Nov. 10, 2009 - Cost of Health Ailments

It is amazing how much certain sorts of common health issues can cost. Aside from my oldest missing her first ever tea party birthday party, my middle daughter missing her last soccer game and the party where she would have been presented her first trophy, missing a dance class that has been paid for, missing CC which is paid for, laundering about 30 loads of laundry in a week, clothes ruined by temperatures they require but aren't supposed to endure, time missed from work that has to be made up, extra laundry detergent, there is the cost of the implements to deal with your health 'crisis'. Time missed from school factors in and how that impacts your holiday time off that was also planned, as well as general stress to the family in dealing with 'stuff' day in and day out. Everyone gets sick of it from time to time. I'm finally beating the sickness I've had on top of our family situation. I'm crediting MMS. That is the only thing different this year from when I always get this. Thank you for praying for us. We still need it.

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Nov. 9, 2009 - Great Food Aids Mending

There is no doubt that meals brought over by angels disguised as homeschooling mom's do wonders when you are sick. For one thing, I'm clearly blessed by friends who cook better than me and who do fancy meals!  It really does make a body feel better to have something wholesome to eat while not having to be on your feet to do the preparation.

Thank you so much to the wonderful friends who have helped us in this way. God bless you~

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Nov. 6, 2009 - A Woman To Admire

I've got a friend that I would like to emulate in many ways. She is unassuming and if you met her, you would think, "What a lovely lady, she looks so nice." If you knew how she homeschooled, you would notice it is unique in some ways yet tailored perfectly to her student. Though chances are, you wouldn't find out a lot of detail in relation to this because as a genteel woman ought to be, she is quiet about certain aspects of her life. Aside from these things, deeper down is where you wish you knew her. She has a knack, a gift I believe, to reach out to others in special ways just when they need it...a little something to give some light at the end of a gray tunnel. And she finds ways to do this which are private, something that I admire and wish for in my own life. If you are privileged to get to know her, you will also find that she is extremely godly and wise, and uses discretion in her council. She is one person I can always go to for advice on submitting to George, and for this, she is priceless. I've learned to be thankful for this time we are friends because she has alluded that it will probably only be for a season. A lesson learned, no doubt, by experience. I feel this is a woman that the daughters of Jerusalem would rise up to call  blessed. In her, her husband has a precious jewel. And me, a valued friend. I am not alone in this, I'm sure. She quietly goes about serving those in her life, likely not realizing how special she is. My children love her and her daughter. They both shine with His love and kindness, and none of our lives would be the same without them.

~So thank you RURTSY, for the gifts you left today. It was a welcome reminder that these dim days will pass soon enough, and the diversion is priceless.

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Nov. 6, 2009 - When It Suddenly Overwhelms

I'm writing to ask for prayer. The 'not feeling 100%' has swelled to the point I've been in bed all day. I look and feel terrible and can't do some things that NEED to be done; it is something when mom can't do what has to be done.  I have to get enough energy to sit up sometime today, for several hours. George is holding down the fort on all other fronts, I am just needed for one section. I don't know what I have, but hope it doesn't go to pneumonia which is where I ended up the exact same time last year. Thank you for praying for me and us--for health, to grow as a family during this trial, and for energy--just for a few hours.

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Nov. 4, 2009 - Maine, NJ, and VA

My prayer is that God will preserve America even as the events of the Revelation come to pass. That Christ will return, but we will still see around us people who love and fear God in the United States. I hope socialism is never allowed to grow more than it already has--that we will stomp out any remnant of that evil way of governing. Obama is a terrible excuse for a President, and I hope he fails in all he is trying to do because it is against the America I know and love. How could I, in good conscious, wish for someone whose objectives are in complete contrast to my own, to be successful? That would mean I want to see Jeremiah Wright's ideology here in my neighborhood, and I DO NOT. I listened to some of his speech recently as he talked of how much he doesn't like the American way and it just makes me see this President of ours in a light that is DIM. There is no way for 20 years Mr. Obama didn't listen, hear, and agree with Wright.

All this to say, may God bless those in Maine standing for what is right. May He bless NJ with fair taxes so the people can live more freely, and may He shine on VA and continue to oppose the tyranny the Democrats have the audacity to call "right" in that great state.

If we fail, it will not be for lack of trying--and in the end, Jesus will prevail!

(and yeah for chicken/rice soup waiting in the crock pot!)

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Nov. 2, 2009 - Relaxing When You Don't Feel Good

A benefit of being caught up on laundry and having the house generally in order is that when you get to not feeling so good, you can relax, which helps you get better faster. Today after finishing school with the younger kids, I took a 2 hr nap. It was the later time in the afternoon where Rose could work independently, which she did. Then tonight after finishing a good book and getting the children to bed, I watched a movie. What a joy to not be thinking, "I should fold laundry or do dishes." There was no air from George to be doing something. He knows I'm not feeling 100%, but still, just to know he wasn't stressed out because of work that was looming was a joy to me. I hope to stay on top of things this whole winter so that anytime I'm under the weather, it is not a big deal. I hate being sick and having work sit that should be getting done! 

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Oct. 31, 2009 - A Wise Woman

A wise woman builds her home, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands. Proverbs 14:1

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Oct. 29, 2009 - How Do We Build Our Homes

How does a woman become wise? And how would she build her house versus tear it down?

We all become wise by reading God's word and submitting to It's authority, which is His authority. It might take a few readings to be able to conform our thinking to God's, but if we refuse to do that, it could very well be we are in rebellion ultimately to God, and are not actually in the true faith. A sure sign that someone is a follower of Christ is that they will submit to His will. Attending church, if it does not cause strife with our husband, is yet another way we can become wise. A woman who allows her husband to lead and studies him to better learn how to please him is also wise and will grow in that wisdom. I like the book Love and Respect by E. Eggerichs. He draws a circle of the love husbands are to show their wives and the respect wives are to show their husbands. One feeds the other. Likewise, the lack of both feeds a total lack. Marriage is 100%/100%, if one person is doing what they are supposed to be doing, it is far more likely to bring the one not working, along to where they should be. We have to be adults about loving our spouses whether we feel like it or not. With God, it is possible to put our needs behind the needs of those entrusted to our care. He calls us to that if we claim the name of Christian. 

How does a woman build her house? By doing what it takes to nurture and advance her home. She guides the running of the house according to her husband's wishes, working alongside him as a team. Her suggestions on ways to improve the home setting are frugal, temperate, and are for the good of all. Her home is a peaceful refuge and haven, and she works diligently to see to it that is so. The home is a direct reflection of a woman. If it is in order, the credit is hers. If disarray, it is hers to own. It matters not if we homeschool, work full time, or are home full time with kids in school. I've seen women shirk this responsibility in all situations, and in each one, the marriage takes a heavy toll. Just as a woman can be driven to utter hopelessness by a lack of her husband's love, a man can be driven to a level of utter reproach by a woman who refuses to meet his need for order in the home. We each reap what we sow.

The contrast of how a woman tears down her home is obvious by this point. She is not thrifty and spends more than the family can bear. Her goals are self-seeking rather than for the good of her husband, which is also what is best for her children. She spends her time on ventures that should be secondary to the care of her marriage, home and children. There is no order, no plan, no vision.

Years ago I read a book from my pediatrician on how critical sleep is for children. They need to go to bed early and sleep in a peaceful environment for many hours. Around that same time I read of an example where there was a child with sleep problems, and it all linked back to the parent's not spending time showing love to one another in front of the kids. Children must be secondary to the marriage relationship or they will not feel secure, and a child who is insecure will not thrive. Our hobbies, homeschooling desires, religious persuits at church etc. must all come AFTER the nurturing of a solid marriage so our kids can give their full attention to learning and growing into healthy adults.

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Oct. 28, 2009 - Just a Night

There is something very fulfilling about a full day, isn't there? The children are tucked in, it is quiet...and while your husband is picking up a yummy treat for you to enjoy on the nightly "date", you take a few minutes to reflect.

Walking through a clean house, peeking into a straight garage, full drawers and closets ready for the coming week, and a kitchen gleaming for a new day. These little pleasures are the joy of a homemaker, and bring calmness to the soul! Even the children are thrilled when their toys are ready to be tackled afresh, their bedrooms glisten, the pets are in clean bowls/cages and all their clothing is set before them to choose from. Simple pleasures that are the result of consistent effort, day in and day out. 

"Lord, help all who claim the title 'homemaker' to find deep fulfillment in the so-called mundane tasks of life. May we as homeschooling mom's build up our homes rather than tear them down-both literally and figuratively. Amen." 

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Oct. 22, 2009 - Scheduled Blessings

I was talking to someone tonight and made a comparison that I haven't before, at least to my knowledge, but it's one I feel is true. In a nutshell it is this: As budgets are to freedom, so is a schedule to a homeschool family.

Before going on a budget a person feels certain it will be constraining; they are fearful, resentful even, but deep down they know that they ought to be on one to effectively manage their finances. It's just a fact, when records are kept and amounts are set, we know where the dollars are going more. Unless there is always plenty of money and we never have to think about it, having this information is a great stress reliever. Gone are the concerns in the store of, "Can I afford this? I wonder if my husband will be mad?" Life is simpler and more pleasant with limits. We see this with small children and it is true for adults as well.

Schedules are basically budgets for our time, and they work in just the same way. If we are discontent with school, I contend that it is very often linked to a lack of a schedule. Becoming an educated person takes consistency, diligence, and fortitude, and providing for that takes all of that plus good old grit and determination. As teachers, we have to be adults about the matter and do what needs doing whether we feel like it or not. We have to train those in our care to do the same. Without these skills, we will not enable our children to reach their fullest potential.

Slacking off as an adult, after we've received degrees, had careers, and accepted Christ is one thing, but it is an ENTIRELY different matter to children whose lives are being shaped by everything we say, do and subtly model. There are studies that show children who go to bed at an early, consistent time thrive academically, and it's my belief that schedules bring about the same result. Attitude, of the mother, is about 90% of the issue. Children can see when they can work us over, and if we've allowed them to develop habits that resent hard work or just give up when the going gets tough, we can be sure that it will not be easy to turn the direction of our schools if we decide to go from loose to structured. It's similar to a parent who doesn't spank their child but around age 3 realizes they should have been. The battles will be far greater for that poor mother than for her counterpart that began at the first sign of defiance. The same is true for making and keeping a schedule. It is not easy, but the rewards are great, and once you get one made up and stick to it the vast majority of the time, contentment will follow.

So, just what are some rewards of a routine?

1. The mother doesn't waste time fretting over what she 'should' have gotten to, day in and day out.
2. The children expect to do a certain amount of work each day, eliminating debate and discussion on that matter (which wastes time and drains a mother's energy).
3. More free time for the mother, by this I am referring to NOT having to constantly figure out what to do the next day
4. True free time for the child (time "off" isn't couched in a feeling or setting of "we really should be doing more work, but go ahead out and play", or playtime followed by dinner, followed by work that should have been done hours prior)
5. Spontaneous breaks, or changes in schedule for a day, are ok because the mother can immediately see what has been accomplished up until that point in time.
6. It eliminates a built in excuse, which isn't a valid one, for why the school year just didn't go as mom wanted, AGAIN.
7. It can save a family a lot of money. When a schedule is built around curriculum, the mom is more likely to follow through with her selection. The flip side is this-no schedule so the curriculum is more subjective. It often gets looked at as "sub par", so mom spends lots of time and money researching something better. The secret is, there is nothing perfect. There is usually always room for improvement, but is a mom's time being used as wisely as it can be if she is devoting hours of time evaluating rather than TEACHING? As Yvonne Bunn says, "Anything works if the  mother does." I believe this wholeheartedly.  
8. Helps mom get time with each of her children instead of just the oldest.

In closing, I think a lie that many homeschool mom's have bought into is that it's just going to be chaotic and that excellence can't happen. It can happen. It happens by not packing the day's too full, by not running out of the house too often, by focusing on teaching during school hours (no phone, no internet, no tv), and by taking the responsibility seriously. Sacrifice of "me" time is a total given when you are a homeschooling mother. We simply can't work a bunch of that in from 8-4 and expect to be effective. Children need our attention and direction, and eliminating distractions will help everyone perform better.

So, mom's, roll up your sleeves, get a good night's rest (talking to myself here!), and start fresh tomorrow! It's a new day, and we decide how it's going to be--not the kids!

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