Book Giveaway Drawing!

To celebrate Katie’s Interview  about her Kennel at www.teachinggoodthings.com/blog/blog, we are having a drawing for this wonderful out of print book!  Filled with beautiful artwork, and great stories about dogs, it will become a family favorite. 

     To enter the drawing, please leave a comment in the comment box below.  Drawing will be “drawn out of a hat”.  Deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 5, and drawing will be Thursday, Aug. 6th.  Feel free to share this with friends and family!

                                         Good Luck!
Marcie, Blessed mom of Katie

      My friend over at http://www.teachinggoodthings.com/blog/blog has honored my daughter with an interview regarding her kennel.  I thought I would share little about how this all came about from a mom/teacher perspective. 

     When I began homeschooling,  we were mainly concerned about keeping our children out of the public schools.  While this is a VERY good thing (another upcoming post topic), the Lord had something much bigger and better in mind.  He wanted to be my parent and wanted me to parent my children as He parented me.  Boy, do I fail at this, but He has taught me so much about unconditional love, something I needed to learn a lot about. 

     When Katie was about 10 years old, she did not seem to have much interest in anything in particular.  I did not have her heart as a result of following society’s expectations, conditional love, family problems, and staying too busy with less important things.  Do these things sneak up on you, too?

     I began a few things to try to win her heart.  The first and most important was crying out to God to show me how.  She loved to watch old movies so we began to do this regularly as a family.  She has always enjoyed cooking, so each day at 11:00 a.m., we would put the books aside to prepare lunch.   We all loved being in the kitchen together.  She was beginning to give me her heart.  What a treasure!  

     Meanwhile, I was also praying for the  Lord to show me what lights Katie’s fire, what He had put in her.  I wanted to join Him in His plans for Katie.  He didn’t  want her little “self”  fed, but wanted her to use her gifts for His glory.  Whenever an interest was expressed in something, it was tried to see if it was a true interest or a passing phase and to make sure it would not feed the flesh. 

     One example  involved the desire for a pet.  Did I mention Katie likes animals?  Her babysitter had a pet ferret, and Katie thought that sounded wonderful!  In order to see if this was a passing phase or a real interest, Katie was asked to research ferrets, their health problems, and their needs.  After researching, she decided a ferret wasn’t for her.

     The Lord reminded me that Katie  wanted to breed Golden Retrievers when she grew up.  Now keep in mind, I DID”T LIKE DOGS, especially large dogs with big teeth.  I had been attached by a dog as a teenager, and it left a lasting impression!  I knew this reminder was an answer to prayer, though, so Katie’s research into dog breeding began.  Her interest remained.  Prayer now was for the Lord to provide a way to earn the money to get started.

     Did He provide!  I met a new friend who also homeschooled her children.   She told me her husband hired homeschool children to put together box lunches for his business that catered Christian retreats.  Not only was Katie able to earn the money for her first dog, she made some wonderful friends.  The families were all family centered, and some of the mom’s helped out as the meals were put together.  They sang hymns as they worked.  It was a sweet time.  And work they did.  Once a week, they would put together between 5,000-11,000 lunches! 

     Not only did my new friend lead to this opportunity for Katie, her daughter (at age 15) was breeding Chocolate Labs.  She helped Katie pick out her first dog.  They invited Katie to stay with them when a litter was born to learn how to whelp.  They even taught her how to vaccinate.  Katie is still learning from them, now about natural health care  for dogs and horses. 

God’s ways are so much higher than ours!

     Now all these years later, Katie is finished with her so-called high school,  and growing her business.  I never imagined all the things she would learn or all the ways she would grow when this began, but here are a few:

Writing Contracts, advertising, developing and maintaining a website, dealing with customers (she is usually shy!), developing relationships with other breeders, money management, carpentry (on the kennel), training,  healthcare, and praying for people she meets.

        We do all work on this together, but it is mainly Katie’s responsibility.   Part of all of this journey learning to serve and lay their lives down for each other.  So hard and so far to go, but so beautiful when it happens!

      Please be encouraged.  God has a wonderful plan for your children.  Seek His face about what that plan is and jump on board for the ride!  Watch and see what all the Lord will do!

Marcie

    Oh, by the way, I’m still afraid of dogs.  Golden Retrievers are really people, though, so that’s o.k. 

 You can learn more about Katie’s business at www.greenmeadowsgoldens.com

His Way Homemaking

invites you to

Our

Grand Opening!

Please visit our Bookstore for $2.00 our ebook and cookbook!

Enter the code GrandOpeningSpecial at checkout.

Sale ends August 15th.

     My dear friend, Kelly recently gave birth to her 8th child, a beautiful baby girl. As beautiful as Ellia is, her birth was more beautiful.  Waiting for news, through the long night, I was reminded of how the Lord uses pictures of earthly things to explain spiritual truths to us.  Being born again, for instance. 

     What a treasure we have in the friendship of families like Kelly’s.   May I share them with you?

  Lord, your goodness overwhelms!

You can read about Kelly’s natural childbirth at http://www.generationcedar.com/main/

Marcie

     It is peach season here in Alabama and have we been enjoying them!  By purchasing 2nds, my buying club  was able to get them for $.45 per pound.  I bought 125 pounds.  Katie learned how to make and can peach jam while I canned the peaches.  Zach did a great job on peeling.  We are looking forward to enjoying the “flavor of summer” all winter long.  If you enjoy peaches, try to find some 2nds from an orchard.  They are delicious and economical.

     Other  “flavors of Summer”

Flowers

  Friends, blueberries, swimming, and puppies!

Harvest 

Have a Peachie Day!

Marcie

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,  And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

 “Listen to the word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, or loyalty or knowledge of God in the land…

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, (of God) I also will reject you from being my priest.  Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will foret your children.”

Hosea 4: 1,6

“What benefit will it be to you
if you gain the whole world
but lose your own soul?”
(Mark 8:36) 

   Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, ”The scripture is our inexhaustible textbook, the Lord Jesus our boundless subject and the Holy Spirit our divine infinite helper“.  

     Without prayer and the help of the Lord, I don’t believe I would have lasted as a home educating mom.  One of the main reasons God led me to homeschool was a desire to have my children taught Godly character.  For those of you who may be beginning to homeschool or struggling with homeschool, may I encourage you that God has a bigger plan for your children, for your family than just learning facts or escaping a bad school?  He has a bigger plan for you!

     His desire is the same desire He has for married couples:  to raise a holy generation!  What an awesome responsibility!  Home Education IS part of that process.

    To that end,  I would like to share with you some of my favorite and most meaningful homeschool resources:

    1.  PRAYER – Don’t proceed without it! God knows your child and knows the plans He has for your child.  Seek Him for the curriculum that will best suit your child’s learning style.  Seek Him for the plans He has for your child and follow.  When someone asks me about curriculum, I always send them to the Lord.  I have seen the Lord work through a curriculum that He led me to. 

2.    Wisdom’s Way of Learning by Marilyn Howshall – Marilyn shares her homeschooling journey and what the Lord thought her through it.  The Lord used these books to lead me into ENJOYING homeschooling and really learning to follow Him.  Especially meaningful to me were As God Parents You, Parent Your Children and  Secrets of Solitude. The message of her books WILL change your life, your relationship with your children and your relationship with the Lord. 

 3.  Beyond Survival by Diana Waring – This book       helped me to understand more about the different learning styles and how they complement     each other. 

  4. A Record of Lifestyle Learning  by the Notgrass Family – This is a record book for recording learning and activities.  I totally love this record book because worship, chores, and service are recorded as well.  Student or parent recorded, it will give a beautiful tapestry of learning

 May I encourage you to relax, be taught of the Lord and then teach it to your children.  The Lord will supply the rest.  The world’s knowledge will be burned up in the end. 

The Thinker

     As a homeschooling mom, getting ready for a new school year looks different than what I thought it would when I began this journey 15 years ago.  For the next few days, I’ll post about some things I have found helpful to surviving  homeschooling.  Thursday, July 30th,I’ll be posting about my daughter’s journey in delight directed learning and link to an interview she did.  I think you will enjoy it!

     One of the first things we do in beginning a new school year is to get into the habit of a schedule.  It usually looks different from year to year,  even from season to season depending on subjects taught and outside activities.  Teaching children to manage their own time and responsibilites is as important as anything they can learn from a book, maybe more.

     An organized home does help organize the mind.  To this end, if things begin to get too disorganized,  a course in organization 101 is taken up.  No matter how organized things start out, we always end up after a few weeks needing that course!  

     One of the ways we organize is to have set chores for each day of the week.  This helps with two things:  it breaks down the housework into managable amounts on busy school days, and it eliminates having to ask over and over for that days chores to be done.  This cuts down on that unpleasant nag factor.

This is what our weekly chore schedule looks like:

Monday:      Clean the family room downstairs and bathroom, sweeping,   mopping and dusting.

Tuesday:     Clean your own bedroom,

Wednesday:   Wash sheets, clean kennel, yard chores

Thursday:   Clean upstairs bathrooms and kitchen, sweeping and mopping.

Friday:   Clean living room and sun room.  Prepare for Shabbat.

Saturday:   Work on unfinished chores, yard/gardening

   Laundry and ironing are done as needed, hanging most clothes on the line.  Each person usually straightens their room first thing each morning.  Cooking and cleaning the kitchen are shared chores.  Homeschooling can be overwhelming, but keeping things in order and a good outing every so often, can really make a big difference!

    Here are a few organization ideas:

1.  When folding sheet sets, place the sheets and pillowcase inside one pillowcase.  This will keep them together in your closet and save time searching for sets.

2.  Use square or rectangular storage containers in the refrigerator for leftovers.  These save space in the cabinet when not in use and in the refigerator. 

3.  Once a year, go through your attic/storage space and eliminate things you no longer need.  More things require more care.  Simplify, simplify, simplify (and survive!)

I hope you have a blessed new school year.  May the Lord grow us and our children into His likenss.  Isn’t that what it is all about?  And take courage, for  it is not all up to us …

“all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13

Marcie

     We were blessed to have 3 blueberry bushes growing in the back yard already when we moved to our home.  Last year, we were able to share a lot of blueberries.  This year, we are waiting to see.  What I can share is this wonderful recipe my daughter discovered.  If you have not tried scones, well, you are in for a treat!  You’ll be looking for more scone recipes.

     Years ago, we switched to freshly milled whole wheat flour.  This recipe uses pastry flour.  The nutritional benefits of  using freshly milled flour are numerous and very worth learning about.  Our health is so much better. 

     If you want to use white flour, get the best you can and never used bleached.  To use white flour, reduce the flour to 2 cups.  Enjoy!

Blueberry Lemon Scones with Pecans

½ cup milk                                                   

¼ cup natural cane sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

2 ½ cups soft wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into

   Small pieces (or 1 ½ tablespoons butter +

   1 ½ tablespoons natural apple sauce)

1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen, thawed

¼ cup chopped pecans

1 large egg white, lightly beaten (optional)

2 tablespoons natural cane sugar (optional)

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

     In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles a course meal.  Add liquid ingredients and mix.  Gently fold in blueberries and pecan. 

     Turn dough out and pat into 8” circle.  Cut circle into 8-10 scones.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes or until done.

      Preheat oven milk to 375 degrees.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

     In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles a course meal.  Add liquid ingredients and mix.  Gently fold in blueberries and pecan. 

     Turn dough out and pat into 8” circle.  Cut circle into 8-10 scones.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes or until done.

       If you are interested in whole wheat baking, here is the link to another recipe I posted:         http://hiswayhomemaking.com/blog/2009/06/friday-evening-shabbat/#more-56                                                        

                                                                        Blessings,                                      

                                                                          Marcie 

“every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” J ames 1:17

Any idea?

      I’ll give your thirty seconds to quess.

  La la la la la la la (imagine jepardy music).

     O.K. Time is up.  Last year, I started developing a garden spot on top of our rock, I mean hill, we call our farm.  I’ll share on another post how to start a vegetable garden without a tiller, tractor or dirt, but back to the above question because you are all in suspense, right?   

     See that sweet looking Golden Retriever?  Well, she really is sweet and she really loves tomatoes, especially right off the vine.  Did you know that Goldens can pick tomatoes on the run?  Neither did I, but last year I had the most beautiful and prolific tomatoes.  The dogs ate almost all of them.  (Yes, the dogs are still alive.)  By the way, they can also smell when cantalopes are ripe and pick them, too!

     Well, about a month ago, in a burn pile (did I mention we live in the country?), I found the  tomato plant  pictured above growing and with blooms.   Those sweet dogs dropped a tomato in the burn pile last year, and it grew!   I put aside my reluctance to try tomatoes again and transplanted it into the veggie garden on the trellis.   I hope WE get some tomatoes this year!

gratuitous puppy picture

     Here is a great link to directions for the trellis:

http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=19360765

     Hope it’s a good year for tomatoes.

                                            Thanking the Lord for the rain today,

                                                                           Marcie