Another child has crossed over as a teenager.
Our little family tradition on birthdays is breakfast in bed:
I've noticed that Michah has an uncomely habit of finger sucking while resting his index finger in his nostril. I thought it was a phase, but I've noticed that he had the same tendency at two months old ....(See the picture below with his father's input about this rare "Talent")
"Talent" is one way to describe it. (lol)
It's hard to imagine that this precious creation would ever have a "sour" moment....Let's just say that MaYah is very opinionated and extremely curious which occasionally leads to frustration, then she smiles, and (most) all is forgiven :)
P/S Thankfully, her sweet moments FAR outnumber the sour ones.
Pictures Speak 1,000 words:
Daddy Daughter Dance
February 2013
After 10 years of home educating our children, we recently embarked upon VERY UNFAMILIAR territory for our oldest child....Public School :)
I've mentioned to our son for years about exploring a public education. This prompting from me was primarily due to his specific personality and interests. In addition to the following:
1. he enjoys a challenge,
2. he thrives within regimented structure,
3. he embraces academic discipline,
4. he desires "increased" social stimuli
This endeavor is exciting for us on so many levels. Just last month, he did a presentation during assembly with his Leadership class in front of the whole student body. He also finished his powerpoint presentation and a Language Arts essay. On Sunday, I took him to the local portrait studio for yearbook pictures, then we went shopping for an outfit for the upcoming school dance. There are so many milestones I'm experiencing all at once. It's like sending my child to kidnergarten for the first time, yet he's actually a teenager getting ready to graduate from Middle School :)
Marlon and I have never been anti-public education. We simply embraced the responsibility to educate and instill our family values as the primary source of influence for our children. We also strongly believe that is necessary to nurture the talents and interests of each child and we've found that the home setting tends to be the best means to accomplish this task.
There are so many positive aspects to our public education endeavor and we continue to have weekly adventures within this new experience. Thankfully, our son is VERY self-motivated. He completes his homework without prompting, wakes up early without complaint and regularly checks his academic progress online. I'm so happy to share that on his first progress report he got a 3.6 GPA with 4 A's and 2 B's.
If any of my fellow online friends have any tips or experiences to share about transtioning from Home Education to Public Education, please do not hesitate to drop a line or two. (Eventually, I'll likely post a video about our educational journey)
Happy Learning!!
I'm so glad my daughter, Marissa, reminded me of this monthly "Quarter ($0.25) Sale" at our local consignment store - www.othermothersnampa.com 
Can you guess how much these 2 bags of gently used clothing cost?
Drop a comment with your guesstimates & I'll update the blog sometime next week or so with the answer :)
Our dear friend sent Marlon a message inquiring about a few questions regarding headcoverings and I thought his response was well said based on his study & experience:
".....After finding a reference of Rivka doing it when meeting Isaac, and the removal of the head covering by the priest from the woman presumed to be adulterous... I then found several other mentions of covering in the prophets that helped me to realize it was normative practice...
The wearing of head coverings is not a commandment but a principle that displays modesty to the public.
Rabbinic law has made it a commandment for both men and women to cover thier heads when out in the marketplace for a sign of humility, and modesty.
Chasidic Jewish women wear wigs to fulfil this commandment... other orthodox women only do it once married... Though the Halakah clearly says that all women above the age of 6 , I believe should do so...
Now to my current thoughts...
1) The Times... There was a time when... (and in some parts of the world still) The exposure to female shapeliness and skin was a rarity... So, definitive desplays of femininity like the hair would have been highly erotic to an un exposed public...
Today, when we can see the shape of a woman thanks to tight jeans... and 2 piece bathing suits, it takes a lot more to get a man worked up... Though men still prefer long flowing hair on a woman... and will smell it and pull on it during sex... It is not a cultural sign of modesty necessarily to have ones head covered... Though depending on the covering style... Others might easily identify a woman as "religious" and pious... not necessarily "modest"...
2) Freedom... While I agree that if you want to be part of a religious group that promotes head covering as a normative practice for those who are a part of the group... One should make the best efforts to represent that group according to it's standards...
I do not believe that a woman who covers her head is any more "spiritual" or holy than one who does not... Since it is not a Torah command... but rather assumed as normative in Torah for the times... and It is a Rabbinic command... One need only concern themselves with compliance if they were Jewish converts or native born. Even then it would be more for the "community" than for G-d.
My freedom point is this... everyone should be allowed to fully walk out thier convictions without fear of what other may think or believe... nor should we invest time in trying to get other to comply with religious rule we have placed on ourselves... no matter what the source...
3) Not Necessary... But It is Attractive... The truth is that men while they will persue the sexy woman for sex... the desire the modest woman for a wife... Men know that the ideal woman to spend your life with will not be the one putting it all out there for everyone else to see...
Men and women both get out of the mating dance of "peacocking" once they have settled with a mate... BUT... Men being the visual creatures that they are... will always be attracted by the woman "putting on the show"...
I would tell your friend that unless looking to become orthodox or Menonite... I would not concern myself with covering my head unless It developed as a personal conviction for me...
I thought Marlon's response was well said and it confirmed that my primary reason now in covering is for modesty and humility. I'm currently experimenting with more covering options such as snoods and and other styles.
Below are 2 quick videos I posted to YouTube last month about a very simple/frugal/casual headcovering:
RSS Feed
