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Sundays with Sarah

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Family, Gratitude, Waldorf Education

Reverence and Gratitude: The Power of Verses for Children

 

 

Dear Friends,

Has it really been more than three months since I last posted here at Moon Child? Yikes!

Where have I been?

We had a very busy holiday season at Bella Luna Toys in November and December. My staff and I were putting all our time and energy in fulfilling holiday orders. We are grateful to so many of you for your support and being part of Bella Luna’s growth. I hope your holidays were filled with joy and love!

January brought our yearly task of end-of-year inventory, then I took a much-needed vacation to southern California to visit family and friends, and to see my son William who is a freshman at USC.

In February, I traveled to New York City for the NY Toy Fair, where I was excited to discover a bunch of wonderful new natural toys to introduce in 2014. Some have already made an appearance at Bella Luna Toys, so be sure to check out our What’s New? page if you haven’t recently.

The new year also brought the hiring of a new full-time staff member. Amy Sabaka, whom I’ve known ever since my son William and Amy’s daughter Rachel started first grade together at the Ashwood Waldorf School, is now our customer service manager at Bella Luna Toys. Amy was a kindergarten assistant at Ashwood for a number of years and has had a long relationship with Waldorf education, both as a parent and a teacher.

The next time you call Bella Luna Toys, it is likely that Amy will answer the phone. Be sure to say hi!

But now, with the help of Amy and our fantastic operations manager, Rob Wilson, my time is being freed up to get back to the work I love most—blogging, producing my “Sunday With Sarah” video series, and discovering beautiful new toys and products for families to introduce at Bella Luna Toys.

So now that spring is almost here, I am back—refreshed and renewed, and looking forward to reconnecting with you!

Here’s a new “Sunday With Sarah” video for you.

This week’s video is on on the power of verses in transitioning through the day, and for cultivating a sense of reverence and gratitude in young children. I hope you enjoy it!

With love,

 

Here are the verses shared in the video:

CANDLE LIGHTING

Fire spirit, fire sprite
Share with us your golden light
Come for us our candle light!

MEALTIME BLESSING (Can be spoken or sung)

Earth, who gave to us this food
Sun, who made it ripe and good
Dearest earth and dearest sun,
We’ll not forget what you have done.

Blessings on our mealtime and on each other!

REST TIME/BEDTIME VERSE

Now the sun has gone to bed
The stars are shining overhead
In their nests the birds all sleep
Into their homes the snails will creep
Children now no more will roam
It’s rest time (bedtime) now and we’re safe in our home.

Does your family incorporate verses at home? At what times of day? Please share your favorite verses with us here!

 

 

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Sunday With Sarah, Waldorf Education

Nomad Education in Kenya: Waldorf in the Bush

 

Welcome back to another “Sunday With Sarah.” It’s been more than a month since I’ve posted, and I’ve missed you!

I’ve returned from my AMAZING trip to Africa, and today want to tell you about the Waldorf school I visited for Samburu children in the Laikipia region of Kenya.

After viewing the video, you can learn more about the Samburu Trust‘s efforts to provide health care and education to the Samburu people. You can also make a donation on their website. The children who attend the school pay no tuition, and the school gets no government funding. Having visited, I know that any donation, no matter how small, will be much appreciated!

Video Highlights:

00:05   Happy to be back after a long absence!
01:07   Today I want to tell you about my visit to the Waldorf school for Samburu children.
01:27   Meet Julia Francombe, founder of the Samburu Trust and the Waldorf school.
01:55   Our long walk through the bush to reach the grade school.
02:42   We arrive at the grade school and meet the 1st and 2nd graders.
03:10   The teachers are all young men. Samburu warriors!
04:50   I shared songs with one of the eager young teachers.
05:10   Waldorf teacher training in Kenya.
05:40   Visit to the kindergarten.
06:10   I came bearing gifts of Waldorf toys, and felt like Santa!
09:21   Meeting the needs of a nomadic culture. The “three moons” school calendar.
10:35   The work of the Samburu Trust.
11:35   Learn more and donate at www.samburutrust.org

After viewing the video, I’m sure you’ll have as many questions as I left with! Leave your questions and comments here, and I’ll do my best to answer them, or find answers for you.

 

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Sunday With Sarah, Waldorf Education

Waldorf Education Around the World + Announcing My New Adventure!

 

 

Did you know that there are now more than 1,000 Waldorf schools around the world? The international movement for Waldorf education is growing exponentially as parents in vastly varied cultures are seeking a more holistic form of education that honors the whole child —head, heart, and hands.

“Sunday With Sarah” will be on hiatus until June 29. Click on this week’s video to learn why! I hope to have lots of stories to share and some incredible videos for you when I return.

Here is a link to the Waldorf school for the Samburu children that I will be visiting.

In the meantime, my wonderful and capable assistant, Sarah McLean-Anderson, will be holding down the fort at Bella Luna Toys during my absence to ensure the same level of personal customer service that our customers have come to expect.

What adventures do you have planned this summer? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? I’d love to hear your dreams!

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