Been listening to Big Daddy Weave :)
David and I have been discussing pre-college-planning for Kayla. She will be a high school freshman this year. By the end of her sophomore year we would like to have taken her to several colleges so that we can get a feeling for the campuses and start exploring the degree programs that interest her. We are also talking about the option of clep testing to give her a jump start in credits, lighten up her college schedule, snd save some moolah. We don't want to get to her senior year and realize that there were prerequisites that we need to scurry for. She already has saved up enough to buy a car through her job in our dog business, so hopefully in 4 years she can have a decent college savings built up. I can't believe we are here.
Getting to the hotel in Nashville within the hour. The baby has only slept about an hour ALL day and the screaming is getting TO ME!!!!!!
I have so many questions about serotonin right now. I'm learning stuff. : ) Did you know that 80-90% of the serotonin produced in the body is produced in the gut? BUT! Serotonin cannot cross over the blood-brain barrier. So the brain has to produce all of its own serotonin. Just a teensy glimpse at thd Good brain stuff I'm learnin.....
An absolutely wonderful week at Alabama Bible Methodist Camp in Pell City, AL. Good friends and fellowship . God-filled services. And some incredible times with some amazing, real ladies. It was positively healing for me.
At the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness as a bedtime read-aloud with the boys. It is part of the Wingfeather Saga Series. It's weird, but in such a good way.
Working hard on my thought life. Reprogramming some very deeply entrenched lies from my brain wiring. Cool work going on. More to come on that later.
Getting ready to work through an Answers in Genesis curriculum with the kids in summer family devotions. They eat that stuff up.
Indiana Band Camp starts tomorrow! We are meeting the kids there tomorrow. David will drop me off then head back home to Frankfort to work for a few days before going to Pennsylvania at the end of the week for Bus Convention meetings.
38 pages
Format: Kindle ($4.99)
This is not written particularly well, which was a little shocking, coming from a guy who claims to be able to read a book a day. It seems that, perhaps, this gentleman's first language is not English. BUT. I gleaned some great tips from this tiny, quick read.
You don't have to read every book word-for-word. You can glean the nuggets of a book without spending hours and hours. You look over a book 3 times, using these 3 steps.
1. Preview: (5-10 minutes)
Look at the
* Title
* Table of Contents
*Copyright date (He actually says "Copy write date." Yikes! Drives me bonkers!!!)
* Author
* Read the first and the last paragraphs of each chapter throughout the book.
2. Overview: (15-30 minutes)
* Go somewhere like Wikipedia to read a summary
* Power Skim (quickly skim each page and note headings, subheadings and phrases that pop out to you.
* Read the first sentence of each page and skim everything else or read the first paragraph of each page.
3. Actual Reading (60 minutes)
He says that you already have an understanding of the main points of the book, so reading and retention are higher.
* Divide the read into 20 or 30 minute sessions
* Slow down on the first sentences
* Identify the main content chapter and read it slower
* look for the 1-2 main ideas or golden nuggets of the book
* move your hand down the page to encourage faster reading
So...there are some interesting ideas. I have noticed that sometimes the unfinished books on my shelf are books from which I have already gleaned the big idea, and am having trouble slogging through the extra words. So in that way, these ideas sound somewhat helpful to me. I like the idea he suggests of just picking up a book out of my pile and spending 15 minutes doing the Preview (step 1), then working through one book at a time.
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW::
the green hills of Kentucky as we roll towards Alabama camp.
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO::
Josh Groban. Rain on the windshield.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO/DREAMING OF ::
I dream of teaching my kids to snorkel and taking them on their first real snorkeling trip.
THANKFUL FOR ::
We found my lost phone literally minutes before pulling out for two back to back weeks of camp. It had slipped under one of the carseats in the van.
Also thankful for my mom and dad and sister who are caring for and making memories with our 4 oldest while we speak in Alabama.
PONDERING ::
Working through the 21 day brain detox. It sounds hokey but its not. It's powerful - good. And connecting some dots from years of study and experience for me.
REMEMBERING ::
Swimming with a giant sea turtle while snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii.
READING ::
How to Be a People - Helper
By Gary R. Collins
Every Thought Captive : battling the toxic beliefs that separate us from the life we crave.
By Jerusalem Clark
(Speaking prep....)
TO LIVE THE LIFE ::
I had some answers to prayer last week, thanks to the prayers of some wonderful friends.
TOWARDS RAISING HUNGRY LEARNERS ::
I am working through a curriculum by Center For Lit for teaching your kids to read critically through Socratic questioning. And we are discovering ans experiencing some wonderful books in the process.
A FEW PLANS FOR THIS WEEK::
On our way to speak and preach at Alabama Bible Methodist Camp in Pell City, AL. Then we scurry back next weekend because the kids and I have a week of band camp and David heads to meetings in Pennsylvania. Busy times.