Ragno o insetto ?

Domandone. L'altra sera un piccolo ospite passeggiava per la mia camera da letto.
Come sempre in presenza di inrusi del genere ci armiamo per prima cosa di lente d'ingrandimento e di macchina fotografica ed osserviamo.
Questa volta però ci siamo trovati in difficoltà. Il giovanotto ( o forse era una signorina ? ) aveva 6 zampe come un insetto, ma il corpo diviso in due parti come un ragno ... inoltre anche il colorito era molto particolare. A Leonardo ha ricordato a ragione i ragni delle grotte di Frasassi, che crescendono al buio rimangono bianchi.
C'è qualcuno là fuori che riconosce l'individuo in questione e può dissipare i nostri dubbi ?

( Grazie in anticipo ! )

Le due piccole appendici frontali non sembravano zampe e non venivano usate per camminare. Strano eh ?



E visto che molti non aprezzano immagini così ravvicinate di certe creature ecco un video molto bello che ho visto ieri sul magnifico blog A Holy Experience ( fonte di grandissima ispirazione per me )

Bello vero. E che incredibile talento. Ne siamo rimasti tutti affascinati.

Buon Weekend !

Shalom !



Kindness

Here in Finland this is the Midsummer weekend. Shops are closed. People head out to their country houses. From our point of view it's just a very lonely weekend with no family, or relatives or friends.

Yesterday morning the kids grabbed their tools and we went to the nearby park so that they could 'work wood', something they greatly enjoy.

In the park we found two more families. A couple with their two young children, our next door neighbours, and their guests, and a very young and loving couple with this little boy.

After a while mom and little boy went away, and the father sat just behind us. I was busy knitting and watching and chatting with the kids, so I didn't really pay attention to him, until he came to us and without a word gave each of the kids a little origami animal, smiled very big, and went away without a word.

Aren't they precious ?

This random act of kindness from a stranger just was the best thing that could have happened to us.

 An angel sent to cheer us up, to remind us that we are loved.

How beautiful is this.

Beside this, I really have to hurry up and finish my diary of the journey that led us here. Because in less then a month we're leaving again. And me and the kids we'll be parted again from papaF for a while.

We came here not sure if this would have been for good or not, and most probably this won't be our final destination. Our journey won't end here. There's so many reasons to keep going. And doors seems opening in fromt of us, so probably being faithful is the only and right thing to do now, even if this may seem complitely insane from the outside ( and often even from the inside lol ).

So on 24 of july a plane will take me and the kids back in Italy and around a couple of weeks later papaF will reach us with a ''brand new old'' little motorhome and then we'll leave for a little trip around the south of Europe, trusting that we'll be led to the right place for us to stay.

We're somehow scared of what it is in front of us, but incredibly we're also in peace. We're sure this is all for good, and our path will show in front of us while we walk.

Anyways, if you might keep us in your prayers and in your hearts in this period of our life for some more, well, this would be so much for us.

May the peace be with you all

Amazing grace

I still have tons of pics of the latest weeks of share. All of them saved in my blog folder. I was supposed to share some of my knitting\crocheting\valentine efforts tonight. But yesterday i came across the story of this amazing young man, and i thought to share one of the many videos i found online. I showed it also to the kids and translated it for them. So so inspiring.

Good things ....

Good things happen, yes they do. And they make you realize that they're happening at the right time under every aspect. They happen and they bring with them the reminder that sometime we simply can't understand why things are happening in a certain way and at a certain time, but still we should have enough faith to know in our heart that everything will turn out good, and not only for ourselves. In the hard times i'm so focused on my troubles that i don't realize that whatever i am living can touch in a way or another, the life of so many other people, so maybe ( or probably ) what is happening has to be good not only for me\us. I know it doesn't make much sense, but i'm not ready to tell more yet  :) but i will, in a while.

Just the day before this something happened, while i was drifting away in a river of sorrow i bumped in something wonderful to which i clinged with all my heart, to find out the very next morning that a true miracle had happened just while i was writing down on my visual journal this sweet treasure.

We have all been a little numb all the rest of the week. I think it takes a while to close a very long and hard season of our life. Then Seba has also been sick for a couple of days, so we're taking it not really easy, but very relaxed, doing very few and doing it calmly, trying to do whatever we enjoy the most.

PapaF busied himself with a new Juke-Box

While i finished this little granny squares blanket, that ended up to be a little comforter for little sick Seba ( it seems that it has the magical ability to give sweet dreams ! )

I hope everybody had a good week, please if you have sometime leave me a little comment, i'd love it !

Shalom

Christmas is getting closer

Another week has gone. In Italy traditionally ( or at least in my area ) we decorate for Christmas on 8th december ( even if i put something up since the first sunday of Advent ). So we have spent a lot of this past week finding our little Christmas tresures.

The kids gathered around the tree ( plastic one that's it, but still we love it ) deciding what put up and where put the tree itself ( in its usual spot nowadays there is the rabbit hutch )

 

The kids around last year's Advent Calendar (we're not using it this year, but still it's nice and we hung it )

And here the tree, we still have some problem with the lights, no socket nearby, we'll see. The felt decorations you see were past advent calendars as well, i sewed them i think on 2006, and from the following year we have used to decorate the tree.

Now let's look around the house. I already showed you the kids rooms doors, in the next days i'll show you the light outside, i think today we'll give a look at our dining room\entrance.

Here a small desk. It was my great-grand father one. My mom wanted to throw it away so i took it. Usually i keep my devotional and spiritual things on it, with my journals, but for this Christmas period i put some music boxes and Christmas cards on it ( the coloured Christmas cards were made by the kids, i will send them this year, i think they're lovely and colourful )

On the top of the piano, two more music boxes and the lights-bells ( papaF did them some years ago )

And always on the top of the piano, another music-box ( ... i know ... )

And will you guess what i have on top of the cupboard ? ... heheheh you got it ! A music box !!!

Ok ok some explanation. I started loving music boxes as a kid, i got my first one when i was about 7 or 8. I used to save my money to buy a new one every now and then and of course my husband, gifted me with quite a lot of them, some of which are way spectacular.

Nowadays i usally get a music box for Christmas or my birthday ( in january, so quite close ) so they are mostly Christmassy themed, that's why i have so many of them :)

And then a couple of sweet sweet pictures. Gaia found the courage to hold the rabbit ( she was scared of keeping him in her arms ) and of course i took a picture of her and Tappo. I think she looks so sweet, i look at her and i imagine her with her child one day. I know i run a bit with my imagination.

And then a close up of Tappo in her arms. He looks quite at ease and comfortable.

Well, that's all. I hope this Christmas time will fill each of you with joy, peace, hope and love.

And with Gratitude. And with Acceptance.

I think those were among the precious gift Jesus brought us with his birth.

Shalom

The first sunday of advent

Yesterday was the first sunday of advent. For the first time in my life i did a Christmas wreath, or better an Advent wreath. I never heard about ( is it that clear i come from a scattered family isn't it ? ) but then searching for Christmas crafts i found some instructions. It said to light four candles, one for each sunday of the Advent. The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink candle symbolizes joy and is typically lit on the third Sunday.

Then on Christmas day we'll light a white candle, sybolizing the birth of Jesus. So yesterday, before dinner we lit the first candle and talked about Hope, and about the four gifts Jesus gave us, Hope,Peace,Joy and Love. And we talked about Jesus life for a while.

Then today after some table work ( math, grammar and history ) we started again working on our Christmas decorations and talks. Our advent calendar is almost done, we have 18 house ready, but well, since we need the toilet paper roll for the houses ... well it takes sometime lol

Then we are preparing another advent calendar with some Bible story about the birth of Jesus and we also prepared a paper nativity. And then we also prepared 4 Advent wreath to hang on the door of their rooms.

At work

Advent Calendar

Recycled Santa #1

Recycled Santa # 2

Ready for baby Jesus to be born

Leo and Gaia's wreath

Milla's and Seba's wreath

Don't you love the Christmas season ? Don't you love the story of the birth of baby Jesus ? Don't you love Mary's attitude ? The way she used to pray and give thank and just accept the will of the God ?

I know for sure that when i can keep in my mind and in my heart her attitude and try to let God work in my life at His time and pace, well extraordinary things happen for me as well in my little humble life.

May the Christmas spirit of Hope,Peace,Joy and Love be with each of you and in you, lovely people.

Shalom

All good gifts

I found this on the lovely blog Holy Experience . I daily read it and find inspiration and peace. I loved this hymn and thought to share with those who might visit here.


 

All Good Gifts

We plow the fields, and scatter

The good seed on the land,

But it is fed and watered

By God's almighty hand.

God sends the snow in winter,

The warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine,

The soft refreshing rain.

All good gifts

Are sent from heaven above;

We thank you Lord, We thank you Lord

We thank you for your love.

You only are the Maker

Of all things near and far;

You paint the wayside flower,

You light the evening star;

The winds and waves obey you,

By you the birds are fed;

Much more to us, your children,

You give our daily bread.

All Good Gifts

Are sent from Heaven above

We thank you Lord,

We thank you Lord,

We thank you for your love

We thank you then creator

For all things bright and good,

The seedtime and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food:

And all that we can offer

Your boundless love imparts

The gifts to you, most pleasing

Our humble thankful hearts.

All good gifts

Are sent from heaven above

We thank you Lord

We thank you Lord

We thank you for your love

All good gifts

Are sent from heaven above

We thank you Lord

We thank you Lord

We thank you for your love

~ Rev. Matthias Claudius, 1782

Shalom

Famiglia

Trovo che la famiglia sia il tesoro più grande che si possa avere. Io personalmente vengo da una cosidetta famiglia mononucleare, ristretta più di un caffè ristretto, farcita di 'giochi di potere' e poverissima di empatia. Forse è per questo che io sto cercando di dare il 200% di me stessa e delle mie energie per creare invece una famiglia unita, per creare affetti e dipendenza fra di noi, per creare ricordi gioiosi, per creare sete di vicinanza e fame di amore reciproco, una abitudine alla condivisione che ci leghi per sempre, non con la forza o il ricatto morale badate bene ( di questa medicina ne ho presa e ne prendo fin troppa io ) ma con la gioia ed il piacere di stare insieme, di avere obiettivi comuni, di essere di aiuto ed incoraggiamento l'un l'altro.
Questa settimana ho avuto grandi soddisfazioni. Devo dire che l'homeschooling in questo ci ha aiutato. Stare insieme 24 ore su 24 sette giorni su sette ci ha uniti. Uniti nella gioia e nel volersi bene. E' incredibile. Si ci sono momenti pesanti e di tensione, ma il sostrato che traspare mi riempie di felicità, vedo un'intelaiatura solida costrursi, su cui i bambini potranno gettare fondamenta sicure.
Nelle foto di seguito  i bambini che spontaneamente mi hanno aiutato a risistemare tutta casa in vista di una visita per la vendita di casa, finita la scuola, invece di giocare si sono dedicati a me, a noi.
E poi Milla che 'suona' in braccio a PapaF, e Leo e Seba che giocano come due gattini, accarezzandosi e facendosi il solletico, avvinghiati sul pavimento, come fossero ancora nella culla. Ed infine la serata di oggi, di Gaia, e le decorazioni che Seba ha fatto per farla felice.
Sono piena di gioia, sono piena di gratitudine. Sono felice di percorrere questa strada.

Leo

Seba

Milla

Gaia

Milla al piano

Manine, preziose manine

Leo e Seba gattini che giocano

Castello in onore di Gaia, fatto da Seba per la serata della sorellona

Tema della serata di Gaia è stata 'La festa' e la nostra ospite ha voluto che preparassimo tramezzini e comprassimo patatine, caramelle e cioccolatini. Sarò una pessima madre, ma l'ho accontentata, aveva un progetto e ho ritenuto giusto farglielo realizzare, anche perchè solitamente non mangiamo nulla di tutto ciò.

Adesso speriamo solo che i nostri stomaci riescano ad ammortizzare il tutto :)

Vi auguro un buonissimo fine settimana con i vostri cari e le persone che amate.

Flavia

A new full homeschooling week

 How good and pleasant it is

when brothers live together in unity!

 It is like precious oil poured on the head,

running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron's beard,

down upon the collar of his robes.

 It is as if the dew of Hermon

were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the LORD bestows his blessing,

even life forevermore.

This is my favourite psalm. It gives me strengh in the hard homeschooling days, put a smile on my face. I know i probably take it too litterally, but reading the first two lines makes me think how good and how right it is for us homeschooling, living together, always together. Family as the foundation of the society should be the cradle of everything good, everything beautiful, so that once the kids grow older will bring these same feelings and way of acting and believing and behaving , outside in the greater world and make of it a better place. This last week has been a bit hard on the homeschooling front. I see now all the dameges done in few years of awful teachers. My kids have problems in almost all the subjects and one of them has some kind of problems writing. I think last year he has been treated so badly that he has lost almost all interest for the very concept of learning. My guess is that he prefers to be considered 'evil' then stupid. I'm trying my best to keep my nerves at bay, but since he can act really badly it happens that i 'lose it' and scream and put his stuff away telling him to go away. This is the hardest side of this new adventure. I'm praying i'll find a way to reach my precious child's heart, it's only so difficult for me to put aside the 'world' point of view about what our schooling should be or should not and just let my heart and soul lead our days.

Anyways the week in general has been good, i love the very idea of spending all my time everyday with my family. I love my full and filled days. I love the many many chances i have now to share all i love with my children. I'm so grateful for the chance i've been given. Yesterday we had science. So we went out in the garden and since the winter vegetables were ready to be repotted from the seebed into the bigger vases, we had a practical lesson, checking roots, the stage of development of the plant, the shape of the leaves ... so so beautiful !

Instead here is a pic of a cake Gaia baked on tuesday. I can't believe at 9 she can bake a cake complitely on her own, she take our family cook book, pick her favourite recipe, takes all the ingredients and weigh them, warm up the oven, everything. I only help her to put the tray in and out fearing she might burn her hands. When she baked this last cake she could even direct her brother Seba in helping her. I see it pays off to have always got the kids helping me with the cooking and baking isn't it ?

Then of course, being friday we had our special night. It was Seba's turn so he asked me for homemade pizza and organized a sort of self-service and he was the check-out boy giving ice cubes and candies. He decorated his table with the autumn stuff we have around and took also the toy cash desk they have to be more credible. How fun !

Well, it's time to get some mail out and other serious stuff, better to stop writing.

Have a blessed weekend everybody with your loved ones.

Flavia

Homeschooling life

Even if we've been 'lightly' homeschooling since the end of the last school year, for the law this has been the first week we're considered officially homeschoolers. I have to say it is hard, especially since the kids come from years of 'normal' schooling, but it's so so rewarding so far. i love our unrushed days. I can hear the schoolbus driving by while i'm waking them up in laughs and again i can hear it while we're finishing lunch and planning the afternoon, that is of course homework free. I love planning the lessons. I love spend my mornings sitting with the four of them around the table working together. It's not always easy or fun of course. But i can see a change in the kids. I remember usually the beginning of the school year was my dreaded nightmare. Kids nervous wreck, underpressure, forced in a schedule, judged and pointed at because they didn't have the cool stuff, they didn't watch tv ( and still don't watch it ! ), they didn't have any kind of video games ( and still don't have ). This year they are more calm, starting acting better with each other. Loving the family life. Loving the houseworks ( ok they don't really love to do everything around the house, but still they're getting better ). Loving cooking, yes Gaia can bake a cake on her own without any help already ! They're learning to sew, they're learning to LOVE learning, and this is just great !!! I have set a routine and a sort of schedule, they're not used to all this and going from public school to unschool couldn't work well with them, but our schedule is very 'mild', relaxed so to say, we take the time we need for the lessons and it can be more or less then the scheduled one. And if someone has a little crise mid morning, we can finish the lessons later on when we're more calm.

Anyways, this week was quite full, i have tons of pics of what we have done :)

Leo fixing the homeschool cabinet

The little pet shop

Milla

Our homeschool class

Kids love the art lessons, we were colouring autumn decorations and they wanted to invite some 'friends' over :)

Last wednesday we went to the beach in the late afternoon\evening. It kinda fun, we never went to the beach during the summer ( we live 2 km away from the sea ). We don't like the crowd, the heat, being in swimsuit. But we love the beach in autumn\winter time. So last wednesday was a stormy and cloudy day and we just had to go :)

The fabulous four

Sisters

Like a castle in the sand

Our flag

Leo was so tired but so happy and excited.

I feel so so blessed at the moment. I have been dreaming about homeschooling for the last 6 years. Reading all i could find. Filling my head with 'i wish i could' and now I CAN, even more, I AM DOING IT !!!! Thank God, for listening my heart, or maybe i was listening to Him. I want to enjoy this year. I want to get closer and closer to my kids. I want them to start loving the family, the house and the simple life as much as i do.

Have a blessed wonderful full week-end !