How Books and Magazines Guide Us

 The Easter bunny has made his annual appearance in our home.

I like to place him here, at the family table along with a few other things.

The empty tomb and homeschooling magazine were recently given to me by friends.

I like to keep a seasonal magazine on the table at all times. I've been amazed at how useful it is in generating meaningful conversation at meal times with the family. Once we're all settled in at our places, I will open to a random article, begin to read (showing the corresponding pictures), and almost like magic we're off to the races - each person talking over the next. 

It was in a Victoria magazine earlier this school year where we learned that C.S. Lewis's home in England is open to the public for tours. The home is meticulously preserved and still includes his writing desk - complete with the typewriter his brother used for the original manuscript of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

It was also in a Victoria magazine where I decided the Palace of Versailles absolutely must make the cut on my Paris itinerary. 

While I have enjoyed thinking up my must-see dream list, I've come to realize that Paris can never be exhausted. The city is enormous! We simply cannot see and do everything! So I've decided to select a few sights/ places, and do them well.

I ordered this book to help me...

Written by a lady who visits Paris every year, it organizes the city into categories: Paris by food, Paris by interest, and so on... She includes this helpful map of the Arrondissements, which aided us in choosing our hotel.

She explains that in order to really do Paris well, you must embrace the art of flaneur... a French word that means to wonder, take in, and observe.

I've also been enjoying creating my packing list.

French women are known for being chic and elegant, and somehow pulling it off in a natural and effortless way. My vision is a neutral color palette, with mix and match pieces, along with comfortable walking shoes.

Maturing is realizing you don't need new outfits and items for every occasion.  But I am not maturing, apparently, because it's been all I can do to resist the add to cart button.

Facebook has been a terrible person to tell I'm going on a trip to. It gossips to its work buddy, Algorithm, who makes sure you see every super awesome travel product you never knew you needed! I didn't realize all the products out there to help with long flights. Did you know they make anti-nausea bracelets, memory foam neck pillows, and jet-lag medicine?

 I've even learned there are special shoes for walking on cobblestones in Europe. 

(I have to counsel myself almost every day that I don't need those shoes! I've fallen down the rabbit hole of selecting color, style, and size only to get to the checkout and think, wait a minute... what am I doing? I've never had trouble with my feet, I don't need these shoes!)

So, as you can see, putting my packing list together has required some self-control, and asking myself if I can make do with what I already have.

The only real exception has been finding a good book for the flight.

I asked some friends for recommendations. Nothing self-help or horror, I said. Just a light, feel good story with a European flair. 

Totally judging a book by its cover, I picked these two because they looked the most charming.

I've already begun The Lost Bookshop. It's thick, so I think if I read it slowly I'll still have plenty of reading left for the flight. I'm hoping these books will help put me in a European state of mind.

This morning in my quiet time I read this:

"The Lord went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night, and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp, and to show you the way you should go." Deut. 1:33

I added the verse to my travel journal and prayed God's protection and help over our Paris adventure.

How amazing it is that the books, articles and verses we read all work together to shape and guide us.

What have you been reading lately?

📚

~ Courtney

Day-Dreaming of Paris

 I'm supposed to be working on my Saturday chores, a routine I usually find very stabilizing and comforting: restoring order after a long homeschool week. But my heart just isn't in it today. I'm too distracted day-dreaming of Paris!

What began as a silly way of taking my mind off this harsh winter, jokingly dropping hints like, Everybody dreams of springtime in Paris... (But never truly believing anything would transpire as a result) actually became reality. Maybe it was my cheery greeting of, "Bonjour monsieur!" one morning that sealed the deal, I will never know, but shortly afterwards I received this text from Micah: "Hope you were serious. I booked flights."

And now I'm incapable of thinking about anything else.

It's been exactly twenty years since I've walked the streets of Paris.

The pictures I have of Paris are terrible quality. I did not own a proper camera, so I used a disposable camera (remember those?). Not to mention 2005 was long before any of us had ever imagined taking pictures with our phones!

It's kind of remarkable, if you think about it, how massively different we conduct our lives today compared to twenty years ago. I remember driving to a Barnes and Noble several weeks before my trip to Europe and purchasing a travel book on France to study in preparation. But the only real way of getting the inside scoop was to speak to someone who had been there. Now, I watch 3-minute YouTube videos on how to order a coffee in French, (my phone propped up in my bathroom as I go about my morning routine) and another video on the French girl style while doing the nightly dishes.

I've already secured the two main items for my Parisian uniform: a long trench coat and a silk scarf. Everything else is easy... jeans, knit sweaters, white blouse, pearl earrings...

This is what I wore in 2005...

You can see me clutching my handbag for dear life, haha! That's because I had been warned that pickpocketing was a real problem there. I never had any trouble because I had a secret... I was wearing a thin crossbody bag no bigger than the size of a wallet underneath my buttoned up jacket. It held my money and other personal items. I'm sure the larger bag held more easily replaceable items: water bottle, sunglasses, tissues, snacks? I don't remember exactly, except that I know for certain I had brought along a notepad and pen. 

Settling in on the terrace of an outdoor cafe, I ordered a cappuccino, withdrew my journal, and people-watched for a while. I jotted down what I saw around me, what people were wearing, and other observations. 

I tore my house apart earlier this week looking for that notebook and couldn't find it! I sure hope I didn't pitch it. (I've been known to have ruthless purging spells when I think my house is getting too cluttered.)  I just think it'd be charming and fun to see it again.

I plan to take a journal this time, too. I think one like this would be perfect...

Don't you just love the name? Paris is always a good idea... I couldn't agree more!

💐

~ Courtney 

Getting Through the Winter

 I once heard a homeschool mom pray, "Lord, please reveal to us what you have for us today." 

For some reason it struck me.

Sort of a Give us this day our daily bread prayer for homeschoolers.

I've since adopted this prayer for our homeschool mornings, and it's amazing how many times I open my Bible to read and see a connection to something we've been studying. 

For example, we recently made the jump from 2D to 3D in our geometry course. We've enjoyed taking a 2D image on paper, like a circle or square, and then comparing it to its 3D match, like a globe or a tissue box. We discuss what a difference it makes adding that third dimension - depth. The kids then practiced tracing complex geometric shapes like icosahedrons and dodecahedrons. (Who has ever heard of such shapes?!)

This morning in my quiet time, I read Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths are beyond tracing out!"

I thought it was beautiful how I saw the kids' recent math assignments in God's Word. 

I read the verse to them, which then opened up a conversation... As hard as it's been for us to grasp some of these math concepts, we can at least trace over some of the more intricate shapes, causing us to become more familiar with them as we learn. But God's paths are beyond our tracing. To which one of my teenagers pointed out that humans are "bounded," and God is "unbounded" - another math concept from this week.

Homeschooling older kids has been a tremendous blessing in my life. They are capable of such profound discussions.

This winter has seemed extra difficult.

Combining prolonged sub-zero temps with a high maintenance puppy has been a challenge.

While our property is ideal for energetic kids and dogs, it's been too dangerously cold. So we've all felt a little cooped up.

Cash stole one of my mittens and tore it to shreds. It was a beautiful handmade mitten that Micah bought for me in Alaska probably twenty years ago! It had two layers, warm wool with a soft fleece lining. 

When I arrived to the crime scene, it was too late to save it. So I resigned to letting him finish the job. 

Giving its untouched pair to Nola so she could use the fabric for a craft, I sighed disappointedly, and muttered under my breath, This is why I'm a cat person....

Nola is a sensitive soul, always slipping me little notes and drawings whenever she senses I'm upset. Like this poem she wrote to cheer me up...

We'll be climbing up out of the negative temps over the weekend, though, which will be a welcome relief. I've been passing these cold winter days by going back and forth between quietly reading under my electric blanket, and passive-aggressively dropping hints to Micah that I wish to be taken to Paris next month for our anniversary.

Like randomly texting links to Paris hotels, or casually bringing up in conversation that I happened to come across my passport recently and it doesn't expire until 2027... in case he would need to know... *wink

I can't help that I'm fascinated by recent attempts to clean and restore Notre Dame Cathedral since the devastating fire. I've watched videos of the work that's been done, and it's just so cool. Using all volunteers, and original materials, (like iron) they've managed to bring it back to life and reopen to the public in only five years!

I'm obsessed with the thought of going to see it for myself... tres excitant!

Unlikely, I know. But a girl can dream, and in the meantime pray, "Lord, please reveal to us what you have for us today," to stay content in this hard winter.

😊

~ Courtney 

Missionaries to Africa

 It's interesting that a recent trip Micah and Roman took to Senegal, Africa, happened to coincide with a history reading on missionaries to Africa that Elsa and I enjoyed back at home.

We learned that prior to the 1800s, only courageous Europeans, led by skillful African trailblazers, explored the interior of the continent. The task was so difficult and dangerous, it became known as the "White Man's Grave."

Reading the line, "None but the very brave were suited for the exploration of this great land," while our two guys were there, made Elsa and I grateful for the thousands of missionaries over the last two hundred years that have helped contribute to what has made traveling to Africa much safer today.

These missionaries started almost all of Africa's schools and hospitals, taught new ways of farming and preventing disease, and led many to Christ.

We also read a short biography on David Livingstone, whose goal was to "explore the land while he preached the gospel in order to open up the interior of Africa for other missionaries." He certainly paved the way, winning the respect and admiration of people back in England, Scotland, and eventually America as he pushed deeper into this "Dark Continent." 

Not everyone gets their name mentioned in a history book. Yet thousands played a necessary role in this large operation. All were cogs in the wheel, so to speak.

 I can envision flipping through multiple pages of missionary names, enough to fill several volumes, I'm sure. Imagining, as we flip, two centuries worth of progress recorded within those volumes, and finding that we are now in the year 2025- where the entries end and blank pages begin.

So here is where we enter a father/son duo, from a speck on the map, spending a week on Niomoune island, a speck on the other side of the map. Seems like a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things, and probably more impactful for Micah and Roman than for the natives there. But, a new entry on the blank pages has been made.

With their permission, I am sharing a few photos...

(Micah brought a bag of candy to share...)

They returned healthy, although a touch disoriented from travel, and both said it was a great experience they'd love to do again.

Thank you to those who prayed for them on their adventure.

"Jesus said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.' "

Mark 16:15

~ Courtney

A Faithful Undergoing - Catechesis

 "Do not rush into a state of life where you have never thought of the inconveniences. If you have a call to marry, knowledge of the difficulties and duties will be necessary to your preparation and will be a faithful undergoing." - Richard Baxter, The Godly Home

A faithful undergoing makes me think of homeschooling.

I was fortunate early on to hear an older, experienced homeschool mom give the advice, "Protect your mornings."

I didn't realize it at the time, but that would become the backbone to how I structured our days, and the mantra I would repeat to myself when scheduling appointments. Mornings at home were meaningful to us, and when we accomplished the bulk of our work.

When my children were little, I would gather them around me each morning for something we began to call "Front Room Time" - the front room of our house being the preferred place to meet, since we began each session reciting The Pledge, and could clearly see the American Flag through our front window.

From there, we would recite our memory work and go through flash cards together.

As my children grew older, our Front Room Time progressed into more lengthy recitations and Bible reading, that it became more difficult to squeeze it into the schedule - meeting for The Pledge and recitations only a couple days per week. Ultimately, a few years ago, when my children became fairly independent with their studies, Front Room Time was abandoned altogether.

Then last summer, I was reading an interesting article on the great reformer Martin Luther. In it, he warned pastors and parents "never to presume that they have finished learning the catechism. Even if they know and understand it completely (which is impossible in this life), there are many benefits and fruits still to be obtained for those who daily read and practice it in thought and speech. Ongoing catechesis," Luther says, "gives us spiritual nourishment and weaponry against the devil. But mainly it gives us God Himself. In catechesis the Holy Spirt is present in the reading, repetition, and meditation, bestowing ever new light and devotion."

And just like that, the ignition to resurrect Front Room Time as Catechesis caught fire in my brain.

We began meeting each day around the dining room table with the agenda of - 

Recitations

Hymn sing

Cursive, illuminated letter

Devotions with our math curriculum 

Prayer

Examples of recitations include The Lord's Prayer, Psalm 23, Psalm 139, and excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, to name a few. We added Proverbs 25 and a paragraph from Thomas Jefferson's inaugural address as new memory work in our repertoire.

We own two identical copies of Baptist hymnals from our years on Abeka, so we've been singing through them page by page since the start of the school year. Roman can sight read well enough that each day we open to the next hymn in line, he plays for us, and we all sing along.

Daily practice in cursive reading and copy work, along with an illuminated letter, is included as well. Our cursive book is from a classical curriculum, so I like to play classical music quietly in the background as they work. Some of their illuminated letters have truly been pieces of art!

I have appreciated the devotions that have come with our math curriculum this year. It's impressive how they weave God's character into math concepts. So many times I have found myself saying, "I never would have thought of it that way!"

As we end our Catechesis hour in prayer, I realize how rich a time of worship this is for our family.

"That God is the founder and instituter of families is known by the light of nature itself; therefore the law of nature requires that families are to the upmost of their capacities devoted to God. Bowing to and confessing Christ voluntarily to God's glory is true worship. All must do this according to their capacities; therefore families must do this according to theirs."  - Richard Baxter, The Godly Home

To use Mr. Baxter's beautiful words, I am learning that to persevere in homeschooling through the upper grades requires a "faithful undergoing," growing in wisdom and knowledge "to our upmost capacities."

Daily catechesis has helped us in that aim.

"Where two or more are gathered together in My name, I am in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

~ Courtney 

Morning Enlightenment

 One factor that contributed to my accidental blogging hiatus was a verse I read during my morning reading time about living a quiet life and minding your own business. (1 Thess 4:11)

I'm never happier than when I'm puttering around the house, tending to chores and kids, with my phone out of sight and out of mind.

My life can get noisy enough with a husband, homeschooled kids, a large dog and a cat, that I don't need news from my phone clamoring for my attention.

I'm reminded of Jesus' words in Mark 6:31...

"Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest."

So my early morning quiet time, established years ago when my children were babies, has saved me and restored me daily.

I always sit here, by this window facing east, to watch the sun rise over the trees as I read.

I enjoy watching the sky lighten and turn a variety of stunning colors.

In the winter, I turn on my little heating pad and reading lamp, cover my legs with a blanket, and soak in the stillness and quiet.

(Summer mornings feel so different, don't they? The sun bright and sparkling; the birds boisterously singing...)

Because God's Word is "living and active," I always feel as though I start each day with fresh enlightenment.

"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." Isaiah 50:4

Recently, I was reading about Jesus' miraculous feeding of thousands, and because we're on a math curriculum this school year that is training our minds to see math in God's character, I lingered over the numbers in Mark 8:19-20 looking for clues...

5 loaves for 5 thousand,

12 baskets leftover...

7 loaves for 4 thousand,

7 baskets leftover.

Hmmm...

I pondered for quite some time as to whether there could be a pattern, equation, or meaning.

This became the hot topic of conversation with my children as the day unfolded.

 

We decided to camp out on the numbers 12 and 7. Where else do we see these numbers in the Bible? In nature? In everyday living?

We discussed the obvious ones first: 

- Seven days of creation were divided into 12 hours.

- God established twelve tribes of Israel

- Jesus selected twelve disciples

- Twelve inches in a foot

But a little further research and deeper discussion uncovered many more:

- The Ark of the Covenant contained twelve sacred items

- After twelve generations, Solomon built the temple, which took seven years to complete

- The human body has twelve ribs on each side, connecting to the sternum in seven places

- The ocean has seven layers of ecosystems 

- Our calendar consists of twelve months in a year, seven days in a week

- Music has twelve notes, and harmony uses seven of them

- The diameter of the earth is 12,700km

Fascinating, isn't it?

I will forever be grateful for this homeschooling journey, and the beautiful truths we've learned together. But I am most thankful to my Lord for His faithfulness to meet me each morning.

"His mercies never fail, they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

~ Courtney

Just Checking In

 We are currently under a severe weather advisory for extreme cold.

I am thankful today for working water and heat.

Despite the frigid temps and an hour pause to watch the inauguration, our homeschooling efforts have continued as usual.

(Homeschooling has always been a messy endeavor for us, but winter sunlight is more than welcome on this chilly day.)

This is where we gather each day for "Catechesis," the fancy term I've given to our family's morning recitations, hymn sing, cursive work, devotions, and prayer.

Now that my children are older and quite self-governed with their studies, I've noticed it's essential for keeping us in tune with each other.

It's my favorite time of the day.

I realize it's been several months since I've posted on this blog, and I can't tell you how many people have asked me where I've been!

Actually, I can tell you. It's been zero. 

😜

But still - I'd like to jump right back into it.

I've missed the creative outlet this has provided for me.

I recently watched an interview with Jerry Seinfeld and something he said struck me. He remarked that, "To be creative, you've got to feel like you're getting away with something."

I have always felt that way about writing for this blog, but never would have thought to put it that way.

The puppy we welcomed into our family last summer is now full grown and is doing great.

The kids named him "Cash."

Even in below zero temps, we still get him out for his beloved afternoon walkie.

He loves it!

Regal avoids him as much as possible. Cash is too chaotic for Regal's taste.

These two animals in my home cause more drama and commotion than my four kids!

There's a lot I'd like to write about, and should write about (to keep a proper record) but today is just for checking in... for testing the waters, to see if this is still a worthwhile pursuit. Or if blogs are over, as one of my teenagers just informed me.

I believe his actual words were, "What even is a blog? They don't exist."

😂

As funny as that was, I have to admit I still read and enjoy several blogs myself. I've followed them for years, and feel like they're my friends. They've taught me a lot and I've watched their kids grow up.

Blogging is for those who care more for the analog, slow way of getting to know someone, and less about keeping up with the fast-paced influencer.

To me, the fact that they're old fashioned makes them all the more charming.

💐

That's all for now. Time to get back to my home duties.

Stay warm!!

~ Courtney