March 31, 2010

Recess Blog

What a beautiful day for the kids to have a recess.

I'll type a blog while the children have some recess time.

Yesterday, I was listening to this week's chapter in History on the French Revolution.
Here are the things that stood out to me:
1)  the French common people saw how the American government was working so well.
2) the French common people were taxed and the king and nobles were not
3) the French common people were going broke and getting hungrier
4)  the king thought the nobles could now pay taxes, but the nobles said, "I don't think so." The king didn't seem to have any authority anymore.
5) the French wanted change.  The changed that was wanted differed.  Some blamed the king, some blamed the priests, and some blamed the nobles. 
6)  some folks wanted the king to come back and be subject to the law himself but be the French leader.
7) The Revolutionaries didn't know what to do with the king after they "cornered" him in his palace.  Eventually, he was called a traitor.  He was sent to the guillotine.  His wife followed almost a year later b/c she was not sympathetic to the Revolutionaries?? Then the Reign of Terror.  If anyone suspected you of not being sympathetic to the Revolutionaries, you could be sent to the guillotines.  16,000 were killed.  (I'm hoping I'm remembering this correctly)

Here's what I'm thinking about (since history repeats itself and all):
1)  our government doesn't seem so wonderful any more or maybe the ones in leadership aren't doing an honorable job.
2) the Amer. common people are being taxed, and going broke, and we might be going hungry some time in the future, who knows?
3) lots of Americans are wanting change.  Our views of change all look different. 
4) How far away are we from becoming like France in 1800?  Will we rebel against the government calling it a revolution?  Will we kill people on suspicion of disagreement with our viewpoint--whatever side we happen to lean toward?
5) Pray for those in authority; vote when you can.  Be honorable in all things.


Just thinking during recess time.
Shake it; don't break it.

March 6, 2010

Lessons on a hike

Areas of lessons while on a hike.

Family.  Family is important.  A big family is great and a special thing to cherish.  Time passes so fast, and we can't get back all this togetherness once the children grow up.  Even if the children are so little they have to be carried a part of the way, we should still go on hikes.

Friends.  Friends need to be made.  Giving and gracious receiving are a part of it all.  Sharing apples and lollipops mean a lot at the end of the trail.  Seeing a friendly face on top of a mountain encourages us all.

Marriage.  Our men need respect.  If we holler at our husbands like they are children, we end up the ones sounding foolish.  (I'm saying this about an unknown couple on the trail.)  Even if we don't like what they are doing, showing disrespect won't help.

Education.  The forest was our school book today.  We were shown the heart of the tree, the beginning of buds, lichen, and the many colors of the rocks.  It all becomes real when you get down on the level of the child studying it.



We really had a great day.

March 4, 2010

Lesson on the fly

Just a little while ago, D.6 and S.2 got into with each other.  There was screaming and pulling and sitting.  No blood, though.
  After they received a painful reminder that fighting with each other is not appropriate for siblings who should be taking care of each other, I talked to them with a story.  At first, I did not know what my story was going to be.  I just started it.  I did not know where it would be going or if they would even understand it.  Here's how it went:
   "There were two brothers (or a brother and a sister).  They were each told to plant something.  The older brother was told to plant some vegetables, and the younger brother was told to plant some flowers.  They got to fighting about it.  The older brother complained, 'Why does he always get to plant fun stuff? and I have to plant boring things.' The younger brother complained, 'Why does he always get to plant important things?' Well, they fought about it so much that neither one planted anything.  (Here I asked D.6 "What do you think happened?"  She says, "They got in trouble.")  Since nothing happened to get planted, nothing grew.  No good food to eat; nothing pretty to look at."
    So the moral of the story on the fly off the top  of my head, is that brothers have to get along to provide for others.
  It may not be the best story ever, but I was amazed that I just looked into their pitiful faces and came out with that.  Hmm...  Thoughts??