Little House

The children and I are reading the Little House series together. We read a chapter every day before quiet time and sometimes, L even requests we read a second chapter. We are about one third of the way through "Farmer Boy" and just read the first chapter of the parents' vacation time. L keeps asking if Almonzo and siblings are join to eat all the sugar (he's very concerned about said possibility). I am reading the later books in the series while I nurse B and am currently a couple chapters into "Little Town on the Prarie". I just read the Fourth of July chapter, and having recently read the Fourth of July chapter in "Farmer Boy", as well as a recent readings of the Constitution together with other founding documents and so forth, I feel like wirting about ... my thoughts ... and their (the authors') thoughts.

"Laura and Carrie (Ingalls) knew the Declaration by heart, of course..." I want to know the Declaration by heart. I can at least still say the Pledge of Alliegance correctly by heart. (I found that out last weekend while attending a Homeschool convention at which we started to main day off with all of us pledging allegiance together to the flag of the United States of America. Wahoo!)

At the finish of the reading of the Declaration at the festivities in "Little Town," Pa began to sing "My country, 'tis of thee," which causes Laura to reflect:
"Suddenly she had a completely new thought. The Declaration and the song came together in her mind, and she thought: God is America's King.
"She thought: Americans won't obey any king on earth. Americans are free. That means they have to obey their own consciences. ...Why, when I am a little older, Pa and Ma will stop telling me what to do, and there isn't anyone else who has a right to give me orders. I will have to make myself be good.
"...This is what it means to be free. It means, you have to be good. ... The laws of Nature and of Nature's God endow you with a right to life and liberty. Then you have to keep the laws of God, for God's law is the only thing that gives you a right to be free."

True that!! Er, I mean, I agree! Wholeheartedly!

The other day, when the kids and I were reading about the Fourth of July in "Farmer Boy," I got all teary reading the words of "The Star Spangled Banner. " They were concerned, as they ever are when I cry, and I tried to explain the history of the song and the Revolution. I was less than eloquent, but I bore testimony of the importance and miracle of the founding of this country. And we have time. They and I will learn together.

In my reading lately, I am learning much about the founding of our country. It was a magnificent time, a time of particularly momentous miracles. The founders showed quite blatant impertinence in the Declaration: The likely hood of winning the war for independence was slim to none. Representatives from each colony had such trouble doming to agreement on anything. God's hand was bared. The Founders themselves,, whether Christian or not, bear testimony to guidance and blessing of Deity.