Journeys in Grace ~ Homeschool

Homeschooling Tidbits Week #3 ~Pray continually, Hold on, Persevere, and Have Faith

2013-10-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians chapter 5 is a favorite resting place for me to camp my heart and just absorb God's truth into my spirit. It is a familiar path that I find myself traveling through the school year. Sometimes my memory tends to fade and I need that gentle reminder from the Holy Spirit, a prompting to return to the Word.

Today I want to encourage you to Pray continually, Hold on tightly, Persevere in Peace, and Have Faith in this journey of home education. Some days it seems that you are flying strong, and maybe you have this thing called, 'school' down. Other days, however, you are being stretched thin... sometimes too thin, and cracks appear. Those cracks, even hair-thin, can trickle forth the boiling contents that may have been simmering beneath the surface for some time. And then.... the crack can't endure the tension and gives way to the pressure from the inside and the out causing more damage, and it can have the potential for irreparable consequences.

That is not the plan that Lord has for us to travel, my friends. This road, I have found, can be a bit lonely because it is one I have chosen to walk alone rather than in faith.

Let's look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24~

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

Despise not propheysings.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calls you, who will also do it.

I took the liberty to bold 4 of the verses that jump out at me each time I read it.
Pray all the time, hold fast to the good things, let Him preserve you as you persevere, and have Faith.

This journey to home centered education has been a process of refinement and revelation for me. I can say in earnest that it has also been a redeeming time for me as well. My own education has grown exponentially, and while I value that, it is the grace I have known as I have leaned upon the Wisdom of the Ancient of Days to carry and lead me through my days which has become a priceless treasure.

Some days were more about what I learned rather than marking off the list.
Some days were consumed with life lessons no curricula could predict or prepare for.
Some days were illuminated with the potential of eternal consequences which surpass each and every milestone that I could have anticipated.
Some days were simply days to take one step directly after the other.
Some days were victorious. A dear reward for earnest efforts and consistent prayer.
And some days, were days we had to just get through.

But.. as I look back, again, inwardly wishing I could retrace a few of those steps, what I would never give up is the color of this journey. It has been glorious! I can look back and see the fingerprint of heaven lacing the highlight reel with sparkling beauty. Only God could have forseen what was to come, and only He could have brought us through...completely changed!

Here are a few of the most important lessons I have learned in this living lesson of life homeschooling has allowed to transpire.

~ Start your day in prayer!

Make it a habit to start your day at the foot of the Cross. I have to meet with Jesus before I meet with anyone else in my household in order to be the momma He calls me to be. I will be honest with you, dear friends, there are days I have missed this important necessity. And it showed. You can read about my special place where I meet with the Lord in this post.( Status:Transforming)

As you pray, write down your prayer requests so you can see how God has answered them.

~ Hold fast to Truth!

There are many days where as a homeschooling momma or student that we tend to miss the forest for the trees, so-to-speak. To sum it up ( have to throw some math terms in here for good measure).. we are like the blind leading the blind.

It is so easy to get sidetracked. I get it! Believe me I am preaching to the choir, here, but in truth we need to choose to hold on, tightly some days, to the those good things. This makes me think of Matthew 15:27 and the faith of the Canaanite woman, who saw the scraps which fell from the table of the Master as enough. Sometimes I find I want the whole meal and forget to see the portions that have been lovingly placed before me. In the end I have missed even the scraps.

Keep your eyes on the truth, hold fast to those things that are good. Encourage your children, be encouraged yourself.

A few ways I am learning to hold fast:
Take some pictures of the kids while they are working, or maybe learning w/o even realizing it.
Write down those accomplishments
Make a special meal to celebrate on those hard days.
Sit down and snuggle and read a book.
Dance together in the middle of the day, just to hear them laugh.
Find something to praise them for every day.

~ Persevere in being preserved by His grace.

Grace is such a gift. A blessing in rare abundance we hardly know how to measure it. It is not earned, nor deserved, yet still it is routinely handed to us with joy. God is working out the most amazing plan within the heart of our children, and we tend to get in the way more often than not. We are not called to save them, nor should we truly believe we are at all the source of all their accomplishments. We do, however, have the benefit and the blessing of partnering with the Lord to work out for good, all those opportunities of growing and learning. We get a front row seat to the best show around. These children are my mission field and my prayer has been continually that I would not forget that blessing.

Yet, so many times in my own efforts, I lose sight of the blessedness of perseverance. As we willingly trust in Him to lead and guide us, ( Proverbs 3:5-6), we can trust that our path will be laid clearly before us. He is preserving us as we persevere in Truth. He is preserving the hearts of our children as we persevere in the daily task of teaching and guiding, leading and loving.

Reading some encouraging books to gird and equip you have been monumental blessings in my homeschool journey. Here are a few of my favorites:

Books by Sally Clarkson:
Educating the Whole-hearted Child
Seasons of a Mother's Heart

Books by Leigh Bortins:
The Core
Echo in Celebration

Teaching the Trivium - Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe - Todd Wilson
A Charlotte Mason Companion - Karen Andreola
The Well Trained Mind - Susan Bauer - Jessie Wise
100 Devotions for the Homeschooling Mom - Jackie Wellwood

~ Have Faith.

Scripture tells us that the just live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38, Galatians 3:11, Habakkuk 2:4). Faith comes by the Word of God. ( Rom 10:17) Faith has substance and is evidence. ( Hebrews 11:1) Without it, it is impossible to please God. ( Hebrews 11:6)

And let's remember what our key verse says about God.. He is faithful! ( 1 Thes 5:25)

No matter what, dear one, you are kept so securely in the secret place of the Almighty ( Go read Psalm 31!) and He is trustworthy.

I am learning every day a new way to rely upon Him. He is so magnificent and awe-inspiring that I truly believe all of my days will be filled with new levels of knowing his faithfulness. And it brings me back to my knees in humble adoration.

This last simple, but profound act, of having faith, will resound over and over in your heart as you continue to travel the road of home education. Have faith that he will do what He has promised. He can be trusted to fulfill his promises. ( Hebrews 10:23)

Know in the very depth of your heart that He is escorting you all on this journey and He is well-pleased with the effort you are making to pour into the hearts of your kiddos not only a love for Him, but for the Creation He has made for them to explore. Enjoy learning because it brings you closer and closer to better revelation of the Heavenly Father, who longs to have sweet communion with His children.

A precious tip I have learned to use is the use of index cards. (remember from week #2 ) As you sit with your Bible in the mornings, write down those concerns for each child on a note card. Look for a scripture to encourage you and meditate on through out the day. Give your worries, cares, concerns, and hopes to the Lord. They rest safely in His hands. Draw on the truth He has given us in his Word as our supplication and then trust Him to work it out.

Be encouraged as you pray, hold on, persevere and have faith through your home school journeys!

I'd love to pray for you! Please share a prayer request in the comments section or email me at dawnboyer@journeysingrace.com

Blessings!!
~

Homeschool Tidbits Week #2 ~ Tools for Homeschool Success

2013-10-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Psalm 127:1 - If the Lord does not build the house, those who build it labor in vain

It is the first week in October, which is quite hard to believe. We are nearly done with our first quarter of the semester and I am wondering, how are you feeling?   Are you still composed and collected, completely ordered with your day and the organization bug is still fresh and new? Or.... are you feeling a little bit overwhelmed, perhaps, even confused?

Usually, I spend quite a bit of time in the end of the spring and beginning of the summer contemplating the year ahead, with planning to commence in July so I can start the year right away in the middle of August with a splash.   Then by week 6 or 7 we are all feeling a little overwhelmed with the slightly unrealistic schedule that my over-zealous scheduling heart wanted to force me to attend to.   Yes.. I admit it... I tend to over schedule our days and our week so I can fit 'everything' in and mark off all of the boxes.

Let me preface, marking off the boxes, is not a bad thing. However, for me, when I let it become the focus of our day it robs my children, and myself, of the blessing of home centered education.    Thinking of what I could share with you this week, I realized that one of the best things I have done through the years is establish a planning system that gave us the freedom and grace to change, if necessary, but the accountability to adhere to the educating guidelines which are important to me.

Taking a few moments to outline my ideas on one of my favorite resources, my Dry Erase Board, ( I usually refer to this as D.E.B) I began thinking of the things that I use frequently, or even daily, in our home school. I have a Dry Erase Board in multiple rooms in my house( so I can write on it no matter which room we are in), or we use portable ones, because it makes teaching a concept so easy. I can write down outlines, math problems, spelling lists, quotes for copywork, or whatever it is that I want to have the kids remember. What I love, besides the convenience and the clutter that it prevents,( as opposed to lots of paper piles) is the freedom it gives me to teach a lesson and move on to something else while the kiddos can sit and ponder or work quietly on their own. By teaching them the process of learning, and letting them learn at their pace, the dry erase board has become a valuable and necessary tool in our home.

1. The most important resource, is obviously, my Bible and a Devotional. If we don't take time to meet together in the morning and read through the Word of God and seek His face, I can expect a day of trial and tribulations which are hard to overcome. This does not mean we will have a day without trouble or distractions, but it does ensure we have our hearts and our thoughts focused exactly where they should be.

Matthew 6:33- Seek first the Kingdom of God.

2. Binders have to be one of the 2nd most important investments I make for each school year. I usually have multiple binders for each student and a large teaching binder for myself.
My binder includes a planner schedule, calendar, goal sheets, book lists, spelling lists, school schedules, music lessons and practice schedules, and any information which is pertinent to the student or the school year.

I usually assign a color to each student using pocket dividers, page protectors, and file folders to individualize their school plan for the year. Essentially, it is my own little, "IEP", for each student.

I take time to write down my thoughts, goals, and hopes for that student. I will write out a list of books I will need for the year, along with any extra materials that they will need. Note: I won't always know all of this ahead of time and for the most part, I write things out in pencil so I can erase! :) ( Yes, I said erase!)

With that done, I print out a blank planner sheet for each student. Looking over the curriculum and the plan for the year, I write down what I want that student to do for the week. This gives us both the accountability we need to work diligently. It allows them the freedom to see what they need to do and how much needs to be completed for that week. It gives me the opportunity to allow them to work at their pace, even if that means that some of them work in the evening because they work better later in the day vs the morning.

3. The tools are important to the task. Take time to consider what you will need to help you become successful. You wouldn't plan a garden without the proper tools to help you take care of that garden. Your home school is like a garden. You are going to till up the soil of their hearts as you prepare and instruct your children. The seeds of wisdom are planted in the cultivated ground of their amazing minds. I have learned through the years that no matter what my children's abilities are, that I need to consistently remember that God's plan for them is actually prosper them and to give them a future. ( Jeremiah 29:11) It helps me to keep my focuse on those long days when I feel like I am scattering those precious seeds on the wayside and the roadside which is cluttered with weeds.

Some of my favorite tools include: A 3-whole punch, File folders, Spiral notebooks, Index cards, Post-it notes, Page protectors, Binders, Mechanical Pencils ( no need for a sharpener), Colored pens and pencils ( this makes taking notes and outline both fun and productive).

4. Bookshelves are a huge blessing. Not what I would say is a 'must have' to have a successful home school, but it does provide such a nice place to put everything when we are done working. Teaching our students to put things away helps them to not only be responsible but to also to be accountable and own their work. Putting everything in its proper place ensures you will be able to find it the next time you want to look for it.

Note: I can't say that this happens every day in my house. It is the goal and the hope I have tried to encourage the kids to achieve.

Each year we start with the bookshelf organized and the binders in order, and each year, I find myself re-organizing those same shelves and binders. Cleaning, sorting, purging and organizing ... it is all a part of the process, really. However, if you can implement a system, it will be that much easier when you need make sure your records are put together .

5. Last but certainly not the least important on my list is the task of putting it all together.

Taking some schedules I found on one of my favorite worksheet/planner websites. (www.donnayoung.org) and putting all those tools out in front of me,(My Bible, Binders, Folders, etc.), and I stop to pray.

Before I begin each year, I come back to the promise which the Lord put on my heart so many years ago.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

He promises to give us wisdom, liberally, when we ask for it. He is a faithful and generous Heavenly Father, who will not leave us lonely and without the proper help in our time of need.

Early on in our homeschooling journey when my oldest was the only student in our little academy of learning, our son was just a toddler, and we were eagerly expecting our youngest to make an appearance.(9 months after we started our first day), the Lord met me in a time of frustration. I wanted to do it all right. I was so scared that I would mess it up; that I would mess my children up. Who was I to think I could do this thing called, Home Education? There was very little support from friends and family and I literally knew only a handful of homeschooling families.

I remember trying to teach my dear one to read and finding both of us completely overwhelmed. While she was playing in her room I sat on the stairs and cried out to God. He spoke clearly to my hungry heart, the living Word that still meets my needs in resplendent abundance.

2 Timothy 1:7 ~ I have not given you a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.

He knew my inabilities, my quirks and my faults. Yet, he still choose me as my children's momma. Whether or not I was adequately prepared for this journey, the fact was that HE is always adequate. He is always enough. If I choose to invite Him in, then I would never have to question the decisions that lay before me. If I trusted His leading, I can know, without a doubt, that His love and his heart for my babies was good. ( Rom 8:28)

My hope lies in the reality that He alone is the author and finisher of my faith. He is the one who makes all the experiences of my life sweet, both the good and the bad. He is the foundation that we built our home school on so many years ago. He is the hope which anchors our soul and He is the promise which reminds us that we will finish this race with joy and victory.

My prayer for you today is that you would be renewed with a hope that is rooted in heaven's promises and like the Book of Proverbs reminds us.. Lean not on your own understanding, but in all ways, acknowledge HIM, and He WILL direct your path!

Blessings!
Dawn

~ Homeschooling Tidbits Week 1~ School, Snacks and Suggestions

2013-09-21T13:38:00.002-07:00

It is hard to believe the year has flown by so fast and we are already in the throws of another school year. Yikes! Not to mention our oldest is now a senior. I can remember that very first day of Kindergarten when this very nervous momma began this journey in Home Centered Education. It has been quite a learning experience, and I can say,unashamedly, my own education has been redeemed in the process. Praise God that in His infinite wisdom He can see through our faults and draw out of us the best of His goodness and plan through the guidance and revelation of His Holy Spirit.

Fast forward from that first day, of trembling and fear and learning our letters to today.. still trembling and a bit fearful, but learning about Philosophy and the tenets of American History, discussing the plot of Shakespeare's plays and being completely amazed at this marvelous child who has become a woman full of grace. Isn't that the goal? Really? It isn't just about the academics... it is about being truth-seekers, willing to do those hard things because if it is easy it probably isn't worth it.

So, in honor of my dear sweet girl I am sharing a few tips that she has taught me through the years.

Take a break from time to time..... and pray.
~ This journey is hard enough to walk through let alone the inability to give yourself a bit of grace and rest.   As a homeschooling momma, one of the best lessons I have learned is to take a break and pray. My kids will even remind me, or sweetly suggest, " Mom, maybe you should pray.". :)

Stop and Listen..... and pray.
~They are working this thing called life out, too. They are trying to figure out who they are and what this thing of 'life' is. All the while they are spending ridiculous amount time together with individuals who are genetically predisposed to some of the same tendencies to annoy each other that they have. That combination, while at times can be enjoyable, other times wears down the sweetest saintly child ( or mom) there is.   This is about the time that I find my ability to get frustrated increase. Yet, when I stop.. listen to what is being said ( or not said) and pray.. then I always come away with the Wisdom which defies even the most reasonable argument. :)

Laugh and dance.
~ Sometimes we really need a break to let loose, move and giggle.   This is an area I, personally, have to work hard at completing. Thankfully, the Lord saw fit, to bless me with children who think they are humorous. Or, at least, love a good dose of holy dancing, praise and worship in the kitchen.   Let your kids see you praising God in the hard times, laughing when you want to cry, and learning to be humble before one another. Learn to laugh together and see the strain of the day fade into beautiful memories.

Yummy Food makes it all better.
~ I remember a book by Carol Barnier that was titled, "How to get them off the refrigerator and on to learning".   A great book that has really helped lots of families help their kids learn. However, one thing that works in my family is food. I have 2 teens and a pre-teen and I think that FOOD is their love-language. It is a good thing I love to cook.      Food is definitely an incentive in my house.

Now these suggestions are on the lighter side of the whole education spectrum, of course, they are not the meat and potatoes of our curriculum or daily schedule. They are, however, lessons learned in the trenches. Lessons that have kept us going through long days and short amounts of patience. All seasoned, no doubt, with a little bit of grace.

Today as my oldest is focusing on a research paper contemplating the effect of one of the greatest theologians in American History she looks at me and says, " You know, Mom, this would be a perfect time for a good snack. I think some chocolate chip cookie dough dip would really help me study."

I am not a push-over mom, most of the time. But this is one instance where her love language was crying out, wondering if mom was listening and willing to add a little comfort. If that is what it takes to see her dive into the role of a serious student.. the dip is the pool of joy I am willing be of service with.

Take time this weekend to pray and seek God's heart for you as you plan your home schooling week with me. This is my prayer focus this week, from Jeremiah chapter 29:11-13: "¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

His plans for our children are good and resting in Him is a lesson I long to teach them by my own obedience. May He fill you up and to flowing over with the hope that resides deep in His heart fro you. ( Rom 15:13)

Blessings!
~ Dawn

Ingredients:

1 container of Cream Cheese, softened

½ stick of butter, softened

½ cup of powdered sugar

½ cup of brown sugar

1 cup of chocolate chips

½ cup of pecans or toffee bits

1 tsp of vanilla

Directions:

Cream butter and cream cheese together. Mix in sugars, one at a time. Add vanilla and stir well. Stir in Chocolate Chips and any extra additions. ( toffee bits, nuts, or whatever yummy thing you can think of.)

Technically, you should ‘chill’ your dip and serve it cold. We, however, can’t wait and usually eat it right away. It is yummy whichever you decide.

Serve with graham crackers, apples, or nilla wafers.

Download a printable recipe here.
You can also find the recipe on my website here.

Faith to See, Grow, and Reap

2013-02-14T13:10:00.001-08:00

There is a place where faith must assume command in our lives as we journey forward in life. This concept has been profoundly more clear to me in the last year as I have pondered the path I am meant to walk.

Each choice weighs heavily as I consider the direction a step would propel me. Down one road swiftly descending the winding path, takes me further from the other path which not only appeals but beckons my heart to traverse.

Yet, it isn't about the path, its view, or even its destination which has been the question. It is whether I am following His dreams versus my own. Whose dreams do I hear when I am lost in thought, my own or the beating of His strong heart? The dreams can conflict, they can collide, they can intersect, but the purpose of my days needs to be fixed upon the constant gaze of the One who calls my heart to His hope.

Faith rising up within us demands our attentiveness to be focused securely on the One to which Faith is attributed. Romans 10:17, the very first verse I memorized in scripture, reminds us Faith can only come through constant study of the Word of God.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.".

Faith is the essence of the Christian life. It is the substance of all that we hope for, and evidence of what we see. ( Hebrews 11:1) Without it, faith, it is impossible to please God. ( Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is the unseen force with guides us on, and propels us to believe, hope, pray, and seek. Faith is the unbroken thread which ties us to the throne of Grace.

Faith can be the size of a mustard seed and still be enough to move mountains. ( Matthew 17:20) And we can be real enough to ask Him to strengthen, even increase, our faith... to help us in our unbelief.

Yet, when does the truth of faith penetrate our reality?

When do we fail in our faithfulness.. and it is us who fail in this area, because God is not unfaithful.. He is not like man in His stature; he does not change, but is the true meaning of constant. It is His faithfulness, His constancy, His grace in the Loving that draws the broken to the seat of redemption. It is here, in this aura of light dispersed beauty that Faith finds its roots and dives down into the parched soul filling and feeding with heavens nutrient rich life-giving water.

Faith seeds are planted when the living Word of God reaches into the cracks of our hearts and settle. Faith sprouts up, in fervent expectation of watering and life-light shining upon the hardened covering protecting the germinated seedling encrypted with promise and hope. There is an expectation for harvest when the seeds are sealed with heaven's bountiful promise. This seed, His Word, will not return to Him void of fruit but will fulfill all that it was intended to do. ( Is. 55:11) There will be a harvest because of the plenty already hidden within its construction.

Dig deep in the depths of this masterpiece, looking for the heart of the Master's plan... His plan for YOU. Rest in the beauty of His love-letter dictated just for you. Allow the Words to become the medicine your aching spirit is yearning for and watch as Faith rises and blooms. The fruit is the glory of the Holy One's dedication to sow the richness of heaven's storehouses, the abundance of His Love.

I'd love to pray for you! Share a prayer request in the comment section. I have created a pdf to help you commit God's promise into your heart and apply to your situations.

Blessings!

2013-01-28T18:53:00.002-08:00

For the next few weeks I will be posting some helpful tools when teaching writing to your students. These ideas and tips come from the lessons I have prepared for my own children and the students I have taught in our homeschooling co-op and classical ed. program we have participated in for the last 4 years.

I have loved every chance I have been given to share and invest in the lives of the young students that have graced my path, many of them being dear children of my precious friends. I hope you will be encouraged with some of the ideas I share and it will lighten the load you already carry as a homeschooling momma.

This first post will focus on "How to Write a Character Sketch". You will be able to find a downloadable pdf at the end of the post.

Blessings and Happy Writing!

Character Sketch Guidelines

A Character Sketch is a great way for your student to assess the characters in the literature they are reading or people that they are researching about. It can give them tools of observation as they look at the many details about another individual.

When studying a specific character in a literary piece the sketch gives the student the freedom to be a detective and try to find out what the author is expressing through their characters. They can sketch the protagonist ( the favorable hero or heroine in the story,) or the antagonist ( the character which causes the conflict for the main character), or the supporting characters. Assigning this kind of paper sharpens the skill of observation and note-taking as they focus on one specific character and the traits that make them ‘who they are’ in the book.

Can you write a sketch without a book to study? Absolutely! A great way to give them practice for writing from a literary piece is to sketch someone they know in real-life. Choosing someone they admire makes it both fun and encouraging. ( Plus what a blessing it would be to share it with the person they are writing about.)

When you are writing a Character Sketch, want to look for qualities of character and/or personality traits that you see in the person you want to write about. The main goal of the assignment is to be able to tell something about the person you are researching. Think of it like an introduction. In essence, you are introducing the reader to the person you are writing about.

Be sure to use strong visual words in your writing. You want to provide a lasting mental image of the person or character you are writing about. The use of quality adjectives and feeling in your writing, using words that relate to the five senses, elicit an emotional response from your reader. This will allow your reader to not only connect with you and the character but will show how you felt when reading a piece or spending time with the person you are writing about.

A character sketch is not a history of the person; however, this type of paper requires you to give only a brief glimpse of the individual. When you are preparing to write make a list of the traits or details you want to include. If you have a word limit on the assignment it is possible to assign the number of traits equal to the # of paragraphs or supporting topics needed. Or you can categorize the subjects into a broader spectrum which allows you to have multiple supporting points for each topic. It is always best to outline your writing material first so you have a good idea what you are writing.

Your outline should include descriptions on the following details:

q Tell about their physical features. ( hair color, height, etc.)

q Tell about the character’s personality. ( are they funny, serious, quiet, etc.?)

q Their likes or dislikes( What you know about their preferences and why?)

q Talk about their family ( siblings, family history, etc)

q What are their beliefs or hobbies?

q Include anything that makes us see "who" they are.

q What do you like or dislike about them?

q Why are you drawn to them?

Here is a sample outline for you to follow. It is a basic 5 paragraph ( approximately 500 wd essay outline) Feel free to take this and make it your own or make your own outline using this a s a guide.

I. Introduction:

This section will introduce the character and is typically the 1^st paragraph in your paper. It should include the following:

§ Your thesis statement ( the overall theme of the paper or the main idea of what you are writing) . The Thesis statement should include the most important character traits.

· The subtopics ( these become the topic sentence in your body paragraphs) should be included in this paragraph as well. For example: use 1 - 2 sentences to list the traits that you are going to talk about. End with a transition sentence that ties into the 2nd paragraph.

II. Body:

This is paragraphs 2-4 or the in between paragraphs. The body comes between the Introduction and the Conclusion. These paragraphs detail the traits listed as the subtopics from the Introduction. Those subtopics should be the topic sentences in each body paragraph.

§ Always try to include the most important trait 1st, the second most important detail next, and so on. Each paragraph has 1 trait which is discussed in detail. Include information about experiences that support the trait which is being discussed.

o Remember! You want to pull your reader in so include details that will connect them to your main character.

III. Conclusion:

This is the last paragraph in your paper. Try to conclude with a final comment, pointed and well-expressed, that highlights the traits discussed in the paper.

§ Restate your thesis statement.

§ Remind the reader of your most important points.

§ Close with a solid statement which finalizes all you are trying to communicate to the reader.

Remember a good paragraph is 3-7 sentences. All sentences need to have a subject and a predicate. They should be a complete thought. Utilize tools of dress up in your writing. ie: quality adjectives, strong verbs, adverbs, prepositions, adverbial and or adjectival clauses etc. A GREAT resource for this is the IEW Student Resource Notebook which you can find on the Institute for Excellence in Writing Website.

Last point! RE-read your papers. I always encourage my students to write their rough draft and then walk away for at least a day or two. Then go back with FRESH eyes and re-read it. Always have someone else read it through for those little editing mistakes.

Character Sketch Guidelines

is easy to miss in your own writing.

Teaching Art - Home School Style!

2012-10-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

I have often tried to help my children in their 'bents' as we travel this homeschooling journey. When they have expressed an interest, we have tried to let them follow it... to an extent. When there was something that I couldn't teach them, specifically when it comes to the arts, we would try to find a talented individual who could.

I am a lover of music in many forms but I am truly limited with my ability to teach music and since I have played only 2 instruments in my life, for limited time, I have a limited skill with which to instruct them in the art of music. While studying music history seems more up my alley teaching my children to play the piano was not. So...we found a piano teacher. ( a few actually) And a guitar teacher.... and a violin teacher. :)

Ever since our youngest could hold a crayon she was mesmerized by the world of art, drawing and coloring. She has wanted to be an artist for as long as we both can remember, ( she's 10 ....you'd think that we'd be able to remember that far back.) However, it wasn't just her interest in arts, crafts and painting and the like....she was gifted in this realm. My limited ability to draw those funny little flowers and trees that often mesmerized me was not enough to train her to look at perspective, light, shading, and depth and exactly how they all work together.

I found an art teacher. :) We love our art teacher. She has opened the world up for this young budding artist. It was like finding a kindred spirit, I think. Yet, it wasn't just for our youngest that the gift of art has been a blessing, it has been an added gift to the other 2 children. Being exposed to art, especially with someone who has a love for the Lord and for others, has touched our children in multiple ways.

As with the specialties we have found a huge blessing participating in a co-op with our kids. The co-op meets during the week and the kids get to take classes they are interested in learning and working through. Again, it opens that door to a wide array of opportunities for them to participate in something that brings in additional learning blessings.

That is one of the reasons we home educate, right? To open the doors to educational liberty with our children.

So after learning a new and fun lesson yesterday in co-op art class, our budding artist begged and pleaded for a chance to show off her skill. She set us all down at the table, giving us our necessary tools and began to explain, in detail, the steps we would need to take to complete the task. She was able to explain what we were going to be drawing and why we needed to use the colors that she suggested. She showed us on various websites the pictures of the real art, as she called it, with contagious enthusiasm. Patiently, ( truly she was patient beyond her years), she taught us how to draw our figures and place our symbols on the paper. Joyfully, we each completed our masterpieces. Each unique to our own personality, inherently resembling those things that point to the creator of the piece.

The art of being able to relate and teach someone a skill is the rhetoric of learning. It is the highest form of learning and even at 10 and younger our children can be rhetorical. I love the dynamic of the classical model in education. The tools of learning, laid out in the foundations of the classical model ( grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric), are reinforced in every stage of life. I, though considerably older, was the grammarian in this case.... learning from my child who was rhetorically using her dialectic skills of instruction to teach me. :)

Here is her lesson with pictures. Go draw something fun with your children!!!

Blessings,
Dawn

How to Draw Massai Art

1. Get a blank piece of paper and a pencil. Put your name in the lower right hand corner and the word "Maasai" in the lower left.
2. Draw a small oval or circle in the upper middle portion of the page.

3. Draw a skinny neck ( attached to the circle).

4. Draw slanted lines from the neck with a curved bottom and a straight line across the top to separate the neck and the necklace.
5. Draw wavy vertical lines for a dress. ( " Everyone wears a dress"... she says)
6. Add a headdress and a spear or shield, if you are drawing a boy, or a basket/bowl for a girl.
7. Draw skinny arms holding basket, 1 or 2, and/or the spear/shield.

8. Draw small (short) legs at the bottom of the dress with rounded feet.
9. Make 2 small children next to your person in the middle. ( *note.. you can add more if you want to.) Keep the feet on the same level as the big person.
10. The Maasai People love jewelry and the color red. So draw some jewelry on your people with a red pen or marker. Girls wear large earrings vs. the boys smaller earrings. Girls wear lots of bracelets on arms and legs and big necklaces. Men wear bracelets on feet and arms and smaller necklaces.

11. Make designs on the clothing. Lots of fun designs.
12. Add lines to the baskets to make them look woven.
13. Color all the skin that is showing in black.

14. Add 2 horizon lines.One below your people's feet and one in the middle of the paper. ( not above the adult in your picture but it will be above the children's heads.) Add some rounded lines under their feet, as well.
15. Draw a large sun on the horizon.
16. Color the gowns of your Maasai people." Please use lots of bright colors," we are instructed.
17. Color the sun.
18. Color the background behind the sun pink.
19. Color the middle layer green.
20. Color the bottom layer red.

This was a very fun activity added to our day. I hope this will be a blessing to you as well. I will try to add a pdf. version of this art lesson to my website in the download section at www.journeysingrace.com. Here are 3 of the completed pictures.

Teaching Economics ~ Part 2

2012-08-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Looking at the subject of economics we can find that we are either admittedly delinquent in the knowledge of this subject of we think we may be "somewhat" knowledgeable... enough to make us dangerous. :)

I was in the first category when I started teaching economics to a group of homeschooled High School Students. :) To say the least, I was on the very beginning edge of feeling completely inadequate to teach this subject. When my husband found out I was slated to teach economics, he laughed and said.. " Does that mean you have to learn to balance your checkbook?"

~Side note: I actually KNOW HOW to balance my check book, I just tend to keep a running balance in my 'head' as to what I have and what I can spend. :) Now, for a former Business Math major, CPA dreaming 19 year old, Bank Teller... this sounds like I have forgone all I was trained to do. However, rest assured.. economics is more than balancing the checkbook and knowing the accounts work. There is a philosophy, if-you-will, that follows this subject and if you will walk with me I hope to share some of this with you.~

Economics, as I mentioned in my last post, deals with the relationship of people, trade and productivity.

When you look back through History you will see that an economist will study the 'how' of things. That is economics. How do things happen? The why and when and the where are festered into the subjects which are inherent in our history, geography, philosophy studies... yet when we take time to really consider what true learning is we can see how they all work together.

It reminds me of the verse in Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

A quick reading of Romans 8 will lift your spirit. Such beauty we have right before us to learn and glean from and then we come to verse 31 and it says, " if God be fore us, who can be against us?". How does this tie in? Simply this.. Economics is not new, or hard to understand. God is the eternal economist. He has the best economy and all things, at his hand, end up Good.

When we begin to study Economics it is pivotal to know the terms you will be studying. Know what Economics means and how and why it applies to you.

Have your student start with questions like:

What is economics?

What is macroeconomics?

What is microeconomics?

What is commerce and why are 'commercials' important to the economy?

Become familiar with the terms:

Inflation

Debt

Free Market Economics

Capitalism

Socialism

Stewardship

Taxation

Trade

Deficit

Law of Supply and Demand

Recession

Depression

Gresham's Law

Velocity

Stocks

Business Cycle

Commodities

Subsidies

-There are many more ideas and terms that you can branch off into while studying the subject of economics, but this is at least a start.

Take time to first review the following questions?

What is Natural Law?

What is Common Law?

The Free Market Theory of value states that the value of a good or service is subjective to what is willingly given in exchange for that good or service.

What is necessary for a free market economy?

Why do economists study the actions of individuals?

What is more important the individual or the group?

Economics tells the how of history, explaining how the market functions. How production and increase affects and changes the lives of individuals.

Economics explains how we obtain goods:

There is something we want or need.
We barter what we have to get it: time, effort, or material
We trade with others: goods or services for goods or services
This trade leads to production, on both sides.
There is an increase in money or goods in the economy.
Now Supply and Demand are considered in the equations; prices rise and fall... values change...etc.

Here is a thought that can be applied dialectically and rhetorically: What is the consequence of ideas?

This process of obtaining things should be balanced by ideas fed by hope for profitable outcomes.

We are all looking for profit in some measure. Profit in our checkbooks, in our relationships, in our gardens, in all we do. If you consider this it is a eternal principle found in scripture: we reap what we sow. God said, to multiply. This concept is not new, it is fundamentally law. A physical law that god created in the beginning.

The creator, calls us to reason together. To think well and to be good stewards. Teaching our children, disciplining them, in the art of good reason economically will produce a generation of wise and prudent thinkers who can make good choices.

When you look over the past and the choices leaders, governments, and men made economically you will know that there is nothing new under the sun ( Eccl ch. 4.) So we turn back and review to know how to make frugal and provident decisions for the future.

Here are a few ideas on teaching Economics:

Take time to study the Austrian and Monetarist Theory of Economics.
Look at the difference be free and liberated nations and their economy's versus nations who do not advocate freedom and favor tyrannical oppression and socialism.
Study the connection between Natural Law, Liberty, and Morality.
Look up scriptures that pertain to money in the Bible.
Study our nation's economic timetable.

Look for recessions and depressions
See when our debt was paid or when it was soaring

Review the use of money,coins, tokens as a form of payment through history.
Research the Gold standard:

Should we go back to it?
If so, how is that possible.

Create a cost-of-living project so your student knows just how much they cost.
Create a journal of financial articles from places like the newspaper, or Investopidea, or The Wall Street Journal, etc.
Research the founding of the Federal Reserve and why it is there? What is its purpose and is it beneficial to the American Economy or is it hurting it?
Research top economist views like : Milton Friedman, Freidric Hayek, James Buchanan, and Alan Greenspan.
Define wealth, goods, consumer and producer and know how they relate.
To have a government, we need to have taxes... is this a necessary good for society and in a free market economy how much should the government be involved?
How do the leaders sway the people? If there is no regard to honesty hard work in the highest levels of authority, will it be missing from those who follow? How does that affect the economy?

Teaching economics in your Home School can be as easy as just starting with a subject and finding articles and books to read and then propel you forward in your study.

You can find 'school-in-a-box' with books and curriculum meant to teach you step by step.

You can jump into hands on options like playing games like, Pit. Or playing the virtual stock market game on sites like How the Market Works or WeSeed.

Whatever you do, show them how to be diligent with the resources God has given and not just with money.

For me I have learned that what I do carries more weight than what I say,sometimes. The regard I give to the resources I have been entrusted with will shine into the hearts of my children in voluminous tones.

The last thought, but certainly not least, is: Teach them to be Thankful. To be thankful is our greatest benefit. It is in the spirit of gratefulness that our bounty has true value. It is when our hearts are not heaving with the knowledge of the world but with the WORD where true economics resides.

When we are thankful, in an economy which may appear to be broken and depleted, we are filling up the deposits in our heavenly bank which can be drawn upon at all times. God promises to supply all our needs according His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. Biblical economics spills forth abundantly into our daily living so that when we heed truth, seek His wisdom and apply a gratitude of heart and hand both in deed and thought, our economic storehouses will be overflowing, abundantly, pressed down and shaken together and running over.

Fun articles for you to share:

Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt

Free Market by Barbara Bryan

Books that are a must for Serious Economics Study:

The Law by Frederic Bastiat

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

Follow PBS Docudrama " Commanding Heights" on YouTube.

Teaching Economics in Life and in School ~ part 1

2012-08-14T17:13:00.001-07:00

It is the time of year when you are probably already set on what you will be teaching, and more than likely you have already planned for what you need and made the necessary purchases. However, if you are like me... at some point you may have dropped the ball and decided your summer break really was a magical time for you and somewhere in your fairy-land wishing you didn't want to plan or even think about school.

In all honesty, I have thought about school.. a lot, actually. I have been working diligently, trying to be a help and a blessing by creating materials that will be a blessing to homeschooling families. I just haven't wanted to sit down and "plan" out our weeks and days as fervently as I have been wanting to write and teach. :) ...sigh...

My husband gave me grace yesterday when I confessed, " I am just not ready." He said, it's ok Dawn. Your always ready when you need to be. I thought about that and realized, he is right. He was giving me permission not to worry about it because it didn't matter and doesn't really.. if I don't have it all 'planned' perfectly on paper. I have most of it mapped out in my head, but it is the connecting of the two where I need to refine my skills. However, this post is not about that it is about Economics!

Do you find yourself wondering what to do when it comes to this subject? Maybe trying to find the best tools to teach or books to read. Economics can be a dry subject, really. Just thinking about it for some people makes them want to jump out of their chairs. Then for the type A personality folks out there.. you know who you are.. YOU love this! :) It is planning, it is numbers, it is order. Ahh...maybe some of our leaders in positions of authority should take yearly economics classes, huh? I won't get up on my soapbox with that subject, but it is a plausible idea.

Take time to think about how important teaching economics to our students is and then consider what it is you really want them to know.

There are so many ideas floating around that will bombard us at some point and truthfully being aware of what is real and what is supposed will help us prepare our children for economic liberty. ( is that even a concept that is possible?)

As I have floated thoughts back and forth in my own mind, wondering if I should even be the one to attempt teaching this subject to my children. This is one of my own weak spots, because I would oftentimes rather not think about "money". Yet, it is in the sense of knowing what is necessary, what is right, what is good, what is important that we can base our concept of economics.

I am beginning to formulate my own ideas in relation to the study of Economics that I want to direct my children through and to as they tackle this subject in their life. These ideas, I believe can be applied to every aspect of their lives.

Let's look at a definition of what Economics is first of all:
It is the study of production and consumption of goods and the transfer of wealth that is necessary to both produce and obtain goods.( taken from the website www.whatiseconomics.org)

With that in mind.. economics affects everything in our lives. It affects people, industries, resources, labor, investments, taxes, governments, ....on and on. ( what else is there)

My definition of economics encompasses more. It is the way we relate our needs with our gifts towards others to both give and receive so that our needs are met.

Now, we can teach that it solely relates to money and monetary issues, but it doesn't. Read this article by Leonard Read called, I Pencil.

We can apply Economic Principles to every area of our life, not just our finances. In fact, I wonder if we could look at things with a shrewd eye, as most do when it comes to their finances, if we would begin to see a change in so many other areas of our lives. Take some time to think of the principles I suggested and see if you can also find the economics of your life( relationships - the Lord first and then your family and then others, prayer, work and of course, finances) increasing exponentially.

Things I want to consider when teaching economics to my children:

1. Commit everything the Lord and to prayer

2. Be a Giver

3. Be wise

4. Be hardworking and diligent

5. Be timely

6. Save

Commit everything to the Lord and Prayer:

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to submit our requests unto the Lord, being careful for nothing. ( No..thing) Bring it all to the Lord, in honest submission and trust that He is able to work out all things for your good when your heart is steadfast for Him. ( Romans 8:28)

1Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to pray w/o ceasing. Keep the details of your life present before the only One who can give you the Wisdom to make wise decisions, both fundamentally and economically.

Matthew 6:33 teaches a pivotal economic principle.. To seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and know then that all the "things" that you have need of will be given to you.

Be a giver:

I want to always bring everything back to Scripture for my children. Always bring it back to the beginning. I am reminded of how Abraham gave to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:17-24. I am not pointing out an absolute in relation to economic principles beyond the concept that Abraham GAVE out of his abundance. That is one of the significant economic principles of I want to teach my children, to be so wholly committed to the Lord that they do not hold on to the things of this world as their bounty and they would be generous givers.

Be wise:

A thorough study of the book of Proverbs will enlighten anyone on the concept of wisdom. Being wise, economically, is really just practicing common sense. And can I say, being trustworthy... trusting the Lord to also meet your needs and guide you in your choices.
Proverbs 1:5 says that wise men add to their learning, gaining wisdom. - Encourage the skill of studying
Proverbs 13:20 says that when we walk with wise men we will become wise. - Encourage seeking wise counsel in all decisions.
Proverbs 9:12 tells us that our wisdom will reward us. - The wisdom of the world is foolishness in the eyes of God. Always temper everything with the Word and remember that those eternal rewards outweigh the temporal ones, however, God provides both eternally and temporally and in that acknowledgement we will be rewarded when we diligently seek him. ( Hebrews 11:6)

Be diligent and hard-working:

The Bible reminds us to be diligent and hard-working. Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us that it is God who gives us the power to get wealth, and in Proverbs 10:4 we read that when we are lazy and idle we become poor but a man who is diligent to work with his hands becomes rich.

I often remind my children of the verse in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, A man who does not work does not eat. My youngest child had this verse memorized at an early age. :) I am not a hard taskmaster, but I must have quoted it multiple times to help her understand the importance of diligence.

If you go to Ecclesiastes chapter 5 you read about the vanity of riches. In verse 12 it says that the sleep of a diligent worker is sweet. Not only does working hard, often times it is those small steps...little by little that add up, but it is health to our body as well as our bank account. My children are learning, that ill-gotten gain means very little and so with that comes less responsibility. As will gifts, when given in abundance we tend to abuse the very nature of that gift. This is easy to miss in our materialistic world which we live in. Especially, here in our nation where all we need is truly at our finger tips.

My husband is a worker and I am so thankful for his diligent faithfulness. He is showing our son how to take care of his family by being purposeful to meet our needs by using his hands. He has a gift to fix anything and it has served him well on many occasions by granting him favor over others. His willingness to work when asked has placed him before others on the job because his boss knows he can count on him to do the job and do it well. This is a pivotal lesson for our children to learn. To be diligent, hard-working and trustworthy in their work.

Be timely:

Being timely is a lost art in our modern culture. And to be honest, not an area I have conquered in my own life. This goes hand in hand with diligence, but it can delve a bit deeper. We want to teach respect for others and for authority. Being timely with their investing and with their bill-paying will affect their finances drastically. Applying it to the economics of their lives, will give them a character trait which shows their respect towards others and the value of their time.

Time is a commodity( a great economic vocab word there). It is something most people wish they had more of. Something many wish they could get back. This is a huge learning lesson here at my house because mom's love language is time. If there is one thing that can bless me or cause me to feel a bit overwhelmed is a loss or a waste of my time. Most often the Lord has big lessons for me when it comes to this area., but I want to teach my children to value time and to honor that time the Lord has given them to live out their lives for Him serving others.

Save:

Saving, for God's glory and as He leads, is one of those gifts we can give ourselves. I have found that when I do save, it isn't always used the way I had planned. :) God is good with that and this is where I want to teach my children the habit of obedience. Luke 2:51-52 is a precious reminder of the habitual obedience that I long to teach my children. This, however, is not something I can hammer into them.. it is a heart issue. It is something I commit to the Lord and trust that He is ever at work in their lives for his good pleasure.

The art of saving can be both a blessing and an opportunity to bless others. I have watched how faithfully others have significantly helped not only their financial standing when putting away little by little pieces over time, but in one swoop can alter the life of another by generously giving what they have saved when there is a need. This principle deeper roots that lend towards blessed is the one who gives more than the one who receives, however, it is the idea that when we save always be willing to obey the Lord in what He may be asking you to do with it.

This comes to the end of my list but I want to tie it all up with a story. I love to bless others. I feel so blessed by God's grace and his mercy. I love to see people smile. It is a joy to feel like I can be a help to someone, but sometimes I don't want to 'give'. Sometimes I have felt like I give, give, give.... Times like this when I am living in the 'Land of Me'.. I miss the beauty of generosity entirely. All that I have belongs to the Lord. All that I HAVE belongs to Him. It is not mine to own or to hold on to. I will not take it with me. What I will see though, are the hearts of those whose lives I have sown the Word of God into as I lived my life here on this earth. My children are my greatest mission field, I long to see them standing with me face to face before the King of Glory crying out Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb of God.

Isaiah 54 tells me that a woman's spiritual children are often greater than those of her womb. It is important to sow seed of eternal value. Biblical Economics are what I am talking about. Sow truth and reap an abundant harvest for the King. Yet, when we are not faithless with what we have been given, even what we have been given can be taken away. So, we must know the principles of economics in all areas of live, relating people, industry, goods and the transfer of wealth in order to sow those most important seeds of truth and love into the lives of all we encounter.

Now you ask me: What can I use to teach economics? :) Below is a list of resources I have found to be superbly wonderful! Look for my next post that will discuss the importance of teaching economics in the light of history and giving our children the tools to understand the difference of Free Market Economics vs other world markets.

Blessings!

~Dawn

Some of my favorite Resources:
The Penny Candy Series from Bluestocking Press
Common Sense Economics
The Freeman Magazine
Biblical Economics

RC Sproul and Compass Cinema have a new product called:

Economics for Everybody

Lesson Plans and Websites:
Stossel in the Classroom
www.teachingeconomics.org
www.federalreserveeducation.org
www.fee.org
www.economicsforteachers.blogspot.com
www.whatiseconomics.org

Physical Education at Home: Training towards the 5K

2012-08-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

For the last 2 years I have made an increased effort to exercise more. The benefits of this decision are obviously many: I feel better both physically and mentally, I have lost some of the extra weight that finds itself attached to me over the not-so-busy winter months, and I have been able to bring the kids into the mix and we enjoy the activity together.

This has been one of the best things I have done for myself in a long time, other than spending time in God's Word much more, of course. The time that I spend running allows me to have that quite time in prayer and contemplation before the Lord. It has opened up a new level of listening and attending the the voice of the Lord for me. When my body is busy and my mind is at rest, when I have absolutely nothing to think about but placing one foot in front of another, I can hear Him better.

What a concept! The body busy and the mind at rest~ leads me to the idea of how Jesus was able to rest in a storm. ( Matthew chapter 8)I know it is not the same, but for me it helped me to see how to learn to rest in Him even when it seems opposite.

I hope to address this a bit deeper in a devotion on prayer that will be on my website soon, so please come visit me over there when it is up. I hope that it will be an encouragement to you. Let me just say that in face of what prayer is, what it does, what it accomplishes.... the more we are "out" of the recipe and allow the Lord to lead us in prayer the closer we are to what I believe prayer is meant to be.

Running has helped me have more energy and feel less pain in my joints and muscles ( surprising but true). It has helped to balance hormones and emotions that sometimes spring up during my days. :) The benefits have not been just for me. I have seen how my excitement to take care of this vessel has passed on to my children. Which is win win for us all!

It has been so fun to see them excited to run with mom, or ride their bikes, or walk.... whatever they choose, they just get moving. My husband joined in the fun and took the liberty to make me my own running path. I LOVE it!! It has been such a huge blessing for me.

Let me tell you why:

When I originally started running, it was slow and methodical. First of all, I ran around our paved barn yard ( which worked so well for me when I started running). Then I enlarged my run by running around the perimeter of the drive way which circled the buildings and extra drive ways at our house. ( We live on a nice little farmette in the country which gives me so much enjoyment and space to run.) This year, we are running a path into the field behind house. The nice thing is that where before I had to "count laps" to keep track of how far I have run, now I just have to go from start to finish and 1 mile is complete. :)

Our goal this year was to run a 5K event as a family. Some of us will actually run it, while others may walk, but we are going to do it together.

So how can we apply this to Physical Education in the home school?

First of all we can take the time that they take each day and apply it to their physical education credit. For many of us, getting Physical Education in is a real difficulty.

We tend to get most of our outdoor activities and physical education credit completed during the spring and summer because it is so much easier to do.

Other activities we try to plan during the Fall and Winter months are:

Archery, Swimming, and horse-back riding.
Optional: you may find a nice co-op where you can attend a gym class.

We have planned how to run effectively so they can aren't running so hard or fast that they become injured. I may have them ride their bike one day and run the next.
Choose a goal to work towards. Find a race or an event that you can enter as a family and plan how you can get ready for it.

For some of your children it may just be getting out and walking while for others it will be the competitive running that excites them.

This website has a great plan for planning your journey from the "couch to the 5K".

Then get out and DO IT!

We are continuing the journey from our couch to the 5K this year, hoping to finish our first family 5K in September or October. Hopefully this has encouraged you to start your own journey as well.

Blessings!

Changes coming to Journeys in Grace Blog

2012-08-08T18:19:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed a subtle change to my blog recently with the additional link to my website. This spring/summer I jumped ( with both feet) into hosting my own website and have learned so much. However, I didn't want to lose all the content on this blog, so I have tried to tie them together.

I have decided to change the focus of this blog, all the while maintaining all the previous posts on the blog here for you to search and review. Although this blog, www.journeysingrace.blogspot.com will be more geared to homeschooling and the things we are doing in our homeschool.

My website, www.journeysingrace.com will contain the devotions that I feel led to share along with collecting the recipes I love to cook into a more ordered and contained location.

I have begun the process of writing and publishing some homeschool helps for myself and for other homeschoolers. These little tidbits will also be available as a download on my website.

I hope that you will find those times of refreshing as you visit both my blog and mywebsite. I look forward to hearing from you.

Rainbow Cupcakes and Little Girl Birthday Smiles

2012-08-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Our youngest celebrated her birthday in May, in quite style I might add, however her one request to have a few friends celebrate with her didn't actually happen till July. :) She learned a lot about delayed gratification, I think.

I wanted to post something fun on my blog as we are getting ready to head into school season once again. From time to time I will be posting some of our crafts, projects and ideas to add to our homeschool. Even though we are technically "not in school" right now, we are always learning at our house.

She is getting old enough that baking has become something she really enjoys. Rather than purchasing a nice cake, she opted for the make your own style. The artsy girl she is looked in her American Girl Magazine ( From February) and had a plan all in motion. She wanted a Color Blast Party! And Blast of color she had.

Since we returned the magazine to the Library we had to go to Pinterest, of course, to get a few more directions save what she remembered about the decorations, presents, and crafts. :)

As we began to plan more decisively she decided a few friends and the beach fit well with the July days ( and hot temps). With that we choose to forgo the decorations for the beauty God has already provided and include a nice craft, a fun lunch and the creme-de-la-creme ~ Rainbow Cupcakes!

So here is my first attempt at a tutorial post! :)

Rainbow Cupcakes

1 box of white cake mix
1 can of frosting of your choice ( we had white)
Food Coloring

Bowls and Spoons
Muffin pans
Liners

Directions:

Follow the directions on the cake mix box as listed.

Divide into separate bowls.( pick as many as you want to make colors for)
Add drops of food coloring to each bowl and stir well.

Add 1 spoonful of color to each cupcake liner. Do not mix them together, just let it drop where it will and rest there. We choose to do one color at at time till it was gone.

When all the colors are added, take a clean toothpick for each cupcake and swirl gently. Not too much or you will mix the colors and miss out on the rainbow.

Bake as directed and cool.

Frost the cupcakes any way you wish. We choose a simple piped frosting in a spiral on top. (which didn't get a picture for some reason??)

Verdict:

Let me quote the girls: "These are the best cupcakes EVER!"

Of course, it had nothing to do with the taste ( though they were wonderful) it was the color explosion that totally amazed them.

We had a lot of fun together making cupcake rainbows and shining little girl smiles. That's the memory I'll keep.

Blessings!

Happy Birthday America

2012-07-04T10:39:00.002-07:00

So, this morning my son runs through the kitchen singing "Happy Birthday America!" The little patter of my heart starts to rumble.. have I birthed a patriot? Woo-hoo! I come from a long line of patriots!In every generation that I can tell, someone in my family has served faithfully in the Armed Forces. Whether during active war or during peace time. I have a son who wants to continue the tradition. I think it is just part of who 'we' are. We love this country! I love what it stands for. And yet, I know so many who don't, it is 'en vogue' to hate America, and that makes me a little sad. However, it reminds me of what we stand for, or at least where we started. Freedom to believe, say and think exactly what you want.

Freedom!

So this patriot-at-heart was pondering how to express the importance of freedom to my kids today.... something more than fireworks, or in our case the absence of them due to the dry weather conditions, and festivals and parades, etc...

Why should it be important? I mean.. is it just another day?

Even in my sometimes limited community I find I am the odd-man out with a deep love for America and for the virtues for which this nation was truly founded upon.

My husband tells me often I am too full of useless facts that no one actually cares about, and maybe I should go on to Jeopardy where it may profit me. But why? Why don't we care about the history of our country and the lives which were given for the freedoms we so easily partake of.

Think of the 1st Amendment Rights.. Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech,Freedom of the press, Freedom to Assemble, Freedom to petition the government.

Seriously, think of that. This Constitution, while not written on July 4th, is as much a part of the activities and celebration of this Independence Day. The Bill of Rights, (the 1st 10 Amendments of 27 in our Constitution) go on to list basic fundamental rights that are to be available to the citizens of this nation.

Rights that today tend to be taken for granted.

Rights that were not available just over 200 years ago.

If you look at the Declaration of Independence, this eloquently worded document outlines the list of grievances against the King of England by the colonies. It is a long list. It was the start of America's push for Independence, or the visible start. I believe it started long before that, personally. You will have to go back to the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. And further back to John Lockes's essays on Common and Natural Law. These, often difficult to understand, writings were the literature the framers read when studying the concept of the rights of man.

Who gives rights? Where does freedom come from?

The Bible tells us that freedom is found in Christ.( John 8:36)

It also says about Freedom:

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ( 2 Corinthians 3:17)

In the book of Galatians chapter 5 there are multiple references to Freedom.

Galatians 5:1 says, " It is for freedom Christ set us free."

Galatians 5:13 tells us to live free but free for God while serving and loving others.

To be a student of history is a value many of us don't realize. If we look at Ecclesiastes 3:15 we are told that "History repeats itself." And I wonder if we really looked back at what was before us would it change how we view what is before us. The Bible also tells us that there is nothing new under the sun.( Eccl 1:9) What has been, will be again. Hmm...that is a lot to think of and it brings to my mind the word often found in the book of Psalms... Selah which means to pause and think about what was written.

When you go back and look at the event surrounding the birth of our nation, the foundations of our government, the lives of those who gave up their fortunes ....even time with family.... you may also just see that there was a biblical foundation which set the stage for our new republican form of government.

The vernacular is quite different today vs. then and some of the concepts take a different direction. You could argue that the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution were not Christian, but they were brought up reading the Bible and many commentaries that reflected or referred to it. While their choice of relationship is not my basis for believing for a Biblical foundation, the pattern of government and freedom came from reading the Bible ( Isaiah 33:22 shows the structure of our 3 branches of government) and believing in the Sovereignty of God. Ben Franklin for instance while it has never been documented that he accepted Christ, did acknowledge that God alone governs in the affairs of men, and as such they should confer with the Father of Lights asking his blessing and guidance upon the Constitutional Convention.

So, today maybe we will listen to The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key and think about what this poem means for a few moments? ( ok... truth be told I will be the one who really stops to ponder it first but I set the example by modeling learning for my kids.)

Or we will look at the Declaration of Independence and consider what drove the colonists to pick up gun and bullet and fight for freedom?

Or maybe we'll look at the concept of what it means to be free? Because according to Scripture we find true freedom in Christ.

Maybe we'll make a flag cake and go roast hot dogs... and we can't forget the fireworks which may lead us back to the Star Spangled Banner discussion. Again, while this didn't happen on July 4th... it is as much a part of our Independence celebrations as anything else.

Here is an interesting fact: Did you know that both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

Here is a great website for reading and studying some of America's most important early documents:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/

Chuck Colson's ministry sent out a great email about this today and it made me think more about why there are so few who "love" our country and essentially "love" one another in our immediate social community?

I am deciding that it is 'en vogue' to love God and to love those around me, to live my life with passion and virtue, the 'stuff' which morals and religion birth. I want my children to be proud of their heritage, for the Bible says we have a good one.Psalm 16:6 declares that the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places and I have a good heritage. We have a lot to be proud of in America. We have a lot to be thankful for and truly... that is the start. That is why we celebrate. To remember and be thank-full.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Cracked Vessels Spill forth Life-Liquid

2012-06-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever pondered the use of something broken? I mean really pondered it.

Since we have been on Summer Break now for a whole 2 REAL weeks, I have been in a pondering state of mind. Often it is on my run or in my garden where those trinkets of reveling truths make their appearance. Sometimes as I am having my morning coffee on my patio and I am amazed at what I see, so blessed to be able to sit there to ponder.... it's then... when I hear His voice.

We all have that place where our tanks are filled up. When a popular women's speaker, Jill Savage, came to our Homeschool Group she spoke about her book "Real Moms Real Jesus" and the line that stuck with me was a question she said, "What fills your tank up?" You can read more on this topic here at her website.

I can still remember my almost verbal answer to the questions that followed.....

" Do you get your tank full in a room filled with people?" Or " Do you get your tank full when you are alone and quiet?"

"Do you enjoy the crowd, drawing off the energy of others?" Or " Do you enjoy simply being one on one with another person?"

I love people.... I love to be an encourager and to pray for others... I really enjoy to sit over a cup of coffee and visit with a dear sweet soul who has blessed my heart with their gift of friendship.... but put me in a crowd and I tend to become a bit more quiet.

Now, I can speak to the crowd, I can even lead the crowd... with the help of the Lord, of course. But to get my tank filled up, no.. I was made acutely aware this is not what fills me up. I enjoy being with people, please understand, but I find my soul is recharged, my spirit is made alive in those quiet times of contemplation and connecting with the One who calls me his own... and those sweet blessings He has diligently brought into my life.

As I have been silently listening to the swaying of the wind in my quiet time, or even to hear the rushing of water flowing through the hose, or the pattering of the rain beating upon the metal roof top as a simple symphony of life flows in the droplets of moist hydrogenated-oxygen...I think about the sound of His voice. Isn't it amazing how the sound of His voice is compared to the rushing waters or the blowing winds. It is in this place I find it easy to hear him, but I want to also hear Him in the busy crowd. I want to know His voice so clearly that I do not doubt. I want to KNOW that I hear.

Ponder this: What type of vessel are you?

I know this answer reflects directly back to me. I am a broken vessel, marred by the stains of my own sinfulness. Sometimes scarred by the cruelties or injustice of life and many times by the choices I have made.

What use does that make me good for?

Does a broken vessel meet a need? Can it do any good? Is it valuable any longer?

Ah, but for the grace of God I would have missed this beautiful picture.

Consider this: A broken vessel, repaired to restoration at the Hand of the Master Potter, must also yield to the touch of His hand and bend to His will. This vessel, which is yielding, relying upon the wisdom of the Artist, receives not only the changes made to its structure but the fullness of the filling which is introduced by the One who is completing the repairs.

There are cracks, fine lines and fractures which line this vessel I am. In my weakness, I've destroyed or smashed the solidness of this receptacle. In His goodness, he restores, repairs, rejuvenates, reuses, renames, and re-purposes for HIS plan.

It is through the cracks, those fine fractured lines and gaping holes in my rebuilt vessel that the living water FLOWS through me into the cracked clay, dry with the heat and wind of the weathered life, ready to receive a drink.

This water is poured in by the unending source of life, purposed to be spilled out as Life-Liquid into the dust formed vessels waiting to know the Heart of the Artisan, who crafted their days.

A prayer flows....

Not my will by thine be done Oh Lord,

Break in and through the shattered walls to find truth;

nestled in the cocoon of hope which you alone placed.

For I am fearfully and wonderfully made to serve you,

to praise the Almighty for His wondrous works;

to see His awesome display of majesty,

and to stand in wonder-filled awe at what

He has already done!

Teach me to pray~

Teach me to sing~

Teach me to know your love.

Give me your voice

to speak...

your heart to love~

you ears to listen...

your hands to serve.

Make me a vessel built by your wondrous hands~

which brings you glory

and touches the heart

of the broken,

directing them

back to you.

Back to the One who called them before their days began.

Consume me that I may be

consecrated Lord to thee.

Again, I ask... What type of vessel of you? We all need to be filled with the Life-Liquid that is given from the source of all life.

What will you do with it?

Be a life giver, shining in all your cracks, and glowing with the beauty of the light that flows from the trickling and sometimes flowing streams which reveal the radiance of the King. When we do, people won't see the cracks, but they will see the breath-taking image of the Lord who is the true source of beauty and love.

Realizing the meaning of Abba

2012-06-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

It is with bit of trepidation that I even attempt to address this subject, but it is one which has been laying heavily upon my heart as of late. Let me set the stage..

I enjoy the chance to run whenever I can. Even though, I know I am not a marathon contestant as of yet, I'd like to try to work towards smaller 5K runs, etc. Those are just extras, though, the real truth is I love to run. It makes me feel good. It gives me the chance to be out and alone and actually "not thinking". :)

Yet, it is also my time with the Lord. It is my prayer closet. Isn't that a funny thought..I go out into creation to have my prayer closet?! A better closet I could never find, truly.

Because I tend to be a little controlling on my time, (this is something that I am taking to prayer, I promise...) I like to plan out my run. :) I will run a mile, walk a 1/3 of a mile, then run and walk, etc., until my legs are tired. Doing it this way allows me to run farther but also allows me the time to be quiet and introspective while I am running and the freedom to pray while walking. ( note.. it could have a lot to do with the fact that my breathing is not as rapid while walking..but we won't go there.)

I have been told I think too much,( smile), however, it was one of those days when I was presenting a series of contemplative questions before the Lord. I always have the tendency of imagining the most tender and sympathetic smile forming on the face of the Father as I come with my questions. I wonder, does he ever get tired of hearing them or my asking? I think of my own children and know there are many times I find myself out of patience, sometimes for lack of time, or other times for lack of energy left in my day to receive the list of requests, etc... it is sadly in these times I respond with less than a joy-filled attitude and inspiration for their academic intuitiveness or simple curiosity.

I think of how He is not like me, thankfully. :) He is ever patient, wise, and full of Love for us. He rejoices over us with joyful singing and receives us as only a Father can.

I finished with the barrage of questions and I began to run. I was quiet, contemplating each footstep that I would make. Enjoying the peace of the moment, the quietness that pervades my own intentional pause in my thoughts and words.

When I am quiet I hear better. Isn't that easy to say but so hard to do? When I am quiet I hear things I don't hear otherwise. I had told my son earlier in the week to look up James 1:19, which says, " Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to become angry." Often those lessons we are teaching our children are meant for our own hearts.

I was quiet, contemplative, and waiting...yet not knowing the paradox with which my heart was balancing precariously upon each measured stride.

I finished the 1st mile and as I was catching my breath I heard distinctly, clearly, surely... in my heart.. "I am Abba.". I stopped as quickly as if an imaginary brick wall was placed in front of my path. I voiced my question, "What?"

Do you do that? Do you ever hear the Lord speak into your heart and then talk to the wind? :) My husband and children tell me I do that a lot.

That was it. I didn't hear anything else.

"Abba" What does that mean?

It is written in the New Testament only 3 times. Jesus spoke the Aramaic word, Abba, in the Garden of Gethsemane in Mark 14:36. He was praying, seeking His Father... He was preparing to die for me. It is found at the hand of Paul in Romans 8:15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." and Galatians 4:6,"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

There are are other terms of reference to God the Father through out scripture.Here are only a few:

Everlasting Father: Avi'od and Avi-khol - Ephesians 4:6

Father of Mercies: Avi HaRachamim - 2 Corinthians 1:3

Father of Lights: Avi HaMe'orot - James 1:17

I wanted to know what ABBA meant. What was it? Jesus spoke this term in Aramaic, that much I know. He used the term and it stood out, stands alone in scripture being used sparingly in the New Testament.

From what I have read, and there are many opinions, Abba is an intimate portrait of the Father to His child. Some say it is likened to the endearment of "Daddy" from his child. It made me think, have I ever called my own father, "Daddy?" Do my children use that term with their father?

I can't remember using the term " Daddy" with my own father, I call him Dad. However, I remember listening to a conversation he had with my son about something he did for me, a gift, and my dad loves to give gifts. When my child asked, "Why did you do that?" My dad responded, " Because I am her daddy." Just hearing his answer made my heart flip and my eyes water.

My children shout Daddy, when they are happy to see him as he comes home from work. Or sometimes when they are hurting or looking for comfort. It is a term reserved, it seems, for the emotional connection we have with our fathers.

As I began thinking about what Abba means, I am remembering the intimacy of the term "Daddy". It is an endearment of a child for their beloved and cherished father, mostly. :) I know there may be many contradictions to this analysis, but bear with me.

Upon the treasure hunt to find information on the Hebrew Word for Abba, I found this article that was a very interesting read. What I summarized is that this term is one only Christ has the power or right to call the Heavenly Father, but because we are IN Christ .... we have been grafted in... we have the privilege to proceed to the Throne of Grace and obtain MERCY ( Hebrews 4:16) and say, Daddy... Abba... Father.

Whatever the intonation with which Jesus ascribed this name, it was indelibly imprinted on the memory of those who heard it.

Back to my run... I began to consider the blessed-ness of hearing that word and it will forever change the way I approach the Father. We are told in scripture to come as children.( Matthew 18:4, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17) We can know that He receives our hearts when we come in faith. ( Hebrews 11:6)

We are told to be reverent before God, but he says do not be afraid. I am not fearful of approaching the Throne, the Blood has covered me and He sees me in Christ. I can never be perfect in my own intentions, but he is perfecting me ( Phil 1:6) daily into the image of the One who bore my sins and sits at the right hand of the Father. Jesus said if we look at him we are looking at the Father. Genesis reminds us we were made in His image. As I sought revelation wisdom in understanding just what this meant to me... I came away from my run, my prayer time, to my journal....

On a side noe, I have read and continue to read Ann Voskamp's Book, "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are." and I have pulled a habit out of her own gift of words. Each time I approach my journal I want to practice the "Art of Gratefulness." With each entry I place a number and something I am thankful for. This was my daily entry that day. I wish I could show you my journal here, I love to draw and decorate my journal entries, but I haven't figure out how to do that on here. So, please bear with me.. I am learning the art of gratefulness..

#34.. My daily Thanks.. The trial which draws me to the everlasting Arms of my Abba~

Abba~ this is the Hebrew word for Father~ Intimately

A father, true in spirit, has the tenderness for His children few can understand.

His heart's love is raw and unparallel to the love of temporal knowledge.

There is a continued presence filtering beyond the barriers we have placed.

~for protection~

Only the love of Abba can reach and break through.

There is a battle no man can fight alone,

for the heart belonging to the purchaser of our eternity~

the blood bought sacrifice places me

securely in the covering of the protector.

WHO battles principalities

WHO engages Angelic warriors

WHO multiplies peace

extended to HIS Own.

~Abba Father~

dear one, awesome protector, faithful adversary~

I am praying that today and every day you will know the depth of His love towards you, revere and be inspired, stand in awe at the magnificence of God and the mountains He alone has moved to reach your ever beating heart... to know Him because of Christ's sacrifice, as Abba.

Knocking on the door of summer...

2012-05-24T06:57:00.002-07:00

It is the time of year where I find myself draw out-of-doors, ready to dismiss any needs within the confines of my home. It is almost summer, and well.. technically, if you are in my home.. Summer has arrived.

We have finished another year of homeschooling. My oldest is completing her sophomore year of high school, certainly ranked as one of the most difficult in a long time. I am trusting His Word which reminds me that He is working for our Good, because HE IS Always GOOD, and that He has plan of hope and a future for her life. For all our lives, really. I look at her and see a young woman who wants to break out and is looking for permission to crack the shell. It is scary and exciting all-together. I think of what she has walked through in this life and know that she has a purpose that is beyond my scope of understanding.

Our middle child has survived his 1st year as a 7th grader. Whew!I have been given a small glimpse of this man of God he is becoming, it is a balm to my heart. He continues to amaze me as he grows, not only in character but in height ( and appetite!... when did this happen that I can't make enough food?) He certainly makes my heart sing when he says, " Mom I love it when you make this..." Note to self: teach him how to make his beloved meals so my future daughter-in-law doesn't ever have to hear how his mom makes something. :) Yet he blesses my heart with his sensitive spirit. Even now I see the man who wants to seek after the heart of God, like David, but needs the Hand of God to direct his life. His not-so-secret passion in life ... to be a Master Lego Designer.

Our youngest has the most bold and confidant personality of all three of our children. She knows who she is. She is delighted by life. She wakes up with joy in her heart and a song in her spirit. She is a worshipper, since a young age. She has compassion and discernment for such a young person and the resolve to see good in everyone. I wish I was more like her in this. Well, more like the Father. He sees the Good in His children.. He has faith in those whom He loves. She's finishing 4th grade with a flair, as only my artist/scientist could. Her recent question, among many throughout the day, " Mom.... can I have a stainless steel desk so I can do my chemistry experiments. I really like to mix things together." I smile, the science-loving-momma in me doing a dance of joy.. and then reign it in so I can respond with wisdom. " Umm... we need to be careful to know what we are mixing together, so maybe we should still have some supervision with experiments. But, I'll think about the stainless steel desk." Her reply, as non-nonchalant as ever... "Well, ok mom. Just remember I need a lab to practice chemistry and art some time."

Here are some thoughts to ponder:

Are you finishing your year?

Have you felt as if it was all you had hoped it would be?

Do you have regrets?

What were your goals?

What were you praying for?

As I ponder and consider the questions above I am drawn back to my early days of home education and the worry I felt at being enough for my children.

No matter what, we will never be enough.

No matter what, we will make mistakes.

No matter what, we all need the hand of the Father guiding us and leading us on.

I spent time in the Book of Colossians and Isaiah yesterday in my quiet time. I LOVE how the Word fills us up and meets us so specifically with wisdom from the heart of our Abba. I have been contemplating the faith of people like Job, Rahab, David, Solomon, Esther and Ruth. We have read glimpses of their lives, just pictures really, of the poignant and relevant place they each held in HIStory.

I think about Timothy's mother and the desire in her heart to teach her son about the Lord. I consider the call in Deuteronomy to teach our children in all ways, in every way, of the One who is the pursuer of their heart.

I think about this great call to be a mother, to pour into the lives of living vessels and always pointing to the Holy One..... and I am undone.

How can I do this right?

How will it work out?

What if they don't get enough of something?

Are they going to be able to get in to a good college?

Will they go to college?

What about the things they are missing?

What about .........

This is a sin in my life... Worry. I have taken my eyes completely off of the ONE to whom I am beholden.

As I sat before the throne, I was drawn to the second chapter of Colossians. As always, my God, met me there. He comforted my heart and he drew me into his embrace.

He reminded me that:
He is interceeding for me. ( Col. 2:1)

He desires that I would be comforted and full of wisdom. ( Col. 2:2)

Treasure, Wisdom and Knowledge are found ONLY in Him. ( Col 2:3)

His spirit is with me as I stand in faith. ( Col 2:5)

He is reminding me to walk IN Christ, not my own power. ( Col 2:6)

He is calling me to be rooted and grounded in Christ and not this world. ( Col.2:7)

He is reminding me to be aware of what is true. ( Col. 2.8)

He is the fullness of God. ( Col 2.9)

I am made complete in Him. (Col. 2:10)

When I fix my eyes on Truth... I realize that the questions fade away. I can trust that when I have given my heart and my future, my plans and my hopes, my dreams and my desires to the Lord... that He is trustworthy. He has a desire much greater than I have for my children to be successful. They are His representative in this earth.

So I come back to the knowledge that every day is a new day.. full of His mercies. (Lamentations 3:23) A day I can choose to rejoice in my King, to live for His glory and to share His love.

Teaching my children has been the hardest, yet most rewarding experience I have ever had. There will be days of missteps and mistakes, but there is always a time of healing and refreshing when we go to the Throne.

We are days away from truly stepping into a summer break for our family, a true break. One that we all need and I can say that we have had a fruitful year of learning, loving and living... growing, bending, and healing.... of knowing Him on a new and more intimate level. That alone makes this year a success.

I am going to begin posting a series on Support from a small e-book called " Authentic Support" on my website, which will be launching soon. www.journeysingrace.com I'd LOVE to have you join me. Watch for more information. There will be fun articles, helps for your homeschool and devotions on prayer for the homeschooling mom, and we can't forget the recipes!

Vulnerable Prayers

2012-03-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

The word 'vulnerability in your prayers' has been running through my mind today. I have been contemplating just what that means. We see many prayers offered throughout scripture which reveal the desperate situation of the one who is seeking the hand of the Father to intervene.

I think about this and I am awestruck at the mere wonder of who He is, as the Holiest of All bends His ear to hear my plea. Yet, that is what He does. He is eager to meet our needs in surpassing abundance.

Psalm 37:4 says, " Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I fear all to often I deny the opportunity for prayer in my life because I am not willing to be vulnerable and share the cries of my heart to those who are strategically placed in my life for the purpose of encouragement. Yet that is what He is asking me to do. Be vulnerable, ask for prayer and pray for others. There is a grace unrealized when we walk away from the opportunity to pray for one another.

Do you ask the Lord to bring in those laborers into your life? To walk alongside of you and help you to walk together? There is an element of power in the unified prayer; however, to be able to truly pray with another you have to be vulnerable to share the needs you have.

Sometimes we are invested of ourselves and find that we are now stripped of the very clearly set boundaries which were set up to protect. We are raw and bruised by the humanity so much a part of our reality and we choose to pull back. The longer we barricade ourselves from experiencing true companionship, in prayer, the longer we walk outside of the unique freedom of expectation.

I want to encourage you to step out and seek out that prayer warrior who is there waiting to lift you up.There is a depth of burgeoning glory waiting for the hearts of those who willingly bow to the power of the Almighty expecting His glory to shine in their circumstances. There is a masterpiece already prepared by the eloquent words woven together in series of heartfelt pleas to the One who hears and knows our needs before the words take form on our lips.

The beauty which escapes our notice is relevant to the culture of our existence; yet our existence draws from the knowledge of the Holy. This wisdom, true wisdom,eliminates the ineffective teachings which can defeat the awareness of Truth. Truth is objective relational to its origination. Christ is Truth. He alone sets the standard of that measuring bar.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and WE are beholden by the King. Beauty, both inward and outward, is a reflection of His thoughts toward us. This world is a fleeting ship, moving at the whim of the winds blowing. The instability of this force can leave us stranded. Yet, the original mover, the beginning of motion, the creator of all that is seen, is not moved by the circumstances and paradigms of the temporal, continually changing, unreliable present. He never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. ( Hebrews 13:8)

There is a place of humble submission. A stance upon bended knee - A lowly admission that I "kneed" help. It is the bended knee, the bowed head, the whispered petition which moves the hand of God.

The prayer of the faithful man availeth much. ~ James 5:16

Praying the glorious light of His countenance would be upon you and you will know His heart towards you today.

Blessings to you!

Relished Comfort

2012-03-26T19:17:00.003-07:00

What do you think of when you hear "comfort food"? I'll be honest, I don't think of the same thing as my husband does.

My comfort food is a bowl of yummy soup with a slice of hot bread lathered with butter and some honey or homemade jelly. Can't forget the raspberry lemonade.

Or a big cup of steaming coffee with foaming whipped cream a little hint of sugar and the solitude of enjoying my time in quiet.....

My husband's comfort food is what most people think about: Macaroni and Cheese, Casseroles full of yummy meat and potatoes, succulent desserts, and meals that make you think of 'home'.

I wanted to share some of my "new" recipes that have become a blessing in my house. But before I do, I'd like to give you a bit of encouragement from the true "food" which gives eternal sustenance.

Isaiah55:1-3,6,12(amplified version)

Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy milk without money and without price. [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]

Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your yearnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness[the profuseness of spiritual joy.]

Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy promised to David.

Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while he may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.

For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [ by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

These verses are speaking of those who hunger and thirst for things which are not able to meet their needs and the Lord gives us a clear answer which meets that need sufficiently. He gives us the commands:

*Hearken diligently... and delight in that.
*Incline your ear and come.
*Hear and be revived
*Seek, inquire and require the Lord

We are rewarded in verse 12 ~
We will go out with joy being led by the Lord with peace... and even the mountains and hills will break forth in signing while the trees of the field clap their hands. Isn't that amazing?

Do you doubt the comfort that is found solely in His presence?

He is always good, my friend. Always Good. He is intent on blessing because that is His nature.

Rest and find comfort in His presence, Hide yourself in the shadow of His wings, and and delight in the Joy of the Lord.

Below is my revision on some comfort foods I have made in my home recently,please bare with me, though as I rarely measure while I am cooking so I am attempting to "guesstimate". :)

Comfort Macaroni and Cheese

2 c. noodles. ( I used some Ditalini Pasta instead of Elbow Macaroni and LOVED it.)

1 qt. of chicken broth ( or 1 qt of water and 2 bullion cubes)

4 oz. cream cheese

1/4 - 1/2 c. parmesan cheese

2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese ( may add more if desired)

1/4 c. butter

1/4-1/2 c. milk

salt and pepper to taste

Cook the noodles in the broth till almost done. Turn off the heat and add the cream cheese till it melts into the broth. When the cream cheese melts, add the butter, parmesan cheese, milk and stir well. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and stir till melted. Add more cheese to suit your liking.

My family really likes it creamy so I add a little more milk to it. You can put it in the oven to thicken it up if you like that, and put a layer of shredded cheese on top.

Hamburger and Potato Casserole

*I have made a casserole like this for years. I have been playing with how to make it w/o using any canned soups. I think this is the best attempt I have tried.( Even better than the original.)

1-2 lbs. of hamburger

1 onion chopped

2-3 c. of milk ( just enough to cover your potatoes)

4-6 potatoes peeled and sliced

*Frozen corn

Shredded cheddar cheese

Brown hamburger and onion, season well to taste. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan.

Cook the potatoes, adding salt, in the milk till they are done. The starch of the potatoes thickens the milk.

I put the about 1/2 - 1 c. of frozen corn on top of the hamburger and onion. Then I pour the milk and potatoes over the top, and spread the shredded cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 35-45 min.

Easy Vanilla Cheesecake

Graham Pie Crust ( I make my own. 3 tbs. sugar, 1 1/2 c crushed graham crackers, 1/4 c. melted butter. Mix together and put in a pie plate.)

1 box of vanilla pudding

1 pkg of cream cheese

1 to 1 1/2 c. whipping cream

1 tsp.almond extract.

Cherry Pie Filling

Put the cream cheese in your mixer and whip it till it is creamy. Add the vanilla pudding and whipping cream and mix on medium for 2-3 min. until it is thick. Stir the almond extract into the mixture. Pour into the prepared pie shell.

Layer with the Cherry Pie Filling. ( or substitute with your favorite)

Chill and enjoy! This was great the day I made it but it was even better the next day.

Living in Non-Conformity

2012-03-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I will save emails that I am waiting to read. Either I don't have time or I don't feel like reading them or... the list is endless I am sure depending on my mood at the time. :)

I was sorting through emails this morning and came across this daily devotion from the Proverbs 31 website

Proverbs 31 Daily Devotional

I had an aha moment!

Maybe you have or have not been that momma she mentions, the one with the toddler scurrying across the mall... or park... or for heaven's sake the theatre packed full of people. ( hint.. this last one was me.) Maybe you don't feel as though your invisible radar is on constant alert waiting... looking... praying that some how... some way you can make it through the social experience without having to apologize for something. Or worse.. that dreaded encounter with someone who is coming to tell you how to control that wayward child you birthed.

I felt that way a good portion of my life. I still do. I still get nervous everywhere we go and worry. Worry.. hmmmmm.. there is element #1 where my displaced faith in the God who sees, loves, heals and restores... the One who is at work in my life for my good, but ultimately for HIS, is evident. Fear and worry rob us of the blessings we can gain in walking with God and trusting that He is truly for our good. Trusting that He can and will take every situation in our lives and manifest His presence into the midst of each learning moment. When He is present there is no need to fear because perfect love casts out all fear. (1John 4:18)

I allow the ideas and feelings of other people, element #2... other people's judgment versus that of the Lord , to weigh in as preeminently more worthy than His wisdom and guidance, take precedence. I worry that we will be a stumbling block for someone else. I find myself asking.. " Do you think they saw Jesus in us?" ha! Did they see Jesus in me is really the question. Colossians 1:27 says that Christ in us is the revelation of the hope of glory being apparent in all we do. ( my paraphrase)

Hope is an earnest longing for an expected outcome. The hope of His Glory being revealed in what we do is by no power of our own. It can truly only be manifested by His Spirit in you. No matter how hard I try to do or be my best it will never compare with the Glory of God. Yet, His matchless grace can be extended through my efforts, actions and words so that this hope of His glory being visible to those who are near me is executable.

As the mom of a teenager, and almost 2 in just a little over a week....( heaven help me.) I feel I am consistently asking God to help me raise my children towards Him... towards what He has called them to.

We sat at the dinner table this week, and this is where the majority of our family discussion rests. My family really likes food.... I really like to cook and so it works. That harmony that provokes discussion, you know, it works at the dinner table. That is why it is so important to sit down and eat together. Whether or not you like to cook or create in your kitchen is completely irrelevant, it is the act of sitting together and eating together over a common thread of freedom from the distractions that seep in and steel parts of our days and eventually our hearts.

As we sat there I made a startling comment ( well ... only to myself you know because everyone else knows those things about us that we are quick to dismiss). I was asked why I chose to be specific about something, I can't remember right now but I do remember stopping and looking at my inquisitive child and I said very swiftly..

" I am a non-conformist."

My husband laughed as if to say.. tell us something we don't know. But it surprised me! And then comes those moments, the time after such a declaration, where the Lord reminds us of our words. As I read this devotional today, the very words that spilled from my mouth were replayed in my hearing... " I am a non-conformist"

Why does it take me so long to learn such simplicity?

Why would I expect my children to conform? To be like the cookie-cutter mold my brain imagined would be the end result of my efforts to discipline.

Why do I forget that they are not mine, but on loan from Him to sow protect, guide and teach? To disciple. To Love. To PRAY for.

I am to come to the cross daily in intercession for the very lives of these amazing persons who God has blessed me to be called Mother for.. He has blessed me! That alone is awe-inspiring. Their lives hold purpose and majesty because they are made in His image alone, not the cookie cutter assembly line of a idea that represents some convoluted theory on what a child should look like.

Yet they bring me to my knees so often. I can list for you nearly everything I have done wrong as a mother. I can highlight all my faults that I see displayed in their characters. The tendency to react verses respond in love; the ability to judge without knowing the truth; the lack of grace abundant in the face of trails; the absence of love in my own humanity.... the list can go on.

What I forget to do is see those things that maybe just maybe led to stepping heavenward:

The moment I learned humility before the watchful eyes of my children.

The acceptance of God's grace in the midst of my human-ness.

To know love even after rejecting His gifts...the expanse of His mercy is overwhelming.

The simple joy of a deep belly laugh when the unexpected surprises you.

The liberty in knowing that He wants them to know Him more that I could ever know because they are crafted in His perfect plan in a way I may never understand.

So am I raising non-conformist?

Romans 12:2 says,"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

Praise God I hope so! I hope that rather than being dictated by the ideas and constant influx of opinions of what is true, right, and Godly my children can cling to the only Truth ( Jesus Christ.. John 14:6) and rest in the assurance of His affirmation of love and grace. They, like all of us, are meant to show forth His Love in a way that presents a picture of the Father to the world. A Father who loves with a deep abiding love that dispels fear, embraces the uniqueness of his creation, and who has mercy to pour forward for all who come to taste the living water which quenches thirsty hearts for eternity.

Love in Christ!

~Dawn

Broccoli/Cauliflower Soup and Cooking with Liberty

2012-03-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

I love soup! :) Yum! I wish my family enjoyed soup as much as I do, it is a joy to serve them meals they enjoy. I love to hear them exclaim satisfaction in the bounty laid before them as we break bread.

Recently, I overheard my husband commenting on a dish I made for a family meal. I believe he was trying to compliment me, you know, but it could have been interpreted differently. He said," She can make anything, but never the same thing twice." :)

I have mentioned a few times that I do not measure 'much' when I cook. Usually I am cooking from what I have rather than shopping to cook. I like to stock my storehouses full of wholesome ingredients which I can use to make multiple meals. Sometimes I find uses for things I wouldn't normally use. Keep in mind that this is because it is what I usually have on hand, not something I buy specifically for a recipe.

A few things For Example:
Cream Cheese as a creamed soup base versus cream, milk or sour cream.
Yogurt for sour cream
Honey as a sweetener
Bullion and water in place of broth
Milk + lemon juice for buttermilk

I rarely ever buy mixes to make a sauce and/or gravy.
I use Corn Starch or make a basic white sauce.

I keep as many spices on hand as possible, because I love the flavor they add to the dishes I cook like:
Cilantro
Oregano
Italian Seasoning
Cracked Pepper
Sea Salt
Garlic Powder
Parsley
Basil
Cumin
Red Pepper

I use real butter and not margarine; we try to eat as close to the way God made it as possible.

Lots of fresh veggies and fruit. We have an amazing store nearby that provides an amazing assortment of veggies for a great price. I find when I buy things like: squash, brussel sprouts, broccoli, eggplant, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, I can create with more liberty.

When I make things like spaghetti squash I don't have to make a starch ( potato, rice or noodle) because it is a great replacement.We have been eating a lot of rice and some pasta to try and change up the monotony of the same meal options over and over. We had gotten out of casseroles, but they are making a valiant comeback.

I try to always have a salad and fresh veggies and fruit cut up. Occasionally,I will make a dip to go with them. If I don't have fresh fruit or veggies, I serve frozen or applesauce or canned fruits intermittently.

What I find is that the variety provides a good mix of liberty with my meals without having to spend tons of time looking through recipes and/or cookbooks. Though, that is a lot of fun.

Ok..on to my soup!

This was another recipe I made up as I went along. Each week we attend our Classical Conversations program on Monday and we have a yummy potluck lunch together. I tend to bring soup, mostly because it is easy but also because I LOVE soup and my family doesn't have the affinity to which I have become endeared to this delicacy. :)

Often I will make the soup on Sunday for lunch, (I can get away with this because it is lunch and not supper... my husband says soup is not a meal). Then I am prepared for Monday morning and into the crock pot it goes ready for the afternoon repast.

This last week I had an abundance of praise shared for my concoction of what my kids call " Refrigerator Soup". Here is the recipe ( sort of... I just threw it all together so I am guessing). I didn't have enough of 1 vegetable to make a single soup so I threw together all I had in my refrigerator and thus the name...

Refrigerator- Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
4 quarts of water
4 bullion cubes
1/2 to 1 package of cream cheese
1 package of frozen broccoli pieces
Any fresh broccoli or cauliflower you have.
Broccoli Slaw
1 onion diced and sauteed
Seasoning salt
Italian seasoning
cilantro
1/2 stick of butter
1/8-1/4 c. flour
salt and pepper
milk and cream
2-4 c. cheese. ( to your taste)

Dice all your veggies and set aside. ( except the frozen broccoli)

Put the water and bullion in a pan and bring to slow boil.

In another pan, saute the onion in the butter. When translucent, add the flour and salt and pepper. When butter is golden add about 1 c of milk. Set the cream cheese in the hot rue to soften and melt. Whisk before you add to your soup.

Meanwhile put the veggies in the broth to cook, except the frozen broccoli. When the veggies have softened, add the rue you made with the onions, flour, butter, milk and cream cheese.

Whisk into the soup. Add the cheese and stir well till melted.
Add more milk or cream to the soup to make a thinner broth. You can also add more broth. Whichever suits your taste.
Add spices to your taste.

I also made a delicious cake, courtesy of Miss Laura suggestion.

Laura's Lemon Delight Cake

1 box white cake
Lemon pudding prepared as directed
1-2 c. whipping cream
1/2 c. powdered sugar

Mix cake as directed and bake in 2 round pans. Cool.
Invert on to a serving dish. Spread the lemon pudding in between the layers.

In a mixing bowl, whisk the whipping cream and powdered sugar till stiff.

Frost the cake.

This is so delicious. Yumm!

Enjoy!

Blessings on your Day!

Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope,patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Traditions towards Easter

2012-02-24T18:31:00.003-08:00

We began the process this week of walking a path to the Cross as we choose to study Lent together as a family. Each year we take time to consider the path the Savior took for us as we ponder and prayerfully consider what He did for us.

Lent is a time of repentance and remembrance.

Remembering that we can do nothing outside of His Grace and power in our lives. It is the enfolding of His sweet Spirit which places us into the depth of the life-saving love flowing from His heart into ours.

Books, a passion I tend to find hard to ignore, are a piled upon my desk and in my Nook to assist us in this journey. Yet, I smile as I type because the only book I need is THE BOOK. His Word to be drawn into each day in reverent submission.

Today as we sat together reading through the book Amon's Adventure, by Arnold Ytreeide, we were drawn back to Jerusalem and life through the eyes of a 13-year-old young man named, Amon. This book continues the Advent series by the same author, Jotham's Journey. We have loved to spend our weeks preparing for Christ's birth reading these stories. Now, we can prepare for the most significant event in history in the same way. It just draws them in.

We are all drawn into the details of the temple as the young man who now has the privilege of going into the Court of Israel. The ritual cleansing and the pious observation of tradition are amazing to read about. There was such a desire, through the eyes of this young man, to get as close to God as he possibly could.

Of course this story is meant to take the reader on the journey that Jesus walked as he carried the cross of our sorrow upon His back. He bore the weight of our shame and sickness; He willingly took our sin upon Himself... because we could not bear it ourselves.

Today we read from Psalm 51.

Have mercy on me, O God,according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquityand cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sinsand blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart,
O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from blood guilt,
O God,the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice,
or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,O God,
you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

There is a cry in our heart for mercy and cleansing.
We spoke of the need for repentance in our lives and an understanding of the selfishness which is hidden in our hearts. Selfishness is a form of idolatry where we place ourselves in the position only meant for God.

As we read from His Word today and pondered the truth of what it means....I was overwhelmed. What a privilege to share this truth with my children. What a joy to tell them of His love for them. What a blessing to be a witness to the working of His light in their hearts. What a miracle to see repentance begin in the heart of your child and to touch you to the depth of your own core.
My son says, "Mom... is this to be a time of fasting?"
I respond, “Yes, Son... it is."
He bows his head and quietly waits.

We pray. We ask for His Grace and Mercy. We seek the cleansing power attained only by the covering of His blood over us.

We look to the Cross, where victory was won; yet we also see the well-traveled path He walked for us. On this path he bore a burden which was heavy and unyielding. It was pain-filled and suffering. There were tears and prayers offered during that march. Prayers which the annointed Christ fulfilled in ways we have yet to truly understand.

I lift my head and I see my child's face enlightened by a truth. He makes a choice to sacrifice something he loves to draw closer to God and I am humbled.

He asks me pointedly, "What will you give up, Mom?"

In my head I count the cost.. What can I give up that is worth all I can gain in finding more of His Presence in my life.

I give up my pride, my need to know. I give up my urge to have control over my day, in essence my life. I live for this day, this hour, this second.... I yield to the Holy Spirit and release the strangle-hold this earthly life has craftily attached itself to me.

I surrender all that He asks for more of Him. And I wait...

Though traditions are no exchange for the truth we find in Christ, they remind us to Celebrate! Celebrate His Love.CelebrateHis Life! Celebrate Jesus!
How are you celebrating Lent? Here are some of our favorite books:
Amon's Adventure http://www.jothamsjourney.com/
Devotions for Lent http://www.amazon.com/Devotions-Lent-Holy-Bible-Mosaic/dp/1414335814#_
40 Days with Jesus by Sarah Young
Journey to the Cross by Helen Haidle
http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Cross-Complete-Easter-Readers/dp/031070023X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330138466&sr=1-1
Ann Voskamp from www.aholyexperience.com has a wonderful ebook called "Trail to the Tree" with devotions and reflections on this time of reflection.

Breakfast mornings and Lists!

2012-01-05T07:47:00.001-08:00

It is January, time for re-organization, change and lists...right?

I don't know if anyone else struggles with getting a good breakfast on the table in the mornings but I have found that there are some days, even though I LOVE to cook, I seem to be trying to play catch up with everyone. Let's face it we have kids who are up before us, maybe not all of you are like that but I am and then kids who want to sleep the day away. (Ah... the joy of my teenage daughter)

Anyway, since the fraction of members awake alarmingly early outweighs those of us in the adult population in the morning I am bombarded with requests for breakfast when I come down the stairs. And all before my morning coffee... isn't there a rule about that?

Well.. actually there is in my house, once I get my hubby out, my quiet time comes next and all are instructed that should I miss my quiet time.... mom may not be the sweetest banana in the barrel. :) ha!

So, in an effort to give me grace and keep the smiles all around I have instituted that lovely thing called a calendar and a list and the most wonderful invention... THE DRY ERASE BOARD (affectionately DEB). Can I really have not used this for the majority of my homeschooling journey?

There is a list on the DEB which designates what and who should be doing what, when they should be doing, and hopefully doing it with a smile... though it is not a requirement.

Well, I know they can all read (check that off my to do list) so I know they can adequately ascertain what they should be doing. I have yet to figure out how to incorporate an understanding of priority. I was told yesterday that the order I have considered and the order that the said child had considered were not exactly the same and if it was being completed wasn't that ok? Well debated argument I suppose, and my goal this year is to be a blessing to my children.... you know the smiling happy loving and joy-filled homeschooling mother who can respond with wisdom to any and all situations.

On a side note my devotion this morning stated that a victorious life is one whose mistakes, multudinous as they are, become life lessons. A life with victory is not a life which meets all goals perfectly the first time, but the victory is a result of a journey of trials lived in humble admission of our need for mercy and the direction of Omnipotent Grace. (My paraphrase) I was taken to Psalm 34 and reminded of His grace to those who seek him with humbled hearts. Oh, that I would not allow pride to take me away from each lesson He allows me to learn from.

Back to the point of my post!.... Breakfast.

While I love to cook, being bombarded in the morning with a myriad of requests, as if I lived in a restaurant and could fulfill any order submitted, it just does not bless me. While structure and organization are not my main love language, I can see the necessity it boasts.

Our DEB :) lists the days I cook breakfast and lunch and the days the children are to make(help make) breakfast and lunch, because it is all about teaching and training right? This training thing is just as much for me as it is for them and I am confident that because Psalm 34:4-6 confirms that When we seek the Lord he hears us, delivers us out of all our troubles and we will not be ashamed, then I can know that it isn't perfection that we should be continually seeking but the broken, contrite heart of the thoroughly penitent.

I should add to this topic that the days I cook breakfast, I ususally make something that can be easily reheated the following day or can be made into another meal again. I love challenge of taking left-overs and creating a new dish with them. It is my only valid attempt at frugality, I fall far below the realm of being a frugal woman otherwise... much to my dismay the conquest of finding good deals often alludes me. So, I work with what I have.

The DEB also lists the requirements for school that day so I don't have to consistently vocalize the need for them to be on track. When they finish their list they have free time, when they don't they are in school all day. Does that hamper my own schedule, at times yes... but I have constructed my own special corner in the school room where I can sit in my comfy chair and enjoy the sunshine. It's all about perspective right? If not then I fear the opportunity to choose less than joy becomes a consistent plight on my day.

I am sure I'll rework the DEB often, and even my schedule (what sort of looks like one anyway) will have holes that need to be filled. I will need the trip to the Library on my days I want to fly away. (My other valid attempt at frugality... I can drive to the Library let them roam freely to the book-land of their choosing and fulfill my own bookworm desires at the same time. Win/Win and I haven't spent any money or wasted time) and the heart will need to be brought back to that place of seeking and inquiring of the Lord based on the necessity and authority of His Word... to deliver me from all my fears and the painting of His radiance upon my face once again. ( Ps 34:4-5).

I have come to believe that teaching my son to cook is an invaluable blessing I can give to my future daughter-in-law, yes I am praying for her! I am convinced I am raising a modern day knight who will never tell her, "My mom does it this way!" And my girls will know how to cook; whether or not they choose to do it is really theirs to decide.

Ok.. on to the helpful (hopefully quick) breakfast recipes!

Skillets:

If you have left over sausage or ham you can quickly and easily cut it all up with some potatoes and fry it in a pan to make a yummy, warm and filling breakfast.

Slather bread with butter and place it in the oven to toast and your kids will think you are a chef extraordinaire.

Eggs/Omelets/Frittatas:

Use this excuse to make use of the left over veggies, rice, potatoes, etc. in your fridge. I think I can mix just about anything with an egg, some milk and even a little bread... add some cheese, salt and spices ... voila! Yum!

Waffles/Pancakes:

Seriously I can make this once or twice a week and breakfast is set for the rest of the week. I am not a bulk food baker, because we just don't eat it. However, this is so much cheaper than Eggo Waffles and Pancakes in the store. I have the best recipes that my kids say even IHOP can't beat. They freeze well.

Waffles:

1 3/4 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp. sugar

Whisk:

1 Tbsp. melted butter

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)

Add dry ingredients. Cook on waffle iron.

I put the oven on warm and place the waffles in a pan to keep warm. They stay crispy.

I make my own maple syrup as we all love it. It is not healthy by any means but it saves me when I don't have it.

1-2 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 - 2 c. water

2 tbsp. Dark Karo Syrup

Mix together in a pan and bring to a boil till sugars dissolve. Add 1-2 Tbsp. of maple syrup extract.

Frozen Hash Browns and Sausage or Biscuits:

Love those Frozen Hash browns in the morning. Everyone thinks they went to McDonald's for Breakfast. And biscuits with sausage patties. They are a great investment in coffee time for me. The kids can make them and everyone is fed which leads to a better day.

Oatmeal/Coffee Cake:

I love to make oatmeal and add dried cranberries, apples and walnuts with a little maple syrup and milk. Most everyone else enjoys it. For those that don't they eat Cheerios. It's ok! I promise.

Left over oatmeal goes into this YUMMY cake that prompted me to create this prose of reflection today. I hope you enjoy the recipe.

My daughter lovingly calls this Oaple Cake. :)

1 3/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick of melted butter

1 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 c. cooked oatmeal (or whatever you have left over.)

1 c. (make add more or less depending on the consistency) buttermilk

1tbsp maple syrup (That’s what I added today because I was out of vanilla.) or 1 tsp. vanilla in its place.

3-4 apples diced.

Mix well in your blender.

Grease a 9 x 13 pan with shortening. ( Tip I read: Shortening is better than butter or oil and your cake will not stick)

Pour and back for 45 min till done at 350.

I made Cream Cheese Frosting for the cake, but it doesn't need it. Only a few individuals in my house prefer that. You could use whipped honey butter spread or just eat it as is. It is so yummy. Almost like getting a bowl of oatmeal in those kids.

This morning I made with Strawberry smoothies, while I had my coffee and quiet time. They were sent up to their rooms for quiet time.

Making breakfast isn't so bad! :)

Blessings to you!

Frugal Dinnners for the Proverbs 31 Woman

2011-08-21T08:20:00.001-07:00

So, I may find the title changes each time I post my recipes and devotion. That's ok.. I have decided that my blog is a lot like the artist's palette. I can create with words as I go, letting the One who has taught us to communicate with His word lead me.

Ready for Meal Idea #2?

Let's start with our model found in Proverbs.

Proverbs 31:11-12

The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

Oh, such a profound truth to consider and meditate upon. His Word illuminates my darkness and shines gloriously upon my path.

Am I a wife who does only good to my husband, being an encourager and a comforter?
Can he trust me?
Does he believe in me?
Do I have his confidance?

These are questions I want to place on my refrigerator to remind me of my mission in this life. My mission as his wife. Do I bless him?

I can look at those questions and say without a doubt that my husband believes in me. He is truly one of my strongest supporters. He believes in me on a level I have yet to believe in myself. He has the gift of seeing past my fears and looking at the woman he married. Funny how I am not even close to being that woman so many years ago, yet he saw me then too. ( Praise God for that!)

Do I have his confidance and trust? Hmmm, I can hear him just "looking" at me as I ask that question. I can see the look in his eyes that says, " you silly thing". Yet, I should ask myself this often. You know in your heart if you have been trustworthy. You know if you have been a blessing that day.

I know when I have overstepped my bounds with him. I know how far I can go before I exhaust his patience. And yet, he greets me with a smile. He sees me as his bride and actually enjoys my presence.

As a young wife I used to fret about that.

See, he is a man of few words, but when he speaks most people listen. He doesn't need to talk to communicate his love to me. For him it is just being together.

How like God's heart is that. He doesn't need me to speak to him to know what I need. In fact, He knows our needs before they even take flight off our lips. ( Matthew 6:8)

I have been reminded over and over that my standing, my place of rest, my reward and my victory are only in Christ. It is firmly secure in Him, in all that he represents.

Looking at the 6th Chapter of Matthew we find Jesus speaking to the multitude. He is specifically teaching us to pray, to have our hearts fixed on the treasure of heaven and to keep free of worry and fear.

Matthew 6:33 - " Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."

This command comes with a promise... that when we seek Him first...all the fears of having enough food to eat, enough clothing to wear, or respect from others would be taken care of.

So, I challenge you to be intentional about seeking Him first where your husband is concerned. When we do this, we will gain their full confidance and unyielding support, honest trust and belief. We will be the comfort and encouragement that is formed by the discipline of a life which is found on our knees before our King.

So, when we got married, 18 years ago now. :) My husband taught me 2 things about his heart. Two things I could doto show him that I love and appreciate him... that I respect him.
1. Feed Him
2. Clothe Him

Does that mean sew for him? No... :) thankfully, I can trust my sweet mother-in-law to be the seamstress in the family. I like to quilt and sewing is an art I have yet to master.

It means supper on the table when he is home and the family sitting together and always having ( or trying to have) his clothes washed and put away.

That has been such a blessing to me as I can do that! He gives me grace to learn the rest.

So, here are my tips for today.

Laundry:
I am by no means a list person, but I have found that if I keep up with the Laundry by doing atleast 1 load a day I can keep up with it. I actually like laundry. :) Yes, stop laughing. I love sorting and hanging it out to dry. I love the look of the clothesline full and flapping in the wind. I love the smell of sunshine in our clothes and the crisp feel of the wind-whipped coverings we wrap ourselves in.

If you can create a weekly schedule, print it out, and hang it up where you can see it. ( a habit becomes a habit afte 21 days) Each day look at your schedule and wash that "color", or however you sort your washing.

My other very practical suggestion is to hang your clothes out to dry. If you don't have a clothes line... get one! I also have an antique drying rack hanging on my laundry room wall. It folds up and down so that I have space and it is not sitting on the floor. I love it!

Frugal Meal Ideas #2.

Grocery List

1-2 large chickens ( depending on how much your family eats and/or you want to use afterwards)
Carrots
Onions
Potatoes
Celery
Grapes
Mayonnaisse
Apples
Flour
Eggs
Noodles
Tortillas
Rice
Salsa
Cheese
Spicies: Parsley, garlic, salt/pepper,Italian Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, chicken bullion

*Just a note... these are just suggestions of meals you can make from your leftovers from first meal. It is unlikely you will make all of the following suggestions but I am giving ideas of what I do.

1st meal:

Baked Chicken and Veggies

This is so easy! Put your chicken in a big roaster ( or your crock pot). Throw in the potatoes, celery, carrots and onions, and bullion ( 1-3 cubes with 1-3 cups of water respectively)

Cook until done! Yumm! This is one of my FAVORITE meals. My family loves it.

You can get so much extra meat off of the whole chicken that even your family ravishes the bird you can still through the pieces into another meal.

If you make more than one chicken, then you have twice the meat at the same time. You can shread or cube the meat and put it in the freezer till you are ready to use it.

Don't forget to strain the broth and use it for the following recipes. Most of the time this broth is strong and you can dilute it in the recipes with water.

These are meals I have made with my left over chicken. I will put them in 2 categories that you can use up the ingredients more than once. It's all about using what you have and saving your grocery bill!

Chicken and dumplings

Chicken Gravy and Mashed Potato Sandwiches ( a twist on this is to substitute waffles for the bread! It is amazing)

Chicken and rice casserole

Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Salad
Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Chicken and Dumplings

Using the stock from your chicken and the left over carrots and potatoes, bring the liquid to a boil. Add more broth if necessary and more veggies to suit you.

Make up your dumplings.
( you can use bisquick OR... make them from scratch)

1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, whisked lightly
1 c. milk

* you can add herbs like parsely,cilantro, chives or onions to the batter. Whatever you like is good.

Mix till all is moistened.

Drop by spoonfuls into the boiling liquid. Bring the heat down and simmer for 10-15 min.

Serve over rice.

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Take your dumpling base, add your rice, put it in a casserole and bake. ( I'd probably take the dumplings out)

Chicken and Mashed Potato Sandwiches

Or take the left over chicken. Make some gravy with the stock. Make a pan of mashed potatoes. Serve over slices of bread or make up a batch of waffles and try that. Yumm!

Chicken Enchiladas

Make a pan of rice. I prefer Jasmine rice to most other brands.
I like to add a can of black beans and a cup of water with 1-2 chicken bullion cubes.
1 -2 tsp of cilantro
1/2 tsp. of red pepper
salt and pepper

Cook till rice and beans are done.

In a large skillet add and heat through:

Shredded chicken( you only need about 1-2 cups)
1/2 diced onion
1 c. salsa
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese
Taco Seasoning,if desired
* Cream of Chicken Soup(see homemade creamed soup below)

Cream of Chicken Soup Substitute
4 tbsp. butter melted in pan
add 1/4 c. flour.
Cook till the flour turns a caramel color
Add 2 c. milk ( or so) , slowly whisking as you add it in. Salt and pepper to taste. You can throw in a chicken bullion cube and/or chicken soup base seasoning to make it taste like cream of chicken soup.

To make your enchiladas:
Put 1/4 c. tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 in. pan.

Fill the tortillas with the chicken mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in the pan.
Pour the rest of the tomato sauce over the top.
Sprinkle with the shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 min. until the cheese melts.

Serve with the black beans and rice, salad, sour cream and homemade salsa.

Chicken and Tortilla Soup.

1-2 c. shredded chicken
2 qts. chicken broth
1/2 to 1 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green peppers
2 cans of tomatoes ( or 2 c. of diced fresh)

*Black beans and Rice mix from the evening you had enchiladas.

Seasonings: Garlic, red chili peppers, salt and pepper.

Bring the broth to a boil, add the veggies and chicken, black beans and rice and seasonings. Heat through.

When you are ready to serve. Spray tortilla shells with Pam and cut into strips. Bake in a 350 degree oven till crispy. Serve soup with tortila strips and sour cream, salsa or hot sauce if you like more kick to your soup.

Chicken Salad

1-2 cups shredded chicken
1 c. grapes, sliced
1 c. apples, diced
1 c. onion, chopped and diced finely
1 tsp. garlic
1 c. mayonnaisse
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. season salt
Pepper to taste
1/2 c. diced celery

Optional... walnuts or almonds.

Mix the mayonnaisse, sugar, vinegar and spices thoroughly. Add the rest of the ingredients. Serve on crescent rolls or french bread.

This is great paired with some fruit salad and dip.
Fruit Dip:
1 can Cream de Coco ( I get it in the alcohol aisle...no alcohol, just the cream of coconut)
1 package of cream cheese
1 container of cool whip

Whisk the cream cheese and cream of coconut together till smooth; add cool whip. Chill if possible, but we can wait to eat it. :)

You can also throw your fruit in a bowl. Drizzle honey and lemon or lime juice to coat and devour. It is heavenly.

Enjoy!

Creatively Frugal Dinners

2011-08-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

So I have had it in my heart to start sharing recipes that would be a blessing to those busy mommas who want to make wholesome "heart" foods without breaking their coinpurse to do it.

And what about all those ingredients? You know the odd inclusives that rarely grace the shelves of our pantry. I love spices but find that I have so much yet to learn that I am inadequately prepared to choose wisely as I stand before the ample diversity provided in my local spice aisle.

At any rate, I have always loved the challenge of being creative in my kitchen. There is just something about literally making something out of nothing. Even more so when I am committed to using only what I have and making my storage of food last.

I think about the women of the depression era, my great-grandmother was one of these women. She didn't waste a thing. ... sigh.. I can't say I have learned that trait, but I am trying. The addage, "Waste not, Want not" , comes to mind whenever I find my guilt button depressed as I empty my refrigerator into my compost bowl.( Note... when I had my chickens I could feed them almost anything and somehow assuaged the guilt-trip of feeling like a wasteful person, and adding to the compost pile brings the thought of creating a great soil for my next year's seedlings, then feel a ray of hope.)

I remember my mom saying often, she used what she had and they never went without. Even butchering time was well plotted as they used every aspect of the animal in a plethora of ways. Some of them I cringe to think of but what I admire more than anything was the resourcefulness she possessed.

Resourceful....to be counted in the same likeness brings a smile of satisfaction to my face. I am learning, however, to be resourceful. To be a woman who can bless her family by the work of her hands and give glory to God as a consistent and wise woman.

With these recipes I hope to also inspire you to be a virtuous woman, whose worth is far above rubies or pearls. A wise woman who looks well into the ways of her household. A gentle adversary to her husband and a woman who delights in her children. A woman who teaches those who come to her and gives with generous measure, giving glory to God as she shares her gifts.

Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The definition of a virtue is having the quality of being able to make the right choices and avoiding the wrong wones.

Synonymns of virtuous are: good, moral, ethical, upright, honourable, excellent, pure, worthy, honest, righteous, exemplary, blameless, praiseworthy, uncorruptible, high-principled.

Begin seeing yourself as a woman of virtue, whose value and worth is beyond that of precious gems. See that through His blood, the filling of His Spirit and the gift of His grace we can claim those words and make them our own.

One of my favorite stories in the gospels involves a woman and her desperation yet more importanly her faith in Christ's power to heal. In Matthew 9:20-22 and Mark 5: 25-34 we read of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' robe. He stopped.... he turned.... he looked for her. He knew she touched him.. He knew her desperation... He knew her need. And He KNEW it was met. Mark tells us virtue had gone out of him at the moment she touched the hem of His garment.

Virtue

Go to the throne of Grace... receive mercy.... touch the hem of His robe and draw on His virtue. We are a throng of those in need of the drops of heavenly sustance coming from the saturated cloak of the King of Mercy.

Virtue

You are a virtuous woman. Your worth is far above rubies and pearls. Go be a blessing and pass on that virtue to your family and those who are sent to your mission field.

Frugal Meal Ideas#1.

Ingredients needed.

3-5 lb. Pork Roast
Potatoes
Rice
Broccoli Slaw
Barbeque Sauce
Onions
Green Peppers
Garlic, Salt, Peppercorns, Italian Seasoning
Veggies
Broth

1st Day.

Cook your Pork Roast in the Crockpot on Low all day. Place it in your slow cooker with 1 cup of water. Season with garlic, salt, peppercorns. Layer with sliced onions.

Options: Add Potatoes and Carrots to the pot and dinner is complete.

Start a loaf of artisan bread (www.artisanbreadinfive.com) when you put the roast in, or begin a loaf of french bread.

If you don't like the greasy taste of the pork roast with your potatoes. Take some new potatoes, quarter and roast in the oven with onions and olive oil, don't forget the salt and pepper with garlic.

When supper is over shred the left-over meat. Don't throw away any left over potatoes.. put them in the fridge for the next meal.

Or...you can put any potatoes and veggies in the freezer to throw in a soup at some point.

Meal #2

Pulled BBQ Pork

You can use your favorite barbeque sauce or one of my favorites is below.

Equal portions of Ketchup and Western Dressing.
1 tsp. mustard
1 tsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar ( or honey)
dash of worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Mix well. Pour on the meat. Add chopped onions and green peppers. Put in your crockpot on low ( make sure you add a little water to the pot so it doesn't burn). Or throw in your oven or on the stove.

You can take any left over potatoes, warm them in the oven with a little olive oil or butter. When warm, smash them with a potatoe masher. Add garlic, chives, salt and pepper. Yumm!

Meal #3

Stirfry Pork and Veggies with rice.

Make a good portion of rice and set aside.

Put a little olive oil in a pan. Mix the broccoli slaw and shredded pork ( 1-2 cups) in a pan. Drizzlw with soy sauce. Add 1 tsp. of garlic powder or chop a clove of garlic, and sautee.

Mix together 1 Tbsp. honey, 2 Tbsp water, 1 tsp. ginger, 1 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tsp. soy sauce.

Pour over the meat and veggies and sautee till warm.

Serve over rice.

You can also take this mixture and put it in egg roll wrappers. Follow the cooking directions on the back of the egg roll package and enjoy!

Meal #4:

Vegetable Soup

You can create a lovely vegetable soup with the left over veggies, rice and meat from your roast.

In a pot add 2 quarts of your favorite broth. Add your veggies and your meat and simmer.

Some of my favorites are tomatoes, cabbage, green beens, onions, and corn. Throw in some pearled barley or rice and you have a hearty and delicious soup. The flavor of the tomatoes and the cabbage is delicious.

For those of you cringing becasue I suggested you "throw it all together".. here are some measurments.

Hearty Veggie Soup

1-2 qts. of diced tomatoes. ( up to 4 cans)
2 qts. of broth
1 onion diced
2-4 diced carrots
1 c. green beans
1/2 c. corn
1-2 c. shredded cabbage
1/2 c. diced celery

1-2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. basil, rosemary, oregano, and thyme ( or you can get italian seasoning)
1 tbsp. dried parsley, or handful of fresh. ( wait till the end if using fresh)

Bring the broth and tomatoes to a low boil. Cook the root veggies, onions and celery till tender. Add barley or rice and corn and cook till done. You can always add a dash of parmesan cheese or put a wedge of parmesan in the soup for flavor.

Yumm! :)

Frugal Napkin Tip:

Make your own napkins and save the cost of paper napkins. You can get material pieces from fa fabric stores that are discarding swatches of fabric. Sew a simple hem and you have instant napkins. Or... look at thrift stores for fun fabric swatches and pick them up for just pennies. Your family will feel so special with their new napkins.

Blessings to you!
Dawn

Using the right Tools

2011-06-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a whirlwind for me as I have spent most of it moving about and preparing and very little of it winding down and resting. One of my favorite attributes of what I dream summer to be is the act of relaxing and refreshing from a busy school year.

As a homeschooling momma the hats I have chosen to wear are many. Oftentimes, I rob myself of the joys of this life by choosing too many hats to wear in view of the elusive list I never really get completed. Walking this road can be one of utter honesty and reality to which we come to the final truth that w/o Christ we can do nothing fully well. We can have measures of success but in the sanctity of our position IN HIM when we choose to do things apart from Him we are walking a road with our eyes fixed on anything but the calling of our own heart.

That said, I have been blessed to be busy and knowing I was where I was supposed to be. Letting go of the "should have done's", the "Need to do's", the " I wish I could have's" has now become a more vivid reality in my walk. I am in a constant state of learning, and isn't that where we are supposed to be ? I am finding that there is little in this world that is worth knowing, save knowing Christ and seeking His heart and will.

Yet, doesn't he call us to seek and inquire of this creation. In Deuteronomy 29:29 we learn that it is those hidden things that have been revealed to man and for his descendants. The Word of God has shown us specifically how to learn and seek wisdom and to get knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 24:3-4 says , " Through Wisdom is a house built; and by Understanding it is established: And by Knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

In Proverbs 4:5 the Word of God tells us to GET WISDOM. In verse 7 it goes on to say with all your getting of wisdom, GET UNDERSTANDING.

Proverbs 2:6 says, " For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

In Proverbs 9:10 we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and knowledge of the Holy is understanding."

Let's look at these words I have italicized: Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom.

In each of these scriptures we find that they work together to complete the learning, the pattern or the tools required to accomplish the end goal.

Real learning requires an acquaintance to solidify the material and make it relevant to any person, child or adult. I have long believed the Classical Model of learning is by far one of the most thorough, well-established and successful patterns by which to present material.

The Classical Model follows the pattern set in Proverbs 24. It is the Trivium; Latin for "3 roads".

The classical model employs the grammar, dialectic and rhetorical process by which the student can master any and all subjects.

The beauty of this model is that it is natural, it is doable, it is effective.... ANY one can learn. We live in a society where we are told that our children ought to be labeled. What is an ought and who are we to decide that one person is elevated above another because they score higher on an aptitude test? The measure of our value is not based in our abilities, it is based on our identity to the King of Kings.

As I have had to prepare this summer I have had the privilege of reacquainting myself with the words of those who have gone before me, who have walked the journey and see the fruits of their labor come forth. Even more so, I am acutely aware and the lack of preparation and knowledge of these tools present today.

So what is this " 3 Roads" I am speaking of?

Dorothy Sayers calls them "The Lost Tools of Learning" in her essay by the same name. She elaborates, quite emphatically, that it is the loss of these necessary tools by which we have pushed our educating to a lower standard.

The point is that at one point in our history we were a completely literate nation, one which when finished with their education would produce not citizens of ideal labor, but persons of thought having a disposition to articulate on that thought.

I can hear in the back of my mind, we are not all wired the same. No we are not, but in Proverbs 18:16 the Bible also tells us that a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. We are all given an innate ability to learn and when coupled with the tools we have the advantage of be educated and equipped to learn anything.

That is the key for me. When we have the tools to know HOW to learn, we can approach any situation and be willing to learn any new thing with fervor. Where does it say we are to stop learning? Where does it say that after we graduate from high school or the pursuit of a college degree we must stop seeking knowledge, wisdom and understanding?

In the Classical Model, Grammar is the input, the knowledge stage. It is the place where we are gathering the vocabulary and the facts about that which we are learning. In every subject there is a grammar stage... the acquaintance of coming to know more about something. This where we provide a brief and gentle introduction to a subject and then we move on. Mastery is not expected here, it should not be required. I have learned, often through hardship and tears, that moving on is good and the mastery comes.

The Dialectic is the dialog and asking questions phase, the understanding stage. It is the time of logic and ultimately... learning to Think! This is the time when you are recognizing that you have an idea about something but you want to know more. The student is asking questions, thinking and processing and considering that there is more than just the facts. This is the light-bulb moment we have seen in our kids. This is that time when they are able to say, " You know what... why does it do that? How did this happen? Where did this come from?" It is the logician within us that derives the ability to question and consider. This too is natural. It may be different for every one but if you watch, if you look, you can see it begin in your children and in yourself.

The Rhetorical is the ability to relate the information you have learned back to someone else, the wisdom stage. This the place where you can teach someone else what you have learned. We can all be rhetorical, though I find some people tend to fight this concept. They just don't want to get out of the grammar stage or the dialectic phase. That is ok, but what I am saying is that when we can tie something together in a cohesive understanding and present that information to someone else, we are being rhetorical. I once heard that when we truly understand something we can relate it back in way that would be understood by a 10 year old.

The joy, I have found, in looking at this through a lens which is readied first by the Word of God and a Vision lifted to heaven versus the expectation of man is that realization of one thing.. we have all been given the innate ability to learn and it is a privilege.

Proverbs 25:2 says, " It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."

We are all priests seated with our King when we have accepted Christ as our Savior. We have been given a special advantage in this life to seek out the hidden things which have been laid out before time began stored up for those who inherit salvation.

When God created Adam, he made him fully functioning. He breathed into his dust formed body, the breath of life. We were made in His image.

When Jesus walked this earth, He spent time with his most trusted friends and gave of Himself to those who would hear. He walked with them, talked with them, taught them and then when He left He gave us the Holy Spirit who is our teacher. It is in the revelation of that truth we have understanding.

In Deuteronomy chapter 6 we read the commandments to teach our children diligently, when we rise up , when we lie down, when we sit and when we walk. We are told to bind the truths as a sign on our hands and as a band on our head and we are told to write them down.

Education can be daunting but in this era where we focus on specialty and easy or quick methods, I challenge you to slow down. Enjoy learning with your children. Pull back and learn with them and grow in our own knowledge so that you can be filled with understanding and walk in wisdom.

We can find the classical model in anything. It will take training our eyes to see with clear vision and renewed purpose. In the book by Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth, she says it is going to take a change in the culture to turn around the generation. What a better way to begin than to take those lost tools and begin redeeming not only our children's education, OUR education but the education of the generations to come.

Some excellent books on Classical Education:
The Core and Echo in Celebrations by Leigh Bortins
Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
Norms and Nobility by David Hicks
Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning and Repairing the Ruins by Douglas Wilson

Warning: Reading these books make cause a giant paradigm shift for the reader! :)

Fresh Water

2011-05-04T18:53:00.001-07:00

This morning as I was flipping through my favorite new little toy, My Nook.... :) I was reading through a passage of scripture that made me stop and re-read...re-read ... and re-read again.

Isn't it great when God gets a hold of our hearts and captures our attention with the simplest of phrases?

A cup of Fresh Water is enough!

I was asking the Lord to reveal His heart to me regarding something that He has opened the door for me to step through. Feeling so inadequately prepared to confidently stride into the unknown, I came to a place of prayer this morning.... seeking His heart. Asking for His Wisdom and looking for His guiding mercy.

I came upon the scripture in Matthew chapter 10. Jesus is speaking to the disciples... the harvesters... and giving them an overview of what He would advise them to do. He was giving them a "to do" list, if you will.

If you look through this chapter you see that it starts with the power of what was within them to preach, and to heal and to overtake the dominion of darkness in the lives of those whom they were to be meeting in the towns and the cities where they would find themselves as guests.

They were told how to enter each town and what to do when received both in the favorable and unfavorable light.

They were warned to be on guard. To be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves".(vs 16)

He prophesied to them, an admonition of what was to come. He told them to EXPECT it.

Do you EXPECT the bumps in the road which steal your joy?

What about those quick curves which catch you unaware?

He warned them not to be caught unaware because we are like sheep being sent forth among the wolves.

He declared that the student does not rise above his Master, what is done to one... will be done to the other. Yet he told them to Rejoice! It is for a purpose, the testimony that comes from trials serves a purpose that is not measured in earthly bank accounts. It should point back to Him, for His glory.. to reveal truth.

Jesus alone is truth.

The disciples were reminded that they need not be afraid, God knew the number of hairs on their head. He clarified the meaning of losing your lower life to gain your heavenly existence.

The revelation that when people welcomed them, they welcomed Christ. When they rejected them, it was not them but Christ in them.

And here is what was such a blessing to me.

Matthew 10:42 -" and whoever gives even a cup of water,... he shall not lose his reward."

He has sent us out! He sends out in the resurrection power and glory that was exemplified on the cross but... oh, that little word. A connecting word that ties 2 thoughts together..

But, it is that simplified gift of a cup of water which can bring the blessing. There is a time and purpose for the power, for the preaching, for the praying and interceeding. There is a time for the breaking off of the spiritual ropes which tie us down.

Yet, the fresh water, that living water, that comes only from Him. We will never thirst again, because we have the knowledge of the source.

Think of how sweet fresh water is. Think of how welcoming it is to drink when you're throat is parched and dry. Think of the life that is nourished through this resource.

The simplicity of this is so profound that we may just miss it.

The power isn't in the big magnificent display, only. The power is in the beginning, small and purpose-filled steps.

Offer a drink of water. Fresh water, filled from the cistern of which there is no end. Dig deep, drink slow, and be nourished with just one cup.