Raising Patriots

by Debi on February 3, 2010

Texas state homeschool debate championship

Our high school aged guys, Josiah and Amos, (the 2 shy ones in the middle) participate in competitive speech and debate with National Christian Forensics & Communications Association. We (I say ‘we’ because it’s a family adventure) travel to competitions in the spring and embrace this all consuming ’sport’ of the mind.

With ‘good citizenship’ as the goal of education, it’s our ultimate goal that our kids become productive citizens. First, citizens of the Kingdom of God who further His purposes on the earth and enjoy Him for eternity. Next, ones who embrace the high calling of patriotism.

In the midst of it all – we aim that they become good citizens in every arena. When they’re little that means being ‘good’ in public, at grandma’s, in church, around the neighborhood …. it’s not all for naught – those endless days of training. We’re preparing them to make wise choices in the public arena, because …

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” Ronald Reagan

Our guys plan to attend The Patriot Academy this summer. If you have teens who are interested in law or public policy – this is a rewarding experience in Austin, Tx hosted at the capital through David Barton’s Wall Builders.

Remember, One man CAN make a difference … ALL the difference! Check out primary elections in your state. Texas votes March 2nd – candidates need assistance and love to work with committed young people who know HOW to work. Check your state and county offices for opportunities – they abound. These are great opportunities to raise patriots!

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Debi

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Pure Religion

by Debi on February 1, 2010

Haiti Earthquake by mark ovaska.

Photo by Mark Ovaska

Our friend Mark Ovaska, a photojournalist, is in Haiti helping to get the word out about the destruction. His pictures speak volumes! And his work is amazing!!

Another friend, Caleb Walsh, a videographer, is also there – recording Haitian orphan rescues. Stop and share these works of art with your families. This is uncensored news from the front lines.

As home educators ALL our school aged children should know the geography, government and spiritual state of Haiti. This is a national disaster and an opportunity for us to help build a framework in their hearts and minds regarding a nation in crisis, and a realistic perspective on our OWN ‘problems’. A teachable moment, indeed. They will need this understanding as they mature and become the ’salt and light’ of the world.

God bless these guys, and so many others, who have dropped everything to go and help these precious people.

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

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Debi

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Groundhog Day

February 1, 2010

Today’s Ground Hog Day!
Each year, February 2nd, looks strikingly similar in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where officials gather to watch the beloved groundhog come out and look for his shadow.
The movie, Groundhog Day, is one of my favorites. I know we all have different moral ’settings’ for entertainment, but stay with me, I’m making a point here. (Plus, we [...]

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Keep the Home Fires Burning

January 27, 2010

This time of year we keep the fireplace burning – I love a fire. Maybe I have some pyro *issues* deep down … I just like to watch it burn. We use real wood (you have to make a distinction living in the ’suburbs’). We haul it in from wherever we can get [...]

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Children and Chores

January 22, 2010

“Many hands make light work”. We all live in this house and we all share a portion of the work. I’ve found it helpful to divide chores around the ages of our children. We also rotate chores seasonally to help keep the work fresh and more fun.
I can’t do a graph (or at [...]

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One Man Can Make a Difference

January 20, 2010

Yesterday, we saw Scott Brown win the Massachusetts Senate seat, left by Ted Kennedy. The press reports his victory as the biggest political upset in  recent history! Ironically, it’s taken place on the same soil that Paul Revere rode to herald a revolt against the British to begin the Revolutionary War and utlimately to secure [...]

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Pray for Massachusetts Today!

January 18, 2010

Tuesday, Massachusetts will elect a Senator to replace Ted Kennedy who represented this state in the Senate for 46 years! Scott Brown, a conservative is expected to fill this seat in the election. If elected, he will upset the 60 vote majority needed for President Obama’s ‘health care’ bill to pass.
Can we, once again, have a [...]

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Real Moms and Real Life

January 12, 2010

In our world of staged, ‘reality’ TV – I’m alarmed at the new trend in mothering to portray ourselves as … ‘real’. Let me get this straight, the the world is telling US to be real?  Is there a role in life that faces reality (on a daily basis) more than mothering? We must be [...]

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Monday Morning Song

January 10, 2010

I post these – Monday Morning Songs – because this is what drives me … really. The Lord, Jesus Christ, is my driving force in life. I’m not driven by being ‘good’ or doing things ‘right’. I’m smitten by the love of God and stopped in my tracks by the God of the Universe. I’m [...]

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Course Corrections

January 6, 2010

After going through the 10 simple questions I asked myself regarding 2009 – I’m making some course corrections.
#7 got to me – “What books have I read this year and how have they impacted me?”
In pondering this question, I came to the painful realization that I’ve ‘fallen off the wagon’ with reading chapter books aloud [...]

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Wordless Wednesday

January 5, 2010

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Another Year ‘In the Books’

January 3, 2010

At the close of the year – I take time to stop and reflect on the year gone by.  I’ve found this helps me get a grip on where I’m at and understand where I hope to go in the coming year.
I do this  by stopping to ask myself 10 simple questions about the previous [...]

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