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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Great Books of the Western World
My big boxes came in the mail the other day - containing The Great Books, The Gateway to the Great Books and The Reading Plan for the Great Books - I began delving in yesterday and found out that I have already completed the first two readings so I am ahead of the game...
I am almost finished with my Alethia skirt by Lila Tueller and will start Easter dresses today. In addition, I have been reading some intriguing information about fasting and meditation-two lost spiritual disciplines in our day.
Further- I found a really neat manifestation of technology the other day - downloadable sewing patterns. My favorite Kwik Sew patterns purchased online (at a discount no less) and then able to be printed and glued together from home-how awesome is that??
Thirdly, our oldest adopted son (he is an adult) going through some rough times of his own making-I am praying that God will use these things to regenerate his heart.
Finally, Navy and Green bean soup for lunch and homemade Spaghetti and Italian bread for dinner...yum - plus the baby bucks keep coming - another goat kidded yesterday - lots of goat sausage in the future I guess!!
I am almost finished with my Alethia skirt by Lila Tueller and will start Easter dresses today. In addition, I have been reading some intriguing information about fasting and meditation-two lost spiritual disciplines in our day.
Further- I found a really neat manifestation of technology the other day - downloadable sewing patterns. My favorite Kwik Sew patterns purchased online (at a discount no less) and then able to be printed and glued together from home-how awesome is that??
Thirdly, our oldest adopted son (he is an adult) going through some rough times of his own making-I am praying that God will use these things to regenerate his heart.
Finally, Navy and Green bean soup for lunch and homemade Spaghetti and Italian bread for dinner...yum - plus the baby bucks keep coming - another goat kidded yesterday - lots of goat sausage in the future I guess!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
How do we pass on what we do not have ourselves and the first baby goats
On a recent Sunday morning our pastor was lamenting on the lack of maturity he finds in the youth of our church. Much of this is because the youth of our culture are ingrained with the notion that they must be entertained constantly, hence the tuning out on personal music devices, the large number of computer video games, TV, movies, etc... even their books must be action packed or they are deemed "boring". Gone are the days when good books were meant to teach you valuable lessons on living right and developing good character.
However, the following Sunday our Pastor taught on Exodus 34, the passage that speaks on the sins of the fathers being passed on to the third and fourth generations. Why are our youth living lives like they are? Because we taught it to them!! Our generation started the personal music craze with the walkman. We began watching long hours of TV. We despised agricultural and living off of the land for the ease of postage stamp lots in subdivisions and prepackaged/5 minute foods in the grocery store. We don't take the time to read hard books because they are, well HARD!! We don't practice the spiritual disciplines so why should be expect them from our children? We spend much of our time "working for the weekend" so we can be entertained. Our children's lack of hard work and dumbing down is the manifestation of ourselves-we must clean up our act if we want the youth to change theirs. Off my soap box for now...
On another note, the first baby goats of the season were born yesterday- 2 males. They look strong and healthy and mama doe is doing great. Pictures to come...
However, the following Sunday our Pastor taught on Exodus 34, the passage that speaks on the sins of the fathers being passed on to the third and fourth generations. Why are our youth living lives like they are? Because we taught it to them!! Our generation started the personal music craze with the walkman. We began watching long hours of TV. We despised agricultural and living off of the land for the ease of postage stamp lots in subdivisions and prepackaged/5 minute foods in the grocery store. We don't take the time to read hard books because they are, well HARD!! We don't practice the spiritual disciplines so why should be expect them from our children? We spend much of our time "working for the weekend" so we can be entertained. Our children's lack of hard work and dumbing down is the manifestation of ourselves-we must clean up our act if we want the youth to change theirs. Off my soap box for now...
On another note, the first baby goats of the season were born yesterday- 2 males. They look strong and healthy and mama doe is doing great. Pictures to come...
Spiritual Disciplines, Classical Education
So far I have read through the first Spiritual Discipline detailed by Donald Whitney in his book and have started the second. The first spiritual discipline is Intake of God's word through Bible reading, sermons, Bible memorization and meditation. I readily admit that I am not disciplined in this area. I love to listen to sermons but its easy to become very distracted at home while listening and at church while juggling little ones. I am praying that God will help me in this area as I do want to please Him.
The second discipline in Mr. Whitney's book is Prayer. I do talk to God all day long as He brings things to mind to pray about but I don't have a formal time of prayer - I am looking forward to reading the suggestions in the book on how to do better at this discipline as well.
I am also enjoying Douglas Wilson's "The Case for Classical Education." While I don't agree with all the methodology of the Classical School model (preferring the TJED model in application), his case for teaching children in a Christ based, Classical method is right on. Seeking God and His glorification must be the purpose of all education-without it, there really is no point, as glorifying God is the chief end of man. On this book's heels I have ordered, "Teaching the Trivium" by the Bluedorns which was recommended by a family at church.
Finally, a week of rest is in order here, Steve is involved in work stuff so not around much, some kids are sick, prayer and fasting regarding housing situations for me and working on compiling classical book lists, as well as sewing projects...till next time.
The second discipline in Mr. Whitney's book is Prayer. I do talk to God all day long as He brings things to mind to pray about but I don't have a formal time of prayer - I am looking forward to reading the suggestions in the book on how to do better at this discipline as well.
I am also enjoying Douglas Wilson's "The Case for Classical Education." While I don't agree with all the methodology of the Classical School model (preferring the TJED model in application), his case for teaching children in a Christ based, Classical method is right on. Seeking God and His glorification must be the purpose of all education-without it, there really is no point, as glorifying God is the chief end of man. On this book's heels I have ordered, "Teaching the Trivium" by the Bluedorns which was recommended by a family at church.
Finally, a week of rest is in order here, Steve is involved in work stuff so not around much, some kids are sick, prayer and fasting regarding housing situations for me and working on compiling classical book lists, as well as sewing projects...till next time.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Lots of sewing and reading
Time to start cranking out easter dresses. I am going to be using Jennifer Paganelli "So St. Croix" fabric for dresses for Emma, Elizabeth and Hannah and skirts for Raven and I. I am also starting an heirloom correspondence class through the Smocking Arts Guild of America. The project is a lined jumper and blouse for little girls and I will be using "Beach House" fabric by Robyn Pandolph. Robyn is one of my favorite designers - I am greatly anticipating her "Fancy Hill Farm" fabric coming out in June.
I am also excited to have received a book by Donald Whitney about spiritual disciplines - I browsed it last night and it looks excellent at first glance. More on this later as I go through it.
I am also excited to have received a book by Donald Whitney about spiritual disciplines - I browsed it last night and it looks excellent at first glance. More on this later as I go through it.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Designing our home
Well, we have shifted again in our home thoughts - we are now looking at possibly designing our own home. I sat down yesterday and designed my "dream home". Steve and I both like the look of the log/timberframe home but don't want to go that much into debt. So, we are investigating two panelized building systems here in our area. One is made with cedar, the other steel I think. Anyway, I have designed a simple barn style home - a large rectangle with three levels - the top level being completely open with a kitchen, half bath under the stairs and that's it. This way, we can have our dining area and entertainment area up there - lots of open space would make hospitality much easier as we could just move couches and add tables at will, plus we could move all of that aside and set up folding chairs to hold mentoring meetings if we wanted to. I would also have my sewing machines in that area so that when the kids are reading and playing, I can be working on those projects at the same time.
The second level contains the master bedroom and bath, 3 secondary bedrooms and 1 bath, a large office for Steve, a TJED closet and a library/music room. The house would enter into the library/music room so this would be the most formal room of the house. Our goal is for a quiet place to read. A covered porch would be right outside this room for outside enjoyment. The secondary bedrooms on this floor would house the girls.
The basement level contains 3 more bedrooms, a bath, a large keeping/storage room, a large laundry/freezer, milk processing room and an open playroom. This would be where the boys sleep.
Next week, we hope to take this plan to a few builders in this area and see if they can give us an estimate. We only want to have a builder take the house to the drywall stage and then let us finish it ourselves. This way, we can hopefully save some money and pick up some carpentry skills for both us and our kiddoes.
The second level contains the master bedroom and bath, 3 secondary bedrooms and 1 bath, a large office for Steve, a TJED closet and a library/music room. The house would enter into the library/music room so this would be the most formal room of the house. Our goal is for a quiet place to read. A covered porch would be right outside this room for outside enjoyment. The secondary bedrooms on this floor would house the girls.
The basement level contains 3 more bedrooms, a bath, a large keeping/storage room, a large laundry/freezer, milk processing room and an open playroom. This would be where the boys sleep.
Next week, we hope to take this plan to a few builders in this area and see if they can give us an estimate. We only want to have a builder take the house to the drywall stage and then let us finish it ourselves. This way, we can hopefully save some money and pick up some carpentry skills for both us and our kiddoes.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Evenings with Victoria Botkin
I attended my first online session with Victoria Botkin last night. I am very excited about having her as a mentor as God uses her to exemplify the calling in Titus 2. Unfortunately I had to leave her mentoring session a bit early to switch over to my Great Books session but since I will receive an MP3 file that I can keep on my Ipod I know I can make up what I didn't hear.
My Great Books session was very informative as well. We had a side discussion about Plato's "Crito" as well as some beginning discussions on Transformational Writing. The concept of this intrigues me and since Lucas will be taking a seminar on this in a few weeks I will look forward to seeing what skills he develops and will possibly take the class in the future.
We have a gentleman coming this morning to install a new higher speed internet system which will hopefully allow our computer to keep up with all of our online classes...
My Great Books session was very informative as well. We had a side discussion about Plato's "Crito" as well as some beginning discussions on Transformational Writing. The concept of this intrigues me and since Lucas will be taking a seminar on this in a few weeks I will look forward to seeing what skills he develops and will possibly take the class in the future.
We have a gentleman coming this morning to install a new higher speed internet system which will hopefully allow our computer to keep up with all of our online classes...
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