Poppy Seeds, and Other Things

The following conversation was relayed to me last night by my mom, who had been making lemon poppy seed muffins with Hannah earlier that afternoon:

Hannah: If I eat one of these poppy seeds, will a poppy plant grow inside me?

Mimi: No. What three things do plants need to grow?

Hannah: Water, soil, and sunshine.

Mimi: Well, you aren't able to get all three of those inside you, so it won't be able to grow.

Hannah: I know! I can drink a lot of water, eat some dirt, and go outside and hold my mouth open to the sunshine for a looooooong time!

What would we do without her?

In other news: Daniel has blessed me immeasurably by taking to potty training like a duck to water. I must admit I have been dreading the whole potty scene for too long, and finally decided that it was going to HAVE to happen before the baby is born. I tried him about 3 months ago, and he didn't seem ready. Now we tried again, and he is a champ. Hallelujah!!!

Also: Caleb has moved to a big boy bed! This is his third day, and I think he is finally sleeping peacefully. He has been soooooo excited that he just lays there grinning and can't sleep. The first night he tried to get up a few times before going to sleep, and was awake and wandering the house crying over his "abandonment in this house!" at 5:45 the next morning (we were all sleeping, of course), but this morning he came right up to find me - at 7pm. Both boys are thrilled to have an "all boys" room. Daniel is proud to be the top bunk resident, and Caleb is just proud to be out of his crib.

And last, but certainly not least: Baby (yet to be named) is a GIRL!!!

Sick, but Happy

Late this week, everyone but Peter came down with runny noses and sore throats. Yuck! Nothing like a spring bug... I'm still not sure if it is allergies or colds, but Hannah is better today, so that is a step in the right direction! Even though we weren't feeling 100%, we spent most of the day outdoors, getting fresh air, Kleenex in tow.

Last year Peter gave up his beloved Saturday basketball game to spend the day working around the house and being home with the kids. It was his decision, and it wasn't easy. I used to refer to it as "Sacred Basketball," because nothing could interfere with it! Since then, we have loved having Daddy home on Saturday mornings. Here are some photos of our day:

Daddy spending time on the couch with Hannah. They are perusing her Schleich (little resing figures) catalog. I'm sure she is telling him all about Hanoverian mares, or something else he's never heard of. She is quite a horse authority these days...

Daniel got a lesson yesterday on how to hold a baby. This is Rachel, Hannah's beloved (almost) antique doll. I couldn't believe she was letting him hold it, but she was about a breath away from grabbing her back at any moment - just like a mommy with a real newborn. They have been practicing for when we have our baby. It looks like he's starting to get it! They both want a sister.

We let Hannah stay up and play outside in the afternoon while we continued our projects. (She's used to having some quiet time.) At one point, I sent her to her room for a time out. After a few minutes, I noticed that it was very quiet down the hall, and went to investigate. This is what I found...Sleeping Beauty. I think she went to hide in her closet, and fell asleep while she was waiting for us to come look for her! It had been a long day!

This is a shot of the boys right now. Hannah and Daddy went to church, but the boys and I were still under the weather. They are watching a video. Look how big Caleb is getting! Actually, it is just that he's sitting up straight and Daniel is slouching. See who's toes are sticking out?

More to come later...

Cruising

Peter surprised me recently with an anniversary cruise to Mexico! My gracious parents took care of our children, while we went to San Diego, CA, Catalina Island, CA, and Ensenada, Mexico. It was the first cruise either of us had taken, and we had such a special time together. Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse...

The sunset on our first night at sea

Our first port to dock in was in San Diego. We toured the USS Midway, a retired Naval aircraft carrier. It was amazing to see. I have a new respect for our military! The amount of engineering involved in making a floating war machine was staggering to me. The men and women who serve on these vessels live in unbelievably tight quarters, with a strict regimen. They don't do it for the fun of it, I'm sure. The bunks were 3 beds high, and I don't think you could even turn over. There were probably 20 people to a room about the size of our master bedroom. Below is a side view as we approached the ship. The part sticking out is an elevator for moving the aircraft from the flight deck to below. It was, like I said, truly amazing...
This is me trying out the cockpit of one of the aircraft. It was tight quarters!

This is me on top of the flight deck. I'm standing in front of one of the types of aircraft that flew off the Midway. I think this one is a Tomcat. My grandpa used to fly something like this off aircraft carriers many years ago. While touring this ship I couldn't help thinking of him, remembering stories I'd heard about his experiences. They say that landing on the ship at night is one of the most stressful experiences. At night there is virtually no light on the deck, and you have about a 40 foot space on which to touch down, in what can basically be called a "controlled crash." There is a hook that the plane has that catches a cable to make it stop, so that it doesn't just go straight into the ocean. The pilot makes the landing at full throttle, so if they miss the cable they can take off again and make another attempt. All this takes place in a matter of seconds. I think they said that they used to have a take off or landing in as little as 4 minutes apart! And...all this on a ship that is going up and down and side to side at the same time. They said that the stress level on the pilots is lower when they encounter enemy combat, than when they have to land at night. Wow.

Me and my one and only! We took walks on the deck every night after dinner. The food was amazing. Not only was it delicious, it was served to me! I didn't have to cut up anyone else's food, Peter and I could carry on a conversation without any interruptions, and someone was standing there all the time refilling my water and offering me more bread! And...I didn't have to do one single dish. Now that's a vacation!!!

Our second stop was Catalina Island. We had planned to go kayaking in the ocean and then take a glass-bottom boat tour, but the wind was too strong for any small vessels to be allowed out of the harbor. Instead we went shopping, and rented a golf cart and toured the island. This is a view looking down on the city of Avalon.

Our third stop was Ensenada, Mexico. We went to this place called La Bucadora. I don't know what it means, but it was an outdoor market right on the cliffs of the ocean. Here is a Mexican "zebra."

Outside the market is something they call "the Blowhole." The tide was too low for us to see its wonders, but I understand that when the tide comes in the waves really kick up the side of the mountain there.

How could I leave out the dancing waiters? Every night they would have something special. On the last night they came out parading with Baked Alaskas on their heads!

Happy Anniversary, Dear! Thank you for a lovely, special vacation. I love you!!!

Termites!?

We were walking past a car in a parking lot recently. The car had a cover which is sometimes used after a new paint job. Daniel asked, "Is that a blanket on the car?" Hannah replied, "They must have termites!"

Bad to the Bone!

This is Caleb who loves to wear his sunglasses, even when it is dark out.

USS Midway

The picture with a carrier closer is the Midway. The one in the distance is the new USS Regan. It apparently came in last night. I am not sure if the photo shows this, but most of the planes are on deck. The tour of the Midway was fascinating.

Cruising!

I am taking Debra on a short cruise for our anniversary. This is a photo of the cruise boat. We are currently in San Diego and toured the USS Midway this afternoon. I'll pst a picture of that when I get a chance.

Quotes of the Day

In case you missed it in an older post, we are expecting a baby in September! This has made for much conversation around here...

Hannah: "If it is a girl, I think we should name it Gloria. Gloria is such a beautiful name. Don't you think?"

Mommy: "Gloria is a lovely name. I like it too. I'll talk to Daddy about it."

Hannah: "Well, if we can't name her Gloria, how about Grace? Grace is a nice name too."

Mommy: Trying to figure out where this is going..."Yes, Grace is a lovely name too. Did you know that your name means 'grace?' We wouldn't want to have two "Graces" would we?"

Hannah: "No. But Gloria or Grace will be her name."

Mommy: "Why did you pick those two names?"

Hannah: "Because they are "G" names. G is my favorite letter! Don't you think that G is a fun letter to write?"

Leave it to Hannah to name the child for her favorite letter of the alphabet. And who would have known that she even would have a favorite letter?!

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Here's one from Daniel while eating breakfast yesterday...

"Mommy put pretty ribbons on the walls!!!"

I decided on a whim to redecorate the kitchen (I'm definitely in my second trimester). The "ribbons" are the paint masking around the edges. I'm glad he likes the transitory decor!

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And another from Hannah, who apparently had her mind wandering during devotions...

Turning her shoulders toward Mommy while whispering..."Mommy look! Four days of puffed sleeves in a row!!!"

We just finished reading and then watching Anne of Green Gables together...

My Thoughtful Girl

Here is a picture of what my thoughtful little girl brought me this afternoon:

She was so pleased to present her work! It is not uncommon for her to pick the flowers and bring a handful in to me, but this batch she took the time to "plant."

I think she was copying my friend Julie, who recently delighted me with a basket a flowers she had planted. Hannah knew it had been a blessing to me, and she was trying to imitate Julie's kind gesture. Thanks Julie, for your example!

My little girl is growing up in so many ways!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Today is K-Guy's 2nd birthday!

Every time someone has a birthday I inevitably end up strolling down the memory lane of my photo library to see old pictures, what they looked like last year, etc. Here are a few for all of you to enjoy.

He loved the Florida beach last summer!

Sweet little guy! He is so kissable!

This is where I found him hiding...with the spiders under the slide! He was pretty pleased with himself. :-)

Did I mention that he is fearless? He LOVED sledding at the snow! Here he is with Aunt Mary. One day he's going to get me for buying him purple snowpants...but they didn't have any boy ones left!

One thing I really appreciate about Caleb is that he always wants to help

Enjoying the new play structure Daddy made

Having lunch at Nana's restaurant after church.

He is definitely Daddy's boy!

I'm one of the big kids, Mom!

Having his "quiet time"

He LOVES dirt. This is right before he took a big bite out of some clod he found...

Everybody cuddles with Mommy to watch a movie!

He loves to color!

Hunting for eggs at Eastertime

He likes to be like Daddy, and wear his safety glasses when he's using his tools...

And finally -

This is one of my favorites, taken by our dear friend, Veronica Campbell.

Caleb, my prayer for you this year is that you will learn to speak words that will be honoring and glorifying to God. You are a precious boy! Daddy and I love you so much, and wish you a very, very Happy Birthday!!!

T.V. Dinners

I love T.V. dinners. I'm not kidding.

My friends think I'm crazy, and Peter just shakes his head in disbelief, but it is my comfort food!

When I was a little girl and my parents would leave me with a babysitter I hated to see them go. Somewhere in there, my mom decided that a special dinner would be in order to get my mind off their absence. When we would shop, she would let me choose a T.V. dinner to save for when they went out on dates. I would actually check the freezer inventory periodically, just to see what was there in case they ended up going out. My favorite was (and still is) the Salisbury steak with plastic style potatoes, rubbery corn, and cherry pie (if you can call it "pie"). When I was in Russia, I remember coming practically unglued in a store when I found a Russian T.V. dinner. I bought it on the spot, stuffed it in my backpack, and then stored it in my 4th floor windowsill between the sets of windows to keep it cold (it was snowing that time of year still). My roommates thought it was some kind of joke. It was all business to me. Eating it was like being home!!!

So why all the prose? Because I just had one. The Salisbury steak kind with the plastic potatoes and corn. No pie, but that's OK. It was great. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant.

California Court Ruling on Homeschooling

As is fairly common knowledge now, on February 28 the California Court of Appeals (from the L.A. area) ruled that (1) California law provides that homeschooling is not allowed unless the parent has a teaching credential, and (2) this law does not violate the United States Constitution, specifically, the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Debra and I have had many intense discussions after we found out about this. Debra's first response was one of fear, mostly of the unknown. Mine was a little different. I was (and am) concerned, but I know what the process is, I know what the law is, I know the warriors on our side who are going to be fighting it, and I have a great deal of confidence that God can and will use them to achieve victory on our behalf. Because I used to work at HSLDA and have some knowledge regarding the legal issues and attorneys involved, Debra thought it might be helpful if I laid out some of those thoughts on our blog.



A little farther down, I will get into the details of the Court decision and the law involved, but I think it is important first to consider our attitude. First, we should be vigilant in prayer, pleading that God would turn the heart of the justices toward our side. This is extremely important. God delights to show himself strong on behalf of those who call on his name. Throughout the history of religious liberty and homeschool litigation, we have seen God work in mighty ways to protect his people through the court system, even when it looked like they would lose. Two examples come to mind. Constitutional litigator Jordan Lorence tells the story of how thousands of people were praying for a particular Supreme Court case, Bowers v. Hardwick. Unbeknownst to all of these people, the initial vote of the justices was 5-4 that would have found a Constitutional right to sodomy. However, in his memoirs, Justice Lewis Powell says that he switched his vote at the last minute, thus finding that there was no Constitutional right to sodomy. (This was later overruled in Lawrence v. Texas.) God heard the prayers of those people and moved the heart of Justice Powell to change his vote. Mike Farris tells the story of the Michigan Dejonge case. In that case, a justice changed his vote at the last minute, so that the case was won by one vote instead of being lost. The Dejonge case may be the most significant homeschool case in the last 20 years. The Michigan Supreme Court found that parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Again, homeschooling families all over the country were praying and there is really no other explanation why this justice changed his vote at the last minute. Interestingly, in the Michigan case, the state was requiring parents to be certified teachers.

The second attitude is that we will not give up. Homeschooling is so important that we will exhaust every avenue to prevail. In the summer of 1940, England stood nearly alone against the Nazi hordes and there were many people in England who thought of giving in and negotiating peace terms. Fortunately, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister at that time and he stated as follows in a speech to the House of Commons on June 4, 1940:

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender . . ..

We must have the same attitude with regard to homeschooling. As discussed below, there are considerably brighter chances of victory for us than England had in the summer of 1940, but there may be some dark hours that we go through. We must remember that we can never give up and never give in. This is non-negotiable.



Now, we will turn to the decision, why it is wrong and what will be done next. The decision can be found here if you would like to read it. It is really a poor piece of appeallate writing and handles the Constitutional issues with all the precision of a hippopotamus. Poor appellate writing often flows from either (1) poor representation of one of the parties, thus giving the court little feedback from one side of the issues, or (2) the court's desire to rule a particular way, compounded by laziness in not fully addressing a particular issue. I don't know which it was in this case, but my guess is it may have been a little of both.



First, the decision conclusorily states that being taught at home cannot satisfy the private school law. It relies for that finding on two 50-year-old cases, Turner and Shinn. Both of these cases were decided before the modern proliferation of homeschooling and both make an argument that is kind of like this: (1) it's not a "school," its a home, (2) so, unless there is some brick and mortar school there, it does not qualify under the private school exception. The other argument made is that the legislature specifically provided for homeschooling, but only if the children are taught by a credentialed teacher. If the legislature had meant the private school option to apply to parents teaching at home, they would have said so. Both of these arguments are do not do the statute justice.



Second, the court only cursorily examines the issues of Constitutional law, specifically, the right of a parent to direct the upbringing and education of the child and their religious liberty in so doing. The Constitutional question is quite complex, but the Supreme Court has held in several cases (notably Pierce v. Society of Sisters, summary here, and Wisconsin v. Yoder, summary here) that parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children and that when parents are also exercising their religious belief by how they educate their children, there are significant Constitutional protections for those parents. The California opinion swatted away those Constitutional arguments as if they were pesky flies and went on to their ruling. Interestingly, I think the court actually left the door open for a finding that the law does violate the parents' Constitutional rights as long as more facts are determined. The record was apparently sparse.



What will happen now: I understand that the parents are appealing and that HSLDA and others will file an amicus. I also understand that HSLDA is attempting to get the opinion depublished so that it does not affect anyone else in California. A depublished opinion has no precedential value in California. You can help with this effort by going to http://www.hslda.org/ and signing the petition to depublish the case. If both of those efforts are unsuccessful, there are a lot of other things that could happen and it would be folly to speculate right now. Suffice it to say that this could be a battle that continues for a long time, even if we lost on both of those fronts.