On May 28, 2009 USA Today published a story based on a report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is part of the Federal Department of Education, titled “The Condition of Education 2009.” The headline of the USA Today story was “Profound shift in kind of families who are homeschooling their children.” A few days later the title was changed to “More higher-income families are homeschooling their children.”

Regrettably, among other problems with the article, USA Today made one blatant error and one very misleading claim. The blatant error is USA Today’s statement that homeschoolers are increasingly white. We do not understand how USA Today can reach this conclusion. Simply by reading the NCES report you will discover that the estimates for white homeschoolers, as a percentage of the entire homeschool population, were 75.3% in 1999, 77% in 2003 and 76.8% in 2007. The obvious conclusion is that for the years 1999–2007 white homeschoolers consistently represented just over three-quarters of the homeschool population.

HSLDA asked the NCES to comment on the USA Today article. Below is a statement from JoAnn Webb, a spokesman for the NCES, “The percentage of all homeschoolers who are White, non-Hispanic has not changed over this period (in the mid-70 percent range).”

Another misleading claim, as the revised title for the story states, is that more higher-income families are homeschooling their children. Again, USA Today failed to correctly read the report. In order to make their point, USA Today defines “higher-income” as families whose household income is over $50,000. How many people really consider $50,000 in household income “higher-income?” For comparison, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 married-couple families with one or more related children under age 18, the median nationwide income was $74,049. It is very misleading for USA Today to boldly assert that more “higher-income” families are homeschooling when out of the 60% of families they cite as being “higher-income” — (26.8% in the $50,001–$75,000 bracket and 33.2% in the $75,001 or more bracket) the 26.8% that USA Today believes to be “higher-income” actually have below average incomes.

Also, as has been confirmed by the NCES, the income figures between 1999 and 2007 were not adjusted for inflation. This means that the same type of person answering the NCES survey in 1999 that fell in the $25,001–$50,000 income bracket could easily find themselves in the $50,001–$75,000 bracket in 2007 since an income of $45,000 in 1999 becomes $55,518.63 in 2007 after adjusting for inflation.

It’s a shame that in an era when hundreds of diverse media outlets are able to accurately report on the homeschool movement a major newspaper has made such simple errors.

Perhaps the writer was just in a rush to be first, since his story was published on the day the NCES report was released online, or perhaps he has an agenda to falsely paint homeschoolers as rich and white, thereby dismissing the full range of people who are making tremendous sacrifices on limited budgets to ensure that the next generation receives the best education and upbringing available. Either way USA Today should make additional corrections to their factually inaccurate story.

Many homeschoolers garden...especially this year...so, here are some interesting garden facts from my latest installment of The Old Farmer's Almanac newsletter...

Combating Critters
Do you have any critters in your garden—rabbits, moles, slugs? Here is some advice to help:

• To keep rabbits out of your garden, surround it with fencing at least 3 feet high and 8 inches below the surface.

• Plant rue to keep cats out of your garden.

• To see a mole “run out, astonished” (according to 16th-century herbalist John Gerard), put a bulb of garlic in its hole.

• To deter deer and raccoons, tie old sneakers and clothes that smell of human perspiration to garden posts.

• Scatter garlic around your garden to deter many a pest—such as deer, woodchucks, and raccoons.

• Sprinkle ground red pepper in entrances to mole tunnels.

• If your neighbors don’t mind, play a radio at low volume.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

I am selling our 8' x 4' chalkboard that was from the original Troy Christian School.  It is in great condition & I am asking $150.00.  I will even include the eraser & chalk!  Haha.  It served us very well for 11 of our 16 years of homeschooling.

I am also selling my complete set of YEAR 1 Tapestry of Grace - 
"The History of Redemption" for $150.00.  Also included are the "Map Aids" & "Reproducables" DC-Roms.  This is valued at $250.00 (Bundle 1) on the website.  It's even all put together in 3 3-ring binders for you!

Unfortunately, b/c of time & shipping expense - & b/c my DH is laid off - I'm only offering this to local folks who can come & pick up these goodies.  By "LOCAL" I mean anyone from Miami, Montagomery, Preble, Clark, Darke, Shelby, Greene, Champaigne & other Ohio counties local to Miami.  If you have any questions, let me know.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Yesterday, my DH & I deep cleaned our school room (A.K.A. the laundry room, the computer room).  We found things tucked - or stuffed - away that we had forgotting about.  Things we hadn't seen in years.  LOTS of memories after 16 years of homeschooling.

It surprised & some-what saddened me that the girls didn't want to keep certain things; and as I don't want to be a pack-rat, I didn't keep them, either.  We are keeping certain things b/c of sentiment & b/c  our girls will most likely homeschool their children (HOPING that it is STILL LEGAL by then).  Books and resources covering all age/grade levels; particularly those wonderful old readers that were once my grandmother's or my mother's or mine; and especially the McGuffey Reader's, Ray's Arithmetic, classics & old home-keeping manuals. 

But there are other books and resources we are keeping for other reasons.

We are keeping their high school History, Government & Science books b/c, as things are changing so quickly in America, even IF homeschooling should be legal when our DDs homeschool their children, we fear that it will be strickly controlled.  They may not be able to purchase books and resources containing GOD'S TRUTH about the Sciences or they may contain even more revisionist history than our public schools already spew.  We want our children to be able to teach our grandchildren TRUTH.  God's truth, as it applies to these subjects. 

We continue to pray for our beloved America, but we look to the East, as well.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

{This is the script of one of the speeches I give on Christian women's issues.}

Have you ever thought of your life as being touched with destiny?  Everyone one of us here…no matter the circumstances of our birth, no matter the home life we were born into, no matter our economic status – or lack there-of – have been born with the plan of God in mind.  Our choice is if we will allow God to use us. 

Those of us who are mothers probably remember the moment we found out we were expecting for the first time.  Oh, remember all those day-dreams of pink and blue.  Of all the pretty little ruffles and bows we would dress our little girl in – or – as our husbands would remind us – the choice of whether our baby’s room would be decorated in Ohio State scarlet and grey or Bengal’s black and orange tiger stripes!  And then after all those important decisions were settled by reminding each other that the baby wasn’t even here yet; then the nerves set in…

…and the prayers…

“Oh Lord, am I ready for this? I thought I was, now I don’t know…cause it’s gonna hurt!  But, it will be worth it because I know You’ll give me the sweetest tempered, most loveable, most huggable, happy, compliant baby…but….just in case it should cry, just in case it should get sick…am I ready for this?”

No matter how much we pretended to be the best mommy when we were little girls, no matter how many younger siblings we helped take care of when we were growing up, no matter how many families we babysat for when we were teenagers…there’s NOTHING like having your own baby, is there?  So many things that Mom never told you about!  Everything from how morning sickness doesn’t actually end at noon, to how fatigue can hit you like a smack in the face, to how much you will LOVE that baby.  Isn’t it funny how changing YOUR baby’s diapers was never as bad as changing those of other babies?

And no one can ever tell you about how that love will show you the heart of God and how He loves His children.  Especially when it comes to what we will have to face – good and bad – when it comes to our children.  Do you think that we break our heavenly Father’s heart when we disobey?  Do you think, as our heavenly Father, that God’s arms burn to hold us and comfort us when He knows our future and the things that must pass, the furnaces we must walk through to become the children and have the testimony He wants us to have?  I do.

My husband, Ty, and I married in the fall of 1984.  Our marriage began in a little country church on a beautiful fall day filled with my favorite spectrum of colors…yellows, golds, rusts, reds, burgundies, and the deeper greens of autumn.  I took my farm-boy out of the country into Dayton and we enjoyed our new marriage and traveled on weekends with a contemporary Christian band he sang in; we enjoyed our friends, our church and our new-found status as a married couple in our extended families.  Soon we discovered that we were going to have a baby!  We would barely get to celebrate our 1^st wedding anniversary before it came.  As we were the 1^st of our circle of newly married friends (5 couples of us married w/in 4 months) to take the next step, everyone was very excited for us.  We were on our way to having those 5 kids that we had always talked about.

Oh, mothers, aren’t those 1^st months of pregnancy “great”?!  Where were you when your 1^st bout of morning sickness hit you?  Mothers, and we ARE mothers during pregnancy, soon find out that our sweet little ¼” long babies cause our body to take on a mind of it’s own!  My babies told my body to eat things like Taco Bell bean burritos, raspberries and ice cold tomatoes w/salt and pepper.  What did yours like?

Well, as with all things related to time, days turned into weeks and weeks into months.  In the latter months I soon found myself so swollen that I had to switch shoes at least 3 times a day…each one gradually a little looser fitting.  Then I noticed that I had NO ankles!  And in the last month I had about 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants that I could fit into…including a pair of my husband’s old sweat pants w/the elastic taken out!  On my next trip to the Dr., he very quietly, very calmly told me, “I’m not worried about the baby, so don’t YOU worry, but I want to you go home, pack your bags, call your husband and have him take you the hospital.  We’re going to admit you TODAY.” 

Well, how do you NOT worry about a thing like that?  I was still 15 days short of my due date.  Well, you know how those pregnancy hormones are…I told myself that since the Dr. wasn’t worried about the baby that I could handle this change of plans.  It wasn’t until my husband came home to get me that I realized that something must be wrong w/ME and as soon as the door opened I fell into his poor, confused arms and sobbed.

Once we got to the hospital, we went through the admitting process and I was astounded at the weight I’d gained in a week.  I was also shocked that the nurses were so shocked that my legs were the same size from my hip to my ankle.  Didn’t all preggos swell like this?  I was equally concerned when they didn’t say ANYTHING after they took my blood pressure.  When my Dr. came in, he again reassured me that the baby was fine but that I had Toxemia and I had to stay in bed until the baby was born b/c I had retained so much fluid and my blood pressure was at pre-stroke level.  Mind you…he was saying this in the calmest way possible so that my blood pressure wouldn’t go up even more!!

Five days passed, not only was my swelling and water gain not going down, but neither was my blood pressure.  The decision was made to take our predicted 10 lb boy by c-section the next day. 

Before 7a.m. I was wheeled into surgery with my sweet, nervous hubby following behind me.  I remember a sweet little nurse popping her head over mine as I lay on the table, saying, “Do you realize that in 5 minutes you’re going to me a mommy?!”  FIVE MINUTES!! 

Before I knew it, the Dr. told my frightened husband to look over the little curtain to see what he had.  All I can say is that LIGHT absolutely BEAMED from my husband’s face.  Whatever our baby was, I knew then and there that it was beautiful.  Then, to the shock of us all, the Dr. said, “It’s a GIRL!”  A 7lb. 10 oz. 19” long precious baby girl!  Jessica had come to join our family!

The worst part about having a c-section is that all you can do after is sleep.  It’s also the protocol for many hospitals to keep c-section babies in the nursery for 4 hours before bringing them into the mother’s rooms.  Just in case we ever wondered, this was another opportunity for God to show us that He was watching out for our little family.  During an exam a nurse noticed that the tube she was using to suction Jessica’s nose with turned and came out the other side.  Just to make sure, she did it again.  Same result.  This was a clue that she needed to get the Dr. in to verify a suspicion…after x-rays the suspicion proved correct. 

Jessica was born with a Trechial Esophogial Fistula.  Her esophagus actually grew into her lungs instead of going into her stomach.  If I would have nursed her after birth, she could have drowned.  Immediately, the decision was made to take her to Children’s for surgery.  The surgeon assured us that this happens in 1 in 4,000 births and that he personally does 2 of these surgeries a month.  She was other-wise very healthy and because of that she sailed through a 9 hour surgery in 4 hours!  In a few days, like so many other babies w/a fistula, she also had to have a trache put in.  Believe me, there’s NOTHING like your baby watching every move you make while you put in her trache tube for the 1^st time!   The Drs were all very encouraging and she came home 5 weeks and 1 days after she was born. 

Jessica was home!  There may be doubters, but I’m telling you that she KNEW she was home!  She slept soundly and comfortably and learned to laugh in our home.

One cold January, on a Saturday morning, when Jessica was 12 weeks and 4 days old, my husband got up to change her diaper and have a little Daddy Time w/her so I could get 5 more minutes in our warm bed.  I heard a noise and looked up as Ty came running wide-eyed into our room.  “I’m calling an ambulance!  Something’s wrong w/Jessica!”  I went in and she was still breathing but was limp and ashen.  Everything was such a rush!  The EMT’s came in, looked at her, and after taking her vitals and using a hand pump over her trache, they snatched up my baby, ran down the stairs and put her in the ambulance.  I tried to get in the back but they pushed me up to the front seat w/the driver.  I can tell you EXACTLY when she left this world.  We were crossing the Stanley St. bridge and the men in back started screaming for the driver to hurry! 

We got to Children’s and I watched them run, carrying my sweet baby into the ER…and I waited for Ty to get there as he had driven behind us.  We were ushered into a little room where we called our parents and prayer warrior friends.  There was a young lady who was the clergy on duty that morning who was assigned to us.  I told her, “Listen, we’re Christians and I don’t want you praying any pansy prayers like you would w/unbelievers clinging to anything they can.  If you pray…then you PRAY!”  We prayed.  She would come in and out and give us up-dates.  Finally, after an hour and a half, the Dr came in and told us that she was gone.  They tried so hard but she wouldn’t stay. 

My baby?  MY BABY?!  My baby that I’d had her name picked out since I was 15 years old?  My baby that I sang “Jesus Loves Me” to my whole pregnancy so that she would know it when she was born?  My baby that I had nearly died to have?

Oh God!  What has happened to our world?  God, did You feel this way when Jesus died and had to be separated from You before the resurrection?  How do we live through this?  How DO I live through this? 

In John 6 Jesus told the nearly 150 disciples that to follow Him they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood.  Vs. 60 says, “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?’”  Many of them left until practically only the 12 remained.  Jesus turned to them and said, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”  And for once Peter didn’t have his foot in his mouth and he said one of the most profound things anyone trying to hang on to reality could ever remember:  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  YOU have the words of eternal life…”

The next several days were a blur of shock and sadness, but we hung on to Jesus.  My body still prepared itself to feed Jessica – but she wasn’t there; my arms ached to hold her – but she wasn’t there.  After weeks of all the activity that surrounds a new baby, my world just seemed to stop.

But I have to tell you ladies, that God IS still on the throne!  He does lift us up and He does get us through.  His Son didn’t leave this world w/o scars, why should we think we should be any different? 

When the smoke started to clear and we got slowly got back to living life, the Lord gave me a verse I have claimed as my life verse:  2 Cor. 1:3-4 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

That’s destiny.

Mothers, everything we go through has the purpose of destiny behind it.  Jessica was put here not only to bless our lives for 3 months, but to teach us about the heart of God toward His children.  We also had 2 miscarriages between Jessica and our other beautiful daughters, Jasper and Jenna.  (Did you notice that God DID give us the 5 we prayed for?  Just not the way we thought He would.)  But we have been able to minister to others who have gone through those same things like no others can.  Because we had Jesus to rely on, we have been able to step out and do more and say more than would ever have been possible before.  The Lord used what we went through to make us strong and bold for His glory…not our own.

Mothers, you have been chosen to do extraordinary things!  Your attitude in the “mundane” is what teaches your daughters character and perseverance and joy in their home.  Your “everyday” is what shows them that life is worth living because when they grow up, they will be blessed with the privilege of caring for their children.  All the wiping of bottoms and noses, all the patty-cakes, all the same stories read over and over again, all the skinned knees, the chicken pox, the school lessons, re-learning new math, field trips, talks about the facts of life, first crushes and broken hearts, graduations…and letting go.

Mothers, all these things have YOUR fingerprints on them!  Your fingerprints are all over your children!  Your destiny is them!  Because God has touched your life with destiny, because everything that He has taken you through – even what seems so boring and mundane -- has taught you something that you can pass down to your children and, in the spirit of Titus 2, pass down to the younger mothers that you know.  And because of that, the Lord has written about YOU in His Word…

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;

She can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

And faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

‘Many women do noble things,

But you surpass them all.’

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Now THAT’S destiny!

I enjoy making my own health care, skin care and home care items.  I've posted directions for such items as homemade toothpaste, deodorant, laundry detergent, face wash, etc.  Today I'll show you how I make our homemade glycerin bar soap!

First, you will need a few basic items...

You will need:  glycerin soap chunks, glass measuring cup, whisk, rubber spatula, water, extra virgin olive oil, fragrance/essential oils, botanicals/herbs.

Place several glycerin chunks in the glass measuring cup...

Melt chunks in microwave at 20 SECOND intervals until melted...

While your soap is melting, crush any botanicals/herbs you may want to add to your soap.  In this case, I am crushing dried rosemary leaves; later I crushed a few lavender buds from some I grew last year & had hanging in my kitchen...

When soap is melted, pour into a mixing bowl and add your botanicals/herbs, any coloring you may want (I usually don't add coloring), 1-2 TB extra virgin olive oil, 1-2 TB cold water and fragrance/essential oils...

In this batch I'm also adding about 10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil and 10-15 drops of tea tree oil.  Mix QUICKLY w/a whisk until soap is somewhat thick & frothy.

Pour into soap molds...

Remember...your soaps will not be the 'prettiest' at this point.    The bottoms are a little 'rough' but you will trim the 'uglies' off when your soap has cured.  Below, I have made 2 bars of lavender (upper left), 2 bars of gragefruit (my husband's shower favorite; lower left) & 4 bars of rosemary/tea tree (my shower favorite & what I sometimes put on the bathroom soap dish; right side).

After your soap has set in the molds for at least 30 minutes, turn them out onto a wire cooling rack to cure for 2 weeks.

You will notice that they are not 'pretty' on the edges.  As I said before, you will trim the excess off the edges when they are cured and you are ready use or store them.  Until I use them (or give them away) I wrap them in colored plasic wrap or brown paper gift wrap and tie w/raffia or brown or colored twine.

These are low-lather soaps and are particularly good for oilier skins w/o being drying to dry skin-types.  Adding oatmeal makes them great for drier skins or even exfoliating normal skin-types.  Adding coffee grounds that have been ground again (by you) is great as a gardener's or mechanic's soap.  Adding a few drops of tea tree, rosemary & lavender makes a great soap for oily skin (if you prefer a bar soap instead of the face wash I made earlier from liquid Castile soap).  Adding simply Vitamin E or extra virgin olive oil or a honey-almond fragrance is excellent for a bath soap for the whole family - good for the skin and even though it has a nice fragrance, it's not too girlie for the man of the house.

Let me know if you try this recipe.  Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Here is one of the simplest and most effective recipes for homemade laundry detergent.  Our family has used this for quite some time and we love it.  Once the initial purchases are made my laundry only costs about 3-5 cents per load!  It's my understanding that you CAN use this in front-loading machines b/c it's a gel and not a liquid; plus it is low suds.

And you know you have something good when your 21 year old DD says, "One of these days, when I leave home, will you still make this for me?"  lol 

First, you must to collect the things you'll need to make your soap:

A large pot and a WOODEN spoon DEDICATED to ONLY making soap; I label mine w/a Sharpie marker so that no one will confuse them for cooking utensils - even though I don't actually keep them in my kitchen, you never know and you want to be safe.  You also need a box of Arm & Hammer WASHING Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax, along w/a bar of Fels Naptha Soap - these items are found in the laundry isle of your grocery - and Lavender essential oil - it's antibacterial AND it smells SO good!  And while you're in your kitchen, grab a hand grater and med-sized dessert-type plate.

And don't forget a container w/a good lid to keep your finished product in!  This is what I use - an old popcorn bucket - so it doesn't have to be anything fancy.

Pour 8 c. of water into your pot and let it be warming on MEDIUM heat while your are preparing your other ingredients.

Grate 1/4 of the Fels Naptha bar...

Add 1/4 c. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda...

Then 1/4 c. 20 Mule Team Borax...

Mix them together a little...

And w/the wooden spoon, scoop the ingredients into the warm water...

Bring heat up to MED-HIGH and...

Add 1ts. Lavender essential oil, stir until soap bits are dissolved and then stir occasionally while this heats up for about 20 minutes...

After it has all dissolved and is well stirred, remove from heat and let sit for 1 hour.

You can see that after if has sat for 1 hour that it is starting to gell-up.

Then just pour the partially gelled detergent into your storage container, top w/the lid and let it finish gelling.  If you made your detergent in the morning it should be ready to use by the evening, other-wise, just wait until the next morning.

Use a 1/2 c. or so in each load - if I'm doing a large load I will add a little more.

This has gotten out all sorts of stains for me.  If the stain is really bad - and if 'someone forgot' to tell me that their favorite shirt has some sort of stain on it and it has set in - I take an old toothbrush, get a little detergent on it and brush WELL across the stain and then let it sit for an hour or so, after that I wash it as usual and the stain is generally gone.

I have never had any desire to go back to store-bought deterent.  I hope you enjoy this.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Jenna and I are back from the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cinci where we were blessed, once again, to work The Old Schoolhouse booth!!

Isn't that the cutest little booth worker you ever saw?  Now...HOW could anyone resist buying a subscription from her - the deal is great enough - but how could you resist that sweet smile?!  lol  She was SUCH a great help and she had a far better time than she thought she would at working a booth for the 1st time.  So many of her homeschool friends were there and stopped by to say 'hi' and that really made her day.

I hope that if you were there that you got a chance to say 'hi' to Kris and Jim Price.  Kris works for TOS and they are so much fun to work with.  What great booth-mates!  At one point, things were so busy on Friday that we couldn't even look at their end of the table for 2 hours!  It was awesome!

Here's our TOS gang:  Spunky, Jim, Kris, Jenna and me.  Also there was Karen "Spunky" Braun from her famous blog: www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com  If you don't read it yet, you need to start.  Very smart, very engaging, very thought-provoking.  If you want a blog that will make you think, that's it.  Spunky did a workshop on blogging and was blogging live throughout the convention.  She's so much fun - we worked together at the TOS booth at CHEO in '08, too.  Great to see you again, Spunk!

Here's another TOS alum and one of the funniest people of the weekend..."Jay From Cleveland" and his lovely wife, Deb!!  (www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jayfromcleveland)  Their great family was w/them, too.  Jay has a great blog and if you want an INCREDIBLE curriculum on Astronomy (did I 'say' it right, there, Jay?!  Hahahaha!) he has written exactly what you need!  You can find out how to get it on his blog or on his Facebook.  YOU NEED THIS!! 

So many bloggers know Jen Ig and her lovely blogging daughter, Coie.  They were there representing Rosetta Stone Language curriculum.  Two of my favorite people!  We hadn't seen each other since last year's CHEO.  Here's Coie hard at work - all the booth workers were really hoppin'!

Here's Jen Ig and sweet Marsha Drews during a rare lull in the action on Saturday.  Many of you know Marsha from her great blog:  www.homeschoolblogger.com/drewsfamilytx.  What a doll!  I SO enjoyed meeting her - all the way from TEXAS!  We had a sweet conversation and shared our hearts.  Marsha - what a pleasure to finally meet you!!

Here's a fun group!  lol  This is Jen Ig, Coie, me and blogger Julie Park!  Hers is another blog you must read, if you don't already ~ www.inlightofeternity.wordpress.com.  What a FUN girl!

I know what you're thinking..."Now, THERE'S trouble!"  lol  Really, we didn't cause any at all!    We were too busy to get into trouble...so...we'll just have get together AGAIN!  By the way, that's Jenna, Coie, Jen and me.

There were SO MANY incredible bloggers that came up and introduced themselves to me!  THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME!  Seriously, there had to have been at least 50 from Homesteadblogger, Homeschoolblogger and Homeschool Lounge.  I could kick myself that I didn't think of this sooner, but it wasn't until late afternoon on Friday that I thought of writing down the blog friends who stopped by...I mentioned Marsha, Julie, Jay and Deb, but there was also Amy W., Jen from Mrs. Incredible!  I was SO excited to meet her!  (www.homeschoolblogger.com/MrsIncredible)  And then there were the awesome bloggers who are part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew: 

Regenia Speirndle (www.homeschoolreview4you.blogspot.com and www.homeschoolblogger.com/supermomof5kids),

Christy Lucas (www.mercyeverymorning.blogspot.com),

Heidi Pair (www.chatterandclatter.blogspot.com),

Penny Ray (www.notnewtoautism.blogspot.com)

and Angela Richter (www.homeschoolblogger.com/byourlove1).  What a GREAT group of ladies! 

Please forgive me if I have missed you!  It was no less of a thrill to have met you, but I just turned 50 you know, and I can only stuff so much info into my head before SOMETHING has to fall out!

If you didn't make the Midwest Homeschool Convention this year, you need to try to go next year.  There were people there from 22 states!  I've never been to a homeschool convention w/that kind of saturation before.  Brennan Dean, you should be thrilled with what you have done!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

If any of you are going to the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cinci this weekend, BE SURE to stop by The Old Schoolhouse booth and say "hi"!!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Joshua 4:4-7 – “So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan.  Each of you is to take a stone on his shoulder…to serve as a sign among you.  In the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.  These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

When beginning our school year, most of us probably go before the Lord and bathe the coming academic year in prayer.  But about this time of year, winding up the school year seems to take place at the same time our energy is winding down.  (Thank the LORD for Easter Break…in more ways than one!)

This time of year it is so easy to feel like we are a hamster in a wheel…running, running, running but going nowhere.  Besides the end of the academic year soon coming to an end (for most of us) and the “cleaning up” of those loose ends that this may bring, there are other things coming to a crescendo…sports, dance recital, music recital, end of year ceremonies and parties, conventions…the list seems to go on and on.  With all this activity and the exhaustion that accompanies it, it is easy to forget all that has been accomplished during this school year and forget the grace and answered prayer that God has showered down upon us like sweet April rain.

As the busyness of this time of year takes us by storm, all the little things can cause our thoughts of what we have accomplished to become distorted.  When homeschool life gets a little overwhelming (or just life in general!) instead of remembering the rough days, we need to strengthen our own faith by getting out those “stones of remembrance” and look back at all the prayers God has answered.  These “stones” are our faith manifested in physical reality…answered prayer, healings, a loved-one’s salvation…all those school lessons and activities…what a list!

I believe that if you are honest with yourself, you will agree that God’s grace has especially extended to your school year and that it really was a success!  If you take a peek through your children’s notebooks and review what has been absorbed this year, you’ll realize that something really did get through!  On those days when you may feel like you’re not teaching your children anything, look at all your children do know…The LORD used you to teach them that!  Are they well-rounded?  Do they have a relationship with Jesus?  Have they seen answered prayer?  The LORD used you!  God knew what He was doing when He put those children in your home.

These are our Stones of Remembrance!

Joshua 23:14 – “…You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”    Amen!

Blessings from Ohio,

Kim Wolf<><

Registration is open for the school year 2009/2010!

Please contact the appropriate campus for more information.

See the bottom of this post for the information.

Campus Locations: Hilliard, Pataskala, Westerville/Lewis Center, Mansfield

NEW Campus Locations for Fall: Carroll/Lancaster and Grove City

Interest areas: Delaware, Mount Vernon

HSLDA urges members to take advantage of discounts being offered at Borders bookstores March 19-25. As part of Educator Appreciation week, Borders will offer homeschoolers in-store discounts of 25% off most items. Just show your HSLDA membership card (if you've misplaced it, to print a new one click here >> ).

If you are not an HSLDA member, you can show your Notification Form or Notice of Notification letter from your superintendent.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Washington Times Op-ed—Homeschooling Popularity Grows

by J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

OK, I’ll admit it…yes, I was interested in what this book had to say but, I was sure I was going to read it and find out that it was written by another “earth papa guru.”  Well…I couldn’t have been more wrong!

This is possibly the most interesting book I’ve ever read on living a healthy life-style based on Biblical concepts.  Dr. Russell has put his heart into exploring what the Bible really says about diet and health.  There are no out-landish claims, no disgusting concoctions to mix, and no sacrificing of everything we love to eat.

I found his explanation of clean and unclean foods really helpful.  I especially appreciated his treatment of fasting and dealing with our relationship with the Lord and our own heart issues.  Following God’s plan for healthy living isn’t just diet…as always, God deals with our heart as well.

Dr. Russell’s advice begins with following 3 principles that are laid out in God’s Word:  1) Eat the Foods God Created for You, 2) Don’t Alter God’s Design and 3) Don’t Let Any Food or Drink Become Your God.  His explanations are grounded in Scripture and are very thoroughly explained.

The book covers such topics as:  grains and nuts, fat in the diet, meats (clean and unclean), sugars and spices, fruits and vegetables and even beverages.  The appendices include a fun health IQ quiz, frequently asked questions, mail order whole food sources and how to begin a relationship with your Creator.

Dr. Russell has covered it all and has done it in a thoughtful, God-honoring way.  I re-read this book once a year.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Once again, a family had to learn the hard way that Charter/Cyber schools ~ a.k.a. School-at-Home ~ IS NOT the same as TRUE homeschooling.  I'm sure it's the same in other states, but in Ohio, Charter/Cyber schools are even listed under the PUBLIC SCHOOL section of Ohio Administrative Code (OAC).  Charter/Cyber schools are nothing but trouble; they bring government over-sight right into our homes.  In my years as County Coordinator I NEVER ONCE met a person who was talked into using Charter/Cyber schools by their local district who was told that they were about to sign away their 4th Amendment rights...OR...that this was NOT homeschooling.  They all called it homeschooling. 

The article below happened to a family in Minnesota, but the story is the same no matter what state you are in.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Family Decides Price of Charter School’s Free Education Is Too High

The Smith family (name changed to protect privacy) in Minnesota decided to try out the virtual charter school Connections Academy this school year. As all charter schools are, Connections Academy is a public school. However, the financial advantages of a free education, reduced recordkeeping, and the accountability and assistance of a certified teacher persuaded the Smiths to enroll their two children.

During the first semester, the Smiths discovered that Connections Academy was not quite as wonderful as it had first seemed. The curriculum required memorization of obscure information and writing assignments that were too long for young children. As a result of the one-size-fits-all curriculum and the standardized benchmarks, the children were not able to work at their own pace.

“Keeping up with the course work was beyond any curriculum I have ever used,” said Mrs. Smith.

The children were not permitted to work ahead in subjects they found easy or to move at a slower pace through a subject they had difficulty with. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had no input as to what curriculum their children were being taught. For example, the Connections Academy science curriculum taught that evolution and Darwinism are proven facts, as opposed to theories, and did not include alternate theories about the origins of the universe, such as intelligent design or biblical creation.

After one semester, the Smiths decided they had no choice but to withdraw their children from Connections Academy and return to homeschooling.

There are many benefits to homeschooling. You can choose a curriculum tailored to your children’s learning style, encouraging children to learn at their own pace and to master material, rather than stick to a strict schedule. Children may explore areas of interest more deeply. Work assignments are flexible, allowing for other important co-curricular and extra-curricular activities such as field trips and sports programs. And you can include a broad variety of subject matter and information beyond the textbooks that reflect—or at least respect—the beliefs and values of your family.

The Smiths, now members of HSLDA, realized that school at home is not the same thing as homeschool. With this experience under their belt, the Smiths are back on the road to enjoying the liberty and flexibility that comes from a truly free homeschooling program. HSLDA is pleased to assist them, and any others similarly situated, with the problems that sometimes arise when parents withdraw children from a government school program, like the Connections Academy virtual charter school.