Beauty, Goodness and Truth

Having been inspired by Ann and Melissa Wiley I’ve come up with these, Our Rules For Beauty, Goodness and Truth:

The goal is daily to:
~Read Good books–not twaddle–this one is easy!

~Appreciate/create beauty through art (other’s and our own), music, and nature-i.e. nature walks-when we get to them!

~Engage in discourse of good ideas, think and discuss edifying & encouraging, thoughts/ideas/tpoics–this is a little harder…two uncommunicative teenagers, one 11-year old who is just not there yet, and a 1st grader and preschooler…not a lot of in-depth deep thinking going on here!

~Encounter Truth through prayer/quiet time/bible study.

And I am really trying to “let go” and allow my children to have lots of unstructured time to explore books, crafts, games, etc… This is hard for me as I am so used to creating structure for those in the family that MUST have that structure in order to live (yes, I mean the men of the family ;D).

 

Coram deo,

Lola

 

Fall visitor

Early yesterday morning as I watered my very dry potted plants I noticed a visitor to our yard: an orange and gray striped caterpillar lazily hanging out on our passion vine.  I had never seen this variety before and my interest was piqued.  However, it was Sunday morning and I needed to get myself moving to get ready for church.  Mr. Caterpillar had to wait.  He did wait until this morning; he and 5 more of his friends! Of course I called Tink and Babycakes out to see these little creatures…it is what any good homeschooling mom would do!  After our initial visit with them  I thought nothing more of Mr. Caterpillar  and his siblings until lunch time when Tink screamed,  “Mommy, come quick!  Mr. Caterpillar turned into a butterfly!!”  Of course I knew that even though Mr. C was big and fat he certainly hadn’t been ready to turn into a butterfly…the silly thing hadn’t even changed into a chrysalis yet.  So imagine my surprise when I saw this:

In all our oohing and ahhing over Mr. C we had completely missed seeing a chrysalis on an adjacent branch.  Mrs. B was just sitting there apparently having just recently emerged. More oohing and ahhing ensued.

Further investigation showed that Mr. C was still around.

But, I do believe he will be changing soon!  I’ll keep you updated.  For now here are a few more photos of our unexpected fall visitor:

Gulf Fritillary

Coram Deo,

Lola

 

Just one a month…

is all that is necessary.  Really.  Just one writing project a month. In a day and age when it seems children in brick and mortar schools are required to finish at least one writing project a WEEK the ‘one a month’ philosophy must sound like heresy.  But let me tell you…it is life changing. Freeing as it were.  Children can really get to know their topic and the result is much more engaging.  Why? How?  Because the child writes about something they care about and they spend time doing it.  The ‘it’ being learning about the topic. Living the topic. TALKING about the topic..a lot!!!  In essence the child ‘owns’ the finished product much more so than if they have to whip it out in a few days time.  There are not a lot of chances to really get to know the topic if you have hardly any time to really engage with it.  Not so when following the Bravewriter Philosophy. I know this because for the first 7 years of homeschooling I struggled with getting my children to write–everyday.   I thought to be a good writing teacher one must follow the current trend in teaching writing; that is, children must write  everyday (and create and finish new writing  projects every week) or they won’t learn to write at all.   How revolutionary it was, then, when I discovered Bravewriter.  Deep down I had always known there was a better way.  I just didn’t know what that better way was.  Then I found Julie!  Our writing has never been the same.  It has been so much better.  Less stressful more enjoyable. We do write everyday but it is with a purpose–our own purpose and it is by choice (yes, I do assign writing projects–one a month– but our writing has moved so much more beyond that).  Sometimes it is just lists of  favorite things.  Sometimes it is a spontaneous story to entertain a little sister.  Sometimes it is a full fledged report!!! Sometimes it a poem or a journal entry created just is for the FUN of writing.  I even enjoy writing; something I thought would never happen!!  For a more detailed look at the concept of one writing project a month read  Julie’s blog.  You might just find yourself embracing a whole new writing philosophy!!

Coram Deo,

Lola

 

Inspiration

I’ve been inspired lately by Anna at Pleasant View Schoolhouse.  Inspired to blog more, photograph life more, and love domesticity more…
Thank you, Anna, you are a delight.

 

Pray…

Love, Remember~Shakespeare