Habits

Habits, the railroad tracks our lives move along on, can be good or bad. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate our habits and decide which ones need changing. If you feel like your tracks are taking you off course, sit down and evaluate which one habit is the most detrimental to your overall well-being. There may be several things you want to change, but the reality is that we need to work on only one thing at a time if we want the change to last.


I have found that the easiest way to overcome a bad habit, is by instilling a new habit in it's place. When I'm working with someone on lifestyle changes, I often print off a blank calendar and have them initial each day after they have done the new thing (walked a mile, taken their multi-vitamin, etc.) Research has been done time and again showing it takes at least 21 days to form a new habit, so I plan on them tracking it for a whole month just to be on the safe side.


 If you're really trying to eliminate a bad habit, then do the new thing (or something beneficial) each time you're tempted to do the old thing. (You shouldn't take your multi-vitamin three times a day just because you're tempted to bite your nails 3 times, but you can take the other 2 times to drink a glass of water, or do some stretches.) For example: if you want to walk more, and eat fast food less... then each time you are tempted to hit the drive-thru, reach into your back seat and pull out a granola bar, then find a safe place to park & walk around your car (or the park) while you eat your granola bar. Instilling good habits does take some prep time. You can't expect your children to learn to brush their teeth regularly if they can't ever find the toothpaste past the mess in the bathroom-LOL!


So whether it's a new habit for yourself, or your children, think long and hard (but not so long you never start) about what one thing you want to get rid of, and what one thing you want to add, before you begin your journey. It is worth a month of your life to instill a new, beneficial habit, it will last you a lifetime!

Washed Clean

Last night we had strong storms move through central Indiana. The storm was violent, the lightening seemingly everywhere, the thunder loud, and the rain heavy. Just an hour south of here they received so much hail (4") that it closed the interstate and they had to bring in the snowplows to clear the road. 

That was last night. 

This morning everything is washed clean.

I awoke to the birds belting out some mighty songs. I suppose they are as grateful as I am to have survived another day. 

When I went out to get some farm-fresh eggs (yum!) I saw many trees blooming, flowers gently swaying, and people with smiling faces. 

All of creation is singing this morning. Thankfulness is welling up in my heart for having survived another storm.

Being washed clean is a great feeling. All of our filth is gone, there is promise for today and tomorrow. It is just like when we ask Jesus to forgive our sins. He takes us out of the storm (or through it) and gives us hope for today, and tomorrow. We have a new beginning, a fresh start. We can choose to make today the day when we follow in Christ's footsteps, when we love others and glorify the Father.


Perhaps you are in the midst of a storm today. Ask Jesus for help. He wants to guide you through. He longs to give you that assurance of being washed clean, having your sins forgiven, and having promise for the future. An eternal future that can begin today.

Grow your life, and your family, as you would tend your garden: grow with God & love.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com

What can I say but -WOW !!!  I am totally enthralled by the new SchoolhouseTeachers.com site. For only having been open for about 3 weeks, this site has A LOT of great resources. 

Although this site was originally a brainchild aimed to help home educators get great resources at a small price, it has become so much more. This would be an excellent resource for any parent, teacher, grandparent, or Sunday School director. Don't let the small price tag fool you: the Ultimate Membership at $5.95/month or $64.26/year (10% discount) comes with thousands of dollars of great educational ideas, resources, e-books, and links.

****Updated 9/30/2014***** The price has gone up, but don't worry, there is SO MUCH on the updated SchoolhouseTeachers.com that you'll never run out of things to learn about!

If this had been around when our children were Elementary age- I never would have had to buy any curriculum. (Those of you who know me well- don't laugh! The library would have loved me even more if I hadn't needed to Inter Library Loan ALL those books I didn't have money to buy!)

The monthly contributors to the lesson plans include some of our all-time favorites- like Diana Waring for History (need I say more?) or Andy Harris for technology (the first man ever to explain Google earth so I could understand it!) 

You'll recognize several other key figures in the Home educating field like Adam Andrews (Teaching the Classics) or Terri Johnson (Knowledge Quest.) I personally love the down-to-earth Home Ec style of Malia Russell of homemaking911.com. She tells it truthfully and full of grace!

Just in case you're wondering if a membership would be worth it for your family- yes, there are things on here for all ages- consider this: The free E-book for March is "Sensational Sunflowers." It's a whole unit study about sunflowers- what they are, how to grow them, lab sheets for recording their growth, copy work for both printing and cursive, and a word search to keep your children entertained during that last 5 minutes before supper is ready! If that isn't enough about sunflowers to whet your appetite, there is a half page of links to find out even more about sunflowers. My two favorite things about sunflowers? The heads follow the sun (like we should be following the Son,) and they're edible (seeds or flower petals.) 

So why not join SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and find out your favorite things about sunflowers? 

If you're needing some encouragement, there are recorded sessions of the 'Expo-to-Go' that The Old Schoolhouse has done in the past to listen to whenever you can fit it in. Some of these sessions would be awesome resources for either private or public school teachers as well.

I am especially looking forward to each month's lessons from Diana Waring. We have always loved her curriculum. (She is one of a very few authors that this extremely frugal Mama will pay to have her own copy of the curriculum from.) She will feature a monthly "Life Lessons from Christian Luminaries." I love having our girls study something useful and inspiring!

So- are you ready to take the plunge? Get inspired? Be refreshed? Then head on over to SchoolhouseTeachers.com and enjoy the most frugal way to home school I've seen outside of only using your Bible and the McGuffey Readers!


http://schoolhouseteachers.com/dap/a/?a=2955

Enjoy!
Carol : )

Spring Confusion

It's only the 12th of March, which in Indiana means anything is possible with the weather. I wanted to show you a picture of a confused tulip from our front yard. It made me laugh. It is obviously lacking the genetic information to stay in the ground where it belongs. So, we helped it out by digging it a new home & burying it again. We'll just have to be patient and see if it stays where it was planted.

Hopefully you've been blessed with mild Spring weather as well, and are spending some time outdoors enjoying the sunshine. 


If you're worried about Winter making an unwelcome return... don't start planting outdoors yet (except for peas.) If you'd like to start some seeds now, but you're worried about space, check out this great blog called: www.agardenforthehouse.com


He has the categories listed on the left - check out the last one- Winter Sowing - it's a great solution for space and/or time pinched gardeners. We're using his methods this year and we're awaiting great results! (The lettuce is already sprouting!)


Enjoy the warm weather, plant some seeds, and hug your kids this week!

Thanks, but No Thanks for your unsolicited advice!

It's that time of year again, when it's almost Spring, and it seems like we're all wanting something new. Gardeners look forward to new seeds, home educators look forward to new books, and I think Dads are looking forward to some more time doing anything- OUTSIDE!

As your exuberance spills forth, and you're wanting to try something new, or maybe just do the same thing again that worked before, please remember to tread lightly where others are involved. Especially in the home schooling community, we seem to love to talk about what works well for us. While that is a great thing most of the time, sometimes our exuberance gets us in trouble because we offer unsolicited advice. 

If you ruminate about this long enough, I think you'll understand where I'm coming from. Have you ever had a time where you just wanted to politely tell someone "enough already- I don't want your advice!" There is a fine line between sharing what has worked well for you, whether it be a curriculum, a new stove, a type of tomato, a lifestyle/ fitness change, or a new car, and advising someone else that they should follow your example. 

How many times in the past can you remember, when you've been at the store, and one of your kids is having a meltdown, has some older lady come up and not-so-politely told you what worked for her 'in that same exact situation'??? Yet you've never seen her before, and all you really want is to get home and have your own nap time, and you're thinking 'I'm a little busy here!' Or maybe another Mom at the playground sees your child having a fit (let's be honest here, we all have fits sometimes!) and the Mom says something like 'you know, my little Johnny had the SAME temper problems until I started him on XYZ.' 

I think we all struggle with this at times. Our words DO mean something, and it is important to choose them wisely. If you're wanting a reminder about how powerful words can be, read through the book of James (you know- those 5 chapters in the Bible that come just after Hebrews.) 

Our Women's Bible study group at church has been studying James for the past few weeks. It has been a good reminder for me about choosing my words carefully. For those past times when I've chosen the wrong words, I'm sorry, please forgive me. Let's choose together to remember for the future to find the line between sharing with others and offering unsolicited advise.

One of my friends is extremely discerning about this. I appreciate that a lot about her! She is very knowledgeable, especially about home schooling, but she always listens first! Her advise is only given after truly listening to what you're talking about, and some discerning prayers about what she should share. I'm praying to be made more Christ-like in this area. I would hate for someone to say "Boy- she's pushy! Does she really think we should all be doing things just like her?" about me.

Yet, sadly, that is often said about many Moms. Moms who didn't choose their words wisely. Moms who told someone else how they should raise their children, or which curriculum is the BEST one out there, or which co-op class they NEED to enroll their children in, or which Dentist is the ONLY place in town they would take their children to. 

So please, before you offer that next piece of advise- stop, think, pray! Then listen and see if that other person is soliciting your advise. If they are- then share freely, both what works and what doesn't for your family. If not- then politely smile, and keep it to yourself. 

When we stop talking, it's amazing what we'll hear!

Easy Growing -by Gayla Trail (Gardening book review)

Gayla Trail's newest book "Easy Growing: Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers from Small Spaces" is a pleasurable read, especially in the throes of Winter. I'll admit to being drawn to any good gardening book, but this one has a couple points in its favor to push it to the top of your "wish list." 

First off, if you love edible flowers like I do, or just want to plant flowers that aren't poisonous to your children or pets, this book has great recommendations. It includes information on what to plant, how the different flowers (& herbs) taste and some recipes for how to use them. Besides all of this- I love that it's written from an American perspective since most books on edible flowers these days seem to come from Britain. Nothing against the Brits, but I want to know what grows well here (and I don't want to have to convert things from Metric.)

The second point in the books' favor relates to her rating system for projects. Approximately the first half of the book covers gardening basics. Chapters 4-7 include a variety of projects which are rated for difficulty. This is a boon to both beginner gardeners and experienced gardeners alike. Start with something simple.

Pictures throughout the book show what the plants should look like at maturity, and I am impressed that each recipe has an accompanying picture as well. Over all, the book is a good investment of your $20. This is not just another gardening book to fill your shelf, it's a beautiful handbook to use again and again.

You can learn more about Gayla Trail, and gardening, at her website: www.easy-growing.com


p.s. this one I borrowed from our library!

REASONS for HOPE - by Carl Kerby (book review)

Inside the pages of “REASONS for HOPE: In the MOSAIC of Your Life” the reader is met with the embodiment of 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (NIV) 

Carl Kerby has allowed the reader to join him in looking at the broken pieces of his past life, and how God has worked a beautiful mosaic out of the rubble. The inscription just past the title page reads “To those who don’t have hope and need to be given it & to those who do have hope and need to share it.” What a fitting introduction to a book written to give hope to all of us through what God can accomplish in our messed up lives. The book is divided into three parts which each have subtitles of their own, but which I think of as 1. Why 2. The Past and 3. Now, How?

“Offering REASONS FOR HOPE in a Hopeless World” is the actual subtitle of part one. For those who have heard Carl speak, some of this will be review. In this section Carl shares some of the Biblical examples of physical things the nation of Israel used as reminders pointing them back to what God had done for them. (Such as Joshua chapter 4.) We are also reminded that Jesus wanted His disciples to be world changers and that to do this effectively we need to be able to “give basic answers for your faith.” Carl plainly states his reason for writing: “I want to both challenge you and encourage you. I’m a fellow pilgrim on this journey of faith.” Besides these exhortations, Carl answers many other ‘Why’ questions with to-the-point answers. My favorite answer is probably this from page 51 “When your heart is filled with gratitude for the salvation you’ve been given, it will spill out in love and compassion for others, so they too can know the “hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

The second part of the book shares an intimate look back at the brokenness of Carl’s life before meeting Christ, and how God has reworked all of those pieces into a beautiful mosaic that points people to Christ. The chapters in this section entitled “From Wrestler’s Son to Professional Speaker” delve deep into Carl’s past. Even having known Carl for about a decade, I was surprised by some of what I read here. By not holding back, but truly sharing both his own mistakes, and the struggles he had dealing with the mistakes of others near him, Carl reminds us that no life it too messed up to be redeemed by Christ Jesus! It was truly humbling to see how Carl lays out his own life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, in hopes it will open the doors for others to see how great our God is. The Mosaic God has worked in Carl’s life is a beautiful thing that gives glory to God daily. 

In this section, the reader goes from despair to relief and finally joy as they travel with Carl down the road of his life in college, the Air Force, and finally working as an air-traffic controller at Chicago O’Hare and as a speaker for Answers in Genesis. There are stories that share how Carl met his wife, Masami,  Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis), and most importantly- Jesus! (Not in that order!) Using examples from his career as an air-traffic controller, Carl reminds us that “To have effective and accurate communication, I not only have to give instructions correctly, I also have to ensure that the receiver understands and complies with my instructions.” As someone who has flown through O’Hare, I’m glad to know they understand that communication is a two-way street! We are reminded in this section that our ‘bottom strip’- the most important things in our Spiritual life “is what we know from the Word of God.” Feelings can lead us astray, but God never changes. Some of the most memorable chapters  share how God’s plan for Carl’s life was very different from Carl’s earthly Father’s plan. Some made me cry, others made me laugh. Carl’s sense of humor shines through even the darker parts of his past as his honesty shows how God was at work long before Carl accepted Jesus as Savior.

In the third part of his book “Answering COMMON OBJECTIONS to the Christian Faith,” Carl shares some of the questions he is asked most often. He also shares answers! If you’ve ever heard Carl speak, or read any of his other books, you’ll know he never claims to have all the answers. Carl is honest in his faith and life. He does gently remind us that we don’t have to understand everything to be able to stand firm in our faith. Referencing Joshua chapter 24, Carl exhorts us to “Make a Choice, Christian. Choose this day whom you will follow, but as for me and my household, we’re standing on every word the Lord has given us, even if we don’t have full understanding.” If you’re honest with yourself, and God, chapter 14 will both challenge and encourage you.

Chapter 19 is a wonderful wrapping up, but not an ending, of the book. Here we encouraged to live out our own reasons for hope. In this chapter Carl uses his gift of encouragement to push Christians out of their comfort zone, and encourage non-believers to consider all that Christ has done for them. Real life can be hard, and Carl speaks words of encouragement to continue on. “Remember, you don’t have to be a brilliant thinker to minister to others and answer their questions about the Bible. The Lord is looking for obedience from us, not necessarily an advanced degree. Maybe you’ve heard this before: God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” Here we are reminded to be reflecting God’s priorities, to be investing in people’s lives and honoring the Lord. Carl’s final words will ring as true in years to come as they do today. “In the meantime, I hope you will be encouraged to use your own life stories and your own testimony, your mosaic, to share with others how God has taken the broken pieces of your life and made something beautiful and valuable. He continues to add to that mosaic each and every day. Watch for His hand in your life and always sanctify Him in your heart.”

This book is a clarion call to those with hope, and those who need hope- choose, and then life your life sharing your life’s hope with other people!

(All quotes from the original text-by permission from the author) [We purchased our own copy of the book- in support of Reasons for Hope ministry- find them online at: www.rforh.com ]