Friday, April 29, 2011

First Sick Day

All week long, at least one of my children have ran a fever.  With the first, I took him in to the Dr. and it ended up being a virus that needed to run its course.  Tending to him with Motrin, hugs, movies, liquids and rest.  The it moved to my youngest.  She doesn't even act sick.  She has had many fevers having to deal with chronic ear infections over the years.  She has run a temp the longest, since Tuesday night Wednesday morning.  Which brings me to this morning, both girls are running a temp.  The differences are night and day.  My youngest with the highest temp, is sprightly and giggly.  Only flushed cheeks and mass body heat indicates that she is not feeling well.  Then there is my oldest, almost nine.  She has a low grade fever and thinks it is the end of the world.  This what this post is about, her first sick day since implementing a Charlotte Mason education.  Normally I would stress over how far we would be set back in our lesson plans.  Today, I feel such freedom in not having my ducks in a row (corresponding lessons for each subject) because it means we just pick up where we left off and since I have more fun reading (poems/riddles, riddles because I am having a hard time figuring out what the moral is) scheduled for today so we can move past them and pick up next week.  Ah, the beauty of short lessons, it doesn't have to be daunting to "catch up."  This educational switch has been such a blessing to my educational expectations, limitations and stress level.  This week has been a lesson in being Thankful even during the hard times.  We are thankful to go through this because we can see the value of health, as well as our want for dad (who happens to be out of town during this week of fevers) to be home and not forgetting it is all a gift. 

Happy Friday
~Brandy

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Saturday!

I know I should be doing something around the house like folding my laundry or some other service to my family but I am enjoying the sound of my kids playing nicely together. Even if right now is following a couple of melt downs and tiffs among them.  I'll take the joy of this moment knowing they can enjoy one another and the realization that they trust one another enough to show each emotion boldly.  I just had to share that in my struggle to find Joy (this has been boosted by a friends gift of a great read but has been my longing for a long time) I am reading three books at once.  Within a couple of days of each passage read, I have come across the same idea in all three.  My sight is tainted.  I am not seeing the world through the goggles of Grace, a necessity to find Joy.  What is Grace?  How do I show Grace, see Grace, embrace Grace?  Is it through Thankfulness you find both Joy and Grace?  I was Thankful for not over reacting and becoming angry when I dropped two separate food items down my sink.  I was Thankful not for dropping them but for not losing my mind.  My prayer today is that my reactions carry over to my kids, not losing my mind when they trust me enough to test me.  To bestow Grace on them through Joy!
~Brandy

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Word

Magnanimous ~ adj.  1.  Courageously noble in mind and heart. 
                                 2.  Generous in forgiving; eschewing (to avoid or shun) resentment or revenge;  unselfish.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Changes are on the Horizon!

We have been a homeschooling family for three years now.  To me, that seems like a long time, like I should know the best way of doing it.  Well, throw in changes in our goals, priorities, and morals.  Not to mention, changes in interest, the addition of interested preschoolers (as opposed to dis-interested, they were this a few months ago) and the ability to challenge minds in a way that benefits each child.  We are chucking our current curriculum, throwing caution to the wind and jumping right into a Charlotte Mason based education.  I have been researching alternatives for most of this school year, thinking I would use it next year.  Last week, I felt many things come together and God spoke to me.  I have my babes home with me.  I have the ability to change what is not working and I don't have to feel I am doing something wrong by not finishing the curriculum we started.  It wasn't working.  My husband and I are in love with the methods and theories of education and child-rearing that CM taught.  I feel this change in the entire family and our educational goals are going to lessen the stress and bring much more joy out of learning!  I am so excited to read through some of the classic novels suggested by other CM parents.  I don't remember having been exposed to them but want my children to find joy in them right along with Dad and I.  I am finding joy in where God has me now!  My family, the people he has placed as friends and mentors and the ability to love my blessings, his blessings!  My prayer is for continued Joy and for others to find a passion for the children, embracing their whole being and find JOY in the now!

~Brandy

Saturday, April 9, 2011

No More HFCS!!!


I made my own fruit spread.  This one is Strawberry.  I wouldn't call it a jam or jelly, as it has not set as firmly as I envisioned.  It may not be intended for a PB&J but on a slice of toast topped with a perfectly cooked egg, it is fantastico.  We are trying to move away from the high fructose corn syrup in our foods, so I am going to have to practice perfecting this.  Next, Apples!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Thankful


Today I am Thankful for Quiet time.  A time when each of us can be alone with our God, our thoughts and regroup those things we hold dear!

~Brandy
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