Education

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. It is the first lesson that ought to be learned, and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly."

~Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)

Isn't it amazing how a man who was the father of the term "agnostic" and one who called himself "Darwin's Bulldog" still used God's principle of self-discipline in his thinking?

Words of Wisdom

"Boy, get your hands out of your pockets."

~My Dad (1933- )

One of my favorites!

Messengers

"Our children are messengers we send to a time we will not see."
~unknown

...that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;
~Psalm 78:5b-7

Teach them well!

He is Alive!

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~Hebrews 12:2

Quote

The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it.

~Franklin P. Jones (1887-1929)

Sitting Still

"A small child who can sit still for more than five minutes is a beautiful sight."
~Dale Meador, Family Reformation/Fall 2004

I ran across this article a friend shared with me a couple of years ago and once again found it to be helpful and insightful information. Dale Meador is a pastor (he and his wife Nancy have three older children.) He points out the fact that children have a lot of energy...and we can help them use that energy by putting it into simple chores. He also notes they are children and need to play, laugh, run and yell. Quoting Henrietta Mears:

"God put the wiggle into children and we shouldn't be in such a hurry to get it out."

He lists reasons why we should teach our children to sit still and offers a few helpful tips:

• The child who can sit still is under authority.
• The child who can sit still practices self-control.
• The child who can sit still is teachable.
• The child who can sit still is a blessing to others.
• Train a child before stillness becomes necessary.
• Create optimum opportunities for training.
• Reward peace and correct disobedience.

He gives verses for memorization:

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Col. 3:20

Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit. Prov.25:28

For worship:

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

Cease stirring and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

A couple of things I've learned: Practicing being still at home first makes it easier for children to be still while you're out and about in other places. Taking a child in your lap and reading to them is also helpful. Concerning worship: Go over your order of worship with them, help them to understand each part. Practice your liturgy at home and let them know what's expected of them during worship. Are your children able to sit in front of a video for the duration without talking, fidgeting, or needing someone or something else? If so, our standard for worship should be even higher.

At home, I'm always looking for and needing creative ways to keep little ones occupied for more than five minutes. What's worked for you?

Another question: Do you think teaching your children to sit still will have life long effects? Pastor Meador does. He says, "Learning to sit still while young will prove a helpful, happy habit for the older school-aged child and pay dividends far into adult life."

The Book Club Update

We met last night to discuss Northanger Abbey. Everyone that read it liked it. Not only did we discuss the book but also Jane Austen's family life. There were a couple of quotes that really seemed to be popular: "A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can." and "You think me foolish to call instruction a torment, but if you had been as much used as myself to hear poor little children first learning their letters and then learning to spell, if you had ever seen how stupid they can be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is at the end of it, as I am in the habit of seeing almost every day of my life at home, you would allow that to torment and to instruct might sometime be used as synonimous words."

Amanda did a lovely job of being our host, she kept with the English theme and served authentic shortbread, PG Tips tea & coffee. Most everyone chose the streusel coffee, but when the shortbread was served I just had to have the hot tea. The delicious recipe was from one of our authentic English faithful book clubbers, Shona, who also introduced us to PG Tips from her home town in England. If you've never tried it you must.

There was also a lot of conversation about movies and music too. So you see, book club is about a lot more than the book itself, it's about laughter, food & fun times.

Shona's Shortbread

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup custard powder
1 cup butter
1 cup caster sugar (sift granulated)

Combine ingredients and press into a 9x13 jelly pan. Bake at 325 for 35 minutes or until pale golden brown. If you would like to put cherries in press into shortbread before cooking. You can substitute custard pudding for the powder.

Green Potatoes

Green potatoes? I've had this conversation with friends before, what is going on? It can't be good. Elise Bauer has this very topic on her website, Simply Recipes and answers the question. She has so many good recipes and great photography,be sure to look around while you're there.

We love oatmeal cookies, she has her grandmother's recipe posted and it's one worth trying. We made some with and without raisins and walnuts. Depending on what you like, they were both excellent.

Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies

Songs in French

Lucienne Vernay's Songs in French for Children is a very pleasant little CD. Vernay's voice is very soft and reminds me somewhat of Doris Day. The music is fun and cheerful and there's always something exciting going on in the background which will keep everyone's interest. It was first recorded in the 50's. Sing along and learn a little French at the same time.

Snow

We have a couple inches of snow outside. One of my little ones said, “Mom, is it mean time?”
“Mean time?” I asked.
“Yeah, Mom, can I taste the snow?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“It’s what Mrs. Cat says to her boys,” she said. “In the mean time, you can taste the snow, so is it mean time now?”

Excerpt from Snowstorm Surprise:
“Can we play outside, Mother?” Huckle asks.
“I want to ski!” says Lowly.
“You will need a lot of snow for that,” Mother replies. “You may have to be patient. In the meantime, you can taste the snowflakes.” She bundles the boys up warmly and sends them out to play. Then she begins to make a cake in the kitchen.

I didn’t make the cake…

Chocolate Cakes

Texas Sheet Cake is a recipe my mom's friend ,Carolyn, gave to her many years ago. My mom started making it and I don't think I've ever stopped making or eating it. The thing we changed is the cake pan size. A 9 x 13 metal pan instead of a jelly roll pan. It makes the cake smaller & thicker. We never adjusted the icing amount so you end up with about an inch of the best fudgy icing you can eat. This has to be my most favorite cake. The second recipe is a fairly new one. I like to use Scharffenberger's baking chocolate since it has such a nice flavor. It does take a little more time to do this recipe so I only use it when I'm not in a hurry, or on a special day. It's very good but in my opinion, you just can't beat the Texas Sheet Cake. Especially when you factor in it takes less time, less mess, & has a taste that will never let you down.

Texas Sheet Cake

2 sticks butter

1 cup water

5 tablespoons cocoa

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk with 1 tsp baking soda added

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add water and cocoa and let this come to a boil. Remove from burner and add sifted flour, sugar , eggs, buttermilk with baking soda and vanilla. Stir until dissolved. Pour into a 9 x 13 ungreased metal cake pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Check to make sure it's done by lightly touching the center. Do not let it brown around the edges.

Icing

1 stick butter

5 tablespoons cocoa

5 tablespoons buttermilk

1 box powdered sugar (more or less, not too thin, not too thick)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Use same saucepan. Melt butter and add cocoa and buttermilk. Do not bring to a boil. Add sifted powdered sugar gradually, pecans and vanilla; stir. Spread on warm cake.

Double Chocolate Layer Cake

Epicurious.com

For cake layers:

3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate

1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee

3 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)

2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon bading powder

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

For ganache frosting:

1 pound fine-quality semisweet chocolate

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

Two 10- by 2-inch round cake pans

DIRECTIONS

Make cake layers:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and grease pans. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper and grease paper.

Finely chop chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly and lemon colored (about 3 minutes with a stand mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer.) Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well. Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. (Mine doesn't seem to take this long)

Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely. Cake layers may be made 1 day ahead and kept, wrapped well in plastic wrap, at room temperature.

Make Frosting:

Finely chop chocolate. In a 1 1/2 to 2 -quart saucepan bring cream, sugar and corn syrup to a boil over moderately low heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved Remove pan from heat and add chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted. Cut butter into pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.

Transfer frosting to a bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, until spreadable (depending on chocolate used, it may be necessary to chill frosting to spreadable consistency.) Spread frosting between cake layers and over top and sides. Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring cake to room temperature before serving.

Trivia

If any of you book club girls can tell me what the March issue of Pottery Barn has to do with Jane Austen I'll have a little suprise for you at our next book discussion.

Chesterton Quote

"Here dies another day during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me; and with tomorrow begins another. Why am I allowed two?"


~ G.K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

Make it Fun!

Here are some books to use while learning the ABC's.

Alphabet City - Stephen Johnson (1996 Caldecott award)
Chicka Chicka ABC - Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault
Dr. Seuss's ABC - Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back - Dr. Seuss
G is for Goat - Patricia Polacco (great bold watercolor)
The Great Alphabet Race - Janet & Roger Campbell (interesting illustrations)
Zz- Zarkof Zebra's zany zeppelin zigs and zags toward Zantippy. "It took a lot of zabotage, but at last I'm rid of that wretched Rhinoceros," he cries. "Quick, Zambisi, unzip the zeppelin - we must touch the ground to win."
Words to Know - Harry Bricker & Yvonne Beckwith
Sort of a dictionary. Each letter of the alphabet has characters with names beginning with letter. Such as: Mother & Mary Ann for M. make: Mary Ann helps Mother make cupcakes.
Richard Scarry's Best ABC video ever! - Richard Scarry

I love the online phonics program at Starfall.com & so do my little ones.

You can get most of the books above at your library or Amazon. The Alphabet Race is available at Alibris.com. Tell me, what are some of your favorite ABC books?

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