Reproducing Michelangelo

 

This week the history project was to recreate a Michelangelo painting.  She’s pretty artistic, but would prefer to draw.  However, she dived in.  The end result was not quite a good as she wanted, but I thought she did a great job.  

Not many young people can paint like Michelangelo.  But the work will stay with her.  Every time she sees that painting in the future, she will remember that she once tried to recreate it.  She will remember the skill that Michelangelo had and appreciate the talent of artists.  

Studying different artists has been so good for her.  It encourages her to be artistic.  She has her favorites.  She talks about the different artists and their specialties.  She knows more about famous artists than me and enjoys learning about them.

To me, that is a good education. 

Outdoor Art

When a friend unexpectedly came to hang out, the two got creative outside by coloring some stones in our yard. 

The weather wasn’t unbearably hot, so today was the perfect day to be outside. 

The result was adorable chalk pictures.  I took pictures quickly because the next rainfall will wash them away. 

Don't Worry, Keep Juggling

It's a juggling act most days.  I added a couple pins to the routine with college classes, but the motions are the same.  There are just more of them. And, of course, a couple pins are lopsided and don't want to go where I toss them.

The math lab for college is so slow it takes me hours to complete one assignment.  "Be patient," My instructor emailed, as three other classes await my attention.  

My ten year old seems to have less of an attention span than ever in her life.  I spend a long time in the mornings dedicated to working with her, and it still took her until five p.m. today to finish her school work.  Why?  Because she procrastinates.  She works in slow-mode, not wanting to get going in the mornings, stopping often for any reason she can think of, and just not working very diligently.  I'm at a loss about what to do at this point.

But I press on, because God pointed me in this direction, and I know He has it handled.  I know that I may have less free time than a year ago.  I know that the laundry sometimes has to be rewashed because I forgot it overnight in the washer.  I know that my seventeen year old made an awesome chicken salad for dinner while I was fighting with the notorious math   lab.  I know that my ten year old took a long time for school, but she spent a long time making baskets out of clay and enjoying learning about art.

I know that life is hectic right now, but I wouldn't trade this journey for anything.  I know that I get the privilege of spending time in the Bible every morning with my two homeschooling daughters.  I know that I got to read parts of Galatians with my seventeen year old this morning as we delved into the teachings of Paul.  I know that I get to teach my ten year old about Creation as we read through Genesis.  

If nothing else got accomplished or will be remembered, those times with my girls have made homeschooling worth the struggle.  What God does with it is not up to me.  It's up to me to pray and to be obedient to Him.

I have scheduled and done my best.  I have switched things up more than once.  I have felt the frustration as my carefully laid plans seem to backfire.  I have melted down as the pressure to do it all overwhelmed me. I promised myself I wouldn't stress myself out, I wouldn't rush in a panic, and then had to fight those very urges down when things began to fall apart once again.

He is in control.  Not me... for even my best laid plans will never be as vital as what He is trying to teach me. 

His will...  to let go when the day has overwhelmed me and to pick it all up the next day; to pray when those feelings of urgency and frustration began to knot up in my stomach; to trust when I am tired.

I have a class in a few hours.  Tomorrow is another day.  I found some amazing notebooking printables for my daughter's science...  if my printer will work! If not, oh well, I'll let it go for now.  I want that quiet confidence that says, even as life sometimes feels as if it is falling apart, "It will all work out.  Don't worry."

Artistic Pursuits

I planned a lot of art this year.  My children are always doing something "artsy-fartsy," as my husband says.  They draw and color and paint.  So much of the time I don't place a lot of emphasis.  I am not naturally artistic.  My husband has artistic talent, however, and our children seem to have inherited the ability.

Both girls are officially studying art this year.  Plus, I have left opportunities to be artistic in other subjects with notebooking.  We haven't avoided art, it just wasn't a priority unless scheduled as part of whatever curriculum we were using.

As I was trying to plan this year, I kept watching my daughters naturally drift toward art.  It is common for ten year olds to be creative, but even my seventeen year old was drawing.  I felt, looking back, as if I had shortchanged my children in something they naturally loved for math lessons and sentence diagramming and more reading.

Nothing is wrong with any of those things, but I overlooked the natural creativity inside my daughters.  I didn't nurture it.  

When I open their world to more creativity, more art, they do not disappoint.

Here is some paintings from my ten year old.  She is splatter painting and creating a masterpiece of our dog.  

She is girlie and loves painting hearts and rainbows.

My seventeen year old is playing with shading and shadows.

She draws flowers, like any girl, especially the enchanted one from Beauty and the Beast.

But her favorite is faces.

I love the art my children create.  I take pictures of it all because I know I won't be able to keep it all.  (This is especially true for my ten year old.)

Lesson learned.  Let the children be creative and artistic, even if it takes the place of some "academic" time.

Juice Painting

Today Megan and I read about Benjamin West.  Meg then got to paint with juice, as Benjamin West did when he didn't have paint or brushes.

Juice Painting

I used white grape juice and food coloring.  That option was much more affordable than purchasing several juices of different colors.

Painting #1

Megan liked the project so much that she ended up painting three separate juice paintings.

Meggy loves art!

My Artist Returns

She used to prefer paints.  She was so enthusiastic about the painting assignments she completed that went with her poetry units in Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ.  Later, she worked on some of her own projects that she found in art books or just did on her own.

For the last couple of years, however, my little artist hasn't seemed all that interested in art.  She hasn't wanted to paint.  The few drawing assignments I assigned received complaints from her.  I didn't push, but d exuded to give her time as our family had moved and then, a few months later, we switched churches.

Seeing her spend time on a pencil drawing was thrilling!  She has a lot of natural talent.  She freehand copied a picture that she loved!  This Mom is overjoyed!

Journaling Your Faith Your Way

I remember being a young single mother. I wasn't a Christian yet.  I had never heard of Littleton, Colorado. But when the news came on and showed the shooting at Columbine High School, I hugged my little daughters a little longer.

Samples of Rachel Scott's Journal Pages

Years later, when I became a Christian, I was immensely touched by reading The Journals of Rachel Scott.  Rachel was a strong Christian girl that was the first victim at Columbine.  After being wounded, the killer asked her is she still believed in her God.  She responded, "You know I do."  He then told her, "Then go be with Him."  He shot her in the head. 

She was the first modern day martyr for Christ that I had ever heard of on American soil (along with Cassie Bernall, also a Christian martyr at Columbine). Rachel's journals were discovered soon after.  Her family published many of them as an example of a regular teenage girl that loves the Lord.

I have kept journals off and on my entire life.  I'm not very artistic, but I enjoy writing.  Rachel wrote her journal in the form of letters to God.  I LOVE that.  It's a 

prayer that continues throughout experiences and growth.  

I used to scrapbook.  It didn't take a huge amount of artistic talent to scrapbook.  I created book after book with pictures and memorabilia for my children documenting their lives. No stopped when I had my last daughter.  I tell myself I'll get back to it one day.

I love the G2 pens!

Recently Bible journaling has become popular.  I love seeing all the Pinterest pictures with beautiful artwork adorning Bibles.  However, I'm not very artistic.  

Poetry by Brian Johnson, performed live during Kari Jobe's Forever.

Also popular is the concept of a smash book, which is really just a messy scrapbook.  Again, I love the ideas. 

A portion of my journal from a couple months ago.

For me, my journal works.  I can include aspects of Bible journaling and smashbooks.  Mostly, I write letters to Jesus.  I write about my struggles, my prayers for others, what is happening in my world and in my heart.  I share song lyrics and poetry.  I'll copy letters from devotionals written as from God to me, like Sheri Rose Shepherd's His Princess. I'll occasionally include drawings, though I admit I'm not an artist. I'll include other memorabilia, such as notes from my husband or ticket stubs.  

Sheri Rose Shepherd's His Princess Letter.

This is very personal.  Some things are written when I am emotional.  They can be raw, between just me and my Lord.  Some things are confessions of sin or pouring out my hurts.  Just the catharsis of writing and sharing what is inside me with Jesus puts action to my faith.  

I'll include Bible study and sermon notes.  Why?  Because it is part of my life and my relationship with Him.  Will this become a legacy for others after I am gone?  It doesn't matter.  If I wrote, worried that one day someone would read my intimate prayers to my King, I would hesitate to share all of me.  I would never write all my sins and failings. I write for me, to grow closer to the Lord.  What He does with it when I am with Him in eternity is up to Him. 

Ticket Stub from Faith of Our Fathers

Doing this has drawn me closer to the Lord.  Writing out a part of Scripture and finding ways to expand on it; whether through journaling about it or drawing a picture of it or finding other verses, is an incredible way to meditate on God's Word!  I encourage everyone to find ways to make their faith tangible, to document how God is leading them.

My journals have expanded and grown over the years.  No longer is my journal just a letter written telling about my day.  I still do that occasionally.  It's fun to look back and see what I was dealing with.  Most of the time, my journal is about what is in me, what God is teaching me, and the encouragement I have found.  I will even include articles and parts of books.  There doesn't have to be rules.  It's about me and Jesus. 

My limited artistic talent with Lauren Daigle lyrics

Don't look at the Pinterest perfect Bible journaling or crazy cluttered smashbooks and think that you can't do that because you lack the artistic talent or the time.  Those things need to be looked at as inspiration only.  Maybe you are artistic, and those things suit you perfectly.  Awesome!  But if you are like me, go into creating a Bible journal by doing what is you.  If you love to write, write. If you don't feel artistic, buy some stickers and scrapbook stuff. If you are a photographer, put in some of your photos.  If you love being generous, put in copies of your tithe checks and thank God for providing.  If you love music, put in quotes and lyrics.  If you love the Word of God, put Scripture and Bible study notes.  If you are a prayer warrior, write some of those those prayers out.  If you love adventure, put in pictures of places God is taking you or has taken you.  Write about that short-term missions trip and what God taught you. Make the book yours.  

And when the book is full, begin another. Put your journal away. Keep it private if necessary. Pull it out in a few years and look at all the Lord has done. 

Scene Depictions

Megan and I have been reading Farmer Boy as our read aloud.  Megan is not a sit still and listen type of kid.  She has to keep her hands busy or she'll get bored, fidgety, and distracted.  She may love the story, but simply not be able to sit still.

Since her sisters and father are like this, I'm not bothered by it. I know she is paying attention. 

Today, as I read, Megan had a sheet of paper and a pencil.  She drew a picture of Almanzo breaking the calves, Star and Bright.  

I liked it.  The picture is one of her ways of processing what she's hearing. We are a strongly right-brained family.  We are visual.  Drawing what she is learning seems natural.  Now that I've cut back on required notebooking, Megan is jumping in with her own creative work all on her own.  

Winter Art

Laura and Megan are studying weather.  We've had a lot of extreme weather this winter:  blizzards, snow storm after snow storm, extreme cold and polar vortex events. Watching the Weather Channel regularly with all of these extreme conditions this winter has provided quite an education of its own.  Living through the storms and cold has given lots of hands-on experiences.

A small unit on weather in our plans came at an opportune time.  Studying the extremes off winter are very apt with what we are experiencing day to day.  Studying the weather of other seasons gives us a nice reminder that winter won't last forever.

In all the great books I checked out at the library, one I found for Laura was perfect for her. It was a book of weather facts with accompanying art projects.  I asked her to do at least two.

The one she chose turned out beautifully.  While we are tired of winter, the beauty of it has not escaped us.  Laura captured it perfectly in her art project. 

Winter will be over eventually, even if it feels like we are trapped in a never ending Arctic mess.   Studying the weather has reassured us that if one thing can be certain, weather changes and seasons come and go.

Holding On To Our History

The picture below is all that remains of a beautiful painting my Grandma painted .  In the winter of 1979 my Grandma was snowed in on this very farm during a snowstorm.  To pass the time, she painted this beautiful painting of the farm she was living on. 

I am still awed by her talent. 

This farm was where I grew up.  I moved around often as a child.  This farm was my stability.  My Grandma and step-Grandpa bought it when I was still a toddler.  So many memories from my childhood are centered around this place.  

The painting was destroyed later.  It saddened me to think that it was lost.  The other day I was going through summer of the boxes stored in my attic of my Grandmother's things.  In one of the photo albums, I found a Polaroid of the painting.  Tears came to my eyes as I saw it, an old friend I hadn't seen in over 25 years.

The painting hung in the dining room of my Grandma's farm.  I saw it every time I was there, which was as often as I could.   I ran on that grass, climbed in that barn, watched countless sunsets over the field across the street, built forts in the front corn crib, and ate amazing family meals in the kitchen of that yellow house.

Never in life have I felt as I did at Grandma's farm.  Grandma was the quintessential homemaker.  She loved and doted on her family.  She made an amazing, warm atmosphere at the farm that I'll cherish forever, that I long to create in my home for my loved ones. 

Grandma wasn't perfect, but she was special to me.  Always holding a positive light and attitude, she was special to everyone.

I have a bunch of copies to make of the picture I found, as so many long to have a copy of Grandma's painting.  For myself, I would like a larger print or possibly a canvas copy to hang in my home.  I would love to tell my children about their Great-Grandmother and my life growing up on her farm.

Starting Christmas Gift Crafts

Is it too early to start getting some Christmas crafts done?  Today, at the store, my daughters and I were looking at craft items.  I was simply looking for materials to handcraft hair bows for my younger daughters for less than what I can buy them for new.  We went from shopping for hair bow supplies to brainstorming Christmas gifts we can make instead of buy.

Megan quietly pulled me aside and asked if she could make a craft too.  We chose little sun catchers she could paint for her sisters.  

It's only October, but hand making gifts takes time.  Plus, buying gifts is expensive.  Making things helps keep expenses low.

I'm looking forward to what other treasures we might create in the next few weeks.

3 + 1 In The Fire

Megan and I read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego today.  We read that, after the three were thrown into the fiery furnace, a forth man was seen walking around with them.

After reading about the fiery furnace, Megan got to paint "fire" over 3 + 1.  

It's wonderful to know that, when we are going through the fire, Christ is there with us.

Keeping Up With Kindergarten

Megan is LOVING Little Hearts for His Glory!  I wanted to share some of the fun activities we have been doing over the last couple of weeks.

First Jasmine, the big sis, helped Megan with a science project on smells.

Then, while studying Joseph, Megan made an Egyptian collar.

This is her "Walk Like an Egyptian"pose that mommy had to teach her.

 

 

 

Then, while finishing up Joseph, Megan had fun with dramatic play and her stuffed animals.  I love that Heart of Dakota includes play.  Kids learn so much while playing!

Once again, big sister Jasmine came to the rescue.  She helped Megan make a Golden Calf while Megan was studying Moses.

It was gooey.  It was supposed to be the consistency of play-dough, but edible.  I didn't have any powdered milk, however, and, since I'm allergic to dairy, I figured it would be a lot of expense for something I no longer would use much.

The finished project looks more like a mouse made of baby poo, but Megan was proud of it anyway.  She didn't eat it all, but she did enjoy bits and pieces. 

Our year is so amazing now that we are back to doing Heart of Dakota.  Megan and I finished The Adventures of Reddy Fox yesterday.  Today we began The Adventures of Peter Cottontail.  We LOVE it!  The books are a blast. I feared that, since the Thornton Burgess books aren't picture books that Megan wouldn't pay attention.  Instead, it's her favorite time of the day! 

She is remembering so many verses with the music CD!  She spits them out quickly and confidently.  I am so proud of her.  What's even better is that her older sisters, despite having their own memory work and Scripture set to music, have also remembered Megan's verses because they hear the songs so often!

Making Her Name Glow

Megan had an art project yesterday that fascinated her.  When I told her to punch small holes in her black paper with a tiny screwdriver, she thought that was fun.  When I taped a white paper on the back, she just gave me her "I'm bored" stare.  But as I held her paper in front of a window and let the light shine through, she gasped.

"Mommy, it's beautiful!"

Her name looked hidden until held up to the light.  She has been reading about Jacob running away and "hiding" from his brother Esau, but God saw him. 

Discovering "The Joy of Painting"!

Megan had finished her school early today.  I was searching for something for her to watch on tv that wasn't mindless drivel so that she might relax quietly for a bit while her sisters finished their schooling.  When I came upon The Joy of Painting I was thrilled!  I used to watch this show as a child with my grandmother!  I thought, " What a perfect show for Megan to watch!"

The Joy of Painting was a show that was on in the 1980s and early 1990s.  In it, artist Bob Ross spends 30 minutes or so painting beautiful landscapes.  While all the episodes are re-runs now, I remember loving it as a child.  It shows the process of painting from a blank canvass to a wonderful landscape.  I was always fascinated by the process.  It seemed that the picture would be pretty, and Bob Ross would suddenly add in something that at first looked like he had just ruined the painting.  Then, as he kept adding details, it would become a wonderful add-in, such as a giant tree or a barn.  I loved it!  Painting is something that I have no talent for, but Bob Ross always left me feeling that it was simple and anyone could do the amazing landscapes just like he did!

It wasn't long before all the children had abandoned their schoolwork to come watch the painting show.  At first, the older two were just curious.  Then, they were mesmerized, just as I was as a child!

Laura LOVED it!  She is my little artist.  She was disappointed when I told her that she needed to put off her painting no matter how inspired, and finish her school work.  I have a feeling she will be trying her hand at creating a masterpiece or two before the day is over!

Megan, on the other hand, walked completely away from the tv when the show was over.  With some newspapers added to the dining room table, I got out the watercolors for Megan and let my smallest artist go to work.  Guess I didn't need to find something "kiddish" for Megan to watch for her to be inspired!

Laura's Painting

My daughter loves to paint.  She loves the poetry in Creation to Christ because each poem includes creating a painting.  She is sad that, after finally restarting Creation to Christ, she is almost finished.  She only has a few more days and Resurrection to the Reformation is on the way!

She even loves the painting that comes with some of the projects.   She enjoys creating and making things "pretty".  I love that my daughter is artistic.   While she is her own worst critic, she has learned a lot of technique with the Creation to Christ poetry paintings.  In Resurrection to the Reformation, there is scheduled Art Appreciation.  I am SO excited!  Laura is going to LOVE learning more about painting and art!