December 7th, 2009
I have officially been at “this blogging thing” for a little over a month.
I’m having a ball…
And feeling somewhat savvy…
Don’t be impressed…
This possibly brings me to the computer skill level of the average 4-year-old in America today.
Woo-Hoo.
I have been on quite a learning curve; managing to find out some fascinating things about the internet world…
Specifically the blogging community.
I’m far from finished…
I would like to say how very humbled I am that so many of you would choose to become regular readers…
And send me really kind, nice, well thought out e-mails…
You don’t have to,
because you’re not family…
I am touched.
Seriously.
Still others of you leave comments on the blog, so that a regular community can be formed.
Probably so that you don’t just have to listen to me…
Smart move.
“The Sons” would applaud your brilliance.
I want everyone to be able to read how kind, considerate, articulate and earnest so many of you are about
family,
this country,
and any form of education that is inclusive of pursuing leadership.
Just in case the issue at hand is “not knowing how to post to a blog”…
Here are some instructions…
Along with a nifty visual…
TommyMom posts are every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday…
barring natural disaster…
Or, just a wild hair…
but so far, so good.
When you have finished reading the post on one of those days, this is what the bottom of it will look like…
Pictures will vary…
See the word “Comments” on the right?
In a real post,this is where you want to place your mouse and click.
You will then get a screen with a box, where you put your name, and if it’s your first time posting, a place to put your e-mail address ( which will never be shared with anyone)…promise,
and a box for you to comment in…
Fire away.
This is how we build community…
Which is defined by Webster as: “a society of people, having common rights and privileges, or common interests.”
And sometimes the above mentioned rights, privileges and interests won’t be so common…
But then, things will possibly be even more interesting!
When you post, it gets “recorded” or “tallied” somewhere in the blogosphere….
I seriously doubt that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are doing this, so don’t hold your breath…
But!…
It helps to position the category of Leadership Education on the internet in what will eventually be “key places.”
You may “subscribe” to the blog by entering your e-mail address in the sidebar to the right and following directions as well…
That’s about the full extent of my understanding to date…
When I finish consulting with 5 and 6-year-olds, I’ll get back to you…
In the meantime…
In honor of the holidays, and your undying devotion thus far…
I’m announcing “We Have a Winner! Wednesdays” that will be going into effect immediately, so read on…
Each Monday, starting today, through New Years, there will be a post with a featured prize!
All you have to do, is leave a comment and you will be entered to win!
When you read on Wednesday and Friday, come back to the Monday post, leave a comment again,
and you have yet another entry!…
I apologize for the length of today’s post, but two words here:
FABULOUS PRIZES.
This week’s giveaway…December 7-15, 2010?
A Couple’s Admission to the Fourth Annual Thomas Jefferson Education Forum…
in Rancho Cucamonga, California…
on April 24, 2010!
Value: $75.00
Tune in on Wednesday, for more information about this incredible giveaway…
You’ll be glad you did!
Comments?
Giveaway Guidelines:
Anyone in the U.S. with an e-mail and a name is eligible.
You don’t have to use your “real name” in order to enter.
Your e-mail and personal information will never be publicized. Promise.
For this particular prize, the two individuals must be from the same family.
Hope you win!
Filed under "We Have a Winner!" Wednesdays | Comments (35)
Holli » Monday, December 7, 2009, 7:48 am
Hi Teri,
I am thoroughly enjoying your new blog adventure! I have been blogging for about a year now and it is a great way to stay connected with family and to spread the word about Leadership Education. Loving the new prize idea too!
Keep up the good work. Hope to see you soon.
Holli
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Heidi Christianson » Monday, December 7, 2009, 8:16 am
I love your blog! A great idea!
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Karyn » Monday, December 7, 2009, 8:39 am
Wow, way to go on starting your blog. It is very rewarding and very addictive. I think you have a great idea and maybe we can get a lot more people at the FATJEFF this year.
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Tiffany » Monday, December 7, 2009, 9:26 am
Hi Teri-
Found a link to you on one of the many homeschool support groups I lurk around and just had to say I admire your focus and drive with this bloggy thing- I have been at it a couple years now, diligently, my many different blogs diverging, multiplying and muddying up the digital feeds of friends and family. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two about continuity, consistency- oh, and homeschool!
Anyway- I look forward to following your adventures!
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Teri » Monday, December 7, 2009, 10:40 am
@Tiffany: I feel your pain, sister…I have a perpetual case of ADD and could blog 24/7 about all KINDS of things…
This IS the adventure, and WELCOME TO IT! ;0)
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jodyjarvis » Monday, December 7, 2009, 7:33 pm
Congratulations on entering the blogging world. I think it’s great that you have set yourself a regular schedule do do your blogging. That’s what I need to do. I need to get a better schedule in general, I think. Still working on that LoL Phase skill, I guess.
Anyway, i look forward to hearing your thoughts on Leadership Education!
And I look forward to hopefully winning the couple’s tickets to the Forum!
Jody
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Teri » Monday, December 7, 2009, 10:53 pm
@Jody: Welcome, Jody!;0) Nice to hear from you!
You have an entry for the FATJEF…come back again Wednesday and Friday and Monday, and you’ll have 3 more! ;0) Teri ;0)
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Amber » Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 5:18 pm
Thanks for yet another addicting blog to read! I love your set up and pictures. Hopefully I win so this will be a chance for me to come back to Cali for a visit!
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The FATJEF…what it is, how you can benefit, what to win! at Tommy Mom » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 3:35 am
[...] “How do I Post?”, why you should, and…We Have a Winner! [...]
DaNell » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 6:39 am
Your blog is as wonderful as you are, Terri!
You have a way of making us laugh while teaching important truths. You’re awesome.
I must say your tree story was incredibly inspiring and your tribute to your son, beautiful.
Wish all mothers of this nation could write something similar – guess that’s why we are trying to spread the good news of an educational philosophy that prepares Statesmen and Stateswomen with wisdom, virtue, and integrity.
By the way, I LOVE BEING A MOM! It is the BEST ADVENTURE EVER!
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Teri Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 6:57 am
@DaNell: You’re no slouch yourself, sister! ;0) I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog as much as I’m enjoying producing it. All of you guys inspire me as well…
It’s GREAT to have a mutual admiration society amongst MOMS that are doing their best to raise responsible, America-loving, productive, knowledgeable individuals!
I LOVE you guys! YOU ROCK! …And don’t let anyone tell you different! ;0)
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Holli » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:28 am
Okay, just so I’m clear Teri, I need to come back and post on MONDAY’S post to have another entry in the pot? So, my comments on other days don’t apply? Can you tell I want to win??
Thanks for the info on the FATJEF. It sounds like a great day. I have a 12 year old who is still in LOL, do you think I should bring her or is the youth conference more helpful for kids securely in scholar phase?
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Teri Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 8:44 am
@Holli: You DID post on Monday’s post…silly girl! I wish EVERYONE could win…I really do! The question is actually a good one, and the answer is YES.
Reason? I like to be unreasonable!…KIDDING! There is a random integer that will choose a number between 1 and however many comments we end up with.
That determines the “winner.” Even though I really do think you ALL are winners, thank you very much! We have more fabulouso prizes coming, too, folks, so keep “playing!” After all, where else can you find such cheap entertainment?!?! ;0)
And I will ask Dan for the “411″ on age breakdowns for this year’s agenda and get back to you, okay? OKAY… Too much Alvin and the Chipmunks here at the holidays, what can I say?!?! ;0)
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Amber » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 8:42 am
Thank you for all you do to bring FATJEF to our community! It is a once a year boost to our family’s hope and dreams of a liber education and a great time with our Southern California Liber-Community! Each of my family members comes away inspired by the people we sit next to, the speakers and the vendors! We come home with renewed energy to strive even more for something that is so worth it! Thank you Teri!
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Teri Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 8:47 am
@Amber: Thank YOU Amber, for all that you and your family tirelessly and selflessly DO to build that community….I LOVE you! Without countless people such as yourself, where would the future of liberty and freedom be? ;0)
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cherylyn klemens » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 10:05 am
There is no way I want to miss FATJEF this year and like Holly, I plan to win! People like Deena and Teri are instrumental to the leadership community and we need to help them get the word out any way we can. Just a thought…maybe the winner of the tickets (me) could give them to someone unfamiliar with TJED………
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jodyjarvis » Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 11:30 am
I have been to the first two FATJEF’s and loved them both (finances kept me away last year). I sure hope that I can go this time.
Going to FATJEF, or any other Leadership Education event/conference/seminar rejuvenates those on this path already and enlightens and inspires those who are new or just investigating it. Being in a room with hundreds (or even just tens) of others who have this outlook on life and education gives one a shot in the arm and helps rekindle the fires within. I always leave these types of activities with a renewed desire to make a difference in the world and a hope that I can go forth and inspire my kids the same way.
So PICK ME!!!
Jody (who happens to live in Northern Nevada and feels it worth at least a 14 hour drive to attend TJEd events – I’ve done it before!)
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Holli » Thursday, December 10, 2009, 9:53 am
Thanks for the clarification, Teri. And, thanks for checking out the age groups for me for the FATJEF. I’m looking forward to it!
Funny side note: I did a blog post about Dr. Brooks and his seminar in Thousand Oaks that I attended. My mother-in-law read the post and got very excited about ordering the TJEd for Teens books for all her grandkids for Christmas, so she called up Dr. Brooks (he actually answered the phone himself) to ask some questions. They chatted and he said he would sign her books and to order one for herself so she could be a better mentor! So great. My husband and I are the only ones who homeschool in our family and the only ones who are aspiring to do TJEd. We have talked to family about it, and they smile and nod, but no one has been really interested. Here my mother-in-law is 60 + years old, all her kids are grown, all her grandkids are public schooled and know very little about TJEd, and yet the message flows and more growth in our family will result because of it! ANYONE can be a mentor- and EVERYONE needs a mentor.
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Stephanie » Thursday, December 10, 2009, 6:08 pm
Okay, so I’m behind in the game since I’m out of town. But questions I had were answered while I’ve been away, so that saves me asking.
I think it’s awesome that you are doing a Blog. I am blog illiterate and am still not tempted to do the same. I’m lucky to keep a private journal on a regular basis. I don’t read many blogs because I find them to be a waste of time, but this one is worth reading. It is a good investment of time and has already, in it’s infancy, given me some good ideas. So thanks for that. I’m just saying right now that if one of your comments wins the prize, Teri, I called dibs!! You win= I win, just like calling shotgun.
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Stephanie » Thursday, December 10, 2009, 6:17 pm
My comment for Wed’s post: The last FATJEF was my first formal introduction to Leadership Ed., after having read some of the books that Kathy M. let me borrow. It was a great event, I learned much and was very entertained, while learning, especially while you spoke, Teri.
Thanks for making learning fun. I purchased all the TJED books I could at my first seminar and I am bringing my husband to next year’s FATJEF so we can cover all the options available. That was the hard part last year…deciding which speakers to hear. My husband and I are both very excited to attend together this year. We appreciate the efforts of Deena and Teri and the like who organize these wonderful opportunities for us. Thanks so much!
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Tiffany » Friday, December 11, 2009, 9:02 am
Loved the pics from Festival of Trees- I’ll have to go back and catch up on the series to find out where that was here in our amazingly abundant and always active So Cal homeschool community!
We have been enjoying caroling at a Senior Home, making cards for children’s hospital (we’re going to the dollar store to stock a santa bag and will visit to deliver toys on Christmas day) and for our family fun we are creating our own alphabetical advent (today is K- kisses, hershey’s and lots of real ones with hugs, yesterday was J- jello jigglers (we used a santa cookie cutter, cherry jello and whipped topping for his beard), tomorrow, L is lip gloss)…
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Teri Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 10:22 am
@Tiffany: Man, Tiffany…bless you woman! Those are some AMAZING ideas you’ve posted! Great things for Core, Love of Learning and the Community at large!
You ROCK, sister! ;0)
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Holli » Friday, December 11, 2009, 10:49 am
I, too, am enjoying all of your Christmas photos. We just put up our tree yesterday and the entire “vibe” of the house changed. So warm and inviting. Makes me think of Dr. DeMille’s talk about seasons and how winters are for stories. We have been curling up in front of the tree and reading more together. It helped too that it has been cold and rainy. Us Californians miss out on a lot of the seasonal changes that are so important.
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jodyjarvis » Friday, December 11, 2009, 1:04 pm
Bringing in the Christmas Spirit? Well, we do lots of things.
One tradition we do every year at least once (the weather sometimes inhibits our attempts a bit), is to go Christmas Caroling every Monday evening in December with as many friends as we can muster. We have been doing this for 20 years, even before our kids were born, and they have grown up doing it with us. We all pile in our cars (sometimes a couple of families together in one van, sometimes individual families in their own cars) and then go to out into the world visiting people and bringing them plates of goodies we have made. We usually sing one verse of a traditional carol and then sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas to close. We all gather at the door, hit the doorbell and then start singing until they open the door. Then after we sing Merry Christmas we give them their plate of goodies (the little kids up front hand them out).
On Dec. 5th, in the night, Sinter Klaas (Dutch Santa) comes to our house because I am full Dutch so the kids are 1/2. He puts presents into our stockings (instead of the traditional Dutch wooden shoe – a mingling of Dutch and American traditions). There is always a huge (6×4x1″) chocolate letter of our first name initial, and then other little things like pencils, candies, maybe a new movie, or a watch, or a Christmas tie or Christmas socks, or small toys like wind up cars, etc. Whatever fits in a stocking. We open them in the morning of the 6th. On Christmas day we open gifts from one another and family and friends, since Santa has already been here.
The last several years we have gotten See’s Candies (fund raiser) and so we eat that for breakfast on Christmas morning, along with other junky foods like Dutch cookies, etc. Good nutrition is usually forgotten on Christmas Day in our house – it’s only once a year, after all.
Of course we decorate the house, mostly with nativity scenes and some Santa/reindeer/snowmen type things, too. We have a fake tree and the kids help put the decorations on. Each year in their stocking the kids also get a special ornament to remind them of something from the year. Maybe to commemorate a special event or accomplishment or just something fun. This year both my kids are in Scrooge the Musical (which also brings in the spirit) and so they got an ornament with the logo from the play on it. We also hide a glass pickle in the tree and on Christmas morning the person who finds it gets to be the first to open a gift.
We open our gifts one at a time so we can see the joy on the face of the person to whom we have given the gift. No free-for-all at our home.
We try to read a special Christmas story every night (I have a special book with 24 stories, scriptures and a song to sing each time). Not every night does this happen but it is often enough to feel like a tradition anyway.
We have also been known to do the 12 Days of Christmas now and then or just doorbell ditch people with goodies or just participate in the Project Santa at our Church – something that is in the service realm of celebration.
There are lots of other things but this is supposed to be just a comment, not a blog post of its own (which it is definitely threatening to do and I might just copy and paste it over on my own blog anyway – http://www.youleadtheway.co.cc )
So I’ll just finish by wishing you all Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and just plain happiness for the season!
Jody
(Pick me, random picking machine thingy!!!)
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jodyjarvis » Friday, December 11, 2009, 1:37 pm
PS
I put it up on my blog and made a link to your blog, too!
Jody
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Joelle » Saturday, December 12, 2009, 12:19 pm
Teri,
Wow–what great light displays at the Mission Inn.I would go crazy with my camera.
I loved the dental tree piece. We all flossed extra good the night after we read the blog.
Thank you for your inspirations.
Joelle
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jodyjarvis » Monday, December 14, 2009, 7:54 am
Hi,
I feel your pain. I, too, am in a house of only males. But my odds aren’t as bad as yours. We are only 6 to 1 in our house (hubby, two boys and two cats). And now Monday through Friday it is 5 to 1 as dh has a job (yea!) which requires him to live away from home for the week (booo!) and only be home on the weekends.
Still, the testosterone levels are sometimes a bit much for me.
Hubby and I always wanted girls, too. Oh well. My boys aren’t too bad, though. They don’t wrestle or run in the house (much), and they are usually sweet and polite (except for the bodily noises at the dinner table or whenever the mood grabs them).
I like your games in the bathroom idea, though, and might just copy it for myself. But with a slight change. Did you know that you can write on mirrors with permanent markers? And all it takes to erase it is nail polish remover (which, because I am female, does actually exist in our house, and because I am the ONLY female, actually lasts quite a while).
We have a huge, probably 5′ or 6′ long, mirror in our bathroom that would lend itself to a game board such as yours. I think I’ll go try it right now.
Jody
PS, random winner program: PICK ME!!!
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Holli » Monday, December 14, 2009, 8:33 am
I like the “Potty Points” as well, Teri, (Girls are also outnumbered in our house) but using the mirror is a great idea too, Jody. A friend of mine would do this and leave little notes on the mirror for her children before they left for school. I often wondered how she got off the marker- now I know!
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Heidi Christianson » Monday, December 14, 2009, 9:26 am
I love your “Potty Points” idea! I’m going to have to implement that one. My only concern is that I’ll have a line! I also have 5 boys. Mine are between 3 and 15. Thanks for starting this blog. I’m really enjoying it!
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Christy » Monday, December 14, 2009, 10:22 am
Here is my comment! Good luck to me – I would love to win this prize – My hunny has never been to a TJED event, and he would eat it up!
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cherylyn klemens » Monday, December 14, 2009, 5:41 pm
Okay, maybe I was a little rough on you with the CHER comment, we all know she doesn’t use nearly as much MAC eyeshadow as you do………..sorry couldn’t help it. I am quite impressed with the word Myrrh contributed by #5, but don’t tell him I said so, it would change the whole dynamic of our relationship! Now down to business, how do I redeem my prize?
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Tiffany » Monday, December 14, 2009, 10:56 pm
oh I am so glad I came over here to comment, too (and hopefully win!) because I love the idea of the mirror… thanks, Jody!
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stephanie » Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 11:33 am
Dec 14th post: That is a great idea and provided us all with so much humor. Learning can be fun, as stated previously, when Teri’s involved in it.
I’ll have to look into getting one of those boards. I had one more thing to say, but was distracted by my kids wanting me to hear them sing, “Jingle Bells”. They have their own version and it just took my mind completely away from where it was. It was a welcomed distraction, however. 
If I remember I’ll come back. THanks for sharing that awesome idea with us!
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stephanie » Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 11:58 am
Oh, yeah, got it!! I have heard from some who have been in your home that is incredible. That it is totally geared to success in home educating, etc. I really want to come and see it at some point. I love the tips you have given here, but I want to see what the whole house looks like. Let us know when we can swing by. We can wait for the new year, too.
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Babs » Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 3:51 pm
I totally enjoyed reading this week’s blog on The Salvation Army. Having been a soldier of this organization all my life, I do feel it has shown little to disappoint me. The people in it are genuine Christians, therefore, for the most part very honest people and serve for Christ’s sake rather than any other gain. They wish to obey the great command to Love everyone and become angels to hurting folks. It is a very tiring work. My own parent’s were officers and many is the time my Dadday would rise at 3:00 AM after a phone call and walk down to his corps with holes in his shoes to feed a hungry soul. Officers have office hours now, but back then they did not and if someone were hungry & without a bed at 3:00 AM, the angel in uniform would walk the mile to feed that one who just jumped off a freight train. Times have changed, but, the general committment of officers remains the same. They are called to service.
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