Kawaski Tribe Revisited

Here's a short overview of Benj's presentation on the Kawaski Tribe. He doesn't like it when I post anything about him. So, if you happen to read this post, don't tell him you saw it. :) Of course I'm going to continue posting stories about him--some of my best stuff comes right out of his mouth!

Benj showing us a torture device. Two dowels with a wire between them. He explained that it was for putting around someone's neck to hold them. Stef said, "That could just cut their head right off!"

Benj replied, "Uh, OK."

The Kawaski Tribe alphabet. They also had wampum for money.

The little tiny head on the left is the preserved head of the chief. It is not a shrunken head--all of their heads were that small, even though they stood well over 6 feet tall. The orange feather coming out of the top meant he was the chief. There's also weapons--styrofoam balls with feathers and wires coming out of them, and rocks and things on the black fun foam. I hope no one needs a styrofoam ball for a school project before I resupply.

He had fun making it and we all enjoy living with his imagination.

Text Message

Not all of our kids have cell phones. It's a luxury that is quickly becoming a necessity in today's world. Our 14 year-old Stef would love to have one--all of her friends have them and she feels a little left out. When she needs to have a cell phone with her, I loan her mine. This week she's been at Corpus with the orchestra so she has my phone with her.

The good news is we can call her whenever we want. The bad news is she's getting all my calls and texts.

Yesterday Erin came home! Yeah! She's home for the summer--it's about time! She's getting more used to flying, but texted me while waiting to board. "I'm a little scared to fly."

Stef texted her back, "It'll be OK. I love you."

What a sweet sister.

The Kawaski Tribe

Last night Benj got into the craft box and got busy. We were watching "Australia" and occasionally would glance over at him being busy with dowels, fun foam, wire, and styrofoam balls.

During our self-proclaimed intermission (cause that's a really LONG movie) I asked him what he was working on and he said he was making artifacts from the Kawaski Tribe and he would give us a presentation tomorrow. Wow! What an imagination! I can hardly wait!

And then he said something about ancient torture devices. What is he learning in school? I'm sure he didn't pick that up at home. :)

Ayway, if we survive the presentation, I'll let you know.

Easter Picture

This is a CUTE picture of Benj and his cousin, Melanie, during our egg hunt. They had a great time. All of the big kids were gone to youth conference so they didn't have unfair competition.

When the big kids came home at 11 pm we had an egg hunt for them in the dark. It was fun but the next morning, Mitchell (or was it Ryan?) went out and found another armful that got missed in the dark. We found another 3 or 4 since then. I guess Benj and Mel did a great job hiding them!

What Works for Me

I'm borrowing the "What Works for Me" idea from Sharon's blog. I think it's a great way to pass on good ideas.

The idea I want to share is something I learned in Homemaking a long time ago. For those of you that already know this organizing technique, I apologize for being redundant. :)

I have many boxes. At last count we were up to 37. Don't make fun until you count yours! Recently we pulled 2 Easter boxes out of the attic. One was full of baskets and the other had decorations, grass, and plastic eggs. And now it's time to put it all away. Every few months we pull out boxes and put them away again. For Christmas, we have 7 boxes. Some have lights, another for ornaments, tree skirt, decorations, stockings, stocking holders, etc. Two boxes for Halloween plus one for fall decor. I also have many boxes with craft supplies. One for yarn, a few for fabric, one for craft paint, two for patterns. There's also camping stuff, Chris's mission stuff. Lots of stuff. You get the picture. Does this sound familiar?

This is how I organize it: I use Rubbermaid boxes because they are very durable and every lid fits every box. Another reason I like Rubbermaid is because even though some are deep and some are shallow, they still stack together. Every box has a number taped to the front. Every number corresponds to an index card that is kept in a recipe card box. Every card contains a list of what is in that box. For example, card number 22 says "Easter Baskets." We find box #22 in the attic and pull it down for the weekend. After Easter, we know that those baskets will fit back into that box.

If someone wants to borrow a Nativity scene in the middle of July, I can look at my cards and know that it is in box #37 and I can go right to that box and find the Nativity scene. If the kids need yarn for a school project I send them to box #17.

If we have to change what's in the box we just re-do the index card when we're packing it all back up. The boxes stay neat looking and accessible and we save a lot of time looking for things!

I would like to know how many boxes you all have. Is 37 a lot? I don't know--maybe it is. When you take into account 20+ years of being married, 5 kids, and lots of hobbies maybe we're doing OK on the stuff scale. I don't know. Maybe I got a big problem and I need to go to Stuff Savers Anonymous and do the 12-point program. :)

Perspective on Right-handedness

I am always right.
Right-handed that is.

I have hardly ever used my left hand for anything. I don't seem to have a problem using my two hands together for tasks like typing, driving, sewing, playing the piano, etc., but if it's just a left-handed task forget about it. As a teenager I worked for hours at a time for months and months trying to train my left hand to paint the fingernails on my right hand. I got good enough so that it was presentable (good thing polish remover is cheap) but it was very hard to learn.

My oldest brother has actually taken the time to train himself to eat with his left hand. He decided that if anything ever happened to his right hand, he wanted to be prepared to use his left hand more. He chose to not be totally right-handed.

Being right-handed is how my brain is wired, but it is also my choice because I didn't change it. I had to eat with my left hand for a few weeks two years ago and it was hard--very slow and messy, but not impossible. I don't like to change my routine. It's what I'm familiar with and I like what I am used to.

Sometimes our perspective can get in a mindless rut. We are used to doing things a certain way and making conclusions based on what we know and see. It's a challenge to try and look at a situation from a different angle, but it's not impossible. When I married, my eyes were opened as I began to see things how Chris saw them. His perspective on people and situations continues to enlighten me and gets me out of the groove of only seeing things my way.

I just started reading C.S. Lewis' "Surprised by Joy." Early on in the book, he is reminiscing about his first glimpse of England. He was on his way from Ireland to boarding school and could not believe what an ugly country he was viewing. On page 24 it reads, "Well does the Kalevala say that in a stranger's house the floor is full of knots. I have made up the quarrel since; but at that moment I conceived a hatred for England which took many years to heal." The reason he hated England? Because England was flat and had red brick farmhouses instead of white cottages. It wasn't what he was used to.

Every time I meet a new friend and 'hear their story', my perspective changes and my view widens. They are like no one I have ever met before. Maybe they don't wash dishes how I do or maybe they've never been to California or maybe they don't like ice cream. Do I hate them because they're different? I will admit, sometimes I have to look for commonalities to base a relationship on but I always try and learn something from their experiences.

One thing that I love about blogging is reading different opinions and views. It makes you and your blogs all the more endearing to me. As I read about your adventures and opinions--everything from making goofy noises to get your baby to smile, to having a good day with the piano tuner, to sharing a product that works for you, a new way of looking at Twilight, a favorite song, a 20 year-old wedding picture--I grow and my vista widens.

I've decided that I'll always be right-handed even if I somehow lose my entire right arm, but my perspective can change daily as it's being fine-tuned through your opinions and adventures.