When you get bogged down by comparison, read this article!!!

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_so_what_are_you_doing_for_god.htm

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"  Psalm 133:1, NKJV

Wow!  2002 flew by!  We all enjoyed the awesome autumn weather!  We had fun watching the gifts and bents in our families develop in our homes.  It is such a blessing to watch our children bloom.  Restful, peaceful atmospheres, prioritized, directed discipline, and cultivated lifestyles are so refreshing compared to the stressful, mundane, mishmash offered by the "norm" society today.  We shared wonderful news of how things were going in our families with the group.  It's so much fun to hear how others are doing.  It encourages us and offers us hope when we have a down day.  It also offers a reminder of how we can jump right in where we are and make changes for the better daily.

The October '02 topic of encouragement was "'The Brother Offended Checklist':  Honestly Friendly!"  We went over this wonderfully helpful tool from Doorposts.  It is designed for parents to use when they need to know "What to Tell a Tattletale".  We found ways to apply it for ourselves, first.  We discussed what the Bible tells the "Offended Brother" and the "Offender" to do and then had an evaluation of Tailor Made.  We had an honest discussion and made some future plans for Tailor Made.  We also passed out another interest inventory to help get 2003 organized.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17

"I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, and of those who keep Thy precepts."  Psalm 119:63

*Please read the article "A Few Interesting Definitions" before you read these meeting notes.

We listened to the song "First Song That I Sing" by Sara Groves (All Right Here CD). 

Then, we enjoyed a demonstration based on the web article, "Prioritizing Your Rocks" by Dr. Stephen R. Covey.  http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_prioritizing_rocks.htm

"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6 TAB (the Amplified Bible)

No matter what each person's gift or bent happens to be, we all move through knowledge to understanding to wisdom.  As members of families, we do this in our homes (everyone, not just homeschoolers).  Our homes actually "grow" in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.  (TRIVIUM) 

In keeping with the priorities demonstration, we found out what the word home means (in other words, we talked about the knowledge level of 'home').  First things first.

home-4a.  An environment offering security and happiness.  b.  a valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.  7.  The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; adv. at, to or toward the direction of home.  to the point at which something is directed.  (->"home in" on something) to the center or heart of something; deeply.  (comments-get to the "heart" of the matter).  to move or lead toward a goal (to the truth).  "at home" comfortable and relaxed; at ease "home free" free of tension or stress, usually after expending considerable effort.

Charlotte Mason said,"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."

Our homes are an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.  But, what kind of atmosphere?  discipline?  life? 

(A great book on making the home a wonderful atmosphere, discipline, and life is For the Family's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay).

ATMOSPHERE=KNOWLEDGE level of HOME

atmosphere-environment or surroundings regarded as having a psychological, physical, or other influence.

During our organization meeting in July, we were reminded that "God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."  I Corinthians 14:33a

We discussed in March's meeting that we need to establish the habit of attention (self-discipline) in ourselves in order to help develop it in our children.

Philippians 4:9 "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."

We need to make sure that what our children are learning, receiving, hearing, and seeing are things we want them to practice.

In For the Children's Sake (page 10), Susan Schaeffer Macaulay says "one of the greatest powers for good is a family whose members respect each other and who have learned to function, however poorly, with the rich concepts the Word of God gives us as human beings.  It is almost incredible to think of the stabilizing effect ordinary families can have:  not only for themselves, but as a light in a troubled generation."

DISCIPLINE=UNDERSTANDING level of HOME

Here's where we move into the discipline area.  We learned a lot about discipleship in the August "Mothering by Heart" meeting.  Guess what?  By cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in ourselves, we cultivate it in our children.  Powerful training!  It covers all kinds of character training.  Suggestions for character training curricula included various studies from Doorposts.

cultivator-1. one that cultivates.  2.  an implement or machine for loosening the earth and destroying weeds around growing plants.

We're improving and preparing, growing and tending, promoting, nurturing, fostering, forming, refining, and polishing our children.

REMEMBER!  Consistency is key to discipleship!

There are various "discipline" books, but we're going to discuss it a bit differently.

disciple-one who subscribes to the teachings of a master and assists in spreading them.  An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy.

discipline-1.  Training that is expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.  7.  a branch of knowledge or of teaching.

Here's where we get back to our original verse-Prov. 22:6TAB

In order to find out what our children's gifts/bents are we have to think about priorities again.

From Teaching the Trivium (by the Bluedorns's):  On page 103, the Bluedorn's offer some helpful hints for us to remediate ourselves/our children in the area of time and training.

1.  Kick the entertainment habit!

2.  Start reading!

3.  Ask the Lord to give you an inquiring mind.  (Not like the National Enquirer).

4.  Build vocabulary.

5.  Have discussions with your children.

6.  Make sure your children obey you.

7.  Establish family worship.

That's a lot to swallow!  It's kind of like reading Proverbs 31, eh?

Remember the Charlotte Mason motto:  "I am!  I can!  I ought!  I will!  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"  Phil. 4:13

Once we decide to get serious about the time that is required to discover what each child needs we may feel overwhelmed.  But, AGAIN, REMEMBER THE CM MOTTO and Phil. 4:13!

I highly recommend Discover Your Children's Gifts:  A Parent's Handbook to Recognize and Develop Your Children's God-given Gifts by Don & Katie Fortune!

The Fortunes point out the need to understand our children's gifts and bents because this understanding is what will ultimately aid us in creating a loving atmosphere, a tailored discipline, and a wonderful life in our homes!!!

Not only does this book look at giftedness, if you let it, it can help you realize how learning styles and personalities all make for very interesting dynamics.  Difficult if we don't understand which direction God has each person pointed in.....so, "HOME IN!" 

Finding out what makes each family member tick will help our families become a light in the darkness; an example of God's love in action! 

Christian Liberty Press' Nature Readers have wonderful stories that demonstrate "gifts/bents" of animals and insects that might inspire some children to develop their own. 

Home Grown Kids by the Moore's shares some things to teach in discipline, especially in the area of forgiveness.  Blocks and "physics" on the trampoline can be ways to develop gifts and enhance learning through play.

LIFE=WISDOM level of HOME

life-4.  The physical, mental, and spiritual experiences that constitute a person's existence.  10a.  a manner of living.

Throughout life we are always learning.  Our learning consists of three things:  worship, service, and gaining wisdom.  In July, we talked about "brain triggers" for studying God's Works (subjects).

In order to study His Words as a way of life, Cross-Over suggests: 

1.  a wash of Scripture

2.  memorization

3,  doctrine

4.  character qualities (biographies and read aloud time)

5.  prayer

6.  hymnology

These things are the BIG rocks!  These are the things that prioritze our days.

Be cultivators!  Let's create an atmosphere of love and respect.  These things are conducive to learning.  Let's disciple our children and each other in the way each should go, consistently.  Let's live wisely demonstrating all the things that will foster a healthy fear of the Lord!

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  Proverbs 9:10

Conversation, prayer, nature study, are simple ways to begin training.  After all, we want to teach healthy habits of attention.  We can start with the simple lesson of the toothbrush which will lead to a healthy dose of wisdom. 

We closed the meeting by listening to Nichole Nordeman's "Home". 

Titles used for this topic:

The Amplified Bible

New American Standard Master Study Bible

The American Heritage Dictionary

For the Family's Sake:  The Value of Home in Everyone's Life by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

For the Children's Sake:  Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Teaching the Trivium:  Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn http://www.triviumpursuit.com

Discover Your Children's Gifts:  A Parent's Handbook to Recognize and Develop Your Children's God-given Gifts by Don and Katie Fortune http://www.heart2heart.org

A Child's Book of Character Building books 1&2 by Ron and Rebekah Coriell

Christian Liberty Nature Readers http://clpress.hpwebhost.com

Home Grown Kids:  A Practical Handbook for Teaching Your Children at Home by Raymond and Dorothy Moore, forword by Dr. James C. Dobson http://www.moorefoundation.com

"12 Ways to Trigger the Brain...with Any Subject Matter!  (Tips for Mastering New Information Fast and Effortlessly)" by Renee Ellison http://crossover.ellison.net

Hey Tailors,

Here are some definitions for you to consider (please notice words in CAPS and consider these parts of the definitions carefully):

procrastinate-to put off doing something until a future time.  To postpone or delay NEEDLESSLY.  Latin, pro-forward, cras-tomorrow.  Scholastic Children's Dictionary (SCD)-to put off doing something simply because you do not want to do it.

isolate-to seperate from a group or whole and set apart.  To place in quarantine.  Chemical-to obtain (a substance) in an uncombined form.  TO RENDER FREE OF EXTERNAL INFLUENCE; INSULATE.  Latin, insulatis-made into an island.  SCD-to keep something or someone seperate.  to discover and identify something.

perverse-directed away from what is right or good; pervered.  OBSTINATELY PERSISTING in an error or fault; WRONGLY self-willed or stubborn.

pervert-to cause to turn from what is considered morally right; corrupt.  to bring to a worse condition; debase vitiate.  to EMPLY wrongly or incorrectly, MISUSE; to INTERPRET incorrectly; MISCONSTRUE.  Latin, per-intensive, vertere-to turn.

success-act of succeeding; succession.  that which comes after; hence, consequence, issue, or result of an endeavor or undertaking whether GOOD OR BAD; the outcome of effort.  the favorable or prosperous termination of anything attempted; the attainment of a proposed object; prosperous issue.  that which meets with, or one who accomplishes, favorable results, as a play or player.

"I will instruct you and teach

         you in the way which you

         should go;

I will counsel you with My

         eye upon you.

Do not be as the horse or as

         the mule which have no

         understanding,

Whose trappings include bit

         and bridle to hold them in

         check,

OTHERWISE they will not come

         near you.

Many are the sorrows of the

         wicked;

But he who trusts in the

         LORD, loving kindness shall surround him.

Be glad in the LORD and re-

         joice, you righteous ones,

And shout for joy, all you who

         are upright in heart."

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."

     -Winston Churchill, British statesman

This Lord's Day,

I arose at six

prayed

showered

nursed the baby

fixed breakfast

dressed

ironed my husband's shirt

bathed the baby

dressed the baby

found my husband's watch

curled my hair

changed the baby's diaper

answered the phone

put on some makeup

stuck a roast in the oven

packed the diaper bag

grabbed my Bible

dashed to the kitchen for Linda's

casserole dish

ran to the car

and as I strapped my little angel

into his car seat,

he vomited all over everything,

including me

and my only ironed dress.

Oh yes, Lord,

I shall remember this

Sabbath Day,

However, I must confess,

I am completely stumped

on how

to keep it holy.

     -anonymous (from Mothering by Heart:  Celebrating the Moments that Last Forever by Robin Jones Gunn)

"I will wait on the Lord...And I will hope in Him.  Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!"  Isaiah 8:17018 (NKJV)

How are those organizational skills coming along?  Keep on keeping on!  Let's all encourage each other to keep from putting off the necessary needlessly because we do not want to do it.  We all need to remind each other to render ourselves free from much of the extras and insulate our families with peace and rest.  Let's work diligently to interpret ideas and opportunities for what they really are in regard to each individual family's needs.  Remember, success is the result of an endeavor or undertaking.  It may be a struggle to get ourselves organized, but the blessings we will receive far outweigh the challenges that are in front of us.  God is faithful!  "But the hand of the diligent makes one rich."  Proverbs 10:4

In order for a support group to actually be "supportive", there needs to be an element of TRUST.  It is a key factor in developing the kind of relationships that allow honest discussion of the simple and complex concerns we have as homeschoolers.

Here are a couple of verses that Tailor Made hopes to keep in mind before, during, and after meetings.  Remember, confidentiality is key to building lasting friendships. 

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much..."  Luke 16:10

"In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy."  I Corinthians 4:2

We strive to be faithful stewards of our time away from our families and desire to be faithful friends that keep their word.

The July '02 Tailor Made topic of encouragement was called "Organization:  Home and School Tailoring Apprenticeship.  We all brought our favorite organizational ideas and concerns to the table.  Some brought books or other organizational tools that were no longer neede by their families to share with those who would find them beneficial.  We met at Melony's beautiful home.  Cheryl and Jerri helped cater and some people decided to get a carpool together for the scenic drive. 

We realized that we've all been adversely influenced by the "women's liberation" movement.  World War II had a lot to do with the way our grandmothers and mothers were raised before us.  This impacted the way we were raised.  "Rosie the Rivetor" didn't want to go back home from the warplant after the war was over.  It just didn't seem as exciting to cook and clean as it did to be a part of the war effort.  (How ironic?!?....aren't we actually as wives and mothers actually a very strong part of every day's individual "war effort"?) 

Well, the attitudes that many of us have learned from our mothers, grandmothers, and maybe even great-grandmothers have been to some extent poor, more or less.  That's where thinking about our relationships with our mothers can be helpful in pinpointing our own negative ideas of some of the things we need to do as far as organizing our homes and homeschooling responsibilities are concerned.  If we look at our mothers idea of the "job" of homekeeper, we might find that she though of it as a lowly task.  With several technological advances in the area of homekeeping, many may find it boring because of convenience.  After all, how many buttons do we push now?  No more washboards means lots of time on our hands. 

Or, we may have had a mother who didn't learn many homekeeping skills because of grandmother's poor health.  Polio may have been a factor or some other illness that kept Grandma from being able to do many things around the house.  This would mean that mother didn't learn many things to pass on to daughter and may not have even known that this could create frustration down the line.

Society gravitated toward the "be all you can be" and "you've come a long way baby" slogans.  Being at home all day cleaning and taking care of children became anything but glamourous.  Whole new generations were being raised to chime in with the "what about me?" syndrome as a sort of motto.

But, what about Titus 2:3-5?  "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that they word of God may not be dishonored."

As far as organizing the home for homeschooling is concerned, we can learn to teach and appreciate this time by utilizing the "12 Brain Triggers".  These can be found by visiting the CrossOver website at http://crossover.ellison.net.  The article is called "Twelve Optimum Ways to Trigger the Brain".  It is amazing how little brain organizers can help smooth things out and save us so much time. 

"School" can become learning at home when we implement a little bit of homemaking skills into our children's days.  While teaching them to keep their things organized and to help keep the home in order, much of the "burden" is taken off of Mom which will ease some of struggle to stay on top of things. 

Proverbs 15:13,15-

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken...All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast." 

If we keep a cheerful attitude about this, our mission field, we will be more motivated to stay organized in our homes, in our learning, and even in our help with other responsibilities. 

There are many benefits to learning homemaking skills.  We can become very inventive, skilled, and creative.  We can develop a better "self image".  Having an orderly home will encourage our husbands and children to be happier because they will be able to learn and rest better in an organized home.  Satisfaction will come from increasing our knowledge and ability in this area.  We can also enjoy the opportunity to show hospitality to others as we'll welcome the chance to entertain others in our homes whether it is planned or on a whim.

Proverbs 16:3-

"Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established."

We decided to make up our minds as to whether we are willing to plan our work and work our plans.  That takes courage and determination!

Some hints from the group:

Keep a note pad with tear out sheets.  Jot down needed items and plan the route for errands.

Keep a calendar for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, field trips, workshops, meetings, etc.

Plan menus to keep the grocery budget organized and eat fruits and vegetables in season to keep the cost down and stay healthy.

For lesson planning, use a journal or your calendar to make a "skeleton" of the week.  Flesh it out daily/weekly/monthly to check the accomplishment of goals.

In states that require grades and attendance, note them on the calendar right by the assignment with the child's initials.

Hopefully, these ideas will motivate all of us to begin to make our homes a more comfortable place in which to live and learn.

Enjoy a verse that was shared at the June '02 meeting for the "I am My Beloved's and My Beloved is Mine" topic....

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." 

John 15:13

God gave all men all earth to love
But since our hearts are small,
Ordained for each one spot should prove
Beloved over all.
        -Rudyard Kipling

Trish shared encouraging words about our roles as wives while we homeschool our children.  She challenged us to pray to be godly wives and suggested that we all read the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  We were inspired to cross over those love language boundaries and came away with a renewed since of direction for our first and foremost mission...being godly wives.  We decided to put on our boots and headgear and determined to fulfill our missions even if we find ourselves struggling.  We know that Jesus is with us and that we have Tailor Made comrades in arms to encourage us along the way.

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."    -Robert Frost

"The essence of education is not to stuff you with facts, but to help you discover your uniqueness, to teach you how to develop it, and then to show you how to give it away."  -Leo Buscaglia

Big yellow trolley limbers along,

Long black subway sings an under song,

Airplanes swoop and flash in the sky,

Noisy old elevated goes rocketing by,

Boats across the river-back and forth they go,

Big boats and little boats, fast boats and slow.

Trains puff and thunder; their engines have a headlight;

They have a special kind of car where you can sleep all night.

Tall fat buses on the Avenue,

They will stop for anyone-even-just-you.

All kinds of autos rush down the street.

And then there are always-your own two feet.

Roads go ever on and on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where sun has never shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

We recalled that our biggest concern as a group was self-discipline and shared how that's been going.  But, this topic has to do with question 2 on the interest inventory...."what concerns you most about yourself as an educator?"  The two we tackled during the May '02 meeting were curriculum choice, organization, and insecurity.  We decided to focus on curriculum organization and leave other organizational skills for later in July.

"Animal School" was read from the pages of Homestyle Teaching by Raymond and Dorothy Moore.  In the story, animals are graded for their performances, just as children are graded for their performance in school.  A, B, C, D, or F are the "grades" awarded to animals in the story (and children in school).  These grades did not take their gifts into consideration and they weren't allowed to specialize by developing their gifts.  Their weaknesses were measured instead of their strengths.

This is similar to using "Mapquest" for directions:  no accurate times, MQ doesn't know vehicle condition, budget or when you might need a bathroom break, leg stretches or change in scenery.  All of these are symbols of learning styles, giftedness, and daily life situations on our learning journeys. 

Curriculum choice depends largely on our philosophy which outlines our goals.

We need to look at the resources available in order to devise methods for using these resources.

The Moore's share how philosophy helps outline goals which help us find resouces that in turn provide us with methods for teaching and learning with our children.

Psalm 139 and James 1:2-4 are helpful reminders to help us in this process.

"Philosophy is our idea of truth and whether it is relative or absolute."

-What is Truth?  JESUS!

-How did Jesus think?  Like God!

Wisdom is thinking God's way!  The Bluedorn's remind us that we go from knowledge to understanding to wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7 "The beginning of wisdom is:  Aquire wisdom;  And with all your acquiring, get understanding."

Psalm 111:10  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."

James 1:5-6  "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

Proverbs 24:3-4  By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Who is famous for wisdom?  Solomon.  How did he receive it?  In I Kings 3:3-14, he asked for understanding and discernment.  In II Chronicles 1:7-12 he asked for wisdom and knowledge.  He did this out of his desire to lead God's people in the way they should go.  As parents we are concerned with leading our children in the way they should go.  SO!  PRAY FOR WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND DISCERNMENT BEFORE MAKING CURRICULUM CHOICES!!!

As for goals:

Proverbs 9:1  "Wisdom has built her house she has set up her seven pillars."

Various homeschooling authors, including the Bluedorns and Marilyn Howshall have outlined their suggestions on acquiring wisdom.  We talked about how helpful their articles, books, and websites such as http://www.homeschooloasis.com have been for many of us. 

According to Barb Shelton, the seven pillars are:

*Knowledge of God and His will

*Close (Intimate, active) relationship with God

*Preparation for Roles in life

*Preparation for Specific Life Calling and Purpose

*Character Development

*Equip with Tools to Learn for Life

*Basic Foundation of Knowledge to Function in Society

You can find her helpful article at http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_wisdoms_7_pillars_of_true_ed.htm.

We talked about the things that help in these areas.  First, we can read Proverbs and have Bible studies/devotions with our family.  Our actions and service (and our children's) help demonstrate the growing relationship we have with God.  Doorposts curriculum and Beautiful Girlhood were suggested for helping prepare children for their roles in life.  Don and Katie Fortune have helpful books for helping prepare them for their specific life calling based on their spiritual gifts.  Using videos, practicing manners, and Vision Forum's catalog were suggestions for character development (Shepherding a Child's Heart was also a suggestion).  Dorothy Sayers' "The Lost Tools of Learning" was suggested as a reminder for equipping them with the tools to learn for life.  It wasn't until the seventh pillar on the list that we even got to the 3 Rs and the "etc." of learning!  Maybe we've had educational priorities out of order?

"For the sole true end of education is simply this:  to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain."  -Dorothy Sayers

***Sometimes, even thoughtful scope and sequence suggestions by curriculum publishers and various authors don't fit our family or one or more of our children.***

Tailor Made Nature Study Notes from April 2002

We called this meeting topic "Nature Study:  Resting in God's Arms While Enjoying His Creation" and met at Becca's place out in the country.

Attending members were asked to choose a rock from a basket and think about what God can reveal about Himself through this creation of His.

Some responses were: 

God's thumbprint is on everything!

He has given us numerous layers to learn of knowledge, understanding and wisdom and an order in which to learn.

"Solid as a rock."

The times that we go through can be rough or smooth depending on what God has for us to learn.

God is multi-faceted; three in One.

He's with us everywhere we go and will be there for us to rediscover if we get caught up and wander off from Him for a time.

We move from the darkness of sin to the light of freedom when we are bathed in Jesus' blood.

Various verses were discussed in relation to the word rock....

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my ROCK and my Redeemer!"

We usually find 2 hindrances to nature study.

Hinderance #1:  IGNORANCE.  WE feel that we don't know enough.  Our children might ask us about something that we can't remember or never learned.

II Corinthians 12:9  "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

We begin to study in order to be better prepared for our children's questions.  Then, we start to plan.

Hinderance #2:  TOO MUCH PLANNING!  We steer our children away from a natural investigation toward a lesson planned event.  "Today we will collect leaves."  "But, MOM, we want to look at butterflies."  "No, we're going to study that next week."

Proverbs 19:21  "Many are the plan's in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

With that said...YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE A TIME IN YOUR LIFE FOR NATURE STUDY.  Otherwise, it will be left out.  You might ask yourselves WHY?

How busy does satan keep you?  He knows that we learn about God through nature.  SO, he keeps us busy to keep us from learning about God in a beautiful, natural, relaxing, peaceful, unharried way.

Remember, if you are struggling with a decision or need understanding about a certain area of your life and want to receive a revelation from God as to His position on the matter, PRAY before you head out the door to enjoy His creation.  Ask Him to show you, through His beauty, answers, if even glimpses of the bigger picture and give you that "I see, now" revelation.

Nature is our God given place to pray for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Mark 6:31  "And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.' (For there were many good people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat)."

Recall Exodus 16, 17, and 18 when the Israelites were grumbling about HOW HARD IT WOULD BE TO CLAIM THE PROMISED LAND?  Joshua and Caleb took possession of the land.  What percentage is that?  They saw the beauty of God's promises and took hold of them.

Dear Parents, your time is your own.  Claim the promises of peace and rest and take back your lives from the business and come away to enjoy God with your families in His promised land.

Psalm 46:10  "Cease STRIVING and know that I am God; I will be exalted amontg the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

BE STILL!!!!!!  Be still and see, hear, smell, taste, feel and KNOW ("I see!") that I am God.

Charlotte Mason once said, "Never be indoors when you can rightly be without."  Take your bookish learning outside whenever possible.  The backyard, the front porch, the park, or Becca's house with a couple days notice    , are all places you can learn your lessons and also learn about God.  Let Him be your distraction for a change!

Becca shared about a nature retreat that she went on recently with her husband.  She asked God to explain some things about how/why things have happened in history.  She asked that He explain things about her father, husband, and children and how homeschooling relates to it all.  It was amazing the things she learned from nature about the specific understanding she asked to be given.  He brought peace with His beautiful creeks, and cockleburrs, and tree roots, and poison ivey, and stagnant water, and trails, and tracks, and other things.  All this because she asked Him.

This is why it needs to be stressed that we pray before going out into nature.  It's such a blessing.

Luke 10:23-24  "And turning to the disciples, He said privately, 'Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.'"

Various ideas for notebooking, journaling, and scrapbooking were suggested.  We talked about implementing library books to bring in art appreciation, music, poetry, and such into the learning process.

Sing with your children while you enjoy God's creation.

"Hosea"

"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee!"

"Earth and All Stars"

"Let All Things Now Living"

"Thy Strong Word"

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Let the holy anthem rise,

and the choirs of heaven chant it in the temple of the skies;

Let the mountains skip with gladness, and the joyful valleys ring

With Hosannas in the highest to our Savior and our King!

We enjoyed a lunch of chicken salad pitas with fresh fruit and chocolate cake.

We hiked all over the place, discovering wonderful flowers, tracks, bugs, plants, and other wonders.  We even had to have a bit of team work to climb up part of the bank.  Pictures were taken, some of them a bit silly of worn out moms with frazzled hair! 

Suggestions for awesome nature study:

Handbook of Nature Study by Anna B. Comstock (Dr. Comstock was the lead instructor in nature studies, etc. at Cornell University)

Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers

Little Bear's Outdoor Adventure Guide for the All-American Boy

For further study on implementing nature study into your life:

A Charlotte Mason Companion:  Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola

Cindy Rushton offers lots of nature study ideas.  Check out her website at

http://www.cindyrushton.com

Lots of the ideas for these nature study notes were found at Cindy's site and on MacBeth's site http://charlottemason.tripod.com/nature.html.

"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."

   I Corinthians 14:33a

This is my mission field:  a child's heart

Where endless thoughts and actions start,

For in that heart through word and deed

I plant and water sacred seed.

   -Marcia Baldon

This is a popular poem.

"The Reading Mother"

I had a Mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales

Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings--

Stories that stir with an upward touch,

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be--

I had a Mother who read to me.

   -Strickland Gillilan

Here's a wonderful link to learn about Charlotte Mason's wonderful motto, "I am, I can, I ought, I will."

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/BeeME1/motto.html?mtbrand=AOL_US

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!

Habit of Attention is the description Charlotte Mason used to describe self-discipline or consistency.  The main concerns during the day in regards to helping our children at home (according to TM interest inventory results) focussed on getting them to get all their "stuff" done.  The following will hopefully be helpful:

-Habit of Attention starts with MOM!  ""And let us not be weary in well doing: for in DUE SEASON we will reap, if we faint not!"  Galatians 6:9

-consistency

Chapter 9 of A Charlotte Mason Companion:  Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola tells us:

   1/3 of education is discipline

   "Let a mother discipline herself to establish a particular habit in her children that would be to her favor and theirs."

   work on one good habit at at time (read about "Inconstant Kitty" in Ch. 11)

   be faithfully consistent

   don't get lazy

   "Sow and act, reap a habit, sow a habit, reap a character, sow a character, reap a destiny!"

Habits include attention, obedience, manners, truthfulness, thoroughness, puctuality, taking turns, doing our best, PRAYER, gratitude.

Example is the best sermon, SO DON'T NAG!

-from 173 of Parents and Children (from the Original Series by Charlotte Mason):

   "Good Habits the best Schoolmasters.-Not mere spurts of occassional punishment, but the incessant watchfulness and endeavour which go to the forming and preserving of the habits of the good life, is what we mean by discipline; and, from the point of view, never were there such disciplinarians as the parents who labour on the lines we would indicate.  Every habit of courtesy, consideration, order, neatness, punctuality, truthfulness, is itself a schoolmaster, and orders life with the most unfailing diligence."

   "A habit is so easily formed, so strong to compel.  There are few parents who would not labour diligently if for every month's labour they were able to endow one of their children with a large sum of money.  But, in a month, a parent may begin to form a habit in his child of such value that money is a bagatelle by comparison.  We have often urged that the great discovery which modern science has brought to the aid of the educator is, that every habit of the life sets up, as it were, a material record in the brain tissues.  We all know that we think as we are used to think and act as we are used to act.  Ever since man began to notice the ways of his own mind, this law of habit has been matter of common knowledge, and has been more or less aacted upon by parents and other trainers of children.  The well-brought-up child has always been a chlid carefully trained in good habits.  But it is only within our own day that it has been possible to lay down definite laws for the formation of habits.  Until now, the mother who wished to train her children in such and such a good habit has found herself hindered by a certain sense of casualty."

-from 175 of Parents of Children (from the Original Series by Charlotte Mason).

   "Some Practical Counsels.-Let me offer a few definite practical counsels to a parent who wishes to deal seriously with a bad habit.  FIRST-Let us remember that this bad habit has made its record in the brain.  SECOND-There is only one way of obliterating such record; the absolute cessation of the habit for a considerable space of time, say some six or eight weeks.  THIRD-During this interval new growth, new cell connections, are somehow or other taking place, and the physical seat of the evil is undergoing a natural healing.  FOURTH-But the only way to secure this pause is to introduce some new habit as attractive to the child as is the wrong habit you set yourself to cure.  FIFTH-As the bad habit usually arises from the defect of some quality in the child it should not be difficult for the parent who knows his child's character to introduce the contrary good habit.  SIXTH-Take a moment to happy confidence between parent and child; introduce, by tale or example, the stimulating idea; get the child's will with you.  SEVENTH-Do not tell him to do the new thing, but quietly and cheerfully SEE THAT HE DOES IT on all possible occasions, for weeks if need be, all the time stimulating the new idea, until it takes great hold of the child's imagination.  EIGHTH-Watch most carefully against any recurrence of the bad habit.  NINTH-Should the old fault recur, do not condone it.  Let the punishment, chiefly the sense of your estrangement, be acutely felt.  Let the child feel the shame not only of having done wrong, but of having done wrong when it was perfectly easy to avoid the wrong and do the right.  Above all, watch unto prayer and tach your child dependence upon divine aid in this warfare of the spirit; but, also, the absolute necessity for his own efforts."

This link will take you to an article called "How to Replace Dawdling with Good Habits" by Catherine Levison.

http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/articles/vol4iss1/habits.htm

If you need to "reeducate" yourself on what real learning is and how it happens, you'll find encouragement from Marilyn Howshall and Barb Shelton at this link.

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_decide_to_be_a_hsd_mom.htm

"Moms mistakenly think they have no time for their own reading or study program.  I suggest that we have more time to study for our own preparation than we have time to fix the mistakes we will eventually (and surely) make out of ignorance.  We will suffer tremendously for lack of knowledge.  The knowledge I am speaking of for these purposes is as follows:

   -deeper values

   -stronger character ideals for self and children

   -relevant application of God's Word walked out in our lives

   -deeper relationships with the Lord demonstarted in personal lives

   -understanding of God's providence

   -a few principles that will help us to train our children properly in several areas of need; for example:  principles of the Christian faith, principles of hearing God's leading, principles of relationships, or purpose, of individuality, etc."...

...What do it profit a child if he gains a world of unrelated, unapplied information, facts, and skills, but loses his soul to boredom and dullness of mind and heart?"

"I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."  Psalm 101:2

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."  I Peter 5:2-3

Jesus served, He didn't nag.  He didn't just talk, He was a man of action.

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:9

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings."  Philippians 2:14

"And whatever you, do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance."  Colosians 3:23-24

"But the hand of the diligent makes one rich."  Proverbs 10:4

(RICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MONEY!)

"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slotful will be put to forced labor."  Proverbs 12:24

"Do you see a man who excels in his work?  He will stand before kings...."  Proverbs 22:29

Basically, we have to make a choice.  We can keep trudging on, which is what we, as homeschoolers, sometimes accuse the schools of doing.  Or, we can stop, reeducate ourselves as to how we should think about our children's education and change our attitudes.  This means consistency, child training, organization, doing things decently and in order, and deciding to be a homeschooled mom....which means we need to LEARN, too! 

Because our priorities will change, THEN, our habits of attention become our children's habits of attention.  This will create the environment/mood we desire in our homes.  This equals "PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!" 

It's our job to start the proces (pour the water in the jar).  It is Jesus' job to complete the work (turn the water into wine).  "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

Here's a nice poem....I'm not sure who wrote it, or where it can be found.  I did not write it.  If you know the author, please send me a note so that I can give him or her full credit.  Candace shared it with us at the March '02 Tailor Made meeting.

Just leave it with the Lord,

The One you most adore,

He will bless and give sweet rest,

Just leave it with the Lord.

Just place it at His feet,

You know that He'll complete,

The work you've done has just begun,

Place your burden at His feet.

O Lord, I do delight in You,

And on Your care depend,

And know that as my trouble flees

You'll always be my Friend.

A really encouraging song to keep in mind when you're having a day where is feels as if homeschooling is a lot like a battle: 

"When You Are A Soldier"  by Steven Curtis Chapman