by Anita Doran
I want to be the special potter,
Who molds and shapes my little daughter.
To keep her closely to my side,
To teach her why our Jesus died.
I think that she is doing great,
Especially since she's only eight.
She shops, she bakes, she mops the floor,
Has two cats she's responsible for.
She can read a product label
To see if it's fit for our table.
I teach her all about life, you see,
As she tags along with me.
And no matter where we roam,
We keep on learning, just like home.
We add a little mystery,
By learning the state's history.
Although she reads and writes and sings,
She's learning more important things.
Like love and kindness and God's word,
How to be humble, yet still be heard.
Sure it's hard and I have doubts,
"Am I doing this right?" "How will she turn out?"
And my house gets such a mess!
Too many papers strewn, I guess.
Sometimes frustration rears its head,
She didn't do what I said.
Yet, all in all, it is a charm,
To have my daughter on my arm.
If I ever have a doubt,
I get our big old Bible out.
In the book, I always see
That this is how it's meant to be.
Side by side, day by day,
Teaching her the Godly way.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Why We Homeschool
First, I would like you to write down 3 reasons why you started homeschooling.
Next, I want you to think back to when you purchased your first curriculum, what was important to you?
Now, I want you to think and be honest with yourself. Does your homeschool mirror the 3 reasons why you started homeschooling?
I believe there are a lot of us that can say we are caught up in the academics and social lifestyles and we forget why we chose to homeschool. We may tend to skip bible and get right into math because we just want to get through the lessons as quick as possible. We may try to rush, rush, and rush because later on we have to get our children to Karate or we have to clean up because the piano teacher is going to be coming.
Are your days or weeks overwhelming? Do your children “Love to Learn”?
A friend of mine stated that her co-op class of all girls was asked the question “Would you want to homeschool your children?” Would you believe that 75% of them said “No”?
You now have to ask the question “Why?” If you asked your children today “Would you want to homeschool your children one day?” How would they respond?
Are they going to say “No, my mom always complained about how hard it was? She was always going, going, going. She never had time for a board game because she was too tired.” Or are they going to say “Yes, that was the best experience, Mom would take us for Nature walks and we would bring home specimens to study, mom read us some great books about history adventures, and sometimes we would play math bingo.”
What are they going to say? What kind of memories are you imprinting on their minds?
Are you so overwhelmed that it is breaking down your family? Are you signing up for too many obligations? Are you pushing the academics so much that your children are grumbling?
I think some of us have the enemy on our shoulder whispering in our ear “You have to keep them busy, you have to keep them socializing. Oh, and don’t forget you never did English today, you need to catch up.”
I love the way the book “The Well Trained Mind” approaches this. She writes about positive socialization through family based and interest-based activities. Through this she tells us not to be afraid of being alone and slowing down.
“A measure of solitude can develop creativity, self reliance, and the habit of reflective thought. Socialize, but don’t crowd your schedule so full that the child has no time to think, to sit and stare at the walls, to lie in the backyard and watch ants crawl by.”
Are you giving yourself quality time, for you? Charlotte Mason wrote,
“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in ‘wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye – she would let them be.”
Let us not forget why we choose to homeschool and why we homeschool through this ISP.
Jesus –His Word
Freedom
When teaching the necessary subjects, we have the freedom to spend one whole day in the bible or take the time to go for a walk and enjoy studying God’s beautiful World. And if we have studied for 3 to 4 hours and still did not get to that last subject, it’s ok. We can get to it the next day, without playing the catch up game.
“We can get too easily bogged down in the academic part of homeschooling, a relatively minor part of the whole, which is to raise competent, caring, literate, happy people.” Diane Flynn Keith
I am not suggesting going home and canceling all of your activities. I am asking you to ask yourself “Am I spending quality time with my children in the Lord?” And “Do I give my family, and myself, time to ‘lie in the backyard and watch the ants crawl by?’”
“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn” John Lubbock
Homeschooling is our ministry.
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5
Next, I want you to think back to when you purchased your first curriculum, what was important to you?
Now, I want you to think and be honest with yourself. Does your homeschool mirror the 3 reasons why you started homeschooling?
I believe there are a lot of us that can say we are caught up in the academics and social lifestyles and we forget why we chose to homeschool. We may tend to skip bible and get right into math because we just want to get through the lessons as quick as possible. We may try to rush, rush, and rush because later on we have to get our children to Karate or we have to clean up because the piano teacher is going to be coming.
Are your days or weeks overwhelming? Do your children “Love to Learn”?
A friend of mine stated that her co-op class of all girls was asked the question “Would you want to homeschool your children?” Would you believe that 75% of them said “No”?
You now have to ask the question “Why?” If you asked your children today “Would you want to homeschool your children one day?” How would they respond?
Are they going to say “No, my mom always complained about how hard it was? She was always going, going, going. She never had time for a board game because she was too tired.” Or are they going to say “Yes, that was the best experience, Mom would take us for Nature walks and we would bring home specimens to study, mom read us some great books about history adventures, and sometimes we would play math bingo.”
What are they going to say? What kind of memories are you imprinting on their minds?
Are you so overwhelmed that it is breaking down your family? Are you signing up for too many obligations? Are you pushing the academics so much that your children are grumbling?
I think some of us have the enemy on our shoulder whispering in our ear “You have to keep them busy, you have to keep them socializing. Oh, and don’t forget you never did English today, you need to catch up.”
I love the way the book “The Well Trained Mind” approaches this. She writes about positive socialization through family based and interest-based activities. Through this she tells us not to be afraid of being alone and slowing down.
“A measure of solitude can develop creativity, self reliance, and the habit of reflective thought. Socialize, but don’t crowd your schedule so full that the child has no time to think, to sit and stare at the walls, to lie in the backyard and watch ants crawl by.”
Are you giving yourself quality time, for you? Charlotte Mason wrote,
“If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in ‘wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye – she would let them be.”
Let us not forget why we choose to homeschool and why we homeschool through this ISP.
Jesus –His Word
Freedom
When teaching the necessary subjects, we have the freedom to spend one whole day in the bible or take the time to go for a walk and enjoy studying God’s beautiful World. And if we have studied for 3 to 4 hours and still did not get to that last subject, it’s ok. We can get to it the next day, without playing the catch up game.
“We can get too easily bogged down in the academic part of homeschooling, a relatively minor part of the whole, which is to raise competent, caring, literate, happy people.” Diane Flynn Keith
I am not suggesting going home and canceling all of your activities. I am asking you to ask yourself “Am I spending quality time with my children in the Lord?” And “Do I give my family, and myself, time to ‘lie in the backyard and watch the ants crawl by?’”
“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn” John Lubbock
Homeschooling is our ministry.
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Gratitude
In teaching my children at home there are certain character traits I wish to instill. Recently I have noticed a trait in which I am not satisfied with in my younger boys. I am witnessing an "I want" stage. They received a large some of money from their Grandparents for their birthday. They were excited and felt blessed, however, I started to notice something I did not agree with. They would go onto the Internet shopping for what it was they "wanted". Then, I went on and purchased it, had them pay me for it, and all is well, right? No, after receiving the item the excitement only lasted for that day. That evening they were up shopping for what it was they were going to get with the rest of the money. Then, after that came in the mail, we jumped into Grandma's pocket and she told them she would do a half and half deal. If they saved up their money, Grandma would match it. Suddenly my boys were on the computer day and night, anytime they had a free moment, deciding what was next. I did not like this at all, there was no appreciation in their blessings. There was no gratitude towards God. I do not wish my children to get wrapped up in this "I want" stage. I prefer my children to have the gratitude that pleases God.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision of tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie
I have made the decision to have my boys write a gratitude journal. It is a way to train the mind to constantly look for reasons to be grateful. I will encourage the boys to record things they are thankful for. Discussions surrounding the positive aspects of life and especially seemingly negative situations will help the children learn to focus their minds on the good things.
My prayer is my children will grow to "Delight In Simple Things".
Learn to like what does not cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like people, even those who may be different from you.
Learn to shelter your wants simple.
Refuse to be owned and anchored by things and opinions of others.
Learn to like the sunrise and the sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, the gentle fall of snow in winter.
Learn to hold heaven near and dear.
Learn to love God, for He surely loves you.
~Author Unknown
"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk in Him, having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude." Col 2:6-7
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision of tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie
I have made the decision to have my boys write a gratitude journal. It is a way to train the mind to constantly look for reasons to be grateful. I will encourage the boys to record things they are thankful for. Discussions surrounding the positive aspects of life and especially seemingly negative situations will help the children learn to focus their minds on the good things.
My prayer is my children will grow to "Delight In Simple Things".
Learn to like what does not cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like people, even those who may be different from you.
Learn to shelter your wants simple.
Refuse to be owned and anchored by things and opinions of others.
Learn to like the sunrise and the sunset, the beating of rain on the roof and windows, the gentle fall of snow in winter.
Learn to hold heaven near and dear.
Learn to love God, for He surely loves you.
~Author Unknown
"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk in Him, having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude." Col 2:6-7
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A Child's Faith
A few weeks ago I took my children to see a new friend, this was our first visit at her home. My children enjoyed every moment especially the Labrador. My son thought this dog was the "coolest dog ever". Later that evening he continued to tell us how he loved that dog and wanted a dog just like that. He would pray that evening for a Labrador and continue to pray daily. Well over this last weekend we celebrated his birthday and the boy's prayer was answered.I had went for my morning walk with my Beagle and suddenly a dog came out of no where and started right at me. I then noticed this tall dog was a Labrador puppy. I asked the neighbors and no one knew who she was. I continued my walk with her right by my side, she would not leave me for a moment. As I returned and walked in the door my son laid eyes on her and instantly fell in love. Of course, my mind said don't get attached she belongs to someone. However, she had no collar and had not been fed in a while with dehydration. I then realized when I was on my walk I saw two other posters "Found Yellow Labrador"and "Found Black Labrador". Still, no one has claimed these puppies, it looks as though someone has dumped a litter of 6 to 8 month old pups. My son continues to tell us that no one is going to claim her because his prayer was answered and this Labrador is a birthday present from God. Wow, I look at his faith and am reminded of Mark 10:14-15
"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
To have his faith, the unconditional trust.
The trust and unfailing confidence of a child in his father to direct him, as well as provide protection - and the child's only responsibility is to hold onto his father's hand.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Prov 3:5-6
To have the mustard seed faith.
The child is like a blank slate, whatever is written on that slate he will embrace. When he hears the words of Jesus "nothing will be impossible for you." He believes with no questions.
"...if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." — Matt 17:20
If we're not careful to guard our hearts, the devil will slither in to poison our minds with disappointment, failure, and regret. These doubts will trap us from the freedom that comes from taking God at His Word.
My prayer is for you and I to live with the faith of a child. To teach our children to guard their hearts and keep their incredible faith.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" Mathew 7:7
Blessings,
Cherie
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
If I Had Known
- If I had known that teaching my children would be so much fun, I would have started homeschooling sooner.
- If I had known my children were going to grow as fast as older women said they would, I would have treasured our time together even more.
- If I had known that my son was going to become an archeologist and dig in the dirt for a profession, I would have never worried about removing the stains when washing his clothes.
- If I had known that all my children would go on to receive college degrees, I would have never second guessed my curriculum choices and teaching abilities.
- If I had known how unimportant it was to keep a spotless house, I would have gone to bed on time instead of spending countless hours cleaning, organizing, and tidying up for the next day.
- If I had known how living on one income would build a solid faith in God, I would have gladly lived with less without all the complaining.
- If I could only experience the thrill of one job to last an entire lifetime, I would homeschool my children all over again.
Lord, I lift up a grateful heart of praise and thank You for all my homeschooling joys. As we begin a new school year, please help me appreciate the benefits of homeschooling even more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
~Daily Focus
Alpha Omega Publications
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Morning Prayer
Here we are, starting the new year. My prayer this year is to stay focused. One thing I changed at the end of this last year was my prayer time. Wow, what a blessing it has been. For the last few years I would pray for the Lord to wake me in the morning so that I may spend time with him. Every morning he would keep his promise and gently wake me, however I would look at the clock and apologize, knowing he would forgive me and fall back asleep. For the rest of the day I did not feel complete, I felt guilty. And of course I struggled through my daily tasks.
"Whenever I happen to be prevented by the press of duties from observing my hour of prayer, the entire day is bad for me" ~Martin Luther
Can you relate? This last year I would awake between 5:30am and 6:30am and spend an hour or 2 in prayer and Bible readings. Yes, if you asked me a couple of years ago I would of argued with you. Way too early! Although I have been completely blessed. The Lord has blessed my days with my children. I am so much more relaxed through the day, Thank you Lord!
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last the remainder of the day." ~E.M. Bounds
Jesus, our example, practiced morning devotions.
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day. He went out and departed into a solitary place, and then prayed." ~Mark 1:35
My prayer this year is that the Lord continues to rise me early every morning so that I may enjoy His beautiful morning in His Word. Also, that you will come to rise every morning with me and spend time in our Lord's Word together. Your day will be blessed!
"The morning is the gate of the day, and it should be well guarded with prayer. It is one end of the thread on which the day's actions and strung, and should be well knotted with devotion. If we felt the majesty of life we should be more careful of its mornings." ~Charles Spurgeon
Take this challenge with me, pray the Lord awakes you in the morning to spend time with him. Before we sit down and teach our children and take on the daily tasks, spend time with our Father.
"Don't pray when you feel like it, have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees." ~Corrie ten Boom
In His Name,
Cherie
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