Posted in Titus 2 Moments

This magazine, "The Girlhood Companion" is currently on our "wish list," as we are doing a heavy character training promotion this year within our home. I am hoping to get this for dd's birthday - shhhh don't tell her (tee hee). It is a magazine suggested for girls ages 10-18, which focus' on Godly Character.  Each issue covers a different character trait, and looks at it from a deeper level through articles, editorials and personal stories that reach the heart of our daughter's. It is considered to be a keepsake treasure.  I love this write-up about the magazine by its author Jill Novak:

The word companion is found only 13 times in the Bible. In the Greek New Testament the word sugkoinonos means: participant with others in anything, a joint partnership. Another word which is closely related to it is sunergos, meaning: a companion of labor, one who labors in furthering the cause of Christ. I think these two words perfectly describe the ministry of The Girlhood Home Companion. We are joint partners with your daughter, helping her to participate in all that is feminine and lovely as she grows in the Lord, and a companion in labor, helping her cultivate godly character qualities, thus furthering the cause of Christ. During the Victorian era, when life moved at a much slower pace, there were distinct periods of development in a girl’s life: babyhood, childhood, girlhood, and womanhood. I have seen a marked difference between the girl my oldest daughter used to be, and the lovely woman she has become in Christ. One thing I firmly believe is that girlhood is a priceless training ground that should not be rushed. I am often asked what ages are appropriate for The Girlhood Home Companion. We like to think that you will read the companion to younger daughters, ages 10-11, and discuss it with older daughters, ages 12-18. Of course, there is no reason why you cannot gather with all of your daughters, young and old (and grandmothers, too), to read and discuss the articles found within these pages. In fact, we think that reading The Girlhood weekly at afternoon tea would make a lovely tradition. In that case, dear mother, you will have to hide The Girlhood from your daughters the minute it arrives in the mail.

Hop on over to Jill's blog to get to know her better.

Just thought I would share with you something special :-) Note:  I was not paid or unctioned in any way to endorse this product.  It is just something that piqued my interest as a mom of a daughter that will some day be a wife.

Posted in Titus 2 Moments

Psalms 121:5-8
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our friends Paul and Pam invited us over for dinner last weekend, and while the men were downstairs playing video games, we women-folk decided to chat it up a bit and talk about homeschooling, life, joys, sorrows, family background etc.  Ya know . . usual woman-to-woman talk.

It was in the course of our discussions that the topic of dating vs. courtship, and marriage came up; particularly the plan for our daughters.  Now mind you, my daughter is only 10, but Pam has two daughters. One is in her early 20's and the other is at the wee age of 5.  Their testimony is nothing short of beautiful, and the history of both girls quite touching.  Their older daughter, Dianna, is now married and has a baby on the way.  I marvel at Dianna's walk with the Lord and her beauty as a wife and now-to-be Mom.  I asked Pam how it was that Dianna turned out so incredible after having a public school education?  I know that may sound like a prejudice statement, but it was more of an inquisitive contemplation.  Pam is now teaching her other  3 children at home, so it is great to hear the differences after raising one child in public education. 

Her response was quite inspiring and really shed light on how to raise Godly daughters in an unGodly world.  She said to me, "Dianna's relationship with the Lord has everything to do with how she turned out, I really can't get the credit for it. When Dianna was young she accepted the Lord and was completely 'sold out' to Him from then on."  My friend began to tell me how her eldest daughter made good choices and chose to court instead of date, and refrained from peer pressure (with God's help), and that is why she is now married to a Godly man, and they are both passionately serving the Lord. 

I was in awe of this considering Dianna's background as a public school student. It really made a statement to me that it isn't necessarily  the environment of education that  can make or break a girl (although it definately is a contributing factor), but the foundation of a young lady's relationship with the Lord.  Whether a girl is homeschooled, private schooled, or public schooled it is all about their personal relationship with the Lord.  It is what will ultimately bring them from beautiful girlhood into beautiful womanhood.  Temptations may surround, but a Godly woman always knows from wence cometh her help, and it starts with a Godly foundation deep within the soul & spirit.

I am beginning to realize that even though I am raising my daughter as  a home-educated student, ultimately the real thing that will keep her hands from evil is nurturing her relationship with the Lord, and establishing a true, committed covenant with Him, before she can have a covenant union with her husband.  I truly believe parents can do all the right things and take their children to church every Sunday, and home-educate their children, but if that child has not allowed the knowledge of God to become the living word deep inside, then it is all in vain. 

Proverbs 31:30
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD,

she shall be praised.

We hear stories of christian children falling from the faith once they become adults, and turning their backs on God.  Some say that they are just testing the waters and "sowing their wild oats," but my response to that is did they ever truly have their own relationship with God or was it solely lived through their parents?  It is easy to let them slip through the radar because they are going through all the right motions.

I am made passionately aware through my conversation with Pam, and other Mother's who are seeing their children grow from beautiful childhood into beautiful adulthood that there is a common thread, and that thread is an individual experience with God. 

Loving His Truth & Wisdom,

<>< Kelly

Posted in Titus 2 Moments

Titus 2:4-5

 "That they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, (to be) sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:"

KEEPERS AT HOME~ A GROUP FOR YOUNG LADIES

"Keeper's At Home" is an excellent group for girls ages 6-12 that helps them obtain life skills not taught in regular school (such as crocheting, journaling, praying, scripture memory, budgeting, house-cleaning, home-making, calligraphy, self-defense, cooking, doll-making, sewing, etc.).  It is much like combining Girl Scouts, 4-H, and Missionettes into one group.They earn badges and awards along the way, and learn the joys of being a community servant, and helping those in need. 

My daughter, Kaitlin, is involved in a group that meets nearby and they will be getting together the 2nd Saturday of every month, to work on projects.  Kaitlin was in this for half a year last year and really loved it, but ended up having to bow out gracefully due to our scheduling and a general "group dynamic" that didn't suit her personality.  We are really excited about this year's  new Keeper's group because the personalities of the girls within the group are fantastic!  The Mom's are loads of fun also, so I have a feeling I will be enjoying it just as much as she will.  I met with the Mom's on Tuesday night and we scheduled all the activities and projects for the whole year. I have to say that these ladies are exceptional.  They are organized, down to earth, love the Lord, and love to laugh together.  Can you tell I am excited  (whooohoooo). The facilitator (Laur) is an amazing woman who just knows how to rally everyone and ignite excitement and adventure.  She is also the co-administrator of our Homeschool co-op, so it will be great to be able to spend such quality time with her in the coming the months.

If you want to know more about Keeper's and/or start a group in your area, here is some great information to help: http://www.keepersofthefaith.com/Catalog/KeepersClubsIndex.asp

Your daughter's will thank you and be a blessing, as they learn to be Keeper's At Home. 

Posted in Titus 2 Moments

Official "Created To Be His Help Meet" 9-Week Study Schedule, At CHC, Starting August 9th

For anyone interested we are starting an online Discussion of the book Created To Be His Help Meet, by Debi Pearl, over at The Christian Homeschool Corner (an msn interactive website). This discussion will begin August 9th (11 a.m. pacific; 12 noon mountain; 1:00 p.m. central & 2:00 p.m. eastern).  Those who are not able to join in our chat time are encouraged to post a journal entry in our marriage section, to share ideas, encouragement, revelations or your journey in this book.   Many women have found their lives and marriages dramatically changed from reading and putting into practice the wisdom in this book, based on God's word. 

BTW - I am not being paid or compensated in any way to advertise this book or the discussion.  It is done by free will and out of a desire to see more women thriving in their relationships with their husbands and with their Savior, through the support and encouragement of other homeschool Moms (Titus 2). <>< Kelly