The Evangeline Musician and Reader

just because I like this one

Our local five year old has actually made more strides in reading than piano in the last few months!  I love the  independent reading milestone.

Miscellaneous Wisdom from American Presidents

Just in time for the 2012 presidential election, we recently finished a simple study of the American presidents.  Here are a few tidbits of wisdom some of these men have shared with us all:

"History, in general, only informs us what bad government is."--Thomas Jefferson

"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests."--Andrew Jackson

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."--James Madison

Cael in Action

King Cael on his sister supplied throne

Cael is all about puzzles these days

How could you even think that I would drink your Dandy Blend?!

Amy and Alfred on Fear

Have I a fear that Thou dost know?
Fear of weakness, fear of failing
(Though Thy power is all-prevailing)
Or a haunting fear of bringing
Care to others?

"Share it not with a weakling;
Whisper it to thy saddle-bow,
And ride forth singing."

Many fears can murmur low:
Fear of ills the future holdeth
(Though, indeed, Thy grace upholdeth),
Dulling fear and fear sharp stinging,
Fear that tortures.

"Share it not with a weakling,
Whisper it to thy saddle-bow,
And ride forth singing."

--Amy Carmichael (refrain inspired by King Alfred the Great)

Pox Covered

After waiting the FULL two weeks since our last outbreak, we finally got spots on the rest of the kids the beginning of last week!  When all is said and done, we will have spent pretty much the entire month of October in chicken pox quarantine.  The change of pace was welcome and really not as bad as it sounds, but we all will be glad to get back to normal around here.

These pics were taken early on, and everyone ended up looking a little worse than this.  Lewis had the most dots when all was said and done, but I think Ian may have had the most suffering.  Thankfully, no one was bedridden or absolutely miserable.  We actually needed very little as far as symptom alleviation, but coconut oil topically and a few epsom salt soaks with ascorbic acid and baking soda were handy at certain points.

   And after hearing a friend's story about all her older siblings getting pox when she was a six month old nursling and then her not ever getting pox herself in childhood or as a mother of children with chicken pox, I'm wondering if Audrey may end up with a similar easy immunity from her time in utero.  We should know sometime with in the next thirty years or so.

Bacon Truly

"If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth is as much to say as that he is brave toward God and a coward toward men.  For a lie faces God and shrinks from man."

"Certainly, it is heaven upon earth to have a man's mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth."

--Francis Bacon, "Of Truth" (1625)

Local Beauty

the beauty responsible for capturing the gorgeous sunrise above from our front porch