September 5, 2010

Choking on a Plate of Good Intentions

Once again (my life in a nutshell) I have over extended myself. My eyes are definitely larger than my stomach. I constantly go through the smorgasbord of life filling my plate to the brim with all the delectable things I see. However, when it comes to actually eating the fare, I find my capacity is considerably smaller than my heaping plate. This week I did nibble at a couple of my tasty treats. Here is my report.

Humanities - English, Art and History just didn't happen except for writing my morning pages 5 of 7 times.

Science - I am reading "Heal Thyself" by Edward Bach, MD. I have an assignment to give a presentation on chapter 4 this coming week at my Energy Medicine class. He basically says we need to:

"... seek out any faults in our constitution and wash them out by developing the opposing virtue, thus removing from our nature the cause of the conflict between Soul and personality, which is the primary basic cause of disease."

I agree with this basic statement. However, he also says"

"The ultimate conquest of all will be through love and gentleness and when we have sufficiently developed these two qualities nothing will be able to assail us, since we shall ever have compassion and not offer resistance; for again by the same law of cause and effect it is resistance which damages.

I absolutely do NOT agree with this statement. Resistance, or in other words, opposition, builds strength and character. Opposition (resistance) is a true principle as found in 2 Nephi 2:11, 15 :

"For it must needs be, that there is an aopposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be broughtto pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
• • •
15 And to bring about his eternal apurposes in the end of man, after he had bcreated our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the cfowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the dforbidden efruit in fopposition to the gtree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

For my presentation I need a list of characterfaults and the opposing virtues which eradicate the faults. Any ideas?

Foreign Language - I did go to study group and my class but I really NEED to actually study. I am working on verb tenses and vocabulary.

Religion - I am working through chapter 5 of Isaiah. I am finding this study to be fascinating. I begin class in a couple of weeks. Also, I am reading in 3 Nephi about our Savior's visit to the Americas.

Computer Tech - I completed my advanced Word class. Also, I PLAYED with my Wacom tablet and pen tool in Photoshop. This is SO MUCH FUN. Anyone want a lesson??? And last but not least, I helped Alex with his Word assignment.

Home Economics - I did the normal everyday stuff that DOES NOT count. This is one tasty treat I need to indulge in more.

Music - Another tasty treat that I have yet to enjoy.

Well, now that I have reported I see that I did better than I thought. However, there is definitely room to improve. This week I will be spending 4 days at my Energy Medicine class. We are studying homeopathy.

Oh, just to make the post intersting, I thought I would post some pictures I took this week. Enjoy!


Tiedyn had fun picking these summer squash out of our garden.


Addison is officially an adult. Top, left to right Amberlyn, Paige (Addison's girlfriend), Addison and Matt.



Alex and Watson on guard duty.

August 29, 2010

Opening the Gates of Hell

Did you know that the password to the gates of hell is PLAN? How do I know? Because the last line in my previous post was PLAN and suddenly the gates swung open and a mighty tempest tried to blow me in. As the wind picked me up and attempted to THROW me through the gates I grabbed onto the iron fencing and held on tight.

It took days for the wind to die down, but I kept holding on and was finally able to work myself away from the gaping hole to relative safety. Through the terrible tempest I was able to accomplish a few of the things I had INTENDED to do (according to thesaurus.com INTENDED is a synonym for the PASSWORD to the gates of hell. Hopefully it will be safer to use).

I actually spent about 4 hours studying Spanish. This is a GREAT improvement over the last 3 months. I am learning several verb tenses at the moment.

The most fun I had was the Photoshop Pen Tool class I am taking online. This is truly an amazing tool. If anyone wants to learn how to use it just give me a call and I will teach you what I have learned.

I have written my morning pages 6 of 7 days, read chapter 2 of the Artist'sWay and yesterday I went on my Artist Date and saw the MOST amazing chalk art by Julian Beever. (click on the link to see a YouTube video of this incredible artist). I just love how people and objects are able to interact with his art. Here are some of his paintings for you to enjoy!






I spent half of one day organizing my Energy Medicine workbook.

AND last but not least, I read and marked the first 3 chapters of Isaiah along with reading several chapters in the Book of Mormon.

This week I will continue with my INTENTIONS and see what I can accomplish. Hopefully our second car (used by Alex and Addison) will NOT throw a rod through the engine and I will NOT need to be the chauffeur for the family. Also, now that the first week of high school is over, HOPEFULLY the need to release stress will be minimized.

August 21, 2010

School Days, School Day, Dear Old Golden Rule Days

"School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick."

Click on the above chorus to hear the music and see the lyrics. Enjoy!

I am SO EXCITED! I have decided to go to school this term. The school I am going to is known among the circles of higher learning as A.V.I.D Learning Center. My instructor in all subjects will be the infamous SuZan Brown and my classmates are Me, Myself and I.

I have worked for years with these incredible individuals and it has always been an uplifting learning experience.

If anyone would like to join me, I have an "IN" with the headmistress and will put in a good word for you.

My classes are:

Humanities (English, Art and History)
English - Write life story - a beginning
Book List: "Breathe Life Into Your Life Story" by Dawn Thurston
"On Writing Well" and "Writing Tools" by Zinsser
"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt
A book of choice by Bill Bryson, Michael Wren or other authors
Project: Timeline of events of my life
Art - Awakening the Creator Inside
Book List "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Project: three dimensional art using lapbook techniques and pop-ups
Weekly: Scrapbook Double page spread
History - Personal Family History and Indexing

Science
Energy Medicine using Essential Oils, Herbal Tinctures and Homeopathics
Monthly Resource Class: Butterfly Express, Instructor LaRee Westover

Foreign Language - Spanish: Read, Write, Speak, Listen
Book List:
Book of Mormon and Book of Mormon Reader
Classic Literature (TBA)
Various assignments
Weekly Resource Class: Let's Learn Spanish, Instructor Sandy Drake
Weekly Study Group

Religious Instruction
Weekly Resource Class: Isaiah, Instructor Garth Tesch
Weekly Resource Class: Book of Mormon, Instructor Sis Chambers

Computer Technology
HP Office Classes (HP Website)
Photoshop Classes (Lynda.com and others)
In Design Classes (Lynda.com)

Home Economics
Organization
Book List: "Clutter's Last Stand"
Mouth Watering Meals
Book List: " It's In the Bag"
Emergency Prep
Book List: TBA
Food Storage
Book List: TBA

Music - play one of following instruments at least once a week. All are to be played weekly
Accordian
Recorder/Flute
Piano

I think all I am missing is math for a well rounded curriculum. I will have to pick it up next time. I plan to do "Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe" by Michael Schneider. I would also like to take a Storytelling class next semester.

One requirement of all the classes is that I am to blog my progress and share my experience with you.

I have a PLAN. Now the adventure begins!