Stewardship

Nope, it's not time to volunteer at church for child care during stewardship month. You know, that month when the pastor focuses his teaching on our tithe or giving back of what God's given us. The nursery is ALWAYS less populated that month.  Didn't you know?  Remember, I'm not an elementary teacher.  I'd rather walk without a flack jacket into a junior or senior high school to substitute teach than spend a day with first graders. BUT, I digress.  After thinking about priorities for a few days, I began moving onto the next thing, stewardship. I'd define that place in life (stewardship) as the stage in which we use all that we have been lent by a merciful ORCHESTRATOR with prayer and gratefulness.

I can think about this concept of stewardship because I've been without.  So, when I talk to my kids about living on hashbrowned potatoes for at least 3 years in graduate school, I meant that 10 pounds of potatoes carefully used along with the peels intact through a salad shooter and a tub of Iowa farm-produced lard was the protein, starch and fiber I had to sustain me.  Besides the point that God was really telling me that I wasn't supposed to be in that location doing that job/study in my life misses the issue that stewarding what we do have is essential.  Even when we aren't listening and obeying, we still must regain a place in life where we steward what we have according to how we've been directed.  That takes obedience.

I've been teaching so much about wars during the historical period from 1850 to WWI and the loss of life involved on epic proportions lends me to discuss stewardship of life as well.  We're getting closer to having a plan for college and thus building the high school curriculum that supports that plan.  Someone in my house mentioned going into the service of the nation. I'm wrapping my brain around a government who doesn't steward their people, natural resources or economy well, and I'm supposed to be all fine-and-dandy with them trying to flub up stewarding my kid.  But then again, so many of those who survived the Depression gave up their kids to the Second World War. They were great people who I've learned from, and so my children will learn too.  And, I will cover my kids in prayer, because "to whom much is given, much is expected."

Extended Holiday Blogging Break

SO, we've been to visit friends working near Paris, got back to do more school and reading preparing for SOTW4 chapters about World War One, celebrated a 14th birthday, built gingerbread houses which will be decorated today - maybe, tween/teen-agers sewed their own pajama bottoms and celebrated their first white elephant gift party. We've also done a 3 Hobbit-movie-spree over the past week when our subjects were complete for the month. It's been a little busy, but there were pictures that just haven't been collaged quite yet in order to place here on the world wide web.

There was an art project done after a nature hike in a warm valley somewhere in France.

 There are lots of books available from fiction, nonfiction, juvenile or adult stacks about The Great War.  Let me know here what books you recommend about WWI.  Otherwise, we'll catch up with y'all asap.  HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

PrIorItIes

Recently, I read from a post of Paige at Elemental Science about things she didn't predict as she conducted her work-at-home-mom life.  Number three on her countdown of things she wished she'd known was about remembering priorities. Well, around here, we all have differing priorities, but a few things unite us.  Music is very important here.  Reading is essential here, whether you listen on the text-to-voice kindle or read word-for-word from the screen/page.  Outside time with the lawn mower or gardening is a wonderful escape and exercise.  Lego time is, dare I say, "Holy" here.  There's a room dedicated to it, or mostly because the guest couch and sewing machine also live there.

The Mommy on the other hand continues to aim at doing the best she can with what she has. So many lessons I learned about life from My Grams who was born in 1914.  That was a tough time to be a little kid, especially one in rural Iowa amongst 8 brothers and sisters.  Their parents were first generation in the United States and the Old Folks still spoke lots of harsh Swedish over their heads. The Great War and the Depression were R-E-A-L to them and she shared so much of that with me as I was the only one of my siblings to go to get my bachelor's degree back then (since then my sister who came 20 years later has done the same as me).  I lived with My Grams in order to go to teacher's college.  And so much of that time is very evident in how I teach, guide, cook, clean, organize, drive, all of it. Waste not, want not, so don't even think you are going to get away with dawdling.

But mostly, TRAVEL IS ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY.  It's how we think about all of our studies and church events and purchases and chores (frugal living-stewardship affords us to plan our errands to save fuel).  Band participation, science lessons each week (this can fall thru the cracks if spelling seems more important) and Bible study are those hills I'm willing to die on here at Paisley Classical Academy.  What would my kids say is the priority in their lives? Why is that what they classify as a priority? Take a minute to visit with them or a nature walk to discuss it.

A day in the life... Homeschool: Year Eight

Considering Virtues

As our CBS ended with the final lesson on Philippians, I have implemented plans for the summer Bible study.  I received a tremendous resource years ago that employed The Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett.  The book in of itself is not the Bible, but as we mull E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G over in this Dialectic stage, I want the challenge to take the stories and tall tales collected in the Bennett book and relate (debate, compare, contrast) them to the verses in the Bible concordance (I'm teaching them to use the reference tools too).  I, of course, will attempt to bring my children along for the challenge as well. The Mom at Shiver Academy already did so much of the work, I just have to get the kid copies of the books and my adult collection of the stories AND the Bible out each day of this summer to bridge the gap in what could be a lull in their maturing growth.  We've read the Bible in 90 days and we've read The Story version of the Bible by Max Lucado, so why not delve further into virtues... these three people with be paying taxes soon, so they need to know what is virtuous or not and why it is or isn't.

AND IT IS ALL TIED TO GRATITUDE.  How you ask? Well, this is where I bring in the Ann Voskamp resources that I've acquired since reading her book, One Thousand Gifts several years ago. I've followed her blog ever since.  There are monthly challenges with prompts each day to record three things we are thankful for in our lives.  This exercise combined with the reading and consideration of virtues in each story sited in the Bennett source along with Bible verses from the concordance or biblegateway.com search engine help us to practice the presence of God even when there isn't an active Bible study group over the summer.

A Rhetorical Question from Study in Philippians 3

How did Paul's parents feel when he called all his credentials junk? (Phil 3:1-11)  Incredulous? Hurt? Worried that he was being lead astray? Did they ever understand?

One might think such things about parents who choose homeschooling instead of classroom school away from the home.  Even my parents don't understand what was so bad about my classroom training.  After all, they say that I was on the honor roll and all kinds of band/choir accomplishments.  I had many opportunities that the classroom school provided, but compared to what my kids get today, I'm still convinced that we are doing the best thing.  But, what happens when my kids choose something different someday. Will I be like Paul's parents and freak out?  That is, I'm assuming, if they freaked out!

Many transitions are upon us as homeschooling parents, or parents in general.  We have 12 and 13 year olds here, and but for a blink of an eye they will be choosing their way all too soon (in fact, we encourage it).  The Mommy and the Daddy will need to transition along with these 3Gs.  Prayer that each chooses wisely or is able to rebound as we once did when we didn't seek wise counsel.  Are we allowed to advise these three to pray fervently/listen carefully about each decision they make?  Are we up to it?

April Field Trip to GHC-CVG with the Whole Family

When we decided to take the last break before the end of school the week after Easter to coincide with G2's and G3's birthday, the Cincinnati Great Homeschool Convention became an attractive goal.  I made arrangements to volunteer for our family admission costs to the convention.  I'd done this here in Chicagoland at ICHE and wasn't afraid of the tasks involved.  We made arrangements to cash in some hotel points for a relatively free stay at the nearby Hilton property in Cincinnati.  We are trying to fly stand-by, but we still don't know how that will pan out until we're returned.  We researched the plan to visit the Creation Center (per Judy Hoch's advice in her February blog post), but found that without a car and an additional adult entrance fee (G1 became even more expensive), we'll pass this time. Each G is geared up for a busy schedule in the REAL FAITH for the REAL WORLD Teen Track and doesn't actually know anything about Cincinnati chili yet.  We have three different museum field trips planned and it'll be good to get to at least one of those.  Probably looking at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center or the William Howard Taft National Historic Site (so the Nat'l Park passports are packed).

I've made lists for each of our family members to visit various vendor booths while at the convention, i.e. Memoria Press and Teaching Textbooks (per Marci Goodwin's advice in her February blog post).  I seriously need G1 to have his hands on the geometry textbook in order to give me feedback.  I am going to try to teach all three on the same science curriculum so do I need 3 copies of the text?  Will I continue to use the Classical Education method for high school science and will it be hands on science?  I wanted each of my students to see the science books available to them in high school and get their input.  I'll keep Paige's recommendations about science study in mind during each science speaker I hear.  I'm taking Tina Robertson completely serious when researching the options for homeschool history choices.  I will very much enjoy meeting some of my homeschool mentors from the blog world and eat some Cincinnati chili with Jimmie Lanley.  I just love the way Amy Maze presented justification for more family bonding.  I seriously needed the encouragement that Heather Woodie promised I'd find.

So, here goes another family adventure. (Family Adventuring at http://t.co/J8BTsgC8bt "We’re not on a vacation, where we seek relaxing pleasure experiences every day.")

"Noise"

So much of life is noise,  if you let it.  But, aren't you allowed to choose how you live your life?  That's what they told me in high school - aim high,  get a college degree, blah blah blah.  I chose a lot of things including a college experience,  a job and now marriage/family.  But I never chose to decrease the amount of noise in my life, until now. I homeschool.  I drive with the radio off,  sometimes.  I listen to books from my kindle text-to- voice because I can. I separate kids in my house into separate rooms in my house or tables at the library or benches at the park because they need to learn about reducing the noise in their lives too. Can't do that in the classroom,  or on the school bus or in the basketball team. Noise reduces how much we can hear ourselves think.  Discern. Appreciate. Life. Choose to live intentionally and reduce some noise each year. We aren't promised another day, but when we get it, choose to savor it. I do and continue to relish it.

"Field Trip Adventure"

So, you're a classroom teacher for 20 years and you're taking your classroom kids on the same field trip for the 20th time, and it really hurts, and you're tired.

Just think,  that could be me out there leading my earth science 8th graders to the Field Museum to discuss the goo-to-you ideas from the textbook. But, that would be surreal because I didn't stay in the classroom.

I don't use textbooks except the Bible (well, and Rod/Staff Grammar and Saxon Maths). I don't preach large scale evolutionary historical development on planet earth (old earth creationist is on the back of my t-shirt). I HOMESCHOOL. I HOMESCHOOL!  YES, SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD, I HOMESCHOOL! !!

I don't get a paycheck, 

I get hugs, 

slugs 

and debates with my own kids - 

E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y. 

I go on field trips to wonderful places I want to share with them, and wonderful places I want to explore with them. And I like it. And they're growing.in.a.love for intentional living that allows them to surrender the junk, simplify and savor what they have.

That's what it's all about.

Pastel Art: Takes Us to the Beach...

... and Away from Snowy Winter

Top left shows G3 playing ball in the water with Dad.
Middle shows G1 digging in the sand to where ever.
Bottom right shows G2 playing ball with her friend.

So wonderful to see their stories in Chalk Pastel Art.

Summer Week of Camp for All 3Gs

This bloomed just for my birthday :-)

 

 

Gs1and3 are off to AWANA Honor Camp for the week. They promised to try the horse trail rides.
G2 gets to practice her culinary skills with young, old friends in Kansas.

All five of us survived Daycamp, Marching Band and one for babysitter training last week.

 

Interest Lead - Life Skill - Phys Ed - Whatever!

So many people partner with us to teach 3Gs.  D&Am are part of that team. Am is intense and knowledgeable about dance.  She shared that a long time ago, but I didn't know if the Gs would go for it.  But bowling was over and DandAm are headed away for work soon. I just couldn't let a little reluctance or rigidity keep us from trying to learn how to dance from Am. D is there to reflect on what he's learned about dance too, but Am runs the dance floor.  This is an hour of dance and cultural lessons for my tweens and me, so we all get exercise.  More about DandAm later b/c they're awesome!

Action shots: Waltz

 Review smooth dance steps

HAPPY EASTER

 Crocus are here with spring!

Changes in the Kitchen

 

There used to be a wall directly in front of me which separated the kitchen and dining room.  I found a link to the view from the other side of the wall when the kids were younger working on a science experiment (http://expeditionswithg3.blogspot.com/2010/05/pour-only-gas-not-liquit.html).  The project took some time to engineer, but IKEA and prayer that we could make the changes were essential.  So glad to enjoy it for a while before ever having to move again.

Busy, Good

We've been absent from the blog for a couple of months because of travel and activity.  I'm constantly stunned when asked about socializing my 3Gs.  It really isn't a problem.  Travel to Turkiye in late September found us near the border of Syria on a non-warring evening, then to Cappadokia and a non-muezzin neighborhood of Istanbul.  Then in November, we traveled through Frankfurt to Vienna and Budapest. So, you'd think I had more to write about, which is quite true, but I'm dealing with grading math papers instead. Oh, and I didn't mention that the kitchen here is quite re-done since Labor Day when the Daddy gave us permission to take down a wall, replace the drywall, hire an electrician, hire a carpenter and helped us install cabinets in order to enjoy for the unknown time we get to live here. 

Pictures are available, but those math papers are calling my attention.

Stay-cation?

G#3 says that he'd prefer a stay-cation instead of trying to get on the plane. But, he's not complaining as he plays with his sister and cousin in Salt Lake City today under Gramma and Papa's guidance. 

G#1 is happy enough to stay-cate at home as he reviews the Star Wars Episode One and keeps up on his yoga with the Wii today. He also started to read The Bronze Bow today after he finished learning about events which take place a little later in history with the Roman Mysteries. 

I'm reading a book along with the daddy for a source of discussion about something besides kids, work and life. Live From Jordan is proving to give us something to discuss that we have in common.  Something to read while we commence our travel tomorrow is helpful also, because we never know how long we'll be in the airport waiting for seats to open up on a plane. 

But for now, no school work is being done.

"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo

This book was about a family who face tough health experiences and continue to communicate their fears and share their strengths.  Through all the struggles with his sons health over a few short years, this dad relates what his son learned while very ill and near death. 

I wouldn't have picked this book because it seemed so real to loose a kid. I spend 24/7/365 with my kids as a homeschool parent. I'm glad that each of my kids is learning to know, love and serve a risen Savior.  I don't even watch movies based on real life events, so that's why I would not have regularly chosen this book as these parents watched their son slip in and out of a coma.  These parents work hard and do so much to teach/love their children.

But, it did express an idea of hope, which is all I have to glean from it. I received Heaven is for Real via an account at http://booksneeze.com/ and am glad to see others enjoy the book more than I did. 

Some Words Just Don't Work for ME

Some words are very easy to say. Accidentally, luckily, coincidentally...  Those words are just not that helpful. They don't tell the whole story about the fact that things happen as a logical sequence of events that I've started OR that someone other than myself have started. Doesn't mean I'm a fatalist, it just means that the words accident, lucky and coincidental are used way too much.
Some words are more easily acted out. Entitlement, Deserve.. Really, we all deserve and are entitled to a miserable existence on our own (alone) in this tiny planet with no mercy or hope. Really, all have done hideous things to some extent and are entitled to punishment.  I just do the best with what I've got and am trying each day to be incredibly grateful instead of entitled.
Grace is a better word, and love; humble, generous, polite, providence. So much easier to use those words more readily, or for that fact, just act them out on a regular basis to get the muscles working.  Yep, a grace muscle needs exercise.  These muscles work for me and I do the best with what I have thankfully trying to learn something from it all.

Christmas Break

Yep, we've taken a week off! Believe it!

G#1 did a wonderful job at his part in the church play! He also enjoyed another birthday.
Everyone joined in for serving the neighborhood and nearby villages with our fellow BCJesus dudes. G#2 and I sang carols in nursing homes. The boys enjoyed other fun activities that evening. 
G#3 finally got a rc helicopter and loves it. His Christmas was thoroughly fulfilling, until
we saw TinTin last night with paternal grandparents and a few friends. #3 is becoming such an insightful fellow and continues to challenge me as well as the Daddy.
The Gs and I finally got to the pool for a second time this month and it was good.
The house got a facelift and it is much tighter, trimmer and a different color on the outside.
I'm enjoying the IEW 12 Days of Christmas. Thank you to IEW

Not much snow yet, but my kids are outside playing and inside playing. There was a moment for finishing the children's version of the Iliad story by Mrs. Sutcliff called Black Ships Before Troy.  Now the same author's children's version of the Odyssey is open and being read here too (The Wanderings of Odysseus).  G#1 finished Saxon 5/4 math triumphantly and is ready to dive into Saxon Math 6/5 when we get back to studies on Monday, January 2nd for week 19 of our school year.

Good bye 2011 - It was a fun visit.  Hello 2012 - I'm looking forward to what's ahead.

Fourth Travel Thanksgiving

Daddy took the job. We moved to Chicagoland. Kids went into the classroom. Everything was normal. Then, the classroom wasn't working for the exploration of what's available in the area. For example, one day I was late traveling from an expedition with the twins to pick up the oldest from the classroom. It was terrifying to be that far away and not trust where G#1 was in the classroom. So, we pulled the kids from the classroom, and began traveling space available on the largest airline in the United States. Regularly.

Why travel over Thanksgiving? That's the holiday all about family and food and gathering. Well, that's the holiday when the most seats are available for space available travelers like us. First, we traveled with the Daddy's folks to Munich and Salzburg. Then a year later, we got on with the paternal, adventurous Grandmother to Rome. Last year the five of us got to see Berlin and Prague. It was truly life-changing for me. This year, the five of us traveled leisurely, if not a little bit early in the morning, to Montreal. Yes, Thanksgiving is a travel holiday for us because there are people who are more willing to save the money and drive instead of buying the plane tickets. 

Yep, it means we home-school for the maximum flexibility. So far, that's working.  It was fun, FUN, F-U-N to go to a foreign culture and still be able to find English letters that were somewhat decipherable. The food was an adventure as well. By the way, all these four years in a row, we've eaten Turkish food where ever we've traveled on the Thursday of Thanksgiving. You know, eat Turkish on turkey day. The Turks call the bird most citizens of these United States eat hindi. It stands for sub-continental Indian. So, why can't I find a play on words and eat too? You only live once and we definitely live within our means to do so. Travel is a benefit like the trips to the dentist or emergent care. Once we realized how blessed we were to be placed in this life stage, we committed to developing it to the best of our knowledge and ability.

Our education is ongoing and it's not all about travel. It's about language study, grammar and vocabulary. It's about history and science, math and life lessons.  We've taught lessons to each other that we are blessed to share here on the blog. We are blessed to have dear friends and some dear relatives reading about our expeditions, because they love us enough to find us. Encourage us and work with us when we aren't "home" for family or friend gatherings. That's what I'm thankful for... blessed with... everyday of the year.