Face Book

So I've discovered Face Book. I resisted for a long time. I have enough to do, don't you know. Adding another computer 'thing' didn't seem wise. But the minute I showed up, I was suddenly connected with old friends I thought I'd lost forever. College, even high school came flooding back with memories of laughter and tears. Now Providence has broadened His scope as stories of his mercy and grace shine through to warm me. We are all connected by chords spun from the Hand of God, like lace crafted in an ever changing pattern, drawing us one to another. I thought Face Book would steal my time. Instead, my time there has brought God, who is not limited by time, a little closer.

As time goes on...

As time goes on, I find that my older children need less and less of me in order to finish their lessons. It is the goal of the home schooler to encourage independent learning, right? That's how we teach, by independent research - no one tells us to do it, we simply assess what we need to teach and learn enough to teach/direct.

I have an interesting combination of those who need me every minute and those who are, perhaps, a little more independent than I would like. I like to be involved in what they're learning...I like the interaction. For those of you who know me, I NEED the conversation. In fact, I thrive on it. Much to the chagrin of the men in my life, on occasion...hm!

For awhile, this year, the older ones have wanted to be completely independent. But within the last week, they have come to me and asked for more input. (And yes, this is a stroke to my ego - I'm still needed...yeah!) So we're setting up short classes in which we can discuss the lessons. Mondays are History/Government. Tuesdays are Biology and Physics with our friend, Ted. Wednesdays are Bible/Winkey Pratney (for now...when we're done with Winkey, I haven't decided yet where to go - or should I say that I have not yet sought the Holy Spirit on the issue...?). On Thursdays, there is no assignment, because Josh works all morning and I still have to drive him (or Brian does). Fridays we do Theology/Bible overview.

I'm excited this morning to work on Theology with the kids. I LOVE Theology! We are simply discussing questions, which I find tickles the mind. The mind will continue to work on the question until it is answered - perhaps years later. Questions like "Who is God?" or "What is God?" help us begin. Then, as time goes on, we delve into questions that are not so easily answered, such as "What does God know?" (Everything, right? - can you support that? That's really the key, you know...) Or "What, exactly, is predestination?" and "what, exactly do they mean by 'Free Will?'"

Our younger co-op is doing History, with a focus on literature. Currently, we are doing the Epic of Gilgamesh. With each lesson, we look at questions related to the story - What is a good friend? What is death and should we fear it? How is eternal life obtained?

The books we are using are wonderful - fantastic art work, and broken into three stories, which is great for the younger set, who have a shorter attention span.

Gilgamesh the King
The Revenge of Ishtar
The Last Quest of Gilgamesh

All are by Ludmila Zeman, and each costs about $5.

Next, we'll delve into the beginning of organized law. The main focus will be the comparison/contrast of man's law vs. God's law. The main questions: What is the purpose of the law? and Can the law save you? (reworded - Can we work our way to Heaven?)

Still having fun, but occasionally feeling the weight of my mother's Alzheimer's. Her unhappiness is hard to bear.

All in all, the joy is always in the journey, not in the destination.

Autumn into Winter

The autumn sunlight streams into the mountains on concordant notes, a symphony that resonates with the deeper tones of trees and transforming leaves. The song is one of ancient cycles, set in motion by the Ancient of Days, Himself. Spring into summer, summer into autumn, then autumn into winter in a blaze of glory. Finally, then, back to spring, the cycle promises, and its word is a good as gold.

And the Saga Continues...

So Josh was doing something stupid last Sunday (his words) and did a backwards dive off the steep side of our driveway. Nothing's broken, but we spent most of Monday morning at two different doctors, and he's just getting out of his sling today, Friday. Depending on your perspective, it's a good thing he hurt his RIGHT shoulder, since he is LEFT-handed. And you know, it is amazing that he fell head first down the embankment and did NOT hit his head.

Then, on Wednesday, we had to rush the scooby doo dog to the vet for emergency surgery. He developed an abscess on his face from a cut his SISTER had inflicted on him. Bad Kita! I could tell she felt really badly about it. (Not!)

Wait! There's more!!! On Thursday, I had to go to the chiropractor due to my neck turning against me. He had to put me in a collar, it was so bad. I am still wearing it today and icing, alternating with heat. I'm afraid to sneeze, and yawning is rather painful. I am amazed at how many things you need your neck for. Putting on shoes, trying to see the caller ID on the phone, drinking water, laughing, walking a dog, getting up from a chair, sitting in a chair...you get the idea.

Start Your Engines!

Breakfast, anyone?

I have found that breakfast makes a huge difference in the level of learning that takes place in my home school. Yesterday, against my better judgment, I allowed waffles. Homemade, mind you. But waffles, nonetheless. Even my 10yo, who is normally independently motivated, sat slumped in her chair with a dazed expression. And I was SO tired when I went to bed that night, even though I, in mature wisdom, chose something OTHER than waffles for breakfast. (I think I just broke my arm, trying to pat my back!)

I have long observed this ritual of the American breakfast. Food was given to us by God for nourishment. It is meant to give life. But the wrong foods can put us in a state of unwellness and cause our minds to operate on haphazard connections. If the mind won't connect, no real learning is happening.

Another thing that I have seen as helpful is taking a walk. We go one mile, with the dogs. The activity gets our blood flowing, the cold air wakes us up, and, I don't know, I can just think better when we get home. Not to mention the stimulation of our creative juices as we look at the beauty that God has spun in the trees and the sky. Oh, and then there's that spike of adrenaline that kicks in when a deer or elk thumps suddenly onto the road in front of us. And the amazing strength that my Scooby-Doo look-alike dog has when a saucy squirrel mocks him from the base of a tall tree. But you get the point.

The other day, my 13ds was walking the neighbors' dogs through the woods, when they happened on an elk. It's amazing how such a large creature can disappear in woods populated by pines and Aspens that stand on narrow trunks. At any rate, the elk suddenly snorted, right next to them. Both dogs AND the boy holding the leashes nearly jumped out of there, uh, fur.

Pop Tarts anyone? (Ewww!)