O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!

Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.  Read more...

If I had accomplished my goals since 1963, I would have run a marathon, got a degree in music,  bought my home in the country and much more!!  I have not completed my list yet but unfortunately  the Communists have.. unbelievable.  Read more...

1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
9. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If it’s charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces.
10. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
11. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts forsocialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
12. Gain control of all student newspapers.
13. Use student riots to ferment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

I found this quote from Chief Justice Earl Warren and it reminded me of the quote from our current President,  Barack Obama ; “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are, uh, bound by a set of values.” I thought the contrast was quite striking.

“I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good  Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses….Whether we look to the the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or the the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present….a Christian land governed by Christian principles.  I believe that the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: Freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people.  I like to believe we are living today in  the spirit of the Christian religion.  I also like to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”

My husband and I were recently  blessed to be able to  attend a Voddie Bauchum conference and hear him speak on multi-generational faithfulness. He taught us about  how family worship can help us to raise up Godly children who will grow and do the same for their children all for the glory and kingdom of God.  At church this past Sunday our Pastor also spoke about Family Worship.  He quoted from President Truman saying “The buck stops here” meaning that the dad should take the lead in this area.  I thought I’d share some of what we have done in our family and what we have learned.

*Family Worship Begins with the Head of the Household. This must be born of conviction, not of guilt or coercion.  However, this is not to say that the Mom should never lead family worship.

*Family Worship must be Scheduled in order to have it become a regular practice.

*Family Worship must be Simple. It does not need to be a big production but just a commitment to gather together with the Word of God.

*Family Worship must be Natural.  Just be you.  God sent your children to you and you are the perfect person to lead.

*Family Worship must be Mandatory.  No one gets to skip.

*Family Worship must be Participatory. Invite your children to join in singing, reading discussing and praying.  Read more...

My dear Daddy was born in Massachusetts in 1924.  I’m missing him today as I celebrate Father’s Day with my children and husband.  I’m remembering things about him on this day that are not only unique to him but also to his generation.  I’m sad that the men from the era of the great depression, and  WWII are mostly gone now. The difficult years that they endured, the simple living without the conveniences we have today, and  the poverty that many knew,  carved out a different sort of man. Perhaps a simpler man….not a “renaissance” man for sure, but a strong, wise and more masculine man.  A “get-‘er-done” sort of guy.   I’m grieving this loss today.  I don’t want them to go….I like the way they talk,  I like their values for the most part,  and wish I could keep their stories alive.  I don’t even mind if they smoke a cigarette or two  as they recall their stories.  Perhaps that’s because my dad always had a cigarette in his hands when he talked to us children.

My Dad worked hard and seldom missed a day from his job even if he was ill. His strong work ethic probably came from the fact that having a job was considered a blessing rather than a curse. He never believed in welfare and considered it a shameful thing for an able bodied man to accept.  He grew up in a poor family with 6 children and no father.  He worked for Western Union as a boy delivering telegrams, he worked in factories, he studied chemistry and then became a plater at Cambridge Plating Company and even had his own business for a while.  He was a bugle player for the United States Marine Corps.  My Dad and Mom were married over 50 years, raised 5 children and did the best they could with what they knew.  Read more...

Today while we enjoyed our lunchtime meal we watched another  history lesson from American Heritage Series by David Barton. We discovered all of the Black Americans who were members of Congress in 1872.  Did you know that they were all Republicans and were responsible for passing many civil rights laws? Because this episode was so interesting, and the information was something I was never taught in school,  I’m going to watch it several more times. We found out that many of our Black founding fathers were devout Christians and pastors.  We learned that President Woodrow Wilson did not support Civil Rights legislation and also fired the blacks who had positions in government? He also was a KKK member!  Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt did just the opposite and chose Booker T. Washington to work with him?  I find it ironic that there are over a dozen schools named after Woodrow Wilson. Why would we give him so much honor…perhaps we did not read our history books.  Perhaps we’ve been taught revisionist history? We were blessed to hear  about a Godly founder named Frederic Douglass who reminded us of the proverb Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Well, I’m ashamed to admit that I am just learning these truths.  I’m on a mission though to keep on learning and telling others of our forgotten history.  Won’t you join me?  Blessings,  Anne

Failed in business in 1831         

Defeated for Legislature in 1832

Second failure in business in 1833

Suffers nervous breakdown in 1836

Defeated for Speaker in 1838

Defeated for Congress in 1843

Defeated for Congress in 1848

Defeated for Senate in 1855

Defeated for Vice President in 1856

Defeated for Senate in 1858

Elected President in 1860!!!

The Flag is many things.  It is a mark of identification of ships at sea and of armies in the field.  It is a means of communication.  When you see our Flag in front of a home,  it says for all the world to read, “Here lives a family that is American in spirit as well as in name.”  The Flag is a mirror, reflecting to each person his own ideals and dreams.  It is a history.  Its thirteen stripes and fifty stars embrace a record written greatly during these years since 1776.  It is a mark of pride in a great word-the word “American.”  It is an aspiration of what small children want their lives to be.  It is a memory at the end of life of all that life has been.  It is a ribbon of honor for those who have served it well-in peace and war.  It is a warning not to detour from the long road that has brought our country and its people to a degree of prosperity and happiness never even approached under any other banner.

Flag day is a day to proudly display our flag and show our respect for our flag and country.  We are still one nation under God and we must not get discouraged but defend and stand up for our flag our God and our country. May the Lord have mercy upon our nation, may he send revival, restore our country and turn our hearts and homes towards Him.  Read more...

Before I even began homeschooling, I went to have lunch at my dearest friends home one spring day.  I loved to pick her brain,  look around at her home and glean anything I could from her because she was living the dream I wanted to live.  She found much delight in her young son, enjoyed being a “keeper- at- home” and was   diligent about training and discipling him.  While browsing around her kitchen,  I noticed these 21 rules posted on her refrigerator.  She told me about them and how they helped her in training her son.  I decided to use them as well and they have been such a blessing.  Now that my boys are older we do not refer to them as much,  but in the early child training days,  I would use these 21 rules and refer to them many times during the day. To my children they were the law of our home.  We memorized them, used them for our copywork,  and even added music and sang them.  Today Grandma still chides,  “number 16…don’t forget about rule  number 16 ! ”  because our family has a difficult time with this one.  I hope you will benefit from this helpful child training tool as well.   ~Anne

 Read more...

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee…and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then, I, his father, will dare to whisper, have not lived in vain.

Although we are still finishing projects and books through the month of June, this is the time of year when I like to sit down and journal my thoughts; reflect on our year,  and write down what we have accomplished as well as what we have neglected to study.  Although this journaling is for my benefit,  I hope that you will enjoy hearing about our year as well.  In fact,  I would love to hear about your year.  I learn so much from other homeschoolers and even though we should not compare ourselves with other families,  I don’t think it is wrong to inspire others and share our successes and failures.

I guess a part of this journaling comes from my own insecurities and feelings that I did not do enough.  I have a feeling of uneasiness at the end of a school year and begin to doubt myself and conclude that I am not scholarly enough or that I did not do enough to contribute to my children’s academic success.    My dear husband always   reminds me that our children are kind, happy, and smart too.  I reply with a halfhearted  “Yea, I guess you are right.”  So, I write to convince myself that our year was adequate and that the Lord taught us plenty.  Read more...

“The issue is the same today as it has always been throughout history,
whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.”
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work to give to those who are not.”

“Most bad government has grown out of too much government”
Thomas Jefferson

“A heavy or progressive or graduated income tax is necessary for the proper development of communism.”

“From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.”

“The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.

The education of all children,from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care,shall be in state institutions at state expense.”

Karl Marx

Although we are officially finished with our A Beka history book for this year, our history learning never ends.  My boys are becoming quite the history buffs and learning some civics and current politics as well.  We’ve been watching “Founding Father’s Friday’s”  on the Glenn Beck show and have gained more knowledge about Sam Adams, George Washington,  George Whitfield and others and have been entertained as well.

During lunch hour while we eat our soup and sandwiches we enjoy watching the “American Heritage Series” by David Barton.  Each episode is only about 25 minutes long so our attention does not wander much. What a painless and fun way to learn history!  I love homeschooling!

This month we are going to work on memorizing several easy and short documents. First, we will learn The Preamble to the Constitution and then the First Amendment to the Constitution.  We will also begin to learn the first two paragraphs to The Declaration of Independence.  Perhaps you will care to join us.  Happy Homeschooling dear Families! ~Anne

Preamble to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.  Read more...

The more I study history and read the original quotes and documents from our founding father’s, the more I am confident that our country was founded upon Christian ideals.  I thought I’d start a collection of some of my favorite quotes which support this fact.  I realize that our founders were not perfect….some were Deists and unbelievers.  All were sinners.  Many though were devout Christians who were trusting in Christ and used the Bible as their measuring rod and guide.  I’m learning that our founding documents like the Constitution were inspired by the principles taught in scripture.  We do not have a “godless constitution” as some claim today.

I’m going to put some of these quotes to memory; perhaps you will join me. ~Anne

“The foundations of our society and our government rests so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”  Calvin Coolidge

“Go to the Scriptures.  The joyful promises it contains will be a balm to all your troubles.”   Andrew Jackson

“The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and spiritual nature and need of men.  It is the only guide of life that really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation.”        Woodrow Wilson

(This one from President Lincoln is so relevant for us now)  Read more...

A drop of water

smoke spiraling from a chimney

a twig

a lady bug

ice melting

hearts beating

caterpillars creeping

babies nursing

the flutter of a butterfly’s wings

silk worms crunching mulberry leaves

a bruised leg

rainbow

fog

smelling a flower

tasting rain

petting a furry kitten

listening to silence

a floating cork

children growing

a freckled nose

reflections

shadows

darkness

light

pushing a wagon

making bubbles

blowing through a straw

wind curly hair

spider web

rocks

wheels

touching sand

death

birth

life

“After the knowledge of, and obedience to, the will  of God, the next aim must be to know something of His attributes of wisdom, power and goodness as evidenced by his handiwork”

James Juole

Mother’s Love
Her love is like
an island in life’s ocean,
vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
‘Tis bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro’ the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.
Author Unknown

I would like to take a few minutes to publicly thank my wife (Anne) who spends her time and energy on the education and development of our  two children, and taking good care of our family.  May God Bless her and protect her always.

Love

TechnoDad and the TechnoLads

I don’t think there is a “right” order to teach history. I guess that decision can be made using several influences… like what you’ve spent time studying in the past, your children’s interest, maybe an area you feel passionate about, etc. I didn’t really have a schedule… I worked through history the same way I scrapbook… chronologically. : ) But that isn’t necessary. You really can study any time period that interests you, or that you feel is important to spend time on.

We also read lots of historical fiction or biography books along our history timeline, and watched movies (usually older ones), that went with the timeline or that were made from the books we read.

A few titles that we pulled in:

G. A. Henty books or books on tape for ancienct Egypt and Roman times, etc. (check out Henty titles)
Titles from Sonlight and Veritas Press catalog history sections that worked with our timeline.
Three Muskateers
Mutiny on the Bounty ( book and old Clark Gable movie)
Man in the Iron Mask
Gone with the Wind ( movie only)
Robin Hood ( old movie with Errol Flynn)
Westerns and War movies ( older movies – some John Wayne, etc. )

These are just a few ideas. We loved that we could make some popcorn, have a movie night, and it was part of school! : )  Read more...

I don’t want to give the impression that the things we chose to do or use were perfect or sacred. They weren’t. But the Lord was so wonderfully faithful to direct our steps, and reveal His plan for us, along the way. He may lead you in a different direction, depending on His plans for your family or your growing child. So the heart of my message would be… be faithful to our calling to home disciple our children, all the way through, and the Lord will be faithful to us and will direct our paths as He completes His work in us and our kids. : )

I have many friends and acquaintances who also homeschooled their children through graduation, and I am often so impressed by how the Lord directed their steps, and tailored their education to suit their specific family needs. It didn’t always look just like our homeschool course, but it was the right fit for each family. He is just so awesome.

I am always happy to share what we used and what worked well for us, knowing that I am not suggesting it is the only way, but maybe it will give others some direction, as they seek the Lord.  Read more...