"The Eagle Has Landed"

Jamie and I attended our 1st home schooling convention last weekend and it was incredibly inspiring.  We have settled on the Charlotte Mason and Unit Study methods and I couldn't be more excited about it!  Living books, real-life experiences, education as a lifestyle....  In one week we have learned so much (I say "we" because Jamie and I are learning right alongside of the boys).  

This summer, we will be venturing off to Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, and Prince Edward Island.  These destinations provide a wealth of teaching/learning opportunities.  So we have begun studying about many of the things we will be able to see.  I often think of the depth of history in foreign countries and am awestruck by how old so many civilizations are, especially when compared to our young country.  We (Americans) don't have buildings that are thousands of years old!  Seeing a man-made structure that old is so cool!  This week, however, I have come to appreciate our rich colonial history on the east coast, and I can't wait to experience so many of the things that I remember when I was in school...and to learn about them more in depth and the truth that so many of these people we have studied were Bible-believing Christians.  History has been re-written and taught to more than 2 generations now, totally leaving God out of the picture...when it was God that these people were following and serving.

• D.C.:  We are studying Air & Space (Wright Flyer, Charles Lindberg, Bell X-1, Apollo 11, satellites), George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, The White House.
  
• NYC:  September 11, 2001, and Ellis Island/ Statue of Liberty.
  
• Boston:  Paul Revere.
  
• P.E.I.:  The fun and inspiring story of "Anne of Green Gables".
  

I had intended only to teach Brandon to read (Si is only 3), but Si has sat in on all the reading lessons and he is keeping right up with Brandon.  

Here is a fun little bit of information about Buzz Aldrin when he was on the moon.  Do you remember the "moment of silence" he took?  Do you know what he did during that "moment"?  He took communion!  Gosh!  I sure don't remember my history teacher telling me that.  Here is a quote from Aldrin:

"In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit.' I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute Deke Slayton had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly...  Eagle's metal body creaked. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."