Pardon the interruption, but we've got a birthday girl to celebrate!! January 12th, 2011

Ten years ago, we looked like this -



Then, She came along -



She, was our miracle and my personal savior.

She, gave me life shortly after my father lost his.

She, carries on his name in her own.

She, lit up our life when we needed it most.




She, lit up their life then,







And continues to do so today,






She was the first fourth generation of women,



She's funny,


Silly,



Makes great faces,



And always found the most peculiar, and sweet, ways to sleep,



She started growing up,





And became a big sister.

She was terrifying.  Apparently.



Yet entertaining,



And always looked out for her brothers,



She was always determined!











Consistently creative,



And invariably pensive,



She's joyous,



Loving,



Happy,



And playful,



She's inquisitive,







And loves to broaden her horizons,



She revels in her family,









Delights in nature,













Somehow, she continues to grow....


And grow.....


Maybe this is why, ;-)



And grow....



She has grown from this little person,



Into this big person,

She is our compassionate, kindhearted, supportive, devoted, strong minded, bright, curious, witty, intellectual, purposeful, fun loving, and imaginative TEN year old daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, and cousin.

I think we'll keep her :-).

Skating determination

Going at it on your own.....

Watching your child accomplish something that you could never dream of doing, is truly a humbling and amazing experience. I’m sitting here watching Analyzer skate. It’s an amazing thing to watch. She’s managed to teach herself such amazing moves that she caught the eye of a skating instructor and is now, you guessed it, in figure skating lessons! How does *that* happen?!

Problem with all this is that as a tried and true homeschooler with a lot of unschooling mixed in, she doesn’t get so much joy out of following the lesson’s instruction and progression..... She’d so much rather just do her own thing, and boy does she excel at it! Freedom. It's what it's all about! She wants to take lessons though, not ready to give those up. Yet maybe? But she thrives when she’s out there, truly in her element, on her own, picking moves up from ‘real’ figure skaters.

Watch and learn - a lesson in determination.........7/30/10

As a baby, we always joked that she would sit and stare at people, things, what’s going on around her. She would study things by intensely watching. She didn’t walk until 17 months, carefully watching other people do it first. Then, when she felt she knew enough by watching, she got up and did it.

Here she is studying her toes, wondering what the heck those things do....

Skating at the age of 9 is apparently no different. She has taught herself to skate, figure skate, by watching others do it. She watches, thinks, and only then, attempts things on her own. She gets disappointed when there aren’t other skaters out at a higher level than her to learn from. It makes me so happy that instead of being intimidated by those better skaters and feeling bad about her own skills (as I would have done) she takes advantage of other’s remarkable skills and learns form them with an open heart. Don’t get me wrong, she gets frustrated and upset just like anyone else, but for the most part, her determination shines through, we work through it and out she goes again watching, learning and trying herself!

 

One very important note of recognition: Analyzer has also been blessed to have adult skaters take notice of her and offer advice and informal coaching. These people have tremendous hearts, are beyond wonderful and we both appreciate them to no end! THANK YOU!