Winter Walk

What we're reading...

The family is reading.....This has been a favorite book for the boys. They beg me for just one more chapter. I read two of the books and am ready for a change, we're on to Little House next.


I'm reading....



I'm still picking through this book, trying to get a grasp of what I can apply to our little family. I like the concept of helping my kids to have self confidence about the decisions they're making now so that as they grow older they'll trust our advice (maybe sometimes?) and better yet, be able to listen to the instincts they have.


I just picked this up today. It was highly recommended by a dear friend, Susie. I'm anxious to read it but determined to finish Edgar Sawtelle's story first.


I love novels about people. This story is somewhat of a tragedy so far, but it's drawn me in and I look forward to seeing the outcome.


Joey's reading....



These books are awesome for world history and captivate him. He reads and re-reads the books.


A new discovery for Joey, and I have read a few these books are clean and most certainly have some great little mysteries. Each chapter has a story full of clues to the mystery at hand. Flip to the end of the book to learn just how Encyclopedia solves the problem.

Winter Walk II

Classical Conversations Endorsement

Our Classical Convesations School 2009-2010


This year was the beginning of our Classical Conversations journey. If you have a chapter near you, and it's quite possible you do, maybe you're thinking of checking it out. If so, head on over to the Classical Conversations website and check out why we love it so much, and can't imagine life without it.

So I'll share with you a bit of what we've learned about Classical Conversations....a bit of what it looks like in our weeks and days.

First off, my boys are younger (4, 6 & 8) so we aren't yet doing Essentials or Challenge, just Foundations.

Foundations is a curriculum, but it's different than anything I've ever done. Each week we memorize a fact or statement for Math, Bible, English, Latin, History, Geography, Science, and 8 points on the time line. We also get in on hands on science experiments and art projects/music. Each child also gets to present something each week to their own class. This is one of my favorite parts of CC, my kids are so comfortable speaking to a group now. Then we go home and practice all of this memorization in addition to the Language Arts and Math curriculum that you do independently, as well as any other subjects you care to do. The following week the kids come back and learn new memory work & review what they've learned.

In the Essentials program (4th-8th grade, I think) the kids stay later in the afternoon and learn more about writing, breaking down parts of speech and the English Language. Now that sounds pretty simple but it's seems to be very, very challenging for the kids who are doing that class. We'll be learning more about this in a year or two. I can't yet tell you about how the Challenge program works. We're too far from that to have seen it in action.

So I guess you could say it's supplemental to the basics (math and reading) that you already do. Some moms piggyback lessons on what we're learning at CC....if in science we're studying volcanoes you can study them at home or online, etc. Our family follows History and our time line with The Story of the World.''

Some links to some other bloggin' mamas descriptions to Classical Conversations;
The Ten O'clock Scholar
Pages of Our Life
Home is Where You Start From


If you're thinking of a homeschool program, looking for some curriculum, excellent Christian education, an irreplacable support group, let me encourage you to check out Classical Conversations.

*I'll be posting soon on "Why Memorization?"

winter sunset

True Love

Lady-In-Waiting

This post is partly in response to my bloggy friend Amy's post, "What I learned this season." I'd love for you to share too, what you're learning. It's rich stuff.

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

I am a lady in waiting. Come to think of it, I don't think I know of any of my friends that aren't.

Waiting for babies
waiting for a home
waiting for a job
waiting for a husband
waiting for peace
waiting....

I've never been much for waiting. But I look back over the last 20 years of my life and I see that I've been doing just that. Waiting.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Not surprisingly, when I look back I also see that it's in the waiting that I've grown. Well, waiting and in pain & grief. (I'll take waiting anyday) And in the waiting, I turn to God over and over because I know He holds the future in his hand.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20

....and I want to lean into God. I want to be seeking manna from God every day. He's asked that I hang close to Him. When I'm waiting, it's easy to stay close to God, waiting with expectation for what He's got up His sleeve.

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

So I'm going to keep waiting, & do so hoping in God. You wouldn't believe how much crazy peace I have after I spend the morning with Him. I say crazy peace, I don't think I should have any peace at all, but God gives that to me. Have you experienced that? The real 'peace that passes understanding?' The waiting part hurts, a little for me. I'm up and down, sometimes trusting and in peace and sometimes feeling nervous and wanting to try and take control by worrying it to death, but I'm finding that more and more the hoping in Him wins out because the peace, it's like a light hearted-ness that I don't even have when life is....unwaiting.

I'm 35. Halfway to 70. If I'm learning it a little more now, then maybe when I'm 70 I can just sit back and wait with a big grin on my wrinkly face and wait with the fullest expectation, all the years of answers behind me.

And this is my new favorite scripture, I can't get it out of my head;
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.

So I hope this encourages you if you're waiting. Waiting for enough cash to pay the bills, for wisdom in parenting that tricky child, for knowing just how to comfort a friend, or for the answers of what to do next. Whatever your waiting for, I hope you can hope in God...and remember that He is mighty to save. He delights in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing...

If that's not enough to keep you going give me a call or drop a line because I want to be praying for your wait.

Spring....

I'm waiting for you....

Puppy Love

Oh, and we do love this big 'ol doggy.