Some Fun Summer Read Alouds - June

Georgia seems to have an amazing library system. As I understand if I have a request for a special book, say one on a homeschool reading list that may not regularly be shelved on my local branch, I can request it from ANY branch in the state. Really. The on-line services for my new card are excellent, well done & easy to use. Tools for any avid reader.

Our most recent visit to the library was our smaller local branch. I re-fell in love with the library. It is small but not tiny. Book selection was amazing in the kids department. The librarian brought back memories when the librarians were happy to help you, and were not frustrated by the number of people only there to use the internet.

A book recently mentioned to me by fellow Tae Kwon Do mom spurred me on to collect a pile of books that we could read together during the hot days of June. A Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease is an excellent resource for parents & teachers, with an amazing amount of research regarding the impact of reading aloud. I had bought this just before we moved & I dug through everybox I hadn't opened yet to find it. Laura (TKD Mom) said it was a MUST READ. & I think she's right. He has an informative website with articles that he mentions in the book. His research is extensive, (not like my 6th grade reading report on horses.) His main focus seems to me to provide inspiration for the lifelong love of reading. He doesn't negate phonics or providing the tools, but has the handle on necessity to inspire by exposure & immersion in reading.

His stories about helping communities who lack resources will get your juices stirring if your looking for ways to give back.

So what did we pick out after becoming more motivated to read aloud? Books on creatures & outdoors seemed to be the theme, and sounds in the night.

I take literally the instructions to read books that appeal to me ('if it doesn't appeal to you do you really think it will appeal to them?) and consider also that boys like wild rough and tumble books too( not all wildflowers and butterflies.) I also realize they don't need endoctrination or an education in coming up with 'icky' stuff on their own. I don't buy or check out disgusting books. Ever.

So here's some fun fiction story books. We loved them all.

My Truck is Stuck (excellent & fun predictability) (thanks Leslie)

Two Bad Ants (amazing illustrations & real life ant-action)

Alan Lee, Leave that Cricket Be!(follows our Ancient History exposure theme as well, and is helping the kids understand why you can't keep bugs in jars overnight)

The House in the Night(amazing illustrations, poetic, beautiful)

Stellaluna(classic, informative for us as we have bats around our house, by author of Verdi, one of our favorites)

The Snail House (just looked to sweet to pass up)

EEK! CREAK! SNICKER! SNEAK! (boys, noises, icky characters, hillarious)

Big Day on the River(librarian's selection for story time, very cute)

Me First(we just need this book sometimes, and the illustrations are sooo cute)

The Book of Dragons(numerous ancient stories & some good classic stories, some intensity tho)

I'm sure we'll find some more before the summer's over.

Our regular read-aloud besides Bible reading is The Year at Maple Hill Farm.

Can't wait to see what July brings in the way of books.

What books have you enjoyed with kids this summer?

Why I love my husband... Lifetime Meds #28

Even after fussing at each other all the way to church on Father's Day... I still think he's the best Dad in the world.

He takes the kids on adventures I might not otherwise.

My husband poses like this in his office, when he takes us for a tour.

He puts the tub toys back in order, with style. He also poses action figures all over the house for the kids to find.

He orders the kids movies like 'Little Rascals' 'Sinbad' & '3 Stooges' that I would never buy.

He's not 'a big kid' or a 'kid at heart'. He just wants the kids to be happy, have a laugh, & enjoy life's experiences. He's one great Dad, rolling with life's punches, enjoying each day.

So thankful am I. Even if we drive eachother crazy along the way. Happy Father's Day, Babe. I am proud of and grateful for you.

#187-#190 One Thousand Gifts, Counting with others at A Holy Experience.

Reverence - Lifetime Meds #27

Teaching kids to pray... hmmm. Right now, Henry has the motions down, but our content is really, mmm, questionable. 'Thankyou God for Godzilla, & Scooby Doo, and let us go to the big pool tomorrow that's really deep, AAAAmen." And there you have it. And during someone else praying... he's praying, sort of speaking in 'Henry tongues'. A prayer unto itself, loudly enough so that he can't hear you say, 'it's not your turn to pray.' This kid will not be denied....

Enter our discussion about reverence. We've been struggling with alot of changes, so we're playing alot of catch up on alot of different issues. Currently, reverence in prayer & chain of command are the 2 biggies.

Praying what's on your heart is one thing, but the silly stuff just doesn't cut it. Afterall, we're talking to the Creator of the Universe, and even tho this is Abba FAther, there are still issues of what's appropriate & courtesy, and it is my job to teach it. Canned prayers are not what I'm suggesting, but respect during someone else praying or using it for a platform for power & control. Not going to happen.

I don't worry about my children's faith in God. God is big, bigger than I can ever describe Him, but my confidence & seriousness about Who He Is speaks volumes. Am I serious, respectful, but trusting enough to even laugh when I'm happy & thankful? Do I share my joy over good times to my Father in Heaven, who I believe watches me while I do whatever my hand finds to do? Do I stop the tears just because I may not be able to speak the words if I cry?

Perceiving the difference-- is my prayer & request to God just now. Wisdom to parent well. Not perfectly, but well.

Reverently thankful to the Giver of all for:

#177 Rivers in which to play, with slippery rocks & breathtaking views

#178 Brave children

#179 Strong Husband

#180 time to enjoy it

#181 health to carry me through the day

#182 worship & fellowship with believers in Christ

#183 God's strength to carry me through during transition

#184 Christ who redeemed me and made me presentable before God

#185 Opportunity & a bright future

#186 a lesson today on Psalm 1 & Psalm 15

Join me with others at A Holy Experience in thanksgiving for One Thousand Gifts.

I call it my Lifetime Meds, (dose #27)

Be blessed, friend. ('blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly... but who meditates on the Word of God day & night... he will be like the tree who is planted by the waters.' Psalm 1 loosely paraphrased)

School & Summer

This fall Jack will attend a program (1 day a week) that will focus it's activities on one particular time period. This year the students will focus on the Medieval period, so this summer we're enjoying a little catch-me-up on Ancient History. We've been using Victor Journey through The Bible to guide our Bible study, and are utilizing fun books like The Magic Tree House (Pompeii) to stimulate our mental time-line's so he's got a handle on 'what came first' & a little bit of the why. It has become extremely interesting to me to consider that Ancient people had a perspective highly influenced by the Flood rather than the appearance & life of Christ. Consider how that would change one's outlook on God.

He has also been participating in Tae Kwon Do training, with a group of other homeschool kids. And I would have to say this has been a great thing for us. I have met several other moms & Jack has begun to learn a skill, in a healthy group setting. The instructors of the school take their influence in the program very seriously. This is a martial arts school afterall. They are not 'buddies' they are called by their surnames. (Mrs.& Mr.) The tenets of the program include character elements I can stand by, and hope that he will embody. Courtesy is the first level, which is a great foundation for teaching a potentially dangerous skill. In conjunction with this new element of our activities, we found ourselves going to see the new movie 'Karate Kid', with Jayden Smith & Jackie Chan. (Wow... haven't seen a 'rocky' style movie in a while that I allowed myself to get totally sucked into!) It's rating is there for a reason. There are themes that young children will not be able to digest, and the martial arts is what it is. The bullying factor has in its arsenal potentially fatal moves. But, the message is positive. The good guy just doesn't win, but he doesn't quit, he conquers his fear, he chooses to embrace the art learning from a teacher that teaches self-control, not the control & dominance of others.

It's not a perfect movie, there is a scene including an adult allowing themselves to wallow in pain while intoxicated, to be pulled out of the moment by a young child. Really? The child stumbled into it(he wasn't supposed to train that day), but it was a really tough scene to explain. I didn't shy away from this, but its a tough one to explain while you're waiting for the championship match(in a quiet theatre). In my opinion it is a very telling unintentional commentary on our society. Our kids are called on to handle so much more than they should. Even if its their own parents caving into going to see a movie way over their head, just so they can see the 'Karate Kid'. Guilty as charged.

So we've seen the Karate Kid. And what to do now. Just like approaching the idols in Canaan, we'll talk about beliefs that influence the country of China, & read some fables & folk tales.

We read Lon Po Po, the chinese version of the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

We also read the The Funny Little Woman (Japanene) who wound up meeting with the Spirits after she followed rice dumpling down a cavern in her floor. Yeah, you heard me. It reminded me of the book One Grain of Rice, a mathematical folktale, with a precious moral of generosity.

But this is ancient history. Realizing there were other cultures besides the Children of Israel, and their lives were meaningful & full of culture & influence is important especially considering the activities like Tae Kwon Do which lean heavily upon them.

One added blessing of being a part of the TKD school, is the summer camps offered. One of the homeschool Mom's who has children enrolled has added an additional feature to the camps by reading a series called The Five Ancestors written by Jeff Stone. These feature different characters & a unique moral dilemma. On top of the related skills activities about the culture related to the book will be included. Jack will be participating in the week of The Crane. I can't wait!

We are working on some outside activities although our hopes are still to build our homestead with chickens & maybe even horses. Things that will probably keep us at home more than we are now. But just having moved, we need to connect with the outside & meet people. Build our infrastructure. So that's what we'll do for now. The garden grows, the baby birds keep us busy(regularly falling out of their nest), and until we get back from Florida visiting Poppa, we'll wait on the chickens. Till then, I'm headed to our local Farmer's Market to get some summer produce.

On my errands today...

saw these delightful places. Looks like a great start to the weekend to me. Hope you enjoy yours.

Raw Milk & My Rights to Drink It

Land of the free-- home of the brave... this is where I get annoyed at our great country. Food issues. Perhaps I'm channeling my great Uncles who were dairy farmers in Springfield but this urks me.

I was reading a New Life on a Homestead about a recent case in Springfield, MO, about a family undergoing legal battles regarding selling fresh, left-over pre-ordered raw milk in a parking lot. Go here(article above) and here to read more.

Kendra I believe captures it when she quotes the powers that be in regard to this. 'There is no fundamental right to consume the food of one's choice...' Kendra found this is from the Food and Drug Administration, regarding the consumption of raw milk. I can't weigh in personally on raw milk, but as a Buy Local supporter, this bothers me. Alot.

After watching, Food Inc. which is a documentary about the food industry & it's hold on people in our country, I began to see how vital regulation is to the big industry. If people (like me) are willing to eat what is in a twinkie/zinger/coke/cheerios, we need 'big brother' to watch over our feeble minds, especially involving the consumption of foods like meat(see the movie regarding a particular piece of legislation regarding meat). But isn't that the point? If we are supporting local food, which is beneficial for so many healthier reasons, we won't need either of these. The twinkies or the administration that deems them healthy. These folks with their raw milk are not feeble minded. And they are selling to a group of individuals that have taken responsibility for their food choices & I'm sure their way of life. As it stands now, they are facing up to 180 days in jail for this infraction. For being practical. Resourceful. And actually teaching their kids through a family business how to be responsible contributors to their community. Seems like there are better things to do with taxpayer dollars than bother these folks.

You can your support & donate at Facebook.

If you want to read more about another independent free-thinking farmer, read about Joel Salatin in this article at Mother Earth News titled 'Everything He Wants to Do is Illegal.' These farmers need our support if we want options in our food choices. Find your local CSA or farmer's market perhaps listed here. Vote with your dollar.

Stand by Your Man

This is a repost, but thought it was worth sharing. I added a couple of resource links.

Go here to read 'Stand by Your Man'.

Be blessed today Walking with Him.