Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths - Homeschool Blogger

Busy Busy!! and A Photo of the Littles and Me

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:01:00 -0500

Here is a picture from my Simple Woman’s Daybook: Day 9 on Wednesday, Sept. 17th (I was a little behind!!).

There are a couple more on the post too.

Also, IF YOU ARE SUBSCRBING THROUGH BLOGLINES TO RECEIVE THIS POST, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE USING THIS FEED URL INSTEAD. The feed is more current at
Walking Therein!!

I am continuing my Saturday Psalm & Praise at Walking Therein, if you have been missing these posts. Be sure to visit the posts and go through the others who have joined me too.

Also, check out my Memo Monday at The Homeschool Post. I have written up a few links and prayer requests. Monday Again! Memos For You. Here are some:

Fun Homeschool Project

During Constitution Week (September 17th-25th), Growing In Grace Magazine will be sharing projects you can do that will help you learn more about the Constitution and what it means to be a Citizen of the United States of America.

Be sure to stop by daily to see what neat project they will have for you to do! There will be projects you can use in your home for your sons and daughters.

The first project is learning about The Preamble.

Please Pray

Please remember to pray this week for the babies in China who are sick from drinking tainted baby formula.

BEIJING (AP) — The number of infants Chinese health officials say were sickened by tainted milk powder doubled Monday to more than 1,200 as police announce the first arrests in the spreading scandal.

The Health Ministry said a second infant had died of kidney failure after drinking Sanlu brand milk powder spiked with the industrial chemical melamine. The company says suppliers who sold the raw milk apparently added the chemical, normally used in plastics, to make the milk seem higher in protein.

Please also remember to pray for our dear friends who have lost someone dear to them in the past few months:

David and Marsha Drews‘ little Sweetie, Christian, is with Jesus now, and they are awaiting seeing him again one day soon.

Rachael Kligmann also went home to Jesus before her family, and they all miss her tremendously.

Elgin Lirette went home to Jesus, and his dear wife Josephine and his lovely children are missing him, waiting for the day they will see him again.

Each of these families have blogs or journals. Please take time to let them kow you care and are praying for them. The event of losing a child, husband or father may be a one-time event, but the loss is felt each and everyday. May the Lord comfort and bless these dear families.

Carnivals

Erika, The Sojourner, has the Homesteading Carnival up at her blog. She has a fun theme, so join her for The Homesteading Carnival #66 - Happy Birthday Edition.

Jocelyn will be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling Tuesday at A Pondering Heart. Don’t forget to send in your submissions!!You can use the easy-schmeasy BlogCarnival form. As always, entries are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.

Other Announcements

The Homeschool Blog Awards are about to begin. Be on the lookout for more information at The Homeschool Post.

Remember my Grandfather today also, who turns 89. His mother lived to be 101 (almost 102!), and it would be so very nice if he lived that long too. I have requested prayer for his salvation before, and I am waiting on the Lord for the time to open up and tell him what the Lord has for him to hear. He has heard the gospel, but I don’t think he sees his sin and need for a Saviour. We are hoping to get to go see him tomorrow.

*AWESOME!! UPDATE*

I have another post I have been wanting to post, but this is so awesome, I just have to post it.
Many of you remember a couple of years ago when I was worried about my Grandma who did not know the Lord and was SO sick, and I requested prayer for both of my grandparents' salvation. Well, it has really been on my heart lately all the time.

Apparently, when Grandpa was in the hospital in June, he accepted Christ as his Saviour, but that "had prayed that prayer many times before". That made us wonder if he really had meant the prayer, because he acted as if it was nothing.

We did go to see my Grandfather and Grandmother today, and I was thrilled when God used homeschooling and Amanda's 'educational future' to spark a conversation about God's will and plan for her life, which led to a lot of discussion, including the need we each have for a Saviour! I was SO THRILLED when I asked Grandpa if he was really sincere when he had prayed the prayer, even though he had told my dad he had said it many times before, and he said yes. I asked him a few more things, to clarify I understood him and he understood me, and he said he did realize his sinfulness and the need for a Saviour and had accepted Christ as His Saviour. and Grandma said yes too. I was glad I got to talk to them, because I have never been able to before. There were a lot of things Grandpa admitted he still was unsure of, as far as knowing what the Bible said, but I am SO HAPPY to know they have eternal life in heaven!

Thank you for your prayers, and blessings!

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Posted In: Growing in Grace Magazine, Heart and Home, Links, Prayer Requests, The Homesteading Carnival

Tags: Announcements, Carnival of Homeschooling, Homeschool Mom Blogs, homesteading, The Homesteading Carnival

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LucyLillie is Potty Training

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:21:00 -0500

LucyLillie is potty-training. Is that exciting or what? She is 17m old (yesterday), and goes potty all day and wakes up dry. We have been training her for the few past months. Caleb was potty-trained last January and February when he was so sick and all I could do to make him comfortable was give him something to drink and take him potty. That was a constant thing, so he got potty-trained pretty quick.

I am enjoying training Lucy and sitting her on her little potty seat on the big toilet. It has been rather cute. She loves to go on the potty. We give her just enough praise, and she thinks it is great and can even make herself go. If I wake up in the middle of the night for any reason, I go ahead and take her potty too, and she has been dry at night while wearing underwear alone! I am so happy!

You might think that after having 8 children, I would be an expert potty-trainer. Alas, it is not so. Partly due to the fact that I already am potty-trained, and I am really the only one I can absolutely, for-sure control the potty-training with. We do currently have 2 in night diapers, but recently, Caleb and LucyLillie are NOT in nighttime diapers.

Caleb is now a big boy who goes in all by himself and goes potty like a big boy. I do still remind the Littles to go potty whenever they are outside playing or doing something that takes their attention.

See Tips to Potty-Training at Walking Therein

I am thankful for the Lord’s patience and joy during times like this. I used to sweat it. It used to be a big deal to me, but I have learned to look for limitations and reality in times like these. Now, I count it a joy and a time I will look back on and remember when they are older and grown with children of their own. And, oh how time flies. I don’t want to miss it because I am flustered and wishing it over.

James 4:14
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.“

blessings!

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Posted In: Babies and Toddlers, Heart and Home

Tags: Caleb, cloth diapers, LucyLillie, potty training

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Saturday Psalm & Praise: How Excellent Is Thy Name

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:06:00 -0500

This has been a hard week. A sorrowful week. A week of tears. We celebrated my 40th birthday yesterday, and I was so blessed by the lovely posts by Amanda and Jocelyn and my wonderful family and friends, but the day was shadowed by the sorrow and pain our friends, the Drews, are going through, since seeing little Christian going on to be with Jesus. I know how I feel and how deeply this has rocked me, and I think about Marshy and her husband, and I pray for them, not knowing how I could handle what they are now living.

I have had a few things in my life I consider a tragedy. Nothing like losing a sweet baby. I have felt the deep depression of not knowing why something happened or how I would survive, though, and the only thing I know is that when things happen that sweep over you and overtake you, and you just don’t know how you can survive, there is really only one thing to do: cry out to the Lord.

He expects us to praise Him when we feel like we are blessed. Most people do immediately praise the Lord when we feel blessed; how could we not? It’s when we feel like we had the wind knocked out of us, and we cannot see a clearing in the sorrow or the bills or the trouble we have in life that we must still lift our hearts and praise Him through the circumstances. I believe He expects us to praise Him during the tragedies too.

And that is hard. And it may not come right away. It may come after the, “Why Lord why?”, and the “What do I do now?”, but it will come. Praising Him will come to our hearts, because we are His, and we know who He is, even when we don’t get the why’s and wherefore’s of the circumstances.

I have not entertained the thought of why in this in any depth. Bad things happen. We live in a world where death is the result of Adam’s sin, and I can leave it at that. For now, I have to. For now, I will focus on God the God. The God who, in the beginning, created the heavens and the earth. The God who gave His only Son so that I may live for eternity with Him in heaven. The God who prepared that way of forgiveness for my sins that would otherwise be my eternal demise to an unquenched pit of flames forever. I will focus on His son who endured life, bringing glory to God, even to His own death and resurrection.

At this moment in time, on this Saturday, the Sabbath, I praise the Lord because of who He is. Not because of any circumstances, but in spite of them.

Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

blessings!

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A blog friend is compiling Songs for Marsha if you would like to give a special song of praise for her project.

Posted In: Oh LORD, Help Me Live Biblically, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme, Wisdom from the WORD

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Saturday Psalm & Praise: What A Friend

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:37:00 -0500

Mom and I were talking tonight. She was supposed to meet with a friend today, and she called her friend to see where she was, but she was busy doing something else. And that was ok with mom, but she was talking about how friendships change. They just change. People change. Or you change. It doesn’t make you dislike them or feel like you are better than they are, you just aren’t as close as before.

My friend, Danielle, and I use to do everything together. Everything. For a few years. Both of our lives changed, and while we are still friends, we don’t talk everyday. Sometimes we don’t talk for months. I don’t despise her or think she despises me or is plotting against me or whatever (because she just wouldn’t do that!), but our relationship changed! (I still expect you to come over a day with all your Littles and see the babies, though, Danielle!)

It is a blessing to know that though I may change, and my friends may change, that God never does. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I know He will never change, and because of this, though the friendships do change, He can still be in them, and the friendship can remain, but even if it doesn't, Jesus is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother! Oh, what a Friend we DO have in Jesus! (Proverbs 18:24) Jesus is the friend of many. He is the friend of those who love Him and believe on him as the Saviour today, as He was the friend of many 2000 years ago.

Luke 12 says:

1In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

He cared about his friends, so he told them what is bad for their souls. He warned them of whom to fear or watch out for. He told them because he loved them. He was warning them about the religious men of the day. Men in authority in that day. Men who did not know God, nor did they recognize the Saviour.

Jesus was giving a warning about something that appeared holy, because it was necessary for them to know this. Just like what we are told about in the Word of all the things that God hates and will not be allowed in heaven. We aren’t told those things to put a damper on our fun or to keep us down or to make us appear ‘holier-than-thou”, but because He LOVES us!

The Ten Commandments.

The Books of the Law.

These are laws for the same reasons we tell our children to stay out of the street. The street is a dangerous place, and we love them and want to protect them. God loves us. Jesus loves us. He is our Friend, our Best Friend, and He tells us things even if we don’t want to hear them.

Jesus told His Disciples many things. He could not make them heed His warnings; He could only hope that they would trust Him and believe His words. When his words were too unbelievable for them, like Peter and the cock crowing, they did find out in the end that Jesus was telling them things out of His love for them, to warn them. He is our best friend. We can put our trust in Him, because He will not let us down.

Psalm 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

People will.

People do.

I do.

When I let you down, my friends, I can only point you to Jesus, the best friend and Saviour of the world.

Do you know Him?
Would you believe His warnings?
Do you know why we need them?

blessings!

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Posted In: Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme, Wisdom from the WORD

Tags: friends, salvation, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme, Way of the Master

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Peter Rabbit Book Giveaway

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:15:00 -0500

I don’t know about you, but my children love Miss Potter’s tales! We have two books, and this week has been the week we borrowed and watched The Tales of Jemima Puddleduck, Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jeremy Fischer, and who knows who all!!

If your children love them as much as mine, or you want to add to your collection for yourself or your grandchildren, hurry over to Growing in Grace Magazine, because you only have until tomorrow!!

Whether you’re young or old you have enjoyed the treasure of Beatrix Potter’s stories,

and we’d love for you to take part in the Peter Rabbit Book Giveaway! You can enter a chance to win a copy of The Tale Of Peter Rabbit

If you’d like to enter to win this here are the rules:

1) Tell me if which of the Beatrix Potter’s books was your favourite
2) Announce this giveaway on your blog.
3) Please put the icon on your sidebar, linked to this article.

This giveaway will end at midnight, Friday, August 15th and the winner will be announced the following Monday.

Join Miss Brielle and Miss Jocelyn for this contest, and best wishes to you!!

blessings!

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Posted In: Just For Fun

Tags: Children's Books, giveaways, Growing in Grace Magazine for Ladies

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The Simple Womans Daybook

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:10:00 -0500

Please join me over at the HSBA site for my Lapbooking Memo Monday!

FOR TODAY August 11th…

Outside My Window… the aquarium. We have a lamp on it to attract flying bugs at night to feed the toads and frogs the kids catch all summer. We have had salamanders in it before, but not at this time.

I am thinking… about taking Eric to the Dr. for a tetanus shot. Not sure I should or shouldn’t. After reading what happens if you get tetanus, I decided I need to take him.

I am thankful for… God’s sustaining power to calm me down and give me an understanding that no one else can.

From the kitchen…chicken. In the crock pot. Smells yummy.

I am wearing… simple jean skirt with a yarn design on it and an orange tshirt that just doesn’t match real well!

I am creating… a simpler, de-junked home, with schedules and a fun homeschool year!

I am going… to sit here and think and pray.

I am reading… all the info I can on Lapbooking, which I posted today on Memo Monday.

I am hoping… I don’t have to go to the hospital tonight! Taking eric and getting a shot goes well tonight.

I am hearing… Lucy at the door looking out at the goats and chickens, talking to Caleb. Amanda is helping Hannah pick out recipes for the Creative Kitchen on GGM.

Around the house… things are pretty anxious. Eric is not used to sitting on the couch, and is in a bit of pain. We also have quite a few things to accomplish today that won’t be finished until tomorrow. Dinner is being made, bedrooms are being straightened and Daddy is playing with the Littles.

One of my favorite things… a warm, uninterrupted bath (though some of the sweetest times with our children are when I would rather be alone, and they are just way too cute!)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Pick out paint for the walls, send out GGM assignments for the September 2008 Issue, write up ideas and cut out booklets for Doorposts and Cowboys lapbooks.

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

Hannah took this picture in June after picking oodles of our volunteer blackberries. Or raspberries. Or whatever they are! They were yummy, that’s for sure!

For Guidelines of this meme, visit The Simple Woman. Jocelyn and Rachel did it too, and so did Mom!
Please put the post link on Mr. Linky so I can enjoy your Simple Dayplanner too!!

Blessings!

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Posted In: Heart and Home

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Schoolhouse Planner and Fiction Book Giveaways!!

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:06:00 -0500

We are giving away a Schoolhouse Planner at the HSBA site! Dianne gave her review of it there, and you can read my review of it also. I am so glad to have my laptop back in working order, because now I can use my Planner!!

Here is the lo-down about the giveaway:

“The creators of The Schoolhouse Planner have generously offered to give away one copy of this fantastic planner! Simply leave a comment here, and be sure to include an email address or contact information if your name isn’t a link (if you win and we can’t contact you, we’ll have to draw another entrant).

Want another chance to win? Post about the review on your blog and link back to this post. Feel free to grab a copy of the image to include in your post. Leave us another comment, complete with link, letting us know your post is up.

This giveaway is open until Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time). The winner will be announced here Wednesday morning.”

Go to the HSBA site to enter to win!!

____________________________________________________________________

Also, don’t forget:

The Infinite Day Review and Giveaway

Mr. Chris Walley graciously answered Amanda’s Interview Questions. You should read them.

Mr Walley is a very interesting British author. He has been to some interesting places and held some interesting jobs, as well! I would encourage you to please read her posts and enter her contest!

I am very proud of all she has done to set up this interview and book giveaway.

It is super easy to enter!

All you have to do is put her icon on your blog and LEAVE A COMMENT on her giveaway post.

blessings!

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Posted In: Heart and Home

Tags: Amanda, Author Interviews, books, fiction, giveaways, homeschool blog awards, Reviews

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Saturday Psalm & Praise: Come Home, Poor Sinner

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 13:40:00 -0500

I talked last week about the video and how we must recognize our own sin and lost-ness before we will even know we have a need for a Saviour. If you do not believe in the need for your own redemption, then you cannot see a need for a Saviour, and Christ's death is foolishness. A prideful man does not know he must repent of his sin, because he sees no sin in his own life. But, God is merciful, and will show us our sin and the way for salvation through Jesus Christ. We know it is not foolishness, but a precious sacrifice by the Son of God for our sins.

H. R. Jeffrey, 1885

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Open in ♫ Music Player.

Refrain:
Jesus is pleading;
He’s interceding;
Yes, pleading, pleading
For thee to come;
Come home, poor sinner,
Come home, come home.

Come home, poor sinner;
Why longer roam,Thy Savior’s calling,
“Come home, come home!

He died to save you
On Calvary;
Behold what suff’ring!
’Twas all for thee.

Oh, come to Jesus,
Do not delay;
Come, and He’ll save you;
Come while you may.

Oh, come to Jesus;
He’s waiting still
With His salvation,
Thy soul to fill.

Oh, come to Jesus;
How can you stay,
He’s pleading, pleading;
Come, come today.

We all have sin in our lives. We sin daily, and it is not the measure of our sin that condemns us, but the presence of the sin itself. God cannot be in the presence of sin, and so we must recognize our sin, repent of it and ask forgiveness. When we do this, God will forgive us, and we must make the decision to walk rightly, and to be aware of sin and do our best not to indulge in sin again, knowing it still condemns us. we must turn from our sinful ways and read the Word and live by it. The life of a Believer is not always easier, but we will one day meet God and live with Him and worship Him forever. Praise the LORD!!!

blessings!

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Posted In: Oh LORD, Help Me Live Biblically, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme

Tags: Bible, love, repentance, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme, sin, songs, worship

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The Simple Womans Daybook

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:17:00 -0500

FOR TODAY August 4th...
Outside My Window... freshly-mowed grass, field of soybeans, pine trees in the distance, birds chatting at each other.
I am thinking... I wish I could get to sleep earlier and wake up earlier.
I am thankful for... Sunday when my husband can be home.
From the kitchen... Jocelyn is washing dishes, and I can still smell the roast from last night. Still smells delicious!
I am wearing... my trusty old jean skirt and a tshirt, my usual at -home dress!
I am creating... Isaac's name in cursive. He wants to write a letter to our dear friend, Miss Emily Rose to tell her he loves her, and we will be coming to see her soon! How sweet! There you go, Em.... I guess we MUST come to see you, because ALL of the Dixon's miss you guys!
I am going... to write his name for him! And then, upstairs to clean.
I am reading... my friends blogs, email from a dear friend in SC, whom I have not heard from in quite some time! An email from a dear Momma who found my blog and wrote me a very sweet, encouraging note. I am also reading up on all of my favorite homeschool resources for moms and Growing in Grace Magazine.
I am hoping... the battery adapter to my laptop will get here by tomorrow so I can get back to planning school.
I am hearing... Amanda read me the ads from the Old Schoolhouse packet, and Daisy, Rachel's rabbit, pick through hay and eating grass and maple leaves.
Around the house... it is nice outside after the morning rain, so the Littles are all outside with Rachel and Eric. Caleb is picking my tiger lillies. Amanda is working on her review with a Favorite Author of hers, things are put and about, as we try to determine what to pack away and what to give away or pitch. Caleb and Hannah are feeling better after a one-day illness, but I am afraid Loolie is coming down with it now.
One of my favorite things... a sunny Sunday when we can all spend time together with Matt on his only day off.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: wrap up TOS Reviews, give away and sell things we no longer need or use, re-finish wood floors
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

For Guidelines of this meme, visit The Simple Woman. I hope you will join me! If you posted your own Simple Woman's Daybook, please leave the direct link(i.e. the permanent link) on my Mr. Linky below!! :) blessings!

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Posted In: Carnivals and Memes, Heart and Home, The Simple Woman's Day Book
Tags: Bible, Carnivals and Memes, Homeschool Mom Blogs, Our Children, The Simple Woman’s Daybook

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Saturday Psalm & Praise: Hell's Best Kept Secret

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 23:10:00 -0500

I am going to praise God this weekend by sharing a video about His Law. God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, are greatly forgotten today. Even in churches, we would rather make people feel comfortable and not offend them rather than to allow God to reveal their sins to them and bring their hearts to repentance.
By making them comfortable in their sins, we are not revealing the One True God and His true mercy, because they feel no need for His mercy and grace. But, that is not what God would have us to do. We are to present His Gospel as truly Good News.

This video lifts God up as a Holy and Just God who has given us, as unholy and sinful, a way to forgiveness and eternal life. It also takes a look at the unbiblical methods of modern evangelism and how we are creating a huge number of backsliders today by applying our own ideas, instead of God’s call to repentance.

StumbleVideo: Hell’s Best Kept Secret

When we turned our hearts and homeschool toward home a few years ago, the first thing that God impressed upon my heart was His Ten Commandments. I started emphasizing their worth and words and writing them out and displaying them in our home as we worked and learned and played. Now I understand. Praise God for His gentle leading and loving encouragement to follow.

Many Believers today discount the Law and the Old Testament, and I pray they will find the truth and love the Law, as Paul did, for it showed Him who He was and His need for a Saviour.

Without Him, I am nothing.

Psalm 119:92
Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psalm 119:91-93 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter)

Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:17-19 (in Context) Proverbs 29 (Whole Chapter)

Praise be to God!

blessings!

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Are you going to hell when you die?

Is evolution true?

Are you afraid to witness to your family and friends?

Learn more about The Way of the Master.

Are you a good person?

Tags: Bible, christianity, evangelism, forgiveness, God, holiness, Jesus, Kirk Cameron, meme, Psalms, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme, sin, Ten Commandments, video, Way of the Master

Posted In: Carnivals and Memes, In These Last Days, Oh LORD, Help Me Live Biblically, Saturday Psalm and Praise Meme

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Growing in Grace Magazine August 2008

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:38:00 -0500

As it happens each month since February first, our hard work on Growing in Grace Magazine has paid off. I am so thrilled to work with such a sweet Publisher who truly walks with the Lord. She does so much in her home, at the Sarah Home for Women and on her ministries online, and I don’t think I have ever heard her complain. She always tries to display a loving and sweet attitude, and SisterLisa is truly a joy to work with!

We started Growing in Grace in January, during a particularly difficult time in our lives (after Grandma had passed away), and SisterLisa emailed me out of the blue and asked if I would be interested in collaborating with her and her daughters to create an online Christian Magazine for Bible-Believing Girls and their Moms. Knowing how well my daughters write, and how they love to write for the Lord, I agreed after considering if this was the direction God had for us. He had just released us from another writing position and we were thrilled to see what SisterLisa had in mind. After researching girls Christian magazines online, SisterLisa had found none that were particularly Christian, and knew there was a need. There are so very few print magazines out there for Christian girls that aren’t just full of pop-culture. We are not interested in that for our girls, and we wanted to share our love of the Word and desire to train our daughters up in Him with other moms and daughters.

I think we got that first issue out in a couple of weeks, and it was so good to publish it! And to see where God has brought us in just six short months is amazing to me! We have each found our places in writing, designing, advertising, publishing, editing…. the list goes on and on! Besides all of that, I get to assign the girls research articles each month as a lesson for homeschool! I mean, you can’t beat that!

I truly am proud to announce the August 2008 Issue of Growing in Grace Magazine to you! With all the planning for school and moving and coming into this final month of summer, time is really on my mind. I know it is so important for us as mothers to create and walk in Seasons of Heritage for Our Daughters as we are home with them, teaching them to live as God’s People.

Amanda is learning a lot as an eighteen-year-old about Accountability. She also shared in my heart about time and what The Consequences Are if you are not careful with it. God has also given her a heart for history too, and also for WWII, ever since she made her Great Grandfather a photo album with all of his Service photos. She was able to also research and write about The “Little Boy” Was Dropped and Honor Was Their Code, which is about the Navajo Code Talkers. We love history here, so this was a topic of discussion in our home for the past few weeks.

Jocelyn is Thinking Pink as she shares some excellent material about Good Posture. That is just a light topic for her. Her heavy article is about Boyfriends. I guess she has been listening for the past seventeen years as I told all of our relatives and joking friends that, “NO, she does not have a boyfriend and will not need one until she is looking to get married!”. Ha!

She compiled a fun article about Family-Fun with some of our GGM readers, and also wrote a beautiful article about The Miss Potter Era with our dear friend, Brielle! Be sure to check out the GIVEAWAY on this one!

Rachel shared some hard truths about being angry in Don’t Give In To The Temptations. She also shared some secret recipes for Cheesecake you are going to want to try! You can always do that while you Snuggle Up with Helen’s Temper! Cheesecake and a great book!

Hannah worked so very hard on her article about Cowboys, Ranches and Farms. I am so very proud of all the information she gathered and put into her article. I can’t wait to get to do the study on Cowboys in our homeschool this year!

I love the site! SisterLisa is such a talented graphic designer. I thought I loved last month’s stars and stripes (which I did!), but this month is so fun and refreshing with the lemonade and the lemon twists. It is really pretty. Be sure to grab the Growing in Grace graphics for your site if you don’t already have them, and also the FREE Downloadable GGM August Desktop/Wallpaper!

So, enough of my going on about it all… go ahead… take a look at the wonderful articles that are sure to inform and inspire you. Of course, I am partial to my girls’ articles, but they are all wonderful.

Also, be sure to read A Mother’s Memo this week for details on several contests and other events. If you are a Christian Digi-Scrap Designer, see A Digi-Scrap Contest. Contest ends August 15th! Be sure to leave comments and share your thoughts with the authors! And, be sure to sign the guest book too!

blessings!

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Posted In: Heart and Home, Home Management, Living Learning Moments, A Dixon Home Education, Oh LORD, Help Me Live Biblically, Training Hearts ~ Parenting

Tags: Amanda, Daughters, Feelin Feminine, giveaways, Growing in Grace Magazine for Ladies, Hannah, Homeschool Mom Blogs, Jocelyn, Modesty, mothers, Our Children, Rachel

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2008-2009 Homeschool Plans

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:33:00 -0500

I am currently planning this next year, as I am sure you are too!
We will be starting our a study on the Biblical Holidays by Heart of Wisdom, which will run through the entire year and also be a part of our Bible Study.
The girls will continue to work on Polished Cornerstones as a devotional study, and I am also going to have Eric, our only older boy, work on Plants Grown Up and also Created For Work as a daily devotional and projects.

Most of our learning will consist of our normal, everyday life, which is the best learning. Home Keeping, Cooking, taking care of our blessings, lawn care, animal husbandry, organizing, the list goes on and on…. I have a term for this: Living Learning Moments. That is our basis for our homeschool. Obviously, it is an ‘eclectic’ learning method!

We are planning to use several In the Hands of A Child Project Packs (lapbooks) for everyone to work together.
The ones we will be using are: Plants (science), Cowboys (history and FUN!), and American Government (history and to coincide with the Elections).

I also have a Knowledge Box Central EBook: Presidential Election Process, that will go great with that, as well as another product I got to review from Learning with Weblinks: America’s 50 States. Other books we will be using are the Uncle Eric books: Whatever Happened To Penny Candy?, Whatever Happened To Justice?, and Economics.

One thing I am really excited about is Spanish! We have learned some Latin together before, but most of the kids were too young to participate, so this is going to be fun! Those 6 years of High School and college Spanish classes will really come in handy! Of course, some of my fondest memories are of our family sitting around the table when I was younger, quizzing on the Spanish numbers, weeks of the days, etc. That was also how I learned my states and capitals!

For their individual workbooks, I am reviewing some Kumon workbooks, and I plan to have Hannah and Isaac start with those. Other than that, we are using A Beka for Handwriting, Math and Language for Hannah (8) and Isaac(5 -who will not officially be ‘in school’, but learning all the same!). Eric and Rachel will be doing review together so that I can see where they really are. I do have A Beka Arithmetic/Mathematics books for them to work out of.

Amanda, Jocelyn, Rachel, Eric, and Hannah will also be blogging assignments for Growing in Grace Magazine and/or their personal blogs. It is a great experience in research and writing, presenting a topic to the public, and dealing with comments and criticism.

I also have two shelves of Reading List Books, one for High School and one for everyone else. They are welcome to get a book and read it and mark it off the list when they are through.

So, as you plan, what do you already have planned or in the works for your 2008-2009 school year? What are some of your favorite group studies and individual curriculum? Did you post about it on your blog?

blessings!

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Posted In: Heart and Home, Homeschooling- Lessons, Ideas and Tips, Living Learning Moments, A Dixon Home Education

Tags: 2008-2009 school year, curriculum, history, Homeschool Mom Blogs, Large Family, math, planning, science, Spanish

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New Lamplighter Read on HSB Literary Club!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:29:00 -0500

To all ~~Readers~~ Lurkers~
We will be posting Discussion of Chapters 14-17 of Rosa of Linden Castle on Thursday. Tomorrow is Isaac's fifth birthday, and I am not prepared to discuss tomorrow. Hopefully I will be on Thursday!! Pray for us as we are readying to publish GGM for August 1st!

If you are interested in reading along with us next time and adding to our discussion, we will be reading Enoch Roden's Training by Hesba Stretton - Lamplighter. We are letting you know early so you have time to purchase it and join in with us!!

Here is a little more about the book, from The Old Schoolhouse Store:
"This book is bursting with life's lessons! As Enoch's faith is tested, will he prove that his is no mere profession, but a real, living confidence in God's love and wisdom? Through severe trials, Enoch learns much about sound business principles, sacrifice, and trusting God. If he had only said, "I am working with God…" he would never have found the work wearisome, for of all grand, and comforting, and heart-refreshing thoughts in this world, to a Christian, the greatest is the thought that we are co-workers with God. Without a doubt, after reading this book, you'll walk away a better person than when you began."
Enoch Roden's Training by Hesba Stretton

We hope that you will join us, and those of you reading along with us in Rosa will pop in and just say hello!!

Blessings!!

Walking Therein

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Considering Homeschooling Question:

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:58:00 -0500

I received an email from a Mom who is considering homeschooling her two sons. She, like the rest of us, wants the best for her children in the least expensive way possible!

Hi Jacque,

My husband and I are considering homeschooling our younger two boys. Hunter going into 5th grade and Daniel going into 7th grade. Currently I am looking for any way to do this cheaply. I would have loved to use the A Beka DVD series but we just can’t afford that per month. I have been teaching for 4 years a Christian school and my boys were going there. I taught a combination class of 3rd and 4th graders so I am familiar with A Beka curriculum.

Any tips on how to acquire curriculum cheaply?

If you can give me some great ideas about how you homeschool cheaply, with great resources, let the ideas fly!! If you would prefer to Email Me, that is fine too!

Here are mine:

First of all, if you know the LORD, trust Him to lead you.

Ask Him to guide your decisions and show you ways to homeschool your family. He is concerned with them and you and your relationships - your sanity! - and does want to be a part of these decisions!

Homeschool them in the same subjects you can together.

A lot of times, doing a unit study of a topic, using the same books and movies or crafts is a great way to not have to buy separate textbooks. What can you teach together as unit studies??

Buy non-consumable textbooks.

We use Saxon for some of our children, and then we pass it down as necessary. Some workbooks we have them write in, but some of them they copy out of.

Make up your own worksheets and curriculum.

Honestly, anyone can do a google search and find resources and information on a specific topic. Children can even do their own research on safe sites after a certain age and can certainly read topic-specific books and articles and write reports to learn about them. Here is an example of what I am talking about: Gardening 101 - You *Can* Teach Your Children!!

Teach out of the Bible.

There are many truths and a lot of history in the Bible. The Word is so precious and can sustain you for an entire year if you wish it to.

Teach life skills.

Life will last a lot longer than school days, and it is so important to equip our children to live in the world and with others. Life skills is not really a class, but a mindset. It is ok to stop and take time out of a day to talk about or include your child in your everyday jobs around the home. It is important that they learn a good work ethic and how to care for a home and family.

Buy on EBay.

A lot of times homeschoolers purchase something they loved, only to find it didn’t fit them or they didn’t have time for it. I have built up my homeschool resources library on EBay.

Stick with something you trust and love.

If it works for you, don’t change it. I am saying this because it is easier to use a curriculum you know and love instead of spending time and money looking for something else. We used to use all A Beka. Now we are eclectic in our approach, but I still buy the math workbooks and some grammar for the Littles from A Beka. It works for us.

Look into several different homeschool approaches/methods,

and choose what will fit your family lifestyle and philosophy best. There are many ideas out there and resources online that are free using these approaches. Some that come to mind are:

The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach

The Charlotte Mason Method-Ambleside Online

The Delight-Directed method

Unit Studies

HOW has a chart with many different homeschool methods listed. They are ones that are incorporated into the HOW Teaching Approach

Do what you can for free.

There are many sites that allow you to use their resources for free. Search the internet and see what fits you. Some of my favorite FREE Resources are from:

CurrClick Free Weekly EBook

The Home School Mom

Let’s Homeschool has a list of Educational Freeware site
A to Z Home’s Cool Homeschooling has a LIST too.

Donna Young’s site is so awesome, you can find so much there! She has a lot of organization resources for mom, but also a lot of worksheets for use with textbooks in Math, History, Science, English, Handwriting and Art.
For new homeschoolers, Donna also has:

Planning for Beginners

How To Make Simple Lesson Plans

(Surviving) The Curriculum Fair

Homeschool Math has free worksheets and information on free resources and math books.
Google search “free homeschool resources“, and you will find pages and pages.

Become and Affiliate

with online stores you love and trust. You can earn credit and sometimes cash with them by referring people to their sites.

We homeschool our writing skills by Blogging To Learn.

I explained that a bit in my TOS article. Basically, I read and correct and teach them from writing assignments they publish on their blogs, but there is so much more to it. There are also so many ways to work it. I am working on setting up my site to add more information to it. It has opened up doors for graphic design and web design. Amazing! and, we all learned HTML by designing our Homeschoolblogger blog templates. Jocelyn is now proficient enough in CSS to design blogs and just finished upgrading her blog version.

Use your local library.

We use ours for the books as well as videos and DVDs. I do not, however, let my younger children (and I mean 14 and under) go there very often. The books on display in the children’s and youth section alone are mostly inappropriate. Most of the videos are definitely inappropriate. They do not go down those aisles. A couple of great things about the library are their inter-library loans, where you can borrow resources from other libraries through yours, and also access from my own computer to their database. I can search for resources and request them and not spend time searching at the library. We rarely have our children on library computers, and, as I said, never the younger ones. We have been thoroughly disgusted at what adults and children are allowed to view and play online just a few feet from another computer user.

Make up a schedule or a plan.

As with all things in life, homeschooling economicallyworks better with a schedule or a plan. You won’t feel like you are lost and have to buy something - anything - and make an unwise purchase you will later regret.

Buy things at a convention or display with a discount.

A Beka does local homeschool displays where the shipping is free. It saves me at least $50 if I drive to it, and also gives me the opportunity to check out the products and make sure they are in line with where my children are in their studies.

Get on some mailing/email lists.

Don’t get me wrong: I do not like junk mail. However, if you are looking at a product, it is a good thing to know when they are having a sale or there are discounted items you may be able to purchase.

Have a homeschool budget.

Plan to buy. Work it out with your husband/wife how much you can reasonably sock away to use when you find something at a good price. Sometimes our children work through what we planned earlier than expected, and we will want to purchase something at an off-time. A budget ensures that you won’t be taking away from your household budget, and it won’t appear to be a burden (which it isn’t).

Subscribe to reputable a homeschool magazine, like The Old Schoolhouse.

A subscription isn’t exactly free, but for what you get in 4 issues a year is definitely a wise purchase for your homeschool. There are many encouraging articles, tons of homeschooling information, and it is a great way to read up on and “meet” other homeschooling families. There are always free tips and ideas, and many times a free unit study. You can also get their digital version, which is a great deal too!

Subscribe to and read homeschool blogs.

Find like-minded homeschool families - bloggers and familiarize yourself with what works for them. Most homeschool bloggers will readily tell you what they use in their homeschool. A blog is a great tool, in that it allows you to search what they have already written about their favorite curriculum. You will certainly glean a lot of information and find some ideas that will work great for your family. If you find a blog you like, a good way to find like-minded bloggers is to check out what blogs they read. Those are usually listed on their sidebar.

Read homeschool sites

like The Front Porch and Homeschool Blog Awards for tips, contests, resource reviews and homeschool-related articles to find out more about homeschooling and the homeschool community.

If you would like to know more about how we homeschool here at our home, I am happy to tell you that I have an article in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Summer 2008 Issue (and I got mine first!! LOL). You can also search my archives here or read them at my original blog, Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths.

I hope this is an encouragement and some good information as you seek God’s plan for your homeschool!

Thanks!!

blessings!

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Why Would I Homeschool?

Convictions, Yours, Mine and Ours

Posted In: Homeschooling- Lessons, Ideas and Tips, Links, Living Learning Moments, A Dixon Home Education

Tags: Donna Young, free, freebies, grade school, Homeschool, Homeschool Mom Blogs, math, middle school, organizing, Resources, science, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, TOS

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Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths - Homeschool Blogger

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Growing in Grace Magazine August 2008

2008-2009 Homeschool Plans

New Lamplighter Read on HSB Literary Club!

Considering Homeschooling Question:

First of all, if you know the LORD, trust Him to lead you.

Homeschool them in the same subjects you can together.

Buy non-consumable textbooks.

Make up your own worksheets and curriculum.

Teach out of the Bible.

Teach life skills.

Buy on EBay.

Stick with something you trust and love.

Look into several different homeschool approaches/methods,

Do what you can for free.

Become and Affiliate

We homeschool our writing skills by Blogging To Learn.

Use your local library.

Make up a schedule or a plan.

Buy things at a convention or display with a discount.

Get on some mailing/email lists.

Have a homeschool budget.

Subscribe to reputable a homeschool magazine, like The Old Schoolhouse.

Subscribe to and read homeschool blogs.

Read homeschool sites

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