Stone Soup

I thought I'd share a little of our homeschool with you guys! We are a good way into the year and enjoying learning together..

We are doing Five in a Row for most of our Language Arts and enrichment for our other subjects.. We are also doing some of the Literary Classics in pure ASL. We basically follow the FIAR method with these books, bringing in academic elements from text, and making these stories come alive!

Of course it starts with the book! We read the book or versions of the book everyday for 5 days pulling out all of the amazing bring-it-to-life awesomeness!!! Then, we read the classic book in both languages, and then we have a child-friendly version to work on decoding skills! Lastly, we move to a video, hopefully we can find one in ASL, with English voice over, and English text! DawnSign Press does an amazing job!!! This helps with comprehension and helps the kids relate to the text...

Videos is ASL by Dawnsign Press. 

Rewriting and Language Activities! 

Cooking and Measuring! Did I mention they picked their stone out of the garden?!? 

We loved our Stone Soup unit!!! 

 Yep, that's the stone!!! LOL!

....and Our Butterflies Flew Away~

We observed our little butterflies for about a week, then it was time to let them go... 

Wow, just wow! What an experience! 

 This is me explaining how the butterfly drinks through the proboscis in ASL..

I Can't Believe You Are Seven?!?

My Bubbly Middle Girl,

    You are looking more like your big sister everyday! I just can't believe it...you are growing up so fast!!! There are so many things that make you special...you are complex and unique. These are just a few... I love your sense humor~

   You are funny; no matter what is going on in my life you can always make me laugh!!! You are silly, bubbly, and full of joy!!! You are friendly and kind! You know how to light up the room with the smile on your face. Your heart always shines through and that is what makes you beautiful!

   You are so beautiful! I love your smile..especially your sneaky smile even if I'll never admit it to your face! Your dad and I tease that you may be a lawyer someday because you know how to get your way! Just be a good one, OK? You have the beauty and the brains...you are smart!

   You are so smart!!! This is your first year homeschooling and I am so impressed with all that you have learned so far!!! You are reading and writing like a champ!!! I know you will have so much to say to the world and books have so many amazing things to teach you about the world! Bubbly girl, teach them about love, teach the world to have a heart!

   I love your heart! You are so kind!!! You love your dog the most...you can't walk past her without giving her a little love. Compassion is your greatest attribute! You also can't stand for anyone to be left out.. You are such a good sister...you girls are also good at pestering each other! :D Your heart is also what gives your the strength to be so strong!

   You are strong! Umm, sweetie, not just on the inside, but you have some muscle!!! You have started gymnastics this year and I'm so impressed with your bar work...the way you can lift yourself off the bar and then flip yourself over it~ Wow!!! You are strong and that helps you to believe in yourself!

   You are becoming self-aware.. It has been hard at times this year as you have come to understand that you are Deaf and that everyone in the world isn't.. You are so confident in your language, culture, and yourself as a person! I smile every time I see that big, prideful smile cross your face when you tell someone that you are Deaf. You love teaching hearing people ASL and jumping up and down giving "high-fives" when you meet a Deaf adult! You know that it will be you one day...you are growing up!

    You are growing up on me... I am trying to treasure every moment and celebrate the person that you are becoming. I am so happy that God gave me such a wonderful daughter! Daddy thinks you hung the moon; well, I pretty much know it! I am so proud of you, and I thank God for you everyday!
I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Smacking Melons!

If you ever see our little family out around town you will more than likely notice two things; we are always learning something, and we use ASL & English. So if you see us, say hi! We also try to give our kids a good mix of individual attention & family time...one way is to split off while shopping.
The other day this is just what we did...it was Bubbles' turn to go with me to the fresh market while daddy took Beauty & Baby to the Pet store in the same shopping center. Bubbles is Deaf and like a super awesome kid! As with all of my kids I try to teach little life lessons as we go...in between hearing all about school, fairies, friends, dreams, new dance moves, art, and of course what they are going to be when they grow up~ which seems to change daily!
We went on with our shopping and I let her pick some of the fruits & veggies for the week.. Then it was time to pick the watermelon~ and I was like hmm??? I remember growing up hearing learning about smacking watermelon and listening for that "thump" that meant is was sweet. Not sure of the Science behind it but I come from a long line of Southern people that swear by and who am I to argue?!? I wanted to share this with my daughter...
I was like 'I got it!; we will feel for it.... So there I am smacking the melons while holding my hand on the other side to feel the vibration going through the melon, and yes it took a lot of concentration and quite a few melons before I could feel the difference.... and then I taught my daughter, who was now out of boredom~ twirling beside me! We stood there smacking the melons and discussing whether this one or that one would be sweet...the color and designs on the melons and so on... We were all smiles as we walked back to our cart with the perfect watermelon!
As we walked on I shared the story of to picking melons with my dad as a kid...
I also learned that watermelon is her new favorite food!
I feel like I'm learning everyday! Most of the time it comes from having no idea what I'm doing!!! I'm simply doing what I can and trusting God with the everything else... I still worry that I am not enough, that I'm not mother enough for her not being Deaf myself, but at least she will grow up learning how to smack melons!

Yeah, and she can say she got that from me!

To My Bubbly Girl On Your Birthday,

My sweet girl,
     
      Another year has passed so quickly! I am watching change a little more everyday into this amazing, strong, leader! You have an amazing heart, and outlook on the world. The way you reach out to others, children and adults alike astounds me...you make me want to do more~ to be a better person. 

  

   I love to watch you play! You are so expressive that even hearing friends and family that have limited ASL can join in the fun! You are such an awesome kid! 

 I remember the day we brought you and your sisters home, you were this tiny, little fireball!!!! Now you are this strong, happy little girl that makes me proud everyday! I hope you never lose that sparkle; I know God placed it there, and He has a special plan for your life. 
    
      You are FIVE this year!!!! You know what that mean?!?!  As part of our family tradition~ You get to go to your  first mani/pedi with mommy!!!! You were so cute!!!!! You loved it!!!! The ladies in the shop LOVED you too! 

We had your party at the Deaf Playdate this year.... Your community has embraced our family so much, you may never know how thankful I am for that! You have made so many friends this year! 
You are blessed with so many friends, Deaf and hearing alike! 

I love you, my sparkly, sunshining, bubbly girl!!! You are so amazing just the way you are!!!! 
I am so thankful that God blessed me with you....and sometimes I think~ just to keep me on my toes. You have taught me so much, and I love you more that you could ever know! 

Happy Birthday!

Love, 
Mommy  

The State Fair!!!

We love going to the Fair every year!! It is a chance for my city kids to get a little country in their lives! We also just love spending time as a family!!! As a mom and a teacher I like to make it educational so I go online and look up all of the ASL vocabulary I think I will need...we learn them together or learn the signs during the activity.  We also watch Science videos of things we might see..
So when we told the girls that we were going to the Fair, you bet they were in the car and ready to go!!

We rode a few rides...

Then we headed over to the Livestock! My big girl LOVES cows!

Then we went to look at the goats!!! This is us looking at the goats!

This is my children BEING goats! LOL! Don't worry, I washed their hand very well!

Then someone needed a time-out! Yes, I can find a good time-out spot anywhere~ even the Fair!

Then it was right back to our horseplay!

The older girls enjoyed a show! I just love that sisterly bond...

There was so much to do, see, and buttons to push!

We even had the privilege of supporting our troops...

We had such a great time!!! We can't wait to go to the State Fair next year!

A Journey Into Homeschooling!

So after a LOT of prayer, talks, and sleepless nights we have decided to homeschool our children.
We had always planned to homeschool, or if we moved I would get a job at one of the local Christian Schools and put our kids there...it was a nice plan.

Well, life had other plans~ adoption plans!

That was when I began to doubt our big, beautiful plan... I had a child that was ESL (English as a Second Language) that also had some other issues that made learning difficult. This made for some big questions~
Did I have the patience? I love her more than my own life~ but she can drive me nuts!!!!! Just being honest here.. Seriously; considering we have no biology~ we are SO MUCH ALIKE!!!! So yeah, we get on each others nerves!!! I fear the teen years are going to kill us all!

I also have another child attending a program for the Deaf. She couldn't be home with us...was it fair? Would it hurt her feelings? The answer: NOPE! She loves going to school... She will have Bible, Art, and PE with us at home as well so there is plenty of time with us! :)

My youngest has some challenges, but was aging out of therapy which meant it was up to me to help her now...which kinda meant more stress! So it hit me at like 2:00 AM~ what better way to help her than to teach her! I could "plan" time out of our day to work on her home-therapy.

So there I was~ out of excuses! I finally asked my husband; the amazing, wise leader of our family, what did he think for the final time. I mean we had milled over it, and over, and over, but one this day I just simply asked with desperation in my voice in and his reply was this "I don't want to put more stress on you, but, yes, I feel that you have a lot to offer our kids. If they were home with you they could learn stuff that isn't taught in school; they could learn how to be like you (trying not to tear up!), and that would help them for the rest of their lives."
To be honest I have never felt more honored in my life! In that moment I felt like the woman that was spoken of in Proverbs~
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31: 28

So, we applied with a homeschool charter, and ordered some of our curriculum...
~and that is how we became a homeschool family!

More to come...much more!

My Mother's Day Letter...

It is Mother's Day my darlings..
I am filled so many emotions. I was reminded by a friend that it is my first real Mother's Day since last year we weren't finalized... Well, I'm so so sure about that but I am sure that I love each of you so much! You are each special in your own way! I am so proud to all you and beam just a bit every time you call me mom...

I know this weekend isn't so easy for you, my big girl. I know at times like this you think of your birth-mom and I am sure she thinks of you too. You have such a big, forgiving heart and at times I know it is so easily broken when you think of the past. I am sorry for the times I forget your pain shows in your behavior...I feel so bad when I forget too late. I will always be here for you... My ears are always open...my heart and arms are too. I love you so much!

My bubbly girl, what can I say...my heart still melts when you vocalize "mom!"  Honestly though, to see you sign it, and the way you sign it to everyone, so everyone knows that I am your mom does the same.. You have taught me more about deaf culture than any college class... You have made me stronger. You have made me a fighter simply because you are worth fighting for...YOU, your happiness in life, your education, and your rights! I am humbled in being your mom,  but I am so thankful! I love you so much!

I love you so much, my baby girl. You are such a little sweetie...my reminder to cuddle & to slow down and take it all in...  You really scared mommy this year...holding you in my arms at the hospital and hearing everything the Dr. had to say...I have never prayed so hard in my life! It still bring tears to my eyes...you were so sick...I was so scared... BUT God healed you. You are my gift and God gave you back to me once again..I am so thankful!  So now more than ever~ I treasure every lullaby....I love when you sing them with me.  I am reminded to put down the laundry basket to count the piggies~your cutie toes! I love you so much!

Babe, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for going through all of the work & stress it took to make me a mom. Thank you for not only sharing the burden of adoption, but leading in it!  Thank you for all of the times you hold me while I cry after a "you are not my real mom" moments. Thank you for all of the phone calls at work when I am overwhelmed... Thank you for being patient with me...for loving me...for strengthening me...most of all for praying for me. You are my  rock. I love you so much.

Bubbles...Sparkles...Unicorns...and a candle With The number 4!

And with rainbows and sparkles another little girl turns 4 while her mother wonders how time went by so fast...
My Bubbly girl,
I love you so much!
It seems like just yesterday I was writing your birthday letter, tears falling, and thinking to myself that I am the luckiest mom alive!
 You have grown so much this year... 
You are so expressive! 
Like your birthday party~ you knew it had to be Rainbows and Unicorns~ you got them! 

 You have also turned into a great big sister to Baby girl... 
You are kind and loving and give the best hugs! 
I love the way you always make sure I know Daddy is home from work if I am in the back of the house. You always make sure he always gets a kiss from everyone~even the cat!! 

You are the first to stand up for someone else... You have been known to punch dentists & nurses when sisters have to get poked! You have even told me to "be nice" a time or two.....which is not okay! ;) 

You still light up the room when you are happy! You love to dance on any stage you can find, and make people laugh!
 You play hard! You are brave!!! 

You are so smart! You love reading time...your favorite book right now is Panda Bear Panda Bear what do you See? 
You are really love ART!!!! 
You are so expressive...you love to tell stories!!!
 ~Today you told EVERYONE in the store that it was your birthday!!! 

I love you so much!!! 
You will never truly know the joy that you and your sisters have brought into our lives! 
This is our song for you...it hasn't changed! 

I hope you wish on every star.
I hope you never fall too far. 
I hope this world can see how wonderful you are!

You’re so amazing, you shine like the stars. 
You’re so amazing, the beauty you are. 
You came blazing right in to my heart. 
You’re so amazing. You ARE!
Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/amazing-lyrics-janelle.html#PTekxbcYYvpHrEwM.99 

I love you so much!!! I will love you forever, 
Mommy

Family Weekend at the Deaf School

We are having a great weekend!!!!! We are spending the weekend on campus of the deaf school a couple of hours away!!! 

We learned so much at the classes & presentations!

 Our girls made new friends...

We were impressed with the art!!!

Our oldest (hearing) enjoyed the dramatic arts and meeting other kids with deaf siblings!

Our two youngest loved playing, learning some new vocabulary, and
making new friends!

Baking A Little Love...Along The Journey

So tomorrow is Valentines Day!! One of my girls is off on break right now, but my middle daughter is off to school with some yummy cookies! She attends a preschool for DHOH so I thought some Heart & Hands and ASL~ I Love You cookies would be perfect!!!

So that gave us a fun activity for this afternoon...

So we pounded out the dough...

Then we rolled it out...

Then cut out our cookies...

So I just baked up some variety and put them on a plate... Homemade chocolate chip on the bottom! 

So there you go... a little love! I hope the kids love them!!!

When the Healing Doesn't Come....

I don't own this song. I just love it.

For printed lyrics- go full screen. 

This song came on the radio on our way home this afternoon...
I listened to it over the happy sounds ofmy girls giggling while showing each other pictures from their books. I thought back to all of that time I spent praying that God would heal me, but the healing never came...
The healing just didn't come...

I couldn't bring life into the world, and I was lifeless in my soul. I had faith for the eternal, but desolate in my mortality. I felt alone~ few will ever struggle with this and only those that have ever understand. I was hopeless. It affected everything around me. I even pushed friends and loved ones away.
Life fell apart... 

The years that we struggled with trying to have a baby were some of the darkest days I have ever endured... Even as I write this I have a light fluttering in my heart of shame and sadness. The pain of each loss mixed with the hope of one day seeing our babies that I never held on earth.
Dreams remained undone...

As I said the healing never came. Instead, another healing came with a phone call and a choice. You see a healing did come after some time; it just wasn't mine. God used me, my husband, and our pain to heal three little girls that were hurting and lost in the foster-care system. Believe me, I am in no way anything special, but I have arms that can hold, ears that can listen, and hands that can sign...those simple things~ God uses to help my girls heal.
He is good~ forever Faithful One, even when the healing doesn't come...

So, no, God didn't heal me; not like I thought He would....
He instead did the miraculous~
He changed~ He changed me. He changed my heart. He changed my mind.
He simply took my pain away when I first heard that simple, yet miraculous word~ "Mommy."

A Little Crazy On The Journey!!!

I am just plain crazy.... It's okay, I have accepted it.
I am crazy about my husband~ Crazy about my kids~ I am even crazy about my two cats~
Don't believe me?? I have a a detailed form on my fridge including when to give the cats their hairball cream and to only give filtered water to my fur-babies just in case something terrible happens to me and no one can remember the name of the vet's office! :)

Then there is another thing that  makes me appear crazy~ signing in the car!!!
I can't tell you how many times I have been chatting with my girl at a stoplight only to look over at someone staring not able to see my deaf three year old in the back (thanks a lot tinted mini-van windows!) which is  followed by the head shake of pity at my diminished mental capacity.

When hubby is driving I really get to show off my "crazy side" as I sign to everyone in the car.. ASL is not only my daughter's language; it is our family's language. So I guess that means we are all a little crazy, right?!?

You know, after writing this all out I guess I am crazy about ASL, too!
I love that I can chat with my little girl. I love knowing what is on her little mind....I love being a part of her world.
Communication is so powerful!!! 
 I love the craziness~ the excitement over the latest thing that she has learned!!! I love when she comes home from preschool and wants to tell me all about her day~ her teachers are so awesome!!! I just love the excitement of talking about what we are going to do that day...which is usually her wanting to ride her bike!

So yeah, I am crazy~ crazy in love!!!