Soul Music

Tomorrow is the last day of school for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!! I'm so glad that we adopted an "unschooling" way of life this year----the learning keeps happening whether he are "doing school" or not!

Alex and I are currently trying to wrap up our study of the Vietnam Era and the Civil Rights Movement. Wow!!! The 1960s was such an amazing decade----so many important issues were brought to the table of discussion and so many changes took place in our society. There is just so much information to process. Alex really took an interest in the events of this turbulent time in our nation's history. We have read so many books and looked at so many websites and we still only barely scracthed the surface. I know we will re-visit the 1960s again when he is older.

Today, we discussed the music of the 60s and listened to many different artists who inspired an entire generation. We watched live performances (via YouTube) of The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Smoky Robinson, The Jackson 5, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. I love that my son is willing to listen to nearly any genre of music, even if he doesn't like it after hearing it. Sometimes, we may find that we LOVE a particular sound that we didn't even know we liked simply because we had never heard it before. And, sometimes, like today, I am reminded of how much I enjoy the music of this bygone era.

One of the joys of homeschooling is that I don't have to follow a rigid set of rules---we can experiment and try new things simply because something sounds interesting and we want to. I suppose some folks may feel that 90 minutes of our day was wasted simply listening to music, but I don't!! Alex and I talked about what we liked about the various songs and artists we heard, we talked about what kind of life they lived during the height of their popularity and what changes they may have helped bring about, and we talked about how some of the musicians of the 1960s destroyed their lives by abusing drugs and alcohol. No subject is ever exclusive---any particular discussion can, and usually does, lead to even more discussion.

It is a beautiful thing to feel free to listen to or read anything that might help us to better understand a particular event or era or even "just because". On the other hand, we can also choose to pass up something that someone else tells us we should do or see or read because it doesn't appeal to us. History should never be dry and dull, but rather alive and exciting. When we, as both children and adults, can participate in and interact with the facts, they become so much more real to us and that enables us to find an affinity with certain individuals or movements, or, as was the case for Alex today, music! Music is such a great equalizer----it can help build bridges between the generations, the races, the religions, the political parties----bringing people together who didn't realize they had anything in common. I have yet to meet a single individual who doesn't like music. All music is "soul" music; it speaks to us in ways that nothing else can.

"After the silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." ~~~Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)~~~

Holiday Happiness

Thanksgiving has come and gone and the Christmas season fast approaches. I haven't really enjoyed the Holidays in a long while because it seems to serve as a reminder of our financial woes. Although I am a firm believer in living simply and keeping my environmental footprint as small as can be, I will openly admit that hearing others talk of their vast "Xmas Shopping List" makes it a bit difficult to be jolly. I know, I know, that attitude seems so superficial, but at the very least, I admit my problem.

Having been raised on a meager income by my grandparents, I never felt "lacking" until the Holidays when friends were discussing what they wanted for Christmas and, of course, what they knew they'd get. While their lists were at least a full page of wishes and wants, I remember my immense, yet simple, desire to find a Barbie doll under the tree come Christmas morning---not just the dime store version with hollow plastic legs---but the REAL BARBIE with bendable, rubbery legs, and all the amazing accessories, and myriad of friends, that went along with her. I think I've always been a bit sad at not ever having my very own Barbie doll.

When I grew up, married, and had children of my own, I promised myself, silly as it seems now, that my children would have presents stacked to the ceiling, like I never had. When my boys were very young we were living in eastern Kentucky, on a fairly modest income, but we always managed to have a big Christmas for them. My husband and I delighted in going on our annual shopping trip to Huntington, West Virginia, about an hour and a half from our home. Huntington had a huge mall and various "big name" stores that offered everything a person could want and more----just the place for a young couple with children! While my mother-in-law took care of the boys, we would make a day of it, leaving early and coming home late, exhausted, but satisfied, from our endeavor!

I know it is such a sad commentary on the state of affairs in our nation of plenty that I could feel even slightly unhappy at the lack of gifts that will grace the living room floor under my tree this year----how petty of me. No iPads, no Droids, not even a new computer that would be such a welcome replacement for our slow, out-dated dinosaur---no, this year, just a few things that I know our sons will enjoy that have been lovingly chosen, but not particularly costly. Yes, there will be the long-coveted video game, a few favorite books, a toy or two for our youngest son, and the random article of clothing or accessory. And, as usual, I'll be warming the kitchen with the lovely smells of the Yuletide season, a gift in themselves----gingerbread and pumpkin pies, and, of course, Christmas cookies and candy.

Have we somehow failed our children in not providing their every Holiday desire-----absolutely not! Our children were raised to tell the truth, to serve others, to be true to their own values, and to be loving and giving to their family and friends. No amount of presents under the Christmas tree could instill those traits in any person, no matter how much we might wish it. As my two older sons have grown and moved out on their own, it is my prayer that they will continue to grow and mature, as I know they will, into men who possess an indomitable spirit and who retain the strength of character they have been taught. No gift could be better than that!

My own desire to give over and above what we can afford, I'm sure, comes from the power of American materialism; in old-fashioned terms, "keeping up with the Joneses". Strive though I may to live simpler, greener, and saner, it is much easier to be content with what one has when there is no one near in which to compare possessions, or a lack thereof, with. However, I should be in control enough to put those thoughts from my mind and stick to the path that I know is best and true; simple, heartfelt living. And, most of the time, I do.

So, now, I will sit back and reminisce about all the lovely Christmases that have long-passed, the memories of precious time spent with loved ones, the traditions that make the Holidays special for my family, and the abundance and blessings that come simply from knowing who I am and what is truly important.

Going Green

One of my favorite blogs, The Organic Sister, is hosting the Great Big Giveaway from Sustainable Baby Steps, a fantastic website that not only promotes "Going Green", but helps you on your journey.

Now, being a big fan of the "Going Green" movement, I appreciate websites/companies/individuals who are willing to go the extra mile to honestly inform, educate, and equip. It's nice to read about how important it is to ourselves, our children, and our planet to adopt a greener lifestyle, but it is just so wonderful to have a "go to" source to help us implement this choice in a practical and do-able way. Although I am new to Sustainable Baby Steps, I believe in what they are doing and I believe that they are making an difference in the lives of those of us who desire to do what we can to make our world a lovelier place.

Let me also say, in support of The Organic Sister, I LOVE Tara's blog!! I've been reading for some time and I am SO thankful for her honesty and integrity which shines through in each and every post. I look forward to reading about her family's adventures and about how a simple and sustainable lifestyle works for them on a day-to-day basis. It is constantly a source of encouragement and inspiration to me.

My family and I try to do our part to encourage a true concern for the health and well-being of our planet and ALL those who inhabit it. We compost, recycle (or re-purpose), we've reduced our water and energy consumption, started a small raised-bed garden, combine trips into "town", buy what we can from our local thrift/consignment shops, bag our groceries in re-usable cloth bags, use "green" cleaning products (we mostly make our own), use cloth napkins, and cook "from scratch" using mostly organic "real" foods-----all wonderful ways of enjoying a "greener", more sustainable, lifestyle. I'm sure there are many more ways to do an even better job of living in harmony with the Earth, and as we continue to learn and grow and discover, we will continue to analyze what we do and change what we can to color our lives an even deeper shade of green.

Simplicity

It's been a whole month since my last post. I don't know what is wrong with me, but I just having been "feelin' it"!!! There has been so much going on in my life lately---some of it good, some of it....well, not so much. I suppose I have allowed the stresses of life to get me down. I would love to take a few days just to "run away" and relax, regroup. But, for most moms in general and homeschool moms in particular, that just isn't an option.

I think, sometimes, I get so bogged down in the day-to-day aspects of living that I forget to take care of me; physically, spiritually, emotionally. Usually, when I'm feeling depleted and in need of a respite from the cares of the world, I go on a walk or take a drive to a favorite place and just soak in the outdoors. Sometimes I'll curl up with a good book---a comforting old favorite---and other times I'll just sit quietly, eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the forest or the ocean or the river. After a few hours, I can feel my spirit and energy renewed and I feel confident enough to leave and take on the mantle of my life again.

One of my favorite spots along the Van Duzen River

Taking time to connect with nature is a vital part of who I am and how I function. I'm sure my affinity with the outdoors, my need for peace and stillness, is directly connected to how I was raised. I love to go and to do, but I love even more to just be. I firmly believe that there is an art to "doing nothing". It is becoming a lost art, to be sure, along with the whole "simplicity movement". There are little pockets of folks all across the world who have rediscovered the joys of simple living and the importance of "doing nothing"and that fact gives me hope.

I have a little booklet that I purchased many years ago from the Elf~help Series produced by Abbey Press. It was written by Linus Mundy and is titled "Keep~life~simple Therapy". Through the years it has provided quiet strength as I try to do what I know to be right. Each "tidbit of wisdom" is numbered with a sweet little illustration by R.W. Alley---I'm going to list all 35 of them just for you.

1. Reduce life to its essence. It is mostly love that matters...and lasts.

2. Reduce love to its essence. It is mostly a knowing and being known. Make the effort, do the work, of getting to know and let your true self be known. You will see the oneness of love and Love.

3. Learn the art of saying "no". When you exclude something, you invariably include something else even more fully.

4. Welcome your role in the drama of creation. Imagine the part you play as a leading role (which it is). But once in a while, keep still and let God speak the parts.

5. Celebrate the ordinary. Your heart knows the comfort and the beauty in common things. Let it tell your head.

6. Don't expect so much from more----and so little from less. Expect a lot from less. You won't be disappointed.

7. It is hard to know when you "have enough". Make the question, "Do I really need more?" part of your life's work.

8. Look to nature for nurture. It is as reliable as the God who provides it.

9. When making choices, opt for the plain, the simple, the functional. Less goes wrong when you stick to life's standard equipment.

10. D0 not pretend to be anything you are not. That way you can always be consistent and truly free.

11. Live in time. Rushing to get one thing over so you can move on to something "more important" is folly.

12. Practice being content. It is both the work and the reward of a lifetime.

13. There is a time for doing---and a time for doing nothing. Don't underestimate the value of porch-sitting and rocking-chairing. They are simple gifts you can give to yourself---and others.

14. Live intentionally. Forget that and your life will be lived for you.

15. Learn to value spiritual things over material things. They last longer, cost less, bring more.

16. Let manual labor, hard work, be a part of your life. You'll be proud of how humble it makes you.

17. Be small and child-like. There is no simpler, better way to see the big picture.

18. Try to eat and live lower on the food and resources chain. You'll be doing a world of good to beings yet unborn.

19. Silence is golden. Seek it and it will quietly enrich your life.

20. Get alone. It is one sure way of getting yourself together.

21. Trust that God supplies you with unlimited good. There is grain left in the field even after the harvest.

22. Remember that the primary reward of hard work is finding meaning and well-being, not money. Forget that and you'll stop being well.

23. Set you desk, your chair, your sink, your sights with a view to the great outdoors. Life is simpler out there.

24. Don't take your life too seriously. Trust in a God who cares for your every need.

25. Don't let work and play be rivals. While each may have a separate place at times, both can also occupy the same space.

26. Know your limits. There is nothing more freeing---or more motivating---than knowing what you can and cannot do well.

27. Learn from life's oldest living things: trees. They impressively break forth with buds and colors--but know innately when it's time to shut down and be unimpressive.

28. Strive to have access to things, not ownership of them. Possess something and it possesses you.

29. Create a ten-second wildflower meadow in your mind whenever you need it. Your imagination can be a great peacemaker in times of chaos.

30. Think small. Planting tiny seeds in the small space given to you can change the whole world---or, at the very least, your view of it.

31. Cultivate the simple virtue of patience. Anticipation is not the only reward for waiting.

32. Don't forget that the longing for simplicity is a spiritual longing. Asking physical things to meet spiritual needs doesn't work.

33. Do only one thing at a time. Putting yourself wholeheartedly into what you are doing---no matter how small or mundane---honors it...and you...and your Creator.

34. Rediscover the joy of a quiet conversation, a simple story or game, an honest expression of affection for another. These simple gifts and pleasures will help keep your life balanced.

35. Know that your true home is in the holy Presence. It's that simple.

A Brand New Year

It seems that California's north coast went quickly from Spring to Fall with just a little bit of Summer thrown in for good measure. Here it is the beginning of a new school year and I feel like the Summer Holiday is yet to start.

"Summer Days" by Dorothea Sharp

Today, amazingly enough, the sun is just peeking out from the mantle of cloud cover, but I have a legitimate suspicion that it won't last long. We've has several days of average summer temperatures and sunshine----certainly nothing memorable.

As I write, the wind is blowing gently through the trees in the backyard and I can hear the sound of a lawnmower nearby. I have clothes out the the line and my "inside chores" are done. My floors are clean, dishes done, rooms tidy. I feel a sense of accomplishment.

So now, it is time to pour over homeschool materials and make some plans for the year; basic plans, no "written in stone", detailed lessons that must be realized. Just a simple roadmap with plenty of space for changes and add-ons and erasures and scribbled notes.

This year, Alex and I are using a curriculum from Oak Meadow that I found at a yard sale. It was brand new, still boxed, in perfect condition. What a find---a curriculum worth hundreds for just $2!!! I only use textbooks as reference, so these are simply materials to use as a guide for the year and to give me some ideas for a course of study in history and science. I prefer a hands-on method of teaching so we try to get out and about as much as we can. I'm particularly excited about Alex's "Nature Journal", which he will use to document and describe what he sees on our outdoor adventures. And, of course, history is always a source of deep joy for me. I love teaching it, reading about it, watching documentaries about various time periods. I am so glad that Alex loves it, too.

I suppose, although Summer seems to have passed us by without much left to show for it, I am ready to begin a new school year. It is always a time to reflect on the previous year and make a commitment to excellence for the coming year. I truly can't imagine doing it any other way. I am privileged to have the opportunity to be an important influence in my child's educational life and to, hopefully, instill in him a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

"We learn best by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction."~~~Malcolm Gladwell

Some Helpful Links About Nature Journals

http://www.sierraclub.org/education/nature_journal.asp

http://lapazfarm.homeschooljournal.net/pages-from-our-nature-journals/

Change

I've been wanting to write a post that addresses my personal spiritual beliefs for some time. I have hesitated and stumbled and wrote and re-wrote, trying to get it exactly, precisely right. I suppose, too, I've been afraid of offending my conservative Christian friends, because much of what I believe to be true is far from the path that these folks I love dearly travel on. I indentify deeply with my Christian roots and upbringing, and many things about being a Christian resonate within me. But, at the same time, I also find great truth in the sacred texts and spiritual writings of other faiths, many of which I've incorporated into my own faith practices.

As the result of a recent "misunderstanding" between myself and a friend concerning differences in religious theology/doctrine, I've been doing A LOT of thinking. Not just random thoughts about any old thing, but specific thoughts about what is really important in my life and about how I have changed spiritually in the last 6 years or so.

I won't go into great detail, but this "misunderstanding" with this particular friend was about an inaccurate biblical and cultural interpretation concerning the traditional concept of "hell". She believes all the "unsaved" (God's enemies) are going there; I don't believe it exists, as taught by today's conservative, evangelical Christians, and as indicated by the original Greek of the New Testament. I rarely share my personal religious beliefs because, well, they're personal. Not everyone needs to be privy to what I believe about any particular issue, religious or otherwise, unless they ask and I feel comfortable enough with that person to tell. But, sometimes, every now and then, I feel absolutely compelled to speak. I occassionally find something so offensive and just outright wrong that I have no choice but to respond.

I realize that some may say I choose to speak up because I'm arrogant and think too highly of myself and my opinions, but that is truly not the case. I always try to respect the beliefs of others, particularly religious beliefs, because they so deeply represent the very soul of that person and how they relate to their world. But, when a biblical concept that has caused untold pain and suffering down through the ages, a concept that was invented to induce fear and servitude, continues to be propagated, even if by well-meaning, good people------well, I just can't keep silent.

As I've been thinking about where I am now and who I am and how far I've come, I feel a sense of purpose. I'm beginning to feel comfortable in my own skin and with what I believe, enough, maybe, to consider sharing that bit of myself with others without fear of condemnation or ridicule. I'm beginning to suspect that I've arrived, or am in the process of arriving, at a place in my life where I can finally not care, quite so much, about what others think of me and just be who I am. Then, of course, there are those times, as with this "misunderstanding", when I think, once again, "Oh, no! You've done it now! You just couldn't keep your mouth shut." At least with "two steps forward and one step back" I'm still making progress----just a little more slowly than I'd like.

I would like to think, though, that I am becoming a kinder, gentler person from what I once was. I'd like to think that I am learning to value people for who they are rather than for what they believe (or don't believe) and that being a friend to and with someone doesn't require that we are on the same path, whether that be religious, political, social, or even geographic. Actually, I find that friendships with those who are quite different from me are eye-opening experiences and wonderful opportunities for learning and growth. I'd like to think that I am a better wife and mother than I once was when I believed that everyone that didn't subscribe to my personal brand of Christianity was doomed to suffer an eternity in "hell"----those kind of thought processes can make a person downright cranky and leave them exhausted from all that judging of others! I'd also like to believe that I'm a better Believer than I once was----that I can love people unconditionally without any "strings", that I can disagree with someone on key points and still respect them. I really believe that is how God, however we choose to see him (or her), loves us. God is just too big to fit into our narrow box of contructs. He is beyond definition in a world that wants everything spelled-out; preferably on a highway billboard so we can read it as we speed past to our next assignment, the next thing on our "to do" list.

I read a fantastic book some months ago by Parker J. Palmer called, The Promise of Paradox. I found that, as I read, I was physically nodding my head on every page, at every paragraph. He perfectly detailed what I believe in such a beautifully profound way. One of my favorite quotes says, "But when Christians claim that their light is the only light and that anyone who does not share their understanding of it is doomed to eternal damnation, things get very dark for me." Things got dark for me, too, once upon a time. So dark, in fact, that I had to step away for awhile. And during that time, I began to examine myself, my beliefs, my practices---my whole person. What I found, and continue to find, surprised me. Somewhere along the way, I had changed. Some changes were very subtle, but some were like the difference between night and day!

I believe with all my heart that God meets us where we are. He comes to us, if we so choose, in a way that we can indentify with, a way that we are able to relate to. We will not all agree on matters of theology or doctrine, we cannot all envision God as the average white, American, Protestant populace does. And, as I said before, God is so much bigger than our minds can conceive and, as detailed in the concept of "inclusivism", God cannot and will not refuse the devotion of a sincere soul who sees him with a different face or calls him by a different name---it is just not in the character of the God I know. In fact, I believe that there is truth in every faith and I find it necessary and enlightening to learn about the many facets of various religions, not just to practice tolerance, but to find the gems of Godly truth within each of them. I suppose, in all honesty, I would have to call myself an Inclusivist/Pluralist----I don't agree with every doctrine presented by every religion, but I believe they all present valid ways in which God speaks to and meets those who genuinely seek Him.

We don't see the big picture, we don't have all the answers, and we may very well be wrong about a lot of things. But, you know what? I'm okay with that. It is much like the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." I say boldly, and with absolute certainty, that "there's a wideness to God's mercy." There is indeed.

"In my Father's house are many mansions."— The Bible, John 14:2

"I believe in the fundamental truth of all great religions of the world. I believe that they are all God-given and I believe that they were necessary for the people to whom these religions were revealed. And I believe that if only we could, all of us, read the scriptures of the different faiths from the standpoints of the followers of these faiths, we should find that they were, at bottom, all one and were all helpful to one another." — Mahatma Gandhi

Naveen Chawla, longtime friend and biographer of Mother Teresa asked her: "Do you convert?" She replied, "Of course I convert. I convert you to be a better Hindu or a better Muslim or a better Protestant. Once you've found God, it is up to you to decide how to worship him."

Robert Schuller interview with Billy Graham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNCnxA91fHE

UK Apologetics (Inclusivism)http://www.ukapologetics.net/evinc.htm
The Harvard University Pluralism Projecthttp://pluralism.org/pages/pluralism/essays/from_diversity_to_pluralism

Coming Home

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~Elmer Davis~

In just a few short days, my oldest son, Ryan, will be on his way home. He has been away for a little over 3 years, serving in the United States Army. What a roller-coaster ride this "Army life" has been for our whole family.

Ryan decided to enlist in the summer of 2006, just as he was beginning his senior year in high school. He was adamant about joining and my husband and I offered our encouragement and support, even though the thought of him being deployed to a war zone was unthinkable.

Just a month after graduation, Ryan left for Basic Training. In October 2007, after receiving his infantry training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, he was posted to the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. The Brigade was later re-flagged as the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Regiment, 7th Battalion, and Ryan's orders to deploy to Iraq were soon secured. What was always in the back of my mind was becoming a reality. My son was going to war!

As I started mentally working my way through the certainty of his upcoming deployment, I went through so many different emotions---fear, pride, grief, dread, anger----they all showed themselves during this period of acceptance. My son was a soldier, and it was my job to love and support him through the long, dark days ahead.

Ryan left for Iraq on 10 June 2008. It was the beginning of a very long year----a year of jumping on the internet every morning to see what was going on where he was, hoping that there would be no news, because "no news is good news". It was a year of waking up in the middle of the night wondering what Ryan was doing at that very moment and then sending him my love across the continents and hoping he could feel it. It was a year of faithfully sending "care packages" every two weeks, packing each box a hundred times in a hundred different ways so I could squeeze as much as possible into every corner. It was a year of waiting for word from the FRG (Family Readiness Group) when I read in the news that the FOB (Forward Operating Base) had been mortared and there were casualties or that someone had been killed by an IED and information was pending notification of 'next of kin'. Oh, what a year it was!
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Ryan made it home, safe and sound, in June 2009. All the prayers, all the candles that were lighted on his behalf, all the loving thoughts that were soaked into the little bag of protection stones that Ryan kept in a pocket of his uniform, the Thor's hammer that he wore with his dog tags and the warrior spirit that it represented, and the good sense and training of both Ryan and his fellow soldiers, all worked together to carry him through. Along with a Muslim prayer cloth and prayer beads, Ryan brought back some amazing stories about his experiences in Iraq----some things that a mother would rather not know her son had to go through, some that were hard to hear.




And now, he's coming home. His contract is up, and, for now, he has decided he needs a break from the Army; a return to a "normal" life, to the area that he loves so much, college, work......LIFE!

What a journey this has been....for everyone. Although it is our sons and daughters who go about the day-to-day routine of Army life, as parents, we live it, too. In a different way, of course, but we live it.

WELCOME HOME, RYAN!!!

*****During the course of Ryan's deployment, I connected with several other 2-7 Cav moms who were dealing with their son's first deployment to a combat zone, as well. Through emails and phone calls, these women became sources of encouragement, support, and hope, to me and I to them. Even though our sons are on their way out of the Army, I continue to keep in touch with them. Cynthia, Karen, and Vicki-----you ROCK!!!!