Highly recommended

Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination by Vigen Guroian

The great stories avoid didacticism and supply the imagination with important symbolic information about the shape of our world and appropriate responses to its inhabitants.

Musing on the wisdom and ethics of the fairy tale, G.K. Chesterton observes that the genre sparks a special way of seeing that is indispensable to morality. Chesterton writes: "I am concerned with a certain way of looking at life, which was created in me by the fairy tales, but has since been meekly ratified by mere facts." I am calling this way of looking at life the moral imagination.

March Madness begins at home

It's been a big year for basketball around here. We just finished my youngest son's season, but I know I've fallen off the "brag until your fingers fall off" wagon of reporting on each game. My immense admiration got a little embarrassing, and how many times could I type, "He was amazing. I am so proud!"?

A quick summary: He continued to put it all on the floor every game, including a three-pointer to tie a game, blocks, steals, double-digit points, free throws, and all-round "Give me 120%" kind of play. He had delightful teammates who are now friends, and a coach who valued teamwork and kindness and hustle above winning at all cost. As a once-reluctant sports mom, I cannot wait for another basketball season.



My husband also spent time with the boys replacing our backyard backboard. They seemed to have fun designing, painting and now playing on the new board.

Then, naturally, I found chocolate basketballs for some treats, as the NCAA extravaganza continued. My bracket was demolished with Tennessee's loss this weekend, but it appears that we have a Bracket Shark in our midst. My non-non-non-sports-fan daughter looks to be the bracket winner. She's the true Cinderella story of this year's March Madness. Unless UCLA can hold on and get to the big game; then, maybe, I can win. Doubtful, but hope springs eternal.

There's no place like home for March Madness.

The Grand Finale in Pictures

A loving sister and friend, a devoted daddy-o and son #2, good friends

Debating is exhausting

One of our sons won five of the first six rounds and was given a bye for the double-octo final round. They were BRILLIANT in their last round. And lost.

We were stunned and sad at the news of a loss. Our son's partner is a senior, so her high school debating career is over. Our debate coach had to talk us through the disappointment, but she is a fine coach for parents and debaters. We were in good hands.

But, reality is: they came in TWELFTH out of sixty-seven teams. I am ridiculously proud of them.

It is now time for bed, though. To say we only got a little sleep is like saying that Mt. Everest is a tall mountain. I am one tired mama.

More soon. For now: CONGRATULATIONS, sons.
What a memorable year.

The Grand Finale

NCFCA Debate 2008

Resolved: That the United States federal government should substantially change its policy on illegal immigration.

NCFCA Debate Mom 2008

Resolved: To enjoy every single moment of the last qualifying debate tournament of the season.

Four teams will qualify for the national tournament. Will it be one of the teams from our club? We'll know by Friday night.

My coffee is waiting to be packed. Oh, and my clothes and toothbrush, too.

Our soundtrack has reached a compromise of sorts. When Mom needs some peace, we go with



George Winston

When debaters put in their favorites, we go with



Anberlin

And the wake up and remember the resolution music is



Boston

I'm not sure how I will get to sleep tonight...the excitement level is pretty high.

Ducks, ducks, more ducks

To our friend Michaelangelo, and any others who might love ducks:

We bought seven more ducks today.

Three Pekins (the bright yellow ones), two Cayugas (the solid black ones) and two Rouens (the multi-colored ones.)

Our two Khaki Campbells look like they are months older, but they are only a week older. What a difference a week makes in the life of a duck.

But what to name them?

Well, we have nine ducks. What are there nine of? There are nine muses in Greek mythology. There are also nine circles of hell in Dante, but I think the muses are better, don't you?

So little Miss Rouen, would you like to be Calliope? Melpomene?
Miss Pekin, how about Thalia or Terpsichore?

My job will be nicknames; I can see that already.

Words to live by

The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Found in:

MaryJane's Ideabook*Cookbook*Lifebook by MaryJane Butters

Easter

Perspective

Lake Margaret, California. Photo credit: Staff Photographer Son

Every now and then I have moments of clarity and perspective, the nudge that bigger things are happening and it would be good to pay attention.

Recently I cleared out the detritus that had collected under the washing machine and I found a little, tiny, itsy bitsy Osh Kosh B'Gosh sock. With that sock in my hand, my world stopped spinning for just a moment. I remembered the birth of a little boy who is now nine years old. As I looked out my laundry room window, I could see the same boy bouncing a basketball on the backyard court. I could hear his exultation when the ball swished through the net. I knew I would soon hear him come in and request food, for he is always hungry and appears to be a very tall man-in-the-making. Can it really be nine years since we had a newborn baby in our family?

Time is flying.

When my husband was packing his final stash for his annual trip to Washington, D.C., he snagged my oldest son for a hug good-bye. I blinked to clear my vision, asked them to go back-to-back, and had to make the announcement to my husband that he is no longer the tallest member of our family. Son #1 has taken the coveted position. It looks to be a short-lived reign, as the younger brothers are growing taller by the minute, but he has every intention of enjoying each.and.every.single.minute.of.it. When did he grow so tall?

Time is flying.

I went on-line the other day to make flight reservations. My oldest daughter will be flying to Charles City, Virginia to work for Peace Hill Press for six weeks, starting in May. She's beyond excited about the job, and about getting to see a very interesting part of the country, but I am struck by the fact that she will be gone for six weeks. Six weeks sounds like a really, really long time. This is a perfect first step towards the future, though. The rest of us will have to step up and provide the quiet support and joy that she dishes out on a regular basis. When did my little girl become such a gifted young woman?

Time is flying.

Christmas, celebrating the birth of Christ, seems like yesterday and yet today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. As I nibble on our Easter meal, laugh around the table with my family,and enjoy the sabbath rest of a Sunday afternoon, I want to savor each moment. Life on earth flies by, but we taste the edges of eternity more and more each day. God's gift of grace is immeasurable, His offer of eternal life more precious than gold. His written Word, the community of believers we gather with on a regular basis, the power of confession and forgiveness and communion...these are all tastes of eternity. Watching my children grow in the knowledge of Him is part of that holy tasting as well.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of time, and for allowing time to stop often enough for me to feel the wind on my cheeks, hear the laughter of those I love, and to remember the lessons You give me each day.

He is risen! He is risen, indeed, hallelujah.

Ducks, ducks, ducks

More duck pictures for our friend Michaelangelo:

Most of the time they are happily nestled in the dog crate, eating and drinking incessantly. They even sat next to our Great Books 4 student during Thursday's class so that she could keep an eye on them.

Why did she need to keep an eye on them? Well, we have other animals who take an enormous interest in our duck friends. Especially the usual dog crate tenant.

I agreed to duck ownership for the eggs, plain and simple.



I never imagined a duck snuggling with my daughter while she read
The Brothers Karamozov.

Not in a million years.

But, some children can make pets and loved ones out of just about anything. Even a duck.

More ducks (ergo, more duck pictures) coming next Wednesday. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Good Friday thoughts

Good Friday is the day that reminds us: there is more to life than meets the eye. The Author and Perfecter of our faith holds the story ending in the palm of His hand.

We can rejoice, even when we can't see the future. Even when the present is dark and bleak and confusing. It does require, however, that we look beyond the circumstances to the One who writes the story.

A post worth reading every year: Mental multivitamin.

Maundy Thursday thoughts

Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment: To love one another as he had loved them. We pray you, by your Holy Spirit write this commandment in our hearts. Help us serve as Jesus served, to not be afraid to offer ourselves for the sake of others. Amen

The many faces of spring

The weather continues to change, reminding me that spring is here. Storm clouds come and go, perhaps leaving hail or rain on the ground, perhaps just creating dramatic views across the valley. The fog even came in one morning, reminding me more of Middle Earth than a humble little foothill hillside.








There are plenty of indoor views, too. Flowers brighten up the kitchen, and Guinness provides the perfect St. Patrick's Day partner. And let us not forget the blank bracket in the middle picture -- March Madness is about to begin.

Some family members are very (very) serious bracketologists; some see a bracket party as a chance to drink root beer and bring the duckling inside to charm us. We'll see if the serious studying has the best results, or if the "I like Oregon because we go there on vacation" method gives the surprising victory. I actually made researched choices this year (much to the shock of my family.) Most of my choices are logical, but there are enough sentimental favorites to bring some thrill with an upset.

Let the games begin.

Spring has sprung

The smell of blossoms takes me right back to the spring days of my childhood. The blossoms never last long, but the fragrance is intoxicating.