Wise Words: September 12, 2015

Short excerpt from "You and Me Forever" by Francis and Lisa Chan:

"I read an amazing quote from our dear friend Joni Eareckson Tada. What she says transcends her own personal struggle with quadriplegia and chronic pain, and applies to every circumstance in our lives - whether painful or joyful. She said,

'I realized that the stakes were far greater, far more immense and cosmic then merely my satisfaction with a wheelchair and its unpleasant baggage. I shifted my focus onto God. His glory was at stake, and that made my satisfaction in Him (not satisfaction with 'the way things were') the real issue. It was no longer a matter of being content with His plan for my life; it was a matter of finding Him utterly and supremely the source of all contentment. This, much to my delight, would give Him the greatest glory.'

What an incredible perspective. Regardless of how satisfying your marriage is or isn't, the real issue is how satisfied you are with Him. Whether your marriage is full of joy or pain. God's glory is at stake. Do you need to shift your focus onto Him?"


Thinking on this tonight...

My Reading List: Prep for NEXT Year!

Okay, I'll admit it. I DO like to plan, make up schedules and lists, and follow a routine. After summer days, I'm always ready to get back to my regularly scheduled program!

But even for me, this is planning pretty far ahead. Those lovely ladies on the Ambleside Online forum are really rubbing off on me!

My intent for this year: to leisurely (I hope) read through all the books I expect my oldest son to read for his school work next year, while at the same time making some notes of some questions I might ask him to engage him in conversation about said books. This feels ambitious as a fairly new home educator! It may also be unnecessary, as I'm unsure how many of these books he'll be able to read on his own, and how many we'll end up reading together. My assumption is that it is best to read most of them anyways!

Without further ado, here is my reading list:

Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall (I've read some of this, but need to finish it)

Leonardo Da Vinci by Emily Hahn

Bard of Avon by Diane Stanley

The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty

Pagoo by Holling C. Holling

Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long

American Tall Tales by Adrien Soutenburg

The Heroes by Charles Kingsley

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Children of the New Forest by F. Marryat

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

The Bears of Blue River by Charles Major

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Unknown to History: Captivity of Mary of Scotland by Charlotte Yonge

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright

English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry

The Wheel on the School by Meindert De Jong

Wow - now that I've listed that all out (from the Ambleside Online Year 3 curriculum booklist), I'm feeling like I better get cracking if I expect to get all that read, especially in a year in which we are expecting a newborn to join the family!

ETA: As I read, I'll mark off the ones I finish with!

Preparing to Learn Together!

It's August 1st, the time of year when homeschooling mothers such as myself are finishing up plans for the next school year, and getting excited about diving into new adventures, meeting a host of fascinating new companions alongside our children, and just plain starting fresh after a summer breather. At least, that's how I feel!

After a year of homeschooling my oldest son, who recently turned 8, I'm getting ready to add another student. My 6 year old son will be joining the pursuit with us this year. My class size has doubled! Slightly intimidated at the thought of stretching myself between two students who depend on me for most of their learning, I am relived to have the great support of Ambleside Online for help in making my curriculum choices much more simple.

So, if you could go back and be a first or second grade student, how would a day like this sound?

9:00 - Listen to the latest adventure of the apostle Peter from the book of Acts, and then act out the story with your two siblings. Ask questions about the difference between a vision and a dream.
9:20 - Recite aloud 4 Scripture verses or passages that you work on learning from memory as a family. Take turns with your siblings begging to be the one to lead the recitation time.
9:25 - Hear a new poem from this term's poet read aloud, and then choose a favorite poem by this poet to hear again.
9:30 - Give your attention to a short yet interesting passage from your readings lately that you are to copy in your best handwriting. Something like, "To whom much is given, much is required."
9:40 - Flop on the couch and listen to a story about Paddy the Beaver, who is a lumberjack, engineer, and builder. Tell back the tale in your own words.
9:55 - While going through some actions for getting ready in the morning, practice describing in Spanish the actions you are taking by repeating phrases you've been learning. All your siblings take turns acting out brushing teeth, putting on clothes, eating breakfast.
10:05 - Sit at the kitchen table with watercolor paints and paper, and paint a scene alongside everyone else in the family. Admire your beach scene and set the painting to dry on the counter.
10:20 - Settle in to hear an episode from an adventure about a young duke, about your age, who is learning how to be a duke while still being a young boy. Set up a Lego re-enactment of today's adventure, complete with horses and carriages and swords and traitorous villains.
10:40 - Take a 15 minute break to play outside or continue playing with Legos or some other pursuit of choice.
10:55 - Create some multiplication rectangles using buttons, your manipulative of choice. Notice the patterns you see as you build the rectangles. Drill some simple multiplication facts that you've learned recently that relate to the birthday party you had over the weekend. (e.g If three families came to your birthday party on Saturday and four people came from each family, how many guests were at your party?)
11:05 - Read aloud to your mother from a book about a family that lives on a farm. Today's chapter is about a scrape the children got into and how it all turned out.
11:15 - Take a 10 minute break.
11:25 - Enjoy hearing the next part of the story of Robin Hood, when he sneaks in for a last minute rescue of one of his merry men, to keep him from being executed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Retell the story in your own words and decide to practice shooting your wooden bow and arrows later that day.
11:45 - Eat lunch. Sing a hymn you are learning with your family. Listen to your mother read the next chapter of a tale about a boy, originally destined to be a knight, but who now can't walk and must find a way to adapt to his new life.
12:45 - Work with mom to find the dates when the duke from the first story lived. Help add that name and date to the family history timeline. Also add in the name and dates of the new artist you are studying this term.
12:55 - Spend an hour in quiet play or reading or drawing or doing word finds (or insert quiet alone time activity here).
1:55 - Work on the weaving project you started last week and have been plugging away at. You're working on making coasters and place mats for your family for Christmas gifts later this year.
2:30 - Have snack with the family.
2:45 - Go outside and run and have adventures and get dirty and catch bugs and create a play acting game with your siblings and neighbors - oh, and shoot your wooden bow and arrows. Spend a good two hours just being a kid!

How does that kind of school day sound to you? Full? Yes. Interesting? I hope so! Rigorous? Hopefully just enough to fill your mind with all kinds of interesting thoughts and ideas.

These are the kinds of days we are aiming to have this coming school year. And yes, this is the ideal. The real, the ugly, and unavoidable interruptions will alter the reality of implementing this ideal, but it's worth shooting for! Maybe I'll be brave and share a real "day-in-the-life" experience in our little homeschool this fall :)

Until then, happy planning!

Settling In

So I guess blogging hasn't been a large part of my life's new routine to date!

What is, however, part of the new routine is spending oodles of time soaking in the fun of living with and learning alongside my husband and children. With great sincerity, I can say that I am thrilled with the decision that my husband and I made for me to discontinue my work outside the home so that I could fully invest in my family. So far, no regrets.

What a full summer it has been to date! Who knew it could be so rewarding to grab notebooks, take the kids outside to the backyard, each grab a leaf/flower/bug, and then sketch to our hearts content? Does anyone else get a total kick out of combining dance parties with training a 5-year-old how to vacuum the kitchen? How many women get the satisfaction of being what they used to dream about being when they grew up? I am so blessed. Truly.

I've learned a couple things in recent months. (Mental note: accelerate learning curve so that more than two things are learned in 4 months' time.)
1) I'm not very effective without a schedule and goals sitting in front of me everyday. If it's not written down, it's likely not going to get done. That's just me. I am good at wasting time if I'm not careful. Funny how the hours of the day get used up with unnecessary things if I am not intentionally filling them with the things I say are important to me. Which actually are important to me. Really. I just get lazy sometimes.
2) I have taken my husband for granted too often. Now that I'm not running quite so ragged myself, I see what a delicate balancing act he performs as he provides for our family, intentionally cultivates his relationships with myself and the kids, develops his own gifts and abilities, and serves others selflessly. I know now that husbands shoulder a bigger responsibility than us wives give them credit for sometimes, and I am humbled to see my man serving God, me, and others with a grace and sincerity that deserves my honor and respect.

So, one day at a time, I'm seeking to be faithful in the little things, have eyes that wonder joyously at the beauty around me, and at the end of the day, give unrestrained thanks to God for his mercies that are new every morning. And today I'm giving thanks for my daily schedule on the clipboard on the counter and for my husband who is hundreds of miles away and esteemed very highly in my heart.

A New Chapter

She stepped somewhat hesitatingly at first down the concrete sidewalk, glancing back at the brick building where she had spent 40 hours a week for the last 6 years. Without her laptop bag on her shoulder, she had the unsettling feeling that she was missing something. Handing over her company badge and keys had felt so odd, like being kicked out of the clubhouse. It didn’t matter that leaving was her own idea and that her co-workers pleaded with her not to go.

But after those first few faltering steps down the walkway, she gained a new focus, a new purpose and walked resolutely to the minivan that had transported her to this place every day. Excitement bubbled up inside her as she traversed the miles separating her former “career” with her new one. Upon arrival, she opened the door and announced, “I’m home – for good!”

This is my story. Today I find myself beginning a new chapter in my life’s story as a wife and mother whose focus is fully on her home.

You know those yearly school record books that your mother might have kept about you when you were growing up? “This year Sarah is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. Her favorite color is blue, her best friend is Katie, and when she grows up she wants to be a ______.” Whenever my mother asked me to fill in the blank on that last question, I recall writing one of two answers consistently each year. Teacher and Mother. Those were the two roles I wanted to play when I grew up. I had a great mom and several amazing teachers, which made me want to follow in their footsteps. Though I’ve already been both teacher and mother, now I get to jump in with both feet!

Don’t worry, I am not persuaded that all will be a bed of roses now that my husband and I have chosen for me to focus my energies on our family, our home, our ministry. In fact, I know that my days will likely become even more difficult, with more competing pressures and many new challenges to face. But the amazing thing about listening to the Spirit of God when He guides you, is knowing that the best, most rewarding, most thrilling place to be is walking in obedience to God and depending on Him. He is writing my story and He is writing yours. How humbling that he chooses to walk along side us and give purpose and adventure to our stories, as we put His kingdom first!

I long for the story that I am woven into to point to the Savior, and the character development in this character to be unmistakable. So bring on the new chapter!

Counting the cost

In my extended family, we choose to simplify Christmas gift buying for the adults by picking names out of a hat, so to speak, to figure out which family member we get to buy a gift for that year. Then each family member sends out a wish list, so that their mystery shopper has ideas of what to buy them. On Christmas Day, we have great fun guessing who bought gifts for each person. Well, a couple of years ago, I was given my brother’s name as the person to buy for. Among other items on his wish list that year, he noted that he would like a biography of a Christian “from sometime somewhere.” With those guidelines, I shopped on Amazon and found the autobiography “The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun” by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway. My brother was appreciative of the book and later told me how it shaped him in a profound way. Being the busy working mother that I was, I did not immediately borrow the book to read it for myself.

Fast forward 7 months, and that same brother got married to my lovely sister-in-law. He gifted his groomsmen, one of whom was my husband, with a copy of this book. Another 7 months later, I carved out time to add it to the pile of “to-read” books on my night stand. I am so glad that I did!

Brother Yun is a humble and “ordinary” Chinese man who was accosted by Jesus and dedicated his life to sharing Jesus with others, regardless of what personal loss he experienced. He was imprisoned, beaten, and slandered. The suffering described in the pages of this book made me not want to keep going at times. It was too hard, too raw. And yet, the stories of miraculous deliverance and divine encouragement made me want to see what else God would do through such a life, a simple life dedicated to obeying Him, no matter the cost.

What do I consider to be “suffering”? Having a stomach bug go through the whole family at once? Being snubbed by someone I love? Standing by a friend and watching her marriage crumble? My idea of suffering is pitiful compared to what many disciples of Jesus all over the world are facing today. I am ashamed, really. When my comfort becomes my god, my God cannot be my comfort.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

I am committed to deepening my dependence on God over the coming months, being ready to follow where He leads me, and planning to suffer, truly suffer, for His sake. I am trembling as I write this, because I know my faith will be tested. Oh God, help me!

Love of Books: Friend or Foe

“Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12b) Oh, Solomon, how wise you are! I enjoy reading a handful of blogs these days that encourage me as a Jesus-lover, mom, wife, friend. Even better, I love to read real books with actual paper pages. I currently have about 13 books on my night side table in various stages of completion. Since my childhood, reading has been an enjoyment and passion of mine as part of being a thinking, feeling, dreaming, living person. Fast forward to recent years in my having-three-young-children-and-juggling-full-time-work stage, I spend significantly less time reading. Thankfully one of my intentional new life habits (known to others as new year’s resolutions) was to allow myself to reawaken the part of me that reads and thinks and dreams. And yet, there are different kinds of reading, aren't there? I can read for enrichment and pleasure, and I can read to gain information. I must admit, there can be a weariness in trying to soak in all the information at my fingertips. I was recently researching a topic that I had a strong personal interest in. I was eager to read what others who have gone before me had learned. I enjoyed finding books and blogs to satisfy my curiosity and “need” for information. But all the reading also exhausted me. Have you been there? Thrilled with the excitement of the chase of knowledge, and then plummeting into the numbing depths of a knowledge overload coma. In the midst of my search for information, I had to step back for a while and just live and let God speak to me for a time. His presence and words do not exhaust me. They energize me. There comes a point when more information is not what I need. What I need is more relationship, more living, more being. Take a deep breath, and today, no matter what you read, live!