Friday, May 1, 2009

So Many Books, So Little Time


"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!" (Job 19:23). Here, Job is speaking about his desire for future generations to read about his faithfulness to God amidst turmoil. The Bible has been a great source of learning for my kids this homeschool year and to hear my four year old quote Psalm 23 brings tears to my eyes.
This has been a wonderful year for reading, in general. Snuggling together on the couch and soaking up a good read-aloud has been our most precious time of the day. As we watch school buses zoom by our house, we pull our book off the shelf, grab a blanket, or two, and settle into cuddle-position. There, we enter foreign lands where missionaries face grave danger, search for missing animals with characters we can relate to, giggle as mice ride toy motorcycles, and practice speaking with a southern drawl like a little girl from the piney woods.
It has amazed me how time and consistency has allowed my grade one girl to become used to sitting and listening for long periods. I've loved how my preschooler and toddler have climbed up too, when they heard something that suddenly interested them. And, I can't imagine not sharing many teachable moments with my oldest. Recently, as I turned to the final page of "Strawberry Girl", my 6 year-old cried, "You can't read the last page!" When I asked why, she said, "Because then we won't be able to read it tomorrow!". I wouldn't have our life any other way. As we wrap up the school year, we check online to see what our selections for next year will be. We're already getting excited!
Here are just a few of the favourites my children (themselves) and I (aloud) have read in 2008/2009 (see photo).

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