It really saddens me to put this out there but I need to. I have seen so many examples of racism, discrimination and profiling recently that it blows my mind.
I am a typical, middle-aged white girl. Grew up in the city. Was called honkie and cracker by my neighbors. Some of my best friends in elementary school lived in the projects. My friends in the private high school I attended would not, or did not, come see me at my home. They, or their parents, feared driving into my neighborhood. My parents were racist. I despised that. I grew up believing people are ... people. I knew full well, tho, that I, even in our poverty, were better off than my darker neighbors just because I happened to be born with white skin.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galations 3:28
I grew up with friends of all races. Eight of my twelve children are of Mexican descent. The first few times I sent my teens into a store to do a return for me, they were told they couldn't return the item. When I went in, I was able to return it, no questions asked. They had the receipt. I thought maybe they were just trying to take advantage of children ... despicable, also. However, my adult children can't return items either, even with id.. They've also been questioned while browsing thru a store to make a purchase. It has just happened way too often now. It has happened in many states.
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-35
Driving from TX to NJ last week, I was leading a line of 4 or 5 cars with my NJ RV in MS. We all were equidistant. The cop in the median pulled out and squeezed himself into the line of cars to put his lights on behind the car behind me: my son's Mexican brother and his family. I thought to myself, "oh, no, that baby got out of her carseat or maybe he was swerving back and forth from fatigue." I had my eye on his car the entire 30 hours. I was on top of things. No, the baby was in her seat. No swerving noticed. Of course, I pulled over to wait for them. Officers soon arrived at my RV to "confirm his story." Twice I had to explain how I adopted nine kids from TX and the man behind me was a boy I should've also adopted who ran away from foster care then was found and now wants to join the family, with his family, yadda, yadda, yadda. I asked why he was pulled over. "He looked suspicious," he said. Really? Why, because he was the only brown one in the row of cars? He had told the brother the same, that he looked suspicious having TX plates following a NJ RV ... ???? The officer also tried speaking to him in Spanish, which none of my kids speak well at all.
Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem,dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon. Song of Solomon 1:5
After I confirmed his story, all of a sudden I became a saint worthy of praise and he said "God bless you for what you do." He let us go.
And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9
The next morning, as we were washing up and brushing our teeth, a man asked this same brother if he is Mexican and he was going to live 'here' now. I believe we were in TN by then. He made some other comment, too, which I have now forgotten.
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
Maybe awareness of Mexican people is heightened now due to border issues, but I doubt that's it. These are not the only incidents, just the few that happened within the past 2 weeks. As I said before, these incidents have been on-going. Subtle and not so subtle. I am saddened that my children will be shafted or discriminated against because they are darker. They are good boys but will walk away without asserting themselves or sticking up for their rights; and what if they do try to stand up for themselves? Will they be viewed as criminals and arrested? They won't always have this white lady to confirm their stories or to purchase or return their store items for them. =(
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
My Passion for Teens Aging Out of Foster Care
Many of you know I adopt older children from foster care. I'm a single mother of 12, going on 13, currently raising my youngest 8. When I am reminded, as I often am, of the fate of those who age out of foster care, my heart is torn: so happy for the children who have a forever family to depend on yet so sad for those who don't. There are some children I tried to adopt but wasn't able to before they aged out of foster care. Some of those children, now young adults, I've never been able to find despite prison searches and driver's license searches. Well, at least they're not in jail, huh? I pray for those who've aged out that I wanted to reach but couldn't.
Do you know what happens to children who age out of foster care? Statistics show:
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
But Jesus called the children to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16
Without family or any other dependable adults to rely on for assistance, these young people are at high risk of homelessness, joblessness, illness, incarceration, welfare dependency, early childbearing, and sexual and physical victimization.
According to various studies across the country of young people who have aged out of foster care without a permanent family:
- 12-30 percent struggled with homelessness
- 40-63 percent did not complete high school
- 25-55 percent were unemployed; those employed had average earnings below the poverty level, and only 38 percent of those employed were still working after one year
- 30-62 percent had trouble accessing health care due to inadequate finances or lack of insurance
- 32-40 percent were forced to rely on some form of public assistance and 50 percent experienced extreme financial hardship
- 31-42 percent had been arrested
- 18-26 percent were incarcerated
- 40-60 percent of the young women were pregnant within 12-18 months of leaving foster care.
If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. 1 Timothy 5:16
Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16
Do you remember what it's like to be an older teenager? A young adult? We always need our parents, no matter how old we are and young adults often need financial assistance and guidance.
Know the state of your flocks and and put your heart into caring for your herds. Proverbs 27:23
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17
There are also children who've aged out of foster care that I was unable to adopt but I do still keep contact with them. These young adults struggle with joblessness and homelessness. Some have children, others do not, but they often need help keeping their car and car insurance in order to obtain and maintain employment. Many times, in order to avoid homelessness, they end up living with the very families they were removed from, suffering the same abuses and dysfunction that existed when they were young and now exposing their children to that life, as well. Many of them never completed high school, although a few did, and require assistance in preparing for their GED. As you know, I also homeschool/roadschool my current 8 children at home and I try to help these young adults to get their GEDs.
Again, Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' John 21:16
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10
I know God is capable of taking care of everyone and I believe we all must be His hands and feet. I rarely ask anyone for anything but, at present, I feel led to ask for help. Several of these young adults, who I know personally, are in need of my help and I just can't help them all myself. If you feel led to help in any way, these are some ways you could help:
- donate, or sell cheaply, a working RV for a young family in need of a place to live
- donate, or sell cheaply, a used TT membership you no longer need
- provide a job (they are in TX now but may be open to moving)
- provide a very affordable place to live (they are in TX now but may be open to moving)
- donate a working car
- use the donate button on my blog to help fund these needs
- pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Ephesians 6:18
Pray for families in our country and around the world who are struggling. Pray for communities to support their families in ways that help families stay together. Pray for children in foster care who are missing their natural families. Pray for children who've legally lost their natural families and are waiting for a forever family to adopt them. Pray for children in foster care, and in adopted families, who've lost their siblings in the process of being removed and/or adopted. Pray that teens who age out find the resources and assistance they need to make positive strides in their adult lives. Pray that someone, somewhere, will show these lost souls the love of Jesus. Pray that they all get to know God's love for them. All of my adopted children came to me as nonbelievers or had little faith that God is alive or real or that He is good or that He cares about them. Those who age out struggle with many emotions and with unbelief. If you can help me be the hands and feet to show these young people the love of Jesus, it would be a blessing to have you on my team. They can heal. Read our stories of healing. Thank you in advance for anything you feel led to do to help those in need.
Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40
Monday, July 7, 2014
A Little About Who I Am
I grew up in a single-parent home with my brother. I grew up believing I was pretty worthless. Unlovable. Defective in some way. I always felt like the black sheep of the family. What did I base my beliefs on? In my perception, my mother hated me and, therefore, the world must also hate me. How did I know my mother hated me? She didn't pay much attention to me. She told me children should be seen but not heard and that I should only speak when I'm spoken to. OK, but I was rarely spoken to. When I wanted to play with her, she said she was 'too old to play.' When I played alone and brought my doll babies to see their grandma and kiss her good-night, she said, 'I don't kiss inanimate objects.' (She didn't kiss her living children, either, so I'm not sure why I thought she'd kiss my 'babies'.) There was little affection. She did allow me to hug her good-night but when I was about 10-12 years old I decided I wasn't going to bother with it since it was always one-sided anyway. When she had absolutely no reaction to the fact that I said "good night" without giving her a hug, that pretty much solidified in my mind her feelings toward me and about our relationship. She often was downright mean. Once, I couldn't find my shoes. I looked and looked for them. Turns out they were under the sofa where she was sitting, behind her feet. She put me over her knee and spanked my bare bottom for being too stupid to find my shoes. I thought it was pretty unfair of her to sit in front of them and expect me to see them. I avoided being close to her like the plague.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
There was very little communication in my family. When my mother had "The Talk" with me, she threw my dirty laundry into my room and said, "I think you need to start wearing a pad" and later, when I started dating someone at age 18 she barely turned from washing the dishes when she said, "I think you should go on the pill." =/ If it weren't for health class in school, I wouldn't have even known what a pad or pill was! I certainly wasn't thinking about having sex. I grew up in Catholic schools. I was warned about premarital sex and tried my best to live according to the Law but I felt that was my mother's way of giving me permission to have premarital sex. So, I did. Three children later, ... I could go on and on but, basically, my immature, self-centered brain deduced from all of these clues that I was worthless. But I want everyone to know that every negative thing you've believed about yourself comes from mental processing done by an immature, self-centered little human being and it's INCORRECT so you must change your thinking. Read about who God says you are.
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
But to all who have received Him, those who believe in His name, He has given the right to become God's children. John 1:12
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
But to all who have received Him, those who believe in His name, He has given the right to become God's children. John 1:12
My mother was not a Christian. We were baptized Methodist, although I had no idea why. I know we attended church service on Easter Sundays early on because we have pictures of me in my Easter bonnet. I don't even know where we attended but that stopped somewhere along the way. I later learned why my mother was so against Catholicism, and organized religion, and God. Apparently, she got herself hypnotized and discovered she was abandoned by her parents in a former life, was raised by Catholic nuns in a convent, and was abused there. =/
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:31
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:31
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
When I started elementary school, I learned about God. I took religion class but never participated in the sacraments since my mother refused to allow it. I had no idea, then, why I attended a Catholic school but wasn't allowed to become Catholic and participate in the sacraments. So, yet again, I felt like the oddball. An outcast. I did yearn to know more about God. I felt a longing to know Him. I sought Him out. I read the bible diligently. I didn't understand much of it at all and it seemed like a lot of history and genealogy. I hated history. I felt alone much of the time but I knew God was with me. I knew He was trying to communicate with me. I wasn't very good at human relationships, which I believe was due to my undiagnosed autistic-spectrum disorder, and this elusive one with God was almost impossible to figure out. If things aren't spelled out for me, I wasn't going to be able to figure it out on my own unless I've experienced it before. New situations = a clean slate, a blank mind, I come up with nothing. One thing I did know was God existed at some time in the past and sent Jesus here to save us and He will come again someday and I yearned to know of Him. Not know Him. Just know OF Him. I had no idea I could KNOW Him, like now, like every day. If only someone had told me just that plainly.
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Psalm 14:2
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Psalm 14:2
As a single mother of 3, I went to college. I loved being a mother but hated being poor. I struggled and worked hard. Learning had always come easy for me. It was the one thing I felt I had going for me when I saw nothing else worthwhile in me, nothing else to offer the world. One day, as I was studying cells in biology lab, it occurred to me just how intricate and organized cells are. In high school, I learned about organelle transport and wondered just how everything knew where to go. I later learned that there is an invisible, even under a light microscope, railway system in the cell's cytoplasm and some sort of communication that goes on among cell parts by which new parts know where to go, imports know where to go, exports know where to go, ... I remember thinking that there MUST be a God to organize all that we couldn't even see (the microscopic and the cosmic) and it was the spark that got me seeking Him again. I did attend church service while in college. I don't remember getting a lot out of it except learning the "history" of God. God was still something of the past and the future, not now. Life kept getting in the way and I continued to fall away from seeking knowledge of Him.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
Fast-forward. I'm 50 years old, so there are a lot of stories I could tell about myself but the message I feel led to share lately is this: You are not worthless. You are not a waste of human flesh. You are not unwanted, undesirable, or unlovable. I refused to believe that about myself my whole life, although I struggled with it a lot, and is one reason I mentored at-risk students in the schools where I taught and why I adopt hard-to-place children from foster care. I didn't understand why I wasn't worthless when every sign in my life pointed to the fact that I was but I knew there was a God who wouldn't make worthless things, even if I believed He was a past and future entity. My hope is that others won't grow 50 years into their lives struggling with worthlessness and depression. There was a popular saying when I was younger that said:
I clung to this for a very long time, every time I started to feel worthless or unlovable, and it was the only belief that saved me from the depths of depression. I did fall. A lot. At one point, I stopped getting out of bed, barely taking care of the two babies I had at the time. (Ah, but I gained some understanding of my mother's plight.) People told me to, "Be happy. Just be happy. Choose to be happy." I thought to myself, "How can I be happy when everyone treats me so badly? Like I don't matter?"
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I spent my life seeking my mother's approval and the approval of others. I built my self-worth on other's opinions of me. I've learned that that only leads to disappointment.
Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 6:12
Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Now, I spend my time seeking to know God and His will for my life through Jesus Christ. Once I sought to know Him, I prayed and prayed that He'd help me FEEL loved, not just know that I am, but actually feel it in my heart so I could pass that love on to others because, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get there. I was sobbing and praying, begging Him to show me. He did. In a dream, the Holy Spirit came to me and asked me to open a closet. I did but closed the door quickly. The closet was filled with water and I feared I'd drown. He assured me I had nothing to fear so I opened the closet door again. The water started entering my body. I got scared again and feared I'd drown. I even sat up in my bed, or so I thought, but He led me back down and kept reassuring me. The closet was emptied of the water and I thought to myself, "See, even God can't help me. No one can fill my bottomless pit; the hole in my heart is too great." But, that closet filled back up with more water and, again, it filled my body. This time, it filled my heart to overflowing. I FELT it. I felt the love. I woke up with a heavy heart. It was actually kind of scary. I feared I'd have a heart attack! But I was happy. I went about my day, and many days that followed, in the best mood. I didn't have a care in the world. My children thought I was nuts. i yelled about nothing. I got upset about nothing. It was pretty awesome. He loves me. He saved me. He healed me. He leads me daily. I never saw myself as a bible-thumping Jesus freak but I am so blessed to be that now and will be forever grateful.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me. Proverbs 8:17
Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
People have said to me, "Remember God's promises." I'd think to myself, What promises?" Other than the rainbow and the promise to never flood the whole Earth again, I knew of no promises. I wish I had, which is why I feel it's so important to make sure my children know them. There are three things I feel are most important for my children to know: that they are loved immensely, that they are wonderfully made for a purpose, and to seek Jesus in all things, every day, intimately.
In His name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12:21
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
You also can read my son's testimony: Richard
"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I spent my life seeking my mother's approval and the approval of others. I built my self-worth on other's opinions of me. I've learned that that only leads to disappointment.
Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 6:12
Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Now, I spend my time seeking to know God and His will for my life through Jesus Christ. Once I sought to know Him, I prayed and prayed that He'd help me FEEL loved, not just know that I am, but actually feel it in my heart so I could pass that love on to others because, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get there. I was sobbing and praying, begging Him to show me. He did. In a dream, the Holy Spirit came to me and asked me to open a closet. I did but closed the door quickly. The closet was filled with water and I feared I'd drown. He assured me I had nothing to fear so I opened the closet door again. The water started entering my body. I got scared again and feared I'd drown. I even sat up in my bed, or so I thought, but He led me back down and kept reassuring me. The closet was emptied of the water and I thought to myself, "See, even God can't help me. No one can fill my bottomless pit; the hole in my heart is too great." But, that closet filled back up with more water and, again, it filled my body. This time, it filled my heart to overflowing. I FELT it. I felt the love. I woke up with a heavy heart. It was actually kind of scary. I feared I'd have a heart attack! But I was happy. I went about my day, and many days that followed, in the best mood. I didn't have a care in the world. My children thought I was nuts. i yelled about nothing. I got upset about nothing. It was pretty awesome. He loves me. He saved me. He healed me. He leads me daily. I never saw myself as a bible-thumping Jesus freak but I am so blessed to be that now and will be forever grateful.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me. Proverbs 8:17
Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
People have said to me, "Remember God's promises." I'd think to myself, What promises?" Other than the rainbow and the promise to never flood the whole Earth again, I knew of no promises. I wish I had, which is why I feel it's so important to make sure my children know them. There are three things I feel are most important for my children to know: that they are loved immensely, that they are wonderfully made for a purpose, and to seek Jesus in all things, every day, intimately.
In His name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12:21
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
You also can read my son's testimony: Richard
"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Roadschooling at Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
While we were visiting and worshiping with Duck Dynasty at their church in West Monroe, LA we found an awesome state park to stay at only 45 minutes north with free laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, and full hook-ups. Since we were so close to Arkansas, we figured, why not add another state to our US map? We took a day trip to Arkansas State Museum of Natural Resources.
We enjoyed learning about Arkansas history, the 1920s, and how the discovery of various natural resources shaped our country's development. All of my children have an "easy peasy" notebook, which they use for their online studies, and a "travel" (composition-type) notebook, which has a hard cover so they can use it while we drive or walk. They must record facts that interest them at each place we visit as well as record any questions they have. The littles (beginner readers) are required to draw pictures and copy titles of whatever they drew. Since I have 8 children (currently), each "little" has a "big" partner to help with recording, spelling, or just to converse with about what they are viewing.
We learned about the work camp conditions at various camps. Sure made us realize how blessed we are to have so many conveniences!
We learned about petroleum and how different density separates layers of matter.
We learned how pressure in the Earth's crust produces some of the resources we drill for.
And where the starting materials come from for fossil fuels.
My children are very engaged in their learning most of the time. They do read a lot. They've learned to because their mama reads a lot and, if they don't read, they just end up standing around waiting for mama forever while she reads everything. To make better use of their time, they just read everything, too.
They enjoyed the jail cell in the mock village ... because you always have a few rebels.
We learned about a "goat woman" who lived in an RV after quitting the circus life. Looking at this early 1900s RV was interesting. Check out that rudimentary plumbing in the kitchen!
This "goat woman" played many instruments, all at once, even.
Interesting woman.
We enjoyed the hands-on displays.
And we spent much time in the tinker room building things.
We also did some learning at the state park we stayed at by following educational trails, adding drawings and notes in our notebooks about the ecology of the area, and visiting the nature center.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Monday, June 2, 2014
My son, Richard
With my son's permission, I'd like to share his testimony. I learned about his story in bits and pieces over the years. First, when a youth pastor informed me that Richard had admitted he didn't really believe in God until after he was adopted by me at age 11, almost 7 years,ago. Then, I heard him share part of his story when he was baptized a few years ago, speaking of how he didn't believe there was a God until his prayers were answered. This is how faith grows. You ask. He gives. Since he just shared it on his facebook page, I asked if I could blog about it.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him? Matthew 7:7-11
It's hard to believe it's been seven years since I met him. He was the third of seven siblings, the oldest of his birth father. He seems to be the sibling all the others look up to. I met him at his TX foster home when he was 11. Quiet. Shy. Watchful. Guarded. Kind of sad looking. Lost. The first and only thing he said to me that day was, "I fail in school." Wow. What away to introduce yourself! I wasn't about to let him stump me like that and, already having read his case file, I already knew he had an aversion to homework so I said in jest, "Well, in NJ we do our homework." He nodded as if he understood exactly what I was saying and sat back down in his chair to watch cartoons while I helped his younger brother with homework. He later admitted to me that he said that to test me. Maybe knowing I was a teacher, or just a mom, he thought he'd throw something bad out there to see how I'd react. I guess I passed that first test. Whew.
He moved in with two of his younger brothers and, after several months of desperately trying to bond with them all, I just didn't feel I was reaching him. He seemed so distant. His worker said he probably had "a touch of attachment disorder." Great. It was said like it's no big deal yet most of us know it can be a HUGE deal, but I had suspected as much. While I read his case file, I suspected attachment issues. I figured, at best, he'd overcome them somewhat and, at worst, he'd be the biggest pain in my behind and I'd only have to put up with it for 7 years. He, like my other children, were on various medications for various mental health issues. All are medication- and therapist-free now, thanks to the Almighty Healer. I decided to proceed with the adoption of the sibling group at that time in order to benefit the younger two and, if Richard proved to be too difficult, I'd just try not to let it get to me. I felt called to be their mom.
After just over one year in my home, I decided I wasn't reaching him and was ready to throw in the towel. I tried all I knew but I felt it wasn't working. Then, on New Years Eve, when they wanted to go outside and bang my pots, I said yes but asked that they not break any, knowing how over-the-top they could get. Well, they broke my pot and I was so hurt by their blatant defiance and callous attitude that I just started crying. It was that night that he gave me my first hug. Wow, I was so thrilled. It was worth many pots. That night was a turning point and our relationship grew from there.
I've learned so much from this young man. He has grown to be an intelligent, sensitive, caring,helpful, kind, funny (although it can get him into trouble at times), God-fearing Jesus seeker. He is an avid reader and loves apologetics. He has taught me much. He has been on a mission trip to Poland and still tries to keep up with the language. He loves the people he met there.
One year, he struggled with some issues and he was never much of a talker but he read his bible day and night. So much so, I had to take it away for awhile. It became an obsession, or so it seemed. Honestly, I was a little offended he wasn't talking to me about whatever was troubling him but we have grown way beyond that at this point. Here is what he says:
"Jobs story always makes me cry because it's so inspiring. Job lost everything, yet after that he just fell down and worshiped God saying, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised."
I can relate to Job, sorta. When I was 8 years old I lost everything that I thought was worth living for, but instead of praising God I cursed Him. I pursued the enemy instead, which led me to believe God was a fairy tale. The crazy thing is that God was still loving me!! I eventually felt empty and I was sick of hallucinations, that were literally killing me, so I pursued God wholeheartedly. He gave me life worth living for and increased everything by 100 fold, just like Job! Plus, the hallucinations 'magically' disappeared.
I think we can all relate to Job. When all goes bad we are given the chance to praise or curse God. We have to praise Him in our storms. God increased everything for me by 100 fold because God was just revealing himself to me by giving me exactly what I prayed for. If He didn't, frankly, I wouldn't have believed He was real. The funny thing is what I had was dirt compared to what I have now! He was just watching out for me. His plans are better than ours."
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him? Matthew 7:7-11
It's hard to believe it's been seven years since I met him. He was the third of seven siblings, the oldest of his birth father. He seems to be the sibling all the others look up to. I met him at his TX foster home when he was 11. Quiet. Shy. Watchful. Guarded. Kind of sad looking. Lost. The first and only thing he said to me that day was, "I fail in school." Wow. What away to introduce yourself! I wasn't about to let him stump me like that and, already having read his case file, I already knew he had an aversion to homework so I said in jest, "Well, in NJ we do our homework." He nodded as if he understood exactly what I was saying and sat back down in his chair to watch cartoons while I helped his younger brother with homework. He later admitted to me that he said that to test me. Maybe knowing I was a teacher, or just a mom, he thought he'd throw something bad out there to see how I'd react. I guess I passed that first test. Whew.
He moved in with two of his younger brothers and, after several months of desperately trying to bond with them all, I just didn't feel I was reaching him. He seemed so distant. His worker said he probably had "a touch of attachment disorder." Great. It was said like it's no big deal yet most of us know it can be a HUGE deal, but I had suspected as much. While I read his case file, I suspected attachment issues. I figured, at best, he'd overcome them somewhat and, at worst, he'd be the biggest pain in my behind and I'd only have to put up with it for 7 years. He, like my other children, were on various medications for various mental health issues. All are medication- and therapist-free now, thanks to the Almighty Healer. I decided to proceed with the adoption of the sibling group at that time in order to benefit the younger two and, if Richard proved to be too difficult, I'd just try not to let it get to me. I felt called to be their mom.
After just over one year in my home, I decided I wasn't reaching him and was ready to throw in the towel. I tried all I knew but I felt it wasn't working. Then, on New Years Eve, when they wanted to go outside and bang my pots, I said yes but asked that they not break any, knowing how over-the-top they could get. Well, they broke my pot and I was so hurt by their blatant defiance and callous attitude that I just started crying. It was that night that he gave me my first hug. Wow, I was so thrilled. It was worth many pots. That night was a turning point and our relationship grew from there.
I've learned so much from this young man. He has grown to be an intelligent, sensitive, caring,helpful, kind, funny (although it can get him into trouble at times), God-fearing Jesus seeker. He is an avid reader and loves apologetics. He has taught me much. He has been on a mission trip to Poland and still tries to keep up with the language. He loves the people he met there.
One year, he struggled with some issues and he was never much of a talker but he read his bible day and night. So much so, I had to take it away for awhile. It became an obsession, or so it seemed. Honestly, I was a little offended he wasn't talking to me about whatever was troubling him but we have grown way beyond that at this point. Here is what he says:
"Jobs story always makes me cry because it's so inspiring. Job lost everything, yet after that he just fell down and worshiped God saying, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised."
I can relate to Job, sorta. When I was 8 years old I lost everything that I thought was worth living for, but instead of praising God I cursed Him. I pursued the enemy instead, which led me to believe God was a fairy tale. The crazy thing is that God was still loving me!! I eventually felt empty and I was sick of hallucinations, that were literally killing me, so I pursued God wholeheartedly. He gave me life worth living for and increased everything by 100 fold, just like Job! Plus, the hallucinations 'magically' disappeared.
I think we can all relate to Job. When all goes bad we are given the chance to praise or curse God. We have to praise Him in our storms. God increased everything for me by 100 fold because God was just revealing himself to me by giving me exactly what I prayed for. If He didn't, frankly, I wouldn't have believed He was real. The funny thing is what I had was dirt compared to what I have now! He was just watching out for me. His plans are better than ours."
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Church While Traveling
We've been a FtF for 4 months now, and we were part-timing for 3 years before that. Church is very important to us and leaving our home church in NJ was one of the hardest things to do. That church was one of the only reasons we stayed in NJ as long as we did. I grew so much spiritually as a result of attending that church, many of my children became born again there, and three were baptized there. One of our favorite things to help with is their Living Nativity. God has since transformed this family from a family living in a chaotic, trauma-affected life of constant crisis to one dominated by peace. We have much to be thankful for!
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:15-16
Our first long-term destination was Florida. We were there 3 months, splitting the time between Peace River in Wauchula and Orlando. We found bible study groups and church services at both parks plus we participated in a local church near each, as studying the Word of God and getting to know Him and His will for our lives is very important to us.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8
The Holy Spirit led us to First Baptist Church of Bowling Green, FL and FCC Live in Clermont, FL. We loved both and participated in bible study and youth group, attended services, volunteered to help with ministries (pics below, which you can read about on the linked blog posts), and met many great brothers and sisters in Christ. It is so encouraging to hear the testimonies of others and see how God is working in other people's lives. One pastor noticed the passion my children have for Christ and ministry and referred us to their spiritual gifts class ... another reason we stayed in FL as long as we did. I feared I'd feel lost and alone while full-timing but God has brought many people into our lives and I feel far from alone. God is faithful and an excellent provider and protector.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. Psalm 33:4
A quick aside: I had prayed a lot before we left on our journey for God to let me know if traveling was something He approved of. I wasn't getting any strong answer either way but I continued to ask God for His guidance. A stranger approached us while we sat in our van one night after a meeting. He appeared nervous and had circled our van several times. The children started to wonder what he was up to. He finally came to my window and said, "I don't know if you'll believe this or not but God prompted me to come tell you all that there is a hedge of protection around this family," and he used his arms to encircle the entire van with the family in it. I knew that was God's blessing to travel and He has been faithful to protect this family, even though many, many things have gone wrong. You can read about our launch and all the problems we had. Many lessons learned.
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5
For great is Your love; higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4
Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Psalm 150:2
We've been in travel mode for 1 month now, just driving toward a destination of Texas and boondocking at Walmart's or staying at free or cheap state and county parks. We spend much time driving but do not miss church service on Sundays. We made a detour off our planned route to attend bible study and services at White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, LA. We stayed for a week and attended for 2 weekends and Wednesday. We were able to worship with the Robertsons from Duck Dynasty and my teens attended bible study with Willie's teens. They were thrilled (my boys, not so much the Robertsons, lol). I understand Phil Robertson leads a bible study on Sunday mornings before service so tourists who seek him can attend his bible study and hear the Word of God but I didn't get to do that. Phil was shocked at how many children we had to squeeze into the picture. Willie was a gentleman and Silas was just as funny as ever. Nathan joked with him and gave him a hug. If you want to stay in the area and don't like living in the Walmart Wilderness, Lake Darbonne State Park is about an hour from the church. It has full hook-ups, Wi-Fi throughout the campground, FREE laundry facilities for campers, lake activities, a nature center, and trails.
We toured some Arkansas state parks (we were so close, why not?) then headed toward Texas again. I found a Walmart near Shreveport, LA (which also happens to have a gas station willing to let RVs refill their water tank ... a real treat when boondocking) and decided that would be our home for the night. I searched my GPS for local churches, and there were many, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to go to Central Baptist Church in Bossier City, LA just off I-20. Our intent was to attend service then continue driving into Texas. We've been here for a week. The pastor asked for volunteers to put furniture together for a yard sale so I offered my family's services. We have since put several pieces of furniture together, helped with their yard sale, attended bible study and services both weekends, Wednesday night service, a potluck, and met many more good friends. Pastor Tim also noticed my children's "thirst for Christ" and has been an encouragement to me and my children. He has renewed the passion in my children for ministry and allowed them to participate on the worship team. His passion and enthusiasm for Christ are contagious and God is using him well in his community. We will be helping with VBS. If you're near Shreveport, LA the week after July 4th, (after we finally visit family in Texas!) bring your children out! If you're not a boondocker, there's a park with RV sites nearby for only $12/night with hookups, and I hear there's a free spray park for the kiddos nearby, as well, but we haven't had time to visit it, yet.
We have been so blessed by these communities and we've been told we've also been a blessing to them. I believe we all have a place in the Kingdom of God, we've all been given spiritual gifts in order to serve God and each other with, and God puts us in each other's paths for a reason. He knows our needs before we do and is faithful to provide for them, even when we think He doesn't hear our prayers. Find your passion. Discover your gifts. Ask God how He wants you to use them and attend a bible-based church to help you build a relationship with your Creator. You'll never be sorry you did!
I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth (and my blog, and my facebook, ...) I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:15-16
Our first long-term destination was Florida. We were there 3 months, splitting the time between Peace River in Wauchula and Orlando. We found bible study groups and church services at both parks plus we participated in a local church near each, as studying the Word of God and getting to know Him and His will for our lives is very important to us.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8
And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. Psalm 33:4
A quick aside: I had prayed a lot before we left on our journey for God to let me know if traveling was something He approved of. I wasn't getting any strong answer either way but I continued to ask God for His guidance. A stranger approached us while we sat in our van one night after a meeting. He appeared nervous and had circled our van several times. The children started to wonder what he was up to. He finally came to my window and said, "I don't know if you'll believe this or not but God prompted me to come tell you all that there is a hedge of protection around this family," and he used his arms to encircle the entire van with the family in it. I knew that was God's blessing to travel and He has been faithful to protect this family, even though many, many things have gone wrong. You can read about our launch and all the problems we had. Many lessons learned.
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5
For great is Your love; higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4
Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Psalm 150:2
We've been in travel mode for 1 month now, just driving toward a destination of Texas and boondocking at Walmart's or staying at free or cheap state and county parks. We spend much time driving but do not miss church service on Sundays. We made a detour off our planned route to attend bible study and services at White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, LA. We stayed for a week and attended for 2 weekends and Wednesday. We were able to worship with the Robertsons from Duck Dynasty and my teens attended bible study with Willie's teens. They were thrilled (my boys, not so much the Robertsons, lol). I understand Phil Robertson leads a bible study on Sunday mornings before service so tourists who seek him can attend his bible study and hear the Word of God but I didn't get to do that. Phil was shocked at how many children we had to squeeze into the picture. Willie was a gentleman and Silas was just as funny as ever. Nathan joked with him and gave him a hug. If you want to stay in the area and don't like living in the Walmart Wilderness, Lake Darbonne State Park is about an hour from the church. It has full hook-ups, Wi-Fi throughout the campground, FREE laundry facilities for campers, lake activities, a nature center, and trails.
We toured some Arkansas state parks (we were so close, why not?) then headed toward Texas again. I found a Walmart near Shreveport, LA (which also happens to have a gas station willing to let RVs refill their water tank ... a real treat when boondocking) and decided that would be our home for the night. I searched my GPS for local churches, and there were many, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to go to Central Baptist Church in Bossier City, LA just off I-20. Our intent was to attend service then continue driving into Texas. We've been here for a week. The pastor asked for volunteers to put furniture together for a yard sale so I offered my family's services. We have since put several pieces of furniture together, helped with their yard sale, attended bible study and services both weekends, Wednesday night service, a potluck, and met many more good friends. Pastor Tim also noticed my children's "thirst for Christ" and has been an encouragement to me and my children. He has renewed the passion in my children for ministry and allowed them to participate on the worship team. His passion and enthusiasm for Christ are contagious and God is using him well in his community. We will be helping with VBS. If you're near Shreveport, LA the week after July 4th, (after we finally visit family in Texas!) bring your children out! If you're not a boondocker, there's a park with RV sites nearby for only $12/night with hookups, and I hear there's a free spray park for the kiddos nearby, as well, but we haven't had time to visit it, yet.
I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth (and my blog, and my facebook, ...) I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophesy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Why and How I Homeschool/Roadschool
I don't know when I first heard about homeschooling but I always wished I could homeschool. I loved public school growing up, so it's not that I had an aversion to public school. I also grew up to become a teacher. After teaching for 10 years in public schools, I REALLY wished I could homeschool my children; however, I was a single mom and had to bring home the bacon and needed an all-day babysitter while my children also needed an education.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
I started my oldest daughter in Catholic school, as religion was always important to me. Once I had three children, that became too expensive for me. My oldest two girls seemed to do well in public schools. Honor roll. Straight A's. Friendly. Involved in extracurricular activities. My third child, on the other hand, was on the autistic spectrum and had learning difficulties. Schools didn't meet his needs. He was suspended often. By default, I began homeschooling him when I could in order to make up for all the educational time he was missing. We moved and he was placed in a special education classroom with a few awesome teachers, although he struggled like crazy socially. He also had a sleep disorder and had a hard time waking on time for school, often arriving by noon most days! It was a nightmare. I tried homeschooling him at one point but his oppositional nature caused him to sit on the sofa, arms folded, refusing to do anything I asked of him! To give you an idea of the extent of his nature, I'll share a *now* funny story: Once this boy, as a young man, asked to borrow my GPS so he could get somewhere he'd never been. I lent it and, when he returned, I asked how he liked it, as I've always LOVED my GPS. He said, "I don't like it telling me what to do. It's too commanding." LOL. Do they make a GPS that mearly suggests which way a person should go? Or maybe gives two options to choose from at each turn? That boy cracks me up. He muddled through public schools,but not without a lot of heartache. He was pushed through high school by the system then he blamed ME when his high school guidance counselor told him he'd never be accepted into any 4-year college with his math levels and grades even though he was the one who refused to put forth more effort.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
Once I began adopting older children from foster care, and you can read about part of that experience here and here, I realized they also had special needs the schools couldn't always address. No Child Left Behind didn't leave my children behind in grade but it sure left them behind academically and skill-wise. Common Core isn't any better for children who struggle already. Most of my 9 adopted and 2 fostered children joined my family unable to read or write. At. All. A few could read and write minimally but they were years behind the average academic levels of same-aged peers. Most of my adopted children were severely behind academically and socially due to the lack of education when they lived with their birth families, the effects of trauma on their early learning (which continues to affect them even after they are removed from traumatic experiences), the effects of grief after the loss of their birth families and others close to them, the effects of moving around in foster care and attachment issues, and the effects of pervasive disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which affect everything a child does. All. Day. Long. You can read about the effects of many different things on the development of foster children here. Given the low self-esteem, anger, depression, FAS/D, PTSD autistic spectrum disorders, and academic and developmental delays my adopted children dealt with daily, I knew public schools weren't going to do them any good and, even though they were attending public school, I was homeschooling them for hours each evening just so they had the basic skills to do the homework sent home with them each day. It was chaos and school work dominated so much of our time. We didn't have time for anything else. It was the main reason I got rid of all TV and video games. The children kept lying or skimping on school work to get the bare minimum done in order to get time on the TV or video games. Removing those was another blessing and it didn't take too long for the family to adjust to the loss.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
I felt God had been telling me to quit my teaching job and stay home with my adopted children for 2-3 years as we battled the special education system in public schools. It was an exhausting battle but I could not see quitting my job. I mean, we had to eat and have a place to live! I felt trapped. I had no idea what God had planned and had no faith or trust in Him at the time but I definitely knew that's what He was calling me to do, just as sure as I was that He had called me to each child placed in my home. Fear prevented obedience. God had His way, however, when I lost my job. I was anxious and fearful about living expenses, about destroying my children's lives with my inadequate homeschooling, but what a blessing that was!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
My two middle schoolers at the time were beating the heck out of pretty much anyone who looked at them funny so, when my one boy was suspended in March, yet again, I asked if he wanted to be homeschooled. His answer was a resounding, "yes." About a month later, my youngest daughter, 8 years old at the time, was being sent home early from school, yet again, for her unmanageable raging tantrums. When I arrived at the school, I learned she was raging for an hour because she couldn't sit next to her friend in class. =/ She stopped immediately and, since she was manageable, I asked the teacher if he still wanted her to leave, or if he wanted me to stick around and be sure she'd continue on a more pleasant path. He said, "I don't think she should come back at all until she can control herself." Hmmm, ok, well, she controlled herself pretty well under my care so I pulled her out the very next day.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4
The older children were fearful of being homeschooled. They didn't trust that Mom, even though she was a teacher, could homeschool them. That was fine. I started off the end of that year with only two homeschooled students. When I pulled my youngest daughter out of second grade, she couldn't read. Not one word. Within a month, she was reading chapter books and the Bible. Have you ever read the Bible? It's no easy task at times. Once the older children saw that Mom does, in fact, know how to teach and can teach things the public schools were never able to teach, they were on board. I still had one issue left: the boy who was due to graduate elementary school was so psyched to go to the middle school, because the school had sold it well, that I didn't gave the heart to tell him he couldn't. I did let him, even though I felt like I was throwing a baby into a shark tank, but within a month we all knew it wasn't working and he was pulled out. Two of my boys are very thin and consistently lost weight while in school, no matter how much I fed them before and after school so, when my boy lost 2 pounds in the first 3 weeks of school, I pulled him right out. So, one by one, I pulled them out of public school and added them to my homeschool roster. My two oldest boys, who had just started high school, were the last to be pulled. Their grades were always so low that I told them they would not be homeschooled until they brought their grades up. I knew they could do it but their moods and behaviors got in the way. I didn't want to pull them out with bad grades. I felt that would make them look bad. It would seem like they weren't cutting it so I pulled them out. I wanted to pull them out with good grades. It took several months and a lot of work and frustration on their part but they were pulled out by Christmas break the same year I started pulling the first ones out.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
My first year of homeschooling, I didn't push any subject they struggled with and we went on field trips and watched educational TV programs on PBS because I wanted it to be relaxing. I wanted learning to be enjoyable. Fun, even. As I remodeled our home to put it on the market that first year, I unschooled. My only requirement was that they read. Every day. Learn something new and tell me about it. They did this for one year. My two nonreaders worked on letter sounds on Starfall. What I wanted to instill in them was a thirst for knowledge, a reason to read, and to be self-directed learners and thinkers. After being spoon fed in special education classes, they needed to learn how to think for themselves and find information. We did read together as a family each night: a chapter from the Bible and a chapter from some other book. They all enjoyed taking turns reading together, especially the Bible. In the chaos of life, we 'quit' life and spent more and more time reading the Bible. In that first year of unschooling, four children have taught themselves how to play several instruments, my nonreaders started reading, my other children learned how to ask questions and 'google' answers and developed a love of reading and learning, they all are more independent and self-directed, and my 10th graders, who barely passed each year of public school, even with extra tutoring in place, and who rarely passed a standardized test, passed almost all sections of the GED test.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:5
This is our third school year of homeschooling/unschooling/roadschooling. We do a little of each, depending on our situation. When I have Internet access and we're stationary, we still follow the same curriculum we used in our sticks and bricks house, although I try to incorporate more Charlotte Mason into the curriculum. When we are in travel mode, homeschooling looks more like this, this, or this and this, or even like this and this ... and sometimes we unschool ... and sometimes we do volunteer work. I have no doubt in my mind God led me, kicking and screaming at first, to the decision to homeschool and I have no doubt it has been a huge benefit to my particular children with the needs they have. God is good, He is faithful, and He takes excellent care of His children. Not everyone may feel called to homeschool, and that's OK. I definitely saw a huge opportunity for my children to spread the Good News at school, at sports events, etc. We are all blessed with different gifts and called to do different things in advancing the Kingdom of God. If there's anything I've learned in these past three years is to ask God for wisdom and guidance, listen to what He says, and obey with complete faith that He has everything under control and will do what's best for us, even when things look pretty desperate or bleak
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
If you feel God has placed the plight of orphans on your heart, you might be interested in these statistics. It is not an easy job but it can be quite rewarding and you can save a life and lead someone to Jesus. In my experience, foster children either don't believe God exists or they believe He does but that He is not good or that they are unworthy of His love.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
I started my oldest daughter in Catholic school, as religion was always important to me. Once I had three children, that became too expensive for me. My oldest two girls seemed to do well in public schools. Honor roll. Straight A's. Friendly. Involved in extracurricular activities. My third child, on the other hand, was on the autistic spectrum and had learning difficulties. Schools didn't meet his needs. He was suspended often. By default, I began homeschooling him when I could in order to make up for all the educational time he was missing. We moved and he was placed in a special education classroom with a few awesome teachers, although he struggled like crazy socially. He also had a sleep disorder and had a hard time waking on time for school, often arriving by noon most days! It was a nightmare. I tried homeschooling him at one point but his oppositional nature caused him to sit on the sofa, arms folded, refusing to do anything I asked of him! To give you an idea of the extent of his nature, I'll share a *now* funny story: Once this boy, as a young man, asked to borrow my GPS so he could get somewhere he'd never been. I lent it and, when he returned, I asked how he liked it, as I've always LOVED my GPS. He said, "I don't like it telling me what to do. It's too commanding." LOL. Do they make a GPS that mearly suggests which way a person should go? Or maybe gives two options to choose from at each turn? That boy cracks me up. He muddled through public schools,but not without a lot of heartache. He was pushed through high school by the system then he blamed ME when his high school guidance counselor told him he'd never be accepted into any 4-year college with his math levels and grades even though he was the one who refused to put forth more effort.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
Once I began adopting older children from foster care, and you can read about part of that experience here and here, I realized they also had special needs the schools couldn't always address. No Child Left Behind didn't leave my children behind in grade but it sure left them behind academically and skill-wise. Common Core isn't any better for children who struggle already. Most of my 9 adopted and 2 fostered children joined my family unable to read or write. At. All. A few could read and write minimally but they were years behind the average academic levels of same-aged peers. Most of my adopted children were severely behind academically and socially due to the lack of education when they lived with their birth families, the effects of trauma on their early learning (which continues to affect them even after they are removed from traumatic experiences), the effects of grief after the loss of their birth families and others close to them, the effects of moving around in foster care and attachment issues, and the effects of pervasive disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which affect everything a child does. All. Day. Long. You can read about the effects of many different things on the development of foster children here. Given the low self-esteem, anger, depression, FAS/D, PTSD autistic spectrum disorders, and academic and developmental delays my adopted children dealt with daily, I knew public schools weren't going to do them any good and, even though they were attending public school, I was homeschooling them for hours each evening just so they had the basic skills to do the homework sent home with them each day. It was chaos and school work dominated so much of our time. We didn't have time for anything else. It was the main reason I got rid of all TV and video games. The children kept lying or skimping on school work to get the bare minimum done in order to get time on the TV or video games. Removing those was another blessing and it didn't take too long for the family to adjust to the loss.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
I felt God had been telling me to quit my teaching job and stay home with my adopted children for 2-3 years as we battled the special education system in public schools. It was an exhausting battle but I could not see quitting my job. I mean, we had to eat and have a place to live! I felt trapped. I had no idea what God had planned and had no faith or trust in Him at the time but I definitely knew that's what He was calling me to do, just as sure as I was that He had called me to each child placed in my home. Fear prevented obedience. God had His way, however, when I lost my job. I was anxious and fearful about living expenses, about destroying my children's lives with my inadequate homeschooling, but what a blessing that was!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
My two middle schoolers at the time were beating the heck out of pretty much anyone who looked at them funny so, when my one boy was suspended in March, yet again, I asked if he wanted to be homeschooled. His answer was a resounding, "yes." About a month later, my youngest daughter, 8 years old at the time, was being sent home early from school, yet again, for her unmanageable raging tantrums. When I arrived at the school, I learned she was raging for an hour because she couldn't sit next to her friend in class. =/ She stopped immediately and, since she was manageable, I asked the teacher if he still wanted her to leave, or if he wanted me to stick around and be sure she'd continue on a more pleasant path. He said, "I don't think she should come back at all until she can control herself." Hmmm, ok, well, she controlled herself pretty well under my care so I pulled her out the very next day.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
My first year of homeschooling, I didn't push any subject they struggled with and we went on field trips and watched educational TV programs on PBS because I wanted it to be relaxing. I wanted learning to be enjoyable. Fun, even. As I remodeled our home to put it on the market that first year, I unschooled. My only requirement was that they read. Every day. Learn something new and tell me about it. They did this for one year. My two nonreaders worked on letter sounds on Starfall. What I wanted to instill in them was a thirst for knowledge, a reason to read, and to be self-directed learners and thinkers. After being spoon fed in special education classes, they needed to learn how to think for themselves and find information. We did read together as a family each night: a chapter from the Bible and a chapter from some other book. They all enjoyed taking turns reading together, especially the Bible. In the chaos of life, we 'quit' life and spent more and more time reading the Bible. In that first year of unschooling, four children have taught themselves how to play several instruments, my nonreaders started reading, my other children learned how to ask questions and 'google' answers and developed a love of reading and learning, they all are more independent and self-directed, and my 10th graders, who barely passed each year of public school, even with extra tutoring in place, and who rarely passed a standardized test, passed almost all sections of the GED test.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. Psalm 37:5
This is our third school year of homeschooling/unschooling/roadschooling. We do a little of each, depending on our situation. When I have Internet access and we're stationary, we still follow the same curriculum we used in our sticks and bricks house, although I try to incorporate more Charlotte Mason into the curriculum. When we are in travel mode, homeschooling looks more like this, this, or this and this, or even like this and this ... and sometimes we unschool ... and sometimes we do volunteer work. I have no doubt in my mind God led me, kicking and screaming at first, to the decision to homeschool and I have no doubt it has been a huge benefit to my particular children with the needs they have. God is good, He is faithful, and He takes excellent care of His children. Not everyone may feel called to homeschool, and that's OK. I definitely saw a huge opportunity for my children to spread the Good News at school, at sports events, etc. We are all blessed with different gifts and called to do different things in advancing the Kingdom of God. If there's anything I've learned in these past three years is to ask God for wisdom and guidance, listen to what He says, and obey with complete faith that He has everything under control and will do what's best for us, even when things look pretty desperate or bleak
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
If you feel God has placed the plight of orphans on your heart, you might be interested in these statistics. It is not an easy job but it can be quite rewarding and you can save a life and lead someone to Jesus. In my experience, foster children either don't believe God exists or they believe He does but that He is not good or that they are unworthy of His love.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
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