Elk In Our Yard

It is quite cold again this morning at our log house in the woods.

My thermometer said 11 degrees outside, 

which is, by the way,

 warmer than yesterday. 

With clear skies, the sun is up sparkling on the snow.  

Dazzling.

  We are a good hour late today getting around,

 breakfast and chores done, schooling started,

 for we had some special visitors in our "yard" early this morning.

They, in their quiet beauty,

 became a simple pleasure that set the tone for the day.

Quietly, we gathered at the window, 

sitting very still, 

and observed 5 elk for about 45 minutes 

while they browsed the trees and brush about 30 feet behind the lodge. 

 They are just gorgeous. 

 No matter how often we see elk and deer, 

I find it ceaselessly amazing to watch them.

Simple things,

 such as watching wildlife, 

are oft times, the best of gifts.

A pleasant way to start the day.

Rainy days are for...

Today is one of those cloudy,
 pouring down rain
 -but almost summer-
 days that soothes my soul and begs me to
slow down 

and get into some projects that have been waiting patiently 

for just such an occasion.

Rainy days are for baking. 

 Well,  nearly everyday we are baking something of other,

 but especially on a soggy chill day,

 a home made yummy
 still warm from the oven
 is ever so welcome.

  We tried yet another Taste of Home recipe, this one is "Golden Raisin Buns".

 I didn't have any golden raisins, so I substituted crasins. 

 These buns are melt in your mouth good, much like a cream puff,

 and were really easy to make.

  They disappeared immediately upon setting them out, a good sign of a keeper recipe. 

Another good sign was the children asking, "Can we make those again tomorrow?"
Golden Raisin Buns
2 c. hot water, divided
1/2 c golden rasins
1/2 c butter
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 c flour
4 eggs
In small bowl, pour 1 c water over raisins;  let stand for 5 minutes, drain and set aside.  In large saucepan, bring butter, sugar, salt, and remaining water to a boil.  Add flour all at once, stir until a smooth ball forms.  Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until mixture is well blended.  Stir in raisins.  Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.  drizzle with icing and serve warm if desired.
Icing:
  1 tbsp butter,
5 tsp half and half cream
1 c confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
melt butter, stir in cream.  remove from heat, add sugar and flavorings.  mix well.

Rainy days are for reading.

I think I could read to them all day long and they would be quite happy.

Couch time with the little ones is definitely a necessary on a rainy day.

Rainy days are for sewing.

Anna is continuing work on a flannel quilt in pinks and greens.

I have my material box out looking for something bright and sunny

 for a skirt or two for Bethany, and perhaps one for Olivia. 

 The children think sorting through all the fabric scraps

 and dressing themselves, as well as each other, in an array of assorted fabrics is hilarious.
This kept them happily entertained for well over an hour!

Rainy days are for writing letters. 

 The real ones, on fine stationary, are my favorite.

 Is there anything so wonderful to find in the mailbox

 than a lovely letter penned just to you from someone dear far away?

Rainy days are for yellow.

It is like a little spot of sunshine amidst the gloom outside.

My personal favorite would be wildflowers,
but a yellow teapot, tablecloth, tray, or even a yellow notepad,
 are all viable bits of  indoor sun to
brighten the day.

Rainy days are for candles,

 as are sunny days, 

cold days, 

snowy days, 

windy days, 

and not windy days.

Rainy days,

or sunny days,

 all are good days to be ever so thankful

for all the wondrous blessings our loving Lord has heaped upon us!

"Make a joyful noise to  the Lord all ye lands,

serve the Lord with gladness,

come before His presence with singing,

know that the Lord, 

He is God.

It is He who has made us and not we ourselves.

We are His people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

and His courts with praise;

be thankful to Him and bless His name,

 for the Lord is good.  

His mercy is everlasting.

His truth endureth to all generations."

Psalm 100

Discovering Spring

 Around here, April does not really count as spring, 

since it normally snows throughout the month,

 so real spring
- to us-
 begins in May with May showers, jumping in mud puddles,

 and discovering critters of all kinds in our yard and the woods around.

 While flowers may be few at his time of year, 

amphibians are not.

  The children have found new slimy friends nearly everyday, much to their excitement. 

 Gabe, however, dislikes them greatly,
protesting and screaming at each new find. 

By this, even when I am in the house,

 I always know when some one will come racing to me to show me 

their wonderful surprise.

Observing these animals,
as well as birds at the bird feeder,

 listening for their individual calls, 

finding spring flowers in the woods, (such as every one's favorite- Trillium)

 and talking about Spring weather
 has constituted our Nature Journal for May.

 This is the most delightful time of year for Nature Journals. 

 Our 6 months of winter have furnished in us a passionate desire for
 warm sunshine
and green grass, 

so much so that we endeavor each day to find some way of doing our learning
 outside.

In our fast paced, entertainment driven society,
sitting quietly and listening for bird calls
 is a discipline that we need to teach our children,
one we need to foster in ourselves.
To escape all the technology,
 all that  screams for our attention,
and enter the solitude of the forest
 letting God's wondrous creations
calm,
soothe,
 inspire,
 and bring us to our knees in awe of
Him,
 to do this,
 is my idea of perfect education. 

Having ventured out for a beautiful hike overlooking the lake a few days ago,

 today we open the journals and books to write down our observations and finds,

 what we learned,  putting the entire event into a report or a story,

 or even a poem. 

With a passel of students, we can make one event translate into preschool, kindergarten,

 2nd, 5th, and 8th grade learning.

For example, we saw several Yew trees, which are used to make traditional bows.

I might have Joe research how this is done, and what other things Yew trees are useful for.

This is a great time to try using new vocabulary words, and build our writing skills. 

Jim is interested in flowers,

 so he will be looking up the different varieties we saw.

 It is always interesting to see each student's perspective, the same event from their individual eyes. 

 This can reveal a great deal of how they think and perceive.

 Preschoolers simply draw a picture, 

usually quite triumphantly,

 of our excursion. 

 Gabe and Bethany love to have their own nature journals

 to chronicle their learning just like the big kids.

I always write captions below their art work so that we know what it is.

(Smile.)

I also help them write the date and the weather, so they feel like it is real school.

Fairly often, we can spend a whole week writing after a nature walk.

  One day of drawing, 

one or two days for a report complete with any research that is needed,

 one day for story telling of how the walk unfolded, 

or a letter to Grammy describing the occasion.

If children are reluctant to wander outdoors,

 reading a book such as (our current bedtime story), 

The Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter

 is a great jump start to encourage them to explore and learn.

Our children have a new found interest in moths and butterflies since we began reading this book.

 They are much more careful to look at their surroundings 

in hopes of discovering a Caterpillar or cocoon.

In the past few months, I have learned just how important it is

 to do things that are energizing to me,

 and figure out new ways to handle the things that are most draining.

For a home schooling mama who would rather be outdoors, 

 nature walks, a hike, or just sitting and observing right outside the door

 makes for an invigorating way to spend my day.

" A shivering movement went over the moth. 

 The wings drooped and spread wider. 

 Mrs. Comstock sank into soft awed tones. 

 "There never was a moment in my life," she said,

"when I felt so in the Presence, as I do now.  

I fell as if the Almighty were so real, and so near,

 that I could reach out and touch Him, as I could this wonderful work of His, if I dared. 

 I feel like saying to Him:  

To the extent of my brain power I realize Your presence,

 and all it is in me to comprehend of Your power. 

 Help me to learn, even this late, the lessons of Your wonderful creations. 

 Help me to unshackle and expand my soul to the fullest realization of Your wonders.  

Almighty God, make me bigger, make me broader!"

The Girl of the Limberlost  - pp 283.

"This is my Father's world, 

and to my listening ear, 

all nature sings and round me rings, 

the music of the spheres."

O the glory of discovering Spring!

J.R, Miller

Sometimes, we get swallowed up in the day to day activities and events of life 

and therefore lose sight of the beauty that God intended for us to enjoy within family life. 

Piles of laundry, a sick baby, a hectic schedule 

can blind us to the joy of the Lord and the beauty around us, 

then we find ourselves empty of joy

and questioning, 

complaining, 

or irritable.  

Sometimes we listen to the world, begging for our attention, 

which then grabs us and convinces us that a distraction from real priorities is actually good for you.  

There are so many options to tear your heart away from home. 

Nowadays, with the internet, 

 you don't even have to leave home

to be distracted 

away from home.

I asked a friend for a description of her mother, 

here is part of the startling reply:  

"My mother was always fully present with us.  

I could bring her a big pile of books and she would always read the whole stack to me.

  If I went to get more, she would read those too. 

She always had time for us."

Fully present.  

That has stuck with me.  

Too many times my answer is, "just a minute honey", or "not now dear."  

As if whatever task I am occupied in is more important than my own dear children.

Sometimes slowing down, saying no to good things, but distracting things, 

and focusing in on our loving Heavenly Father, 

our home,

and our family 

is what is needed to restore and recharge a weary or overwhelmed soul. 

Sometimes,

if you slow down and listen, 

you can hear Father calling you to simplify, 

purify your priorities, 

and turn your heart towards home.

  "Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, Wives- 

Homelife is meant to be beautiful, ennobling, and victorious!"  

God intends for each person, from parents to child, 

to play a role in family life,

the ultimate goal of which is 

the transformation of the individual

the home 

and the society

for the glory of God.." 

- J.R. Miller- Homemaking

Thoughts on Monday

Listen.

The song drifts through the darkness, across the grassy hills-

you know it, but have you heard it?

Have you slowed your pace long enough to let it sink in deeply?

"How I love you, Child, I love you!"

God the father, singing over us. 

You.

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us,

  "The lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; 

He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; 

He will rest in his love, 

He will joy over thee with singing."

Our greatest hindrance to hearing His song may be the pace of our lives. 

We have been programmed to think that we can't slow down long enough

to allow anything to sink in deeply,

or, we have been deceived into thinking that when we do have a moments rest, 

we should seek some alternate universe via books,

the internet, or games,

when God himself awaits,

even longs for a relationship with the one He loves, 

you.

David Needham, my professor At Multnomah Bible College, 

and author of "Close to His Majesty" writes,

"Hardly a day-

hardly an hour-

goes by that if we paused to think through what was happening, 

we should discover something more about God. 

For, in Him we live and move and have our being." 

He is ours to taste, to discover. 

So you take time for daily Bible reading and prayer. 

Fine. 

But how about time to really mull over, to meditate,

to wrestle through some of those disturbing "Whys" that most of us have about God...

until those "Whys" dissolve into wonder and worship?  

And at other times, slowing down long enough to talk to God about God? 

And at other times, simply to enjoy the sheer pleasure of his love? 

Of His forgiveness? 

Of His faithfulness?

  One of the toughest things you and I confront

is to get our thoughts off ourselves 

and the earth-oriented things that surround us

long enough to "taste and see that the Lord is good."  pp13

I suppose that is one reason why I am so fond of walking.  

It is time to mull, to talk to God, and time to listen to Him. 

I am also known to linger in bed for quite a while in the mornings,

getting my mind right,

listening to His truth,

asking Him about my day, 

relinquishing my will.

Without that time, I am lost.

Just now, in the middle of the day, is a quiet moment to slip away-

There it is, the song...

slow down and listen-

He is singing over you

with joy.

Oh how He loves you.

Taste and see.

Homeschooling Flexibility

One of the things I so love about homeschooling is the flexibility. 

Second semester, I like to add a new courses on top of the basics,

something interesting to perk us all up from the winter doldrums.  

This year, I chose World War 2 history and Piano.

  Both are subjects I have been quite remiss in in the past. 

We are really enjoying both, 

although I do not recommend starting 4 children

in the same piano lesson at the same time, 

because that means you have to listen to it 

(the 30 minute lesson) 4 times!!! 

AAACKK.

 

Bethany has taken up piano too, 

in a way only an exuberant 4 year old can. 

She likes to sing while she plays. 

The other day she was playing away, when she burst forth in song;

"I LOVE THE SMELL OF AIR...."  (to the tune of Amazing Grace.)

The hilarity of having preschoolers in the house

is that they often want to do everything the bigger children are doing.

  In Gabe's case, he trots after the others,

desiring to be included arms outstretched toward them

saying, "ME, ME!" 

He also colors and tries determinedly to write his alphabet in big kid fashion.

Homeschooling is a great blessing to me. 

I relish time with our children. 

Having the little ones follow the older children around all day 

has wonderful benefits as well,

such as the two year old who knows his alphabet

and the 4 year old that is almost reading..."trickle down" home education.

Not to mention, the older ones can help throw in a load of laundry

now and then when I just cannot get to it, 

or hold the baby while they read their history, or study memory verses.  

We have always home schooled, so I really know nothing else.

It has become a lifestyle. 

I am so thankful for the ability to change things around to fit the adjustments of having a new little one in the house, 

or to accommodate the seasons, 

or combine appointments in town with a field trip.

The flexibility of homeschooling works great with a large family

and a full ministry schedule.

I must be honest and tell you that I still have days of feeling inadequate, discouraged, or irritable,

(doesn't everyone?)

but by and large, each day is a joy and delight.

Speaking of delights,

Here's the latest of miss Olivia:

Simple Play

Years ago I was talking with a mom of many,

whose children played happily -with nothing-
and got along marvelously.  

They were a family of little means, whose home was sparsely furnished. 

I was amazed at her content children and asked her how she did it. 

She explained that she believed a child’s best friend in play is their imagination. 

She grew up on a farm with few objects to entertain her, 

and knew well the joy of make believe. 

Her 8 children could play inside or out for hours having all kinds of fun--
with nothing.  

They were quite possibly some of the happiest children I had ever seen.

When my brother came back from a trip to Honduras,

he told stories of whole villages of children that played and played with one soccer ball. 

All ages, running all over, running and giggling for hours on end,

delighted to have a single ball with which to play. 

In their huts, they had nothing, no furniture,

perhaps a table to prepare meals on and a sleeping mat on the floor. 

He said the children were all smiles all day, rarely quibbled,

and seemed as pleased as could be with their never ending game of soccer.

Our culture trains us well that we need things to make us happy,

when happiness really comes from a grateful heart,
not material possessions.

  It yells this untruthful philosophy at us so loud,

that I find I need to remind myself
and the children
regularly of the beauty of simplicity,

the contentedness found in thankfulness,

and the joy in serving others.


Raising our children to enjoy simple play may prepare them for contentedness later in life.
I look back on my own upbringing and realize that I, too,
found the most wonderful memories of play to be times of imaginary games.

Perhaps we do a disservice to our children by supplying them with gobs of entertainments.
Maybe teaching a small child to sit quietly in the car and travel without amusements,
but observations of the trip instead,
is more critical to their future happiness than we can imagine.

What if a parent could demonstrate and teach a young child
that serving others
brings more pleasure and lasting fulfillment than a trip to Toys R Us.
What kind of a generation could we raise?