Today is a holiday from school, with much joy in the house as my children spend time together in ways that school days do not allow (alas, I miss this about homeschooling!) Eric and I have been busy with errands and Thanksgiving preparations, and I've been guiding the kids into a few activities I know will bless others. And the tension begins to build as Josiah grows frustrated with some of his tasks, usually expressed in disapproval over the way I am doing things. This is a small reminder of how his mind processes life and tries to make sense of so much extra sensory "noise" by insisting on order and his own, often narrow way of thinking.
Having my youngest in school has put a buffer between us that is much appreciated. He has a teacher telling him what to do all day, and because she is the teacher guiding children in a highly structured environment, he gladly and humbly obliges (at least so far as I can tell). When he gets home and it is mom doing the directing, he bristles, hems and haws, and otherwise makes it clear that if he were in charge, this or that would not be done in this way. Because his teacher is the authority and there is uniformity in his day he trusts her, but somehow he's not quite sure he should feel the same way about mom's instructions in the more unstructured setting of our home.
However, at one point this morning while I was making his gluten free rolls, I saw a glimmer of something else, something that gave me hope. He eyed my yeast and water mixture with great suspicion, started to protest the process, and then took a deep breath.
"Ok, Mom. I trust you." He patted me and walked away with a smile.
Once again, I am humbled by a little boy and the way the need for order and control in his life mirror my own. How often do I look at the things God is doing in my life, see the chaos that seems to characterize my own existence, and try to insist that He do things my way? That somehow, my plans would turn out infinitely better...(deep breath) than they would with the God of wisdom sovereignly working out His great purposes in ways I could never improve upon.
"Have Your way, Lord. I trust you."
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
this moment in time
It's so hard to find time these days to blog, but today I'm trying. Here's a glimpse into my children's lives in this busy season of one in elementary, one in junior high, and one in high school!
Micah: relishes playing trumpet with great improvement shown with no braces, found soccer was not for him, enjoying high school with band and lunch his favorite times of the day, two more months until driver's education begins, pizza, youth group, missions-minded, hugs, delightful, cowboy hat, black or gray, technology class, misses homeschooling, music
Rachel: writing, writing, writing!, stuffed animals, braces, Siberia and Siberian Huskies, cousin Anna, cell phone, art projects, broken toe, tacos, chocolate, youth group, worship team, piano and clarinet but "mom please can I stop playing clarinet?," science classes at the discovery museum, little girl turning young woman
Josiah: school is awesome!, science and astronomy, dogs and cats, pizza, Star Wars, library, reading books, Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes, music, embracing every day with enthusiasm, turquoise, making friends, loving Jesus, hugs, archery, Playmobil, growing up in so many ways
Micah: relishes playing trumpet with great improvement shown with no braces, found soccer was not for him, enjoying high school with band and lunch his favorite times of the day, two more months until driver's education begins, pizza, youth group, missions-minded, hugs, delightful, cowboy hat, black or gray, technology class, misses homeschooling, music
Rachel: writing, writing, writing!, stuffed animals, braces, Siberia and Siberian Huskies, cousin Anna, cell phone, art projects, broken toe, tacos, chocolate, youth group, worship team, piano and clarinet but "mom please can I stop playing clarinet?," science classes at the discovery museum, little girl turning young woman
Josiah: school is awesome!, science and astronomy, dogs and cats, pizza, Star Wars, library, reading books, Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes, music, embracing every day with enthusiasm, turquoise, making friends, loving Jesus, hugs, archery, Playmobil, growing up in so many ways
Friday, September 13, 2013
in full swing
Since it has been almost a month since my last post, I just thought I would provide a quick update.
Micah is enjoying high school. At the last soccer practice before his first game, he broke his pinky and is in a cast and then a splint for 6 weeks, cutting his season quite short. Although it is a bit frustrating, he's had a terrific attitude and is serving his team from the sidelines. He says he does not care to do soccer again, not because of the injury but because he has realized how good the other players are. (He may have had potential as a goalie but finds the footwork challenging.) This is the time to find out what he likes and doesn't! This week he stayed after school for an outdoor adventure club hosted by his math teacher who is in the army. Their first activity is paintballing. My guess is that is something Micah will like!
Rachel has settled into her school routine and loves her studies so far. It took us both about a week to learn a new way of doing things, but now it feels very comfortable and she is able to work fairly independently in most areas. Saxon math is going well and I'm surprised at how much we both enjoy it, but should have known their systematic way of doing things would click for her. When she's done with school she goes off on her own to write stories. I love seeing Rachel's creative side!
Josiah loves school--what a blessing! He comes home very excited every day, telling me the things he's done and learned. I am seeing so many changes in how he behaves at home now that he's being kept busy and having more stimulation throughout his day. He seems to thrive on a fast pace, but he's always had challenges in what to do with his free time since imaginative play is so difficult for him. It's been encouraging to see his papers come home and have a glimpse at how quickly he's picking up writing and math. The school is collecting data to see what kind of help he may need, but so far his teacher reports that he's been doing great!
All three kids are in BSF this year thanks to a friend who offered to take them to the evening women's class. It's going to be a blessing to study Matthew with them!
Micah is enjoying high school. At the last soccer practice before his first game, he broke his pinky and is in a cast and then a splint for 6 weeks, cutting his season quite short. Although it is a bit frustrating, he's had a terrific attitude and is serving his team from the sidelines. He says he does not care to do soccer again, not because of the injury but because he has realized how good the other players are. (He may have had potential as a goalie but finds the footwork challenging.) This is the time to find out what he likes and doesn't! This week he stayed after school for an outdoor adventure club hosted by his math teacher who is in the army. Their first activity is paintballing. My guess is that is something Micah will like!
Rachel has settled into her school routine and loves her studies so far. It took us both about a week to learn a new way of doing things, but now it feels very comfortable and she is able to work fairly independently in most areas. Saxon math is going well and I'm surprised at how much we both enjoy it, but should have known their systematic way of doing things would click for her. When she's done with school she goes off on her own to write stories. I love seeing Rachel's creative side!
Josiah loves school--what a blessing! He comes home very excited every day, telling me the things he's done and learned. I am seeing so many changes in how he behaves at home now that he's being kept busy and having more stimulation throughout his day. He seems to thrive on a fast pace, but he's always had challenges in what to do with his free time since imaginative play is so difficult for him. It's been encouraging to see his papers come home and have a glimpse at how quickly he's picking up writing and math. The school is collecting data to see what kind of help he may need, but so far his teacher reports that he's been doing great!
All three kids are in BSF this year thanks to a friend who offered to take them to the evening women's class. It's going to be a blessing to study Matthew with them!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
soccer!
It seems I must give equal time to all 3 kids tonight, so my addition for Micah is this: he made the JV soccer team at West. Go Wildcats! There are several home games this season. Feel free to come cheer him on!!
just me and my daughter
I'm experiencing more emotions than I can count as we anticipate the start of a new school year and the boys heading off to public school. However, almost lost in the shadow of all the details of shopping for school supplies, having my youngest start school the same year the oldest begins high school, registration, and school meetings is one very special fact: I have Rachel all to myself this year!
We moved her desk upstairs and right in front of the window per her request. I can see why she would like this spot and may have to steal it from her someday. Will the desk ever look that clean again in the next 9 months?
It was really hard to choose where to place Rachel in the Heart of Dakota curriculum, as studying ancient history intertwined with Biblical history was so tempting. However, in the end it made the most sense to go with the middle ages because that is a better reflection of where she fits skill-wise. She also jumped at this study since it includes a Shakespeare unit: that means theater!! Since HOD is a 4 day a week program, we have time to read The Mystery of History: Creation to Christ on Fridays. The best of both worlds, so long as she can keep it straight in her head. Timelines will help.
Josiah is off to Grandma and Grandpa's house for 3 days, so Rachel and I are jumping in with half days this week. The curriculum is a lot like Sonlight (what we have used the past 2 years) in terms of being literature-rich, but very different with more hands on and writing/narrating/reflecting on what is being read. Almost everything we are doing this year is new: we are trying Saxon math and a different Spanish program, too. I'm anxious to see how it goes! But also wondering how summer ended so quickly...
getting ready for school
It's been a wonderfully busy summer. The kids found their niche in activities they enjoyed, we spent plentiful time with the neighbors (much of it poolside while our kids had swim lessons together), and we had a fun family trip to top things off this past weekend. It's so hard to believe school starts in less than a week!
To give an update on Josiah, the private school where we had planned to enroll him called me mid-summer and asked to set up a meeting ASAP. I had a sinking, empty feeling in my stomach about what was about to transpire. After receiving his evaluation from the psychologist, they recommended switching him to public school as an opportunity to have a strong start and receive more services. It was a time of learning something of God's wisdom being greater than my own, and humility in having to undergo such a meeting at all, swallowing all my "but you don't even know him yet..." comments. Yet through it there was a calm assurance that God is sovereign as He leads in this journey, and as always He can be trusted.
Our initial meetings with our local public school have been nothing short of incredible. The principal was on the phone welcoming me within hours after I emailed her, and she has done everything she can to make us feel at home. The sensory room at Josiah's school is top notch (wish I had one here!) and he will have access to the help he needs from his first day with adjustments and an IEP meeting as needed once he has a few weeks of school under his belt. I still have some jitters about how things will go, but have seen so many ways God has been working in preparing both Josiah and his mommy for the days ahead.
Another help this summer has been the start of occupational services through Easter Seals. Our OT has been wonderful and Josiah has responded well to the Alert program she is using with him. His "engine" (body speed) tends to run a bit on the fast side most of the time, and together we are implementing strategies to help him become more aware of his body and tools he can use to slow things down. I am learning words like "proprioceptive" (input to muscles) and "vestibular" (having to do with balance), and why swimming and gymnastics seem to be such favorites. His body craves the input those activities give him!!
It's a humbling experience to parent a child with special needs, and even more humbling when having to work with others regarding his educational plan. I think back to the days when I worked as a special education teacher and wish I knew then what I do now about how it feels to be on the other side of the table. In the midst of it all is a child who is precious, made in God's image and just the way He intended him to be this side of heaven. That of course doesn't mean we aren't going to do everything we can to help him learn to live with and manage some challenges.
Please pray for us, especially Josiah, on this journey! We so appreciate it.
To give an update on Josiah, the private school where we had planned to enroll him called me mid-summer and asked to set up a meeting ASAP. I had a sinking, empty feeling in my stomach about what was about to transpire. After receiving his evaluation from the psychologist, they recommended switching him to public school as an opportunity to have a strong start and receive more services. It was a time of learning something of God's wisdom being greater than my own, and humility in having to undergo such a meeting at all, swallowing all my "but you don't even know him yet..." comments. Yet through it there was a calm assurance that God is sovereign as He leads in this journey, and as always He can be trusted.
Our initial meetings with our local public school have been nothing short of incredible. The principal was on the phone welcoming me within hours after I emailed her, and she has done everything she can to make us feel at home. The sensory room at Josiah's school is top notch (wish I had one here!) and he will have access to the help he needs from his first day with adjustments and an IEP meeting as needed once he has a few weeks of school under his belt. I still have some jitters about how things will go, but have seen so many ways God has been working in preparing both Josiah and his mommy for the days ahead.
Another help this summer has been the start of occupational services through Easter Seals. Our OT has been wonderful and Josiah has responded well to the Alert program she is using with him. His "engine" (body speed) tends to run a bit on the fast side most of the time, and together we are implementing strategies to help him become more aware of his body and tools he can use to slow things down. I am learning words like "proprioceptive" (input to muscles) and "vestibular" (having to do with balance), and why swimming and gymnastics seem to be such favorites. His body craves the input those activities give him!!
It's a humbling experience to parent a child with special needs, and even more humbling when having to work with others regarding his educational plan. I think back to the days when I worked as a special education teacher and wish I knew then what I do now about how it feels to be on the other side of the table. In the midst of it all is a child who is precious, made in God's image and just the way He intended him to be this side of heaven. That of course doesn't mean we aren't going to do everything we can to help him learn to live with and manage some challenges.
Please pray for us, especially Josiah, on this journey! We so appreciate it.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
banana oatmeal breakfast cookies
There is a whole lot of summer fun happening at the Rhodes' house, which is one reason I seem to find less and less time to spend blogging. But this recipe is worth keeping in a safe place and sharing with others!
Rachel recently returned from a 6 day youth trip to the upper peninsula of Michigan. It was so good for her to get away with her peers to serve God and deepen relationships, but it was also a good way for her to learn how to work around her food issues. With a lot of detective work behind us, we've found that there are several foods that trigger IBS symptoms including table and fruit sugars, and corn. She also seems to do best for now with a gluten and dairy free diet. So we packed up a cooler and sent her on her way with foods she could easily grab and warm up.
Breakfast was a puzzle for me until we sampled this breakfast cookie recipe at our annual neighborhood Fourth of July party. While waiting for a friend to send me the banana version, I made some with pumpkin and blueberries to send on her trip. As you read this recipe, remember it came to me without any substitutions, so would be fine as is for those who don't need to make any. We substitute coconut sugar for regular sugar because that seems to be much easier on Rachel's tummy, and of course use coconut milk instead of regular milk. She enjoyed the pumpkin version, but this banana recipe just can't be beat! We would have sent these, too, but an experiment with adding dark chocolate did not settle well for my daughter. We're trying again today without the chocolate, and I'm enjoying the aroma of a freshly baked batch right now!!
Rachel recently returned from a 6 day youth trip to the upper peninsula of Michigan. It was so good for her to get away with her peers to serve God and deepen relationships, but it was also a good way for her to learn how to work around her food issues. With a lot of detective work behind us, we've found that there are several foods that trigger IBS symptoms including table and fruit sugars, and corn. She also seems to do best for now with a gluten and dairy free diet. So we packed up a cooler and sent her on her way with foods she could easily grab and warm up.
Breakfast was a puzzle for me until we sampled this breakfast cookie recipe at our annual neighborhood Fourth of July party. While waiting for a friend to send me the banana version, I made some with pumpkin and blueberries to send on her trip. As you read this recipe, remember it came to me without any substitutions, so would be fine as is for those who don't need to make any. We substitute coconut sugar for regular sugar because that seems to be much easier on Rachel's tummy, and of course use coconut milk instead of regular milk. She enjoyed the pumpkin version, but this banana recipe just can't be beat! We would have sent these, too, but an experiment with adding dark chocolate did not settle well for my daughter. We're trying again today without the chocolate, and I'm enjoying the aroma of a freshly baked batch right now!!
Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- 3 cups quick cooking oats (can use gluten free)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1/2 cup milk (or milk substitute)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4 cup mashed banana or about 3 bananas
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, raisins, or dried cranberries - optional (I think adding any fresh berry would be wonderful, too!)
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