Take Root and Write

When Things Go Wrong

What a crazy summer it has been. So many things are still not finished in time for the new school year that happens to start tomorrow morning for us. Losing files on the computer, losing books, and changes in plans that are outside our control, have all contributed to a stressful start. Yikes! Where did the summer go?

"Mom, where is my schedule?" my son just asked me.

Oh, no! The schedules! I forgot to make them.

What happened to my day? Oh, that's right, I had to sort mountains of laundry. Thankfully, my daughter Shine asked if she could make dinner with Aisha. Could she make dinner? Yes, please!

Take a Deep Breath

Often, I find myself needing to take a deep breath, analyze my situation and regroup. I start by taking a deep breath so that I can relax.

God, are you there? Are you listening? Do you remember me? I have made a mess of things. Thought I could do more than I can so I didn't finish it all and in the stress of meeting deadlines, I forgot to do the more important things. Will you please forgive me? Now, I have a mess on my hands. Tomorrow, I have to homeschool...our first day. I had wanted it to be perfect. It will be a disaster. Well, I guess it doesn't have to be a disaster. You are bigger than this situation.

Teaching Joyful and Successful Children

Our children can experience a school year filled with joy and success.

Serve Jesus as Lord

As for you, and your family, make that choice to serve the Lord. Include your children in seeking the Kingdom of God first, before all other things. Tell your kids repeatedly, "There is nothing better than Jesus!"

Keep the focus on loving Jesus and obeying Him. Tell your children why you are doing what you are doing and how it honors Christ. "We are studying science because we want to learn about the world God created. The more we learn about things Christ made, the more we understand Him."

Or, "Today, we are learning to write clear, concise sentences to be able to communicate clearly so that God can use us to tell people about Him."

Let your children hear from your lips over and over how important Jesus is to you and your family. Tell your children that no matter what others do, you will serve Christ.

Assess Children's Strengths and Weaknesses

Think about your children. Where are they strong? Where are they weak? What are they really good at? Each child God has given you is different from any other child in the world and in your household. Know your child. Sometimes, their weaknesses are really the flip side of their strengths. A bossy youngster may be a strong leader in disguise. Your perfectionist daughter may be a trouble shooter who will discern problems before they even exist. The son who is always doodling just might be an artist.

Help Children Grow in Strengths

Our tendency is to focus on our children's weaknesses, which can make them feel discouraged. Instead, spend most of your time growing even stronger in your strengths. Yes, you heard me right. What are they good at? Help children become excellent at talents and all those things they love to do. 

Maybe you have a talker. Your daughter can talk her way out of a paper bag and into a free cookie when you are grocery shopping. Cultivate that strength. Teach her to communicate in a way that honors Christ. Help her to speak, debate, write, and converse clearly in a way that glorifies the Lord.

Maybe your son can take anything apart and put it back together. Give him things to take apart and put back together. Expose him to all kinds of things that he can tinker with. 

Help Child Learn New Things

Teach your children new things. Introduce your little lambs to the wonderful world of learning. Instill a sense of wonder and excitement about learning by living it out yourself. Get excited when you learn new things so that your children can imitate you. Be curious! Investigate! Research! Teach your children to do it with you.

Help Child Work on Weaknesses

Focus on strengths and learning new things with most of your time. Spend only a little time helping children work on their weaknesses. Instead, instill hope in your daughter -- rather than hopelessness -- by focusing on the positive things in her life. Be kind in the way you help your children to change. Remind them that Jesus helps us overcome our sins and failures.

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength," (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

Concentrate teaching new things and developing strengths.

Teach Children to Give Thanks in Everything

Teach your children that no matter what happens, to always thank the Lord. There are so many blessings to thank the Lord for everyday with your children. Remind them of all the good things the Lord has done and is doing each morning. A thankful heart is a cheerful heart.

Enjoy watching God move in our children's life as we seek Him first and move forward in His purpose together as a family.

Joy and Success All Year Long

Often, we homeschool out of obedience to the Lord and a desire to raise godly children. But then, we end up homeschooling FOR God instead of WITH the Lord. We need to make sure to bring Jesus into our homeschool; to open with prayer and Bible reading; to commit each day to Him and regularly pray as things arise. We need Jesus to help us homeschool!

Moms and dads, we need to start our day with Jesus and to read His Word and pray each morning before we begin to teach those precious little ones.

Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Think about how you teach your children. Where are you strong? Where are you weak? I love to read aloud, stay positive, and encourage my children to read classic literature. I am pretty good at keeping our family on track so that we finish the year up on time, completing all that we set out to do. However, I am not very good at keeping up with correcting math, grammar workbooks, and writing papers. I often find myself with a month's worth of correcting to do at one time. Another weakness is hands-on activities and science.

Grow in Your Strengths

Our tendency is to focus on our weaknesses, which can make us feel discouraged. Instead, we  should spend most of our time growing stronger in our strengths. Yes, you heard me right. What are you good at? Become more skilled at your skills and excellent at all those things you love to do. 

I like to write so I spend time growing as a writer. Baking is another thing I enjoy so I try out new recipes and tempt my family with goodies. Teaching history and literature is a strength. What fun I have in my life cultivating this gift by cooping with other families. Brad loved to wood burn and would find pictures to sketch on the wood. As he grew in his skill, he now creates his own original pictures.

Learn New Things

Spend time learning new things. Have you wanted to learn hydroponic gardening? Then, investigate and learn how to start your own garden. Are there classic books that you would like to read or a period of history you would like to learn more about? Read, research, and investigate. Why not pursue piano lessons, learn a foreign language, or research an interesting topic with your children. You can learn along with them. Learning is fun for moms and dads too!

Work on Your Weaknesses

I need to work on faithfully grading papers and keeping my house tidy. You may need to work on controlling your temper or staying on a weekly schedule. Maybe you tend to nag or belittle your child. Pray and ask the Lord to help you change. He can help you!

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength," (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

Just don't spend all your time focusing on the negative. We need to spend most of our time learning new things and even more time developing your strengths.

Give Thanks in Everything

No matter what happens, thank the Lord. When our children learn quickly, we can praise them and thank God for His favor. When they just don't get it, we can be thankful that Jesus understands (remember He traveled with His disciples who constantly didn't get it!) When God blesses us financially, we can thank Him for His kindness. When money is tight, we can praise God for His faithfulness in providing through unexpected ways and teaching us to be content. Trials make us homesick for our real home, Heaven. Failures make us appreciate that Jesus covered us with His blood and forgave our sins.

There is always a reason to thank our loving Heavenly Father. Thankfulness brightens our eyes and puts a smile on our faces. Children will be happy to see happy, thankful parents. Ladies and gentlemen, it's going to be a great year!

Gear Up for a Great Year!

I love summer! There's the beach, the sunshine, the lazy days and chilling out. We do not homeschool during the summer, except for reading books. Here it is, the middle of July and it's almost time to gear up for the next school year.

Evaluate the Past Year

"The best part of this past year was history day," Shine shared enthusiastically. "I liked the Diana Waring tapes."

"I thought history was boring," Jimmy interrupted. "But I liked the food. (We had eaten our way through history with some delicious lunches at history co-op)

Look back over the past school year. What went well? What do you hope will go better next year? Pray about these things. Thank the Lord for all the great things that happened. Focus on the positive, not the negative. But, ask the Lord to show you how to be more effective in your homeschooling this coming year.

Choose Priorities for the Coming Year

Jimmy really grew as a reader this past year, but I still want that to be a priority for next year. Shine grew so much in the Lord, but now I want her to start passing on what she's learned.

If reading was a weakness this past year, you might want to make reading a priority next year. If there was a lot of rebellion in one or more of the children, then relationships and child training should be a focus in the school year coming up. 

Choose What You will Study and How

What do you want your children to learn this coming year? One year we decided that we wanted to learn about England and British history. Though I had been homeschooling for 12 years, we had never studied English history in an in-depth way. We were excited to learn about our "mother country." What do your children want to learn about? What are their interests?

How do you want to teach these subjects? Do you want to use traditional textbooks or on-line classes? Do you want to do a unit study with lots of time for open-ended studies?

Choose Curriculum

Talk to other homeschool moms, read reviews, and peruse curriculum that you like. Remember that the curriculum itself is not as important as your decision as to what you are going to study this coming year. You can make boring textbooks come alive with some hands-on activities. Curriculum is your servant. You can cut out activities that don't help your family learn. There is no perfect curriculum out there, so don't panic while you are making decisions.

Going to College Debt-Free

 "I don't know why I got into so much debt," my friend, Mike confided in me when I asked him why he was so down lately. I am so discouraged. "I wish I could go back and do things differently."

"How much are we talking?" I asked.

"$60,000.00"

Gulp. I didn't know what to say. As we chatted, I realized that his student loan payment was bigger than my mortgage payment.

Make Choice to Go to College Debt-Free

"We will not borrow money to go to college. We will not borrow money to send our children to college." This has been a mutual decision my husband and I made when we were engaged. After 27 years of marriage, we have been committed to this plan. Mike has gotten his Masters of Divinity debt-free, our oldest daughters have graduated debt-free from a private university, and my oldest daughter got her master's degree debt-free. We do not make a lot of money and we have a houseful of people to provide for. So, how did we do it?

Our decision to not borrow money for education is based on the Bible, which calls debt foolishness. If God considers debt foolish, then we do too. We are convinced that if God wants us to do something, he will provide the money for it. We place a large responsibility to pay for tuition on the student, though we do help, financially, some.

Start Own Business

My third daughter gives voice lessons to earn money for college. My teenage son has started a lawn business to save money for college. Starting a business is a great way for young people to earn money for college. Brian was always being asked to fix computers, so he started a computer business, focusing on college students who desperately needed their computers in working order.

AP/Dual Enrollment

High school students in public, private, or home schools can dual-enroll. A student can take these college credit clases during the junior and senior year to earn high school and college credit at the same time. AP classes in high school can also provide college credit.

Slower Pace to Work

College education can be slowed down so that the student can work. My friend, Sarah, worked as a hair stylist while she got her bachelor's degree. It took her 7 years instead of 4 to do this, but she is debt-free! The length of time to complete a degree may not be perfect, but being debt-free sure is.

Fourth of July Freedom

This Fourth of July, we celebrated my husband's 50th birthday! What fun with swimming, BBQ, laughter, and fireworks. Fourth of July isn't really celebrated by the Curtis household because we are always enjoying Daddy's birthday festivities. However, Fourth of July is a great time of year to talk with your children about the liberty that we enjoy as American citizens.

Even though the Fourth of July is over, this week is a wonderful time to explore the freedoms that we have grown up with and take for granted like personal liberty, freedom of speech, the right to a trial by jury of your peers, and accountability of leaders to their citizens are things that many people throughout history have not experienced. So, where did this freedom stuff start? Did it start with the Magna Charta? Or did it start further back?

Law is King!

According to Samuel Rutherford, in his book, Lex Rex (Law is King), written in the 1600's by a Presbyterian pastor, the Bible makes it clear that the law is king. The king, or any other ruler, must submit to the law. Rutherford took an in-depth look at Scripture and history to prove this, shattering the popular philosophy of  the "divine right of kings" to rule as they please.

Things We Learned in London

God pours out His wisdom and blessing on us all the time. He certainly showered us with this on our trip to London. Our Heavenly Father surprised us with extra blessings, while we also learned quite a few life lessons as well.

First, let's look at the lessons we learned.

International Flights

It is more comfortable to travel across the Atlantic Ocean than to take trips across the United States. While we squish our legs, purse, coats, and carry-on bag into a narrow seat where we can barely fasten the seat belts, our plane seats (same airline) are bigger and more comfortable. They also feed you better. If I fly in the U.S.A., I am lucky to get a snack with my beverage, but on our flight to London, we got 2 meals and numerous drinks and snacks.

Lessons from a Hostel

"Mrmxpwh," my roommate said with a sweet smile.

I looked up confused, but tried to understand her English.

Our Trip to London: The Ultimate Field Trip II

Well, we are back from London and so excited to share about our trip! Yes, it was the ultimate field trip!

Streets of London

 "There's Big Ben," Jenny Rose squealed, pointing over the heads around us.

"I think I see the steeple of Westminster Abbey."

"Look! Whitehall is gorgeous! It looks like a cathedral."

"There's a red phone booth! Let's get a picture!"

The bustling streets of London are very much like American cities in so many ways, except that they drive on the opposite side of the road: business men rushed to work, tourists perused the monuments, moms shopped, and schoolchildren walked to school in cute, little uniforms.

Under London

Up bright and early our first day, we slipped on our backpacks and headed for the tube station. The first tube arrived and it was jam-packed.

"Let's wait for the next one," I said, my claustrophobia flaring up. We bypassed the next one and the one after that.

"We are going to have to get on one, Mom," my Julianna finally declared.

"It's rush hour," Katie Beth added.

So, I took a deep breath and we were off. (We never left that time of the morning again!) The tube became our home away from home and we took it everywhere. We learned to transfer, follow the "Way Out" signs, and ride the 3-story escalators. We even saw Victoria Station, Paddington Station, and all the others I had read about in novels.

As we wandered underground tube stations, I couldn't help but wonder if there were British citizens taking refuge while bombs fell during World War II,

Museums

 "There it is! The Rosetta Stone!"

Napoleon's soldiers found this famous marker in 1799 on the French-Egyptian campaign. Carved in 196 B.C., a group of Egyptian priests wrote on the stone to honor a Pharaoh. It listed his accomplishments in Egyptian and Greek. But here's the neat thing: it was written in 3 different scripts: Hieroglyphics, Demotic Egyptian, and Greek. Scholars used this stone to unfold the mystery of translating hieroglyphics. The stone was a breakthrough for historians and opened the door for us to understand Ancient Egypt.

Historical Monuments & Memorials

 
Everywhere we turned, there were monuments to famous people. In front of the Parliment Building, was my hero Oliver Cromwell.

The Wellington Arch commemorates Arthur Wellesley, who won the Battle of Waterloo (against Napoleon), for which he was made the first Duke of Wellington. This monument celebrates his victory!

The Albert Memorial is an absolutely gorgeous display of Victorian architecture, decor, and philosophy, erected in honor of her beloved Prince Albert by Queen Victoria.

The Nelson Column is in the middle of Trafalgar Square commemorating  his naval battle victories in the Napoleonic Wars. Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson's battles represented are Cape St. Vincent (1797), Battle of the Nile (1798), Copenhagen (1801), and Trafalgar (1805).

Crying in the Library

 The British Library holds the Magna Charta. When I saw it, tears sprang to my eyes. This historical document changed history and was the basis years later for the Mayflower Compact and our U.S.Constitution.

But what really brought tears was the hand printed Bibles that had been laboriously copied by devout monks for hours as a service unto the Lord. The first Gutenberg Bible was found in this room too. When the printing press was finally ready to run, it printed Bibles. These Bibles would change history. Now the Word of God could be available to all people. What a blessing!

Our trip to London was a discovery of so much history, architecture, music, art, archeology, culture, and geography. I highly recommend taking a field trip to London.

 

 

Our Trip to London: The Ultimate Field Trip - Part 1

I had dreamed for years of teaching my children history by traveling around the world. I envisioned us going from country to country, with cameras around our necks and notebooks in our hands. We would soak in great artworks, beautiful churches, and historical monuments, letting their ambiance invade all of our senses.

What better way to study history than to go to the places where it all happened! I wanted to stand in cathedrals that were built for the glory of God. It was my dream to show my children architecture from different time periods and places. Would walking down the same street or eating in the same restaurant help us to understand people from other times and places?

Oh, if only I could time travel! I would go back and watch so many historical events take place: Creation, the dispersion at the Tower of Babel, the Exodus through the Red Sea, Esther's coronation, the conquest of Babylon by the Persians, the Peloponesian War, Alexander the Great taming his new horse, Paul preaching at Mars Hill, Athanasius defending the faith, Marco Polo's trip to the Orient, the Battle of Hastings, Martin Luther defending himself at the Diet of Worms, Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, D-Day, and the homecoming of the hostages from Iran in 1980.

One of my favorite places to study is England. There are so many English people and events that fascinate me. From good King Alfred the Great to the infamous Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionhearted to the devout William Tyndale, and the intelligent Francis Bacon and conservative Maggie Thatcher.

I have imagined places while I read my favorite authors, Jane Austin, Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and Dorothy Sayers. The town of Oxford, Kensington Gardens, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, and Buckingham Palace are all alive in my imagination. Finally, I will get to see these places!

I will be traveling to London, England. In fact, when you read this, I will be over there, touring and traveling with my older daughters, Katie Beth, Julianna, and Jenny Rose. Two friends, Marla and Sarah, will join us too. This is the ultimate homeschool field trip. We will learn so much!

The girls and I have plans to see many places.

• St. Paul's Cathedral
• Westminster Abbey
• Whitehall
• Big Ben
• Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
• British Museum
• National Gallery of Art
• National Portrait Gallery
• Wesley Chapel
• Kensington Gardens
• Kew Gardens
• Hyde Park
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Tower of London
• Ritz
• Harrod's
• Churchill War Room Museum
• Bath

So, what are we the most excited about? Julianna is thrilled to be getting a stamp on her passport. Sarah can't wait to see Bath. Jenny Rose is looking forward to seeing the changing of the guard. Marla is excited to hear a concert or see a play. Katie Beth will enjoy British High Tea.

And me? I'm really looking forward to seeing The Rosetta Stone in the British Museum. This is the archaeological discovery that opened the door to translate Egyptian hieroglyphics so that we could learnh more about Ancient Egyptians. And St. Paul's Cathedral is the perfect example of Christopher Wren's architectural gifting. There is also Westminster Abbey, home to Anglican worship, coronations, and royal weddings.

But, the thing I really can't wait to see is the original Gutenberg Bible.

I will be telling you all about our field trip in my next blog. Until then, blessings and big hugs!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

"You are just like your mother," the young boy huffed at me.

"Well, I'm glad," I replied, haughtily. I was proud of my mother and even though I was young,  it didn't matter what anyone said. She was loving and kind, and a strong leader. Church family, those in our neighborhood, and our extended family loved and respected her.

Memories

I remember her making breakfast every morning. Sometimes, we had waffles with sausage and homemade syrup. Other mornings, we might have scrambled eggs with bacon. But my favorite was when Mommy made muffins and eggs and Canadian bacon in the muffin pans. This was long before Egg McMuffins from McDonald's.

Mom could bake, cook, or sew anything. However, what impressed me the most about her was the way she welcomed people into her heart and our home. There were always extra guests at holiday dinners, birthday celebrations, or family gatherings. Mom always hosted showers and parties. Because of that, at an early age, I learned to greet guests, pass chips and dip around, and set a beautiful table. We would choose the perfect tablecloth, cloth napkins, and centerpiece. Sometimes, we even polished the silver.

What about you? What are your memories?

Creating Memories

My oldest child is almost 25 years old and my "baby" is 13. Unless the Lord blesses us with a surprise baby, we have finished our season with little ones. What fond memories I have of that precious season! I wish it could have lasted longer. When I had babies, I was purposeful in creating memories that would last in their little hearts for a lifetime.

Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2011

"I'm just not sure I want to go this year," Laura whispered.  "There are just so many people and the vendor hall is so crowded. It stresses me out."

"Well, I have to admit that the crowds got to me last time too." I shrugged my shoulders and took a deep breath. "But, how will we get equipped and see the latest books if we don't go?"

"Well," Laura paused for a moment, "We could go to an online convention."

"Oh, Laura, please. I've surrendered to email, blogging, and virtual field trips, but virtual conventions too? I just don't know...."

Soon, my friend, Felice was telling me all about her online convention, The Ultimate Homeschool Expo. Though I dragged my feet the whole way there, I was still determined to check out this virtual convention. Once I did, I would be free to go back to real conventions, real books, and maybe, even a horse and buggy. 

Online conventions require you to have internet access. That's all you need. The Ultimate Homeschool Expo sessions are on Blog Talk Radio, a site that airs online radio shows. You don't have to park, shove through the crowds, wait in long lines, push your stroller, and rush from workshop to session. You can settle down in your favorite chair with a cup of tea and soak in the wisdom of your favorite homeschool speakers.

The Ultimate Homeschool Expo was founded by Cindy Rushton, an amazing homeschool mom and author, with a vision to share her enthusiasm for homeschooling and motherhood with other ladies. Because God is now moving her on to another ministry, Felice Gerwitz, founder of Media Angels Inc. has taken over this ministry to homeschooling families.

Timing is Everything

 

 "When do you want to go home?" I asked my almost-college grad daughter, Julianna.

"Mom, we just got here," she chided.

"It's freezing, Julianna," her best friend, Marla backed me up.

But, Julianna was determined. It was the first day of spring break and she wanted to enjoy the beach. Hah! It was chilly and windy. But, I had promised to go, so I slid my sweat pants down to my bathing suit. Immediately, goose bumps rose and I felt chilled to the bone. I grabbed a winter blanket and cuddled inside of it, wondering why Christians have to keep their word anyway.

The hours dragged on unmercifully until it was time to leave. Now, keep in mind, the beach is my very favorite place on earth and had I been wearing a parka that day, I would have enjoyed myself. But, timing is everything.

Heart2Homeschool Oil in Your Lantern Conference

"Oops, I was supposed to turn the other way," I admitted.

"Don't worry I get lost all the time," my friend, Maria reassured me. "But, it is a bit frightening that you are my navigator."

We both laughed.

During the last weekend in February, I headed west on I-4 with my friend, Maria and our daughters. We traveled to Sarasota for a ladies retreat offered by Heart2Homeschool for homeschooling moms. Was it refreshing!

Hearts2HomeSchool is a brand new statewide homeschooling organization in Florida for Christian families founded by Maria Gerber and Lorri Murphy. They offer Christ-centered support, networking, resources, information, inspiration, curriculum guidance, and educational opportunities. What a blessing these lovely ladies are, with a vision to impart truth and encouragement to homeschooling families in their state. Their enthusiasm and creativity made this conference life-changing for me.

"Look how beautiful everything is!" Christina gushed. "Everything is pink!"

"There are hearts everywhere and look at all the chocolate." (That was me!)

Even Maria and Lorri were dressed in pink. Everything was feminine and lovely and they welcomed us with warm smiles and kind words. We could feel the Presence of the Lord through their actions.

Oil For Your Lantern Retreat was a 2-day combination retreat and mini-homeschooling conference. They treated us like queens with lovely decorations, delicious food, welcome gifts, and door prizes. There were several vendors with lots of neat homeschool materials to look at and enjoy. The best parts for me were the speakers who spoke right to our hearts; imparting wisdom to homeschool without compromise.

The Secret of Joy in Homeschooling

 

 

Imagine if Adam and Eve had never eaten the forbidden fruit. Think about our world without the results of sin: clear blue skies, peaceful communication between people and nations, perfect weight, perfect self-control, joy, love, patience, and constant fellowship with the Lord. Our world would have no pollution, traffic jams, or wrinkles.

We were created to live in a perfect world, even though it is not a reality. But, just because the world (all of us) is in a fallen state does not mean that there isn't a longing inside our hearts to live in that perfect world. The fallen world with its' headaches and heartaches never feels quite right.

When I understand this, freedom comes because I no longer berate myself for my frustration with our world. Instead, I turn the longing for perfection towards thoughts of the place I will one day live in: Heaven!

Longing for Heaven

Heaven is perfect. Once we are there, pain, sorrow, trouble, and sin evaporate.  Our hearts will experience joy at all times.

Bringing our Weakness to Jesus

"Babies come out naked," I explained to my young daughter, years ago. She was upset that there was a picture of her stark naked right after birth, and embarrassed that her friends were oohing and ahhing over how adorable her picture was.

In the same way, if we are new to homeschooling we may find ourselves the subject of scrutiny and feel embarrassed over our newness to it all. Maybe, like my daughter, we feel a little exposed.

I want to reassure you that I have never met a homeschool mom that feels like she has it all together. Most of us feel like others are evaluating us when, in fact, they are not. The truth is, we are our own worst critics. 

Out of the Womb, into the World

 A baby is snug as a bug in a rug inside Momma. She has everything she needs: food, oxygen, and the sound of Mom's heartbeat. Labor pains begin and baby is smashed down finally forced to leave the warm, dark, comfortable swimming pool (womb) and enter the frightening world of light and noise and activity, bombard a new little one seconds after birth.

After the long trip down and out of the birth canal, baby is exhausted. His safe world is shattered and replaced with a new one that takes time to get used to and understand. It is no wonder babies cry and fuss.

Books from Birth to College

"And then the bird said, "Are you my mother?"...." I read these words aloud to my bulging belly - determined to make my first pregnancy just right. I also read scripture during my quiet times so that my unborn baby would hear the Word of God. And later, while nursing baby after baby, I continued this practice of reading both the Bible and books to my little ones-- out loud for all of us to hear.

It has been my desire to introduce my children to living books and instill into them a lifelong love of reading.

Living Books

Living books are books that breathe life, stir up emotions, and make you want to turn the page. They are not dry, dusty or boring. Living books can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, picture books, adventure novels, biographies, testimonies, fairy tales, parables, or nursery rhymes.

Listening to Good Books

Even as adults we need to listen to good writing. Picture books (Katy No-Pocket, Are You My Mother?), fairy tales (Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty), adventure stories (Swiss Family Robinson, Jungle Book), tender stories (The Little Princess, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates), and allegories (Pilgrims Progress, Hind's Feet on High Places) can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Little people love to hear chapter books read aloud, using their imaginations to paint pictures of the stories in their minds. Big people are never too old for a well-written, beautifully illustrated picture book.

Homeschooling in a Post-Christian Nation

As a young girl, I did not know any divorced families. Everyone I went to public school with attended church or temple with their families and when people talked about preachers, priests or rabbis, there was a respect in their tone of voice.

But times are a-changin' and in my lifetime, we have seen a sweeping shift towards secularism throughout the nation and the world. People now bash the Bible,  dishonor their parents and ridicule Christians. Things just aren't the same anymore.

Secular Humanism

So how did these changes occur? Humanism was "reborn" in the Renaissance (the word Renaissance means "rebirth") which occurred in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The Ancient Greek culture was also "rediscovered" along with their preoccupation with human perfection.

Since that time, man has fallen more and become in love with himself! Now, we see a preoccupation with self instead of genuine concern for the welfare of others. We once asked "What does God think about this?" and now we ask, "What will make me feel good?" If divorce can get rid of an unwanted husband, then a woman will divorce him, not thinking about the negative effect it will have on her children.

Homeschooling in the Light

 Welcome to a brand new year! While digging into God's Word these past few weeks, I have been bombarded with passages on light. Let's start the new year off with some encouragement from the Bible about light for our home schools.

Jesus is the Light

"I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 NIV).

Jesus is the light of the world. In Him, there is no darkness, no hiding and no deception. He is full of mercy and truth. His light in our lives changes everything and is worth pursuing over all else.

Light for Homeschooling

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1 NIV).

In the Bible, light represents truth and holiness. The Word reveals truth to us for all of life, including homeschooling. The Holy Spirit is busy at work within us, purifying us and making us holy like Jesus. The more we are like Jesus, the better we will be at teaching our little ones to follow Him and apply Scripture to all of our life.

Remembering the Joys of Christmas

The Christmas cards are completed and out, but I still have one more package to send to my Aunt Shirley. Our annual Christmas party is this Friday night and the house is a mess because I have been sewing, ironing and cutting fabric on the dining room table. I even have more Christmas shopping to do. What happened to my carefully laid plans? Didn't I read my own article on planning ahead for Christmas?

What I Learned This Week

Tuesday night was our church's cookie swap and last night was a ladies' night on saving money and couponing. It made me think about the world of homeschooling moms who are choosing to stay home and educate their children. They want to impart truth, bake cookies, save money and celebrate Christmas with Christ-centered traditions. But I often forget that many of these moms come from dysfunctional homes and feel a little lost during this season.

Getting ready for the cookie swap, Sarah and I baked together. We were making spicy ornaments, but had to roll out cookie-like dough. I handed her the rolling pin and she awkwardly rolled the dough out.

"Didn't your momma every teach you to roll out dough?" I teased.

"No, we never baked together."

I was silent. This notion had never entered my mind. Later on,  I talked to another lady about baking and she said this about cookie-making:

"Before I came to this church, I had never baked cookies at Christmas. In fact we never really celebrated Christmas as a family. I learned about decorating, traditions and baking from other women.  But," Blanche said with a smile, "I guess late is better than never."

Leaving Room for Love During Christmas!

It's Christmas time in our home school! We have pulled out all the boxes of decoration, taken pictures off the walls and knick-knacks off the shelves only to have them replaced by Christmas wreaths, stuffed bears and all kinds of "Christmasy" decor. We adore Christmas in our house and the love it creates between us all.

We even have a Christmas village, one that comes to lives with villagers, fruit stands, and carolers by an iron lamppost. Whenever I gaze at our snowman land, I pretend that I am living in a snowy place, rather than sunny Florida.

Sometimes, because of the business of the season, I wonder if we lose sight of the main focus: Jesus. We should be more concerned about helping others, than thinking only of what we need. Does this holiday create more or less love from me? Yet with the busyness, it is hard for me to remember this! I have to remind myself to focus on Jesus, the reason for this jolly season, and not just on the gifts and decor; to love Him, not just the merriment.

But, a part of me feels like I'm thanking God for the gift of his Son through our decorations too.The shelves in my kitchen are filled with stuffed bears of all sizes and shapes. Near the Christmas quilt, another display takes on a life of its own: the village at Bethlehem with a town gate, stable, manger, several homes, animals, townspeople, Roman soldiers, and angels announcing the greatest story ever told with a whimsical twist.

Holiday Memory Making and Homeschool

The holidays are here again! It's time to bake goodies, find the perfect gifts for loved ones and get ready for out-of-town company. We also need to decorate the house and plan scrumptious feasts. But, somewhere in there, we also have to squeeze in school.

Even if homeschooling has to be adjusted for the holidays, education and creativity can still continue through December. It's just a matter of shifting priorities around.

Holiday Homeschooling Ideas

There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. So, how can we show this to our children? By finding activities that focus on giving thanks to our benevolent Heavenly Father. Doing this reminds us, and our kids, why we are thankful.

One of the greatest blessings, and one that we are most thankful for, is religious freedom in our nation. Many years ago, Pilgrims and Puritans came to this nation looking for freedom to worship God. Through this, they began our tradition of Thanksgiving. There is a great article called Learning from the Pilgrims and the Puritans,that puts them and their decisions into perspective with our lives today.

Of course, many exciting holiday events occur in December too: music, drama, craft shows. All of these activities would make a great break from the school grind. There are also decorations and Christmas music everywhere too! What about driving around and looking at lights and decorations? It's not only entertaining, but relatively inexpensive.

Foreign and local Christmas traditions, and what they consist of, are a perfect segue into studying geography for the month. You might want to do a Christmas Unity Study or plan several Christmas field trips. You and the children can also sit down together and plan your gift gifting for the season. For some new ideas, read Gift Ideas for Homeschooling Families.

Run Strong, Finish Well

Today is election day. Across this nation, Americans will cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice. Many will base their decisions on a candidate's personality rather than how the candidate votes on the issues. Sadly, many Americans will stay home and not vote at all. The outcome of this election will be critical to our nation's future.

Every day we elect to raise our children in a way that will determine their future. The outcome of our homeschooling and childrearing will be our children's beliefs, values, character, and wisdom. Our children will either serve Jesus or walk in the ways of the world. They will either believe the Truth or they will believe lies from the Devil and the world.  They will either build up the Kingdom of God or tear it down. 

If our nation continues to move away from God and His ways, the church can still survive and be strong. It is all in how we run the race and how we pass the baton.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Fix Our Eyes

Jesus is the perfect place for our attention to focus. He is the Creator of all that we see and everything else that we can't see. All authority on Heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Yet, He humbled Himself and endured the cross. He ignored the shame and huiliation because of love. He loved you and me. He loved the world. His love set us free. Our freedom was bought at a high price.

Hospitality and Homeschooling

"We're having company!" Julianna twirled around with glee. 

"Can I make dessert?" Katie Beth offered.

"I'll help!" Julianna added.

My daughters loved having company over from the time they were very little. Being a pastor's family, our home has always been a center of activity and people. We have enjoyed opening our home for ministry and fun!

Our ministry is built around hospitality and relationships, so hospitality is a natural part of homeschooling for us. We often will celebrate the end of a unit study with a party, tea, or airsoft game. We loved hosting coops in our home too! But we don't just have people over because we like it. We welcome people into our house because it honors the Lord.

Hospitality is a command for believers in Scripture, not an option for those who have a lovely home and perfectly behaved children. Hospitality is not about impressing or entertaining. Hospitality is about welcoming people into your life for the glory of God!

 

A Learning Experience

 Hospitality is a learning experience. There is so much involved in opening our homes to other people. If we involve our children when we welcome others, there is so much that they can learn. Our children can learn homemaking skills from cleaning to cooking, from conversation skills to table setting, from proper manners to baking.

Cleaning Out the Clutter in Your Heart

 

 We try to go through our house each year before the school year starts and clean out the clutter in our home school room. If you are like me, your home is full of piles of papers, stacks of books, and a wide variety of every type of clutter possible to exist. Loved ones comfort me:  "Your home is lived in." I smile, knowing the truth--my house is a mess right now!

Once the clutter is taken care of, I can take a deep breath and get back to work. Clutter makes me feel oppressed and a tidy house makes me feel productive and energetic.

I notice that my house is not the only thing that gets full of clutter. My email inbox can fill with clutter. My purse can accumulate all kinds of mess. My car can look like a locker room floor sometimes.

But, the worst clutter of all, is the clutter that builds up in my heart. It can damage my relationships and keep me from homeschooling effectively.

Clutter in our Hearts

What can build up in our hearts that is so damaging to our lives and homeschooling? Well, women can tend to be savers. We are so sentimental. We save cards, notes, letters, movie tickets, newspaper clippings, and recipes. But, we can also hold on to hurts, anger, resentments, negative words, and memories of negative episodes in our lives. We remember something our husband did or said on our honeymoon (15 years ago!) or the Mother's Day that our son said, "I wish I had a different mommy." We take these things out from yesterday and examine them closely, remembering how they hurt and experiencing more pain from them today.

Flying with a Broken Wing

 

"Honey, I lost my job...."

"Your son has been in an accident..."

"I don't want to be married to you anymore..."

"We got a foreclosure notice in the mail...."

"I'm sorry, but the results came back as malignant...."

"Your father was rushed to the hospital..."

"I hate homeschooling.  I wish I could go to public school...."

None of us have a picture perfect life. We all long for that kind of idyllic existence of clear sunny skies and productive, peaceful days. We want our children to wake up at dawn to clean their rooms, make their bed, have their quiet times, and do their chores while we are on our knees in fervent prayer for our home, church, nation, and the world. Smile.

More than likely, you have to pull your kids out of bed and just hope that you can walk through the piles on their floors to find them.

Yes, we should work toward order, routine, and schedules that work. We should train ourselves to be godly so that we can train our children to be organized, hard working, and tidy people who accomplish great things.

Often, as soon as we are on track for change and growth, we are hit with a curve ball. Out of nowhere, there is an unexpected trial. Suddenly, it doesn't seem to matter any more whether or not our children make their beds and have their quiet times. We are just trying to survive without falling apart.

Oh, dear sisters in Christ, this life on earth is full of trials and difficulties. Some of them are so painful. I wish right now that I could wipe away every sorrow and trial from your life so that you could soar on wings as eagles, so that homeschooling could be the only challenge in your life.

Alas, our dear Heavenly Father has not given me that power. But He has given me the privilege of many challenges and trials in my own life and I have homeschooled right on through them. Sometimes, I have become discouraged. Many times, I have been weary and made mistakes, but I want to teach you to fly with a broken wing. I want you to homeschool with joy and success in the midst of trial.

Help, I Need to Manage my Time!

 

A new school year is here and there is so much you want to accomplish. You have made plans and have ideas of great things to do and good things to learn. Often our good intentions are not realized because our time management skills, or lack of them, prevent us from investing the time we need to invest to fulfill our goals.

So, where do we start? How can we learn to manage our time so that we can be productive and efficient?

Values

What do you value? What do you want to accomplish with your life?

Our values are found in the Word of God. God promises us in Matthew 6:33 that is we seek His Kingdom first, He will take good care of us (my paraphrase). We put the Lord first by making time to read His Word, pray, worship Him, spend time with His people, and share the Good News about Jesus with the lost.

If we put growing in the Lord and honoring Him with our life first in our personal life and our home school, we will experience His favor and blessing. So, keep the Lord in mind as you make your schedules and plans.

Help, I'm Starting to Homeschool!

 

You will love the glorious adventure of homeschooling!  But, it is an adventure, so buckle up and get ready to learn new things about yourself, your children, and the Lord.  If you are starting out this year, homeschooling for the first time, let me give you a big cheer!  You are taking a step of faith that will bless your children and strengthen your family relationships. 

So, what should you do to get ready for the big step? Well, it's easier than you think. Let me share some tips for getting started and enjoying success in your first year.

Partner with your Hubby!

Talk and pray with your husband about homeschooling. Make sure the two of you are in agreement with one another. You will need his support and encouragement in the days ahead.

Discover your State's Law

Find out what your state requires to homeschool legally. You often have several options including umbrella schools and registering with the county. Here in Florida, I am registered with Seminole County. I turn in test scores or an evaluation for each child every year and keep a portfolio of my children's work. The people I deal with in this county are wonderful and supportive. We are blessed to homeschool where we do.

Here is a place to go to find out what your state requires: HSLDA State Laws. HSLDA, or Homeschool Legal Defense Association, is a wonderful resource for homeschool helps, especially in the legal department. We have been members since 1991.

Do I Need A Personal Retreat?

 

 "Please pray for me," a lovely young homeschool mom asked me at church last week. "It's the middle of July and we are still finishing up last year's work. I feel so overwhelmed."

I smiled and offered a word of encouragement.

Later on that night, another mom contacted me on facebook. She was frantic. There was so much going on with discipline issues for her two sons that she could not focus on planning the next year.

"Please pray for me!" she begged.

I could go on and on. The economy has some of my friends who have been raising children, keeping their homes, and homeschooling at home for years, to have to get part-time jobs. Reluctantly, they left their home to earn some extra money. They continue to homeschool, but it is more challenging.

Another friend is dealing with health issues. Does she have cancer or is the lump benign? What do the homeschool books say about that?

Are You Ready?

It is almost time for the new school year to start, time to purchase school supplies, time to start a brand new school year. You may still be recovering from last year. In fact, your children may still be finishing up last year's schoolwork. You may be facing significant issues that are rocking your faith or testing your character.

We can shift into autopilot to do our lesson plans, purchase curriculum, buy supplies, and get everything ready. But is our heart ready for the new year.

I love homeschooling, but I can sometimes find it hard to focus the way I want to. In the past three years, I have lost my mother and father after helping them through difficult health issues. It was hard to take care of my parents and so much harder to lose them. I cannot tell you the miles and hours I logged in my minivan, traveling back and forth to be with my parents for another surgery or medical test. When I lost Mom and Daddy, the emotional pain was, and still is, intense. Nothing prepared me for the sorrow that I would feel after they died.

Homeschooling was hard. It was hard to focus sometimes. Homeschooling was not up to my usual standard of excellence and, often, I felt guilty. Can you homeschool effectively with a heavy heart?

My friend, Miriam, going through a painful relational struggle, admitted to me, "I don't even want to homeschool this year, but I know if I put my children in public school, things will just get worse for my family."

I nodded my head because I agree with Miriam. We sometimes think that everything needs to be "perfect" for us to homeschool effectively. We don't realize how much we are a blessing to our children by being with them 24/7, listening to their dreams, praying with them, reading the Bible together, showing affection, and modeling the Christian life for them.

When times are rough, stay the course. Read books together aloud. Focus on the most important subjects. Major on the majors and minor on the minors. But maybe, you need more than to just hang on. Maybe you need to be refreshed and encouraged by the Lord Himself. What about a personal retreat?

A Personal Retreat

To take a personal retreat, you need a quiet place for a few days, a comfortable place to stay, worship CD's, inspirational books, and your Bible.

Summer is a great time for a personal retreat because you can get last minute deals on nearby hotels who have cancellations. Or you might be able to stay a few nights in a friend's house while her family is on vacation.

Plan to spend plenty of time resting and sleeping so that your body is refreshed. You may consider fasting or, at least, eating healthy while you are away.Don't forget to exercise. Long walks along the beach or in the woods can refresh your spirit and get your blood circulating. 

Spend time worshiping with worship CD's and reading Scripture aloud. You might want to do a personal Bible study on a topic that interests you. Ask the Lord to refresh your spirit. Bring along books that will minister and encourage you--not books that will overwhelm you and add tons of stuff to your "to do" list.

Cover the school year ahead with prayer, committing it to the Lord and asking him to fill your heart with faith. Pray for His perspective and heart for your family and the teaching ahead.

Don't feel awkward or scared if you have never been alone with the Lord before. . .it is wonderful! You might just want to start with a day or half-day. Whatever you choose, get away with God and let him refresh your heart.

Honoring Homeschool Dads

Father's Day is over and life is back to normal. Dad is back at work. You are either homeschooling or taking a much-needed summer break.

It got me thinking about my husband and other homeschooling dads. Here are some things I hear often.

"I can't remember the last time my husband and I had any time alone together."

"I am up late working on the computer and he gets up early to go to work. We never see each other anymore."

"He just doesn't appreciate all the time I spend homeschooling HIS children."

"I wish he had a better job. We can barely get by on his income."

Often, when I talk to homeschooling moms, they ask me for advice on how to get Dad to do more or to be more supportive. Many times, in the hustle and bustle of homeschooling a houseful, romantic life with Dad is put on the shelf and Mom focuses on the children, maybe more than she should.

So, what can we do to honor and appreciate our husbands more and express criticism less.

Helpmates

We are God's girls first, wives second, and homeschooling moms third. Our husband is our second priority in life! We are given to him by our Heavenly Father as a gift to be a companion, help, and blessing. Ask  yourself each day, "How can I serve my husband today and fill his life with joy?" Focus on him and his needs. Teach your children the same thing!

Clutter & Homeschooling

"What are you doing?" my husband asked. "Are you coming to bed soon?  You've been on the computer all night."

"And all day too. I'm making room on my hard drives. They are both full. I deleted 4,000 emails today. Now, I'm deleting duplicate picture files. My camera is 10 megapixels and the files are large. Also, there are a lot of video files from Shine and Phoebe..."

"Okay, Honey. It's fine. Don't explain. I'll see you in the morning."

I have 600 somethings on my computer. My computer friends told me that my computer has enough space that I will never fill it. Hah! Little do they know!

Clutter in my Life

I can fill anything--an empty drawer, an empty bookcase, an empty room, and an empty hard drive. I create piles of papers and books wherever I go. If I walk into a room, I will leave behind a pile of books.

But, filling up my hard drives was a wake-up call to me. I have a problem with clutter. There is clutter in my homeschool room and clutter in my computer. I might join a support group.

"Hi, I'm Meredith Curtis and I'm a pack rat. I hate to get rid of anything because one day I just might need it. How do other people live without collecting piles of things?"

Homeschooling Lessons from the Sound of Music

Mom and I sat spell-bound in the movie theater until the final credits were over in the 1960's when The Sound of Music came out. My little girl's heart thrilled as Maria twirled through the hills of Austria singing. I loved the laughter of the seven children of Captain Von Trapp, the urging of the Reverend Mother for Maria to Climb Every Mountain, and beautiful wedding where the nuns sang "How Do you Solve a Problem like Maria" in the background. My romantic heart thrilled over the white gazebo, the folk dance scene, and final escape over the alps to freedom.

Mom bought the album for me and I played it over and over again while I twirled through the house pretending to be Maria twirling through the alps. I imagined being a governess, a nun, and the mother of seven children. Here are the lesson I have learned from The Sound of Music.

The Sound of Music brings Joy

Once the captain realized that Maria brought music back into his home, his heart softened. "You brought music back into the house. I'd forgotten," the captain said to Maria. His anger toward her melted away when he heard his children singing.

Music brings joy with it. I want to fill my home with the sound of music--from the classical strains of Handel and Bach to the rockin' beat of Hillsong United and Kutless. I want them to sing along with worship songs in the car when we drive and to make up silly songs when they are happy. 

Another High School Graduation

"Which way do you turn the tassel?" (Tassel? Did we order a tassel?)

"Did you send in the bio for the program?" (I just can't remember....so many bios...)

"Don't worry, Mom, making a slide show is easy. I'll help you!" (Thanks, Shine!)

"Do you want to have the party at my house?" (Yes, thanks, Janet!)

Another graduation, my third homeschool graduation, and my head is in a whirl. So busy getting ready, so focused on all the details, that today, at graduation rehearsal, I was taken by surprise. The minute I heard Pomp and Circumstance, tears began to flow. I'm not ready for my sweet daughter to leave the nest. Can God just slow down time?

Our support group has a lovely graduation. The parents award the diploma then the  graduates share a talent or gives a speech. In the reception hall, graduates set up a table with pictures and mementos. On Rosie's table, she had a letter composed for our church. In it, she expresses her love for each member and shares her journey as a pastor's daughter.

She speaks of her resentment in her early years of trying to live up to people's expectations, feeling like she could not measure up to her "perfect" older sisters. Rosie shares how Jesus ministered to her over time, bringing her to a place of submission and joy in Him. Now, she ministers by leading worship, mentoring, and teaching children. In the letter, she describes how love for church family bursts up in her heart! She just wants to squeeze each person.

Honoring Homeschooling Mothers!

This Sunday, we will celebrate all mothers and give them the applause and honor they deserve for their love, sacrifice, and devotion. To all you homeschooling moms out there, this is my applause to each of you. You are my heroes!

Come On Over For a Visit!

If you could come over to my house, I would put the tea kettle on and make you a big mug of herb tea. Then I would serve you a slice of my gooey rich Tunnel of Fudge Cake, rich chocolate cake with a ribbon of creamy fudge running through it. We would sit and talk about life, homeschooling, husbands, children, world affairs. I would encourage you, tell you that you are doing a great job, and remind you that you are the perfect parent for your child. 

Then, I would give you a dozen roses, one for each year of homeschooling your children. I would ask you to smell the lovely fragrance and remind you that we are the fragrance of Christ to our children; and our whole family is the fragrance of Christ to the world.

We would tell each other stories and swap homeschooling tips, maybe even trade recipes. Soon, we would admit the really funny stuff, those stories that make us laugh until tears stream down our faces.

After our visit, we would probably discover that, in spite of all our differences, we have so much in common, especially our heart for our children.

Homeschool Moms are so Cool!

There are many great maternal figures in the world, but, after all, who else but a homeschool mom....

...Gets up early while it is still dark...oops, wait a minute, that's the Proverbs 31 Woman...teaches her children to fix their own breakfast at the age of two so she can grab a few more winks before she hits the ground running. After all, she was up all night nursing the baby.

Is it Time for a Field Trip to the Beach?

 "Can you give me my spelling test?" my 12 year old son asked me, again. He has been trying to get my attention. But I am staring out the window.

"Mom, when can we do writing?" Jenny Rose asks me. We are a few lessons behind in our writing course, One Year Novel Adventure. I really enjoy the course. It actually has helped me in my own writing a lot. I plan to sit down when we are finished the course and watch all the video segments again. But, even though it's a great course. I just don't feel like doing it right now.

"Did you finish grading my persuasive paper yet? Oh, and can you think of any more topics? I can't think of any more topics. In fact, I'm tired of writing persuasive papers. How many more do I have to write?" This is all from my daughter who will IM for hours, persuading her friends on facebook to follow Jesus. I should say something about that to her, but I just don't feel like it.

What is wrong with me? It happens every spring. I just want the school year to be over. I want to do something else besides homeschool today. Maybe I could get a massage or play tennis or get a pedicure or try out a new recipe or write a song.

You see, the problem today is that the sky is just so blue. Florida has these incredible blue skies that captivate my heart and call me outside.

Finish Well

 "The skit was excellent. But, unfortunately, that is exactly how my family is," a man admitted to my husband at the Finish Well conference. He was referring to the skit that opened up the conference on Friday night portraying the communication problems that many homeschooling families experience in their homes. This skit revealed the spiritual battle that occurs when we try to communicate.

After the skit, many fathers listened attentively as Pastor Mike challenged them to lead their homes. Pastor Mike walked the fathers in attendance through the process to win back the heart of a rebellious teen. In fact, you could hear a pin drop. Every eye watched Pastor Mike and listened intently. I never knew the problem was so intense in homeschooling families. People needed hope. When an altar call was given, dads rushed forward to ask the Lord to help them, and anoint them.

Wow! I did not dream the Finish Well Homeschooling High School conference would begin like that. Well, actually, the conference began with airsoft games in the late afternoon. Maybe that was foreshadowing of what was to come. Later, in the evening, the battle in our homes was revealed. Still later, the Lord began to be victorious in men's hearts, winning the battle!

Learning about St. Patrick

Holidays are always a great excuse to get off track a little bit and enjoy a scenic "rabbit trail" from the usual routine. This is especially true when spring fever is attacking even the most disciplined homeschool mom. So, since St. Patrick's Day is coming up. . .

Who is St. Patrick? Isn't he an Irish priest? Is he a leprechaun? Is he a legend or a real person?

St. Patrick was an English missionary and Apostle to the nation of Ireland. He was captured by Irish pirates as a young boy. St. Patrick is a Christian hero that your children will enjoy learning about.

In a day where our heroes are robots, terminators, or men lacking integrity, it is so good to learn about a true hero, brave in every situation.

Kidnapped!

Born in England during Roman times, Patrick enjoyed life in a Roman colony seaside village. His father was a priest in the Celtic church, but Patrick did not want to serve God like his parents did. It took a disaster to bring him to the Lord.

One day, Irish pirates stormed Patrick's seaside village and killed many of the inhabitants. At the young age of fourteen, he was kidnapped, taken as a slave to Ireland, and worked as a shepherd. Ireland was a land of pagans and Druids who worshiped idols. Patrick felt very homesick.

During his captivity, he remembered his parent's faith in God and surrendered his life to Jesus as Lord and Savior. He grew closer to the Lord during these years and did his best to be a shining light for His Messiah.

Beauty Secrets for Homeschool Moms

Who doesn't long to be beautiful? As homeschooling moms, very little times exists in our lives to dedicate to outward beauty. We are rushing, moving, working throughout the day, making the world a better, brighter place for our family.When we finally get some make-up on our face and a pretty outfit on our body, it is more than likely to be spit upon or spilled on by one of our little ones.  

If we have several children, our bodies are not as trim and firm as we would like them to be. There are also those pesky bags under our eyes from sleepless nights of nursing a sick child or comforting someone who's had a bad dream.

Beautiful Moms

Yet, I think that there is nothing more beautiful than a homeschool mom!

Motherhood is beautiful. The gaze of love that a mother gives her child is breathtaking to behold. The look of joy on a young woman's face when her little one learns to read, or pee-pee on the potty, or recite his multiplication tables is lovely.

There is a beauty about pregnancy, nursing, and motherhood that is impossible to duplicate. Moms lugging a load of laundry to the washer, washing dishes at a sink full of suds, or bandaging a boo-boo are pleasing to the eye. How delightful to watch a mother giggle with her toddler or gaze in wonder at a butterfly with her young child.

Lord, Teach Me to Love!

Love is in the air! St. Valentine's Day has just been celebrated and all the chocolate in pink and red wrappers in 50% off. My favorite time of year! Pink and chocolate combined. . .at a great deal! The roses are still lovely, gracing the dining room table. Heart shaped cards are on the buffet, a reminder of being loved by my family.

Love is an emotion that wells up inside my heart when I watch my children sleeping, see them win an award, listen to them. or hear them talk about the Lord. So often, I am proud of them, not just for their achievements, but for who they are and who they are becoming.

Love, of course, is more than an emotion; love is a choice to do good for someone else at cost to your own personal comfort. Love is all about the other person, giving them your best, trusting God to take care of your own needs. We are commanded by God to love one another deeply from our hearts, to seek their good, to lay down our lives, to care about their interests, to honor them above ourselves.

So, we experience love as a daily decision and we experience love as a delightful emotion.

But, of course, there are those times, when it is hard to sing the songs of love and devotion, when I must cry out to the Lord. . .

Teach me to love when my son walks around the house in his socks, wearing them out and getting them filthy dirty, after telling him at least 877 times to put his shoes on or go barefoot. After all, we live in Florida. We really don't need to wear socks and shoes.

Books and Beyond

"I needed to hear what she had to say," Blanche admitted, referring to the speaker. "I brought my children home from public school, but I still treat them as if they are doing homework, rather than homeschooling them. Does that make sense?"

"Well, I think so," I mumbled. I didn't want to admit it, but I wasn't following her yet.

"I don't have the homeschool lifestyle down yet. It's still just about academics, not relationships. It's all about them just getting their work done, not about spending time with them, helping them grow up to be godly men."

"Yes, I understand." I nodded at her reassuringly. "It sometimes takes time to shift your mindset from one thing to another. Don't throw academics out the window, but focus on being with them, learning together, loving them.

(Blanche and I continued our discussion, making plans to follow-up the talk at a later date at sandwich shop. God was breaking through, giving her a paradigm shift. I was excited!)

Where is my Hairbrush?

 "Where is that necklace," I fumed, searching frantically through my dresser drawers. I was rushing off to sound check, running late, trying to get dressed and out the door. Suddenly, I had an inspiration.  Rushing down the hall, I entered my daughter's room, opened her drawer and quickly examined the contents. There was my necklace!  I scooped it up and headed to church!

God has blessed me with four daughters and one son. Life with five children is wonderful! I dreamed of having a big family as a little girl. The Lord has made my dreams come true! I never imagined that Jesus would give me such amazing children. If they weren't mine, I'd want to go out and adopt them!

There are some things, though, about sharing a home with four other women that make life challenging.  For example, if I get a really cute shirt, I'll never see it again...except on one of my daughters. My make-up walks on its own to another bathroom because everyone denies borrowing it. And worst of all, I can never find my hairbrush! 

Over the years I have bought hundreds of hairbrushes. I always put one in my purse and one in my bathroom drawer. Lo and behold, they always disappear within twenty-four hours of purchase! Believe me, I understand why banks have their pens on chains. I have considered chaining my hairbrush!

Learning and Loving and Living At Christmas

Next week is Christmas! There is so much left to do. By now, homeschooling is finished until after New Years Day except for that child that is "catching up" on math or some other subject because they are so behind! But is school ever over? What things does God have to teach us and our precious children this holiday season. Gather around, my dears, and let me share some Christmas lessons. 

There's not always time to do everything we want to do!

So many Christmas dreams beat in our heart! If you are like me, you want to be the "perfect mom" doing all the perfect Christmas things and making our family enjoy the best of everything Christmas has to offer. There is simply not enough time to do it all.  As God to show you what beats in HIS heart and to order your schedule. No one will be heartbroken if you do not make Aunt Edna's Cole Slaw on Christmas Eve, but maybe the homemade eggnog is just too yummy to not make. Try simplifying recipes and traditions so that preparation time is shorter and family togetherness time is longer.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:3).

God often supersedes our plans for better plans!

We made our plans, tie them snugly to our heart, and put our whole heart into bringing them to pass. When inconveniences or surprises happen, they catch us off-guard, making us hurt or angry. But, God is on the throne of your life! Only what He allows to happen, happens. Even if it is an attack of the enemy, it has to get through God's protective hands, so relax when your plans change. I hate this as much (maybe more!) than you! But I know in my heart of hearts that when God disrupts my plans, He is often testing my heart. Will I respond with a submissive, obedient heart or will I fail the test. Make plans, work to bring them to pass, but, ultimately, leave the results to God. He is good at running your life!

Gift Ideas for Homeschooling Families

Christmas is here and it's time to go Christmas shopping. Yes, our intention was to be finished by now and have the presents neatly wrapped, but, even if we've begun to shop, there are still people on our lists.

Gifts to Give as a Family to Neighbors, Friends and Extended Family

We often do a unit study in December. We also take lots of Christmas field trips. Part of our Christmas unit study is making gifts. We make wreaths, ornaments, quick breads, cookies, and, even, perfume. All the gifts we've made for others fall under the subject of homemaking or art. You can teach sewing, serging, quilting, cross-stitch, baking, cooking, canning, and handwriting during the gift making process. 

Beside the usual fudge and Christmas cookies, here are some ideas for gift giving:

• Pretty dish with a casserole inside that just needs heating up
• Ceramic loaf pan with a loaf of freshly baked bread
• Photo album or frame with pictures in it
• Scrapbook with a page finished by you and the kids
• Inspirational book
• Christmas mugs with hot chocolate packets or herbal tea bags in them

What are the Personalities of the Kids you are Teaching? - Part 2

Let's continue our look at the personalities you are teaching in your home! We talked about Cholerics and Sanguines last time. Now, let's look at the melancholy and phlegmatic personalities.

Matt & Meagan Melancholy

Matt and Meagan like to sleep in because they stayed up late last night writing a brand new song or story. Melancholy personalities tend to be extremely gifted and talented, though often insecure about their abilities.They often focus on what they can't do, rather than what they do well. They will complete a project that looks absolutely perfect to you and dissolve into tears because of some invisible flaw that only they can see.

Idealistic is the word that comes to mind when I think of my melancholy friends. They are often perfectionists who think that something worth doing is worth doing well. (I agree!) But, they will take this to an extreme so that if something isn't done perfectly, it is unacceptable. This makes it difficult for them to try new things that they are not gifted at such as sports, singing, playing an instrument, math, art, driving a car, babysitting, or really anything. They will procrastinate because they fear failure.

What Personalities are You Teaching at Home? - Part 1

We talked last time about your personality and how it affects your teaching in What Homeschooling Personality are You?. But, what about your children's personalities?

Children are each uniquely made in the image of God. There are certain traits to look for in the personality of each of our children that will help us to adapt our teaching style. Let's take a look!

Sam & Sarah Sanguine

Sam wakes up with a bounce! "Who are we going to see today?" he asks as soon as he sees you. He loves co-op day, field trips, and unexpected company. In fact, he loves anything unexpected, especiallyfun surprises!

Sarah loves hanging out with her friends. Her favorite part of homeschooling is co-ops, homeschool classes, social events, and field trips.The more people involved in an activity, the better!

Because Sam and Sarah love meeting new people, keep school work focused on people rather than facts and dates when you teach them about history, science, Bible, character, or English. They want to know who was involved in the events that happened in the past, what people wore, who married who, what friendships existed, and, especially, what people did back then to have fun. Focus on Bible personalities and their relationships with God, rather than details that don't interest them.

What Homeschooling Personality are You? - Part 2

Every homeschool mom is unique and none of us are perfect. There, I've shattered two of the myths of teaching our children at home. Still, we try to fit a mold of the perfect homeschool mother and often feel that we miss the mark. God has a sense of humor--just look at His creation! As part of that fearfully and wonderfully made creation, each one of us is one of kind, a delight to our Heavenly Father of Lights!

Our personalities play a big part in how we educate our children at home, sometimes even why we do it. So, let's have a little fun and talk about homeschooling mother personalities. Then we'll take a look at homeschooling-child personalities. Last week we met homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholic! This week, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.

Carol Choleric

Carol is efficient and energetic. She maintains a schedule with the perfect balance of home and away-from-home activities. She is in only one support group, which she leads. She is a dedicated leader that cares about the other homeschooling moms who come to her for help and advice.  Many  families end up using the same curriculum that Carol does, so she is extra careful in her choices. 

What Homeschooling Personality are You? - Part 1

God made you uniquely you!  There is no one else in the world like you and are the perfect homeschooling mom, carefully chosen by the Father of Lights for your own children.

All homeschooling moms are unique because of their spiritual maturity and their personalities. We can grow in the Lord, but we can also cultivate our personalities. So, let's have a little fun and explore this topic together. Maybe you will see yourself (or your best friend!) or maybe you'll see one of your children. On a more serious note, adapting our homeschooling style to fit our personalities can make a big difference in the joy and success we experience in homeschooling.Today we will meet homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholy! (Next time, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.)

Susie Sanguine

Perky and popular, Susie loves homeschooling, except when she hates it. She is clever and funny, coming up with creative ideas to teach almost any subject. She participates in all kinds of co-ops, support groups, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. In fact, she and her children are seldom home. Why join one support group, when you can join three, is Susie's motto.  She has many friends and other children wish their moms were more like Susie.

Building Your Homeschool Library - Part 2

Last time, in Building Your Homeschool Library I, we talked about shopping for children's picture books, classic literature, Christian literature, and historic fiction. Today, we will talk about more genres to add to your growing homeschool library.  The following categories of books will make great additions to your homeschool library, so be sure to investigate these genres. Talk to other homeschool moms about their library suggestions.

Biographies

This is my favorite way to learn about people from other times and places. Biographies, like historical fiction, introduce us to the time and place we are studying by seeing it through the eyes of one person, the subject of the biography. When I close a biography, I feel like I have a new friend. Of course, usually this new acquaintance lives somewhere far away and is no longer alive! When I was a little girl I read every single Childhood of Famous Americans, a series of biographies written for children, that I could get my hands on. Now, my son Jimmy loves to read them. Autobiographies are biographies written about the author. Two autobiographies that our family enjoys are Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. Closely related are diaries and journals. We read The Log of Christopher Columbus in US History class, his personal account of his famous voyage across the Atlantic in 1492.

Inspirational BooksThese books are for all ages and help us grow closer to the Lord. Purpose Driven Life and Prayer of Jabez and wonderful examples of this category of books. My children have a deep desire to grow in their walks with Jesus in their teen years. They have enjoyed some of my favorite books and have discovered their own favorites. Here are some more Curtis favorites, both classic and modern, to inspire spiritual growth: A Christian's Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whittal Smith, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hannard, Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy, I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris, Prison to Praise by Marlin Carothers, Improving Your Serve by Charles Swindoll, Victory over Darkness by Neil Anderson, and Search for Significance by Robert McGee.CookbooksCookbooks are always fun, especially historical or geographical ones with recipes you can use to supplement history class. We have enjoyed The U.S. History Cookbook:  Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond. Another great E-book cookbook is Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook. Cookbooks usually have interesting food facts and history tidbits to spice them up. Don't underestimate their value in the homeschool library.

Building Your Homeschool Library I

Books, books, and more books! That's the way life is for homeschooling families. Every good school has a good library and home schools are no exception. But what books should you line your shelves with? Here's a quick overview of what kind of books will benefit your children and you during your family's homeschool adventure. 

Remember you can build a library slowly. Don't rush out and buy everything. Look for sales and become a frequent shopper at used book stores and thrift stores. I have picked up many classic books for 25 cents. My favorite place to get books is at public library sales. The libraries often toss out older, more conservative books to make way for modern silliness. That's great for us!  We can pick up expensive classic books for a song.

Here are the kinds of books that you should purchase with examples of quality reading material in each category.

Picture Books for Young Children and Early Readers

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman was my husband's favorite book as a child. It's on our shelves too and my children enjoy it just as much as he did back in the sixties. A picture book purchase should be based on the story and the illustrations. There are picture books in our library that are practically works of art. There is a list of our family's favorite picture books on our website, Joyful and Successful Homeschooling.

Picture Books for Older Children

These books are wonderful for read aloud in unit studies. Do you know that no one is too old to read a well-written, beautifully illustrated picture book? But there are actually picture books written for older children that our family uses for unit studies. The Library of Alexandria by Kelly Trumble is a lovely book about the largest library of the ancient world. The oldest living story, Gilgamesh, is available as a picture book, Gilgamesh, the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean, that our family has been delighted to listen to as mom reads aloud.

Classic Literature for Children

My mother read Little Women and cried when Beth died. I cried too and so did each of my daughters as the read the well-loved, well-worn pages of this classic by Louisa May Alcott. Swiss Family Robinson is an excellent classic to have available for your children to pick up and read. For several classic book lists, see Joyful and Successful Homeschooling's Reading lists or Classical Christian Homeschooling's 1000 Good Books List.

What School Supplies Do You Need?

It's that time of year when the sale fliers are filled with school supplies at great prices. So, what should you buy? What exactly do you need to have in your schoolhouse to make teaching easy and effective?

Let's start with what you don't need. You don't need anything fancy or expensive. Those things are fine to buy if you like, but plain folders serve the same purpose as fancy ones, so don't get sucked in to buying something that you don't need.

You can stock your home school with supplies as needed, but do take advantage of the sales. A glue stick for 5 cents is a great bargain! Pick up items that are on sale, especially notebook paper and pencils, which seem to be used up at astronomical rates in our home! I pack a grocery cart this time of year with bargains. The secret is to only buy those things that I really do use during the year. Here are some items to consider purchasing eventually for your school supply cabinet.

Paper

Lined notebook paper, computer paper, construction paper, drawing paper, graph paper, card stock, and watercolor or finger painting paper all get used at our house. Paper doesn't wear out, so buy whatever you have room to store. I purchase a year's worth of paper each August.

Writing/Coloring Supplies

Watch out! These items disappear behind couches, under seat cushions, in the van, and inside the dog's mouth. So prepare to purchase these items in bulk:  pencils, pens, washable markers, crayons, colored pencils, and white board markers. Don't forget big crayons and pencils for little fingers.

Globe

We use this all the time.  Make sure it's sturdy. My son and his best friend used ours for a bowling ball during a history unit study and, thankfully, it survived.

Large Laminated World Map

Another item we use all the time in history or geography class. It's great for praying over the nations of the world too. Rand McNally still makes the prettiest large laminated world maps, at a relatively inexpensive price.

What does it Mean to be Educated?

 

Throughout time, cultures have valued an educated man or woman, but that definition has changed throughout the years and is different in various cultures. Let's look at historical differences in the definition of an educated man or woman in our own Western Culture. We are influenced predominately by the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and Western European Cultures.  

Ancient Greeks

The Ancient Greeks loved to lounge around discussing beauty, art, and philosophy. The ideal for beauty is seen in their lovely statues and beautiful architecture. The ideal for education was the ability to appreciate and discuss beauty, literature, art, and philosophy.  "Wisdom" was esteemed and searched for in those who were educated. 

Ancient Romans

The Romans were men and women of action! Good Roman leaders rallied the troops and people to conquer most of the known world, build roads and bridges, and enforce the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). The ability to speak persuasively in public was highly valued by the Romans. Though they studied many subjects, persuasive public speaking and the ability to win a debate decisively were the marks of an educated man or woman. 

Ancient Hebrews

Although they struggled to remain loyal to the One True God, Hebrews valued obedience to the Lord. Their education focused on learning the Scriptures, memorizing them, and living them out in daily life. They even added more requirements to the Law given to them by God through Moses. To the Hebrews, an educated man or woman knew God's Word and obeyed it.