It is Friday...

This has been one of those weeks -- it started with Monday...yeah, I know, most of them do. But this one, well, I just couldn't seem to get my head above the water. We worked through our lessons -- but school was, well, just school. There were no candle-making, bread-baking, a-ha moments this week. I may or may not have raised my voice once or twenty times. I may or may not have shed one or twenty tears after the fact. It was one of those weeks.

And then my girlfriend called. The one who has been in this home-schooling thing forever and is my role-model/source of all wisdom. She called and she told me how hard this time of year is. The new has worn off, the holidays are a long way away and every body has ants in their pants. She sent a link to a blog by Pioneer Woman where she discussed this exact same thing...THIS WEEK!

And so today, I celebrate Friday...and the blessing of friends who know just what to say when!! God did a great thing when he created girlfriends!!

Taking the good with the...not-so-good

It is one of those days. The big kids had a couple of tests today -- two really tough ones. As their teacher, I could have opted not to give them both....but I really want them to be realistically prepared for the day when I'm not in charge. Whew, we are all exhausted.

The little redhead only had to do some finger-painting (which she loved) and work on the number "3" by coloring three foxes. Well....completely feeding off of her siblings she told me she just "couldn't" color them...because well, she apparently really doesn't like foxes. Oh. Who knew?

But then she brought the Panda that makes eating noises to me to say, "Mommy, this bear is antag'nizing me." I said, "What?" She said, "Antag'nizing." I said, "What?" She said, "Uh, Mommy, it is making me crazy with this noise, can you turn it off?!" Ah, antagonizing....who knew?

There is a blessing in here somewhere...but I may need a pedicure to figure it out!

Inspiration and Encouragment

Once upon a time, there was a woman with three adorable two year olds. Busy did not even begin to describe her days as she kept the house running so that her Orthopedic Resident husband didn't have to worry; kept the kids washed, fed, loved; and came to terms with the fact that two of these precious little loves had Cerebral Palsy.

In this far away time, in a far away land (way way up north in the tundra), this woman had a dear friend who sensed the inner struggle and wanted to help. So when this dear friend read about a doctor in St. Louis who not only treats kids with Cerebral Palsy but also HAS Cerebral Palsy, she grabbed the entire magazine and promptly ran it over.

The doctor, Dr. Jan Brunstrum, was an inspiration. She overcame adversity in an age when very little attention was given to children with special needs. She was not cured of her Cerebral Palsy but rather she did amazing things (and continues to do amazing things) IN SPITE of her Cerebral Palsy. The article made the woman tearful, grateful, inspired and eager to cheer her beautiful boys to whatever amazing things were in their future!

Many years later, the woman is given an opportunity to meet the doctor. She cries through most of the encounter. And then a year later, she gets to spend more time with her -- and introduce her to the adorable three two-year-olds (who are now 12!) and one adorable 3-year-old (who is still 3!).

All the children were inspired and encouraged by meeting this doctor who had so inspired their Mommy 10 years before...but one especially identified with her and was reminded that he can do anything he sets his mind to do!! (Just exactly like the Mom had been saying all these years!)

Claire and Mason at the Family Forum

of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.

Cate and Benjamin at the Family Forum of the AACPDM.

Dr. Jan Brunstrum and my two adorable boys!

The Shraders, Dr. Jan and her husband, Reuben.


And they all lived happily ever after -- now that is a blessing!