Neural Connections

I am fascinated by neural connections. In fact, the human brain is an amazing creation that never ceases to amaze me. As a mother and teacher, knowing what's going on in my kids' heads and in my own head, for that matter, helps me to understand the "why" and "how" of our personalities.

Knowing about the brain also keeps me motivated to make each minute in my kids' lives as well as my own life, meaningful and challenging. Neural connections are stimulated, expanded, and strengthened when we take part in activities that challenge our brains. This neural activity continues throughout our lifetime, which is why we should never think it's too late to learn a new skill. But the most pronounced opportunities for strengthening and growth are between the ages of 2 and 11! Can you see why parenting and teaching are among the most important jobs on this planet?

Here is another interesting tidbit for you to chew on: When children enjoy what they're doing, they're more apt to devote more time to it. We always need to be looking for ways to make learning (school time) fun.

Believe it or not, playing, which encourages creativity, is one of the best brain exercises. As parents we need to create and environment where creative thinking flourishes. When kids are actively engaged in playing, their connections get stronger. Every time they are successful, their motivation to learn is further enhanced. This is mostly made possible by a cool, "feel good" hormone called Dopamine.

More about Dopamine later! ;-)

Kids Have the Best Humor

Note: I found the following snippets while looking through old files on my computer. These are from back in the day in Africa...aah the simple life! ;-)

Funny Things That Our Kids Blurt Out

The other day I was telling Brandon (4 years old) a bit about all the relatives that he hasn't met yet. I told him that I would get out some photos and show him his uncles, aunties, and grandparents that he didn't know.

I said, "Brandon you have lots and lots of relatives!"

Then he said, "yes mommy, and I have lots of girlfriends too!"

"Really?" I answered, with a quizzical expression. "Where are they all?"

"Oh mommy" he said in a knowing way. "I haven't met them yet!"

Elena told me that one time, she asked Brandon to put his shoes on, but when she looked to see if he had done it, she noticed that the shoes were on the wrong feet. She said, "Brandon! You've got your shoes on the wrong feet!" Brandon slowly looked down at his feet, pondered a bit, and then looked up again. "But Elena" he said, "these are the only feet I have!"

A conversation overheard between Angali (9), Laura (5), and Kimby (3)…….(overheard by my sister in-law, Lili)

A: You shouldn’t swallow gum because it’s bad.

L: Yes really bad…but why is it bad Angali?

A: Um… because when you swallow the gum it gets stuck in your stomach …. Or somewhere… & then it gets stuck for seven days …. No longer than seven days, a longer time.

L: So Kimby shouldn’t have gum because it’s bad to swallow gum.

K: But then I’m sorry. But I bad because I swallow gum.

A: No but swallowing gum is bad because if it gets stuck then you can die. When it gets stuck then the white blood cells stick to the gum to try to unstick it but they can’t so it takes seven days or more.

Conversations between Lili and her daughter:

Kimby: Mommy when I was bigger than you I had shots.

Mommy: You were never as big as Mommy because you’re still growing.

K: But Jesus made me stop growing.

M: If you stop growing now then when you’re a Grandma you’ll be such a funny short Granny.

K: But little Grandmas still love you.

K: Mariah taught me to go pee in my pants.

M: You’re older than Mariah, how can she teach you to go pee in your pant?

K: She made me go pee.

M: How did she do that?

K: She pointed her finger at me or something funny like that and said "aaa doo-doo" and then I went. She made me.

More stuff from Brandon--

I told Brandon that after we finished lunch clean-up, we would start our diary. Later, I said to Brandon, "ok, let's go now!" He looked up with a very serious face and said, "are we doing our diarrheas now?"

I had to reprimand Brandon for putting his hand prints all over our newly painted wall. When I asked him why he had done it he said, "someone should paint the wall with hand prints! It'll look really nice!"

Brandon always has funny things to say. When he has a fever he says that a rhinoceros is running around in his head.

He also says that his feet sing when he runs (he's talking about the pattering sound they make when they hit the ground).

ISN'T LIFE FUN WITH KIDS ALL AROUND US??

They Grow So Fast

They grow so fast...when I think back over the years, I smile. We've been to Heaven and back together; they've always been my angels. Life has been really good, even through the hurricanes in my life and I have to say that my children have played a big part in pulling me though.Anika and Ryan, turned 8 years old last week. I still remember when I was holding my little cherubs in my arms. They were cute little chubs and they are still gorgeous! I'm a proud mom!

We mothers (and daddies) are definitely artists. We are molding human beings...everything we do for them, with them, contributes to who they are. As the years go by and they grow up they become masterpieces.

Snow Angels

Fun Times

I've never been much of a game player. I grew up on nature walks, arts and crafts, playing with animals, and lots of reading. But recently, I've discovered the joy of playing games; especially with good company.

I recently wrote that mommies need to stop once in a while to get beautiful and have some fun. Well, I think that getting together with friends for a good game night is also a good way to relax and destress after a long day. Next time some friends invite you to some good old around the table gaming, don't give all the typical excuses like having a pile of laundry to fold, being too tired, etc. Give it a go and you'll see what a boost it can be! ;-)

One favourite game of ours is Settlers of Catan. These pics were taken during a recent game.

A New Start

Parenting is definitely and exciting journey. As I reflect on past years, I see that I've learned a lot from my mistakes and experiences. I've cried and I've laughed; I've taught and I've learned. And it's not over yet.

As I start a new year of life, my prayer is that I will continue to take everything that life is offering me, not to miss a moment in time, and that I will be all that my kids, family, and friends need me to be. I pray that I will be an instrument of peace and love in the Lord's hands.

On My Birthday...

It snowed.

The first snow of the season.

It was symbolic...starting a new year of my life as white as snow, all past mistakes forgotten. :-)

P.S. just a little clarification...in an earlier post I mentioned snow. I supposed that was sort of like the first snow except that its chemical constitution more resembled slush! Definitely not the pure white snow that fell on November 22nd!

Fun in the Hay

Me

We also got to tumble about in the hay a bit with the kiddos, after picking apples. Fun, fun!

I'll post the photos tomorrow.

:-)

More Photos...

Apple Picking

I suppose apple picking is just one of those things that is a tradition up north. I remember doing it often as a kid...but my kids had never experienced it. Having grown up in Africa and Brazil, such activities were only read about in books. So when Steve and I met up with some other families in the area to pick apples, I was excited for them!!

Here are some pics from that fun day. I have to warn you that they might make you hungry. ;-)



Notice that Steve just can't seem to stop eating apples! He wasn't the only one, ha! The apples were so delicious! There is something magical about eating a fruit right off the tree. It's just ALIVE with flavour!

Autumn...

We are well into Autumn now, though I have to admit it seems the change-over happened quickly! Time has gone by so fast it seems that summer was only a few weeks ago. And now, the cold weather is creeping up on us.

It snowed today, not the nice fluffy "white Christmas" kind of snow, but the cold, wet stuff. The kids ended up practicing dancing for their Christmas singing instead of braving the elements.






Anyhoo...I thought I would make blogging easy for myself by posting a bunch of photos! ;-)


Here's Brandon relaxing in the pumpkin patch. He seems to fit in quite well doesn't he? Brandon's favourite season is Autumn because of the colors that erupt all over the place. He just loves it!

And he also loves apples...which is what his tummy was full of when I snapped this photo!

Welcome Me Back??

Ok, I've been a stranger for too long. At this moment, I'm quite determined to start posting at least once a week. More than that would be miraculous at this point. Life is full of things to do! Sometimes I wish I could bend time and space (Hiro...where are you??) and then maybe I could finish all of my projects.

For all you expert Bloggers out there: How do you do it?? Tips and tricks are definitely appreciated. ;-)

Well, my time is up. I'm going out. Maybe tonight I'll post something for you all...

:-) Love you! Oh, and I'll be posting about some of our Autumn happenings...

A Mother's Beauty

Once in a while, we moms need to get away from the hustle and bustle of home life and have some fun. Let's face it, we are beautiful in our own unique way, so we should get out and "let our light shine!" Take some time off away from home from time to time.--It's great fun!

This photo was taken at The Brunswick House, a college pub here in Toronto during a fund-raising event. We had tons of fun that night rocking out with Haven, Salt of Earth, and Plan of Attack!

All three of us are happy mommies. Joy has two little munchkins, Jean has one, and I am quite happy with my five! I think we were all looking cute that night.

Feeling beautiful doesn't always come naturally though...heh. When you have day after day of teaching, planning, cleaning, care-taking, etc. with barely any time left for anything else, it's tempting to feel anything but pretty. Yet, the truth is that we are amazing women! The strength of spirit and contentment that comes with bearing and raising children makes us glow!

If you're starting to feel a little frazzled and don't like what you see in the mirror, take some time to tune in to yourself. Exercise, put on some makeup, treat yourself to a footbath...believe me, it's worth the time and effort. You'll feel rejuvenated and much more ready to face the challenges that come your way every day! ;-)

To Explain My Absence...

In case anyone is wondering why I haven't posted in so long: TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!!!

My computer need some serious repair before I can resume my usual enthusiastic posting habits...which I suppose have not been all that consistent to begin with but at least were regular enough to keep someone out there interested...

Lots of cool stuff happening with the kids though. We recently came back from a camping trip and previous to that the kids got to go to an all you can eat Chinese buffet. Hopefully I can post some photos soon. Until then, pray for my computer!

Canada Day

The kids ready for action:

On stage:

A sampling of the fireworks we watched:

Homeschoolers Who Have Changed Our World

By Mike Farris, News reprint

History is filled with famous homeschooling kids who have grown up to amazing things. Here are a few examples…

John and Charles Wesley

No account of modern church history would be complete without the stories of John and Charles Wesley. Born to Samuel and Susanna Wesley of Lincolnshire, England, John and Charles were the 15th and 18th of 19 children. Susanna schooled all her children at home, and she didn't confine their learning to mere academics. Together with her husband, an Anglican pastor, she taught her children the Bible and trained them to serve God.
Susanna's child rearing was put to the test when John left home to pursue higher learning at Oxford. Ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1728, John began a ministry of open-air preaching.
John Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles in his lifetime, spreading the Gospel. With a strong emphasis on good works, the Wesleys founded clinics for the sick, and orphanages and schools for the poor. Ultimately, they were a part of the Great Awakening, which swept the English-speaking world and saw hundreds of thousands being saved.
Mothers and fathers of large families, take heart. Among your children there may be a John or Charles Wesley, who, with a godly upbringing, can dramatically impact the world for Christ.

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams, born in 1902, was an extremely active, creative child. When he was placed in traditional school, that active nature led to trouble almost from the beginning. He simply could not sit in the classroom when there was an outdoors to explore.
After Ansel's expulsion from various schools, both public and private, his father decided to teach his son himself. One year, his school consisted of a year's pass to the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, where he took in art, architecture, music, and other achievements of civilization.
The world remembers Ansel Adams for giving us the most dramatic landscape photographs of the century. In his autobiography, Adams says: "I often wonder at the strength and courage my father had in taking me out of the traditional school situation and providing me with these extraordinary learning experiences. I am certain he established the positive direction of my life that otherwise, given my native hyperactivity, could have been confused and catastrophic. I trace who I am and the direction of my development to those years of growing up in our house on the dunes, propelled especially by an internal spark tenderly kept alive and glowing by my father."

Parents know their children better than any teacher ever could.

Thomas Edison

In 1847, a seventh child was born to Samuel and Nancy Elliot Edison. Thomas Alva was a mischievous and inquisitive child. His parents placed him in formal school at age seven, but his active, creative nature was stifled in a rigid educational setting.
Nancy Edison, a former schoolteacher, trained her youngest son in the basics and fostered his creative, inquisitive nature. As one Edison biographer put it, "She was determined that no formalism would cramp his style, no fetters hobble in the free rein, the full sweep of his imagination." Edison himself said of his mother, "She instilled in me the love and purpose of learning."
The results of Thomas Edison's love for learning are legendary. After beginning work as a telegraph operator in 1863, Edison invented improvements to the telegraph. He went on to improve fire alarm systems, stock tickers, and the telephone transmitter, and to invent, among other things, the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb.
Thomas Edison obtained the most U.S. patents ever given to one person, and ranks as one of the greatest inventors and industrial leaders in history. He also serves as just one more example of the power of parent-directed education.

Pearl Buck

Pearl S. Buck grew up on the mission field in China, and became a famous American author and winner of the 1932 Pulitzer Prize. A lively, precocious child, she pestered her mother with countless questions. Pearl's mother, realizing that her daughter needed a creative outlet, began her education at home. She especially focused on Pearl's skill for writing, and encouraged her to write something every week. At the age of six, Pearl began writing for missionary magazines. Her writing was also published regularly by the Shanghai Mercury, an English newspaper that offered prizes for the best stories and articles written by children.
It was not surprising when Pearl decided as a young adult to become a novelist. She went on to write more than 65 books, plus hundreds of short stories and essays.
She is best known for her books dealing sympathetically with life in China, including her widely acclaimed novel, The Good Earth. In 1938, Pearl S. Buck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Although Pearl received her later education at various schools, her most significant years of academic training were spent at home. It was her mother who recognized her flair for writing and fostered her creative development.

Florence Nightingale

On May 12, 1820, a baby girl was born in Florence, Italy, to wealthy British parents. Named for the city in which she was born, Florence Nightingale was brought up to be an intelligent woman of good society. Both her mother and her father contributed to her academic and social training. While Mrs. Nightingale instructed Florence and her sister in social graces and the skill of running a large household, the girls' father taught them English grammar, history, philosophy, Latin, French, Greek, German, and Italian. Florence also received Biblical training from her parents, learning to read the New Testament in its original Greek.
When she was 16, Florence heard God's call to a special life work: easing the suffering of the sick and dying. She began withdrawing from society life to concentrate on studying health and reforms for the poor.
Florence Nightingale did much to introduce sanitary nursing methods to the whole world, especially to the battlefield. Among her many public honors, she became the first woman to receive the British Order of Merit.
Florence Nightingale and the others I mention above are just a few examples of fertile minds and pioneer spirits developed by home schooling. We have yet to see how today's home schooled children will change the world.

So True

Children have the ability to mold and make the parents as much as the parents do to mold and make the child.

Africa Stuff

Ok, I finally updated the Africa page at my Wordpress blog, here's the link if you want to read some of the stories.

Immaculate Perfection--Friend or Foe?

I wrote the following tidbit 5 years ago when I was living in Africa...

We all want a "perfect" world, though deep inside we know it doesn't exist. I'm one of those people that is constantly moving misplaced things a hairline back to where they are "supposed" to be. My idea of a clean room is spotless surfaces, no clutter.

Before I became a mommy to 4 energetic boys and an even more energetic girl, I would swear that my kid would never get his shirts dirty when he ate. I would smile with smug satisfaction at the fact that my room was always neat, and no matter what happened, I was in full control...Fast forward a few years to the present. This is the scenario:

First thing in the morning: Wake up time is here. Some early birds are already up and around! While I try to shake my tired body into a state of wakefulness, I survey the room. I can see a pile of Hotwheel cars out of the corner of my eye. Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through my foot. Quickly I inspect it to find that a teensy Lego piece is responsible for all the trouble! Further inspection reveals a trail of Legos leading to the bathroom. I look at my watch and see that time is running out. Kids need to get dressed, to breakfast, then morning devotions and finally school. The day has started! Of course the kids, after some reminders, put away their toys. The only think that irks me is the stray Lego here and there...

At the breakfast table I look on as my twins proceed to baptize their clothes in milk. What happened to those immaculate shirts I always dreamed about? My seven year old boy comes to the table and I notice new holes in his shirt. What to do? I send him back to change, knowing that there are only a few shirts of his that are still alive and "passable".

You see, once you have kids, you change. You begin to see that perfection doesn't lie in outward appearances or material things. True perfection is really imperfection, or should I say, the ability to live with imperfection and love it! When I look into my kids eyes, and see into their beautiful hearts, I see just how perfect God has made them! This helps me to have more patience with their mistakes and failings. Then I am easier on myself and my own mistakes! So we all learn and grow together!

The following poem tells it all better than I could!

If I live in a house of spotless beauty
with everything in it's place, but
have not love, I am a housekeeper,
not a homemaker.

If I live for waxing, polishing, and
decorative achievements, but
have not love, my children learn
cleanliness, not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child;
then stands aside to let the child walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens Salvation's message to a child's heart.

Before I became a parent, I took
glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of
my children.
As a parent there are many things
I must teach my children,
but the greatest of these is Love!

(adapted from 1 Corinthians chapter 13)