Something called a "Book of Centuries" has piqued my interest as a homeschooler. It's Charlotte Mason's version of the "timeline" often encountered in classical education methods. Although some like to have students memorize songs or poems containing dates and facts, I prefer to make a note of historical events as we study them through literature. The main hangup, obviously, is that no wall is big enough for a timeline starting at 4000 BC and ending in the present!
The Book of Centuries is an ideal, charming way to record dates without having to stretch out a line over all of history. It's exactly what its name says: a book that covers history, century by century. I have seen variations, from free sheets that can be printed and stored in a three-ring binder, to hardbound, stately volumes organized by centuries, each year within squared off. My desire was for something lasting, that each child could keep throughout her school career, making notes whenever she encounters a date worth recording. I loved the idea of the hardback book, but purchasing one would be too pricey for this thrifty mom. I decided to combine both ideas and make my own!
I found three blank art sketch books at Michael's (one for each child, one for me!). I enlisted the help of my husband, and together we wrote the dates for each century, starting with 4000 BC to 3901 BC, all the way to 2001 to 2100 AD (because this is our century). In the middle, 100 BC to 1 BC meets 1 to 100 AD. Notice in the photo that each century is allowed two pages. The first page is for the first half of the century, and the second half goes on the second page. I'm teaching my girls to write dates in order, leaving space in order to have room for future notes they will make. So far, we've been jotting down simple sentences, but students can draw pictures, or even glue printed photos of famous people or events. On the blank pages that are left over, we will probably write sentences and paragraphs and do illustrations about historical events. I think this Book of Centuries will be a wonderful way to keep Bible history straight, too; we know the stories, but give little thought to when most of them happened. I'm enjoying keeping my own Book of Centuries, and encourage anyone to do this, not just homeschoolers.
A while back, I wrote about David McCullough's book, The Johnstown Flood. Our family visited Johnstown a few weeks ago, and made a trip to the Flood Museum. I saw this little chapter book in the gift shop, and knew it had to be a part of our library. Marden Dahlstedt's grandparents survived the 1889 flood, and the lives of the fictional characters in this book are based on those of actual flood victims. The story begins right before the flood, and takes readers through the harrowing hours and days after. We began reading The Terrible Wave during the car ride back home from Pennsylvania, and this story keeps the attention of young people and adults alike. Look on the Internet for a copy, and enjoy a read-aloud with your family. You will have an adequate knowledge of the Johnstown Flood by the book's end.
In all transparency, some things have been rough for me lately. We aren't born just "trusting God," and neither is this a saying that can be thrown around lightly. When we're commanded in Psalm 27 to "Wait patiently on the Lord; be of courage and He will strengthen your heart," this isn't for the weak. Heart-strengthening is painful, and waiting can seem endless. Someone wise told me last week that when the enemy's tactics move from covert to overt, then the enemy is losing ground. That's something to hold on to!
A few nights ago, I was under extreme attack. A while later, I went into my closet and told the Lord I was frustrated. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit that reminded me that my frustration and fear came from not being able to see past the enemy...and see my Lord, right there in the room. He indeed is right there, and wants to keep giving me the ability to remember and see. What a powerful word. I can remember this truth next time, and proceed with confidence.
The lilacs outside my home's side window are in full bloom. What a joy to pluck a stem, bring it inside, inhale it's sweet fragrance, and settle down at the table with my girls and our nature notebooks. We do this once a week, find something in nature (a flower, blade of grass, stick, bird, whatever we choose), and illustrate it in our books. I remembered that in addition to our watercolors, I had some old watercolor pencils tucked away. They work like colored pencils, but when you put water to them, they spread like paint! We all need to step back and unwind somehow, and this is one small way.
I can't resist this photo that my girl took yesterday of our Nibbles. Sometimes, we plunk her down in the grass, and she lives up to her name, gobbling up as much as she can. Guinea pigs are free to eat as much grass as they can hold, just be careful that your lawn hasn't been treated. We also hover closely, making sure no hawks are in the area. Nibbles is overjoyed when she gets to scamper in and savor the fresh, green grass. She's a little sweetie, a "muppet," as I call her.
Last but not least, are you a Goofball? Sometimes I am, and make no apologies. It's fun to be silly about childlike things, to find delight in something simple, and laugh at your own mistakes. The term reminds me of my Dad, who over the years, shortened it to the ever endearing "Goof-o." I saw this candy bar at a service station somewhere in Virginia on our way back from Pittsburgh, and just had to get a shot of it. Anyone who knows me will tell you this kind of humor is in my wheelhouse. Until next time!
