The Scarlet Letter

I'm posting my review of The Scarlet Letter that I wrote for the book club discussion over at Reading to Know so I don't lose it! :)  We're having fun discussing over there and people are sharing some great points.  Go check it out!

Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel, The Scarlet Letter, provided a great deal of fodder for discussion with my two teenagers recently.  We spent so much time discussing it and writing essays inspired by this book that I simply can't imagine how I'm going to condense my thoughts into a blog post for Carrie's book club.

Nevertheless, I'm going to try.  Most people likely already know the storyline of The Scarlet Letter from plowing through it in high school (like I did).  Now twenty years later my thoughts have been more piqued by Hawthorne's crafting--although I can't really say I *enjoyed* reading it much more than I did the first time.

• PRIDE:  I was struck by the pride each of the characters demonstrated, likely because of my own pride issues.  From nursing a wounded ego by a faithless wife to fearing the community opinion to proudly rejecting discipline and hating reproof the three main characters demonstrate the follies--and subsequent consequences--of pride.  I wonder what would have happened had Dimmesdale been transparent in confessing and repenting of his sin.  What would have been most helpful and edifying to the rest of the church?  It seems to me that hiding sin leads to denying sin and takes away accountability in the church.
• REBELLION, REPENTANCE, PENITENCE, and PENANCE:  I've never read a fiction novel that made me think so much about various responses to sin.  Repentance, of course, is precipitated by godly sorrow but too often I think people stop with regret or penitence rather than allowing their sorrow to lead to a change of mind and behavior.   On the other hand, the Dimmesdales of our christian culture try to pay for their sin on their own and that, my friend, is simply not possible. This was an especially beneficial discussion with my teenagers as one of them is tempted to feel a need to "pay back" for what the Lord has done on our behalf and I think reading and discussing this book opened some eyes a bit.
• EXPECTATIONS:  I couldn't help but ponder the varying expectations placed on people dependent upon their status in the community or church (clergy vs. laity distinctions).  While those in leadership positions certainly have more responsibility, I'm not sure we are right in our human tendency to put leaders on a pedestal and then apply more stringent expectations on them than ourselves.  Leaders are still humans and as such they will fall--and as such they are still recipients of the Lord's mercy and grace.  When we put them on such high pedestals I fear we are creating the same climate that led to Dimmesdale's secrecy rather than encouraging an atmosphere of confession, repentance, and forgiveness.  I could dwell on this, but I'm choosing to step off this soapbox.  (Although don't think I'm condoning the practice of sin in anyone, it just seems to me that biblical standards apply to all of us equally.  I hope that's clear.)
• SELF-JUSTIFICATION:  Was anyone else particularly pricked by Hawthorne's vivid portrayal of our inclination to continue farther from God once you have stepped onto the path away from Him?  Dimmesdale seemed willing to take the leap from a brief, impulsive affair (at least that was my interpretation) to purposefully choosing the wilder path across the ocean where they would be free to indulge their desires without any accountability.
• PURITANISM, ROMANTICISM, and TRANSCENDENTALISM:  I won't take time to go into this one here, but I truly found it fascinating the way Hawthorne personified these belief systems in Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl regardless of whether I agree with his portrayals.
• CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:  Finally, I can't help but marvel at Hawthorne's talent in painting his characters.  The way he uses different perspectives (such as from the townspeople, Hester, and Pearl in particular) to flesh out the characters is almost worth reading the book yet again.  Maybe in another twenty years.

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  Reading the classics challenges me so much more than reading much of the drivel written more recently.  I just love pondering these timeless issues and discussing them with fellow book-lovers.  I look forward to benefiting from thoughts others gleaned from this classic.

Untidy Bookworms

I love that my children love to read.

Really I do.

Well, mostly I do.

It's great that they've adopted my love for reading. 
It's just too bad I don't have a love of tidiness they could follow as well.

Recommended Adoption Books

The Adoption Magazine blog hop prompt for this week suggests recommending books about adoption.  I have reviewed several books related to adoption on my blog in the past, so I'm going to "copout" with a list of those books today.

My very favorite book about adoption

• Adopted for Life  

A great book to give an accurate and loving perspective of the birthparents:

• Dear Birthmother 

A quick and easy reference for those adopting or who are part of a support group to friends or relatives on an adoption journey:

• Shield  

Accounts of adoption journeys, some from the perspective of the adoptee, others from the adoptive parents:

• Loved By Choice
• Black in White
• Infinitely More
• Saving Levi
• Kisses from Katie
• That These Two Will Live

And finally, a book I just finished reading which I highly recommend which I'm just bursting to talk to someone about.  It's not necessarily about adoption but it's so good overall and the chapter about adoption is so spot-on that I'm going to list it here: 

• The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert  by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield

Strong-Willed

I shared on facebook what I thought was a funny little moment with my five-year-old, Kiana.  She had asked permission to do something, I said "no", and she went off to play with her babydoll.

The princess persuades brother to apply her makeup.

Several minutes later she came back to me and seriously said "If I were the mommy and you weren't, *I* would say yes!"

I had to grin, because I thought it was just too cute, and matter-of-factly replied "You think so?  Well, Mommy is doing what she thinks is best for you." She said nothing in response and continued playing with her dolls. 

I keep pondering, however, a comment one of my facebook friends made:  "Is she the strong-willed type, or just being silly?"

I will tell you, straight up, that I don't like this term.  I think it's a euphemism our society has adopted for  headstrong defiance--otherwise known as willful disobedience or better yet, recalcitrance (a very fun word and more fitting description).

I tried to reply gently, however, by saying "I haven't had a child yet who wasn't strong-willed, they all just manifest their will differently (anger, pouting, crying. . .). chuckle That's all right--I want them to be strong, independent adults just with their wills surrendered to the Lord."

Her response was "True.  But I think you know what I mean." 

Yes, I think I know what she meant, too. I just don't think I agree with what she meant.  I think we all have strong wills--selfish, stubborn wills that resist authority and children are no different.

I have three children who are outwardly compliant.  They don't try to stand toe-to-toe with me and win a contest of wills.  One of these children has instead used emotions and tears to try to get his/her way.  Another appears to obey on the surface, but practices deceit and sneakiness to try to get what he/she wants.  And the third child uses charm and drama to try to get his/her way.  Their wills are strong and not so pretty.

I have two children who contest my authority face to face.  I tell them to do something and they might try staring me down while refusing to move or even verbally expressing their refusal.  I might spank them for disobedience and they lift their chin and obstinately declare "that didn't hurt" (true story).  Their wills are strong and not so pretty.

I think the children in this latter group have gotten a bad rap.  Our culture thinks these children are somehow worse--more difficult to parent.  Our culture gives these parents an excuse for their children's disobedience.

And I suspect too many parents simply don't consistently assert their God-given role of authority and then blame a child's disobedience on his or her "strong will".

I am thankful for all five of my strong-willed children and pray that the Lord will temper their wills, shaping them to His will, that they may stand resolute, immovable, steadfast in Him and for Him.

Strong in His will.

Planning High School Courses--FREE

I feel compelled to share a great resource that's free for just a few more days.  Lee Binz has her ebook, Planning High School Courses, listed for free on Kindle through February 26.  If you look around, you'll see that you can also listen to her webinar on this subject for just one cent rather than its usual $15.

I've been updating transcripts for my teenagers lately and planning next year (Briana will be a senior! gasp!) and this quick little book was just perfect to focus my mind and give me some reassurance.  She breaks the book down and spends a little time with each core subject detailing how many credits are recommended and how they can be met.  I most appreciate the way she constantly refers back to delight-directed learning showing how a child's individual interests, passions, and giftings can lead to classes/studies which fulfill state and college requirements.  She also shares some curriculum suggestions for attaining the credits.

I recommend this book for those who are getting close to the high school years and want to get the big picture as well as those at any point in the high school journey for encouragement and focus.  And free is such a great bargain!

Learning Away From Home

This is the perfect time of year for field trips and cooperative efforts because we are all ready to get out of the house and do something different--something fun!  Last week we were blessed to have several opportunities to learn or serve outside of the home.

PIZZA RANCH FIELD TRIP

I had organized a fun field trip to Pizza Ranch for my younger three and several friends.  They got to tour the kitchen area and make their own personal-serving-sized pizzas.

They loved making the pizzas, of course, and then watching them move through the industrial ovens.  They also thought it was pretty neat seeing the large fryers for the chicken they love so much.

After the tour, they got to enjoy the fruits of their labors with their friends.

MEET THE INSTRUMENTS
Another homeschooling family also organized a delightful afternoon to "Meet the Instruments".  They brought several instruments from the string, percussion and wind families for the children to try after listening to a well-done presentation about the different types of instruments and how they work.

Destry was invited to bring his violin and give a short presentation and demonstration.  He also brought a small violin from his younger years which he helped the younger children play.

Easton and Kiana both loved the baritone sax.  I was surprised they were able to get noise out of it--Kiana on her first try!

Tyrell got a kick out of the congo drums.

And Kiana was an old pro on the trumpet since Destry plays around with his still.

This time made Briana miss playing the flute and reawakened her interest in brass instruments.

I thought it was great fun when Destry and his buddy, Brandon, started goofing around with the trumpet and drums and started playing the chorus of We Will Rock You.  You should have seen the look on their faces when John (the parent who initiated the event) grabbed his bari sax and segued right into the verse!  I love hearing people play around and enjoy music together.

After the presentation and the opportunity to try out the instruments, the younger kids got to make their own instruments.  Kiana thought it was fun to make a percussion instrument from a paper plate and popcorn, but I thought the neatest instrument was the wind instrument.  They chewed on the ends of straws, cut them at varying lengths, and blew to sound different notes simultaneously.

The boys most enjoyed making the stringed instruments by twisting a rubberband over strategically placed nails. 

I'm not sure if this was more about the instrument itself or the fun of hammering nails into pieces of wood!  Regardless, the afternoon was a great success filled with learning and fun.

METALWORKING

Alan and his friend, Troy, also put on a metalworking workshop for about 20 of the homeschooled kids.  The kids got to use welding equipment and plasma cutters and other tools I have never in my life touched.  Their final assignment was to design and complete a bootscraper.

Both teenagers really enjoyed this time in the shop.  I was a little surprised at how much Briana thoroughly enjoyed it.  What a well-rounded young lady she is!  She loves to sew, knit, cook, spend time with children, milk cows, weld. . .the list goes on.

The week also included its fair share of bookwork, but these learning opportunities gave us a chance to get out of the house AND to spend time with friends which just added to the fun.

Feed the Hungry

My children have no idea what it means to go hungry.

No idea at all.  We have two freezers full of 50 chickens and a beef and we have an appointment made for two of our little piggies to be butchered to add to those freezers.  We have a huge bowl filled with apples, clementines, kiwi, and bananas sitting on the counter beside a yet-to-be-cut up pineapple and a small bowl of blueberries.  We have a pantry filled with nutritious ingredients for meals as well as snacks like peanut butter and crackers and granola bars and two refrigerators filled with more ingredients and snacks.

They don't personally experience hunger, but I want them to be aware that there are children around the world who do indeed.  There are children who get so hungry, they eat dirt just to "fill the hole" for a little while.

We recently had a wonderful opportunity for our family to learn about the needs of others and do a little something about it.  "Meals from the Heartland" provides nutritious meals for people all over the world.  Each meal is a mixture of soy, vitamins, dried vegetables and rice that can be shipped and stored until the recipients boil it in water.

Each assembly line was able to package four boxes of thirty six bagged meals (each meal containing four servings) in about 30 minutes for a mere $100.  We worked together with two other families to package these meals and had a good time while simultaneously serving others. 

When we first got there, we watched a short training video explaining what we were doing, but more poignant, why we were doing it.  I think the video showing starving children with sad, sad eyes had a pretty powerful impact on my children, especially Easton.  Easton has a tender heart and prays daily for Alex, a child in Indonesia we sponsor through Compassion International.  We've tried to explain what living conditions are like for others around the world and Alex is someone Easton can relate to as he is also a little boy soon turning seven.  He draws him pictures and sends them with the occasional small treat and I think this connection has made it a little more personal to him.  He asked me if some of the food we were packaging would go to help Alex and his family.  I have to admit the video made me blink tears away as well as I simply can't imagine being unable to feed my children and watching them suffer as a result.

After we recovered from the video, we were given a sample of the food to try.  I was pleasantly surprised that it tasted more than palatable. 

An assembly line was formed with each person having a station.  I was so impressed and pleased that children of all ages were encouraged to help (they just asked that each child under age 10 have an adult partner).  The first section was comprised of two people taking turns holding a bag under the funnel while one child measured and added each of the four ingredients.  Easton took his vitamin responsibility very seriously.

The next station was manned by the teenagers who carefully weighed the bag (adding more rice as needed) and then vacuum sealed each bag.

Kiana and her helper were responsible for affixing stickers to each bag explaining the contents and giving directions for preparation.  She also took her job quite seriously.

Tyrell and Alan worked together to pack the bags in the boxes and then seal them.  Of the food packaged that day, half was to be sent to people in third world countries, another fourth was distributed throughout the United States, and the final fourth was to be distributed right here in Iowa.

I'm very thankful we had this opportunity to serve together as a family, even as I find it hard to locate such family-oriented serving opportunities.  I think this is the best way for our children to learn selflessness and to develop a servant's heart--right alongside mom and dad.  What other ways do you know that families can serve together?