2009 January | Heart of the Matter

January 31, 2009 By Lori Leave a Comment

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The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

Women of the Bible: Lesson 2, Sarah
(begin reading Genesis 11-Genesis 18)

She is one of the women that I can picture in my mind. She was, we are told in Scripture, a woman of uncommon beauty and yet we see that she is one tough cookie as well. There are women throughout the Bible that we can see reflections of ourselves, and if ever there was a woman like that, it would have to be Sarah. Perhaps it’s because we learn more about her and her life than most of the women we will study. Somehow we get to “know” her through her struggles, pain and joy. Perhaps it’s because we recognize so much of ourselves in her and the lessons that she learned in her long life.

Sarah’s story begins in Genesis 11 where we learn that she is the wife of Abram. Her name at that time was Sarai. When Abram receives a message from the Lord, Sarai goes forth with him:

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.”

As Abram’s wife, she travels along side of him to unknown lands. She faces the unknown faithfully at his side. Moving is no easy task, and in those times it was far more challenging than it is today when the Atlas Van Lines truck pulls up in front of the house. 13 moves in my 18 years of marriage have taught me that moving is not easy. We leave pieces of ourselves in each place we live, and Sarai was asked to leave it all behind for the “message” that Abram had received.

Sarai entered new territory, a new land and if that wasn’t enough there was a famine in this land (Gen 12:10). Clearly, it was going to be difficult for them to survive in this new land of Egypt. Sarai was beautiful! She was uncommonly beautiful and Abram used it for his protection. He knew that if the Egyptian men saw her as his wife, they would kill him and take her. He also knew that if he said that they were brother and sister that this would help him in many ways.

“He treated Abram well for her sake and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants and camels. “ Gen 12:16

Sarai had to “pretend” to be Abram’s sister for safety sake and that earned her a place in Pharaoh’s harem. It wasn’t until dreadful disease plagued the palace that Abram was called to Pharaoh and asked to explain. When he did, the Pharaoh sent them away, taking with them the riches they had acquired while in Egypt. They were on the road again. Another move.

(re-read Genesis 16)

Sarai, being a woman much like us, heard the promise that God made to her and Abram…the promise of a Great Nation. It must have been exciting at first. Imagine God speaking to your husband and explaining such “grand plans.” We’d likely ALL have been on board, even if it meant a few moves. However, these things are all in God’s time, and not in Sarai’s time, and the tendency to become impatient causes us all to, at times, “take matters into our own hands,” with less than fortunate results.

I imagine that she asked the same questions that we do when we don’t get the answers from God that we want, in the time that we want them. “How in the world will Abram see a great nation rise out of his line? How is THAT ever going to happen with an old, barren woman like myself?”

So she does what we’ve all done. She takes matters into her own hands and regrets it later. She regrets that decision deep inside of her soul. Taking matters into her own hands had far greater consequences than she had imagined. She harbors feelings that she likely never expected she’d have for Hagar, the maidservant of Abram. Feelings of hatred and jealousy engulf her. She has to face the consequences for what she put into place.

It’s years later, after the Lord appears to Abram again, changing his name to Abraham and confirming the “covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Gen 17:2) Sarai becomes for the first time Sarah and Abraham is assured by God that she “will be blessed so that she will be the mother of nations.” (Gen 17:16) We know that God is responsible for her name change, but why? It’s God’s way of perhaps making a point. Her name now means “princess.” A name change ordained by God; that is a big deal!

Then, it all unfolds at a tent. Not a palace or a royal place, but rather a tent. Abraham sees three men standing, while Sarah chooses not to come out and face it, rather she eavesdrops on the conversation. (How many of us would have done the same thing?) Abraham hurries from his tent to greet them. He orders Sarah to prepare the flour and bake bread for them and he quickly slaughters a calf and has it prepared. It is through these men that it is revealed that “they will return about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.”

“So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Gen 18:13)

Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Will I really have a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too hard for the Lord? Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But He said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

It is in this passage that I meet Sarah in myself. I would be lying if I sat here and typed that I would have had the faith to BELIEVE that birth at 90 was possible, even with God’s hand. I would have laughed too! Sarah’s humanness just speaks volumes to us in this one verse. Not only does she laugh, but she lies about it, only to live out the plans that God so lovingly promised to her and Abraham. This covenant made by God.

For each of us a close look at Sarah will reveal something different, but like most of us, Sarah is a complex woman of faith whose life exposes failures, much like our own. It is in Sarah we see our own impatience, faith, joy and the consequences of sin.

REFLECTIONS FROM THE WALK:
With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons to take with us on our daily walks.

1. Spend some time in contemplation, thinking about the ways in which YOU relate to Sarah.

Do you see yourself in the impatient Sarah at some point in your life?
Are you the faithful wife that Sarah was to Abraham? (How would you have reacted to Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac? (Gen 22)
Are you the risk taker Sarah, one willing to jump in and try new things?
Are you the anxious Sarah?
Are you the skeptical Sarah?
Are, or have you, ever been the jealous Sarah?
Are you the Sarah who tries to cover up her “white lie” to God? (“She was afraid, so she lied and said, I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Gen 18:15)

2. Sarah’s life and lessons are referenced in the Bible. Spend some time looking up these verses and noting what is being reinforced, especially in the New Testament.
References:

Gen. 49:31
Isa. 51:2
Rom. 4:19; 9:9
Heb. 11:11
1 Pet. 3:5-6
Gal. 4:26

3. Let’s revisit the quote from the last study on Eve.

“The weaknesses we see in the people of the Bible are the very weaknesses we ought to recognize in ourselves. Live Eve who ate the forbidden fruit we are vulnerable to temptation when we act on our own. Like Abraham, who lied about his wife to save his neck, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are scared. Like David, who slept with Bathsheba while his men were off to war, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are idle. Like Elijah, who wanted God to end his life, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are exhausted. Like Peter, who denied his Lord even after he promised to die for him, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are overconfident. In other words, we are vulnerable to temptation practically all the time.”
Phillip Graham Ryken

While Sarah isn’t mentioned in the quote above, why do you think Sarah was vulnerable to the temptation that led her to “take matters into her own hands” in regards to giving Abraham permission to sleep with her servant, Hagar. Was it fear that drove her behavior? Was it exhaustion? Was it pride?

4. Think about this phrase from Genesis 21:6
“Sarah said, “God has brought me LAUGHTER, and everyone who hears about this will LAUGH with me.””

How is laughter a part of your life. Is your home filled with joy and laughter? Why or Why not?

Journal personal thoughts on laughter, and look at the promise God gave to Sarah many years before that ended in laughter.

Consider this quote by the Southern writer, Eudora Welty:
“The excursion is the same when you go looking for your sorrow as when you go looking for your joy.”

Journal for the week the times that you “LAUGH.” What was the source of that laughter? Was it Godly laughter or was it at another’s expense? Was there enough laughter? Ask God to show you joy and laughter amidst the “daily grind.”

It’s in looking and walking with our sister Sarah that we can see ourselves revealed in so many ways, the good, the bad and the ugly. The lessons of Sarah are shared with each of us today, living in our modern world. It’s in this walk with Sarah that we can learn so much; taking away wisdom from a woman who was chosen by God despite her weakness and failures, and come to realize God’s promises for each one of us.

Join me on February 14, 2009 for our next “Walk Among Them.” We’ll be taking a walk with Rachel.

Download the study questions in a pdf file.

{Homepage photo courtesy pirizoe}

Lori is a 5 year homeschool mom to 3. Currently a 8th grader, a 6th grader and a 4th grader. Lori insists that when she was wrestling with the decision to home school, a gentle voice guided her with the words, “you know what you should do.” Never looking back, accepting the challenges and rewards and CONSTANTLY clinging to THE ROCK…”No Storm can shake my inmost calm when to this ROCK I’m clinging.” Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.

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January 30, 2009 By Angela 7 Comments

Welcome to the Heart of the Matter Online Meme.

Every Friday we will feature a different topic for our meme. Please share with us your thoughts on the following: Goofiest Response Ever to the Questions Asked About Homeschoolers

It’s the middle of the day and you and your child are at the grocery store. A woman walks up and asks what school your child attends. You respond that your child is homeschooled. *GASP*… She looks at you and asks–Can you do that? Are you a teacher? Or the most crazy question I have ever received, “How do you homeschool 24 hours a day?” Um. Pardon? “4 kids requiring eight hours each…how do you manage it?” To which I responded, “Who needs sleep?” What are some of the craziest questions you have gotten about homeschooling and the goofiest responses you have given?

Blogs that Responded:

Nutbugs

Little Sprouts

All Things Work Together

Learning Together

Wellspring Academy

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January 30, 2009 By Guest 5 Comments

Hello everyone. The Heart of the Matter “meme” a few weeks ago was about seeing homeschooling through the eyes of the child who’s actually being homeschooled. Because of that fact, this post is not being written by Momtofivekids, but instead by her oldest son Andrew.

boxteenageboy

I’m seventeen years old and a senior in high school. This year, I will be graduating from a lifetime of homeschooling that started in kindergarten. I’ve never been a full-time student anywhere but my own house, and I’m proud of it. I also looked up “meme” in the dictionary and can’t find it, but my mom insists that it’s a real word.

So what is it that I love so much about taking classes in the livingroom?

I think I just answered my own question. One of my favorite things about homeschooling is the freedom to do it in the comfort of the home. It is my belief that formal, schoolhouse-based education was started with the false premise that learning must be done from a desk. The reason for this and many other scholastic institutions is that, in my opinion, public school systems have set themselves up for failure. If you start with the presupposition that schooling should be conducted in a large group of children under the guidance of one adult, then of course you’ll have to put each child in a confining desk and force them to all conform to the same standard of excellence, whether or not all of them are ready for that yet, and of course you’ll have to enforce strict rules about getting up from their seat, doing assignments, and talking. Otherwise, you’ll never keep them under control, much less teach them anything.

On the flipside, the opportunity for the individual to take instruction from the people who know their strengths and weaknesses best in the safety and ease of their home provides the optimal learning environment, one that is tailored to the needs of the individual. If everyone teaches their own child, there’s no need for an institution that can’t hope to meet the needs of all of its students. Now, I know that assuming that everyone could teach their own child is a faulty assumption. Obviously, there are situations in which one or both parents work, as well as other extenuating circumstances, that make homeschooling impossible. If you have the ability, though… do it!

So obviously, being able to lounge around on the couch is a plus. In addition to that, being educated as an individual means that more learning happens in less time. Studies have been done on it, not that I can find them online by the time I finish typing this. Oh well, you’re all homeschooling moms so you know I’m right. One of the things I’ve really been encouraged by as a homeschooler is the times that I have taken a class at a private or public school. For example, I am currently taking a class at a private school, and while it is, in my opinion, the model private school and the closest thing to homeschooling I’ve ever seen, it’s still nearly impossible for the teacher to connect with each student, though he tries very hard. It’s also difficult to make an entire lesson fit within the one hour that he has to teach it.

books That leads me to another point for homeschooling and against public or private schools: Homeschooling allows the student to learn at their own pace. This is a fact I alluded to earlier, when I mentioned the standard that is placed before the entire class as a unit. In reality, everyone learns at a different pace. However, the structure of a public or private school necessitates that each student be given the same amount of time to learn a lesson or complete an assignment, and if they fail, they are obviously being lazy. If they succeed, sign them up for honors classes! As a homeschooler, not only am I allowed to take more time on each physics lesson, I also have the ability to breeze through my British Literature course and finish it early since there’s no reason for me to stay behind if I’m ready for the next level.

If you really want to get on my nerves, bring up the “fact” that homeschoolers don’t get enough socialization. I and hundreds of people I know have busted that myth. In fact, when I was interviewed about a homeschool prom I was attending, I proposed an alternate hypothesis to the reporter: in a lot of cases, I think that homeschooling provides an incentive to become involved in your community and in society because you don’t have the daily interaction with peers automatically as a result of going to school. Also, it gives me the freedom to choose what kinds of people I become friends with.

Even though I’m eleven years older than the narrator of the sample “meme” (a word that I refuse to take out of quotation) was when he wrote about homeschooling, I find that I agree with him a heck of a lot. I too enjoyed learning about the Mongols and their vampire-like dietary preferences. When I sit still, I also feel like I’ll go crazy. And I’ve felt like just flopping on the floor while sitting in a desk in my private school ethics class (I didn’t). Homeschooling is the way it should be, and I’m doing my best to prove it.

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January 29, 2009 By Tammy 4 Comments

When beginning to homeschool, it’s a wonderful feeling to finally decide on the curriculum you want to use and then get your students started. Settling into your days, you learn the the best way to approach different subjects and continue to make adjustments with the flow of your days. Things are clicking well and life is good.

THEN, out of the blue someone asks you about the “extras”. What about sports? What about the arts? Music lessons? Co-ops? Community service projects? Church activities? And suddenly you have to consider a whole new realm of additional activities for your homeschool students.

Our children have done a wide range of extra activities through the years with some choices being better and more well liked than others. I was recently reminded of this fact when we read an announcement in the local newspaper. But let me back up a bit.

For you see, my children are a bunch of *hams* (proper definition – a performer who overacts, overdoes, or exaggerates). From the time my oldest was young and continuing to this very day, there have been many dramatic play productions going on in our household. The children write the scripts, design the costumes and sets, and film the productions. All those robes and gowns sewn for church Christmas plays are put into use as well as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty wigs, mom’s old make-up, and grandma’s gaudy jewelry. Blankets and sheets are dragged out for backdrops as they design each scene. And then off they go with the shout of “ACTION!”

The acting by my little performers has been of the finest overdramatic quality known to mankind. The sorrow so full of sobbing! The laughter so hardy! The sword fights so scary! The kidnapped princesses so melodramatic! Let’s just say that their creativity absolutely soars during these projects. And we continue to enjoy watching the productions as we go through the archives of old family videos.

This *ham* talent that they have – and just WHO did they inherit it from? – has been stretched through the years when the little red truck from the Missoula Children’s Theater arrives in town annually. A two person team hosts an open audition on the first day in which fifty to sixty children will be cast into parts for a musical production of a favorite children’s story or fairytale – a story which always has an interesting and fun twist. For a few hours each day for a week, children will be attending an intensive rehearsal schedule learning lines, singing songs, and figuring out choreography. At the end of the week the community gets to enjoy two public performances and every parent is astonished to see what can be accomplished in just a week. Missoula Children’s Theater provides all the costumes, make-up, basic lighting, and necessary sets and scenery for the performances – all of which fits into the back of their little red truck as they travel from state to state – with the only need from the community being children who love to act and perform.

The recent announcement in our local newspaper led two of my children to try out this past month for a production of Robinson Crusoe. One was cast as a member of The Very Hairy Frowny-Face Tribe……

…..and the other as a beautiful singing stork named Stella.

And they thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it which has been our experience through the many years of our children’s involvement whenever the Missoula Children’s Theater has stopped in our community. Be sure to take a peek to see if they are touring near your area in the future.

Perhaps one of the best rules to follow when it comes to extra activities is to pick the things that your children enjoy naturally and for each child it may be something different – although we’ve been fortunate in the acting area as each child has been a natural born *ham*! The investment will be well worthwhile as they shine and grow stretching their talents through the years. And isn’t that really the heart of the matter?

Married in 1980 and still living in the same house in a woodsy rural setting, Tammy’s homeschooling journey began in the fall of 1987 when her oldest turned six years old. As rather new believers professing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, homeschooling was a way to live out the principles found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Through all the challenges of life Tammy has stayed the course growing to a family with nine children who presently range from preschool age to college graduates married with children. Her role has transitioned from learning everything she could about homeschooling to becoming an encourager to others coming along the way. Please visit Tammy at Garden Glimpses.

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January 28, 2009 By Luke 7 Comments

We just finished a series on “Dreams” at our church. The messages were taken from the life of Joseph who had two dreams early in his life and had to wait a long time before they were realized. Along the way he encountered two other sets of two dreams, which he interpreted and insisted were true by faith in God bringing about his own yet unfulfilled dreams. This is significant stuff, and probably one of the many reasons why Genesis slows down to focus on this guy.

boxdreams

The basic thrust of the messages was that we need to keep looking for the dreams of God in our own lives, and be persistent in our faith that God will bring them about.

I struggle with that.

Dreams

See, I’ve always been a dreamer. I’ve also been one to throw myself completely into pursuing a dream. I don’t just go half way with these things. I pursue my dreams with gusto and faith. My current dream is adoption, so I’m going for three children at once. When I believe I’ve got a dream from God, I go for it.

…and thus far, the dreams are still just great expectations.

After one Sunday morning earlier this month, my mom asked what I thought of the sermon. I told her that I thought people needed to be more careful about dreams. “Look at my life,” I said. “I’ve had lots of dreams, and what good has it done? I think God does give dreams and brings them about, but what about the times when He doesn’t? I just don’t see enough examples in Scripture to believe God wants to give everyone these kinds of dreams. I think it’s foolish to push dreams on people when many times they aren’t realized.”

Such a hopeful young man, I am.

A week later my mom said to me, “I’ve been thinking about what you said, Luke. And I think you are unique in how you pursue dreams. Most people don’t do that. Most people need to stretch their faith more.”

“Sure, mom.”

I guess deep down, I don’t want people to go through this. The waiting is so hard. The sense of disappointment so strong. The fear of abandonment so palpable. And I realize that my faith is this very odd thing: I step out boldly in faith, daring God to make it happen. But at the same time, I doubt that He will. I know God can do it… but I’m also waiting for Him to choose not to. And with our adoption, I know God is working on it and will make it happen in His timing, in His way. I know He’s got this one under control. But my expectation is so great and my heart so in this, that I often can’t even find the faith to pray about it. What could I say to God? It’s up to Him, and I am at His mercy.

So, maybe, while I trust His power I’m less confident in His kindness.

Joseph

Was Joseph ever here?

It’s hard to say because we have so little record of his take on his journey. His story is mostly narrative history, not introspective reflections. We only get the facts about his dreams and the outcome. We are not privy to Joseph’s feelings and struggles. And so, when I hear yet again that I must wait for my expectations to become a reality, I don’t know how to respond. There isn’t much else I can do.

It’s almost like I’ve been tossed into prison. I have to wait for my release in hope that one day my dream will come true.

What did Joseph do while in prison? Regardless of how he felt, the fact of the matter is he went about his life as a prisoner in such a way that he was put in charge. He acted well, cared about his fellow inmates, and took on the responsibilities given to him for that time.

dad May I be such a man as I wait with great expectation.

Great Expectations

Over the last few weeks, I have had a change of heart. Well, more precisely, I find my heart is being changed. And so may I encourage you, taking a cue from the faith of Joseph, to rest in the certainty of dreams God gives. How and when will they come about? I can’t say. But God gives dreams and brings them to pass. If you, for whatever reason, no longer have any dreams from God, ask Him for some.

But if you are more like me and in a place where dreams seem more of a cosmic tease than a reality, I ask that you join me in waiting with great expectation. I remember how God has blessed me and cared for me thus far, and in faith I say it is no different today. May God remind you of His great provision and guidance as well.

No matter where you are in your journey with dreams, I appreciate your prayers while I wait for God to make my expectations a reality.

Luke Holzmann is the son of John and Sarita Holzmann, founders of Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., in Littleton, CO, where he is the Media Relations Specialist. He attended Biola University, in La Mirada, CA, and earned the BA in Motion Picture Production. You can find his work at http://www.sonlightblog.com/, production-now.com, and lukeholzmann.blogspot.com.

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January 28, 2009 By Angela 10 Comments

13382211 My kids LOVE these I-Spy books and I am ashamed to say we may have them ALL. So, this morning started out with a scavenger hunt.

Harley and Jagger took a list of things they were to search to find 4 each of: buttons, paperclips, safety pins, googly eyes, etc.

I added in some things for good measure like charms I had intended to use for jewelry making…ladybugs, frogs, daisies, pretty buttons and thumbtacks…

I had originally thought to fill these jars with sand but realized I only had plaster and that wouldn’t do. So, guess who has an overabundance of beads??? Yeah, me. (Please don’t ask what’s in my craft closet…I think you may have the idea that there’s entirely too much and you would be correct.)

It wasn’t until after the jars were complete that I realized what a great idea the beads were as the younger two loved the ‘feel’ and ‘sound’ of the jar as they shook to find their items. So our finished products, complete with 15 items each, look like this:

If you click on the pictures they become gi-normous, I mention this especially for those who tend to have pancake batter on their bifocals…

The Lists have been affixed to the outside of the jar, much like a baby food label. This gives them a one-sided ‘window’ to find their items. Here are the final lists…

Jar 1

Yellow pom pom
Blue lego
Red paperclip
Red bead
Orange leaf
Penny
Red button
Googly eye
Light blue ponytail
Safety pin
Green thumbtack
Blue flower
Pearl button
Purple glass
Green frog

Jar 2

Purple flower
Pink button
Red thumbtack
Safety pin
White ponytail
Purple pom pom
Purple glass
Yellow paperclip
Ladybug on a leaf
Red bead
Blue lego
Penny
Gold leaf
Red button
Googly eye

Jar 3

Red lego
Light blue ponytail
Red pom pom
Red bead
Purple button
Blue thumbtack
Safety pin
Blue paperclip
Red leaf
Ladybug
Penny
Pink button
Purple glass
Pink flower
Googly eye

Jar 4

Orange pom pom
Pink button
Googly eye
Pink paperclip
Safety pin
Yellow thumbtack
Daisy
Light blue ponytail
Penny
Red lego
Red button
Purple glass
Red bead
Purple flower
Gold leaf

Angela DeRossett is military wife, homeschooling mother, and an advocate for autism research. Angela can be found blogging at Homeschooling the Chaotic Family and Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy.

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January 27, 2009 By Suzanne 8 Comments

Here, dear friends, is the second installment of my letter to you: perfectly adoring amazing help meets that we all are, about our always sweet, wonderful, helpful husbands. Right? Right!? You know I’m talking to you. About him. And you know I’m right there with ya.

Here follow the last 20 truths I learned either by gleaning wisdom from older friends or the painfully hard way.

1. Every once in awhile, watch your husband and make a list of the things you fell in love with and realize you are weak in those areas so that God could make you One.

2. Put your husband first and then your children. Your husband needs this, you need this, and amazingly your children need this.

3. If you feel aggressively, defensively that you.are.not.wrong – you just might be!

4. Be teachable - especially when you don’t want to be.

5. Stop (mid-sentence if you have to!) when you’re tempted to gossip, berate your husband, or say anything negative.

6. Speak only encouraging words and they’ll come back to you.

7. Surround yourself with positive people. It’s contagious.

holdinghands2 8. Ask God for the characteristics that you want, try to make these changes yourself, find people that have those characteristics, and then just be patient while God does the rest of the work for you. One day you’ll just wake up and wonder how you’ve become more of the person you wanted to be.

9. Read Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul by John Eldridge – it’s written for men – my husband said it was life-changing so of course I read it! It gave me such insight into my husband. And my boys.

10. If something isn’t working – in your marriage, with your children, with others – ask God to search you and try you and give you wisdom to know what to change.

11. You will gain wisdom, if you ask.

325247_44002 12. Give freely and often.

13. Accept freely and with much gratitude.

14. Don’t “pray”. Talk to God like you talk to your friends – openly and often.

15. When you want to complain – think of something in your current situation for which to be thankful. There’s always something.

16. Make life comfortable for your husband and he will make life fun for you.

17. Joy is looking at life with a thankful heart. It is a decision.

18. Contentment is not “just one more thing.”

19. Money is never worth it.

20. Joyfully laughing always is.

Suzanne is wife to one and mama to four. The little ones are 2 boys ages 7 and 5, a girl who’s 3, and a baby boy who’s not knee-high to a grasshopper yet. She eclecticly unschools with lapbooks the Charlotte Mason way. In other words, she doesn’t have the slightest clue what she’s doing, but does it anyway. She lives in a world where there are few absolutes. The dishes don’t stay cleaned, the laundry doesn’t stay put away, the children don’t remember what she told them yesterday. But in their chaotic lives they have found joy. And they’d love to share that with you. So, come on over, kick a path through the toys, have a seat on the couch and grab a cup of strong coffee. Just be ready to hone your skills of “interrupted conversation”! And be sure to stop by her personal blog at JoyfulChaos.

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January 27, 2009 By Marybeth 6 Comments

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II Kings 6:16-17a, “Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’”

There have been many times in my homeschooling journey that I finished the day with a resolute declaration: “I am just not cut out for this!” I can’t see that anything I did made a difference. I can’t see that my childrens’ characters are being shaped into something even remotely desirable. I can’t see that our home is a place where memories are made—except for maybe bad ones. I can’t see that getting up the next day and doing it all again is advisable. I am mired in the muck of the day, only seeing the mess and not the hope, the chaos and not the promise.

peacefulwoman In II Kings 6:15-17, Elisha prays for his servant to be able to see beyond his circumstances. They are surrounded by a great army and the odds look to be overwhelmingly against them. He asks God to show the servant what is taking place beyond what the eye can see. The servant’s eyes are opened to a supernatural realm and he is able to see the Lord’s armies gathered to fight on their behalf. Elisha knew his servant was feeling hopeless and simply needed a different perspective.

We need eyes to see just like that servant did. Make no mistake, we are fighting a battle. This battle is intensified when we accept the calling to become a homeschool family and train up our children to know the Lord and become more Christlike. We have an enemy who wants to defeat us. And some days it does seem like he gets the victory. We look around at the failing economy, the fractured families, and the fast pace of our lives and feel that the odds are overwhelmingly against us. We grow weary and feel like giving up.

In those moments we need to stop worrying and pray for a new vision. We need to ask God to change our perspective so that we can look past what we can see and on to what He is taking care of in the unseen. We need to remember to trust Him and to ask Him to help us see His activity—no matter how overwhelmed and unworthy we may feel. God sees us and He will send help when we need it. The odds are never stacked against us because God is waging a battle we can’t see. I love that He is always fighting on our behalf, even when we don’t see it—and especially when we need it the most.

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

I John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Marybeth Whalen is homeschooling mom to six children ranging in age from teen to toddler, as well as a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries. In her writings, she addresses things like burnout, dealing with interruptions, and handling homeschooling from a very practical perspective. Be sure to visit her blog, Cheaper by the Half Dozen.

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January 26, 2009 By Karin 27 Comments

Many parents are taking the time to invest in teaching a second (or even third) language to their children. As bilingualism is on the rise, so is the demand for supplemental materials to further enrich the bilingual experience. Bilingual books in Spanish/English are becoming more and more popular with homeschoolers and parents, and with this popularity there is now a rise in both selection and quality. This is good news for homeschoolers!

R aven Tree Press is a publisher that actually specializes in bilingual books and I am pleased to present their latest offerings to you.

Marco Flamingo written and illustrated by Sheila Jarkins is sure to speak capture the attention of Floridians or anyone who doesn’t usually get to experience snow each winter. Lovable Marco lives in the South and waits each winter for his friends to migrate from the north. He enjoys hearing all of their stories about the snow and dreams about being able to experience it himself. One year Marco decides to reverse migrate and see for himself what winter is all about.

The story is written in both English and Spanish on each page. A vocabulary list is at the back of the book and the illustrations are bright, colorful and fun.

The Best Mariachi in the World, written by J.D. Smith, is presented primarily in English with Spanish terms sprinkled within the context of the story. A keyword vocabulary page is included at the back of the book. In this book Gustavo’s family is in a mariachi band, that is, everyone except for Gustavo since he cannot play an instrument. It’s a wonderful tale of finding your own way and your own talent as Gustav find his own way. You can visit the author’s website here.

If I could by Nancy Sweetland is about a young boy’s wishes of what he might do or be, if only he could. In the end he realizes that sometimes it is just best to be who you are. This book is written in both English and Spanish, however, because of the text, it is probably more for an advanced Spanish speaker.

Runaway Radish by Janice Levy
The night of the radishes is an annual festival held on the evening of December 23rd in Oaxaca, Mexico. A huge contest featuring figures sculpted from radishes is one of the highlights of the festival. The sculptures often represent scenes from the birth of Jesus or other scenes involving Oaxacan history. Everyone competes for first prize, a part of which is having their picture posted in the morning paper. In this fantastical tale by Janice Levy, don Pedro wants to carve a winning radish but the radish won’t cooperate and keeps running away! It is a new slant on the childhood tale, The Gingerbread Man. Written in both Spanish and English with a vocabulary list in the back.

Would you like to win a copy of Runaway Radish? To enter, simply leave us a comment before Friday the 30th at 10:00 EST.

Karin Katherine is a proud stay-at-home mother of four who feels blessed to be the mother of 5 year old fraternal twin boys and two daughters, ages three and 10 months. You are invited to follow her homeschooling adventures at www.PassportAcademy.com and her adventures as a mother, wife, homemaker, decorator and organizer at www.MommyMattersBlog.com

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January 25, 2009 By Carol 7 Comments

There are so many advantages to belonging to a homeschool co-op such as socialization, shared teaching, support, encouragement and fun! But perhaps you are asking, “Are there disadvantages to belonging to a co-op?”

Joining a co-op is a little like getting married.

After the wedding and the honeymoon comes the marriage. Marriage is indeed a blessing, but it is best if you are well prepared and approach it with your eyes wide open. The same is true with homeschool co-ops. Life may be great for a while in your co-op with a harmonious group meeting all your expectations. Great! At this point you’re on your honeymoon. Soon little annoyances may creep up, or things may not go the way you had expected. You may become disappointed. The honeymoon is over, with only the hard work of marriage (or co-oping) there to greet you!

Never fear. Like being married, the problems of co-oping can be resolved if you know what to expect. As a matter of fact, having unmet expectations is the number one complaint of dissatisfied former co-op members.

Unrealistic or Unmet Expectations

Like a spouse, no co-op will meet all your expectations. Before joining a homeschool co-op, you should examine your motivations and desires in joining a co-op. Ask yourself, “What is most important to me and my family? What do I want most out of this co-op experience?” Perhaps you most desire social relationships for your children. Then when you are dissatisfied about the start time, the amount of homework or the lack of singing for preschoolers, focus on your strongest desire. Is that expectation being met? If so, release the other, lesser expectations.

When I joined a homeschool co-op, I wanted group interaction for my children as well as classes that I was not teaching at home, like art and speech. Since the co-op met those expectations, I was happy. On the other hand, some co-op members were not as satisfied with the experience. Among co-op members’ varied expectations, some may be obvious and clear, while some of our hopes go unstated and often misunderstood.

Surrendering Control

Ironically, surrendering control may seem like an advantage to some people who will gladly hand over certain subjects like algebra, biology dissection or foreign language. Of course, turning over teaching responsibility for difficult subjects can be a relief. In fact, access to advanced classes may be the reason you sought out a co-op to begin with!

While granting teaching responsibility to others may seem beneficial, turning over control is another matter. Face it: homeschoolers like control! We like to direct our children’s environments, their exposure to the world, and their friendships. We pick carefully the curriculum they use. I once met a woman who really wanted every subject her child studied to be firmly grounded and rooted in Scripture including Bible verses for every chapter of science, etc. While this woman may have found her perfect curriculum for use at home (there are several to choose from), she would not have enjoyed a co-op because she would have had to relinquish some control.

If releasing control over certain subjects is an issue for you, then you can do one of two things: Release your hold, praying frequently, or find a co-op that will use the curriculum you desire.

Too Much Like School

Some co-ops have a very school-like structure. My co-op met in a building owned by a small Christian college. The rooms had chalkboards and desks, giving a very school-like feel. Many of our parents and teachers liked the building and classrooms because it was efficient to conduct classes in a schoolroom. If you are a free spirit or an unschooler, you may not feel comfortable in a classroom setting. Before joining, visit the co-op in action to get a sense of the surroundings and the environment. You may decide that the benefits outweigh the negative feelings of a structured environment, or you may conclude that you can live with a little structure once a week.

In a co-op class you might not be able to spend as much time on a subject as you might like. New York teacher John Taylor Gatto said it best in Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling:

The third lesson I teach is indifference….When the bell rings I insist they drop whatever it is we have been doing and proceed quickly to the next work station. They must turn on and off like a light switch….Bells inoculate each undertaking with indifference.

Homeschool co-ops like Mr. Gatto’s public school are frequently structured around the almighty clock. We move kids to the next class on schedule so that they get the most out of their experience that day. When dealing with large groups, a co-op must rely on structure and timetables to keep things running smoothly. A small co-op or single subject co-op can be more flexible and free form. Decide for yourself how strongly you feel about being under a time constraint. The structure may even be a benefit to you or your children. In cases like this you can see how even potential challenges can ultimately benefit you and your children in your co-op experience.

Belonging to a homeschool co-op can have some challenges, but challenges can bring benefits. What is a disadvantage to co-oping for some people such as surrendering control, can be a benefit for another homeschooling mother. Some co-ops may seem too structured for one family, while another family could benefit from more organization in their lives. Joining a homeschool co-op will take commitment, but hopefully it will be time and money well spent.

i. Gatto, John Taylor, Dumbing Us Down, (New Society Publishers, 2002)

Carol L. Topp, CPA author of Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out is a homeschooling mother and Certified Public Accountant who uses her accounting skills to help homeschool organizations. She has served as treasurer of her own homeschool co-op. She and her family live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her website is www.HomeschoolCPA.com

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