Thoughts on a Homeschool Convention

I attended our state Christian homeschool convention this past weekend. It gets smaller and smaller each year, both in vendors and workshop speakers. As I listened to the keynote speakers during the opening session, I died a little on the inside. What I heard was, "A Christian homeschooling boy looks like this and a Christian homeschooling girl looks like that." I also heard some other comments from the main speakers that were just too simplistic and some were downright unkind. What I mean is this: They were giving black and white answers for "grey" and sometimes very complicated matters and they were doing it in an insensitive manner. It's embarrassing to me. The world already thinks we Christians aren't compassionate and don't think, and we keep proving them right!

Then when it was time for the legislative update from our national homeschool legal association, I had a epiphany. First, I want to say that I appreciate the work that these lawyers are doing on behalf of homeschooling. Here's what I noticed: they have a republican agenda. (I guess I've missed this before). I am not a republican. I am an independent.  This troubled me.

Needless to say, this will be my last trip to my state Christian homeschool conference. I'm done. I will no longer align myself with these people. I can't and I won't. I've got to find homeschoolers that have a wide grace!

I know I'm not alone. I thank God for revealing these things to me and giving me the courage to follow what I know to be true. The only weapons I have are my money - I won't spend my money to support any organizations that act like this, my words - I will speak out about what God calls us to do as Christians, and my prayers - for God to draw Christians back to the truth of His love and grace.

Living in a New Home

Oh yes, more unpacking, organizing, and on top of that, school. The boys are being cooperative today. Could it be because we started the day out right? By praying together and reading Psalm 24, "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains....Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty."

Confession: I LOVE organizing. (I trait I got from my Mom) I'm having a hard time doing school with the boys because I'd rather cut shelf paper and organize the linen closet. Help me, God to focus and finish a task. I know You can help me.

Adults in the life of my children

Today my 16 yo daughter was not doing very well. Actually it has been a veeerrryyy lllooonnnggg wwweeeeeeek of her not doing well. Today at Homeschool Park Day, a woman from our homeschool group asked her how she was. She said OK, but the woman wouldn't take that for an answer. She knew that my daughter was lying, and she said so! Next, she encouraged (well, actually, demanded) that my daughter call any member of her family if she is ever depressed. Some member of her family would come and pick my daughter up to bring her to their house for the day.

How thankful I am to have other adults in my children's lives to help them along the way. I am not so delusional to think I am the only influence in my kids' lives. No Way! They need other grounded adults to show them the way to go. My daughter needs others to tell her the very things I tell her because she does not always think I'm the smartest person on the planet. She can take "medicine" from others when it's difficult to take it from Mom.

I attended my nephew's 8th grade graduation in Santa Rosa on Wednesday. Each middle-school teacher picks a few graduates to bless. I was impressed by the love shown to these students by their teachers. Not only do these students have parents who care - they have teachers who care about their character. Most of the blessings were about character.

There are sometime adults that I do not let my children around. Usually, unfortunately, they are from our church family. These adults tear down my kids and try to spread gossip with them. These kinds of adults really aren't mature Christians they are just physically mature human beings with an infantile spiritual life. I am very careful to be present when these adults approach my children. I have told my children that I will protect them from these individuals.

How careful we are to be as parents! Do I let my kids go with that person? Do I let my kids take a class at the community college? Do I let my kids hang out at that house? Most of the time the Holy Spirit will give me a sense of who is safe and who is not. I am thankful for His guidance in all areas of my children's protection - physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

DISCERNMENT

For some time now, I have been aware of a certain "group" in our Christian homeschooling community. This "group" (for lack of a better term) of believers has very strong views regarding:

1. How we should organize church
2. How families are to be organized
3. How Christians are to be having dominion over the world
4. How many children a Christian should have
5. What version of the Bible is truly inspired
6. Whether or not girls should go to college
7. How old the earth is

This group is represented by many different publishers, authors, websites, magazines, DVDs, You Tube videos, and conferences that teach various aspects of these ideas. (I'm sure you know some of their names - I'm not going to name them here.....well.....because I just don't want to.) I own a lot of their books, I get their magazines, I read their websites, I have listened to them at homeschool conferences, I have watched their teaching on You Tube, and I receive their catalogs. I have spoken to them at homeschool conferences, and I have spoken to their children at homeschool conferences.

Here's what I have come to realize - there's a lot of truth to be gained by listening to the leaders and followers of these "groups". But one must tread carefully and always listen and read with discernment.

When I recommend a book from one of these "groups", I do so very carefully. I do not recommend any of their books to a new Christian woman. These books must be read with discernment, and, usually, a new Christian does not yet know enough about God's Word to be able to be discerning. Most of the information in most of their books offer good, Biblical advice on living out the Christian life, but, without fail, I come across a teaching that just doesn't sound quite right. So what do I do? I open my Bible. I read the portion of scripture that they are using, and I find that their position is just shy of center. I understand where they are coming from, but I cannot accept the Biblical position they are suggesting.

I honestly have yet to find a better book on being a godly wife than Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. I have read this book 3 times, and I still get so much out of it! This does not mean that I agree with EVERYTHING Mrs. Pearl says in this book, but I appreciate the book because I can filter out the few things I don't agree with biblically, and concentrate on the mostly wonderful things taught in the book. I'm not going to throw out the baby with the bathwater - so to speak.

I'd like to think that there are other Christian homeschoolers out there who are also encouraged by some of this "group's" teaching, yet do not believe every aspect of this "group's" teaching hook, line, and sinker.

These are just some of my current thoughts on Christian homeschooling. I hope my words are not slanderous, but rather edifying in order to spur someone on to read, watch, and listen with discernment.

I Love This time of Year!

My favorite time of the year is fall, or getting ready for fall. I was one of those nerdy kids who loved going back to school. I love the school supplies aisle. Tonight I was looking longingly at the lunch boxes at Wal Mart. Thankfully, it has not been a very hot summer for us, so it feels like fall here. I know my friends and family in The Dalles feel differently!

Today I started ordering curriculum for this school year. Samuel and I sat down to talk about where he wants to be (in math and science) when he graduates from high school. We are using:
*Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra
*Apologia General Science
*Thinking Like A Christian (Bible)
*Mavis Beacin Typing
*Daily Grams Grade 7 (Grammar)
*Apples Spelling
*The Fallacy Detective (Logic)
*God's World News (Social Studies)

One down, three to go. Actually I have most things mapped out for everyone else. All the stuff I want to buy is in my "Wish List" on Rainbow Resource Center's website. I feel much more organized and scheduled for this next year than any other year I've homeschooled. It's my 9th year, so I should be!