Below is one of my favorite verses. No, not because of 4:13 which is taken out of context so many times. I tend to have emotional responses for Scripture being taken out of context. My blood pressure rises, literally. However, to be content even when things are difficult is a great attainment. Not that we do this on our own strength, it is given to us when our focus is on One greater than ourselves.
Philippians 4:12-13, NIV. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
I am praying to be content in our present circumstances as we await direction in ministry as the times seem to be getting even leaner. I am also praying to be content in what the girls are learning and enjoy the process while being flexible. I tend to feel we are getting behind, but who is to say we are behind except myself?
Anna and I had a lovely night at the symphony, “The Music of Italy”. The conductor had such a poignant manner of describing each piece that it brought an even greater awareness of music in history. The orchestra played pieces by Rossini, Marcello, Respighi, and Mendelssohn. Anna is required to attend seven musical venues with her enrollment in the Barthelmes Conservatory. We are very excited that she was awarded a talent scholarship to study cello. We are still responsible to raise 20% of the $4,000. scholarship. Thus far, $350. has come in, another $410. is still needed. If you feel inclined to donate, it is a tax-deductible donation made out to Barthelmes Conservatory.
Working today on this weeks plan, I hope to accomplish all. Yet, knowing making great strides is also very rewarding. Ideally, our week is to look like this:
Theme: China
Map work: Eastern Asia and review
Read alouds: 4 books on China: Happy New Year, The Dragon’s Robe, Lion’s ance, and Moon Lady. We read a few last week.
Bible: DK Children’s Illustrated Bible: Esau and Jacob, Jacob’s Ladder, Jacob and Rachel, and Jacob’s Wedding.
Timeline: Barbarian Invasion and Vikings, St. Jerome completes the Vulgate, The Council of Chalcedon, End of the Western Roman Empire, St. Benedict and Monasticism, Justinian the Great, Mohammed and Islam, and Charles Martel, Pepin the Short, and Charlemagne. It looks as if I will be learning much too, which actually makes it fun!
Writing & Grammar: Penmanship and writing from Writing with Ease and more Grammar and recitation of poetry from First Language Lessons. Anna to also work on additional ancient history-based writing lessons.
Math: Assignments from Singapore Math and practice skip counting ( we still don’t have all our CC work memorized in this subject)
Science: DK interactive CD on the human body and the Kingfisher Book of the Human Body
History: working on our history sentence (on Confucius) and coloring two more presidents and reviewing them in order so we don’t forget.
Other Videos: Ancient India, Ben Franklin, Springs, and possibly Ancient China again.
Reading: Anna is reading the unabridged Alice in Wonderland and is to read two chapters, Mary Beth will finish the Primer book on the Baldwin Project ( late 1800′s and early 1900′s) and move to the First Reader. Stories will be: The Three Little Pigs, Little Tuppens, and Little Spider’s Fish Web.
The girls will be at gymnastics, Anna will practice Cello and have 2 lessons, and will have Prims at church. We will meet with our community on Friday and the girls will each have their own class, fine arts, science, music, recess, and lunch.
Story of the World in the car along with reviewing CC work.
This is our plan. I would love to add latin too. That may just wait until next year though. We are learning the noun declensions in our CC work but haven’t gotten them down yet.
We still have yet to implement spelling. This is something I am conscience of and am working on currently. I would also like to introduce a vocabulary word each week and give a prize each time they use it in the week , like a jelly bean or chocolate chip. I just haven’t got this in the plan yet.
He is enough even when we can’t see. He is enough when we do not have answers to questions. His Word is enough even when we think we hear Him speaking to us and it ends up to be our own desires. He is enough when miracles are needed. I will be content is every situation. Not necessarily to be there, but resting in an unseen God when I can not see beyond my toes. He has been faithful since the beginning of time.
May he use my finite mind and make me even more grateful for the small blessing we see each day: the free parking meter, the blessing of being able to review a book we have been wanting to use in home school and then share it with those on Facebook ad in our community, the blessings of tickets, the coupons from manufacturers for free organic food, the free coupon class to learn how to save at Whole Foods (we saved $50. this week off of $150.), the little lessons my girls learn and that they teach me, the blessing of health, the eye doctor exam with an email of encouragement and a notice of no charge, of wonderful library resources, of fall leaves, of learning, of becoming, of living and being stretched more than I anticipated. He is enough, even when we can’t see.
