Let the Little Ones Come

Being Human...

I was reading an article this morning with my cuppa joe and just had to share it.  Archbishop Chaput has an extraordinary gift for explaining the basic truths of human existence.  He gave a speech a few days ago at the University of Pennsylvannia that is just amazing.  His speech, like all truths, is both simple and profound. 

Nine Days That Changed The World

This film looks fascinating!  I will be pre-booking a copy!  :)

A New Da Vinci?

 

Life has been overwhelmingly full and busy lately--a good kind of full and busy, though!  :)

My dear husband emailed me a link to an article describing a possible new discovery of one of Da Vinci's works!  I will be having the children read this today--a current event lesson in art history!   I have a few books on Da Vinci and a great art series that I have collected over the years...Time to dust them off and have some fun!

Attachment Parenting--1930's Style

This picture of an adorable little baby is from The London Through a Lens exhibition. The Getty Images Gallery "shows the UK capital in a spectacular and sometimes surprising light."

The above photo was taken on January 27, 1934.  To quote from the exhibit, this is "an example of the wire cage which East Poplar borough council in London proposed to fix to the outside of their tenement windows, so that babies could benefit from fresh air and sunshine."  January 27 is Rose's birthday--however, she was still 68 years from being born--and I know that I would not have taken kindly to this sort of contraption for my little one.  Yikes!

Picture: GETTY

And Mr. Biden, who was US President in 1929?

Simple question, yes?  Not for Mr. Biden, VP candidate...Read it here.  All I can say is good grief and let's continue praying for this upcoming election!

Gorbachev and St. Francis?

Dh, Bill, just emailed me this fascinating story about former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev visiting St. Francis' tomb and professing his Christian faith. Very inspiring to read!

Learning all about Helen

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.--Helen Keller

Recently, we rented a copy of Disney's version of The Miracle Worker. About a year ago, Bill and the two oldest girls watched the original version with Anne Bancroft and thoroughly enjoyed it. So, this was not my first choice of a family movie, but it was a lovely movie to watch with good, solid acting and beautiful cinematography and costumes as well.

It sparked interest in the life of Helen Keller for all my kids but especially my just-turned six year old. Rose went to the library with her Daddy and came home with these books, some which she used to practice her reading and the others we read-aloud.

A Picture Book of Helen Keller

A Girl Named Helen Keller

Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark

There are a lot of books on Helen. My oldest Meg, who is 12, has read her autobiography and really enjoyed it.

After reading (and re-reading!) our library books, we decided to splurge and we've got this one coming in the mail and will read it together next week:

Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph (Childhood of Famous Americans)

We have also visited a few cool websites about Helen:

The Helen Keller Kids Museum

Birthplace of Helen Keller

And we found a good website with lots more information on this amazing woman.

Our interest in Helen was a natural result of learning some sign language ourselves. Like so many others, we began watching and learning sign language with Alex and Leah and Rachel about a year ago.

Even Baby Joseph has a few books of his own on sign language. All the kids love the songs and the fun and they are learning a lot of signs, too. I think Helen would be proud! :)