Educators At Home

My boys and I just began a  Beautiful Feet Geography curriculum called Paddle to the Sea.  We read the first three chapters today and tonight my husband is enjoying helping the boys with some detail work on their maps.  I think it is going to be a fun unit study and a different way to learn geography. This story begins with a young Indian boy who wishes he could see more of the world.  Since he cannot leave for his own canoe  adventure,  he  carves a little canoe with a figure inside and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. Paddle’s journey, in text and pictures, through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean provides an excellent geographic and historical picture of the region. If you purchase the maps…or make up your own you can follow Paddle-to-the-Sea and learn your geography while enjoying the adventure.

To my delight I just discovered a movie made years ago that tells the story of paddle to the sea!!! I’m looking forward to watching this with my family.  Blessings,  Anne

Don’t forget to turn off the website music before beginning the film 😉

John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather.
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a Pilgrim.

Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a Giant fight,
But he will have a right
To be a Pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit;
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, fly away;
He’ll not fear what men say,
He’ll labour night and day
To be a Pilgrim.

Evidently some Democrats are irritated by the reading of the Constitution.  I think it needs to be read because so many of our representatives do not have any respect or regard for it.  Hopefully this will help by reminding folks that yes indeed we do have to follow our Constitution and the Rule of Law.  Thomas Sowell reminds us:  “For more than a century, believers in bigger government have also been believers in having judges “interpret” the restraints of the Constitution out of existence.

They called this “a living Constitution.” But it has in fact been a dying Constitution, as its restraining provisions have been interpreted to mean less and less, so that the federal government can do more and more.”

(Please turn off the website music by clicking on the box after the clock.)

Of all the homeschool activities that we include in our day,  read aloud time trumps them all!! What a delight it is to cuddle up with my sweet boys and read together.  I do not believe  that  we would have the time for this activity if  they were enrolled in  school.  Oh how much we’d miss!!   I feel so blessed and fortunate that we have had  many years of reading together.

Since my children  were little guys we’ve curled up with books  and thoroughly enjoyed entering the world of the wonderful characters in our stories. Although there are many benefits to reading aloud such as vocabulary building, comprehension practice , narration practice, etc.  to me the most wonderful benefit would have to be  the family discussions.  We talk about the characters, the lessons learned, the close calls, the spiritual meanings, the good guys, the bad guys, the men and women of character and the shallow wimpy ones too.

When my boys  were pre-school age  we would lie down to read and then drift off  to sleep.  As a tired mommy of pre-schoolers , this was my favorite time of the day.  We’d have a nice lunch, pick out a wonderful book like Charlotte’s Web or The Trumpet of the swan and read on our big king size bed.  My boys would drift off to sleep and I would as well.  Then, after about 20 minutes,  I’d very carefully get up….not making a sound…. and sneak into the family room.  This was my time to plan dinner and tidy up the house a bit.  Sometimes I’d light a candle and put on some soft music and begin cooking.  Those days were so simple….so sweet…..but often exhausting as well.  Reading books together and then napping gave us refreshment and strength to carry us through dinner hour, baths, and other evening activities.  Read more...

When you’re up against a trouble,

Meet it squarely, face to face;

Lift your chin and set your shoulders,

Plant your feet and take a brace.

When it’s vain to try to dodge it,

Do the best that you can do;

You may fail, but you may conquer,

See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you

And your future may seem grim,

But don’t let your nerve desert you;

Keep yourself in fighting trim.

If the worse is bound to happen,

Spite of all that you can do,

Running from it will not save you,

See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,

When with troubles you’re beset,

But remember you are facing

Just what other men have met.

You may fail, but fall still fighting;

Don’t give up, whate’er you do;

Eyes front, head high to the finish.

See it through!

~Edgar A. Guest (1881 – 1959)

When it comes to menu planning I usually make a sincere effort   to pay attention to the following four areas while I shop or pour over my recipe books.   I seek out meal ideas that are  affordable,  tasty, healthy and easy to prepare.  If there are too many fancy or gourmet ingredients….. I’ll usually pass unless it is a very special occasion.   I watch for the sales and purchase the store specials which often include  ground turkey or chicken.   We rarely eat red meat which I enjoy,  or fish which my husband loves.  Grilled Salmon would please him so, and I would love to have a roast for Sunday supper but there is no way we will spend so much money on one meal.  We eat a lot of chicken, beans, brown rice and pasta.  Sometimes we have breakfast for dinner…maybe scrambled eggs or pancakes and sausage.  I’m not complaining….not at all.  We are not hungry as some folks are. We are  blessed.  We don’t need gourmet food and I don’t believe it is a disgrace when a family has oatmeal or Ramen noodles once in a while for dinner.  What’s wrong with peanut butter and jelly or egg salad for lunch?  Do we have to have goat cheese and arugula in order to be healthy?  The elitists  in Hollywood and Washington are beginning to tell us that our regular American fare is not good enough and that they need to teach us how to eat and also provide more welfare programs for us.  Read more...

Things don’t just happen to us who love God;
They’re planned by His own dear hand.
Then molded and shaped, and timed by His clock.
Things don’t just happen; they’re planned.

We don’t just guess on the issues of life,
We Christians just rest in our Lord.
We are directed by His sovereign will
In the light of His holy word.

We who love Jesus are walking by faith,
Not seeing one step that’s ahead,
Not doubting one moment what our lot might be,
But looking to Jesus instead.

We praise our dear Saviour for loving us so,
For planning each care of our life,
Then giving us faith to trust Him for all,
The blessings as well as the strife.

Things don’t just happen to us who love God,
To us who have taken our stand.
No matter the lot, the course, or the price,
Things don’t just happen; they’re planned.

From a 1944 tract titled “Things Don’t Just Happen.”
by Esther L. Fields (before 1944)

When I was new bride and decided to be a keeper-at-home, I felt like I needed to defend my decision all the time. I was quite happy and content making a warm and cozy home, trying out new recipes, growing a garden, and helping care for my parents. But my friends, neighbors and even church questioned this decision and said I should be making money and building a career. Now though, as an older homeschool mom I feel so proud of my descision and very confident that caring for my husband, home, and children is a high calling and a wonderful career choice.

My dear husband and I will celebrate our 28th anniversary this year!! Our children are happy and we have a wonderful home life together. How could our culture actually believe that leaving our homes and working for a company is more important and valuable than devoting a life to the people you love the most ? Why do they value prestige and money over family and marriage? This poem reminds me of the girl I used to be.  If you feel as I do, I think you will enjoy reading this poem.  Blessings,  Anne

She came tonight as I sat alone

The girl I used to be.

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye
And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes I had for you?

The great career, the splendid fame,
all the wonderful things to do?  Read more...

Our family enjoyed watching The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry and I appreciated that the message of sharing the gospel with your neighbors and friends was loud and clear in this movie. At first I thought this would not be the best film for our family because the main character in the movie,  “Dustin”  seems obsessed with writing a note to a girl who he has a crush on. Although it seems to be the rage these days for young children to  date even in our church youth groups,  my husband and I reject this whole idea and feel that our culture and church are so wrong about this.  This film doesn’t promote or discourage  dating but focuses on the eternal. Eventually Dustin’s heart changes and he begins to care about the souls of those in his life including this little girl.  This film was definitely not like  The Wonder Years.…but I was afraid it was heading that way.   This film has many themes that may or may not be the best for your whole family. My husband was disappointed that there were no father’s in this film. Other than Jonathan Sperry who was more like a grandpa the Dad’s were completely absent in each boys family. My husband kept asking…”Where are the Dad’s while all of this is going on?”   Other  themes in this film  included bullying, death, heaven, hell, and adolescent “crushes.”  Read more...

Taxation~ Civics Lesson 17
Government Must Take Before it can Give

I don’t think I really started caring about taxes until I was married with children and a home. When funds are low and you never seem to be able to catch up, you begin wondering where all the money goes.  Much of our income goes to paying taxes in one form or another. Lesson 17 on Taxation taught us about taxes.  In exchange for taxes, the government gives people the services of government workers and the use of roads, parks, etc.   In a way,  the citizens are allowing the government to take from one group and give to another. Increased Taxation is frequently caused by political pressure groups which demand money for their own pet projects. When the government gives into these groups, and taxes excessively,  folks will rise up in protest just as they are doing today in the Tea Party rallies. The Land of Fair Play explains that when citizens resist the over-stepping of government they are actually helping to preserve liberty. It is important to note that never ever in history has a government endowed with unchecked power chosen to use that power to preserve the God-given liberties of the people.  Read more...

Jefferson’s Philosophy of Government

As we deal with an out of control Congress in Washington, just what would a truly effective government look like?

Seven quick thoughts from someone who should know:

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
(small government)

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take from those who are willing to work and give it to those who would not.”
(reward productivity)

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle, which if acted upon would save one half the wars of the world.”
(balanced budget)

“I predict future happiness for Americans…IF…they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
(no bloated welfare)

“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.”
(concern for inner city decay)

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
(individual second amendment rights)

“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
(sense of moral absolutes)

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia…and he should know!  Read more...

I’m tired of resolutions and goal setting.  I never keep my resolutions and I don’t want to make them anymore because I know….. myself.  The good thing about getting older is that you do not have any delusions about yourself anymore.  You are not so idealistic and you are more inclined to be practical and somewhat sober-minded. You are realistic about your goals and acknowledge your limitations.  Sometimes the young girl inside appears… but most days you are focused on the most important and the peripheral falls off your list.  Sometimes you are too tired or achy to care about the trivial but as a believer and follower of Christ, your heart follows after the eternal….no matter what.

All I’m going to resolve to do this year is to continue talking to my Lord, teaching my children, keeping my home, loving my husband and doing the next thing!  May the Lord guide our steps this next year and help us to do the next thing.  ~Anne

From an old English parsonage,
Down by the sea,
There came in the twilight,
A message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend,
Deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me,
Teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours
The quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-
DO THE NEXT THING

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment,
Let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity,
Guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows,
Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus,
DO THE NEXT THING  Read more...

There are some homeschooling activities that in their simplicity give me delight.  One of those activities  include  my children’s  copywork lessons. Charlotte Mason taught that a child learns grammar by doing copywork. Copying over selections from fine literature, Bible Scripture, or Founding Documents into a notebook allows the child to pay attention to the details of good writing. In our family this copywork becomes a penmanship lesson as well because we require our boys to write slowly and carefully. We usually choose short selections as I would rather them do a good job on a small piece than sloppy work on a larger piece.
I’m sure that many  reading this post already  include copywork in their homeschool lessons,   but I thought I’d share a bit about how we do  copywork in our family.

When we first began homeschool lessons, our copywork books were so very simple.  My boys would write something like My name is David or Jesus is Lord. That was enough for them when they were just beginning to learn to write.  Now though,  we have lovely journals filled with poetry, lists, founding documents, Bible chapters, family mission statements, Our 21 Rules, Schedules etc.
I usually give them the assignment but sometimes they ask me “Mom, may I make a list of my favorite dogs” or “May I write up a list of my favorite baseball players?” For some folks this might be unacceptable, but I am fine with this. Their copywork journal will eventually be a memory book for them to read when they are grown.
 Read more...

Lord, who am I to teach the way           

To little children day by day

So prone myself to go astray?

I teach them knowledge, but I know

How faint they flicker and how low

The candles of my knowledge glow

I teach them power to will and do,

But only now to learn a new

My own great weakness thru and thru

I teach them love for all mankind

And all God’s creatures,  but I find

My love comes lagging far behind.

Lord,  if their guide I still must be,

Oh let the little children see

The teacher leaning hard on Thee.

~Leslie Pinkney Hill