Chicken Pot Pie Colonial Style

Chicken Pot Pie (Print this Recipe)

When all's said and done and the kids move on to life outside our little homeschool I hope they not only take with them a love for learning, but a love for food of all cultures and time periods.  No matter what the region or time period we try to experience it through food.

Today in History: August 10 The Smithsonian Institution



National Museum of American History



Outside the American History Museum



Stairs plus Kids

While in Washington D.C. last fall, we had the wonderful opportunity to spend a couple days going through a few of the Smithsonian museums.  I have to admit, before our trip I didn't realize there were 19 museums and galleries along with 9 research centers.  We were able to visit the Natural History Museum, the National Air & Space Museum near Dulles Airport, and the American History Museum.  I felt like we didn't even make a dent.  It was a challenge to just grasp a glimpse of the many treasures filling these amazing museums.  It's hard to believe the Smithsonian houses over 137 million objects!  Wow!

The Kevlar Bullet Proof Vest...Invented by a woman!

C3PO

R2D2 Mailbox

When we decided to visit the Smithsonian our goal was to better understand the American history we spent the previous year studying and to see artifacts up close.   

With all the great history surrounding us, we failed to learn the history of the Smithsonian? How did such an amazing collection of treasures come to the United States. The Smithsonian has quite an interesting history.

James Smithson, a British scientist, who had never been to the United States left a unique provision in his will when he died in 1829. His will stipulated his estate would be donated to the United States of America if his nephew died without an heir.  In the event there was no heir, Smithson wanted the estate to be given "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." His nephew died without and heir in 1935 and the estate, valued at over $500,000, was granted to the U.S. government.

On August 10, 1846 President James Polk, with approval from Congress, signed an act into law creating The Smithsonian Institution.

We're thankful for the generosity of one man, Mr. James Smithson!  Thank You!

Practicing his speech.

Dum Dum want Gum Gum



Night at the Museum



So many priceless gems!

Julia, of Course!

Julia Child's Kitchen

After watching Julie & Julia, I couldn't resist!

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Today in History: The Lincoln Memorial Dedication May 30, 1922

Not only is today Memorial Day, but it marks the anniversary of the day the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated. 

President Warren G. Harding dedicated the memorial which took eight years to complete.

This past year we had the opportunity to visit the Lincoln Memorial for the first time.  As the kids and I walked up to the steps we paused.  Slowly we began to proceed up the many stairs.  As I walked, my eyes began to well up with tears and they spilled out over my cheeks.  The kids stopped, looked at me quizzically, and asked, "What's wrong, Mom?"  Words could not describe the enormity of what I felt at that moment.  President Lincoln was a brave and courageous man.  A man who helped heal and bring unity to a broken nation.  On the steps of that Memorial, many have also stood reflecting on Freedom, Integrity, and Virtue.  I will never forget that visit.  It is marked in my mind and on my heart.

Memorial Day- Let Us Not Forget

The Flag at Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day has been recognized in the United States since 1866, when Henry Welles, from Waterloo, New York suggested store owners, like himself, close their shops for one day to honor local soldiers killed in the Civil War. 

Retired Major General Jonathan A. Logan had a similar idea in May of 1868.  He honored the dead and the soldiers who had survived the war.  Leading a procession of veterans through the town, General Logan went to the cemetery where they decorated the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers with flags.  This day was known as Decoration Day.

Retired Major General Logan proclaimed,

"The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country and during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

Following the Civil War, many cities in the North and South set a day to honor the soldiers and decorate their graves with flags and flowers.  Cities such as Waterloo, New York; Columbus, Mississippi; Richmond, Virginia; Carbondale, Illinois;  Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, and others initiated these early memorials.

In 1882, Decoration Day was renamed Memorial Day honoring soldiers from previous wars also. 

In 1971, Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day, the last Monday in May a federal holiday.

The Thursday before Memorial Day there is a tradition known as "Flags-in."  At Arlington National Cemetery, the soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place flags at more than 250,000 gravestones.  The gravestones and flags are patrolled for 24-hours a day to make sure each flag remains standing.  At 3:00 pm local time, all Americans are asked to pause in remembrance for a moment.

As part of our homeschooling adventures we were able to field trip to Washington D.C. this past year.  I stood in awe, in tears many times as I looked upon the memorials.  I am humbled by the service of our military.  To them I am forever grateful!

May you honor those who willingly served our country and fought for the cause of freedom.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Changing of the Guard- an humbling emotional experience

Arlington National Cemetery

 While in Washington D.C we were able to view an Honor Flight ceremony at the World War II Memorial.  According to statistics, approximately 1,000 World War II veterans are lost daily.  These veterans are Heroes!  I'm so glad there is an organization that gives them the honor due.

World War II Memorial

Looking into the faces of these heroes was an experience that is hard to describe in words.  I'm so grateful.

World War II Memorial

Honor Flight Ceremony

Vietnam War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

Freedom Is Not Free

Korean War Memorial

Korean War Memorial

   

Korean War Memorial



Navajo Code Talkers- A Study for May

May, 1942.  World War II.  An amazing group of 29 men were gathered for a highly classified mission.  They were to develop an indecipherable code that not even the best Japanese code breakers could crack.

Who were these men?  How were they discovered?  What was their code?  We're on a homeschooling quest to find out more about these elite dedicated men and their important role in American history.

In the early part of 1942 America had only been involved in WWII for a couple of months.  Message transmissions between US and Ally forces were consistently intercepted and deciphered by the Japanese causing loss of life and failed missions.  The US needed a foolproof  code, but where and how could one be developed?

A son of a missionary, by the name of Phillip Johnston learned of the situation.  He had been raised on the Navajo reservation and was one of only a few outsiders who knew the native language.  This language was never written so there was no record of it for outsiders.  Johnston proposed using the Navajo language as a code and presented his idea to military officials.  The Navajo test program was born.

Today we read The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter.  It's a beautifully illustrated (done by Julia Miner) picture book for children. It tells the story of one Navajo code talker.  The grandfather, telling the story, shares with his grandson how he was sent away to government schools and was not allowed to use his unique, native language.  He must only speak English.  If he didn't he was made to chew on squares of soap.  (My own grandmother was sent away to a government school for Native Americans.  I'm sure she received similar treatment.)

At the age of 17, he heard of a request for young, healthy Navajo men to join the Marines for a special assignment.  He was under age, but there was no birth records on the reservation so he went. 

This special assignment was the top secret Navajo code talkers mission.  The story continues with the training and then duty of these elite personnel.  It tells the vital role the code talkers played in the invasion of Iwo Jima.

By the end of the story the grandson asked his grandfather,

"But why did you leave in the first place?"

His grandfather lifted him gently onto the horse.  "The answer to that is in the code," he said.  "The code name for America was 'Our Mother.'  You fight for what you love.  You fight for what is yours."

At this point of the book, I was in tears.  The kids were trying to fan me and asking why I was crying.  The words of the grandfather were so powerful to me.

"You fight for what you love.  You fight for what is yours."

As I think on these words, those things I'd fight for...God, family, country, honor.

This book was given to us by my mom.  She met some of these amazing men who developed the only unbreakable code in American history.  Our book is signed by some of these heroes.  What a treasure!!  Thanks Mom!

We will continue to learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers.  They have a great website at http://www.navajocodetalkers.org/  On the site you can see photos of the heroes.  Some of these men signed our book.  What an amazing story they have to share!

"You fight for what you love. You fight for what is yours."

Great words to ponder.

Little Things in Life

Can I just say I'm SO thankful for all the men and women who dutifully serve our wonderful country in the Armed Forces?  Just think all over the world US men and women are serving, away from home, doing their day-to-day jobs, but ultimately protecting our country and our freedom.

Today as I was packaging up some items sold on ebay I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the recipient's name and address and found out he was a SSGT in Avionics at an FPO somewhere possibly in Europe.  So cool!  My dad was in Avionics when I was growing up and suddenly I felt a kinship to this young man.  I know it sounds weird, but I felt like that.  I wrote him a note on the packing slip thanking him for his service and wishing him a Merry Christmas.  What I really wanted to suddenly do is send him a care package.  But then I thought that might be even more weird.

So instead of sending this young man a care package, I posted an inquiry on Facebook asking "friends" if they knew of someone serving in Iraq or Afghanistan to whom we could send a package.  Now I'm checking my status constantly to see if anyone posts.

I hope an opportunity arises to let someone know they are thought of and appreciated.  I'll keep you posted.

Election Day!

Election Day. It's finally here. This has been one LONG race and the constant coverage has been interesting to say the least. There were times when I thought, really, "Is that relevant?" or other times when there was little reporting of a fact that I thought, "REALLY, That IS relevant!" Today we'll see how America votes.
The kids and I are reading a book about the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims came to America to escape religious persecution. They wanted to worship God freely separate from the State Church of England. Men had been hanged and threatened for such ideas. In fear of such treatment, friends and relatives argued with the early Separatists to abandon their beliefs. When William Bradford heard such pleading he replied calmly, "To keep a good conscience and walk in such Way as God had prescribed in his Word, is a thing which I must prefer before you all, and above life itself. Wherefore, since it is for a good Cause that I am likely to suffer the disasters which you lay before me, you have no cause to be either angry with me, or sorry for me. Yea, I am not only willng to part with everything that is dear to me in this world for this Cause but I am thankful that God hath given me heart so to do; and will accept me so to suffer for him."
This is the heart that our Country was founded on.
Many have departed from this ideal, but my heart stands strong. God has given me a heart to Stand for God, My Country, My Family.
After the failing of the Speedwell Dorothy Bradford was discouraged. William placed his arm around her shoulder and quoted the words of Master Brewster, "It is not with us as with other men whom small things can discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves home again."
Our country faces a pivotal decision today. Despite what many may think it is not just the economy that is at stake. We've become a people who live for momentary pleasure, but somehow fail to look longterm at the consequences of our decisions. We live in a "Me" centered society. God's standard has been thrown out the window and our measure of right or wrong is relative to what our neighbor is doing. We compare ourselves with the world and have removed the standard to which Jesus died for.
Sad indeed.
Life is in the balance. The life of the unborn, the old, the disabled.
Traditional marriage is in the balance.
One or two Supreme Court seats are in the balance.
If we look at this election and look at what God values our decision should clearly evident. There are no gray areas.
I have read many messages that call us to fast and pray for this election. I pray that people will go to the voting booth and at the last minute will be convicted to vote for the more conservative candidate. (I just heard a lady on TV say she did just this...Praise God!)
I am not discouraged. The Bible tells us that God places kings in power and he removes them. Sometimes his people need to be challenged and he will place the necessary ruler over them. God's people have lived in prosperity and they have lived in oppression. Either way we still know who sits on the Throne!