Beautiful Oregon!

We had the privilege of going to Diamond Lake for a church family camping trip. The temperature was pleasant, the mosquitoes were moderate and the company was outstanding! Here are two spectacular views from the lake.

Mt Mazama

Mt. Thielson (pronounced "Teal-sun")

Another Idaho Trip!

I had another opportunity to spend a few days with the grandchildren. Sadly, Molly couldn't go because she had to work. Here are a couple of videos: the first is River enjoying his bubble machine, with Felicity & Dad helping; the second is Tovia walking full steam ahead. She's inside their new house- you can see her walk out of the beautiful blue kitchen and continue into the dining room/living room with the newly finished wood floors.

Homeschool Opportunities in Grants Pass

There are several exciting opportunities happening around Grants Pass in the way of Homeschool support. One, Covered Bridge Academy, a local Christian Homeschool Cooperative, which was launched last fall, is offering four more classes this fall. Their goals are to Develop Christian Character, Pursue Academic Excellence and Enjoy Delightful Collaboration. Classes are being offered once a week by homeschool parents, primarily Dads, to augment subjects being taught at home.

Another opportunity is Classical Conversations, which is a national Christian organization that equips parents and students with the classical tools of learning needed to discover the order and beauty of God's creation. This fall will be the beginning of a Grants Pass CC Community. They also will meet once a week where parents, with their children, will be mentored by a trained tutor.

Both of these groups see the parents as the central teachers of their children, and often parents need assistance in this awesome responsibility. That's why these two groups are being promoted to the Grants Pass Homeschool Community. As a Christian community we have opportunities to show the love of Christ to one another and learn about God's world together. In the process may we be a witness to our City for our Lord Jesus Christ.

A story

When was the last time you read the Bible as a story? I don't know about you but when I read the Bible I think of theology and how much knowledge I can gain from it. It's not very often that I think of it as a story. There is a big difference and it should grab our attention. A lot of Christians like sitting down with a theology book and learning new things and becoming familiar with new Ideas (and those are very good things!) but I believe there is a danger of reading too much theology and not enough story. When was the last time you sat down with a good fiction book? A fiction book that was filled with enjoyable, good, and wholesome story in it? Those fiction books are like small mirrors or copycats of the stories of the Bible.

The Bible is not primarily a theology book that we simply go to to learn something new. That is only part of it. The Bible is a huge book of stories. Take the first story. There was nothing but God. Now God is creating! Now there is a world! It just keeps building and building and it keeps your attention as a wonderful story. A lot of the time the theology is easy to see and get, but it is the story that we miss or don't understand. I believe we can become better equipped to read the Bible when we read good fiction. Not only does it train us to read the Bible better but this also helps us learn about our own world and our own life. Something might happen to you during the day such a seeing a friend. Later, you could read that same event in the book that you are reading. Good stories are the ones that truly and accurately reflect life.

Reading the Bible as a story is important. This is an area I need to work on. What about you? Do you like fiction books? Maybe you aught to go read one right now. It will definitely help you read the Bible better.

Me, Homeschool My Children?!

Thirty years ago, if someone would have said that in the future I would homeschool my children, I would have looked at them like they were crazy. At that time my husband and I were thoroughly steeped in the mindset of the public school system, which we attended into our college years. But the Lord, who is always at work, changed our thinking. He reminded us, as young parents, of the awesome responsibility we had to raise our children for Him, which meant taking every opportunity to show our children how to fear the Lord and obey His commands. We realized that if we sent our children off to school then many occasions would be missed to do just that. Homeschooling our children was the answer. What I didn't realize was how much God would teach me.

There have been times when I have wondered if I was doing enough for my children, especially when I look at the curriculum catalogs and all those wonderful books cry out saying, "your children need these, buy me!" I think about the times I don't have a clue what I am doing- the failed Science experiments- "Mom, what's it supposed to do?"... or having to look up the answers in the book again-"I should know that answer!"... also sitting on the nice comfy couch after lunch and falling asleep while reading books for wide-awake eyes- "Mom, wake up!" How humbling! Why in the world would I homeschool?! I am not trained to do this! Yes, you are! If you are a child of the King He is in the process of teaching you and He can use you to teach your children! Oh, that's right! I'm thankful for the people God has brought into my life to model for me or recommend good books. Also they have been models of Christ's love to my children. That's the beauty of the Church! Have I done enough in teaching my children? Most assuredly not, but God has promised to be a God to my husband and me and also to our children. Graciously, He takes our imperfect attempts at teaching and makes them better, of which I am very thankful!

The Lord is my patient, merciful heavenly Father teaching me and molding me. He uses my children to do His work. As much as I like to say that I teach my children, the reverse is certain—they definitely teach me. Notably, the Scriptures say that I must become like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. What better way to learn this fundamental truth than by spending time with the children God has given me? It has been a joy to learn, or relearn, many truths about God’s world with my children and I know there is even more learning ahead of me. I am thankful for the Lord’s leading us and His sanctifying work along the way. Although home schooling might not be suitable for every family, I can say, after 23 years, it has been a tremendous blessing for me.