The Passionate Homeschooler

Internet Fast

2012-01-19T22:14:00.000-05:00

I hear a still small voice calling me; wooing me to take a time away from this screen.
So off I go to obey that voice...and I don't know how long.
I will check up lurkingly on you lovely people every once in awhile and will check emails each morning if you care to chat.
You will continue to be in my prayers and I will greatly miss your thoughts and stories. Your words have made me richer and taught me many wonderful lessons. You have inspired me in ways you will likely never know. Keep looking to Him...Pam

Naturalist Studies: Part Two

2012-01-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

Part Two:

Living books of nature and naturalists:

Excerpts from The Handbook of Nature Study (Animal section):
"The conversation of the barnyard fowl covers many elemental emotions and is easily comprehended. It is well for the children to understand from the first that the notes of birds mean something definite. The hen clucks when she is leading her chicks afield so that they will know where she is in the tall grass; the chicks follow" cheeping" or "peeping" as the children say, so that she will know where they are; but if a chick feels itself lost, its "peep" becomes loud and disconsolate; on the other hand, there is not sound in the world so full of cozy contentment as the low notes of the chick when it cuddles under the mother's wing. When a hen finds a bit of food she utters rapid notes which call the chicks in a hurry, and when she sees a hawk she gives a warning" q-r-r" which makes every chick run for cover and keep quiet. When hens are taking their sun and dust baths together, they seam to gossip and we can almost hear them saying,
"Didn't you think Madam Dorking made a great fuss over her egg today?"

"..Contrast these low tones with the song o the hen as she issues forth in the first warm days of spring and gives to the world one of the most joyous songs of all nature. There is quite a different quality in the triumphant cackle of a hen telling to the world that she has laid and egg and the cackle which comes from being startled." Handbook page 48-49

Excerpts From A Naturalist Buys and Old Farm by Edwin Way Teale: (about his farm)
"At Trail Wood we use clocks and calendars. But the important divisions are marked in our minds in a different way: the Time of the Katydids, the Time of the Melting Ice, the Time of the Fireflies, the Time of the Turning Leaves, the Time of the Woodcock's Song. The calendar of nature has other divisions than weeks and months. It notes a long succession of events annually recurring." pg. 56
"We see northern orioles ripping long tough strips from the dry stems of last year's milkweed plants and chipping sparrows hunting for hairs shed by animals. Sometimes the nests of these sparrows are made largely of fragrant sweet vernal grass. Occasionally one will be lined with the reddish hair of a deer, at other times with long hairs from a cow's tail found caught on barbed-wire fences. I have one unusual nest given me by Bert Inman, who lives at the south end of Hampton. It is lined with the soft blond hair of his young daughter, Jane. When, on a warm spring day, her mother cut her hair under an apple tree in the yard, a chipping sparrow collected the discarded material as a windfall in completing the small cup of its nearby nest. ..Wood thrushes have made use of soda straws in place of twigs and great crested flycatchers have employed strips of cellophane in place of snake skins." pg. 74

"...as to the many descriptions of the song of so common a bird as the robin. To John Muir it appeared to be saying: "Fear not! Fear not!" To many, at the end of a rainy day, it calls" "Clear up! Clear up!" And eighty-year-old woman in Massachusetts once wrote to me that what the robin really says is: "Jonathan Gillett, shine your skillet, shine it nice and clean!" In the sunset of April days, it seems to Nellie the robin sings: "Cheerio! Cheerio! Spring is here-eo!" pg. 81

Are you inspired?
Charlotte said, "The real use of naturalists' books at this stage is to give the child delightful glimpses into the world of wonders he lives in, to reveal the sorts of things to be seen by curious eyes, and fill him with desire to make discoveries for himself. There are many [Kingsley's Water Babies and Madam How and Lady Why. All Mrs. Brightwen's books. Miss Buckley's (Mrs. Fisher) 'Eyes and no Eyes' Series. Life and her Children, etc. All Seton-Thompson's books. Long's The School of the Woods, The Little Brother of the Bear. Kearton's Wild Nature's Ways. Living Animals of the World.] to be had, all pleasant reading, many of them written by scientific men, and yet requiring little or no scientific knowledge for the enjoyment." CM Vol. 1 pg. 64 (referring to younger children)

More resources include choosing any good living type book of someone you are fond of who loved nature: perhaps The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, Beatrix Potter's life, or John James Audubon, or Carl Linnaeus, Thoreau or Muir.

We have/or are currently also reading these naturalist type books: My Indian Boyhood, and How the Heather Looks, Circle of Seasons, Snail Shell Harbor, Two Little Savages, The Winter of the Fisher, and Tom Browns Field Guide to Wilderness Survival.

For the moms:
"The mother cannot devote herself too much to this kind of reading, not only that she may read tit-bits to her children about matters they have come across, but that she may be able to answer their queries and direct their observations. And not only the mother, but any woman, who is likely ever to spend an hour or two in the society of children, should make herself mistress of this sort of information; the children will adore her for knowing what they want to know, and who knows but she may give its bent for life to some young mind designed to do great things for the world." CM Vol. 1 pg 65-66

All bold text and bracketed information I have added only for clarity.
Click here to go back to part one.

Naturalist Studies: Part One

2012-01-17T13:57:00.013-05:00

Part One: Why should we study the 'nature noticers' or naturalists?

The Call:

Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things. Consider, too, what an unequaled mental training the child-naturalist is getting for any study or calling under the sun––the powers of attention, of discrimination, of patient pursuit, growing with his growth, what will they not fit him for? Charlotte Masons Original Series Vol. 1 pg. 61-62

Every child has a natural interest in the living things about him which it is the business of his parents to encourage.CM Vol. 1 pg. 58

The Way:

We all know how eagerly every child takes to the lore of the fields--but
How shall we tell what we don't know, and do we not all wish we knew more of this sort of thing? Here is more work for the society, A couple of field excursions every year under the lead of a naturalist, with opportunities for asking questions, and with a note-book, should give us at least a score of two of new acquaintances every year, and, what is more should initiate us into the art of seeing--both communicable possessions, to be passed on to the children. From In Memoriam pg. 125

As soon as he is able to keep it himself, a nature-diary is a source of delight to a child. Every day's walk gives him something to enter: three squirrels in a larch tree, a jay flying across such a field, a caterpillar climbing up a nettle, a snail eating a cabbage leaf, a spider dropping suddenly to the ground, where he found ground ivy, how it was growing and what plants were growing with it, how bindweed or ivy manages to climb. CM Vol. 1 pg.54

Children should be encouraged to watch, patiently and quietly, until they learn something of the habits and history of bee, ant, wasp, spider, hairy caterpillar, dragon-fly, and whatever of larger growth comes in their way.pg. CM Vol. 1 pg.57

The Syllabus:
If there are farm-lands within reach, they should know meadow and pasture, clover, turnip, and corn field, under every aspect, from the ploughing of the land to the getting in of the crops.

Marsh Marigold or Cowslips

Milkwort, eyebright, rest-harrow, lady's-bedstraw, willow-herb, every wild flower that grows in their neighbourhood, they should know quite well; should be able to describe the leaf––its shape, size, growing from the root or from the stem; the manner of flowering––a head of flowers, a single flower, a spike, etc. And, having made the acquaintance of a wild flower, so that they can never forget it or mistake it, they should examine the spot where they find it, so that they will know for the future in what sort of ground to look for such and such a flower. 'We should find wild thyme here!' 'Oh, this is the very spot for marsh marigolds; [the seasonal changes] we must come here in the spring.' If the mother is no great botanist, she will find {a field guide} enough to identify the flowers, by common English names, and pleasant facts and fancies that the children delight in. CM Vol 1 pg.51

Children should be made early intimate with the trees, too; should pick out half a dozen trees, oak, elm, ash, beech, in their winter nakedness, and take these to be their year-long friends. CM Vol. 1 pg 52

"Then, as for the 'living creatures,' here is a field of unbounded interest and delight. The domesticated animals are soon taken into kindly fellowship by the little people. Perhaps they live too far from the 'real country' for squirrels and wild rabbits to be more to them than a dream of possible delights. But surely there is a pond within reach––by road or rail––where tadpoles may be caught, and carried home in a bottle, fed, and watched through all their changes––fins disappearing, tails getting shorter and shorter, until at last there is no tail at all, and a pretty pert little frog looks you in the face. Turn up any chance stone, and you may come upon a colony of ants."CM Vol 1 pg. 56

"Town children may get a great deal of pleasure in watching the ways of sparrows––knowing little birds, and easily tamed by a dole of crumbs,––and their days out will bring them in the way of new acquaintances. But much may be done with sparrows." pg. 59

"Most children of six have had this taste of a naturalist's experience, and it is worth speaking of only because, instead of being merely a harmless amusement, it is a valuable piece of education.." pg. 60

The Examples and Inspirers:
Selborne would never have been written had it not been that the naturalist's [Gilbert White's] father used to take his boys on daily foraging expeditions, when not a moving or growing thing, not a pebble nor a boulder within miles of Selborne, escaped their eager examination. Audubon, the American ornithologist, is another instance of the effect of this kind of early training. "When I had hardly learned to walk," he says, "and to articulate those first words always so endearing to parents, the productions of Nature that lay spread all around were constantly pointed out to me . . . My father generally accompanied my steps, procured birds and flowers for me, and pointed out the elegant movements of the former, the beauty and softness of their plumage, the manifestations of their pleasure, or their sense of danger, and the always perfect forms and splendid attire of the latter. He would speak of the departure and return of the birds with the season, describe their haunts, and, more wonderful than all, their change of livery, thus exciting me to study them, and to raise my mind towards their great Creator." CM Vol. 1 pg. 59

The resources:
I hope to entice you to use guide books often in your daily recording, drawings and walks; Audubon being the best in my humble opinion. And especially the more thorough resources, which give us richer details such as in The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. This treasure is completely worthy of using for your daily studies. Books such as this are too valuable to sit on the shelf as a casual reference. One can read short portions from it daily for narration.

Naturalist Biographies:
In part two, I will share a few excerpts from naturalist biographies that we (or I) have read. In reading these we are inspired by the first hand experiences of real people who love nature and know much of it. They are 'nature noticers' and by following their example, we will also learn how to develop this art. Selective readings of Autobiographies are also enjoyable to read aloud or silently for narrations, especially when the writer has personal knowledge of the person of whom he writes.

Click here to go to part two.

Journal Girl

2012-01-14T17:06:00.006-05:00

I'm pretty excited about the journal I found today. It's called The Gardener's Journal.

Elvin McDonald wrote ideas for what to do each month. I got it for 80cents at a thrift store! I love it when people donate brand new journals for people like me!

How awesome, because just last night I was searching on the internet for just the right journal. My original need was for a new sketching journal or daily planner. I wanted one with sectioned areas and something maybe I could put pretty pictures in. (I nearly didn't go in, but my friend seemed eager. Coincidence? Nope. I think it's a God thing.))

It's no problem that it has artwork from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts! And each art piece is labeled with the name of the art and date. It has cool sections and will last a year, which I really like. It also has poetry from famous people like Emily Dickinson and quotes from people like Thoreau.

It's also a perpetual calendar, making it usable for any year. These are all very good qualities. (Its here.) But I doubt I will have enough space for a daily planner and the paper isn't right for sketching.

But with this kind of deal, that is not a problem.I can always re-fashion it.

For example, where the squares have info about the weather humidity, I can use those categories for something else. Not sure yet, but something to check off that would work. Or my high and low mood swings? Lol! Any thoughts, folks?

Or if there's an image I'm not fond of, I can cover it with one of my own pictures, or from a magazine. (We get old magazines free at our local libraries.)

Or I can re-purpose it: like for a Book of Firsts for sightings from nature. It does cover the whole season, after all! Or it could be a school planner including the book of firsts theme. Or a place for briefly telling about each day's highlights. Or for Prayers or one sentence thoughts for what's up each day.

You've probably noticed I'm quite the journal girl. I've written in them since I was a little kid. Large portions of my life are all boxed up in multi-colored journals.

I've shared about all kinds of journals here. Commonplace books, art and nature journals, sketching books, planners, and gratitude journals. You can click in one of the above terms in the search bar, or see the side bar on the left, or see some ideas here, for more journal posts.

Here is a page layout from my grateful book. It is chock full of things I love, things I hear, drawings, etc. I update it at least once a month. That way it's not like a chore, but a relaxing thing.

And my sketch and paint journal is always left out so I will heed it's call to me to use it. I try to draw in it at least 2 times a week. Usually I draw the kids.

And of course, my daily planner. What I need to do, my devotional verses, my prayer lists, etc.
I'm sure you all have journals too. Care to share?
If you want to share a page with your journals on it, please do! Just put the address for that page in my comment box. OK?

Hey,
thanks for listening to thoughts here. For commenting and encouraging me. It is so great to have accountability and fellowship with other homeschooling parents. God bless.

Pondering Milestones

2012-01-12T11:28:00.007-05:00

Remember the excitement of your birthday as a child? I sure do.
How I longed for and counted down the days!! It was the highlight of the year, even if the gifts were few. Because...

It meant that I was going to be celebrated and remembered and cherished. And the busy adult stuff even got laid down for a wonderful bit of time. And the party commenced. For ME!

(Follow me down a small rabbit trail?)
The old me has a hard time with all these milestones. But..

I am making it a point to change my thinking this year.
Trying to form new habits. And these changes begin in my thought life.
My thoughts about certain things as a grown up are somewhat different than my thoughts about the same things as a kid. Have you noticed this also?
And sometimes my years of doing this stuff just gets in the way. (Sorry, it's hard to explain.)
See, I start to interject my own feelings into the mix. About milestones, that is.
But I don't want to rob these children of one ounce of joy that belongs completely to them because I am sad that time will not stand still and wait for me to adjust.

Some of us grown ups in some ways want to keep these babies little forever.
Especially once we've witnessed firsthand just how quickly time rushes ahead.
But we can't. And there's no use trying to slow things up.

So, since I feel the call to embrace contentment in every area of my life, I will begin today and with this birthday, then the next birthday, and then my son's wedding ..and so on.
I have seen God grant my wish for contentment in one area. And I'm on board for Him to do it in every area. I am quite ready for Him to take out the old me and put in the new

(Off the rabbit trail now...)
So here goes the new me.

Happy almost birthday to our little girl, our sweet Lydia...
with the middle name of Hope; a sweet life between two miscarriages.

Who has been, for this whole wonderful year, an acceptable and very awesome five...

And will very soon be, in just a few weeks, an equally wonderful SIX.

I adored being six. Can you remember it also?
I hope she adores it too.
So this mom who birthed her and wrapped her in pink, and nursed and rocked her and watched her sleep---just the other day....

Will not get all sober about her birthday coming up. Instead,
I will take a deep breath,
and whisper a prayer,
and decide in my heart
that I will love the joy of the milestones more than any old sad feelings of bittersweetness that wash over me as our children have these milestones.
Be it growing up, or getting married, or moving out.

We will just not have the tears.
And that means me!
We will instead simply cherish the day.

And life around here will continue to be full of many parties; but there will be no tears allowed. From me. Only joy.

Can someone make me a sign?
I may need to display it high!

"No tears at the parties. That means YOU, mom."

So bring them on. I intend to fully embrace and rejoice in each one!

It's the Spirit of the Thing

2012-01-10T20:49:00.007-05:00

To everyone's surprise,the mother announced to her 'students' to put down their assignments and follow her. "We will bundle up and go outside."
"But it's a school day!" the littlest ones reminded, their eyes wide.
And the older ones said not a word, but quickly and happily got up to leave off with the textbooks and the stuffy room...
And so they all gathered the mittens and hats and coats, and then proceeded to step outside into the blast of cold in a mob right outside the door. And they just stood there. Confused.
"What now?" Curious to know what had overcome their teacher/mother.
"We will all go on a walk, and breathe in this fresh country air, and we will look and listen and just see what there is to discover! Be sure to let me know what you find." And the things that we found! And the time that we had!

And that was our first try at doing what Charlotte Mason called a nature walk, now many years ago. See, the mom of this family had begun reading her first Charlotte Mason book the previous summer, and life as that family knew it would be forever changed. And what a delightful change it was, but way too hard to put it in a summary of just words. Instead, it was a spirit of enthusiasm and wonder that came into our school room, and our lives that day.

This walking and collecting has now been done simply hundreds of times, by us, and most likely-- since you are reading this blog-- by you and your family. And it never gets old, does it? Each new place, each changing season, month, and day offers up something fresh and wonderful to discover. God thinks these things up; he does. His imagination and enthusiasm and art and music are scattered around everywhere. But here is a very sad thing. I must say it. Most of his glorious gifts are left un-noticed by us. We are so busy doing such important things aren't we? And we are quite hard of hearing. And blind!

But things are different here now. This fresh scattered manna is our sustenance. We thrive on all we can gather. So many fantastic things are ours to explore. They are laid open for us to get to know. The new ideas and findings; they are our school. And in this school even the teenagers and the moms gladly partake.

Simple outside pleasures:
Amazing sunsets of pink and blue, of oranges and yellows. The clouds. The flock of geese, the hummingbird. The sweetest blue eggs and bird song and waiting, and watching, and then baby birds! The first day when the Swallowtails join us in the garden! The first dandelion and the excited yells from the youngest ones, who haven't yet learned to restrain their excitement-- that "We found a dandelion so we can go barefoot!" and then "Mom, is it true?" and then "Yes it is!"

Stars above us as we lay on blankets snuggled close on the ground at night. Snuggling in the dark cold moist grass and mom refusing to think of how hard it will be to wash up those blankets... and giggling in a way that our bodies shake a bit, and someone calling out loudly "Shooting star!!"

Water lillies just like those Monet painted at a nearby pond. Ripples from skimming a flat rock in the water. Iced trees. Frosted landscapes. Tinkling glass symphonies where glasslike little ice pieces got thrown back toward the shore and crashed down as a window that's been broken; and that at the big lake in the cold empty winter.

And no one else was there to witness it!! To witness the glory of God and His handiwork.

I can recall my school days. Reading dry bits out of textbooks. Staring out the windows, and our thoughts miles away. Passing time, unless, by chance, a nicely contrived activity could be laid out for us in those classrooms. Did you catch that? We were inside missing it, and our teachers had to try to invent something for our learning pablum or sometimes for our amusement. The whole world lay there wide open and we were shut up in a school--all the wonder taken out! Great people, and poetry, and paintings, and stories and inventions...all going un-noticed. I won't do this to my students.

So little by little we began, here and there, to break out of the 'school room mold' and begin to learn in a living and vibrant way. And that nature walk; that was 'just one thing'! Oh my. Our Heavenly Father has surely inspired Miss Mason, and she has been faithful to inspire us in a hundred different ways, and even continues on in her quiet way long after she has passed on. And so meekly:

"Miss Mason and her gospel had a curiously conspicuous way of arousing enthusiasm... "

"In some remote country vicarage a struggling and not very well-equipped governess ... would --on the showing of some sympathy--open out as a glowing adherent of Miss Mason's methods, testifying that, through her influence, teaching had been literally turned from darkness into light.
..To meet a student from the House Of Education, Ambleside, was most assuredly to meet an enthusiast for education, and, as a rule, a lover of children."
FROM THE TIMES, .pg 27 of In Memoriam--Charlotte M. Mason

"We know that Miss Mason started her work very early in life, and she carried it on with unremitting diligence and enthusiasm for over half a century. The fundamental principle of her teaching--a belief in the child's natural powers of appreciation--was unfamiliar in England when she was young." L.A. Selby-Bigge pg 17 of In Memoriam--Charlotte M. Mason

"Teaching must be Fresh and Living––With this thought of a child to begin with, we shall perceive that whatever is stale and flat and dull to us must needs be stale and flat and dull to him, and also that there is no subject which has not a fresh and living way of approach."

"Give him living thought in this kind, and you make possible the co-operation of the living Teacher. The child's progress is by leaps and bounds, and you wonder why."

"Every subject has its living way, with what Coleridge calls 'its guiding idea' at the head, and it is only as we discover this living way in each case that a subject of instruction makes for the education of a child. No neat system is of any use; it is the very nature of a system to grow stale in the using; every subject, every division of a subject, every lesson, in fact, must be brought up for examination before it is offered to the child as to whether it is living, vital, of a nature to invite the living Intellect of the universe."

"And what subjects are under the direction of this Divine Teacher? The child's faith and hope and charity––that we already knew; his temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude––that we might have guessed; his grammar, rhetoric, logic, music, astronomy, geometry, arithmetic––this we might have forgotten, if these Florentine teachers had not reminded us.."

"These also come from the Lord, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. His God doth instruct him and doth teach him. Let the mother visualise the thought as an illuminated scroll about her newborn child, and let her never contemplate any kind of instruction for her child, except under the sense of the divine co-operation."

All above quotes found in Charlotte Mason's Original Series Vol 2 pg 273-279

I will end with only the highlighted words from above.

Note: remember that this post is just one aspect of a Charlotte Mason living education.
Now let's go gather up that manna! Bring your largest baskets, friend.

glorious gifts wonder

His God doth instruct him and doth teach him a fresh and living way of approach.

living, vital The child's progress is by leaps and bounds give him living thought

a belief in the child's natural powers of appreciation enthusiasm a lover of children

unremitting diligence imagination and enthusiasm our sustenance

fantastic things are ours to explore This fresh scattered manna

To witness the glory of God and His handiwork.

to discover

wonder

She Painted the Children

2012-01-06T13:31:00.002-05:00

From The Princess and the Goblin by JWSmith

Cover for Good Housekeeping by JWSmith

Mother and Child by JWSmith

Close Friends by JWSmith

Jessie in her younger days 1863-1935

I totally heart this illustrator!

Who hasn't seen her drawings in so many children's books?

Her name is Jessie Willcox Smith and she loved painting children.

Maybe one day when I grow up...!

Well, we do have the same awesome hobby, anyway!

Jessie illustrated more than 60 books and almost 200 covers for Good Housekeeping.

Little Women illustration by JWSmith 1923

A Mother and Her Children Reading a Book by Jessie Willcox Smith

Heidi cover illustration 1922 by JWSmith

Jessie Willcox Smith (American 1863-1935), The Then Lover.

Baby Boy and Japanese Doll by JWSmith

Posy Print by JWSmith

Little Drops by JWSmith

I got this book for a song. Just fifty cents plus postage,

and it is nearly 2 inches thick with rough cut, thick pages.

"She was among the most gifted of the students of Howard Pyle,
and she took to heart his precept of (loosely put) studying a particular subject thoroughly,
and conversely,
painting what one knows best in order to bring the subject alive."

quote by Roger Reed

And another link. Enjoy.

Pam's Book of Poohish Quotes

2012-01-04T17:03:00.002-05:00

Chapter One:

In which it is apparent that birds don't care what their food source looks like,

or whether it is in a low income housing area.

Chapter Two:

In which mom pays the exorbitant price of ten dollars for a new feeder,

and the child puts it out with it's label attached.

Which further, makes mom wonder if the birds will think it for sale and purchase it.

Chapter Three:

In which the mom wasn't specific enough about using paint, and finest penmanship, and labeling.

And wherein she envisions Charlotte laying her head aside, squinting up her eyes and kindly mentioning to the negligent teacher,

"that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do; that slipshod work should not allowed; (d) and that, therefore, the children's work should be kept well within their compass."

Chapter Four:

In which the students turn in better nature drawings, and with more color.

But in which the added latin phrases become an oft repeated mantra of a particular teenage student:

"cardinalis cardinalis, cardinalis cardinalis."

And on an additional note to Chapter Four,

Where abovementioned teacher wonders if some of the birds in question
really happened upon the feeder,

or could it be that they only happened upon the pages of the bird book?

A Cattle Egret. On our feeder? I don't think so.

Chapter Five:

Wherefore the teacher is burstingly proud of the eight year old's cursive;

self taught because said teacher was lately too busy to comply to her desire to learn it--

and therefore thrilled in a biased sort of way because she had only asked said 8 year old

for a picture narration of the day's reading.

And thus, caring not for the mispelling and improper grammar,

because of the delight in the eyes of the child in accomplishing such a challenging feat.

Chapter Six:

In which some days are just not ideal; but we dust ourselves off, and begin afresh.

Remembering what our Charlotte has said about grace...

"We have need of the divine grace to prevent and follow us,
and we have need to seek consciously,

and diligently use this grace

to keep us who are in authority in the spirit of meekness,

remembering always that the One who is entrusted with the rod of iron

is meek and lowly of heart."

Vol. 5 pg. 73

*Though she speaks of child training, I believe this applies all around.

Photo saving, fixing, sharing

2012-01-03T08:05:00.002-05:00

Jenna at 10, a photo by ajoyfulmoc on Flickr.

Flickr is awesome for saving your art and photos. Click here to check it out.

Can you guess?

2012-01-02T13:16:00.006-05:00

And we are back to it. Full time school days.

And I have a question for you.
Can you guess how this Charlotte Mason mom spends most of her time during school hours?

Now, I don't want you to scroll down. You have to guess!

No cheating.

Remember that I have 8 students, and 10 children at home.

I took college classes for teaching. Not a word about this.

Ok, one hint.

Beatrix Potter as a young girl

I spend roughly 2 hours and ten minutes solely doing this one thing.

Need another hint?

I usually am sitting and looking at the children while doing it.

Got it yet? I know you CM teachers do.

Here it is....

*
*
*
*

I listen.

To all of them telling all of what they read all morning.

For example, today I heard...

Hansel and Gretel by JWSmith

All about Hansel and Grettel, (spelled this way in the book I used),
The story of the Summoner in the Friar's Tale (Chaucer),

Dandelion (dent de lion in French)

About dandelions; how big they get, how they got their name (French), how long their roots are,
And of birds; their feathers , their oil gland and how the rain stays off, feathers are similar to shingles,
About Beatrix Potter, her young years, her wealthy parents, pets, loneliness, early illustrations,

Winnie The Pooh

Winnie the Pooh and the bees, balloons, and the way he experiences going down stairs,
Moses, that he killed someone, leaving, and the seven daughters of Midian at the well,

Ivanhoe and Rebecca

Rebecca asking Ivanhoe to fight for her so she wouldn't be put to death as a witch,
Archimedes meeting with Alexander and doing math problems together,
About a Big Knight, a troll ,a duel, a fair maiden and a Sparrow Hawk,

Christina Rossetti by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, her brother

And about Christina and Dante Rossetti and their lives, and one of her poems:

There's snow on the fields,
  And cold in the cottage,
While I sit in the chimney nook
  Supping hot pottage.
My clothes are soft and warm,
  Fold upon fold,
But I'm so sorry for the poor
  Out in the cold. from the book Sing Song (1893) found here.

A Tennyson poem, The Light Brigade, and all about it because my son telling is a history buff.
and all about David Livingstone traveling with his wife.

Livingstone's family

What a life of ease is mine as I use and trust in this method. A method that teaches them to know and remember and tell; and that teaches me to listen. A method that brings school to life, puts it in their hands to learn, and encourages good conversation.

“What a child digs for becomes his own possession.” C.Mason.

“This, of telling again, sounds very simple

but it is really a magical creative process

by means of which the narrator sees what he has conceived,

so definite and so impressive is the act of narrating that which has been read only once."

C. Mason

So, how did you do on your guess?

Oh my Word!

2011-12-30T21:00:00.002-05:00

What am I talking about? Read it here and see ya next year!

The Winter Plan

2011-12-30T15:28:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I came up with a plan. It's boring and I don't care if you read it. I mean, it's just that I led up to it, so I should follow through, right? I think this is a good plan that will work out til spring. Thanks for your help. Borrow it if you want.

After chores and breakfast:
A half hour of Devotions + a poem a day
A half hour of Group time with Handbook of Nature Study and naturalists biographies (read aloud)
A half hour of AO reading lists for 5 oldest (silent reading),
                      ....while I do Storytime AO lists and poetry for 3 youngers (aloud).
15 minutes of Group Popcorn Narrations with all on everything so far
15 minutes outside to shovel and get some air and exercise (me too) (shoveling. Let's call it gym.)
15 minutes for Tea/Hot chocolate (for me, laundry and clean up))

1 hour and 45 minutes for rotations at Stations as follows:
               1. Foreign Language (at computer, BYKI and Rosetta/young kids may choose typing)
               2. Copywork from Rosetti poems and Familiar Quotations by Bartlett
                                    or a writing assignment or handwriting from Queens for younger ones (at desk)
               3. Narrate one on one and Grammar (find mom)
               4. Birds/Draw/and Art (at window desk facing the bird feeder)
               5. Math
               6. Math
             7. Biographies/Life Skills/Library books (of artists, poets, & awesome people) (basket)

That's four hours. Lunch. Then afternoon homework (math, corrections on math, or finishing writing and reading). On Fridays we do geography quizzes, read Haliburton, and watch an educational movie.

Today we began the three hour The Old Curiosity Shop from the Dickens novel. A good look back to 1840 in wet, grimy, loud London. Good geography lesson too! (approx. 3 hours.)

Enough about academics. Let's go play with our kids.

I love it when that happens!

2011-12-29T08:26:00.003-05:00

So I've been praying about a new plan for school around here as I mentioned in my last post.

Something simple, yet excellent.
Using Charlotte Mason's method--of course cuz I love it.
Using the Ambleside listings, but 'tweaked' a bit (see tabs above), because it's nice to have a book list and schedule already made with living books in it. And challenging ones.
And including the things we are currently loving. Things that are about family, such as:

Reading aloud and using audio books, long devotion times, and narrations, classic and educational movies, games, and silent reading (Ambleside and library books), going outside, and group time.

(Going off trail a moment--here is a post about using audios by Jeanne at A Peaceful Day. The consensus in this post and comments leans toward not liking audios. Now around here it is for me like an extra teacher, so I do like using audios. We like to hear another voice, I like to be able to sit back and listen, and we can choose to hear it either on cd, mp3, or computer. So I thought I'd link to it so you can think it through for yourself. It's good to get a multitude of counsel, yes?)

The Dream
The awesome thing is, I had a dream last night! Maybe God gave it to me?

I was a young girl who was in school. It was a different kind of school, and the teacher began by presenting a list of living books that we were to read and give input on. I kept asking her questions. It seems I liked the idea of many good books to read, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to spend the whole day (like 8 hours) plus hour lunches and recesses at that school. So I asked my parents if I could be homeschooled and use a similar list of wonderful books. My mom agreed, so we found said list, and decided I could accomplish my schooling in three hours.

The next thing that bewildered me was to read so many books on my own; silently. So we decided I could read them any old way--some the old fashioned way, some by listening on audio for everyone to hear, and some uploaded to a device to hear with headphones.

My final predicament was in getting all that reading in my brain and not being able to share it. Girls do like to use their words, you know! So we decided that I would narrate--all the books, and in many varieties of ways. Daily writing out about certain books. Telling one on one to my mom about others. And telling as a group, so as to have sibling and parent input (I have heard this called popcorn narrations). I was thinking that the group narrations would be very educational and fun, so I wanted that time made daily along with the other two routes.

Well, I have to go down to devotions and school, so I will tell more soon. What do you think of my dream? And what do you think of audios?

The Sonnet by Thomas Baker

Getting back to normal

2011-12-27T17:13:00.001-05:00

...And trying to figure out what that looks like!

Just thinking on paper here: (sometimes it helps!)
We are getting ready to go back to a more 'normal' schedule. We did something quite drastic, but wonderful around here for the entire month of December. It was long devotions, advent challenges, hymn singing, then just math and reading from their AO schedules. Oh, and reading great stories together. Period. It was relaxing and peaceful and calm.

But soon January will blow in. I feel compelled to get back into the full swing of things. I've always been such a geek when it comes to multi tasking and over achieving. But I've recently found that the slower pace was refreshing. I do get tired of the fast track. And I do get tired! (Once I tasted the slower, simpler pace, I really enjoyed it!) I do want simplicity, yet I long for excellence too.
So. Hmm. What to do? I'm in a quandary here.

Katherine Cassatt Reading to Her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt

Here are the things we love and would like to continue:
reading aloud and using audio books, long devotion times, and narrations, classic and educational movies, games, and silent reading (Ambleside and library books), going outside, and group time.

And the things we've already started and would like to finish:
writing assignments and current events, grammar, copywork of famous quotations and poems, math, The Handbook of Nature Study (Plant section), Foreign language, poetry (continue Rossetti aloud and for copywork, and reading biographies on artists, composers and naturalists. Also geography and unstructured handicrafts such as whittling and sewing; maybe knitting if the sewing machines don't get fixed. (Grrr, out of commission again.) I am reading a book to the younger set with wonderful illustrations of an artist I am interested in. So that works for artist study. I will post more on her art later.

And these we may just leave out for the rest of this term:
Shakespeare, Plutarch, outdoor nature walks (they will go outside, but to shovel and play), nature journals, Story of the World audios, structured handcrafts, circle time and painting. I think they can just finish up the Apologia Anatomy and Botany books on their own time and I'll take them off the schedule. I don't love them. (Sorry!) We can resume nature journaling and walks in the spring. (Why do I feel bad for saying that?)

Keep the stations or not?
Unsure. (See tab under my header on top to read about 'stations'.) There are 7 students moving through 7 stations, so at 15 minutes each it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes for these. Yet...it is a good way to make sure I get one on one narration with each child, which is VERY important. (I stay at one of the stations).

Mother Playing with her Child by Mary Cassatt

So this is what is jostling about in my head. Now it's jostling about on this page. I hope soon it will form itself into some organized kind of plan so that we will have smooth days. Simple, but excellent are the goals here. And just being together, ya know? I like those kind. Like in that picture above. Does she look as if her days are too busy?

Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Is there anything you are changing up? Do you have older ones do some teaching? Have you ever tried to simplify the days? What worked for you? I'd love your help.

Blessed

2011-12-25T19:39:00.000-05:00

What an awesome God we have! Enjoy the random pics, and family ones below.

New boots from big sis!

The family pics below were really random.

It went something like this:

"Let's run outside, shoes or no shoes, jacket or no jacket...whatever!

and stand wherever in front of that tripod thingy (that we've never used!)."

...and then mom runs and pushes the button she is told to push and runs back..

and then in like 10 seconds, it has taken 5 pics, to our surprise!

Hey, no time for little kids to mess around!

That's the way to do it!

The family above, family with 'extra friends' below.

Too funny!

So blessed!

Click to enlarge.

Pre-Christmas praises

2011-12-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

No snow in Michigan yet.
And our big kids got here safely, so answered prayers and all is well.
It has been peaceful and completely stress free. Praise God. More family pics later....

Daughter, Krista and son Trent in back, with Matt (a friend) taken en route!

Our little girls waited by the front fence for them to arrive for two hours! How cute is that?

Date Night

2011-12-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

I just had a wonderful date with my husband. We have waited quite awhile for the movie Courageous to play at the 'cheap theater'. Well, it is there now, so Tom took me. Our big $6 date.

It was awesome. Please go. OR please find a way to watch it when it comes to DVD. I hate spoiling movies by telling, so I'll just say that it is primarily about fathers learning to love their children. Yet I was there, and I learned tons. And oh, I saw a few of the Duggar girls in the movie!

This is the wild thing. Right when we pulled in to the driveway, a car pulled in behind us. It was Tom's dad with his home care person. Now Tom's dad had horrible words to Tom 6 months back. Words about wishing he was never born, and for him to never come around. Horrible words that made Tom, for the first time that I know of, not able to go visit and help him like he always has. Honestly, the man is so bitter, that in many ways it's been a bit of a relief to not be around him.

Well, his helper told us that she has been his aid, and that he is truly sorry, and asked her to bring him by to drop off some food gifts, and to apologize. So he hugged all of us while in the car (he can't walk), and apologized. Wow. Right after the movie about dads loving their children and God restoring relationships.

Coincidence? I think not. God is so good, so amazing. I am just taken aback at His timing. I am praying for my husband. Praying that God will continue something wonderful that only He could ever do. Praying....

God hears, and He is mighty, and He is working. Don't think He isn't able.

Home in December

2011-12-12T11:53:00.003-05:00

We take it in, each in our own way.

We ponder with her.

And we look for Him in our days as she once did.

There are good heartwarming stories and hymns to spur us on.

Our Spirits are captivated in the 'pause'.

It is in the Selah times that His love really blooms in our hearts.

It is His birthday. Yet, we give in His name.

Children delight in giving and receiving a few simple gifts.

And nights are for games, or movies, or reading and resting.

Even the kitchen has a few simple touches of Him.

It is a good old home. Over a hundred years old.

We struggle and show our many imperfections here in this crowd.

But there is love in this house.

Big sister lays out the younger girls church dresses.

Not that it matters what we wear there.

But how fun when someone gives such beautiful hand-me downs to them!

The den. It sits upstairs between our room and the girls'.

And now it is a full fledged sewing center and library!

Two blessed sewing machines!

And sometimes one works. Sometimes both!

The pretty robin's egg colored one is a $5 yard sale find! The other a sweet commercial one.

(and they take turns giving me problems!)

And I have girls who want to start giving them a work out!

There is so much information on sewing machines on the internet.

I am thinking of starting a collection of them and fixing them up for all the girls!

They can be found for pennies, and dimes when you look.

Books in the library...and a 'new kind of book' below. See them?

For there is a wedding coming in March!

I am so excited!

The first of many, I suppose. Will I endure all the changes?

Will I be able to walk through this new season with grace and joy?

The answer is Yes, as I cling to my Jesus and cherish it all with my best friend, Tom.

The privileges of being a teenage girl here: girl paraphernalia!

And look how nicely she arranges it all. Like in a magazine!

(So many polishes for her recent birthday! lol!)

A room in this house that I 'heart'.

Including our four poster bed that we scrimped and saved for in our first years of marriage.

The bed that babies were birthed and nursed in.

The refuge where I run to for rest and time in the Word,

and the floor by the bed where kneeling to Jesus has wrought great miracles.

A few current and favorite reads to be read over and over.

And the painting I did of my beloved and I to marvel at each night and morning.

And for our children to marvel at.

Because happy marriages are worth celebrating every day.

My shelf. Lovely things that make me smile.

The painting my mom did. The card on the left she gave me for a birthday.

Her card means the world to me.

You see, cards sometimes say things that we aren't able to say out loud.

That's our home in December.

I know I mostly left out the people shots.

They are always here, believe me! And they are what this home is about.

You can be sure of that.

"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Proverbs 24: 3-4

So worth it

2011-12-08T07:59:00.000-05:00

He wakes me up, his bed not far from his mom and dads. Just across the room, in the dark, and he is upset.
"Mom."

"What Boo?",
for that is his pet name. Mr. Boo, baby Boo, or just Boo! Poor little chaps that get such pet names from their loving family!

"My tummy hurts."
"Oh."
I try to leave it at that. Maybe he will fall asleep again. Maybe he just wondered if I was there. It's 3 AM and I haven't slept well.

"Mom? My tummy hurts. Can we go in the rocky chair and look at the moon, and I can bring my blanket?"

The thought sounds lovely. I cherish every moment with my youngest. The baby God gave so generously to us in our older years. The baby that broke my tail bone and ripped me wide with his large stuck shoulders. Stuck, and my husband tried and tried, and prayed and prayed...and then brought out with purple face into my sobbing, longing arms.
Worth it. I would gladly sacrifice with a broken body to have this son.
And he is healthy and strong. What a blessing it is to have a young boy around; amusing all 12 of his older siblings. We all have loved our David so much...

But I am tired and I crave the last couple hours of sleep.
"Boo? Come lay by me instead. Now that's it. Don't wake up daddy. Cuddle into my blanket. Are you ok? Where does your tummy hurt?"

My three year old future man points to his throat.
I laugh inside. He does get confused about terms sometimes.
And soon he is asleep. Very soon. And I get up to put his back.
Because I can't sleep when I am stroking and loving on him. Nor when I have now two "boys" in my bed snoring away! One I can ignore, but not two!

He often lays by me in the day and looks at the large wedding picture I have painted and framed by our bed. He repeats a familiar conversation;

"That's dad. And that's you in your evening dress. I mean wedding dress. You are kissing."
He smirks and wiggles.
"He is your knight in shiny armour."
Then he smiles and takes my face in his hands.
"And I am your knight in shiny armour too."

"Yes, Boo. You are my night in shiny armour too."

My sweet beautiful children. Lent by God to me. I am not worthy, Lord; but so grateful.

Do homeschoolers get recess?

2011-12-03T14:55:00.005-05:00

I know. Too funny, right. Why is 'the passionate homeschooler' talking about recess? What's passionate about that, right? Lol!

Recess? This is HOME SCHOOL, Pam. Yet, maybe a form of 'recess' would enhance the work being done. Maybe a time off to pursue something else that is restful or filling or worshipful would greatly benefit our learning. So, is it several times through the day? Or daily? Or once in awhile? I'm just wondering all this out loud.

Is it not true that taking a long time in one worthy book makes it more endearing than rushing through many books from a list? Or that in taking some time off for a particular and well thought out purpose could be enriching rather than neglectful? Is it true that play is good? Are there times to go full tilt, and then other times to sit back and take repose? Do we (teachers and students) need times where we do something more important than 'school work'? I don't know.

So help me think about this, will you? Pull up a chair and let's brainstorm it.
We may be surprised at what we discover together.

Ready?

So, what is 'recess' for? And why would we want it in OUR school? That's a question only we know the answer to. And maybe we wouldn't call it 'recess'. So what would you call it?
Let's talk!

Well, we know that in the school many of us grew up in, recess meant that we children took an outside break from studies to play and to move around, and chat with classmates. Our teacher's also got to use that time of recess; for coffee, chatting in the teacher's lounge, or for catching up on work, cleaning up, or just a break of some sort. So, who's idea was recess anyway? And is it just for little kids?

Country School by Winslow Homer

So let's look at some terms that have to do with 'recess', and figure out what it looks like for us. (This one may need prayer and consultation with our husbands!)

Terms that have to do with recess or taking time off:
recess: A temporary cessation of the customary activities of an engagement, occupation, or pursuit
break: To interrupt or cease an activity
rest: relaxation from exertion or labour; or a pause or interval

sabbatical: a rest from work; literally a "ceasing"(L. sabbaticus, Gr. sabbatikos, H. shabbat,)
hiatus: a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process
vacation: An extended period of recreation, esp. one spent away from home or in traveling.
time off: a time period when you are not required to work (or do school)

Terms related to 'taking a recess':
repose: Temporary rest from activity, excitement, or exertion; Or sleep/the rest given by sleep.
sabbath: Sunday observed among Christians as a day of rest and worship
refresh: to restore strength and animation to
revive: To impart new health, vigor, or spirit to.

Terms applicable to the mothers who teach...
mother culture: "We would have happier households if we mothers would only have courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or a half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery. . ." C. Mason
And...
"[It is good] For a mother to allow herself a bit of leisure to rest and refresh herself by exploring her own interests, to find a little time for herself, especially when so many others depend on her." Karen Andreola

And a few related slang terms:

me-time: the time a person has to himself or herself, in which to do something for his or her own enjoyment
veg- out: Relax in a slothful and mindless manner.

relax: to seek rest or recreation
chill: To calm down or relax. Often used with out. or To pass time idly; loiter.

Ring o Ring a Roses by Frederick Morgan

So I have some questions for you homeschooling moms!
Do you incorporate some sort of recess in your homeschooling days?
How often do you do this?
If so, what is its particular purpose?

Is it something intentional (in the plans), or something random?
What length of time is ideal?
After looking over the terms above, what type of 'recess' would you call the kind of break you currently take, or would like to take in the near future?

ajoyfulmoc's photostream

2011-12-02T11:06:00.001-05:00

ajoyfulmoc's photostream on Flickr.

I love to draw them. So tell me, what do you do to feed your soul and spirit?

Let's Not Miss Him

2011-11-30T18:23:00.002-05:00

ad·vent/ˈadˌvent/
Noun:
The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
The first season of the church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.
Synonyms:
coming - arrival - appearance*

There's something new and exciting stirring in our hearts...

We are anticipating;

but this year it isn't the gifts, or the snow, or the treats on our minds.

It is time that we begin to focus

on the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.

And I would confess it to be true to say

that in years past I have gotten caught up in something other than

simply looking for Jesus in each day.

It is our first year of experiencing a Christian Advent 'Calendar'.

Oh my goodness.

What we have missed in prior years.

And we've only just begun!

Every day the children can't wait to see what the next day's 'card' will reveal.

Yet we are simply focusing on one of the names of Jesus.

Simply reading aloud stories of Christmas miracles.

Challenging each other to do something 'out of our own comfort zone' .

Singing advent hymns.
And gathering together.

And God is in it.

You see, the next morning is when we all share a bit about what we tried to do for Him.

Now this is a new thing.

Truth be told; I am the one falling short.

But I have hope for each 'next day'.

And it is such a blessing to see and hear our children

make Jesus a major part of their everyday.

He is increasing; and we are decreasing.

So for school, it is the bare bones; reading, writing, arithmetic...

And Jesus.

For a whole month.

Because this passionate homeschool momma must be passionate first about Him.

And focusing our hearts on Him is causing lovely changes around here.

Small, but valuable changes.

"Come Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee."

*Advent definition: Wikipedia - Dictionary.com
Hymn lyrics: ©2000 Niphon Music (ASCAP) /

And for Today's Math Lesson...

2011-11-23T22:55:00.001-05:00

'See equals pie d'.

So let's divide it up and eat it!

Math never looked yummier! Lol!

(I know. I'm just too funny today.)

So you could say school's in the kitchen lately.
And all my 'sweetie pies' are eatin' the curriculum right up!

Have you seen such a tattered recipe book? Here's my quote:
'A tattered recipe is a sign that it was good; so let's not change it.' Pam
(In case I am ever famous. You heard it here first!) :)

Chocolate pudding pie is our eldest, Trent's fave.
He won't be here for Thanksgiving. :(
I couldn't stop thinking of him when I made these.
We won't forget the whip cream, Trent.

And this one's for Kyle. Lemon Meringue. Mmmm.
(Kyle is 21 and he just proposed to Elsie.
The wedding...our first in this family, is in late March! How awesome is that!!)

I love making this one.

Ok. I cheated this year with store bought bottom crusts.

(So sue me. lol!)

Today's assistants: Carly (8) and David (3).

It's just too fun making stuff with little helpers!

Ok. It's art class now.
Sculpture anyone?

(I just liked how cool they look sitting there.)

Oh, here's a couple pumpkin pies too.
There's plenty more to cook up tomorrow.

See you in class!
'Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.'

(Miss you Trent and Krista. Can't wait to see you for Christmas.)

(And if you want, pop on over to my other blog, and see what we've been up to for Advent.)

Mom says...

2011-11-18T11:34:00.001-05:00

How are you?
I hope your day is going well. How is your school going? Habit training?
I wish we could sit and chat over a tea or coffee. We'd share what is working, what is difficult, and we could pray for each other. That would be awesome.

At my end, I feel like I deal with habits more than anything else. Many of the habits and basic rules that I am trying to enforce are to honor my husband's preferences. He likes a clean house, calm children with self control, and peaceful evenings. He wants our kids to sit in the pew with us at church, quietly. All of them. Habits are super important here! If one person gets away with a bad habit then soon the rest follow suit, and I have a mess on my hands!

Your home, situation, and husband's preferences may be entirely different. Keep that in mind!

If you lived here in this busy home, you would hear the words below a lot. I am not necessarily proud of this fact. As I read it I realize it sounds like I am a drill sargeant. If I am, I am a quiet one! But I have to say that our home runs pretty smoothly most of the time, and I am not usually stressed by my children.
What mom says!

We eat at the table in the kitchen. Not in the living room, not standing in the doorway. This does not include dad or company.
You will pick up your stuff or I will call for a decluttering. You don't necessarily lose it, but it gets packed away for awhile. When there is too much, we bring it to the thrift store or toss it.
We eat at meals, unless you have permission for a piece of toast, apple or yogurt. Constant grazing with many children makes this mom crazy.
At bedtime, if I see that your room is a mess, I will clean it. You don't want that to happen. I come in with a bag, and stuff disappears. Forever.
If you did not finish your chores by 8 AM, you will not play Wii or computer time that day. Your computer time is only 15 minutes, except the older teens get a half an hour.
Little girls do not go in the bathroom with their little brothers. We shut the door when we go potty. We flush and wash our hands. Our showers are 12 minutes or less. (we have 5 teens in the house, two bathrooms, and in the coldest portion of winter, only one bathroom works!)
We pray before we eat. We clean up together after we eat. There are several choices. If you don't like anything that is put before you, you can have a peanut butter sandwich, or go without.
You each need to have your scripture ready at devotion time and share it, then we each pray. Little ones do 'sitting time' for the half hour to learn to sit in church. No toys.
If you are not in your bed at your bedtime, you go to bed earlier the next night.
If dad and I don't do it, then you probably shouldn't. For example, dad and I don't walk on the furniture, or stand on the counter tops, or quarrel or try to be first. Better yet; what would Jesus do?
If you have an attitude, you will be told to go to your room and pray for a better attitude. When that happens, feel free to come join us. If it doesn't happen you will lose something.
You will narrate what you learn, always; so listen up.
If you want to talk to us about anything, let us know and we will get with you as soon as we can.
Remember that the thing that bothers you about your sibling, may also be a fault that you have. Examine yourself and kindly talk to the offender. Don't tattle unless it is really important. If your brother offends you, go to your brother in private...
When you have too much energy; go outside.
Family comes before friends. If you can't treat your siblings right, you will not do anything with friends until you get this.

Wow.
Writing it all out makes me feel embarrassed. I suppose that sounds like an awful lot of rules. What I have left out is tons of wonderful 'relationship' stuff that is also going on. Hugs and kisses. Lots of talk. Game time. Joking. Baking. Family things. Cuddling. Working together. Laughing. Prayers...lots of em. Well, you know that.

I'd love to hear from you. God bless.

Book , Audio, and DVD Sale

2011-11-16T16:13:00.001-05:00

Need gift ideas for Christmas? A book for winter reading? A good audio to listen to?

If you buy a book or dvd from my homeschool site, over at Homeschool Classifieds before December 1st, I will take an additional 15% off the price of any item. This is for current blog followers only. The given prices include postage and I send it media mail. Come and take a look!

(Accepting Paypal, money orders or checks. My Paypal button is on the upper right of my page.)

Questions? Just go through my email, which is also on that page. My username is ajoyfulmoc. Thanks!)

Sigh or Selah?

2011-11-14T12:47:00.002-05:00

It's a choice that must be made each day.

Sometimes I make it many times in the day.

The flesh is in a battle with the Spirit.

In the flesh mode, I live in the 'sigh'.

It is astonishing how fast the flow of negative thoughts-- even if only in my mind.

Sometimes this becomes my 'default'.

In this case, I must purposely 'adjust something' to change this.
Or, I should say, God must.

Have you been there, my friend? Or do I walk this alone?

How marvelously fast we can name our woes.

Such a list does have it's rewards, you know.

It wipes away all hope and joy. Erases all content. Diminishes so much of the good things. Blinds us to the wonderful things of eucharisteo. Magnifies the bad. (Not rewards I want.)

Such was my morning. I am ashamed.
Sigh: To let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief; to yearn, long or pine.

Sorrow, weariness, yearning, pining.

Beloved, this should not be the habit of a Christian wife and mom.

So how does God transform? How does He bring victory?

This is how.

Each morning I must be faithful to collect the day's manna.

It will be my life source for the days needs. The food of my hungry heart.
And I must seek Him and beg of Him forgiveness. Often.

A Mother with her Children 1870

This morning I had a Rhema was from Proverbs 14:30. It spoke to me personally. Here are a few versions of part a of my verse:

A heart at peace gives life to the body...NIV
A sound heart is the life of the flesh...KJV
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh...ESV, NASB

I repeated this verse over and over all morning as I
picked up,
dealt with certain unlovely things,
longed for sleep and motivation,
wondered at my indifference,
and wandered in those foggy places.

I was here at home, school was being done, I went through the motions; but my mind was elsewhere.

Have you had days like that? Weeks? Has life been a sigh lately?

But Selah; beautiful Selah.

Selah: is thought to mean "silence" or "pause"; often seen after Psalms and Hymns of praise. I think of it as a meditation after you have heard something profound, beautiful, or inspiring.

Hmm. How much lovelier to live in a 'selah mode' than in a sigh.
How much sweeter to be in a silent pause of God's goodness and beauty.
A pause full of peace and soundness of heart.
A pause of private worship, meditation of something lovely and inspiring.

How long would it take to make up a list of my blessings if my heart is in Selah instead of sigh?

Not long I think.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

If you deal with such things, come with me and let us find our Selah today.
I will go now.
You come too!

A Man of Culture with the Heart of a Peasant

2011-11-11T10:01:00.001-05:00

End of the Hamlet of Gruchy 1866 · Jean Francois Millet

The artist, Jean-Francois Millet, was born in 1814 in Gruchy, a hamlet ten miles west of Cherbourg in northwest France. This inland area off the rugged coast was a countryside of undulating downs beyond the moors.

Vieille Porte (old door) au village de Gruchy (to show you the modern Gruchy)

This painter's father possessed real artistic talent, though all his life was spent tilling the fields. He loved music and directed the village choir, he studied the forms of trees and plants and he modeled in clay when time permitted. Jean-Francois absorbed his father's appreciation of beauty and art. In his father he found an exemplar to emulate. Jean-Francois also was impressed by his parent's piety and devotion.

As a boy, Jean-Francois traced prints from the family Bible and then tried freehand. From the beginning his parents and the parish priests recognized that he was extraordinary. The priests were careful to educate him the best they could in mythology, Greek, Latin and in translation, Shakespeare, Milton and Burns. All this time Jean-Francois was at home working on the family farm. He became a man of culture with the heart of a peasant. Later he declared of himself, "A peasant I was born and a peasant I will die."

This text was adapted by Fr Johann G. Roten, SM from an article written by Brother John M. Samaha, SM.

Jean-François Millet (1814-1875) The Angelus

A man and a woman are reciting the Angelus, a prayer which commemorates the annunciation made to Mary by the angel Gabriel. They have stopped digging potatoes and all the tools used for this task – the potato fork, the basket, the sacks and the wheelbarrow – are strewn around them. In 1865, Millet said:

"The idea for The Angelus came to me because I remembered that my grandmother, hearing the church bell ringing while we were working in the fields, always made us stop work to say the Angelus prayer for the poor departed". This text from Muse'e d'Orsay (Museum)

Millet: The Knitting Lesson (One of many versions, the one above is my favorite)
Another, this one painted:

Woman sewing by lamplight by Millet

Have you studied Millet?
His world was full of the quaint countryside, the menial, common tasks and people, and a wonder toward things of Christ. I not only recommend a picture study with his paintings and sketches, but also I am putting this book on my wish list.

Let us soak in these words:

"From the beginning his parents and the parish priests recognized that he was extraordinary. The priests were careful to educate him the best they could in mythology, Greek, Latin and in translation, Shakespeare, Milton and Burns. All this time Jean-Francois was at home working on the family farm. He became a man of culture with the heart of a peasant." Written by Brother John M. Samaha,

May we consider our own children as extraordinary, being careful to educate them the best we can. May they become men and women of culture with a humility of a peasant after God's own heart.

Of Stuck on Cornflakes and Life without Passion...

2011-11-08T13:21:00.003-05:00

The cornflakes had become glued to the floor. I was the one who cared.

I was the one on the floor with wet cloths, and a scrub pad, and suds, and my thoughts.

And I had thoughts.

See, I didn't spend my grocery allowance well that week. And the cornflakes were my worried attempt to find something for us all to eat for dinner.For the next few days.
So when I borrowed that five dollar bill from my daughter and went to the dollar store, I was searching...searching for something cheap, long lasting, substantial. Five dollars doesn't go far. I am the beggar in the dollar store with borrowed money. My head is down. I am thinking hard....

And I found the corn flakes for $2, some Jiffy mix and some white rice. I realize I could have made the biscuits from scratch...

but you see, Jiffy mix gave me hope.
It has recipes on it. It's in a nice blue box. It made me feel like we would be ok; and it lifted this mom's spirits beyond the normal biscuit fare. Beyond surviving.

And whatever gives one hope when they are grasping for it...well, that is what is needful.

So I got the stuff home, and announced to the crowd (vultures I sometimes think. lol!)

"Come and eat. We have cereal." It was then that I found we were nearly out of milk. 'Sigh'.

See, having 10 children at home means you need lots of milk; and the 6 gallons I had bought were down to 1/4 of a gallon. Nice. Downcast again.

But they stretched it.

And there's usually some peanut butter or oatmeal. Again. And for these we are thankful.

So I scrubbed and chided myself. Well, and I chided my children. For spilling these precious flakes on the floor and ignoring them for a day. Which means they skipped their chores. Which means they left the mess for me. Which means now they were stuck all over.

And I felt just like those stuck cornflakes.

Stuck. Messy. Frustrated. Numb.

And such thoughts continue, don't they? If they are not stopped, they escalate. To the gasless car in the driveway. The broken stuff. The peeling wallpaper. To the ones calling for bill payments. To the wishes of my children for Christmas, and then to our pocketbook. To the wondering and to the fretting.

Sometimes thoughts like this go even further. They go to places they should never go. They go to a bitter place, and spiral against those who have a hand in putting them in such a position. Have you been there?

See, what I am trying to say is that without passion, our work is sometimes unbearable. Without passion...well, doing something without 'passion' looks like this:

passion-less:
affectless, apathetic, emotionless, impassible, numb, passionless, phlegmatic, stoic, stolid, undemonstrative, unemotional, unmoved; reserved, reticent, taciturn; bland, blank, deadpan, dry, empty, expressionless, inexpressive, straight-faced, vacant

Not very pretty, is it?

Homeschooling is hard.
Having a large family is hard.
Making ends meet, keeping the peace, keeping my heart right, keeping the attitudes in check, the laundry going, the meals cooked and cleaned up...
these things are downright hard.

Add in a few difficulties in finances, health, relationships, break downs...

Throw in pms and hormones, and struggles in math, and pulls from other activities...

And you have the potential to lose it. I've been there.

Once upon a time, I was the single mom of two little ones. That year someone gave us socks for Christmas. That is all the kids got. You should have seen how they petted and stroked their lovely socks. And my tears of gratefulness to the giver of those socks.

I've experienced having empty cupboards for days; and broken down cars. I've had the prodigal child, experienced a time of bitterness toward my beloved man, endured difficult trip to the hospital/ passing out/hemorrhaging/ in miscarriage. There were three miscarriages.

Your hardships are likely worse than mine. But hardships are hard. Life is hard. And that is why...

There is a message in my heart when I write this blog. I think lots of people miss it. Please don't miss it. Here it is:

That you can find passion in anything you do. That it's about attitude. That you can excel and not just get by. That you can thrive; you can rejoice in the day. Do you believe that? I am here to tell you that you can believe it!
Jesus Christ was passionate enough to die on a cross with nails in his hands and scorners mocking him. He had to look beyond the 'hard' to the 'joy set before him'.
And so do we. Passion means vision. It overcomes the mundane. It adorns the bland and vacant day with life. It changes us; and it is contagious. And whatever gives one hope when they are grasping for it...well, that is what is needful.

See, it's in the attitude.

Passion means you rise above. You decide to make the best out of what you have. You choose to excel but you are still using 'what you have in your hand'. You buy the Jiffy mix and the biscuits are no longer a desperate attempt to make-do. They are flaky, hope filled, well buttered delicacies. But they are still just biscuits. So what changed?

Sometimes I think I come across as super mom, and I intimidate you. This gives me a sick feeling to think that I have done that to you.I am so so sorry if you get that from me. Please forgive me.

I am so not that.
I daily struggle along with you;

not wanting to get up on some days,

not feeling like doing school some days,

up to my ears in attitudes or habit training or disgruntled 'students'.

Worrying if I am doing enough.

Wishing I could love them more.

Chastising myself for my faults.

My desire is to take what is in my hands, however small it may be, and ask God to make it lovely, virtuous, true, praiseworthy.

I have seen Him do that, and it has giving me so much hope. It is awesome. It is better than surviving.

With passion and vision, a touch of creativity and much prayer...a thing that we dread can be transformed into a thing which we thrive and find joy in.

That is why:

the watercolors, the drawing
the nature study and journaling
the living books
the blogging about lovely things
the Word,
the hymns, the poetry, the pictures
the words of the passionate wise mentors
the putting forth of excellent things
the ideas to inspire

That is why I write this. I want to have passion in what I do; even in the mundane and the hard. And I want to share that passion with you. So we can both thrive. So we can both experience joy despite the glued on corn flakes, the un-scrubbed toilet, the mountain of laundry and the massive explosion of legos everywhere.

Just so ya know.

Passionate : capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling: enthusiastic, ardent.

An Art Spirit in the Home School: Part One

2011-11-04T20:10:00.003-04:00

"There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge." Robert Henri

In this post I am taking notes from a greatly loved mentor/artist/teacher and encourager to aspiring artists from ages past, Robert Henri. Sit back and join me with a tea as we listen to some of his great thoughts. I have also written a few of my own notes in italics. Let's begin:

On art and it's students:
"The sketch hunter has delightful days of drifting about among people, in and out of the city, going anywhere, everywhere, stopping as long as he likes--no need to reach any point, moving in any direction following the call of interests." My note: this sounds so exciting! I think of my blogger friends who draw what they see in their own 'world'; be it in the city or country. I think of their children following suit, and finding solace in getting out their little nature journals. They are--we are learning to see!

He moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to note them down in the shorthand of his sketch-book, a box of oils with a few small panels, the fit of his pocket, or on his drawing pad. Like any hunter he hits or misses. He is looking for what he loves, he tries to capture it. It's found anywhere, everywhere.

Those who are not hunters do not see these things. The hunter is learning to see and to understand--to enjoy." pg.17

The Book:
In The Art Spirit, Robert Henri's notes, articles, fragments of notes, and talks to students are opened up for us as a wonder book into the art world. Henri was an inspired teacher with an extraordinary gift for verbal communication. He believed that art is a matter in which not only professionals and students, but everyone is vitally concerned. (Introduction)

On backgrounds:
"Do not look at the background to know its colors or its shapes. Look at the model. What you will see of the background while looking at the model will be the background of that model." pg. 39

On brush stroke:
"Silk runs, is fluent, has speed, almost screams at times. Cloth is slower, thicker, the stroke is slower, heavier. Velvet is rich, caressing, its depths are mysterious, obscure. The stroke loses itself, not a sign of it is visible. So also the shadows in hair. Strokes which move in unison, rhythms, continuities throughout the work; that interplay, that slightly of fully complement each other. See pictures by Renoir." pg 75-76 my note: I do love these descriptions of the possibilities of texture and richness that is possible in a simple brush stroke!

Renoir: The Umbrellas

To the students of a design school for women in 1901:
" The real study of an art student is more a development of that sensitive nature and appreciative imagination with which he was so fully endowed when a child, and which, unfortunately in almost all cases, the contact with the grown-ups shames out of him before he has passed into what is understood as real life." pg. 79

"Walt Whitman was such as I have proposed the real art student should be. His work is an autobiography--not of haps and mishaps, but of his deepest thought, his life indeed. Whitman lives on in his work, which is his life, and which will expand and be greater the more it is known. Like Shakespeare, who met so few in his fifty odd years, and knew us all so well down to this day." pg 84

"Art after all is but an extension of language to the expression of sensations too subtle for words." pg 87 My note: Awesome! Like poetry only a poem is the 'just' of a thing limited to well chosen and remarkable words.

On Seeing:
"It is harder to see than it is to express. The whole value of art rests in the artist's ability to see well into what is before him. ..Each view of her {the model} is an original view and there is a response in her awaiting each view. If the eyes of a Rembrandt are upon her she will rise in response and Rembrandt will draw what he sees, and it will be beautiful." pg 87

Rembrandt van Rijn: Lion resting 1650

Rembrandt van Rijn: Saul with his servants 1657

"If you want to know about people watch their gestures. the tongue is a greater liar than the body. There are handshakes of great variety. some are warm and mean that you are cared for...Artists deal with gestures. They get to know a great deal about people. A sitter may not say a word for an hour, but the body has been speaking all the time. A work of art in itself is a gesture and it may be warm of cold, inviting or repellent." pg. 90 My note: An artist must learn to convey an honest gesture in his picture in the same way that an author must convey the character of a man without a 'pointing out' of the thing. Shakespeare knew this, as well as Jane Austen, and many, many poets.

To the Art Student's League:
"People say, 'It is only a sketch.' It takes the genius of a real artist to make a good sketch--to express the most important things in life--the fairness of a face--to represent air and light and to do it all with such simple shorthand means." pg 96 My note: Well! I am encouraged! To sketch is not so small a thing to work at. In their 'simple shorthand' they convey life and light and importance!

"A fine drawing by Phil May may have very little detail in it, but what lines he did put down were so significant of his quality of idea, that no more lines, or no more details were necessary. pg. 100

by Phil May 1889

Of Schools of Art:
"The art school should be the life-centre of a city. Ideas should radiate from it. I can see such a school as a vital power; stimulating without and within. Everyone would know of it's existence, would feel it's hand in all affairs. Such a school can only develop through the will of the students. Some such thing happened in Greece. It only lasted for a short time, but long enough to stock the world with beauty and knowledge which is fresh to this day." pg. 105 My note: I am challenged by this. Challenged to strive for excellence in my simple, quiet, meager little schoolhouse. Imagine the potential unlocked when an idea flourishes, when a student embraces a thing and runs with it!

"Keep your old work. You did it. There are virtues and there are faults in it for you to study. You can learn more from yourself than you can from anyone else." pg 108

My painting of Lydia: learning from myself as I study the virtues and faults in my work!

"Painting is a great mystery. No one has ever learned quite how to paint. No one has ever learned quite how to see." pg 115. My note: I find this fascinating because through art, sketching, drawing and painting we learn how to see, and Charlotte is always saying that through narration we learn how to listen.

Intrigued? Well I am. Stick around for Part Two soon.

Perspective

2011-10-31T16:20:00.000-04:00

It's not about this...

but that.

Not about this...

but that.

It's some of this...

And a whole lot of this...

It's looking and looking until we see it the way God wants us to.

It's all about perspective...

It's in counting blessings when the burdens make a mountain.

Choosing joy when the sorrows seem encompassing.

Finding a place of peaceful rest in the midst of chaos.

We all must find our quiet place.

I am called to study my family.

A life long process.

One in which I will not earn a degree or title.

It is my ministry, my hidden work, my joy.

For them I stay awake at night to whisper constant prayers.

Prayers which do not cease when several children have moved out.

In fact, I do believe they increase.

I learn to seek out the good in them.

I learn to look beyond the faults and see the needs.

I make time with God so that He overflows.

Because you see, I will not do.

They must see Him.

My greatest power comes from time on my knees.

It's all about perspective.

And not my perspective; but His.

Sketching the Narrators

2011-10-27T12:47:00.002-04:00

Narrations. I will confess that I sometimes accomplish little side things as I listen. Here are tidbits of those narrations I heard today, and sketches of the narrators. And then, I have a question for you at the end.

Jenna (10) narrated Understood Betsy about how dirty little 'Lias got 'cleaned up' and adopted, partly thanks to Betsy and her friends. Then about a Russian girl named Rachel who moved to America and how her singing a song about Jesus to her daddy in his lap (while he sat in his usual place at the saloon) caused his heart to change. That was in the vintage book I found full of Sunday School stories, called Missionary Stories for Little Folks, Second Series, Junior by Margaret T. Applegarth.

Lydia is only five, so she just shares the verse she knows from John 3:16 for devotions. She tries to tell us new verses she has learned often. It is very sweet.

Holly (14 on Saturday) narrated about The Endless Steppe. A girl named Lalinka who lived in Siberia,having been captured by Russians and taken there to work. She worked in the fields and weeded potatoes, and the mom and dad worked in the mines. When Lalinka went to school her deskmate envied her long hair. So one day she had it cut, and the girls became friends. One great day they finally got a home of their own. (Funny thing, we sometimes call Holly Lolinka as a pet name!)

This is my sketching book. It has watercolor paper in it in case I choose to paint the sketches. I love this particular one. It has 80 pages and is called The Art of Watercolor Sketchbook and it's wonderful.

I got it half off at Hobby Lobby. The pages don't curl or warp when painted on and I hear that it takes ink without bleeding through. Yay!

Sean (15) with his new hair cut. Yay! We try to let them 'have it their way' with their hair and such, but after awhile it is nice when they are willing to let mom have her way instead! And I did. Sean narrated about Watership Down, and Joseph Haydn today. The Joseph Haydn book is called A Merry Little Peasant. They read this book at a composer station while listening to music. Joseph was a very poor and brilliant boy who taught himself how to read notes and compose. He was the lead singer in the boy's choir, but alas. He liked to mess around and soon got himself kicked out...

Jeremy (11) narrated about going to get groceries and a book about Albert Einstein. It was very interesting. See, he and his brother Micah (12) went off to look at matchbox cars while mom did her shopping. Well, mom made a quick rabbit trail to get a birthday gift for Holly' birthday on Saturday..and well. The boys had a hard time finding me. I will call it a narrate-able adventure!

I started to sketch Carly (8) and Micah (12), but could not finish them in the 15 minute segment due to interruptions! I missed Seth's (16) narrations today.
So that is my narration about the narrations I heard today. For you, I wish you to go right to the sources if you care to hear more!

So tell me. Do you do anything during narration listening?
I must confess to not giving them my wholehearted attention by looking at them and doing nothing but listening and encouraging. For shame. Charlotte would be disappointed! I am a multitasking momma of many, you know. Laundry and baking, and cleaning and sketching often gets worked on during narrations. What about in your home? Go ahead and shame me! I'm ready for it!

ps. If you are interested in art, particularly painting, I highly recommend the book The Art Spirit by the artist Robert Henri. It is written in a poetic, Charlotte Mason style with many quotes that stand on their own. You could just read a page and ponder what he says for quite awhile.

Pleasant Places

2011-10-25T17:52:00.006-04:00

I speak of reading aloud. Well, Charlotte speaks of it. So let's listen up.

Frederick W. Freer : Mother and Child Reading

"There is little opportunity to give intellectual culture to the boy taken up with his school and its interests; the more reason, therefore, to make the most of that little; for when the boy leaves school, he is in a measure set; his thoughts will not readily run in new channels."

By Pierre Auguste Renoir

"The business of the parent is to keep open right-of-way to the pleasant places provided for the jaded* brain. Few things help more in this than a family habit of reading aloud. Even a dry book is readable when everybody listens, while a work of power and interest becomes delightful when eye meets eye at the telling bits. To read The Newcomes to yourself is like sitting down to a solitary feast of strawberries and cream; every page has that in it which demands to be shared."

*Jaded: Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something. (I looked it up because I didn't know it, not because I thought you didn't.)

The Newcomes by William Makepeace Thackeray

"There are few stronger family bonds than this habit of devoting an occasional hour to reading aloud, on winter evenings, at any rate. The practice is pleasant at the time, and pleasant in the retrospect, it gives occasion for much bright talk, merry and wise, and quickens family affection by means of intellectual sympathy."

Mary Cassatt: Nurse Reading to a Little Girl

"Indeed, the wonder is that any family should neglect such a simple means of pure enjoyment, and of moral, as well as intellectual culture. But this, of reading aloud, is not a practice to be taken up and laid down at pleasure. Let the habit drop, and it is difficult to take it up again, because every one has in the meantime struck a vein of intellectual entertainment for himself––trashy stuff, it may be,––which makes him an unwilling listener to the family 'book.'"

Mary Cassatt: Auguste Reading to her Daughter

"Let an hour's reading aloud be a part of the winter evening at home––on one or two evenings a week, at any rate––and everybody will look forward to it as a hungry boy looks for his dinner.
If reading is to be pleasant to the listeners, the reading itself must be distinct, easy, and sympathetic." Charlotte Mason Original Series Vol 5 pgs. 219 and 220

Mrs. Cassatt reading to her grandchildren

"Circumstances made it possible for me to make a pilgrimage to Ambleside and Miss Mason at once admitted me to her friendship and taught me so much. It was she who told me to read aloud daily to my children; and how possible a daily half-hour is even in a busy life I proved for over 20 years."
From 'In Memoriam' by HF

*I just love this painting of Mary as a grandmother reading aloud to her grands. It is awesome to know that my favorite woman artist had this habit.

So tell me, what are you reading aloud right now? Let's encourage one another in pleasant habits of pleasant places!

Character First

2011-10-23T22:55:00.001-04:00

Lately I've noticed a little problem in my home. A few little foxes want to spoil the vines. Yes, I am the not so proud mommy of a couple girls with bad attitudes. I know. Hard to believe, isn't it. Just look at these angels. Notice the halos glowing brightly above each head? Yup.

Well, maybe the nearly 14 yo one has a bit of a halo. She is my right hand!

And just so you know, I'm not going to make reference to Miss Mason today; (well....I will borrow her habit training philosophy) but it's another great hero of mine that I will quote today. His name: Winnie the Pooh.

Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.

See, the academics are going well. And that's just wonderful.
But the character...... that is suddenly lacking in places. Really lacking. And in this school: character comes first. What to do? I suppose I will have to do what I tell younger moms of little ones who have a little one who needs help with an attitude or bad habit:

"Simply do nothing besides habit training until you have conquered that habit. That is your work, your schooling! That is now the most important thing! Make that naughty one your buddy! Have them at your side all day! Some call it tomato staking. Have you heard of it? It is a way to retrain those brambly vines to grow in the proper direction. It is a constant watchful eye, and cheerful encouragement toward Christlike character."

I must take that very medicine. MY medicine! By large spoonfuls and often. And it is NOT bubblegum flavored. So, it's come back to square one around here, eh? Boot camp. My habit training gets put to the forefront for awhile. However long it takes.

But how? I mean, with 8 students and a little tagalong, how does one focus on the problem habits of just a few students? What about the rest of the students? I am 'scheduled' with them all morning for narration/grammar time. So...do I change it all up? And who supervises the older ones so that new foxes don't take over in the 'big vines' while I'm tending to the 'little ones'?

(I know what you are thinking. I look fat in this picture. Well; do you still love me? lol!)

And Winnie the Pooh crawled out of the gorse bush, brushed the prickles from his nose, and began to think again. "Think, think, think" ...

Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.

Now when they were young, this was a daily challenge. I remember those days! But now there are many older ones who are a delight and so much help to me.

But I wonder...is THIS the very reason these bad habits have grown seemingly overnight? Now weeds are weeds, but they do not grow large in a few nights! I have obviously been missing some things. Little foxes don't come in unless they try the area out a bit to see if there is that watchful guard on duty. So my conclusion is that I have not been diligent in prayer, in overseeing my flock, and in priorities.

You can't stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes.

(All of us, in order, except the two oldest who live in Denver)

So as I sit here thinking out loud on this page, I wonder something else. Has my freedom in having middle and older ones play with and oversee the younger ones actually hindered my training? You know, I think that may be it. Younger ones don't want 'too many mommies'. And older ones aren't the 'mommy' that I am. So there I have it. I have reaped what I have sown.

When looking at your two paws, as soon as you have decided which of them is the right one, then you can be sure the other one is the left.

Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.

The habits to conquer:

Two, and sometimes three little girls who suddenly argue and are often upset with each other.
One little girl who is nearly always discontent about her circumstances

The effects of 'said' habits, left unattended to:

An older daughter who could very well become resentful in dealing with said younger girls
Sisters who will no longer be friends
Young girls with heavy hearts of guilt because of their choice for self over Christ.
Parents who are just 'fit to be tied'!

Oh Lord. I have my work cut out for me. Schedules to adjust, somehow. Habits to focus on. And still all the normal work that is required in a large family. Help!

There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you.

So thank you page, and anyone else out there...for letting this mom brainstorm to you. It has been a tremendous help. And I will get right to work on it!

See, when you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

Pray for me, will ya?

*All bold print quotes above by Winnie the Pooh; the wonderful bear created by AA Milne.
*pictures by my friend Wendy who came by with camera today after church.

How does your homeschooling fit?

2011-10-21T20:06:00.000-04:00

I am a homeschooler.
My blog audience mainly consists of homeschoolers .
Those starting out, those veterans, and all that is in between.

Yet, I am just one of so many types of home school teachers.
You know what I mean?

There are now so many choices, so many methods, so many ways to go about this thing.
We have unique and differing agendas. We have differing opinions. Different styles. Different looking lives. Circumstances. Strengths and faults. Callings.

And we do have our opinions! Yes, we do!
We are home school teachers. That right there means we are voicing an opinion that's different than many people around us.
And it means that we are strong. (or trying to be).
We are, after all, swimming against the grain and going against the 'normal',
well that takes guts.

....So I have this blog, and I write about the way I do this thing.
The way it fits for me.
Well, the way it fits most days. Because some days are not ideal....
And for some reason, unbeknownst to me, you are reading it. Imagine that. I am touched!

So, we have a common bond, you and I. Right?

Yet...We don't.

I mean, I have 8 students in my little one room school. That's unusual.
Have graduated four, yet still have one just out of diapers. Different!
I use Charlotte Mason. Which narrows my audience way down.
I love teaching, planning/organizing and being with my children. Tight squeeze here.
I am a follower of Christ. Have an artistic bent. Live in the country.
Am a veteran homeschooler of 19 years. I've tried it all!
Been there, done that. Ok. I am pretty much an island unto myself...

So who in the world can relate to me?
Why would anyone read this blog? Lol!

Well, so you see we don't have everything in common, do we?
But, maybe that's ok, isn't it? Well, I think it is.

My point?

Well, you see, we are all teaching; or striving to teach, in the way that 'fits' us.
So we are all very different people in a similar boat. So to speak.

So how do we get to that place that works for us? That works for our particular kiddos?
How do we find what fits us?

Well, I'm glad you asked that!
And here is my answer. So listen up. I may require you to narrate it back to me!

It's in the things we hear. It's in the overall sense we get from others. It's through conversations we have with fellow home school moms or teachers. It's in our own experience of school. It's in the studying of our children. It's in the leading of the Spirit. It's in the support people in our life. It's in the blogs we read and the curriculum we choose. It's about the learning style we have and the temperaments of our children. It's got to do with our own passions. Our own deficits. It's affected by the baggage we carry and the confidence we have or don't have. It's about goals we've made. About our faith. About where we live; the weather we have. The people we know. The lifestyle we lead. What we can afford. What our children need. What our husbands think. If we have a husband....

It's too unique for words.
Homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all.
We get that, right?
Do we?
Well not always, I guess.

Because the REAL that happens in our lives...you know what I mean? The Real life stuff comes in and tries to tip our boats upside down. Tries to rock us. The waves, they come and we look down at them. And if we keep looking, fear flies in. We compare. And in comparing, we lose. We don't measure up. We lose our courage. We sink.

But if we have the right fit, we keep sailing.
Well. Truth be told; sometimes we just keep rowing. But never drifting. Never sinking.
Because that's what people do that have no vision and no strength. No hope. No confidence.

And I'm not saying that if you quit homeschooling, then you have sunk.
I would NEVER say or even think that.
I'm saying that if you are called to homeschooling, and you really want to excel in it,
for the children's sake....
Just keep rowing. Little rows. Forward. Looking ahead and never down.
And make sure it's a good fit.

And please sift through everything you read on this blog, and keep some, and dump the rest. Really. If you knew my heart, you would know that I want to encourage you, not weigh you down.
I get weighed down too. Sometimes from bloggers like me. Who seem to be able to do so well. Who seem to excel. But you are only getting a snapshot of our life. And those snapshots are usually some of the better days. Ya know?
It's only bits of a life when we read a blog post. Remember that.

We are in the same boat. (More or less!)
Let's be challenged by each other. Let us encourage each other. Let us help each other find our own personal fit...and be gracious in the measuring.

So I took one step..

2011-10-20T17:34:00.001-04:00

Nature study.
      Finding it,
       then journaling it,
            then painting it,
                         then labeling it...
                                     can be kind of overwhelming if you let it be.

Maybe life circumstances have put you behind.
Maybe the 'stuff' is not near by.
Maybe it's yucky outside.
Or all of the above!
That was my problem. So I thought; to myself. Just do it.

So I took one step.
Then another because I wanted to.
I found a few little things outside to paint.
And I did it.

And then I remembered.
This is really nice. Relaxing. Quaint.
And it feels like it might just become a routine again!

Preparation:

First get the kids what they need for the time you will be occupied.
(Or let them join. Come on, be brave!) Proceed:
Watercolor paper, at least one brush, water readied, paints. Comfy? Begin:
Find something simple.
Sketch it lightly first if you want.
Really look at it.
Mix your colors until you think you have a match.
Go over the lighter areas. Wait for it to dry or blowdry it.
Go over dark shaded areas.
Look it up. Put the proper and latin names down.
Take a picture of it and be happy! This is for YOU.
Put stuff away that you don't want munchkins to get into.

That's it! Take a whole week to accomplish all these steps; or take an hour.
Your choice. Your way. Your timing.

One more thought....
Making a little place available to do this, with some stuff out, (some put up high);
really draws you there. Draws the children there. Keep that book open. Toss those nature guides up on that table. Put those little acorns and leaves by the cozy place.
The rest, my friend, will happen on it's own.
Enjoy!

Inspired Art

2011-10-10T11:54:00.006-04:00

Be inspired by your world. Take in all the riches God daily heaps upon you. Be faithful, then to pass that grateful inspiration on.

Be inspired by nature...

Indigo Bunting (in our mud puddle) Passerina cyanea

Just glue and fabric paints!

Be inspired by color..

Reflection of wild roses and grasses in a pond

Be inspired by creation:

Brown-eyed Susan (from our garden patch) Rudbeckia Triloba

flowers quilted on quilt blocks

Be inspired by shape/texture...

Flowers just created with fabric

Grains or grasses at the same pond edge

Be inspired by patterns...

An old quilt to re-purpose into something new.

Be inspired by life...

Be inspired by movement and poise...

What surrounds us should be our continuous inspiration!

Look upon all the beauty and grace around you.

This post was created in the summer, but never finished.

So I just tweaked it and thought I'd share it.

Not that I am able to do all these types of things now. But soon.

And maybe something here will fan a little flame of inspiration that will spread joy throughout your home. Feel free to take any of my ideas on this blog.
Or have your children take them and watch them bloom!

Freshening it up

2011-10-08T20:18:00.001-04:00

Our school routine, that is!

Charlotte has us doing so many things, doesn't she? And these many subjects, interests, relationships and ideas are so very fulfilling. We like variety and new things, and great ideas, and rich sources...and it is a breath of the freshest air to be busy going about taking it all in.

Yet even in the wonder of such Charlotte Masony days, at times, there may be a call for a bit of Spiffing up.
Rethinking.
Re-vamping.
I do like to change things up every once in awhile around here. Do you? After all, each month brings seasonal changes we want to 'catch'. And holidays and events we want to observe. And people and places we may want to visit. And aren't circumstances ...isn't life in a state of perpetual change?
So maybe we should roll with those things, ya know?

So, if you agree that the 'same old' 'same old' is in need of tweaking...
Or freshening up; like when you wash the sheets and pillow cases and air them on the line....
then read just a bit further.

Fellow teaching moms...stale should not allowed in our schools!

And such tweaking it not difficult. It is as simple as:

a bit of brainstorming with the kids,
a little tweaking of the days;
by lengthening or adding something,
and shortening or eliminating something else.

Just for now. For a time. Maybe for this month only.

Here are some of the typical CM areas of study for those who are 6 and older.
(print this portion if you want to use it for brainstorming with hubby and students).

Bible Time
Poetry
Audio
Read aloud
Nature Study Walks
Nature Journaling
Artist Studies/looking at pictures
Composer Studies/listening
Shakespeare/plays
Plutarch
Drawing/Painting
Copywork/Handwriting
Silent Reading Books
Life Skills
Handicrafts
Math
Foreign Languages
Grammar/Spelling/Writing
Sciences
Geography
Commonplace Bookwork
Outside Time/Seasonal Notations
Habit Training

Because days are busy. Because we want to look deeply, not just skim. Because learning is meant to be enjoyed. Because WE want to enjoy it too! Because some months are more obliging and some less obliging toward certain areas of learning. Because some habits have been conquered while others have come to the forefront. (Like nature study possibilities are multiplied in spring, summer and fall. And Silent Reading seems cozier in winter. And habit training goals need to be re-evaluated often.)

I will end here because I cannot tell you what might need to be freshened up in your home.
Prayerfully, you and your husband and your students can find that out.
Something probably needs attention. Am I right?
And accountability helps us attain excellence.
And ya know, it's just so much better to wake up with anticipation!

I will share in another post the things we have tweaked.
Will you do the same through a comment?

Autumn Beauty

2011-10-06T17:11:00.003-04:00

Thank you Lord, for our barn. It has been home to kittens, goats, baby chicks and hens, and a bunny.

Thank you Lord for maple tree color.

For Laura Ingalls paths into woods that won our hearts to buy this farmhouse.

For wood that the boys worked so hard to split and cut and pile up. Thank you that this will be our heat, and for days to cuddle up by the woodstove when white snow whirls outside.

Thank you God for little trikes that say "There are little children living there."

For old apple trees, not so lovely, but the kids think they are delicious. They are also fun to fling.

For grape bushes and their lovely leaves, vines, and twirly tendrils.

For how you care for us, and protect us down to the littlest.

For the blessing of day and night, seasons, and life.

For the preservation of that life.

Jesus, thank you for this one...

and these two....

And this other sweet one.

And more. So many blessings. For health, and smiling faces, and love going around.

For cuddles and cameras that capture a moment in time that flies away.

For friendly teen boys who make the day more interesting.

Thank you for each one. For each personality.

You are too good to us. And we praise you for the four not pictured...three out on their own. Lord protect them. And one who is working. Lord cause them to love you most.

Jesus, bless us as a couple. Help us seek you with all our hearts and then love. May our love grown stronger and deeper. We praise you for all this autumn beauty. It is all from your hand. Amen.

Educational Fun

2011-10-02T17:25:00.002-04:00

I got this Vintage Snap Circuits SC-300 at Amazon for a good deal. It was under $24 plus postage.

This set has 2 booklets with pictured diagrams for over 300 projects; 60 pieces. Every project has an objective; a concept that is taught about electronics.

I thought it would be nice for a learning center, or just for long afternoons. (Click on any picture to enlarge).

Sometimes it works better for a larger family, to have games that are put away most of the time and taken out do use as a family. In this way, parts aren't lost because the responsible ones are in charge. They use it together and then it gets put in mom and dad's room.

I wanted to see if they even liked it first. This is the first set, and it can be extended out, I believe.

Each part has snaps. They have made a fan, a flying saucer, something musical, space sounds, and a project demonstrating an LED light so far. Then there are 3 other higher level sets. The highest level uses your computer. Hmm. (Not so sure about that idea!)

In the past hour they have worked together from project 1-15.

Kinda cool, I think. Each project has an objective so you learn an electronic concept.

I would recommend this for boys or girls. What ages, I couldn't tell you. It's the kind of thing that some kids will like, and some might not. Still, as a learning game, everyone could benefit.

My boys pictured in these photos are 11-15. The 3 year old boy and 10 year old girl watching and helping in some pictures.

I couldn't have picked who would like it most, but my 15 year old did mention that if I wanted to give it away, he would be interested. Hmm. That tells me that he may appreciate a higher level all for himself on a birthday.

I think weekend afternoons may have just gotten more interesting.
I was also thinking that this would be a good gift for grandparents to have.
What do you all think? Do you have any other family type learning games that you have enjoyed?

The Heart of Teaching

2011-09-28T08:57:00.005-04:00

Let me tell you about Lydia.

She is my little blonde girl.

Just five. Wise and talented beyond her years.

She reads. Taught herself more or less. She does school...

She has school books because her sibs have school and she will NOT be left out.

Even if it's 20 minutes a day. Even if she must wait for her daddy to come home to work with her.

If we draw, she draws. If we do nature study, she does.

Her age means nothing to her. She is not limited by it.

She can get bored.
She doesn't know that she is one of a large number. That her mom is really really busy.
All she knows is that life is good, it is about her, it is about 'doing', and there is a whole day to experience. She flits from one thing to another. Her days likely seem very long.

She is super duper tactile.

Has to touch EVERYTHING. Like she sees with her fingertips.

Lol! She bops around like tigger. Sitting here, then up and over there, then back jumpity pop on my lap.

Then off in a second..forgot a blanket. Jiggle, bounce, wiggle, and she's back..
She is a blur.

What a character.

What a funny, sweet, bouncy, lovely, off the wall girl God gave us. Well, lent us.

She is a loaner and we are to raise her. For God. For His glory.

Wow.

You can always tell where Lydia has been through the day.
Right next to me is her ziplock bag of crayons she searched for this morning.
On the floor by the computer, with a broken crayon out of the bag.

Two feet away, a glasses case she wanted so badly. In my room, the sketch pad and 7 pictures she drew, flopped off our bed on the floor. Forgotten forever. The stroller is upstairs with her fuzzy scarf wrapped around it. Here is her toothbrush, there is her play dress. That is one of many piles in her room.

She can never find her shoes, her jacket, her other sock. Here is her shoe, her sweat shirt, here is her doll. Her doll clothes over there. Too much in a hurry. Too much life to live.

She is inquisitive to a T. What are those pads for? Why do you have gray things in your teeth (fillings). Where does the toilet water go? Are those wrinkles? Will I get hair under my arm pits? Is this your fat? E-hem.

She talks constantly: usually a bit louder than the rest of us.

(Well, she was born to a crowd, right!)
So I always know where she is. She sings while brushing her teeth, while using the toilet.

Her foot is always tapping. Her mind working, thinking, discovering.

She falls. We should have named her Lydia Grace ~~Not.~~
She falls from the kitchen stools--that no one else ever falls out of.
She stumbles on this, trips on that. Spills her drink. Spills my drink.
Ballet class was quite interesting; poor thing!

Her heart is a soft and tender as a ripe peach. She likes to kiss me all over.

She draws me. Paints me. "Sit still mom. Don't move. I am painting your eyes."

I have had many children to study and try to figure out. This one takes the cake!

God has a sense of humor. Yes, He is just too funny.
This girl may take a life time of study.

Can you see how encompassing this calling is?

It is the calling of a teacher;

of a teaching mom;

a teaching mom who loves Jesus.

The thing is
Lydia is just one of my students!!!

*************

Being a teacher is more than books and narrations and nature study.
A real teacher has her job cut out.

She must put all kinds of strange variables together, make sense of them, and come out with a way to bless and train them up. Sometimes the variables are REALLY STRANGE. You have to figure out how to love them, how to curb the bad habits, how to fill the tank. This takes much creative thought, my fellow teachers.

It takes lots of time.

Lot's of energy.

For each one.

Daily.

And prayer....

Did YOU get the paper that is supposed to come with a 'new product?'
You know,
the one that tells you of their strengths, weaknesses, loves, fears, temperments, quirks, and malfunctions? Cuz I didn't get any and I don't know why!
I also didn't get the volume control button, or the slow down valve. Just the baby in her naked glory.
So I have to seek out the 'manufacturer' and find these things out. He knows. He wants to tell me.

I need to listen to find out. I need to study my children.

Teaching is about guiding and loving those in our care.

It's about relationship. Time. Togetherness. Observing. Talking. Listening. Cuddling. Disciplining. Loving.

And that lifelong study.

Something we can never finish. Something way too big for us.

It is humbling, trying, patience building, embarrassing, sweet, cuddly, a breath stopping
work of love.

But to make it real easy, it is just loving them.
Being in relationship.
Just like between us and God.

Many mornings, when I rise up...I'm not sure if I can do it at all.

Or if I can do it well.

But I know I can be faithful in each small thing.

That I can keep it simple, and full of prayer.

And that He will fill me and teach me when I go to Him.

And I know that
"There is no effort in overflow."

My View from the Couch

2011-09-27T13:25:00.005-04:00

I've a view from my couch that I've hardly much known

I'm the prisoner here with my blanket and phone.

I may only get up for the potty you see

For my loved ones do not want a hemorrhaging me.

So here on this cushion I am learning new ways

To do all the things that I've done everyday...but

Without getting up, mind you. This is a feat!

So pardon me, visitor, my home is not neat!

And well, all the meals have not been so great.

And all the requests have been handled quite late.

And questions for things are deferred to another.

My life seems on hold as a wife and a mother.

So... big kids are starting to take up the slack

This is a good thing, I might not want it back!

While I sit in my jammies, on that blue pad I stay!

And these are the things that you might hear me say..

"Can you pick up that stuff?" "Can you help her with math?"

"Can you take brother out?" "Could you give her a bath?"

"Can you clean up that lunch mess? They've blessed us with meals!"

"Can you find me my verses? How much better mom feels!"

"Could you all be your quietest, mom's head is aching."

"Can you think of a movie that won't be degrading?"

"Could you give me that number?" "Could you take him to nap?"

"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."

"Can you children please get up and check all your chores?"

"Oh yes, David, for sure. YOU can sweep all the floors!"

"Look out at that sunshine!" "Your picture is sweet!"

"Oh, someone's here again, with more food to eat!"

And this sitting and sitting and sitting some more

Is helping me see things I couldn't see before.

Like how tall my boys are, and how blue their eyes

And how sweet their sounds as they play with their guys.

Or how much compassion our Lydia shows me

With kisses and ways that she tries to serve me.

And girls fill my water cup each time it's low.

Or get me more blankets, and tucking them so.

Like how sweet is that. They are playing together.

And how nice is this; snuggling up in this weather!

And look at our Holly; the young lady she is now.

And is time being redeemed as this mom slows down?

So when friends come over they sit and we chat.

That old Pam had less time to do things like that.

And we talk of how good God is; what He has done

And share of the struggles and victories won.

And there's tears to be shed but they're good ones, you see.

Cuz His blanket of grace is quite covering me.

And He is best heard when my heart is at rest.

And He is best known through the trials and tests.

God help me stay focused and help me to glean

As I sit here while others must cook, care and clean.

As I sit here and watch, and consider, and pray

Lord help me to rest in Your will for this day.

And may all You show me be with me to stay.

I love you God. And I will continue to trust, continue to praise you. I may be a bit broken, but never crushed. And these hard things are never for naught. You are ever teaching, ever changing my stubborn heart. My heart is full.

A Student of God

2011-09-24T18:05:00.000-04:00

The short version is this:
I had a miscarriage today. It was painful and sad. It wasn't what we wanted, but I am fine.
I will not hold that baby in April.
But I am at peace and it is well with my soul.
And being at peace during hard things...is an awesome feeling.
I can experience this peace only by God's grace.

The long version is here:
(It is full of words and thoughts and maybe ramblings.
I hope that God can use it for His glory, somehow.)

I have always had this really bad habit. I'll be honest with ya'll.
Something would happen that would hurt me. My thoughts would re-play that thing.
I would drift into that downward spiral of depression and hide out, not talk, hurt in private.
Until much time went by and God would hear my cries.

And over again, He would bring me up out of that horrible pit,
out of that miry clay,and put my feet upon a rock and establish my goings.

And, well, that is so amazing! He just kept rescuing me/keeps rescuing me.
God is so patient. I have been such a poor student.

But I think God is tired of doing that for me over and over and over.
(Well, He certainly should be.) So this is what He did.
He gave me a verse back around April that went like this:

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Is 43:18-19

So I took hold of that verse and clung to it with dear life.
I became as excited as a little kid around Christmas time.
God was going to do something new!!! I am all about something new.
The old is really tiresome and heavy.

So I waited.
And, trying to help Him out, I made a list of things I hoped He would do (in my head).

Things that He might be planning. (Like that kid at Christmas).
Yet, surprisingly I got more depressed as I focused hard on that list. My list. My plans.
It just made me feel like I lacked. Like I was missing out. It wasn't working.

So I put my list on the altar of God. On my knees, I gave it as a sacrifice. It didn't start out as an easy thing to do. But as I prayed, it became the only thing to do. I asked Him to exchange my paltry list for His. And so He did. Gladly. (I thing maybe God likes that kind of prayer. Do you think?)

And then God ....yes God. Not me. He gave me something from His awesome list.
That gift is a jewel called contentment.(I wonder how long He has wanted to give it to me? How many years He waited for me to ask. I wonder how excited He was that I was ready for His will much much more than mine?)

His first gift to me has been awesome.It is light, and wonderful and healing. It has changed me and I never want to lose it. Wow. And I was a little afraid of what He might 'do to me'. Lol!

And funny thing. He threw in something from the top of my old, scrunched up list, just for fun.
Just cuz He can.
He opened my womb. Only He does this, ladies. This I know.
So Oh my goodness! How amazing it that?

And I did good, folks. I kept my focus on the Giver and not the gifts.
I cherished Him; everyday, learning and thirsting and gleaning with joy.
I cherished this new found contentment. It has changed me. It is peace. It is joy. It is letting go.
And it is so light. Do you like light? I do. Very much!

So God did a miracle. He taught this 'old dog' a new trick. He transformed my old heart.
And this miracle (being content in His will) will get me through anything, I'm thinking.
He will get me through anything.

Which brings us to today.
Today I had a miscarriage.

But I am ok. I was bearable. It wasn't complicated. (I've had complicated.)
Quite possibility I will not carry another baby in my womb. Ever.That's reality. I am not so young.
Tom and the kids were really excited too. It is our loss. We will share a grief together as a family.
It will affect us. Pain has brushed by us,but we are not burned.

But that's all the bad I can list off, try as hard as I can.
You see, I have a new heart...
God saved me, and anything more is more than I deserve. Extra. A bonus.
And my life is heaped and piled with bonuses.

He daily loadeth me with benefits. Praise ye the Lord.

God is so kind. He gave me 9 1/2 weeks of carrying life!
It was so, so worth it. I am completely blessed. I will ponder that time of pregnancy in my heart always, and cherish it. I have such good memories from it. And as a student of the King, I learned so much.
I cannot stop praising Him for looking down and hearing my heart,and changing my life. If He can change such a stubborn and selfish heart as mine, He can surely meet whatever need you have.Seriously.
So that's my testimony. That's my miscarriage story. Did you notice it does not have a sad ending?
That's because I let Him help with the writing of it. What a difference that makes, my sisters.
Our days are about life and loss. Joys and griefs.
May we, by God's grace maintain the 'life' amidst the 'losses', and may the 'joy' override the 'grief'.
For His glory.

Blog Makeover! Come see!

2011-09-23T19:47:00.001-04:00

And I made the print larger and the colors more wonderful!
Why? Cuz I love you so much! Come and see!

Oh. Almost forgot! I also updated my other blog. Take a peak, pleeeeease!

Friday Morning Routine

2011-09-23T09:58:00.001-04:00

On Fridays we have a light day.
After devotions we begin presentations.

This is where the children tell about anything they want.

Usually it's more formal. They stand and I check off certain requirements: voice level, interest level, eye contact, audience involvement, ability to keep our attention, absense of distracting habits, etc.

But today it was more relaxed.

Call it speech, call it show and tell. They seem to like it.

The rest of us listen and learn.

After that, there is geography with The Book of Marvels. Still slowly going through it's interesting pages for the 2nd year.

Then, we watch an educational movie. Today it's Joan of Arc.

(Except me and the little ones. We are walking the woodsy trail and catching some sunshine.)

That's about it for Friday. It seems to fit us well.

Who midwifes the midwife?

2011-09-20T10:14:00.001-04:00

Today is not yesterday.
I've been really nauseated all last night and this morning, and so tired.
School looks real different today than it did yesterday. It looks like Math and Ambleside reading. Period. Course, we already covered the NHMV. So no guilt will weigh me down in this!

A quick run to find shoes at a thrift store for Lydia, as her soles have blown out!!

A nap.

Some calls I have to make that have been put off.

Then I need to eat something besides Bays English muffins. That's all that ever sounds good!
I would ask my midwife, "What does that mean? lol!" But I have not the pleasure of having one.
A midwife that is.

My sweet friend Melissa's baby

Do you know that the going rate around here is $2500 for the prenatals and birth? Too much for our pocketbook, folks. My goodness. Does one have to be rich to do things at home?
Anyway, they are not Christians, and that is pretty much the thing I would want most.

I wouldn't think of charging that much. I ask for the couple to pray and just do 'whatever God lays on your heart.' That works best. It is a surprise gift from God that way.

Usually...it's all good. But sometimes...just sometimes...
I wish I had a midwife...I mean other than myself.
Not saying my husband is not helpful and wonderful. He's totally awesome. But he's a man.
Not saying that men are strange or anything. They are just not women. Anyone follow? lol!

All the testimonies of what God did!

I wonder what it would be like to have someone to do what I get to do to other women. Pray with them. Ask them about what they are eating. Try to help them eat better. Find out what hurts, what they're dealing with. Figure out a remedy.

Someone to feel the baby, measure, listen to the heartbeat with me. (Well, if I ever get one!)
Someone to say "Wow. Baby has grown this month! Great work!" or "Tell me what God is teaching you as you carry this little one?" or "What names have you thought of?"

Or "You hair looks great!" "When do you think baby will come?" "What are labors like for you?" "How can I pray?"

Someone to say they've been praying for me. Someone to say I look great when I really looked washed out, or beached whale-like. Someone.

So many prayers. So much LIFE.

My great friend Alison did this for me for my pregnancy with David. It was awesome. But she has a preterm baby that she is pouring her heart and thoughts into lately. Back and forth trips to the hospital. Pray for Alison, will ya'll?

Self service midwifery is free, but it just isn't as satisfying, ya know?
Who will midwife this midwife?

Always unique. Always there was God in the midst.

But I do know one thing. God is the deliverer. He strengthens, comforts, loves on, instructs. He encourages, assures, builds up. He loves my hair, and thinks I look just peachy. And He knows EVERYTHING about what I need, what I will need, and what is ahead. I guess I just got my answer. God will midwife the midwife. He will mother the mother. And He will continue in this work through eternity. I lack nothing.

Praying for you all that God will meet all your needs, and fill all your longings.
He will, you know. If you let Him.

*All pictures here represent are mine. They represent over 20 years I've spent midwifing for so many faith filled families. Some are very old! Look at me--oh my! All have so many amazing memories attached and I thank God for them.

Homeschool Journal 2011: Week 5

2011-09-19T16:04:00.002-04:00

Sitting here sipping on a Dr. Pepper. I know, that is SOOOO bad for me.
So here goes. (And the fingers type faster with the caffeine in them!)

Devotion time: continuing to listen to the Word of Promise dramatized Old Testament. Today I was inspired to hear again, in voices, of Sarah laughing to herself about having a baby at her age. (I had to laugh with her because I can relate!) Gen. 18:14 "Is anything too difficult (wonderful) for the Lord?" Oooh. Good Word.

Group time: assorted poetry from Walter De La Mare, and some from The Best Loved Poems of the American People. Mine is old and gray, but a treasure with many markers in it. The kids narrated and then rated each poem from 1 (didn't like) to 5 (loved). I am always surprised by the ratings. Especially when the 16 year old rates a poem with a 5. That is inspiring to me! Here is one that you know. It made the kids want to google the day of the week that they were born!

Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works for its living,

and a child that's born on the Sabbath day

Is fair and wise and good and gay. Author unknown

Continuing group time: we finished Theseus for Plutarch time. The lesson stuck with us. One can do wonderful and nobel deeds for a whole life, but in the end if we act the fool, that is what is remembered.

Usually in group we also do a chapter of Robinson Crusoe on audio and then Shakespeare or SOTW...but we had too much fun with the poetry today.

Youngers went for tea time and older ones had a writing assignment to work on M-Th and turn in on Friday. It is corrected for grammar, spelling, and quality. It is the start of the year, so the quality will not be up to par yet. I will be patient and always increase the intensity of the writing as the year goes on.

Then older ones for tea time while I work on circle time (today was AO reading lists) with 2 younger girls. We are thoroughly enjoying Understood Betsy and The Little Duke. The former is a book I would have loved to have read as a read aloud to my older kids when they were young. The author, Dorothy Canfield Fisher wrote a book called A Montessori Mother back in 1912. Interesting.

Stations: Each went around the following stations:

Anatomy and health, with composer study when time permits.

Botany with nature journaling, with naturalist study +Handbook of Nature pages to read daily on plants.

Copywork and writing with Life Skills for after writing,

(Monday being current event day from the newpaper)

Spanish, French and/or Typing at the computer,

Artist study with Handicrafting,

Narrations with me (and Grammar with younger ones.)

(Also when I look over commonplace books and make sure entries have been made at each station and for each subject that day.)

These went well. Narrations are less detailed on Mondays because most haven't done their AO reads yet. So they narrate all of the above. The rest of the days, they mostly narrate from the previous day's AO books. That means today I hear lots about the stations, such as:

"I drew horses/whittled/drew facial expressions...at handicrafts."

"I read about Clara Schumann for composer study, which was about....."

"I learned about the spinal column and how the vertebrae protect it...." (anatomy)

"I am reading about car maintenance, and also reading that driver's ed booklet...." (life skills)

"I love Spanish and am learning many new words like...."

"Today I did Before You Know It French. I had to start a new list as I have completed all the current ones..."

"I wrote about this from the newspaper and here is the picture I clipped out.."

"Today I began to memorize the poem The Swing. I have the first 8 lines down..."

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
by Robert Louis Stevenson
(and as my 8 and 10 year olds say the lines, I remember learning this poem under the tutelage of my mom so many years ago!)

After this everyone does math, and then AO reading; I do more with the younger girls, and there is clean up and lunch. After lunch is homework.

I find this an great way to stay accountable.
What about you? Do you journal some of your homeschool days; or keep a record or calendar of some sort? Feel free to share. You may greatly inspire someone else. I would love to hear from you.

CM Homeschooling: NHMV

2011-09-14T18:40:00.000-04:00

It's new! It's grace filled!
Have you heard of it?

****

We now see so many posts and blogs and sites about Charlotte Mason Homeschooling,

that our heads just spin with it all.

How exciting to be in such a wave of wonder in the homeschooling circles.

To teach in such an inspired way. To fellowship with so many passion filled moms!
It sure makes this moms job sweeter than how it used to be.

Yet....
I am currently checking out a slightly tweaked out version of this method that we know and love.

I have previously written mostly of the Ideal Version.But there's a new version out there that some of you are doing,

and we really don't talk of it so much.

I deem this style the New Humbled Mom Version (NHMV)

It's peaceful and works well in chaos.

It's for the tired, the slightly stressed, the newly pregnant, or newly delivered.

It is for moms with many little ones, moms who don't have it all together, moms who need 'simple'.
It's dedicated to the husbands of those super moms.

This version is currently my new best friend.
(Same awesome method, tweaked for those locked in 'humbled' mode.)

Let's have a peak and compare notes, shall we?

(Ideal Version)

Nature walks daily at a wonderful pond finding awesome things, labeling them in latin, putting them in our scrapbooks in lovely watercolor. Well groomed and perfectly peaceful children admiring the fauna and flora.

NHMV (Humbled Mom Version):

I send the kids out to collect the tomatoes every three days, and we can them into sauce.

Ideal Version:

Handicrafts and life skills. They knit, they whittle, they sew and they make wonderful and useful projects. We learn about car maintenance, how to play chess, and orientation.
We have first aid, and piano, and learn guitar.

NHMV: (Humbled Mom Version)

The livingroom is undergoing a remodel, we have a "half fix" of the bathroom shower, and the boys are spending tons of time cutting and hauling wood for us, and for some friends.

So books and their shelves have been relocated and everything is a lovely mess!

Ideal Version
Only living books, of course. No twaddle. Only the good stuff and lots of it.

NHMV (Humbled Mom Version)

Ok, now. I didn't abandon all my scruples. We are still reading the living books, I promise!

But these books...what can I say. Little kids read them to littler kids. Mom takes that nap she needs.

It won't be like this forever. There ya go.

Oh, was it author study? I though it was Arthur study!! Lol!

Ideal Version?

Humbled Mom Version

Oops. The computer's been broke down awhile. Um. Recess?

You get the picture. Life doesn't always allow us to live the Ideal.

But the NHMV....we can do that with style!

Grace to you who have been there, and have compassion for those who are there.

God bless.