Thoughts on Homeschooling Anyway - Homeschool Blogger

'Tis the Season (to Get Sick)

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 17:02:00 -0600

I love the holidays. Can you hear my faint sarcasm? I really do love Christmas, but I can't stand the (usually self-imposed) stress that accompanies the season. Whether the stress is a result of financial worries, extended family squabbles, an ill grandparent, or just busyness, it can take it's toll. Add to that not getting enough sleep and eating too many empty calories (a.k.a. peanut butter fudge and a couple boxes of Aplets and Cotlets...all by myself), and my immune system is beaten down to almost nothing.

I thought it was such a good idea...staying up until 2 every morning to do my writing. The house is quiet, the phone's not ringing, no one's on Facebook that late to distract me with silly jokes (which I love). But my stay-up-late-and-get-work-done plan backfired, and I found myself getting sick. It was a very mild virus, but ended up settling in my inner ear (doctor didn't find anything, but we know our own bodies, right?), and on December 10 I was struck by the most violent vertigo I'd ever experienced. I was sitting on my bed when the room started spinning, and it felt like the bed was rising up to tip me off of it. Talk about scary!

The vertigo waned over the next week but was overlapped -- and eventually replaced -- by dizziness. (Vertigo is when you feel like everything around you is in motion when it isn't, while dizziness is a spinning feeling inside your head.) This lasted in varying degrees until this past weekend, when it handed off the baton to a new virus better known as the common cold.

So here I sit, sniffling, complaining about my plight to friends on Facebook, and now here. My head feels like it's been stuffed with rocks, my neck hurts, and my eyes are burning. My throat hurts, too, so I'm medicating it with a cup of hot cocoa (the heat feels good, but the sugar's a no-no...oh, well).

I have learned, then, that to avoid a similar fate the next time I'm super busy, to do the following:

Get to bed early. No late hours.
Have scheduled times to just relax and unwind.
Cut out the majority of sugar in my diet (I could never get rid of all of it).
Take my Vitamin C, etc.
Drink lots of water.
Plan better for the big expenditures like Christmas, birthdays, etc., so it's not such a big stressor.
Never, ever, ever skimp on using disinfectant wipes on shopping carts and shopping baskets! (Pretty sure that's how I got sick this time...the one time I didn't use one.)
Continue to wash hands like a maniac, as always.

Hope you've all stayed well over the holidays. If you have anything to add about how you avoid getting sick, please share!

Need a Last-Minute Christmas Article (or Two) for Your Blog or Web Site?

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:38:00 -0600

As a bit of a Christmas gift to my friends here at HSB (and elsewhere!), I've discounted the Christmas article pack at InspireMe PLR. InspireMe PLR is my new site where I've begun offering excellent yet affordable articles to fellow bloggers and web site owners.

Sometimes, especially if we're moms, we get a little too busy to keep up with adding fresh articles and posts to our pages. InspireMe PLR can help with that. I'll be adding more article packs -- a "pack" is a collection of articles on the same subject -- after the first of the year (currently, I have Christmas and Aromatherapy article packs). If there's a topic you need articles for, please leave a comment. If I'm able to write some articles on that subject, you'll be the first to know!

Click on over to http://www.inspiremeplr.com to check out the articles. The Christmas pack features 12 articles plus a long bonus on the history of Santa Claus. Originally, I was selling this pack for $12, but through January 1st, it's only $6 (unless the packs sell out first -- only 125 were available when I first put them up).

Don't need any more Christmas articles or posts for this year? These articles may not be available again next year, and they certainly won't be half-price before Christmas. Get them now at this great price and be prepare for next December (and WOW your readers!).

Merry Christmas to all!

FREE Christmas Gifts for YOU, Mom!

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:32:00 -0600

Christmas should be a peaceful time, right? The baby Jesus slept "in heavenly peace," and personally, I would like to, also! But I fret and I fuss over how many gifts we have to buy, whether or not we've spent the same on all of our kids, and if we forgot this nephew or that niece. Did I leave anyone off of my Christmas card list? And, because of this lovely snowstorm that's socking us in, do I have enough ink to print out 40 pictures of my kids, just in case I don't make it to the photo center at Walgreens before Christmas? Or should I just call them New Year's cards and take the load off my shoulders?

Fellow moms, you might have some of these same Christmas stressors...or an entirely different set unique to you. Either way, I'd like to direct you toward a fun site that's offering some free gifts to moms. At Menu Planning Central you have access to five different downloads, all free for the taking. Will you choose the Christmas caroling songbook, the guide to making a gingerbread house, or one (or all) of the other three free gifts? Take some time for yourself, mom, and check these out. And hey -- don't forget to check out Menu Planning Central when you're done downloading your gifts!

More Ways to Connect Online ... and an Easy Way to Get Content for Your Blog

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:21:00 -0600

ARE YOU CONNECTING?

What comes to mind when you think of social networking sites? MySpace? Friendster? I'd like to introduce you to a few sites that I belong to, and am loving being a part of. I can truly say that belonging to the sites below have actually enriched my life.

Facebook

I joined Facebook this year, at the invitation of a friend I hadn't seen in a number of years. Since signing up, not only has that friendship been rekindled, but my friendships with others have been renewed, as well. I am connecting with people I knew years ago, but never thought I'd see again. And people at church who were previously just acquaintances have also become my good friends.

I've also made new friendships and have "networked" with others in the writing profession. You may also be surprised to know that there's a growing network of homeschooling bloggers on Facebook -- many of them from right here at HSB.

If you're on Facebook, or want to join up, be sure to add me as a friend. (And please include a note to tell me you saw this on my blog.)

Twitter

Twitter is another fun networking site, but to me, is a little constrictive when compared to Facebook -- at least as far as having conversations. While Facebook is a leisurely walk in the park, Twitter is the Boston Marathon. No time (or breath) for talking -- just a quick little "tweet" in passing. BUT...there are those who absolutely love Twitter, and from what I hear there's quite a bit you can do with it, with all of the various websites out there that are dedicated to broadening the Twitter experience. I will say I've gotten some leads for my new website (mentioned below), but it's not as easy to make friends. One reason for that, I believe, is that on Twitter it's possible to get a lot of followers really fast, which makes it almost impossible to get to know more than a few of them very well.

Still, I think I've stood just on the top of the Twitter iceberg, and am looking forward to seeing what else lies below the surface. Are you on Twitter? Follow me, and I'll follow you!

Twitter Moms

Twitter Moms is a site for...drum roll, please...moms on Twitter. It's more like Facebook, in that you can network at a more leisurely pace and really get to know others. I haven't done a lot with this site or the next one I'm going to list, but hope to once the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. It's a fairly new site that is growing by leaps and bounds, so be sure to jump on the train! Once you do, send me a friend request. You'll have fun reading through the forums, blog posts, articles, and entering the fun contests. One caveat about joining Twitter Moms, though: You have to join Twitter first.

Cafe Mom

Finally, I'd like to introduce you to Cafe Mom. This is yet another that I've yet to spend much time hob-nobbing at, but I'm excited to try it. After Christmas, of course. Why not sign up? You can join groups, write a journal and read those belonging to others, get answers from other moms, take polls, etc.

So there you have it. If you need something to do in the mornings while you wait for the coffee to take effect, join one (or more, if you're really adventurous) of the above networking sites. You'll like meeting new people and making new friends. You could also start a group just for your local homeschool support group. But, please, these sites can really be addicting. Homeschooling comes first on the list of priorities, but be sure to give yourself that "mom time," too.

BUSY? YOUR NEXT BLOG POST IS JUST A BUCK AWAY.

Believe me, I know very well what it's like to not be able to post on your blog as often as you'd like. I've been dealing with a weird vertigo for the past week and a half, which has left me almost incapable of getting anything done. Mainly, I think it was just from a lack of energy. That, and smacking my head into the wall whenever I'd try to walk. I'm feeling much better tonight (if you couldn't tell), though I'm still dealing with a good deal of dizziness. I'm just glad the room stopped spinning long enough for me to get off of my very own sideways ferris wheel.

Christmas is looming, too, and that makes finding the time to blog very difficult. Some bloggers just give up until after the holidays are over. Don't be one of them! I started a new website just for people who want to throw some quick content up on their pages, be they blogs or web sites.

InspireMe PLR, I hope, will be your new favorite place to get articles in a hurry. It's new, as I just said, so I only have two article topics available: Christmas, and Aromatherapy. The Christmas article pack is full of great tips for the season, along with some really great recipes (some are my own creation and tested happily by my family). You purchase the articles (it's called an "article pack"), then modify them however you'd like. Change them, rewrite them, put your name on them. Other people will also be buying the same pack, so modifying the articles is strongly recommended in order for you to give the articles your own unique feel. By all means, ask me if you have any questions. You can also go to the site and check things out for yourself.

The price is the best part: The articles figure out to be about $1-2 apiece. A steal, really.

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So, there you have it. Have a great weekend, my friends. We're covered in snow and -- according to the news -- are going to be facing down a huge windstorm this weekend. Please keep our area (Pacific Northwest) in your prayers.

Dying to Self

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:12:00 -0600

AOP (Alpha Omega Publications) sent out a very good devotional today by email. At this time of year, when we should be feeling joyful, we're sometimes stressed out, feeling put-upon, and maybe a little overly sensitive (especially around the inlaws). This devotional is a good reminder to die to ourselves and let Jesus Christ be seen through us. It's not about us...it's about Him. Enjoy.

Dying to Self
Monday / December 15, 2008

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Homeschooling is not what you thought. Those images of perfectly happy children soaking in your words of wisdom have evaporated. You feel like you have bitten off more than you can chew. You are reevaluating. Homeschooling involves sacrificing more of your precious day than you intended. "What about time for me?" you ask....

Read the rest of the devotional online at AOP by clicking here.

While there, take a look at materials you might need for the second half of your school year. You can save 12% by using coupon code SAVEBIG. Or, just read the devotional and be blessed. :-)

Guest Bloggers Wanted!!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0600

Do you have a homeschooling-related blog, either here on HSB or elsewhere? How about a homeschooling website? Can you write well? Do you have a heart for other homeschooling moms who keep their kids at home in spite of tough times or the desire to quit?

Then Thoughts on Homeschooling Anyway would like to give you a platform. If you've had experience with jumping (or crawling) over life's hurdles and stayed steady with your homeschooling, or even just had a rough day and you want to share how you got through it, then be my guest for a day. Or maybe you're one who decided that putting your kids in a brick-and-mortar school was the best thing for your family...your story may be helpful, too.

Unfortunately, not everyone who contacts me will get to be a guest blogger, but don't let that stop you! Let me see what you've got. All guest bloggers will get a link back to their blog/s or web site/s. This is free advertising for you! (All entries from guest bloggers will be lightly proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but nothing will be rewritten.)

If you think you'd like to share your story with someone who really needs to hear it, email me at sally@homeschoolinganyway.com.

I look forward to working with you!

I Shouldn't Take Such Chances

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 14:19:00 -0600

I really don't know what happened to me in November. I entered the Twilight Zone or something, I'm sure of it. My blog was doing so well, I was getting new readers, then I vanished from the face of HSB. Or so it seems. I took a chance that I might lose readers, and I really shouldn't do that!

Life has a way of eclipsing our priorities, doesn't it? The urgent, stressful things clamor, scream, and whine for attention, while the stuff we really should be focusing on starts to wither.

To be blunt, I spent November stressing about money. With four kids, a dwindling income (or so it felt), bills, braces for one child and another needing them...and Thanksgiving, an anniversary, and Christmas looming on the horizon, I became very stressed (still feeling it, actually). But all the while, the Lord was there, saying, "Focus on Me. Put Me first. Everything else will fall into place."

I'm still waiting for everything to fall into place, because, ashamedly, I haven't been putting Him first. The noise of the stress and anxiety I was facing was drowning out His quiet reminder. It takes real discipline, apparently, to take your eyes off the bills that are due and look instead to the One Who "owns the cattle on a thousand hills."

The holidays can be very difficult for many people. For quite a few, stressing about finances completely wipes out any joy we may otherwise feel. For others, missing a loved one who's passed on makes this season a bleak one. I'll be addressing this in the next issue of the Homeschooling Anyway newsletter, and giving some ideas on how to put the joy back into your Christmas. (You can sign up by clicking the link at the top of this page.)

But for now, I'd like to leave you with some verses that the Lord keeps bringing to mind. I need to print them out and post them above my desk. (Out of sight, out of mind!) I hope they'll encourage you, too, to put Christ first, not just at Christmas, but always, and in everything.

My Response to the Election Results

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 14:18:00 -0600

Many bloggers here at Homeschool Blogger take part in an event called "Wordless Wednesday." Today I would like to do that, too, as I really don't feel like talking about the election. I will (oh, I will!), but right now I am feeling very down, and need to take some time to absorb all of this.

Without further adieu, here is my Wordless Wednesday contribution. I hope you can see it okay:

Remember to Vote Today!

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:16:00 -0600

This is it: Election Day, 2008! Remember to take the time to vote today. If you don't know where your polling place is, you can find it by going here. This is the Google search page for finding your election information. Various state info is also listed on that same search results page, so you may want to just scroll down and find yours. You could also do your own search for "polling places Washington" (replace "Washington" with your state).

I plan to leave in just a while to go make my mark on this election, because every vote matters. I'll let you know my thoughts later on.

Don't stay home -- your vote counts!

What the Democrats REALLY Think of Barack Obama

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:59:00 -0500

I'm going to come right out and say it: We have so much at stake next Tuesday, November 4. For the sake of our families and our country, please vote for McCain/Palin. Barack Obama is a Socialist in patriotic clothing. He does not have the best interests of this country in mind, and certainly doesn't give a darn what any of us think the direction of our country should be, or for the principles our great nation was founded upon.

His "spread the wealth" philosophy sounds bad enough, except to those who've been hypnotized into believing it's the right thing to do. Obama is no "Robin Hood." Please understand that "spreading the wealth" is better defined as "confiscation of your money and belongings by the government." Confiscation.

If Obama is elected President next Tuesday, the next four years will be a very dark and bleak time for America. Please don't just stay home thinking there's nothing you can do. Your vote, combined with the votes of other true Americans -- people who really love our country and want to keep it great -- will help to soundly defeat Obama/Biden. YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER. Please vote!

And please watch this video, which is actually a commercial made up of real clips of Hillary and Bill Clinton and Joe Biden telling what they really think of Barack Obama and his potential election to the White House. I hope it will light that fire under you to go vote:

What the Dems Really Think of Barack Obama

And if you will be voting for McCain, please leave a comment and let me know. Forward this blog post on to your friends and family (or at least forward the video!).

Do I Have You on My List?

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:52:00 -0500

The third issue of my free Homeschooling Anyway eNews is going out on Monday. Have you signed up yet? It's a great way to start off your week by being inspired, learning something you may not have known about famous women from the past, and getting some great health, beauty, seasonal, and (of course) homeschooling tips you can actually use. I also throw in some laughs with each issue.

And not only is the newsletter free, but so is the Top Ten Tips for a Successful Homeschooling Day (PDF) report you get just for signing up.

I am saving each issue on a special archive page on my website, but this page is currently available to subscribers only.

You've got nothing to lose, and you can always unsubscribe if you decide it's not for you (though I'm pretty sure you're going to like it!).

Potpourri is a Very Overused Word

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:23:00 -0500

But a potpourri this post will be. Or maybe we could call it the "kitchen junk drawer" of blog posts. I have several things to tell you, but am just too lazy -- at almost one in the morning -- to give each of them their own pieces of blog post real estate. I should be in bed (but am not, thanks to the pumpkin spice latte I had this afternoon).

Maybe this would be a better analogy. My husband once told me of one of his mother's favorite ways to make casseroles years ago. She would take the leftovers from that week's dinners and somehow make another meal by putting them all together in one pan and baking it. I imagine it would've been something that either worked really well, or didn't work at all.

So, here we have it: My Leftover Casserole Blog Post for the Week of Oct. 19-24.

Sarah Palin on SNL

I had intended to post my thoughts on Governor Palin's being on Saturday Night Live. I'm a little late doing that, I realize. I'll confess I only watched the first portion of the program, and missed her second appearance later in the show. If I'd known she was going to appear twice, I would have suffered through the other skits. But what I saw was very good. I thought she was fantastic, actually. Not a ruffled feather on her. I won't give it away, except for what was one of my favorite parts -- when she told Alec Baldwin that her favorite Baldwin brother was Stephen (who is a born-again Christian).

I watched her other skit on YouTube, and wasn't as impressed as I was with the first one, but am very proud of Sarah for going on the show and showing them and the rest of the watching world that she is one strong lady. I hear that because of Governor Palin's guest appearance, SNL enjoyed their highest ratings in 14 years.

You can watch both skits here. Just a caution -- make sure your kids aren't around. A couple of the thumbnails that show up with the list of videos aren't that great. The actual skits themselves, however, are probably fine for older kids to see.

Oh, My Aching Body

My fibromyalgia is acting up again. It seems to hit me just once or twice a month now, which is decidedly preferable to the weekly flare-ups I was dealing with a couple of years ago. I went for years suffering with this stuff before I self-diagnosed it (and later had it confirmed by my doctor). If you think you might have fibromyalgia, check your symptoms here.

Lonnie and MM

And lastly, but most importantly, my husband is still dealing with his Multiple Myeloma (MM). This is an "of course" statement, because it's something he'll be "dealing with" for the rest of his life. What's encouraging to us is something his oncologist told us two years ago, and that's that MM is no longer a death sentence, but more and more is being viewed as a "manageable disease." If something crops up, like the two tumors he had when diagnosed, it gets dealt with and we go on. So far, according to the MRI he had last summer, nothing is actively growing. The numbers for the bad proteins always seem to rise a little from one appointment to the next, but apparently they aren't high enough to do anything about right now (one thing that's been threatened is a bone marrow transplant).

He was wondering tonight, though, if his immune system is weakening a little. He took a very, very mild pain reliever last night and has been wiped out ever since. I would like to ask his doctor about this reaction, and will also look into ways that he can boost his immune system. If any of my readers have any knowledge in that area, please speak up!

(Note: Lonnie has been experiencing daily pain. Some of it may be from his psoriatic arthritis coming back, but an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in cancer patients told him that he also has "degenerative disc disease." Apparently, it's a result of the radiation therapy he received in 2006 for the tumors in his neck. That's the scary thing about radiation -- it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving.)

So, that's this week's "leftover casserole." Sorry if it was a little bland -- I probably forgot the Worcestershire. ;-)

Harbingers of Fall: Maple Leaves, Hobo Spiders, and Tina Fey

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:27:00 -0500

I love looking at the old maple tree in our neighbor's yard. Our backyard borders five other yards (two on each side, one on a perpendicular street, and two on the cul de sac behind us), and this tree stands at the back corner of one of them. When I stand in my kitchen window and look straight back, this tree is the first thing I see.

It heralds the changing seasons and has provided many a great photo op. It's so big (and older than me, I'm sure), that when the sun shines on one side, the other side of the tree is in shade and the whole thing looks ethereal. Gorgeous.

I love that tree. The day it gets cut down (not that I've heard of any plans in that direction) is the day we start making plans to move!

All this talk of fall leads me to my next harbinger of the season: the hobo spider. Ugh. I truly dread them. You can read about our previous run-ins with the little beasts here: Creepy Crawlies x 2 and here: A Spider is a Spider is a Spider...Unless it's Poisonous

So, all year, every time I see a hobo spider, I smush it. Yes, smush. Like smash, but with less force. Thankfully, every hobo I've found so far this year has been small. And every time I smush one, I say, "Thank you, Jesus." Really! Why? Because I got 'em when they were little, instead of toddler hand-size like our earlier friends. Just the other night I found one on my wall making a beeline for my bed. That one became acquainted with my slipper. Smush.

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In other news, real news, Sarah Palin, who's been parodied twice now on Saturday Night Live, will be on the show herself this weekend. Of course, if you miss it, it will be uploaded to YouTube by hundreds of people (who don't seem to realize that other people have already done so). I think, however, that everyone who can should tune in on Saturday. For me personally, it's a great way to show Hollywood -- or in this case, New York -- that I support Governor Palin. I never watch the show, but for this I will.

I'll post my thoughts on it next week. And maybe, in the meantime, I should go over to YouTube and get caught up on Tina Fey's impersonations of Sarah. I'm hoping that this time around, Sarah will get to impersonate Tina. Now that would be funny.

Tina Fey, by the by, said if McCain and Palin win the election, she'll phase out her impersonations of Palin. Fey remarked that if they win, she's done, as in "leaving earth."

We'll miss her. ;-)

A Pastor's Message to Sarah Palin

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:34:00 -0500

I received the most amazing comment to a post I wrote the other day (actually, I wrote the intro and included something a friend sent to me by email). Here is the link to that post . The comment I'm referring to is the second one down, left by "Anonymous." Apparently it is an email that's been sent around, though I've yet to receive it. It's a pastor's account of how he felt called by God to deliver a message to Sarah Palin. I cried as I read it -- it's wonderful. Enjoy.

I hope it will encourage you all to continue praying for John McCain and Sarah Palin, and their families. Pray also for the people involved in their campaigns.

I'm Smelling a Novel Brewing...

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:32:00 -0500

So I'm not so sure this whole online learning thing is working for me. Oh, it's working for the kids just fine -- they're doing great. But here I sit...in my pajamas, drinking cold coffee, laptop in front of me, toddler watching the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and I'm getting nothing done. Around the house, that is. It's 10:34 a.m., and I'm feeling pretty pathetic. Mostly, though, I'm in denial about said patheticness. I should be cleaned up by now and well on my way to cleaning the house, organizing bills, yada, yada, yada. Yet here I sit, writing.

But...really...this is one major reason we're doing the online schooling -- so that I can build up my writing career. Mainly in the area of copywriting, and I plan on spending a decent amount of time later today working on the course I'm taking. I'm thinking I'll go to the library, though, because there's no way I can concentrate around here. Not when it's something I have to do.

Speaking of writing, there's something coming up that I've been looking forward to ever since I found out about it almost a year ago: National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Do you have a novel brewing inside of you? Need some motivation to work on it and get it done? Can you spare time each day for one month in the effort to crank it out? Yes? Then take a look at http://www.nanowrimo.org and see if it's for you. Join the rest of us (nutty bunch that we are) and see what you can do.

And about my pajamas...and the long hours I spend at my laptop writing (maybe I didn't mention my late-night writing marathons?)...I'm learning more and more that it's not a fault I have (oh, no, of course not), but a very admirable trait of true writers. It's not laziness, it's dedication.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:08:00 -0500

Last week, PBS (a somewhat liberal organization funded by your tax dollars) ran a poll asking whether we, the American people, think Sarah Palin is qualified to be the Vice President of the United States. And actually, they're still running it. You can take part in the poll by clicking here:

PBS Sarah Palin Poll

To counter PBS's poll, AFA (American Family Association) is running a poll regarding whether you think Barack Obama is qualified to be President:

AFA Barack Obama Poll

Vote in both and let your voice be heard! Think of it as practice for November 4th.

Speaking of polls, I'm running one of my own. It's on the right side of this page and asks what your biggest obstacle is to having a successful homeschooling day. Obviously, not every day is bad; most days spent homeschooling are just fine if not downright enjoyable. But on those days when you just want to yell, pull out your hair, or run to Starbucks as fast as your slippered feet will carry you...what's the biggest reason? Comments welcome, too.

I'll blog about the results right here (all answers are confidential, though comments are not), and may even write about them at HomeschoolingAnyway.com. Thanks for taking part!

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By the way, thanks to those of you who left comments about whether you think Sarah Palin should be running for VP, or if she should stay home with her children. I love that not everyone had the same opinion -- that's what great dialogue is all about!

And thanks to Alyssa for correcting me on Governor Palin's sons' names. I'd gotten them mixed up (and misspelled!), and knew I should have verified their names before posting...but was in a hurry and didn't. Thank you!

Sarah Palin: Mom, V.P. Candidate, or Both?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:41:00 -0500

I'm on Dr. Laura Schlessinger's email list to receive alerts when she posts something new on her blog. I guess I missed a very important entry sometime back, but was alerted to it in one of her posts from this past week. When I saw how she linked back to the other post, it was like a punch in the gut.

Dr. Laura said she did not support Sarah Palin as John McCain's choice for Vice President of the United States.

I was shocked. Really shocked. I thought Dr. Laura was conservative. I thought she'd be thrilled about Sarah P. for V.P.! Had she capitulated? Had she crossed over to the dark side? (No offense intended toward any democrats reading this, though as a friend of mine once said: "If you are easily offended, I am easily amused.")

I clicked on the link, scrunching up my face in anticipation of the blow. When I saw the post, I relaxed instantly. Dr. Laura was still the same, terrific Dr. Laura, and the post was nothing less than I would have expected from her. Her concern was for the Palin children, who still very much need their mama. You can read the post by clicking here.

While I understand what Dr. Laura is talking about -- after all, I'm a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom of kids who are learning at home, and I love our set up -- I'm not so sure it applies to the Palin situation. Would the Palin kids be happier with mom at home? Sure. Of course. But what if God has called her to this? Even her daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy and the Palin's youngest child, Trak, having Down's Syndrome seems to be playing a part in this big, great plan (both are excellent examples of choosing life rather than death by abortion). And if God specifically called Sarah Palin to this, then He also called her husband and children. And if He called the Palin family to this, He'll give each and every one of them a special grace to get through it.

What do you think? Should Sarah have stayed home with her kids, or is she exactly what this country needs right now?

Sarah Palin: The Real Deal

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:52:00 -0500

If you're a conservative but are thinking of sitting out this election due to John McCain's moderate stances on some issues, I hope you'll rethink that, if for just one reason: Sarah Palin. She's the real deal. Governor Sarah is a friend, not only of Jesus Christ and those who follow Him, but of the American family. She knows where we come from and what makes us tick. If you've been concerned that maybe her Christian views were all hype (considering how demonized she's been by the mainstream media), then be sure to watch the video in the piece below. I received this by email from a friend and have copied it here. Enjoy. :-) (Then forward this blog to a friend to spread the message. Thanks!)

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Is Sarah Palin An American Version Of Esther

Many are asking, is Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska a modern day version of Israel's Queen Esther? Could it be that she is the unlikely answer to the prayers of Christians all across America?

     If you're not familiar with the story of Queen Esther, a modern day movie summary would read something like this. 'Small town girl finds herself empowered through Divine Providence just in time to save her nation.'

     The complete story is contained in the book of Esther, found in the Old Testament of the Bible. In this story, God raised up the least likely candidate for saving the nation of Israel. It is from this story that one of the most inspiring passages in the entire Bible is found. At the moment of Israel's crises, Esther's uncle asks,

     'Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?' (Esther 4:14)

Some have recently asked us if we have noticed that John McCain's surprise selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate has many striking parallels to the Biblical account of Esther. One pastor commented that the selection seems to bear the imprint of God's M.O. or 'method of operation'. By this he was referring to God's habit of sending deliverance by raising up unlikely leaders at just the right time. In addition to the story of Esther, we've listed several examples he specifically mentioned.

David, the lowly shepherd boy, was used by God to kill Goliath, and then went on to become King.

God used the timid Gideon and only three hundred soldiers to deliver Israel from the hordes of Midian.

Jesus chose twelve ordinary, common men to be the apostles of Christianity, and thereby changed the course of human history. etc. etc.

Where American politics is concerned, some have asked us whether God is up to the same kind of thing. Not only was Sarah Palin the least likely candidate among the GOP Vice-Presidential possibilities, but her selection actually changed the entire dynamic of the 2008 presidential election campaign. Palin's sudden ascension may not only result in her becoming Vice-President, but eventually even President of the United States as well!

Palin made her national debut by taking on the most powerful force in American politics, 'the liberal national media' itself. In response to the media's vulture-like descent upon the McCain VP announcement, the Alaska governor countered by backing the whole liberal media establishment up when she boldly asserted: 'Here's a news flash for you, I'm not going to Washington to win your approval, I'm going to Washington to serve the great people of the United States!' The crowd absolutely loved it!

But, what about Palin's Christian credentials? Is she what Christians have been praying for? Many are saying that Palin clearly spoke the language of a born again Christian in an address to graduates of The Master's College last year in Wasilla, Alaska. Click on the photo below to hear Palin's talk to the graduates. We encourage you to watch the video and then to draw your own conclusions.

On social issues it is clear that Palin is pro-life, pro-gun and pro-family. As the public is learning, Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, decided to give birth to a their fifth child earlier this year, even when it was disclosed that the child would be afflicted with down syndrome. In affect, the Palins utterly rejected the option of abortion.

Many evangelical Christians had been hoping for McCain to select former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister, as his Vice-Presidential running mate. Although McCain bypassed Huckabee, and a host of other qualified candidates, it now seems clear that Huckabee will figure into any future McCain/Palin administration. (Shown below is Huckabee aboard McCain's 'Straight Talk Express' campaign bus.)

While no one can really know all that God is up to, the important thing for Christians is to keep on praying! We can trust God to shuffle the chess pieces around, for it is God that appoints rulers over the kingdoms of men. (Daniel 5:21) Sometimes God shows mercy in answer to prayer. At other times, nations simply get what they deserve. Whether Sarah Palin is a modern day version of Queen Esther or not, the readers must judge for themselves. The aspirations reflected on the campaign button pictured below may or may not come to pass. While voters will express their choice on election day, we as Christians must realize that the final selection is really in the hands of God.

This is exactly why Prayer Force One has been hosting a daily virtual prayer meeting in The White House. In addition to this daily prayer meeting, we are also asking every believer in America to join us for a very special virtual prayer meeting in The White House on the Sunday before the next Presidential election, (Sunday, November 2nd). We are calling this Prayer Force One Sunday. We invite you to become a part. In order to get signed up, just click on the picture of The White House below. I believe that God will bless both you and America if you do.

(Click On Photo Above To Pray In The White House)

P.S.
'Prayer Force One Sunday' is just a few short weeks away. Let's rally God's people now. Please forward this message to everyone you know by using the link at the top of the page!

Click Here to Visit The Main Site at www.PrayerForceOne.com

At Least I Had Good Intentions...

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 16:11:00 -0500

I missed church again today. It's not for lack of wanting to go -- I did want to. I was dressed and everything, but my hair...ugh. I know, right? So unspiritual (I'm being facetious -- I don't think it's a spiritual thing). But being in a house of guys who jump in and get their showers ahead of everyone else, or when others (me and my daughter) might be wanting to get in, there isn't a lot of time for getting ready.

And then there's my toddler, who I'm really wanting to get potty trained. She woke up soaking wet this morning...again. So I had to deal with that.

And what about my clothes...and hers? Had to iron 'em. So by the time I got in the shower, there was precious little time to do my hair. Naturally wavy that it is, if I don't spend a lot of time on it, I look like a lion with a crazy mane (see that picture of me to the right? That was a non-lion day).

My husband had taken our older kids to church, dropped them off for their 1st service classes, then came back to get me. At a quarter after 10, he came in to see where in blazes I was (no, he didn't say that). I was in the bathroom, whining. He left and I grabbed the straightener. Done! Much better.

Uh-oh...10:30...church starting. Me...feeling like a failure...again.

As you read the above, if you were paying attention, you were probably shaking your head and thinking that all of the above could have been avoided, and that all I was doing was making one excuse after another. How right you are! And I know all of this -- I know what I need to do. But the key word is implementation. Or, to quote Nike (kick me now)...just do it.

I know full well how to avoid missing church again next week:

Shower on Saturday night.
Iron clothes on Saturday night.
Have everything ready to go to get ready and walk out the door on time on Sunday morning.

Last year, my pastor's wife wrote the weekly "pastor's email" in his stead one week. I've kept it because of this little kick in the pants:

"Here is what I have learned over the years - we must prepare ourselves for worship. For me personally, this means go to bed early on Saturday, show up early Sunday morning, quiet my heart before bed, reflect on the passage Pastor sends out in this email, iron the clothes Saturday before bed (big one for us), make sure the house is clean on Saturday, eat breakfast before I go to church and pray for my Pastor. Ok, for some this may mean get your coffee early - my point is prepare your heart, emotions, and spirit to worship on Sundays. God deserves it!

"Walk into church early, ready to engage with God in worship, giving and teaching. Be ready to serve, sit with your friend you invited, and personally saying hi to the tons of new people God is bringing to New Life."

Good advice, indeed.

I'm reminded of something I'd heard on the radio some time ago. I don't remember who said it, but the woman was talking about having a "power hour" before you go to bed. This works whether you're preparing for church, homeschooling, or what have you. Break up the hour into 20 minute segments. For the first 20, go around the house picking things up, writing notes to yourself for the next morning, etc. Spend the next 20 getting ready for bed: put on pajamas, wash your face, brush your teeth. The last 20 minutes is your time to wind down. Make a cup of tea, grab a book, get in bed, and relax. Zzzzz. (Use a timer if you must, for at least the first 40 minutes.)

It would be a good routine to teach the kids, too.

Homeschoolers often find themselves growing lax when it comes to keeping schedules. It makes sense -- there's no bus to catch, no boss to answer to. That said, how many of you do have a before-bed routine to get ready for the next day? If you go to church, do you have an evening-before routine? Or have you been flying by the seat of your pants, come what may, like me?

"A sluggard does not plow in season, so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing." (Proverbs 20:4)

Ouch.

Don't Ever Doubt Your Decision

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 12:56:00 -0500

When I was pregnant with our first born, I was working at Boeing as a "clerk" (low title, but I was actually doing administrative assistant duties) for $11,000 a year. This was 1991/1992, and it was more money than I'd ever made in my life, so I was happy-ish with it.

I worked in Tukwila, WA, for the Writing, Editing and Publishing division -- the group of people who put out company newsletters and wrote technical manuals for other areas of Boeing. Just before I discovered I was pregnant, and only six months into our marriage, my boss told me she wanted me to learn editing, and that Boeing would pay for it. I was thrilled! No more secretarial work, and I could finally get into the field I'd felt called to since highschool (basically anything to do with writing).

But a few days later I found myself staring at a little purple plus sign and wondered aloud what would happen to my dreams. My husband and I decided I would keep working and we would try to find a (good) daycare.

Eventually, I was as "big as a house" (as one of Lonnie's friends put it) and things were really getting down to the wire. The only daycare we trusted, run by a friend of ours, was full. We decided I would stay home.

Amazingly, God provided for us financially. We believed it was a blessing straight from Him for making the decision for me to stay at home with our baby. (This is not a condemnation on those who can't -- everyone has their own story.)

Now a mother of four, I've been home with my kids ever since. Sure, money has been tight (sometimes REALLY tight) over the years, but I'll never regret all the wonderful times we've had as a family. I truly enjoy getting to "pal around" with my kids while out running errands, and to the library, and for the rare Starbucks treat (okay, maybe that one's not so rare...). We genuinely have fun together.

I remember one day when Joel (the firstborn I'd mentioned) did something absolutely precious (I know that term is antiquated, but it really was precious) and I sat back and realized, "If he'd been at daycare right now, and I'd been at work, I would have completely missed that." I don't remember exactly what it was -- probably a new word he said -- but I was so grateful that I wasn't having to listen to the daycare provider tell me about it instead of witnessing it myself.

Moms, don't ever regret your decision to stay home with your kids. There are days when the doubts flood in, but please just kick those doubts to the curb. You are doing the right thing.

For a little reaffirmation of your decision, take a look at this edition of Dr. Laura's blog: "Can't Beat This Argument for Stay-at-Home Moms." If you ever listen to her show, you know she ends it with, "Now go do the right thing." Be assured that you are.