My Stewardship ring

Yesterday I was having a long, but spontaneous talk with Cora about education. She was wondering why education was necessary if all she wanted to be was a mother, or a cook if that didn't pan out. I had to smile a little when she said that. I answered by pulling out my home schooling Master plan and vision-- so excited that someone was actually interested in the "why" of education. We talked a little about having a personal mission from God. I testified to her that I believed that God had sent me to this earth to perform certain things for others and my family, and that I need to prepare for that future. I also need to prepare for the things ahead- in the next life, and to be a celestial person. I know that we progress eternally and eventually will know and understand all things, therefore we should start now and seek to understand the things that God would have us learn.

So then we moved on to the "how" of education. I believe that I personally have been given some insight into how to educate my children through a simple illustration. At a time when I was seeking to know the "hows" of education, I started to think of education in terms of a stewardship. I felt impressed to understand what those stewardships were, and to break them down into certain categories. I came up with seven. They are: FAITH, BROTHERHOOD, BEAUTY, BODY, EARTH, LIBERTY and SCIENCE. At the same time I was figuring these divisions out, I was also studying a little about Celtic knots, and found there was a figure that was a continual and overlapping ring of loops that had seven loops in it, and it had no beginning and no end. I chose this figure to represent our stewardship education, with each loop taking on a different category of stewardship, yet all of them intertwined on a single endless rope. It represents the eternal perspective of education as well as the wholeness and interconnectedness of it.

Each stewardship is broken down into the different pieces that give us education. For example under LIBERTY we learn about history, government and the the things that make us free- such as being able to read, write and use proper grammar. Then I have certain books to read and programs to use at different ages under each category. It is really well thought out and planned. I am really good at the thought and planning, but not so good at the follow through. Therein lies my weakness- yet in the Lord lies my strength.

I still believe that this life is a journey, with lots of bumps and twists and turns. We will get through it and get educated with faith and God on our side.

Rhythm

I have been thinking about schedules lately. They seem to be a bit non-existent in my house. I have tried for years to make up perfect schedules, but I am the one who does not want to follow them. I get distracted and do something different than planned. It is fun, but I usually regret it later when something does not get done when needed. I have tried making very rigid schedules, and very loose schedules. Neither seem to work. Sometimes I get going on a good schedule and leave the rest of my family behind. Then I get a little sore that they won't stay on my schedule. It is frustrating.

As I have explored into different home schooling philosophies, I have looked a little into Waldorf education. There is something that strikes me as a good thing from their methods. It is living life in a rhythm. There are many different rhythms to life. One rhythm that I seem to keep well is our morning rhythm. I love to read my scriptures in the morning and get that boost to my day. Then we usually have breakfast and take care of our animals, and then do the daily chores.

We have a weekly rhythm. Sundays are of course the Sabbath; Mondays are Family home evening. Fridays we have a fun movie night, and Saturdays are a big work day or big play day.

With having animals and gardens I am learning seasonal rhythms. Spring for planting, autumn to harvest. Summer brings us bounties of the garden, and our meals are full of vegetable goodness. Winter is a time to stay in and be cozy. I make a lot of soup in winter. A lot of my rhythms center around food.

Life has a rhythm too. I recently read a book that talked about tribal cultures, and they went through the role of each tribal member. Youngest children were for practice for the older children, Older children were for examples to the younger. Parents had their duties and responsibilities, and would still look to their elders for guidance. The Grandparents were the teachers of the children and would share histories and pass on the stories of their tribe. It is a beautiful thought.

My goal for my family is to get into some good (you could say celestial) rhythms. I want us to be living our lives purposefully. I really shy away from useless and wasteful practices. Our music, our food, our parties, our school-- I don't want to waste it. Life is much too precious.

Pictures: Just some random photos. Top is a big mushroom I found in our yard. The bottom photo is a picture of our elf shoes-- a bit of a waste of money as Cedric's already have holes.

Bryan O'Lin

Bryan O'lin had no breeches to wear,
So he bought him a sheepskin and made him a pair.
With the skinny side out, and the woolly side in,
"Ah, ha!" that is warm!" said Bryan O'lin.

Here is my one month old little Everett laying on his "Bryan O'lin" I had been wanting to get a little sheepskin for him to lay on in our drafty house to keep him up out of the draft and give him some extra warmth. I told my mom about it and she said she had one he could use. I remembered her having a few of them when we were growing up, and I knew one was pink and one was white. I told the kids that Grandma was bringing one for us to use, and I said I hoped it wasn't the pink one. But that is the one she could find, so hopefully it doesn't mess up his boyishness to lay on a pink sheepskin!

Babies are so sweet. My favorite part about the first few months is that this is the time that they learn how to smile. I think it is really the first thing they learn how to do. Everett is really trying hard to figure it out. See:
I think he almost has it. He gets his eyes all excited, but his mouth won't cooperate. Then his mouth scrunches up and his eyes won't work. He will get it one day.

By the way, I have been doing stretches every night this December. Rich has joined in with me. I also took a walk today. I walked out in our yard, trudging through the deep snow, around the perimeter. I saw many deer, dog and pheasant tracks. I think that deep snow makes your walk count for twice as long because it is twice as much work. I was huffing and puffing. But I know I really need to do something more, and I will. This is a good start.