Hind's Feet

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (Act IV, Scene I)

Yesterday I was in the W.C. a moment too long, apparently, when I saw Bronwyn's fingers and golden locks appear under the door. "Mama, can you get out?" "No, not right now." I hear rummaging around in a drawer in the hall. "Bronnie, what are you doing?" "Looking for sump-ing to get you out." "I can get out, I'm just not ready to get out." "Are you washing your hands?" "Not yet." "Mama, wash your hands right now!  See if you can get out." Later that evening I was getting ready to go out, and I couldn't find my Phillips Light Touch Hair Brush... now, this is not paid advertisement for Phillips, but this brush does not pull or hurt... it glides through tangles like slicing warm butter... so you can imagine in a houseful of girls, this brush is in high demand.  Since I could not find *my* brush, I picked up a random brush I found on my nightstand (happened to be a Conair Gel ...

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."  - Sagar Parsi

Fanny will be five in nine days.  I am still trying to figure out what to give her.  Any ideas?  The conversations go like this.... Mama (46! Since yesterday!!):  Fanny, what do you want for your birthday? Fanny (4, for now):  Penguins Mama: You have been asking for penguins for every birthday and Christmas since your second birthday, you have a lot of penguins.  What else do you want? Fanny: A bike. Mama: Soon there will be snow, and it will be cold riding bikes.  You will get a new bike when the weather is warm again.  What do you want now? Fanny:  School books.

Mary, Catherine, Lydia and I briefly discussed where the chickens were roosting as we left to go to a friend's house last night.  After a minute of silence, Bronwyn (3) said.... "Chickens" "I can say the same words you guys say." Mama: "Yes, you can, but sometimes I can't understand your words.  I'm not always sure what you mean when you say 'I vewy fursty'" Bronwyn:"You don't know what fursty mean?  Fursty mean when you fursty." Well, I'm glad we got that clarified.  Reminded me of the "what makes you sad?" conversation. "Tears make me sad" What makes you have tears? "Umm... water in my eyes" What makes you happy? "A smile on my face"

This tickles me.  I "do school" with Fanny in the afternoons but often she doesn't want to wait that long, so she will quietly take her box of workbooks to the other end of the table and put herself to work.  Something just tugs at my heartstrings to see a four-year-old so studious.  :) Yes, I did my nails while they were working on their workbooks.  Busted!  :D  And Elizabeth came home from out and about and brought me a Frappacino.  Don't worry, I didn't drink that big thing alone.  No sooner was it in my hand when Bronwyn was looking at it longingly saying "I sursty", and she was only the first one in line.  Yes, mamas must always share, mustn't we?  :)

We follow up our Bible time with History, because we are currently using the Old Testament for our History spine and since we already have our Bibles out for Catechism, it's handy dandy and we're good to go! We are currently in Ancient Egypt.  This is our third time through Ancient Egypt in our 11 years of homeschooling as I like to rotate through history from Ancient to Modern times and back again.  Each time through the children are at a different level and take away different things.  Along with the Bible I use a family study handbook by Simply Charlotte Mason curriculum called "Genesis through Deuteronomy & Ancient Egypt" .  This handbook gives me ideas on how to expand our lesson with narration, suggests highlights to add to our timelines, and offers up some hands on activities to try. Throughout our study of Egypt we also use the Oxford First Ancient History book, David Macaulay's enchanting book "Pyramid", and The Mystery of the Hieroglyp...

Catechism isn't just for Catholics.  :) Our homeschool day starts with scripture memory time.   Lydia (8) and I work together on her verses in the dining room, while Mary (11) and Catherine (10) go into the living room and work together on theirs.  We set the timer for 15 minutes and, surprisingly this is sufficient!   Lydia usually gets one verse down in that time, and we still have time to work on her other verses.  I like to use the Scripture Memory booklets from Scripture Memory Fellowship .  Even though my personal favorite translations are the ESV and the NASB 1977 version, and most of our school reading is out of the NLT, we have chosen the NKJV booklets to memorize from.  For a long time I couldn't decide what translation to use for scripture memory... after all, these verses stick with you for a lifetime... but I spent so much time hemming and hawing I realized NO scripture would stick with us for a lifetime if we didn't start memorizing it, ...

I am your Parent, you are my Child I am your Quiet Place, you are my Wild I am your Calm Face, you are my Giggle I am your Wait, you are my Wiggle I am your Dinner, you are my Chocolate Cake I am your Bedtime, you are my Wide Awake I am your Lullaby, you are my Peekaboo I am your Goodnight Kiss, you are my I Love You (From the book "You Are My I Love You" by Maryann Cusimano)

Bronwyn (3), out of the blue, very serious, and heading off to bed:   I don't like fire dresses. Mama:   You don't? Bronwyn:   'Cause you spin around, and then you die. I wonder what happens if you don't spin around?

by George Cooper "Come, little leaves" said the wind one day, "Come over the meadows with me, and play; Put on your dresses of red and gold; Summer is gone, and the days grow cold." Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call, Down they came fluttering, one and all; Over the brown fields they danced and flew, Singing the soft little songs they knew. "Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long; Little brook, sing us your farewell song- Say you're sorry to see us go; Ah! you are sorry, right well we know. "Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, Mother will keep you from harm and cold; Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade; Say, will you dream of our loving shade?" Dancing and whirling the little leaves went; Winter had called them and they were content- Soon fast asleep in their earthly beds, The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.