my job

as a wife, mom, and homemaker is so many things.

I could laundry list them all, but I'm sure you know them well too.

 However, today it hit me as we picked up cupcakes to 

surprise daughter number two.  

If I had to write out a list of my duties,
one of the big ones is to create celebrations.  

To celebrate life.

To celebrate them.

To honor them and make sure they feel special.

For those big and little moments.

To be there to hug them and let them know how proud I am.

And man do I feel blessed to be able to do this.

Today was a special one for us.

And I have felt tears brimming all week long over it.

It was her last day at the Lindamood Bell program.

Back when we started in April, she was an anxious child.

Who had shut down in school.

She wasn't progressing.

She wasn't sleeping, she had headaches and stomachaches.

It wasn't a fun place to be as a mom.

There were neuropsych tests and evaluations and meetings

with lots of clinical diagnosis'.

When asked what she remembered from a story just read.

She'd look at you blankly and not say a word.

She was so overwhelmed that things she could do she stopped doing.

But this program methodically worked with her, and she has climbed a mountain.

And can I tell you, a quality of this child that is beyond admirable.

She never, not once complained about going.  Never, at all said it was too hard.

Even though I knew it was for her, she always tries, 

and kept right on pushing even when it was challenging.

And she always has that sweet smile on her face.

Today she has progressed to the point of being able to tell you

the details of a story all the way up to a third grade comprehension level.

And her reading, she is at a first grade level, reading chapter books.

It's slow and steady and she still needs help here and there.

This road isn't over, and her dyslexia isn't miraculously gone.

But she has made amazing progress.

Not only academically, but in her confidence.

And I so wanted to celebrate that.

When a child graduates, they all gather round with congratulations. 

They're given their bag with their sight words, work books, and a chapter book 

chosen as a special gift, signed by their teachers.

This is her lead teacher Alexis.  She is my point person also, meeting with me

and going over Ava's progress every week.

Through this process they work with a different teacher each hour.

But usually there are a few that become their regulars.

And they get to know them well.

They bond with them, learn how to reach beyond the tough shells these 

children have formed towards learning.

And they have patience beyond belief.

They keep working, changing things up whenever needed.

To keep these kids moving forward and growing.

I watched it happen not only with my child, but with others.

And I told them, that they've very much become like a 

security blanket to me.  Helping me through this transition

into homeschooling.

And I have been very emotional about saying goodbye to these

ladies who have cared for my daughter in such a special way.

It's strange how people can become such an integral part of your life.

And then it's time for our journey to take a turn and we won't be 

seeing them on a consistent basis anymore.

But we have promised to come back and visit.  

And I pray we can keep on building from where they've left off.

I've been in training sessions and our tutor who'll be helping met with Alexis too.
So that we all can be on the same page, using the same language.

There will be more on this soon, but for now let's get back to celebrating.

This little lady has wanted to visit here all summer long.

And today I surprised her, with a graduation trip to the Santa Monica pier

and a ride on the ferris wheel.  

It was a first for all of my kids.  Little Lady #2 up there was a bit apprehensive once we started moving.

But her sister LOVED it.

All in all, it was a beautiful day.

A beautiful celebration.

And a blessing to be able to celebrate her. 

learning

So we're about two and a half weeks into our new journey of homeschooling my daughter who has dyslexia.

And I'm being eased into this with the Lindamood Bell program where she goes two hours a day five days a week.

And we spend way more time on the road getting everyone where they need to be than I like.

But I am seeing some major things happening.

It's the Lord first and foremost.

It's your prayers.

It's the program.

It's the removal of the stress.

It's all of these things.

But I so want to praise God for these little glimmers of improvement He is showing me daily.

She's happy and free and I love seeing her and her sister playing together.

I just want to share and record those little things that parents with kids that don't struggle wouldn't even think twice about.  Those things that naturally happen, weren't with her.

But in the last week I've seen several of those little things organically (I like that word a lot .. and have been teased for using it in this way.  But you know when it's just natural, child led, not forced at all).

She's reading signs as we drive by them in the car,
just because she wants to and she can!

She's asking me why the E in Zevia says E instead of eh?

She's reading that the double O says OOUUU.  And she's telling me about it.

It didn't matter how many times we'd go over ch, sh, th sounds and what letter made them, she wouldn't retain them.

But suddenly it's all sticking.  And when I was telling her sister (who will talk incessantly which is usually awesome, but sometimes not appropriate) that she needs to 'shhhhhh'.  My middle one said, "S. H."  At first I was thinking, "What?" But then realized oh, she's noticing.  She's noticing.  And she's using these rules in life.  It's clicking.  And I'm so proud of her.  She's working hard.  And she's enjoying learning.  It's such a blessing and so encouraging.

Oh and part of the receptive and expressive language disorder has meant that she is pretty quiet.  We always knew she was more shy, but some of this is that she hasn't 'organically' picked up on language the way we all do.  She doesn't soak it in, understand the context and then use it in sentences the way her brother and sister did and do.  She will tell stories and come to a word or thought she can't find and would say, "Oh never mind."  It must be such a trapped and frustrating feeling.  And trust me, I know she'd get frustrated because she's so sweet and patient, but she'd go from zero to sixty in no time flat.  She'd get so mad and just start screaming at the top of her lungs over something seemingly insignificant.

It was all of that inability to express herself that would build and build to the point of exploding.  Who could blame her.

But do you know, we're together so much through the day and she is talking a lot.  She's standing up for herself when she's talking, telling her brother or sister, "I'm still talking".  You know that old parental phrase, "Use your words."  So often she just couldn't in the way she wanted or as fast as anyone else.  But she's using her words.  Little by little she's using them.

The best thing for me was hearing her tell me a story and using the words dangling and wobbling in context, correctly.  I don't even know where or how she picked those words up.  But they were in there.

It's like her mind and her words are being unleashed.  

It's not all fixed and instantly better, but it's improving.  And this is progress that makes this mom super happy.  I take none of it, none of it for granted.

I also want you to know I don't take your words of encouragement for granted either.  Those of you who've taken time to email me, even at great length, sending me words of wisdom and advice and letting me know you're praying for me.  Praying for me, a complete stranger.  It's humbling and has moved me to tears.  I'm truly serious here.  I wish I could thank you in person, thank you for walking a faithful walk.  Even in the little things like taking the time to type words from the heart that brighten a stranger's day.  Thank you.

 "Therefore encourage one another 

and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

the new routine

This couch is where I'm spending a good part of my morning.
The routine is a bit crazy right now and I'm still adjusting to figuring it all out.
Living in the city we do, unfortunately nothing is close and traffic is always unpredictable.
Depending upon how the construction is affecting traffic patterns I've already been
20 minutes late and 30 minutes early. It's that unpredictable.
I like early a lot better.
So we're praying for that.
And spending time on this couch reading lots of books.

Hope everyone is well..and hope maybe I'll have an embrace the camera pic. a little later
to add to this!