AWAKING WONDER - CHAPTERS 11-12 Sally begins these chapters with the importance of companionship. I hope that you have at least one person or group that you are sharing your homeschool journey with. Someone you can bounce ideas off, laugh with, cry with, pray with, and be sharpened by. Inevitably, you will need this, I can attest that in my life there are times when my journey was solo and times when the path was traveled with a group. The Lord provides. Sometimes that meant that He was my sole companion. From there we stepped into rhythms and routines. I loved Sally's list of routines. In my younger years I craved the element of flying "by the seat of my pants." That certainly wasn't how all my life was structured, but I loved the freedom to just change directions on a whim. Not so much now. Now life is like maneuvering a giant freighter in the harbor. Most movements are calculated and planned with a large family. Once we get sailing on the wide ocean there is more room for quicker course changes, but we find comfort in the known. Some of my favorite parts of our family's routine include gathering together at the beginning of each homeschool day. We begin with prayer and scripture. We try and eat suppers together at night and read aloud during that time. We end our days with family devotions. In between all of that is school work, caring for animals, athletics, enjoying nature, etc. In the last chapter Sally wraps up with summarizing her foundational ideas and what she would change if she was doing it all again. I found value in the wisdom she shared and will be trying to implement some more grace with myself! As I closed the book I reflected back on what I learned. Surprisingly, this book hasn't been so much on my children as it has been about me. I need to make sure that my foundation is good, because that is what we are launching from. So much depends on what I provide for my kids. The things I stop to see in life and deem important, the relationship with Christ I emulate, what I fill our home life with, the books I set around, etc. From there I need to allow time for the wonder to grow and happen, and keep my heart open to the Lord's direction! I hope that you were as blessed by Sally's words as I was in Awaking Wonder. Blessings to you a you work to a make your home filled with just a little bit more of wonder!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 1-3 A And so we begin our tale! Before I really comment on the 3 chapters, I would like to hear what stuck out to you! We have been introduced to our main character, 3 savory characters, and our main character's fiancee. Feel free to write below in the comments! Here's a few questions to get you thinking about what I noticed. -Did you notice anything about the opening lines setting a stage of foreboding and a little bit of foreshadowing? -Did anything in particular strike you about the character of Edmond Dantes? -If you had to describe each of our 3 antagonists' character with 1 word per person, what would it be? -Did you get the foreshadowing at the end of chapter 3? - What is this letter that needs to be delivered as a last job for the deceased captain? Tuck away in your memory Mercedes' quote, "One is not a good housekeeper and one cannot promise to remain an honest woman when one loves a man other than one's husband. Be satisfied with my friendship for, I repeat, that is all I can promise you and I only promise what I am sure of being able to give."

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 1-3 B Do Not Read This Post If You Want To Answer the Questions! Read the Chpts 1-3 Part A post first. Answers to some of my observations- -Right from the start we have an air of foreboding. One of the first places the ship passes is Chateau d'If. Tuck that name away in your memory, because it is the prison. The ship has an air of melancholy that people notice. -Edmond Dantes is a very honorable, trustworthy man. We see the starts of that character being rewarded. However he doesn't like our three savory characters, Danglars, Caderousse, and Fernand, but is forced to accept them in his life because of his love and respect for the owner of the ship he works on, his father, and Mercedes. - a word describing each of our savory characters    Hateful-Danglars     Greedy-Caderousse      Envious-Fernand -Foreshadowing at the end - Mercedes corrects Caderousse when he calls her Madame Dante. She tells him it is "bad luck" to be called that before she is married. Edmond corrects Danglars in the same manner when he calls him "Captain." He also refers to bad luck. As to the letter time will tell what Danglars has up his sleeve. Want to dig a little deeper? Notice the juxtaposition of Danglars and Dantes. Now on to next week's reading! Chpts. 4-6!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 4-6 A Prov. 16:29 A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. And so our plot thickens!! What did you notice or what made you gasp a little? Some questions to get you thinking about what I noticed. -Anyone notice the twisting of scripture? -Which of our 3 antagonists is the planner/leader? Which is the sheep but still recognizes that the leader hates Dantes? Which one is starting to feel remorse? -Who appreciated Fernand's nail in the coffin moment? -Why is Dantes feeling fear and what verbal mistake does he make that he and Mercedes both corrected in other people? -Why was Dantes arrested? -After Dantes arrest did you notice Caderousse's foreshadowing? -Did you understand the exchanges In Chapter 7 Extra credit - an example of a simile!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 6-9 B My answers to yesterday's questions! - Twisting of scripture - Seek and ye shall find - Found in Matthew 7:7 - Jesus tells us to Ask, seek, and knock. However, knowing we serve a just and honest God it is good to understand that when our motives are sinful Galations 6:7 tells us that God will not be mocked. Whatever a man does he will reap. Sow a sinful nature, reap destruction. Sow to the Spirit, reap eternal life. This also shows us that Danglars has at least some form of spiritual knowledge. -The planner/leader is clearly Danglars. His actions with the letter how he threw out a hook and line and reeled Fernand in are very revealing about his nature. The sheep is definitely Fernand, but he is not completely oblivious. He can tell there is a "private animosity against Dantes." Isn't his it takes one who knows to recognize one who does line so telling? (Chpt. 4 pg. 35) The one who feels remorse is Caderousse. He has become a problem when he starts drinking to the health of Dantes. -Fernand's "nail in the coffin moment" is Mercedes remark to him in chpt. 4 when she gives Fernand a place of honor at her left. She trusts him and holds him to the position of brother in her eyes. His physical response tells all .Oh Fernand, what have you set in motion? -As everything comes together Dante can hardly believe it and is overcome with emotion thinking that this much happiness can not come "so easily." A few paragraphs below he calls her the "Madame Dantes." Remember Mercedes corrected one of our savory characters who addressed her as that in our last reading and said it was bad luck. Then Dantes corrects Danglars who refers to him as "Captain" for the same reason. -He is arrested because of the letter he carries. His noble act is making him look like a traitor to the king and Danglars and Fernand are capitalizing on this! Remember France is recovering from Napoleon who has 2x been exiled. -After the arrest Caderousse realizes what has happened. (He was drunk during the planning.) He says, " You wait and see, Danglars! It will bring us misfortune!" -Chapter 7 exchange simplified. We have another engagement celebration going on with the "cream" of society. Newly engaged are Deputy Crown Prosecutor, Monsieur de Villefort and Mademoiselle Renee de Saint-Meran. De Villefort's fiancee's parents are glad to see the restoration of a king since they are aristocrats. However it comes up that de Villefort's father was a revolutionary. Determined not to live in his shadow anything that comes his way smelling of Napoleon is going to get the smack down. At about that moment a messenger arrives bringing the news of the arrest of Dante and the "letter of denunciation." De Villefort promises his mother-in-law that he will do his duty and be "pitiless" but also tells his fiancee he will be "merciful." Extra credit simile - There were a couple, but the one I grabbed is Fernand's physical response to Mercedes words. "....the blood draining but by bit as it flooded his heart." And that is where we leave our story! I will try and do a post next week on chapters 7-9, but my family comes first with the Thanksgiving celebration! Blessings to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 7-9 A And so as we read this week's chapters our hearts are broken for the innocent and our blood begins to pound to a steady rhythm of demanding justice! (At least mine is!) Anyone have any thoughts to share? Always feel free! I love the different perspectives we get! My thoughts- -Describe the character of de Villefort. Compare/Contrast him to Dantes. - What caused de Villefort to go back on his word? - We begin to note a bit of regret in Dantes about his own character. When was that moment? -Why does de Villefort need to travel to Paris? -What is the allusion to Virgil in chpt. 9? -Did you note at the end of chpt. 9 where all our characters now stand? The author takes us through each one.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 7-9 B Answers to my observations - de Villefort is very concerned about appearances. He practices his facial expressions in front of a mirror to get them just right. We see that at the beginning of Chpt. 7. By the end of Chpt. 7 he is in a panic about what it would mean for this letter addressed to his father to get out. According to chpt. 9 he has a "sick heart" where a "mortal abscess began to spread" because an innocent man is taking the fall for de Villefort's father.  Dantes is very honorable and dependable. He doesn't put on airs. He loves his father very much and respects him. They both are engaged. However, Dantes loves Mercedes. de Villefort has a love for Renee, but it's her position and connections that are the main attractions. - The fateful letter that is addressed to his father a Napoleon supporter. How ironic! - Remember the Chateau d'If that was mentioned at the very beginning that set an air of foreboding? This infamous prison was known for holding individuals that committed crimes against the crown. In chapter 8 Dantes realizes that he had had several opportunities to escape on his boat ride over. His trusting personality refused to allow him to believe that he wasn't going to be released. He could have swam away, met up with his father and Mercedes, and began a new life. If only .. - de Villefort tells his father-in-law to sell any government stocks he has, secures an audience with king to deliver news that only he can tell. By doing this he makes it seem that Napoleon is planning another takeover and Dantes is truly a traitor and should be incarcerated. - reference to Virgil's Aeneid. I will add more to this response later I'm at a b-ball game. - Renee - now hates Dantes for the interruption he has become Mercedes- in the pit of despair Fernand-sliding himself into the empty position Dantes has left Morrel- still trying to get Dantes freed Caderousse- trying to drink away his guilt Danglars-alone, but happy about the possibilities the future holds de Villefort- on his way to Paris to outwardly justify his actions. Dantes' father- broken by grief Dantes- buried in a dungeon

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 10-12 A Can we all pause a moment and acknowledge the fact that we have completed over 100 pages!!  I love running into you as I'm out and about and hear about how it's going! Some of you doing the audio book have kept right on going, and that is just fine! I would never want to slow down enthusiasm for a book! Now for this week's discussion! - Who looked up all the French phrases the king was spouting? Extra piece of chocolate for you if you did! It is on my list to do tomorrow! - Where is the reference seven fat cows and seven lean cows from and how does it foreshadow what happens in the rest of the chapter? - What information does the condemning letter hold? -Describe the complicated relationship de Villefort has with his father, M. Noirtier. Do you have a clear idea whose side de Villefort is on?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 10-12 B -Seven Fat Cows/ Seven Lean Cows is a reference to the story of Joseph who lived in Egypt during 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine according to the Bible. As our reading unfolds we see Napoleon return and the end of the monarchy again. - The letter contains the details of Napoleon's return which is already in motion when the letter gets to the king -Complicated is an understatement. Whose side is he on? He's on the side that benefits him the most. (Just wait until this week's reading!)

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 13-15 There is so much we can address in these 3 chapters! We have 2 government changes in a quick time frame. Called The Hundred Days, Napoleon returns to try and gain control. However, it quickly comes to an end and Louis XVIII returns to the throne. As can be imagined this causes a lot of instability. We must spend a few minutes on Villefort and his character. Have you ever known anyone like him who literally lives for their own personal gain? Despite his mistreatment of his father, it is because of him (his father) that he (Villefort) is able to keep his job under Napoleon. Did you note his view towards his engagement/fiancee? And his incessant lying?! Dumas keeps us all informed of our Terrible Trio, Mercedes, and Old Dantes. Then we have the inspector visit the prison, and we get an update on Dantes, and we meet Abbe Faria. Do you get the feeling that either one of these men is "mad?" Both appeal to the inspector. What are the outcomes? Chapter 15 reveals to us Dantes' inner soul. What struck you the most about his journey from the depths of despair to the highest of hopes and joy? Have you ever found yourself in a situation of despair or what seemed impossibile? Do you remember when the walls of that situation began to break and the sounds of rescue or the cracks of light began to shine through? Did you note the personification of death?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO -CHAPTERS 16-19 A  Wow! I know we aren't too far in the book, but these chapters are my favorite so far! We start off with physical, mental, and spiritual descriptions of Abbe Faria. He is a package of human awesomeness. What about him stuck out to you? Through the chapters we hear the stories that landed both Dantes and Abbe in prison. Both profess their innocence. Compare/contrast their stories. Which one is willing to give up that innocence and why? The theme of HOPE continues to show up in this book. Sometimes the loss of hope, sometimes the gain of hope. How does HOPE show up in these chapters? What did you think of Abbe's walking Dantes through who was to gain from his imprisonment? Did you have any particular quotes that caused you to stop and think in this week's reading? We can't leave our reading without discussing Abbe's revelation to Dantes of the treasure. Do you think there really is a treasure? After spending this time with these 2 men do you think they are mad?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 16-19 B - Abbe's spiritual, mental, and physical descriptions - Phrases about his physical that jumped out at me "firm moulding of his features implied a man more accustomed to exercise his spiritual than his physical faculties." Also the way he resigned himself to letting "God's will be done" when he miscalculated his escape. Mental is demonstrated through his learning, creation of tools, writing, etc. -Both are betrayed. Dantes by life acquaintances and Abbe in the political world. Both are innocent, however, Dantes is willing to give that up to escape by killing. -Hope- The hope of friendship/companionship, also when one has a purpose and growth hope abounds. We see this demonstrated through Abbe/teacher Dantes/student relationship. -Abbe's ability to cut through all of the unknown to arrive at the point of "who had the most to gain" and then help Dantes fill in the blanks demonstrates how strong his reasoning and mental abilities are. He also mourns that he did this when he realizes the seed of revenge has been planted in Dantes' soul. Dantes, in turn, refuses to comment about it. -Two quotes really jumped out at me. Both came from Abbe. "Misfortune is needed to plumb certain mysterious depths in the understanding of men;pressure is needed to explode the charge. My captivity concentrated all my faculties on a single point. They had previously been dispersed, now they clashed in a narrow space; and as you know, the clash of clouds produces electricity, electricity produces lightning and lightning gives light." And " Learning does not make one learned: there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding. The first requires memory, the second philosophy....Philosophy cannot be taught. Philosophy is the union of all acquired knowledge and the genius that applies it: philosophy is the shining cloud upon which Christ set His foot to go up into heaven" -I will leave the speculation of the treasure to each of you for now. Madness does appear to be the furthest thing from both of these men right now.