I just really love watching this.

Quote

"Know, beloved, that the valleys shall abound with wheat and spiritual fruit. This valley is a soul low and humble among the mountains, that is, it is filled with labours and virtues, and always remains unhaughty and steadfast."
St. John Climacus

"The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (Step 25)

Grammar

Grammar lessons are my biggest hurdle as far as required subjects is concerned. I just want to know what everyone else uses for grammar. I have 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th graders. They've had very little formal grammar instruction although my 7th grader is an incredible reader and writer. She wants to be an author when she grows up. We've done a tiny bit with Easy Grammar and are currently working on Writing Strands 2 and 3.
I'm just curious what everyone uses and why.

I've had recommendations for the Building Christian Writing from Rod & Staff but am not sure how I would choose where to start.

Thanks for your input.

"Way of the Ascetics"

by Tito Colliander

I bought this book at the bookstore that was set up at the Women's Retreat I attended last weekend. The retreat was wonderful, just not long enough.

The first chapter of this book is amazing and speaks directly to me and my slothful tendencies. I struggle everyday against the demons that entice me to sit and read, sit and surf, sit and _____. I sit and then I despair because I sit. It's a vicious cycle. I find that reading other peoples blogs only exasperates the whole cycle because I tend to see all of these "perfect" people and the "perfect" lives they live and question my abilities even more.
This chapter spoke to me deeply and profoundly. I have vowed to read this 2 page chapter over and over and over again throughout the day. To find Christ in my day by working harder with my children, opening my eyes to see Christ in them, to see Christ in each and every encounter I have.

Chapter 1 "On a Resolute and Sustained Purpose"

If you wish to save your soul and win eternal life, arise from your lethargy, make the sign of the cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
Faith comes not through pondering but through action. Not words and speculation but experience teaches us what God is. To let in fresh air we have to open a window; we never reach a goal by just sitting in comfort and waiting, say the Holy Fathers. Let the prodigal son be our example. He "arose and came". (Luke 15:20) However weighed down and entangled in earthly fetters you may be, it can never be too late. Not without reason is it written that Abraham was 75 when he set forth, and the laborer who comes in the 11th hour gets the same wages as the one who comes in the first.
Nor can it be too early. A forest fire cannot be put out too soon; would you see your soul ravaged and charred?
In baptism you received the command to wage the invisible warfare against the enemies of your soul; take it up now. Long enough have you dallied; sunk in indifference and laziness you have let much valuable time go to waste. Therefore you must begin again from the beginning: for you have let the purity you received in baptism be sullied in dire fashion. Arise, then; but do so at once, without delay. Do not defer your purpose till "tonight" or "tomorrow or "later, when I have finished what I have to do just now." The interval may be fatal.
No, this moment, the instant you make your resolution, you will show by your action that you have taken leave of your old self and have now begun a new life, with a new destination and a new way of living. Arise, therefore, without fear and say: Lord, let me begin now. Help me! For what you need above all is God's help.
Hold fast to your purpose and do not look back. We have been given a warning example in Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back (Genesis 19:26). You have cast off your old humanity; let the rags lie. Like Abraham, you have heard the voice of the Lord: "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from they father's house, into a land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). Towards that land hereafter you must direct all your attention.

Field Trip Fridays

ADDENDUM: I realized that for being a scrapbook of sorts for our "Fun Friday" field trips I didn't have very many pictures of our first 2 field trips on here. So I have added 9 or 10 more pictures with descriptions to this post!


I've been meaning to blog about the start of school this year but just haven't had time nor the words. I've been second guessing my purpose for blogging but that is a whole different post entirely.
I just thought I'd share with you what our Fridays are going to look like. I want to "scrapbook" all our "Field Trip Fridays" but I'm not really into scrapping so I think the next best thing is blogging each trip. The purpose of that will be more for our own preservation of memories than anything else. After the year is over if the kids want to print out the Field Trip Friday posts and make a book I think that would be a fantastic idea and really fun!
I wanted to make it easy on myself and not have to do too much planning and as little driving as possible. So we are sticking around North Kitsap County and we will explore as many parks and hikes as we can. Some days it'll be a really simple playground visit and other days I hope to get in some pretty good hikes. Even a museum now and again.
On Friday, September 11th was our first Field Trip and we went to Battlepoint Park on Bainbridge Island (which really is only about 15 minutes from here, if that). They have an awesome playground, a nice 1 1/2 mile trail with a cool pond. Here a few pictures of that day.
I hope to get some cool pictures of the kids too during our outings. I haven't been taking a lot of pictures of them lately and they are sure growing up fast! During the very hot hike we finally reached the pond we had heard was there and it was such a nice little respite. Then as we watched a ton of ducks approached. They were so friendly and came up so close but we had no food for them. Later on down the path we ran into a couple little brown bunnies. We sat and watched them for quite awhile.


Here are the ducks making a bee-line for us. It was really cool. They got so close I was able to snap this really neat picture of a female Mallard.





Here we have a picture of the rabbits we ran into. You might have to click on it to enlarge to get a better look. They were so cute. The boys were able to get quite close to them before they hopped away.


Our 2nd field trip was a simple one to downtown Poulsbo to walk the boardwalk that overlooks Liberty Bay. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it. September 11, 2009


I think this picture of Joseph is so neat. This was actually taken on our way back to the parking lot. After all the walking and running on this boardwalk, he finally realized that if he looked down he could see through the cracks to the water. This always freaks him out. The cracks are quite small so he didn't notice before. When we've walked bridges before where you can see water below he is almost paralyzed. It's funny.


It was another beautifully sunny day, of which we really need to take advantage of and be grateful for because they won't last much longer. We walked a short walk on the boardwalk and here is where it ended and the path goes into the woods a little to a VERY tiny play place. I like this picture of the kids.

I have no idea what Charissa and Joseph are looking at.





My "almost" teenager...she is as tall as I am now!

There was this very odd scum on the bay and we took a picture so I had to include it for their memory books. We wondered what it was and why.





This next Friday their "field trip" will only be a playdate at a friends house because I am headed out of town by 11AM to go to a women's retreat in Portland, OR. I am VERY MUCH looking forward to this and wondering what God has in store for me. I waited till the last minute and I just know the way it all worked out it was of God.

I want to post about our curriculum soon.

St. Sophia

Today we commemorate St. Sophia and her three daughters; Faith, Hope and Love. To learn more about her go here.

Troparion - Tone 5

You blossomed in the courts of the Lord
as a fruitful olive tree,
holy martyr Sophia;
in your contest you offered to Christ the sweet fruit of your womb,
your daughters Faith, Hope, and Love.
Together with them intercede for us all.


Oh Most Holy St. Sophia, please pray unto God for me.

Joseph

My baby, Joseph, who turned 7 in July, got to serve in the altar yesterday for the very first time! I wasn't prepared for this occasion like I was with Nicholas' first service nearly 3 years ago so I had to use my phone to make a memory.
This is a picture of both my boys during the Little Entrance. Joseph on the left and Nicholas on the right.

And here are ALL my boys!!!!
(L-R) Joseph; their daddy, Sbdn. James; Nicholas.

Contest at Organic & Thrifty

Win Some Counterculture

over at Organic and Thrifty.
Thank you, Carrie, for this opportunity. How how I would love to win some of these cultures. I've been wanting to try the Kefir!
Good luck to all but I sure I win!!!

I needed this!

"Tedium is the granddaughter of despondency, and the daughter of slothfulness. In order to drive it away, labor at your work, and do not be slothful in prayer. The tedium will pass, and zeal will come. And if to this you add patience and humi...lity, then you will be rid of all misfortunes and evils."
St. Ambrose of Optina

What Children Should Be Taught

I picked up a book at the library called "Easy Homeschooling Techniques". At the start of the book, before the Foreward and Preface you will find these two lists. I love them! Notice where they come from and the date.

What a Little Girl Should Be Taught:

• To cook plain wholesome food

• To make her own clothes

• To be neat and orderly

• To care for her own room

• To learn well the art of housekeeping

• To care for her person

• To exercise a quiet reserve in the presence of boys and men

• That all cheap talk is unbecoming

• That loose jokes about "beaux" and "lovers" are improper

• That modesty is a priceless treasure, and will prove her surest protector

• That her brothers are better escorts than most other young men

• That her mother is her best companion and counselor

• That her dress should be plain, and not the chief subject of her thoughts or conversation

• That she should wear only such styles of clothing as will cover her person modestly

• That it is better to be useful than ornamental

• That there will be time enough to learn fancy work after she has learned to darn stockings

• That the old rule, "A place for everything and everything in its place," is a good one

• That she should dress for health and comfort as well as for appearance

-Home and Health, © 1907, Pacific Press Publishing

What a Little Boy Should Be Taught

• To be strong and brave-a little man

• To shun evil companions

• To respect gray hairs

• To be gentle

• To be courteous

• To be prompt

• To be industrious

• To be truthful

• To be honest

• To prefer the companionship of his sisters, over other girls

• To honor his father and mother

• To be temperate

• To discard profanity

• To be thoughtful and attentive

• To keep himself pure

• To be his sister's protector

• To refuse to listen to vulgar jokes or stories

• To use common tools skillfully

• To care for his own room

• To do all kinds of housework

• To earn money, and to take care of it

• To be neat and orderly in his habits and appearance

• To be self-reliant

• To be his father's partner

-Home and Health, © 1907, Pacific Press Publishing

Curriculum and Changes

I've been working on our school schedule and curriculum for a couple weeks now. I want to start with the Church New Year(September 1) and base our year on Church Calendar. In the past we've used Story of the World for History, Math-U-See for well, Math; A Unit Study approach to Science from Tanglewood (which I love ). Explode the Code, Spelling Power, Paidea Classics for copy work, Critical Thinking Co. for Logic, Writing Strands and a hodge podge of other phonics methods for the boys.
I have this huge 3-ring binder that holds weekly lesson plans and I fit all 4 kids on one sheet. This year I was going to use one of those pens that has the 4 colors and write their separate assignments with that by giving them each a different color.
The problem is there too much to sort out and write down and well, I just want to try and streamline it and make it easier. I also would like to approach things differently with regards to L.A. and History. I have to say, I absolutely LOVE the Unit Study approach we did last year with Science. I would really like to try and do this with History as well and within these 2 topics as Unit Studies add into the units the L.A. I'd love to hear from anyone else who approaches their schooling in this way or something similar. I have some ideas that might work and would be fun but tell me what you do? Do you know any websites that talk about this? Share with me what you do in your home!
I'd love to discover a better way of recording my schooling projects and assignments on my laptop vs. having to writing everything down. I have Vista on here there is Windows Calendar. I also know about google calendar. I don't want some fancy home school record keeping program, just a simple calendar aid of sorts to write down what I want to accomplish each day for each child with the ability to "cut & past" or hit a recurring button or something like that. Any ideas?

Our Library is SO COOL!!!

I've posted before about our library ordering books we've requested. We've had them bring us books often through the Inter-Library Loan system and have had books come from places even as far away as Florida! I do not know how they decide what books to buy and what books to ILL. I was so excited when they bought "Close to Home: One Orthodox Mother's Quest for Patience, Peace and Perseverance", but the latest book PURCHASE by Kitsap County Regional Library System tops the cake.
Kelsey Anna went to St. John the Forerunner Monastery for girls camp in July and came home talking about a book the Sisters were reading them. They didn't get to finish it and she really wanted to read it all. She asked Father if he owned it but he didn't so she decided to fill out the form for ILL/Purchase request at the library.
They bought it! The title?
Experiences During Divine Liturgy by Stephanos K. Anagnostopoulos
I cannot believe it! I can't find it anyplace for sale except at St. Anthony Monastery so I am SO curious where they are buying it from.
We are spreading Orthodoxy on Kitsap Peninsula! Maybe the book purchaser is curious about Orthodoxy and that's why they are approving so many orthodox books.

Thank you again, Abbot Tryphon...

...for more great quotes on Morning Offering.

"Don't sit, glued to the television....Guard yourselves from the means of mass blinding."

Elder Epiphanios

"...It is patience that both commends us to God, and saves us for God. It is that same patience which tempers anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, breaks the onslaught of lust, suppresses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of dissension, restrains the power of the wealthy, renews the endurance of the poor in bearing their lot, guards the blessed integrity of virgins, the difficult chastity of widows, and the indivisible love of husbands and wives. It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, meek in the face of injuries and insults. It teaches us to pardon our offenders quickly; if you yourself should offend, it teaches you to ask pardon often and with perseverance. It vanquishes temptations, sustains persecutions, endures sufferings and martyrdoms to the end. It is this patience which strongly fortifies the foundations of our faith. It is this patience which sublimely promotes the growth of hope. It directs our action, so that we can keep to the way of Christ while we make progress because of his forbearance. It ensures our perseverance as sons of God while we imitate the patience of the Father."

St. Cyprian of Carthage

"The Good of Patience"

Quote...

...from the blog of Morning Offering.

"The greatest sacrifice we can offer to God is our peace; it is fraternal harmony; and it is a people gathered together by that unity which exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

Saint Cyprian (200-259)

Quote

"This life has been given you for repentance, do not waste it in vain pursuits."

St. Isaac the Syrian

Die Death!

My husband posts on his blog, Paradosis, his thoughts regarding our ex-brother-in-laws death last Thursday.
He says it so well, I have nothing more to say.

Thank you for your prayers.

Tragedy in our family....PLEASE PRAY

My husband wrote this:

Prayers please for someone we know who today took their own life. For him and for his family as they/we sort through this all. In particular we would ask that guilt not be allowed to settle upon and cripple us who are likely to look back and believe they should have done more to help.

I can tell you that there are children involved and until all children involved have been told we won't release names. Please pray for them!

Remembering a friend

Nate's in the center, at his own wedding.

Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of the repose of my dear friend Nathaniel Listerud. May his memory be eternal!

"With the spirits of the righteous give rest, O Savior, to the soul of Your departed servant, Nathaniel, and keep him in the blessed life with You, O Lover of man. In the place of Your rest, O Lord, where all Your Saints repose give rest also to the soul of Your servant for You alone are the Lover of mankind."

This is me and Nate in 1976, Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.

Walking Daddy Blues

Thought for the day

I love to read Abbot Tryphon's blog The Morning Offering. He has a quote for the day, scripture reading and a daily picture from around the monastery or outing or area in which they are (Vashon Island).

Here is the quote from today...


"Beware you do not blindly insist that things must work out according to what you consider to be right and good. God sometimes does permit such blind insistence to be followed by the fulfillment of our ardent desires. This always leads to misery and disaster (intended to open our eyes on our folly), and happens particularly often when our desires are founded on wild passions. Pray to our Lord for guidance, and to His Holy Mother for special protection."

Staretz Macarius of Optina