The CMP Review — Week of July 21
July 21, 2025
“People who live in the country know the value of fresh air very well, and their children live out of doors, with intervals within for sleeping and eating. … every hour spent in the open is a clear gain, tending to the increase of brain power and bodily vigour, and to the lengthening of life itself. They who know what it is to have fevered skin and throbbing brain deliciously soothed by the cool touch of the air are inclined to make a new rule of life, ‘Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.’” (Vol. 1 p. 42)
@tessakeath
July 22, 2025
“In a Charlotte Mason education,” explains Nancy Kelly, “we can almost become desensitized to this word ‘living’ because we hear it so much — living books, living education, Living Education Retreat, living lessons… but vitality itself refers to a feeling of aliveness in the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects, the whole person.”
In this year’s Conversazione, Nancy Kelly invites us to reconnect with the “living” elements of the Charlotte Mason method, elements which restore vitality to our bodies, minds, and spirits. She shows us how Miss Mason modeled the human person as a tabernacle, and she gives us “an example of how a Mason education … can take you from the outer court, to the inner court, and maybe into the Holy of Holies.”
But Nancy points us to more than just activities and techniques. She points us to “the glorious source of this vitality” in a moving and powerful way. Hear her new talk entitled “Vitality as the Hidden Force of a Charlotte Mason Education,” recorded live this month. You can find it here.
@artmiddlekauff
July 23, 2025
“Mom, what’s a midterm?” my son asked as I drove him to class.
“It’s an exam in the middle of the semester testing on what’s been learned up until that point. Why do you ask?”
“Because my professor said we’re having one today,” came his reply.
This is just one of many such instances in my children’s transition from homeschool to college.
While their classmates watched the professor through their computer screen in class and took voluminous notes, mine silently narrated lectures to themselves between classes. While others had late night cram sessions before tests, mine slept soundly.
It wasn’t that they never studied—there were physics equations to be learned and their sloyd-training ensured quite a few do-overs in shop class.
This venture of education was a venture of faith. And now I get to see the fruit.
@rbaburina
Image by @aolander
July 24, 2025
“This chapel was built not for a church, but for a private home.” These words I read at the Detroit Institute of Arts on a recent visit. Back in 1522, the Bayer de Boppard family commissioned the chapel to be the central feature projecting from the façade of their French chateau. It was probably used for daily devotions and private family services.
In 1923 the chapel was purchased by the Detroit Arts Commission. “Each stone was painstakingly removed, numbered for reassembly, and shipped to the United States.” Architects then embedded the chapel into their overall design for the museum where it now resides today.
Standing in the Gothic chapel reminded me of how architecture and art can lift our hearts to new thoughts of God. I can imagine the members of the Bayer de Boppard family entering this room day after day and being inspired to reverence and awe.
Few of us will have chapels like this built into our house. But all of us can make worship and prayer the central feature of our homes. Daily rhythms of Bible lessons, hymns, study, and reflection can be the way of life that establishes the thought of God as the habit of our heart.
@artmiddlekauff
July 25, 2025
Manitoba in July.
What is your world looking like right now?
@antonella.f.greco
July 26, 2025
There’s nothing like a rainy day for going rock hunting. The rain brings out all the colours and designs on the rocks. It is better than having to walk around with a bucket of water to dip rocks in (which, yes, we have done!).
Rock collectors, raise your hand! 🙋
(Or people who have avid rock collecting children!)
@antonella.f.greco
July 27, 2025
“A hundred sheep a shepherd had,
And one of these was wilful, bad;—
So when the Shepherd turned away,
He ran agate his pranks to play.”
The good shepherd left ninety and nine in the wilderness to go after one that was lost. But this shepherd wore a crown. Not of gold and gems, but of thorns. He didn’t just risk his life for that one lost sheep. He actually gave His life. For me.
The Saviour’s reckless love brings tears to my eyes. May it touch your heart too. Find it here.
@artmiddlekauff