This week started out rough and not much went according to the plans I had made. Kind of a hard few days, by Friday, a calm came. I awoke having no plan, this time. And I prayed. Asked the Lord to direct my every step. I had several ideas run through my head of what to do with our boys today. I kept praying, “Lord please make it clear to me”.
While I have core things I believe are important to teach the boys this year, the Lord seems to be continually SHOWING ME I NEED TO SURRENDER and REALLY ASK HIM TO LEAD ME EACH NEW MORNING. There is something He does in me, in the SWEETEST of ways, over and over, when I come to Him empty. He then fills me with vision for the day. Beautiful vision, that turns into JOY unspeakable, with the most amazing times and memories made, hearts touched, changed, God doing abundantly more than I could ever imagine.
Some days that vision might be, being still and resting more at home. Cooking and baking for the day. Doing spelling with nerf guns. Or math facts while jumping through the house. Spending more time in the Word another day. Going on a special outing for that day. A game day. A friend day. A day to write. Board game day. I could go on…. He shows me the need. And some days and many a days too, it’s reading, writing, arithmetic straight from books. But always together, and inviting the Lord to be apart of it all, correcting our hearts in a moment of weakness, irritability, confusion. Pausing from the books to refer to the GREAT BOOK – the BIBLE to get ourselves back on track. All these things are opportunities for growth, learning, engaging in the important elements of life.
I passed my idea by the boys to go for a nature hike in a new place near home. Maximus was excited to go and climb that “wild” apple tree again. Pick an apple to eat on the trail. This! This!!! Is when it all came together. Oh the Lord has done it again!!! This is IT!!!!!
We will study apples today!
I quickly googled and found just the perfect information to pull together a simple, but effective unit study. We sat together on the comfy couch. Relaxed, at ease. Learning all this!
From questions like:
Do you know how many varieties of apples there are in the world? (7,500 by the way)
Where did the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” originate from?
Which state produces the most apples?
To a wonderful printable story – THE STORY OF JOHNNY APPLESEED – LEGEND VS. FACT
TO VOCABULARY AND SPELLING AND HISTORY – USING A PRINTABLE CROSSWORD PUZZLE TO ENGAGE THEM.
TO GEOGRAPHY IN LOCATING A FEW STATES ON THE GLOBE
TO LEARNING THE NUTRITION OF APPLES and OTHER TERMS- USING A CROSSWORD PUZZLE
And most beautiful of all…. BIBLICAL APPLICATION ~
Johnny Appleseed’s (real name John Chapman) favorite book? THE BIBLE!
During his time working to plant seeds throughout the lands, he used every opportunity to preach the word. What an example to us all to keep Jesus and opportunities to be a Light in the midst of all we do in a day.
And the TRINITY!! I cut open an apple and discussed the three main parts. PEEL, FLESH, CORE. Which make up ONE wonderful apple. Not three separate apples. All these elements go together to make one perfect apple. Perhaps from now on when we eat an apple, we will remember the TRINITY – Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Three in 1. One perfect God.
What does it mean to be the apple of someone’s eye? That person is cherished above all others.
David in Psalms 17:8 – said: “keep me as the apple of Your eye”. Each of God’s children are the apple of His eye. Cherished, loved. How beautiful that David recognized this. Even in his failings, his wanderings, his sin – in repentance and deep sorrow, and not without loving discipline from the Father, and consequences, but unconditionally loved. David knew who the one true God was, turned back to the Lord, and moved forward in His love.
We then headed out for our hike. In search of the “wild” apple trees.
Saw a few other wonderful surprises on our journey including a black tailed deer!!! And speaking of connections. Isaac connected to the tiniest little lady bug on the path.
There was a time not so long ago, this would not be. Our hikes were days of “fog”, for him and a glazed over look, in a quiet world of his own. This life has gifted us with those opportunities to bring connection. And eventually the LORD turned on the LIGHT! We must rejoice in the simplest abilities in a day. These little things are all giant gifts from the Father.
Maximus climbed his “wild” apple tree, which is a JOY to his heart. Isaac stood below and caught them as they fell. Together we collected enough to bring home and make apple pie. The boys sliced them all up. Side by side.
I don’t think we have ever enjoyed apple pie so much!!!
Taste and see that the LORD is Good!
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23
This was our study and there is a link at the bottom of this page, in case you are interested in doing your own study on apples. There are endless ways in which one could approach a study like this.
http://www.kids.bestapples.com/home.shtml