Dog Days of Summer

This is what happens when it's too hot to be outside. My daughters don't know who Cher is, but they sure know how to make their little brother look like her!

Beginning to Plan!

I'm so excited to be planning for next year! I've been re-reading The Well Trained Mind, Real Learning and A Charlotte Mason Companion. So many ideas to think about. We've been keeping up with math all summer and doing a little Mozart and Monet. Other than that it's been vacationing at the lake, VBS, entertaining company, and playing at the pool.

Most of what my first grader will be doing is a continuation of last year: finishing Spelling Workout B, Copybook III, and McGuffey's 3rd Eclectic Reader. We'll be starting Apologia's Botany book and Prima Latina. We'll also be going back and starting Story of the World all over again (we've read volumes 1-3 as read alouds because my daughters couldn't get enough!).

My pre-K/K second daughter will be reinforcing her letters, starting phonics and playing with numbers. She wants to be doing what her sister's doing, so we may even do Saxon K, though we skipped it with my oldest.

My desire to start planning is surely fueled by the current 'school supply sale' season! There's something very renewing and re-charging about bran' spankin' new markers, notebooks, and folders. A fresh start!

So I Don't Forget...

Toddzilla, my 2 year old, was getting overly involved in what the girls wanted to be a "private game." He wanted in, and was causing a little mayhem in the process. Elbow came down seeking my advice. "Why don't you include him? Ask him to be the daddy?" She ran up to give it a try.

Before she even got half way up the stairs, Toddzilla met her and suggested, "How 'bout I'm the dad?"

"Mom!" Elbow called down, "You know everything!"

Not a bad way to start the day.

Give Me That Old Time Religion

“No one living in Zion will say, ‘I am ill;’ and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.” Isaiah 33:24

“There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.” We sang those powerful words recently in the sanctuary. It’s one of my all time favorite hymn lines. Of course there’s also “Oh, let me not forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” And, “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Not to mention, “Prone to wonder, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.” But I digress…

Music has a way of moving us like nothing else. It speaks to our very souls, reminds us of times gone by, lifts our hearts and unites our voices in a hope for the future. I can remember spending hours and hours as a teenager with my earphones on, transported to another world.

But the music that moves me now -- as you can see from my abridged list of favorite lyrics -- has one thing in common. It tells the truth about me. It looks me right in the eye and says, “You’re sick, you need healing.” It talks about sin.

You don’t get that anywhere else. You only get half the story if you’re only plugging in to the world’s songs. Sure, you may feel better about yourself if you stand in front of your mirror and repeat the latest self-help slogan, but it won’t cure your sin-sick soul. It won’t do anything to change your condition.

But there is a balm. There is a cure. His name is Jesus. When he’s touched your life, spoken words of truth into your very being, you – like those in Zion – will no longer say “I am ill.” You will feel the power of his forgiveness and be transformed by his grace and truth.

He'll be the better for it?

All of my children have had the cute, well decorated nursery... until now. Poor little fourth-born, in a house all filled up. He's been living in the guest room in a pack and play. Ah, the shame of even admitting it. (Actually, he's my best sleeper yet; maybe there's something to this no nursery thing).

Here's the problem. We have guests. Two of them. For a week. Poor little fourth-born has been relegated to the laundry room. Believe me, we tried having him sleep with his 2 year old brother. They were fine - I was going crazy thinking every peep would wake the other boy up. I didn't get a wink of sleep!

Today the telephone guy came to fix our line. Baby was napping. In the laundry room. When he casually said he needed to get into the basement in a moment, I panicked. Who lets their child sleep in the laundry room? As he was outside, I grabbed the sleeping baby and re-deposited him in his brother's crib. Thankfully, big brother was having fun with our guests at a local attraction.

Sorry, little guy. Here's hoping you'll be the better for it.

The Language of Love

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” Ephesians 5:8-10.

We’ve gotten quite a bit of mileage out of Gary Chapman’s Love Languages book in our home. You might hear one of us say – both in all seriousness and in jest, depending on the situation – “I’m trying to speak your love language!” It sounds silly, but it works. Just knowing which of the five love languages your child or spouse speaks goes a long way in maintaining a happy home.

Jesus has one too. Today Paul tells us to figure out what it is: “find out what pleases the Lord.” Just in case we need some help, he gives us an abbreviated version. The Lord is pleased when our lives reflect his “goodness, righteousness, and truth” – in other words, when we live in his light.

Most of us are pretty happy trying to be the star of our own show, making sure the spotlight is not far from us. Paul says it’s all darkness until you’re in the light of the Lord. Forget the limelight; it’s about the Light of the World. Speaking the Lord’s love language means basking in his Word, allowing his Spirit to flourish within us, and letting that light so shine before others that they may see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father.

Latin Improv

Our formal Latin lessons haven't begun (we're starting Prima Latina in the Fall), but the big kids were entertaining their baby brother at dinner tonight with a made up ditty inspired by Julius Caesar:

Veni, Vidi, Vici,
Veni, Vidi, Vue.
Veni, Vidi, Vici,
I Love You!

It got really interesting when we all tried to figure out the sign language. Nothing like a quiet dinner at home...