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.