Relationships

Building relationships

• Equipping Homeschoolers to be Sensitive to Special Needs

  03 April 2012 / Autism Spectrum, Differences, Helping Others, Relationships, Special Needs / 2 Comments

  Parenting a child with special needs is no easy job, and I have the utmost respect for these parents.  I also have the responsibility to equip my own kids to understand how to appropriately interact with peers with special needs.  Here are some suggestions for helping young people become confident in reaching out to build relationships with peers who may look, sound, communicate, process information or move differently than they do.

  *  PRAY.  One of the things we need to pray for our own kids is that they would grow in love for others, and grow in understanding those who may be confusing or frustrating to them in their flesh.  By beginning with prayer (in this endeavor, and in all things) we are going to the Source of all love, and asking Him to enlarge our children's hearts to extend love to all men.
  

  *  TALK AHEAD OF TIME.  Sometimes we fail to talk to our kids about physical disabilities, speech impairments, autism, mental retardation, or the myriad other challenges that are a part of everyday life for many individuals but may not occur in our own immediate world.  Intentionally introduce the subject of ministering in love to people with special needs in your homeschool.  Use video, books, and conversation to honestly and fearlessly explore the topic.

  Allow your kids to begin with using whatever words they need to in expressing their feelings when they think about interacting with someone with special needs.  If they say things like "weird," or "scary" or "embarrassing" in this private conversational context, they are not being mean -- they have to be able to honestly articulate how they feel in their flesh in order to recognize that they need something more, something from God, in order to deal with relationships that are out of their comfort zone.  When you make it safe for them to admit that they are intimidated by certain situations, you can then lovingly show them that Christ is our strength in weakness, and that we need to ask Him to equip us to reach out in love, to change our view of people who are different than us, and to teach us to minister to them in His love.

  If I wait until a situation is unexpectedly thrust upon my child, I have done him (and the person with special needs) a great disservice.  My child needs to be equipped through conversation and research before the situation is in front of him.
  

  *  BE DIRECT.  Every individual with special needs is just that:  an INDIVIDUAL with special needs.  There is no cookie-cutter that can be applied to a person because of a diagnosis.  The vast majority of people with special needs appreciate direct questions like, "Is there a way that I can help with this, or do you prefer that I stay out of your way?"  Asking the parent of a child with special needs very basic questions like, "What kinds of help may I offer your child?" will do more equipping in a few moments than weeks of fumbling and fearing offense.

  If the child or parent is taken aback by your question, don't be offended.  That is simply your answer; this is a person for whom help from strangers or casual acquaintances is not desired.  Typically this type of reaction is NOT what you will get, but sometimes an individual or family is in the process of emotional adjustment to the special needs, and may not be comfortable to talk about it with you.  If you have asked the question in love, you can rest assured that you have not really offended, only offered help and been told that it is not needed at this time.
  

  *  DON'T CRINGE.  If your children are young, they are likely to ask something of a person with special needs (especially visible physical disabilities) that may make you want to cringe.  Of a person with atrophied limbs, "Why do you legs look like that?" is not an insult, it's a genuine request for information.  The person who is dealing with those atrophied limbs every moment of  every day is likely to simply answer the question.  Don't make the situation complicated by jumping in to answer for them unless they seem unwilling to answer for themselves.  Following up with a gentle word of appreciation for the information validates everyone involved.
  

  *  GET SPECIFIC WHEN YOU NEED TO.  An ongoing relationship (a co-op, a Sunday school class, a drama production) with someone with special needs will result in specific challenges where a solution will not be obvious.  Pray, take a deep breath, and deal with them specifically when they arise.  The longer you put off asking the awkward question or suggesting the delicate suggestion the harder it will be for everyone.

  A hygiene issue arose in a play I directed in which a teenage student on the autism spectrum was unable to process my instructions to the whole cast about being diligent in using deodorant when we were working up a sweat close to one another onstage.  (Honestly, our church sanctuary where we held rehearsals was beginning to smell like a locker room!)  I had already spoken to the parents to make sure that the student was able to use deodorant, and I knew that the parents had sent a stick in to rehearsal.  But group admonitions like, "Wow, guys, we are really work hard here and it's starting to smell like it!  May I tactfully suggest we all check our deodorant?" were lost.  The response I got was a big smile:  "I made sure I put it on when I got out of the shower!"

  What to do?  How to breathe?  The other students were struggling mightily with the situation.  I prayed, I took my student leaders in the cast aside privately and explained the new plan to them, and then I turned the challenge into a new cast-bonding activity.  In a cast meeting, I explained that as we approached opening night the sweat was getting out of control, and we would have to re-apply deodorant whenever I called for it.  Regardless of when you last put it on, it would  be an act of cast solidarity to add a little more when asked to.  My student leaders piped in with encouragement to everyone - "I make sure I shower and put on deodorant before rehearsal, and I STILL am getting smelly by the end of the first hour.  I think re-applying during rehearsal is a good idea."

  Guess what?  It worked beautifully!  "RE-APPLY!!" became a rallying cry for the cast.  I would call it out, or one of the student leaders who noticed things "going south" onstage would start it, and before you know it every member of the cast was calling it out in response, marching merrily to their duffle bags to pull out a stick of deodorant.  It was the craziest thing; what could have ostracized a student became a rallying point for everyone in the cast.
  

  *  ADDRESS YOUR OWN FEARS.  Sometimes we struggle to equip our kids to deal appropriately with special needs because we ourselves are uneasy or face fears of our own related to the particular disability or challenge.  Be honest with God first about your fears.  Then find someone with whom you can share honestly about your struggle.  Seek education for yourself via the internet or community resources.  Joni and Friends has fantastic resources for understanding individuals with physical disabilities.  Autism Help offers good information about spectrum disorders.

  What has helped you equip yourself and your homeschoolers to minister lovingly to individuals with special needs?

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  Have you downloaded our new literature study guide for Joni Eareckson Tada's autobiography, Joni: An Unforgettable Story?  Click here to view excerpts from this study guide with comprehension questions, supplemental resources and answer key for just $3.99.
  

• Teaching Them Diligently Convention Wrap Up...On the Road Again

  19 March 2012 / Conventions, Give-Aways, Humor, News, Personal Growth, Relationships, Stories / 0 Comment

  Here we are driving home from Spartanburg, SC and the Teaching Them Diligently Convention, rolling along in Marilyn's vehicle (yet to be named) typing on her Macbook (named Genie) using her cool MiFi (possibly about to be named Mini)! Wow! What a whirlwind weekend plus this has been! Here's a wrap up of some of the highlights since Marilyn's post on Saturday.

  We forgot to mention that our last official act before closing up on Friday was to re-arrange the furniture. While Sabrina was in the bathroom, Marilyn and I totally transformed our booth layout. We wondered if she was awake enough to notice? She did!  It was a much better fit for our corner spot. We had even more entries in our giveaways!

  Saturday morning we had the pleasurable company of Lynn, founder of Founder's Academy, for the early ride to the Expo Center at Restoration Church. Many of us exhibitors came in early at the request of the families of the 400 or so men attending the Prayer Breakfast.

  Our day included lots of visits from folks who had attended Sabrina's Drama Workshop - The Drama really did start here in Spartanburg! Sabrina really enjoyed visiting with Beth from Florida and even spent some time brainstorming how they might work together in the future. Thanks to all of you who came by to gain and give wisdom, ideas and encouragement.

  

  Sabrina and Beth brainstormed some great ideas about drama in Beth's area

  Of course we were delighted to have some more time with Abigail! Lisa and Matthew Lewis of Home School Enrichment Magazine are great people - homeschool graduates, successful business owners, homeschool advocates and wonderful parents. They were kind enough to let us get our "baby fixes". Marilyn was missing your grandbabies at home and Sabrina and I just love babies.  We got to take walks and visited with Shatterpoint Entertainment - she was fascinated with the Jericho movie (Did you vote for it to "get on the shelf" at Walmart?)! Then we visited a booth with balloons and went to on to visit Richelle at Virgina Soaps & Scents to drink in all the yummy sights and smells!

  As the day was winding down, the line at the Rhino Recording booth was winding around the corner. I scooted over to buy copies of Sabrina's workshop on CD. If you were wondering why her workshop was listed under my name, it's because I am the one who got her this gig after all.

  Our booth was directly across from JM Cremp's and all their cool toys.  We were highly entertained by sword fights and shot at by rifle-bearing soldiers. One of their best toys was the arrow shooting slingshot/crossbow. It was repeatedly shot across the room and onto the wall over the heads of passersby. Ask Marilyn about the face of one woman who unsuspectingly had an arrow launched over her head!  Marilyn and I both had to try it before we left! Thanks, Mariah and family!

  In what felt like the blink of an eye, the first Teaching Them Diligently Convention was over and we were packing up. Much to our delight, we were able to fit our the entire contents of our booth onto the hand truck that we had crammed into the car. We were on the road again...

  Thank you so much to all of the folks who made Teaching Them Diligently run so well - David and Leslie Nunnery, Kristin and Jeremy Pressley, Coie Watson, the convention volunteers, the iserve team from Restoration Church and a HUGE THANK YOU to Jenni McClure!

  

  Pollo FUNdido!

  To reward ourselves for our hard work and managing to get everything back into the car, we headed straight for On the Border. Our call ahead order of Pollo Fundido and perhaps the best chips we've ever had, were ready and waiting when we arrived. We whisked them and ourselves back to the hotel for a jammy party and decompression session. We made a huge list of the great things that happened this weekend, found only a few "yucks" and things we'd tweak next time, prayed for ourselves and everyone at TTD and even laughed til we cried over silly jokes.

  On our way home, we had a fabulous time of prayer and sang our praises to the Lord for our own mobile Sunday morning worship.  After a little traffic, a few bathroom/stretch breaks and a lot of miles and solving the world's problems, we dropped Sabrina off in Fredricksburg, VA for some much needed vacation days with her wonderful hubby!  Not long afterward, we pulled into Marilyn's driveway! Hope you enjoyed our road trip posts on our Teaching Them Diligently Homeschool Convention adventure and look forward to another road trip to Great Homeschool Convention in the Northeast in Hartford, CT in June!

• What Makes a Drama Camp Amazing?

  14 February 2012 / Fine Arts, Personal Growth, Relationships, Social Skills, Stories / 1 Comment

  For the last 12 years, I have offered a Drama Camp for homeschoolers every summer.

  

  Final Curtain Call: that moment when my eyes always leak

  A Drama Camp is a theater intensive.  That means it's a chance to put most of the rest of life on hold for a few days and focus on the production exclusively, rather than the traditional format that stretches rehearsals out over 8 - 10 weeks in chunks of a few hours at a time.

  When I began offering Drama Camps to homeschooled students in 2000, I was making things up as I went along, learning as we muddled through.  Our early productions (I like to write original plays for the kids to do, but you can certainly direct a camp without also being a playwright) were put together in ONE week, not two, and produced a 45 minute show.

  We grew and stretched, and eventually were working for ONE week and producing a full-length two-hour show!  That's when I realized that there was too much good stuff going on to cram it all into one week, and I expanded our format to two weeks so that the kids would have time to explore the deeper layers of acting and stage production.  I told you that to tell you this:  Drama Camps offer an arena in which students can find out just how much they are truly capable of accomplishing when they work hard and work together. 

  But why the drama??  Human beings have a need for stories.  We observe our own life-story being written all around us every day.  We learn about other people as they share their stories with us.  Jesus used story-telling to communicate truth about God and life when He was ministering on the earth.  Drama production is a beautiful way to tell stories, and Drama Camps offer unique benefits to those involved in the story-telling process on stage.

  Here's why Drama Camp has been jokingly called "The Weeks When Life Has Meaning" :

  • We anticipate.  Students who have been involved in the past begin looking forward to Camp months in advance, and talk to the newbies they know who are thinking about giving it a try.  They set the bar high long before I have even finished my own plans for Camp!  They anticipate a week of personal growth, hard work, and tremendous accomplishment.

  • We pray.  We pray together before every day of camp, and we spend significant chunks of time praying for and with one another as we draw close to performance, but the prayer begins long before the sign-up sheet is full of names.  I pray for God to bring the right group of kids together for the plan He has for our Camp.  He knows what we all need better than we do!  I pray over the script-writing and editing process, asking God to tell the stories that will change our lives according to His plan.  Prayer is da bomb!

  • We focus.  When students sign up for Camp, I warn them that the rest of life needs to be pretty much set aside for the two weeks of Drama Camp.  They will be at the theater Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 3:00, but at night they will be learning lines, researching for the production, pulling together props and costumes, working with their fellow cast members, etc.  Laying aside other things that we typically enjoy for the sake of a special endeavor is a great way to get your mind and heart open to hear from the Lord.  Similar to the experience of going away on retreat, that change in life-pattern opens us up spiritually.

  • We are unified.  The students are constantly challenged and reminded that they must be operating in unity for Camp to be a success.  They pray for one another.  They work alongside kids they may not like very much, and they learn to love them whether they like them or not.  They pick up the slack for each other when one is tired, or struggling, or frustrated.  Each Camper is vitally important to the production, and we teach that through words and example.  Everyone completes the camp knowing on a deeper level that God made them unique and wonderful, and He has a place for them in the body of Christ that no one else can occupy.

  If you are interested in Drama (or have a homeschooler who is), I will be publishing a couple of white papers and putting them in the EBookstore as free downloads in the next week or two.  Click here to download "Why Drama is Important in Your Homeschool,"  and check back soon to take advantage of even more freebies.

  If the idea of directing an intensive two-week Drama Camp intrigues you, a manual and instructional DVD set will be released in March in the EBookstore.

  Drama has proven to be such a good vehicle for social and spiritual development in the students I've directed in Drama Camps!

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  Have you ever downloaded from our EBookstore before?  It's so easy!!

  Give it a try by taking advantage of the FREE downloads available, and find out how convenient the .pdf format and instant delivery are.  Click here to conquer your fears of technology, and download an epublication from 7 Sisters today!

  The new white paper "Why Drama Is Important in Your Homeschool" is a FREE download.  Click here to check it out!
  

• 5 Reasons Why God Called You to Homeschool

  27 January 2012 / News, Personal Growth, Relationships / 0 Comment

  

  They were homeschooling at co-op from about the time they were born

  Each day that my son and I drive to our homeschool group classes, we pass through a school zone protected carefully by an elderly crossing guard. He is the highlight of our drive because each day as we pass, he gives us (and everyone) a friendly but professional wave and a friendly almost-grin. He is fulfilling his purpose: he is brightening many people’s mornings while keeping young pedestrians safe.

  Just like our buddy, we all have a purpose in life. If you know that God called you to homeschool, then you know He has purposes for that calling. In case you forget what those purposes are during these long, drab winter months, I thought I’d remind you of 5 reasons why you are homeschooling:

  1) You have something eternally important to pass onto your children.

  Your children will learn Christ best from watching your walk with Him. They will learn Scripture and doctrine sitting at your feet and serving alongside you. Homeschooling allows families time and opportunity to grow in the Lord in this powerful manner.

  2) You have something educationally important to pass onto your children.                                       

  

  Still silly and still homeschooling all the way through high school

  
  

  What better place to individualize each child’s education than to homeschooling? A homeschool family has the ability to teach and learn the topics that are most important and interesting to them- in a manner that fits each child (and parent) best.

  3) You need to learn that you can’t really do this.

  You really can’t do this. Homeschooling is WAY too hard. Being around your kids all day is WAY too hard. Behaving in a Christ-like manner all the time is WAY too hard. God’s work is usually WAY too hard. Which is why He gave us his promise:

  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I Corinthians 12:9 KJV biblegateway.com

  He wants you to recognize that you need Him, to learn to rely on Him, and to be grateful for His work in your life.

  

  Dr. Micah Tillman and wife, Ruth, were homeschooled. They do grow up and do well

  4) You need to learn that He expects you to be a good enough homeschooler.

  Another thing you can’t do: You can’t be a perfect educator. You will NEVER cover everything in a totally perfect, hands-on, fun manner. (The result of that would be pride.)

  But God is after humility. He wants you to learn to be simply good enough and totally reliant on Him.

  5) He wants you to know His love for you.

  If you didn’t really love your kids, you wouldn’t bother homeschooling them. You have sacrificed much in order to love your kids in this way. Think, then about God’s sacrifice for you, His child. He always has His attention on you and always lives for you. He loves you. You can meditate this on a daily basis while your homeschool your kids.

  So, you may feel cold and weary sometimes, but hang in there: You are right where God wants you, fulfilling His purpose for right now.

  What are some purposes God has for this homeschool season of life?                                                           

  Celebrate our website being back up! Download a free copy of Sabrina’s study guide for Genesis and while you’re there: Choose another helpful free article from our ebookstore.

   

   

   

• Review: The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian

  10 January 2012 / Prayer, Relationships, Reviews / 1 Comment

  The following is not a sponsored post.  We just like to review books and products that we have tried, and share our impressions with other homeschoolers.

  I first worked through this book about 5 years ago, and it was good enough that I have recently revisited it.  Many of you know Stormie Omartian's series of books on the power of prayer in our relationships.  If you have never checked out any of the books in this series, I recommend that you do.

  Stormie's basic premise is that we are limited by our own humanity when it comes to trying to raise kids, and we are called by God to pray for our kids at least as much as we are called to train them, to teach them, to love them, and to nurture them.

  In the first chapter, she encourages parents to pray, "Lord, I submit myself to You.  I realize that parenting a child in the way You would have me to is beyond my human abilities.  I know I need You to help me."  What a great perspective with which to view our lives as moms and dads!

  The layout of the book is easy to read and implement.  Each chapter focuses on an area of parenting.  Things like "Securing Protection from Harm," "Attracting Godly Friends and Role Models," "Having the Motivation for Proper Body Care," and "Enjoying Freedom from Fear" are some of the 31 chapters in the book.  Each chapter begins with Stormie's thoughts on the topic interwoven with illustrations from her own home, and then goes on to record a prayer that she might pray for her kids on the topic, finishing off with a listing of scriptures that apply.

  While I am not a personal fan of reading prayers that have been articulated by someone else, I still find encouragement and challenge in reading her prayer before I go to the Lord with my own words for my kids.  The scriptures are a valuable resource, and they are my favorite part of the book on this second-time-around reading.

  The book can be repetitive, but it is not surprising that many of the core ideas around praying powerfully for our children could stand repeating!  The repetition does not become irritating in my opinion.

  As much as I am committed to praying fervently for my kids, and have been for all of their lives, I still find this book stirs me up in specific areas to which I have grown dull or careless in my prayers.  It offers great reminders of the many challenges our children face - now, and in the future - and it offers concrete ways to "help" them from our knees in ways that we could never help them in the natural.

  If you are interested in reading Stormie's remarkable personal story of redemption and healing, or if you'd like to look into her books more closely, you can find more at www.stormieomartian.com.

  Your turn:  What resources have you used in praying for your kids?

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  For a fresh take on your prayer life in general, check out Vicki Tillman's Prayer Journals.

  And don't forget that we have our first literature study guide for elementary and younger middle school students available for half-price this week.  The study guide for Sarah, Plain and Tall is only $1.99!

• 5-Minute Friday: Roar

  06 January 2012 / 5-Minute Fridays, Personal Growth, Prayer, Relationships / 4 Comments

  On Fridays, we like to link up to Lisa-Jo and all the writers over at www.thegypsymama.com for a 5-minute blog.  That means Lisa-Jo picks a prompt word, and I write for 5 minutes on that word without overthinking or editing myself.....just write!

  This week's prompt:  Roar

  I'm a word-geek.  I love to play with words.

  One of my favorite words is PRAYER.

  If you get goofy with the spelling and the pronunciation, it can become -

  PROAR!

  What would 2012 look like if you were livin' on a PROAR instead of just a wimpy prayer?

  How does prayer become PROAR?  Add your voice to the voices of other believers!

  I read a really interesting book a few weeks ago called Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere.  In it, she examines lionesses and their habits, and applies those images to the life of believers.  The roar of a lioness is mighty, but when the other lionesses in her pride raise their voices with hers, the sound is mind-boggling.

  When I pray alone, it is mighty.  Conversation with the God of the universe has unlimited potential.  But my praying becomes PROARing when I pray with other believers.

  I pray with my husband, faithfully, all the time.  It is the only thing that has preserved what little sanity we have!

  I pray with my kids.  We don't do little "token" prayers, we sit together and talk to God about the stuff that's bothering us, the stuff we're longing for, and the stuff He's laid on our hearts.

  

  A few of the wonderful prayer buddies I've collected over the years.

  I pray with other homeschool moms.  I cannot find words (word-geek that I am!) to describe how praying with these other women has changed me personally, and changed our little world over the years.

  I pray with the kids I get to teach in day-school classes, co-ops, drama camps, and anywhere else we find ourselves together.

  I pray with my church.  I see amazing things happen in the lives of others even while I am impatiently waiting to see God's answer to my own concerns.

  I pray with others around the world.  The internet allows me to join in to the PROAR being voiced around the world.

  Will you join me?  Let's live life in 2012 on a PROAR!

   

   

  

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  As a tool in your personal prayer time, download a Prayer Journal for just $2.49 this week.

  And a FREE download, Carry Each Other's Burdens, gives great practical ideas for ministering to the needs of hurting folks around you, in prayer and in action.

• The True Secret of Success in Homeschooling

  03 January 2012 / News, Prayer, Relationships / 3 Comments

   

  Who wants to run a failing homeschool experience? (Waiting silently for an answer…)      

  

  My youngest has been homeschooling since he was born- because his older sibllings were all homeschooled, so he got it by osmosis

  No one? Yeah, same for me.

  Fortunately, I found out years ago there is a True Secret of Success in Homeschooling.

  It is:

  Prayer.

  No kidding. Don’t let your day pass without it. Don’t start your year without it. Don’t start your homeschooling career without it.

  Because another truth is:

  On your own, you will fail. It might not be today. (Actually, it will probably be somewhere in mid-February when everyone has cabin fever.) You need the wisdom and strength from the God of the Universe, the God of Wisdom, the God of Power and Might.

  In His mercy, when He calls us to do something outrageous like homeschooling our kids, He also gives us the faith in Him to do it through our Lord Jesus Christ, and His wisdom through His Holy Spirit.

  This might sound almost cheesy, but in the day-to-day struggle to get Algebra done or research papers checked, it is easy to loose time to invest in the one relationship that can truly sustain us.

  (BTW- In case you need a boost this New Year, I put together 2 Prayer Journals for you. Click over to the e-store section and have fun! AND Download Sabrina's Scheduling Backwards- time management- FREE!)

  Disclaimer: Past results are no guarantee of future success. That’s because you are not in control of the results- but you know Who is. So hang in there and trust Him.

  (This is a classic post from Dec, 2010.)

• 5-Minute Friday: Listen

  23 December 2011 / 5-Minute Fridays, Relationships / 0 Comment

  There doesn't appear to be a link-up for 5-Minute Friday at www.thegypsymama.com this week, so I'm throwing my own word out there as a prompt and blogging for five minutes without over-thinking, editing, or stressing about the post.  In harmony with this week's focus on hearing God and hearing people, I chose "LISTEN" as my prompt word. 

  Here I go!

   

  "You know I can't hear you when the water's running."

  "Can you please hit the mute button while I'm talking to you?"

  "Listen, you!"

  "What?  I wasn't listening."

  

  Bekah and Sam

  When the kids were infants, my hyper-radar clicked on.  I could hear the baby THINK ABOUT making a noise in the next room, no matter what else was going on at the time!

  

  As they got older, I had to learn to tune things out or I would have lost my mind.  Riding with several children under the age of 10 in a car makes tuning-out a survival skill.

  I want to live somewhere in-between hyper-radar and tuning-out.  I want to LISTEN to my kids, my husband, my friends, my parents, my Lord.  I don't want to miss anything good!

  

  Some of mine...some of my sister's...all with something to say that I want to hear.

  Just like developing hyper-radar cost me something (sleep, mainly!), and just like tuning-out cost me something (occasionally I miss something really funny), LISTENING will cost me something.  It will require focus and determination, choosing to quiet my own mind that often clamors more loudly than anything outside me.

   

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  We hope your family is enjoying some wonderful Christmas celebration, and that you get a few days of time to read, think and pray as you look to the coming new year.  Why not download some of our freebies to peruse over your Christmas break?  They will give you great ideas for a new take on your homeschool in 2012.

  Have you ever used one of 7 Sisters' Literature Study Guides?  Our free download of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens will show you the quality and approach of some of our most popular resources.  Incorporating vocabulary, comprehension, articulation and enrichment, these individual study guides (or the integrated set available for British Literature) bring books to life in a new way for your student.

• Homeschool Moms Hearing God in a Group Setting

  21 December 2011 / News, Prayer, Relationships, Stories / 2 Comments

  

  Co-op moms

  I am so very blessed. I am befriended by a group of homeschool moms who pray together- and hear God together.

  Here are some of our experiences:

  1) Praying for guidance for our homeschool co-op

  For many years, co-op was the definition of excitement in homeschooling for our kids- re-enactments of the Underground Railroad (including scary slave-catcher, Marilyn), Passover Seders, making homemade rootbeer, Renaissance Ball, jousting fests (wheelbarrows, swimming-pool noodles, shaving cream), 1920's dress-ups, recitng The New Colossus at the base of the Statue of Liberty (in the rain), writing papers/stories/poetry, visiting the inside of the Conowingo Dam- and much, much more.

  I get all tingly remembering those good times.                                                                      

  

  Moms at co-op field trip to Gettysburg

  It took a lot of great planning to make a great year for our homeschoolers. We learned by experience that planning was hindered by 20 kids underfoot, phones ringing, fixing lunches, etc. So we started holding a planning retreat:

  We would go to a local state park that had cabins (equipped with kitchenette and bathroom).

  We would arrive on the specified day, greet each other, have a group dynamic activity (ie hike together), then disperse to pray alone. Each mom would take Bible and journal and sit alone with God discussing with Him the upcoming year (personally and for the co-op).

  Then we would join as a group to sit quietly for a while, simply listening for God in a group setting. After a while, we'd pray out loud together, then compare notes from all the listening time. Usually we found that we each had a unified idea on the educational themes and approaches for the year. With unified hearts we were able to quickly and with good fun, come up with exciting activities to do around those themes.

  It was powerful stuff. Imagine the God of the universe speaking to us about our little co-op! He cares for us all!

  

  Some of the umbrella school staff on Color Wars Day (staff in purple)

  2) Our umbrella school

  All the 7 Sisters are part of a homeschool umbrella school that has a diploma program and group classes. Each year, we have had a prayer retreat for the 20ish "staff members" of the school (those who teach group classes or help with administrative stuff). We spend time alone, seeking God. Then we come together, worship, and discuss the past year and the upcoming year. We have felt God's guiding hand as we've problem-solved and vision-casted. The worship and prayer together has also unified our hearts and made us all better friends.

  Prayer- talking and hearing God together is so important to our homeschooling-in-community!

  Do you have stories of praying together with your homeschool friends?

• Review: Hearing God by Dallas Willard

  20 December 2011 / Healthy Living, News, Prayer, Relationships, Reviews / 0 Comment

  Last year, a small group of homeschool moms joined me for a book discussion group. It was one of the high points of my year. My favorite book of the year was Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard.

  Dallas Willard is professor of philosophy at University of Southern California and also a noted Christian author (what an interesting combination of careers). I heard Dr. Willard speak at the International Conference of the American Association of Christian Counselors 2 years ago. He was a wise and Godly speaker and inspired my prayer life and walk with God.

  In the realm of philosophy, Willard is an renowned phenomenologist and epistemologist. Phenomenology studies the things we are conscious of/the things we notice. Epistemology is the study of how we know things.

  It makes sense to me that someone who studies how and what to notice and know, is someone who would be interested in how to notice and know how God speaks. Thus, Hearing God is a scholarly look at how to notice God speaking, how to know whether it is God who is speaking, and how to become the kind of person who is aware of God's constant presence and desire to conversationally relate to us.

  Here are some chapters:

  -The Paradox of Hearing God- talks about our desire to hear from God and our human lack of confidence in our abilities to do that

  -Guidelines for Communicating with God- discusses some of the misunderstandings about conversation with God

  -Never Alone- deals with understanding God's presence everywhere around us

  - The Still Small Voice and Its Rivals- discusses ways God communicates with individuals today

  -The Word of God and the Rule of God- talks about God's Word, His written Word in Scripture and the power of that Word in the creation and redemption processes

  -Recognizing the Voice of God- Points out how to discern the difference between God's voice and the voices of others

  Our homeschool-moms book discussion group had such rich discussion over this book and it truly impacted our prayer lives! I learned to be much more available to God, while at the same time totally tempered and trained by Scripture. This is a book that must be read slowly (in fact, portions of it should be read several times), but it is truly powerful. I recommend it as a must-read for 2012!

  (BTW- This is not a sponsored post, we simply suggest books that we like.)

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  Now, follow up Hearing God with some praying/hearing exercises in 7 Sisters' Prayer Journals. Download for 1/2 price this week $4.99.

  Last few days of FREE download for A Christmas Carol Study Guide- don't miss it.

  Also, FREE are:

  Scheduling Backwards (How to get your time under control) and Carry Each Others' Burdens (how to REALLY help).