Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

This book is basically about Lewis' lifelong search for what he termed "joy" and how he finally found it where he least expected.

He had a somewhat sad childhood although an amazing education despite his poor boarding school experiences which were downright awful. Anyway, his parents were readers and his mother started teaching him Latin at a very young age, but his childhood sorrow began with the death of his mother. He was very close to his brother and they read a lot and made up ongoing play stories together which seemed similar to what Lewis wrote in his chronicles of Narnia. His brother was sent off to boarding school, and soon after, Lewis followed. it really was a terrible place, they didn't get enough to eat, the school master really probably had sever mental problems by the way he ran the school and treated everybody and the school was soon after closed down. It was a waste of time academically for Lewis, and he never felt comfortable with mathmatics and my guess is that he never had a chance to learn it well. Anyway, his next boarding school was quite good and he had some good teachers who introduced some good subjects for him and he was able to learn some things, but he was only there about a year and then was off to Wyvern which was horrid. The upper class men were allowed and even encouraged to haze the lower classmen. There was a ton of emphasis placed on some type of games like rugby and others which Lewis hated because he was no good at them and he'd rather be in the library. He actually thought he was the strange one for enjoying literature. Anyway, he was finally able to talk his father into finding him another mode of educational training and started his true formal training under the one on one mentorship of "The Great Knock", and finally on to Oxford.

It was very interesting to read about all the books Lewis felt were important to his development. Honestly it made me realize again how lacking my own education has been. I also enjoyed reading how he and "The Great Knock" read Homer in the original Greek and other texts in their original languages. Over the course of Lewis' young life, he became an atheist although he continually sought after "joy" which he seemed to find mostly in Norse mythology. A lot of his reasoning and the way he thought about life and he world were foreign to me, because I think that deep down I have always known there is a God. I had to take some time to let some of his ideas make sense to me, because they weere so different from anything I had thought before.

It was really nice to get to the final 2 chapters, because the rest of the book especially the chapter called "The Bloods" was downright sad and depressing. In the final 2 chapters he talks about how although he didn't want to believe in God, he was finally forced in a sense to acknowledge the logic and light of the truth. One of the first ideas he let go of was that just because a time such as the dark ages has past and we are so much "more advanced" now doesn't necessarily mean that we can't learn from past ages and that maybe they had some wisdom we could learn from now. That seems to be a common belief of atheists and "progressives", that modernity is better and the past is archaic and unuseful to the present. This combined with Lewis' thirst for knowledge understanding and "joy" led him to continue to learn and read. He found less and less "joy" and satisfaction in his mythology, and much to his unexpected expectations, the Christian writers seemed to be the ones that made the most sense.

This caused him to reevaluate over time and at last accept Jesus as the Christ and Savior of the world. He had at last found "Joy", and that is where the book ends. This is probably my least favorite of all the Lewis books I've read. He said that knowing about a person doesn't necessarily give one more insight into the things they write about and I would have to agree. I had a hard time relating with his atheistic ideas of youth, but I suppose it does give me a greater understanding and appreciation of those who think that way. I have enjoyed his other works much more although this book does let me see why and how Lewis can express himself so well in his other works. Overall, I do recommend this book. Enjoy!!!

Stay AWAY from Vegas!!!!

I have relatives and I know people who take their kids and spend a few days in Vegas for fun. I remember stopping there as a kid and seeing the cool hotels although I always hated the smoky casinos, the pools were always nice. It was never my idea of a great vacation, but it seemed harmless enough, and some people seem to really like it.

Weeeeeeellllll, not me!!! We had the unfortunate experience this weekend of getting stuck there on our way to a family event in San Diego. I was recovering from a severe migraine and still had a headache in no condition to drive safely for 6 more hours and my husband had a pinched nerve in his shoulder that got so bad he could no longer move his entire arm also in no condition to drive safely. Then my mom worried us that if it was his left shoulder we'd better get it checked out to make sure it wasn't a heart attack. The pain culminated right outside Vegas while we were looking for a Subway. Anyway, we decided to call it quits, find a hotel and an after hours clinic and at least let the kids swim even though they were so looking forward to the beach. It was sad.

Anyway, we were stuck in Vegas and if I had to do it over again, I would turn around and go to the first non-casino hotel I could find on my way back to Utah. We called my uncle to get some recomendations for places to stay in Vegas and he thought Excaliber had rooms for $33/night, so we drove down the strip in pain trying to find it. There are so many billboards and ads for a "good time" that include a ton of soft porn, it is sickening to even drive down the strip. Then as if that weren't enough, we got to follow a billboard truck advertising some whores/ "babes" "who want to meet you" for at least 20 min. I'm glad my children weren't any older. Definitely keep your teenage sons away from this trash town. So we finally found Excaliber and it was $100/ night, but we took it anyway. Then we walked our sweet little children through the casino which smells of cigarettes all the way across to the elevator to get to our rooms. The only appropriate thing we could find on T.V. was baseball, and we had to make sure to turn the complimentary magazines over. What a rotten place.

Since my muscular man was out of comission, I rounded up some dinner and brought up a few things from the car which meant I had the "privilege" of walking through the casino several times. Most everybody was wearing the trashiest cut off shorts and tank tops, there was a really bad Kareoke room, some sports rooms and bars, and a pole dancer. I just kept my eyes off her as much as possible, but I don't think she was even very pretty. I did observe the people watching her though. There was a group of guys which I can understand, but there was also a group of women and there was a couple--which I don't understand as well. There were also a ton of tatoos. It is just one messed up debauched place. I wanted out of there as soon as possible. I suppose that if you planned ahead and knew your way around a little bit, you would know where to avoid. If there was a show you really wanted to see, you would go, watch and leave. But to me, it's just not worth it to see all the ads and other depravity going on there.

The pool ended up being O.K. although it didn't open 'til 9 a.m. so we let the kids swim for a little more than an hour, and then we were out of there!!! I don't think I've ever been so happy to be back in my little sheltered land of Utah. I didn't realize how much I like it here until I've been away. There were a ton of booze shops and gentlemen club billboards and ads in the Chicago area a few weeks ago when we went. I like Utah. So far, I don't see things I don't want to see driving down the road. We count the temples as we go down the freeway. There are families with children in the restaurants. I lived all over the place as a kid and I didn't think I was partial, but I am now. I'm glad to be in Utah!! I hope it stays innocent for a long long time!!

One thing is sure--STAY AWAY FROM VEGAS!!!

Signing Time Videos

My husband bought the first Signing Time video for the kids to learn some sign language this past year and the kids loved it. Then a week or so ago, my 4 yr. old wanted to watch it over and over again and everybody watched along with him and learned all kinds of signs and really enjoyed it. So we decided to get the whole set of 13 DVD's for the kids especially because we are going on 2 long trips this summer in the car, and this way we figure they can not only watch movies, but learn something useful along the way. The kids really like watching Alex and Leah on the show with the animation. All 5 of my kids sit and watch and enjoy the show. There's lots of music and practice using the signs. Even the 2 yr. old knows some signs. It has given me a little relief to be able to clean and rest when needed, because I know they are learning something useful even though I am not right there to guide them through it. I'm glad my kids are learning sign language. I hope we can meet someone we can talk to with it sometime. It has been a lot of fun!!

Their official website is www.signingtime.com

TJED/A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille -- A Rotten Educational Philosophy!!

A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille, sounds interesting and rigorous, right? Thomas Jefferson was a smart guy, he wrote the Declaration of Independence after all and he was the 3 rd president of the USA, so A Thomas Jefferson Education also known as TJED or a Leadership Education should be a pretty good thing, right?

You would think so, but unfortunately, A Thomas Jefferson Education is anything but the kind of education Thomas Jefferson actually had. It's more of a modern educational philosophy disguised under a name that describes something totally different. It got big here in Utah, and I really hope it dies out, because it can't work. Here are the 7 Keys of Great Teaching:

Classics, not Textbooks -- Learn math by reading Archimedes instead of filling out mindless workbooks --- Excuse me, my goal is to learn and if that is best done through a textbook and so called busywork, then so be it!!!

Mentors, not Professors -- I don't think mentors are a bad thing, but I think they need to give advice and guidance which is not encouraged by DeMille, he says they should stay back and allow the student to figure things out on their own. Hello!!! Teach me what you know, then I can add to that, don't make me reinvent the wheel!!

Inspire, not Require -- This is one of the WORST keys in the philosophy!! Don't require your child to read, do homework, or chores, instead, trick them into doing it through whatever passive aggressive tactics you can get to make them do what you want them to without them realizing your manipulation call it inspiration!! Please!!!!!!

Structure Time, not Content -- Isn't this one of the problems we face in the public schools? The kids are doing their time for example in math, just waiting to get through to the next grade and the next teacher. Content is by far more important, some things will take longer than others, the important thing is that the content is mastered!!!

Quality, not Conformity -- I'm not sure what this one means. Quality is a good thing, and conformity is not always a bad thing.

Simplicity, not Complexity -- When you put many simple things together such as notes on a piano in a certain sequence, doesn't it often come out sounding very complex?

You, not Them -- This is the one that makes me the most upset!!! The "mentor" or homeschool parent is supposed to concentrate on themselves and then the students will follow their example and be just as educated as the parent even though they haven't been required to do anything. This is an excuse for parents to ignore or neglect their child's education and pursue their own goals and ambitions. Here is my response: It is all about the child, the parent's turn or chance is past.

Now there is a new key in addition to these original 7:

Secure, not Stressed -- why did DeMille have to add this one? Because the other keys don't work and they cause the parent stress, but now with this new key, you can ignore your stress and promptings that TJED doesn't work and keep doing it anyway!!!

My thoughts on TJED? Run away, run far far away!!! It is a very bad educational and parenting philosophy. I think we will see a great many disappointed future leaders and parents of future leaders who have given their all to TJED. These keys I have listed are just a small part of the philosophy. They've got books and seminars and classes and groups. I could go on and on, but I think that is enough to see that the philosophy is erroneous. There are a couple blogs that already go into more detail if you search.

TJED reflects very poorly on the homeschool community and I try to distance myself as much as possible from these people. If I were given the choice between TJED and public school, I would choose public school hands down. I am very disappointed in the people who have embraced TJED and I hope I can distance myself from them as much as possible as an academic homeschooler. There are some very nice people who have gotten caught up in it, and I feel sorry for them. I hope they don't really do all the things DeMille recommends and don't feel like failures. I think the nicest ones are the ones who feel failure because they can't do everything DeMille says, but in reality they will be much better off. That's all I'm going to say on the subject for now. I feel better getting that off my chest. I want to spend my energy finding the best ways to teach my kids the things I want them to know and focusing on the positive. But sometimes, I have to point out the bad. Glad that's over!!!

Out of the Mouth of Babes -- Alma 32:23

This is a lovely scripture from The Book of Mormon, you can read the whole chapter here, this chapter is mostly known for its beautiful explanation of faith being like a little seed, but verse 23 is the one I want to share today:

23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, ^anot only men but women also. Now this is not all; little ^bchildren do have words given unto them many times, which ^cconfound the wise and the learned.

I had the privilege of experiencing words of truth from my little 4 yr. old boy. He is so sweet, I think all 4 yr. olds are. Anyway, we had just found out that I was pregnant with baby #6 (yes it was planned), but we hadn't told the kids yet. I was in the kitchen and my little boy came up to me out of the blue and said,"Mommy, there's 2 babies in your tummy." I was a little surprised, but it got me wondering and thinking about the possibility. I didn't want to get too excited, but I was anxious to get that first ultra-sound nevertheless, and sure enough -- we're having TWINS!!

We are very happy and excited about it. Our families are excited, and our ward is excited. I'm so grateful to have so many people who care about us and support us. I am also grateful for this privilege. I feel so blessed. I don't think I will even mind being cooped up for a few months while we wait for the cold season to pass after they're born. Anyway, it has also caused me to sit and think about how precious our little ones really are, and what do they remember and know and see about heavenly things that we have grown out of. Truly we must "become as a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven" (3 Nephi 11:37-38).

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis

This was quite an uplifting although rather strange book. I am currently reading Lewis's autobiography "Surprised By Joy" which I will comment on when I finish, but it has helped me understand Lewis' lifelong fascination with mythology of all types, and maybe why he says the story leapt out at him. It is the retelling of the story of Psyche and Cupid from the point of view of Psyche's much older, almost like a mother, half sister, Orual. Orual is an ugly girl, but very smart and really quite a good person. Her mother the queen died when she and Redival, her full sister, were children. Their father, the king, soon remarried, and this second wife died giving birth to the the beautiful Ilistra, also known as Psyche.

The king had assigned a Greek slave to teach his daughters. Orual was loved the Fox as he was called and loved the learning. Redival was not nearly as interested, and as time went on, Psyche also enjoyed the time spent with the Fox and Orual. The three of them formed a very strong bond. So it was especially devastating to Orual when the gods demanded a sacrifice of Psyche. She was devastated to have this beautiful sister taken away so cruelly. Once the sacrifice was performed, really Psyche was left chained at the top of the mountain, not actually killed, Orual went to bury her bones that she may rest and found instead that Psyche was alive and well and married to the God of the mountain. Instead of being relieved and happy for her sister, Orual was angry that she had been taken from her. She convinces Psyche to break a promise she made to her husband which results in great sorrow for her. Orual is haunted by what has happened to Psyche because of her, but will not admit to herself that she was in fact to blame.

Orual and Psyche no longer see each other, and Orual eventually becomes a good and just queen. Finally at the end of her life, she realizes her true face and all she has suffered because of her sin and ill-intent despite all the justifying she did in her mind over the years. The sisters are at last reconciled, although it is not completely clear, but it does lead one to that direction.

This brief synopsis hardly does the book justice. I could hardly put it down, and it brought me up to a much nicer state of mind than I was in when I started the book. There is so much to be observed and learned about human behaviour and how we try to convince ourselves that we are doing the right thing when deep down we know it's wrong. Orual really was not evil. She did a ton of good for her people, but all that good couldn't make up for the nagging she suffered about the bad turn she had given her sister. It was very nice in the end when Orual admitted her fault to her own heart and could see who she really was, and then the reconciliation was able to take place. Until we admit our wrongs, we cannot progress. We have to see ourselves for who we really are, then if there is something we don't like, then we can change it, and really be true to ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read, easy to understand and there is so much to learn from it- lots of good quotes and words of wisdom also. Enjoy!!!

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

I read this book a couple months ago, but it is still fresh in my mind and I loved it. It basically follows the life of a poor farmer, Wang Lung, from his wedding day to his death as a very rich man in China. It gave me a greater appreciation for my Western American culture and educated me on the customs and culture of China. I was amazed at the way women were treated, either as workers or for sex. When Wang Lung picked up his wife, O-Lan at the great house of Hwang, she walked behind him, and although he was curious about her throughout their life together, he felt it was beneath him to talk to her as he would to a man. O-Lan is definitely the heroine of this novel, she worked endlessly even while pregnant in the fields and in the house and because of her economy, Wang Lung was able to purchase land from the house of Hwang. A terrible famine hit the land and they were forced to the city where they lived in a tent along the wall of a palace and ate rice at a place for the poor each day. When revolution took over, Wang Lung, was fortunate to obtain some money from a rich man to save his life and O-Lan looted some precious jewels. They were ecstatic to be able to return to their land and bought the rest of the land from the house of Hwang.

Wang Lung was now the rich and respected man of their city, but instead of acknowledging O-Lan for the part she played in this fortune, he acted the way he thought a rich man should. His sons were not taught to work the land and grew up to bicker and would eventually although it doesn't chronicle it specifically in the book, they would lose the land the same way the great house of Hwang had lost it. Wang Lung took on a concubine and hated O-Lan the more because she was not beautiful. He even took away the 2 small pearls she wished to keep from the jewels she had looted and gave them his concubine. O-Lan eventually died soon after the marriage of her first son. She had done so much and complained hardly at all, Wang Lung did seem to actually mourn a little her at her deathbed. But it seems the customs of his culture were too much for him to really acknowledge her goodness and usefulness even after she was gone.

It seems from this book at least, that although the rich chinese put down and live off of the poor ones, the poor are really no better than the rich because they wish they were the ones who could put people down. Wang Lung showed how it would be if their places were reversed and it was no different. The whole Chinese honor and respect for elders and men is messed up. I'm sure there are some good things about it and there are probably cases of families who are kind and respectful to their women, but it seems the overall prevailing culture is one of pride and appearance and authority being more important than sincerity and humility. Buck also wrote East Wind West Wind which is also set in China and is a sweet story of a Chinese woman fulling expecting to be a slave to her husband and mother-in-law, but instead finds that her Western educated husband treats her totally differently than expected and it is a lovely surprise.

Good stuff. Another excellent true story about China is Wild Swans. It is one of my very favorite books. It is written by the daughter of a man who was part of the communist movement in China and chronicles the life of the daughter, her mother and her grandmother, so it gives a good picture of life in China through some different time periods.