"Keep Swimming"

The following excerpts were taken from a Veritas Press email . . .  Encouraging words for homeschooling moms. It reminds me of my hubby who told me early on in our marriage after our first big move that the things in life that are worth something don't come easily. Basically, if it is something of value it comes at a cost and I have found that to be soooooo true. Homeschooling is not easy but it has so much value. O.k. so here is the article . . .

Of course, the problem with doing hard things is, well . . . they're hard. However, just because we have all chosen to pursue a more challenging path, doesn't mean we ought walk around miserable and exhausted. We can and should have joy in our journey. For those who sometimes feel overwhelmed, or if you believe that you're falling short in your role as a parent educator, I present the following article by guest writer Todd Smith who, I believe, offers some encouragement to help you regain some perspective and, hopefully, your joy! 

Keep Swimming!!

I’m convinced that the most difficult job in the world is not a rocket scientist, nuclear physicist, or brain surgeon. Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe that illustrious designation belongs to the homeschooling mom.

I should know, after all, because I’m married to one.  And if you’re at all like her (and you are), then I know what you’re feeling right about now. It never fails. Two months into the school year, and you are probably ready to throw in the towel. All those happy thoughts you felt BEFORE the first school day are long gone. Those great plans and lofty ideals you had about the glories of learning and enjoying it have been squashed flatter than a possum on the highway.

I’ve seen the look in my own wife’s eyes. She looks like she’s searching for the nearest exit. Even today, she voiced her fatigue:
“I’m just wasting my time!”
“I can barely stomach singing those same stupid learning songs . . .”
“She is NEVER going to read!!!”
“Maybe homeschooling isn’t the best!!”

Now, I know she wouldn’t quit homeschooling our children . . . but still, I wonder. The lies are coming fast and furious, the doubt is overwhelming . . . the feelings of failure pervade, and the waves of fatigue are swelling and the skies stormy.

Now hear ME, Sailor-MOM!!! Hoist the mizzen mast, something-or-other the mainsail, batten down the hatches . . . we’re sailing into choppy waters (the waters are always choppy). BUT steady as she goes. Do not veer or swerve from your course, because you’re right on target!!!

Thirty years ago, I remember reading a story about a woman who was going to swim a large body of water (it may have been the English Channel or the Atlantic Ocean). She was strong and had trained for that moment and was ready when the big day arrived.

The sky was blue and the sun shining as she stepped into the water, but somewhere along the way a thick sea-fog rolled in, blinding the swimmer. Trying to get her bearings, she would stop, tread water, and then, unable to see even three feet ahead of her, dip her head back in the water and keep swimming. As the fog clouded her vision, doubt and lies clouded her thoughts. As her hope faded, her legs and arms turned to lead, and she finally gave up and climbed into the little boat that was trailing her.

The reason I still remember the story is because moments after she gave up, the little boat broke out of the fog and was right by the shore. The truth was: she was right on target. She would have reached her goal . . . but the fog clouded her vision and caused her to believe the lie that she was off-course, and she acted on it. There’s a lesson to be learned for homeschooling moms.

Mom, you may feel like you're failing and that everyone else’s kids are light-years ahead of your children. . . . BUT the truth is you are right on target. And, here’s one unshakable truth you’re going to want to hang onto: home is the best place for your children and you are the best teacher for them. So keep swimming!!!

I know you doubt that truth and wonder if your kids would be better off “away” from your home . . . away from you, but that is a LIE. Home is the best place for children. It’s the best place to learn, and YOU’RE the best person to teach them. God set it up this way. From the beginning, He could have had that first baby delivered into an institution, raised by a committee, or trained by a “village,” but He didn’t. He gave two now-imperfect parents an imperfect child. Their job? To teach him to love God and understand how he fits into God’s world . . . in order that he might grow up and teach his children.

So keep swimming!!

Still don’t believe that home is the best place for your children? Take a look at today’s school system. What are they trying to do? They’re trying to make their school more like YOUR home!! They have classes on getting along, take field trips to the woods, plant gardens, talk about sharing and being kind . . . ALL the things that kids learn best at home.

So keep swimming!!

So, Mom, the rough seas of monotony may not calm, the fog may be thick, and you may wonder if this is all worth it, but let me remind you as I remind my wife, “Home is still the best place for your children . . . and you’re doing just fine.”

Relax and enjoy those children of yours, because they’re growing up quick and one day . . . will be gone.

Just keep swimming!!!

Todd Wilson

Todd Wilson, author of Help! I'm Married to a Homeschooling Mom and The Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons, is a dad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd's humor and gut-honest realness have made him a favorite speaker at home school conventions across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family.
His articles have appeared in various magazines. Christianity Today also posts his weekly column (The Familyman Weekly) on their website - http://www.familymanweb.com/.
Todd and his wife Debbie, along with their eight children, spend several months of the year traveling the country encouraging moms and dads. His humor, realness, and straight talk to men (& women) have become his trademark.

Joshua 10

10 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

² That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
³ Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
⁴ Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
⁵ Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
⁶ And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
⁷ So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
⁸ And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
⁹ Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
¹⁰ And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
¹¹ And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
¹² Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
¹³ And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
¹⁴ And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.
¹⁵ And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
¹⁶ But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
¹⁷ And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
¹⁸ And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
¹⁹ And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.
²⁰ And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
²¹ And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
²² Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
²³ And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
²⁴ And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
²⁵ And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
²⁶ And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
²⁷ And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.
²⁸ And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
²⁹ Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
³⁰ And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
³¹ And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
³² And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
³³ Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
³⁴ And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
³⁵ And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
³⁶ And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
³⁷ And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
³⁸ And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
³⁹ And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
⁴⁰ So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.
⁴¹ And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
⁴² And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
⁴³ And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

The kids really got a kick out of this chapter the other morning!!! The Israelites were just mopping up with God on their side!!! What a great example to the kids that when God is in it there are NO WORRIES!!! I loved verse 14 "And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Isreal." LOVE THAT!! Our all knowing all powerful God hearkened to a man and used His almighty strength for His people! Isn't our God an AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL God!!!! What a fun chapter to read for devotions. What an awesome way to start the day! I'm mean really!!

I told my mom to read it this chapter like their are boys in the room!:-)

Yes, We're Strange!!!

When we were out this weekend in the van the kids started reciting to Daddy the part of "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" that they had memorized. Well, they found out that Jedidiah thought it was EXTREMELY funny so as we were parked waiting for Daddy to put gas in the van the kids did it again. He still thought it was funny but he actually laughed harder the first time! Reciting that poem to a 5 month old may seem strange but very cute! Actually, Jedidiah probably thought them strange but entertaining!

Jedidiah is 5 1/2 Months Old!

 Jedidiah has changed SOOOOO much in the past week and a half! He is now sleeping in his big boy crib and goes down SOOOO easily it is AMAZING. He has started eating some solid food recently too! No more little baby in the house.

 He is also moving around rolling and rolling. He will also lift his butt in the air and then push forward to inch like an inchworm if he finds something interesting enough.

And of course he smiles and smiles and smiles. He smiles A LOT. Something we all can deal with! He is the sweetest easiest baby. His one big dislike is the car and even that he is getting much better at! His Sissy fed him, held him, sang to him, and put him down for a nap the other day! Ahhh, so much love from so many people. Jedidiah has the personality I pictured for his name . . . just plain sweet.

"Send the Light" Like You've Never Heard It Before!

Yesterday Carson was with Annalina while she practiced her piano. Annalina asked me to listen to them both play "Send the Light". I thought it was sooooo cute!!! Annalina played her piano and Carson played the recorder. Watch Carson's fingers as he plays beautiful music with his Sissy. He LOVES his Sissy and for good reason.

The Gods of the Copybook Headings--Rudyard Kipling

This is a poem I am having the kids memorize right now. Babe brought it to my attention and wanted the kids to put it to memory. The more I read it the more I like it. I am  going through line by line and  explaining the meaning and then having Gabriel and Annalina repeat back to me the meaning and they are definitely understanding it better now. How true is this poem of today's culture all over the world!! AMAZING!! Truly "every age and race" listen to those Gods of the Market Place promising glitter and gold & fanciful things. . . . . hmmm, or maybe listening to campaign slogans like "hope and change"!!! Unfortunately, we don't even have a candidate that truly focuses on Biblical truth. What society should be concentrating on are those that follow the wisdom of the centuries . . . like God's Word . . . those that make Biblical wisdom a part of their study and see it important to mark down in their copy books of wisdom from the past . . . the TRUTH that we know. We need to return to Truth and not the morally bankrupt feelgoodism. The Gods of the Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling

AS I PASS through my incarnations in every age and race, I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place. Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all. We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn: But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind, So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind. We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace, Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place, But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome. With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch, They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch; They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings; So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things. When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace. They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease. But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know." On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life (Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife) Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death." In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all, By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul; But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die." Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more. As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man There are only four things certain since Social Progress began. That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire, And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire; And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins, As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn, The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!

Indian Captive--Lois Lenski

Indian Captive written by Lois Lenski was a Newberry Honor book. I read this story to the kids. It is the story of Mary Jemison who really was captured by the Seneca Indians in 1758 while the rest of her family, one being a baby, was murdered except the 2 oldest boys who ran away.. She has been referred to as the "White Woman of Genesee."

 I must say this book was a disappointment. I realize that both the white men and the indians did wrongs against each other but this book chose to favor the indians in a BIG way and offer explanations for just about all their imperfections while making every white man in the book to be an idiot, coward, or full of himself. On the bright side the girl was ready to forgive and forget but unfortunately it wasn't so much a forgiveness of wrong doing of what was done to her family but a decision to embrace the pagan culture. The book was a good illustration of what happens when children grow up in a "religious" household but never have a personal relationship with their Saviour.