people have been telling me this but I have never seen it before. My balance of life stresses can be thrown off so easily. My Aunt is always telling me to find balance then I feel I finally do and house guest come and throw me off again. What do you do to stay balanced? I guess a good one is to say no.

I have been pondering lately what I don't really know. Yes I do I have been pondering to what extent do I want to be involved. Involved in what? I realize how shaky my balance is when I finally get it that one more thing can throw it off, so how can I be involved in life outside my house. I see everyone around me being so busy running to and fro and I think but if I did that who would fold the laundry or if I did that who would sweep the floor. I want to start running but when? The day is so full that I can't comprehend at what point I could start running. Priorities. I need to list my priorities. Is running more important then sweeping the floor? If I ran would I have more energy to sweep the floor? Probably not at first.
So I need to prioritize.
I think this sounds dumb but I will post anyway.

Ancora Imparo

2007-08-28T08:48:00.000-06:00

"Still, I am learning"

Michelangelo was credited for saying this at an old age. One search says he scribbled it in one of his note books in old age. Another search says he whispered it to a friend in old age. Either way you search it he was old when he said it. It is a great quote to celebrate lifelong learning. A love of lifelong learning. I shall have to ask my father in law how it is pronounced.
Very inspiring that a genius at 87 can say he is still earning I have a bit if a way to go

Summer is almost over

2007-08-21T15:32:00.000-06:00

I must say it has been one of the most stressful summers in quite a while. To much going on and not enough time to do it in and the whole court adoption thing took a lot of steam out of me. I know this may sound whinerish but I felt a depression coming on and thanks to the generous nature of my Mother In Law she gave me a bottle of True Hope and it really has been helping. I feel completely different and actually able to cope. WOW. I am glad it is able to be sold in Canada again.
My kids are growing like weeds. We had a 5 year old birthday party today and invited 5 kids but some siblings had to come along so we ended up with 14 kids. It was pretty hectic but we managed.
I am feeling nostalgic.
I was really dreading teh homeschooling thing but I feel this pull for it and I know for my family it is right. I know some of you disagree but I know for most of my kids it is the right decision for them. But I feel like I can take it on.
I went to a fantastic parent seminar last week. The morning was interesting and I don't feel I got all I could of out of it but my attitude was still not quite in the game. But in the afternoon we did a simulation. 5 pillars to a superb leadership education are Classics, Mentors, Field Experience, Simulations and God. So I was able to take part in this simulation it is called life boat. You pretend you are on a cruise ship that is sinking not enough life boats only 6 people can live and you have to give reasons as to why or why not you want a seat on the boat. I died. First I said no then my mom gave me a seat then the captain took it away because there were to many people. Blah, blah, blah. Anyway it really puts things into perspective for you. When I got home I realized I had made the wrong choice and that I needed to fight for my life instead of giving it up so easily. There was no debrief afterwards due to lack of time but it still would have been nice to have it.
It was good to think again, it was good to be a part of a group with like minded thoughts and beliefs, and it was nice to realize where my priorities should be and now will be. interesting the turns life takes you on to teach you what you need to know. I am working on life as a journey analogies but it is to cheesy to share right now.

To much sadness today

2007-08-11T08:45:00.000-06:00

Well I am sad today. The birth father of the girls I am in the process of adopting is contesting the adoption. I mean really he hasn't seen them in over 2 years. He sent money once at the beginning and now he feels the need to be the little bastard he is and contest the adoption. Just because he got my sister pregnant and has run out now he feels the need to hold things up by another month. We have to go to court on Monday as planned but not to finalize things but to hear jerko sperm donors demands. Where does he get off even thinking he is a Dad? Maybe someone should tell him it takes more than $500 every 3 years and more than one Christmas present very second Christmas to be a good dad. Like he should even have grounds to make demands on. I think if you haven't made any attempt in over 2 years to see your kids then perhaps you should lose your right to them. If he wants to be a part of their life then fine be a part of their life but this is freaking ridiculous. And I still have half of my family coming. Like I feel like cleaning and washing sheets for everyone. And to top everything off I was in Cardston yesterday I filled up my Van with gas and went in and my card was declined. It was truly turning into one of hte best days of my life. No credit and stupid asshole birth father decides he should make demands. and hold up the adoption just because he can. Truly at what point does he not have the right to do that. He has made no attempt to see them in over 2 years. The youngest one has no idea who he is.
Here is the truly scary part that rips my heart out. I have absolutely no legal hold on those kids. If he up and decides he wants them back to live with him there is shit all I can do about it. I could lose 2 of my babies on Monday and there is nothing I can do about it.

A little Queen

2007-08-04T02:55:00.001-06:00

And yet another great classic from Queen

Under pressure

2007-08-04T02:13:00.000-06:00

I feel like this today. I think I will take up jogging.

I Have a Dream

2007-08-01T11:19:00.000-06:00

I have always enjoyed this speech. I always cry at the end when he says "Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I am free at last". I am reading "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill for the second time it is a good book. I am trying to be more positive and focused in my thoughts. I t can be a very daunting task some days. What does that have to do with Dr. King. Well he is a great example of focused positive thought. Look what he manifested in the world.

2007-07-20T19:03:00.001-06:00

A lady by the name of Veronica Ciandre made this nice video. It was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr, and Bob Proctor on the Secret. I liked it a lot.

Back on

2007-07-18T21:10:00.000-06:00

Just for the record I can never stay out of it for too long. I have resubscribed to said group that I left. The reason for that is a friend/mentor who also happens to be of the same faith as me (my passive aggressive tendencies coming out yet again.) said "Peggy Hillyer leaders comment they don't unsubscribe". I thought about that and knew it to be true. So I rejoined the group
The issue of religion bothered me at first but then it turned into being annoyed at what I construed as peoples misinterpretation of the 5 pillars of leadership education. I thought long and hard and had to come to the realization once again that people do not see things the same way I do and had to get over it and swallow some humble pie. On the bright side they let me rejoin.
The conclusions I came to were very eye opening and mind stretching. knowing now what Leadership education means to me is a great place to be at. It also helped me question myself in an uncomfortable way and grow. So good to know yet another weakness that has to be overcome.
My 7 year old daughter is visiting my parents in BC. She called me today to tell me about her trip and all the fun she is having which is basically all the TV she is watching. But whatever. Anway I have a sister that lives in the same town as my parents who is pregnant and not married. She lives with her boyfriend (that doesn't make it right) Hannah called and said "Mom shes pregnant and not even married isn't that wierd" (my kids know how babies are made) I aksed her what she meant "Well girls are supposed to get married before they do that I told her she made a bad choice" Well it made me laugh. I wonder are these core beliefs I taught her? Is she learning correct principles and governing herself? Am I reading to much into this? Am I even making sense?
Thank you all for responding to this It really helps me to think things through.
Peggy

What Leadership education means to me

2007-07-17T12:28:00.000-06:00

I tried to delete the previous post but it didn't work and so I have now just decided to leave it on. I realize I have a problem with mouthing off before thinking things thru. I realize people have different opinions then I do. My friend Kathy pointed out I wouldn't want my kids to be mentored by terrorists and she does have a point. But I stand by the theory to teach them corect principles and let them govern themselves. I have decided to just explain what Thomas Jefferson Education means to me and realize others interpret it differently.
To me Thomas Jefferson or leadership education means to seek out truth in all things, religion, education, and life in general. I also must learn to be more forgiving and accepting of others and their interpretations of the truth. One of the reasons I homeschool is that the public schools tend to teach one side of the truth and kids aren't given the whole picture just that certain teachers view of the curriculum.I want my kids to be seekers. One example of this is the theory of evolution. I want my kids to learn both theories and decide for themselves what they believe is truth. I happen to be a creationist but after studying both theories, and knowing the principles I was raised with. I guess that is where I differ from most people. If my child came to me proclaiming to have found the truth as far as religion and basic principles are concerned and they greatly differed from mine. I would ask them to try and prove it to me, I would ask them to study very hard both options and the greatest thing I want to teach my kids is to take things to God. I will want them to pray about it after they gain all the knowledge they can. Then if it remains the same,or differed, as their parent I will respect that decision. Now I have small kids and I am sure I am at the point easier said then done. But when they come to me with both sides thought about and studied but their decision is different then mine don't I have to respect that. That is what I taught them, freedom, seek truth.
The five pillars of a leadership education are, classics, mentors, field experience, simulations and God. Maybe as a learning point for our kids while they are under our care is a simulation of what we can do when faced with a mentor of differing religion.
I am sure I am over reacting but shouldn't we be happy for our children when they find truth for themselves. Although I think I would have a hard time if one of my kids became a terrorist.
Thanks for getting me thinking Kathleen. I always write these then don't proof read because I usually have to go change a yucky leaky diaper like right now so I apologize for any loose thoughts or weird sentences.

Being Mormon

2007-07-16T15:03:00.000-06:00

I am not quite sure if I mentioned it here or not but I have decided to start school in September. It will be distance studies through GWC they will be accredited next fall as well, so that is good. But I did it for me and for my family.
I had to leave a Yahoo group community. The latest discussion left me feeling rather annoyed by some of the members. We preach to teach freedom to our kids, we want them to find truth but only as long as they stay members of the right faith. If they convert to any other religion well then that is just wrong. My main question is how can we teach our kids freedom, want them to find truth then get mad at them for converting to a religion you have no respect for? I know some of the members of that Yahoo group will read this and I apologize for the offense I don't mean to give any but really think about what you are doing and what you are saying. It is coming across as really hypocritical.
I have decided this next year in our homeschooling to avoid all "community" events and just do our own thing. I have found very little joy in the lack of respect we are showing each other the lack of support and the lack of joy for the other person.
I seem to only blog lately when I am upset at some circumstance or issue brought up by someones lack of thought for another person. I am tired I am worn out. I find no joy in the so called "enlightened" group I so desperately wanted approval from.
A very wise and inspiring man once said "Teach them correct principles and they will govern themselves" That man was Joseph Smith the founder and restorer of my faith. Is this not what we are trying to teach our children? Are we not trying to teach them correct principles?
I believe he was a great man inspired by God. I also believe that when children or people who are taught to seek truth and freedom are mentored by a Mormon, they will feel the spirit and inspiration from God and that is why they will convert not because they are trying to be like their mentor.
There it is off my chest. I apologize for any offense I may have caused but I will not apologize for being a seeker of truth and being LDS. I really think we need to analyze what we are teaching our kids. I could not share this on the group because it would cause offense and great upheaval, therefore because I did not feel the freedom to share my opinion I left the group.
I look forward to this fall and seeking more truth and more freedom and the road to becoming Liber.

Woman and Art

2007-07-01T13:39:00.000-06:00

I saw this on another blog sadiepink. I loved it so I had to share it. I got it off you tube. I like it so I hope you do to.

2007-06-27T22:23:00.001-06:00

Shes pretty Cute.

Personalities and Politcs.

2007-06-27T15:14:00.002-06:00

For the sake of politics is it still virtuous to swallow otherwise rudely said words? I wonder if that even made sense? When faced with an extremely strong personality that is rude, belligerent, and otherwise incredibly nasty, for the sake of future possible politics are you still a good person if you let it alone?
I have recently encountered such a person. Mind you he is young. But every time I had to interact with him I truly wanted to hurt him. His pride for himself shown through at every encounter. He is so incredibly wrapped up in himself that he can not see the forest through all the trees. There I vented I feel better. But I feel I may have certain encounters where he is involved and everyone else seems to love him which I am not saying he in undeserving of love because he is deserving of love but everyone assumes he is so great and I wonder what has he done. Here a friend and I work our butts off to provide experiences for people he shows up telling us how to do it and I wonder Where is your experience? What have you done to Deserve telling us what to do?
Now I sound prideful. But I believe I have paid my dues to deserve a certain amount of respect. I didn't just go in demanding it. I worked. I cried. I organized.
What would Jesus do? Love one another. Therefor I must love this young individual. He is young and I believe in time will get to be great .
So then what can we do if politically or career wise speaking we have to work with someone that truly rubs us the wrong way? My normal answer is to be incredibly passive aggressive, but that hasn't really worked for me in the past.
I guess I am taking this so hard because there is only a very small list of people I don't get along with its a new thing for me. Pride Pride Pride. Now I'm being proud.
So in my passive aggressive tendencies I write a blog about this anonymous person. Passive aggressive woman strikes again. That would be a really cool super hero. I can see it now, I'll help you out of your terrible situation and if you don't thank me I'll glare and poor water down your pants and pretend nothing happened. ha ha ha ha ha. Then I'll drive your car into a swimming pool and walk away like I did it every day. ha ha ha ha ha.
I'm going to have to think of future adventures for Passive aggressive woman. I think I can have a lot of fun with that.

Finally A New Post

2007-06-26T10:10:00.000-06:00

It has been a whole month since I last posted. So much has happened. I have decided to start a new distance studies program being offered by GWC. It will be a group of us getting together once a month for 2 days with a mentor from GWC. I also will have biweekly calls from my mentor and a bi weekly teleconference. It will be intense but it will be a great growing opportunity for me. And hopefully by the end of 6 years because I have to go slow I will have a bachelors degree to show for it. Actually I know I will. I would go full time and get it done is 6 but I have 6 kids and a house and a yard and a dog and now 2 budgies.
We have a court date to adopt the 2 we have been trying to adopt for 2 years. I am very excited about that, and Fred was cast in a TV show. It may be on a lousy Channel but Fred Hillyer is on TV.
My Internet has been acting really weird and I can only get on sporadically and when its windy. At this point Dial up would be better. But they said they would come fix it so hopefully they come soon.

Here something for you old canadians

Is Change REALLY Possible

2007-05-30T20:19:00.000-06:00

As I sit amongst my cluttery house in my overweight body I wonder "Can I really change the world?" I consume so much, I take so much and what do I give? I read about wonderful great people like Mohammud Yunnus. Here is a wonderful man doing something to change the world. He is not only helping people but he is giving them dignity. He is giving a hand up not a hand out. That last statement is such a cliche but true none the less. Such a miracle.
Or Aung San Suu Kyi, giving 6 years of her life to house arrest for the people who believed in her. These are the people who are being the change in the world. These are the people to look up to. These are the real heroes.
Tina Turner has a song we don't need another Hero. Is that true? Do we not need another hero? Is another word for hero Statesman, or Stateswoman. Kind of makes you want to go rent Mad Max and find out? Or study more influential people in history.
I digress. Back to my original point. Where does the motivation come from to truly change the world? Or do we need to be like Gandhi? I heard a great story about Gandhi. A mother was really worried about her son he was getting sick because of eating too much sugar. (I may be getting the details wrong but the overall message will come thru). She went to Gandhi and said Gandhi please tell my son to stop eating sugar. He replied to the woman to come back in 30 days. She wondered why 30 days and was a bit upset he would not help sooner. The 30 days past, and this woman brought her son to Gandhi and he turned to the boy and said "Don't eat Sugar" The woman was a bit taken a back and said " you made me wait 30 days to tell my son Don't eat sugar." Gandhi said "yes but you see 30 days ago I ate sugar." (Details of what was eaten are not sure)
So To be the change you wish to see in the world needs to come from within. So I can really always answer my own questions. Its just a matter of where does the motivation come from. Do I worry about the wrong things? I worry about cleaning my house, inspiring my kids to want to learn, clean clothes, clean dishes, why no matter how hard I try I can't type "the" right the first time, I constantly have to delete and fix it. So what do I need to do the moment I leave this room, to make my life and the world a better place? Honestly I need to stop worrying, and read to my kids.
Now for all of you who have been singing we don't need another hero I have something for you to watch. It is nice to see a young Mel Gibson again:

2007-05-28T15:41:00.000-06:00

Mommy its ooverrr

2007-05-23T14:36:00.000-06:00

Well the Forum was A HUGE success, and I didn't pee my pants when I met Dr. Brooks. Yes I know you are so proud. A couple of my friends were going to bring me a depends but thought it might be inappropriate in front of Dr. B. It was a success and I helped to create an environment where people were inspired and uplifted. It was so good and now I am on to planning next year. Fred thinks I am crazy but I think it was worth it.The talk and laughter afterwards was a good payoff. I also have people asking when is next years. I already have most of the speakers lined up. It seems to be planning itself. I am just the driver in a current I have found. Follow the current don't fight it.
Dr. Brooks talked on Legacy, building our legacy, leaving behind our legacy. One key he brought up was two towers building our two towers. Family is the first tower to build. Focus on family then he said this, The successful families that have good and great children are the families where the mother works at being the mother and the father works at being the father. I thought to myself, have I been working at being a mother?, with all me many trips down to Salt Lake "Bettering myself" have I worked at being a mother? What is a mother? How do you work at being a mother? Now I am absolutely positive that being a mother is much much more than providing clean laundry, and a clean house for our kids to mess up. It has to be otherwise I am in trouble. Have I neglected my First tower? I feel I may have. As I sit here now and write I am begging my kids to leave me alone for 10 minutes to write. Is that neglect? We read together this morning, we coloured, we played. Is asking for 10 minutes to write my thoughts neglect would a "good" mother do that? Or is every waking moment spent playing colouring washing the kids?
I truly have some soul searching to do. I also learned at this forum it is time to focus on your core phase. I will be needed to start my scholar phase very soon but have neglected my core and you can't have a good scholar without a solid core. What an interesting bit of mission to have pushed into my face. In Salt Lake I got you need to get out of your shell and be more public, now I get focus on your core, because Scholar is not far behind. I know most of you are asking where does Love of Learning fit into all this. I don't know at this time. But when I find out I'll let you know. Interesting how only small parts of my mission are being let out a little at a time. Bits and pieces here and there. What is the end result? I don't know but I hope its good and I know my kids will be involved.
People ask why do you do what you do? Meaning host face to faces, plan forums and help with the youth retreats. It dies take me from my family, but I guess its so that when they reach transitional scholar and scholar the things they need will be in place for them. Work out the bugs now so when Megan is there in four years it will be ready for her. I am preparing the way for her. I feel so at peace by what I am doing. It has to be ready for her. I only have 4 years. I also need the parents of her contemporaries to be trained and confident in the phases that it will be ready for their kids as well. That is why I do what I do.
So yes the trips to Salt Lake are worth it, I am bettering myself so I can better those who are going to be around my daughter when she is forming the most important years of her life.
There is a quote "How can I tell what I think till I see what I say" E.M. Forester
I am thankful for this Blog to let my thoughts out and to see what I think. I feel much better. I have been beating myself up for thinking I have been neglecting my first tower when I have only been strengthening its future by building my second tower. That totally makes sense to me if not you.

I need a good book to read

2007-05-09T22:26:00.000-06:00

This is me trying to get everyone to sit still for a group picture with my new digital camera. I never got the shot and gave up.

P.S.

2007-05-09T22:18:00.000-06:00

For those of you keeping track Hannah learned to ride a 2 wheeler. Oh and she turned 7 today.

Funny Mom sentences

2007-05-09T22:11:00.000-06:00

I would liketo start a contest of sort. you will only win in your heart. I want to know the funniest sentence you have said to one of your children, something you never thought you would say.
Example...
"Hunter we need to change your diaper, wash your hands and get that toothpaste off your forhead."
"No you can't put the cat in the toilet. Cats don't like to get wet thats why..."
"I'm pretty sure the dog doesn't like to be vandalized by pink dry erase marker" (onthe bright side it washed off the dog pretty easily)

Something like that. We all win because we can laugh at ourselves but I would like the verification that I am not the only mother who talks like this.

This is really good

2007-05-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

Now that I have calmed down.
I am totally excited to have this happen. What an absolute blessing. I am being blessed all around. Its a miracle really. I have decided that I will not pee my pants when I talk to Dr. Brooks. Although I make no promises.
I have been praying for things to happen for things to go and this is the miracle and I hope it is well received. I have new worries now though, The 30 people that have signed up will it be impressive enough for him. They are thinking of expanding and opening a satellite canadian campus here and if only 30 people come to the forum will it look good or bad? I really can't answer that. I don't know. But I really want that Canadian satellite campus to open, because then I can go, and perhaps a chance to dream, I can mentor.
You know I have had 3 miracles in one day. Why am I not on my knees thanking the Lord?

Title has lost me

2007-05-08T23:01:00.000-06:00

Um......Dr. Brooks is presenting at my forum.........hmmm.........
I just thought of something what if he wants to talk to me and I make a complete fool of myself?
This is totally fantastic. AAAAAAHHHHHH

The Whirling of my mind

2007-05-07T21:31:00.000-06:00

I finally feel human again. I can walk without limping, I can breathe without wheezing. Finally a day of humanness. So I went for a bike ride with my family. We went to the teeny tine Stirling pond type thingy. Not the marsh but the fishing pond. It is a block from my house.
I got many books read during my sabbatical from good health. I read, Star Girl, Caddie Woodlawn, Tao of Pooh, Ella Enchanted, The Little Prince, and bits and pieces still of Zen and Art of Motorcycle maintenance. I can't get my brain into it. I am trying.
I learned a lot, many epiphanies. We had thankful weeks around our learning. We were thankful for Math and did math all one week, We were thankful for science and had a blast with a small volcano Hannah made and vinegar and baking soda. This week we are thankful for time because Megan wants to be better at telling time. I got a new clock that moos from Fred so I took down my dollar store special and I am letting the kids use it and manipulate it just have hands on with it.
One funny symptom I am still having is I can't think of words. Hannah and I were sweeping the floor and I wanted her to get the dustpan,I said "OK now go get the ........Um the..... That thing", "What thing?", "Hold on while I think of the word....."' Hannah "The dustpan?"' "Yeah that thing" So I have turned into a bear with very little brain.
So we are thankful for telling time. Hannah wants to be thankful for art next week. I think that will be fun. I want to be thankful for nature walks and successful Forums. It will be good I know it.

The gimp With a limp

2007-05-05T12:22:00.000-06:00

I finally got back to my Doctor 10 days after me X ray. The diagnosis. Sacral Bi lateralitis (Or however it is spelled) Apparently the inflammation is so bad the X ray picked it up. I guess it normally can't and after the x ray you get a bone scan but I do not need a bone scan because the X ray picked it up. I now get to have steroids injected into my sacral joint. I also got some nice pain killers that take my limp away for a little while.
It is a interesting time in ones life when they are rendered immobile, for some reason that is the time you want to go ride your bike or walk all over town, or plant your garden, or shop. I normally hate shopping but have spent days doing it. I can lean on the shopping cart and walk fairly normal. One job that has been absolutely dreadful is washing the dishes. Standing at the sink is torture. I do have a dishwasher but it the pots and pans and other things that can't go in the dishwasher. For some reason I have been feeling stressed and when I get stressed I like to cook and cook big. Not a good thing to do when you can't stand at the sink for more than 3 minutes. Fred has been gone. He is home now so he was real happy about the amount of dishes waiting for him. The other morning we had NO dishes left for breakfast. So I made instant pudding and gave everyone a spoon and we had a picnic on the kitchen floor. One dish 6 spoons, its all good. The kids loved it, they kept asking when they could do it again.
I am being blessed though. Amid all the pain and hobbling I feel like I am learning to deal with things I can not control, compassion for others and all around patience. I have been able to read a lot more. I Just finished the book "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. It talks about letting things go the natural way. When we let things go there natural way they happen better then when we try to coerce or change them. It is much more relaxing and happier. Its like a stream taking the path of least resistance but over time you end up with things like the grand canyon. A big thing from a little thing. It is a good read and will be added to my classics list. It funny because I was in a lot of pain and mad at life, feeling sorry for myself while I was reading about the Eeyore complex . Can you say slap in the face. I also realize I have Rabbit tendencies. Running from one place to another and not really getting anything done. The next obvious book on my list to read is "The Te of Piglet".
I kept wanting to underline the poignant parts but the whole book would have been underlined. Interesting read. I recommend it to all. I have a copy you can borrow if you like.

I lose

2007-05-03T01:05:00.000-06:00

The caffeine won today. It has been over a month but the stress got me and its the only way I can deal with pressure. I haven't been able to walk without a limp for over 15 days now, Fred has been in and out of town for 6 days now, and my Landlord (AKA my mom) is having our house appraised so I have been frantically hobbling about the house trying to get it to the point where I can say "Sorry about the mess". It also rained today so the lawn is not mowed, and Fred has an audition in Edmonton tomorrow, so I hope long grass is in this season. So I have seen Fred for a total of about 2 hours since Last Thursday.
But I also bought myself a new digital camera. It must have been the caffeine talking. I have been reading about Notebooking as a homeschooling tool and decided to try it and decided that to do it right I need a digital camera. That way I can delete right there the pictures I don't want instead of waiting to get them developed to see what ones worked. I need instant gratification. Hahahahaha.
Also my forum is not being as successful as I had hoped and I am up worrying. We have 20 people signed up but that is an average of 6 people per class. I am not sure why people don't support things in this Tjed community. They say we need this. We need that. Then some poor sap comes along and tries to provide and they say not right now. I am venting. All well as long as we make enough money to cover the building rental cost it will be alright.

Another Email from my grandpa

2007-04-29T11:17:00.000-06:00

My Grandpa sent me this and it struck a cord with me. I don't know how you will feel about it. When he sent it, it was longer but I felt it would be more poignant to end it sooner.

Dear God:

Why didn't you save the school children at ?. ..
Virginia Tech, VA 4/16/07 (recently added)
Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96
Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97
Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97
West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97
Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97
Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98
Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98
Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98
Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98
Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98
Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99
Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99
Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99
Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99
Santee, California 3/ 5/01 and
El Cajon, California 3/22/01?

Sincerely,

Concerned Student

-----------------------------------------------------

Reply:

Dear Concerned Student:
Sorry,
I am not allowed in schools!
Sincerely,
God

----------------------------------------------------------

The Piano

2007-04-27T22:32:00.000-06:00

This is beautiful. I can't watch it and not cry.

Fun Old Commercial

2007-04-26T20:58:00.000-06:00

A great reminder

2007-04-24T12:03:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I come up short and things like this help me get back on track.
It occured to me that part of my family thinks I am crazy. But this just feels like the natural and wonderful way to raise and educate my children. I am thankful for this blog to help me understand who I am and find strength in it when so many think I am so strange.

Finding INCREDIBLE Epiphanies Anywhere

2007-04-21T09:35:00.000-06:00

Some days Being of Good cheer with Multiple Core phase children can be quite a challenge. I will admit then when things get a bit too challenging I turn to the TV. I believe it to be a part of my Conveyor Belt Hang over, but when the going gets tough the tough turn on a movie.
I asked the kids what movie they wanted to watch and that turned into fight #213 for the day, so to help my kids learn about freedom of choice, I chose the movie. I chose Disney Pixars "The Incredible's". It was fantastic. Here I am feeling like a bit of a failure because the TV came on before the allotted time but, I loved it, the epiphanies just kept coming and coming, I should have gone to get a notebook.
It is about a superhero family that has had to be relocated into main stream society because superhero powers have been outlawed. So here we have this father who is devastated because he can't use his powers to help people. His mission is being suppressed. He is living his everyday life in drudgery. One day is like the next and he is miserable.
A trial comes there where when an old foe tries to kill him and he is captured. The whole family then is has to come together to save their father. When they are finally allowed to use their superpowers they learn things about themselves they didn't know before. They were able to know what they could do in the time of hardship.
How many of us as mothers feel we are in the midst of the trial? You know the one "How do I get myself a superb liber education while changing diapers, mopping floors, doing dishes, cooking meals, changing diapers, doing laundry, educating my masses? Screaming out loud when do I get my turn? I think that some mothers feel this drudgery of day in and day out and why am I doing this? But then something happens, we gain an epiphany, or a light goes off in one of our children, and it reminds us of our powers, of our mission. That we have a mission that perhaps at this time it is raising the next generation of leaders.
It also helped me realize that epiphanies can happen anywhere. We need to be open to them. Just because we are cleaning goo off the floor instead of sitting in a classroom full of like minded people, just because we are reading 2 word sentences to our kids instead of some great literary classic, just because we are watching Disney instead writing the next great novel, we can still think and we can still receive epiphanies. We know the importance of education for our children, we know the importance of training leaders for the next generation.
It just cemented again in my brain the importance of mission. When that family was finally able to fulfil their missions and use their powers then, were they able to be happy. So yes we will go thru hard times, we will go thru what a friend of mine calls the trenches, and what a great metaphor sometimes my house does look like a War Zone, but it will be worth it in the end.
Simplicity not complexity sometimes I think our conveyor belt hang over tells us it isn't complex enough therefore it is wrong. If I can find a Huge epiphany watching Disney then they must be everywhere, look in the simplicity for them. A bumblebee can be an epiphany. (That's an entirely different Blog) .
Writing this has been a huge learning tool for me. I am going for complexity because I am worried it isn't long enough. So I will end now.
Peg

Sister Hinckley

2007-04-17T22:34:00.001-06:00

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car,
wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and
with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a stationwagon that has mud on the wheels from
taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister
Schenk's lawn.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from
making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping
to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the
tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

A day in the life of.....

2007-04-17T20:39:00.000-06:00

I have come to the conclusion that scientist that don't believe in the theory of perpetual motion are not parents of 2 year old little boys. The Boy is insane. He is constantly going from one mess to another. He makes them then says in the darn cutest voice "A mess, oh dear" I think that cute phrase has saved his life more than once.
We were outside playing and Hunter and Hailey have discovered Ants. The joy of ants. We followed Ants all morning today. My other girls have been terrified of ants, so this is a good change.
An interesting thing happened. I wanted to start reading "A Little Prince" the the kids today but they did not want to hear it. We got about 20 pages in and they all said it was boring, so Megan went and got the book "The Princess and the Goblin" So we are reading that. They were begging for more but we had to stop because Hunter decided the honey was much better suited all over his shirt, hands and hair then in the bucket. I was reading along when I heard the cute yet fearful phrase "A mess, Oh dear" So we stopped reading so we could clean up Hunter and by the time that was done everyone was onto other things. But it was interesting that the book I wanted was boring, when I let them pick it they were begging for more. So nice. I had heard of that happening but it hadn't happened here until today. They are so excited for the read tomorrow. Hannah was talking about it before Bed.
I enjoy the book as well. at the Salt lake Forum Cyndi Hampton talked about a book fitting the form for her family she strongly recommended this book. Men are Men, Woman are Woman, Good is good, bad is bad. It is a good book. I like the book too.
I decided today I seem to be going in cycles. I have a reading cycle when I read and read and read anything I can get my hands on, then when I surface from that I look at my house and say "A mess, Oh dear" so then I have a cleaning cycle when I can't get enough cleaning done. My health last week kind of screwed that up. I was to sick to clean or read. I got nothing done and now I am not quite sure what to do. I need to pick a cycle or wait and perhaps a cycle will pick me. We have been outside a lot more lately though. So maybe we will have an outside cycle now that the weather is warming up.
Being of Good cheer with multiple core phase children. How do YOU do it?

where to market, where to market

2007-04-17T16:14:00.000-06:00

So I am getting a touch nervous about my Forum. The Early Bird date is tomorrow and I have a total of 17 people signed up to come. On the bright side it will not be as touch and go as the Face to Face seminar I hosted in Feb. I have the ability to pay the venue after the forum so that is nice.
In my limited knowledge I have no idea where to market something like this. Newspaper, community bulletin boards, I know of a meeting coming up on Monday for the local home school group. I could go to that meeting or ask someone who will be attending to announce it. I think that is a good idea. I do know some people who will be attending this meeting.
I am a bit nervous. I need fifty people or it is a no go. But it really is not time to panic yet. I will panic may 16 and still only have 17 people. Just kidding. I know this is going to happen and life just isn't life without a little drama.

A new link

2007-04-15T15:52:00.000-06:00

Since I have learned how to do links, here is another one to read. I truly love these articles.
Rachel Demille is obviously married to Oliver. She is a fantastic writer and I hope to be at her level of writing someday. I have a Looooooooooong way to go. But it will be a fun journey.

Wonderful weekend with the youth

2007-04-15T15:15:00.000-06:00

I got back yesterday from helping a friend with a fantastic Liber Knights trip. It was only 24 hours but it was good. We had the kids read the book "No Time To Say Good Bye" It is a good book written for 11 - 13 year old's about the residential schools governments forced aboriginal people to go to . It was done in a nice clean way.
We then had a simulation where we took the kids to a near by high school and told them that Homeschooling had been made illegal and they were to be sent of to a reform school in Nova Scotia to be reintroduced into the public mainstream school, and if they or there parents fought back they would lose everything and go to jail. It was pretty good. It only lasted about an hour the kids were ranging in age from12- 14. The debrief was amazing. Some of those kids are so thoughtful and kind. I found it truly amazing what some of them learned from the debrief and experience from the simulation. The difference between simulation and play is the debrief at the end.
The 5 pillars to a great education are Classics, Mentors, Field Experience, Simulations and God. I am glad that their is a group of like minded people that can get together and help to provide these experiences for the youth. Megan my 8 year old daughter really wanted to go but the age cut off is 12. So now she is counting down to when she can go, 4 more years.
a great article to read is
http://www.gwc.edu/pdf/statesman_10_10.pdf
Well that is fantastic I learned how to do links.

I was telling my husband Fred that I like the kids that have grown up with Leadership education at the fore front of their lives. They don't really care about being cool, they accept everyone, they are phenomenal thinkers. I am happy to live in a time and country where it is legal that I can choose the way to educate my kids. I have been coming across a ton of opposition for some reason. I have been having to explain what I do to more and more people. I guess it is only fair, I am planning some great things for the future, but why does this have to be met with such opposition. So many people automatically take the defensive when I tell them what I am doing. "Oh I could never do that" "You are crazy" or my mother in laws new beef "You are gone a lot fixing yourself don't you have any time for your kids", why can't she see I am doing this for my kids and when I am home we have a fantastic time of inspiring, of trying to simplify, and mentoring them. So much to learn and so much to teach.
I am all over the place again. My poor brain can't keep a train of thought. I am also venting.
I had a fantastic weekend watching those kids grow and learn, and it renewed in me again what it is I am trying to do. I want my kids to be better and wonderful and fantastic and whole like those kids from the liber knights I just helped out with.

Schedule for Tjed Forum in may

2007-04-11T21:08:00.000-06:00

Well i hope it is readable but its about hte best I can do. This is not yet finished but it should give people an idea of topics that will be covered.
Thanks for bearing with me.

Keep on trying

2007-04-11T16:31:00.000-06:00

I am trying to get my schedule for the May Forum on this blog for people to look at. I will keep trying.
Peggy