Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Procrastination!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Ahhhh....Monday
My stomach just growled as I typed that.
Love Pizza Hut. Have you heard of the Book It Program? Apparently it's been around for 25 years, but I didn't know about it til we started homeschooling. Keely, Noah, and Lily each used their coupon for a free personal pan pizza, which they think is fun and we think is fun too, as it saves us some moolah.
Parenting Resource
Another Way to Teach Kids Honor
One of the ways that parents can teach honor to children is to include it in the instruction process. You might say, “I’d like you to obey me by setting the table, then I want you to think of something extra to do to surprise me. That’s showing honor. You choose; it’s up to you. Report to me when you’re done and I’ll check your work.”
Surprising parents delights them and focuses on something they want or need. Instructing children to surprise you by doing something extra teaches them to think about your needs and desires not just getting away with the bare minimum. When your child does an extra task, it’s like giving you a gift. Receive the gift with delight. This can be a fun way to teach honor.
Honor involves doing more than what's expected. All family members need to learn honor and children can learn it when parents teach it. So look for ways to teach kids to do more than what's expected in daily life. It will not only make family life better now but it will also help kids be more successful as they get older.
This parenting tip comes from the book Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.If this tip was sent to you by a friend and you'd like to continue to receive tips yourself, you can sign up at www.biblicalparenting.org.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
For My Non-homeschooling Friends
Anyway, I did some thinking about how I should address this delicate topic in a Christlike way. Here's what I came up with.
I like to write, and the thoughts that spill out are about things that I am interested in, amused by, or passionate about. In the latter category, those topics are God, marriage, parenting, living the Christian life, and yes, homeschooling. We each have the responsibility as Christian parents to honestly ask ourselves if we are doing the best we can for our children. Spiritually, first; then in all the other ways. (And really, all the other ways are encompassed in the spiritual, aren't they?) Kevin and I have determined that the best thing we can do to fulfill the commandment to train and teach our children God's ways is by homeschooling them. However, a funny thing has happened to me in the past year or two. The Lord is graciously teaching me something that is incredibly freeing. Let me explain.
We have one particular child who is the police-er of all the other children. Bad manners, hitting, mean faces, stinginess with a toy...you name it, and this child has informed on his/her siblings for the offense. (Bear with me here. I'm trying to protect an identity.) Our constant refrain to this little one is: "Just worry about yourself. Trust us. That's a big enough job for you. "
You see where I'm going here. My job is not to judge anyone or make them feel guilty about their educational and parenting choices. Kevin and I do think homeschooling is best; that's why we do it. But I'll leave your family's decisions between you and the Lord. I'm just going to worry about myself.
Trust me. That's a big enough job for me to handle.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
In Praise of Many Siblings
I am so very grateful that my older children get to enjoy this sweet relationship.
Just A Few Reasons I Love Homeschooling
You homeschoolers know what word I left out! I started to launch into a polite spiel, but swallwed hard instead and smiled.
What better way to achieve 'socialization' than learning to live with 5 other demanding little sinners in a loving and selfless way? Learning to relate to others of different ages, personalities, and abilities? I could go on...but I'll spare you. I am so very happy that my kids will avoid the 'socialization' that includes drooling over the latest boy band, being pressed into the 'popular' mold, being exposed to the filth that I heard on the bus when I was 8.
Many people say that homeschoolers 'overshelter' their kids. Maybe some do in an extreme way. We can't keep our children in a bubble, and even the most vigilant parent can't watch every moment. I know that homeschooling is no guarantee of absolute safety or purity. But I love the analogy of the tender little plant that needs to be sheltered in a warm greenhouse, not planted outside in the middle of a snowy winter day. All of our kids will one day come face to face with evil; that is an indisputable fact. I just hope that when that day comes for each of my children, that they will be strong, mature oak trees, and not vunerable little seedlings.
I See Smooshed Fingers in the Near Future
Friday, November 14, 2008
Pumpkin Muffins
This afternoon Rowan and I made pumpkin muffins: one of our favorite things to have for breakfast. We double the recipe below and the muffins last for 2 or 3 mornings. Roo was so excited to bake with me. I should include the kids more than I do, but I really am trying to be better about letting them help in the kitchen. I've concluded that only one child helper at a time is best. That way the craziness is contained and my 'helper' gets to enjoy some one-on-one time with Mom.
I decided to clean out my terribly disorganized pantry after I put the kids down for nap, and check out what I found at the very back. I just hate it when I do that--it's so wasteful. I probably only use corn syrup two or three times a year, so I guess that's why I always assume I don't have any. At least none of them are name-brand: less money going to waste! :)
I'm including the picture of the kids raking leaves, too. They are out there now, and they seem to think I am a cruel evil mother from below. Imagine! Making them work! I love it! But I did promise them some hot chocolate when they come in...
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
1/2 c. raisins
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3/4 c. canned pumpkin*
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan. Place raisins in a cup and cover with hot water. Let stand a few minutes to plump.
2. In large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, pie spice, baking powder, soda, and salt. Make a well in the center and put in eggs, pumpkin, oil, and honey. Mix just til dry ingredients are absorbed. Drain water from raisins and stir in along with nuts. Spoon 3/4 full into muffin cups.
3. Bake for 18 minutes, or til tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pan before removing from pan.
*If you double the recipe, you'll need exactly one small can of pumpkin.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Little Princesses
Friday, November 07, 2008
Redeeming the Time
Several weeks ago, the kids' bathroom stool broke, but I haven't been able to bring myself to trash it. I was straightening up in our closet when I saw it and pulled it down from the shelf. Four (only four!) little footprints document the fleeting moment when Keely was 6, Noah 4, Lily 2, Rowan, just a baby. So many days seem like a race to keep a handle on life from the moment my feet hit the floor. While I am plugging through dishes and laundry and schooling and cooking and disciplining...the kids are growing.
Some time ago in Sunday School we were discussing the verses in the Bible that compare our life to breath and grass that lasts only for a season. Some of the women seemed to think these verses were a little depressing. To me, they are motivating! Our time, our opportunity to do good and serve God and love others is limited, so we have to get busy! Oh, how I want to remember the brevity of our time here on earth every day. I want that 'heart of wisdom' that keeps the little things that trouble me in perspective.
I decided not to throw the stool away. Instead, I'm going to hang it in my closet as a reminder to redeem these fleeting days.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Postscript: The kids and I went to Wal-Mart this morning, and it got pretty wild toward the end. The lady checking me out gave me the evil eye and I felt embarassed that the kids were all over the place. A bag of coffee that I had in my cart somehow got a hole in it and spilled all over the floor by the check-out counter...and at one point Joseph was licking it off the floor. I know. I tried to remember the stool with the footprints on it...but all I could think of was how I look forward to calmer trips to the grocery store. :)
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Morning Greeting
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Truth
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (ESV)
Monday, November 03, 2008
Urgent Announcement
I just found out that if you come in with your 'I voted' sticker tomorrow, Starbucks will give you a free tall brewed coffee. We may need the caffeine boost to stay awake for those returns!
Update: So...you don't have to vote...you just have to ask.
Learning Fun
Even though I'm not too excited about the election, I am excited when the kids and I get to learn about the process! These are the first lapbooks we've done, and it was a blast! We had some great discussion about politics while we worked together cutting, writing, and gluing. It was fun to hear the kids' ideas of what they would do if they were president (Keely's was: share the gospel with everyone, Noah: ending abortion) and to figure out the date of the first presidential election they'll be able to vote in.
Love this site.