Homeschool Highlights Weeks 6 and 7

30. September 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Homeschooling

One of the benefits to homeschooling is that it’s portable. We went on vacation the past week and I was able to bring school work with us (we tagged along with my husband while he traveled for work and when he was working we did school work). Before we left for our trip, we did our science and history at home and brought math, spelling, reading and language arts with us.

History: In MFW Adventures, we learned about the Dutch settlement in New York. We made our own butter-yum! We also started using a history pockets curriculum I found on the Revolutionary War: History Pockets: The American Revolution. I love it! It meets my son’s interest and academic ability right where he is. And my little one enjoyed coloring in pictures of soldiers.

Science: We did an experiment on yeast and watched it blow up a balloon. We also baked homemade bread.

Field Trips: While traveling, we visited an old gold mine in north Georgia. We went underground and learned how they mined for gold in the 1800′s. We saw the tools they used and learned how hard the miner’s worked. We then tried panning for gold ourselves-we even got a few specks to take home. The kids also panned for gems which they really enjoyed (it was a lot less work). This tour of the mind was a great follow up to our unit study on geology we did over the summer.

We also visited an old plantation while in Georgia. The kids got to see how people lived in the late seventeen hundreds to late eighteen hundreds. They saw an old school house, slave cabins, barns, doctor’s house, and of course the big plantation house.

We also did our nature walks while out of town. We did some hiking and spotted quite a bit of wild life. Actually, I think I was more excited about the wildlife we found than my kids were. (“Mom, this is boring standing here taking a picture of a butterfly!”)

It’s all about grace

30. September 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: God's still working on me, Parenting, Spiritual Growth · Tags: ,

I had asked several times with no response. Finally, I raise my voice. He jumps, begins to cry and runs to his room, closing the door behind him-closing his heart in protection from me.

Some days it seems like we all roll out of the “wrong side of the bed.” We go through the day irritable, taking it out on each other. Sarcasm rears its ugly head in my sinful heart and pours out in my words and deeds. At the end of the day, I am guilt ridden.

How easy it is to hurt the ones we love most. They seem to experience the worst of the sin in our heart. Each day the guilt builds until I feel like I am unworthy to be the mother they need me to be.

Then I remember: Jesus knew that about me. He knew I would not be a perfect mother. When I hurt the precious feelings of my little one, Jesus had already died for that sin. He took all of my sins upon Himself, willingly, because there was no other way. No matter how hard I try to be the perfect mother, I am not capable. His perfect life was also given to me. Each time he was kind, each time he was gentle, each time he was patient are all credited to me.

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM, my other writing home.

Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: Eternal Souls

29. September 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Parenting, Teach Me Jesus · Tags:

Reviewing catechism questions with my kids the other day, I was deeply struck and convicted. The question I asked was “Do you have a soul as well as a body?” And their response was, “Yes, and my soul is going to last forever.”

This catechism reminded me anew of why I do this thing called motherhood. Raising children is an investment in eternity. All the energy and tears we put into this calling has an impact that will last forever. Forever. Have you ever thought about how long that is? Most of our tasks and responsibilities in life don’t have a lasting impact. But the investment in a human soul does.

In our society, children are rarely viewed as having such lasting importance. Many in our current age don’t even belief in an after life. Instead, they believe this life is all there is. Because of this belief, their time, money, energy is spent on accumulating and using their resources on what is only temporary.

How would our world be different if we all believed that children were given souls that last forever?

I often fail to remember this truth myself. Distracted by all the pretty things the world has to offer, I focus on the here and now. I spend my days on household chores, running errands, browsing pinterest. “Not right now, Buddy, I’m busy.” “Let me just finish folding these clothes.” All the while, two little souls exist in my care needing my intentional influence.

I need to value my children the way Jesus did. “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) Our Lord’s heart is tender toward children. He paused to intentionally bless them in the midst of a busy day of ministry.

And He intentionally nurtures and blesses my soul. His grace is always abundant and overflowing. He is always ready to hear from me. When I remember how much I am loved by the Father, it helps me to remember to love on my children. Focusing on His love and grace for me turns me away from the distractions of this world and to what is eternally important. The more I turn from what’s temporary, the more I will invest in the forever souls of my children.

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:33,34

To Show Them Jesus

Seven Years Ago

28. September 2011 · 11 comments · Categories: God's still working on me

courtesy: LifeRiver Studios

My son turns seven today. It was seven years ago that our small coastal town was torn through by two hurricanes, one after another. During my final weeks of pregnancy I evacuated to my in-laws for the first storm, while the Firefighter worked to protect area citizens.

Our hospital had been damaged during that first hurricane. When my son was ready to be born (following the second storm), the maternity wing was overflowing with patients from all over the hospital. Women were laboring in the hallways. There was only one doctor handling pain management for all nine women awaiting the birth of their child. Power was out everywhere. My in-laws had to violate curfew as they drove into town to see us.

Needless to say, it was pretty chaotic.

In many ways, my experiences of being a first time mom felt kind of like those storms. Fierce winds of depression blew through our home that first year. Feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness crashed over me like the ocean waves crashing onto the shore. My seven-year-old’s name means “strong and impetuous,” a word that can be used to describe a fierce storm. And he has been that from time to time. Parenting a challenging child has sometimes felt like walking straight into the winds of a storm.

A storm often makes a way for new growth. Old trees fall down, then new ones are planted. A fierce storm can also cleanse the air of pollen and other allergens.

And it’s in the storms of life where the real growth happens.

A storm brought us our son. We have been changed forever because of that. Parenthood has played a huge part in our spiritual growth these past seven years. God has used parenthood to refine and change us. Though the storms of depression have threatened to undo me at times, God has used motherhood as part of the healing process. I have found beauty even in the midst of deepest pain.

The psalmist says that “joy comes in the morning.” And it’s true. The storms of life can produce great joy. The storm that accompanied our first years of parenthood has also brought us joy we never knew possible. Our son’s intelligence has amazed and humbled us over and over. His excitement over learning a new fact is contagious. His idiosyncracies have become what we love most about him. His smile melts my heart.

As I celebrate my son’s birthday, I’m reminded of the events that brought him to us and the years since. While God never promises a life of cloudless days, he does promise to be with us when the storms come. He is our anchor in the rough seas. I can’t trust in my own strength and wisdom to raise my kids. It’s God who guides me each step of the way. And it’s only God who can calm the storm.

Grace Unending

26. September 2011 · 9 comments · Categories: Gratitude Community

Counting the graces unending:

“We are brought into God’s Kingdom by grace; we are sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace; we are called to serve and, finally, we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God’s grace.” Jerry Bridges

“It is not that we keep His commandments first, and that then He loves; but that He loves us, and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace, which is revealed to the humble, but hidden from the proud.” Augustine

854-870

Ian in the back seat of the car, “Mom, is 3 plus 3 six?”

Talking about the gospel of grace with my bible study ladies-words of nourishment to my soul

That God would want to include me in the dance of creation-the dance of joyful self-giving love that each member of the Trinity has danced since before time began

That because of the grace of Christ’s sacrifice for me, I’m included and remain in the dance

Shaun Groves new album-I keep listening to it over and over!

Reese’s peanut butter cups-straight from the freezer

Listening to my son read a joke book and laughing hyterically-the funny thing is, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t understand most of the jokes:)

Friend willing to take over my bible study for a few weeks while I travel

Friends who tell me I am missed:)

Going along with my husband on a business trip to Atlanta

Going from 93 degrees to 78

I didn’t want to go at first because we would be traveling two weeks before he and I leave for Paris but it was a good thing for us as a family to get away together. The boys got to spend quality time with us before we leave for ten days. My husband only had to work part of the time we were in Atlanta so it worked out well

Seeing leaves beginning to change and having fun collecting them during walks with the boys

Visiting an old gold mine in North Georgia, learning the history of mining for gold and panning for gold ourselves

Hiking to Anna Ruby Falls

Having just enough wipes with me when Ian threw up in our rental car

Seeing old college friends I haven’t seen in 15 years

Thoughts to Consider

24. September 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Ploughing Hearts

Thoughts to consider today in preparation for worshiping our Lord Jesus tomorrow:

“The astonishing thing is that people can become religious without being converted. That is, they join churches and start reading the Bible and doing religious things with no change in the foundation of their happiness: It is still themselves. They are the ground of their joy” John Piper

“Feeling loved by God means feeling glad not only that He crushed His Son so that I can be forgiven, but that He’s crushing everything that takes away from my praising of the glory of His grace.” John Piper

And for you:

Post by Tullian: It’s Okay to Not be Okay

Our Sanctuary

23. September 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Spiritual Growth · Tags: ,

The term sanctuary is used to describe a holy or sacred place. In the Old Testament it was the temple, the dwelling place of God. A sanctuary is also used to describe as a place for people to flee to for safety. Today, our sanctuary is found in Christ.

I think of my time alone with God as a sanctuary-a time of peace, safety and rest. It’s a time of quiet to bring him my laments as well as my praise. No matter how rought the storms are in my life, when I’m with Him, the storm clouds go away. There is joy and peace in His presence.

Do you have a physical place you retreat to in order to commune with God? We all know we need to have personal times of prayer, devotion and meditation on His word. I believe creating a specific place for quiet time with God is important. Like our bed that welcomes us each evening, a place to sit and relax with God welcomes us to spend time alone with Him.

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM, my other writing home.

Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: Technology

22. September 2011 · 3 comments · Categories: Parenting, Teach Me Jesus · Tags:

I have a love/hate relationship with technology. I love the convenience, the access to knowledge and the ability to communicate quickly with others.

What I don’t like is the addictive nature of technology. I have had to restrain myself from being on social networking sites simply because I could see how I was using up valuable time.

One of my challenges of late is the way my children are addicted to technology. It’s wonderful to have games on my phone for them to play while we are at the doctors. What’s not wonderful is how upset they get when they don’t get to play on it all the time. There is always another level to beat, always another version of a game to try. Another side effect to this addiction to technology for my kids is that they don’t know how to simply wait for five minutes. By filling up spare waiting time by using games on my phone, they think that any time we are waiting for something, their mind and hands have to be engaged with a game. They become unable to just sit and look out the window in the car.

I was reading an article on this very subject recently in one of my professional magazines. The article cautioned that technology is “rewiring” the brain for speed. It states, “technology, therefore, is changing the very nature of modern stress. It demands over-engagement-a sort of “go-go-go” mentality. The digital world is robbing us of “recovery times,” much-needed sleep and rest.” (Archibald Hart and Sylvia Hart Frejd in Christian Counseling Today) In essence, when we overuse technology, we maintain a constant high stress level. We are constantly stimulated, giving us a high cortisol and adrenaline arousal. Our bodies feel like we are continually in a “fight or flight” situation. Ultimately the frequent exposure to technology is changing our brains and the brains of our children.

We have learned that whenever our kids become very highly tense after playing phone or computer games that they need time away from them. Lately, I’ve only let them use my phone at the doctor’s office. Their time on the computer is limited to twenty minutes a day. Our computer is in our Great Room where I can easily monitor them.

Whenever my kids ask why I am limiting their use of their favorite gadgets and games, I teach them about how it affects their brain. I point out to them the activities that are better for their minds to be engaged in. I also remind them that whenever they feel a strong desire to play a game and it upsets them that they can’t, they need to evaluate their heart. I point out that perhaps the game is taking up a place in their heart where Jesus is supposed to be.

One aspect of “teaching Jesus” to our children is teaching them how to self-monitor their entertainment choices. They need to be always mindful of where God is in the priorities of their heart. Anything can try to take God’s place and I need to guide them to Jesus, their true hearts treasure.

To Show Them Jesus

Hope Through Pain

21. September 2011 · 6 comments · Categories: Spiritual Growth

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

courtesy: LifeRiver Studios

I look in the eyes of my once baby, now almost four-year old boy, and I remember the pain of his infancy. I remember the countless days of tears that never stopped flowing. The memories of the depression that defined his first year are still fresh. Sometimes the hopelessness still lingers like the erased ghost lines of an artist’s sketch.

I’ve learned that the road to hope is often filled with tears.

In our culture, hope is often used synonymously with the word wish. It’s used in the sense of wanting something strongly and with great intensity. It’s as though if we want something bad enough and hope for it really hard, it will happen. Facing a problem, we cross our fingers and hope for the best.

In the Bible, hope is not defined that way. God is the Source of hope. Until we know and trust the Source of hope, we cannot experience joy and peace. Hope overflows from the joy we have in Him.

Most of the time, the road to hope is not the path we expect it to be. Often, His way to hope requires that He tear away from us all other false sources of hope. What are the false sources? Control, wealth, health, and affirmation to name a few. For God to become our only source of hope, we often have to suffer the loss of the false hopes we cling to. Larry Crabb, in “66 Love Letters” points out that God often removes all sources of hope but Himself in order to reveal the narrow road to holiness.

There are those in scripture who know this narrow road well. Job learned this in a very painful way through the loss of everything he held dear. “Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” (Job 13:14) Abraham’s love for his only son had the potential to become a source of false hope. His hope was tested. His faith in God gave him the hope he needed to remain faithful, despite the pain of the task given him. The apostle Paul also knew the painful road to true hope. He experienced imprisonment, ship wrecks, hunger, illness and certain death. Through it all, he found his hope in Christ, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

In the story of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the character Eustice knew the pain of traveling the road to hope. His pride and self-centeredness brought about his turning into a dragon. He experienced the pain of having his false hope in pride removed from him. The lion, Aslan, tore Eustice’s leathery dragon skin from him, layer by layer. It was painful but necessary for him to become a boy again.

When we’ve been emptied of everything we trust in more than God, it is then the power of hope is released. Larry Crabb describes the process in this way, “every moment of suffering presents a painful opportunity to hope.” He also says, “only when the night is darkest is the Morning Star visible…true Christianity begins in desolation.”

To know the hope that is found in God alone, we are guaranteed some form of pain and suffering. To become more like Christ requires that the sin in our hearts be torn away. Without the pain of the refiners fire, we will never be purified as gold. He empties us completely so that we can be filled back up again with Him alone.

Though it’s painful, I know my own times of suffering are part of the ugly/beautiful. The tears that have rained down my face are cleansing tears. It empties me of everything that keeps me from trusting in Him alone. My sight becomes clear and I see the hope that is found in Christ alone.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5

Do you have this hope?

Communication in Marriage

20. September 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: marriage · Tags:

Sometimes choosing not to respond is an act of grace.

I had confronted him with an issue and he barely responded. I had thrown the accusing statement at him without any warning, tears streaming-the built up volcano’s lava of frustration and pain pouring forth. Giving me time to calm down, he returns later and with arms around me, he says, “I agree.” No excuses. No pointing a finger back at me.

There may be times when the best response isn’t one at all. A step of grace in the dance of marriage that only the humble dare to try.

Sometimes there are pains that can’t be held back. Sometimes there are issues that need to be discussed. Sometimes a problem has to be resolved. How does a marriage keep it’s balance in the face of conflict?

To read the rest of this post, visit CSAHM, my other writing home.

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