February 29, 2008A New SongI waited pateintly for the Lord; Psalm 40:1-3 Has the Lord put a new song in your heart? February 28, 2008Shelfari - What’s That???My good friend, Noel Leithart, told me about a book list website that both my kids and I are using. Since I love to read, it is so much fun to list the books I’ve read, the ones I’m reading and the ones I plan to read. Here’s the cool thing…you AND each of your kids can have their own shelf that has book covers of the books you’ve read Take a look at my book shelf…My Shelfari Book Shelf If you want to start your own book shelf, use this link: February 27, 2008When Should You Read the Classics?Laurie’s answer to the question about when your kids should read classics is excellent…so excellent I asked her if I could share it with you. Here’s the excerpt from Homeschooling with the Trivium e-letter. You can subscribe at the Trivium Pursuit web site. http://www.triviumpursuit.com/list/index.php Some people suggest reading Dante, Chaucer, and Beowulf in the second grade. I didn’t read these until high school. What do you recommend? C.S. These people probably aren’t suggesting you read the originals of Dante, Chaucer, and Beowulf in the second grade. They are suggesting you read re-tellings of these pieces of literature — abridged versions written for children. It is in the logic and rhetoric stages where they recommend you read the original versions. The question I would ask is this — do I want to read Homer, Dante, Chaucer, and Beowulf at all and require my children to read them? The principles I have in the back of my mind as we choose and study literature these: 1. I want to do what is pleasing to God. “Be not conformed to this world…” and “Keep yourself unspotted from the world…” 2. There is only so much time in the day. 3. Just because something is “old” doesn’t mean it is good. Canterbury Tales is full of gross, profane babble. I don’t believe it is fit for the eyes of a child, even in its abridged form. I’m sure there probably are sections that would be of some value, but I’ve got better use for my time than pulling on the chore boots and wading through the muck for a few pieces of corn. Many years ago I had the children read Beowulf, in its unabridged form, and then had them write a paper on it. Hans’ paper was entitled “Beer-wulf: A Story of How God Used a Monster to Rid the Land of the Beer Halls.” Do you have a copy of Ovid’s Metamorphoses in your house? I suggest putting it on a very high shelf. There is no neutrality. If a piece of literature cannot be used to build Christian culture in my children, then it will be used to build something culturally anti-Christian in my children. Wasting time is anti-Christian. I can hear someone say, “Well, the Bible if full of stuff that describes the wicked sins of men.” Yes, true, but the Bible also tells you what to think about all that wickedness. There are sections of the Bible that we don’t read to young children. The Hebrews wouldn’t allow a young child to read the Song of Solomon. Have you ever read any of the works by John Bunyan? These are wonderful pieces of literature you will want your children to read over and over. And how about Robinson Crusoe? The Waverly Novels? Or the histories of Josephus or Herodotus, or Xenophon’s Anabasis? There is good literature and there is bad literature. Just because something is old and is required reading to get into college doesn’t mean it’s good. I would suggest that your family list the principles which you rely upon for choosing literature to read, and then stick to those principles. Don’t be swayed by peer pressure — classical homeschooling peer pressure. If someone shares with you the long list of classics their children are reading, don’t start to doubt and fret, but look back at your list of principles and stick to them. Should we, as homeschooling families, adopt the values and standards of others in order to fit in and prove to them that we aren’t in some way inferior. Are we looking for their approval? Is getting our kid accepted at Harvard our ultimate goal? Why do we desire our child to read at age five? Is it so that our own parents and adult peers will be impressed and give us their approval? Laurie Bluedorn If you would like to subscribe to the Homeschooling with the Trivium e-letter, please go to the Trivium Pursuit web site. http://www.triviumpursuit.com/list/index.php Get your own copy of Teaching the Trivium February 26, 2008Wonderful WorksBlessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, Psalm 40:4-5 February 25, 2008CHRISTIAN FILMMAKERS CONTEST…this weekendJanuary 18, 2008: On March 1st, Christian filmmakers across the country will participate in an exciting and challenging event — a 24-hour film contest. Organized by members of Christian Filmmakers.org, an online discussion and networking tool for Christian filmmakers, the contest will be sponsored and promoted by several noteworthy organizations and will offer a prize of $500 to the winning entry. The contest will begin at 6:00 AM on March 1 with the publication of a list of “security elements,” three of which must be included in every film submission. This will verify that the film was produced within the 24-hour time limit. Each entry must be uploaded to YouTube and the link given to the judges by the contest deadline of 6:00 AM on March 2. Membership in Christian Filmmakers.org is not required. Nathaniel Bluedorn, administrator of Christian Filmmakers.org and the driving force behind the 24-hour film contest, explains, “Christian Filmmakers.org is a growing network of faith-based filmmakers. We started in August and have more than 250 members now. We’re doing this contest to energize filmmakers and incite interest in filmmaking. More importantly, we want to expand networking among Christian filmmakers.” Christian Filmmakers.org boasts an international membership of Christian filmmakers at all skill levels from hopeful to veteran, specializing in every aspect of film production. More details on the contest, including a complete list of the official rules, can be found at http://www.christianfilmmakers.org/contest. Christian Filmmakers.org is the outgrowth of a Google Group which was originally conceived as a means for maintaining contact among alumni of the 2005 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. Launched on August 22, 2007, Christian Filmmakers.org has rapidly grown to include 273 members at the time of this writing. The site is focused on facilitating discussion and building relationships among Christian filmmakers without excluding anyone on the basis of gender, race, or denomination. Website: http://www.ChristianFilmmakers.org February 23, 2008Still SnowWe still have snow outside. It’s so interesting because some yards have melted, but ours continues to be white. When I went for a walk, I noticed some yards still had a foot of snow on either side of their sidewalk. The year of never-ending snow. February 21, 2008Support our Wounded TroopsI’ve been watching tv for about an hour each afternoon while I stretch my back. I usually watch a cooking show and today it was Emeril Live. Emeril’s entire show was a support to the US troops. He had a cooking contest with the military. The marine that won talked about a cookbook that had his steak recipe. All proceeds from A Salute to Steak go to the care of wounded marines. So far they have raised over $400,000 with their goal being $500,000.
Go get your copy right now at Command of the Grill: A Salute to Steak and know the profits go to helping wounded soldiers. Kerry ps. If you think $10 is expensive for this recipe book, consider it a donation to a great cause. pps. Let your kids pitch in for a family copy and you are modeling “charity” for them. ppps. The steak recipe Emeril cooked on his show looked delicious. I plan to cook it once I get my cookbook. February 19, 2008Metaphors Lessons You Can Use Today!I’m reading through five psalms a day right now and came across Psalm 75. I was delighted to see lessons I could use from an academic standpoint (you know, homeschooling stuff) and lessons I could use from a character standpoint (that child raising, parenting stuff). I said to the boastful, Do not deal boastfully. First of all, you can talk to your kids about a lifting up your horn on high and a stiff neck. What kind of person lifts up his own horn (or blows his own horn)? Describe someone who has a stiff neck. You should end up talking about a prideful person. He raises his head proudly like a horned animal. He is full of insolent pride. This gives you two types of lessons today, one that teaches what a metaphor is and one that teaches what a wicked person is . . . in God’s eyes. The Psalm concludes with God’s reaction to the wicked. All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off. Now you can discuss why some people’s “horns” will be cut off and others will be exalted. Who blows their own horn? What type of person doesn’t blow their own horn, or raise up their own accomplishments? Which one do you want to become? Why? Enjoy the Psalms and inspire your children to love God’s Word. It would mean alot to me if you would leave a comment below and let me know what you think of this idea of tying Scripture to real life & homeschooling. Feel free to add your own lessons you’ve used with your kids. Blessings, ps. Want some more ideas to inspire your children? Click this link: Leadership Training February 17, 2008Happy Birthday GentryOur middle daughter turns 18 today! Last night we ate dinner at the local French restaurant, ,West of Paris! Bon apetit! Today is full of celebrations with family and friends.
February 16, 2008What’s for dessert on Valentine’s Day?Chocolate Mint Cake…I’ll post the recipe soon!
See the yummy marshmallow filling in the middle !
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I immediately googled wounded warrior center recipe book to find that cookbook. (I couldn’t remember the exact name) I ordered a copy and I encourage you to order a copy, too! I don’t promote charities much on this blog, but this is a way to help take care of men & women who are serving us around the country…without charging taxes. That’s my way of paying the bills.
