If Your Gonna Vote, You Gotta Know the Bloke!

Everyone seems to lament how tiresome the debates and endless politicking is.. and November is soooo far away.

But I am enjoying it. This *can* be fun.

It is giving my family and myself time to learn more and more about these men (and woman) as they pound away on the election road. For example, can Senator Clinton maintain her new 'kind and gentle' image in front of the Iowa cameras with a bad cold on top of late nights, multiple appearances and bad food? How do all these candidates handle adverse conditions? It is like watching interns on the 72nd hour of no sleep.. will they crack??

But why watch this stuff, we all know about the ridiculous media spin?

Yup! It is a reality and like it or not, it is part of our life. It did give me a sense of relief to read about Abraham Lincoln and the battles he had with the media in his day. This is not new. This is human nature. Part of this whole process is understanding when we are being 'spun' by the media and trying to see through.

Honestly, I think if Americans could understand that one thing, when they are being 'spun', then our country would be so much better off.

THINK, Americans!!

What a great chance for us to help our children learn to think. Not just put our political opinions on them, but help them see the spin, the issues and think things through. What a gift these elections and our media gives us. A virtual classroom!

How many Bush Haters out there are simply being manipulated by the liberal media? Do they really "hate" Bush? And if so, why? Was it because Chris Matthews told them to, or they thought David Letterman's endless jokes were hilarious? Or do they have real reasons?
(OTOH, I can tell you exactly why I dislike the Clintons. Believe me, I have thought about it and it is completely against prevailing media spin.)

This is your country. Don't just throw up your hands and say it is broken so we will stick our heads in the sand. Then we really will turn it over to those least qualified.

And if you are voting for someone because Oprah or Chuck Norris told you to... then, maybe just stay home.

I digress!

I thought I would gather up for my family the *issues* pages of each of the major candidates so we could read for ourselves where they stand. Now, when we read these we have to understand they may have behaved differently than they say, but this is a starting point.

But why bother, since we have no control over who will be nominated by each party? (unless we live in a caucus state)? Well, because it helps us *know* who is out there. It gets us involved in the (very imperfect) process. The bumper stickers that irk me the most are not ones supporting candidates I don't like but those that say things like:

"Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Kinky"

Give me a break. This is your country, too.


Don't be discouraged because it all seems so political. Yes, there are candidates the press ignores. Keep plugging. Make the best choice you can.

See these Wikapedia articles for a rundown of who is running, who dropped out, who we will never hear of.
Republicans running

Democrats running


And here is a nice general article about the presidential elections with a nice electoral college map. We had the best time tracking the returns and the electoral college votes in past elecions.

But this is reality. Someone will be elected and it will affect the world, the U.S. and you on a daily basis. Just think, if nothing else, who do you want to hear giving speeches all the time on TV? But more importantly, who is going to try and lead us through these difficult times? Whoever it is needs all of our prayers.

So grab a cup of cocoa, gather the kids around, put on your


Anti-Political Correctness goggles



and read about these Americans who all want desperately to be your next president.

In fact, keep a notepad handy and jot down thoughts and comments from your kids. There can be tons of rabbit trails for learning, such as the War in Iraq. Why are we there? Who are the Shiites? The Sunnis? What does tribalism have to do with the current events today? Does the president of Iran really think there was NEVER a holocaust? Is there really proof there was one, or is he right?
Why does he hate Israel?.. and on and on...

It is amazing all the questions that can come up when discussing current events and how they can lead us back through history....


And, learning where we have been, where we are now, maybe together we can cut through the spin, or at least not get dizzy next time the press puts us on its carousel...and get to the heart of the issues important to us.

OK- As promised, here are the issues pages I found on the official websites of each major candidate. Enjoy!

Republicans:
(they go first cuz I like them better- otherwise in no particular order)

Mike Hukabee
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Rudy Guliani
John McCain
Fred Thompson
Duncan Hunter
Alan Keyes

Democrats:
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Chris Dodd
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kuchinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson

Please comment if I have omitted any candidates. I just included the major contenders.

Now, to go read through these sites myself. A tough job, but someone's gotta do it...

Our Country- Conversation Starters

People lament our election primaries and prelimiaries go on too long. I dissagree!

It gives us a chance to get to know these people vying to be our president. Yes, there is too much money involved and the system is imperfect and the media is biased. But if we can understand these men (and woman) more, it is worth it.

I missed the Romney speech on Mormanism and the presidency yesterday but this has been an ongoing topic in our house. Great fodder for conversation.... what a mix: politics and religion! What do your kids think?

Here are some viewpoints... converstation starters


Examinier article

Rush Limbaugh's take

Another take

Justice Clarence Thomas

Did you know Clarence Thomas is Catholic and studied to be a priest?
Did you know Clarence Thomas became an angry young black man and rioted in Harvard Square in 1970?
Did you know Clarence Thomas's grandfather's favorite phrase was:
"Old Man Can't is dead. I buried him."

Wonderful interview by three Hillsdale College students. Worth the read.. and passing on to your kids.
Click here

The Imprimis is also available for free- the magazine in which the interview was published.

Our Teens' Paths

I have been thinking reading (again) lately about our children's, specifically our teen's paths. How much do we help 'steer', how do we help them find their way?

The solution when I was a kid was that children followed a set course, i.e. school.

The marker was grades.
The goal was high SAT/ACTs and college.
The ultimate goal was a good paying career.

I am thankful I have come to an understanding as a parent that there are larger goals. "Heaven Not Harvard", as one dear homeschool mom says. I mean, it could be *both* Heaven and Harvard, but it would be so if that was where God wanted the child. So, still, no set formula. Lots of prayer and uncertainty-- Ah I love parenting! :-)

In focusing on helping my dc find their strengths and interests and spending my time encouraging and facilitating those, I see they have had time to discover this in themselves and have a sense of self. I hope the sense of God's purpose follows, too. I told my son the other day that he is already way ahead of me in that- I never considered or understood God had a purpose for me until I was well into my 30s! So even if he has no clue what it is right now, he knows it exists. God's hand is firmly in our lives.

On the UC list recently we have been talking about when dc waft. Otherwise known as 'lulls'... or not behaving in a way where we can see schooly learning or really anything.

I have read a lot on this in the past and believe this is not only not BAD but it is necessary. John Holt, Charlotte Mason and now Plato (of which I am reading right now) understood that a child needs time to think, process and let the inputs of the world come together in his mind. John Taylor Gatto expresses this in Dumbing Us Down as he talks about traditional schools and all the 'bells' and 'no place to hide'.

Our kids have a place to 'hide' and I think that is one of the most precious gifts we can give them. I love to hide when I need to, then emerge and embrace the world when it is time. St. Francis of Asissi knew this, too. He said to be able to go out into the world and do your work, you much have time in prayer and solitute to recharge, reconnect with God.

Also in my reading about Intorvert/Extroverts and personality types, I see it over and over- we must know ourselves and nurture ourselves and recharge. And connect with God.

But moms often worry about wafting and drifing... it is difficult as the world tells you 'action' is good. Gosh we see that with adults all the time. BUSY is a badge of honor. Busy can be good, too, but lulls are not seen as productive.

Maybe it is about learning to see the value in the lulls. And recognizing when someone might need help moving back to the world. Humm...

Last night I read a few more things that helped my perspective. On Joyce Fetterolls site Joyfully Rejoycing- I found again that, wow. this site is a great antidote for the unschooling jitters...

Joyce talked about what causes kids to become addicted- really another form of 'dropping out' - Bad Wafting. Some mom asked about TV. Joyce says if a child is 'addicted' to something it is not the 'something' that is causing it. It is the unhappy child. Why are they unhappy? Most probably because they are not understood, listened to and connected with. If you have a child that recieves that then the drifting/wafting will probably be a healthy thing, not a lack of connection or 'running from life'.

This gave me a lot to think about and some comfort. Though there is not a definitive *answer*.

I also re-read most of Allison McKee's From Homeschool to College and Work. In addressing what best prepares a child for college she said the MOST important thing (in her opinion) is they become an expert in something. Anything. Her son's passion was fly fishing. It is amazing to read about him and all the facets of life he learned from the tying, researching, etc he did.

But, Allison said, if they see your child loved something enough to learn and live it, the powers that be (college admissions and the like) will know how to reserach and learn any subject. This is why they LOVE unschoolers. Again we are on the cutting edge, friends, as we venture into the future. How much of the past can we let go of? lol

Again, as Joyce writes, it is like letting go of the side of the pool in the deep end. Where are my floaties?

I am of course influened by my past and experience, in that I was so prepared for 'school' I could have probably gotten a degree in any subject. Maybe without passion, but I could have by sheer momentum.. :) I wonder what it is like to not have the schooly background, but to have passion. How would one apply themselves to life? What keeps them going if they are not focused on artificial goals?

I am trying to explain to my sons the balance of the artificial goals (the 'tickets' of grades, classes, etc to get them to the 'next level') and the passion goals. It is going to be fun to see where my boys head. They are ready; that is what I hear from all the sane voices. I kind of wish I had had the same background as they do, the base from which to start. No preconceptions, no 'one path'... and lots of passion.

Ok.. gotta let go of the sides. :)

Quote from a frustrated writer-

As my oldest is working on his Bravewriter Expository Essay course.....

"I read Tolkien and discuss on blogs, what do they expect?"

This is as he tries to condense his usual verbose and generous writing down to concise essay form, on a subject for which he is passionate. Wow, what an exercise for him! I wonder where he gets the 'verbose' writing gene? lol

St. Maximilan Kolbe Feast Day- August 14th

I just love our faith.

Well, if you frequent the same sort of blogs I do, this will not be a strange statement to hear!

One reason I love it is that it is just ever unfolding... so much to explore, so many charisms, learning about our traditions and Traditions, saints, catechism. So rich and never-ending, because Christ is the Alpha and Omega.

In reviewing what my boys have been doing for faith formation the past few years (I have to submit to our RE director in preparation for their Confirmation registration) I am reminded of so many resources we have found over the years. Also as I am watching the The Teen Timeline with Mark Hart (aka The Bible Geek) I see how beautiful and timely our faith is, too. I am looking forward to learning more about the faith as my boys go through prep.

I looked at the 50 Confirmation questions given to us by the parish... I have a lot to learn, too!

But, another aspect that has come to us is learning about saints. I never really took saints very seriously and they were a stumbling block to me before I converted and even after. Once I got over the myth that Catholics worshipped them ( you know, the statue thing- us Protestants don't like that a bit!)--- then I relaxed a little. Now I love statues.

But then when I would read bios of saints, they were always dry. And sometimes, often, morbid. I could not relate. Two people in particular helped me get past this.

First was Mother Angelica. I just love her. She took to task the authors of these dry biographies and shamed them for pushing people away from our beloved saints with such cardboard representations. And you know how she can take someone to task!

Second was a priest (I have forgotton his name) who did a lecture series on family relations, dyfunctionality, etc. He said he never really began to know his faith in a deep way until he 'took the saints seriously.'

So on and off over the years I have dabbled, and read aloud some vignettes to the boys during feast days and they read some select saint biographies. Our favorites have become St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine and saints to be :)--- JPII and Blessed Mother Teresa.

My friend Leonie has inspired me with how she and a couple of friend all get together once a month to celebrate a saint's feast day.

So our plan for St. Maximilian Kolbe's feast day:

I found a couple of friends here who have this interest, too and we are off!
I wanted to share our plans so far in case it might inspire you.

We all three decided this is not something to stress over, but just do what we are inspired at the moment to do.

We have 11 participating kids from the ages of 1 to 17. So here is our plan for St. Max so far:

- Polish food. I am going to reserach a recipe as is the dd of my friend who loves to cook. Maybe Polish sausage? Gotta have a dessert! We are meeting over lunch, so I plan to set a table for 14 and we can all eat and celebrate St. Maximillian's day!

- Research. I enjoy researching so will Google and find some good articles on the life of St. Max. Four of our dc are 12 and up so will forward this to the others ahead of time so the older kids can read about St. Max. Also send some articles that youngers might like so my friends can read aloud to the littler ones if they want.

- My friends with youngers can read some picture or other books on St. Max. Also since we have a week in advance until the feast day, anyone can do whatever prep work they want, or no, such as looking into where he is from, his story, etc.

- We decided no mandantory craft for the younger/middle kids, but if one time one of us gets inspired we can do something for them. Instead we will have crossword puzzles and wordsearchs from this sitePuzzlemaker. I have LOVED this site over the years! Great for classes I taught and just fun to make up puzzles for any subject. I may ask my boys to make them up, as you have to learn about the subject to find the words for the puzzle.

-Then we will just eat and talk, maybe bring out a timeline and stick a marker with St. Max on it for his place in time. I have a large board with a map of the world so we can pinpoint Poland and where he went in his travels.

Oh and Maria posted this Novena to St. Maximilan which starts today. Thanks Maria!

So that is our plan for the day! We will see what actually happens, but I wanted to post ahead of time incase anyone else wanted to celebrate St. Maximlian Kolbe's feast day with us.

God Bless all our wonderful saints.

Some 'Advanced Strewing'

(Notice I placed this strategicly near his beloved LOTR book...)


I have what I call 'Advanced Strewing'... that works pretty well around here now and then!

What that means, is that sometimes instead of just 'strewing' (leaving things around for the boys to find), I will subtly or not so subtly encourage them to try them.

Of course sometimes I will flat out say:

"You need to read this.. you will love it!"
or
"This will be great for you to understand that part of history- give it a try."
or
"Oh, this book is great, I think you will like it."

In the case of the last one, it is completely up to them if they try it, but they usually do.
But, then also Mom gets a few other hints out without talking at all. :)




(Quasimoto recommending Mark Hart... lol)

Two Quotes

Awesome post from Leonie.

I like how she sees things from this point of view and ties John Holt to our Holy Father.. wonderful!

All About Love

Combo of insights:

At Mass tonight I again saw that this is all about the love God has for us. As we celebrated the Eucharist, and Father reminded us in his homily. God is coming to us, to see us, at this moment.

After the first reading about Moses he asked how many have seen a bush burn but not consume. A show of hands?
None.

Then asked what that bush represented. The answer: God's presence.

So, he asked, how many have experienced God's presence. A show of hands?
They all shot up.

This life is about experiencing God and sharing that with others.

Fast forward to our homeschool meeting tonight. It eventually got to where it always goes: how do I make my dc do this? How can I get them to learn that?

We then talked about helping them find their own path, and love of learning.

As I think back, it really is about love. God's love for us, his presence. And our love for our children, and our presence to them. Really just paying attention to who they are, what they think, what makes them 'them'. All about love.

What Kind of Homeschooling?

Lovely post by Donna, here.

Expressed much of my life and feelings about our homeschooling journey. Thanks, Donna!

Our Independence Day

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I want my boys to learn. Leonie has had an interesting discussion on her blog about what she requires in homeschooling.

"Requirements" is a completely different post, which I am formulating in my head and hope to post soon. To me it is not a certain list, but a way of life. More on that later.

But, as I was thinking about what ideas or ideals I want my boys to ponder in these learning years, the topics related to our celebration of America's independence rose to the top.

We live in a difficult time, one of many in history. As it said in scripture, we are in a time in which what is good is bad, what is bad is good, what is up is down and down is up. Today that is called political correctness. If one publicly asserts a moral code they are attacked as being intolerant or worse. And, so of course patriotism has become confused in the mire and is often branded as racism.

With immigration things are even more confusing. It begs the question of whether we can be a soverign nation within the culture of political correctness. And more fully, can we be a Christian nation in action and principle, welcoming to all peoples as our faith teaches us, while also protecting our nation and nurtuing its future.

This post will not try and answer those questions, but they are things I ponder and I share with my sons. They will be living in this world a generation past all of us and our grandchildren will inherit it after them. What kind of world will they live in? And what will our country look like in that global scenario? Our children will be facing these issues and hopefully will be leaders in thought and action.

I heard a survey yesterday that by 3 to 1 Americans think things will be worse for our children and not better. But there are voices who think they will be better. I want to be one of those voices. Prayer is foremost. But secondly we must have knowledge.

I think the answers to this depends on us and our children understanding our country, where it came from and where it has the potential to go, all while translating through our faith and God's dominion.


The demographic face of the United States is changing. How does that square with the ideals first set forth for this country? Was the founding of our country based on race, religion or ethnic make up? Is there room for all?

When we look at the immigration at the end of the 19th century, we see a true melting pot. What was it that brought people to want to live here when there were no handouts, welfare or groups to protect and feed the poor? What brought them all here without guarantees?

As I read and research I find a common bond for the founding of America. It is based on a creed. Ideals. The ideals are that of freedom (religious, economic, etc) and democracy. That implied that if you came to this country, you were not guaranteed the security that a large government or monarchy could provide. But you could live your life in freedom. Thus, the majority of those who came were self-starters, hard workers and not in search of a mother country to take care of them.

That is what has led to much of America's economic success, we were founded by self-starters.

We also were founded by people who had a deep belief in God. For example, as the first Continential Convention was about to give up in frustration, Benjamin Franklin stopped the meeting and called for prayer. They ceased all discussion and prayed, and then went on to finish the job.

George Washington truly was a towering figure, the real father of our country, and I think we have lost a lot of that recognition today. He could have been King of America. He was offered that in lieu of being President. He flatly refused and King George III was amazed and greatly impressed by this truly magnificent man. These were the kinds of people who began our country, despite the writings of the revisionist authors of today.

How does that figure into the America of today, which is a very different country in a different world from that in the 1700's. Can our constitution and founding ideas carry us through for two more centuries? Are the ideas outdated?

That is what I want my family and I to explore. We are going back to the roots to understand who the people were and what they stood for when they broke away from King George III of England.

To me, that is the basis of being able to make sense of where America can go in the future. Are we still a creedo nation? We are especially no longer bound by race, economic group or culture. When we began we were 90% English and most completely Christian. But what bound us together were the founding ideals.

Are those ideals still enough to hold together our country? And if so, how do they translate to guide us in our current issues of immigration, world policy, environmentalism, welfare, and a host of others.

What I want to give my boys is a foundation from which to be able to sort out the world and have vision into the future. Like the wonderful quote: Those who do not understand history are bound to repeat it." I feel that if we don't understand the roots of where we come from we can't know where we are going. Or if it is worth the trip, and particularly if it is worth fighting for.

Because we are currently in a fight to save our nation, from threats without and within.

We are starting with some basic review of the founding of the nation. We read some nice Sonlight and other books in past years, as well as study of our government and how it works. We have read through the Declaration of Independence and Constitution briefly in years past. All along we have followed current events, elections, politics and world events.

I hope to review our founders and history again with an eye to applying it to today's issues. Also we are reading from ,The Spirit of America edited by William Bennett, which takes original writings from the framers of our country. We hear straight from them how they foresaw this country.

If their vision is no longer valid, then really the country is up for grabs. So let's see what they had to say!

God Bless America and the whole world--

Happy Independence Day... and with all the problems of America, I want to remember what an awesome country this is.

I think it is very, very easy to take our freedom for granted.

How We Homeschool **ATM**

This topic is one that I think will always be on the front burner to most of us, and I know it is for me. It ebbs and flows. Sometimes I feel very comfortable with what we are doing, then at times I will step back and re-evaluate. What are we doing? Does it fit us? Does it fit us *now*?

Maria has a lovely post on how her family came to unschool. She also talks about the definition of unschooling. She also references one of my favorite blog posts by Melissa Wiley about Tidal Homeschooling.

Well worth the read and I enjoy reading it again now and then.

My boys, being 13 and 16 and very practical and a bit cynical don't even really care for the label of 'homeschooler', much less 'unschooler'. This kind of surprised me when it first popped up a couple of years ago, especially since they LOVE being home and are eternally grateful our family discovered homeschooling. (Yes, I remind them of this constantly and the selfless sacrifice Mom is making for them..lol)

But seriously, I can see it what they are getting at, even if they could not articulate it. They were in a way the canary in the coal mine for me, detecting the artificiality of labels.

I know I have been on a mini-quest in search of a label for a few years. When I was immersed in Charlotte Mason it was a very nice fit and I found like-minded people very easily. Something that is very, very helpful, especially for a newer homeschooling mom.

But, I think the boys have seen various stereotypes develop with homeschooling. And, as we know, most stereotypes spring from a seed of truth. They saw some overly rigid (to their tastes) families doing things that were not 'them'. So they began to reject the homeschool label. Yes we homeschool, but it is really a negative definition. We learn, we just don't learn in school. I think maybe what we do, is how John Holt tried to define unschooling when he first coined the phrase years ago.

In an article in Life Learning magazine, Pat Feranga talked about John Holt and his life and vision. He said that Mr. Holt coined the phrase 'unschooling' to give a name to what families were doing at home with their children while all the other kids were in school from 9am to 3pm. They were NOT schooling in the sense the government schools were.

I think my boys may have seen that were were not only NOT schooling like gov't schools, but we were also NOT homeschooling like a lot of other homeschool families. And that is ok. Because other homeschool families also have their style. But as much as I was drawn *to* a label, my boys seem to have been repelled from one.

So, we have developed our own style. No, not really a style, I think it is a life. I am actually glad to try and drop the labels, though they are handy. I like Melissa's coinage of the term Tidal Homeschooling. I like it because I think that is where I am most comfortable, too.

She does a wonderful job digging into the role of parents. That we can set the stage, strew the treasure, provide guidance. She talks about 'leaving our children to their own devices' and how that plays into it, positively and negatively.

I see that though my boys don't want formal study, they do want direction, though they won't come out and ask. I think they like to know that even though this education is *theirs*, which we have often talked about, that someone older and with more experience has a hand on the rudder.

That plays very well into my personality, too, as I love to learn. And research. And explore new ideas and share.

This was much easier when they were little. I look at Melissa and Maria's blogs, as well as others, and remember the days where the boys were little and loved most everything I suggested! A trip to the museum.. yes! A science project.. fun! A new read-aloud... terrific! Now that they are older they are less willing to jump on mom's bandwagon, and of course I am dealing with almost-adults here, so have adjusted.

I know their interests, which do get narrowed as one gets older. So I try to pick and choose and bring them things that will help broaden them, but also fit their styles. It is harder, but also more rewarding in some ways, in that I am learning higher level material, often adult level and that, I enjoy.

We have been in a season where I have primarily encouraged them in their own interests, but I think (like Melissa's tide) we are coming back to me introducing more. Much of it is me- where I am, what I am doing, what mode I am in.

I wonder, how much of our children's learning and experience is really based on the whim or personality of the mom. I think a lot. But I also think that there are many ways for a child to learn and succeed in life and each mom is a gift. And a mom in research mode is a gift... but then so is the mom who lets the tide ebb and we all just live for a while. Maybe that is why God made women so emotional, so the children could see it, and buoy up and down with the tides... (as long as we don't let them PMS moon terrorize the house! I have learned on those days, just to be very, very quiet... lol)

I used to think that it was ALL up to me. If I didn't get all my school ducks in a row, I failed. Then as we relaxed more, I saw the real learning going on in low tides of introduction of material, but that were often very high tides of learning. I would not give that part up for anything, that is the REAL learning that we all can experience.

But, now I am realizing even more that we are complex creatures (especially women) and our changes and ups and downs are a gift. We are not machines, life is not perfect and what better lesson for our kids. Consistency is not the high prize. That is biggest asset of schools. Love is the prize. Connections. Real parenting. And that is why unschooling is NOT unparenting.

Well, to conclude this ramble, I wanted to put in a quote from the Life Learning Magazine. This is Pat Faranga talking about John Holt and how he changed his ideas and philosophies as he experienced more and learned more. It told me that it is ok to learn and grow and change how we do things. Because we learn a better way does not mean we blew it doing it the old way. And we can change again. It is OK. :)

The revisions to his earlier books reflect this growth in thinking. As his ideas developed he didn't excise his previous thoughts, he built on them....for instance, he drew a line down the side and said," He's the other John Holt: I thought that was a good idea at the time but now the older John Holt knows this to be the case." He didn't need to protect his position by erasing his former thoughts and writings like so many writers do. And the subtext of that is that he was proving by example that people can continue to learn.

Certain Things

I was recently reading a snippet online about a 'Rule of Six' a homeschooling mom came up with- the things she would like her dc to have in their life every day.

This got me to thinking. I really liked that idea as it kind of gathered up things for me. Scooped up the gems that often fall out of our day naturally. Those things, that when they happen, make it a good day. The kind of things, that when they happen more often than not, begin to build on each other and create the flow of happiness and family life that makes up this tapestry we have been living for years.

I started this thinking- "Ok, what things do I need to MAKE happen!?"

Hummm.... That is my old homeschooling-think. Let me re-set.

As I removed myself to my thinking spot, I tried to gain some perspective. Instead I began to think, what are those things that bring joy when they happen naturally, not as a list for me to check off. And they sometimes bring not immediate joy, but sometimes the joy that comes from living a certain way over time.

These are things I would like 'scooped up' and maybe even listed for me to remind me... so I can notice when they happen, and live life so they happen more often. Encourage it.

Let's see if it will be six things...

1) Grounded days with margin that allows connection and discussion. Boys having time to pursue and also me slowing down to connect with them.

2) Something new to think about- either the boys find or I suggest. Just to ponder, quietly perhaps, another new snippet of God's world not yet discovered.

3) Faith- either through a sacrament, prayer time, scripture reading, discussion together--- and/or private reading and prayer.

4) Laughter

5)Intellect- stretching ourselves, usually through discussion often brought about by a new idea (book/DVD/current event. This could be an offshoot of #2, or it could be discussing something we have known/followed for years.

6) Creativity- their projects and mine, sometimes shared and sometimes individually.

7) Friendships and the chance to give to others (physically, emotionally)

8) Connecting with God's creation- either nature or even as we understand how people behave, interact or create.


Oops, I am up to 8. :)

If a combination of these elements happen in a day, it is a good day. If they don't happen, then usually something is out of whack... but that is ok. Things ebb and flow. I find that these kind of days layered over the years are providing a rich life and learning lifestyle.

Re-reading the list, it reminds me a lot of what Charlotte Mason says.. to give children something to do, something to love and something to think about. I always liked that. ;)

What are the 'Certain Things' that make it a joyful day/month/year in your home?

Learning (What?) Through Video Games

I have come to know that a lot can be learned through video games, both skills and content, and they can be a platform for discussion.

Ah, but as with every medium, just what can they teach? Just about anything. Global warming is a topic of interest around these parts, mostly from the point of view of discerning what is 'junk science' and PC fodder and what is not. How do we tell? Who is saying what, and can we discern their real reasons for saying it?

This article is (another) eye opener to me. It is just another extension of the media and how it is being weilded to try and teach (brainwash) the masses. Who would think while watching a funny TV show, reading a benign article in the paper or playing a video game that someone would be trying to 'shape' our thought?

I don't mind if some people think global warming is a threat, but please, don't try and sneak in your ideology disquised as fun for kids, and don't use it as a political springboard! Please Microsoft, make games and computer, don't try and make social change. But, Mr. Gates has all the billions to spend and he wants to make a 'difference'.

I think we are in a Brave New World. I try and talk about this with the boys, to keep them aware of the agendas out there. I hope we can raise an aware generation, but it is amazing the influence the media plays.

Our Days...

Well, I wrote a response to a post Leonie made at UC about the Latin Centered Curriculum book she is reading, and decided it could be a blog post. So here it is! It is nice to have in my scrapbook/blog here. As I find I will go back and read this blog and rarely read UC archives. It gives a nice flavor of where we are now... and will be nice to read when things start changing, or to look back and see where we have been.

This got me thinking about my homeschool journey over the years and how I would read things early on and want to jump from one method to another thinking I might be missing something, or that one was best and I was on the wrong ship. (Leonie is not doing this... but I did) Then after dabbling all these years, it does start to come full circle, that I guess I gravitate toward a certain atmosphere or principles... and it ebbs and flows.

I think for us, interest led has become fairly dominate, but I still love the great ideas that are out there. They 'whys' of learning.... bringing in new ideas, but always encouraging the boys in what they find interesting.

It is funny, the boys are in the midst of learning how to do modifications to software code to create their own levels in a video game. B was showing me how and I saw all this geometry, cad cam work, logic, creativity... in fact I could not keep up, and I have always prized my ability for logic, etc. It is funny when your kids begin to pass you. While B was doing that, S was working on a novel he is writing in LOTR style.

The funny part (to me) was as I was checking in with them (as i have been busy with some projects of my own the past few days), I asked S what he was doing and he said, "Oh, I am being productive, I am doing ...... "

I liked that as they see they are being productive and stretching. But then I asked what they are reading, listening to, etc- as I had not seen much on that front...... so now B is starting Lillies of the Field, S listening to Peter Kreeft. So I find gentle reminders work pretty well here to nudge them in new areas. It is like I can sort of sense when they need that nudge? And boy can I sense when they don't.

I once heard Chris Davis from Elijah Co do a talk and they lived in the country. It was time for math. He called his son. No answer. He called again. Still no response.
He went outside and looked and far off in a pasture, his son was laying face up on the back of his horse, dreamily watching the sky.

Chris decided math could wait a bit. :)

Just some rambling. But your LCC sounds like something I would like in that I do love higher ideas. I like the Plato quote I read recently, that the goal of education is to bring us to higher things. St. Augustine took that as his motto. And he knew 'higher things' was God. But St. Terese also told us there is a "little way' to God. I think all of these things (video games and Latin) can bring us to God if we are involved with the dc and talking about it all and the context of how it fits in the world and in our love as a family.

TAKS Back to Basics

Step One:
Sharpen Pencils

Step Two:
Don't Cheat

Wouldn't Step Two be a given?

Oh, it seems like so much of our tax money is spent to try and force a system that is just not working. Sigh. God bless those kids and teachers.

June 11, 2007, 3:24PM
State rolls out new steps to prevent TAKS cheating


© 2007 The Associated Press
AUSTIN — State education officials announced Monday a new security plan designed to prevent cheating on standardized tests.

The plan includes assigning test monitors to campuses with previous security problems, using multiple versions of tests and mandatory seating charts at test sites.

The security measures would apply to the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, also called TAKS, and other state testing programs.

"Texas has always taken test security seriously," said state Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley. "But as the stakes surrounding testing have become higher, some have questioned whether we are doing all we can to prevent cheating on our tests and to prosecute those who betray our students and schools in this way."

A recent analysis by The Dallas Morning News found that tens of thousands of students across Texas continue to cheat on the TAKS test, despite claims by the Texas Education Agency that cheating on the standardized exam is a rarity.

The suspected cheating was concentrated in the Dallas and Houston school districts and charter schools.

The TEA announced 14 steps to prevent or identify cheating, including:

_Analyze scrambled blocks of test questions to detect answer copying.

_Contract with a national expert for independent review.

_Require students to sign honor pledges not to cheat.

_Develop ways to identify statistically irregular patterns of test answers that may indicate cheating.

A bill waiting approval by Gov. Rick Perry, meanwhile, would replace the state's high-stakes high school exit exam with end-of-course tests.

___

On the Net:

Texas Education Agency: http://www.tea.state.tx.us

Teaching Company- Hinduism

I am finishing up a by the Teaching Company CD lecture series on Hinduism.

The professor is facinating, and I am learning a tremendous about about something I knew very little of. It is doubly interesting my family and I because our parish priest is Indian. He is from the southern part, were most of the Indian Christians live.

But, as this CD lecture bears out, Hinduism really IS India. The two cannot be seperated. 99% of all Hindus live in India. The whole country is sacred to them. The iver 330 MILLION gods they have (yes, that many) are depicted all over the country, in roadside temples, in cities, everywhere.

What must it be like to be a Catholic in that country?

The professor said that in his lecture he had to organize the religion enough to present it coherently. But in practice and life it is not that coherent. It is enormous and though there are rules (caste, etc) it is very hard to pin down. But he did an excellent job in bringing India and Hinduism to life.

We have had some nice discussions in our house about it. Comparative Relgion... we have a lot of faith discussion and I had been looking for some resources to fill out a credit for ds, and this is a wonderful resource. It is helping us see other people in the world, how they live, how their religions developed. It also is making us see the beauty, logic, mystery and God's own hand in our Catholicism, cementing it even more in our lives.

Here is an excerpt from the Teaching Company website:

Terms we associate with Hinduism—"Hinduism," "religion," and "India"—are all Western creations, notions that for most of history did not accurately reflect the thinking of those who practice this most ancient of the great faiths.

In fact, one of the primary themes of Professor Mark W. Muesse's lectures is the difficulty of studying Hinduism without imposing Western perceptions on it.

In Hinduism you will find a religion that is perhaps the most diverse of all, that worships more gods and goddesses than any other, and which rejects the notion that there is one path to the divine.

A Window into All Religions
These lectures provide a window into the roots of not only this religion, but perhaps all religions. You will explore over the course of Hinduism's 5,000-year journey:

The Indus Valley civilization
The huge variety of Hindu gods and goddess
The sacred writings in the Vedas, the Bhagavad-gita and the Upanishads
Ritual purity rites
The Aryan language of Sanskrit, whose roots can be seen in English words such as "divine," "video," and "ignite."

The story of Hinduism is the story of very un-Western traditions—arranged marriages and the caste system—that have survived and thrived for thousands of years; and of a wealth of gods, terms, and practices—karma, Krishna, yoga, guru—that have found a home in Western lives and language.

The course also explains that Hinduism rejects the notion that there is only one path to the divine, and at its best, it honors all seekers of truth.

Lillies of the Field.. .Lovely, Lovely Book

Do you have about 2 hours? Then you must pick up this book.

It is 134 pages and the type is big and the pages are small. It reads like a fable, and gives great depth in few words. Much like its characters, the Superiour Mutter and Homer Price (not the children's book Homer---) but a black man just out of the Army in the early 60's.

It is written by William Barett- I think this is one book it is worth having on the shelf for when people are ready to pick it up. And you can surely get it cheap at a used book store in the classics aisle. I read this aloud to my boys when they were about 9 and 12. They really enjoyed it.

Anyway, these two characters (with the other 4 nuns Mother lives with) meet in the desert near the Colorado Rockies. She wants a chapel built. He has the brawn and the conscience. They both have strong wills. Neither liked to be told what to do! On the story goes!

We also saw the movie, with Sydney Portier. This is one movie that cast the character just how I thought he looked in the book.

I am going to suggest it to my boys again. It really is lovely- and has the bite and depth of real people- the latinos who live in the poverty-stricken area, the strong German Mutter with her uncompromising tudor personality, the sweet nuns under her tutilage... and Homer, who is a black man in a white country, with a good heart but a stubborn streak.

I loved the part when he first met the tough Mutter Superior and thought she gave him a hard time, liked her. She didn't see his color. Just knew God sent him to build her church.

Read it on a lazy summer day.. out loud to the kids is even better!

My Personal Education...

This is the picture I was looking for when I found 'The Eye'...lol

This is my watching my Teaching Company DVDs with the dogs on the couch with a glass of tea. Ah! Beats the classroom!

Gosh I shoulda had a pedicure first!

The Dem's Turn

Anyone going to watch the democrats duke it out tonight on CNN?

Click here for details.

I watched the republicans debate with the boys last month and it generated quite a bit of discussion. I asked B (13) if he was going to watch the dems tonight. He didn't think so.

Why?

"Well, if there is one I think I would vote for, I might, but there isn't so I wont."

I told him he can't just go by what I say, maybe I am wrong and there is a candidate out there he needs to know about.


"Well, if any are for the issues in the Catholic Voter's Guide non-negotiable list, I will consider it. Let me know if there are. Otherwise I have other things to do and may or may not watch."

Well, he is right. Though I still think it is a good way to learn about the candidate, what makes them tick, how CNN presents the debate (always good for Media Analysis credits...) and how they can 'support' their positions.

By the way, we had trouble finding many republicans who met the non-negotiables list, either. Here it is if you are interested:
Catholic Voter Guide

I ordered a bunch of really nice pamplet guides from Lighthouse and displayed them at my parish. If anyone wants some for your parish, let me know and I will order them next time I otder. They are $13.50 per 50.

Well, I bet the boys watch a bit of the debate tonight... just out of curiousity! We enjoy seeing the people, then googling them to see what they say they believe. Sometimes that is a bit hard to nail down... part of the fun!

**UPDATE**

Ok. Marie, you and Bryan were right. This was a real bust.
They had nothing to say. Mrs. Clinton couldn't seem to answer any question constructivly, but just critisize and often rather personally, the current administration.

None of the candidates seem to have any 'weight' to them. Joe Biden got mad and started yelling once to make a point.. guess he thought he was on Hardball.

Gov Richardson kept trying to get a word in, but couldn't seem to.

Wolf Blitzer who moderated kept losing control and for some reason kept trying to get the candidate to all 'raise their hands' if they agreed with a statement. It made them look like schoolchildren, and Mrs. C got snippy about it.

The most professional one there, who was the best spoken and seemed to have the most substance was Obama. And I thought he would be the lightweight. Of course I agree with few of his positions.

Oh well.

I agree it is very early, but I enjoyed the republican debate because it introduced me to some players I had not know about before, in particular Brownback from Kansas who is Catholic and I think has a prolife position all the way. Plus I really wanted to hear Rudy try and explain his pro-death abortion stance.

Ok.. no more politics for while.

After 20 minutes I switched to TCM and The Wizard of Oz was on! It was much more poignant and relevant to my life. :)

"If I only had a brain....!" I love that song!