Friday 4 May 2018

Mother's Day Thoughts

Did you know that the history of Mother's Day goes back as far as the Ancient Greeks and Romans? Mother's Day in it's present form began in 1908 in the United States.  The History website has some rather interesting background about it. It was designated to the second Sunday in May by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. It was started by the church in the 1600's in England and was called Mothering Sunday and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.  It had it's rebirth in the general community in the late 1800's as a work club to teach woman how to improve sanitary conditions in order to lower infant mortality. Mother's Day was first held in Australia in 1924.


Dear Mother Who Feels She Has No Value
Our roles as mothers have a deep value far and above all we could ever imagine.  It saddens me just how devalued motherhood has become in the current social climate and today as I was reading through some scriptures pertaining to Motherhood I realised that God places a high value upon our position whether we are physical mothers or spiritual mothers.

Our Teaching is Valuable
In Proverbs 6:20-21 it says: My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. Think about that for a moment.  We are instructed to not forsake our mother's teaching and to bind all her teaching about our necks.  Whether we are teaching our children life skills, new habits, scholastic subjects, language, anything we teach has value.  God sees it as so valuable that whatever we are teaching needs to be remembered by our children.

We are Worth MORE than Rubies*
Proverbs 31:10-30 We are so valuable that our value is equated to that of Rubies. You are valuable.  Stop comparing your real life to someone elses staged picture perfect life on TV or social media.   You are more valuable being yourself than trying to become what you think others expect of you.  You are especially created in the image of the Lord God (Genesis 1:27) and carefully he formed you in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) and you are fearfully and wonderfully made(Psalm 139:14).

*Did you know that rubies have a current market value of $15,000 / ct and a red ruby has the highest value of all. Rubies are a member of the four most precious gemstones in the world.

Our Position brings Blessing
In Exodus 20:12 God commands a blessing upon our children simply because of our position as the parent. God has chosen to use us as the reason that blessing flows to our children. The key that unlocks that blessing from God towards our children is their choice to children honour us.

Think about that for a moment.  We are so important that our very existence God chose to use as a reason to bless our children.

God compares His compassion to that of a Mother
We are so valuable to God that He chose to compare his compassion and remembrance with that of a Mother in Isaiah 49:15.

I think it is time for us as Mother's to take time to learn the truth of our personal value.  We are rendered powerless in our positions as mothers because we do not understand our true personal value.  We are robbed of the pleasure of our blessing (Psalm 127:3) when we base our value in the choices of our children.  Your value is not determined or reflected through the choices your children make.  Your value is in that God made you and He chose you and He formed you into a woman and a mother.

You are a Blessing Mother and you are deeply loved.




Think seasonally. One interest per season, coupled with thirty minutes of reading a day, may be all that is needed to keep up the Mother Culture and regain any lost enthusiasm for living - Karen Andreola

Past Thoughts on Mothers Day to Encourage you

  • Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed – As a mother so often we feel overwhelmed and alone. Here are some words to encourage and equip you as a Mother.
  • Mother this IS who you ARE! – Often times we forget who we really are in the humdrum of daily living. Here are some words to encourage and remind you of who you are.
  • 10 Things every Mom should Know – 10 things to remember from the perspective of your child.
  •  Do you value "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle ... " - "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  How often do we hear these words?  Often enough for them to totally loose their impact. As a full time stay at home Mom it's so easy to loose sight of the true value of our positions.
  • Are you getting filled up because you are pouring out ...  This question really impacted me. It was one of those Ah ha moments.  I have been feeling very 'flat' of late and life was starting to become flatter by the day. I was generally  living in survival mode.  I should know better since I often ask my circle of home school mothers "What are you doing daily to recharge yourselves ?" Yet somehow in the busyness of life I had forgotten to apply to myself what I was encouraging my friends to do. 
  • Time Out for YOU the Mom - this is an interesting question and one that often gets mixed responses from the community.
  • Cultivate your soul - Are you living life abundantly?  How can you reach that place?  Read more and be encouraged.
  • Find posts on Mother Culture here. -Some posts to encourage you on looking after yourself well in order to fulfil your role as Mother.
Ideas for Mothers Day
History of Mother's Day
This post is part of the Homeschool Review Crew Resources & Gift Ideas for Mother's Day Round up.


Wednesday 2 May 2018

Classical Christian Education & Charlotte Mason In-depth Guide for FREE

I am super excited to share a new FREE resource I heard about today.  The Old Schoolhouse has compiled a brand new FREE guide for Classical and Charlotte Mason Home Educators.


This beautiful full colour ditial supplement contains:
  • 70 pages of encouragement.
  • 20 Different articles covering: The Value of High School Latin, Why Teach with Historical Fiction, Learning Disabilities: How to Adapt the Curriculum, Living an Educational Lifestyle with Charlotte Mason and many more.
  • Learn from Sonya Shafer from Simply Charlotte Mason, Lee and Robert Bortins with Classical Conversations, Karen Andreola from Charlotte Mason Research & Supply, Dr. Christopher Perrin with Classical Academic Press—and so many more!
I'm always so blessed by the greater home educating community when they give freely of themselves.  I've been a part of the Old Schoolhouse community now for five years and recently read about how Gena and her husband Paul started the company.  I remember years ago we used to look forward to the copy of their magazine arriving in New Zealand and our local support group would share the magazine around for encouragement and news of new products.

Pop on over to The Old Schoolhouse for your FREE copy of Classical Christian Education & Charlotte Mason: An In-Depth Guide.

Blessings
Chareen

Friday 27 April 2018

5 Australian Children's Books


I was browsing my bookshelves and realised that I have so many more books to share (two bookshelves worth to be precise) and I'm down to my last day of books.  So today I thought I would share some books for the younger generation to appreciate us.

Australian Story : 
An Illustrated Timeline

  • Format Paperback | 32 pages
  • Dimensions 210 x 297mm
  • Publication date 01 Feb 2017
  • Publisher National Library of Australia
  • Publication City/Country Canberra, Australia
  • ISBN10 0642279047
  • ISBN13 9780642279040
From Book Depository: "Once there was nothing. Then there was something . . . Come on a fascinating journey through time--from the explosive beginnings of our planet through the formation of the Australian landscape, from the deeply entrenched history of our Indigenous people to modern-day Australia. Beginning with the creation of our country's landmass and climate, Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline presents the key moments in our country's geographical, faunal and floral formation, and later human settlement. Featuring succinct entries on historical moments over the past 47 billion years, Australian Story covers such topics as ecological change, social upheaval, politics, invention, the industrial age, war, immigration, celebration, culture and modern technology--and presents them in a way that is visual, fun and thoroughly entertaining for children. Illustrated with a striking collection of photographs and images from the NLA's collection, this is history for children like never before. A fascinating snapshot of our country, Australian Story tells who we once were, who we are today . . . and where we are going. Originally published in 2012, Australian Story is now brought up to date with events up to 2016 and a new cover."

One of my passions in children's books is to find books that are beautifully illustrated.  This one is a beautiful mix of illustrated graphics and photographs of the events in Australian history with keynote sentances for each event.  It's one of those books that are a joy to look through and will hold your child's attention.

  • Format Hardback | 32 pages
  • Dimensions 233.68 x 294.64 x 7.62mm | 340.19g
  • Publication date 01 Mar 2005
  • Publisher Kane/Miller Book Publishers
  • Publication City/Country United States
  • Language English
  • ISBN10 1929132735
  • ISBN13 9781929132737
 It's not an easy feet trying to explain the sheer expanse of Australia.  For children every trip is an adventure even to town.  Alison does an amazing job of taking you on a journey around Australia.  She highlights the beauty and things that Australia has to offer and the illustrations are beautiful. This gorgeous book is one well worth taking the time to read.


  • Format Paperback | 32 pages
  • Dimensions 236.22 x 251.46 x 5.08mm | 136.08g
  • Publication date 15 Sep 1991
  • Publisher Cengage Learning EMEA
  • Imprint THOMSON LEARNING
  • Publication City/Country London, United Kingdom
  • Language English
  • Edition statement Reprint
  • Illustrations note Illustrations, unspecified
  • ISBN10 0152632247
  • ISBN13 9780152632243
A children's Australian book list would not be complete without a book by Mem Fox.  Possum Magic and Australian children's story's are synonomous.  Beautifully illustrated by Julie Vivas.

From Book Depository:  "Grandma Poss makes bush magic. And her best trick of all is making Hush invisible. Now Hush will truly be safe from snakes. But one day Hush wants to become visible again. Grandma Poss looks and looks, but she can't find the right magic. Then she remembers. It's something to do with food! People food--not possum food. So the two set off on what becomes a fascination culinary tour of the cities of Australia to find the magic that will make Hush visible again."



  • Format Hardback | 40 pages
  • Dimensions 258 x 282 x 12mm | 521.63g
  • Publication date 15 Aug 2010
  • Publisher Cengage Learning, Inc
  • Imprint Sleeping Bear Press
  • Publication City/Country KY, United States
  • Language English
  • Illustrations note , colour illustrations, maps
  • ISBN10 1585364452 
  • ISBN13 9781585364459
D is for Down Under is part of the Discover the World Series.  These books are GORGEOUS and author Devin Scillian cleverly weaves together a clever story using the alphabet to introduce the reader to all things Australian.

  • Format Hardback | 160 pages
  • Dimensions 208 x 282 x 18mm | 819.99g
  • Publication date 01 Jan 1988
  • Publisher James Clarke & Co Ltd
  • Imprint Lutterworth Press
  • Publication City/Country Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • Language English
  • Edition Illustrated
  • Edition statement Illustrated
  • Illustrations note 188ill.(38col.).
  • ISBN10 0718827058
  • ISBN13 9780718827052
The History of Australia book is a beautiful read and wonderfully illustrated with black line drawings.  We are currently reading this wonderful book to learn more about the roots of this nation we hope to soon call our own.

From Book Depository: "Written with young readers in mind, this lively, lucid account of Australia and its people begins with the geographic shaping of the continent millions of years ago and continues to the present day. Here is the fascinating story of a land inhabited since the Ice Ages by Aboriginal tribes, a land which remained undiscovered by the rest of the world until the birth of the industrial age, when European settlement reshaped it in political and social terms. Original sources are used to highlight episodes that will especially appeal to young readers: we hear the voices of Aborigines bewildered by the advent of the Europeans, and of those who made the perilous journey across the world in sailing ships ...We share the weariness of explorers trudging towards a far horizon, and the elation of a lucky gold-digger ...We storm the heights at Gallipoli alongside the Anzacs, and realise what it must have been like to go hungry during the Great Depression, or to fight in the Jungles of New Guinea ...This history, a distinguished collaboration between Manning Clark and Meredith Hooper is lavishly decorated throughout in colour and black-and-white by Susanne Ferrier, whose illustrations perfectly complement the text and give the book an extra, vivid dimension of sheer visual enjoyment. History of Australia is a book to be shared, appreciated and enjoyed by all those eager to discover the story of this great new country."


This is post three of the Homeschool Review Crew 5 Days of Homeschool Blog Hop 2018. The other posts in the series can be found here:
5 Days of Australian Literature


Looking ahead on the host blog: