A Simple Twist of Faith

Tackle It Tuesday #7: Pre-K Curriculum & Reading List

I cannot believe it is week #8 of our summer vacation. School for us will start in three short weeks. I have been concerned about having a pre-kindergartener and a first grader.  For you Moms who home school multiple children, please understand I am new at this.

This summer we have been attending weekly sessions at our local library on Animals, including a puppet show, even got to pet a live skunk, rabbit, and turtle. We also had learned about beetles, butterflies, and other insects.  

Our local library has also been a great resource for plan my pre-kindergarten curriculum.  They published a great reading guide on preparing your child for kindergarten.  I used much of their recommendations to design Bumblebee's Pre-K academic experience. 

This is part of my summer challenge of crossing off one BIG project a week from my "TO DO" list.

So far this summer, I have tackled:

1. Cleaning out the Garage 

2. Cleaning out the Home Schooling Stuff Part I

3. Cleaning out the Home Schooling Stuff Part II

4. Cleaning out the Junk Drawer

5. First Grade Curriculum

6. Meal Planning

Tackle It Tuesday is hosted by 5 Minutes for Moms.  

 

A Sane Woman

I have been reading a variety of books this summer. Several of my friends have given me books to borrow including The Robe, Breakfast with the Pope, the Outlander series, and the book I would like to talk about today, A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family by Mary Ostyn.

One day I must have looked especially harried, because my friend, Carmen, recommended this book and let me borrow it.  Thank you Carmen!   Now, I know I am not raising a large family, only two very precocious girls, ages six and almost four.  However, I could identify with many aspects of this book.      

First, some background on the author, Mary Ostyn, is a mother of ten children, six who came to her family through adoption.  She home schools her children, and written many articles on parenting and adoption.  She als had written a cookbook and shopping list entitled Family Feast for $75 a week. She blogs about her adventures at Owlhaven where she shares her stories, her recipes, and her beautiful photos.  

To me, women like her are rock stars.  How she can keep it all together is amazing to me.  I hoped by reading her book I might gleam some insight and pick up some tips.

 

7 Quick Takes Friday Vol. 36

1. CONGRATULATIONS!! I am very proud of my sister, Anne Marie, who has been honored with the Presidental Award for Excellence in Teaching Science.  This very prestigious award is given to top teachers for achievements in science and math, my sister won in the science category for the state of California. The ceremony was Wednesday, and I was able to drive up there and  be present at the awards ceremony  along with a colleague and former student of hers.  

2. It was great to see my sister, although it was a whirlwind trip since her week in Washington was highly scheduled.  However, we caught up with a lovely celebratory dinner on Wednesday and I enjoyed getting to know her friends.  Thursday morning she left early for Capitol Hill, and I was able to take my time with drinking coffee and reading, exercising, and then have a nice omelet.  Not a bad morning for me!

3. During my recent car trip, I listened to Louisa May Alcott's Little Woman.  I am ashamed to say it is the first time I read it!  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I looking forward to listening to the rest of it when I clean my house today after school. 

4.  Upon arrival home, I received a hero's welcome from my two little girls.  This is the first time since I stopped working a year ago that I have been away from them for the night.  They made me two beautiful cards.  My husband had dinner ready, and I read some more Little House in the Big Woods to the girls.  Rick and the girls had a great time, they were very good, but  he  said, "They sure ask a lot of questions, don't they?"  "Yes, they do." I said, thought of my quiet morning. 

5. I finally received The Outlander by DianaGabaldon from the library this week. I had placed it on hold, but it is such a popular book, I had wait.  I started it last night, and am looking forward to reading it over the weekend.

6. Four more weeks of school until summer break.   We will be busy with eight weeks of swim lessons, aquarium and zoo visits, and lots and lots of reading.What are your summer plans?

7. For more Quick Takes, please check out Jennifer at the Conversion Diary.  Have a great weekend!

 

7 Quick Takes Friday Vol.35

                                       

   1.

May is my favorite month of the year.  I love the feel of the warm sun on my face, I love the smell of fresh-cut flowers in my house, I love the cool evenings and warm days.  There is a sense of hope with everything alive and growing.  In six short weeks we will be taking our summer break, and I am looking forward to it.  In August, it will be hot and humid and I will long for the days of fall.  Right now, I am enjoying strawberry picking, zoo trips, and being outside with the girls.

2.

Because of #1, I haven't done too much blogging lately.  can you tell I have spring fever? 

                                                                                            3.

I have started reading Little House in the Big Woods to my girls, and Ladybug is enthralled with it.  I think it is helping her with a sense of history and the past more than any textbook we covered this year.  The book starts with four year old Laura, and her family storing up food for the long winter in Wisconsin.  As a girl, I loved the "Little House" books and read all of nine of them. When the  television series aired I was disappointed that it did not follow the storyline of the ordinary books.

                                                                                            4.

I have decided to home school my oldest daughter for first grade, and instead of Seton, I will be using materials from Peace Hill Press.  I am still shopping around for a pre-K curriculum program I like, if any of you have suggestions, please share them with me.  For the month of May,Simple Home School is doing a series called Curriculum Fair, where different writers share what materials worked for them. 

                5. 

With the abundance of strawberries, I am looking for a good pound cake recipe.  Does anyone have one to share?

6.

I hope you all have a great weekend, we will be hanging out at our parish's spring-fest, watching the wonderful performances, and jumping in the bouncy house. 

7.

 For more quick takes, click on over to Jennifer's Conversion Diary.  Well, it's time for me to get on the elliptical so I can eat funnel cakes at the spring-fest.

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 33

1.

Alleluia!  This has been a week of events starting with the greatest celebration of all, the Resurrection of our Lord.  We woke up on Easter morning to gorgerous spring weather, then beat the crowds by attending an early mass in the gym at our church, and hosted a no-fuss potluck lunch with family.  My girls enjoyed hunting Easter eggs with their cousins and loaded up on chocolate.  I sat with my husband in the backyard, and watched them play.  It was a perfect day.

2.

Tuesday was my husband's 49th birthday  For his special dinner, I made Jumbo Gumbo and paired it with his favorite beer, Sam Adams.  He really liked it, however my coconut cake was a disappointment.  Does anyone have good coconut cake recipe to share?  I need a "re-do" to redeem myself! 

 3.

At the suggestion of my blogging friend,Sharon, I just finished reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  The subtitle describes the book quite well "A dare to live fully right where you are. " I read about the tragic death of her baby sister, and thought about my crisis of faith when my mother died when I was twelve.  Then I read the following, " To the wrestle to get it all done, the relentless anxiety that I am failing." and "the sin of ingratitude", I knew this was the book I should reading right now.  It is extraordinary book, filled with inspiration, honesty and hope. 

I need a little escape...

Last week was full of laughter, sightseeing, and family with my sister-in-law and her family visiting our home.  We had a great time, but all that activity wore me out!   

This week sickness reigns at A Simple Twist of Faith.  I have a nasty head cold I cannot shake, and now my oldest daughter has it too.  Old Man Winter has decided to stick around in Tidewater Virginia, and we had a hard frost two nights in a row, and we live in Zone 8! Tomorrow will be more driving cold rain, and thunderstorms.

 

 

Booking It in 2011: Mansfield Park

First off, I will say I was delighted to see a book by Jane Austen on Jessica’s reading list.  Austen is my favorite 19^th century author.  I love her writing style, her plots, and the world in which she lives.  I think because it is so radically different from my own and a great escape. 

Mansfield Park was first published in 1814 after the success of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s most popular novel. It is probably the least known of her six books.   I vaguely remember reading Mansfield Park in my 20s and not liking as much as some of her other more famous works.  However, my life has dramatically since then, so I decided it was time to read it again. 

 

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 33

1. March 9th is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  For my thoughts on how to prepare for the Lenten season, please read my last post entitled Rend your heart, not your garments. For another wonderful resource for all-things Lent click here.  Also for children, consider the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Family Pages, they are offering free Lenten reproductible activities for kids K-8.   

2. Wednesday also starts 40 Days for Life: "40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach... The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities...and the entire world.". 

3.  Also next week, starts Project Simplify over at Simple Mom. Think of it as spring cleaning with purpose.  I will be following along, and invite you to join too.  First project, over the weekend, sit down with your husband and create or review your family purpose statement. 

4.  Here's our family's mission statement:

• Listen to God and follow the Holy Spirit
• Develop and enrich our marriage
• Educate, guide, and nurture our children so they can get into  heaven
• Live simply, so others can simply live
• Create a peaceful, relaxing haven at home
• Lead a healthy lifestyle 
   

5. Ladybug has found her new favorite TV show, Martin Yan's Hidden China. It is on pbs create.  She loved watching it, check it out!

6. Here is a wonderful post by Bonnie of the Faith Barista on de-stressing.  Grab a cup of your favorite joe, sink into a comfy chair and enjoy!

7.  Tomorrow, we have Girl Scout cookies selling and a zoo trip with our Families with Children from China organization.  Sunday, worship, rest, and reading.  I'll be talking about Jane Austen's Mansfield Park on Thursday, March 10th. I hope you have a great weekend!

For more quick takes, please head over to Hallie at the Betty Beguiles!

The Story of A Soul: St. Therese of Lisieux

I was drawn to this book , an autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, while reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  The Story of A Soul had a profound effect on Rubin, and St. Therese became her spiritual master.  The story of a simple nun who called herself the Little Flower of Jesus intrigued me and I wanted to read more...   

Although, I grew up Catholic and attended 12 years of parochial school, I knew relatively little about St. Therese. I was born in 1965, during Vatican II.  In the 1970s, many of the teachings of the church, like the praying of the rosary and the lives of the saints, were not emphasized in the faith formation at Catholic schools.  At least, they were not in the Catholic elementary and high school I attended in Central Coast California.

However, as an adult, I see the importance of learning how holy men and women try to live ordinary lives of extraordinary grace. I also would like to teach my children about the saint, whose favorite bible quotation was, " Let  the little children come unto me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:13).  

It was in this way, I approached reading about the life of St, Therese.  Like Gretchen Ruben, I, too, wanted learn from and imitate this spiritual master.  It would be difficult to find someone who had a more personal relationship with Jesus than St. Therese.  At the age of 14, she traveled with her father to Rome will the hope of obtaining special permission from the Pope to enter Carmel in Lisieux . In fact, she was literally dragged out of the audience room with Pope Leo XIII  after she grabbed his legs and refused to let go while begged him for his blessing. Although young, she was determined  and persistent. Therese wholeheartedly desired to be a Bride of Jesus.

7 Quick Takes Friday Vol. 32

1. Well, it's been an interesting week @ A Simple Twist of Faith.  I had a Mommy meltdown that I shared on Tuesday.  Writing about it, and reading all of the thoughtful comments, including my own husband's, really helped me gain perspective.  This song pretty much sums up my week.