I apologize for some erratic blogging and more erratic email replies. We have faced a series of daunting challenges in the past several weeks and at times it has consumed all our time and energy. Still, there has been an undercurrent of peace throughout for me. Fatigue, discouragement, and concern -yes- but also peace.

I always said homeschooling was every bit as much an education for me as for my children. I was reminded of this today. Allen and I were discussing some difficult decisions that had to be made and pulling together our case for the public comment hearing for the utility project. Sometimes when you survey all the crummy things coming at you it is easy to get demoralized. As we were talking, however, I was thinking of a poem I read to the older boys many years ago, Horatius at the Bridge by Thomas Babington Macauley. 

In this story Rome was under attack by the Etruscans who had to cross a narrow footbridge to reach the city. Their number and the speed with which they approached the bridge overwhelmed the resolve of the Roman soldiers. They decided to cut the bridge but would not be able to do so before the arrival of their foes. Horatius rose to the occasion, realizing he did not have to battle the entire Etruscan army, he had only to face them one at a time. That he could do. He called for comrades in arms: 

I, with two more to help me,
    Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand
    May well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand,
    And keep the bridge with me?’

Two more joined him, proving that a threefold cord is not easily broken, and they held off the onslaught until the bridge was severed.Horatius was the last man standing on the bridge as the bridge collapsed. He then plunged into the Tiber, amid the jeers of the enemy, and appeared to have succumbed:

And heavy with his armour,
    And spent with changing blows:
And oft they thought him sinking,
    But still again he rose.

But his limbs were borne up bravely
    By the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber
    Bare bravely up his chin.

Somehow rereading this poem buoyed me up as well. We do not have to slay all these dragons at once. We just have to be faithful at the gate, facing one of them at a time. Our ‘Good Father’ will bear us up as well.

Another poem from my own childhood comes to mind. My aunt had a framed copy of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata on the wall all the years we shared a room while I was growing up. I know the words well:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952

No doubt the universe, at least my little universe, IS unfolding as God wills it to be. As to the upset, this too shall pass. Meantime, I am exceedingly grateful for the steadfast support of dear friends who help me "nurture that strength of spirit" to get through crumminess with more grace than I could ever muster on my own. Thank you for keeping the bridge with me over so many years. You know who you are. : )

*if you want to explore Horatius futher you might check out Memoria Press’ study guide. A shorter free study is available here. An accompanying art lesson is here.

Valentine’s Day began in the wee hrs this yr with my bum back. We had snow the night before and expected to have our party canceled so my early morning insomnia didn’t seem too intrusive.  Not until the call that is. The roads were better than expected so at 730am the party was declared on again and we decided to make the trek to Denver with friends. I jumped in the shower and try as we may we were running pretty late getting there. At 10:20 with 15 miles to go it was pretty clear we were only going to make the second half of the event but a quick glance at the faces in the rear view mirror assured me it was better to press on than to go back. On we went and they skated with their friends til noon.

We decided that since we rarely get to the north side of town we would stop by some stores we don’t often get to.  For mom that meant talking the children into perusing the aisles of the really good scrapbook store. <g>  Twenty minutes and a stack of vintage style paper later I was a happy camper and they were no worse for wear. We planned a quick run into the school supply store nearby to get Alannah the next Key To books. We got way sidetracked by their new toy wing however! WAY sidetracked! Math, smath. You should have seen those toys!

First stop was the train table. I have been fascinated by Brio-compatible trains since the big boys were little. They never did get a set but boy has the train selection expanded. Kieran was enthralled with the low train table as I worked the shelves. My favorite game was Logico, which has cards with matching and other games for non readers. It is ingenious with no little parts to lose and no electric gadgets to wear out or break. I think Brendan can use this before too long.

Aidan and the girls meanwhile were standing open-mouthed near the resin toys.  Now I have read all the compelling arguments for wooden toys. I love wooden toys. Still, we were all suckers for the perfectly scaled little knights and fair maidens and Moira asked to run back to the van for her purse. She bought a set of the most realistic tiny farm animals you ever saw, complete with a dairy goat. Alannah worked her way through the horses and dollhouse miniatures and decided to go home and compare prices on Amazon. An hr later we left the store with our heads full of ideas. Oh, and some math books lol!

Allen surprised us at home with Valentine gifts for all. The girls got jewelry and the boys all got chocolate. I got the most incredible set of cashmere/silk blend jammies. My word! They are soooo comfortable! Gotta love the man. <g>

This morning we spent a considerable amount of time glued to the machine here learning the differences between 1/12, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 scale. Whew! Fwiw 1/12 is the standard dollhouse collectible size and that was the final decision the girls made. Breyer has horses in that size with perfectly formed little hay bales and wheelbarrows. Schleicht has equally impressive little chickens and fox terriers that are in the same size. A plan was launched to build a miniature empire and allowances were pooled to begin. Kieran is using his birthday money to get some trains. We found some very helpful train track layouts online to get us started.

That was our little holiday rabbit trail. I hope you had an equally pleasant week! We are back to our Konos units this week also and I hope to get in a note about that shortly.

Thought I would share a pic of number one son’s basketball team. Number one son would be the good-looking dude in the front row with the (ahem!) facial hair. Agh! Although the news is that I would probably take the beard deal over the newest hair adventure.  Apparently, the $4 barber’s clipper guard slipped off and she accidentally shaved one side of his head. Having inherited his mother’s quick thinking he apparently decided now would be a good time to try that mohawk. Yes you heard that right, grandma! He had her do the other side and call it good. He says it will grow out. In time.

It’s a phase right?  Someone tell me it’s a phase…… ; )

Anyway, we are so thrilled to see the boy sporting team colors. He is winging his way across the country this semester playing for the U of A. We love you Colin!