Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Grace's 1st High Point Show

My profound thought for yesterday...

Growing up has been fun (even through the hard times now that I can look back on them.) But this "getting old" thing, I'm just not seeing the fun in it at all!

Monday, May 10, 2010

A piece of advice I'm heeding on this Monday...

"... if you homeschool - your children MUST BE obedient and compliant otherwise you will not have the control you need which will cause you to "NOT" be able to guide, direct, and make them overall do their work, leading to an unsuccessful attempt which will likely end in failure - (sorry to be so blunt but this is serious business), their failure means that their future is affected negatively, closing doors of opportunity in their teen and adult life, and possibly even sending them to find "bad things" to help them cope, or even getting in with other "failed" people ending up in the "wrong crowd." One element that you have mentioned that demonstrates that homeschooling will likely not work, is that your child "won't do sports" showing that your child has "control" and in this situation the parent MUST be the one in control."
From Susie
www.TruNorthMusic.com

Thursday, May 6, 2010

GOD's PURPOSES for yourself & your children

Have you read any of the Thomas Jefferson education books? http://www.tjed.org/ I got them from our library and enjoyed the philosophy. In a time when our country seems to be erring in education and politics - I want to do my part to encourage my children and others to look at our TRUE history, heritage and teach our children about the great leaders who went before us in times of hardship. As our last 2 sons have learning struggles I can lose my VISION, get discouraged in thinking that they won't or can't be leaders. I must remind myself daily: GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH of US!

Directing my children in a PURPOSE THAT WILL BRING GOD GLORY is my homeschool goal. As He has placed desires, talents, motivations and gifts in each one of us - my aim as mama-teacher is to help my children discover them so they can be God fearing, Christ centered, responsible and independent adults.

Our 2 daughters are very artistic - 1 from my womb & 1 through adoption. Our now 28 year old created and sold the wood crafts she designed, cut out and painted in bazaars by age 12. By 11 had consistent paying babysitting positions. This month she will end/close her 2 successful preschools when they are finished for the school year, as they will have 3 daughters under 3 in Aug. 2010. She got her ECE and AA degree by 20 She interned at our mega church's children's ministry, employed there after that, spent 3 months in an orphanage in India, worked in a Christian school preschool and then ran her own preschools. (She also has no high school diploma - a concern for some homeschool families but it hasn't hurt her in any way.)

Our very artistic 14 year old sells her WoolyWoofs (see at http://woolywoofs.blogspot.com/ or Etsy or Facebook)
on her own and in a local store. She receives special orders and as 1 person purchases one, another order comes in. She gives horse riding lessons to younger girls at our barn.

When our children dream - they need to see that dreams can become reality. They need to get a chance to be entrepreneurs! We don't spend a lot on curriculum but invest in things that will encourage our children's interests. We go to the library or bookstore to get books & DVDs on the subjects that they're inquiring about. Any ways we can encourage their God given dreams & let them soar! We must build & encourage a 'working' heart/mind/body in a day in age when many youth are unmotivated to do anything but play video games. We need more Christian led self-employed businesses!

I leave The Purpose Driven Life where I can easily read little blurbs from it as encouragement for me and my children. Even though it seems like we have no idea what direction we should go with our homeschooling or directing our young - we can TRUST that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US! I love Romans 8 from The Message - That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Have a super day - dreaming & "entrepreneur-ing" with your children!