Tag: parenting

Countdown to 1st Grade & Preschool

Diana B.Leave a comment

Another homeschool year kicks off in just two weeks, so we are counting down the days until 1st grade begins for Linnea and preschool begins for Laurel.

We are using My Father’s World again for American history, geography, Bible, science, some art and music. RightStart Math, First Language Lessons, A Reason for Handwriting, and Spelling Workout round out the course of study. I am feeling more organized this year because (1) we have a dedicated space for homeschooling since we finished our basement last spring and (2) I have put together a homeschool planner, as suggested by www.donnayoung.org. I am most excited about studying American history with Linnea because it was one of my favorite subjects as a high schooler.

Linnea would tell you she is most excited about art class on Fridays with Mrs. Henriksen, piano on Tuesdays with Mrs. Peterson and ballet on Mondays at the PAC. Laurel would say she is most thrilled about dance at the PAC on Thursdays and storytime at the library with Mrs. Golden one Friday a month.

One project I’m personally very jazzed about for the upcoming school year is creating a homeschool yearbook. The photographer/scrapbooker in me LOVES this sort of thing! I got the idea online; here’s the link http://heartofthematteronline.com/6-tips-for-making-a-homeschool-yearbook/

Also, I stumbled across this lively homeschool version of the song “I will survive.” I encourage other homeschooling moms to check it out if you need a laugh or a pep talk as you prepare for the school year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOogqa-5GA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fheartofthematteronline%2Ecom%2Frepartee%2Dyour%2Dyearbook%2Dmoments%2F&feature=player_embedded#t=11

Redeeming the Time

Diana B.Leave a comment

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “Cleaning the house when children are growing is like shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.”

So true. Productivity often feels elusive as a stay-at-home mom. Just when I get the crumbs beneath the table swept up, it’s time to serve up another meal and do it all over again. Unwelcome housework lurks around nearly every corner, and procrastination tempts me.

So, I’ve been reading about biblical productivity on a C.J. Mahaney blog series this week, and I wanted to share this quote that Mahaney keeps at his desk:

“No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.”

-Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910, Scottish preacher)

Mahaney’s blog series discusses the theology of work – fulfilling one’s God-designed role in life. He distinguishes busyness from fruitfulness. He says our roles are “divine Post-It notes” that God has called us to fulfill specific goals.  Biblical productivity, he says, depends on a schedule, which depends on clear goals, which depends on clearly defined roles. Of course! He directs readers to (1) define your present God-given roles, (2) determine specific, theologically informed goals, and (3) transfer these goals into your schedule.

I’m not completely finished with this assignment yet, but I’m not procrastinating, I promise! Mahaney’s biblical productivity blog series isn’t finished yet either, so I’ve gone almost as far as I can go for now. The series is somewhat lengthy, but it’s really worthwhile. Check it out at

http://sovereigngraceministries.com/Blog/post/Biblical-Productivity.aspx

In closing, here’s another great quote before I hit the pillow.

“It is sweet falling asleep knowing we have redeemed the time.”

-C.J. Mahaney

Freedom

Diana B.Leave a comment

Here’s an inspiring and challenging quote from my favorite president:

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” 

-President Ronald Reagan

Little Miracles from God

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Linnea
Linnea
Laurel
Laurel

In celebratation of the Sanctity of Human Life, above are pictures of my two little miracles from God, Linnea and Laurel, on their original birthdays. Also, here is a video link to a very moving song “I’m Holding a Miracle.” Praise God! They are miracles indeed!

We’re Not Home Alone

Diana B.Leave a comment

Late last spring when we decided to home school Linnea, I was greatly encouraged by the number of family friends we already had who were schooling their kids at home — friends from church and friends we’ve had since our “before children” small group days. Then we joined a home school group and discovered an entire local network of  nearly 40 home school families supporting and encouraging each other.

We are not alone deciding to school at home!

These two recent articles seemed to back up exactly what I’ve been noticing firsthand.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85408    

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=375476

Visual Reminder: A Prayer Calendar

Diana B.2 Comments

So earlier I posted that one of my resolutions for 2009 is to pray more intentionally for my two daughters. As a visual way to keep reminding myself of this, I created a prayer “calendar” page for all 12 months of 2009. Each month features a specific prayer and verse along with a favorite photo I’ve taken of Laurel, Linnea or both girls. I’ll keep one in my prayer journal and one on the bulletin board in our school room. Just thought I’d share the images here for anyone who wants to modify the idea for their kids. Of course, you are welcome to pray for Linnea and Laurel, too! (By the way, click the thumbnail for a larger view.)

Resolution: To Pray Better for My Kids

Diana B.Leave a comment

One of my all-time favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

I memorized this verse when I was expecting my firstborn, and reciting it brought great peace through some big challenges I faced right before my bundle of joy arrived. Six years later, I can’t count the times this verse has brought peace in all sorts of situations as a mother.

 

Whether our children are still in the womb, asleep upstairs or all grown up and living half-way around the world, we moms and dads are frequently tempted to be anxious about our children. But then what an opportunity we have to meditate on biblical truths as we pray God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit, to fight for our children!

 

If we want to experience the joy of watching our children walk in the truth, we must pray for them, says Pastor John Piper of Desiring God Ministries (www.desiringGod.org). Watching your children walk away from the truth, he adds, is crushing.

 

“To lay hold on this joy and to prevent this pain, we must pray daily (sometimes hourly) and earnestly for our children,” Piper says.

 

Desiring God offers this list of seven things to pray for your children. My goal is to pray through these each week for both of my daughters.

 

1. Pray that Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming. “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Matthew 19:13-15)

 

2. Pray that they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

 

3. Pray that they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments. “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)

 

4. Pray that they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

 

5. Pray that their thoughts will be pure. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ) 

 

6. Pray that their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work. “All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:29)

 

7. Pray that when the time is right, they will go! “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)

 

Also, not too long ago one of my best friends forwarded this list of 12 petitions to pray for children; specific verses accompany each petition. The instructions suggested praying for one petition each month so that, after a year, you’ll have thoroughly prayed for each petition. If you memorize the verses as you pray, you’ll also have a great stash of biblical truth to draw on in times of trouble or need.

 

Below is the list of petitions to pray for your children and references for the corresponding verses. I looked up each of the verses and wrote them down in a handy spiral-bound book of index cards to review as I pray.

 

Here are 12 more ways to pray for your children:

 

1. Pray that they will know Christ as Savior early in life. (Psalm 63:1 and 2 Timothy 3 :15)

 

2. Pray that they will have a hatred for sin. (Psalm 97:10)

 

3. Pray that they will be caught when guilty. (Psalm 119:71)

 

4. Pray that they will be protected from evil in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, physical. (John 17:15)

 

5. Pray that they will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships. (Daniel 6:3)

 

6. Pray that they will respect those in authority over them. (Romans 13:1)

 

7. Pray that they will desire the right kinds of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. (Proverbs 1:10-14)

 

8. Pray that they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.  (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

 

9. Pray that they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

 

10. Pray that they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. (James 4:7)

 

11. Pray that they will be single-hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)

 

12. Pray that they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them. (Hosea 2:6)

 

Vote for Slushies!

Diana B.Leave a comment

VOTE FOR SLUSHIES: Earlier this month we held a dinner election. Each of us nominated our favorite candidates for dinner in the positions of main entree, side dish, fruit, vegetable, drink and dessert. Pictured are the girls campaigning for slushies and hoping to secure their daddy’s vote. The winners were: BBQ chicken, salad, carrots, watermelon, apple pie, and slushies of course! I wish I could say I came up with this idea, but actually it was an assignment for Linnea’s current events class.

Daily Portion

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“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:22-26 

I just got home from Laurel’s ECFE class, where I spent 45 minutes discussing “stress management” with about a dozen other moms. When I logged on to my computer and read my daily Proverbs 31 Ministries devotional for women, I found today’s message particularly fitting for managing motherly stress! Here’s the link to it:

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/