The Way of Words

What about the words we speak in our home?  I'm under the impression that we feel freedom and security in our homes, and we tend to say words that aren't useful.  Today I word vomited on my husband.  I think it was more unpleasant for me, than it was for him.  The remorse I feel for the things says is still burning in my chest hours later.  The words that I used showed a lack of respect, class or honor.  The darnedest things about words, is that we can't take them back.  Incorporating words into our vocabulary that are for building up is a place to start to bring peace to our souls and homes. 

Kathy Koch has written and recorded so much on this very topic.  She encourages us to not just tell our spouses and children that they are good, but why that is.  "I know you are smart, because your report on caterpillars is top notch."  "I know you are obedient, because you picked up your room without complaining."  "I know you are special, because God said so in the Bible."

So what have we said today that made our families know they are smart, special, kind, and one of a kind in our lives?  Our families are completely worth our words.  Our words of love and encouragement that is. 

Let's incorporate some of these words in our homes this week - best, finest, great, good, quality, high, number one, optimum, premium, top notch, superior, excellent, superb, outstanding, magnificent, exceptional, marvelous, wonderful, first-rate, first-class, sterling, satisfactory, not bad, all right;  terrific, fantastic, fabulous.

Read of the Week:
The Big Talk Book  by Bruce Cook, "10 steps to empower your teen to choose the best - abstinence until marriage." 
 
Find of the Week:
SETHSA Homeschool Conference, http://www.sethsa.org/conferences.htm.  We will be there, will you?

Scripture of the Week:

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.   Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
James 3:2-12-NLT

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."

Pablo Picasso

Getting Ready

This week I have begun to prepare for the 2010-2011 school year.  You've got it - lesson plans, books, curriculum, projects, activities, field trips, etc.  Being a "Perfect Paula" I find the need to get everything in order and be proactive for my own sanity.  I'm gearing up for the big Arlington Book Fair and Homeschoolers Conference this weekend.  A structured list is my very best friend.  I have a list of curriculum to look at, and prices to compare.  Always be prepared!

I'm enthusiastic about the classes offered this year.  I'm thinking that there will be a lot to learn.  I'm sitting in on the following lectures....

• Seven Tools For Culitvating Your Child's Potential (Zan Tyler!! WOHOO!)
• Home Schooling One Student? (Donna Conner)
• Give Your Children An Advantage In Science (Patty Myers)
• Ready, Set,....Now What? (Lyndsay Lambert!!  Awesome!)
• The Bible Explains Dinosaurs (Ken Ham, this guy knows his stuff!)

I'm currently searching for ways to keep away from burnout.  I'm aiming at success!  But what does success mean?  Does it mean that we get the whole book done and push to extremes? Nope!  It means that we use the materials to  cultivate and nurture the talents and strengths that our children already possess.  That's the beauty of Home Education - to go beyond the school house and slate, and move out into creation, and explore even to the ends of the universe.

Keeping burnout in mind, see what The Moore Formula is all about.  Great ideas!

THE FORMULA
1) Study from a few minutes to several hours a day, depending on the child's maturity.
2) Manual work at least as much as study.
3) Home and/or community service an hour or so a day. Focus on kids' interests and needs; be an example in consistency, curiosity, and patience. Live with them! Worry less about tests!

I love how this formula keeps it simple.  I tend the get very caught up in the traditional and mundane.  Of course, God didn't give me a "traditional" child.  Goodness, He has an incredible sense of humor when creating our quintessential children.  Slow down, keep it simple, pay attention to the little moments, and feel okay about going off on a tangere.  What if we put all of our focus toward creating good citizens, strong Christians and explorers?  Limitless possibilities.

Reads of the Week:
If You Want To Write, by Brenda Ueland- “a book about Art, Independence and Spirit.” a jillion stars
Nutrition 101: Choose Life!, by Debra Raybern, and other authors- “a family nutrition and health program” 5 stars



More on Nutrition 101....This book has so many facets that it can almost seem overwhelming when you dive in.  It totally covers all of the many dimensions of the human body, but also deals with emotional health as well.  It is backed with Scripture and has a Creationists point of view.  There are countless recipes that are good!  There are discussion questions, activities and additional resources (broken down for elementary and secondary levels), not to mention a plethora of Appendixes.  You can use this in multiple approaches....full human anatomy science curriculum, health curriculum, resource book to go along with other science, even just as a bookshelf resource for your family's health.  We are incorporating it this year as a health elective three to four days a week.  It will take us almost two school years to complete at the pace we are using it.  You can totally do it in one year if you use it as a sole science curriculum.  I highly recommend this book for EVERY home.  It is very much worth the price, as I can't really find an appropriate price tag for a gem this great.   Get it today.... at Growing Healthy Homes.  (10% off, as I hear it, at the THSC Convention this summer.)
 
Finds of the Week:
www.booksneeze.com - "get a free book, read it, review it on your blog, get another free one."  RAD!





Scripture of the Week:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
Mark 12:30-NIV

"Two men look out through the same bars, one sees the mud, and one sees the stars".

Frederick Langbridge