Dying to Self

While nursing a bad attitude, I felt defensive in my position until God reminded me of a poem I memorized in eighth grade. Several verses were still easily recalled, and their rebuke cut through my selfishness. The rest of the verses I found online. I'm not convinced that this is the entire poem as I once knew it, but it still holds a powerful message. Perhaps you, too, will be blessed by its words.

Dying to Self

Author Unknown

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught,

and you do not sting or hurt at the oversight,

but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;

that is dying to self. 

When your good is evil spoken of,

your wishes are crossed,

your advice disregarded,

your opinions ridiculed,

and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself,

but take it all in patient, loving silence;

that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder,

any irregularity, any annoyance;

when you can stand face to face with waste,

folly, extravagance, or spiritual insensitivity

and endure it as Jesus endured it;

that is dying to self.

When you are content with any offering, any raiment,

any climate, any society, any solitude, 

any interruption by the will of God;

that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation 

or to record your own good works

or itch after commendation;

when you can truly love to be unknown;

that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met,

and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit

and feel no envy, nor question God,

while your own needs are far greater

and you are in desperate circumstances;

that is dying to self.

When you can take correction or reproof 

from one of less stature than yourself,

and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly,

finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;

that is dying to self.

Counting Down to Summer Vacation

Summer vacation begins next month, Lord willing. Between now and then are thirty school days, two children anxious to begin summer break, and one mom trying to keep their world interesting until that day arrives. Here are some of the things we have done recently. 

Celebrate Spring
On the first day of spring, we used our recess time to purchase and deliver daffodils for all of our neighbors. 

Observing National Days in April
April 1 is National One Cent Day. The children earned pennies through good scores, instant obedience, diligent studies, and other laudable behavior. At the end of the school day, they shopped from my rewards box. I put prices on everything in the box and had to make them higher than I thought I might lest they deplete the entire supply in one day. The children voted that we do One Cent Day every day. 

Brain Breaks
I found "Brain Breaks" on rockyourhomeschool.net. Part way through our morning, the children pick a slip of paper from a cup, and we all do the activity together. The slips say things like bake cookies, draw a house, do sit-ups, or play a board game. We have enough slips to do one per day until the end of school. I worked ahead to prepare the supplies I might need for some of them. (And I confess that I removed the slips that did not appeal to me, including Plan a Party. Another day, another time for that one.)

Postcrossing
We were introduced to postcrossing through my sister-in-law (thanks, Tamesha!) and fell in love with the idea of receiving postcards from around the world. The children and I wrote postcards and sent them to the addresses provided through postcrossing.com. Ours went to Luxembourg, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, and China. Mail time just got exciting! So far we have received cards from France and the Netherlands.

Local Tourism
We live in Amish country where buggy rides are advertised. It was a fun experience for the children and some of their cousins. Tyler's highlight was driving Charlie, the horse. 

Bonus Art Project
These little pocket pets were a fun and easy introduction to hand-sewing. 

Tell me. What ideas do you have to keep your children enthused about school?