Study Schedule

Since Christina was born, I regularly have read my scriptures. I read what I feel like. But I've really wanted to be a little more inclusive of all the scriptures so for the past 2 weeks, I've set a loose schedule that has worked out FANTASTIC.

It's as follows. All mornings Book of Mormon.

At night: Monday - Student Manuals/ Books from Deseret
Tuesday- Book of Mormon or D&C
Wednesday- Old Testament
Thursday- Lessons for Sunday
Friday- New Testament
Saturday- Memorize Scripture Mastery Scriptures
Sunday- Ensign Magazine

I just feel a lot more complete knowing I'm covering all my basis. And of course I'm very open should I vere off course. But I think it was really good to sit down and figure out my goals and where I wanted to be heading as far as scripture study. I don't pin myself down to reading a certain amount of pages or chapters. I just soak in what is there to soak in.

Yesterday, I attended my first ever book group. It was excellent and we talked about The Little Prince. There were many quotes I enjoyed from the book.

"Only children know what they are looking for." is my favorite as The Little Prince had come to a planet where people get on and off the train constantly. They don't know where they are going, what they are doing or what they are looking for. Then the little prince responds with the quote as he sees a child peering at him from a frosty window.

I'd rate the book an 6. I know it's a classic, but it was overly whimsical and I don't like it when the main characters die. Especially children. Hello. Next month I'll be hosting at my house and I of course chose Stargirl. Now that is the book of all books. Speaking of Spinelli, I just finished his "Is that a girl in my hammerlock?". A story about a girl wrestler. It brought back memories of 8th grade. A poor boy had an unfortunate experience wrestling and it earned him a disgraceful nickname. At 8th grade graduation we started chanting that name and looking back it's probably one of the saddest moments. Like his parents and family were there. R. Lockwood. Remember him Ramya? Anyways, the book made me think of that. Gross sport. Too physical and too much contact for my taste. And seriously, the outfits? But the book was excellent. I'd rate it a 7.

The girls and I have been enjoying our time, playing, learning, relaxing... and reading. It seems like we read at least 2 hours a day. Insane. I've also finally found a book at the library that has all the great English Romantic authors and their poems condensed (The Oxford Anthology of English Poetry Vol. II Blake to Heaney). Much easier and pleasant to read. I've found that William Blake and I are best friends. He was very religious and his poems were WOW. For example, On Another's Sorrow

"Can I see another's woe,
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief,
And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear,
And not fell my sorrow's share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow fill'd?

Can a mother sit and hear
An infant groan, and infant fear?
No, no! never can it be!
Never, never can it be!

And can he who smiles on all
Hear the wren with sorrows small,
Hear the small bird's grief and care,
Hear the woes that infants bear,

And not sit beside the nest,
Pouring pity in their breast;
And not sit the cradle near,
Weeping tear on infant's tear;

And not sit both night and day,
Wiping all our tears away?
O! no never can it be!
Never, never can it be!

He doth give his joy to all;
He becomes the infant small;
He becomes a man of woe;
He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh
And thy maker is not by;
Think not thour canst weep a tear
And thy maker is not near.

O! he gives to us his joy
That our grief he may destroy;
Till our grief is fled and gone
He doth sit by us and moan."


I know. Right? Wow.

I'm so grateful that I'm done with school. For me learning was never fully appreciated or fun because of the testing. The stress of living up to a grade of expectation. I really believe if education is to change, it needs to be done with porfolio grade evaluations. Granted you need tests, but why not have students write the tests on what they feel is worth knowing? Math wise it's a little different. But on a whole... Food for thought.