Mixed Nuts: Today

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Today

Today I was able to go into Finley's class and teach the first braille letter of the year. Each Wednesday this year, I will go into the class and teach the letter of the week the kids are working on. This week's letter was M. M in not the easiest letter to make on the brailler, but the kids did great. They were really into it. I had made each of them a bookmark ahead of time with their name on it in braille for them to take home, and then during the class they each colored a braille M coloring page, and then got to use the brailler to make M's. It was fun. The kids told me they had a good time and were glad they had something to take home. Hopefully their excitement continues.

Today Cainan and Finley came home with a little homework. It wasn't required they do it, but something extra they said the kids could try. I got a glimpse of what it would be like when all three of them have real homework all at the same time. Three different styles, all at the same table. That is going to be interesting.

Cainan has a little notebook and has been in to "taking notes" lately. It is cute. I took his picture with his little notebook.

He fills it with all kinds of stuff. He can really only spell his name, so that is in there. A lot. And pictures of Batman. I am just glad to see him with paper and a pen. Writing is not his favorite. Or drawing. He is more a man of action.

Arlington's homework has really stepped it up this year. Last year she would have about 10 minutes a night. this year is at least 30 minutes. That may not sound like a lot, but 30 minutes is about all we have some nights between activities. We always do her homework the minute she comes in the door. She gets a little snack and we settled down at the table to get things done. Each night she has a math assignment, a reading assignment, and a regular homework page in another subject (like today was science. We had to hunt for 8 different seeds attached to plants outside. In the rain). And she is having a social studies test just about every week. This past week was a test on local history. She had 4 pages she needed to read and study the practice questions. We review that each day after homework is done and now her test is tomorrow. Oh - and she has spelling. There is a spelling test each week. And since she doesn't have any problem with the regular 3rd grade words, she takes the challenge test. With words like occasionally, entertainment, and contemplate. We practice those each night to make sure she has them down for Friday's test.

So, she is a busy girl! On top of just school work, she has Girl Scouts, Student Council, and Tennis. (chess was sadly canceled). And most times she has to go along to soccer games of her brother and sister. But she holds it all together. She does her homework without complaint. She even helped Cainan and Finley with theirs today.

Tonight I went to help work on some crafts the Garden club is doing for the upcoming holiday bazaar. It was a lot of fun. They had a great workshop and tons of things to put together. It was like being in Michaels. We worked for 2 hours before calling it a night and we got a lot done.