Years ago, back when I thought I knew everything in the world that needed to be known, I was blessed with my very first Mother’s Day gift – a precious baby girl that stole our hearts for forever. We had read all of the books on parenting, taken childbirth classes, and had purchased the very best car seat available. The bright yellow paint was still drying on the nursery walls when I went into labor, even though the doctor had assured us that we still had weeks to go – my first lesson in flexibility as a parent.
After a 23-hour labor and spontaneous shouted discussions of why we took all of the childbirth classes, our sweet baby girl made her appearance. We couldn’t help falling in love with her, and couldn’t get enough of just looking at her – pink chubby cheeks and beautiful bright blue eyes. She was, indeed, a miracle. Remember that feeling – the realization that you had been given your own miracle, a gift from God Himself? That moment was one of THE most powerful that I have ever experienced, when I realized that miracles still happen and I had just been blessed with my very own.
Born just a few days before Mother’s Day, we were able to bring this bundle of joy home on Mother’s Day, my very first Mother’s Day as a mom. I will never forget the memory of sitting there with the best Mother’s Day gift that a mom can be given – the gift of my own miracle, wrapped in a soft cotton blanket and sleeping so peacefully. Her busy stretching and grasping fingers and fascinating expressions kept us entranced for hours of baby-watching that day, my very first Mother’s Day.
Enjoy this special Mother’s Day and remember your own Mother’s Day miracles. They are precious in His sight!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Amanda Bennett
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Bottle Brushes and Life Lessons
Years ago, back when our kids were younger, I had my own collection of baby bottle brushes. No, not for bottles – but for cleaning hard-to-clean things like Mason jars, test tubes, and Lego pieces that got stuck in places that they shouldn’t have been, like chocolate cake or mashed potatoes. Oh, the places that they go, but that’s a story for a different day.
I recently discovered that somehow, over the years, the bottle brushes had gotten lost or tossed. I was trying to clean up some recently discovered wayward Lego people and pieces that I discovered in the basement. As a speaker at online events, I like to line the Lego people up on my laptop during online speeches, so that I have an audience to talk to – it’s awful to try to give a presentation to hundreds and hundreds of people and only have a screen to stare at!
Lesson learned – sometimes the tools of early childhood can be very useful later in life, so hang onto them! From action figures to bottle brushes, I am still learning. Heading out now to buy a set of baby bottle brushes. That should get everyone in town talking, and make my family wonder what I’m up to…
Amanda Bennett
I recently discovered that somehow, over the years, the bottle brushes had gotten lost or tossed. I was trying to clean up some recently discovered wayward Lego people and pieces that I discovered in the basement. As a speaker at online events, I like to line the Lego people up on my laptop during online speeches, so that I have an audience to talk to – it’s awful to try to give a presentation to hundreds and hundreds of people and only have a screen to stare at!
Lesson learned – sometimes the tools of early childhood can be very useful later in life, so hang onto them! From action figures to bottle brushes, I am still learning. Heading out now to buy a set of baby bottle brushes. That should get everyone in town talking, and make my family wonder what I’m up to…
Amanda Bennett
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Trains and Your Future!
Remember the Trivia Time from Monday?... (you don't want to miss the Monday posts for Unit of the Week!)
I asked you what 4 feet, 8.5 inches had to do with trains and the future? Do you know?
Well, 4 feet, 8.5 inches is the standard railroad gauge (that's the distance between the rails). How does that affect the future? Let me tell you, its the gauge used by the English who built the US Railroads. Still not clear, the English used this gauge because the jigs and tools they used were used pre-railroad to build wagons. Further, the wagon makers used this spacing in England because of the wheel ruts. Just where did those wheel ruts come from - Imperial Rome (their war chariots made them...) The Romans made the chariots just wide enough to accomodate the backends of two war horses - you guessed it - 4 feet 8.5 inches wide!
But, what about the future? The Space Shuttle has two big booster rockets attached to it's main fuel tank. The solid rocket boosters are made in Utah, and have to be shipped to the launch site - via the railway. The route to the launch pad takes them through narrow tunnels in the mountains, about the width of the railway track. I know you know it...4 feet, 8.5 inches wide!
Here's the message, what we do today does have a long lasting impact. Don't choose to school one way, just because it's the way it's always been done. Be bold enough to widen your family's tracks! Try something new (like the Trains Unit Study) and see where it takes them!
"The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereupon my soul is grooved to run" Moby Dick, Herman Melville, 1851
I asked you what 4 feet, 8.5 inches had to do with trains and the future? Do you know?
Well, 4 feet, 8.5 inches is the standard railroad gauge (that's the distance between the rails). How does that affect the future? Let me tell you, its the gauge used by the English who built the US Railroads. Still not clear, the English used this gauge because the jigs and tools they used were used pre-railroad to build wagons. Further, the wagon makers used this spacing in England because of the wheel ruts. Just where did those wheel ruts come from - Imperial Rome (their war chariots made them...) The Romans made the chariots just wide enough to accomodate the backends of two war horses - you guessed it - 4 feet 8.5 inches wide!
But, what about the future? The Space Shuttle has two big booster rockets attached to it's main fuel tank. The solid rocket boosters are made in Utah, and have to be shipped to the launch site - via the railway. The route to the launch pad takes them through narrow tunnels in the mountains, about the width of the railway track. I know you know it...4 feet, 8.5 inches wide!
Here's the message, what we do today does have a long lasting impact. Don't choose to school one way, just because it's the way it's always been done. Be bold enough to widen your family's tracks! Try something new (like the Trains Unit Study) and see where it takes them!
"The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereupon my soul is grooved to run" Moby Dick, Herman Melville, 1851
Thursday, April 28, 2011
April Surprises and Priorities
Rain + kids = so much fun!
I don’t know about you, but some of our favorite memories of raising our kids come from those rainy days when there was no lightning, just tons of big, fat, juicy raindrops and three kids with umbrellas and rain boots.
Living in Florida, we had surprise afternoons of rain that were perfect for these kinds of adventures. They would play on the sidewalk, building dams and splashing through any and all puddles that they could find–my fearless explorers.
That these times were so memorable had something to do with the element of surprise and spur of the moment freedom. They involved no electronics or planning–they could just go outside and play. I have learned so much from our kids, and one of the most important lessons was the importance of going with the flow and living with a bit of spontaneity, seizing the day for all it is worth.
As much comfort as we gain from plans and planners, don’t lose site of the goal. One of my favorite quotes about raising kids and having fun came from the famous baseball player, Harmon Killebrew:
“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say, ‘You're tearing up the grass.’
‘We're not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We're raising boys.’”
I don’t know about you, but some of our favorite memories of raising our kids come from those rainy days when there was no lightning, just tons of big, fat, juicy raindrops and three kids with umbrellas and rain boots.
Living in Florida, we had surprise afternoons of rain that were perfect for these kinds of adventures. They would play on the sidewalk, building dams and splashing through any and all puddles that they could find–my fearless explorers.
That these times were so memorable had something to do with the element of surprise and spur of the moment freedom. They involved no electronics or planning–they could just go outside and play. I have learned so much from our kids, and one of the most important lessons was the importance of going with the flow and living with a bit of spontaneity, seizing the day for all it is worth.
As much comfort as we gain from plans and planners, don’t lose site of the goal. One of my favorite quotes about raising kids and having fun came from the famous baseball player, Harmon Killebrew:
“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say, ‘You're tearing up the grass.’
‘We're not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We're raising boys.’”
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
19 fun things to do with your family--Unit Studies style!
1. Visit your state capital. Take a tour of the capitol building preferably while Congress is in session. If you are really motivated, plan a family vacation to Washington D. C, the seat of American Government. Visit the U.S. Capitol, White House, and National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution are kept.
2. Visit a local speedway and learn more about Auto Racing. Ask if you can meet with a crew to ask questions about the cars and racing in general. Or visit a automobile factory or museum!
3. Take in a Baseball game. There are major and minor leagues, college, high school, and little league baseball organizations to choose from. Don't forget the hot dogs and Cracker Jacks!
4. Throw a Christmas in July party for a local shelter or children's home. Toiletries, toys, clothing and blankets all make wonderful gifts for those in need.
5. Give your children a camera, take a nature walk and let them practice their Digital Photography. You might be surprised to find out what your children see through the camera's eye!
6. If you have a dog, enroll in an obedience class to learn more about dog training. If you don't have Dogs, visit your local no-kill animal shelter or a veterinarian's office for a tour.
7. Create a timeline of Jesus' life, using craft paper or butcher paper. Easter is a great time of year to do this. You can hang it on the wall as a decoration to remember everything you learned along the way.
8. Spend some time together making and flying a kite. Google for directions. Nothing will thrill your children more than when a kite they've worked so hard to make takes Flight!
9. Planting Gardens are great fun family projects. How about a pizza garden? Even if you don't have a lot of room, you can plant a container garden and grow some herbs or flowers!
10. Horses can provide great family fun time! Visit a horse farm or rodeo, or take a riding lesson together! Children and adults alike love these gentle animals!
11. Plan the ultimate field trip, working together to identify a Lighthouse in your area or one that your family could visit on a day or weekend trip. Contact the caretaker of the light ahead of time for tour information. Ask questions about its function and purpose. Don't forget your camera for this memory-making field trip!
12. Visit a regional aquarium or Sea World to see marine life up close and personal. Stare down a shark, pet a horseshoe crab, watch a dolphin show. Animals living in Oceans are fascinating and beautiful! It's amazing to learn all the wonderful skills God has created in these amazing creatures!
13. Visit a national cemetery on one of the Patriotic Holidays, such as Memorial Day. Learn about those who serve or have served our country in order to protect our freedoms. Perhaps you have a friend or family member serving their county today. Why not put together and mail a care package to show your appreciation.
14. Pretend you are Pioneers for a weekend. Go camping and really "rough" it. Cook over a campfire, hike the trails, sketch plants and animals you see along the way, sleep out under the stars. Imagine that you are the first family to discover this wilderness!
15. If you live close to the water, perhaps there are Sailing Ships tied up at the marina. Pack a picnic in the early morning and watch these gorgeous ships set sail from a public dock!
16. Scrapbooking is a popular hobby for many moms. Why not scrapbook your school year as a family? Using photos of your children participating in different activities, field trips, or pictures of their creations, put together a "yearbook" scrapbook style!
17. Find a star chart for your location and go out on a clear night to see what you can find in the night sky. If you have a telescope, take a closer up look at the moon. There's a lot out there to observe out there in Space, so take your time and make some memories. Don't forget the blankets and hot chocolate!
18. Create a Thanksgiving journal. Once a week, perhaps after Sunday dinner, sit together as a family and count your blessings, writing in your journal those things for which your family is most grateful.
19. Look for a model Trains sets at garage sales or a hobby store. Spend some time as a family designing your own lay-out for your family railway. There are library books and websites to help. You might even learn how to build a town around your railway!
2. Visit a local speedway and learn more about Auto Racing. Ask if you can meet with a crew to ask questions about the cars and racing in general. Or visit a automobile factory or museum!
3. Take in a Baseball game. There are major and minor leagues, college, high school, and little league baseball organizations to choose from. Don't forget the hot dogs and Cracker Jacks!
4. Throw a Christmas in July party for a local shelter or children's home. Toiletries, toys, clothing and blankets all make wonderful gifts for those in need.
5. Give your children a camera, take a nature walk and let them practice their Digital Photography. You might be surprised to find out what your children see through the camera's eye!
6. If you have a dog, enroll in an obedience class to learn more about dog training. If you don't have Dogs, visit your local no-kill animal shelter or a veterinarian's office for a tour.
7. Create a timeline of Jesus' life, using craft paper or butcher paper. Easter is a great time of year to do this. You can hang it on the wall as a decoration to remember everything you learned along the way.
8. Spend some time together making and flying a kite. Google for directions. Nothing will thrill your children more than when a kite they've worked so hard to make takes Flight!
9. Planting Gardens are great fun family projects. How about a pizza garden? Even if you don't have a lot of room, you can plant a container garden and grow some herbs or flowers!
10. Horses can provide great family fun time! Visit a horse farm or rodeo, or take a riding lesson together! Children and adults alike love these gentle animals!
11. Plan the ultimate field trip, working together to identify a Lighthouse in your area or one that your family could visit on a day or weekend trip. Contact the caretaker of the light ahead of time for tour information. Ask questions about its function and purpose. Don't forget your camera for this memory-making field trip!
12. Visit a regional aquarium or Sea World to see marine life up close and personal. Stare down a shark, pet a horseshoe crab, watch a dolphin show. Animals living in Oceans are fascinating and beautiful! It's amazing to learn all the wonderful skills God has created in these amazing creatures!
13. Visit a national cemetery on one of the Patriotic Holidays, such as Memorial Day. Learn about those who serve or have served our country in order to protect our freedoms. Perhaps you have a friend or family member serving their county today. Why not put together and mail a care package to show your appreciation.
14. Pretend you are Pioneers for a weekend. Go camping and really "rough" it. Cook over a campfire, hike the trails, sketch plants and animals you see along the way, sleep out under the stars. Imagine that you are the first family to discover this wilderness!
15. If you live close to the water, perhaps there are Sailing Ships tied up at the marina. Pack a picnic in the early morning and watch these gorgeous ships set sail from a public dock!
16. Scrapbooking is a popular hobby for many moms. Why not scrapbook your school year as a family? Using photos of your children participating in different activities, field trips, or pictures of their creations, put together a "yearbook" scrapbook style!
17. Find a star chart for your location and go out on a clear night to see what you can find in the night sky. If you have a telescope, take a closer up look at the moon. There's a lot out there to observe out there in Space, so take your time and make some memories. Don't forget the blankets and hot chocolate!
18. Create a Thanksgiving journal. Once a week, perhaps after Sunday dinner, sit together as a family and count your blessings, writing in your journal those things for which your family is most grateful.
19. Look for a model Trains sets at garage sales or a hobby store. Spend some time as a family designing your own lay-out for your family railway. There are library books and websites to help. You might even learn how to build a town around your railway!
Upcoming Conference Schedule
Amanda has been busy, traveling and speaking across the country and on the Internet. Speaking about homeschooling, unit studies, parenting, and getting kids ready for college, Amanda is spreading her encouraging words and enjoying meeting so many of you!
If you would like to hear Amanda speak, there are several opportunities in the coming weeks, both in person and online.
 March 30-April 2, 2011 www.MidwestHomeschoolConvention.com Her presentations include:
A daily Shopping Hall Only / Exhibit Hall Only pass is available at-the-door for only $10 per day per person (or $20 per family). Click HERE for more information. Also, don't forget to get your Discounted Parking Coupon HERE! _____________________________
 Join the fun with Amanda as she continues to provide the encouragement you need, when and where you need it most, by sharing her homeschooling experience and infectious love of learning. |
Sunday, September 6, 2009
When things just absolutely do NOT make sense…
This has been one of those weeks when so much has happened, most of which has not made “sense.” I have lived long enough to realize that my “sense” and my way is not necessarily God’s way. But still, when a child is taken or catastrophe strikes or the economy tips and keeps on tipping, I struggle with pushing back and wanting to know WHY. Sometimes I look for answers that fit into a logical pattern, when there is no human explanation.
In the midst of the mayhem, I have discovered an amazing book and author that remind me of the wonder and awe of God’s creation, while keeping me aware of the fact that this is His story, not mine – and that this is just the beginning. Like you, sometimes I need a faith boost, and this book delivers in a big way.
The title alone caught my eye and made me want to know more:
Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God’s Spoken World, by N.D. Wilson.
This is one of those books that can make you laugh out loud in the middle of Panera or shake your head in stunned wonder – how did I miss this perspective all along? He makes you see just how complex our world is, and just how simple our minds are as we try to make “sense” of this planet and our lives. It is a breath of fresh air, a load off your shoulders, and a motivator to go on to the next day.
His chapters are all seemingly disconnected, yet they so closely resemble the fabric of our lives that it is hard to see the similarities up close – you have to step back with him to see just how it all plays out. As I go through these days, I find myself recalling his words and savoring them. His thoughts and perspective are such a breath of fresh air and so very reassuring. Here are a few examples:
“This storm is nothing, and I am less. But to an infinite artist, a Creator in love with His craft, there is no unimportant corner, there is no thrown-away image, no tattered thread in the novel left untidied.”
Our Creator cares about the minute details, we just can’t see them all while we’re riding this Tilt-a-Whirl we call life. What a great perspective reminder – our Creator is in love with His craft, and ALL that He creates. And oh, we can’t even imagine all that He has created:
“Just to be clear, I live on a near perfect sphere, hurtling through space at around 67,000 miles per hour. Mach 64 to pilots. Of course, this sphere of mine is also spinning while it hurtles, so tack on an extra 1,000 miles per hour at the fat parts. And it’s all tucked into this giant hurricane of stars. Yes, it can be freaky. Once a month or so, my wife will find me lying in the lawn, burrowing white knuckles into the grass, trying not to fly away. But most of the time I manage to keep my balance despite the speed, and I don’t have to hold on with anything more than my toes.”
I love the way that the book helps us to see Jesus – in new light and truth:
“From birth to the end, He never left the trough, Christ walked from insult to insult, from filth to filth. Lepers. Prostitutes. Tax men. The Dead. He chose fishermen to stand closest to Him, and from the educated He chose one great man – a murderer who did not want to come and had to be knocked off his donkey.”
Yes, days spin by and life flies past, filled with so many unexplainable events. But miracle of miracles, we are still hanging on, and this author shows us our days with fresh wind and new sunshine to keep us moving to the finale:
“Come, let us grow old like fishermen. Let us sweeten the air with songs while we fade. Let us die. Winter cannot hold us. Let us go into the ground, and our faces will find the sun. Let us ride the eruption of Easter.
Our Maker waits. He would have a conversation. What words will we have?
We will laugh and carve FINIS on the earth. We will carve it on the moon. We will look to the Voice, to the Singer, the Painter, the Poet, the One born in a barn, the One with holes in His hands and oceans in His eyes, and on THAT day we will know–
The story has begun.”
This is a book that I will give to friends, as Christmas gifts, to those searching, and to those who desperately need Hope. Get it, read it slowly, and take notes – the words will be timely reminders of this ride and the next one. The best is yet to come!
In the midst of the mayhem, I have discovered an amazing book and author that remind me of the wonder and awe of God’s creation, while keeping me aware of the fact that this is His story, not mine – and that this is just the beginning. Like you, sometimes I need a faith boost, and this book delivers in a big way.
The title alone caught my eye and made me want to know more:
Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God’s Spoken World, by N.D. Wilson.
This is one of those books that can make you laugh out loud in the middle of Panera or shake your head in stunned wonder – how did I miss this perspective all along? He makes you see just how complex our world is, and just how simple our minds are as we try to make “sense” of this planet and our lives. It is a breath of fresh air, a load off your shoulders, and a motivator to go on to the next day.
His chapters are all seemingly disconnected, yet they so closely resemble the fabric of our lives that it is hard to see the similarities up close – you have to step back with him to see just how it all plays out. As I go through these days, I find myself recalling his words and savoring them. His thoughts and perspective are such a breath of fresh air and so very reassuring. Here are a few examples:
“This storm is nothing, and I am less. But to an infinite artist, a Creator in love with His craft, there is no unimportant corner, there is no thrown-away image, no tattered thread in the novel left untidied.”
Our Creator cares about the minute details, we just can’t see them all while we’re riding this Tilt-a-Whirl we call life. What a great perspective reminder – our Creator is in love with His craft, and ALL that He creates. And oh, we can’t even imagine all that He has created:
“Just to be clear, I live on a near perfect sphere, hurtling through space at around 67,000 miles per hour. Mach 64 to pilots. Of course, this sphere of mine is also spinning while it hurtles, so tack on an extra 1,000 miles per hour at the fat parts. And it’s all tucked into this giant hurricane of stars. Yes, it can be freaky. Once a month or so, my wife will find me lying in the lawn, burrowing white knuckles into the grass, trying not to fly away. But most of the time I manage to keep my balance despite the speed, and I don’t have to hold on with anything more than my toes.”
I love the way that the book helps us to see Jesus – in new light and truth:
“From birth to the end, He never left the trough, Christ walked from insult to insult, from filth to filth. Lepers. Prostitutes. Tax men. The Dead. He chose fishermen to stand closest to Him, and from the educated He chose one great man – a murderer who did not want to come and had to be knocked off his donkey.”
Yes, days spin by and life flies past, filled with so many unexplainable events. But miracle of miracles, we are still hanging on, and this author shows us our days with fresh wind and new sunshine to keep us moving to the finale:
“Come, let us grow old like fishermen. Let us sweeten the air with songs while we fade. Let us die. Winter cannot hold us. Let us go into the ground, and our faces will find the sun. Let us ride the eruption of Easter.
Our Maker waits. He would have a conversation. What words will we have?
We will laugh and carve FINIS on the earth. We will carve it on the moon. We will look to the Voice, to the Singer, the Painter, the Poet, the One born in a barn, the One with holes in His hands and oceans in His eyes, and on THAT day we will know–
The story has begun.”
This is a book that I will give to friends, as Christmas gifts, to those searching, and to those who desperately need Hope. Get it, read it slowly, and take notes – the words will be timely reminders of this ride and the next one. The best is yet to come!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Things that I wish I knew when we first began homeschooling, Part 3
Read classic literature with a new eye – finally having the time and curiosity to “see” what the author was saying, and how it fits in with the big picture. When the children were younger, we read The Swiss Family Robinson aloud, and what an eye-opener it was to read it again after living out here in the middle of nowhere. While studying Lighthouses, we learned that Rudyard Kipling wrote Captains Courageous while living in a lighthouse off the New England coast. This classic took on a whole new meaning with this knowledge!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What I wish I had known about homeschooling...
Interesting ideas being exchanged on what we wish we had known when we 1st began homeschooling:
http://bit.ly/RMv0a
Join the brainstorm!
http://bit.ly/RMv0a
Join the brainstorm!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Laura Ingalls Wilder and Education and Freedom
While researching for a new and top-secret product line [:D] , I came
across this quote from a letter written by Laura Ingalls Wilder:
"Today our way of living and our schools are much different. It has been
many years since I beat eggs with a fork, or cleaned a kerosene lamp;
many things have made living and learning easier. But the real things
haven't changed; they can never change… Great improvements in
living have been made because every American has been free to pursue his
happiness, and so as long as Americans are free they will continue to
make our country even more wonderful."
When reading her writing, it made me think of how much has changed in
homeschooling and technology in the past decade. HUGE changes! The
changes that have come about in this decade can also be attributed to
Americans being free to pursue individual happiness. Interesting how
that theme of freedom keeps rising to the top in many areas of our lives
these days.
Blessings,
Amanda B.
Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
www.unitstudy.com
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Axing the Guilt for Moms
Enjoy this article on axing the guilt by Tricia Goyer - an important message not just for WAHMs:
http://cli.gs/0HV4pq
Hope this helps,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com
http://cli.gs/0HV4pq
Hope this helps,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com
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