Quaint

Quaint. I've never really like that word. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. I am concerned with all the better and best stuff that I might end up becoming quaint. I don't want to be quaint. Should I want to be quaint? I'm thinking that I should. For some reason I'm rebelling at the idea. Get thee hence oh Babylon!


When I think about quaint I think about the authors Louisa Mae Alcott and Jean Stratton Porter. They wrote quaint stories right? I've never liked their books because they were quaint. What is it about quaint with me? I've read Laddie three times in an effort to like quaint books. I've read multiple Porter books and multiple Alcott books. I've read the books were they go through the Indiana marshes (or whatever they were) and found moths. I read an entire book on moth collecting!! I read Little Men and all the boys were so perfect and never didn't anything wrong. The little ones cooked "cakes and pies" in their little oven in the toy room. Is that what it means to be quaint? I've tried to like them, but they are just so......well, quaint!


The online dictionary says: 
Quaint–adjective, -er, -est.
1. having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque: a quaint old house.
2. strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: a quaint sense of humor.
3. skillfully or cleverly made.
4. obsolete . wise; skilled.

I like old-fashioned things, but I'm not big on quaint old-fashioned things. Perhaps I see quaint as having things a little to perfect and everyone just a little to happy. That's not good though. We want perfect and happy. What is my problem?

My problem is that I really don't like Porter and Alcott's books and I'm worried that I'm going to have to all of a sudden like them. I like Austen, Glaskell, and Montgomery though.

Quaint.

What am I going to do?

Character Tool

A couple of years ago, when I was called to serve as our ward Young Women President, I was reintroduced to the For the Strength of Youth booklet. I quickly found out what a worth while tool it is for our youth and us as adults.

In speaking of For the Strength of Youth booklet Elder Tingey said, "In the For the Strength of Youth booklet, the following standards, among others, are like a North Star to you: choose friends with high standards, do not disfigure your body with tattoos or body piercings, avoid pornography, do not listen to music that contains offensive language, do not use profanity, date only those who have high standards, remain sexually pure, repent as necessary, be honest, keep the Sabbath day holy, pay tithing, keep the Word of Wisdom."

While serving as Young Women's President I made an effort to read applicable passages with each lesson. I would also read the dancing section each time there was a school dance to them in opening exercises and encourage them to keep their covenants and remain pure.

In many ways I find it sad that we have to be so explicit about things. I found reading it straight out of the book to be a lot easier though, followed by a discussion.

When I was called we also began to include it in Family Home Evenings. Each week we read a section together and discuss it with them. We started this when our children were young. There has never been a question about our standards. It is from my continued reading of this that I have such high personal standards in movies, books, computer viewing, dancing and music. There were several parts we did omit that were not age appropriate in the beginning, but we are now reading to them.

After reading it we will have a discussion about that standard. We make sure they understand. We also discuss ways that our family can do a better job keeping that standard. We have made changes based on some of our discussions. Sometimes we also look up the scriptures.

As each member of our family turns 8 they are given their own copy to keep with their scriptures. They do study it on their own. Alex and I also have our own copies and ours are marked up. (I'm on my second booklet). We use them for our talks and teaching lessons. Alex has also used the booklets in the children's weekly interviews from time to time. We also have the small copies stored in our purses and wallets.

I am grateful for this tool that we have that can reinfornce the standards we are trying to teach.

September 28, 2009 (Monday)

Mom School
Pray/Pledge
Song: Family, My Eternal Family, Sing Your Way Home and a Rhythm poem
Bible: Jacob from The Old Testament Reader
Family Scripture Study: Galatians 6
Weekly Scripture Memorization: Mosiah 2:17
Friend Article
Idaho History: Read about unusual landforms in Idaho from A Rendezvous with Idaho History.
Read-a-loud: We read one chapter from The Silver Chair by CS Lewis.
Literature: We read "Taming of the Shreww" from Tales of Shakespeare by Usborne. We also read several poems from Poems for Memorization.
Science: Read a chapter in Science: A Closer Look by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. You know it's a good book when everyday they say, "Please read another chapter!"
Greek: Practiced our Greek alphabet.
Chores including animal care
Lots of Lego's

Olivia
Religion: Read a chapter in Genesis.
Geography: Did an Evan-Moor lesson.
Math: Did a Saxon 7/6 lesson.
Language Arts: Did a Daily Grams lesson and did an Editor in Chief lesson.
Spelling: Did a spell drill
Creative Writing: Did her 1/2 hours scholar writing assignment.
Science: Did a science lesson from her science textbook.
Research: Functions of the brain.
Music: Practiced her piano lesson and went to piano lessons.

Jared
Religion: Read in the Book of Mormon.
Music: Practiced his piano lesson and went to piano.
Geography: Did an Evan-Moor lesson.
Math: Did a Saxon 6/5 lesson.
Spelling: 1 spell drill
Phonics/Handwriting: 5 pages of Explode the Code
Creative Writing: Did a lesson in Let's Write.
Grammar: Did a Daily Grams lesson.

Luke
Religion: Read in the Book of Mormon
Geography: Did an Evan-Moor lesson.
Math: Did a Saxon 3 lesson.
Phonics/Handwriting: 5 pages of Explode the Code
Grammar: Did a Daily Grams lesson.
Spelling: Did a spell drill.
Creative Writing: Worked on his Scholar writing assignment.

Caleb
Religion: Read a couple of versus in the Book of Mormon to me.
Geography: Did a lesson from Evan-Moor.
Math: Did one Saxon Math 2 lesson.
Spelling: 1 spell drill
Phonics/Handwriting: 2 pages of Explode the Code
Reading: Read a short story to me. He also read some passages on the phone via the internet with our state teacher that we report to. Practiced his sight words by using a highlighter and finding them in The Friend.

Family Home Evening:
Song: How Firm a Foundation
Testimonies: Everyone including Tanner
Scripture of the week: Mosiah 2:17
For the Strength of Youth: Using good words
Proclamation to the World:1st paragraph
Articles of Faith: 8th
Uncommon Courtesy: Table Manners
Lesson: Moroni 10: 3-5 and Enos (Prayer)
Activity: Playing basketball
Treats: Marshmallows over a camp fire
Song: Beautiful Savior

To Show Parent Core/Love of Learner/Scholar here are some things we modeled to the children today...
Deanna: Scriptures, practiced the piano, and worked on my English class (very painful class) .
Alex: Scriptures, word of the day, went to work and did several trainings for Boy Scouts of America

The Rhythm Poem

When I was in 5th grade my teacher taught me this poem. I have always remembered parts of it. Since our family moved back to my hometown I am now good friends with my 5th grade teacher. I asked her for this poem and she obliged me. I also had her teach this to "my young women" for an activity we had that had to do with Choice and Accountability. I have since taught it to my children. We clap it out. I don't know who wrote this poem. This is the poem as I have it....

Rhythm Poem
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Be choosy * * When you choose a choice
Be decisive when deciding a decision * * *
Don't be like mannequins and ladyquins * *
Letting others put you in to positions * * *
Don't be like a puppet on a string
Letting others make you do the things you do.
Controlling every action to their satisfaction
And speaking every single word for you.
Don't go through like a sha dow
Following someone everywhere he goes
Never moving independently
And letting others * step on your toes.
Don't be like a mirror on the wall
A copycat, a polished imitator
Reflecting everything that passes by
A duplicator, an impersonator
Think for yourself! Be a leader!
The product of your own composition.
Be choosy! When you choose a choice
Be decisive when deciding a decision.