The Daniel Academy

Spent a ton of time on The Daniel Academy this week. We are putting together a classical University Model School or FPPS ( Family Partnership Private School) as the good folks in Kansas City are calling it,

It will have a strong art component- drama, art, music as well as daily doses of Praise, Worship, Adoration, Intercession, Meditative Prayer. Each week the kids will be treated to rock-solid preaching/teaching, leadership and protocol, Scripture Memory and Narrative. In addition they will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with other like minded youth and through that develop excellent friendships. I am so excited about it it's hard not to shout from the rooftops, hence I blog.

Seems like we've been peculating and mulling and refining our hopes for something like this for years. Back in Southern California when I was working on my thesis titled: Why Parents Homeschool, I remember reading outloud to Viking Man some of the research I was doing for the Literature Review. That research has defined much of our lives and the lives of our children for the past decade and a half. We've read tons of books since then and our thinking about education and child rearing and mentoring the spiritual lives of our kids has evolved and changed but one thing we've consistently agreed upon--- government school is not for our kids.

We've heard a lot of comments about that, too: We think we're "too good" for public school. Our kids won't be socialized. We are cheating our kids. Honestly, it's not that we think we're "too good" for public school- it's that we have a different vision for our kids than public school affords. Our kids aren't socialized in the way the average majority expects- they are more mature, more modest, more respectful, more thoughtful....and yes, we have cheated our kids...of some things. We've also enriched our kids lives in areas that are too numerous to even start to mention here.

Alternative educational opportunities, too, seem to be a Rorschach for people's own educational choices. I don't even have to say a word. If someone introduces me as a homeschooler of X years, I'll, more often than not get comments to the effect of : I could never do that. you must have great kids, I don't have the patience, My child doesn't listen to me about x anyway, how would I ever teach them math.....you get the idea.

The fact of the matter is that I'm am not a very patient person- even yet. I do have great kids- truly. Usually those same folks who are insinuating theirs aren't are also commenting on how polite and respectful mine are. I've spent years at this point training them so I appreciate the validation! And I am tempted, but very rarely comment on statements regrading kids who don't listen to their parents. "I'm not a therapist or anything..." (o.k., actually I am) and lack of listening to one's parents is an issue that gets to the heart of a families ultimate belief system.
As far as "never being able to do that" the Christian walk if full of calls first, equipping as you go.

The Daniel Academy is a hybrid program- taking the best of private and homeschool and providing the best of both- at a fraction of the cost. It will consist of a bunch of us who are in the process of being equipped, hungry for more and expecting our kids to listen, learn, and grow in ways that we can't even imagine right now. A group willing to learn patience and eager to see how God equips all of us. You should think about joining us for the ride- it's going to be a blast!!

Destiny/Destination

Traveler

by Corina Caba

Lift up your eyes to heaven
remember you are HUMAN:
Your source is not earthling
and your name is not on earth.
Your origin does not belong
to this perennial earth
The name you carry here is one destined
to be forgotten,
an eternal name awaits for you,
a name destined to never be forgotten.
Yes, your origin is from another world,
from God Himself your soul is sprang.
I live on earth, but I am a stranger here,
my longings can not be satisfied herein,
my home is from a world above,
my destination is not on this earth…

Corinacaba's Blog
http://corinacaba.wordpress.com/

Orwell vs. Huxley

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman is one of my favorite books and shows the outcome of society taken captive by amusement. Check out this comic series that compares Orwellian vs. Huxlean futures. At the end is a link to listen to Neil Postman talk about technology and society.
http://www.recombinantrecords.net/docs/2009-05-Amusing-Ourselves-to-Death.htmlDeath.html

Enjoy is not a proper reaction to Postman's work. How 'bout, "Be thoughtful!"

Homestead Work

Yesterday after church the boys, Miss R and I went to see the new Star Trek. It was fun, not too creepy and had some funny moments.

We got home in time to spot Viking Man as he felled another older ash. This one was huge, growing into a shed, 10 feet from the garden, and located between the power lines on one side and another shed. The goal was to keep everyone alive, avoid damage to the shed, miss the power line, keep the corn standing and bring the tree down.

KABOOM.
Job well done. Viking Man had cinched it well, cut perfectly and it's down, cut and almost entirely cleared. The notsolittles were hoping to play on the felled log longer but there are 2 more trees in that area coming down soon so there'll be more opportunity.
Viking Man is working on getting wood for the winter, using a Stihl chainsaw. What a difference it makes to use equipment made for the job. They don't call dead ash ironwood for nuthin! Wood has been our primary heat source for a couple of years and, honestly, I think it's warmer than oil. It certainly doesn't have that oily smell!
Picked more beans-we've had massive bowls of green beans to eat each night for dinner- they are summer perfection. And the cukes. If you are what you eat, eat a cucumber. Light, clean, refreshing, healthy, and the smell- heaven. I'm down to the county extension today to pick up the latest times on pressure cooking, biting the bullet and canning green beans, I haven't pressure cooked on my own before and am slightly intimidated but the goal is to have enough beans put by to take us through the winter.
Drying parsley regularly. Last night added apple and chocolate mint to the oven. The apple mint leaves are beautiful- thick, lush and they dry as a leaf. Maybe we'll add dried apples to the tea and give it as gifts. The chocolate mint smells, truly, like chocolate and is very good steeping with a peppermint.
We transplanted over 20 small basil plants that were finally peeping up amongst the tomatoes. I love the Genovese Basil. Pesto made it to the table this week-end, to accompany spaghetti noodles and chicken, cooked with whatever herbs KB pulled out of the garden. I always add way more garlic than it calls for, so our pesto bites back.

Fresh Basil Pesto Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.

2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Makes 1 cup.
Serve with pasta, or over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted bagettes.

The Sound of Freedom

Had the privilege of seeing the Blue Angles yesterday. Of course, they were awesome. As they were screaming overhead, Viking Man turns to me and shouts, "That's the sound of freedom, baby!"

Martyred for Christ

"I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." Revelation 17:6 One of my daughters friends was murdered this week. He was a 29 year old M.D., newly practicing in his home country after being abroad for medical school. He was a joyful man of God and gifted preacher. Bold in speaking the Good News of the Gospel, he led Bible Studies, prayed openly, loved the Lord and God's people, laughed heartily. Martyred by fundamentalists opposed to his faith in Jesus Christ.

7 Quick Takes Friday

*1*

Watched August Rush this week. A sweet, G rated movie about an orphan, musical genius and his parents, unmarried and longing for what could-have-been. Music is a major component of the flick and the boy is intent of listening for his parents and creating music by which they can find him. Kinda corny and a little cheesy but it was well done, the music beautiful and very much in keeping with the old Jars of Clay that talks about seeing the art in each other. Listening for the art, seeing the art, living the art.

*2*

The garden feed us this week- potatos, lots of green beans, lightly steamed with a bit of butter-ohlala, cauliflower, squash, a few cukes. The tomatoes are looking beautiful, the cukes ready to burst into full production and the basil finally looking like it's going to stay for the summer. Carrots, peppers, squashes, melons, thyme, parsley, apple and chocolate mint growing well.

*3*

Succumbed to purchasing Culture Making by Andy Rauch. Not what I expected but I'm going to dig in here-soon. Seriously.

*4*

Had another parent info night for The Daniel Academy. It is such a unique, cool, cutting edge, yougottadoit kinda program.

*5*

The flowers in the front beds are a riot of color- daisys, petunias, echinacea, mums, allysum, 4 kinds of sedum, lilies, babies breathe, aster, marigolds, mexican hat, morning glorys, zebra grass, snapdragons, bachelors buttons and a few more I don't know the names of. The sunflowers and cosmos are getting ready to bloom.

*6*

Smithsonian Magazine had an article this month on painter Alex Katz. Reminded me of Potok's Asher Lev and the way art is talked about since WWII. Being a closet artist myself and one who has a minor's worth of college credit I always find it fascinating the words used to describe an artists work- heck, half the time I'm not even sure what they mean- the what describes the what? Marc Chagall is, hands down, my all time fav artist. Not because I understand the style or the technique or the terms, but just because. The music in his art speaks to me and I love the sound.

*7*

Bible Study, Genesis 28- Jacob gets married. Twice. Dude. I never realized before that Jacob married Rachel the week after he married Leah. I always thougth it was 7 years later. And why the heck hadn't Laban married Leah off before? Oh yea. Jacob, if he could avoid being done in by his furious big bro, was going to inherit the wealth. Laban worked the deal. Jacob worked the deal. I've always read this narrative and felt a lot of pity for Leah. Her dad bailed on her. Her husband bailed on her. But now I'm not so sure that she was completely helpless. Group Bible Study- good perspective from what others are observing.

3 sons. 3 times hopeful that her husband would care for her. 4th son, Judah, Leah gives up on the love of man and praises God. Jesus comes out of the tribe of Judah, vindicating her despair and honoring her praise. I love that.

Jennifer at Conversion Diaries hosts Quick Takes. Again, I'm not able to paste- what's up with that? But her link is in my side-bar.

Juxtapositions

Who Am I

June 18, 2009 by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were
compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!

7 Quick Takes Friday

1*

We've had a couple of weeks where I wonder what we've done but it seems like a whirlwind of non-stop going and doing which has included mundane housekeeping jobs like deep cleaning, de-cluttering, major gardeing, sorting, washing, storing winter gear for 7 etc.etc. Necessary and boring.

*2*

I'm considering turning this into a movie blog-haha- watched Brick Lane a couple of days ago. Very interesting flick about the life of a Bangladesh woman who moves to London as part of an arranged marriage, the backlash Muslim's experienced after 911 and a family finding their way. Until the scene about 911 I thought the time frame was many years ago, but it is about what is happening now. The film is rated "R" for a reason, so keep the remote handy if "adult content" is not on your list of acceptable viewing, but from a peek into another world-view, both religious and social, it is an excellent film.

*3*

We've been harvesting green beans- Green Lake Bush- and they are so good and crunchy we are just washing them and munching. Cucumbers, sliced and eaten, zuchhini and yellow squash has made it to the kitchen and we've had squash fried and sauteed. I have a terrific rustic squash pie recipe and that is next up. For now we are creating filling breakfasts of sauteed squash, rice and scrambled eggs with fresh parsley and a bit of pepper. Spinach and kale are still producing but the lettuce has bolted. We'll probably throw some more seeds in the ground. All the leaves it the garden are big, bushy and green with all of the rain we've had.

*4*

The Daniel Academy pilot project is a go-for-launch for fall. We're hosting a parent info night this Tuesday and working out the many details. The program is unique in that it takes a cutting edge structure (University Model) and is chock full of rich content, such as dedicated praise, worship, intercession daily, leadership and discipleship training, academics from a classical pov (history base, solid memory work, Word rich). I'm jazzed. Cheryl gave a beautiful devotional on Wednesday on the 23rd Psalm, which I was privileged to be a part of. It was a reminder to trust in the little things. Again, we'll be trusting in God to create something bigger than what we have asked or imagined.

*5*

We watched "Flywheel" last week, which was the fist production of the Kendrick Brothers and Sherwood Baptist Church in GA. You probably seen "Facing the Giants" which was actually their 2nd film. The church and the Kendrick bros started a film making division at Sherwood in response to a Barna report on the effectiveness of the church in reaching out. In many ways, while I've enjoyed the end-products of their efforts, what speaks to me is their willingness to step waay out beyond anything they've done before, take a risk, dream big, do something radical and wow. They made "Flywheel" with $20,000- it is now selling in Sam's Club. The budget for Facing the Giants was $100,000 and ultimately grossed $10,000,000. Despite bad reviews and a rating controversy it's still selling, What a testimony to truly getting out of our "comfort zones"

*6*

Bible Study-Genesis 28, Jacob's Ladder. Jacob, supplanter, deceiver, hungry for more, wanting what he is, by birth, destined to not have. God, the great turn-reality-on-its-head feeds the hunger, waters the thirst, honors those who seek Him, even when it's not clear what all that entails. Abraham was hungry for God, as was Jacob. Isaac, rich young ruler, stayed home and enjoyed the comforts of living as the son of a wealthy sheik. God feeds the hungry, and let's the satisfied feed themselves. Vineyard has a beautiful song, "Hungry." It's worth googling and listening on YouTube (or even better, get the CD). I'd link it but for some reason, I can't this a.m.

*7*

I've been spending lots of time of late talking about education and classical pedagogy and getting asked questions that I don't always have the right answer to and being far too opinionated about conventional, accepted ways of being. We've had some major disappointments, and even betrayals, in the past couple of years and I find myself tentative, feeling exposed, knowing that my own expectations, idealism and opinionated self have played a part in those situations. The natural inclination is to protect and defend but I want to grow and press in. I watched a YouTube interview of Kathryn Scott (author of the above mentioned "Hungry" song) and she states she and her fiance had a "burning desire to church plant. It's what they knew they'd been made for." And then she goes on to describe the 2 years of struggle and disappointment that they experienced in a church that was hemorrhaging disappointed, disillusioned people. And that's the way it often is. Like Jacob and Kathryn, a knowing and a hunger for more, a burning desire for what's a head. But a time of struggle and sleeping on rocks before walking in to what you were made for. And I can't help hearing the Veggies Tales song in my head that goes, "Keep Walking or you won't break down the wall, keep walking, or it isn't gonna fall." And so, we are gonna keep walking. I just want to walk with some grace. Prayers appreciated.

Quick takes, as always, hosted by Jennifer at Conversion Diaries (can't cut and paste today-wierd, but her link is in my blog list).

To what's ahead, to walking.

WW II. Rinse. Repeat.

Becasue I am usually the last person to watch any given movie we viewed Defiance last night while the notsolittles watched Narnia II (a movie that veers far enough off from the well-beloved book that I just barely like it). We had to pause the movie and quiz Viking Man on the history of the Jews and the dispersion. It seems like such a small thing and also enormous that the Jews wandered the earth for almost 1900 years before they had a place to call home. We have 3 friends that are Messianic Jews and we hold them in the highest regard. They think deeply and well. They love passionately. They laugh out loud. They enjoy good food and talking and story telling and are down to earth and earthy and wise and will whap you with one hand and pull you in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek with the other. Viking Man kids that I'm a Jewish mother because I am bossy and opinionated and whap with one hand and hug with the other. Hey, German or not, it's what I do.

It has struck me this year that true defiance to the brutality of the Nazi's occurred because individual people stood on principal: Irena Sandler, Schindler, TenBoom, Stauffenberg and so many more. They did not live passively, waiting for what was to come. They acted decisively even when it looked crazy and foolish to do so. I wonder what they would think of the plethora of "leadership" material that has flooded the passive pews of this generation?

Back from an unintentional board break.

Watched Valkyrie last night with the older girls. KB wanted to know if I got my WWII fix for the week - though it's not entirely of my own making. The flick was very good, sobering, well-done. Braveheart with out all of the gut-wrenching emotion and violence.

2 things struck me.

1. Stauffenberg was loved well. The few scenes shot with his wife and family were just enough to convey that regardless of what he had or didn't, such as his eye or hand, his wife loved him, saw the art in him, cherished him. Of course, that's far easier to portray in film than do irl but they captured the relationship of marital in-love beautifully.


2. Stuaffenberg was singularly focused. Clear vision. Willing to take the consequences and calculated risks. A true leader.

The closing scene is particularly poignant. A shot going back of his wife, saying "Good-bye." Stauffenberg's willingness to loose everything in light of something more important than himself. Clarity of vision and purpose. Obedience without assurance of success. Courage. Faith. Knowing that regardless of outcome he must walk it out.

7 Quick Takes Friday

*1*

It's been fun to have Miss. R back home, even if it's just for a number of weeks. She is full of stories about Romanians and Hungarians and Gypsies and denominations and expectations and prejudice and poverty and spiritual realities and darkness and Truth and conversion.

*2*

Had our second meeting about The Daniel Academy. We over viewed UMS's, classical ed and then talked about pragmatics such as space, extra-curriculars for our kids, who else might be interested in partnering with us, what the church has in mind, etc. All of us are tentatively hopeful. We've listened to most of the UMS training manuel and really resonate with what we hear. The kids are in class long enough to actually have training and develop relationships with Teacher and classmates but home enough to really make parents and home an truly integral part of their lives. Cutting edge.

*3*

Viking Man and Feche Boy fixed the tree house and the notsolittles, FB and ME! have been spending time up there. This is not just any treehouse. The first story is 17' off the ground, reached by either a boards nailed to the tree or a ladder that is straight up and down. There is a second story in progress which is 10' higher than the first. They are monkeys and LOVE the view, the space and the freedom it affords. Cub said he felt like a squirrel perched up their and he and Flower have a whole arsenal of rocks and sticks and leaves and flowers and have spent happy hours playing Redwall with the treehouse being the Abbey and the pasture Mossflower wood.

*4*

Watched part of Fiddler on the Roof this week. Miss R youtubed it for her host family, who are Hungarian peasants, in Romania. Magda (the mom) LOVED it and understood a lot about the culture and interactions even without translation. I've seen the movie dozens of times and my sisters and I had the record memorized way back when there were records. It is still as touching, beautiful and poignant as ever. We saw it as a field trip in 3rd grade and we all thought it odd that our teacher cried through it, but that is exactly what I found myself doing this week. Too bittersweet.

*5*

We gardened. The front flower bed is getting a face lift and shrinking. The front fence bed is getting taken out. Of course I am always dividing and moving and rearranging and checking out garden designs in town and playing with them out here. I have a yellow bed triangle by the back door- Mexican hat, 3 Sedums, sunflowers, marigolds. The hosta bed is thriving and I have cuttings of 2 other hostas I'm going to add. I'm hoping to have the front bed done before the lilies quite blooming since that is the main flower out there but I have to move large rocks and need some manly help.

Harvested broccoli heads this week. They were ready, and the next day, over ready so I'll be keeping a closer eye on them. Spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, swiss chard, strawberries, mulberries, potatoes- yum. The cukes, zukes (I just love how that sounds), melons, tomatoes, beans are thriving. We should have squash to eat this week and cauliflower.

Weed. Weed. Weed some more. And mow. The pastures are looking good this year. I have an awesome tan = )

*6*

Read "Blubber" by Judy Blume this week. It's supposed to be an inside view into the lives of pre-12 year olds kids, published in the 70's. wow. Nothing too awful, just swearing, vandalism in the name of fun, school hierarchy determined by the loudest, meanest member of the class. Socialization. That question came up this week, which I love. All kids are socialized unless they've grown up in a closet. Mrs. Suarez, editor of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine tackles in her essay, "I Was Raised By Wolves" the question of socialization and talks about her own experience being socialized. My kids are socialized. But not by primarily by same aged peers. And that, imho, makes them better people all 'round.

*7*

Mountains loom above us and at times they seem overwhelming. I am trying to rest on the fact that where the Lord is, there is freedom. Freedom from my fears, worries, lack of knowing, lack of creativity, lack of seeing a way out of it, my troubled spirit over what seems insurmountable. That God has been at the end of my troubles and my life and knows the way, my way, our way and he's has declared it good. Freedom for what's next, what's ahead. And trust. Miss. R has faced a similar situation this week with financial changes at school. More opportunity for us all to press in to Him.

Seasons

It's been busy.
Monday the kiddos and I ventured 3 hours south to retrieve Miss R from the airport. She'd survived floods, buses, trains and planes to arrive back in the states after a month long sojourn to Transylvania. You can read about it here: http://blindlyservinghim.blogspot.com/
Tuesday friends of ours from seminary arrived. Viking Man and MaryAnn did their doctoral programs together at FTS and she and Dr. Dan stopped by as they continue adventuring. This trip is by land yacht but a previous voyage was by ketch. You can read about it here: http://starreach.us/ They've also authored a book that they left a signed copy of, which I'll be writing a review of soon, but until then you can read about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Reunion-E-Daniel-Nusbaum/dp/0595396143

We ate from the garden this week: new potatoes, strawberry salad, steamed broccoli, mulberry smoothies, spinach & Swiss chard sauteed in garlic. Feasts from the yard. The kitchen is trashed.

Rhonda Jean over at Down to Earth has a great post on taking a home audit: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/07/biggest-kitchen-table-simple-home-audit.html. I woke quite early this morning feeling like I've been to task oriented and not taking time to play with Flower. To just sit with her, play with the kittens, engage on an emotional level. It's always what I feel most guilty about. Time, Tasks, Stewardship. We spent hours in the yard on Saturday but at the end of the day I found little Miss. Flower crying in the barn because she "hadn't seen me all day." And, truly, she hadn't. And I feel torn because the kitchen is trashed and people need fed again and people need nurtured and talked with and loved and yet the garden needs tended and the dishes washed and the meeting gone to.
And Dr. Dan and Mary Ann called back after they'd left just to say they thought our kids were beautiful and lovely and engaging and socialized par excellence. And that really blessed us. Cause our vision is to create a beautiful family culture and to some extent we are. But there is always more to do, but more importantly, more to engage with on a deeper level. And I am having a hard time fitting it all in and getting it all done. And the kids are growing and adult and launching and creating a new thing. All good. But the days are so fleeting. It's summer and a premium here because it's a short season and winter is the long one and feels to me that it's always lurking. I start to miss summer even while it's here and being melancholy in nature I have the same sense about the kids and our family. It's a good season and a growing season with all that entails, weeding, watering, nurturing, and soon it will be a new season.
As I audit and inventory I realize that I've got to manage tasks better so I can engage with people better. And with that, I'm going to wash dishes so that there is time later to befriend littles.

Dormant Geniuses Lie Sleeping...

"Dormant geniuses lie sleeping down the hall.They eat across from us at the breakfast table, sit next to us in mini-vans taxiing to soccer fields, even look back at us from our bathroom mirrors. What if genius is the normative intent of what God’ bestows and our own lack of faithful stewardship results in malnourished gifts? Hungarian Homeschoolers László and Klara Polgár, parents of three daughters, understood exactly that.

Current research clearly indicates that the top achievers are rarely high-IQ geniuses or former child prodigies.) It was simply the same way Mozart, Benjamin Franklin, Tiger Woods found their way: by faithful , wholehearted stewardship.By diligent, attentive nurturing of the gifts God hands out liberally to far more than a select few. It’s dangerously tempting to think that geniuses are exceptional products of blazing, divine intervention.Because then we don’t have to closely examine how we are stewarding the gifts He’s given us. Are geniuses really only better stewards then the rest of us? Recent research suggests that rather unnerving possibility.

1. Geniuses are stewards who Faithfully Practice. Anders Ericsson, a professor of psychology at Florida State University, posits that "extended deliberate practice" is the ultimate key to successful use of a gift. "Nothing shows that innate factors are a necessary prerequisite for expert-level mastery in most fields," he says. Ericsson’s interviews with 78 German pianists and violinists discovered that by age 20, the best musicians had spent an estimated 10,000 hours practicing,

2. Geniuses are stewards who Faithfully Pioneer. Even if we practice, we’re tempted to keep practicing what we already know. But geniuses steward the gift by faithfully pioneering into unknown territory. How can I gently stretch a gift?

3. Geniuses are stewards who Faithfully Pursue. Geniuses steward the gift by, practice, pioneering and finally, pursuing a mentor. A coach or teacher is necessary to flourish a gift, to grow it into pioneer territory. And pursuing a supportive environment is paramount for fostering a gift. Parents can be mentors. Parents can be the positive environment. When Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University, praised children for "how" they did a task—for undergoing the process successfully --- most children wanted to take on increasingly challenging tasks. The children wanted to pioneer."

(excerpts from Holy Experience http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/06/how-to-nurture-geniuses.html

I am always curious about what "creates" intelligence and leadership because I value both and I want to give my kids advantages in these areas. As a society Americans have become largely soft and lazy (a small for instance, notice many high school/college age writers correspondence-no capitals and very little, or poor, grammar as if it's too much to type 'I' instead of "i"; but the way we communicate is about far more than KNOWING, it's about conveying ideas, beliefs and our understanding of the world and I may just do a study on the meaning of electronic communication and how it has changed and broken the rules of etiquette, meaning and compassion and how post-modernism has infiltrated our beliefs and values and collective intelligence....but I digress...anyway, my recent posts about getting smart, 10,000 hours, 2million minutes all have to do with the same thing: creating a hot house where the people that we are "growing" (i.e. stewarding, training, disciplining, parenting) have the best advantage that we can offer so that they can thrive and grow and fulfill their God given potentials and callings as they face a culture that is grossly apathetic and truly unconcerned with God or callings or potential, or if they are, have very little idea about how to fulfill them.

I have a theory that we are going to see a gaping hole of healthy leadership in the years ahead and I want my kids well-prepared to step up to the plate when the time comes. I have the sneaky suspicion that the ability to write properly, speak well, think quickly and convey coherently will be more valued than ever because of supply and demand theory. In other words it will be in higher demand as people get fed up with the outcome of postmodernism and the death of meaning (and perhaps themselves given certain health care proposals) and the lack of well-prepared apologists, theologians and thinkers who know how to counter nihilism with Truth and counter it in a way that is understandable and desirable.

While my kids, and yours, might not be geniuses from an I.Q. stand-point but just good basic solidly intelligent people, or even just average, or perhaps even challenged or struggling, they can go farther, lead better, think more clearly and influence at a broader and deeper level if we train them up to practice, pioneer and pursue. Who knows, they might truly be sleeping giants.

Berries and Brassicas

Our plans for an edible landscape are well-under way, though I must say it's taken a few years. We have thriving raspberry bushes, grapes vines, a huge area for strawberries, rhubarbville and mulberry trees. We've planted several other fruit trees but between the rabbits, deer and a few extremely cold winters we haven't had a lot of success in keeping them growing.

Last year we had a great harvest of mulberries and this year is no different. We have tarps set up under the trees to catch windfall but we end up eating so many (mainly it's Cub stuffing his face with them. He's hands and face will be stained bright purple as he claims that he "only ate a few!") as we gather and pick that we haven't brought a whole bunch back to the kitchen. They are sweet and delicious. I'm drying some and am going to make a pie for the company coming tomorrow. I might get adventurous ad try mulberry wine.

In the veggie patch we have broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. They are big and beautiful. I've never successfully grown any of them before so it's been a blast to watch them get bigger and fill out. My big plan for the cabbage is to delve into the world of making sauerkraut. If you've done it before, lmk how it went! All pointers are most welcome!

7 Quick Takes Friday

*1* Gardening

Spent lots of time in the garden and on the porch weeding, moving plants, transplanting, harvesting and doing yet more weeding. Homestead tip of the week: When you cut the bottom off of a celery stalk, put it in water and watch it grow. Lots more celery from a throw-away. Also, anyone have a good place to get canning lids in bulk for less?

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*2* Traveling to the Party

Planned our summer trip to the Midwest. It's my in-laws 50th anniversary celebration and that is something to celebrate! We are hoping to visit lots of friends along the way.
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*3* Places

Jennifer at Conversion Diaries posted about her favorite vacation spot- a remote, desolate part of TX not far from where we lived for 8 years. She describes it this way; "All the towns had that eerie end-of-the-earth vibe...Some of the towns really live up to the name "ghost towns," the "ghost" part coming not only from the vanished people but from that keen awareness of your own vulnerability to larger forces that you feel when you're hours and hours away from the nearest Wal-Mart, and the only light at night comes from the stars." Yep. Sounds like how I remember it. Starkly beautiful, the wilderness puts our small lives in perspective quickly.
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*4* De-clutter

One of my summer goals is to de-clutter and to build some organizational/storage units in This Old House (cause if you know old houses they.have.none.) We spent an afternoon cleaning the play-side of the porch. Brio train set out, Playmobile repositioned there, de-cluttering the living room in the process. Thankfully we have a walk-up attic so the toys that are too loved to be parted with get sent there. Our kids LOVED the train set and I have several spreads in the scrapbooks of living room sized "Train Towns." Seems like the boys are a bit past that now. More space, cleaner space and the 3 younger kids have lived out there since, creating fantastical Lego creations.
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*5* Suburbia

Spent the afternoon at our friend's house for the parenting class and then stayed for dinner (thanks, Tamara!). Feche-boy spends hours outside on the property walking, thinking, getting his daily dose of "green therapy." It seems quite normal out on our 10 acres but he started doing the "garden pace" in our friend's suburban yard. Seemed a leetle out of place amongst the manicured lawns. And, even though it was a warm day, we noticed how few kids were actually in the yards playing (these are nice yards, complete with nice playscapes). Maybe it's not as fun with just 1-2 kids in a family. Cub said at the end of the day that he wanted to "play outside" when, in reality he'd been playing outside all day long. He clarified that it wasn't "country outside." It's been a long week of feeling hammered by the demands of how we live. That little saying blessed me greatly. Our kids love their life, the freedom they have, the wildness of it, even when I sometimes don't. Little blessings.
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*6* Kids

Had a discussion yesterday with a cool group of women about birth control, reversals, adoption and letting God plan your family. Rhonda Jean over at Down to Earth http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/06/embrace-work-you-do.html had a good post about "Embracing Your Life." Everyone still breathing has hardships of some sort and while I fully believe in planing your work and working your plan, life and hardships and frustrations happen regardless. Embracing where we're at, and letting God have the last say is the place I'm wanting to get to. And this relates to children and birth control because fertility, while it's talked about and conceptualized as a given and something, in fact, we need to guard against is truly in the hand of the one who creates life by His very ruach.
I certainly don't believe, like some that birth control is a sin. But I do believe that our greater culture and the culture of the church, the American church anyway, acts and behaves in ways that say children are a burden. And if, behaviorally, the church doesn't DO anything MORE than the world in embracing, loving, disciplining the little children than it is as bad, or worse, than the world, who at least is honest in saying that it's all about me.
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*7* Beit Midrash

Bible Study- good stuff as always. Lots of laughter, good fellowship, beautiful Godly people. Genesis Chapter 24. Issac pleads, for 20 years, for his wife to conceive. Pleads. Heart poured out intercession.
Two nations are brought forth through 2 sons and I see myself in both of them. One who doesn't take seriously enough that which he has and the other who hungers and strategizes about how to get more. I want to be more grateful and I hunger after more. It's having joy in the journey while still staying focused on the path that is the difficult thing, for me anyway. God says twice (Romans and Malachi), "Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated." This always seemed so unfair to me. Certainly God doesn't create people to do evil or to hate specifically. The commentary states that in thwarting his inheritance Esau thwarted the promise of God. God's displeasure comes from seeing the heart of a man that rejects Him. Not me, Lord. Not those I love. Keep us hungry for YOU. Keep us hungry for more than worldly things, for the mundane (it was for lentils that he gave up his inheritance, hello!).
Which leads me to global thoughts such as Michael Jackson's death and someone who had more- talent, fame, fortune. But true Joy? True Peace? Very debateable. I hope that this man who walked in confusion has finally found rest. I prayed for him each day for about a decade. I felt so burdened for him. I looked at him and saw someone who had influence and power and seemed to squander it. In my own life, I do the same. No judgment here for The King of Pop. I truly hope he is at peace and in the presence of THE King of All.

For more Quick Takes visit Jen of Conversion Diary

Bit of Stormy Weather We've Been Having.....

This is what our sky looked like on Tuesday evening... we spent some time in the basement after the town sirens went off, having to wake up the notsolittles. The wind was a blowin' and howling. The river is flooded and the rain continues....Photo courtesy of Nick Hartley, Brookings Register

WW: Summer Happenings

Isn't this a beautiful shot. KB took it. It's a keeper and going in the kitchen, framed in an old barn window. The easeful days, the deamless nights;

the homely round of plain delights.

The calm unambitioned mind,

The simple stuff of summer time.

~ Aster Austin Dobson

We have been spending much time in the "yard." First fruits: strawberries, ohlala, sweet and tangy summer perfection. Swiss chard and parsley. New potatoes, served hot with steamed parsley and fish burritos (baked fish, fresh lettuce, thin sliced cheese, mayo if you want and wrapped in a tortilla). Also, several more pounds of lettuce and the spinach, after a 2nd planting, is up! After an afternoon of "hose wars" we settled down and ate cookies and played with kittens. Flower looks funny because her mouth is full of chocolate chip (without the chip) cookies. KB added cocoa and they were yummy.

Feche-boy at his normal speed- fast. We've called him "the phantom" for years. This was the path our dear old Bree made. We miss having a horse!!

These tasted as good as they look. Lemon muffins by Queen KB. A Taste of Home recipe, again. My friend Lorena, from our gals group in CA- years and years ago, still sends me a sub every Xmas. It was a great group. We meet every.single. week. for 3 years and had dinners, went to art shows (cause one of the gals in the group was an artist- they were HER shows) Lorena taught us all how to make apple pies, and knit, they had a beautiful baby shower for me when we left CA and I was pregnant with Feche-boy and on and on and on. We were more than a Bible study or focus group or whatever. We were FRIENDS and talked about God and theology and books and art and husbands and growing and therapy and children and hardships and joys. We were all different ages and at all different places in life but we all offered something to the others and received so much. I sure miss it, sniffle. Yes, I do.

Seasons. People seasons and weather seasons and faith seasons and family seasons....and gardening seasons. Why is it that playing in the dirt is healing? I think Sir Francis Bacon might know...

God Almighty first planted a garden and indeed it is the purest of human pleasure.

~ Sir Francis Bacon

Get Smart

1. 1. An obvious recommendation to getting smart is to stop doing things that cause stupidity- like watching most or all of what's on T.V. many "games" etc. This will free up a lot of time and brain space. Yet again I recommend Neil Postman's Dumbing Us Down.
2. Decide that it is o.k. to fail and look stupid. I've learned a lot by admitting I don't know something. I ask questions all the time. I have disciplined myself and challenge the students that I have each year to think of questions to ask every time they hear a presentation, sermon or speech. This requires analytical thinking skills, discipline and humility. Surprisingly, I've had people respond to a question condescendingly, as if there really are stupid questions.. Thankfully I'm old enough that I no longer care.
3. If something is foolish (a movie, music, book, decor, clothes) get rid of it. Let's face it- some books are not worth reading (my list is long- especially of young adult books). Some fashions are best forgotten (in reality the 70's look was unattractive when it first came out-WHY revisit it?) Let Philippians 4:8 be your guide: Finally brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think of these things." David deSilva's book Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture is a paradigm shifting read and addresses holiness and honor in a way that our culture just doesn't get and might just change your understanding of what is worthy of your life.
4. Develop critical thinking skills. Critical Thinking Co. http://www.criticalthinking.com/index.jsp has excellent tools and resources for students of all ages. Learn about Socratic Questioning, Literary Analysis and the Scientific Method.
5. Read. Read some more. Read even more. If you don't "like" to read, discipline yourself to read anyway. Oftentimes we don't like what we're not good at. The more you read the better you'll be at it and the easier it will be for you. There are many great books like Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book that will give you tools needed to read well.
6. Listen - there are tons of teaching tapes, materials, music out there that will expand how you think. The Internet is a great resource. Train yourself to be an auditory learner. I am naturally not an auditory learner but I have become one. I listen, ask questions, rewind, play back, ask questions, think it through.
7. Read.
8. Surround yourself with smart people. My dh is currently insanely interested in Hebraic Christianity- the history, architecture, language, sociology, scripture, travel, timeline, etc of this topic. He is a deep thinker who structures the information that he has well, strategies and synthesizes it with other information that he owns, makes connections. It is a joy to listen and learn from him because he is an extraordinary and disciplined thinker and brilliant teacher.
9. Follow "rabbit trails" of interest to you. My dd has been interested in tea parties since she was a little girl. This interest has led to her knowledge about food, cooking and baking, herbs, gardening, decorating, the history and ritual of tea, the importance of ritual and purity, modesty, and femininity, etc.
10. Share your knowledge. Teach a class, start a blog, write a magazine article, teach a group of kids, give a slide show, join a hobby group. Teaching something forces you to learn it very well or look like an idiot.
11. Realize that you will be "smart" in some areas and not in others. I think I'm pretty smart in some areas and definitely inferior in others. That's o.k. I only have so much time so I "get smart" in areas that are of value to me or an area I need to understand- like gardening, education, human development, etc. I'm saving areas, like, say, math for other people to be smart in. I think that's pretty generous of me, don't you?
12. Read. Read some more. Take the 9/9/9 challenge or the 52 books a year challenge (lots of reading groups to join on line). It's a great way to discipline your reading and delve into areas that you might not otherwise.
13. Seek wisdom. There is a proverb that says "By knowledge a house is built. By understanding it is established. By wisdom it is filled with pleasant and precious riches." Following the trivium, a classical approach to education and learning (knowledge =grammar, understanding =dialectic and wisdom = rhetoric) in how we approach subjects. We learn bit by bit instead of being overwhelmed by what we don't know.
14. Read.
15. Learn how to memorize. I truly believe that teaching my children how to memorize is one of the greatest gifts (along with reading) that we've given them.
16. Memorize a timeline of history. You would be surprised at how much information starts making sense when you have a framework to organize the content with. Timelines rock- check out Vertias Press' http://www.veritaspress.com/illustrated timeline cards.
17. Realize that it takes TIME to get smart. Andrew Crouch of Culture Making http://www.culture-making.com/states that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. Sticktoittiveness counts for a lot in the smart department.
18. You have to want it cause you'll probably have to work for it. I've known some truly brilliant people in my life. I'm not one of them. No matter how much I study and learn I'll just never have their smarts. That's o.k, I'll have my own. There are different kinds of intelligence as well and you can check out 7 Types of Intelligence by Howard Gardner to find out more about them.
19. Develop a love of learning. Be curious, inquisitive, willing to look like a simpleton, hungry for more. Live large, dream big, want more. Don't settle for status quo, get comfortable, settle in. The world is a oyster waiting for you to discover the mystery and beauty hidden within.
20. READ.

I'd love to hear your ideas for getting smart. Just leave a comment and tell me what you think!

One Second After & Related Rant.

I read One Second After this week...a fictionalized account of what could happen in America if we were hit with an EMP. I'm not the scientist in the family so I won't try to explain, better to look it up. It could be a real deal. I finished One Second After and then was invited into the study by Viking Man to watch the "protests" (what little footage there was) in Iran. We went from that to a Beck piece on $1Billion in Treasury bonds being either counterfeited or "lost" (sold, traded, bartered, or whatever other BAD scenario) in Italy and NO WORD 2 weeks out from the administration on it. 1Billion Dollars of U.S. Money that is not accounted for or forged means...well, BAD things for America.

And why the HECK hasn't the media talked about the ding-dang inflation that we are experiencing NOW?? I'm a cash in hand grocery shopper who lives on a gestapo grocery budget. When I am buying 20- 30% LESS food than I was 5 months ago I wonder WHY I am the only one talking about it. Surely I can't be the only one who's noticed? Gas prices have increased by 50 cents a gallon in a matter of weeks. Obamavision isn't doing any of us who value freedom as we've known it a favor.

Sobered. That's the word. Deeply, deeply sobered.

Wars and rumors of wars.
Inflation ramping up.
Media black-outs on what's really happening.

A president who puts off responding to a situation in a county that is clearly unstable. And finally he does. Watching the video of the president addressing the nation of Iran reminded me of a Lion King scene, where Scar addresses the hyenas, promising that a new day has dawned.

And this from the Ayatollah Khomeini: "Our land has always been the seed-bed of true freedom--even before the Prophet came to correct the errors of time. Once again Persia shall lead the world as before. Conquest through Ji’had shall be our deliverance and our glory." Do a little history search on Persia and let me know if freedom Persia style is what you want for your grandchildren.

2 world leaders both stating their case. One uncompromising and frightening. The other willing to compromise everything and equally frightening. Neville Chamberlain politics don't work with people willing to kill in the morning those they've slept with the night before.