7-Quick Takes

 

Join the other Quicktakers at This Ain’t the Lyceum. This content uses referral links. That means if you make a purchase or click a link, I may make a small commission – just enough to support my diet coke habit. And there is no extra charge to you. It’s a win/win! Read our disclosure policy for more info. 1. This week we found out that Google Plus was hacked. And now apparently it is going to be discontinued. I had a Google Plus account and my blog posts showed up there, but I wasn’t really active on it. I think I had a little over 200 followers there. I also used Google Plus for my comments on this blog, but I discontinued that this week. But that got me to start thinking – Blogger is a free service. I don’t really pay anything to use it although I do pay for the domain name every year. Who is to say that Google couldn’t choose to discontinue this free service at any time?

So I’m biting the bullet and moving over to WordPress. It’s been a long time coming. I might be one of the few bloggers in the homeschool blogging word that actually likes Blogger. But I’m taking my time starting with deleting old things out of my archives that are dated. I don’t really have a hard goal – I just want to do it correctly. I’ll keep you posted. The best way to keep up with the blog is to sign up for the e-mail. I’ll be sure to move my RSS feed when I move the blog. 2. Next week, my Catholicmom.com article is all about some of the problems I have with how we handle the sacrament of confirmation. It’s not ranty, but I do have some strong feelings about confirming the older kids, telling them it’s not a graduation, and then treating it like a prize to be won after completing service hours, filling out paperwork, mandatory retreat attendance, etc. We are very goal oriented in the West, certainly in the United States. So, of course, putting down requirements with a goal that ends in a big ceremony and celebration is going to feel like a graduation! Anyway, that post should be up on Tuesday.  3. I have a bunch of great kids in my science class this year. We have great discussions and all of them participate in the experiments. This week, we had four experiments to do for Chapter 4 of Apologia’s Physical Science. I spent a good part of the week making sure I had all of the materials I would need. On co-op day I spent a good 45 minutes setting everything up and double checking each experiment. I was positive that I would need the entire hour of class time to get it all done. To my surprise, we were done in 30 minutes! I told my class, “I can’t believe how quick and easy that was! We got done a lot faster than I thought we would.” One of my students quipped, “It’s not like it was hard!” Not like it was hard for whom? This makes me think I’m going to stop babying them and find a way for THEM to start doing the setup. Maybe I should just bring the materials in a box and tell them to figure it out. I’ll have to think about it.

4. This week we remember St. Pope John XXIII on his feast day. I certainly have my issues with the legacy of John XXIII, but I still think that perhaps the outcome would have been different if he had lived to the close of Vatican II. Nonetheless, he became pope at age 76 and I think it’s worthwhile to note that there is no reason that older people can’t take on big projects. While you’re here, you can serve, and that’s what Pope John XXIII did. I admire that. 5. In a few weeks, I am going to have to take a plane trip to visit relatives out of state. Or we’re going to drive 15 hours. We haven’t decided yet. My brother-in-law is very ill and his family is having a birthday party for him. Of course, I will be going with Mr. Pete. With that in mind, after blogging about my knee this week, I decided that I should go and get my knee injected with cortisone shot just one more time before we leave. I thought then I would be pain-free if we fly or if we drive and we have to stop to eat and bathroom breaks. So I went to my doctor’s office to pay my bill and make an appointment. They offered me a time on November 1 that I gladly took. On the way back home I started thinking about that. “Something happens on November 1,” I thought. Of course, it’s All Saints Day. But it wasn’t until I went to bed at night, I remembered this. It’s been 16 years. Grief is a funny thing. Something so raw and painful at one time has given way to time and distance. Still there, but not as powerfully. I think that’s a good thing. 6. Here’s something kind of fun – A monthly subscription box with Christian Jewelry and a Devotional.  Get ready to receive monthly Biblical themed jewelry chronicling entire Bible stories and devotionals that will bring the Bible to life from the scriptures to your wrist! Whether you’re a “Babe in Christ” or a “Seasoned Saint”, this is the perfect box for your faith-filled lifestyle!

• Retail value $65+
• Each box includes one fully charmed handcrafted bracelet, one scripture themed devotional, one cleaning cloth and a charm description card.
• Monthly devotionals to help you meditate on the word of God, strengthen your faith, and encourage you to evangelize to others. Our products are beautifully handcrafted, evangelizing conversation starters. When someone compliments your jewelry, you can minister the Word of God on the spot.
• For every box shipped, we donate supplies to the Homeless Veterans organization Popshouse.org.
• FREE shipping on every order!

7. Friday freebie – The Keys to High School Success! Just register and watch the Webinar immediately for free.  There’s a slight delay when you press the start button so just be patient. It will start!