I recently heard another mom, with whom I have a great deal in common, ask about which blogs she should be reading. She said,

I want to read blogs for Christian women, but not anyone who sounds like they have it all together. I’m so discouraged right now. “

I didn’t have the heart to recommend my own blog, and her question got me thinking, “Do I sound like I have it all together? If any of you met me in person or visited my house, would you be disappointed?”

If I told you that I’m still in my pajamas, and my desk is a mess, and that I’m not sure what I’m serving for breakfast this morning, would you like me more because I was “real” or less because I was “not what you expected”?

I’ve always said that this blog is about pleasing Christ and not about pleasing people. I haven’t always lived that way, but that is the goal. It’s an odd goal in the blogging world, where pageviews and subscriber numbers and Facebook “likes” seem to rule the day. I have to remember that it is only by His grace that I have something to say, and a forum on which to say it, and anyone who will listen.

There’s a very real possibility that I’m talking to myself this morning. I haven’t done much in the past few months to “grow” this blog. In fact, I’ve done a lot of things that have probably made me “irrelevant”. I’d like to say that I don’t care, but I do. Would not caring make me more spiritual? Would caring make me more worldly?

The sun is rising and soon, my little ones will be, too. In actuality, I have a little boy laying on the floor next to me, a baby girl asleep in my lap, and a vague urge to delete this post and forget the whole thing–for fear that I might miss out on some real life with babies if I type one more sentence.

“But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Lamentations 3:21-24

Are you discouraged? Tired? Unsure that what you are doing matters?

Do you know that the things you have been called to do matter, but feel that you are doing a lousy job?

I could tell you that I’ve been there–that I know what you’re feeling–that I struggle with those very things again and again and again, but I’m not sure that would make much of a difference.

Instead, I’ll tell you that Christ has been there. When He suffered on the cross, He did so for you–all your failures, flaws, and shortcomings, as well as the darkest evils of your heart–and you are redeemed. Bought and paid for by His blood, if you are His by grace through faith. Even now, He intercedes on your behalf at the right hand of God. He is your high priest who is able to sympathize with your weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

He cannot fail. He does not sleep. He will never leave you nor forsake you. And His mercies are new every morning.

Do you believe it? Will you?

Put a gun to my head and ask me,

“Quick! You’re three greatest weaknesses. Now!”

Time management would be in the top three. Hands down. No need for a recount.

I am easily distracted. I try to tackle too many projects at once. I abandon the mundane task ahead of me for the sake of something more interesting or creative or entertaining. As if that weren’t enough, I am selfish. And lazy. I squander the moments I am given on foolish self-interest to the neglect of the important matters of the heart. My husband’s heart. My children’s hearts. The Heart of God.

How far must He go to wake me up from this vain stupor and get me to pay attention to the life He has given me before it passes me by? I’m afraid the answer is horrific. He confronts my sin the same way He confronts all sin.

With death.

2011 has been a year where death has up and slapped me in the face like never before. Toward the end of last year, the young man that a friend of mine was courting died. Suddenly. In his sleep. With no apparent explanation. This was the beginning of a train engine of the news of death powering through my (still careless) existence.

My little Micah, thinking he should like to play with the fire truck toy that the children across the street had abandoned on the sidewalk, wandered into the street. His mama wasn’t there. Truth be told, I had no idea where he was, and was looking for him frantically. The man who might have otherwise run him over with his SUV stopped, got out, and plucked him out of traffic. He handed this terrified mother her little boy. A gift, redeemed, back from death.

Only a few months later, an old acquaintance from high school’s little daughter did the same thing. They buried her.

Why me, LORD? Why was I spared the heartache that she must endure?

The year went on. We buried my pastor. We buried my grandma. A friend’s father lost his battle with cancer. The hits keep coming, and I’m tired…

Being the contemplative type, and the closet theology nut that I am, I’ve done a great deal of mental wrestling with these issues of eternal significance that have been plaguing my mind–the unspeakable things that we assent to mentally but otherwise do our best not to concern ourselves with. I’ve been in a hospice care center and felt like I was in a burning building or a crashing airplane. And I feel that I must be crazy…or more sane than I’ve even been in my life.

And yet, as I ponder infinity and the lost and dying world around me, it is my own finiteness that I leave largely unconsidered…

Until I learn that this godly wife and mother, whom we have prayed for so long, is now absent from the body and present with the Lord. And I cry out to God, “She has babies!!” As though it could never reasonably be part of God’s eternal, holy, perfect plan for a woman with little children to leave them behind…

I am a mother. My oldest child is 7 years old. The past seven years of my life have flown by like a whirlwind. I have been so busy with mommy things–nursing babies and changing their diapers. Learning all there is to know about keeping them healthy, teaching them to behave, and educating them. Deciding on standards of modesty and picking out clothing. Bringing order to piles of books and sifting through bins full of toys. Lots and lots and lots of laundry. And meals. And dishes. Bedtimes and bath times and play dates and craft projects and cookies and temper tantrums and lost patience, and tears and band-aids and long snuggles on the couch on cold windy days. The stuff of life.

And to think, my little-big-man will be “all grown up” in only 11 years. Such a short time! I should be teaching him Spanish and Latin and piano and chess. So much to do before he will be ready for the adult world–for college, or an apprenticeship, or to start his own business. For marriage, and babies. Judging by how quickly the past 7 have come and gone, the next 11 will pass in no time flat–

And if I think eleven years is no time at all, what would I do with a diagnosis that give me 6 months–or 6 weeks–or 6 days? What if this very moment my soul should be required of me?

It exposes all my motivations toward “me time” and “getting away” and idleness as the selfish idolatry that they are.

So little time. Father, forgive me.

Forgive me, change me, wake me up! Make me no longer a time waster–

Make me a time redeemer.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the LORD is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

For the sake of Christ and the glory of His name,

AMEN.

I reach my hand into a cardboard box on my kitchen counter. I pull out something wrapped in a white muslin dishtowel, embroidered with little blue birds. As I unwrap it, my 3 year old asks,

What is it, Mom?”

“It is a water glass,” I reply.

Who gave it to us?”

“Grandma Judy.”

Why did she give it to us, Mom?”

“Because she wanted us to have it,” I explain nebulously.

Why did she want us to have it?”

I swallow hard. “Because she doesn’t need it anymore.”

Why doesn’t she need it anymore?”

I knew that one was coming. “Because she’s with Jesus, honey.”

That wasn’t easy.

I’ve been having that conversation with little Micah over, and over, and over again over the past several days. My husband spent much of his holiday weekend packing up and clearing out what was left in her little apartment. Next weekend, someone else will move into her apartment, and it will be clean and bare. The cardinals and chickadees and woodpeckers outside her patio window will sing to someone else.

In the meantime, there is furniture to move. A couch, a recliner, a kitchen table. A bed and a dresser. Bookshelves and coffee tables.

A lot of little, mundane things, too. Dish soap, and bath towels, and toilet paper. Notebooks, pens, and telephones. Cookbooks and photo albums. And water glasses. All things that she used so regularly in her tidy little home, now finding places and uses in my home and in the homes of other family members.

I ponder the thought of something as fragile as a water glass outliving someone as sturdy and strong as my grandma, and I am reminded that so much of the “stuff” of this life has very little eternal value. Tackling this task as Christmas approaches has once again challenged my stubborn, cultural perspective on gift giving.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank-you that, through your Son Jesus Christ, I have everything I need. You have given me so many great gifts, the foremost of which being your gracious Gospel and by it, salvation. Help me to seek first Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness, and may I not be tempted to give undue importance to temporal things. In Jesus’s Name, AMEN.

A little over two years ago, a baby blog was born. I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going with it, but I knew I had something to say–

That little children, and how they are mothered,

and what they are taught, and how they are taught, and by whom they are taught,

all matter to God, more than we realize…and more than we’ve taken the time to think about.

And I wanted to encourage other mothers, not much unlike myself, that what they were doing was important, even if it went unnoticed by virtually everyone…

That they can honor their husbands, and nurture and bring up a house-full of kids, and homeschool them, no matter how many times the people around them say that what they are trying to accomplish is too hard…

So, I sat down at my computer, and started to write…about reading books, and crickets, and birthday soup, and how sometimes, the best lessons are not “planned”…

not really knowing what would come of it all, but praying that God would do something good with it.

A year ago today, I had a baby. A real, tiny, sweet, squalling, pink little girl, created in the image of God and, as happens to me every time I give birth, putting the fear of God in me. Another human being on this planet–and I am responsible for her.

LORD, have mercy!

My blog had a new beginning as well–moving from a generic blogspot address to its own url, godmadehomegrown.com. (That link isn’t hot, and I’m going to ask you not to visit it. It’s gone–but, most of you probably know that. I’m sorry for all the confusion that it has caused.)

When you’ve been blogging for a while, sometimes the blog can seem to take on a life of it’s own–with it’s own personality and demands. I tried to do my best to continue to write about godly mothering while still being a godly mother. Sometimes I failed, miserably. But God has continued to be gracious and merciful to me, knowing my deficiencies and loving me anyway. For that, I am truly grateful.

And so today, my blog has another new beginning. This time, at www.GodMadeHomeGrown.net . Remember the “net”–it’s the only way you’ll find it now. All of this “.net” stuff has reminded me, with a chuckle, of one of Asher’s memory verse from the Bible Bee this summer:

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is  tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12

These light and momentary blogging troubles are really not much to speak of when put in perspective. Nonetheless, here I am, in “the net”…

And in a place of abundance, for it is my baby girl’s birthday!

He is so good to us!

I have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Birthday, Eliora Grace!!

By His Grace,

Tiana

p.s.–It may take a while to get the archives updated and get everything back to “normal” around here. I invite you to take a look around anyway! If you notice anything that’s “not right”, let me know at my new email address: Tiana at godmadehomegrown dot NET. Thanks!

“Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead , yet shall he live.’” John 11:25

Genevieve Anabelle (Bernard) Seifert

(Grandma Judy)

November 3, 1924-September 2, 2011

Growing up in the upper peninsula of Michigan

With my grandpa, Willard Seifert, circa WWII

With me and my baby sister, circa 1981

With baby Acacia, 2006

With her 3 older great grandkids 2010

Our last visit with Grandma Judy, where she met her 4th great-grandbaby, Eliora Grace, 2011

Please pray for our family as we grieve.

I will most likely be taking a blogging break this week as we make arrangements and prepare to travel. Please pray for wisdom and clarity of mind, especially for my father and his brother. Most importantly, pray that God might be glorified in all these things. Thank you.

By His Grace,

Tiana

A beautiful article from my friend David d’Escoto at World Net Daily today:

Back in the ’90s there arose a short-lived trend among professing Christians of wearing bracelets that displayed the capital letters “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do). This new fad caused people to talk about Jesus Christ and how Christians should actually try to model Jesus in all areas of their lives.

The Bible teaches us, “Whoever says he abides in him [Jesus] ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:6), and “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Sixteenth-century pastor John Calvin referred to Jesus as the “Grand Model” for all Christians to follow and learn from. Jesus modeled so much for us during his earthly ministry. For example, He modeled how to pray, how to handle temptation, how to speak the truth in love, how to stand against evil, and how to really train and disciple others.

Christian parents should look at Jesus’ life as the perfect example of how parents should train, teach and love their own little disciples – their children. It is interesting to note that Jesus, on occasion, publicly called His disciples “children” (Mark 10:24). Eighteenth-century Bible commentator John Gill noted “it was common with the Jews to call [their] disciples … ‘children.’” When reading the gospels we get an intimate view of how Jesus discipled and loved His own “children.”

Click here to read the rest: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=340277

You’ll be glad you did!

How does Jesus’ example in teaching His disciples affect how you educate your children? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment!

By His Grace,

Tiana

What’s the most annoying question anyone has ever asked you about homeschooling? Chances are, this one is right up there–

Do they let you do that?”

Seriously? Are these children that I carried, birthed, and nursed theirs? Or, how about this one–

Is that legal?”

No. And thanks for asking, by the way. I was hoping you’d turn me in.

Okay, so maybe we’re finally at a point in this country where most homeschoolers don’t have to worry about nosy neighbors calling the truancy officer, but there are still laws that homeschooling families are obligated to comply with. Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but each state has it’s own laws in regards to education. Everything from compulsory attendance ages to curriculum requirements to recorded keeping rules are different from state to state.

So where do you go to find out what’s what?

Well, you have a few choices.

You could contact your state’s educational authority, department of public instruction, or local school district, but I don’t recommend it. Why not? Because state and local authorities are often ignorant or even intentionally misleading about what is actually required by law. While I want to be careful to not paint with a broad brush, many homeschoolers have found public school officials to be mistrusting of and hostile toward homeschooling families. It’s hard to get quality, accurate information about homeschooling laws from someone who’d like to see your kids enrolled in a government school.

Another option would be to contact a nation-wide homeschool advocacy group. There are a couple of these out there, and they can be very helpful. Often, though, you really want (or need) to talk to someone who is an expert in homeschooling in your state.

This is why I love my state’s homeschool advocacy organization. Why, just this week I was able to look up how a recent change in Wisconsin’s kindergarten law would affect my 5 year old, and when my electronic homeschool enrollment report is due. You should find yours, so you can love them, too.

But where do I look? And who do I trust? A quick internet search might turn up dozens of sites, and who knows which ones are actually run by a legitimate homeschool advocacy group, and which ones are just trying to sell you something.

And then, I had an idea…

This blog has readers from all over the country. What if we were to come up with a “master list” of reputable state homeschool advocacy groups? We could, together, create a fantastic resource for new homeschooling families who aren’t sure where to start.

Wanna help? (Would you, please?)

Leave a comment below including a link, contact information, or both for your state (or perhaps, a state you used to live in) homeschool advocacy organization(s). Please only leave links to real, legitimate homeschool advocacy groups (NO SPAM) that you are personally familiar with.

I’ll go first. Scroll waaaay down to the bottom and look for “Wisconsin”.

As more information is shared, I will update the list. I hope it will be a blessing to many families for a long time to come.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia–

Georgia home Educator Association (GHEA) – Christian Organization (They provide downloadable forms that do not include the spaces for the information that the state form TRIES to collect from you that you are not legally required to provide.)

website: http://www.ghea.org/

mailing address:

258 Sandy Lake Cir.
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Telephone: (770) 461-3657

Fax: (501) 638-5264

E-mail: info@ghea.org

Home Education Information Resource (HEIR) – Non partisan and Non sectarian
http://www.heir.org/ (website only, no other contact information at this time)

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois–

Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE)

website: www.iche.org

Mailing Address: ICHE P.O. Box 307 Russell, IL 60075-0307

Phone: 847-603-1259

email: fill out form on the “contact” page of their website

Illinois Homeschool PAC

website: www.illinoishomeschoolpac.org

email: fill out form on the “contact” page of their website

Indiana–

Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE)

website :https://iahe.net/

mailing address:

PO Box 217
Stilesville, IN 46180

phone: 317-467-6244

email: info@iahe.net

Iowa–

NICHE – Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators.

website: https://www.homeschooliowa.org/

email: info@homeschooliowa.org

WRITE to NICHE at:
NICHE
Box 158
Dexter, IA 50070

CALL the NICHE Voice Mail at:

(800) 723-0438 (in Iowa)
or
(515) 830-1614 (all other areas)

Kansas–

Midwest Parent Educators:

Website: http://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/

Mailing Address: Box 14391, Lenexa, KS 66285-4391
Office Phone: (913) 599-0311
Email: info@midwesthomeschoolers.org

(Primarily for Kansas but information regarding activities in Kansas City on both sides of the state line.)

Kentucky–

Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK)

website: www.chek.org

mailing address:  PO Box 1288, Bardstown, KY 40004-1288

phone: (888)988-CHEK

email: info@chek.org

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota–

MACHE–Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators

website: http://mache.org/

Mailing Address:

MACHE
P.O. Box 32308
Fridley, MN 55432

E-mail: info@mache.org

Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro: 763-717-9070

Greater Minnesota (toll free): 1-866-717-9070

Mississippi

Missouri (see Kansas)

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon–

Oregon Christian Home Educators Network (OCEAN)

website: http://www.oceanetwork.org

Mailing Address: 17985 Falls City Rd, Dallas, OR 97338

Phone: (503) 288-1285

Email: oceanet@oceanetwork.org

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas–

Texas Homeschool Coalition (THSC)

website: www.thsc.org

mailing address: THSC, PO Box 6747, Lubbock, TX 79493

phone: (806) 744-4441

fax: (806) 744-4446

email: staff@thsc.org

Utah

Vermont

Virginia–

Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

website: www.heav.org

mailing address:

P.O. Box 6745
2248-G Dabney Road
Richmond, Virginia 23230

phone: 804-278-9200

FAX: 804-278-9202

email: office@heav.org

The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers

website: www.vahomeschoolers.org

mailing address:
PO Box 5131
Charlottesville, VA 22905

Homeschool Helpline: (866) 513-6173

email: info@vahomeschoolers.org

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin–

Wisconsin Parent’s Association:

–website: www.homeschooling-wpa.org

–Call the WPA Voice Mail at 608-283-3131 and leave a message. A WPA representative will return your call.

–Email:  wpa@homeschooling-wpa.org

–Call your Regional Coordinator

–Write to WPA:Wisconsin Parents Association, Post Office Box 2502, Madison, WI 53701-2502

Wisconsin-CHEA (Christian Home Educators Association)

–website: www.wisconsinchea.com

–phone:  414-425-6324

–mailing address:

–email: use the email button on the “contact” page

Wyoming

Many Blessings!

Tiana

This week is my homeschool planning week.

Planning the year is probably my least-favorite part of homeschooling. There are, of course, ways to avoid this. Some people buy a “school in a box” type kit, some folks follow someone else’s pre-written curriculum schedule, and still others ditch the schedule completely and “wing it”.

None of these options suit me well. I’m way too opinionated to follow anyone else’s plans exactly, and way too distractable by nature to leave it all to chance.

With all my children still being on the “little” side (my two “school-aged” children are 7 and 5), I’ve never before felt the need to plan the entire year in advance. This year, however, I’ve decided that I really need to give myself a better idea of what I’m doing and when. I want to make sure that I have planned adequate time for everything I’d like to accomplish this year.  I also want to make sure that, in my over-achieving zeal, I do not bite off more than I (or my little ones) can chew.

Just a couple days ago, the weight of this task was weighing heavily upon me. We had just finished with the Bible Bee–our major project for the summer–and rather than feeling up for the challenge of calendars and assignment charts, I was feeling…well…just a little bit panicky.

But then God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed me to spend yesterday afternoon and much of the evening with her.

She’s a friend whose children are older than mine–who has been homeschooling for longer than I have–who has used much of the curriculum that I am using and shares a like-minded philosophy of education.

She took out her planner and showed me everything.

And suddenly, like a cool breeze that comes off the lake and fills your lungs on a hot and humid day, planning my school year didn’t feel that overwhelming anymore.

Friends, do you have a wise woman like this in your life? Do you have someone you can turn to when you’re not sure what to do next–when the task ahead seems like more than you can handle?

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22

Who can give you wise counsel today? Will you ask her?

…to watch Divided: The Movie for free!

Have you seen it? What did you think?

When I was just beginning homeschooling my oldest child, a wise, experienced homeschooling mom told me this:

Homeschooling in the early years is mostly reading out loud and playing outside. Everything else can be accomplished in less than 30 minutes a day.”

At first, this might seem counter-intuitive. Most of us were raised to think that sitting in a desk, listening to a teacher talk, is the only legitimate way to learn anything. We might think that we need expensive curriculum and elaborate lesson plans to really educate our children.

But we don’t.

Last week, I talked about how, with a back-yard, a library card, and some writing materials, we can turn outdoor play into simple nature study with little ones.

This week, we’ll dip our toes into the fascinating waters of reading out loud to our children.

Honestly, this is my favorite part of homeschooling. I love to curl up on the couch, surrounded by little people and a stack of good books! I remember the summer after my daughter (baby #2) was born. My son was barely two, and the only room in the house that was air conditioned was the master bedroom. I spent most of that summer sitting in my bed, nursing my baby girl, and reading books to my son. Those days were so special to all three of us! Today, at 6 and 4 years old, their love of reading continues to blossom.

Reading out loud isn’t very hard, but sometimes, finding good books can be challenging. I am often reminded of King Solomon’s warning:

Of making many books there is no end…”

Ecclesiastes 12:12

This is notably true of children’s books. Most of the books being marketed to preschoolers these days are what Charlotte Mason called “Twaddle”–marshmallow fluff silliness, without much depth or texture. Pull ten random books off the shelves in the children’s section of the library, and nine of them will be twaddle. We, as home educators, want something completely different. We want living books–high quality works of literature, that expose our children to worthy ideas, and grow them in thoughtfulness and creativity.

So, how do you find the good stuff? Here are a few resources that I’ve found helpful. As a disclaimer, I must say that I haven’t read every book mentioned in each of these resources. At times, there are books that I personally would not use with my children. So, don’t take my word for it–look at the books for yourself before deciding to read them to your kids.

1. Ambleside Online Year 0 Book List –This is by far my favorite book list for preschool and Kindergarten. The folks at Ambleside Online share Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education, and have come up with a pretty impressive twaddle-free book list for young children. These are classic favorites, with truly interesting stories and well-done, engaging illustrations.
2. Picture Book Preschool by Sherry Diane Early– This fun little book is a great way to get started with homeschooling preschoolers! It contains a weekly list of 5-7 quality picture books, centered around a theme, with one or two simple activities to complete the “lesson plan”. If you’re a creative type who wants to do more with your books than “just read”, you’ll really enjoy this one!
3. Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt– This book is thicker and more comprehensive, but a thrifty buy. It contains many different lists of books, from a baby’s first board books, all the way through various novels for young teens. While I sometimes disagreed with the author about which books ought be included and which should not (for example, she includes Harry Potter while ignoring The Boxcar Children), this is still a great resource. You may even be able to find it at your local library.
4. Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children’s Literature by Elizabeth Wilson– Another fantastic, Charlotte Mason based booklist. Books are grouped into categories such as animals, biography, history, and poetry, not merely by age groups. This is a resources you’ll continue to come back to throughout your homeschooling years!

Remember, you don’t need to purchase a lot of books for your little ones right away. Most of the books on all of these lists are easily obtained at the library. As you find books that become true family favorite, you can slowly add to your home library as the funds become available. Living books make great gift ideas for grandparents, aunts, and uncles, too!

What about you? What are your favorite resources for finding quality books for your little ones? Please, leave a comment and share your ideas!

(Another post from “the old days”…)

Most of us beginning homeschoolers have a subject area that freaks us out. For me, that subject was science.I felt as though I didn’t know what to teach or how to teach it…and, as anyone who’s paged through the Rainbow Resource catalog can tell you, the choices are virtually endless.

Add to that the fact that my oldest son seems to be naturally gifted in this area, and my husband’s insistence that we make a special effort to nurture his interest. (Did I mention that during my own school days, science was the one subject that I was the least naturally gifted in?)

Yep. Time to freak out.

So, when our son hit the ripe old age of 4, I purchased a book full of household science experiments (do any of you all remember “Mr. Wizard”?). However, I quickly realized that, as simple as the book tried to make things seem, it wasn’t going to work for us. At least, not yet.

Okay, now it’s really time to freak out…

…or not.

Actually, it was time to do what I should have done in the first place: talk to another homeschooling mom who had more experience under her belt than I did.

She suggested Nature Study.

At first, I bucked at the simplicity of the suggestion. Nature study? That’s not science. When I think of science, I picture myself back in my high school chemistry class, doing frustrating experiments and virtually impossible-to-balance chemical equations.

Then, she reminded me that, especially for little ones, science is all about introducing our children to the wonderful world that God has created.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

Hmmm…science declaring the glory of God to my children through His creative works? That I could do!

Getting Started

One of the things that makes nature study so simple is that it requires virtually no expense in the curriculum department. If you have a back yard (or somewhere else to play outside) and a library card, you can do nature study. If you want to purchase a reference for yourself that you can continue to use throughout your homeschooling years, Anna Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study is wonderful. You’ll also want a notebook and pen or pencil for yourself and any older children, and some drawing paper with crayons or colored pencils available for your little ones.

Play Outside!

Little children thrive when they get plenty of time to play outside. It is good for them for so many reasons–fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and creative play, just to name a few. When your little ones play outside a lot, they will likely find their own nature study. For example…

My children have found and studied crickets…

Acorns…

And an inchworm.

Spend some time observing, including careful touching when appropriate. Talk about what you’ve found, and encourage your kids to ask questions. Write down your observations and questions in your notebook, and have the children draw pictures. This is excellent practice for when they are old enough to keep a nature journal. Then, you can look up what you’ve found in your Handbook of Nature Study or go to the library to look for books on the subject.

We’ve also had some success in learning more through websites and YouTube videos. We once watched a BBC video about salmon runs and looked up pictures of salmon on Wikipedia before taking a river walk to see if we could observe the salmon returning to their nesting places ourselves. (Of course, we need to exercise caution when using the internet with young children. I recommend looking things up yourself before calling your kids around the computer, so as to avoid any uncomfortable “surprises”.)

More to Explore

At least once a month, we like to take a nature walk through a nearby park, forest, or hiking trail.  In the spring and fall, we do it more often. (During the colder months, our walks tend to be shorter, less frequent, and closer to home.) This is one of our favorite family activities for a Saturday, and a great way to involve daddy in our homeschool!

If you are craving more ideas or specific direction, check out the Handbook of Nature Study blog. It is an excellent resource, full of beautiful photographs and free downloads. While some of the activities may be a little over the heads of preschoolers, many of them are quite accessible to little ones. Don’t let the shear number of activities freak you out–just find an activity that seems to suit your family and give it a try!

Remember Your Creator

I recall a gray and dreary fall afternoon a couple years ago. It had been raining heavily all day, and the shadows filled our house, making us all feel restless. Suddenly, the reading lesson that we were plodding through was interrupted by a burst of golden sunshine. The children pressed their noses against the picture window in the living room, and we all looked for a rainbow. We didn’t find one, but I’m so glad we took the time to look. It lifted our spirits, and gave us the opportunity to talk about Noah’s Ark, rainbows, and God’s promise to never again destroy all life on earth with a flood.

Whenever we study nature, we need to at the same time be teaching our children that it is God who made the world and everything in it (Acts 17:24). From the great marvels of the sky to the tiny wonders of the insect world, they are all His. Our ability to explore and enjoy creation comes from Him–an expression of His great loving-kindness to us.

This is my Father’s World,

And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world:

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.”

Maltbie D. Badcock, 1901

So, get out your Bible, and teach them to remember their creator in the days of their youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). This is the solid foundation on which we must build all of their future science lessons (including kitchen experiments and chemical equations!).

Do you study nature as part of your homeschool?

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

This is my last “official” post where I’ll be blogging through the book, Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman with 4 Moms, 35 Kids.

You can read the previous posts here:

Large Family Logistics: Blogging through the Book with 4 Moms

Large Family Logistics: The Nitty Gritty

The two appendices in the back of the book are all about Survival Mode. This is the place to start when you are exhausted and overwhelmed–during pregnancy, illness, or other times of crisis.

It’s also a good place to begin if your home management situation has been so chaotic for so long that you have no idea where to begin. Kim recommends that we begin with our attitude:

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

No matter what our current situation might be, we can be assured that God is sovereign and this is for His Glory and our good, even if we can’t see it right now.

That being said, here are some home management helps for survival mode:

Read Your Bible– Every day, several times a day, no matter what. This is not optional. Take 15 minute breaks throughout the day, and read the Bible to your children. Kim recommends at least one Psalm and one Proverb, along with favorite Bible stories for the little ones. Remember, we don’t want any chronically spiritually malnourished children (or moms).

Watch What You Eat– Physical nourishment is important, too. Even when life is very busy and stressful, convenience foods are not worth the convenience. Keep plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand, take your vitamins, and be sure to get enough protein. Skip the white sugar and white flour as much as possible.

Laundry Tips–Are you washing clothes that aren’t really dirty? Our kids can wear outfits more than once as long as they don’t have mud, food, or paint on them. Put bibs on the little ones and monitor what goes in that hamper–if it’s not dirty, wear it again. Laundry can be tough when you’re sick and tired, so make sure that everyone learns how to help as much as they can. Fold clothes while sitting on the floor with the children. Send them on little “missions” to put things away or bring things to Mama. Set the timer and make it fun. You can also use this time to memorize Scripture together.

Exemplify Kindness and Love– Little children are easily wounded by a crabby mama in a stressful situation. Yes, kids will need discipline, but they also need a lot of kindness and compassion.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

Simplify and Streamline– This is all about simple routines that get the important work done, 15 minutes at a time. Keep the common areas livable and don’t obsess or have unrealistic expectations of yourself or your kids.

Beyond Survival Mode

What do I do when there are too many “next things” to do? The second appendix helps to answer this question. In it, Kim turns her attention to building routines and habits that we can carry out of “survival mode” and into the rest of our lives. Drawing from earlier parts of the book, she gives a basic plan for developing morning and evening routines, getting supper on the table, planning your wardrobe, conquering clutter and more, all the while remember that we are still mothering, training, and discipling our babies.

Can you tell that I love this book? I think you will, too! Now is a great time to buy it, because for two days only (ends August 26), as part of their Back-to-Homeschool sale, Vision Forum is offering Large Family Logistics for only $14.40! That’s 40% off the regular price, and is a great deal worth every penny.

Want to read more right away? Head on over to the 4 Moms, 35 Kids Link-Up and find out what other moms of many have to say!

Blessings,

Tiana

Now here’s a neat idea!

Have you heard of Thredup? It’s more convenient than garage-sales, more friendly than eBay, and it’s a great way to get your kids the gently used clothes that they need.

If you’re like me, you probably have boxes of clothes in storage that you’ve saved for the next child who might need them. Most “moms of many” do. The problem comes, of course, when the clothes don’t fit right or don’t match the season or gender of the child in question.

You end up with a pile of perfectly good clothes…and your little one still has nothing to wear!

I experienced this first hand last year. My older daughter was a spring baby, but my baby girl was born in November. I had plenty of baby girl clothes for summer, but almost nothing appropriate for winter weather. Normally, I shop garage sales for my kids’s clothes but in November? In Wisconsin? With a newborn?

Thredup helps to solve this kind of problem. It’s a clothing exchange program–you post boxes of clothes you have to pass on to another family, and you find the clothes that you need for your kids, for only $5 plus the cost of shipping.

When you join, you get your first box free. Plus right now, for a limited time, you can get 30% off additional boxes…plus the satisfaction of knowing that your helping to keep this blog on the web by supporting one if it’s affiliates.

Click here to learn more:

Blessings!

Tiana

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Psalm 71:17-18

I once met a dear Christian lady in her late 80′s. She had married young, and she and her husband had been married for longer than most people on earth today have been alive. She had sent him off to World War II, and had prayed for him to come home.

She had devoted her life to loving and serving her husband to the glory of God, and indeed, she was still doing so–loving him and caring for him through old age and health troubles. She didn’t reflect the heavily-burdened spirit that one might expect from a life of self-sacrifice–her face radiated joy. When her husband looked at her, their eyes happily twinkled together, as though they were newlyweds.

She had raised a whole raft of kids, too. Eight of them, if I recall correctly. I came to realize quickly that one of my high school friends was her granddaughter–and that she had been blessed with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It seems as though you can hardly visit a Bible-believing church in the entire county without running into one of her progeny.

As I sat across the table from this dear old woman and her husband, listening to their stories, tears welled up in my eyes and I thought–that’s what I want to be when I am old.

Should my Heavenly Father see fit to bless me in such a way,

I want to be happily married to the same man for decades and decades…

I want to be surrounded by my children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren…

And I want to be able to tell them of the wonderful, mighty God we serve, and of His faithfulness to His people.

Oh LORD, let my whole life–no matter how many days you have ordained–be controlled by Your Spirit and a reflection of the love that Christ has poured out on me. May I raise these little ones to Your Glory, that they may also teach their children to know, love, serve, and follow You. And if You should extend my life on this earth, may my gray-haired days be characterized by Your grace and Your joy. May I never neglect to tell of Your unceasing loving-kindness, and Your mercies that never come to an end. AMEN.

Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God,

He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood.”

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson, 1757

I love babies!! (Okay, maybe that’s obvious…)

I’m guest posting for Amber over at Homemaker by Choice today.

Amber is a sweet young lady from my “neck of the woods”, currently living across the big pond. She recently welcomed her first baby into this world, and to help give her a little maternity leave from blogging, I’ve written a post all about the wonderful blessing of BABIES.

4 Things 4 Babies Have Taught Me

Hop on over and congratulate Amber and her husband on  their beautiful little girl!

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” I Peter 4:8-10

How many times have you heard–or said!–something like this…

I could never homeschool…I don’t have the gift of teaching.

I could never tell anyone about my faith in Christ…I don’t have the gift of evangelism.

I don’t tithe…giving just isn’t my “gift”.

Okay, that last one sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? Really, they are all ridiculous in their own way.

I think we’ve come to over-spiritualize spiritual gifts in our culture. We see spiritual gifts as a kind of heavenly pixie-dust, sprinkled on the saints in a magical sort of way. When this pixie-dust is sprinkled on you, it makes you “special” and set apart from other Christians. If you don’t get that particular kind of pixie-dust, then the passages of Scripture that tell believers to do that sort of thing–whatever the “thing” is–don’t really apply to you.

Doesn’t sound right? That’s because it isn’t.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-13

Did you catch that? God doesn’t give his people gifts in a way that excuses us from obeying him in areas that are “not our gifting”. God gives gifts for the purpose of building up the body of Christ, that we might all become mature. This means obeying Him in all things–not just the things that are “easy” for us, or to which we seem to be particularly suited.

As much as I hate to admit it, I used to think of hospitality in this very way. Why did I freak out when my friend suggested that I might have the “gift” of hospitality? Because, then, I might actually have to do it!

“Hospitality”, to me, required spiritual pixie-dust. It was a grand, mystical thing, reserved for ladies with fine homes, who frequent Hobby Lobby for centerpiece ideas and enjoy hand-stamping their party invitations.

I certainly didn’t fit this description, so I was off the hook, right?

Um…no. Let’s read it again, shall we?

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

Hey kids, that’s not a suggestion…that’s a command. Ouch.

Here’s the good news—

First of all, our modern American definition of hospitality is not really biblical. Hospitality isn’t about impressing our neighbors by showing them just how lavish of a party we can throw. It’s about loving people with the love of Christ and being generous with what we have.

More importantly, God doesn’t ask us to do anything that He won’t empower us to do. We don’t need spiritual pixie-dust–we need Him.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

The things He calls us to do may not  be easy, but they are for our good and His glory.

What will you do, by His grace and through His power today?

How Do I know what God’s will is for my life? For My home? For my family?

Aren’t sure? You should listen to this:

Modern Spirituality and Your Mind

Have a Blessed Weekend,

Tiana

During a rare, short, solo shopping trip that I took in an affluent community, Chris drove the kids through a high-end subdivision. The conversation they had was priceless.

Dad: What do you think of those houses, Asher?

Asher: They look like apartment buildings.

Dad: No, son, actually, those are single-family homes.

Asher: Those must be pretty big families who live there!

Dad: (suppressing chuckle) What would a small family do with a big house like that?

Acacia (the 3-year-old): Clean it!

Wisdom from the mouths of babes!

Clearly, we live in a society of excess and misplaced priorities. We make sacrifices in the area of family life for the sake of having nice “things”. We have huge, elaborate houses that we are never home to enjoy.

(Lest you read this and become upset with me, no, I am not against being wealthy. I am against monetary prosperity at the expense of other, more important things. There is a big difference.)

As home educators, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that we are not providing everything that our children really “need”.

People outside of our families may tell us that our kids are missing out on things that the public school experience could give them. Maybe you’ve had conversations, as my husband has, with people who say that you wouldn’t have to struggle so hard financially if you would just put the kids in school and send your wife back to work.

Maybe you’ve started to wonder if you’re really doing what’s best for your kids.

While it may be true, in some ways, that we can’t give our kids all the same experiences at home that they would have at public school, it is quite the leap to say that therefore, we should not homeschool. This mindset is based on a fallacy–one that holds up the conventional school paradigm as the ideal model.

It ignores the fact that we are gaining a lot of good in exchange for what we might give up.

-Kids don’t really need a highly trained staff of state-certified teachers to guide their learning experience…

…they need the kind of mentoring relationship and walk-along-the-road discipleship that can only come from loving parents.

-Kids don’t really need a stack of expensive textbooks…

…the Book they need most is the Word of God. Most of the other worthwhile books can be obtained with a library card.

-Kids don’t really need every minute of their day scheduled with academic work and extra-curricular activities…

…they need time to be creative, time to explore nature, time to learn how to work at home, time to “just be” with their families, and most importantly, time to worship God and serve Him.

-Kids don’t really need to be on the traveling baseball/football/soccer team…

…they need to run around in their own backyard with their siblings, go for a walk in the woods, or have a catch with their dad.

-Kids don’t really need a long list of “crushes”, falling in and out of “love” a dozen times before they turn 18…

…they need to see real, unconditional, sacrificial love modeled to them by their mother and father. They need love and respect demonstrated to them in such a way that they know how a potential mate ought treat them, and how they ought behave around members of the opposite gender.

-And trust me, unless you’re living in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of town (been there, done that), your kids do not really need a bigger house. They don’t need a fancy new car, all the latest digital “toys” and high-end clothing to impress all their friends, either…

…what they need is YOU. No amount of “stuff” is going to be an adequate substitute for a mother who stays home with her children, and a father who is home enough to develop strong relationships.

…and no teacher or school, no matter how well-educated or well-funded, is going to do a good job taking your place…and if they do, then you’ve really lost out, haven’t you?

Yes, there are difficult situations. If you’re a single mom, juggling two jobs just to make ends meet, I feel for you!

But lets be honest, most of us are not there! We’re rushing around, shipping our children off to a laundry list of daycare providers, babysitters, and school teachers instead of raising them and teaching them ourselves because we are trying to maintain our “lifestyle”–our material things–our STUFF.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:15-17

As always, the convicting hand of God points a finger back at me as I type this. I know there are areas of my life that do not come into line with this passage of Scripture. But, if I only quoted the parts of the Bible that I lived perfectly, I wouldn’t have much to write about.

So, please, don’t see me as a legalistic ogre or naive Pollyanna who doesn’t understand your situation.

Each of us needs to search the Scriptures, pray diligently, and evaluate the choices we are making in light of His Word.

I only hope that we will start to realize that we need to make our lifestyle choices based on the Word of God, not on self-serving interests or cultural expectations.

The next generation is at stake, and The LORD is calling us to do right by these little ones.

By His Grace,

Tiana

I’m blogging through Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman with 4 Moms, 35 Kids during the month of August.

You can read my previous post here.

“Wait a minute…didn’t you skip a week?” Why, yes I did.

Truth be told, writing about a huge chunk of this book all at once is harder than it looks. I am going to go back to the second part of the book–the part about planning your week (chapters 18-27)–in a couple weeks. I want to come at that part of the book at a slower pace.

Here are the chapter titles for weeks three:

28. Morning and Evening Routines

29. Meal Time Routines

30. Table Time

…okay, let’s stop there for a second. Kim’s thoughts in these chapters were useful to me when I was planning out what I now affectionately refer to as Tiana’s Loose Schedule for Daily Sanity. It’s still nowhere close to perfect, but I find that, when I at least try to follow it, I’m blessed.

“Table Time” refers to that time immediately after breakfast. We use that time for family worship, catechism, memory verses, and (sometimes) copywork.

31. Fifteen Minutes of Phonics — this is time spent with your preschool/kindergarten aged non-reader. I have always used phonics to teach my children to read. The curriculum I use, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, is designed to be done in 15-20 “snuggling-on-the-couch” minutes per day. I actually don’t have any non-readers over the age of 3 right now, so I’m getting a break in this department.

32. Quiet Time–i.e. when the “littles” nap and the “bigs” read or do other quiet projects. I’ve tried, on occasion, to live as though this time were optional. It’s not.

33. Read Aloud Time.–Now, here’s a novel idea! How many times have I fell asleep reading before quiet time? Too many times to count! (Especially when I’m pregnant…there’s nothing like trying to read a book out loud immediately after lunch, while pregnant, to induce narcolepsy). Kim puts Read Aloud Time after nap–what a concept! This is going to require a major adjustment in my mindset, but I’m going to give it a try.

34. Afternoon Chore Time

35. Bathroom Management

36. Bedroom Management

These three books detail some strategies for keeping your home basically tidy on a daily basis. During afternoon chore time, we straighten the common areas, unload the dishwasher, swish and swipe the bathroom, and prepare for supper.

I can heartily echo her thoughts on being minimalists when it comes to our children’s rooms. I wrote something similar a while back before I had even looked at this part of the book: Go Clean Your Room!.

37. The Children’s Hour

38. Family Worship

With my husband’s work schedule being what it is, the period of time between when he comes home and when he needs to go to bed is very short. This is the part of our day that needs the most help (and the most prayer).

39. Home Crafts. –I’m not that crafty of a person, and life with 4 “littles” isn’t always conducive to being crafty. However, I do have a 5 year old daughter who wants to be crafty, so I’m working on this area of weakness. I now have a bit of a sewing area in the children’s playroom in the basement, which is helping me to get my mending done regularly, even if I have yet to complete any of the grander sewing projects on my “to do” list.

I will say that many of the ideas shared in this chapter could be applied to blogging–or any other hobby or interest, regardless of whether or not it would be considered “crafty”.

40. Homeschooling the Large Family.–I love the simplicity with which Kim approaches homeschooling. I think she and I would be kindred spirits. She focuses on teaching her children to read so that they can learn to teach themselves anything–which is very similar to what we do around here. She also makes a point to focus on The Most Important Thing, which is refreshing in a culture that sees worldly success as the only measure of education.

41. Health and Wellness.–Take care of yourself, Mom! If Mama ain’t healthy, ain’t nobody happy. Enough said.

42. The Playroom.–I completely rearranged ours this summer, and it has been wonderful! I prefer to send my children outside for playtime whenever possible, but let’s face it–we live in Wisconsin, so that can’t always happen. Having an organized play place is a huge blessing.

43.  Feast Night–A Saturday night tradition where a family celebrates the week’s accomplishments. I haven’t even begun to think about how we might implement this in our home.

44. Meal Planning–Thankfully, one of the first “homemaking” skills I learned was meal planning. I remember, in those days, being frustrated at my inability to find recipes for two! Those days have passed, and writing menus and grocery lists for a larger family has it’s own unique challenges. This chapter will talk you through it.

45. Project Day– I am the queen of unfinished projects. I haven’t spent nearly enough time with this chapter yet, but I think it could be life-changing…

46. Pregnancy and Preparing for Baby– In this chapter, Kim shares a wealth of knowledge in regards to self-care and home management during pregnancy, based on her experience having 9 babies. I’ve learned some of these things “the hard way”.

47. The Buddy System–What does a Mama of Many do to keep from being “outnumbered”? Give each “little” a “big” buddy! My children are still technically all “littles”, but we are starting to try this in our home. I’ll have the 7 year old play with the 2 year old, or have the 5 year old watch her baby sister for a few minutes. These can’t be long periods of time (or there’s trouble), but we’re getting there.

And there you have it! Part three (really, 2b) of Large Family Logistics in a nutshell! Hop on over to the 4 Moms, 35 Kids Link-up to read more…

Large Family Logistics Link-up

…and, if you’re feeling overwhelmed just looking at this, don’t freak out just yet. Next week’s topic? Survival Mode. Yeah.

Many Blessings!

Tiana

A couple of years ago, while engaged in a conversation with a fellow homeschooler, I made a fairly extreme declaration:

“I would never send my children to public school.”

A day or two later, this fellow homeschooler called me and challenged my statement.

“Why would you say something so extreme? You don’t really mean that, do you?”

In fact, I do mean it.

I acknowledge that this position is extreme. Parents decide to teach their children at home for a multitude of reasons. Many of these are more proactive than defensive. While I agree with many of the proactive reasons, for me they are all secondary. The main reason I homeschool my own children is defensive… I don’t want them in public school. I am a certified teacher and my arguments against public schools are based on experience and observations from more than 20 years of association with and involvement in public schools. I began to recognize many of these issues early on in my teaching career…some even before I graduated from college! And the problems I began to observe more than 20 years ago have only gotten worse in the years since.

So, the question remains: Why would I say something so extreme?”

 

You can read her reasons here:

Why NOT Public School?

They’re good reasons. In fact, if you’re totally flabbergasted as to why someone you know and love is homeschooling, this will give you a good idea as to what the fuss is all about, and why your concerns and criticisms of their choice seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Nevertheless, they are not my reasons.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t agree with her observations or identify with her frustrations. I certainly don’t mean that these things don’t matter or that I haven’t given them any thought. I have. Even so, academic mediocrity, peer pressure and bullying, stifled creativity and liberal bureaucratic agendas are not my real reasons for homeschooling.

To say so would imply that if the schools were reformed–if all the legitimate concerns and criticisms about the government school system were to be fixed forever–that I would consider sending my children to public school.

But I wouldn’t.

Why Not?

Because God has said in His Word that educating our children is our job as parents:

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)

Because God has given us in His Word a method and a curriculum that we are to use, that, by definition, can never be duplicated by even the best school system:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Because, God, in His Word, tells us over and over again that knowing Him is more important than anything else. He is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” Proverbs 9:10-12

Because the consequences of failure in this area are too great to fathom:

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.” Judges 2:10-12

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

And so, rather than making all sorts of excuses…

rather than telling God all sorts of reasons why I can and should do things my own way…

I figure, I’d better just obey Him.

Good Morning!

I’m guest posting at Smockity Frocks today! Connie’s husband–like so many others these days–was laid off not too long ago. Having “been there, done that, got the T-Shirt”, I thought I’d offer a few things I learned (some the hard way) about helping a man Survive a Layoff:

What He Doesn’t Need (And What He Does)

Who is Smockity Frocks? Just one of the coolest large-family-homemaking-homeschooling bloggers on the web:

Hop on over and say, “Hi”!

Q: My oldest child is six years old, nearly seven. I’m at my wit’s end in trying to teach her to read. Today I ended up in tears and said to my husband that she should go to school for a year so she can learn to read, then I’ll homeschool her again. Half the problem is that she’s stubborn and resistant to anything “schoolish”. Half the problems is that it’s just not “clicking”. Some things she seems to understand–other things she just doesn’t “get” yet.

Why do school children learn to read so much earlier? My family is concerned, telling me about how her school-going cousin, who is a year younger, reads so much better. My parents have supported my decision to homeschool in the past, but now they are worried.

We’ve tried several different programs. I know others have told me that their children didn’t read until 8 or 9 years old… but shouldn’t I see some progress over the months?

I’m ready to give up, but in my heart I know that Home is best and I would hate to part with her for 6-7 hours of the day. Although she’s stubborn and resistant she’s still a sweet girl, she has an amazing imagination, she would love to do crafts all day, loves to help in the kitchen and is great with her baby brother.

Can anyone give me any advice?

A: First of all, I don’t think children who are sent to school read earlier than homeschooled kids. I think all children learn to read at their own pace. Some kids have an easy time of it…for others, it can be like pulling teeth. My homeschooled kids read very well at their young ages. On the other hand, I was just talking to a mom at church the other day about how hard it was to teach all of her (now grown) children to read. Yes, they eventually did learn, and now they are all excelling in their own way–so take heart!

I would encourage you to relax and enjoy homeschooling your daughter. Continue to encourage her in the things that she does well, and try not to stress out over her reading. Spend lots of time reading good books to her. Ask her questions about what you’ve read, and have her dictate back to you what the story was about. Draw pictures about the stories. You say she’s creative–have her tell you stories that she makes up, and write them down for her. Make little books together. Listen to books on tape (CD…MP3…you know what I mean!). If she can write letters, have her copy simple sentences. (We like to use short Bible verses.) Immerse her in language.

As to the children who didn’t read until 8 or 9, my friends who have children like that say that they didn’t really see “progress”. It was a matter of, “all of a sudden”, they “got it”–as in, a child who hadn’t responded well to reading lessons suddenly picking up a book and reading it.

Have you tried Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons? My children did well with it, and it’s supposed to work for children who have been unsuccessful learning to read with other methods. It’s very affordable–I bought my copy on homeschoolclassifieds.com for $9 shipped–so it probably wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. I’ve heard wonderful things about “Sing, Spell, Read, and Write”, though I haven’t used it. It might be just the thing for a creative child, although it can be a bit pricey. I’d look for it used. Maybe you could sell the other stuff that hasn’t worked in order to buy it?

I hope that helps! Hang in there! You’re doing the right thing! Remember, the world’s values are not our values. Our #1 priority in homeschooling our children is that they know and love God. Even if she never learned to read, if she has Christ, she has everything! If she reads at an eight grade level as a 7 year old, but doesn’t know Christ, she has nothing. Reading will come, but if you send her to school, you’ll never get that year back.

So enjoy the blessing of being able to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD, and don’t stress out about what hasn’t “clicked” yet.

Blessings!

Tiana

This Question was asked in regard to my recent post “Are You a Runaway?”…

Q: Can you be a runaway and still be at home? I have cracker crumbs on the floor, folded laundry on the couch, dirty dishes in the sink, etc. I don’t get to the “housework” not because we are always gone and not because I’m doing all the fun things that moms “should” do…reading books, baking cookies, nature walking…

In fact, I have no idea what it is I do. I do know that I constantly feel guilty for not getting anything done, including spending quality time, making memories with my kids. I guess I’m just not sure how to balance it all. I feel like I can’t justify doing stuff with my kids when I look around and see nothing but mess, and by the time I have “finished” cleaning up, I’m too tired to do anything and no desire to make another mess that will have to be cleaned up.

How do you balance it all???

A: Balancing it all is hard when you have a house full of little ones, especially if you didn’t grow up in a house full of little ones! Maybe you’re not really a “runaway”–maybe you’re feeling “run over”?

Being a homemaker is not, contrary to popular opinion, something that “any idiot” can do. It requires training and practice to become good at it. If you–like so many of us–didn’t get that training before you had kids, you’re an “on the job” trainee!! Embrace that…run with it…and be patient with yourself. God isn’t finished with you yet!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

Ask God for His wisdom in caring for your home and family in a way that glorifies Him! It is not beneath Him!

On the practical side of things, I have been learning so much from the book Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman. Even if your family isn’t “large”, it is a fantastic book full of homemaking help and biblical truth.

I’ve been blogging through the book with 4 Moms, 35 Kids. You can read my first post here:

Large Family Logistics–Blogging Through the Book with 4 Moms

I’ll be writing more as I work through the book myself. I’m definitely a work-in-progress…aren’t we all? Hang in there!

Many Blessings!

Tiana

Q: I’d be interested in knitting some booties, but I’m wondering, how exactly are they used?

A: The booties are used by sidewalk counselors. They give the booties to abortion-minded women as they are approaching the mills. Here is an (edited) letter I received just this week from one of them:

Dear Tiana and friends,

Thank you so much for the booties! I’ve been asking for these and no one in Milwaukee was responding. _________ gave me a bagful of yours on Friday.

Baby booties make such a big impact on moms at the abortion mills. The woman will either soften and “coo” over them, or else push them away, with a panic-stricken look. I love giving booties to a mom who has just chosen life. What a joy!

I am a missionary to the preborn, so I am at the death mills 3 times a week. I will use these booties in faithful stewardship. Maybe I can share some success stories soon.

God is an awesome God. May the Lamb who was slain receive the reward of His Suffering.

God Bless You!

Can knitting a pair of baby booties really save a life? Yes, with God’s help, it can!  Would you consider this ministry?

For more ways to help save babies, no matter where you live or what your situation, please contact Lisa Metzger at A Second Generation of Homeschooling.

The Winner of the Quiet Times for Kids “My Armor of God Bible Study” is…

Michelle!! (Comment #42)

Congratulations!

Thanks so much to all who entered! If you didn’t win, you can still use the coupon code twodollarsoff to save $2 on the e-book version.

***And now, for the link-up! How are you teaching your children the Word of God? Are you teaching them to study the Bible for themselves? I invite you to link to your post about teaching your children the Bible so that we can encourage each other in this most important work! Please link back here, using the “Feed the Children Challenge” button in the sidebar, so that others can join in!***

This link-up with be open until August 31st, so if you’re just getting started, you have plenty of time to write your post. Thanks for participating!