http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Academy252/154692/#c289894

About working, farming, and work ethics from an Amish point of view (with some good questions).

Jenette.

This seems far-fetched, kind of like so many other things that aren't.

Take a moment to read it, and remember the wierd controversy over allowing TOS to go to the UK to visit with homeschool families there. Truth is stranger than fiction.

http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/dean/

Jenette.

Here is an article about depression that might be helpful to some mommies.

http://www.titus2.com/corners/9-00-m.htm

Jenette.

Hmm, maybe we make them insane, you'll have to go to my husband's blog for more about that, if I type any more, I might have to eat again ! Toodles!

 http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolbiblestudies

Aren't kids precious? Or are they just a nuisance?

Take a look at these lines from a poem written by a little girl:

'Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse," the aspiring actress and poet wrote. "They took the gold, the wisdom and all the storytellers. They took the black women, with the black man weak. Made to watch as they changed the paradigm of our village.

"Yeah white nationalism is what put you in bondage. Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan and Darwin." '

Read about this here:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Quidamae/109301/#c280877

Found the news story here:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/60921.htm

I don't really care to comment on this issue except that it prompts me to recomend the book Morning by Morning 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375507744/104-1622286-1257517?v=glance&n=283155 

This is an interesting perspective written by a homeschooling African American Woman of who is a Christian. It gave me some good food for thought... I strongly recomend that you read it if you are white (pastey) like me, or of a darker shade. My favorite line (by one of her sons) was "college is an artificial construct" (sounds like something I would have said to my mom) and her reaction, "Duh! You got to work with the system kid"  She had after-all taught him, (by example) that he did not (I loosely paraphrase). This book made me laugh and gave me a fresh perspective.... PLEASE (oops did I shout?) check it out (I got mine from my library). If nothing else Morning by Morning will give you practical tips for getting your kids into Ivy League Institutions...but then your child might say that they are all "artificial constructs"..hmmm I gotta like that guy.

Gena, I think someone on your staff needs to interview Paula Penn-Nabrit the author in TOS.

That's what I told Jason when he asked me what he needed to pack for the family reunion tomorrow. He wants to pack some of it today, so he'll have less to pack tomorrow! WOW! These kids could whip me into shape with their organizational skills. Me, I want to procrastinate...more fun??? Okay, I need to really answer his question.............

Question answered! No, I really gave him a real answer, after the "smart" one.

Well, I was blogging, but my family is conspiring to get organized already for tomorrow. I used to be that organized (I won't say that other word that sounds uncouth), but then I got laid-back (heh, that's the nice word for it). Maybe it was after the 7th child and I stopped panicking that I would get buried under the "stuff to do" if I didn't work meticulously ahead of time all of the time.

It isn't that I have given up. It's just that if you keep up with the basics and let your kids help ALOT (it makes them responsible, although it may make you like me, irrespons...er LAID BACK). You see, I do wash as it gets dirty, everyday as I go till the bins are empty...so no big deal if we pack tomorrow, "Of course all of your clothes are clean...aren't they always? Except when someone needs bedding washed or someone pukes or when I am sick or gone or..." I really am glad to see my kids be so on top of things, once I gave up the "hey, I am in charge" attitude about it all.

I mean, I am "in charge" (under their daddy ya know), but I can delegate...or at least I am learning to. It hasn't been an easy road for me. Now (get ready for some psychobabble), I am the middle child and I always craved authority (everybody wants to be bossy once in a while right?...well maybe not normal people). So here I am MOMMY, IN CHARGE, HEAR ME ROAR. Hmm, now I am finding it's not so much fun to be in charge. I think I'd rather be in charge of just me...Please? Not an option I guess.

When I got married and had these blessings I guess I signed on for the long haul of "in charge". But, I wouldn't say I do it all that well, so I am relieved that they (the kids) are getting the hang of being a little "in charge" if themselves. It definitely took some training (mostly me), some tears (um mine? ) some confession "oops, sorry, mommy did that the wrong way", "God can you help me do better? I think I am teachable now.", and humility "Honey (husband), I don't think I am handling this the right way....".

As my husband always says, "Pray and read the Bible". Simple not simplistic. Gotta go, I think my kids are inspiring me!

Hugs to one and all.

Jenette.

Today I thought that I would do some gardening in the morning (pulling back mulch so I can plant seedlings), and then plant seedlings this evening. Then it looked like rain...so....I decided to go ahead and plant all the seedlings (in the off and on rain) before the ground got soggy again...hmmm. I think I may even have gotten a little hailed upon. I was weird cold and then warm blasts of air. Now, I am looking at the forecast and the next two days would have been perfect to plant. The time I thought I would spend grinding wheat for flour I spent planting. I am bushed. I shouldn't have panicked. I should have gone with plan A. All this got me thinking about the kids and my husband and what I do and why. In the area of food, clothing, etc. it is easy to get so caught up and forget what you are doing all of this for. The other day I was reading in Isaiah, where God was chastising people for fasting in an arguing and complaining way...He basically was trying to get them to remember what the point was: to free the captives, for rejoicing, for sharing with those who are poor.

Hmm, if I am "doing" all these things to take care of my family and get so caught up in the "stuff" I "gotta" do, I am in danger of missing the point, "Um honey, can you please stay out of my way so I can take care of you?" Makes a lot of sense doesn't it? I am sure it makes a lot of sense to them too. Wow, God, please help me to prioritize in a way that makes sense to You. Help me to not 'herd the kids around' all day without really paying attention to them or listening to them.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of your by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27.

Back to the garden. I want to teach the kids to do this with me next year so they can learn a valuable skill and we can have more together time :).

Hmm, my husband was thrown back in his chair oohhing and ahhing over the "in your face", "flower power" motif happening on my blog. I hope his eyes recover soon.