No, seriously, I am so glad I didn't scare everyone away with my HP enthusiasm! I realize not all Christians are comfortable with some of the fantasy aspects of the stories. But I am convinced that the books' themes reflect Christian values and Truth. And I have been having SO much fun with planning our Hogwarts Home Study program this week!
Last night I picked up parchment for our Hogwarts correspondence -- and then the boys received their invitations to the homeschool program via owl post today! (Isn't that a funny coincidence?)
I also found the coolest wands for only $2/set at World Market. (They're sold to Muggles as chopsticks.) The kids will need to activate them with crushed fire opal dust (sold at Michael's as burnt orange glitter) at our first lessons in a couple weeks. I've been bugging our best friends with my ideas via e-owls (in order to keep it a surprise for the kids), and they're going to join us for lessons once a week or so, but we're not quite ready to start.
It is SO hard not to jump right in with a bunch of Lessons! But I know myself and the kids, and I don't want to get burned out by trying to do too much at once. I want to keep the enthusiasm going. After their owls arrived today, we decided to start reading Book One again. That should keep us busy until we can get together with the other Gryffindor home study students.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog, and I am finding that it makes me feel more comfortable to work on my own matters of faith (which have stumbled so badly that they may never fully recover). And I am heartened to find a Christian who enjoys HP (I know they exist, of course, but that's not what gets press) and who is able to put aside some of the hysteria and find the good (message) in it.
Natalie, thank you so much for telling me this. I've actually been planning to write about my own stumbling, because I know it can't be as uncommon as it seems sometimes. Hopefully I can get to that soon.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm not a HP fan, but I'm a HUGE fan of you and your family, so it's fun to read about whatever you're excited about! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow...the HP stuff sounds wonderful! I'm a christian mom who is considering unschooling. My son is only 13 months so my husband and I have time to make these decisions! But anyways, what a wonderful idea to take something so fun as Harry Potter and use it to help the kids have some fun while they learn. It's pretty inspirational actually!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily. :)
ReplyDeleteCrystal, we started looking into unschooling when our oldest was a baby, too. You can certainly take all the time you like figuring out what works for your family! I'm so glad you like the HP idea!
This is off the subject, but I just started reading your blog and am really enjoying it. :) I was reading a post from last year about you guys being sick often and I was wondering if any of you have had blood tests for food allergies. Sometimes the allergies are not bad enough that you notice anything in particular, especially if you've always eaten the foods but they are enough to keep you immune system slightly riled up, which makes you more suseptable to viruses and such. If you would like to hear our families story email me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to reply. I know what you mean about being resistant to a big diet change. If it wasn't so necessary to our family I'm sure we would have a much tougher time sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteI love the HP study ideas. I personally wouldn't use harry potter but the same ideas could be aplied to other stories the kids are into. hmmmm. . .
I saw this and it totally reminds me of you! This is your conscience telling you to buy or make it! lol
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13176248
Oh, my gosh, Bobbi, that is SO cute! I love everything about it. 'Course, I've acquired three new aprons in the last two months, and my mom has two adorable chicken-themed fabrics waiting for me to make another one with her! So, I'm not exactly in the market. :) (Unless you count the fact that I use them every day, and a couple are always in the laundry...)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very encouraging blog.
ReplyDeleteMy best to you and your continued efforts.