September 19, 2009 by admin.

Homeschooling while travelling has always been hard for us.  I am not organized when on the road as far as school goes.  I have too many other things to micromanage!!!  haha.  This time it may be different though.  Sarah and Logan are both growing up and getting more mature and responsible. 

Logan’s my hero and protector when it comes to carrying things…’Here Mom, let me get that….urgh.” haha.  He’s my baby boy…whose voice is changing!! Yikes.  I really KNEW the kids would grow up…the girls did.  But my BABY!!!  I’ve had time to get used to Leah being an adult… 

And now, I have noticed a huge change in Sarah.  It’s like it finally clicked.  “I’m not a little girl anymore, and if I ever want to ‘move up’ I’m going to have to do it, and do it right.”  I remember when it happened to Leah, but those two are a study in EXACT OPOSITES…they are exactly the same, but exactly different.  Leah doesn’t like milk, but Sarah would drain the cow.  Leah loves tomatoes, but Sarah would as soon have the measles!  Leah wants to go to bed at nine o’clock, Sarah would stay up until she (1) gets bored (2) gets told to go to bed!  Leah would leave you alone so SHE could be alone, but Sarah loves to pick at you just to make you smile.

But yet, they are so much the same!  Mainly, they both are seeking the Lord’s will in their lives.  Both would be crushed if they thought they hurt their dad or me.  And now, both are goal oriented (Sarah never was before…) Both help me clean house and cook.  Both are SUCH a blessing to me, I could never tell you.  

No one wants to have girls, it seems.  No one wants to have teenagers for that matter.  But I can honestly say that the teen years for my kids have been some of the most enjoyable for me so far.  I have proven that if you train up a child in the way he should go…. I have lived …a wise son maketh a glad father… I have been called blessed!!! 

Nope, I’m not bragging on me…(they aren’t totally raised yet- and I know Satan is watching for a foothold) but I did work really hard …and the LORD has been SO good to us. 

It can happen for you too….don’t give up.  Don’t despair.  Don’t give in to temptation.  Don’t go back to the government school system.  Do pray, do read together, do talk to your children….DO gain their trust. 
Train early…relax later.

Posted in child rearing, opposites | 2 Comments »

September 13, 2009 by admin.

I was thinking today, once again about Algebra, since I had homework over the weekend.  Adding/subtracting, multiplying/dividing positive and negative intergers is our newest adventure, and I NEEDED the homework so as not to forget what we were doing on Friday.  As I was thinking about this, the Lord brought a thought to my mind. 

There will be a test, and the verse in 2Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A test that reiterates all that you were supposed to have learned.  A test that exemplifies your learning experience.  A test to prove that you were ‘there’ in class that day.   

When the books are opened, and I am judged before my Savior- of whose body and blood I am not worthy (but he counts me as worthy!) I do not want to be ashamed.  I know that I will be - because HE is holy, and I am not - but as much as possible, I want to be approved of. 

There will be a test. 

I also thought about the tests that we take and why.  Main reason? To prove that you learned what you were supposed to have learned.  

When do you get a test?  Before the lesson or after?  So many times things come in our lives and we say…oh that is a test.  Well, how you pass or fail is an indicator of how well you learned the lesson - were you at church when your pastor preached on this?  Were you in the Book?  Did you ask for God’s direction?  Or did you miss the lesson? 

This may be totally off base, but I don’t think God gives tests without instruction first.  A pop quiz?  I dunno. 

I know of folks, and I have noticed this within the last 10-15 years, maybe just because I have grown up in the Lord, but I have noticed that when someone gets saved, there is inevitably an event that happens in their lives that makes them choose one way or another - how they handle that situation is one of their first fruits in my opinion. 

One family I know had twins who were many weeks premature…would they lean on God and their brothers and sisters in Christ, or would they handle it without the benefit of their new life?  They are still serving the Lord today. (Praise God!)
Another man’s only daughter died, his wife was in a nursing home in a different state, he was assaulted by a neighbor and charges were brought against him for defending himself. By the way, he is in his 70’s!  He is as faithful as he can be.  (Again, praise God!)

But I know of others- car breaks down, money is tight, house burnt down, rumors were spread….pop quizzes.  They didn’t pass. 
I’m not saying they are not saved, but they are not living for Jesus. Not at our church, not at ANY church.  Sure you can be a Christian and not go to church.  But you can’t be a GOOD Christian and not go to church.  Otherwise we would not be commanded to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together - as the manner of SOME is (paraphrase mine, emphasis mine)

So.  Do they get a new test?  A make up?  I don’t know, but I know if they are children of God - there will be a test. 

God does not give us tests for no reason.  Now, our job is not to find out WHY we are getting a test, but to pass.  Study. 

There will be a test. 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

September 9, 2009 by admin.

I have many legitimate excuses for why I did not learn Algebra when I was 14, but the fact remains that I just didn’t want to.  My Mother was sick with cancer - and I needed glasses but wouldn’t tell anyone- when I was in 7th grade Pre-Algebra.  But I passed.  I learned it.  When 8th grade came along, my Mom passed away on Sept 13th.  Not a good start to the school year.  The teacher was old and smelled like Marlboro’s and stale coffee.  She wore sleeveless blouses which accentuated her skinny granny arms which flapped in the breeze everytime she wrote on the blackboard.  She also broke chalk and had fits of exasperation in class.  I did not learn Algebra.  But I passed.  I cheated.  I am ashamed of that now, and would NEVER want my children to resort to such behavior.  I did fess up in high school when they wanted to put me in Algebra 2.   I took business math that year.   W

When my oldest daughter took Algebra, I said, “I can’t do it. You are on your own.”  She did it.  And does very well.  She is teaching her sister and brother this year.  And me.  I have seen the error of my ways and have decided that I was very wrong to tell Leah to teach herself, and Lord help you.  She forgave me, but I was repremanded yesterday for my attitude.  She’s gonna be a great teacher.  :)  

Hopefully I’ll be a better student this time.  I made an 85% this morning on my first quiz.   Hopefully I’ll learn more than Algebra. Hopefully, character!

Posted in Algebra, curriculum, homeschooling | 1 Comment »