I have been so encouraged lately from a few posts I've read and videos I've watched. We are in the process of learning and listening to God and how He would want us to live our lives. It has brought us through some major (but exciting)changes that I can't wait to share with you over the next few months.
I am right now, so encouraged to stand up and be the mother God created me to be, and I wanted to share what I've been encouraged by with all of you!
Sally wrote a beautiful post about giving time to each child.
"I was pondering this event–him sitting still for this long and talking and talking and talking, and suddenly it dawned on me–”He is an extravert and he needs people, activity and wants to talk and be heard.”
I have a boy just like this, I know time being heard would win and keep his heart.
Just last night, before I ever read this article, I revamped our evening routine.
We ate dinner, helped clean up, the boys picked up toys, and one of the two little ones got in the bath. (Jaiden always takes his in the morning)
While one was enjoying his bath, playing with the tub toys all to himself, the other boys went on a night walk looking at lights with their daddy. We all met with brushed teeth and pajamas in their bedroom and read a book and a Proverb. 2 fell asleep and one was so happy. He had time, time spent with dad and all was well.
It's so important. Our role in mothering. We help mold these children. We help create a family. We have this one chance with each child, not that there isn't room for mistakes, but the overall objective is to know them, to love them, and to train them. It takes a LOT of time and a huge amount of dedication. It takes self denial. The end result will prove worth it. The time you spent with them will never have been wasted time.
This video was precious to me! I'd love to watch the whole thing. I hope this encourages you today as it has me. Be blessed!
I've read that our thoughts are the very thing that choose how our life goes. If we think about bad things, lazy things,or have defeated thoughts, then that's what we reap.
If we fix our thoughts on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) Then our lives will reflect that.
We have a choice on what are thoughts are. We have a choice in choosing life:
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19
It's so easy to move through life without a thought of the blessings in our lives. It's so easy to focus on something we don't have. But that is not chosing life. It favors death.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
So, I choose to begin my week in gratitude. To fix my thoughts on these blessings He has given me. I choose life. And I'm thankful for that choice.
436. A lovely weekend spent with family and thanksgiving
437. planning for our guys' 10th birthday
438. being in a warm house on a cold and windy day
439. having a choice in LIFE
440. finding a habit and thanksgiving and life choosing
441. the elderly couple out on their morning walk
442. a big glass of orange juice
443. boys that believe the power of God
444. a warm cardigan
445. learning how wives and mother's lived in the past
Yesterday we spent a COLD and WINDY day inside decorating. But not before we went out in that weather to pick out a tree.
Keeping it simple this year we picked a small tree and decorated with stuff we had around.
Had a great helper:
A here it is, sweet and simple.
Wreaths on the doors:
You have to have a train..
A little bit of vintage love.
Then, I took some paint to these terra cotta pots and added ribbon and twine and a dried lime or cin. stick. Idea via pinterest.
Then we were all tuckered out:
We are keeping it very simple around here this year. We want a nice holiday for our boys, but not getting so much into the material and worldly ideas of it all. I hope you all have a beautiful season with you family and of course time spent with God. Enjoy!
Paper Glitter has a HUGE packet of free printables for you Thanksgiving table. I printed the "I am thankful for" page and let the boys fill it out. I think it will be fun to look back on every year.
Have you ever had one of those days when it just seems school is not going to happen? We have those more often than I'd care admit...
I do know a little boy that needs reading practice everyday. No.Matter.What. Today, we just skipped our regularly planned schedule and did a little Starfall. It was a nice and welcomed change.
He did that while his little brother read him Swiss Family Robinson...*grin*
He has come up with such simple and fun paper toys. Yes, you just print and cut them out. These have provided hours of fun for our boys!
See? it even inspired our boys to make some of thier own paper houses to go along with it.
There is also the neatest woodpecker toy I've ever seen! Easily amused I know...but really this thing is fun...because it works! You print and cut out the woodpecker, cut a straw and put it in the fold, tape, string a rubber band through, and watch the woodpecker do his thing!
Take some time to explore Joel's site. You'll love it!
Another site I just came across is properly named All for the Boys.
Filled with tons of diy projects boys will love! We had fun with making these strawplanes. They are really simple and work very well!
First we worked on measuring:
With our pb&j in hand of course...
Almost ready!
Time to race:
The boys have loved these projects while it's cold and rainy. We are trying the tiny bow and arrow next...since we now have a boy with his own swiss army knife...;)
422. a dark and cloudy morning sending hints of rain
423. knowing that the word of God never returns void (Isaiah 55:11)
424. making lists...and crossing things off the list
425. a boy working hard to save his money to buy his first Swiss Army knife
426. the same boy giving his hard earned money to his little brother so he can buy a toy
427. an open Bible
428. piled on the couch and reading with 3 boys
429. planning a vacation with friends
430. eating out with cousins on a Friday night
431. thumbing through a gift catalog....for a goat or water for Christmas
432. hearing the geese fly overhead
433. trying new recipes. all wonderful!
434. plans of making Pumpkin Cake with Orange Frosting with my boys today
435. being filled with Hope, Joy, and Peace.
I mentioned the other day that we would be purchasing a Kindle for easy options on our booklist. If you are new to Charlotte Mason then you should know now it is heavy in literature and reading "living" books. Books that don't speak down to children. The greatest example of a living book is The Holy Bible.
I saved up our extra money and purchased our Kindle touch yesterday! It has shipped, so hopefully it will be here before Thanksgiving! I get very excited about these things ha!
Now, I mentioned that a lot of the books on our list are FREE in the Amazon store. So, I will be filling that baby up!
Here is a peek at the books we will be putting on it. Most for this year, some for next year...or me.. *grin*
401. that you Father are the same yesterday, today and forever
402. a smooth weekend
403. the peace You have covered us with
404. a safe trip for my parents
405. endless hours of boys playing
406. toys scattered across the floor
407. feeling creative
408. warm cozy fires in the fireplace
409. the scent of a great smelling candle
410. laughing with our boys
411. a warm bed with clean sheets
412. the quiet after 3 little boys are asleep
413. an open Bible
414. audio books
415. Fall colors
416. finding a yellow scarf
417. starting a scripture journal
418. being lost in The Word
419. an early morning
420. healing
421. sharing thanksgiving with so many today
We have revamped our homeschooling. It was going well, but seemed a bit rushed and forced to just finish. I spoke about character study and Charlotte Mason style a while back. I have always loved her method but never fully put it into practice.
So, I took a few weeks just getting in Bible, math, reading, and writing to really explore CM and this time apply what I was learning.
We started about 2 weeks ago, and are days have been SO much nicer. The work is gentle and fun for all of us. It's a perfect fit.
We still get up and do chores first thing in the morning along with breakfast and Bible reading.
Reading and Copywork
(We dropped Explode the code, because after 2 years, my son was starting to hate it. We had already finished our first ETC book of the year, I didn't buy the next one).
*While we do this, I play our hymn and composer of the month in the background, simply saying the name of the song or composer and just listening while writing). This has added to a pleasant atmosphere to learn. Our composer study found here Our Hymn Study Found Here
We enjoyed Dear Lord Father of Mankind the last few weeks.
I have him read small books or poems and write them from memory sentence by sentence. He also copies scripture.
We are working through Delighful Reading. He is doing so much better with this approach!
Math
We have started MEP (Mathematics Enhancement Programme) free online math. I printed the year 1 lessons and we've been doing a few lessons a day. It's pretty easy for Tristin, but we do come across some things I find is good for him to work on. We still supplement with Singapore Math.
History
We have still been reading the books I had lined up for History this year.
The boys absolutely LOVE reading these books. I have him narrate back to me.
Science
We have pretty much dropped any Science curriculum. We are sticking with Nature Study and Ambleside's schedule and are stuying mammals as we go.
Grammar
I picked up English for the Thoughtful Child for a few bucks. I had a hard time deciding between that and First Language Lessons. I decided to stick as close to the CM style for now and see how we like it. A few lessons in and Tristin is doing great! We are doing it orally for now. It's gentle and simple enough for him to comprehend, but teaches a lot more than I would have imagined.
Art and Fine Arts Study and Geography
I have to admit I haven't done much at all with these. We are slowly working it back into our schedule.
Preschool
We are still working on ABC's, 123's, and shapes etc. Mostly through reading and some crafts. He is mostly learning through just living through our daily lives. We do chores, color, read, cook, and play. He is learning a lot and is happy.
This is one of my favorite videos of why I love Charlotte Mason's method so much. I do love homeschooling, but this school looks dreamy, and Fredericksburg (here in Texas) is one of my favorite places on earth! It sets a pleasant tone that inspires me in my own home.
If you are interested in reading more on the Charlotte Mason method, please stick around! I'll be posting more about what we're doing. For now, you may want to read these wonderful articles about it:
I have spent many weeks in prayer and study in The Word on what God's desire is. If I am to be one that loves God with my heart, mind, and soul, I need to know God and His desires so I know how to love Him.
Can I read His word and know His desires and then turn my back to go on and live out my own desires? I CAN, but why choose to?
You can't claim to know Him when you turn to your own desires.
1 John 2:4-6
4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
How about having a different spirit? A different spirit will be one influenced by God, not others who claim to know Him. One who is concerned in offending God, than one who is concerned others will catch him in sin. One who is afraid of grieving God's Spirit, than one who is afraid of losing friends. One who longs to do what God desires, not what the church requires.
(adapted from Gary Wilkerson)
God is showing us His desires, because we are seeking Him. We don't have all the answers, but have realized that His desires in all things look different than our own. There is freedom in knowing Him and living fully for Him.
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