Wonderful History

As the children work on their Moses coloring I sit here and am reminded how truly blessed I am to be able to teach my children in the way that God has led me. We're learning about the Ancients this year. We're on Egypt right now and I love that I'm able to teach them the TRUTH. Our books are: the Story of the World, D'Aulaires book of Greek Myths, and A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne (with some additional picture books thrown in every now and then). Now, I can imagine how confusing and twisted these books could get in a school setting. (Actually, we all know that they would not even be used at grades k and 2.) But my kids are eating them up! They are fascinated with the Egyptians and learning the actual places spoken of so much in the Bible. They love learning about the Greek gods and the heroes of Greek mythology. Yet, they know also that these are myths, fairy-tales if you will. I am with them step by step to guide them in what's real and what's made up. There is no confusion on their part and actually I sense them tiring of me telling them that some things are false. They have that, "Mom, we know that!" look on their faces. At least I know we're doing something right!

Thank you, Lord that I can teach my children the history of the world from a Biblical and truthful perspective. What a joy and blessing I've been given. May I always take my responsibility seriously to guide my children in Your ways and truths.

Snow in MS!

Wow! What a wonderful treat! Last Friday we had over 4 inches of snow. Now, I've lived in Mississippi for a long time (o.k. most of my life) and I've never seen this much snow before. The kids played out in it for most of the day and I realized how much washing the mom's up north must do on a regular basis. We went through at least 3 pairs of clothes each kid on Friday. That's 9 outfits! Then we played in it some more on Sat! I'm still trying to catch up on my washing! But it was wonderful! Here are some pictures. I hope you enjoy!

CM education in the Bible?

I love it when the Bible teaches me something new. Isn't it glorious that each time we read it, God can lay something special and specific on our hearts? This weekend He reinforced the method of homeschooling that He's led me too, Charlotte Mason.

My husband teaches a college SS class at our church. On Sat. night we were reviewing the lesson and something amazing struck me. The passages are found in Mark 12:28-34. Earlier in this chapter the Sadducees and the Herodians and the Pharisees had been trying to trap Jesus by asking questions that, no matter how He answered would make some people mad enough to want Him dead. Of course, Jesus answered perfectly "and they were amazed at Him".

Verse 28 picks up with one of the scribes who had an honest question and was really wanting to know the answer. He asked Jesus "what commandment is the foremost of all?" (Mark 12:28) Jesus answered him in verses 29-31 stating that "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "

Here comes the lesson: look at verses 32-34. In these verses the scribe narrates back to Jesus exactly what He just spoke and even added in some of his own interpretation to prove that he thoroughly understood the Lord's words when he said, "...is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."


Notice Jesus' response, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." Wow! Even Jesus taught this way. It struck me immediately that that was what Miss Mason says about narration. If we're able to repeat the passage, story, or lesson back and add some interpretation of our own, then we've truly mastered the content.

I am so pleased with the way in which God has guided me in our homeschool. He continues to show me daily where I need to pick up the pace, slow down, or switch all together. Daily I thank Him for this gift that he's given me, the gift of my children and the ability to teach them in His ways to the best of my knowledge.

Jill

The Moon-new memory work

The Moon

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall:

She shines on thieves on the garden wall,

On streets and fields and harbor quays,

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,

The howling dog and the door of the house,

The bat that lies in the bed at noon,

All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day

Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;

And flowers and children close their eyes

Till up in the morning the sun shall rise.

Robert Louis Stevenson