May 18, 2010 by admin.

Once and Done - (Peggy Hoy 2007)

Chapters of our lives begin and close.

What is in the middle, God only knows.

If you look back, you can read it,

But life is something you can’t edit

Bitterness will turn you upside down;

Will turn your smile into a frown.

Your heart will lie- now that is a fact.

Once a deed’s done, there’s no going back

There is no record of greater disgrace

Than a hurtful word spoken in haste.

Before speaking or acting, count the cost,

And later you won’t have to count your loss

Remember our lives are like a book.

Every now and then, open, and take a look.

No erasers are given once you’ve begun,

For our lives are but once…and done.

When my husband and I started our life together, we had such big plans and dreams! I’m very thankful to say that after 20 years together, most of those plans have been fulfilled, and most of those dreams have come true. Not everyone can say that - what a blessing!

Now, along the way, as plans and dreams were fulfilled, we developed more. I have no doubt that if the world stands, He wants to bless us with the fulfillment of those expectations also. We should NEVER stop dreaming and planning and setting goals!

One deep-settled plan we had was to homeschool our children. I believe it was God’s plan according to his Word. Did we always have the money, resources and resilience to home school? In a word, no. Did God give us what we needed to make it work? Yes! There were times when money was tight and we had to scrape up enough for curriculum. There were times when we hodge-podged things together, and I despaired over the bright, colorful, more expensive materials. Sometimes I just wanted to quit because I did not think I was providing enough good things for my kids. I look back, and with thankful tears remember God’s goodness.

I look at today, and see Leah’s diligence in her AP classes combined with her SAT scores were enough to gain her 18 hours of college credits! Sarah will be finishing a year early and taking her GED next spring. Logan will be in ninth grade and working with his dad this summer learning his trade. He is growing into a strong young man with a great work ethic!

Who ever knew that counting pinto beans instead of using ‘real’ curriculum could do that?!Leah should be finishing her AA in Secondary Education around January 2011.God has given her a wonderful young man, and plans are that when she finishes, they will be married. Just recently, they closed on the property they are buying.

Sarah has also been given a fine young man who plans to be an accountant. My heart is overflowing right now, as I sit and listen to them playing the piano together!

Most of all, not only my girls, but these two young men love the Lord, and have plans to keep their homes Christ-centered. We have no doubt that whatever road they go down, the Lord has something great in store- and we also do not doubt that they will yield to God’s purpose when he shows them what he wants them to do!

Oh yes! These are good days! There were bad days, too. There were times when we failed with the kids. The training and teaching sessions we may have had for the right reasons were few and far between, instead they were mostly for the purpose of keeping our kids from being like other people’s kids! What GRACE can do! (I thank God for grace, and I’m ashamed to admit some of these things)

We failed in other areas, too, and when I recall the days when they were small, I am truly grateful to the angels God placed around my children to keep them safe, when I was lazy, unconcerned and (willfully) ignorant of the fact that Satan hated my children and wanted to kill them.

I know that sounds like strong words, but he is hateful and wicked- and he is our enemy! He would LOVE to have them even to this day. He wants YOUR kids, too. He wants to keep anyone he can from being saved, and loving and serving Jesus. Do not be deceived!

I have learned a few things over my years, and through my mistakes. That is one reason I started this blog. If I can help just ONE family make it through their children’s early years with some practical training helps; help ONE family decide to stick to home schooling because it’s the right thing to do according to the Bible; most of all, if ONE person gets saved because of our testimony and love for Christ - I will be truly happy.

What goodness I have received of the Lord! What a joy my teenagers are to me! What a blessing to have them all here with me safe and sound in body and mind - when they could be dead, in hell, or scarred and damaged from my neglect and selfishness!

My most earnest prayer is that I can finish well. I started well. I messed up some in the middle. I tried to correct my errors. I overcorrected some. I trusted God when I came to the end of myself. So when I come to the end of my children’s education, I hope I will have finished well. When I see them all standing at the altar with their beloved ones, I hope I have prepared them well. When I see the fruit of my labor, I want to have finished that last chapter well! And when Jesus opens the books to judge me, I want him to say…

“WELL done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou in to the joys of our Lord.”

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May 4, 2010 by admin.

Book Review: Simply Homeschooling by Melinda Keen Lewis, MA, LPA, LSSP

Morris Publishing 2002

My friend picked this book up recently and thought it a refreshing look at home schooling. To us road-worn and (sometimes) weary - experienced folks, anything inspiring is welcome! When she passed it to me with accolades, I knew it would be a good book! I so liked the way it was written, I decided to do a book review here in case any of you would like to purchase it for yourselves. I know that it is available from CBD, but there may be additional sites to order from as well, including this address in the front of the book:

Lifestyle Learning

9704 Ravenna Court

Granbury, TX 76049

Neilmeltx@aol.com

(817)279-6262

I do not know if this is a current address, email, or telephone number.

Mrs. Lewis takes the verses Deuteronomy 11:18-19 and breaks them down into practical examples. She then takes each core subject and fine art, and gives real life experiences to guide a new homeschooler, or even an experienced one, in a relaxed, matter of fact, encouraging manner.

She gives highest authority to the King James Bible and acknowledges that without the Lord, we are nothing. His Word should be our first Bible Curriculum! Do not forsake the Bible!

As with any motivational materials, this book is chock full of great ideas, plans and excitement, but please do not feel that you must complete each of these things she mentions as a scope and sequence to have a well rounded home school. I do not believe that is the intent or purpose of her writings.

She has done a very thorough job of just telling us all to relax! Have fun! Listen and learn together with your children for a wonderful home schooling experience. As you learn and grow, hang in there with your fingers, teeth and toenails, and one day you can help someone else on their home school road just by telling your story and giving some examples of how the Lord brought you through a certain situation.

Another thing that I liked about the book is that Mrs. Lewis did not seem proud in her abilities or education (although she is capable and very well educated), but sites many sources that she has read from and learned from. There are ten pages of resource materials, books and helps listed at the back of the book. What she has gotten, she is freely giving- including the plan of Salvation! Excellent!

Simply Home schooling, in my opinion, should be a reference on any shelf! I hope you can purchase one for yourself to refer to in a down time when nothing seems to be going right. Remember that God will give you grace! I think homeschooling is something that never gets old and never gets stale. It just gets all the more exciting!

Happy Reading!

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