Character Over Academics

"Good moral character is the first essential in a man." ~General George Washington

Our Catherine is working through "The Life of Fred" math book during the summer. The book is perfect except that each lesson lists all of the solutions and answers on the page after the problems, not in a separate teacher's book like what is usual for us. I had reminded her when she began this book that she would have to take responsibility for her own education by not cheating herself by peaking at the answers.

Today, she got 2 out of the 10 of the answers wrong which is not a good percentage around here, but the good news is she obviously didn't look at the answers. I praised her for her honesty, integrity and self-control by not peeking at the answers which in our home is more commendable than being a math genius.

To be the smartest, the most talented, the most popular... these are worldly pursuits and it is easy, even as a Christian, to be enticed and motivated by worldly dreams. However, upright character laid out clearly in God's Word should be the focus of our goals.

After all, Ted Kaczynski was considered a highly intelligent man. Godly virtue he had not.

Of course, we highly prize academic success around here too, but think it a natural fruit of building strong character which is where we hope to focus our training. And, it doesn't happen by osmosis, folks. Here is our family's game plan:

Daily family worship led by their dad,
Christ-centered curriculum derived directly from God's Word,
Reading books about people who exemplify strong character,
Spending time with friends who challenge and inspire us toward godliness,
Providing opportunities to serve others,
Giving lots of jobs that benefit the family

and here is the hard one...

Keeping our children with us (we consider this a full time job) so they might hopefully observe in real time their very own parents exemplifying moral character in our daily walk. I mean what I say that this one is the hardest!

YOU don't think I don't ever want to look ahead at the answers or that I don't ever want to eat my dessert first or that I don't ever feel like giving up on a hard task?!?!?! Believe me... I know its hard. This is why we are on our faces in prayer every day, and... it is why we provide lots of Bible education and books about people who exemplify strong character. ;)

The truth is they see us fail often. We are incapable of raising perfect children because we are far from perfect ourselves. What makes all the difference is that they see a mom and dad who in their hearts desperately desire to love and glorify God in all that we do. Just a mom and dad who desire to embrace God's plan for our family, submit ourselves unto Him and trust that He will raise His children for His Glory.

Okay... Back on face in prayer!!!

Building Boys

In addition to chore training and our read aloud routine, I try to have an engaging activity for my preschoolers everyday. At this age, they seem to enjoy repeating the same activity each day for a week adding variations and new twists to it as we go along.

My just-turned-3-years-old really enjoyed this weeks activity so I thought I would share:


I found a scrap piece of soft pine wood and some small penny nails. I got about 6 nails started into the wood then taught him how to hold the hammer, which was a little too heavy for him, to finish driving the nails into the wood. It took some encouragement at first as he had a few misses then wanted to give up. Hoping to build a little character, I encouraged him to keep trying. By the end of our session this skill was still difficult for him, but he had some success, so I had something to build on the next day.

Each day he practiced hammering the nails and each day it became easier for him. By Thursday he could nail them in quite easily.

On the second day, after his nailing practice, we decided to cut electrical tape and put it on his board. He cut the tape himself, and was quickly bored of it. :)

However, he loved to measure the board with the measuring tape. I placed the tape on the board and counted inches as I pointed to each number. I showed him how to hook the end of the tape measure onto the end of the board. I took a marker and drew the inch marks onto the board. Again, I named the numbers as I wrote them above the inch marks.

We played a game with the numbers. I named a number and he pointed to the one I named. When he pointed to the right number I gave him a tickle. He almost always got them right so he got lots of tickles.

On the last day we did this activity, after he drove a few nails "just like Daddy", I showed him how to connect the nails with lines. He used a marker and connected the nail heads like connect-the-dots. Finally, he personalized the board by drawing what we are calling "fire crackers". ;)

Learning how to use a hammer gave him a real sense of accomplishment and a confidence that he is making progress toward becoming a man like his Dad. He really admires his Dad and has a natural desire to work at his side. I will cherish these times I have with him.

Dominion Over Fear of Pain during Childbirth

The Final Push

Before I had my first child, I had an intuition that God uses the process of childbirth to teach and mold us as women, if we make ourselves teachable and we approach it naturally, according to His design. I have proven myself to be a very slow learner as it has taken FOUR children to fully submit myself to God's will. I have, however, learned a few things about His plan for childbirth and hope to share them in this blog.

A brief history:

Baby 1 was what I call The Works. Like if you go to a car wash a get the Super Max wash. I just laid there while technology ran the show. I was induced 3 weeks early for convenience. I never felt a painful contraction because the epidural was administered and the whole birth was managed. I dilated 1 centimeter per hour on the dot. She was healthy, but small. And my need for a God's provision was completely numbed.

Sensing that something was not right, I wised up with baby 2. I educated myself about the risks of inducing childbirth. I read Dr. Sear's The Birthing Book and Natural Birth The Bradley Way. I was amazed by the complications caused by opting for the easy route. But, with Baby 2, God broke me by teaching me that intentions to go natural alone do not make for a safe birth. Either way, natural or The Works, He would be in control of my labor. Her birth was complicated by an abrupted placenta at 32 weeks. Several ambulance rides to the hospital, strict bed rest and finally an emergency c-section would be the method of her delivery. She was four weeks early, but very healthy. Praise God for the technology WHEN it is needed!!

With baby 3, I worked hard for nine months trying to deal with tensions and fears. During this pregnancy, I read some great books about natural childbirth. One was Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth. In that book, Ina May gave me a vision for the possibilities of a tear-free, complication-free birth. Also, Spiritual Childbirth, which laid out the possibility for a natural pain-free birth by trusting in Christ who has liberated us from the curse. I knew that to have a natural birth with minimal pain I would have to deal with some minor conflicts in my marriage partnership. Dealing with these conflicts would allow hubby and I to be a stronger team as we brought this baby into the world and this would effect my ability to cope with this birth. Unfortunately, I spent the entire pregnancy avoiding these issues hoping that they would miraculously vanish. As expected, my tension, though minor, did affect my ability to cope. I opted for pain relief just as I was entering transition, the hardest but shortest part of labor.
If I would have persevered just a little longer... I was quite disappoint. God was still teaching through it all, revealing and purging disconnections between my relationship with Him, as well as, with my husband.

I was given another chance with baby number 4. Hubby and I worked to make our little birthing team stronger and I spent 9 months (a blessing to have so much time) practicing putting my faith in God. During my toddler's naps I would lay down and practice tensing then relaxing each part of my body. I would pray for God's strength and protection admitting to Him that I could not do this on my own apart from His Grace. I also, peered through pages of the Bible searching for verses to memorize and recite throughout the expectancy and labor. Among them:

¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ~Romans 12:1,2

Each pregnancy has brought me closer to Him is some way, but I feel I am finally getting off of the milk and learning to walk on water with Him on a more regular basis. If I had taken all of the c-section and induction opportunities presented to me along the way, I would have avoided important exercises for spiritual growth. Trust me, it wasn't always easy. I was tempted on many occasions to go for the epidural. As my due date approached, I would plead with God like a baby, asking Him to procrastinate this birth. "Please, Lord, not tonight. I am too tired. I have a sinus cold. I just want to sleep well tonight." I am sure you can get the picture that I am not a perfectly obedient person, but maybe that will improve by facing trials and life's situations head on... I hope????

3 days after my due date I was awakened by gentle but very real and regular contractions. They were 6 minutes apart, but I knew from the sign posts that birth was not close. It was 2 am in the morning when they started, so I tried to settle back to sleep even though I was a little excited. I knew this was it. At 4ish, with a whisper I shared with Vince that it was time. I snuggled with him and for a cycle of every 5 or 6 minutes of rest between contractions I would go into a deep sleep. I felt like I had been asleep for hours, but the clock told me different. This went on all night. As I was aroused by each contraction, I would praise God that He was showing me how only He can give me true rest. He would never give me more that I can handle. He is so good!!

Around 7 am we got up. We shared the news with our children. I ate a nourishing breakfast and drank alot of my special tea brew. I relaxed on the couch, still having contractions and stopping to focus on each one, asking each member of by body to relax and submit itself to my Creator. Our house was marked by peace and joy on the morning of Nov. 20th. Conversation was mostly about what we would name her. We really had no ideas.

Around 11:00 I started moving around more and the labor got moving a little faster. I got back to the couch so I could stay focused and regain dominion over any tension that might try to sneak into my muscles. Contractions were suddenly very close together and strong. I told Hubs I thought it was time to get going to the hospital. The ride was the hardest. It is never easy to relax in a car on the interstate especially when you are in transition, the hardest part of labor. The trip in the car was the only time I experienced real out-of-control pain radiating in my back. I thrashed about in the back seats of our minivan trying to get comfortable. During contractions, I hung like a monkey on the handle that is on the ceiling of our van being quite thankful for our heavily tented windows. Between contractions, I sat on my knees backwards in the back bucket seat hugging the head rest. I was behaving in a very undignified manner- I was loosing it and prayed that we would get there soon so I could relax again.

A Little Rest

Upon arriving, the first person we saw was my doula. Her godly presence immediately strengthened and subdued me. During these moments it is so important to limit ungodly and unlikeminded people who cause stress and frustration. You need to surround yourself with people like Christy. Her life beams of focused fortitude and valor in a feminine sort of way. She and Vince helped me out of the back of the van where I realized that I couldn't walk. The contractions were back to back. As I was being wheeled into the hospital I kept my head down and my eyes closed and thought of nothing but the task at hand, and the importance of guarding against stress and tension. I must depend on God especially in the hard times as He alone has the power to sooth and calm me, and He did.

Sensitive content follows:

A funny- I had an extraordinarily strong desire to lean against the nurses' station and push out the baby, but I didn't. Some how I suppressed that urge as....

I entered my room and darted toward the bathroom. I wasn't in pain, but I felt an intense urge to use the bathroom. I kept telling Christy and Vince that if I could go to the bathroom I would feel better. Well, after being in there for quite a while having what I was thinking must be THE BOWEL MOVEMENT of the century. As it turned out, I was a little confused by my body's signals and finally realized that I was actually pushing the baby down. Oops!! I can see why babies are frequently born in the toilet. I finally came out of the bathroom. It was uncomfortable to lay on my back in the bed. It felt like I was laying on a baby. St. Vincent's beds are equipped to accept a bar, and the nurse suggested she put the bar on my bed. I liked the idea, so basically, I hung from a bar like a monkey for the next 30 minutes or so while I pushed my baby out. I only pushed when I felt the urge, no nurses shouting at me to push. The original plan was for Christy to coach my pushing stage. I would have complied, but I couldn't hear anything over my body urges speaking very loudly demanding my allegiance. I wanted to say, "Speak up, Christy. I can't hear you over my uterus". :)


One time, I got a significantly longer break before the next pushing contraction. Time seemed to pause and everyone seemed to disappear. It was just me and God and He was again showing me that He knows my needs and gives me breaks when I need them most. At this point the head was crowning. I did feel some burning, but it didn't hurt- it was just a feeling. I can see how many would react to the burning as if it were pain. After all, for years we have referred to it as the ring of fire. Sounds dramatic and painful. If you stop, relax and put it in perspective you might decide it is only a feeling. As the next pushing urge came, it was powerful, again NOT PAINFUL, just powerful. I released the bar and grabbed onto Vince's neck. He held me strong as I pushed maybe two more times to deliver our baby. The sun was shining brightly in my room and our baby was delivered into an atmosphere of peace and joy rather than pain and distress. She looked big and healthy to me and I put her skin to skin and nursed her immediately to regulate her temperature.Gazing upon our New Creature

Christy Jenkins, A Wise and Intuitive Doula

Vince said that we would name her Victoria Grace because God had given me grace through this victorious delivery. Jesus was victorious over fear and pain in my life and drew us both into a closer relationship with God throughout the experience.

Victoria Grace Smith
11/20/2009
7 pounds 12 ounces
20 inches long

Sister Love

They who love us till we die,
Who in sorrow have been tried,
Who will watch our closing eye,
When all grows cold beside:
Where shall friends like these be found,
Search the earth and ocean wide;
On what hallowed spot of ground,
Save our own fireside?

~Anne Pratt

One of the benefits that sprang from our isolation on the mission field many years ago was the intense bonding our immediate family enjoyed. On mission, we had no like-minded friends outside of our family. For the first few months, I pitied myself about this. I whined that the girls had no friends, and they were lonely. Well, that was not the truth as the Lord eventually revealed to me.



In a very short time, I began to notice our daughters were NEVER bickering with one another, and it seemed that any unpleasant form of sibling rivalry had dissipated entirely. In fact, the days in our home in the woods, far from society were the setting in which our girls had delightful fun together as sisters. As the Lord would have it, He used this isolation to wean us from unhealthy peer-dependent relationships while growing our relationships with one another on a deeper plane. Even my hubby and I began to depend on and support one another in ways that we had never done before. What a blessing this isolation was for our family. Oh, we spent alot of time with other people on the mission field, but they were the sorts of people, though very sweet, with which we could not share Christian fellowship because of unequal yokement.




Now that we are back there are many friends that come knocking wanting to play. I can tell when there has been too much "socialization" when my children begin to sneer at one another. That is when we scale our social lives back again.

I am certainly not saying that I think it unhealthy to have friends. Friends are a good thing. Rather, I am saying that a ration should be applied here. In our society, we tend to tip the balance too far in one direction. In reaction to some strange fear that we will not be "socialized" enough, we find ourselves saturated with peer-dependent symptoms that reveal themselves heavily in our marriages and sibling relationships. And, on top of it all, we have decided that these unresolved problems or the norm, a standard environment for human development.

Let me just say, Christian, that unresolved problems within your family should NOT be your norm.




If you are having issues in your marriages and with your children, I want to encourage you to take time to isolate and simplify your contacts outside of your immediate families while you make attempts to find resolutions to your conflicts. Get control over your social life, and keep it at moderation levels. We find that we have good control over peer-dependency by homeschooling.

If you are suffering from bitter relationships in your family, than you have no business enjoying great fun with people outside of your family while within, there are sisters and brothers, husbands or wives suffering for love and support. That is cheating anyway. Your outside friends don't see you often enough-- when you are tired or sick or relaxed in your sin nature. It is too easy to be loving and loved during our best moments which we reserve for public display, but God has called us to a deeper love and compassion for one another and we should not avoid these training grounds designed for practicing deeper compassion within our own homes.

Womb Is A Powerful Weapon

"Womb Is A Powerful Weapon"

I love this quote. It could easily become a one-liner for Scriptures like Psalms 127 which say, "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."

Or Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

As the Southern Baptist Convention and many other religious organizations have promoted throughout history, the womb is an evangelical tool. It is a very effective medium for spreading the good news of Christ.

Here is a great article by an unlikely source explaining the quiverful movement, and how the womb could be used as a weapon:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102005062

Chore Badge

Catherine is practicing her violin,
which she does for 30 minutes each day.
You can see her chore badge dangling from her shirt.

A chore badge is a great idea for helping children stay on track when they are going through a list of chores or even a to do list for school assignments. It is an alternative to a written list that is especially better for younger children.

What is it? It is simply one of those clear plastic clip-on name badges I found at Walmart for a little more than a dollar. I cut note cards to fit inside the badges and wrote each item that would be on her to do list on its own card. When she finishes one task, she puts its card to the back of the rest of the cards and begins on the the next task. When she has finished the tasks in the stack of cards, she brings them to me and I can check her work, prompting me to correct and train where needed. This system keep Mommy on track too.

This has been especially good for my child who really wants to please her parents, but gets lured into la la land very easily. The badge that swings about on her clothes is a constant reminder to stay focused on her list.

Since we started this system she has been able to accomplish more in a shorter time period. Now she has more time to go to imagination land, and she has pleased her parents very well!!

I plan to use this system when our little man is older. It can be incorporated when he is very young by using pictures on the cards. I could have one card that has a picture of clothes and another with a tooth brush. You get the picture? :)

Another idea... I plan to have the girls write Scriptures for meditation and memorization on cards that can be inserted into the badges. They will be prompted to review the verse each time they sift through the cards. You could also include other information for memorization like phonics and grammar rules, vocabulary, Greek and Latin roots... whatever!

You can buy an entire system that incorporates this, they call them chore packs. I hope to invest in this system someday. Here is the link: http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1150?review=1

Blanket Training Baby

In the Duggar's new book, Twenty and Counting, Michelle Duggar has shared several good ideas for child training. A few of them I am putting into practice in my house. (I am thinking that if they help her raise up 18 well-behaved little ones, surely they will be beneficial for my 3 soon to be 4.)

I have started blanket training our 16 month old. This is a method of helping him learn self-control, and it forces him into needed down time through quiet play. I have simply picked one of his favorite blankets, one that is not too bulky so it will travel in my purse. During spontaneous moments throughout the day, I pull out the blanket and make a big deal about how it is time for Blanket Time. I tell Aaron that he is a big boy and can sit on his blanket and play quietly. Then I give him one toy that I know should hold is attention for a little while and I sit them both on the blanket. I use a timer that I set for 5 minutes. I will gradually increase the time as he become more comfortable with blanket time. Michelle Duggars children can sit on the blanket for 30 minutes at a time.

Here he is nosing around in the bathroom,
dangerously close to the potty.
HE NEEDS THIS!!

When he is finished, I give him lots of praise for his accomplishment. His sisters are quick to offer plenty of praise too. He like to help me fold the blanket and put it away, and we put away his toy. Maybe this is also giving me an opportunity to focus on helping him learn to clean up after himself, which is an added benefit.

By the way, Michelle's rule is that if they throw the toy off the blanket they cannot get it back nor can they have a replacement. I think this is a good rule.

Aaron seems excited when I get the blanket out, and he welcomes the experience again and again seeming comforted by its familiarity, but after he has been on the blanket for a minute or two he wants to get off. It seems that Aaron likes to play blanket time on his terms, but this is when we help him understand what mommy expects, and how he can develop self-control to follow through. I can see that this will be very good for him. ;)

It will be a benefit for me because I can pull the blanket out during times when I need to focus my attention on something like a project with the older children or food preparation. Pre-Blanket Time days, during those moments that I need to direct attention elsewhere, he would begin pillaging throughout the house pulling books off shelves and bowls out of cabinets making a mess of everything. Yes, this will be good for Mommy as well. :)

A Clean Crib or the Strength of Oxen

I have to admit that I was approaching my quiet time with haste this morning. I thought to myself that I would search Proverbs for a quick verse to meditate on throughout the day. Well, God is merciful. Despite my hastiness, He blessed tremendously.

This is the verse I landed on:
Proverb 14:4 Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.

This verse contains valuable advice to those in business and agriculture. It basically means that the cost of your tools is worth the production gained.

But how about listening to God speak through this verse to moms who are full-time, those who homeschool, even to the who have allowed the Lord to bless them with more children.

Can I tell you that right as I type these words I am surrounded with clutter. There are two hampers with clothes in them, toys scattered about and randomly situated on my coffee table is a handful of cheerios, a rock and stick, and a camouflage hat. Dare I say my crib is not clean?!?



I can sit here and reminisce on the days before we decided to have our vesectomy reversal when I had just the two daughters who are clean and organized and were old enough to take care of themselves. Yes, before our newest little blessing was born our house was usually spic and span. Those days are over, especially as I now have fourth one on the way.

But could the benefits out way the the costs or in this case mess?

The toys in the floor are a sign of new life, a curious and energetic little guy who has much more energy then I. Could God use his new young energy to help a lost one find The Way or to simply glorify and bring joy to our Maker? Maybe he will be a blessing to a young lady as he seeks to lead her spiritually and provide for her. If so, what do a few toys in the floor mean to me?!? The clutter is a clear sign that production is underway, and this is my way that I can serve the Lord by doing my part. Cheerios on the coffee table mean that life is thriving in my home.

This was his project while I was typing this post.
Ripping a paper napkin and putting it in a bowl he got
out of our pantry.

Yes, I am raising up a new generation to worship and praise the Lord for his Goodness and to share this joy with others! (I am getting the vision more clearly now.) When I think on these things the mess... well, it just seems minor.

I have been encouraged by this and I do pray that you will be too. Now, I think I will clean this place up. We will see how long it stays clean. ;)

Spring Break?!?

I need to take a minute to share a secret that I wish others knew. I am not trying to brag, but rather expose something that too few of us know.

My kids do not want to take a Spring Break. It is true! We talked about it and they both said they want to press forward with math and they would read and play their instruments anyway. Though they did not mention it, I think they feel very secure in their daily routine which is another reason they do not want to break it. They are with us all of time, so if the purpose of the break is to spend time as family, well... it is a non-issue here and we should not think that acceptable. Family is the backbone of Christ's ministry and if you have to take time off of what you regularly do to have time for Christ's ministry something is not right. Yes, my husband is away when he is a work, but he is working on behalf of the family and the children and I are here at home working on behalf of the family. EVERYTHING we do is a family operation centered around our home.

They love to learn and do not feel it a worthwhile day unless they are engaged with science, literature, expression through writing, music and so on. Reading, writing and ciphering are play tools that help us enjoy a playground of adventure that the Lord has given us.

If they were in a school situation, I would guess that this would not be so. They WOULD desire a break from the hoopla of what is called "education", that is not any such thing. Real education springs from a true joy of learning. It does not require rewards, bribes or recognition. The reward is the joy that comes from new understanding of the world God has given us, and it is enough to entice us further.

I am so thankful that our children experience true pleasure from being educated. Learning has become our lifestyle, it is who we are. We are learners. Just as we are Christians or we are women. We do not take a break from being Christians do we? or from being women? I should hope not!!!Why would they want to take a break from something that builds them and make them feel deeply satisfied and now is who the are... true learners.

Again ya'll (southern girl talk to emphasize I am serious), my husband and I are not college graduates and we did not enjoy school, yet through our adventure of relaxed homeschooling, though we despise school, we have learned to love learning. Our children are thriving well beyond us. They have out learned us by miles with no end in sight.

If you are reading this, you really need to consider this option for your family.

Apollos, Making Momma Proud

Acts 18

24Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.

25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;

26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately...

27b he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,

28for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Can you imagine the delight of this man's mother as she receives updates on her son's activity and testimony? What bliss it would be to find my son (only have one now) "accurately" and "boldly... demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ."

Christian Mothers, if we truly want to serve our Savior then we should drop the fruitless activities, and get to the business of God's work-- training our little men to become big men of God, equipping them with the ability to witness to the lost by sharing Christ with wisdom. This takes no less than a well-nourished relationship with God through Christ that has been thoroughly dipped, soaked and SATURATED in His liberating Truths.

Let's grab our day planners to evaluate/change our schedules and habits so that our daily pursuits are focused on teaching God's Word to our children, talking of his love and precepts while sitting in the house, walking by the way, lying down, rising up. (Deut. 6:7)

Dear Lord,

How my heart would leap with praises to You if I could someday hear the words of Act 18 spoken of my Aaron?!? Am I willing to give of myself what it takes to raise up a godly group of ladies and men? Help me discipline my life in a way that looks toward my children's future, not being influenced by present patterns or distracted by worldly stuff, but rather uplift me so that I can see Your point-of-view. Uphold me with strength and discipline and strip away my selfish nature so I can find the lasting joy that only comes when serving You through the capacity of motherhood. With Your aide, it is my desire to use these mothering days to their fullest focusing on leading my children toward worshiping You, delighting in Your law, and meditating on it both day and night. (Psalms 1:2)

As I change my baby's diaper, nourish him with my best milk, and gently correct his selfish nature... show me Apollos!

The Project are Coming!!

What is that I hear?...
The sound of school books slamming shut, the children are scurrying about gathering their projects while chanting "Do hard things, do hard things!"

STOP!!!!!

A side explanation for school parents: I am not dreaming this stuff up. This did happen in our home today, and similar events happen frequently in the homes of home-educated families across the nation. You need to know this!

Okay back to my story...

I AM very happy to hear this type of chanting, but I'll have to admit it makes me feel panicky inside because it means the projects are coming out of their closets and drawers. This is scary to a momma who likes to be neat and organized.

With all of this creative ingenuity brewing and stewing around here, mostly in the form of child-led PROJECTS, comes a need for table space.

Being the aesthetically sensitive and dreadfully frugal person that I am, thrift store stalking has been my main strategy for finding attractive and affordable tables to fill the bill. Months have passed by and I have not found what is needed. Plan B--which should have been Plan A--was to look around in our garage for ideas. Here is what we came up with:

This is a plastic foldaway table that my sister-in-law gave me. It is 48X24, the perfect size for this corner in my kitchen. A great spot for Alexey to decorate cakes or for other cooking projects. I plan to make a skirt it soon, and should transform to look something like this:

This is another 48X24 plastic table. I really like this size. I made a table skirt equipped with velcro so that it is detachable. I LOVE that it hides a wash tin which I use to give Aaron baths so the kitchen looks less cluttered. He likes to get under it and play, so it entertains him while I do kitchen work. I use this table to keep produce and homemade baked good out for the kids to snack on. It is also a great spot for my picnic basket filled with cloth napkins and bibs. A real multi-tasker! Cute, too!

This is in our library, and it is where the girls do a good deal of their school work. Looks like Catherine is putting a model covered wagon together. Here I took a large plastic folding table and covered it with some of our maps. I then covered it with a clear shower curtain and voila. They are learning more geography than ever, too. Oh, look... Catherine's glue stick is staking its claim in Oklahoma.

I threw this photo in for kicks. This little fellow loves when the girls rock him in this cradle even though he is too big for it.

Let Us Have an Eye to Eye

Here is something in my life that needs improvement.

Often my children come to me when I am cooking, cleaning, reading, blogging, and I never take my eyes off of my project while I communicate with them. The Lord has convicted me about this. I will stop what I am doing and afford them my full attention with my eyes, hears and my heart.

Psa 32:8	I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psa 33:18	Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.

Apparently, the Lord likes to keep His eye on us as well.

Oh look... here comes a little one now. Time to practice!

Who is the first and best of beings?

This is the first question we are answering in our catechism. Before I read the answer, I like to try to answer it, testing myself on how well I know the doctrine of the Scriptures. This one is easy.

Answer: God is the first and best of beings.

Scripture proofs: Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2

Teach these to your children. These Scriptures are powerful. Knowing exactly who God is can give children a great sense of peace, and bring this into a state of praise and awe for over their Creator. Children praising the Lord gives Satan a first class beating!

I am Catechizing My Children

Well... Catechizing is a practice that has been familiar to those of the past, but it is not so common these days, at least not that I am aware of. In History's past, children studies catechisms so that they may accurately know the the doctrine of the Scriptures, and avoid deception. Now, I suppose that programs like Awanas are a lighthearted form of catechizing. But, may I dare to point out that these popular church programs are elementary compared to what our ancestors learned and understood.

What is it?
Catechize comes from the Greek word katecheo which is translated "to indoctrinate" or " inform, instruct, teach".

It is used here: Luke 1:4 "That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

And here: Acts 18:25 "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John."

A catechism is a list of questions, their answers and their scripture proofs in a logical order for memorization. We are using a Baptist Catechism that is patterned after the reformed Westminster Catechism. Here is the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/AboutUs/OurDistinctives/ABaptistCatechism/

This is a picture of Prudence catechizing Christiana's children
in John Bunyan's Christiana, Part II of Pilgrim's Progress.

I am interested to know if others are catechizing their children or themselves. If so, which one are you using and why? Please comment.

To Godly Women!!

Please understand that I am not posting this as a celebration to myself or even to the female gender. Mostly, I am posting it because Gaius gives a great description of the wonderful ministry of womanhood/motherhood which is barely uttered in these times. Blessed Women, we have lost our vision.

I love this exert by John Bunyan's Pilgram's Progress part II, otherwise known as Christiana.

A Toast to Women (As spoken by Gaius)

Gaius: "Hear me as I speak these few words on behalf of women to take away their reproach, for as death and the curse came into the world by a woman, so also did life and health. God sent forth His Son made of a woman. Yea the women of the Old Testament coveted children, and why? So that they perchance might become the mother of the Savior of the world, and thus help undo the sin of their mother, Eve.

And I will say again when the Savior was come, a woman rejoiced over Him before either man or angel. I read not that a man ever gave unto Christ so much as a piece of bread, but the women followed Him and ministered to Him of their substance. Twas a woman that washed His feet with tears and annointed His body to the burial. They were women that followed Him from the cross and that sat across from the sepulchre when He was buried. They were women that were first with Him at His resurrection and women that brought tidings first to His disciples that He was risen from the dead.

Women, therefore, are highly favored and show by these things that they are sharers with men in the grace of life. Yea, in these days the mother who trains her children for Christ is as truly working for God as is the minister in the pulpit."

Christiana: "Thank you, friend Gaius. Sometimes it seems to us women that we accomplish so little."

Gaius: "Nay, it is not so. Though the results of her work are not apparent, angels of God are watching the careworn mother; noting the burden she carries from day to day.

Her name may never receive the honor and applause of the world as may that of husband and father, but it is immortalized in the book of God.

She is doing what she can, and her position in God's sight is more exalted than that of a king upon his throne. For she is dealing with character. She is fashioning minds."

TO GODLY WOMEN!!