Psalms 4:8

Today was a pretty relaxing day. Creed spent time with Aunt Na, while I went to the chiropractor, ran errands and spent time with daddy. Even though we didn't have school today, we went over the two days of creation we learned this week. Normally we would designate Friday as an art day, but since we homeschool we're at liberty to shake it up whenever we please. I think a good balance of instruction is to lot one day per week per year of age at least until school age, which makes sense to me, so for us that would be three. I'm really proud of the success we had this week. It was new for both of us, but FUN too! 

On our way home we stopped by the library to pick up some books and allow Creed some "puter" (aka computer) time. "Remember what we need to do in the library," I asked Creed? "Be quiet," he replied, in a whisper. "And not run," I added. In fact, we're working on our decibel level here at the house. If it's hurting my ears, I don't know how it's affecting his. For a time I wondered if it may be related to hearing, however that hypothesis was blown out of the water yesterday when Creed was walking in front of us and my husband called after Creed in a normal tone voice and Creed asked, "Daddy?" 

Something interesting happened at the library. Those small pencils they leave with slips of paper (also used at gold courses and sometimes bowling alleys) by the computer for noting call numbers of books after searching the catalogs on their database, caught Creed's attention. I had searched for a book and upon writing down the call number, I heard him reading the keyboard. Nothing out of the ordinary since he points out shapes and letters as we drive by them or go for a walk. He said he wanted to write, so I gave him my pencil. I wasn't paying attention to what he was doing and when I looked down he was writing an x. He seemed to be really comfortable holding that itty bitty pencil and held it the correct way. I'm going to use a hacksaw for a smooth finish and create some for him to use, to test my theory. He has those big pencils they use in kindergarten, regular pencils, markers, chalk, fat chalk, etc., but nothing that's short and small like that. Is it the size that feels comfortable to him? We shall soon find out. 

I love the section of books new to the library. If it weren't there, I'd miss a lot. With a quick glance over the selection I picked out, "The Artful Parent, Simple Ways to Fill Your Family's Life with Art & Creativity," by Jean Van'T Hul. This is the coolest book I've seen for children, (yea, I still use the word cool, I haven't found another word that describes the coolness yet!) More on this book tomorrow, but in the meantime if you're interested you can find it here: http://www.artfulparent.com/the-artful-parent-book.html. This will definitely be one that I"ll try to find second-hand on Amazon or eBbay. After exhausting my thriftiness through the local Goodwill, Care Help and Treasure Chest and online through eBay and Amazon, I have found my new best friend in all things school in the local School Aids store. HOW did I not know about this store for the 11 years I've been living here? Had I known about this store I'd probably have worked there. I LOVE school supplies. I love learning and it is my hope that this crosses over to my son. One of our errands today was getting flash cards laminated, a service they provide. I also picked up a handy-dandy Year Round Preschool Lesson Planner, one in which I'm looking forward using tomorrow for next week's preparation. I've learned it's best to use pencil now after going through a lot of white out last week. 

"The Runaway Bunny," by one of my favorite children's book authors, Margaret Wise Brown, is one among several books we picked up this evening at the library, listed in the Three-Year-Old Curriculum of ABC Jesus Loves Me. This is such a moving story, one so that moved me to tears while I read to Creed tonight before bed. It's a conversation between a mother and child. The child tells his mother he wants to run away and the mother responds in love by saying, "If you run away I will run after you. For you are my little bunny." I felt this whole story in my heart tonight. I'm reminded of Jesus' love.

After putting Creed to bed, I lay along side him praying silently. After a few sentences my mind wandered to many library books and back again. I thought how God must see us as his children often times with short attention spans, just like a toddler. I apologized and wandered back into communion with my Savior praying peace over Creed. Recently he's been afraid to go to sleep by himself. This has never been a problem. Apparently he was frightened of a big squirrel tonight. It was obvious when he opened the door that he had been asleep and was stirred by a dream. This is very disheartening. I too, feel afraid sometimes when I lay down at night. I fall asleep a lot of time praying, "Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone oh Lord make we dwell in safety." I was thinking tonight about faith. I've got to have faith, not only when it's convenient for me, but always. When we lose our faith, perhaps we lose our trust in God. Maybe we simply stop trusting that he will only do what's best for us. Sometimes it's intimidating to hand it all over to the Lord for me, but it's also freeing. Yesterday I felt like a child in my spirit, clean. May we all be surrounded by angels in the night, sleeping in peace.