TLC Homeschooling: June 2014

Jaron's Check up in Boston

We went to see Jaron's doctors in Boston at the children's hospital last week. Just Jaron and I flew up that morning went straight to the hospital and back to the airport to come home that evening.

The plane was full and it was hard to sleep but Jaron did nap a little on the way up there that morning.

I got some caffeine to try to wake up and prepare for a lot of walking.

We got a taxi to get to the airport...there is always a line of them waiting to pick up people.

We went right to Plastic surgery department and they took lots of 3D images of Jaron and did a panoramic xray of his teeth.

After pictures we went upstairs to the Cleft Clinic to meet with all his doctors. The waiting room is full of children just like Jaron and I think he feels comfortable there. We saw Dr. Shusterman and his fellows (docs in training) first. They determined by his xrays and an exam in his mouth that Jaron has "Slow Growth" and we will need to wait until next year to have his bone graft. They also said Jaron's back teeth line up good but he will need a palate expander for his top front teeth to be lined up with his bottom teeth. They can also work with our local dentist for the palate expander before he has the bone graft. Also learning from a mom in the waiting room that her son had the bone graft and the recover includes 12 WEEKS of pureed food, breaks my heart to think about it.

Then we met with Dr. Mulliken, our favorite surgeon. He is amazing at what he does. This man is dedicated. He was even seeing patients in his office on his lunch when we were down there getting pictures made. He plans to fix Jaron's deviated septum during the bone graft next year. He measures everything on Jaron's face in Millimeters. He charts the average growth for each gender and ethnicity to estimate growth rate for the future babies that come to him for surgery. He always brags about Jaron's cupid bow and how nice the scars form when he puckers.

Ready to get on the plane.

We had some snacks on the plane ride home.

The airport has a playground where kids can play while waiting to board the plane.

There was some lightning in the sky beside us on the way home that night and it was a little uncomfortable but I prayed in Jaron's ear for God to protect us and bring us home safely and He did.

Field trip

I thought the boys would enjoy learning about Electricity and how it all works. So when I got the email from our local homeschoolers about a field trip to Jackson EMC, I signed us up! We of course showed up a few minutes late. LOL But we got to tour the inside of the offices where they sort the mail and slice the envelopes to take out check for payments on the accounts. It was really interesting (for me).

Then we got to go outside and see the piles of telephone poles and all the rolls of power cords in the warehouse.

They showed us how the equipment was made and how it has changed over time to improve durability in the weather.

They talked about amps and volts.

The guys outside at the bucket truck show us how they take all the safety measures to protect themselves while working on the lines. He told a story about falling off a pole one time.

But then I noticed the boys seemed to be more interested in the puddle of water and rocks on the ground.....

Maybe next time I will try to plan something a little more age appropriate. LOL

Giving up control

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Every day, we have to decide who’s going to be in control of our lives — you or God.
That choice is a DAILY battle. There are things in our lives that we want to control. We want to make our own rules. But stress relief always starts with letting God be God. It always starts with saying, “God, I’m giving up control, because you can control the things that are out of control in my life.”
Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

We don’t know what we’re going to face this week. But I can already tell you what God wants you to do: Let go of control, and know that God is in control. This is the first step to happiness!

I know first hand this is easier said than done. I definitely like to be in control of my life. I will be the first to admit I don't want any one telling me what to do. I also do not like surprises. Being in control of our own lives gives us a feeling of power. And when we are not in control its humbling. Trusting my life in a car with another driver is giving up a little control. Trusting my life in a plane with a pilot is giving up control. Trusting God to provide groceries and gas when we are running out, now that is a hard one.....Why is it so hard to trust Him and not worry. When I quit trying to fix everything myself and let God have control it always works out just fine.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Vacation Bible School

We had VBS at our church the last week in May. It was Cross Canyon theme and the boys loved it!

They got to join in on stage with their instuments and I captured some of the funniest things with my iphone.

Having fun for FREE~at the Library!

I take the boys to the library about every 2 weeks to check out books and educational videos for homeschooling. And they also have fun projects and crafts so we try to go to as many of those as we can. This time it was soap box cars! They LOVED it!!!

Justus enjoyed the blocks while his brothers played Minecraft on the computers.

Graduation Day!

Well our boys are home schooled so graduating from one grade to another can go unnoticed, but we decided to make a big deal for them. I printed them all certificates and report cards. Daddy called them up on at a time and read them the boys. It was sweet.