A Dangerous Adventure by Art in Kenosha

If you haven't done so yet, please read Art's article on the ChildLight USA weblog. It is a beautiful description of the unity of life, the lack of separation between life and education, of the transforming power of a living education. It is powerful.

This blog will be quiet for a while. I'm off to Colorado for 2 1/2 weeks and am so far the only one with access. See you again in mid-August. Jennifer

There is no separation between life and education

Before I tuck my self into bed for my last sleep at home, I want to direct your attention to Art's article on the ChildLight USA site. His is a beautiful piece of writing, inspiring me to see the unity in life, the way that, while we try to compartmentalize, life spills from one container to another, and a living education causes our lives to overflow with the beauty that God has written into each stroke. Okay, I'm mixing metaphors terribly, but you can read the real beauty yourself if you hop over to ChildLight USA.

Good night!

Vacation Time!

The past few days have been filled with an assortment of tasks and activities. Now we're in the final stages of preparation for our long-awaited trip to Colorado. Excitement is mounting as we get ready to drive through several states, visiting the Amana Colonies in Iowa, Laura Ingalls Wilder site in Walnut Grove and De Smet, stopping at Mount Rushmore and then to the Renovare Covenant Retreat in Colorado. While in Colorado we'll also visit Whit's End and see the source of so many hours of wonderful audio entertainment.

None of us are able to read in the car because of motion sickness, so we're stocking up on audio books: Beric the Briton (by G. A. Henty; a historical fiction book set in Ancient Rome, read by Jim Weiss), A Tale of Two Cities (from LibriVox), Tom Sawyer, Charlotte's Web, and more. We are going to have to plan some 'story-free' times, though, or we'll never talk to each other and the children won't sleep at all!

We'll be back mid-August and I'm sure there'll be lots to tell about!

Jennifer

Anna Botsford Comstock

Through the Handbook of Nature Study blog, which we've referred to a few times in our meetings, I was directed to an interesting little article on the Internet: In 1988 Anna Botsford Comstock was inducted into the Conservation Hall of Fame.

Isn't it exciting to know that Comstock has been recognized for the contributions she has made to Nature Study? And to think that many of our children (as well as us!) are benefiting from her wisdom and insight.

I believe that she'd be honoured to be recognized in such a meaningful way, don't you?

In her book, Comstock emphasized the rewards of direct observation. She was ahead of her time in stressing the importance of natural relationships that work to form what we now call an ecosystem. The point of her approach to nature study, she said, was to "cultivate the child's imagination, love of the beautiful, and sense of companionship with life out-of-doors."

-- From the Conservation Hall of Fame Website

You can read about other inductees by visiting the National Wildlife Federation's inductee page.

We Talk Much and Watch Little

"...but how interesting and amusing it would all be were it not for the tendencies which, in these days, we talk much about and watch little against. We bring up our children in the easiest, happy-go-lucky way, and all the time talk solemnly in big words about the momentous importance of every influence brought to bear upon them." -- Charlotte Mason. "Inconstant Kitty." Volume 5: Formation of
Character. Page 28.

Could this not have been written today and not 100 years ago? Could it not have been written about me?

I am so stricken by the words "talk much about and watch little against." This is me. At my worst, true, but also at my most typical. I love philosophy, theory, ideals, and deep conversation about ideas...But the tasks called forth by those ideas, following through on those ideals, those are a challenge to me. They are hard work, those tasks. But how can I compare the worth and the cost of the task when they are weighed in terms of the formation of character of the Ones I Love? I want to see the end result of good parenting, of development of strong habits, of thoughtful education. But the day to day effort is wanting. And the harvest of my slothful sowing and tending is beginning to come in.

Is it ever too late to cultivate those habits and attitudes in our children which we want to see blossom in adulthood? Those measures of self-control, the heeding of the Spirit?

Lord, grant that I would not grow weary. Forgive my inattentiveness, the lip-service I've paid to the ideals. Transform me, step by step, habit by habit. Wash me in Grace. Strengthen me for the long walk with The Ones I Love.

God Crutch

Who among us is not broken? Who among us can stand on our own? Is it ever too late to reach out for the Crutch?

I encourage you to read this post on Anne Voskamp's blog. It is a note she received as a comment from Kim Kautzer of Write Shop on one of Anne's earlier posts.

Blessings to you today.

Jennifer

One Thousand Gifts

123. Cheeks red from exertion in the brisk evening air.

124. Calls of encouragement voiced on the field.

125. Adults willing to give time to coach my children.

126. 12 years with My Girl.

127. Hair grown to give away.

128. Approaching event that will refresh us.

129. Dear Man's complete support of my going to North Carolina.

130. Time together.

131. Generous friends allowing Dear Man to use their vehicle while I'm away with ours.

132. Water available at the turn of a tap.

133. While I am not yet what I will be, I am no longer what I was.

134. Magnolia beauty, creamy whiteness of multiple hue.

135. Time, the commodity of relationships.

136. Complex relationships, multiple connections.

137. Prayers surrounding a hurting woman, raising her to your care and protection.

138. Groups from varied backgrounds collaborating freely.

139. Your sustaining hand through times of extended sleeplessness.

140. Safety through 3000 km of driving.

141. Vision for education.

142. New friendships.


This is a catch up post of Gifts. To see my entire list, look here.

Shakespeare

I was inspired at the ChildLight USA conference in June to revisit Shakespeare in our home school. I'd done quite a bit of it with My Girl earlier in her education: read the Lamb's version from Tales from Shakespeare, followed up with reading the actual script, sometimes using paper dolls we'd made to help us distinguish some of the characters in the history plays. But for nearly two years now, we haven't opened up the text of a Shakespearean play, not even the Lamb's version, because it seemed too involved, too complex and time consuming to make it work with two small boys interrupting and with our other schoolwork to accomplish.

Then I attended Lori Lawing's breakout session on Shakespeare and Young Children, and I was encouraged to open up our volumes again. I'll write more about her session later, but for now, suffice it to say that we are all looking forward to re-imersing ourselves in this rich and living literature.

We are privileged to live in a small city with a world renowned Shakespeare Festival that runs nine months of the year. This spring, our home school group was included in the Festival's school outreach program, so two students from our group were selected by a draw to attend an all day theatre workshop, working on scenes from Romeo and Juliet, then performing their 15 minute version of the play on the Festival stage. My Girl was thrilled to be one of the two to attend that day. She had a great experience working on lines, projection, theatre games, and, of course, performing. That was a treat that many only dream of!

And, if that weren't enough, we are blessed to have terrific neighbours who work at the Festival and occasionally gift us with tickets to see a production.

This year has been tremendous: I have had the pleasure of attending Taming of the Shrew (with My Girl and several other home school moms and students, through the Festival's school outreach program), Hamlet (at the invitation of a friend), and Love's Labour's Lost (courtesy of our neighbours). And My Girl, after attending Shrew with me, went with one of my friends to see a matinee performance of Romeo and Juliet (again, courtesy of the neighbours) while I stayed home with the boys. Can any Charlotte Mason home school ask for more? These gifts, the excitement of attending live theatre, the beauty of the costuming, the sight of actors entering into their roles...nothing compares with this!

My Girl and I are going to start talking in iambic pentameter with rhyming couplets if we don't watch out!

But then again, maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Words of Life

I dread the light being poured on my soul, fear what will be revealed. But what can come to view that God Himself has not already seen? already loved me through? Denial doesn't hide anything. It only allows the pain and darkness to pool and stagnate, leaving something that will over-react to other stimuli. I know this. Why do I fear?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Pour light and love over me, Father. Drive out the fear and lies. Only in You can I do this thing which brings fear. Only by Your love.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)

In the Garden Again

I'd been doing the bare minimum in the garden lately (which really just means watering when there hasn't been rain), and it had begun to show. This morning Little Man, Brown-Eyed Boy, and I tackled the garden right after our morning chores were finished. They helped me water everything thoroughly. That progressed to pulling out the weeds. Most were little baby maples that had sprouted from the not-raked-up maple keys that fell over the late spring, but there were also some thistles, clover, and an unidentified vine through the day lilies. From there I went on to thin the lilies. They are one of the plants that seem to flourish, even under my inept care, to the point where they are overtaking the garden alongside the garage. So I dug my shovel deep into the earth and pulled out somewhere between eight and ten huge clumps of them from the roots. It did seem that there wasn't much of a dent made, but maybe when I go to look later I'll see that it's better!

The lilies are coming in to bud.

Only one blossom so far.

Then it was back to the front yard where I began thinning the shrubs. Why do I always get carried away with that job? Sure they were overgrown, but now they are, well, skimpy. It's okay. It's still early in the summer. I know they'll fill out again.

Tiny tomatoes are beginning to appear. Oh the dreams of plump red juiciness.

All in all it was a good morning. Physical activity is so good for me, yet I shy away from it. Gardening isn't as hard as I often think it is, although a little more knowledge and experience would be helpful!

When I went out to get photos this evening, this little mosquito was sitting on the leaf. I'm glad I saw him first!

Watercolour Magnolia

So, my sweet friend agreed! Here is her watercolour of a magnolia from Boiling Springs, North Carolina during the ChildLight USA Charlotte Mason conference. You can read her post about the experience by visiting arroz con siempre.