Moments With Mother Culture®: Charlotte Mason's Method of Narration

I have read Karen Andreola's work for many years now.  She has been such an outstanding advocate for the "Gentle Art of Learning" always pointing to the teachings and writings of Charlotte Mason.  

As a young mother and brand new homeschooler, I would read Karen's book, "A Charlotte Mason Companion", over and over again to get that "gentle" feel of education as a lifestyle and empty my mind of the hum drum way of "doing school" that I grew up in.  I've ebbed and flowed in the Charlotte Mason method for many years...and now with a 15 year old, 11, 9, 7, 5, and 2 year old, I am reconnecting with that gentle art of learning.

Take some time to pop over and visit Karen's blog, Moments With Mother Culture and be encouraged in your homeschooling journey.  And I couldn't recommend highly enough Karen's book, "A Charlotte Mason Companion".  It was my homeschool bible...or perhaps more appropriately my study guide to Charlotte Mason's Homeschool Series.  Those books still sit on my shelf, waiting patiently for the time when I pick them up again.   Sadly, I loaned my " C M Companion" to someone several years ago and it was never returned to me.....I'm thinking it may be time to reinvest.

This time of year is such a beautiful time to slow down and take a walk outside and so I thought how wonderfully appropriate to write about the gentle art of learning!  The past few days have been an exciting time here on the farm as some hens who were quite broody have successfully hatched out some little chickies...I think the last count was 11! 

My kids have been in awe as they've actually witnessed the chicks emerging from their shells...I can barely drag them away from the chicken coop.  They run in to tell me what color the next chick is and how one hen only had one chick so they moved some chicks from one nest to another and how Mrs. Cluck-a-Lot gladly accepted the new chicks.  They have embraced the gentle art of learning...and they don't even know what they're doing!

It's easy for me to stress because my kids have spent more time outside then in the house working on their school...but...well, it's just refreshing to have Moments With Mother Culture pop up in my inbox!  Go on over and read what Karen has to say.  You won't be disappointed!!

This one was named Coffee!  They all have names!!!

Anti-conformity

Cows are creatures of habit.  They find comfort in same, same, same.  They walk the same path wherever they go.  You'll see paths etched out in the landscape everywhere our cows are kept.  There's a path that leads to the gates, a path that leads to the hay feeders, a path that leads to the water trough. Even if they've been out of a pasture for several months...they always find their paths.  They walk the same path to the milk barn every morning. 

They have the same routine for getting into the milk stanchion and when they've been milked they back out...same thing every time.   Most of the time it's even the same order...Honey first, then Wendy, then Joy...unless Honey stops at the water trough for a drink and Wendy runs on in.  Joy is always last...timid little Joy.  This is her bring up the rear.  

They like to be milked at the same time every day...I should really do a better job at getting out there on time!  When I was on the ball and out there every day at the same time (3 kids ago) they would wait for me at the barn.  If I was even 5 minutes late they would start bawling at me as soon as they saw me.  It's kind of embarrassing to be fussed at by a bunch of cows...but they not only like their life same, same, same. ..they expect that of their leader as well!

We can be like that as Christians, can't we?  We find comfort in getting up and doing the same thing every day.  Read my Bible for so many minutes then spend time praying.  Go to Sunday school then worship in the sanctuary.   Listen to the preacher speak exactly 30 minutes and don't you dare start late or go over or somebody's gonna be bawling at you!  Eat lunch, take a Sunday nap then church again at 6...

I'm gonna rock the boat a little bit because God has been speaking to whomever will listen and you know what He's saying?  He keeps telling us He's doing a new thing.  Life as we know it is changing all around us.  We've been seeing it take place right before our eyes.  We can deny it all we want but the fact is that our world is crumbling.  It seems as though it's all been turned upside down...good made to look evil and evil made to look good.  Violence, chaos, sin abounding....but God...BUT GOD.  The spiritual realm has shifted.  In Hebrews He says He's going to shake up the world one last time before Jesus' return.  He's shaking our foundations until all that remains is that which cannot be shaken.

What do you have that you're holding on to?  What do you have that cannot be shaken?  Where is your focus?  Where is your place in God's Kingdom here on earth?  He has warriors strategically postitioned...just waiting for the call to come forth.  They are being trained right now as I type.  They have been called out and set apart.  They are in this world but not of this world.  They listen to the voice of their Master.  He's giving them the battle plan.  He's placed within them the battle cry and you know what it sounds like???  "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!"  "WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN!"  "GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER BELONG TO EL SHADDAI!"  He says that our worship is our warfare...the enemy has no defense for it!  God doesn't want us to be creatures of habit.  He doesn't want us to be stuck in the old ways of "doing church" and "being a Christian".  He's breaking us out of the molds we've created in the name of religion and He's bringing together the Jew and the Gentile...ONE NEW MAN!  

My friend if you have found yourself in the middle of a storm and you feel as though your world is about to crumble to pieces, sound the battle cry!  Worship your God!  Stand with Him and He will war for you!  Worship the Lord for He is worthy to be praised.  Break out of the box you live in and be willing to do something new with the Lord!

I'm telling you, things are about to get exciting!  Hang on because if you think life has been a roller coaster....WOO HOO!!!!!