The GATES’ POST: Look What's New at 202 Shady Lane!

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

- G.K. Chesterton, in Orthodoxy

... from Charlotte Mason’s Home Education Volume 6: “a well-educated man with cultivated imagination, trained judgment, wide interests…is prepared to master the intricacies of any profession; while he knows at the same time how to make use of himself, of the powers with which nature and education have endowed him for his own happiness; the delightful employment of his leisure; for the increased happiness of his neighbours and the well-being of the community; thst is, such a man is able, not only to earn his living but to live.

If you teach a child to learn; if their minds are cultivated to enjoy learning, reading, the humanities; if their spirit has not been neglected, but rather good character has been nurtured and duty to others made important, they will excel in whatever profession they find, and enjoy life too."

re: Home Education....In the first place, there is a time-table, written out fairly, so that the child knows what he has to do and how long each lesson is to last. The idea of definite work to be finished in a given time is valuable to the child, not only as training him in habits of order, but in diligence; he learns that one time is not 'as good as another'; that there is no right time left for what is not done in its own time; and this knowledge alone does a great deal to secure the child's attention to his work.

...I suppose we are all ready to admit that it is not the things we do, but the things we fail to do, which fatigue us, with the sense of omission, with the worry of hurry in overtaking our tasks. ~Charlotte Mason (from her book, Home Education, bold-faced print my own highlight)

Make a memory with your children,
Spend some time to show you care;
Toys and trinkets can't replace those
Precious moments that you share.
Money doesn't buy real pleasure,
It doesn't matter where you live;
Children need your own attention,
Something only you can give.
Childhood's days pass all too quickly,
Happy memories all too few;
Plan to do that special something,
Take the time to go or do.
Make a memory with your children,
Take the time in busy days;
Have some fun while they are growing,
Show your love in gentle ways.

Elaine Hardt, 1977

SMILE!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Look What's New at 202 Shady Lane!

Click on the pictures to make them bigger....

Little Robin Redbreast
Little Robin Redbreast
Sat upon a rail;
Niddle, naddle, went his head,
Wiggle, waggle, went his tail.

A Robin
I wonder how a robin hears?
I never yet have seen his ears.
But I have seen him tip his head.
And pull a worm right out of bed.

More Robin

We have a secret, just we three
The robin and I and the sweet cherry tree.
The bird told the tree and the tree told me
And nobody knows it but just we three. . .

3 comments:

BrendaMay 19, 2009 at 5:36 AM
How about . . .
We have a secret, just we three
The robin and I and the sweet cherry tree.
The bird told the tree and the tree told me
And nobody knows it but just we three. . .
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Replies
RebeccaMay 19, 2009 at 6:25 AM
I like that one - will add it :)

A friend and I are going to the Tea House today. Can't remember if you were there or not with Donna????
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AnonymousMay 20, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I've enjoyed reading your blogspot. I love the pictures and the verse you share. You posted on my "justawandering" blogspot. With the excitement of our new grandbaby I haven't had a chance to ask Pastor Reimer and Jim Horning about you. Jim will be leaving in June to pursue other paths. We'll certainly miss him.
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The Old-Fashioned Homemaker. . .

~Does her best, and leaves the rest to God.
~Does not indulge in self-pity, but loses her life in the service of her fellow man.
~Dresses to please her Lord and family.
~Guards her health as her greatest wealth.
~Knows that an apron is a girl's best friend.
~Knows that home-making is an art and a science, and is always learning something new.
~Lets her joy bubble out in song, all day long.
~Lives in His light, not her own.
~Loves Nature, and teaches her children to respect its Creator.
~Never gives up.
~Strives to be self-sufficient.

A Prayer for our Children's CHoice of Spouse

Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide our children in the choice of spouse. Don't let them be carried away by false charms or be fascinated by mere outward glamour, but guide their minds to look beneath and beyond all external attractiveness for the deeper things which alone are worth while.

Especially let the choice be of one who is a fervent (Christian) Catholic, true in thought and word and deed to those ideals which are Yours, especially the value of their purity.

Dear Father of us all, give Your guiding help to our children, who are Your children, too. We will be letting them go soon, but please don't ever let our children go from you. Amen

Taken from a Catholic (obviously) prayer to St. Valentine. I have no idea why it is so labeled when the Father is clearly addressed....