Here & There

As you know, I find little bits here and there that I like to post. Here are some from the past two weeks:

We try to do nature study at least once a week. It's easier than it sounds: we venture out into the yard and find something from God's creation to draw. Sometimes we choose the same item; other times, our drawings are different. When there was stress about making this a masterpiece, a friend gave me good advice: in nature study, we're scientists, not artists. We try to capture the intricate details of that living thing, like the dots on a petal, or the tear in a leaf. Whether you're eight or eighty, create your own nature notebook! This is our second year working in the same book.

How about a day at the spa...for your Barbies?

We found some old baby bath wash and the girls delighted in treating those tired, worn-out gals to a time of pampering! No Barbie tub needed; just a container and some imagination. Old baby washcloths make great doll towels, too: 

Here is a book that I just finished and highly recommend. Cindy Rollins's story is captivating, not just for moms or homeschoolers, but for any adult interested in education or family life: 

You can hear Cindy on the Circe Institute podcast, The Mason Jar. She and her guests impart much wisdom about teaching our children, as they share specific resources and personal stories about their own experiences. As a mother of nine, Cindy's point of view is valuable to all parents and educators. 

Speaking of a pearl of wisdom, here is one:

This quote was aptly timed in The Optimist's Good Morning, a devotional I enjoy every day, right after a group of friends and I discussed this very issue. We had a rich discussion around our dinner table Tuesday night about what a tragedy it is that children are being shoved these days into a one-size-fits-all model of learning. Well-meaning parents push their teenagers into four-year college without regards to the fact that that individual might rather study plumbing, cosmetology, or work to save money while seeking God's path for his or her life. Thousands of dollars in debt pile up, often binding the student to a career that he realized (only too late) isn't his heart's desire. The work of a mail carrier is no less noble than that of a physician; the world would be a mess if we all walked the same road.  

On a lighter note, how about some kitchen-floor hockey?

A yard stick, some tape and cardboard...throw in that oversized checker from the Cracker Barrel game, and presto! Instant fun, and lots of goals!

Here is a funny page from How to Keep Well by Albert F. Blaisdell, M.D., published in 1895. This is the kind of living book from which our children should be learning about the human body and it's wondrous design. Our kids learn so much about language and expression from reading such poetic prose. The lines before the ones in the following picture read, "Get at the market a knuckle of ham or mutton. Open the joint by cutting into it, and study what you see. Our own joints are made exactly after the same general..." (now keep reading):

This is much more fascinating than a dry textbook. Why not use a living book like this to teach children about the wonders of the human body? I encourage adults to read rich literature for your own growth, then pass it along to your kids. Have them tell back (without your interfering) what they remember in their own words. Students crave depth, not the sterile, insipid material they're presented these days. Try this method in lieu of the lifeless "comprehension" paragraph with silly questions that hardly any sane person can "comprehend."

Here is another example of delightful reading, from Gyo Fujikawa's A Child's Book of Poems:

Stop being afraid of poetry! All you have to do is read it and enjoy it! We associate poetry with the dreaded assignment of being forced to write it when not all of us are poets. Again, there's no need to force anything. Learning can indeed be fun. This poem was followed by gleeful requests to "Read it again!"

As I've mentioned, our community group meets every Tuesday. Each week, our meal looks something like this:

We eat to our fullest, and love each other with messy, real brotherly love. There's nothing like fellowship around the table with my people, breaking bread and growing together. And what's in that pot in the left corner of the photo?

Boiled peanuts! You've not experienced the true south until you've tried Jeremy's all-day-long, salty, boiled peanuts. 

Finally, here's a quote that stuck with me. If only we truly grasped how God sees our sin once we repent with brokenhearted contrition...He doesn't. His Son's blood secured that for us, and may we find peace in this truth:

Until next time!

Hello from Nibbles!