"Impressing" Our Children - Homeschool Blogger

Win "The Devolution of Law" DVD on my Blogger Blog

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:48:00 -0600

http://takeflightministries.blogspot.com/2009/09/decorate-for-christmas-support-future.html

Wow! This left me speechless.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:20:01 -0500

http://www.braveheartedgospel.com/Thots/Entries/2009/5/26_Battle_Cry_-_William_Booth.html

I'm ashamed to admit that I have to look up and see who William Booth is. I know I should know that.

Blessings,

Barb

Blogger Blog

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:20:00 -0500

Dear Friends,

I have started a blog over at Blogger.com. While I am re-posting some of my previous articles from here to there, I am posting new items.

Please visit me there:

http://takeflightministries.blogspot.com/

Blessings,

Barb

LAST DAY TO ENTER GIVEAWAY -- FREE DVD from Vision Forum

Thu, 14 May 2009 08:02:00 -0500

Hi friends, Please check out my post at our new ministry blog for info about winning a free DVD from Vision Forum.

http://takeflightministries.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-dvd-from-vision-forum.html

Blessings,

Barb

Our Support Group Web Site

Mon, 4 May 2009 10:22:00 -0500

Hi friends,

Our support group just activated its new web site. We're quite pleased with it, though still have a few little bugs to work out. We have links to curriculum, articles, and resources, as well as a blog. If you or someone you know lives in the Chicagoland area and is looking for a support group that focuses on home-based discipleship, please refer them.

Christian Home Educators of Southwest Chicagoland

Blessings,

Barb

Current Audio: "True Beauty"

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:36:00 -0500

I am currently listening to "True Beauty: Cultivating Christ-Centered Father-Daughter Relationships." This set of audio CDs features messages given at the 2008 Father & Daughter Discipleship Retreat sponsored by Vision Forum.

It is unfortunately taking me longer to get through this wonderful set of audio presentations as life has gotten incredibly busy, including an overnight stay for my husband in the hospital, but I wanted to take a moment and finally blog about one disk I finished a bit ago.

This was a joint presentation by Anna Sophia & Elizabeth Botkin. I have long been wanting to read "So Much More" and to see "Return of the Daughters." They are on my wish list for our upcoming homeschool convention (though I'm sad to see Vision Forum) will not be there as usual. Hearing these wonderful girls speak has increased my desire to read their book and see their video.

One of the most striking pieces of advice that these young ladies give to daughters is this: "ask your father how he wants you to spend your free time." Today's feminist society would be horrified. Why should not a young person be able to pursue whatever interests her heart directs her towards?

As I was thinking on this even in the last 24 hours, I was struck with a revelation. A young lady who grows up pursuing only her own interests can easily become a self-centered, self-involved, self- and passion-directed wife and mother who cannot put her own wants and desires to the side while she ministers to her husband and children. Is this not what has happened so often in our society? While the feminists may argue this point, Scripture is clear that we were created to be our husband's help-meet. If we learn how to do this by helping our fathers, we are better equipped to be helpers to our husbands. We will not be chasing after our own desires, our own self-fulfillment, our own hobbies and interests. We will be serving -- as Christ served, as He gave up Himself -- those to whom God has appointed us to serve.

Blessings,
Barb

Free Bowling

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:59:00 -0500

I received an email about this program today, so thought I'd share it. Don't forget to consider the cost of shoe rental before you jump in. For my famiy of 4 kids, it would cost $14 for shoes each time we go. So, I'm going to check around at used sporting goods stores before I sign up. Also, note that if the adults want to bowl, and if you plan on going often, you might consider the family pass for you and your husband and perhaps even a couple of grandparents! Might be a fun way to get a half credit or so of physical ed in this summer. I'm seriously considering this for my high schooler, as I confess to not being great about phys ed during the school year. Nothing wrong with "summer school!"

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/how.php

Blessings,
Barb

Free Resources

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:53:00 -0500

We recently experienced the death of a homeschool dad in our support group. I have had a burden for this mom and her girls. We are coming together to try to help as best we can, but the grief is still fresh and she still is having trouble making decisions. Moms in this situation will find it hard to homeschool, so I am posting these links primarily for us to share with these moms, but also for the general benefit, as in these economic times, who couldn't use free materials, right?

I have a few sites that I regularly get freebies from. I try not to subscribe to too many newsletters, etc., as I end up not having the time to read them. But I access these regularly. Some of you are probably already familiar with these.

Homeschoolfreebieoftheday.com (if you sign up for their weekly newsletter, you get a heads up on what is offered that week and also an extra freebie not offered to those who don't get the newsletter)

HomeschoolRadioShows.com (my kids love these audio files -- a new one every week; they also offer, for members, a study guide to accompany each audio selection)

CurrClick.com (weekly free item to download -- lots of unit studies, lap books, etc.)
Behemoth.com (free audio file changes, I think, daily, so check in often)

I was doing a search for free resources online and came across these that you might be able to utilize in your homeschool or family time. Perhaps, if you know a single mom who wants to homeschool or a widow who is looking for assistance in low-cost curriculum, you could forward these links. Let's make a conscious effort to help those women withouth husbands and those children without fathers!

ACE Youth Fitness (7-lesson plan)

U.S. Geological Survey -- has lesson plans, online resources, etc.) (watch for evolutionary bias)

A&E's Biography.com

NASA

The Smithsonian

The Charles Edison Fund

National Postal Museum's Postal Pack

Miami Museum of Science "Hurricanes" site

The US Evironmental Protection Agency

Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason lesson plans)

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust

The Anne Frank Center

The National Park Service

Cornell's bird study educator's guide

Blessings,

Barb

Current Audio: "True Beauty"

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:17:00 -0500

I am currently listening to "True Beauty: Cultivating Christ-Centered Father-Daughter Relationships." This set of audio CDs features messages given at the 2008 Father & Daughter Discipleship Retreat sponsored by Vision Forum.

I am currently on Disk 2 featuring Scott Brown speaking on "The Proverbs 31 Woman." He expands on this Sciprture passage which brings it alive to me in a new way. He also discusses his "12 Pillars of Biblical Womanhood" and elaborates on each of a woman's roles throughout her lifetime.

I think one of the biggest revelations for me was this: It is the husband's and father's job to create an environment in which his wife and daughter(s) can be/learn to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Wow!

Now, for 1st-generation home discipling parents, this seems somewhat overwhelming. How exactly do we do this? Perhaps we will gain some ingishts as we continue....

Blessings,
Barb

Accountability

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:15:00 -0500

I heard Tim Challies on the radio a few days ago and was very challenged by what he said. His thoughts are summarized on his blog entry:

http://www.challies.com/archives/christian-living/christians-and-accountability.php

This should cause us all to prayerfully consider our hearts as we examine our motivation in all things, not just accoutability. Are we doing what we're doing ... or not doing what we're not doing... to please man, or to please God?

Just some food for thought.

Blessings,

Barb