Reaching Higher - Homeschool Blogger

Thanksgiving Reading

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:28:00 -0600

Each year at this time I like to spend some time reading books that remind me of what Thanksgiving is all about. One that is a favorite of mine is, Of Plymouth Plantation: Bradford's History of the Plymouth Settlement 1608-1650. On top of many reasons that I will list below, I like to read this each November because it is just the right length to fill up the month prior to Thanksgiving. This month it works perfectly because the book is 26 chapters long and Thanksgiving is on the 26th! You can read one chapter a day and finish on Thanksgiving.

It is so important to familiarize yourself with your history. And it is not sufficient to just believe what you have heard or were taught about the people that founded our country. Everyone has a world-view that they project onto everything they do. So if you read your history through the lens of someone with an alternate worldview to the founders, you will be misled. You really need to read it in their own words.

That is why I like this particular book so much. It is written by a man who was there and he inserts many letters written by those involved. This book begins with the pilgrimage from England to Holland then moves from Holland to America. You will learn the hearts of the people who made this move, the trials they went through, and the providence of God through it all. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."

The Mayflower Compact: "In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presnts solemnly and mutually in the prescence of God, and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and the furtherance of the ends aforesaid and by virtue thereof to enact constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general use of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. (then it is signed and dated.)"

And finally a quote from Bradford, "And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity."

Another book I am reading (more slowly) right now is The Federalist Papers which is a compilation of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in defense of the need for our nations Constitution. They were written at a time in our nation when it was unclear whether we would be the United States of America or we would be a collection of states or smaller confederacies with no overarching government.

It is important to know our history. Vitally important because "The man who has no sense of history is like a man who has no ears or eyes." I don't often quote Adolf Hitler, but in this case he made the point well. While Hitler used peoples lack of knowledge to lead them into bondage, we can use our knowledge of history to promote freedom in our country.

Shannon

Costco Vs. Aldi Price Guide

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:53:00 -0500

I had this price guide made up for my other blog but I thought some of you might like it as well so I am sharing it here.

A huge thank you to my friend Tracy! She took care of making a link to my Aldi/Costco price guide so that you can all have a copy of it if you would like. All you have to do is click on the link below and print it out!

Let me explain the layout so you know how to use the list. It is set up like a spreadsheet and organized in the following way. There are 6 columns that include: Item Type (frozen, canned, pantry, etc.), Item, Aldi Price, Aldi Price Per (price per pound, ounce, can, etc.), Costco Price, Costco Price Per.

Many of the items are listed by name brand. These name brands apply only to Costco of course since Aldi carries only their own store brand. In the price per columns I have highlighted in red the store that has the best price. If both stores have the same price then neither is highlighted and if one store does not carry a particular item you will see n/a in the price columns.

There are certain things obviously missing from this list. One of those things is milk. I always buy milk at either Costco or Aldi because they are always the cheapest. However milk prices fluctuate like crazy so it would be futile to try to keep it on a list like this. Produce prices fluctuate as well so they are not included. I usually shop produce based on weekly sale prices. Finally, you will not find fresh meat prices on this list because, while both Aldi and Costco have meat prices that are better than regular grocery store prices, grocery store meat sales are always better than Aldi and Costco meat prices.

Armed with that information please feel free to print out and use this price guide. I have found it to be helpful if I am wondering if a grocery store deal is really good or not. I can check the price against my guide to know for sure. You can get the guide at the following link: COSTCO/ALDI PRICE GUIDE.

Spiritual Neutrality?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:53:00 -0500

I lay in bed last night thinking (I was wishing I was sleeping but, alas, sleep took it's time in coming.) For some reason my mind kept turning to the topic of spiritual neutrality. It probably came from a mix of the Bible Study I am a part of on Sunday nights and a book I have been reading. I kept thinking of all the things we tend to think of as spiritually neutral.

As I thought about this topic my mind kept coming back to one constant refrain, "He who is not for me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Mat. 12:30) Spiritual neutrality is NOT a biblical concept! As Christians we know that it is not possible to "ride the fence" spiritually. You belong to your father and their are only two options: "If God were your father....or....You belong to your father, the devil." (John 8:42...44) There is no spiritual orphanage that you get to hang out in until the decision is made who your father will be. You belong to one or the other.

Sometimes we fail, however, to realize that there is nothing in life that is spiritually neutral. There are so many things in our lives that we think fall into that non-existent, spiritually neutral category. And those are precisely the areas that Satan gains entry into our lives. From the way we spend our leisure time, to our time spent on the job, to education. We can be tempted to see these areas as a-spiritual, as if God is not concerened with them. But we must remember that there is no area of our lives where God is not concerned.

When we spend our leisure time watching a movie God is either glorified or mocked. The content either causes us to think of things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8) or it causes us to think the opposite of those things. That doesn't mean that every movie we watch must have a message of salvation in it. There are many movies that may seem "spiritually neutral" because they don't have a blatant spiritual message. But stories and themes in movies cause us to either be lifted up to the true, noble, right, pure, etc. or they cause us to be dragged down. They do not leave us unchanged.

When we are at our job or at home cleaning the house we can bring God glory or bring him shame. We may be convinced that if we are not a pastor or a missionary that God is unconcerned with how we do our daily work as long as we aren't hurting anyone else. But that could not be further from the truth! "Whatever you do, wether in word or deed, do it all for the glory of the Lord." (Col. 3:17)

There are areas of education where it is obvious to us that education is not spiritually neutral. For example, as Christians we know that God created the world and everything in it, so any teaching that rises up against that immediately raises red flags in us. But there is no subject that escapes unscathed. Even math (if anything seems intrinsically unspiritual it would be math!), but even math is something that God designed and is therefore not a-spiritual! God is a God of order and he designed an orderly universe! "For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace." (1 Cor. 14:33) God has put together our world in such an amazing way that it boggles the mind. Mathematical equations, believe it or not, are a reflection of that order. But what happens when someone comes along and says in their heart, "there is no God"? Well, then you get "New Math" and suddenly 2+2 can equal 5. That thinking flies in the face of a God of order!

Everyone has a worldview, a lens through which they filter everything. Non of them are spiritually neutral. Let us "be very careful then how we live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:15)

Shannon

When God Writes Your Love Story

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:37:00 -0500

If you are a Christian and you a)are single, b)are friends with someone who is single, c)have children who are single, or d)might someday know someone who is single; you really must read this book!

I have to thank my friend Debrah for loaning this book to me! It is an amazingly forthright, easy and enjoyable to read book about trusting God for the love of your life. It is written by Eric and Leslie Ludy who both had decided to "let God have the pen" and write their love story.

This is a book I wish someone had given me. For too long we have accepted the lie that God cares nothing more about our romantic relationships than that we follow a few rules; don't have sex outside of marriage, and once you get married, stay that way. But God, the author of ALL CREATION, the passionate LOVER OF OUR SOULS, want to author our love story as well.

Eric and Leslie say it better than I could so, go get the book! Seriously! You will not regret it. This one could change your life or the life of someone you love!

Shannon

Timmy and School

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 22:37:00 -0500

Timothy has really started enjoying school lately. We are using My Father's World curriculum and we just finished the unit on the letter "A" and we learned about apples. We also learned the bible concept "if I stay in Jesus I will bear much fruit." Now, this is a very abstract idea and I am pretty sure he has no idea what it means, but at least I am sure he is listening.

On Sunday morning in the sermon, the pastor spent some time talking about bearing fruit. As soon as I heard him say it I looked at Timmy and he grinned. Every time the pastor mentioned fruit Timmy would perk up and look at me. I know he has no real idea of the true meaning, but at least he is making the connections!

On Monday we made applesauce. Timmy enjoyed helping me turn the handle on the Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer and he really enjoyed eating a "slinky apple". After the apple sauce was finished I gave him a bite. (He has never liked applesauce.) He grinned and grimaced at the same time as he chewed and swallowed. I said, "What did it taste like Timmy?" He replied, "Much fruit, and I don't like it!" Hah!! What a kid!

I am thouroughly enjoying watching him learn. I had forgotten what sponges kids are at this age!

Shannon

Birthday Bonanza!

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 21:28:00 -0500

Well, the month of October has arrived and around here that means Birthdays! We have a plethora of October birthday's in my family. (Not to mention quite a few friends that we happen to know who share my brother and husbands birthdays!) It goes like this: My nephew, my Dad and Daughter (same day), my brother and my husband. Whew! They go from beginning to almost the end. In fact if my grandpa was still alive they would go from the 1st to the 31st!

Today began the festivities for our immediate family. We spent the day with Sarah's best friend and her family to celebrate Sarah's birthday. We began the day at the Soulard Farmer's Market then had a picnic lunch in the park.

After that we headed to Baked Goods Pottery to paint some ceramic pieces. We had a little adventure there. We pulled up to the building and it said "FOR LEASE" in the window! Fortunately I called 1-800-YELLOW-PAGES and was able to discover that they had just moved to a bigger building across town.

For dinner we all went to Pizza Hut then went back to Sarah's friends house for oatmeal cookie bars (yes, she requested that instead of a cake!) It was a really fun day!

What has happened to the past 12 years! I can not believe that it was that long ago when the doctor first placed her in my arms!! Now she is becoming a young woman before my eyes and I can not begin to comprehend how it happened so fast! I am just glad I have been able to see every step of her growth to this point. I am blessed beyond words with a wonderful daughter!

Shannon

The Parenting Conference

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:29:00 -0500

Last weekend our church had a parenting conference. We had a speaker lined up to come in and on Wednesday the church got a call that he was in the hospital and would not be able to come. After a slight panic and lots of prayer our pastor stepped up to fill-in and we were blessed by the fact that he did. Below I have listed a few of the things that really spoke to me.

We must defer to God's plan over our plans for our kids. These are God's kids, not ours. We are merely training them for His service.
When your kids ask you if something is right or wrong, don't just give them your answer. Take them to scripture to show them what God says. Let them know you are not the ultimate answer.
There is no "perfect way" to parent, but, God will use imperfect parents with imperfect kids to bring about His perfect plan.

And the statement that spoke to me the most was this:

Do what you do as a parent for the glory of God and not to produce a result. Parenting isn't for self-fulfillment, it is about creating people for His glory.

Finally, on Friday our pastor was asked to be a special guest on Albert Mohler's radio program to talk about being a parent of a Down Syndrome child. You can hear that interview by clicking HERE and you can read the blog post that initiated the interview HERE. Click on the blog link and look for the title from Friday "Will Babies with Down Syndrome Just Disappear?"

Shannon

New Family Photos

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:57:00 -0500

Thanks to John Shaw for taking some new family photos for us! Here are a few of my favorites:

Shannon

Back at last!

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:34:00 -0500

We have internet again! Wow, that was a long 5 days. I did find some free Wi-Fi spots that I was unaware of before though! A silver lining to every cloud.

Yesterday we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the zoo with friends. They had a half day of school so we met about 1:00 and headed out. We had been to the zoo earlier in the year together but there were a few areas that we didn't get to take advantage of. We also still had train tickets that we didn't use last time! That made it a nice cheap trip since our zoo is free and we were blessed with a free parking spot right by the entrance to the zoo! The only thing we paid for was the stingray exhibit and it was well worth the $3. We actually got to pet and feed the stingrays. (Their stingers had been removed.) Then we went through the "River's Edge" exhibit and saw the rhino's, elephants and hippos. I think the hippos were my favorite because they swim right past you, about 6 inches from your face! I had forgotten how huge they were!

It was a fun day. I forgot my camera though so I apologize for the lack of pictures. The day ended with choir practice. I handed out the parts to the kids for the musical. I love to watch their faces when they get their parts. It's like Christmas!

Shannon

Out of the loop

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:42:00 -0500

We are without internet till Thursday. It is amazing how unconnected I feel without it. I am just posting this update because I am in a Wi-Fi hotspot and I have a minute. Hopefully I will be able to post something more productive when we get our internet back!

Shannon