Yep, That's Me
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a look into our lives.
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Your Vocabulary Score: A
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Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary!
You must be quite an erudite person.
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| You Are an Espresso | 
At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic
At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung
You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping
Your caffeine addiction level: high |
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6.8.2006 - Chapter 6 The Atmosphere of Home
I've been
reading and rereading this chapter over the past couple of months,
thinking on it, stewing over it, and inspired by it. I just
couldn't seem to find the time to get a few thoughts about it written
down. I still don't have a lot of time... but we got home late
last night and the house is still quite this morning, I'll let them
sleep in while I think heavy thoughts...
"There is, of
course, more to atmosphere than fresh bread baking in the oven (though
there is nothing quite like that aroma...), white ruffled curtains
fluttering in a sunny breeze (no white ruffles here, but at least most
of our windows actually have curtains...), and red geraniums on the
window sill (coleus and salvia here... the geraniums will be in the
large pots sitting by the break in the fence along the driveway...)" (words in parentheses mine...)
I have spent a couple of years trying to get a handle on the actual
physical elements of making our house a home, pleasant atmosphere and
all. I have by no means reached any housekeeping or homemaking
zenith, but things have come a long way... the mantel and piano top
have been decluttered and are kept mostly dusted... I put up curtains
in vivid colors, wow, did that change a couple of rooms! I've
actually planted flowers in the flower boxes out front a couple of
years in a row now (they sat empty but for the dry dirt for the first
couple of years after we moved here...) We try to stay on top of
the dishes every day and vacuum the great room nearly every day (dark
brown carpet- every crumb shows, even without the blacklight- just
kidding, no blacklights here, lol!)
But even if I were to
achieve that zenith, that magazine cover of a home in terms of physical
atmosphere... that's just not the essence of the home atmosphere I'm
shooting for.
I want the atmosphere of my home to give
my children "a regular feeding of ideas through sweeping tales of
history, wonderful inventions and discoveries in science, lives of
great men and women, stories that radiate the moral life as well as
paintings, plays, Psalms, poems, symphonies- and everything else
wonderful we can think of."
We do try to read a lot of
'sweeping tales of history' (Henty, Daugherty, Fritz, etc...), as well
as biographies of scientists and missionaries. We listen to and
attempt to learn to play great music. We read and memorize poetry
and Scripture.
But there is yet more to the atmosphere of the home.
"A child draws inspiration from the casual life around him. The thought of any of our poor words and ways being a daily influence on a child should make the best of us want to hold our breath."
The best of us?! What about the rest of us? Hold our breath and
hide in the bathroom? 'Any of our poor words'- how many poor
words a day on average does it take to ruin a child? I'm sure I
have too many most days- short answers, impatient tone, or worse-
condescending and critical. And what about our poor ways?
Even if I could manage to keep from uttering anything negative there is
always my daily struggle with idleness, sloppiness, carelessness... to
think of that being a regular, almost constant influence on them day
after day, month after month, year after year, gasp! "There is no
way of escape. We are inspirers..." "here (the atmosphere of
home) he derives those enduring ideas which express themselves as a life-long
kinship towards things sordid or things lovely, things earthly or
divine." Oh, may I point my children in such a way that they
choose the lovely and divine!
As Charles Spurgeon said
"When a home is ruled according to God's word, angels might be asked to
stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their
element." Lofty ideal, I'm not there yet.... but I am encouraged
by the thought that "we may not reach our ideals, but it is our fervent, faithful reaching towards them that matters greatly."
This is already long, there'll have to be a part 2 as there is
more food for thought in Chapter 6! In the meantime, in between
time, there is already much to think about as every mother reading this
seeks to bless and improve the atmosphere of her home- I know I'm
working on mine all the time and it helps to really spend some time
thinking about the far reaching effect, good or bad, the atmosphere we
create now will have on future generations... I'll leave you with that.
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Post A Comment!
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6.8.2006 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by CTdittmar |
Great thoughts! I so agree and strive likewise. Keep the great thoughts coming! Yeah, I wish we could be neighbors too. Love the pics of your son's baptism by the way. How exciting. My son wants to be baptized this summer too.
Christa |
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6.8.2006 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by eyecorn |
I've picked up a few Charlotte Mason books to read this summer. I'm enjoying your Charlotte Mason posts. We have already been quasi-Charlotte Mason, but I have a long way to go!
BTW, I bought our dissection specimens from Knight's Book Nook.
Their phone 229-776-8823, address is Knight's Book Knook P.O. Box 72436
Albany, GA 31708. I tried their web address, but couldn't get to it www.knightsbooknook.com. The email is info@knightsbooknook.com. The specimens were inexpensive and the guide was 75 cents.
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6.8.2006 - Wow! Thanks! |
| Posted by smlltwnmmmy |
Thank you for this entry, Ali! It blessed me so much this morning! I need to nurture my children more and my house less! :0) I really needed a reminder of that today!
You are so sweet to offer to make me a sling! I just couldn't believe your generosity! Thank you so much, but I would never want you to take time away from your family and other responsibilities to do that for me. No, I don't sew, although I'm hoping to learn very soon! But I would love to have the pattern that you have if there's any way for you to pass it along! Then, after I learn, I can not only make one for me, but I can make them to bless my friends and family that have new babies!
Also, thanks so much for the advice on nursing. I'm definitely going to try the Mother's Milk tea. DH says I have to finish off my bottle of Fenugreek before I try something different. :0( But that won't take too long! Can't wait to give it a try! Have you used it? Do you know if it tastes good?
Please keep me updated on your pregnancy! I cannot wait to find out what you are having! -Brandi |
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6.8.2006 - see ya around HSB |
| Posted by javamamma |
| Thanks for commenting on my blog. I enjoyed reading your recent post - excellent thoughts. I added you as a mutual friend. Hope to see ya around! |
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6.9.2006 - Hello |
| Posted by Canadagirl |
I saw you over at OurLittleSchoolRoom and I would like to say hi and I added you to my friends list . I hope you come and visit my blog some time soon.(0:
In Him,
-Canadagirl |
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6.9.2006 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Louscrew |
Wonderful news about your son! That is just so refreshing to see one so young dedicate himself to the Lord. May he be used faithfully and continually all the days of his life. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa |
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6.9.2006 - Greetings Neighbor! |
| Posted by OurHomeSweetHomeschool |
Hi Ali,
I have the Charlotte Mason Companion coming soon on interlibrary loan but I'm guessing from all I've read about the book it is one I will want to purchase and keep on my shelf.
I did buy "Educating the Wholehearted Child" and I am REALLY enjoying the book. Now if someone could watch my kids for a week I could catch up on all the reading I want to do.
Blessings,
Theresa |
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6.9.2006 - Very good. |
| Posted by amada |
I can relate and I too long for God to keep making me better and more like Him. Afterall, the less of me and the more of Him that they see, is all the better for my kids. Like you said, we can strive to make our houses homes and make for good learning environments... but is a good taste in decorating style and a love of learning enough? We want them to really know and love Jesus. Sometimes, I worry, because I think about how I AM and think, "why would my kids want to know Jesus, seeing me, a sorry example, as his representative..." But, then I remember, that it is not up to me to save anybody. I must do my best to be an example of a sinner saved by grace. A redeemed and yet still quite imperfect sinner being constantly molded into the image of her Savior.
I enjoyed musing about your musings :)
Amy
Cajamarca, Peru |
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6.12.2006 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Titus2woman |
| Beautiful! and I'm sure that the Oreos aren't about glottony~it's PREGNANCY! LOL! It does somethin' to ya, I tell ya! How cool that you were into clowning.... (((((HUGS))))) sandi |
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6.20.2006 - Well spoken... |
| Posted by mamatc |
*sigh*
Yes, my DF, may we ever be striving for that in all of our homes and hearts!
Blessings,
Traci :) |
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