It was a true pleasure meeting many of our parents at our Parent Meeting at our new facility this past Monday. Let the 2008 2009 school year begin!

I read from Psalm 127 where our children are described as arrows in the hand of a warrior. Who is that warrior? You are! Do you think of yourself that way? It isn't easy to be a warrior. Certainly it is a life of focus, exertion and dedication. It requires practice and training and living purposefully.

It requires fearlessness. Are you facing your next year with fear, or with confidence? Give your heart over to the Lord who carries all our burdens. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.

I was tossing and turning last night with worry. It was my writing class! Will the kids really be able to finish a novel in a year? Will I for that matter?

The book I've been reading lately is encouraging me. It's "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. They are teenagers (home-educated) who are making a difference. They are challenging teens to rise above the cultural norm of the teen years being a time where no contribution to society is made. The first step is to go outside your comfort zone.

Yikes! I like comfort zones. They are...comfortable. We all tend to avoid those places where we are in unfamiliar territory. What if...? What if...? Do not let fear dictate your life! Let God's big dreams be your aim.

So, journey on with me. We have yet to see what God can do in and through us!

Cole says something about the gymnasium in this one:

 

Hey, my kid's a star! Cole had his 2 seconds of fame - redhead kid who says something about the gymnasium and then is counting in the other one. I'm so proud!

 Have you been waiting on us?

Our yearbooks are finished and look great, thanks to Teresa S.. She is a gifted woman. After pouring over many photos and working tirelessly with Photoshop, the product is done. She's so crazy, she even volunteered to DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR!! I love it! I love it!

The dvd's are not being as cooperative. Courtney H. (Joelle's husband) is also working hard on them, but his computer does not like it. We have been a little delayed because of it. If you have been waiting, hold on. It won't be long. This week...maybe?

Those of you who only ordered the yearbook should have already received it. Those who did the "combo", hold on,  it's coming! I appreciate your patience!

Summer is here! Do you "school" year round? Bless you, if you do.  I am taking a break! Actually in the back of mind, I know the time is approaching when I need to get planning for my classes next year! I want to use my time wisely and be ready for the next chapter.

I will be teaching two classes in the Master's Instititute morning session. The first one is "Learn to Write te Novel Way." I am using a book by Carol Thaxton of KONOS fame. I am slightly imtimidated because - gulp- I've never written a novel! I would love to though, and I believe it is possible. I hope the kids are willing to take the trip with me

The other class I am teaching is "Arms Around the World" which I am creating. I taught a girls club for 3 years where we studied world geography and culture, along with the spiritual needs in these places. It was so much fun - we had plenty of food, crafts and guest speakers. I aim to do the same thing in this class. Do you know anyone who has either lived in or is from another country who would like to share wit my class? Let me know. so I an invite them in.

I do hope you are enjoying your summer, getting rested and delighting in the Lord. He is our strength, our shield , our stronghold and our Way!

We are moving! Our new location is 96 Farley Rd. in Nashua. Hope to see you there!

Yesterday was our last meeting of MAFA for this year. Kids were busy here and there getting ready for our program Thursday night. Moms came in with shorts on to pick up their kids. The sun came out and  started the process of dragging supplies to my car to go into my basement until next September.

How strange that 2007-2008 is now a memory! Katie Shaw (Music teacher Shari's daughter) has made a wonderful slide show of memories for our program. I did tear up as I reviewed it. The music calls out to give glory to God for how creatively He's made us and for the creativity He's allowed us to share in as we give back.

Let me share some of the lyrics with you.

"Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife

In - Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life?

How About Love?
How About Love?
How About Love?
Measure In Love

Seasons of Love.
Seasons of Love."

(by Rent)

How do you measure a year? I like the song's conclusion - how about love? This is the time of year when we think of testing or porfolio reviews. If we are insecure about our children's progress it can be very tense.

How about a new review based on love?

Did you share in Christ's love? Did you overflow? Did you walk the walk and speak of Him to your children? Did you love even when it was hard? Did you keep pressing on despite pain or financial stress?

Did you deliberately not do what would give you immediate satisfaction, (hmm...like, sleep?) so that others could have more? Did you pray? Did you keep appointments with God? Were you faithful to your husband?

Did you do your family's wash? Did you bathe children? Did you put on calming music so they could sleep well? Did your hands make meals, many meals, so others could be filled? Did you travel long distances to be with people you love?

I know that you have done these things and so much more that cannot be numbered. Even when we can do nothing but cry before the Lord, we are in the right place - before God.

How do you measure a year?

Another song also calls out to give our lives to Him: (hint, if the first song is still playing, you can change it by clicking the player at right to "Take My Life")

"Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my king.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold not a might would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for thee."

(Chris Tomlin version)

 As followers of the eternal God, our lives lived out in love don't fade after a year. They are "... pressed down, shaken together and running over, ...poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

Oh brothers and sisters, press on to Him! It is an ending, but He is all about newness. His life is waiting for you! Don't let anything hinder you from giving your life, consecrated all to Him. In that way, our treasure is truly stored up in heaven!

>

 Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

What does it look like to delight? What does it feel like to delight in the Lord?

This morning, I was looking forward to the free time and slow pace of the summer. My thought this morning was "This summer we are going to have so much fun!"

The trouble is, it never feels like so much fun. Oh, yes, once in awhile, after a particular good day or night out with friends you can say "That was fun!", but do we say it with the breathless heart of a child as my children often do, "That was SO FUN!!"

Delight, in my mind, leads to worship and that is where the source for all creativity comes from. Maybe the reason more people do not "feel" they are a creative person partly comes from a lack of time or inclination.

Then you have the amazing creations we see from your children. The paintings, the shapes, the faces, the industry of coloring and singing and laughing as they go. Yet when we "grow up" we find little time for this type of activity because we consider it a luxury.

Yet, I understand it. Is it that we know too much of calendars, schedules, to do lists, potential earthquakes, floods and child molesters? Or is it a matter of focus?

 "Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

It's the IN part that matters. In what do I delight? Yes, summer with a relaxed schedule sounds like a delight. In actuality, I end up complaining, worrying and aching just as much in the summer. (Let me tell you about our last year's camping trip sometime...)

I pray you are making Him your delight as the school year nears conclusion!

 "The days are long but the years are fleeting."

This quote seems appropriate to describe the feeling I get when I realize we have two more meetings till the end of MAFA 07-08!

All I can say is it's a privilege. I love working with the staff I work with and teaching your children. They are truly an expression of a creative loving God revealing His glory. And so are you! He made us in His image. We are "earthern vessels", yes, but all the more to display His glory and not our own.

Creativity is not a work, but a joy. When we bring creativity to our work, we find it refreshing and renewing. At this time of the year, many of us are feeling worn out. I know I am! There are a few things that help me press on.

 1) I live not by my power, but the Holy Spirit who lives in me!

2) I am free in Christ because all of His plans for me are good!

 

3) Unless the Lord builds the house, they who labor labor in vain!

 

4) My job is to be faithful; He brings the results.

We can work and plan in our strength, but only God knows all they whys and what He will do with your labor. The faithful Pilgrims we studied this year came to America by faith. Imagine if they did not make that decision. How different our nation would be. Would it be a nation? Whose nation? Even though much of our foundation as a country is in jeopardy of eroding at this hour, what kind of foundation would we have had if not for those willing to risk for freedom.

The point is we walk by faith, we leave the results to Him.

I hope that brings you too into a measure of freedom as we approach the end of the year FINSHING STRONG!

 In Christ, Mrs. Rentz

P.S. Please continue to pray for us as we gear up for next year. Pray God will truly "build the house" and we will walk in time with His plans.

 

Just a note to say registration is open for present families and for new families! We already have a good number registered, so don't delay. I see especially a lot of of new kids coming into the 5-7 year old range, so if you are in that range, I wouldn't wait to register. After April 30, the reg. fee goes up to $135.

One conviction I operate on is that MAFA is God's ministry and movement. I am looking for the families He already has chosen to join our school. Not every child is meant to be in MAFA. If God is going to use this ministry to send world changers into every area of society (including the arts), He already knows who He will call. I am just privileged to be involved! Yay!

As usual, the building was a slew of activity and happy chaos. I have been telling everyone that I spotted robins on the tree out my window so...spring IS coming! In these pictures, take note of creating woodland indian pottery, learning songs about the life of Bach, practicing putting personality into sharing stories and the intricate details Carlie is creating in making a sketch for a Russian lacquer box painting!

What are your supreme priorities? Do you order your life, schooling, choices, relationships around them?

Lori Lane challenged us to do so Sunday night in her talk "Beginning With the End in Mind." Lori pointed out that  a gps can be a wonderful thing for those who are directionally challenged. The delivery of the GPS is such that you get one piece of the puzzle as you drive, "Turn her, left ahead 400 feet...". It's only when we know the destination we are heading for that we will end up in the right place.

For a home schooler this is freedom indeed! We worry about "gaps" - eek, what if there are some in our kids education? Guess what? There will be some. Just as there are in anyone's experience, even institutionally schooled. I always say I zoned out in math when we hit long division. Moving, changing schools or teachers can give gaps.

What do we want in the end for our children from this home school journey? For most of us, although important, academics are not the first priority. It is discipleship - will our children walk in the Truth all of their days.

Lori's two priorities (I know you were waiting for this) are to love God and to become more like Him.

She showed how every decision can be viewed in light of these. It will be God's curriculum for your life. We all make different choices on activities and curriculum, but the goals are the same.

When I was in college, my vision stement was "to know Him and make Him known."  What is your vision statement? I included something about evangelism because I found it compelling that the only thing we won't be doing once we reach heaven in evangelism. It will all be over then. The time is now to spread His truth in whatever sphere of life He's called us to. How you can do that is another discussion I'd love to have, so keep the comments coming!

Lori was followed by Abigail Pitts and her drama. She held us all spellbound, even the sound guy! What an encouragement to see her heart for people and the deep things of God. Her drama painted a portrait how we all struggle with sinful attitudes, yet there is where we meet God in our need. We are free!

I hope next year more of you can join us if Lori comes again. We do need each other! Take some time to invest in your heart - it will return many benefits for yourself and your family!

Kathy

 

Can I perhaps believe that the temperature of 50 degrees may say spring is coming?

The fog that rolled in today was a surprise. While I was cleaning up, my sons were standing under the stream of melting ice water outside in the parking lot. They were having a blast. Soaked but having fun!

There is plenty of fun activity whirring in our halls lately. You should have seen your kids making pottery, dancing, performing self-written tales, playing instruments, cutting and pasting crafts and eating (in the case of the Colonial Kids!). Don't tell anyone, but I don't think brownies are from the Baroque period - but they sure are good!

I stepped into Shari's music class on Bach and listened to a story from his life. Then, I went into the little kids room and they were listening to "Mr. Bach Comes to Call" on cd. I was learning a lot! Did you know Bach never played the piano? In his time, the piano-forte was not invented. Instead, he played on a harpsichord. The Colonial Kids also danced, although some boys and girls just held up their hands towards each other instead of really holding hands.

The drama play class was really entertained reading through their new play. Cathy says they will be able to perform parts of it for the end of the year program. It is a spoof on fairy tales that sounds very mixed up. Even Erica, our teacher's assistant, joined in the reading fun.

The Woodland Indians group is having fun getting their hands into making pottery!

One of the dads visited the drama class to take some footage of his son performing. That is a great idea! Whenever you want to visit, let me know!

I found this article on creativity especiall;y for women that is encouraging on this subject!

Creativity doesn't just happen - it can be encouraged and it can be discouraged. Our lives can lend themselves to creativity or discourage creativity. Have you ever felt in a rut? Have you ever felt bored? Chances are, you needed some creativity in your life.

Kids seem to naturally be full of creativity. That's why blankets are tunnels, snow drifts are mountain passes and a dark bsement is a dank dungeon. It is also why kids can be so lighthearted when adults are often burdened with anxiety. Creativity is a life outside the box, full of possibilities and new potential.

Lori Lane, the executive director of Master's Academy, had this to say on her blog this week:

"As a newlywed, I spent some time trying to figure out what "style" it was that appealed to me as far as decorating. I read books and magazines, observed other's style and taste, watched TV and was constantly on the lookout for what I felt would be the style that reflected me. It never occured to me to be afraid or worried about what others would think of my choices. At least not until a "friend" or two began to voice their opinions of my choices.

With the input of various friends and acquaintances, I began to doubt my style, my creativity and my choices. I did not realize that creativity within the home could become so COMPETITIVE. Being a little unsure of myself in this area of homemaking anyway, I began to second guess everything I was doing. This led to feelings of inadequacy and eventually the fear of doing something wrong, kept me from doing much of anything at all in several creative pursuits."

I can identify with this! Fear is the enemy of creativity. It is the internal editor, the nagging criticism that makes you give up before you even start.

Steven Horwich, an author, says, "I once met a mother who told me her son had been writing a brilliant book, when he suddenly stopped writing, refusing to write any more.  I asked “Did you help him?”  “Oh, yes”, she said, “With spelling, sentence structure, ideas…”  I told her this was why he’d stopped writing.  I suggested she go back and simply read and applaud everything her son had written, without “helpful” commentary."

This is not to say creativity should not be channeled, developed and directed. It is a great gift and should be valued. But be mindful that creativity is a risk, and in our children should always be accompanied by great praise, encouragement and respect.

Despite this grey weather, we are approaching springtime. God's creativity is the reason behind the refreshment we feel at the approach of the season. Life becomes new! Green appears, growth where there was death, newness and fullness. It is a whole new world! Join in God's creative nature and think of something new you can do this week. Maybe it is to take a walk, get outside. Call a friend you haven't seen. Put some time in your week to go somewhere and people watch.

Here's a good one: rearrange your furniture. Studies show it is good for your brain because it wires new brain patterns! (Heard that on John Tesch!)

We just had our first day of electives. It is such a wonderful time! Finally the teachers can spend extended time, really delving into the subject matter without hurrying. The kids enjoy it too. I could almost sense the calm descending on the building.

There was plenty of creative activity though! Joelle and Tricia were busy in the Natives room. They were cutting, pasting, cooking, making butter, interpreting "Peter and the Wolf", reading aloud, coloring and playing games. I knew Joelle would do a great job making it fun for them.

Lori in art also kept the kids busy. The first class made a big mess with clay as they learned about the pottery of the Northern Woodlands Native Americans. The second period delved into the history of Russian lacquer boxes in the Palekh style.

Shari had the kids busy in art while studying Bach. She created her own lapbook on the life of Bach for the kids to assemble. Lapbooks are an awesome way to present information, plus you can keep and enjoy them for a long time. The kids in the performance class were already playing together. They tackled the Gavotte. I was really impressed with Peter on the guitar! What amazing talent!

Cathy kept the kids captivated in her storytelling class with a tale about a guy named Jack who "went out into the world to make his fortune." The kids also took turns telling favorite fairy tales. The second class is focused on the end of the year play which looks to be a hilarious spoof on fairy tales.

As I said, it was a calm and creative day. I didn't feel as exhausted at the end of the day. My only problem is the camera ran out of batteries - again. I'd really like to post some of our best shots for you all.

I'm looking forward to more days like these!

 I decided to add something you don't know about me - but mainly because I want to know "something I don't know about you". Post a comment and tell me!

Something you may not know about me is my son Cole has cystic fibrosis. He was diagnosed at 10 months old. He's a very healthy boy though, with his lung capacity at 125% of normal. That's abnormally good! Please continue to pray for his health, and for there to be a cure found for CF! See www.cff.org.

It struck me today that for three years I've been going "up the hill" on Monday mornings. Our previous location was only 2 doors down so I feel like I've been hanging out in the same vicinity doing MAFA for 3 school years. It's been a wild ride. I love it. The kids are fun and there's never a dull moment. But kids are like that!

 

When I walked in this morning, there was Lori back from Arizona. It was so good to see her and know she is walking by faith, trusting God through her father's serious accident.  If you don't know Lori, she is very sensitive to God and an exhorter of others. When the doctors said her father may not walk again, she told me she was praying and trusting God that he would walk. Her due date is about 6 weeks off. She'd been out of town for a good stretch and I can imagine has lots to catch up on, not to mention getting her mind on the arrival of her 3rd child. She's definitely "popped" and looks great!

 

Shannon has done an awesome job holding down the fort while Lori was gone. In case you don't know Shannon, she is the t.a. in art and also Cathy's daughter. She has inherited mom's creative streak and when she is teaching the kids, she is really shining. I feel God has used this chance she had to teach in Lori's place as a way of showing her just one of the many ways He wants to use her in life. She has potential and talent overflowing. I am so glad she's with us.

 

There is always turbulence on our way, especially when we make it our goal to influence lives for God. Lately God has been reminding me not  to live by fear. Fear of what people think, fear I will fail, fear things will go somehow very wrong. I love 2 Cor 5:14, where it says "For the love of Christ controls us..." So often I Iet other things control me - and suffer dearly. The eternal good work in our lives is never done by us forcing things.  Anothe one to  hold on to is "Unless teh Lord builds the house, they who labor, labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)

 

 

Just got off the phone with "director's training." It's really fun to hear what MAFA is doing all over the country. I sure do have the feeling that "it's only just begun." Master's is for homeschooled children, but one thought I had was how could Christian kids in school make use of it, or could they? Maybe if we ever get the curriculum online, they could take course and earn a "certificate" or something. What do you think?

Our time is valuable. When we get in and out of the door, there are papers, backpacks, books, coats and children to carry. This doesn't leave a lot of time for conversation. I'd like to change that but I don't the best way. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can build friendships and share our hearts more? It will only help us do what we do better! Thanks!