It has been an interesting start to the year, with many, many major things swirling about me. I am so very grateful and thankful for every blessing in my life.

So thankful for a new year - a new start - a new chapter - a new adventure in life.

January was a great month of growth for me in many ways and also a month of many shed tears for many in my life for one reason or another. I feel stronger in my life than I ever have and for that I am also grateful.

Our monthly ladies Bible classes have been GREAT. I love all the wonderful comments and deep thoughts brought forth. The time set aside to gather together to study and sharpen one another.

We (some of the ladies from Sunset) have also been meeting together monthly to get to know each other better and it has been a tremendous blessing. We have met together to share our lives with one another - to hear each other's life story - to get to know each other better. We share as much as we choose. It has been an eye opening experience in seeing how much closer we have become and how much more understanding we can be of one another. We (as in all of humanity) are all walking wounded one way or another in this journey of life - I am convinced no one escapes unscathed, but the love and support displayed to one another is incredible. God is so, so good. Words seem woefully inadequate to describe my feelings and overwhelming joy in the privilege of the relationships I have and enjoy.

February too has brought it's share of tears, but again tremendous blessings too. We just had a wonderful evening with the couples from Sunset after a gorgeous day too! It was a very memorable evening and one full of joy, laughter, and togetherness.

I live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, and give God all the glory for every inch of my life. I dare not think where I'd be without Him in my life, leading me by His word, and by His hand. I won't ever let go.

Do you know any brilliant artists? Musicians? Athletes? Engineers? Chances are they are dyslexic. Surprised? Don’t be. Statistics range from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5 people, not just children, but people (including children) have this congenital condition.

I have been reading a book on dyslexia, Overcoming Dyslexia, and recently attended a presentation on Dyslexia by one Susan Barton. I want to share with you briefly some interesting facts about dyslexia I learned and dispel some myths. Chances are you know someone or more than one ‘someone’ with dyslexia. With statistics like those, your children probably know someone in their class who struggles.

Facts:

Dyslexia is inherited; it runs in families.
Dyslexia affects males and females equally.
Dyslexia affects lefties and righties equally, BUT bear in mind, left-handed people make up only 15-17% of the population! So lefties are at higher risk.
Dyslexics have incredible problems with rote memorization, directionality, and spelling.
Dyslexia is treatable and preventable. Early intervention is the key!

Myths:

Dyslexia is a reading problem.
- It is not. Dyslexia is a LANGUAGE problem that also affects reading. In fact, it affects reading, writing, handwriting, and spelling.
Dyslexics are dumb/stupid.
- Dyslexics are usually quite smart, many testing in the gifted range for IQ. Scientific research has shown that dyslexics simply process language differently. But 'so-and-so' can read! How can he be dyslexic?
- Yes, but they can only fake it for so long. Usually a child can survive through K-2nd grade. BUT 3rd grade exposes them to words they cannot guess from the context and they cannot figure out from a picture. It exposes them to multi-syllabic words they can’t even begin to figure out.

What is it and what does it look like?

Dyslexia is a language processing disorder, a neurological disorder. Dyslexics can be taught to read, write, spell, and develop good penmanship; they just have to be taught differently.

The key between reading and not reading fluently is phonemic (foe-knee-mick) awareness. Phonemic awareness means that the children can hear the word, for example, CAT and realize that the sound is not CAT, but is comprised of 3 distinct sounds [cuh –ah- ttt). It is THE essential skill for reading.

There are clear warning signs to the observant eye and ear. Below are just some of the signs. Do not be concerned if someone you know has 1 or 2 of the items, many children do. However, dyslexic children display AT LEAST 3 and often times many more signs. For much more detail and list, please visit Susan Barton's website: www.BrightSolutions.US

Delayed speech – meaning the child is not speaking at all at 18 months, or even 24 months.
They have not selected a dominant hand at age 4 yrs or beyond
Trouble memorizing the alphabet, multiplication facts, dates, etc
Insensitivity to rhyme – they can’t figure out if a word rhymes or not. For example, you ask the individual to give you a word that rhymes with [cat] and they say kitten, pet, etc.
Poor reading fluency – they read slow and know it
Poor test grades despite knowing the material; can’t prove how smart they are on paper
Can’t pick up the foreign languages
Hate to read aloud; hates school
Mixes up syllables - aminals vs animals; pisghetti - spaghetti (at ages 3, 4, 5+)
Low self –esteem due to repeated failures
Difficulty sounding out unknown words
Odd pencil grip
Poor speller
Inconsistent letter spacing, character spacing, and word spacing
Can’t make letters sit on the line in writing
Can read a word on one page and a page later cannot read the very same word

Again, please visit www.brightsolutions.us for more information. Having a struggling student with reading, writing, spelling, and/or handwriting is totally preventable…IF parents AND teachers are observant. They won’t “outgrow” it nor will they “get over it”. They need help. Help them. Please.

If you would like to know more, I'd be happy to share with you. It is an amazing process of learning to read and so worth all the work to prevent a child from the trauma of struggling through school with dyslexia. Thanks!

But! I promise to get a real update done in the next 3 weeks. Please be patient...my life is so exciting I know you all are waiting for an update (lots of sarcasm here). I do miss Pleo and I actually do have something decent to post, just not the time to hunt-n-peck typing it out...yet :-)

I want to write a new post, but lack the time and energy right now. I am in the midst of drafting/writing school plans, which hope to complete this weekend (dreaming I am). Perhaps early next week they will be done. When that is done...then I will have time to think and write. ta-ta.

Well, an update of sorts. I am well into planning for my new freshman. I have been engrossed in a book by Barb Shelton on designing your high school. It is an excellent book and I have found it extremely helpful in helping me, help her, get the most out of high school. I have a vision of a totally different approach than elementary and junior high school. I want high school to be exciting and relevant and full of adventure for her. I want it to be the springboard to a love of learning for life. The further I get through the book the more excited I am for her. I am excited for the adventure she is about to embark upon and to see the beautiful young lady she has become. I am very proud of her.

I am also reading a variety of other books.

I just finished one called *Get Real* by Glenn Colley and Chuck Webster based on 1 Timothy 4:12. It is an excellent book for teens to put their faith into practice.

I also read *Who Moved the Goalpost* by Bob Gresh - for young men- (His wife wrote *And the Bride Wore White* for young ladies), both wrote concerning maintaining sexual purity in all aspects of one's life. They were both well done.

A book I finished tonight was on the life of Virgina Apgar. She was a remarkable woman, a 5-talent woman if you will, and the gifts in medicine she gave to the world were immense (in case you don't know who she is, she is the doctor who developed the Apgar score for newborns). The other striking thing that left a sizable impression on me was the lack of mention of anything remotely related to God. Nothing written about her faith, if she had one. She did many great things by the world's standards, but not one of them means anything if she was ignorant of God.

I am looking forward to our summer break. I hope to complete a few unfinished house projects this summer: main bath remodel (currently in limbo), baseboard replacements throughout the house, and the front yard touch up and the backyard redo. We'll see if they make it up the priority list.

I have many things on my heart and mind that I need to tun over to God. Life is a GREAT joy, but there are days that life is quite difficult. It is those times I try to remember the gift that life is and that this day shall pass and a new one begin; to make the most of every opportunity and see the blessing in every struggle.