Last Day of School 2008-2009!

Exactly one week ago was the official last day of school for Emily's charter school--the day we stopped taking attendance.  Yesterday was the last day of school for "Basic Training".  Next week is the last handbell practice.  The following week is 8th grade graduation for the junior academy, and the official start of "summer vacation" for friends in school.  It's hard to know when to celebrate the "last day of school"!

We opted to celebrate yesterday!  Basic Training had a pizza lunch and water fight (also known as "clean the parking lot"), but water fights aren't Emily's cup of tea.  I picked her up early to go for a bookstore splurge, and we came home with four new books!  Then we went to Starbucks for a frozen drink treat.  Last evening we went for pizza (I hadn't yet written the previous post).

Summer activities will include:  swim team, volunteering at the Humane Society (4th summer in a row), French tutoring (receiving end) and practice, and finishing incomplete work in home ec and health classes.  She will attend "Pacific Quest" at PUC, and she might take some art lessons, too.  Here is a link to the lovely lady who taught home ec design, and who is teaching art: http://www.shonamacomber.com/

With the economy in its current state, and the challenges accompanying it, we're considering how to pay for senior academy and college. The plan we've concocted is this:  Emily will finish high school in three years, so for 2010-2011 she will attend an Adventist boarding school as a junior/senior (accelerated program).  After graduating she'll live at home for a year, attend junior college, and work to save money for college.  The boarding academy is just about as expensive as college was way back when I was a student! Our plans are accompanied by many prayers for guidance and wisdom, and as we have demonstrated, we're always open to new ideas!

We would consider finishing high school with homeschooling, except for social dynamics.  Emily has expressed that she doesn't feel she "belongs" anywhere. She has grown up her whole life feeling part of the group of kids at church her age.  When she was a young homeschooler we had a cohesive group of homeschool friends.  When she went to school she was a part of that. Eighth grade--in school--saw the end of "belonging".  Our church community, while large, probably isn't large enough!  The dynamics led us out of the school, and this blog has recounted some of the struggles.  The year began well, and ended well, with a slump in the middle. But the sense of belonging is no longer at church, and except for home, is not anywhere else, either. So, we're considering boarding school to give Emily an opportunity to fully belong in a group again.

But, for now, hooray, it's glorious spring!  The pool water is getting warmer, and the sweet spring air is circulating in rooms we had closed off for the cold months.  It's time to make strawberry jam and plant a garden!

Thank you, God, for giving me feet to walk, and eyes to see!

Thank you, God, for giving me

Feet to walk and eyes to see;

Now whatever I may do,

Lead me safely back to you.

And please bless this food.

Amen

For 11 years this has been Emily's standard table blessing.  She picked it up out of "A Child's Poems and Prayers" and made it her own.  The ending was tacked on to make it appropriate for mealtime.

On this sunny spring morning as I took a walk, I passed three homes and reflected on the inhabitants.  As statistically improbable as it seems, living in our neighborhood are three people who have lost both of their legs, either by accident or illness.  All three of these vibrant souls are an inspiration to those within their circles.  They have learned to live without something most of us not only consider essential, but take for granted--"feet to walk."

As I pondered the short little poem, I thought of gratitude.  How much do we take for granted every day?  I like the habit of counting at least five things for which I'm grateful at bedtime--and randomly throughout the day.  Doing this really fosters contentment!  I also reflected on stewardship--the responsibility of taking care of the assets entrusted to us:  family, home, money, pets, and not the least of these--health.

Over two years ago Wayne and I took a seminar called "CHIP", which stands for Coronary Health Improvement Project.  We were presented with a staggering amount of information about how a healthy lifestyle protects from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. The program promotes a "plant based" diet, and has evidence to support the claim that many western diseases can be prevented by changes in the diet.  A key point is that disease is strongly promoted by ingesting animal protein.  Carbohydrates are not the "bad guy"--at least, unrefined, complex ones aren't. Well, I'm a nurse, and have known about healthy habits for a long time, but knowing isn't "doing". I do like my cheese!! Yep, I'm a vegetarian, but that doesn't stop me from eating potato chips and cookies!  One "CHIP" friend teases me that I not only "fell off the CHIP wagon", but the wagon left town and left me behind!  

One of my work colleagues is a middle-age woman with type 2 diabetes (adult onset, non-insulin dependent) and weight issues. On her own, without any support except her own research in books, she has gone from a heavily carnivorous diet ("I LOVE my meat!") to entirely plant based, and has lost a lot of weight.  Her fasting blood sugar has plummeted from over 200 to 88 (that's a GOOD thing), and she expects to go off her medication soon! I'm so impressed by her that she has given me new motivation.  As a home care nurse, I frequently see patients suffering from the ravages of diabetes--poor vision, foot pain, kidney disease, foot wounds, and amputations.  One of the worst foot wounds I've ever seen was on a young man with "diet controlled" diabetes.  I'd like to keep my "feet to walk and eyes to see."  I will use my feet for walking more often, and I will be grateful!