Snowy Thursday

We're finally getting more snow (we had warm temps last week and all our December snow melted). As part of Kate's "project" today, I gave her a snowman-themed paper with 4 pictures on it that had to be put in order. She cut each of them out, put them in order, glued them to a large piece of paper and then drew the final picture in the blank box. Her order is correct (from right to left though)...


She begged for help making the last picture on her own, but I refused because I know she can draw circles and because I want her doing these things on her own. I told her the snowman is 3 circles on top of each other. This is what she drew...big bottom circle and two tiny circles above it for the body and head. :o)It was cute last night at dinner that she told Jim she put together the entire MAISY puzzle on her own. She was so proud of herself. I'm glad I made the choice to begin refusing to help her (in a nice way) so that she can do things on her own and realize it!

Drew's copywork so far for Unit 8...we're still working on correct word spacing, but his printing is really nice-looking. He told me today, "Remember when I used to complain about copywork? Now I just get it done!." Funny how things change in a few months. :o) The other day, Kate was asking me about learning to write (she already writes some letters on her own). I told her she will have a handwriting book next year when she begins Kindergarten. Drew asked when he'll learn cursive and I said, next year. He was so excited. It's one of those "big kid" achievements. :o)

Drew saved his science for last today. It was about mixing oil/water (or trying to) and discovered the oil floats until you add a bit of salt to the water and then the oil drops sink. We tinted the water blue, too! The science lesson tied loosely into our history story because we read today about one of the pilgrims who fell off the Mayflower during a storm and was able to get back aboard the boat.

I am enjoying the Morning Bells devotional book. I was able to find link to the entire book online. Here's what we read together today...

The Sight of Faith.

"As seeing Him who is invisible."--Heb. xi. 27.

If we were always doing everything just as if we saw Him, whom having not
seen we love, how different our lives would be! How much happier too! How
brave, and bright, and patient we should be, if all the time we could
really see Jesus as Stephen saw Him! And by faith, the precious faith
which God is ready to give to all who ask, we may go on our way with this
light upon it, "as seeing Him who is invisible."

These words were said of Moses; and this seeing Him by faith had three
effects. First, "he forsook Egypt;" it made him ready to give up anything
for his God, and God's people. It made him true and loyal to God's cause.
What did He care for anything else, so long as he saw "Him who is
invisible?" Secondly, it took away all his fear. What was "the wrath of
the king" to him, when Jehovah was by his side? Of what should he be
afraid? Thirdly, it enabled him to "endure," to wait patiently for forty
years in the desert, and then to work patiently for forty years in the
wilderness; and only think how strength-giving that sight of faith must be
which enabled him to endure everything for eighty years!

Try for yourself to-day what was such great and long help to Moses. Ask
God, before you go down-stairs, for faith, "the eye of the soul," so that
you may walk all day long "as seeing Him who is invisible." When you are
tempted to indulge in something wrong,--idleness or carelessness, or
selfishness,--this will help you to give it up at once, and forsake it;
for how can you give way to it when your eye meets His? When something
makes you afraid, this will make you brave and peaceful; for how can you
fear anything when your God is so near? When lessons, or work, or even
having to be quiet with nothing to do, seem very tiresome, and you are
tempted to be impatient, and perhaps cross, this will help you to endure
and not only so, but to feel patient; for how can you be impatient when
you are looking up to Him, and He is looking down on you all the time!

"God will not leave me all alone,
He never will forsake His own;
When not another friend I see,
The Lord is looking down on me."

We had a good talk while we read this devotional . Because of the wording, I have to stop often to make sure Drew is understanding it. :o) He had just listened to the story of Stephen from AIO the other day in the van, and Kate's Bible stories are about Moses right now (he often listens in) so it's neat for him to make connections between them realizing they're the same people in the Bible. Drew learned what the word "forsake" means as well as a few others. But most important, he was reminded that when no one else is with him, Jesus is with him!