Thesis is "In the Mail"!

Well...for better of worse, my thesis ~ "The Biblical Basis for Homeschooling Christian Children" ~ has been turned in and I am waiting - w/frayed nerves - to find out what the grade - and reaction! - will be.

So, I have completed my credits for my Associate's Degree in Biblical Studies and am actually 18 credits into my Bachelor's! I attend a small seminary that does intensive degrees (and believe me...they ARE intensive!!). My pastor is the Dean...but that gives me no grace! lol

I'll be graduating on Sept. 13th. It's an odd date for graduation, I know, but a gentleman from Kenya was taking courses on-line and we raised the $$ for him to come and graduate w/us. I think the timing had something to do w/his Visa. But I'm excited!

I'm doing this, mostly, b/c I have no idea what I will be doing after we graduate our youngest dd this spring...our last homeschool graduate! WOW!! After 16 years, it just seems so unreal to think about. The time has FLOWN!

I'm hoping to still be writing and speaking. Maybe her graduating will open a little more writing time. We'll see.

But if you think of me, please keep my never level in your prayers while I wait for it to be reviewed. Thanks.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Where is God When it Hurts?

Another blogger basically asked on her blog: "Where is God when it hurts?  Why is it that so many sincere, dedicated Christians seem to suffer or have bad things happen to them?"  Well...you know me...I couldn't resist a somewhat lengthy reply.    So, I thought I would blog it here. 

PLEASE feel free to give your opinion on Where is God When it Hurts?

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

I think it's very natural for us to wonder this, to even complain about it to the Lord. But He is a BIG GOD and He CAN take it! I don't think He gets angry when we question Him, or even get mad ... just don't STAY there!

When our little girl died...I asked over and over again, "why?" Just 3 weeks ago yesterday, the husband of a dear friend of mine - a wonderful godly husband and dad - was killed on his motorcyle on his way to work; a lady (who turned out to be a pastor's wife, poor thing) pulled out from a stop sign and he was killed instantly. He was wearing his helmet, going the speed limit, he had the right-of-way...did everything right. But the Lord has our days written out in His book of life and we live and serve at HIS pleasure; especially Christians. None of us are promised tomorrow.

We also need to remember that we live in a fallen world. And especially as Christians, we have an enemy who HATES us, whose greatest desire is our fall and our pain. Sometimes I think he picks the strongest in faith to drive in the biggest hurts...like Job, I think God has told him not to take our lives. After the shock and sadness and anger and grief start to fade - just a little - I pray that we will all be faithful enough to remember that something about this will serve God's purpose to expand His kingdom...we may never even know what that was...but HE IS ALWAYS WORKING.

As Nanny said in her comment, the Lord PROMISED not to give us more than we can handle. And I admit, I've looked up and asked, "Lord! Are You SURE you have the right person, here? Cos, I think You made a mistake picking me!" But...I put one foot in front of the other, I pray, I trust and I live. Sometimes - at least for a while - that's all you CAN do.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf

Anyone Use Multi-Year Unit Studies?

This is our 16th (and last ) year of homeschooling and up until this past spring, I was the county homeschool coordinator for 11 years. During my first couple of years as coordinator - and while our girls were still little - I noticed that many wonderful homeschool families were graduating students that made awesome grades and many were going on into college or trade school...but...even though they "made the grade" they couldn't fry an egg or change the oil in their cars!

It was then that I decided that little by little as we progressed through life and school - and MOST ESPECIALLY when they were in Jr and Sr high - that I was going to concentrate on Life Skills along w/the academics!! I have all girls and we have raised them to aspire to be wives/mothers...if they have some sort of career before then or find something they can do for pay at home, fine...but I wanted my daughters to know more than I did when my hubby and I were married! My mom was a working mom and if I hadn't had home ec in school, I probably wouldn't even know how to read a recipe. I didn't want my girls' husbands to suffer through all their 'experiments' like their sweet Daddy did w/me! lol

All that to say that I found a couple of really neat multi-year life skill unit studies!! (Maybe I'll post my reviews of them here sometime.) One is Far Above Rubies which can be used for 7 (YES!! 7) years! Through Jr & Sr high years. (It also has a boy's counter-part: Blessed is the Man which can be used along w/a girl using F.A.R.) This is a great product but once I got it, it had too much reading and research for what I wanted. THEN...I found out about Training Our Daughters to Be Keepers at Home. This one is a 4 year study - basically the high school years. Now, when I got this one, it was a little too much hands-on than what I wanted. What did I do?

For the last few years we have worked through it combining the two. When I start my planning I look through both studies and decide which units for each study can be used together and assign them that way. Mind you...this is done VERY loosely!! These books are basically - in our household, anyway - a guide.

What we have been doing over the last several years (and our oldest daughter who graduated from our homeschool in '06 is still doing) is as we study something we are adding to each girl's 3-ring notebook and making them each a Life Skills Manual as we go!! They will have these manuals to take w/them into THEIR homes when they leave to become keepers of their homes!

We have covered so much already...we have added recipes from the studies, themselves, plus our own family favorites and favorites passed down through the generations (each one of these recipes is made the day we add it to the binder); we have taken a tour of a funeral home and learned about what happens to the deceased, pricing, the process of grieving...we opened this up as a field trip w/others and as my pastor is the funeral home director he spoke about the difference in how a saved and unsaved family grieves, the promise of heaven for the believer...basically we wanted to take the mystery and scariness out of the process. The reason behind this is that my husband and I lost our 1st beautiful daughter to SIDS when she was 3 months old (22 years ago) and we had to make all those must-be-made-NOW decisions in the midst of our grief and inexperience. We have covered different home repairs projects, courtship and marriage, childbirth/child care, caring for the elderly, gardening, knitting, sewing...and so much more w/much more to do.

We also have written some of our own unit studies...some of which are expanded ideas from what we were working on w/the other studies.

So...I am wondering if any of you have ever used any multi-year unit studies and what your experiences were like.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf

College in California? Christians NEED NOT APPLY!

OK...for some reason this isn't letting me post my article here.  So...if you would please kick on http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Buckeyeblog/574119/ and go to my other blog to read this.

Is there ANYTHING good that comes out of a California University anymore?  Christians - pay attention!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Homeschool Victory In California!! PTL!!

Parents have the right to home school, state court says

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, August 8, 2008

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/08/BAE5127NLJ.DTL

Do You Ask God?

“Boy, I sure do wish I could get that new science book for next year – if only we had the money”…”Oh, if only my girls will marry a godly man…”…”Wouldn’t it be great if only...if only…if only…if only…”

I have come to a realization – after being a Christian for “ONLY” 26 years! – that I am settling.  I am settling for the mediocre, the mundane, the “good enoughs.”  I’ve had it with settling! 

Now, don’t get me wrong…I am NOT a “name it, claim it” person.  If the Lord’s will is “no,” then “no” it is.  But it has come to my own attention that I’ve been praying for, and believing in answers to prayer for everyone else but myself and my home.  Isn’t that craziness?!  Why is it that I seem to think that my prayers are for everyone else in my life but me and mine?!  I know…crazy.

And the really nutty thing is, I’ve SEEN God answer my prayers over and over and over again in the last 26 years of my walk with Him – when my husband was laid off for 7 months and we couldn’t afford new curriculum, I was asked to review products and – lo and behold – wouldn’t you just know it, EVERYTHING I was asked to review “just happened” to be items that we needed for our school year!  Huh.  Did I ask?  Yes.  Did I receive?  “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me ABUNDANTLY, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 1:4)   Like you, I’ve prayed for and watched people get healed, accept Jesus as their Savior; seen my girls accomplish wonderful things…Huh.  Did I ask?  Yes.  Did I receive?  Abundantly!

But there are other times when I knowingly don’t ask.  What’s wrong with me?  I KNOW that the Lord wants me to ask, why don’t I?  Now, I’m not saying that I don’t believe that the Lord will answer my prayers, I KNOW that He does answer…it just seems that I pray for the “bigger things” for others and not myself or my family.  I used to, what happened?  I’m SO sorry Lord, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) 

As I said, I’m NOT a “name it, claim it” person – but what have I missed because I have not asked?  I certainly know that if I should pray for something that’s not in the Lord’s will, or is for selfish use, that the Lord will graciously say “no.”  I welcome that.  But WHAT have I MISSED?  I’m willing to find out.  I’m willing to once again be the prayer warrior that I used to be!  I’m willing to ask and watch EXPECTANTLY for His loving answer – even if it’s “no.”  I’m willing to watch my family once again blossom under His umbrella of blessing.

Won’t you join me?

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Growing Old & Enjoying It

Just in case you didn't know it, I'm 49 years old.  WOW!  WHEN did that EVER happen to ME?!?!    It wasn't until I was in my 30s that life finally seemed to start 'clicking.'  Know what I mean?  Yes, there are always going to be times of family strife; yes, that's when our kids are growing and active and going in 20 different directions; yes, that's about the time we really start losing our gr-parents, parents, uncles, aunts...even some of our childhood friends.  It seems that that's when life starts getting 'REAL'.  If you weren't close to the Lord before that time in your life, then that's when you either sink - and walk away because you forgot that we DO live in a sinful world after all, BUT God is still on the Throne and He still loves us and has an awesome plan for our lives...OR...you swim - you stay afloat, you dog paddle, you rely more deeply on the Lord and draw closer BECAUSE you realize that this sinful, fallen world isn't "IT."  That there's more and the Lord is your ultimate reward.

That realization is what makes life work, what makes it do-able, what gives me my joy in the hard, sad times.  Just like the "Footprints" poem says, that's when Jesus carries me.  And, having been a Daddy's Girl, I LOVE being carried and cuddled by my Daddy...especially my Heavenly Father!

But I digress a little.  Below is an e-mail that a dear friend of mine sent me about growing older.  Although there are parts in it that show it probably wasn't written by a Christian, the jist of it is OH SO TRUE.  As I said earlier, I was probably in my 30s before I started really coming into my own.  Living life the way we thought the LORD was leading us and NOT what culture, society, the "old guard" at church, fashion, parents, in-laws...WHOEVER...ANYONE who isn't living OUR lives says we should be living it!  It's not that I don't care what others think, I just don't care enough  to take their well-meaning, uninformed criticism of my homeschooling, my regarding my husband as the head of my home, my raising my daughters to look forward to being wives and mothers, my finding joy in small things, my wanting to learn more about gardening or making my own household cleaners and personal items instead of "simply going to the store," if I traded the high heels and dress suits of my modeling/make up artist days for well-worn jeans, funky jewelry and Burkenstocks!!...among other things.  I'm sure YOU have been there, too.

Well, all that to say.  I really enjoyed the little story below.  It spoke of alot of my feelings (except for sleeping 'til noon! ) w/o being disrespectful.  And if any of you are younger than me by more than 10 years, I hope you learn this lesson VERY SOON.  There IS a "great freedom that comes with aging."  Enjoy the ride!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Old Age, I decided, is a gift!

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.  Oh, NOT my body!  I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt.  And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother! [I'm looking more like my Dad & my aunt! KW<><]), but I don't agonize over those things ... for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself.  I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement goose that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. 

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m. and sleep until noon? 

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60s and 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love...I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the 'jet set.'  They, too, will get old.  [Haha!  Joke's on them!]

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.  And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.  How can your heart NOT break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?  But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.  [II Cor. 1:3-4]  A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am SO blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.  You care less about what other people think.  I don't question myself anymore.  I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your questions, I like being old.  It has set me free.  I like the person I have become.  I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.  And I shall eat dessert every single day.  (IF I feel like it!)

The Blessing of a Homeschool Dad

A wonderful homeschool family in my area is facing the loss of their homeschool dad and husband.  He was tragically killed last week when a car pulled out on him as he was motorcycling on his way to work.

Occurrences such as the loss of a homeschool parent or, as in our own case, the coming of our final year of actively homeschooling, gives me a reason to be so thankful for the choice we have made to homeschool…

In most homeschool homes dads serve in the roles of Principal/Superintendent, Banker and Supreme Court Judge.  And some, if they are lucky enough and their schedule allows, even help mom in the role of Teacher. 

I think of our friends and how their dad was able to help homeschool them through part of the day because he worked second shift.  He was able to teach his children that even work could be fun.  While mom took care of most of the academics, those kids learned about gardening, bee keeping, fixing cars and flying remote controlled airplanes, even playing the guitar from their dad.  If his children had been away at school all day for more than 9 months of the year – while he was home during the day without them and then gone from home in the evening – those kids would barely know their dad.  And worse, he would barely know them.  But instead, they have hundreds of great memories and learning experiences that include their dad.  Their homeschool dad.

Yes, mom is usually the one who does the bulk, if not all, of the teaching; but homeschool dads are the ties that bind.  They are the backbone, the support system of the home.  How many days is it that our husbands trudge off to work, leaving their family behind when what they would really like to do is to stay home with the ones they love?  The ones who love them.  They would love to come with us on our next field trip or sit as the subject of his little girl’s first portrait or help that boy who looks just like him learn his fractions. 

I know Father’s Day is past, but how about designating a day in the near future as your own family’s “Homeschool Father’s Day”?!  Thank him for working so hard so that his family can stay at home for school to be taught by the people who love them the most, to learn in peace and safety.  Thank him for forking over the money every summer so that your family can buy the best in curriculum, magazines, educational games and learning resources.  Thank him for being the one who works so hard so that your family can go on those great vacations…and when you go on those vacations, try to make it simply outstanding for Dad.

Homeschool dads…aren’t we blessed to have them?

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Update on the Times Family

I have posted the obituary and service times on the McCHEO (Miami County Christian Home Educators of Ohio) blog for all you locals:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/McCHEO/565868/ 

I would appreciate continued prayers for this wonderful family.  Thank you so much.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<>< 

PLEASE PRAY for this Family

Yesterday I had the radio on in the afternoon and there was newsbreak that came on about a country intersection in our area being closed because there was a motorcyle fatality.  This morning, I was utterly and completely saddened to find out that it was a friend of ours.  The father of a local, wonderful homeschool family.

Please pray for the Times family.  The dear wife, LaNelle, is now left 3 fantastic kids and, they just found out a few weeks ago, another sweet baby on the way. 

Forrest was such a great guy - wonderful man of God, loving husband and daddy and ALWAYS smiling.  He will be missed by everyone who knew him.  If you are a local homeschooler to my area, I will be posting service information at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/McCHEO as soon as I know anything.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><