Savoring

When we first learned that our faraway family was going to be moving much closer to us, we looked forward to weekends when we could all be together! We had the first of those weekends recently and oh, the memory-making moments!

Through the years, the Lord has taught me to see the present as His gift.

It wasn't always that way. When I was younger, I was constantly looking ahead. To growing up. Getting married. Having the baby sleep through the night. Improvement in our finances. Next week. Next year.

But somewhere along the way, He taught me to be still. To savor.

And on this weekend, I savored.

Calling Papa at his office

Papa's home!

Operation French Toast

Baby Paul meets his great-grandmother (Ron's mom)

A Family Gathering

Gampy (my dad) and his great-granddog Lucy :)

Aunt Kristin meets Paul

Four generations

Four generations being silly!

the DJ's

"Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not clearly see what is required of me now."  (Elisabeth Elliot)

Sunday Snapshots: Snaps, Slaps, and Chaps

SNAPS
A new favorite, snap peas disappear from the vegetable tray too quick to talk about! Who knew?!

SLAPS

We didn't even play our regular Apples to Apples this Sunday. We did play Battle of the Sexes and several card games...Fib, Spades, and Slaps (new to me).

CHAPS

Our guest, Rob (Kati's friend and coworker), was the chap who taught us the new game.

And then Maddie brought along THIS (huge!) chap who just kind of hung out and read the comics.

After a week of harsh winter weather, we decided to label this week's cups with our dream vacations!

What is your dream vacation?

"And who would leave the Fountain Head?"

Take a little time to read this slowly...let its message sink in...and then spend some time in the Book of treasures...

The Sacred Hour

William Blane

O tell me not of worldly lore

And treasures of the earth!

To him who draws from Heaven’s store

They can be little worth.

I sail a sea of Love divine,

Unfathomed and unbound;

I search a deep and wealthy mine

Where gems of Heaven are found.

The Spirit’s breezes gently blow

That I may sail this sea;

His is the light to search and show

God’s deep, deep things to me.

O Book of wondrous depths and heights,

Of wisdom ever new,

Which in ten thousand various lights

Brings Jesus into view;

Whatever truths in thee I trace

New aspects meet mine eye,

And of His glory and His grace

Page unto page doth cry!

Of Science and Philosophy

I’ve heard the spreading fame;

They’re broad and deep, and urged, they say,

By many a pressing claim.

‘Tis said Philosophy hath charms

Which prove celestial birth;

That Science, with distended arms,

Grasps heaven in grasping earth.

I know not; neither have I tried

Their claims to disallow;

A trusting heart is satisfied

With neither why nor how.

They come from God if they be right,

If true they lead to Him;

But who would shun the noonday light

To grope in shadows dim?

And who would leave the Fountain Head

To drink the muddy stream,

Where men have mixed what God hath said

With every dreamer’s dream?

How dim is every earthly light

When suns celestial glow!

No earthly visions lure the sight

Where God His face doth show.

‘Tis sweet in prayer on God to call

While He my voice doth hear,

But sweeter when His sayings fall

Upon my opened ear!

For this I leave the paths of men

And shun my friends’ abode;

No earthly claims can stay me when

My spirit pants for God!

O not for wealth, nor fame, nor power,

Nor love, nor truest friend,

Would I forego the sacred hour

Which with God’s Word I spend!

I steal it from the hours of sleep

If leisure be not given,

For only this the soul can keep

In touch with God and Heav’n.

And thus to hearken unto Him

For one sweet, fleeting hour,

Is balm to wearied heart and limb—

Restoring grace and power.

Dear Book of treasures all divine,

My precious, priceless store!

How rich I am since thou art mine!

How poor I was before!

Homeschooling: Sharing the Burden with Your Child

I think it goes without saying, but a primary goal of teaching is to facilitate learning. 

Makes sense, right? 

The goal is not to make learning "hard," nor is it to stump our students on a test or quiz! (As in "Ha! I gotcha!!") But you would not believe the number of times that I have seen that concept among homeschooling parents. Not the majority, for sure, but the fact is that that idea exists for some. Perhaps it is a throwback to our own education when we perceived the teacher as the enemy who was determined to make life miserable? 

Ahhh...but one of the glories of homeschooling is that we are a team! I want my students to succeed! 

Thus, another one of my rudimentary teaching tips is this:

Share the burden of learning with your child.

We've all been there. You make what you consider a reasonable assignment, but your child seems lost or has that glazed-over "I have no idea what you're talking about" look or is even overwhelmed. (This is different than being lazy or not wanting to rise to the challenge.) 

In my experience, pushing is counterproductive. The student may complete the assignment, but not really understand it. He may do the work, but the foundation will not be there for going on to the next level. She may lose her joy in the task. 

Instead, try sharing the burden of learning with the student. 

Don't force him to sink or swim, but come alongside and walk with him.

What does "sharing the burden" look like?

If your student is having trouble beginning to read an assigned book (and you know it is a living book and is on his reading level), read the first chapter aloud to incite his enthusiasm for the story.

She is writing a story and doesn't know how to begin. Sit down with her and brainstorm topics together. Help her with a plan or even a basic outline. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part.

A beginning writer may have a difficult time with the physical action of writing. It takes a great deal of concentration to get the words from the brain onto a page, all the while using correct grammar and spelling and organizing your thoughts. (That's a lot to think about for a young child!) Instead, allow the child to dictate his thoughts to you as you write them down. This allows him to think about the content without being distracted by the physical action of writing.

You are not providing your child with the easy way out! You are not encouraging him to be intellectually lazy! But when you see that he is genuinely struggling with an idea or skill, you are helping him to learn by sharing the burden with him. As you share the burden, he will learn, build confidence, and move on to the next level. (Just because you are taking dictation from an 8-year-old doesn't mean that you will be doing it through his high school years. You will be sensitive to his abilities and encourage him to take the next step.)

A Real Life Story:

Recently, Bekah was introduced to the concept of adding algebraic equations with both constants and variables. Although she is a good math student, this concept looked like Greek to her. I could see that she was overwhelmed with understanding the steps and also with remembering them from one day to the next. So I decided to share the burden of learning with her. When I told her that we would do those problems together until she understood them, I saw a visible look of relief on her face.

Each day, we would tackle those overwhelming equations together. After a few times, I'd ask her "What do we do next?" Another day, I'd hand her the pencil and she would take the lead with solving the equation while I followed along, helping only if necessary. She has made great progress, and any day now she'll be confidently working those problems alone.

Something that had once seemed overwhelming has become completely attainable.

And that is what can happen when we are willing to share the burden of learning with our homeschool students.

For other posts in this series...

Homeschooling: Finding Joy in the Journey

The Best of Times...

Winter may have tried to mess up our plans for the weekend {chilly Farmhouse, a frozen pipe or two (thawed within a couple of hours, no damage), wild wind, and snowy-slow travel},  but...

we were together, 

so we won!!

Today, I am thanking the Lord for

memories made,

joy shared,

babies held,

stories read,

games played,

long weekends,

hugs given and received,

meals and (lots of) cups of coffee shared,

nearness,

happy children,

good health over the weekend,

warm food,

an abundance of blankets, quilts, throws, and Snuggies,

cousins playing,

four generations,

tulips on the island,

warm fellowship,

the joys of being older,

safe travels (oh, so thankful!),

and the rich, rich mercies of God.

A Sweet Way to Say "Be My Valentine"

I'll be away from the blog for a few days, still working on those bright spots for the weekend. I plan to be back early next week with some weekend snapshots and a new Homeschooling: Finding Joy in the Journey post.  

In the meantime, I'm pulling this recipe out of the archives, because I thought you might need an easy-peasy idea for a last minute Valentine treat.  This could be it!

♥ Valentine Shortbread Cookies ♥

Cream together 2 sticks (yikes...yes that's 2 sticks!) of butter with 1/2 cup sugar.  

Beat until light and fluffy.

Stir in 2 1/4 cups flour and mix until dough holds together.

Add 4-5 drops of red food coloring to tint the cookies a Valentine-y pink.

Mix thoroughly.

Roll out about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut out cookies with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Bake at 300°F (lower temp than most cookies) for 15 minutes.

(These cookies do not brown.  When you take them out, they will look much the same as when you put them in.  Do not be tempted to leave them in longer or you will get a hard cookie, not melt-in-your-mouth shortbread goodness.)

Allow cookies to cool for 10 minutes; transfer to cooling racks to continue cooling.

When completely cooled, drizzle with melted chocolate chips.

(I melted some chips in the microwave, placed the melted chocolate in a baggie, and cut a tiny hole in the corner.  Then I squeezed the bag as I made a simple back and forth motion.)

Allow chocolate some time to harden.

You can fill a cellophane bag with cookies and give them to your Valentines.

Or serve them at a party.

But be sure to keep one or two, so that you can enjoy it (them) with a cup of afternoon tea or coffee.

Do you have any special plans for this Valentine/Presidents Day/Arctic blast weekend?

Bright Spots in the Bleak Midwinter

Is anyone else ready for spring?!!

Oh, I know, I know. I don't really have much to complain about. 

Here I am in the Mid-Atlantic in the midst of a winter that is far less bleak than last year's brutal one and so much milder than that of our friends in the Northeast. We have had our share of milder days and not a lot of snow over these winter months. 

I am almost ashamed to say that I am weary of winter.

And yet, today there's ice and more gray. The gathering that we have planned for this weekend is threatened by bad weather. Blah.

So yes. I have turned the corner and I am looking ahead to spring.

Problem is...it is only February 11th and we still have a ways to go. 

Meanwhile...rather than complain (was I complaining?) I am going to pour myself another cup of coffee and think about some of bright spots of winter.


~ A visit with my sister was a bright spot last week!
Mom, Bekah, and I made a little road trip and spent the afternoon with Linda, my niece Amy, and my great-nieces Isabel and Ivy.

photo by Bekah

~ A literal "bright spot" on my dining room table. 

Ron made a new trencher from a rafter that was in the old barn on our property. (The barn was beyond repair and was demolished years ago.) We had seen something similar in a store in Lancaster County and Ron decided to DIY. I filled it with some chunky potpourri and a parade of votives. 

~ Soup. 

Enough said.

Are you finding any bright spots this winter? Are you ready for spring?