Life Nurturing Education

I changed my theme. My plan was to leave everything alone until I learned to customize, but after trying off and on all day to get my comments fixed, I couldn’t wait.

To prevent spam from filling my comment boxes, there is a captcha that needs to be typed before a comment is saved. It was not showing on my previous template for some undiscovered reason. I apologize if you tried to leave a comment and were sent to an error page. This is now resolved, so be sure to enter my first book giveaway.

There are many wonderful blogs listed in this year’s Homeschool Blog Awards. I am honored to be in the Best Artistic Content category.

I am grateful to those who nominated me, and appreciate all my readers. You challenge me to think, compose, and endure. Knowing we are in this home school adventure together is such an encouragement. May our children grow strong in character and love for the preservation of liberty and the glory of God.

The poem Five Kernels of Corn chronicles the character and contentment of the Pilgrims through hardships. Their extended harvest celebration is memorable, but the winter before food was scarce. Bradford admonished his diminishing flock,

Give thanks, all ye people, the warm skies have come,

The hilltops are sunny, and green grows the holm,

And the trumpets of winds, and the white March is gone.

And ye still have left you Five Kernels of Corn.

Five Kernels of Corn!

Five Kernels of Corn!

Ye have for Thanksgiving Five Kernels of Corn!

To each one be given Five Kernels of Corn!

In want or in plenty the Pilgrims remembered to be appreciative. My son realized that as he wrote,

Be thankful for all!

Be thankful for all!

God will give us what we need

So be thankful for all.

Even though our remembrance feast has past, this concluded our Thanksgiving study perfectly. Gratefulness and contentment are inseparable; a lesson to practice every day.

Every night I curl up next to my Sunshine on her bed. This simple, repetitive act created the opportunity for the sweetest, most important affirmation.

Mother, (yes, she calls me Mother) I love you wider than the sky.

I love you wider than the sky, too.

Gazing at my face, then glancing at my mussed up hair, she asked,

Do you love me bigger than your hair?

Yes, honey, I love you bigger than my hair.

The conversation continued as I insisted my love is bigger than my ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.

I Love You More captures a similar interaction. A mother tenderly answers her son’s plea, “Mommy, (I need to keep reading this to Sunshine) just how much do you love me?”

I love you higher than the highest bird ever flew. I love you taller than the tallest tree grew…

The son’s response is found by turning this innovative flip book upside down and around.

I love you higher than the longest lollipop ever lasted. I love you louder than the loudest rocket ship ever blasted…

This delightful story reinforces the peace and strength of unconditional love already planted in my children’s hearts.

Now is your opportunity to enjoy a sweet moment with your little one. In the spirit of the season, I am giving away my review copy of I Love You More. To enter the drawing, just leave a comment. The winner will be announced November 30. Best wishes!

*Update* Due to my comments not working the deadline is extended until December 1.

Reading Stories of the Pilgrims encouraged my children to go on a journey. The wagon became the Mayflower. Sweet Pea was little Fear, Bug modeled William Bradford, and Sunshine, resplendent in her homemade nightgown, played Patience.

Life Nurturing Education will be unavailable part of the day on Thanksgiving. While my family eats turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin cheesecake our administrator will be crunching codes to update homeschooljournal. At least, codes are calorie free. Thank you, Andrea!

If you can’t find me after Thanksgiving, it’s because I wiped everything out fiddling with the new options and making a nice place for my BlogHer ads. (It is hard to wipe out your entire blog, right?)

Have a memorable Thanksgiving! May peace and love fill your homes and hearts as you reflect on your blessings.

The Carnival of Homeschooling is at HomeschoolBuzz this week. Fall photos accompany the great posts. Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing the Mayflower, posing in a pumpkin patch, or playing football with their dad?