About Me

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My Blessings

Who Am I?

I am a daughter of the King of kings. I have happily been Ron’s rib since 2001. I am a mom. I parent a 17-year-old young lady. She was home educated from 8th through the 11th grade. She is currently attending a charter school where she learns academics, life skills and receives group and individual therapy. I am also parenting a 6-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. The younger two have turned my once quiet home upside down and I am usually thrilled to hear their happy noises. My high school home schooling has morphed into a preschool and kindergarten.

My blog is an eclectic collection of my thoughts. I write because I find that journaling keeps my mind from being lazy. Writing forces me to think clearly about a topic and organize my thoughts so that others understand what I am saying. While I try to be honest with my readers, I do not use my blog to write about every stressor in my life. Still, my blog is a reflection of who I am; I write about what I am passionate about. I am passionate about my relationship to God and my family. When my daughter with FASD struggles with behaviors and emotions, I have felt a heart breaking lack of support in the church. So, I write about the churh’s role in including people with a diversity of abilities and disabilities. Even my blog’s name is designed to reflect my passions. The Hebrew word shanan means to whet or sharpen or to be pierced. In Deuteronomy 6:7 it is translated teach diligently. Our home school is named Shanan Conservatory, a place where I pray my children learn the art of living well by hearing, reading and obeying God’s revelation to man. Trail reminds me that my life is a journey; my destination is spending eternity with my Creator.

Prior to coming home to school, I spent over 18 years as a registered nurse, nurse administrator, clinical nurse specialist and, finally, a nurse educator

According to the Delany Sisters, a woman that will tell her age will tell you just about anything. Well, I am almost 44 45 46! Now I will tell you six more strange but true things about myself  ~

This is me in my soap making gear.
I look like I am going in for a diaper change!

This is a picture of my first batch of soap.
I know, how corny can this girl be?

• I taught myself how to make soap and really enjoy playing the part of mad scientist while mixing up my next batch.
• I have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane three times. I, of course, used a parachute AND a static line. The static line connects your ripcord to the plane. As soon as you leave, your chute automatically opens. That way, if you are frozen with fear, you are still able to enjoy a safe trip down!
• I met my husband on the Internet. I wrote him first. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to do that except he lived more than 1500 miles away. I figured we would never meet anyway. After a year of writing back and forth every day, I suggested he visit Washington (me) on his next vacation. I did wait and let him ask me to marry him though. I didn’t want him to be able to tell people I had chased him!

• My nickname growing up was Grace. I broke my arm three times as a kid. After the third time, the doctors questioned my mom, dad and I all separately. I am sure they thought I was being abused. After that my dad took me outside and taught me how to roll with a fall instead of trying to catch myself.
• Yesterday I got a letter from Who’s Who Among Female Christian Leaders and Professionals. They want to include my biographical information in their 2006/2007 honors edition. Who’d of thunk? I haven’t sent my biographical information in. How in the world did they get my name? I have not worked outside the home for more than 14-months.
• My husband and I have lived in our “new” home for 4 years and I still haven’t finished unpacking. Being a bibliophile married to a bibliophile, we found that we have way more books than bookcases.

So, now you know it all ~ Just like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way!

-:¦:- Julie -:¦:-

He has brought me here when I did not want to come for his own purpose. I, too, will look up into his face and say, ‘Behold me! I am thy little handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy ~ Hannah Hurnard, Hind’s Feet on High Places

Just for Fun

• Daily Jigsaw Puzzle
• Chicktionary (And, yes using the an anagram solver when playing this game really is cheating!)