The Homeschooling Blog

Have You Voted Today?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:47:00 +0000

I just visited CafeMom, a wonderful website featuring countless forums on things like homeschooling, raising boys, special needs children, weightloss, shared hobbies and just about anything else you might imagine. If you don't find a group to suit you, you can actually start your own!

Ok... it's a great site populated by scads of moms from around this great nation of ours, but to my great disappointment I observed in a CafeMom poll that 23% of those visiting the site today say they are not voting! Seriously? I can't even imagine not voting in such a time as this. Why do you suppose they aren't voting and is this representational of our nation as a whole? Will nearly a quarter of our population not vote today?

I'd like to encourage everyone reading this blog post to get out and vote. If you're not certain who to vote for this year, just remember that one of the candidates will grow our dependence on the federal government, will raise our taxes, will increase the scope and function of government as a whole (costing us money and freedoms we've come to take for granted) and generally speaking is very liberal on social issues. The other candidate is my choice. I voted early for John McCain and have endorsed him here on my blog. He wasn't my first choice, but I strongly feel he's the best choice on the ticket this year.

Remember that the President of the United States serves as Commander in Chief and the leader of the free world. Who does it make more sense to place in that position of power? John McCain or Barack Obama?

Please vote and don't believe the polls. We don't know what will happen tonight and anything is still possible.

An Asperger's Blog on My Horizon?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:12:00 +0000

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a definite. A week ago today my son was diagnosed by a child psychologist with PDD-NOS and signs of Asperger's. I don't know if he could have both, or if she couldn't decide what he had. These are disorders that fall under the spectrum of autism. Asperger's is like a high-functioning autism, but when she examined my son she suggested he might actually be more on the autistic side. I really didn't expect to hear her say that. I'm not sure I buy it either.

After reading up on Asperger's I truly believe this is the correct diagnosis. The PDD-NOS is like a non-specified type of diagnosis and I'm still trying to get a feel for how he may or may not fit into that diagnosis appropriately.

In any case, many of you know I've had an ongoing struggle with me 7 year old son for a very long time. Actually, things have always been a struggle. He's like having 2 children, sometimes 3. He's a handful!

What does this mean for our homeschool? It might actually be the nail in the coffin. I don't know this for fact just yet, but there's a very good chance he'll either be in school part-time or full-time next semester. If I could have it my way, he'd only start half days just to get acclimated. It's been suggested by countless people that he go to school. That he needs a lot of therapy that he cannot get at home. Therapy we can't afford outside of the school system. I could use a lot of prayer about this. Seriously, this would be a huge change for our family.

I want what is best for my son, but sometimes it's hard to know what that is. Especially when he's now been labeled special needs. We can't give him everything he needs here and I do recognize that. He needs speech therapy, occupational therapy, likely physical therapy, and the list goes on. Fortunately we live in a wonderful school district that excells with special needs children. So, while I hate the idea of public school, I am willing to consider that at least for a couple years it might be the right answer.

I'll keep you all posted.

Winner of Mia Bella Candle Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Ok... our random, online number generator tells us the winner of our Mia Bella Candle Giveaway is number 11... which means Kristie wins! Congratulations to Kristie and thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

Keep visiting The Homeschooling Blog for new and exciting giveaways and homeschooling related information!

NEW School Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:42:00 +0000

I rec'd this in an email today and wanted to share....

WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. Old SCHOOL KID IN ARIZONA:

New Pledge of Allegiance (TOTALLY AWESOME)! Since the Pledge of Allegiance And The Lord's Prayer Are not allowed in most Public schools anymore Because the word 'God' is mentioned....

NEW School prayer :
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

LeapFrog Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Listen up (or should I say read up?) homeschoolers of young kids! LeapFrog is sponsoring a giveaway over at Punnybop to celebrate the launch of their new Learning Path, an online interactive that works with their electronic educational systems.

What are they giving away?

One Didi Custom Gaming System
One Leapster II
A Tag Reading System and two books

To learn more and to enter the giveaway, hop on over to Punnybop by Friday (1 pm CT), October 24th, which is the entry deadline! Take note... you don't have much time!

BTW, I'll be adding a Prizey widget to this blog to keep my readers in the know on blogging giveaways from across the blogosphere. It's the best blogging giveaway site on the planet... guaranteed!

Breathtaking Photos of The Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:30:00 +0000

This link is likely all over the Internet by now, but I still want to share it here! Just in case you've not visited the site yet, because WOW! Check out Boston.com's link for photos of the sun.

When you and your children study the sun, you'll want to have this site bookmarked. The photos are gorgeous and you can stare at them all day and not damage your retinas! lol

My 7 year old son is all about outer space and calls himself "space expert". My husband and I got a kick out of a sign he made yesterday for his bedroom door which reads:

"Space Expert"

our son's name

"Room free to enter,

but do not bug him too much."

Too cute!

Mia Bella Candle Giveaway!!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:05:00 +0000

Giveaway over!

Winner will be selected and announced shortly!

Mia Bella gourmet candles are amazing! Trust me, I know.... I was selected to sample the Chili Vanilli Mia Bella candle personally and couldn't have been more pleased with the awesome aroma. YuMmY! Oh... and the way this candle burned so cleanly! There's absolutely no black residue left in the jar. Amazing!

Can you see the unique texture of the candle in this photo? What really took me by surprise was that after burning my candle for 20 minutes, the cooled wax retained the same texture as new. Can't explain that one, but I like it! lol

Thanks to our sponsor Jean, a Mia Bella distributor, we're able to offer one of our visitors a free 16 oz. Chili Vanilli Mia Bella candle... can we all give Jean a huge THANK YOU?!!!

Here are the super simple rules for entering:

This giveaway is open to nonhomeschoolers and homeschoolers alike!
Only one entry per individual.
You must have a US shipping address (Sorry! This is a shipping expense issue.)
Visit our sponsor's Mia Bella website and do some looking around. Come back to The Homeschooling Blog and leave me a comment sharing your favorite product! If you've never experienced Mia Bella first hand, simply choose the product you'd most like to try. :)
If you're not a blogger, please note that we must have a way to get a hold of you or you will be disqualified. Please be sure to leave your email in this format: yourname (at) yahoo (dot) com. This keeps the spambots from picking up your info! We promise not to sell your email or to use it for any purposes other than notifying you should you be our winner. :)

Deadline for entry is Monday, October 27th at 11:59 PM (CST).

Sign up for Jean's "Preferred Customer" list and you'll automatically be sent a preferred pricing list. For a limited time you'll then be entitled to a one time savings of 50% over retail!

If you'd like to learn more about the business aspect of Mia Bella, be sure to request your free information packet with sample.

Also, you should enter the Mia Bella weekly giveaway too. This is another opportunity to win a free candle! Woo Hoo!

Halloween Crafts for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:23:00 +0000

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween... at least not the spooky aspect of it, but I do love the warm autumn colors and it's great fun to decorate the house with pumpkins, gourds, and fall leaves. My kids are all about dressing up as their favorite Star Wars hero or Disney princess and although we don't do the door-to-door thing, we usually do find a party somewhere to attend. This year, there has been some talk of making a scarecrow... which I suppose is innocent enough!

If you're looking for a little Halloween fun to share with your kids this year, I've done a little digging for you. These are all sites that come up fairly high on a Google search... I've included my favs here. Great ideas for elementary aged children and most are low budget types of crafts that don't require mom or dad to have a lot of skill! lol

Have fun!

My Craft Book What a cool site! Two pages of crafts with photos and detailed instructions.

Craft Kaboose Cute, unique Halloween projects

Martha Stewart Offers a page of clever projects and decorating ideas. My favorite are the Halloween mice!

Family Fun Always a great spot to visit for any occasion. They have a great assortment of Halloween crafts with real photos!

Amazing Moms Has a few fun projects that they call "not so spooky"!

FreeKidsCrafts Another spot to check for cute ideas.

Apples 4 the Teacher Is another site I recommend. Great ideas with full color photos!

DLTK Has some cute ideas too.

Enchanted Learning K-3 Activities for HalloweenThis site offers freebies and membership only pages.

Free Starbucks Coffee for Homeschooling Moms/Dads

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Oh, happy day! On Monday September 29th homeschooling parents will receive a tall cup of Pike Place Roast coffee... on the house! You'll need to provide proof that you're a homeschooler either by providing evidence of membership to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, a homeschooling co-op or organization membership card, or paperwork from your district or state verifying that you are homeschooling your children.

Call your local Starbucks before you pop in to request your free cup of coffee... just to be sure they're participating in this teacher appreciation program.

Where Did Wendy Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:28:00 +0000

For those faithful readers who keep checking my blog for new posts, I am still alive and kicking! It's been slim posting here for much of the summer and I appreciate that while I've been away my traffic has actually increased. Now... I can't really explain that one, but I'm happy to have every reader, regardless of how long it's been since I've written anything!

Where was I? Well... I just recently realized I was spreading myself too thin with obligations at home and church and actually had to let one of my Bible studies go. Just so I'm not misunderstood... I didn't let the Bible study go so I could start blogging again, but there were a handful of things I no longer had time for, blogging was at the bottom of that list. Top of the list was time with my family... that is, time with my family when my husband was at home. I'm with my kids most of the time.

Last week was a real wakeup call as it was the second straight week where I had only one night at home. Every other night I was either out at a meeting, a study, or having a meeting at my house while me kids were out with thier dad. Something just didn't seem right about that... you know what I mean? So, what did I do? I prayed about it until I found peace with a decision that just a couple weeks ago I never would have considered. That decision was to step away from my
"Believing God" Bible study. Thing is, the Believing God study was soooo good that even a couple weeks into it I believed God enough to trust Him when I felt like He was telling me I needed to step away. I can and will do this study on my own and when it's offered again through my church... hopefully, I'll have the time to share the group-study experience. In any case, last night was my first night not in the group and it really did feel ok. I didn't cry or anything! lol I still have my book, still have my Bible, still have the desire to keep on learning from my favorite Bible teacher Beth Moore... so it's all good!

I might be rambling just a bit, but back to the point of this post... I'm back and I will be posting again. My goal is to post no fewer than 3 times a week, so we'll see how I do with that!

So, how is everyone's semester going so far? I'll be sharing a bit about ours in the coming days, or hours... we'll have to see what happens! You see, I had last night and tonight off, but I'm booked through Saturday! lol I might still have a moment to give you a few homeschooling highlights. I have so much to share!

Our Lil' Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Last night after putting myself to bed, I realized I'd forgotten to do something. Have you ever done that? I do it nearly every evening. As a matter of routine, I often find myself lying in bed with thoughts spinning. It's amazing what you remember when it's too late to do anything about it!

So, what did I realize last night? I'd not drawn a name for my Disciples Cross necklace! Oh... and I promised to do so on Tuesday! Ok... I messed up. This hasn't been a typical week and I'm fairly certain my head isn't screwed on quite tight enough.

So, to make good on my word, I just drew a name from the 7 who commented on the Sarah Palin post. Our winner is Teachmom! Congratulations! I'll be contacting you ASAP for your mailing address. Thanks for leaving a comment on THB.

Sarah Palin... What's Your Take?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 +0000

I don't have a lot of time to share my thoughts on Sarah Palin as we're getting ready to get the books out and start another school day, but did want to hear from my readers on the VP pick for the Republican ticket.

What do you know about Sarah and do you approve or disapprove of McCain's decision to pick her as his running mate? Will this help or hurt his efforts to run a successful bid at the White House? Will it help or hurt that she's a woman? Does gender matter?

Ooooh, & A Lil' Giveaway!
All comments on this topic will be entered into a drawing for a free Disciple's Cross necklace (photo to come soon, retail value $9.99). Leave me a comment no later than Monday, Sept. 1st at 11:59 PM (CDT). Share your thoughts, keep them clean (or they won't get published) and tell me what you think of McCain's pick for VP.

Isn't this fun?!!

Nickelodeon Back-to-School Gift Pack Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:14:00 +0000

Thanks to Prizey... a wonderful resource for locating blog giveaways, I've tracked down yet another great "schooling" related prize! This giveaway, hosted by Geek Parenting, includes a Nickelodeon messenger bag, Nick umbrella, Nick sketch pad, and 2 Nick pencils. Do you have any Nickelodeon fans at your house? We sure do, which is why immediately before posting about this giveaway... I uh, entered it! lol I mean, why wouldn't I?

This blog giveaway is about as easy to enter as they come. All they require is that you leave a comment before Sept 5th. Once you've done that, be sure to head over to Nick and learn about their Give Back program. Nick has partnered with Feed the Children as part of a nonprofit to provide educational materials to children in low-income school districts who might otherwise go without.

I love Feed the Children! While I've not participated in the school program, I've been proudly contributing to Feed the Children for well over a year now... I sort of lost track. For just $16 a month I've been feeding 2 hungry children somewhere in the world. Upon looking at their website, it appears the expense is now $10 a child, so I'll have to adjust my monthly pledge to keep up! Glad I visited the site. ; ) My short-term goal is to feed up to 5 kids a month, but currently I'm only feeding 2. With Feed the Children, nearly anyone can keep a child from going to bed hungry.

Feed the Children meets the standards of the BBB. To read more about where your money goes, check out their accountability page.

Why Do You Homeschool?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:59:00 +0000

If I had a nickel for every time I was asked that question (usually online) I wouldn't be stuck at home all day without transportation. Ho, hum.

Ok... I'm bringing this up because I wanted to share a homeschooling poll published by Homeschool World. Although we can all guess (probably pretty safely) the top few reasons parents and grandparents choose to homeschool their children, I thought it was interesting to examine what homeschoolers selected as their main reason for educating their children at home. Here's the poll: What is Your Main Reason for Homeschooling?

So, what is your main reason for homeschooling or considering homeschooling? The polls are closed on this particular question, at least at Homeschool World, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun here! My guess is we all have a list of reasons for making the choice we have, but what is your #1?

BTW, when you visit the link I've provided above for the reasons for homeschooling poll... be sure to check out the other polls in their left sidebar. Interesting stuff!

Free Homeschooling Advice PDF

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:16:00 +0000

This free PDF titled, "If I Could Do It Over Again..." offers great advice and insight to homeschoolers looking for wisdom by those who've been there, done that.

According to the site offering the free PDF, over 800 homeschoolers were polled about their past homeschooling experiences and what they wish they'd done differently. The best part of all? It really is 100% free and provides an easy, enlightening read.

The specific question they asked homeschoolers was:
“If you could do it over again, what would you change
about how you have homeschooled in the past?”

This site is a good one to bookmark as they offer new homeschooling freebies on a regular basis.

4 Day School Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Public school news can be interesting.... so I thought I'd share this. :) I think this story is kinda cool (well, in a public school cool kinda way... whatever that means).

There are a growing number of public schools in the United States (mostly rural) cutting back on school days in an effort to reduce the expense of fueling buses and keeping their building thermostats at a comfortable level. What I found interesting about this situation were the reports that school districts are enjoying better attendance and higher test scores with a 4 day school week. This despite longer school days and lessons. Interesting, wouldn't you say?

Imagine... kids thriving with an extra day each week unconfined to a stuffy classroom? It won't surprise anyone here I'm sure. Apparently 100 school districts in 17 states currently give students this extra day to thrive (hopefully at home). In my dreamy imagination, I like to picture these children at home with mom and/or dad that extra day, sharing time together, maybe going to a museum or even running errands together.

The biggest obstacle for parents (who work) is what to do with their kidlets on that extra "day off" from school. It can present an expense that wasn't there before, but then again, with the kids in school 4 days a week with hours that more closely resemble mom and/or dad's work day, there may not be a need for after school day care. If it were me (and I'm glad it's not) I'd shift my hours in such a way as to work a 4 day work week and enjoy that extra day off with my kids.

Ok, so this isn't homeschooling news, but I still find it interesting. I've thought about schooling just 4 days a week myself (for different reasons), but haven't been able to really make that work just yet. I go back and forth between 4 heavy days and 3 days off, spent together as a family, and doing 5 even 6 less intense school days each week where we can take it slow and enjoy our lessons (and have them done by noon). What I usually end up with is a mix of both! lol We sorta blow which ever way the wind takes us. With doctor appointments, my son's upcoming surgery that keeps getting postponed, playdates (for my unsocialized kids... I'm soooo joking here!), the busy work I've found being a committee director at my church, and oh... my blogging and work from home ventures, there are plenty of distractions and reasons to keep school flexible.

Articles on 4 Day School Weeks:

Schools Shut Down to Save on Gas

Back to school: Shaky economy hits kids

Four-Day School Week

The Pro-Homeschooling Presidential Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:05:00 +0000

At the risk of losing half my audience, I'm going to endorse John McCain for president.

In case you missed it, McCain plugged homeschooling last night at the Saddleback Church in California as an alternative to public school systems. "Homeschooling works" ~ John McCainI couldn't find a clip on YouTube just yet of last nights revealing discussion between the candidates and Rick Warren, but did find this:

McCain on education and homeschooling
Town Hall Meeting, Feb. 15, 2008

This isn't a political blog (and won't become one) and I hesitated before posting this, but then thought to myself that I had a responsibility to share my opinion on such an important matter. After all, this is my blog... my thoughts, my choices, my ideas... why should I shy away from political matters? Plus, I'm not here to bash anyone and I don't have any ill thoughts or feelings towards homeschoolers who support Obama.

If you want to know the truth... I wasn't too excited to have McCain on the ticket, but based on everything I know of him (and Obama), he is my choice for a variety of reasons. While I've never heard Obama address the issue of homeschooling, I know where most of his party stands on education and on the freedoms concerning education. I can only assume his views of homeschooling are far more liberal than what would be healthy for the future of homeschooling in the United States.

For me, the choice to support McCain isn't just about homeschooling, but based on the fact that his overall thoughts are more in sync with my own. I've always been very conservative and Obama is anything but that. McCain isn't really conservative enough for me, but he feels like the safer choice.

What are your thoughts on last nights discussion? I hope you watched! I also hope I haven't offended driven anyone away from my humble little blog. This is just me... being me. I respect everyones right to vote for the candidate of their choice and appreciate any thoughts you might have on this matter. Please be nice. I won't publish any comments deemed angry or hateful.

Enter the Alpha Omega Publications Homeschool Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:45:00 +0000

Homeschooling families are encouraged to enter the AOP giveaway now through February 28, 2009.

What could you win? The prizes awaiting 4 blessed families are as follows:

Grand Prize: $500 in free homeschool curriculum
1st Prize: Switched-On Schoolhouse 5-Subject Set
2nd Prize: Character Builders™ 8-DVD Set
3rd Prize: Daily Focus® Devotional Book

I don't have any personal experience with AOP, but will tell you that they have an excellent reputation for providing top-notch Christian homeschooling curricula.

Good luck!

Attention Cupcake Loving Homeschoolers!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:18:00 +0000

If you love cupcakes (and who doesn't), you'll not want to miss out on the opportunity to win everything you see here!

I currently have a Wilton 23 Count Cupcake Stand (and a couple cupcake extras) up for giveaway on my Cake Space blog. Occasionally I share a giveaway or two here, not always my own, but this one in particular is being sponsored by Confectioner's Wares, and hosted by me, myself, and I!

Entry is simple... just visit Cake Space and leave me a comment following the posted guidelines, and you'll be in the running for this random drawing.

Good luck!

Homeschooling IS Legal in California!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:06:00 +0000

That's right, Homeschooling is no longer a crime in the state of California! This (about time) reversal is a major victory for homeschooling families not only in California, but for homeschoolers across the nation. Let's celebrate with California with a gigantic WooHoo!!!

I just found news of this through HSLDA and couldn't wait to share. What a wonderful way to start a new school year... with the California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District unanimously reversing an earlier ruling, which had left homeschooling an illegal activity in CA for anyone without a teaching degree.

According to the court, homeschool is once again a legal form of schooling, falling under the umbrella of private school education. We can all rest easy for the time being, but something tells me there will be more battles ahead of us, both in and outside the state of California. In any case, we won this round!

Teaching Children About Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:31:00 +0000

I found the coolest educational weather kit online today. It comes with all sorts of measuring devices, gadgets and a teachers guide, perfect for teaching grades 6-12. The only down side I see is the price... at nearly $140 the price is a bit intimidating. However, considering what you get, I honestly think it's pretty reasonable. My kids are too young to benefit from this just yet, but I'm bookmarking this site. :)

This site offers many other teaching tools, many of which are more family budget friendly.

Here are some weather teaching links I found today (for younger kids too), all providing free information and resources:

Weather Wiz Kids Great info for teaching elementary children about weather. I really like this site!

Sky Diary This is another cool educational find. This site provides you with great facts, photos, and graphics, perfect for supplementing a lesson.

CanTeach Has some fun weather poems.

NOAA Weather for Kids This site has some really cool pdf's you can print at home. They're great for teaching weather safety to children. Be sure to check them out!

Bible Minute... What Beth Moore Taught Me About Strength

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Can I talk a little Bible with you?
If you're a Christian woman not yet familiar with Beth Moore, you're really missing out. I've had the very real pleasure of participating in several Beth Moore Bible studies over the past couple years, through a cherished women's group hosted by a dear friend from my church. Being plugged in with a group of Christian women to study and discuss God's word is a powerful thing and not one I'll ever be prepared to do without again.

A couple weeks ago a handful of us had the privilege of traveling to Minneapolis to hear Beth Moore live at the Target Center. I came away with a new take on an old understanding, one that you might be able to relate too, which is why I've opted to share it here. Considering homeschooling presents very real obstacles and challenges, I feel this post is completely relevant to the subject of homeschooling.

For years, I was of the opinion that the reason I wasn't born with a disability or deformity, or the child who lost both my parents in an automobile accident, or the one living in an impoverished area of the world, or the one who's child was diagnosed with a brain tumor was because the Lord knew that I just couldn't handle such pain and suffering. After all, the Bible states that He will not give us more than we can handle, right? That's what I've always been taught, it's what my understanding of His word was, and it made complete sense in my well intended estimation of things.

So yes, that was the answer. It must have also explained my 5 consecutive miscarriages. I actually found peace in believing that God took my babies home early because maybe, just maybe He knew I couldn't handle having more than 2 children. After all, there had been so much stress in our home since the birth of our son, a beautiful little baby with much passion and sensitivity, well-voiced even from the very beginning. Oh, we've been gratefully tired now for going on 7 years!

Ok, so was that such a bad thing to assume? I had peace in believing God had my back, so to speak. I'm now of the opinion that while yes, God does have my back, my trials and the types of storms I face have little if anything to do with me and everything to do with Him. He doesn't look at us and think... "oh, she'll completely crack if I allow this storm into her life". I do believe instead, He allows storms for reasons we aren't necessarily meant to understand, then at our humble request (even without it), He graciously supplies us with all the strength we need to survive. He carries us (sometimes home), rather than allowing the rain to pour down and watch from a distance as we squirm all by our lonesome and try and make sense of things. Our relationship with God is far too personal and involved for any other explanation to make sense.

Thanks to my Bible teacher, Beth Moore I had a bit of an awakening that weekend and I don't think it was by accident. Beth started talking about this very issue and I was like, "well, duh, how did I miss this?" God needed to wake me up and help me realize that there isn't anything that He and I can't survive together, and in fact, assuming that there were things we couldn't handle together was somewhat a slap in the face to my creator. How was it that I thought the maker of the heavens and the earth couldn't supply little ol' me with whatever type of strength I need to overcome any trial? I'm very grateful for this lesson... it's really deepened my love for and faith in Him. It's given me a new kind of peace that I'd not known before.

So, to review... we really aren't supposed to handle anything on our own. The Lord is the source of all our strength, whether or not we acknowledge Him. His strength is sufficient for any trail. So, when my darkest storm comes, not that I'm in any hurry, I will collect all the strength I need from Him, not from me. After all, It's not at all about me and my inability to handle whatever life throws my way. It is all about God and His perfect love and unyielding strength... remember He can move mountains! By the way, I'm more than a little relieved to know that it's not about me or up to me. Kinda takes the pressure off, does it not? Additionally... if I've ever taken credit, even for one microsecond for any of the strength that other's have observed in me, then I need to be more careful in the future... given that everything we do as Christians potentially serves as a living testimony.

Yes, the Bible is always right... the verse that states the Lord will not give us more than we can handle is still correct, I'd just misinterpreted it. What it really implies is that whatever the trial, we can handle it through Him. We were never meant to walk alone. From the little fights with our spouses to the phone call you never wanted to receive at 2 o'clock in the morning, we are to take it all to Him and let Him carry that load for us. It's ok to feel weak by the way. That's a whole other post, but just so there's no misunderstanding, when you're suffering and feel weak, it's not because you lack the faith, it's because you're human and we live in a fallen world. That weakness you feel is an invitation from Love Himself reaching down to you, waiting for you to reach up to Him. God doesn't want you to think you can tackle it on your own. He wants you to depend on Him. Remember the verse in the Bible that reads, in my weakness I'm made strong? It suddenly makes so much sense. 2 Corinthians 12:10 ...For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As I write this I realize that one could write an entire book on this subject. Seriously. This post is in no way intended to be enough to heal or carry you through your own storm, but will hopefully remind everyone that God does have your back, His strength is sufficient for any trial, and His services are available 24/7! This post represents one woman's recent awakening to a misunderstood Bible concept. I hope it's got you to thinking!

A few verses on Strength:

Psalm 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 59:17 O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

2 Samuel 22:33It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

20% Off Alpha Omega Publications!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:16:00 +0000

This is a one day only sale, so if Alpha Omega is on your list of things to purchase this school year, don't delay! I just received word via email of this 24 hour sale, so I'm a little late in sharing the news with my readers, but you apparently have all day to take advantage of the sale. The coupon code appears to be valid only on July 28th, 2008.

Follow the link above and be sure to enter either coupon code TOS728 (the one I was provided via an email advertisement) or 1TWENTY (the one provided on the Alpha Omega site) at check out in order to take advantage of the 20% off discount.

The sale includes the following products:
Switched-On Schoolhouse
LIFEPAC
Horizons
The Weaver Curriculum
Preschool Resources
Homeschool Resources
Christian Videos
Music CDs
and more!

Hope my mention of this unbeatable sale saves you some money!

Gearing Up for Another School Year

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:37:00 +0000

It's that time of the year again, ready or not here it comes! Most homeschoolers have the luxury of creating their own calendar, including that ever important task of choosing a start date. The decision of when to start can feel huge, but in my opinion waiting only adds unnecessary anxiety. I'm of the opinion that it's always better to start early in the year to allow you and the kids plenty of time for transition. The earlier you start the more time you'll all have to comfortably adapt to a schedule, making any necessary adjustments along the way.

When will we start back up? After just a bit of careful consideration, I'm opting to kick off early this year with our first day back to the classroom scheduled for Monday August 4th, which is only a week away! Actually, I'm thinking if I plan very carefully and school through June, we could have 4 day school weeks instead of 5. That would benefit the entire family in a multitude of ways. For example, I'm a work-at-home mom, earning money through a variety of online ventures and having Friday would insure my continued success... or at least give me a fighting chance! The other thought is that Friday could be extra curricular day... for things like art, music and field trips. In any case, it's an idea I'm currently toying with.

My 7 year old son is scheduled to have his adenoids and tonsils removed on August 15th. This will mean a early break in our lessons... for recovery time, but it doesn't mean my 5 year old can't continue with things. I'm not yet sure what that week will look like in our home, but do hope to have as close to 2 full weeks as possible under our belt beforehand.

What about you? Are you looking forward to another school year and do you have your fall calendar in place? As with most things in my world, my feelings are a bit messy. I'm bored, seriously bored and I find myself craving more structure. I'm sensing the same for my kids. The part of me that's dragging is that part that remembers the constant battles I had with my son last year. My emotional, stubborn, easily distracted son and my lack of know how in dealing with him. For those of you who were reading my blog last Spring, you know I seriously contemplated sending him off to school. It was that bad. Since that time, I feel the Lord has given me the strength to go another year. I know the energy I'm feeling today, didn't come from me!

BTW, this photo isn't one of mine. For the sake of anonymity, I often use photos from royalty free stock sites to decorate my blog. Isn't this little boy cute? lol Reminds me of my son about 4 years ago. So sweet!

Win a Slow Cooker!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:47:00 +0000

I'm not hosting or sponsoring this particular giveaway, but I know homeschooling moms are usually in the kitchen an awful lot (for the love of our families, of course) and how many of us could use a new slow cooker? I know I could!

Visit Ribbon Rock Star to celebrate 1000 posts and the chance to win this Kitchenaid 7 qt slow cooker! Entry requires you post a slow cooker recipe in a post comment. That took me all of about 2 minutes to do!

Have fun and let me know if you win! Of course I'm hoping I win, but I could learn to be happy for someone else! lol