Book #50

My sister leant me a book on Saturday and I read it in 2 days--it was a quick, enjoyable read.  The title says it all: "Mafia to Mormon: My Conversion Story". 

Mario Facione grew up in Detroit surrounded by the Italian Association.  He learned the tricks of the trade from his father and easily became part of the mob as he grew older.  He participated in so many scams that I started to feel uncomfortable.  Although his deception is unbelievable, his conversion story is equally amazing.  He saw the hand of God through the whole process.  It was fascinating to see him go from a criminally minded individual to a God fearing man.  What a great story!

Book #49

I chose something fun and easy to read on our recent trip to Utah because I know that finding the time to study while on vacation is difficult.  I read the next book The Last Apprentice series--"Rage of the Fallen". 

I'm not sure what I like about these books.  Maybe the fantasy, maybe the good versus evil, maybe the scare factor, maybe the fact that they are a break from my normal reading.  In this book Tom, the apprentice, his witch friend, Alice, and his master, the Spook attempt to bind a creature from the dark.  In the process, Alice is kidnapped, Tom is attacked and they anger several other dark creatures. 

At one point, the Spook is explaining how the dark began.  He says, "I still believe that the dark is fed by human wickedness.  Human greed and lusts for power make it even stronger and more dangerous.  If we could only change the hearts of  men and women, the dark would be weakened--I'm sure of it.  But I've lived long enough to know that it would be easier to hold back the tides than achieve that.  We can only hope."  I agree with the Spook that changing hearts is the way to fight the wickedness that is creeping ever further into the world, and I agree that it is a hard task.  But I think that it can be done. 

The way to starve the dark is to start with our own hearts.  Then we can increase our circle of influence and help those closest to us.  Confusius once said,

The ancients who wished to manifest their clear character

to the world would first bring order to their states.

Those who wished to bring order to their states would first cultivate their personal lives. 

Those who wished to cultivate their personal lives would first rectify their minds. 

Those who wished to rectify their minds would first make their wills sincere. 

Those who wished to make their wills sincere would first extend their knowledge.

The extension of knowledge consists in the investigation of things.

When things are investigated, knowledge is extended.

When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere. 

Then the will is sincere, the minds is rectified.

When the mind is rectified, the personal life is cultivated.

When the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated. 
When the family is regulated, the state will be in order.

When the state is in order, there will be peace through the world.

From the Son of Heaven down to the common people,

all must regard cultivation of the personal life as the root or foundation.

There is never a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order.

 

Changing our hearts begins with having the right information--learning from great people--and then applying what we've learned.  I feel blessed to be surrounded by great leaders who I can learn from and associate with.  I am slowly changing one heart at a time. 



Book #48

I needed some audiobooks for us to listen to on our recent drive to Utah.  I'd forgotten to place a request with our library so we searched the shelves in hopes of finding something worth listening to.  I came across a book called "About Average".  It was by Andrew Clements, a favorite author of ours.  We decided to try it.

There were differing opinions from the passengers in the car.  Jonathan didn't like it--probably because he wasn't a 12 year old girl.  The kids all like it--the girls more than the boys.  I liked it.  When I was a youth (and a little still now) I struggled with the same thing as the girl (Jordan) in the story--thinking I was average.  Everyone around me had visible talents--crafts, musical, dance, athletic, etc.--and I had a hard time seeing my talents.  Like Jordan I saw all the gifts of those around me and wished that I could be more like so-and-so.  The reader can see what Jordan can't see--that she has a lot of gifts and her gifts help others.  She is organized, fun, a good friend, and creative. 

Luckily for me, I had a "reader" in my life to see what I couldn't see.  Actually there are a lot of people who have helped me see the gifts that I have been blessed with.  Even though they aren't the kind that I used to dream of, they are gifts that I am thankful for.  I've recognized that we've all been given different gifts and talents to bless those around us.  If everyone were musically talented, who would sit and enjoy the music?  If we all were dancers, who would organize the performance?  I love the scripture in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 14-20.  "For the body is not one member, but many./If the food shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?/And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?/If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?/But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath please him./And if they were all on member, where were the body?/But now are they many members, yet but one body."

Thank you to my parents, my leaders, my husband and my friends for showing me what I couldn't see.  I am not average. 

Book #47

Ever since I attended the TJEd homeschool convention in Salt Lake City a couple of years ago and saw the youth present their scholar projects, I knew that I wanted my kids to be a part of something like that.  I knew that there were a few ways for them to participate in scholar projects--online or commonwealth school--and I felt that a commonwealth school would be the best option for us.  Unfortunately there isn't a commonwealth school close to me.  That meant that I would have to begin my own.  I signed up for trainings and learned the steps to get one started in my community. 

At the same time I was doing this, another mom from this area was thinking the same thing.  She started a gathering project (the first phase) and invited parents to attend.  This went on last year.  We read and discussed books looking for principles of leadership.  I knew that it would still be a couple of years until we were ready to start the founding phase of the commonwealth school . 

In the mean time, I decide to start looking into commonwealth schools in other areas.  There are 2 in the Mesa/Gilbert area (about 1 hour away).  Both Jonathan and I felt that joining one of them was the right step for our family.  He loved the idea of being around like-minded homeschoolers and I loved the idea of getting hands-on training.  I made contact with the 'president' and she helped me get a feel for the school and their philosophy.  I originally volunteered to mentor a love of learning class, but was later asked to co-mentor a scholar class.  Braedi will attend that class with me and the other kids will be in love of learning clubs or core classes.  I also joined to board in hopes of learning more about how to run a commonwealth school (there is soooo much to it). 

There are 2 downsides to the whole thing.  One is the drive.  A drive that far, that early in the morning will be tough on me and the kids.  The other is the day.  The school meets on Thursdays--the same day as our homeschool group.  I decided to tell the homeschool group that I would only be able to commit to one day a month (the day of our book club).  I didn't want to have to stress about getting back to the other side of town in time and I think the commonwealth school will meet most of our social needs. 

Knowing that I had to tell my group about my decision, I started preparing myself to be able to explain what it was that I was doing instead.  I read "The New Commonwealth School" by Analadee Milne and Tiffany Earl.  I learned that a commonwealth school is built by a community of families who want to change the direction of education.  "The mission for our New Commonwealth School is to create an environment in which families of like culture can study the classics and become great citizens through devotion to learning more about and gaining a greater vision of our country and ourselves, and to reinforce our allegiance to our God."  I reviewed common myths about education and read about the phases of starting a commonwealth school.  I have told a few people about what we are doing, but I haven't gotten any questions or comments. 

Though I feel a bit overwhelmed with this endeavor, I know it is the right path for us to be on. 

Book #46

Although we have read the Little House on the Prairie series, I decided to include "Little House in the Big Woods" as the final book for our summer book club.  It has been several years since we listened to it and I've been thinking about reading it again so that the younger kids could have a chance to experience the stories. 

Even though the main characters are girls, the boys still enjoyed this  book.  We learned about time
period and how children were expected to act, and we discussed what it would be like to live then.  For our activity we played a game of charades.  I wrote down several events that took place and gave the kids an opportunity to act them out.  They were allowed to use other people and props.  They had a lot of fun and did a good job.  I wish I had taken videos of some of them. 

The kids and I are sad that summer book club is over, but look forward to started up book club again with our homeschool group in October. 

Book #45

Another book in the OZ series. . ."Ozma of OZ".  After the last book I mentioned that it reminded me of the 2nd OZ movie.  Well, this one is even more like it.  Dorothy returns to OZ and we meet the wheelers and Tiktok and travel with them to the Gnome King to save the royal family of Ev.  We also are reunited with the Tin Woodmand, the Scarecrow, the sawhorse, and Ozma.  The kids are enjoying the series, but I would have been fine if we stopped after the first.  L. Frank Baum's writing style has changed and there isn't much to discuss.  Too bad that there are about 10 books left. 

Book #44

The kids and I really enjoyed reading "The Bronze Bow" by Elizabeth George Speare last summer for our kid book club.  We also liked "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" which we read the year before.  This summer we picked another of her books to read--"The Sign of the Beaver"--and liked it just as well as the others. 

In this story Matt and his father move to Maine and set up a homestead, then the father leaves to fetch the rest of the family leaving Matt in charge.  The journey takes longer than expected and 13 year old Matt is left to have many adventures on his own.  While attempting to retrieve honey from a tree, Matt is attacked by bees.  He is rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean.  Matt agrees to teach Attean to read, but in the process learns a lot from Attean.  Matt learns that there are two sides to every story.  He starts to see how the indian people feel about the white people hunting on the land.  Matt learns different ways to do things.  He also learns the importance of family. 

After our discussion we ground some corn with rocks and made corn meal.  The kids discovered that it was hard work.  They worked for 10 minutes and only ground about 1 Tablespoon.  We also tasted some hasty pudding--a food that Matt ate until a bear snuck into his house and scattered the flour on the floor.  I had several toppings available, but most of the kids didn't like it any way.