2010 Read Alouds January 24, 2010

On my sidebar, I’ve created a new section that will keep track(hopefully) of the Read Alouds our family has completed together this year.  We try to have some kind of family read aloud time once or twice a week.  Most of our Read Alouds are chosen through our Konos Unit Studies, but sometimes we just choose some good books that have been recommended from a friend, website, curriculum catalog or the book Honey for a Child’s Heart.  The kids really enjoy the time we spend reading together in the evenings before bed, though it has taken some training to get them there.  It’s alwys amusing because at the beginning of a new book, they complain and are sure they won’t like it.  I always tell them to trust me because there has never been a book that, by the end, they didn’t enjoy the story and not want it to end. 

This is exactly what happened with our first Read Aloud book of this year, My Side of the Mountain.  We are learning about the character traits of Resourcefulness and Initiative and does Sam Gribley ever exemplify that trait!  This teen has left his large family in their crowded apartment to live in the Catskill mountains on an abandoned homestead belonging to his grandfather.  Before he leaves, he has researched how to survive and the book chronicles his year living alone in the wild.  My kids initially didn’t like it because they didn’t like that he “ran away from home” and his family.  The first few chapters we had the usual complaining, but by the middle of the book – especially when he begins to train his falcon named Frightful, they were hooked.  We have finished the book and are now moving onto the sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain. 

Blessings!

-J

What you can do with those Christmas Cards… January 24, 2010

I have never had an original thought in my life.  God knows I would get too prideful so He only allows me to copy what I see others say and do:)  I remember reading this idea a long time ago in a book for Christian women and then when we moved here, a dear couple from our church had put it into practice.  Well, this year we have finally done it. 

We made an index card for each person who sent us a Christmas card or gift and placed the index cards in a basket.  Each morning during our devotional time, a child takes a turn pulling out a card and we pray for the person or family on the card.  Those who sent us cards with pictures are stored near the basket and if they sent us a picture, we tape their picture onto our white board so that we can remember to pray for them throughout the day.  If I have their e-mail or they are a friend on Facebook, I send them a note letting them know that we prayed for them that morning and ask if there is anything specific we could be praying for them(the couple from our church mails a card, which is a great idea as well).  Then as we do our mealtime or bedtime prayers we include those requests as well. 

The children have really enjoyed this because we receive many Christmas cards from people we haven’t seen since they were little or whom they’ve never met.  They are getting acquainted with seminary families who are now on the mission field, church planting or in ministry who Brent & I knew well, but maybe the children never met.  They are getting to know our friends from college and see their children.  It has given us a chance to share stories about how we know these people and helps the children to see how God weaves people in and out of our lives at different seasons and a reason to touch base with those people we don’t talk to on a regular basis throughout the year.  Of course, they love to pray for people that they know as well and to think about what that person might need prayer for that particular day. 

So, if you haven’t thrown out those Christmas cards yet, you may want to implement a system of your own. 

Blessings!

-J

What my kids should be when they grow up… January 22, 2010

I feel like we’ve spent most of the week waiting for snow that weathermen said were coming.  Awana cancelled for snow that never came.  Planning a day of staying in only to rush out of the house to lessons and appointments wondering where if I’ll get stuck in snow that never comes.  Of course, on the day where they said there would just be rain, we had snow.  So I am now advising my children to be meteorologists/weather reporters when they grow up.  What a great job! You get to be wrong ALOT and no one seems to mind.  You don’t lose your job! Now, no offense to any weather predictors out there, but I think they would admit they have a pretty cushy job. 

But I think what it comes down to is that there are still some things only God knows and controls.  From one of my favorite songs, Indescribable: “From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, creation reveals your majesty. ” “Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow? Who imagined the sun and gives source to it’s light, yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night.”  Amazing to think that the same one who knows all this knows the depths of my heart, and still sent His Son for me. 

Which is what I’m reflecting on today rather than getting frustrated with the weatherman:)

Blessings!

-J

Schedules are great but… January 20, 2010

 

 

I am a box-checker by nature. I LOVE being able to check off the box, to cross something off my to do list, to feel like I’ve accomplished something in the day. I also have the tendency to try to cram too much into our days so that I have lots of boxes to check off. I also tend to forget that one of the reasons that we homeschool and that I don’t schedule every single second of my children’s existence is that character building generally doesn’t happen on a scheduled timetable.

Here’s an example. This morning one of my children got really frustrated(with some work that I know that they can do) and threw their version of a tantrum about their schoolwork. I sent the child to their room to pray and calm down. Now this was throwing my “schedule” off and I wasn’t too thrilled about it – I had a lot to acomplish today and a lot of boxes to be checked off. 30 minutes later the child still hadn’t come out and when I went to check I found them still in tears. My temptation was to tell them to get over it, quit being lazy, give them a long tirade and get them back in the chair so that my boxes could get checked off. But I felt like the Holy Spirit was telling me that I needed to put my child over the schedule. Now I feel that leading often and I will be honest that I don’t always follow it so don’t think that I am some super-Christian mom or anything. But this time I did. I asked the child what was going on in their heart. At first, I got nothing and was tempted again to tell them to quit whining and get back to work, let’s call this Plan A. But, instead, I listened. And, slllllooooowwwwwwllllyyyyy(oh, was it trying my patience), the child began to share their heart, and eventually the child began sharing and confessing sin in their life and even doubts they had about their faith. Wow! What would have happened if I had gone with plan A? How long would this child be carrying this burden around? How many times have I gone with plan A and missed out on a chance to disciple my children?

Elizabeth George in her book Loving God with All Your Mind talks about the importance of planning. But she taught me that we always need to give that plan to God each morning. We need to tell God, “This is my plan for today, but I am holding it loosely in case you have a plan B”.

As it turned out, God had a Plan B for the day. It even included a snowstorm that after all was said and done, our family had lunch and some fun in the snow. My boxes will not get checked for the day. But in the long run, my boxes will not last for eternity. My children’s hearts will. Praying that I will continue to make them the priority rather than my schedule and boxes; that I will hold them loosely so that God can give me a Plan B.

Blessings!
-J

What if we treated them like they belonged to God? January 8, 2010

 

Our church has a classical Christian book blub and we are currently reading the book Worldly Saints.  Leland Ryken has done a search of Puritan writings to find out more about them and share his findings with his readers.  It’s a fascinating read which shows from the Puritan writers what they really believed, dispelling some mistaken notions that many of us had been taught about them.

As much as I’m enjoying the read and recommend the book, it’s not really what this post is about.  As I was reading the chapter on the Puritan family, I read this quote: 

“Puritan attitudes toward children were rooted in the conviction that children belong to God and are entrusted to parents as a stewardship. “The children born in our families are born  unto God,” declared Deodat Lawson; God “put them out to us.” According to Cotton Mather, parents “must give an account of the souls that belong unto their families.” Thomas Watson believed Christian parents “will endeavor that their children may be more God’s children than theirs.”

Of course I agree with the Puritans on this point, but it began a thinking process in my mind and a conviction in my heart.  How would I treat my children differently if I really believed this?  Do I think of my children consistently as a stewardship from God?  Do I treat them more as they are God’s children than my own?  It occurred to me that I can have much patience and even longsuffering with other people’s children.  When I watch friends’ children or teach Sunday school, my voice does not raise with my frustration level.  I don’t forget to say “please” or “thank you”.  I ask for help rather than demand it and I could go on and on.

Sooo….if my children are really GOD’S, shouldn’t I be treating them consistently at least as well as I treat the Sunday School kids or the children of my friends?  Now, of course I will occasionally let a guest in our home get away with things, give them preferential treatment.  I’m not talking about not disciplining our kids as that is not what the Bible teaches.  But I am thinking that as I let this truth sink in, that it will change my everyday demeanor, speach and care for my children because they are not mine to do whatever I please.  They are God’s stewardship that He has entrusted to me for a season and I should only be treating them in a way that points them back to their heavenly Father.   So I am adding one more parenting goal to 2010 that is listed below:  I want my family to get my best.  I don’t want to just save it for guests or company – I want them to be loved as someone made in the image of God, for so they are.  Not saying it’s going to come easy.  But it is such a desire in my heart that I am praying that God will help me in His strength to love in word and deed each of these children in a way that would be honoring to their heavenly Father.   

Blessings!

-J

This little guy could give us some trouble… January 7, 2010

 

Thinking raising this one is going to be interesting.  Conversation at dinner tonight:

AA: Mom, I can’t eat my lima beans.

Me: Why not?

AA: Because eating lima beans is a sin so I can’t eat my lima beans.

Me: How is eating lima beans a sin?

AA: Because they are bad so they eating them is a sin.

Hard to argue with that logic…

Verse studied this morning… January 5, 2010

And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works in me. Col 1:29. 

What a relief that it’s not up to me!  I have the power of the God of the universe; the God who spoke and created light; the God who had the power to raise Christ from the dead – working in me and through me!  So as I rely on His strength and power(as I really have none on my own), I will be able to do what He has called me to do as wife and homeschooling mom today.  And if you know Him as your Lord and Savior so do you! So amazing! Read all of Colossians 1 if you want to be blown away by what God has done and who He is. My boys especially loved the verse that “He RESCUED us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Talk about a superhero!

Blessings!

-J

Well Planned Day January 5, 2010

I have to share about my most favorite purchase I’ve made in a long time.  Let me preface by saying that I’m a bit on the freaky side when it comes to organizational tools.  I love office supplies!  Now this doesn’t mean that I am a consistently organized person in all areas of my life, but I do enjoy the act of orderliness and organization.  I often joke that if my children’s education was solely based on my ability to plan it, they would be geniuses!  It’s the teaching that I have to work on. 

I have searched since I began homeschooling for an all in one planner so I wouldn’t need a separate calendar, lesson plan book, etc.  I’ve tried making my own, I’ve bought others and been frustrated because some component seemed to missing. Well,  I FINALLY FOUND IT!  I found someone else who thinks like me!  The Well Planned Day has everything I’ve ever wanted in a planner and more.  I love that it’s a calendar of the school year rather than the calendar year.  The beginning has a place for goals(including each child’s character training goals) and curriculum choices.  Each month has a month at a glance calendar with Bible verses to read through the Bible in a year.  Each semester has a place to outline your weekly schedule.  Then there are 4 weekly pages for each month for lesson planning, weekly priorities, shopping lists(that are perforated so they can be torn out) all in beautifully decorated pages with scripture, chatechism, motivational articles(the one for January is by John Piper). 

You can buy the 09-10 school year planner at a discounted price.  Their shipping was very quick and you also receive a discount if you pre-order for next school year’s planner by March 1st.  If you enjoy organizing as much as I do, it’s something you will want to check out. 

Blessings!

New Year’s Resolutions January 4, 2010

Well, I wish I could say that one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to blog more, but it’s not and as I look at my true resolutions for the coming year I can’t say blogging really fits in well.  So, for this season of my life, I think I will keep to the sporadic postings which is a bummer because I really do/did enjoy it.  We’ll see – maybe God will help me find more time in my day than I think. 

I love the New Year just as I love the start of a new school year.  It’s a chance to re-evaluate, measure the good and the bad and re-set goals.  Brent & I spent an evening this week talking about what those goals were for our family for the coming year – everything from budgeting to character in our individual children to making time for our marriage to potential vacations.

So, to hold myself accountable, I am publishing my personal New Year’s resolutions.  Within the next month, I plan to search the scriptures to find specific verses to pray over and memorize that pertain to each one. 

Spiritual – Consistent quiet time with my Savior has always been a battle for me, and I consider it a spiritual one.  I desire to continue in that battle because it is crucial to my spiritual growth, but I also want to focus more on Jesus as my constant companion throughout the day.  So often, I can spend time with Him, and then once the Bible is closed, drift into a mode where I am operating back in my own strength.  Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not in your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  I often start the day trusting in the Lord and then switch into leaning on my own understanding.  I acknowledge Him in some things, but not in ALL my ways.  What this might look like:  As we homeschool, I want to invite Him and ask for His wisdom as we change each subject.  I want to talk to Him before I go in to speak to an unruly child.  I want to talk to Him before my hubby gets home to prepare my heart for his coming.  I want to worship Him and give Him the glory when one of my children accomplishes something.  When I sin, I want to confess it right then rather than waiting until before bed.  So my challenge to myself this year is to live my faith and worship my Savior moment by moment throughout the day and not limit it to just my quiet time. 

Marriage – We are holding each other accountable to praying together each day.  We are also committed to 2 getaways without the kids this year.

Parenting – My main goal here for the coming year is to be the kind of person I hope my children will be someday.  Knowing that much more of parenting is caught than taught, I need to have character traits I want them to catch.  If I want them to have a consistent quiet time, I need to have them see that.  If I want them to be able to be disciplined, control their anger, put others first, speak kindly, do things with excellence, find ways to serve, etc.  than I need to work on my own heart, attitudes and behavior first so see the above under Spiritual:)

Financial – We have been taking our 20 something Bible Study through the Crown financial study in recent months.  It has given us a chance to re-focus our financial goals.  Moving into a new house coupled with our Obama new homebuyer stimulus money(thanks to all you taxpayers out there for helping us put in our backyard!) meant that we had extra money to just do things without really needing to stress about staying in our budget – after 4 years of seminary that was quite a change!  But now that things are stablilized, large purchases have been made, it’s time to get serious again about short term and long term purchases, ministries we want to support and long term goals.  With the use of mvelopes(see link at the left), we have tracked our spending over the past 10 months.  So we have made a very workable budget that I think for the first time in many years, we will actually be able to meet if we are disciplined.  This might mean waiting a while until those 14 year old couches, mattresses, 10 year old appliances, etc. are replaced and we have any furniture in the Living Room, but we have found how quickly the newness wears off and how much more important financial peace of mind is than rushing to fill out house with stuff.  

Physical  - I am back on the working out bandwagon and already feel better after just a week.  It’s one of those things that I never want to do, but once I do, I find I have more energy, am able to focus, have a little more patience, etc.  That combined with a birthday that pushes me a little closer to a milestone decade makes me think that I need to keep up this habit before it’s impossible to turn back.  I am doing a combination of Wii Fit(thanks to a family Christmas present) with Leslie Sansone’s walking workouts.  I am also cutting out my occasional-coke-as-a-treat that had become a weekly requirement.  I’d like to say I’m committed to eating healthier, but I’m not going to make that one a resolution just yet…But I have been eating one salad a day so I am making progress:)

Homeschooling – I want to start this semester well, but I want to persevere and finish well.  So often, I start off the semester well, have a lull where we get lazy and then try to finish quickly and catch up.  My goal is to be persistently consistent in our schooling.  Every homeschool mom occasionally has to ask themselves – if I were paying me to school my kids would I be pleased with the education they are receiving?  By mid-November the answer to that was “not really”.  Part of the problem was that I had made the “rookie” mistake of involving us in too many outside activities during school hours that were keeping us from getting the academic stuff done.  So we’ve scaled back are are running much leaner this semester as far as extracurriculars during the day.  I also know that we are going to HAVE to start school earlier in the day which means that the teacher is going to need to get up earlier in the day which means I need to go to bed at a decent hour…  So tomorrow morning, everyone’s alarms will be going off – will be an interesting day.

So, I’m gearing up for take off to a new year and a new decade.  One that I pray I will be able to look back with satisfaction that I have matured and grown more into the woman God created me to be.

Well, it was bound to happen… October 16, 2009

After just 6 weeks of having TV, my kids have officially been indoctrinated as Dodgers fans.  My two oldest are watching game one of the playoffs with the Phillies and know all the players names, are shouting about the umpire’s strike zone, and calling the Phillies “those bad Phillistines!”  They are definitely their father’s children!