What I'm listening to now

Have you heard the christian singer: Lauren Daigle?  If you are not familiar with her, you need to look her up on youtube, or iTunes.  She is an amazing new singer, with such a unique sound.  It's the perfect sound to listen to as you sip on your cup of coffee or tea and ponder what God is teaching you in your bible study.   Her voice is young, edgy, and just a delight to listen to.  Check her out!!  My favorite song she sings is "Come Alive" (dry bones).  (She currently does not have many songs to download on android phones, but she does have a selection on iTunes).

Planners, Organization

How do you stay organized?  Do you use the calendar on your smart phone?  Do you use a hard copy planner where you fill in each day's activities, or do you use Cozi family calendar that emails everyone each day their activities, or do you use a combination of all the above?

I know the Cozi family calendar which you can access online, or download the app has been very helpful in communicating between all of us in our family orthodontist appts, and games, etc... However, I also feel like I got more done on a day to day basis when I kept a hard copy planner with a "To do" list.  In fact, in this digital age that we live in since our appointments can be managed and communicated so accurately through digital ways I have found that I have stopped keeping a "to do" list.  Which to my horror, when I slowed down and started to evaluate myself over the last 6 months I realized that I had kept appointments,  but other than that I had not really accomplished much of anything. (example: a craft project, a new recipe, etc...)  So I am going to keep my digital help, but I am also going to go back to my old fashion write it down on paper, and check it off "to do" list.

What do you do?

Back to School

Back to school time has arrived. I have no babies in elementary school anymore.  Everyone is in middle school and high school. What a fun, awkward, crazy stage of life that is.  My oldest, Kaylee is going to take her driving license test this week, pray for me!   The other daughters are finding out what they are interested in.  The middle still loves sports: volleyball & basketball.  Paige has decided to give up track this year, even though she given a medal in that sport last year, she just does not enjoy the Oklahoma weather.  My youngest daughter Grace has decided to join the Student Council this year, and is enjoying the freedom that comes with Middle School (they get to enjoy wearing flip flops since they do not have recess anymore.)

  I worry a little bit about Grace's adjustment to middle school since her grade in Elementary School has been graded by the Common Core grade standards of 1-4.  This will be her first experience of actually receiving grades A-F. I hope she finds this scoring a challenge and not frustrating, as well as I look forward to seeing paperwork graded in a manner that I not only understand, but rewards good work.  (The common core grading system never gave a 4, even if your student scored 100%, and a 2 was anything from a mid "b" to a mid "d"- which is a vast difference in my book!)

Oklahoma state has repelled the common core standards, however since most schools had already purchased the curriculum and had trained the teachers on this method.  I am unsure how the schools in our state will proceed. Will they teach it, but call it something else? Will they use a combination of curriculum? Will teachers start to give spelling test again in the elementary school? Will handwriting every bet taught again,besides print?  It will be interesting to watch and see.  Has your state kept the common core, and if so do you like it as a parent or educator?  I am fascinated and always interested in hearing and learning about others experience with the different education models and curriculum available.  

Working with people

I am completing a year of  returning to the work force after being a stay at home mom for almost 16 years.  Wow!  I was shocked at all the things I encountered, and the things that challenged me:

1.  Figuring out how to get around in the morning, getting dressed and makeup on, and arriving somewhere on time for myself.  Whew!  What a change!  I was used to just getting my girls ready and out the door, throwing on a top, a baseball hat, grabbing my sunglasses and putting on some lip gloss so that I had the "appearance" of being ready for the day, as I dropped my kids off at school.

2.  Obviously, my husband stepped up and we made adjustments to what fell under "my responsibilities" and what was on "his responsibility" list.  A Big change for both of us!

3.  Since I had been a stay at home mom for 16 years, listening to "Dora the Explorer" and Nick Jr, along with the Disney Channel, as well as attending church.  I was surprised and shocked at how many people out in the world use curse words sprinkled through out their conversation and don't even bat an eye at using them. Some of the word left my ears blushing! However, just like I was quick to notice the language my co-workers used, I was surprised at how quickly they realized that I did not use those words and would stop themselves from using it around me as they got to know me. (I think we forget that we are a witness for God, without preaching to others, but by just being around others.)

4. I have to admit my age is probably showing now, but I am surprised at how many people in their 20's are living together, without a commitment of marriage.

5.  The world can be a negative place. I have learned the power of the words we speak to others and the what we think on in our mind, and self talk.

I have become more aware of what the world is like, and the value system that my teens encounter on a daily basis.  As a stay at home mom, I had been insulated in a little bubble, I was just to busy raising babies to realize it.

That is some of what I have learned and a little how my life has changed in this last year.