Of Heros & Heroines

The Great Debaters (2007)
" In 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions."
This movie would make an excellent addition to a unit study on the history of the U.S., slavery, the 20th century, the Civil Rights Movement. It does portray a lynching which should disturb most viewers.

Starring and directed by Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters is an stirring portrayal of what life was like for blacks post-slavery and pre-civil rights. It is also demonstrates the power of teaching. Marva Collins is another teaching great and Denzel portrays what I imagine Marva must be like in person- teaching like his hair's on fire, knowledgeable, passionate, with a sense of purpose and vision for the people whose lives he is influencing. The Power of 1.

The kids involved in the One Act Play festival and I are doing a mini-unit study of sorts on WWII. One of the parents sent me a video clip on Irena Sendler, another real-life heroine.

Another YouTube about Irena pointed out that she lost the nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and he found this ironic. A commenter left this message, "You clearly dont understand the world around you. So please don't preach. Let me say that I commend her brave notions and actions, but its in the past, and it did nothing to help the world AS A WHOLE. Just help the people she saved. That's it, and there were plenty of others like her too, she isn't unique." (I cut and pasted the comment without changes).

I'm stunned. A flood of comments positively regarding Al Gore rather than the life of a woman who lived sacrificially. Al Gore aside, the point of the video was Irena Sandler. But, if the past is inconsequential, and those few (2,500) people whose lives were saved from torment and terror mean so little, than maybe Al is the focus. Maybe we need to live by the wisdom of Max Detwieler (Sound of Music), "What's going to happen is going to happen. Just make sure that is doesn't happen to you." Maybe the focus should be on getting what's ours. Maybe, in our plastic comfort, we should be satisfied.

Call me an idealist, but I have a higher hope. I hope that actions have meaning beyond our own small puddle. I hope that the gifted teachers like Marva Collins and Melvin Tolson or the petite, simple, faithful greats like Irena Sendler and Corrie Ten Boom, change the world. That those actions and ideals bring us closer to Truth, beauty, love and the real things.

To what's ahead, knowing that what's past lays the foundation. With gratitude for those heros and heroines who built that foundation with love.

On to Glory.

Fr. Neuhaus has gone on to glory. I was only vaguely aware of who he was before his death. I've spent some time since getting to know him through his writings, and as many have been, am blessed by them.

Obituaries
Posted by Joseph Bottum (current editor of First Things) on January 10, 2009, 1:42 PM
For those interested, here are my own reminiscences, online today in the Weekly Standard.

If you haven't yet met Fr. Neuhaus, you can get a glimpse of what he and his life were about here, in an essay written by him in February 2000, “Born Toward Dying.” It is worth taking the time to read. Whether you agree with his theology or not, his words are a feast.

I was going to make this a separate post but it seems fitting somehow to share it in the same post with Fr. Neuhaus' news. I'm a global thinker and make connections and parallels in odd places. Do you see the similarities here? Putting away the old, embracing the Living?

Son of Hamas Leader converts to Christianity @ Fox News ...
you can catch his follow up January 3rd interview here

L'Chaim. A blessed Sabbath to you!

7 Quick Takes Friday

**1**

Bible Study last night focused on Genesis 9. Read, observe, interpret, apply. Good, good stuff. So, chapter 9 is just after the world wide destruction of the masses and God says, "Go forth and multiply." A couple times. Gives me pause. Am I in touch enough with God to be walking in His dust? The dust that creates and generates and brings forth life?

**2**

Drama today. I love, love, love directing. The kids are a blast; smart, funny, witty, charming, clean-hearted young people who are full of life, and jokes and thoughtfulness. The play is a tragedy, and it truly is. Set in Teresinstadt, "that blackish town," a ghetto created for the Jewish intellectuals of the world. Tough stuff.

**3**

Startgate Atlantis has it wraiths, Dilbert has its Robie Remora and the popular media has it's Twilight. Life sucking forces that we are either repelled by, irritated by and sadly, mesmerized by. Gen 9:4- "You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." How many people who sing "Holiness is what I long for" have exposed themselves to this travesty masquerading as entertainment?

**4**

David DeSilva's excellent book, "Honor, Kinship, Patronage and Purity does a great job of clarifying the Old Testament's code of purity and defilement and gets to the heart of the matter regarding the importance of keeping our eyes and hands and hearts clean from that which isn't.

**5**

Had an epiphany yesterday morning in the kitchen -apropos as I spend so much time there = ), regarding what I am doing with my skills and talents. It's a new year and a great time to re-evaluate. Still so much to do. Does everyone who is middle age feel this time crunch?

**6**

"Name the Year" Ann Voskamp had a great post about naming the year http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/01/year-naming.html My name for this year is "Favor." Looking, seeking, asking for, expecting, blessing others with God's favor.

**7**

The weather outside was frightful- snow, slush, and bad visibility. It was great to come home to our country house, still glowing with Christmas lights and Viking Man clearing the walk for us. Sweet comfort.


Stop on over at Conversion Diaries to see more Quick Takes. http://www.conversiondiary.com/2009/01/7-quick-takes-friday-vol-16.html

WR: Spring Semester Begins

I admit it was hard to come back after 3 weeks of fun and play, flicks and fru-fru reading. All of that being said, we had a good week back.

Memory Work - I received Living Memory over break-woohoo! and as a result tweaked our memory work just a bit. We added the Grammar Catechism-this alone is worth the price of the book! We are doing Logos' Geography sound-off. Flower is stuck thinking that each states capital is Augusta! We continue to review John 1 in Latin just to nail it and are learning many of the Latin vocab words. Science is coming from LM these days and we are learning Psalm 100. VP cards are on-track. The 3 older kids have them down solid, without the picture prompt. Flower attempts but needs lots of hints. Cool fun fact. Miss R emailed from college and is probably doing a report for Baptist History on Roger Williams- whom we know as the Founder of Rhode Island. Love the VP cards!

Christian Studies II begins. Cub has been asking to start for several days and was thrilled when we finally did. How is that for love of learning, not to mention great curriculum?! I'm going to photocopy the maps so that every one has their own this time around.

Omnibus II- we got really bogged down last semester due to the TM being on a disc which required me to go upstairs. We are back on track. Feche boy will finish The Incarnation this week.

AlphaPhonics- Flower is on board with me to be finished by TeenPact. She is trying to read Berenstain Bear books to herself!

Traditional Logic II- ordered and waiting for it to arrive.

Math- Cub continues to complete 2 pages a day. Flower has been playing Math Blaster daily and the older kids continue to get tutoring from Dad. I so don't like Saxon. I'm going to investigate Chalkdust for next year.

Classical Rhetoric- KB is on lesson 14 and is spending each day working ahead on a new lesson and typing up the old lessons. It's an IEW program so it's great stuff!

Drama - is coming along nicely. Costumes are done and music is selected. The dance portion needs more work as do the transitions-there are a lot- but we are on track time-wise. Because it's so intense I've asked the kids to bring a joke or riddle to share. The last 15 minutes when we are all laughing is the best = ). Last week, Cub brought Break the Ice and the kids had an on-going competition depending who was on stage at the time.

Co-op- starts back tomorrow. We have more awesome field trips and guest speakers planned. We'll get back to Poetry in the morning. The younger kids are going to alternate science and art each week to give themselves plenty of time to enjoy the lessons. We plan to start the Logos Shakespeare study in February with a Shakespeare play later on this spring.

Art- the boys have been drawing regularly and are looking forward to art lessons beginning again. KB and I are going to get through Artistic Pursuits for Sr. High this spring.

Latin- I need workbooks. Again, it's a simple pragmatic something that holds me back and hangs me up. To be ordered. We are getting through LC II this spring and Prima Latina! Yes we are!

Movie- We watched Masada this week. Wow. It was very interesting with terrific acting by screen great Peter O'Toole. Still and all, the story is disturbing. I'm grateful that our choices in life are more mundane than death or slavery.

TeenPact- downloaded homework for Feche-boy and Cub. Our state class is growing, we have an awesome team of Mom's on board and Tim Echols will be at our class in person this year. Check it out: http://www.teenpact.com/

Seems like January and February are especially busy round here due to the Festival of One Act Plays, the Winter Warm-Up and TeenPact. Our Christmas decorations are still up, as usual, but the lights make the cold, sometimes dreary winter days more homey. It's nice to be settled in with a book, a good cuppa something hot and twinkle lights, eh?

How was your week? What did you tweak for the new semester?

Beware of the Doghouse

Viking Man, who does a fair amount of marital counseling, and I, who have done some, got a real kick out of this. Enjoy!

WW: On 3!

Action photo of our birthday party last Friday. Cub (9), Flower (soon to be 6), and good friend, Miss. S (6 that day).

The Grammar of Poetry- Curriculum Review

The Grammar of Poetry by Matt Whitling is part of the Imitation in Writing series published by Logos School Academy.

The Grammar of Poetry is just that, the system of rules and principles used in poetry. There are 30 lessons in the book, which can be used as a quick intensive, semester-long or year-long study. It is recommended for use in 6th grade but it is certainly usable through high school. I would recommend it for students who can think abstractly.

The first lessons introduce and define poetry, simile and rhyme, types of poems and how to read a poem. Rhyming Dictionaries are also introduced. Metaphor is covered and then 2 lessons on meter. At lesson 9 the pace picks up with every other lesson focusing on a figure of speech or meter.

Figures of speech covered include metaphor, simile, pun, personification, synecdoceh, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration, theoretical question, refrain, oxymoron, and euphemism. Spacial poetry is also included. Meters covered are Iamb, Trochee, Anapest, Dactyl, Refrain.

Lessons include practice and review, student writing samples, stanzas for students to discover the meters, definitions, as well as lots of opportunity for the student to create their own poetry as well as memorize great poems. Riddles are included throughout.

I have found this to be an excellent addition to our writing program as it introduces advanced stylistic techniques and gives the student an excellent basis for understanding poetry. At $20 per copy The Grammar of Poetry is a lot of bang for your academic buck.

You can order The Grammar of Poetry through Logos Academy http://www.logosschool.com/materials/shop/item.asp?itemid=28

Seasons

Another beautiful post by Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience about turning pages. http://www.aholyexperience.com/2009/01/page-turning And on TWTM boards there is a thread from those of us who are sending our post high school adult/children off to college and those wondering if the sense of loss will ease with each departure. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5.

I'm jealous of the days and years and time spent with my children. They are fleeting. Already and too soon other voices demand their attention and focus, and my time with these precious people decreases.

I've heard the terms enmeshed, hover mother and a helicopter parent thrown around a lot, especially in response to homeschoolers. I'm a trained therapist so I know the jargon and my response is, whatever. What ever love is, I want to share it with my family. What ever time means I want to fill it with the joy of people I love. Life is a vapor and I want my time to intermingle and drift along with those whose eyes and arms and hearts sing to and with mine.

Viking Man and I have the hope of creating a beautiful family culture. Yet, the culture that we create expands and broadens and goes beyond ourselves as our kids take it with them to the ends of the earth; they are global citizens with a global vision. We will be the "home-folks" as Laura Ingalls calls them, but, like Ann, I have a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart thinking of seasons that are past and passing.

To what's ahead. Knowing that the swiftness of this life leads us to the next and the hope of eternity spent with the souls of this world that we love and say "Good-bye" to. Yet only for a time.

Call to Dunkirk

Christians called to mass exodus from public schools
Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 1/2/2009 8:00:00 AM

Critics of America's public school system have launched a new effort highlighting the need for Christians to exit the system.

The initiative -- dubbed The Call to Dunkirk (video link) -- was launched by Dr. Bruce Shortt, author of The Harsh Truth About Public Schools; Rev. Voddie Baucham, author of Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God; and the founder and director of the Exodus Mandate Project, retired U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. E. Ray Moore. Moore explains the proposal. "The Call to Dunkirk is a special emergency effort to try to get other ministries, churches, pastors, and the major Christian right and pro-family movement to join with us and the other K-12 home-school ministries in rescuing the children from the public schools during the year 2009," he says.

Although Christians have fought other aspects of the culture war such as homosexual "marriage," Moore contends they are losing the fight when it comes to the education of their children. "The real target of the liberals and the left has always been the children. And we can see in California where the conservatives won Proposition 8 -- the vote [was] 52 to 48 [percent] -- but...when Proposition 22 was voted on [in March 2000], they had a 61-percent margin of victory. So the culture is turning against Christianity and against the pro-family movement primarily because we've allowed our children to be educated in their schools," he adds. "They're converting our children; we're not converting them." The Call to Dunkirk gets its name from the historical WWII event when the Allied forces of England and France were run out of Europe, but ordinary citizens rallied to their aid and used their own boats to help more than 300,000 soldiers escape safely in order to return again on D-Day.

Glory to God in the Highest

A beautiful hymn of thanksgiving, the Akathist hymn “Glory to God for All Things.” Here’s a sample:

How glorious You are in the springtime, when every creature awakens to new life and joyfully sings Your praises with a thousand tongues!

You are the source of life, the destroyer of death.

By the light of the moon, nightingales sing, and the valleys and hills lie like wedding-garments, white as snow.

All the earth is Your promised bride awaiting her spotless Husband.

If the grass of the field is like this, how gloriously shall we be transfigured in the Second Coming, after the Resurrection!

How splendid our bodies, how spotless our souls!
Glory to You for the warmth and tenderness of the world of nature.

Glory to You for the numberless creatures around us.

Glory to you for the depths of Your wisdom–the whole world a living sign of it.

Glory to You: On my knees, I kiss the traces of Your unseen hand.

Glory to You, enlightening us with the clarity of eternal life.

Glory to You for the hope of the unutterable, imperishable beauty of immortality.

Glory to You, O God, from age to age.

WR: Party Season Continues

Slave driver I'm not... this week anyway = )

Our weekly report consists of lots of books read, movies watched (Bourne Identity & Supremacy, Mona Lisa Smile & Masada), toys enjoyed, snowman built, food cooked and eaten and time spent enjoying Miss. R before she heads back to J-term intensives on Sunday.

We also fit in another play practice. One of our moms came up with brilliant, inexpensive and effective costumes! Woohoo! The kids are really "getting it" and coming up with awesome ideas and they all have lots to add for the study sections on WWII.

We had an quick and impromptu party for both not so littles last night at our church. 16 kiddos, easy food, and a gym -winning combo. Cub is 9 as of today and Flower will be 6 at the end of the month. Party season is officially over on Sunday after we drop College Woman at the airport.

09' Contract Renewal

After serious & cautious consideration . . .
Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009!

My Wish for You in 2009
May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words . . . May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!

Ode to Winter in the Territories

It’s winter in South Dakota
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy mile an hour
At twenty-five below
Oh, how I love South Dakota
When the snow’s up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I’ll guess I’ll hang around
I could never leave South Dakota
‘Cause I’m frozen to the ground!!!

Author: Unknown

I'm O.K. You're O.k. Even When We're Not.

Crosswalk had an interesting article today on teens who lie, cheat and steal and yet feel good about themselves. Morality 101 secular style. http://www.crosswalk.com/news/commentary/11596694/
I have a friend whose upper eled son can barely read. He is functionally illiterate, yet when she tries to coach him and correct him he tells her, "Stop! You are making me feel bad about myself." Education makes way for feeling. Frankly, I would hope that if my kids couldn't read, they'd feel a sense of remorse, feel "bad" - long enough, anyway to get their heiny's in gear and learn. Of course, some kids have more hurdles than others and in those cases coping and compensation skills are needed. I don't count whining about how ya feel as an adequate one, but then they don't call me PaxRoMomma for nothing.

On a message board this week, in response to a question about world religions, many of the respondents stated that they weren't as interested in the "Truth" (capital "T") of what they worshipped as they were in how it made them feel. Frankly, I'd rather know and worship a Living God who by His ruach creates and loves, who is fearsome and Holy than play religion with a dead rock god that is impotent. Truth and honesty over comfort and feel good any day, baby.

WW: Snow Art Calvin style

This started as a lovely snowman, created by dd's 1 & 3, complete with carrot nose and stick arms. The deer, however, cheeky fellows and felines that they are, ate the nose right off that night, a common occurance where we live. Dd 2 went out to "fix" the noseless creature next day. This is the result. Can you tell the influence of a certain comic in our home? We love you, Bill Watterson!

The Art of Math

Paul Lockhart write on math education: http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf

"By concentrating on what, and leaving out why, mathematics is reduced to an empty shell. The art is not in the “truth” but in the explanation, the argument. It is the argument itself which gives the truth its context, and determines what is really being said and meant. Mathematics is the art of explanation. If you deny students the opportunity to engage in this activity— to pose their own problems, make their own conjectures and discoveries, to be wrong, to be creatively frustrated, to have an inspiration, and to cobble together their own explanations and proofs— you deny them mathematics itself."

This sounds so similar to what Joan Cotter, the developer of Right Start Math, says regarding the how math is taught in Asia. There it is considered normal to make mistakes, to get the wrong answer and to struggle as you learn. The process is just as important, probably more so, than the outcome. http://www.2mminutes.com/ puts the U.S.'s ability to teach math effectively in sad perspective.

52 Book in 2009 - Book 1 Down.

I had considered doing the 9/9/9 reading challenge (9 books in 9 different categories in 09') but decided that at more than 1 book a week either washing dishes, cooking or the kids would suffer.

Plan 2- 52 books in 09. Knowing myself as a reader -think addict- I keep telling myself, and the concerned good Doctor who checks in on me once or twice after 11 p.m., that I can stop after just this paragraph or one more chapter. We both know better. So, in hopes of fulfilling my obligations this year I'm starting early and limiting myself to a book a week.

Since we're on school vacation- 'round here anyway-I read a book yesterday, Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. The author describes post Taliban Afghanistan as the country works towards some semblance of modernity. Sex trafficking is common, the enslavement and brutalization of women is a way of life. There's a lot of raunch. I mean it's irl but disturbing because it's so foreign and sickening and sad.

The woman writing the book starts a beauty school in Kabul and her goal is to give women there a trade by which they can purchase the most basic necessities, food, dignity, perhaps respect.

I read Afghanistan by Michener way back in high school and was struck by how hidden women were. Apparently that is still mostly the case. We read Bruchko many years ago, too, and what struck me most as the villagers encountered the One True Living God is how the lives of the women changed. The men began to care for them, to love them, to nourish them, physically with food, and emotionally with love. The Sacred Romance. How He changes things. I hurt for those sisters who disappear figuratively, and sometimes literally; hidden behind burkas, and governments and men who are creepy and savage, and at times by other women who are creepy and savage, too.

Kabul Beauty School is a good read. My take-away is so much gratitude for the opportunities I have as a woman- education, a husband who loves me, joy at the births of my sons and my daughters, choices. A renewed sense of purpose as I pray for those who lives are more desperate and harsh. A deeper vision for the importance and value of education. Relief that my life contains hope and joy on a daily basis.

I was going to delve right into 3 Cups of Tea- set, interestingly enough, in about the same location and with the same theme of the importance of education but I need a breather. I'm off to try to wrest one of Feche boy's Lawhead books away from him.

WR: Christmas Rocks.

The party continued yesterday as we celebrated Miss. R's birthday with more food and presents. I was going to make a truffle but opted instead for individual parfaits. Chocolate cake, pudding, whipped cream and fresh blueberries. Perfect. Christmas Day here was lovely. Good food, great presents, calls to family, a movie to share and books to look forward to. Yep, just right.

It was the year of the hat this Christmas. I found a perfect "Miss Dashwood" hat for KB (o.k., she found it and thankfully it was still there when I went back for it!) Feche-boy has been asking for a felt hat like Dad's for awhile. Aunt M sent Cub a black cowboy hat from NM and KB bought Flower a crocheted hat in TN this summer, complete with yellow flower!

KB, Viking Man and Jennifer Knapp.

Cool jewels from 10K Villages.

Christmas morning breakfast is served. Scalloped stuffed 'shrooms, quiche, sausage balls, KB's yummy orange and cranberry scones, fresh fruit, Miss R's delicious pumpkin rolls, grape juice from Feche-boy's grapes grown this summer.

Best gifts of the season. The beautiful leather bound Hebrew Bible Miss R gave to Viking Man. Feche-boy's dark brown felt hat-he is so darn cute! Cub received Star War transformers-nuff' said. He's a happy, happy boy! Extended Viking Fam sent lots of socks (hey, it's the little things- THANKS!) Miss R found some amazing oil based hand creme by L'Occitane that she gave to both KB and I love, love, love it! I can wear it without an allergic reaction and it works! Did I mention I love it? The girls bought me new cheater glasses with a granny chain that is BLING city! and Viking Man outdid himself!

****

Books were given, which is a given in our home. My motto: If you have 2 loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily- or a book. I'm partial to both! Lots of Stephen Lawhead for Miss R and Feche Boy. KB received, Kabul Beauty School - an interesting and funky look at an expat living in Afghanistan. I was the happy recipient of 3 Cups of Tea, Living Memory and The Homeschooler's Book of Lists - woohooo! And have high hopes of finagling Pendragon from Miss R before she returns to school, taking her book with her.

Just New Years Eve and 2 more birthdays to go before the official Winter Party Season is over at our house. Hope you & yours are finding JOY this season!

HOAC- International Geography Review

I recently had the opportunity to review Hands Of A Child (HOAC) International Geography Pack. I like lapbooking, and notebooking in general as a homeschooling tool and HOAC packs specifically because the activities and booklets are ready to use.

The International Geography pack's Table of Contents includes the Science of Geography, the Five Themes of Geography, Studying the Earth, Branches of Geography, Globes, Time Zones, Maps, Types of Geography, The Physical World, Wildlife, Density & Distribution, Careers in Geography, Making a Living, a Vocabulary List and an Activity List. There are sixty-four vocabulary words listed along with twenty-one different activities. The Bibliography includes seven books and two web-site references. There are an additional twenty-one activities to do for the "Lapbook a Country" section, which covers the five themes of geography for any country you choose to study.

As far as geography goes, the HOAC pack does a great job of introducing the student to the basics of geography. I think that this pack, like other lapbooks, vary in effectiveness depending on the goals of the class. If you are using them simply as a general overview of a subject, they are stand-alone. If, however, you want to delve into a subject and use them as a both guide and reinforcement than you'll need to do some additional planning. For instance, for the vocabulary, I would set up a schedule of words to be learned (i.e. memorized) each week and make flashcards. Secondly, I would dedicate an area with old magazines to be cut up, maps, globes and atlas' to be referenced. I would also have some additional Geography texts around to beef up the activities along with some puzzels. I am totally sold on the country puzzels that Timberdoodle sells- worth every penny! Lastly, we would have spent more time reading biographies of ancient geographers and it would have been handy for HOAC to recommend some.

I used the on-line version of the pack this time (in the past, I've had the comb bound copy) and while it is good to be able to pick and choose which pages you might want to print, I found it (as a visual person myself) difficult to keep track of where I was at and found myself frequently running back upstairs to print off another page (we used it for 3 kids at once). We also found one of the booklets difficult to make and never could figure it out. We improvised, which is easy to do, and no one knows the difference.

My boys, especially, loved having permission to spend lots of time delving into Old National Geographics to find pictures for the various activities and it reinforced their love for maps, directions and all things geographic. This is definitely a class for upper elementary students (3rd -6th grade) and even Jr. and Sr. Highers with some additional planning. and a great way to introduce your students to the wonders of the geography. What would be really fun would be to use the study pack in a group and have a Geography Fair at the end of the year with displays, food, and costumes!

You can find more great lapbooking resources at the Hands of A Child website here. Don't forget to check out the quarterly freebie- a great reason to check HOAC web-site regularly!

Wishing you joy!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Dear Miss. R!

Our oldest is 22 today. She is our elf child. If you knew her, you'd understand immediately. We have other elf children that follow, but she is the original.

Can I just take a moment and do the Mommy Brag thing? Our oldest is intelligent, kind, good, Godly, funny, entertaining, creative, gifted, outgoing, passionate, loving, and hard headed.

She has traveled all over the United States, to South America and Europe, learned a couple of different languages, has friends all over the world, worked at an orphanage for several months, crafted and created out of everything from forks and bread to paint and clay, read 1000's of books, written at least 100's of pages, talked for years, and had people laughing on more than one continent. Her first semester in college this past fall she earned a 3.8 G.P.A. while working 20 hours a week and making time to meet lots of people, knit (!) and watch several season episodes of T.V. shows

Her plans are to go overseas full time as a missionary to an unreached people group that is disenfranchised from the world, lies, cheats and steals to eat, participates in sex trafficking and is almost 100% illiterate. Knowing what we do about this people group we are glad that "hard headedness" is on the list of character qualities above.

This is the child that used to drive me crazy over the daily "I lost my (insert subject book here) so I guess I can't do (insert school subject here). " Who would "go to the bathroom" with a chapter book and emerge later having read 1/2 of it, who kept asking at age 3 and 4 when we were "going to have our family" (imagine her surprise as it grew!) and who has always been smart and verbal and adorable. Who wore skirts or dresses every.single.day until we moved from CA to OH when she was 8 and who came back from Ecuador wearing make-up and with a clear vision of what God had called her to.

It's been a joy and a privilege to watch this beautiful young woman grow up.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I love you!

Why Educate Classically?

Tracy Lee Simmons' lecture on Classical Education...

Tracy Lee Simmons, professor at Hillsdale College, gave this lecture in 2005 on the topic of Classical Education. It's worth a listen!

Real World Education

I just read this article www.city-journal.org/2008/18_4_classical_education.html on the state of liberal arts in universities today. It's an interesting juxtaposition to this article on the University of Chicago's co-ed dorm room policy. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4azBDjxFPAfvYw68pPHjfnq51PgD957NOP80

The 2 Million Minutes project is another interesting perspective on education in America, as well as in India and China: http://www.2mminutes.com/

I read yesterday, again, about a situation where a family whose kids are teased mercilessly at school (who knows why, maybe they are too short, skinny, wide, political, or blue) but they continue to participate in government education in order to ensure that their kids are able to participate in the "real world." Well, if the situation wasn't so sad, I'd laugh till I choked. "Real world?" I've been hearing that from people, well meaning and not, for years. Like my world, my life are fake? Come on over and I'll dish up a logic class, or 2.

Real world. My oldest can and has taken her self 1/2 way around the world and back, alone, on a couple of different occasions, learned 3 languages, received a 3.8 her first semester of college, all while working 20 hours a week. We are criticized regularly because our kids won't be able to "make it in the real world." After visiting a state U where the basic dorm decor includes how to save your roomie from alcohol posioning, how to report a date rape, and how to recognize your common everyday venereal disease, my kids are thinking our little bubble of "fake" life-complete with laughter, respect for self and others, real academic learning -is not a bad deal.

Really, what it boils down to for most folks is that we don't buy in to their definition of conventional. We don't intentionally pursue wealth or physical comfort. Our real world consists of other values which they would rather deny the existence of.

Sigh. American Education, whose initial purpose was to create literacy in the broadest sense of the word as well as wise citizens making way for co-ed dorm rooms, a student led initiative at the U. of Chicago, anyway. Real world, up close and a little too personal.

WR: The End of the Semester is in Sight!

This week we focused up on finishing some things.
ETC 3: 1 lesson to go, done by tomorrow. On lesson 76 in AlphaPhonics. My plan to have Flower reading by early spring is well on its way to completion. I love teaching my kids to read. I truly do.
Traditional Logic I: One lesson to completion, done by Monday.
Christian Studies I: Completed earlier this month. Received II in the mail, will start in Jan.
Tiner's Science Planet Earth: KB is reading it with Cub. They'll be done before the 1rst and that will be the 3rd science book Cub has completed this year.
Grammar of Poetry: We slowed down in order to give one of the co-op students a chance to catch up. We'll be done by the end of January at which time we'll start Logos' Shakespeare study.
Writing: Feche Boy and KB continue to write daily. KB contributes to her blog regularly and Feche continues to work on his story, complete with maps.
Math: Cub continues to do 2 math lessons a day in Horizons and both KB and Feche continue to move forward in math. I'm putting off starting Flower formally in math though she is doing simple addition on her own daily, along with counting everything in sight and mazes.
Geography: We were given the opportunity to use HOAC International Geography pack in exchange for a review, which is forthcoming; still deciding if our country study will be on Israel or Czechoslovakia (where the play is set). The littles and I continue to use the geo puzzles that I purchased from Timberdoodle last year. I'm learning a lot. So are they.
Memory Work: We'll finish Isaiah 9 next week. Other than that we are taking a break from memory work with the exception of play parts. It's nice to have a breather to focus on content areas. Don't forget to check out Dr. Andrew Campbell's newly published book on memory. Review below!
WWII Unit Study: In conjunction with the One Act Play. Learning lots. It's not pretty.
Art- KB continues to do collages, drawing and photography. The collages are so cool, 3-D and contain great metaphor. The boys are still drawing tho not as much with the co-op class on hold. The littles really enjoyed the craft day we had for our last co-op day of the year. Lots of mess, glitter and fun = )!

Drama practice has begun in earnest and the play includes chant, dance, and poetry recitation. Both KB and Feche Boy will be stretched, but it's not more than they can handle. Cub has a token part - he is a natural.
The 5th Annual Winter Warm-Up, the annual homeschooling Mom's retreat that we put together each year is under way from a planning pov. Former Mrs. SD will be our main guest speaker and we have a location as well as favors. Scheduled for early Feb.
TeenPact is moving ahead in South Dakota. Dates are February 23-27 and I am getting more inquires weekly. It's a great hands-on government program. Check it out http://www.teenpact.com/

College Woman was loaned a Star Gate season and we've been indulging in afternoon viewing...the littles have been getting lots of computer time as a result- "new" fav game for them is Roller Coaster Tycoon and Sim Safari. Tomorrow will be play practice, purchasing the last couple of Christmas gifts and grocery shopping as another blizzard is around the corner. We are hoping no car windows get blown off this round. The plan for the week-end is to cocoon. Viking Man has graded over 100 papers in the past 3 weeks for the on-line class he's been teaching and looking forward to a well-deserved rest and some holiday fun. It's been cold enough that the river is frozen solid and we have to take our annual "walk on the river, freeze your heiney off annual adventure" if the weather cooperates. Our beautiful Akita pooch LOVES the cold and usually pulls the littles on the sled but they are bigger and she is older so maybe we'll just all walk together this year.

It's been a good semester. Wishing all of my homeschooling pals a JOYOUS and restful Merry Christmas and winter break!!

Memory Work Companion Now Available

From Paula's blog over at http://accomplishate.blogspot.com/.
I am pleased to announce that Drew's new memory work book is now available. He is the author of The Latin-Centered Curriculum, the book that has truly revolutionized our homeschool. I plan to place my order this week.

Here is some information regarding the content of the book from Drew himself.

My Memory Work book, Living Memory, is now available! This is the book mentioned in LCC2.Here's the description:Tantum scimus quantum memoria retinemus: We only know as much as we retain by memory. While progressive reformers denigrate "rote memorization," classical educators from Quintilian to St. ThomasAquinas have always known that memory work is an essential part of acomplete education. Now you can give your students the benefits of classical memorytraining with Living Memory. This comprehensive K-12 resource for memorization, copywork, and dictation can be used with any classical curriculum or as a handy reference for home or school. With this pick-up-and-teach book your students can master:* proverbs, maxims, and famous sayings in English, Latin, and Greek* dozens of beloved English poems, from Mother Goose to Shakespeare* stirring historical speeches from Cicero to Churchill* more than 60 English hymns and carols plus traditional hymns inLatin and Greek* prayers, psalms, and Bible memory verses in English, Latin, and Greek* important geography and history facts* favorite American folk songs* essential arithmetic facts and mathematical formulas* key science facts* a succinct English grammar "catechism" for students of Latin* fundamental Latin and Greek grammar forms.

Dr. Andrew Campbell's introduction draws on both ancient memory techniques and modern research to explain the importance of memory ineducation. He explains how to integrate memory work into your existing curriculum and how to use four key skills to assure success in memorytraining.

http://www.lulu.com/content/5348956 Please free free to spread the word so we can support Drew in his latest endeavor.

99 Things To Do.

I saw this meme over at Harmony Art Mom's (Barb) blog and thought it looked like fun. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and learn a bit more about me.The items I have done/experienced are in green...

1. Started your own blog. (Duh!)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does high school count? Marching, symphonic and jazz)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world. Both. When we lived in CA they always had great resident discounts.
8. Climbed a mountain - several. High Unitas, UT. One month back-packing trip.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo...in my car with no one around! I did sing in several choirs in h.s. = )
11. Bungee jumped...NO WAY!
12. Visited Paris. Nope, but I've been to Athens.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. I think I did a couple of years ago. It was horrible.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables. Yep.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train - all the way to Yugoslavia back when it was under communist control.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked - back in the day....
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb and a kid goat
26. Gone skinny dipping...going way back now.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (many!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - does the ferry from NY to Long Island count?
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. Some day...
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person..on my list of things to see!
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David...not yet!
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight in FL and Puerto Rico.
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - but I have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Kings Island = )
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (many times!)
55. Been in a movie - but watched a couple being filmed.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching - we didn't see any.
63. Got flowers for no reason (many times! )
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter - but I've flown in a bi-plane over the coast of California
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone -2
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book- not yet
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (never again)
83. Walked in Jerusalem - hope to.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - not of me. One I took.
85. Read the entire Bible - many times
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Alright...now that you know a bit more about me, I wanna know more about you! So, copy this and paste it on your blog, answer the questions, and then leave me a comment so I can read it!

WW: Holiday Happenings

I told the kids to get their feet out of the way so that I could get a pic of our dining room tree with all of our home-made ornaments. I've been adding cards as they arrive. My sister always sends beautiful hand-made ones that truly are like ornaments. Of course, they all stuck their feet INTO the picture!

And one with their smiling faces....

Miss. Flower after the kids Christmas program at church. The decorations are beautiful, as is our girl!

We have 9 foot ceiling's throughout our house. Viking Man is convinced that they are meant to be filled with Christmas tree each year! Our yearly foray to the Christmas tree farm includes a tape measure so that we can get the largest possible tree- isn't it lovely?

Our country porch, all decked out for the season.

More porch decor. Evergreens, baby's breath that we grew this summer and a decoration from my s-i-l's wedding 15 years ago. Time flies!

Some of my mom's china tea-cups. KB added a holiday touch.

This is love. 5 siblings, lots of candy and 1 Ginger-Bread house. Our kids might all end up as professional negotiators. They are all creative, opinionated and darn cute (see picture below) yet we only provided them with 1 house to decorate...(honestly, I don't create situations like this on purpose!)..so, they each took an area....

and went to work. It came out very...unique = ). Hot chocolate and oatmeal butterscotch cookies were also enjoyed! I hope the holiday season is warming your hearts and homes as well!!

Animal or God breathed?

Slave traders believed blacks to be animals. Nazis believed Jews to be animals. Atheists consider humans animals driven by animal instincts, destined to live and die by pre-determined factors. If we are evolved animals than there is no need of god. We live out our pre-determined DNA programming, die and become nothing.

All animals die. Does it matter, then by what method we do so? By our own hand, an abortionists, or a violent dictator?

Is the manner in which we live important? What we believe, how we spend our time? If we are simply animals, than those urges which define us should be listened to, followed, cultivated, admired. But then why do we say that Hitler was brutal? Why does Stalin illicit hatred? Why do we cringe at Pol Pot's extermination of 1/5 of the Cambodian population in 4 short years? Weren't they simply following their animal urges to control and dominate lesser animals? Shouldn't we revere these men, rather than decry them? The weak simply died in response to strength, much like a zebra when felled by a lion. Do we rescue the zebra from the lion for it's weakness or do we applaud the lion for it's cunning wit? It's all a matter of preference, of what's sexy or popular or "evolved." Capricious responses to a callous world.

If, however, we are created by the One True Living God, all is changed, whether we acknowledge it or not. Truth is Truth, after all, despite recognition. The Creator declares, "Choose Life." Before you this day is set life or death. Choose Life. This demands a belief in purpose, a belief in destiny, a belief in sovereignty- though perhaps, not our own. Those who have died purposelessly and in response to animalistic brutalit have left behind unfulfilled destinies. Destinies lost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

image of God

born of God's breath

vessel of divine Love

after his likeness

dwelling of God

capacity for the infinite

eternally known

chosen of God

home of the Infinite Majesty

abiding in the Son

called from eternity

life in the Lord

temple of the Holy Spirit

branch of Christ

receptacle of the Most High

wellspring of Living Water

heir of the kingdom

the glory of God

abode of the Trinity.

God sings this litany

eternally in his Word.

This is who you are.

a litany of the person - anonymous trappist monk
www.worldprayers.org

7 Quick Takes Friday

**1**

This is my 100th post. It's been a blast. I still can't figure out the cool link thingamabob, but I have successfully uploaded a video.

**2**

Watched Schindler's List this week in prep for the One Act Play set during WWII. It's still a sad, sad movie. Only 1000 Jews survived in Poland after the war. The descendant's that Schindler saved numbered over 6,000. One life, granting the gift of life to so many others. Gives one pause.
Another stat on WWII- only 1/4 of all Jews in Europe survived the war. I find that to be a staggering number. 6 million Jews exterminated. To date, over 45 million babies aborted since 1974. Stalin killed 40 million. Funny how we consider Hitler and Stalin such monsters.

**3**

Miss R is home from college. She had an awesome first semester, is full of stories and exploits. The littles are thrilled she's home. Thrilled. She toured the south on her way north east due to weather but after a long day flying and waiting, she made it home.

**4**

Viking Man's Bible Study is good. Really good. Read, observe, interpret, apply. It is amazing how MUCH detail there is- how FULL each passage is. We rarely get more than a chapter done an week.

**5**

Weekly Report- we focused on math and phonics for the littles, Logic, math and Omnibus for the middles. We started memorizing Isaiah 9, but didn't get that far. Rachel has been spending lots of time reading out loud to the kids. We are going to the Pettigrew Museum today for a field trip. I have a feeling school is going to be this-n-that for the next couple of weeks.

**6**

2 reads this week: The Shack and I'm currently reading Preaching to a Post-Modern World, by Albert Mohler. I loved The Shack. It's thought provoking, even if you don't agree with all of the author's conclusions. Preachings main premise is that we need to read the scripture and preach from that, we don't need all of the bells and whistles of media or music that so often accompany a church service. I'm looking forward to reading what's next but already have some disagreements with what's being said.

**7**

Our local bank teller asked, "Are you done yet (with Christmas shopping)." Having been blessed with more children than budget we spend more time on presents than money, so this is an interesting comment in our opinion. The focus is on stuff, as if shopping were the point. We love presents, we love to watch our kids open presents, we love to shower those we love with LOTS. But, we have found that oftentimes, less is more. More kids = less disposable income, but I'll take my kids over stuff any day. More time with them = less time to work, but I'll take knowing them over giving them things. Priorities. Life speeds by quickly. Like Schindler, I hope mine are in the right place at the right time.

Christmas Decor

Fun holiday links from over at SimpleMom -have I mentioned it's a great site? See for yourself... http://simplemom.net/tag/12-christmas-projects/

How to Hang a Wreath :: Nesting Place
The Most Wonderful Christmas Garland Ever :: also Nesting Place
Simple Holiday Decorating :: Blissfully Domestic
Reinventing What You Have for Seasonal Decorating :: HomeGoods (written by Melissa of The Inspired Room)
5 Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas :: Real Simple
Holiday Curb Appeal :: Cottage Living
1-Day Christmas Makeover :: Better Homes and Gardens
How to Make a 3D Paper Snowflake :: Persipacious
Paper Snowflakes :: Instructables
All Christmas :: Flickr
Christmas Project archives :: ReadyMade
Mammoth List of Festive Tutorials :: Whip Up

WW: Welcome Home

After a long day getting re-routed, turned back, landing, refueling, re-re-routing, College Woman finally made it home! Woohoo!

WW: Seasonal Whiplash

Caught between seasons....

(photos by KB)

Playmobile Security Checkpoint

Love Playmobile like we do? You have GOT to check out this set. Better yet, check out the reivews. Go to the link and scroll down. It's a funny, funny world we live in.

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-3172-Security-Check-Point/dp/B0002CYTL2

The Shack

Saturday was a lazy, cozy day here (all except for Viking Man who worked hard all week-end teaching on-line) and the kids and I continued to decorate, play and read. My book du jour; The Shack. 3 words, I loved it. It spoke to me these things-

God is near, His Son is real, the Spirit whispers wind words, life.

God loves perfectly despite tragedy, loss, disappointment, or crisis.

His Son Jesus walked the earth creating redemption

for the proud and independent race of Adam.

The Spirit lives among us.

He is especially fond of me.

He is especially fond of you.

He treasures us.

Together, those of us who seek Him through His beloved Son Jesus Christ,

will feast in the land of the Living.

14 Days of Homeschool

WR: Loose Ends

This week I focused on loose ends. College Women blows into town on Monday and I'm sure that school as usual won't be.
Christian Studies I: We finished. We plan to start CS II in January, complete that by March and finish out the year with CS III.
ETC 3- Flower is almost finished. She is still hung up on long vowel sounds but we have that lesson in AlphaPhonics on Monday so I'm hoping that that solidifies it for her. Once she's done with ETC 3 we'll wait until Jan to start 4. She's on lesson 70 in AP- I'm so pleased with how well she is doing.
Math -Cub is doing 2 lessons a day in math. What a great switch to go to Horizons. I see how the concepts he learned in Right Start were good but the lack of structure and the intensive hands on was slogging us both down.
Traditional Logic I -we'll be done with this month and start II in January.
KB is 1/2 way through IEW"s Rhetoric so is taking a break until Jan.
Grammar of Poetry -we'll finish this this semester. We are going to start Logos' Shakespeare in January and finish the semester with a play. The kids have done such a great job. Poetry rocks.
IEW's Poetry- we've taken a break with IEW's picks and have been learning holiday poems. This week's pick was "A Christmas Carol" by G.K.Chestertown. It is touching and beautiful. Cub insists it's "Catholic" because Mary is mentioned every stanza and the Christ-child's hair is referred to as "fire" -which he has interpreted as blond. I think we'll do a search on Chesterton- wasn't he Catholic? - it never ceases to amaze me how kids make connections.

Play practice starts today along with a study on WWII. It involves dance as well- we'll all be stretched! Lots of poetry recitation invovled so it fits in really nicely with the Poetry and presentation that we've done as a group this semseter. The littles are in a Christmas presentation at church. The music is lovely and fun.

Seasonal Fun- This Saturday the girls and I are making Christmas paper crafts, and we have several other "Christmasy" things to do this month, a gingerbread house, a trip to the Pettigrew Museum, creating a creche and making cards for deployed soldiers.

We are getting ready for the Winter Warm-Up- our winter retreat for homeschool mom's -it's in February but the details always take several weeks. Former Mrs. SD will be our guest speaker- our theme this year is "Beauty."
TeenPact is in 2 short months and we are going to do a couple of fund raisers. Looks like we are going to have an awesome group this year! If you're in the area and need a rockin' place for your teen to go in February, lmk!

My blogging buddy, Jennifer's Lost, has a terrific blog on halving your stuff. Go visit! You'll be inspired!
http://halvingitall.blogspot.com/2008/08/princess-clothes-must-go.html

Defining Self

I have always appreciated the verse in Habbukuk that states, "Write the vision, make it plain." I am a writer, I like to envision, this is a "natural" thing for me to do. Ofter I get caught up in the activity of writing "it" down, even when it is not mine to own. I recently was quite enthused to consider the 9/9/9 reading challenge. Upon reflection I won't be participating. It's not that I'm not a reader, or don't see the value in guided reading. It's that I know myself enough to know that when I am caught up in a book the things that are in my hand to do are neglected. There is so much I want to do, yet I find myself, more and more, longing to do the things I'm called to do with care and skill and passion and excellence. I am middle-aged enough to fully realize that time is a commodity of which I have less and less of. So, I continue to go back to the simple things, the things close to home, the seemingly mundane and unobtrusive, the small. Knowing that women the world over and throughout the ages have done the same. Home-keeping, training children, reading, praying. Finding joy and surprise when the vision expands to include a new purpose or ministry or friend, or the revitalization of a friendship or ministry that seemed depleted or frayed. Breathing gratitude for this season, this time and place when we are at peace, we prosper, and we have choices.

The Vision is simple. What do I have in my hand? How do I steward these resources. Write the vision. Make it plain.

Great Give-Away.

Simple Mom is a great sites with excellent ideas for simplifying life, productivity in the home, getting finances in shape, enjoying the beauty in the every day, and so much more.
Simple Mom currently has a give-away. A really great one. Gorgeous family-inspired jewelry. Go check it out!

WW: Wild America

Cub & Flower have been enjoying Kumon's Paper Craft books- lots of fun to cut, paste, glue and PLAY with! I don't think Mr. Gorilla had his morning latte!

The beautiful Percheron's at the Christmas Tree Farm.

Starry, starry night. Planets actually. Our camera didn't do the conjunction justice.

All photos courtesy of KB.