Wednesday Scriptures

I have decided to start posting Wednesday Scriptures on my blog. So here is the first one...

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldy lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Titus 2:11-15

Homeschooling

I thought that I would share a little bit of things that I have learned from homeschooling. I have two that are school age and one that we do a little bit of preschool with. The youngest joins in with us for some activities.

Things I have learned...

1)Your attitude affects your children. When your children have a bad attitude, oftentimes they picked it up from you.

2) When we complain about things...so do our children.

3) A lot of times things won't go as planned...take things in stride, keep a positive attitude.

4) Sometimes we need to stop our agenda and spend time just talking and being with our kids. We can tend to take the attitude that we have so much to do and try to hurry and get it done, and in the process we alienate our children's needs.

5) Listen...listen to what your kids are saying. Even if it seems unimportant, just listen to them. Engage in conversations that they want to have.
6) Take time to spend quality time with each child individually...this can be especially important when you have children of varying ages. Play a game with the oldest. Read a book to the youngest.
7) Find some extra subjects that you as a family can learn about together. Study a country, or make a school scrapbook, or learn about the ocean...
8) Let the older children get involved in the younger children's work. Let them recite the learning charts with the little ones. The younger kids look up to the older kids and this gives them a great opportunity to learn together.
9) Get out of the house...plan days to go to the beach or take a walk to the park, or go visit the zoo.

10) This is for preschoolers...you don't need all the expensive curriculum. Some less expensive flashcards, and the 3 dollar learning books in the bookstore are just fine. The internet has a wealth of free coloring pages that you can use.

11) Always expect obedience the first time that you tell them to do something. This may be frustrating at first, but it can make your days much easier once this is learned. Don't yell and threaten them with punishments. Make it known that you expect them to obey you the first time, and let them know ahead of time what the punishment will be for not obeying you.

Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing. We are blessed to be able to homeschool. There are countries that do not allow homeschooling. Germany is one who does not allow homeschooling. I encourage all homeschoolers to go and read about what some of these families go thru when they try to teach their children at home. Keeping these families in your prayers is so important.

Also some encouragement to struggling homeschooling mothers. Keep on! You can have some really hard days, weeks, or months. But just keep on. Try new schedules and routines. See what works best for your family. Look to others for advice, but remember that what works for one may not work for another. Remember to take your needs to the Lord.

Reading Books

Our kids love to have books read to them. A while ago I bought a set of the Little House on the Prairie books. We are reading thru them together. The kids sit on the couch or sit on the floor with popcorn while I read to them. The little guys might not understand all that we are reading, but I think that it helps them learn to love reading. I hope that when our kids are older that they all love reading. Anyways I thought that I would post up some of our books we like.
Toot and Puddles by Holly Hobbie
Thomas and Friends
Curious George by H.A. Rey
Dr Seuss

Would love to hear what some of your favorite books are.

Football

OK. It is football day here, and we are BIG Nebraska Cornhusker Fans!!! So
GO BIG RED!!!
Beat Texas A&M!!

Learning Discipline

I love to eat junk food. I can snack all day on it. But the older I get the more bad effects I get from that junk food. I feel yucky. I don't feel like doing anything. I am grouchy. But when I lay aside the junk food and drink water and eat salads, I feel so much better. I have much more energy. I don't feel gross, and well you have to admit...the belly looks better!!! And my attitude is so much better. More patience with my children and just a happier me. I guess that it is kindof like that with the television. I notice that sometimes when I watch a lot of tv, it seems to affect my attitude. My housework suffers, I would rather watch a show than spend time with my children. But when I shut off the tube, there seems to be so much time to do things. I can actually hear what my children are saying and I am not preocupied with...let's face it...a tv show that is not at all important in my life. I think that when it comes to the Lord that we can put so many "unimportant" things in our life that we can't hear him. We always have the tv on or the radio on. Or we are just so busy there is no time to hear him. Or we eat so much food that we are too full and lazy to pray. The Bible says to be still and know that I am God. It is hard to learn to be disciplined, but what great rewards we can reap from it.

Being Debt Free

My husband and I are working towards becoming debt free. We can't wait for the day that we owe money to no one. What a great feeling of freedom that will be. We are great fans of Dave Ramsey. The longer we listen to the radio show, the dumber getting credit seems. I wish young people could learn that it is so much wiser to pay cash and move ahead in life debt free. Even if that means that you drive a less than desirable car. Even if you have to wait to get your house looking great with new furniture. What a blessing we can be to our children to teach them how to live debt free. That there is no shame in having less than the Jones' have. We help strengthen their future marriages by teaching them how to handle their money, so that when they are married they already have a foundation in finances and probably a lot less fighting over money. I feel that as parents this is such a valuable lesson that we need to teach our children, and so important.

Pukefest

Wow! This week we have had 4 people in our house sick and puking. Yuck. The smell is enough to knock you over. Praise the Lord for a great husband. We were out at the store tonight and our daughter upchucked all over him. He was as calm as could be and so sweetly took her to the car. Such a great Daddy. And Praise the Lord for my carpet cleaner. Such a help!!! Hope this all passes soon.

Thankfulness

Some things to be thankful for:



Our Bibles...that we can read them and memorize them and have them openly in our country.

Our Family

Our Health

The Ability to Homeschool our Children

The Good Elections

Everything that we need supplied to us

Our cars

A Home


What are you thankful for? As Thanksgiving comes around look for all the things that the Lord has given to you and give thanks!

Organization and Cleaning

Today is a cleaning day as well as a homeschool and baking day. So far I made muffins and am baking bread. I have to say that a newly cleaned house just makes me so happy. I have come to learn that when I stay up a little later in the evening and prepare our school lesson for the next day and have the house all cleaned and ready to go, that we have a much better day and it just makes me happy to see a clean house. But there are always days for catching up on cleaning and organizing. And today is one of those days. Boy how I love a clean house! And the smell of fresh bread is always nice.