Costa Vida Love

Upstairs from me lives an adorable young couple. We met when one day the husband knocked on my door, needing the phone number of our bishop (local clergyman). A short time later, I met his wife at church and we became super fun friends. They are such a joy in my life. 

This cute couple works at the nearby Costa Vida restaurant, which is yummy, to say the least. Whenever I see them, our ongoing joke is me yelling, "Hey! Where's my taco?!" They always respond with, "Come to our work and get one!" It's a fun way to be friends and have a little humor in our relationship as we get to know each other. At the end of a very long, difficult day on May 5th, I teased them again as I yelled out my window when they walked by. That day was an exceptionally difficult day and humor kept me going. 

Pork tacos = Perfection

That night, they drove passed me in their car as I stood outside another apartment building (yep, we live in an apartment!), crying. Stopping to check on me, I could not even talk. I had just witnessed a very difficult domestic scene between a weeping mother (a friend of mine) and a CPS worker. My heart was broken and as I cried on her behalf, my friends stopped to check on me. I shook my head that I could not talk then, so they said they would check on me later. I texted her that night to let her know I was ok, but my friend was not. She promised me tacos. It was all she could do. 

Thursday (the next day) I ran a quick errand. When I returned, there was a bag from the beloved restaurant sitting on my kitchen table. In it was some serious goodness and at 4:30pm, I ate dinner. 

Not wanting to be entirely selfish (kind of) I shared the deliciousness with my husband and together we enjoyed a bit of heaven. (Don't worry- I fed my kids later... just not that!)

The one item I did not share, however, was my cookie. I take this very seriously when considering sharing an item of such caliber. Sure, it was 5 inches across. Yes, it was plenty big for two people to indulge. When it comes down to it, though... sometimes, a woman just needs her chocolate to herself. I made the correct decision.

How grateful I am to this thoughtful couple who did a seemingly small act of service, but one that made a big difference to me. Like butterflies bring a quiet beauty to the world, this couple brought beauty into our home and into my life. It reminded me I am being watched out for, and that I am loved. 

In our home, we strive to do service on a daily basis. As we allow ourselves to be recipients of service as well as offer it, our loads are that much lighter, the world is more beautiful, and life is so much sweeter.... like this cookie. 

Feeling grateFULL-
Mama Dragon

Love from Leo (Or is it Danny?)

[Note: This piece is written with the intent of being slightly sarcastic and humorous.]

As we all know, Sunday is Mother's Day (in America) and I happen to be a mother, so the timing is

The return address is from Leo

great! I usually expect my kids to do a little something, because I know they love me and they know I work hard to take care of them. What I do not usually except, though, is to receive Mother's Day cards in the mail.... from total strangers. 

The card says
"Uncle Danny"

At first, I was flattered. How sweet for someone to think of me! Then, I became slightly creeped out that someone, a total stranger, from another state no less, had my name and address. Maybe it was from a company I do business with. Nope. Maybe it was a long lost cousin. Nada. This card, which is written partly in text language (which I detest for the most part) came from some stranger. Thanks you Leo, or Danny, whomever you are, for thinking of me this Mother's Day. If you don't mind, though, I would rather reserve the holiday for those in my life I actually know- aka, my kids. 

Puzzled-
Mama Dragon

Praying for Freedom

Picture from official NDP website

Today is National Day of Prayer. For my friends in other countries, or the ones in this one who don't know, National Day of Prayer is the one day of the year we come together as fellow countrymen, and pray together for our country to be saved by God. From their website:

"The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible."

Prayer unites us! It is the communication that carries our feelings from us, to the angels, to God. Prayer comforts in ways nothing else can. It lifts us in the darkest hours and brings forth miracles in the morning light! Today, I will be praying for God to soften the hearts of our current government leaders, so they may get back to supporting our Constitution and living by it! I will pray that we can each make better choices in our own personal lives and be more willing to trust in and submit to God's will. I will pray for my own home, that it may be a safe haven from the world and those that dwell here will do feel welcomed and loved.

May we each come together and observe this day- so that it may be the hallmark of unity it was designed to be. Take a moment and pray. 

Heartily praying-

Mama Dragon

Mending Memories

The title to this post might have some of my readers scratching their heads and saying, "Huh?" when they learn it is about mending shorts- better yet, it is about turning pants into shorts. This explains the first part of the title. The second is because these belong to a young lady, just older than my daughter. These pants I mended for her were starting to wear completely through the knees. When a little kid wears their pants all the way through the knees, there must be many stories and memories associated with those holes. Perhaps there were dragons to tame, butterflies to catch, or elephants to ride. Young children are full of imagination and life. I am full of being frugal. Together (at least in this case) we make a pretty good team. Here is the tutorial (pictures included) of how I turned two pairs of pants into shorts. Good news for beginning seamstresses... it's simple!

[Note: The color quality is not all the same in these pictures as I took some on my phone and some on my digital and did not edit them this time around. Some had a flash and some did not. This was more about the actual project than the pictures. Besides, it's hard to snap a photo when I am trying to cut at the same time. Ha!] I started with two pairs of pants- a green, stretchy pair and a navy, cotton pair standard to school uniforms. For the close up shots, we will go with the green so you can see the hems easier. 

[It's strange to me how the pictures are all taken with the same camera, on the same table, and have different coloring. Good thing I'm not a pro photographer!]

I cut as close to and just above the worn area without cutting into it. I cut straight across the leg.

  

After ironing the pants (which is actually better before the cut is made), and turning the pants inside out, I folded and measured 1/2 inch across as I checked with a ruler. 

The fold was made twice, then pinned all around. 

When you sew, make sure you are following the guiding line on your machine, next to the pressure foot. 

Turn right side out, iron, and your pants are now finished shorts! [I look forward to the next sewing project where I use the cut-off parts of the pants to make something fun!]

There is an old adage that says:
Use it up, wear it out
Make do, or do without.

I am grateful to have enough sewing skills to make beautiful things for my home and mend pants for our family or a friend and to live by this saying. When we have the opportunity to create, we are fulfilling a part of our Divine potential. 

Happily Sewing-
Mama Dragon

To School or Not to School?

When we began our homeschool journey in 2009, it was out of necessity. (Until that point all my kids had been in public school- PS). Without getting into details of our then-circumstances (at least not yet), know that it was a time of survival of our family, literally. It has been a learning to curve over the years as we have tried all forms of education for our 4 children including: unchooling, homeschooling-like-public-school, public school, charter, online charter, online public school. (I am sure I am leaving one out.) On a regular basis, I have had parents ask me how we decide where/how our children will be educated. I have decided to share our little secret to successfully educating our children: A LOT of research and a LOT of prayer.

[Each year, we take into consideration each of our individual child's needs. Then, we pray with them and individually to ask the Lord to guide us in our decisions. Since I am the educator in our home, I will spend time in fasting and prayer to confirm the feelings I have about each child. Sometimes, I research new schools, or online schools. Other times it is a matter of checking into new curriculum or revamping the old. Then, we begin our journey for the new year. No year is ever the same.]

In the beginning of our journey, we kept all four kids home. At the time, they were (respectively) 1st, 4th, 6th grades and a toddler. We made it through what schools refer to as the "second semester" by spending countless hours at the library and local parks. For a little while, we had a job where the kids could work with us during school hours. This was our time of "unschooling". By fall, my husband had to go work out of state for 6 months, we were dealing with a dangerous stalker, and I was deathly ill with un-diagnosed heart problems. I decided to keep all of them home again, but mostly out of fear for our family. I wanted them safe! We plunged into online PS. That barely lasted until Christmas, as it was WAY too much stress on this sickly mama and my gifted boys were rather bored. By the time January came around, I saw my eldest especially needed something different. I prayed long and hard about the direction my children's futures were headed. That is when I realized I may not all be able to have them do the same thing year after year.

Eldest and Second Eldest were enrolled in a brand-new charter school. After three weeks, they were pulled out. Although I can only speak for our specific reasons, I know that many other parents were struggling with the school as well. For my own children, one teacher used very inappropriate language on a regular basis that made him very uncomfortable, and the other one could not take the pressure of the courses. Eldest and I discussed his options and we decided to enroll him for the remainder of the year in PS. There, he found his niche in band and math, and made life-long friends within a very short time. He has been in PS ever since, and this month will graduate high school with a 3.98+ GPA and several college courses under his belt. He has had truly incredible teachers to mentor him and I am grateful for the experiences he has had.

Second Eldest came home for the rest of that school year and did well. He loved to read, so we used that to his advantage. In the fall, (6th grade) we decided to enroll him in PS because he wanted to give it a try. He attended for one semester then came home. After all our family had been through with my health and our other challenges, he needed to feel certain in his home-life situation, so I became his teacher. We made up our own curriculum. In 8th grade, he returned to PS and did very well. With 9th grade approaching, we moved to a new state and I faced heart surgery. Together, we chose to try an online charter school and he did really well. The current school year, he is in the same program, but not reaching his full potential, so we are re-evaluating for fall. Research, prayer, and discussion with confirm the upcoming path.

When we began the online school, my youngest boy really struggled. By the middle of second semester, he was having melt-downs everyday. Because of my health, I was not able to find a way to help him as much as he needed. He returned to PS and by Day 2, serious problems arose. It was in those next 6 weeks that we began to undergo testing and came away with a diagnoses of Asperger's (aka- Awesomeberger's) and ADHD. With a plan in place to get him the assistance he needed from the school specialists, we decided to allow him to return to PS in the fall. Unfortunately, the new principal did not take the IEP seriously and he was not able to get what was needed. One day while sobbing in my arms, I asked my brand new 3rd grader what I could do to help him. He begged me, "Please don't send me back! Never send me back!" So, we never did. Now 13, he has been home ever since and will remain for the time being. It is at home where he thrives the most. I am his mother as well as his teacher and being able to focus on his needs has been a tremendous blessing.

My youngest started out in kindergarten after I ignored serious promptings to keep her home. I knew between my health and my upcoming work schedule I would not be able to give the time to her that she needed. Everyday was a challenge to get her out the door. She wanted to be home. One week after spring break, I pulled her out. She was getting failing grades for being able to read. I was told by her teacher, "The new Common Core Curriculum dictates that this is a sound-aloud assignment and she is reading the words instead of sounding them out. I cannot give her a passing grade for that." This ridiculous guideline she was forced to follow was only one of the issues I had with the curriculum after that meeting. She came home the rest of her kinder year and first grade. Using our own guidelines of discussion, fasting, and prayer, she returned to PS for 2nd grade, which she finishes this month. Fall will bring her home again.

Over the years, I have battled with others as they've disagreed with our decision to HS. There are all kinds of myths (which I will write about later, based of our findings) that I find are incorrect. I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for the PS teachers. I was going to be one! Just because PS school may seem the "easiest" road, it does not mean it is always right. For me, sending my children out the door for 8 hours a day doesn't sit right with me. On the other hand, always having children at home with me has hard moments as well. The truth is, it takes a lot of time to homeschool. It takes willingness and dedication. You are going to have amazing days, and difficult days. You are going to have days you want to quit and days you feel like you can conquer the world. If it is what is right for your child, no sacrifice is more worth it to see them succeed. (Each state is different in their HS laws, so be sure to check those.) Whatever you decide with the education journey, study out your options. If you are a religious soul, pray for guidance in your choices. Not every family will have the same experience. Respect whatever they decide for their own children. (That was a hard lesson I had to learn.) Education can be a complex road, but as long as you are doing what is best for your family, it is a worthwhile one!!

Happily Teaching-
Mama Dragon

My Homeschool Pinterest Page

Balancing Act

Do you remember as a kid, you would stand on one foot and try to hop without falling over? Do you recall using the cracks on the sidewalk and pretend it was a tight rope? These acts of balancing were symbolic for what was to come in our adult lives: finding balance. 

On a regular basis, I get asked "How do you do it all?" This is in regards to homeschooling, canning, writing music, serving my neighbor.... etc. Here are a few things that those in front of the scene do not realize is going on behind the scenes... I don't. Just like our invisible tight ropes, life is a balancing act. Each of us has to find our point of balance and it will never be the same as another's. 

When my husband and I were newlyweds, we decided that for the time being, I would work outside the home. Eventually, we wanted me to be home with our children. I worked up until my 6th month of pregnancy with our first baby, which was miraculous in itself, because of so many complications. When he was a couple of months old, we decided I was going to return to work for the time being, to lighten my husband's load. He was in school full time, working a full and part time job, and not getting more than a wink of sleep each night. In me returning to work, he was able to decrease his load somewhat when he left one of his jobs. I was blessed in finding a job that allowed me to take my baby with me. 

When Eldest reached about 6 months old, I remember hearing one of my church leaders speak about motherhood in our semi-annual church conference. He explained that God's desire for families was to have mothers be the nurturers of the home, and if she was able, the mother should be home with the children. We took that seriously and after consulting the Lord in prayer, I left my job and came home- permanently. 

Eldest is now preparing to graduate from high school in a few weeks and I have been blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom these 17 years to our four children. It has not been easy financially, nor always emotionally, but it has been worth it. 

My balancing act comes in the form of being a SAHM. I do not "do it all" but as a SAHM, part of my responsibilities are to help us be financially frugal (I do not clip coupons, just FYI), see that my children are getting a proper education (two kids are homeschooled, two are in public school), and raise them up in righteousness (I'm a Mama Dragon). I write music when the Lord inspires me to but it is currently not my full-time occupation. (The past two years, I have hardly touched music because I went through a health crisis and my family also needed me to focus on them.) Why wouldn't I do all of these things? They are part of who I am, and who I care to be. I do not let any one area rule my entire time so in them, I am able to find balance. 

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

When we are following our own path, finding our own balance, there are no absolute rules. In my church, there are guidelines, but things can be adjusted to individual needs. Each of us has multiple responsibilities- be it family, job, church, community service opportunities, etc. We each do what we need to do in order to find balance. The key is to not let any one area take over our entire existence. The key is to stay upright so that we do not fall. 

When a gymnast trains, they do not learn only the balance beam, or only the parallel bars, or only the rings. they learn each area of the gym. As they train, they may find they are stronger on one event than another, but they still remain a sense of balance so they can perform in each area.  That is how we should balance our lives! 

Make a list of all the areas you have a responsibility: home (meal planning, cleaning, helping with homework), work outside the home, church and community, hobbies. Then, prioritize your list. In my life, it is God, Family (including time for myself), Church, everything else (which changes according to seasons of my life). Take some time to really think through these areas and create your own gymnastics routine. One key to this is learning it is absolutely alright to say NO! This took me a very long time to figure out, but when I mastered it, my life became bearable, and breathable. Perhaps you need to cut out social media time in order to plan menus. Maybe you need to give a little more responsibilities to your growing children in order to have time to play the piano once in a while. Instead of being PTA president, maybe you can just be a member! I cannot do it all! I don't do it all! I have to honor the no's in order to make room for the yes's. 

When I am on the balance beam (figuratively), I cannot do rings, vault, or unevens. I can, however, adjust my time at the gym in order to accommodate all the areas I do need to practice and have a successful dismount in the end. Life is a balancing act. Adjust your routine as needed, for when you find balance, you find peace. 

Balancing the world- 

Mama Dragon

Gateway to Happiness

What makes you happy? How do you find happiness in an ever increasing dark world? The Savior walked and talked with the lowliest of souls. He paid them heed, and they were blessed. I believe service, especially like unto the Savior, is the gateway to happiness.

In the book of Matthew, we read:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

It is an honor to know individuals who have started organizations, or head up service events, that change lives. They come from different backgrounds, and have varying spiritual beliefs. Over the next few weeks, I will highlight their works. These are people who take these scriptures to heart, becoming one with Christ and doing as He would do. They are heroes in my book, changing lives day by day. I look forward to sharing their stories with you.

You do not have to run an organization to to charity work. It is in the small, day-to-day acts that we also find joy. These friends have a visible happiness that comes from serving others. For when we do that, we will experience true charity, which is the pure love of Christ. How can we be anything other than happy when it is in His footsteps we follow.

Living Happiness-
Mama Dragon