For Moms: Reading the Classics
February 28, 2010 by Ruthanne
Have you set any goals for the New Year? I want to encourage you to set a goal for 2010 which will have positive ramifications for you and your children – reading the classics.
Several years ago, I embarked on this mission. For years, I had sensed a gaping hole in my formal education. I would watch a movie to then learn it was based off a classic novel I had never heard of. I would be in conversations where others were referencing something out of a classic work and feel completely out of the loop. It would’ve be easy to blame the system in which I was educated, yet I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. The buck stops with me. I decided to take action. My mission was to educate myself by reading through the classics. My greatest motivation was my children. My desire was and is to be able to credibly teach them about the great works and their writers.
Here are a few things I’ve learned in the process:
~ Gather book lists.
When I started out, I had absolutely no idea where to start. I stumbled upon Barnes & Noble’s Classics and simply started picking books at random. They have a great section on their website devoted entirely to the classics. I realize there are books out there you can purchase with book lists included, however I don’t think it’s necessary to buy anything. Use Google, Barnes & Noble or another on-line bookstore to compile a list.
~ Ask for recommendations.
Friends are fabulous resources! Ask a few of yours what some of their favorite classics are. People love to share about books that have shaped and inspired them. Here are a few of my favorites {okay – more than a few}:
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter
Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
1984 by George Orwell
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
~ Set realistic goals.
Sometimes when I set a goal, my initial excitement clouds my judgment. I set myself up for failure by setting my goals far too high only to get discouraged and give up. As homeschool moms, we already have a plateful. We have tests to grade, papers to read, laundry to conquer and meals to cook. Start out small and build up. If you’ve never read any of the classics and decide to read just one this year, that’s one more than you’ve ever read. Don’t let a stack of hopefuls pile up, with no one to read them but the cat…
~ Read up on the author.
Gathering some background information on the author will give you a glimpse into his life and worldview, which will in turn provide context for the book. This doesn’t need to be a big production, simply look up your author on Wikipedia and spend a few minutes perusing.
~ Persevere.
One of the many things I love about the classics is the romance and antiquity of the language. These authors had a thousand different phrases to describe the sunset. People simply do not speak like that today. Our language is typically abbreviated and non-romantic. However, the same thing that makes the classics so endearing can also be a catalyst to frustration. A classic novel is going to read differently than a modern day novel {which I dearly love to read as well}. I think of it in terms of steak versus cotton candy. You’re going to have to chew on the classics for a while and then ponder them during the period of digestion. Don’t get discouraged if it takes you awhile to get into a classic. It could take getting to the seventh or eighth chapter before the plot grabs you.
~ Find a fellow bibliophile.
Discussing a good book with a friend is a great way to cement what you’ve learned—as well as being fun and encouraging. Find someone who is passionate about good literature and see if she would be willing to be a sounding board. Maybe it would be possible for you both to read the book and meet over coffee. I love any excuse to get together for coffee!
Go ahead and dive into a new goal for the year. I believe you’ll find reading the classics a worthy endeavor. And if you’ve already started on this journey, I would love to hear what your favorites are!
Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.
Many Hats
February 26, 2010 by AngelaP
Motherhood equals a Woman of many hats. I don’t mean those crazy big church going hats that are all fancy like. I mean hats that are sometimes messy. Hats that are not in the literal sense at all. These hats are the actual roles given to us to play. As a mother I can be wearing my nurse hat, my doctor hat, my house cleaner hat or my teacher hat at any given time. At times I could be wearing all the hats at the same time. Moms have to be versatile and flexible willing to flow with whatever comes our way. We have to be prepared to wear any of those hats at any given moment as the need arises.
As a mother life flows in and out of many different responsibilities. As a homeschooling mom this is also the case but even more so. I have a friend who home schools wearing the teachers hat. She takes off her mom hat at that time and even tells her kids that she is now their teacher. This helps them and works for them. But for me, I can never make myself take off my mom hat. It is always there along with the others. When we start school the teacher hat just goes on top of the mom hat. I think it can work either way just fine depending on your family.
However, because my life is so intertwined with so many roles and responsibilities I found it hard when we had to take a number of sick days because of the flu. In my mind I was having a really hard time allowing us to be sick. I was fighting the temptation to give us work anyway for school though it would have been a disaster for us all. I was also finding it hard not to clean up every little thing that became misplaced. I could not do it if I wanted to but I found myself fretting over it.
God was trying to teach me rest. Our bodies need rest when we find ourselves ill. It is okay if things get out of place and life has to come to a stop for this time of healing. God was showing me how to surrender that activity for rest, something I really need to learn to do without being sick. School will always be there and we will get right back into the swing of it as soon as we are well. No need to think we are behind because we are not. We are on our own schedule and will follow it until completion. It will not always look the way I want it to or think it should but nevertheless it will be completed.
So in all the hats we were as mothers there is a time that we need to just take a breather and relax. Jesus speaks it well this way, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:27-29). Maybe instead of trying to balance so many hats I just need to take His yoke and put it on me. Everything else will fall into place if I just do it His way.
Angela Parsley, of the international ministry Refresh My Soul Ministries, is a wife and homeschooling mother to her 2 young daughters. Angela is also a contributing author to a devotional book entitled, “Standing on the Promises of God” and Radical Revolution, a devotional site for teen girls through Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Beware the Lotus
February 4, 2010 by Melissa
Our history read aloud for the day was from William Russell’s Classic Myths to Read Aloud. We were following the journey of Ulysses and his men on their return home after ten years at war with the Trojans. In this reading, they had just landed on an unknown shore and met a peaceful people that fed them a strange fruit they’d never tasted–the fruit of the lotus, an intoxicating flowering plant on the island. “Whoever tastes of that fruit has no longer any desire to return home or to do anything at all, but to sit and dream happy dreams and forget the troubles of the world, and even forget his home and family.” As I read it, the words jumped from the pages straight into my heart.
The Holy Spirit penetrated my lotus-loving heart with those words to show me something amiss in my own life. I was eating the fruit of the lotus. My modern-day lotus kept me from the chores of my home. It made it easy to ignore the cares within my world and tune out my family, all while sitting and dreaming happy dreams. My personal lotus was the Internet.
I’m not writing to warn you of the perils of the Internet. I’m a fan (although one who must beware). This piercing reminder led me to examine my own life for things that wasted my time and energy. Things that turned my desires from God’s best to the world’s cheap imitations. For me, this is the Internet, but what about you? Is there a lotus in your life leading you astray? A ‘fruit’ whose sweetness pulls you away from the very home and family that should be the focus of your journey.
Often this is something that starts out in balance, but when it falls out of balance it pulls us in the wrong direction. Perhaps its the television, a hobby, a friendship, a computer game, Facebook, a great fiction book, a job, a message board or even a ministry. Any number of things, even good things, can lead us astray.
The Lord was showing me a pattern in my life where I was looking for escape on the Internet. Whether it was reading an inspiring blog (albeit a Christian one), researching homeschool curricula and ideas, or finding a great deal online, I was spending more time ’searching’ online than I was implementing the great things I found. I was Googling more ways to do my job of mom, homeschooler, wife, homemaker and money saver than I was praying to the Lord to show my His ways to do my job. The Internet is a great tool when kept in check, but the distortion of its place in my life led to its sweet tasting fruit zapping my desire for home and family, and ultimately the Lord.
It’s ironic that time wasters abound in our ever-efficient age. But it’s really a matter of the heart that allows us to slip under the power of something that will ultimately rob us of our time, energy and focus. I’ve found it’s easiest to get ‘lost in the lotus’ when I’m not steadfast in my vision of the Lord’s priorities for my life. After the Lord revealed this to my heart, I knew my vision was what needed to get back on track. Proverbs 29:18 says it best, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
So I made it a priority to set my alarm (instead of waking whenever) and spend time praying and reading my Bible BEFORE chaos awoke in my home. I made it a point to talk to God all day long about all my concerns, both big and small, instead of looking for answers outside of Him.
I also forced myself to get to work on the work of my home. Whether it’s the kitchen piled high with dishes or the discipline issues I see in my children, I stopped trying to ignore it and look past it (not like this was an effective technique anyway). The more attentive and intentional I was in my home and with my family the less I had need of escape.
I also knew that for a time, I needed to take a break from my Internet indulgence. I had to stop eating the lotus, if you will. Or as Hebrews 12:1b puts it “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” I needed to strip from my life that which was slowing me down and hindering my progress. No getting lost online before my day starts. No searching without purpose. No blog hopping for me.
So I pulled back until I felt the pull lessen. I can’t live life without the Internet, but I know I have to keep it in check. Accountability in this area can really help. Whatever your struggle, share it with someone who can help you stay on track and will encourage you along the way. Change up your routine and your habits. It takes time to break old habits and more time to start new ones, but these changes can help tremendously.
As a Christian, I know I have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in my heart and my life, but it was funny (yet comforting) to me that the Lord used the tale of the mythical lotus-eaters to grab my attention. I think of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Even our Greek mythology read aloud.
Melissa Morgner is a happy wife of 16 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from twelve to one. After eight years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Day In Day Out, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.
Beyond Blah
January 28, 2010 by Bethany
It’s that time of year again. You know, the one that follows the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the mid-winter blah time of the year. No matter how much you and your kids love snow, you’re bound to get tired of it at some point during the cold, dark, shorter winter days. Can you tell I’m a warm, sunshine kinda gal? Since moving to Florida or Arizona isn’t in my plans for right now, I’ve had to brainstorm some more practical ideas for not only beating the mid-winter blahs, but for bouncing back from them.
My teenager and her friends came up with the following list: writing a story or writing in a journal, drawing, going to the farm (aka riding horses). and going to the movies with friends.
From my health-conscious acquaintances: get outside for some fresh air and sunshine the second you see the sun peeking through the clouds; get plenty of exercise (inside or outside); take a nice, long, soothing bubble bath (with a “do not disturb mom sign” on the door!); stay hydrated with plenty of water; eat nutritiously.
The Bible gives us some great encouragement and advice:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25).
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (psalm 55:22).
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothe me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever” (Psalm 30:11–12). Scriptures quoted from the NIV.
Here are some just-for-fun ideas: Have a summer-themed party inside, crank up the heat, put on a pair of shorts, blast the Beach Boys, and toss a beach ball around. Go outside and make snow angels—with or without your kids. Have a snowball fight with your honey; you know you want to! Warm up with hot chocolate, your favorite Starbucks drink, or a pot of tea with some chocolate chip cookies.
The bottom line is hang in there; this too shall pass. Before you know it, the math will click (I hope!), the days will be longer and warmer, the kids will stop fighting (at least for a little while), and you’ll realize that the blahs have become a bed of roses.
Bethany has been married for 16 years, homeschooling for 9 years, and organizing forever. She homeschools her two girls, grade 6 and grade 10, in North Carolina. She is also a partner in Codex Publishing, publisher of The Tutor and classic book reprints. When she isn’t homeschooling or driving the family taxi, Bethany enjoys reading, music, church activities, editing, writing, history, and keeping up with friends.
Winter Blahs
January 28, 2010 by Rhodema
The holidays are over and we are all back in the classroom. If you are less than excited, the solution may be as simple as stepping outside into the sunshine.
January and February are tough months for me every year. I am a SAD sufferer. This may sound pathetic but SAD actually stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. A surprising number of Americans fall prey to this gray cloud that roles in each winter. Around ten percent of the population is the number quoted in numerous websites.
What is SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder that occurs during certain times of the year. Most sufferers become depressed each year during the winter months due to less sunshine. When the body receives less sunlight, the brain does not produce enough serotonin. This neurotransmitter is important for keeping the brain functioning smoothly and without it a person can become overwhelmed with feeling of depression. Although SAD sufferers feel relief when spring arrives, it can be tough during January and February.
What are the symptoms for over 30 million American SAD sufferers each year?
- Depression and anxiety
- Increased need for sleep or difficulty getting up each day
- Increased appetite and carbohydrate craving
- Weight gain
- Irritability
- Lack of concentration
- Relationship problems
Does this sound like you or a family member? The syndrome can effect children although it usually begins in young adulthood. It is more prevalent among females than males. If the blues hit your home it could play havoc in your homeschool classroom. Fortunately, the solutions for the winter months can be fairly simple.
Learn the Facts
Start with learning to recognize the symptoms. Check out articles on WebMD. Understanding that there is a reason for the blues can go a long way toward working on relief. Sometimes just knowing that the sadness is temporary is the best reassurance.
Practical solutions are simple and easy–even fun–to implement as a homeschool families.
Get some sunlight
Start each day near a sunny window. This is a perfect spot for breakfast, devotions or a read aloud first thing in the morning. If weather allows, sit outside in the sunshine or take a walk. Morning light is important to jumpstarting a positive mood each day.
Meet at the park regularly with other families. For our northern readers who have harsh weather, find and indoor gathering place that is well lit. Bright light is the next best thing to sunlight.
Exercise
Did you know that exercise also releases serotonin in your brain? Add a daily aerobic exercise, even if it is only for 10 to 20 minutes, and you can feel a euphoric lift. This might be the semester to implement a home fitness program into your curriculum. Our family has discovered Wii fit. We like variety so Dance Dance Revolution is also a favorite. Laughing with each other during these workouts is a spirit lifter as well.
Eat Healthy
A balanced diet is healthy for the body as well as the mood. Teach your children about nutrition and break the cycle of carbohydrate craving. Have your children help plan meals, shop for food and cook. These skills will benefit them for a lifetime and help with moods.
Has your family battled the winter blues? If your homeschool classroom has been effected by SAD, share the solutions that have worked in your family.
Rhodema lives the parenting adventure with Calvin, her college sweetheart. They have two adult daughters and two teenagers still at home, a girl and a boy. Their homeschool style is eclectic with a great love of living history books. Rhodema teaches women’s Bible studies and is a MOPS speaker. Her blog for moms is Herding Worms.
When Are You Grown Up?
December 11, 2009 by Sheila
I was not a happy teenager. I didn’t particularly like the high school scene, the ridiculous courses, the boring teachers, and the regimented schedule. I used to dream of finally being a grown up and being allowed to make my own decisions. I idolized adulthood.
Then I hit eighteen and nothing magical happened. Surely I’d feel like a grown up in university, though, right? Or maybe when I landed my first full-time job?
Nope.
Many of my friends seemed comfortable in their skin. They knew who they were, and they weren’t afraid of letting others know where they stood. But I was still waiting for some magical writing from heaven to appear and label me, once and for all, an adult, so that I could feel capable, mature, and competent, too.
Unfortunately the writing failed to materialize. And yet, sometime in the last few decades, I must have crossed an invisible line. It may not have been accompanied by thunderous applause, but I definitely passed from mini-me to fully-me. Even though I can’t define the precise mode of this miraculous transformation, I can tell you the results.
I knew I was a grown up when it came to men when I could stop asking, “Does he like me?”, and start asking, “Do I like him?” And when the answer was yes, I married him.
When it came to children, I knew I was a grown up when I stopped worrying what other people thought of my kids’ behavior or development and just concentrated on being the best mom I could be.
I was a grown up, too, when I stopped pulling out the makeup and the mousse to impress other people, but just started doing it to make myself feel pretty. When I started prioritizing feeling good in my body, I felt like a grown up in it, too.
I was a grown up when I could calmly talk to a salesperson about what their establishment had done that was beyond the pale, instead of letting them walk all over me.
I was a grown up when I could invite people over for dinner and not worry about whether they’d like what I prepared. I’d just cook what I liked, and figured everybody else would make do.
I was a grown up when I called my mom for her advice, and not her approval.
I was a grown up when the fact that my father didn’t understand me became a cause for pity for him, rather than for angst, anger, or introspection on my behalf.
I was a grown up when I started letting myself dream dreams, instead of living out the dreams other people thought I should have.
I felt like a grown up when I acted like others were my equals, instead of feeling insecure around those who were of higher rank or status than I was.
I felt like a grown up when I could pray with other women in my church, even older ones, and feel like I could offer some counsel.
I felt like a grown up when I could run into an acquaintance and have a conversation and not remember until the next day that I was supposed to be mad at them. I guess I don’t carry grudges the same way anymore.
And I know I’m a grown up now that I can admit my faults to other people rather than trying to pretend to be perfect. I know now that there’s no point in pretending.
I felt like a grown up now because I’m realizing that this isn’t my life; the next life is my real life. This is only preparation. So I think I can let go of things a lot easier now and not worry so much what other people think.
And I knew I was a grown up when I stopped worrying about whether or not I was one. I don’t have to wait for my life to start; I have to make my life what I believe God wants it to be. This is my life; it’s up to me to live it. After all, I am a grown up, even if it’s been a long time coming.
Sheila blogs daily at To Love, Honor and Vacuum. And you won’t want to miss her podcasts! She homeschools her two daughters, writes, speaks, and knits. Preferably all at the same time.
Walking Among Them: The Widow with 2 Coins
November 14, 2009 by Lori
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.
Walking Among Them, The Widow with 2 Coins
It’s a short but profound walk this week. Our wanderings with the Widow with 2 Coins can be found in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.
Mark’s account is brief;
“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came in and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
She is poor, she is alone and yet she completely trusts in God. In a word, WOW.
The coins are worth less than a penny. They are Greek lepta and they are copper coins. How incredibly ironic that the coins the widow places in the box are next to worthless and yet because of her great sacrifice, are worth more than massive amounts of gold to the Lord.
We know the commands. They are evident all throughout the Bible. We are told that we cannot serve 2 masters and can not serve both God and money. (Luke 16:13) We are reminded in Hebrews 13:5 that we should not love money and to be satisfied with what we have. The command are clear and yet it’s the widow with two coins who just seems to “get it.” All those around her, those who had studied and were learned took a lesson from a poor widow, and we too walk away with the same simple, profound lesson.
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 that we can take with us on our daily walks.
Reflections from the walk:
As the holidays approach there may be no better time than the present to reflect on the message that is so eloquently expressed in the story of the Widow with Two Coins.
The widow was content. In a world where many of us struggle with issues of contentment, in particular, material contentment, it does our hearts good to read and re read the story of how at peace this woman was to part with her best for God.
Is it difficult for you to part with your best? Jesus pointed out the Widow to the disciples that day. She was an example that He wanted them to witness. He wanted them to notice and 2,000 years later we are still noticing her act of generosity.
This may be a difficult session for you. Examine your habits with money. Examine the habits of your family. Look honestly at your heart for giving. Are you a spender, saver, hoarder. Pray that God will reveal areas where there is work to be done. This will likely not be easy, topics involving money rarely are, but if we are going to come to a place where we can have the “Widow’s heart” then it will begin with our relationship with money and contentment. If this is an area of struggle for you, then this may be an opportunity for you to seek quality Christian counseling on money. God has great plans for each of our lives, but money and materialism often interfere with those plans.There are many resources available. Consult your pastor or trusted Christian friend for references.
Trust is the cornerstone of the Widow’s story. Where in your life do you see a lack of trust? Do you hoard food in your pantry for fear that you will not have enough? Do you hoard clothing in your closet (perhaps 6 different sizes) just because? Do you give of what is left over out of fear? Take one small step this week. After honestly and openly praying about the areas in your life where something is getting in the way of your true relationship with God, take a step to surrender and trust.
personal note**
Personally, I have to work on the issues in regards to food in my pantry. I was convicted that my full pantry was a testimony of fear. I needed to let go of a full freezer and over stocked shelves and let God provide weekly. It has freed me from keeping it all for myself and helped me focus instead on the needs of those around me.
As the holidays approach many will find worry increase and joy plummet. Sincerely pray that this year it WILL be different. Look at ways that you can give from your heart and not out of habit. Giving from the heart will require more time and effort but moving out of worry into true joyful obedience will make the holiday season a truly a time of celebration.
A PDF of this study can be downloaded HERE.
Next month we’ll wrap up our year long study of Walking Among Them.
Lori is a 6th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools a 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.
Beauty School at HOTM
November 5, 2009 by Tracy
Have you enjoyed a fun filled summer with lots of swimming, fun in the sun and pulling your hair into a pony tail from the heat? Well, winter is almost upon us…or already here for some of you! Now is the time to give your tresses a relief from the stresses.
Here are a few easy recipes for helping your hair to look it’s best in the coming months.
Normal Hair
Wash every other day. You are the only hair type that doesn’t need conditioner, but it will help protect your hair from the harsh sun and heat damage of over use of hair appliances.
Magic Mayo
- 2 Tbsp Mayo
- plastic wrap
- old towel
Directions – Smooth mayo through damp hair, wrap in plastic, then wrap towel around to hold in heat. Relax for 10 mins. and rinse. Dry as usual.
Dry Hair
Only wash your hair when it’s needed, no more than every other day. Over washing stripes the natural oils away. Use thick conditioner as it will help replace the oils.
Banana-Honey Mask
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 tsp. honey
- bowl and wooden spoon
- plastic wrap
- old towel
Directions – Shampoo and condition as usual, then mash banana up in the bowl and add honey, stir. Smooth the gooey mixture onto your damp hair. Wrap your hair in plastic to trap heat. Relax for 10 mins, then rinse and dry as usual.
Oily Hair
Choose a shampoo for oily hair, it will help dissolve that extra oil and let your hair shine. Also go light on the conditioner and stay towards the ends.
Lemon Rinse
- The juice from 2 medium lemons
- large bowl
- 4 cups of warm water
- an old towel
Directions – After shampooing and conditioning as normal, pour juice in to the bowl and then the 4 cups of warm water. Lean over sink and pour lemon rinse over your hair. Wrap towel around your head and relax for 10 mins. Dry as usual.
** If you have light colored hair, this will give you “natural highlights” too.
Combination Hair
Try adding Lavender Essential Oil to a warm water rinse. And for all hair types, instead of buying those Hot Oil Treatments, just use Olive oil!
Lastly, to really help your hair from damage always use a product on your hair before using hot appliances on your hair. {Mousse, Styling Gel, Spray-in Conditioner}
Now, teach your daughter these tips and it will save her money and split-ends in the long run. You can also count it as Science or Home Ec!
Tracy is first and foremost a Christian, a military wife and mother. She grew up as a military brat all over the USA and is married to her Air Force, pastor husband of 15 years. They have 2 beautiful teenage children that they home school. She is photographer, and owns Shots From the Heart Photography and loves to do what she calls “Capturing the Fingerprints of God!” in her images. Tracy also created a workshop called Mommytography, where she teaches Mom’s how to take better pictures. You can visit her at her blog: Lighthouse Academy Home & School
Walking Among Them: Mary of Bethany
October 24, 2009 by Lori
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.
Walking Among Them, Mary of Bethany
We all know the story. The story of the sisters Martha and Mary. We have walked with Martha and today, we have the opportunity to walk with her sister Mary of Bethany. We will find her mentioned in each of the Gospels. We’ll look at Matthew (26: 6-13), Mark (14:3 – 9), Luke (10: 38-42) (the story of Martha and Mary), and John (11:1 – 12:11). As always it’s in reading Scripture that we gain insight to the woman with whom we are walking.
Mary was a disciple of Jesus. She sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him. She is known for being still in the presence of the Lord and listening to what He has to place on her heart. This woman knew ultimate joys in her life and profound sadness as well. As the sister of Lazarus, she was distraught as her brother lay sick and dying. As friends of Jesus, they sent for him. “The two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, Lord your dear friend is very sick.” (John 11:1) When Jesus does not come right away, we can only imagine the sadness that fills the home of Mary and Martha as their brother dies. Lazarus had been “in the grave” for four days and as we can all imagine, Mary and Martha were grieving.
Many visitors came, and none of them was Jesus.
When word arrives that Jesus was coming, Martha goes to meet him, but Mary stays behind. Mary stays behind. She stays behind until Martha tells her that, “the teacher is here and wants to see you.” (John 12:28). Faithfully, Mary goes to see Jesus. Mary tells Jesus that if ONLY He had been there, her brother wouldn’t have died. Jesus knew the plans for Lazarus’ life were far from over, but that had not yet been shown to Mary and in her grief, she questioned. This “troubled” Jesus. Jesus asks, “Where have you put him?” The took Jesus to the body and we know that Jesus wept. It is in Jesus’ command that the stone be rolled aside that Jesus responds, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” After praying to the Father, Jesus calls, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus appears with his hands and feet bound in the gravecloths and everyone there must have just stood in awe.
We meet Mary a bit further down the path as well. We meet her in Mark’s account, (14:1-9). It is just before the Passover and there is talk about how to capture and kill Jesus. We know that Jesus was in Bethany and there was a feast in His honor. It is in this story that Mary comes into the room and anoints Him with expensive perfume. Imagine a strong perfume, the kind that can fill up a room. This is not a dab, but rather “poured.” It is Judas Iscariot who speaks up and questions the motives of Mary. “Why waste such expensive perfume? It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” (Mark 14:3-4) Jesus speaks up and defends Mary’s actions. In Mark 26:10, his words are “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing.” He lets them know that the poor will always be among them but that He will soon be gone. He tells them that Mary has anointed His body for burial ahead of time, and reminds them that when the Good News is preached around the world that this deed of Mary’s will be remembered and discussed. (Mark 14:6)
Mary journey’s with Jesus and along the way she learns so much. She quiets herself and listens, she questions in her grief and anoints in a prophetic act. She was unafraid and she loved Jesus. Her actions allow us to see the transparency of the woman who we know as Mary of Bethany. She was not perfect and certainly human in her reactions, particularly in grief, and yet it is her desire for God’s heart and love for Jesus that endures 2,000 years.
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 that we can take with us on our daily walks.
Reflections from the walk:
We take away so much from our walk with Mary. This week we have an opportunity to reflect on the life of this great disciple of Christ.
Spend some time this week learning about the Passover. There are some wonderful resources on Biblical Holidays.com.
In studying the Passover, we can see the significance of Mary’s act at the meal in Bethany. Studying the Passover is a wonderful way to involve the family in a Bible Study.
Mary knows grief when her brother Lazarus dies. Imagine that you were there walking in Mary’s shoes. Would you have reacted in faith or in grief? Look around you and notice that there are many among us who walk in grief. Pray and listen to what God is trying to tell you about reaching those who are grieving. Truly reflect and perhaps you will be led to minister to those who are living with overwhelming sadness.
As women we cannot look past Mary’s heart to “sit at the feet of Jesus.” We live busy and noisy lives and Mary is ever the example of quieting ourselves to immerse ourselves in the Word. If you struggle with quieting yourself, reflect and perhaps commit to memory, the words of Jesus.
“My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Jesus tells Mary those present at her anointing of Him that she has done a “beautiful thing.” God gives us the ability to do the things that please Him. We often are not willing to do just that. The opportunity to DO something beautiful is all around us. It can be in the form of the poor, the needy, the lonely, the grieving, the overwhelmed or the exhausted. Do you have anyone in your life who is experiencing any of these at the moment. Take time this week to “do a beautiful thing.” Ask God to lead you, and do it only for His glory, not yours. These are the gifts that we can give God. He surrounds us with the opportunity to “do something beautiful,” this week let us pray that we seize it.
Lord, thank you for sharing your disciple Mary’s heart with us in your Word. Help us as we strive to lead lives of discipleship. Help us to be still and truly listen at the “feet of Jesus,” as Mary did and then Lord help us to engage in “beautiful acts.” Help us Lord to cast aside selfishness and pride, for they are not beautiful in your eyes and instead clothe ourselves in humility and service so that our lives can become fragrances that are pleasing to you. Thank you Lord for this beautiful life that you have filled with opportunities to praise and glorify you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
As always we come home from the walk with a Biblical Woman with much gained and Mary of Bethany is no exception. May this study bring peace to your life.
A PDF of this study can be found HERE.
Lori is a 6th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools a 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.
Guilt Makes the Woman Go Round
October 20, 2009 by Sheila
They say that love makes the world go round, but I think they’re wrong. I think the majority of the things women do are motivated by guilt.
We women feel guilty about everything. In fact, they say that the most common emotion women feel is guilt, and if you’re a woman, and you’re not feeling particularly guilty right now, just think about it. I’m sure you could talk yourself into plenty of guilt in two minutes flat.
Do you have laundry waiting to be folded? Laundry still in the washing machine, after three days? And don’t even mention the ironing. Then there are those thank you notes that we forgot to send after our wedding sixteen and a half years ago, which guarantee that at every family reunion since we have avoided Aunt Peggy, because we know she remembers our transgression.
And what about parenting? Motherhood, of course, is the guilt that keeps on giving. We feel guilty for locking ourselves in the bathroom, just to get some breathing space. We feel guilty for not serving vegetables for dinner. We feel guilty when we yell at our kids. We feel guilty when we forget to teach math for three days, forget to mark their work for a week, or forget to start homeschooling until 10:30 because we were on the computer.
We feel guilty for relaxing, for reading a novel and leaving the housework behind, for spending money on a manicure instead of on paying down debt, and for feeding everyone cereal for dinner.
Those of us who are older feel guilty for all the missed opportunities we had when we were younger. We feel guilty for not saving more, not loving more, not giving more. We feel guilty for letting our parents down. We feel guilty for letting ourselves down, our kids down, or our friends down. We feel guilty for our health deteriorating, and not being able to do all that we used to.
We feel guilty for folding our towels in half and then half again, instead of in thirds like our mothers taught us. We feel guilty for rolling the fitted sheets up into a ball and then throwing them in the linen closet instead of folding them properly.
And most of all, the number one thing that women feel guilty about is our weight. We feel guilty that we like food, that we eat food, and that we want food.
What does all this guilt do to us? We have three possible responses: the first is that we examine the guilt, talk to God about it, take the legitimate to heart, and then change our lives for the better. That one’s pretty rare.
The second is that we feel so guilty that we deflect that guilt by getting mad at everyone else to ensure that the grumpiness is spread around evenly. That one’s pretty common.
And then there’s the most common of all: we run around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to do the impossible, with the hope that if we just keep it up, the guilt will stop. But it won’t, because what we’re demanding of ourselves is superhuman. And there really isn’t such a thing as SuperWoman. There is only Exhausted Woman, and I don’t particularly like her.
Men find it easier to shrug guilt off, go out on the porch, and relax. They don’t tend to bother themselves with silly things like housework standards, menu standards, or etiquette. And they don’t even have to go through labour! They’ve got it easy. But perhaps they just aren’t as susceptible to this particular foible as women are. Instead of listening to God for what we should do, we tend to let society, the media, and the church culture set our standards. It’s no wonder we feel like we’re always falling short.
Maybe, we should try, just for one day, to be a man and not to feel guilt about stupid things. Let’s stop listening to those voices in our head and just seek out God’s voice. It’s worth the effort. If only someone would fold the laundry for me while I tried.
Sheila blogs daily at To Love, Honor and Vacuum. And you won’t want to miss her podcasts! She homeschools her two daughters, writes, speaks, and knits. Preferably all at the same time.
