My Paul's Fictional Story: Charlie

Oh, but this blog is sorely neglected. There's always something else that needs to be done lately. Writing blows off steam for me, so I really miss it.

I did want to jump on here quickly and write out my Paul's fictional story. He's been writing it in ten-minute increments of time during our morning Quick Writes. I think it's worthy of sharing because it highlights the benefit of assigning copious amounts of reading texts, whether fiction or non-fiction. Over time, widely-read students begin to use "book language" when they speak and write, transforming them into articulate speakers and solid writers.

Paul, age 10, is working 18 months to 2 years ahead in school (which is why I can school him with his older brother), but he'll be the first to tell you that he doesn't like reading. He'd much rather study maps, design maps, design original card games, play board games or card games, or study almanacs and history time lines. He's a nerd, but not a book-loving nerd. Nevertheless, the books he whines about are benefiting him enormously.

Charlie

Once upon a time there was a boy named Charlie. He had a mom and a dad, and a best friend, Tike, but no brothers or sisters. He had just moved to New York, near Albany.

It was a warm summer day, June 9th. Tike and Charlie were going swimming.

"Last one there is a rotten egg," said Tike.

Despite being ten, one year younger than Charlie, Tike was faster.

They plunged into the deep, cool lake. And of course, Tike was a better swimmer. They challenged each other to see who could swim faster across the half-mile lake.

"I don't like this idea," said Charlie, after thinking about it more.

"It will be fine," said the younger Tike.

So, Tike and Charlie started across. By the time they were halfway across the lake, Charlie turned back.

"I don't think this is going well. What if we start drowning?", said Charlie, partly because he was losing.

"I'll win without you," said Tike.

"Fine", said Charlie.

Tike was almost across when Charlie called to him, "Watch it. There are rocks over there."

But Tike didn't hear him.

Tike was excited when he made it across. "I won! I won!", he sang.

"Whoo", said Tike soon after that, slipping and falling face-down on a rock.

When Tike didn't come back, Charlie walked to the other side of the lake.

"Tike! Tike!," he called.

Charlie finally found Tike, lying unconscious on a rock. He called for help.

"Help! Help!"

When Tike woke up, he was in a bed in the hospital. And, of course, his mom was next to him.

"Are you alright? Are you?", said his mom.

"Yes, I'm fine", said Tike. "But why am I in the hospital?"

"Well", said Charlie. "I'll tell you my story."

"We were racing across the lake", started Charlie. "I turned back, but Tike kept going. When he was almost across, I reminded him of the rocks. I guess he didn't hear me, because I found him lying on a rock, unconscious."

"After that, I got your mom and we took you to the hospital," he said to Tike.

He hasn't finished this story yet, but I'm so tickled by it.

Tell me about your own children? What are they doing that is inspiring you lately, or affirming your methods? Parenting is hard, and we really need to celebrate when our efforts bring fruit. (Or rather, when God blesses our efforts and allows them to grow fruit.)

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Baked Potato Soup

For the love of soup, here's that recipe I've been wanting to share.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

- 6 large russets (4 pounds) peeled and cubed

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 3 (14 oz) cans chicken broth with roasted garlic. Or add four cloves garlic, halved, then remove before mashing. I don't mess with trying to get garlic halves out of the soup. I just add 1 tsp. jarred refrigerated garlic to the soup, and leave it in.

- 1/4 c. butter

- 2 tsp. salt

- 1 tsp. pepper

- 1 cup milk (I use 1% milk, but any type would be fine I'm sure.)

- 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar (we use colby jack cheese)

- 3 T fresh parsley (or use 1 to 1 1/2 T dried parsley)

- 8 oz sour cream (I use light sour cream.)

- 4 bacon slices (I put this on the side, as I don't personally want the calories from bacon)

Directions

- Put first six ingredients in large soup pot (potatoes, onion, chicken broth, butter, salt, pepper). Cook until potatoes are tender.

- Turn off burner. Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soup is slightly thickened. Stir in milk, cheese, and parsley. Wait about 3 minutes to add the sour cream, to avoid separation.

- Sprinkle with bacon and extra cheese, if desired.

This soup is so yummy. Enjoy!

Homeschool and Mother's Journal Jan 19

This is a personal blog. None of the links are affiliate.

In my life this week:

We had a productive school week, as well as the first OCD therapy appointment for our son, Peter, age 12. Unfortunately he was assigned an intern, probably because of our inferior health insurance. I have to keep a close watch because poor therapy can make OCD worse.

We had nearly 3 days this week without an Internet connection. Fortunately it was AT&T's problem so no charge to us. My boys follow college basketball scores via the Internet, so their disappointment was the worst it got here with no Internet. I couldn't blog, of course, but that just meant a little extra sleep for a couple days.

We found out that my father-in-law wants to give each of our four children enough money to pay for three years at our local state college (current tuition and fees, living at home). College costs rise 5% a year, so it will cover less by the time they reach college age. We had to do some research on 529 college savings plans--which was difficult with the Internet down--but we did learn you have to apply through your state. You also have to watch how much money is given in gifts to your children per year, to avoid incurring tax costs.

We're still in shock because we didn't know father-in-law had amassed such a savings. (It's all for the kids, though, so ironically, we still have to suffer through a dryer that screeches loudly with each load of clothes. Oh, how we dread each load of laundry now! Tax refund coming in about 5 weeks, though, thank goodness.)

My father-in-law worked in a paper factory and made little money, but he saved every penny, being about as frugal as anyone you've ever met, and he did as many side jobs as he could for extra income (he liked to tinker with broken things). I tried to emphasize to the children how grateful they needed to be for their grandfather's sacrifice, but I don't think they have the maturity to understand completely. Their grandfather is a man who doesn't even use his oven because the microwave is cheaper to use. His wife, my husband's mother, died in a car accident 39 years ago, and he never remarried, so I suppose that made it easier for him to save. When she was alive, he didn't even let her buy tea, because it wasn't a necessity.

God works in such amazing ways, doesn't he? In some ways my father-in-law is a mean, unforgiving tyrant (though a Christian, strangely enough), but through him, God has blessed my children. The problem is, father-in-law doesn't have any desire to leave anything for his daughter or her adult son, so that leaves us in a very awkward situation. His desire is just to bless the next generation, not this one, so that leaves my sister-in-law's 30-something son out of the "inheritance" loop, which stresses me and saddens me. My sister-in-law and father-in-law are in a feud of sorts, which I pray resolves before his death (he's 91 years old now). They're both extremely stubborn, not even realizing how alike they are.

Last bit of news this week is that Peter is now the proud owner of a baby corn snake. He wanted a dog for his birthday, but thankfully, he settled on a snake. A dog would compete with our food budget for sure ( not because we're frugal--just strapped).

In our homeschool this week:


The boys, ages 10 and 12, continue in their Sonlight Eastern Hemisphere studies, this week reading Breaking Stalin's Nose, a 2012 Newbery Honor book. This is a riveting, important book about the stark contrast between a free society and a dictatorship. It's a must-read for all upper elementary students and beyond. The author, a former Russian citizen, left Russia for American when he was 27 years old, now residing in California.

Grade Level Equivalent 4, Lexile Measure 670

Publisher Synopsis: Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six:
The Young Pioneer is devoted to Comrade Stalin, the Communist Party, and Communism.

A Young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience.
A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings.

But now that it is finally time to join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway.  And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night.
 
This moving story of a ten-year-old boy's world shattering is masterful in its simplicity, powerful in its message, and heartbreaking in its plausibility.

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Breaking Stalin's Nose is a short novel which an adult can read in two or three hours. The boys followed it up by starting Around the World in Eighty Days.

Grade Level Equivalent 8.5, no Lexile Measure available

Publisher Synopsis: One ill-fated evening at the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg rashly bets his companions £20,000 that he can travel around the entire globe in just eighty days - and he is determined not to lose. Breaking the well-establised routine of his daily life, the reserved Englishman immediately sets off for Dover, accompanied by his hot-blooded French manservant Passepartout. Travelling by train, steamship, sailing boat, sledge and even elephant, they must overcome storms, kidnappings, natural disasters, Sioux attacks and the dogged Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard - who believes that Fogg has robbed the Bank of England - to win the extraordinary wager. Around the World in Eighty Days gripped audiences on its publication and remains hugely popular, combining exploration, adventure and a thrilling race against time.
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Other homeschooling news: We began listening to audio books right after lunch, starting with Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They're more expensive than books, but we don't plan on buying any (just using the titles from our local library). Not only is the reading voice outstanding, as one might expect, compared to my own, but listening to it is very relaxing for all of us, and allows me to fold laundry, keeping up for the first time ever! Two chapters a day is all I need to fold all the laundry and put it away. 



The children draw, or just sit and relax while we listen, though I don't allow them to talk or play games. I've read Farmer Boy a couple times, but somehow I missed how much this boy loves food! Much time is spent on describing in detail all the wonderful, homemade food Almanzo's mother and sisters prepared. I find the book such a treasure in so many ways, as do the children. Peter read it a couple years ago, but Paul never has. 

Another thing that struck me is how obedient children were in these bygone days. They didn't speak at the table at all, for one thing (not that this is a necessary discipline, but it demonstrates respect for elders). In church, they weren't to speak or move at all. Again, even if one doesn't think these particular disciplines are important, it's a excellent thing for children to hear or read books in which children honored God and parents, in ways one rarely sees today. 
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I read some endearing picture books this week, including The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, which has become a favorite of us all (we read it at least once daily now). Ms. Hoberman is a master of rhyme--delicious, delightful rhyme that will put anyone, adult or young'un, in a swell mood.


Publisher Overview: Peter wants only milk, Lucy won't settle for anything but homemade lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. Each new addition to the Peters household brings a new demand for a special meal.

What's a mother to do? Even though Mrs. Peters picks, peels, strains, scrapes, poaches, fries, and kneads, the requests for special foods keep coming. It isn't until her birthday arrives that a present from her children solves the problem with a hilarious surprise that pleases everyone.

Seven fussy eaters find a way to surprise their mother.

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Another gem from Mary Ann Hoberman is Whose Garden Is It?


Publisher Overview: The gardener says the garden belongs to him. But the woodchuck insists that it's his. And so do the rabbit, the butterfly, the squash bug, and the bumblebee. Even the tiny seeds and whistling weeds think the garden just couldn't grow without them. As they stroll through the exquisite plants and flowers, Mrs. McGee and her child listen and wonder: Whose garden is it?
Children's book luminaries Mary Ann Hoberman and Jane Dyer reveal the secrets of a glorious garden in this beautiful and poetic rhyming read-aloud.

When Mrs. McGee walks through a garden wondering whose it is, all of the plants and animals as well as the sun and the gardener claim it as their own.

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For a little taste of history, we read The Buffalo Storm by Katherine Applegate, a social studies title I recommend for your younger elementary students.

Publisher Overview: Hallie isn't afraid of anything—that is, anything but storms, which she braves along with her grandmother, huddled beneath a special quilt. When her family decides to join a wagon train and go west, leaving her grandmother—and everything Hallie has ever known—behind, Hallie knows she will have to be braver than she's ever been before. Then one day on the trail she witnesses the wildest, most glorious storm imaginable. How can she be afraid of anything after that?

Lyrical text from an exceptional writer is paired with gorgeous, jewel-like paintings in this evocative story of westward expansion.

Mom's Favorite Thing This Week:

I thoroughly enjoyed every time "Shake" came on the Christian radio station, courtesy of the band Mercy Me. My lively children turn the volume way up, dancing and shaking themselves into a frenzy every time, and they're even memorizing the lyrics a little more each time. Makes my heart smile (and sometimes I even shake with them!).

I am still in shock about the education fund news from my father-in-law, but I'm also praising God and marveling at His mysterious ways. Husband was not treated well all these years by his father, but somehow, that mistreatment is being redeemed some in this blessing for our children. Life is so very short, and in so many ways it can be wasted. Makes me realize all the more that so many of our daily decisions become part of our legacy. If we want our legacy to leave behind a pleasing aroma, if you will, we have to live intentionally, clinging to the Lord for wisdom, grace, and the will and strength to choose love, always.

Children's Favorite Thing This Week:

~ They enjoyed meeting the new corn snake and preparing his (or her?) habitat.

~ They enjoyed each time their favorite song came on.

~ They enjoyed big, fluffy snowflakes.

~ They enjoyed each time the dryer finished a cycle. :)

~ They enjoyed all the books we read together (and alone) this week.

Things I'm Working On:

For three weeks now we've had an obedience chart on the fridge, with a column for each child's check marks, which they earn every time they obey immediately, without arguing or getting distracted. I don't have time to go to the chart each time, but when I see them obey right away, I tell them to give themselves a check, which thrills them. Seeing someone else get a check makes the slow-to-obey ones more motivated to turn over a new leaf and respond to commands promptly. 

Each Sunday if they've done reasonably well, we give them $1 to save, or they can choose a small pack of candy at the dollar store on the way home from church. So far, they have all chosen the candy, but eventually they'll start saving, I pray. 

It's just your average bribery technique, abhorred by some parents, but it's making them more aware of their duty to obey, and it helps me see at a glance who has the most trouble obeying, allowing me to follow up with prayer for them. Mary obeys most commands quickly, as does Paul, but Peter and Beth need more work in this area. Some weeks, those two have only been allowed to eat half a package of candy.

I don't allow them to eat their reward all in one day, of course. It's gone by the third day, usually, and they then start counting how many days there are until Sunday.

Gratitude List

~ God's provision

~ For the living, Holy Word of God, guaranteed to comfort and grow us.

~ My cousin kindly coming over to take out our broken dishwasher, which began to fill with water, probably due to our need for a new garbage disposal. It was a stinky problem--one I'm grateful to have resolved. The disposal itself is working well enough for us to wait until tax refund time for replacement. 

~ For heartwarming, precious books to cuddle and read together.

~ For finding a delightful way to keep up with the laundry and keep the couch clear of its clutter.

~ For a kind lady at church to whom we gave cookies at Christmastime. She gave the container back to me this morning, filled with Valentine chocolates and heart candy. Is that not the sweetest gesture? The kids and I decided to call it the "love tin", to be passed back and forth, filled with goodies, between two families. This older woman lives alone and I think such an exchange would tickle her, as well.

~ I finally get to go to the thrift store tomorrow night, between 7 PM and 9PM, to find some needed clothes for myself and for the girls. And jeans for Peter, who suddenly began putting holes in them again, at age 12. The girls have grown so much taller! Usually I can keep up by monthly trips to thrift stores, but we've been busy lately and I've neglected this. My hours at the thrift store are really my only break, and I do so enjoy it!

What is blessing you this week, friends?

Quotes to share:

Deuteronomy 4:10 How on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” (Charles Swindoll)

“We all leave footprints in the sand, the question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul.” (Anonymous)

How to Study the Bible (and Why)

In order to study the Bible effectively--or study it at all for that matter--we need motivation. First, we have to love God. Really love Him...more than ourselves.

Ooh, ouch. You mean if I'm not studying the Bible, I love myself more than God? Well, yes, that's what I mean...unless you have a colicky baby and there's no relief right now. Life is like that at times, but those seasons are short, thankfully.

I love you, Lord. Help me study your Word. Help me glorify you with my time.

Motivations for Studying the Word:

~ To express your love for God.

~ To be with the One you love.

~ To glorify God by your changed heart and life. A changed heart comes from absorbing and applying the Word, via the Holy Spirit's work in you as you study.

~ To spread the Gospel effectively. We are called to share our faith. It isn't just a good idea, but a command.

~ To ensure a solid foundation of lasting faith in your children. Only God can save someone, true. But any faith your children leave home with will falter and water down quickly, and they will go the way of the world, if they don't have solid Bible study and prayer practices in place. Bathe them in the Word and in prayer, and by your modeling, show them how to bathe themselves in the Word. We. must. get. this. right.

~ To experience the peace and joy so often talked about among Christians. That peace and joy? It isn't automatic; rather, it's a direct result of our time with the Lord. No devotional time = no peace and joy.

~ To finish the race well...and even leave a legacy. Jesus will have such an embrace for us when we get to Heaven. Think on that. Don't we want to do Him (our Father) proud? And our legacy: Our life message of devotion to God will remain with our family for generations. We may very well be their inspiration, as they share stories about how much mom or grandma loved the Lord and how that played out in her everyday life. Let's leave behind an amazingly strong message about loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind. Wanting to leave a legacy isn't about ego. It's believing that life is a gift from God...not to be wasted in worldly pursuits. A wasted life is a slap in the face to our gracious, loving God. We must seek to honor Him.

How to Study the Bible:

This is, of course, a huge topic. There are so many ways, with many books and articles to help us. Here, I offer basics.

1. Choose a time and say it's God's time...then don't mess with God's time. I'm a night person, so my time is after the kids go to bed and the kitchen is clean. If you only open the Bible in church on Sunday, then start with a goal of 3 study days a week. Then the next week, study for 4 days, and so on, until you're studying 7 days a week. It will grow on you, believe me.

2. Gather your tools and keep them together:

~ Your Bible -There are many translations of the Bible, but not all are best for study time. Try American Standard Version, or New American Standard Version, or King James Version, or New King James Version. These versions point us to the most literal meanings, but any version you presently have will do fine for now. Comparing translations will also help solidify meanings for us. Reading online, it's easy to see many versions at once.

~ You need a concordance, and a Bible dictionary. Both are found in one book if you obtain  “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance” ($25.49 at Christianbook.com). You can use the online version here. Below I've pasted a product description of this book from christianbook.com.

Strong's numbering system for word studies in Greek and Hebrew

Goodrick-Kohlenberger numbers in the dictionary indexes

Up-to-date Hebrew and Greek dictionaries

Nave's Topical Bible Reference System

Cross-references to places and names used in Bible translations besides the KJV

Word counts of every word in the Bible

Fast-Tab locators help you find your place quickly and easily

Smythe-sewn binding that opens fully, lays flat, and lasts longer

Maps

Words of Christ highlighted in red

Clear, easy to read type

Comprehensive guidance for using The Strongest Strong

~ You need a journal - Record the major themes of the chapter, the major passages to memorize, and what principles you can apply to your life.

3. Read a whole book, rather than skipping around daily.

God deserves a solid Bible study time from us. Pick one book and resolve to learn it thoroughly, before moving on to another book. Pretend that by the end of your study, you have to give an overview of the book to a sixth grade class.

Start with a who, what, where, when introduction for each book you read, which you can find in many study Bibles, or by searching online for "introduction to the Book of James".

Read the book several times before moving on. The first two times, read it through without intensive study, to get an overview of major themes. In subsequent readings, look up words and try to understand them fully. Keep notes in your journal.

If you already know the Bible fairly well, you might want to do some topical studies for a change. For example, study love, or faith, or marriage, etc.

4. Start and end every session in prayer. Remember that every time you open the Bible, the Holy Spirit is right there. He opens your heart and helps you understand. He makes it personal for you...for the place you're at in your Christian walk. Always start in prayer, thanking God for His Word, and asking Him to nourish you and give you clear understanding. When you are done, thank God for this time with Him, and ask Him to help you remember and apply what you learned.

God bless you as you study and grow more in love with Him!

Sharing also with We are That Family WFMW

Homeschool and Mother's Journal Jan 10

In My Life This Week:

It was a really great, productive week, outside of the usual unpleasantness of things breaking--like my husband's car breaking down for the second time in 7 days, and some house pipes temporarily freezing, and the dryer screeching louder than last week. The dishwasher that broke last April or May, now fills up with water for some reason, probably having to do with a drain problem somewhere.

How do I avoid crying when more than one thing breaks in a week? Bible and books. The more life gets rough, with no immediate answers, the more I soak up Scripture and good stories. If you have your children gathered close, and you have a good story to share, what could be wrong?

I remember reading that a large homeschooling family who writes Christian material professionally, doesn't encourage their children to read a lot of literature because it can be a waste of time.

A waste of time? I was shocked.

Well...we do sit down when we read. We don't generally fold laundry or cook or clean at the same time, so yes, I can see how one could read the day away and not wipe any faces or make any oatmeal or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or sweep any floors or teach any lessons.

A book lovin' mother must exercise restraint, for sure. It's hard, let me tell you, especially when Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is in your heart and lap. I'm reading this to myself at night, and to the kids after lunch each day.

Synopsis: When Rebecca comes from the chaotic family farm to live with her spinster aunts in Riverboro, strict Miranda and gentle Jane don't know how to cope with a wild and zestful ten-year-old -- nor she with them. But Rebecca is the most likeable, energetic, enthusiastic girl anyone ever met. And Riverboro is never the same again either! Lexile 1190, Grade Equivalent 8.9

But really? Books...a waste of time? Life this side of heaven is hard. We need outstanding books to provide joy, escape, and perspective. A timeless book reminds us that we are not the only suffering souls that ever lived, and that courage and honorable character are choices.

In Our Homeschool This Week:

The boys, ages 10 and 12, still enjoy Writing With Ease, by Susan Wise Bauer, and also morning quick writes. They continue to read Water Sky from their Sonlight Core F curriculum, and are almost through Usborne's Complete Book of the Human Body, and Almost 12 (a very good Christian book about puberty). They have some non-fiction reading about China to finish up, and some World Book DVD ROM research to finish up about China, before moving on to a study of Russia.







We continue to read through 1 Kings with the accompanying commentary in my study Bible, during morning devotions, and the boys also read it on their own later.

The girls, ages 5 and 7, enjoyed many books with Mommy this week (boys listened too), and are moving right along in their studies. I'm seeing more maturity and ability to buckle down and work hard. Mary's reading fluency improved this week, and Beth's handwriting looks better, too.

Several of the library books I'm about to share are social-studies themed in one way or another. I purchased a Sonlight science curriculum for the girls, but for social studies we use library books and our own non-fiction library.

Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, by Deborah Hopkinson, whose author page at Scholastic is here.



Overview: This ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book and Booklist Editors' Choice is an ingenious historical fiction picture book about the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It’s a tale of two boys who get themselves into more trouble than bear cubs in a candy store.

The year is 1816. Abe is only seven years old, and his pal, Austin, is ten. Abe and Austin decide to journey down to Knob Creek. The water looks scary and deep, and Austin points out that they don’t know how to swim. Nevertheless, they decide to traverse it. I won’t tell you what happens, but let’s just say that our country wouldn’t be the same if Austin hadn’t been there to help his friend.

My Mary told me this Lincoln story is one of her favorites, and my son Paul said the author has a fantastic writing style, a view I most certainly agree with.

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Fannie in the Kitchen, by Deborah Hopkinson 

Yes, this week I checked out several Hopkinson titles. She's definitely one of my favorite children's authors.

Publisher Overview: 

Marcia is unhappy when Mama hires a mother's helper named Fannie Farmer. However, as Fannie shows Marcia how to spot a rotten egg, choose the best melon, and flip a griddle cake at the precise moment, Marcia finds joy and comfort in Fannie's kitchen.

It's so heartwarming the way Fannie teaches this young girl how to bake and cook, just as her mother welcomes a new baby and is over-the-moon happy and preoccupied with her precious bundle of joy. We enjoyed every minute of this charming tale, and cheered for little Marcia with her new-found confidence!

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Knit Your Bit, A World War 1 Story, by Deborah Hopkinson

Publisher Overview: Mikey’s dad has left home to fight overseas during World War I, and Mikey wants to do something BIG to help. When his teacher suggests that the class participate in a knitting bee in Central Park to knit clothing for the troops, Mikey and his friends roll their eyes—knitting is for girls! But when the girls turn it into a competition, the boys just have to meet the challenge.

Based on a real “Knit-In” event at Central Park in 1918, Knit Your Bit shows readers that making a lasting contribution is as easy as trying something new! 

This story is exciting, charming, and informative, with plenty of historical details. A friend from church came last weekend and taught us how to knit, and I wanted to read this to the boys so they would feel confident in their desire to learn to knit. Whether they will actually take it up for good, I can't say, but at least Paul enjoys it (saying it's so relaxing). Any handicraft, whether it's knitting, woodworking, painting, or drawing, is very good for kids. We have to intentionally resist the electronics craze and get them working with their hands. Far better for the brain!

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Next we move on to three Patricia Polacco books, whose Scholastic author page is here. 

Publisher Overview: Whenever Mary Ellen needed Betty Doll, she was there. Betty Doll saw her through happy and sad times, thunderstorms and parties, weddings and births. Now, when Mary Ellen’s daughter Trisha needs Betty Doll most, she rediscovers the sweet old doll, along with a letter written by her mother before she died. This touching story is a reminder of the power of a mother’s love and the joy of life’s precious moments.

I suffered from leaky eyes all week, reading to the kids. All these stories are just precious and I didn't get to the end of one of them without crying.

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Publisher's Weekly Review: As she did in Thank You, Mr. Falker and The Junkyard Wonders, Polacco pays homage to an influential teacher from her childhood—in this case, two of them. Trisha’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Donovan, who has “a laugh that sounded like bells ringing,” realizes that Trisha needs extra time to finish (and thereby pass) tests. He also recognizes her artistic talent and arranges for Trisha to join Miss Chew’s high school art class. The girl immediately feels at home under the tutelage of Miss Chew, who is of Chinese descent and whose grace and warmth emanate from Polacco’s vibrant portraits (Miss Chew is often seen in brightly patterned dresses and paint-spattered smocks, arms spread wide). Emotionally and artistically, Trisha connects with the woman, who emphasizes the need “to see” rather than merely look at one’s subject; Miss Chew also pinpoints the cause of Trisha’s reading troubles, though a one-note villain of a substitute teacher threatens Trisha’s progress. The joy of artistic creation and the value of teachers who are willing to look outside the box come through clearly in the first-person narrative and Polacco’s fluid illustrations.

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Publisher Overview: 

Ever since the Nazis marched into Monique's small French village, terrorizing it, nothing surprises her, until the night Monique encounters 'the little ghost' sitting at the end of her bed. She turns out to be a girl named Sevrine, who has been hiding from the Nazis in Monique's basement. Playing after dark, the two become friends, until, in a terrifying moment, they are discovered, sending both of their families into a nighttime flight.

During the Nazi occupation of France, Monique's mother hides a Jewish family in her basement and tries to help them escape to freedom.

Our Favorite Things This Week:

I've enjoyed cuddling with children and books, and my quiet time reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm at night. I continue to enjoy John Piper's Advent book Good News of Great Joy. John Piper is a phenomenal theologian.

The children enjoyed baking snicker doodles and soft ginger snaps, and the boys rather liked the excitement of pipes freezing on us for the first time in our 8.5 years in Ohio. I, however, panicked, before checking the Internet for solutions. Only 3 faucets were affected; we used a space heater to heat up a closet that houses pipes.

They drew while I read aloud after lunch each day, and they're mighty proud of their creations.

I'm Grateful For:

~ lots and lots of grace

~ our practice of dedicating the day to the Lord each morning during devotions. We also ask for control over our tongues as we dwell and learn and play together, which really helps us remember to be kind to each other as we go about our day.

~ good friends

~ the power of prayer

~ siblings being best friends (even if they don't realize it)

~ getting lost in stories and verses

~ a very kind, helpful mechanic who even comes to our home when we need him (husband's car is 25 years old!)

~ Beth making strides in speech therapy this week

~ letters from Compassion kids

~ Paul's headaches have not returned!

~ Peter turning 12 this weekend (I've been doing this 12 years already? Blows my mind how fast it's gone.)

~ no matter how many things break, my spirit is always whole and healthy in Him

Quotes to Share:

Matthew 4:4 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.” 
― C.S. Lewis

“Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.” 
― Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

“Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress. When I get fed up with one, I spend the night with the other” 
― Anton Chekhov

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