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Lisbet
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Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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I initially started this as a pm to Alice, and then I realized that it applied to everyone here on this board, and how grateful I am to be here and learn from all of you. I want to share a bit of our return to "Real Learning" during the past year.
I hope you and your families had a wonderful weekend and are all doing well. I wanted to share with you what we did for Epiphany yesterday, many ideas I gleaned from your beautiful tea.
We had planned a party for yesterday afternoon with another family, but unfortunetly I have a few kiddos with the flu, so we had to cancel. I had to figure out how to still make the feast memorable, but easy and enjoyable on everyone. My oldest and I were not able to attend mass, his fever was soaring.  (I missed mass on Epiphany last year too due to illness, part of being mama I suppose!) So while everyone else was at mass I prepared a simple bean soup for lunch, and made two loaves of cornbread. I sliced the bread and put it in the bread basket, used two pieces of brown construction paper folded to make a "roof" over the basket, I put this on the table. I used our wooden childs nativity set as a centerpiece, with the wisemen present for the first time. I printed and cut out the lovely letters your daughter wrote and placed them at the setting of my husband, my daughter and myself. We set the table as usual, then after our table blessing, we talked about Bethlehem meaning 'House of Bread', and used the symbolism of the corn bread in the basket. This led to a really nice discussion on the Holy Name of Jesus, and all the different titles we give to Christ. Then, as each letter was read, I pulled out the appropriate "gift", (I purchased miniture samples of gold, frankinsence and myrrh) We passd them around the table for each person to examine, the the youngest 3 children layed them in the nativity at the infant Jesus. Everyone ooohed and ahhhed, I cried while reading the third letter. These were so touching, your daughter has such a gift with words Alice!
After we cleaned up from lunch each child made their own crown from a kit I purchased at Oriental Trading.
My husband, who is usually not home when we do these types of things, was SO impressed. He LOVED how it really brought it all down to their level and made it 'real' to them.
Alice, I cannot thank you enough for sharing your creativity and talent with all of us. We used your Advent cube ideas for our observation of Advent last year too, and it was so enriching and fun, and again, REAL.
Elizabeth, we also used alot of your Tomie dePaolo unit study throughout Advent. The children loved it all. We are now Tomie groupies, stalking his books at the library and Amazon when we really really like them!
Everyone here, I have gleaned SO much from your liturgical celebrations, and lifestyle of learning in general.
Abigail and I were boxing up the nativity set, the Christmas books, and the Advent cubes this morning. She said "Mom, we will use all of these again next year, won't we??"
I came to this board a year ago, after reading Elizabeths book many times, and so yearning for that kind of education and lifestyle for our family, but unsure how to practically implement it with such a bursting household of littles. Our homeschooling had become so dry and lifeless.
My husband has commented a number of times how much he loves the 'light' he sees in our children again. It had grown so dim from workbooks and texts, and a frazzled mother.
Another thread mentions a 'word' or 'theme' for the new year. Ours will definetly be the word "Real". My husband and I both have been examining this word alot lately, and we know it's what we want for our family.
Anyway, all of you have encouraged and enriched this family more than you can ever know. Thanks!
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 10:23am | IP Logged
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Lisbet,
That is so beautiful and inspiring! I'm glad you shared it with all of us! I love the idea of the cornbread, as that is one allergy-free recipe I make for my son that he enjoys.
__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Carole N.
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Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 11:00am | IP Logged
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Lisbet,
What a wonderful celebration! I am taking notes. I like the way you included the gifts in your meal. Thanks for sharing this with us.
__________________
 Carole ... in Wales
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Leonie
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 6:36pm | IP Logged
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What a lovely story - and a great theme for the year!
__________________
Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 8:47pm | IP Logged
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Lisa,
This is so beautiful! It is always enjoyable to read how each family takes the ideas presented here & incorporates them, according to God's will, into their own family.
__________________
Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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Karen E.
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Joined: Feb 27 2005
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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How inspiring! Thanks for posting it for all of us!
__________________
God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
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What a beautiful story! I'm so glad that you shared it with all of us! One thing that I'm trying hard to remember is that sometimes simple is better. (And it saves me from running out of steam as fast too!)
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Cheryl
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 10:42pm | IP Logged
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Lisa,
Thanks for posting this.
__________________
Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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alicegunther
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| Posted: Jan 08 2007 at 11:50pm | IP Logged
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Lisa, I am the one in tears--truly this post is a blessing to all of us and full of encouragement and love. I don't think I have the words to thank you for sharing this here.
I am going to save this post for sure!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
      
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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saintanneshs
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Joined: April 15 2005
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| Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 9:03am | IP Logged
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Lisa,
What an inspiring post! I'm so glad you shared!
__________________
Kristine
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Return to RealLearning in our home
