Donna's Journey

Gloom and Doom! Local press has been telling us for several years that we are way overdue for the big one, an earthquake. If you read the national news we are fighting terrorism and America is preparing for a swine/avian flu Pandemic of global proportions. Read the world news and we are in an economic crisis of global dimensions that could slide into a depression.

Those who know history know that history is cyclic, probably due to the fact that natural man tends to sow seeds of these problems by his choices. Though our personal individual choices may have nothing to do with the coming of an earthquake, global economic crisis, terrorism, or global Pandemics, our choices can lessen the impact of these things on our families and communities.

So, what are we waiting for? Are waiting for the canary to keel over in the mine before we wake up?

We live in the last days, are we really surprised? At the present state of society, crisis are bound to happen, and will probably increase in frequency, duration, and intensity. The scriptures speak of all kinds of disasters. It is doubtful that anyone will escape being impacted. For we know that the rain comes down on the just and the unjust, alike.

In mathematics, if you change one variable you change the equation, and when you change the equation you change the answer. The mathematics of humankind is no different. When you prepare an individual, the individual impacts the family for good. When you impact a family for good that impacts the community for good. So, where does one start? What changes are needed? How do we prepare? What should be the scope?

Fortunately we are not left alone by God to figure this out. He has taught us through the environment and he had his servants try to prepare us. Nature teaches us that there are cycles of abundance and scarcity, so knowing this the wise will prepare in times of plenty for those times of scarcity. Nature teaches us of times and seasons, of reaping what we sow. So have we hearkened? Almost thirty-two years ago, leaders of my church presented a program to the members of our church that if followed would help members weather the storms of their personal lives, and the storms of society, and be able to help others too. The program was to be the foundation of the welfare program of the church and covers six areas of personal and family preparedness. I do not feel that this was meant to be gloom and doom, but to be gentle guidance to prepare to weather the storms of life, which come to all of us, and to prepare us to live more abundantly in hard times. I feel that goodness alone is not enough we must live by principles upon which the blessings we seek rest.

One of those principles is faith. Faith is an action word. If God guides us to do something and we lack the means whereby to make it happen, we need to step forward in faith and seek His guidance on how to do what He has counseled us to do and that may include assistance in locating the means to carry it out. If faith can turn back the waters, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and bring a child back to life, then faith can release people from debt and fill larders. God says there is plenty for all. He wants us to live abundantly. He says seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened, ask and it shall be given. We have knocked, He has opened, and He has provided a way and given an answer, will we heed it? The church has produced a new booklet. I feel it is cool and refreshing water on parched ground. The guidance for individuals and families can bless our lives. As you look at the member’s responsibilities you will notice that this is not just about storing food, but about developing spiritual strength, emotional strength, good stewardship, being forward thinking and fitting ourselves to not only care for ourselves and our loved ones, but the poor who are always with us.

We are reviewing our state of readiness to deal with the cycle in which we live. We are seeking Divine guidance on what is needful and how to obtain it on the means we have at our disposal. We want to thrive, not just survive in our circumstances. We also know that God will guide us as we hearken to His word. As we do, we will be able to weather what lies ahead and in the math of Heaven, if we are faithful we can lift others as well.

“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.”

~ Thomas Moore

For many people in this modern world these arts are lost, lost in the distractions of modern life. Our society seems to have drifted from its moorings and we are about to be lost in a sea, caught adrift, and we better start paddling.

May we come to realize the importance of these ordinary arts and reclaim them in our lives.
Arts of:
* praying together and for each other
* studying the scriptures together and having gospel discussions
* preparing a meal for those we love
* breaking bread with family and friends
* listening to others and thus validating them
* folding clean laundry and chatting with husband or child
* creating a cheerful and nurturing atmosphere in the home, rich soil to grow in
* cleaning and decluttering, making way for peace and comfort
* enjoying conversation
* reading aloud
* sending the gift of a letter
* caring for family members in sickness and in health, thus conveying value and love and many more ordinary things…

In short feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, educating the ignorant, freeing the captive, creating beauty, and such that we do for each other.

Technology when used wisely can enhance our lives and can even connect us over distances or when time does not permit a face to face experience. When unchecked it can distract us from our relationships with God, family, and others. Those very ordinary arts that our generation has not been taught to value or embrace are some of the most vital medicine our society needs. I call them lost arts that created beauty and grace in our lives. We need to embrace their importance and breathe life into a crumbling world.

In the September 2008, I had posted about Blogging With Purpose.
I need to revisit that idea. I have several blogs:
* I have this blog, which is a general blog which is a wordpress blog.
I have several other blogs which are mostly blogspot blogs and were intended to be low volume.
* One for posting books completed and my feelings about them
* One about my georgics experiences
* One for recipes
* One for my periodic scripture study in Joy Texts
* One where I share what I teach my children but I have not been regular enough at posting:( etc.

I thought of consolidating. Instead, I will probably create a website. I have looked at the categories on this site, I need to thin them down. If I am going to use the blog format I need to take it a bit more seriously and really learn how to use this wordpress. I can do links but have not been successful in getting pictures integrated here.

Right now my journey path looks like a butterfly, or maybe a moth, which tends to be a bit ADOS (Attention Deficit OOOO Shiny). Life at our house is in chaos, as we adjust schedules and routines after a daughter has married and left home, and as we embark on new adventures, and as we learn new technology. Chaos, as I have discovered, is what happens as systems evolve to a higher order, chaos is what we see on the surface, while new rhythms are being formed. So, I am thankful for your patience while I grow and reorder my life and generate new rhythms.

I started blogging here to share my “5 Pillar Journey.” That journey was completed in July 2006. I shared my Graduate Journey and that ended in October 2008. I started sharing about my Inner Abundance and my Journey to Zion, but life seemed to derail that focus. Right now I am a wife and home educating mother, working on writing books with my oldest daughter and creating an international organization with my two married daughters. At present, blog posts here are probably going to be irregular in posting and ADOS in content. Enjoy the ride!

This past weekend I took a trip to Anaheim for a business seminar. I learned about different social media:Twitter, Flicker, Whrrl, Facebook, Linkedin, Digg, and more…

As a 50 something, I have so much life I want to live, things to create, things to learn, much to appreciate. SO, I am evaluating these tools, where they fit, and how to manage them, if that be possible. My personal life mission require that I learn to use tools, but to do so wisely. So much to learn, so little time.

It is a bit intimidating like trying to jump into a baggage car of a passing train. I should shoot for the engine!

Ah, time for a good old fashion moonlight walk.

I am a HEWAHM (Home Educating Work at Home Mom). Lets get real, all moms that live with their children are. Why? Because every home is a school, and mothering is real work, vitally important work to the stability of the family and strength of society.

I am also a HEWAHM in another sense. My home is where my children get their academic foundation and I am a mom-preneur (a mom running a business from her home).

I do not outsource my children’s education. That did not work. Why? Basically because the schools were woefully inadequate at meeting my children’s social, emotional, physical, and academic needs. After all, if I was going to outsource 1/2+ (8 hours plus homework and after school events) of their waking hours, it should deliver. Schools provide a one size fits all outsourcing solution. In truth, children do not develop uniformly by age, and one size does not fit all. Those whose development fall in the middle of the Bell curve (where age and development meet) are more likely to have more of their needs met. Their age mates are mental mates. They have mental peers, people their size and age with whom they can associate. Those who have unique developmental and academic profiles at each end of the spectrum are less likely to have developmentally appropriate academic experiences and mental mates/peers. They are less likely to find even a small group of mental mates to see eye to eye with. Busy work, spending endless hours working through material already mastered, and simply being-cubby holed by age are not solutions. In the real world and out of the artificial environment of school we tend to seek mental mates, to at least find someone who understands us and to share our hopes and dreams with. In the real world we do not usually spend our lives forever with people our own age. If we do, are we socially atrophied? If we learn it for the test and forget it, did we really learn it? So, my children live in a resource rich environment, can work at their own speed, and have opportunities that school could not provide.

I am an ADHD mom-preneur (a mom running more than one business from her home). I started developing a social network for my children, which grew into classes that benefited them and others. I ran a mom group for years and many of us did park days with our children. I started a yahoo group to remind people of meetings, to share with those who missed them, and to announce activities. A mom approached me about starting a scholar class for our children, at the time I was contemplating a class for my younger children. I started another yahoo group to keep in touch with the moms with older children. Out of these endeavors, I created a school with classes for moms, children, and youth. I started it online and had local and online classes. See what happens when you get the ball rolling? It can become like a snowball. The school has been online since August 2002. Then in December 2006, I started a class in my school called The Princess Academy. This class is now becoming an organization. I am also an artist and have an insatiable urge to create. More on this later.

Yes, I have a new “techno domestic.” His name is Kenmore Elite Dishwasher. I am posting this not for you to try to keep up with the Jones (or Goffs), but if your dishwasher dies, or the need arises for a new dishwasher, I thought I would share my joy. Of course, when the need arises, check back with me and l will let you know if this new dishwasher is still performing.

Personally, I never saw a dishwasher as a need. I liked washing dishes and talking with a child, my husband, grandmother, or another adult. My family, on the other hand, have liked a dishwasher, especially when we have guests, which is often. I am taking advantage of technology on this one. This one is true to its word and has really reduced the work and expense in the kitchen. Prior dishwashers I have owned required that I not only pre-rinse of the food, but pre-scrub, or the dishes would look dirty.

Experiment One: Dried on Chili
The chili pot with cooked on chili was put in the dishwasher with no rinsing.
It came out spotless

Experiment Two: Dried on Big Breakfast
Traditionally, big breakfast was eggs, hash browns, orange juice, and bacon. If the dishes were not rinsed and the plates not scrubbed with a scrubber, the plates would have dried on residue. This load was not rinsed and was not run until hours later.
It came out spotless.

Experiment Three: Ham, Brown Sugar, and Citrus Baked on Bakeware
I baked a ham for Easter, in a foil lined pan to reduce clean up. the foil leaked and the juices from the ham, brown sugar, and orange leaked into the glass dish and baked on. It was about 1/8 inch in places. I knew this would take real elbow grease to clean, as well as scrubbers, dish soap, and a lot water and time. Since it was baked on, what was there to lose by trying the dishwasher. I expected to have to scrub the glass bakeware after it came out of the dishwasher.
It came out spotless. I do not need to foil line pans anymore! Not only do I save time, I save money, and reduce landfill refuse.

Experiment Four: Stinky Rubbermaid from Microwaving leftover Shrimp Scampi
Yesterday was my Princess Academy business day with my daughter. She had lunch with her husband and they microwaved to Rubbermaid containers of left over Shrimp Scampi for lunch. I did not realize that she placed the Rubbermaid dishes in a grocery sack and placed them in the back seat of my truck cab. When I got home I found the deposit. I opened it and whew, it was ripe.
I tried washing it in very, very hot soapy water, but yuck, to no avail! So, I put it in the dishwasher.
Again, spotless! Along with the clean look, the smells of ripe shrimp, onion, olive oil, and garlic are all gone!

Experiment Five: Overcooked Rice
I took left over rice and added some water and reheated it. One problem, rice scorched to the bottom and sides of the pot. When this happens, I usually have to scrape and scrub it clean with hot soapy water and it takes time, water, scrubbers, and soap. I put it in the dishwasher without rinsing.
It came out spotless!

Experiment Six: Utensils and Glassware
I would usually pre-rinse these items, and they often did not look good.
Again, they came out looking sparkling.

Often, before we got this dishwasher we would pre-scrub everything. Sometimes I even had to hand wash utensils or glasses after they came out of the dishwasher, before setting the table. Not always, but often.

This really does save time, water, foil, and scrubbers; which means a savings on money, as well. Truly a green machine. This was money well spent! Ah! More time for family and better time too, since dishes are less work and the children are actually excited to see if the new “Techno Domestic” is keeping up its good name and performing!

I have not posted much lately, but I will get around to it:)

I want to write about the wedding.

I was frustrated when I got the new Wordpress update and it would not accept my picture file and I had to settle for a link instead.

Sooooo much swirling around my mind.

Out of the abundance of our hearts we create. This is also true about our maker.

“To look at the wonders of creation is to look into the heart of God.” I saw this quote on some sign or nick-nack. Usually when people talk of God’s creations they are referring to the natural world, usually excluded is man. Man is a creation of God. He created us in His image. What was in His heart when we look at the wonders of all creation? I see that he definitely had a purpose. He carefully prepared a place to sustain us and then placed us here. “For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to past the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39. Why? Because He is our Heavenly Father and he loves us.

“The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.”
Ralph W. Sockman

I find that the more I learn the more questions I can ask. I do not find that seeking and finding an answer closes the gate, but rather the seeking of knowledge illuminates the path, which then if I pursue it, leads to places or ideas I may not have yet contemplated.

I just received a call that my seventh grandchild/grandson was born at 12:30 in Bakersfield, California. He is 7lbs. 7 oz. and mom and baby are doing fine. They almost did not make it to the hospital in time. All is well. Welcome to our world little Prince! Peter Yuri Goff. His middle name is inspired after Yuri Gagarin the Russian Cosmonaut who was the first human in outer-space, 12 April 1961.