Saturday, March 19, 2011

Hello Everyone,

Since most of this post is a peek into a normal week of Martin family homeschooling and since most of you reading this are probably homeschoolers yourselves -- Wait! Are most of you homeschoolers? These lists I found might help us figure that one out:

You Must Be Homeschooled If...
Someone asks what grade you're in and you're not sure.
Your favorite author is Jane Austen (girls) or Robert Louis Stevenson (boys).
Your birthday is an official school holiday.
Your favorite activity is reading.
You have attempted to teach yourself physics.
Watching a movie means you'll have to write a report comparing the film to the book.
Your home library is arranged in Dewey Decimal order.
There are only nine students in your class - but all of them are your brothers and sisters.
You dress up as historical or literary characters.

You Must Be a Home Educator If...
You live in a one-house schoolroom.

You have mold growing in your fridge…on purpose.
Cooking dinner = domestic science; playing outside = physical education.
You've mastered the fine art of vacuuming a floor without sucking up a Lego or K'nex piece.

Sounds blessedly familiar, doesn't it?

Things Have Been Crazy

The "Last Days Madness" of meeting a research paper deadline.

Two usually active individuals were unusually inactive this week due to flu.

They will soon, doubtless, be back to their baton-shaking, balloon-bopping selves.

(Conrad tells me to tell you to note the unique parabolic curves caused by light reflecting off the balloon's oscillating surface.)

Green Eggs (and no ham)

Dr. Seuss would not, I think, approve.

Homeschool Dress-up Week...

...planned by Faith, a gal of endless creativity. We here have a Western theme.

I would have been fine with sticking to that theme the entire week. What with all the "Yes Ma'am" business.

*raises gun* Teacher, I'll take a shot at that question.

Here we are on a different day, one that's not going well for Clayton: no costume, no smile, no luck with his math problem.

Come on, Clayton. You can figure it out. Use your head.

That was the day that Christian was Rex. Toystory quotes abounded.

The next day (represent-a-business day) Clayton brought his smart phone to class.

(I think it had a calculator.)

Among the celebrated and colorful characters I taught that week was Lou Gehrig.

And Caleb Holt.

When I mentioned "colorful characters," I was referring specifically to this high-minded Turk.

The sheikh's pencil holder.


Thank you, Faith, for arranging all the fun.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." - Albert Einstein

I don't think I can agree with Mr. Einstein, considering that without the knowledge of God we cannot be saved. However, viewed as a bit of hyperbole, the quote makes a point.

"...Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ..."

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God Bless.

Carmen

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Welcome Back Everyone,

I was thinking about you just now. I appreciate all of you, your interest in my blog, and your patience in putting up with my perspective on life.

Thank you. Sincerely, thank you.

We've Started NT Greek


(But most of it's still Greek to us.)

Dad's notes from Lesson 1, when Mr. Einwechter gave it to us straight. Problem is: we were already signed up.

Alpha, Beta, Gamma...

(You know - A B C - that sort of thing.)

So, Dad, what is the future active indicative third person plural of λυο?

Dad often impresses us (in the forceful sense) into helping him drill and then impresses us (in the admiring sense) by how much he knows.

As we labor over Greek, Mom is (rapidly) making her way through the new Lamplighter books.

Oh, to once again read an English novel...!

A Baptism

Five young men and women declaring the most important decision of their lives.

βαπτιζω...

(Had to show off my Greek, as inadequate as it is.)

Grandfather and grandson.

"Buried with him in baptism...

...wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." -Col. 2:12

Candace, push that record button because...

...it's Faith's turn.

This sister of mine has, by God's grace, begun the journey of living out her name.

"The faith that saves is the faith that submits to baptism." -Mr. Einwechter



Another daughter who had the rare privilege of being baptized by her own father.

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." -Gal. 3:27

Mariana has put on Christ...

...and I do believe Mr. Oberholtzer has put on dry clothes.

Naomi, who helps with Phares and keeps him out of trouble.

I didn't say: out of water.

Friendless? Forlorn? Maybe even ostracized?

Hardly.

Sunlight and spaghetti - both brightening this little face.

And we'll end with dessert, as does every good fellowship meal.

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God Bless.

Carmen