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Mar. 14, 2010
Free Passover Lapbook!
Mar. 14, 2010
Dr. Alveda King speaks about her abortion
Dr. Alveda King is a civil rights activist, speaking out on issues that face society today. She is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, former college professor and an author. She has served on the boards of numerous community organizations, the Georgia State House of Representatives for four years, and is an accomplished actress and songwriter. Alveda received her honorary Doctorate of Laws from Saint Anslem College and is a Senior Fellow of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institute,
She is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and his wife Naomi Barber King and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King. Alveda is the grateful mother of six children and she is a doting grandmother.
During the years of the Civil Rights Movement, Alveda's family home was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Mar. 12, 2010
Trusting God for Provisions During An Adoption
In 2002 my husband, Mark, and I set off on the adventure of adoption. We wanted desperately to adopt a 10 year old girl from Kazakhstan. We first discovered Annalise’s photo on an internet site with photos of children from around the world who needed forever families.
God’s hands were already on the process, even before it began, because I had specifically searched for a child who was closer to our own biological children’s ages. We were thinking of a child that would have been maybe three years old or younger. Annalise was 9 years old at the time, yet God had this “older child” come up in my search for 2-3 year olds. After going to bed that night that I saw her online, I could not get her out of my mind, so the next day I requested a video from her adoption agency.
The video was eye opening and heart-wrenching! The only things this little girl wanted were a bucket of raspberries for Christmas and a mother who would love her. Our hearts ached for her!
Mark and I married during Mark’s last semester of college. We found out we were pregnant with Kaitlyn when we had been married a little over a month. When Kaitlyn was 6 months old, we found out that we were expecting our son, Ethan. Mark had started a new career right out of college, which requires years to build up a client base, so we pinched many pennies. We had only been married for 5 years, and had no savings, when God sent Annalise into our family’s picture. We were unsure as to how we could afford the price tag of $27,000 for a Kazakhstan adoption. After praying, we felt the Lord’s gentle guidance and decided that it was the Lord’s Will to take a leap of faith. So, we started our home study.
Upon making this gigantic decision, we humbly shared our plans, as well as our needs, with our friends, family and Sunday school. We shared our hearts and our financial need, without being specific. During this time, we prayed fervently and we asked others for prayer. Our specific prayer was for doors to be opened or shut according to God’s perfect Will. We sincerely desired God’s plans to come about for us and for that little girl who was thousands of miles away.
The Lord constantly proved His faithfulness by providing the money needed for each home study payment, agency payment, passport fee and INS fees. One day we desperately needed $200 for a home study payment, which was due that afternoon. When we opened the front door, there was a check for $200 from our neighbors! Again, when it was time to travel, we had no money for airline tickets to fly over to Kazakhstan, to meet and pick up our little girl who was waiting for us. My parents were provided by God with extra tithe and offering money to be able to pay for those plane tickets. God worked again and again like this! It was amazing to see God working through others during this time! It was surreal and most definitely supernatural!
The Saturday before we left for Kazakhstan, our Sunday school class gathered at a member’s house for a get-together. After laying hands on us and praying for our journey, they handed us an envelope for our trip with a lot of extra cash. At that time, we did not really see a need for this money since everything was already provided for financially for the entire trip. However, the Lord can see much farther down the road than we can! We ended up with an unexpected stay in Kazakhstan of 36 days due to some problems with our newly adopted daughter’s visa. If it were not for this extra money that we received, we would have had no extra cash for food and lodging for us in Kazakhstan, our two biological children and our new addition. We would have been in a strange country, with no interpreter, knowing only a few words of Russian, in below zero weather with no lodging and no food. God saw the need even before we did and met it before we even left our comfort zone, setting out to venture out into the unknown! He provided for us and saw us through!
God provided us through each step of this adoption! The money was not there a day later than when we needed it throughout the process! And when we did need it sooner, He provided then, too! His perfect Will was carried out through willing vessels that trusted in God, prayed and waited for God’s timing! Now, we have four beautiful children, Annalise, Kaitlyn, Ethan and Julia, with more to come through adoption (and thorough birth, if God allows) in the very near future!
Annalise, our adopted daughter from Kazakhstan, asked Jesus to be her personal Savior shortly after learning English! She, now, wants to go back to Kazakhstan someday as a missionary to the orphans. If we had not been willing vessels; if we had not asked for and obeyed God’s perfect Will and had not taken leaps of faith; if we had trusted in our own power, instead of His; if we had not waited on HIS timing; if we had not prayed and asked for prayer, our Annalise might not be the young woman of God that she is today! And the most exciting thing is that only God can see what our prayers, trust in God and obedience meant for the people that Annalise will touch down the road!
Mark and I are a "quiverfull family" (based on Psalm 127). We are leaving our family planning to God. So far, we have 5 biological children (Kaitlyn, Ethan, Juia, Ellie and Judah), 3 adopted children (Annalise, Trey and Jake) and have7 babies in heaven....all miscarriages (including 1 ectopic, and one near-death experience with a 4 months). We desire God's blessings of children wholeheartedly....through birth and adoption! The Lord has really opened our eyes to HIS way of family planning....it's been an amazing and blessed journey so far!
Anyway, there is our story! :) It is soooo difficult to leave the little ones (or in our case, not so little ones) behind that desperately want and need a forever family! If every Christian couple could adopt just one child....can you imagine what a difference that would be?? I am reading a book called, "Birthing God's Mighty Warriors" and that is an awesome book about birthing (or adopting) children and raising them as an "army" for God! She talks about what a profound difference it would make if Christians had larger families and raised them for JESUS! It would make such the difference, for SURE! :) I want to have that kind of an impact on our world for Jesus!
Lisa
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Mar. 12, 2010
The Invention of Adolescence
HERE is a very interesting and wonderful article about how adolescence has actually been invented in recent times. My brother and I were never allowed to act the way that many adolescents act today, we also were/are very close. In the same way, Mark and I do not allow Annalise (our first and only adolescent right now) to act in such a way either. It's just not tolerable in our home. It's also not the norm for our family to be "segregate by age." All the kids love each other, regardless of age, because we have not allowed them to do otherwise. They actually ENJOY each other's company! We don't let them watch or read things that would make them think that anything other than that was normal and acceptable. When they are older, we show them how others act is not normal or biblcal and that we must obey the Lord and treat each other BETTER than we treat ourselves. We foster sibling love, as opposed to sibling rivalry, as a rite of passage. In our family, we have made this way of life normal and it's never been an issue (with me and my brother or with our kids). Now, I'm not saying that my children are perfect or that the way we parent is perfect. They have their occasional arguments, but they do not show us that kind of "terrible twos/tantrum/adolescent behavior" that is so accepted these days. It just wasn't tolerated in my home, when I was young, and I can't imagine allowing it in my home. It's truly foreign to me.
I think most of this is just how we've sadly conformed to our society's expectations. It's just "normal" now. There's no need to let this be normal any more! It never used to be and it shouldn't be accepted as routine behavior now. Make sure you read that article! It's a must-read for EVERY parent!
~ Lisa
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Mar. 11, 2010
Do you ever feel like a Homeschool Failure?
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It seems as though I receive many hits on my blog from people who have searched the web for "homeschool failure". Either there are a lot of people looking to scathe the reputation of homeschooing, searching the web for a list of people that have failed in their attempt to homechool OR they are homeschool moms looking for encouragement when feeling beaten down in this godly calling (like we all do sometimes). My guess is that it's the latter, more often than the former.
I would just love to beat the devil at this and tackle this discouragement that ALL homeschool moms feel (at one time or another) with SCRIPTURE! Sooo.....I need to hear from YOU! Homeschool Mamas - What makes you feel like a "homeschool failure"? What have you done to battle those feelings and keep on pressing toward the goal? Please leave a comment below with you responses!
I look forward to investigating this further and encouraging each other in the process!
~ Lisa
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Mar. 11, 2010
Birth Control...God's Plan or Man's Plan?
Here are a couple of quick links to get you started on the subject of birth control. Notice the progression between what the original pro birth control discussions and the path that we have since developed on.
- Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions? by Randy Alcorn
- PDF download of booklet HERE
- Foundational documents that chronicle the beginning of the birth control debate in America
- Downloadable tracts about birth control
- Information from Patrick McCrystal Pharmacists For Life International
- Here is the Package Insert for ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN Tablets ORTHO-CYCLEN® Tablets (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol)
- Male Sterilizaton
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Mar. 11, 2010
I have children already, but I still long for more! How can I cope with this feeling?
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Repost from 11-3-2006:
I, too, know how you feel! I feel this way even now even though I just had a baby a year ago and we are in the process of adopting. My womb still longs for more. Sometimes I feel that people would think I was crazy if they knew I felt this way, especially since I have been blessed with children from my womb and through adoption, but I just can't help feeling the emptiness of my womb. The hope of having another little one inside of me is everlasting! I have been told by older women that this feeling really never goes away.
My perspective on this type of trial is that the Lord is refining the believer through all of this. The refiner's fire is not an easy process to go through, but the end result is always worth it. The fire is HOT. Remember, it is a race (marathon, rather) that we are running. We should be slow and steady to finish, waiting on the Lord's timing. After we are refined in this area or another, we will be able to stand before the Lord, presenting "offerings in righteousness." Wow! Now, that is a wonderful reward for withstanding the Refiner's fire! These verses bring me peace through this and I hope that they bring you peace too.
"He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. " Malachi 3:3
"...so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:7
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' And they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" Zechariah 13:9
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10
Peace be with you.....
Lisa Metzger, keeper of our home, help meet to Mark (a financial planner),
2nd Generation Homeschool Mom to:
Annalise (14 - adopted from Kazakhstan at 10), Kaitlyn (7), Ethan (5 1/2) and Julia Claire (1Year - 10/7) &
MORE TO COME (God-Willing)! Currently preparing for a domestic adoption of #5, and possibly #6, from the U.S. foster system.
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Mar. 11, 2010
FREE Geography Game!
Mar. 10, 2010
Will Your Childen Be Christians? GREAT ARTICLE!
We find comfort in our delusional beliefs that "our schools are different" or that "my child is salt and light." If we are forced to confront some of the uncomfortable facts about the government's schools, we nervously shuffle our feet and try to change the subject. Why? The reason is our need for self-deception.
Self-deception is a form of self-indulgence. It substitutes a comforting, but false, version of reality for the truth, all in the service of a subliminal desire to avoid changes in our lives that an honest appraisal of reality would require. But self-deception also protects itself by building a fortress – it erects crenellated battlements, excavates moats, and raises up ravelins that protect our comforting faux-reality by rendering us nearly impervious to evidence and argument. While all of us have indulged this vice, how much harm it does depends upon which uncomfortable reality we are seeking to avoid.
Over the last 60 years, Christians, leaders and laity alike, have deluded themselves by believing that we can provide our children with more than 14,000 hours of "seat-time" receiving a secular education in the government's schools during the course of 12 years, and that our children will be none the worse for it. And, like self-deceivers in all times and places, we refuse to notice the evidence to the contrary or respond to argument.
Recently George Barna reported that only 4 percent of our teens can be considered evangelical Christians, down from 10 percent in 1995. To be sure, an overwhelming majority of teens say they are "Christian," but their responses to a few simple questions concerning biblical doctrine clearly demonstrate that, despite what our children say, they are not. These findings aren't unique to Barna. The Nehemiah Institute's worldview surveys of Christian children, for example, have resulted in similar findings.
Similarly, Dr. Christian Smith, the lead researcher for the National Study of Youth and Religion, a large sociological survey of the religious beliefs of teens between 13 and 17, reaches many of the same conclusions regarding the religious life of teens. According to Dr. Smith, no matter what religion the surveyed youth professed, in general their actual religious outlook was what Dr. Smith characterizes as "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism." This is a religious worldview featuring an undemanding, distant god, whose only commandment is to be "nice," and who doesn't become involved in anyone's life except when he is needed to take care of a problem. This religion, according to Smith, conceives of its god as "... a combination of a divine butler and a cosmic therapist." Rather than being commanded to take up his cross and follow Christ, the Moralistic Therapeutic Deist believes that "... the central goal in life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself." Unfortunately, this is not merely a problem with teens – increasing numbers of ostensibly Christian adults and some pastors hold these views in whole or in part.
Awareness of our failure to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is only now beginning to percolate into the consciousness of pastors and the broad Christian public. With this growing awareness, of course, come the obvious questions: "How is this happening, and what should we do?" The Rest HERE...don't miss it!
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Mar. 10, 2010
Adopting children is fulfilling their calling from God...
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'The Bakers' dozen': Claremore family keeps expanding
Adopting children is fulfilling their calling from God, Daughn and Karen Baker say.
CLAREMORE — When they first started building this house, on 10 acres of old farmland west of town, the construction crew thought the laundry room was going to be the kitchen.
"It's that big," Karen Baker says, leading the way past the stairs. "It has to be."
Just off the family room, the laundry includes a washing machine and not one but two dryers, along with a full-size air-hockey table to entice the children into the room while their mother is folding clothes. Baker obviously has a lot of folding to do.
"It can be overwhelming at times," she admits. "Three, four, five loads a day. And that's not a particularly busy day."
The actual kitchen is around the corner, where some of the kids have decided to bake cookies in a whirlwind of opening cabinets, breaking eggs and spooning sugar.
One of the oldest, 22-year-old Rachel, reaches into the pantry for an apron, a recent gift from another family.
"Our friends have already picked up on this," she says, pointing at the words embroidered across the front. "It's our family nickname now." "The Bakers' Dozen."
'Never regretted it'
The property used to include a dilapidated 600-square-foot farmhouse, where the entire family camped out on the floor while the new house was under construction.
Of course, at the time, the entire family included "only" seven children, all biological offspring.
The youngest, Timmy, was born in 1998 with Down syndrome.
Read more from this Tulsa World article HERE
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Mar. 10, 2010
Humanism in the Homeschool
I had to pass on this article from www.pearables.com This is an impressive article that brings up a subject that many homeschoolers do not really want to discuss in detail. When the subject is brought up, there is usually a nodding of heads, but there is usually little to no action that follows. Even though many of us agree with what this article has to say, it is still hard to actually follow through with our convictions and ignore society's pressures and society's aspirations for our children - God's children.
Although, I believe that there can be a healthy balance in teaching godly principles and academics, there is definitely a push to teach and meet the criteria in the world of academia. If we teach godliness first and foremost, everything else will fall into place!
~ Lisa
Humanism in the Homeschool
www.pearables.com
Why did we start home educating our children? One of the main purposes for most home educators to train their children at home, was they had the goal of training their children in Biblical knowledge first, with academics following. The number one priority was that they wanted their children to not follow the ways of the world, but rather follow the ways of God and His Word.
Many of these parents were not fortunate enough to have had a Christian education. The majority of us were trained in a mass environment within the public school system. The belief of that public school system was and is based upon the religion of HUMANISM.
As believers some of us have never even questioned worldly philosophies or "knowledge" that the world has taught us as "TRUTH". To instill godly character in our children, we must each first examine ourselves and find out what secular thoughts are still ingrained in our minds. Then we must ask the Lord to cleanse us of all humanistic philosophies.
Our goal is to take a look at philosophies that the world deems "normal" and see it they line up with the Word of God.
Our battle is against the religion of our system and culture. Each of us as believers and parents must uncover these wicked philosophies and teach our children the Truth of God's Word.
The public education system claims that it will not teach religion. This is not true. For many years now the governmental stand has been to educate the adults of tomorrow in feminism and humanism, both religious beliefs.
WHAT IS HUMANISM?
Humanism is the belief which looks at the world and emphasizes the importance of man - his nature and his place in the universe. Humanism teaches the exact opposite of Christianity, for they believe that all persons are born with innate dignity and merit; and that they should command the respect of their fellow man. They teach that mankind is inherently good, and will evolve to even become better!
Job 15:14 "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints, yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"
Psalms 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Eccle. 7:20 "There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
Eccle. 9:3 "The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead."
Isaiah 64:56 "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are a filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the iwnd, have taken us away."
Romans 3:10-23 "As it is written, 'there is none righteous, no, not one. there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. And the way of peace have they not known, there is no fear of god before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'"
There are many, MANY more scriptures that tell us of the innate depravity of man. Mankind is not good, he is wicked. The religion of humanism voids out the need for a savior. This is the philosophy under which we were trained in public school.
How Long has Humanism been Around?
Humanism started in the Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve and planted in her mind that she would become like God and KNOW good and evil.
Genesis 3:5 "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Satan is at the root of the religion of humanism, for humanism, under the name of intellectualism, claims that there is no God and that man has ALL wisdom and knowledge. This is what the educational system of today is found upon.
According to history, the heart of humanism started in Greece and then spread to Rome. Scripture also backs this up:
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."
One of the greatest movements of this religion was during the early Renaissance, for this was when the rediscovered the writings of the classical Greeks and Romans. They used the writings of the past to guide them in an understanding of the meaning of life. This new way of understanding was in direct opposition to the emphasis of the Christian faith, which teaches that life on earth is really nothing... that we are to live as aliens and ambassadors for our one TRUE GOD, and to be in the world but to not be of it. Where Christianity believes that we should devote our lives in the service of our Lord and King, humanists reject the thought of living for anything other than self and life their lives to pursue the pleasures of this world.
This type of Greco/Roman philosophy is what our educational system is based upon now. A Macchievelian type of education which concentrates on being a PRINCE of everything. A little knowledge here, a little knowledge there. But not versed enough in anything to be specialized.
EDUCATION TO A HUMANIST MEANS TO TRAIN A PERSON TO BE SKILLED IN MANY FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE, INCLUDING ART, SCIENCE, SPORTS, AND POLITICS...
The goal is to train a "universal man". They will be a jack of all trades, but the master of none. Educating the world in the motto "The best that has been thought and said in the world", is instituted. The belief is that a person whose powers are all in balance, who has knowledge, who knows how to live with his fellow man, who appreciates beauty, and who has his own standards of moral judgment, but DEVOID of God, is the ideal man.
THE WORD UNIVERSITAS DEVELOPED DURING THE RENAISSANCE AND MEANT A PLACE TO EDUCATE THE UNIVERSAL MAN.
When this mode of education evolved, the world at this time developed schools where they could start training young men in this mindset. Unlike the American tradition of apprenticeship, many people were lured into the seductive influences of having a well-rounded education in Universities. Today, once one completes University they are considered to be fully educated.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
We are given a variety of examples all throughout the scriptures. Were any of the Godly men spoken of in the Bible educated in humanism? Did any have college degrees? Were they submerged in worldly philosophies? Did they have titles and degrees behind their names to show their worth?
You already know the answer. God says that the wisdom of this world is FOOLISHNESS to Him.
How is it then that so many home educators get caught up in trying to compete with the public school system and wanting their children to also be submerged in humanism?
The Lord wants our children to read and write (otherwise there wouldn't be a Bible to read), he wants them to be able to communicate the gospel to others, he wants young men to be able to learn to have a skill or profession in order to take care of their future families. He wants young women to be able to educate and teach their children at home as they are "keepers at home" as the Bible teaches. Why then, do we see home educators simply copying the public humanistic way of teaching their children in their homes? Is it because this is all we know?
We truly believe that if you seek the Lord with all your heart, that he will direct your paths.
Many parents are becoming burned out with teaching their children at home. It is no wonder! When we take on public education in the home school we are taking on more than the Lord ever intended.
We need to seek first the Lord's Kingdom and then everything else will fall into place. This is a given promise.
Take a step back and take a look at your children's education. If you are barely making it through a day, drop back a bit on academics. Do you start your day with Bible? If not, are you seeking His Kingdom first? Sometimes we get so entwined in our habits of life that we can't see what we are really doing. God is there for us. We really need to seek Him. Sometimes what we think are his ways are really our own, or simply someone else's. Ask yourself if you are copying secular schooling or if you are being obedient to what God wants you to do. When we walk in His will and start hearing His voice and doing what He tells us to do, there is freedom...
Did you know that Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, at first only prepared men for the ministry? Today, we would call such a school a college of theology, or seminary. Later, they broadened their courses to teach the Liberal Arts.
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Mar. 10, 2010
Others Praying Against a Future Pregnancy - Who Will God Hear?
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Someone asked this question on a Quiverfull list I am on. It's a great question, but very sad that it needs to be asked! The question and answer are below.
Q: What do all think happens when a family member is praying against you becoming pregnant again? Do you think that these prayers can keep you from getting pregnant?
A: God answers the prayers of the righteous, and I have to believe that those praying AGAINST the beginning of another little life are not righteous (at least not in that area of their life). "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b).
This is an excellent quote I found......."Hezekiah prayed, “Please remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” He had lived an upright life of integrity before God. The Lord’s ear and heart are most attentive to people who have a right relationship with Him, people who are pursuing holiness, people who are obedient and living by faith. The Lord is gracious and is the Giver of all good gifts, but unrighteousness can prevent answered prayer because He does not reward rebellion or disobedience."
On another note........God might choose not to bless you with another child at this time or any time in the future, as I'm sure you already know. What God desires is a willing servant's heart, which you have! He knows what you need and He is in charge of your fertility because you have been willing to give that over to Him. So, do not worry about what other's have prayed for you....you are in HIS Will for your life! God will pay attention to the prayers of the righteous; to those who are pursuing holiness!
Just remember Mary's willing heart! "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'"
Blessings to you in your walk!
Lisa
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Mar. 10, 2010
Preschool Woes - How to Occupy Small Ones While Schooling
Preschoolers can occasionally (well, more like frequently) get "in the way" when you're trying to teach an older sibling. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for distracting them.......
I always have boxes of educational toys, games, books, etc. in shoe box-sized Rubbermaid containers. I switch out the toys/books/games every so often to make the box seem new. The preschooler can ONLY play with these items when I'm doing "school" with the older children. I also utilize educational DVD's since the TV is near the school room. Another idea is to buy one of the $4 preschool workbooks from Wal-Mart for him/her to use to do their own school work. We did this too and it worked well. I just play "round robin" at the kitchen table with all the kids during that seat work time.
There was a GREAT article about "The Pleasures of Preschoolers" in a back issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine. The author talked about buying a few bags of dried beans and give him measuring cups, spoons, etc. to play with. This seems a lot less messy (if contained to one area on a sheet) than play dough. She also suggested a book that she wrote called "Making the Most of the Preschool Years" by Valerie Bendt (www.valeriebendt.com). It was $20 and had 176 pages.
Another family in the magazine commented on their day. They have four kids - the two youngest are preschoolers. They start their day with "doing preschool" altogether. This is an idea that we have used in the past. It teaches the older children HOW to teach and to enjoy their younger siblings! This family counts, rhymes, stretches, does exercises, sits in circles and sings and reviews the alphabet. Apparently, this really isn't very time consuming. They, too, use a "school box" (like I mentioned above) and they start projects on their own. Their box contains: simple phonics activities, beads for sorting, puzzles, papers for cutting out shapes. They are organized into small sealable plastic bags. I would suggest some other things too: pipe cleaners (they can spend hours on making shapes with these), blocks, Leap Frog games, play clocks, stackable cubes/cups, etc. A lot of this can be found at Wal-Mart for just a few dollars or less.
Lisa Metzger
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Mar. 9, 2010
Can I be fulfilled while staying at home?
This was written in response to someone who thought that stay-at-home-moms did nothing. She was truly inquiring as to how we could be content and fulfilled in our jobs as mothers. Below was my reply. ~ Lisa
Allison,
I truly admire you for looking into something to which you are not familiar to find out the truth for yourself! I am positive that if you seek the whole truth, you will certainly find it.
My mother joyfully chose to stay at home with my brother and I, and to teach us at home. In turn, I joyfully looked forward to filling my future role as a wife and mother. Today, I am a stay-at-home, homeschool mother of eight (with more to come, God-Willing). Not once, did I ever anticipate my job at home to be as fulfilling and joyous as it has been! It was and still is my "dream job."
I love looking into my dear ones' eyes and seeing the "lightbulb moments." To see my husband look at the dinner, that I have worked diligently to prepare, with delight and to hear his comments on how well I have kept the house clean, is a reward like no other. I love being able to see the "firsts" happen with my children, instead of having someone else tell me about them. I love to teach them and show them the world around them. My longing is to prepare a home as the woman of Proverbs 31 faithfully did. The end result TRULY justifies the means in this career choice!
Please do not take offense, but I do have to chuckle at your comment about staying home and doing nothing. Being a wife, mother and homemaker is not at all an easy job. Contrary to what you might think, I do not have time to sit around, watch TV and eat my bon-bons. It truly is a full-time job to keep house, be a helpmeet to my husband and to raise a family! Although, as much as it is a job, it is the most rewarding position that I can imagine having the privilege of occupying! Every single hour of college credit and every moment of life experiences will never hold a candle to what I can accomplish, with God at my side, through my chosen career as wife, keeper at home and mother!
I hope that you will someday have the opportunity, as well as the desire, to choose the role of wife, homemaker and stay-at-home mother! Then, you too will be an advocate of the career that many of us women have chosen!
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Mar. 8, 2010
THE INDOCTRINATION OF OUR KIDS: An American Epidemic (Glenn Beck)
Mar. 8, 2010
20 Questions.....
All of my 8 kids LOVE to ask questions, as most kids do...some more than others. They especially love to ask questions when we're traveling somewhere in our 15 passenger van. They ask about everything they see...how things work, who invented this or that, why God made such and such, and the list goes on.
A lot of moms would find it tiring to answer these questions non-stop while trying to drive - especially when driving could be considered a "down time" in the busy days of mothering and homeschooling. But I love it! I love that they are so inquisitive and that they still think I know the answers to their questions...although sometimes I think I give it away that I don't know everything! Ha!
Carschooling has always been a "thing" in our family. We use each and every life experience as a learning opportunity, no matter how small it may seem. These open ended question and answer sessions that are "forced on us," when errands must be run, are priceless!
I hope and pray that these "sessions" will spark a continued interest in learning AND will keep those communication doors open well into their teens and young adulthood. I want them to feel like they can really talk to me....about ANYTHING!
I certainly would rather have my kids talking to me than to have them watch hours of DVD's in the back of a van (which is why we'll never have a car DVD player). This is a simple routine that can really add to fond family memories and create lasting family relationships! It's also a great learning experience!
Lisa
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Mar. 8, 2010
As one God has blessed with a home....
As one God has blessed with a home....
My duty is to create and maintain a space that honors God, nurtures the spirit, enhances growth, and ministers to others.
My delight is to enjoy the home I've shaped and the sense of accomplishment that comes from obedience.
by Donna Otto
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Mar. 8, 2010
Metzger Kids go Ice Skating!
Mar. 8, 2010
Join me on Facebook!
Mar. 8, 2010
I Need God in My Daily Tasks!
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