Hi Blogging friends!

I've been so busy that I am not always able to get on here and take care of blog business.  I hope to be able to catch up on that in the next ten minutes! 

I said I'd give away some Ebooks this month, and am a little behind on that too.  If you have left me a comment recently with your email address, be looking for a download in your inbox.  If you would like to have a free copy of "Haircuts For Little Men" please let me know.  I know we can all use a little help now and then, and if you are up to the challenge of learning how to do haircuts at home, it can really save you some money. 

We've got several friends who are struggling in this crazy-wacked out economy and I'd like to tell you about at least one of them who has a great idea and a website where you can help out.  Go here and see how keeping CHRIST in Christmas might help out a family who needs it.

Other than that, please keep us in prayer while we deal with a crisis in our extended family.  Just pray.

When it rains it pours, and I don't mean Morton's salt!  However, just thought that might make a really good spiritual lesson, when life rains down adversity, the Lord will help you as you remain in Him, and be salt (and light) in these situations. 

Please continue to pray for Jessica Hulcy and her recovery.  If you aren't getting her updates through caringbridge, you are missing seeing God move and also the blessing of her family as they chronicle  this amazing journey.  She still has a lot of recovery to go through, but God is doing amazing things.  Keep her in your prayers.

Also, my friend over at UnderTheSky could use your prayers also.  She's a gal who I worked with for several years over the internet, but we've never met in person!  But she's been there for me when things were tough here, both spiritually speaking and in practical ways. 

We are hoping here to have a peaceful weekend, and know that with the Prince of Peace we can have that.  I pray that He will give you that peace also, even if it seems impossible in light of what is going on in YOUR life today.  He can and will do it.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. " 

 John 14:27

Blessings!

Nancy

     Some of you may not know that one of my children has Juvenile Diabetes.  While God is using this in His own way for our "growth" in grace, it is still a very trying time.  As I write this however, I know that there are many more families out there dealing with far more serious conditions.  But though the conditions are all of different degrees of difficulty, there are many of the same things we share.  One is that we all wish we could "get away from it all" and I know that our prayer more often than not is "Come Lord Jesus!"  And although that is our hearts desire for eternity, for now we just need some respite from the constant struggle we have in our homes.

I know for some of us, the struggle is really a "count it all joy" time.  Some of us are wired differently, and can handle it better than others.  But even if we can handle it well most of the time, we all need a break!  Don't you think so?  I do.  We need a rest.  But we can't just take a day off and ignore the special needs or situations.  Life goes on!  Diabetes doesn't take a break.  Fill in the blank here:  your child's disability or disease does not take a vacation.  It is very hard for us to find someone who we can trust with our child so we can go away for a day or two.  So we just don't go.  And families, spouses, siblings; they all need a break for refreshment and ministry.  We have wonderful friends with children of Down Syndrome.  They can't find anyone to step in for a short time so they can get away.  We all want to help sometimes, but it is hard...

Enter "Hopeful Farm."  This is SO exciting!  I am pasting a letter here for you to read, and be sure to listen to the interview at the end of it.  This is a vision that was given to a young homeschooled girl, that is now coming to fruition many years later.  I am so expectant to see what all the Lord is going to do with this family and their willingness and desire to minister to families in need of a break.  I really think this is the heart of the Lord, and I am so happy to be watching it unfold.  Take a moment to read about Hopeful Farm, and tell your friends too!  There are many ways that you can help, Lord Willing, for this to become an amazing reality that will bless many families one family at a time.

Nancy

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dear Friends,

I'd like to take a moment this morning to invite you and your children to participate in a very special event that is going on this week – something your family is just going to love to be a part of!  

Many of you are familiar with Jill Novak, author of The Gift of Family Writing and publisher of The Girlhood Home Companion. This summer the Novak family began a new chapter in their lives with the founding of Hopeful Farm, a non-profit organization based in Kentucky that ministers to families impacted by special needs.

The vision for Hopeful Farm was planted in the Novak's hearts ten years ago, after the birth and death of their fourth child, Nicholas, who was born with a genetic syndrome. Now, Hopeful Farm is finally becoming a reality.

The mission of Hopeful Farm is truly unique and much needed as it seeks to provide an all-access environment in which families impacted by special needs may find time to focus on each other, build relationships, and gain refreshment and renewal in an escape from the exhausting grind of everyday life.

This is the first time Hopeful Farm has held a benefit of this magnitude, and you will not believe the resources that are being donated as a thank you for your participation. If you have been wanting some of Jill's writing and drawing products to enrich your home school curriculum, not to mention her resources for mothers and daughters, this is something you have to see!

www.hopefulfarmfoundation.org/benefit.htm    

Not only that, but Jill's publishing friends have donated some incredible resources as well, as a way to bless you for becoming involved in this very important work.

Your family can have a direct impact on families with children with special needs – and in return, your own family will receive a blessing from all of the wonderful companies that have offered their products in support of Hopeful Farm.

If you would like to hear what Hopeful Farm is all about, you can access an online interview by Cindy Rushton with Claire and Jill Novak at www.hopefulfarmfoundation.org/interview.html    

This benefit will run for one week only until Sunday, October 5^th, so take a look now...and please tell a friend or three or four about it!

Thanks so much,

Nancy

Can you be an unschooler and a Christian at the same time?  Can you be a radical unschooler and a Christian?  This is a question posed over on my friend Dana's blog recently.  There is some great discussion.  Go take a peek!   (I don't consider myself to be a radical unschooler.)

Dana asked me to put my .02 in, but I am still thinking about it.  I believe that as an unschooler (in the sense of non-institutional type learning experience) I am still a Christian first, unschooler second.  Or third, or whatever. 

 I believe that the Lord expects us to direct our children in the way they should go (their aptitudes) by what He has put in them (their talents) and through HIM, (the Theology without which any of this would have any validity.)  So to raise them without any input, direction or guidance of any form would be no less than neglectful.  How can you have a relationship with your children without having a................relation-ship with them?

God designed it, I didn't, I can't and I won't try to re-invent it.  I think I will just do my best to enjoy it, learn from it and trust Him for the outcome. 

Nancy

What a wonderful video Jojo over at Art of Eloquence posted today.  Have you been reading my mail??

This really blessed me and touched me in a "mountaintop" kind of way

I had the video posted here, but it "morphed" on me and turned into a different one.  I was told it was good, but I didn't want it here.  So go check out the link above, you will REALLY like it.

As a reminder of God's love for me, I thought I'd post a picture of myself on a real, glorious mountaintop that the Lord created.  Check out that view! 

(Not me, the Grand Canyon, silly!)

Blessings,

Nancy

Have you ever heard of that before?  It is an acronym I am becoming very familiar with.  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  Don't quote me on that.  I am a bit tired, but basically it is terminal lung disease.  My Dear Mom has it, and we believe it is in the end stage.

She has been in the hospital very much lately, but is now home resting and we have hospice care helping.  I am away from my family for a time.  I am only writing this here for my friends to read, and hope you will all undergird us wtih your prayers.  I have three sisters and we are all dealing with this as best we can, one day at a time.  Last night, Isaiah Chapter 40 was a powerful blessing to me.  I am so helpless right now.   But I lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from?  It comes from the Lord!  Oh, the state I would be in if I didn't have Him.  God is my all in all.

It is absolutely amazing to me how God in His mercy and wonderful plan gave me a husband like mine is, solid, strong, caring.  My kids have been amazing in my absence, and while we are going through this God is just allowing my husband to be with the kids!  Our oldest is also being my  "arm holder" giving me strength by taking on some hard tasks.  She is amazingly capable.  I can't say she got it from me, God just made her that way.  She is more mature at 15 than I was at 30.  God is to be praised!  I want to give Him public thanks for working this all out on my Mother's behalf.  I am so glad to be able to be with her.

Thank you dear ones for your prayers and kind words.  I am so blessed by all my blogging buddies!

I will update as I can,

In  His Tender Care,

Nancy

Sept. 2~

I am sorry I confused everyone by not telling you where to click.  Anyway, my dear Mama went home to be with the Lord on August 29th.  Please keep us all in your prayers as we prepare her memorial~celebration service. 

God has been giving me the peace that passes ALL understanding!  I will never understand why I continue to have my doubts about the wonderful nature of God.  Mom's passing was so peaceful and beautiful!  I am also seeing so much fruit and am undergoing a transformation in my own heart and life.  The Lord is showing me that I have wrongfully judged many of my dear family members based on outward appearances.  He is gently reminding me that He is the judge, and He looks at the heart, which only He can truly know.

I am also learning many new things about my Mom.  My life with her was only one small facet in her life, and there are many more facets that make up the gem that she became.  Her life was wrought with much pain, unfairness, harsh reality and the refiners fire.....and she has come forth as a diamond is formed from intensity of experience!  In my mother's final days, she was still absolutely aware of everything around her and was feisty and funny.  She never complained, but was thankful for each thing.  She also had everyone laughing and had a comeback for everything!  Mom was on a ventilator for over 24 hours, and when it was time to be taken off, she held up her crossed fingers for all those around her to see.  And she was able to breathe on her own.  After that, she made sure that someone went out and bought birthday cards and got them in the mail for two of her daughters.  She was always thinking of others!

This list could go on, and I do hope to tell you some of the amazing things that have transpired.  Mom knew her time was near, and she had me call her best friend to come over and see her on the 27th.  On the 28th, Mom was completely unresponsive.  She took her last breath on the morning of the 29th.  God is truly amazing for seeing us through all this.

Hope to write more, and share more of the wonder of the Lord.

Prayers for my family are appreciated!

Nancy

Wow, if blogs are good for one thing, they sure are good for knowing what you have been up to!  I can go back and check up on myself without having to try to muster up some working brain cell recall.  It's all right there in the archives! 

And then there is the infamous Christmas Newsletter!  Those are a good summation of our year.  I love reading those from the past, and I love getting them from friends so I can see all the cool things they did.  Did anyone out there do one?  I love to hate those things. 

I almost always write one, but usually only a few actually get mailed.  This years attempt was fraught with problems.  I tried to add too many photos which made too many MB's, trying to put a PDF of one together for my dear friends to download.  Gee, I should have just sent them my BLOG link! (Hitting self on forehead) Why didn't I think of that before!!???

I have a basket full of old holiday magazines and books, and I read this lovely old Erma Bombeck column about newsletters.  It was riotous!  I might have to dig it out and post it. I know I couldn't do justice in trying to do my own humorous letter....but I might just have to try.  After all, it's 1:28 AM, and me spelling and me grammar are bad enough as it is :)

 Here goes noth'in!

Greetings from the Baetz Family!

It has been a fruitful year here at our home.  At least one of our children has passed us up in height and is scaring us to death.  Hopefully none of them will pass us up in weight, although our dog is gaining on us. 

Speaking of our dog, she got to spend the night in a very expensive hotel recently, complete with catered meals.  She escaped from our compound and got a limo-ride to the place.....and although we did get her back, she brought home a nasty virus that she picked up from the other revelers.  Thankfully, now she is on the mend and so is our pocketbook.

We had a wonderful holiday and bought all our kids power tools.  Hopefully, there won't be any serious injuries while they work on remodeling our home while I write blogs about it.  We have decided to give them one last chance to redeem themselves and if they can't get it done this week, we will be putting them in the local school.  Ahhh, to be free from the hustle and bustle of kids and all their selfish demanding ways!  No more of this "Mom can you read to me?" or "Mom, what is for dinner?" stuff!  I will enjoy my time here with a clean, quiet home that is NOT overrun with science experiments (not the ones in the refrigerator) and paper mache' and scraps of fabric, paper, and glitter on every horizontal surface.

Thanksgiving was a blessing....we went to someone elses house so we only had to cook a few pies and opened a can of green beans.  Our 17th Anniversary was memorable, and my husband thanked me for 16 good years!  He's a keeper!

Halloween was a no-brainer this year, we didn't even bother to turn out the lights.  One group of kids showed up and I just told them sorry, we don't have any candy to share.  Columbus day came and went and we taught the kids the song we learned when we were kids. (It is the only thing we can remember about it!)

Several of our kids got another year older and we endulged them on their birthdays.  Some of them got more gifts than the other ones did, but we just told them we liked the other kids better.  Get over it! 

Summer came and went and was hotter than the dickens!  We are SO mean that we didn't even get a kiddie pool this year.  No matter that the kids are all too big for those things.  We did however, enjoy a sprinkler and one water balloon each.

Fourth of July was a blast.  :)  We must have had a really good time, but we can't remember it---it was six months ago!  (Note to self:  Check blog archives for July 4, 2006) 

Spring.  Kids spent a lot of time playing in the dirt.  Oh yes, now I remember.  Planting! 

Let's see....we did have a few months before that.  They must have been good or ....hmmmmm, I do remember the whole family getting sick......

Gee, why is it we seem to remember the worst things..........gotta make a change this year!

New years resolution:  Forget those things that lie behind, put your hand to the plow and don't look back!  

That sounds familiar....wonder where I read it??

(click on those resolutions and find out!)

Blessings to you all in 2007! 

Happy Homeschooling!!!!

Nancy

Homeschooling Is Life!

(c) Nancy K. Baetz,  2007

I have a "Google alert" set up so I can be notified if there is ever a mention of "unschooling" around the world......amazing what technology can do for us.  I have actually had a few pop up lately. 

I love to read these articles just to see how other families around the globe are homeschooling and how sometimes the press can be so worried about this misunderstood term we sometimes attach to our homeschooling style.  Tonight, I was blown away by a story out of the Jerusalem Post.  The words in my title above, were used by a homeschooling parent to describe what they do.  I think this is one of the most encompassing definitions I have ever read, and I loved it.  

"limud l'ein shiur"

 "this means both learning without classes, and also learning without measure"

Don't you just love that?  It really sums it up for me, although we may take an occasional class, our lifestyle here is certainly learning without measure.   Read the whole article here.  

 While I was on that page, I happened to notice an advertisement for an amazing development in the Negev.  I couldn't help but be reminded of a verse or two from Isaiah 35:

Isaiah 35

1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
      And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
       2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
      Even with joy and singing.
      The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
      The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.
      They shall see the glory of the LORD,
      The excellency of our God.
       3 Strengthen the weak hands,
      And make firm the feeble knees.
       4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted,

      “ Be strong, do not fear!
      Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
      With the recompense of God;
      He will come and save you.”
       5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
      And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
       6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
      And the tongue of the dumb sing.
      For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
      And streams in the desert.
       7 The parched ground shall become a pool,
      And the thirsty land springs of water;
      In the habitation of jackals, where each lay,
      There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
       8 A highway shall be there, and a road,
      And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
      The unclean shall not pass over it,
      But it shall be for others.
      Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
      Shall not go astray.
       9 No lion shall be there,
      Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
      It shall not be found there.
      But the redeemed shall walk there,
       10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
      And come to Zion with singing,
      With everlasting joy on their heads.
      They shall obtain joy and gladness,
      And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

God Bless your weekend and God Bless Israel! May we all live to see those streams in the desert.

Shalom,

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz

Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

Oh, you just have to go and read this one.  This is one line you need to memorize.  If all your homeschooling and mothering efforts seem empty and trying, or even non-productive and selfish, then you need to do some Mom-schooling today. 

Here is your first lesson:

Read This Blog.

(God Bless you my friend, ADDMama!)

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz

Homeschooling Is Life 2006

I guess there is quite a bit about unschooling in the news lately.  It is one of those catch-phrases that really bothers a lot of folks.  And all it takes is one story about some really "out there" laid back anti-establishement and anti-everything radical families that tend to give unschooling a sullied name.  I had a link for you to read here, but alas, it's been removed from the internet.  I have no idea where it is now...floating around cyberspace without an anchor, I guess.

I suppose I should leave the current events editorials to the experts, but I like to toss my thoughts around sometimes too.   I think this is a quote by Pat Farenga, of the Holt Associates, but the article wasn't real clear....anyway, it appears that he says this:  "The idea behind unschooling is that children will learn faster if they choose what they learn instead of a teacher choosing for them. . . . The theory behind unschooling is that it builds on a child's natural abilities, which helps them develop intrinsic motivation."

I think that is true to a degree---the second part anyway.  Even in the purest form of unschooling (whatever that is) a child still has to have the ability to communicate in place before he can develop his natural abilities. I whole heartedly agree that children learn best the way they learn best!  We have to become students of the children.  We need to learn their learning style and all those other fancy words ie; modality, etc, in order to serve them well.  (We, meaning "parents") If we are constantly forcing our kids to listen to a lecture when they are kinesthetic learners, well, they will be frustrated to death.  Not to mention our frustration of course.

Anyway, I love what John Holt has done for homeschooling -- and I think that for Christians, we can see the wisdom in it, but we also can't forget the ultimate wisdom that we have.  God planted in our chidren the way they should go---and it is up to us parents to find that way and help them get a clear footing.

The article goes on to say this from  Thomas Hatch, associate professor at Columbia University's Teachers College:   "Children who aren't self-motivated may not function well because no one makes them do the work. Likewise, students who flit from topic to topic within a few minutes won't benefit as much as those who focus and are persistent."

Wow, I think what he just said is that homeschooled students who are allowed to pursue an interest for an "inordinate" amount of time benefit more than a child in a classroom who has to stop "his" project when the bell rings or the teacher changes gears.  Isn't that what he just said??   

And the first part there....I must agree that a lack of self-motivation really doesn't bode well when you are trying to learn something.  But children who aren't self-motivated and aren't Parent motivated are being done a disservice.  God's word says that a fool left to himself is a pox on his parents!  And yes, children are fools.  They are born foolish, and by motivating them with love and truth---we can drive the foolishness far from them.

But let's not let this become that kind of issue.  It's the desire we have inside to learn that drives us and our children, and the world is our classroom.  If a child doesn't have that desire, then there is something else wrong and it's not exclusively the educational choice (or non-choice, as in unschooling) that the parent has decided upon.  The desire has been messed with, and it you can't blame that on the method.  We, and our children, are not little robots that all take the same batteries and have the same software, so to speak.  We are unique.

And last but not least, here is the comment of Tom Horne, Arizona superintendent of public instruction.  To have students pursuing only subjects that interest them while neglecting core topics,  "is a recipe for producing unskilled ignoramuses."

Really?  What about a student pursuing a subject of interest to them, unconstrained by time or curriculum---wouldn't that quite possibly produce a person with a deep knowledege of a subject that is near and dear to their hearts?  It certainly could.  And while I don't want my children to neglect "our" core topics, those probably aren't "your" core topics, Mr. Horne.  To us, core would mean passing on our Biblical values and God's truth to our children.  Our core topics aren't diversity training, sex ed for kindergartners or how to prevent global warming, among other travesties being taught to young children in institutions today.  It not only damages their minds, it damages their souls.  

Sigh.  I don't usually take a very public stance on any of these kinds of debates, but it is good for my mind and soul.  What do you and I believe?  Do we stand up for it?  Do we have an answer when someone says our way isn't valid?  Or that it is damaging to our children's future "potential?"  Hopefully we will be able to remember these words, and we will continue to stand firm for what we believe:

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

If God is for us, who can be against us!?

*********

Thanks for stopping by and blessing me and for taking the time out of your busy day to read my thoughts.  Remember this:  Pray much, complain little, laugh a whole bunch and hug your kids at least 10 times a day.  (70x7???)

It has been an honor and a humbling experience to be chosen as blogger of the week!  Thanks so much!!!  Come back and visit when you can and also visit me on Thursday's Front Porch for my weekly musings on life as a non-un-dis-whatever homeschooler.  :)

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

There is so much to do----I am talking about helping the flood/hurricane victims still.  Don't stop now.  Keep praying, keep giving, keep blessing!  Here is a super easy way to help:  Go to this blog entry from Lorrie at TEACH Magazine.  This is a wonderful way to give a little that will help a lot!

You will be so glad you did it!

Nancy