The more I worry about my children (actually my sons-in-law-to-be) out there driving on the slick roads, the more I long for warm weather and sunshine. A friend of mine has a little five year old girl who wrote her autobiography just last week. I loved it! She wrote that her life was colorless and ‘ruly’ (full of rules. J Guess she was having a bad day?) I could completely understand the first statement, and I guess I’ve gotten used to the last one in my old age. I secretly embrace rules and organization at times, actually.

Last night the Holy Spirit talked to me about these things, reminding me that He gave me the mind that I have to even think the thoughts I was thinking, and I was breathing HIS (cold) air - thank you very much. I repented of my bad attitude (as well as I could). How could I not?! I told God -one more time- that he was my one and only, and I would not worship at the feet of ‘me’ to the best of my ability when the sun came up in the morning. I don’t know if I’ve done all that great, but I have tried not to complain so much. God knows what He is doing, and he has a plan for me to glorify Him in some way. How can I glorify God if I’m worshipping someone else? Namely myself and the gods I have made out of time, money, comfort, safety, security, rules and organization.

Not only does his plan include his glory, but also my good! I am in essence robbing my own self of his goodness to me when I hoard up and worship the things that aren’t mine to start with. All those things I mentioned are GIFTS from God and only from Him can I obtain happiness and joy through them.

I prayed that the Lord would let me see the red in the bird on the wire and the blue in the eyes of a child. (What a blessing to be able to see.) I prayed for Him to let me know the joy of buying someone else a gift with the money he’s given me instead of worrying over bills. (What a blessing to have friends!) The coldness upon my flesh will soon be forgotten. (What a blessing to be able to feel my legs.) The grayness of the winter will bloom into the flowers of spring. (What a blessing to know that God has new things for us!) The smell of the roses and buds of the trees will be all the more sweet when the warm air blows.(What a blessing to have a sense of smell.) When the sunshine melts the frost on my window panes, and I can again raise them high, the sound of the birds will ring. (What a blessing to be able to hear!) I must thank God for the cold, gray days because without them, these warm, colorful days would be taken for granted.

The day is almost over. It’s supposed to snow in the morning, I’ve been told. The winter will come to pass as do all the other seasons. I certainly hope the old temptations to worship the gods of selfishness don’t bring to bare the fruits of unrighteousness- again. I prayed for some way to worship Him and glorify Him because He is worthy. I prayed to enjoy the time I have with my family (and my sons-in-law-to-be) when we are together, (What a blessing to have hope for the future!) and put them in God’s hands when we are apart. What a blessing that I can trust Him!! ‘He’s the keeper of my soul since I gave him full control - Praise the Lord! I’m (still) on the winning, side!

There is one issue that keeps coming to my attention by would-be homeschoolers, or hesitant parents who are thinking about homeschooling. It is the diploma -vs.- GED issue. Parents who have not homeschooled before are sometimes leery of GED, since before the era of homeschooling popularity, having a GED meant you could not pass public school criteria, or that you were a drop-out. Not so in today’s society. GED is not just for ‘losers’ anymore! J So, leaving that aspect and going on to what I would really like to address, lets focus on experienced homeschoolers with children reaching their high school years. The question- Should I allow my child to get a GED?

Most people hope their children will continue to follow the ideas they have been taught as they grow up. That’s the whole purpose in homeschooling, in a way- to (ourselves) mold our children into the adults we believe would benefit the Lord and society in the best possible manner. Most homeschoolers wish that their children would grow up and homeschool their own children, eventually.

To begin homeschooling in the state of WV, you must have a diploma or a GED. Thus, if our children wish to homeschool their own children later, they must have a GED, since WV does not grant diplomas to homeschoolers. (Neither do they accept the credits of most Christian schools if you decide to put him/her in public school. Nor will they accept a Christian school diploma.)

Some people who do not live in a state with said requirement, have expressed that they feel that getting a GED is a bad example to other homeschoolers. They feel that it is a compromise on the part of a homeschooling (especially Christian) family to comply with the status-quo of passing a ‘secular’ (in this case) standardized test.

Some of the main arguments for this thinking are:

1. The relinquishment of parental rights must always be guarded against when dealing with civil and educational government standards.

2. As Christians we are told to ‘come out from among them and be ye separate’. (2 Cor 6:14-17)

3. We should never put our children into situations which we think may be harmful to their spiritual well-being.

4. It may be a flawed theory, that passing a standardized test or not, determines a person’s ability or knowledge. Some folks test well while others freeze up.

On the other hand:

1. Just because you comply with a civil law to attain an end, -ie homeschooling-, doesn’t mean you are compromising your standards or rights (given by the government, by the way) as parents. Civil government is always obeyed in Scripture when it does not go against the laws and/or precepts of God. (Matt 17:27, Rom.13:1-8, Titus 3:1 are some examples)

2. It is agreed that Christians should be separate from the world system, for we have no part in their wickedness or gain. This world is not our home, we are just passing through; pilgrims and sojourners in this place. Therefore, we are technically in bondage to those ‘higher powers’ we read about in Rom. 13. The Bible never contradicts itself. I believe, to be in compliance with their rules, (as long as it doesn’t contradict the laws of God) is the will of God. I have heard it said, “We are to be IN the world, but not OF the world.”

3. Will it hurt my child spiritually? This is kind of ‘touchy’. First, it is understood that all children are not alike in their spirituality. (As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen a spiritual child. I have seen many kids sing, quote the Bible, and even witness for Jesus- RIGHT before they hit their sister and throw a temper tantrum. But I digress. J ). Nevertheless, a child, by the age of 16 or 17, should they have come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, will probably be able to experience the ‘world’ and discern good from evil. We all must learn to choose the good and refuse the evil. There will come a time when your child MUST choose for him/her self. One of the hardest things a parent must do is let go of their control, and let their child have a relationship with the Lord. I am of the opinion that if your child cannot discern the lies perpetuated by the world system by the time they are ready to graduate from high school, you have not done your job as a parent. As far as their spiritual well-being when they are out from under your tutelage, it is up to you whether to teach the right thing or not, but it is the Lord who must protect them and keep them unspotted. (2 Peter 2:9, Prov. 21:31, Prov.16:7)

It is up to you as well, as to how you tell your child to answer such questions that may occur. Do they answer them the way the test makers expect, or do they answer in the Biblical way? Well, are they there to pass a test or teach Sunday School? Before you stone me for blasphemy, I am in no wise saying be hypocritical or double-minded. However, you are not about to change the test makers’ minds if you do not answer a question the way they want it answered just because you do not believe in evolution. On a GED, there is no place for a written-in opinion. Honestly, in my experience of standardized tests, there are SOME things that need to be warned of, and some things are just silly. If you’ve done your job, your teenager will know there are no 5 million year old “anythings”. Answer the question they way they want it to be answered and know that it is a lie. Simple.

4. I don’t think I have a Biblical answer for this one. I agree with the non-testers in this aspect, actually, having three children, none of which are alike when it comes to testing. I do think, however, that you cannot keep tests of some kind from entering into the life of your youngster. God tests us and tries us according to our abilities and strengths, AND to reveal to us his will, AND to exercise our faith. I have yet to sit down with paper and pencil and hand in a written test to the Lord, but tested, I have been and will continue to be. Also, I don’t believe God is a ‘standardized’ tester. (Rom. 12.) I also believe that we must study to show ourselves approved unto God, but not only to Him. It boils down to, there are some things that you don’t like to do which may be hard, but they may be a necessary stepping stone toward a higher goal.

By the way, most colleges do not require a diploma or GED for admission, but they do require an SAT or ACT. I don’t know about Bible Colleges, but if they are accredited colleges, I would assume they would require an SAT or ACT (which are ‘secular’ standardized tests) and which opens up a whole new subject as to how to further your child’s education. Once again, a college diploma trumps a high school diploma or a GED - unless the college degree is from a non-accredited college.

As parents, the one thing we must do is pray that we make the right decisions to the GLORY OF GOD. Some people’s decisions are not meant to be others’ decisions as long as God gets the glory. Compromising should never be an option when it comes to the gospel or the fundamentals of the Bible, OR of the scriptures themselves- but let’s be sure that when we think others are compromising, we are not judging a matter out of pride, strife or our own vain glory- even to the point of whether or not others homeschool! To GOD be the glory. (Question, Non-homeschoolers-CAN you glorify God by NOT homeschooling? Can you honestly say that sending your child to a public school WILL bring glory to God? Think long and hard about that before judging the homeschoolers.)

Though I have decided to homeschool and are aware of some obvious benefits, if someone else does not home school their children, but Jesus gets the glory, what have I to say about that? All I am here to do is to share the benefits of homeschooling from the get-go and hope folks take my advice. I have nothing to say to parents who decide against homeschooling that the Lord will not deal with later on if he doesn‘t get the glory. Be assured, homeschooler or not, we WILL be judged for our actions.

“To actuate an idea for a noble cause is not as noble as to follow a great leader; our leader being the Lord Jesus himself.”

(By the way…has someone already coined that phrase, because if not, I claim it! J )

As we stood there in his driveway having some fellowship and catching up, we asked about the dogs he had last year; two adorable black lab puppies, Simon and Sampson. He said, “Well, I gave Simon to a neighbor who wanted him. My boy asked me why I did it, and I told him to consider something. Sampson is a good dog. He is obedient and doesn’t cause trouble, but Simon has a restless spirit.”

He explained that Simon liked to roam the road and he’s pretty road savvy. He will probably be okay for a good while. But as Sampson stayed home when Simon goes roaming, you could see him getting the same restless spirit and at times he roamed with Simon. Being a ‘good dog’, he didn’t have the same road savvy as Simon, and was likely to get killed out there on the highway where he didn’t belong. So he gave Simon away to save Sampson the possibility of being in danger.

He told his son to consider this as a lesson from the Lord. Have wisdom and consider that when he was likely to be tempted by other boys with a restless spirit to do things he shouldn’t do and go places out of his territory, that if he chooses to go, he’s likely to be hit and maybe killed.

Sometimes to protect someone we love, we need to separate from those ’bad dogs’ who are likely to get into (and get US into) trouble.

Proverbs has a lot to say about that - My son if sinners entice thee, consent thou not- comes to mind. J

I thought this lesson in wisdom was worth sharing. I hope the Lord blesses you with it!

On the road home to WV from NC there is a tunnel through Big Walker Mountain. I will never forget one trip when the traffic was backed up for over 20 miles before the tunnel! As we got closer to the tunnel, we could see that they had one lane closed and were painting lines on the road. There was an exit right before the tunnel. (I think they kept that exit just for claustrophobics!) Well, when there are three females in a vehicle for a long period of time- let’s just say that is why they make rest areas! By the time we got to that mess, we were about to float through the tunnel and it didn’t seem like traffic was going to move for a while, so we elected to go OVER the mountain.

Once we got moving again (and breathing air that was not laden with paint fumes!) we saw the most beautiful farms and rolling hills! The sky actually looked bluer, and we even ‘mooed’ at the cows in the pasture. J Sure, it took a longer time to go over the mountain, and the gas station on the other side of the tunnel was the same one we stopped at when we came down the other side of the hill, but we were no longer stressed and grouchy at one another. It was a FUN journey. One that I would like to take again some day.

In comparison, many a new home schooling Mom has picked up her curriculum at a curriculum fair with delusions of grandeur (okay, maybe that’s too strong) -visions of excellence- dancing in their brains. Instead of choosing curriculum based on usable, everyday knowledge, we are lured by bright colors and/or name brand, shiny, excellently printed, streamlined and organized materials. As we pick up the package, we see our son or daughter at the next homeschool fellowship standing in front of a three sided cork board with a pointy, white stick discussing the plans for a new rocket designed to reach the north star! Well, not saying that can’t happen, for obviously in our history, people have done great things, but this should not be the main goal! If it happens, thank the Lord! Until it does, teach what is necessary to inspire greatness, and leave the promotion to God. J

Tunnel vision says that if Junior or Susie did not get 90% on all quizzes and tests he/she did not apply him/herself. The big picture says that your child knows 90% of the materials presented! If you feel that the other ten percent is absolutely necessary for their life goals, and they might not learn those facts later on, then by all means continue to teach that material until your child knows it. Otherwise, chalk it up to human error. (You know, chances are that if you give the same test a week later, after explaining the wrong answers, they may get a higher score. And chances are, if you go over the wrong answers you will find they say something like, “Oh! I knew that! I didn’t mean to put that answer!”)

Now, some of my homeschooling friends would chastise me right now for being mediocre and rearing my children without a full-throttle gung-ho attitude. “If we don’t aspire to greatness,” they say, “others will, and we will have a bad testimony for Christ and for homeschoolers everywhere!” Well, just call me a mountain of mediocrity, I guess. I think it was the Apostle Paul who said to let your moderation be known to all men, and that although he was a learned man, he chose to know nothing among some folks save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Don’t get me wrong, though, he CHOSE not to know anything among SOME folks. The point is that Paul had the big picture. He was learned and educated, but he wasn’t proud about it. You know what he counted all that as! He knew what was important in life and that was to attain Christ. To know HIM. To show others who Jesus Christ is and what His desire for our lives is.

We must take heed, therefore, to stave off the condition of tunnel vision as we go through the tunnel of homeschooling - for it IS just that- (just a part of the whole road of life) Let us not be forgetting that there is a whole valley opening up just beyond the 12^th grade!

All that aside. Maybe I am justifying my lack of Math skills? That sounds like a random thought, but it’s actually pertinent. I tried last year to do Algebra. I didn’t do so well. I am going on 39 years old. All of 25 years ago I was in an Algebra class in 8^th grade. I failed that class and every other Algebra class I have ever tried to go through since. I guess I’m going to try it again this year just because I have something to prove to myself. At this point I don’t’ know if it will ever get done, but I’m mad enough at the Algebra god to push him over a cliff! He plagues my dreams with visions of X and Y - that doesn’t do anything to help that Biology class the kids are taking- and makes me think in parentheses! (Well, sorta). See what I mean. J

If I don’t watch out, I can get tunnel vision. I will forget that I have lived those 25+ years in happiness and peace without EVER solving for X. Am I mediocre because I don’t think in terms of Algebraic expressions and polynomials? I don’t know, but in the big picture, I don’t think many people care. Well, except those rocket scientists. Whom, I guess, are needful to society. When your child reaches that goal, forgive me for my ignorance, please.

In all honesty, if I could ever have finished my grocery shopping with the aid of X, I may have tried to use her. She just doesn’t make herself available! J Dusting with the aid of Y may have encouraged me, since he might have saved me some time - um, after I did the problem to solve for the amount of time it would take to dust the area of my home before I started to actually do the work.

So, did I do it the hard way?

I guess sometimes you just have to go OVER the mountain and not through the tunnel!

Today, we started our 15^th year of homeschooling. Boy, have I learned a lot! This is our New Year’s day, and has been for a long time, now. This is the time of year when things are new! The notebooks are fresh and the pencils are sharp. The curriculum is exciting! The crayons are gone now, but they used to be new. (I could chase a nostalgic rabbit right here, but I think I’ll keep that precious memory to myself for now. J ) This is the time of year when we resolve to do things better than last year…This year, we are (trying) to start some new habits, and (trying) to break some old ones.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but God can. J

One of the most uncomfortable and frustrating feelings in this life is when we are faced with our own failures and shortcomings. I think that is why children don’t like school. They are constantly bombarded with things they don’t know for nine months out of twelve! As parents/teachers, we look at things they need to know, and present the problem with (hopefully) smiles and expectations of greatness, often forgetting that this is new territory for our child. Lo and behold, just a few days later, we expect what we fed them to be spit out on the paper in the form of a test, and we are disappointed when we don’t get the results we expect. You just can’t hide that from your child, you know. Try as you might, they KNOW you are disappointed, and doubly, they are disappointed in themselves.

Thankfully, we can tie ties of love and acceptance with our children even though they (unintentionally) fall short of our expectations. As homeschoolers, especially, we have the opportunity to tell them over and over how much we appreciate their efforts and we can help them overcome those learning obstacles. We can let them know that they are not SUPPOSED to know all the things that they are faced with. That is why it is called LEARNING!

It’s also an opportunity to share Christ with your child! You see, ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No matter how hard we try, we could never attain to God’s greatness or expectations. We just can’t. We are sinners! Our flesh inhibits us from ever having peace with God. The only way that can be accomplished is through faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His blood atonement made on Calvary.

Learning about this shortcoming isn’t comfortable for anyone - UNTIL they learn the test answers! I have a copy of the key! It’s called the Bible. The Bible says that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy he saved us. God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He made a way for our salvation!

When we learn that, we have learned a great thing!

So, dear reader, as you start your academic venture this year, don’t forget to share Christ with your child. Don’t keep Him to yourself! Math, English, Social Studies, Science, History… none of those can compare to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and what He has provided for the REAL future- the eternal one!

A while back, a few years at least, I was instructed that reading a proverb a day (there are 31 chapters in the Book of Proverbs, and usually 31 days in the month) would be a helpful tool in guiding me in wisdom, judgment, justice and equity; to help me get what all women secretly desire- wisdom! (and understanding). I have tried to keep that a practice since, and I have found that in many ways, I begin to think like the Proverbs read.

For instance, when I feel lazy, inevitably, the Book of God will come to my mind - usually as I lay in bed -(Prov 26:14 as the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. -or- (Prov 22:13 The slothful man sayeth, there is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. -or- (Prov. 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing. -or- (Prov. 6:6) Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

I just can’t get away with it lol J As a matter of fact, (although there are more) there are probably about 7 verses that deal with being lazy that come to my mind. I reckon that averages out to about one a day!

Now, those verses may not prompt you. Everyone is different. When I think about what things displease the Lord, Proverbs 6:16-19 usually come to mind

Pr 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

I’m thinking’ ’bout, I would like to be more diligent to know the state of my flocks. (Prov 27:23) I think it’s the OCD in me too. I NEED organization when I feel out of control. If I can’t organize, then I clean, and usually throw away clutter. Then I feel better for a while lol. My body was hurting so badly this time, though, that my wonderful, darling husband painted the living room for me! (You do not know how hard I am laughing at how absurd that sounds).

For the last week, I have felt like I was a machine. I have had a really bad episode of pain and Fibro-fog and I have not been on top of things the way I should be. Definitely NOT the Prov. 31 woman!! It’s getting a BIT better, although last night I forgot to turn off the crock pot after I took the crock out and set it on the stove to cool (no doubt so I could refrigerate it later) - but I also forgot to put the crock in the fridge. SO the crock-pot base was on, and the food was left out. I’m glad Ron stayed up a bit after I went to bed and kept my crock pot from burning itself up and supper from spoiling. L

Lately, I’ve been thinking’ ‘bout money. Last blog was about what money could and couldn’t buy. The Bible says the the LOVE of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10) You can love money whether or not you have money, by the way. I know folks who have money who are miserable thinking someone is out to cheat them out of it. I also know folks without money who spend up what they get trying to win the lottery!! (Prov 13:7) My thoughts are going a bit deeper than that. What I’ve been thinking’ ‘bout is how to better manage what we get.

I am eliciting help from one of my friends in SC (who shall remain nameless until she comments on this blog hehe) who has seven children - that’s 4 more than me, and they are much smaller- and keeps her grocery budget to the penny… I am ashamed to say that I have had a little sibling envy going on in my heart. I’m sorry, Sister. J But it’s a healthy envy! I want to LEARN how to do it. J Actually, after looking at her grocery list, I think I’m a frugal shopper, and I probably do just what I’m supposed to be doing… but I don’t write it down, and I’m not diligent to know just what I spend or where it goes. What’s that verse…be not slothful in business? (Rom 12:11)

Do we get brownie points for trying? Well, I don’t know if brownie points is the right way to put it, but yes, I think that the Lord takes our motives into account. (1 Cor 6 and 2 Cor 5) You see, I’m not trying to impress anyone but Him. I realize there are those who look at my life, just as I look at others, but when it comes down to the judgment, I will be standing before Jesus alone, and I sure want him to be pleased and know that I did all that I could do to be that Proverbs 31 woman. And I do realize, as we all should, that when we compare ourselves among ourselves, we are not wise ( 2 Cor 10:12) SO, I resolve to try harder and be more organized!

Anyhow, as I prayed this morning, I was thinking’ ‘bout our finances, and about an incident that happened yesterday that I’m trying not to be bitter about. “Lord, I’m not wanting to be rich. I just wanna pay the bills and not be beholden to anyone for any reason. Feed me with food convenient for me…(para Prov 30:7-9) So I won’t be thinking’ I did it on my own when I have a little, or I won’t question why you didn’t provide for me the way I thought I needed for you to, and resort to stealing and evil things if I don‘t have it. I would also like to give to those who need it. You like that attribute, and say that it is a wise person who gives and doesn’t hold back if you have it by you. Lord, I’d like to have it by me so I could give to someone who needs it. Give me this day, my daily bread, and forgive my debts as I forgive my debtors. And help me to know why I do what I do. ”

So I don’t pray in KJV? If you do, great! I know He heard me and that‘s what counts to me. J

Now, I’m thinking’ ‘bout making a chart or two to be more organized and know where my sheep are feeding hehe J