Joy today

Darcy’s Story by Aylmer

Where the Heart Is by Letts

Prarie Brides by Ford,Goodnight, Grote, & Rognlie

Homeschooling All the Way through High School by Mason

Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Wilson

Reaping the Harvest by Waring

90 Minutes in Heaven by Piper

The Princess by Wick

Approval Addiction by Meyers

The Faces of Poverty by Beiting

Conversational Peace by Kassian

The Reading Group by Noble

A Journey into Prayer by Christenson

The Teenage Years of Jesus Christ by Ross

Most of my reading is usually children’s books, homeschooling books (history and such), or daily Bible reading.  I must say that I am proud of myself for reading 13 ‘grown up’ books and 1 ‘teen’ book this year. My oldest son is so far past me in the books that he has read but I am thinking I might be able to catch up when he has a job and kids of his own. hee hee 

Government

I Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)

I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time.

This morning as we started our day, I told the boys who won the presidential election. It would have been too late to let them stay up and experience all the election results so we discussed it this morning.  I had printed out a map of the Electoral College votes and circled which states were Republican in red and the Democrats in blue. We have been studying a unit on the government this fall because of the significance of the election year.  We have learned so much and it has been exciting to relate our knowledge to what is happening.    The kids do not watch the news but there were a few times that they heard some things and it was so great when they understood what was being talked about and having the foundational understandings of our government. 

Today we discussed that even though we will not agree with all the choices our leaders make it is still our responsibility to pray for them.  It is also our responsibility to respect and honor them as leaders.  We discussed how we do not have to agree and that we can even strongly disagree but how speaking badly of them does not help.  Our culture loves to complain and gripe about our leaders.  However, our power in our freedom is to make our voice heard through our vote, our political action, our freedom of speech about what we believe, and where we put our money (or where we don’t put it as in the case of a boycott.)   

Martin Luther King Jr. gave us a good example of an effective boycott.  Did you know that in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, there was a boycott against the bus lines that lasted 381 days?  That is impressive because today people want quick results and those men and women had to walk to work for over a year to stand up for their civil rights. After that time period the buses agreed to be desegregated.

I am not calling for any kind of boycott right now, although I have boycotted some businesses when I did not agree with things.  The boycotts I participated in were resolved sooner that a year and I did not have to walk to work in all kinds of weather!  My main point is that we live in a great democracy and I love the freedom that we have but we also have a great responsibility with it.  I am glad the American people took on their responsibility and voted!  Will the American people now take their responsibility to pray for our leaders and stay active in our government? 

Right now the kids and I have been reading George Muller by Benge for our family read aloud.  We are only reading 1 chapter a day because of time constraints.  However, everyday I am looking forward to what God is going to do.  I hope this inspirational story is helping my children grow in their faith as well as my own.  George truly does rely on God to supply all his needs!  Starting with his tuition and living expenses at the university to his income to feed and provide for his wife and children.  Now that God has guided George to open an orphanage he has even more mouths to feed and a greater opportunity for God to show His provision and His love! 

Family Reading is one of my favorite things about homeschooling.  The boys and I get to share and experience stories that build our faith or help us understand Gods world better.  We grow together in our education and we have the opportunity to discuss things in light of what the Bible says to be right and true.  We are able to look at the person’s character and try to understand people that have different backgrounds and experiences than we do.  We can learn life lessons from characters in fiction by discussing what they did that was right or wrong and what the consequences were.  We can look at history and see God’s hand and timing in the world as well as the consequences of people’s sin and wrong choices.

While I do feel a strong desire to protect my children it is also important that as they grow and mature to teach them and make them aware of the evil in the world.  When this is done bit by bit as they become mature my hope is that they will have an understanding of people and the world so that they can see things from other’s viewpoints as well as their own.  I do want my children to try and understand first before they judge.  I also want them to be able to have discernment and wisdom in life.  I want them to not be naïve but I do want them to be pure.  I once heard this phrase ‘innocent of the world but not naïve about it.’  That statement sums up one of the big things I am trying to impart as my children mature.  Now, I say that but at the same time I have protected, sheltered, and been very careful about not letting them be exposed to too much before they are ready.  So in my book they are still young but I do see them growing up quickly and I hope that I have the wisdom to know just how much to loosen those apron strings at each season of their childhood so that they will be ready and equipped to launch into adulthood with a firm foundation of faith, knowledge and understanding.

I have been feeling bogged down by some problems going on around me and sometimes I have a hard time focusing my thoughts on other things.  I have tried reading but it is of no use since I have no idea what I read and I am still thinking about some problems that I have no power to solve.  So…..

I thought I needed some brain activity that could be fun and make me think about other things.  I really enjoy helping the kids with crossword puzzles in their vocabulary books, Wordly Wise, so I thought I would give it a try.  I didn’t want it to be too difficult where I would get too frustrated.  To be fun it needed to be achievable and a little challenging also.  In the magazine section of the store there are different puzzle books and as I gagged past all the word find puzzles (I REALLY do not enjoy word finds) I saw their are some easy crossword puzzle books so I gave one a try and I love it!  I can achieve success in a fairly short amount of time and yet there are always some challeges and I have even learned some new words.  One example is ‘Oslo.’  I did not know that Oslo is a Norwegian metropolis.

We shall wait and see if this becomes a crossword habit or if I branch out and try some Sudoku! 

Healing…..

Well, I have had 2 surgeries four weeks apart and I am just now getting back on track so to speak.  The first surgery was difficult and it was not planned but I took it slow and I thought the healing was progressing nicely.  The next surgery I thought I was ready for and even though it was not as intense as the first it has been a stuggle to get over it.  I knew there would be physical healing time needed but I really was not aware how it would hit me emotionally and mentally.  I has been frustrating not to have my usually energy level and that has effected all aspects of my being.  So I am trying to be patient and to remember that this "funk" will pass.