Mar. 22, 2006 - Stay-at-Home Moms are a Drain on Society
Can you believe this woman? This law professor (and, having gone to law school myself, many professors are a piece of work) says professional women who choose to stay home with their children are a drain on society. Look at this:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/story?id=1648502&page=1&gma=true&gma=true&gma=true
Unbelievable!
Moms, we are at the front line in the culture war. Thank God we have an army of fellow believers!
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Mar. 7, 2006 - Will your grandchildren be Christian?
According to this article, 90% of our children will not remain Christians.
http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48001
This brings me to tears...
Christine
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Feb. 27, 2006 - Condom training in school - Illinois Alert!
In Illinois, a Senate Bill is coming up for vote this week, SB 2267. Sponsored by Planned Parenthood and ACLU, the bill would provide state funding for schools to teach condom skills. Condom skills!!!!!!
For more info, go to www.illinoisfamily.org. The bill is SB2267. Call your legislator at 217-782-2000!
Christine
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Feb. 11, 2006 - Boys and School
Have you seen this Newsweek piece about boys and school?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10965522/site/newsweek/
I HAVE a boy who I doubt would do well in traditional school. Every day I am grateful for the precious opportunity and privilege to homeschool him.
How about you?
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Feb. 8, 2006 - Xanga and My Space
Does your kid have a Xanga or a My Space? They're all the rage - teen blogs where kids can bare their souls and badmouth to their heart's content. (Yes, my kids have them!)
Round here, some kids posted pictures of themselves drinking beer. Their athletic coaches got a peek and them and threw them off their teams for violating a no alcohol policy.
What do you think of this? Have you seen any of these teen blogs? They're a source of a lot of drama, let me tell you!
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Feb. 7, 2006 - Lifeway Message Board
I love blogging and I love message boards.
There's a new message board which is special to me because I get to moderate it. Lifeway is the wonderful company bringing us many fine new homeschooling books, including my own Homeschooling the Challenging Child and Paul and Gena Suarez's Homeschooling Methods book.
Something new - another way to connect.
http://forums.lifeway.com/groupee/forums/a/cfrm/f/35310209
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Feb. 2, 2006 - Schools to teach good touch/bad touch
We have standards here in Illinois. The powers that be list everything that must be taught.
Something new in Illinois is to teach children to resist abusive behavior. In other words, now the schools have to responsibility to teach children the difference between good touch/bad touch.
How ya gonna integrate that into your lesson plan?
What else are we going to leave to the authorities?
Are we becoming to helpless as parents that we need the schools to teach EVERYTHING?
Are you as offended by this as I am?
http://www.isbe.net/ils/pdh/health/stage_F/descriptor.htm
scroll down to last paragraph
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Jan. 28, 2006 - Fresh Starts
I no longer make new year's resolutions. A year is too long for reexamination. I often need a fresh start more frequently.
At the end of January, I'm wondering how many people are in need of a fresh start. Sometimes I need one every season. In spring, we start the garden season. In summer, the relaxing season. In fall, we start the formal school season. Winter is the holiday season. Sometimes I am so tired from the prior season that I need the fresh start of a new one.
Sometimes I need a fresh start each month. Certain months are particularly hard for me, particularly February and August. Some years I long for their finish and the beginning of a new month.
I almost always look forward to the fresh start of a new week. If last week was dreadful, the new week holds fresh promise.
Then sometimes it's a daily fresh start. I hit the ground with the prayer, "Lord, help my character to a little more accurately reflect yours today." Sinner that I am, I usually fail in that and have to seek Him every hour.
But He is faithful. His mercies are new every morning, every hour, every minute. Have you asked Him for fresh mercy today?
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Jan. 4, 2006 - Blah Blog
Ah, the after-Christmas letdown. The kids aren't exactly thrilled and I'm tired. There should be a week between holidays and back-to-school time for MOM to recover! We watched "Christmas with the Kranks" this year and I was once again impressed that Christmas is a mom-intense holiday. Am I right or am I right? Who does most of the shopping, decorating, cooking, etc? Sure the kids help, but it's pretty much mom's responsibility. Therefore, we should have a week to recover before jumping back into studies.
Maybe I should declare an official holiday-recovery week. Just think, we could get all the educational stores and craft stores to run special sales for moms who have this extra week to get recharged for the rest of the year.
Who do I talk to about this? Oh, yeah, I forgot. As the adult, I'm in charge.
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Dec. 13, 2005 - So easy Christmas candy - Fun
Went to a candy making night - what fun! I've always been intimidated by candy making, but all the stuff we made was made in the microwave. Not to hard at all. Why not try a few of these?
Easy Fudge
1-12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
3 T butter
1 cup Eagle Brand condensed milk
2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
Heat margarine, conensed milk and chocolate chips until melted. Add vanilla and nuts. Pour into an 8 x 8 pan. Let cool and cut into squares.
Mock Turtles
1 bag square shaped pretzels
Rolo candies
Pecan halves
Cover a plate with wax paper. Place pretzel squares on the plate. Place 1 Polo candy on each pretzel. Microwave for one minute. Flatten the Rolo candy using a pecan half. Let cool.
Anybody want to see a few more? Easy, easy, easy!
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Dec. 13, 2005 - Skipping Christmas
We're officially in the countdown. It's not "How many days 'til Christmas?" but "How many days 'til we're done with school?"
Even though Christmas falls on Sunday this year, a church near me is skipping services for Christmas day. It's such a rarity to have Christmas fall on a Sunday - I can't imagine skipping the opportunity for worship! The thought was that families would be better off staying together at home for the day. What knits us together more - worship? - or opening presents and watching TV?
I think I'm turning into an old fogey.
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Nov. 28, 2005 - Saying good-bye to our Pastor
We had a farewell service last night for our Pastor. We have attended the same church for 14 years. We began attending the same year the Pastor arrived at the church. Such a sad night! Mu hubby and I got to give a short testimony about him. How do you honor someone who helped change your life? Who helped you re-dedicate your life to the Lord? Who helped save your marriage?
How do you say good-bye to a church that you grew up in the Lord in? Raised all four of your children in? Had the same Sunday school teachers for all four of your kids?
This feels like a divorce. Anyone else gone through this?
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Nov. 22, 2005 - How can one human being be allowed to have so much fun?
How can one human being be allowed to have so much fun? I often ask myself that question as I contemplate my blessings. And contemplate them I do - not just on Thanksgiving! I am preparing the first edition - ta da! - of the special learners e-Newsletter and I am so excited to share with people what God is going in my family and in the lives of others. The first edition will share a little of our journey, will feature a letter from a reader and will give you a peek at what products we're looking at for teaching reading. If you haven't signed up. do it today!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the TOS family!
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Nov. 8, 2005 - Yippie! I get to do an e-Newsletter!
I am so blessed! TOS has been so much fun for me. I get to talk to interesting people and look at great products. Now Gena says I can do an e-Newsletter! Yippie! It's going to be for parents of special learners. That can mean a learning disability, or ADHD, or a different learning style. We want to equip you, the parent/teacher of that special learner, with encouragement to do the job the Lord has given you.
So, what would you like to see? Are there experts out there you'd like to see interviewed? Is there a product or program you're dying to learn about? Is there a problem you're dealing with that you'd like to see discussed? Let me know your thoughts and wishes. We want to help you to know without a doubt that YOU CAN TEACH YOUR SPECIAL LEARNER!
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Nov. 5, 2005 - Hold on to Grace!
When my girls were younger, they liked the slides at the park. Because Grace, our 3rd, was small, she would go down the slide with a sister. The older would sit behind, the younger in front. We would remind them to - "Hold on to Grace!"
Yes, hold on to Grace! When life hems you in on all sides, hold on to Grace! When you sin and are disappointed with yourself, hold on to Grace! When those around you sin, hold on to Grace!
How much have you been given? Give others that much and more.
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Nov. 4, 2005 - Riding without a helmet
My dear sister, aware of my monumental weight loss efforts, gave me a spiffy red Huffy bike this summer. It was new and shiny and hadn't yet been disassembled by my son, the take-apart boy. So it was with great glee that I mounted my shiny steed and did a circle at the corner. Daddy got two of the kids on their bikes and off we went for a beautiful fall ride. Helmet-less, of course.
We got to the corner and I forgot how to turn. The bike went down. I went down. I hit my head on the curb. I actually heard my brain slosh in my head. No unconsciousness, just a little sloshing.
Embarassed, we went home. I had some nice bruises on the side of my face. Otherwise, I was OK.
How often do I ride without a helmet - my helmet of salvation? This is the area I am most vulnerable because I get discouraged and depressed. I question whether I am following God's will for my life. Could He really want me to do some of the very hard things He asks me to do? My thinking becomes distorted. Without my helmet from Him, when life bangs me upside the head, my brain gets sloshy and my thinking gets stinking. Instead of focusing on Him, I focus on my own comfort. I want an easy life. He has instead placed challenges in my path.
When I keep my focus on Him and properly suit up with my helmet of salvation, my days are His. They make sense. When I venture outside His will, I usually fall. Then I question the truth - the truth of my Savior and His plan for my life.
So, I will run the race He has set before me, but I think I'll put on my helmet first.
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Jun. 20, 2005 - Lazy Vacation
We're on vacation. Every year, we rent the same cottage on Lake Michigan and go vegetate for a week. It's a time without schedules and interruptions for us to reconnect. We joke about beating our record for doing the fewest "things" in a day. "What are we going to do today?" we ask in the morning. "I dunno," we decide.
This year is a little different and represents a slight change in the dynamic. In past years, everyone was happy to splash and dig the big hole on the beach. This year, the teens are a little restless. They are disconnected from their friends, their email, their instant messages and the telephone. Yes, we have brought things for them to do and books to read. Yet, they miss their friends.
This is perhaps an inevitable phase of parenting - when friends become important and missing out becomes a motivator. They are missing the youth group trip to Great America. They are missing skating. They are missing their part time jobs.
All we can do is sit and watch and listen. We are missing the days when their lives were simpler and the family was their whole world. But they must grow up and so they will. In our mind's eye we see them as strong, secure adults. In our hearts, we see them as our babies splashing on the beach. I thank God for the privilege of living this life together and for being here to guide them and pray for them as they learn to be young adults.
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Jun. 4, 2005 - Faith and Freedom
Memorial Day is a big deal here in Wheaton. We have two big parades each year- Memorial Day and July 4th. They are particularly big for us because Daddy (the police chief) drives the lead car in the parade. He gathers up neighborhood kids and kids from church and they get to wave to people along the route. Not my cup of tea, but quite a thrill for the kiddos.
I go to a friend's house along the route and watch the festivities. No matter how many times I have seen this, it makes me quite emotional. Veterans from various wars parade the colors. High school bands play patriotic favorites. I don't always care for theur attire, but the music stirs me.
It's pretty corny and old fashioned, but Wheaton is as close to a Norman Rockwell experience as one can get.
As I watch these proceedings I am flooded with gratitude. I am thankful for the men and women who sacrificed for my freedom. I am grateful for the police and fire departments, generally populated with employees who still believe in what is right and good about life. I pray for the children in the parade, that they will grow up to be productive citizens, worthy to be called Americans. Most importantly I thank God for my faith and for the passion I feel to preserve my freedom to be a person of faith.
We have precious gifts in America - faith and freedom. Never take them for granted. Never stop giving thanks to their Author and Creator.
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May. 26, 2005 - IEP meeting
We had our IEP meeting for our daughter this week. She has a learning disability and ADHD and receives 1/2 hour of tutoring per day at our local public school. (Horrors! Yes, it's a public school. We have a wonderful relationship with them.)
It was one of those good news/bad news meetings. The good news was that she is reading at grade level. Yay! She has worked extremely hard to do this and I am very proud of her. The bad news is that her math skills are now at "disability" level, so next year her tutoring will be for math, writing and spelling. (This year it was reading, writing and spelling.)
I have mixed feelings. How I wish she didn't need this help! But how grateful I am for this unique situation at our school. Her teacher essentially teaches me how to teach her. And she really likes my daughter. And the teacher is a Christian.
I thank God for my daughters many strengths, and I pray for her continued progress in this academic area.
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May. 26, 2005 - Memorial Day
Memorial Day - Thoughts of an endless summer ahead. Picnics, trips to the park, pool days, free summer concerts. But first we must finish up the work.
Because we take a pretty traditional approach to school, especially for the high schoolers, we dot our i's and cross our t's. Sometimes I wish we could lighten up more, and we do for short seasons, but then we hit the books again. So now we are finishing those books. My high schoolers are struggling to finish their languages (level 1 of Rosetta Stone). My little ones are rolling their eyes at me suggestion that it's time to sit down and do a little work.
Soon it will be done. Soon we will pack up the picnic basket and chill out.
Summer - Mom's time to go back to just being the mom. Ahhhhh.
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