…(and anyone else who cares to join us 
) this weekend in beautiful Fort Myers, Florida. Michael and Vickie Farris of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) will also be speaking at this event and I’m so looking forward to seeing them again! The primary purpose of the gathering, beginning Friday evening and ending Saturday afternoon, is to strengthen, equip and encourage families who home school or are thinking about home schooling their children. I LOVE these events because I get to connect with parents who are passionate about raising NO ORDINARY CHILDREN! If you’d like more information, check out the links below. If you think about us, please pray for the best of everything for everyone there and I’ll keep you ‘posted’ ha! on how things go…
Archive for the ‘Home'sCool: homeschool helps’ Category
I’m flying out this week and will be sharing with the Christian Home Educators of the Sunshine State (CHESS)…
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009So…
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008The pox saga continues. Buying myself an hour to get with God last night, I gave my little patient the opportunity to watch an animated 90-minute movie, hoping it also to be a welcome distraction to his misery.
When the credits began to roll, it was my cue, once more, to be ready for action. Around our house, it’s not just about Momma serving popsicles, applying Calamine, taking temps and preparing cool rags for the forehead. It’s about being there. On call every moment.
Observe: After presenting a fresh bowl of sliced fruit, arranging bedding and engaging in some brief, sincere, commiseration with the little fellow, I ran out of the room to transfer laundry and attend to kitchen duty (someone is always hungry at our house). As I flew, I heard a little voice proclaim, “I have just two words for you: HURRY BACK!”
Then, he launched into some fun facts about how Orangutans can’t cope if the female disappears, likening the tendency to that of our household. He went on to describe how they arrange a ‘hunt’ until they find her. If they couldn’t find me, he continued on, they would first go to Starbucks and then to Trader Joes. Well, by then, I was laughing out loud. But he was very serious. He wants Momma there, right next to him. Now.
I plopped down next to his makeshift bed in the living room and opened a book we’d been wanting to read together. As I began to read, he reached his arm as far as he could, to hold my hand. It took him quite an effort, and reminded me just how much of a comfort I am to him.
Mommas were made to lessen the pain, soften the blow, comfort the afflicted and most of all perhaps, just be there. I’m so grateful to be spending my hours attending to him at the moment. Yeah, it meant waking to his cry at 4 a.m. today, interrupting my sound sleep to attend to his pressing needs, but I consider it a privilege. Truly. At thirteen, he’s becoming very independent, and the times he feels a need to have me around become fewer and farther between. So for the next few days, you know where I’ll be. Right there.
When Mom-teacher-wife hits the wall.
Saturday, May 24th, 2008
I was reminded of how each of us home schooling moms struggle, when I received this email from ‘Marie’. Earlier in the week she had requested help to navigate the web site in order to complete a transaction for a book order, and when it didn’t come through the system, we emailed her to make sure she had received our reply. She began her email with…
“It’s my fault, I haven’t been back on the site, the Lord reminded me today, I really am looking forward to reading the book (No Ordinary Child), I am in a terrible rut with parenting and home schooling, I have home schooled for 10 years and we have 9 children 6 boys and 3 girls ages 18 – 6 months. In Christ, Marie
I could feel Marie’s heavy burden as I read these brief words. I wanted to reach through cyberspace and give her the BIGGEST hug, make her a cup of tea and clean her kitchen. I don’t even know what state she lives in! I wanted to reassure her that there is hope. It weighed on me as I buzzed about that day. I woke up the next day and replied:
Dearest Marie,
As I’m reading your email, I’m filled with God’s love for you and your family. I’m so sorry you’re struggling – we’ve all struggled and at times, intensely, as we’ve endeavored to be all we must be – or all we THINK we must be as we walk through our days with our precious children. At times I’ve needed to ‘call it a year’ and set ’school’ aside for now. Sometimes, when push has come to shove, I have to re-focus and adjust my priorities for a stretch, while I find my own peace in Him, with my kids’ behaviors and scheduling, and with bringing more practical order (cleaning out stuff, straightening closets, tossing clutter) in our home. Not to mention, taking time to give my husband the loving attention he deserves – he can be sorely overlooked while I’m trying so hard to wear so many hats. What do academics really do, if everything else is askew?
Marie, Jesus loves you today and I commend His love and grace to you! May your burdens become lighter and may wisdom and clarity come for you and yours.
In His great love, Denise
(Marie’s response) Hi, Thank you for your encouragement, (a right word spoken at the right time) the Lord is encouraging me to continue on, but I just can’t see how? That seems so silly for me to not just trust Him. But by faith I will follow. In Christ, Marie
Friends, we’ve all been there. You may have something specific to share with Marie that will make a difference for her in this trying time. Perhaps some practical advice, words of comfort or wisdom. I invite you to share what comes to mind. I know your words will bring encouragement to everyone who pops in to read.
(P.S. Marie gave me permission to share her story with you.)
Help Amanda and ENTER TO WIN!
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
I FOUND THIS IN MY INBOX RECENTLY AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU – MY BLOG READERS AND FRIENDS, BOTH HOME SCHOOLERS AND NOT, COULD HELP ME TO ANSWER AMANDA’S HEARTFELT INQUIRY(FYI Amanda okayed me sharing this with you):
Hey Denise
I have been thinking about homeschooling for about a year now (it is my second choice as the Christian private schools are just unaffordable for a one income family) and I was wondering if you could give me the hard facts about successful homeschooling. No flower please. My husband doesn’t think I can do it because of my temperament and is convinced that homeschooling is what causes premature socialization. (he is comparing 4 homeschooling families and they are all, in fact, socially immature for their ages)
Can you give me some insight?
Thanks Amanda
O.K. LET’S GIVE IT TO HER STRAIGHT AND REMEMBER, ANY COMMENT YOU POST ANY WHERE IN THE HISTORY OF MY BLOG IS ONE MORE CHANCE FOR YOU TO WIN DURING OUR…
BIG MAY CELEBRATION!
Through the innocent ‘lenses’ of a child
Friday, April 25th, 2008
These photos came from one of my son’s ‘moments of genius’ (see April 18th Post) with digital camera in hand . Why five photos of the same blackbird with merely subtle variations in movement? Because this is a boy with an eye for detail, one who truly appreciates and learns from God’s creation most every day. A boy who has the privilege of an unhurried life, a lifestyle which allows him to STOP and ponder the brilliance in what others would consider mundane. He is a very rich boy indeed; a boy whose innocence allows him to delight in simple pleasures. I’m committed to protecting this aspect of his life for as long as I’m able, by God’s grace. This is a precious thing.
I’m suddenly reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 verse 23-26: “Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?????”
Hope you’re having an unhurried, pleasant, peaceful day; filled with God’s wonders. If not, how ’bout tomorrow?
LIFE’S POWER TOOL.
Monday, April 21st, 2008
Today as I was reading in Mark 9, this passage really spoke to me and I thought I’d share it with you. The entire account begins at vs. 14 and generally, it’s about a father who brought his demonically oppressed son to the disciples, so he could be set free.
You can imagine, as a parent, what this Dad was dealing with: a son who was mute; who had seizures at random, foaming at the mouth, grinding his teeth, then becoming rigid and lifeless. Oh the days of sorrow this family must have endured, feeling powerless to effect change in their precious son. The father went on to describe how the boy had been ‘thrown into fire and water’ by the evil spirit, with the demonic intent of destruction…since childhood. What constant anxiety and regular panic this must have caused these tired, loving parents, who suddenly had hope that their son would be unfettered from such debilitating spiritual chains by this pack of godly men.
Unfortunately the disciples couldn’t get the job done and suddenly Jesus showed up on the scene. In verse 22, the father says, “if you (Jesus) can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Sort of like, “um, well, I’ve tried everything else, maybe you’ll be my good luck charm, Jesus, ’cause I’m pretty hopeless”. It appears he’d lost his will to war and to believe for change.
In verse 23, Jesus replied, I believe, with incredulity and perhaps some indignation, with these strong words, “If you can! (Can’t you just imagine Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, King of Kings thinking…well, let’s see, I created the heavens and the earth, I’ve opened blind eyes, fed 5,000 people with a small bag of food, turned barrels of water into wine…”If you cannnn?!?!?!”) But he maintained his composure and our loving Lord then patiently added this:All things are possible for one who believes”.
Did you hear that?
ALL THINGS.
ALL THINGS.
ALLLLLLLL THINGS!!!!!!!!!!
I was reminded of how small we pray and think at times. As I glanced at my current prayer focus list, I was convicted to lift my level of expectation. Instead of confidently expecting Jesus to DO WHAT HIS WORD SAYS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY and those I love and minister to, I can end up lowering my level of expectation, subtly ‘crossing my fingers’ and hoping something good happens. Let’s get indignant about this weak ‘faith’ we’ve embraced, these lies we’ve believed and let’s remember Jesus said ALL THINGS! God does not live in our little boxes and He is not limited by our ‘limitations’. I WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s go after it.
P.S. I have to tell you how much I’m enjoying this new version of the Word this year (see my January 1 2008 post). It’s the ESV and it’s sharp and clear and fresh. I’m planning to order the mp3 and load it onto my iPod as soon as the budget allows. Sometimes a little change will do you good.
Correcting yet again…
Friday, April 18th, 2008
I walked over to the table where my son does his schoolwork – seeing he is an extremely creative and gifted young man, it’s best for him to have a spot of his own, somewhat isolated from any possible distractions, i.e., birds flying by, cars whizzing through the neighborhood, folks taking their daily walks with their adorable canines, which will most certainly stir his genius, causing him to devise a new philosophy of thought, take him to the window for further investigation of a sudden movement, which, along the way finds him looking for a digital camera to capture (in 25-50 different shots from various angles) the new species of bird he has just spotted…he can disappear for hours on one of these adventures.
When I saw his mangled pencil, I knew we shared a common emotion today (poor guy 
) while working on math. Grrrr. One thing I would like to know is, “who designed the math teacher book I am currently using?” It was certainly not a home schooling mother. It could have been 1. Someone wanting to play a practical joke or 2. Someone with an axe to grind. Whoever it is, let the finger gymnastics begin: I must flip, flop, back flip, forward flip…it’s more like a treasure hunt to find the answers…was that problem #1.16 or was that 1.106, 1.016??….maybe that was Self-test 1..or was it Self-test 2? OOPps, funny me, since all grades are the same color (go figure!) I had the older son’s teacher book! Then, tomorrow, I get to correct the corrections the boys have done…one more time; flip, flop, back double flip, flop flop forward, oops flip waaay forward to Self-tests… this too shall pass…TGIF EVERYONE!
"I feel like a zoo animal…
Saturday, April 12th, 2008…eating all these vegetables!” exclaimed Seth Daniel, my fifth-born, as he munched his crunchy crudites at lunch the other day. He makes us laugh. Yep. I’m gettin’ tough around here regarding diet, as I mentioned a few days ago. Now, instead of a pile of potato chips next to the avocado, tomato, onion, cheese on open-faced toasted melt, they find a nice little mountain of fresh veggies. Instead of soft, processed ‘wheat’ bagels and tortillas and pasta, they get to eat the hefty sprouted grain kind (they say the bread’s heavy enough to be a weapon -ha!- they haven’t thrown one at me, yet!) and they’re suddenly finding beans in everything, now that I’ve been reminded of the super-power properties of these colorful little bite-sized wonders!
I was in a whirlwind in the kitchen a couple days ago, mushrooms flying out of their container across the kitchen while I whooshed everything away to the fridge…Seth looked down, then looked up with the biggest grin and said, “Yeah!! Let the fungus fall to the ground where it belongs!!!” (He doesn’t like mushrooms – although ‘picky’ isn’t allowed around our house, I figure that if ’shrooms are the only vegies on the hate-list, then it’s no big deal.)
Happy Saturday! Off to take a long walk with the fam…
"I feel like a zoo animal…
Saturday, April 12th, 2008…eating all these vegetables!” exclaimed Seth Daniel, my fifth-born, as he munched his crunchy crudites at lunch the other day. He makes us laugh. Yep. I’m gettin’ tough around here regarding diet, as I mentioned a few days ago. Now, instead of a pile of potato chips next to the avocado, tomato, onion, cheese on open-faced toasted melt, they find a nice little mountain of fresh veggies. Instead of soft, processed ‘wheat’ bagels and tortillas and pasta, they get to eat the hefty sprouted grain kind (they say the bread’s heavy enough to be a weapon -ha!- they haven’t thrown one at me, yet!) and they’re suddenly finding beans in everything, now that I’ve been reminded of the super-power properties of these colorful little bite-sized wonders!
I was in a whirlwind in the kitchen a couple days ago, mushrooms flying out of their container across the kitchen while I whooshed everything away to the fridge…Seth looked down, then looked up with the biggest grin and said, “Yeah!! Let the fungus fall to the ground where it belongs!!!” (He doesn’t like mushrooms – although ‘picky’ isn’t allowed around our house, I figure that if ’shrooms are the only vegies on the hate-list, then it’s no big deal.)
Happy Saturday! Off to take a long walk with the fam…
Cleaning Out the Cupboards!
Sunday, April 6th, 2008Believing is one thing. Living what you believe is an entirely different matter altogether. For years I’ve believed in eating to enhance and sustain our healthy, strong bodies. I’ve studied nutrition as a hobby/passion/conviction and I’ve implemented lots and lots of good, healthful habits in our home, with our children. But over time, my sharp edge of nutritional conviction has been dulled by the busy-ness of life and the frivolous preference of our taste buds. Some new and not-so-beneficial habits have made their way into our daily menus, little-by-little, until it’s bugged me enough to want to make some radical and consistent adjustments. (key words.) Subtle changes made sporadically, really don’t have any long-term, positive effect on our health. So, here are a few of the ‘kitchen decisions’ I’ve made:
1-white flour is not our friend. From tortillas to toast, pasta to pizza dough, I’m determined to purchase exclusively, whole wheat, whole grain and sprouted grain breads. (I’m open to deviation at holidays) Kids aren’t allowed to complain.
2-oatmeal is our friend. 1/2 cup a day will lower your cholesterol by 2% and keep diabetes away. Topped with fresh berries/bananas/raisins, cinnamon and a little rice milk makes for a perfect breakfast.
3-frozen fruit smoothies loaded with berries, bananas, rice milk, almonds, a little flaxseed oil, yogurt or keffir (without added sugar or sweetened juice) will be an almost-daily snack around our house.
4-fresh vegies love us and we love them! I’m buying all sorts of new kinds and daring breeds; lightly steaming, then putting them into everything and using fresh vegies instead of potato chips at lunch and for snacks. Salads are like an artist’s blank canvas – so much room to roam and create! Wow am I having a blast with all the varieties of greens and complimentary veggies available to purchase in our great nation. I’ll share some combination ideas with you soon.
5. if I stir-fry, I’m trying to use PAM spray and some chicken broth instead of loads of oil and butter.
6. beans are nearly a miracle food. 1/2 cup a day will lower cholesterol by 8% and add a super-fiber food to your body that’s begging for real fiber. My goal is to daily get these into our diet. I’m adding them to salads, pasta dishes, soups, stir-frys, egg dishes and anything else that fits. The broad variety and delicious flavor makes this quite an easy change to make.
7. we love our meat, but I’m aiming to make this a smaller slice of the total ‘pie’ of what we’re consuming. Majoring on veggies, minor-ing on meat and adding lots of fish.
8. processed foods are getting scarce on our table. Macaroni and cheese, potato chips, lunch meat, frozen burritos and breakfast cereal will make the occasional appearance, but for the most part…bye bye.
We are loving this simple and delicious way of eating and I’ll keep you posted and share some more ideas/recipes/results along the way…
