Thinking About Growing Up Strong Girls

It's been on my mind of late about growing up girls to be women of God.  Not just of strong faith, but strong minded, good citizens, hard workers, nurturers, lovers of others, etc.  It's hard when you are young to know what you want and who you want to be.  I find it so important to nurture and cultivate the strengths that God has creatively wired into our girls.  That being said, I've come across some significant resources this week to begin the guiding process for me as a Mother.  It is marvelous to know that there are other Mom's out there that are looking for the same guiding light.  There is no better place than the Bible to teach and model from. 

 Thinking about some of the great women in the Bible that we can take a closer look at would be....

Noah's Wife, Mary (mother of Jesus), Esther, Abigail, Abishag, Anna, Deborah, Dorcas, Elisabeth, Eunice, Euodias, Hannah, Joanna, Lois, Lydia of Thyatira, Milcah and Phebe to name a few.

All of these women exemplified in some way a Proverbs 31 woman.  They should be a starting point for us as Mom's to achieve to be, and an example for the girls that we are raising.  Possibly someone, someday, will make a homeschool unit study for girls about these astounding women.  Who knows, maybe it's me?

BUT!  I've found other great genius to glean from as well.  I hope you take a look closer at these items, and begin to grow your seeds into a delightful garden.


Reads of the Week:
How Am I Smart? by Dr. Kathy Koch- “a parents guide to multiple intelligences.” 5 stars

Finds of the Week:
American Heritage Girls -  

AHG Oath:

"I promise to love God,
Cherish my family,
Honor my country,
and Serve in my community."

AHG Mission:

"Building women of integrity through
service to God, family, community and country."

AHG Vision:

"American Heritage Girls is the premier national
character development organization for young women that
embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement."


Scripture of the Week:

 ^"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
Hebrews 12:1-3- The Message

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."  ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

Research Research Research

Researching anything by written word or word of mouth will greatly improve and enlighten most things that you are working towards.  I have found this to be true on numerous occasions.  Some of my most loved reminders of this are as follows....


I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no-one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books.
~ Anonymous ~

Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to
mankind, which are delivered down from generation to
generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn,
~ Joseph Addison  ~

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be
chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts,
others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly,
and with diligence and attention.
~ Francis Bacon ~

To read more fanciful quotes on the pleasures of a good book click here.

This being said, I'm stressing the importance of research not only to you, but to myself as a reminder.  The only thing different about us 10 years from now are the people we've met and the books we've read.  To do something correctly, you need direction and instruction.  Books and people are the only way to do this. 

Reads of the Week:
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis- “why some of the smartest people can't read and how they can learn.” 4 stars

Finds of the Week:
Homeschool Book Fair, Arlington, Texas - shop for books, attend workshops, meet other home educators, be encouraged.

Scripture of the Week:

"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, and the woman who sticks with God. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season."
Jeremiah 17:7-8 - The Message

"The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose."  ~George Gissing

Not Just Getting By

Our home educating expedition doesn’t begin by wanting to “just get by” in our child’s education. It’s truly an “expedition”: a journey or voyage by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration and scientific research.

My daughter, husband and I are that “group of people” - a close knit crew. Moreover, we have a purpose - to explore the world around us through observation, wonder, experiment, and curiosity; while glorifying our Lord in action and deed.

Consequently, I begin this expedition with anxious anticipation. There is a great big world out there, and somebody needs to learn all about it. It’s details are infinite; yet we have all the time we need.

Things in our lives rush in and rush out. Yet, these are the days we need to take slowly and cherish closely.

Reads of the Week:
100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy - “choosing the right curriculum and approach for your child’s learning style.” 5 stars

The Homeschooling Book of Answers by Linda Dobson - “the 101 most important questions answer by homeschoolings most respected voices.” 4 stars

Homeschooling For Suceess by Rebecca Kochenderfer and Elizabeth Kanna - “how parents can create a superior eduction for their child.” 4 stars

Finds of the Week:
The Well Planned Day - Family Homeschool Planner with EVERYTHING! - http://www.wellplannedday.com/plannerswpd1011.html

Home Educating Family Magazine - Insightful Articles and a free sample issue - http://www.wellplannedday.com/magazine.html

Bloom’s Taxonomy - Learning In Action with Objectives -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blooms_taxonomy

Scripture of the Week:

“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:4-11 - The Message

"There is a privacy about winter which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself." ~Ruth Stout