unSchool the begaining

beginning
ok, I'm going to do it!
...I think, if I'm brave enough ;)
I've been feeling the tug for years, but recently the whisper has turned in to a shout. So, I have prayerfully made the decision to try unschooling my children, kind of...
I have been homeschooling (to many types to count) since I was in third grade, now my oldest is starting high school... I don't want anyone doing the math but that gives me 18+ years.
The way that worked the best for me, I mean that I learned the most and retained the best, was unschooling... only they didn't call it unschooling back then, if I remember right I think they called it neglect...
My oldest is a descent student, although he refuses to spell correctly and his handwriting truly is like chicken scratch, he is bored with school. He has no desire to learn about his school subjects. I would really like to find things that spark his interest.
My 7th grader is different though, she is like me ...it drives me CRAZY... she gets distracted after just a few minutes. She needs a full post (or lots more) to describe her... at this point I need a whole new way of thinking, not just *out of the box* never been in a box is more like it. I'm going to try to get her more opportunities to unschool. I think she will be my most successful unschooler. I am going to start with a math program called Life of Fred, it is a totally different approach to math.

for sample pages:
http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/31samplepages.html

I am also planning to do this course myself, I hope to be able to go through the whole series to the college level work :)

My second grader is my humbler, my challenger,... he'll need his own set of blogs ;) in a lot of ways he is still doing kindergarten work, but I see jumps and sparks in him and have faith that he will do wonderfully.

AND this year I'll have a new school student, my fresh kindergartener, he isn't interested in school at all. I wonder if the baby will learn to read before him. I'll have to be careful not to spoil any love of learning I can eek out of him.

so it begins... I'll keep you posted on my failures (and hopefully my successes)


Changing Education Paradigms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award

I gave a talk at church

from a talk I gave in July of 2010...

We are each of great worth to our Father in heaven. In a resent article by Thomas S. Monson, which I will be quoting throughout my talk, it says "The world is filled with yellow canaries with gray on their wings. The pity is that so precious few have learned to sing. Some are young people who don't know who they are, what they can be or even want to be; all they want is to be somebody. Others are stooped with age, burdened with care, or filled with doubt—living lives far below the level of their capabilities.
To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility. You ask, "How might we achieve these goals?" I answer, "By gaining a true perspective of who we really are!" We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that: created in the image of God. We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power." This past week I was talking with Rudy advising him to ask the Lord for the thing we were so in need of, Rachel wearing only her diaper was crawling back and forth between us happy as can be. I thought we are so much like her coming to the Lord with our simple understanding. the things she needs are so easy for us to give. I know her needs before she asks. I don't take away all her challenges, and I find joy in her every accomplishment. She is walking this week Oh, it's so cute the way she throws her little legs out and just go's for it. She laughs with pure joy as she makes it to my arms and throws herself into my lap. She is so wonderful, but her life depends on our care for her, all the little and big things we do. and I thought if the Lord love me, with all my simpleness when compared to him, like I love my children he will take care of me and help me. In my simpleness I have a hard time understanding his ways and his love for me. but I know that he is there with his arms outstretched to catch me if I fall as I try to walk to him and we both find joy in the little accomplishments.
Proverbs 8:29-30
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
  "Some are young people who don't know who they are, what they can be or even want to be; all they want is to be somebody." How many times as a youth I sat in the Oakland temple waiting room I can't say but my favorite move shown there was Johnny Lingo. Remember in Johnny Lingo...there was an island where men bought their wives with cows. It was something the women bragged about later, "well my husband paid three cows for me!" Four or five cows was a great honor. Well, poor Mahana...no one thought she would ever be married, they thought her so undesirable. When they found out that Johnny Lingo intended to ask for her hand, they thought he was a skin flint, just trying to get a "good deal", i.e. he could get a wife for one cow. But Johnny knew something they didn't. He could see her value. He paid ten cows for Mahana. . .a price previously unheard of in the village, and Mahana truly became a ten cow woman!
"The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7)
We are like Mahana, Satan would like us to think we are only worth one cow. But the Savior has already seen our worth, and has paid more than ten cows for us. He believes you are worth more than ten cows, worth the price he paid, the only question now is do you believe Him?
A number of months ago I had a dream, it is very precious to me. in my dream I was sitting in a meeting not paying too much attention to what was being said, I think it was going long, Rudy was sitting in the pew next to me. We were about midway back. There was a woman commenting that she would be unable to deal with the challenge given her. She was taking on enough. This challenge, a boy, would be put in another place and left there. abandoned. I felt something well up in my tummy, I touched Rudy's arm, as the feeling grew making me stand-up, as I did this something turned to words "I want him" the sound of me saying the words woke me from the dream. I knew that the dream was a gift from the Lord about my sweet Phil.

There is a song from the primary program this year that really touches me, called "I'll Walk with You"

If you don't walk as most people do,
Some people walk away from you,
But I won't! I won't!
If you don't talk as most people do,
Some people talk and laugh at you,
But I won't! I won't!
I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.
That's how I'll show my love for you.

Jesus walked away from none.
He gave his love to ev'ryone.
So I will! I will!
Jesus blessed all he could see,
Then turned and said, "Come, follow me."
And I will! I will!
I will! I will!
I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you.
That's how I'll show my love for you.

As we learn to be like our father becoming extensions of his love we gain that true perspective of who we really are, We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Through this lineage our potential is truly awesome. To all faithful Saints He has promised thrones, kingdoms, principalities, glory, immortality, and eternal lives. (See Rom. 2:7; D&C 75:5; D&C 128:12, 23; D&C 132:19.)
I bear my testimony of his love for us and of the worth of each person to him, no matter what we see the Lord knows us, who we really are "We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created." as we learn this we truly will "experience(ing) a profound new sense of strength and power."

eo sun prep

6 tbsp. sesame oil
6 tbsp. avocado oil
5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops ylang-ylang essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bottle. Cap and shake the mixture thoroughly. Shake the mixture well before each use as well, since the oils may separate.
Apply evenly and sparingly to clean, exfoliated skin at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun. The oil must penetrate the upper layers of the skin for its protective properties to be fully effective.


Avocado oil conditions and protects: Oil from the fleshy part of the avocado is very beneficial for dry skin, as it contains high levels of vitamins, lecithin and unsaturated fatty acids. Avocado oil can be used as a light sunscreen and is good for long-term use, since it does not spoil easily. Be sure to use only cold-pressed, unrefined avocado oil.
Cold Pressed Avocado Oil is a high heat wonder, with rich stores of monounsaturated fat. The oil is best for high heat applications (Up To 450°F) like sautéing, frying and all-purpose cooking. Excellent for skin care and massage.
 

Sesame oil protects against harmful rays: Sesame oil, obtained by pressing the seeds of the sesame plant, provides the highest sun protection of all the natural oils. It is also very effective for softening and smoothing the skin. Be sure to use only cold-pressed, unrefined sesame oil, which has a fill, nutty aroma and is dark in color.

• Natural suntan oils will keep for about 2-3 months. Refrigerate for maximum freshness.
• Do not use oils that smell rancid, as they have lost effectiveness.
• Do not add citrus essential oils to your suntan oil. They can cause brown spots to develop after sunbathing that can last for years or even a lifetime.
• Natural suntan oil is not waterproof, so be sure to reapply after swimming.
• If you are fair-skinned, it's best to stay out of the sun between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 P.M., when the sun's rays are strongest.

afterSun

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1/4 cup witch hazel
• 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
• 4 drops Roman chamomile(Anthemis nobilis) essential oil
• 2 drops geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil
• 8 drops lavender (Lavandula officinalis) essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil
• 8 oz. spray bottle

to make the spray, add the aloe vera gel, witch hazel and essential oil to the spray bottle. shake well. then add the water. shake well again.
after sun exposure apply a good amount onto the skin but not running off. the witch hazel will give a cooling feeling and the aloe vera and essential oils will help to calm the skin. wait a few minutes without disturbing the area, as this will allow the essential oils and aloe vera to soak into the skin. this won't take to long. reapply as needed.

ALLWAYS TEST the essential oils first and be sure that you don't have any health conditions affected by the use of the oil. If you do leave out that essential oil, the partial blends will still work.

Sensitive about Tartar Control

Lots of people have a problem with sensitive teeth. I've learned that the tartar control toothpastes can, for some, lead to this problem. Evidently there is another part of the teeth that we didn't learn about in school. Tartar control toothpastes strip this invisible layer (it's called salivary peliclle) off of your teeth and slows it's reformation. The tartar then doesn't build up as easily (at least in theory), but it causes some people's teeth to become sensitive. Most toothpaste boxes now hardly even mention that they are tartar control, It's just a given.
Seeing as how Fluoride is toxic and traditional toothpastes (chock full of sugar) haven't helped I'm giving them up for more natural alternatives.
Dr. Christopher's Tooth Powder and a waterpik

pierced ears

My opinion is rare, I know, but I think I should put it out there.
My mother got my ears pierced when I was a baby, if she had waited till I could decide for myself I don't believe I would have ever gotten them done. By the time I was 18 I wouldn't have done it and I think I would only have done it younger if I had been pushed into it.
Now I have these little holes in my ears, and, no, they don't just close up when you get them that young. It's not that big of a deal, but I do enjoy being different and would have reveled in that one additional thing that set me apart.

Creamed Nettles {Gream Soup}

Every spring I like to try something new from the yard, this year I tried the stinging nettles, I've been wanting to for long while. Nettles are very high in minerals, especially, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silica, and iodine. They also provide chlorophyll and they're a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and B complex vitamins. Nettles also have high levels of easily absorbable amino acids. They're ten percent protein, more than any other vegetable. It is also very easy to recognise, seeing as how it STINGS you.

 

Ingredients:

• 1/4+ cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1+ cup milk (as needed)
• soup pot full of nettle leaves
• onions, mushrooms, zucchini, can of corn, leaks, cooked potatoes (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• dash nutmeg, lemon pepper, cayenne (optional)

Preparation:

Nettles: pick lots of leaves, spring of fall is best. wear gloves, wash & chop. Fill the pot with leaves wet from washing, cover, low heat for 10-20 min 'till leaves are wilted. next I put them in the blender with more water (1 cup) if needed, if I have zucchini or mushrooms I steam them with the nettles and put them in the blender, too, but I put the onion into the blender raw.

while steaming the nettles I melt the butter over low heat. then blend in flour until smooth. Cook until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually add milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add blended nettles and veggies. Corn can be added now. Cover and cook stirring occasionally, until hot. Season with salt, pepper, and others of choice. let cool, serve.

My husband said it was good but tasted/smelled like fish, not sure where that came from?

The kids helped me pick the nettles so there were stems and even some roots nothing I had read said to just use the leaves so I lest them in, BIG MISTAKE the stems didn't blend well so when I was eating I had to keep pulling out fibers and woody stems, and when carefully washing I must have missed a root or two because there was dirt in it... yum :/

But I thought the flavor was very good {I had 3 bowls} and would like to make it again.