Saturday, August 31, 2013

Decisions, decisions

For some time now I have been toying with the idea of splitting up this blog; putting my political rants in one blog, Bible studies in a second, etc. I am finding myself posting stuff on facebook that would be more appropriate for a blog devoted to each subject. So, when we get back from our upcoming camping trip, I think I will do that. I will have:
  1. A Bible blog. I will begin with discussions of the evidence for a young earth, plus maybe some of my work on my commentary on Revelation. (beginning to end in one fell swoop:-)
  2. A political/culture blog. Just cause I need to vent somewhere.
  3. I already have a blog devoted to herbs. I'll increase my posting there to correspond with my daily studies.
  4. A health blog where I post what I learn in general health news. Actually I already have one; I just don't post there.
  5. A Mommy blog for everything else. The question is, should this last one be split even further?
    1. Childbirth
    2. Homeschool
    3. General life/ journaling.
I would post on each of these a lot of what I am currently posting at FB.

Should I keep this blog as my mommy blog/journal? Or just start everything new? Hmmm.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Camping

Today we need to start getting ready for our annual camping trip. Mostly, today, that will mean making the shopping lists. We will go twice before leaving and need to have both lists made and all the coupons pulled. I can't hardly wrap my brain around it. Can't wait until I can go back to normal lists and shopping.

Not that I don't enjoy camping. Other than kindles (which I count as books) no electronics are allowed. So everyone actually visits and enjoys each other and God's creation. Even if we could afford something else, I would want to go camping. I just enjoy being out in nature with my family.

We will do more cooking this time. Uncooked food is cheaper, healthier and, most importantly, takes up WAY less room! Since Whitey (15 passenger van) is broke (bad tranny) we will be going in my parent's Brownie (12 passenger van). We loose a whole seat of space:-( Brownie does have a bigger trunk, but there will be three people per row instead of two which makes it a good deal more crowded.

We use a rook rack with roof bags for the sleeping bags and tents. We have a luggage rack that fits in the trailer hitch for the ice chests and miscellaneous stuff that is too awkward for inside. Everything else goes under and between seats.

We pack light.

We haven't decided where we will go this time. Just anywhere out of the smoke!








We live about an hour away from Reno. We haven't seen the sun in days!Photo: Rim Fire - near Yosemite National Park 

STATISTICS
* Started on August 17, 2013
* As of 8/26: Burned more than 160,000 acres
   (that's more than 250 square miles - about the size of Chicago)
* Largest fire in the history of the Sierra Mountains
* 7th largest fire in California state history
* more than 3,700 firefighters on the scene
* sadly, only 20% contained
* CA Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency

The city of Reno (where I live) is in the direct path of the smoke plume. We have had unhealthful air quality for more than 5 days. Today (Tuesday 8/27) was the worse. I actually had to take Joey to the doctor for respiratory problems today. He will stay home from school tomorrow. I bought him a humidifier tonight so he will rest more comfortably.

Pray for the firefighters and families who are more directly affected by this fire. It's a real bad one, folks.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Joshua is beginning to say English words, but he does an amazing amount of communicating with sign language. Baby Einstien videos have really helped!

I printed a new chore chart today. Yes, just one (instead of one for each child). This one is for the whole family, since a good many of the chores are the same no matter who it is.

I devided the chores into divisions:
  • Soul
  • Body
  • Bedroom
  • Family
  • Mind
This should make it easier to remember what needs to be done.

Under Soul is
  • Read your Bible
  • Pray
  • Journal
Body is
  • Brush teeth
  • Shower
  • Clean undies
  • Dress
  • Brush hair
  • Exercise
  • Fix your water
  • Take Vitamins
Bedroom is
  • Make Bed
  • Neaten Shelves
  • Neaten clothes (including putting up laundry)
  • Clean room
Family is
  • Room zone
  • Food zone
  • Pets
  • Garden (each child has their own plot)
Mind is
  • Practice Piano
  • Practice a  string instrument
  • Practice a wind instrument
  • Neaten school drawer/box
  • Sharpen pencils
  • School
This is actually done with clip art instead of words for the non readers.

I am checking into what I can do to make a bit of money.

Back up a bit:

God has given me a number of books that I have self published through Lulu.com. They are not selling very well at all (I give away far more than I sell). They just aren't doing anyone any good if they aren't selling. I would love for my books to be helping people.

Of course, my family could use the money too.

I do make a salve and powder for family and friends that I have thought of selling, too. Partly to help those who need/want more natural products and partly to give us a bit more wiggle room with our finances.

So I'll be checking a few things out.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Yes, Christians should judge | The Matt Walsh Blog

Said much better than when I tried.

Yes, Christians should judge | The Matt Walsh Blog

fox in socks Phonics

I have a child who is having a bit of trouble reading. Part is my fault. I was a bit overwhelmed when she was at that ideal window to learn and just couldn't teach her. Part of it is ADHD. Whatever.

The last few days I have had her just pick a few baby books off the shelf and read them to me. Among today's selections was "Fox in Socks." (abbreviated version.) She did great! It's a hard book, sometimes, even for those of us who know how to read:-) It is the best, most entertaining and memorable way to introduce all the ways to spell each sound!

Mom has her last radiation today. Yeah! Glad that is all over with.

Mom and Dad are going to the AB of C conference this week. Next week they are trying a new group's conference.

Meanwhile, we are going camping next week. Dont' know where; just out of the smoke!!!

Need to find someone to care for the animals while we are both gone.

Looking forward to changing to the Robinson Method of homeschooling. Les work for me, more interesting for the kids, and just what I would tell someone in my position to do:-P

I need some livestock. I am much happier with very big pets in the backyard.

I have been reading "Overwhelmed" a book by several homeschooling moms who have faced hard times and what they did about it.  Very interesting. My story could easily fit right in with the rest.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

rough draft for foundations 2?



What about the children?

There is a great deal of biblical support for the family to be the main educational unit in a child’s life and for a child to receive an exclusively Christian education;
Deuteronomy 6:7, “Teach [My Words] unto your children talking of them when you do your errands in town, rest in the evening, get ready for the day, and do your day’s work.” (In other words; Every Waking Moment.)
Ephesians 6:4, “Parents, don’t frustrate your children to anger, but bring them up in the education and culture of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, … And teach [My Laws] to your children and your grandchildren,”
Deuteronomy 11:19 “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Jeremiah 10:2 “Thus says the LORD: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;…” (Don’t even know about what goes on in the unsaved culture)
Psalm 1: 2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates DAY AND NIGHT.” (This includes school hours).
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing EVERY THOUGHT into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (Even math thoughts)
Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Luke 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained (finished with his schooling) will be like his teacher.” (and if his teacher isn’t a Christian…)
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, …
Matthew 16:23 “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not MINDFUL OF THE THINGS OF GOD, but the things of men.”
Colossians 3:1 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Matthew 22:37-38 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
The Effects of Non-Christian Associations
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (Christian kids do not bring their unsaved peers to the Lord very often. Not even in Sunday School, much less the God-free public schools.)
Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Remember that “the fool says in his heart there is no God.” Ps 14:3-1 So anyone who walks with, or spends time with, someone who doesn’t acknowledge God is on the path to destruction.)
The Content of True Education
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (What more do you need from an education?)
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (True education BEGINS with the fear of God; the fear of God is its foundation. But atheists despise true knowledge.)
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” (The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Our schools are lacking the very foundation of wisdom or knowledge.)
Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Psalm 119:97-101 “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.” (The Bible is what makes us wiser, not degrees on the wall)
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Matthew 6:33 “But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS (including a good education) shall be added to you.”
Children Belong to God
Ezekiel 16:21 “that you have slain MY CHILDREN and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?”
When asked whose image is on the tax coin, the people answer (Matthew 22:21)
“ ‘Caesar's.’ Then saith He unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”
Caesar’s image was carved on the money. Render the tax coin to Caesar.
Our children are carved in the image of God. Give them to God, not Caesar.
We cannot be surprised when we send our children to Rome for their education and they come out Romans. [1]
We cannot be surprised when we use Rome’s methods in our Sunday Schools and we find our churches to be ineffective.

God charges parents in these verses with providing His children that He has entrusted to their care a Christian education and culture.
Ephesians 6:4, “Parents, don’t frustrate your children to anger, but bring them up in the education and culture of the Lord.”

The church is charged with helping the parents, not taking their place with Sunday School and not ignoring them when life prevents them from homeschooling. It is the church’s job to help the parents achieve God’s commands in their lives.
Why?
1. God is capable of speaking to our children without a Sunday School teacher’s help. We don’t need a High Priest anymore. We can go straight to God ourselves and that holds true for our children, too.
Children treated like adults by being left with the adults to worship like adults will grow up with an adult faith.
Children taught on a “child’s level” will always have an immature faith, if they even stay in church.

2. When we do things different than God’s plain spoken will, God will not bless it.
There was a time when every believing family had devotions at breakfast and suppertime every day. The USA was born in these households.
Then came TV. Now we “don’t have the time.
And anyway, their youth leader/Sunday school teacher is doing that stuff.”
It is the church’s responsibility to teach the parents and the parent’s responsibility to teach the children.
Doing it God’s way makes the parents learn better and faster, bonds the family together and has more lasting results.

3. Children’s programs remove the father from headship over the children. In fact, since most of these programs are staffed by women, it feminizes them making our boys see religion as a “girl thing.”
No wonder our churches are now mostly women!

4. Age-segregation creates adult-a-lecents; “children” who never grow up.
It creates its own subcultures within each age group and looses the wisdom of the previous generations. This is why the increase of people in their 20’s, 30’s and even 40’s still living with Mommy.
How Our Church Works
Everyone worships together (From our 94 year old grandma to the babies). Then someone gives a basic Bible lesson to the children, but in the sanctuary with everyone else (many adults need these lessons as much or more than the children).
The parents bring quiet toys or books for the littlest ones to use during service and diligently teach them to be still.
Older children are encouraged to listen and take notes on the sermon.
Youngers learn from olders, olders get perspective from youngers.
Singles, marrieds and retireds aren't that different. They all are learning how to serve God to the best of their ability with what they have, helping each other.

Regular fellowship outside the church is encouraged (“I'm going out to eat and then the park after church. Anyone want to come?” “I'm renting movies Friday. Why don't you come over and watch them with me?” and of course “Sister Smith needs her front lawn mowed and her house painted. Let's go do that Saturday.”)
The church is structured like a family and functions like an extended family. This provides more cohesion in the church and more accountability to individuals. There is more available wisdom to all of us, and more security that we are loved and not just an assignment.
It is the difference between a fast food restaurant (TC) and a community (FIC).

Family devotions are encouraged.
It is the parent’s duty to teach their children.
The church helps parents to learn to teach their own children at home.
After all, even the best Sunday school program can’t counter in one or two hours everything a child picks up during thirty or more hours of school plus time in front of the TV, (though we also strongly encourage parents to take full responsibility for their children’s education through homeschooling.)

What about new converts who don’t know enough to teach their children?
It doesn’t take a theology degree to read a chapter out of the Bible and pray each evening. We teach new converts that they should come to church regularly and tithe. We just need to add “read your Bible to your children every day.”
The family can learn together.

What about children who come without their unsaved parents?
They can be “adopted” during the duration of the service by one of the established families in the church.
They can learn from the same sermons and songs as everyone else and be encouraged to start reading the Bible daily for themselves (as we all should anyway).
They are encouraged to ask questions and are given resources as needed. Honestly, this makes us work even harder to connect with the parents and get them to God.
Won't Children Disturb the Service?
“Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
When we exclude the children from “real” church, we are also excluding the Kingdom Of Heaven.
Very young children can be taught to sit still in service. After all, they are expected to sit still for a whole three-hour kindergarten class and often sit through two-hour movies. They are capable of doing the same in church. They just have to be taught.
Additionally, the congregation needs to become more tolerant. Children are part of God’s kingdom.
Conclusion
Children who grow up having family devotions, learning the Word at the feet of their father and worshiping with their families have a more realistic view of God’s relationship to the church.
When children grow up with a Christian education, they grow up knowing that God is in every aspect of life.
When children grow up worshiping and learning with adults, they grow up knowing that religion is for adults.
They also grow up knowing how important God and the Bible is.

When we follow God’s plan, we get godly children.



[1] Rev Voddie Baucham, The Children of Ceaser https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lq_tcyPV7Vg

Monday, August 19, 2013

All's fair

We went to two fairs last week with a night's camping between. Beautiful country, beautiful weather.

We have noticed that since the economic downturn there have not only been fewer animals but a smaller variety. So sad. I enjoy seeing the different breeds.

The Yolo fair did have a nice herd of Milking Shorthorns. Had to have been around 1600lb each! SOOOOO beautiful!

We would love to have live stock again. I feel better mentally when I do and I know that at least one of my children does too. Besides, the weeds are taking over. We need some serious "weed eating" done, preferably by the all organic, self propelled kind of weed eater with automatic fertilizing attachment.








Almost have the reading list done for the Robinson method of homeschooling. Had one child pick a book off it today. I think it will be better in many ways.

Need to figure out what I am doing for spelling, though. I am a horrid speller, so I have no trust on this subject for any curriculum really. Don't know what a good speller looks like at each age, either.

I think I will have Jon (15.5) copy the Bluedorn's "Encoder/Decoder" and then read "The ABCs and all their tricks." These books have helped my spelling more than anything else. Joe (14) will probably also go that route.

The problem is the little girls (12-6). Do I just wait until they are old enough for these books, maybe making them practice words they miss in other writing, or do I continue with "All About Spelling" that I've been using this year? I like it's rule-based format and the way the teacher's guide is laid out. I DON'T like that the children's boxes with spelling words and phonograms keeps getting spilled making us start all over:-P And the teaching style doesn't really fit me and I knew that when I bought it.

Maybe I could tweak the program. Hmmmm. Have each child copy each rule in a notebook. Then I test them on their new sounds, rules and words. Any they miss go in the notebook to practice until they pass them. Hmmm, It's a thought.

We do need to go ahead and start writing. I got my older kids blog addy's today. I haven't had a chance to really look them over yet, but the articles look way too short. So I need to add in paper writing, too. Do I start youngest to oldest or the other way around. Decisions, decisions.

Monday, August 12, 2013

How come there is ever so much research and "setting up the new (month old) computer" that NEEDS to be done when I'm not in the mood to do what I SHOULD be doing?

Honest, I will get the sermons from the last three weeks up soon. (on a side not, it's not entirely my fault. My new computer is a snob and won't rip the cds the sermons are recorded on. Trying to work around that....

except I NEED to set up evernote and I NEED to get my phone talking the new comp and I NEED to finish the family cookbook and I NEED to.....)





anyone ever use evernote? what did you think?

 

Friday, August 09, 2013

Time to catch up

Been a while so:

Beginning to think all of our colds and flus for the last couple of years are allergies. I have been watching the pollen count on an app on my tablet and notice that "colds" come and go with the tree pollen. Now that tree pollen is down and  weed pollen is up, symptoms have changed.

Now what? I don't want my dc on perminant meds, but I don't want them misrable either. The number one "natural" cure for allergies is raw, unfiltered, local honey. I do have a source (the man who butchers our animals for us), but since he is just getting started, he doesn't have enough for us. I need to check some other sources out, though expect they will be expensive.

Mom has 10 radiation treatments left. Yeah! Almost done with this.

Dad is looking much better. I was quite worried about him for a while. It turns out his teeth have been bothering him. Mom has been buying softer cuts of meat and chopping his veggies finer and he is eating more, his color is good, and he has more days with energy.

Coupons are discouraging. Yet, I do see a tiny bit of difference. Due to planned camping trips this month I need to keep the grocery bill very low (and still, somehow, buy the more expensive food for camping). I know I won't have to spend any money on toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, or a few other things during this time because coupons+sales have allowed me to stock up my cupboards (stocking up is an essential part of couponing, disaster preparedness, and tin foil hat conspiracies). I guess that is a benefit, though too small for my impatient self.

Got my brother married off- twice. They came up here in June and had a small wedding since mom and dad simply weren't up to going down south in July, when they had a big wedding. They just got back from their honeymoon and are gearing up for the school year (He's a high school special ed teacher).

The unemployed ladies in our church found jobs. Now we just have to get the men working...

Nearly every street in our neighborhood has at least two houses for sale/empty. Recovery? Where?

I have come to the conclusion that no homeschool method is perfect. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. So I need to switch around every couple of years to get my children the best, right?

Ok, I'll admit it. I get bored and need a change every so often.

This time I think we'll try the Robinson Curriculum. Dr Robinson and his wife decided to homeschool for religious reasons, moved to 100 acres in Oregon, set up his lab (he's a chemist, she was also a scientist and his lab assistant), and had six kids. Becasue she didn't know if they would always have enough money for curriculum she assembled everything they would ever need to teach all their dc all the way through 12th grade.

Then she died.

With 6dc, 1 1/2-12 years old, a science business, a home and a farm to run, Dr Robinson couldn't do what most of us hs moms do and sit with our dc holding their hands every step of their education. He began by having them do a math lesson a day and worked from there. Eventually he and his children scanned all those books into a computer, produced a 22 cd set which they now sell as the "Robinson Curriculum." For $195 you get all you need (except math books) to educate an infinit number of children k-12. Good deal!

I have read their whole website, "liked" them on facebook, and joined a couple of yahoo groups. I understand now how the whole system works. I was also able to get a list of the books on the cd's.


Know what? I don't like them.



Oh, some of them I do. I've read them to my own children. But the list is obviously what a woman living rural Oregon in the 1990's had available to her right then. We have so much more available now! (My oldest was born in 92 so I am quite familiar with what was available then compared to now.)


So I'm making my own list. It is made up mostly of what I have at my house, my parent's house and our church library. Oh, and Kindle. I threw in some books from "real book" type reading lists in the areas my list might be a bit weak.

So far the list is 8 pages, two columns, 14pt areil font.

Guess I had better cut that down some.