Sabbath Sweetness: An Early Love for the Word

What a blessing to stumble upon my four year old soaking in God’s Word.

Our Relaxed Home School

Some home school families are strict and regimented, with the adults making good use of schedules, desks and textbooks. 

Some home school families are  child-led, and very careful to avoid parent-imposed structure and so-called traditional learning techniques.

We fall somewhere in the middle, something we call Relaxed Schooling. Today I found a photo to explain.

(Yes, that is my son completing his workbook in…well, an empty laundry basket.)

Preschool Science

I have a very smart, creative four year old daughter who loves to learn. She especially likes discovering things on her own.

Like today when she filled up a plastic baggie with her breath,

sealed it,

and realized that air has volume.

She was not all that excited when her older brother stepped in to teach her how physical force can break a seal.

Behind the Scenes at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Thanks to Molly for the following photos.

We toured our local symphony hall,  The Meyerhoff. Come to find out, this massive building has no post supports so that no one’s view is obscured.

The ceiling is made up of one huge slab of concrete set on strong walls. Really, two ceilings–a hollow concrete oval and a solid concrete oval spaced a little ways apart to provide a sound barrier. The whole facility is like a buildling within a building to keep outside noises outside. 

I’m thinking the next house we build should have a room within a room–just for me–where there’s no noise. Ahhh…

Did you know the musicians have a library of music to choose from? And that Disney won’t sell its music, but requires you to rent it? They’re so business savvy.

The children performed a beautiful rendition of Twinkle Twinkle onstage. (You know I got a little singing in, too…who could resist?)

I loved learning that big percussion instruments come up through an elevator in the floor backstage and a piano comes up the same way just under the conductor’s podium.

What fun to read all the stickers on the traveling instrument cases. This guy or gal sure has a sense of humor–unless Precision Tune is a country I haven’t heard of.

Look at who recently guest-conducted the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Brilliance!

This irresistible blue crab sits in the second floor lobby. I dare say it (and the mirrored ceilings in the elevator) will be what the children remember most clearly.

Note: You can arrange a fee-free tour through the Education Office at the BSO.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Book Review: Voices of the Faithful, Book 2 and a GIVEAWAY!!

My final post for Book Review Week is for Voices of the Faithful 2: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World, with an Introduction by Beth Moore.

I was excited to receive this devotion-a-day book  because it is written by missionaries from all over the world. The stories of God’s faithfulness in lands I’ve never even heard of is thrilling.

While it opened my eyes, I had to be very careful in reading it to my children–which was disappointing because I wanted to use it as a devotional for our home school. So I’m not getting much use out of this fantastic book. But…

that’s good news for you! To celebrate my first-ever Book Review Week, I’m giving away my copy to one lucky reader. In order to be eligible, leave a comment on any of my book review posts this week. Make sure to include your email address so I can contact you.I’ll choose the winner on February 29, because it’s a really cool day!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Booksneeze.com as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Launching an Online Mother-Daughter Discipleship Group

Our local Sonflower Sisters  groups (see above: Mothers and Daughters) reached capacity, so we started a waiting list for September. I don’t want these excited moms to miss out on the opportunity to participate in our new theme, Hearts Drawn Close, so I plan to post the weekly teachings and activities online at the Sonflower Sisters web site.

Then it hit me. Why not host an online Sonflower Sisters group?! I’ve sent out copies of our curriculum to at least a hundred readers already, so why not offer this semester’s teachings and activities online?  Oh, the possibilities! Not for fame or fortune for me, but for the opportunity to walk together this journey with mothers from around the country–maybe even the world!

Here’s where you come in, readers. Won’t you join me in the journey? If  you are a Christian mother of an elementary-aged girl, I invite you to participate in the online version of Sonflower Sisters. It’s my first crack at blogging this kind of thing, but I’m not afraid to step out. Sonflower Sisters is about mothers loving and living for Christ and inviting their daughters to join them on the journey, not technical details.

All you need to do is head over to the Sonflower Sisters blog and sign up for an email or reader subscription, or join the facebook fan page. Each week, January 24 through June 6, I will post a devotion and suggestions for discipling your daughter, including journal, activity and craft suggestions. Throughout the week, I’ll host opportunities for you to share what you’re learning and experiencing with the rest of the Sisters.

Won’t you consider sharing this on your blog, tweeting or facebooking about it? Even if you don’t have an elementary-aged daughter yourself. You might have a reader who is thirsty for this fellowship, and your post could literally be the answer to her prayers.

I’m excited to begin this journey with you!

Webers…the Gold Standard

We’ve been to a half dozen farms during Autumn, but none compares to Webers Farm in Parkville. We have so many memories there.

(Like these crazy pumpkin storybook characters)

(And these wild slides)

(These fun bikes)

(And these colorful climbing tires)

This year we went with friends, which is always a good way to go.

Brian found a gazillion feathers for his collection.

The kids loved the upgraded hay maze.

I, the claustrophobe I am, loved the new platform above the maze where I could keep an eye on the little ones while still breathing calmly.

Of course no visit to Webers is complete without a trip to the pumpkin shack.

Webers, we wait with baited breath until next October.