Read Bible?

I've been contemplating re-reading the Bible thru again this year. Though I read the Bible last year, I didn't read ALL of the Bible last year so it's been two whole years since I had the joy of reading Leviticus!

Someone posted this really interesting article on reading through the Bible in a year. But, nah... I really just want to read some every day and leave something to the Holy Spirit's leading. (Though I'm sure his plan is brilliant and inspired!). And if I was going to be totally honest, I like the things the author mentions contemplating, but I'm not sure you need to read it 47 times to get that. But what do I know?!! :)

Anyway, I've used the one (I think) he spoke of that is always posted at Homeschool World (though the 2009 one isn't up yet). I googled plans and found this great site that has all kinds of options and versions to choose from.

I decided on the chronological ESV. I have four days to catch up on, but no biggie! I've always enjoyed reading the Word!

On top of this, I also found this great series of posts from Understanding Charlotte where she has used the Catherine Vos book, "Child's Story Bible" (love that book!) and created a Bible reading plan for youngsters. I'm not sure how it compares with what we're using for our Bible time, but I do want some kind of a list for son to read through on his own.

You Can't Do That

There are few things in this world that I despise more than someone telling me I can't do something that I really want to do. I come by it honestly.

My mother was crippled with a disability most of her life--Scoliosis. Having grown up in the cut-em-up era of medicine, her numerous back and spinal surgeries did little to help, and a lot to further debilitate her. Later she became addicted to multiple pain medications, nicotine, and alcohol in her search for relief. Though she tried with all that was in her, to put herself in God's hands alone, she was constantly defeated by her fleshly pain. The "S" shaped curvature of her spine caused a shift in her vital organs, including her heart and lungs. Complicated by her smoking, her lung capacity was zilch. Her heart stopped numerous times in the last year of her life. She suffered endlessly and died young.

Just six months before she died, she rallied for the birth of her first grandson, my 9yo. We believe she probably lived just for that time. She died just 9 years ago in January and it seems like yesterday.

It has all come back to me in a furor over the last year or so as my own Scoliosis has begun to progress and cause me difficulties. Though I'm under the care of a great Chiropractor, as well as Thee Great Physician, reality is reality. A bad car accident a few years back, carrying two children and my ever-increasing age has begun to take it's toll. The pain has increased along with the list of what I can't do, while what I can do seems such a short list! My heritage is my constant companion; a constant warning alarm in my head and in my heart.

It was just this week that my own Doctor threw the "wheel-chair" threat at me. Having also attempted to treat my mom without much success because of the damage done by surgery, he knows what I face in my own mind. As I face the new year, and another birthday this coming week, I can not deny, any longer, my disability.

Thou shalt not bend.
Don't pick that up. Don't move that over. Don't close the dishwasher with your hands. Don't look inside the dryer. Don't look under the table. Don't plant those flowers. Don't pull those weeds.

Thou shalt not lift.
Don't pick up your daughter. Don't pick up your friend's baby. Don't carry that load of books at the book sale or convention. Don't lift that laundry basket. Don't carry that anything!

Thou shalt not pull.
No book carts! No wagons. No lower freezer doors.

Thou shalt not push.
No grocery carts. None. Not even Target. (Especially not Target!) No lawn mowers. No vacuums.

Thou shalt not engage in activities which take me to the point of physical exhaustion: fatigue is thy enemy.
No long shopping trips. No tornado house cleaning. No prolonged activity of any kind.

Thou shalt not...
Turn around in the car to see the children.
Face the husband while he is driving.
Go bowling.
Lift that case of water.
Ride Space Mountain.
Do "certain things" in "certain ways."
Walk down the stairs without holding the railing--ever!
Get pregnant. (Oh yes! That was a mandate I won't discuss.)
Walk on ice.
Etc.
Etc.

Thou shalt put thy hands down before sitting.
Thou shalt walk.
(Thou shalt leave the treadmill open.)
Thou shalt swim.
Period.

While I don't believe that my condition mirrors my mom's in many ways, I know that it's not something I can ignore. It will not cause addiction, unless it's to more chocolate. I'm not my mother. It is not a death sentence. It is not a curse for every bad thought I ever had toward my mother. It is just the curse of degradation caused by a sinful nature. It is temporary, as long as I'm on this earth. It is hereditary, so my own dear children will need to be educated.

It is not reversible, but it is treatable.

It is limiting, but not limitless.

It does hurt often, but God supplies all my needs.

No. I don't like being told what I can't do. I will strive with my whole being, constant prayer and the support of my husband, children, and friends to remember my limitations on days when book sales and babies are beckoning. I will anchor myself to my Source of Peace that surpasses even my own understanding and strive to be thankful instead of fearful. I will feel sorry for myself from time to time, but always I will have my hope in Christ alone, rather than myself.

One day I'll join my mother in heaven (hopefully a long, long time from now!) and together with our heavenly, straight spines, we'll continue our rejoicing. For today, son will vacuum and push my grocery cart. Husband will carry our daughter and maybe even mow the lawn! My feet will serve as hands for dishwashers and dryer doors. Weeds will grow. The floors will be messier longer. The "lunge" will take up residence. But me?

I'll still be dancing! Thou slowly and not for very long! :)

Do Art (Not Crafts)

I've always had a "bent" in favor of art & music, though that is not synonymous with "talent". It has never been a secret to me that teaching art and music increases a child's abilities in many areas. Numerous studies have proven it, despite the decline of such subjects in the public schools--or maybe "in spite" of them. Then there is just the beauty aspect, which in itself has value. It is fine, it is fun, it just makes sense when there's time.

Ah! The time crutch. I've fought that battle for years. Now I think I'm finally winning it with our Charlotte Mason style learning. Short lessons have made all the difference, but truly putting a focus on the love of learning and not pushing canned curriculums and workbooks, we've been able to begin truly learning about things we love (along with math! :)).

Here are a few of the fabulous FREE resources that other moms have shared. They are so good, so easy to follow, and so important, that you don't want to miss out on them!

Jenny @ Jenny Wren's Nest just re-posted her great 36 week artist study she's calling "Waiting To Be Discovered".

Then there is Sherri who shares her lesson plans for using Mona Brookes' book, "Drawing With Children".

Barb @ Harmony Art Mom also shares her version of using "Drawing With Children" in more of a nature journal style. She has a ton of great art, music and nature lessons available on her site. Be sure to check it out before you buy anything!

I'm really realizing how important it is to have quality art supplies available all the time. If you are out of watercolor paper, it's kind of hard for the kids to make you a beautiful water color painting of that bird they just saw (or their doll having a tea party!). Though that is truly a whole other subject, I recommend the following always be on hand. This is not in any way a comprehensive list!

Firmly planted in their place:
Scissors
Rulers
Hole punch
Stapler
Plastic lids for mixing paint colors
Place to create!
Art portfolio for each child
Art books for inspiration. (We love our art calendar!)

Things that come & go & require replenishing:
Good quality colored pencils & sharpener (preferably a manual one that won't eat up your investment!)
Water color pencils (these are SO fun!)
Pastels
Quality (& numerous!) paint brushes of varying sizes.
Real drawing pencils & an art eraser Water colors
Primary colors of paint
Quality colored markers in various widths
Quality colored paper/construction paper
Colored chalks
Water color paper (this was hard for me because it's not cheap, but other paper doesn't receive water color paint well. Stock up when it's on sale. )
Other types of art paper/Sketchbooks
glue (don't use glue sticks if you can help it! They are easy, but dry out and paper peel apart!)

Let me just add that when my kids have been left to their own devices totally, with no direction, for long periods of time (months!) they argue, fuss and accomplish very little. There is little peace and joy. All this CM stuff has had a huge impact on that aspect of our lives. Right now my kids, with a friend, are painting beautiful pictures while listening to "Your Story Hour" online! Smiles all around!

I'll also say that I absolutely despise "crafts". I agree with Charlotte Mason that handicrafts need to be beautiful and useful. While I have supplied a certain amount of googly eyes, pipe cleaners, craft foam, etc., I leave their use totally up to the little 'uns and when they're gone, they will probably not return.

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today I thought it would be a great idea to take my kids to the ice skating rink for the first time. I carefully held the hand of my 4yo and my 8yo son took off with a friend. Within minutes we were headed to the Emergency Room. His concussion caused a temporary (Praise the Lord!) short-term memory loss that was incredibly frightening. I'm happy to report he quickly recovered and will have nothing more to do with thoughts of ice skating.

Beginning Nature Books

We have really been enjoying Jim Arnosky's nature books. He was recommended to us by someone in blogland and though I'd never heard of him, I'm all about a good recommendation!

The illustrations are incredible and the information is just right for us want-to-be learners! We have particularly enjoyed the Crinkleroot books like "I Was Born in a Tree and Raised By Bees". (Daughter really liked how he taught us how to grow our own popcorn!) You can see a sample from one of his books here. (Be sure to click on the word "fish".) Even the so-called toddler level books are wonderfully informative. There are many, many titles available at the library. I know because I tried to check them all out at once and got a little overwhelmed! Here is a complete list of his books. Here are a few of the Crinkleroot books. AND he has coloring pages galore!

Apparently there was a tv show? Not having tv, this was new info for me, but maybe some of you have seen it. Regardless, these books are perfect for our newly discovered Charlotte Mason leanings.

Anyway, just wanted to pass on the recommendation for a great author. You won't be able to help liking these books as much as we do!

Memorization for Two

For the past couple of years we've enjoyed the benefits of the Scripture Memory system from Simply Charlotte Mason. I began this year with a new card box for daughter and recently began to realize that there might be a way to improve things.

I ended up combining the kids' boxes together. I color coded daughters much fewer cards, interspersing them with sons many, many cards. I imagine that they'll eventually have mostly the same verses & things memorized, so this should be a time saver. The cards that son has absolutely mastered, I'll mark with a different marking or color. Son may just have to practice his older verses more often, or at least hear them more. Well, hearing more scripture never hurt anyone!! They will still both have verses unique to them daily, but I may try to make all new items for both of them.

We do our memory time together ever since I found out that son was not really "memorizing", but reading quickly through! Uh-huh. So, now we gather together and have a bit of a competition and a game out of it. We spend 10-15 min a day. Son, who's 9 does not want to be out done by his 5yo sister and she wants to be "better" than him at everything. Boy! Does that make things interesting at our house.

I will add that after 2 years of this, son is more interested in choosing his own things to memorize, which is encouraging. I'll have to see how all the wrinkles come out in the fire.

Tweet, Tweet!

I took the plunge and joined Twitter (It's all Renae's fault!). I was very skeptical and unsure, but right away I liked it. It's a neat way to keep up with folks in a more personal way than just blog reading and commenting. So, if any of you are signed up, or want to, you can find me here. NOTE: BetweenTHEtrees was NOT available (someone else!), so I'm just BetweenTrees! It's fun :)

You can see my updates in my sidebar...but you can't participate unless you join!

Do You Read?

Since I'm on the topic of books... I read this over at Scraps and Snippets a while back...

Harvey Mackay posts interesting statistics in the article:

51 percent of the American population never reads a book more than 400 pages after they complete their formal education.

73 percent of all books in libraries are never checked out.

The average American watches 32 hours of TV every week.

The average American reads only eight hours (books, newspapers, magazines, Yellow Pages, etc.) every week.

More interesting statistics from Mackay:

If you read just one book per month for 12 straight months, you will be in the top 25 percentile of all intellectuals in the world.

If you read just 15 minutes a day -- every day, for one year -- you can complete 20 books.

15 minutes a day...20 books in a year. Food for thought as the time is fast approaching to make goals for the new year.

This Charlotte Mason thing has me on fire! I'm re-tuning our school room for better "book access" which means cleaning, purging, reorganizing. That should be a good thing, but right now I'd rather eat chocolate and crochet by the fire. Maybe I'll look to that as my reward!

Book Lists 2008

Here is the list (not absolute by any means!) of books we read this year. Titles highlighted in red were exceptional standouts and I can't recommend them enough!

Family Read Alouds:
* Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann Wyss
* Uncle Tom's Cabin (Young Folks Edition), by Harriet Beecher Stowe
* Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
* Robert E. Lee (Sowers)
* The Story of Ulysses S. Grant (Signature)
* Two Little Confederates, by Thomas Nelson Page
* Iron Scouts of the Confederacy, by Lee McGiffin
* Noah Webster: Master of Words, by David Collins(Sowers)
* Amos Fortune: Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates
* We Were There at the Opening of the Erie Canal
* Santa Fe Trail (Landmark), by Samuel H. Adams
* Burgess Bird Book, by Thornton Burgess
* Birds Build Nest, by Yvonne Winer
* Heroes of the Western Outpost, by Edith McCall
* The Kingdom's Edge, by Chuck Black
* The Story of John J. Audubon, by Joan Howard
* The Story of Davy Crockett, by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft
* Johnny Appleseed: John Chapman, God's Faithful Planter, by David R. Collins
* The Lamplighter, by Maria Cummins
* Away Goes Sally, by Elizabeth Coatsworth
* The Golden Thread by Norman MacLeod
* The Journey That Saved Curious George, by Louise Borden
* Milly-Molly-Mandy Stories, by Joyce Lankester Brisley
* Jessica's Mother, by Hesba Stretton
* Little Jonathan, by Miriam Mason
* Jessica's First Prayer, by Hesba Stretton


Books boy read on his own:
* Story of the Great Chicago Fire
* Story of Annie Oakley (Signature)
* Story of the Homestead Act (Cornerstones of Freedom)
* Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
* Story of Gen. George Armstrong Custer (Signature)
* We Were There With the California 49er's
* By the Great Horn Spoon
* Gold Rush Adventures, by Edith McCall
* Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, by Cornelia Cornelissen
* We Were There With the Pony Express
* We Were There at the Alamo
* We Were There at the Opening of the Erie Canal
* Big Birthday Surprise: Jr. Discovers Giving, by Dave Ramsey
* Careless at the Carnival: Jr. Discovers Spending, by Dave Ramsey
* Prince Caspian, by C.S. Lewis
* Hunters Blaze the Trails, by Edith McCall
* Jeb Smith
* Hardy Boys and the Case of the Twisted Claw, by Franklin Dixon
* Kit Carson, Pathfinder of the West, by Nardi Reeder Campion (A Discovery Bio)
* Jim Beckwourth, Adv. of a Mountain Man, by Louis Sabin (Troll)
* Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman (COFA), by Aileen Wells Park
* Johnny Appleseed, by Reeve Lindbergh
* The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure, by Hans Magnus Enzenberger
* Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, by Cindy Neushwander
* Ahyoka and the Talking Leaves, by Peter & Connie Roop
* The Lone Hunt, by Wm. O. Steele
* Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
* The Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall
* Adventures on the Waterways, by Edith McCall
* Pioneers, by the Gorslines
* Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Dead Eagles, by Donald Sobol
* If I Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln, by Ann McGovern


Books I read:
* My Father's Daughter, by Gene Stratton-Porter
* The Beckoning Road, by Caroline Dale Snedeker
* Michael O'Halloran, by Gene Stratton-Porter
* Seventh Day, by Bodie & Brock Thoene
* The Harvester, by Gene Stratton-Porter
* Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, by Rachel Field
* Lorna Doone (This was horrible & I couldn't finish it), by R.D. Blackmore
* Keeper of the Bees, by Gene Stratton-Porter
* Created to Be His Help Meet, by Debi Pearl
* Laddie, by Gene Stratton-Porter
* Mark's Story, by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
* The All New Square Foot Gardener, (a re-read) by Mel Bartholemew
* Edge of Darkness, by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips
* Song of Redemption, by Lynn Austin
* The Big Book of Breakfast, by Maryana Vollstedt
* King's Arrow, by Douglas Bond
* The Prophet, by Francine Rivers
* John's Story: The Last Eyewitness, by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
* Gods and Kings, by Lynne Austin
* Duncan's War, by Douglas Bond
* Healthy Foods, by Leanne Ely
* Busy Mom's Guide to Bible Study, by Lisa Whelchel
* Eulalia! by Brian Jacques

Books Impact: Gene Stratton-Porter

I just spent some time looking over the list of books I read this year and a few things struck me. I didn't read nearly as many books as I have in past years. Probably because of my growing family staying up a bit later and thus my personal reading time being shortened. I would like to find more time to read, but then...who wouldn't?!

My list truly serves as a memory of times and events. Books impact our lives! "The All-New Square Foot Gardener" lead to our first ever vegetable garden, which in turn supplied us with many fresh veggies over the summer.

"Created To Be His Help-Meet" was such a fabulous (albeit controversial) book. I cannot even begin to tell you how this book has changed my perspective, my marriage, but mostly my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

But it was one special author that shared most of my year: Gene Stratton-Porter. Never have I come across a stack of books that has meant this much to me from a literary perspective. They are just the most amazing books written by a native of my own state. It's been pretty obvious that her eternal perspective was Biblical. Her characters stir me. I don't say that lightly. Whether we're talking about Little Sister in "Laddie"(I wrote about it here) or Mickey in "Michael O'Halloran"...so different, so sweet and honorable and honest and real!

Her books are about real life. They are about relationships that are awe inspiring. They are about nature and our life amongst it. They are also about God and His Providence in all things. She weaves love, loss, mystery and redemption in a way I've never read, and I've read quite a lot. She champions nature in a pure and Godly way. She tells of history and of science.

Stratton-Porter wrote about nature from a Creationist perspective, too, and her books educate. In "Keeper of the Bees" a small child, Scout, tells a veteran, Jamie, about bees...and about God. It's the most beautifully written pages describing bees, and the evidence of God, that you'll ever read. In the chapter entitled "Because of God" we read,

"First question I ever asked was, 'Why is the bee garden blue?' And I'll have to tell you the answer because you would never guess it in a thousand years. The answer is, 'Because of God.'"

"Yes," said the little Scout. "That's what makes bees so interesting. About half the things you'll have to learn are because of God, and why the bee garden is blue is the very first thing. Now, you listen and I'll tell you the reason."

Scout goes on to teach the grown up about God's perfect design for all living things, and specifically bees. The skeptic is soon awed and the Scout concludes by telling him...

"One time I asked the Bee Master if I couldn't see God and if I couldn't touch Him, how I was going to know that He was here. And he said, 'Because of the hair on a bee.' So that's one of the ways you can know."

At the end of the chapter, the Scout addresses books...and Darwin! Love this!:

"I don't know as I've told you so very well. In there in the library you can find the books like I showed you that tell what people used to think. The books that are the bunk. Then you'll find the books like Lubbock and Swammerdam, which have the wonderful pictures, that will tell you what really happens. Then there are the books like Fabre and Maeterlinck that the Bee Master says are three things at one time. First they are the truth, and next they are poetry, and third they are the evidence of a Master Mind that plans every least little tiny thing. He says the only name for that Master Mind is God. He doesn't see any use in trying to dodge God and side-step Him and call Him 'the Spirit of the Hive' and Instink and Nature and things like that. He says a great scientist, one of the best, almost went crazy trying to do that very thing. His name was Charles Darwin and the Bee Master sayd C.D. would have been a heap bigger Injun if he'd been willing to put God in where He belongs. He says when God does anything 'with such care, and puts so much thought in it, and deals out such splendid justice' as there is in a beehive, that a wise man will just take off his hat and lift his eyes to the sky and very politely he will say, 'Just God.'" (bold mine)

And this book says it was published in 1925--a year after her death.

To say I'm hooked on this author would be an understatement. Each story has captured me and moved me to laughter and tears. These are books to own! To read again and again and to pass down. These are books you only loan out to your nearest and dearest for fear they'll disappear. These books go in the "grab in case of fire" pile!

The hunt for many of these books published around the turn of the century, is just now starting to get fierce. The most popular (of course) were easy to find, many still be published by Indiana University Press. But they are mostly the titles she wrote about Indiana, while living in Indiana. Surprisingly, I found a couple of goodies at the library: Birds of the Bible (a nature book). I glanced through it and it's amazing! FULL of scripture. I look forward to reading through it. I also found "The Magic Garden" which is next on my list.

Stratton-Porter spent the last part of her tragically shortened life in California and it was there that a dear friend found another title for me, "My Father's Daughter". I'm reading it now and though it is excellent again, here she deals with a stronger than usual topic--bigotry. I look forward to seeing how she resolves the issue with her characters.

Here's the list I've read in my order of preference:
1. Laddie
2. Keeper of the Bees
3. Girl of the Limberlost
4. The Harvester
5. Michael O'Halloran
6. Freckles
7. My Father's Daughter

You want to read these books! You really do.

PS. They actually made paper dolls of Gene Stratton-Porter!

Living Math Resource

In planning out the rest of our school year, I realized that daughter's math lessons would not take every day. What to do with the other days? I could skip 'em...

OR WE COULD READ SOME LIVING MATH BOOKS!

You'll never guess which I chose!! :)

I immediately turned to this great site for direction. The fact that a homeschooling mom put this together just awes me! I printed out this list for my 5yo daughter and we will work through the list (which we've already read some of!).

I just love resources like this.

They save me so much time and energy. I just can't tell you--well, maybe YOU know! :)

This site also offers many other great resources including articles, lesson plans, game lists... You just have to see it to believe it.

Merry Christmas!

On Copywork

Copywork is one of those things that I never "got". As much as I would want my children to have perfect handwriting, forcing son to write has never accomplished much. BUT, that is NOT what copywork is for (alone) and THAT is what I missed in my understanding. Here is a wonderful series on copywork at Understanding Charlotte. If copywork has baffled you, like it has me, read and think it through once more.

The Owl Encounter

This morning we were reading (imagine that!) Jim Arnosky's "All About Owls" (great books by him, by the way!) and I remembered something that happened a whole year ago and I NEVER TOLD YOU! This is too good not to share, but at the time, the only pictures were on my husband's phone. This morning I asked him if he would email them to me, which he did.

What you are about to see is incredible! Especially if you've never seen a real owl up close. You see, my husband grew up out in the country where his mother still lives. Lots of open spaces and old fencing. One night last December, husband was out there with his brother and his mom told him she heard screaming all night long the night before. She thought it was an owl, but was so amazed at the screaming and how long it screamed. Husband and BIL went out to investigate and found this Great Horned Owl stuck in a fence...dead.

You can see the size of this beautiful creature and imagine how sick we all were to realize it had been stuck in that fence, dying all night. There wasn't a mark on it.

Isn't it amazing how alive he still looks?! The colors were just amazing.

Whooo's looking at you! Sorry...couldn't resist! :)

So BIL wrapped him up and put him in the freezer and started making calls. You see, when you live in a TINY town out in the boondocks, you KNOW people! So he called a sheriff friend who said that it couldn't be avoided, the DNR would have to be called in. So, after much prayer and hoping that we'd be able to have him stuffed and mounted, we called the DNR. They immediately came and confiscated him. BOO HOO! We were so sad. They are protected (of course) and apparently there is a huge waiting list of schools wanting such a speciman. WE'RE a not huge school wanting him!!! Drat!

So there you have it. The owl encounter.

Well, it's ridiculously cold out and everything's covered in ice. These pictures inspired some art, so here's what we got:

So here's daughter's drawing. She had been particularly interested in the claws when we read, so she drew them with special care.

And here's son's. He's really improving (drawing has never been his strong suit, or even his interest--but that is changing!).

AND THEN! We used our Paper Toys links to make this beauty!

James Whitcomb Riley Home

We finally made it to one of the James Whitcomb Riley Homes in Indiana.

We had so much fun reading his poetry a few months back! What incredible storytelling coming through "the Hoosier Poet". Son proudly remembered this memory work:

On Any Ordinery Man in a High State of Laughtur and Delight

As its give' me to percieve,
I most certin'y believe
When a man's jest glad plum through,
God's pleased with him, same as you.

Shamefully, I didn't get a picture of the whole house--what was I thinking?! However, I did get these outdoor pictures. It was very crowded indoors (free day!), and taking pictures was not prudent. I will say it was an amazing preservation of his home of 23+ years...that he didn't even own, but rented a room in...for 23+ years! Astounding. Apparently, in that day and age (around the turn of the century) a single man did not live alone for no respectable woman would come work for him. So they would take up residence in the homes of families they knew. This home, where he died in 1817, was only preserved as the owners had no children to pass it on to. We really enjoyed the tour and I purchased a beautiful hardbound, illustrated copy of "The Raggedy Man"! Love it.

My two kids are the two farthest on each side.

This poem (that was apparently turned into a song at some point) of his adorned the walls outside the bedrooms:

The Perfect Prayer

Dear Lord! kind Lord!
Gracious Lord! I pray
Thou wilt look on all I love,
Tenderly to-day!
Weed their hearts of weariness;
Scatter every care
Down a wake of angel-wings
Winnowing the air.

Bring unto the sorrowing
All release from pain;
Let the lips of laughter
Overflow again;
And with all the needy
O divide, I pray,
This vast treasure of content
That is mine to-day!

I'm sure we'll eventually get to his other home (his childhood home) which is not too far from some friends house. His grave is also in town, so when the weather permits, we should probably go there too...just for fun...'cause cemetaries are fun...right?!! :)