Every Tree Has Branches

Living With a Lily has been a wonderful journal these past few years. I have been able to keep track of my pregnancy, birth and the early years of our lovely Lily. However, I feel like our journey here is coming to a close. I am still Living with my beautiful Lily, but now we are adding to our family. We are focusing on a more family centered blog now. It's bitter sweet to realize how grown my baby is, but it's time to move onto the new chapter in our lives. Join us :)

Camp Chrysanthus

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A Season of Change

2013 was a very busy year for us and as we continue into 2014, things are seemingly taking off. Lily is now 2 years and 4 months old (going on 7). Wow, saying that I realize how young she really is! This year we dove head first in our first year of home schooling. A question I often receive is "why are you rushing into school?". I want everyone to understand that this is not my intention. I realize Lily is very young and I would never push her to hard or take away her childhood. The best part about The Charlotte Mason method is that you can make your lessons appropriate for all ages!

You see, all of this started late one night after a birth. My client and her husband were bonding with baby so her mother and I stepped into the hallway to give them some privacy. We got to talking and it turned out she had home schooled all of her children. She was so passionate about teaching them and helping them to develop a love for God. It really touched my heart how devoted she was to setting a good example for her now grown kids. I started thinking about our family and Lily and how we really weren't doing enough. After I got home -and a much needed nap- I set my mind to make a list of goals and plans to envelop our lives our spiritual endeavors. At the beginning of the year we started slowly incorporating lessons into our day. We started with having a daily Family Worship. One month in and Lily has memorized 2 scriptures, can explain many bible stories (Noahs ark, Baby Moses, Creation, and Adam and Eve), and can find chapters and versus in the Bible. She also loves to sing along with Kingdom Melodies. I regret to inform you that she seems to have inherited my voice. Hopefully, with time, she will work that out ;). It has also helped us personally to get our personal study done each week. 

Our home schooling endeavors cover much more than Bible Studies. We have been reading piles upon piles of living books and classics. Lily has developed a love for reading and begs us to read her favorites. Each night we read a chapter f the original Pooh tales. Have a mentioned Winnie the Pooh is a favorite in our house? I'd have to say that's an understatement.  Nature walks have helped us slow down and observe the beautiful things around us. I hope to start journaling soon, I can't wait to see Lily's perspective of life!

News Sandwich:

The good news, I have fallen in love with home schooling.

The bad news, it's a little overwhelming to think WE are responsible for this innocent being.

The good news, it's good practice for when life gets a little busier.

Now join us on our journey as I (hopefully) stay afloat :)

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Charlotte Mason- A brief explanation

"Train a boy in the way he should go; Even when he grows old he will not depart it" - Proverbs 22:6

There is a lot of information out there to better describe exactly what Charlotte Mason was all about, but here is an overview in a nutshell. Charlotte Mason was a British educator who had an intense desire to teach children and teach them well. I love her teaching motto and hope to adapt it to fit our own lifestyle, "I am, I can, I ought, I will." (isn't it amazing?!) Included in her teaching methods are as follows:

• Living Books- A book written by one person who is extremely passionate or who is an expert on the topic. (NOT textbooks)
• Habit training- Learning the habits of attention, perfect execution, obedience, even temperance, neatness, kindness and punctuality. 
• Short lessons- Lessons less than 20 minutes for young children. With a "time limit" children won't linger in lessons and get right to work!
• Nature Study- Get outside, journal, observe, learn EVERY DAY! 
• Art Study- Studying paintings, listening to music, reading poems. Developing a relationship with art.
• Handicrafts- Learning any useful skill.
• Unorganized play- and lots of it :D
• The Bible- To be read every day.

There is more to it (ie. narration, dictation, language arts, math, etc) but since our little one is so young we will be sticking to the pre school lessons. I am so excited to embark on this next chapter of our life. Won't you join us?

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