Fighting to remember the poor....

Bethan made this bracelet made from my bulging craft room.

Bethan takes a photo--a "leftover" camera was her Christmas gift last year.

Its that time of year when the catalogues & mailers fill the mailbox--where the inundation of toy ads begins to slog my mind.  The culture of materialism and  myopic self interest pushes me.  My self interest includes my kids.  I want--for them more than for myself.

The hardest part of teaching my kids to love the poor, is to give up giving them the idyllic childhood.

This year the children will give their Christmas money to Compassion and Samaritan's Purse.  Each week one child will pick out what they want to give--a chicken for a needy family.... an emergency medical kit etc.  I have already made a few recycled gifts/handcrafts for my 4 instead of spending money.  The overflow of my craft room will supply enough for them.  A few toys given to us will be cleaned and squirreled away.

We can't FORGET the poor.  But I forget when I see the hinged limb Barbie and want it for my kids, or the Jonathan Park adventure audios....  And we all get caught up in Ipods and Iphone's for preschoolers because we are inundated by ads, mailers, friends who miss His heart. ...Help us Lord.  Forgive us Lord.  Help us in this season to remember those that have no phones... no digital photos of their most loved ones, no clean clothes, no security for when storms blow.

This week my children and I are praying for our shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse children.  We get to track our boxes this year and see where they go: Mongolia, the Phillipines, Guatemala...who knows?  But we are praying for one girl and one boy.

Free coloring download for ABC pages

Fun find:

Writing ABC's on little hearts are character ABC pages for free download...perfect for my two little ones.

"He saw his pride and then he cried,

For all that he had done
For he had lied, when he denied
His light came from the Sun."

Found a beautiful fun book on humility and pride, called "Fool Moon Rising"

This week the kids and I are learning Phil 2:3.  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourself."

This verse sheds light for me on what it means to respect my husband.  In fact it defines respect for me.  It is to "regard" or "treat as" more important (not that we aren't equals).  Respect requires a humility of mind...a going lower so as to bring someone else up higher.  A Looking Up To instead of over at...on purpose.  The verse dovetails well into my own study on Love & Respect w/my marriage small group.  I feel I am on a journey to grasp and understand a concept foreign to me for many reasons--respect. 

Christ in Literature/The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

One of my joys of homeschooling is reading literature that draws the mind of my children toward God. This week we read of the death of Aslan in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and discussed the parallels between it and the account of Christ's crucifixion. The two girls walk with him, the ogres spit on him and mock him etc... Observing the story causes them to observe the Scripture more carefully to see whats there. It has fit into our theme of Lent, as well.

Aprons of Virtue

Got this idea for dish towel aprons that taught character traits. My friend Christina, her girls, and another friend jumped on the idea with us. The girls are ready for Christmas baking!

I'm reading Shakespeare with my first grader

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by Edith Nesbit. A simplified version of the original...with Abigail...Comedy of Errors

Purpose of Art? Pondering for the Primary grades...

So I've been deep in homeschool land...prepping Abi's first grade curriculum. The purpose of Art is sehr controversial, so I thought you may be interested on my take...I don't feel satisfied with my Biblical support of my ideas...I think there are better Scriptures. What do you think? 

Biblical Purpose of Art 1. Our artistry glorifies God . As his creation, he made us capable of great creativity and self government. When we excel in art, it makes Him look good. 

2. Art encourages us. We can see and feel God’s love for us when we observe, reflect and represent his handiwork in art. Ps 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” Eccl. “He made everything beautiful in its time.” Phil 4:8 “whatsoever things are lovely..think on these things.” Prov. 23:7 “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” 

3. Art teaches us about God. When we observe and copy his art, we understand his love, omnipotence, orderliness and precision in every detail.