What's the big deal about profanity?

Three letter posts, texts, spoken "words" come at us constantly and have become so ingrained in our daily lives most of us do not even think about them.  I refuse to even put their letters here because they make me think the words that go with them.  They are not just innocent letters. Even now, I apologize if the thought of them makes you think those words.  Words matter.  

"Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."  Matt. 17:17-19

Ouch.  I have used, abused, and spewed out words.  As I get older, I realize the intense power of those words.  And I ponder profanity.  My parents had "rules" - don't say this, always say that, etc.  Unfortunately I learned to obey the rules only, and didn't really understand the reason behind the rules.  It is the kind of thinking when I thought that the Ten Commandments were "don't"s and not understanding that they are all about the difference between our sinful nature and God's Holy One, and that only a loving God would give us rules so that we could find truth. 
and love. 
and joy. 
and eternal life.

Profanity - the opposite of sacred.  I don't want to be profane.  Actually, I desire holiness, sacredness, righteousness, Godliness.  That is the sad part about being surrounded by profanity, the sad part that we are not taught the difference between sacred and profane, respect and selfishness, courtesy and rudeness.  Our culture has trampled on the sacred under the banner of "rights" and "freedoms".  I am thankful for the rules my parents set - we were not allowed to say "dang it" or "darn" because they explained it was simply a more "acceptable" way of using a swear word.  They explained less (if at all) about why using the curse words was profane.  It has been only recently that this hard heart of mine has absorbed the full reality that profanity in any sense is the total epitomy of selfishness.  It does not consider the sacred nature of our own minds or hearts, the sacred in others, the sacredness of what our society could be if it was redeemed by the Redeemer of all.  The profanity of others dirties my mind and heart, but also makes me wonder at why I am not more careful with my words, too.  It reminds me that we are all in need of mercy.  
and grace.  
and redemption. 

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!"  Psalm 141:3

Homeschool Tip #3 - Avoid Addictions

How do you know if you are addicted to something (or some habit)?
Technically, there are several signs:
1 - Withdrawal symptoms - the patient has physical and mood-related symptoms. There are cravings, bouts of moodiness, bad temper, poor focus, a feeling of being depressed and empty, frustration, anger, bitterness and resentment.
2 - Social and/or recreational sacrifices - some activities are given up because of an addiction to something.

3 - Obsession - an addicted person may spend more and more time and energy focusing on ways of getting hold of their substance, and in some cases how to use it.

4 - Denial - a significant number of people who are addicted are in denial. They are not aware (or refuse to acknowledge) that they have a problem.

5 - Excess consumption - in some addictions, the individual consumes it to excess. 

Now why in the world do I bring up addictions related to homeschooling?  Do I think the pressures cause some to revert to drugs or alcohol?  Well, possibly, although I have yet to come across anyone yet.  But I do know of a significant number of homeschooling Moms with an addiction problem - addicted to electronic communications, that is.  They absolutely cannot go more than 15-30 minutes without checking their phone (see point 5 above - some cannot go more than 5 minutes).  Many cannot plan or implement a lesson without hours and hours on Pinterest.  Many are so tied to facebook that they constantly change their minds about what they are supposed to be doing based on what others have (or have not) posted.  More time is spent on perfecting an Instagram photo than was spent on the art project itself.  

Yes, addiction.  Addiction to data.  Addiction to electronics.  Addiction to wanting the "perfect life".  I've been there, done that.  And as a recovering addict, I can easily see the symptoms in others who have yet to realize that they are either addicted to social media, pinterest, electronic "communication" (I use that word in quotes purposefully), or just the need for instantaneous gratification by posting every move they make to try to get validation of their work.  or worth.  or acceptance.  Believe me when I tell you - it's a sad life with lots of wasted time.  

Why do we blog, post, instagram, tweet?  To get attention.  or validation.  Forgetting all the while that we are never worthy.  But the Creator and Master of the universe loves us anyway.  So much better than 500 "friends" hitting the "Like" button or 2,000 people retweeting our comment.  Enough said.  I have to get back to my recovery meeting.  With my Mentor.  HE is also my role model.  Let's help each other to recover by pointing each other to the One who wrote the code of our lives.  He's always ready to help us over our addictions.  

Become as little children

Some time back I read a book entitled "Waking the Dead" by John Elderidge. The scriptures he quoted really spoke to me about how I need to seriously make sure that my heart, my whole heart, not just my head or part of my heart, is revived by the Lord. Then this morning in Matthew 18 I was reminded of Mr. Elderidge's chapter about becoming like little children. Now revival and being child-like may be two different topics to you but it is clear to me that the main reason I don't allow Christ to rule in my whole heart is my unwillingness to become child-like. Time and again the absolute best things that have happened in my life have been when I have turned over control to the Lord. So why do I fight what I know is the best? My insane desire to be in control, to be the decision-maker, to be the thinker, to be... well, un-child-like. Untrusting. Unyielding.

So today begins (again) another day that I will pray for that child-like faith. And today (again) HE will be there to awaken my heart from its cold slumber of selfish sleep. Praise the LORD - every day HE will be there to re-awaken it as long as I live. And maybe somehow each day will take me one step closer to being a child - a child who willingly, unhesitatingly, trusting and obeying without question places my heart and my path in His nail-scarred hands.

Update on "Gardening Proverbs"

A friend asked me to re-post my "gardening proverbs". Since the Lord has continued to grow me through farming and gardening, I have added some new ones, too. Enjoy!!

Little weeds (sins) are easier than older, bigger ones but both need to be pulled out all the way to the roots.

Some weeds get so entwined with the flowers that you have to take extra time and care to gently pull them.

Nothing will grow without daily nourishment of food (God's word), water (God's Spirit) and nutrients (fellowship with others).

A flower bed of many varieties and colors is more beautiful than one of all the same flower (the church).

Flowers are faithful to follow the light - am I?

Some weeds pop up and seed out quickly, reeking havoc of all within a short while if not dealt with quickly.

Some trees grow slowly and are tender for a long time but produce amazing amounts of fruit later and longer.

Some plants are beautiful but do not have a sweet fragrance or produce fruit or seeds.

Seeds need lots of loving care to grow into production.

Only God can bring rain and sunshine, warmth and soil to the earth. Our imitations are never as good as the real thing.

It is not ours to choose which trees produce early and which late, which ones grow quickly or slowly, which ones are more hardy in drought or resistant to disease. It is ours to choose whether to water and nourish and care for all of them daily, carefully, lovingly, diligently and with hard work and sweat of brow.

We can complain about the weather or production or problems or we can praise the Lord for the harvest both now and to come.

During the early years the trees need to be staked and tied to a secure post.

Sometimes you have to dig out the old stump before you can plant a new tree.

Fruit is sweeter when it is watered with the sweat of your brow.

A Master Gardener can tell the difference between a weed and a flower. He will teach you to tell the difference, too, if you will listen.

Weeds grow best in flower beds.

Talking about gardening is easy. Chopping, hoeing, weeding, watering and tending to the garden in the heat and rain and wind and sun is hard work.

Some plots have better soil than others but with care each can produce something.

The sweetest melons and grapes are grown when they have been put under stress.

There is an amazing joy in sharing your seeds or young plants with someone who will grow them.

Hybrid plants do not produce viable seeds.

For best flowering, cut off the dead parts.

Everything needs pruning sometime.

Only a miracle can turn a weed into a fruit-bearing plant.

Blessings at church

We are truly blessed every Sunday with the wonderful teaching at our church. My husband said a few months ago that he felt like when we left the church he had just had a huge steak meal where he had been so used to milky baby food for so many years. Now that doesn't mean we've never had good Biblical teaching before, but just not so deep and consistent as now. Nuggets from last week:
Is. 53 passage in Sunday School - 1) Jesus is the propitiation for us, not the expiation - (Rom. 3:25, 1 John 2:2) HE paid the price for our sin in full, we are not/will never be punished for our sin; we are viewed by God as if we were totally sinless, had never and will never sin because when He looks He sees His Son's righteousness in place of our sinful soul. Doesn't this just knock your socks off??! WHY would a Holy, blameless Son of God die in agony for a wicked selfish full-of-sin sinner like me? One who not only sinned grossly before I accepted His salvation but can't even go a day, sometimes not even a minute, without sinning even after I try to comprehend His ultimate mercy and love and sacrifice! Unbelievable, but yet true (Rom 7:14-25).
2) Jesus chose to die. He who created the world as the Father spoke it into being (John 1:3) , knowing the world He created would turn its back on Him, knowing He would be mocked and flogged and spat upon and rejected and tortured and hung on a cross for people who can't even comprehend His love (1 John 4:10) and mercy - He chose the cross anyway. For me...!
3) Yes, we will have troubles in this world (John 16:33). It is a fallen, sinful world full of fallen, sinful sinners. But our troubles are never punishment for our sins. They may be consequences of them, but not punishment from God (Is. 53:5-6). The only way to rid the world of sin would be to wipe it (including all of us) out completely, but God couldn't do that because it would be against His very nature of love and mercy (Ps. 86:15). But He can't allow us as sinners to live with Him either because HE is Justice (Ps. 7:11). So the only choice is to die in our place. The only choice for Him, the only Way for us (John 14:6), to be covered by His righteousness.
4) We cannot sin against another human being. We can hurt them, we can cause them suffering and pain and even death by our choices but the only way to sin against someone in the real sense of sinning is to rebel against their sinless being, and there is only One who is sinless. "Against you and you only have I sinned" the Psalmist so aptly says (Ps. 51). This is eye opening for me. No one on this earth can sin against me because I am not sinless myself. They can hurt me, they can cause me grief or pain or heartache or misery or poverty but they cannot sin against me, and I cannot sin against them. Every sin I commit is against my God and my Savior alone, the same one who chose to die for me, who chooses to love me in spite of my wicked soul. Oh, to live every moment aware of the fact that it is all about HIM, all for HIM, all sustained by HIM, all for His glory or for nothing. If I could just remember that how much easier not to sin against Him. Oh, to love Him more, to do as He has said in His Word, to think on HIM, to strive to truly worship Him. That would be a life worth living.
Praise be to God for His servants who have so clearly divided His word of truth.

Am I a "Princess"?

Recently I had the chance to complain about share my experiences about someone that has been somewhat frustrating to deal with lately with a friend who has a similar case she has to deal with daily. In our conversation, I realized that we both were describing the people who were frustrating us so much as being "a princess". Now, mind you, these are both older women we were discussing (yeah, even older than ME!) and they deserved our respect - but sometimes it's just plain hard!! Anyway, I was greatly convicted of being judgmental (as well as disrespectful) and after having confessed with my partner in crime sister that I was wrong to vent, and most of all wrong to even have those frustrated, judgmental thoughts to begin with, I then proceeded to ask the Lord to reveal to me if I was being "the princess" in my own home/family/circle of friends. [I love calling my daughters "princesses", but you know the difference between "princess" and "prince-hiss" as well as I do.] And of course, looking in the mirror is so much harder than looking at others, so yes, I had to admit that often my own motives, actions and words are purely selfish and not the least bit considerate of others. It's frustrating to have older women who not only fall short of your "Titus 2" expectations but are simply harder to deal with than your preschooler, but I am so far short of the "Titus 2" ideals myself that I have my work cut out for me right here and now. I do want to be a Daughter of the King, just not a "princess". And the only way I know to try to be such is to quit looking at others and focus on the One who I want to be more like. Only with HIS help can I quit being the wicked witch and grow into something more like what my sister and I (and most other women) desire. "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" is one of my favorite hymns and now I want to make it a daily prayer. Keep me accountable, will you?

From my garden to yours...

Those of you who know me know exactly what I've been up to lately. Up to my ears in cucumbers, squash, plums, blackberries...... and loving it! Last week was plum jam, this week is blueberry preserves and sweet pickles, next week will be blackberry preserves, dill pickles and purple-hull peas (my favorite!).

A friend asked me to repeat some of my gardening thoughts that I had on my old blog. One reason I love gardening (vegetable and flower) is that it is such a sweet time with the Lord. Here are some reasons why:
- No matter how much attention I give to certain plants they just seem to resist wanting to bear fruit/flower. Reminds me of my own heart....
- Many weeds look pretty but soon take over and seed out new weeds and so they become a real nuisance. Reminds me of my own sins.....
- I can now recognize some weeds and flowers that I didn't know before. The Master Gardener knows a weed from a flower or fruit even from its seed....
- It takes a lot of sweat and toil to pull weeds. Do I really work at getting rid of old habits and sins?.....
-The vegetables are sweeter when you have toiled over them yourself. ...........

Weddings and Widows

Amidst the daily life of gardening, cleaning house, reading to my children, laughing, and everyday things, there are tucked those special times to stop and celebrate life. Monday night my daughter's former college roommate had a Wedding Shower. Like most, it had lots of good friends, good food, good presents. But it was even more special to me because I got to see several old friends that I hadn't seen in some time, including a wonderful friend who was recently widowed. Her life is such a witness to everyone around her, even during troubles and pain. Her dear husband loved the Lord dearly and had spent his life teaching preachers from his brilliant mind and humble heart, and had touched many, many lives, especially during his long battle with cancer. My friend's smile is amazing and her peace in the Lord is visible to everyone. She has always had a love, knowledge and skill with flowers and as she shared a very special bouquet (tussie-mussie) with the bride-to-be, she shared the meaning of each flower and vine included, each one as a reminder of what true marriage with the Lord as head of the family actually looks like. Some that I remember are ivy - eternal, friendship; dianthis - steady; rose- passion; daisy - innocence; oak - faithfulness, fidelity; rosemary - spice of life; dusty miller - work; and many more that I do not remember. It was a beautiful bouquet and a wonderful reminder of the fact that true marriage is between 2 people and one Awesome and Faithful God who can create and mend anything! This dear woman of God shared all this in a very loving and fun way when it has been only a matter of weeks since she lost the love of her life. What a wonderful testimony to all of us! Thanks, Cindy - what a privilege to know you and love you as a sister in Christ!

Cardboard Testimonies

Prayer Requests

Today, won't you please join me in praying for:

1 - Our troops across the globe, in particular Josh, Cory and David (sons of friends) - safety, peace for them and their families.

2 - The Japanese girls that Audrey has shared the gospel with who have not yet made a decision - hearts to be opened in God's perfect timing.

3 - A Macedonian friend of Mandy's who is so close to accepting Christ - that all barriers to her acceptance be broken down.

4 - The 26 year-old brother of a friend at church who has massive brain lesions and does not know the Lord - that Christian medical workers be put in his path and that he would open his heart to the Savior.

5 - A homeschooling friend who just lost her 34 year-old sister-in-law to cancer - that her brother's heart would be comforted and that he would have Godly wisdom in helping their children (ages 6 & 2) deal with the loss of their mother.

6 - An outreach ministry that is helping single mothers deal with daily stress - for wisdom for the leaders to know how best to help and for Christ's love to shine through in every circumstance

7 - For those in the Southeast devasted by the tornadoes - for comfort for those who lost loved ones and practical needs to be met for homeless.

Thank you -

America's Idols

Why do we all love to watch American Idol and see those who have no talent but think so highly of themselves? Why do we all want others to get the "fall" their pride deserves but never want to get it ourselves? False humility is deceitful but so is false pride. And that's probably our nation's biggest problem - false pride. And it begins --- (I swallow hard here) -- with me. How can the nation's pride problem be fixed if I don't truly humble myself on my knees before a Righteous and Holy and Awesome GOD? Today I began a new commitment - to really, truly commit to daily humbling myself before God. Hold me accountable, will ya, because this old prideful heart is mighty strong. Thankfully GOD is stronger if I will just rely on HIM and not on myself (again).

"None are so empty as those who are full of themselves."
- Andrew Jackson

A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
- Proverbs 29:23

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
- Deut. 8: 11- 14

Christmas Ponderings

We finished reading "Jotham's Journey" today (yeah, two days early but we just couldn't wait!) and every time I finish it I am in deep thought about why the King of Kings would stoop to being born in a dirty, smelly stable, live a very rough and poor life, be beaten and scorned and nailed to a cross - for who? For me - who goes about every day as if life is all about me. It's beyond understanding with my head or my heart. Yet somehow something in all of us knows it rings true. This weekend we visit those who have nothing to offer us - just like we have nothing to offer our Savior. Like the neighbor who just had her husband leave suddenly wiping out her bank account and taking everything of value, including her heart and self-esteem. Pray with us that each person we visit will understand that the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is a gift we can never buy or work for but is free and ready to be given.
And it's for people like me who go about as if life is about me.
He loves us anyway. He proved it on the cross. He offers a new life to us and the empty tomb showed His Power to make that offer.
Amazing.
Messiah. Immanuel. Redeemer.
Hope for the Hopeless.
Healer of Broken Hearts.
Savior.
LORD.
JESUS CHRIST.

Warning: Not for "tickled ears"

Last Sunday in our church our pastor (who is very soft-spoken, humble, quiet) got pretty riled up as he proclaimed that we want everything FROM Jesus except Jesus Himself. How true - for me, anyway. I love the new hymn "In Christ Alone" and I've determined that for me focusing only on Christ is a full-time job without adding the second job of judge or jury for others. During this week those words have rang in my heart again and again - here's where I have heard their chorus:

On Monday a friend and her 2 teenage daughters went to hear Josh McDowell and he stressed to the parents that they need to not point only to the Bible but more importantly to the author of the Bible - the Word Himself. What good is looking to the Bible if you don't see the author who is Creator, Savior, Redeemer, King of Kings, Jesus Christ Himself in it?

On Tuesday I ran across this quote tucked away in my prayer journal - one of my favorite quotes - "Jesus is something to you but is HE everything?" from E.M. Bounds.

On Tuesday I also glanced at Jimmy's blog and found one of my favorite hymns - "Be Thou My Vision" - the essence of desiring Christ in every particle of my life.

On Wednesday I got a devotion forwarded to me from a dear friend who is serving overseas in very difficult and dangerous situations and the message was from 1 Cor. 2:2 "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
Period.
Amen.

Missionary Monday

"Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier:
to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." Matthew 9:2-8

Which is easier.... which is easier.... which is more visible.... which is totally invisible and nobody can confirm or deny? Hmmmm..... yesterday in Bible Study and again in Worship service I kept hearing this theme. And I thought of my blog. No, really, I did! I thought of the verse about "Go Home and Tell" and how hard that was for me. I wanted to be more "visible" than a stay-at-home homeschooling Mom. And sometimes it's easier to imagine that we would be great missionaries in China or Bangladesh or Iran or..... but we're just not being honest - or at least I'm not. If I can't do the invisible, unseen things, the things that are harder, the things that no one else can verify or confirm, the things that aren't "important" in the world's eyes, how do I think I could do the task of witnessing anywhere in the world, especially under great hardships? It's the things I need to change in my heart that really show whether I am genuine in my faith. The things no rabbi or neighbor or even family member might ever know. But it's those things Jesus came to die for me for. Not so I could be honored as an outstanding humanitarian or even a good Christian worker or parent or anything else others see. It's the forgiveness of the awful darkness that fills the depths of my heart - that's the miracle more amazing than making a lame man walk - that's the miracle that's worth telling everyone about. That's the miracle worth me changing bad habits and selfish ways for. That's the miracle available to every man, woman and child on the face of this earth. Forgiveness of sins, no matter how many, how often, how unseen. May I never forget that miracle as I meet the dreariness, the hopelessness, the hurt and pain in other's hearts. Never. Wherever. Whenever. HE is there with that miracle waiting to touch that heart like He did (and does) mine. Amazing, unseen, lovely miracle - forgiveness.

Church Signs

I enjoy reading Dr. Black and his recent post about "Who is Head of Your Church" echoed some conversations we have been having with family members. When on our trip in the mountains we were driving through a small (well not-so-small for the mountains but small compared to many places in the US) town with a "First Baptist Church" sign. It could have been "Main Street Methodist" or "First Presbyterian" but the point was so obvious - the size of letters of the church and the street address were less than half the size of the letters of the pastor's name (which ironically was a paste-on and not painted directly onto the wood :) - so much for permanence!). Anyway, we laughed at the sight but unfortunately it is often only an obvious outward expression of the truth. And then a few days after returning we were in a discussion with some extended family members about two churches we were members of in ages past. Both have suffered severely because of leaders (pastor in one and deacons in the other) who were totally unwilling to confront blatant grievous sin by leaders in their congregation. They called the church "their" church. They told people that they had been there for xxx years and had ancestors in the graveyard and had authority. Ohhh... how my heart aches to think of what they will have to answer to when the real head of the church returns. Beware - any church where you hear it referred to as anything, yes anything, other than Christ's church, be it "so-and-so's church" or "such-and-such denomination" or "the best music church" is a fair warning to watch out. Just a lesson hard learned by this family that we try to share with anyone who will listen. There are churches out there which try to honor Christ alone and above all things - but they are becoming rarer. Look for the signs. All of them. Literal and figurative. The best ones will be invisible except for the Cross, the glory of Christ, the love of neighbors and the humility of all leaders. Hard signs to put up, harder to see but well worth the looking.

Faithful in all things

No, not me. I'm not faithful at all and often think my name is so ironic since I have so little faith. But GOD IS FAITHFUL and once again He has shown it in such unexpected ways. We have been praying about our dd's upcoming roommate for quite a while, and I've had others doing the same, although I'll admit I haven't even been faithful to pray for that like I should have. Let's just say my first roommate experience was an "eye-opener" in ways I'd rather not had my eyes opened to, so I should have been praying much harder. So we were pleased with our dd's roommate when we got her name a few weeks ago because she seemed like a very nice young lady, and I'm sure she probably is, but my daughter doesn't know her. And she was also a little concerned about her ability to concentrate on school amidst a "chaotic" dorm setting (although I think living in a house with younger siblings while trying to do school is even more chaotic than a dorm!). Then early this week my daughter gets an email from a friend from the church we just "happened" to feel led to move to last year and whom she just "happened" to get to know and who just "happened" to be a junior at the same Christian college my daughter is attending (and whose wonderful Christian parents we have known for many years). Her roommate "happened" to decide not to return this semester and she would like our daughter to room with her. It's a one-bedroom apartment on campus, same price as the dorm but much more private with their own bathroom and kitchen. Housing has OK'd everything with no penalties or problems and at the same price as the dorm and we are just in awe of how it just "happened" - when really we know that it didn't just happen - God works out all the details. How can the same God who holds the millions of stars in His hands, twirls the earth on its axis, causes the sun to shine exactly at the right temperature, counts the sparrows that fall, How can He have the time and love to orchestrate the timing of something as small as this? And yet HE does. Unimaginable. Love greater than our hearts and minds can wrap around for sure.
Love without any end or any hesitations or any boundaries. And we (me) of little faith see once again how faithful HE is to answer all our prayers in ways above and beyond what we can ask. Amazingly Faithful.

Devotional.....

Tonight at our Homeschool support group meeting one of the dear Moms gave a "smashing good" devotion comparing Noah and homeschoolers. I wouldn't do it justice but have asked her to write it up for our newsletter and if she does I will post it here as well. In the meantime, just chew on the words "and Noah walked with GOD" and these - "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." For over 100 years. Before he saw the flood he was preparing for. With lots of ridicule. Working while he witnessed to those around him. "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." ALL - ALL - not just part of it like I want to do... ALL.

School Prep....

We're getting ready for school and I have had a few people emailing me about curriculum choices. We've sort of "been there, done that" with a wide variety and my answer is always that dreaded one - - "It depends". New homeschooling Moms don't want that answer, they want THE answer and are always a little disgusted or at least disappointed when those of us who've been there, done that don't say "Oh, the perfect curriculum for you is ______". Sorry. But after 12 years I still don't have the perfect one for us, and wouldn't dare to presume to know the perfect one for you. It seems that the longer I homeschool the less sure I am about curriculum, but it's not why you think. It's because the longer I do this, the more I realize how very little curriculum choice plays into the overall results of homeschooling. I realize that there are just a few years to train children (yes, I meant to say train and not teach because that's the difference between parents and teachers). Teachers teach (or try to), parents train (or try to!). As homeschoolers we try to do both. Character isn't found in a curriculum. It can be reinforced with good literature, especially the Bible of course, and good biographies or even good fiction, but it has to be trained. That's why I don't focus on curriculum as much as I used to do. I know I have too much to learn about being a trainer to waste too much time on textbooks. Yeah, they're important. But my role as parent is even more important and my role as a learning, sinning, forgiven, loved child of God is the most important. Sometimes as task-oriented as I am, that's too easy to forget. I'm glad that conversations with new homeschooling Moms recently have reminded me of the real reason we homeschool. My personal goal for this school year: try to remember the most important role and everything else will fall into place. (I know it will take a lot longer than a school year, though!)

What a blessing!

THIS post blessed me greatly. Especially the thought that my mother and father have both been cancer free since they left this earth and went HOME to their LORD! Isn't that a great thought?! How blessed to have Christian parents. What could be more precious?

Book Report 14

Last week I read two more books while in a waiting room during my hubby's outpatient tests. His results were great for everything surprising even his diabetes doctor - a good witness of prayer to the doctor and others! The books were both by David Jeremiah - "Slaying the Giants in Your Life" and "The Things That Matter" (a very small but worthwhile book). I'm blessed to be able to check these out of our Public Library. "Slaying..." rates at least a 9 out of 10 for me. I like the readability along with constant tying back to scripture and the layout of the chapters makes it easy to pick up and put down if you don't have a whole day in a doctor's waiting room to read (one of my main reasons for enjoying Max Lucado's books is that they are great "bathroom" reads for busy Moms). "The Things That Matter" is about a 7.5 - good information, quick read, worthwhile but not quite as dynamic, in my humble opinion, as several other books I've read lately. Here's a poem Dr. Jeremiah quotes in "Slaying.." from the chapter about Worry. Something I need to be reminded of very often!

My name is I AM.
If you live in the past,
It will be very hard,
For I am not there.
My name is not I WAS.
And if you live in the future,
It will be very hard,
For my name is not I WILL BE.
But if you live in the present,
It will not be hard,
For my name is I AM.
-Anonymous