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

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."

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