Out of Focus

I chose this Fuji FinePix Z20 last year because
1)it is easy to navigate,
2)it has a "blog mode" which automatically sizes my images,
3)I was sure that having pink dots on my camera would ensure my husband would never take it.

Was I ever wrong. He left for a project in Russia this morning with thousands and thousands of dollars in professional camera equipment and my pink polka dot camera!

Max finally mastered turning an ordinary string into Jacob's Ladder today and I was unable to document it.

Two weeks...sigh...actually it's my husband I'm missing.

Giving of thanks

Today we read The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh and Helen Sewell, a tradition we probably share with many families in America. This 1955 Caldecott Award-winning book was sadly withdrawn from the public library but happily found a home with us after being rescued by my sister.

Through a simple rendering of "one family and the changing of seasons" the first Thanksgiving in America is brought to life. We see both the hardships and joys of an incredible pilgrimage made by people in search of the most important of freedoms - to worship in peace.

My boys learned that this particular day is much more than a gathering to feast with friends and family on turkey, stuffing and cranberry pie. Thanks are given for the harvest but they are given to the Giver of all good things. This simple book also showed my boys, in a way that I had not been able to, the reason we start each day by praying for the government of our nation, state and city.

A list of our local, state and federal government officials sits on the island for morning prayer.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. -1 Timothy 2:1-4

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where are the Baburins?

Since the last post we have been to New York City, to the hospital and to the Midwest, with my in-laws are due to arrive from Russia on the 10th for their annual six-month stay in the States. We are now all healthy and getting back in the saddle, so to speak.

Yes, the Lord certainly has got my attention.

My Birthday Boy

Luca Gabriell is five years old today. Luca means "bringer of light" and he has lived up to his name. We don't seem to have a sufficient translation in American English for Gabriell, which in Hebrew means (roughly) "masculine man of God." Another fitting name for our adventurer.

The number five is said to represent grace in the Bible 4 (humanity) + 1 (divinity) = 5 (grace). Makes sense when I think of young David and the fact that God is very deliberate.

More pics of our light-bearer and his birthday adventures to come.

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag that he had, into the pocket; and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:40

Just for fun...

A year ago last summer a few of us were invited to Barefoot's flagship store in Cambridge (that's the one in Massachusetts) to share what a Barefoot life means to us. I had long since forgotten about it but a friend recently phoned to say she'd seen me on the video. Since I love it when I get the rare chance to see the moms behind the blogs, I thought it might be fun for you. See if you can pick me out. Hint: I think my love of Charlotte Mason came through in my answer (and my profile pic is on the right).

A look behind the scenes:

Though quite comfortable with public speaking I was scared out of my wits when co-founders Nancy Traversy and Tessa Strickland sat down to listen. They are both generous (and creative and very good at what they do) so I had no reason to be uncomfortable but I felt I was talking about their baby. BTW, those are two of Nancy's "babies" at the end of the clip.

I had wanted to bring the boys to meet author Laurie Krebs and illustrator Clare Beaton, who was making fabric pictures with the kids. They opted to stay at their friends' house to play...which meant I was free to have lunch with some of the other moms you see in the video - truly the hi-light of the day.

For the love of denim - home school fashion.

I was laughing the other morning as I placed an order for this denim skirt from Boden. No, not because of Jenny Joseph's famous poem, Warning, which begins "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple" but because of A Peaceful Day's "Not supermums, just mums." In her post, Jeanne addresses some home school stereotypes, which include the wearing of the ubiquitous denim jumper.

Although I don't own the garment referred to and am not a supermum according to the test, I probably am a denim jumper wearer at heart. I wrangle two boys who have never been known to travel from point A to point B without finding the most challenging (ie dangerous and muddy) route. Denim is durable, launders well and doesn't warrant an outfit change when I need to run errands. My boys, on the other hand, walk a very fine line on the home school style chart.

My husband's pick for me, a swishy paneled denim skirt with contrast stitching.

So tell me, which stereotypes do you fit and are you also a lover of all things denim?

If you head over to take the test, do be sure to enter A Peaceful Day's birthday give-aways for a copy of 60 Classic Australian Poems and Koonaworra the Black Swan.

Cultivating Habits.

A far-away friend recently wrote and asked what the Lord had been putting on my heart lately in regard to schooling and parenting. What has been on my heart for the last month is this painting by Luc Olivier Merson.

Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1879, Luc Olivier Merson, French, 1846–1920

I unexpectedly ran into this painting at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts after having just read about the event in the second chapter of Matthew the day before:
Now when they [the magi] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to seek the child to destroy Him. And he arose and took the child and His mother by night and departed into Egypt.

Having had two recent experiences of seeking the Lord only to then not be attentive to His speaking, I was immediately arrested by these verses. Despite their brevity, we know Joseph had to leave the comfort of his bed, wake his wife, and ready to leave. He listened and obeyed.

What of Mary...surely she was exhausted - fairly new surroundings, no immediate family to help out and most likely still nursing her first child. Just how aware was she of King Herod's jealousy and the danger to her child? Would she have known this was the fulfillment of Hosea's prophecy concerning Christ? After all, it was not an archangel that spoke directly to her, nor a prophetess in the temple - but her husband, waking her in the middle of the night.

We know that Mary listened and obeyed but what of her attitude? From reading Mary's poetic praise of God during her pregnancy (Luke 1:46-55) we can be sure this wife and mother was filled with the knowledge and love of God's Word. She enjoyed God, exulted in Him as her Savior, saw His faith and mercy toward others and magnified Him.

As if to underscore it all, I received a kind note from the sweet-spirited Jillian of Homeschooling 4 Christ where she had posted a jaw-dropping article regarding perception and listening. The post, entitled A Love for God? relates in a most unusual way some of the very things I have had on my heart.

Habits of prayer, learning God's word, praise, and thanksgiving as well as reverence, obedience and attention - habits I need to cultivate in myself if I am to cultivate them in my children.