Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Daybook

For today...

Outside my window...beautiful, sunny, hot, muggy, blue skies ~ temps in the upper 90's

I am thinking...about our fun weekend with family


I am thankful for...deep theological discussions with our children & sharing of our convictions


From the kitchen...leftovers for lunch & spaghetti for dinner

From the learning rooms...its SUMMERTIME!  No scheduled school work (amen) but they are still reading, keeping up with their bible study, and working on crafts.


I am wearing...denim skirt, knit top, sandals


I am creating...a baby rag quilt, several quilt tops, potholders, a John Deere cross stitch picture


I am going...no where today, except taking the girls to dance


I am reading..."Already Gone" by Ken Ham & Isaiah in the Bible


I am praying...for a safe trip for Mom to MS tomorrow, Greg's safety while out in the field for work, a fun time tonight with our friends, salvation for those near & dear to my heart, for wedding plans for my son


I am hearing...cleaning ~ Amy is hard at work cleaning out her school basket, Will needs to do his, Katie finished hers, plus house cleaning for our company


Around the house...planting new square foot gardening boxes, keeping the garden watered (no rain in 3 weeks), swimming, crafting, eating, enjoying time together, playing with puppies, enjoying Greg's new outdoor kitchen, working on the new chicken coop


One of my favorite things...helpfulness


A few plans for the rest of the week...a slumber party tonight with friends, Granny's visit, church activities, ballet recital


Please join Peggy over at  A Simple Woman's Daybook for more entries!




 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Saturday & the week

This has been the PERFECT Saturday!  It started out with our usual "sleeping a little later than normal", we got to talk to Rob & Allen, went to eat breakfast, & ran our errands. 

Today we have....planted corn, green beans & squash, spread 3 bales of pinestraw around all the tomatoes, blueberries, and roses, sunk up to my ankle in mud (really!  watering & then walking on freshly tilled soil can be messy).  We finished the new deck and got most of it stained/sealed.  We also have enough sealant to do the original smaller deck. 

We spent a lazy time floating in the pool, sipping sweet tea.  The kids and I made a run to Kroger.  And Andy came to visit for a couple of days.  Katie made sliders for dinner and I made brocolli salad to go with it. 

After dinner we finished to pine straw and cleaned up the cabana, which is Greg's new workshop.  Worked on my cross stitch for a little while and now we are ready to rest for the night.

We've had a great week with no school books ~ our first full week of "vacation".  The kids are working on a jigsaw puzzle, painting bird houses, and finishing quilting projects.  We've got to clean out our school baskets and get rid of what we don't need and put up what they want to save.  I've been chatting this week with a friend and her husband that are going to start homeschooling in the fall.  Its so much fun to encourage folks.

We will be reworking our chicken coop.  Our lovely ladies were terrorized by the dogs on Wed. while we were at church and we came home to 4 dead chickens.  The dogs pushed their way under the netting on the trampoline and created pandemonium.  We've been pretty depressed about the whole thing and Greg keeps calling the dogs "chicken killers".  So, no more trampoline run. We are making a wire pen that will be stonger than the green plastic chicken net.  My friend Trixi, read of our peril on FB and has offered us some chickens.  Seems she's got too many and gets 20 eggs a day (wow).

Thats all for now...we still haven't figured out what google is doing with the blogs.  Greg's got firefox set up on our computers but I have to exit that and get onto my blog through internet explorer.  Hopefully, we will figure this out soon.

Have a blessed Sunday!


 

Friday, May 27, 2011

We have been Hacked or Zapped or Befuddeled

The friends at google have perplexed us here at Mississippi Mama.  We have been working diligently to restore and repair the blog.  OK, not too diligently, but we did get it working again kind of. If you get something weird from this site, it did not come from us.  If you find something deeply motivating or theologically sound, it did come from us.  Probably.

As my friend Bellhanna says, "The Lord Bless You." and "I be back."

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Scientific Conversions

Scientific Conversions

1. Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi
2. 2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton
3. 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope
4. Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond
5. Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram
6. Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong
7. 16.5 feet in theTwilight Zone = 1 Rod Sterling
8. Half of a large intestine = 1 semicolon
9. 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz
10. Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower
11. Shortest distance between two jokes = A straight line
12. 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake
13. 1 million-million microphones = 1 megaphone
14. 2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles
15. 365.25 days = 1 unicycle
16. 2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds
17. 52 cards = 1 decacards
18. 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 FigNewton
19. 1000 milliliters of wet socks = 1 literhosen
20. 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche
21. 1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin
22. 10 rations = 1 decoration
23. 100 rations = 1 C-ration
24. 2 monograms = 1 diagram
25. 4 nickels = 2 paradigms
26. 2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = 1 IV League
27. 100 Senators = Not 1 decision


 I "borrowed" this from the Patriot Post e-newsletter I receive every day!



Monday, May 23, 2011

Multitude Monday 1076-1100

more & more blessings....

1076.  fellowship

1077. generosity

1078.  fun with friends

1079.  bargains

1080.  donuts

1081.  slashing prices

1082.  finding goodies

1083.  helping people

1084.  laughter

1085.  blessing people

1086.  doing all of the above in the Lords name

1087.  lazy Sat. afternoon

1088.  the start of weekly salad nights

1089.  the restart of Sunday night desserts

1090.  a mostly finished deck

1091.  sun kissed cheeks & shoulders

1092.  swimming

1093.  hot, sunny, sweltering Miss. heat (its here, be thankful)

1094.  blooms on my greenbean plants

1095.  asparagus shoots

1096.  6 beautiful peaches (our total crop this year ~ we beat the squirrel, he only got 1)

1097.  sprinklers in the garden

1098.  big splashes at the end of the pool slide

1099.  friends coming to swim

1100.  new bottles of sunscreen!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Blessings & A Grouchy Older Gentleman

Today was our church's yard sale ~ all proceeds are for our Haiti Mission Team.  We put alot of work into the sale...cleaning, sorting, resorting, hanging up, setting out, etc.  Days of work. 

The sale was to start at 6:30 this morning, we got there at 6:15 and folks were waiting on us.  We hit the ground running and kept it up all morning.  6 hours & $2000 later, we were ready to shut down shop.

Blessings...folks that donate money even if they didn't purchase anything.  Folks who were told their total was $5 & donated an addition $20-$50 dollars.  Folks who said they would pray for the trip and the orphans that would be ministered too.  Until....

One grouchy older gentleman.  Who wanted to know why we weren't helping in Miss, why were we leaving the country, and flat out told us to forget Haiti and help our own people.

But we are helping in Miss., we are leaving the country because other countries don't have "gov. help", because children & adults are starving in Haiti, because they can't help themselves~no jobs, no opportunities, etc., because children were orphaned in the earthquakes & tornadoes, because the Lord called our church to Haiti long before last year, because we are committed to helping our fellow Christians living in harsh conditions, because Christians can make a difference in spite of an area full of witch doctors & voodoo.

Some folks just want to argue about everything...we didn't explain all of the above to him because it was obvious he didn't want to listen ~ he just wanted to drop his "poison" and leave.

I know that going to another country is not everyone's "cup of tea".  But, when you go to a 3rd world country, you see the appreciation and feel the love of these people, you shop in their stores, worship in their churches, etc.  You get a whole new appreciation for your own life. I have been very blessed by my 3 trips to Honduras.  I have nothing to complain about, I am blessed.

And I have been just as blessed with my trips to Florida, Oklahoma, and here in Miss. People all over the world need aid.  Where is the Lord calling you to help?

Friday, May 20, 2011

Don't Leave It On The Desk

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.


One day Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him
"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" asked Dr. Christianson again.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr. Christianson said, "Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"


Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten. Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.
Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice when a player messes up, he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, pleaded to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His Only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"..




Thursday, May 19, 2011

A Backyard full of Activity

 One of two green bean boxes

Beautiful Peaches

Red rose

new Bell Pepper Plants

little Heirloom Tomato from seed

Our almost completed new deck

Cucumber Box

Bush loaded with Blueberries

1 of 2 green pea boxes

yellow we are contemplating painting the whole house ~ right now its just on the outside of the porch

the chickens new under trampoline run

We believe the peaches are lasting on the tree because the squirrels are being run off by the puppies.  I hope thats the case.  We've got 7 beautiful "not yet ripe" peaches on the tree.  The tomato plants are tiny but living.  Katie & I are giving them lots of attention, we are ready to eat fresh tomatoes.  We planted the 8 bell pepper plants cause we need peppers for the pickle relish.  We can chop and freeze them, till its relish time.  Something is attacking our cucumber plants and we keep replanting ~ I would suspect the chickens but they can't get out of their "cage" so I could be puppies but we haven't caught them in the act yet.  I think we are going to stretch chicken wire over the top of the box to keep the predators away.

The pool is clean and ready for swimming.  I've been in once and the kids, several times.  It took a while to get it cleaned up from the winter, but we've finally conquered the crud and can now swim!

We are ready for summer!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Pictures of Fair Entries

My 1st crocheted Baby Afghan

Rose Etching on our Olive Oil bottle

Apple for the china painting category

Hand Quilted "Candy" Jar Quilt Wall Hanging

We are motivated to get projects completed, so we can start new projects.
Entering projects in the State Fair is how we earn our "spending" money
for the holidays.
And we love to visit the fair and see the ribbons awarded to our projects.
The fair starts the end of Sept., so we have plenty of time to finish
more entries!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Daybook

For today.....

Outside my window...sunny & way too cool for May (70 Degrees)

I am thinking...about convictions from the Lord & people who disagree

I am thankful for...those convictions

From the kitchen...I don't have a clue ~ I'll come up with something!

I am wearing...flowered knit top, black skirt, slip on tennies

I am going...to take another load of "valuables" to the church for the Haiti Mission Trip yard sale this weekend

I am reading..."An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott, & my Bible (currently in Isaiah)

From the learning rooms...finishing our 15th year of homeschooling, we should be done on Thursday
 
I am praying...for the salvation of family members & friends

I am hearing...a lawn mower across the street, ours will be cranked up soon. Also, garbage trucks.

Around the house...lots of cleaning out and sorting for the church's yard sale

One of my favorite things...sermons on the internet

A few plans for the rest of the week...dance, bible study, youth bible study, setting up for yard sale, working yard sale, Sunday~ a much needed day of rest and worship

You can read other daybooks by heading over to ...

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Monday, May 16, 2011

Multitude Monday 1051-1075

a different list...

1051. support

1052.  love

1053.  encouragement

1054.  discernment

1055.  seeking the Lord's way

1056.  resting in the Lord

1057.  gospel music

1058.  porch swings

1059.  accomplishment

1060.  generosity

1061.  being able

1062.  overcoming

1063.  servant's hearts

1064.  not wordly

1065.  striving toward simplicity

1066.  concentrating on the most important

1067.  prayers for guidance

1068.  hearing from the Lord

1069.  like minded friends

1070.  togetherness

1071.  mealtime prayers

1072. early morning prayers in bed

1073.  early morning phone calls

1074.  studying the scriptures together

1075.  long nights together

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saturday

We've had a super productive and very fun day.

 This morning was my Sat. morn date with my dear husband.  It was special not only because we were together but it was the first one in 4 weeks.  We've been traveling, had a college graduation & a homeschool conference.  We ate breakfast at Corner Bakery, bought some quilt batting at Hobby Lobby and deck screws, plants & plastic chicken wire at Lowes.  While its not glamour & pricey ~ its fun and we enjoyed it!

We got home and got to work.  Katie & I planted about 15  cucumber plants, 8 tomato plants, 8 bellpepper plants and pulled bunches of weeds.  Will & Amy enclosed the bottom of our trampoline with the plastic chicken wire to give our chickens a bigger place to "run".  The chickens were a little skeptical at first but Amy bribed them with chicken scratch, so they spent some time in their new surroundings.  Greg got more boards put down on our  new deck and fixed the seat in Katie's car.  Then we went through the boxes James got out of the attic for us and found lots to donate to the church sale.  The Lord blessed us with much cooler weather today, so it was very pleasant working outside.

We declared tonight family date night and went to our new "5 Guys Burgers & Fries" that opened last week.  Yummy food~

Found out tonight that my friend Trixi's son is going into the Beekeeping business, so now I will have a source for honey.  I pray  they will be very successful and the little bees are hard workers!

Its great to be home and able to start our family routine.  We are slowly getting our house back in order, finding homes for our new books, and completing some crafting projects.

We've only got 4 days left of school for this school year.  Amen & hallelujah! 

Friday, May 13, 2011

Purging

We are in a purging mood at our house!  It just so happens that it coincides with our church's big yard sale next week to benefit the Haiti Mission Trip.  Yesterday the kids and I purged the upstairs ~ we went through bookshelves, the linen closet, and the walk in part of the attic.  Its really nice to see holes & gaps that used to be crammed full of "valuables".  These "valuables" are being donated to a very worth cause. 

We still had lots of VHS tapes of all kinds ~ we got rid of lots.  We kept some Disney Classics, Adventures in Oddysey, and Veggie Tales.  We also departed with some questionable dvd movies (language, violence, etc.), and most of our Christmas collection.  Tons of books (not much of an exaggeration) were loaded into boxes to head up to the church & some paperbacks will be listed on paperback swap. 

The kids went through the Wii games and weeded out the ones they had beat, the ones that had alot of "magic" in them, and some they just didn't want. Will put them in the Wii this morning and erased their personal files from the games.  We also discarded an old game system and its games.

I even went through my cookbook collection and took out about a dozen ~ however that still leaves 4 shelves full (I really like cookbooks). 

In keeping with our trying to simplify the December Holidays, we are also going to go through those decorations.  I have to bribe James to go up into the sweltering attic to get the boxes down.  I know there are many more things in the attic that could be donated, but since it 90 degrees outside its probably 110+ degrees in the attic, so those won't see the light of day unless he just passes them on the way to the decorations.

Our stacks of stuff are getting whittled down and they are finding new homes.  Its nice to take care of these projects just very tiring also. Anyone else walking into our home, would think we could get rid of more stuff.  And honestly we could, but these baby steps are a move in a positive direction. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

25 Reasons to Homeschool

Reasons to Homeschool...

1. You can go to school in your pajama's (we don't but some do)

2.  You will never miss the bus (but you can wave at it as it goes by)

3.  The teacher & the principal love each other and want the very best for their students

4.  You don't have to worry about school bullies

5.  Set your own schedule

6.  Your child can be in 4 different grades at the same time

7.  Siblings have to learn how to get along with each other

8.  You can cancel regularly scheduled classes for any reason ~ field trip, dr. appt., visiting relatives, etc.

9.  More time to serve church/community as a family

10.  You children aren't learning "alternative" lifestyles/choices as a rule but in light of the scriptures

11.  You chose when to teach your children the "birds 'n bees" not some beuracrat

12.  Set your own school year and vacation times

13.  Have books, will travel

14.  Pick & choose your own curriculum ~ can also toss it mid-year if its not working

15.  In depth study of really interesting topics ~ our schedule, our learning

16.  Great network support of other homeschoolers ~ local groups, church, friends, state-wide groups, conventions, sermons, radio broadcasts, books

17.  Set your own hours

18.  Pray whenever you want ~ before, during, or after school

19.  You can hug the teacher/pupils and not worry about a law suit!

20.  Higher accountability to work completion

21.  Cleaning the pool, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, is a practical Home Ec course

22.  Greater learning opportunities than in a "traditional" classroom setting

23.  Can change your school year to shorter or longer depending on the motivation to get the work completed

24.  You pick & choose the extra-curricular activities your child is involved in - no peer pressure to be in 17 different things

25.  A much better appreciation of each childs unique talents, gifts, struggles, successes

Another thought.....

Elementary & High School is the only time your children will be with other folks their exact same age ~ this is false socialization (not what will happen in real life).  Once they get to college/work and beyond they will be with people all ages and will have to learn then how to get along with people older and younger than themselves.

Some of these reasons came from the homeschool conference this weekend~and others are mine!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Homeschooling

More conference thoughts....

Voddie Bauchum, "If you send your children to Ceasar (gov. school) for their education, don't be surprised when you get little Romans (liberals)."

  He believes all Christians (particularly So. Baptist) should permanently withdraw their children from gov. schools.  It wouldn't take long for the school system to collapse.  Why support something that is so anti-family?

If you study the beginning origins of the public school system, you will find that the most ardent, vocal founders wanted the school system to separate children from their parents, break the family ties/bonds, and crank out little workers for the government and factories.  They wanted to be the moral (or immoral) code the children learned and not the religious foundations of their families.  Its easier to indoctrinate children to your own beliefs if you separate them from their parents/grandparents, for a majority of the day.

For those who are protesting in their minds right now and ready to write me a scathing comment ~ think about this...yes, there are many Christian teachers in the public school system, who do their very best to love on their students, be a positive influence/role model, etc ~ but their hands are tied ~ they Have to teach what they are told, when they are told, and how they are told, there is no flexibility.  And we really can't hope to revamp the schools when going back to their origins, they were intended to do exactly what they are doing now.  And, sending our little Christian children to be "salt & light" in the system is harming our children ~ one child would have a hard time influencing non-believers, but many non-believers have an easier time influencing one child. Our children aren't equipped or trained to stand up against the "darkness" on their own.

Ken Ham quoted that between the grades of kindergarten & 12th grade, children will have spent 14,000 hours in the classroom.  They are learning someone's agenda but not their parents beliefs.  This doesn't count extracurricular activities, hours of homework (some useless busy work), running to & from the school for pta, fundraisers, performances, games, teacher conferences. 

I decided to figure out how many classroom hours my children would have spent homeschooling in the same time frame.  I am figuring mine on 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, 36 weeks a year, k-12..... and the grand total is 9,360.  We are efficient with school ~ we don't need 8-9 hour days, we don't need 2-3 or more hours of homework.  Those are just classroom hours.  But really, I get at least 5,096 hours a year with my children, so in 13 years thats 66,248 hours. (14 hrs. a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year)  Which is the better deal?

In our family, we've done public school, private Christian school, and homeschooling.  Hands down, homeschooling is the best.  Its a lifestyle choice that is perfect for our family (& I believe every other family also).  Amy will be the only one of our 7 children that will have gone through every school grade as a homeschooler.  We are coming to the end of my 15th year as a homeschool mom.  Amy, Will, and I figured out this morning that if they double up on their math lessons this week and next ~ they will be done with school till Aug.  Now, that is motivation for a 17 & 15 year old!  I have 3 short years left as a homeschooling mom. 

The Bible instruct parents to teach their children morning, noon, and night.  No where in the Bible does the Lord instruct parents to send their children out of the home for instruction.

My daughter Katie, took my notes from the conference this weekend and typed them on her & Amy's blog...Random Thoughts by 2 Sisters (on my sidebar).  She looked up all the scripture references and typed them out for easy reading.  

Friday, May 6, 2011

Getting my Homeschool Tank Filled

Well, really the title says it all!  We are at the GHEA convention in Atlanta.  Within the first 1 1/2 hours of being there I had ~ met Ken Ham & asked him to autograph his new book, met Kevin Swanson & asked him to autograph one of the Proverbs study guides we bought from him,  seen my friends Lisa, Carol, & Amy, seen my sister, niece & nephew, bought wheat, gamma lids & lecithin from Bread Beckers and headed to our first conference speaker.  What an awesome day!

We found some goodies at the Used Book Sale ~ this is one sale that Greg found more than I did!  We've got some new books to enhance our studies next year.  I've got stuff that I wanted but didn't need

Greg wore his "DADD" shirt (Dads Against Daughters Dating) and got lots of positive comments ~ he could have sold about 25 today! Might need to think about that as a business! 

And best of all I got to share all this fun with Greg, Katie, Amy & Will.  We are headed back tomorrow for much more fun!

(I did get to speak with Voddie Bauchum also!  And, he 3 fantastic messages today for us all.  He had 3 books on his table and we already own them, so no autograph this time.  But he is coming out with a new book in October !)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Hailey Elizabeth - My Great Niece

5 weeks ago our family was blessed with a new addition!  I was totally thrilled that my next "great" would be a girl (she has 2 older brothers!).  Today was my our first meeting!  I LOVE babies and this one is a Doll!  We met at Chick Fil A, so it was a yummy girls lunchtime with lots of baby cuddling!

cousins! 

Great Aunt Donna is in love!


Amy made Becky a baby quilt as a gift!  (Hailey's Mommy)

Katie & Hailey

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Pomp & Circumstance

Our graduate

Robert W. Jackson
Mississippi State University ~ 2011


Sarah, Katie, & Amy


Where's Waldo...um, I mean Rob?

Whoo Hoo...he is next!

Yeah!  He's got it!

Proud Dad & Mom with the Graduate

Sarah & Rob

Part of the graduates siblings!


On The Road Again.....

We off again this afternoon...

*Tonight I get to see my Mom!  We haven't seen her since January.
*Tomorrow at lunch I get to have a lunch date with my niece and meet my baby great-niece!  And we are eating at ChickfilA ~ so we know the food will be fantastic!
*Sometime tomorrow, I will get to see Allen and give him a big hug!
*Friday morning (bright & early) we are headed to the GHEA (Ga home educators assoc.) conference near Atlanta.  Curriculum shopping, browsing and hearing Ken Ham, Voddie Bauchum, and Kevin Swanson speak throughout the day.  Fun and tiring!  K,A,&W are going with us to the conference, also.  Hopefully, I will see some of my GA friends at the conference ~ will have to pay attention!
*Sat. back to the conference for more home school encouragement!
*Sunday we get to spend Mothers Day with Mom!  Greg is cooking us ribs ~ my sister, brother in law, niece and nephews are coming for dinner!
*Monday we head back to Miss.

   I've got to work in a trip to JoAnn's also! 

It'll be a short, sweet & busy trip!

Monday, May 2, 2011

"The American Frugal Housewife"

I heard about "The American Frugal Housewife" on someones blog or through facebook and thought it sounded interesting.  Its a short, 94 page book that was originally published in the 1800's and my reprint is from 2010.  Here is some "timeless" advice for then and now.

"In this country, we are apt to let children romp away their existence, till they get to be thirteen or fourteen.  This is not well.,  It is not well for the purses and patience of parents; and it has a still worse effect on the morals and habits of the children.  begin early is the great maxim for everything in education.  A child of 6 years old can be made useful' and should be taught to consider every day lost in which some little things has not been done to assist others."

"Provided brothers and sisters go together, and are not allowed to go with bad children, it is a great deal better for the boys and girls on a farm to be picking blackberries at six cents a quart, than to be wearing out their clothes in useless play.  They enjoy themselves just as well' and they are earning something to buy clothes, at the same time they are tearing them."

" It is wise to keep an exact account of all you expend ~ even of a paper of pins.  This answers two purposes: it makes you more careful in spending money and it enables your husband to judge precisely whether his family live withing his income.  No false pride or foolish ambition to appear as well as others, should ever induce a person to live one cent beyond the income of which he is certain."

'Economy is generally despised as a low virtue, tending to make people ungenerous and selfish.  This is true of avarice; but it is not so of economy.  The man who is economical, is laying up for himself the permanent power of being useful and generous. "

"Rise early.  Eat simple food. Take plenty of exercise.  Never fear a little fatigue."

These are all great words of wisdom by Lydia M. Child.  We all know children who get up, fritter away their day, wait to be waited on, and do nothing for anyone else.  They are usually known to say frequently "I'm bored".  Unfortunately, these children become teens and young adults and have a "Peter Pan" complex.  This is definitely NOT what we want for our children.

There are just as many adults who want the latest, and greatest gadget/phone/game system etc. who are frequently broke and sad, bored people.  They don't save any money, spend every penny that passes through their hands, and can't give to others when a need arises.  We don't want that for ourselves or our children either.

My favorite quote is:

"Rise early.  Eat simple food. Take plenty of exercise.  Never fear a little fatigue."

I'll be searching out some more gems to share another time!


Please head over to 
http://www.raisingarrows.net/2011/05/simple-homemaking-monday.html
to read more simple ideas for blessing your family and your home.