Everyday Homeschooling

Your Incredible Family Part II | Nov 5, 2012 by Jeane and Megan Hendrix

We don’t know about you but we are both very example-oriented learners. We watch YouTube tutorials and read how-to books like they are about to be banned (if the government banned Supers, who knows what’s next!) Creating our own Personal Purpose Statements was no exception. A really helpful part of the process was reading the purpose statements of other people, particularly people who are in the public eye enough to see how their purpose statements color and craft their daily lives. So, here are a couple of our favorite Personal Purpose Statement examples...

After The Hurricane | Oct 31, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

Dear Lord,

We call upon Your name --- praising You for Your sovereignty, Your goodness and Your mercy in our lives. We humbly ask You to please help those who have been effected by the hurricane yesterday. Please help the families, individuals, relief workers, churches and communities as they help one another to rebuild. We thank You that many regions were spared, & pray that this would cause people everywhere to look to You for salvation.

Preparing For The Hurricane: Peace In The Midst Of The Storm | Oct 29, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

In Maryland, we are experiencing heavy rain, high winds and a range of emotions as emergency personnel encourage us to prepare for power outages, downed trees and flooding. Of course, we're heeding the warnings as we collect flash lights & batteries, help neighbors & family, and take inventory of food, water, etc. This afternoon, as much of the east coast prepares for hurricane Sandy, my prayer is that all of us would truly sense God's peace.

1,976 Empty Seats | Oct 24, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

Justin turned quickly to pose for me as we walked up the sidewalk to the dynamic, two-year- old concert hall & performing arts center, home to the Levine School where he took weekly lessons with classical guitarist, Douglas Rogers. Eager to get inside to warm up on his guitar, Justin smiled slightly and said, "Mom, only one picture, please. I really need to go." By now, he was used to me snapping pictures for our homeschool album.

The Power of a Mentor | Oct 23, 2012 by Tracy Klicka

As wives, mothers, teachers, and daughters of the King we wear many hats, moms. In addition to teaching our kids to read, write and do arithmetic, we serve as mini CEOs of our household, support our husbands in their calling at work and their leading at home, and hopefully seek after God with all our heart.From our earliest years of homeschooling, one of my greatest desires was to personally inspire my children to follow hard after God and to live lives of greatness for the glory of His name. Because I am with my children more than anyone else, my influence in their lives is probably greater than anyone except perhaps their daddy’s before he went home to be with the Lord.

The Man Behind the Camera: A Tribute To My Father-in-law | Oct 22, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

I stepped carefully onto the ascending escalator at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., wondering if I had selected the right dress for a very special evening with my father-in-law, Austin Leslie Gaver, and other guests at NASA's Fortieth Anniversary Celebration of Apollo 11's July 1969 mission. Sure, I had been to the museum countless times, but this was different...

Your Incredible Family | Oct 19, 2012 by Jeane and Megan Hendrix

Have you and your family seen The Incredibles? It is not only an amazing family film, it is also a fantastic illustration of the importance of crafting a Family Purpose Statement based upon the personal strengths of each member of your family.

“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass-produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on Earth by the Master Craftsman.” – Max Lucado

A Poem Just For You | Oct 17, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

One of my favorite books about mothering is Verses of Virtue - The Poetry and Prose of Christian Womanhood, compiled and edited by Elizabeth Beall Phillips of the Vision Forum. If ever there was an inspiring, beautiful book extolling the virtues of motherhood, this is it! There's a particular poem in the book that I would like to share with you. I've given copies of this poem to all the young moms in my neighborhood, and always recite it when I speak (in public) to homeschooling friends.

The Calendar: Don't Let It Get Too Full | Oct 15, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

Autumn can be a particularly busy time for homeschooling families. With lessons to coordinate, a household to manage, children to nurture, & a marriage to maintain, sometimes it's hard to juggle everything! Keeping the family's calendar is often an extremely challenging task, especially later in the fall as Thanksgiving approaches.

Talking with Your Children about Death | Oct 12, 2012 by Tracy Klicka

Many people have asked me these past three years how my children worked through the death of their father who they were all very close to. I’ve given that some thought, especially since I’ve talked with others who experienced the death of a parent while still young. What priorities did God most impress on my heart for my children after their daddy died?

Peeking Through The Fence | Oct 11, 2012 by Jeane and Megan Hendrix

This conference was a time for leaders to come together to renew, refresh, and re-tool - but definitely not retire! I was so encouraged to see many still in leadership roles providing wisdom and guidance even though their own children had long ago completed their academic schooling. HSLDA is the kind of organization that fosters that type of commitment.

I was excited to see young people who attended college with Megan now in places of leadership and innovation. These young people with fresh ideas and insights are contributing and learning from the experience and wisdom of their elders. How refreshing to see a living, breathing organization that is replenishing itself in order to leave a legacy for future generations!

Good Citizenship: See You At The Polls | Oct 10, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

I'm reading The Connector, a newsletter from the Intercessors For America. Their tag phrase reads: Connecting Hearts Of Prayer For The Nation To God And Each Other! As we are in the final 40 days before the election, they are urging the Christian community to pray, understand the issues, & vote according to conscience as led by the Holy Spirit. I couldn't agree with them more!

Autumn Arrives: A Wonderful Time For Field Trips | Oct 8, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

Welcome, autumn! This is definitely my favorite time of year! With its graceful falling leaves, brilliant hues of orange, and cool nights --- Autumn makes a bold arrival! Time for apples, song birds, cinnamon, sweaters and new colors. Time for all five senses to be awakened.

I know what you're thinking. It's also time to cover some major ground in school. True. I'm with you on that -- but as you think about teaching strategies for October, how about taking time for a few interesting field trips? Field trips can be a wonderful way to enhance book learning. And the best part is that we don't have to spend a lot of money.

Teach Me To Listen, Part II | Oct 5, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

It's a brilliant autumn morning, and I've already got the coffee brewing, the screen door opened for some crisp air, and the dog fed. Jay's working at home today, so we'll have a light breakfast together..... a big change from the hectic mornings, say ten years ago, when I would juggle two skillets of French toast while I thought of chores to coordinate and lessons to teach. Mmm... I can still smell the cinnamon and maple; I can still hear two little boys bounding down the steps, bright-eyed and hungry.

Teach Me To Listen | Oct 3, 2012 by MaryAnn Gaver

Have you noticed how ultra visual our society is becoming? Everywhere you go, there's a screen of some sort -- Walmart, the bank, even doctor's offices. And everywhere you go, there are younger and younger people with hand-held screens in their hands! Heads down, eyes glued to a screen.

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