December Snow 2010

December 26

Traditions. Moments. Christmas.

New traditions, moments you know you've passed a landmark. No highchairs, actually documenting the cookies that Nana made. Remembering a special book, and reading it with the boys. Actually realizing the book is Ukranian, Eric's ethnic heritage. Letting it go, when the plan to do all the Jesse Tree, just right, doesn't go as planned. But knowing Christ is in their hearts, and will only more fully develop His place through the years. Blessed.

Book List 2010 in Review

So I posted a hefty list last January, of hopeful reads. I did read but only 3 books on my list.

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis made the list. (personal read)

7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Steven Covey (book club read)

Diligently Seeking God by Gary Henry (daily devotional)

Those were the only 3 on the list I can honestly say, I really read.

I tried to read Giliead... Angle of Repose. But ~ did. not. happen.

I did however, re-read & add other books of course.

The De-Valuing of America: The fight for Our Culture and Our Children, by Willliam Bennett. 1992

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. 1996

Repairing the Ruins: The Classical & Christian Challenge to Modern Education

edited by Douglas Wilson. 1996

Flight from the City by Ralph Borsodi. 1933

Flight from City, was a really, really interesting read. It is a homesteading book, which came on the heels of the crash in 1929, and referenced earlier, but similar economic crashes in our country. What you will find interesting is the similarities in the thinking of people from then & today.

I found Bennett's book an interesting discussion of his time in offices he held during Reagan's administration. I didn't realize he was a Democrat when he came to office. He however was truly one of the most conservative appointees during that administration. He mentions his 'controversial' history, but makes no bones about his dedication to morality & virtue. It is an excellent read for provoking thought in my own noble intentioned but tired mind. It is convicting in ways you wouldn't think. I highly recommend it.

Omnivore's Dillemma ~ page 486. Read.

Ruin's ~ excellent read for a parent who is baffled by the choices of homeschooling & a christian education. Numerous topics discussed, including but not limited to: 'why rhetoric, literature & apologetics' and 'why Latin'., to 'egalitarianism' & 'the Trivium applied'.
It made me think.

That's all the read's I can remember off the top of my head. This was not the year for reading fun stuff, I tried, I really gave it my best shot, but my heart was absorbed in the move, in reflective thought, the how-to's & the task at hand.

Perhaps I'll not be quite so ambitious this year, but I'm sure there will be an excellent read again. I know it's just around the corner....

I Have a Song ~

the view from Newcomb Kitchen sink... where I 'sang' many a song....

I was reminded today talking to my best friend, I didn't talk till I was about 3. It was thought I was, well, slow. Perhaps I am, on many fronts for reasons other than ability, but none-the-less, I didn't say much. My brother was a talker. Still is, and these days he has alot to say, and most of the time, it's worth a listen. But back in the day, I had to fight to get a word in edgewise.

One day when my parents were tape recording us, I spoke up, with intrepid determination,

~ 'I have a song' ~

For years, my Dad has hounded me to write that book,

for I surely won't sing it.

But if there ever was a song, it is because my parents put it there.

Their integrity of heart is demonstrated today,

by the anniversary of 50 years of marriage.

They'll shoot me if you call them or throw a last minute surprise party, I'm so immature, I'm still a little fearful to post this. But some things must be noted. If you've seen anything in this blog worthwhile, it was probably encouraged by my parents, and the steadfast encouragement of their children. Whatever you've seen in their children that stands lacking, it's been because they know the best lessons are learned through experience, not because they didn't try.....

I love my parents, but I'm not alone. I'm thankful for the many & numerous moments they have encouraged many a soul along the path of life. Their dedication to their collective & individual interests or callings have stirred in me often, a melody that can keep me humming about the most mundane of times. I can hear their prayers, I can see their affection for one another. I know their moments of challenge, but most of all I know they have a dedicated love, unsurpassed. They are not perfect - who of us is? I know their weaknesses, their quirks, but they know the dearest of each other & keep that precious to themselves. And that has been a chorus liken to the most beautiful sung by the Mormons in their tabernacle, I can play over & over in my mind.

I thank you Mom & Dad for the 50 years. I celebrate you today, while Jack plays 'Good King Wencellas' tonight, know I appreciate it, because indeed, you did put a song in my heart.

Perhaps if we weren't so 'English' but more 'Celtic' I'd sing 'my song' like this.... love you both...

Shutterfly's 'free' offer to Bloggers

Friend, when I saw this, I jumped. Then I had to postpone my effort to comment because life got in the way. But dawdle no more. Last year I had the perfect card, and alas didn't order. But this year, I'm GOING FOR IT.

Go to this link, to read more about this offer of 50 free folding cards to bloggers.

I love shutterfly. It has made many a photo need of mine ever so simple. Making it easy to share smiling faces like this one of our own boys. As you can tell by the sample cards from Shutterfly, there are numerous options to spell out the joy, so check it out!

Merry Christmas!

{this moment}

Merry and Bright

Our Christmas is bright, beautiful. Amid life, we are festive, even with sniffles, from colds & allergies. The cold weather has been amazing to us, after our season in the seasonless realm of Louisiana. We love & miss Louisiana. But here we are. In Georgia. And we are here to stay. So we continue our house hunt, & goal refining. Reading a little 'Omnivore's Dilemma' will set one to thinking.

I've found Classic Holiday on our tv options and have been enjoying tunes like this one.

May your Christmas be merry & bright.

December 1st

I was ready. December 1st has brought a welcomed relief from many things. Sickness, unseasonal warm weather, anticipation of our Jesse Tree. We actually did it. I'm so excited.

This year Ann Voskamp is offering her book as a download. I'm not sure if it's exactly the same as the published book, or more like a journal, but it includes, to my knowledge, the ornaments. Day 1~~ the reason we need Christ. Sin came into the world. We need a Savior.

December 1st brought a special 1st for me. My first red Cardinal sighting. Beautiful, just as God made him. Off to make some pinecone feeders.

If you are unfamiliar with Ann, this is one of my first encounters with the idea of counting 1000 gifts.

Lifemeds #32

#238 letting go of 'waiting to put the tree up'.

#239 star gazing with Henry on the trampoline.

#240 Jack being old enough/responsible enough to put some of the decorations up himself.

#241 a break from 'school'.

#242 God's provisions for today. Abundance.

#243 health, strength.

#244 visits with out of town friends.

#245 a day with Henry with his best buddy, Eden. and of course her Mom.

#246 him asking , 'Mom, say 'I love you', and him responding, 'I love you too'.

#247 secret jokes with the boys.

#248 my husband taking the whole day to look at houses.

#249 a stash of white beans in the pantry at the end of the month.

If you've ever thought about joining the gratitude community over at A Holy Experience, today is a great day to visit & join. It's simple, and meeting others in this world who are thankful to God for the abundance of blessings in this life is powerful. Reading what others write inspires to look more deeply into our own lifes, and find the soul medicine of grattitude.

Another 'Maybe' House

Every room has paneling, except 3 downstairs. The kitchen was re-done in 1968. As were the bathrooms. It's orginal house was built in 1840. Yeah, one might call this a 'total-gut' job, but it's got potential. The addition is the kitchen which has vaulted ceilings & a working fireplace in the 'keeping' room. The kitchen window looks out on the swing on the tree. It has a barn & pastures, and enormous bedrooms. It actually is plummed with 2 bathrooms upstairs. & 1.2 down. and some acreage not too far from civilization. Finding the balance betwen being in the city & in the country is an issue for us. We were urbanites long enough to need to get to town-- quick!

We'll see. Who knows....

I'm visiting here to get some inspiration.

Boy's and the Outdoors

Not too long ago, I received a call from an old friend who has the most precious little girl named 'Piper'. While we talked she could hear my boys running through the house, crashing into things & the consequential yelps that came with all that rushing about. My threshold for mayhem has grown. I'm a quiet mushroom type person who could sit cozied up by a fire or quietly for hours reading on a summer day. Call it laziness, or whatever, but I'm not inclined to suggest that 4 mile round-trip hike to the top of a mountain to see the waterfall. Or the tromp into the woods to just see what we can see. But your kids will make you do things you never dreamed you would.

Like let your 4 year old walk around with a red-rider bb gun. But we're training him to be safe with a benign rifle before he moves on to a .22. Does it hurt to be shot with a bb gun?(you remember, I have a brother) Sure it does, but he can't pump it past 2....

So while I was talking to Piper's mom, I was invited to go shoot army men in the yard. She was (literally) invited to go to 'twinkle land'.

(Ironically enough they neither wanted to stick their hands in the pumpkin goo. )

Lifetime meds #31 - November 1st

#230 children who wake up healthy in the morning - happy or not.

#231 that halloween is over, the candy will eventually be gone.

#232 beautiful, breathtaking leaves for fall.

#233 the cool weather.

#234 books my son wants to read for school 'The Apple and the Arrow'

#235 his spontaneous recitation of John 1:1-3 during the sermon with the minister.

#236 that the Word came

#237 that Jesus did come, He's worthy of being more than just a friend, He's worthy of our worship as King of our lives.

Dreaming with a friend

If you've never met 'Flower Patch Farmgirl' go read this post, enjoy her pictures, and laugh at her tongue & cheek antics. She's a cyber friend who has cut the edge off of many a stressful situation for me. She's an adoptive mom with the cutest kids. She's a realist. A dreamer. A writer. A 'Real' blogger. One who doesn't always sugar coat life. I always laugh when I visit her. Sometimes I cry, but I'm always glad I visited her.
Wander over to this link-- then wander on your own to your area of interest.

Vikings & Medieval History

I found a great link for the Vikings & Medieval History, that is kid friendly. This is one rough period of history & it often boils down to weaponry & fighting for boys. This site allowed us to load a boat with supplies that would meet the needs of the mission. Of course that mission involved weaponry & fighting but it did have numerous of first source references that really brought it to life. No surprise it's from the BBC. Check it out.

I've also been reading 'Repairing the Ruins- The Classical & Christian Challenge to Modern Education. ' -- 'an ordered summary of talks given at national conferences of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools.' Douglas Wilson, Author of 'Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning' is the editor of the written version of these presentations, with such speakers as Marlin Detweiler, Tom Garfield, Douglas Jones, Jim Nance, Chris Schlect, & Tom Spencer. Narratives from Douglas Wilson are also included.

So far I've read 2 in particular, one about the Grammar stage of classical education, and now I've moved into another about Logic & Rhetoric.

If you've ever wondered, thought about schooling at home, or wondered why your friends homeschool 'went to the trouble,' books like ones mentioned above are what convinced me. I also read Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise's 'The Well Trained Mind' which actually walks you through what it takes roughly talking through graduation.

Sites like the BBC come about when you are entrenched in the day-to day of it, but there are some fundamentals that convict one why 'to go to all the trouble.'

Photo credit: Viking Rune Stone

Resource for teaching Viking History: The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer Vol. II

Still waters

Ann Voskamp shared in this post, the benefits of enjoying nature. I've also been re-reading The Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, an eye-opening read about the lack of exposure to nature in children today. But it's not just exposure, it's experience. Eric mentioned to me last night, while reading from the book, how he remembered the texture of the trees he used to climb. I can also. Those kind of memories are created when your mind isn't focused on perameters or safety. When you can wander.... and not be concerned about being hit by a car.

Inspiring Destinations

Sometimes 'the park' just isn't enough. So many times places of interest & purpose are overlooked in favor of the nearest bouncy house. But that's not what I'm talking about--I'm talking about site seeing, that which might be thought too much for little guys-- not interesting enough. But often turns out to be the best quiet evening you could have thought of.

Planted by Streams lives near enough to DC to wander to beautiful places, and while looking at her pictures, I tried to think of an inspiring place near us, for a day trip.

Then I remembered visiting the old church & cemetery in Lexington. It's not the National Cathedral, but I'm impressed. I think it's beautiful, especially at sunset. The boys were truly taken with the place. We are careful to be respectful of the graves. Conveniently there is a park directly across the street with room to run. But I think they enjoyed the tour through the cemetery best.

(The cross marker is from the CSA, Confederate Army)

Just in case you didn't read the update, we did not get a contract on the house. The hunt continues.....

An offer on a House

If you've ever made an offer on a house, the waiting game can be painful. We did. and it's well, uncomfortable. It is possible we'll receive a positive response, but there we're other offers. Perhaps better than ours, perhaps not better. For now, we'll pray, go camping & just wait for the outcome. Posession or the desire of that possession can consume a person. However, it's not my right to be consumed with that. Or frustration/anger if it doesn't become ours. I am to be content in all things. So we'll camp, play games, worship, keep the kids encouraged about our dreams & what's befor us today.
Isn't the house beautiful? a 2 over 2 with a nice addition. 1840's. yep. interesting.... Enough to keep me awake at night, several nights in a row.
Update as of 10/12/2010-- our offer didn't fly. But I'm really ok with that. We're going to keep on looking! Our home will be out there!

Looking for my Starbucks next to the Scratch Feed

I pondered the differences in my former life to what is 'the new reality.' And this is what comes to mind. I remembered a day when it was normal to see a Starbucks coffee barista in my local Target Store. Friends, we've crossed over to the 'new reality.' While buying some last minute, whoops I forgot to buy Millie dog food- cans-o-chow, I saw this. Not the starbucks on aisle 4, but the scratch feed. Yes, chicken feed in my local grocery store.

If you've known me forever, you are laughing. If you've only known me a few months, you may see the irony, or you may be offended. Don't be offended. You see there is a large lot of us city-dwellers, who are very thankful to see chicken feed on aisle 4. Especially when we're not used to stopping by the feed store & the grocery.

Still no chickens for us, but working on it.

Today, I am thankful-- yes, thankful am I.

Dream House

How do I merge 'dream house' & simple living? You know you've asked yourself equally difficult questions. I found myself on my knees asking this question today.

If you zoom in on my face, you can see me in deep consternation. I only get this look about a couple of things (adoption & real estate). This picture is taken at a potential home buy for us. This property with all its details & nuances was a real find. But one must really dig deep these days. This market is really doing a deal on my thinking. Years ago, we bought, in fact we've bought 2 homes. Long and the short, we sold the last of those 2 last May. In this market. In 2 weeks. We priced to sell, didn't take a beating, but it was painful. It had been our home. A house is only a house, but once you've made some memories in it, it's a home.

I digress. So we're still looking. At least as of 21:27 Athens time. We've decided to put the breaks on and not look till the new year. Bwaaahahahhaahaaa... that's like saying 'I think I'm going to wait to breath again until New Years Eve! I wake thinking about this, think about it while we do phonics, while I'm singing, while I'm eating... I could go on. But I don't think it's just because I've watched too many episodes on HGTV. A house is a woman's place of work. I'm in a temporary homestead. So for now, I really am concentrating on school, & dinners, games & trampolines, and being grateful for our current digs. The firepit helps. Alot.

And then... I find a blog post like this, and of all places. Martha Stewart linked up 26 houses. And of course I found the ultimate renovation. A ranch re-do. I love ranches. I love farm houses, but I also love ranches that ramble, into which you can create cozy places, with ripped out vaulted ceilings. However, I want my ranch to look like this one. I think I could find a re-do house priced right. Work on the structure & then bring it up to speed as we go. But seriously, I really don't want to be house poor. Not just house poor, but stressed because of it. We've been there. We escaped. Narrowly. The math just didn't turn the numbers I knew & dear Husband knew we needed to turn a 2 over 2 1840's on acres into our home. This is the time for me to be about as money smart as possible. Being the buyer doesn't have the same feeling anymore (if you don't like it you just sell it and move...)It may be a buyers market but that buy still needs to be realistic in order to be resonsible & live simply.

photo credit: vaulted ceiling from Martha Stewart .com

'Don't Make Me Count to Three!' - Book link

This book caught my eye. I'm in a 'take no prisoners' mode right now. Again, I say this caught my eye, haven't read it, but saw it on Equip Academy's blog & thought I might have to put it on my list to read.

Book title: 'Don't Make Me Count to Three' by Ginger Plowman.

Last Child in the Woods

I've owned this book for a couple of years. I pulled it out the other day, when we found a house that might fit the bill for us. We have wondered exactly how far in the country we wanted to live. We moved, if you remember from an urban location. Moving from one lifestyle to another is a shock to the system. But reading a book like this brings it all back to mind why we did this in the first place.

Sustainability is one of the reasons we want to be in a rural/no covenant type living arrangment. Being able to do with one's property what you want is important to us. But we've also begun to realize how important 'room to run' is to kids. After watching our kids roam without perceived physical & imposed boundaries, its become far more important to us to find a place that has 'room to run.

This book is not talking about nature worship, it does not suggest the DNR Medical encyclopedia needs to develop a new syndrome (quite the opposite), it does not advocate worship of nature instead of God.

It does enlighten one to things we probably know already. What happens when the power in your house goes out, what happens when kids see a big field or a stream? Imagination & interest come alive. There's no script (unless parents or caregivers suggest it)... When pushed outside kids have an opportunity to naturally decompress from busy-ness & overload.

Our minds were not created to be able to process the overload diet we live on. Especially pre-schoolers. This is not limited to, but certainly includes tv. (lowercase letters as we'd lower-case an alternative god)

It's hard to break away. I'm in withdrawal right now. When 'everything' is 1/2 an hour away, you really gotta want it. But I'm seeing the upside to that. You really gotta want it. It forces to you to weigh out what it is, why, how, and is it really worth it. We really have played alot of games in place of finding another outlet that might be a part of the 'over-load'.

Does everyone need to move to the sticks to do this? No, but we do need to understand our need for peace that is found in nature. Louv's descriptions of our over-dose attempts to be in the outdoors bring it home that regular simple exposure & sanctuary is vital to our quality of life.

We have no shortage of enthusiasm for dirt around our house, it's just getting them out there and becoming more accustomed to becoming lost in the quiet, peace & sanctuary of God's creation.

More on this to come. But if you've ever wanted real motivation, convicting motivation to 'unplug'-- this is it. Run don't walk to Barnes & Noble, click on that prime button on Amazon, or better yet, see if your library carries this book.

BTW, I bought it, while on a kid trip to B&N in Baton Rouge. Train table, coffee, magazines, etc... But since that day, I've realized even more how little my kids need to be exposed to extreme commmercialism. I'm a junkie. And I don't want them to be junkies. I see a connection to contentment & peace here. It was a purchase I'm glad I made tho, as I have read it as a touchstone to ground me again in a world that's looking for answers in all the wrong places.

Fun at Our House

Because things have been just a little too serious around here lately....

If you we're wondering...

In a recent post over at Mt. Hope Chronicles, Heidi posted a candid letter to a 'dear friend'. It was honest. Open, so that those who might think her world was 'perfect' would realize she was just like anyone else. I often talk in lofty thought, ideals, positives, scriptures. So this is why I posted my comments about the post-office job. Something do-able hit the radar. Something even I could justify. So...

If you we're wondering, I, in all likelihood will not persue(a word I can NEVER spell correctly) a career with the postal service just now. But it ranks right up there with the kind of thing that people always wonder about homeschool mom's. Do you miss working outside the home? do you ever think you'll go back to work? did you always think you'd homeschool? You must be very patient... I could never do that.

Like most mothers, I think I've had my share of days of complete confidence in 'the plan'(my plan being to stay at home while my kids are at home & homeschool), but there are those days you'd just like to pack it up and send them to FULL TIME DAYCARE. Anywhere, but in your own care. I'd love to have a cleaning lady, I'd love to have carpets that don't resemble a locker room floor.

I'd love to decorate with the confidence that it will not get broken before the day ends.

I'd love to have a parent-teacher conference that involves more than me and my husband.

But will I? No. I'm a pretty determined little gal, this one. I've read just about every source, even those undocumented in this blog, that convicts me for now that this is the road we'll take. That of what seems to be a traditional track, and perhaps even more narrow of homeschooling.

Now I'm also a practical gal, learning along the way, that educating one's own children doesn't always look like what you've always thought. One of my dearest friends in the world seems to have a 'helper' around pretty regularly. We often shared carpool duties to activities our children shared, I trusted her judgment in those she allowed to care for her children, and didn't overthink the ramifications of them being 'out of my care'.

I'm a very deliberate person. But I'm often the one considered a little more lax in my parameters of mothering. I'm never called a 'helicopter mom' (the hovering mom) when probably I could have been a little more involved for the happiness of everyone. But it's interesting in getting to know people, what they perceive to be the reasons one homeschools.

There are numerous reasons I want to homeschool. There are many that I can rattle off in an academic style list. But probably, it's not that I'm worried about others influence, but my lack of influence if I'm less focused on them. My opportunity for influence will diminish as the years sneak away. And they aren't sneaking anymore. Jack grew 3 inches this last year. He's huge. But his mind is what is showing me, he needs me & Eric more than he's ever needed us.

Does he need others? YES. Unequivocally. But I know myself. I cannot do 2 jobs well. My focus becomes well, diminished, weakened, lessened, when I'm involved with even noble projects.

I'm just now learning this. I used to be even a little weirded out by folks who wanted to be closer to their kids. But in this world's social, academic, spiritual, etc.. climate-- my kids need me. And they need me to be full of wholesome rituals & consistency. And quite frankly those are my weaknesses. For every 'fun-day' of homeschooling, there was a painfully awkward day of poor parenting. (that's the reality of blogging... we only want to see the good stuff, that's encouraging right? (see my reference above to http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-note-to-another-friend.html & her letter to a friend )

This is why even tho it may be a small thing, to take a random few Saturday's in the post office to fullfill a lifelong dream(? I know, I know...), I can't go there. I've got too much conditioning of my heart, because he/they are watching. And God is hoping I'll focus on the time I have with them.

Focusing on one's kids is a personal thing-- I remember one time riding with my Dad when I was an adult, we parked at a convenience store & a car pulled up beside us. We noticed there were little kids in the back seat, safely buckled, a mom & a dad. As the dad got out to go in, we noticed the music was a little louder, perhaps even not my first choice for kids, but we noticed they were all together. They were a family. They were kind to one another, & had what looked like a fun evening going. My Dad commented 'how nice it was to see a family- together.'

For me, it's picking up on subtle nuances or thoughts in our family's conversation. Tonight someone said 'Holy cow' in a sentence, and Jack said innocently, 'is that like a God cow?' He wasn't being silly... you know when you're kids are being silly. He really thought holiness is something we associate with godliness & God. So do I. I don't recommend to my children to use this phrase. Holiness is too sacred, our speech is to be with care.

I can't interpret what it looks like for another's family. You may even be able to balance work/home/kids in a way that really, in truly works for you. And glorifies God to the best of one's ability. You may really have no other choice. I may be there with you, dear sister, one day. But for us, right now, it involves me devoting myself to the task at hand. I've never been good at 'part-time' work. Before too long, I'm full-time on part-time pay or usually no pay. So for now, I'll sit tight, and hope that when graduation comes (from homeschool/private school or public school), the post office is still hiring geriatrics. Cuz that's just where I'll be.

Medieval Costumes

Which would you pick? I think I'll go with the red tunic/gray skirt & yellow feather in my proper hat? I see some costumes on the horizon... I just can't help myself.