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 KING HEZEKIAH

 I am still adjusting to the time change from East coast to West. I spent a week with sisters, brother, nephews and nieces in a lovely 1830's farm house. We roasted smores over a campfire at night, went to see a Shaker village and attended my nephew Tom's wedding at the base of a beautiful ski slope. The pictures were all taken outside and then the thunder clapped and we all moved inside the lodge in front of a lovely fireplace for the ceremony.    

Tom is a naval officer stationed on a ship off Newport, R.I. for awhile. He will have some time with his new bride. Tom's brother Jamie, a midshipman at Annapolis, was dressed in Navy shirt and scottish kilt and played the bagpipes as the bride walked down the aisle. Very emotional moment!  

     Another brother, Gregg, surprised his mother by coming home from Iraq for the wedding. He was dressed in his sailor whites. He is a navy coreman serving the marines in Fallujah. We saw him off back to Iraq weeping with his young wife and parents.

Three sons in the Navy, two teenage daughters and an eleven year old - homeschooling! My sister's life is full!  

     The opportunity to be together with this particular group of people all at once is probably not going to happen again. I will return on occasion to see my sister, or she will come out here, but our children are all forming their own families and branching out across the world. The Bible says our children are like arrows and blessed is the man who has a quiver full of them!  The arrows don't stay in the quiver for long!

Read 1 Samuel 17

            When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are … you came down only to watch the battle." "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter…     1 Samuel 17:28‑30

 * * *

            One cannot help but smile in reading this interaction between the oldest and youngest of Jesse’s sons. God had already put it into David’s heart to lead Israel, though neither David nor his brother knew it yet. David would have to go through many trials before God gave him the throne as king, but he was anointed by Samuel while he was still a boy. Now, as he faces Goliath, it becomes obvious why God chose him. But God also had plans for David’s brother Eliab, just as he does for all of His people.

* * *

            Lord, I have no idea what you have planned in the future for my children. But my deepest desire is that they will follow You and love You with all of their hearts. As we faithfully ask You for wisdom to teach them; speak to their hearts and lead them to walk in Your perfect will.

 * * *

             Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand …”   1 Samuel 17:45-46a NKJV

Read 1 Samuel 16

            But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

 * * *

            God had singled out the family of Jesse of Bethlehem from which to choose the next king. Samuel was sure that the oldest son Eliab was the chosen one. He was the oldest and was tall and handsome, as Saul had been. But God’s choice was the youngest son, David, who though ruddy and handsome himself, had a heart for God. David was in God’s plan before time began. His descendant would be our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the king the people of Israel would have been given in the first place, if they had just waited on God. God’s timing is always right, and his choices are based on what is inside the heart.

* * *

            Lord, help me to teach my children to look for qualities of character, rather than just outward appearance. Forgive me when I set a bad example in judging others by the way they look. Help me to wait patiently for Your plan for our lives, knowing that Your timing is perfect.

 * * *

            He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.  Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."    1 Samuel 16:12 NIV

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 Read 1 Samuel 8:1–5; 12:1–25

 "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." 1 Samuel 8:5 NIV

This weekend was definitely a milestone for us. The oldest son of our firstborn daughter graduated from high school. This was a momentous occasion, not only for Daniel, but also for his parents who have home schooled him since Kindergarten. My husband Ron, Daniel's grandpa, taught him his advanced Math courses and Physics these past two years.

In our area, the Torrey Academy, under the auspices of Biola University, offers classes for home schooled teens. Last night was their first formal graduation ceremony.  Was I ever impressed!  These kids have a foundation that will serve them well as they walk out into a sometimes hostile culture. 

They have participated in study of classic literature, the writings of our country's founders, and of the early church fathers. They have learned to express their thoughts in writing and oral debate, defend their positions, and examine their own beliefs - all in an atmosphere of fellow Christians - though from different church backgrounds and levels of maturity.

Our grandson Daniel has benefited greatly in his writing, speaking and general confidence. This summer he will be working at a Camp in Austria, and then he will start at our local community college for two years before he goes on to university. We are very proud of him, and of our daughter who has invested her time and energy into the education of three fine sons.

Read I Samuel 1:1–28

            "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD."  … The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up.      1 Samuel 1:27–28; 1 Samuel 3:19a NIV

 * * *

            Samuel’s birth was an answer to Hannah’s fervent prayer. She had pleaded with the Lord, “If you will only look upon your servant's misery–and give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life.” When she brought him to Eli the priest, she said, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD."(1:11, 27–28)

          Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Hannah surely prayed for Samuel all the days of her life and God blessed her with more children.             

          Even though Samuel grew up among Eli’s wicked sons, he became a faithful judge and prophet of God.  Samuel would go on to lead Israel through the transition from judges to kings, and become King Saul’s spiritual advisor – all this in response to God’s plan and a mother’s prayers.

 * * *

             Lord, help us to be faithful to pray daily for our children and grandchildren.  Use them for your glory and purpose on this earth, and give us the wisdom we need to train them to follow You–even in a wicked culture.

 * * *

            The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."    1 Samuel 3:10 NIV

THE PLAYGROUND

     Most kids would say that recess is the best part of school and home schooled students are no different. Your home school schedule should include blocks of time for physical activity. It can be as simple as running and playing outside at lunch time. My neighbor commented that she enjoyed watching our boys during the day. They used to build dirt jumps and perform daring stunts on their bicycles. Other times, they were racing their remote control cars in the backyard. She said they looked so carefree and happy, she wished she had home schooled her daughters.

     Not all neighbors will be so positive, however, as they might not understand why the children are home. Positive communication with neighbors may help to relieve their concerns. Be sure that your children are under your supervision during school hours. Your official school day will probably be fairly short, but children and teens should not be roaming the neighborhood during the day. If they must be out on an errand, write them a pass with the name of your private school. This will help them answer with confidence should they encounter a truant officer from the local public school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

     Let's talk about physical education. How will you manage without a school sports program? Our youngest sons played Soccer from age five until early high school. They also raced BMX bicycles for a year. Our grandsons participate in swim meets.

      A large home school group in our area offered basketball. They traveled to Colorado each year for a home school retreat and basketball tournament. This sort of opportunity depends on where you live, and how many homeschoolers are cooperating in this way.

     For us, soccer was a chance to get out into our local community. The afternoons we spent cheering on the sidelines were opportunities to get to know people. As homeschoolers, we were more involved in our community than ever before. I have no problem in answering folks who think home educators are isolationists.

     Our oldest son played soccer for a year and then he started coaching his younger brother’s teams. At first he was assistant to his Dad and then to other coaches. Later he became head coach for his brother's team. These and other common activities formed a lasting bond of friendship for our boys. Had they been in school, they would have been worlds apart. Now that they are in the adult world, the bond remains.

     Some parents object to competitive sports. If you are one of them, you might check with your local recreation center for information on gymnastics or tumbling. There is no law that says you have to participate in organized sports.

Hiking is another idea for family recreation. We lived near a small mountain, and Ron and the boys often took a two-hour hike up Mt. Woodson. As our boys became teenagers, he took them on week-long trips into the Grand Canyon, with the Institute for Creation Research. This satisfied the requirements for science, physical education and Bible - all in one.

"Radical Parenting" by Charlotte Mathis

THE GOD WHO SEES ME - A Devotional Prayer Journal at:  http://devotionalprayerjournal.blogspot.com/

THE LIVING WORD at http://prayingtheword.blogspot.com/

GOD'S WORD FOR A WOMAN'S HEART at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/CharlotteMathis

              I never thought I would see the day when I would admit to being a senior citizen, even though we have qualified for the discounts for several years now.  Most of all, I never foresaw the day when I would consider us “retired.”  Actually, Ron works from home and is not retired, but our lifestyle fits that description more and more.  So what does that look like?

            Mostly it is a matter of expendable time.  We can decide each day what we want to do, or whether we want to do anything at all. The surprising thing for me is that I, who never liked routine, have settled into a rather predictable round of activities.

            Ron has a routine, or schedule I should say, of bike riding, running and swimming in preparation for local Triathlons. He is faithful to his schedule no matter what else is going on. He also teaches our home schooled grandsons Math (Calculus and Algebra) and volunteers to teach a high school Physics class for home schooled teens. Earlier in our lives he earned a PhD in Atomic Physics, so these are subjects he enjoys.

I enjoy having our teenage grandsons in our home three times a week, helping themselves to a drink or snack in Nana’s kitchen, even mowing our lawn.  Ron’s ministry at church is to help in the high school youth group and disciple a group of boys on Sunday evenings. Another volunteer activity, for him, is reading papers submitted for publication in regard to creation science research.

            As always, my life activities revolve around his, and also the many family gatherings for our clan of 23 persons.  I am a spectator at Triathlons, graduations, birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, etc. and hostess for most of the holidays. With 13 grandchildren, 10 of which are under 7, I do my share of babysitting.

            But back to what I originally wanted to write about - my own thoughts about this stage of life. Obviously it is hard to separate my thoughts about me from my thoughts about everyone else. It’s a habit I’ve formed after 44 years of marriage and 41 as a parent. I am not complaining about this – it’s just a fact. 

            But there does come a time, (sometimes in the middle of the night) when I ask myself what I want to be when I grow up.  This morning, during my devotions was one of those times.  Just what do I want to do this summer, the next year, five years – the rest of my life?  I am going to spend some time this afternoon thinking on this – but for now, Ron and I are going out for our bi-weekly trip to the grocery store...... 

One of the issues that prevents many moms from considering homeschooling is  the clutter and extra housework that results from having the whole family home during the day.  This was a major concern for me, so I thought I would post some excerpts from RADICAL PARENTING along with some thoughts I have had after the fact. (As a former homeschool mom - hindsight is 20/20).

From RADICAL PARENTING:

One tip on getting your kids to help with housework: If you allow them some freedom in how they do the job, they might take more ownership in it. Give simple, clear instructions and get out of the way. If you redo their work to your standards, you might find yourself doing it more often than not. They get better at it as they get older, and taking charge of the job gives them more confidence for the future.

In this, as in everything else, keep a realistic perspective. A home buzzing with activities will not look like a magazine cover- nor should it. If your level of perfection cannot stand a bottle of glue sitting on the desk, you will never allow your children to be creative. The goal is to maintain a balance of flexibility and order. Whether we are lazy, perfectionists, or somewhere between, we will have to work at this all of our days. Only Heaven has perfect balance, and God is not finished with us yet!

Another tip for your peace of mind: Sometimes it pays to examine our long-held views. I had two built-in ideas about housework that kept me in a state of defeat. One of them insisted, "If you really care about people, you will honor them by cleaning every inch of your house before you invite them over." I'm sure you know why this one was a problem! I never invited anyone to the house, because I could not live up to this ideal.

Eventually I learned to straighten and clean the areas where I would serve company, then relax and enjoy the fellowship. I have found that people are happy to be included in our lives, and they don’t usually worry about perfection. If they do, that is their problem.

The other fallacious idea is that you can finish the laundry. Some of my early journal entries lament, "Dear Lord, please help me finish the laundry today." My request came out of a heart that was overwhelmed, because I never seemed to get it done.

Eventually the Lord answered my prayer by showing me that jobs like laundry are ongoing. The minute I folded and put away the last shirt, another one would drop into the laundry basket (or onto the floor) The goal should not be to finish the laundry, but to have clean clothes ready to wear. The former is impossible, the latter is reasonable and within our means.

When we built our house, Ron designed a special room for laundry with shelves of baskets for sorting colors and each person's clean clothes. In spite of this, an unfolded load of clothes often reposes on the counter. Nothing has really changed from those early days, just my thinking. I changed from fretting to thanking God for each family member as I folded his or her clothes.

* * *

Now I want to add this P.S. from my view as a former homeschool mom and a grandmother of a passle of grandchildren.  I think if I had it to do over again, I would sort clothes by their owners rather than just by colors.  When I think of all the hours I spent sorting socks and underwear, I think it could have been easier.  Giving each person their own basket or bag for dirty laundry and then putting in light and dark loads for each person separately would save so much work. No sorting - just a quick trip from the dryer to the bedroom.  Why didn't I think of that before?

Yesterday I found myself in a situation I haven't experienced in a long time.  I was out to lunch with a couple of friends and the conversation took a rather negative turn toward public school vs private or home schools.  For a few minutes I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to spoil what had been a very pleasant lunch together.  But of course I did share that even though I didn't know how homeschooling would turn out when we started, I was really glad we made that choice.  Of course, my children are grown and theirs are still at home.  So I do have the advantage of hind sight.

* * *

So I thought since that is fresh on my mind, I would blog about our reasons for homeschooling. I know the rest of you out there in homeschoolblogger land face this situation on a much regular basis, and after all, the reason I opened this site is to encourage you to hang in there.

* * *

First of all, I want to say that it is human nature to want everyone else to agree with us and to make the same choices.  But if we tell someone else what they ought to do, rather than point them to the Lord in making decisions for their children - we cheat them out of a very important spiritual element that is needed to hang in there for the long haul.  We need to be convinced that this is what the Lord wants for our family and that requires earnest prayer and doing our homework - as in writing out why we are doing this.

* * *

I think the reasons we started homeschooling and the reasons we continued, changed over the years.  I started out rather light heartedly, just trying a new thing.  But then my kids loved it and there was no turning back. 

* * *

First of all, I think I will share some of the things that were said yesterday as reasons for choosing public school:

1. Kids need to learn to make choices and not be overly protected - or they will just rebel and go wild when they leave home.

2. They need to be exposed to a wide variety of people over their school years and not be in a small Christian school or home school.

* * *

My response which I didn't have time to share yesterday is that homeschool families are exposing their children to a wider age group than the typical classroom where everyone is the same age.  We never have that kind of situation again in life.  Can you imagine spending every day with people all your own age as an adult?

* * *

Homeschooling, unless way out in the back woods, does not prevent young people from interacting with others.  This just has to be planned by the parents and can take place in church, on the soccer field, or in classes and field trips sponsered by homeschool groups.

* * *

Well, enough of my defensive response.  As the mother of four married  children - here are the things I have observed as the result of our choice:

* * *

Our children have a close relationship with each other in spite of a wide age range.  They all love the Lord and  married Christians.  Three of the families are homeschooling - or plan to homeschool their children.  Our oldest grandson graduates this year and has homeschooled all the way through.

* * *

Our sons have gone on to college or technical training and graduated with degrees in Physics, Computer science and networking.  Our daughter who married young and homeschooled her kids is going back to school for a nursing degree and doing very well in her classes, while her teenage sons are taking classes sponsored by Biola University for homeschoolers.  My husband is teaching a Physics class for homeschool seniors.

* * *

Our homeschool experience actually was much more simple than the local homeschooler in our area (Temecula, Calif.) since there is so much available in classes and resources now.  We mostly were home doing it ourselves and enjoying the freedom to grow and learn in our own way.

     Well, I have blogged enough for now, just thought I'd share those thoughts.

From "Radical Parenting"

     While Ron and I were leading an Independent Study Program (ISP), we held monthly meetings for homeschooling parents. In contrast to the local park days, they were for adults only, and emphasized discussion and idea swapping.

     We all looked forward to those quiet evenings of adult discussion about our children. I personally have never known a group of parents like them, for they were ready to do whatever it took to raise godly children. Leading them was a most encouraging experience.

* * *

     A few days ago I received a call from a friend who, with her husband, accepted the leadership of our group. "How is your book coming?" She inquired. I told her of my struggle to keep my sanguine personality in front of a computer. "Charlotte,  she said, "it was your personality that kept us going. Sometimes when I was worried and took myself too seriously, you helped us laugh and lighten up. You believed that we could handle it, so we did, too."

     Now she was encouraging me! I think she hit on the benefit of support groups. We homeschoolers come in all temperaments and learning styles. Because differences make us unique, we should use them to encourage each other.

* * *

     Both Ron and I believe that homeschooling parents are a source of hope for our country's future. They have already sacrificed their time, money and convenience - their defenses are down and they have a teachable spirit. This is what Radical Parenting is about - a willingness to learn and to follow God's leading. It is not about "experts." It is lifelong learning at the feet of the Master and a desire to pass the torch to our children.