Mom guilt

Or in my case Mama guilt - heaven forbid they call me "mom". I won't answer.
And tonight it just may send me over the edge.

It's New Years Eve.
On this night we eat junk in the living room, drink Shirley Temples, listen to music, play games, and enjoy extra frivolity until time for the ball to drop in NYC and turn on the TV and count down with hundreds of thousands of others in the Eastern Time Zone.

This "party" may have been my idea of a good "tradition" several years ago.

Gene claims they (our offspring) aren't being any worse than normal.
I admit that my attitude stinks.

So, with out fanfare or sweet partings, I'm in my room.
I can't shake it. I could cry.
I'm writing about it.
I may still cry.
And pray.


I'm not being the joyful mother of children.
They are not bringing me joy - they are loading a camels with straws.

I'm mean and grumpy.
And I've ruled out hormones.

I'm tired.
I'm joyless.

And according to all these happy homemaker/joyful mothering things I follow, what I feel isn't right.
And that makes me feel guilty.
I should be able to choose my attitude.
I should be joyful surrounded by my loving husband and adoring children.

But instead . . .

Every wrong or misplaced word or action on their part seeks to send me over the edge.
I've barked and fussed and griped and . . .
I've tried to enjoy their silly.

But this evening, which should be a time of fun isn't.

If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
(how dare they be!?!?!)

So, I'm removed. Of my own accord.
They've finished eating. I heard them come down the hall to the linen closet for games.
It will be a mess.
Messes don't mess with me.

What is my deal?

And in my heart I keep hearing, "the joy of the Lord is my strength."
Where is that?
So I search it out.

In Nehemiah chapter 8, the law has just been read to the people and they bow down in worship and are weeping when Nehemiah says in verse 10,  “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”"
In verse 11 the priest calm the people saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”"

I'm grieved.
And my High Priest whispers to my heart that He is my strength. His strength is where my joy is found.
Not in the temporal. Not even in these people I love and live with.
Not even in the people I really to like, I just can't stand at the moment.
For no good reason.

Except maybe, the Good Shepherd needed to pull me aside, whisper in my ear and speak to my heart. Remind me to love with open hands. Remind me to realign my priorities.
Remind me that it really is okay to take a break.
A real break.
Gather my wits. Pray. Cry. Search. Listen.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, 

yet without sin. 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

~  Hebrews 4:14-16 ~

He can sympathize. He lived with 12 rough fellas for 3 years - and sometimes He climbed a mountainside to go be alone with His Father.
I can confidently draw near the throne of grace - incomprehensible grace - and there get mercy and grace to help in a time of need.

Even the need of "straw reduction" for this grumpy camel.

It's a really good thing that He can see our hearts. Our inner attitudes and desires. And that He forgives so graciously.

It's okay.
I'm still not un-grumped completely. But I don't have to "listen" to all those happy mothers all the time - I don't have to add that guilt to this mad.

I can go climb a mountain (figuratively).

Plus, if I tried to run away, they'd want to come with me.
I may sit here a little longer.

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

   He makes my feet like the deer's;

  He makes me tread on my high places.

~ Habakkuk 3:18-19 ~

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, 

which made heaven and earth.

~ Psalm 121:1-2 ~

I'm a bad blogger & December 2014 in a . . . large crockpot

My Ava, as Miss Modesty, is becoming a better blogger than me. If you haven't been impressed with her 15 year old wisdom you can check it out here or here or here or here .
That might not be saying much since neither of us have blogged this month at all. And just noticed my dear sister-in-love out in Nevada has updated twice in the last week. No pressure. Just checking "blog" off my list of things I need to have done already. Not currently getting checked off: clean the stinky bathroom (which is mine this time and not the boys or the girls), mop, do something fun &/or educational with the children, clean my room, tell children to clean their rooms, cooking that free turkey Gene got from work before it goes bad, write or find THE next Easter play, work on more Bible Study stuff (a whole'nother list - but it is started), grade school papers, finish planning the next two weeks of lessons . . .
The day isn't over yet.

It's New Years Eve and I'm gonna get one more bloggy thing in for 2014.
Not that that matters.
Tomorrow will be much like today - only I'll have to remember to write a new year on checks and other "official" documents and I still can't remember that it isn't 2010 (yes, I wrote that on a check) (I also wrote my maiden name on something one day) (recently) (after 17 years of NOT having that name) (Don't judge) (blame the kids).

(Ava just walked by and declared that we could blame the holidays). (I shrugged).

Advent Posters

So, December. In the mornings we did (attemped) an advent study from here. Still have posters on the wall
but Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus haven't made it up there (Christmas was last week).
We continued our tradition of getting a real tree for Christmas. This year we had to go to a new tree farm, the one we have used got wiped out by a tree disease. The tree is lovely - they all were - not as much fun picking. The branches are not very stiff at all and we have continually been picking up the crafts/ornaments and putting them back on it.

Top 3 at Beck's Tree Farm - bottom right before Christmas

On Dec 6th, the faithful descended on our home to decorate a float for the Lavonia Christmas Parade which took place Sunday, Dec. 7th.

The Get ready crew

FCRTL in the Lavonia Christmas Parade

And that same weekend we were privileged to witness Chris (Gene's friend & my brother from a whole'nother family) get married to a sweet girl named Melody. They are raising her children and part of his. I'm proud of the man he is becoming. I prayed for this fella a long time to come to know the Lord as his Savior. Still praying that their relationship with God grows richer and deeper and stronger and that they have the delight of leading those precious little ones to their Heavenly Father.

While getting the house as ready for Christmas as I cared to get it, I was moving the globe to make room for my "antique" nativity and all the wonderful Christmas cards I adore. I had the thought that it needed a bow. A small piece of ribbon was near by and I bedecked the globe and proclaimed,

"Joy to the World!" 

It was at this point that my spare, Brent, fell apart. He was already wondering about the sanity of his teacher - and then she did that.

The globe is still bedecked on the brown school table, the Nativity. . . well, I hope we find all the pieces.

This year, for the first time ever, we celebrated Chanukkah (or Hanukkah or Hanukah or "That long Jewish Holiday before Christmas?")
No, we are not switching religious teams. We just thought it sounded like a good idea - and it was!
Hanukkah in Hebrew means "dedication" - so really you can "hanuk" (verb) anything.
In the New Testament this particular holiday is called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22).
A long time ago (before Christ) Israel was under Greek rule and it was terrible. The emperor, Antiochus Epiphanes was evil and had desecrated the temple. The Maccabee family lead a revolt (it was ugly) and eventually drove the Greeks out and called their nation back to God. They re-dedicated the temple - a multi-day process. At this time they realized that the Greeks had used all the olive oil for the temple lamps (the Menorah) on their salads. But God kept those lamps burning for EIGHT days. It was a miracle! And the priest rightly proclaimed a yearly memorial.
Likewise, we are now the temple of the living God. He is the light, and imparts light to us, and expects us to be lights in the world. So with Matthew 5:16 as our memory verse, MUCH help from Mrs. Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies and her years of wisdom, and information from Judaism 101 we dove in.
Our evening family devotions has suffered (we are the most inconsistent people) and it helped to have a different plan. And the children had a great time. Next year we are differently adding Jelly Doughnut to our celebration - and perhaps a REAL Menorah. (Do they put them on after holiday sales?)

On the first night Gene and Autumn made Latkas. I prepared our "menorahs". Before our meal we gathered to read God Word together and light the lights.
At the end of each study and lighting Gene closed us with prayer, thanks, blessing the food and a special blessing for a child. We went oldest to youngest. And that child got to "light" their candle on our "window menorah" (construction paper,gold wrapping paper, duck tape). The little-er ones colored while we read.

Night One (from top left clockwise): the "flame" holster; the window Menorah; the Table Menorah (we used these little jars on the mantle for Christmas last year - and the platter was a birthday gift from my mother); Ava "lighting" her candle

The Daddy frying Latkas, Star, Latkas, Autumn after helping shred potatoes

What a wonderful 8 days!

Day 8: Our completed window Menorah, Dreidles - the kids enjoyed playing this game, another coloring sheet

The weekend before Christmas we celebrated at Grandmother's house. She's a pretty good cook!

Here are a few of the attendees that I love:  Aunt Tara; Cousins - Daniel, Elijah, Alex; GREAT Aunt Audrey;  Mr. Beals & Uncle Doug; Josiah and happy Lora; and Uncle Larry

Tara got something for her Dad and my Mother in a really big box - I think the littles were the most excited. They helped opening it up. And they stayed excited, for inside was a BUNCH of bubble wrap and the box was claimed by Josiah as his "camp". Good times!

Uncle Wayne with Maddux - the OLD great-grandkids with the newest one

In years past we'd go see a little light display in Lawrenceville, but the family that did that quit. Bummer.

So we went to see Uncle Wayne, Aunt Meme and little Maddux - a big, bouncing, happy, observant, sweet baby boy.

Oh, and Nick. Saw him too.

We missed seeing Brittany and Ryan.

Did I mention that Maddux is a bouncing baby boy - most of my pictures were action shots. 

Sure did enjoy finally meeting him.

Elves

Tuesday Uncle Paul came to visit. I'm so glad that we have the relationship that we do. And for those of you struggling with forgiveness against someone who's done ya wrong - take it from me, God has something great in mind. 

Forgive as He has forgiven you.

We went to see lights in Anderson and Greenville that night then ate at Steak & Shake (I LOVE that place!)

On Wednesday morning Paul took the boys shopping, then traded and took the girls shopping.

(The girls found me a Malficent hat - this is important information later in this post).

Then we had Christmas Eve supper with Papa and Mr. Jan.

And took the annual Christmas PJ picture.

Christmas morning was delightful. Between us, Santa, and more Grandparents than you and stick a shake at

these little people are not lacking.

Then Gene and Paul and fickle helpers put together the new trampoline from Grandmother and Rick. 

"You can't NOT smile on a trampoline," was the convincing statement I was told when given the first one. So, the bouncing smiles are back at last.

Christmas evening we celebrated with GrandMaM

a & Granddad - we took them out to eat. (Mama was done in the kitchen!) In what I later learned was good form - even though the food stank - we had Chinese.

Finally, for your viewing enjoyment, The many faces of Jacob - kid just needs a prop.

I have no idea where this kid gets it!

And that's it! (that's all I recall and was greatly helped by having a record in pictures).

Getting ready to party with just my gaggle this evening. Stay-up late, eat junk and anything that goes with ranch dip - the majority of children in the Brown home are on a broccoli kick - playing games and goofing off (which we are supper good at).

See you next year! 

Happy New Year!

Now to Him who is able

 to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen.

~ James 1:24-25 ~

FYI: During the typing of this blog the free turkey got in the roaster and I chopped celery for tonight's party. And after a cup of coffee I plan to clean the bathroom. 

Miss Modesty - Being an Example

If you are an older sibling, a parent, or just anybody really you are constantly setting an example. Even though you may not know it. Have you noticed how little children immitate their parents, and are really good at mocking their big sisters..... yeah, it gets on my nerves too. If you have never been told by your parents, "You are supposed to be setting a good example", then you , more than likely, don't have little brothers or sisters.
But setting an example goes far beyond how you act in your home; who are you in the presence of the world? If you say you are a Christian, then the world should be able to see Christ in you. The majority of "Christians" - or people who say they are Christians- really don't act like it. Have you noticed? People who claim to be Christians will go around cussing, smoking, ect., ect., and doing all this stuff that isn't showing Jesus and giving our Lord a bad name.

Have you ever thought about the meaning of these letters: WWJD - What would Jesus Do? Have you ever considered applying them to your life as a guideline? I'm aware that Christ was (and is) PERFECT, and we are sooo not, and trying to live up to those high standards is impossible. But as a guideline, maybe we can accomplish something.
How do we live up to the standards that make us stand out from the world? Just take what I said earlier and restate it: Think, before you do anything, "If Jesus is watching me right now, what does He think of my actions/choice of words?" Now with that in mind, What kind of example are you setting? Are you living for Christ, or are you following the world?

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

that you present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,

which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and

acceptable and perfect will of God. 

                                                                           Romans 12:1-2

Don't you think the world would be a better place if everyone tried to what was right in the eyes of the Lord? Imagine being a light in a world of darkness. Remember that game we used to play in the pool, Whirlpool? Everyone would run in one direction until the water started to follow. And then, when you turned against the current it dragged you along with it. But, if you really tried, you were able to run against the current, it was hard, but you could still do it. And then, other people would turn and follow you until the current flowed in a different direction. Do you get my analogy? You can change the world! Well, not the whole world... but some of it.

Now you're young and you're single (possibly) and you can be an example to..... GUYS! Ew, YUCK!

Girls in their underwear

But seriously. There watching you. Muwhahahahahaha! And when you're different they see it, and they wonder at it. Most girls walk around in nothing but their underwear all day and can't live with out their boyfriends and they don't have brains and they're silly and dramatic and.... sorry, I'm sorry they're not that dumb (well, they are but that's not the point). But when you walk around in your tee-shirt and jeans and you don't care that you're single 'cause you know that you're saving yourself for the man God picked out for you, and you're smart and self-controled - it's then that people will look at you and say, "Wow! She has clothes on!" No. Well, that too... but they look at you and see a ray of pure sunshine eminating from your modest face.

When you act like a GodGirl around guys, they will find you much more attractive than the girls who have wasted themselves away.

To prove my point (that girls can be influences on boys) here is a small paragraph from a wonderful book called Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola:

   "Girls have more influence with boys than they realize. A boy who is rough and rowdy in the presence of one girl will be gentlemanly when with another girl, all because of the girl. If she is "loud" and boisterous and will laugh at his silly and offensive remarks, he will act on that level; but when he is with a girl who never smiles at that which is rude and vulgar, who is always quiet and modest in her way, he will act as he knows pleases her. He may seem to have the better time with the first girl, but he respects the other girl more." (page 167)

We are examples everywhere we go. What kind of example are you setting?

If you have any questions or comments or topics for upcoming blog post..... you know where they go.

Bookworms, you'll never guess:

Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola

God Girl by Hayley Dimarco

Music Freaks:

Let Them See You by Colton Dixon

Show Jesus by Jamie Grace

We Are by Kari Jobe

One Shot by Newsboys

Jesus Freak by Newsboys

Melon Semper,

Ava Brown

Miss Modesty - We as Young Women

This week's post is really short. I'll explain why, now.
All week I've been trying to sit down and write this post (because I do it on paper before I do it here). But, for some reason it wouldn't stick, I just couldn't think of the right words to use. But, there are two wonderful ladies who used the right words, they wrote whole books on the topic I wanted to discuss.

God Girl by Hayley Dimarco
Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola

I seriously encourage all young women to read these books. The subtitle of God Girl is "Becoming the Woman You're Meant to Be", how fitting!
I will literally challenge you to read these two books, if you do read them tell me about it in your comments.

And look, I NEED topics for blog post so, Give me some!!!!!!

A good song for this week is:
God Girl by Jamie Grace;)

Thank you!

Melon Semper,

Ava Brown

Miss Modesty - What is Love?

The dictionary has lied to us and I'll tell you how. This is the Concise Oxford English Dictionary's definition of "love":

Love- an intense feeling of deep affection; a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone

At first, you see nothing wrong with this. I mean, really, if I were to ask you what the first thing that comes into your head when I say the word "Love", you would immediately tell me, "A deep romantic affection" (or something like that). And I don't blame you because I would probably say the same. All I'm saying is that that is not the way the Book of Truth defines it.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 it says,

Love is patient, Love is kind,

it does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud;

Love is not rude, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs;

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth;

it always protects; always trusts; always hopes; always preserves.

Love never fails.

Wow! It would be nice to find a man like that! Real love seems PERFECT! Jesus Christ was perfect. And the Bible says that He is love.

Beloved, let us love one another,

for love is of God; and everyone who loves

is born of God and knows God.

He (she) who does not love does not know God,

for God is love.

                                                                                      1 John 4:7-8

The Bible also says to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). So, would you rather love your neighbor by the dictionary's standards.... or the Bible's? I'm just saying, 'cause, did you read the definitions?

I am positive that in order to feel the kind of love portrayed in the dictionary- the kind of love that you giggle at in books and movies- you first have to have the wonderful love described in 1 Corinthians. I would really rather not get "romantic" with someone before there is a mutual feeling, on both parts (man & woman), of biblical love. I'm only 15, so, I really don't want to pursue a romantic relationship with anyone at the present. And, since I know that those of you who read my blog are younger than I am, you don't need a relationship either. 

All of you young people in school who think you need a boyfriend to fit in, or just to make you feel good..... YOU DON'T! (I'll explain in a latter post.) Ya know, you can have friends who are boys without them being you boyfriend right?So, save your kisses and your purity by not having a "boyfriend" until you are ready for marriage. And until you are positive that it is "real love" you have fallen for.

As you begin to head into your teenage years you'll start to have strong desire for love ect.. All I can say is be strong, everyone goes through this. If you think of God as your lover ( because He is), your one and only True Love (as He should be), hopefully you will be able to persevere. 

I know I mentioned in my last blog post that He is your heavenly Father, and now I'm telling you that He is your True Love. Surprise! He's both! Weird I know. But, in Him you can find comfort and rest and throw away all your cares. As long as you give your heart fully to Him and let Him control all of your heart's dreams and desires, you should have no worries because you have placed them in the safest and most loving of
hands.

If you have any questions or comments or topics for upcoming posts, please type them in the designated space below:)

Music Freaks:

How He Loves by The David Crowder Band

Love Come to Life by Big Daddy Weave

Headphones by Britt Nicole

And a good one for last week ;P Beautiful Beautiful by Francesca Battistelli

I couldn't thinks of any good books other than the ones I posted last week. sorry.

Melon Semper,

Ava Brown

Reformation Day 2014

We got convicted and quit doing Halloween several years ago. You can read that "Evil" post here.
We continue to be amazed with how God directs our lives. We felt no need to replace Halloween (even though we all love dress-up and candy) but God lead us to begin to learn about church reformers and after several years of saying, "we need to know more about that," we finally did.

In our Bible Study we've been studying how God raised up judges and prophets to lead His wayward people back to Him. And studying church history reminds us that He hasn't stopped. The Catholic church was HUGE and overcome with greed and false teaching. Then God raised up men like John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others to lead His people, the church, back to Himself.

Many men risked their lives to confront the Catholic church and point out their unbiblical doctrines and practices. And thus, the Protestant church was birthed through long hard labor.

"Through faith alone in Christ alone" was their united belief, and thanks to them we can celebrate having a Bible in our own language, and understanding that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men that we need. He is our Great High Priest. And because of His sacrificial love for us, we, through faith in Him, are a royal priesthood and can come before the throne of God ourselves and receive forgiveness and grace.

THAT is worth celebrating!

On October 31, 1517 (497 years ago) a monk and professor, Martin Luther, nailed a theses to the door of a church in Germany, strongly suggesting that perhaps the church was wrong about some stuff (particularly papal bulls and indulgences - look it up) and inviting anyone who wanted to come debate about it.
He was quickly tired and convicted as a heretic, which carried a death sentence, so he hid in a friends attic and translated the New Testament into German.

Thus, October 31st has been dubbed Reformation Day. Let the celebrating commence!

Decorations; bottom picture is "Luther's Rose"

The Mama did a LOT of research - so with the help of MANY websites (pinterest and google) and blogs  by other mamas we had a big history lesson on Thursday, then on Friday, after lessons and lunch we gathered in the living room (the other end of the school room) and had a review. The who, what, when, and where's.

Then we partied like it was 1517!

We read together (all 95 points of Martins theses) then "nailed" (with tape) our theses to the door (cardboard that Mama drew on).


We repaired stained-glass windows that had been damaged in the riots (we colored). And other fun stuff. Just see for yourself:

Josiah "nailing" is theses to the door; Lora and Jorja decorating placemats; Alex at the "Baptismal Apple Dunking"

Top:Match-a-Sola (I'll explain this below); Alex and Brent sitting at tiny desk coloring the Solas;
Bottom: Josiah, Ava, Autumn & Jacob coloring; Elijah coloring

Victuals: We had communion (pitas and grape juice - for educational purposes) lead by the Daddy.
We had apple cider and our "Diet of Worms"
(that was the name of the council that convicted Luther - ours was "dirt" with gummy worms in it).

Next year I'd like to have more German foods and actual Wassail.

Luther burned the Papal Bull that declared him excommunicated from the Catholic Church - he thought it was just a bunch of  worthless bull. So we did likewise. - Our "bulls" even had a copy of the seal of Pope Leo X from 1517.
Boys like setting things on fire. 

We sang Hymns and spiritual songs. Including "A Might Fortress" - cause Luther wrote it. 

To sing what we sang go here to my Reformation Day playlist on YouTube.
We also sang some fun songs. I'll put those at the bottom (with the Solas).

The Door after all the Theses were nailed to it;
The pretty red runner Grandmother gave me for my birthday with hymns and bulls on it;
and the movie.

To finish up we attempted to watch the 1953 version of Martin Luther. Several actually made it through the whole movie, others went to play ("this is boring"), the Mama slept through it.

We may try the more recent version next time (have to preview it first).

We all want to do it all over again next year! Only we want to invite others to join us. I can foresee this becoming our recurring "fall party."

Look for Ava's second "Miss Modesty" post coming sometime today. She's worked hard again this week and is discussing real love. I'll link it here when she's done.

Love ya!
Mama

One resource called the "5 Solas" the Pillars of the Reformation:

Sola Gratia 

- by grace alone

Sola Fide 

- through faith alone

Solus Christus 

- in Christ alone

Sola Scriptura 

- according to Scripture alone

Soli Deo Gloria 

- for the glory of God alone

Fun Songs:
from here

Reformation Carol

By Anne & Tom Lipe of Damascus, MD
(to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)

There was a monk named Luther,
As devout as he could be.
You couldn't find a better
monk in all of Germany.

All of the other friars
used to laugh and call him names.
They never dreamed that God would
lead him down the path to fame.

Then one cold October morn
God's call came to him:
"Luther, I think you are right;
I want you to lead my fight."

So then he wrote his theses;
tacked them up for all to see.
And now the Reformation
will go down in history...."

Martin the German

Chris P. Matthy
(to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman")

Martin the German was a sorry, mixed up soul,
'Cause he thought it odd that a loving God
Would condemn him straight to hell.

Martin the German even took a sacred vow
When a lightning strike nearly took his life
But St. Anne stepped in somehow.

It must have seemed like magic when
Old Habbukuk he found,
'Cause when he read God saves by faith
He began to dance around.

O, Martin the German felt reborn again that day,
And he spread the word from old Wittenberg
All the way to Rome, they say.

Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Nail them to the door;
Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Hear those Theses roar!

© CPM 2006.

The Reformation Polka

by Robert Gebel
[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
"Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,
"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

School Plans this time

Jules-Alexis Muenier - La Leçon de catéchisme

What's happening at the Brown Home Academy in the 2014-2015 school year?

So, this post will only interest a few. Perhaps, in a few years it will just be a nice way to remember "How in the world did I ever do that?!?!" Because it won't be long and we'll begin to graduate'em and my class size will begin to decrease rather than all the increasing it's done every year. And this year we've had a big increase. But we've also had a tad more self-discipline and are trying to learn to be better stewards of time (works in progress).

This year Jacob is finally serious about learning, so long as it doesn't take up to much time and part of it seems fun. And Josiah will sit still for just a few minutes. Not sure with him how much is actually being retained but at least he's being "exposed" to learning (rather than just walking around exposing himself).
And we've added Brent who is 29 days younger than Alex but 3 times his size. It's like a chihuahua next to a doberman, although while the latter boy very much resembles a chihuahua the former is much more docile. He's cute and sweet and is finally adjusting to life with the Brown clan (we may be a little "different" than he's accustomed). His Papa brings him punctually each morning and that helps us remember to get up.

This year, in order to attempt to get it all mostly done I made a big Daily Schedule. Dividing the day  into 30 minute increments and began plugging in things to do - beginning with me getting up early and doing my very own prayer and devotions (fall off the horse, get back on) and including eating and chores and an extra section for Wednesdays when we go to Community Bible Study (CBS).

In the middle of doing that I was planning lessons - or lesson flow for all the subjects being taught this year - including time on the computer for various things like foreign language.

Top left: Checklist on clipboard on top of "Mama's Brian's"
innards; Top right: close up of Jacob's Weekly Checklist;
Bottom Right: Mama's Home School Brain - aka: Mama's Brain
Bottom left: Josiah's practice from a few weeks ago (just cause) 

To aid in planning for each child I used  Weekly Checklist (taken directly from the schedule) kept in Mama's Homeschool Brain (the same one I've used for many years). Each person (students and the teacher) has a clipboard with their own Weekly Checklist. They check off as they complete each assignment and any thing on loose papers (or not in a workbook) is kept in the clipboard behind the checklist until the end of the week. Over the weekend the teacher (that's me) checks each students work. Continuing assignments (like Science) are placed back under the new weeks checklist as well as worksheets for the next week and completed work is placed sideways on top to be put neatly away in their own binder (everybody's got a binder with dividers).

Attendance, and High School Planning

Also found in Mama's Brain is Attendance charts (one per child - we no longer have to turn them in BUT we are responsible legally for doing 180 days of "school" and so I do keep attendance. Plus, if any "official" ever wants to question us I've got plenty of documentation - and HSLDA - to back us up) and High School planning/records (so we can formulate a transcript sooner than we'd like to think). We do give credit for each class completed and they must have a certain number to graduate (sounds a lot like real school when they get to High School - bleck!)

Pray Pledge Praise Ponder signs;
Pledges, the Christian Flag, school rules
and school verse
Stuff on the walls: math, history, French

We start each day (just like last year) with Pray, Pledge, Praise & Ponder. We don't always do both of the last two but we try.
I normally pray but often ask one of the bigger children to ask blessings on our day. Then we Pledge the American flag, the Christian flag and the Bible and sometimes we remember to recite our school verse, 1 Peter 2:9.
We sometimes sing our Praises and we learned the song "Dare to be a Daniel" (verse by verse) which we counted for praise and ponder.
We started a Bible Study book over the summer and so we did that for Bible time until CBS started then we finished it up for our Ponderations.  And now we've re-begun the Catechism for Young Children. We started this a few years ago but never made it through. Gene and I felt that we needed to try again. This will also keep me free from looking for new things to ponder for a little while.
(those colored links will take you to a YouTube video and a Catechism website so you'll know what I'm talking about - not too very many years ago I'd never heard of such things).

And here's the lowdown on curriculum this year from the School Curriculum Coordinator (that's me too).

Bible & Math

Bible: We finished Volume 2 of the What We Believe Series: Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here? ; in CBS we are studying Servants of God: Joshua through 2 Samuel.

Math: The bigger children (Ava, Autumn, Elijah, Alex & Brent) are doing Life of Fred. Each one is just where ever they need to be. I had them begin at the beginning (Apples) last year (except Brent who began this year) and work at their own pace. So some have made it to Algebra and other are in Intermediate Arithmetic books.
The littler children (Lora, Jorja & Jacob) are doing Math Lessons for a Living Education. And Josiah is just learning his numbers with Picture my Numbers!
I just realized that I got all my math books from Queens Homeschooling.

Language Lessons, Literature, Handwriting

Language Arts: Come to think of it, I got a lot of our language arts books from Queens too!
Everyone but Ava is doing their Language Lessons.
Jacob's is modified because he is also doing Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons as well as Donna Young's 133 Manuscript Handwriting Lessons for Beginners which follow that learning to reading book. So, in his Language Lessons I leave out the lessons about letters and we practice singing the alphabet or writing his name on those days.
Ava is on the final book in the Learning Language Arts Through Literature: The Gold Book - British Literature. We are considering letting her take some college courses online next year since she'll have completed what we have planned for her. Otherwise she'll read/study classics not covered already.
Brent is just beginning Cursive handwriting and using the same thing I started everyone else on New American Cursive. The other big kids are supposed to do some of their assignments in cursive. (They need reminding often).
Lora and Jorja are using Pictures in Cursive: Book A. I love the beautiful art and thoughtfulness that Queen's puts into their books. I have the girls read the sentences to me when we begin a new picture (week - but our weeks are wonky), then they copy one sentence a day. When they finish Book A we'll go to Book B.
We are working hard on reading comprehension this year! Everyone (except Ava and Jacob and Josiah) are doing book/literature studies by Memoria Press. Love these books! I have the children
read on day one then do the questions and activities on day two (looks like: Day 1 = Monday/Thursday & Day 2 = Tuesday/Friday).
I bought through the 5th grade level last year and plan to buy the rest this year. It seems to be a good investment.

Science and History

Science: We are still doing Apologia Science.
Ava is in Biology. Autumn is in General Science.
Those 3 boys are doing Human Anatomy and Physiology. And the 4 littlers are in Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.
Thankfully, I can hand Ava and Autumn their Lesson Plans and theirs is self guided. The boys need prodding but also receive a Lesson plan to complete and work together. They listen to the books author, Jeannie Fulbright, read to them on MP3 (at the computer).
I'm reading Zoology 1 to the littles. We are enjoying learning about birds together. Even the little boys enjoy most of it.

History: The little girls and the 3 boys are continuing The Story of the World. We are still working our way through Volume 2: The Middle Ages. But since we are sticking to our schedule we are making better progress this year. This is still the first subject that seems to get pushed to the side while life happens but this year is going much better.
For Ava and Autumn we concocted our own syllabus for United States Studies in which the girls are to research a time period and turn in a report every two to three weeks. We, the school administration, just had a very lengthy conversation about this today. And are rethinking it. They are doing the work but we just don't think it is cohesive or that they are actually learning much, plus they are not taking advantage of all their resources (like the library), and their work is never complete. So while it looks like a great plan on paper, we may have over thunk it and are researching other options.
Autumn is teaching the little boys their history (go back and read that again! - she's doing a pretty good job). They are doing History for Little Pilgrims. This is one of my favorite books. Cute & easy! You can do as little or as much for each chapter/lesson as you'd like. So, I put everything needed for several weeks, including my lesson plans, into a manila folder and Autumn does the work.
Really takes a small load off of the mother and gives her good reading and teaching experience!

Electives: Rosetta Stone Spanish for Ava, Autumn, Elijah & Alex - each works at their own pace and
completes the supplemental, printable workbooks. (I called with several questions last year and wound up getting a GREAT deal and had another homeschool mother answering my questions. BIG recommendation!)
Hooked on French for Lora and Jorja. We are having a great time learning French together (finally something I know a little about!). (Nana picked up a "3-level program" at a yard sale and brought it to us. So, the price on this was better than great.)
For an easy foreign language program for younger children this is pretty good - not to hard. It says ages 4-6 but I think it may be helpful to either not read at all or be a reader already (know English) before trying to learn this way (unless suddenly your moving to France - in which case this would teach you the basics). It's got the same logo and look as Hooked on Phonics and published by Educated Products, LLC 2006 but I can't find it new online - I'm wondering if they still make it. It is on Amazon.
Ava worked through Health last year and this year Autumn is doing likewise. When Autumn finishes Health I'll have them begin Music together so they can listen to the accompanying CD's together.
Ava also completed Learning How to Learn - just as a guinea pig course. I haven't had time to put to much though into how to use it so I gave it to her. It's all about how to research to find things and use things like dictionaries, encyclopedias, phone books and such. I may use it in parts if I find someone is struggling to remember how to do what they should already know to do and it may come in handy with the little boys as they get older.

The big girls an I also had hoped to do Logic - but that's gotten pushed to the side. It will turn back up somewhere. 

Note that I wrote lunch and breaks into my schedule. I TRY to limit phone-calls to these times as well as my own study time and preparation for our little homeschool as well as CBS and Franklin County Right to Life and an occasional nap. I've tried to train myself to do certain chores (like mop and clean the bathroom) on certain days. But I am a work in progress. This homemaker thing does not come easy to me (cause cleaning is NO fun! - unless you dance or hire a maid - guess I'm gonna be dancing). 

Gene, our principle and eldest student, is half way through his fall semester with Liberty University Online and plans to have his Associates Degree in Religion in his hand next May. Hooray! 

We are ready for him to be done!

So that's what's happening with the students and faculty at BHA!

Love ya'll!

Up till now

I'll try not to overwhelm you with pictures from our recent adventures but I'm really thankful for this phone I didn't want and it's ability to take pretty decent pictures even after being run over by several cars.
I've realized I haven't blogged much this year when Ava decided that she wanted to blog. She has written a "guest post" and may have others as "Miss Modesty." We published her first post this morning. You can read it here. (or just scroll down).
We, as her parents, are VERY encouraged by her heart, her morals, her desire to help and encourage others, her willingness to be prompted by God's Word, and to fulfill those promptings in her own life (and on this blog). And that she worked on her post for several weeks and brought it to us. She might just turn out okay. (sigh of momentary relief)

Since I've started with last things first we'll just keep to it and run history backwards.
Thursday, we traveled a LONG way with the Petitt boys and their fabulous mother to Springer Mountain, where the Appalachian Trail begins and made the 0.9 mile hike up and back. It was a beautiful day for it.

Getting there and back

Ode to Springer Mountain
to the tune of "On Top of Spaghetti "

On top of Springer Mountain

All covered with trees,

Mother lost 15 pounds

when she fell on her knees.

We got to the top

There was a swell view,

Then we went back down.

And all said "phew!"

Group at the top, Trail sign from 1934, The children with Joe the hiker (got to the top with us after walking 5 days from somewhere in North Carolina), and the view from my resting place at the top (rocks make great chairs)

"Wildlife" seen along the hike: Josiah and Jacob; Jorja; Brent (resting with this old lady); Anne examining leaves with the littles (in true homeschooler fashion), the littles: Lora, Chance, Josiah, Jacob, Jorja (who was crying); and Josiah when he got to the top and did what I felt like doing.

Recently Gene had fall break from school, so we all took a break from school. We tried hard not to learn anything but that's just sorta what we do. Like on the Magic School Bus:

Miss Frizzle: Seatbelts, everyone!

Arnold: *Please* let this be a normal field trip.

All: With the Frizz? No way!

And: Miss Frizzle: Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.

So, we went camping (aka: a vacation that is really an extended field trip).

Our Camp Site 

Students finding a crawl-dad, Students at the water-wheel house,
Students with The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Statue, The Parents,
Students discovering a window in the water-wheel house.

Doing Stuff: Top: Hiking
Bottom: Square Dancing and Clogging
(the girls - most of us - joined in before we left)

Cool stuff we saw

The week before that we had school pictures taken - and then we went to Lake Hartwell and took our own.

BHA Students 2014

Those Brown girls

Those Brown boys

My "spare kid" Brent - cutie pie!

Those Brown Darlings

"What a nice little monkey," he thought.
"I would like to take him home with me."

And the week before that we stood on the side of the road for Life Chain 2014 (which we do every year).

The Daddy and some littles and Aunt Courtney

Life Chain 2014 - Lavonia, GA

We've gone on other "field trips" this year (aka: lets get out of the house and go walk around and find stuff = science/history/PE/math).

We've gone to Tugaloo

At Tugaloo 

And we've walked up a billion stairs at Tallulah Gorge.

The gang, the film, Grandfather snail, the view, the suspension bridge, the buzzard 

The gaggle, the turkeys, some plant, nearing the end (after the billion stairs)

And every Wednesday since the end of August (or since Jorja was baby) we've gone to Community Bible Study where we have and are learning LOTS!
Last Spring the Lord called this Mama to be Associate Teaching Director (ATD). The ATD (still has to look at her name tag to remember her title) supports the Teaching Director (which isn't hard since it's dear, precious Cindy), shepherd the Core Leaders (which is only hard because they are her mentors - mothers and grandmothers - but a great delight), welcome visitors (which is fun because she gets to talk about CBS and if she messes up the "first day sphill" they are new and don't know the difference), play nicely with the other leaders (Children's Director Michelle, Coordinator June, and Prayer Chairman Elinor - all sweet, smart and patient - so more delightfulness), and sometimes teach or give the weekly lecture in place of Cindy (which is overwhelming, and lots of work - time and effort and prayer - but has been a great time of being with God and having Him teach me through His Word - and the delivery has been FUN!)
I'm really enjoying this "job" God has called me to this year! I've still got a whole lot to learn but with much prayer and trust God's using "even me." He provides the words and I provide my time and stand there with my mouth open. It's amazing.

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

I Thessalonians 5:24

If you'd like to learn what we are learning so far in Joshua and Judges or just learn more about our class you can go to the class website toccoalavonia.cbsclass.org and listen to the lectures. (I've taught Lessons 5, 8 and 9 so far).

And there's this truth:

So, I think your caught up. 

I've not posted about what we are doing in school this year or how I'm managing all nine students plus the other stuff I do. Some of it is still experimental. (And we've just finished week 11) I'll work on that post next. 

Love ya'll!