The 2011-2012 Homeschool Year has started! August 30, 2011

Today, I jumped back in to homescooling   I must say that it went very smoothly.  This year I am homeschooling our 3rd grade daughter and our Kindergarten daughter.  I am also doing a 3 year old preschool with our little boy.   I’m excited to see their progress this year. 

I am going to try to update my “blog” periodically throughout the school year with new rescources and materials I find.   Since my blog is at the bottom of my priority list, it usually doesn’t get updated as often as I would like

Happy Homeschooling this year!

A Little Place March 13, 2010

A dear Baptist Pastor’s wife had posted the following poem one day and I wanted to share it with you.  When I read it, it really got me to thinking about my service for the Lord – as a Christian, a wife, and a mother. 

I asked the Lord, “What shall I do?”

And my love flowed warm and free.

Then He pointed out a tiny spot

And said, “Tend that for me.”

I quickly replied, “Oh no, not that…

Why, no one would ever see.

No matter how well my work was done,

Not that little place for me.”

The word He spoke, it was not stern,

He answered me tenderly,…

“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine,

Are you working for them or Me?

Nazareth was a little place, and so was Galilee.”

Each and every thing we do for God is important – not matter how small we may think it may be!  Our home may be a small abode, but what a large impact we as wives and mothers can make there.  The things we do for others may seem like they do not make a difference, but someday they will.  The church we serve in may seem small and our service for God may seem to go  unnoticed.  But, no place is too small and no task too insignificant to give our ALL for the One Who gave His ALL – His only begotten Son – for us!   I had to stand back and reevaluate my motives after reading that poem.  I am working for God, for His glory.  Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

 

Let’s Tell Time January 15, 2010

I just recently received my new 2010 catalog in the mail from Lakeshore Learning Materials and boy has it been fun to look through!  I turned down quite a few pages with things to put on my “wish list” for next school year : )  Last year I ordered “My Little Clock” from their website and I have really been pleased with it.  Jodi has enjoyed learning about telling time by using this cute little clock.  It has color-coded hands, which makes it easy for learning the difference between the hour and minute hands.  This little clock makes learning to tell time very simple and lots of fun.  You can order one from the site for $8.99 and it comes with a little activity booklet.   

Hop on over to Lakeshore Learning and check out this little clock, request their free product catalog and let the wish list begin!

Thinking about Christmas? November 6, 2009

I just cannot believe that Christmas is right around the corner!  Yes, I am already thinking about stocking stuffers : )  The Baptist Heritage Learn and Color coloring book would make a GREAT stocking stuffer.  This coloring book is filled with short Baptist biographies along with coordinating pictures to color.  Our children LOVE this coloring book.  And, the wonderful thing about this coloring book is that they are learning while they are coloring!  Hop on over to Prairie Fire Press and order one today!

A Glimpse at Your Heritage October 24, 2009

A DVD presentation celebrating 175 years of Baptist presence in Iowa.  Including related information to John Clarke, Shubal Stearns and the Separate Baptist Revival.

This video presentation was put together by the Iowa Baptist Heritage Ministry of Spencer, Iowa to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of Baptist Presence in Iowa on October 20th, 2009

Say NO to Reformation Day October 23, 2009

I recently read a blog post on celebrating Reformation Day.  Reformation Day?  Me, in my ignorance, had never heard of such a celebration.  Now, I do know that I AM a Baptist – I am NOT a Protestant!  The Baptists were not a result of the Protestant Reformation.  Knowing this, I had to research further into this “Reformation Day”.  Why are christians being encouraged to celebrate “Reformation Day” as an alternative to  Halloween?  Well, on October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.  They were 95 reasons why he disagreed with the Catholic church.  Thus, beginning the Protestant Reformation.  Thus, making the names of reformers such as Luther, Zwingli and Calvin known today.  A Protestant is someone who protested and broke away from the Catholic church.  These Protestants wanted freedom but only freedom for themselves.  They did not believe in religious liberty and like the Catholics, persecuted and murdered others (mostly Baptists) who did not believe like they did.  Baptists are not Protestants – Baptists have been around long before the Catholics!  As a Baptist, do not be duped into celebrating this day as an alternative to Halloween.  Make the choice NOT to celebrate Reformation Day and NOT to celebrate Halloween!  This “Reformation Day” is being set aside as a time to teach children all about the Protestant Reformation and give praise to Martin Luther.  How sad!  If you look at what the Protestant Reformation really did you would see that Halloween is actually less scary than a Reformation Day.  Why not, as a BAPTIST mommy, take advantage of that time to teach your children about why we shouldn’t celebrate Halloween in the first place?  Instead of teaching about the Reformation why not teach about our Baptist heritage?

“We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians.  We did not commence our existence at the Reformation, we were reformers before Luther or Calvin were born; we never came from the church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves.”

Charles Spurgeon

Want to read and learn more?  Check out these books:

Why I Am A Baptist by Bro. Doug Hammett

Sacred Betrayal by Bro. James Beller

A Warm Bowl of Soup Paired with…Memories October 15, 2009

There is nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a cold and wet Fall day.  Tuesday I decided to make Cheeseburger Soup and Homemade Dinner Biscuits for supper.  Occasionally, I enjoy setting our table with my “special” dishes – you know, the dishes you have tucked away that do not  get used very often!  As I was getting my dishes down, a flood of memories came rushing to my mind.  The dishes are an heirloom, passed down from my Granny.  I thought of the happy times spent in her home eating off these same dishes, all the family gatherings, the love and joy she gave, and who could forget my Granny’s great cooking!  I enjoy using my heirloom dishes because it creates a time where I can share stories and fond memories from the past with my children.  I envision someday passing these dishes down to my daughters when they grow up and have a family of their own.  I am creating more memories by using my heirlooms, instead of keeping them tucked away for fear they will get broken.  I want my children to have special memories of their childhood that they can carry with them the rest of their life and share with their future children and grandchildren.  Things of this world are just that – things!  If a dish gets broken, it gets broken.  I feel that by using my heirlooms and creating new memories with my family, I will be passing more than just dishes down to my children – I will be passing down fond memories of our family and the fun times shared together.  As you gather around the table this Fall – take time to get out the “special” things and share and make some precious memories!

Here’s My Heart… October 12, 2009

Last night at church we sang the hymn “Come, Thou Fount”.  My husband while leading the congregational songs often encourages us to take thought to the words we are singing.  The last verse of this song last night, brought tears to my eyes:

O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee;

Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.

I will leave my post at that – beautifully as the author penned it!