Tag Archives: marriage

Jan1

Some of my favorite homeschool resources

Posted on by
Standard

Image

Ok, so the above quote really doesn’t have anything to do with curriculum or resources, I just like it. Homeschooling can be stressful at times but overall if you can stay home and be with your kids, learning together, playing together, imagining together, I’d say that’s pretty awesome. I’ve been doing this a long time, and did I do it perfectly? Nope. Could I have done more? Maybe. But honestly, I have and am doing my best. And I am thankful that when I started I had some great books that encouraged me, challenged me, and taught me about this lifestyle of learning at home.

More important than learning about the mechanics of home learning i.e., curriculum planning, record keeping, etc., is laying the proper foundation with your marriage, training your children to be obedient, and managing your home. Here is a list of books I love that helped me do just that.

Marriage and Family

The Shaping of the Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot

The Christian Family by Larry Christenson

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Child Training Tips by Reb Bradley

A Woman after God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

To Train up a Child by Michael and Debbi Pearl

Hints on Child Training by R. C. Ryle

The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle

If I had to pick just one marriage book, it would The Five Love Languages and if I had to pick just one child training book it would be To Train up a Child. Do I agree with everything written in To Train up a Child? No. The greatest thing that I took from that book was to be consistent in my discipline, to be firm and always follow through, and to make sure that there were many opportunities to strengthen the cord of love between myself and my children. If you have never read it, don’t quit halfway. Read it in its’ entirety and it may help you as much as it did me!

Home Management

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn

The Messies Manual by Sandra Felton

Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield

Clean Team’s Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley

Debt Free Living by Mary Hunt

“How to” Homeschool

Dumbing Us Down by John Gatto

How Children Fail by John Holt

Beyond Homeschooling, Abundant Living by Diana Waring

The Three “R’s” by Ruth Beechick

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Learning in Spite of Labels by Joyce Herzog

Home Style Teaching by Raymond and Dorothy Moore

The Successful Home Schooling Family Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore

Educating the Whole Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

You Can Teach Your Child Successfully by Ruth Beechick

The Christian Home School by Gregory Harris

Homeschooling for Excellence by David and Micky Colfax

The Christian Home Educator’s Curriculum Manual by Cathy Duffy

Mary Pride’s Big Book of Home Learning Series

The Ultimate Guide to Home Schooling by Debra Bell

Anyhoo, this is my list of oldies but goodies. I pray 2014 is great year for you and your family!

Image

Advertisement
Jul18

homeschooling

Posted on by
Standard

We have always taught our sons at home. When we moved to New Orleans, our mission field, we couldn’t afford private school and we didn’t even think about public school.  The decision also coincided with me quitting my part-time job and staying home full-time.  It has been 20 years, we now have two in their Master’s Degree programs, one is a college junior and the other a highschool junior.  I have learned a few things along the way but here are my top five.

1. Your marriage is priority.  More important than curriculum, more important than extra-curricular activities, more important than your children. Children will learn best in an environment where they are secure.  And nothing brings security like a mom and dad loving each other and by God’s grace walking in His direction.

2.  You teach, not the curriculum.  Curriculum is not as important as you think. Initially everyone spends way too much on it.  The fact is you can’t teach everything, that’s why there’s google : ) If money is tight, a library card and a love for learning will get you far.  Instill a love for learning, cover the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic, throw in life learning and discipline and you’ve got the start of a future productive citizen.

3. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing. Every family and home is unique.  Trust me, everyone struggles trying to get it right.  Don’t waste time thinking about how you feel you are failing and falling.  Look up, you can do it.

4. Absolutely make them do chores and don’t feel bad. Children want to feel needed.  They want to be an integral part of the team.  Instilling the idea of teamwork, that it’s not all about them, in turn trains them to be future leaders.

5. Finally, let go.  You’ll know when it’s time.  You can’t keep them home forever and you shouldn’t want too.  Your homeschooling season is just that a season.  You are more than a homeschooling mom.  It has been a wonderful part of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything but I am also a daughter of the most High King and he has plenty of other opportunities for me.

As I look to this next school year, I am excited and thankful that this journey is not quite yet over but already other areas of ministry are overlapping and I know that He is preparing me for the next season.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, I will do my best to answer honestly and prayerfully.

Mar5

underwear

Posted on by
Standard

Dear young lady at Wal-Mart with the Victoria Secret white sweatpants.  I am not sure if before leaving your house, you actually took a minute to evaluate your outfit.  I asked my son if he happened to see you and thankfully he did not.  I am not sure I would have liked him noticing your black, distinct underwear.  When I mentioned them, he graciously said maybe you did so on purpose because you might be single and desperate.

————————-

Raising sons is not easy, raising sons to respect women and value them and not look at them as sex objects is getting harder because so many young women are buying into the lie that their worth is tied into them being deemed “sexy.”

I am training my sons that the women that catch their eye have His beauty inside and out, that “sexy” is between a husband and wife, and that one of the greatest gifts God gave man and woman should be unwrapped on the wedding night.

———————————–

Mar2

just say ok, ok?

Posted on by
Standard

My guy is a dreamer.  In a big way.  This has not always been easy.  Saw this today by @LysaTerKeurst, “better reactions will lead to better relationships.”  I wish I could tell my 25 year-old self to first say ok to every idea my husband told me.  Yes some were fear inducing, as in “let’s move to New Orleans with three small children and no income, to follow the call of God.” Saying ok, is an exercise in faith.  Does it always pan out? Not always.  Does my husband value me and my opinion? Of course.  I trust my husband, but I trust my God more. I used to be so quick to say all the “buts” and “what ifs” and allow fear to take hold.  Now, I take a deep breath, say ok, and wait and see Him working in me, in us and in our family.  So try it, just say ok, ok?