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Thankful To Be So Blessed
Dec. 10, 2009 - Communication Corner ~ When All Your Family's Not Christian at Christmas
This is one of my very last podcasts before I go off the air in 2010, but it's a very special one! Come join me live as I talk about how we can have a special Christmas with family and communicate in love with our non Christian relatives. It can be a challenge for both sides when not everyone has the same beliefs. Non Christians can feel badgered and Christians can feel like they can't express their beliefs. How can we have a blessed time with relatives this time of year? Effective Communication skills! Come join me for some tips and share your experiences today: 8am PST/11am EST http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736
Tips are based upon my study, Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. Check it out here.
Can't make it live? We hope to be able to keep uploading our audios after the show, so come live if you can!
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Dec. 10, 2009 - The Joyous Christmas Season
Posted By ApplesofGold
Oh, I've so missed my blog & didn't realize it until I saw my pretty homey template that Tamara made for me. I'm trying to catch up on my friend's here, too-I'm sorry if I haven't commented in awhile.
I am SO enjoying the Christmas season. We have less money to spend on Christmas than ever before, but I'm enjoying it so much more! We're making so many fun ornaments & went to our homeschool group's Christmas craft day. Everyone that goes brings enough supplies for about 20 kids to make a craft at your table. The parent stays at the table & helps the kids. All the kids go from one table to another to make the crafts. They flit from one table to another & visit with each other. Everyone also brings a snack to share. I brought a craft that didn't involve glue, so it was very laid back & easy for me.
This week has been super cold & snowy & windy. I'm hoping the weather cooperates for this weekend. Tomorrow we're going to a Christmas Cookie Exchange party w/ 14 other homeschool families. So, today we're baking over 100 chocolate covered cherry cookies. :)
Saturday we were invited to go Christmas caroling!! It's in a little town & we're going to go house to house and sing with several other families. I have never done this before & am extremely excited about it.
Sunday we might be going to a horse trainer's open house (Hannah went to a barrel racing clinic there recently) and then in the evening we're going to the Christmas Cantata at church w/ another family. We've been to that church before, so we already know several people there.
These are the Christmas activities that are my favorite!! Plus, the crafts-we've done crafts almost every day with Christmas music playing in the background.
Plus, there's Christmas parties to go to for Hannah's 4-H group & Teen Council. The one for Teen Council is being held here, but in January. Well, I'll write more later-there's so many things I need to catch up on with my blog. We were very sick for about 5 weeks (flu, bronchitis, pneumonia) and that is partially the reason I haven't blogged. But, my reason for blogging is so I can read & remember these special days raising my children, so I need to get back in the game. LOL |
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Dec. 9, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ The Beginning of Wisdom (Part 1 of 2)
This morning I received an e-newsletter from CollegePlus!, in which an article by Lauren Bleser titled, "A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education," was shared. Ms. Bleser's opening paragraph reads,
In 2002, I graduated with my Master’s degree as a reading specialist after having finished a teaching degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta. I was fast on my way to a full and busy career in the public school system when I was caught off guard by a homeschooling parent who asked if I could explain God’s mind on education. I had never really considered that before, always taking it for granted that we simply go through the system, memorize the information required, and graduate. This challenging question led me on a quest that changed the course of my life.
Bless that homeschooling parent, whomever he or she was...what a question! It is one that every homeschooling parent should ponder. Can you explain God's mind on education? God's mind can be an intimidating thing to probe. And yet, He desires us to do just that...by diving into the Scriptures.
My feeling is that by the time we are homeschooling high school, we have probably begun to study Bible in school! So I'll not be offering advice on Bible curricula. What the Lord has laid upon my heart to share, rather, is the "mindset" of studying Bible in our homeschool high school.
We are preparing our young adults, at this point in their lives, for independence. In case you haven't taken a good, long, focused look at the world out there lately, you really ought to. I'll warn you...it isn't pretty. I know--I spend one hour a day, 4 days a week sitting in my local community college cafe or study lounge while waiting for my 16 year old son's German class to finish. I do not have the "gift" of being able to simply "tune out" people's conversations. I'm verbal. I listen, whether I want to or not. Words do not escape me. The standard fare of conversation around me is typically what I would call "disgusting." Often times the spiritual darkness that lives and thrives in this place feels stifling, oppressive, suffocating. This time of week, I push myself to write this blog in the midst of the chatter. Other days, I sit in front of my computer, or walk the halls, simply praying. But I digress...
The point of that paragraph was just to say that our young men and women, our high school students, need to have the FULL ARMOR OF GOD (Eph. 6:10-18) to protect them out there. To bring us back to today's blog topic, I'll ask you a few questions, and you can decide whether or not you'd like to ponder them with me! Here you go:
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Is your study of "Bible" in your homeschool viewed or treated by your student as a subject he must study and check off the "to do" list, just as history and math are?
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Are you studying the Bible with a curriculum workbook that has them reading articles which explain the Bible to them, or tell them what the passages mean? Are questions given in such a way that much of the answer is already given, with just a few "fill-in-the-blanks" required?
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Is the time your student spends studying "Bible" going hand-in-hand with their history course?
None of these things are bad in and of themselves...it is vitally important that our students understand the Bible's role as a source of true history. BUT...do they develop a hunger for and love of God's Word in our young people? Do they bring about the things that our young adults are going to need in order to survive their first steps into independence--spiritual maturity, wisdom, and a consistent and close walk in obedience to Jesus Christ?
So, what is God's mind regarding education? Here are a few passages to consider:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)
"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
We'll end here for today, and continue next week. May God bless you and your homeschool this week!
Lori
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Dec. 9, 2009 - Taming the Chaos ~ Bible Time in Busy Seasons
Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in
tamingchaos
Some of us all are or nothing types, but there are areas where we learn that sometimes doing things part way is better than not doing anything at all.
Food is one such area. Our bodies need nourishment. Ideally, I love serving wholesome, home cooked meals with time to fellowship together and linger, enjoying our dinner and family time. In certain seasons, however, we might need to compromise the ideal, and we learn that a drive-through or instant is better than going without food entirely.
Just as we must fuel our physical bodies--we need spiritual fuel. Perhaps you've gotten out of the habit of having time in scripture yourself, or in providing Bible time for the children. Here, I'd suggest that something is better than nothing. Perhaps this week you aren't making time for an hour of Bible study and digging deeply into a passage. If you are reading this article, you could take time to read a single verse or chapter and reflect on it through the day. Consider it like you would a drive-in or microwave meal. It might not be the best to deeply nourish for the long-haul, but far better than going without food entirely!
We are "snacking" a bit here in my home this season. We knew it would be hard to fit in our usual advent devotions, so we've scaled back and will be spreading out a 12 days of Christmas devotional; using it through the whole advent season. It isn't what I'd choose for every year, and is more of a snack than a four-course meal we crave, but it would have been worse to lose that time entirely just because we can't be as thorough as we have other years.
There are seasons where I can delve deeply in my scripture time, and times when just grabbing a few verses "on the go" is all my tired mind can grasp.
Through this busy season, incorporate scripture into your home. Perhaps a Bible on MP3 or compact disks would be a great family gift if you are van-schoolers or planning to be on the go. Perhaps simply reading a few verses in the morning and leaving your Bible open on your bed to "snack" through the day will help you dwell on Christ.
With our hearts centered and focused above, we can better make order out of the chaos around us.
Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.
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Dec. 8, 2009 - Kitchen Moments ~ Cooking Biblical Foods
I found a very interesting website when researching this week's topic:
Cooking with the Bible
When you go to a recipe at this site, such as Elizabeth's Carob Cake, you will find the recipe, a photo, and also tabs that will take you to a Bible Reference page and the History page for that particular food.
The site also has a meals section with links to recipes for each dish.
I plan to spend more time at this site in the coming days, and perhaps take a look at the cookbook if I can find it at a local library.
Another book that I find helpful in planning Biblical celebrations is Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church by Martha Zimmerman.
I hope these sources help you to add some tasty foods in with your Biblical studies.
Blessings,
Catherine
Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana. They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they seek to live a lifestyle of learning together as a family. You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love. |
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Dec. 8, 2009 - Christmas Ball pictures
On Saturday Brooks escorted Bekah to the Confederate Christmas Ball. She had an amazing time. Brooks said she didn't stop smiling the whole night. She told me all about all of the dances (Virgina Reel, Patty Cake Polka, Gallop, Carolina Promenade etc...) She can't wait to go again.
And here she is with Grandma and Grandpa.
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Dec. 7, 2009 - Classical Education ~ An Anchor for Homeschooling
Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in
classical
During the homeschooling journey, one will come across many times of stress, pressure and doubts. The journey is full of waves knocking us to and fro as we try to maneuver our way down the path of educating our children. It is always important to have God's Word in our heart. When we are in the middle of a storm, though, life is more manageable when we have His Word embedded in our heart. When we can cite His Words that bolster us up and incite courage into our very being, this makes the going a bit more bearable. His Word becomes our anchor as we are being tossed every which way by the waves of life. His Word calms our spirit and clears the emotional fog.
I have been in need of that anchor in the last few months as I have been dealing with health issues. These issues and the ensuing effects have caused me to doubt myself and my ability to educate my children. I have even gotten so far as to seriously consider putting them in school after the Christmas break. I feel like I have let my children down. Not only am I not giving them a Classical Education but it might also be debated whether I am giving them any kind of education at all.
Those are the words that I mutter to myself when I sink into that bad place. That dark, suffocating place that does not abide in hope. I don't like that place so I combat it by turning to God's Word. I read His Word and commit it to my spirit, so that when the darkness starts to enfold me, I can hold it off by the light of His Word.
When I am at this place, there are quite a few scriptures that wards off the darkness. Here are a few that I have relied on in the last few months.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Ps. 31:3-5)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Ps. 31:24)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness . (Isaiah 41:10)
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Ps. 5:3)
I am so thankful for God's Word that I can cling to as my anchor through this rough time. In clinging to His Word, I am assured that He will lead me to higher and drier ground in time.
Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband, homeschooling their 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education. You can read more at her blog. |
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Dec. 7, 2009 - Craft Corner ~ Bible Crafts
Posted By HomeschoolBlogger Company Blog in
CraftCorner
Most of these ideas have to do with Bible verses, but the possibilities are endless! Do you have ideas on how to creatively display scripture throughout your home? Please share!
- Quilted Bible Cover ~ Although the Lord doesn't care whether our Bibles have a nifty cover, it's still a fun thing to make and use! Not to mention it can be very handy for holding paper and pen for sermon notes.
- Stenciled Bible Verses ~ I saw this done at a church once, and the result was pretty and charming. Get some lettering stencils, choose an appropriate verse, color, and wall, and get painting! You could also stencil your verse on other things.
- Another way to burn verses into your memory, almost literally, is to burn them onto a piece of wood using a woodburning tool. This technique is also called pyrography. It produces a simple, yet lovely, effect if you merely write out your verse in plain letters with your woodburning iron, and then decorate it with pressed flowers.
- Still another way to display your favorite verses would be to print or write them out on a piece of paper, decorate it, frame it, and then hang it on your wall. You could also choose to use counted cross-stitch to embroider your verse.
Miss Eyebright enjoys crafts of all kinds, especially knitting. You can find her blogging at Defective Compositions.
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Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Maintaining excitement throughout THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Posted By Amy Verlennich
I've received a few great questions from some women over the past few days and wanted to share them with all of you participating in THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... SHMILY STYLE. I think that it will not only help you to know that you're not alone in some of your feelings and struggles, but to also be encouraged, so stop back over the next few days to see some of the questions women have been asking, as well as some ideas to help you get through THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
QUESTION: "Amy, how do you maintain excitement for 12 days of Christmas Shmily time? I tried it last year and frankly it was hard! Hubby was feeling special but honestly I just wanted to be left alone and sleep. Help me get mentally straightened out to try again!" - Jessica
I have to be honest... I struggle EVERY year with this whole thing, to some extent. Now, don't get me wrong, it's so much better than it used to be BEFORE I started the "12 days of Christmas" with my hubby... but that doesn't mean it doesn't go off without some trials, and I honestly believe that the more women that I tell about the 12 days of Christmas in order to bless their marriages... well, do you think that satan is just gonna sit back and watch my marriage flourish? Absolutely not!
It's not always easy to "maintain excitement" for 12 consecutive days, and some years are certainly harder than others! As much as I'm trying to be positive about this year... I have to admit, I've been in a slump with our move to a place where know virtually no one to plant a church with my Beloved. We have had our ups and downs, and since we are VERY passionate people... our ups tend to be "sky high" while our downs are... well, they're down right ugly. Now, take all that, add in homeschooling, kids away from friends, financial stresses and... a baby due soon... well, that just sounds like the makings for a disaster doesn't it? tee hee...
I honestly hesitated this year when I realized when THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS was going to be and when the baby was due... I am literally due the day before I normally start this whole thing (which is my hubby's birthday) and so not only did I realize I was going to have the "normal" struggles of prior years... but having a baby at some point before the 12 days is up certainly means I'm gonna need to get a LITTLE... uh... creative... Not only will hormones be in full swing... but I will have a new little one "sucking the life out of me" (I nurse my babies) and that can be draining as well.
But the more I thought about "canceling" the whole thing... the more I knew I needed to do it... not just for my sweet Beloved... but because I needed to look forward to it as well. I needed to remind myself of all those reasons I fell in love with my husband... and the many more that I've fallen in love with since then.
I think we all know that by doing this... we certainly are blessing our husbands and our marriages... but I realized how I've really taken the whole thing for granted by thinking that I'm doing my husband some great big favor... when, in reality... I am equally blessed by these very special 12 days each year. By focusing on the good things about my husband, I "fall in love" all over again with the man I married... but there is still more...
I GET to serve my husband more intentionally then I normally do. Sure, I wash his clothes, make meals for him (although I don't know if he'd say that's a blessing or not considering the cook HE is), make sure his closet is full of clothing that fits and shoes to wear... but I can so easily fall into the routine of being his wife, that I forget the privilege of being so much more... a servant who acts out of love, expecting nothing in return... THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS makes me focus on my husband's wants, needs, and desires more than ever before and I find myself truly loving making him smile. It's no longer about what he's done for me... what I might get in return... or why he isn't do this or that... my focus is not on ME... and honestly women, that's right where God wants me as a wife all the time.
So, while I know 12 days IS hard to keep the excitement alive... I want to challenge you to really focus on your husband and not yourself... push yourself to go a little further when you feel like throwing in the towel... go the distance because in the end... it will not only be your husband that will be blessed... but you as well.
FYI: I made a booklet to encourage your husband for 30 weeks... in it there are a few things that might help you to stay focused on your hubby as you prepare for the 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... and to help you stay that way throughout. You can find the booklet by clicking the following link: 30-week Husband Encouragement Challenge.
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Dec. 6, 2009 - Trying Blogger
Posted By Debbie
I've always been disappointed to come to one of my "friend's" on HSB and find out they've moved their blog to Blogger. However, after creating a blog over there, and discovering the ease of using it, I've decided to give it a try.
The ease of changing templates, adding photos, and just the overall experience has been much less frustrating than trying those same things over here.
I would love to have you visit me there and I will still come here to visit you.
My new blog is at: http://heritagecreek.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there.
Debbie |
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