happy being trevy

    Praying with Trevy has always been part of our nightly routine.     Except when sick, Trevy is a sweet, sappy, cuddle bug at bedtime.  Even when dripping with exhaustion, there is something really special about snuggling up, reading a book, singing a song and praying.  No matter how cranky I am, it always gets me in the heart.  It’s one of the most peaceful moments in my day.    I do naps and Daddy does night nights.      Now that Trevy is understanding so much…     I’ve had this heart tug to make prayer time mean more for him.      Once upon a time, I’d read a sweet post that shared a prayer over their children. Moving from head down to toes. It included words like “heart of a warrior – feet that run to Jesus”.   I thought I’d read it over at Sand in the Gears …one of my favorite reads which I’m shamelessly plugging. In fact, I emailed the author so convinced was I. Tony ...

    “I am a parent advocate. I have been my son’s advocate for the past twenty-two years, and an educational advocate assisting other parents for almost a decade. I know what it is to sit in an IEP team meeting as both the intimidated parent and as the educational advocate supporting other parents. I have seen parents overwhelmed in a meeting laden with the special education acronyms, rules, regulations, and negotiations that lead to the development of their child’s IEP. In my several decades of on-the-job-training, or “combat duty,” I have come to believe that reading an IEP is nothing short of having to learn and master a foreign language .  But it can, and must be done.”  -- Marcie Lipsitt, NCLD Parent Leader, excerpt from Why and How to Read Your Child’s IEP .     I have often wondered why God would allow us to go through the whole sha-bang of becoming career missionaries only to bring us home.  It’s not something you just “do”, ya know.  W...

    Play dough is all the rage these days!         in case you hadn’t noticed         I double dog dare ya to surf Pinterest and not stumble on a play dough pin!  But then, why would you want not to when play dough is the bestest?!         My (this is not a new idea and there are plenty of other similar ones out there but this was the first I’d seen) original inspiration for this project was Somewhat Simple’s Wacky Sacks .  It was one of those “holy what a great play dough idea, batman!” moments!  This project is SO easy that even the non-craftiest mommies out there (to which I am eternally bonded – we are sisters, kindred spirits, besties) can and should do it!         And just in time for Daddy’s Day too!           You’ll need…     Play dough .  I bought mine at the dollar store.  Next year maybe I’l...

    I have a bad habit.     I print things out.  With the best of intentions.       The get stacked neatly on my desk.  Other paper work gets stacked neatly on top of that.  Before long, my pile is too big to manage so I hide it in a drawer.  Where I promptly forget all about my good intentions (among other things lost in the paperwork abyss).  Eventually, I’ll get around to cranky-cleaning stuff out.  Clutter makes me cranky.     Which is how I stumbled across one of the most adorable (and FREE ) printable mini-books.  Evah!      Daddy, Daddy Who Do You See?   by Katie Yeh of www.playingwithwords365.com     Otherwise known as my fave Speech Therapy website.           I had printed it out who knows when ago.  And then stacked, stashed, and forgot all about it.  Until I could take the stuffed drawers no more and found i...

    Trevy attends our local public school’s integrated preschool program four half days a week.  Although next year is K…sniffle sniffle.   Integrated is just a fancy way of saying half the class or less is special needs and half the class or more should be peer models.     I like the program we have wrapped around him.  It’s working and he (mostly) enjoys school.     But we also do a lotta learning here at home too! (homeschool mommy syndrome?)     I’m in love love love with the workbox/tot tray concept.  The OCD in me adores how organized it is!  Plus it looks so cute and learn-y all cozy in the school/therapy room.         Inside each of those little drawers (I call them trays) lives mommy picked toys and activities.   I rotate what’s inside them on a monthly basis.  Sometimes more often.  Depending on how creative and energetic I’m feeling.      ...

  Your Therapy Source     gave me the wonderful gift of reviewing the downloadable and printable e-book         Monster Mazes         Confession – I was so excited to get started with these that I didn’t (ahem)  read the instructions first and was mildly disappointed that printables were so small.     Silly me.      They’re so small so you can slip them right into a clear cd case!     Which when you think about it – is brilliant!         A clear cd case is great for things like:   Using dry erase tools (of which I am a HUGE fan) Keeping the worksheets in one place and organized Extra fine motor work – by virtue of being smaller & also because curious fingers will learn how to pry it open For popping into mommy’s purse (or if you have a Trevy too…diaper bag) to keep little ones occupied in waiting rooms, the market or where ever ...