Unconventional Christian

well she DOES rather rock.

2011-09-09T18:26:00.001-07:00

my sweets

2011-05-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Here's my lovelies waiting in line for their free comic books!

Freebird

2011-04-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

Now age two, struggling with finding her place in the world, she has been hitting and grabbing and screaming, my poor dear. We had weeks of this until yesterday, after driving her older siblings bonkers, I scooped her up and said, "Would you like to ride on my back in the mei-tei?" She yelled, "Yes!! Bow tie! Bow tie!" So onto my back she went...immediately pulling my shirt down from the nape of my neck so she could snuggle against the skin on my back, her teeth gritting in delight. As we walked down to the basement together to do some laundry, she said to me, "We fix my sad life."

Oh, that child. How much they understand, and how much more they feel, and so, so early.

Love on your children. Hold them close.

I'll post a picture tomorrow.

lovely

2011-01-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

2011-01-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

oh....wow.

2011-01-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

This simple little article on cultivating quiet spoke to me. I just love it.

quote of the day

2010-12-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

"Mama! He's taking my imaginary chocolate chips!"

because life has been a wee bit too serious lately

2010-11-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

This is the face I always make when someone points a camera in my direction. It's true. Ask anybody. It makes me miss my little brother. He makes the same face.

It's also an honesty photo. This is how I look most days. A little bloodshot. No makeup. In need of a pluck. But boy, do I rock those beads.

Have a day today that makes you laugh.

what i am going to do today

2010-10-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

Today I will see beauty, no matter what.

sabbath

2010-09-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Even blonde ringlets need to rest now and then.

what I do for fun

2010-09-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

how to be alone

Once a week I leave home for my "alone time". Because I'm an introvert, I only thrive when I can occasionally be alone to process my thoughts and to not talk or interact with people. I return to my babies and my husband vigorously recharged.

If I don't get my weekly alone time, by Wednesday I am cranky and bristly.

One way to know if you're an introvert or an extrovert is the following:

If you are feeling tired and stressed...which would you want to do more?
a) Go to a party with friends and laugh and talk all night.
b) Go to a library and take notes on what you read.

autobots, roll out!

2010-08-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

...in a bumpy, peach-laden wagon.

i think you'll love this

2010-08-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

She's a powerful writer.

perhaps I'll try wearing this tomorrow

2010-08-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12

You know. Because of the beautiful people I live with whom I was unkind to today.

you asked for it

2010-07-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

This was taken back in April when we were just moving into our new house...but its the best picture I have of the ornateness. Note the phoenixlike creatures hovering at the top of the sconce panels. I can't believe I live in a house where the species of my sconce panel creatures is up for discussion.

For my birthday it is all coming down, people.

We're not even going to mention the purple rug.

sorry

2010-07-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

I really am still alive.

Thank you for wondering.

moving right along

2010-04-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

We bought a house. A whole stinkin' house. I just can't believe it.

!

The hippie children love it. I will post a picture soon of the dining room, which I have described, accurately, mind you, as "the Victorian Brothel". We'll be renovating.

We're moving this Saturday, in between hyperventilating, changing the locks, and twirling with excitement.

freebird

2010-04-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

soon

2010-04-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

And Christ's life indeed makes it manifest, terrifyingly manifest, what dreadful untruth it is to admire the truth instead of following it. When there is no danger, when there is a dead calm, when everything is favorable to our Christianity, then it is all too easy to confuse an admirer with a follower.

And this can happen very quietly. The admirer can be under the delusion that the position he takes is the true one, when all he is doing is playing it safe. Give heed, therefore, to the call of discipleship!

If you have any knowledge of human nature, who can doubt that Judas was an admirer of Christ?

~Kierkegaard

www.aholyexperience.com

al einstein

2010-02-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

"I never teach my pupils; I only provide the conditions for them in which they can learn."

- Albert Einstein

Facilitating learning vs. traditional teaching. I understand this is a hot topic, loaded with opinions and passions! I'd love to start a respectful conversation about this. Would anyone like to begin?

I'll be back later - the hippie children are running amuck. Freebird loves dancing on the kitchen table. She's quite good at it.

joy

2010-01-23T04:45:00.000-08:00

Jesus said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

yes, i posted a picture from october in january.

i like.

2009-11-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

short video. witty guy. sharp insights. enjoy.

sweet summer pictures...autumn to come soon

2009-10-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Freebird, Funnyboy, and Feistygirl. My loves.

i love it when i find something like this

2009-09-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

This product and website and subsequent links are so lovely i just want to call these people up and make them my new best friends. Enjoy. I'm ordering this for our family.

topless babe on the beach

2009-08-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Funnyboy makes art

2009-06-12T15:27:00.001-07:00

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. - Edgar Degas

something to think about

2009-06-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

It was for this world that Christ had died; the more evil you saw and heard about you, the greater glory lay around the death. It was too easy to die for what was good or beautiful, for home or children or a civilization—it needed a God to die for the half-hearted and the corrupt.

- Graham Greene,
The Power and the Glory

connections

2009-03-31T04:42:00.000-07:00

Last night, as the rain subsided, suppertime children drifted away from the table, and darkness lurked over our lake, we noticed two wild geese, elegant necks extended, standing on the ice remains, thaw current moving past slowly. The kids and I rushed outside and I held the half-naked one who shivered in my arms. We whispered together, isn't it beautiful, isn't it beautiful. The geese, suddenly airborne, huge, and honking, flew off toward openness, and to our delight, two ducks appeared behind them, quacking and flying, an air parade. Children jumping, yelling and shivering, we returned to our warm living room where she led her brother around the room in a wild bird dance, she the honking goose, he the quacking duck...and here, mama, you can be the tree. They flapped and twirled and followed, and then she went to her painting spot, pouring out blue and pale pink, this is for the sky and the feathers under the wild geese.

Freebird Grows

2009-03-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

important questions from Feistygirl

2009-02-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

"What do dinosaurs smell like?"

and

"Is God a mammal?"

Pink!

2009-01-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

I decided to not try to get caught up on posting past art journal days (I hadn't done that many anyway) and instead...here's today's journal prompt from Misty Mawn. I'd love to hear what you think it means! We were required to use pink. It says, "One of every one hundred American adults is in prison."

disclaimer

2009-01-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let everyone know... I actually HAVE done some art journaling, not every day mind you, but some...its just the picture taking and the putting it in my computer and the posting that is proving to be too much for this busy Mommy. I'll probably have to do a bunch of pictures in one fell swoop one day. Off to bed...ALL of the children are currently sleeping!! I may get more than two hours in a row!! Oops...spoke too soon, the baby is now awake.

January Journaling

2009-01-02T05:04:00.000-08:00

Feistygirl and I are participating in artist Misty Mawn's daily art journaling in January! Remember I have three children under the age of five that I stay home with...so these pages will just be quick artsy ideas and not much more. I especially wanted to do this to fight off some postpartum blues here in the frozen tundra of New England, and to see if my theory is correct - that I really CAN find the time to do what I want to in my personal life...it just will be done in fits and spurts and may not look as I first expected. I believe having small children imposes good limits on doing artistic work - rather than spending all day moodling about how something looks, I've got to just pump stuff out and go with it! So Feistygirl and I made art journals out of recycled cardboard and some paper that Uncle Aaron had sent me a long time ago, and we did our first page yesterday! I won't be posting a ton of what she does as I feel its private for her.

Peace to you and your precious families.

Feistygirl writes the date.

My photograph of sweet little Freebird.

I love these little people

2008-12-31T07:19:00.000-08:00

And the winner of the blogbaby naming contest is my in-real-life friend, Kim! She came up with the name Freebird for our sweet pumpkin. Thanks, Kim! You got points for going with the consonance theme and employing a creative twist. Plus, it fits our hippieish selves. Love you!

So, more pictures to come...Happy New Year!

Welcome, Unconventional Baby Girl!

2008-12-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

Please welcome our beautiful new baby girl! She was born on Friday, November 28th, after her grumpy pregnant mother enjoyed several large Thanksgiving meals. Her birth was at 11:45 a.m., here at home! She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

Our family is so blessed to be a part of her journey through life! We are in awe of God's creativity.

All that said, we need a blog name for this little pumpkin. Will you be a part of the official "Blog Name the Baby" contest? If we choose your idea, we'll use the name to write about the baby along with her brother and sister, Funnyboy and Feistygirl. Some thoughts...I'd like it to involve the same syllables and consonants as her siblings' blog names, but so far all we've come up with sound insulting and not very long-lasting, only appropriate to her highly newborn status. Furrygirl, Flimsygirl, Flakygirl. Hmm. We'd like something to express who she is - but that's hard to discern when one is seven days old. She's very calm and happy...she is totally free of society's typical constraints, by being born at home and without vaccinations or typical medical conventions. She will be unschooled like her siblings. She makes cute baby noises and smiles a lot. She likes to be snuggled and sung to. So there you go. Let's see what you come up with!

Welcome again, unconventional baby! We love you, love you, love you.

Still Spudless

2008-11-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

For all of you that have been wondering, Baby Spud (our nickname for our third, still-in-utero child) is still taking up residence inside his or her Mumma. My due date is officially November 25th, but both Feistygirl and Funnyboy were early (10 days, and 18 days, respectively), so I'm feeling like its going to be any minute now. The head is veeerry low and deep, and I am as big as a planet.

We're planning to have a homebirth so we'll let you all know how that adventure goes!

Peace to you and your families.

Quiet

2008-10-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul." - John Muir

Be delighted. Be still.

Teatime!

2008-10-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

Joy and Freedom

2008-09-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Funnyboy's pretend smile for the camera...eating ice cream in Rumney, NH.

Feistygirl at New Castle Common on the ocean...beside herself with joy at the prospect of being buried alive. We had a marvelous summer!

Election stuff

2008-09-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin...she irritates me. She reminds me of the smile-to-your-face, snicker-about-you-behind-your-back teenage girls that harrassed me through elementary and junior high school. Click on the link on her name above and read some interesting exaggerations from her speech at the convention.

No, this is not how I base my voting. It's just my blog and I'll whine if I want to.

Fine tune

2008-07-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

This song makes me sob. Maybe it's just that I'm pregnant. The girl who did the video for Dar Williams' song does some annoying dancing stuff, but please ignore that and enjoy the lovely music and lyrics. Dar Williams is wonderful.

Why I Unschool (well...one reason, anyway.)

2008-06-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is a fabulous quote from John Taylor Gatto's UNBELIEVABLE book of essays and speeches entitled Dumbing Us Down - The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. For those of you that don't know, Gatto achieved both Teacher of the Year for New York State, and for New York City, on separate years. So he knows his stuff. If you are a friend of mine, you can borrow my copy. I may even make it required reading in order to be my friend. Oh, come on now, I'm just kidding. Sort of.

"In theoretical, metaphorical terms, the idea I began to explore was this one; that teaching is nothing like the art of painting, where, by the addition of material to a surface, an image is synthetically produced, but more like the art of sculpture, where, by the subtraction of material, an image already locked in the stone is enabled to emerge. It is a crucial distinction. In other words, I dropped the idea that I was an expert whose job it was to fill the little heads with my expertise, and began to explore how I could remove those obstacles that prevented the inherent genius of children from gathering itself. I no longer felt comfortable defining my work as bestowing wisdom on a struggling classroom audience. Although I continue to this day in those futile assays because of the nature of institutional teaching, wherever possible I have broken with teaching tradition and sent kids down their separate paths to their own private truths."

This man is one of my heroes. You've just gotta read it. Okay?

The hippie children love spring

2008-05-05T17:34:00.001-07:00

My wonderful husband

2008-05-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

My hubby surprised the kids and I recently by taking us to the Currier Art Museum in Manchester, NH. I didn't know where we were going until we got there and I was so freaking excited! Here's our little family in front of this amazing sculpture at the entrance to the museum. Funnyboy looks grumpy but it was just the sun - you know, blue eyes are squinty. Feistygirl, of course, sticking out her tongue. I love it when she's being her little feisty, fresh self. Hubby looking gorgeous!

He also surprised me recently by purchasing a print from Scott Radke, an artist I've admired for only a short time, and Hubby was observant enough to notice that and secretly buy one of his pieces for me. Okay, enough adulation. I just love my husband and want the world to know it. Our family is so blessed to have him.

Big News

2008-04-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm knocked up!!

Whoo-hoo!

For those of you that hadn't heard this yet from me personally, don't be offended. I'm a tired Mommy of two kids and I hate the phone. I still love you. Very much.

Anyhow...BAAAABY! We're so excited! Due Novemberish.

In the meantime we'll be looking to possibly buy a house...and possibly planning a homebirth. Lots to do.

BAAAAAABY!!

Why I Love Jesus (caution - vulgar humor and potential swearing)

2008-04-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

The other day at the playground my children and I and our friends encountered an evil, chauvinistic, ignorant, loud, obnoxious man. You can read my friend's account on her rockin' blog here, on the April 18th post. My daughter is the shoeless three year old she describes and my friend dubs me "Feistymom," which I snorted with laughter over.

Anyhow...onto why I love Jesus. All night long I tossed and turned, thinking about ways I could embarass this man. I have a verbal gift - I could stand atop the tallest playground structure with a megaphone and delineate for all my mommy acquaintances exactly how this man's ignorance is affecting us all. I could, as my dear friend Kathy and I discussed on the phone tonight, round up the mommies, slip out of our bras, fill them with wood chips and pelt him, slingshot style, while chanting, "You have a small penis!", until he runs away sobbing. Or the more base response, "You fucked with the wrong fucking Mommy, asshole!" I think I may enjoy all of these options. So while I was plotting my revenge, I said to myself, "This man is my enemy." And then of course JESUS pops into my mind with the whole, "Love your enemies" thing. NOT NOW, LORD!!! I haven't loathed anyone this much since Kyle Cappello in 7th grade used to walk by my desk in Social Studies and whisper to me how ugly I was.

So here I am, thinking, "Well, crap. Now that I've admitted he's my enemy, I now have to love him." Being a Christian is haaaaaarrrd! But let's think about what kind of God we serve, and how radical Christ is! Love my enemy?!?! LOVE my enemy? Love my ENEMY?!?! He hurt my daughter's feelings!! The point is, people, the stuff Christ said is so radical, it blows my mind. We're not talking about loving in a vague, ohwell, I'll just not completely hate him way. Nope. Look at the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

When Jesus said, "Love your enemies", he didn't mean just ignore them and maybe they'll go away. God help me! If I go through each line of the above definition of love, how do I measure up? I'm just as much of a rude asshole as he is. Sigh. The way that I will love this man is to hope for him, and for his boys. I will pray that whatever childhood teachings or trauma that made him who he is will be healed, and fast, before more of his rhetoric is taught to his sons. I'm not sure what else to think at this point because this feels like a struggle.

Jesus is so worth following. His teachings bring me beyond my ugly little self in ways I never would have imagined. Peace to you and your precious families.

Because they're cute

2008-04-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

Funnyboy crouching over some toys he set up on the floor. I know its dark but I just love his quiet, unusually serious mood, the dark pajamas, his shock of blonde hair and the toesies. Don't try to separate a girl from her harmonica.

Why I Don't Hit People to Make Them Do What I Want

2008-04-03T05:46:00.000-07:00

Do you believe that your children are people? Do you believe that they are just as human as you are, or are they more like untamed donkeys that need to be whipped into domestication? I'm not saying this to be funny. I'm going to be brutally honest and stop pussyfooting around about this issue. I believe that some of you will be angry with me, or hurt that I disagree with your methods. Well, I'm sorry, but you're big, and they're little, and they need more protection, not less.

I do not hit, beat, spank, slap or grab my children by the arms because I believe for them to remain truly compassionate humans (anyone who has observed young children see they are the models of compassion, vulnerability, and even Christ said that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these), they need to be respected for the human beings they already are, complete with gifts to give us and talents to share with the world. I want my children to be internally motivated. This is a huge difference between those that practice gentle, mindful parenting and those that injure their children into "obedience". I want my children to make decisions with their minds and their desires to be like Christ, not because in the past, or looming ahead of them at the moment, a much larger or more authoritative person than themselves is threatening to injure their bodies if they don't choose correctly. Fear-based obedience scares the crap out of me. It conjures up images of Hitler.

If you hit your children, you need to know that if they are under the age of five, they still don't quite have the developmental concept down yet of cause and effect. So in addition to not taking into account their blooming ability to learn to perceive how their actions will affect themselves and others, you are also preempting it with the most basic primitive animal emotion - fear. They better obey, or they will be hurt.

Gentle discipline takes a lot longer than punitive discipline. It may take years for your son or daughter to finally understand what you have been trying to teach them, rather than having them obey your command immediately, that moment, that day. Punitive discipline through threats of violence or isolation also CAUSES children to sin, rather than preventing them from it. If they are threatened with being punished, they will lie, because they are afraid. We are so blessed that our almost four year old daughter continues to come right up to us and tell us that she thinks she did something wrong, because instead of punishing her, we talk, at length, about it and learn together about how to help her be more successful.

I could say volumes and volumes and volumes more on this, and I am by no means the perfect parent, but now that I've opened up Pandora's box, lemme have it. Email me, flood the comments with descriptions of what a bad Christian I must be. Tell me all about how children are little brats, will never learn unless there's a consequence (and by the way, I also don't agree with timeouts/isolation tactics). Tell me all about how THE LORD says in the Bible to beat the crap out of your children, the rod verses, God punishes those He loves, etc. And I will show you a merciful Jesus who said, with a child next to him , "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:5

I don't hit children because I believe all people are born with the right to be free from physical injury, and I believe children are people. If you don't believe children are people, then I guess you can disregard my comments.

our spiffy new hair

2008-03-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here are Mommy and Feistygirl with our new haircuts. I'm only posting this because so many of you have asked! No, neither of us cried. We are waaaay too fabulous to cry over something as last year as long hair. In fact, we were both immediately thrilled with our fantastic selves. I've been enjoying people not recognizing me, and Feistygirl has been enjoying combing her bangs in the mirror while she sings.

Thank you so much, Auntie Lisbeth!

Thank you, everyone!

2008-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a public thank you to all of my readers who have been so encouraging and challenging to me. And I am so grateful for all the comments. I recently found links to my blog on others' sites and was happily surprised that I had readers I didn't even know about. I would love it if you all commented, too...just to say hi. I know that my buffet-style posting includes lots of social commentary and whatnot, but don't feel like you need to jump into that fray or say something that involves a lot of time. Even just a, "hi, I read your blog," would totally thrill me, and then I could link to yours as well and get to know you a bit. All that to say, what a lovely, lovely group and I am so blessed to have you all in my life. More on the human rights issues to come....and...pictures of my new short haircut! And Feistygirl's haircut! May peace reign in your homes.

Sister Gertrude Morgan

2008-03-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

My hubby just surprised me with the gift of this cd. I LOVE THIS STUFF! Listen to a cut on the website and you'll know the sound of the inside of my soul.

Bragging about my three year old

2008-03-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

After grocery shopping yesterday, I told Feistygirl that we were going to drive by a house that we may want to buy. She said, "Is it a red house?" I replied, "No, it's a white house." She said, "Like in Washington?"

I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants.

Human Rights

2008-02-19T17:51:00.003-08:00

Over the next few months I will be exploring what it truly means to have human rights. Before I begin my thoughts, I would love to hear from all of my readers. What do human rights mean to you? Do you feel that the same rights apply to everyone, regardless of who they are? Give me your gut level definition of what we are entitled to as humans. I'm looking forward to your comments with excitement! Peace to you all today. Hug your loved ones.

happy snow kids

2008-02-12T17:34:00.001-08:00

Feistygirl and Funnyboy were so thrilled to have a week-long visit from Uncle Aaron and Aunt Stasia, who were absolutely devoted to the children the whole time.

Here's the munchkins playing in the snow with their beloved auntie and uncle on our lovely, quiet, wooded, dead-end, New Hampshire road.
Wasn't sure if the adults wanted to be pictured online...so...use your imaginations.

Funnyboy learning to catch snowflakes on his tongue. What a joyful time...so glad to have captured it.

Feminists for Life

2008-01-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

If you're a happily voting, free-to-be you woman, take a moment and thank God for Susan B. Anthony. After you're through with that, take another moment and consider that not only was she pro-woman, she was also pro-child. Beginning in the womb. Check out this wonderful stuff for sale at Feminists for Life...especially the Susan B. Anthony quote on the mug.

I love their key phrase on the website - "There has to be a better way." We CAN be both pro-woman and pro-child.

something to think about...

2008-01-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

"Strange, this love announced by our Lord turns all of life right. To love others is to fill our own empty spaces." - Thomas A. Becket c. 1118-1170

Our Girlie Scarecrow

2008-01-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

Our wonderful friend, Shelley, created the bare bones of this awesome scarecrow, and Feistygirl and I glammed her up. She's wearing my clothes and after we'd dressed her, Feistygirl said, "She looks like a Mommy." I said, "Yeah, she looks like YOUR Mommy!" Kind of eerie how much she looks like me...

She is now up to her armpits in snowdrift. Poor thing. Feistygirl frets over her every time we go outside. She named her Lily after a favorite cousin.

New Year's Resolution

2008-01-01T16:57:00.001-08:00

Mmmmkay.... I realize that New Year's Resolutions are entirely conventional. Yes, occasionally I do things just like everybody else! I don't always have to rock the boat....no, really, I don't!!

:)

I just think that resolutions should be about something FUN. No more of this losingweightgettingorganizedshavingmylegsmorelearninghowtochangemycarsoilstraightenupandflyright stuff. Hilaree's official New Year's Resolution is to.....

DO ART.

I also think they should be short. And rejuvenating.

What's yours?

Ban on Corporal Punishment

2007-12-21T19:14:00.000-08:00

Go, Venezuela!

Did you know that 22 countries have banned physical punishment of children, and many more are in the process of doing so? Except, of course, the good ol' violent U.S. of A. All 195 members of the UN have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, except the US and Somalia. Rah, rah, America.

I received this good news from Parenting in Jesus' Footsteps. You too can be a part of the hope.

I'll say it again, go, Venezuela! We gentle types are very, very proud of you. I hope someone from one of the aforementioned 22 countries visits my blog and I can tell them I'm thinking of moving to their country, just so people can stop looking at me askance when I tell them, "I'm sorry, but I don't hit people to make them do what I want."

I am now climbing down off my soapbox. Peace be with you.

Funnyboy loves chalk

2007-12-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

Just a quick little post of my boy, age 15 months now!

He loves to stand at the kitchen table and work on projects just like his big sister. He needs a haircut...big time mullet, but I just can't bear to cut it. Why are mommies like that?

Anyhoo...more open-ended arty stuff for ya. Rock on, Funnyboy.

Something to think about...

2007-11-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

"It is a blessed thing to know that no power on earth, no temptation, no human frailty can dissolve what God holds together." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Letters and Papers from Prison

Yeah, we dress up.

2007-11-21T17:35:00.001-08:00

Feistygirl, resplendent in her princess gown, crown with flowing tulle, butterfly wings, pink foo-foo slippers and Lincoln Log wand.

Do not try to resist. Our magic is powerful. Succumb now.

My babies!

2007-11-21T16:51:00.000-08:00

We love learning, playing, making messes and being all together at home. The philosophy of unschooling can start from day one by providing our precious children with the least restrictive environment and by giving them all sorts of resources strewn in their path to choose from. I called my husband down from his office upstairs to take these pictures of the kids. I feel like as my children grow, unschooling will just change and flourish in really nifty and complicated ways. I welcome all comments and questions about how this lifestyle works for us!

Here's Funnyboy playing with spices while I cooked. He loves to "help" us cook, meaning he clings to our hips and says, "hah, hah" (hot) while pointing to the boiling water or whatever and then repeatedly blows in the direction of the stovetop. Very helpful. I love to allow him to participate and have always allowed my children to help with pouring, stirring, etc., but sometimes a mama needs a break, so I flung these spices his way, after very tightly closing the covers. He totally surprised me by immediately building a tower! He then performed a tiny toddler dance and we congratulated him on a job well done. More posts later where you can actually see his face.

Here's Feistygirl working on a collage at the table. We covered the paper entirely with black crayon, and then she chose which elements she wanted to glue onto it - hemp yarn, buttons and fuschia thread. It came out quite beautiful. She's very intense while she works on these wonderful, open-ended art projects. I'm a concrete firm believer in the process, not the product, especially for three year olds. Okay, especially for everybody. Come on over to our house and make some messes with us - you never know what you may create once you squelch your preconceived notions. Just pretend to be three.

Something to think about...

2007-11-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

"Very often people object that nonviolence seems to imply passive acceptance of injustice and evil and therefore that it is a kind of cooperation with evil. Not at all. The genuine concept of nonviolence implies not only active and effective resistance to evil but in fact a more effective resistance... But the resistance which is taught in the Gospel is aimed not at the evil-doer but at evil in its source."- Thomas Merton, from Passion For Peace

Welcome!

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I can't believe I'm blogging. I'm so hip, I may pass out! Welcome friends, family and strangers to my silly little blog.

A few links to get you started...

http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/

http://www.unschooling.com/

www.llli.org/

http://www.sojo.net/

http://www.sarahvaleri.net/

And if you're really feeling countercultural and like not wasting your time...

http://www.dontwasteyourlife.com/

http://www.adbusters.org/

And that's just the beginning, kids! I'll be posting randomly, in between dutifully wiping noses, countertops and bums.

Thanks for stopping by!

Unconventional Christian

well she DOES rather rock.

my sweets

Freebird

lovely

quote of the day

because life has been a wee bit too serious lately

what i am going to do today

sabbath

what I do for fun

autobots, roll out!

i think you'll love this

perhaps I'll try wearing this tomorrow

you asked for it

sorry

moving right along

freebird

soon

al einstein

joy

i like.

sweet summer pictures...autumn to come soon

i love it when i find something like this

topless babe on the beach

Funnyboy makes art

something to think about

connections

Freebird Grows

important questions from Feistygirl

Pink!

disclaimer

January Journaling

I love these little people

Welcome, Unconventional Baby Girl!

Still Spudless

Quiet

Teatime!

Joy and Freedom

Election stuff

Fine tune

Why I Unschool (well...one reason, anyway.)

The hippie children love spring

My wonderful husband

Big News

Why I Love Jesus (*caution - vulgar humor and potential swearing*)

Because they're cute

Why I Don't Hit People to Make Them Do What I Want

our spiffy new hair

Thank you, everyone!

Sister Gertrude Morgan

Bragging about my three year old

Human Rights

happy snow kids

Feminists for Life

something to think about...

Our Girlie Scarecrow

New Year's Resolution

Ban on Corporal Punishment

Funnyboy loves chalk

Something to think about...

Yeah, we dress up.

My babies!

Something to think about...

Welcome!

Why I Love Jesus (caution - vulgar humor and potential swearing)