Part Thirteen—A Noble Birthright: Defenders of the Title of Liberty 1994-5, 1995-6

One of my favorite qutoes from our book,

A Noble Birthright: Defenders of the Title of Liberty by Dr. Joseph Warren, a son of Liberty, who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill:

"Our fathers, having resolved never to wear the yoke of despotism, and seeing the European world...a prey to tyranny, bravely threw themselves upon the bosom of the ocean, determined to find a place in which to enjoy their freedom, or perish in the glorious attempt. They found a land swarming with savages who threatened death with every kind of torture. But death with torture was far less terrible than slavery." (Dr. Joseph Warren, a son of liberty, died at the Battle of Bunker Hill).

  

Our school year--A Noble Birthright is about the fight for liberty and how the war that was waged in heaven continues here on earth. Captain Moroni's ancient battle is the same battle our forefathers fought when establishing America, and his Title of Liberty merged with the American flag as a banner of freedom. 

This school year, which continued for two years, covered the founding of America through the Constitution. The mind map starts on the left-hand top corner and moves clockwise to the left side.

Land of Milk and Honey -- Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth

Possessors of the Land -- Colonial Life

Patriots Great and Noble -- Sons of Liberty and other patriots

Price of Liberty -- Declaration of Independence, the war, Articles of Confederation

A Wise and Glorious Purpose -- Constitutional Convention, The Constitution, Defending it

  

OPENING DAY

Matt Reichmann was our visitor, Captain Moroni.

I made his helmet from an orange hard hat I found at the old Leisure League thrift store in Hesperia.

Other people also think the Title of Liberty and the American flag merge:

   --he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—

In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole:

Several families joined us for this opening day, including Aunt Angela and her friend from Cedar City.  This was a very simple day with a visitors, friends and refreshments:   

 

Later on, my children dressed up as Captain Moroni. I didn't even remember that all these photos existed until I scanned the negatives.

Amber

Jasmyn

 I'm guessing this is still Jasmyn--(it's probably in your binder Jazz!)

Hal

Chase

 

I'm surprised that Autumn Heather didn't get in the action, but everything would have been too big for her. 

NON-SCHOOL THEME

That year our family dressed thematically for our ward Halloween party:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Mike Vlk was a great Benjamin Franklin. He was an electrician by trade, and taught us about electricity. Karen and her kids are with us and I noticed that almost all our dresses match. Mine was blue too. 

He showed the kids how an electrical current can make a magnet--

 

 Here is Amber or Jasmyn's salt box home, (sorry I don't remember):

with a view from the top, with the roof flap is lifted:

 

COLONIAL KITCHEN

I saw this photo of Hal  during that year and thought of all the Colonial Kitchen restaurants that Amber and Jasmyn, and later Heather and Giselle invited us to eat in.  They made signs which read, Colonial Kitchen; made menus by hand and cooked us meals.  Everyone had to come to their restaurant to eat so that they could cook things like Johnny cake, eggs, toast, soup, and I'm sure other colonial fare.

As I recall, Hal and Chase especially liked being invited to Colonial Kitchen by their older sisters, and I think they were pretty good sports about eating the cooking of their younger sisters too. 

I loved Colonial Kitchen, (and also Pioneer Kitchen), because it meant I didn't have to cook a meal!

Of course Amber and Jasmyn were always dressed in their costumes while cooking and serving--usually one of them would cook and the other would take orders and serve the food.  (Whose idea was this to begin with?)

ABIGAIL ADAMS

  

 I reprised my role as Abigail Adams, though I didn't ask Hal to accompany me to Karen's home as John! 

KING GEORGE III

Jasmyn was King George III.  She put a costume together and after her tyranny was established, the kids decided to become Sons of Liberty--that tree was the only one in our yard at the time, so it became our liberty tree--and they all wore their secret medallions. 

PRESENTATIONS

Karen's family came to our home for project presentations--I don't remember details: 

Jasmyn was another visitor here too, but I don't remember who she was. You can see the tea table is ready behind Amber.

 

THE NEXT YEAR:

The kids are having a paper-soldier battle between the patriots and the red coats:

To find more photos I would need to pull them from our home videos. There were so many times I looked back on where I had videotaped an event but never took photos of it.  Through the years of working with other families I have encouraged moms to take a lot of photos, even photos of children doing simple things like reading books.  As a mother, it is comforting to remember the positive things that were going on educationally. 

To be continued--