the Economist in my house

Okay, It's time you knew. I have kept this secret long enough.  I have to come clean on this one.  You are my friends right? You won't judge me to harshly.  

Will you???

I mean you put up with my bad spelling, my poor grammar and my rambling thoughts. So I thought I should just tell you.  

I have this son that's, well. . . a little strange.  

He likes. . . lectures A LOT! He likes economics as much as he likes lectures. Strangely enough, he likes lectures and economics together. . . at the same time. 

Okay, yeah, there is more. 

He like lectures and economics enough to  win a scholarship to study economics in a lecture setting for. . . 12 hour days. . . for a week. 

I know! 


A  whole week. 7 days . . . 12 hours a day.

I have tried with this kid, I really have. But, he thrives on lectures and economics. . .at the same time.  He tells me, "because I have home schooled him he knows how to think. . .for himself." 

 "Wait a minute!" "I did that?" Huuu???

So here we are, I have an economist in the house. Not just any economist, we have an Austrian Economist.  Most particularly, I am talking a Ludwig von Mises Institute school of economics economist. AND that's a mouth full! 


I am telling you, Matthew studies and studies and studies this thing. He reads books that are bigger then. . .I don't know. . .a dictionary about this stuff.  He really finds it all very interesting. 



He fills me up with the things he has learned. I listen and think. . .could he be right? Does he really know what he's talking about? and then I hear the things he says on the news about: the way things are going in this great country of ours and what needs to be done and why our government won't do them.  

It's quite overwhelming. 

And I think. . . well, maybe an Economist in the house is not so bad. There are days I get to call him "my son sunshine" because of the gloominess of his tone. "My Son Sunshine" tells me all about why the FED is bad and what really needs to be done in our government. . .to make things work again for all of us and why our government won't do them. 

And, sometimes I just have to say to him. . .

"STOP!" 

"I can't take it anymore!" I know! Doom and Gloom. The FED is bad. . . Our government is corrupt, Congress violates the Constitution with nearly every new bill they enact.   We all get it! " 

" Ron Paul rules! "

and then I'll lovingly say: 

"Matthew tell me this?  

Why did you have to learn so much about the constitution?" 

"Why didn't you just pretend to read it like the other kids do?" 

So,  my oldest son, Matthew, the son I home schooled for nine years, won a scholarship to the  Ludwig von Mises Institute at Auburn University with an essay that he wrote. The scholarship paid for everything from his food, to his room and board,  to the lecture classes that was all about economics. All Matthew had to do was get to Atlanta Georgia the very same weekend Mark got out of the hospital. 

His bag were packed and Matthew and I  drove the 176 miles to the Atlanta Airport. 

We talked about how very nerves he was about going to a place where he didn't know a soul. We talked about how proud his father and I are of him for doing this all on his own.  We talked about how excited he was to meet his idols and learn more about this subject that he loved. . . and maybe, just maybe Ron Paul would be there. 

Matthew went to Auburn and the school of economics with the hopes and dreams that only a 19 year old could. He learned, and he studied , and he studied and he learned. He called  me three times a day to share the things he had learned and to tell me how excited he was to be there. He told me who he had met and how brilliant the "average" person was  at the institute that week. Matthew talked about what was said and what he already knew to be true. He talked about his hopes for the future. . .if only the government of today would listen.  .  . and stop thinking about. . .well, themselves and who's pockets they are in. 

 

When Matthew came home, he was not only a week older and wiser,  he was "intoxicated" from the all the knowledge that was swimming around in his head. He was tired from the long week of lectures and note taking. He was full from his week of listening to arguments and debates from the people he had only read about and admired from afar.   For weeks now, Matthew has been filling us up with von Mises  ideas for the world and the things he wants to become. He told me how he wants to fight for what is right. . .and how he can't wait to go back to "the Institute" next year and learn and study and listen for a week  and those 12 hour days   of more studying, learning and growing. AND just maybe just maybe Ron Paul will be there. 

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"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." 


Benjamin Franklin 

Playing along with: 

Unknown Mami

 Ni Hao Yall

Fresh Mommy 
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My 3 Boybarians

Communal Global

. . .In A Box

You know what they say: With age comes wisdom. . . 

and then again, they say: Great things come in small packages. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I guess you could say both of these statements are very true. 

Just last night my mom and I were talking about my dad. Mary Elizabeth was there and she noticed just how very  sad  " the best Nana ever" was getting while the best Nana talked about her beloved husband. 

In a very wise and mature voice Lizzy said: " Nana, you don't have to miss Grandpa. He lives in your heart."    

~ "See, I'll show you."~ 

Because our wisest and littlest one didn't know how to draw a heart, Elizabeth asked "the best Nana ever" to draw a heart for her. 

So Nana drew the heart and Liz goes on to say in her wisest voice. . .

"See, just like this Nana." "He's little, tiny." "In your heart." and Liz drew a little, tiny man. . . in Nana's heart. 

Liz then says. . ."Oh! but, In a box." 

and then she lovingly drew a box around her grandpa. . . in Nana's heart.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

You see, the last time Mary Elizabeth saw her grandpa it was at his funeral. She had just turned three years old.  She knows her grandpa has died and has gone to heaven "to be with the Saints and Angles".  We tell her this all the time. 

What she can't figure out is  ~ why in the world he has gone to this place called heaven. . . and. . .Why?. . .  In a box of all things.  

and the house broke out into laughter and the Best Nana Ever said. . . 

"Boy! Would Grandpa love that." 


Playing along with:  



Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

A Day without the Best Nana Ever

Mary Elizabeth and I went to the Scottish Games at Furman University last weekend to see the activities and in hopes to meet up with "the best Nana ever" and Auntie, her sister. 

We saw men is skirts doing all kinds of things like: throwing sand bags and polls, playing bag pipes and flutes to beautiful dresses for woman.   ~ Sadly, we never found Nana or Auntie.

Without finding "the best Nana ever and her sister",  quite honestly Mary Elizabeth was not very impressed with the Scottish Games or the men in skirts. 

She wanted to feed the Swans. Now to her, that is something to see. Everyone knows Furman is the place a person should go to feed ducks.  We left our hopes of finding Nana and her sister: We left the Scottish men in skirts and went to the ducks and swans.  

Although the swans were very exciting the day was hot.  We decided blue ice cream was in order and thought just maybe Nana and her sister might have the same idea.  They like ice cream.             But, it ended up just being the two of us.               One of us was happy about that ~ the other one. . .well. . . she just wanted to see "the best Nana ever. . . that was all."

When we saw balloons in the distance our hearts soared with pure joy . 

We thought it would be fun to call Stephen to ask if he wanted to join us in our great balloon chase. After all, everyone knows,  if you can't see "the best Nana ever. . . and her sister" "the best big brother ever" IS . . .well. . . second best. 

So we quickly picked up Stephen and began our adventure (( with our second best))  "the best big brother ever" by our side.

 and we  "chased balloons ALL. . . Night. . . Long" ~   as my youngest daughter tells the story. 

The End! 

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Eeeek!!! It Happened!

Some of us have been praying really hard for this to happen and IT did. 

 I just wanted to let ya'll know, 

the pool IS open! 


Eeeek! 

Linking up with: communal global

The Brutal Days of Home School

This home school thing really gets tough sometimes. There is so much to learn and study some days I just don't know how we get it all done. Like, a few weeks ago the kids and I headed back to Furman for another Debate Lecture about the United States Policies towards Russia. 

I am not sure if my older three are learning much from these trips but I know Liz and I are learning a lot! 

We have already learned the Swans really like us. When they see us standing by the pond they come right over. 

We studied Puddle Jumping 101 

There was a cloud class. . .and strangely enough, we did really well in that one. It was even a little relaxing. . .  But promise you won't tell anyone. We don't like to brag about how smart we are. Sometimes people find these college classes really hard. 

Even though we did really well in the cloud class, I think we smoked the stopping to smell the roses class 100. 

These Home School days at Furman are brutal I tell you!  

So brutal, we had to stop for ice cream. 

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Did I say Furman was brutal? 

Gee, I thought Furman was tough. . .but it has nothing on Clemson.  The debate club took our little class to Clemson last week. 

There were more Lectures about Russia that we had to attend. There was a lesson on how to use the college  library and a tour of the school. Clemson is a great big school! The lecture was tough. 

Kathryn seemed to love this school and fit right in. 

After the lecture, tour and library class Matthew and Stephen visited with friends toured the school and talked about the future. 

Liz and I attended a journalism class and  interviewed the Elite.  

They shared their thoughts on the war and how tough things were for them. We took some time to really ponder things and then we went back to our brutal home school life. 

There was little time to waste. The leaf  throwing class was about to begin and these Clemson Tigers don't mess around. When it is time for class it IS time for class. 

There was a final run the grounds 

AND THEN 

It was time to call it a day. Yes! Sometimes these home school days can be brutal. But don't worry, we try to take it easy and enjoy each other every now and then. 

Black and White. . .Thursday?

"Isn't it fun when the blogging world and the real world collide and come together.".  . At least I think that is what my new friend Ellie said. 

You probably know her from the blog Shine!. 

She and her family not only moved from Australia to the state I live in, they moved to a town about 15 miles from us.  

How cool is that?

On Monday Elizabeth and I set out to meet Ellie and her daughter Tia at the park.

Tia's mom and I hit if off right away. As Ellie said, we have been leaving comments on each other's blogs for awhile.  We kind of already know each other. 

However, it took a little while for the girls to be comfortable enough to loosen up and play. 

Tia and Mary Elizabeth

Okay, the truth is, it took my girl a little awhile to loosen up and play. 

My, Mary Elizabeth is cautious when it comes to meeting new people. She likes to take her time to  get to know the person. She wants to form her own opinions. It seems she wants to weigh the emotional commitment that a relationship may involve. You can see her thinking. . .Is it worth it . . . or??? 

There are some people that know this all to well. . .((right Karen?. . . BUT! She loves you now! You know she does.))

Tia is a vibrant child. 


She seems to have a take life by the horns attitude and just figures "You love me!" 

They say opposites attract. 

I am sure these too little girls are going to be great friends in time. They seem to have a few things in common. . . They share the same July birthday month. They are both four years old and they have older siblings that just adore them. 

After the park Elizabeth and I went to the giant pumpkin patch in town and shared some thoughts about the day. We walked around, looked at the pumpkins and talked about things. 

AND

  

My little thinker thought about things.  Later on that day, she told me she decided three things. 

One: It will be nice to have another little girl to play with sometimes.

Two: Tia will be a good new friend to have. 

And most importantly THREE ~ When she saw my pictures she decided, "Our shirts look much better with color on them." 

Go and see The Long Road to China's addition. . . The road just got shorter. 

The Apples that Is

You know, I really try NOT to show my emotions on this blog. I try very hard to keep IT happy and light. 

BUT! 

Don't you just hate it when you make the most delicious caramel covered, chocolate apple treats with your girls AND they look so cute and perfect with sweet little bows on them. . ((the apples that is)) 

AND 

Everyone loves them, even the baby . . .Who you finally get a GREAT! updated  picture of.  

I would love to tell you my little chocolate candy apples made that droll because she just loved them.  But, this picture was taken months ago.  

I would love to tell you that and more.  I would love to show you how perfect and cute they came out. . .((the apples that is))  


 I even wanted to give you the recipe. These treats are just perfect for little hands to make.  


BUT! I can't do any of that today. 

I erased ALL the picture I took yesterday.  

ALL OF THEM ARE GONE! ALL OF THEM!!!!! I don't have one picture from yesterday to show you. 

WAAAAAAAAAAA! 


Don't worry! I think I'll be okay. . . Maybe we can make them again after school today. . . ((the apples that is))  


A  delicious caramel covered, chocolate treat might be just the thing to make things better. 

So SHE can feed the ducks

Stephen and I went to Furman University the other day.   There was a talk on Human Rights in Russia or something like that. He needed to go to the lecture for his debate class.  

You see, when your a home-school debate mom, like me,  you get to do these things with your kids. You get to go to lectures about Russia and learn things you just didn't know like: what the United States Sanctions are regarding Russia and whether or not the U.S. should change our policies towards Russia.  And all kinds of interesting things.

 Or

If you have younger children you get to go feed the ducks your stale French Fries instead.

This is really good for me. 

Sometimes with these lectures, I have to ask my kids: "What did he say?", "Huuuuh", "That word means WHAT again?" and  "Does Russia have one "S" or two?"

So feeding the ducks with Liz is a really good cover for me. 

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When the lecture was over Stephen wanted to walk around the lake and the school. We sat and talked about Non-Russian things and I tried to get a few good pictures of the two of them looking at the camera at the same time.   

When Liz looked, Stephen looked away. . . at the ducks.

And

When Stephen looked, Liz looked away. . . at the ducks. 

I  just couldn't get it right.  

Until Stephen decided to change things up and be the amazing big brother we should all have.

Next week, we have to go back to Furman for another lecture on Russia. Kathryn as well as Stephen will be going to this one. We will not only learn more interesting facts about the policies the United States Government holds towards Russia, we are going to learn how to use a college library and take a tour of the school.  It should be really great and quite a learning experience for us all. I just love Furman.

Gee, I sure hope the ducks are still hungry and Liz wants to come with me. . .   You know, so SHE can feed the ducks.