If you haven’t already, you must visit Homeliving Helper today and ready Lady Lydia’s article about the formal home.

Are the things she describes really “formal”, or just common courtesy?  Oh, from whence we came . . .

And I, for one, am going back,

Mrs. L

I was at a formal event the other day and was stumped three times in one hour.

1.  One of the officials continually referred to the subjects and the audience as ‘guys’.  This would have been fine, but it wasn’t solely a group of casual men he was addressing.  Now, I realize that the world at large has adopted this ‘guys’ thing, and that’s fine – for the casual, secular, xy chromosome-packing world.  BUT this was a formal, Christian affair including male and female, young and old alike.

2.  Another official made a crack about having lost track of the number of children in a nicely-blessed family.  While he got a chuckle out of it, I had to think about what was really being said in his comment.

3.  Later Mr. L ran into an acquaintance and inquired after his family.  The gentleman stated that his wife was thrilled, because the school year had just started, and now both children are out of the house from 8:30 – 3:00.

Do we really know where we’ve let the world sneak into our lives, our homes, our faith?

Lord, show me - what have I let slip by?

Mrs. L

Last Thursday brought us some family from Poland (Mr & Mrs G), visiting us for an Arizona adventure.  It was great fun, as Mr L got to play interpreter for days and the girls and I got to learn a few more words and phrases.

Day one was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which I had never seen before.  It’s true, it’s very different from the north side.  Unfortunately it was raining (not to mention FREEZING) the entire time, but it was lovely none-the-less.  The girls counted up to twenty some deer, some of which were quite close.

Now I know why we haven't had rain in the Valley - it's all here in Northern Arizona!

Day two took us to the South Rim with clear skies.  We walked down into the Canyon a bit and just enjoyed the company and the view.  The girls learned to respect not giving their mother a heart attack by hanging too near the edge.  At one point we were all taking pictures and of course everyone was speaking Polish.  Some of us were sitting on a wall getting ready for Mr L to shoot a picture.  A couple was approaching as they were reading a map when suddenly the woman signed, “look, wait”.  So I waved to them and signed back that Mr L was adjusting the camera and for them to go ahead.  The gentleman had this great smile on his face and said thank you.  Mrs. G asked what was that?  So I explained that I saw the couple signing and knew they were either hard of hearing or Deaf, so I told them to go on through.  We all laughed about our odd trio of languages.  Polish, English, and ASL.  Who would have thought?

Lunch for one of the locals.

This doe is about 30 feet away.

As if the Canyon wasn't enough, we continued south and stopped at some Indian ruins.  This is Rose on her way in to check out the sleeping quarters.

Another local, this time sunbathing.  You can barely see the black collar around his neck.  Looks like he's all dressed up with no place to go.

Next up was Sunset Crater.  We ended with a hike STRAIGHT UP to a point that overlooked the sight of a forest fire from last year.  It was an OK view, but I’m not sure worth the agony it took to reach the point!

The view coming back down from KILLER hill - lovely.

While there were no major events going on in Flagstaff at the time, it was hotter than . . . well . . . it was very hot in the valley, so many of the hotels in Flagstaff were booked solid.  The 4^th hotel at which we stopped had two rooms and in we settled.

Day three drove us through Sedona, Jerome, Prescott, and finally home.

Mrs. G, Rose, Daisy, and myself, entering Oak Creek Canyon from the north.

While it was only three days of travel, they were three long days, and two of them very hot, so we were all very happy to be home.  Within a few hours we had the dogs back at the house (they had been farmed out to friends) and were settled in.  Simple dinner, hanging out, quiet evening.  I got to teach Mrs G some basic crochet and was able to send her with yarn and a hook to finish a scarf.

Monday morning was like Christmas.  We all slept in a bit, and woke up to even more friends.  Mr & Mrs K were in from Minnesota for a wedding and some business, and had joined our lodge in the middle of the night.  Mr L was on his toes, interpreting for 7 of us, and I must admit it was funny when he’d shift from a Polish speaking person to and English speaking person and still be speaking Polish.  Poor guy.  He held up beautifully though, and earned his stripes to be sure.  Mrs K cleaned up the poor crochet technique I had taught Mrs G the night before, and I taught them both some embroidery stitches.  Mrs. G took a set of pillowcases I had started that she really liked.  I hope to see them finished when I get to Poland sometime (probably) next year.

Time came too soon and Mr L had to get Mr & Mrs G to the airport.  It was a sad departure, but we were happy that we’ll most likely get to see them relatively soon.  What dear, sweet people.

After their departure, Mr & Mrs K headed to their aunt’s house for a swim.  I came in to catch up on email, and adoption board postings.  I found out that two other couples, who submitted dossiers at the same time that we did, got referrals over the weekend.

Ouch.

This must be what it’s like when one is struggling to get pregnant and hears that Mrs So and So is expecting again.  I confess to having a 3 hour pity party but then started looking at the Lord’s perfect timing.  I would really like to be in the US for the end of October (Quilt Market in Houston!).  If we got a referral for children this soon, I’d most likely be in Poland.  Yes, children out weigh Quilt Market.  But I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that I REALLY want to go to Market this year, as it will most likely be my final Market.  Thankfully I came full circle and am excited that referrals are coming through, even if they aren’t referrals for us.

Mr & Mrs K had their business meeting the next day.  As per usual CPS is screwing up and parties both Christian and non are lying and behaving in an unfathomable manner.  Amazing.  Simply amazing.  And people wonder why we aren’t adopting from within the US . . .

They’ve since departed and now we’re back to ‘just us’.  I love my home, I love it when it’s full, and I love it when it’s ‘just us’.  I pray to always be so.

Time for bed!

Mrs. L

You Are 92% Lady

No doubt about it, you are a lady with impeccable etiquette.  You know how to put others at ease, even if their manners aren't the greatest.

Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . I know . . . I changed it again.

First, I loving rearranging furniture, the house, rooms, anything that has been still for more than a few months is fair game.

The girls have had as their bedroom, each of the three secondary rooms in the house in the five years we’ve lived here.  Also . . .

what was once the sewing room is now the guest room.

what was once the guest room is now the new children’s’ room.

what was once the living room is now the living/tv room.

what was once the family/tv room is now the library .

So, don’t be surprised when the blogature around here gets rearranged too.

Second, the direct links weren’t linking, and I only know enough HTML to get myself into trouble – not enough to fix the trouble once I’m in it!  J  So, I’ll stick with a standard template for now, with a few extras in the side bar.  Maybe I’ll get adventurous another time.

Staying out of HTML trouble,

Mrs. L

So . . . I’ve struggled and struggled trying to get all these bits and pieces of our studies going all at the same time.  For months this has weighed on me.  I love what we’re using; I just couldn’t get all the plates spinning and keep them going.  I was seriously ready to pack it all in and hook the girls up to some computer or workbook method, because I certainly wasn’t getting much done.  I didn’t even know the bits and pieces of information I was to be teaching them.  And although our curriculum has tons on information for those of us left uneducated by the government education system, it still was not coming together.

Then I realized that I don’t have to do it all - and I won’t go to hell for it.

We decided to just take one good book about Jamestown, read through it, and have the girls make a lap book about the bits and pieces they remembered.  Great – I can do this.  I’ll read through slowly, they can write little note cards as I read, and they can use the cards later to organize and create their lap books – right?

Wrong

The reading at 2 mph (to accommodate the note taking) was just too tedious.  While Daisy did OK, Rose struggled with writing, and the perfectionist in her had her further slowed by spelling issues.  So we stopped for the day.  I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to figure out how on earth people do this without having to do it for the child.  Take information from the book, organize the interesting points, lay out the lap book, etc.  How on earth?

“Without having to do it for the child” means the child does it for himself.

Hmm . . .

So . . . I did it.  The next afternoon I pulled the book out, and read them the first chunk.  Then I left them the book, gave them each a folder, the supplies, and the sample fold lap book that I have, and I turned them loose.

They had a great time.  They verified information, started their books and are looking forward to continuing.  They learned several things about planning, about the topic at hand, about construction, about materials . . .

And I learned something too . . .

Stand down, and let the children learn!

Mrs. L

“I can not boast of knowing more than half a dozen women in all my acquaintance that are truly accomplished . . .”

Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

According to the response this remark receives, one must have knowledge of singing, drawing, dancing, and modern languages to ‘deserve the word’.

After watching this scene a few times, I really started to think about Darcy’s remark.  “. . . truly accomplished . . .”  In what am I truly accomplished?  Anything?  I don’t know about you, but I’m not too far along on Caroline’s list of requirements.  You wouldn’t want to catch me singing or drawing.  I can hold my own as far as dancing goes, but in modern languages, I’d be sunk.

Thankfully, it’s not Caroline Bingley’s check list of ‘accomplishments’ I must to consider.  Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives us the following definition -

ACCOMPLISHED

1. Finished; completed; fulfilled; executed; effected.

2. Well endowed with good qualities and manners; complete in acquirements; having a finished education.

3. Fashionable.

While I’m not too concerned about ‘fashionable’ (have you seen the ‘fashions these days?) I do appreciate things like finished, executed, well endowed with good qualities, complete in acquirements, etc.  So again – in what am I truly accomplished?

Hmm . . .

Well . . .

Umm . . .

There are plenty of things in which I am interested . . . reading, quilting, sewing, needlework, keeping house, bible study, gardening, playing violin, home education, motherhood, etc., etc., etc.

But again, in what am I truly accomplished?

Eating chocolate?

No, that doesn’t count.

It’s an interesting concept that deserves serious thought.  I am ‘ok’ in several areas, but could not honestly say that I’m ‘accomplished’ in any.

Why not?  Why have I not attacked an area with enough gusto to really conquer it?  Why have I settled for a little here and a little there?

Well, partially because I have several areas of interest.  Also, having children in the house and expecting more on the way, it’s a little busy around here.  There are also things that lend themselves better to various situations.  Are my children studying?  Then I need to be at the dining table with them.  Bible study fits nicely here.  Is the family watching a movie in the evening?  Needlework lends itself.  Is the house shut down for quiet time in the afternoon?  Time to read.  Are the girls practicing strings?  May as well break out the violin and keep up with them.

Alright, it’s not practical for me to select one area on which to focus.  But I can be more purposeful with my selections.  Serious bible study, more complicated needlework pieces, thought provoking reading, challenging pieces of music.

Why?  Why not remain comfortable with the quotidian?

Because that’s average – and average is boring.  Because the majority of the planet it filled with people stuck in quotidian mode.  Because there is more fulfillment in accomplishment.  Because we have bigger opportunity to be a blessing and encouragement to our families, our friends, our homes, our communities, with higher levels of accomplishment in various areas of interest.  Because we should make the most of what time we’re given on this earth.  Because this is the last July 10^th of 2006 I’m ever going to get.  In what have I improved today?

Accomplishment in any area should be pursued with pure motives, certainly.  To surpass the neighbors is not pure motive, nor is to show up so and so who always thinks she’s so perfect in (fill in the blank) area of life.  Challenge yourself!  Increase your ability!  Not for the reputation, but for whom you can share it with.  Make a life more beautiful, teach someone coming along behind you, bless someone.

Give it some serious thought.  Make a list.  Consider it.  Plan.

In what are you going to become truly accomplished?

Let me know!

Mrs. L

"There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from the other: but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school."  -Thucydides

If you have not read A Thomas Jefferson Education, you must do so.  If you’ve read it, but not yet implemented a single idea, then you must read it again.

Guess who’s studies are about to change!

Mrs. L

I’ve noticed something in my children, and I didn’t notice it until a dear friend began to struggle with it in her children.  Funny how we don’t always see the issue under our own nose . . .

Let’s say my girls and I are going to a friend’s house for lunch.  When I walk in the door, I am greeted warmly and return the greeting with something appropriate.  When the children walk through the door, they say ‘hello’, but then tend to run directly upstairs to play with their friends.  I continue into the home as invited to do so and thank my hostess for the lunch invitation.

What happened to, “Hello Mrs. Smith, how are you this afternoon?”?  Or, “Hello Mrs. Smith, thank you for inviting us for lunch.”  You know, looking the hostess in the eye and greeting her with respect and pleasantness?  (As opposed to a quick, ‘hello’ on the way up the stairs.)  Why don’t the children see my example?  Because they have rushed off and are gone before it’s played out.

Now I have a confession to make.

I could watch Pride and Prejudice (the new one) every day and twice on Sundays.

There are many things I enjoy about the culture of that era, one of which are the various courtesies practiced religiously.  For example, helping a woman into a carriage, bowing upon arrival and departure, the pecking order of eldest to youngest, etc.  (Of course this era was not without faults; I just choose to focus on the pleasant.)

Back to the issue at hand.  Think about it - adults and children alike did the same thing at the same time upon arrival and departure.  Arrive, bow or curtsey, exchange pleasantries and get on with it.  It was not rushed.  The same goes for the departure.  Everyone is there for the send off, bows or curtseys, exchange pleasantries and get on with it.  Again – unrushed, and the children are present.

Note to self:  Purposely teach the girls not to rush in and out of the presence of others.  Thought we may not rewind to bow and curtsey, they can certainly slow down enough to be lovely.  You know – actually make it into a living room and be seated for a bit before asking the hostess permission to run up and play.

Rocket science?  Certainly not.

Just another ‘duh’ that made me laugh.

Mrs. L

The beginning of June brought us . . .

Two dogs for dog-sitting

Approval from Poland for adoption

4 friends (human) for the month

Another dog for a few days

A new job for Mr. L

The demise of a budding home business.

But . . .

The two dogs are gone now, and we thus have our kitchen and dining room back.

We are officially in the ‘wait for a referral’ phase of our adoption.

I love the friends that are here.

The other business dog was lovely and only stole a solitary piece of garlic bread during her stay.

Mr. L is thrilled to not be baby-sitting – uh – I mean ‘managing’ anymore.

After the last few dogs we’ve had, I’m at peace with not being able to dog sit for a home business!  (They are like children – I pretty much only like the ones whose owners are raising them the way I would!)

Can’t wait to be back blogging more regularly!

Mrs. L