A New Springtime

National Letter Writing Month 2016

  My love for letter writing began as a young girl when I used to receive letters from my Great Aunt Sadie. She would write to me about nature and the wildlife she saw scampering about her yard near her tiny cedar-shake cottage. It was as if I had my very own personal Beatrix Potter.

These special letters also cultivated an appreciation of stationery. The feel of the paper and the pretty designs are always beckoning me! I like to make my own simple cards and envelopes.

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  Making cards can be a very rewarding and relaxing process. The supplies I use are:
  
• card stock
• glue sticks
• washi tape
• stickers
• rubber stamps
• ink pads
• tape
• sharpie fine point markers

The possible choices to create cards and envelopes are endless. The scrapbook and paper craft arts have really grown over the years.

Stationery does not have to be handmade either. There are so many pretty and amazing cards nowadays. They do not have to be expensive either. There are a lot of quality and affordable and attractive choices at craft and dollar stores. It is not the price but the sentiment of receiving a handwritten letter that makes another person's feel special!

I think it is special to make a simple package of goodies and tuck them into the card as well. It can be some snippets of twine, some inked tags, samples of washi and a sticker or two. Vellum sheets taped on either side make a nice envelope to hold the ephemera.

Letter writing can be a joy and an inspiration to others. It is a beautiful way to give something of ourselves. It is an art and a culture to share and pass on to future generations. Happy letter Writing!!

 

 

 

Jumpin' on the Traveler's Notebook Bandwagon!

I have never used these traveler's style notebooks before but i have been inspired by several Youtube videos about them. I saw that Michael's had a new line of product's out centered around them. I don't think you have to be a traveler of distant lands to use one of these. It is good to use as a keepsake of weekend or family events.

Ombre is very popular in the art world right now so I have been using my stamp pads to try my hand at the technique. There are stamp pads that are divided into three colors but you can create the same affect by taking three slightly different colors and inking a part of your stamp with each one.

 

Lenten Happy Planner

Each week on Sat. or Sun. I try to set aside some time to decorate and write in our weekly plans into my Happy Planner. During Lent I have been using purple hues to remind myself of the the liturgical season. We are finishing up the basketball season right now. One of our son's team has made it to the play-offs and our girls are finishing up with a tournament.

Stamps and ink allows me to bring in the colors and designs into my layout. Creating a theme can bring visual reminders of a positive quote or scripture passage for a weekly meditation.

The feather stamps and the saying stamps led me to think of the phrase, " Fly to God!" I felt like that is what the Holy Spirit wants me to do in times of trial and temptation. Fly to God!

I like to be able to bring  the gift of creativity into the every day things I have to do as part of my vacation. It helps me to form a relationship with my duties in a more meaningful way, not just a mundane tasks but as a joy filled experience of my jobs that I do for our Lord, Jesus!

 

Snacktime

Pouring...

peeking...

eating!

Down Syndrome and Speech/ A Parental Approach

  I try not to fear the challenges we face as a family when it comes to our son with Down Syndrome. He is already doing so well and I know that repetition and modeling are  the keys to success in his life. Having the larger family is an advantage for him because he naturally gets both.

 I try to take each stage of development he goes through one at a time. It is a bit easier for me knowing what a child's development "should " be like due to the fact that I have had seven other children. I know his development is much slower but i do not let it bother me because I see a progression even if it is slower. That is basically the norm with kids with DS.

 I don't want to say that I don't have expectations but I try to watch with a realistic eye. By this I mean; I know the delays and I do not fear them. I accentuate the positive and look for the smallest progress. Because even something small is big to him and to us!

 Our son thrives on encouragement, as we all do but for him, that is his world! To see his family excited, ecstatic about the slightest of feats makes him thrive! Before anyone  with degrees in speech or special ed. it was simply humble parents who raised and trusted that their children were worthy and they nurtured them without professions to their highest potentials.  I am not knocking these therapists, their services can be very valuable and should be considered. At the same time as a parent we need to be confident that we can also pray, research and help our children to thrive in these areas.

 

 

Researching How To Teach My Son with Down Syndrome How to Read

I am praying to be able to teach our son who has Down Syndrome how to read. he will turn five in April this year. I read in this book that when a child with DS  can discriminate  items (match like things with other like things) that is a good time to begin teaching them to read. Our son can definitely do that. he has mastered this skill by using:

• a shape sorter
• matching card games (Dollar Tree)
• color matching putting items of the same color on a colored sheet of construction paper
• matching games (Brown Bear picture card game)
• Melissa and Dough wooden puzzles ( big knobs, smaller knobs)

I am sure there are many other fun ways to encourage kids to recognize like things. the internet is full of ideas!

I like to take my time to read these type of books and I also encourage anyone trying to do this to take notes. Treat yourself to a pretty journal or notebook to make this a personal and important enjoyable journey.

I think a chapter every 3 days is reasonable. After reading and taking notes give yourself a few days for the info to sink in. Go back and read over the notes before going on, highlighting anything that stands out in your mind.

I find it very helpful to discuss what I have read with an interested relative or friend, verbally discussing the information helps me to retain what I have read and get some positive feed back and encouragement from others as well!

"I can do all things in Jesus Christ who strengthens me!" This is the phrase I will keep before me while reading and praying while taking on this task.

 

 

 

Being Still

Sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of Joe! Sometimes those slow moments are too far and few between but I actually got to experience a moment of still the other Day!

Laudato Sii, God be Praised

During Lent we have taken out some time  together to incorporate Pope Francis's encyclical, Laudato Sii, God Be Praised into our lives. It is  based on St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun and focuses on, " The Care of Our Common Home". We spent time listening to the first part of the audio online reading of this beautiful letter and the kids drew some pictures of what it meant to them.

 

Multiple Grades at Our Homeschool Promotes Independent Learning

 

Homeschooling often automatically promotes independent learning because there are usually a variety of grade levels in one home. We do have times when we do things together as well. Our school functions best by each child having their own written or mental syllabus and coming to me when they require assistance.  they each have there own learning area/desk but the boys often go into the living room to get a quieter place to do reading assignments. Often a definition of a word, a pronunciation or trouble understanding what they have read  about on a certain math or English concept are the types of things I answer on a daily basis.

The different grade levels I have now are: preschool (special needs), 2nd , 7th, 8th, 10th and 12th. I also have a son who graduated from our homeschool and has earned a Sports Management Degree.

Praise the Lord for His Goodness!

 

 

Senior Night 2016, Time Doesn't Stand Still

I received these beautiful flowers at my sons final varsity home game, even though we homeschool, our children have participated in JV and Varsity soccer and basketball at our local public school.

It is always bittersweet when one of my children are getting ready to graduate homeschool and possibly leave the nest. It is a relief that we actually made it from start to finish but sad that time has gone by so fast.

Go Eagles! Go Raphael!