We are really enjoying learning world history using A Child's History of the World, a Calvert School exclusive. Today, we were learning about ancient Rome, and there was a sweet story about Cornelia Graccha, the daughter of Scipio who had conquered Hannibal's elephant army in the Punic War. The story goes that Cornelia was the proud and happy mother of two sons. She was also, undoubtedly, one of the wealthy elite of Rome. One day, a very rich Roman woman was visiting Cornelia and showing off all her rings and necklaces and other valuable ornaments, of which she had a great many and was very proud.

When she had shown off all she had, she asked to see Cornelia's jewels. Cornelia called to her two sons, who were playing outside, and when they came in to their mother she put her arms around them and said: These are my jewels."

You see, Cornelia knew where true wealth lay. And when her sons grew up, living as they did in wealth all their lives, they remembered the values passed on to them by their mother. They saw the huge difference between the rich and the poor in Rome and did all they could to help improve the lot of the poor of Rome. They met with some success in improving the lives of the poor, but their activities resulted in their being murdered by those who didn't agree with them.

Let me share with you some of the recent activities of my jewels, Little Son and Baby Girl.The cake is expertly decorated by Little Son, and it reads "Mommy, we love you". Part of the message is in white icing. Baby Girl added the all important "Birthday Girl" ribbon.Baby Girl, as you know, likes to wrap up items from around the house and present them as "gifts" for birthdays and for Christmas. She presented me with four birthday letters and a wrapped up snow globe. They were the best letters ever! Unedited:


Can't quite make out the color of them, but I also received beautiful roses from Little Son on my birthday. He bought them with his own money.

These are my jewels!