I had the distinct privilege of gathering here…

with 20 fantastic individuals…

to discuss the merits of Leadership Education.

I love people…

and I love all aspects of what I do.

Wife.

Mom.

Socializer.

Eternal Yacker about Leadership Education.

L-O-V-E  it…

right along with all of you Temecula TJEders.

So very bummed that I forgot to take a picture…

until after some of you had left the building!

( Including two other very brave dads along with Hero Hubby, pictured.)

Thank you again for having me…

and to the beautiful Billings family for hosting us this evening.

As always, I am humbled and honored.

If you want to read some thoughts on the blessings of Community…

I’m over at Hip Homeschool Moms today.

And…last but certainly not least…

we have two Winners on this Wonderful Wednesday!

Rebeccca Brandt: The Volume of Mark Twain

Jessica Keil: TJEd for Teens

Congratulations, ladies!

See you Friday…where I’ll announce yet another giveaway!

While in Costco this past weekend…

I came upon this sight.

I stopped and observed…

this precious little girl.

She was reading aloud…

to herself…

with a zeal and passion…

that was contagious.

The book?

“Where the Sidewalk Ends”…

by Shel Silversteen.

Okay…

in addition to observing…

I snapped a picture.

If…

in a one-in-a-trillion chance…

you are her mother…

I am not a wacko.

I was deeply moved…

by her Love of Learning.

My friend Rebecca…

summed up this Leadership Education phase…

very beautifully here.

Cultivating a Love of Learning…

in yourself first…

and modeling that for others…

is a gift that gives infinite dividends…

to the giver as well as the receiver.

And beautiful…

rich…

classics…

are key…

in that cultivation.

What is a classic?

Here is one of my favorite definitions…

according to C.S. Lewis…

“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

Start thinking about your favorites…

and come back Friday…

prepared to contribute for yet another Giveaway!

I love birthdays!

The first two lovely ladies…Cherylyn Klemens and Melissa Johnson…will both receive a copy of…

by Dr. Oliver DeMille and Dr. Shanon Brooks.

It is autographed by Dr. Brooks.

Even more importantly…

are you aware…

that this particular TJEd book…

teaches how to read…

in order to recognize principles…

and applications?

I have said many times before…

the knowledge in this little gem…

of why and how to read books…

in addition to…

actual book lists themselves…

make it a real keeper!

Congratulations, ladies!

Our third winner…

will receive…

which is a lovely collaboration…

that gently shows…

the necessity…

of mastering…

one’s multiplication facts.

It has been…

graciously given here…

courtesy of Becky Hyde.

Becky…

owns August Books…

and takes care…

of stocking and running…

the book store end…

of Face to Face with Greatness.

You will be…

hearing more…

about opportunities…

to host as well as attend…

Face to Face With Greatness Seminars…

in the near future.

Remember…

you may still…

attend Face to Face…

this weekend…

in Thousand Oaks…

with hostess…

Joelle Mancuso.

You can contact her…

at jojoman8@aol.com…

for further details.

The winner of…

Amanda Bean…

is Carolyn Donaghey!

Carolyn…

sent me these two photos…

of she and her daughter reading…

for World Read Aloud Day.

I love…

the fact…

that we…

are a community of readers.

I cherish the fact…

that we are free to read…

whatever…

whenever…

however…

we want!

Your commitment to TommyMom…

and the comments you leave…

move me to tears…

make me laugh…

and validate…

posting here…

day after day…

week after week…

more than you will ever know!

We are just…

a short time away…

from news…

that I hope…

you will find exciting…

regarding new ways…

and opportunities…

for us…

to be able…

to connect…

and learn from one another…

even more!

I’m so excited…

I’m about to burst!

I’ll see you Friday…

when we hear from Tim Driver.

I’m out the door…

for a trek…

to Los Angeles…

to Beauty and the Beast…

with my family!

The family outings…

with everyone present…

are happening less and less…

and I cherish…

each and every one.

What an opportunity…

what a “job”…

what a privilege…

to educate the Thomas Jefferson way!

Until Friday!

I have had many of you…

comment…

or leave me personal messages…

regarding our latest topic.

I can assure you…

that we aren’t…

actually leaving it.

You can count…

on the fact…

that there…

will be many more…

posts…

(hopefully…

inclusive of…

your input…)

on the subject…

of whispering…

and encouraging…

young…

impressionable…

minds…

without losing yours!

I am well aware…

that the state of mine…

may be questionable.

I get this.

And the feedback…

that goes…

along with it…

on a regular basis.

Thank you for sharing!

I am currently reading…

“The Five Thousand Year Leap.”

I can’t encourage you enough…

to read this particular book!

It is amazing!

Whether you are…

ingesting it…

for the first time…

or the fourth…

there is something…

new each time.

Let me say here…

in honor of Son #3…

that one of…

my greatest…

highlights…

where the pursuit of…

his personal education…

is concerned…

thus far…

was the night…

that he sat…

with his father and me…

in a Starbucks…

and recited…

from memory…

the 28 Great Ideas…

which are the body…

of this work…

that changed the world!

After the upcoming holidays…

I would love…

for us to try…

the online book discussion…

once again…

using this particular book…

this time around.

Consider yourselves warned…

and start now, okay?

In it…

Thomas Jefferson…

is quoted…

from his inaugural address…

as saying…

‘We have called…

by different names…

brethren…

of the same principle.

We are all republicans…

we are all federalists.’

Another quote…

taken from the work…

‘Great Political Thinkers’…

references Cicero…

in saying…

‘ Those that…

have reason in common…

must also have…

right reason in common.’

Undoubtedly…

the phenomenal success…

of our country…

significantly rests…

in the fact…

that the founding fathers…

had huge areas…

of common ground…

upon which to draw…

as they worked through…

the principles…

and penned the documents…

that would govern…

this nation.

So much…

of seeking…

to find common ground…

has been sacrificed…

in our present day…

on the altar…

of  being right.

On October 27…

and 28th…

I was invited…

to…

The Palm Springs…

Convention Center…

by the 23rd District…

PTA.

I…

TommyMom…

home educator…

accepted!

I not only…

had a wonderful time…

I learned a lot, too!

One of TommyMom’s

most faithful readers…

happens to be…

the current PTA President…

of this district…

for the County of Riverside.

I attended…

two different workshops…

where I had…

the distinct privilege…

of listening to teachers…

that were executing…

life changing practices…

day in and day out…

in our public school classrooms.

One…

happens to hold…

in his illustrious career…

the title…

of National Teacher of the Year.

I was mesmerized…

as he…

and a former student…

who is now also an educator…

presented a workshop…

on their team teaching style…

that has literally changed…

hundreds of lives!

We watched video clips…

saw samplings of work…

listened to how…

they were accomplishing…

Leadership Style…

Education…

in a system…

that demands…

we meet…

the needs…

of the lowest common denominator…

in order to declare success.

More than one…

individual…

has asked me…

what I was doing there!

For one…

I was invited!

But more importantly…

I found…

and clung…

to the common denominator.

Educators…

a superintendent…

board members…

and parent groups…

that desire to help…

students succeed…

in getting an education…

for themselves!

The second day…

was all about…

Parents Empowering Parents…

and the highlighting…

of resources…

that are being used…

by PTA leaders…

to assist…

parental involvement.

It was…

remarkably impressive!

Of equal impact…

was the presentation…

of an award…

during lunch…

that particular day…

to the parent team…

that is accomplishing those goals…

in one of the most…

socially and economically…

challenged areas…

of Riverside County!

Our Superintendent…

of Schools…

Ken Young…

gets it.

“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order. To put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order.  To put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” ~ Confucius

How about you?

Are you a part…

of the greater community…

in your local area?

Are you familiar…

with the individuals…

that set policies…

and lead others…

to act upon them?

A gentle reminder…

that regardless…

of the methodology…

and environment…

you have chosen…

in which to educate…

your children…

as a responsible..

individual…

you still…

contribute to the whole!

Thank you, Tammie…

for the invite!

I love…

and am inspired…

by what you’re doing!

See you Friday…

for another fun way…

to be involved…

in validating kids!

There are so many gifts yet to give, that even though October will bid us farewell next weekend; I am officially going to continue to celebrate TommyMom’s first birthday into November!  Woo-Hoo!  Who knows?  You may just be fortunate enough to pick up some of your upcoming holiday gifting needs right here!

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”  ~Henry David Thoreau

Life lately…

has gifted me…

with many personal opportunities…

to practice the art…

of effectively dealing with stress!

That is why…

when one of my dearest friends…

chose to send me…

an impromptu text this week…

inviting me…

to attend a “TableScapes” class…

for free…

here at our local Pottery Barn…

with the promise…

of a “bite to eat after”…

I readily accepted!

There is simply….

nothing quite like…

the genuine…

heartfelt…

presence…

and conversation…

of a long time friend…

to rejuvenate…

one’s spirit!

The topic of our class…

was not only inspiring…

but gave me…

a personal “jump start”…

emotionally…

for the upcoming…

holiday season.

As if that wasn’t enough…

our family…

made our annual pilgrimage…

to the pumpkin patch today!

We have visited…

this patch…

for years on end.

I have said it before…

and I will say it again…

I love the fall season!

The sights…

the sounds…

the smells.

Each are…

a delicious buffet…

for the senses!

I love the store windows…

the endless displays…

aisles full of candy options…

and the myriad of costume choices!

Equally as much…

I revel in the trip…

down memory lane…

where my own costumes…

fall experiences…

and family traditions…

of yesteryear…

are still crisp…

clear…

and vivid.

We had zero money…

when I was growing up…

but my brother and I…

had a rich childhood.

My dad…

would create…

the most incredible costumes…

for the two of us.

Then armed…

with his flashlight…

he would walk us…

around our close-knit…

neighborhood.

The one with…

a really mean dog…

that only liked my dad…

and shared his name!

Ralph.

It was laden…

with tons of kids…

for blocks and blocks…

that all played together…

until daylight savings…

encroached on the fun!

As we got older…

all of those same “kids”…

would “go it alone”…

for the entire night.

I vividly remember…

the year…

that my brother…

went as a woman…

in the shower!

Lest you think…

of scandalous images…

I can assure you…

he was in a full bathrobe…

shower cap…

had a shower head above him…

a curtain that went 360 degrees…

and heels!

It was very dark…

and I hadn’t seen him stop.

I came upon him…

rather suddenly…

tripped…

fell on top of his…

bent-over-to-the-ground-form…

and slid down…

his surrounding shower curtain!

All the while…

he was muttering…

“Hang on, will ya?…

I broke a heel!”

I’m still…

trying to get over…

the trauma…

of his request…

the year that I got married!

When I tried on my dress…

and he was present…

he enthusiastically…

asked to wear it…

to a college Halloween party…

he would be attending…

two months later!

Yes…

the memories are great.

Full of joy…

laughter…

and fun.

Today…

my nearly 22-year-old…

came for advice…

about a party…

he is attending…

and costuming input.

Judging by this picture…

I’ll be blessed…

with a few more years…

of festivities and fun!

How about you?

Memories?

Spectacular celebrations?

Creative Costumes?

Be they past…

or present…

Inquiring minds…

want to know!

In thinking back…

to my conversation…

with Son #1…

regarding the “mix-up”…

between Cher and myself…

I had a lot to consider!

Rest assured…

we did…

an abbreviated unit study…

( The PG version…

which made it…

rather short!)

of her life…

her values…

and her, um…

unusual taste…

in clothing…

or the lack thereof!

And yet…

there are…

some things…

about Cher…

that were honestly…

worth looking at!

She’s definitely…

her own person!

A pioneer.

Possesses…

no peer dependency!

Is sassy…

reinvents herself regularly…

and has had tremendous…

longevity!

I’ve often thought…

about that day…

and the responses…

and actions…

of others…

based on the limited…

amount of information…

that they were given!

And sadly…

I think…

that without…

tremendous effort…

we will also knee jerk…

and marginalize people…

each and every day.

Read “The Inner Ring”…

by C.S. Lewis?

It’s a personal favorite!

Watched people…

suffer under labels…

prejudices…

false…

or pretentious…

expectations?

It’s a “no win”…

all the way around.

Having been…

on the receiving end…

of more than one…

knee jerk…

and erroneous…

conclusion…

I have made…

a conscious effort…

to not…

return the favor…

to others…

as much as possible.

If you desire…

to think great thoughts…

to accomplish great things…

and to develop…

a knowledge base…

that is rich and broad…

you need to embrace diversity!

Diversity…

helps you to understand others.

It keeps you on your toes…

and provides countless…

opportunities…

for you to examine the “what”…

and the “why”…

of your own beliefs.

Done well…

this discipline…

instills strength…

rather than producing weakness.

Taking “risks”…

to forge out…

regardless of…

the approval…

of your peers…

often provides…

the reaping…

of benefits…

you would never…

have had otherwise!

No one “has their act together”…

100% of the time!

No one “knows it all”…

Everyone has problems…

challenges…

failures…

and success.

Being a pioneer…

is definitely…

going to promise…

many challenges…

and frequent…

obstructions!

But for the most part…

oh, what a view!

I am not suggesting…

that you never…

consider or take…

the wise counsel…

of others.

Wisdom…

should be…

sought after diligently.

And part of that…

is considering the sources…

from which you draw!

I have learned…

that my time…

is best spent…

looking at…

“the Babes”…

that I’ve personally…

been given…

and making certain…

that I’ve really got them!

Which…

for me personally…

leaves very little time…

for denim jumpers…

sterile white Keds…

pencil-laden updos…

or any other “uniform”…

that goes along…

with certain…

expectations…

and possible…

pretentiousness.

I crave being real.

With no hidden agenda…

or unrealistic expectations…

where others are concerned.

Now…

if you’ll excuse me…

I need to dust…

that mohawk headpiece!

Thanks to all of you for the great comments!  Keep ‘em comin’!  More fantastic prizes to follow!

“Hope knows that if great trials are avoided great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted.” ~ Brennan Manning

Or…

to put it another way…

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” ~ Hebrews 12:11, emphasis mine

Ever have those times…

where you honestly…

just knew…

that this situation…

was the one…

that would do you in?

Only to realize later on…

that the character…

knowledge…

or life experience…

you now possess…

is a result of that particular trial?

I think…

that I feel like this weekly.

I’ve been known…

to be a wimp like that.

Care to share?

Tammie is now equipped with both really cute “To Do” and “What’s Cookin?” wipe off household boards courtesy of Christy Gandara at One Creative Bug. I apologize for the brain lapse where this giveaway was concerned, folks!  And thanks to everyone that commented! Your input helps to continue to reinforce and build the virtual Leadership Education Community here on TommyMom.

I was talking with a friend last week…

that has chosen public education…

for her children.

They are a remarkable family.

It’s one of those…

in which leadership is defined…

by being servant-based…

quiet…

but very strong.

She and I concluded…

that culture…

is honestly…

the key to success…

or failure…

in most everything.

Culture as defined in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is…

“The application of labor or other means to improve good qualities in, or growth;

as the culture of the mind:

the culture of virtue…  Any labor or means employed for improvement, correction or growth.”

So often…

people focus…

primarily on method…

and methodology.

Reality dictates…

that cultures…

both created…

and non-spoken…

are powerful influences…

in outcome.

For instance…

when people ask Hero Hubby and I…

“how did we achieve…

(fill in the blank) with our children?”

Many times…

the answer stems from the culture…

that we have consciously created for our family.

And again…

we really must also consider…

the power of influence in what we don’t say…

where culture is concerned as well.

I was discussing this…

with my punk …

quite-possibly-overly-qualified brother today.

As always…

he had multiple insights…

going many directions…

with tremendous examples…

that left me thinking…

thinking…

thinking.

He generally has that effect on me…

when we’re having conversations like this.

Follow along if you will…

Text: “Are you at football practice?”

“No.”

“May I call you?”

He calls.

Tim: “What’s up?’

Me:”I’m wanting to discuss “culture”…

for the next few days on TommyMom.

Will you write an article?”

Tim: “Sure…

That’s a mighty wide open topic….

that could go so many different directions.”

Me: “Which is why I’d like you…

to take it in a couple of different ones”…

(proceeding to name the ones I had in mind.)

Tim: “Well, yes…

but what about all of the other directions…

that come to mind?

What about majority culture…

that influences…

the minority one you’ve created?”

Or…

“How do you change an undesirable culture?”

Then there is always…

“Unspoken Culture.”

“For instance…

why do we always ride escalators facing forward?

No one told us we had to do that.

It’s an unspoken given in our culture.”

See, readers…

this is what takes up valuable time!

It’s simply one more thing to ponder!

When I ride the escalator…

on any given “trip”…

I may or may not be facing forward…

due to several notable articles of fashion…

that are possibly traveling the other direction!

Oh, yes, indeed….

we are very different people.

With nearly identical values.

Hello, Andy Stanley tension…

on a very regular basis!

So…

start thinking about…

and noticing…

“cultures.”

I promise you…

really…

truly…

when Friday…

and several other intermittent days…

come rolling around…

and “Driver’s Ed” is posted…

you’re in for a real treat!

Until then,

Deena Ortiz is just messing around!

However, the deadline for the FATJEF IV early bird registration is fast approaching…

and that isn’t a joke!

December 31, 2009 at 12 midnight! …As in tomorrow!

Any and all registrations after this date will be the new pricing for 2010.

Early bird pricing: $45.00/person, $75.00/couple, $30.00/scholar-aged youth

Pricing after December 31st: $55.00/person, $90.00/couple, $35.00/youth

What are you waiting for?!

This promises to be one of the best opportunities of the year!

I’ve seen the speaker roster…

Go get an envelope, a stamp and a check and download your registration form on this page now…

“Getter done” and mailed without further delay!

You’ll be so glad you did.

Looking ahead to 2010…

And it’s not far to look, my friends…

We are going to be hoppin’ here at Tommymom.com…

Ohhh..yes indeed, it is the place to be!

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in 2010!

There will be a series of “series” on different topics and elements of life…

and clear examples of how TJEd applies.

Fabulous “In the Spotlight” interviews, with moms,

and many others in our society…

who are exercising and exemplifying great examples of leadership…

and practicing TJEd principles in their homes and lives.

FATJEF presenters…

because we would all like to know “why we’re really going to that conference.”

and the grand introduction of …

“TJ, who is married to Ed.”

~Your extended family and friends aren’t the only “pieces of work” walking the planet…

who “love” and “support” what you do…NOT!

Some of you have asked incredible questions of TommyMom.

We’re going to do our best to answer…

So be sure to stay tuned!…Don’t touch that dial! ( or in this case keyboard…)

There will also be fabulous prizes!…

whenever the spirit moves our lovely moderator. ( Hold your applause)

And speaking of prizes…

may I draw your attention to this year’s final “We Have a Winner Wednesday” giveaway?

It is generously given to us

by Trish Hugulet, of

on Etsy.com

I’m certain by now that the holiday photos are piling up!

These darling little Christmas Flag Albums are the perfect solution…

You simply trim your pictures, mount them, add your sentiment or recollection and send!

Wah-Lah!

The perfect memory keeper for distant relatives, friends, or even someone in our military!

They’re light, compact, and easy to mail or “cart around” without much space.

I’ve known Trish for a long time, and her craftsmanship is stellar.

She makes beautiful cards and stamped papercrafts,

and I am the proud owner of many of her wares!

Nothing says “I Love You” or “I Care” quite like handmade.

I’ll tell you what…

I’m feeling so generous during this season of giving…

that I will choose 2 winners this week, and both will receive 2 of these little albums!

Tell me what you got for Christmas…

and what you look forward to discussing on Tommymom

in the New Year…

Leave your comments!

Please e-mail me with your address, and we will get your soaps in the mail. However, there is a slight proviso to this particular contest. Hero Hubby and the Family have agreed that Tammie Lewis, Miss Early Bird…Miss OverAchiever…got right in there with all of the answers and they were correct, except #7 which is partially correct( thus doing the bulk of the work for those of you that apparently copied your way through school), so she and her princess will be receiving one bar on us for being such a wealth of information! ;0)

Thank you again to Lauren at SunBasilGarden on Etsy.com for her generosity to Tommymom.com Please consider our generous supporters when you have gift giving needs.

Here are the answers: 1.William Booth, and his wife Catherine 2. England 3. Oakland Ferry Landing, California 4. December 1891 5. Captain Joseph McFee 6. To provide dinner for the destitute and poverty stricken, and now dinner is also served at Thanksgiving as well 7. Coffee, donuts and blankets were provided during WWII at no charge. This was huge, as many charitable organizations charge during a time of crisis.  The Salvation Army never has and never will. 8. False 9. False 10. It is a part of the Universal Christian Church 11. “Blood and Fire” is the motto of the Salvation Army 12. 90 years, making them the longest running entry in the Rose Parade.

We will have one more giveaway for this calendar year, to be announced and begin play, next Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

I am in love…

with “another man.”

It’s a love that is deep and constantly abiding…

Has been…

ever since I was a little girl.

And tuned in with millions of my closest fellow Americans…

first, once a week for the show…

and then annually for the Christmas program.

My mother has shared the same adoration complex with me…

So imagine our shock, then surprise, then absolute anticipatory joy…

(Geez, Teri, get a grip, will you?)

When Son #1 and Hero Hubby presented the two of us

with an early Christmas present.

Box seat tickets to…

The Andy Williams Christmas Show.

It was Sunday evening…

At the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.

I’d like to tell you that my love affair with this man has dwindled…

After his spectacular performance, that would be a blatant lie.

He opened with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”…

the Christmas song that I have personally adopted as my annual theme for jest and sarcasm…

but dearly love.

He closed the evening with “Moon River”.

He even brought back the dancing bear from his television program.

I was prepared to hurl myself over the banister of my private box and onto the stage…

then thought better of it.

It is an action absolutely lacking in proper decorum and personal self-governance.

I did, however, come home with an autographed copy of his memoirs…

and a beautiful souvenir program of the Christmas tour.

SIGH.

My life could very possibly be complete.

p.s.  Son #1 very casually inquired as to whether or not he had mentioned to me…

that one of his co-workers has a high school friend…

that is married to Andy.

I think I know who I am going to be “getting to know better” in the new year!

Kidding…

No really.

I am kidding…

Do I look to be the stalker type?!

What iconic Christmas album/singer/or entertainer can YOU not live without…

at “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?”