Quiet Time 101

Have you tried to have a quiet time but it wasn’t all that fulfilling? This article teaches you how to have a fabulous and fulfilling time with God.

During the years I taught Bible study, I met many women who had never developed the habit of a daily quiet time. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to have a quiet time, it was that they simply didn’t know exactly how. They had tried to read their Bibles, but found it didn’t gel. They tried to develop a habitual prayer life, but found their minds wandered when they were praying so that they couldn’t really get through their list of prayers. Because many adults didn’t grow up in Christian families, they have never been taught how to have a vital, thriving quiet time with God.

So, if you haven’t had a daily quiet time, how do you begin? Well, you only need fifteen minutes; any more than that is a bonus. I’ve met many women who don’t have a quiet time because they can’t find thirty minutes or an hour to do it. This is simply a tactic of the enemy to keep us from spending time with God. Honestly, if you only have five minutes, God can maximize that five minutes and make it feel like five hours, if you spend it in total dedication to Him. Don’t let the enemy rob you of quiet times by telling you that it isn’t worth it if you can’t spend an hour. You don’t need an hour. If you ever get an hour during these homeschooling years, don’t tell anyone — they’ll feel condemned. But, I do recommend you try to carve out fifteen minutes. Put the kids in their own rooms to finish some work along with stern warnings not to interrupt your time with God. Or put on an approved video for them, and don’t feel guilty for using the television during this time; you’ll be a better person when you have a consistent quiet time. If your kids are old enough, ask them to have their own quiet times!

So, once you have that fifteen minutes in your hands, what do you do? Using Jesus’ prayer as an example, the first thing I recommend is to spend time in praise and worship. Begin by proclaiming the awesomeness of God. If you aren’t feeling super-duper adoring or worshipful, just continue to profess aloud the mighty truths about how wonderful and great God is. For help with this, turn to the Psalms and find one that extols God, then read it slowly aloud over and over until you begin to really experience the weight of its truth in your heart. Singing hymns and worship songs that elevate God is also helpful for this time of adoration. I print up the words to my favorite songs and tape them into the front and back covers of my Bible. I try to choose songs that focus on God’s beauty, character and holiness, rather than on me and my needs, although many of my favorite hymns do both. I believe this time of praise is the most important element in your quiet time. If you don’t have time for anything else, this is the key to having a closer walk with God, to defeating the enemy in your life, to dispelling the blanket of fear and anxiety that can cloud your days. Praise is the most valuable part of your quiet time, and whether spoken or sung, it should come first, even if it’s the only thing you have time to do.

After a time of praise, if there is time left, I will spend time in prayer, (following the Lord’s prayer again) asking God to reveal any areas I need to confess before Him, and if there is anyone I need to forgive. This is an important element many people forget when they spend time in confession. You see, the Lord’s prayer asks God to forgive us in the exact way that we have forgiven others. Well, that means it is very important that we forgive others, since we want God to forgive us in that same way. If we have people on our list (no matter how far back in the past) that we have not forgiven, we need to get this right before God, asking forgiveness for not having forgiven them before now.

Then, I spend time in prayer for needs, concerns, questions, my family, our health and others for whom I’ve promised to pray. Keeping my mind focused during prayer is resolved in only one way; that is to write my prayers down as I pray them. Yes, it does require a lot of writing, and a big spiral or blank book (I’ve filled up many), but it is the only way I can keep my mind set upon that for which I’m praying. The benefits of writing my prayers is that my thinking slows down to keep time with my pen, and God’s voice is more audible to me. I might be writing something like “Father God, I’m worried about _____. Please Lord, give me Your peace about this. Help me to trust in You and show me what to do.” And as I’m writing, I will begin to feel a distinct impression upon my spirit about something I need to do. Because I’ve slowed down enough through writing my prayer, I am able to concentrate long enough on the issue to feel God leading me in a certain direction. I will often continue writing about it in prayer until I feel the answer, or I feel it’s time to move on.

If I have a short prayer that I have promised to pray for someone, I don’t always write it out unless I feel a deep burden about that prayer. For example, if someone I don’t know very well asked me to pray that their house would sell, I will pray without writing; however, if my parents asked me to pray that their house would sell, I would probably spend more time on that prayer by writing it out.

After my time of prayer writing, I open my Bible to savor God’s Word. It was a while before I learned how to savor God’s Word for myself. I use the term “savor” because I’ve learned that there is a difference between intense Bible learning and word studies, and savoring God’s Word. One empowers your intellect and understanding of God, the other empowers and nurtures your love for the Lord and your ability to delight in Him, hearing His still, small voice in your heart. I think both are important, but savoring God’s Word is more important, and fills your quiet times with fresh living water that can overflow into your daily life. In intense Bible learning, there can be times of savoring as well. But one does not have to be doing intense Bible study in order to find nourishment and edification for her soul in the Bible.

I’ll never forget the valuable lesson taught by Elizabeth Prentiss in the book “Stepping Heavenward.” She conveyed the idea that it is far more instructive to our hearts to study one verse from the Bible than it is to read several chapters and come away with no meat upon which to chew. Usually this can be done by a slow and methodical reading through one book of the Bible; the New Testament is recommended.

Getting into the habit of daily Bible reading is much more manageable when you are seeking one verse upon which you will spend your day meditating, inquiring of God for understanding, and asking Him to make it true for you and your life. When seeking to understand a specific verse, you open yourself up to a two-way conversation with God, wherein He fulfills His promise to instruct you and be your Counselor. Unbelievably, the Holy Spirit will often lead you right to the verse that He wants you to learn and understand. He has hidden within your daily reading a golden nugget that is just for you. It will stand out very significantly to you, as if it were popping off the page into your face.

Choose a book of the Bible that you will read through over the course of a month or so. Ask the Lord to show you which book of the Bible He would have you begin with. There have definitely been times I’ve opened the Bible and God has led me right to a verse, but that is unreliable and not recommended as a regular quiet time rule. You will usually begin to feel His guidance towards a particular book. If you aren’t sure, that’s okay…God is patient with us even when we are so congested with the world that it has drowned out His still small voice. Just choose a shorter book from the New Testament and begin to slowly read through it. After you get through the salutations, begin to contemplate every sentence you read. Remember that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Every Scripture you read, every sentence, has the potential to change your life. And we have been given the mind of Christ with which to understand Scripture; without the Holy Spirit’s enabling power to comprehend, the Words in the Bible mean nothing to us.

As you contemplate the Word, ask God to give you understanding. If the meaning is not completely clear to you, inquire of God. Ask why it was written. Why is it there? Why did He say this? What is the purpose of this particular verse? To whom is this directed? How is this true? How is this important to me? How can I apply this to my life? How should I respond to this? Is this a truth I haven’t fully believed, or haven’t believed applies to me? Pray and ask the Lord to make every Word penetrate from your mind into your heart. Ask Him to show you what He would have you learn. When a specific Scripture jumps off the page for you, focus your attention upon it. Choose that as your Scripture meditation for the day. Note the book and chapter (you don’t have to remember the specific verse, you can easily find it again if you know the book and chapter). Begin to think on this Scripture as you go about your day.

Even in your harried homeschool day, you can take a few minutes here and there to think about that Scripture, speaking to God about it. As you do this, though the world twirls around you at a fast pace, you are being obedient to God’s call to set your mind on things above. And you can have faith that He will keep him (and her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.

Jeannie Fulbright

The Lord Will Fulfill His Purposes for Your Children

A new chapter in my homeschooling journey has begun to unfold these past few months. This is a stage you also will encounter in time. I'll call it the season of the college road trip. The funny thing is, I thought I had this all figured out when my daughter was younger, just entering high school. I had decided where and how my child would complete college. It was all mapped out. What I didn't bargain for was the fact that my child would be an adult-like 17 year old, capable of making her own decisions about college - decisions that were quite unlike those I had made for her when she was 14.

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Because homeschooling produces a more mature teen than does institutional schooling, I believe that my daughter's choice to go to a large university, entering as a freshman, is a viable and preferable option. She has shown a remarkable ability to handle worldly influences with godliness, and I'm confident she would thrive in the competition of a university environment. My heartfelt prayer is that God would lead her heart in choosing a university. I have already seen Him answer this prayer by guiding her as she narrows down her choices. I'm trusting the Lord with her life -entrusting her to Him.

I want to encourage you to believe that God's plans for your children are in effect right now as you homeschool. He is developing them into the people He wants them to be. Do they need to be perfect and holy, without character flaws before they leave your house? Were you all this when you left your parents' home? No. Of course not. We have a tendency to panic over the reality that our children have flaws. That's ridiculous. They will never be perfect, not until they reach their heavenly home. Our job is not to hone perfect children, but to lead them to the Living Water - the Water that gives Life. In their imperfections, if they learn how to seek and follow the Lord, He will be faithful to lead them. They will (although imperfectly) learn to discern His voice as they make choices for their future.

As homeschoolers, let's not get confused about our primary purpose for our children. Perfection in appearance, character and academics is not the goal. The goal is that they walk deeply with the Lord. No matter how perfect their behavior, how high their SAT scores, how impressive their transcript, how amazing their talents - if their hearts are focused on these things rather than God, the journey into adulthood will be rocky. Yet if their hearts are committed to the Lord, their wills submitted to His plan, and their choices led by His Spirit - we can rest in the truth that God will guide them as we simply pray for them and encourage them.

It's so important that, as our children mature, we pull back from the tendency to hover over their every decision and choice. We must allow them to grow and develop as individuals. We must give room for the Lord to work in their hearts, without prodding or over-controlling their environment. By the time they are sixteen years old, we must believe that they will make choices based on their upbringing and their walk with God. They will make mistakes. So did we, and God used those mistakes in our lives. We must let go and entrust our children to Him - the One who loves them and cares for them far better than we do.

The Word promises us that the Lord will fulfill His purposes for our children (Psalm 138:8). Let's believe Him. Let's trust Him. We can rest in peace, knowing they are His, and He will accomplish His will in their lives.

Warmly,
Jeannie Fulbright

Say Good Bye to Fear

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5

Sometimes I'll be going along in my day, feeling pretty good, normal, life is good. Then, without warning, a thought will present itself. Maybe it's a memory of something I did wrong in the past; maybe a memory of something someone else did that hurt me or might do to me; maybe it was a thought about some horrible future event I hope never happens; maybe it's concerning an issue I'm dealing with currently. The thought comes, I focus on it for a moment - just long enough to cause my heart to tremble - then my thoughts move on. Though my thoughts have moved on, my heart remains in a tremble. Sometimes I even forget what it was that caused me to feel so anxious, but the anxiety remains and can plague my day.

Do you ever feel like this?

This is the nature of fear. This is how the enemy attacks us and surreptitiously steals our joy, our peace and the abundant life to which God has called us.

When this happens, I found that I must stop what I'm doing and remember what it was that caused me to be anxious. Why does that cause me to fear so dreadfully? Then, I must take that thought to the Lord - and force my mind to remember His promises to me. I must take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to the Truth of God's Word. I must remember that "If God is for me, then what can stand against me?" I must remember that God has great plans for my children, great plans for my life, for my family. Plans that are good. His plans don't include shame. His plans include a radiance for our lives that will shine with the joy and peace and promise of God. He will work out everything for good...everything that seems overwhelming and even hopeless has a purpose in God's Kingdom and will turn out for good - a greater good than any of our plans could ever have created. It's always been so, why would it be any different for this fearful scenario or thought I just had?

The Lord will fulfill His purposes for me. He is able to keep me and my family from falling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy ( Psalm 138:8, Jude 1:24).

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5

The Lord does not want us to live under the fear of the past, the future or the present. His desire is that we live free from fear and anxiety, resting in the precious peace, joy and the faith that He provides for us. This is what He died to give us. Let us not forfeit our inheritance: The peace which was purchased for us on the cross.

Let us seek the Lord for deliverance from all our fears. If we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us and answers us according to His will. It is not His will that we live in fear, for he commands us not to fear. As we look to Him, He will make us radiant - shining the Light of Jesus in the darkness. We need not fear for we will not live in shame - but in the confidence that God has given us as children of the Most High God.

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Isaiah 32:17

May your summer be free from fear, filled with radiance and joy.

The Obstacles in Our Path

When God calls us to something as immense and life transforming as homeschooling, we can be sure that there will be many obstacles along our path. Whether it's opposition from the non-homeschooling community, learning challenges with our children, character issues that surface and the many fears, anxieties and insecurities we may find within ourself, we can be sure we will come upon many boulders and rocks as we traverse the narrow path to which God has called us.

It's vital to keep in mind that, no matter how perfect someone else's life appears to be, every homeschool family faces struggles and problems. A life well-lived in the sight of God will never be challenge-free. Remember, our enemy is lurking always to steal, kill and destroy God's purposes and plans for our lives. If we are doing God's will, the enemy is sure to be after us. Thus, every one of us that is fulfilling God's call to home educate our children are a target. We can be certain that this journey will not be easy. Once we accept that fact, and let go of the notion that somehow our lives should be easy, homeschooling should be easy, marriage should be easy or that sanctification should be easy, we can release the temptation to complain about how hard things are - as if that's something that should not be so - and get on with the business of persevering in the strength of the Lord.

Just as Paul struggled in the strength of the Lord to fulfill the calling upon his life, we too will run into many roadblocks which the Lord will give us strength and energy to overcome.

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Col 1:29

He doesn't want us to struggle in our own strength. He wants us to seek His strength. The same power and strength that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us as we labor through this homeschool journey. He promises to give us all we need to fulfill his call.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:18 -21

So often, I find myself worried about a problem, searching for answers everywhere except the one place I am sure to find the answer, the guidance and leading for all that concerns me, large and small that God offers.

When my son struggled to learn to spell, after five years of buying every course available to no avail, I sought the Lord in desperation. Within a day, He revealed the answer through a "coincidental" discovery. If only I had sought Him first! I have hundreds of stories just like this one. Always, I'm reminded that He is faithful...and patient! He waits for me to seek Him to bring His solution. Sometimes it's not an instant answer, such as with spelling. But, I know He is faithful.

As we seek Him, we can rest in the fact that He has the answer for every dilemma, every obstacle, we face. We can trust in Him. If we truly trust in Him, we will find joy. It's the restful peace we get when we truly have faith in His faithfulness. He has our lives in His hands.

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 28:7

The Lord gives us joy because we know He is for us. He is on our side. He called us to this journey and He will fulfill His purposes for our children and our family. He will answer our prayers and we can find peace in that. As we trust in the Lord, we find not only joy, but our joy becomes the very strength that keeps us moving forward!

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Neh 8:10

Every single thing we face is part of God's plan and purpose for our sanctification. As we entrust every issue to God, knowing that He will answer in His time, in His way, we can live a life of joy - even in the midst of all our struggles. We can be joyful homeschoolers because we know that our lives are in His hands. All that we face will be used by God and none of it comes as a surprise to God. We can have joy and trust in Him in the midst of the painful situation, knowing that we - though imperfect children of the Most High - are intimately loved and under the constant care of Him who delights over us with singing.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

What are your struggles right now?

What fears are keeping you from the joy the Lord has for you?

What have you not entrusted to the Lord, knowing and believing He has and will bring an answer?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7

The Prayer Journal: Slowing Down to Listen

One of the most valuable benefits I found in writing down my prayers as I prayed them was that it took me much longer to write down my prayers than it did for me to think them.

I can think, “Lord, I’ve really been selfish this week with my time” in 3 seconds. But for me to spend the time to write down that confession takes at least 18 seconds (yes, I timed it). By writing it down you add 600 times more thought and earnestness into your prayer. Believe it or not, that makes an enormous difference in the direction and focus of your prayers. While you are taking that extra time to write out your thoughts, your focus is on that one specific prayer. It's not jumping to the next issue you need to bring before God. You will slow down your thoughts to give an intense moment to the specific prayer at hand. During that time, you will remember specific things to confess, leading to more authentic repentance – which typically leads us to greater understanding of the truth on the matter, resulting in change or deliverance.

“…in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Tim 2:26

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Additionally, as we pray in supplication, we find that our earnestness really does increase when we take that extra time to pray for the matters that need transformation in our lives. It’s also amazing how often the Lord has brought solutions to my concerns while I’m spending that extra time penning my requests and worries.

Again, it takes me only 5 seconds to pray, “Lord, I’m really concerned about math. What curriculum should we use next year?” While it takes a full 30 seconds for me to write that. Again, a 600 percent increase in the time and attention I spend on the matter – which typically results in even more time than that as additional thoughts surrounding that issue will come up - I write down each thoughts as it surfaces. So, instead of just penning that one sentence, I may end up adding specifics such as:

“I’ve heard so many negative things about XYZ Math, but I’m really feeling like it would be a good fit for us. Should I get a tutor to come once a week to help out? Lord, we don’t have the money for a tutor. Could you provide a way for this to happen? Lord, if it’s your will for us to have a tutor, I know you will provide someone that we can afford or trade with somehow. Lord, maybe that’s the answer to our math dilemma. Please confirm this to me by opening the doors for this to happen. Thank you, Lord. I’m trusting you with our math situation. I know you will provide for all our needs. You are so good and loving to us. You have been so faithful in all things. I know you will be faithful with this as well.”

This is a far greater increase than the original 600 percent. In fact, it moves us from the realm of microwave prayers into the beauty of a richly interactive prayer life. Writing out your prayers increases your earnestness, your focus and also, you may find you are being gently led by the Spirit as you pray – He begins to show you what to pray about, and gives you the answer He has already provided. This is essentially being Spirit led.

This is only one of the many amazing benefits to keeping a prayer journal.

Grab a prayer journal right now and get started – you can use anything: A composition notebook, a spiral, notebook paper in a binder or a purchased journal. If you begin to do this habitually, you will have volumes and volumes of prayer journals pile up over the years – using every medium imaginable. It doesn’t matter what the journal looks like…just get started and you’ll find an immediate difference in your prayer life. WARNING: Don’t wait until you have the most lovely, perfect journal for spending time in prayer. Begin now and then move into your perfect journal when you get it. Let go of any perfectionist idealism and get with God today!

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:16

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2

I'll report more on prayer journals in the next post!

The Prayer Warrior Wannabe: Transforming Your Prayer Life

How often have you found yourself sitting down to have a quiet moment of prayer and before a few minutes are up, your mind is totally focused on a completely different topic? The wandering mind syndrome is the most common obstacle to a powerful prayer life. It will keep us a Prayer Warrior Wannabe for our entire lives if we don't institute change.

How do we overcome this huge hurdle to our spiritual development? Believe it or not, there is an answer. By using a tool called a prayer journal, we will put a complete stop to our wandering mind, keeping our prayers and our heart focused on the Lord.

How is this done? We simply write down our prayers as we pray them. I promise you, it works. It's the only thing that has ever worked for me. I began a prayer journal almost 20 years ago at the insistence of a friend - who had other reasons for urging me to do this - and I'm still dependent on it today. Besides the many other benefits I have found over the years, it's the only thing that will keep me focused while I pray, enabling me to devote more time to this vital connection with God. The more time I spend in prayer, the longer I spend with My God. The more time I spend with God...the more peace and greater faith I have in His ability to handle all that concerns me, my family, my friends and my country.

God's desire is for us to bring everything to Him. He does not want us to make this journey on our own. He wishes for us to entrust all the issues of life to Him - unleashing His power to transform, change, strengthen and give wisdom in all the circumstances we face. His desire is to exchange our worry for His peace. That's His promise.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Phil 4:6-7

I will write more soon on this amazing tool - the Prayer Journal and how you can move from a Prayer Warrior Wannabe to a Powerful Person of Prayer.

Jeannie Fulbright: My Personal Beliefs

For those of you who are wondering, I think it's really important that people know what I, Jeannie Fulbright, author of the Apologia Young Explorer series, believes just so there is no confusion or doubt. I'm not speaking for Apologia or anyone else, just for myself, a creationist author. All of my books carry these beliefs throughout.

1. I believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. I believe that the Bible and Genesis should be read and understood literally. It is totally trustworthy. (Mark 10:6, Mark 13:19-20, Luke 11:50-51, John 8:44, Romans 5:12-19, 1 Cor 15:21-22, 45 - 47, 2 Cor 11:3, 1 Tim 2:13-14, 1 Cor 11:8-9, Romans 1:20, 1 Pet 3:20, 2 Pet 2:4-9, 2 Pet 3:3-7, Luke 3:23-38 - Genealogy of Christ traces him back to Adam).

3. I believe that the earth and everything in it, including the Universe was created in six literal days. (Gen 1 - 11, Hebrews 11:3-7)

4. I believe that when Adam sinned, the entire Universe experienced destruction, decay and was subject to the bondage of a fallen world. Before the fall of man, the world had not experienced destruction, decay, death or any other factors associated with the fall. (Romans 5:12, Romans 8:18-25)

5. I believe that Jesus came as a result of this literal fall. This literal fall is the reason we need a Savior. (Luke 19:10, John 3:17, 1 Tim 1:15)

6. I believe that Jesus came to redeem us from the fall and restore us to Himself and one day all of creation will be liberated from the bondage, decay and destruction that occurred at the fall. (Romans 8:18-25) (Acts 3:21)

7. If you truly believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins (took the punishment for your sin upon himself), you immediately receive the gift of restoration to God, which Jesus offers. This is salvation. (John 3:16, John 3:36, John 6:40, John 11:25, Romans 5:8, Romans 2:9, 1 John 4:10, Acts 16:31, Hebrews 10:39, Romans 10:9)

8. I believe the Bible supports the Creationist view of Scripture and that you will find every word in Scripture backed by science. (Gen 1 - 11, 2 Timothy 3:16, plus many evidences throughout)

9. I believe that Jesus believed in a Young Earth view of Scripture and that Genesis should be read literally. (Mark 10:6, Mark 13:19-20, Luke 11:50-51, John 8:44)

10. I believe that it is important that we teach these truths to our children, to ground them in the Word of God. (Matthew 28:20, Deut 6:4-9, Romans 14:23)

If you have any questions concerning my theology, my beliefs and anything that is contained in my books, please feel free to contact me at science@jeanniefulbright.com.

Warmly,
Jeannie Fulbright

Prone to Wander

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5

This was one of the first Scripture verses I had my children memorize when they were young. I can still remember them trying to recite John 15 by heart during presentations for my little homeschool group. I hope that this chapter of John remains hidden in their hearts.

Today was one of those rare days when I actually had some alone time to sit down and work on the Physics book I'm writing. I sat down, with all these thoughts jumbled in my head. Thoughts about matter, atoms, molecules and all the foundational things that are needed to delve into the study of physics. I'm sitting there with my computer on my lap. Sitting. Writing a little. Deleting. Writing a little more. Deleting. It was so frustrating. I had four hours in front of me and not a single inspiring thing to write about atoms and molecules. Suddenly, the principle found in the verse above hit me.

Jesus reminded me, "Apart from me, you can do nothing."

Thank you, Lord. Honestly, I don't want to do anything apart from Him. I don't want to homeschool apart from Him. I don't want to plan my children's or my activities and calendar on my own. I don't want to choose curriculum, guide my children's hearts, be a mother or wife or homemaker without His guidance and leadership in every moment. I don't want to make a single decision that isn't led by Him. And I absolutely don't want to write a book without Him.

I needed to let go of the fact that I had four uninterrupted hours to work in front of me and just focus my heart on the Lord for those hours. Why, when I have uninterrupted time, must I busy myself with work? God is able to accomplish all that concerns me - He can easily make 15 minutes more productive than four hours. But He can only do this if I abide in Him.

Always falling back into my Martha ways. I'm so thankful that even though our hearts are so prone to stray, our God continually calls us back into relationship. He beckons to us over and over...standing at the door and knocking.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, knew the power of forgiveness.

Once, a friend brought up a cruel deed someone had done to her. Barton claimed she did not remember the deed done.

Insistent, her friend exclaimed, "Don't you remember the wrong that was done to you?"

"No," Barton answered, "I distinctly remember forgetting that."

This story blesses my spirit.

I have seen the power of forgiveness and I have also seen the power of unforgiveness.

Forgiveness enables us to walk in the peace, joy and fullness that God has for us.

Unforgiveness breeds misery, bitterness and a deadness of spirit. A constant stab of a knife whenever the incident is considered. In fact, one's entire life is characterized by a continual stabbing. Daily or weekly, she feels the stab, the pain, the shame, the misery, the offense.

Those who choose to forgive the cruelty of others and all the wrongs they have suffered at the hands of humans, are set free from the bondage and misery those offenses have the potential to breed in one's soul.

With that freedom, the forgiver is enabled to experience the abundant life that God has planned for him or her.

The person who does not forgive is held back from that abundant life by their own choice.

Could Clara Barton have founded the American Red Cross if she held onto the offenses she suffered? Could Joseph have become the leader of Egypt had he lived in constant state of resentment towards his brothers? I don't see how.

I've heard it said, "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."

I've also heard, "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

In the story of the unmerciful servant, Jesus characterizes unforgiveness as a self-imposed prison of constant torment. (Matthew 18).

How about you?

Have you forgiven that person that did that thing to you?

My prayer is that you will make the choice to forgive all those who offend you so that you can experience all God has for you!

Be Not Anxious

Got Anxiety?

One thing about us homeschoolers is we are easy targets for anxious thoughts. What is making you anxious? What is the most worrisome thing you face as a homeschooler?

From many homeschoolers around the country, I’ve heard various answers to this question. Like them, perhaps you have a child that struggles to get his work done, or the fear that you are not covering everything – not doing enough; perhaps it’s personality and behavior issues with your children, learning struggles or feelings of inadequacy as an educator, a mom, a wife, a person.

Whatever it is, I can promise you that God does not want you to be anxious at all about that. Not only that, He has great instructions for how to overcome that anxiety.

Present EVERYTHING to God

We are told, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

How often are you bringing this issue before God? I know that sometimes I worry and mull over my problems for days, sometimes weeks, dare I say months, before I finally realize that I am not truly bringing this issue before God on a regular basis…or ever!

As many times as I’ve seen God do miracles, small and big, through prayer, you would think I would be in a constant state of prayer over every little thing that pops up. But no, often I think a discouraging, negative thought; then I let it begin to haunt me – telling me what a failure I am or what a mess I’m making; eventually I accept it as truth and find myself muddling through my days in a state of discouragement and despair, with anxiety my most familiar companion. Then, finally, I realize I’ve been walking on my own…not with God on this issue. Wow. I need to remember to take everything to Him…every discouraging thought and belief, everything that stirs up anxiousness. He has a remedy, but He awaits my request.

With Thanksgiving

I never want to speak on this verse without bringing attention to those enormously significant two words: with thanksgiving.

God has a lot to say about thanksgiving, but let’s just sum it up like this: We experience the power of God in our lives when we choose to be thankful in ALL circumstances. Not just thankful for a good, happy thing in that circumstance, but thankful for that struggle.

I never understood how this “thankful in all circumstances” concept worked until I realized years later that those horrid struggles (that, at the time, I thought were God’s punishment upon my life) were actually the things that grew me, humbled me and gave me the greatest testimony and maturity as a Christian. They were far more important to my character development and my walk with God and my ability to be full of peace and joy in all circumstances, than any happy, good thing that happened in my life. Those horrid struggles were gifts. So, yes, we are to be thankful for even the struggles we encounter.

In my experience, I have rarely seen God deliver me from problems until I chose to be thankful in and for those very problems. He’s true to His Word.

In fact, we enter God’s presence with this very tool: thanksgiving. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, enter his courts with praise!” Psalm 100:4

Let us choose to give a sacrifice of praise for that thing with which we struggle.

When we do this, we will surely find God’s Word is true as “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

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

Apologia Live

I'm currently on an airplane on my way home from the Apologia Live conference in Baltimore. I realize now that I could blog more often if I flew more often - especially if the airline has free wi-fi, like the one I'm currently on.

This was my first Apologia Live conference and the second such conference that Apologia has done. Apologia Live is the inspiration of Rachael Carman, wife and mother of seven. Rachael and her husband Davis own Apologia.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was designed to be a retreat for homeschool moms, a place for them to come for refreshment, renewal, refocusing and a reminder of why they do what they do. I have been to many homeschool conferences that were designed to do the same thing. However, nothing prepared me for how beautifully this event fulfilled its mission. In fact, in all my years as a speaker, I have never been to a conference for which I was to speak that ministered to me as much as those attending the conference. All I can say is, "WOW! God truly made His presence and purpose known, and touched everyone's life in a powerful way."

This year's theme was Stand Strong. I was blessed to sit among the women and hear from some amazing women, such as, Elizabeth Smith (HSLDA), Zan Tyler, Debra Bell, Rachael Carman and Sherri Seligson (author of Marine Biology). What was truly astonishing is how all the messages we spoke wove into every other speaker's message, resulting in common threads that were repeated throughout the conference - namely that God will Stand Strong on your behalf, no matter how you have struggled, failed, messed up and failed again. He is just waiting to bless you and your children.

As a homeschooling mother, I sat in wonder, thinking, "Oh! If only someone had told me that when my children were young! How this message would have transformed my homeschool." I also sat in awe, pondering some of the powerful words spoken into my life with messages I needed to hear today. Elizabeth taught on prayer and renewed my commitment to pray over my children and their struggles. She also taught me that I should always ask God what to pray, instead of just assuming that I know what the specific issue at hand really is and how it needs to be tackled in prayer. Sometimes God may lead us to pray in a different way that will get better results. Debra Bell was so powerful in her message of grace, her message of hope for God's purpose and plan for our children. She spoke of how homeschooling is not just best for our children, it is best for us, personally, and for our marriage and family. It is God's best for our entire lives. Zan gave powerful words of hope on the redemption of God, reminding us that He longs to bless us, to open doors for our children and usher them into the amazing blessings He has in store for them. Sherri reminded us that God uses our weakness, and is actually able to work far more effectively when we aren't the confident, got-it-all-together homeschool mom that we all wish we were. Rachael did a beautiful job of wrapping it all up, highlighting stories of the mother's in the Bible that dedicated themselves to raising their children just as we are. My favorite was her portrayal of Hannah who gave her child up to fulfill God's call upon His life. One day, we will do the same with all of our children as they begin to find and pursue the purposes to which God has called each of them. I could have listened to each one for days.

It was so wonderful getting to chat with each of the women, counseling some one-on-one, praying with them and hearing their stories. It wasn't about curriculum, as most homeschool conferences are, it was about them and building them up to stand strong in the journey ahead. It was a true ministry to these women.

Apologia Live will be expanding to other states each year. Next year, they will be back in Baltimore and also Atlanta. I know there are other cities planned as well. They are hoping to get to California soon.

If you are needing refreshment and renewal...Apologia Live is where you will get it!

Math Facts Resources Reviews

As promised, below are reviews of three different programs to aid in teaching your child math facts. I, personally, have found the most effective tool is good old fashioned flash cards: begin with the answers included and then remove the answers after they have visually memorized the fact with the answers. Then, review the flash cards every day until they know them cold. After that, review now and again - weekly, then monthly and then with practice tests once in a while (Calculadders is a good practice test program for math facts). However, if they still struggle or you prefer to add some help in the learning process - below are some ideas.

FlashMaster
www.flashmaster.com

FlashMaster is definitely my favorite gadget for helping my kids practice their math facts. This small hand-held electronic device can be programmed in many different ways to customize the facts presented. It has several levels and can be timed if desired. It also keeps your children's results so you can check up on their progress. This is a great gadget for on-the-go homeschoolers - just keep it in the car for a little "carschooling" fun!

I paid around $50 for ours, but you can purchase it from Amazon or Sonlight Curriculum for around $45.00.

Again, this is a program that helps your children practice
their math facts, not necessarily learn them. Read on for resources that will aid in the actual learning of math facts.


Math n More's Flash Facts
by Jan Bedell
www.littlegiantsteps.com

Although somewhat expensive, I found this program to be helpful in actually teaching the math facts for a child that struggled with the flash card method. This program was developed by a certified neurodevelopmentalist, and it uses all the different learning styles of children to teach math facts. It teaches to auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners all at once. Every child can succeed with this program. In fact, this was the program that convinced me that my children needed to see the facts (including the answers) before they could memorize and provide the answers when using flashcards.

This program involves showing your children flashcards with the answers and having them listen to the facts read with the answers - while they look for the facts on a pre-printed sheet. Then, they go through the cards again without the answers and listen to the facts without the answers - while they write the answers on another sheet. A little parent involvement is necessary, but the child is required to listen to the facts read with earphones on. I remember my son using the earphones and being shocked as they read facts that he knew the answers to. "How do I know all these answers?" he asked. It was that easy for him to learn his math facts. Ever since we started using this program, our facts practice has been all review.

The cost is $24.99 for each program (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). So, for all the your facts, you'll dish out more than $100. But, if you are really diligent to use it, your child will learn their facts well.


Times Tales: A Trigger Memory System
www.timestales.com

For those tough to remember math facts, a little extra help is sometimes needed. This is especially true for your nonmathy, creative child or visual learner. Times Tales is a great program that will help solidify those harder to memorize facts in the six, seven, eight and nine categories. Using stories and images, as well as characterizations for each number, this program does the trick. In fact, I'll never forget that 7 and 8 were driving down the road and going one mile over the speed limit. Yes, 7 and 8 were going 56 miles per hour. I have that image indelibly etched in my brain and will likely never forget that 7 x 8 is 56.

I hope that helps some of you get started on the journey to getting those math facts down!

Facts on Math Facts

There are several things I've learned over the years about teaching math in the homeschool. Undeniably, the first and most important element for imparting a solid math education is...(drum roll please)...the memorization of math facts! Skip the skip counting, and focus on helping your children memorize their facts. Truly, it is the most important part of elementary math. It's more important than that drill sheet they have in front of them each day, and yes, it's even more important than that well-researched, expensive curriculum you bought at the book fair. If I could implore you to do ANYTHING in the elementary years that would benefit your children the MOST - it would be to focus on the facts. Please, please, please make sure your children learn them!

You see, middle school math is next to impossible for the student that must first stop and think about the answer to six times eight. If the child is not certain of the answer to seven plus six, what we call "careless" mistakes will abound. Further, it will take him an hour to do what could be completed in 15 minutes - if he only knew his facts!

I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE...

AVOID THE MISTAKE I MADE!

As students grow older, math problems get trickier, lengthier and often involve several steps to solve. If a student has to ponder the answer to every addition, subtraction and multiplication fact they encounter, math will become the bane of your existence. Fractions are frightening for a kid that can't find a common denominator because he doesn't know his math facts.

Skip counting is fine, and it may work for a while, but in the end, the student simply must know his facts. If your child is still skip counting while taking the SAT, he will probably get left behind. In essence, by sixth grade, your children should have all their multiplication math facts, through at least the tens, down pat. They should also know their addition and subtraction facts through twenty. If they do, they are then free to focus on the algorithms (the procedures for doing the equations) without the burden of lacking the basics.

I learned a little late that math facts should be the most important part of a child's early math education. With my first child, I spent more time teaching the algorithms and only sporadically worked on memorizing the facts. By sixth grade, I knew we were in big trouble. Thankfully, teaching math facts is not rocket science. Thus, we were able to remediate this issue by focusing each day on the monotonous and painfully boring task of flash cards (I'll explain the flashcard methods that were most effective for my students in my next post).

I also want to point out that, I've purchased and watched homeschool moms purchase expensive games, gadgets and software in the hopes of making math fact memorization a breeze. This is unnecessary and by trying to make it fun we complicate the process, and risk not even doing it. In the end, it really boils down to the nitty-gritty work of sitting with your child - one on one, each and every day - to ensure that he solidly memorizes those facts.

In the next few posts, I will review and recommend curriculum that will actually help teach math facts.

Homeschooling Works!

Study: Home-Schooled Children Excel as Adults

Despite what many might believe, a vast majority of home-schooled children say they have plenty of opportunities for socialization with other children and, as adults, come to excel in all measured areas of adult life, according to a new study.

Mon, Dec. 28, 2009 Posted: 11:51 PM EDT

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Despite what many might believe, a vast majority of home-schooled children say they have plenty of opportunities for socialization with other children and, as adults, come to excel in all measured areas of adult life, according to a new study.

The study, released this month by the Canadian Centre for Home Education (CCHE), surveyed young adults in Canada whose parents responded to a 1994 study on home education. Ranging in age from 15 to 34, the study’s participants answered questions on a variety of topics with comparable data from Statistics Canada.

The results, according to CCHE, were “astounding.”

“In terms of income, education, entrepreneurial endeavors, involvement in their community, and all the other characteristics measured, home-educated adults not only excel, but also make meaningful contributions to their communities,” commented CCHE president Paul Faris. “They are the type of neighbors we all want.”

When measured against the Canadian average, home-educated adults were more socially engaged and almost twice as likely to have voted in a federal election.

Average income, meanwhile, was higher with more sources of investment income and self employment, and no cases of government support as the primary source of income.

Home-educated adults were also happier in their work and their lives in general, with 97.2 percent saying they were fairly or very happy with their lives, compared to 95.4 percent of all Canadians surveyed in the General Social Survey of Canada of 2003.

“Overall, homeschooling graduates appear to be very content with the education they received, as well as being happier and more satisfied with their work and life than similarly aged Canadians, and, indeed, young citizens of other countries,” researchers noted in their report, titled “Fifteen Years Later: Home-Educated Canadian Adults.”

When reflecting on the value of being home educated, most study participants felt that it was an advantage in their adult life.

Home-educated adults reported that they felt the "best part about being home educated" included the rich relational aspects, the opportunity for extensive curricular enrichment, the flexibility especially in terms of the schedule, the individualized pace and programs, the development of their own independence and confidence, and the superior education received.

As for what they felt “was the worst part about being home educated,” more than one-third of the respondents who provided an answer mentioned an aspect of the social challenges of being home educated.

These comments ranged from simple reflections such as “I feel I could have had more social interaction” to more angst filled ones such as “[I was] so different from others my age and [felt] somewhat awkward.”

Most, however, (70 percent) disagreed with the common criticism of home education that children have too few opportunities for socialization with other children and went as far as to claim that they had plenty of opportunities for socializing with other children.

Only 10.7 percent claimed that the criticism was most certainly the case in their situation.

“It was true and when given chances to interact I was generally too shy because I didn’t know how to act,” one respondent had replied.

"Most of my friends lived in other areas of town and I wasn’t very close with anyone in my neighborhood," added another.

In their concluding remarks, researchers behind the study said their findings are consistent with those found in a 2004 study of 5,254 Americans (home educated for seven or more years of their K-12 education) in terms of the demographic characteristics of the adults such as education achieved and civic engagement.

Citing the study, researchers noted: "The home-educated adults in this study were very positive about having been homeschooled and toward homeschooling in general, actively engaged in their local communities, keeping abreast of current affairs, highly civically involved, tolerant of others expressing their viewpoints, attaining relatively high levels of formal education, religiously active and wide-ranging in their worldview beliefs, holding worldview beliefs similar to those of their parents, and largely home educating their own children.

"The eradication of social prejudice against those currently being home educated and against those formerly home educated could be achieved through concerted efforts to inform of the achievements of home education, through creating an awareness that stigmatizing those educated differently is a form of intolerance, and through creating awareness of the multiple alternative community-specific educational opportunities that are offered in our times, specifically that non classroom-based education is merely one of those forms," they added.

The study's authors noted that future research should probe more deeply into addressing the various questions.

More in-depth conversations with individuals and focus groups should take place to further probe for the strengths and weaknesses of home education, they noted.

And the adults in their study should continue to be tracked and, once they are settled into their middle years, again compared with their peers.

"If home education seems to achieve the positive results that are reported here in general, more comparative study of the outcomes of the various versions of home education such as non classroom-based charter schools, cyber schools, partial day school attendance, and funded approaches should be undertaken with a view to preparing proposals for further improving other forms of education," they concluded.

Data for “Fifteen Years Later: Home-Educated Canadian Adults” was gathered from the 226 home-educated children who responded out of the 285 that the researchers were able to reach from the 620 families who in 1994 had expressed interest in being approached for future participation in further longitudinal study.

For the original 1994 study, 2,594 children from 808 families had participated.

Aaron J. Leichman
Christian Post Reporter

Without a Vision

If we can impart a vision to our children for their future, they will be inspired to pursue excellence, do the hard things that are required, and restrain themselves from that which slows their progress.

Last week, I posted this as my status update on Facebook.

The Word tells us, "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint." Proverbs 29:18

When we are working towards a very clear goal, it requires a great deal of restraint to persevere. If one has the goal to make it to the peak of the mountain, no matter how difficult, they will continue the ascent until they reach the summit. If they simply decided to climb the mountain and maybe they'll get to the top, their lack of vision will cause them to turn back when the going gets rough.

If our children know where they are going, if they have a strong desire to fulfill their calling, their destiny and the purposes they feel God has given them, they will restrain themselves to do the hard things. They will push through when its difficult if their mind is set on the summit.

My two boys (11 and 13) have very clear goals for their future, both requiring quite a bit of higher education. Because of this, they persevere through the harder courses, knowing this is part of the journey. They have a natural tendency to want to take the easy path, but because of their vision, they buckle down to get the work done. They know that the work given them will enable them to score well on the SAT, or do well in high school or college. Often, while doing something exceedingly monotonous, one might ask, "Will this be on the SAT?"

Over the years, our communications with them have strategically and purposefully imparted vision to them, and conveyed to them ownership of their future. We explained that THEY and THEY ALONE are responsible for their future. We can offer the opportunities, but it is up to them to take advantage of those opportunities and make use of the blessings God has given them. The doors are opened for them, but often they are only open for a short time. Will they walk through those doors? We have told them stories of people that spent their youth focused on friends and entertainment; they chose not to focus on or pursue their passions and interests, making personal sacrifices, and ended up unsatisfied with their lives because they missed the opportunity.

My children understand that, ultimately, their future is in their hands. They comprehend that the middle school and high school years can be the most instrumental years in developing their knowledge-base, expertise and skill. They can become experts in their special interests, gifts and talents or waste their days barely finishing their basic studies, leaving no time to pursue special studies. As homeschoolers, they have nothing but time during these years. They have a choice to squander it, or use it wisely. We cannot make them drink from the fountain; we can only lead them to it and encourage them to drink.

Let us impart a vision to our children. This enables them to look beyond the hedonistic mindset that traps them in the now, knowing that their future depends upon their choices today. This empowers them to restrain their tendency to pamper the flesh and feed the mind junk food.

Most of us grew up without a clear vision for our future. Most of us know the disappointment of seeking a career that pays well, over that which makes use of our gifts, talents and passions. Interestingly, most of us had a vision for what we wanted to do by middle school or high school. Because we were not given the opportunity, we did not hone and develop the skills needed to pursue that passion planted in our hearts. We were stuck in the cookie-cutter mentality of government schooling. Thankfully, we can cast off that hindrance and allow our children to run with endurance the race marked out for them.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Amazing Story: The Director of Planned Parenthood

This is an incredible story. The director of Planned Parenthood publicly stepped down as director of Planned Parenthood after watching an ultrasound of an abortion, and being told to increase the number of abortions coming in because of the economy. Now millions are being affected by her decision!

Hear the whole story: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=514

Zoology 1 Notebooking Journal Available and TOS subscription

Just really quickly, I wanted to tell everyone two things:

1. The Zoology 1 Notebooking Journals are available from www.apologia.com - you can order them today! I'm not sure when the regular vendors (Christian books and Rainbow Resource or anyone else will have them - but you can get yours right away through Apologia.

2. The Old Schoolhouse (my favorite homeschool magazine) is available for a one year subscription for only $7.95 until midnight tomorrow (use this code: FB795). After that, it will go back to its regular price of $25.00.

Have a great week!

Traveling...and more

We just got back from a wonderful, exciting adventure in California. We visited relatives and made our way north from San Francisco to Sacramento to Monterrey and up to St. Helena. It was so fun! 

On that topic of travel, I want to relay a great review of my dear friend's HOMESCHOOL TRAVEL BUSINESS! 

Heidi with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, has interviewed Amy Davidson on Homeschoolblogger Here. 

Amy is one of my oldest and dearest friends (she's not old, though). Amy is the one person in my life who actually encouraged me to homeschool...it might have looked more like a rebuke at the time, though. LOL! She's wonderful. Check out her website www.hsneighbor.com and maybe you'll be heading to California! 

P.S. I posted the winners to the Notebooking Journal contest on my blog, but only a few have responded. Be sure to check if you won!

Botany and Astronomy Notebooking Journal Giveaway!

I really liked Frugal Mom's blogging idea for the Botany and Astronomy Notebooking Journal give-away contest. 

So, here is the plan: I will give away four each of the Botany and Astronomy Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post information about the Notebooking Journals and the contest (You can pick which one you want if you are a winner).

 This is a great way to get the word out that this new product exists while giving you an opportunity to win one! I will use random.org to choose the winners. So, here are the rules:

1. Post a blurb about the Notebooking Journals (I'll create one you can use, or you can write your own).

2. Include a link to the samples on the Apologia website. 

3. Mention this contest and what it entails (with a link to my blog).

4. Send me an email with your blog address. 

I will compile the emails in the order they are received and allow Random.org to choose which #'s win the Notebooking Journals. If you have more than one blog, you could win more than one! 

Here is a blurb about the journals you can use or edit for your own use: 

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available. You can see samples on the Apologia website here:

These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal. 

Each of the notebooking journals include:

• A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
• Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
• Review Questions
• Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice 
• Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
• An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
• Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
• A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

See the sample pages here:

Botany: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=128 

 and 

Astronomy: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=127 

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com 

The contest ends on in one week on May 29th! That way I'll have the weekend to send them before I go to the Illinois conference. 

So blog away! 

Botany Notebooking Journals are HERE!

I'm so excited to announce the arrival of the Exploring Creation with Botany Notebooking Journals. You can see samples of them on the Apologia website here: BOTANY NJ

These will make Exploring Creation with Botany even easier to complete with templates for every notebook activity, diagrams to label, Scripture copywork, vocabulary crossword puzzles, Scientific Speculation Sheets, reading lists and Dig in Deeper extended activities for every lesson, as well as...drum roll...beautiful full color lapbooks that are simply gorgeous! 

I want to give away a four of these. But I can't think of a contest (My brain is so focused on getting the Anatomy book finished). I also want to give away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals. Can anyone think of a great contest I could hold on my blog? 

To Glorify God

Today was a very special day for my eight year old. She competed today in the AAU Georgia State Championship in gymnastics. She came away winning the First Place State Champion on beam, Second Place State Champion on floor and Third Place All Around State Champion. It was precious. 

But, as we moved through this last season, experiencing all the various successes and joys, and sometimes failures and sorrows, I really began to dig deep to understand why we are doing all of these activities. What is the purpose for these things in the lives of these children to whom God has entrusted me. 

The Lord has given me some wisdom in this. It is not to "be great" or to win or to be first. Though that seems to be the focus of the parents with whom we interact at these events (whether it is ballet, baseball or gymnastics), this focus is not even close to where our hearts are centered. Our hearts, throughout all of these things should always be towards our Lord, focused on bringing Him pleasure and glory in all that we do. If it is hitting a baseball, writing a book, doing a cartwheel or turning a pirouette, it is for God's glory and pleasure. It is a form of worship: To use the gifts, talents and abilities - the mind and body that God gave us - for His joy, His glory - and to give Him the credit and glory if success follows. 

I seek to help my children understand that it is not for them, for their benefit, that they are doing these activities. It's for Him because He gave them this special work - through the gifts, talents or passions he has developed in them - and it brings Him joy when they walk in that. It is His glory, His joy, that we seek. We are worshiping God when we do that work which God has given for them to do. It becomes an eternal work - when our hearts are truly focused on Him throughout it. It is not wood, hay and stubble that will burn as the deeds we do for our own glory are. 

I've quit praying for my kids to win. I can't tell you how many times I sat there, biting my nails praying like crazy that my son would get a hit, or pitch a perfect game, or my ballerina would get the part she wanted in the Nutcracker or my gymnast would win first place. Yet, I realize now that it's not about them. It's about Him. My prayers are now mostly praise that God is their God, that He has blessed them, that they are fearfully and wonderfully made and are His children, and that they would simply bring Him glory; whatever would bring God the most glory is what I pray would be. Amazingly, as I've changed my heart in prayer, my attitude has undergone a dramatic change. I am totally at peace. Whether they win or lose, I feel the same - focused on God and His glory. When they lose, I'm not nearly as troubled or sorrowful, when they win, I'm joyed, but not as relieved and overwhelmed (as if our happiness depended upon this win). It's astonishing what this shift in focus has done for my own heart as a parent. 

Yet, more than anything, it blesses my heart the most when I hear my children actually getting this. That's when I begin to really swell with excitement. When they confide their own personal prayers during the event, I know the reason we do all of this. It is to reach their hearts and build their dependence upon and their understanding of God, as well as grow them in their walk with God as they learn to truly worship Him with their lives.

Praise be to Him! 

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  Romans 12:1

I'm BAACCKKKK!

Okay. Well, I wasn't really gone (per se), but have been inordinately busy this fall/winter and have not had a second to post, nor to send out my promised newsletter. Sorry about that. 

What I HAVE been doing is rather exciting however. I've been creating some wonderful products to go with my books and have been working on the Exploring Creation with Anatomy book, which will be published this summer.

First, let me explain the new products to go with my books. Essentially, they are Notebook Journals to accompany each book. These journals have unique and fun templates for all the activities and assignments in the book, plus they include Scripture copywork (both cursive and print), vocabulary crossword puzzles, review questions for each chapter, project pages to record experiments and additional ideas, experiments, books and videos for each lesson. But the most exciting thing, by far, is the gorgeous, full-color lapbook-style miniature books that your children can create for each lesson. 

They will be called Notebooking Journals. They will be spiral bound with a nice color cover and they will serve as the student's own notebook. They retail for $25.00 through www.Apologia.com 

Click the link below to see a sample from Astronomy. I'll have a sample of Botany up soon. Included in this sample are: the teacher notes, descriptions and explanations for how to use the book, a weekly schedule, and the first lesson of Astronomy, as well as samples from different lessons for the miniature books. 

Here is a link to a sample of the Astronomy Notebooking Journal.

Astronomy and Botany will be available this spring, while the rest will be available this summer. 

Here is a product description for Exploring Creation with Anatomy:

God created humans in His image, and endowed us with a desire to learn about Him, about our world, and about ourselves.  Studying God’s most marvelous and chief creation with Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology will give you and your students insight into God’s nature, imparting a greater appreciation of His amazing and miraculous handiwork. 

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology is the sixth book in the Young Explorer Series. Using the Charlotte Mason methodology, this elementary-level science curriculum gives students an introduction to the fascinating design of the human body.

After briefly reviewing the history of the man’s attempts to understand the human body, students are taught about the highly complex, all-important cell.  The book then discusses the main systems of the human body, discussing in detail the Skeletal, Muscular, Digestive, Respiratory, and Circulatory Systems as well as several others. The book culminates by tying it all together with the study of Growth and Development. Procreation is addressed in terms of DNA and genes.

Throughout the book, students will have a wonderful time as they explore and learn with activities, projects and demonstrations that illustrate the concepts learned.  They will dissect a chicken wing to learn about bones and ligaments, create a camera box to learn about vision, find their own arteries, veins and capillaries, build a stethoscope, investigate the genetics of inheritance, test their muscle strength, explore the five senses and much, much more.

Throughout the course, students will enjoy adding illustrations of organs to their human body poster. They will also complete engaging and fun notebooking assignments to reinforce what they’ve learned.  

Throughout this fascinating course, Creation Confirmations will continually reveal God’s fingerprints in the unique and extraordinary design of the human body, building your student’s faith in the truth that they are indeed “Fearfully and wonderfully made.”

As soon as the rest of these products are completed, I will be back on a regular blog schedule. In the mean time, I'll post when I have a moment here and there.