Drama, Outreach and Fun! A Tribute to My Church Home

My kids were blessed to be a part of a great production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at our church a few weeks ago. After two performances, and late nights of fun and stardom and church restoration, they were more than pretty tired. Our school day finally began today at the pace a slug eats a hosta around 9:30 (or maybe 10:00). Star one, age 10, was still not dressed when he ventured

downstairs to make himself an egg. I have to say that, although we had theater jet lag, I still am in awe of how wonderful it was to get behind on schoolwork, lose sleep and have a messy house for the cause. I say this because we are blessed with a church that gives people a voice for their gifts and a place for God see his people bloom into their purpose.

Every church talks about outreach. Some do it better than others. Some wonder how they will accomplish outreach. Some wonder why nobody is coming on Sundays and some wonder how they will keep up with the many needs God’s purposes present to them. I was blessed to see how one woman’s vision has connected people with the love

of God through theater. People from all over our community were needed to fill parts in this amazing play. Kids came from the neighborhoods nearby to be a part of the “Rainbow Kids” children’s choir. Speaking for our family, experience in that area was less important than the mission at hand, and my kids were given the opportunity to grow and perform. (The fact that they actually completed an hour and a half production twice is a miracle of grace I’m still reeling from.)

What our director offered for all those who participated was not just great inspiration and direction, but unconditional love and grace. While there, each kid was prayed over twice from the heart. While the rehersals went on, the “notes” included prayers for those there, and those they knew who were the sick, and teamwork was a must.

The little kids were dismissed on time, whether rehearsal was complete or not, so they could get to bed. That was a true act of faith! Matthew 6:33 says we should put God’s kingdom first and he will meet all our needs. This was surely evident

this weekend, as a row of at least 12 kids, age 7 to 11 sat still when they needed to and performed exceptionally when their time came, with not a mistake to be found. They knew the blessing it was to be a part of such a great project and sought the autographs of the “stars” living in our community.

As I sat in the audience Friday night, I saw how this project gave kids an outlet for their passions, a place for some to escape into a world of music and friendship, where they are loved and where they know God loves them. I talked to someone in the audience who told about how this mission loved her grandson and how it helped him blossom in a world that seemed

against him. Wow! What if we all used our gifts that way? Do you have a passion for your community and a gift to share?

Outreach? It happens naturally when we love others to God. If you have it, people will catch it! So, if you don’t see

the people coming to your church and you wonder what you’re doing wrong, turn your eyes on Him and then on yourself. Every congregation is full of people with strengths and talents, and, if we spend more time listening to God and less time talking to and about him, more unconventional, inspirational, passion-directed love-overflowing ministry will occur.

If people can't see what God is doing,

they stumble all over themselves;

But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.

Proverbs 29:18 The Message

Thanks to Katlyn Worrell for sharing her great photos with me and to the inspiring woman with the big ideas who makes it all possible - Sara Bartlett Farren.  Special thanks also to Diane Zuber who was blessed to guide the Rainbow Kids into stardom!

Mommy's Learning to Read! What you can learn from a 3-Year-Old

Homeschooling is like being on a sailboat, we get to hold the schedule that directs the boat, but a big wind can take you off in another direction! Sometimes the joy of seeing my kids learn just brings tears to my eyes (pause to get a tissue), and .. once in a while the frustration brought on by my imagined disappointments brings me to my knees.  (Of course, if I’d been there in the FIRST place, I’d had a better plan to begin with... listen more, talk less.)   So, as a homeschooler, I live in a world where I am completely in control of everything that goes on.... are you laughing yet? Ug Hmmm.... Let’s start again. So, I live in a world where I know I’m not really in control of anything, but I make diligent, daily efforts to pattern the day so that we learn, worship through our daily life, keep a somewhat clean house, and cook - sometimes creatively. 

What do we rearrange our schedule for? Well, we’re certainly not reclusive, though I sometimes dream of it, and since I believe that we are called to spread the gospel and encourage others to live for Christ I have come to manage our lives around my mission of serving God in whatever ways we can make fit in. I have too many ideas and too little time! You know, that’s the blessing about being a homeschooler --- you can drop anything just to serve even more people! Occasionally, I must escape.

I’m so tired thinking about it all, that I had to start a new paragraph. Well, in the midst of all that joy and bliss, I’ve had a funny week with my 3-year-old, Jack.   Before bed, we’ve been reading a little book called “ABC Bible”. It’s one of those little gift books and has a lett

er and teeny little Bible story snippet under it. (The kind I put at the bottom of the bookshelf, because I’m sure I’ll probably never read them!) I’ve been homeschooling for four years now. My first child could read when I brought him home, my second child didn’t want to read anything until he was about 6.5.  He now reads better than my first did.

So, when child #3 discovered books, I wondered what new adventures he would bring. He’s loved having stories since about two and a half. (Yes, before that he was read almost nothing  individually-- meaning

no baby books, just a day full of listening to history, Bible and what the other kids learned). Now, he has discovered that bottom shelf and finds those little dusty books FASCINATING.

So.... I’d say here that Jack is learning to read, but instead he seems to think he needs to teach ME to read. Every night I subject myself to this. I get the ABC Bible book with Aa on the first page, then Bb on the second, and so on. As we turn the pages, he “discusses” the letters, almost scientifically...

"Ah HA, there are TWO A’s on this page, Mom. A BIG one and a little one.” Then, I turn the page. He looks at me, waiting for ME to say the letter.  If I’m right, the drama continues.  He exclaims, “THAT’S RIGHT MOM! (clapping) Good job Mom! That IS a B, and there are TWO of them.!” So, this can go on 26 times.

For those of you who think homeschooling is just something you could never do, perhaps you’d like to borrow Jack. I’m sure he’d be happy to show you how to do it with enthusiasm!

Last Minute Soup.. House Bound

It’s the day after Christmas and all through the house,
We’re going nowhere, the Midwest has been doused.

The snow has been falling
The rain’s freezing too.

If you want to go somewhere,
The Midwest’s not for you.

We were off to Grandmas,
but the Toll Road was closed,

No present swapping,
the kids were morose.

Now it’s dinner time and I’ve got cooking to do.
No Grandma meal for us now,
What’s on hand just will do.
***********************************************

I read a funny “dinner disaster” post by my friend Gina that discussed her challenging Christmas Eve. It was just before dinner and it reminded me that all of us have our own way around the kitchen. Gina is a freezer queen. She pre-makes, defrosts and has each meal for her large family easily at her finger tips. It is inspiring. I advise you read her blog, she’s a homeschooling, master-mom.

Over here, a little south, I’m a little more relaxed. So, I thought I’d share how I come up with dinner using a completely different method.


I spy an onion half, on the counter, I never put it away after lunch.
In the fridge lives a pot of vegetables. My family will groan if they recognize it, again.
We had roast chicken for Christmas. There’s about half of it left. Pull it off the bones.
I open the pantry and a bag of noodles, shoved in the bottom, falls out on my foot.
We hosted a Christmas party a while back.
Nobody eats celery sticks but me and the baby.
An open bottle of white wine remains in the bottom of the fridge door.

While playing the piano for my toddler this afternoon, he left and “chopped” up the loaf of bread that was on the counter.

So, that’s our dinner...

Fill the pot 1/2 full with water.
Chop the onion and the celery.
Dump the chicken and the wine.
Crunch the noodles before putting in a few handfuls.
Add some color with the veges.
Poultry seasoning and chicken base.

Ah! Croutons!
Put the mashed bread in a bowl,
Pour oil, sprinkle italian seasoning and garlic salt.
Bake.

Write this blog while the soup boils.
(Husband saves croutons while I forget about them and announces the the soup is done.)

A great dinner.
Chicken soup with homemade croutons.

Time to eat!

Why would anyone homeschool their children? (Part Two) or The Gardener's Children)

Let's talk about how we mass market children loved school as kids. Every morning was a new learning adventure. As that bus came down the street, my heart pounded as I thought about what my teachers had prepared for me that day. Joy filled my heart, especially for the nice person who may let me sit by them on the bus. (I was always the last one on.) Middle school was definitely the highlight of my personal growth and social development in more ways than one. -- If this is all fiction for you as it was for me and you want to give your kids hope of actually feeling that way about learning, then you may be a homeschooler.

How many of you remember loving history as a kid? When I talk to other homeschoolers and ask them what really gets them excited it is often history. You may think (or have thought before you became one of these counter-cultural homeschoolers), "Boring!" However, once you become an actual counter-cultural homeschooler and begin to hang out with others who share your rebellious nature you'll hear something that goes like this; "I hated to memorize all those facts for tests but now, I LOVE history. It's our favorite subject." Consequently, many of the books we use to devour history were written by moms who became addicted to history, were not satisfied with the materials they found, so they wrote a whole curriculum."

Now, there are all types of families with all types of kids. There are mom's who just pick a curriculum package early on, trust it and then do it faithfully every day. There are unschoolers, who completely trust that their children will learn what they need to when they need to. I, sometimes regretfully, just can't seem to be either mom. No, there could be something better, more exciting (easier to manage), and perfectly suited to the uniqueness of my little darlings. My continual search for the "best way" can lead to my most dreaded form of mental illness, "homeschool anxiety". Can the Discovery Channel be science for the day? Am I doing enough or too much?" I say these things because if you question yourself, you can know you are not alone in these thoughts. You have not failed and you are not unusual. The homeschooling life is really journeying with your kids on their way to becoming their best self, the self they were made to be. With time you know your kids, how they learn and what drives them to learn. You can then sit back and enjoy the progress you make together. The moments of anxiety will become less familiar and the freedom of this lifestyle will make its blessings known.

If thoughts like these continue to bother you, let's relax and go out into my garden for a while. As an avid gardener, I've planned about eight perennial gardens in my yard, laying out the plan on paper, measuring out the distances I would place the groupings of odd numbered plants. According to a saying about perennial gardens, the third year is the "WOW" year. Well, it truly was. Neighbors stopped on their walks to walk through my yard. All was lovely. I put a new layer of mulch over it all that year to celebrate it's perfectly planned perfection.

It's year six in my garden now. Did you know there's no saying for year six? For a control freak, years five and six could be "Let's put the grass back! It's out of control!" For those years past three, the real nature of gardening takes over. If you had a vision for your garden and it was based on knowledge of those plants habits and preferences, there is probably still an element of control in the appearance of your beautiful yard. But plants, like children, are not ours to control. Some thrive in the sunlight with very little attention, planting little babies in your path, your yard (and your neighbors yard). There are others which will struggle where you've placed them and seem to disappear as those around them choke them out. Left unnoticed, one of your prize plants may just disappear.

If we don't pay attention to the passions of our children to their gifts and challenges, they too may be crowded out. My point is this, letting go of some control and allowing nature to direct your garden and your children to direct your daily plan is often the first step to the blooming of the flowers that are your children. I've learned that I can't fight the nature of my garden and that I can't force the nature of my children. I do need to teach self-control, perseverance, kindness and self-discipline, but the rest is largely inspiration.

The beauty of the garden is not to fight the unplanned, but to rejoice in it and observe it, noticing or transplanting "volunteers" rather than pulling them out because they aren't in the right place. God put everything that plant needed in a tiny seed. The whole blueprint is in it from the beginning. God also formed your child and said, "before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." When we trust that the interests our children have are not mistakes, complications to the "schedule", then they are free to embrace learning in its most powerful form, that guided by passion and interest. Neighbors still come to look at my garden, but I no longer make excuses for the weeds that may be there, but aside from the flowers, they comment on what wonderful kids I have.

Just as I have discovered many truths as I've grown with my garden, I know that as a parent, I don't have all the answers and cannot "teach" them all I know (.. or don't know). Whether you have college degrees or a high school diploma, each day a further opportunity to admit what we don't yet know. Most Americans think they were "educated" through the schooling process marked by some date in time and piece of sheepskin (if they are so blessed). However, the more we grow, the less we realize we know! We learn best when we let go of common thought and challenge ourselves to be free. We hear a lot about freedom, "Those in Christ are free indeed". America is the "land of the free." Homeschoolers are in the best position to fully accept the possibilities of this freedom.

Here you will realize the truth of Mark Twain's quote that "Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned." I apply this to what we generally think of as education, force feeding an agreed upon set of facts to children in a set number of years in an order that will give them the greatest chance at "success" in life. We are surrounded daily by those who struggle with the educational system, trying to work with it, in spite of it, as their children's lives pass before them. Search for favorable quotes on the blessings of mass education and you will be hard pressed to find many by those who stand out in history as admired thinkers and leaders. One of the more unoffensive (toward teachers and public institutions) was by Elbert Hubbard, American author, editor and printer who said, "The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher." This image is complimented by William B. Yeats (poet) in his statement that "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire." When you know what lights the fire in your child, and give him your blessing to be who he is, you will have unlearned successfully all that we thought we knew about education.