I love the home school program we are using...it is so inspiring. Last week we focused on history. Every day we do Math, Vocabulary, Reading and Comprehension, and then weekly we focus in on subjects--science, history, geography, literature, music, and art (the last two are done every week). I cannot say which subject is my favorite so far because they all end with such beauty and spirit. I am in awe as I teach topics which the children need to know in order to understand God, of all reasons, and then we draw it together with...God! The spirit teaches them the symbolism of the lessons we have studied.
For example, at the beginning of this History lesson, I hyped the kiddos up into a tower building session. I didn't say, compete, race, challenge, or anything of the sort...I only said, "Build a tower as high as YOU can get it!" I emphasized the word "you"!
Connor immediately jumped up and said, "Mine is going to be the highest tower ever!"
He had already taught the lesson! Before anything happened, he taught us the lesson. I don't say that in cruelty, I say it in the manner of the fashion of the natural men and women we were created to be. I would have said the same thing, especially at his ripe young age when he is so ready to conquer the world yet still so impressionable to be changed by his mother's teachings!
Soon enough, the tower surely came tumbling down; immediately, the heads hung a little lower, shoulders slumped in loss, and their smiling cheeks flattened to defeated frowns.
Yes, we were teaching about "Babel"...the great civilization which lacked divine knowledge. They truly thought they would find God by building higher into the Heavens...becoming His equal. In their arrogance, they did all they could do and realized that they never really relied on The Lord for assistance, they relied on themselves, their "arm of flesh".
Pride surely comes before the Fall.
Be wise, and note that once you become "puffed up" and start the "Look what I did" rantings, you will surely be met with some kinda' fall IF you do not stop and give credit where credit is due.
Look at the BUSY week we had! The white board was simply too small at weeks end. I LOVE having our weekly concepts up so the children can look and read often. It will be imprinted, as is every image and word we have ever read. The white pages are simply used because I ran out of room...and had to be as the pioneers are, "Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!" I couldn't do without, so I found old laminated what-nots, turned them around, and voila--a giant daily concept white board on our cup-boards!
At the end of a busy school day, I had the courage to tackle rearranging the kitchen again, to fit the home school items nicely, and accessibly together for easy central access. This island is movable...and it has officially been all around the kitchen in 3 years. I love that it adds another small division to a wide open square we call our home!
There are doors on each side of this square...the east and west doors go outside, you may gladly or frantically exit with or without warning when there is or is not pending doom! I stand corrected, they are accessible to me, and you will find yourself trapped with children who will, without warning, teach you the true meaning of patience and long suffering, and I promise it will be taught quickly by them, yet learned over a period of years by YOU!
The north and south doors are for your resting needs. Be warned the south door is not accessible in day light hours...there lays a man who works most of his life away while you are sleeping.
The north three doors may scare you as well. To the left you will find that a beautiful deep red and pale vintage green with hints of yellow and black quilt is delicately placed upon a cherry wooden bed. Delicate is a term I use in regards to brushing the girl's hairs when they rise, as they are screaming, "Mom it hurts!" I will leave it to you to assume the true interpretation of delicate! Be warned, if you walk into this room, you will run into an outfit to clothe a child for every day of the week, and every meal of every day of the week, upon the floor. If you ask this child to clean up her mess, she will instantly change from a sweet little princess, to your worst enemy, and that is bad with girls; you will emotionally be invited to Lydia's daily claim, "I don't like you. You are the meanest person ever!" I'm sorry, I have no control over a teenage girl....well, she's not quite a teenager yet, though she says, quite often, "Mom, when I'm a teenager, THAT will fit me huh?" I smile at my four year old girl and say, "Yep, honey, you're almost there!" Your feet will be damaged permanently with bruises and fractures from the hard little 2 inch plastic toys. They are sturdily made for a size 7.5 foot to take a big large swipe with the , exaggerating the effort which went into the motion of "piling " the toys so they are easier to clean up in the end. It is much like the action of moving your least favorite meal around the plate; it may look like you have done an amazing job eating, when in actuality, you have done nothing at all...nothing. These hazards consist of Dwarfs, Snow White, Cinderella. and even a few of the animals that have survived the flooding from the ark. It is a miracle those poor animals have survived Maya's innate ability to lose items...I happily accept responsibility for that trait. My sister just told me last week that she admits to just walking out the front door every morning as the "routine" began--I would stomp the entire house, pulling tossing, tearing, and screaming for my keys I just had 2 hours ago when I got home from my night shift. I slept for 2 hours and could not find my keys. My husband sees this too, he just says, "Again?"
If you dare enter the room to your right, you will be hounded by two young boys, 10 and 8, who are desperate tot each you about their newest creation, where the secret hiding place is for it's flea that can mass destruct an entire town by the pull of the trigger which they have masterfully engineered from portion of this Lego set and portions of that Lego set. I once thought we would be showcasing amazing creations, but those hour long projects have been broken down to form the art of creating new and technically challenging masterpieces. I dare you to compare the thousand piece robot with six arms, each equipped for it's individual purpose, some even launching and wrapping around objects. These robots have chests that open and reveal components creepier than iron mans light thingy ma jig that recently was removed in Iron Man 3. Yes, compare that to Aiden's 10 piece motorcycle with a Lego figurine on the top. If you DARE COMPARE them, you will have a melt down. I would suggest playing the straightest face you can on your entrance into that north eastern territory...it will be the end of you if you claim a victor, for you will be taunted with phrases such as, "Daddy says my Lego's are dumb", and "I was told that I did it wrong, but I didn't...it's no like there's someone saying this is what you need to do." Add your best defense tone to those comments and you are at war with a child. I promise it will only last a few minutes, and he will hug you again, as though nothing ever happened!
Go straight into the middle door...yes straight in! Don't be afraid...it is not a dream, you are not in a horror story, and I have not played a creepy trick on you. The cat squatting on the toilet is indeed a cat that is using the toilet to defecate. And if you are lucky, you may catch him drinking the water as well!
Four doors and a box...and it is lovely on day our of every month...while we all sleep!
That is our toilet trained cat...such a funky little thins, He adores his Connor.
And this here is the new and improved Aiden. AT summers close, he decided he wanted to be Harry Potter...since he just turned 8, we decided he had every right to make this insignificant decision all for himself...it is void of serious consequences.
His hair was dyed black/deep brunette, he wore glasses for a good month, and he fashions a rob for himself. Soon enough, he was a Ninja, Iron Man, and then the night he became Indiana Jones, I had to just smile. He masters his costume making skills; while pulling out my old fishing tan brimmed cap, a jump rope for his whip, and clothes from all over his wardrobe to complete the look. Yes, that first night, he was cow tied...arms and legs together behind his back by his big brother, on Aiden's request of course. He was Super Man for his primary program, and just last week he decided he would like to do the Frodo look.
Last night he informed me that he wanted to be himself again...he was tired of the hair itching him, he wanted to see his callick again, and finally see his natural color. I cut his hair, he said it was nice to have me do it (I have never heard that), and when i was finished he was in awe. He admired himself in the mirror, as though he had seen himself for the first time. He exclaimed, "I look really good huh Mommy? Wow, you did straight lines here? (sideburns) Mommy did you always do that? Is this really my normal hair color? I love it! I love how fuzzy if feels!"
I was so happy to see MY AIDEN again after months of his superhero transformation.
It is fitting that for the Primary Program he got up there and in his silly innate behaviors said, "I am Aiden, I am a superhero, bit most importantly I am a Child of God!"
I love this little dude!
