History is the pivot on which the whole Charlotte Mason curriculum turns, and it would take more than the 10 minutes I snuck into the end of last meeting to even begin to discuss it.   (Actually, it would be great to spend about three meetings on it!)  But I do hope that your appetites were whetted to discover more about using living books - non-fiction and especially historical fiction - to teach history to your children.

This year our family began using TruthQuest History, starting with the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks.  I have found the guides to be so well done, that I expect that we will continue with them through modern times; we're already checking the library for books on Ancient Rome that are listed in the next TruthQuest guide.

There is much to value in these guides by Michelle Miller, and I'd like to highlight some of them here:

• The introduction for Moms and Dads at the beginning of the guide is a well-written lead-in to how to use the guides, what makes them different from a typical history course, and suggestions for structuring your week.  It is highly open-ended; Michelle realizes that there are more family styles than she could describe, but she shows how much freedom there is within the framework offered by TruthQuest to follow your own structures.  In this section she also gives you permission to skip sections, choose your own books, and more.  This is a tool, and a very effective one.

• The guides are set up to proceed chronologically through history.
  

• Michelle offers a very thoughtful commentary on each section in the guide, giving background and analysis that helps the parent and student understand the significance of certain events, cultural aspects, etc.  She also helps us to see the relevance of what we're reading.
• There are loads of living book recommendations as you move through the guide: non-fiction, historical fiction, biography, autobiography, etc.  Not all are in print, but many are, and of those not in print, many can be accessed through the public library's inter-library loan system.  (And again Michelle reminds us that we don't have to read every book in each section.  One may be plenty, and sometimes even that isn't necessary if it isn't available.)
• Michelle has listed 'spine' books which, while not as vibrant as the books I mentioned above, are more than adequate to learn about those sections where the other books aren't available.  (These books are not necessary to TruthQuest, but we are finding it very handy to have one of them, as our little library is scantily stocked in some areas.)
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One Thousand Gifts - Post #22

God gives only gifts.  Everything is a gift.  The gift in everything is

 the potential for a closer relationship with Him.

287.  Reflections on Grace.

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288.  The Story of the whole world.

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289.  Family, who cared for our children.

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290.  Gentle drawing out of Brown Eyed Boy 

at S & S's home.

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291.  Wonderful sessions by Mike Goheen, causing us to think, talk, refocus.

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292.  A walk at the river.

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293.  Children who love flowers.

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294.  A mysterious flock of birds (are they 'flocks' when they are in trees?) which captured our attention and imagination.

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295.  A God Who always receives me.

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296.  Taking time to play.  Making time to play.

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297.  Beauty through a lens.

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298.  Spring growth occurring overnight.

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299.  Forgiveness.

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300.  Your voice that speaks; my heart that hears.

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301.  Sins forgiven.  Reparation made.

Intrigue and Mystery

I sit at the dining table, working on my own project, while the children are out delivering My Girl's newspapers.  Half an hour of silence in the house.  A rare treat.

The thump of rapid footsteps sounds on the walkway, the gravel driveway; Little Man speeds around the corner and hurtles himself through the back door.  My heart begins to pound.

Once he is coherent, my heart slows again, as now it becomes clear that no one is hurt.  (Thank you, Jesus.)

"We saw a bike just like Daddy's on Rebecca Street!" Little Man tells the story as My Girl and Brown Eyed Boy enter the house.  "It's the same colour and even has an odometer just like Dad's.  And Dad's bike isn't in the garage!"

I slip on shoes and walk out with him.  Sure enough, the bike that Dear Man has had since we bought two identical ones on sale just after we were married isn't there.  The pounding in my heart is returning.  What now?

A few moments later I'm sitting on the front step with the little Ones I Love around me, waiting for the City Police to come and take our report of a stolen bike.  While taking our information, after having looked at my identical bike, a call comes in on his mobile phone.  He smiles and nods at us as he listens.  "We've just had a report of an abandoned bike on a residential property on Rebecca St."  Another smile.  "I'll be back shortly to see if you can identify it as yours."  

Before he leaves, I take another look behind me in the garage.  Something isn't right.  I turn to My Girl.  "Is your bike here?"  She looks at me, and her chin begins to quiver.  It's gone, too.  This one, not being nearly 20 years old, and seeing almost daily use is a bit more valued.  (Why couldn't it have been mine, Jesus?  Why hers?) 

And so we give the kind officer more information: colour, size, make, and more.  Then he leaves to see what will turn up on Rebecca.  His return a few minutes later brings a smile from us.  Definitely Daddy's bike.  What great eyes my dear ones have to have noticed it in the first place.  We wouldn't be getting it back this quickly if they hadn't seen the bike and alerted me to the vacant spot in the garage.

The officer is gone now.  I wrap my arms around My Girl, wishing I could make promises.  But I can't.  The officer has already described to us what often happens to stolen bikes, and the chances of recovering this more desirable bicycle are slim.

The rest of the day is grey, not the sky, but our hearts.  What will come of it all?  We wait to see.