“For Christians Jesus is the Word, the divine logos. Although the Word has spoken, no one is listening. Historically as Christians, we have elevated believing in the Word sublimely above learning the word spoken by Jesus and obeying His commandments. Perhaps that approach should be reversed. After all, learning His word should challenge, guide, and enhance genuine faith in the Word. The sensitive study of Judaism must be a part of such a process.” pp260-261

“Jesus…never wrote a creed. He did not occupy Himself with systematic theology. But His is a profound theologian…He is a theologian, but His theology is Jewish to the core, being rooted in Torah – faithful Judaism. He stressed action more than belief. His theology emerges in the metaphor of parable and a holy reverence for life. God is good. One must stand in wonder and awe before Him.” p273

“The Jewish theology of Jesus begins with the Hebrew concept of God. It encompasses divine compassion and loving-kindness for all humanity. It demands holiness and fear of sin. God seeks healing and wholenss for all people. The Torah reveals God and the human dignity of each person. Jesus came to uphold the Torah and the Prophets, not destroy them.” pp273-274

With his momma:

What is truely amazing is how quickly the crias are up and walking – within an hour!  And isn’t he a beautiful color??

What is education? Education is the Science of Relations! That we have relations with what there is in the past, the present, above us, and about us – apprehending these relationships is what education is.

From pp 240-241:

“I should be inclined to say of education, as Mr Lecky says of morals, that ‘Utilitarian theory is profoundly immoral.’ To educate children for any immediate end – towards commercial or manufacturing aptitude, for example – is to put a premium upon general ignorance with a view to such special aptitude. The greater includes the less, but the less does not include the greater. Excellent work of whatever kind is produced by a person of character and intelligence, and we who teach cannot do better for the nation that to prepare such persons for its uses. He who has intelligent relations with life with produce good works.”

I have a general discomfort for the pragmatic view of education – the philosophy behind government schooling – that sees “good” education as tied to the business and economic needs of the country. Here CM points out that excellent work is done by a person of character – it is more than mere economic excess. To downgrade education to the point that it is driven by economic or business needs (such as what Bill Gates worries about – the inability “to compete”) is to miss the point. Of course, that is what has happened, and the “less does not include the greater.”

Also consider:

“The public school movement was always more than simply an effort to have schools at the taxpayer’s expense. Nor was it simply an effort to have an educated electorate as the franchise was extended to more people, as sometimes alleged. The most zealous of reformers were determined to use the power of the state by the way of the schools to break hold of religious traditions and the inherited culture and to change society through the child’s training.” (A Basic History of the US, vol 3, pp90-91)

So very pragmatic.

Why alpacas?  Why not? They are relatively easy to care for, have terrific personalities, and produce wonderful fleece.  The “business” end of breeding alpacas is in the showing and selling of the animals.  The “science” end is the genetics and selective breeding to improve the animals’ fleece and body conformation.  The “fun” end is the animal itself, and the fleece for spinning, weaving, knitting or crochet.  My husband likes to spin and knit, I weave and crochet.

Our cat is in bliss with fiber, fiber everywhere to play with!! Our girls know more about alpacas and fiber than most adults!

We have 5 acres, about 3.5 in pasture.  Currently we have 2 small fenced pastures and one more under way (just needs gates & the electric wire!).  Our “largest” pasture had to have lots of grading and additional soil to make it usable, so it’s just “sitting and growing grass” for a year.

For more info, visit the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Assoc: http://www.alpacainfo.com

While I know that many people may run across my blog, I’m doing this mainly to keep family and friends up-to-date on the Smith family, our homeschooling adventure, and our alpacas!

My husband, Jeremy, and I have been married for 10 years (WOW!) and have 2 wonderful girls, Abi (7) and Berkeley (5). Abi is in her 3rd year of homeschooling (2nd grade, I guess), and Berkeley is pre-school. We use Sonlight for History/Geography and Literature, the Bible for Bible, Right Start Math for math, and books for Science. Abi takes piano, Berkeley does Kindermusik, and both take Monart for Art. We also attend a homeschool co-op once a week.

Recently, some friends and I have begun a Keepers of the Faith club for our girls who are all around the same ages. We’re still getting our feet wet on that one!

I’ll save the alpacas for another post. We currently have 9, though, and 3 more on the way!