A Precious Perspective

I never really expected to be a mom. I totally gave up on the potential of being married based on the massive amount of debt and failure I'd accumulated in my short 28 years of life. But then miracles happened and I did meet a Godly saint and married him as soon as he asked me, or shortly there after. I progressively submitted and have since then stayed married to the afore mentioned saint.

After a regular amount of time, in my eyes at least, we became parents to a healthy and easy child. After another reasonable amount of time, we, I reluctantly, welcomed twins. They were all excessively healthy and bright children. Easy… too easy. I never had to work to have children. I had to work some more than I would have expected to keep the children growing and learning, but everything was and is very easy.

So many people work for years to have children and then some others loose those precious gifts so quickly. Others watch as their babies die from diseases that drag on and suffer so long. But, I get to enjoy these young people, not yet tax payers; and yet do I really appreciate what I have? Does anyone ever appreciate what they have? So much of the time we move so fast or check out so quickly, then don’t get to see how precious these people are to us. Why is it that so many parents don’t realize how fast their children are growing and so much happening that they don’t get to slow down and pay attention to the simple events of the day?

And, yet, do I submit their lives to fate? Nope, but I catch myself so often trying to control everything. Doesn’t God love them more than I do? Aren’t they really His? So, yep, I accepted some odd chance to teach them according to the simplest method I could have discovered by providence from The Well Trained Mind about classical education. I’m continuing to teach them this coming school year because is just feels right and is expected. Easy…

So what’s classical education? According to one mom at seven's heaven: "The object of this kind of Christian and Classical education was not merely the accumulation of knowledge. Instead it was to equip a whole new generation of leaders with the necessary tools to exercise discernment, discretion, and discipline in their lives and over their callings. Despite their meager resources, rough-hewn facilities, and down-to-earth frontier ethic, they maintained continuity with all that had given birth to the wisdom of the West." She quoted George Grant.

I go against what is common in my life and choose to be a wife, home-maker and home-schooling mom. And, some day I’ll go on to what ever else is set for me to do. But I’ll do it with few regrets of having missed something. Living a life without would have, should have or could have moments isn't so easy, but it's a goal.

Latin America Next!

During the twins' kindergarten year when we brought G1 home from first grade, I guided the children through the geography of the United States using this book from Dover Publications.  We also were able to use the Homeschooling with Index Cards "Flags of the United States" files from Molly.

Since using this Dover source, I've continued to guide the children through Europe and Africa using the Homeschooling with index cards materials and with some practice from the Sheppard Softward website. 

During the twins' 3rd grade year and G1's fourth grade year, we will use the same source for Latin America from Homeschooling with index cards, but add information from Rod and Staff Publications that I found earlier this month at the ICHE.org conference :-)  It is the Latin American Coloring Book  and it is very age appropriate for my kids this year. We also will have lined space on some pages to notebook about library sources we find to read, both fiction and non-fiction. AND my sister will be sharing information from her trip to Peru!

The Revolutionary War

We're ready to explore the fighting between the original English colonies and her Mother Land during our summer school lessons on Monday. Each of the 13 colonies were discussed, and what or who made them special enough to establish in the first place. So, The goal to discover the history of our United States of America is begun and continues with "This Country of Our" by H.E. Marshal, "Story of the World" by S.W. Baurer and some "Liberty's Kids" videos. We'll also use various stories including "Ben and Me." I enjoyed listening to "Johnny Tremain" with the kids a couple of weeks ago. I also enjoyed reading "Washington's Lady" by Nancy Moser on my own after hearing her speak in April. It's time.

Spring Soccer is Completed

Summer Break?

In an effort to study about oceanography and the ocean habitat, we've listened to or read many books about the ocean. I'm now listening to "Moby Dick," all 17 hours of it. I am at chapter 20 and haven't met Ahab yet.

It is good to have a pool pass when it is not raining, so that I can listen to or read while my angels wear themselves out. But, we also have time to visit a friend's VBS program and participate next week in our own church summer "camp."

We are doing only a little reading about colonial America and then reading about the Revolutionary War and watching "Liberty's Kids." We will also get ready for Lewis and Clark in our history timeline before August. These are fun ideas for summer reading. But, I'm vexed by our grammar choice for 4th grade. I've read reviews of First Language Lessons 4 and am not enticed to continue into it.  I'm anxious for a solution and will consider Rod and Staff 5 when I visit with those folks at the Homeschool Expo on August 6th.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude

ROH Radio :: Women in the Shadow of the Almighty (Elisabeth Elliot) :: An Itch to Dominate:

Elisabeth Elliot on the radio,

“It is always possible to be thankful for what is given
rather than resentful over what is withheld.
One or the other becomes a way of life.”

Philadelphia Field Trip

 

With Mr. Washington at Independence Hall...