Much to my 5 year olds delight, the boxes of books for the next school year arrived today. She was jumping all over the place and did a few pages while I did read aloud time today. My first grader went through and showed her everything about her books, since he knows it all now. The fifth graders were less than thrilled, but Sarah did get excited that I ordered them some Creative writing books. She has a way with words and loves to write. The four year old was watching it all and it suddenly hit me that I will be ordering books for him next year. Scary!! Esther looked at me and said, "You sure have a lot of kids to teach mommy." It reminds me of a cartoon in our homeschool newsletter this month. The dad and kids are waving at the mom who is in a straight jackey behind the glass, yet smiling very broadly. 
Last weekend I was thinking about my courtship posts from long ago. We had a missionary couple over that I have known since my days in MOPS (which seems like forever ago). Their marriage was arranged by thier parents, and he spent a little time talking about how important it is to listen to the godly advice of ones parents.
Need to go. Hannah is ready to play webkinz.
Saturday was our reading competition for the homeschool group. I sure had a lot of fun, and I think all the kids did too! We made pizzas when the competition was done, then the kids played outside together. I think I'll try to do it again in the fall, and maybe I'll do a few book for the younger kids as well. Nathan kept trying to answer the questions on Saturday. He would love to compete on a team! What am I saying . . . he would compete about ANYTHING!
Last night was our speech, music, and talent night. Hannah was running a fever, so Sarah had to quote her part in the Ruth passage, but it turned out okay. Sarah also played a piano piece and a flute piece. Sarah and Esther wore their Easter dresses that I finally finished. There sure are a lot of talented kids in our homeschool group!
Tomorrow will be 16 days until the due date. Sarah is way behind on school, but other than that, my list of things to do is getting pretty short. I guess I'm ready now. I'm sure getting big. Steve just commented tonight about my size. I subbed today and the class had a bit of spring fever and a bit of substitute teacher fever, so I got pretty worn out. I'm excited about heading to bed pretty soon.
I was subbing in a second grade class today, and I couldn't help but feel bad for all the time I don't give me kids with their schooling. If I had as much time to work with the kids as the kids in the class had today, my kids would be doing amazing things! I will console myself with the fact that a lot of the work was probably just review that some of the kids didn't need anyway. *sigh* I will be very glad when I'm done working and can spend some more time teaching my own kids! Of course, I'll have a new little baby . . . I'm sure that won't take up any of my teaching time. 
I finally bought Hannah a music theory CD-ROM last night via amazon.com. I have been thinking about this for about six months. I wanted to give it to her for her birthday, but Steve said it wouldn't be a good present. Good thing he is around, or I would probably give the kids their school books for their birthdays and Christmas.
My little Esther only has one day of school left. She would have finished today, but she ended up going to grandma's house instead. I'm not going to order her new books for a few weeks, so I need to come up with some stuff for her to do while we wait. I'm sure I can print some stuff off the internet, just so she doesn't forget how to do "school".
I had my 5th grade girls write a research paper last week. I asked them to write 4 pages, but they both only ended up with about three pages. I guess I should have started a little smaller. By the time the sixth or seventh kid makes it through my schooling, I should know what I'm doing! I guess I've written so many papers is my day that I didn't think much of writing a four page paper. It was overwhelming to them.
I better round up the kids and head out (we are at the library using their fast computers).
Today was an interesting day! I'm going to start out by saying I realize a fool vents all his feelings and complaining is our expression of distrust in God's faithfulness. I'm just writing this to sort it all out in my mind and decompress from the day. God has been ever so faithful to me in all areas of my life! I just had a rough day at the doctor with my two little ones. Even though this has nothing to do with homeschooling, it is more of a "granola" topic than I feel comfortable posting on myspace.
I just felt like my parental rights were walked all over today. As homeschoolers, we are obviously big supporters of parental rights. I don't do well-child checks very often, but we go to a crazy clinic that deletes the records (and I'm talking gone forever . . . shot records and all . . . it has happened to us twice) if a child doesn't come in after two years. So, I decided to take the two little ones in today, before I'm too far along in the pregnancy. We now have a new doctor, and I was a bit disappointed. He was looking at Noah (who just turned 4 years old a few weeks ago), and asked if he went to school yet. I guess I knew I was in trouble right then! LOL! Our last doc. was a pastor's wife and was supportive (although I'm sure she wasn't in total agreement) of our homeschooling, cloth diapering, delayed shots, and refusing some shots. I just told the doc. today "no", so then he asked when he was going to start school. I'm a slow thinker / speaker, and I didn't answer in his time frame, so he just said something about not this year, and I again said "no".
Then I had to explain the fact that our two year follow up for our son's neurosurgery had been canceled due to the neurosurgeon's medical leave. He told me twice to call and get another appointment. He was obviously more worried about it then we and the neurosurgical office were! I overheard him talking in the lobby to the nurse, and I guess he asked her to call down and get us an appointment. Gee wiz!
Then there were the shots. Oh my! Always before they have told me before the shots, what they would be giving, and I would sign a permission form. They came in and gave both boys five shots, and I didn't even know what they were giving them. Once the shots were over and I had a crying boy (my brave 4 year old didn't cry at all), they gave me the papers that said what they received. So, when I got home I found out that they had given them both the chicken pox shot. We weren't giving that to our kids!! They also both got the Hep A shot. I thought that was only a sexually transmitted disease, so I wasn't planning on giving that one. Grrrr!
Then there were the questions about Noah. Does he know the difference between boys and girls? LOL! Uh, he has three sisters, yea! Does he ask questions like, why is he kissing her or why is he touching her. So, I asked for a clarification . . . do you mean does he ask questions, because he asks a LOT of questions? So she semi-whispers . . . about sex. What? He is a four year old! Oh my!
So, now I'm wondering what I'm going to do once the baby arrives. Luckily, we are having her in another county, so we will just use a ped. on staff at the hospital. But I don't even think I want to take that poor baby into that office for quite a while. I don't start shots until they are 2 months, but I'm thinking that won't go over very well! Steve says he will take the kids next time, but since I'm one of those obsessed breastfeeders, I don't leave my babies side for six months or so. I guess Steve will just have to go with me and be my bodyguard.
So, I'm here blogging, trying to sort it all out! The good thing was that Noah was especially well behaved! The nurse really complemented him on his behavior and me on my parenting. I always tell people that compliment me on my children's behavior that we have our moments, but it makes me feel a little better to know my children stick out in this dark world.
As far as homeschooling . . . we had a get-together practice last night with the children that are doing the reading competition. It was really fun! I only did 8 questions. I thought some of the questions were pretty tough, but those kids are REALLY sharp! One team missed one question, but the other teams got all the questions correct. I obviously need to have higher expectations. They all had a great time playing together after we were done as well. I'm glad we are doing this and hopefully we can do it several times a year. It has been really good for Hannah. She might end up reading all ten books by the end. I didn't think so until last night, but she got inspired! I'm planning to evaluate her reading level in the next week to see if she is doing better after all this reading.
I'm also trying to set up a cake decorating get-together. Problem is that I'm running out of time. I don't want to get too close to the due date . . . not that I think I will ever go early , but I might be a bit grumpy to have a group of kids in my kitchen. My friend would like to set up a quilting get-together. How fun! I was thinking of a crocheting group, but I'm not ready for that right now!
Esther only has four days of school left! Yea! Unfortunately, I don't have her 1st grade books yet, so I'm not sure what I'll have her do to keep her mind active. The ABeka sale isn't until the end of March, and I WON'T pay for shipping, so we will just wait. So cheap!
Nathan has 30 days of school left. He may be done before the baby comes. Hannah and Sarah are now a bit ahead of the school system, so I think I can safely take three weeks off when the baby arrives. Hoping the Lord gives us a calm little #7! I'm just now adjusting from the birth of #6, so I figure this one will take 2 years to adjust to.
Regarding my "courtship" blogs . . . we have some missionary friends that have mentioned several times that our Esther and their son would make a good team. LOL! We haven't signed any contracts yet.
Well, I feel much better after this blog time. It is always a sanity saver for me!
Things are going pretty well at school. I'm trying really hard to get as much done as I can before the baby arrives in April. Nathan and Esther may be finished with the year by then, and hopefully Hannah and Sarah will only have a month left by then.
I finally broke down and bought the Spelling Power book. I think it will be good for the kids. It gives Nathan a starting point, will help Hannah and should give Sarah a bit more of a challenge.
The girls are doing well in both piano and flute. Nathan is going to start piano soon. I'm looking for a CDrom music theory program that will challenge Hannah. I want to really encourage her music skills. I'm glad she is homeschooling because I believe she will have a lot more time to practice than she would if she were in public school. I would also like for her to start on the guitar, but we can't really afford lessons, and I didn't get anywhere with self-teach videos.
Sarah is starting up on her crocheting again. If she would just get her school done a little more speedily, she could do more crocheting. I'm still working on motivating that girl!!
Nathan still loves his math and likes to read if he can read stories about baseball. Today I had him read to Noah. I thought that was really cute.
Esther is doing well with school, but she is hard to find because she is off playing most of the day. I didn't even get around to school with her today, but she is way ahead anyway.
I'm off to eat a snack. It isn't midnight yet, so I'll just call it a 11:00 snack. I had a mom's night out tonight, which I always enjoy. We are all so busy that we don't get together much. I guess that is the problem with likeminded homeschool moms! We talked about why we homeschool, and it was good to hear others verbalize the same feelings that I have. I hope our children will make a big difference in the future. We are certainly pouring our lives into them!
We had a homeschool Mom's Night Out last week. Our topic of discussion led us to talking about things we would like to see created for our children to participate in. It seemed like we were full of good ideas, but most of us just don't feel qualified to lead the projects we come up with. I guess we are willing to go out on a limb with our own children, but we hate to subject someone else's children to our incompetencies. Well, I think I finally found something I'm qualified to head up!
In our area we have a book reading competition for 8th and 9th graders called Battle of the Books. I did it when I was in school and loved it. I've decided to put together a competition for kids in upper elementary. I'm so excited about it, but I'm not sure when I will get the time to put it all together before the baby gets here! I'm putting together a list of books right now. If anyone has any great book suggestions for upper elementary, I'm all ears. We are going to include a Sugar Creek Gang book, a book of the Bible, and a Little House book, but other than that, we haven't decided officially yet. I really want an Answers in Genesis book, but I'm not sure if we can buy enough copies of one of those.
I need to go. I'm babysitting for another little boy this week. It is quite an experience to have two 1 year old boys in the house. I have a lot of respect for mothers of twin boys!
In light of Reformation Day last week, I decided to do some Martin Luther teaching. I printed out an article to read the kids and "A Mighty Fortress" piano music for the girls to work on. Through the week I had the girls write in their journals about the Reformation. I realized I had missed the boat a bit when I read Hannah's journal. Here is what she wrote (with quite a bit of editing on my part due to her spelling issues).
Martin Luther was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but he moved to Montgomery, Alabama. he helped Rosa Parks lead the city boycott. He invented the song A Mighty Fortress for reformation day. He separated us Christians from Catholics.
We had a fun field trip today to a riding stable. Hannah has always been my real horse lover, but they all enjoyed the morning. I sure learned a lot. I'm hoping Hannah will read some of the pony club books from the library now.
A friend of mine that set up this field trip was talking to today about those "rough homeschooling days". Another lady said, "Oh, we all have those." I actually had one of those days on Monday. *sigh* I used to be so organized and didn't really have those days. I guess it should be a reminder to me of the grace of God that I need each day to get through. I know homeschooling is best for the kids spiritual development, but some days I just doubt that it is currently best for their academic development. I'm just stretched so thin with all the kids schooling (and trying to motivate them to get the chores done in a timely manner as well).
I'm still really struggling with science. I read a section every day to the girls and we do the review questions orally. However, when we get to the test, they do very poorly. It really upsets Hannah because she is a good listener, and we always have good discussion about the topic, but the tests just don't reflect that they have learned very much. My idea is to find a science curriculum that they could do on the computer. I just don't have time to look for things like that, and I don't know if I could afford it even if I found it. We are very picky that the curriculum be young earth creation based. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be glad to hear about them. Does AIG have anything like this? I like their science curriculum books, but I don't know that we would fair much better with another book.
I'm really debating about buying Spelling Power as well. I was almost ready to buy Sequential Spelling, but I talked myself out of it (a habit I have any time I'm about to spend money 
). I know I would get a lot of use out of Spelling Power with all the kids I have, and I think it would be more intensive than Sequential Spelling.
My friend also recommended a CD-ROM music theory program. I have the girls do some theory games on the internet, but Hannah is getting pretty advanced since she has been taking piano for almost two years now. Their flute teacher just recommended a new site to me, which will keep Hannah busy for a while, but I'd like to move her along if I could. Steve doesn't think they need theory 
, but I know how lacking my music theory is, and I know it would really help to have a solid theory base! I'll put it on the Christmas list and see how that goes. *We only spend about $10 per kid, but my in-laws spend a good amount per kid - and we DON'T need more toys*
We have a Mom's Night Out next week and we are talking about getting out kids together socially. My girls have made a lot of friends this year with volleyball and drama camp. I really wish we could do girl's basketball, but I don't have time to organize it, and I think it would be pretty expensive. Gym rental and insurance are crazy anymore. I've really thought about having the girls play at the public school, but I don't think I'm ready to go that route yet. Maybe someone will volunteer to put a girls' team together at our meeting.
I'm a bit bummed that some of my homeschooling mom friends are getting together for lunch on Friday and I have to sub. 
I really wish I weren't subbing, but I guess I wish for my kids to participate in activities and have decent curriculum more than I hate the working. I'd really like to help save for a new van too (since we won't fit in our van after April), but it seems like there are always 15 other ways to spend the money. It just puts so much more chaos into our lives. I'm looking forward to re-retiring in April!!
Here is hoping we get a full day of school in tomorrow!!
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (or types). I think my heart was overflowing and needs a little more explanation.
I've been thinking a lot lately on the difference between homeschool and public school teens. I feel like I lumped them all into the good verses the bad category in my previous posts. I know my view can be distorted after working in the school just as a sub. I don't really get to know the kids, and I'm sure I see the worst of the worst behavior (and hear about it in the teacher's lounge). I just wanted to make sure and give credit to the Godly young men and women that may be trying to make a difference for Christ in their school. I know that my husband and I don't really feel like we made a difference while we were in the public school system (even though we were both committed Christians), but I'm sure with the right child, with the right temperment, training, courage, and discernment, differences can be made. Afterall, Hebrew children were considered adults at the age of 13. I'm sure the public school system is more like Nineva than a Hebrew culture, but I just wanted to explain a little more of what is in my heart!
Right now it would seem that although Hannah has the potential to have the right balance of discernment and courage to make it in public school when she is in high school (i.e. she has no problems confronting evolutionist or telling people that God hates witchcraft), she isn't a candidate because of her dyslexia problems. As for Sarah, I have no doubt the Lord can change this, but right now she isn't a candidate because she is too "given to peer-pressure" and doesn't aggressively stand for what she believes. Nathan seems stubborn and aggressive enough so far, but we aren't even sure if he has committed his life to Christ yet (we aren't seeing the fruit to substantiate his claim). It still remains to be seen for the other three (or four, I guess) as well.
I thought of another great reason to homeschool. The local homeschool group. I love my church and the people of my church, but I have found so many like-minded friends in the homeschool group. It has been so much fun to get to know a lot of the moms and their families. I love to see the teen-agers and how they interact with the younger children. I know homeschooling doesn't automatically mean one will have good, godly children, but a lot of the teenagers I see are what I want my children to be like in a few years.
This all comes after a rough day of subbing in the public school system where kids don't work, swear, use course phrases, talk incessantly after being told not to, chant "abort, abort, abort" when someone fears a pregnancy, talk of bisexualism, DISGUSTING shirts on MANY kids, teachers discussing unbelievable behavior in the teacher's lounge (a place I normally try to avoid), Obama stickers all over the place . . . *sigh* . . . yes, homeschool teens are WAY different!
I gave out report cards yesterday, which was a story in and of itself. Several of the kids were talking about a girl that was homeschooled through 8th grade, but is a senior in the public school now. They said she got all A+s. I made sure and told them it was because she had been homeschooled. 
Steve and I haven't made a decision about high school yet, and I think it will depend on each kid at that age, but man, I would want my kid to be VERY strong before I put them in that kind of situation!
Since July (when I found out I was pregnant with number seven), I've really been struggling with an overwhelmed feeling in regard to homeschooling. I just seem to feel like my ideas about having a large family and my ideas about homeschooling are in conflict. Now, this is really a new feeling for me. I'm a somewhat (ahem) determined person and very faithful to my beliefs once I feel the Lord has led me in a certain area. The thing is, I know there are lots of people out there with seven kids that are homeschooling . . . and with good success. So why have I been so overwhelmed. Good question! Since I reupped for the infant toddler stage again, I was beginning to question how I would homeschool. It was getting to be a pretty consuming topic for me, so Friday I decided to spend some time writing why I homeschool. I just happened to do it while I was subbing at a public school too, which I thought was very ironic!
So, I'm going to begin to summarize some of my thoughts here. Homeschool vs. Public school (since financially, Christian school isn't an option for us)
I started by asking Steve why we homeschool.
1. Because I have a wife that is willing to homeschool. He always says something like that.
2. To avoid negative influences . . . behavior (attitudes of disrespect, pride, etc.), philosophy (psychology, self-esteem)
3. So we don't have to fight evolutionary indoctrination. Even second grade does a unit on dinosaurs (and not many people think they co-existed with man under 10,000 years ago)
4. Build faith (adequate time to do this)
5. Family cohesion. This isn't something we thought much about, but it has really been a benefit. My two oldest girls are so different in personality, but they are the best of friends. One went to grandma's a few weeks ago, and the other had to call two times to talk to her. Their lives are very intertwined!
Next, I relistened to some tapes from Ken Ham. I knew he would give me renewed focus.
1. It takes a lot of time to train our children in God's Word. We are living in a spiritually illiterate era. It takes a lot of wark to teach our children doctrine. They won't be the salt of the earth until the salt has been poured into them. We need to give them a taste for doctrine at a young age.
2. Baggage . . . Ken Ham survived public school (and so did my husband and I), but not without baggage.
3. Somebody is brainwashing your kid. Who is it?
From my experience in the public school system.
1. Lockdown drills. Now, I never planned to homeschool because of school violence, but those lockdown drills give me the creeps. Not something I want my 5 year old to experience!
2. The teaching of pride . . . and it isn't that it goes before a fall!
3. Scary kids. When I taught first grade I had two scary boys in my class. I mean, they even scared me, and I was an adult that could handle it. I also had a girl that threw up every day. I couldn't prove it, but I always wondered if she threw up because those boys scared her so much too!
4. Some teachers. Now, I have a lot of respect for a lot of the teachers in the school system where I work. But there are some teachers, whew!! And even the good teachers would probably give subtle differences to what we believe since we are so conservative (regarding dress, music, behavior, reading material).
5. Videos. We have a couple in the homeschool group that took their daughter out of first grade because they said she had seen enough videos. While subbing I've shown a LOT of vidoes that I wouldn't even watch if I had a choice, let alone want my kids to watch!!!
6. Disrespect for authority. Bad company corrupts good morals. How could my kids not pick up those disrespectful habits?
7. Bus rides. I've seen what goes on in a church van, and I don't want to even think about my kids on a bus!
8. Wasted time . . . okay, Steve says we can't really argue that because we have some time wasters (like toddlers and babies) around our house too, but man, busywork is crazy!!
Just more thoughts from me.
1. More individual educational attention . . . especially for Hannah, who is struggling, and more education centered on their God given talents and interests. And for children that learn faster, they won't be held back by "the class".
2. I don't have to reteach them material if they already know it. I can go at their pace, skip junior highs repeat classes, etc.
3. Subtle influences by teachers. I recently read a discipline paragraph that 3rd graders write that stated, "I am too good of a person . . . " . Encouraging the popular idea that we are all really good people deep down as opposed to the fact that we are all sinners deep down.
4. So I don't have to homeschool after they have been at school all day already.
5. Close sibling relationships.
6. Dealing with their sin constantly. . . more sins surface when at home all day. Granted, that sounds bad, but I'm glad I have a chance to deal with what is really in their hearts.
7. Freedom of schedule . . . church late at night, funerals, vacations, visiting shut-ins
8. Time to work on AWANA and Word of Life requirements.
9. Really knowing my kids . . . especially as they grow and change.
10. I know what is going on at school . . . there is no way I could know what went on for seven hours at a public school.
11. No wasted time on bus rides.
12. Time for service activities . . . notes, phone calls, Rescue Mission work, church work
13. There are a lot of adults that struggle with discernment, so there is no way I can expect all my kids to have the ability to discern between evil and good all day, every day without a LOT of godly training. I'm not sure when my kids will attain that level of discernment, but I know for sure one of my fifth graders doesn't have it yet. Not that she hasn't been trained or is a bad kid . . . she is a people person, and I'm sure she would take her friend's or teacher's statement as fact.
I'll probably be thinking on this topic more in the near future, but this is certainly enough to keep me going for a while! Gotta go . . . Josh is into the bag of marshmallows for the cookout tonight!
It has been so long since I've even logged on to homeschool blogger. Not that I haven't tried . . . I couldn't remember my password/username combo, so it was just much easier to use my myspace blog. Steve found this article for me, and I just had to share it with someone. Some of the stereotypes don't fit me so well, but a lot do. I haven't made myself a dress for years and I really wish my kids were quieter in the store and didn't climb on the racks, etc.
Daily Journal
You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.
It's a big family by today’s standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.
There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.
You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.
Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children’s safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.
Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.
Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?
Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.
Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar’s be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.
Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state’s bureaucrats on these “trouble makers.” Their implicit rejection of America’s most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. “Individualism”) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.
Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter’s wedding, it does.) And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a 2,800-square-foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim “our right” to pursue a career for our own
"self-fulfillment."
Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k’s. Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as his price for doing his school work … and there goes that modest young woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn’t you just love to wipe that serene look right off her smug face?
Is it any wonder we hate her so?
Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo.com.
I've had so many thoughts lately about the evaluation of suitors, and I'm sure I'll never remember them all now that I'm blogging.
I realize that my "list" has grown into a list of what our family believes and how our family functions. Steve and I have very firm beliefs on some issues, and we are not easily swayed since we believe they are founded in Biblical truth. I know in our tolerant culture, this is rare and actually not tolerated very well . Now, to those who don't know me, I should say that doesn't mean we don't love and couldn't get along with someone that doesn't match up with our "list". If that were the case, we would not still have a church family I do believe. Our families most certainly think we are nuts, but we still get along. There just aren't many in the world that are completely like minded with us. We have friends that play "evil sports" , family members that believe having three children was a problem that had to be fixed (and I was one of the three), church people that feel uncomfortable when I breastfeed around them, and believe it or not, a good godly friend in the homeschool group that only has one child . I once read a book by the president of Dallas Theological Seminary (a very fundamental, Bible believing place). He was teaching on the story of Job and how the Lord had doubly blessed Job after his trials. He made a comment about not doubly blessing with children because that wouldn't be a blessing. I could tell by the comment that he had a different view on children than I have. I'm certain he is saved, I'm certain we would get along splendidly in most areas and our doctrinal statements might even be identical?! So, I would have to say his offspring might still make a good match for our offspring . . . well, except that he is probably in his 60's 
.
I know the phrase goes "opposites attract", but that was so far from what happened with Steve and I! We are very much alike. There are so many decisions to be made in marriage, I really believe if a future mate is similar in a lot of areas ahead of time, it would make the marriage transition a little smoother. Surely it would make the wife's role of submission much easier! I think I'll move on to another topic of thought for the next few weeks. It is nice to have thoughts, I must admit. They are hard to come by now-a-days!
So, start sending in those dating applications. Hannah will be 21 in a mere 11 years and we should have your application processed by then!
I can't believe I didn't think of this before, but I just saw a link to some Vision Forum resources that discuss the very things I've been thinking on. Doug Phillips has a CD set titled "How to Evaluate a Suitor". In the description it used this phrase regarding an evaluation for suitors: "minimal threshold requirements must be met".
You know, even though I've made a list, this really isn't a list issue. It has to do with the training we intend to instill in our children's hearts. And as they used to say at Cedarville, some rules are Biblical issues and some are preference issues. The same would be true with our little "list".
Here are a few more I've thought of:
No participants in any evil sports (just for you Bobbi)
Abstain from the use of alcohol - I know Biblically speaking it is "being drunk" that is the sin, but I had an alcohlic grandfather, so I'm a total abstainer (along with for Biblical reasons I would consider "wisdom").
Understand the value of homeschooling - Obviously I think homeschooling is best, I wouldn't be doing it otherwise, but I guess that would have to be something each parent would have to decide - but I certainly want them to be open to the idea.
Understand the value of breastfeeding - I've spent 7 years breastfeeding and I certainly expect my grandkids to be breastfed as well . It's a normal part of our lives, so bottles are "wierd" to us around here (I dont' think my last three have ever had a bottle). Although, Steve was never around a breastfeeder before, and he adjusted well.
Open to the blessing of children - Not necessarily "quiver full", but definitely understanding that children are God's natural design for married couples and a reward from Him. If I ever hear one of my children say they "got fixed" one child too late or hearing they were still sterile was the best news they ever heard (sorry sisters if you read this), I will absolutely cry!!
Steve and I finally got to go on a date last night. Fun! We went to CVS, The Pizza Shack, and some other store in Tipton that I don't remember the name of. We would have gone to the park, but I guess it was closed due to storm damage?! Steve says next month we will have to take our tennis rackets and play at the school. That should be funny!
Anyway, I finally asked what doctines or issues were important for him in the future "courters" of our children. He said he thought that all the points on our doctrinal statement were important. LOL! I guess we are together in our pickiness! Then he said that he would give a little with #5 (and yes, we do have the doctinal statement memorized according to their numbers, LOL!). Number five is the end-times point . . . meaning our children are allowed to court / date a mid-tribber.
So, I asked him where he thought we would find such likeminded people for our children. He is so funny! He said he needed to put together a little study. So, if anyone has plans to match up their children with ours, you may want to see Steve so he can do a little doctinal study with them. Oh my!
We are headed to the GARBC conference in about 11 days, so maybe we should start looking for prospects!
I've been thinking a lot about my last blog. I've especially been thinking about my "no Baptist, no deal" comment. Here are a few more comments on that idea.
You know, we have a lot of likeminded friends that WOULD NOT call themselves Baptist. The label isn't what would make a good courtship "fit" for our children, of course. It is the doctrine I would consider "Baptistic" that I feel would be necessary to make a happy match (for Steve and I anyway). There are also a lot of Baptist groups I'm sure that would not hold to doctine that we find important. So, I've been thinking about what doctrine I consider important. Here are some things I've thought of so far.
1. Biblical authority. No ifs, ands or buts! Nothing can be more important!
2. Creation. Our children are being throughly trained in Creationism, so I can't imagine a match with someone that doesn't acknowlege God as creator would be pleasant at all.
3. Believer's Baptism. Humm . . . I know this will seems nitpicky (ohhhh, lice analogy. . . ewww!), but we just happened to study this in Bible study and it brought up a discussion. I'm thinking it would be awkward to have a match with someone with a "covenant" backgroud where infants are sprinkled. Steve and I would certainly not approve of this, and would not attend a sprinkling ceremony (even for a grandchild). Just imagine the family disunity there! 
And if they did BAPTIZE the poor baby, we would have to call CPS (not really, but totally submerging a baby doesn't seem quite right).
4. Translation issues. Steve requires I mention this . Steve uses the NKJV, so we may not be consided part of the elect in some KJV circles. Obviously, that would be a bad situation too!
I'm sure I'll think of more as the days go by. I'll have a list a mile long by the time the girls hit 16.
My dear friend wrote me an e-mail over two weeks ago. I've been meaning to talk it over with Steve and spend some time thinking over it, but think time is rare around here, and we missed out date this month. So, I'm just going to blog my thoughts to see what I'm thinking! She wrote me some questions, so I'll mostly just answer them.
How do you explain to an 8 year old that crushes are not a good idea? Well, I guess I'm not so anti crushes as I am in teaching them how to handle those "crush" feelings. I know it seems so young to have "feelings" for someone, and I certainly wish it didn't happen until they were 20! I would mostly focus on not obsessing over the person. Controlling ones thoughts . . . renewing the mind and filling it with godly things.
How can we get them to realize how serious this matter is? LOL! Serious . . . like chores are serious!! I still haven't figured that one out completely! Hummm? Maybe we could do a homeschool co-op thing with the girls. Positive peer pressure. I've taught a class using "A Young Woman After God's Own Heart." It was almost three years ago, but I think it was good with this stuff. But that would only deal with the girls. Who would talk to the boys? Oh Steve . . .
How do we put into practice this courtship thing, considering we've had no experience in it? Oh, oh, oh!! I have an answer for that one! Neither of us grew up with parents that embraced the birth of more children, but we are figuring that out (I think anyway). Yes, theory and practice are different. I do think we need to seek lots of wisdom from our "older" women that have been there and done that SUCCESSFULLY. I'll certainly plan another MNO with the "courtship" theme.
Religious compatibility: LOL!! Oh, I'm sure we will be just as picky!! No Baptist, no deal! I just remember how the LORD put Steve and I together and it can't be explained any way other than His plan. Steve went to PCC for four years (lots of godly conservative Baptist girls), and came home without one. And here I was!! Steve is already saying the girls won't go to PCC though because he doesn't want them to come home with a KJV only guy. Oh yea, we have picky plans! Anyone for arranged marriages? My Cedarville roommate has three boys and another roommate has a girl and another child on the way. Of course we have each other's families too. Who knows! We may be wacky, but we are likeminded in our wackiness!
It certainly is do-able! I was subbing in a high school class (juniors) this week and they were talking about "The Ladder" of physical progression in dating that they were taught in 8th grade. I was so impressed. I think they will learn! We just have to be long-suffering in our teaching.
I had a nice Mother's Day yesterday. It was filled with squeals and deals according to Steve, which is pretty much my life every day . I won a flower at church for being the youngest mother. Hopefully Stephanie will be a mommy next year and I won't win that one, but I was glad to get a flower! I was actually downstairs using the rod of correction when I won the flower, so for all I knew the category I won was the mother that most recently disciplined her child.
After church we had a quick lunch, did quiet times and read a chapter of Prince Caspian. I even got a chance to run to CVS alone. Wow! When everyone woke up, we all took mom to Richards. I had read that kids eat free after 3:00 pm on Sunday at Richards. Quite a deal for our family. I had a coupon too, of course. It still took $19, and we only budget $10 a month for eating out, but I think we will make it! Maybe I can get Steve to take it out of gifts?!
So, I have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia to the kids. I have been a bit disappointed I guess. The kids all love the stories, but we are a bit bothered by the gods and spells, etc . I guess I'm just not a "fairy tale" person. I was hoping the spiritual symbolism would be easier to pick up on too. I point some things out, but I'm sure I don't really know what all the veiled symbolism is either.
We played basketball tonight while Esther had her swim lesson. Hannah loves basketball, but is a bit out of her league in the senior division this year. Nathan is loving T-ball. During the second game he hit the ball into the outfield. After he hit the ball he pointed to it. Ha! He is ready for the majors!
Tomorrow night we are having a couples' night out for the homeschool group. It is such a busy time of the year that I don't think there will be many people here.
I subbed in a first grade class today. I took them down to the gym and they looked like a bunch of jumping beans! It made me feel better about my three middle ones. I told Nathan to go out and play today. He didn't do school, but he just had too much energy to be in the house.
I really wanted to work on my James memorization again for the Scripturation. I'm thinking I may have to just do the first chapter. The girls are doing the Exodus 20 passage and Psalm 100 with the Sunday School class.
I should head to bed now. Joshua hasn't been sleeping for more than two hours at a stretch. I've been trying to feed him more solids, but he just isn't wanting to sleep . . . ever!! Maybe tonight!
As usual, we have had a busy week. Throw in a few cases (five of the kids) with stomach flu, and there were plenty of exciting moments!
Tonight we had a night out on the town with the family. We didn't leave until after 7:00 pm, but still hit quite a few stores. The kids were most excited about looking at all the pop-up campers at some used trailer lot on the north side of town. Steve has a big vacation in the west planned for us, but we really can't do it without a pop-up camper (so says the wise leader of our home 
). I'm striving to have the same "vision" as my husband on this one since I could think of twenty other things to spend money on. Submission is something I do quite readily, but sometimes my heart sure has other plans. I'm working on it 
!
So, tonight we went to Aldi, the camper place, Goodwill (found some 50% off purple shirts - both Hannah and Nathan are on purple teams this year), Meijer (got some chocolate chips for 50 cents a bag after coupons, and Target to get Steve's plasma money.
All this was after a partial day of subbing, volunteering at the Rescue Mission, and trying to squeeze in school and some chores. Steve is also preparing for a funeral tomorrow. Hopefully Steve and I don't wake up with the stomach flu tonight! Oh well, the LORD knows best.
I planned out the rest of the school year. It looks like Hannah will be done in two more weeks. Who knows when Sarah will be done! I don't nag, so it may take her a while. We will just keep going until the books are done.
I always think of so much I would like to blog about. Sleep is just such a precious commodity for me right now that I choose it over blogging for some reason . Steve is away at the Indiana Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches (had to write that out since it won't be that for very long) Men's Retreat. It is pretty much my tradition to stay up late when he goes to those things, so here I am.
Tonight was Nathan's Opening Ceremonies for T-ball. He is so excited, and I guess I am too. I was telling Steve the other day about how I had crushes on guys when I was younger. I always had crushes on the most athletic kids in the class. Steve snorted as he said that was how I ended up with him . Anyway, back in my former life (ya know, when I still had brain cells), I LOVED baseball. I'm sure I'll enjoy all the games way more than Nathan's five siblings!
Tomorrow Sarah is going to South Bend for the AWANA Grand Prix. Not that she has a fast car . . . The Gollners can sure build a house, but not a car!! Hannah has her first basketball practice tomorrow as well. Oh, and we have a combined birthday party for Sarah and Esther in the evening.
Here is something I've been pondering lately. I subbed in a computer class last week. I was shocked at all the kids that got on the High School Musical website (1st graders). Steve and I were talking about High School Musical and Hannah Montana. I know Plugged In recently had an article about Hannah Montana that stated she was good, so far. My Hannah always has people ask her if she likes Hannah Montana. She always says she doesn't even know who she is. Steve and I were talking about how these two shows are "innocent" from what I can gather (not that I have seen them), but maybe not completely harmless. I guess that is one of the benefits of homeschooling . . . my kids are just a little more innocent concerning these things.
I'm really struggling to get the little kids ready for the "Scripturation" we have at church next month. The older girls have so much Scripture memorized, and can work on memorization on their own now. However, I'm finding very little time to teach Nathan his passage. I wanted him to memorize the Nathan and David passage . . . The Veggie Tales song "There once was a man, a very poor man" is running through my head right now. So far he knows, "And the LORD sent Nathan to David." Ha! We were watching videos from Esther's baby dedication the other day when Hannah and Sarah (4 and 3, I think) quoted the Esther passage. Wow!
That leads me to my struggle with quiverfullness. I've never considered myself "quiverfull", but I tell people I'm probably more quiverfull than 95% of the people they know. I do want to allow God's natural design to work in our family and be blessed with godly offspring that I can raise for His glory. I've really felt since Joshua was born that I'm maxed out on my ability to train all the kids the way I think they need to be trained. I know I can do all God's will through His strength, but I think this Scripture memorization example shows it isn't happening the way I had hoped. I remember telling my sister before our kids were even old enough to school yet that one of the reasons I wanted to homeschool was so I could really teach my children a lot of Scripture. There is so much time wasted in the public school system (at least the ones I've been in), that homeschooling should be a huge advantage for using time to teach Scripture. I just hate to keep saying I'll get around to Nathan later!
Okay, it is now 11:37 pm. I really should go to bed. I would like to include a picture, but I'm having trouble figuring that out!
Hummmmm?!
Still can't figure it out .
We decided not to go to the museum today, so I got a few things done.
Monday our Abeka box arrived with our school books for next year. It was so exciting for the kids! Nathan is so excited to be in 1st grade now. He took his stack of books to church for men's breakfast on Wednesday. Esther has been insisting that she needs to do her school work now too.
Tomorrow is the car race at the AWANA church. Of course, the girls don't have their cars done yet. That's okay, they don't have to be there until 9:30 in the morning. Ha!
Steve and I got a funny bit of news this week. We are switching our house loan to a different bank to get a better rate and hopefully pay it off in 10 years or less. In the process they did a credit report and found out that I have a better credit score than Steve. That is so funny! I don't do anything with the budget. Okay, the truth is that my score was 808 and his was 807, but I still think it is really funny.
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Noah's surgery. Just think, I was pregnant and trying to sleep on a little couch with Steve at this time last year. The Lord has been so good to us! Noah has done so well! There is a family in our homeschool group that has a baby taking chemo treatments. Oh, to think of what the Lord spared us from!