I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God Answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word,
Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my request,
Or send some answer far more blest.
As a boy in the Aaronic Priesthood, President Ezra Taft Benson learned this little poem about prayer.
I am working on the verse that reads," And so I pray and calmly wait."
calm - kälm - a state of tranquility
calm·ly adverb - free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance
(not there yet)
However, this talk from Elder J. Devn Cornish in the October 2011 General Conference gives me perspective and direction that brings me closer to that state of tranquility.
Happiness is Homemade
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
There's A First Time for Everything
Corey lost his first tooth and Lucas climbed up a full flight of stairs and it's only 9:37 a.m.
It's a great rainy day. The kids are happily playing (always makes for a great day!) and I am successfully organizing. Hooray!
It's a great rainy day. The kids are happily playing (always makes for a great day!) and I am successfully organizing. Hooray!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Monday, Monday, Monday...
Hmmm... it's Monday. We had a great weekend. The weather has been beautiful here! Saturday and Sunday were in the 80's. We went to the beach yesterday and the kids actually got in the water. They were in their clothes because we intended to walk on the beach but with four kids who LOVE the ocean water, it's hard to prevent them from going in the water on a beautiful day. The water wasn't even that cold.
It was a moment for me to exercise living in the moment. Not to think about the past or the future but to enjoy where my feet were at that very moment. In this case, they were in the sand. I was holding Lucas in my arms and he fell asleep for a little bit. It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon as I watched our four children play together in the sand and water, hold my sleeping baby with his arms wrapped around my neck and watch my husband spend some one on one time with Spencer as they tossed the frisbee and walked down the beach together.
What is on tap for today. NOTHING. Before Darrel leaves for work he always asks me what my plans are for the day. Today, I am staying home. I need to do some organizing and prioritizing. My goal is to take as little as possible when we move. So, really I do have SOMETHING planned for today but compared to what I usually do in one day - it's NOTHING.
It was a moment for me to exercise living in the moment. Not to think about the past or the future but to enjoy where my feet were at that very moment. In this case, they were in the sand. I was holding Lucas in my arms and he fell asleep for a little bit. It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon as I watched our four children play together in the sand and water, hold my sleeping baby with his arms wrapped around my neck and watch my husband spend some one on one time with Spencer as they tossed the frisbee and walked down the beach together.
What is on tap for today. NOTHING. Before Darrel leaves for work he always asks me what my plans are for the day. Today, I am staying home. I need to do some organizing and prioritizing. My goal is to take as little as possible when we move. So, really I do have SOMETHING planned for today but compared to what I usually do in one day - it's NOTHING.
Friday, October 7, 2011
"Yes, We Exist"
Dear Cheryl, I have had the same conversation (multiple times).
me: I am Mormon.
new acquaintance: No! I have never met a black Mormon.
me: Yes, we exist!
Sincerely,
Me
P.S. I love your energy and zeal!
me: I am Mormon.
new acquaintance: No! I have never met a black Mormon.
me: Yes, we exist!
Sincerely,
Me
P.S. I love your energy and zeal!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
CORE PHASE
This is where we are at. All of our children are currently in this phase but our oldest is advancing and will be moving on to the Love of Learning Phase soon.
The following is from the TJEd website
"The Core Phase is the first of the Foundational Phases, and serves as the foundation for all the rest of a child’s life. This is when parents nurture their children in the safe, cozy atmosphere of home and family life. During this period, they get a spiritual education by learning about the difference between wrong and right in the secure care of their mother and father. They are exposed to inspiring music, good books, and an atmosphere of learning through the family culture. Highly structured and strongly pushed academics are not yet a part of a Core Phase child’s life.
Play is a huge part of the Core Phase child’s education. As Maria Montessori taught, a child “learns everything without knowing he is learning it, and in doing so passes little from the unconscious to the conscious, treading always in the paths of joy and love.”
Work is another big part of the Core Phase. Children learn what work is, and are lovingly instructed by their parents as they help with the daily chores. The time children spend learning how to work and obey parents and rules provide valuable lessons they will use in many circumstances (including later academic work) and through the rest of their lives.
The key to a successful Core Phase is constant interaction with the parents. Too many activities outside of the home can be crippling to the Core Phase experience, resulting in frustration and confusion for the child. Work and play are done with Mom and/or Dad and siblings, and the parents’ patience throughout the teaching of basic skills is needed.
“The establishment of the Core occurs roughly between the years of 0-8; the maintenance and nourishment of the Core is a life-long process. …This consists of the lessons of good/bad, right/wrong, true/false, and is accomplished through work/play.”
Oliver DeMille, A Thomas Jefferson Education, 2nd Edition, pages 31-32
A child in Core Phase should:
* Learn the difference between good and bad, and how to make good choices
* Learn how to work, and how to be responsible
* Learn about God and his or her relationship with Him
* Play—which is the best way for a child to learn about the world around him
* Spend most of his time at home with his family, being nurtured and loved
The following is from the TJEd website
"The Core Phase is the first of the Foundational Phases, and serves as the foundation for all the rest of a child’s life. This is when parents nurture their children in the safe, cozy atmosphere of home and family life. During this period, they get a spiritual education by learning about the difference between wrong and right in the secure care of their mother and father. They are exposed to inspiring music, good books, and an atmosphere of learning through the family culture. Highly structured and strongly pushed academics are not yet a part of a Core Phase child’s life.
Play is a huge part of the Core Phase child’s education. As Maria Montessori taught, a child “learns everything without knowing he is learning it, and in doing so passes little from the unconscious to the conscious, treading always in the paths of joy and love.”
Work is another big part of the Core Phase. Children learn what work is, and are lovingly instructed by their parents as they help with the daily chores. The time children spend learning how to work and obey parents and rules provide valuable lessons they will use in many circumstances (including later academic work) and through the rest of their lives.
The key to a successful Core Phase is constant interaction with the parents. Too many activities outside of the home can be crippling to the Core Phase experience, resulting in frustration and confusion for the child. Work and play are done with Mom and/or Dad and siblings, and the parents’ patience throughout the teaching of basic skills is needed.
“The establishment of the Core occurs roughly between the years of 0-8; the maintenance and nourishment of the Core is a life-long process. …This consists of the lessons of good/bad, right/wrong, true/false, and is accomplished through work/play.”
Oliver DeMille, A Thomas Jefferson Education, 2nd Edition, pages 31-32
A child in Core Phase should:
* Learn the difference between good and bad, and how to make good choices
* Learn how to work, and how to be responsible
* Learn about God and his or her relationship with Him
* Play—which is the best way for a child to learn about the world around him
* Spend most of his time at home with his family, being nurtured and loved
The Classics - We love them!
A “classic” is a work or production that is literature, music, art, etc. that is worth returning to over and over again. It is invaluable as it teaches principles, morals, values and/or character traits that help build strong and successful individuals.
Here is a list of the CLASSICS we are working on.
The books in bold type are the books we have covered at least once.
Aesop’s Fables
Andersen’s Fairy Tales
Beauty and the Beast
The Besty-Tacy Series
The Bible
The Blind Men and the Elephant
“Casey at the Bat”
Charlotte’s Web
Chicken Little
A Christmas Carol
Cinderella
Dinotopia Series
Dr. Seuss books
The Emperor’s New Clothes
The Story Of The Other Wise Man
The Gift of the Magi
The Giving Tree
“God Save the Flag”
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
The Goose that Laid Golden Eggs
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
“The Highwayman”
Hansel and Gretel
Jack and the Beanstalk
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
“Lincoln, The Man of the People”
Little Boy Blue
The Little Engine That Could
The Little House Series
The Little Red Hen
Little Red Riding Hood
McGuffey’s Readers
Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
“Paul Revere’s Ride
Perloo The Bold
Peter Pan
Peter Rabbit
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Pinocchio
Pollyanna
The Princess and the Pea
Puss in Boots
Rapunzel
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Rip Van Winkle
Robin Hood
Rumpelstiltskin
Rudyard Kiplng’s Just So Stories
Sleeping Beauty
The Song of Hiawatha
Snow White
Tales from the Arabian Nights
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Three Little Pigs
The Ugly Duckling
Tom Thumb
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Wind in the Willows
Winnie-the-Pooh
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Here is a list of the CLASSICS we are working on.
The books in bold type are the books we have covered at least once.
Aesop’s Fables
Andersen’s Fairy Tales
Beauty and the Beast
The Besty-Tacy Series
The Bible
The Blind Men and the Elephant
“Casey at the Bat”
Charlotte’s Web
Chicken Little
A Christmas Carol
Cinderella
Dinotopia Series
Dr. Seuss books
The Emperor’s New Clothes
The Story Of The Other Wise Man
The Gift of the Magi
The Giving Tree
“God Save the Flag”
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
The Goose that Laid Golden Eggs
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
“The Highwayman”
Hansel and Gretel
Jack and the Beanstalk
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
“Lincoln, The Man of the People”
Little Boy Blue
The Little Engine That Could
The Little House Series
The Little Red Hen
Little Red Riding Hood
McGuffey’s Readers
Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
“Paul Revere’s Ride
Perloo The Bold
Peter Pan
Peter Rabbit
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Pinocchio
Pollyanna
The Princess and the Pea
Puss in Boots
Rapunzel
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Rip Van Winkle
Robin Hood
Rumpelstiltskin
Rudyard Kiplng’s Just So Stories
Sleeping Beauty
The Song of Hiawatha
Snow White
Tales from the Arabian Nights
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Three Little Pigs
The Ugly Duckling
Tom Thumb
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Wind in the Willows
Winnie-the-Pooh
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Day SIXTEEN to TWENTY-NINE
Friday, September 30, 2011
"The pull of the conveyor belt is very strong for parents who were schooled in that system-which is most parents day. When the temptation to return to requiring, textbooks, canned curriculum, and even public school arises, we as parents go back to those feelings present when we first felt that TJEd was right for our family."
-Russell Keppner of OffTheConveyorBelt.com
For me that was the spring of 2005 when DC was four months old. A friend introduced me to her friend and neighbor who was hosting a guest speaker on TJEd in her home. I felt it then and knew it was right for our family.
After trying the conveyor belt for 16 days, I return "home" to those feelings present on that day in 2005. It feels right. It works great. We are happy and thriving once again!
Here is a Mini Introduction to the EIGHT keys of great teaching:
1. Classics, not textbooks
2. Mentors, not Professors
3. Inspire, not require
4. Structure time, not Content
5. Quality, not conformity
6. Simplicity, not Complexity
7. YOU, not Them
8. Secure, not Stressed
to learn more go here
"We can trust that desire to give our children a chance to become truly educated, great men and women of character who will someday change the world. Our children have important missions to fulfill, and parents are equipped to help them live up to those missions. But we have to trust our hearts, our feelings, those whisperings from God.
"Trusting the process yields the best results for a true Leadership Education. Just keep moving forward on the path you have chosen."
-Russell Keppner of OffTheConveyorBelt.com
"The pull of the conveyor belt is very strong for parents who were schooled in that system-which is most parents day. When the temptation to return to requiring, textbooks, canned curriculum, and even public school arises, we as parents go back to those feelings present when we first felt that TJEd was right for our family."
-Russell Keppner of OffTheConveyorBelt.com
For me that was the spring of 2005 when DC was four months old. A friend introduced me to her friend and neighbor who was hosting a guest speaker on TJEd in her home. I felt it then and knew it was right for our family.
After trying the conveyor belt for 16 days, I return "home" to those feelings present on that day in 2005. It feels right. It works great. We are happy and thriving once again!
Here is a Mini Introduction to the EIGHT keys of great teaching:
1. Classics, not textbooks
2. Mentors, not Professors
3. Inspire, not require
4. Structure time, not Content
5. Quality, not conformity
6. Simplicity, not Complexity
7. YOU, not Them
8. Secure, not Stressed
to learn more go here
"We can trust that desire to give our children a chance to become truly educated, great men and women of character who will someday change the world. Our children have important missions to fulfill, and parents are equipped to help them live up to those missions. But we have to trust our hearts, our feelings, those whisperings from God.
"Trusting the process yields the best results for a true Leadership Education. Just keep moving forward on the path you have chosen."
-Russell Keppner of OffTheConveyorBelt.com
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