Welcome to My Father's World

A fun nature walk -- no journaling needed

2:48 PM, Jun. 24, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

(c)2008, mfwfriend

Well.... if it only could be like this every time we did a nature walk......

Here's our nature walk from just a couple of days ago. It was a fun time.

I was pulling weeds from the flower bed while Oldest and Middle were pushing Youngest around the yard in a wheelbarrow.

I noticed a turtle in my flower bed and told all of them to come look so we can call it science time! (oh come on... we're homeschoolers) So we stopped everything and just watched this turtle for a while. We didn't sketch it, we didn't grab the digital camera (should have). We just watched. Later in the day -- we did a quick search trying to decide if it was an out of the brackish water diamond back terrapin or not. But not at the moment it was happening -- it was later in the day. I kept trying to insist that it was a tortoise because its colors were the same as our cat, which is a Torti colored cat. I don't know!!!!! We'll figure it out someday when we see it again.

Then Youngest had enough of "turtle" and decided to climb our neighbor's tree. We all went chasing after her. We already knew it was a maple tree, but we took time to look at the branches and the fact that no one had cut off the hose from when it was planted and how that was affecting the growth of the tree. We examined how the other trees in the "tree lawn" (the section between the side walk and the road) were growing or not growing. I still need to call someone to chop down the dead one. and we tested many of them for climbing preferences.

Then Youngest decided that hanging upside and swinging was all done. So we went to a different neighbor's yard and looked at her new water plants and the Koi fish (big goldfish). And then we had the chance to talk with our neighbor a bit. Middle played with the dogs. I watched Youngest point to and count the fish (over and over and over again.....) Oldest talked with our neighbor about the different kinds of plants. And then --- we watched the bees. A few birds came near by too.

Oldest and middle argued whether it was a robin or a female cardinal.

and we went back to make sure the turtle was ok.

Sure --- Oldest could have been taking picture and looking up stuff and even writing about it. But I'm so glad we didn't on that one day. It was one of the best school times we've had in a while. oh, and when we came back inside --- Oldest and Middle got out a bird book together for a few minutes.

Even though my Youngest is 6, she is very delayed with her special needs and many times it is like having a toddler or preschooler. She was darting between houses and trees, and fish and turtle and "upside down tree".

Just go outside and if your toddler wants to lead the way after swinging in the tree, you're in good company.

And don't forget -- that gardening counts too.

1850MOD, year in review part 1

7:00 AM, May. 22, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Our 1850-Modern Times Year in Review

Part 1 Bible
Memory verses
A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God
Tales of Persia
Witnesses to the World
THUMB prayer (in the manual, not a separate book)

When we were using the Patricia St. John book, I had to keep reminding myself that even though this book isn’t “super deep” or “heavy theology” that is ok at this age. It really helped my 12 year old to see more of who God is aside from just academically studying scripture. Yikes! You mean all that time I keep cyber preaching about not making academic machines and I’m still trying to not make her into just an academic machine.

That book, A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God, was really helping my young daughter to see God in the everyday things. And to really see Him.

Tales of Persia --- this was our family’s favorite of the readings in Bible time. It was such a joy to read about Christians in Iran. My 9 y.o (3^rd grader) daughter really seemed to develop a heart for praying for people in Muslim countries. I think this book was special to her.

The THUMB prayer --- this was a growth time for our family. It was a joy to hear our children reading scripture and then praying that scripture for general people groups around the world.

A great learning time happened for my 3^rd grader in about weeks 27 -29. I cried each time I tell someone this story because it goes to the heart of why we homeschool. My 6^th grader was learning about something with China. My 3^rd grader has a picture book/information book about China. She enters the room again while I’m teaching the harder stuff in World History to the 6^th grader. My 3^rd grader tells me “Mommy. China is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Can I visit there someday?”

Later that week, we were eating Chinese take out. We were getting ready to pray (with the THUMB guide) and my 3^rd grader asks “How many Muslims are in China? I want them to know Jesus.”

A quick online search told us some number. I emailed a missionary friend of mine who helps to translate Bibles. He emailed back asking if my daughter would pray for a specifically named group because the team working on the translation for a Chinese people group, who are Muslim, was in need of prayer.

The Holy Spirit used 1850-Modern Times to help develop that heart of hers.

My 6^th grader began to look for more ways that she could use her talents and skills for God’s kingdom. She was way ahead in math (still is) and loves to crochet. So, toward the end of the year she didn’t have to do math for 2 weeks. Instead, she crocheted and cross stitched some things. They were sold in a charity auction along with other items from other people to benefit a missionary in Europe.

Oh yeah.. the other book – Witnesses to the World. That was a little harder to use for us. Much deeper. But I gave myself permission to go slowly and treat it as family devotion time. I learned a few things that I had never seen the connections on. That’s good.

1850MOD, year in review part 2

6:58 AM, May. 22, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

Part 2, History

Since I was teaching a 6^th and 3^rd grader in year 5, we used the younger sibling supplement. Now I have to be honest here. My initial reaction to the book US Facts and Fun was less than positive. Ok. I thought Marie (the mfw author) had lost her mind. Then I just used the book and really liked using it. It is geared just right for 3^rd grader to use bits and pieces of American history and culture and combines reading comprehension skills and a few fun pages here and there. It’s just a little worksheet or two. It is just substituting so they can have some history when the World History readings are just too far over their heads and maturity level. And to give them their own read alouds.

We did younger read alouds for bedtime. Worked great.

2^nd and 3^rd graders are still doing a lot of the other history in the program such as President’s notebooking, State Sheets, learning the capitals, etc. And there are some of the student notebooking pages in the older student packet that can work for younger kids to join along.

The President’s notebooking pages. At first I thought the cards that Marie uses were too light. But given all of the other readings with the Presidents in the other books (SOTW, Children’s Encyclopedia of Am. History, book basket), it really didn’t need too much more. In spite of that, my 6^th grader enjoyed reading a set of Presidents and Vice Presidents Fandex cards that my brother brought her.

Don’t be fooled by simple looking things for notebooking. :)

My 3^rd grader learned those state names and capitals quite quickly.

6^th grader --- wow! Did she learn to write from those outlines by the end of the year or what???? Alright!!!!! Yeah. She was so encouraged by the examples in the teacher’s manual of 2 of the Hazell’s daughters.

Hands on stuff in the SOTW activity book. Some of those were hit and others were miss. I left notes on the MFW message board in the 1850MOD Ideas Forum for some ideas to make it easier and more simple. Granted, the MFW teacher’s manual said we could skip things that were too time consuming. But I liked doing easier stuff.

Feel free to ask any questions on that. My mind is trying to just do a year in review.

1850MOD, year in review part 3

6:57 AM, May. 22, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Part 3 – Science

You know. It’s funny about the science in year 5. I skipped stuff (y’all still let me post, right?) I *felt* like we didn’t do much. I felt like it was a lot of reading. Then the year of the came and my perspective changed. My kids loved the experiments in the 100 Science Experiments book. They displayed 5 of their favorite projects from the year in the local End of Year Academic Fair. Oh my goodness --- we did all of that and more????? They had a lot of fun in science this year probably because I stayed out of it!!!! And there was no way to display everything we did. As is the case with other years in MFW, you can take apart your science stuff and clean up. About 2-3 days before the Academic Fair my girls went through the 100 Science Experiments book and re did their 4 most favorite lessons. They also displayed their Quiz Board from the Wired! Kit.

While I was busy dealing with the autistic preschooler and everything else I do and ignoring and “forgetting” to do the science, my 6^th grader picked up the teachers’ manual and was setting it up and doing all of it. They had fun with it and they were learning stuff too.

Science is an elementary stage overview of basic chemistry and physics. Still leaves lot of room for when they are older and studying it later.

MFW 1850MOD year in review part 4

6:55 AM, May. 22, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Part 4 Everything Else
Art:

Ok…. This was going to be the year that we kept up in God and the History of Art. Sigh. We did ok for a long time. Then we just needed to put it aside. Again. Besides, my children started to take a Russian language class and that was more fun. My 6^th grader continues to like reading about all of those art people. My 3^rd grader likes the paint cards and does great with them.

Music:

The music study – it was fun to watch the video. We enjoyed the composers. My kids thought it weird that I knew some of the Gershwin songs. (you’re not that old are you?) uh…..

And the blend in there of the occasional patriotic tune was fun. My girls take dance so it all balances out.

Oh yeah….. Then Sings My Soul. Well, I don’t really play music. So, I went to youtube to find the hymns. I guess that was really part of Bible time. But I put it here in Music instead.

We looked for and found many of the hymns being performed by people from multi ethnic backgrounds. It was a fun time on the hymns.

ECC - alphabet soup

8:21 AM, May. 11, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

(c)2008, mfwfriend

In another entry, someone wanted some clarification on what ECC is and that I'm cycling back to it.

ECC -- Exploring Countries and Cultures, Year 1 of My Father's World's 5 year cycle.
ECC Link

Silly story with alphabet soup???   I first used Exploring Countries and Cultures in 2003. I had never been on any blog, forum, message board, whatever.    I knew none of these abbreviations. Early in 2004 I emailed the My Father's World office to ask if they were coming to my state's convention. I was really enjoying using Exploring Countries and Cultures and looking forward to the next program. For some reason I left my phone number in the email.

David Hazell, of MFW, returned my call.   He asked me how I was liking ECC. My memory of that phone call went like this:

David: So, how are you liking ECC?
Crystal: Easy See?   I've heard of Math U See and Easy Grammar. What's Easy See?
David: E. C. C. is an abbreviation for Exploring Countries and Cultures.   The ladies on our message board use it.
Crystal: Oh.   So, what's a message board?

LOL.....   for those of you reading this blog.... in 2008, I am the so-called Posting Queen of the MFW board. I guess I figured out what a message board is.

So don't be shy about asking about alphabet soup in cyber space.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!!

end of year review -- science

1:18 PM, Apr. 29, 2008 .. 2 comments .. Link

Last week we officially finished 1850-MOD. This week we are preparing for our local homeschool co-op end of year academic fair.   This is fun to look back on what we did this year. Here is just a sampling of some of few things we did together in science that we will be displaying. I know they sound simple, but they were fun!!!

A simple kaleidoscope from a folded post card and aluminum foil and our own drawing. Nothing to shake around.

Balancing acrobats in modeling clay to demonstrate some basic physics principles.

A Quiz Board that lights up. (from a Kit)

A pinhole projector that showed us how the image in turned upside down.   We didn't have a shoe box handy. Hope it was ok to use a Happy Meal box

Some of other things we did that we're not going to display :

A light fountain that showed how the light bends in water.
Plastic viewers to help demonstrate microscopes
Optical illusions.

There were lots of simple, fun things we did this year that didn't take much time.

Lots of fun in science. I'm so glad we no longer over teach science in elementary.

1850-MOD, week 34

7:53 AM, Apr. 21, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Wow!   How can it be already in week 34?

My dh got to teach last Friday while I was at the homeschool convention.   We had saved up the science experiments for the week.   No wonder the kids like it when Dad teaches. I leave the fun stuff for him.

Looking back over the year ----
Oldest has learned quite a bit of writing from an outline with SOTW activity guide.
She is very far ahead in math right now, so she is cross stitching to raise funds for a missionary

Middle -- had really had fun learning with the US Facts and Fun book.   From my initial reaction of "why did they use this book" to become "I'm so glad to have this workbook" it's been a good year of learning factoids and improving reading skills.   Been a nice fit of a workbook when the big picture is seen that you just need the younger ones to know some US history and facts and less world history in modern times.

youngest -- finishing up her last semester at the church based preschool.   Still has the summer session at the special needs school at the college.

Bible studies in 1850-MOD:
we liked the international focus with several of the books.    I liked how using the Young Person's guide to Knowing God helped my children to see God's actions in the everyday things of everyday life. I like that.

So.... we go back to ECC next year...... just when to start????   And what to do in the filler time? (I know... writing and writing and reading)

Why are your kids taking Russian?

2:10 PM, Apr. 4, 2008 .. 2 comments .. Link

I was asked that question recently and wanted to share it over here.

It's a great story that is in progress.

Why Russian? simple answer: because God set it up. I decided to follow what He is doing.

The rest of the story???
For the first three years of my oldest daughter's life, each and every Sunday at church there was a man there who spoke to her in Russian. He was a graduate student at the university in the Russian languages department. It drove me nuts that Scott did this.

Eventually, years later, we did ECC. As part of the "foreign language time" on the grid, we began to play with Rosetta Stone demo. Oldest liked Russian. I guess all of those years of Scott talking to her was in her brain somewhere.

Every time we would study something in MFW that had to do with Russia, she loved it. Then in EX1850 she learned that Catherine the Great had to learn Russian and wanted to do the same. She pleads with me "mom, can you get Rosetta Stone in Russian when you go to the conference?"

My first reaction was "no. because that's what the Hazells learn. And I am not doing Russian because of that." (ok... everyone is laughing at me now.)

famous last words, huh?

Well. As soon as I said that out loud, I realized how stupid of a reason that was. So, we got RS Russian. Played with it some. That was a year ago. It was about that time that my husband and I began to start to donate regularly to God’s Word for the Nations. Our hearts were touched by a picture of a woman in Russia who looks like my mother in law. Turns out the woman in the picture belongs to a people group in Russia that is related to my mother-in-law’s father’s people group. Grandpa was 1st generation American from a country that was former Soviet bloc country in eastern Europe. So, my oldest understands that she has some long lost heritage in those areas. I have the full story way back at the beginning of this blog.

Then in late December of 2007 (a few months ago), I was picking up Youngest from preschool class. There was this flyer in her mailbox for a business in town that holds Spanish language classes for children. That company was adding in several classes for new languages among them was Russian. Oldest looked at that flyer and asked “can we take this class? It says it can be for ages 5-12. I’m not too old yet.” alright.... why not?

I called. Another homeschooling family wanted to sign up for it as well. So, we’re taking Russian. Oldest is doing quite well. Her teacher wants to give her some reading and writing lessons for free. (well, my other girls are doing well too.... yes... my severely language delayed autistic child is picking up Russian)

Last weekend at the Cincy convention, Oldest buys the Russian Children’s Bible that you can see on display at the MFW booth as part of the God's Word for the Nations information. This week she takes it to class. Our teacher looked at the Bible and said “I have this Bible for my children. Where did you get it in America?” We had the opportunity to share a bit before class.

My oldest and middle are the two who are signed up for the class. Youngest and I are just in the room and the teacher lets us listen in.

Anyway… that’s Why Russian. I don’t know where the Lord plans for it to go.

Math -- MFW and Singapore

8:21 AM, Apr. 2, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

For those of you who might be concerned about using Singapore math thinking that it over teaches.... I encourage you to reconsider. It teaches with a lot of age appropriate methods to make the child think. It's a great program to use.

I was a bit concerned that my 2^nd dd would struggle with the geometry in Singapore 2B. But we just did what the textbook said (trace the shapes on paper, cut, fold and arrange). It was easy to teach and to let her try again. I was so glad that we had used the Animal Pattern book and blocks from the 1^st grade program as a gentle way to prepare for all of this. She didn’t have any problems with doing the geometry when the time came..

I’m once again saying I’m so glad we switched to Singapore math. It’s great for my strong math student and even better for my average math gal to make her stronger.

Notebooking

5:40 PM, Feb. 14, 2008 .. 6 comments .. Link

Oh wow. I just went down to my basement to look for Oldest's Notebook from ECC from 2003 so that I could try to help someone with a question on one of the loops.

What a precious keepsake. I'm looking at a nature journal page where we walked in the creek at our old house. A geography/logic puzzle challenge. etc. etc. etc.

I'm so glad we notebook instead of just doing tests/quizzes etc. What a treasure.

Book basket encouragement

3:56 PM, Feb. 12, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

Don't get too concerned about the timing of your child reading a book basket book. We're in a week where book basket is heavy. I just couldn't stop loading up books. Oldest loves to read!

We then at some point between illnesses this week get around to history lessons. We're talking about Allies vs. Axis. Oldest chimes in with some little tidbit of knowledge that she picked up in a book basket book that I had never learned in school. It wasn't really in the spine readings either. It didn't matter it is was read a day or so before or after the lesson.

We're loving book basket. And the best part, in my opinion, is that I can take all of those books back to the library and get more next week

Thanks for great ideas for book basket time MFW

Update on Bible Translation projects

1:06 PM, Jan. 31, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

A few weeks ago, I posted some information that was on the MFW website about Bible translation end of year projects.
Here's that post if needed

In that entry, I mention that my heart was being tugged on to do something in big ways. I have to tell this story, but in some ways I don't want to because it involves money. But it is about being in God's hands and I have to tell His story.

Right around the time that the project needs were made public, my dad called me and asked me an odd question. He told me he couldn't find that he made this year's payment on my life insurance policy. I reminded him that I am the owner listed on that policy and that the bill comes to me now, and confirmed that I had paid it. We have that conversation once a year for several years in a row. sigh.

This time I decided to not get into the discussion that it is an outdated policy, blah blah blah. I thought, I'll just take care of it and change it.   My parents want me to have a policy, but they also know that if I find a better deal, I can change it to that.

God was setting something up for me. I wanted to do something big for His kingdom.   I went to my local insurance agent to discuss transferring the policy.   It turns out that there was a significant cash value on that policy built up and that the policy was about to expire based on the way it was written. Oh my!   Praise God! I don't know much about that stuff and have always wondered just what the deal was with the original policy from 1985. Oh well. Doesn't matter.   I was already on this to change it all anyway.

I was able to withdraw the vast majority of that cash and roll over the rest into a new policy with way lower premiums. and, it was being done tax free because of something called LIFO. I knew I should have paid more attention to that word in college.

I knew my parents would not be happy or feel honored if I gave the entire value to any charity. I know their heart and their wishes.   My husband was a little freaked out by the whole idea, but he said "I'm not going to tell you that you cannot do this."   I prayed. I wanted to participate in big ways with that one project (The Khakas Children's Bible).   I wanted to honor my parents, and follow my husband as well. And above all obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit.   Based on all of that I didn't give the entire amount to GWN. But I just wrote a check for more money than I knew I even had.

Go back to that blog entry from Jan. 3. My daughter found money that she didn't really remember she had. She was so willing to give it to the Lord.    Here I was with money that I didn't really know I had. It all connects for that week.

I drove to the post office. As I dropped the envelope in the mail box to send the donation to God's Word for the Nations,
I had the radio tuned to the local Christian station.   I don't know what the song was called. But there was a line in it that just said "my life is out of my hands."   I'm not really sure it was in my hands to begin with. I feel like a part of me wants to make some kind of joke about being in good hands with an insurance company. But truth is, I'm in better hands that have nail scars in them.

I'm praying for the children who will receive those Bibles in their hands.   May the Word of God bring them LIFE!

Popcorn story

1:21 PM, Jan. 12, 2008 .. 5 comments .. Link

Some days it takes a sense of humor to homeschool in my real world. Well, ok, every day needs a sense of humor to homeschool no matter what your real world is.

My youngest has autism. She uses a lot of echolalia (repeating scripts) to talk and babble and communicate.

One day I was trying to work with my Oldest on math. It was a day that I could hear David Hazell’s workshop routine about worksheet police echoing in my brain. Do Your Worksheet Do Your Worksheet, you can’t eat till you do your worksheet!

I could hear it because I was saying it to my Oldest. (No! you can't have a snack until this one problem is done!)

Then Youngest needed attention. She had been playing quietly in another room and was ready for a snack. She came to me and said “Eat Popcorn Please?”

Ok, This is great! My severely language delayed child just asked for popcorn. It’s Time for popcorn. Youngest asked me “HELP Open please.” It was music to my ears to hear my youngest using a 3 word sentence without her PECS cards.

She had watched us many times using the microwave. I was happy that she listened to my instructions to press 3 zero zero start She was learning life skills in the kitchen (well sorta).

This is great. She followed my instructions. She was obeying me and receiving the blessings of that obedience. I felt so happy! We’re making progress. The timer ended and she got her popcorn.

I ~~forced, uh~~, ~~strongly encouraged~~, uh, gently guided my Oldest in the one math problem that needed help. Then we went upstairs to check on the youngest and hopefully eat some popcorn.

I hear from behind a closed door Youngest repeating lines from a Fisher Price Little People video: It’s raining popcorn. Hurray! It's a popcorn field!

No. No and No. it can't be. I wondered if I should open the door to the room or just go get the broom now. Sure enough, she had made a popcorn field and was tossing it in the air and watching it fall to the floor while repeating the video.

Then Oldest was upset. I had of course told her she could eat popcorn after she finished her math problem (singular). So, we made another bag.

Then the lesson became how to use a broom to sweep the popcorn field clean. And life goes on.

But we count it all joy, because it represents so much progress across so many skills levels! It shows that Jesus "Reigns" even in the Popcorn Fields.

Bible Translation Needs - January 2008

2:30 PM, Jan. 3, 2008 .. 0 comments .. Link

Yesterday, My oldest daughter handed me $10 and said "Mom, I found this money while cleaning my room. It was behind the dresser from a long time ago. If I haven't missed it in all of this time, maybe I didn't really need it for whatever it was I wanted. Can you send it to the Bible fund that Mr. Hazell talks about."

And then a few short minutes ago, David Hazell just posted this on the MFW message board. I hope you can contribute to this project as well.

Here's David's post:
Bbile Translation Needs

And a quick link to the Information Packet on how you can help
God's Word for the Nations

Please read the information sheet about the Children's Bible in the Khakas language. It is page 7 of the packet.

Right now my heart is being tugged to help in big ways for the Khakas Children's Bible. That Bible has been approved to be used as a textbook in public classrooms in Russia where that heart language is being revived.

With our help, we can get these Bibles into the hands of children in public classrooms in another country.
Can you or your co-op or your church help???

-crystal

Using MFW and ministry in real life

2:10 PM, Jan. 3, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

WOW! I had to share this from my friend, Donna. You might know her on the MFW board as 4Truth, or possibly the Well Trained Mind board as Donna A or even John 15:5 Academy

She posted this message on the MFW message board today and gave me permission to share her words over here.
Using MFW and ministry in real life

Just wanting to share my heart for a minute....

One of the main goals for which the Hazell's wrote this curriculum was for a busy family to be able to deal with real life... to "do school" and still be able to serve God in some area. To serve other people and show them the love of Christ. Well, my elderly mother and I have never had a "great" relationship... but it's gotten better in recent years. Soon, she'll be moving across the country to live near us. When I first learned this, I sort of panicked because of how it's going to change *our* lives.

But then I thought about the things I've heard the Hazell's say, what God says in His Word about our purpose in life, about forgiveness and patience and sharing the blessings God's given us with those around us. It dawned on me that this is what God's been preparing us for... to minister to the "unlovely", to open up our hearts and homes... and our time. To share what we've learned, and are learning. This goes right down to our curriculum! What are we homeschooling for? What goes into our decisions for curriculum purchases? Why do we do what we do? For the glory of God. To be discipled that we might disciple others... or at least share God's heart. We don't have to become overseas missionaries for this to happen (although if that's what God's calling you to do, you'd better do it!)... we can -- we ARE -- missionaries right here in our homes and communities.

Will my mother grow to be a strong believer and walk closely with the Lord? I don't know, but having time available to minister to her needs here on earth, both spiritual and physical, is necessary. Apparently God's called me to do it. MFW curriculum can help me do that! Well, it already has because of the focus on Christ and His Word and our purpose in life. MFW and homeschooling aren't just about academics. Academics are necessary, but really just a tool to be able to do the things which God has called us to do. We can even see that in our history and science studies as we see how God has dealt with people and "real life" throughout the ages, for His glory and His purpose.

Then there's the time issue. When I think of David telling about his being "done" at noon because he's got things to do, it makes me laugh. I typically think of being able to have time to get on the computer or balance the checkbook or wade through a mountain of laundry. While that's all true, there's more. Here we are, about to have our lives changed forever by my mom's becoming an integral part of our days and weeks, and in need of being able to be done at noon or thereabouts. With MFW, I can do that.... as long as I don't get bogged down. (Hear David's conference talk about not getting bogged down with unit studies.)

It also reaffirms to me their math and LA choices and the time involved with that. Certain math and LA curriculum choices take a LOT of time and can really bog us down. But with the choices recommended here at MFW, that timeframe isn't terribly long. We can get done what needs to be done and move on. Are those math and LA choices good? Well, certainly they must be "good enough".

Your reasons for using MFW might be different than mine, but whatever it is, please pray today and ask God how He wants you to serve Him. Allow Him to use you for His glory. Right now it might be a nursing infant or a sick family member or a child with special needs. It might be overseas missions or the pastorate. It might be making lap blankets for the nursing home or baby blankets for the hospital maternity ward. Whatever it is, God has placed circumstances and people in our lives for a reason. Please allow MFW to be a tool that God uses to help you serve Him, and to teach your children to do the same. *I* believe that's what it was written for, and why He gave the special talents that He's given to David and Marie.
_________________
Donna

Dancing

6:26 AM, Dec. 5, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

Sunday was dance day. No, not dance class day. No not recital or going to the Nutcracker. It was a day that the Lord put dancing on my mind.   I woke up remembering a dream that I had just had. That's very unusual for me to remember a dream like that. I wanted to be in 2 special places at once.   I had to dance between them to be there.   One of the places in the dream was a homeschool convention where the speaker was addressing the teenagers to join in at the Barn Dance.

I know. Dreams don't make sense. That's ok.

I had dancing on my mind all morning. While drying my hair and getting ready for church, I had this picture in my mind about a wedding reception dance. It's nothing I have ever seen in my culture. The father of the groom directs his son around the dance floor in search of the bride. It's a ceremonial dance that everyone knows how it goes. The Father of the groom calls out the steps (like a barn dance) and the son follows. The bride is in plain sight of everyone, but has to wait.

anyway... that idea got me thinking about the song Lord of the Dance.   But I wondered if that phrase made any sense to me.   After all of these years of using MFW, my brain was thinking in terms of would that phrase translate into another culture. I wonder what phrase would translate. hmmm.....

After I got to church I saw the song list.   We were going to sing We Will Dance (on the streets that are golden, David Ruis).   So, dance was still on my mind.

I opened my little devotional book to find the day's selection was called Dancing with My Father.   Then I found the phrase that fit it all.

God is the author of the music and the choreographer of the dance.

So next time that God puts something on your heart to do that doesn't seem to make sense, remember that he is the choreographer of the dance. Trust Him. He has the big picture and determines the steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

What are those lyrics again?

7:33 PM, Oct. 28, 2007 .. 4 comments .. Link

Middle is busy singing the Math U See Skip Count by 3's song (Bible version). She is used to listening to Mac the Muskrat's version.

She is mis hearing the lyrics a bit...

It should say: Daniel he had 3 friends, who would not compromise

instead, I realize that she is hearing ye ole Mac the Muskrat saying:
Daniel he had 3 friends
who did not come from Mars

LOL

California fire -- need any curriculum replaced?

7:46 PM, Oct. 25, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

I'm posting this in case someone knows someone who might need this information.

If you know anyone from California whose home school curriculum was destroyed in the fires, have them contact the My Father's World office. They will replace current MFW users' materials at no cost. They will provide curriculum for new customers at a 50% discount.

Our prayers are with all the families who are affected by the fires.

Contact information is on their website, click here MFW contact information

I pray that someone will be helped with this information.

Church stories

7:31 PM, Oct. 21, 2007 .. 5 comments .. Link

3 years ago I began to pray for a man and a woman and I didn't even know their names.   I just knew they existed. Her children (who have a different dad than this guy) attend the same church as we do. The church has a van ministry to reach children in our town who wouldn't go to a church otherwise.   And these are 2 of the kids who have been coming for many years on the bus.

I like these two kids. I'll call them T1 and T2 over here.   One day a few years ago at Upward Basketball T1 and T2's mom and step dad and new baby were there to cheer for T1 and T2.     Just something about seeing them there made me want them to be there all the time and that they know that Jesus loves them. I prayed. Lots of us prayed for him and his wife and for T1 and T2.

A couple of weeks ago the step dad came to our church during prayer service and decided to get baptized and to start living his life for the Lord.   He said that "life is too hard to keep trying to do this on my own. I need Jesus." Everybody needs Jesus. It's always a little odd seeing an adult with tattoos crying. I don't know why.

It was very precious to me seeing T2, his step daughter, sitting with him instead of sitting with some other adult supervisor.   T1 was sitting with some of his friends in the row in front of them, trying to act all cool and everything. Still praying for the mom to be there too.   And praying for the step-dad to grow in his walk.

It is just a special blessing to see prayer answered like that.   Too many people would have written off the parents, but God never did.

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