SmallWorld's In Just-spring Mudluscious Poetry Contest

April 11, 2008

Two of my favorite things happen together in April: the full-force of spring and National Poetry Month.

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long, national celebration of poetry. From their website: "The concept was to increase the attention paid-by individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our poetic heritage, and to poetry books and magazines. In the end, we hoped to achieve an increase in the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry in our culture."

And spring? Well, I love spring, "when the world is puddle-wonderful." I've already blogged about spring in SmallWorld here and here and here. And a highlight of this spring? Two new babies in our family!

In celebration of "the white cloud's intricate maze, And the blue sky's beautiful sheen," I am hereby announcing SmallWorld's In Just-spring Mudluscious Poetry Contest. It's really quite simple. Just copy and paste this orange-lettered section onto your own blog along with a poem that in some way celebrates spring. (Copy the contest photo above if you want, as well!) Leave me a comment with a link to your contest entry. The poem doesn't have to overtly use the word "spring," but it should in some way evoke the feeling of spring. If you don't have a blog, just leave a poem in the comments.

I'll be running this particular contest until April 10, so you've got plenty of time to find just the perfect poem. I will randomly choose a winner, who will receive a box in the mail filled with some of my favorite spring things (think gardens, good smells, and prettiness, unless the winner is male, in which case, scratch the good smells and pretty things).

* All poetry quotes above are from various e. e. cummings' poems.

Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - well

Posted by onfire (206.132.58.200)

not only did I participate (like there was any question) but my poem somehow managed to stay the way it was meant to be posted. I had to re-post it once, as it read as one long run-on sentence (this posting of poetry on HSB really makes me nuts ... you know this by now, right?)
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/onfire/508514/
enjoy.

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.221.67.204)

At first I was afraid you were going to make us compose a poem. :) But I'm sure I can *find* a spring poem that I love. I'll be working on that...

Heidi @ Mt. Hope

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - I'm in editing mode

Posted by QueenoftheHill (97.66.84.74)

I think you misspelled "Mudlucsious" [sic] in the title of this blog. ;-)

Now is the perfect time for you to tell everyone what I forgot to do for last Saturday!

Edited by QueenoftheHill on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 9:43 PM

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by JenIG (67.72.98.45)

I don't like poems
I dislike Spring
I can't stand rhymes
Nor allergings

The love of spring
Is just a fad
When things start blooming
I go blooming mad

I start to wheeze
My eyeballs itch
I turn into
a blooming witch

And this is why
I will not play
But please come over
To my house today

How's that right off the top of my head? Ok.. per your comment... the only way anybody ever comes over is they email me and tell me the day that they are planning on stopping by. Now that you know how it's done, i'll be expecting an email from you

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - :)

Posted by CarpeBanana (151.201.122.40)

count me in on this brilliant contest. back to add: it occurs to me I should have left my address: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CarpeBanana/509992/

Edited by CarpeBanana on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 9:24 AM

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by chickadee@afamiliarpath.blogspot.com (69.128.131.177)

i'm terrible at poetry. but i'll think about it.

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Friday, April 4, 2008 - i'm in...

Posted by DrHibiscus (24.151.178.103)

and I bet you can guess whose poem I chose :-)

you can find it here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DrHibiscus/510655/

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - I'm Running Late

Posted by briarwren (129.101.30.19)

But here's my contribution.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/briarwren/512730/

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.221.67.204)

I finally got around to posting my entry. Thanks for the fun contest!

Heidi @ Mt. Hope
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2008/04/poetry-of-april.html

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - I was able to find...

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (216.221.68.123)

what I think is the best spring poem I have ever read!
Check out my entry here:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anotherblogonthefire/513398/

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.221.67.204)

Thanks for you comment on my blog. My niece is 11. :) She's pretty good, huh? I think so, but I'm prejudiced. I thought you would enjoy this non-spring poem she wrote (whipped out, actually :)) when she was 10:

Autumn
by Ilex

Trees loose their leaves one by one.
Summer is now over and done.
Pumpkins ripen.
Winds blow.
Rain falls,
And rivers flow.
Flowers die
And wither away;
Every day foggy and gray.

My boys got a huge kick out of memorizing that poem this past autumn. They still look outside and sigh, 'every day foggy and gray.' Even the 3yo, LOL.

Fun stuff.

Heidi @ Mt Hope
http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/

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Thursday, April 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by StillHisGirl (216.249.75.230)

I'm in!
http://stillhisgirl.blogspot.com/2008/04/prayer-in-spring.html

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Friday, April 11, 2008 - Morning (spring) poem

Posted by Jennifer in OR (69.88.229.219)

Hey, it's midnight on the west coast, I posted this at 12:00 and 27 seconds, so about a half minute too late. :-) Enjoy.

http://www.diaryof1.com/2008/04/11/morning/

Heart of the Matter Meme: How We Got Started in Homeschooling

April 11, 2008

Today's Meme from Heart of the Matter asks for how we got started in homeschooling. Everybody homeschools for different reasons. There is a stereotype that homeschoolers are religious fanatics or somehow on the fringe of society. Yes, a lot of people do homeschool so that they are free to interweave their values with their children's everyday learning. But there are so many other reasons why people chose to homeschool, and it is almost always a combination of several of these reasons that convict a family to homeschool.

My second oldest brother and his wife homeschooled their girls right from the start. I was a teenager then, and we all thought they were whacky--my parents were really, truly worried. This was a long time ago--over 20 years ago--when homeschooling was a relatively obscure movement. A fringe movement--religious fanatics and hippies. We were certain that my nieces were doomed for failure-- socially and academically. Another brother put his children in public school about the same time, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't until after I graduated from college--and I had certified to teach at the secondary level--and married that I met other homeschooling families. Each family that I met just completely blew me away. Yes, the kids were all well-mannered and well-behaved. But it was more than that--it was their obvious sense of confidence, their high self-esteem, and their social graces that really stuck with me. It was the closeness of the families. Our associate minister and his wife were one of these homeschooling families that God put in our path. When Jesse was about 5, I began talking with our associate minister's wife about homeschooling. She said to me, "I will always be happy to talk to you about homeschooling, but I will never pressure you or try to talk you into it. It is a decision every family has to make on its own." I loved that. I told her that I was really concerned about never having a life of my own. She just kind of smiled at me, and now I understand that smile. That smile means: "These children ARE your life."

We tucked the idea of homeschooling in the back of our minds and sent our son to public school for kindergarten when we lived in Iowa. It was a wonderful experience. It was the kind of school that I grew up in--a neighborhood school just down to block, a crossing guard at the corner that gave out candy, and a day that lasted only 2.5 hours. The kids were there to play and explore, not to pass the TCAP.

Then we moved to Knoxville, and lulled by our experience of kindergarten, sent Jesse on to first grade. Wow. Our lives changed so radically. He left at 7:15 and arrived home at 3 p.m. He had headaches every single day. He fought with his little sister and grumbled at us. He had at least 30 minutes of homework every evening--and this was in first grade! He was in bed every night by 7:30 just so that he could make it through the next day. We felt like our lives were totally dictated by the school system. Around midyear, I could begin to see what his future in school would be like. Already he was bored. He began scribbling on his math sheets. He is an extremely science-minded child, and science was almost completely left out of the classroom. Homework was a struggle every afternoon--not because it was hard, but because it was just busywork. One day when he said to me, as he had before: "Why do I have to do this Mommy" and I explained to him again that some kids needed the extra practice, so everybody has to do it, he said. "But I don't need to extra practice, Mommy! Why do I have to do it?" And I realized--why DOES he have to do it? He was absolutely right! I was convinced then that we had to homeschool. Interestingly, up until that point, Dr. H. had not been at all convinced that homeschooling was a positive option, although we'd tossed the idea around since our son was born. But after just a few months of public school here, he was utterly convicted that this was the right decision. I had less than a year to figure out how to do it, but I was very determined.

I began by doing internet research: hooking up with discussion groups, visiting every possible site on homeschooling, just seeing what was out there. I spent many afternoons with my sister-in-law and another homeschooling mom, talking about various aspects of homeschooling. I read a lot of books, and eventually I decided on what style and curriculum would work best for us. Jesse finished up first grade in Knoxville and then we moved to Blount County and began homeschooling in the fall.

The first year was hard. I was pregnant and I had a toddler. I was physically exhausted! But we fell into what worked best for us, and it was such pure joy to watch my child learn to love learning all over again. We joined our local support group and found an amazing support system. We have NEVER looked back.

Whatever initially leads parents to make this choice, homeschooling nearly always evolves into something far more than an alternative educational choice -- it becomes a lifestyle choice of personal responsibility and freedom and incredible joy within a close family life.

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Comments

Friday, April 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (12.227.138.78)

"it becomes a lifestyle choice of personal responsibility and freedom and incredible joy within a close family life." So well put! That pretty much says it all right there. Thanks for sharing your story. Julie http://funinthesunmom.blogspot.com

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Friday, April 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.215.183.90)

Yep. Loved that last line, too. I might have to quote you sometime. :) Thanks for sharing your story. I can't imagine my son in Kindergarten or 1st grade. Wouldn't be a good combo...

Heidi @ Mt. Hope

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Friday, April 11, 2008 - Homeschooling

Posted by Morning Rose (71.13.147.174)

Thanks for sharing your story. Our story has some similarities. Our older son was in a traditional school through first grade also, when we decided to homeschool both our boys. I didn't understand why first graders had homework too. What did they do in school all day?

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Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Ellen (76.178.246.114)

When we started homeschooling my parents thought that we were wacky, too, and that we might get arrested. They see things differently now that my sister's boys have horror stories about being in school. A few months ago, my sister finally brought her boys home, too. The grandparents are now very happy that all of their grandkids are home educated.
http://ellenfunlearning.blogspot.com/

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Sunday, April 13, 2008 - great story!

Posted by Jennifer in OR (69.88.229.219)

Thanks for sharing this; I can relate to many parts. It's funny how our perceptions change once we're dealing with our own children!

Meeting Abigail

April 9, 2008

Today was a pretty amazing day. It's one of those days in which the flexibility of homeschooling gets big bonus points. We decided to put everything aside and go visit my niece, Esther, and her new baby, Abigail. For my own children to get to meet their baby cousin was wonderful, but this is what was really amazing about the day:

I had the joy of being with my parents as they held their first great-granddaughter. They've not yet held their great-grandson, born just 2 weeks before his little cousin Abigail; so she is, in fact, the first great-grandchild who has graced my parents' arms.

My father has always been good with grandbabies. He walks them, talks to them, sings to them. What is it like to look into a tiny face and see yourself, your spouse, your own parents and grandparents and in-laws, your children, your grandchildren, and now this little one? Those roots are spreading "long and strong/as deep as the generations will go." (Read the whole poem here.)

(Did someone say POEM? Why, yes, as a matter of fact I am running a Spring Poetry Contest! Only a couple of days left until I randomly pick a winner, so come play!)

A Corner of the House

April 8, 2008

Do you have those little things about your house that make you absolutely happy? This particular view is something I love. That's our little sunporch there, which, in the spring, summer and fall is a craft room with fabulous views. (In the winter, it's storage for every single piece of junk that I don't want in the living room. But let's not dwell on that.)

Every spring morning when I get the paper, I pass this wonderful redbud tree. If you look closely, you can see another redbud tree in the right corner, and there is also a redbud right outside the sunporch door. I love these redbuds because we planted them. I can remember, about 6 years ago, pointing to this exact spot where I wanted this particular redbud, and Dr. H. dutifully dug and planted. The other two were planted in subsequent years, and now they are all tall and graceful. In just another day or two the dogwoods will be in full flower, and to me this pair of dancing sisters--dogwood and redbud-- is the epitome of springtime.

For the first 10 years of our marriage we lived in tiny apartments. We're coming up on eight years in this, our first house, and on days like this especially, I still feel that thrill of joy and thankfulness--this is our house.

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Comments

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - Very lovely, indeed...

Posted by anotherblogonthefire (206.132.58.173)

but why are redbuds pink?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - I so know what you mean

Posted by onfire (206.132.58.173)

I was thinking the same thing about my lilac bush, which I trimmed, last year. I am hoping I actually knew what I was doing and it flourishes ... and not having one (which I have wanted for our fourteen years of marriage) again is a bit of sadness for me.
I have to resign myself that living on a missionary salary may very well mean we never own again ... so, on the bright side, we will simply have to crash YOUR beautiful abode whenever we are on furlough!

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Beautiful Picture

Posted by briarwren (129.101.30.19)

We're still in tiny apartments but we hope to be able to buy our own house in a few years. Have to wait until the husband's out of school and we're settled somewhere. :(

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3 (209.52.248.29)

Oh I just love brick homes! It is so beautiful. We are fortunate to have some brick work and columns on the front of our home which is nice but yours is fabulous *grin* Love your redbud tree to. We don't have any flowering trees open yet. Next month the cherries and crabapples start :)
Have a blessed evening,
Rosina

Thursday, April 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by chickadee (69.128.131.177)

so beautiful. that makes me happy too.

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Monday Memory: Spring Flowers

April 7, 2008

I love to see what's popping up in the flower gardens. We were so blessed upon moving to our house eight years ago to find flower beds well-stocked with lilies, daffodils, irises, and azaleas. But in spite of the abundance of these perennials, we still have huge spaces to fill with more plants. Every year I've split and replanted bulbs, and every year I add a few new flowers. Year by year, I'm seeing the once empty spaces blooming. Those purple columbine that the kids are behind in this picture (taken about five years ago when the kids were 2, 4, and 9) is now thick in that particular flower bed. It'll be a mass of color later this week; the first few are just opening up today. Those irises have been moved elsewhere; two rosebushes now fill in that area. It's always a work in progress.

Spring thrills me. The theme of growing things--of immersing oneself in this beautiful, verdant creation-- plays prominently within my own writing.

From a poem called "Letter to the Man I Didn't Marry":

From the front porch swing
I watched the librarian fly by on her bike
like the wicked witch and the irises rise
inch by inch. I am itching
to get my hands in the soil, to smell
the dirt caked thick and dark
beneath my nails. You were wrong,
you know. You never could have been the one
to heal me.

From "Seventeen Hours, Give or Take":

Two hours to go
and we are easy again
as if some lethal spell
has been lifted. We unzip

our stiff suits
at the state line
and toss them out the window.
Our skin beneath is warm

and smells greenly of wood.
We can’t stop breathing.

From "The Botanist and His Wife":

Back home he kills plants. First day of spring,
He sends the philodendron and African violet out
to sun on the porch, imagining their chloroplastic ecstasy.
Instead their leaves are scorched, crisp
as potato chips around the edges.

Indeed, I am inspired boundlessly by this abundant good earth. So are many other poets. Do a google search for "spring poetry" and see what you can find, and then join my Spring Poetry Contest!

I'm Back!

April 6, 2008

All I can say is...Wow. I have had the most unbelievably amazing, refreshing, rejuvenating, motivating, energizing, reaffirming, and inspirational four days. Caroline and I have just returned from the American Heritage Girls National Leadership Convention in Cincinnati. We spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday soaking in every bit of wisdom we could, gleaning ideas, sharing stories, learning, worshiping, (eating), brainstorming. Patti Garibay, founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls, absolutely rocks. I would like to spend countless hours absorbing her vision and energy.

Three years ago Caroline and I attended the 10-year convention. We had just finished our second year with our troop here, and we were tremendously inspired and motivated by the convention. We set a goal of having 5 troops in our area within 5 years, and three years later, we now have three troops in the Knoxville area. Both those troops has a leader at this year's convention, and we are so excited to continue growing American Heritage Girls in our area.

Are your girls part of American Heritage Girls? Is there a troop in your area?? If you've never heard of American Heritage Girls and have a girl in grades K-12, I encourage you to visit their website at www.AHGonline.org. American Heritage Girls is Christ-centered scouting for girls. The mission: to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. Questions on starting a troop? I'm always happy to share our story and get you started!

Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - hmm, maybe I'll switch?

Posted by Jennifer in OR (69.88.229.219)

My almost 7 yr old is in her 2nd year of Girl Scouts. I've been happy with it so far but wonder if American Heritage Girls may be a better fit? I don't know if there's a group in my area, so I may have to start one if we decide to switch over. Any thoughts on Girl Scouts vs. American Heritage?

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld (24.151.178.103)

To see if there is a troop in your area, go here: http://ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=20666

To read more about starting a troop, go here: http://ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=19416

About AHG vs. GSUSA: There are lots of good articles here, some of them include comparisons of AHG and GSUSA. Hey, you can even read my article that was in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! (That's the one titled "Homeschooling and AHG.")
http://ahgonline.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=19336

You can read about our journey from GSUSA to AHG here:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SmallWorld/75854/

I'd love to help you get started!

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Sunday, April 6, 2008 - Thank you for the info!

Posted by Jennifer in OR (69.88.229.219)

Thanks so much! I read your Girl Scouts/American Heritage Girls post. I'm sort of in a similar situation. My older son is a Cub Scout, and I do see a difference in the groups. I'm really not complaining because the Brownie troop leader is excellent, it's just the organization as a whole I wonder about...definitely need to do some investigating and thinking and praying...

Monday, April 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3 (209.52.248.29)

I've never heard of anything like that here. We have brownies and girl guides only. When my mother was young though she was part of a group called Crusaders which sounds similar to your group but it no longer exists. Sounds like your american heritage girl's group is really great!
Blessings,
Rosina

Monday, April 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld (24.151.178.103)

Rosina: Maybe someday someone will start a Canadian Heritage Girls!

Wednesday Rambling

April 2, 2008

* I've got my Project 52 up here. This has been a birthday week: Jesse turned 15, and Abigail Rhapsody (yes, you're reading that right) was born to my niece, Esther.

* When I have tons of work to do and think I'm about to crack, I have a tendency to do completely ridiculous things like pick flowers and decorate. I think Heidi will be proud of me for this one:

I've got my grouping of three daffodils pots under my shelf of 5 (sorry, Heidi, but three doesn't work on the shelf!). Anyway, my house is clean and decluttered, which greatly helps my cluttered mind.

* My mind is so cluttered because I've had so much on the docket. Saturday we had our annual Homeschooling 101, which has become my baby these past couple of years. And tomorrow Caroline and I are leaving for Cincinnati for the American Heritage Girls Leadership Conference. We are co-presenting two workshops and have had a flurry of outlines and handouts to prepare for that. I am very much looking forward to this conference, but it does take a lot of preparation. I've had to get all my lesson plans done for Monday's co-op classes, as we won't return until Sunday evening. How in the world will I manage for four whole days without blogging?

* While I'm gone, be sure to find a poem for my In just-Spring Mudluscious Poetry Contest!

* I'm bummed that I haven't had time to participate in the Home Education Week at Principled Discovery. Be sure to visit there for lots of great reading material, or write a post and contribute. And for even more reading material, the latest Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Why Homeschool.

If I don't get a chance to procrastinate blog again before I leave tomorrow, have a great rest of the week, friends!

Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - funny

Posted by onfire (206.132.50.159)

as I lay in bed last night, really kind of late, I had two thoughts. one: when sarah wears her hair in ponies, does she think "ear-ahh-qwahh"?
two: what has sarah finally decided to put on her shelf?
you are so kind to mentally telepathate with me ...

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by FoxCreekAcademy (65.6.57.251)

Next time you feel like cracking, my door is always open if you want to come & decorate my house....

:)
Abby
www.meetourfamily2.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld (24.151.178.103)

K: IF I were to think that word, I would be very American and say "Ear-a-coy."

Abbie: Here's a decorating tip--those pots are from the dollar store, and the daffodils are abundant in my yard!

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - That shelf...

Posted by QueenoftheHill (97.66.84.74)

...looks truly beautiful. I love the tea things. I feel cozy just looking at them.

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - :)

Posted by CarpeBanana (151.201.122.40)

Now I am working on thinking of a poem...

and I gotta say, though I cannot defend the statement, I think the teapots should face the other way. Oh, I do know why. So they could be poured right handed. Or are you left handed?

Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld (24.151.178.103)

Carpe Banana: That is SO true, and it goes against everything for me to turn them that way. Here's the reason: one of the teapots has a painting on the other side that I'm not crazy about, or at least I wasn't crazy about it when I had up my "winter" look. So, I turned them all the other way, even though it felt very wrong. I just thought I was being OCD! Now I'll HAVE to turn them back!!

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Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (71.221.67.204)

Excellent job on the display! Are those old books under the center teapot? Ah, you've been paying attention. :) Great way to empasize the center. I'm proud of you. And, for what it's worth, I don't mind which way the teapots are facing, LOL.

Heidi @ Mt Hope

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Friday, April 4, 2008 - :D

Posted by CarpeBanana (151.201.122.40)

SW: well, the painting on one side of the teapot makes sense. I will just mentally reverse your photo and all will be well in my own small world.

Exciting News at SmallWorld!

March 31, 2008

1. OK, this is by no means the most exciting piece of news, but it's the most physically obvious to me: I mopped by kitchen and dining room floors! This doesn't happen often, so it is worthy of rejoicing.

2. Next, remember my great-nephew Justus who was born March 16? Just look at this beautiful boy! He has had surgery to remove several cysts, and, since this picture, he has had all his tubes removed. Looks like this precious boy is going home this week!

3. And speaking of babies, Justus is like so already the older cousin! My very first niece, Esther (Ellen's cousin), gave birth to Abigail today! How cool is that? This is Abigail with her Grandma, my sister-in-law Sharon. Is that not a beautiful baby?

My little sweet nieces both had babies this month. I consider that a great gift. They are my little peeps that I spent my own teenager-hood spoiling rotten, so I appreciate their producing offspring for whom I can buy clothes and quality books.


Blessings abound. A mopped floor, though shiny, is nothing. In my family, we've been graced with two new babies this month--the start of the next generation. My Mom and Dad have become great-grandparents. There is a connection I feel with these babies. I want to go to them and hold them, smell their sweet heads, and touch their Mamas' cheeks. I love them already.

Home Education Week: Life Before Homeschooling

March 30, 2008

Share your personal history…before you were a home educator. What was life like? Think about things you miss and things you and your family have gained.

I'd love to write more and be all philosophical, but I've got to get dressed for church, feed the kids, and that sort of thing, so...

I had 11 years between college and homeschooling. What did I do? * I was censor taker in NY * I was a substitute teacher in NY and TN * I got married and moved back to TN * I was a waitress at Shoneys * I worked in a daycare * I was a telemarketer for the Shriners Circus! (Imagine me attempting an East TN accent: “Haa! Ahm callin’ from the Shriners here in upper east Tennessee. Do ya’ll wanna buy some circus tickets this year and help out the crippled children?”) * I taught a 4-5 preschool class * I did editorial work for The Business Journal of Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia * We moved to Ohio for Randy’s graduate school, and I moved on to a real job. I was an assistant editor/desktop publisher for The Planning Forum, the international association for strategic planning and management. * I had a baby. * I was a stay-at-home mom. * We moved to Iowa for Randy's doctoral program, and I was a SAHM and I did freelance editorial work. * I went to graduate school. * I had another baby. * I finished graduate school. * I had lots of poems published. * H., now Dr. H, got an amazing, perfect job and we moved back to Tennessee. * I was a stay-at-home mom. * I started homeschooling. * (I had another baby) Post A Comment!.....

Comments

Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Margaret (68.42.29.163)

Enjoyed your snapshot autobiography!

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - heather @ http://untraditionalhome.com

Posted by Anonymous (24.154.181.200)

Wow, I thought I did a lot of jobs in the few years before I home schooled. Isn't it amazing how God prepares us?

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (75.88.100.233)

Great outline of your history...makes it much easier for studying for the exam. :) Thank you so much for sharing! Dana http://principleddiscovery.com

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by pottershand (76.177.33.220)

I love how you made a list. It helps us see better what we have done over the years.

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy (66.247.209.183)

[I'd love to write more and be all philosophical...] Yes, blogging really does interfere with our home responsibilities! My ~ you were busy over the past 11 years.

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by andijeane (75.46.45.26)

That was great - I loved your list, although it exhausted me! ~Andrea http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/andijeane/507524/

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - list

Posted by Anonymous (65.40.196.92)

poet, huh? I'm going to judge young people's poems next month. Any tips? I never was much of a poet. Monica http://monicabrand.net/

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Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by kympossible (63.64.215.35)

Enjoyed reading your post and seeing how God prepared you for homeschooling. Thanks for sharing a quick look at your journey! Blessings, Kym

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Monday, March 31, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (75.85.97.60)

You were busy and have quite a diversified background; what an advantage to homeschooling! Shawna http://thehomeschoolingexperiment.blogspot.com/2008/03/life-before-homeschooling.html

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous (12.215.135.18)

That was fun - - thanks for sharing!! Heidi www.jhcckkm.wordpress.com