Saturday, February 06, 2010
Qualifying Child
Does anyone else think it's very odd that the instructions for our tax forms specify that your child is not only your son or daughter, but also is younger than you and/or your spouse?
Friday, February 05, 2010
Busy Day, Accomplishing Little
So, is that title a paradox?
Chapel.
Went to the hardware store for a couple of items.
Banking.
Made kombucha.
Watched physics dvd's with Andrew.
Paid some bills.
Hit three different grocery stores.
Stopped in to see if my new glasses had arrived. (They hadn't.)
Got a haircut.
Took Maggie to choir and did Alg2 with Andrew while we waited.
Gassed and washed the van.
Arranged doctor appointments.
Wrote up Leah & Maggie's Greek worksheets for the week.
Began figuring the taxes while watching a weird movie.
But ...
forgot to buy the chicken.
So had frozen pizza instead of gumbo for supper.
Didn't wash dishes.
Didn't catch up on school record-keeping.
Didn't make bread and granola.
Didn't get to the library for the ACT-prep book.
Didn't help Maggie with schoolwork today or grade anything.
May tomorrow be more productive! Hear, hear!
Chapel.
Went to the hardware store for a couple of items.
Banking.
Made kombucha.
Watched physics dvd's with Andrew.
Paid some bills.
Hit three different grocery stores.
Stopped in to see if my new glasses had arrived. (They hadn't.)
Got a haircut.
Took Maggie to choir and did Alg2 with Andrew while we waited.
Gassed and washed the van.
Arranged doctor appointments.
Wrote up Leah & Maggie's Greek worksheets for the week.
Began figuring the taxes while watching a weird movie.
But ...
forgot to buy the chicken.
So had frozen pizza instead of gumbo for supper.
Didn't wash dishes.
Didn't catch up on school record-keeping.
Didn't make bread and granola.
Didn't get to the library for the ACT-prep book.
Didn't help Maggie with schoolwork today or grade anything.
May tomorrow be more productive! Hear, hear!
Today's Laugh
A girl was complaining to her friend that she was constantly being teased about being so dumb.
"Do something to prove them wrong," her friend suggested. "Learn all 50 capitals of the states or something."
The girl thinks this is a great idea, so she locks herself up in a room to study.
The next weekend she goes to a party and says, "I can name the capitals of all 50 states."
One person says, "Okay, what's the capital of Montana?"
"I know this! I know this! The capital of Montana is M!"
"Do something to prove them wrong," her friend suggested. "Learn all 50 capitals of the states or something."
The girl thinks this is a great idea, so she locks herself up in a room to study.
The next weekend she goes to a party and says, "I can name the capitals of all 50 states."
One person says, "Okay, what's the capital of Montana?"
"I know this! I know this! The capital of Montana is M!"
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Online Banking
We are in the process of changing banks. I spent three and a half hours on the computer tonight, setting up how to pay our bills online now that I can no longer do it from the old account. I'm sure I'm not done with this project.
All this online stuff is in the interest of making bill-paying faster and easier. Right? Right???
All this online stuff is in the interest of making bill-paying faster and easier. Right? Right???
VCFS Picture
After posting pictures of Katie and Maggie, these photos add another dimension. Maggie (in the yellow shirt) has VCFS. When she had her curly hair straightened, she looked amazingly like her sister Katie (who does not have VCFS).
Today's Laugh
My wife's psychiatrist just called me and said, "Did you know she was going to poison you?"
I said, "No! What do you suggest?"
"After talking to her for three hours, my suggestion to you is to take the poison."
I said, "No! What do you suggest?"
"After talking to her for three hours, my suggestion to you is to take the poison."
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Fox & Hounds
Sunday was our birthday dinner party. Laura has fun pictures on her blog. Here's one of them:
(Mom, you'll like the one of Andrew that Laura has. Go peek at her blog.)
(Mom, you'll like the one of Andrew that Laura has. Go peek at her blog.)
Braces
Woo hoo! I heard from the orthodontist's office that our dental insurance pays more than what we thought. The bill for Andrew's braces will be $700 less than anticipated!
James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
"That you may be healed." This is kind of an amusing verse for the week when our church school was canceled for a day due to massive numbers of sick students & teachers.
Now to the non-silly stuff from chapel:
Pastor asked how prayer is "effective." The answer? When it is grounded in God's word and His promises. When we speak back to Him what He has first spoken to us. Isaiah 55 tells us that God's word accomplishes what He intends.
Pastor asked how prayer is "fervent." The answer? When we cling to Him in faith and let nothing get in the way, but keep our eyes only on Him (and not even on the blessings He gives).
And most importantly, Pastor asked what "avails much" means. The answer? Accomplishes what God intends. Hey! Wait a minute! I never heard that before! What God intends? I always heard this passage used to say that the prayer will accomplish what the one doing the praying intends. What God intends? That puts it in a whole different light!
and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
"That you may be healed." This is kind of an amusing verse for the week when our church school was canceled for a day due to massive numbers of sick students & teachers.
Now to the non-silly stuff from chapel:
Pastor asked how prayer is "effective." The answer? When it is grounded in God's word and His promises. When we speak back to Him what He has first spoken to us. Isaiah 55 tells us that God's word accomplishes what He intends.
Pastor asked how prayer is "fervent." The answer? When we cling to Him in faith and let nothing get in the way, but keep our eyes only on Him (and not even on the blessings He gives).
And most importantly, Pastor asked what "avails much" means. The answer? Accomplishes what God intends. Hey! Wait a minute! I never heard that before! What God intends? I always heard this passage used to say that the prayer will accomplish what the one doing the praying intends. What God intends? That puts it in a whole different light!
Today's Laugh
A lady came to the hospital to visit a friend. She had not been in a hospital for several years and felt very ignorant about all the new technology.
A technician followed her onto the elevator, wheeling a large, intimidating-looking machine with tubes and wires and dials. "Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that thing," she said.
"So would I," replied the technician. "It's a floor-cleaning machine."
A technician followed her onto the elevator, wheeling a large, intimidating-looking machine with tubes and wires and dials. "Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that thing," she said.
"So would I," replied the technician. "It's a floor-cleaning machine."
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Done
Tonight I finished an editing project that I've been working on since August 2004. Well, I'll still have to take a peek at it after Pastor finishes up the part I leave in his hands, but that's speedy stuff. I wonder what I'll do in my free time now?
Today's Laugh
New Lutheran homeschoolers often want to know where to find "Lutheran curriculum." Because there are a variety of Reformed, Baptist, and Catholic curricula, among others, it's not an entirely unreasonable question. But there isn't a "Lutheran curriculum."
In response to the concept of a Lutheran math curriculum, my friend EC suggested this:
♫ 99 bottles of beer on the wall,
99 bottles of beer.
You take one down and pass it around,
98 bottles of beer on the wall.
98 bottles of beer on the wall,
98 bottles of beer... ♫
Sounds pretty Lutheran to me!
In response to the concept of a Lutheran math curriculum, my friend EC suggested this:
♫ 99 bottles of beer on the wall,
99 bottles of beer.
You take one down and pass it around,
98 bottles of beer on the wall.
98 bottles of beer on the wall,
98 bottles of beer... ♫
Sounds pretty Lutheran to me!
Monday, February 01, 2010
Orthodontia
This morning was the consultation with the orthodontist. Tomorrow we have a consultation with the oral surgeon to discuss the easy little Step 1 -- extraction of Andrew's wisdom teeth.
Step 2 is expansion of his upper palate. Although this works 100% of the time in preteens, the orthodontist says it also works in about 90% of adult patients. The growth plates in his wrist show that he's done growing (hooray for not needing bigger shoes!!!!) so the "suture" in his palate is firming up but hopefully can be treated without surgery. After he heals from the removal of his wisdom teeth, he will spend 2-4 weeks with this appliance on the roof of his mouth, widening his palate.
Assuming the appliance works and he grows a nice big fat space between his front teeth, he will then have braces for about 3 years to improve his bite. His teeth will not be completely corrected after the braces but should be much improved. We consulted with two orthodontists; both said correction will be impossible given what a mess he has in his mouth, whether he has surgery or not. But today there was good news from the in-depth examination a couple of weeks ago. In spite of the crossbite and openbite, everything else looks like it's in alignment with itself and should respond to treatment fairly well.
If the appliance doesn't work to widen his palate, then we will have to consult again with the oral surgeon about palate surgery and costs and risks.
Overall, because there are so many things wrong with his mouth, the orthodontia will be a step-by-step procedure. If everything goes as it should, the repairs will be long but relatively simple. But there are so many variables that could present kinks. So for right now, we're going to get rid of those wisdom teeth and then try the expander ... and pray that the expander does what the doctor wants it to do! Hopefully by summer we will have Andrew in nice, boring braces with no prospect for palate surgery.
Step 2 is expansion of his upper palate. Although this works 100% of the time in preteens, the orthodontist says it also works in about 90% of adult patients. The growth plates in his wrist show that he's done growing (hooray for not needing bigger shoes!!!!) so the "suture" in his palate is firming up but hopefully can be treated without surgery. After he heals from the removal of his wisdom teeth, he will spend 2-4 weeks with this appliance on the roof of his mouth, widening his palate.
Assuming the appliance works and he grows a nice big fat space between his front teeth, he will then have braces for about 3 years to improve his bite. His teeth will not be completely corrected after the braces but should be much improved. We consulted with two orthodontists; both said correction will be impossible given what a mess he has in his mouth, whether he has surgery or not. But today there was good news from the in-depth examination a couple of weeks ago. In spite of the crossbite and openbite, everything else looks like it's in alignment with itself and should respond to treatment fairly well.
If the appliance doesn't work to widen his palate, then we will have to consult again with the oral surgeon about palate surgery and costs and risks.
Overall, because there are so many things wrong with his mouth, the orthodontia will be a step-by-step procedure. If everything goes as it should, the repairs will be long but relatively simple. But there are so many variables that could present kinks. So for right now, we're going to get rid of those wisdom teeth and then try the expander ... and pray that the expander does what the doctor wants it to do! Hopefully by summer we will have Andrew in nice, boring braces with no prospect for palate surgery.
Today's Laugh
Homeschooling mommies often hear complaints about how we let our kids do "whatever they want." With that in mind, I proffer a recollection from my Uncle Ray about our family reunions once upon a long time ago.
Roger Ebert is one of our family relations. I can never keep straight the connection; I think he might be Mom's second cousin. And yes, I mean that Roger Ebert.
So all the aunties are sitting around talking. "Hasn't Roger gotten a real job yet? Will he ever grow up? When is he going to stop watching movies all day and make something of himself?"
Roger Ebert is one of our family relations. I can never keep straight the connection; I think he might be Mom's second cousin. And yes, I mean that Roger Ebert.
So all the aunties are sitting around talking. "Hasn't Roger gotten a real job yet? Will he ever grow up? When is he going to stop watching movies all day and make something of himself?"
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Update on the Mundane
I'm getting close to finishing an editing project I've been working on for nearly two months now. I've got to get it completed so that we can get back to regular school-school instead of putzy attempts at school.
Andrew and Maggie had friends over yesterday. One of them spent the night. Maggie spent the afternoon with another friend. School at Peace is canceled tomorrow due to 1/3 of the kids & teachers being sick, so we will be sleeping in tomorrow instead of going to chapel.
Leah and Maggie and I got back to our Greek study last week.
The cats are enjoying the warm weather. In other words, I haven't had to clean the litter box in more than 48 hours. Hooray!
Laundry is caught up. Housecleaning is not.
Gary and I went out with two other couples tonight to celebrate birthdays. We have three birthdays within four days, and it's fun to celebrate together (even if we're rather late for our own birthday party). It's so good to sit with friends and talk. Something possessed me this afternoon, and I made a cherry pie and a banana cream pie so that we could have dessert at home instead of at the restaurant. Yum.
The sun has been shining 4 out of the last 5 days. That's a lovely change after two weeks of sunlessness.
In another day or two, we should have all the 1099s and W-2s and I'll "get to" start on the taxes and Paul's financial aid forms. But at least there's leftover pie...
Andrew and Maggie had friends over yesterday. One of them spent the night. Maggie spent the afternoon with another friend. School at Peace is canceled tomorrow due to 1/3 of the kids & teachers being sick, so we will be sleeping in tomorrow instead of going to chapel.
Leah and Maggie and I got back to our Greek study last week.
The cats are enjoying the warm weather. In other words, I haven't had to clean the litter box in more than 48 hours. Hooray!
Laundry is caught up. Housecleaning is not.
Gary and I went out with two other couples tonight to celebrate birthdays. We have three birthdays within four days, and it's fun to celebrate together (even if we're rather late for our own birthday party). It's so good to sit with friends and talk. Something possessed me this afternoon, and I made a cherry pie and a banana cream pie so that we could have dessert at home instead of at the restaurant. Yum.
The sun has been shining 4 out of the last 5 days. That's a lovely change after two weeks of sunlessness.
In another day or two, we should have all the 1099s and W-2s and I'll "get to" start on the taxes and Paul's financial aid forms. But at least there's leftover pie...
Today's Laugh
Stolen from an introduction at symposium:
It's been a really cold winter!
How cold is it?
It's so cold that the politicians have their hands in their own pockets for a change.
It's been a really cold winter!
How cold is it?
It's so cold that the politicians have their hands in their own pockets for a change.
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