In my life/homeschool this week: Kiddo #3 had his birthday bowling party on Saturday night. What a wonderful time the kids all had. I really loved how they enjoyed the game and each other's company. He certainly enjoyed "partying" all weekend! :-)
On Sunday, after Church, we all headed to my aunt's church in New Jersey. Her choir took part in their annual Christmas program. They did a beautiful job. She hosted us all back to her house for a very nice dinner and birthday celebration for both Kiddo #3 and 4.
^^
There is my aunt. :-)
Monday was Kiddo's actual birthday. My little boy is now 10. When did this happen? I was 6 months pregnant with him when 9/11 happened and felt like he was born into a much different world than his brothers were just years before. He is such a fun boy-- full of life, quite mischevious at times (especially with his siblings, lol), but always thoughtful, helpful and kind. He has a special love for wild animals, especially elephants. So, of course, his special request for his birthday (we always spend the day out on their birthdays) was to go to the zoo. No matter that this animal lover was born in December, we all bundled up, and off to the zoo we went. :-)
How surprising that the animals were all SO active! We got to witness tigers wrestling and play fighting, lions strolling and several bears and other cats walking right up to us! (well, actually right up to Kiddo #3. Maybe God was giving Kiddo a special gift and having each and every animal come right up to him or perhaps the animals can sense the goodness or love of a child? Who knows, but it was truly a special visit. There weren't many people there, so we had many keepers to ourselves to explain exhibits or tell us about different animals and have the children try different hands-on activities.
Back to our Advent routine on Tuesday with our Jesse Tree getting filled up with the kiddo's homemade ornaments. We continued with our Scripture memorization (this week's verse is Luke 2:7), Advent Adventure and reading "Just David." We are hoping that each of my children will be able to recite a verse by heart on Christmas! :-)
On Wednesday, we read Tomie dePaola's book "The Legend of the Poinsettia." What a wonderful book! The message of this legend is that if you give a gift to the Christ Child from your heart, no matter how simple it may be, He will truly love it. Just beautiful. I am so glad that we have incorporated these books into our Advent activities. We also began to decorate for Christmas. Our oldest, what a dear he is, carried the box with the 8 foot Christmas tree down 2 flights of steps and he and Kiddo #2 assembled the whole thing! We also put out the Nativity set.
On Thursday, after our Advent activities, we made cards for a little boy who is dying of brain cancer. His Christmas wish is to receive 1000 cards. I pray that he gets many times that and that what may be his last Christmas will be filled with much joy. If you would like his address, please let me know and I will get it to you. We also read Tomie dePaola's "Night of Las Posadas." Another lovely story that really stresses the real meaning of Christmas.
I am grateful for: Many people have commented that it is wonderful that our oldest son (13) participates in everything that the younger children are doing. It *is* wonderful! We've never had it any other way. He has always been a wonderful, patient soul and he has become even more so now, a leader. His siblings look up to him tremendously. I think one of the many blessings of homeschooling is that everything is done together as a family. Older children help younger children and enjoy doing things together. Of course, they all have their own interests and pursuits, but when we are doing family activities, we always have done things together. My children are not exposed to elements who would tell them that it is "not cool" to be a family. They do not watch programs or movies that tell them that they should be "rebellious" or more interested in others rather than their family. This, by far, is the most incredible blessing I have found with homeschooling. I am thankful to God for this blessing and continually pray for my children and for our family, and that next to God Himself, that it will always be their top priority.
I am praying for: my children, my husband, those who are sick, dying or lonely, soldiers away from home at Christmas....
I am reading: We read "The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola (wonderful book!), "Night of Las Posadas," also by dePaola (really good, too!) and are continuing "Just David" by Eleanor Porter.
A quote or photo to share: "The season of Advent celebrates two comings in the life of Christ: one future and one past. Advent prepares our hearts for the second coming of Christ for he will bring history to an end by fully establishing his kingdom. Also, Advent prepares our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s first coming, Christmas. Advent is a season of joy for we are grateful for Christ’s coming in the manger and Advent is a season of repentance as we know that Christ comes again in holiness, power, and judgment." - Blessed Pope John Paul II
This post is linked to both the Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
