Nature Journaling Human Nature Journaling

*written yesterday

We bought some nets at Super Store today.  We took them to the creek this afternoon and successfully snatched up some minnows.  This led to some nature journaling. (Simply drawing what you've observed and labeling it with the date, and place.)

Lest I present us as a happy, nature journaling family, let me tell you this expedition wasn't exactly filled with joy or standing in awe of God's creation.  It was filled with kids snapping at each other about stealing each other's spot, and 'you made me wet', and 'let me see the fish' and the Mom screaming that the children 'should be kind and just have fun!'  Then when the picture taking didn't go my way, I snapped about that too.

You see in blogging our lives can look somewhat romantic and our words can sound pretty.  I've even heard people say that they can't look at blogs because it makes them discontent about the things in their lives(which is a good reason to stay away from blogs if that is true).  I do think that when you read a blog you have to keep in mind that we all have things in our lives that we are ashamed of and don't want to expose to the blog world. 

If you know that you have sin in your life, it is a pretty safe assumption to believe that there is sin in the life of a blogger.  Read between the lines and see the reality in the pictures-not in a judgmental, sceptical way but in an honest, soul searching way.  Does that make sense?   Basically, we have to be discerning even when we read/write blogs.

So in our nature journaling our human nature was disgustingly present, as it is in all areas of our lives.  It is just so much easier to skip over the ugly parts of our lives and gush about the good things.  It is hard to find the balance between sharing the good things and being honest about the nasty stuff.  Writing about mundane things is just a 'snapshot' of life-it's not the whole picture.  I want to be honest but I also have to remember that honesty doesn't eliminate privacy.  I also don't want to expose my sin in a way that justifies it or tempts me to welcome the guilty company.

As Ann Voskamp sometimes signs off-ALL IS GRACE!  Despite the sin that saturates our everyday life, God restores joy in the mundane when we repent.  We had fun catching minnows and we have a neat record of it on paper-even that is GRACE.  Thank you Lord!

Haircut

Miss. Esmé is sporting a new short haircut!  I was debating cutting her hair because it is sort of wispy and thin.  A couple of days ago, I left the haircutting scissors out even though a voice was telling me to put them away.  You know what followed, don't you?!  Yes, she got hold of them and took a good snip chunk out of both sides of her hair.  I tried to trim it up but did not dare go as short as the snips were.  So off to Sabrina (my cousin-in-law) we went and she fixed it up quite nicely.  I should have taken a side profile to give you a better view of the cut but here's what I got:

Bonus picture of baby napping :O)  Delightful isn't it?  (You will notice her sweater is tossed aside, socks ripped off and there are no blankets on her-it's in her blood, I tell you!)

Sunset

God's Artwork tells us He is:

BEAUTIFUL

 GLORIOUS

 CREATOR!

Morning Tea

I seem to post a lot of pictures of tea sipping around here.  I couldn't get enough of watching Brie sip tea and scarf down a muffin with it last week.  It was crazy cute!

 Someone loves her morning tea!  Don't worry-it is mostly milk for this little lady.

 She did a LOT of this last week.  She goes through phases where she just cries a lot and is very clingy.  Maybe she was cutting some teeth last week?!

Kitchener-Waterloo Christian Home Educater's Conference

I felt giddy!!  I was a short distance away from Rockway Mennonite Collegiate.  I was grinning and I may have squealed-a whole day of learning about learning and buying books.  Ooh I couldn't wait to park and register.  I wonder if all the other home educator's were feeling the same giddiness pulsing through them??

You know the home school Mom stereotype of jean jumper, braid, strained look,etc.  Can I paint a different picture for you?  I was just outside the doors after I had purchased a pile of books and delivered them to my van,  in a rush to make it back inside for the sessions to begin.  I saw women marching up to the door with vigor, and some had their business type roller suitcases whizzing behind them ready to be filled with books.  They were eager and fun looking.  You could feel the energy.   (That's not to say I didn't see denim but the crowd was very diverse-there were denim skirts, Mennonite dress, jeans, dressy etc.  And I must say there is something refreshing about a range of people all in one building eager for the same thing.)

I attended 4 sessions:

1. The Power of Handwriting
Did you know there is more creativity and production in children who hand write vs keyboard?  That is not to say that there are not some very useful APPS available with technology that can aid in the learning of handwriting.  Some of the ones mentioned were: Writepad, ABC Pocket Phonics, ipad Handwriting, Penultimate,  and iWrite Words. 

P.S. I hand wrote my rough draft of this blog post to exercise my handwriting skills and to see if creativity would kick in.  I am finding it much easier to type this with my thoughts being organised on paper.  Interesting...

2. Art Lesson Basics
I spent a lot of money on a few art supplies after this session.  We are looking forward to using them next year and hopefully in a space where we can spread out some of the mess that comes with making art!

3.  Goal Setting and Planning your Next School Year
I hesitated attending this session.  I need help in the area of being organized but I did not want to be overwhelmed by someone who knew how to make and KEEP a schedule.  It was a blessing to hear this woman speak!!!  She was my kind of lady-  and she has 4 daughters! :O) 
She began the session by saying that "My greatest success in homeschooling is knowing that I am forgiven"  and went on to say that we need to give our children that same grace.  It was reassuring to hear this (not only in relation to homeschooling) because this saving grace needs to seep into every moment of our lives or who can breath! 
We learned about goal setting and not letting schedules rule us.  The idea is to set a goal so that you know if you have accomplished something.  It is like a measurement-you can feel the satisfying sense of getting something done or you can reevaluate the goal and/or method. 

4.  What!  Me Take my Child Outside?  Nature Study for Young Children
I hope to incorporate a Nature Walk and Nature Journal into our schedule next year.  The idea in a Nature Walk is two activities-'doing' and 'documenting'.  It is a simple thing really-you observe nature and you document it with a few words and a picture.  I can't wait to see Mia's creative side come out in the drawings!  I can only imagine what Esmé will 'do' on our walks!  Ksena might not enjoy the exercise but she will enjoy the togetherness.  Brie-she is just along for the ride. :O)

I left the conference feeling inspired and eager for next year.  Please don't remind me that we have to finish up this school year first!  Shhh!  We are all ready for Summertime!
 

An Artist at Work

p.s.  I shrunk my sweater and my girl is wearing it! WHAT?!
p.p.s.  I had big dreams of catching up on my blog and it is just not going to happen-so I will attempt blogging more by being current instead.
p.p.p.s.  I know I still have to blog more pics of our tiny home...I will-sometime, soonish, maybe. :O)