Deeply saddened by the downward slide of our America, I post this just in case you are asleep or not paying attention. Yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that it is perfectly permissible (constitutional)  for the government to require its citizens to purchase something.  As long as they call it a “tax,” they can require us to buy it and with this purchase undermine most of our freedoms. Where are we anyway?  Is this still the United States of America? 

1. No person shall be elected to the House of Representatives from the same congressional district for more than three consecutive full terms. Nor shall any person be elected to the Senate for more than two consecutive full terms. These term limits are effective upon ratification and apply to all sitting elected officials.

When I first started homeschooling, I used to attend a monthly homeschool  meeting in our neighborhood.  I was so excited about my new homeschooling life and I was anxious to learn all I could.  I remember one evening noticing an older homeschool mom sitting in back of the room,  and I went to sit by her. This lady who has now become a friend of mine, was nearly done homeschooling her only son.  He would soon be graduating and then she would be moving on to other adventures.  After we had been talking for a while, I asked her a question that I commonly asked back in those early homeschool days.  Regarding homeschooling I inquired,   “What is the one thing, you would have done differently?” and “Do you have any great homschooling tips?”  I was so anxious to hear some really good advice about teaching reading, curriculum ideas, or homeschool philosophy.  Maybe even some ideas on teaching history.  Oh how  I love history!

To my surprise she offered this piece of advice that was somewhat of a let down to me.  She said, the one thing she would have done differently was that she would have devoted more time to her husband and marriage!!!  As a younger homeschool mom…idealistic and overly enthusiastic about teaching my children, this was a non-answer.  What kind of homeschooling tip was that anyway? I wanted some really helpful advice!!!  Read more...

My dear sister came for a visit this week and she mentioned something that I found intriguing and thought was worth sharing with my homeschool friends. We had the opportunity to get out one evening and decided to visit a local Italian Restaurant in our neighborhood. The music at this restaurant was loud and blaring…not conducive to a peaceful dining experience or even a good conversation. My older sister who is somewhat bolder than I am (although I can be bold sometimes myself) asked the waitress if she could put on some nicer music…something classical…or perhaps an Italian opera or something similar. Minutes later the rock-n-roll was off and Frank Sinatra was on. Much better. My sister informed me that she was not complaining…but simply commenting on the music. I did not need any explanation as I was bothered by the loud music as well. She remarked that her husband and her were on a 24 hour fast from complaining. I had never heard this before but I immediately warmed up to this idea and wanted to hear more.
Complaining has been defined as “an expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or discontent.” Sometimes a complaint continues on and on….it becomes chronic and before you know it you have become a whiner constantly punishing your friends, family and children with your misery.
The Bible is full of verses about grumbling and complaining. Complaining is the outward expression of discontent from within and it is the opposite of trust and faith. When the children of Israel complained , it displeased the Lord. When we complain all the time we are in a way saying that we do not believe Romans 8:28 that “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord….and are called according to His good purpose.”
I’m ashamed to say that I spend a good deal of my time engaging in this very thing. Complaints abound about my aches and pains….about being tired…about the never ending laundry pile…the dishes and the price of beef. I complain about the long hot summers…the economy, our President and representatives. Each day upon arising instead of rejoicing in the Lord’s mercy and grace, I complain about my aching back…as if this complaining will make the pain go away. Sadly, I have become a chronic complainer and this whining breeds even more discontent and steals my joy.  Read more...

Years ago my husband and I were entrusted with an antique lap desk that my sister bought at an auction. While the desk was in our possession we discovered inside a stack of handwritten pre-civil war correspondence between a man and his girlfriend. Each evening when my husband returned from work we would read over these intriguing love letters written in very lovely delicate script. We were trying to figure out why this couple could not be together and why they did not simply get married. We discovered that the lady was caring for her parents and the gentleman worked for the railroads. It was such a treat for us to read about them and it felt as though we were time travelers getting a glimpse at life for two ordinary people so long ago.

I was disturbed when I heard that cursive writing had been dropped from the common core state standards in over 40 states here in America. Children in school today may not be able to enjoy reading some of the old original correspondence, documents, last will and testaments, sermons, etc. that were hand written in lovely penmanship.  Sadly, they will not know how to read our original founding documents like the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.  Although some folks think that handwriting is unnecessary, to me, it is quite perplexing to know that cursive writing is actually going extinct and future generations will not even be able to read our Constitution without it being translated for them. Folks will not be able to read an old fashioned handwritten letter or a letter from an ancestor. They will not be able to study genealogy or read many of the original historical documents that are preserved in museums and archives. Perhaps they will not be able to correspond with pen and paper at all…maybe they will not even know how to sign their name!!  Read more...

The years have flown. It seems like only yesterday we set up our homeschool classroom complete with the Pledge of Allegiance adorned on our wall, desks full of new school supplies, and brand- new shiny workbooks and readers. I was so excited to begin teaching my children but had no idea what this homeschool journey would actually look like….I didn’t know how marvelous and fulfilling it would be or how much it would change our family. As an idealistic and very eager homeschool mom, I did not envision or understand that in addition to my children learning, I would also experience growth and change. The focus was on my children, but now I understand that biblical homeschooling requires the whole family to transform and learn together. In those early days , I heard someone describe homeschooling as a “lifestyle”. I was somewhat puzzled by this description, but now I understand completely.

Undoubtedly, I would be teaching my children reading, writing and arithmetic, but I also would spend a great deal of time praying for patience…. for wisdom and working on character issues…with my children…. and myself. In order to homeschool independently and biblically, the emphasis would have to be on training and discipleship because the Bible is clear on this calling for parents. If our dear children did not obey, how could we ever hope to teach them? We had to choose curriculum carefully making sure it reflected a biblical worldview, and my husband soon became a prayer partner and homeschool advocate as well. Even our dear Grandma joined in to help with some subjects.  Read more...

This short clip  about Family Man Ministries reminds us what is really most important during these homeschooling years.  Even though I agree with what Todd Wilson and his wife are saying,  for homeschool moms like me this is a very difficult thing to understand and apply.  What do you think about this clip?

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from of old-things we have heard and known, things our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.  He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.  Psalm 78:1-7

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up.  Deuteronomy 11:18,19

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip for your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn form it.  Proverbs 22:6  Read more...

I found this timeline of education in America from a very helpful book ; The How and Why of Home Schooling by Ray E. Ballman. Dr. Ballmann, homeschooling father of six, makes a careful and convincing case for homeschooling. This list alone is enough to convince me to avoid the government schools.

1620-Christian education.  Schools taught the Bible and Colleges like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale were founded so train young men to preach the gospel.

1837-Public education begins.  The first public school was established.  Horace Mann, a Unitarian, worked for a state-controlled educational system.  The Bible was still taught in the public schools.

1905-Progressive education.  John Dewey, the father of progressive education, introduced Socialistic, anti-Christian philosophy in the schools.  The Bible was separated from academic studies.

1925-Supreme Court rules on home schooling.  In Pierce v. Society of Sisters it says Oregon parents can’t be denied their own schools. noting, “The child is not the mere creature of the state.”

1933-Humanistic education.  The Humanist Manifesto, written by John Dewey and thirty-three other signers enunciates the doctrines of secular humanism.  God and the supernatural are rejected and replaced with man’s reason and science.

1963-Anti-Christian education.  Bible reading in public schools is declared unconstitutional.  The vacuum is quickly filled with curriculum materials that promote immorality, rebellion against parents, the occult, and other teachings contrary to Scripture.

1960s-Rise of Christian education.  There are now over ten thousand Christian schools to combat the destructive education of religious humanism.  A Christian school is started every seven hours.  Read more...

Although Socrates admonished  that “The unexamined life is not worth living,” in some ways it seems self-indulgent …..always questioning…..always examining  our own lives and activities.  Still, in our family, since we’ve begun this homeschool journey, evaluating our curriculum, our methods, our goals, our daily activities,  and even our attitudes is par for the course.  This time set aside for reflection and examination helps  to refocus and set goals.  It renews our vision and sets straight our path once again.  One of the benefits of this close  evaluation is that we remember the big picture and the real reason we  homeschool. 

What are we hoping to accomplish and why have we chosen this homeschooling lifestyle?   Academic excellence is not our main destination and some subjects may not  impress. We realize and remember that “there are no guarantees in this life,” yet  we press on because we must do what God commands;  teach and train our own children.  To tell them the stories of God’s faithfulness in our own lives and the lives of those who came before us.  To speak of this often…when we arise, during the day and when we retire at the end of our day.  Trusting in God to fill in the gaps when we fall short, we are doing our best at:

training future leaders and……looking generations ahead.

We are leading by inspiration……and  by example

We are teaching repentance and……preserving traditions and customs.

We are training our future grandchildren and…….maintaining close family ties.  Read more...

A builder builded a temple.
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
‘It shall never know decay.
Great is thy skill, O Builder!
Thy fame shall endure for aye.’

A teacher builded a temple
With loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with prayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts.
None knew of her wondrous plan,
For the temple the teacher builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the builder’s temple,         
Crumbled into the dust.
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the teacher builded
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Was a child’s immortal soul.

Author unknown

This poem by Edgar Guest, I dedicate to my husband who is the story teller in our family.  I’m  blessed to have a man  who is devoted to making memories with his boys; jealously guarding his evening  time of praying and reading with them.  Even now that they are growing into young men, he spends this time, laughing, reading, praying and roughhousing with them  each night. Often times I’m the “grown-up” who  reminds them that its time to sleep….because they are having too much fun to watch the clock.  Yes, this poem definitely  describes my honey.  ~Happy Father’s Day

Most every night when they’re in bed,
And both their little prayers have said,
They shout for me to come upstairs
And tell them tales of gypsies bold,
And eagles with the claws that hold
A baby’s weight, and fairy sprites
That roam the woods on starry nights.

And I must illustrate these tales,
Must imitate the northern gales
That toss the native man’s canoe,
And show the way he paddles, too.
If in the story comes a bear,
I have to pause and sniff the air
And show the way he climbs the trees
To steal the honey from the bees.

And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on his nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries:
“That pair will never shut their eyes,
While all that noise up there you make;
You’re simply keeping them awake.”
And then they whisper: “Just one more,”
And once again I’m forced to roar.  Read more...

There is, I should say, a very serious error involved in a Christian parent’s committing the training of his children to unconverted persons, or even to those whose hearts are not one with him as to separation from the world. It is natural that a child should look up to, and follow, the example of, one who has the training and management of him. Now, what can a teacher make of a child, save what he is himself? What principles can he instill, save those which govern his own mind, and form the basis of his own character? The same principle applies to the reading of books. A book is decidedly a silent teacher and former of the mind and character; if I am called to look well to the character and the principles of the living teacher, I am equally so to look to those of the silent teacher. I am quite convinced that in reference both to books and teachers we need to have our consciences stirred and instructed. —C. H. Mackintosh (1820-1896)

Although our family has chosen not to participate in Awana programs, we managed to memorize some verses and chapters over the years.  I’m realizing now that we have not memorized nearly enough because I have not made this a priority in our homeschooling.  I guess I did not understand how very important it is to walking with Christ. Somehow I was put off by the competitive nature of the various programs like Awana in addition to the behavior of some participants.  I’ve known of children who have memorized huge portions of scripture and have completed all of the paces in the Awana program but exhibited very little fruit from this.  Sadly, I’m afraid I may have thrown “the baby out with the bath water.”

John Piper has listed some reasons why he believes memorizing is so valuable.  I’d add one more reason on the end.  Memorizing scripture is important because one day our Bible (which many consider a book of hate speech) may be taken from us. I’m inspired to work harder at this and memorize more myself.  A helpful website for memorizing scripture is:   www.memverse.com/

youtu.be/-2ph6zKxJDk

Memorizing Scripture:

Makes meditation possible when you cannot read the Bible…allows for deeper understanding.

Strengthens my faith (faith comes by hearing the word).

Shapes the way I view the world by conforming my mind to God’s viewpoint.

Helps us overcome temptation to sin.

 It guards my mind and allows me to detect error.  Read more...

I found this inspiring poem in a book titled Poems for Memorization by Rod and Staff Publishers.  This book has poems chosen for each grade level.  This particular selection is suggested for ninth grade.

“My Book! My Book! My grand old Book!”

By inspiration given!

Thy every page, from age to age,

Reveals the path to heav’n;

My Lamp of light! In nature’s night

Thy unbeclouded ray

Has turned the gloom of death’s cold tomb

To everlasting day.

“My Chart! My Chart! My changeless Chart!”

By thee I guide my bark,

A simple child on ocean wild,

O’er mountain billows dark;

By thee I steer my safe career,

With canvas all unfurled,

And onward sail before the gale,

To yonder blissful world.

My Staff! My Staff! My trusty Staff!”

I’ll grasp thee in my hand,

As faint and weak on Pisgah’s peak,

I view the promised land;

Not sadly told, as one of old,

To see—but not explore,

My hold I’ll keep through Jordan’s deep

Till safe on Canaan’s shore.

My Sword! My Sword! My two edged Sword!”

By thy unerring might,

I deal my foe the deadly blow,

In faith’s unequal fight;

Thy tempered blade, that lent me aid

In every conflict past,  Read more...

Thomas Sowell, one of the most brilliant conservative intellectuals in America today shares some of his thoughts on our educational system. I appreciate when he remarked that the experiences of life can help people outgrow whatever they have been indoctrinated into.  This is so true!  Everything from earning a paycheck to having your first child often makes you see the world differently.  Many of my child development classes went out the window when I realized that what the experts had to say not only did not work, but were in direct contrast to Biblical teachings and the wisdom of my dear Mother.  Turns out the the old paths that have been tested over and over again, confirmed by scripture were the right paths after all.  ~Anne

People are all born ignorant but they are not born stupid.  Much of the stupidity we see today is induced by our educational system, from the elementary schools to the universities.  In a high-tech age that has seen the creation of artificial intelligence by computers, we are all seeing the creation of artificial stupidity by people who call themselves educators.

Educational institutions created to pass on to the next generation the knowledge, experience and culture of the generations that went before them have instead been turned into indoctrination centers to promote whatever notions, fashions or ideologies happen to be in vogue among today’s intelligentsia.  Read more...