Little Ones Can Make Centerpieces Too!

While walking around and such, we are always picking up things to bring home. 

We had an abundance of Pinecombs and other interesting things that fall from trees  (I have no idea what they're called!)  Not to mention all the rock, stick, and seed "collections".

I pulled out a tray and lined it with fall looking napkins so we wouldn't scratch the wood. 

Stuck a couple of candles in the middle.

The girls carefully arranged everything. 

Hannah was so proud we found a use for some of her collection.

Isn't that lovely?  They did a great job.

Backyard Learning

Have you ever done a Bug Battle? 

Catch as many bugs as you can, or snails, worms, etc.

Gather them all together and put them under Mom's glass serving dish.

Watch the battle unfold.

We do practice catch and release.

There actually is never much too it.  They mostly stay away from eachother.  You can tell when the spider is getting mad and the fangs protude and they stand on their hind legs.  The snail takes it easy and hidey-holes in it's shell.  The worm gets all hard. The roley polley curls up and rolls around. 

I enjoy so much pointing out nature to the children.  We are big on stopping and noticing things.  I believe we learn so very much about our Heavenly Father and the ways of the world just by taking in nature.  I am also most content when I am outside. 

Early one morning, Paul caught toads at the base of our fence.

I have a ton of pictures over the years of Paul holding up some sort of wildlife for the children.  I think it's great.  To complete my collection would be Paul holding up a Skunk :)) 

                         Even little Mary gave him a good pet. 

 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”-Isaiah 6:3

Resources

(I do hope you'll make the time follow along and click on the links I've provided, perhaps you'll have to take in this post on a few different visits.)

Eleven years ago, I turned up pregnant with our first child.  I began to check out books at the Library, suscribe to "parenting" magazines and ask lots of questions to the older women in my life.  I was hungry for knowledge and wisdom!  My Titus 2 women (and God is still sending them!), such as my mom,  a couple of ladies from our first appointment, and my in-law mom and sister,  were great examples and support to me, but what I found as far as books and magazines just weren't very satifsfying. Yes, there was some valuable knowledge, but it wasn't offering me a God-centered perspective.  Some of the more popular magazines basically left me envisioning my husband in an apron and lip gloss, all womanized, while I could go off and have all my selfish desires fulfilled with a size 2 body, after giving birth.   (btw- my husband is a great daddy, changes diapers, gives baths, anything really, and he is still all man ;)  

It seems to me that most of what the world has to offer us women is a way out of the nitty gritty of being a wife and mother. Tempting indeed.  I had to allow (continually btw!) God to change my perspective and attitude and embrace these relationships and roles in my life just as God, who ordained them, does. 

As the internet increased, I began discovering new, uncensored, non-money-motivated, Biblical perspective, resources.  Many resources were recommendations from friends, or ones that I ran across once I knew coin-phrases to google.

These resources have been so valuable and encouraging and inspiring to me as I find my way in being the woman God made me to be.  And the added bonus, is that when my "house in order" it spills over into the public ministry that God has called me to.  I feel authentic, sincere, equipped,  and quite aware of the spiritual battle that is going on in so many families. 

>The Bible- If God didn't mean it, why would He say it?  There is much to be learned in God's Word!  The Character of God, and our own nature.  The Ways of God and man's way.  And, the very pulse of it all, God's ever-reaching love for us and how we love others.   *Salvation*   *Holiness*    These are the ways that God desires us to love not just "others" but our families. 

>Blogs- I follow a few blogs and sit down very early most mornings with a cup of coffee in hand to check-up on my blog friends.  It's my "me time" when I am encouraged and inspired and come away with ideas and recipes.   My friend, Stacie, over on a fire fighter's wife, has brillantly equated blogging like being penpals.  (And I have had literally 100+ penpals back  when I was child and we wrote with pen and paper.  I was published in 2 magazines and my parents made me answer back every letter!)

A few things you should know about my blog-

• On my side bar is a list of blogs I follow and recommend.
• I have no idea who visits my blog.  I have a tally ticker on the bottom of my blog, so I just see numbers but my readers are free to come and go, lurk or whatever, I don't care. 
• If you visit my blog, I gaurantee you will feel better about your life- either you will be encouraged by our life or you will say "I'm glad I'm not them" and thank the good Lord for yours.
• I aim to be transparent and honest, but obviously there are still private matters, and even though it is a main part of our lives,  I mostly avoid public ministry posts because I do not want to divulge the things that aren't my story to share, nor cross the line of taking personal credit for the works of God in ministry.  
• I am fully aware of opening myself up for judgment, sometimes harsh or misunderstood (or fully deserved!)  But we are all to shine before others, not micromanage other's perception of us. 

>Websites-  I also have websites that are favorites of mine.  Those are also listed on my sidebar. Take a visit, I bet there is something there for you too.  I most highly recommend Vision Forum and Above Rubies.

>Education- Dare I go here??  Well, yes, I should.  There is an incredible amount of educating materials available on the internet.  While the Textbooks in public schools are edited with a particular agenda in mind (non-"offensive" non-"religious" non-"racist" non-"challenging") , the stuff you can find on the internet makes it so that you, as a parent, can resource your children above and beyond public-education. The  1911 Encyclopedia  is a great resource that answers lots of questions.   I also love the Happy Hearts Homeschooling blog that shares all sorts of old fashioned treasures for learning solid material.

And before I get to carried away here since this post is already quite long,
may I suggest that you take the time to read the following link:
Our Children
Written by the eldest daughter of General William and Catherine Booth.

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
-Psalm 111:10

Boxes

Boxes =  Hours of fun

Science Around Here

Science around here is big.  How's?  and Why's?  and Why not's?  are explored and observed.

Not always, but most usually.

We probably average a "science" project a week. 

A big one for us was working on David's school science project with him in September/October.  He did well, but it was a lot of work because his ideas kept getting bigger and bigger.  Bottom line was "what military vehicle is most efficient, hovercraft or water-to-land vehicle?" (I'm sure I explained that wrong!)  Of which he researched, built working models, and tested.  Paul and him really got into it!!

In the meantime, the girls and I learned all about the sun and made raisins with grapes, well tried too.  We made (almost) daily observations, drawing pictures and writing descriptive words.  The sun became less strong, and after 2 weeks, they ended up shriveled and moldy.  But that's okay, it was still an experiment.

And some more....

I bet we can get a whole hard boiled egg inside a narrow mouthed bottle.

Light a match in the bottle. Let it burn to suck out all the oxygen, which creates a vacuum to suck the egg right in.

I bet we can hold a full bucket of water up and over our head without getting wet. 

Swing it around real fast.

I bet we can drop an egg from a second story window without it breaking.

                             Tape, cotton balls, boxes, foil, bags, etc.   
                             and creative, clever minds!   
                             and a big mess ;)

 

Hannah

                                                                    Elijah

                                                                              Ann

                                                              David

"Self-education is the only possible education;

the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child's nature."

                                                                     -Charlotte Mason

"Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well-nourished body takes to growing; and we must bear in mind that growth, physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, is the sole end of education."

-Charlotte Mason



(Flashback) Wildlife

I was cleaning out my blog  "drafts" and found this one from June that I never posted.   Oh how I miss our yard!!  I am an outside girl, the kids love outside too. (I would love to be a Forest Ranger when we retire in 20+ years!) Our yard is tiny here, but we live across from an awesome "forest park" that we visit a few times a week.

Flashback....

Mice hunting.

Caught one!  See his tail?

(Later I shot him with the bee-bee gun.

I nailed a couple of his friends too as they were scrambling around the deck.)

The girls caught a rollie-pollie bug and name him Sparkle.  He died overnight on the kitchen counter.  I thought the girls had released him like I asked but instead they gave him grass and water and put him up with the dirty dishes.  I think he drowned.

We found this bird in the backyard all alone, hardly moving. 

Elijah covered him up with some washcloths to keep him warm overnight.  We gave him some bread too.

In the morning, he was gone, just a trace of bloody feathers was left.  He must've been eaten.

I know it looks like Mary but it's really a monkey. 

I'm always finding her on the dining table, or swinging from the bunk beds,

or moving stools so she can climb into the bathroom sink. 

Just the other day I left her in Paul's office for just a moment. 

When I came back she was on top of his desk clinging to his computer screen.

But ssshhh... daddy doesn't know that.

Fort Chouinard

There's Fort Myer, Fort Knox, Fort Vancouver, Fort Stevens,  etc.

And then there's

Fort Chouinard...

                                    Engineered by clever minds

                                     Constructed by mighty hands

                                  Transportable, Adaptable

Can be torn down and built back up a thousand times over, (even if I just got through tidying up the linen closet!)
                         

(That would be the entire living room... again.)

Raising Patriots

We've always tried to do something to recognize Veteran's Day.  Parades, Memorials, Community Care Ministry Visits, sending packages of Juicy Fruit gum overseas, etc.   In the future, I'm wondering if I can do a little something for the men and women in our ARC who have served our country.   We have so many people to be thankful to for our freedom afforded to us in the US Constitution (click here to even have it translated to kid friendly documents, or the practical-simple minded like me!) and the Bill of Rights.  

In honor of Veteran's Day this year,  I bought the 3 oldest children a membership to this  Patriot's Club website that I came across.  It is only a one time fee of $12 with constantly updated material.  I'm sure I'll have to help Ann, but the boys will enjoy working at their own pace and having an excuse to use the computer.

Thank you to all the Veterans.

Thank you also to the loved ones that have stood by their side despite

all the challenges that come from being a military family.