When in Doubt......Mumble.

Parenting involves a lot of talking. In a typical day I do more of it than any woman should but today I set new records in both the intelligible and the doubtful mumblings. My kids keep me very busy...With two additional (and very inquisitive) little minds thrown into the mix, trusting me and looking to me with those big blue eyes, to answer all their constant questions and dilemmas througout the day I had to be at the top of my game and very prayerful for the guidance that all these precious ones need.Being entrusted with someone else's kids made me realize anew how incredibly much children learn directly from the care giver they are given to. Every spoken and unspoken word. Every facial expression, every attitude...the body language and certainly the philosophies leave a lasting mark on these little canvases.

True education is, in one sense, a spiritual process. It is the nurture of the soul. Education is the nurture of a spirit that is rational and moral, in which conscience is the regulative and imperative faculty. The proper purpose of conscience, even in this world, is moral.

But God is the only Lord of the conscience; this soul is his miniature likeness. His will is the source of its obligations. Likeness to him is its perfection, and religion is the science of the soul's relations to God. Let these statements be placed together, and the theological and educational processes appear so related that they cannot be separated.

It is for this reason that the common sense of mankind has always invoked the guidance of the minister of religion in the education of youth....Every line of true knowledge must find its completeness as it converges on God, just as every beam of daylight leads the eye to the sun.

~R.L. Dabney

My older three children who have started violin lessons, gave their Grandma a nice concert today. It makes it so exciting with the symphony accompaniment CD to play with!My favorite moment was when Silas, very inspired, jumped up and started conducting. Owen, not to be outdone, (and not knowing why in the world Silas was making such violent gestures at the musicians), promptly jumped in and fired round after round right...to....the beat....of the conducting.... Bang, bang, bang...(rest, rest) bang.... Apparently he's been listening to them practice??? It was fascinating stuff and the musicians just kept right on playing...conductor kept right on conducting...He, (and George Washington) will celebrate their birthday tomorrow. My wonderful little man will turn 8 years old. What a wonderful little man. So much like his Daddy...

And speaking of little men, you can never have too many around. Our little visitor Keeghan, while inspecting the storage closet, pointed out to me that it would make much more sense to have one fire extinguisher down stairs...but we really should bring the other one upstairs! Heck. I couldn't argue with that so I thanked him for the inspection and asked him to help me find a smart place for it. I got quite the chastizing when he realized it needed recharging. Keeghan plans to be a fire chief someday. Not just a fireman...a fire chief. Abiagail helped me get the pot roast going...We all read about the Walter Raleigh's lost colony...
and trace the paths of the ships of the Spanish and English colonists...
Gemma gave Elijah the sweetest card as he was leaving to spend his birthday Eve at Grandma and Papa's...
I'm not sure who's more smitten with who...


Proving still as a vessel of God's direct mercy in my life, my mother left me with a Blueberry Fritter big enough to feed an army...

~An Afternoon Pick-me-up~

Fortunately for my diet, there were plenty of munchkins up from their naps to help me eat it!

Momma...you've outdone yourself today!Juliet's first doughnut bonded us together on that deepest level we women relate... She loves it!!!
Life's Simple joys

Keeghan and Abi were getting pretty homesick for their Momma so I decided to do what she would do. BAKE! Not my natural gifting and quite risky given the fritter we've just consumed, but the call of duty today!
But we walked it off...

Juliet kept shaking her rattle to get the horsie's attention. It worked!

Is it me, or are they both giving me that same daring look???
~Thank you Lord for your BEAUTY~
My funny Essie helping me test the "sport" setting on my camera
This boy is sheer rascal! See his wicked laugh as he watches Mommy dart to save the stroller rolling down the hill! SILAS!
So back on the topic of the always-constant, never-neutral instruction of the children; When passing the neighbor's yard, Keeghan requested that I read one of the several signs "TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT...SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT...AGAIN." I explained that it was kind of a joke, but that they clearly don't want people trespassing. "But Mithuss Kirkman, what does that mean?" "Well Keeghan, it means if you go in their yard, they'll shoot you. And if you get up....they'll shoot you again. But like I said, it's probably meant to be a funny way to tell people they really don't want them in their yard."



"Is that BAD Mithuss Kirkman?"



"Yes Keeghan, guns are very bad. All guns. Terrible, wicked things. If we got rid of guns, then man would be basically good. Repeat after me Keegan"...... hahh... juuuust kidd'n Liam....

But...my point exactly. How was I to know I'd get into a discussion about guns with this little man today? And how were his parents to know? I really could've done a number on the truths this little boy's Daddy is teaching him regarding freedom and responsibility. Fortunately this little boy was entrusted very carefully to me by his wise parents who know very in depth and care very much so, what we believe, why we believe it, what we will exhort their children in, and what we will leave to the parents. And this part seems silly to even have to say, but they know that we love their kids. We have a reason to teach them what is good and true...

...You shall love the LORD our God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deut. 6:5-9

This is how children are shaped. It is so easy to forget, and so tempting to ignore when we are confronted with the pressures and demands of life. Education is never neutral. Childcare, academics, extra curriculars...can never be strained out or separated from the nurture of the soul.

Give ear, O my people, to my law;

Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable;

I will utter dark sayings of old,

Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from our children,

telling to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and His strength

and wonderful works that He has done.

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,

which He commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children;

That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born,

That they may arise and declare them to their children,

That they may set their hope in God,

And not forget the works of God,

But keep His commandments.

~Psalm 78:1-8

Ah, the Joys of Having Babies close together!

The Trials of having Babies so close together...

But mostly the Joys of Having Babies close together!!!

And remember, When in doubt...

mumble.