By Peter Mayer
Footsteps
A knock
Then next to the bed
Does my frightened young daughter appear, and say
“I’m scared, Papa
A nightmare woke me up and I can’t sleep
Could I sleep with Mama and you?”
“Crawl in my darling
It’s nice and warm, and there’s plenty of room
And that dream won’t be harming you here”
And so we sleep
And hold back the demons and ghosts till the morning arrives
They seem to flee more easily
Faced with a foe like the three of us there
Side by side
“Of course my darling
Just sqeeze in between us, here’s a pillow for you
And don’t worry now darling, don’t fear”
The mother we run to, the lover we cling to
The bedside we seek in the night
It’s a walk down the hall that we make when we’re small
And we make for the rest of our lives
And at dawn, with our clothes
We put on our best brave faces and go our separate ways
And hold fast to the hope
That at the day’s end, we can put them away again
And hear someone say
“Crawl in my darling
It’s nice and warm and there’s plenty of room
And bad dreams won’t be harming you here
Crawl in my darling
Just squeeze in between us, here’s a pillow for you
And don’t worry now, darling, don’t fear”
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Evil Be Gone
by Peter Mayer
I am a child and I'm pretty smart
But I'm just a little afraid of the dark
Sometimes I have to go outside at night
Out to the back yard, where there is no light
CHORUS:
When I step out the door
And I can't take one step more
Because I am too much afraid
It's then that I've been taught to say
Evil be gone
After I say it, I open my eyes
Then I take a deep breath and step out in the night
It's still dark around me, I still walk real slow
But it makes me feel better, like I'm not alone
CHORUS
And Mom and Dad say it's true that
Sometimes they say it, too
So it shouldn't make me feel strange
To say, every time I'm afraid
Evil be gone
Postmortem Purchasing
Opinion expressed by seven-year-old Sweetheart after seeing a house that featured a particularly grisly Hallowe'en decor:
"I don't know why people are so freaked out about death. I mean, being dead is just like being alive. Except you don't walk around and buy stuff."
"I don't know why people are so freaked out about death. I mean, being dead is just like being alive. Except you don't walk around and buy stuff."
Monday, October 30, 2006
The Party
Now, this is the kind of Autumn I've been waiting for!
It's a lovely, sunny Fall day, and I'm so glad to have it. It has, thus far, been the perfect day for a stroll and good conversation with my walking buddy, a quick trip to the thrift store, and home to clean up from last night's party.
The party was an annual affair. Usually, it's hosted by friends Steve and Sara, two of the most fun-loving people I know. Steve and Sara enjoy hosting an annual chili supper at their home, the outdoor-cooked iron pot of sustenance drawing friends and relatives from right next door and miles around. The annual costume party follows closely after, and I know that's a lot for Steve and Sara and their daughters to do.
Still, my kids really look forward to it, and so do Bo and I. We all think ahead about what we'll be, and we try to follow the lead of our hosts, resourceful people who come up with clever yet frugal costumes that make their guests laugh. One year, Bo and I went as a pair of trees with a clothesline between us. One year, he went as pirate, and I went as an Indian maiden. The kids have been everything from a princess to a punk rocker, from a bumblebee to Charlie Brown. Last year, one couple came as a washer and drier.
And dressing up is just the beginning of the fun. We bob for apples, have a scavenger hunt, play silly party games, throw darts at balloons filled with candy, and, as a grand finale, carve pumpkins. Everyone exercises their creative side, and the pumpkins each develop a personality of their own as their carver saws and hacks and chops and scoops. When the youngest and oldest carvers have all finished their masterpieces, we pop in the candles, line up all the lovely pieces, and flip off the lights. The oohs and ahhs are priceless, as everyone laughs and comments on which is the most unique or cutest or funniest.
Then everyone gathers up their pumpkins and their candy bags and their children or spouses, heading into the dark night to their homes.
This year, Steve and Sara got a break when we offered to host the annual costume party at our home. While we didn't have as much fun as we do when Steve and Sara host, we still had a good time, in spite of difficulties with encouraging certain boys to help with the preparations. We had about twelve guests, plus our own family, lots of food, and a special surprise in addition to our regular festivities.
At about 7:30, we announced that we would be taking a little night hike down to our cabin to have some hot chocolate. Everyone bundled up, and we all made our way down the cabin lane, enjoying a beautiful waxing gibbous moon and a starlit path. Once we arrived on the forest-darkened cabin porch, I called to Bo, "Did you light candles earlier?" Warily, he replied, "Uh...no." Yet the cabin was candlelit. Tensions rose as we approached the window; inside stood a darkened figure, cape and tophat all we could see. The teens conjectured, "It's just a cutout!" "No," I insisted, "there's someone there."
I called for Bo, who came ahead of me, opened the door and, sure enough, there stood a man, all in black, his back to us. I entered cautiously, and then several of our guests came in behind. "Excuse me, Sir," I ventured, "but we saw the light and...I hope we're not..." He turned, startled, and began to explain. He'd just been reading, he said, and didn't expect anyone to come to the cabin at this late hour.
Thus began the performance by our dear friend David, who then proceeded to give us a short biography of the person about whom he'd been reading, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.
We'd prearranged this meeting, of course, but none of our guests had known that. Several of the guests, however, knew and recognized David and were able to calm our other guests. David went on to perform two of Poe's poems, Nevermore and The Bells, by candlelight to a very receptive audience who then enjoyed hot chocolate and a little tour of the cabin. Introductions were made to those who didn't know David, and everyone enjoyed a good laugh.
I'm so blessed to be able to have a place where friends can gather and meet each other.
It's a lovely, sunny Fall day, and I'm so glad to have it. It has, thus far, been the perfect day for a stroll and good conversation with my walking buddy, a quick trip to the thrift store, and home to clean up from last night's party.
The party was an annual affair. Usually, it's hosted by friends Steve and Sara, two of the most fun-loving people I know. Steve and Sara enjoy hosting an annual chili supper at their home, the outdoor-cooked iron pot of sustenance drawing friends and relatives from right next door and miles around. The annual costume party follows closely after, and I know that's a lot for Steve and Sara and their daughters to do.
Still, my kids really look forward to it, and so do Bo and I. We all think ahead about what we'll be, and we try to follow the lead of our hosts, resourceful people who come up with clever yet frugal costumes that make their guests laugh. One year, Bo and I went as a pair of trees with a clothesline between us. One year, he went as pirate, and I went as an Indian maiden. The kids have been everything from a princess to a punk rocker, from a bumblebee to Charlie Brown. Last year, one couple came as a washer and drier.
And dressing up is just the beginning of the fun. We bob for apples, have a scavenger hunt, play silly party games, throw darts at balloons filled with candy, and, as a grand finale, carve pumpkins. Everyone exercises their creative side, and the pumpkins each develop a personality of their own as their carver saws and hacks and chops and scoops. When the youngest and oldest carvers have all finished their masterpieces, we pop in the candles, line up all the lovely pieces, and flip off the lights. The oohs and ahhs are priceless, as everyone laughs and comments on which is the most unique or cutest or funniest.
Then everyone gathers up their pumpkins and their candy bags and their children or spouses, heading into the dark night to their homes.
This year, Steve and Sara got a break when we offered to host the annual costume party at our home. While we didn't have as much fun as we do when Steve and Sara host, we still had a good time, in spite of difficulties with encouraging certain boys to help with the preparations. We had about twelve guests, plus our own family, lots of food, and a special surprise in addition to our regular festivities.
At about 7:30, we announced that we would be taking a little night hike down to our cabin to have some hot chocolate. Everyone bundled up, and we all made our way down the cabin lane, enjoying a beautiful waxing gibbous moon and a starlit path. Once we arrived on the forest-darkened cabin porch, I called to Bo, "Did you light candles earlier?" Warily, he replied, "Uh...no." Yet the cabin was candlelit. Tensions rose as we approached the window; inside stood a darkened figure, cape and tophat all we could see. The teens conjectured, "It's just a cutout!" "No," I insisted, "there's someone there."
I called for Bo, who came ahead of me, opened the door and, sure enough, there stood a man, all in black, his back to us. I entered cautiously, and then several of our guests came in behind. "Excuse me, Sir," I ventured, "but we saw the light and...I hope we're not..." He turned, startled, and began to explain. He'd just been reading, he said, and didn't expect anyone to come to the cabin at this late hour.
Thus began the performance by our dear friend David, who then proceeded to give us a short biography of the person about whom he'd been reading, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.
We'd prearranged this meeting, of course, but none of our guests had known that. Several of the guests, however, knew and recognized David and were able to calm our other guests. David went on to perform two of Poe's poems, Nevermore and The Bells, by candlelight to a very receptive audience who then enjoyed hot chocolate and a little tour of the cabin. Introductions were made to those who didn't know David, and everyone enjoyed a good laugh.
I'm so blessed to be able to have a place where friends can gather and meet each other.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Blessings
I have been so blessed by wonderful women recently who have inspired me to be a better person through their grace, mercy, compassion and selflessness. One sees a place to extend grace, and does. One sees an opportunity to give, and does. One sees a chance to set an example, and does. One sees a moment to grant forgiveness, and does. One sees an opportunity to make me something yummy, and does.
Today, I received in the mail a book from A Circle of Quiet. I had posted a list of books that I was seeking for our schooling, and ACoQ happened to have an extra copy she was willing to sell me--cheap. And then we had a financial crisis, from which we're still trying to recover, and I decided that it was not time to buy a book. She blessed me by saying that she would just send it to me as a gift, but I felt that I needed to give to her, not accept from her, so I refrained. Then I had a very small windfall that I felt I could part with, especially in light of getting a great book at a fantastic price for my children's daily lessons, and I sent her what I had, with a promise to send the rest. But instead, she blessed me by sending the book and asking for nothing more. That book came today, which was a tremendous blessing, but in addition, she included a lovely hand-written note, seed pods from her hollyhocks, candles to soften my environment, a bundle of herbs--lavender, rosemary and others--that I hung in a prominent spot by my front door, and seven California acorns, to represent each of her seven family members. I was touched and moved to tears by this blessing box.
Thank you, D, for such a thoughtful act of kindness. It brightened my day and I thank God for you.
Today, I received in the mail a book from A Circle of Quiet. I had posted a list of books that I was seeking for our schooling, and ACoQ happened to have an extra copy she was willing to sell me--cheap. And then we had a financial crisis, from which we're still trying to recover, and I decided that it was not time to buy a book. She blessed me by saying that she would just send it to me as a gift, but I felt that I needed to give to her, not accept from her, so I refrained. Then I had a very small windfall that I felt I could part with, especially in light of getting a great book at a fantastic price for my children's daily lessons, and I sent her what I had, with a promise to send the rest. But instead, she blessed me by sending the book and asking for nothing more. That book came today, which was a tremendous blessing, but in addition, she included a lovely hand-written note, seed pods from her hollyhocks, candles to soften my environment, a bundle of herbs--lavender, rosemary and others--that I hung in a prominent spot by my front door, and seven California acorns, to represent each of her seven family members. I was touched and moved to tears by this blessing box.
Thank you, D, for such a thoughtful act of kindness. It brightened my day and I thank God for you.
What have you done???
Donna, over at Quiet Life , posted this on Tuesday. The idea is to highlight the things you've done. I guess there are quite a few exotic things I haven't done. I haven't had much opportunity to travel, but I'm trying to make up for it vicariously through my children.
There are some things on the list I wish I would have done, or hope to do someday, like backpacking, climbing a mountain, held a lamb, visited all fifty states, etc. But there are several that I'm glad I've never done, or don't really care one way or the other.
What have you done?
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
There are some things on the list I wish I would have done, or hope to do someday, like backpacking, climbing a mountain, held a lamb, visited all fifty states, etc. But there are several that I'm glad I've never done, or don't really care one way or the other.
What have you done?
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Our curriculum choices: a history
I know that the footer of this post will tell you, but today is October 26th, 2006. We have been doing "formal" education for six and a half weeks this year.
Is that really all it's been? Unbelievable.
It feels like much longer, honesty.
But not because it's going badly. Not at all. It's actually going quite well. Which leads me to believe that either we've finally found the way to do it, after 16 years of learning...or we're forgetting something.
For many years, I struggled with finding the "right" curriculum for our family.
We attempted using KONOS, which, while very interesting and entertaning, was utterly exhausting for me as a mother.
We took a short jaunt into The Weaver Curriculum, but I didn't like the huge focus on Biblical learning and the minor focus on academics.
We took a stab at the boxed curriculum; I couldn't afford the whole thing, but I took bits and pieces from it. It was hopelessly dry and boring.
We eventually forayed--or was it moseyed?--into eclectic, interest-led education, pulling from our daily questions to delve into answers. While this was the method that worked best for us, I always felt that we were missing something, that I had so many great books on our shelves that may never get into rotation. This sent me on a search of a supplemental literature-based program, not something to completely take over what we were doing, because I liked the eclectic approach; I just wanted something that gave us more time to read, and threw us more bang for our bookish buck.
This led me to Five in a Row, a literature-based curriculum that works on the precept that you read the book every day for five days in a row, finding something new and interesting about it with each day. Every day, you focus on another area of study: day one, you might discuss the art of the book; day two, you discuss the history of the setting; day three, you talk about the science; day four, you cover the math; day five, you discuss the geography, or the foreign culture, or whatever else you want to throw into the mix. We even took time to make meals of the culture, or go on field trips based on what we were reading. There's a great conversational explanation of it here.
We really liked Five in a Row. I especially liked the support that was offered on the website, the ideas that were given by other "Rowers", as they're called, on the message boards. But it still involved a lot of time at the library, quite a bit of planning, and too much homogenization of education for my widely-spaced, varied-interest kids. I did try the Above and Beyond Five in a Row for Bard, but we felt it wasn't in-depth enough, didn't have as much potential for being self-led as Bard wanted.
We tried Switched on Schoolhouse, an Alpha Omega Publications product that uses CD-Roms and computer time to teach the kids. While I liked this, and felt that it gave my children a sound basic education, I didn't like that they kids spent so much time on the computer, or that they spent so little time with me, and I definitely didn't like the bugs and glitches that sent Bard into fits of frustration when all of her grades were lost, or it kept assigning something she'd already finished. There were freezes and crashes and grading errors galour. Plus, having only one working computer made it difficult for the kids to work independently at their own paces because they had to wait for their turns. And we STILL didn't get to read all of that quality literature I had sitting on my shelves collecting dust, because I spent too much of my time waiting for tech support.
When we moved to the community we're now in, I decided that things were going to be a bit crazy, and I needed something simple, straightforward and thorough. Into my mailbox one day magically appeared a postcard for Ohio Virtual Academy, and that set my family and me into a downhill spiral of red tape, control and inflexibility that still almost brings me to tears when I think of it. It was not, in any way, the kind of thing that fit our lifestyle. If you're an on-the-go family who likes to spend more time in hands-on learning than clock-watching, OHVA is completely and totally not for you. After three months of going at it as hard as we could, I finally threw in the towel. It took us quite a bit of time to recover from those dark days. I still get angry when I see an online ad for OHVA that touts it as a "homeschool program." Go ahead--do a search on Ohio Virtual Academy, and you'll see it, too. And while you can pay for OHVA and be free of the restrictions and control, the big draw for most people is the "free" materials and use of a computer (still only one per family, so if you have multiple children doing the program, you'll have the bottlenecking that I experienced).
The one thing that my experience with OHVA did do for me was to remind me of what kind of education I did want for my children. It helped me to appreciate the freedom and flexibility of true homelearning, not just school at home, or public school without the bricks and mortar, but true, unencumbered, inhindered learning.
It was after that that we dove head-first into a fairly intensive stint into unschooling/eclectic learning and "Rowing," as Five in a Row is called. And it was shortly after that that we took a formal education hiatus in order to build our house, an educational experience in and of itself, and a wonderful one, at that.
But once the house was built and we'd begun to settle into our home, community and routine, it was time to go deeper. I had children of all ages, from two to fifteen, and we were all eager for more.
I had been exposed to classical education and the Charlotte Mason method by my dear friend Kathy. Kathy had sent me my very first package when we moved to the cabin, a box full of books on a wonderful Autumn day (or was it Spring?) which I spent the afternoon devouring on the hammock, Sweetheart curled up next to me. She had sent me A Charlotte Mason Companion and a book on how to keep a nature journal. And while it was all very intriguing, I didn't really entertain the thought of doing an entire Charlotte Mason curriculum.
Until last year.
Honestly, though, I don't remember what encouraged me, finally, to pursue a full curriculum using Ambleside Online. I did a lot of reading about classical education, the Trivium, etc, and I think I just lit on Charlotte Mason as the thing that most resonated with me.
So this is our second year using Ambleside, and I am really loving it. I enjoy the works that we read, mostly because I learn, either again or first the first time, so much from the selections. I like the grace of the thing, the easy pace of it. I like that it challenges us, yet inspires us, too.
And I don't look upon our lessons with dread. Instead, I'm happy to read aloud to the kids, or listen to what they're learning during their narrations. We cuddle up together and take off for adventures.
Mason's teachings have been a blessing to me, an encouragement to view the whole child and recall the magic of being young, discovering the beauty in everyday things.
I pray that all homelearners can enjoy their learning and their children.
Is that really all it's been? Unbelievable.
It feels like much longer, honesty.
But not because it's going badly. Not at all. It's actually going quite well. Which leads me to believe that either we've finally found the way to do it, after 16 years of learning...or we're forgetting something.
For many years, I struggled with finding the "right" curriculum for our family.
We attempted using KONOS, which, while very interesting and entertaning, was utterly exhausting for me as a mother.
We took a short jaunt into The Weaver Curriculum, but I didn't like the huge focus on Biblical learning and the minor focus on academics.
We took a stab at the boxed curriculum; I couldn't afford the whole thing, but I took bits and pieces from it. It was hopelessly dry and boring.
We eventually forayed--or was it moseyed?--into eclectic, interest-led education, pulling from our daily questions to delve into answers. While this was the method that worked best for us, I always felt that we were missing something, that I had so many great books on our shelves that may never get into rotation. This sent me on a search of a supplemental literature-based program, not something to completely take over what we were doing, because I liked the eclectic approach; I just wanted something that gave us more time to read, and threw us more bang for our bookish buck.
This led me to Five in a Row, a literature-based curriculum that works on the precept that you read the book every day for five days in a row, finding something new and interesting about it with each day. Every day, you focus on another area of study: day one, you might discuss the art of the book; day two, you discuss the history of the setting; day three, you talk about the science; day four, you cover the math; day five, you discuss the geography, or the foreign culture, or whatever else you want to throw into the mix. We even took time to make meals of the culture, or go on field trips based on what we were reading. There's a great conversational explanation of it here.
We really liked Five in a Row. I especially liked the support that was offered on the website, the ideas that were given by other "Rowers", as they're called, on the message boards. But it still involved a lot of time at the library, quite a bit of planning, and too much homogenization of education for my widely-spaced, varied-interest kids. I did try the Above and Beyond Five in a Row for Bard, but we felt it wasn't in-depth enough, didn't have as much potential for being self-led as Bard wanted.
We tried Switched on Schoolhouse, an Alpha Omega Publications product that uses CD-Roms and computer time to teach the kids. While I liked this, and felt that it gave my children a sound basic education, I didn't like that they kids spent so much time on the computer, or that they spent so little time with me, and I definitely didn't like the bugs and glitches that sent Bard into fits of frustration when all of her grades were lost, or it kept assigning something she'd already finished. There were freezes and crashes and grading errors galour. Plus, having only one working computer made it difficult for the kids to work independently at their own paces because they had to wait for their turns. And we STILL didn't get to read all of that quality literature I had sitting on my shelves collecting dust, because I spent too much of my time waiting for tech support.
When we moved to the community we're now in, I decided that things were going to be a bit crazy, and I needed something simple, straightforward and thorough. Into my mailbox one day magically appeared a postcard for Ohio Virtual Academy, and that set my family and me into a downhill spiral of red tape, control and inflexibility that still almost brings me to tears when I think of it. It was not, in any way, the kind of thing that fit our lifestyle. If you're an on-the-go family who likes to spend more time in hands-on learning than clock-watching, OHVA is completely and totally not for you. After three months of going at it as hard as we could, I finally threw in the towel. It took us quite a bit of time to recover from those dark days. I still get angry when I see an online ad for OHVA that touts it as a "homeschool program." Go ahead--do a search on Ohio Virtual Academy, and you'll see it, too. And while you can pay for OHVA and be free of the restrictions and control, the big draw for most people is the "free" materials and use of a computer (still only one per family, so if you have multiple children doing the program, you'll have the bottlenecking that I experienced).
The one thing that my experience with OHVA did do for me was to remind me of what kind of education I did want for my children. It helped me to appreciate the freedom and flexibility of true homelearning, not just school at home, or public school without the bricks and mortar, but true, unencumbered, inhindered learning.
It was after that that we dove head-first into a fairly intensive stint into unschooling/eclectic learning and "Rowing," as Five in a Row is called. And it was shortly after that that we took a formal education hiatus in order to build our house, an educational experience in and of itself, and a wonderful one, at that.
But once the house was built and we'd begun to settle into our home, community and routine, it was time to go deeper. I had children of all ages, from two to fifteen, and we were all eager for more.
I had been exposed to classical education and the Charlotte Mason method by my dear friend Kathy. Kathy had sent me my very first package when we moved to the cabin, a box full of books on a wonderful Autumn day (or was it Spring?) which I spent the afternoon devouring on the hammock, Sweetheart curled up next to me. She had sent me A Charlotte Mason Companion and a book on how to keep a nature journal. And while it was all very intriguing, I didn't really entertain the thought of doing an entire Charlotte Mason curriculum.
Until last year.
Honestly, though, I don't remember what encouraged me, finally, to pursue a full curriculum using Ambleside Online. I did a lot of reading about classical education, the Trivium, etc, and I think I just lit on Charlotte Mason as the thing that most resonated with me.
So this is our second year using Ambleside, and I am really loving it. I enjoy the works that we read, mostly because I learn, either again or first the first time, so much from the selections. I like the grace of the thing, the easy pace of it. I like that it challenges us, yet inspires us, too.
And I don't look upon our lessons with dread. Instead, I'm happy to read aloud to the kids, or listen to what they're learning during their narrations. We cuddle up together and take off for adventures.
Mason's teachings have been a blessing to me, an encouragement to view the whole child and recall the magic of being young, discovering the beauty in everyday things.
I pray that all homelearners can enjoy their learning and their children.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Love of Writing
I'm struggling today, because I really want to write, but the real life that I have, with the stacks of dishes, the broken vacuum the shattered budget and the piles of laundry, are insisting on attention. Like a siren song, the hum of my computer keeps pulling me back, so I'll sneak a few minutes to check e-mail, or peek at myspace, but I know that my satisfaction will only come with completing a household task.
It's so hard to get what I want to do and what I have to do to match up. I know that once I start folding boxer shorts and bath towels, that's where I'll want to be. It will feel good to get it done.
Until that siren song calls again.
Bo informed me yesterday that when you do a search on Google for Today Lessson or Today's Lessons, my blog comes up first. What a huge potential I have to touch and reach people, if I could just get my life in order, or slow it down a bit.
Yet, what would go if I decided to simplify? Piano lessons? Houseconcerts? Homeschool classes? Choir? Morning walks? Writing? Reading? Gardening? The stars? The sunsets? Teaching? Learning? Friendships?
I know what I wish would go away. Laundry piles. Dirty dishes. Dust. Procrastination. Arguments. Disappointments. Nasty surprises. Broken appliances. Bounced checks. Overdue bills. Illness. Depression. Fear. Death.
What a wonderful dream that would be.
So I can't eliminate either list. Still, in my naive way, I keep believing that it will get better someday. That it will slow down or imporve. Or that I will magically learn how to do it all.
Ha.
And this doesn't even take into account all of the things I want to do that aren't even in the time and money budget right now. Fiddle lessons, voice lessons, dulcimer lessons, travel, decorating, hiking, biking, boating, the beach, the mountains.
Or all of the things I've put on hold so I can do the other things. Knitting. Sewing. Bread baking. Guitar lessons. Teaching Sweetheart to knit. Attending births. Learning to draw and paint. Writing books. Photography. Medical care. Yoga. Attending concerts and museums and historic places. Being politically active.
A fellow writer sent me this quote the other day: "The idea of wanting to write but being unable to find the time would make absolutely no sense to someone who truly loves to write." It cut me to the quick. Why? Because it's wrong. It's a guilt motivator that doesn't motivate...it just makes me feel guilty. I do love to write. But I've chosen--CHOSEN--to put writing aside to care for my family. To put them first. It's been one of the biggest struggles in my life, aside from money. My children will grow and leave home. My experiences will only increase, so that my writing can only improve as I age. Stealing a moment here and there to write or to read excellent writing fills me with guilt, like I"m indulging in a secret sin. I feel selfish and full and whole when I write, when I've completed writing. I feel lost and disjointed and worthless when I don't write. I don't choose that route because I don't love writing. I choose that route because I love my family.
The laundry is still there, waiting for me and me alone. And no amount of writing-love will make it disappear.
It's so hard to get what I want to do and what I have to do to match up. I know that once I start folding boxer shorts and bath towels, that's where I'll want to be. It will feel good to get it done.
Until that siren song calls again.
Bo informed me yesterday that when you do a search on Google for Today Lessson or Today's Lessons, my blog comes up first. What a huge potential I have to touch and reach people, if I could just get my life in order, or slow it down a bit.
Yet, what would go if I decided to simplify? Piano lessons? Houseconcerts? Homeschool classes? Choir? Morning walks? Writing? Reading? Gardening? The stars? The sunsets? Teaching? Learning? Friendships?
I know what I wish would go away. Laundry piles. Dirty dishes. Dust. Procrastination. Arguments. Disappointments. Nasty surprises. Broken appliances. Bounced checks. Overdue bills. Illness. Depression. Fear. Death.
What a wonderful dream that would be.
So I can't eliminate either list. Still, in my naive way, I keep believing that it will get better someday. That it will slow down or imporve. Or that I will magically learn how to do it all.
Ha.
And this doesn't even take into account all of the things I want to do that aren't even in the time and money budget right now. Fiddle lessons, voice lessons, dulcimer lessons, travel, decorating, hiking, biking, boating, the beach, the mountains.
Or all of the things I've put on hold so I can do the other things. Knitting. Sewing. Bread baking. Guitar lessons. Teaching Sweetheart to knit. Attending births. Learning to draw and paint. Writing books. Photography. Medical care. Yoga. Attending concerts and museums and historic places. Being politically active.
A fellow writer sent me this quote the other day: "The idea of wanting to write but being unable to find the time would make absolutely no sense to someone who truly loves to write." It cut me to the quick. Why? Because it's wrong. It's a guilt motivator that doesn't motivate...it just makes me feel guilty. I do love to write. But I've chosen--CHOSEN--to put writing aside to care for my family. To put them first. It's been one of the biggest struggles in my life, aside from money. My children will grow and leave home. My experiences will only increase, so that my writing can only improve as I age. Stealing a moment here and there to write or to read excellent writing fills me with guilt, like I"m indulging in a secret sin. I feel selfish and full and whole when I write, when I've completed writing. I feel lost and disjointed and worthless when I don't write. I don't choose that route because I don't love writing. I choose that route because I love my family.
The laundry is still there, waiting for me and me alone. And no amount of writing-love will make it disappear.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
It's over
A dozen teenaged boys.
A little cabin in the woods.
Ninety-six hot dogs.
A ton of snacks.
Four 2-liters of Vault.
Two 2-liters of Mountain Dew.
Light sabers and Heroscape.
An eighteen hour party.
No sleep for the boys.
Little sleep for the dad.
It's time to recover.
Houdin threw his first party, planned and executed by him. He invited a bunch of homeschooled boys and a neighbor, prepared the cabin for his guests, prepared pancakes for breakfast and promoted the event as much as he could. I would say it was a success.
Now he's supposed to do all of the clean-up, too. When I visited the cabin (there were no girls allowed for the 18 hour period), Monet was passed out open-mouthed on the recliner and Houdin was completely dead to the world in the upstairs bed. He told me a few minutes ago that it's now cleaner--cleaner than it was--and that he's preparing to do the dishes that he toted up from the cabin. I hope his standards have somehow magically risen to meet mine!
It's Bard's turn next. She gets to have a girly party and plan it herself.
But for now, I'm going to go downstairs and relax. The rest of the world can party on without me.
A little cabin in the woods.
Ninety-six hot dogs.
A ton of snacks.
Four 2-liters of Vault.
Two 2-liters of Mountain Dew.
Light sabers and Heroscape.
An eighteen hour party.
No sleep for the boys.
Little sleep for the dad.
It's time to recover.
Houdin threw his first party, planned and executed by him. He invited a bunch of homeschooled boys and a neighbor, prepared the cabin for his guests, prepared pancakes for breakfast and promoted the event as much as he could. I would say it was a success.
Now he's supposed to do all of the clean-up, too. When I visited the cabin (there were no girls allowed for the 18 hour period), Monet was passed out open-mouthed on the recliner and Houdin was completely dead to the world in the upstairs bed. He told me a few minutes ago that it's now cleaner--cleaner than it was--and that he's preparing to do the dishes that he toted up from the cabin. I hope his standards have somehow magically risen to meet mine!
It's Bard's turn next. She gets to have a girly party and plan it herself.
But for now, I'm going to go downstairs and relax. The rest of the world can party on without me.
Friday, October 20, 2006
What One Learns at Stuff*Mart
I was in line at my local Stuff*Mart when a woman in front of me yanked an opened food container from her cart and shoved it into the cashier's hands.
"I couldn't help it. I was really hungry," she said. And then she added sheepishly in a tone of mock apology, "You can see I tore right through the bar code."
And indeed she had.
The cashier looked at her incredulously and then attempted to scan the empty package. No dice. She tried again. At this point, I'm assuming she gave a look or an exasperated sigh, though I did't hear it, because the customer, a slightly plump woman dressed in a hot pink getup, complete with hot pink sneakers, groaned, "Look, I was hungry, okay? I was about to fall over. I'm sorry." Her attitude was longer than the growing line behind her. "I'll go back and get another one for you to scan, if that will make you feel better." The cashier sighed again, declined the offer and hand-entered the numbers beneath the bar code. Success.
The transaction continued fairly normally from that point, though I just kept thinking of how rude this customer had been--rude like I can't even describe in words because it was just oozing out of her pores. The way she stood. The way she looked. The way she spoke. Complete and total arrogance. It disgusted me. I hope I NEVER act like that, I thought. It didn't help that her purse bore my first initial. It made me wonder how many times I've stepped close to the edge.
When her purchase was complete, the woman took her receipt and said, "Have a nice day. And I'm sorry I ruined your life by eating my sandwich."
Here's me being floored.
So, as I was placing my items on the conveyor, here comes this man with two items in his hands. Two items. And I hear him tell my cashier that he was just waiting until "this nice lady" was done with her cart so he could use it. And I see him approaching me. By this time, I had almost, but not entirely, finished emptying my cart. I still had several items in the basket as well as on the bottom. The man walked over to my cart, asked me if I minded, and then started putting his things in my cart while I was still unloading it! "You don't mind, do you? I'll even help you unload it." Well, I was a bit taken aback, but I figured I was finished with the cart, so what the heck?
Until the cashier called out, "You can't take her cart! She needs it! What is she going to do with her bags of groceries?"
She had a very good point that I'd not thought of. In my haste to get rid of the guy and avoid more uncomfortable conversation, I just told him to take it, that I'd get another, but could I retrieve my gallons of water from the bottom first?
I did. And he took my cart and moved on. And I walked out to the lobby area while my groceries were being bagged and got another cart, fifteen feet away from where this man had just walked.
Stunning, isn't it?
I had to think long and hard about all of this. What does it mean, I wondered as the cashier confided in me about her loss of faith in the human race.
"It only takes one day of working here before you just don't like people anymore," she said. I could see what she meant.
And it made me wonder. How much are we to give? When do we say, "No. I'm sorry. I need this for myself," or "My apologies, but I can't do that for you." When, as Christians, is enough enough? Is it ever? When a man asks for our cart, do we give him our water, too? Do we give him a cup of cold Vault in Jesus' name? Where does it end? Will it end? And how do we determine who is worthy of these graces?
I know I've been pardoned many times. I am fairly certain that I have been extended my share of grace, that there have been times that I have stuck my foot in my mouth, or asked for more than I should have, or taken what wasn't rightfully mine. What would I have had my offendee do for or to me? What would have been productive? What *is* productive in my life now?
For me, for now, it's grace and mercy. It's what's holding me together, keeping my feet moving, keeping my mind working and my blood pumping, keeping my sanity. it's those who extend grace who are helping me survive, with their hugs and offers of help and gifts of books and apple butter and music and school supplies and cash.
And love.
The Greatest of these.
That's a pretty heavy lesson to learn while standing in the Stuff*Mart checkout line. But I suppose I had to learn it somewhere.
"I couldn't help it. I was really hungry," she said. And then she added sheepishly in a tone of mock apology, "You can see I tore right through the bar code."
And indeed she had.
The cashier looked at her incredulously and then attempted to scan the empty package. No dice. She tried again. At this point, I'm assuming she gave a look or an exasperated sigh, though I did't hear it, because the customer, a slightly plump woman dressed in a hot pink getup, complete with hot pink sneakers, groaned, "Look, I was hungry, okay? I was about to fall over. I'm sorry." Her attitude was longer than the growing line behind her. "I'll go back and get another one for you to scan, if that will make you feel better." The cashier sighed again, declined the offer and hand-entered the numbers beneath the bar code. Success.
The transaction continued fairly normally from that point, though I just kept thinking of how rude this customer had been--rude like I can't even describe in words because it was just oozing out of her pores. The way she stood. The way she looked. The way she spoke. Complete and total arrogance. It disgusted me. I hope I NEVER act like that, I thought. It didn't help that her purse bore my first initial. It made me wonder how many times I've stepped close to the edge.
When her purchase was complete, the woman took her receipt and said, "Have a nice day. And I'm sorry I ruined your life by eating my sandwich."
Here's me being floored.
So, as I was placing my items on the conveyor, here comes this man with two items in his hands. Two items. And I hear him tell my cashier that he was just waiting until "this nice lady" was done with her cart so he could use it. And I see him approaching me. By this time, I had almost, but not entirely, finished emptying my cart. I still had several items in the basket as well as on the bottom. The man walked over to my cart, asked me if I minded, and then started putting his things in my cart while I was still unloading it! "You don't mind, do you? I'll even help you unload it." Well, I was a bit taken aback, but I figured I was finished with the cart, so what the heck?
Until the cashier called out, "You can't take her cart! She needs it! What is she going to do with her bags of groceries?"
She had a very good point that I'd not thought of. In my haste to get rid of the guy and avoid more uncomfortable conversation, I just told him to take it, that I'd get another, but could I retrieve my gallons of water from the bottom first?
I did. And he took my cart and moved on. And I walked out to the lobby area while my groceries were being bagged and got another cart, fifteen feet away from where this man had just walked.
Stunning, isn't it?
I had to think long and hard about all of this. What does it mean, I wondered as the cashier confided in me about her loss of faith in the human race.
"It only takes one day of working here before you just don't like people anymore," she said. I could see what she meant.
And it made me wonder. How much are we to give? When do we say, "No. I'm sorry. I need this for myself," or "My apologies, but I can't do that for you." When, as Christians, is enough enough? Is it ever? When a man asks for our cart, do we give him our water, too? Do we give him a cup of cold Vault in Jesus' name? Where does it end? Will it end? And how do we determine who is worthy of these graces?
I know I've been pardoned many times. I am fairly certain that I have been extended my share of grace, that there have been times that I have stuck my foot in my mouth, or asked for more than I should have, or taken what wasn't rightfully mine. What would I have had my offendee do for or to me? What would have been productive? What *is* productive in my life now?
For me, for now, it's grace and mercy. It's what's holding me together, keeping my feet moving, keeping my mind working and my blood pumping, keeping my sanity. it's those who extend grace who are helping me survive, with their hugs and offers of help and gifts of books and apple butter and music and school supplies and cash.
And love.
The Greatest of these.
That's a pretty heavy lesson to learn while standing in the Stuff*Mart checkout line. But I suppose I had to learn it somewhere.
Life at present
What keeps a writer from writing?
Life.
These past weeks have been so full of life that I haven't wanted to write them down for fear of leaving something very important out. I know that's silly, but it's the way I think. Still, how can I possibly fit it all in?
We've been plugging away at our Ambleside readings and, for the most part, enjoying them. There are, of course, those few items that aren't favorites, but we're continuing on with them in the belief that we'll be quite happy that we did. That has generally been the case so far. Currently, our reading list includes a bunch of stuff about artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Macbeth (we're read through all of our other Shakespeare assignments, so I decided to dive into this one). We're also reading Kon Tiki, Bullfinch's Mythology, Robinson Crusoe, Paddle-to-the-Sea, This Country of Ours, An Island Story, Fifty Famous Tales, Aesop's Fables, The Wonder Clock, The Blue Fairy Book, the poetry of Tennyson, selections from Winnie-the-Pooh, and a host of others I can't remember right now. I think we've all been learning quite a bit, and this doesn't even cover our "fun" reading or Bard's reading list.
We were blessed to host a houseconcert on Saturday evening, which you can read about here, and we're looking forward to hosting another on November 18th featuring Jake Armerding. If you have a free evening and want to come, please do. It's sure to be a grand treat.
The homeschool speech and debate season is underway, with four of our five children currently participating. Bard and Houdin are doing both speech and debate, while Sweetheart and Monet are doing speech only. Yesterday, Sweetheart presented The Young Crab and His Mother by Aesop and Monet did an informative speech on rats. I'm leading the varsity speech group, which has been a blast so far. Yesterday, we covered impromptu speeches and Dulcea gave her award-winning persuasive speech from last year, which was quite good. In just a couple of weeks, we'll do our first mini-competition, the Round-Robin, where the novice speakers and debaters compete. They're judged by the varsity students from our own club. I've enjoyed this club immensely, and I think the kids have, too. It has caused them to grow so much and has provided them with a good group of solid, well-spoken, intelligent Christian friends.
The support group season is also underway; that has been a blessing, as well. Bard is currently taken Chemistry, Worldview and Algebra II, Houdin is taking Worldview and Algebra I, and the younger ones are taking sign language. I'm also teaching a women's history class, which has been enjoyable and fascinating. We've all learned so much, and it has been an incredible joy to get to know these girls.
Bard took the PSAT this past week and is anxious to find out how she did. She feels fairly confident that she did well, but she knew that there were some math questions she didn't know how to approach. I'm looking forward to seeing how she did, too. It will be a good gauge of how our education has gone, since she did no "cramming" or test prep ahead of time, but has just basically orchestrated her own education for several years.
For the past few weeks, my friend Kim and I have been walking in the mornings whenever we can. That, too, has been a wonderful blessing. It's refreshing to spend time outdoors, getting exercise, and talking to Kim, with whom I have so much in common. I wasn't able to walk this week, due to schedule conflicts and rain, but I hope to continue walking with Kim all through the winter, if we can. It has felt so good to get that exercise!
Last night, we spent the evening with a fun homeschooling family who plays music at nursing and retirement homes and other places. It was fun to get together with them, talk, share music, find out a bit about them, share a bit about us, and have delicious food! Thank God for friends. God has been bringing some amazing people into my life, and I'm so very pleased. Every one of them is filling a different need that I've had; He is so incredible.
Music has been a fairly central theme in our lives this year, and especially in these past couple of months. With houseconcerts, jam sessions, and music lessons, life has taken on so much sound. I love it! Bard has been progressing very well on her guitar playing, Houdin has been faithfully practicing his bass, and the younger kids are enjoying the piano, especially since we've made the choice to change piano teachers. Also, they've all been happily involved in their individual choir ensembles, which has inspired more music around the house. I've taken the role of choir manager for Sweetheart's choir and it has been such a pleasure to watch her choir director work with the children. I'm looking forward to their first concert, which is approaching quickly!
The only issue in my life right now that just doesn't seem to be resolving is money. If I could find a way to continue enjoying life just the way we are and completely eradicate finances, I'd be unbearably happy. I've even been tempted to play the lottery, believe it or not. There have been a couple of people who have been extremely helpful in assisting us in keeping our heads above water, and I thank God for them every day. Even the little things they've done have been very big in my eyes, especially those people who have extended grace. Thank you. We actually took steps toward credit counseling this past week and hope that it will help us get our feet on solid ground. Please keep us in your prayers.
Along those lines, I made the decision to not work at the cheesehouse this Christmas season. This may seem contrary to what I'm trying to accomplish, but I actually feel that we lost more money with me working than I made, and it caused us to be behind on schooling, caused me to be stressed out, and it obliterated our holiday. I feel like I'm honoring God and my family by choosing not to drive Amish, work outside the home, and instead focus on simplicity in meals and activities. I feel like home and with family is exactly where I need to be, and I'm praying that God will honor that.
And now the morning has begun to slip away, but there is much for me to do. Thanks for indulging me in this little game of blogger catch-up.
Blessings on you!
Life.
These past weeks have been so full of life that I haven't wanted to write them down for fear of leaving something very important out. I know that's silly, but it's the way I think. Still, how can I possibly fit it all in?
We've been plugging away at our Ambleside readings and, for the most part, enjoying them. There are, of course, those few items that aren't favorites, but we're continuing on with them in the belief that we'll be quite happy that we did. That has generally been the case so far. Currently, our reading list includes a bunch of stuff about artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Macbeth (we're read through all of our other Shakespeare assignments, so I decided to dive into this one). We're also reading Kon Tiki, Bullfinch's Mythology, Robinson Crusoe, Paddle-to-the-Sea, This Country of Ours, An Island Story, Fifty Famous Tales, Aesop's Fables, The Wonder Clock, The Blue Fairy Book, the poetry of Tennyson, selections from Winnie-the-Pooh, and a host of others I can't remember right now. I think we've all been learning quite a bit, and this doesn't even cover our "fun" reading or Bard's reading list.
We were blessed to host a houseconcert on Saturday evening, which you can read about here, and we're looking forward to hosting another on November 18th featuring Jake Armerding. If you have a free evening and want to come, please do. It's sure to be a grand treat.
The homeschool speech and debate season is underway, with four of our five children currently participating. Bard and Houdin are doing both speech and debate, while Sweetheart and Monet are doing speech only. Yesterday, Sweetheart presented The Young Crab and His Mother by Aesop and Monet did an informative speech on rats. I'm leading the varsity speech group, which has been a blast so far. Yesterday, we covered impromptu speeches and Dulcea gave her award-winning persuasive speech from last year, which was quite good. In just a couple of weeks, we'll do our first mini-competition, the Round-Robin, where the novice speakers and debaters compete. They're judged by the varsity students from our own club. I've enjoyed this club immensely, and I think the kids have, too. It has caused them to grow so much and has provided them with a good group of solid, well-spoken, intelligent Christian friends.
The support group season is also underway; that has been a blessing, as well. Bard is currently taken Chemistry, Worldview and Algebra II, Houdin is taking Worldview and Algebra I, and the younger ones are taking sign language. I'm also teaching a women's history class, which has been enjoyable and fascinating. We've all learned so much, and it has been an incredible joy to get to know these girls.
Bard took the PSAT this past week and is anxious to find out how she did. She feels fairly confident that she did well, but she knew that there were some math questions she didn't know how to approach. I'm looking forward to seeing how she did, too. It will be a good gauge of how our education has gone, since she did no "cramming" or test prep ahead of time, but has just basically orchestrated her own education for several years.
For the past few weeks, my friend Kim and I have been walking in the mornings whenever we can. That, too, has been a wonderful blessing. It's refreshing to spend time outdoors, getting exercise, and talking to Kim, with whom I have so much in common. I wasn't able to walk this week, due to schedule conflicts and rain, but I hope to continue walking with Kim all through the winter, if we can. It has felt so good to get that exercise!
Last night, we spent the evening with a fun homeschooling family who plays music at nursing and retirement homes and other places. It was fun to get together with them, talk, share music, find out a bit about them, share a bit about us, and have delicious food! Thank God for friends. God has been bringing some amazing people into my life, and I'm so very pleased. Every one of them is filling a different need that I've had; He is so incredible.
Music has been a fairly central theme in our lives this year, and especially in these past couple of months. With houseconcerts, jam sessions, and music lessons, life has taken on so much sound. I love it! Bard has been progressing very well on her guitar playing, Houdin has been faithfully practicing his bass, and the younger kids are enjoying the piano, especially since we've made the choice to change piano teachers. Also, they've all been happily involved in their individual choir ensembles, which has inspired more music around the house. I've taken the role of choir manager for Sweetheart's choir and it has been such a pleasure to watch her choir director work with the children. I'm looking forward to their first concert, which is approaching quickly!
The only issue in my life right now that just doesn't seem to be resolving is money. If I could find a way to continue enjoying life just the way we are and completely eradicate finances, I'd be unbearably happy. I've even been tempted to play the lottery, believe it or not. There have been a couple of people who have been extremely helpful in assisting us in keeping our heads above water, and I thank God for them every day. Even the little things they've done have been very big in my eyes, especially those people who have extended grace. Thank you. We actually took steps toward credit counseling this past week and hope that it will help us get our feet on solid ground. Please keep us in your prayers.
Along those lines, I made the decision to not work at the cheesehouse this Christmas season. This may seem contrary to what I'm trying to accomplish, but I actually feel that we lost more money with me working than I made, and it caused us to be behind on schooling, caused me to be stressed out, and it obliterated our holiday. I feel like I'm honoring God and my family by choosing not to drive Amish, work outside the home, and instead focus on simplicity in meals and activities. I feel like home and with family is exactly where I need to be, and I'm praying that God will honor that.
And now the morning has begun to slip away, but there is much for me to do. Thanks for indulging me in this little game of blogger catch-up.
Blessings on you!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Five Things Meme
Got this one from Kate over at The Tate School.
1) Five Minutes to yourself. How would you spend them ideally?
I think how I do spend them and how I think I would spend them would be two different things. Usually, I do spend them sitting in front of the computer. How sad. But recently, I've been stealing moments down at our cabin, generally putzing around, enjoying the quiet, eating raspberries, looking at Country Living and Country Home magazines, and reading snippets from various books.
2) Five Dollars to spend right now. How or where would you spend it?
A trip to our local thrift store for books and home stuff. Or, if there's a new magazine on the racks, I might buy that if there were nothing at the thrift store I wanted.
3) Five Items in your house you could part with right now?
* The television. Before our last house concert, we moved it into the computer room and it didn't come back out. After a month, I said, "Let's just get rid of it." We moved it to the in-law suite in the basement, but I'd rather it just be gone.
*Three rats. We have five, but I'd just like to have two. Want 'em? They're loads of fun!
*The quilt rack. I bought this great oak quilt rack at a furniture store years ago, but it's never been anything but in the way. I'll probably take it down to the cabin or give it away.
*Half the clothes in my closet. I shop thrift stores and clearance racks, so some of the things I bring home end up being a bit less desireable than I thought they'd be, for one reason or another. Some are just hopelessly out of style, though I try to stick with classic stuff.
*My garden. A lot of those things need to be yanked out and thrown to the goats. When I have time.
4) Five Items in your house you absolutely, positively could never part with?
* My dog
* My food processor (I feel a little funny writing this just after I wrote "My dog.")
* My mixer
* My book collection
* My photos
5) Five Words you love?
* "Let's go out."
* "What can I do to help?"
* "All done, Mom."
* "Yes."
* "I have good news!"
You're it! Let me know if you do this one.
1) Five Minutes to yourself. How would you spend them ideally?
I think how I do spend them and how I think I would spend them would be two different things. Usually, I do spend them sitting in front of the computer. How sad. But recently, I've been stealing moments down at our cabin, generally putzing around, enjoying the quiet, eating raspberries, looking at Country Living and Country Home magazines, and reading snippets from various books.
2) Five Dollars to spend right now. How or where would you spend it?
A trip to our local thrift store for books and home stuff. Or, if there's a new magazine on the racks, I might buy that if there were nothing at the thrift store I wanted.
3) Five Items in your house you could part with right now?
* The television. Before our last house concert, we moved it into the computer room and it didn't come back out. After a month, I said, "Let's just get rid of it." We moved it to the in-law suite in the basement, but I'd rather it just be gone.
*Three rats. We have five, but I'd just like to have two. Want 'em? They're loads of fun!
*The quilt rack. I bought this great oak quilt rack at a furniture store years ago, but it's never been anything but in the way. I'll probably take it down to the cabin or give it away.
*Half the clothes in my closet. I shop thrift stores and clearance racks, so some of the things I bring home end up being a bit less desireable than I thought they'd be, for one reason or another. Some are just hopelessly out of style, though I try to stick with classic stuff.
*My garden. A lot of those things need to be yanked out and thrown to the goats. When I have time.
4) Five Items in your house you absolutely, positively could never part with?
* My dog
* My food processor (I feel a little funny writing this just after I wrote "My dog.")
* My mixer
* My book collection
* My photos
5) Five Words you love?
* "Let's go out."
* "What can I do to help?"
* "All done, Mom."
* "Yes."
* "I have good news!"
You're it! Let me know if you do this one.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
You're invited!
Have you always wanted to meet Thicket Dweller and family? Have you always wanted to visit the rolling hills of Amish Country? Have you always wanted to listen to fabulous music in the company of other music lovers?
Well, now's your chance.
You're invited to our houseconcert this weekend, Saturday, October 14th featuring Jason Harrod. Bring your hubby and make it a date. Bring your kids and make it a family night. Bring your lawn chairs and make yourself comfortable in our spacious Gathering Room. And, for goodness sake, bring FOOD.
If you're interested in knowing more about the houseconcert, visit http://sproutedacorn.blogspot.com. If you're interested in knowing more about Jason Harrod, visit www.jasonharrod.com and http://www.myspace.com/jasonharrodmusic . If you're interested in tickets, e-mail sproutedacornATgmailDOTcom.
Suggested donation is $10 per person or $22 per family.
We'd love to see you there!
Well, now's your chance.
You're invited to our houseconcert this weekend, Saturday, October 14th featuring Jason Harrod. Bring your hubby and make it a date. Bring your kids and make it a family night. Bring your lawn chairs and make yourself comfortable in our spacious Gathering Room. And, for goodness sake, bring FOOD.
If you're interested in knowing more about the houseconcert, visit http://sproutedacorn.blogspot.com. If you're interested in knowing more about Jason Harrod, visit www.jasonharrod.com and http://www.myspace.com/jasonharrodmusic . If you're interested in tickets, e-mail sproutedacornATgmailDOTcom.
Suggested donation is $10 per person or $22 per family.
We'd love to see you there!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Home
By Edgar A. Guest
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.
Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.
Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.
Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.
From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.
Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.
Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.
Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.
From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Ren Fest and Barry Stebbing
The past couple of weeks have been busy in so many ways. I hope to sit down sometime soon and write about the things that are on my mind, especially in hopes that the lessons I'm learning will help others, but right now, I just want to post some photos that make me feel happy. :-)
Below, you'll find photos of this week's art workshop with Barry Stebbing. Below that, you'll see some photos of our trip to the renaissance faire a couple of weeks ago.
I hope your Autumn is going well.
Blessings!
Below, you'll find photos of this week's art workshop with Barry Stebbing. Below that, you'll see some photos of our trip to the renaissance faire a couple of weeks ago.
I hope your Autumn is going well.
Blessings!
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