"Magnanimous, that is, a person of great mind, wide interests, incapable of occupying himself much about petty,  personal matters. What a pity to lose sight of such a possibility for the sake of miserable scraps of information about persons and things that have little connection with one another and little connection with ourselves!" - Charlotte Mason, Ourselves
Charlotte Mason's Ourselves, teaches the reader about they ways of the mind and the soul. In her chapter, on the desire for knowledge, she tells the reader that it is not in the shallow things that we fill our minds with, in which we experience the entirety of life. In today's culture, it is easy to allow your mind to become overcome and distracted by mindless things. We can quickly become lost in the tumultuous whirlwind of life, and are unable to grasp real knowledge of the multitude of things which are worthy of our minds. We must train ourselves to become magnanimous, and desire to have knowledge and understanding. Each person has the opportunity to decide what they wish to fill their mind with. When we fill it with petty ideas, and a load of small talk, we literally don't have the space to learn about something deeply. We have inhibited ourselves from living our lives to the fullest, and making the most of what we have.
So, what is it that makes it so much more difficult to fill our mind with large ideas, rather than things unworthy of our minds? Well, the answer is quite simple, yet, also quite disturbing as well. The small, trivial ideas which distract us and flood our thoughts are satisfying and entertaining to our minds. They quickly, build up into one large heap of ludicrous and senseless thoughts, restraining bolder ideas from entering our mind, and spark our attention.
Proverbs 4:7 says: The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
So, not only is it wise to get knowledge and fill your mind with broad ideas for your educational benefit, but for your spiritual life as well. The definition of insight is, the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing. The Bible has instructed us to gain insight. To gain knowledge. But not just any kind of knowledge. A deep knowledge. One which will not fade from you memory after an hour. No, one which will impact you for the rest of your life.
Lastly, where can you gain this knowledge? Literature is one of the greatest places to find wisdom from the authors of the past. Read several pieces from the classic authors not only for the enjoyable stories which are the vessels for the morals, but for the significant underlying themes which the author is presenting. Read their works for the wisdom which you can gain from those before you. The Bible is also undoubtedly packed full of knowledge written for our own purposes. Read chapters of the Bible, and I can assure you that you will come out with a vast expanse of knowledge and wisdom from our sagacious forefathers.

Merry Christmas, everyone! The temperature is dropping outside, and overall, it is feeling more and more like the Christmas season every day. I thought I would write a post about a special tradition that is observed by many Christians all over the world. I am speaking of Advent.
The word "Advent" means "to wait for", and by observing Advent, we are awaiting Christmas day, a time that is set aside to remember God's plan for our redemption.
 Advent is observed in many different ways, and this year, we are going through it with the book titled Hallelujah, written by Cindy Rollins. Every night we gather together as a family and light the Advent candle, sing a Christmas hymn, read several scriptures from the Bible, and then listen to several selected pieces of music from Handel's Messiah.
Handel's Messiah is a Baroque oratorio, a lengthy piece of music, that consists of many instruments, and a full choir. Unlike an opera, that is more of a drama which includes acting and props, an oratorio is a musical selection which focuses on a sacred topic such as the Bible. It does not include acting or props.
The music is divided into 3 different styles, the recitative, the chorus and the air. So, let's talk a little bit about each of these three styles of music.
The Recitative
The first style is called the recitative. It is usually just one voice, and more focused on the text, and what the words are talking about, than the actual music. It is trying to portray one scripture from the Bible in particular, and only has one or two phrases that are repeated many times over again in that segment.
The Air
Similar to the recitative, the air is also focused on the words, but unlike the recitative, the Air is much more expressive, and there is much more of a dramatic feel about it.
The Chorus
The chorus is the third style. The chorus is completely different from either the air or the recitative. It incorporates all of the voices of the choir, ( Alto, Soprano, Tenor, and Bass) but while focusing on the music, it also focuses on the lyrical movement. The chorus is usually a part of the music that is very expressive, and pleasing to our ear.
The Messiah has many recitatives, choruses, and airs, spread throughout the whole of the music. In all it is about two and a half hours, but we listen to it in segments all throughout the month of December.
The scripture that we read is from different parts of the Bible that prophesy the birth of Jesus. It is really amazing to read how Jesus' birth is prophesied hundreds of years before he was born.
I really enjoy Advent because it reminds us why we celebrate Christmas, and keeps our eyes focused on what is true, lovely, and pure.

Hello Everyone! Several days ago, I was thinking about a remarkable heroine in America’s history that most people know about but don’t always think about her very much as a leading lady in history. The woman I am speaking of is Florence Nightingale.

Florence Nightingale was born in 1820, but it wasn’t until 1853 when the Crimean war began, that she became a nurse. On Nov. 4, 1854, Florence left Britain with a group of thirty- eight other nurses to work in a military hospital in Turkey to heal the wounded soldiers in the infirmary. 

During the day, she would sit at the soldiers bedside, and at night, when the moon was high in the sky, and crystalline stars dotted the sky, she walked slowly about the ward with a lit lamp in her hand to visit each of the suffering soldiers.

She was remembered in history as a heroine who sacrificed her time and energy to take up the cause of the nation and help the soldiers in need.

"I attribute my success to this:- I never gave or took an excuse"

-Florence Nightingale

Below, I have written a poem about the integrity and willingness of Florence Nightingale.

The Lady with the Lamp

She walks about with quiet pace,

A water glass one hand embrace,

Along the dusty floors she tramps.

The other hand a burning lamp.

Her apron tied without a plight,

And her eyes smiling with delight.

Walking through the weary camp

Her hand placed on the burning lamp.

The men on sick beds did lay,

While she assists them all the day.

The air it was stony and damp,

While walked the Lady with the Lamp.

When one man calls, she comes to aid,

Without a question or a bade.

She walks to him coming down the ramp,

Whilst she holds her trusty lamp.

Pat his head with a cloth she will,

And give them water that is chill. 

Hold up to them a bowl of samp,

And light their faces with her lamp.

Though at the end of the long day,

Her eyes, drooping weary from the rays.

She sits down with a heaving sigh,

And thinks how all that day did fly.

But even though with weary back,

From all the work she did not lack,

Joy filled her heart to the brim,

When all the men were healed again.

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day everyone! Another splendid holiday has just passed us by, and I thought that it would be a good idea to write a post about the historical meaning behind Independence Day.

A lot of people that celebrate this day of memorial will get too focused on the fireworks and parties that happen on Independence Day, and they will sometimes forget the actual meaning of this holiday. So, what is the true meaning of Independence Day?     

For many years, during the 1700’s King George, of England ruled over America with a firm hand. George ruled in an unjust and tyrannical manner, not letting the Americans have a say in government matters. 

 Up until then, the Americans had put their foot down in some ways, like the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, the Sugar Act, the Currency Act, the list goes on. Even though the war had not begun yet, there was still some fights like the Battle of Bunker Hill.
On March 23rd, 1775, Patrick Henry published his speech named, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death."
When the Americans decided that they had had enough of England's rule over them, a man named Thomas Jefferson (with the help of several others) wrote a paper that declared that England was treating them with the utmost incivility, and cruelness of spirit, and they would rebel if necessary.
This paper was named the Declaration of Independence, and signed by 56 Americans who yearned for freedom. The Declaration was adopted on July 2nd, 1776.
The war technically started in 1775, and Col. George Washington was the chosen general of the army. Washington led his men with strength and zeal
The well-known wintry encampment at Valley Forge showed the strength, and integrity of Washington's army. The battalion reached Valley Forge Dec. 19, 1777, and camped there under the tightest of rations, and the coldest of weather. The winter was bitterly cold, and food was scarce. Starvation seized the camps, and 2,000 of Washington's soldiers died at that place, but the remaining soldiers kept pushing through.
After many years of fighting with the English, on Sept 3rd, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, and ended the Revolutionary War. America gained liberty, and it was once more a peaceful country again.
On Sept. 17th,1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed, and America established a republic. 

Unlike England, America was a democracy, and she elected George Washington to be the first president. Washington was a president for four whole years, and then was elected once more to be the president yet, again. After serving for eight years Washington went back to his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. 

So, as you can see, Independence Day is a very historical holiday and it can be very meaningful if you remember the true and right meaning of it. 

The Lord of the Rings

Oscar Wilde once said, "If one cannot enjoy a book a over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all."
There are many books like this for me, but my most beloved and enjoyed book series, are The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The story follows a small hobbit, Frodo, who is traveling across Middle Earth to destroy the one Ring that would give Sauron, the Evil Lord, eternal power over Middle Earth. Of course, Frodo has his faithful friend Sam to guide him, and help him when he is being slightly overtaken by the Ring. Not only are Frodo and Sam traveling to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring, but also everywhere else in Middle Earth the struggle continues. As Evil overtakes Middle Earth those on the side of good are forced to pitch in, and help Frodo and Sam by defending them along the way from the Evil One, Sauron.
Some might say that Frodo is the hero is the hero of the story, but I disagree. Sam is the most loyal of all of the characters in the story. In the end, Frodo is tempted to keep the Ring instead of destroying it. He is close to giving up his life and all other life on Middle Earth, but Sam is there to guide him back to the right path. Sam gives all he has in him for Frodo, and even has to carry his friend up the mountain, when Frodo has no strength to move on any further. Sam is the perfect picture of a true and devoted  friend to Frodo.
One of the many things I like about this story, is that it mirrors what our life, as Christians, is like here on Earth.  As we try to learn more about God, and as we try to teach others about ihm too, we run into all kinds of dangers and troubles along the way. In out day, having a friend like Sam, to encourage us, and help us when we need the most is sometimes crucial.
In  the first years of 2000, Peter Jackson released wonderful movies to go along with these book. Although he couldn't add in everything that we would have liked, he did an amazing job with the character development, and although it took many years to finish them, they were great. The soundtracks by Howard Shore are one of my favorite aspects to the movies, and the music alone is enough to make you teary-eyed. I feel like Shore did as well in the music, as Peter Jackson did on the movies, and I highly recommend listening to it. :) The Lord of the Rings is something that I have treasured and loved for a while, and I will keep reading it, and enjoying it for as long as I can.
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you do't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."



                                     
                                              Frodo and Sam going up the Mountain
                               

Nature Study

Have you ever stood quietly in the middle of the forest listening to the birds chirp, and the wind rustle through the trees? Have you ever felt the strong connection with nature after spending an evening in the woods? Let me take you on a walk through the woods, and see nature as it should be.

Before we leave we should gather together a few things. First, we grab a pair of binoculars. And we will want to take a camera with us so that we can take a picture of the animal/plant that we want to draw. Now that we have everything together, let’s set out for our nature study in the woods.

As we enter the forest, all of a sudden, the air becomes stiller, and a solemn hush is about us. We feel the springy moss underneath our feet as we walk. Birds chirp, and suddenly, we hear something in the bush at our feet. We jump out of the way just in time for something red, black and yellow, to slither out of the bush. You ask what it is, and I tell you that it is a coral snake. One of the deadliest snakes in Texas! You are a little timid as we walk about, but you are suddenly calmed, when I tell you not to speak, and point to a deer, licking the rocks. I pull out the camera (I told you we would need it!) and shoot a few pictures before it is too late. We hear the soft chirp of a bird in the trees above us, and I get out the binoculars and identify it as an Eastern Blue Bird. You smile, for you have always longed to see one in person! For the rest of our walk, we see other wildlife, such as spiders, and fish, but soon we are ready to journal about some of these things in out Nature Notebook.

We just saw many different kinds of animals, now we have the choice to pick which one we would like to draw, and study up on.  We pull our notebook out of the bag along with a pencil and sketch a picture of our deer in the woods. After we have sketched it we pull out the watercolors and a mason-jar that is filled with water and add some color to our picture. Thankfully we remembered to bring the field-guides and before we are finished we read up a little more about deer. Once we have read about them we write what we have earned next to our picture. Your nature-notebook is yours, and you can pick what you would like to put in it, by choice, that makes it fun and exciting to have a break from school, and study about the nature that God has provided for us to enjoy.

I have filled the pages of many nature note-books, and because I have kept them for many years, I can look back at some of my first books, and realize the progress I have made in only several years. I hope this post has encouraged you to start a Nature Note Book of your own. :)

                                                                                 White-Tailed Deer 

Eastern Blue Bird

A Lofty Prayer

By Sophia Donnelly

I look up to the sky,

The sun is beaming on the verdant grass.

The air is dry

And the clouds are lofty.

A sudden cool wind blows away the haze,

Clouds cover the sky

And water vapor fills the blaze;

And there I sit in the midst praying aloud to the One.

Huge water drops plunge out of the heavens,

The dry, cracked earth is saturated,

And my heart beckons to

The cool feeling of the sundry drops.