• Dec. 24, 2009 - Keeping It Simple
This year, I have been striving for simplification in our observance of Christmas. Though we have never gone overboard in our celebration of Christmas in the past, we have done a lot more running around, decorating, shopping, baking, visiting, and other Christmas-related activities than we have chosen to do this year. The simplicity with which we have faced the season this year has taught me couple of things about celebrating Christmas in general and about my part in my family's celbration of Christmas in particular.
I didn't realize until this year how much pressure I have put on myself in the past--unnecessary pressure. I am beginning to understand and appreciate what my children truly enjoy about holiday festivities and what they can forgo as not as meaningful or important. When we pulled out the decorations at the beginning of the month, I informed them that I wanted to keep the decorating simple. They chose their favorites, and then did most of the work in putting everything up. This told me a lot about what they treasured as Christmas traditions and what wasn't so important to them. Our collection of nutcrackers, for instance, found a prominent place at the insistence of every child, yet the lighted village wasn't begged for. The large nativity, the tree with its special ornaments, the lighted wreath for the door were all taken out, but other things were passed by without a second thought. I learned a valuable lesson on what traditions are making an impression.
Christmas-related activities also gave me a glimpse into what my children especially enjoy about the season. SInging carols, baking cookies, and watching holiday movies have figured prominently in our celebrating this year. They really haven't missed the scurrying around to parties, programs, classes, and shopping trips. I haven't either.
I'm not sure if this simplified version of Christmas celebration will happen next year, but I do know I have enjoyed it. It has given our family the opportunity to focus on what (or more specifically Who) Christmas is truly about. We have spent more time with one another on things that have strengthened our ties as a family, and we have looked to Christ with more ferver.
Christ is, very simply, the reason for CHRISTmas. |
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• Dec. 19, 2009 - Should I Homeschool?
Are you thinking about homeschooling? Here are some negatives and positives of homeschooling:
The negatives include:
1. Homeschooling doesn't mean your children will ace every course, have no problems, get into an elite college on scholarship, obtain a high-paying job, get married and have their life turn out perfect.
2. Homeschooling is a lot of work and takes most of your free time.
3. You will endure a lot of pressure from the world, your family, AND yourself that, by homeschooling, you are "ruining" your children. It can be real frustrating to spend time preparing lessons and getting equipment together only to have a "bad" day or a child who doesn't seem like he is learning. Every homeschool mom will tell you there will be days (or even weeks at a time) when you will feel like nothing is going right and you should just put them back in school.
4. Even though you can homeschool cheaper than sending them to private school, it still costs money to provide an excellent education at home. You WILL have to sacrifice in other areas of the family budget in order to have the money you need to homeschool.
5. You kids will most likely go through periods of time, both during their homeschool life and after, when they wish they were not homeschooled. You (the parents) must be the one who makes the decision and sticks with it.
If you let God take control, do the best you can and forgive yourself on the days you don't, the positives include:
1. Your child will receive a better education in the areas that are most important to him. By homeschooling, you are able to focus your child's education on courses & activities that will help him do what the Lord has called him to do, instead of doing what everyone else is doing. This will better prepare him for his particular career or ministry.
2. Your child will learn to think for himself and be self-educating. This will help him throughout his adult life. Even though he won't learn "everything he needs to know," by the time he graduates, he WILL know how to find the answers for himself.
3. You can arrange your school day around your spouse's schedule so that everyone has quality time together, creating special family memories that your child will never forget. Even if he becomes a prodigal son, he will think back on these times and remember what life is like in a loving and caring Christian home. Eventually, he will tire of the "world outside" and will come home.
4. The character traits and behaviors that you have personally WILL show up in your children. As these manifest, the Lord uses them to let you see how you look to others. As you are training your child, the Lord will also be training you. It will make YOU a better person!
5. You child will eventually tell you that they were glad that you homeschooled them for a variety of reasons. My daughter says it kept her out of "worse" trouble; my son says it enables him to get a high-paying job without college. The reasons will change as the mature and have families of their own.
5. When you are all done homeschooling, you will know that you have done what God called you to do and the Word says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (NIV, James 1:12) |
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• Dec. 19, 2009 - Twitter Feed
Posted By Empty Nest Mom
• Dec. 19, 2009 - It's over!
I've finished the course. I've run the race and now, after 2-1/2 years, I've graduated!
Now, I can get back to my real life! I'm happy to be back on Homeschool Blogger and look forward to interacting with everyone again. |
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• Dec. 18, 2009 - Home from the SOS
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My family and I made it home safely from the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference. The experience of attending the conference was an indescribable blessing for our entire family. The speakers’ messages were powerful and solidly Biblical. We had many opportunities to meet and fellowship with likeminded families. The children benefited from listening to the teaching and meeting other children who are being raised in similar ways and with similar values. Each message we heard, each family we talked with, each and every experience we had throughout the week was a gift of encouragement to us.
God was so good to us through the entire time away from home. The trip out and back went smoothly (despite the length of the drive and the number of little ones which with we were traveling), the visit to the Creation Museum was life-impacting for our children, and the conference itself was a blessing beyond what we could have imagined. Each message challenged us to look to Scripture as sufficient for every area of life. There is nothing in life for which God has not given direction in His Word. Each speaker reminded us that we can find the answers to every problem, every question, every situation in the Bible.
Scott Brown has done an excellent job highlighting many of the encouraging and convicting messages we were privileged to hear throughout the week. Check out the National Center for Family Integrated Churches website for a taste of some of these wonderfully challenging messages.
Though it was wonderful to be at the conference, it is good to be back home and back into a routine. Now the challenge is to live out what we learned over the week…. |
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• Dec. 17, 2009 - What I Don't Want for Christmas - A Gift Certificate of Death
Every year my mom and I play this game that we call, "What I don't want for Christmas." We just tell each other all the things we do not want, from singing fish mounts to hideous sweaters. I could be shopping in a store and something will catch my eye and I have to call my mom right away to tell her that I don't want the new Barry Manilow CD, because you never know, she may have forgotten that I despise Barry Manilow and she could be buying it for me at that very moment. I'm a good daughter for helping her to spend her money wisely.
But this . . . this is by far at the top of my I Do Not Want list. Planned Parenthood is now offering gift certificates that can be used for abortions. How would you like to get that gift? "Here Loved One, I don't want you to experience the joy a baby brings into your life because I think you're stupid and should just find your joy in material objects that don't return love, teach you valuable lessons, and brings you closer in a relationship with a Creator."
A sagerat salute to The Pilgrim over at Defending. Contending. The link in that blog post to the resource is no longer working but you can read more at Fox News.
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• Dec. 14, 2009 - Cute Stocking Ornament!
• Dec. 14, 2009 - Cute Teddy Bear link
• Dec. 12, 2009 - Will the Real Sage Rats Please Stand Up?
I was going through the photos on my camera card today and I found some pictures of sage rats from our property in Oregon. Of course my rat in my avatar and in my header doesn't look anything like these guys, but you don't find too many cartoon sage rats on the internet.
I kind of miss these little guys! We had enabled a large colony of them by feeding them scrap veggies that we threw out into our compost pile. Not a lot of it ever turned into compost, at least, not there in the pile itself. The sage rats were so cute as they nibbled and scurried about.
My favorite picture. Look at those cute little cheeks!
Of course, this one looks like me.
Wisps of grass are in the way, but I think he's smiling!
This would be Bluejane.
This one was feeling a bit more brave.
Here's Kekoa.
Stand tall and proud little guy!
Finally Eyebright! |
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• Dec. 9, 2009 - Of Car Trips and Creation Museums
Where oh where is Kay in Maine? Well, right now I'm not in Maine. I'm in Kentucky. That's right. After a car trip taking just 18 hours, I and my family find ourselves a thousand miles away from home.
Why, you may ask, is Kay in Maine and her family in Kentucky? We're here for the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference hosted by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches, of course!
We also happened to have visited Creation Museum, which is just a few miles away from the conference center.
So far, it has been well worth the 18 hour drive, and the conference hasn't even started yet! |
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