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Tears are the materials from which God weaves the brightest rainbows.Max Lucado
Jul. 16, 2007
Humility 
Pride goeth before the fall. So at the risk of falling off my high horse, I am here to say that Maggieraye bestowed on me the honor of the "Blogger Reflection Award."
She gives me credit for bravely planting seeds of homeschooling ideas in her head when she was a newly state certified teacher and "thought homeschooling was a bad idea." I really can't take credit. God just used me to plant those seeds, He watered them and made them grow. I selfishly started homeschooling because I loved having my kids around and wasn't ready to give them up to someone else for eight plus hours a day.
We have them for such a short time. In the big scheme of things eighteen years is but a fraction of their life. I want every moment I can have with them before they enter the world on their own and start making their own choices and decisions.
I talked to a mother the other day who said she could never homeschool because she hated school and she didn't think she could give her children a love of learning. What better reason to homeschool than because she had a bad public school experience.
Another mother once told me that she could never homeschool because her kids wouldn't listen to her or do what she said. Another good reason to homeschool. How does she think they will learn obedience if it's not taught and practiced on a daily basis.
Then there was the mother who said she couldn't homeschool because her personality clashed with that of her kids. That one just made me sad.
I truly do not deserve this award, but am honored that I could play a small part in encouraging another to homeschool.
Now, I am supposed to give this award to others who encourage me on a regular basis. I have been lax in reading other blogs lately because of a very busy summer schedule. Some people I would have nominated had already received the award and I wanted to give it to someone who hadn't yet received it. This was difficult as many of you have been an encouragement to me. Not the least of these being the one who nominated me for this honor. However, after scrolling down through my list of friends and links I have chosen the following to receive this award:
Jeannie Fulbright would have to be one of those that deserve this award. Not only is she the author of my favorite elementary science curriculum thus far, she gives great advice on writing, homeschooling, and planning, her blog is full of spiritual encouragement as well. Even if I haven't read her blog for awhile, I can always visit and find a jewel or two that will benefit me and my family.
Bubbebobbie gets this award because she is always leaving me such encouraging comments. The most recent ~ May the Lord Jesus bless there coming and their going. May He fill their mouths with His words and their Hearts with His Love. May Grace abound and above all may Jesus Christ be Glorified! She left me this prayer for my husband and two oldest sons who are currently away on a mission trip and was just what I needed.
Tiany is another blogger who is always an encouragement. She speaks the truth and encourages me to put my husband's needs before my own. To respect his thoughts and ideas. She encourages us to put God first in our lives and her blog isa blessing to me everytime I read it.
Training Hearts is another blogger that has encouraged and blessed me. She started the secret sister program of which I've been blessed to be a part twice now and it's an encouragement to me getting little surprise notes in the mail now and again. She worked very hard to match each person up with a secret sister and regularly sends reminders to us to be good secret sisters.
Thanks to all my friends here on homeschoolblogger. You all have been an encouragement to me at one time or another and I enjoy being a part of the homeschoolblogger family.
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Jun. 4, 2007
Keeping in touch....
Keeping in touch on homeschoolblogger just got easier. Remember the friends link in your sidebar, or under your View My Profile Link, well it's active again and I am so excited. With just the click of one link all of my friends new posts come together on one page for me to view and comment on all at once instead of having to wait for individual pages to load which, with my friends list can take me hours if I choose to check up on everyone on a regular basis.
Now instead of wasting time clicking on someone's blog, who may not have posted for a few days, I can click on my friends link and be instantly alerted to all new posts. I am so glad because I never got the hang of RSS Feeds and even when I figured it out just a little, I still had to click on everyone's individual RSS which definitely took more time than reading all the entries on one page.
So what have my friends been up to lately. TC posted some funnies about the cost of gas these days. Stop by and read them if you need a good laugh. Jacque Dixon included links to an amazing website started by some of our own blogging teens. It's amazing what they are writing and you should check it out it's called Not Just an Opinion... and their first post is about women being keepers at home. Plain Jane posted her Sunday Seven, the seven things she is thankful for this week. If you want to read a funny story, though I wouldn't be laughing if I were in the middle of it, you should visit Jaminacema.
I am so glad that homeschoolblogger has made the change to a new server, that my friends are all just one click away, and especially that the friends link is working again. Try it, you'll be glad you did.
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Oct. 13, 2006
Meeting New Friends...
It's been awhile since I just introduced myself to some new friends on the boards and I'd like to introduce to you some of the new people I met today while random blogging.
The first click of the button took me to the blog of Linda Fay who titles her blog "Higher up and Further In." Her post Motivating The Reluctant Writer spoke directly to something I have been struggling with lately with my 15 year old. He hates writing. However, last night when sharing with him a blog that contained a very different opinion than one he holds on a subject, he went to his room and wrote two pages. I was so excited. Her advice is well worth considering and putting into practice. Writing is a skill that all kids will use in their adult lives and it really needs to become a habit that they enjoy putting into practice on a regular basis. Written expression is, in my opinion less intimidating than the spoken word, because you can write to your hearts content without being refuted, or interrupted, or put down for your opinions.
Next I visited at the blog of Art Bits. Her blog introduces us to many varied and interesting sounding games that can be used to teach many different aspects of art such as architecture, painting, and sculpture. Looking for a fun way to teach art appreciation? Check our her blog, the games are reasonably priced and sound great.
The third person I introduced myself today is Sarah Beth. This is the blog of a nine year old who uses blogging to share her heart, her stories and her dreams. I have been so impressed with the blogs of the young people on homeschool blogger. Many are far more committed to the Lord Jesus Christ than I remember being at their ages. They are an inspiration to me.
After reading Sarah Beth's blog I met another Linda. She has just embarked on her homeschool journey and sounds like she could use some encouragement from some seasoned homeschoolers. I hope you'll pop over and introduce yourselves, so that she will have an avenue of support should she need to call upon it. Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you enjoyed meeting some new people. I always like to meet new people and blogging is a great way to take a peek into other peoples lives without having to travel to do it. I can also find the encouragement I need right when I need it.
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Sep. 15, 2006
New Friends
It’s been a month since I’ve done any bloghopping so here goes. I received a very encouraging comment on one of my posts and through this comment I made a new friend Ruth whom I’d like to introduce you to. She’s only been blogging for about 10 days. She admits that she is new to blogging and asks for any advice that others are willing to share. Her post Letting Go of my Desires for God's plan is about being transparent before God and letting go of our wills for our lives and clinging to Him. It’s about delighting in Him and praising Him for who He is and not for what He can do for me. It’s about believing that what He has in store for my life is so much better than I can hope or imagine. It’s about knowing that He knows best and trusting Him to have His way in my life.
Through Ruth I met Academy252. Her post 30 days of nothing was an admonition to be content with what we have and to think about how very rich we are and how little others live on each day. She even leaves a link to the original post where she got the idea. It’s truly an eye opener and worth the read. If you tend to want more than what you have for your home or homeschool and find yourself wishing you had better curriculum or more space, I encourage you to read it.
Academy252 who also calls herself the Prattling Pastor’s Wife introduced me to Beloved Lamb. Her post Getting Real for a minute is based on James 5:7-11 and talks about being patient with one another but especially being patient with God. It tells us to trust God through the trials that He sends us because he will restore us if we are faithful to trust Him and not curse Him as Jobs wife had actually encouraged him to do. Job however states “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” How many of us can say that. In fact, more often than not we whine and complain and get angry at God for taking away something we think we deserve or need, and forget to trust His provision and trust that He truly does know best.
Thus ends another bloghopping journey. I hope you’ll stop by and welcome Ruth to homeschoolblogger and encourage her to keep up the good work. I also encourage you to think about your level of contentment. Pray that God will help you to “be content with such things as you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” Pray too that, like Paul, you will learn to be content in all circumstances. It’s not an easy thing. It is something we all need to practice and bring before God on a daily basis.
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Aug. 18, 2006
Blog Hopping ~Interests ~Children's Ministry
How many of you know that by clicking on your view my profile link, and then on one of the interests you have listed under "your interests" you will be led to a page of other homeschool bloggers that share the same interest?
Well this is where I decided to do my bloghopping this week. My passion is in Children's Ministry. My one true desire, besides obeying the Lord Jesus Christ in every area of my life, is to see all children come to an understanding of and acceptance of what Jesus has done for them and to help grow in them a desire to live their lives for Him.
Therefore, I have Children's ministry listed as one of my interests and decided to click on that to see who shares my interest. Imagine my surprise or should I say shock when I discovered that only 8 out of the 7000+ bloggers on homeschool blogger have listed Children's ministry as one of their interests. I'm sure this is just an oversight on the part of most bloggers. After all, we are all striving to raise our children in a Godly environment by homeschooling them. Therefore, I tend to believe that Children's ministry is actually one of the top priorities that all of us at homeschool blogger share.
One of the people who listed it as their interest is My Happy Homeschool , don't miss her post on God's Waiting Room. What an awesome thought to know that God is thinking about me, as insignificant as I am in this world. This especially spoke to me because of some trials we are facing. Another favorite verse that comes to mind that really goes along with these thoughts is Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. How can we worry about what's ahead with a promise like that.
Tierat also listed Children's Mistry under her interests. She is exploring ideas on making money to supplement her families income while still staying at home with her children. One idea she talks about in her post Baking Bread to Make Dough. Sounds to me like she's been a busy lady.
Andijeane of Elliots Academy of Excellence reminds us in her post When we Don't Know that it's alright to admit to our children that we don't know the answer or that sometimes Scientists don't know the answer and much of what they do know is speculation. When we don't know we just need to be willing to help our student discover the answers to their questions.
Homeschool Bible Studies has a post titled The Whirlwind in which you can really feel his love for children's ministry. While he hasn't updated for about a month it's nice to know the people who are actively pursuing ministry to kids. He is also an author of Bible Studies for teens.
Angel's Faith of In the Blink of an Eye has a humorous and yet serious post that also speaks to another interest of mine - eating. She doesn't actually talk about eating but the effects of overeating, not to mention the effects of pregnancy on the body and the need to lose weight quickly because she is attending a wedding on Saturday, probably while most of you are reading this post. I laughed at her post Reinforced Toe?? which talks about her shopping trip to Wal-Mart to find the best and most stylish tummy tucking clothes to wear.
Finally, my bloghopping tour of interests ends with Maryhen1965 has a post titled Scheduling which discusses her struggles with how much to schedule for each of her children each day, and how she's taking the advice of a friend and not planning a whole semester at a time, so that she won't be pulling her hair out when it looks like she's getting behind. We all have our own sets of struggles with scheduling and it's nice to read other's posts and know your not alone. Thanks for bloghopping with me today. Hope you enjoy the links and posts and perhaps find a new friend. I expect that the next time I click on my interest for childrens ministry, I'll find a lot more friends.
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Aug. 4, 2006
Blogging Around the World...
It's officially Friday, I don't have to wait any longer to submit my post for bloghopping Fridays. (It's 12:04 a.m. but hey, my husband asked me to turn the computer on to check hurricane status, so I have an excuse to be on.
Come with me as I take a virtual tour around the world and check in with bloggers from other countries and see how their lives and homeschools are reflecting our Saviour.
Asia seems like a good place to start and happens to be the home of my friend Vibrant Faith who happens to be a missionary in Asia. Her post "He's My King" is a wonderful, worshipful look at our Saviour, Lord and King and a reminder of His awesome omnipotence.
While in the area, China seemed like a good place to stop. Here I checked in on Jimmie who, if you read her profile, happens to be homeschooling her only child in China, where they have a one child only policy. I lover her post Water which really is an eye opener as to how spoiled we as Americans are and how we need to remember to be more thankful for the little conveniences we have that so many people in other countries go without.
Panshrmu is a Chinglish family raising their children in Taitung, Taiwan. For more about what Chinglish means you'll have to read her profile. Her post Lessons From a Teabag challenged me to take a look at my own heart and make sure that what is "drawn out of it" will be glorifying to God.
Next I visited with Risa in Honduras, whose post Living and Powerful, is about a heartwarming chat with her son about grace and the fact that we as parents fall and need that grace extended to us, just as our children do and how we need to "attach ourselves" to Him every morning.
On my way back to the good ole US of A I decided to check in with KG who lives on Gabriola Island, BC in Canada. Her Vacation post had me laughing, nodding my head in agreement and hoping it wasn't true all at the same time. Could it be because we are headed on our own little vacation on Monday, out in the deep woods of Maine. Enjoy the trip and if you don't hear from me for awhile it's because we are enjoying our vacation a little too much, and also because there is no electricity where we are going.
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Jul. 21, 2006
Bloghopping Fridays
I have some young people included in my friends list and wanted to check in with them and see how they are spending their summer. Therefore, I stopped for a visit with Lizbeth. She is the daughter of my dear friend Maggieraye. I think you'll find her July 8th post thought provoking, amusing and maybe even a little convicting.
Next I checked in on her friend Alaska Girl. I was moved by her post titled " No Personal Agenda," in which she states "He had no personal agenda! Jesus did whatever HIS FATHER sent him to do at the time." I was blown away by the wisdom she posesses at such a young age.
Then I followed a link to her friend Stardancing and found myself laughing at her post
Moseying along I came upon the blog of Girl on Fire and boy is she ever on fire for the Lord. I was so impressed with her post titled A Great Way to Live. I won't be able to do it justice by trying to describe it to you, so you'll have to check it out on your own. While you're at it why not stop by and applaude these young ladies for their faith in God and give them a little encouragement to keep up the good work.
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Jun. 23, 2006
Journey through Blogland
Here's another installment in my bloghopping journey.
I had tea this morning with Friends4Tea who loves everything tea. Her beautiful blog with an American theme includes links to favorite tea sites and a link to a free devotional called "The Fruit of the Spirit Teas Bible Study." I need to head on over their and download my free copy now. Also make sure you check out her Prayer Basket blog. It goes along with my blog about being more focussed in prayer.
Next I knocked on the door of Hugs4Him and found some neat photos and a blog about the creativity of her kids. I also loved her blog titled "The Road Less Travelled" which talked about her experiences with people who try to undermine her efforts to teach and raise her children in a Biblical manner.
After that I went on over to the house of Im4given Here you'll find blogs and photos of her daughters' first horse show as well as a gorgeous picture of their garden.
Lovkds was the next place I visited. She has a link to a video called "Don't let Your Child be a Kangaroo." It is a satirical look at the public school through a look at animal school. My computer is extremely slow but it was worth my time to watch it because it reminded me that my child is a "unique blend of talents, personality, and ingredients and nowhere else but at home can he recieve an education custom made to help him become what God created him to be. You really must check it out.
Thanks for joining me on my bloghopping journey this morning. I'd love to hear about your 'journey's through blogland.'
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Jun. 9, 2006
Another Bloghopping Friday...
I feel a little like a copycat. My kids are always saying to each other "stop copying me." As I read other blogs I see that they have themes for certain days of the week and I've decided to add my own "bloghopping Fridays." I'd love to be totally spontaneous and have all the ideas that others want to copy but I'm not and I don't.
So I started by visiting someone on my friends list Titus2v5. I added her to my friends list because of her post on The Hand of God. She talks about "humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God" and how that may be easy during difficult times, but how does it look during ordinary days when your son spills his spaghetti in a box full of puzzles, or the toilet overflows?
I loved the name of the next person I visited: Loving Him 4 Ever. She talked about her desire to blog more but that she has more important priorities so decided she needs to schedule it. She's like me in the fact that neither one of us do very well with schedules. They are just too confining for me, I don't know about her.
I decided that next I needed a Holy Experience. Her post on praying over next year's books really convicted me that I don't always commit my ways to the Lord. I mean yeah sometimes I do ask him to guide me in my homeschooling choices, but certainly not as I should. It's not too late. Even though I've got all the books I wanted for next year, I'm going to spend time in prayer asking Him to show me His way and what He wants me to teach His precious little ones next year. And.... if I have to sell some and buy some new, well --He knows best. Be sure not to miss her regular daily blog at blogspot by the same name: Holy Experience.
It was here, that I came to a halt with my bloghopping Friday. I just knew that for me nothing could top it so I didn't want to try. But her site was a great one to end with, don't you think? It truly left me feeling as though I'd had a Holy Experience.
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May. 31, 2006
Blog Hopping...Something for Everyone
I discovered something new this week that was really fun and thought I'd pass it on to you. Have you ever found a verse in the Bible that really meant something to you and then followed the cross references just as far as you could until you were referred back to the original verse. I've done this lots of times and sometimes come away with more treasures than I can process. Anyway, I decided to do this with blogs. I started by clicking on a blog of someone I've added to my friends list and then randomly clicking on one of their friends and so on. This is where it took me today. My journey began at Joys in the Journey you really must go and read her May 11th post titled I See God's Love, what a marvelous testimony and encourgement this was to me, not to mention a conviction to react better with my own children. From there I headed over to Olive Branch Academy where I had to laugh with her at her May 22nd post in response to Chatham Mommy's adventuresome spirit contest and how she chased her dog all over the Walmart parking lot while her kids sat laughing in the back seat. On down the road I walked until I came upon Butterfly 4 Him and her mouthwatering recipe for Sorbet Delight. Can't wait to try this one. After leaving here I headed off to The Heart of the Home. Here I was uplifted by her post on Joy in the Lord and how our joy comes not from outward circumstances but a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Next I visited with Mama Bugs at Mountain View Christian Academy and her love of history is apparent in her blog posts about the FDR Memorial and The Underground Railroad. One of Mama Bugs friends is Serving Him. I love her post on the Sunday Hymn which is titled A Christian Home and encourages us to build our homes on Christ the Savior and let Him be head, and counselor and guide. How our homes would flourish if we only followed that principle daily. Well, I could have gone a lot further as Serving Him has oodles of friends as well, but I'll save that for another blog-hopping day. So if you love history, recipes, need some encouragement, inspiration or a just a good ole laugh. Why not try the blog hopping thing. You may link to a blog that doesn't interest you, after all we are all different and have different tastes. If that's the case click the back button and click on another friend. You'll be surpirsed, amazed and very blessed by what you may find that you wouldn't have if you stayed within your own circle of friends. If you do stop by any of the posts I linked to won't you leave them a comment and don't forget to tell them I sent you.
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Get your own calendar
Sharing what God is teaching me in hopes
of encouraging others.
Tomorrow is another day, with no mistakes
in it yet."
Anne of Green
Gables
Psalm 40:17
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord
thinketh on me. Thou art my help and my
deliverer.
Isaiah 49:15b-16a
I will never forget you! See, I have you
engraved on the palms of my hands.
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in
me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But
take heart!
I have overcome the world."
Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 77:19b-20a
Though your footprints were not seen, you
led your people like a flock
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the Plans I have for you", declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 30:5b
Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro thoughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 139:17-18
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
I can’t even count them;
They outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning,
You are still with me!
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