The Green Room

We've added a few details to the green room. I found bedding on sale at Target. I also got a nice green, brown, blue, and white striped curtain at Walmart. The gray desk I picked up at a garage sale for $10. The stool came with it. We're going to repaint them both and put a new fabric cover on the stool. You can't see the desk well in this photo, but it looks similar to Kevin's blue desk, except it has drawers on both sides.

We still need to buy new blinds. The current ones have a hole in them, but the replacement ones I bought are too short. Also, if we wind up with boys in this room we'll replace the lamp shade. I'm still looking for a good picture to hang on the wall by the lamp. I think the room feels like it's ready enough that the kids could use it now, though.

Livable Living Room

When I was eight I called the living room the "parlor", and I called the couch the "sofa". Whatever you call it, it's finally done. The upstairs bedrooms are also finished. I'm thinking about moving the bench that you see against the wall in this photo, because the room feels crowded over there. I also want a much bigger picture, or possibly a group of pictures on the wall over there. What matters though, is that the whole room is clean and neat, and just feels good to relax in.

We also recently hung some new blinds and curtains around the house. I'm still searching for the perfect curtains to hang over the back sliding glass doors in the kitchen. If I choose yellow, it may seem like too much yelow since the walls are yellow. I'm sort of looking for something with yellow mixed in. Feel free to send me ideas!

Bible Boy!

Kevin found our bible in the living room, pulled it down, and started thumbing through it. We can tell he has a real "hunger" for the Word of God because after he finished examining it he attempted to eat it.

We totally understand his interest in scripture. After all, Psalm 8:2 says "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise..." He's probably looking up some good verses to turn into his next sing-song monologue as he rides in the van. Maybe he'll be the lead vocalist in a Christian rock band when he's older! Rock on, Kev!

Matthew 4:4 "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Why Christians Should Homeschool

I've been reading this amazing book. For the first time I've read a comprehensive explanation of the biblical reasons for homeschooling, the actual mandate from God that tells us that we have the authority and responsibility to educate our children and protect them from anti-Christian environments and teachers. I've never felt more strongly that homeschooling is not just a preference, but a command from my Creator who has gifted me with children.

Some verses this book discusses:
Psalm 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." (My children were given to me, they are arrows that I must make sure are made sharp and straight and strong. I cannot entrust their molding to craftsmen (teachers) who do not follow God's design plan!)

Did you know that the only time that God's children were educated by the government was when the children of Israel were dominated by a heathen nation? (for instance Joseph, Moses, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, & Daniel) Mark 12:17 "Then Jesus said to them, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.'" (God never tells us to give our children to Caesar [the government]. They belong to God.)

Ezekiel 16:20-21 "Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?
21"You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire." (I will be judged severely if I don't meet God's standards for raising my children. I cannot and will not give them to a system [government school] that rejects God and teaches idolatry to a humanistic religion. I would be disobeying God if I forced them to "pass through that fire" as children.)

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (To obey God's command to teach my children His word constantly I cannot send them away for 6 or more hours a day. His word must be included in every aspect of their lives and in every subject they learn. We will be taking every subject and "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" [2 Cor. 10:5])

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Isaiah 54:13 "All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great." Luke 6:40 "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher." (Together I and the Lord should be my children's teachers. If they are trained by an anti-Christian school and teachers, they will be like those teachers.)

Jeremiah 10:2a "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen" (My children should not be "socialized" in an anti-Christian government school with children who are not Christian either.) 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." (My children's primary friends that they spend most of their socialization time with should be other kids being taught God's values. In public school they will be more likely to be influenced negatively than to influence others positively.)

Psalm 119:99-100 "I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts." (the results of a God centered education.) 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (This is why I will homeschool)

Finally, for those times when Satan tells me that public school would be easier, or when someone tries to make me doubt what I know to be right: 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Galations 6:9 "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (I won't give up! My children's future, their eternity, is worth it!)

Most of the ideas in this post came as a direct result of reading The Heart of Homeschooling by Christopher Klicka. I recommend every Christian parent read this book!