School with Munchkin is interesting, fun and at times challenging! Of course, just being a Mom is all of that and so much more! We are making progress, and she is enjoying learning new things. I wonder how much of it Mr. Q will just pick up on his own while I work with Munchkin. Kids are amazing.
I finished knitting a nice, wool sweater for myself. With it being so chilly lately I figured that I could do with a warm layer to throw on. It came out quite nice, but the sleeves were four inches too long. So, I just cut off the excess and refinished the edges. Cutting was scary, but it turned out fine, and now it fits perfectly. I think that's one of the things that I like about knitting. Every project can be salvaged. Even if it means ripping the whole thing out and just using the yarn for something different! Anything can be fixed one way or another.
Yeah, I'm one of those people. A fixer. I like to fix things. If something is wrong, I have the irrepressible urge to FIX it. Problem is, I can't. I can't fix everything. I can't even fix most things! Leaving it up to God to take care of is a challenge for me. I keep wanting to tinker, wanting to get it done faster. (Can you tell that I'm not a patient person?)
I suppose that's one more thing I like about knitting. It's been compared to meditation for some. I guess it's true for me. It gives my fingers something to do, while leaving my mind free. Free to think, to imagine, and free to pray. I like to converse with God while I knit. I sometimes have a hard time just sitting still, and the repetitive motions help me to calm down, and just be. Once I calm down, then I can really pray, or even just meditate on whatever it is that God has been showing me lately.
It's interesting where God meets us. He meets us wherever we happen to be. That's so amazing to me. Explaining the concept that God is everywhere to my children has brought back some of the awe of the fact that God is right here, with me, right now. To them it is amazing that He is right here, even though we can't see Him. Seeing their amazement has brought back some of mine. Telling my children about Him has given me the chance to see it all through new eyes again. That's one of the gifts that God gives us when he gives us children. The chance to see it all again for the first time. The chance to remember meeting Him for the first time.
14 January 2009
06 January 2009
First Day of School
Munchkin had her "first day of school" yesterday. Truly, we begin educating our children from the day they are born, but since she is almost four and quite bright, I thought that setting aside some time each day for an actual lesson would be good. It lasted for 35 minutes, which at her age is quite good for an attention span. She learned about the color red, and practiced writing the letter A and a. Writing will take some practice, but I expected that. She did not. At one point she looked up at me and said, "I'm having a hard time learning..." I hugged her and explained that she was doing just fine and it takes some time and practice to learn things. After 35 minutes she declared, "I want to be done with school!" So, after she finished that round of writing A and a, I sent her into the living room to play with her brothers. I think that she expected things to progress much faster! We can't learn to read overnight, unfortunately! She will do just fine though, and I have no doubt that once she learns to read she will follow in her parents' footsteps and become an avid reader.
I think that it is impossible to be well-educated without being well-read. I am constantly surprised by the number of people in my age bracket that tell me they don't really read anything except magazines. I cannot imagine never sitting down with a good book! There is so much to be learned through reading, I could never run out of reading material. The founding fathers of America had impressive personal libraries. I think this is a good indicator of how vital reading is to good education. Already we are establishing our own personal library, and we already have several books that are on the required reading list for our children!
I find it interesting that during colonial times in America, the literacy rate was quite a bit higher than it is now. Rather surprising in this day of compulsory school attendance. That a largely home-educated populous were more literate than we are today is rather telling.
A commonly held opinion in that time period was that it was important for children to learn to read so that they could read the scriptures for themselves. Remember, the abuses of the Church of England was quite fresh in the minds of these people. An awakening was preceding the Revolution in America, and people wanted their children to discover a personal relationship with God through His Word. In fact the Bible was the common "textbook" of the day for teaching children to read. What better first reading material!
The goals of education have changed greatly over the past 250 years. I do not have the goal of simply teaching my kids reading, writing and arithmetic. No, my educational goals for my children go far beyond that. I want them to learn to read so that they may read the scriptures for themselves. I want them to learn history, so that they may see the blessings granted a nation who follows God, and the judgment that befalls those who do not. I want them to learn science so that they may look in awe upon the order and majesty of God's creation. I want them to learn mathematics so they may understand the just weight and measure that God calls for in the Bible. I want them to learn to write so that they may share with others what God has revealed to them. Most importantly, I want them to learn the Scriptures, so that no man may sway them from the truth.
A homeschooling mom once said it best. The most important things we will ever teach our children cannot be measured on an achievement test. Character cannot be measured by any but God. Our childrens' character is what we are to carefully shape through education. God commands parents to teach their children of Him constantly. God has entrusted us with a precious child, our greatest task is to point their heart to the cross.
I think that it is impossible to be well-educated without being well-read. I am constantly surprised by the number of people in my age bracket that tell me they don't really read anything except magazines. I cannot imagine never sitting down with a good book! There is so much to be learned through reading, I could never run out of reading material. The founding fathers of America had impressive personal libraries. I think this is a good indicator of how vital reading is to good education. Already we are establishing our own personal library, and we already have several books that are on the required reading list for our children!
I find it interesting that during colonial times in America, the literacy rate was quite a bit higher than it is now. Rather surprising in this day of compulsory school attendance. That a largely home-educated populous were more literate than we are today is rather telling.
A commonly held opinion in that time period was that it was important for children to learn to read so that they could read the scriptures for themselves. Remember, the abuses of the Church of England was quite fresh in the minds of these people. An awakening was preceding the Revolution in America, and people wanted their children to discover a personal relationship with God through His Word. In fact the Bible was the common "textbook" of the day for teaching children to read. What better first reading material!
The goals of education have changed greatly over the past 250 years. I do not have the goal of simply teaching my kids reading, writing and arithmetic. No, my educational goals for my children go far beyond that. I want them to learn to read so that they may read the scriptures for themselves. I want them to learn history, so that they may see the blessings granted a nation who follows God, and the judgment that befalls those who do not. I want them to learn science so that they may look in awe upon the order and majesty of God's creation. I want them to learn mathematics so they may understand the just weight and measure that God calls for in the Bible. I want them to learn to write so that they may share with others what God has revealed to them. Most importantly, I want them to learn the Scriptures, so that no man may sway them from the truth.
A homeschooling mom once said it best. The most important things we will ever teach our children cannot be measured on an achievement test. Character cannot be measured by any but God. Our childrens' character is what we are to carefully shape through education. God commands parents to teach their children of Him constantly. God has entrusted us with a precious child, our greatest task is to point their heart to the cross.
02 January 2009
Nostalgia
I always watch some sci-fi on New Year's Eve. It's sort of a tradition for me. I didn't intend to stay up until midnight this year, but Aaron was gone, the kids were in bed, and Netflix had season 2 & 3 of the new Dr. Who on instant watch. I was up until 2 AM...
I like the fun science fiction, not the really scary horror stuff. I enjoy Star Trek TOS, Star Wars, Dr. Who, Stargate, you know, the stuff that's a little weird and slightly creepy, but mostly just fun. I grew up watching Star Trek every night with my Dad, and Dr. Who every Saturday with him. Maybe it's nostalgia that attracts me to them. Well, that and an interesting story line. I seriously wonder if ANYONE can write a decent plot anymore... But I digress.
I found myself quite wrapped up in the adventures of the tenth Doctor. David Tennant is a great actor, and plays the role really well. My favorite episodes are those written by T. Russell Davies, one of the old Dr. Who writers. Long-time fans will readily recognize his name. It was quite fun to see the differences and similarities between the new and the old Dr. Who that I used to watch.
I wonder if my kids will want to sit on the couch and watch science fiction with me someday. Interesting the memories that we carry with us into adulthood.
Another great show is the original Twilight Zone. The episode "The Obsolete Man" is quite good. You can watch it online at http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/video/video.php?cid=649555532&pid=VL5KIZDUNVaYHT24eg1rYVbPBkWVhryg&play=true
It is well worth watching! Aaron and I were quite amazed at the amount of the Bible that was read during the episode. Sadly, you would not find it on network TV today. Another sign of the end times I imagine. At less than half an hour, it doesn't take long to watch.
I find it sad that our society has come in such a short time from openly acknowledging and thanking God, to ignoring Him, and now, to outright opposing Him. This bodes ill for our nation, and we will most certainly be judged because of it.
Even the older science fiction is quite steeped in humanism, unfortunately. In the realm of the written word there is the occasional work of science fiction written by a Christian that is quite good, but they are few and far between. Seeing much of the new sci-fi that exists is frightening to me, as it becomes more and more steeped in demonic activity and such. I feel sad for the teens today who accept it and become pulled into the evil that they see poytrayed in a positive light.
Then again, what are we to expect when we openly declare war on God. What a futile, foolish thing to do, but Satan has convinced us to join him in opposing God. His lies never really change, and without the influence of the Holy Spirit giving us discernment, we fall for them over and over again. Is it any wonder that Jesus repeatedly told his disciples, "Do not be decieved"? I pray that God will grant his followers a greater measure of discernment this year, as our time on Earth draws rapidly to a close. I agree wholeheartedly with the words of John at the end of Revelation. Even so, come LORD Jesus. Come soon.
I like the fun science fiction, not the really scary horror stuff. I enjoy Star Trek TOS, Star Wars, Dr. Who, Stargate, you know, the stuff that's a little weird and slightly creepy, but mostly just fun. I grew up watching Star Trek every night with my Dad, and Dr. Who every Saturday with him. Maybe it's nostalgia that attracts me to them. Well, that and an interesting story line. I seriously wonder if ANYONE can write a decent plot anymore... But I digress.
I found myself quite wrapped up in the adventures of the tenth Doctor. David Tennant is a great actor, and plays the role really well. My favorite episodes are those written by T. Russell Davies, one of the old Dr. Who writers. Long-time fans will readily recognize his name. It was quite fun to see the differences and similarities between the new and the old Dr. Who that I used to watch.
I wonder if my kids will want to sit on the couch and watch science fiction with me someday. Interesting the memories that we carry with us into adulthood.
Another great show is the original Twilight Zone. The episode "The Obsolete Man" is quite good. You can watch it online at http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/video/video.php?cid=649555532&pid=VL5KIZDUNVaYHT24eg1rYVbPBkWVhryg&play=true
It is well worth watching! Aaron and I were quite amazed at the amount of the Bible that was read during the episode. Sadly, you would not find it on network TV today. Another sign of the end times I imagine. At less than half an hour, it doesn't take long to watch.
I find it sad that our society has come in such a short time from openly acknowledging and thanking God, to ignoring Him, and now, to outright opposing Him. This bodes ill for our nation, and we will most certainly be judged because of it.
Even the older science fiction is quite steeped in humanism, unfortunately. In the realm of the written word there is the occasional work of science fiction written by a Christian that is quite good, but they are few and far between. Seeing much of the new sci-fi that exists is frightening to me, as it becomes more and more steeped in demonic activity and such. I feel sad for the teens today who accept it and become pulled into the evil that they see poytrayed in a positive light.
Then again, what are we to expect when we openly declare war on God. What a futile, foolish thing to do, but Satan has convinced us to join him in opposing God. His lies never really change, and without the influence of the Holy Spirit giving us discernment, we fall for them over and over again. Is it any wonder that Jesus repeatedly told his disciples, "Do not be decieved"? I pray that God will grant his followers a greater measure of discernment this year, as our time on Earth draws rapidly to a close. I agree wholeheartedly with the words of John at the end of Revelation. Even so, come LORD Jesus. Come soon.
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