Back in 1992, when we started to homeschool my eldest, we attended the free evening of the CHEA convention. The speaker back then was Gregg Harris. He talked about the different stages of life: the education stage, the babies and business stage, the statesman and civic duty stage, and the elder stage. I have a post related to that discussion dated October of 2006, if you want to go back and read more.
The funny thing about that seminar, was that I took out of it that I needed to be fully engaged in the babies and business stage. I thought a lot about my educational years and in those early years I formed a lot of my ideas on courtship. I was able to present these ideas to my 5 year old (in his terms) but that is really what I got out of the talk.
Today, at CHEA, 16 years later, I decided that I wanted to hear Gregg Harris again. The topic was the stages of life, but it didn't ring any bells until I was 1/2 way through the seminar. But now what I got most out of the message was the civic duty stage that I will be approaching in a mere 8 years. My "babies and business" stage is quickly coming to a halt. I don't want to prematurely be thinking about my civic duty stage, but I do need to be maturing to prepare for it.
In contemplating this, I was again affirmed as to why it is good to read my Bible through time and time again. Because everytime I go through it I am at a different stage in my life and even though I will get the same message, there will be a different meaning in my life context. I just need to be faithful to keep putting one foot in front of the other and doing what comes next...
Sunday, July 13, 2008
God Equips
Yesterday, Priscilla and I did our annual Bible story time at the Child Evangelism Fellowship booth. Priscilla typically calls to the young children walking by, "Do you want to hear a Bible Story? It will take about 7 minutes." Most parents agree to let their children go into the little Noah's Ark to hear a presentation of the Gospel. While the children are there, the parents either sit and rest their feet or they walk around to the nearby booths to look at some of the items their children wouldn't be interested in.
This year the "Bible Story" was actually the wordless book: gold (heaven), black (hearts dark with sin), red (the blood that Jesus shed), white (hearts that are clean), green (everlasting life).
I had told the story about 5 times, when two little 4 year old girls came in. The one girl introduced the two of them. I asked them introductory questions about themselves. The 2nd little girl only answered back in Spanish. Did you know that I actually can speak Spanish? I learned when I was 15, but since I began homeschooling high school, I have greatly increased my grammar and vocabulary. Especially when it comes to biblical vocabulary.
Well, the two little girls' mothers disappeared. They were gone for about 20 minutes. When my 7 minutes were up, I got to go through the wordless book again, but this time in Spanish, so that the other little girl would completely understand. Then, I had time to pray for both of them in English and Spanish. Finally, their mothers returned.
I just couldn't help but think that the Lord knew when to bring those little girls. How many other teachers were there that wouldn't have been able to share the Gospel in Spanish? How did He know that I'd need more time to do it in both English and Spanish? How did he equip me with the right vocabulary? Only six years ago did I start learning "ministry" vocabulary. "Sin" isn't a vocabulary word taught in the secular curriculum that I learned with! He wanted those little girls to know, so He sent them to me, and He gave me the time to do it thoroughly. What a miracle!
This year the "Bible Story" was actually the wordless book: gold (heaven), black (hearts dark with sin), red (the blood that Jesus shed), white (hearts that are clean), green (everlasting life).
I had told the story about 5 times, when two little 4 year old girls came in. The one girl introduced the two of them. I asked them introductory questions about themselves. The 2nd little girl only answered back in Spanish. Did you know that I actually can speak Spanish? I learned when I was 15, but since I began homeschooling high school, I have greatly increased my grammar and vocabulary. Especially when it comes to biblical vocabulary.
Well, the two little girls' mothers disappeared. They were gone for about 20 minutes. When my 7 minutes were up, I got to go through the wordless book again, but this time in Spanish, so that the other little girl would completely understand. Then, I had time to pray for both of them in English and Spanish. Finally, their mothers returned.
I just couldn't help but think that the Lord knew when to bring those little girls. How many other teachers were there that wouldn't have been able to share the Gospel in Spanish? How did He know that I'd need more time to do it in both English and Spanish? How did he equip me with the right vocabulary? Only six years ago did I start learning "ministry" vocabulary. "Sin" isn't a vocabulary word taught in the secular curriculum that I learned with! He wanted those little girls to know, so He sent them to me, and He gave me the time to do it thoroughly. What a miracle!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Second Generation Homeschoolers
Today, I, along with 9 others from our homeschool board, attended the leadership portion of the CHEA convention.
The last couple of years have been trying ones for the Board of our ISP. Some people in our ISP have been difficult. Some don't like the code of conduct we have for our student body. Some don't like that we have an interview process. Some don't like the way we keep records. Some don't like how many units we assign to classes. Some don't like the cost of classes. Mostly it's about 15 unhappy families out of 150 families. But it seems like it is a constant barrage of discontent. It's hard to see around these families to see that there are about 135 families who are generally content. We needed a shot of inspiration.
I digress. Back to the leadership portion of the CHEA convention. Last year, for the first year in a long time, we went as a Board. We were reaffirmed by the convention speakers that we were doing the right thing. Not because they knew our situation, but because what they were saying made it SEEM like they knew our situation. It's hard for our husbands to take another day off of work, but our husbands are so committed to homeschooling and the call of God to be in leadership in our ISP, that they took the day off. Again, we attended the leadership portion of the CHEA convention. Again, we were reaffirmed. This year though, it was a different topic, different speakers, but AGAIN it seemed as if they all were talking straight to us.
The biggest blessing came when we couldn't get enough of talks given by second-generation homeschoolers. Yahoo! It gives us hope and an insight into the future of our students. These second-generation homeschoolers have the true vision of family based home education. They want to be involved in the discipleship of their children. They will pick up where we, tired, first-generation homeschoolers are falling off! What a blessing to hear from them. Their parents were pioneers and they continue to carry the torch. There is hope for our future.
By the grace of God, may I raise five second-generation homeschoolers who will continue to carry the torch.
The last couple of years have been trying ones for the Board of our ISP. Some people in our ISP have been difficult. Some don't like the code of conduct we have for our student body. Some don't like that we have an interview process. Some don't like the way we keep records. Some don't like how many units we assign to classes. Some don't like the cost of classes. Mostly it's about 15 unhappy families out of 150 families. But it seems like it is a constant barrage of discontent. It's hard to see around these families to see that there are about 135 families who are generally content. We needed a shot of inspiration.
I digress. Back to the leadership portion of the CHEA convention. Last year, for the first year in a long time, we went as a Board. We were reaffirmed by the convention speakers that we were doing the right thing. Not because they knew our situation, but because what they were saying made it SEEM like they knew our situation. It's hard for our husbands to take another day off of work, but our husbands are so committed to homeschooling and the call of God to be in leadership in our ISP, that they took the day off. Again, we attended the leadership portion of the CHEA convention. Again, we were reaffirmed. This year though, it was a different topic, different speakers, but AGAIN it seemed as if they all were talking straight to us.
The biggest blessing came when we couldn't get enough of talks given by second-generation homeschoolers. Yahoo! It gives us hope and an insight into the future of our students. These second-generation homeschoolers have the true vision of family based home education. They want to be involved in the discipleship of their children. They will pick up where we, tired, first-generation homeschoolers are falling off! What a blessing to hear from them. Their parents were pioneers and they continue to carry the torch. There is hope for our future.
By the grace of God, may I raise five second-generation homeschoolers who will continue to carry the torch.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Fourth of July
How nice to have Fourth of July fall on a Friday! We had a great time with our friends. Did I ever mention that we have a great backyard? We have a pool with a rock slide, a basketball court, a ping pong table, a fire pit, a play structure, a gas barbecue and a big covered cabana with fans or gas heaters, whatever you need to keep the temperature the way you want it. The sad part about our back yard, is that so many times we have big events here, that we never just hang out with our friends. We use our backyard for book club meetings, high school events, baptisms, game nights, interviews, meetings, you name it. But it all seems that it is a big production and we never just have fun.
Well, this summer is different. The boys said that they didn't want to do ANYTHING this summer. They didn't even want to sign up for AWANA Scholarship camp, which they typically LOVE. No surf camp, no baseball camp, no Junior Life Guards camp, no tennis camp. They just wanted to hang out. We do school work until noon, and now they go into the backyard and play. They've also been able to go up to the local park and play baseball, or just go up the cul-de-sac and play whiffle ball with the neighborhood boys.
This Fourth of July was different. We had dear friends over and we just hung out. We made it simple. Hot dogs on the barbecue, green salad, watermelon, apple pie. I got in the pool with my girl friends. Me. The one who NEVER swims when we have company. My friend, Linda, and I got in the pool and floated on rafts while the kids played all around us. Of course they tried to cannon ball as close to us as they could, or bounce the ball to splash as close to us as they could. But we didn't mind. After dinner, Carie got in with us, but the kids were too rowdy to let her (or any of us) float in peace, so we got in the spa. We have lived here over 10 years. I don't ever remember getting in the spa with my friends. My sister-in-laws, yes, my kids, yes, my husband, yes, but never with my friends. And then about 5 of the kids joined us in the spa and we had nice conversations with them. The three moms decided we didn't want to be too aggressive in hunting for fireworks, so 15 minutes before the local fireworks show started, we got out, changed into dry clothes and climbed our back slope to watch the fire works that were about 3 miles away. We all had glow-in-the-dark necklaces (of course) and we sang all of the patriotic songs we knew.
When the fireworks show was over, we climbed back down our slope, lit the fire pit and ate apple pie that Holly had made or roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Everyone went home about 10:30 PM.
The boys were right. We needed to have a slower summer, where not everything is a production. We have enough productions slated anyway, so what better day to celebrate with good friends than the Fourth of July. Without the production.
Well, this summer is different. The boys said that they didn't want to do ANYTHING this summer. They didn't even want to sign up for AWANA Scholarship camp, which they typically LOVE. No surf camp, no baseball camp, no Junior Life Guards camp, no tennis camp. They just wanted to hang out. We do school work until noon, and now they go into the backyard and play. They've also been able to go up to the local park and play baseball, or just go up the cul-de-sac and play whiffle ball with the neighborhood boys.
This Fourth of July was different. We had dear friends over and we just hung out. We made it simple. Hot dogs on the barbecue, green salad, watermelon, apple pie. I got in the pool with my girl friends. Me. The one who NEVER swims when we have company. My friend, Linda, and I got in the pool and floated on rafts while the kids played all around us. Of course they tried to cannon ball as close to us as they could, or bounce the ball to splash as close to us as they could. But we didn't mind. After dinner, Carie got in with us, but the kids were too rowdy to let her (or any of us) float in peace, so we got in the spa. We have lived here over 10 years. I don't ever remember getting in the spa with my friends. My sister-in-laws, yes, my kids, yes, my husband, yes, but never with my friends. And then about 5 of the kids joined us in the spa and we had nice conversations with them. The three moms decided we didn't want to be too aggressive in hunting for fireworks, so 15 minutes before the local fireworks show started, we got out, changed into dry clothes and climbed our back slope to watch the fire works that were about 3 miles away. We all had glow-in-the-dark necklaces (of course) and we sang all of the patriotic songs we knew.
When the fireworks show was over, we climbed back down our slope, lit the fire pit and ate apple pie that Holly had made or roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Everyone went home about 10:30 PM.
The boys were right. We needed to have a slower summer, where not everything is a production. We have enough productions slated anyway, so what better day to celebrate with good friends than the Fourth of July. Without the production.
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