Plutarch's Lives

Why do we read Plutarch's Lives in Charlotte Mason education?  Studying greek leadership, the rise and fall of leaders, their choices and consequences is valuable for developing children's idea of what makes a good citizen, good country and good government.  They learn leadership principles.  What is fascinating to me beyond that is how studying Plutarch was important to many great leaders of history including:

George Washington
Ben Franklin
Thomas More
Montaigne: Creator of the Essay
Dietrich Bonhoeffer took three books to prison: Plutarch's Lives, Goethe and the Bible.

I plan to add to this list I created from memory as I continue to study and learn.  I keep finding more and more leaders of the past who studied Plutarch's Lives.

Give Thanks to the Lord~Ps 136

Pastor Jason encouraged us this morning to personalize our story in light of Psalm 136.  Here you go!

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

His love endures forever.

Give Thanks to the God of gods

His love endures forever.

Give Thanks to the Lord of lords

His love endures forever.

He brought me forth unplanned yet planned

His love endures forever.

He set me in a family turning to Himself

His love endures forever.

He called me in the living room to follow Him

His love endures forever.

He gave my Father care and foresight for my soul

His love endures forever.

He put me in a youth group with a zealous pastor

His love endures forever.

He fell gently completely wooing my 12 year old soul

His love endures forever

He showed me His incomparable beauty

His love endures forever

Shielded by His love, he covered, protected, and preserved me

His love endures forever

Launched to the nations, he sent me

His love endures forever

Compelled by their suffering, he drew me

His love endures forever

His vision imparted to me

His love endures forever.

Clinging to Him, he united me

His love endures forever

A Christian husband he gave me

His love endures forever

With children he blessed me

His love endures forever

His heart bleeds before me

His love endures forever

His call in me

His love endures forever

Trials swirled around me

His love endures forever

Twice near death, he saved me

His love endures forever

His pressure squeezed me

His love endures forever

Fruit he brought forth through me

His love endures forever.

Unplanned yet Planned

My Creator's everyday Glory & Beauty given to me

Neighbor I love wee Cece, our foster child.   Family is serving her as she recovers from drug induced trama from her birth mom.

 

my shoots Field Trip to Indiana with friends to hike and observe the birds

Neighbors I love

Nature Girl's summer and thoughts for AO year 7

B is growing so beautiful by the day...a blooming 11 1/2 year old.  We have been enjoying studying Beautiful Girlhood and the Companion guide by Shelley Noonan.



Today was a hard day.  Zoning in on the weak areas in our lives can be discouraging.  I know I was not the gentle and compassionate mom that I dream to be.  She left me an apologetic note, too.  Despite a poopy day, I am excited to start a new school year with her.  We'll be using Charlotte Mason via ambleside.com otherwise known as AO.  The philosophy is to provide kids with living books rather than textbooks, that is, books written by people passionate about their subject.  

 

So since I'm using a new curriculum, amblesideonline.org,  I have been trying furiously to read ahead of her this summer.  

 

Some interesting reads already:

Josephine Tey's "Daughter in Time" a history mystery that teaches critical thinking about history books..
Oxford Book of Poetry... medieval poetry
"More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell.. a simple apologetic
Just started, the classic, "How to Read a Book"

Pack a Care Kit for the Homeless

Tomorrow we are packing bags for the homeless as part of "Daughters of Destiny" our generational discipleship group...

Portland Rescue Missions's flyer makes it real easy to know what to buy:

Kimball Craft o rama

One of the fun things about having school age kids is the amount of projects that can be going on in the house at one time.   Here are a few from this weekend:

Dog Grooming...

Hair Braiding....

Graham cracker making: 

Arm knitting: 

 Paracord: