Legacy

I look into the eyes of my little Emma and see souls yet to be.

I am working on a Lift cottage meeting presentation which I hope opens discussion about family traditions and family legacy. My goal is to help others (and myself) better create or build on traditions and legacy in our homes. This whole topic was inspired by a lesson I am giving in church tomorrow. I have been moved by the idea of consciously planning for the traditions of my great grand children's children. (Am I a control freak or what?!) Just think about it - what kind of legacy am I leaving them? Can I instill in my own children the values and virtues which will manifest immovable convictions throughout future posterity? What convictions will those be?

If you plan to plant a tree, it is not for yourself but for future generations to enjoy the shade. Whether my great great grandchildren are born yet or not they are still a part of my family and I am a part of theirs. So, I endeavor to put them into my thoughts and plans.

One of those days...

I had one of those days. You know the kind - pull your hair out or throw in the towel kind of days - the type of day that can't be described without a cliche. Yes, I had one of those kind of days.

I wish I knew the perfect formula to avoid days like this but I don't. All I can do is pray and persevere. God loves mothers - that's why he made chocolate and bubble baths. So, tonight before I slip under the covers I extend a hug to all those who had a bad hair day.

Divine Nature

I spent my childhood in this grove of trees, building castles in their branches. I spent my childhood pulling off these floral bells (Lungwort for those interested in pretty treasures) and sucking on the sweet nectar inside.

A few weeks ago I was able to visit the homestead and take my children to the places I reverence most of all. I gave Tansy the camera and let her explore. She brought me back these sacred images.

Nature was a big part of my growing up. I spent most of my free time in the woodland which surrounded my home. These little spots are the places I dreamed and schemed - prayed and played. I would hunt for wild strawberry and raspberry. I fell in love with the lungwort, (although to me they were 'sweet bell') meadow rue, yarrow and golden rod.

I recall the first time the cool shade of Poplar and Pine lured me away from the yard. I was young, perhaps 9 or 10 and I thought the woods which cradled our small acreage were a vast forest of mystery (in actuality it was maybe 5 acres). Concerned I'd become lost, I didn't venture too far under the canopy - always sure I could see the house. However, with each visit I was tempted farther and further in until I thought nothing of home and everything of rich moss, shy mushroom and patches of light streaming through thick green branches. No child should live without exploring this magical realm. I do not often recall feeling as true to joy than during those explorations.

My parents are selling the acreage and moving closer to us. I am excited for the chance to have them near but I cringe at the thought of not being able to visit this brush I know and love so well. I cringe doubly so at the thought of not being able to share with my children this particular part of nature year after year.

But I was able to show them a little - and I hope that was enough to awaken a love for the 'wild'. I hope that they sensed within themselves something akin to the beauties around them - that they too have natures divine.

Birthday Bash Part 1

Tristan turned 10 this year! 10! What is happening to my babies? I wake up and they've grown. Did I miss something?

Anyway, I digress, he decided to read The Wizard of Oz and use it as his birthday theme (He told me the book is much much better than the movie). So we drew a few of his favorite life-size characters and hung them on the wall. This is what the witch really looks like by the way.

The children were asked to come as their favorite Oz personality and they really got into it!

Here representing the 'Lollipop Guild' is a most adorable munchkin!

Dorothy came with Toto in her basket.

We can't forget the charming Tin Man

or the Wizard behind the curtain.

Happy Birthday my son. Try not to grow too fast, it's hard to keep up.

Little Farmer

"Taxation is very much like dairy farming. The task is to extract the maximum amount of milk with the minimum amount of moo. And I'm afraid to say, that these days, all I'm getting is moo."

Terry Pratchett

Swan Lake Recital

Several Saturdays ago it snowed and for some reason I banned our computer (I was probably writing something and needed complete privacy and quiet). The children disappeared for a time to the far corners of the basement. There they let the seeds of imagination and invention sprout until they had choreographed their own rendition of Swan Lake.

I was invited and sold a ticket. Emma and I sat in the audience of dolls and stuffed animals.

Spring outing

There are days that must be spent out of doors. Yesterday was just one of those days. The children and I packed our nature journals and explored the backroads of our growing town until we ended up at a little park.

We saw Pelicans - which I have never in my life seen before. We watched them circle above us in perfect formation. The graceful sky gliding dance pretty much made my day.

Liam is seven and so I know better than to question why he does what he does. It makes complete sense in his mind and that is good enough for me. So I did not make any comment when he decided to wear his long johns under his shorts. Nor did I inquire how he managed to lose his shorts in the lake. If I were to guess I would have to say he lost his shorts in the lake so that he could have an excuse to take off his shoes and wade in the frigid waters. Good thing he wore his long johns though.

While Liam was up to his knees in muck, Tansy wandered away with my camera. She took pictures of trees, shells, duck prints, gofer holes, geese and pretty much anything that charmed her curiosity.

Days like this keep me sane. Days like this remind me how truly blessed I am to be able to have most my children at home with me. (I wish Tristan could have shared in our outing. We miss him while he is in public school). Thank you Father for days like this.

Dear Shawna: Math

Shawna is our home school facilitator and we use our blog as a means of letting her know what we are doing with our education. These posts could be used as possible reference for other home schoolers (not that I am someone of reference but perhaps what works for us might work for someone else - you never know). So, with no further ado...

Dear Shawna,
Liam and Tansy are using the worksheets from math-drills.com.


Tansy is working daily on her multiplication and long division. The goal is to make sure she is proficient in the basics before we move on to algebra.


Liam has a firm understanding of the concept (he adds in his head and uses his fingers one and two digit numbers). We have never really sat him down for any formal math study. He has picked up his knowledge through play and perhaps observation. Any worksheets he does is a form of play now. He enjoys to do what we call 'window math'.


http://www.math-drills.com/addition/add_horiz_one-digit_001.pdf



http://www.math-drills.com/multiplication/mult030236_001.pdf


http://www.math-drills.com/division/div0301nr_003.pdf




Most of Tansy's work is done using waterproof markers on the windows in the kitchen. We call this 'window math'. This is one way we excite the children to do some figures.

Little Red Ridinghood

Spring must be coming because I have been hunting flickr and etsy hungry for project ideas. I have found a few things I'd like to make (and a few things I'd like to save up my pennies for). This is my first attempt at what is called a 'creative Kokeshi doll'. Really, I think it is a great little toy for Emma to slobber on.

Little Red Ridinghood wasn't eaten by the big bad wolf but she isn't so lucky when it comes to the big bad baby.

I know, I know this is really a shameless attempt at showing off more Emma pictures. I can't help myself. But painting this little wooden doll was super fun. I can't go too long without creating something.

Joy

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."

Guillaume Apollinaire