my thoughts...
The girls' and I went on a girlie trip with our friends, Keri and Olivia, to Lake Coeur D'Lane this week and we had a great time of shopping and laughing and more shopping and more belly laughing, not to mention eating and more eating.It was great.I love the flexiblity of homeschooling!It just really works for us.How long will we homeschool?As long as we are called to do it.It's an innersteen dynamic, homeschooling, because the most common response when people find out we do it is that the children are not being socialized properly by homeschooling them.Really?My response to that is," So, what I hear you saying is that public school provides the social structure that children need, is that right?"Well, yes, of course.Really?To that I point out that public school does no such thing, that children are NOT equipped for the "real world" being ''in the world", but, in fact, they are being taught that they are the center of the very universe and the entitlement that these "socialized" kids feel when entering the work force is appalling.My husband manages a fast food restaurant and what he sees as these kids come out of the public school arena is no ablility for team work, self-centeredness, and entitlement up the ying-yang.A friend of mine added to this:"When was the last time you were cursed at while at work?"That is an every day thing at public school."When was the last time you were made fun of at work?"
Everyday at public school."When was the last time you were sexually harrassed while at work?"
Everyday at public school.If these things take place at the work place, dire consequences will be handed down.Not at school, though.The hostile environment at the average public school does NOT properly socialize our children, in fact, it take away from the education process and hinders the learning process.Duh!!!!The core group of kids at our church are experiencing the whole "living out your faith" even at church because the ratio of homeschoolers to public school kids is about 50/50 and it has made for some lively conversation for the kids as well as the parents.We feel that God has called us, as Christians, to homeschool our kids.Do we think we're better than anybody else is they choose not to?Absolutely not!However, if you look at our kids compared to the PS kids, spiritually, relationally, emotionally, they are heads above the rest.I'm not suggesting my kids are perfect, far from it, but, they are being blessed because of the obedience to the call and the obedience to God's word.And yet, almost on a weekly basis, I hear disparaging comments from our brothers and sisters In Christ about those "freaky homeschoolers."Nice.I say, bring it on, we're not just freaky, we're PECULIAR, too!Reminds me of a bible verse:I Peter 2:9'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
We miss Dog....
OK...Is anyone out there a "DOG" fan?As for me and my family...we are.I watched him on Hannity and was very moved by him and I believe he is very sorry for what he did.It is appalling that he is being compared to Imus and Michael Richards and the racist comments they made because this was a private conversation between family...shame on his son for selling out his dad.On the other hand, we have been saying amongst our family that his language and his profession of faith in God don't mesh and that God will humble him if he doesn't change his ways.We've been saying it.....long time now.His pastor has been on him about his language.God's been on him about his language and probably thinking, "we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way...your choice, Dog."Well, he chose the hard way, but I believe he is truly repentent.Time will tell.We're still behind you, Dog, and hoping you change and get your show back.We miss you.
so much going on....JH is over and 80 people people gave their hearts to the Lord and dozens of others re-dedicated their lives.Wonderful.Now we play catch- up and our house.Not-so-wonderful.going...going...going.gone.
JH....another journey.
JH starts tomorrow night!Four weeks of rehersal, building sets, changing scenes, directing characters, wondering how it will come together, praying without ceasing over this ministry, have all led up to now.Whew!I'm exhausted already...and it's just getting started.This year the theme is internet stalking and it has caused many parents and those involved to ask the question: "Is is sinful to protray sin?"The script is very graphic and it is very wierd to see Godly men playing this really creepy, slimy pedophile.I don't know the right answer, other than God is in this and He will get the glory, not ourselves and God looks at the heart of a person which is the wellspring of life.Why is this year so unpallitable when every other year we have protrayed sinful behavior and the consequences of it, right?I think because this will hit close to home for many coming to see it as well as those involved in it.This play shows the dangers of MySpace.How many of our kids out there, good christian kids have MySpace?I know a ton that do!!May this be a cautionary tale for some and for others the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Jesus.I am praying for our actors to be strong and focused on the work ahead, for it si work, and for those coming through that they will come face-to-face with Jesus, the Son of God and I pray that it will be life-changing.
Peace....
Saturday night we had 4 families over for bible study and it was really a blessing!What a priveledge to simply open God's word and read.Sweet.Our theme was Peace:what is it?and how does one achieve it?By the world's strandard, one never could but, ONLY with the pursuit of Jesus does one achieve true peace.Have any of you scene "Diary of a mad black woman?"It is hysterical!!!!We LOVE her interpretation of what peace is.Check it out on U Tube...so funny.
family fitness
Family Fitness:How fit is your family???If you look at the biblical model for families, you'll see that the father is the head of the home and subject to God's authority. The wife is subject to her husband, cares for the home, takes care of the kids, the kids are subject to their parents, according to the 5th commandment.Sounds pretty straight forward, to me.The bible also says that the father is to instruct the children in God's laws as they go along the way.So, when did we decide as the Church that children are to be taught God's laws by a Sunday School teacher and/or a Youth Pastor????Seriously, how fit is your family?When was the last time you sat down with the kids and opened God's Word together???I'm telling you, as a child of a deacon who NEVER led us in bible study, that we have given our authority to instruct our children in God's laws away to the Church and we can see how the consequences of perverting God's plan have affected the youth in this generation:80% of our churched kids will fall away from the Lord after graduation.Our youth groups have dwindled to a very few, and most of them are girls!Most of our kids look and smell just like the world, claiming to be Christ-followers, yet they really don't change a thing in their life.The Church has taken away the role of the family, that is, discipling our own children, and it's time to take it back!!!I'm not suggesting that we fire our youth pastors, but, that we, as families committed to the cause of Christ, come along side of our youth pastors to encourage other families to use a biblical model for discipling our children.Let us equip fathers in the area of discipling and begin a time in each of our families where we sit and open God's Word as families.A group of us have begun this journey and it is a beautiful thing, the simplicity of it, opening God's Word and studying together.Recently, a group of 28 that included 6 families came together in a home setting and just worshipped and studied.We were so blown away at how good it was; the fellowship, the insight, the worship...it was sweet.It is how it was intended.This weekend, we are having the group in our home and we are very excited to see where God will lead us."Be still and know that I am God."
an invitation
So, we're trying to get our friend, Trisha, to make a blog for herself and so that we can have another blog-sista and she goes on to explain how her very first post would be how she's a stay-at-home mom with all kids in school(part of the day) and how she doesn't get how her stay-at-home-homeschool-moms have any time to blog and she doesn't!!!!!!It was hilarious!!!!Here's a little advice from a "seasoned blogger".It's all about prioritiy, Trish, duh.Yes, the laundry sits...undone while I blog...who cares?Sure, the dishes sit......dirty...in the sink...but, I'm networking with my "sistas."I swat the children away like flies when they have a question during school cuz I'm blogging...don't bother me.....I'm addressing the blog-world and it's important.I have something to say....not everyday...I mean, I gotta pace myself cuz if I use up all my good stuff, well....I'll just sound like everybody else I know.How droll.Well, anyway, I hope you decide to join the family, Trisha, cuz it's easier than you might think, really.
brick by brick
I just read a blog about a mom who feels invisible as she carries out the various thankless tasks of being a mother.A wonderful friend of hers gave her a book about "Cathedrals" and wrote on the inside what a good job she was doing building cathedrals while noone was watching(something to that effect).Gosh, I get that way,too, almost apologizing for "just being a mom" and struggling with the pervasive thought that I can offer nothing to most situation cuz I'm just a mom.When, in reality, we are building beautiful, grand, amazing cathedrals....one thankless brick at a time.Good insight.Now, that thankless job of grading papers and turning in weekly reports...brick by brick.
