Greetings! March has been a great month, not only because spring has finally arrived (only in name, perhaps, but I live in hope!), but also because many of our winter classes have come to a glorious end. This means that we have freed up some of our evenings and weekends to spend together as a family, playing board games and going on hikes. Ok, so we’ve only done one hike so far – that’s a picture of my hubby and daughter enjoying precious bonding time at Pefferlaw Creek Farms. But now that the weather is warming up (it WILL happen), we look forward to many more family hikes.
Here’s what I’ve been loving this past month:
Seeking Harmony in the Home. John Cuddeback always manages to express my hopes for my family in an eloquent fashion. It’s the simple activities, together, unhurried, which will make a lasting impact in our family relationships. It’s reading out loud; enjoying dinner and conversation; playing board games; going on hikes. In order to do that, we must make a deliberate effort to not allow the busyness of life take over this precious time we have together. As a willing victim of FOMO, this is easier said than done. But now that we are entering the tween phase of parenthood, it’s truly hitting us just how quickly time goes by. In six short years our oldest son will probably be off on his own journey into adulthood. The time is now to enjoy our time with our children.
In The Shadow of the Moon. This documentary is not new; it was released in 2007, however we just found out about it. Our boys are on an astronomy kick so this was the perfect movie to watch on movie night. The documentary features interviews with the surviving astronauts of the first US trips to the moon, interweaved with amazing footage of the actual missions. It’s an ode to the power of dreaming, engineering, creativity, and think-on-your-feet attitude, all of which we would love to impart to our children. What struck me the most, however, was the humility of these incredibly accomplished men. I was happy to learn that for many of them, their journeys to outer space cemented their belief in God as our Creator.
With You. This pop song by Tyler Shaw is all over the radio lately. I am a sucker for catchy tunes, and it’s got all the usual platitudes of young love (also a sucker for that). But there’s a verse that warms my heart, about the years going by, and having three children and a house. It’s ordinary, and yet it fulfills a dream that many of us harbor – that of married, stable love, a family, and the joy that comes from that. It’s a breath of fresh air in the modern music scene. I just read that Tyler Shaw wrote that song for his bride! Awwwww. Congratulations and thank you, Tyler Shaw!
Reading time at lunch. After watching the Homeschooling with Joy workshop by Bonnie Landry, I decided to start reading to the kids during lunch time. My hope is that this way, we can read classic books together. I’m starting with The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh (the original, not the Disney version), and it’s been delightful. My kids range in ages from 3 to 12, so I thought we’d start with a children’s classic. While my oldest isn’t always super thrilled at the idea of listening to a “baby book”, eventually he gets into the story too. I read for about 10 minutes, because like Pooh, I’m always hungry. It’s something simple that I can do daily to read good books and enjoy a lovely moment with my kids. As well, my kids are a lot less rowdy at the table now. Double bonus.
Jim Hodges Audiobooks. I found this gem of a resource at the Great Homeschool Convention in Texas last month. I was looking for supplementary history resources that would appeal to my kids, and I am incredibly glad to have met Jim Hodges. He has recorded the audio version of several good books, especially those written by G.A. Henty. We are currently listening to With Wolfe in Canada during car rides. The kids and I are hooked — we often wish the ride was longer. We are learning beautiful language, vocabulary, history, geography, character and morals – all in the context of a captivating plot. This is learning at its very best. If you want to know more about Jim Hodges, check out his interview with Schoolhouse Rocked.
Affirmation without Flattery. Another amazing podcast produced by The Heights school in Maryland, this is a must-listen for every parent. Properly praising our kids in a sincere, uplifting manner has a huge impact on their confidence, their trust in us and ultimately the quality of their relationship with us. This interview contains many practical, easy-to-implement suggestions for parents, teachers, coaches, and all who are involved in the care and education of children.
You Deserve to be Lifted Up. Ah Bonnie Landry, you read my mind. During a particularly challenging day, this post appeared in my inbox. It’s a funny, uplifting reminder of just how important, difficult and worthwhile motherhood is. My favorite line is “you are turning barbarians into adults.” So true! I laughed and I cried when I read that, because that is exactly where I’m at right now. Check out Bonnie and be lifted up!
Now reading: Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. I finished reading With God in Russia during my morning routine, so now I’m tackling Chesterton. I love, love, love Chesterton, though sometimes my brain is not sharp enough for his sophisticated writing – especially at 6am. Still, I’m excited to finally get to know this illustrious man better. Like many others, I mostly know him by his clever quotes. I am also excited that I am carving out this time for my personal development.
Creating a Book Club Culture at Home: If you are struggling to get your kids to read good books, this podcast episode from the Read Aloud Revival is a must. I love Sarah McKenzie’s suggestions for helping your kids read and comprehend good books. Hint: it doesn’t involve book reports. How important is it to instill in our children a love of reading good books? Well, to repeat Mark Twain’s quote as mentioned in the podcast, “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them”.
Delighting in your own reading life: So of course one podcast from the Read Aloud Revival turned into two. I loved this episode where Sarah McKenzie interviews Anne Bogel from Modern Mrs. Darcy. I often visit Anne’s website for suggestions for my own reading pleasure. This was such a fun conversation to listen to! Best of all, I now have a list of their favorite books to tackle with delight. I just finished reading The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. A page turner it was indeed. I’m next in line at the library for the sequel, and I can’t wait. If you are wondering where I find the time to listen to so many podcasts, it’s what I do while I’m folding laundry. I have a lot of laundry to fold.
Until next time!
