He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.
Proverbs 12:11
Gardening Day -
Malia
Play Place Outside for safety
Grass Cutting
Trim Bushes
Weed Flower beds
Weed Garden
Water Garden
Fertilizing
Planting
Garage –Straighten and sweep
Gardening Day – Children
Porch, deck, walls
Weeding
Vehicles - trash, stuff, vac
Toy and Trash pickup
Bird Feeder Refill
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Colossians 1:29
For the past year I have really suffered from being low energy. In January, I discussed this with a friend. I shared with her my concern with low energy and she told me [...]
Gardening Day - Malia
Play Place Outside for safety
Grass Cutting
Trim Bushes
Weed Flower beds
Weed Garden
Water Garden
Fertilizing
Planting
Garage –Straighten and sweep
Gardening Day – Children
Porch, deck, walls
Weeding
Vehicles - trash, stuff, vac
Toy and Trash pickup
Bird Feeder Refill
For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’”
1 Kings 17:14
In a large mixing bowl, sift together:
6 cups flour
3 tablespoons baking powder.
1 tablespoon salt.
Measure self-rising flour like regular flour.
Keep all [...]
When I prepared this talk for Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY it was with much prayer and careful consideration. This workshop was part of a larger day called, “Spa for the Soul.” Each speaker was to tie their talk to a typical spa treatment. When I was given the list of choices, I knew [...]
Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.
1 Chronicles 12:40
Great dinner [...]
Excerpts from Homeschooling with the Trivium e-letter.
Some people suggest reading Dante, Chaucer, and Beowulf in the second grade. I didn’t read these until high school. What do you recommend? C.S.
I have your book Teaching the Trivium but I do not seem to be able to find any mention of your position on reading the Iliad/Odyssey. [...]
We just updated our schedules because we eliminated David’s naps, and we had to account for all that time.
David’s Routine (Age 2- no naps, up at 6:00 a.m.)
With Mom
With Christina - Grooming, learning independent skills
Movie or Room Time
With Sarah - Large motor skills games
With Anne Mary-small motor skills/table games
Preschool with Mom -letters, colors, numbers, books, [...]
Here is Anne Mary’s schedule , but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide to let the girls sleep in a little because they are sick or were just up late the night before, I can adjust any part of this to make the day go smoothly. Routine is in half [...]
Here is Sarah’s schedule, but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide to let the girls sleep in a little because they are sick or were just up late the night before, I can adjust any part of this to make the day go smoothly. Routine is in half hour increments [...]
We just updated our schedules because we eliminated David’s naps, and we had to account for all that time. Sarah is 9, Anne Mary is 7, David is 2. You can also see their individual routines as well.
Here are our schedules, but we use that word kind of loosely. If I decide [...]
He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9
The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with [...]
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
Valentine’s Day can be simple and delightful. For Valentine’s Day 2008, we started the day making homemade pancakes from freshly milled wheat. This is always a special treat.
Then, for lunch the [...]
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41
Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 1 Samuel 28:22
Baking bread is a [...]
Birds continue to visit our yard for their snacks, and now in addition to the suet we have been putting out, we have been scattering seeds on the snow and putting them in the feeder outside my bedroom window. This morning there were doves happily cooing and snacking on the layer of [...]
She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
Proverbs 31:15
Your initial investment for homemade baby food should be very small. You will need:
8 ice cube trays
Freezer Quality storage containers or Freezer bags.
A Blender (if you do not have one, it is not absolutely essential)
If you [...]
Brand New To Homeschooling in Kentucky?
Information you may want to know:
The Home For His Glory Email list. This list serves over 1000 families and generates a lot of email. If you sign up, I suggest you ask for it in digest form to reduce your emails to two emails a day that contain up to [...]
As a local Support Group Leader, I get many phone calls and emails similar to the one I paraphrased below. See the edited letter (for privacy) and my response.
Hi Malia,
You don’t know me but I feel like I know you, just because of your
postings and most recently, your article in the Old Schoolhouse. You
seem like [...]
The Well Educated Mind Literature Study
Saxon Algebra 2
Bible
Government (Independent Study)
Internship - Media Arts
Computer- Webpage design and optimization
Mission Trip - Appalachia
English 101 (College/High School dual credit)
Getting ready to start homeschooling your high schooler?
Learning Literature Through Language Arts-British Literature
Beautiful Feet: Medieval Times
Bible
C’est a Toi: Level 2
Apologia Chemistry
Internship - Media Arts Kelly’s Filmworks
Business Internship-State Farm Insurance
Saxon Algebra 1
Mission Trip - Romania
Computer skills: Word, Excel**, powerpoint, research
Learning Literature Through Language Arts-American Literature
Beautiful Feet - Ancient History
Bible
C’est a Toi: Level 1
Apologia Biology
Drama
Chorus*
Saxon Algebra 1/2
Speech (Sound Speech)*
Worldview/Apologetics (Anchors Away)*
Mission Trip-Boston World View Eyes
Business Internship - State Farm Insurance
Learning Literature Through Language Arts - Grey
Beautiful Feet American History
Bible
Apologia Physical Science
Drama**
P.E. (softball, swimming)
Voice/Guitar**
Advanced Math Independent **
Mission Trip- Navajo Indian Ranch
Math 5 / 4
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day (Apologia)
States and Capitals Geography
McGuffey’s Fourth Eclectic Reader
Presidents Facts and Order
Shirley Grammar
ASCI Spelling 4
A Reason for Handwriting T (Transition book)
Bible
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 15
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Saxon Math 3
ASCI Spelling 3
Apologia Botany (Fulbright)
A Reason for Handwriting “T”
McGuffey’s 3rd Reader
Shirley Grammar
Story of the World Volume 4
Bible
Mavis Beacon Typing
McGuffey’s Second Reader
Math-U-See (for K-2)
Story of the World Volume 3
Story of the World Activity Book
Science: Our Father’s World 2
ASCI Spelling 2
A Reason for Handwriting T
Bible
Mavis Beacon
The Story of the Orchestra
The Complete Book of Spanish
Math-U-See for 1st-2nd grade
Our Father’s World (Christian Liberty Science)
McGuffey’s First Reader
Story of the World Volume 2 and activity guide
A Reason for Handwriting Book B
ASCI Spelling 1
The Bible
Math-U-See book for 1st-2nd grade
Our Father’s World (Christian Liberty Science)
McGuffey’s Primer
Story of the World, Volume 1 and activity guide
A Reason For Writing Book A
The Bible
Go for a walk around the neighborhood
Library: Check out a movie or marriage enhancing book, or a clean joke book to share
Bike ride in the park
Invite another couple (or several!) for a weekly Bible study
Pack a Picnic
Ask for restaurant gift cards for your next occasion and save them for date nights. If you eat dinner at [...]
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Do you have a pressure cooker looming in the pantry under layers of dust? Afraid you will cause an explosion if you break that thing out and actually use it? Fear no more. For the past couple of weeks [...]
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
Readers share: How does your family keep [...]
“Let your rules be consistent and your consequences simple. If you have to write down your consequences in order to remember them, they are too complicated. If they last for days on end, and no one can remember what exactly the consequences are, or why you are having them in the first place, they are [...]
Question: Help! My daughter is a sweet pre-teen who loves the Lord. She does well on her school work and is generally very well liked by others. But lately she has been unbearable at home. She shows no respect to me, she yells, rolls her eyes, stomps, screams, and is very unkind to her siblings. Her room [...]
It is not cheap going out to eat, and at times it is hardly affordable. That is why I spend so much energy teaching moms about freezer cooking and meal planning. But if you have a little extra money and would like to have a special meal out, one way it make it affordable is [...]
Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the NATIONS “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
The Lord has clearly done great things for us. We have been given [...]
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
Nehemiah 13:22
Once again, cleaning is in the air. Before you grab your boxes and [...]
Finding ways to give your time as a family can be a real blessing. It allows you to give freely of your time without dividing your family and encourages good stewardship in your children.
Some of these things can be as simple as baking bread or making a meal. Find out if your parish does [...]
Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire,
to give them light on the road which they should travel.
Nehemiah 9:12
Play history and literature CD’s (or cassettes) when your children are in the vehicle. Many are available at your local library. My favorites: Little House on the [...]
I love having three girls with all kinds of hair. It is fun to try to find styles that work well for them. Here is a style that we have used with two daughters: Sarah (medium length, slighly wavy) and Christina (very long, very curly).
Sarah wanted a special hairstyle for her Keepers of the Home [...]
These are pictures from our co-op. We cover the materials in Fulbright’s book: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day at home. Then, get together with friends to do the experiements and fun projects. These are pictures from the day we made suet and homemade bird feeders. We were meeting at my friend, Debbie’s house.
I have some precious friends that are passing along all their boy clothes to our son, David. Last night, I was going through the 2Ts to find some warm clothes for him and found these adorable coveralls. They are padded and warm, so they would be perfect for sleeping.
After I snapped him all up in [...]
I just finished reading a sweet book called: The Pastor’s Assignment by Rebekah Wilson. This was a precious book. I know it will be one my daughters love. The plot of the book was simple and easy to follow, but it carried a depth of insight.
The stories told about the Nickel family as they go [...]
First, let me say that I did not catch the play on words in this book title until it was pointed out to me by my teenage daughter, but this book is about going all the way in your marriage.
The book I just finished was Going All The Way by Craig Groeschel. The jacket cover says: [...]
Around Thanksgiving or Christmas you can get turkey at a great price, so even if you do not have leftover turkey, you may want to buy extra for freezer or bulk cooking later. Here in Louisville, I have found it for 69 cents, and have heard of prices as low as 39 cents in other [...]
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:13
We just got back from another trip with our children. My husband had a week of training in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since we homeschool we had the freedom to join him there. We had to [...]
Each year around the first week of December, I call a few friends and let them know I can keep *all* their children for a day. I make a list of five or six dates that I will keep my calendar open, and call each one and let her choose a date. On that day, [...]
Whenever I hear bells at Christmas, I am reminded of a precious woman from our church who came and shared with us how she would “ring in the season.”
The house is dark except for the glowing fire. Children sit quietly in eager anticipation. From far across the house comes the sound of jingle bells ringing. [...]
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.’ Proverbs 31:30
What does it mean to fear the LORD? Here in our house we joke and paraphrase the Bible by saying: “The fear of mother is the beginning of all wisdom.” But really, I do want my [...]
Psalm 126
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the NATIONS “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
The Lord has clearly done great things for us. We have been given [...]
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Proverbs 29:15
It’s Friday again. I can tell that I have been less than intentional with my child training this month (with the six scheduled speaking engagements, the home school mom’s retreat and surgery, I was not as vigilant as [...]
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” - 1 Peter 5:8-9
This was the Bible Gateway verse of the day. I [...]
Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
Psalm 84:3
I must say that today I love my home management binder. If you have been to one of our workshops, you may have browsed through [...]
I received the following email from my mother:
Dear Duncan and Malia,
I know that having us there on holidays takes some planning and I thank you for all you do. Hopefully, the time spent with Grandma and Granddad will become part of the “good old days” for the kids. And for us (Grandma and Granddad) they [...]
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62
When we face trials of many kinds our hope can come from so many places: From the people of this world, from the banker, from the doctor.
Let us stop and pause when our trials, big and small come. Let us go back [...]
Check linens for matching sets.
Get out and make air mattresses.
Determine sleeping arrangements. Help children “giving up” their beds get their necessities out of their rooms before guests’ arrive.
Lay out towels and wash clothes for guests.
Check toilet paper supplies.
Check other bathroom [...]
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew an steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
How many times have I prayed this prayer, yet fallen right back into those things that cause me to have an impure heart and wavering spirit? The only way I know how to keep a steadfast spirit, a spirit [...]
“If sinners be d***ed, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” -Charles Spurgeon
What a strong quote, and strong faith it would take to be on our knees daily for [...]
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
I read this great quote recently: Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, but he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight. They who come to Christ, do no only come [...]
Where are you in your walk with the Lord right now? Are you completely sold-out, living for the moment you can meet Him face to face? Are you a new Christian, and are still trying to get a grasp on what this Christ from the Bible means to you personally? Are you a seasoned Christian [...]
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary [...]
Last summer, our family was going through a difficult time. My oldest daughter (then 16) just had a very extensive knee surgery, far more difficult than we expected. Our son (2) was going through a lot of behavior changes and having difficulty sleeping, obeying, responding when called, and the like. My other children were just fine, but [...]
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
For Valentine’s day this year, think of gifts that you can give that show your love [...]
Question: We just started Home Schooling. How can I deal with “easily distractable” child? Should I allow him to use headphones all day so he can tune us out?
I think the answer to your question is two-fold. I also have one very easily distracted child, and one that could plug through school work with a tornado in the room, so I know the struggle you are facing. Here are the two things that came to mind immediately
Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”
Exodus 16:26
During my QT:
In Revelation 1:10, John tells us: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day , and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”
Historians generally believe that when John penned these [...]
Now all the work of Solomon was well-ordered from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.
2 Chronicles 8:16
We woke up one Saturday morning with nothing on the calendar, so decided to have a de-cluttering day. I looked everywhere [...]
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purposes.
Psalm 20:4
How do we overcome distractions?
Hebrews 12:1 “….Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us….” Here the Lord is reminding us that there are [...]
On a marriage cruise a few years back, we had the pleasure of meeting George and Cassie Soete, who were willing to be vulnerable enough to share their story to urge families to affair-proof their marriages.
Roll back the clock 23 years to their 20th wedding anniversary. This is the day George announced to his [...]
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
We are distracted by many things, but by eliminating our distractions we can gain clarity of vision and strength. The classic example in the Bible of a distracted woman is Martha: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to [...]
Shared by Denny Dillman, Family Life Minister at South Louisville Christian Church in Kentucky
I SAMUEL 16:7: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”Can we use this verse to allow for looking “hot”, even in the church. NO WAY! This is [...]
But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
Malachi 3:2
When I first read about making homemade laundry soap, I was excited but skeptical. Would it save me any money? (Yes!). Would it take a lot of [...]
There was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around.
Ezekiel 46:23
When I first started “Freezer Cooking” I had no idea what it was all about. I never even considered the idea of freezing food ahead and [...]
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5
If you have an electronic planner, the following is for you! This will work if you have a Dell Axim, Pocket PC, or any other electronic planner.
We use Microsoft Outlook on the main computer. My oldest [...]
Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
Acts 21:24
We woke up one Saturday morning with [...]
The most budget friendly meal is to go through your pantry and freezer to make use of the things you have.
Other ideas:
Baked Potato Bar. Bake some potatoes, add butter and whatever other ingredients you have on hand: broccoli, cheese, bacon bits, garlic salt, parsley, etc.
Chicken Soup: Buy inexpensive cuts of chicken or a whole chicken [...]
