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Homeschooling Through High School ~ The Beginning of Wisdom (Part 1 of 2)This morning I received an e-newsletter from CollegePlus!, in which an article by Lauren Bleser titled, "A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education," was shared. Ms. Bleser's opening paragraph reads,
Bless that homeschooling parent, whomever he or she was...what a question! It is one that every homeschooling parent should ponder. Can you explain God's mind on education? God's mind can be an intimidating thing to probe. And yet, He desires us to do just that...by diving into the Scriptures. My feeling is that by the time we are homeschooling high school, we have probably begun to study Bible in school! So I'll not be offering advice on Bible curricula. What the Lord has laid upon my heart to share, rather, is the "mindset" of studying Bible in our homeschool high school.We are preparing our young adults, at this point in their lives, for independence. In case you haven't taken a good, long, focused look at the world out there lately, you really ought to. I'll warn you...it isn't pretty. I know--I spend one hour a day, 4 days a week sitting in my local community college cafe or study lounge while waiting for my 16 year old son's German class to finish. I do not have the "gift" of being able to simply "tune out" people's conversations. I'm verbal. I listen, whether I want to or not. Words do not escape me. The standard fare of conversation around me is typically what I would call "disgusting." Often times the spiritual darkness that lives and thrives in this place feels stifling, oppressive, suffocating. This time of week, I push myself to write this blog in the midst of the chatter. Other days, I sit in front of my computer, or walk the halls, simply praying. But I digress... The point of that paragraph was just to say that our young men and women, our high school students, need to have the FULL ARMOR OF GOD (Eph. 6:10-18) to protect them out there. To bring us back to today's blog topic, I'll ask you a few questions, and you can decide whether or not you'd like to ponder them with me! Here you go:
None of these things are bad in and of themselves...it is vitally important that our students understand the Bible's role as a source of true history. BUT...do they develop a hunger for and love of God's Word in our young people? Do they bring about the things that our young adults are going to need in order to survive their first steps into independence--spiritual maturity, wisdom, and a consistent and close walk in obedience to Jesus Christ? So, what is God's mind regarding education? Here are a few passages to consider:"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)We'll end here for today, and continue next week. May God bless you and your homeschool this week! Lori Lori Havens has been married to Kevin for 24 years. They live in Illinois with their two sons, Bryan (17) and Nathan (16), and dog Sunny (9). Lori enjoys writing, gardening, reading, and the outdoors. She hosts the "Thursday Talkin' About Teenagers" meme at her HSB blog, "Plans4You," and is the author of "Should I Be A Nurse? A Journey of Self-Exploration for Those Considering a Career in Nursing" and "7 Essential Questions Every Future Nurse Must Ask." You can find her blogging at both Homeschool Blogger and Homestead Blogger .
Taming the Chaos ~ Bible Time in Busy SeasonsSome of us all are or nothing types, but there are areas where we learn that sometimes doing things part way is better than not doing anything at all.
Food is one such area. Our bodies need nourishment. Ideally, I love serving wholesome, home cooked meals with time to fellowship together and linger, enjoying our dinner and family time. In certain seasons, however, we might need to compromise the ideal, and we learn that a drive-through or instant is better than going without food entirely.
Just as we must fuel our physical bodies--we need spiritual fuel. Perhaps you've gotten out of the habit of having time in scripture yourself, or in providing Bible time for the children. Here, I'd suggest that something is better than nothing. Perhaps this week you aren't making time for an hour of Bible study and digging deeply into a passage. If you are reading this article, you could take time to read a single verse or chapter and reflect on it through the day. Consider it like you would a drive-in or microwave meal. It might not be the best to deeply nourish for the long-haul, but far better than going without food entirely!
We are "snacking" a bit here in my home this season. We knew it would be hard to fit in our usual advent devotions, so we've scaled back and will be spreading out a 12 days of Christmas devotional; using it through the whole advent season. It isn't what I'd choose for every year, and is more of a snack than a four-course meal we crave, but it would have been worse to lose that time entirely just because we can't be as thorough as we have other years.
There are seasons where I can delve deeply in my scripture time, and times when just grabbing a few verses "on the go" is all my tired mind can grasp.
Through this busy season, incorporate scripture into your home. Perhaps a Bible on MP3 or compact disks would be a great family gift if you are van-schoolers or planning to be on the go. Perhaps simply reading a few verses in the morning and leaving your Bible open on your bed to "snack" through the day will help you dwell on Christ.
With our hearts centered and focused above, we can better make order out of the chaos around us.
Kitchen Moments ~ Cooking Biblical FoodsI found a very interesting website when researching this week's topic: When you go to a recipe at this site, such as Elizabeth's Carob Cake, you will find the recipe, a photo, and also tabs that will take you to a Bible Reference page and the History page for that particular food. The site also has a meals section with links to recipes for each dish. I plan to spend more time at this site in the coming days, and perhaps take a look at the cookbook if I can find it at a local library. Another book that I find helpful in planning Biblical celebrations is Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church by Martha Zimmerman. I hope these sources help you to add some tasty foods in with your Biblical studies. Blessings, Catherine Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana. They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they seek to live a lifestyle of learning together as a family. You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love. Classical Education ~ An Anchor for HomeschoolingDuring the homeschooling journey, one will come across many times of stress, pressure and doubts. The journey is full of waves knocking us to and fro as we try to maneuver our way down the path of educating our children. It is always important to have God's Word in our heart. When we are in the middle of a storm, though, life is more manageable when we have His Word embedded in our heart. When we can cite His Words that bolster us up and incite courage into our very being, this makes the going a bit more bearable. His Word becomes our anchor as we are being tossed every which way by the waves of life. His Word calms our spirit and clears the emotional fog.I have been in need of that anchor in the last few months as I have been dealing with health issues. These issues and the ensuing effects have caused me to doubt myself and my ability to educate my children. I have even gotten so far as to seriously consider putting them in school after the Christmas break. I feel like I have let my children down. Not only am I not giving them a Classical Education but it might also be debated whether I am giving them any kind of education at all. Those are the words that I mutter to myself when I sink into that bad place. That dark, suffocating place that does not abide in hope. I don't like that place so I combat it by turning to God's Word. I read His Word and commit it to my spirit, so that when the darkness starts to enfold me, I can hold it off by the light of His Word. When I am at this place, there are quite a few scriptures that wards off the darkness. Here are a few that I have relied on in the last few months. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Ps. 31:3-5) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Ps. 31:24) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness . (Isaiah 41:10) My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Ps. 5:3) I am so thankful for God's Word that I can cling to as my anchor through this rough time. In clinging to His Word, I am assured that He will lead me to higher and drier ground in time.
Julia lives on the Canadian Prairies with her husband, homeschooling their 3 children (10,8,6) and is attempting to give them a Classical Education. You can read more at her blog. Craft Corner ~ Bible Crafts Most of these ideas have to do with Bible verses, but the possibilities are endless! Do you have ideas on how to creatively display scripture throughout your home? Please share!
Featured Blogger ~ PearceFamily It's time to get back to Featured Blogger again! It's been a nice break and it was nice to have Amanda Bennett on the HSB home page for two whole weeks, but there are so many other bloggers to meet! This week I want to introduce you to the PearceFamily of Planted Oaks and Little Acorns. This fun family takes time to enjoy life and homeschooling. We've been talking about preparing for Christmas here on the Porch but how about preparing for a baby? Lori is one blessed mama! Her oldest daughter gives her a pedicure before the new bundle of joy arrives. What a special treat! Have you joined the workbox craze? Then meet another mom who has fallen in love with this way of doing homeschooling! She has a whole category dedicated to workboxes. Now here's a fun idea for blessing other families this Christmas! Give them 12 days of gifts that fit with the 12 Days of Christmas song. Lori blogged about it in 2 separate posts, days 1-4, and days 5-12. Go wish the PearceFamily a Merry Christmas! Tia Linschied Senior Editor of HSB Take Our Survey and Get 2 Free E-Books! Take The Old Schoolhouse homeschool survey and you can get these 2 E-Books for FREE!
Molly Makes Merry The Christmas season is almost here--
are you feeling the stress yet?
Don't!
This season we bring all ladies and "Ye Merry Gentlemen" tidings of comfort and joy!
God rest hardworking families
Ideas are on the way
With gifts and food to bake yourself
This Christmas you will say:
"With Molly's help I'll make great gifts
For a perfect Christmas day!"
December's Digest is comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Molly's Money-Saving Digest brings great joy!
With so much to do and less than a month to get it all done, the December Molly's Money-Saving Digest E-Book shows you exactly how to get those loose ends all wrapped up!
 The special feature for December is:
Comfort and Joy for Christmas  PLUS! During December ONLY, receive the latest E-Book from Sheri Graham, Homemade Gift Mixes (200+ pages!) and The Urban Homemaker's E-Book: Holiday Open House--Open Your Heart and Your Home when you purchase Molly's December Digest!
Just in time for Christmas! A link to the free E-Books will be available upon checkout. Are you worried about gift-giving? Get excited about giving to others! Make some spectacular gifts yourself quickly and easily. Enjoy phenomenal tips to keep the holiday season stress-free right into January as you put Molly's ideas to good use! Tucked neatly within the pages of Molly's Digest, you'll find:
Would you like to be more "PC"? You can be practical and cost-conscious this Christmas season when you use Molly's ideas! Be "pleasantly confident" this year when using these inspirational gifts. Discover . . .
"In this edition, you will also find recipes as well as ideas for special days during the month of December. For example, I had no clue that December 8 was a National Brownie Day. Mmmm! Sounds delicious and good to me . . . My favorite article was definitively the "Eight Frugal Family Crafts." It gave me special ideas not only for extended family members but for my own family as well. I really love the Movie Night and the Super Sundaes ideas. Very creative and fun to put together . . . For me, I would love a Book Lovers' Basket or a Scrapbook Box of Surprises--anything to brighten my holidays. Once again, I think that Molly's Money-Saving Digest for the month of December 2009 is wonderful. Thanks Molly for this full year of your wonderful ideas!" -Isabelle Lussier, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The December Molly's Money-Saving Digest is the twelfth edition and completes the first year of Digests, bringing practical tips for frugal living to you every single month for all of 2009!
Take a Peek inside!
 Let nothing cause you dismay. Enjoy comfort and joy today!
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 Monthly Feature--"Comfort and Joy for Christmas" will be exactly what your family feels when you simplify and minimize. Be courageous this Christmas and eliminate obligation and guilt, consider family gift-giving, agreeing to end gift exchanges or to make homemade gifts--Molly tells you how!
"Above all, relax, refocus, and realize that Christmas is about Christ's birth . . . not about staging a magazine-perfect production and trying to meet unrealistic expectations--financially or otherwise. Take the holiday back--for faith, family, and friends. Resolve to keep it simple and sweet."
So much great information--and that's just the monthly feature! There are so many more great sections to discover in every Molly.
Do you love details? Check out each and every part of the December Molly's Money-Saving Digest right here:
Great gift ideas save you far more than $4.95!
New Molly readers, veteran Molly readers, homemakers, homeschoolers, and moms very much like you have previewed the December Molly--what did they say? "As always, there are money-saving tips and recipes in the pages of the latest Digest. An entire week's worth of menu-planning meals for suppertime are shared, including a terrific recipe for frozen meat loaf. There are a few recipes for making your own candy, along with links for others and how to turn the goodies into great gifts. In addition, there is fantastic idea after idea for low-cost gift-giving--much appreciated in my household this year! . . . And there are ideas for decorating too, such as yummy-smelling cinnamon ornaments, as well as some non-Christmas decorating ideas for your home. I'm going to be referring to this copy of the Digest often as the Christmas season approaches!" -Kimberly Charron, Cape Breton, Canada
"Knowing that this issue was December and would be directly linked to the holiday season, I was so pleased to read that the writing for the Digest would be directed towards Christians with diversity in convictions and beliefs and traditions in mind. With that said I was able to grab the Digest and sit to glean cheerfully from its contents without worrying about whether or not to avoid or pass through any of the writings . . . I got my cooking thinking cap back on in the recipe section and am making my lists for cooking up those extra meals for the freezer. Once I'm in the habit of doing it, boy, does it make life easier in the kitchen on co-op and errand days for us. On a personal note, it always makes me wonder why people only decide to help out others during the holiday season. Is Christ not in our lives EVERY DAY of the year, EVERY month as well? Setting our children up for service projects and helping the homeless and families in need should be a part of our everyday living, not just the last month of the year. I enjoyed reading all the gift ideas, and I think I might even do those year 'round, especially to families with multiple siblings--giving is so much fun! I love the idea of giving for the body, soul, and spirit; wow, what a great concept to teach with as well! All in all, another wonderful Digest full of ideas and encouragement for the homeschooling Christian family." -Katrina Flaws, Murphy, NC
"December's Molly's Money-Saving Digest is perfect for this year. I had already been stressing over how to still celebrate a meaningful Christmas with less money and less time. Molly's Digest has so many great ideas to de-stress my Christmas time. I had to grab pen and paper to write down recipes and ideas. The candy-making section inspired me to try something new. The family gift ideas are a great way to make someone know they are special without having to spend too much. I also thoroughly enjoyed the ideas from readers on new Christmas traditions--at least new to me. Now I can hardly wait for the holidays to begin." -Tisha Cypert, Ada, OK
These reviewers enjoyed over 45 pages of Christmas comfort and joy in Jesus with
great gift-giving ideas, recipes, holiday help, and more--will you? The first twelve issues of Molly's Digest have
paved the way for another tremendous year-- you don't want to miss it! Spend $4.95 and save much more in time and money with superb gift ideas, scrumptious recipes, planning help, and encouragement for making the most of the Christmas season--without losing your sanity and while keeping your focus on the reason for the season, Jesus Christ! Are you still trying to decide if this E-Book
is perfect for you? View a Sample of This Item Right Here Enjoy some comfort and joy this Christmas--
spread a little around too! Be amazed at how far just a little money goes when you buy Molly's Money-Saving Digest today. Great tips, perfect gifts, family memories, and more await you! Simplify, minimize, and get cozy today! Enjoy Comfort and Joy in December! Join Molly daily and follow her adventures in fiscally-responsible homemaking at www.Econobusters.com. And then keep watching for next month's Molly's Money-Saving Digest. Special Words for Special Needs ~ A Calm Heart for the Holiday SeasonI love the holidays! Around here it takes some effort though. I have to think through all my decor...can it be swallowed, chewed on, obsessed over or otherwise some danger that will require me to call the poison control guy? Are the meals at my house or somewhere else? Then what about our diet restrictions? If we are going to somewhere else is it safe enough that my little one who runs away will not get out? And so the list continues.This is not say that I get uptight and overwrought for the holidays. I have done that before and as much as I would like to say it's not going to happen again... I just don't know. I have found a calm that helps me deal with the season. Part of the calm comes from an acceptance of what can and cannot be. My husband and I have collected small Hallmark ornaments for years. The past 5+ years they cannot come out. We tried they were broken. So now we stow them away knowing that a time will come later in our life when we can put them out. I read an article in a country decor magazine that sung to me. The lady being interviewed had two children on the spectrum. She had made all her ornaments out of rolled stripes of cloth, very country looking, and nice when one of her sons flung one across the room! Another one that hurts but is necessary, is that we cannot schedule everything and meals with everyone. In the holiday season it seems that there is a place to be every weekend and many week days. We could get a babysitter but is that truly what the season is about? For us no. We choose what we can do reasonably and then in the end if we have to we are ready to cancel. I don't like be so soft about meal commitments and events. It can be hard for others to understand but I know that my responsibility as a parent to a wonderfully special child comes before my social calendar. As for diet restrictions I make a meal for us ahead of time. We bring a portion of the meal. We quietly load up the kids plates with the good stuff. I also go understanding that we will most likely have some contamination of glutens or caseins. It happens. I am not happy and I do not take that as a reason to break our diet in a big way. We get right back to work doing the best you can and eating the best you can. All of this happens the easiest if I have a grand plan for the month. I mark out on a calendar, we hang on the wall, the whole month. The kids and I go over it repeatedly. As my son says,"If you don't tell me. I don't know and I get icky feeling inside when you jump up and say it's time to go." That was such a perfect insight into how he sees a change in schedule. It isn't an inconvience for him, it is a physically unpleasant response. Be clear about your plans! Your holiday season can be wonderful! Carefully and thoughtfully think about your expectations. Plan the season accordingly. Get the whole family involved in keeping a calendar for events. In the end talk about and live out what is the most important part of the season. I believe if you do that you will feel fufilled and at peace! May the Lord bless your holiday season! Heather lives in West Virginia. She and her husband have been homeschooling their 5 children for 8 years. Due to a genetic disorder their children have multiple special needs. Heather is also dealing with personal health difficulties. Living life to the fullest for the glory of God is their goal! Visit Heather's page at www.homeschoolblogger.com/gfcfmomofmany/ or at Special Needs Homeschooling. Merry Christmas Button for Your BlogWhat do you think of that nifty button up in the right hand corner of the blog? Want one? Just go to the Merry Christmas button website! You can choose a left or right hand side button. It's a great way to decorate your blog for Christmas!{ Last Page } { Page 1 of 5 } { Next Page } |
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