Life has been moving full speed ahead for us the past few months. I am wondering when it will slow down a little. I have all these great intentions of posting about our school days, special events we are participating in, and all the funnies that occur each day. Then I look up and it is time to go to bed.
Our plate is overflowing as a family right now. Back in August our church launched a new Saturday night service. James and I both joined the ministry team. He is on the worship team and I am directing the children's ministry for Saturday night. We both also teach class on Wednesday night at church. James started a Bible study for the men back in the summer. They meet twice a month. The ladies started meeting twice a month also. The girls and I have really enjoyed this. We all, minus Lil, know how to knit and crochet now. Co-op started back in September. I am on the board this year and coordinating the Teacher's Lounge each week. Add school each day, chores, work... the plate is overflowing!
So that is why the blog is suffering. I do intend to get back at it though. Lulu wants to get her blog going again too. We changed the background and some other things a few weeks ago. She posted a story she wrote for her writing curriculum. She has another story ready to post when we get a chance. You can read her story here.
Lulu and Monkey have their first JBQ match of the season tomorrow morning. They are excited about quizzing. Lulu is in A league this year. That means her age group will quiz on 10 point, 20 point, and 30 point questions. Monkey is still in B league. They quiz on 10 point and 20 point questions. Lil spectates :) I was asked if Lil would want to quiz on C league, even though she is four. I just don't think she is ready to sit quietly at the table and only buzz when she knows the answer. Too much energy still bottled up inside her.
Our plate is full, but we would not have it any other way. We stay busy, but it is all things we do together as a family (for the most part). James is not off doing his own thing, me off doing mine, and the girls in different directions. We are together. And what God has called us to do, He will give us the grace we need to accomplish it.
Summer has been going so fast for us. We have not had time to do half the things I had planned for us to have already done. Each week seems to fill up before it begins.
I have lots of photos and updates to share with you. I hope to slow down some in the next few weeks. Hopefully then I can get the blog updated, my lesson plans for school underway, co-op plans going, and plans down for children's ministry.
Like I said...I have lots of updates to share with you!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I hope you have enjoyed the entire Christmas season. My girls have watched "The Nativity Story" many times already. It is fabulous. I love the part at the end when the shepherds come to see the baby. The old shepherd puts his hand out to touch Jesus and then pulls it back. Mary looks at him and as she is lifting Jesus toward him says, "He is for ALL people." The shepherd touches Jesus.
Oh if those that I know who are hurting this year would just put their hand out and touch Jesus. He is for ALL people. No matter what our sins are, no matter where we live, no matter what our past contains, no matter what our current problems are....Jesus is for us ALL. He came into this world as a helpless baby. He was fully man and fully God. When the time was right He willingly went to the cross for my sins and yours. We deserve the cross. The Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy rags compared to God. There is nothing righteous about us. But God's love is greater than our unrighteousness. He made a way for us to be righteous. We have to accept that Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross. We have to believe that His blood paid the price for our sins. We have to believe that He died, rose again on the third day, and is sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Jesus will return again to get His bride, those who have accepted Him as their Savior. I look forward to that day...to see my Lord and Savior face to face.
I pray that you are looking forward to that day as well. All of the above is what Christmas is all about!
Today, our meme will be based on what your thoughts are on the following quote:
"Clearly there is an appropriate kind of sheltering. When those who are opposed to homeschooling accuse me of sheltering my children, my reply is always, 'What are you going to accuse me of next, feeding and clothing them?" ~R.C. Sproul Jr
Post your thoughts on your blog and then please come back here and link directly to your Heart of the Matter Online meme post.
I just had a conversation last week about sheltering. My response was that is my job as a parent. My husband and I have had this discussion a lot lately because we have many friends who are opposed to homeschooling. They are Christians and they make comments like "that is part of growing up", "they have to learn from their mistakes", "they need to know what goes on in the world", and on and on. I'm pretty sure my Bible says that I am not to conform to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2). To me that says that just because "it's part of growing up" in today's culture does not mean that it has to be part of my Christian children's childhood. We are to be different. We are to act different. We are to speak different. We are to raise our children different. I do agree that our kids need to know what goes on in this world so that they know how to combat it and how to pray. But knowing something and being right in the midst of it at 12, 13, even 17 are two completely different things. My girls know that sin abounds in this world. They see it all around them. They hear about it from friends at church. But they are not put out there in the world to experience right now. Right now is their time to be sheltered, to be safe, to live in a bubble in order to grow strong in their faith in Christ. Then when they are a mighty warrior for Christ they can leave our safe home to combat the sin in this world.
I hope you stand strong against those who look at you like you have lost every last brain cell you once had. Remember that our job is to follow the Word, not the culture we live in.
There was a court case recently in California involving homeschoolers. The court ended up ruling that homeschooling was illegal in California. HSLDA was not involved from the beginning because the family was not a member. HSLDA heard about this case after the ruling. It is being appealed. They have a petition on their website that ALL parents, especially homeschoolers, need to sign. Please click here and sign the petition.
If you read my blog because you know and love our family personally, please go sign this petition in support of Lulu, Monkey and Lil. I have heard it said before, "As goes California, so goes the rest of the U.S." Parental rights are under attack in this country. There are many people in Washington that want to be able to tell parents how to raise their children in every aspect of their lives. And the really sad part is that it all has to do with money. If our children are not in the public school system they are losing money.
So.....please sign the petition! You do not have to be a homeschooler for this to be important to you as well.
If you are looking at my blog using Internet Explorer, it is messed up. I have no idea what is wrong. If anyone has any suggestions please send them my way. I will leave the template this was for a few days to hopefully receive some help. If I cannot get it fixed, I will change back to a 2 column format. Hang with me for a few days as I try to work out these problems. It looks normal using Netscape or Firefox.
I want to thank Aligirl of Mission Field Designs for the 3 column template that I used to create my new look. Go check out her sites.
Also....let me know what you think of the new look. The only thing I am having a little trouble with is getting my header to completely center at the top. Any suggestions about that would be appreciated.
For today's meme we are to post our thoughts on the following quote:
“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
~Tom Bodett
All through the Bible we find examples of how God tested His people. I believe that is when we grow and learn the most -- during the times of testing. I know personally I have learned many lessons through my times of testing. And those lessons stick with me. A wonderful benefit of homeschooling is that our "school" is just another part of life. To our kids, life and school go hand in hand. They are not separate. It is simply our family routine. Another lesson God is teaching me!
Welcome to our blog! I hope you enjoy your visit. We are a homeschooling family of 5. Our approach is eclectic, but leaning more and more towards Charlotte Mason. Our girls are 9, 7, and 4. Never a dull moment as we desire to teach our girls in the ways of the Lord.
