Back to Homeschool Basics

We rarely do anything {normal}, so why would school be any different?  We homeschool (strange!) and we work at it year-round which makes us even stranger.  Just ask the neighbor kids who are preparing to go back to school after an enjoyable summer break of swimming, camp and lazy days.  They are mortified when my kids can't play because they have homework.

There is something that we do like everyone else: back-to-school shopping.  Every August, we hit the sales with the rest of America and stock up on paper, pencils, and pens.  This is just one component of our kickoff celebration for the new year.

Cleaning & purging - In July, we spend a week cleaning and purging anything from the last school year that will not be used this year.  This is broken up into small daily tasks, such as cleaning out crates and cabinets (explained later), assembling last year's work into a spiral-bound book, assessing what we have that can be used in the coming year, and making a list of what is needed.  The kids can add reasonable things they want to the list, such as a certain type of pencil or thin markers instead of colored pencils. 

Shopping - I make two copies of the wish list, one for my mom and one for myself.  My mom generally gets the kids a few things and I get what's left on the list.  As the stores put things out, I get one or two things from the list each time I go shopping.  When the ads come out, I do some price matching and finish out my list.  Everything goes into the school closet for now.

Organizing - Mid-August, we set aside a week for organizing our new year (see note below).  Again, this is broken into tasks which are completed throughout the week.  Each kid has a crate for their everyday stuff - a tool box, binder, folder, books, etc.  They each also have a cabinet in the school room for things that are used less frequently or that don't fit into their crate.  This is when they get a bag filled with their personal supplies such as pencils, pens, glue, scissors, etc.  Everything from this bag is marked with their names before being put away.  Some of the supplies are left in the closet to be given out in January. 

The First Week of School - The next week is the first week of school.  I sit down with each kid to set goals.  We take those goals to Dad and the three of us sign a contract stating that we will all work together to accomplish those goals and how we will do it.  That contract is laminated and placed in a visible place as a reminder to us all throughout the year.  This is mostly a fun week, with assignments such as decorating notebooks and movies (I know, not normal.)  On Friday, we do some sort of field trip.  In the past, we have visited the zoo, gone to the local water park, and had a picnic at the park. 


We have found this routine to be just what we need to get our minds focused on the year ahead.  What helps your family get into the new year?

*Our school year starts in July, but it is a scaled-down version until our kickoff party in August.  Because of our need for a constant routine, we have "school" every week and simply scale back during the holiday seasons and vacations.

Walking a Tightrope

While at a homeschool conference, we visited a booth filled with toys and activities aimed at boys.  One of the things that caught my husband's eye was a tightrope, not just because of the points he would score with the kids if he put it up, but also because he already had everything he needed to build it laying in our garage.  Fast forward a couple of months and I found myself walking across a tightrope in our front yard last night.  I have to say that it was pretty cool, especially because the tightrope is within the allowed list for our currently-restricted daredevil. 
It has been fun to watch the kids figure how to get across the tightrope and also the stunts they've already dreamed up.  The kids help each other by holding the hand of the person crossing or sitting on the tightrope to hold it still.  They have also used rakes as poles to steady themselves as they cross.  As for stunts, one kid will create an obstacle for the other to cross over or shake the tightrope for the other person.  I'm expecting many hours of enjoyment from this recycled equipment.
While watching my kids play on their tightrope, I realized that I too am walking a tightrope.  Just like we built a tightrope for the kids last night, I have built several tightropes for myself.  Some of my tightropes will be in my life a long time and some are temporary.  Regardless of which tightrope I'm crossing at any given moment, I have people and tools to help me get across and I have obstacles (sometimes people) that will make the journey difficult.  There are a few keys I have learned about getting across the tightrope successfully:

• Learn which people are there to help and which are there to simply get in the way. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 
• Know how to use each tool in the way that is most beneficial.  Don't be afraid to put aside tools that aren't helping. But test everything; hold fast what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• Sometimes it's best to run and other times crawling will get you there faster. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
• When you fall, get back up. But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
• Enjoy the journey. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

We Now Interrupt This Season...

If you've been reading this blog for more than five minutes, you know that I am crazy busy (but slowly calming down).  The calendar that I use includes pages where you can see the whole month on one page and then each week gets a two-page spread.  I use the month page for all of my appointments, meetings, and activities and I use the other pages for notes.  Recently, I have started carrying another item in my purse: correction tape.  A week never goes by that I don't have to change something on my calendar.  This week, it's a big something. 

One of our girls recently suffered from a seizure.  Thankfully, this seems like it may be a once-in-her-lifetime event, but it has still turned her life upside down for a season.  After trips to several doctors, everything seems to check out just fine.   All we are waiting on is an EEG which is scheduled for the end of the month.  This will give us a more accurate assessment of the likelihood of another seizure.

When we booked the appointment, the lady promised me that she would call in case there was a cancellation sooner.  Yesterday we were very blessed when the hospital called and offered us an appointment tomorrow because someone else cancelled.  We were doubly blessed because I was able to whip out the correction tape, edit my schedule for tomorrow and say yes immediately.

There are things in life that can't be changed, no matter how important the new thing may be.  Many of us can't just take a day off of work or cancel our R.S.V.P. to Aunt Mildred's 90th birthday party without dire consequences.  There are other times when we simply don't want to deal with adjusting our plans.  We become hard and unbendable simply because we don't want to be flexible. 

Am I being overdramatic?  Maybe.  How many times do you find yourself in the grocery store, wanting nothing more to get in and out, when you spot the neighbor who always want to complain about something?  You rush to the next aisle, hoping to avoid her and her whining and justify it by reminding yourself how important it is to get home quickly.  I know I've done this a time or ten.

I learned something about finding (and sometimes making) time for others.  I generally underestimate the benefit for everyone involved and overestimate how much it will inconvenience me.  I am convicted of this most often when it involves my kids or senior adults.  I am often tempted to tell my kids that I don't have time to do something like read a book or listen to their story, but when I take that moment to spend with them, I'm usually glad I did.  The same is true for chatting with the neighbor, or calling someone whom I haven't seen for a while, or listening to a story I've heard a dozen times before.  The conversation isn't always what I would have chosen, but the investment in the person is always worthwhile.

The next time you think that you're too busy, take a moment to enjoy the interruption.

What Does Your Schedule Say About You?

I recently learned that just because I can fit something inside the box on my calendar doesn't mean that I can squeeze it into my life.  This may sound silly to you, but I tried to live this way for way too long.  My solution will sound even sillier.  I've started writing bigger on my calendar.  Seriously.  On days that I have to go to the office, I write "work" really big so there's not much more space in the box.  I do the same for doctor's appointments, church and other things that need large chunks of my time.  This way, when I try to add something to that day, I have a visual reminder that it's not going to fit without making some adjustments.  As good as this feels for me, my husband and kids have also noticed that I'm not over scheduling myself (and them) like before.

I've also learned to live out my priorities throughout my day.  It dawned on me that our family spends a lot of time talking about what's important (God, family, serving others, etc.), but our schedule wasn't reflecting those priorities they way they should. This really hit home as I was teaching a lesson about fractions.  We did great in the morning by starting our day with family Bible study and sometimes even some worship music, but it quickly dropped off as we got busy with schoolwork, chores, and craziness that comes with a family of six.  As my day progressed, the pieces of time that was given to the things I say are important were smaller and smaller in comparison to the insignificant things.  For example, I spend about 20 minutes a day listening to worship music.  In comparison, I listen to the news while I'm at the bathroom sink n the morning and driving in the car.  When I'm at my craft table, I will generally put on a home improvement or D.I.Y. television show.  While there's nothing inherently wrong with any of the things I watch or listen to, they take up time that I could be using differently.  Our family has been working out this idea of making our schedules more accurately reflect our priorities.  Here are some of the ideas we came up with:

• Work more efficiently.  Knowing that some things like work and school are necessary, we look for ways to complete those tasks in the best way possible, freeing up some time for other things. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.  Colossians 3:23
• Multi-task.  Yes, I said it.  While we are doing chores, getting ready in the morning, driving, or whatever else comes up, we are usually praying or listening to my iPod (see more on that below).  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18    
• Download an audio Bible, classic literature, quality music, and anything else you want your family to hear onto your device.  We always have something to listen to (if we're not enjoying a good conversation) while doing chores, eating lunch or doing activities that don't require our undivided attention.   My husband uses an audio version of one of our textbooks to review the current lesson with the kids when they are riding with him.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
• Limit our {my} media time.  Rather than listening to a half hour news show, I get the highlights at my favorite news website.  I watch shows on Hulu, Netflix and online to avoid the commercials. We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace. I Chronicles 29:15
• Keep a donations box handy.  We keep one in our garage and it helps us to be more efficient in our giving.  Every time it fills up, we take it to the thrift store instead of letting things collect around the house. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35
• Have intentional conversations.  I don't wait for conversations to happen with my kids.  I want a strong relationship with them and I'm not going to wait for it to happen by chance.  I seek out opportunities for conversations and dive in with both feet, whether it's about something going on in his/her life, a lesson from church, or just building our bond. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
• Always have a book with you.  This week the kids and I found ourselves sitting in the hospital parking lot while my husband visited a friend in I.C.U.  I overheard our middle daughter ask our son, "haven't you learned yet to always bring a book?  You never know where we'll end up."  It's so true!  I have read more books while sitting in waiting rooms, at sports practices, and in various parking lots than I could even begin to count.  I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8
• Schedule time for the things that matter to you.  My calendar now includes things like taking the kids to the park and backyard BBQs.  I know myself and if I don't write it down, it won't happen in a way that will satisfy me.  Scheduling it gives me the freedom to focus on that activity for that time. So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:12
• Schedule time for all of the other stuff.  I have a feeling that God will not judge me based on my laundry pile, but it needs to be done anyway.  To help our family stay on top of all of the little stuff, we have a list of the things that need to be done daily, weekly and monthly.  Every day, we attack that list.  We don't have to wonder what needs to be done when and by whom, because the list has it all spelled out. But all things should be done decently and in order. I Corinthians 14:40

None of these ideas are earth-shattering, but they all push us towards being more aware of how our time reflects our priorities.  What do you do to stay on track?

Diversity?

Happy Anniversary!

It's interesting to me that our momentous occasions sometimes lump themselves together.  I didn't think much about this until I met Millie.  She was a sweet old lady whom we took to church for years.  Every March, she begin her grumbling... "It's almost April.  April is a terrible month.  My husband's birthday is in April.  He would have been so old this year.  April is also the month he died so many years ago.  Oh, and my mom and dad died in April so many more years before my husband died."  Every year.  To make it worse, her husband died on my birthday.  We had this conversation every Sunday and Wednesday on the way to and from church.  My usual reply was something about being thankful for the memories we have.  It usually did nothing to get her out of her funk and I'd just let her get it out of her system.

Our family has seasons of special days as well.  For example, our oldest daughter was born the day before my husband's birthday and our younger girls celebrate birthdays two weeks apart.  We find it funny that my mom and her siblings all married people born in November.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming to have so many celebrations back-to-back, but generally I enjoy these seasons. 

One of my favorite days is June 30th.  My grandparents wed on June 30, 1953.  Of course I don't have any memories of that date, but the legacy that began that day impacts me in a big way.  They stuck together through some very tough times to raise their children and help raise me.  Nothing thrilled me more than to be able to call them on June 30, 1999 to tell them "happy anniversary" and share some big news with them - I had just returned from the doctor where I found out that I was pregnant with our first child!  This made the day doubly special.  Four years later, our family had a huge celebration to celebrate my grandparent's 50th anniversary.  It was especially special to me because it reminded me of my childhood when our whole family would gather for holidays.  We hadn't done that in years because of busy schedules and cross-country moves.  Even though I was super-pregnant and on bedrest, I cheated and played in the yard with the kids, knowing that the memories would last a lifetime.

Out of nowhere, June 30th struck again two years ago.  I was thankful for the surprise because it had become a sad day since my grandma passed away the previous year (in June, no less).  On June 30th, 2011, we received an email that would turn our family upside down.  It was from a friend who knew of a boy in an orphanage who needed a home quickly.  This friend felt that our family would be a good fit, so he was asking us to consider adoption.  Then came the pictures.  As if I could say no to that smile!  Six months later, we celebrated again with our son, thinking back to June 30th when he entered our hearts.

It reminds me of Paul Baloche's lyrics from "Rise Up and Praise Him" that say

Everyone in the valley
Come and lift your voice
All those on the mountaintop be glad

Whether we are in a season of celebration or a quiet time, we are to praise God.  I am thankful that He gives us seasons for big celebrations and embrace them with open arms, especially anniversaries!


 

Blessing Our Daughters

Shortly after our oldest daughter turned 13, I came across Melanie Young's article about bar chanon celebrations for their sons.    It was something I knew we should also do for our daughters, so I hunted for such a thing.  I came across a couple of references to blessing teas, but nothing that really explained what the families did during the tea.  Armed with very little, I set out to plan this milestone for our daughter.

Planning the Party

We set the date in June, several months after her 13th birthday.  We don't want this event to be tied to the birth date in case we feel the need to hold off for one of other girls.  I then planned out the event.  Before we told our daughter what we were planning, I asked her to make a list of the women she looked up to.  Many were from history, but it was a good list and I wanted to incorporate it into her party somehow.  As I made my list of invitations, I realized that several of the women whom I would want to share with our daughter would be unable to attend.  Also,  I wanted it to be more than a tea party that she could look back on fondly.  To deal with all of these concerns, I chose to create a scrapbook for her.  When I sent out the invitations, I asked ladies to mail their notes so I could place them in the book before the party (I left blank space for the stragglers).   In the meantime, I compiled quotes from my daughter's list of historical women and scriptures that would be significant.  These would be scattered throughout the book.  With the elements in motion, we told our kids a little about what we were doing one night at dinner.  We asked them to not ask questions because we wanted it to be something special for them as they reach that age.

The Party

This was not an elaborate party in any way.  The tables were decorated with candles, flowers, and stones.  I was careful to choose light finger foods that required no utensils and lemonade and iced tea were available to drink.  Each place had a plate, napkin and cup.  Tied to the cups were tags that said "we are so blessed" and a small goody box containing a Hershey kiss was in each cup.  After the ladies arrived, I explained the purpose of the party and each one shared scripture and words of wisdom with us.  Our daughter received three gifts at the blessing tea.  One gift was her scrapbook so she could go back to that moment and those words whenever she needed encouragement.  The second gift was the book Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Malley.  This book is an excellent tool to guide girls in preparing their hearts and minds for the life God has before them (whether that includes Prince Charming or not).  The third gift was a Bright Lights kit to encourage our oldest daughter in her leadership of girls younger than herself. 

After the Party

Our daughter seemed to enjoy her party, but was unusually quiet afterwards.  Later that evening, she asked if she could give two of the three flower arrangements to her younger sisters.  She has spent a considerable amount of time looking at her album and is still receiving some notes and letters in the mail to include in the book.  We are looking forward to doing our next blessing tea in three years or so with our middle daughter. 

Father's Day: A Celebration of Simplicity

My grandma disliked holidays, especially days like Christmas when people got so wrapped up in the day that they forgot the people.  I, on the other hand, love holidays.  They give me an outlet for my craftiness and creativity.  Place cards, banners, creative cakes and themed décor fill my Pinterest page and craft room leading up to any big day.

On Father's Day, we make cards and t-shirts for the dads and grandpas in our family.  That's where the craftiness stops for Father's Day and I like the holiday for just that reason.  After all of the craziness of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve (our son's gotcha celebration), our anniversary, Easter, and a multitude of birthdays that carry us up to Father's Day, I'm ready for the low-key event that my husband and step-dad crave.  All they want on Father's Day is a day of rest and we can do that well.  Generally, we find ourselves fishing at a pond on the farm or picnicking at the park.  It's an enjoyable day when they can connect with the kids and we can all find pleasure in the simplicity of the afternoon breeze, the laughter of the kids and a quiet conversation.

Here are some other fun, simple activities for Father's Day (many can be done at home):

• host a mini-golf tournament
• take Dad to a sporting event
• attend a car show
• watch a movie or five (at home or the theatre)
• give Dad the day off and do his chores while he rests
• make breakfast in bed for Dad
• go swimming
• take a walk or bike ride down a local trail

Whatever you choose, make sure Dad (or Grandpa) knows that you love and care about him!

What I'm Hungry For

Everyone has an appetite, so what are you hungry for?  Our pastor asked this question as part of our recent sermon series about the importance of healthy lifestyles.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? Corinthians 6:19 Eating healthier has been a desire of mine for years, but the list of excuses has outweighed that desire for just as long.  Whether we were in the middle of a move, adoption, traveling or pregnancy, I always had a reason that it was not a good time for something drastic and complicated.  Other than being in a constant state of flux, I feared the return of migraines that always come when I change my eating habits.
While at a women's event in December, I came across Manna.  It first caught my eye because whenever the kids ask what's for dinner, I tell them "manna."  When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was... Now the house of Israel called its name manna. Exodus 16:15, 31 But then I listened to the ladies present the product over and over again throughout the day (my booth was across from theirs).  This nutritional supplement is filled with vitamins, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and more.  It doesn't have all of the junk that you don't need like sweeteners, preservatives, gluten and chemicals.  As if that wasn't enough, I listened to the testimonials of these ladies, one of whom suffered from migraines until starting Manna and the other who used it to replace her prenatal vitamins.  It sounded too good to be true, but worth trying. 
I was finally at a point when my hunger for health overpowered my excuses. Armed with a tool that could boost my health, I started Manna in January.  Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Daniel 1:12 I was amazed at the changes, even one the first day.  A shake at breakfast satisfied me until lunchtime!  Even at 1 pm, I was able to eat a much smaller lunch than I was used to and again feel full until dinner when I would again eat a small meal.  My energy level was higher throughout the day and I did not experience a migraine.  I also noticed a strange side effect - my cravings for things like candy and chips diminished.  I recalled hearing that when your body is satisfied with the nutrition it needs, then the cravings for junk would go away, but this was unreal!  Without even trying, I lost 25 pounds in 3 months.  Even my kids said they felt better when they started their days with Manna.  At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.   Daniel 1:15
In March, our family took a road trip and the quality of our meals suffered.  I continued drinking my shake every morning, but I also fell back into the habit of eating things that I should have avoided while we attended a wedding, visited Disneyland and enjoyed the company of family and friends over countless meals.  Since then, we have been traveling to conferences and I have not been able to get back to the eating habits I enjoyed at the beginning of this year.  While my weight loss has slowed and I have experienced an occasional migraine, I still notice a marked improvement in my energy level compared to the days when I couldn't get my shake until lunch or dinner and my weight has held steady. 
I'm looking forward to getting back to a calmer routine and better eating again after our last conference this weekend.  With the warmer weather and my improved energy, I'm eager to get outside and start exercising because what I'm really hungry for isn't health.  My appetite is for a long life serving the Lord with my family.

If you'd like to try Manna risk free, click here.  You will also find shake recipes, testimonials, and FAQ.

All scripture is English Standard Version.

It's Not Just About Chores

Our family has handled chores many different ways over the years.  We have used charts, popsicle sticks, consequences, rewards and money to assign chores and motivate completion.  My husband comes from a background where he had to work (hardcore) as long as he could remember and was sometimes (rarely) compensated.  I, on the other hand, was never expected to do anything.  I was SPOILED and our family is still suffering the consequences.  After I was married I learned to cook, sew and complete projects around the house.  I'm still learning to be organized and tidy, much to the dismay of my dear husband.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Because of my upbringing, we have always sought to equip our kids with life skills such as cooking and cleaning.  Kids have a desire to learn and I want to capitalize on that eagerness.  I also believe it is best for them to contribute to the household responsibilities. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Ecclesiastes 4:9

Our current system looks something like a calendar, except it is an exact 28 days (4 weeks).  Every box has a list of chores to be accomplished on that day.  There are only four chores on Sunday (load/unload dishwasher, feed the animals, empty the litter box, and empty the trash).  Those chores are done every day.  Other weekly and monthly responsibilities are distributed throughout the other six days each week - things such as dusting, sweeping, mopping, watering plants, etc.  Each child (an mom) is assigned a color and I color-code the chores each day to help us keep track of who does what. But all things should be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

While the chores and responsibility are important to me, there is much more going on when I assign the chores.  The chore assignments have become a reward in themselves.  Our kids struggle with getting out of bed on time, so sometimes I let the children who are up first choose their chores.  Other times, like tonight, I asked the kids whom they think should be able to choose first.  It is good for our kids to recognize the good in each other.  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Our son was nominated by his sisters, one because his birthday is coming up and the other because boys always have to let girls go first and she wanted him to have a chance at being first.  It was funny to me because I would have chosen him because he was the first to complete his chores and schoolwork today.

The other thing I let the kids do sometimes is trade chores.  This gives them experience in bargaining, compromising and being persuasive.  One also had to face the reality of being told "no, thank you" when the other decided that what she had was better than what she was being offered.  Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment... 1 Timothy 6:6

When we set out to teach our kids to do chores, we never anticipated it would end up being about so much more!

Happy Endings

The end of the school year is a busy time.  We scramble to work in the last of the lessons, reviews and assessments.  We also find ourselves running to all sorts of activities celebrating the end of the year such as graduations, picnics, dinners, and parties.  This busyness drives me crazy, yet I find myself participating.  Why do I subject myself to this year after year?  Suddenly, a moment of clarity hit me.  I like the idea of an ending, not just the festivities.  Endings offer a sense of accomplishment.  Whether it's an assessment or end-of-the-year party, these events provide a definite point in time when we can say that we have completed something.  They also offer an opportunity to start fresh the next time by moving on in the same class or starting a completely new extra-curricular activity.  As we wrap up the completion of this school year, I'd like to wish happy endings to you!

A Season of Celebration

I recently had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday.  Last year my birthday was almost completely overlooked due to some family circumstances, so my family was determined to make up for it this year.  Over the course of four days, the surprises and celebration unfolded - gifts, cake, ice cream, special dinners and on and on.  It became a joke in our family that the celebrating would never end.  When it did, we had another milestone to celebrate and then another.  All of this celebrating cause me to stop and think that maybe (definitely) every day offers a reason for celebrating. 

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. - Psalm 145:7

Of course, some days are better than others.  I will be the first to admit this fact.  However, I also firmly believe that if we spent more time celebrating even the little things that we would soon realize that even the worst day feels a little better than if we celebrated nothing. 

What things do we celebrate? Anything!

• A-ha moments
• Displays of kindness
• Relationships
• The completion of a project
• Clean rooms

How do we celebrate? Sometimes big, sometimes small.

• Hugs
• Sweet treats
• Choice of dinner
• Movie night
• Take a picture
• Praise
• Sending cards
• Telling others

What will you celebrate this week? 

Pick a Hat

I wear many hats throughout any given day.  Generally I start with the wife hat when I get up and make my husband a lunch to take with him to work.  If he leaves early enough, I sneak down to my basement to wear the crafty hat and create something amazing out of paper - generally a birthday card or gift.  At 7 a.m. I quickly switch to the mom hat when I wake each of my four children from a peaceful sleep.  In the course of that day, I will switch from the teacher hat as I homeschool my kids, employee hat as I put in time at my office job, chauffeur hat as I drive someone to something and granddaughter hat because I call my grandpa every day to check on him.  I also wear my chef hat, maid hat, computer geek hat, friend hat, and countless other hats on any given day.  I'm more excited than I should be that this week I get to wear my birthday hat.