The Classical Education general concept:
Great book on everything a la Classical Education- this is one amazing book! It is a wealth of information, if you want one book to help you get through your homeschooling journey- this is that book, love it.

I can't put the Charlotte Mason Companion down, there is so much good information on "The Gentle Art of Learning" also from the classical education approach. I like that it doesn't just talk about home education, but it speaks to character, and habits. I really connected with it.

Books that work for a variety of ages together (I am using them for both boys ages 4 and 6):

Amazing history for first graders, complete lessons with coloring sheets that are not tedious busy work. Each lesson is well written and the boys enjoy me reading it to them. They most of all love coloring while I read.  My 4 year old will gladly do it with us though and he loves it. They can both answer the questions at the end of the lesson very well, so I know they are both understanding it. Great book!!

We've started our Apologia science curriculum this year as well. The boys love science! We will alternate between this science curricula and our history every other day. Both of these books work well to do them together. I like the layout of this, the artwork could be improved upon a little (as they use clip art) but I am not complaining so far at all because it is a great first science book for both 4 year olds and 6 year olds.

Filled with books to read aloud to kids- and have them love. There are so many good books out there, but which ones are good enough to spend the time on?? Check out this book.

What we are using for First Grade (or what my first grader does that my 4 year old isn't ready for yet):

Book containing first and second grade grammar. Memorization of poetry, copywork and learning the parts of speech-this is a very good book!

Last but not least- MATH! I decided to go with Saxon (instead of Math-U-See which I was also interested in) and it is jackson's favourite subject he says. We chose Math 1 and it seems a little too basic sometimes but I think we are quickly gaining a little speed. I do skip if I know he can do it easy and has mastered the concept. I think it is a good way to teach math, I like that it is no nonsense and straight math- we get it done quick that way!

Kindergarten/preschool books I recommend:
For teaching the boys to read I've used this both times, it works well. My 4 year old is half way through now and doing great!

And then head to this when the kid pretty much gets the concept- they just love saying "I've read a WHOLE book!" when dad comes home

For preschool and kindergarten history I enjoyed History for Little Pilgrims, it is history from creation to present in a chronological order and even the littlest ones get it. We enjoyed this book last with both boys, easy to finish in one school year. With a general approach to history that is good in that first year when they are just learning to sit well and listen.

The next homeschooling post cover what our school day looks like!

In the meantime go ahead and share some of your favourite schoolbooks with me and  the reasons why you love them so.

Share/Save

1 Timothy 6:6+7

Does our happiness rest on what we have, what we don't have, what we could have? Does your contentment rest on the day that surrounds you or the children acting up, or not getting time to yourself? It does many times for me, or at least I think it does, but it doesn't really. To be content is a major requirement of simple living. You can't live simply if you are constantly looking for better, bigger, more- that is just the opposite of simplicity. Lets check out a couple of definitions:

Simple: free from guile-innocent, free from vanity-modest, free from ostentation or display, of humble origin or modest position. ( The Rewards of Simplicity, p. 103)
Simplify: to make more simple, to reduce the basic essentials; render less complex; make easy or easier.
Contented: [pp. of content], not desiring something more or different; satisfied. (Webster's New World Dictionary)

However today I want to talk about the only area in which you are not to be ever satisfied, or contented: your walk with Christ. We are to discipline ourselves to hunger after Christ, by removing barriers out of the way. If I am consistently satisfying my hunger with momentary world fixes, I learn to not look for or covet the real complex, eternal food that comes from being satisfied in Christ alone. In this world, the getting it now always beats the wait, even if it is for something better- something incomparably deeper, richer and lasting.

It is like eating junk at all hours of the day immediately once you feel a craving, of course you aren't hungry for the real meal later on. Or for me personally God has challenged me saying, "why do you think about feeding your body good food, quality food and then feed yourself  spiritual junk just enough to satisfy your craving for Me? You will always come up wanting, always come up full of discontent and never grow stronger until you learn to work on waiting, on patience".

My [daughter], give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways
- Proverbs 23:26

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty"

-John 6:35

So, if that is true why do I crave things? Why do I long for things I don't have- a full person, a person satisfied in Christ doesn't need the world to fill her, a daughter who allows her heart to wait on Christ does not long for more and more. However a woman who chooses junk over the real thing is malnourished and therefore always craving, always hungry-yet growing fat, struggling while reaching for sinking help and this is not just me...we are a malnourished people craving Christ so strongly but filling our bellies with nothing good.

So why won't we ever be content with what we have?? Because what we have doesn't make us content. I am convicted, and with tears in my eyes as I write this because I know I go the easiest and quickest way on a regular basis. I want to learn to not fill my craving for Christ, the Bread of Life with quick fixes: food, entertainment, shopping, web browsing, cheap thrills I want to be consistently contented, and fully satisfied.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

- Isaiah 55:2

I have never understood that this verse was speaking to just that, I love the simplicity of delighting in Him, no craving when you consume "the richest of fare".

Let's Talk:
I've had several of you share thoughts in person with me, or by email and some comments as well. Keep them coming!! I love hearing about your journeys. I thought I was only going to do these posts for a week, but God has other plans for me. I don't know for how long, but I know this one was from His heart.

I'd love to hear where you are at with this, where God has taking you or is taking you after reading it. I can't wait to hear!

A Journey in Simplicity

Starting Out
Fasting for Simplification and Re-Sensitization
The Moment of Truth
Breaking Bad Habits

Share/Save

Author Ana Menéndez strikes again with a beautifully crafted and executed work of words. The Last War is the story of the photojournalist known as Flash and her correspondent husband Brando. Flash puts her dreams, plans and desires on hold for a long time without even noticing, to  follow Brando around the world to conflict areas as a freelance photojournalist. When she lingers in Istanbul, entranced by the city and enjoying the tastes and sights of peacetime she is confronted with a mysterious letter incriminating her husband Brando in an affair. From that day her world turns a sour, she questions the validity their relationship, the truth of that letter, her husband and even herself. Could this be the one conflict her lens can't overcome?

I love Menéndez's writing, it is precise and defined, while still doted with description. It is the language of a confident author- but not overly so that she doesn't mind being vulnerable on paper. I did enjoy this novel, I love the stories of photojournalism wishing that one day I could be carried to far off places to capture moments on film in crucial times. I really felt Menéndez had familiarized herself with the life and work of a photojournalist and correspondent extremely well, so well that this novel acted as non fiction and I had to remind myself that it was not!!

If that sounds a little too dark, deep and not something you are interested in- I just have to say, it is all not what it seems. As in life our minds wander, our fears get the best of us and we sometimes begin to live as though life has crumbled from underneath us. Stunning twists and turns make The Last War just one more reason to snap up anything by Menéndez you see. It gets my award- a stellar five chicken book award, reserved only for the best of the best.

What is that clucking about?? You will just have to read it and you'll find yourself clucking about it too.

Title: The Last War
ISBN:9780061724770
Subtitle: A Novel
Author: Ana Menéndez
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Subject: General Fiction
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 256

Share/Save

The last several days have been interesting, I often walk toward the computer just out of complete habit and slide it onto my lap from the table and then back realizing I don't even know what I am doing. It reminds me of when I am working with our youngest son on not sucking his fingers (security thing he has done since 2 months old), it is a mindless, habit, just a go-to for him just as the computer is for me. The computer may not be your thing, but think about it for a second and figure out if it is food, relationships, entertainment or what fills you but leaves you lacking-what is your filler bad habit.

The first step in breaking a bad habit is to look at why you find this action so compelling. In other words, what's the payoff for doing this seemingly negative thing? Since you've already classified this as a "bad" habit you may be tempted to say there isn't one. But look closer. There is always a payoff. Let's say your bad habit is yelling at your kids. What's in it for you? You let off some steam and feel a little better for the moment. Or you have a bad habit of leaving the dishes unwashed? The payoff could be that you get to spend more time on the Internet! (Bad Choices, Bad Habits by Nancy Schimelpfening)

According to Nancy (let's just call her by her first name) there is a pay off which is why you practice the behavior, but also there is a trade off. The trade off is what you are loosing by exercising your go-to bad habit. Using the example from above, yelling at your kids, it is obvious what the trade off is: low self-esteem, guilt, shame, sadness, the tearing of bonds, anxiety, stress, and emotional pain. When you act on this bad habit, you are choosing your outburst of relief over your children's well being, and really even your own. When you break it all up like that it is pretty clear that bad habits, although habits should be broken because a new pattern needs to be established. Each time you are faced with a choice between the bad habit pay off and the trade off, and now you'll realise that it is a choice even though it is programmed a certain way you can work to break that. Wise choices are not easier, but they are wiser.

Bad habits are started up for a reason, once you understand that you can form good habits in their place- a positive go to so that you don't keep going back the the bad habit. Make an active choice, one that you can feel good about. Habits aren't bad, bad habits are bad. Instead of releasing your frustration in yelling choose to go for a run in the evening! It isn't bad to need a release, but you can choose where to channel it.

Once a different habit pattern is established the only way you'll meander back is if you are in denial about the original model of pay off and trade off mentioned above. If you find yourself justifying a bad habit go back and remind yourself of the reasons for not indulging, there are repercussions-some bigger some smaller but bad habits are labeled bad for a reason.

Just writing this and reading up on bad habits, I have almost wanted to write a list of things that I do on a regular basis and attack them all. But I need to have wisdom and in faith come at these bad habits one at a time with God's guidance.

Take Action: Jot down the habit you want to deal with, pick one to start with. Pray about it and ask God which one He'd have you work on first. Write out your list of "pay offs" and "trade offs". Remember it isn't easy to break a bad habit, there is a reason it was there in the first place. Establish a substitute good habit in its place.

Are you realising, as I am that you have bad habits that need to be broken in order to live more fully?

A Journey in Simplicity

Starting Out
Fasting for Simplification and Re-Sensitization
The Moment of Truth

Share/Save

Evaluate time and Energy:

Top Priorities: God, Family, Spiritual Growth and health, homeschooling, Church, Friends, Physical health, quality of life.

Commitments: Wife, mom, homeschooling, church, house church, house keeping, book club, reading, painting, crafting, cooking, running, gardening, animal tending, blogging

Which commitments do I value the most: Wife, mom, church, homeschooling

Account for my time: It seems very little is used for my top priorities, but I spend a lot of time thinking of how to use time for those priorities. They get neglected easier than the immediate needs- which I know are important too...but if I spent less time fiddling around, I would have no problem spending time with greater focus on my top priorities.

What I am hearing from God:

-There is no excuse good enough to loose even a day to unproductivity.
-Running in the morning (with and every-once-in-a-while evening treat run) is the way to get your day started the way it should be. Waiting around all day to run, unshowered is just not working out, plus I need that push to get up in the morning to have time with God and to myself as well before the boys get up.
-I need to get organized, my day needs to be organized. I may not know how to do that yet, but I needs to learn.
-For the rest of the year (and maybe forever) I need to use a timer for all entertainment based Internet use (including, but not limited to Facebook, twitter, blog reading, book searching, online TV streaming, you tube...). I need to figure out a  daily allowance.

What to do during this week of media fast (or other type if you so choose). Yesterday at the end of this post I mentioned three different options for a media fast this week. I didn't want to leave you in the dark though, not knowing what to do with your time, besides reading the Bible, worshiping....you know

Once you choose an option (for your media fast), use the time normally spent on electronic media doing something completely different. For example, if you normally spend two hours watching television in the evening, use those two hours to take a walk with a friend, prayer-walk your neighborhood or pick up a long abandoned hobby.

Keep track of the time you reclaim from electronic media during your fast. I am always amazed at my options when I choose not to watch TV for an hour. Sometimes it is refreshing just to bask in the quiet for a little while. (The Rewards of Simplicity, p. 55)

I'd love to hear your thoughts, your struggles, your ideas, or what God is speaking to you during this fast.