Walk towards the light...

Anïas, Illïus, Xavier and me were trekking on our bikes through the woods next to the children's school (Fokusskolan i Nyköping) when the sun was setting.  We took this surreal photo with the iphone.  Walk towards the light children hehe... or alien abduction?

Summer is on the wall

A thank you goes out this week to the two budding artists Benjamin and Celin.  Their spring and summer theme is a happy one indeed.

Friendship is an ongoing theme at Fokusskolan in Nyköping.  The students and faculty work together on creating a conducive environment, where every person is important and have a voice to be heard. Many students escape to Fokusskolan to rise from difficulties they may have had at other schools.  That places an additional burden onto the staff, but this Christian school has divine help and many prayers.

No school is perfect.  No staff is perfect.  No faculty is perfect.  No family is perfect; however, having followed this chalkboard each week has left a significant in-print and testament, that the children are lovingly encouraged to aspire and grow at their own pace.

Fishing with a 'fish stick'

Xavier hopped off his bike as we were coming home from his great grandmother Mary-Ann's house.  We biked along side Nyköping's river when he suddenly stopped and climbed down the river bank.  I was at first impatient but decided to park my bike next to his and go down to sit with him.


-Xavier, you don't just hop down next to the water.  You can fall in.  You have to wait for me.
-Sorry mom
-What are you doing?
-I am fishing...
-Fishing?
-Yes, I am fishing.  This is my 'fish stick'.
-Oh, maybe we should go home and get some worms for the fish to eat.
-Ok... but I can fish sticks (and he reaches over to snag some bypassing sticks)

Xavier is learning about family

At Xavier's school there is a family project ongoing.  Pretty much all last month was dedicated to talk about what a family is.  It is amazing how broad or narrow a concept family can be.  It depends on who is speaking and what values one has.  Xavier has painted many portraits and this is his toilet paper portrait.

My middle son Anïas is getting real interested in genealogy and family history.  So we will see how far back we can get in our family history of Granström to start.  We have about 500 identified Granström members at this moment in time.  Not all relations have been figured out of course.

Xavier and Illïus

Another Monday and summer came with it

We all run to the chalkboard to check it out.  We had not long ago spring, jungle and cavemen on the wall.  Today we were greeted by summer time.  I just hope the students stay away from drawing winter landscapes for a while yet.

So this weeks glorious artists at Fokus skolan, Nyköping, are Anton and Johannes.  Thank you both for this great family moment your picture gave us!

It's the jungle baby! says the chalk

The weeks roll on! And man, Mondays are great for us. WE can't wait to see how the 'wall that says it all' turns out. This week, the artist at Anïas and Illïus school Fokusskolan in Nyköping, Sweden is a girl named Ärla. It was a lovely jungle theme that got Xavier going with all kinds of stories.

Unbelievable how creative kids can be. I absolutely love this wall and how it is being used. We have documented about 5 weeks’ worth of it now I believe.

Thank you all lovely creative children at Fokusskolan and creative staff for making this wall to begin with!

That nagging feeling... act on it

You know that nagging feeling or thought that pops into your head.  The 'call home', stop by so and so's house, send a card to someone or find that person and so forth.  Act on it.  Drop all and act on it.  I cannot tell you how many times it has been of utmost meaning when I just drop all and follow this type of promptings.

I'll write about some of them later.  I have already posted two similar experiences in this blog.

Take care

Spring is here!!! at least on the wall

...so it must be true!  This weeks artists at Fokusskolan, Nyköping, Sweden are August and Aron.
Thank you for being so creative!

This is a very exciting family fun activity.  On Mondays we can almost not wait until the school day has ended to get to go to the 'wall-that-says-it-all'. 

Xavier told me spring is here.  I asked him what in the picture was his favorite, and he replied:

-I like the rainbow the most...

-and the flower...

-and I like the rain with the cloud the most...

-and I like the sun...

-and the tree...

So in short, I think he really thought that the favorite part was the whole picture as it was together.  Life is that way, a blend of people and experiences makes a rich life, depending on how you look at it.  I like to use my rose-colored glasses.

Set a goal... and score!

So, since I launched this little blog project you fell upon, thanks to TWiM (this week in mormons), I have added quite a bit of silly and heartfelt stuff.

I am also following advice received. to distinguish and set goals for this year and plans on how to attain them.  It is real hard.  To set the goals up was easy.  To actively thinking about them every day and taking action on attaining them is hard work.

I twittered on my twitter account about things that inspire me at the moment.  One of those is to really be aware of what I do with my time; how I choose to spend it; how I prioritise tasks and how I sometimes MUST forsake good things for even better ones.  NOW that is REAL HARD. 

I am now going after a Swedish drivers license, since the American is not valid here.  DANG! 
I am finishing my pre-qualifications to get a Swedish teaching degree.
I am working hard on becoming a better wife. 
I am working towards being able to go to the temple.  Last time I went was 6 years ago in Washington D.C..

So it all starts for me with 'Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve.' -Alma 30:8

For me one meaning of that is to remember who I am, and be kind to all.  Act with care, charity and with loving patience.  Keep my eyes on the prise.

I take great counsel in Elder Henry B. Eyring that warns us "There is a danger in the word 'someday' when what it means is 'not this day.' 

I'll let you know how it all pans out.

Drinking in Nature

How greatful I am for the majestic creations of wonder. I love the beauty and solace one can find in the utmost simple things. It takes training, but the first step is to be at one place at one time. Still ones mind and halt ones feet, with a single thought. Now and here.

Spring was in full swing last week and this morning, frost came with cold weather.  The whooooole town is covered in crystals and frost.  I wish I had a real camera but feel so incredibly blessed to have this iPhone.  We are so fortunate to be able to bike or walk to our school and place of employment.  How many experiences we would have missed if riding by car or other means.

The children wanted to get to school 30 min or so before school start to play with friends. When we began to bike we all had to stop the whole way to school to look at the amazing crystals and shapes.  All trees, bushes and grass were completely crystalized. Needless to say, we were busy 'Drinking in Nature' and got to school right before bell time. 

This is taken on the ground outside the childrens school.  Lush gras and a peeping pine tree. 

Last week, the moss had turned green again from the humidity of spring and evaporating water.  This week, it was covered in beautiful diamond sparkles.  The small berry bush was completely covered in huge spiky icicles.

We have lots of Rosehip bushes growing all over the place in Sweden.  They looked amazing, completely surrounded by white crystal shavings.

 Patches of coastal grass made me so happy.  All the birch trees looked like they were covered by yards of spagetti.

Icicle, icicle where ever one looks.  What a wonderous marvel.

Children are sacred and deserves to be loved

I went to Stockholm this past weekend, specifically to Bromma to continue my Waldorf preschool teacher education. I have been studying for over two years time now and I am halfway to becoming a certified Waldorf preschool teacher (the pictures below are from creations we made this weekend).

Easter treats. A Scandinavian tradition. All items made of wool.

I have worked within the Waldorf preschool for a couple of years, and have had children that attended for a short while. I have learned that although the schools may not run so smoothly as a picky parent would want, the heart of Rudolf Steiner's Waldorf preschool concept is beautiful and so loving. So, I decided I must become a Waldorf teacher. Having 5 boys of my own in all ages ranging from 17 to 4, I understand more and more that it truly is a sacred and amazing blessing to be a mother AND caretaker. Nothing gives me more joy.

At the very heart of a true Waldorf school teacher, is the understanding how sublime and sacred the trust and privilege families and parents bestowed upon [us] when we are asked to care for their children, and I pray that these families and parents in turn have the ability and peace to know that their children is a most beloved treasure. A treasure not all can have, and that some have lost.

Within Waldorf, one must provide a true, practical and loving place for a child to be nurtured. Create a place in this world where the world makes sense. A place where the child can recognize itself each and every day. A place where the child can feel that the world is 'good'. To accomplish this very difficult task one needs to be loving, patient, willing to listen more than speaking, work on self-improvement and enjoy the work with children.

A spring fairy.

Rudolf Steiner explains in his book 'the child's upbringing', that any person around our children must be of moral thoughts and actions; that is a steadfast and true person; that practice clear actions of goodness and ability, to help a child grow up feeling safe, getting to know itself and it's surroundings in a healthy way, and let them be in a world that is good.

The way to accomplish this is to really enjoy working with ALL aspects of children. Easy and/or tough, while following the guidelines above. The power of children is their immediate strength and joy they display while copying those around them. Manners, actions, speech and behaviors, instantly copied into play. Think then, how important isn't it that they are all surrounded by loving and practical people.

Watercolor. A seed in the ground.

Watercolor. A winter landscape.

I love the practical and deep understanding Waldorf philosophy has of children. How one can clearly see that our bodies were meant to do work, and how one can stimulate ones intellect with activities that does not include 'hitting the books'.  How learning takes place in all moments throughout the day when children mimic people in their surroundings and by song, rhyme, rhythm, chores, play and activities that ask for use of both sides of the body at the same time. To also be taught to use ones innate senses as a method of learning. Waldorf makes room and lends itself to further allow ALL unique children and grown-ups to learn. Here one has many tools to set the stage for understandable, tangible, and wise learning. One carries an awareness of how mature each child really is and understand that these small people have very capable hands and strong resolves.

I painted this in my 'watercolor diary'. A course project with the topic '4 seasons'

Slip, slide and pancakes

Anïas, Illïus and Xavier arm themselves with helmets, rain/winter clothing and NO sleds as they head off sledding. They had the best time ever going down the hill on their 'bare' bodies. Upside down, sideways, sitting up, laying down, kneeling and spinning. To finish all off, they spend some time at the swing set.

We made a super-fast, extremely easy snack for these hungry little monsters.

Oven baked pancake:

Takes 10 minutes to whip together and about 20 minutes in the oven.

4 portions

· 3 dl regular flour or any combination really as long as it is not rye (tends to get too sticky from general baking experience)

· 1/2 tsp salt

· 6 dl mjölk

· 3 st ägg

· butter for the pan or use a cookie sheet

· A baking dish or deep cookie sheet. The batter should be about 1 cm (1/3 of an inch) high when poured.

Turn the oven to 225°C.

Crack the eggs, poor in milk and salt. Just whisk it very lightly. Pour in the flour and whisk some more. Pour it into the dish and pop it into the oven. It will look golden brown on top when finished and resemble a thin pizza crust in height. You can test it by picking up a corner and checking that it is not runny. And then test it on your children.

Yup, it was eatable!

So, today... the wall said it all.

I am now going to document the school wall.  I have been following 'the wall' for a while.  This school opened up in December 2011.  It is a recycled school from a big city and came in module pieces.  It took about 20 trucks and a big crane to build this school up in 2 days.  It looked like a major lego construction site.  The electricity, water, carpentry and all that took much much longer.

The artist is pointing with her foot at the hot drink.

This wall has become more and more an outlet of childrens creativity and imagination.  Today the kids were in a hot discussion over igloos, where they are, who lives in them.  The children are looking at the 2 people sitting in fur clothing, drinking something hot and steamy at the enterance of the igloo.

Chalkpaint + one wall + chalk = unlimited possibilities of stories to tell

Music, a positive influence in life, a moral responsibilty

We decided short after we moved to Sweden to cut out all radio playing.

The radiostations here play all manners of music.  The problem is that the english speaking music play as rater 'R'.  Imagine the shock and dismay one experience while shopping with ones children at a supermarket or clothing store and one can clearly hear all manners of explisit sexual/cursing/violence agendas blaring from the store speakers.

Lack of respect, awareness and care is clearly displayed across many radiostations.  We absolutely despise shopping and thus we NEVER shop in those stores that display such ignorance.  The good thing is, we save money, we rarely if ever shop stuff we don't need, and it gives us an opportunity with example to teach our children good moral lessons.  When one does not like a product or behavior... don't buy it, don't do it and avoid it altogheter.

Filter what you take in, and take control over what is allowed to affect you!  On the flipside of things, what do we allow ourselves to listen to or watch.  Is it uplifting and meaningful and helpful to our lives, or do we allow it rob us of time, positiv thoughs and moral values?  Are we making choices that desensitize us over time?  dull our senses and compassion towards those around us?  hope not. 

I refuse to not filter my surroundings.  It is a conscious decision and active living awareness, much like a diet.

I wrote earlier a bit about the TV here, but I decided that the radio is enough said.  Very similar things happens in TV land in Sweden.  There really is no such thing as 'Prime Time' and 'most-kids-are-sleeping' time (so we don't have a TV either).

Since I got an iPhone that I inherited from my loving husband Jeffrey, a new world has opened up to me.  I would like to share some uplifting, loving and modern music radio stations that can be found online.

Air1 is a music station with Evanesence, Linkin' Park style stuff.

K-LOVE is relaxing, inspiring and uplifting christian music for all ages and sexes.  It has occasional brief listener messages and such.

   

The Cake does not lie

When we got home from school, Illïus was the first one to pick up our mail.  He skimmed through it the way us parents do, and pulled out a Valentines day flyer.  As he scurried off into the kitchen I could hear him say "This is good, we have to make one.  Let me check what we have in the cabinet."

Now Illïus can't read yet, but he clearly read the flyer. His index finger was tracing the text as he announced:

Chocolate love cake (recepie at the bottom)

• One needs eggs, flour, sugar, salt and lots of butter.

Diving into the cabinet and fridge he pulled out all that he needed to make his interpretation of the recepie, and proclaims to the household  'TIME TO MAKE CAKE'.

Who can refuse baking time after that kind of displayed vigor and statement. So here it is good folk. Illïus and his Chocolate love cake, with the assistance of Xavier. Enjoy!

-This is the one! You don't need to tell me what to do.  I already read it.

-Yeah, he already read it mama.  We are going to make it.

-I will get the butter now.  You can get the cookie cutter now for the cake.

-Which one do we use?  I'll put all of them on the table... wow, too much stuff on the table!

-This is sticky mama.  It doesn't feel like butter.

-The cake will be happy now mama when it doesn't get stuck...

-Wow, look at that egg... it hopped in super fast...

Illïus laughs out loud at Xavier and the egg.

-Ok Xavier, I hold this like this  -pause-  and then you poor not too fast.

-Ok

This was the hard part to just be an innocent bystander and not actually participating in this project.  Great fun.

-Scoop more, scoooooop Xavier scoop...

-Ok

-Hey mama, I am doing it... 

-Yes you are honey, you are doing it!

-I want to do like plants vs. zombies and make the dough go splat.... hahahhaaa!

-No honey, you keep that spatula in check!

-Ok mama, I won't be 'clazy'

-That's my cookie!

-Wow! They made this cake themselves. It looks amazing.

-We make the best cake!

-yeah!

So in the end, the cake was served with happy love to their older brother Anïas and dad Jeffrey.  We always have an extra piece for our older brothers Duncan and Liam who live in the States. 

Chocolate love cake
150g butter
1 dl cacao powder
100g dark chocolate (we just used 0.5dl more cacao)
3 eggs
2 dl sugar
2 1/2 dl flour
1/2 tsp bakingpowder

150 degrees celsius
Blend sugar, eggs, melted butter and cakao together.
Blend in flour and bakingpowder. 
Shake baby, whip baby and stir.  Finished

Keep it in the oven in the middle until it is not jiggly or soft.  it took about 50 minutes for this cake that is about 2 inches tall.

Good luck and happy munching.

So here we are, 2012.

So here we are, 2012.

I decided to follow a great tip I heard over a podcast 'This Week in Mormons' episonde #50 from 2011-01-17.
Here was the tip:

One of the Talkhosts (believe it was Al Doan) on 'This Week in Mormons' has a relative who blogs on a regular basis.  As each year comes to an end, this person goes to an online bookbinding company  that pulls a copy of her blog -with pictures and all- and molds it into a hardcopy book format. 

For around 60 bucks, one can compile a year's worth of history, have it printed and bound into a hardcover book and receive it via mail for keepsake.

This I have to try!  Writing a journal is hard for me.  I procrastinate.

So here we go, 2012.