This month, each family chose a book from The Little House series. Our family chose Farmer Boy. (BTW, I know that book titles are suppose to be underlined, and I do not know how to do it on blogger, so I just look like I don't know proper grammar.) Every time I read Farmer Boy, I am reminded of how few skills I really have when it comes to being self sufficient. These people literally produced everything that they used in their families. I love how beautifully the processes were laid out from start to finish. For instance, the author describes the process of making their own clothing from shearing sheep all the way to the final article of clothing. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things to me that they did was cutting their own ice out of a frozen lake, and the process of storing it for summertime use. They knew the meaning of work.
Another thing that inspired me from this reading was how much value they placed on the few things that they had. The children were taught from an early age to take care of the things they had. They depended on these things. Even their play things and toys were lovingly cared for because they only had a few items that they absolutely loved. My children do not "love" their toys in this way. Is the problem that they have too many things, or that I have not modeled proper care of things, or something else. Perhaps a combination of many things.
We had our 3rd Princess Academy Liber Tea Luncheon this past Friday, hosted by the Claunch family. We again had a wonderful luncheon, valuable discussion, and we had what I would call "mini-factories of production." We learned the whole process of preserving vegetables the old fashioned way, without canning or freezing. We started with picking the vegetables, washing them, cutting them, and then starting the process of "lacto-fermentation." I am truly learning so much.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Oh, Freedom
One of my favorite authors of all time wrote a book called A Thomas Jefferson Education: Leadership Education for the 21st Century. His name is Oliver DeMille. I believe the principles that are taught in this book. I named my 4th child after this man. He was and is influential in so many of my paradigm shifts, because he teaches that we need to learn to think for ourselves. I am grateful daily for this awareness. The trends in society today have been such that we have allowed ourselves to blindly follow "experts" for lack of a better term. We do not trust ourselves. We make decisions for our homes and families based on what the latest experts say are right. What if the expert(s) is/are wrong? This would make it important for me to know how to think, particularly to ask the right questions.
True freedom requires education and accountability. Without these, we are slaves. The founding fathers understood this principle. What would have happened if they had not learned to question and think for themselves, and then use their knowledge to make decisions? We certainly would not have the freedoms we now enjoy.
Education is the tool whereby we come to an awareness of what our options are. The educational systems today focus on cramming information into your brain and then parroting back the information to get a good grade. The focus is on learning "what to think." There are no other options. You learn what the textbook says is the truth. This is not how the founding fathers got an education. They read the classics. They did not read some college professors version of the classics. They read several points of view and then were able to form their own opinions. As a result, we have a system of government "by the people" that has lasted longer than any other such government. We are still reaping the fruits, even without understanding the principles of freedom that they understood. This can not last. They understood that it could not last without a moral, educated people.
Accountability is the other prerequisite to freedom. After we have been presented with many options, we make an informed decision based on this knowledge. Then we must be accountable for that decision. Will we make mistakes? Yes. Is it easier to let someone else make the decisions for us? Maybe. Because we have someone else to blame when a mistake is made. Is it better to let someone else make decisions for us? An emphatic no! It is so amazing to live the law of the harvest which says you reap what you sew. Without personal accountability, there is no freedom. The consequences we face are not a result of exercising our freedom to choose, they are a result of someone else's choices. Without personal accountability, we are in effect, handing over our freedom to someone else. We are being acted upon, instead of acting.
So what has prompted my rantings and ravings? Actually it is the swine flu. I believe much of the panic surrounding this subject has been prompted by a whole lot of misinformation. Some questions that have come to my mind are: Is the swine flu that big of a deal? Is it worse than regular flu? Are the options that are coming forth to treat it safe? Can the government really come up with a "safe" immunization in less than a year? Are the risks of the immunization worth the benefits? and so many other questions that I have.
I believe the principles of knowledge and accountability can be applied any time an "expert" or "authority" recommends a course of action. I am not implying that there is no place for trained experts or that we shouldn't follow their recommendations. I am saying find out if that is the course you should take. Don't take my word for it.
I am a lover of freedom and desire to do everything in my power to see that freedom is not lost. Once it is lost, it is extremely difficult to gain it back. I am optimistic that the people will rise up again and do whatever it takes to preserve our freedom. I want to join with all the freedom lovers. I can and I will make a difference. I will study classics, and learn to think for myself a little more every day. As long as I and others are diligent, we will not accept less than freedom. We can do this. I invite you to join me on this journey.
True freedom requires education and accountability. Without these, we are slaves. The founding fathers understood this principle. What would have happened if they had not learned to question and think for themselves, and then use their knowledge to make decisions? We certainly would not have the freedoms we now enjoy.
Education is the tool whereby we come to an awareness of what our options are. The educational systems today focus on cramming information into your brain and then parroting back the information to get a good grade. The focus is on learning "what to think." There are no other options. You learn what the textbook says is the truth. This is not how the founding fathers got an education. They read the classics. They did not read some college professors version of the classics. They read several points of view and then were able to form their own opinions. As a result, we have a system of government "by the people" that has lasted longer than any other such government. We are still reaping the fruits, even without understanding the principles of freedom that they understood. This can not last. They understood that it could not last without a moral, educated people.
Accountability is the other prerequisite to freedom. After we have been presented with many options, we make an informed decision based on this knowledge. Then we must be accountable for that decision. Will we make mistakes? Yes. Is it easier to let someone else make the decisions for us? Maybe. Because we have someone else to blame when a mistake is made. Is it better to let someone else make decisions for us? An emphatic no! It is so amazing to live the law of the harvest which says you reap what you sew. Without personal accountability, there is no freedom. The consequences we face are not a result of exercising our freedom to choose, they are a result of someone else's choices. Without personal accountability, we are in effect, handing over our freedom to someone else. We are being acted upon, instead of acting.
So what has prompted my rantings and ravings? Actually it is the swine flu. I believe much of the panic surrounding this subject has been prompted by a whole lot of misinformation. Some questions that have come to my mind are: Is the swine flu that big of a deal? Is it worse than regular flu? Are the options that are coming forth to treat it safe? Can the government really come up with a "safe" immunization in less than a year? Are the risks of the immunization worth the benefits? and so many other questions that I have.
I believe the principles of knowledge and accountability can be applied any time an "expert" or "authority" recommends a course of action. I am not implying that there is no place for trained experts or that we shouldn't follow their recommendations. I am saying find out if that is the course you should take. Don't take my word for it.
I am a lover of freedom and desire to do everything in my power to see that freedom is not lost. Once it is lost, it is extremely difficult to gain it back. I am optimistic that the people will rise up again and do whatever it takes to preserve our freedom. I want to join with all the freedom lovers. I can and I will make a difference. I will study classics, and learn to think for myself a little more every day. As long as I and others are diligent, we will not accept less than freedom. We can do this. I invite you to join me on this journey.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
More of our journey
Today, Elena and my sister Jennifer did some deep cleaning of our living room. The window was washed, piano keys thoroughly cleaned, baseboards scrubbed, and wall vents removed and cleaned. My sister did most of the work, but Elena helped and was very happy through the process. The best part was the conversation that went on between my sister and my daughter. She is learning so many great things from so many great people. What a wealth of education. I'm grateful to have family members to assist me with my girls and their hope chest journey.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The best season of the year
The beautiful colors everywhere, the cool nights, and beautiful days remind me that it is time for fall. I love the fall!
When it is fall, I get back into the cycle of devouring books. Something about the chilly nights, makes me long to curl up with my family next to the fireplace, and read a great and inspiring story. I think we will read Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. This book always inspires a desire for improvement through education, and bettering ourselves despite opposition and difficulty. Definitely a favorite classic of our family. What are some of your favorites? 'Tis the season to read again and I love ideas. It feels natural to me to begin studies and projects again that have been put off during the warm summer months when we spent the time instead playing late into the evenings and lazily sleeping in. It feels good to renew routines, and just feel the natural cycles of this amazing Earth.
I think the rest of the family is feeling it too. Elena is spending hours reading her books. (She has read over 25 chapter books in the last month.) Alexia is writing and painting and reading. And often times I find them playing together quietly in corners of the house, creating, imagining, and learning together. They play church, store, school, house, dress up, and even create houses. Oh beautiful girlhood! I wish I could always see the beauty in the little things they do, instead of feeling overwhelmed with my agenda (which feels so insignificant as I write this) I want to treasure these moments in my heart always. We are in the middle of fall break right now, so McKay is home, and I can sense in him a desire to be at school learning. Although he has been drawing and studying fish, it is hard for him to separate himself from the frolicking girls, and the busy baby.
Book learning is perhaps my favorite part of the hope chest journey. I just reviewed the talk given by Elder Christofferson in the most recent general conference. I am inspired by this man's words. He is a teacher of the principles of freedom. I was truly moved. So many things to learn, so many things to do. I feel the weight of the responsibility we have to change the trends of society, but I also feel a great hope and support that we truly can do this. It starts with me and my family, and I believe the key to this change is through education. I believe that the main purpose of education today is to train the masses for jobs. I don't want this for my children. I want my children to have moral education, or what Donna Goff calls, "education of the heart, mind, and hands."
When it is fall, I get back into the cycle of devouring books. Something about the chilly nights, makes me long to curl up with my family next to the fireplace, and read a great and inspiring story. I think we will read Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. This book always inspires a desire for improvement through education, and bettering ourselves despite opposition and difficulty. Definitely a favorite classic of our family. What are some of your favorites? 'Tis the season to read again and I love ideas. It feels natural to me to begin studies and projects again that have been put off during the warm summer months when we spent the time instead playing late into the evenings and lazily sleeping in. It feels good to renew routines, and just feel the natural cycles of this amazing Earth.
I think the rest of the family is feeling it too. Elena is spending hours reading her books. (She has read over 25 chapter books in the last month.) Alexia is writing and painting and reading. And often times I find them playing together quietly in corners of the house, creating, imagining, and learning together. They play church, store, school, house, dress up, and even create houses. Oh beautiful girlhood! I wish I could always see the beauty in the little things they do, instead of feeling overwhelmed with my agenda (which feels so insignificant as I write this) I want to treasure these moments in my heart always. We are in the middle of fall break right now, so McKay is home, and I can sense in him a desire to be at school learning. Although he has been drawing and studying fish, it is hard for him to separate himself from the frolicking girls, and the busy baby.
Book learning is perhaps my favorite part of the hope chest journey. I just reviewed the talk given by Elder Christofferson in the most recent general conference. I am inspired by this man's words. He is a teacher of the principles of freedom. I was truly moved. So many things to learn, so many things to do. I feel the weight of the responsibility we have to change the trends of society, but I also feel a great hope and support that we truly can do this. It starts with me and my family, and I believe the key to this change is through education. I believe that the main purpose of education today is to train the masses for jobs. I don't want this for my children. I want my children to have moral education, or what Donna Goff calls, "education of the heart, mind, and hands."
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