I started homeschooling my son a few months ago. And at the same time, for obvious reasons, I started redecorating the family room into his playroom/our classroom. I haven't posted any pics yet (partly because I am an all-or-nothing type of person who can't for absolutely any reason show you an unfinished project. It has to be gleamy shiny, have the new car smell, all t's crossed and i's dotted....in other words, it has to be perfect. Just ask my husband. I have been in the middle of writing something, say a blog post, and he will come into the room, look over my shoulder and I will literally try to cover the screen with my hands, asking him to not start reading).
Yes, I have some personal work to do. And yes, I have digressed.
Back to the roadkill :)
And by the way, the last part of Eliel's playroom that I need to finish is the chair. It's a great "mommy & me" reading chair, but the golden baroque-y/paisely print just doesn't work in the room. So it's in need of a makeover --- it's just a matter of time.
Digression #2. *sigh*
Since the room is part classroom, I wanted a chalkboard in there. One that my son could use freely and we can also use it during our "lessons" (he's 2.5, y'all. The curriculum is more full of songs, movement and creative discovery than rote learning). But a chalkboard was needed, was important, was paramount, nonetheless. It makes the room a classroom, right?
I should write something like The Chalkboard Diaries or something for I've had the hardest time finding a chalkboard, well, that WORKS! We were given one of those Fisher Price ones.....but the chalkboard part was either really cheap or really used for the chalk did not work.
Me thinks this could possibly be a frustrating experience for a little one. So then at the Dollar Store, I thought I lucked out on finding this chalkboard material Whale Wall Decal. *This is not the actual one nor is this my house, people. Even if the writing is in French and I live in Canada....*
It worked, but was a little small AND my son kept ripping it off the wall, thus it losing its stickiness at some point. Returning to the Dollar Store, again, I thought I lucked out on finding a small chalkboard -- about 16 x 12...but for the life of $3 chalk, it wouldn't take the chalk.
I didn't want to start giving my son educational, intellectual or integrity complexes so I stopped being cheap frugal, and looking at the Dollar Store, and start looking into a slightly more expensive store (aka, Walmart, Target or the like). That idea was nixed pretty quickly when I saw the prices and my DIY hat was fervently pulled out. I can definitely make this.
Now here is where my husband has cringe potential. Why? Because I always say "I can make this....." and then there's another project on the plate and because I have too many projects, our basement has somehow (SOMEHOW!) turned into a wanna-be warehouse of deadbeat furniture, crafting supplies, items "drying" and projects waiting. Like the waiting room of the Department of Motor Vehicles. On a Friday afternoon.
AND because I am pregnant AND a lot of the projects require paint, this means a lot of the projects, at this time, get pushed suggested for my husband to complete. AND this is usually the night before some "big" event -- like someone stopping by to pick up a book ("well, honey, they will come through the front door and of course, see the strategically placed new lampshade we, um, YOU, painted for me...so of course, it's important"). Wait till I start nesting again y'all --- only have 4 more weeks :)
So I asked my husband if there were any random wood pieces down in the "warehouse" or garage because I was going to stop spending HIS hard-earned money on Dollar Store rejects and buy Chalkboard paint.....which um, for a little quart, yeah it was about $20..(it's Canada, y'all). And oh yeah, I think we have a gift card or something around here that we can use towards it....(totally trying to soften the blow).
"Find wood for chalkboard" went on the "honey-do" list and I happily bought the paint. And then one day, it happened.
My husband crossed the DIY mentality line.
After helping a friend of his during a move, my husband excitedly came home with some "scrap" piece of wood. He asked, "Do you know what this is for?" And I don't think he actually even let me finish and he continued "it's for the chalkboard".
But it's....it's......well, it looks like the bottom of a bed or......is that part of a crib?
My husband had a DIY vision --- he repurposed! He actually saw something in the garbage, PULLED over and PULLED it from off the side of the road and placed a new mission on the piece.
As my mother in law said, "I've taught him well". :)
So our chalkboard-to-be was cleaned, sanded, primed and got two coats of blackboard paint (one layer going vertically and the other horizontally -- thanks internet!). Then us three wiped chalk all over it (as another "priming" method) and then hoisted it in its new position in the "classroom".
I guess I could have just said "hey look, here's my repurposed project.
It was a crib, now it's a chalkboard.
But what fun would that be? :)
Linked to:
Back in January, the Ann Voskamp book, One Thousand Gifts, came out and I posted my interest on reading it and joining the discussion.
Every year, I make a "want to read" list and for the most part, I read all the books on the list. What's also a definite given, is that I always ADD to the list as I go. This year, I've been my most "successful". My "Smart List" has 25 books on it to read for this year and as of today (mid September), I've read 23 books. IF you want to get really technical, I've read 8 books off the actual list, which is kind of funny. So, in terms of "numbers accomplishments", I am successful in reaching my goal....in terms of focus, yeah, I obviously have a distraction problem. :)
HOWEVER, this is just a long-winded way of saying that I HAD not got to reading One Thousand Gifts....and my disclaimer.
But what I do want to share is that from that book, even though I have not read it, is that I have been keeping a small (and quite beautiful, if I can say so) journal bedside to record daily my "blessings" with the aim of getting to 1000 (at some point!).
I've started becoming serious again about my daily QT (quiet time) and prayer/chat with God, so I just added the "task" of recording my daily blessings from the day before as part of this routine. I'm up to 48 so far and wanted to thank God now for even that amount, as many of them have either been something that my heart (not my mouth) asked for, protection over me, my husband or son (those "oh-oh moments) or just situations where I knew God was reaching out to me, if only to see me smile.
So take this post as an encouragement to really RECORD, not just count, your blessings.
What a wonderful keepsake to read through when completed, no?
Here's a parable I had heard before but came across it again on another blog.
The Tourist and the Mexican Fisherman
author unknown
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist got out and complimented the local Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish, then asked how long it took him to catch them.
“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.
“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.
The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American tourist asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds you buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”
“Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise.”
“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.
“15 perhaps 20 years,” replied the American.
“But what then, señor?”
“Afterwards? That’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”
“Millions, señor? Then what?”
The American said slowly, “Then, you would retire! Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Off another blog, I read this poem from e.e. cummings. I really like it. Also, I think e.e. cummings is really cool, especially since we graduated from the same high school (DeWitt Clinton in the Bronx, NYC)... :)
"...here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)"
I was making a quick lunch for our family today and YES it was Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni! (Oh c'mon, you don't do Chef Boyardee....next you will tell me you've never had the boxed Kraft Mac and Cheese???)
While I was stirring and heating it up, I gazed over at the opened cans and noticed a small blurb on the name sake. I guess in some ways, I had always wondered how, or who, shall I say, the food got its name. The blurb was only a few sentences, so I did some research on the man.
According to Wiki:
In 1924, Boiardi opened the Giardino d'Italia restaurant at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. The idea for Chef Boyardee came about when restaurant customers began asking Boiardi for samples and recipes of his spaghetti sauce, which he often gave to customers in old milk bottles. He opened a factory in 1928, moving production to Milton, Pennsylvania ten years later.
Boiardi began to use this factory in 1928 to keep up with orders, setting his sights on selling his product nationally. Touting the low cost of spaghetti products as a good choice to serve to the entire family, Boiardi introduced his product to the public in 1929. In 1938, production was moved to Milton, Pennsylvania, where Boiardi was able to maintain greater quality control over his products. He even grew his own tomatoes and mushrooms in the factory basement for use in his creations. He decided to name his product "Boy-Ar-Dee" to help Americans pronounce his name.
Boiardi's company made and prepared millions of rations for American and Allied troops during World War II, and for his efforts he was awarded a gold star order of excellence from the United States War Department. After struggling with cashflow and managing rapid internal growth, he sold his brand to American Home Foods, later International Home Foods, for approximately $6 million. Boiardi then invested in steel mills, which helped produce goods needed for the Korean War.
Boiardi appeared in many print advertisements and television commercials for his brand in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. His last television commercial promoting the brand aired in 1979. Boiardi continued developing new Italian food products for the American market until his death, at which the Chef Boyardee line was grossing $500 million per year for International Home Foods. He died of a heart attack on June 21, 1985. He was 87.
American Home Products turned its food division into International Home Foods in 1996. Four years later, International Home Foods was purchased by ConAgra Foods, which continues to produce Chef Boyardee canned pastas bearing Ettore Boiardi's likeness.
So what's my point?
Well, this got me thinking about one's life work and legacies, specifically, of the one that you leave for your children.
Proverbs 13:22
A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Ezra 9:12
...that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.
2 Cor. 12:14
After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
With Chef Boyardee, in one way, I feel like he did leave a legacy, per se, in that even though it's been over 20 years since his death, he still has his name out there and the product has lasted 50 plus years and maybe this is resulting in a financial legacy for his family (children's children sort of thing). But on the other hand, I wonder about the "legacy" and question whether this is the sort of legacy that God intended. After all, one man's life work/business/restaurant/dream --- well, in all honesty, can be bought at .88c a can on sale. Plus, it has a subtle underlying stigma of "canned pasta" attached to a face with a "you actually feed that to your children" attitude. Yes, he sold the company for millions and there are probably royalties still today, but what happens when the money runs out? What is the family left with?
I think there is more to the intended legacy -- that of values, morals, character, love for and walk with God.....though I do believe the "inheritance" deals also with land, showing our children the value of work, living off the land and not being dependent on others (yes, I am back to my homesteading ideas)....In the Bible, it does say to not be indebted to another man and to work for God, to not have money as your master.....
I think it would be amazing to instill in my children these values. Where the "inheritance" we give them is something they can use as a never failing foundation -- both literally (in the land sense) and spiritually (as in God).
So this is just more of a reflection, as it came to mind today. It makes me question what sort of legacy we are leaving for our children. What decisions are we making today that will affect my children and my chldren's children? And are they to their benefit, ones that will take care of them, financially, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and physically?
I can sense this will be an ongoing thought....
In prep for an upcoming family trip to the New England area, I came across another instance where I can be, what I call, an Intentional Parent.
I was looking around for something for our family to do on Labor Day Monday. I wanted to do something more "educational" and active than just laying on the beach. Sitting around isn't really something that my family does - we are an ACTIVE family. So, I started looking at some of the festivals or farms/mazes in the area.
I considered the King Richard's Faire. I had lived in the Boston area for about 7 years and never went, even though that is one of the most popular fairs in the area. Thinking it might be neat for Eliel to see the horses, the kings and queens in their getups and so on, I looked at the entertainment and activities list. Um, I was NOT impressed with the highlights which included, a Cleavage Contest (how low can you go without baring it? was the show's "theme"), a Torture Show, a Town Brawl, a Wet Dirty Women show and an axe and knife throw show.
GASP.
Is this really what I want to expose my family/children to? In some ways, I understand that the above "activities" may have been part of the Middle ages, but what about the codes of chivalry, knighthood, loyalty (where are the Crusades???) --- why is there absolutely NO focus or "entertainment" along these lines? And I know that in today's society, the choice between a cleavage contest and a "chivalry demonstration" or a soldier being knighted is yawn, not a hard choice -- seriously! Fair owners, you can't get more creative than a CLEAVAGE CONTEST? Why do I feel a Faire such as this one is just a few inches short of a strip club-debauchery brewhouse combo? And just as a side note, and pay $23 an adult for this?
So we moved on, deciding THAT will not be one of our activities.
What about a corn maze at a farm?
That seemed a better choice but even there, there are subtleties of evil, darkness (whatever you want to call it....it's not of God and Light). For example, each year, the corn mazes decide what image they will design. Usually, a Fall theme or something locally attributed, you might find...
Under the Sea
Space Adventures
Circus Theme
or even something local and fun like "Celebrating Ohio"
HOWEVER, the ones that were available this year in the area we were going to included:
The Headless Horseman
Blackbeard's Revenge
Family Guy
Over and over again, it is amazing to me to see how easily evil gets into our life. Actually, it's easy, because we let it. It's more than turning a blind eye -- it's not OPENING our eyes! It's not the passive response of "well, we will go for the fun of it and explain it all later...". It's the ACTIVE response of "No, we are not going and supporting that OR exposing our kids to that". We give our kids a subtle message that it is actually okay - because we are participating in it, despite a 2 minute disgruntled talk about how bad it is.
I've never been the mom that dressed my children (or myself) in skulls/crossbones, in celebrity clothing (esp from those athletes and musicians that are probably more well known for their criminal/devious acts than their "real careers") or laughingly called my children "little monsters or little devils". In fact, when family members have said something along those lines, I have calmly but directly asked them not to refer to my children as such, ESPECIALLY in front of them.
I do believe we have to be INTENTIONAL about what we SERVE to our kids. Just like we are intentional about what we serve them at dinner time --- don't you make sure there are veggies on the plate, that the food is nutritious, that they had enough liquids, that they are fed --- why wouldn't you do this for their intellectual and spiritual appetites as well?
And just for the record, the Bible calls and commands us, as parents, to train and direct, to lead our children, to guide them, to discipline and to protect. Our actions, from the very start, even when they are as young as my son (2.5 years old) are important and will either lead them onto the right path or to one that is so destructive (in both obvious and not so obvious ways) and that much harder to get off of. Why wouldn't you want to give the BEST for your child, instead of exposing him to the likes of Family Guy (seriously?!) and then HOPING s/he comes out with a good, righteous character and sound mind?
So what are we planning on doing?
We did find a corn maze that is doing a "family-friendly" theme, that of a local sports winning the Stanley Cup.
I thought my blog needed a new look....and some updated pictures!
After all, Eliel is now almost 2.5 and I still had pictures from when he was about six months old.....
so what do you think? How do I look?
