Ashes....

We are in the "non" Lent-celebrating group of Protestants I guess.  But I liked this blog post and how it takes something we can touch and feel (ashes) and links it to a spiritual (and much less tangible) truth (our need to repent).  Just as real, but harder to grasp.  Thank you, Faith.

Lab Science or Life Skills

One of our educational goals for Patience this year was to try to have a little fun w/science, while simultaneously teaching her to use the basic tools of science, from a ruler to a balance to a microscope to an alcohol burner.  Today, we purposed to learn how to use the alcohol burner (aka the long-awaited "Bunsen Burner" lab).  So far, what we've really learned is how to light a match.  No joke.  And what a critical and fundamental life skill.  Mission accomplished!  Plus, she's learned how to boil water using scientific aparati....  probably a good thing to know, someday, just in case, or at least to be able to keep up with her end of the conversation at the proverbial cocktail parties she'll someday attend.

Now on to the burning salts and looking at them through a spectroscope.  Fun!

School time - for real

This is what homeschooling is REALLY like.  We're reading world history as a family (ancient history) and this is about how much fun it is, and about how chaotic.  They love it.  And they're learning a lot too. 

Who's who

For those of you wondering about our annual letter (which hasn't come annually in quite some time), and assuming (probably) that we have again missed a year, it's written, and we're working on printing it and sending it out. It'll probably take a while, but a few have already been mailed so it's going to be a process I guess. But since it may indeed drive a number of you to this site who haven't been in a while, let me quickly note that we use different names in our blog, and you'll need to get used to that. We explain and introduce you at a post from some time ago if you follow this link - please read it if you want more info. There's also a sidebar on the right w/that link.

Please note that if you use our real names in a comment, we will probably delete it. We might edit it and re-comment, or we might not. Nothing personal. Just letting you know.

In a nutshell, Mom is Shiloh, Dad is Papa Bear, and the kids, oldest to youngest, are Patience, Andante, Constance, and Vivace. The names fit us and it makes it easier to write with them. On our bad days, I suppose we could substitute all sorts of other names like Crabby/Grenade, Eeyore/Grumpy, Lazy/Razor Tongue, Tortoise/Forgetful, Stubborn/Pest, and Whiny/Loose Cannon (in the same order as above), but everyone has their days. So we'll stick to the more complementary character descriptions. At least we're putting a positive spin on things and seeing the up side of our character traits and personalities. God does help w/that a lot, truthfully, especially on our bad days.