Cash, Cheerleading, and Curriculum

Another busy two weeks - actually super busy. I try not to make negative statements about being in church every night, as people may think that being in church is a bad thing. But certainly it's tiring when you're getting home at 10 and 10:30 each evening. But it's been a good run of leadership training and learning at these services too. (We had a leadership service week.) We had time to rest today and I have a bit of time to write.

First of all, blessings to all the veterans, including in my family. Many have passed on but we still cherish their memory and their courage. I wish we could have done more to commemorate the day, but I was heartened by my children's prayers this evening - each one thanked God for the sacrifices of soldiers. Maybe some of these lessons are sinking in.

We've had varying success using the Weaver curriculum. It's very thorough in explanation but a little skimpy on activities that don't involve a lot of hands on stuff. In other words, the lessons aren't very independent learning friendly. They seem more teacher directed, and that's not great for our style. However, the bible lessons fit well into the units and I also appreciate the number of activities available - I just wish they allowed for more "stretching". When I have to stretch the activities, it seems like I'm back to square one in my planning crunch. It's only been a few weeks so we'll keep at it to make sure it's not the improper application of the material that's causing the problem (for me, at least.)

As for cash, it's time to budget for classes and sports for next year. I'm very concerned that we'll either spend too much or not enough. Perhaps that's every parent's worry - does my daughter really need that violin class and the new violin? If I don't buy in, have I deprived her? And how much is too much? Cheerleading, dance, piano, you name it, she's in it. Even as a piano teacher myself, I wouldn't want kids that are stretched too thin in my class. They usually are irritable, don't take personal interest in the lesson, and seem to just go through the motions in order to appease whatever parent forced them to learn the instrument. And that's the last thing I want for my kids to feel. On the other hand, of course, they are talented enough to excel, and I also want them to have a high level of accomplishment in something. By week's end we'll have to decide whether to leave them in their current classes, or move them into something less expensive. Miki and I are praying for a blessing that will allow us to balance their creative needs with their physical ones - so that they won't lack on either case. A fair and noble request, if I do say so myself.

Later I'll detail some of the unit lessons that have been less than interesting in the Weaver and perhaps someone will help me spice it up or find alternatives. Until then, I'll be looking unto the hills...

Typical...

Wow, a full three weeks and I kind of dropped of the face of the earth. Not literally, but about in every other sense of the word. I've had about as bad a period of 'blues' as I've had in a while. And during that time, I felt that "midnight of the soul" hunger for some kind of hope, even as my conscious mind related all the obvious things that were going well. Thank God that patience from my wife and a word from the Pastor helped me snap out of it. I won't accept that periods like that are necessary, only that when they happen they can teach us that faith has to outlast feelings, and this time it did again.

Now to happier thoughts - my new theme song.

Mute Math is a hybrid Christian / alternative - well I hate labels, so let's just say they're awesome musicians. I love anything that breaks boundries, and even though their lead singer is a dead ringer for Sting /early Peter Gabriel, I'm loving their electronic / pop sound. The song that I have been wearing out is their single "Typical". Just the first few lines speak directly to my (and I'm sure many others) current state of mind...

Come on, can I dream for one day?
There's nothing that can't be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

And that became my mantra / prayer in this past week. Whatever happens, today, Lord, let it not be typical. Not predictable or run of the mill. Let this day be a breakthrough day in my relationships, work, my faith, my finances - SOMETHING. And considering that I had the same stresses today as many and still found the time to take care of some major things that were nagging me, I have to say that prayer was answered. Maybe it won't be thunder and lightning from the sky, but I'm sure that each day I'm more focused on His will for my family and my life, will not be a typical day. May your days also be anything but typical.

The kids also did something atypical - a video podcast. It's at our webpage at web.mac.com/allenpaul and also on Itunes. If you only knew how many takes it took just to make a pizza...Emeril can keep the job, and the iron chefs too. :-)

Looking unto the hills,
acp

Pushing through....

We returned to our Park group today and I felt so behind. Not because of some assignments, but just because obviously the other families were up on the current events of the group. It was tempting not to join this year in an attempt to save time, but again I have to look at the whole picture - Naomi is now helping create an environmental club with her friends, and both kids were able to get homeschool ID cards. The support group helps us find things like that that are not necessarily part of anyone's curriculum. Even though I'm still the only homeschooling dad of the group, there are other fathers that come around so I'm not the only man standing around, which helps a bit. I know the gender thing isn't the most important thing, but I do feel more and more a need to find other men to network with.

Not much else this morning, will check in later.

Looking unto the hills,
ap

What a day...

...and not just for me. I guess you can say we are "churched out" for today. We've spent a couple of days just relaxing and recovering from the week.

Friday was another great day at enrichment - I was able to volunteer in Naomi's ceramics class and help her to craft a clay bowl. They'll dry and fire them over the weekend and she'll be able to paint it next week. Saturday was spent trying to un-virus Christopher's computer...makes me even more wary about his computer time if he's downloading unfamiliar things... and preparing for Sunday Service. The kids have become "Brain Quest" fanatics - they spent all evening quizzing each other on factoids - which I can't say I object to. They could find many worse things to drive each other crazy with. Another plus was the arrival of Marcus' fraction overlays - in minutes we were practicing equivalent fractions, something that I couldn't do with my "homemade" versions. (Sometimes saving money is losing time!)

Oh yes, and we spent a lot of time watching "Travel Channel" - as a break during the day it's been nice to turn on the TV and watch "Passport to Europe w/ Samantha". She does a tour guide look at several European cities, which I promptly had the kids look up. While it wasn't a unit I was planning, it fits into our daily schedule and provides some independent study opportunities for the kids. The more they know about the world, the more they'll be able to function and relate to all the international news they hear from day to day.


Personally, I'm still working on that relaxation vs. procrastination thing - I know I need the rest today but it seems there's always a reason why I should be moving. Perhaps it's the fact that time is moving so fast. High School is now a distant memory at 15 years past, and college is quickly moving into the same place in the rear view mirror. So standing still sometimes feels like moving backward. I know there is so much to be accomplished, and yet I have to rely on bursts of energy and synergistic days where everything falls into place to feel like I got anything done. But maybe that's the way all of us have to operate - knowing that it's mostly 3 steps forward and two steps back - while realizing that progress has still been made.

I hope to connect with other homeschool dads in the near future. Feel free to write or comment on any entry - I'm always open to network and share with other fathers that are taking the lead in their children's future.


Looking unto the hills,
acp

Encourage Yourself...

Sunday evening and a little procrastination has set in - or is it relaxation? I forget which is which.

Our teen choir sang at church today. In some churches 12 - 15 teens in a choir would be a joy, but at my 'mega' church it makes the choir stand look empty. Now the kids did a great job singing, but it's still tough to pull off. Add to that an embarassing showing at a church on Wednesday - one that has brought very public criticism - and that demon of doubt and discouragement has been creeping into my thought process. It isn't that I feel God has deserted me, ala Mother Teresa, but it is a questioning of whether I'm correctly identifying His purposes for me. But a time of prayer and reflection has reminded me that I am able to handle this challenge because I've been given the tools, through previous struggles, to overcome it.

It's funny how issues in one area make you worry about others that are not really a problem. Just getting a spelling book seemed to revitalize our homeschool lessons, but now I find myself wondering if we will make real progress or if the kids are (dare I say it?) "falling behind". We've done pretty well with 4 day week lessons, but I'm tempted to add an assignment on Mondays to even out the weeks activities. However, I'm pretty sure once I get our Weaver curriculum (I've been disputing with my Ebay seller for two weeks now!) I'll be much more comfortable. Fridays at our enrichment class have been a great success (if not a little expensive) and we're about ready to start podcasting again. I just have to carve out the time and prioritize the creative types of activities. Oh yes, and also find the time to, um, relax.

Looking unto the hills,
acp

Spending Time...

Once again I have to report a pretty basic day... no lessons as I've flipped my workday to Monday to allow for enrichment classes on Fridays. I haven't really investigated the benefits of a four day school week, but it's worked for us. I think the grind of the busy days we do have lessons makes up for the days like today. We still have piano lessons on Mondays so we have some activity.
But I know it's important that I keep at least some regular hours at our church. It's tough to balance the two. At the beginning of the day, it looked like our friend wasn't going to be able to watch them - boy, were they bummed out. Spending all day in Dad's office is not their idea of fun. But she picked them up and all was right with the world again - and I suppose I was relieved too. I don't pretend I don't need the break myself. I haven't yet got the hang of teaching and working at the same time.
Our Weaver curriculum came through, so hopefully we can report on how that goes in the next few weeks.

I'm thinking of starting a music blog to help me express the other side of my life - although it might work out in this blog as well - I'll make an announcement if I do. Also, check out The Daddycast and Kidswifeworklife.com I found both of these very well done podcasts. You can find them on Itunes.

Looking unto the hills,
acp

Just the facts...

A long day and a busy one - I was called in to a manager's meeting at church when I was expecting to be at home, so the kids had to spend some time in my office and we missed our chance to update our podcast. The kids are looking forward to it still, however. We made a quick run to the library where we were able to play some checkers, find Naomi's book on Double Dutch (she's reading it for the second time) and also get Marcus a book on the history of football. That little breather made the interruption a little easier to take.

I was disappointed because I lost the eBay auction I was in for the fraction sheets for Math-u-See. The economics of homeschooling have been bearing on us a bit - I've become a big user of eBay for books and materials that aren't at the library. Hopefully we'll be able to get all the things we need without breaking the bank...we spent more money this year on enrichment classes, but so far it seems like it was worth it because the kids really look forward to them.

Not much else to say tonight, just trying to encourage myself as things aren't great - but we give thanks in all things.

Looking unto the hills,
acp

The unschooling, schooling homeschooler

Tonight I guess I'm looking for deep thoughts and finding none. Often I've written on the dichotomy of living life and reflecting on life, but now I think I'm too weary for the latter, and too busy with the former. The children had a nice day - lots of reading for Marcus, who's finishing up A Series of Unfortunate Events for the second time. Naomi seems content with snailing through her multiplication tables - I'm watching closely to see if she is actually struggling, but she seems to enjoy making people think she's helpless, only to burst through with big eureka moments of realizations. I guess she enjoys the extra bit of accomplishment she gives herself. At any rate I constantly remind myself that it's the rare 30 year old that doesn't know 4 X 8.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm a true unschooler. I've shunned curricula since starting to homeschool, yet I'm constantly searching for new series and methods of teaching that basically subscribe to the page a day format. 'Eclectic' may be a better term, but that seems like the 'general studies' moniker for a college student. The term is not important, it's the philosophy behind it that I want to be consistent about, if only to make sure I don't become what I say I'm not. I want to remain a proponent of interest based learning, even if I bend and shift with my child's needs. I want to stand for the meaning of education as a means to accomplish God's purposes for our maturation and not a method to achieve man's approval. It seems to be bearing out in my children's diverse interests, but I guess every parent has to wait til they are grown to know that you truly placed certain ideas within them.

I just found the Weaver curricula on eBay and we are going to try out a few unit studies to see if it helps organize our thinking and lessons for each week - something that will help me to maintain our pace of learning, even if we do decide to break now and again. I hope I won't let this new method change me into the wicked school teacher with the pointy nose and the ruler for slapping disobedient children on the wrist - probably not, but at least I'm honest with my fears. I don't think I could ever be a school - at - home dad, repeating the life I lived as a public school teacher for so long. But to indulge in little structure to complement my rebellious academic stance? As long as I hear comments like I did this morning, from Marcus, I think we'll be OK -
"My goodness, I loved the way this morning looked!"

Looking unto the hills,
acp

Late night thougts on writing....

Whoever sang the song "The Nighttime is the Right Time" did not have children and a 9 o'clock lesson.
Today was full of activity as usual, but good news all around - my first time teaching teen bible study was a success - in that I left with half a voice remaining, teens that were not asleep or pulling each other's hair out, and with a growing feeling that I gave them an honest and forthcoming look at my topic, which was praise and worship. I must admit I fell victim to the hyperfocusing tendencies of a ADHD writer - the inability to summarize and make concise points was obvious in that 90% of what I wrote was not read aloud. The stream of thoughts that come when I'm writing is similar to that when I perform musically - only in the rear view mirror of playback or review does my work seem excessive. At the time of creation it feels natural, almost effortless. Of course, the writer's craft is to take that stream and force it into a canal of constrained logic, while the musician's craft is to make the music seem to be as wild and free as possible while maintaining underneath the foundation of harmony and melodic sense.

For my children, the tendency to overstate is all too common. Marcus hates to summarize. His American Revolution project last year, supposedly a synopsis of the major battles, became a 20 page paraphrase of the book he was reading. I tried to impress upon him the need for information to be pared down and analyzed for major themes, but in his head everything is major. Again, the double edged sword - I certainly wouldn't accuse an American History Major of being too detailed, and who knows if he may be headed in that direction? In my older son, the need to include everything did lead at times to problems with finishing work - public school, of course, is nothing if not ruthless with the deadline - and he also had to learn to sometimes do what was easiest until he had the freedom to do what was best.
I hope it does not seem like I am dismissing the idea of editing and structuring the written word, but I am saying that the desire to express everything you know about a subject shouldn't be ignored or dismissed. Most children, like my daughter, are hard pressed to do more than the minimum. So when an interest pops up in a long, drawn out report, I try not to look at the lack of main points and instead at the obvious level of intensity my child put into detailing each fact. When he is writing for some newspaper at 3AM one day, I'm sure the urge to overspill his verbs and nouns will be dampened somewhat.
We are trying to get Naomi into completing multiplication and both kids are starting to plan their next podcast. The links below should include the page now. I'm also getting ready to try the Weaver curriculum from Alpha Omega, so if anybody reading this has tips, I've love to hear from you.

Looking unto the hills,
AP

Thankfulness

This month began our new school year - both public and homeschool. The opening schedule made me feel so behind, as I again tried to balance full-time ministry with full-time parenting. But right in the middle of beginning my own pity party about how busy and tired I am, I am reminded, as many of us are, by tragedy that I really am blessed. On Wednesday my church will bury a 4 year old drowning victim. The mother is only 19 herself. Add to that the fatal police shootings this week in Miami, and it seems that God is again allowing the world to wake us up. I kissed my daughter a couple more times this evening, and I gave my son the benefit of the doubt with his homework so he could enjoy a relaxed evening with his brother and sister.
It again reminds me that the main reason I educate at home and make such an effort to be involved in my older son's life. It can never become trite that we spend time with our loved ones. It's not the amount of homework, or the chores that are checked off, it's the love that is shared between parent and child that is the foundation of everything else they will become.

One other incident that gave me pause happened on Friday. I took my kids to a Christian homeschool co-op with classes from pottery to cheerleading. The kids loved it, of course, but I do have to volunteer for one hour each week. There were many other dads around, but mostly in support or visiting their spouses and kids. In my class, one mother saw me and related how she knew another "Mr. Mom", but that he was disabled so that was a natural way for him to help out. It made me think of how strange it is now for fathers to be considered the main educator of the family, while the Bible basically places almost all the responsibility for the child's education on the father. Proverbs is nothing if not a instruction manual from a father to a son. Moses said over and over to the fathers of the Israelites that they were to impart the wisdom of following the Lord to their children. For men to truly be complete in our God given role, I feel we must again take our role as leaders, not just of finances or home projects, but of the worldview and faith-walk of our families. I'm not saying it's easy, I just know that it is worth it to continue to take the lead in my children's learning and spiritual growth. That's my goal for 2007-08, to make sure my children have the best I can give them as a father in every way - spiritually, emotionally, and educationally. I pray for anyone else that is joining me in this effort to make the next generation even better than the last.

Looking unto the hills,

AP

Another year past...

Not much time before this computer goes to sleep, so I must comment quickly....

I didn't even notice that my last post was exactly one year after I began this erstwhile attempt to maintain a journal of my exploits as the 'homeschooldaddy'. It seems strange that I didn't mark the occasion - then again with my long gaps in blogging, it's probably no surprise. With the kids in summer camp (free at my church - what a blessing!) and evaluations to complete, there's not much going on educationally. I am glad that the summer camp is doing some academic review, but mostly I do want the kids to enjoy themselves. Now the interesting thing is I'm back on the outside, asking the kids what they did each day and responding with the generic "That's nice...." I'm a little upset with myself, knowing I'm not as engaged with their excitement because I'm not sharing it day to day. The immediate feedback of teaching and interfacing with the kids each day is a bit intoxicating, and I'm missing it already. I'm glad their love of knowledge has not disappeared just because they are in a 'school' like environment...it's a comfort to know they still can work in any type of social setting.

Only one bar left on the battery, so I must close for tonight. Look to the hills....

ap

Quiet Nights at Home...

Another late evening....the kids and wife are asleep and I'm wondering to myself if blogging now is a kind of epitaph to the day past. The assumption that I'm writing to myself is some comfort, until I remember that I am allowing the world in on this inner sanctum of random thoughts. Two things right now do warrant comment...one, my oldest sons' current difficulties with school (public, that is) and the things I noticed about the days that are not filled with activity, like today.

Christopher has never been the workhorse at school. He has exhibited the same consistent inconsistency since 2nd grade...call it the ADD or the lack of interest in anything but comic novels and British hip-hop, but it led to a frantic call from his teacher the other day. The fact that every day I ask him about school, and the classic teen response - "ok" - was no comfort when the teacher explained that 'OK' really meant - "I haven't turned in any work for two weeks and the teacher is about to pull her (and my) hair out."
Now as a homeschooler and rebel against the system of grading, I'm in a tight spot. To go on the rampage about lackadaisical attitudes is one thing. To be upset over D's and F's when I know I've exempted my other two kids from the struggle about letter grades is another. And I admit that the call from a fellow teacher was embarassing to say the least. What parent doesn't feel a shot of guilt and dismay at their own situation - my kid's the one in the back of the class, goofing off? Now it's PERSONAL - all about my reputation, my desire not to be singled out as the parent with the bad kid. Funny, that's the same feeling I don't want my kid to be motivated by. I don't want him working to avoid being singled out or for the classic carrot /reward for being a 'good student'. I really want him to care. To desire excellence for excellence's sake. To realize that 99% of the work he does is a chance to exhibit responsibility over a long term task, and not to become an expert on Shakespeare or the history of Elizabethan Art. But for a moment, I have to say the "you better shape up" speech. Now Chris is a classic "whatever" type - so I can't look for the breakdown moment where he would suddenly see things my way. In fact, I resigned myself to more monitoring (which I hate) and the fact that the only way he pulls these grades up is by more pressure from other sources, and not just being grounded. Despite all these things, I hope I haven't sent the message that it's all about grades - because it's not. Anybody checked Bill Gates' report card lately? Didn't think so.

As we rummaged through today, we did have the chance to play outside, take a nap, throw the football around, grill hot-dogs and generally be unrushed, which was a blessing. I keep thinking about the parents of the Virginia Tech tragedy, and other parents who have lost kids and I thank God again that I can watch my kids play and fool around one more day. The other day my daughter and I walked to the store and talked about silly stuff like flying cars, but she loved it and constantly reminded the boys later that Daddy and her 'bonded'. Now when 'bonding' became a vocabulary word for a 8 year old, I don't know, but the fact that we did spend time together was just confirmation that I'm enjoying something very precious, something that I don't know I would have if our lives were run the traditional 9 to 5 rat race style way. No, our days aren't all quiet and peaceful, but that makes the ones that are much more special.

Looking unto the hills,

AP

Return to contemplation...

Once again it's a late night and I've returned to the quiet, insomina-influenced musings about life. It's a shame that I'm going to pay dearly in the morning for this time that is often my only chance to truly unwind. Perhaps that is an indictment on my busy lifestyle, or, (as I'd prefer) a revelation that I shouldn't have to go to work so early.

The kids are gearing down - or up, depending how you look at it - for summer. It's inevitable that as May approaches that the thoughts turn more to completion and wrapping up things instead of starting them. I've been trying gamely to squeeze in one more unit study of Kitchen Science and have the kids do their final podcast of the year. The time might be better spent reviewing the last 8 months and making sure we've covered everything we wanted to cover this year, but the kids love to cook and there are some concepts about matter and energy I can tell they are still confused about. Next year comes the major decision on whether to enter our third year of homeschooling. Our schedule this year was challenging to say the least, and Naomi did not go as far as I would have liked in math or grammar. We've always known that Marcus is better at independent work than Naomi, but I am feeling the normal pangs of doubt about considering public school again. Obviously I have to give myself more time to consider what we've really accomplished and how well the children are applying their learning to everyday life, which was the point all long.

The key that I find myself returning to what we've gained through homeschooling. My quiet moments talking with my daughter while waiting for a speech therapy class to end; listening to the kids engage in a serious discussion on how best to structure their nursery business (their clients - 18 various puppies and teddy bear dolls), and of course, the various 'aha' moments that may be far and few between, but are worth it everytime they occur. Homeschooling forces me to constantly consider my children first in each family decision. And I admit I am scared and ashamed of the fact that without that motivation it would be very easy to lower their deserved priority. As a dad it is a challenge and a continual reminder that no matter where my children are schooled (*including my 15 year old high schooler), they must be constantly at the front of my agenda. As simple and obvious as that sounds, I prefer to refer back to it as a new revelation every day.

Looking unto the hills,
AP

How Arbitrary....

I completed my "report card" today for my kids. It always surprises me how much we actually accomplish. Not that it's a huge amount, but that it does include many things I worry that we haven't covered. In the case of the second semester, we did a lot with government (the Constitution, State Government, Elections) and our travel the United States project taught the kids about map reading, budgeting for their trip (they had to plan a six state nationwide tour with hotel costs, two sight seeing excursions and the distance and mode of travel). Other than math, however, it was harder to make a grade for them that made sense to a public school world. After all, aside from the rubric method - which is also subjective - it is almost impossible to make distinctions between an "A" job and a "b" job. So we'll see.

We're moving on to pre - Revolutionary America - after the pilgrims. I'd like to reinforce the slave trade in all its respects, including how some African countries initially benefited until the Europeans used their influence to subjugate and destroy the economies of these once grand kingdoms. It's important to me that we as African Americans acknowledge that at one point, somebody earned something on our side as well, despite the obvious massive kidnappings and stealing of human beings. It reminds me that as a family of brothers and sisters we can never place riches above relationships, nor prosperity above people. Black history is full of bad decisions by both blacks and whites. The celebration perhaps should be called Black Heritage, because that speaks more of the spirit of the African American tradition, rather than overlooking the historical missteps we took in the 70's and 80's by trying to formalize our racial identity through victimization or glorification of the past at the expense of the present. The heritage of our forefathers was one of just as much individualism as collective will, and when we try to tie each individual accomplishment to a collective achievement, we run the risk of constantly reducing our advancement to a list of "firsts", followed by a total disregard of the more important second, third, or fourth. In fact, many tend to pay more attention to the "first" to achieve a certain goal, then to the collective accomplishment of many others that achieved similar goals later, but are reduced to have followed those who "paved the way". Are all roads exactly the same? Was each African American's trials and issues made smoother in the same way? Or did each overcome different, perhaps more importantly, non-racial conditions to achieve greatness? And if those conditions were not based on racial bias, or lessened by some other person's sacrifice, does that mean that the followers work was not as hard, or did not require similar, or perhaps greater internal sacrifice?

I realize the questions above are far-flung, but they are the kinds of questions I think face those of African American persuasion today. I find it similar to the biblical mandate that "the teacher is not above the student." Our collective accomplishment is fully realized when each man is honored on his own merit, not necessarily the merits of others who came before, even if those before faced similar or even greater outward oppresion. One can not be held in contempt for a world that is easier for him if he did not create that world. Gratitude for those who came before us should be a natural inclination, yes, and taught to our children, but not worshipped on an altar of racial piety. Even Jesus said, "greater things than these (works i've done) shall ye do." What greater works are we expecting of the next black generation? And what are we doing to encourage them that those works will be greater than Harriet Tubman, or Booker T., or DuBois? Unless we are careful not to deify the past, the future will always be a pale comparison.

Thanks for letting me ramble.... look unto the hills....
ap

Starting Over....

Yes, this is my first post in two months - suffice it to say my new year's resolution did NOT include keeping last years commitment to two blogs a week. Not to say that the last month has been a pathway full of broken promises. I've actually been very blessed this first month of 2007, and although I haven't recounted the ways consistently throughout the month, the end of the month seems a good time to regroup.

January started with a fresh look at giving and sacrifice. This first month of 2007 my church (well, many of us within the church) gave a firstfruit offering of the first week of salary to God. Now, I have first fruited before, but this perhaps was the first time it was not an additional check, but part of our normal monthly budget. God has seen us through in our needs, but I'd be first to admit it has not been without issues. I don't think we can treat giving as a magic wand to prosperity - if that were the case, wouldn't there be tons of paperbacks in the bookstores purporting to "give your way to riches?" Just the fact that the bible promises to reward givers 'in due season' is a warning that the season of harvest may be far removed from the sowing. So trusting God in our finances was not an issue of how soon He returns the investment, it's how much to we trust Him in the interim. And I'm working on removing the doubt from my thought process and trusting him more.

Not only did we first fruit, but we hosted four Bible studies in our home. This was a great thing for us, not only because the kids' friends were over every weekend - they were in heaven - but because we have always wanted our home to be a sanctuary of rest, and while it is still a bit far away for us, it has become a rest for other families and friends of ours. I can truly say people enjoy spending time with us, which is gratifying. It's good to know you can open your doors and have brothers and sisters feel welcome. And of course my wife works out her cooking addiction on the weekends, much to the pleasure of our teenage / young adult visitors (Mr. Robert, that means you and your 3 heaping plates!)

Finally on the homeschool front, my kids have enjoyed a bit of a break, although I've been working them on the early American history curriculum written by my cousin (thanks, Belinda!) and reviewing more of their grammar/writing, which we fell off of a bit in the fall. My church youth board is having a field trip for students with a's and b's - now if I assign a particular grade, am I disregarding my opinion that grades are artificially measuring many areas in which kids are not ready for formal assessment? I'm not sure, but I don't want them ostracized because they aren't receiving the normal public school grades. I'll have to find a way to compromise the conditions without compromising my principles.

We'll talk more next time, 'til then remember:
Proverbs 10:22 The Blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.

Look unto the hills...