Jill's Crumbs

WELCOME to this on-line journal of my thoughts and of the events of our lives written for my children, near and far. And now featuring the work-in-progress curriculum guide for the Titus 2 Institute.

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Location: Catonsville, Maryland

Monday, May 14, 2007

Dear William

Now you are ten. No more single digits for you. I trust that as you enter this new decade you will carry into it all that is sweet and endearing, and leave behind all that is childish.
New adventures face you in the 10s. You will become more independent of your parents, and yet I trust you will learn to be more dependent than ever on your heavenly Father. You will begin to make decisions on your own, and yet I pray that you will always seek God's guidance. I pray that, like Jesus, as you grow in age you will "increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."
Happy 10th birthday.
Love, Mama

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Mother's Day

Dear Sons: Peter, Matt, Ben, Jon and Nate,
What a treat to talk with each of you this past weekend. Each conversation is different and a gift. I'm looking forward to seeing each of you soon.
Love, Mom

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

The Countdown

My first year back in the classroom is drawing to a close and I am exhausted, physically and mentally. I've poured a lot of heart and energy into this class! We finished up the Bible curriculum with a brief look at the trials of Job. We have several more history cards to study--presently we're learning about John Calvin. For the first time in their careers, the fifth graders will be completing their math book. We're on lesson 134 of 138. When we finish our math exams sometime next week we'll be playing math games until the end of the year! We've finished grammar, but will continue writing. Right now, each one is writing his autobiography. One student is tracing his family tree back to Adam and Eve! After that we'll study short story writing by examining what I consider to be a model short story--"Peter Rabbit". They'll each write and illustrate a children's book of their own.

To celebrate the successful conclusion of the year we're having a party next Friday. There will be two plays, written primarily by the students themselves: the boys on Daniel, the girls on Esther. (I'm sure that sentence is inaccurately punctuated.) We'll also present a guided tour through the history of art from Egypt to the northern Renaissance in our museum of original works. A spelling bee pitting parents (and other visiting adults) against the students should be entertaining. Finally, in celebration of completing the math book, we'll have an ice cream sundae social.

The last day of actual classes will be May 25. Then, following a long Memorial Day weekend--happy birthday, Matt--happy anniversary, Ben and Michal--welcome newest Crum--there will be a Field Day of fun?? and games on Tuesday, and a half day on Wednesday, the 30th. I hope to have report cards done soon thereafter.

Then, SUMMER VACATION--hurray!!! Look out, Indiana and Colorado. Here we come!!!

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Miss Ruth

Some of you may remember a kitten, named Miss Ruth, we had for a short time at the Kirby Road house. She was named for a dear friend from St. Louis who had been my midwife when David was born. Since then Miss Ruth (the midwife, not the kitten) has gone to live in China. Now she is in the States and has come to visit friends in Baltimore. Ruth is no stranger to the area; she lived in Baltimore while studying at Johns Hopkins before moving to St. Louis, and loves this area. We hope that when she retires frome her work in China she will move back to Baltimore.

p.s.--The kitten went the way of the Ninja.

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