I just noticed something while knitting today.  It relates to left/right brain integration.  It is said that "left-brained" people are logic centered, ordered, etc.  Alternatively, "right-brained" people are creative, varied, etc.  Both types of people are needed, quite necessary to maintain balance.  Now, for the realization of that truth through knitting....

Two hands wrapped around two needles are needed in order to create fabric when knitting.  Now, I'm not certain whether left handed people hold their stitches on opposite needles from right handed knitters.  I can only offer what I observed from the way I hold my needles.  While I knit, the needle in my left hand logically keeps track of the number of stitches and the row that I am on in an ordered fashion as I follow a particular pattern.  My right hand, however, brings creativity into this order by forming a variety of stitches that eventually bring forth a unique design, a thing of of beauty.  

Both order and creativity flow together to manifest utilitarian works of art.  Amazing texture, color, warmth, and whimsy transform the necessary or desired into a masterpiece long loved and appreciated.  By bringing the capabilities of both sides of the brain together, peace is achieved.  Loving gifts are given.  Thankfulness is shared.  Hugs are welcomed.  Hearts are warmed.  Balance is achieved.

After prayer, throw the whites in the washing machine and start breakfast.

When the whites are out, toss in the jeans/darks and get breakfast on the table.

Go for a walk or do pilates while the morning chores are being finished.

Eat breakfast with the kids and read the Bible with them.

Go over Howdy's with reading, grammar, and spelling lessons and then his math lesson.

Go over math work with Bubba and then read with him.

Hang out the colorful clothes that were washed during breakfast with Posie at my heels.

Do some supper prep while the older kids take their daily spelling tests.

Go over grammar lesson with the older kids.

Study science with Bubba and Howdy.

Cook lunch, eat lunch, and enjoy the fact that the kids can clean it all up without supervision!

Read or knit while Posie falls off to sleep.

Work on my "zones" for 30 minutes.

Study geography and Latin/Greek roots with Scooter, Bubba, Sis, and Howdy.

Have a spelling bee with Bubba and Howdy.

Return calls/e-mail.

Enjoy gardening for a while with Posie before I finish dinner prep.

Review driver's ed. with Scooter or let him drive for a bit.

Eat dinner with the family and then enjoy story time with Posie.

Go for a walk or do pilates and then take a hot bath.

Fold the clothes while I listen to classical music.

Read some scripture before bed and enjoy the quiet with Hubby!

Sis had a great birthday weekend!  She enjoyed a mini-campout with her cousin.  It was cut short due to mosquitoes, coyotes, and other interuptions.

But, they had a blast!

Scooter is seventeen years old today!  SNIFF!  We're having a fun day for him.  Studying, chores, and vanilla ice cream. 

Seriously!  He gets to goof off if he wants to today, but his seriousness about study time has improved so much, he may want to study all day.

We're going to town at some point to purchase a new protractor and compass for him as his have become too flimsy.  He's working on finishing up math this year and we'll need to purchase a better calculator at some point, too. 

Happy Birthday, Scooter!

I recieved a sweet e-mail from Nancy Campbell (Above Rubies) on Monday, but didn't have a chance to read it until yesterday.  It was such a blessing.  In her note, Nancy encouraged me to "keep on keeping on!"  She told me that in order to do this, I'd need to remember Hebrews 11:8-9, "Abraham...it was faith that kept him journeying like a foreigner through the land of promise."  Since what I do is almost always the opposite of those around me, I need to keep this verse in plain view every morning! 

Nancy then reinforced her encouraging words by giving the cold hard facts.  "It is easy to feel burdened when you look at problems but you will be amazed at how different you will feel when you keep your eyes upon the Lord.  He is the Lifter of your head.  He is the Lover of your soul.  He is the Light of your life and your home."  When I remember this, the things happening around me or outside my home don't have to get me down because I am "up."  My head is up, my soul is up, the lights are on in my life and in my home.    No worries!

I was so blessed that Nancy recalled that I have the most important job in the nation!  Most people wouldn't agree.  But, I know she's right.  My job description (in Nancy's words) lists those duties that have been delegated to me by God.  I am a

"home-loving,

home-keeping,

home-nursing,

home-cooking,

home-working,

home-training, and

home advocating Mother!"

These are very important duties considering that they are the duties of "an Arrow Polisher, a Nation Builder, and a Director of Home Affairs."  Government officials only wish they had my job!  They can't even come close to the amount of importance I have in my home.  They only wish they could handle the responsibilities I have to manage on a daily basis.  I pray that more mothers will take this to heart in order to restore our nation!

"NOW we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED THEE FELL UPON ME.'

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15:1-6

I read this in NAS.

"...but just as it is written, 'THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.'  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.  For who among men knows teh thoughts  of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him?  Even so the thougths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.  But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritiually appraised.  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised of no man.  For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM?  But we have the mind of Christ."

I Corinthians 2:9-16

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

     Jeremiah 29:11

"Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance."

     Proverbs 1:5

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

     Ecclesiastes 3:11

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

     I Corinthians 13:2

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended for us to forgo them."

     -Galileo

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.  To know is not to be wise.  Many men know a great deal, are all the greater fools for it....But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

     -Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

     Saint Ambrose

I was reading 1 Thessalonians this morning before writing on my home blog, Beth Selah.  It seems to have spilled into this learning blog, too.    I should have included it back when I wrote about character training, but I guess it was meant for today's blog.  It made me think of all the encouragement I've received over the years from my husband and parents, my sister Pixie, my friends Josie, Patricia, Millie, Lulu, and others like the parents on the RC4JC e-group.  They have been a blessing in my life and I hope to bless others in a similar way.  He called us to it, He'll bring us through it!

"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another.

And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

Rejoice always;

pray without ceasing;

in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit;

do not despise prophetic utterances.

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 

Brethren, pray for us.

Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss."

1 Thessalonians 5:12-26

"A gracious hand lead us in ways that we know not, and blesses us not only without, but even against, our plans and inclinations." ~William Wilburforce 
 

A wonderful movie:  Miss Potter

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NatureNotesFromAbove/

and

http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2009/01/winter-wednesday-world-of-winter.html

are my new favorite online nature study resources. 

We love Comstock's Nature Study Handbook!  These will help us stay on track with a plan to learn from it!

"Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't."

     -Mark Twain

I'm not sure how many times I blogged during 2008.  So, I've decided to set a blogging goal for 2009.  To accomplish this, I've set aside a weekly time to do it.  Monday mornings I will write a blog entry.  This will keep me working toward my goals for the year.  In order to post positively on this blog with notes to myself, I'll need to work on a "report due" basis. 

If anyone actually reads my blog, I hope what I share is encouraging, hillarious, or simply a sweet note to ponder.

Sis' focus is amazing!  She gets up early, starts her chores, enjoys breakfast with the rest of us, and then hits the books.  She gets her math lesson done first, rarely making mistakes.  Then, she reads while waiting for group spelling time.  After spelling, she goes back to reading and then writes at the computer for quite a while. 

After study time is over, she heads outside to train her horse.  Once she gets her routine finished, it's back to finishing up her chores!  She's such a blessing!

Got this from a friend and thought others would be as blessed as I was to read it!

To:             YOU
Date:            TODAY
From:           GOD
Subject:       YOURSELF
Reference:   LIFE

This is God.  Today I will be handling All of your problems for you.  I do Not need your help.  So, have a nice day.
I love you.


P.S.  And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself!  Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME.  All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.  


Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it.  Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.


Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!


Now, you have a nice day.
                          God

A More Excellent Way by Henry W. Wright

READ IT!  Here's to your health!!!!

I think one of the most beneficial books I've read during our homeschooling life has been Discover Your Children's Gifts by Don and Katie Fortune.  I thought I'd jot down some quotes so I can refer back to them later.

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO [AND IN KEEPING WITH HIS INDIVIDUAL GIFT OR BENT], AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.  (emphasis mine)....Proverbs 22:6 TAB

"Each child is uniquely gifted by God and that will help determine the most effective type of training."

"....each child has a gift -a motivational gift-or a bent-a direction in life to be fulfilled by using his motivational gift(s).....we have a responsibility to discover our children's gifts and to encourage their development, so that when they come of age they will use their gifts to the glory of God."

"....each child comes into this world with gifts giving him a distinct personality even in infancy."  I noticed this each time we had another baby.  They were all different from the moment they were born....except for the beautiful eyelashes. 

Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them:  [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; (He who exhorts, encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.  -Romans 12:6-8, TAB

"...we should employ them to benefit one another..."  "We possess these gifts!"

"These are grace gifts!....Because God has created us with free will we can choose to use them appropriately, neglect them, or even abuse them."

The list:

Perceiver

Server

Teacher

Exhorter

Giver

Administrator

Compassion person

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  I Peter 4:10, NAS

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."  -Galatians 5:1

"For the LORD is our judge,

The LORD is our lawgiver,

The LORD is our king;

He will save us-"

Isaiah 33:22

Fear

FAtigue

FAIlure

FAITh

FORGIveness

FORTITude

FREEDOM!