Mountain Top Praise - Homeschool Blogger

Choices

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:24:00 -0500

Having not started my parenting journey with the specific goal of raising mighty warriors for Christ - much of my parenting choices I have had to back out of and re-group. Specifically - FRIENDS.

We have limited choices in friends being a homeschool family in a relatively small town. Further - a small town has a limited support group and we have had to go beyond the Christian Community for extracurricular activities, which some would say is a good thing, arguing that we should be the salt and the light. However I do not agree that children are charged with this responsiblity and I have not bought into that argument to justify publc school. So where did my thought process break down for extracurricular activities? How did I get so off track? Here is how - I worshiped at the alter of "girlfriends and sleepovers". I didn't want my daughter to miss out on that experience - eventhough that experience wasn't particularily rewarding or positively memorable for me. I wanted her to have friends and watched her for several years not have any. When a few friends came along that were from good, although non-Christian families - I compromised. I failed to trust God to meet my daughters needs and gave into peer pressure - even worse it wasn't my peers I caved in to - it was little girls and their mothers.

So what would I do next time? What do you do? Do you go to dance class at the community center? Do you make friends outside Church, Awana, Support Group, Family? Do you have play-dates and sleepovers with non Christians? How do you walk this delicate line?

I'm seeking God - because I know ultimately He wants us to love those all around us and to be His love to those still lost. So the answer I've sort of gotten - but not really fully sure yet is this. We must invite them to our domain, our home, our churches, our playdates. I know, some of you reading this are going "daaahhh!" I don't know why this never clicked before - cause now I have some relationship issues to deal with. Thankfully - my dear and smart daughter has sought my guidance - but I'm still so sad I did not protect her better. My intentions - do not match the results.

Still worse - I think it was my selfishness that encouraged my daughter to invest time in and to "walk in the counsel" of non Christians. I'm am not the sleepover mom - or even the playdate mom. I have a lot of responsibilities and I don't like being responsible for other people's children. I should have insisted that more time be spent together under my roof. With four children here - it is always easier to send them to the "other" friends house. You reap what you sow! And this crop is bitter.

I wanted to share this - just in case there is someone out there with children age five and six - wanting them to have friends. Never compromise on Gods' word. He has much to say about who we hang out with. The little girls were innocent enough - but I didn't think about the young women they would grow into - nor the influence their parents might have on my child. God does have something to say about every part of our lives - are we willing to listen? Thankfully - when we fail to listen - He just waits - knowing we will call for reinforcements. Well - my SOS has gone out. And now I have three more children - I won't make the same mistake with.

A New Season

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:15:00 -0500

We had a milestone just recently - our oldest daughter was promoted from 8th grade to 9th or High School. I have answered the "So, you are going to teach her through High School?????" question at least 25 times. Thankfully, my answers are getting easier to come by. This should be old hat by the time we promote the 4th child.

What is my answer? Why are we homeschooling through high school? My most simple answer is that we are being obedient to the path God has called us to. I don't really know if I can provide a better education that the public schools can - but I know I can give our children the education God has designed for them. He smooths out all my rough edges, He fills in all the gaps I leave out, He directs all my courses and plans (hopefully) and when I veer off on my own - He gets me back on track - sometimes graciously and sometimes not so much....

I feel now that if we put our oldest in PS - it would negate the previous eight years. My job is not done yet - we are just getting to the fun stuff. I get a chance to see her use all the reasoning and judgments skills I have planted in her. I want to see her tackle the tough subjects - frankly, I believe I will make her think and reason a lot harder than most schools would. I've seen the reading lists for some of my nieces and haven't been too impressed. I can only hope and pray that she "passes" me up in ability and knowledge. This for one - forces me to keep educating myself and two - it means she is learning and growing. God can provide the resources we need to keep her advancing - my abilities should be of little consequence to staying the course God set for me. That way, when we graduate our last child I will truly be able to say "God did it, not me" All I can claim is faithfulness.

So I have a High Schooler in the house and I am potty training the littliest. I know this is not so uncommon in the homeschool world - but in the secular world - I'm a bit of an oddity. The other milestone is of course the potty training. My little guy is learning to pee on trees outside. I knew once he figured that out - we'd be off to the races and sure enough. We seem to have turned the corner. Yeah!

Review of Mountain Born

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:06:00 -0500

In looking through my library - I came upon the book, Mountain Born. A lovely book by Elizabeth Yates that we read back in 2001. It sticks in my mind because it was one of the first read-aloud books that choked me up. The kids kept saying, "mommy why are you crying". And I really don't remember why, except it is such a sweet and pure story the touched me deep.

The back of the book reads, "Wolves, weather, a black lamb, a trusty dog-all are part of Peter's life on a mountain farm. His best friend is Benj, a wise old shepherd and Benj teaches him to care for the sprightly lamp that becomes his own special pet, his cosset. As Biddy grows into her place as leader of the flock, Peter grows too, learning the skills and joys of the shepherd's life."

Being a mountain girl myself, the life Peter lives struck a chord - although I could only hope to lead such a simple life. And Benj the Shepherd is wise - as David was perhaps, walking close to Jesus. These two characters drew us in and I became very attached to little Peter. I appreciated that he had to face life's harsh realities and how he did so bravely and without complaining. Something, I hope to instill in my own boys. He cared for nature and God's creation but did not worship it.

The book is full of little gems such as this, "A man must have a care to what he puts in his mind, for when he's alone on a hillside and draws it out, he'll want treasures to be his company, not regrets."

I highly recommend this book - we read it when my oldest child was 7 and she remembers it still today.

It would be an excellent book as part of a study about David and the Psalms or a unit study about sheep and shepherding - or a nice snuggle book in the evenings before bed. Written with the stuff of good dreams!

What have we been doing?

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:52:00 -0500

Sometimes - ya gotta just do life. No fluff, no extras. That has been the theme since Christmas. I call it "keeping my head down". We have been impacted by the ecomony slow down which I'm sure had something to do with our personal crack down, but it was more self imposed than required by our situation. It has been a good thing which is the testimony that I hear over and over from others about hard times.

But recently, God has been stretching me in new areas and breaking me out of my cocoon. Making friends. I'm really not very good at it. Chit chat, casual talk is so challenging for me. I have a friend that is so great at just talking about whatever and she is alway coaching me - still I struggle. But in the last couple of months I have not been able to side step the "getting to know you" process with several people. The obstacle to making new friends has always been a matter of time and priority - but God found ways around this and almost literally placed a few wonderful women smack in my lap. I've been sitting back marvelling at how He almost tricked me, like I didn't know I was making new friends until I had actually done it.

Having always been a one-girlfriend kind of girl - this is a whole new world for me. I'm so excited about what God is doing. I feel like I am being bouyed up - which if I overthink it - I get a little nervous. But he promises "But I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you". I must believe that I am not exposed, but blessed.

Happy Almost Spring in the Sierra!

Whew!

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:46:00 -0600

As I put together this brief slide show of our trip - I'm flooded with memories. A trip like this stays and stays with you. The chance to spend such quality time with my family can only be hoped for again in the future - but if it never comes - I am so blessed to have had these thirty wonderful days.

Yes, I'm still alive

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 19:42:00 -0600

In August my husband kindly offered to take our family on a pilgrimage of sorts to our country's capitol, Washington DC. The plan was to be gone for a month and I really didn't believe it would happen.

Guess what? It did. After a whirlwind of planning and wrapping up loose ends - we flew away from our home on October 22. I had no idea what to expect from being gone from our home for 30 days. I have lived in this town since I was a small girl - attended elementary, jr. high and high school here. I married here and all my children have been born in the same hospital - two in the same room. I am truly blessed - however, the prospect of being away from home was very exciting.

We stayed in a rented house for two weeks in DC and experienced city life - complete with no vehicle. That was a stange experience - going grocery shopping without my giant grocery getter (Excursion). We learned how to expertly pack the stroller with our supplies and get it on and off the Metro without spilling it all. It was awesome to be in the city during the elections - what a different perspective we got by getting out of our comfort zone.

After our 14 day tour of duty in the city we rented a car - (woo hoo) and headed for the countryside. We toured Mount Vernon, Monticello, Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown - just to name a few. Down in the Colonial triangle - we were so thrilled to spend four days in a 18th Century farm house. What an experience that was! The house and the grounds were so beautiful with fall colors. It was a treat for this evergreen-living family.

Our last week was spent back up in the DC area - but we were ready to go home. We were severely homesick. I know - we are wimps, some of you travel or move all the time with no complaining. We love travelling - but we love coming home.

This was a trip of a lifetime and I'm hoping the fruit of our labor will be harvested for years to come with situations like this... We were home just a few days when I found my two youngest using metal poles from the porta crib as guns over their shoulders. My 7 dd was chanting "hut two three" when she suddenly pauses. She grabs a rectangular pillow - tosses it in the middle of the floor and says "now we are guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier". It was a precious moment to realize she "got" something like that. Nevermind - the soldiers guarding the tomb are a bit quieter than my clan.

We are getting back into the sit-down side of schooling. I did attempt to do some school on the road - but as expected - over projected what we would get done. There just wasn't time - with a field trip every day. Good news is - we can do all the recording of our travels now - no serious lesson planning for a while. We have a lot of "meat" to work with.

I hope to have a few minutes to check around to my "friends" and see what you all have been up too. Have a very Merry Christmas season!

Where has the time gone?

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 19:54:00 -0500

Happy Fall! Boy is the world stirred up with some blustery winds of change and turmoil? Seems everywhere I look there is uncertainty. I'm trying to cling to God's promise and stand rooted in Him. I know you are too. My prayers seemed focused on our leaders and our country. My heart overflows with concern for our spiritual future in this land. But God knows...

After two months of feeling RAW - I think I'm back on the level. Nothing like some national crisis to put my own troubles into perspective.

But despite all that...we have an exciting month coming up! Our family is headed to Washington DC for a month long field trip - and educational smorgasborg. It is the realization of a goal we set five years ago and we really didn't know how it was going to come all together, but it did. The economic slow down is allowing us to leave our business in the reliable hands of our employees and take the kids on trip of a lifetime. I still can't believe we going.

So if anyone has tips or hints about visiting our capitol - I'm all ears. We will be using The Providence Foundations - In God We Trust guidebook so that we don't over look the imprint of faith our founding fathers left for us.

I'm also trying hard to let the trip be the education and not try to cram in a bunch of busy paper work. I'm resisting so far. Can anyone relate? I mean - I prepared a lesson plan for our trip to Disneyworld? Get a life right? Needless to say - we had a nice stack of scratch paper from that misjudgement. But this is a little different so I'm asking God to show me wht is best for our family.

Blessings to you!

Raw

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:28:00 -0500

By now - anyone who checks in on me - knows I'm an emotional girl. A fact that I hadn't really admitted to myself until a friend said it out-loud. I hate it and do my best to conceal it in my daily life. But sometimes - God gets hold of that quality and won't let it be. Without the emotion on the surface - I am competent and self-sufficient - not exactly where He wants me. So some days and in this case, weeks, I'm left raw. All the tears welling, the feelings barely veiled and the cry stuck in my throat. Crying out to God - "why? I don't want to, pick someone else, I can't."

I keep thinking it will pass - coaching myself to buck-up, saying to myself "just keep your head down". But everything is overwhelming - school, laundry, disciplining, dinner. In the last week I've found myself just wanting to sit and stare into space. What does that mean? I'm tired? Maybe. I'm more inclined to think it means I'm out of God's will and His holy spirit is out to set me straight.

Being a perfectionist, people pleasing first born - I can get off track mentally - but still make sure that the outside looks acceptable. Which is why - I'm certain - that for God to get my attention He allows my insides to turn upside down. I've always thought hormones were God's ace. What starts out as a simple case of PMS can turn into something else completely.

I finally got two hours yesterday to head to the woods to pray and read my Bible. Turns out - I have a bad case of "I" Trouble. I suspected it all along and was just being rebellious. I kept trying to sort it out by thinking there was some cure or explanation instead of turning to God and just being, trusting, following. In addition to my whining I had been also saying to God - "I know you know the problem - why do I have to ask for you to show me? Why can't you just show me?" (And I wonder about my childrens stubborn streaks? )

So what did God say - inquiring minds all want to know. He said, I love you. He said, trust me. He said, focus on the basics, the fundamentals. All through our conversation I kept thinking - "I know you promise an easy yoke - but this one doesn't feel easy"...I think I had on the wrong yoke.

My heart has been grieving for our country and the our future as Christians. I feel so passionately about raising warriors against the culture and that responsibility (that I put on myself) gets very heavy. It was that self-imposed pressure that was festering inside. It was that yoke I was wearing. Who did I think I was? Only God knows the plan. Once again I was reminded that I'm not "the plan" only part of it and I cannot have any part unless my will is in complete submission to Him. He reminded me that I am just a child - too foolish to understand and that I had better just stick with what I know. With the help of Job and Jeremiah I was set straight.

I'm still raw. Sincerely, I want to stay that way. I don't want to these open wounds to heal because then I start to rely on my own wisdon - which obviously has led me astray more than once. How on earth did Noah do it? Follow God's words day in and day out for 40 years. He didn't know the plan. He looked foolish. He wasn't praised for how smart, prepared and organized he was. And still he kept on - building. There was no visiable fruit to his labor for so many years. Easy to see how he was the only man God wanted to save. Yes, there are very few Noah's in our world today. Can I, will I, be a Noah?

I have point - eventually...

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 23:28:00 -0500

It has been a year since I started this blog. I've obsessed over it at times - wanting it to look cute and fancy - but that passes. What I enjoy most is the connection - and that connection has been what drew me to the hobby in the first place. I have a few friends - I enjoy making quick comments to those I visit and love to see these quick comments on my blog as well. I have fleeting thoughts that I should be a more frequent visitor to blogs but - those guilt riden thoughts pass quickly as well. I should have more guilt about not having a meal prepared for my husband at the end of the day.

I have a handfull of irritations nipping at my heals this week - and honestly, every week. But - no need to whine about them. Why bore you - you've got your own troubles nipping at your heals. So, I'm sitting here trying to think of something interesting to write.

I don't think this is interesting - but here are the facts:

Here in the mountains of No. Cal. the smoke is thick and expected to continue for two months - so much for clear blue summer skies. But, my God is still Good!
My 16th Wedding anniversary is this weekend. This marriage and man saved my life from perpetual (un-necessary) drama. We have an alone weekend planned - and my God is definitely Good!
We will be starting our 8th year of homeschooling next week and I am even more excited that I was the first year - althought a bit tired already. And still - my God is good.
I have couples in my family falling apart - I pray, I counsel and still - heartbreak continues. I must have faith - and know that my God is good.
My estranged father has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and I have no idea if we will reconcile - ever. But my God is good - He gave me a man that will never leave me or my children.
Our company is facing lay-offs in the next couple of months, forcing us to upset more than one family, but again - God is good.
Close family members suffer from serious disease. We pray for healing and doctor's wisdom - and tell them - God is good.

Despite all the heartache that surrounds us - I feel the goodness of God. I see times He has protected me and the times He has allowed suffering in my life. I am not called to question His timing or purpose - but simply to be obedient to the task He has laid before me. I love the command for obedience because it is so simple. I understand it well because it is what I ask of my children. "Just do it" - Nike didn't get it completely right. It should be "Just do it, now, with a humble and happy spirit." Sadly - sometimes I only accomplish the "do it" part and am a little slow in reacting and certainly lack the happy spirit. But I'm working on it. I was reading today about Saul. I shook my head at him and then looked in the mirror and shook my head at myself. 90% obedience is just not good enough. As always in these moments - I'm so thankful for what Jesus did for me. I have been spending some time thinking about the areas of disobedience in my life. Still working on that too...

A Quick Note

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:11:00 -0500

It is that time of year - where much of us go quiet on the blogger front - including me. We are enjoying family visits and getting ready for the County Fair. We start back to school in just two weeks - as we are taking the leap to year round school. I think we are all looking forward to it.

I spent much of our brief break preparing my curriculum. I also wrote our Philosophy of Education. Here is what I came up with. I believe it was important for me this year to determine exactly what our purpose is before I could choose curriculum etc.

Rainbow Academy Philosophy of Education

RED: A CHILD’S HEART. We believe it the parent’s responsibility to shape a child’s heart. We take literally, Proverbs 22:6 which advises us to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”. Further, we believe in the literal application of Deuteronomy 6:5-7 which tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. And these commandments (the 10 Commandments) that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts, impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you get up. “

ORANGE: A CHILD’S ASSOCIATIONS. We believe whom a child associates with matters – especially in the formative years of youth. 2 Corinthians 6:14 instructs us to “not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Also, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20

YELLOW: A CHILD’S JOY. Education should not be joyless. A love of learning is essential to a lifetime of learning. “Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.

GREEN: SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. As a Christian family and school, we believe that all subjects, issues, and topics should be evaluated and tested according to scripture. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

BLUE: CHARACTER IS WHAT MATTERS MOST. Anyone can be well-educated – but what we do with that education is based on our character. Each child has his own path via formal education, vocational training or entrepreneurial pursuits. All are acceptable to God if done with honor and right character. “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21

PURPLE: CHRISTIAN HERITAGE & SERVICE. Regardless of how the world is living-our Christian heritage must be passed on to each generation. “I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.” Psalm 45:17. Also, always remembering, “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9