At the end of the month, the 5 of us are moving to 2000 sq ft . . . 5 BR's, 2 Bathrooms, Living Room, Den and . . . wait for it . . . a classroom space with fabulous light, lots of room for shelves and built in desks for the 3 Peachlets. I no longer have to do school on the kitchen table. :D Incredible Crazy * (2 Flips + 4 Rentals)= A Forever House!!!! :lol: It's not a McMansion, not a Starter Castle by any stretch of the imagination but we get to live there for as long as we want; that makes me all day very happy. Tricia

Of course, it's a theologically-loaded question -- I've read my fair share of Brennan Manning's books and I've walked far far away from the land of "Follow the Rules." There is a balance between license and legalism and I do my best to walk in that middle ground. Warmly, Tricia

I have a few near&dears who I super enjoy and fill up my relational tank. I also interact with a church-full of women who I enjoy extending the Kingdom with, doing meaningful activity with but not women with whom I want to share my deepest me. I enjoy coffee with the girls, but not coffee with every group of girls on my radar. It gets very tricky to draw loving boundaries with women who want more of you. Rejection issues surface; church-life interactions can get touchy. I want to go the distance with people but I don't think I can go super-close with every woman on my radar. It's finding the balance between who will be my near&dears and how I will walk authentically and lovingly with the women who aren't so close to my heart, in a personal, relational way that doesn't leave a bitter or distant taste in their mouths. T ps: what this thread is all about is what took me most by surprise when I came on staff in January. The hardest part of "leading" is staying connected with everyone in a meaningful way but not so close that the relationships make me crazy!

I'm taking the plunge on this program as well! :) I esp. like the fact that she'll teach us how to draw - we're all excited about that!

I would like to hs our littles until the end of 8th grade. I can't know exactly how it will play out, and since I struggle with 5th grade math, I'm quite certain I couldn't teach 8th grade. sigh. T

gamommy, I know what you are getting at in your post. I'm not sure this is the correct approach but here's what I do: Stay Away. Stay Far Away. When I cross paths with parents who can't see that their children sometimes act like children, chances are that they can't receive any conversation about how things played out. I just don't go there with those sorts of parents and furthermore, I don't encourage more than casual visiting between the children. It would be much different with family relationships - we don't have to manage those sorts of dynamics since our family/cousins all live far away. T

Welllllll, maybe (and I enter into this conversation very gently), but I'll give you my next three cents worth. Since January, I've had more insight into the land of pastoring because I accepted a Management Team position with our church family and I have to hear (first hand, whether I want to or not) all about the inner-workings and stress that our lead pastor has to manage. It's hard not taking something personally that feels so personal. I think it's a normal thing to want some affirmation/validation from our Lead Pastor . . . an acknowledgement that we're all in this together. I also have heard our Lead Pastor speak about different people who've cornered him and asked why he didn't say hello, offer a greeting, shake hands, chat . . . I know it grieves him when people feel hurt, feel over-looked by him. A pastor can't pastor scads of people. Now that I've taken on a role at our church that makes my head feel full (and it's a miniscule role compared to that of our pastors), I sometimes don't talk to enough people. Sometimes I'm beyond busy in my brain. I guess I'm saying that if it super bothers you, you might want to make a week-day appointment and speak to your pastor about the hurty bits of feeling rejection and that your kids crave a bit of interaction with him. Warmly, Tricia

Hi Alison (I haven't read this entire thread . . . forgive me if I'm repeating): These are my thoughts: a) in a church of 500 + (even in a church of 100+), the pastor can't "pastor" all of the people that walk through on a Sunday morning. We've attended our church for 4+ years, and chitty-chatting with our lead pastor, especially on a Sunday morning, would be out of the question. b) Does your church promote joining a small group? In my opinion, it's at the small church level that people really build relationships and find friends that they can gnatter with on a Sunday morning. The expectation that your pastor can chitty-chat is a tall order to meet, esp. in a large church, esp. on a Sunday morning. c) Aloof lead pastors make me crazy because I think relationship with your people is key, but they are human and it's hard to make conversation with everyone. Introverted personalities are that way, regardless of career choice. Doesn't mean your pastor doesn't have to try, but he may have tried with the 10 people that walked in before your DH and now his head is 1/2 way into his sermon. d) If your dh is really annoyed by your lead pastors inability to converse, I would definitely recommend a weekday visit. If dh could first ask pastor how he's managing, how are things, how are the stress-levels of this particular season, I think the conversation would take off. Sometimes, I think people live in this land of "My lead pastor should make me feel welcome, comfortable, chit-chat on a Sunday morning" when in my opinion, that's the job of the "core church". You know, the folks that are sold-out with the vision of a particular church-family and are always looking to extend the tent-pegs. Wishing you well. Warmly, Tricia

Mamapjama . . . ahhhhhhhh, do we know each other? Art Gallery? Halifax? You live a bit outside of the city? Your boys looks more grown up but very familiar. You're a properly degreed teacher and artist? I think you directed me to SouleMama when Stoneridge was still Stoneridge and a few other art links? WTM is becoming a very small world. xo T

Only wet and blustery here in Halifax. Another hour before we're supposed to get the worst of it . . . we still have *power* which is a huge accomplishment for Nova Scotia Power! Hope you had your Anniversary Lunch, Colleen! Tricia

You are a courageous woman, Joanne.

Absolutely. We have tremendous struggles and tall mountains to climb. We also enjoy wide open spaces and happiness like I never expected possible. This is real life: the unimaginable delight, the good, the bad and the downright ugly. No question, I'd marry this man again!

I plan very little. Our fifth year of hs'ing was our best ever . . . we did some school every day and even worked on Friday if we had Art Gallery during the week. :D I have a plan in my mind of where I want to be at the end of the year. I know this coming year will comprise more grammar, LA, reading, writing without easing up on the math/science portion of our school. A detailed plan won't help me get where I'm going. An alarm clock and a heavy does of supernatural self-discipline will get that elephant eaten, one bite at a time. Warmly, Tricia

Way to go, Melissa. I reffed bball for a year -- never high school and mostly youngers. It was one of the hardest gigs I've ever tried, and I'd rather be figuring out the KISS grammar website than ever pick up a whistle again! Good luck! It's great exercise. T

This always happens to me -- don't log in for a week and a great thread takes off . . . Way to go, Colleen in NS. Very thought-provoking thread . . .

It's really hot here and I'm sun-tired but your little diddy about Mr. Grammarian himself had me giggling. PLL? Come again -- I only decided a month ago that grammar was immensely important. T

You'd better inbox me -- I'm holding on with abated breath. Or, get on the soapbox and let the whole world know . . . How old are your kiddies -- what age group does Mr. Sheldon target?

Since your efficiency is top-notch, anything else I need to know that you can help me with? Hmmmmm? :) Thanks! T

Hi Tara, I'm tracking with you re:KISS and I'd like a peek at Sheldon's Primary Language Lessons -- can you link me? Pretty Please? WArmly, Tricia

Double thank you from me! I'm really drawn to KISS grammar - it seems so practical yet academic and all the way free. So hard to resist. I'll go read his article and pray for divine understanding. I've spent the last week surfing his site and it mostly gives me a headache. T

What hooked you with CLE?

Hey there, I did download a bit with V but her boys didn't really struggle with any parts of it so the conversation kinda ends there. I'm going to call the Miss who administered the test and clarify the scope of each topic . . . she told me that day but all I could see was "Oh My, Daws can't spell, even after two full years of a proper spelling curr . . .". Your WRTR tutorial helped me figure out enough SWR to survive, which pointed me to AAS and in the fall, returning to SWR for Matt. Ah, the tangled webs we weave! xo T

Hi Karen, talk to me about "grammar in a vaccumm" . . . do any programs exist that teach outside the vaccuum. I wonder about KISS grammar - the webpage itself is all over the place, but using real literature seems to make sense to me. It doesn't offend my Charlotte Mason tendencies . . . What is JAG? I should know but it's left me. I'll check out the link you offered as well - I'm reallyl trying not to panic. I can teach grammar; I just don't have the time/energy/money to spend on many grammar curr until we find the right fit. T

Hivers, I think I've got hives due to thinking too hard about grammar/LA/writing. A friend stopped by with CLE; I've flipped through Rod & Staff and I own GWG . . . trying to decide for the fall what we'll use. If anyone here has experience with navigating the results of the Canadian Standardized Test, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I can't exactly determine what needs to be taught for language mechanics v. language expression. I'm trying to decide on a plan that will ensure grammar is sinking in . . . and part of me wanted our grammar portion to be teacher-led. I'm not sure I can wander through Rod & Staff although from what I read here, it's one of the best programs out there. The reason why I love MEP math is because I teach for a half hour and then they do independant work for a half - 40. I'd like to do grammar 3x a week for 10 - 15 minutes of teacher-led time and then 20 minutes of seatwork. What program do I need? CLE looks like independant seat work, and I don't want to get burned again by that. What do you all think? TIA, Tricia Edit: Colleen in NS -- I'm unsure about Rod & Staff but I'll hear you out!

Did you see me last week at church -- I was there, hiding under the coffee table and too scared to even start an IRL conversation about writing/grammar/language. I like this list of purposeful writing themes . . . someday, I'll corner you and we'll gnatter. I don't often read your writing/thinking online posts because they make me tremble in my humid Halifax looners. :) T