Beth & Cory's Mom

 
Since we got Weasley, it seems that Tillie has been neglected.  She doesn’t show up in my Camera Critters posts nearly as often as she used to.  So, it’s about time for a picture of our gorgeous girl.

She’s still as soft, fluffy, and sweet as ever.  She tolerates Weasley, usually.  However, she does not like Beth’s cat Teddy at all.  If he even looks her direction, she hisses and growls – and she gives him a wide berth whenever she has to walk by  him.  Hopefully Beth will figure out something to do with him and get him out of this house soon.  Tillie will be much happier.

Camera Critters is a fun weekend meme hosted by Misty Dawn.Visit the Camera Critters headquarters and join in.

Cory brought home a letter from the school superintendent today asking for input on upcoming budget cuts in the district.  It seems the budget is always being cut.  It's kind of surprising that they are able to have school at all!  And now, due to cutbacks in state aid coupled with a two year decrease in the state imposed revenue limits, the district is looking at having to trim $325,000 to $500,000 from next year's operating budget.  Pretty hard considering the district is already operating on a very tight budget. 

So, they're asking for input from district residents - things we value in our schools, and what things should be considered for reduction.  Now this won't really affect Cory, since he'll be graduating at the end of this year, but he's still worried that they'll decide to cut out the arts programs and no longer offer classes like art and choir and band.  That wouldn't be surprising, because that does seem to be what a lot of districts choose to cut.  After all, kids can live without music and art, right?  (Here's a whole list of resources that says otherwise - The Arts Improve Education) 

There's even talk around school that the foreign language classes will be cut.  I don't see how they can do that, considering that foreign language is required by many colleges.  Not offering a foreign language could make it extremely hard for students to go on to college.  They might be able to consider choosing just one language instead of the two currently offered.  French or Spanish?  How do you choose?

Instead of cutting Arts, maybe they should think about cutting the sports program down.  It's not like our teams are really any good, anyway.  And they could cut out classes like Automobile Ownership (seriously, do we really need a class to tell kids how to take care of a car?) and some of the agriculture, animal care, and shop classes.  Maybe if kids want to learn a skill like that, the district could partner with some local farmers, woodworkers, or garage owners and set up some kind of internship program.  That is if these kids are really looking to learn this stuff and not just looking for an easy class.

The same goes for the computer classes in our district.  In this day and age, computer skills are really important, so it's good that our school offers classes in web page design and computer programming.  However, the computer classes my kids have taken have been a total waste of time - basically a study hall with a credit.  So, the school either needs to get a decent teacher who will actually teach our students something, or they might as well cut the computer classes.  Boy, wouldn't that make our school district seem backward?  No computer classes.

The more I think about it, the more I realize what tough decisions the school district - not only ours but probably every one in the state and the country - has to make.  No matter what they do, they won't be able to make everyone happy and will probably make a lot of people very unhappy.  I'm sure the goal is to give the students the best education possible, and I think that means accepting that this is a small district and students are not necessarily entitled to a whole lot of choices and non-essential classes.  If they get a basic education of core classes, they can go on to college or technical school to learn the rest later.

But, like I said, my kid is graduating, so this won't really affect him.  I'll still have to send back the letter with my thoughts and suggestions, though.  If you've got kids in school, what do you think?  What classes are important?  Which ones less so?  How many times can a school district cut the budget and still educate students?

HISTORY is offering America The Story of US on DVD to every school in the United States. School must be an accredited public, private or home school, for grades K-12 and college. In order to receive your school's DVD, your school principal (grades K-12) or Dean of Students (college) should fill out the request form below. HISTORY strictly limits one request per school. DVD requests must be made prior to July 1, 2010. DVD's will be mailed around August 2010 and free shipping is included in this offer.

This sounds really good, so you may want to mention this to a teacher you know to be sure your school gets it.  The request form is HERE.

America The Story of US, which premiers on HISTORY April 25 at 9pm/8c — is a six week event that provides a fascinating look at the stories of the people, events, and innovations that forged our nation.

I’m so glad there’s a meme like Looking at the Sky on Friday, because it means all the time I spend looking at the sky, and taking pictures of it, has a purpose! Click the badge for more info.

Even though the time changed, I’m still getting to enjoy the sunrise in the mornings.  It is dark again when I have to get up and when I walk out the front door, but it doesn’t stay dark the whole time like in the middle of winter.  So I guess I can live with it.  (Like I have a choice, right?)  Also, the sunrises are at their best after I get back home, and I can just step out onto my deck and get some shots.

Here are a couple I took Wednesday morning:

Well, I took more than a couple, but figured you didn’t want to see them all.  It’s so much fun to use a digital camera.  You can take as many pictures as you want without worrying about wasting the film, don’t have to wait to get them developed, and don’t need any special scanning software to get them onto the computer so you can share them with your friends!

If you enjoy skies as much as I do, be sure to check out Looking at the Sky on Friday.

With the warmer weather, we are beginning to see more and more people out walking on the streets.  I think now would be a good time to remind everyone that, where there are no sidewalks, pedestrians should be walking on the left-hand side of the road or street - FACING traffic.  That way they will be able to see when a vehicle is coming their way, and be able to get out of the way if they need to.

Like I've said before, I live in a very small town, so we don't have a lot of traffic.  It may not be a huge safety issue here, but it still bugs me to see someone walking down the wrong side of the street.  It seems that the majority of people in this town are really trying to bug me!  Seriously, more often than not, the people who walk in this town choose to walk on the wrong side of the street, often 2 or 3 abreast, sometimes with earbuds in.  They have absolutely no clue when a car comes up behind them.

I suppose it is their choice, and probably nothing bad will happen.  Still, people, if you don't care about your own safety, could you at least face traffic when you push your baby in that fancy uppababy vista stroller? Give the little person a chance to grow up!  (See photo example of how NOT to do it)

When we got Tillie, and put the litter box in the bathroom, it became Beth's job to take care of the bathroom.  I pretty much stopped going into that bathroom at all.  And sometimes Beth cleans up the bathroom, but only when she's told to do it - and then she does a real quick job that can't really get the bathroom clean.

In between cleanings things can get pretty disgusting with cat litter everywhere - neither one of the kids who use that bathroom think to sweep it up, without being told.  Besides the cat litter, there's toothpaste, hair, and other gunk in the sink - and no one thinks to rinse it out or wipe it up.  And the tub?  It needs scrubbed, majorly.  I wouldn't want to take a shower in there, but again, it never occurs to Beth that it might be time to clean.

I'm sure she's just hoping I'll give up on her and waiting to see how disgusting it can get before she decides to take care of it - and clean it myself.

It was sunny and warm today, so I just had to get outside for a while.  Gotta enjoy it while I can, because it's supposed to get cool and rainy, and maybe even snow a little this weekend.  I'm not the only one, because there were people out everywhere - taking walks, visiting with their neighbors while the kids played in the yard, grilling something for dinner.  Everyone is coming out of their caves, blinking in the sunlight.  People like to complain about winter, but I think it just makes us appreciate it more when spring finally comes around.  But maybe that's just me. 

I do have slightly mixed feelings about spring this year.  Sure, I love the sunshine and the warm temperatures, being able to get outside and open the windows, but spring means we're getting closer and closer to Cory's graduation.  When he was a little bitty cutie pie, I told him to stay little; I liked him just the way he was.  He did not listen.  Now he's all grown up, going to be graduating from high school and then going off to college, where he'll have to find a job to pay for it, and where he'll be away from home and on his own.  How in the world did that happen?

I wonder if there's a way I can slow down these next few months?

Start Here
Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are
by Alex & Brett Harris

You want to do hard things.
But you don’t know where to start.

You are changing the world around you.
But you are tired and burned out.

You feel called to do the extraordinary for God.
But you feel stuck in the ordinary.

Do Hard Things inspired thousands of young people around the world to make the most of the teen years. Now Alex and Brett Harris are back and ready to tackle the questions that Do Hard Things inspired: How do I get started? What do I do when I get discouraged? What’s the best way to inspire others? Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide to doing hard things, right where you are.

Are you ready to take the next step and blast past mediocrity for the glory of God?

START HERE.

I only recently heard of the book Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris when one of my friends posted a quote from the book on facebook.  She highly recommended the book and was passing it on to her teenage son after she'd read it.  If you haven't heard of it, it's a book written by a couple of teenage brothers challenging other teens to rebel against the low expectations of today's society and 'do hard things' for the glory of God.  They even coined a new phrase to describe it - The Rebelution.  It definitely sounds like something I want my teenage son to read, too - and I want to read it myself.  I got a copy from the library, but neither one of us has found made the time to read it yet.

That didn't stop me from jumping at the chance to get a review copy of the follow-up book, Start Here.  Teens all over the world have been reading Alex and Brett's first book and getting fired up to do hard things.  They also have questions about how to get started, how to know what hard things God wants them to be doing, and what to do when they feel like they're slipping back into their old ways.  In Start Here Alex and Brett Harris answer the most common questions they've received from teens around the world.  The book is filled with examples and practical suggestions for doing hard things in your own life. 





I would love to see all young, and not so young, people read these books.  Because the authors are young people themselves - 19 when they wrote the first book, and sophomores in college when writing the 2nd - I think teenagers will take what is said to heart, much more so than if some adult tried to tell them what they should be doing.  From the response the first book has had, it sounds like there is a whole generation of young people who are not happy with the expectations, or lack thereof, placed upon teenagers in our culture.

The main point of Start Here seems to be that doing hard things is for anyone and starts right where you are.  Doing hard things does not always mean doing BIG hard things.  Sometimes those hard things are really small, but that doesn't make them any less important in God's eyes.  Attitude is key, doing whatever it is you find to do to bring glory to God.  Imagine a whole generation of young people growing up with that attitude!  Of course, no one is perfect, and Alex and Brett cover that too.

While this book is aimed at teenagers and young people, I think the rest of us can get a lot out of it, too  .I would definitely recommend it.  No one is too old to start doing hard things for God. 

I definitely need to read Do Hard Things now - and have Cory read it, too.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Start Here is available now for $12.99 or you can enter to win a copy.  Besides sending me a review copy, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group also sent me a copy to give away to one of my readers.  If you'd like to win your own copy of  Start Here, leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to read this book or who you'd like to win it for.

I know it's just a book, but it's a good book so if you want additional entries: (leave a comment for each one)

• Follow me on twitter (@bcmom) and tweet the giveaway link, you can tweet once per day and leave a separate comment for each.
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.  Leave me a comment with your url.
• Subscribe to my blog in a reader or by email, or Follow this Blog with Google Friend Connect.  Let me know which way you subscribed - or let me know if you're already a subscriber.
• Link to Beth & Cory's Mom on your sidebar or add me to your blog list or blogroll.
• If you can think of any other creative way to spread the word about this giveaway, go ahead.  Just leave me a comment letting me know how and where you shared.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.  All entries must be received by 11:59pm next Tuesday, 3/23/10.  Winners will be randomly chosen, and if you're a winner, I will contact you by email, so be sure I have an email address for you.  Good Luck!

We're supposed to set our clocks forward at 2am - springing forward to 3am, and essentially losing an hour of our day tomorrow.  I'm not sure if anyone actually stays up until 2 in the morning to set all the clocks forward right then, but we'll be changing them all tomorrow - at least the ones we remember.  There always seems to be some that get forgotten, like the thermostat, which is pretty important, and the time setting in my camera, which isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things.

In the past I've questioned why we even need Daylight Saving Time, and I'm sure I'll be questioning when I go back to walking in the dark this week.  I've questioned why the time is supposed to change in the middle of the night, when nobody is up to do it, but I never questioned why it starts on Sunday morning. Why not Saturday morning?

By starting Daylight Saving Time at the beginning of the weekend, we would have an extra day to adjust.  One more day may not make that much of a difference, because it does take a few days to get your body adjusted to the time.  But, if you're going to lose an hour of sleep, why not early in the weekend, so you have a day to catch up?

Oh well, better get to bed, because it's almost midnight - and in 2 hours it'll be 3am.

I keep meaning to order some glasses from Zenni Optical.  I've mentioned them before - the site where you can order eyeglasses for as little as $8.  Considering I don't usually get away without spending at least $300 when I buy glasses, the low cost Zenni Optical offers is really hard to resist.  Last year Jeffrey, Cory, and I all got new glasses.  We ended up getting them at Walmart and Sam's Club, and not necessarily looking for the best deal because, for the first time ever, we had vision insurance.  So, at least part of the cost was covered by insurance, and we got the rest back by using our FLEX plan, or whatever they call the health care savings plan.  We did have them note our PD (pupilary distance) on our prescriptions when we had our eyes checked, so we'd have all the information we need to order glasses online, so we could maybe get a second pair.

I haven't been entirely happy with the glasses I picked out, so I'm thinking it just might be time for that 2nd pair.  Oh, I can see fine, and they look nice, but I feel like I've had these adjusted so many times and just can't get them to feel right.  But there's no way I want to go spend a couple hundred dollars just to get a new pair, so I'm seriously thinking it's finally time to try some from Zenni Optical. 

My brother was just asking the other day if we had ordered any yet, because his glasses broke, and he needed a new pair.  I said no, but I do know of people who have ordered and love them - even better than the glasses they got from their local eyewear place.  (Drew of BenSpark.com for one)  I also just read this completely unpaid review by Eric Hammer, where he most definitely recommends Zenni Optical for cheap eyeglasses.  He's been buying all his glasses from Zenni for the past 8 years and never been disappointed.

With Zenni it really is possible to get quality eyeglasses for a reasonable price.  How do they do it?  They manufacture their own frames and sell directly to the consumer, eliminating the middleman.  They don't sell designer or name brand frames.  Also, they don't have a huge advertising budget, relying mostly on satisfied customers to spread the word.  There are additional charges for bifocals, photochromatic lenses, or higher indexed polycarbonate lenses, but I can tell you those charges are substantially less than what they charge at Walmart or Sam's. Just getting polycarbonate lenses at all costs about $80 at Walmart, and they're included at Zenni.


Every order comes with:

• High quality stylish frame
• Thin and Light 1.57 index lens
• Anti-scratch coating
• Full UV protection
• Lens edge polishing and beveling
• Quality Hard Eyeglass case
• Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth
• Zenni Optical's Guarantee

What do you think of this pair?

Shipping is $4.95 no matter how many pairs you order, so I need to find some I like (maybe these - they're $9.95) and then get Jeffrey and Cory to pick some out, too - because we might as well order them all at the same time.