And the Judges pick is.....

JESSICA!!!
During ASTA festival several children (usually around 200 ) that play the string instruments come and compete before judges and only a dozen or so are selected to play at an honors recital. It is a great opportunity to see how you are doing and have someone evaluate you. I was disappointed that because Alexis and MaKayla's teacher is in a different county than Cache I couldn't get anyone to call me back to figure out how to register them for it. In the past their teachers have been in Cache Valley and so registration was a snap. Formerly they have had the privlege of being selected however. So anyway, That left our little Jessica and we were gratefully honored. She played well tonight for the honors recital. Way to go little Jessica(the cellist)!

Orient-here she comes!

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Our oldest has the opportunity to go anywhere in the world with grandma and grandpa. She chose the orient-specifically Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and China. She doesn't know she is going yet, but I am thrilled for her and wish I could experience it with her. I am so grateful for the insightful grandparents she has that want to mentor her and are a part of her life. We really are blessed to have loving and caring grandparents on both sides. While I recognize this is a rare opportunity I am so thankful she can take it. Does anyone know any classic literature on culture or history she can read up on before she goes?

A Curious Woman

I recently purchased this book from Tasha Tudor. I am mainly interested in her art. She has the ability to capture the frolicking nature of children and simplicity of the past. I personally would love to be an artist and illustrate children's books. Her work is among my favorites. I think she would have been an interesting person to know. She retired to an early victorian lifestyle in her country cottage assuming all the early settlement tasks of baking, farming, milking, gardening and going so far as to always wear a dress of the period. She once said of women, "Why do women want to dress like men when they're fortunate enough to be women? Why lose our femininity, which is one of our greatest charms? We get much more accomplished by being charming than we would by flaunting around in pants and smoking. I am very fond of men. I think they're wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don't want to look like one. When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error. Things half seen are so much more mysterious and delightful. Remember the term "a neatly turned ankle"? Think of the trill that gentlemen used to get if they caught even a glimpse of one. Now women go around in their union suits. And what a multitude of sins you could cover up with a long skirt if you had piano legs." She prefered life simple and lived it to it's fullest adapting Henry David Thoreau's credo for her own, "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
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While I enjoy all the modern convieniences, I can't help but think we loose something when we don't get back to the simplicity of life and things. For fun her family invented a religion called stillwater inspired by the Shakers. They had a big celebration on Midsummer's Eve. The entire point is to live without stress so in their devotionals and worship They would sit on the front porch in a rocker and listen to the liquid song of the hermit thrush that they might enjoy life more. She thought people were so jeezled up that they needed to take the time to just mediate and be still. There is so much wisdom in this. Hasn't our dear prophet asked us to simplify and set priorities. Life doesn't have to be about chauffering kids and the more we are home the more I feel peace and actually have the time to accomplish the things I need to.

My Newest Hero

I recently have had an unquenchable desire to study our founding fathers. Currently I don't know where this information I am obtaining will come in handy but I am enjoying the journey. I have not always been a history buff and was once counted among those who say,"history is in the past, why study it-who cares?" But as a homeschooler I understand the critical need of having a classical, well rounded education and that me leading the way is the only chance they have in developing a leadership education for themselves. As you can tell from my book shelf most of what is on there are books centered around the early American history. One must ask, "what makes this country so great anyway, how is it different?" How we went from being common farmers to claiming victory over the worlds strongest empire and eventually walking on the moon followed by becoming the most powerful/rich nation on earth in less than 200 years, is inconceivable. How George Washington, a simple farm boy with a meager education became captain, without pay and setting aside his personal desires and wishes led an army of starving, ragged, unpaid, illequipted farmers for 8 years to victory of a nation who dominated the world and never lost a war as of yet is nothing short of a miracle. The British had 2 million trained militia and America only a quarter of a million rusty and rugged farmers willing to fight for liberty. British wealth was 1000 times greater than America's; how did we win? Perhaps George Washington can account best, "We have...abundant reason to thank Providence for its many favorable interposition's in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us. I was but the humble agent of favoring Heaven, whose benign interference was so often manifested in our behalf, and to whom the praise of victory alone is due." He went on to becoming the first president, against his own wishes. He opened the letter and tried to read it, but stumbled badly. he paused, then pulled from his pocket a pair of new spectacles, which only his closest aides had ever seen him wear. he fumbled to put them on, but seemed to have difficulty. Finally, he said simply, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind." He also lost his teeth due to the harsh conditions and starvation he surrendered to during the war. Finally his hearing began to fail him. Truly this man was a grand example of liber and public virtue. In 1778 it didn't matter that he could not read or write well. He was trustworthy and of sound judgement and that is what mattered. That is what should matter. Anyone can get an education, but without character what are we? The more character an individual has the more he is capable of. In conclusion, I answer why we must study our history...It is who we are, it is our heritage and our inheritance. We must continue the greatness that our founding fathers possessed. As George Washington said, " Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness." Our freedoms/happiness depend upon our education. I have learned so much from this book about him and it is my goal to adapt the good qualities he possessd. I cannot fathom how somebody so good existed. How do we become that virtuous? He is one I hope to meet and converse with.

A dream realized

Today was a dream realized when all three of my girls played in Sacrament together. One cannot imagine the work that goes into a piece multiplied by 3 players and complicated by Timing. However, after a lot of hard work, practice and heavenly help they did a beautiful job. Jessica's cello teacher was kind enough to join us to even out the voice of the cello. Sorry it is not complete, my camera died. (this was taken in the foyer the night before we preformed.) They are playing the same song that is on my blog but because we could not find any written music for it Diane Austin (violin teacher) listened to the track and wrote the music for the two violins and Jessica's teacher wrote the cello part.