We aren’t the first people to live through trying times, and we can learn from what St Benedict….along with several other historic figures…did to preserve culture and faith in the midst of a chaotic time….each became an island of virtue, a refuge for culture and hope.
Habits of a Sacred Home, Jennifer Pepito
Hello friends and happy new year!
Christmas seems a while ago but I hope it was an interlude of tucked away time for you all with family and friends enjoying some hearty meals, tasty treats, wintery walks and cosy evenings playing board games or reading. Ours was lovely; both boys wended their way home and much as we miss them, the joy of having them here again almost makes up for it! All six of us being in the house again for two weeks could have led to friction, but by God’s grace and with plenty of forward planning it was amazingly peaceful and we slotted back into well worn rhythms and routines and enjoyed many Christmas traditions.
Gearing up to a new year has been harder. In many ways I love the opportunity to reflect, reassess and plan which both January and September offer. Finding time with my Bible and journal was harder when all the children were younger, but this year I spent a blissful hour at the Bishop’s Palace praying through the year past and the year ahead; a sort of “ general maintenance” of my soul.
The quote above comes Jenifer Pepoto’s new book which I’m really enjoying; so much resonates with me and she puts into words much of what I strive towards as well as gently nudging areas where I’ve been lax. If you’re at the stage of life where you have children or teens at home, I’d highly recommend it.
Another delight of January is to pen out a list of books I’d like to read. I don’t usually read all of them, and I always read some which aren’t on the list, but it’s a fun thing to do as I look forward to the year ahead. I’ve also set myself the challenge of reading (or mostly listening to) a longer work, and I’ve opted for Middlemarch. I’ll let you know now I get on.
I used to choose readalouds for the children at the beginning of each term; now it’s just Sparkly Eyes and myself with some audibles in the car for the three of us, I tend to to be more spontaneous/less organised about our reading/listening.
How about you? Are there some reassuring rituals you have at the beginning of a new year? Or books you’re hoping to read? Pop them in the comments…I’d love to know.
“Issachar Eyes” (working title of the new book) was delivered to Ritchie, our amazing publisher, before Christmas. The release date is set for mid May. I’ll say more next month, but I’m very excited about it and am praying that in God’s grace it will equip and encourage many Christian parents as we endeavour to raise our children with a sound faith in these challenging times.
May you know God’s peace guarding your hearts and minds and His joy bubbling up as you appreciate the beauty around you this month,
Molly x
Nature notes and homestead jottings
January is a slow month in the garden, but it’s been good to get out after all the indoor busyness of Christmas and begin clearing some ground and start a general tidy up. I sorted through my seed box and ordered some seeds, mostly the ones on sale for 99p. I’m trying to save more seed, but realised I’d not labelled some of my pots, so I’ll have a few surprise seedlings!
Homeschool journal
It’s always difficult starting back after the Christmas holidays, but this year has seemed especially challenging. We had a week after the boys went back to focus on some cleaning jobs and some admin tasks which I never seem to have time for within our usual routines.
We also had a (very cold) visit to Sherbourne and made our way to the Abbey. When we arrived they were mid organ recital so we were able to quiet our souls sitting in this beautiful building and listening to the majestic music soaring up amongst the rafters. Its fascinating history includes eight hundred years as a Benedictine monastery. We had a good chat with the man in their small bookshop which I was delighted to see sells Bibles and Christian cards above tourist paraphernalia.
This month has seen the passing of the second reading of the Children’s Well-being and Schools Bill. In addition to some other elements which seek to narrow the ideological viewpoints from which children are taught, it is also the latest and most serious attempt to heavily monitor home education. It incorrectly conflates child protection with home education using the tragic case of Sara Sharif to gas light MP’s into demanding a register for children not in school. On a surface level this seems reasonable enough (although Sara was on a register of children not in school, and was known to the authorities), but underlying this is a blatant and unfounded belief that the State, not the parents, know what is best for the child and should make decisions about their education accordingly. Thus, if the education being provided does not meet the standards of a particular Local Authority worker, a child could be given a back to school order and the parents faced with a prison sentence if they do not comply. This sounds like a communist country nightmare and indeed I believe this is the driving force behind it.
The Bible makes it very clear that the upbringing of children is the parents’ responsibility. We are free to delegate some of this to others, be it school, youth workers or extracurricular teachers, but the responsibility rests upon us and not the State. We know and love our children more than any LA employee. This Bill does not only affect current home educated children, but down the line could affect all families; if we open the door for the State to have access to our children in this way, it is a slippery slope as to what other aspects of parenting could be considered unsuitable. A look at any country living under Communism should give us an idea of the chilling nature of this Bill.
Home educators across the country are campaigning and those of us who are Christians are praying and fasting. It is indeed a David and Goliath battle, as this power grab to mould our children’s thinking stems from global agendas and we pray for God’s mercy and miraculous intervention. If you feel able to, please do write to the call for evidence committee at scrutiny@parliament.uk before 11 February or join us in prayer. Thank you. X
Musings for our time
I’ve written before about keeping fear in check in a world where it seems that much of our news and media feeds are designed to create and amplify fear. One of the chapters in “Issachar Eyes” delves into how to memorise and meditate on Scripture. It’s written by a young woman who was home educated herself and whose parents were inspiringly intentional in this. We certainly learn Scripture verses, and very occasionally larger chunks, but nowhere near as much as she did and continues to do now as an adult.
So, one of my new year resolutions is to memorise more Scripture. I’ve started with Psalm 27 which seems very pertinent. As I’ve dwelt on it, mulling it over in my mind, I have found it indeed to be a defence against the fear mongering which can assault us on a daily basis and the churnings of my own mind. Have a look at it and be encouraged!
Mothering through the seasons 
Thank you as always for you insight and wisdom
another book I have just read and found encouraging is Prophetic guide to the end times by Derek Prince.
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Thank you. That looks really good.
Link is here https://www.derekprince.com/books/prophetic-guide-to-the-end-times
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