Learning Latin Changes the Way You Think

Thanks to Bonnie, and Dr. George Grant I found this very cool Latin video course today.  We watched a couple of clips, took the free downloads and may make a purchase later.  Dwane Thomas seems to be a really great teacher and one part of his introductory lecture has stuck in my mind.  One of his arguments for studying Latin is that it changes the way you think.  He shares that the word for stuff in Latin is impediment and tells a short story about his little girl who can't leave the house without stuffing her purse full of impediments.  He says it slows her down and slows down the whole family!  A very fun lesson in Latin, but it strikes home because of the changes we have made around our home lately.  We have spent a year getting rid of stuff.  (How is it that we still have so much?!)  Anyway, we have spent a lot of time choosing what we surround ourselves with and honestly, we still have a long way to go, but there are a few rooms in which things feel so nice.

In addition to these chages we have also stopped shopping for almost everything.  This was part of a financial workout that we have put ourselves through over the past four to five months.  When you only have a very small amount of money with which to buy something suddenly you begin to make very careful choices!

How are these two related?  They were both in my mind today while I stood with the boys in the middle of the Meccca of Stuff - Walmart.  I had decided to take them shopping!?!  (Today we only had a morning lesson of school because Fridays are our coop days, but coop does not begin until next week.) 

I haven't bought them anything in forever (exlcuding school books and I think I have bought the little ones a matchbox car each).  Treats for the last few months have been fun food or perhaps new socks or underwear. Chewing gum and Happy Hour at Sonic have been a big hit.  They have been fine with this and my wallet is happy, our budget is happy, and the first of our financial goals is almost met!  But I had this urge to treat them out of the blue...

...we walked up and down every toy aisle except the Pink (that's what the boys call the doll isle) aisle.  They enjoyed it, talked about what they liked or didn't, picked up some stuff, but didn't really ask for anything - amazing!  I actually had a hard time deciding what to buy.  What would be really fun?  What could we use and enjoy together?  (Our family dynamics have chaged so much without the TV.)  We looked a long time at a Sorry! game but decided against it - it cost $15 and maybe I can find an older version that we like better cheaper.  So what did we buy?  We came home with two boxes of sidewalk chalk, a big jug of Magic Bubbles and a collection of bubble wands, a pack of Crazy 8's cards, a bag of big punch balloons, a new pack of ballpoint pens, two clear acrylic boxes for bug collections, and a cheap digital camera for James (see post below). They were the happiest kids, and with the exception of the camera I think I spent a grand total of $15 including tax. Again - amazing!