I was particularly touched by the beautiful imagery of the Eucharistic Prayer.
What a wonderful project for an imaginative, prayerful child to illustrate!
Kevin agreed completely; he's rendering each small chunk of the prayer in his own
whimsical style. Here's a sample:
Fountain of life and source of all goodness,you made all things
and fill them with your blessing;
you created them to rejoice
in the splendour of your radiance.
I hope that you are finding fresh inspiration and joy this summer...
xoxo Ann
: : Watercolor & Ink by Kevin, age 10 : :Almighty God, to whom all hearts be open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hid;
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love thee,
and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
~Book of Common Prayer, 1662
I love these beautiful words of the opening Collect each Sunday.
Time-polished prayers always evoke a feeling of mystery and kinship with my long-passed
brothers and sisters in Christ. How many souls have been called to worship by their gentle
poetry over ages past? How many more times will I hear them?
Have a beautiful weekend.
xoxo Ann
: : a corner of our schoolroom: :The feast of Pentecost has ushered in a burst of fresh energy at our house-- just in time for summer
and the new rhythms of living that accompany it. There always seems to be a feeling of expansiveness and ease at this time of year. It's time to exhale and relax into long warm days.
I try so hard not to over-fill our family calendar. But still. It does fill up with swim meets and playdates and a patchwork of blankets and mommas at the park. Good summer things.
I resolve to stop looking at the clock so much and just enjoy the light and peace of every
extraordinary day.
Michelangelo wrote:
The liturgical calendar gives us the chance to do just that.
It is an eternal circle of feasting, fasting, and blessed Ordinary Days.
Our calendar reminds every day to stop and remember what matters most.
Teach me to number my days, Lord. They are precious and few.
(For details about our liturgical calendar please see this entry.)Joyful days to you...
xoxo Ann
Last week, I attended our state's convention for home educators. It had been several years
since I'd done so, and I'm really, really glad that I went. I was so blessed by one of the talks in
particular that I want to share my notes with you. I hope that you'll enjoy her words and let them soak in deeply. I've added a few funny little drawings from my own children-- all of these came from a thick folder labeled, "Treasures." It grows as my memories of these homeschooling years continue to accrue.
Not A Messy Work of Art
by Mari Fitz-Winn
Notes from her talk at the 2009 NCHE Conference
"Our children are made in God’s image—they have a unique God-given image.
Allow your children to be children—to be the children God made them to be.
When we attempt to tamper with a child’s unique identity we drag their spirit down.
Why do we take ownership when ownership belongs to God?
(Remember how Hannah gave Samuel back to the Lord. We must follow her example.)
Make sure your children know, “I am valued for WHO I AM, in my family, and in Christ.”
Establish strong ties of love and acceptance with your children, strong ties with your husband."
"Sometimes our children can simply get too much of us.
Allow them TIME to breathe and be alone. And time to develop into who they are.
What do they feel led to do in life?
What are their goals? What are their interests, their unique gifts and talents?
Celebrate those—let the child follow her passions.
Especially teens—ask them to share their dreams and to help design their own curriculum.
That teen needs ownership of her curriculum and choices.
Someday, we want them to step away, to go out into the world smiling, happy, and ready to do
what God is calling them to do.
Homeschooling teaches us about ourselves.
We will make mistakes, but God is very gracious to us."
"Sometimes we enter difficult seasons with our children (especially around ages 9 – 17 or so)
On days when things are going awry, ask God to help you handle these times.
Relax. Trust in your prayers.
Trust that God has heard you even if the result is not what you have asked.
Teach your children and walk beside them with a humble heart.
Trust that they have heard you even if they do not show it immediately."
"God made this child. Remember that the design belongs to Him-- it is perfectly imperfect.
Imperfections allow us to stretch and grow—these imperfections are beautiful to God.
We don’t get to own the design.
Sometimes we can help with the coloring and shading (by way of character development)
but only very gently.
The design belongs to God."
If you are struggling through a difficult season, partner with a friend in prayer
or find someone to mentor you through.
Sometimes the season is a very long one—every day, the same issue over and over and over.
Find ways to restore the dignity to that child.
Your children will look back and remember the times that you were patient with them—
they will look back and remember the grace.
Do not continually erase mistakes for your child.
We might be tempted to compare with others—or try to erase mistakes—but we must ask ourselves if this competitiveness might be coming from our own insecurities…?
Sometimes we have to teach through disappointments. We must embrace mistakes and learn from them. There are beautiful lessons there.
It is tempting to make the road too smooth—remember that we must prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child. They need the lessons of their mistakes to help prepare them for the bumps ahead.
"Our homeschools belong to God—this work is even more important to Him than it is to us.
He has a plan, even if it looks messy to us.
Make certain that God owns your plan, your expectations.
Your life."
+ + + + +
Mari Fitz-Winn spoke with the quiet wisdom and grace of a mother who has raised her children well. Her talk was not flashy or showy in the tiresome way that makes me want to avoid such events. Rather, she simply shared her heart along with some sweet, scribbley coloring that her children had done over the years.
I hope that you find some tiny golden nugget of Truth in these notes that lifts you up and helps you see what's good and holy in your daily work as a mother and teacher to your children.
xoxo Ann
that as we believe
your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven,
so we may also in heart and mind there ascend,
and with him continually dwell;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
It has been 40 days since Easter already, and we are off to church on this glorious spring day.
How I love the richness of living in the everlasting cycle of feasts and fasts of the church year!
It's a chance to pause and see the glory of God's eternal plan on an ordinary Thursday.
Alleluia!
A little birdie told me there might be a trip to the ice pop shop later...
xoxo Ann
: : Purple Iris : :Every once in a while something beautiful blooms in our yard
and is not immediately eaten by a deer.
So here you are, from me to you, with joy and wishes for a lovely, lovely day.
doesn't lie down in flat miles.
It's in the imagination
with which you perceive
this world,
and the gestures
with which you honor it.
~Mary Oliver
know that your work as a mother matters much.
It is a beautiful path in a garden that holds delights and challenges--
a way to simultaneously empty yourself and fill yourself
every single day.
xoxo Ann
p.s. You might enjoy listening to Scott Simon's description of his wife's daily work.
He had me laughing out loud in the car this morning. Silly boy.
: : A lovely spot in the garden at our church : :I hope that you are hopeful and joyful in your work.
I've been making some plans for our summer homeschool since we've decided to return to a more
year-round schedule. I may post them here one day, but for now,
go and see what Katherine has been doing... simple and lovely!
She is a mother after my own heart.
These days, honestly, I'm just enjoying the springtime sunshine as the children and I dash around
here and there tying up the loose ends of this semester.
It is the time of year when I find it almost painful to turn the computer on.
There must be a time when we, who make plans forget our plans
and act as if we had no plans at all.
There must be a time of day when we who have to speak fall very silent.
~Thomas Merton
I'll be back.
xoxo Ann
Outside...
a soft spring rain saturates the foliage; the colors glow.
Feeling grateful for...
everything we have.
love. health. faith. curiosity. joy.
What else do we need?
In our homeschool...
fresh co-op classes for spring:
Ecology (for Kevin)There is so much energy and wisdom among the parents in our homeschooling
Human Geography (for Haleigh)
community-- and so much generosity in sharing those gifts.
I am blown away.
Creating...
well, more like re-creating our living space. This little house lends itself to
reinvention by necessity. Being much too small to have wasted rooms, it
must change as frequently as our needs change. I enjoy the simplicity and the
creative design challenge in the process. And so, the laundry room has been
streamlined (yet again!) into its new function: The Useful Room.
It began months ago when I turned the "junk drawer" into "The Useful Drawer."
It is so nice to always know exactly where to find a pair of scissors or a roll of
scotch tape, and I thought, why not have a room-size version of that?
A place for those every day useful items from cell phones to dvd's to gym bags--
now it's all neatly shelved. No clutter allowed.
I wonder how long it will last?
I will likely be the one to junk it back up. 
Inspired by...
the elderly athletes at my gym.
I chose to join a fitness center that happens to be mostly populated by senior
citizens. I wanted to exercise in a low-key atmosphere where folks are simply happy
to be alive and doing what they can. I couldn't have chosen a better spot.
The place is state-of-the-art and never crowded in the evening. Over the past
few months, I've made the acquaintance of a handful of dear, brave souls who come
out regularly to move their bodies despite serious health challenges. Their
cheerfulness and joyful hearts always humble and inspire me to work a little longer
and harder than I think I can.
I am rewarded with renewed energy and well-being every time.
Planning...
to enjoy the springy weather next week after the rain has passed.
Reading...
very little right now. I'm all about doing lately. I guess I'll have a chance to catch
up on my reading list during the long, hot summer days which will be here soon.
Cooking...
much less meat. We're down to once a week for red meat, once for chicken,
and twice for fish.
Also, on the good advice of a friend, I've been eating only raw foods during daytime hours: fruit in the morning, salad and veggies in the afternoon.
I never get tired in the afternoon anymore.
It's like rocket fuel.
Looking forward to… Easter!
Another rain-illuminated picture from this morning for you...
Be well, friends.
xoxo Ann
Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.
And Mary said,
Yes, I see it all now:
I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.
Then the angel left her.
~The Message+ + +
May God bless you in all the great and small ways that you say "yes" today.
xoxo Ann
: : The tug-o-war between winter and spring : :|
Hello! Just popping in to say hi and show you yet another photo of snow + flowers. It seems that “March Madness” applies to more than just basketball here in the South; our crazy weather has its own unpredictable course. So far this month, we’ve had snowy nights in the teens, sunny afternoons in the 70’s, and everything in between. As one who came from the vast, empty cornfields and endless gray winters of northern Illinois, the showy beauty and early warmth of Carolina springtime always fills my heart with joy. My family has been known to pile in the car and drive around admiring flowering shrubs and trees the way some might look at Christmas lights: Ooooo... look at that yard!
St. Paddy's Day is such a welcome respite from the austerities of Lent. Really, the timing is brilliant. Don't we all need a slab of red meat, a cold, green "adult beverage" and a few shenanigans right about now? Aye, we do. I'm off to tame that Beast of a corned beef that has been simmering on my stove all afternoon... Erin go bragh! xoxo Ann |