10 Favorite Quotes

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. —William Ward

I love books. I love words and word images. I love and collect quotes. Here are 10 top favorites that I've collected in recent months with a short commentary:

1. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.  —Jack London

This last year my motto has been to seize opportunity when it knocks. As an introvert I don't get out often enough and I find that if I push myself a bit I am rewarded by the experience.

2. I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.      —Stephen Covey 

Whose in charge of my life? I don't have to embrace ill circumstances of what may have happened to me in the past, and the important decisions I've made and accepted regarding them are what shape me.

3. Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.  —Thomas Jefferson

Oooeee.  I'm a peacemaker at heart and I like calm! Guess I'm in the timid category. I'm all for liberty, but I surrender to my hubby most of the time and let him fly with the tempestuous sea part.

4. If you can't get a miracle, become one.  —Nick Vujicic, man born without limbs

I love this quote and greatly admire Nick Vujicic. When I think of Nick I instantly perk up. Listening to him speak gives me goosebumps and makes me further in awe of our Creator who made Nick the way he is, and who gives God glory for all. 

5. Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that terrible pain, than to just be... safe. At least she knows she's living.  —Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was my favorite fiction book I read in the last year (based on the author's true life experiences). Oh wow! I want to write like Betty Smith. I want to live and feel like the characters in her book. Read it!

6. So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.  —Dr. Seuss

I actually took out and replaced two quotes from this original list because of their length, style, and creed. I didn't want to make it a chore for possible readers to read.

7. If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. —Benjamin Franklin

I have lived a long fulfilling life thus far, but perhaps no one would realize it but me. I should write a memoir!

8. What makes people smart, curious, alert, observant, competent, confident, resourceful, persistent—in the broadest and best sense, intelligent—is not having access to more and more learning places, resources, and specialists, but being able in their lives to do a wide variety of interesting things that matter, things that challenge their ingenuity, skill, and judgment, and that make an obvious difference in their lives and the lives of people around them.  —John Holt, Teach Your Own

I'm going to miss homeschooling my four sons big time! I'm thankful to have been introduced to Mr. John Holt early on in our homeschool. He was a very wise man.

9. . . . We cannot change our past  . . . we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude . . . I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. —Chuck Swindoll

Old, but so true. Attitude is everything, or as Chuck puts it—it comes pretty close! This goes along with #2 above. It must be that these sayings resonate with my life in an important way.

10. We were lucky enough to grow up in a home environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused their curiosity.  —Orville Wright

Heroes are important to have. The Wright Brothers have inspired us through their writings along with a host of others over the years. Biographies and autobiographies are a pleasure to read and we walk away a better person as a result.

What are your favorites?

It's fun to be linking up to Top Ten Tuesday!

Momma Hugs

This cute little picture put a big smile on my face today. (That's me, on the left.)

How often have I been in a difficult place of mind when something simple changed my focus? A touching incident, or an actual touch.


Out of the blue, my teenage son comes up to me . . . "Can I have a Momma hug?"  or "I haven't had my Momma hug in a while." Then, the best part—he wraps his strong lanky arms around me and squeezes me tight. 

For the brief minute this takes place I am transported to Momma Mountain, that restful place above the clouds where everything is fine and life is at its best. I am loved. I am nestled in God's arms through my son's. I linger there awhile.

I'm overwhelmed 'cause God lovingly chose me to be the Momma to four living wonders—servants of His in a world gone crazy. I realize that we did something right in raising these boys. I'm reminded that they all need hugs too.


Sometimes a hug is all you need. 

Sometimes a hug is all I need.

What Works Wednesday: How I Educated Myself

I already knew how to read when I entered first grade at St. James Elementary. In fact, I don't remember a time not being able to read, or write for that matter. Maybe it's just my poor memory, since I do have what seems to be years of my life that I cannot remember at all, or maybe it's because I'm already half-past the age toward self-destruct. But I don't want to go there . . .

This July 18th post I'm linking up with What Works Wednesday thanks to Upside Down Homeschooling:

 When my first child was born 26 years ago my husband gently brought up the subject of homeschooling—NOT! He matter-of-factly told me that we would homeschool. (It was kind of like the way he announced that we'd have our babies at home the year before.) His desire for homeschooling stemmed from his misadventures in public school education. He did not want his sons to have to go through what he did. I however, loved school, and used to play teacher to my younger sister, the student. I kind of liked the idea!

 My baby—the last of the bunch!

So, I  left nine years of registered nursing behind to embark on this new journey called boys and all that would come with it. My heavenly dreams of having a child finally materialized, but with my mind reeling and my heart skipping, there was a lot I needed to know, and quickly. I had a great desire to learn. I read numerous books. I interviewed people. I took classes. I discussed things with hubby, and the perfect plan ensued.

In time, I found myself as the nurturing Momma hen to four delightful boys (about three years apart in age). Our homeschool journey fascinated me. Having loved books and going to the library as a child, I adored taking the boys to check out books and we read aloud 'til they dropped off to sleep at night. And I discovered the classics that I had missed as a child (pretty much all of them) so I delightedly would read, while the child-in-me clapped at each book's end for an encore.

 Just about all grown up!

It dawned on me down the road, somewhere between consonant blends and algebra, that I was getting much more out of homeschooling than I'd realized. I had been educating myself right along with the boys! 

The history and geography I knew little of and hadn't liked in grade school, now caught my attention through the lively stories we read and fun activities we did. The arithmetic I had forgotten, reappeared with new meaning. Experiments pretty much just happened in our household and my love for nursing and the workings of the human body kept me on my toes fashioning unit studies using living books in many fascinating areas of science. The arts I enjoyed gave me opportunities to share with my sons and we ventured into new crafty areas. The creative writing I adored (needing much polish) opened doors for self-improvement as I learned many of the missing links in my English education. Bible studies came alive as we took from what we learned to make our lives more complete and useful with our new understanding of God's design for our lives and grace through Jesus Christ. 

Of course, parenting, being a homeschool Mom, and attempting to keep a marriage in swing was/is quite an education in itself.

I think there is a point here somewhere . . . You will learn what you have an interest in learning. Force feeding doesn't work. A child needs to be engaged to learn, just like we do as adults. Sure, I learned things and passed tests with As for many years growing up, but that information quickly left me. Last year I studied for four months every day and re-took my RN licensure exams and passed! I was stunned, but you know, I had some interest in the material, but did cram a lot in and that short-term memory study for a test didn't last too long. If I don't use the material much will be lost. We can expect the same from our kids.

Perceptions are important. Writing is not a school subject, it's a necessary life skill. Engaging children in such a way that appeals to them is a worthy goal in all subject areas. Embracing a child's learning style and individual abilities just adds more education to your life! 

Now that all my sons have graduated, homeschool hasn't ended for me, and it hasn't ended for them. In fact, my youngest son wasn't all gung-ho about the graduating aspect completing 12th grade at all. I thought it was a big thing—apparently not for him. He said he doesn't like the way some new grads he knows think that they've arrived somehow. For him the transition toward his future life is just another step in the learning game, as it should be. Every day brings something new and there is so much to learn! I like that mindset. And I admire and respect his perspective, so I didn't make a big deal of graduation (even though I wanted to).

We educate ourselves in our own ways. Just by living, we learn whether we want to or not. Make the most of it!

“I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope” (Psalm 16: 8, 9).

I think I've had a pretty good education thus far—thanks guys, for all you've taught me!  

Happy Homeschooling!

—KathyMarie

Thankful for the Drama in our Lives

Jeremie (as Anthony) and Hannah (as Johanna) 

sing a duet "Kiss Me" in the performance of the musical Sweeney Todd

Our lives are filled with drama! Not a week goes by that something doesn't catch us off guard and throw a wrench into our living-happily-ever-after existence. 

I'm thinking of the last several months . .  . brother-in-law dies an unexpected death; take a sad trip to Florida; local teen brothers die in a car wreck; purchase of new car (how we gonna pay?); homeschooling is officially over; son stays out too late; the nest is almost empty; I feel like a bad mother; diagnosis of an autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis); hubby could lose a second toe from a new infection; the air-conditioner breaks; saying good-bye to my beloved homeschool books on ebay; grasshoppers devour my garden; fires in Colorado . . . you get the picture.

Wouldn't it be cool to assume the identity of someone else—but for an evening, and take a breather? I think it would be very healthy. And it beats having to clear your mind (as in don't think at all) to avoid stress. But I'm not going to talk about the everyday life's drama here. Even though it has given us experiences in which to use while we perform on the big stage—if we choose to do so.

I'm thankful for our local theater, the Lyric Theater, and the wonderful people that make it possible that a starting out nobody kid can get a chance to act on stage, even get a lead role, and have a great time making new friends and exploring the wonders of music and drama, creativity, perseverance, and hard work.

 The Wig Maker (Jeremie, from Sweeney Todd)

While my youngest son Jeremie started out years ago by attending a Children's Workshop, he then got a part as the Grinch in Seusical the Musical (and won an award too), it wasn't until this last homeschool year that he really started to get involved. His 12th grade year encompassed many delight-directed activities including voice lessons, piano and guitar practice, singing duets with his lady friend, and writing songs. With three plays under his belt in the last year, The Wizard of Oz looms ahead in August. Can't wait to see it!

Ben has the best animated voices, and should look for work in that area! He took an acting workshop at age 15 where he wrote his own skit and performed it along with his classmates who had each written their own. He almost quit the class since he shared the stage with mostly older accomplished women, but he hung in there and learned lessons of a job well done and starting what you finish. His humorous and friendly personality shined. He was in South Pacific before he moved to another country (not really—only 1.5 hours away). And surprise! He won an award for young supporting actor for his performance! Bravo I say! 

Sometimes I feel bad in that I discouraged my sons when I should have been encouraging them in past years. I have since learned that mindset is VERY important! You can do what you put forth effort into learning. Simple. My sons have showed me that over and over.

South Pacific was a blast for Ben and Jeremie (the two shirtless sailors)

An on-the-shy-side homeschool kid his whole life, Gideon took a drama class at college his first year and had a blast there. It changed his personality—he lost his fear of people it seems (a good thing) and he just sort of blossomed into who he is today (an outgoing, adventurous, talented, and spontaneous 23 year old). He got the lead role of the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland (a phenomenal production) and seeing his cat-like slithering and mewing on stage was nothing short of delightful. I'm quivering as I remember him . . .

Gideon as Jack Sparrow (complete with accent) just for fun!
 

His love for acting didn't die when he left college. There was a stint when he worked for Olive Garden waiting tables and he'd have fun using different accents with the patrons (Russian, Australian, German, etc.) Most of them thought he was cute, clever, and divine, but at least one co-worker was jealous of the attention he got and complained. 

He was Captain Jack Sparrow on occasion and won two costume contests. He says that he stayed in character the whole time and that is mainly why he won. He had quite a following of smitten teeny boppers too! 

In real life, we often see the results of his theatrical mentality . . . he, his brother, and a number of friends just decided to sit down in the middle of Wal-Mart one night and play cards! What? Why the manager let them, I don't know!

Jeremie as Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream

This was different. My son dressing up as a woman? Well, it's theater, after all. He played the part of a guy that reluctantly has to dress up and play the part of a woman in a play (sound familiar?) and I tell you, Flute added an element of hilarity that fit perfect among the other comical meanderings. He was hilarious! And gee, I finally got to have a daughter (for a few hours at least).

The benefits of participating in theater are many. Though I did a few small acting things in my early schooling days, I am not in theater at this stage of my life. But I have a love for the arts and grew up as a participant in audiences all over south Florida. I marvel at the way God used drama in our homeschool and am thankful for all its benefits to our family.

Get out of your comfort zone if you have to, but consider the whole array of arts as an adjunct to your homeschool experience. Exchange a little of life's natural drama for a fun experience of cultural characterization. Just run with it and see what happens.

P.S. Here's hubby dramatizing a bit at home in his "V" bike outfit where V frequently stands for vehicle or voracious, but also valiant!