"Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well-nourished body takes to growing; and we must bear in mind that growth, physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, is the sole end of education." ~ Charlotte Mason

Saturday, October 19, 2013

On the Heels of a Charlotte Mason Conference

I spent Friday evening and all day Saturday at a Charlotte Mason Conference.  The company was fantastic, the food incredible and the information truly invaluable.  The hard work by all those involved was most evident and I am so grateful for such an amazing community!

There was much information.  A lot of it, I had never head before!  This has set my thoughts in motion as I know for the next few days I will be sifting through it all, allowing it to ruminate and bear some seed.  A conference can be both rejuvenating and overwhelming, it can be confirming and distressing all at the same time!  I have been to enough conferences now, that I am familiar with these feelings.  As I drove home I could feel the angst rising, as a flurry of information makes its way back in forth in my thoughts.  Then I remember back to my holiday, sitting on the beach, gazing out at the lake, and the bargain I made with myself returns to me (Surrendering to the Year Ahead).  I remember to take deep breaths, to reside in the calm that soothes my soul. I am the master of these feelings, I can choose to embrace where I am as well as the promise new ideas have to offer.

So my thoughts arrive at the conclusion - I will prayerfully consider what to do from here.  Will I alter something a little?  Fine tune it?  Add one (and I mean ONLY one) new idea this year?  And what about next year? Perhaps try something a little different for one child?  These are the questions before me but here is the thing:  I am at peace with the questions. I have chosen to be. :)  And I look forward with great anticipation with how we will continue to weave together a true and earnest love of lifetime learning - for all of us.

So tonight, I sit and listen to jazz mingled with the sounds of my children having fun.