Heidi

I have decided that I want to start reading classics and Heidi happen to be the first classic book I found at the salvation army. I was suprised to find how different it is from the movie. While it's been a while since I've seen the movie, the book is different than the movie.

The first difference is when the grandfather receives Heidi. In the movie the directors depict him as mobing about not knowing what to do with the girl, ignoring her, and making little or no conversation. Needing to warm up to her. However in the book this is not the case. The grandfather while annoyed at Heidi's aunt for bringing her in the manner she did, but he doesn't seem directly unaware of what to do with Heidi. He allows her to jump about outside and look at the trees, listen to the wind. They then go in and he asks her to get another bowl and other things they will need for their meal. It is quite late so he then tells her she can make her bed where ever she likes and she of course decides the hay loft would be the best. The grandfather is kind and compassionate towards his granddaughter. It seems he needs no warming up to her.

I was surprised to read at how jealous and distrusting goatherder Peter was. Anyone who drew Heidi's attention from him was a target for his wrath.

The other surprising find was how God was brought into the book. He was brought in by Peter's grandmother, but he was also brought in by Klara's grandmamma. Heidi's aunt come's back for Heidi to be a companion to a rich man's little girl. Her aunt tells her she may return home any time she'd like, however Heidi soon learns this is not true or so it's what the house keeper tells her. During her stay with Klara, Klara's grandmamma comes and stays with them for a long while. In this time the grandmamma realizes that there is something wrong with Heidi. Heidi then tells the grandmamma that she cannot tell for it is a secret (that is what the house keeper told her). The Grandmamma told her about God and that you can tell anything you want to him and he hears you and answers. Well after a time the grandmamma asks Heidi how her prayer was going and had it been answered. Heidi replies; "I have decided to stop praying because it seems that God is too busy, with all the people in frankfurt I can understand why he doesn't have time for my prayers." The grandmamma goes on to tell Heidi that because God has not answered her prayers it does not mean God has not answered. He may have said no for right now, it is not the best time for your prayer to be answered. If her prayer were to be answered right now Heidi may come to wish God had not said yes to her prayer at that time. During this time she learns to read, write, arithmatic. After a time Heidi becomes so homesick it becomes physcially dangerous for her and she is sent back to her grandfather. After being home on the alms for a while Heidi realizes had God answered her prayer when she wanted she would not have learned all she had and would not have been able to teach goatherder Peter to read. She then realizes that God does answer prayers and to trust his timing.

Heidi then also is able to take what the grandmamma has taught her and is able to help her Grandfather restore his relationship with God and with mankind down the mountain. Her grandfathers heart is softened towards God and human kind. She tells grandfather that from now on they will pray everyday and give thanks so they will not forget what God has done and so God will not forget them. Grandfather asks what if we forget him, Heidi replies then God lets the man go his own way. If he complains no one has pity on him for he forsook the Good Lord first, now his is forsaken of God, who alone could help him. Heidi then goes on to tell the grandfather of the prodical son and how the father welcomes back those to come back to him. Grandfathers heart is softened and he returns back to God.

I love the way the Alms have a healing power. Schwanli, one of the grandfathers goats, gives the most nourishing milk. Grandfather even knows where to go to get the herbs to make schwanli's milk that much more nourishing and life giving. I too have found healing in the mountains. Not in the way of goat milk, but none the less God too meets me in the mountains and whispers life giving messages to me, eternal messages of his power, his love, and of his faithfulness to me.

I desire to know the way of the land as Heidi's grandfather did, I desire to be compassionate and observant as Grandmamma is, I want to not be jealous and covet like goatherder Peter, I want to trust the Lord for all things like Goatherder Peter's grandmother, and I want to always remember what the Lord has done for me, so that I will not forsake the Lord, so that he will not let me go my own way.

A Thomas Jefferson Education

Mark and I are convinced that as of right now we are called to home school our kids. It is very overwhelming realizing that our children's education and training is our responsibility. But we also believe that God has equip us and will continue to equip us with everything we need to accomplish the race he has set before us.

One book that has inspired me and given me a jumping off point is "A Thomas Jefferson education" by Oliver Demille. His approach to education is using a method called classic/mentor Education. Through reading the classics Little Red Riding Hood, Dr. Seuss, and working your way to more complicated readings, and so on. This type of education is to create students who think for themselves. Who dissect what they are reading and talk about it with their mentors. What did the characters go through, how do we apply what we read to our own lives. The mentor guides the student through what they are reading, helping the student digest, think, and apply what they are reading not only pertaining to their lives but also how it pertains to them in the world.

"There are two types of great teachers which consistently motivate student-driven education: mentors meet face to face with the student, inspiring through the transfer of knowledge, the force of personality, and individual attention. Classics were created by other great teachers to be experienced in books, art, music, and other media." TJE pg. 20

Side thought:
I firmly believe I was one of the students in the public school system that passed under the radar. I believe that I did well enough to keep getting passed until I graduated, but I don't believe I was educated. I do not believe I was well equipped with what I needed to know. I still stink at math, English is better but still difficult. I clung to what I needed to know at the moment and as soon as I was done with it I chucked it out the window. I have to say what I did retain was because my parents worked long hours with me at our dinning room table. Also the first book I ever read was called "Will you be my friend", which my dad taught me to read. I had a mentor but it was my parents who took the time to help me grasp what I needed to grasp. Who encouraged me, challenged me, and loved me through the tears of learning. If I had been able to learn at my pace, if my environment had not depended on tests and how I should have been doing compared to my peers, but focused on educating me and giving me a desire and passion to learn I believe I would have accelerated beyond what I would have even imagined for myself. I also had a couple teachers who did not know how to teach something in a different way. So it was my fault for not understanding what they where trying to teach me. I was not a behavior problem, I tried to do my work, I tried to pay attention, I really honestly could not understand what they were teaching...and to them it was my fault.


Back to the book:
The solution to the American Education Question is to focus on great teaching rather than education. Each semester at George Wythe College I (the author) am moved by a new class of young people who literally come alive during four months of coming face to face with greatness in mentors and classics. Suddenly learning is magic, like falling in love; doors and eyes open and students become thinkers, creators, and leaders. pg. 25



Demille says there are three types of education:
I. public education: which tries to prepare everyone for a job, any job, by teaching them what to think. This includes rudimentary skills designed to fit them to function in society.

a. historically the primary goal of public school's, the reason they instituted was to educate the poor so they could get a Job and take their place in society (the middle class already had private schools and apprenticeships, and the wealthy were tutored at home.

b. Public schools come with a down die. consider three successful cases: ancient Rome, Eighteenth century Germany, and nineteenth Century Britain. Each instituted Free public schools to educate the poor, and the standard of living increased. But eventually the professional and leadership schools deteriorated because they simply couldn't compete with free, government-subsidized schools.



II. Professional Education: Derived from apprenticeship and trade schools to law, medical and MBA programs-which creates specialists by teaching them when to think.

a. private schools arose from the apprenticeship tradition of training youth for specific trades or professions.

b. The purpose is to get them into college or technical school, then trade or law school, and then law school, CPA or MBA school, medical school, etc.

c. this type of training allows you to be an expert at whatever you choose to do, however it only works in an interdependent system where other experts tell them when their knowledge is to be applied and what to do outside the scope of their expertise.



III. Leadership Education, which I (the author) call "Jefferson Education," which teaches students how to think and prepares them to be leaders in their homes and communities, entrepreneurs in business, and statesmen in government.


Leadership Education has three primary goals:
1. to train thinkers, entrepreneurs and statesmen-individuals with the character, competence and capacity to do the right thing and to do it well in business, government, church, schools, family, etc.

2. to perpetuate freedom, to prepare people who know what freedom is, what is required to maintain it, and who exert the will to do what is required.

3. teaching students how to think.
a. Those who know how to think are able to lead effectively and are able to help society remain free and prosperous.

"Those who know only what to think or when, no matter how valuable their contributions to society, are not capable of maintaining freedom or leading us to real progress without additional leadership skills. the success and perpetuity of our society depend upon leadership education."

He also talks about schools being a conveyor belt. Setting up school systems like factories. You enter kindergarten, you continue on to 1st grade, 2ND grade, and so on. Then you graduate. Then you continue on the conveyor belt when you enter college. You then are stamped with a guaranteed to be educated. Anyone can basically get on the conveyor belt to do just well enough to pass and be done. But with the conveyor belt comes conveyor belt professionals. We are no longer taught to think outside the box but we are taught that anything outside the box is nonsense and sometimes crazy.


I love the thought of teaching Maddie to be a leader, not someone who gets on a conveyor belt and does what she's told, because she's told to do it. I want her to think is this right or is this wrong. I want her to not think or do, because it is what you do (in the eyes of other people). I want her to question. I want her to bring it before God, to compare it with God's word to see if aligns with His word and go from there with her though processes.

After talking with Mark we agree that we both love TJE. We also agree we believe we do not want to use this alone when homeschooling our kids. We believe that incorporating various types of learning is also beneficial to out kids. We believe this because one we need records to show the state here is what we are doing and here is where are kids are on the learning journey. But we think it is beneficial for our kids to have experience being taught in different ways.

Do we have it all figured out, of course not. We are still reading, learning and when we are in the middle of school I'm sure we will still adjust and change with the way our kids learn. I'm excited, timid, but not discouraged that homeschooling is a path we are to take. I'm excited to explore with my kids the world of learning. I'm excited to be guided by the holy spirit as to what will spark our kids to love learning, to seek out learning, and continue the life long process of learning.

I have begun to look for the classics at the salvation army and rummage sales. I have recently been given many fabulous books that others have passed on to me. For example I found Heidi at the salvation army for $.49! I was given Grimm's fairy tales, we've been given a couple of different kids bibles, and the list goes on. I love opening up a world of learning to Maddie simply by reading to her!

Ballet

I have been searching for ballet classes for Maddie. We have found a dance studio that has christian values, has their dancers dress tastefully, have tasteful music, and tasteful dance moves. All things that are important to Mark and I. We are also excited that she will be learning that she is not dancing for the sake of dancing but she is dancing before her Creator and saviour. Her lessons will also not cost us an arm and a leg. She has two recitals one in December and then one in the spring! She is so excited and I know she will love it! We are now on the hunt for ballet shoes, tights, and leotard!

All nighters

We have officially moved the twins into their own beds. We started with nap time yesturday which went well. Then we did it at bed time and they both slept through the night...yes all night! we put them to bed at 9 and they slept till about 7ish. Awesome! We had a repeat last night. Naomi woke up once but we let her fuss for a bit and then she finally went back to sleep! hurry for sleeping babies! We are thankful for two nights of sleep and for babies learning to sleep through the night!!!

Confession

I desperately need to loose weight. I am what doctors call obese. The word sounds horrible and disgusting to me. I want to not only loose weight but I want to have energy. I want to wake up ready to tackle whatever lies ahead and know I have the energy to be able to do so. Having the physical energy some how also helps me with all the other parts of me. How do I discipline myself. I also am praying about what is the underlining cause of my eatting. The other frustration and I realize this is a phase is excerise. I really, honestly don't have time. The only time is at about five am which would be ok if Naomi could sleep through the night and if Maddie wasn't coming in our room at night and letting us know she needs to go potty. I am thankful we are at this stage in potty training where she is able to realize as she's sleeping she needs to go potty BUT it would be super if she could get through the night dry AND sleep through the night. We'll get there. Naomi has always been behind Titus in eatting which means she's behind him in sleeping because she can't pack the food away like he can. Like Maddie Naomi will get there. In the meantime I need to get my eatting under control and pray for the Lord to work in excersie. It will come I know it will! Weight has always been an issue and will probably always will be an issue. But it's one I can conquer and it's one I can control. My goal is to fit into a bikini I was able to fit in when Mark and I first got married and to fit into my wedding dress better than I did when I wore it down the ile. It's a tough road a head of me and I'm not sure how to start it. I'm not sure where to go BUT I am confident the Lord will take my hand and show me and get me where I need to go. I also need to loose weight because diabetes runs in my family and it starts later in life around 30's and 40's. The places I gain weight are the areas that most commonly trigger diabetes. I don't want a diease that I can control weather I get it or not. I WANT to loose weight I NEED to loose weight! Pray for me for this journey of loosing weight and KEEPING it off!!! I realize I had twins six months ago. I realize that you cannot loose in six months but nine months puts on and twins none the less. Things don't go back the way they are suppose to after being that stretched out! But I need to start my journey. I need to eat smart. I need to excerise smart. Make the time weather I'm tired or not. Perhaps I will be less tired if I am excerising! One step at a time I will get there!

Answer to Prayer

We, along with many of our family and friends have been praying for a three bedroom something. We were open to renting a house (though not realistic), an apt., a three bedroom something. Now the apt. across the hall, the one we have been on to open up is open. Depending on Mark and I we can move in either sept. 1st or Oct. 1st. Which ever works best for us. I am SOOO excited to move the twins out of the living room, into their own room, and into their own beds! Hurray!!! Thank you Jesus for hearing the desires of our hearts!

Brownie making 101

Doing a great job stirring the brownie mix.

The hardest part for her is resisting to lick the spoons, spatulas, and bowl until

after we're done.

One word sums this picture up. YUMMY!

how cute is she in her bakers apron and hat.

Maddie doing the most important job a baker can do!

Taste testing!

Maddie loves chocolate, pink, and sprinkles. The perfect salution is to make double chocolate brownies, with pink frosting, girlie color sprinkles and you have a heaven mae just for Maddie! While spending time with mommy, learning kitchen skills,and lots of other usual skills for life. She is in the stage of life where anything mommy is doing must be fun. She is learning to clean her room as well as dust her room. I have made it more into a game of follow the leader and she asked me today if she could play follow the leader with me the rags.