Homeschoolers in Nebraska have been given their very own "Home Education Week" HOLIDAY!

My friend Dana, from Principled Discovery, is hosting a "Home Education Week" during the week March 30 to April 5 to celebrate this momentous occasion for the Nebraska homeschoolers as proclaimed by the Governor of Nebraska. Read Florida's proclamation here. It's their second year. Homeschoolers are invited to participate and any one who would like to participate can find more information at Dana's blog: Principled Discovery where she has suggested writing prompts and even the button graphic.

Wouldn't it be great if this could happen in each and every state?!?

Mourning Christian! why weepest thou? Art thou mourning over thine own corruptions? Look to thy perfect Lord, and remember, thou art complete in him; thou art in God’s sight as perfect as if thou hadst never sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our Righteousness hath put a divine garment upon thee, so that thou hast more than the righteousness of man—thou hast the righteousness of God. O thou who art mourning by reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of thy sins can condemn thee. Thou hast learned to hate sin; but thou hast learned also to know that sin is not thine—it was laid upon Christ’s head. Thy standing is not in thyself—it is in Christ; thine acceptance is not in thyself, but in thy Lord; thou art as much accepted of God today, with all thy sinfulness, as thou wilt be when thou standest before his throne, free from all corruption. O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ! For thou art “complete in him.” With thy Saviour’s garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art “accepted in the beloved”—what hast thou to fear? Let thy face ever wear a smile; live near thy Master; live in the suburbs of the Celestial City; for soon, when thy time has come, thou shalt rise up where thy Jesus sits, and reign at his right hand; and all this because the divine Lord “was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” ~Charles Spurgeon~ Morning and Evening Readings, Morning April 4

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

The art work "The Three Marys at the Tomb" is by Hurbert van Eyck and is linked to Luke 24:1 from Art and the Bible:

Dressed in 15th century Burgundian fashion three women stand by the empty grave. The angel tells them what has happened. The guards are sound asleep. The women carry bottles with ointment and spices to tend to the body of Christ.

None of the gospels describe the scene quite as Van Eyck painted it, but it is closest to Matthew. Only Matthew mentions the angel on the entrance to the grave and the sleeping guards.

Mark mentions Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James, as well as Salome and a young man sitting next to the grave.

Luke identifies the women as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, mother of James. Luke adds two men standing by them in shiny garments.

John only mentions Mary Magdalene visiting the grave.

For a long time this work was attributed to Jan van Eyck. Art historians now agree that it is more likely the work of Jan's lesser-known brother, Hubert.

"So he delivered him over to them to be crucified." John 19:16

He had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; he had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him. They were eager for his blood, and therefore led him out to die, loaded with the cross. O dolorous procession! Well may Salem’s daughters weep. My soul, do thou weep also.

What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce him guilty; God himself imputes our sins to him, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;” “He was made sin for us;” and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon his shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice. Beloved, can you feel assured that he carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon his shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether he carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon his head, confessed your sin, and trusted in him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and he bears it on his shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.

Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid.

~Charles Spurgeon~ Morning and Evening Readings, Morning April 3

for our area here in the Midwest, we have a "Winter Storm Warning" starting around 1:00am Friday morning through Saturday morning. Depending on where the storm tracks we could get 4 to 8 inches of snow. Just like the snow returning again and again this winter, we've had a good deal of sickness that doesn't seem to want to leave. I've been sick again the past two and half weeks so I had to go back to the doctor for an antibiotic. Hopefully Spring will chase the germs away. Anyway, after a wonderful, real winter with lots of snow, I'm ready for spring.

The past couple of years have been uninspiring for a "winter-snow" study when it looks more like autumn or spring outside. Not this year though. With all the snow we've had the past few weeks, and still have yet today and view from our front porch, we've been inspired to make our "winter-snow" study a part of our daily routine. It started with reading our favorite winter books which I mentioned in a previous post, then progressed to reading the winter poems I've posted so far and choosing a few favorites to copy in our journals. It's continued further with listening to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons-Winter" while looking at some wonderful fine art paintings of winter scenes. I've printed out several in post card size for small hands and easy holding and then have a few enlarged prints on display in a clear plastic frame on our breakfast nook table for viewing throughout the day. (I also have a Borax Crystal-Snowflake unit study from a previous winter here.) Classical Kids "Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery" has been enjoyable too and now we're doing a brief biographical sketch of Vivaldi, reading about Venice, in Veneto, the northeast region of Italy. There's a great photo blog: Venice Daily Photo which has many wonderful photos from around Venice with views of the Grand Canal, San Mark's Basilica--the "Golden Church", the Basilica's old marble tiled floor made in trompe l'oeil, Carnival Time, and the inlaid stone telling of Vivaldi's birth on March 4th, 1678, 310 years ago, from the 8th century church San Giovani Battista in Bragora. This site, Basilica di San Marco, has virtual tours of St. Mark's of Venice with three particularly significant areas normally excluded from the usual Basilica visiting tours. Not quite the same as being there but the photos have given us quite a scenic tour and made it possible to "visit" Venice. The finishing touch will be putting the information together in our journals and notebooks, then we'll be ready to move on to Spring. Which hopefully isn't too far away. These are the art prints we've enjoyed viewing during the winter season:

Childe Hassam

"Fifth Avenue in Winter"

"Winter in Union Square"

"Winter Landscape"

"A Village in Winter"

Claude Monet

"Winter Magpie"

Thomas Doughty

"Winter Landscape"

Joseph Farquharson

"The Sun Had Closed"

Fritz Thaulow

"Stone Bridge Over A Stream In Winter"

George Henry Durrie

"Winter Landscape: Gathering Wood"

We've had a busy couple of weeks working on "winter" lapbooks, journals, and art projects. Today I'm behind on my laundry. Even now, I'm working on some print outs for tomorrow and I'm not getting to the laundry any more tonight. I managed to get the dishes caught up but the load of laundry will have to wait until morning because it's time for bed. We also want to work in making these delicious cookies that we made last year for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day. They're on our "To Do" list this week or next. This is a different version of my Valentine Melt-a-ways -- same recipe, different frosting color (you can make any frosting color.) They really do melt in your mouth.

March Melt-a-ways

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
1 tsp clear vanilla
½ cup powdered sugar
¾ cup cornstarch
1 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend the butter, clear vanilla, and powdered sugar together until well blended and creamy. Add cornstarch and flour to the butter mixture and blend well again. Dough will be thick. Refrigerate for at least one hour or more. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and then roll dough into approximately 1 inch round balls. Press down slightly with either the palm of your hand or a fork. The dough does not spread. I was able to get 20 on a cookie sheet. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Allow to sit on baking sheet for about 1 minute and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. Makes approximately 40 cookies.

FROSTING:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp melted butter
1 tbsp milk (or lemon, lime, orange juice)
Optional: green food coloring &/or sprinkles

Mix powdered sugar and butter together. Slowly add a bit of milk (up to approximately 1 tbsp) until smooth and spread able yet still on the thicker side. Frosting shouldn't be too thin. If it is, add a bit more powdered sugar. Add a tiny drop of green food coloring for pastel green color, more drops for darker color. Frost completely cooled cookies then you can top with sprinkles of your choice or leave plain. Allow frosting to set then store in a covered container.