Today I am posting on two other sites. Stop by and check them out. Leave me a comment so I know you were there; it is always great when others add to the discussion!

The Heart of the Matter Homeschool Magazine March issue is up and running. There are a lot of wonderful homeschooling articles. This month in my column Ducks in a Row, I write about five ways to make school run more smoothly.

Come on by and see how we organize our homeschool....HERE...






Over at The Well Drained Mind I write about struggling with the "perfect homeschooler syndrome" and how the Lord gives us little glimpses to encourage us as we teach our children.

Head on over and read about my Boggle Blessing.

Labels: Blogging, Encouragement, Heart of the Matter, Homeschooling, Learning Disabilities, Well Drained Mind

Labels: Conservative, Encouragement, Family, Homeschooling, Well Drained Mind

I had a comment left this week in which someone asked me the following question.

With 8 kids, how do you have time to pray?

I will readily admit that it is difficult to have a specific amount of time set aside just sit and pray. However, I have taken a wonderful verse to heart and try to apply it everyday.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing

I try to maintain an attitude of prayer throughout my day. Do I always accomplish this? Absolutely not but I strive for it non the less. As I go throughout my day, I praise the Lord for the weather, for my well behaved children, for wisdom in dealing with my children when they are not so well behaved, for wisdom in teaching and training them, for giving me another day to praise His name, for my husband, and for the life He has given me (here on earth and in eternity). I pray for others when they come to mind or when asked I say a prayer for them. I pray as I lay in bed at the end of the day, I pray as I drive, and the shower is a wonderful place to pray as I start my day. This helps to stay in communication with my Savior all throughout the day not just during a set aside moment contained within my day.

Having a large family does tend to have some logistical challenges but God uses those to teach us and to grow us. It has caused me to focus on an attitude of prayer all throughout my day rather than one set time marked off on my to do list. I still need more prayer time in my life. Don't we all? Let us all continue to strive to pray more and more.

Labels: Christianity, Prayer, Quiverfull, Well Drained Mind

I think often homeschool moms have moments of wondering if they are really making a difference or accomplishing what they should be. It seems to me that there is a perfection syndrome out there, i have suffered from this often. Our families are often looked at more closely than others and sometimes we get to feeling like we have to have the picture perfect family. We all know this to be an impossibility!
I have often felt a failure but God gently reminds me that He is faithful to accomplish the work in our lives if we are only obedient to Him.

I have struggled and struggled over the years to teach my dyslexic child and often wonder if we are even making any progress. I know it is even more difficult for him than for me to deal with this. Well, this morning God showed me once again how faithful He is!

Earlier today I caught a glimpse of an amazing site and was extremely blessed!
My dyslexic son was sitting at the table with a Boggle game and his younger 5 year old sister. What were they doing? He was teaching her the letters of the alphabet and how to put them together to make and spell words!!!! My son does not read on grade level yet and has many problems with writing and spelling, but he was using what he did know to teach his younger sister!! He doesn't like reading but he doesn't hate reading either and he loves his sister enough to take the time and teach her!

Thank you Lord for showing me I am making a difference!

Labels: Encouragement, Homeschooling, journal, Learning Disabilities, Well Drained Mind

Last night the family sat down and watched an episode of The Walton's, remember that old tv show? It is a good show that would do many good to revisit! There was a scene where Mary Ellen is sitting with Grandma. Grandma wants to show her how to crochet and Mary Ellen says, "Oh, Grandma, I don't need to know how to do that I'm going to be a career woman." Grandma in return says, "Who ever said being a wife and a mother was not a career!"

My husband and I replied in unison, "THANK YOU!"

Where have those days gone? Today if you stay home to raise your own children you are seen as less of a woman. I submit to you that those who fulfill their God given role as a keeper at home are the real career women! It is a place to excel and in so many diverse areas. I am a teacher, spiritual leader to my children, nurse, cook, cleaning lady, economic major, gardener, organizer, hairdresser, clothes presser, piano driller, chauffeur, disciplinarian, and on and on and on.

I believe this is not only the most diverse career, but also one of the most difficult, because to truly excel you must possess many character traits that are not easy to come by and not easy to maintain. Things such as humility, patience, integrity, and consistency. You must be able to withstand pressure from the world, of those telling you to go and make something of yourself, implying that you are nothing if only a wife and mother. It is often a thankless and unappreciated position.

Not only is being a keeper at home one of the most diverse and most difficult careers it is also the most rewarding. Not monetarily of course, I do not get a paycheck. I do not think anyone could afford to pay a keeper at home for all they do. It is by far the most blessed position one could find! You receive the blessings of the Lord. When living a life according to His plan, you are blessed. You have freedom, I am the queen of my castle. It doesn't even have to be a big castle. I am blessed with joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, love, contentment, a thankful family, and a bunch of smiling faces! No paycheck can beat that, no praise of man can even come close.

It is also the most important job. Who is preparing the generation of tomorrow? Not only to be good citizens but to be godly citizens! There is eternal significance. It does NOT take a village to raise a child, it takes a committed mother and a father!

So I ask, "Who said being a wife and a mother is not a career?"

Labels: Christianity, Encouragement, Homeschooling, journal, Well Drained Mind