Autumn Grace #10: Beethoven's 6th Symphony, 4th Movement

Dear friends,

I'm setting up a new laptop that has amazing audio, and, thanks to YouTube, enjoying some of the musical pieces that we heard at the Orlando Philharmonic "Nature in Music" children's concert this week. I posted two of them (Vivaldi's "Spring" and Holst's "Jupiter") on Wednesday. Here is another one, this time Beethoven's 6th Symphony, 4th Movement as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. As the narrator and conductor explained to the children, this piece portrays a thunderstorm. See if you can hear it.

[Here is another one: Ombra Mai Fu by Haydn.]

I've been researching laptop options on-line for quite a while and thought I found a great one on sale at Staples today. While we were in the store, my 13 year old daughter found an even better one (bigger screen and more disk space) for the same price. It's always nice to have an extra pair of eyes watching out for my interests! 

So now I have the fun of getting all of my files transferred over before I take my old one in for much needed repairs. It has several things wrong with it, and I expect it to completely crash anytime now. Fortunately, I bought the extended accidental warranty, but I know it's going to be away from us for at least a few weeks. When it comes back, I'll pass it along to the kids so they won't keep borrowing mine. It will be nice to have a laptop all to myself. Maybe this one will last longer if I can keep their hands off of it. Wish me luck.

That's my autumn blessing for the day. I still have the weekend to set it up before we start back with our home school schedule on Monday.

Grace and peace,
Virginia Knowles
www.ThisMomGrowsUp.blogspot.com

Autumn Grace #8: My Heart is Full of a Symphonic Feast

Dear friends,

What a gift today!

My little girl and I had an amazing last minute opportunity to go see the "Nature in Music" children's symphony concert presented by the Orlando Philharmonic at the Bob Carr auditorium. 

We had just gotten back from the library this morning, and I decided to check my e-mail before we started math. That's how, at 10:45 AM, I found out that we could go to the concert because another family in our new home school group couldn't make it. We jumped in the van and arrived downtown by 11:15. 

I remember thinking "Feast! Feast! Feast!" a few weeks ago at the Morse Museum of American Art, and today was the same, just with music. I can't even remember the last time I had the privilege of attending a symphony concert, and my heart is full. I especially appreciate that they kept it kid-friendly, with a lively narrator, pictures and words on the screen to help them understand, and the theme of "Nature in Music." There was an opera singer, and ballet dancers, and a conductor who shared his own thoughts about the music before each song.  All of the pieces had something to do with nature - seasons, weather, mountains, planets, trees, birds, and more. I don't have time right now to round up YouTube videos for each selection, but here are two, and I'll try to do the other seven or so during this Autumn Grace series.

"Jupiter" by Gustav Holst
 

"Spring" from Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
(All of the seasons are in this clip, but we only saw "Spring")

 


On the way home, we decided to eat at the Chick-Fil-A where my daughter was working the lunch shift. She was in the back, so we didn't see her, but I was so surprised and delighted to see my friend Lisa and her teenage daughter there. We had a lovely lunch together, especially sweet since we live in different parts of town and rarely see each other.

On another note, today is my dear mother's 76th birthday, bittersweet since she passed away last year. She loved music, and she and my dad made sure to take us to concerts, plays, museums, and natural wonders all the time when we were growing up. They also provided all three of us with music and/or art lessons, as well as whatever books interested us. I'm grateful for that legacy, and I'm trying to pass that down to my own children. Take a look at the photo tribute I wrote about her.

Mom and I in Harper's Ferry in late 1970's -
I love that mysterious smile of hers!

Much love,

Virginia Knowles

www.ThisMomGrowsUp.blogspot.com

Friday Favorites #5: A Beautiful Birthday Morning in May

Dear friends,


It's a beautiful morning in May, as well as my son Andrew's 14th birthday!  Happy birthday, Andrew!







This morning I walked with my friend Tonya for about 45 minutes.  We're trying to get out there several times a week so we can get healthy and lose some weight, especially since a whole bunch of my relatives are having a fun little weight loss competition. See here: On Weight Loss: Water, Walking, and Watching


While on my way to meet Tonya midway between our houses (we live about six blocks away from each other), I snapped a few pictures of the fresh morning sky.  I had my iPod music on, but all of the sudden I heard a telltale rat-a-tat-tat and realized a woodpecker was looking for his breakfast in the tree above me.  I tried to snap a picture of him, too, but he was too far up.  


 












I decided to take off the earphones and just listen to the birds.  I heard another woodpecker, some mourning doves, a mockingbird, and several other chirruping choruses.  I also heard a car beep -- and saw my husband Thad waving as he passed me on the street!


My kids were watching a movie when I got back, and I let them continue since it wasn't time to start school yet and it's Andrew's birthday.  We usually sit down as a family to eat waffles on birthday mornings, but most of his sisters and my husband are already gone for the day, and the rest of them are just now ambling into the kitchen and popping them into the toaster.  Excuse me for a moment while I go join in the fun...   Oh goodness!  Somehow my five year old managed to eat four waffles when I told her she could only have two! That was not part of the plan this morning!


I'm not worried about the lack of birthday ceremony this morning, since I let the kids pick out their favorite foods for all three birthday meals, which means pizza for lunch and then Orange Sesame Chicken for dinner when big sister Mary is over with her little boy.  For dessert, there is cheesecake (from Walmart brand boxed mix, which turns out quite well) and orange sherbet.


In other news, my daughters Rachel and Joanna returned home on Monday after three months in Chiavari, Italy.  It's so good to have them home!  Joanna went on an interview yesterday and landed a job as a Disney World photographer at the Magic Kingdom.  She starts on June 7, just after her high school graduation.  In the fall she will continue at Valencia State College, where she has dual enrolled for a year and a half.  Rachel starts nursing school at UCF in the fall since she earned got her AA from Valencia in December. She is in the midst of looking for a summer job.  This morning, she's off picking strawberries and blueberries with a friend, and she just called to let me know how much they are per pound since she's buying some for me, too!  Rachel and Joanna blogged about their Italy adventure at Abbondanza di Vita.  There are already a lot of gorgeous photos there, but when they have time, they will post even more.  In between teaching English as an outreach, they traveled a lot to various cities: Florence, Venice, Rome, Paris, Nice, Genova, and even Monaco.  I envy them, but I'm sure glad they got to go!


Oh, did I say that this is a Friday Favorites post?  Yes, I am continuing my series of sharing web links that I found encouraging this week!

• Food on Fridays: Kitchen Pantry -- by Ann Kroeker -- I link up to her Food on Fridays series most of the time, including this morning!  Linked posts don't have to be a recipe, just something about food; as in this case, how we celebrate birthdays with food.  Ann's post is in her kitchen pantry.  We're blessed that we've had a decent sized pantry cupboard for the past 18 years we've been in this house, but like Ann, I find the need to clean and organize it once in a while.  She might have a surplus of evaporated milk (hence for links for recipes to use it up) but we often overstock on black beans and cream of chicken soup.  We also have a random can of sauerkraut back in there somewhere.  Now what am I going to use that for -- and why did I buy it in the first place? 

• Titus 2 Moms / Older Women Younger Women Older Women? / Elisabeth Elliot by Tonya Travelstead.  Tonya and I often chat about blogging while we walk.  We get lots of ideas from each other, and help refine our thinking as we go. Tonya found links for a whole bunch of audio messages by Elisabeth Elliot, who has been one of my favorite Christian authors since I was in college.  I started out listening to one on the Lord's Prayer, which is timely since our church just started a five week sermon series on that.

• Speaking of prayer, you can still download Paul Miller's book The Praying Life in Kindle e-book format free here:  The Praying Life on Kindle.  You don't need a Kindle -- you can download it to your computer, iPhone, iPad, or other mobile device.  I highly recommend this book!  It is not an intimidating book that beats you up because you don't pray enough.  It's more like a gentle encouragement to start where you are.  As Miller says, 

"Jesus does not say, "Come to me, all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest."  No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, NASB).  The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness.  Come overwhelmed with life.  Come with your wandering mind.  Come messy.  What does it feel like to be weary?  You have trouble concentrating.  The problems of the day are like claws in your brain.  You feel pummeled by life.  What does heavy-laden feel like?  Same thing.  You have so many problems you don't even know where to start.  You can't do life on your own anymore.  Jesus wants you to come to him that way!  Your weariness drives you to him.  Don't try to get the prayer right; just tell God where you are and what's on your mind."

• Changes, Changes All Around Me by Mardy Freeman -- a mom transitions into a new season of life after home schooling her seven children.  Mardy has been such an encouragement and personal support to me for so many years!

• Accept your very own puzzle by Sally Clarkson - a snippet: 

"Women can be so prone to worry and fuss and be uptight, as least this woman can be. I wish at a much earlier age I had just learned to chill more, to dance more, to stop and smell the flowers. Each of us has been given a different puzzle–different circumstances, differing gifts, personalities, children, husband or lack there of, family. I wish I had not been such a people pleaser, trying to live up to the expectations of others–my family, my critics, my peers. My family  puzzle just did not fit into the pattern of other’s expectations and so trying to live up to these impossible standards was impossible. I wish I had accepted that at the very first instead of fretting about things I could not change."

One last note this morning...  In the checkout line at Walmart the other day, I started talking to the cashier. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she mentioned that her day was going well; at least she wasn't having a meltdown.  I smiled and replied, "Yeah, I had one of those just last night!  I was so stressed out that I stomped around yelling about wanting to break things!  My husband just kept hugging me and telling me it would be all right.  But I'm doing fine today."  Then she shared that she had been going through a personal crisis for a few months and had done a lot of sobbing her heart out.  On top of this, she had to leave the church she had loved for so many years.  I could relate to that, since we too had to transition to a new church last year.  My heart went out to her.  We all go through struggles, but some are going through extreme turmoil.  Dear sisters, I ask you to be sensitive and aware of what challenges others (even strangers!) are facing so you can reach out to them with compassion and a word of encouragement. I gave her a card from our church, which offers free counseling. I assured her that it is a mellow little church which has been such a refuge for me.  She smiled warmly and said, "Maybe I can ask for a Sunday off so I can come!" I hope I see her there, but even if I don't, I pray she will receive the healing for her heart that she needs!


Come, weary moms!  Let us receive our strength from God, and then go to strengthen one another!


Blessings,
Virginia Knowles

Amazing Grace for Home School Moms

Dear friends,

On March 11, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Gainesville, Florida, to speak to the home school group led by my friend Mardy Freeman. Mardy had asked me to share a fresh testimony of what God had been doing in my life, so my topic for the evening was "Amazing Grace for Home School Moms." I spoke for a little over an hour about Joyful Liberty, Tender Compassion, and Wise Guidance, and ended with a Questions time. For your convenience, I have split the audio into these four sections.

I have to say that much of the growth in my life as a home school mom has come because of Mardy's perspective and encouragement over the past few years. I wish she had been there Thursday night (she was out of town), because I am so thankful for her, and for others who have spoken words of wisdom and grace to me. I did, however, get to see my dear friend Bonnie Carmichael, who moved to Gainesville about 11 years ago. Bonnie has been so kind to send me sweet e-mails through the years. You'll hear her insight in the Questions section.

Enjoy!

~*~*~

"Joyful Liberty" is 20 minutes long. How do we get set free from failure, fear, and frustration so we can live with joy, confidence, and enthusiasm?  You can also read my notes here: Joyful Liberty!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

~*~*~

"Tender Compassion" is almost 20 minutes long. How do we learn to thoroughly enjoy our children and come alongside them for positive change -- instead of being angry, bitter, and frustrated with them? How can we communicate with them effectively?  You can also read my speaking notes here: Tender Compassion for Mothers.

"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

~*~*~

"Wise Guidance" is almost 20 minutes long. How do we discern what to do in our home school? How do we set an example for our children in seeking wisdom? This segment also includes a brief description of the Charlotte Mason method of home schooling.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

~*~*~

"Comments and Questions" is about 7 minutes long. This includes my answer to the classic question, "What do I do with my two year old?"

Virginia Knowles