the brew*crew adventure

I have really been struggling with this whole moving thing these last few days... all of the unknowns looming larger on our horizon as our house's closing date approaches (and simultaneously SO thankful for THAT answer to prayer!). I deliberate over what to pack where and how to label boxes so that I can find stuff and retrieve it from storage if need be, since most of our stuff may remain in storage for awhile. All the while, I'm trying not to agonize too much over what books to keep out, and how long others will possibly be stored away... not to mention whether or not we'll even be somewhat settled by next Fall, as I'm hoping.

I've also found myself realizing how very much I'm going to miss this old house, with all of its roominess and custom renovations, a luxury that I/we most likely won't have again for quite some time. I'm hoping and praying that our temporary living arrangements- whatever they may end up being!- have transitioned to a more settled, permanent situation/home by the Fall... but who knows if that's gonna happen? Least of all- us! Mentally, I think that Chris and I are both preparing to live life more like nomads for awhile, and I'm vascillating somewhere between totally freaked out and expectantly excited.

I'm really not too surprised though, since we've been here before... on the verge of a move, and not really knowing where, when or how we'll land. We've lived here in this enchanting corner of the world, NE TN, for exactly five years now. Before this we were in central FL, temporarily- for only a year- while most of our stuff remained in storage, after being relocated from our previous year-long stint on the Gulf Coast of MS. We'd moved there quite spontaneously after having settled in central FL for the first half of our marriage thus far. We really did think that we'd be staying here for the long haul though, as we do so love this area.

Yesterday Chris returned from a short trip to Chattanooga, just to check out the area a little bit more. We're really just looking all around the Chattanooga area for a nice piece of land to buy, but are trying to stay within about a 30 min. drive radius from town. However, the price range we're looking for a house at will be considerably less than the one we're currently living in and are selling. Our only debt right now is our mortgage, and we're wanting to replace it with a monthly bill of about half of what it is now, which puts us in the range of $70-$80k max (or even less if we can find something acceptable, with potential). Since Chris can fix and build just about anything, we're assuming we'll find a good deal on something that will need some work but has lots of potential.

Though we could technically probably afford something more expensive, we're wanting to buy very conservatively, knowing that the economy is not getting any better and the Lord is leading us to prepare accordingly- and live simpler, that our way of living and homeschooling, with me staying home with our kids, may be maintained in tumultuous years to come. Obviously, having as little debt as possible is going to be nothing but blessings. We have such a beautiful place here, with lots of room, etc. that I'm really struggling with giving up, but at the same time, I'm realizing that any sacrifices made will all be SO worth the mental relief Chris and I will have in the long run, once we're on the other side of this move and he doesn't have so much financial burden to carry from month to month. You know what I mean?

I'm thinking that whatever we end up with is probably going to need lots of work. Chris has even mentioned possibly just buying some land, moving a camper trailer onto it for us to live in temporarily, building a big, metal storage building for all of our stuff to go in, and then building a house himself (with the help of loan and some sub-contractors, of course). Also, we're hoping to find something with at least a couple of acres (preferably more), since we've gotten used to having a little bit of elbow room land-wise, and really do appreciate our privacy. We even prefer less house with more land to vice versa.

Overall, what's got me worried the most I think is this upcoming immediate transition period... wondering if there's really enough room for us to stay with our generous friends while we look for a house? I'm a quiet-type person, and am used to a peaceful, usually quiet home environment... which wouldn't be the case where we're going, with so many people (and kids) in such a small house. Although it would probably only be a week or so that we'd actually be sleeping in their home, will we make it? LOL Yeah, of course we will... but it's just these and so many more unknowns that would drive me crazy if I let them... which I won't. Crazy is not an option. Yet.

NOT knowing, or rather- not thinking one knows (for do we ever really know what's around the corner from one day to the next?) where one will be living next month, but only that it will be temporary, really does cause one to lean harder on their faith (as well as the local libraries)... I'm finding myself praying more and needing to find that quiet, sacred space from which to TRUST in YAH a little more completely. Every. Single. Day. For truly, whether we acknowledge it, or not, He is our complete sustenance.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

~ Isaiah 26.3-4

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 4.6-7

I was recently offered the opportunity to read and review this newly released book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith, co-written by two Christian women who are both wonderfully inspiring teachers themselves, Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. I am thankful to Ms. Tverberg for this privilege, as it has been a joy to read of her own journey towards God, and to share in some of the priceless discoveries she and Ann have made along the way as they've (obviously) been sitting at the feet of Jesus. I'm honored to now have this opportunity to share a bit about it with others.

Where to start? I found myself unable to sit down with this book without a pencil to make notes or underline with! It’s one of those rare books where it seemed like I just had to highlight just about every other line I read- seriously! And as I read,  it crossed my mind more than a few times how enjoyable this book was to simply relax with. With all of its otherwise interesting content aside, these ladies are just great writers, which makes a big difference as to whether or not I actually finish a book! Also, I love the way that the book is laid out- transitions from one venue of thought to another are very organized and cohesive. It just flows well, which is important when an author is covering so much ground! Also, even though a lot of historical/contextual territory is covered, this book is SO NOT dry, nor choppy with its presentation. I never felt overwhelmed or bogged down with information.

With an ongoing interest of the last ten years in studying and learning about the Hebraic roots of my own Christian faith, the title intrigued me immediately. Consequently, when I found out from Ms. Tverberg that the book was co-edited by Dr. Marvin Wilson, author of Our Father Abraham, I knew that this book was going to be not only doctrinally sound, but well-researched, historically accurate, and just plain-out good! Then when I also realized that Ms. Tverberg is a co-founder of the En-Gedi Resource Center, I was doubly pleased. I’ve read quite a few articles from that site and have been so blessed by them over the years. Some of you may also be familiar with some of the many other books that Mrs. Spangler has written.

However, even with all of my anticipation as I eagerly awaited its arrival in the mail, I was still taken by surprise as I read it. These ladies make a great writing team!! Before I continue on with my lengthy review, I’d like to mention that at the bottom of this post are directions as to how you can win your own FREE copy of this book by commenting on my review over at the HSBA Post. Now, on with this review, in which I’m certain that I will not do this book justice, which is why you’ll just have to read it for yourself!

I found myself wondering over new discoveries and beautifully glimmering nuggets of insight I found, even within the first few pages… and then continuing throughout every. single. chapter! For the record, I’ve read quite a bit of literature in this field of study over the years, but I am so excited to see another credible/balanced book that expounds on this most important topic- the Jewishness of Jesus and why it matters - enter the mainstream Christian market. Sharing these fascinating truths is a cause which has grown consistently more near and dear to my heart, since learning about this stuff has had such a grounding impact on Chris and I’s faith over the last decade.

Learning more about the 1st Century Judaic world in which Jesus taught and the Hebraic mindset/cultural context of those to whom He spoke and interacted with will undoubtedly add wonderful new dimensions to your own understanding of His Word as you walk with the Rabbi Jesus. I’ve been amazed at all of the nuances of teachings my Westernized mind totally missed when I first read certain Scriptures, and how so many teachings in the Bible have now literally come alive with deeper meanings once I’ve learned more about the scene, all of the unspokens that the people that were there living in this culture, with a deep knowledge of God’s Torah just already knew and understood. Truly, I have been humbled and stirred to cry out to the Spirit for His wisdom and guidance, as I’ve been re-reminded of how very little of His Word I know. I’ve had lots of “A-ha!”, “Wow.” moments with this book…

As Christians we can never forget that the Bible - from Genesis through Revelation - is essentially a Jewish document. Once we begin to read it from a Jewish perspective, our experience of it will be transformed, as though we have just swapped an old black-and-white TV with its scratchy image for the latest flat screen, high-definition set. Suddenly the Bible takes on new depth and color as we read the familiar stories once again, but this time from the perspective of its original audience. ~ excerpted from “Why Focus on Jesus’ Jewishness?”, a subsection of Ch. 1, Joining Mary at the Feet of Jesus.

Having seen how enriched my own family’s spiritual journey has been as we’ve pursued God in this manner, I am so very thankful to have now found this wonderful resource to recommend to friends as a sort of Hebraic roots primer. In the last few years I’ve been on the look-out for a good one, and have recommended other books covering similar topics, ALL of which are WONDERFULLY written, great, scholarly books that I do/will still highly recommend… However, now, this shall be my first recommendation to those who ask for a place to start or from which to continue their own studies or are maybe looking for a way to add depth to their devotional time with the Lord Jesus, in an approachable, easily “digestible” manner.

Sometimes his references were obvious and sometimes subtle - only a word or two. In fact, there are times when knowing what Jesus doesn’t say becomes as important as knowing what he does say. In other words, the passages from which Jesus quoted provide background for understanding his meaning more fully. If we miss his reference, we may miss his point. ~ excerpted from “‘Hinting’ to the Scriptures”, a subsection of Ch. 3, Stringing Pearls. (Loved this chapter!!)

This ancient rabbinic concept of “stringing pearls”, which was employed by Jesus Himself as a teaching method, is explained in detail and I found it absolutely fascinating, as it offers such beautiful imagery and insights that one would otherwise most definitely miss as they read and meditate upon the Word. A few examples are given of how this particular approach rabbis often use(d) to teach (and rebuke) their talmidim (Hebrew for disciples/students) applied to a few instances in the Gospels that totally blew my spiritual socks off!

Yes, this book is truly that good, so manageable in the way it’s organized, thorough in its scope of topical introductions and uplifting in its approach, taking one’s hand like a gentle teacher bent on showing you an easily missed, though well worn path toward an unforgettable garden of ideas. And yet, as I can testify, this is no watered down version of scholarship either. I do believe that both Ann and Lois are truly gifted authors, who have managed to balance the technical aspects of so much tedious research with their casual, narrative storytelling-like manner of writing. I was truly captivated from the first page, as I walked along the road, behind the Rabbi, headed towards the home of Mary and Martha.

Female Students in the First Century Women were encouraged to sit in on the advanced discussions at the synagogue if they were able. A few even acquired the high level education required to contribute to rabbinic debates, and their words are still on record. Some restrictions on women, like separating men and women during worship, actually arose several centuries later. (A margin note from Ch. 1, Joining Mary at the Feet of Jesus, Footnotes included for reference in back of book.)

This is a gem of a book!! Numerous times as I read I was moved deeply, had to stop to ponder, pray, re-read to my husband, discuss and delightedly thank the Lord for using this book to re-ignite my (lately) tired mind and waning spirit. I am thankful to these two beautiful ladies for helping to fan into flame my own faithfulness, the gift of God within me…

It is a genuinely easy to read book, written on a subject of study that - albeit intriguing- is one that is often quite overwhelming and easy to bog down in (especially when you first begin to dig so deeply- ask me how I know?). As one begins to research, read and pursue the Scriptures within their historical context, one is faced early on with an almost (seemingly) insurmountable amount of new information to sort through and synthesize… Yet somehow Ann and Lois have managed to serve a wonderfully proportioned size of soul nourishing insights in an immensely engaging manner, approachable by the average reader/Believer curious to know more of where their spiritual heritage lies and what ramifications it may hold for their own daily lives. However, this book remains as academically sound and spiritually challenging as any of the other “harder” books I’ve read on this subject.

The book has 14 chapters, with each chapter having 3-5 subheadings. Also discussion questions and even project/activity ideas for further study/interaction are provided at the end of each chapter in a section appropriately subtitled "At the Feet of the Rabbi". Chris and I are looking forward to re-reading this book again next year with our 13yo son and 10yo daughter as well, as a devotional reading in our homeschool, and then I'll be sure and take the time to make the most of these thoughtfully offered suggestions with them.

Introduction

1. Joining Mary at the Feet of Jesus
2. Why a Jewish Rabbi?
3. Stringing Pearls
4. Following the Rabbi
5. Get Yourself Some Haverim
6. Rabbi, Teach Us to Pray
7. For Everything a Blessing
8. A Passover Discovery
9. Discovering Jesus in the Jewish Feasts
10. At Table with the Rabbi
11. Touching the Rabbi’s Fringe
12. Jesus and the Torah
13. The Mysterious Kingdom of God
14. Becoming True Disciples of Our Jewish Lord

Appendices
A Prayers Jesus Prayed 211
B The Feasts 218
C Recommended Resources 222
D Glossary 226
Notes 234
Scripture Index 253
General Index 257

Sprinkled within the margins of this book are little shaded boxes full of interesting contextual tidbits, definitions and explanations which are very helpful. This was a really nice touch, glad they thought of it! It was nice to have these comprehension helps so accessible as I read (or reviewed!).

With today being the Eve of Passover, I thought that it would be fitting to share some from the eighth chapter, A Passover Discovery, with you all.

The Garden of Gethsemane by John Miller Watt

Have you ever wondered over how the disciples could have fallen asleep on that fateful night in the garden of Gethsemane, even after their Rabbi had twice asked them to keep vigil with him on the most challenging night of his life? Or maybe, like me, you’ve wondered over the fickleness of the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem who adored Jesus one week, praising Him with the waving of palm branches as he entered the city, and yet seemingly hated him the next, shouting “Crucify him!”?!  Louis Tverberg has made an excerpt, Under the Passover Moon, which is a sort of introduction to the rest of Ch. 8, entitled A Passover Discovery, available here on her blog. In it she touches on those ideas…

There is so very much more in the next three sections of this particular chapter as well, concerning the significance of this ancient Feast, “laden with messianic expectations and filled with prophetic significance”, which as recorded in the Gospel accounts, our Lord was so careful as to have His closest disciples make special preparations for, that He might share it with them one last time while here on earth… As Lois and Ann write later in the Passover chapter,

Knowing how the events of Jesus’ last week fit into the celebration of Passover shows us the tremendous significance of his death and resurrection.

The next four sections of this particular chapter are subtitled, Jesus’ Last Passover, The Bread of Passover, The Feast of Firstfruits, and Remembering Our Redemption. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of profoundly soul-stirring, faith-grounding insights here in this one chapter alone! Let me just share a taste with you, and then I’m going to have to make myself stop and wrap up this review, lest I write a book about it myself!

... Redemption did arrive on the very day they were looking for it, but it took a surprising shape. For God had engineered a far greater liberation than they had imagined - freedom not just for one people but for all people. And it was to be liberation not from the earthly power of a political enemy but from the sinister power of sin and death.

During the Passover in Egypt, the Israelites had been instructed to mark their doorframes with the blood of a lamb so that the Lord would pass over them when judgment came. Interestingly, the rabbis marveleed at how the blood of a mere sheep could protect people from God's judment. They commented that God must have seen the "blood of Isaac" o the doorposts- meaning that God remembered Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Remembering it, he spared his people. How close they were! What they did not realize was that when God saw Abraham's son Isaac, he saw his own Son, Jesus, who would one day sacrifice himself out of loving obedience to his Father.

On the first Passover, God freed his people by taking the life of the firstborn sons of Egypt. Many centuries later, God made salvation possible for all who would accept it by giving the life of his firstborn Son. ~ excerpted from Jesus' Last Passover, a subsection of Ch. 8.

The Passover Lamb by Frederick T. Heath

... Jewish scholar David Daube has pointed out that another significant meaning was given to the bread Jesus broke. He says that Jesus held up a piece of matzah and broke off a special piece called the afikomen, which was then hidden away. At the end of the meal the afikomen was brought out and then broken and eaten by all the participants. Still today this is done, but the explanations vary as to why- ...

... But Daube asserts that in Jesus' time, the afikomen referred to "the coming one", meaning the longed-for Messiah. The tradition was that the whole piece of matzah represented all of Israel, and that the Messiah was "broken off" from the people and hidden away. The appearance of the piece a the end was symbolic of the coming of the Messiah, fervently expected at the time of Jesus. When Jesus held up that particular piece of bread and said, "this is my body", he was making a shocking claim to be the Messiah, the Christ. Daube believes that rabbies later downplayed the messianic nature of this ritual because of the poor relationship that developed between Christians and Jews. ~ excerpted from The Bread of Passover, a subsection of Ch. 8

Get the book! I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy asap (Be sure and enter the give-away!), move it to the top of your reading list, and read it! Then get yourself some haverim (Hebrew for friend, but so much more too- read the book!) and share what the Lord reveals to you as you continue to walk with Him. I'd love to hear your thoughts as you read it too, so please share them! I hope that you are refreshed and renewed in your own pursuit of the Rabbi, our Messiah Jesus... I know that I've spent more time sitting at His feet for having read it these last couple of weeks... But don't simply take my word for it, check out the endorsements of these well-known and highly respected authors and scholars of the Bible and Judeo-Christian studies found here.

Ann Spangler has also made a PDF of Chapter 1 from Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus available on her website, along with the book's Table of Contents and the Introduction, all available for free download and reading by clicking here.

To WIN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK, SIGNED BY Ms. TVERBERG, for yourself, you have to hop over to my review (same as this one) posted over at the HSBA Post (click here) and follow the directions as they're posted at the bottom of the review.

You have a week! I'll announce the winner on Thursday, April 17th over at the HSBA Post. 

One random winner will be chosen per Random.org by comment number. Entries must be received by Wed., April 15th- midnight, Eastern standard time. You must provide your address to me as well so that I can let Lois know where to send the book!

Thanks for reading this long review, and entering our give-away. There's still so much more I'd like to share and discuss from this book, and will probably still continue writing more about my own grapplings as I continue to interact with it here on my blog. I pray that the LORD will multiply the efforts of these authors and their readers, for the fruit from this book in the lives of those who read it shall surly be good and plentiful.

Honestly, though curious, I did not expect to be this impressed, renewed and refreshed upon my reading of this (new favorite) book of mine! OH! what a surprise I was in for... I sincerely do hope that you will take the time to read this book for yourself, since as you can see, my review here is also a hearty recommendation!

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith
By: Ann Spangler, Lois Tverberg

Publisher: Zondervan Publishing
Copyright: 2009
Synopsis from Zondervan:
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus takes readers on a fascinating journey, helping them discover how learning about the Jewish world of Jesus can enrich their own faith. By exploring the land, culture, customs, prayers, and feasts, Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg help readers to perceive Jesus through the eyes and ears of first-century Jews.   Click for product description and details
ISBN: 0310284228,  ISBN-13: 9780310284222

Pages: 208 plus several appendixes and index, 272 altogether

Embracing the adventure,

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
~ e. e. cummings

Wordless Wednesday 

I haven't participated in this meme before, Blogger Friend School, which provides a weekly "blogging homework" theme. As I was browsing through some of the amazing blogs listed over at the HSB Awards, I clicked onto this week's theme for the BFS, and was totally inspired to join in, since it goes hand in hand with thoughts and observations I've been having here in the last couple weeks anyways. Technically, I believe that the "assignment" is supposed to be posted on Tuesday?, but in my natural way, I'm posting mine a day two days late!

 

The passion to sing, the passion to draw, the passion to build, the passion to ride, the passion for reading, the passion for nature… the list is endless. Some children exhibit their passion from day one, others need an experience to spark that passion.

Assignment: Share a field trip/lifestyle learning experience where you really felt you were bringing good things to life for your children, where something came alive for them, or ignited a passion.

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately... the facilitating of that passion to learn, to build and to creatively express ones self; that desire to grow and to become something great that's within us all, my own children specifically, manifesting itself in so many various talents. As a parent and my children's primary instructor, it's important to me that I culture their God-given abilities and desires, bringing these good things to life, if you will... while at the same time realizing that I truly am not taking the lead... in that it's not all up to me to conjure these up in my kids. Rather, I'm watching, listening, and waiting on the Holy Spirit to show me their intrinsic giftings, and praying for His guidance as I plan our studies and their activities.

As I'm doing my best to daily immerse our kids in an engaging learning environment and introducing them to a variety of inspiring subjects, I am delighted to be discovering their passions with them, and comforted in the remembrance that these precious soul stirrings and that ultimate quickening of their spirits towards Him are all individual workings of His Spirit within them, as we're learning to walk out His Word in our lives together, and therefore not solely dependent upon me, nor anyone else. I need but tune in to them, and especially their Creator, while keeping my eyes wide open to the opportunities abounding in each moment as we journey together each day, lest I miss those small sparks that would ultimately kindle their passions and thereby could someday even dictate their very livelihoods.

I have found that with our oldest daughter, 9yo T, who is my "go-getter", this is an easier thing to recognize; her passions. She talks about it, and initiates doing stuff working towards that end on her own. When she's inspired, the results are much more extravagant and obvious than when our 12 yo son, N is impassioned. He tends to discover passions (like writing, dance, reading a certain book, horse riding) after I've suggested he try something out. Lately I have been fascinated over the inter-connectedness of their blossoming personalities with the opportunities they've been offered thusfar in their young lives. I'm left to wonder over how beautifully it has all worked together... and question which came first, a specific passion or was an experience the catalyst of curiosity turned to desire? I've been musing over what the ramifications of these truths could be, not only in my kids' lives, but in my own as well.

And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.

~ Romans 8.28

It's certainly a mystery profound how the Sovereign Lord choreographs our very lives, nurturing those seeds of talent He placed within us, even as He knit us in the womb, while simultaneously allowing the free-will of our individuality. It's caused me to consider the weighty responsibility Chris and I have as parents to introduce our children- His children- to a wide array of possibilities, directing them toward His truths, and presenting them with an assortment of rich ideas for their minds and hearts to grow upon. Gradually, I am learning to recognize when the "education" is doing its work within them, and to therefore not snuff out the tiny flames which seem yet so insignificant by my own lofty unrealistic adult-perspective qualifying standards, set mostly by pre-conceived ideas of how learning "should look"... Meaningful learning does not necessarily mean a finished *project*. I'm learning to look with my child-eyes again.

For instance, the other day when T showed me the language she's creating for the characters in one of her stories, my first teacherly-Mom thoughts were along the lines of, "well, that's not a real language... why should she be wasting her time and all of that good language interest and energies with this when we could be working on our Latin or Hebrew?" Thankfully, in the next instant, I realized that I was witnessing a beautifully genuine representation of this child's love for language and passion for writing. And so the thoughts I expressed to her were those of encouragement and "why not?, how clever!" and musings over the inceptions of various languages.

But that was not the only challenge along these lines that either one of my kids have thrown at my feeble mind in the last couple of weeks. Last month N, who's been taking guitar lessons for just over a year now (that was his own inspired idea, which he faltered in when it came to the monotany of daily practice), announced to me that he'd like to come up with his own song to play at our co-op's end of the year student presentations ceremony... I immediately had to shush my overly-conservative, doubtful-of-his-being-ready-to-do-that thoughts right up. After months of laboring resistantly through daily practicings on his guitar, he's made it over some kind of mental hump, and now usually plays daily (without my having to tell him to!), and tells me he absolutely loves it. He was also greatly inspired by the movie August Rush. As we're driving home from his lessons, he often tells me excitedly of what he's learning, and how encouraging his guitar teacher is. Just last week his instructor told him that he could play his own songs without having any music written out(?!), and could even learn to play chords he hasn't yet formally learned, just by intently listening to a piece of music and then copying what he hears. Imagine that... I am so thankful for the many wonderfully inspiring people that have been God's vessels of instruction for our kids  (and myself) over the years, what evidence of HIS faithful provision! On so very many levels, this whole parenting/homeschooling business has been such a growing experience for my own faith levels.

And I know that I've mentioned here before of how my daring daughter gets these crazy inspired ideas to do things that are much bigger than any goals I'd ever set for her. I've seen how God has been faithful to send others into our lives to facilitate dreaming and passions that I could not... but I'm apparently a slow learner. Usually my first (natural) impulse is to caution her and help her to pare her visions down a bit, set her sights more realistically... but her fervor and insistence that she can and has already counted the cost of a conceived endeavour has once again inspired me, and as I've let go of the reigns I had moments before fearfully rationally tightened my grip on, I've been further delighted to see how God has sent others to come along side of me/us to see that her fans are flamed and help set her on the path to accomplishing these fantastic goals that I couldn't have orchestrated or provided for on my own, let alone have even decided upon.

Once again, this week it seems that another request, prayerfully offered up by a girl with bigger faith shoes than I can fill has been fulfilled by a generous Father.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows...     

~ James 1.17

T has praise in her heart. She loves to put on worship music and dance before the Lord enthusiastically. It's something that I've enjoyed doing with my kids since they were babies in my arms, twirling together with hands lifted high. T told me on Monday that she'd like to choreograph her own dance to a Third Day song and perform it at the aforementioned homeschool co-op student presentation ceremony. I gulped down my doubts, astonished at her brevity, again. She proceeded to explain her plans to me, and I just nodded along as I listened, knowing better than to discourage her resolve. "I'm going to ask Mrs. Jamie (her dance instructor- that's another testimony we have of His great provision for us- scholarships for dance lessons) to help me with my moves and figuring it all out." "That's a good idea." "Okay then, you'll have to wait for me a little bit longer after class so that I can talk to her about it." I agreed. And after her dance class ended on Tuesday, I watched as she gingerly approached her teacher, holding her passion close, encased in a dream that she proceeded to share with a trusted confidante. To my great surprise and delight, Jamie agreed to help her and meet with her a half hour before her class, every week- for free! I went back and checked with her myself after T told me, just to make sure it was really alright! Is that crazy-generous, and just like God, or what?! Needless to say, T is so excited about it that she's on fire now, and has asked a dancing friend that we carpool with to join her in the dance! She's been busily drawing and dancing up her choreography plans. Here's what she's got so far:

I tried getting some pictures of her dancing, but she wouldn't cooperate.

She did, however, allow me to take some pictures of her practicing on her violin. This - her opportunity to play the violin this year- is another story of her aspirations met by the willing Hand of Providence.

T has wanted to take violin lessons for years. I believe that the desire was probably first sparked sometime in her toddlerhood, when we spent a great deal of time with friends, whose then highschool daughter played the violin beautifully. She would watch and listen to her play intently every chance that she got. She began asking for lessons a few years ago, but we couldn't afford private violin lessons, and neither Chris nor I can even read music (something which both of our children are now learning to do quite well -without us!).  As I do, I told her that I would join in her praying that if it be His will, that He would provide an avenue for this opportunity for her. Then last year, we were blessed with the means to pay for N to have the private guitar lessons I mentioned above, and she so wanted the same. She confided to me of how she was struggling with jealousy and I reminded her that he too had been waiting for years for music lessons. Her time would come... and to be patient. Meanwhile, she decided to master her recorder and used the book that it came with to teach herself to read music and play quite a few folk songs. She joined a class offered at our co-op for the recorder, and took heart in my reminder not to despise small beginnings.

Then, to our delighted amazement, a wonderful lady decided to teach a strings class at our homeschool co-op this year, specifically violin and cello. T was beside herself with excitement over this opportunity to finally learn to play her instrument of choice - the violin. Now... if only we had a violin. I prayerfully sought the Lord, trusting Him to provide this too, knowing that with Him in it, it would all come together. Chris and I knew that it would have to happen cheaply to be feasible for us. Then towards the end of last school year, it came up at our Bible study with some friends that T was so glad to be looking forward to taking a violin class at our co-op, and since this friend had played for years, we asked her for suggestions concerning our finding a used violin for T. To our thrilled astonishment, she offered to loan T her own beautiful violin for as long as she needed it.

Time and again I have been blessed to see God's orchestration of timely provision for our children's passions, in both their inceptions and continuity. As their Mother and primary instructor, I find rest in knowing that it is not up to me to bring all these good things to life in their worlds,

      ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the LORD of hosts.

~ Zechariah 4.6

but rather I am just an open conduit of His loving kindness and purposes for each of them, His unique creations.

"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."

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:8

In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.

My blog here was actually nominated in the HSB Awards for "Best Unschooling or Eclectic Homeschooling Blog 2008"! so if you feel so inclined, I'd really appreciate your vote! ...though I hardly feel worthy to even be listed among so many wonderful homeschool blogs! There are some really GREAT homeschooling blogs listed there in ALL of the categories so be sure and check them out! You WILL be inspired and encouraged, I know that I certainly have been subscribing to some new favorites! Be sure and check them all out, and then VOTE for your favorites!

Today I was inspired by this meme over at Heart of the Matter Online:

I know that there are those that have amazing and elaborate school rooms dedicated to housing anything and everything related to homeschooling. There are also those who have mad skills when it comes to organizing and integrating the school into the home rather than having an ‘area’. We then have homeschoolers that pride themselves on the world being their school house and the couch being their desk.

Where do you school? If you are one of the super-organized mothers what tips can you share? If you are more laid back, what encouragement and insight can you offer?

...and so I'm sharing a post here about our "schoolroom". I thought that it'd be fun to show you around a bit. As many of you probably already know, we are definitely not in the first group there, but rather somewhere in that second and mostly even the third description. Super-organized lesson-plans-wise I am not... although I do have journals full of yearly plans, notes to myself concerning various goals for our kids, endless book-lists and all three of our kids' entire 12 years worth of homeschooling careers entirely mapped and tediously re-mapped out (yes, even the baby's!). Yeah, planning is playing for me... it's what I obsess over for fun in my spare time. Funny thing though, we have  yet to have a week go as I'd *planned*, much less a year! Ha!

Our days are generally pretty relaxed and free-flowing, and I'm always open to the unplanned and unexpected, which I just cannot help. It's a good thing too. I've learned that I simply cannot even foresee, let alone plan out the best learning experiences, yet I do try and have our direction and goals laid out which we work towards within the framework of daily routines and habits. If we don't accomplish or finish something one day, there's always tomorrow.

Homeschooling is such a way of life for us that it just IS all the time, everywhere... in my mind, it all *counts* as valuable learning time anyways. Over the years and through three interstate moves within a span of three years, and then some, our home has been through many upheavals changes and therefore what I'd envisioned at the onset of our homeschooling journey was certainly different than how things have turned out. Fortunately I've grown accustomed to our relaxed eclectic approach to homeschooling, else I probably would have lost my mind! Ha!

With that said though, I do believe that it's important to facilitate appropriately structured routines and accountability when it comes to responsibilities for our children as they're discovering and learning in their every day lives, and especially so as they're getting older. This does not come naturally to me, lots of structure I mean. However, realizing that there's basic stuff they definitely need to know, facts to master, skills to learn and just so much wonderful history, literature, etc. that I want to share with my kids (and much of it I'm learning for the first time myself), that we'd most likely never get around to without scheduled, concerted efforts, I'm striving towards making the most of these precious years with our children.

There have been times that I thought having an actual schoolroom- a space set apart- might help us to stay more focused with our studies during the day... but then I've thought, we'd probably not end up spending much time in there anyways, practically speaking. So as a family, we've all pretty much decided that when and IF we ever have an extra room, it would better serve as an art and crafting studio! Anyways, I know what you're thinking, "Enough talk already, ON with the show!" Okay, c'mon then, let me show you around our world *(un)school*room(s).

First off, I'd like to show you just how organized I am trying to be with all of our schoolerish-type stuff, which yes, we do use regularly and yes, it's mostly great literature, maps, paints, crafting stuff, papers, pens and other notebooking supplies. Here we have our giant "books closet",

which was already lined with shelves on two walls when we first moved in here. That metal caddy on wheels is full of my scrapbooking stuff...

I stacked two bookshelves against the third wall, one...

on top of the other, and then filled them all right up!

This giant closet/mini-room is indispensable to me now. I keep the books we're reading and studying from for a given year lined up and accessible on these shelves. Of course, this doesn't include our library books, nor the kids' free reads, etc.  

N and T each have their own shelf this year, since they're now doing their own AO years and individual studies in other areas as well.

You can see here that T has all of her horse study stuff lined up together, but her favorite classroom for her horse study is definitely still the barn...

Then we have our indispensable crafts/notebooking supplies caddy which I like to keep pretty-well organized. You can see it here in this picture, next to T as she's sitting here at our dining room table playing with cuisenaire rods.

or wooly worms...

The kids each have a crate for their notebooks, papers, copywork books, and various other books they're using, which are kept in this big wicker chest, also found in the dining room, under the window, right beside the caddy. This works well because the kids can clean up their messes off the dining room table fairly quickly.

We also have lots of bookshelves in the living room, where we like to spend many hours reading and discussing all that we're learning.

In the living room is our favorite table, our "coffee table" which is rugged and tough as they come. Chris and I found it many years ago in a thrift store, without the glass. We bought this great piece of artwork that someone spent a lot of time building and welding for a mere $10!and then we paid $40 to have thick glass cut for it to lay in the inset, under which we placed a map of the world, which makes for easy referral. This table is used for eating at, gaming and sitting on (and dancing on if your a little person), drawing, coloring, writing, and mathing on too.

And there behind N, you can see our couch, which is our favorite place to cozy up with books to share...

Well, our favorite place next to the field behind our house.

The other littler couch/loveseat is usually where laundry sits waiting to be folded, next to whomever happens to be sitting there reading a book, or on the kids' laptop, or where I like to sit and blog (like now) while Chris and N are watching something on tv.

Sometimes the kids like to do their studies outside with the goats and chickens...

Oh, and let's not forget the kids' favorite place for their late night studies, their Mom and Dad's bed!

Of course there's so many lessons always waiting to be learned in our favorite classroom, the great outdoors as well, like when Dad wants to read to them under the open sky, or when he has big jobs to do with them,


or when a perfect day beckons them outside to build forts... like today.

No matter where, when our how we're learning, I like to remember the concept expressed in this quote from William Butler Yeats...

Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.

Be sure and visit HOTM online's Friday meme for today if you'd like to visit some more schoolrooms. That's where I'm headed now! Happy homeschooling!

...that seasons change... and to everything there is a season.

Thursday Photo Challenge: Thankful

I watched the 3rd Party Debates on C-Span night before last. It was so very refreshing to hear the issues discussed much more frankly, with pointed (true) conviction, without all of the rhetoric and pandering to mainstream America-Media, double-talking fluff. If you missed them, you can view them here on YouTube. We also caught John Stossel's Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics on 20/20 last weekend, which I thought was pretty right-on and played right into our ongoing discussion with 12yo N, who's taking a "Presidents & Politics" class at our homeschool co-op this year and has been following the elections this year via news, commentaries, watching debates and collecting political cartoons, along with his short written narrations of election news for a political notebook he's keeping for his class. It's been quite a learning experience for us all.

Yesterday Chris and I went and voted early... for Baldwin/Castle. Yep. I'm not going to go into all the whys and wherefores of our decision, how it wasn't a wasted vote, nor a vote for Obama, etc., mainly since I'm just really tired today due to being up much of the night and all day the past few days with a clingy, congested, constantly-wanting-to-nurse-teething baby girl, and also because the issues that have been rolling around in my thoughts (which have also been discussed a lot at our house in the last couple of months), questions on my mind and shared convictions of our household's collective heart have already been aptly enunciated very well by others. So why reinvent the wheel, right? I'll simply provide a few links here for those interested, and you can go read their thoughts and hear me sayin' "Amen" over your shoulder! I think that like Randi, I'm just beginning to grow weary of it all... you know? I'm going to join my funny brother Daniel, and just not talk politics anymore right now, okay?

I really did go round and round over this for awhile, in prayer and research and mulling it all over before I voted. I even surprised myself at one point by questioning my own resolve and reconsidered voting for McCain, just to help keep Obama out... but upon further reflection, and reviewing the facts, I just couldn't, in clear conscience, do it.

First off, for the record~ a vote for Baldwin (or any other independent) is not a vote for Obama, it's a vote for Baldwin. I mean, what if it was Obama versus Hitler... would you vote for Obama then? How about Hitler or Satan, then one must choose Hitler, right? Far-fetched and ludicrous, maybe, but you get my point?

Let us please remember that as Believers our motivating force for how we vote should NOT be one of fear... just how far would one let this fallacious way of thinking take them... ie; that voting the lesser of two evils is commendable?... Sure that'll be the case to a point no matter who we vote for, seeing as all men are base and our hearts deceptively wicked, but you get my point, right? Especially when there IS a TRUE CONSERVATIVE, Christian candidate running? If all Believers would actually just REALLY vote their conscience instead of telling each other "don't bother, you're throwing your vote away- it'll never work", then we might get to really make a difference... If everyone actually voted with a whole lot more conviction and faith, things might happen. I for one am choosing to do my part towards that lofty end, albeit idealistic and seemingly futile... even reminds of the very definition of faith according to Hebrews 11.1>>

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Founders of our (yet) Free Nation waged an impossible battle as well... remember? And Lincoln was a third party candidate without a chance, remember? Yet everyone thankfully didn't say, "what's the use, why bother, he'll/we'll never win anyways"...  may as well play it safe and remain Loyalists (referring back to the crazy Revolution idea)... That's the sort of attitude that will ensure that we never have any other choice besides the ones we're *allowed* by the two primary parties and their media cohorts.

Yes, McCain certainly claims to be pro-life, yet McCain did vote in favor of expanding federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, NOT adult stem cell research. McCain has verbally flip-flopped on the pro-life issues. He's been against overturning Roe vs. Wade, and more recently claims to be for it, in a round-about sorta way. He wanted his pro-choice buddy Lieberman as his running mate, but was strongly advised to choose for the more conservative base (whaa-laa, we have Palin, yes, I LOVE her too- but she's not running for Pres.-yet... brilliant political move when you think about it), lest he upset the Right and get smeared again like he did the first time he ran... remember?

So, I'm not going to talk politics anymore, but for those of you who are still informing yourselves, and can stomach one, two or maybe even three more articles... here ya go.

“Should Sen. John McCain be elected as the next president of the United States, he will not be a champion for the life of the unborn.”

Sen. John McCain’s Position on Abortion: Setting the Record Straight

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum shares his opinion here on his blog concerning Presidential Candidate Chuck Baldwin on the Pro-Abortion Record of John McCain:

With every passing day as we move closer to the presidential election, the collective IQ of the Christian and conservative community appears to be dropping. The more fearful Christians become, the more they are willing to praise the beautiful garments of the naked emperor. Flashback: One year ago conservative and Christian leaders were in agreement about the fact that John McCain was neither pro-life, nor pro-family, nor conservative in general. Dr. James Dobson vowed publicly to never support the man for this very reason. Question: Besides some new polish and rhetoric, has John McCain fundamentally changed over the last twelve months?

It is one thing to support John McCain, but it is another thing for Christians to claim he is something that he is not in order to soothe the collective consciences of the fear-stricken. This is precisely the type of hypocrisy that liberals rightly point out. Why not just ‘fess up and admit the truth—“John McCain has voted for liberal pro-abortion judges to sit on the highest court of the land, has voted for subsidies for abortion, once said he opposed overturning Roe V. Wade, and supports killing babies in certain cases—BUT WE ARE VOTING FOR HIM ANYWAY BECAUSE WE FEAR AN OBAMA PRESIDENCY.”

At least that would be honest.

Doug then goes on to site Chuck Baldwin's article on what a joke the notion that McCain is really Pro-Life is. Baldwin writes:

John McCain openly embraces embryonic stem cell research. In 2000, he boldly said he did not favor the overturn of Roe v. Wade. John McCain was a member of the infamous "Gang of 14" senators from both parties whose purpose was to oppose pro-life, strict constructionist judges.

Speaking of judges, John McCain voted for the pro-abortion justice, Stephen Breyer, and the radical, pro-abortion, ACLU attorney, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So much for the argument that we need John McCain for the sake of appointing conservative justices to the Supreme Court. For that matter, Republican appointments dominated the Court that gave us Roe v. Wade and the one that later gave us Doe v. Bolton. Proving, once again, that the Republican Party, as a whole, has no real commitment to the life issue.

John McCain also gave us McCain-Feingold. This is the law that keeps pro-life or pro-Second Amendment organizations from broadcasting ads that mention a candidate by name 30 days before a primary election or 60 days before a general election. This proves that John McCain believes neither in the right to life nor the right to keep and bear arms. (This is one reason why the Gun Owners of America gives McCain a grade of F.)

In a debate with George W. Bush in May of 2000, John McCain attacked Bush's support for the pro-life plank in the Republican Party. Still today, John McCain believes that babies who are conceived via rape or incest should be murdered. I remind readers, however, that there are no "exceptions" in the womb, only babies.

If all of the above is not enough, as a senator, John McCain has repeatedly voted to fund pro-abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood with federal tax dollars. In fact, McCain has voted to use federal tax dollars to support abortion providers at home and overseas. Yes, this "pro-life" senator (along with "pro-life" President, George W. Bush) has significantly increased federal spending for abortion providers to levels eclipsing even the appropriations authorized by President Bill Clinton and his fellow Democrats.

So... that pretty much sums it up for me! Also, a blogging friend of mine, Jacque of Walking Therein, shares her thoughts on these important issue and others in an informative post here, which I totally agree with as well. As for Obama, well... I believe that his own supporters say it best, when they say nothing at all! Another blogging friend of mine, Heather, aka. Sprittibee has also just posted a great article on how Obama opposes homeschooling and parental rights. Spunky has also been sharing a lot of insightful information regarding Obama on education over at her blog.

Vote you conscience!

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

~Psalm 146.3

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

  ~John Quincy Adams.

Technorati Tags: 3rd Party Debates, elections, Baldwin/Castle, Chuck Baldwin, Pro-Life, McCain

The most important motive in the school and in life is the pleasure in the work.

~Albert Einstein

This picture was sneakily taken last Spring, with my handy-dandy zoom lens feature. I had a hard time choosing between it, or this one for this theme. One things I've loved about homeschooling over the years is all of the extra great quality time the kids have gotten to spend learning with their Dad, afforded to us by our being able to work around all of his wacky work-schedules.

Thursday Challenge: for fun and learning

Photo Theme for Today: "SCHOOL" (Students, Campus, School Building, Backpacks, School Supplies, Desks, Books,...)

Next Week: PLANTS (Garden, Vegetables, Fruit, Flowers, Trees,...)

There's some great posting going on over at the *shiny-brand-NEW* Christian Unschooling website. I am so honored to have been invited to actually contribute articles to this project now and then. The purpose of all the homeschooling writers that are contributing to the site is simply to offer:

Encouragement and resources for Christian unschooling, relaxed/eclectic home educating families–living in freedom in Christ.

I pray that it does so...

Heather at An Untraditional Home wrote an article recently posted, Confessions of a Homeschool Mama, in which she concedes,

Dare I say that we, despite our plans and ideals, are unschoolers?

Heh. And I just had to smile when I read it, as I could have written the same line. It seems to be the story of our entire homeschooling career! Me- planning like mad each summer and Fall, and then life happens, days slip into weeks, and my plans and schedules are trumped by one unplanned event, unkempt day, or wonderful learning experience after another... *LOL* Guess I'm learning to roll with the punches... Still can't help myself from making extravagant plans from which to pull from as we study over each year, but I'm also relaxed enough in our approach to enjoy those many inspired moments and days of unexpected delight-directed learning that the Lord and my children's beautiful minds bring our way regularly.

I have continually been amazed at what my kids have learned and accomplished over the years, without my supervision! I remember being caught quite off-guard and a bit worried when T basically taught herself to read at age 4/5, and I had yet to teach her phonics! We still went over the phonograms with games and workbook exercises that she begged for, but wow, I sure didn't see that coming! There have been numerous similar instances of budding minds blooming on their own around here over the years. Spontaneous nature studies abound, experiments, art projects and research from inspired questions asked, etc.

However, I’m also encouraged by how much they love great literature that I’ve carefully chosen and suggested, even to their own surprise. I cannot tell you how many times now they’ve groaned over beginning a book I suggest, only for me to find them still snuggled up with it like an hour later… it’s become a running joke around here when I pull out a book from our shelf of required reading for the year. Even hours of seeming aimlessness have turned into some pretty interesting projects, games and memories that simply would not have even been discovered had the kids not had plenty of uninterrupted time on their hands... to think, improvise, and to create.

Yeah, “learning in freedom” (love that term), aka. "life-long learning", aka. "delight-directed learning", aka. "relaxed-eclectic CMing" (as I like to call it) is definitely a balancing act here for this Mama, to discern how and when to direct or when to just stand back and not interrupt their groove~ simultaneously. When done with thoughtful intention, both approaches can and will facilitate growth and certainly do complement each other in playing a meaningful role in learning. But I’m finding that it’s easier to know *how* to accomplish this the more that I really tune into the kids’ interests and needs.

That, after all, would truly be the heart of good teaching, would it not? To inspire, and then to come along side of one with helpful direction and guidance, but only as needed. I guess that figuring out the “as needed” part is where it gets tricky, and probably even varies from one child/family to the next… It truly is a matter of understanding, something the Lord promises to give to those who ask.

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

 turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding,

 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

~ Proverbs 2.1-6

When I was over there at the new site this morning, I happened to notice that the quote for today, generously provided by Jena at Yarns of the Heart (another fab contributor to the said new site), seemed particularly fitting to these thoughts as well, naturally...

Education is understanding relationships.

~ George Washington Carver

Our 9 year old daughter, T, has been wanting me to "do a real horse-study" with her for months now, and finally, we have begun. Yes, today, on Friday, at the end of the week we've officially started our study. *smiles* She is so ready and was literally begging to start this afternoon, rather than waiting until next week . Our study guide, Beautiful Feet's History of the Horse: A Literature Approach to Equine History arrived in the mail yesterday. I've admired it for years, knowing that eventually we'd get it and dive in together.

T was/is ecstatic and has been perusing it since it got here, savoring it... has all of the other books for the study all stacked up neatly in a pile, awaiting their turn to be called upon for use/reading in the study.  After having her already waiting for practically a year to start, I didn't want her to have to wait any longer... especially now that with this guide, she really needs minimal direction from me anyhow. So, why not? I said and today we did the first lesson together.

With T being the horse lover that she is, I found that we already owned most of the books recommended for the study, and I was then able to acquire the few that we didn't already have from Paperback Swap. So, I've only had to actually buy the guide itself. We were doubly blessed that copies of the books we did receive from pbs were in like-new condition.

Today we read about Arabians from her Encyclopedia of Horses and she started her notebook, an aspect of the study that she's relishing, and I'm so glad that this guide provides direction for. For her first notebook page she found and then drew a diagram of the horse from the front of her encyclopedia, and then labeled the parts of the horse (most of which she already had memorized). Next she read about Arabians from her Album of Horses (an absolutely beautifully illustrated book), gave a narration as to why Arabians make such good desert horses and then drew a side view of a horse rearing, from her Draw 50 Horses book. Underneath the picture she wrote the quote, "And God took a handful of southerly wind, blew His breath over it and created the horse." which is from a Bedouin legend, the entirety of which she read to me from her horse encyclopedia. And all that was just lesson 1. She asked me if she could work on it over the weekend, and wants to do lesson 2 tomorrow... Why did I wait so long to get this for her?

For lesson 2, she'll begin reading King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry (first two chapters) and will then also begin a glossary of terms in the back of her notebook by defining bloodlines, stud and mare, and she'll study a pedigree/bloodline graph. We'll discuss a bit of how breeding works as well as how bloodlines are traced, along with some more vocabulary. There are some discussion questions listed as well regarding her reading of King of the Wind. She'll then draw a map of Morocco, marking the Atlas Mountains and the Strait of Gibraltar. In the next, third lesson, she's to read two more chapters from King of the Wind, discuss some questions regarding her reading (narration prompts), will color the map of Morocco and paste it into her notebook, and will also begin the Bible memory verses section of her notebook (copy and memory work), the first entry of which is described as being "just how the Arabian reacts when it hears the trumpet sounding war.";

“Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder?

Can you frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.

 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms.

He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.

The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.

He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.

At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.

~Job  39.19-25

I know that this is going to be a wonderful study for T, as it seems already to have been custom made for her. So far I really appreciate how it's so clearly organized and the lessons seem to be just the right amount of work for her to enjoy, yet be a bit challenged by. Also, she'll finally have guided opportunity to get the most enjoyment from all of these lovely horse books she's been collecting over the years, only a couple of which she's read. Today, she excitedly exclaimed to me, between reading pages of her Horse Encyclopedia aloud, "I'm really getting into this! This is the first time that I read all of the words on the pages of this book. Before I just looked at all the pictures!" It's been admired and "looked at" for years by her, how fun (and probably perfect timing actually) to now delve deeper into it with her. How my heart leaped to see the sparkle in her eyes and hear the anticipation in her voice. I think that the notebook will turn out to be a beautiful keepsake too. She's already excitedly mentioned her using the guide "to someday teach baby S about horses when she's bigger".

Here's a listing of the other books that she'll be using in her horse study this year.

Technorati Tags: horses, literature, curriculum, horse study, beautiful feet guides, literature guide, equine history

It's 5:20 AM!, and I've been awake for well over an hour now. I laid in bed for almost 40 minutes, trying to go back to sleep, but to no avail. My mind was whirling with thoughts, composing them, unwinding words from skeins of memory and perception, hoping that I would even be able to find them to explore and ravel later, these prose lacking cohesive meaning. I deliberated over whether or not to risk waking baby S, whether to get up and write them out, lest they disappear with my consciousness if I sleep- elusive and so easily lost they are, like grasping at wind, or trying to hold onto light. I was wishing that I had one of those writer's pens with a light, but wondering would that even work, without waking S and Chris, both obliviously snoozing on either side of me... and so, as the thoughts piled and sleeping I was not, I decided to climb out of bed at this totally crazy hour and write... since the words were still piling and I was too entangled to rest.

Last night, as I was putting baby S to sleep, I remembered that I had a bag on the table where I'd left it this afternoon, with a roll of deep, forest green wool yarn in it, and smooth, wooden needles looped with the beginning rows of a scarf that I'm knitting. In the same instant I realized that I wanted to knit (just really felt like doing it- right then, curious.), but I knew that it was late, and baby S probably wasn't going to let me get up and leave from nursing her to do anything- I tried anyways. Nope, didn't work. Heh. So, I laid there, falling asleep, and wishing that I could get up and knit, because I can.

That's right, I can! My dear friend Christine, accomplished knitter and wonderful teacher that she is, showed me (again, only it was my daughter T who showed me how the first time- earlier this year) how to cast-on, and helped me to figure out what I was doing wrong before, that had been bringing me so much frustration and eventually caused me to give up entirely for the greater part of last year (thus the having forgotten even how to cast-on and having to start over from the beginning part). It would be too technical and hard (for me) to try and explain what exactly I was doing wrong, but suffice it to say, that T will also benefit from my lesson yesterday, as she was having the same problem with her own knitting, which I'd inadvertently picked up. But now, finally, I've got it, and knitting is fun!

Somehow, as I lay there in bed last night, somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, it occurred to me that knitting is a bit like writing... but I don't know if I shall be able to do the epiphany justice with my written words here, as it was a visual realization.  Case in point though.

I felt saw how the words I was formulating into strands of meaningful thoughts were like yarn I was pulling from a ball of potential, twisted threads of yet disorganized, shapeless promise, rich in texture, and brilliant in their hue. Every word that I could stitch with precision was one more link in a chain of conceptualization that would eventually be a complete thought piece. If I could only stitch one to the next, and to the next, and to the next... pulling and pushing them from the skein of memories, meanings, questions wound by daily living and nestled restlessly, yet unformed, waiting within my subconsciousness, dependent upon the crafter's hand, the writer's pen, to pluck them, to bring the thread of insight through the loop of consciousness and incoorperate it into a pattern of understanding, maybe even a humble garment of wisdom to be worn eventually, with a pattern worthy of sharing that someone else might want to learn from and follow, someday.

I found the analogy fascinating, and had to get the beginnings of it out... as I'm sure there's more there that I'm not seeing yet, amateur writer and newbie knitter that I am, both. These ruminations remind me of one of my favorite quotes concerning writing,

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write.

~ William Makepeace Thackeray

And along those lines, certainly there must be a thousand pieces lying within a woman that she does not know till she takes up a needle to knit, or a brush to paint, or...

Truly, creativity is soul-food, satisfying in all its varying forms. I've always wanted to be an artist when I grow up. And maybe I am becoming one after all... as I learn what it truly means to be an artist... it is to observe with care, and then to create with intent. The longer I live, and the more I learn by doing, the more I'm realizing that art is living, and learning to see the spectacular in the commonplace, growing, nurturing, giving attentiveness to detail, and forming with purpose; be it a child's willfulness and imagination, a poem, a scarf, an orderly home, a healthy meal, or clay.

These creations are, or can should be, culminations of us, our efforts, careful offerings to the Lord as well as to those around us. The eternal power of creativity found residing within those hidden, quiet moments of communion with the Almighty , gifted to us in our likeness toward our Maker, savored and realized in humble stitches, intuitive strokes, home-made teas, gardens tended, love made, children's drawings displayed, and choice words in poetry read aloud... or encompassing silence of dreams untold.

Yes indeed, I like knitting, it's somehow like writing. Writing is like knitting... words framed and knit together in such a way that they may be seen, felt, and worn... thoughts that unless written, realized and shared, would have no warmth or life to offer, like that ball of yarn which is not yet a scarf that my boy can wear, but everything necessary to make one... if only I will give it my time, and concerted effort, one stitch at a time.

I don't know if my thoughts are lost in translation here, but I certainly feel accomplished to have risen with the morning and put them in print. Yes, I do believe that one could even go so far as to say that so much in life that's worth having, knowing and doing, is like knitting... yarn ravelled into garments, wisdom knitted from a life lived, words fitted together and mounted upon a page like gems... Counting of the days... like stitches in a tapestry woven, that we may gain a heart of wisdom, know His pattern for our lives...

So, should can I go back to sleep now, or should I knit? Or write more? hehe. Chris is getting up now, the coffee/teeccino is on... baby S is still sleeping. Looks like rain outside, with a little thunder. Mmmmmm-hm, a good day has begun. If only I didn't have to go grocery shopping, which means the dreaded walmart (uggh.). *sighs* Aaaah well, that's later, and I always like going to the salvage store too, to see what treasures I might find cheap there.

You see what happens here? I write a few posts, and then it's like I've turned on the tap or something, the thoughts keep flowing. Yes, there's much more, this is merely an aside to the swirling thoughts that whirled about in my sleepy brain last night and rudely awakened me this morning- mere asides, always seems to be the bloggable thoughts, the outer strings I guess, to follow my own analogy out. At least my journal pages are filling, even as I'm tiring of my own wordy self now. Funny how that works, the words seeming to come all at once, or not at all. At least now, when I can't write, I can knit...

*Update Today*

It is a perfectly rainy, thunderous day outside, which makes for a cozy, special time inside. T just finished making a new peanut butter/birdseed birdfeeder on a giant pinecone, we've sweet potatoes with EVO and sea salt baking in the oven, and a double batch of wholegrain wheat bread dough mixing (plenty for cinnamon rolls!). Grocery shopping has been cancelled for now. Chris got off work early, due to the rain, and has volunteered to get groceries, what a guy! Baby S is napping now, and I thought that I would be too, but I'm having too much fun knitting with T, between sipping hot tea and reading snippets of The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book, while N strums chords on his guitar.

Technorati Tags: knitting, writing, art

This is what is posted on our wall, and our family is currently working on memorizing together.

Psalm 121

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.