Quote #52.

Last week, last quote:

Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good. –Minor Myers, Jr.

Once upon a time, community service was a very much larger part of my life. I volunteered at day shelters and low income apartment delivery services. I studied nonprofit organizations and city law and how to help the two work together. I was on course to work in the City Attorney’s office and shape policy. And then. We moved to Colorado and I became a stay at home mom of two sweet boys. And life took a different turn. ;)

Don’t get me wrong. I have no regrets. None. I know that being a mom and a homeschooler is what I’m meant to do right now. I know that shaping my boys into men the world needs is a worthy job. As they're getting older, though, I’m realizing that I’m not doing the best job of modeling the importance of community service. Here’s to rectifying that…

Quote #51.

We're ready now...

A house is no home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. – Margaret Fuller

What an awesome quote for a homeschool family, eh? 

Quote #50.

Getting toward the end of my year of quotes... ;)

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle

This is going to sound odd. But. This particular quote resonates with me right now because of a lecture I recently gave the boys. They were, as usual, pretend-playing and arguing about the statistics or strengths or rankings or some such thing of their chosen armies. Even though they were totally making up their own forces, they argued about the details of each other’s plans. This is something that happens…all. the. time.

So. I once again lectured them on the futility of arguing about things that only exist in their own heads anyhow. About how they each have the right to believe what they want to believe. It may not be as significant as being free to follow the religion you want to follow or say what you want to say, but the central point is the same. Being able to recognize that and simply say “you have the right to believe what you want to believe and I will believe what I choose to believe” is a powerful thing. It’s something we’ve discussed in our history studies time and time again. It’s something I hope they take to heart.

Quote #49.

Happy Monday...

Work to become, not to acquire. – Confucius

Just a good reminder. :)

Quote #48.

So very appropriate right now:

How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? -Dr. Seuss

That Dr. Seuss really knew his stuff, right? I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m feeling truly behind this year. On the one hand, it’s good…because I know the reason I’m behind is because I’ve been focusing more on my own fitness and the boys’ education this year…and that’s been taking up most of my time. On the other hand, I’m freaking out a little. ;) So very much to do this coming month…half of which I usually try to have done already. Oy.

Added to that, Micah woke us up in the middle of the night with his seemingly annual case of croup. Poor thing. Took him to the doctor this morning and got him the miracle pills…he’ll likely be better by bedtime if history is anything to go by. (He got a case of croup at about 4 months old and has been particularly susceptible to it ever since.) Fortunately, with the visit to the doctor, it rarely lasts more than 24 hours and historically doesn't (knock on wood) spread to any of the rest of us (as croup is predominantly a young child’s illness due to the smaller windpipe). The doctor is hopeful (as we are!) that this will be the last year for my poor little guy who’s wheezing like Darth Vader and is most miffed because he can’t talk very much right now, lol.

In any case, totally threw a curveball into my plans for the day…off to figure out what’s next…