"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  James 4:7

Someone sent me a really neat youtube video.  I have heard lots of Christians, especially back in the pre Y2k days talking about how they would protect their family with their fine arsenal.  Whether they were right or not, I haven't yet figured out, and this is not a commentary on our Second Amendment rights.  We live in a fallen world, and I am not sure what to teach my children about self defense and pacifism.  Here in Mexico where our need for self defense might be greater, we are prohibited by law from having any firepower, so whatever our thoughts might have been about safety and defense have submitted to the need to really embrace the truth that God is our refuge and ever present help in trouble, and that His angels encamp around about us(Psalm 46:1 and 34:7).

Our present thoughts on our safety in God were reinforced by this video.  The woman, who resisted the devil and witnessed to her attacker was elderly.  She didn't have a family to defend but her life is still precious and yet she, with great courage resisted this evil man without any physical power, solely through her witness of Christ.  Praise God that he is able to defend the defenseless and use their witness for His glory.

Jennifer Pepito is the Chapel Editor for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, homeschool mom to six and missionary wife.  She will be speaking on Teaching Toddlers While Educating Elementaries at the CFS conference near San Diego, California on May 10th. For more information check out their website www.cfssd.org

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer…”  Romans 12:12

I read a book recently called, To School Through The Fields.  It was subtitled An Irish Country Childhood, and was full of the memories of a girl growing up in a large Catholic family in County Cork.  I was very inspired by the passages about her mother, she was, much like Ma in the Little House on The Prairie book, faithful to serve her family, and in many ways, selfless.

            It seems to be harder for us modern women to, in a sense, forget about ourselves so that we can meet the needs of our husbands, children and extended community.  We have been told by so many secular and Christian sources that we need to take care of ourselves, and we end up in many ways becoming very selfish.  Life starts to be so much about how we feel, that often the defenseless children God has placed in our care get sidelined, and the husbands who we have the opportunity to serve are treated worse than the children.
 

Proverbs 15:33 says “Before honour is humility.” (KJV) The more we as women try to elevate ourselves and make ourselves the center of the universe, the more despised we become in the eyes of those around us.  Only by placidly loving and serving those in our sphere of influence do we gain honor, whether here on Earth, or in heaven, when the Lord calls the meek and quiet spirit we have had while serving our families, very precious in His sight.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...." Psalm 46:1

We were having a chat with another missionary Tuesday morning while my children sat nearby doing math.  Ella had a fever and was fussy so I was carrying her around with me.  Suddenly she jerked her body and then her arm started twitching rythmically and her eyes took on a glazed look.  I realized she was having a seizure so I quickly gave her ibuprofen, took her temp and asked Scott to pray for her.  She continued seizing so we gathered the children, ushered our guest out and jumped into the truck for a fifth trip to the E.R. in a years time. Bumping up to our gate, which the guest locked for us, and down two miles of a dirt road praying fervently for the life of our child, while she continued to jerk in my arms.

Finally we got to the paved road and around the same time Ella stopped seizing.  We changed our course for the U.S and after a mix-up at the border got her to the hospital where we spent the next 30 hours, thankful for a pastor friend and my mother-in-law who came to our rescue and cared for the other children.

Leaving my house, I thought I could never go back there again, it was just one more crazy, scary incident and I didn't feel that I could handle more.  Meanwhile we heard about the judgement in California against homeschooling.  Where could we turn?  California represented difficulty with homeschooling, our home in Tijuana represented many other scary situations.  Where would my family be safe?

Praise God for His beautiful word!  He is our refuge, and strength, though trials may come, He is a strong tower and to Him we run.

We are back at home in Tijuana now, signing petitions to protect homeschooling in California, and administering fever reducers to prevent another febrile seizure in my daughter.   Although we take earthly measures for protection, we realize that our help is in the Lord, and it is in Him that we place our trust.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."  Prov. 13:20

A fellow missionary passed on to us a stack of videos from www.solvefamilyproblems.com , these videos have been a huge blessing to us.  Each one is a sermon about some aspect of parenting, and we don't have many opportunities to hear sermons such as these where we are ministering.  Today Pastor Ron Williams shared(in the video we watched) about the hazards of friendships.  It has been on the mind of Scott and I lately, one of our children needs some extra help in speaking to people confidently, and yet we want to protect them all from foolish companions.  After hearing him share penetrating analogies about sinful friends being contagious,(would you kiss a leper to spread your health to him?) we had a discussion with our children about whether they had been defiled by their companions. 

My children play with a variety of people, missionary kids, orphans and homeschool families who come to stay with us, all of whom come from a variety of backgrounds.  Unfortunately it has been the missionary kids who have been guilty most often of poor conduct.  Disrespectful of parents, lewd in behavior and mean to siblings, my children have witnessed it all. Having this time to talk led to a good discussion of ways we can minister to others(including fellow missionaries) while not becoming fools ourselves.

Who are your children playing with?  Just because they claim Christ does not make them safe.  As parents we have been entrusted with these clay jars to protect and disciple as vessels for Christ.  Invite people over, fellowship with others, but find ways to include the children.  The gifts we receive from the Lord are worth protecting.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

Jennifer helps her husband Scott with a ministry to families in Mexico and joyfully homeschools her 6 children. She will be speaking on discipling and teaching multiple ages at the CFS conference in San Diego, California. For more details see www.cfssd.org

"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Galatians 5:18

I have a stack of books on  my bedside table, and many more on my bookshelf.  Titles such as "Be Fruitful and Multiply,"  "Created To Be His Helpmeet," and "A Charlotte Mason Companion," as well as many more.   I love to read practical books on having a Godly family and can race through these books pretty quickly.  Does all this knowledge make being a Godly family easier?  Not necessarily.  I often find all the good ideas I have learned to be in conflict.  One book says I should have as many children as God gives, another says I should change the sheets every week, and another says that I need to not have more children If I can't train the ones I have.  I asked one family leader how important friends were to my children, (they are not very available here in Mexico) and they said that it was important that children had friends to encourage and be encouraged by.  Another prominent speaker had a completely opposite response.

What do we as homeschool moms do with what often appears to be advice in conflict? 

#1  We pray.  Only the Spirit of God can give us wisdom in the face of confusion.  There are many good things we could and should do, some things may need to wait for another season, and others may just not be God's will for our life.  We are accountable to God and not homeschool authors or speakers for the directions we take.

#2 Talk to our husbands.  Not only does it show honor to them when we consult them over major and minor decisions in the home but the direction of the family is ultimately their responsibility and we need to give them the opportunity to guide us and our children.

When we commit our ways to the Lord, he promises to guide and direct us. How wonderful to be clay on His wheel.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

Jennifer is the homeschool mom of 6 children and wife to her hero, Scott.  She loves to encourage moms to love their children.  You can see her speak on caring for our young children at the Christian Family Schools homeschool conference in San Diego, May 10th

"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame." Proverbs 29:15

In these busy days of teaching a 9th grader, 6th grader with learning difficulties, 4th grade boy and 2nd grade boy, I am continually challenged to keep my youngest two children safe and learning.  I know that putting them in front of the t.v is out of the question.  I don't want my children's brains to atrophy and so daily I am developing and testing out activities with these two.  My five year old does some alphabet activities, we matched up tiny animals with their names, written on small cards, and used our fingers to trace number cards that I made with glitter glue.  The baby enjoys opening the hatch on the barnyard bingo game, and I am teaching her to remain seated for her little snack time.  It is a joy to be surrounded by my children, learning together, but one that keeps me on my toes.  I am constantly dependent on my Lord, for wisdom, strength and patience to point these little arrows to him.

Jennifer Pepito

Jennifer is the mother of 6 children, wife to her hero, Scott and TOS's Chapel Editor. She enjoys speaking to mothers about loving and caring for our children.  You can hear her speak on preschoolers at the upcoming C.F.S conference, May 10th in San Diego, California.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me lie down in green pastures:  He leadeth me beside still waters.”  Psalm 23:1-2

With six children of widely varying ages, I am challenged to keep the needs of those who are not yet occupied with formal schooling fully met.  This desire led me to think about how a shepherd meets the needs of his sheep, and more specifically how the Great Shepherd cares for us.

1. The shepherd is always with his sheep.  If I am to care for these small ones, I need to be available to them.  This does not necessarily mean I am giving them my sole attention all day, but it does mean that I am aware of where they are and what they are doing, that I make a plan for what they are doing, and if I see restlessness, I am available to feed them, read them a story or take some other measure to meet their needs.
   
2. The shepherd meets their physical needs.  Young children have a need for healthy food, regular rest, fresh air and physical activity.  Planning meals so they aren’t snacking on empty calories is a way to meet their need for healthy food.  Regular naptimes and bedtimes are a way to meet their need for rest, and giving them opportunities to play outside, take walks, or grow a garden can meet a need for fresh air and physical activity.
   
3. The shepherd leads them.  Young children need direction.  Charlotte Mason says in Home Education, “The child must not be left to his human nature…it rests with parents…to lay down lines of habit on which the life of the child may run henceforth with little jolting and may advance in the right direction with the minimum of effort.”  This book has many brilliant ideas regarding habit, but the bottom line is that when we teach our young children to automatically put their toys in the basket before going on to the next activity, or to always get dressed and brush their teeth when they get up in the morning, we will never have to discipline them for not doing these things.  The more good habits we can instill in them, the less effort we must take in retraining bad ones.

Our little ones are gifts from God and worth the effort to shepherd diligently.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

jennpepito@yahoo.com

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Jesus Christ; That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 15:5-6

We had a family with nine children staying with us last week.  They are looking for a house so they can move down and serve the Lord in this area.  It was a really sweet week, their children are fun and there was really no conflict.  Our husbands were busy several days, helping with projects at the orphanage or dealing with other business.

For most of the last three years we have had some wonderful people around us, but not much for “like-mindedness.” We pray that we would be likeminded with other Christians, but it does makes me appreciate even more when I have a chance to talk about the issues on my heart, with someone who doesn’t think I am crazy for thinking about them.  Stuff like family size, submitting to my husband and homeschooling my children is, well, Latin to most of our acquaintances here. I love the way God, who is so patient can provide likeminded fellowship for us at just the right time. 

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."  Psalm 42:11

It had been a busy weekend with groups at the orphanage, my daughter's neurodevelopmental evaluation and company at our house.  Monday my husband took the three older children across the border for piano lessons and speech club and I was home with the little boys.  I  found myself mildly suffering from a clogged milk duct, and then in the afternoon my 7 year old picked up the one year old and dropped her.  All these little stresses combined to make one very discouraged and worried mama.

The week flew by and by Thursday the milk thing was better, but my baby still had a bruised shoulder and pain from her fall and I was getting cabin fever, and still discouraged.  My husband had been busy with orphanage stuff and helping another missionary so I decided that perhaps the thing to pick up my flagging spirits was a walk out in the fresh air.  It had rained the night before but it didn't look too bad out.  We all stuck on our shoes and headed out into the canyon.  After a few steps, the mud started sticking to us, making me feel as if I was walking on stilts.  We pressed on because the children were enjoying it but slogging through mud, and wondering how I would get the shoes clean really didn't work to take away my blue feelings.

We got back to the house, removed the mud encrusted shoes and I tried to think of some other way to cheer myself up.  I prayed for inspiration and a thankful heart and then started planning some fun history activities with the children.  Whether it was the prayer or the change of pace, or a combination of both, I started feeling better.

During these dark winter days, with the rain pouring or the snow falling, it is important to find ways to hope in God for better ones.  For us it meant taking a break from the daily grind of math, vision therapy and spelling to do some fun history activities and talk about how we would celebrate Valentine's day. For those of you who can get out, it might mean having a field trip or play day with a friend, or planning a special game or movie night.

Everyone has sad days in their lives, but as we look to the Lord, he can give us ideas for keeping a merry heart, for the children's sake.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

Jennifer is the mother of 6 children and wife to her hero Scott.  They live in Mexico where Scott helps coordinate groups for an orphanage.  Jennifer enjoys homeschooling and caring for her children and encouraging other moms to do the same.

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” Philippians 4:12

After a busy fall, and the holidays, I have really been enjoying school with my children.  We are doing pretty well with following a routine; Bible study, math, language, spelling and then after lunch, history or science.  I am working hard at keeping my 5 year old involved in school as well. He needs extra help with fine motor skills, so I am not doing an intensive kindergarten with him, but he still thrives on having some activities to accomplish. 

With all our school activities we try to focus on the true, lovely and honest.  This might include having Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” playing in the background, or giving a child a set of Mary Cassatt postcards to look at and match.  With history we look for objective source documents to read, Sonlight’s curriculum often includes a thorough appendix of these.

Many educators and researchers have recognized the role that habit plays in brain development.  We have the ability to give our children a taste for what is lovely, so that once they are out of the home, the obscene will hold no power of attraction.  We have the opportunity to teach them to seek the truth, so that revisionists and humanists will not be able to deceive them. 

Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our heart, be acceptable in the sight of the Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

Jennifer is the homeschooling mom of 6 children, married to her hero Scott, who helps orphans in Mexico.  They have a unit study on missions in Latin America available for purchase and love to encourage families to make missions involvement a part of their life.

"...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

My oldest daughter Emelie, had her first speech competition at Point Loma in San Diego on Thursday.  To get through the border on time they got up at 3:00 in the morning and hustled up to the U.S.  Emelie, after practicing diligently the story she had memorized by Leo Tolstoy, gave her best shot at speaking in front of the many strangers at the N.C.F.C.A.  Tournament. 

I finally heard from them in the evening and Emelie felt she had done as well as some and possible better than others.  She spoke twice in groups of 8 and had to place in the top four to be eligible for the semi finals. 

We had a busy day at home Friday, a storm was coming and our batteries, which run the lights and power in our house were not charging.  We debated between making a run for the border that night in case it started raining and we couldn't get out or waiting till morning.  By the time Scott got our power up and running, and we had helped a young family who stopped by to borrow a bed and stove to furnish the one room they were moving into with their family of 5, it was too late to leave, so Scott and Emelie decided to leave in the morning.

They got up at 4 this time and tried to get out but to no avail.  The rain had been coming strong and the mud here turns to something like Vaseline.  The truck spun and slid but could not make the corner to get out of the gate, and in the pitch black Scott didn't want to take any chances.  He tried again at 7, but the big 4x4 would not budge.   We were stuck.  This meant she had lost her chance to try and qualify for Nationals through this tournament.  She took the news with grace.  I might have cried, all the work, and missing the final day, but she just put on her home clothes and took the dog for a walk, coming in smiling and wet from the pouring rain.

She is such an example to me.

Jennifer Pepito-TOS Chapel Editor

"We are bound to thank God for always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;"  Thessalonians 1:3

Two families came to stay with us here in Mexico the weekend before Christmas.  We were scheduled to give a party at a local children's home, and work on some other projects the children's home needed done.  One of the families is a homeschoolblogger mom and the other family, her brother and his wife and children.  I had met them briefly through the internet and checked out her blog once, but really didn't know much about them.  They arrived Thursday evening and the children piled out of the cars and into the house.  There were 8 children under 10 between the two families, and with my 6 it made quite a crowd. 

One of the babies was in the car sleeping with a parent standing watch, and I asked about that child's age.  They said she was 1 1/2, which made me a bit confused, because their son, who was toddling around was just 2.  The story came out that when their son was 7 months old they had adopted this beautiful little Down Syndrome baby through the ministry of CHASK.  I felt very inadequate.  I take each of my children with joy, but not a little bit of fear and trepidation at my ability to handle everything.  This family, at the time when I am just getting organized, had set out to take on a new baby, one who could remain in many ways a baby for life.  I look at the needs of my own special needs child as so mountainous, yet the needs of this child, who they had saved, were so much greater.  These families had come to help us in Mexico, and they did in so many ways.  I learned much about sacrifice, as well as a few new herbal remedies, some crazy games for teenagers, and how to get a house clean in 5 minutes with 11 small children.

Praise God for his people and their desire to glorify Him.

Jennifer Pepito

"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Colossians 3:23

Yesterday I had two children who were ill, one with a fever and one with aching ears.  I am really trying to keep school and my daughter's neurodevelopmental program going, but since a couple were unwell, I let all the younger ones have an easy day.  It was amazingly productive.  I made whole wheat sourdough bread, painted my door orange, made a wreath out of the sparse vegetation growing here, addressed some Christmas cards, read to the children, and mopped my floor.  Although she wasn't feeling well, my 12 year old, who has learning issues, worked on a book about our family and did some math drill's.  It was so nice to accomplish so much in my house, and still have some schoolwork happen.  Most days I do lots of schoolwork with the children and get little housework done, so I enjoyed the change.

Each day we are given it is good to be thankful, and do what we can as to the Lord.  It might be reading to our children, cooking, doing laundry or shopping, but everything we do can be for the glory of God, and should be done with a thankful heart.

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus."    Phillippians 4:19

Christmas is coming quickly, but preparations for us are extremely limited this year.  We went to Sacramento to visit family and church friends for Thanksgiving, and up until then we were busy with groups.  When we got home the children dug out a box with their stockings and our nativity scene and arranged those about the house, but I have been unable to do any shopping thus far. 

 It is actually a mixed blessing.  We are on a missionary budget, and it takes a couple hours to get to stores when you include the border crossing.  As well, it has been raining which makes our road nearly impossible to drive on.  The dirt turns into a substance which is a cross between ice and clay.  It fills in the grooves in your tires, and you then go sliding around like a kid racing down a snowy mountainside.  I have to close my eyes when my husband drives us in this kind of weather, I don't want to know if we slide off the ravine.

So, we have been having a really great holiday season.  We have read aloud, visited neighbors, sang or listened to carols and done some crafts together.   Scott has had to race out several times to coordinate projects for the orphanage, but my children are really enjoying these quiet days. It is certainly preventing overspending, I haven't seen the inside of a store, and although I hope to have a day to buy some fun food and stuff for the children's stockings, there is nothing that they really need.  They have paper for drawing, books to read, and Legos, what more does any child need?

 I hope that each of you, as you prepare for Christmas, or if you don't prepare, as we also have done in past years, can remember what is important.  Loving God and loving others, which is always spelled better as T-I-M-E than as S-T-U-F-F

Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."   Ephesians 6:1

I have been working my way through the Original Home Schooling Series by Charlotte Mason and finding lots of practical ideas.  She really stresses establishing good habits with your children which has helped me to see how destructive it is to expect them to make their beds and brush their teeth, keep their room clean and obey me cheerfully one day, while the next day they are free to wake up and play, leave their toys scattered about the house, while they flitter from one activity to the next. 

I appreciate especially her observations about obedience.  She really says very little about discipline, but as Shalom (Pearl) Brand has said, when children are accustomed to always obeying, they seldom need to be disciplined for not obeying.

"There is no need to ....threaten the child, or use any manner of violence, because the parent is invested with authority which the child intuitively recognizes. .....The mother often loses her hold over her children because they detect in the tone of her voice that she does not expect them to obey her behests; she does not think enough of her position; has not sufficient confidence in her own authority. The mother's great stronghold is in the habit of obedience." (Charlotte Mason, Home Education)

I appreciate what she says.  I am so often unsure of my own authority because I want my children to feel loved, or because I am simply to lazy to enforce my every command, that I create insecurity in my children of who really is the boss.  It is easy to see though, from the evidence of adult children who were raised without a stable authority figure, how destructive this lack of boundaries really is.  It leads to children who don't have self control, and aren't under God's authority.  Don't wait till your children are on their way to prison to teach them submission to God ordained, loving authority. There is no time like the present.

Jennifer Pepito- Chapel Editor