One of the definitions of the word art is "the creation of beautiful or significant things". Just like a master artist, the Lord Jesus creates beautiful and significant things in our lives when we give Him the time and space to work. I feel blessed to share what He is creating in my life with you.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
About the book challenge
Just in case you are wondering why there are so many posts this week for the book challenge I had a new hard drive installed in my laptop and have been without some of my internet sites. Ah the wonders of technology-you don't have to remember anything like blog sites or passwords because the computer will do it for you-until you install a new hard drive and everything is backed-up to reinstall.... except for all of your internet sites. Go figure! So I am now trying to update all the reading I had time to do while my hubby worked on my computer-which I am still not used to now that it has a new operating system. But thankful none the less. I am sure that when I get comfortable with the changes, which will most likely be years away, I will need a new computer or something.
52 weeks book challenge
This weeks completed book was Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene. This is the first in a book series called The Zion Covenant. The story begins in Austria during the early days of Hitler's rise to power. It centers around the lives of two young women, Elisa, a violinist and Leah, a cellist, both who play with the Vienna Symphony. Leah is a full-blodded Jew and Elisa is half Jewish and half German decent. Without spoiling the book-there is suspense and intrigue leading up to a decision Elisa has to make as to whether to help the Zionists even though it may lead her straight into the danger of the third Reich. I highly recommend this work of great historical fiction.
52 weeks challenge
This week I finished "A Women's Place" by Lynn Austin. This novel takes place during World War Two and centers around 4 women, with very different lives, whose paths cross as they join up to help "win the war" by taking a job at a local ship building yard. There is romance, laughter and tears as the lives of these ladies unfolds into God's plan for each of them. A very enjoyable read.
52 weeks book challenge
This week I started a book series Indiana Cousins by Wanda E. Brunstetter. The first book in the series is "A Cousin's Promise". The stories center around four Amish cousins. Book one starts with the cousins taking a trip to Hershey Park for the day. After a tradgic accident, the main character in this book, Lorraine, has to deal with the injury of her fiancee and the realization that he does not want to marry her any longer. This is complicated by the return of a long lost first love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love to read about the Amish and thier way of life. On to book 2 this week!
52 weeks book challenge
The book I chose for the challenge this week was Melissa Gilbert's auto-biography Prairie Tale. She is very candid about the struggles she has faced in her life in the past as well as the present. I read this book because I loved Little House as a child and still am very fond of the show as an adult. Unfortunately, the stability that "Laura" had on the show didn't carry over into her real life. It was sad to read of the hard times that followed wrong choices made through-out her life. The positives include the love she has for her family and most of all her children. Be advised that there strong language is used throughout the book as well as relationship detail not advised for younger readers.
Philosophy of Education Ch. 6 Pt. 1 Education is an Atmosphere
“Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.”
Charlotte Mason opens this section by discussing the “atmosphere” part of education. She does not believe in creating a “child environment” that is specially adapted to kids rather we should value the atmosphere of the home and let them live freely in these conditions. To quote Charlotte: “It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child’s level.” She points out how many wonderful things a child learns in the atmosphere of a family i.e. the interaction between parents, siblings, older relatives, and even pets. Children must “face life as it is” not be put under a glass dome where they are “protected” from the elements of life. This is a sure way to stunt their growth. (Note: she is talking about families that have the correct balance of parental authority. Where the parents are training their children in obedience not families where there is dysfunction.)
It may be more difficult during school hours to obtain the same atmosphere as during “home life” so we want to be careful not to “water down” or “sweeten” the lessons, for when we do we make it very hard for the child to overcome the “intellectual feebleness” and “moral softness” that comes from a lax schooling.
In the latter part of this section, Charlotte describes the teachers and students at her school compared to students she has observed that only learn for “grades”. She says that her students delight in knowledge and this can be seen on their countenance. The countenance of the students who are learning solely to achieve a “grade” are not joyous and serene but anxious and worried, they don’t sleep well and are moody. Most teachers in her day would observe children like this and say the work was too hard. Doctors of her day would prescribe a year of “running wild” to cure this. When in reality, the student needs to learn to delight in knowledge for knowledge’s sake. The fault is not in the work but in the atmosphere. So the choices are 1)a hot-house type of atmosphere where children grow to be feeble and dependent or 2)Let them have open “air” environment, so to speak, with careful overseeing, so the elements of life don’t totally batter them but where they can grow strong and learn independence.
Charlotte Mason opens this section by discussing the “atmosphere” part of education. She does not believe in creating a “child environment” that is specially adapted to kids rather we should value the atmosphere of the home and let them live freely in these conditions. To quote Charlotte: “It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child’s level.” She points out how many wonderful things a child learns in the atmosphere of a family i.e. the interaction between parents, siblings, older relatives, and even pets. Children must “face life as it is” not be put under a glass dome where they are “protected” from the elements of life. This is a sure way to stunt their growth. (Note: she is talking about families that have the correct balance of parental authority. Where the parents are training their children in obedience not families where there is dysfunction.)
It may be more difficult during school hours to obtain the same atmosphere as during “home life” so we want to be careful not to “water down” or “sweeten” the lessons, for when we do we make it very hard for the child to overcome the “intellectual feebleness” and “moral softness” that comes from a lax schooling.
In the latter part of this section, Charlotte describes the teachers and students at her school compared to students she has observed that only learn for “grades”. She says that her students delight in knowledge and this can be seen on their countenance. The countenance of the students who are learning solely to achieve a “grade” are not joyous and serene but anxious and worried, they don’t sleep well and are moody. Most teachers in her day would observe children like this and say the work was too hard. Doctors of her day would prescribe a year of “running wild” to cure this. When in reality, the student needs to learn to delight in knowledge for knowledge’s sake. The fault is not in the work but in the atmosphere. So the choices are 1)a hot-house type of atmosphere where children grow to be feeble and dependent or 2)Let them have open “air” environment, so to speak, with careful overseeing, so the elements of life don’t totally batter them but where they can grow strong and learn independence.
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