His Abiding Love
• Nov. 8, 2009 - My First Contribution to Heart of the Matter Online!
Posted By fulltime mama
Once a Homeschool Kid, Now a Homeschool Mom
I have been asked many times to compare what it was like being a homeschool student to what it is like now being a homeschool mother – what I do the same, what I do differently, and how my experiences as a child have helped me now that I am homeschooling my own children......
YOU CAN READ THE REST HERE!
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• Nov. 2, 2009 - Homeschooling at its Best
Posted By fulltime mama
We have had an old computer lying around for years, too old to be worth using - probably from about 1996 or 1997. So, we let the kids take it apart. They had SO much fun! It was like a week-long project for them. I eventually had to make them take it to the garage to prevent them from scattering small and potentially dangerous parts around the baby, but I think there is just no better education than this! It is one thing to read about the way a computer is made, or look at diagrams or photographs, but it is just immensely better to see it in person, feel it, discover and explore. Hands ON! Actually, it was fascinating for me too!
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• Nov. 2, 2009 - Holiday Idea Book--No Charge
Posted By Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Unwrap our beautiful holiday gift
for you!
The staff and friends of The Old Schoolhouse® have come together to share their favorite family traditions, recipes,
and more with you.
It's your FREE gift . . .
Get ready to . . .
Wrap your family in a ribbon of thankfulness and joy and
season your holiday with laughter, love, and togetherness.
Start planning now for a wondrous holiday season with . . .
The TOS 2009 Digital Holiday Supplement
WOW . . . a gorgeous Holiday/Christmas Digital Magazine filled with a fabulous lineup of planning, recipe, gift, and craft ideas you'll love.
If you're looking for inspiration to get your holiday spirit revived for the upcoming season of festivities, you've come to the right place. TOS has put together a gorgeous, full-color, digital magazine filled to the virtual brim with traditions-in-the-making.
"This is TOS's gift to the homeschooling community, and anyone is welcome to it. The 2009 Digital Holiday Supplement will fulfill your yearnings for fresh and original additions to your long-treasured, family customs, and maintain Christ's honored position first, and foremost, in your celebrations."
-Gena Suarez, publisher of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.
Don't forget, this holiday idea book is free--no strings attached. Feel free to share it with your friends, homeschool support group, family, church group, blog visitors, customers, newsletter subscribers, and anyone who would enjoy making memories of an unforgettable Thanksgiving and Christmas..
- Open and browse the Holiday Digital Supplement.
- In the top toolbar, click the Download link. A dialogue box will appear. You will want to use the first option that is listed. It will have a small PDF icon to the right and the file size-35 MB. The radial button next to "All Pages" should be darkened. If it is not, click on it to darken.
- Click the "Download PDF" button in this first section.
- A download dialogue box will appear with options to "open with" or "Save" the PDF. Click on SAVE. Please do NOT try to open the PDF before downloading.
- Click on OK.
- You will be prompted to select the directory on your hard drive where you wish to store the Holiday Digital Supplement PDF. Make a notation of the directory you select.
- Click SAVE.
- This is a 35 MB file and many people will be accessing it, please allow extra time for the download-especially if you have dial-up Internet service.
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• Oct. 26, 2009 - MORE FREE BOOKS!!
Posted By fulltime mama
• Oct. 26, 2009 - A Truly Divine Appointment
Posted By Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
I wish I had been a fly on the course when this event took place. Let me explain . . .
I have a very dear friend who lives and homeschools in the city of Detroit. Her neighborhood is rough and her circumstances are difficult; yet through it all she manages to smile and trust the Lord to help her do the work necessary to raise five children without the support of her husband. Her children range from 12 to 19 in age.
The oldest two young men are both homeschool graduates and attend a local college. To help pay for their studies they tirelessly work as caddies at an exclusive golf course. My friend sent me this exchange her son Josh had with the golfer he recently assisted around the course.
Let me set the scene for you . . . Josh meets his golfer. They shake hands and begin the loop of 18-holes (3-4 hours) together. Golfer expresses how impressed his is with Josh and comments on how well versed Josh is (says Josh is able to give intelligent opinions on many subjects golfer initiated, speaks English not Ebonics, wears trousers that fit and such)
GOLFER: So what school do you go to? (eagerly awaiting an answer)
JOSH: I recently completed my high school studies and just graduated one month ago.
GOLFER: Really? Which DPS (Detroit Public School)?
JOSH: The Mitchell Academy! (proudly spoken)
GOLFER: a look of bewilderment . . .
JOSH: Smiling proudly. I am home educated.
The golfer begins coughing and (for a black man) turned white as a sheet.
Who was the GOLFER? None other that Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools' emergency financial manager who is trying to encourage every Detroit resident to denounce charter, private and home schools and return to DPS. Even though Josh knew his name, he still had no clue what this man did for a living. Josh then offers his golfer bottled water to calm is choking cough. The Detroit Public Schools is currently seeking more money to fix the schools. It's a public works project that's never works. Currently DPS spends over $11,000 per student yet they have the worst graduation rate in the country. Young men like Josh are living proof that it isn't money that is the problem. It is a government system that creates a poverty of spirit and a vicious cycle that Robert Bobb and many others perpetuate to protect their power. However, parents have the ultimate power if they would use it.
My courageous friend bucked the government's system of dependency and despair. Like her son, she is proof that a dedicated mother can break the cycle and raise GREAT kids who positively impact their community and the world. Bravo to you both!
-Spunky
Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool |
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• Oct. 23, 2009 - What We Listen To...
Posted By Mrs. E
1. God. The single most important type of listening I try to do, and teach my children to do. The best praying is the "listening" kind, where I just sit, and seek God's will, and let Him reveal it to me, for the day, for the moment. He always does--always in line with His Word. And, if I remember to listen and follow, it ALWAYS works.
2. My husband. This is harder for me, and still a struggle for the children. We are all working towards having good ears and a closed mouth. But if I just stop and really listen to my husband, I can better meet his needs. I know what is on his mind, and can determine what might help him or encourage him.
3. The parents. My children are exhorted daily not to let any of their parents' words "fall to the ground," even in the smallest commands, exhortations, or suggestions. We remind them, biblically, of how the success of their life depends on this, and how it trains them to also stay in the listening mode to God (especially as they grow older, and grow spiritually).
4. The children. I try to keep my children's hearts by remembering as much as possible to stop, tune completely in when they are talking to me, and look them in the eyes--even if it means kneeling down or picking one up. This way, I stay in tune to their hearts--their needs, their desires, and can better train them up in the way they should go.
5. Sermons. When we need one, we hold devotions with Dad (kind of like a family church service). We all get "sermons" from Dad as he studies and then shares the things he learns--the things he meditates on. My children get mini-sermons from me throughout the day as I teach them the Word of God and God's ways as they apply to our every day lives. When we really want to target an area, we still use sermons by Dr. S.M. Davis.
6. Others. I try to listen when I get a phone call, or am visiting or fellowshipping. I try to remember to pray to have a servant's heart and to serve, listen, encourage, and praise all whom I come in contact with. If I get an email that requires response, I try to take time to read it through several times, to sleep on it, and pray about it--I pray to really be able to listen. And then I also pray at the same time, about how to respond. This is double listening--because listening best to others also means listening to God at the same time for leading about how best to minister.
6. Music. I'm not much of a music person. I almost NEVER turn on music in the home or in the car. I can rarely worship in Spirit and in Truth through music--because to me, most music is distracting from how I commune with the Lord. But there are times I just want to praise Him, and sing praise to Him with all my heart, and mean every word I am singing. I wait until I feel led to do so--as in, I just "HAVE" to sing. Then I go get the CD player, send the kids out to play, and put in 2nd Chapter of Acts (Hymns or "20"--anyone hearing me on this?), or Keith Green ("Rushing Wind," "Psalm 23"), or Selah. This happens about once every other month. Sometimes the kids and I do a good pick-me-up of singing with some Keith Green songs. Have you ever heard, "He'll Take Care of the Rest," or "So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt?" How about, "You Put This Love in My Heart?" or, "The Sheep and the Goats." But this is not often. I sometimes (once a week or so) have my son play some hymns and have my daughter sing along. I like listening to the children play the piano--they play hymns and classical. Once a year I'm in the mood for a little classical music or some opera. I was energized by hearing John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" over the loudspeaker at the store, and my husband and I had a great walk down memory lane hearing the 70s-80s-90s track playing in a restaurant one evening (all the CDs we USED to own! Hootie, Blondie, UB40, and more). The older kids have iPods/MP3 players. They listen mostly to Keith Green, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Randy Travis, Michael W. Smith, Del Way, Selah, and Growing in Grace (a local SG group we liked--but they no longer exist). Sometimes they can listen in the car, with permission. Sometimes they dock 'em and play music while they're playing legos or blocks with the babies.
And about once a year, I sit down and play on the piano. That's about all I get the time for!
Now--am I the only one who knows and loves 2nd Chapter and Keith Green? Chime in, here. My life song has been "Make My Life a Prayer to You." Am I the only one (besides my kids) who loves bebopping to "He'll Take Care of the Rest?"
You know it ain't no use, banging your head, up against that cold stone wall.
'Cause nobody's perfect, except for the Lord, and even the best bound to fall.
Remember, he is diVine, and you are de branch,
He'd love to get you through it if you give Him the chance
Just keep doing your best, and pray that it's blessed,
and Jesus take care of the rest.
Yes the Lord said that
He'll take care of the rest (He's gonna do it)
He'll take care of the rest (He'll see you through it, yeah)
He'll take care of the rest (The Devil blew it)
Well, He'll take care of the, he'll take care of the rest.
Just think about Moses, in front of the burning bush
barefoot on the Holy ground.
You know, he must have been thinkin', "Hey, what's an old dude like me
gonna tell them all when I go down?" (Go down, Moses!)
The Lord said, "Hey, Mo, don't you worry 'bout your goin' down south,
I'll be saying every word that comes out of your mouth.
You just keep doing your best, and pray that it's blessed.
Hey, Mo. I'll take care of the rest."
You just think about Noah, a-totin' his umbrella,
When there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
All his neighbors would laugh at his pet giraffe, and they would all
snicker as he passed by.
But the Lord said, "Hey Noah, be cool! Just keep building that boat!
It's just a matter of time till they see who's gonna float.
You just keep doing your best, and pray that it's blessed.
Hey, Noah. I'll take care of the rest.
(I'm the Weatherman!)
Yes, the Lord said that He'll take care of the rest.(He's gonna do it)
He'll take care of the rest (He'll see you through it, yeah)
He'll take care of the rest
Well, He'll take care of the, he'll take care of the rest.
Just believe, and you'll receive, that comfort you need.
You just think about all those lonely people you know
who got everything they want, but they got empty souls.
He'll take care of the, He'll take care of the, He'll take care of the
care of the rest...
But I will close this with the words to the song Jesus has used to carry me my whole life--since I was a very little girl. This song captured my heart's desires-even then--and it carried me even when I was lost and wandering and didn't even know what I was doing. I loved it then, and over 30 years later, it is still my favorite. My heart song.
Make My Life a Prayer to You
Make my life a prayer to You
I want to do what You want me to
No empty words, and no white lies
No token prayers, no compromise.
I want to shine the light You gave
through Your Son, You sent to save us
from ourselves and our despair.
It comforts me to know You're really there.
I want to thank You now for being patient with me.
It's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me.
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say.
You're coming again.
Coming to take me away.
I want to die, and let You give
Your life to me, so that I might live
to share the hope You gave to me,
the Love that set me free.
I want to tell the world out there
You're not some fable or fairy tale
that I made up inside my head.
You're God the Son
You've risen from the dead.
I want to thank You now for being patient with me.
It's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me.
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say.
You're coming again.
Coming to take me away.
I want to die, and let You give
Your life to me, so that I might live
to share the hope You gave to me,
I want to share the Love that set me free.
He has most certainly answered that prayer for me! (and continues to do so every day). I love how He has given me the gift of this blog so I can tell about the Love that set me free, so that I can share the hope He gave to me. What a blessing. Praise Him.
God bless.
Mrs. E
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• Oct. 19, 2009 - Who is a "true" homeschooler?
Posted By Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
When a mother at church asked me about homeschooling our six children and I mentioned our involvement in a co-op, she said, "That sounds good, but it doesn't sound like true homeschooling to me."
So, who is a "true" homeschooler?
A recent Wall Street Journal article referenced a 2007 statistic by the National Center for Education Statistics where online schoolers were included among the 1.5 million children who were homeschooled. But some homeschool advocates would say, "Using virtual academies is not true homeschooling." (Annette explains why here.)
All of the various choices available to parents who want to educate outside the "pupil shed" led reader Carol Topp to wonder if it is time to create a new term for what we do because "true home schoolers" are public virtual school families.I think we home educators messed up when we started using the term "homeschooling." "Parent directed learning" is a better term for what we do, but it is a mouthful.
"Homeschooling" is a term that better describes public school at home.
Now the waters are muddied. I read an article in our local paper about a gathering of public virtual school students and parents. 230 families in our area and 2,042 in the state. The article mentioned "home schooling" about 5 times. Thee public virtual school families are probably the *true* home schoolers.
We are the parent directed learning families. Can we find a better phrase?
So will the "true homeschoolers" please stand up and tell us what you think?
-Spunky
Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool |
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• Oct. 9, 2009 - How To Be a Living Sacrifice
Posted By Mrs. E
I wanted to share why I chose the name "Living Sacrifice" for this blog.
I'll give you today, for example.
My daughter and I got up early and left the house because she had an early morning play practice with her community children's chorus. After I dropped her off, I drove to run an errand before I picked her up. While driving and sipping my coffee (organic dark chocolate cherry--a splurge), I gave full heart attention to my Lord. Up until this point I had been too busy "DOING" to give Him full attention, even though it feels like He never leaves my mind. But up until this point, I had been nursing the baby, dressing him, getting a shower and getting dressed, getting the three of us out the door, driving to choir and talking with my daughter (one of the best times for talking with her about things). But with that all done, I started in full prayer, which often means getting out of the off-handed talking to Him mode and just tuning into "listen" to what He wants from me for the day.
After sending messages of gratitude for all He has done for me, and even for the lovely cup of coffee, I said, "Lord, how can I make this day a gift to you, pleasing to you?"
My husband came to mind (priority #1 after the Lord). I was created to be a help meet to my husband. My husband is busy--getting the rest of the firewood in for the winter, plus a couple of other looming household projects like HVAC modifications, insulation, and more. I know he was counting on getting a lot done today. I knew it would please the Lord if I made sure my husband's time was completely maximized--I took care of the kids, the meals, the housework, without asking for so much as one iota of help from him. Not even a potty trip for the baby, not even carrying the baby swing downstairs for me, and not even leaving him to fix himself a sandwich (he did fix himself a sandwich, but I offered several times before that to fix him something!)
My children came to mind (priority #2 after the Lord). My little newborn needs loved, nursed patiently, held lovingly and talked to as much as possible. My 20-month old needs positive attention, loving and fun activities, managed surroundings and boundaries, and patient, loving, CONSISTENT correction. My four-year-old needs to feel my support. I know he would benefit if today I offered a fun activity, such as painting or baking alphabet cookies (something he has wanted to do). My daughter--she and I sewed together yesterday. But today, I want to give her the gift of some free time to read, draw, write, and relax. My oldest son, 15, needs exhortations and encouragement regarding all his little decisions throughout the day as he is learning to make all his daily decisions himself as his own man. He also needs quiet time to get his school done--as much as I can give him.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind that sometimes when I am nursing, I turn on the TV to help me be more "patient" while I nurse. What happens, though, is I get more impatient with the other children because I want to hear the news or whatever other stupid thing I decided to watch. I lose time because even after I finish nursing, I sometimes stay to finish whatever show I started--and then I'm irritated and behind and things don't get done. I promised God today that I would "sacrifice" the TV--not even turn it on.
Within a few quiet moments of waiting on my Lord, I had already set my tone for the day. I wanted nothing more than to be a loving servant to my family and to sacrifice myself (my moods, my emotions, my rest, my comforts, my wants, and even my needs) to please God by serving and loving my family. If I do this, I KNOW He will supply my needs.
You see, I have needs. It is our flesh nature to think of those first and worry about how those are going to be taken care of. For example, my needs: I haven't even come close to getting enough sleep lately. My adorable newborn is not so adorable at night. I am often up most of the night with him. I am exhausted. My memory foam pillow is my favorite spot in the house, when I actually get to put my head on it and enjoy it! I have a cold. I know my body needs rest. How easy would it be for me to "put that first" and have an agenda all day long that I need to get some rest? Also, I have personal projects I need to finish that would help my family. I have things on my mind--concerns, thoughts.
Each day, I try to give them ALL up--a living sacrifice--in order to put God first. I make myself a sacrifice. It's like I take all of me--my needs, my wants, my thoughts, my concerns--anything ME-- and just put it on the altar and light fire to it.
But I know my God.
And I know He promises that if I love HIM first, and seek HIM first, then He will supply all my needs. I don't even need to remotely worry about my needs. I am confident, because His Word says so, that if I sacrifice myself and put only God's agenda first (seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness), then I will have all my needs abundantly met. He promises so in His Word. I WILL get rest. I will get healing. I will get time, energy, and strength to do all that needs to be done. There is no worry.
None.
When I mess this up, and try to logically plan my days to meet my needs as well as everyone else's, the day falls to pieces. I become selfish. My priorities are off. I procrastinate and waste time because I get crabby, or irritated, or depressed--all trying to fit "me" into the day.
How do you know you're not living as a sacrifice unto the Lord? You will feel stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and depressed. That's what happens when you stay in "me" mode.
The term "Living Sacrifice" is what helps me remember not to do this. To sacrifice each day full of things I want and replace it with only the things my Lord wants.
You should try it.
It works.
Conversely, you know the saying, "If Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy." In my house, this is so true. But it is also true that, "If Mama has a servant's heart, everybody has a servant's heart."
Take today, for example. It is now the end of the day. By dinner time, I was actually "fighting" with other members of my family to do things to serve my family. Everyone was trying to serve. That was the tone of the day. We did paint pictures. We did make Alphabet cookies. My toddler had a great day of play and discipline--I was amazed at how well his training works out when I put the Lord first. Chores got done. My daughter got free time to play with her new watercolor pencils. I got a one-hour nap with the baby. It was a blessed day of peace.
And that's just how it goes when I love the Lord with all my heart and put Him first.
Have a good day.
--Mrs. E |
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• Oct. 15, 2009 - David and Kim on Issues in Education
Posted By Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
David and Kim back on the radio!
Ok, but this time we were honored to be interviewed by Bob and Geri Boyd on their excellent nationally radio broadcast show "Issues in Education".
Click here to see if there is a station near you (or copy and paste link below into your web browser):
http://issuesineducation.org/radio_stations.asp
Please make note that it will broadcast Nov. 14th but if you miss it you can click here or copy/paste link below. The name of the Nov. 14th show is "Freedom to Learn".
http://issuesineducation.org/programs.asp
Please feel free to pass this info on to others whom you think may be blessed by it.
God's richest Blessings!
Soli Deo Gloria!
David and Kim
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• Oct. 13, 2009 - Thought Snippets and Photos in No Particular Order
Posted By Susie-Q
One of the glories of homeschooling: you can start whenever you start, and finish when you wanna. Another: Convenient excuse for moms who are a little nuts about office supplies.
Pre-schooling at the Cox homestead: Three-year-old snips up bits of leftover card stock (scissors skills), while 22-month-old sucks them up with the vacuum hose (chore training).
One corner of my life is officially organized. See below.
Making their own flashcards counts as math, in my book. I never had to memorize the15's table, and might do well to quiz myself with the cards.
Ah, the noble chicken:
(Chicken photo by Chicken, a.k.a. Anna Kate.)
Our apple tree needs some doctorin', but hubby's got it on the winter Honey-Do list. It bears spotty apples...
...but they don't taste half-bad stewed with the requisite sugar & spices. Apples after peeling away the spots...
Buds.
Buds who are, on occasion, moved to thwack each other with toy tractors...but buds nonetheless. Compatriots in grime.
Ah, the noble turkey...
Discreet enough to skedaddle at the slightest noise or movement. (Probably best we settled on the bald eagle for our national emblem.)
Ah, the noble stinkbug.
Not.
I gather the stinkbug is to Virginia as the mosquito is to Louisiana. (Unofficial State Bird.)
Isn't this what Daddy does during his time off?
Boy, do these guys love our barn.
"Please, sir, I want some more..."
A future in broadcasting...
Future general...or pirate...we're not yet sure...
Goodbye!
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