There are so many truly lovely, pretty and sometimes tear-jerking things in literature, movies and music that are strictly feminine and girly. Mostly (with a few RARE exceptions) females just love. Most young ladies have a tender spot in their hearts for a little romance, "sweet" things (and I don't mean candy) or many 'awww moments' found in literature, music or movies. Many of the 'aww moments' for girls are when the girl can't see what a great guy she has and then almost loses him; hurting his feelings in the process. In many of the movies, I feel the most sympathy for the guy who is sort of shy, sweetly innocent but in love with a girl who doesn't really realize that yet. Frank Sinatra's early career roles usually with a few exceptions have him playing a slightly down on his luck with the girls, shy, sweet kind of guy. Especially in the film Young at Heart. Sheesh that's a melancholy Frank for you. I always have to sigh sentimentally in movies or books like that.
When two of my oldest friends, Sara and I were watching Pride and Prejudice in our basement a while ago, we gabbed through about a third of it but then settled down into a cotton- candy-ish-fuzzy-waaay-too-much-sugar-bliss to watch, enjoy and adore Lizzie and Darcy's story. What girl, young lady, woman does not at least enjoy a really great 'love story?' We watched THE proposal scene twice that night. Once with breathless anticipation even though we all had seen it at LEAST, three times. Second, to show dear Mum who hadn't quite grasped why we were all sighing, getting teary-eyed, and squealing. Laney remarked that that whole scene was a (and I loosely quote): "Heart in throat few moments." We all sighed, kind of chuckled/cried, "Yeeaaah." As much as I personally love Pride and Prejudice, I prefer Edward Ferras and Elinor Dashwood's story. But that's because I am more like Elinor, if you haven't seen the button on our sidebar. :)
After reading this lovely article I realized that as fun as many things "girly" or "romantic" are, we should not expect nor our proposals (and/or relationships) to be similar to those in FICTIONAL movies or books. There is nothing wrong with any of these things unless we begin to build up "castles in the air" from watching/reading/listening to many 'romantic' things. We begin to build up not false but not realistic expectations of others, ourselves and the future. In short we don't quite leave it up to the Lord. We try and take it into our own hands with our day dreams and fanciful imaginings. I personally don't want my love story to be written like Lizzie and Darcy's! If I remember correctly, they began not liking each other, then she loathing him, and then POOF! He's walking across a dewy, sun-filled field to propose because he's loved her all this time. Then again, I wouldn't want my love story to be written like Edward and Elinor's. They had to be separated because of a literal previous engagement on his part. As I told a friend in a letter awhile ago, God is the ultimate and perfect author of our life-story. He gives us the desires of our hearts-not mere imaginings or day dreams that we idealize. We should crave and seek the Lord for His will in every area of our lives. We should ask the Lord to give us a deep desire to want His will in our lives, concerning everything, including our love stories. God is the author of the ages; he wrote Ruth and Boaz' story, Mary and Josephs, Rachel and Jacob's. And He already has our's planned out down to the last girly detail that we will remember when in the future, we recall our love story.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Mother Culture....
When we started homeschooling over 10 years ago, I researched (I love to research!) all about the different methods of homeschooling....textbook approach, unit studies, classical christian, eclectic, un-schooling, and the Charlotte Mason approach. Well...with much prayer, God revealed to us then, and it still applies today that we follow the eclectic approach....a little bit of everything! A book was written recently called "The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach" that combines all of my favorite aspects of homeschooling into one book. I spoke over the telephone with the author many times, and if I had written a book about homeschooling, this would be it!
One of the first things to stand out to me that I read was from a book called "The Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola. She coined the term "Mother Culture"....to care for yourself, while ministering to your family and homeschooling your children. She advocated having at least 3 books that you are reading at one time. (or more if you like)....I've always had more than one book going at a time since I could learn to read! (so I had to laugh).....I read good fiction at night before falling asleep to help me relax and distract my mind....I have theological books to grow me spiritually, and other books to research and learn from. Of course, my Bible comes first...and my favorite devotional 'Streams in the Desert'.
A friend recently posted about what she has been reading and asked the question, "So, what are you reading?"....so I'm going to answer her!
I'm just in the beginning of reading "The Roots of Endurance" by John Piper. It is wonderful...but a book that I need to be alone and concentrate on, underline, journal about and re-read and think about slowly.
I am slowly re-reading "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl. She writes in a very interesting manner, but I admit, that WHAT she writes about marriage, really does hit home. After 20 years of marriage, (this June)...I find myself praying harder and trying harder than ever before to make the next 20 years even better than the first 20!
I'm reading (we all are) "Lasagna Gardening" and "Square Foot Gardening"....we had such a nice garden at our old house in the city, and for the past 3 years the children and I have really missed it! Of course, our yard was fenced in, we didn't have rabbits and we didn't have a single deer. The other night the girls and I came home, and there were 7 doe in our front yard! So, we are going to attempt to "out-smart" the deer this year and put in a garden.....along with my beloved lavender and a raised bed herb garden.
I've also been reading "Nourishing Traditions"....making lots of homemade broth, culturing kefir and kombucha....and collecting large jars to culture sauerkraut, beet kvass and homemade cultured pickles and salsa....trying to learn about enzymes in our diets, and eating naturally and traditionally.
After having quite a few fibromyalgia flareups this past year, I was praying and trying to remember when I felt the best...it was when I was drinking fresh juices of carrots & lemon, green juices and eating lots of raw fruits and veggies and coconut milk. So....I've been getting tons of books out of the library, and bought 2 books "Alive in 5" and "Raw in 10 Minutes"....quick, easy and healthy. I'm starting to crave grapefruit, and raw juices! And....I'm seeing a difference in how I feel. Now to combine the Nourishing Traditions lifestyle with raw foods...shouldn't be too hard.
I've been reading homeschooling catalogs. I think I've finally ordered what I need for this year, and know what I need for the following year as well...hopefully, by then (Meghan's senior year) I will have almost everything that I need.
And....my "nighttime" fiction. A series of books by Christian author Leisha Campbell, "Julia's Hope" series. It starts in the beginning of the Great Depression and follows 2 families thru the end of the 1940's. It is a wonderful series about the struggles, faith and God's provision for each family, how they handled trials....how they all worked together and the growth of their faith.
I've also been looking thru a lot of homemaking/craft books. Making lots of copies of future projects, getting inspiration...and also learning to do things the "old-fashioned" way....as natural and by hand as possible...and finding the joy in the mundane (I love hanging clothes and blankets on a clothesline!) as well as the peace and joy of creating....as my Creator inspires me.
So.....what have you all been reading? Have a blessed day! (I will not be reading anything today....switching sizes and seasons of clothing for my 2 little ones...it will be an all day job! But...I'm so grateful for the provision!) ~Sue~
One of the first things to stand out to me that I read was from a book called "The Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola. She coined the term "Mother Culture"....to care for yourself, while ministering to your family and homeschooling your children. She advocated having at least 3 books that you are reading at one time. (or more if you like)....I've always had more than one book going at a time since I could learn to read! (so I had to laugh).....I read good fiction at night before falling asleep to help me relax and distract my mind....I have theological books to grow me spiritually, and other books to research and learn from. Of course, my Bible comes first...and my favorite devotional 'Streams in the Desert'.
A friend recently posted about what she has been reading and asked the question, "So, what are you reading?"....so I'm going to answer her!
I'm just in the beginning of reading "The Roots of Endurance" by John Piper. It is wonderful...but a book that I need to be alone and concentrate on, underline, journal about and re-read and think about slowly.
I am slowly re-reading "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl. She writes in a very interesting manner, but I admit, that WHAT she writes about marriage, really does hit home. After 20 years of marriage, (this June)...I find myself praying harder and trying harder than ever before to make the next 20 years even better than the first 20!
I'm reading (we all are) "Lasagna Gardening" and "Square Foot Gardening"....we had such a nice garden at our old house in the city, and for the past 3 years the children and I have really missed it! Of course, our yard was fenced in, we didn't have rabbits and we didn't have a single deer. The other night the girls and I came home, and there were 7 doe in our front yard! So, we are going to attempt to "out-smart" the deer this year and put in a garden.....along with my beloved lavender and a raised bed herb garden.
I've also been reading "Nourishing Traditions"....making lots of homemade broth, culturing kefir and kombucha....and collecting large jars to culture sauerkraut, beet kvass and homemade cultured pickles and salsa....trying to learn about enzymes in our diets, and eating naturally and traditionally.
After having quite a few fibromyalgia flareups this past year, I was praying and trying to remember when I felt the best...it was when I was drinking fresh juices of carrots & lemon, green juices and eating lots of raw fruits and veggies and coconut milk. So....I've been getting tons of books out of the library, and bought 2 books "Alive in 5" and "Raw in 10 Minutes"....quick, easy and healthy. I'm starting to crave grapefruit, and raw juices! And....I'm seeing a difference in how I feel. Now to combine the Nourishing Traditions lifestyle with raw foods...shouldn't be too hard.
I've been reading homeschooling catalogs. I think I've finally ordered what I need for this year, and know what I need for the following year as well...hopefully, by then (Meghan's senior year) I will have almost everything that I need.
And....my "nighttime" fiction. A series of books by Christian author Leisha Campbell, "Julia's Hope" series. It starts in the beginning of the Great Depression and follows 2 families thru the end of the 1940's. It is a wonderful series about the struggles, faith and God's provision for each family, how they handled trials....how they all worked together and the growth of their faith.
I've also been looking thru a lot of homemaking/craft books. Making lots of copies of future projects, getting inspiration...and also learning to do things the "old-fashioned" way....as natural and by hand as possible...and finding the joy in the mundane (I love hanging clothes and blankets on a clothesline!) as well as the peace and joy of creating....as my Creator inspires me.
So.....what have you all been reading? Have a blessed day! (I will not be reading anything today....switching sizes and seasons of clothing for my 2 little ones...it will be an all day job! But...I'm so grateful for the provision!) ~Sue~
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