Why We Homeschool Part 5

Images in this post were found here.
This is the last day of my 5 part series. Once you are done reading this please leave a comment. After sharing my thoughts I am wondering what your thoughts are on homeschooling.

One of our daughters has had some difficulty in language processing and reading. If she had been in school I am sure she would have been slapped with a label and maybe they would have wanted to medicate her. I am sure that at the very least she would have been made fun of and her self-esteem would have been shot. These are things she gets to avoid. The saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is not true. Those hurtful words can break our hearts and stick with us our whole lives. I am so glad to help my children avoid those. This is not to say that our children have never been made fun of (it has not been very often though) but they come to us when it happens. We are able to comfort them and put it into perspective. Instead of that, my daughter brags, "I am Momma's helper" and "I am Momma's problem solver". She recently figured out how to put a trampoline together.


Martin Luther, in the seventeenth century said:
"I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures engraving them in the youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt."

I think the above quote is very interesting and we don't have a problem with this either. Bible is a daily part of life. The girls read their Bibles daily and we often have discussions on the Bible, Holy living, life choices, consequences, morality, and the lack of morals in society. We also don't have the problem of other people telling my children in word or deed that the Bible is useless or unreliable and/or there is no God. In the grand scheme of things, when all is said and done, will an algebra equation, photons, or diagramming sentences be the issue .........or eternity?

You know in all honesty I often think to myself what a great life my girls have. I would love to have lived in a world that was full of support, love, and understanding instead of those dreadful school years. Who loves you, supports you and understands you better than your own parents? That is one reason why homeschool parents make great teachers. They know their children better than anyone else. Can any other teacher compete with that? (I am not saying everything is perfect either. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world so we all have problems.)

I wrote the "Why We Homeschool" some time ago. Recently, there have been some hilarious, frustrating, or frightening things that make me even more glad we homeschool. Some examples are the child that is being punished for hugging in school, the child that has distracting hair, banning games and running, severely inappropriate relationships with students, and of course all the school shootings are a good argument for homeschooling.

Recently, my oldest daughter (age 17) was asked what her favorite thing about homeschooling was. Her answer surprised herself. She said it was being family oriented. That was one of those days where I was especially proud to be called a homeschooler.

I could go on about this topic for a long (er) time but I will stop for now. I hope that after sharing our thoughts on this subject you will look at homeschooling in a different way. I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

Why We Homeschool Part 4

I found the image above here.

(Tomorrow is the last day of this 5 part series. Please, leave comments on this topic. I would love to know your thoughts or questions.)

My children are free to follow their interests even if they aren't popular. Nobody makes fun of them or calls them names if their interests seem different. For the most part my children don't understand being mean to others and teasing or bullying others isn't a favorite pastime. They have compassion for others.

We have a flexible schedule and that is sure nice. One of my favorites is when making dental or medical appointments. Often they will ask, "before or after school"? Well, it doesn't really matter since we homeschool. It seems to make them pretty happy to hear that and I suppose make their day a little bit easier. They can squeeze us in just about any where. Truthfully, though, super early doesn't work well for us. ;-)

My girls have also had many great opportunities that they would have missed out on if they had been in school. Recently they participated in the Flag Honor Guard for a local family that lost their 21 yr. old son in Iraq. I was so glad they could be there to honor the fallen soldier and his family. I was glad they could see others in the community doing the same thing. One of my daughters has participated in feeding the homeless or handing out groceries and another time helping with the children in a Vacation Bible School in a homeless shelter for a few days. She has also helped stuff envelopes for an organization that helps pregnant teen girls. (My other daughter will do these types of things when she is older.)

Both my girls have been part of a group that picked up trash in a park, they were part of a group of children that made cookies & cards for our local firemen, they were part of a group that sang to the elderly in a nursing home. They helped with Operation Christmas Child and making Christmas cards for our military. Both girls have watched and/or helped to prepare & take food to friends/acquaintances that experienced a death in the family or recently had a baby. They have been with me when we went to stay with/assist a mother at her home that had recent surgery.

A lot of people act like homeschoolers don't live in or see the real world. What is more real? A classroom of peers (all your same age) that you spend your whole day with all the same age as you, or living and working with your family doing daily activities, passing out food to needy people, visiting the elderly, helping another mom, or participating in honoring a fallen soldier?

Click here for part 5.

Why We Homeschool Part 3

I found this image here.

Once the decision was made I had peace about it all. I knew this was the answer that God had provided. I also knew this would be a hard road but well worth it. A lot of people didn't understand and I am sure were very concerned. Unlike some people, I didn't have any rude family members or friends that grilled me on this. I did have questions and I certainly understood that. This was a really new and different thing for most people. At that time I didn't know anyone that homeschooled or so I thought.

Over a period of time I remembered that one of Michael's co-workers homeschooled. I didn't know them very well but over the years they have become dear friends. My friend, helped me in so many ways. She was always available to answer my questions, look at her curriculum, and just be there to talk when I needed her. She was a gift from God! Thank you Karen! (As a side note, she now has 7 children. One of her children has graduated and is at ORU. He is very smart and he impresses me every time I see him with what a respectful young man he is. All of her children love God, are respectful, well behaved, full of compassion, and smart! )


There are SO many benefits of homeschooling. The first thing I love is the relationship I have with both of my children. We are very close. I had heard for many years about how terrible the pre-teen and teen years are. I have a 17 yr. old and have loved all 17 years. I haven't had other children telling my children on a daily basis how stupid their parents are. I haven't had other children teaching my children how to be rebellious towards their parents. I haven't had other children or teens teaching my children how to drink, smoke, or become sexually active. My children have the same values as my husband and I. We have taken time to explain those values and morals to our children (probably more often than they would like). These are shared values and morals not things we have forced on them. We haven't had a system fighting against our family for the last 11 years trying to undermine us. We are our children's peers. That sounds funny but it is really a neat thing. Our children have their own personality and style for sure. However, they don't have the pressure to dress inappropriately, because everyone else is or to fit in. They don't have to work at getting the attention of boys because their father pays attention to them. They don't have that need or that desire.


They don't have the need to fit in because they already do. They fit into our family perfectly. We accept them and love them unconditionally. We are not like the typical school peers that like them one day and not the next. We accept them no matter what their hair looks like or clothes. We don't think they are weird when they talk about important heart matters. We don't make fun of them for caring about other people or showing love, friendship, or kindness to others that may seem "uncool".

How has this helped my children? In so many ways! I will share with you some of them. My children don't feel near the pressure that other children do to fit in. Keep in mind there have been a few times that they felt left out....mostly at youth group in church. :-( Since they don't have this pressure they are free to be themselves. They don't flinch at all when in a social setting with adults. They have no trouble fitting into situations where there are no teenagers or no children their own age. We have a monthly activity where there is a 2 yr. old, a teenager, some younger children, and some adults. My girls get along just fine with all of them. Nobody minds playing with the 2 yr. old. They also have no problem conversing with the adults. They aren't upset that they aren't with their friends because they consider all these people their friends.

This has helped my children be more outgoing than me and to try new things! As I mentioned before I am shy by nature. It is difficult to say the least for me to meet new people. The idea of public speaking or being on a stage was horrifying. My husband was similar. These things were pretty far out of our comfort zone. How in the world can two people like that raise two children that don't have those fears? We encouraged them to do the things they wanted to do. We never let them know how frightened we were of these things for them. We acted like these were all very normal things. There was no peer pressure to be afraid of. Of course, we didn't tell them that we were shaking in our boots FOR THEM. Without peer pressure and fear to hold them back they have had some wonderful experiences that their parents have never had. Our oldest as many of you know has been in several community plays, has sang at church a few times, and was in a play on a stage with thousands of people watching.


Our youngest hasn't done the same things but is similar in not being afraid of those types of things. Just last night someone called to ask our youngest if she would be willing to stand up in our homeschool support group Mom's meeting to talk about the Middle School Game Nights. She didn't even flinch. Sure! I thought she would be a bit nervous but that didn't even come to her mind. She was just excited that she was asked to share.


She has never met a stranger and loves to talk to people. She tells me her best friend is our 80 yr. old neighbor! He is so interesting she says. He fought in WW2 Mom. Isn't that cool? Yes, it is I say. It is very cool. We have tried to teach our girls that the older you are the more wisdom you have. As a matter of fact to help them learn that idea I told my children many years ago, "the more gray hairs a person has the more wisdom they have". I tell them that the longer a person lives the more time they have had to gain wisdom and gray hairs! I tell my children to listen to older people because we value their wisdom. Of course, this has come back to haunt me a bit. Hannah keeps asking WHY I want to cover up my gray hairs. "That is your wisdom Mommy!" :-)

Click here for part 4

Why We Homeschool Part 2

I found this image here.


At the time we were pondering the school issue for our daughter we were watching a late night Christian talk show person. He had commercials regarding homeschooling and started talking about homeschooling. We had never known anyone that did that and didn't know anything about it. (Feeling like a pioneer again.) Well, actually I did seem to recall someone that homeschooled when I was a child (well, I think I had just heard about them) and everyone thought they were freaks. Not something that sounded good to me! I didn't want people to think we were freaks! (I found out years later there are some pretty normal and awesome people that homeschool!)

One day my husband came to me and said "why don't we homeschool"? Hmm, great question. My first thought was "why don't YOU homeschool"! I didn't go to college and get a degree in teaching! I don't know anything about it and it sure sounded frightening!!! I can't do THAT!!!!
That was my first reaction. However, even though that was probably the end of the conversation for that day that thought kept nagging me. Why don't we? Why not? Of course, then I would remember all the reasons why, no degree in teaching, who do I think I am , what will people say, etc. The funny thing was that the more time went on the more I wondered to my self, why not? I decided to investigate. I went to the library and got every book I could on homeschooling and learned all I could. The more I learned the more I realized that we could do it! This was not an impossible thing at all.

People have been homeschooling since the beginning. Who taught Adam & Eve's children? There were no schools and college educated teachers, only parents. What do parents do? They teach! How do children learn to walk, to talk, to eat, to go potty? The parents teach them. The children learn by watching the parents and the parents take time to actually teach the children. I realized I had been teaching since my little baby came into this world. I even taught her what the cow says and what the horsey says. ;-) I also realized that there was a time in US history that people didn't even go to school. We had some of the most well educated and well spoken people during that time. Reading the writings of people close to the beginning of our country is amazing. Who taught them how to read, to write so eloquently? It had to have been their parents.

We have had some really famous people that were homeschooled. What about presidents that were homeschooled? Think of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, & Thomas Jefferson. These were brilliant men! What about Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, George Washington Carver, Mozart, Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, & C.S. Lewis? What would America be without these great men?

If you are interested in finding out about many other famous homeschoolers check out this link.

http://www.home4schoolgear.com/famoushomeschooler.html

These were not ignorant men. These men were taught by their parents. It is obvious from their lives that their parents taught them a lot more than facts and figures. I believe, and their lives show, that their parents taught them things that would help them get through life and be great achievers and/or great leaders. They were taught excellent work ethics, morals, diligence, patience, leadership qualities, determination, and many more important life skills. They didn't learn these qualities from a school teacher or their peers in a classroom.

At this point I realized this whole "homeschooling" idea may be a really great thing! When I realized I could keep my little girl at home with me and she could still get a good education I was thrilled. This was the answer to my aching heart. As always, God is faithful!

Click here for part 3.

Why We Homeschool Part 1

I found this image here.

A while back a friend asked me to explain WHY we felt that homeschooling is best and WHY I felt being a stay at home Mom is best. I decided to answer that question here in my blog. The best way for me to answer that is to share how we came to the conclusion to homeschool, how we feel about it, and the things we see in it.

DISCLAIMER: First of all, before you go any further I want you to know that it is not my intention to condemn anyone for their decisions. In the same way many women feel very strongly that they need to work or that their children should attend school I feel just as strongly about what we are doing. This in no way makes me think badly of others. This is what we feel the Lord has led us to do so of course, we feel very strongly about it. When you feel strongly about something like this you think everyone should do it. However, we realize that God hasn't led everyone to do the same things as we do. We know that God has different plans for everyone and we are not all the same. Know that I will be saying a lot of good things about homeschooling so if you think that will offend you stop now. I DO NOT WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE. If you are reading this you may very well be a valued and precious friend or family member. That is a group of people I love dearly so stop if singing the praises of homeschooling will offend you.


I felt the same way about nursing my baby. Before I had my first child I was convinced that breast-feeding my baby was the best thing. It was obvious with all the research (and the fact that God made it this way and HIS way is always best) that you could come to no other conclusion. While I felt a bit like a pioneer (I had never known anyone that did this) I was convinced 100% it was the right thing to do for my baby. It was awkward and difficult a lot of times (just like homeschooling!) and I knew that a lot of people probably didn't understand. At that time people were not real accepting of it. I am by nature a shy & modest person so I was pretty paranoid unless I was sitting in a tent. Of course, there aren't many times when you can sit in a tent so that made it difficult and made me very self conscious. I kept doing what I felt was the right thing and the best thing for my baby. Over time I began to get over some of the paranoia. The longer I did it the more I knew it was the right thing to do. During that time I was well aware of the fact that a lot of women didn't make the same decision I made. I knew it was not practical at all for a woman that worked. I knew there were circumstances that made it difficult or impossible. I also knew that there were many good mothers out there that just didn't have the same convictions as I did. I realize the same thing about homeschooling. I have seen some really good mothers that really love their children. They don't have the same convictions as I do but that doesn't mean I think any less of them. To be honest though, when they tell me of difficulties in school I can't help but think "that is the great thing about homeschooling". Whatever the issue is I know that it wouldn't be an issue or it could be much less of one if the child were homeschooled. Having said all of that now I want to address homeschooling, why we do that and why we love it.

Our decision to homeschool was mostly economical. When that little baby I mentioned above was getting close to her 5th birthday my heart began to ache. I knew that it was almost time for her to go to school. I couldn't imagine my darling little angel being whisked away from me each morning only to return several hours later. She would be all alone! I wouldn't be there with her. Won't she be frightened? What if she needs me? I have always been there for her and with her. How can this work? The more I thought about it the more I thought, "this is just how it is, this is what I have to do, everyone else does it". What choice did I have? She had to go to school! But she was only 5 years old! It just isn't right to rip a 5 yr. old from her Mother's arms!

It's unnatural!

My husband and I didn't see public school as an option at the time. We felt that our little angel would do better in a Christian School. That made me feel better about leaving my daughter with a bunch of strangers. At least, it would be strangers that had similar convictions and would care about my girl. My heart ached a bit less but it still ached.....

Click here for part 2.

The King of Spices

The King of Spices

Almost everyone knows that a dash of black pepper can add flavor to just about any dish. What you may not know about the "king of spices" is that it comes from a plant that can grow more than 30 feet tall in tropical climates.

Indigenous to India, pepper has been a covetous spice for thousands of years.

The ancient Greeks used it as a currency and offered it as a sacrifice to their gods. Many Greeks even paid their taxes with pepper – something you may wish the IRS would allow. By the time of the Middle Ages, men calculated their wealth by their stockpiles of this wonderful spice.

Why has black pepper been considered so valuable? Not only does it spice up food, but it's also an excellent source of manganese, vitamin K, iron, and fiber.

It also improves digestive disorders and keeps the intestines healthy.

That's right: the taste of black pepper alerts the stomach to secrete extra amounts of hydrochloric acid which helps to digestion. In fact, if our stomachs have a deficiency of this substance, then food will sit in our tummies long enough to give us heartburn and indigestion; when these putrid food particles are passed to the intestines, then a lot of unpleasant symptoms, like flatulence, may occur. So think of pepper as a type of aphrodisiac in that you won’t repel prospective mates.

Black pepper also contains remarkable weight loss properties – the outer layer of the peppercorn fuels the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slender, energetic, and even younger.

Of course not all peppers are created equal. While all peppers come from the same vine, different kinds result from harvesting the berries at distinct stages of the ripening and processing them in diverse ways. For example, green peppercorns are picked long before maturity in the green stage; white pepper comes from completely ripe peppercorns that have been picked close to maturity. And finally, our beloved black pepper come from berries as they are beginning to ripen from green to yellow and while still relatively immature. They are then boiled for a short time, and then dried naturally in the sun until they’re perfect.

Unfortunately most pepper sold in the U.S. is a mixture from a variety of low-grade peppers bought at the lowest possible price. A superior form of pepper comes from the Lampong district of South-eastern Sumatra, the center of pepper production in Indonesia. Lampong pepper berries tend to be smaller than those of Indian pepper, which gives it a finer flavor than other peppercorns.

Lampong pepper is one of the one of the strongest and hottest black pepper with a powerful flavor.

For the best grade of Lampong pepper, just click on http://www.rawleigh-products.com/. There you'll find, along with other superior grade spices, the best pepper you've ever tasted. Rawleigh’s special method of granulation allows fewer oil cells to be crushed or broken, producing an authentic and fragrant black pepper.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 28, 2007, 01:11

For more information click here.

Meanest Mom On The Planet?

After....a discovery, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

Is she really the meanest Mom on the planet? Read this and you decide.

After you check that out you must watch this funny video. It is a homeschool video and I saw it at Kahri's blog. You must watch it for me! :-) Turn your sound up before you start it. You have to watch it at least twice to catch it all.

The Magical Spice

The Magical Spice


• Its history dates back to 2800 BC when the Chinese used it to remedy colds, flu, and digestive disorders.

• Moses used it as an ingredient for his anointing oils.

• Roman Emperor Nero demanded that a year's supply of it be burned after he slaughtered his wife.

• In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote that 350 grams of it was equivalent to more than five kilograms of silver.

What substance could be so valued, so powerful, and so healing? A spice you likely have in the back of your kitchen cupboard . . . cinnamon. And it turns out that modern researcher doctors are just learning about the spice's many medicinal qualities.

Cinnamon is a small tree that grows in Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnam. A mere teaspoon of the spice has a whopping 28 mg of calcium, one mg of iron, one mg of fiber, and a smattering of vitamins C, K, and manganese. But that's just the tip of the spice rack.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Richard A. Anderson of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, a simple dash of cinnamon may improve the health of those suffering from type II diabetes.

Anderson and his colleagues at the USDA Agricultural Research Center had 60 diabetics consume capsules that contained zero, one, three, or six grams of cinnamon each day for 40 days. The capsules with no cinnamon contained wheat flour.

Anderson's study found that all subjects given the cinnamon-laced capsules experienced up to 30 percent drops in their levels of glucose, fats and cholesterol.
Those who took the placebo showed no changes in their blood levels. Apparently cinnamon, like insulin, helps the body's insulin signaling, glucose transport, and inflammatory response.

Cinnamon also has cholesterol-fighting properties: In Pakistan, a 40-day study of sixty people with Type II diabetes, found that just one-quarter of a teaspoon of the spice taken twice daily lowered not only lowered the subjects' blood sugar, but also their LDL or "bad cholesterol" as well as their overall cholesterol levels. This is good news for those wanting to prevent hypertension and heart disease.

Would you like to be more alert, more on on the ball, quick-witted? – a small splash of cinnamon could be the key to a smarter you. A research study presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Services found that the simple act of smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon-flavored gum improved subjects' brainpower in areas ranging from memory to recognition to attention and focus.

Healers have long known of cinnamon's antiseptic properties too. A Japanese study found that the spice not only soothes an upset stomach, but may even prevent ulcers. German researchers confirmed that cinnamon blocks bacteria that causes urinary tract and yeast infections.

On an important note, not all cinnamons are created equal. You will not reap the full benefits from cinnamon you bought five years ago. Ground cinnamon keeps most of its healing powers for up to six months.

Rawleigh uses an especially high-grade of cinnamon from the bark of an evergreen bush native to Sri Lanka. The bark is peeled away from the bush in thin strips, dried, and ground yet still retains three percent of its oil content – an amazing feat that provides a superior grade of cinnamon.

Remember, aside from its healing properties, cinnamon is a very versatile spice, used in curry powder as well as a variety of sweet dishes.

By Vincent P Platania
Nov 6, 2007, 20:19

Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com/ or click here.

More information found here.

Why do many Christians accept evolution?

Why do many Christians accept evolution?

Unfortunately, many Christians—in fact, many pastors—accept some form of evolution and try to add it to the Bible. They say that God could have used evolutionary processes over millions of years to bring about plants, animals, and finally man. Many accept molecule-to-man evolution because they believe that science has “proven” that the earth is millions of years old, so they simply attach God to the process.

But this view, called “theistic evolution,” is actually destructive to the gospel message. Of course, this does not mean that people who believe in theistic evolution aren’t Christians, since the Bible teaches that believing in and confessing Christ’s death and resurrection is the key to salvation. However, they are being very inconsistent in their faith.

The Bible clearly teaches that when God created Adam and Eve, the world was perfect (i.e., “very good”). There was no death and bloodshed. But because of the sin of Adam, God brought death as a judgment into the world. Of course, He also provided a means by which man could be reconciled to his Creator.

But a Christian who believes in evolution over eons as told by evolutionists must also believe that God used death and bloodshed over millions of years as a way to bring man into existence. For them, the fossil record is not a sign of God’s judgment in the Flood, but of the cruel nature of the world they believe God created. However, if death is not a result of the Fall, then why would God need to send His Son to save us from death? In this view, cancer, pain, and death would simply be part of the original plan.

But thank God this is not the true history of the world. Death came into the world because of sin, but Christ came to the earth and died to save us from sin and death. There is no room for death before sin, and no room for the evolutionary myth in the Bible.

For more information, see: The God of an Old Earth.


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Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18–19)

Global Warming; It is a SCAM!

If the founder of The Weather Channel spoke out strongly against the manmade global warming myth, might media members notice?

We're going to find out the answer to that question soon, for John Coleman wrote an article published at ICECAP Wednesday that should certainly garner attention from press members -- assuming journalism hasn't been completely replaced by propagandist activism, that is.

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create in [sic] allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the "research" to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus........


The rest of this article is here.

Another interesting one here.