If you are a homeschooling mama of little ones, how long do you spend reading either God’s Word or a devotional every day? (No condemnation or judgment… you may answer freely)
Month: November 2011
What’s In A Name? Why I Chose Kerugma
The name of my website has undergone many changes from HomeGrownKids, SusanPriolo.com, Kerugma.net and now as it has been for a few years, SimplySusan. Many people asked me what the title Kerugma meant. I used that name as it had significance to me but if you don’t know what it means, I’ll bet it all sounds Greek to you. I thought I’d share with you why I chose the name, Kerugma.
Kerugma
pronounced kay-roog-mah
- that which is proclaimed by a herald or public crier, a proclamation by herald
- in the NT the message or proclamation of the heralds of God or Christ
Kerugma means ‘proclamation’. It comes from the Greek word kerux meaning ‘a messenger’ or ‘a proclaimer’.
In fact the official kerux or herald would stand in the market place and blow a trumpet, calling the attention of the crowd to the edict of the Emperor, and his proclamation was as a command… it had to be obeyed. The kerux was called upon only to proclaim. His role was not to speculate about the message, nor to explain or justify it, but simply to proclaim the message, the essence of the Gospel. The onus was on the hearer to hear and obey.
What It Means To Me
We are ambassadors of God and His word, both by our actions and our words. One doesn’t need to post about theological matters in order to preach the gospel. The gospel can be preached throughout throughout the activities of our daily life.
You are writing a gospel,
A chapter each day.
By deeds that you do,
By words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true.
Say! What is the gospel,
According to you?
(Author Unknown)
Now that you know what kerugma means is it easier for you to remember now?
What does your website or blog name mean? Why did you choose it?
Leave a comment to let me know or write your own blog post in response. (Just drop me a line to let me know so I can visit you)
Making Butter
After watching a recent episode of MythBusters, I am inspired to make my own butter! Yes, Google is my friend and I will ask his opinion later but I’d like to ask my real, flesh and blood friends for their input and experience.
Thanks to Nourishing Traditions, we eat a little bit of butter. Okay, we probably eat a little too much of it but it’s better than margarine so it’s not all bad. Right? Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Aside from the fact that I just want to try it and see if it is fun, I have a sneaking suspicion that it might end up being cheaper than store-bought butter. What do you think?
Have you made your butter in a processing machine or did you shake it by hand? Do you use cream or milk? Any other tips before I attempt it?
Training Children to Use Facebook for God's Glory
Facebook Training for Kids from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.
Many homeschool families do not have an issue with facebook. Their teens don’t care much for it so there’s no problem. But not all homeschoolers are like this. Some homeschool families are very much into technology and social media.
However if, like me, you are going to allow your teens to be involved on facebook, this video gives some very helpful and practical tips for parents.
We have applied the advice he gives in the video. And no, my teens are not perfect and they probably have made a few mistakes. But I am there to see it and guide them through it. For us, this is a much better approach than total avoidance. But that’s us. You might be different.
How about you? Are you ‘friends’ with your teens on Facebook? Do you interact with them on their wall?
Oh! While we’re talking about Facebook, have you ‘liked’ my susanpriolo.com facebook page yet? I post lots of Scripture and interesting links and tid bits to it a few times per week.
Family Christmas 2011
Many, many years ago… in the age of dial-up connection. Remember that?
Mr Greystash
Many, many years ago… in the age of dial-up connection. Remember that?
Pretty Bug
Many, many years ago… in the age of dial-up connection. Remember that?
Advent Reading
Jotham’s Journey, Tabitha’s Travels, and Bartholomew’s Passage are written for ages 9years and upwards. It all begins with Jotham and it continues in Bartholemew’s Passage culminating in a wondrous story called Tabitha’s Travels. This series of books has mystery, suspense, humour, victory and more. Not just a fictional story, it also contains a short, devotional reading for each day in the build up to Christmas.
Over the years we have thoroughly enjoyed the whole series of books by Arnold Ytreeide. If you haven’t heard of these book syet, please look into them and make reading one per year a new family tradition.
The stories are to be read each day in the lead up to Christmas. They tell stories that are filled with adventure and are rich in history. They have been woven together and include psalms, stories from the Old Testament and culture to paint a vivid and thought provoking series. The series is full of great explanations about how Jesus is the promised Messiah, and what that means for us today. Almost every chapter ends in a cliff hanger and the kids were just dying to read more. They were very excited when they made connections from Jotham’s story and Bible stories they are familiar with.
Our family didn’t have an issue with the somewhat graphic violence in the stories but I know of some families who have not been able to continue with the books because of it.
Arnold Ytreeide is married with two grown and married children. He has worked as a youth pastor, policeman and televaision producer. He has a degree in theology and he actually wrote Jotham’s Journey for his own children when they were young.
Links
Best prices
Amazon
Series on Kindle
Jotham’s Journey
Tabitha’s Travels
Bartholomew’s Passage
ChristianBook– free shipping!
Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent $7.99US
Tabitha’s Travels $7.99US
Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent $7.99US
Ytreeide Advent Stories, 3 Volumes $22.99US
Book Depository US
Jotham’s Journey $13.20AU
Tabitha’s Travels $13.20AU
Bartholomew’s Passage $13.20AU
Fishpond – free shipping!
Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent $15.41AU
Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent $13.13AU
Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent $14.39 AU
Affiliate links are used and I may receive a commission if you purchase through these links.
Creativity Takes Time…
Two minutes and 7 seconds. Go on, you’ve got time to watch this. If you are a mum, dad or a teacher, you need to watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQhSXcyDHLA
Thanks to Louise, who originally posted this on Facebook.
National Homeschool Week Park Meet-Up Tomorrow. Are You Coming?
As part of the National Homeschool Week Park Meet Ups, I will be hosting a park meet in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd November, 2011).
A Park Meet is an opportunity for homeschoolers With Experience to share with enquiring or new homeschoolers. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and demonstrate to an often sceptical mainstream how great the homeschool lifestyle can be.
I will be at the park from Noon onwards so feel free to bring s picnic lunch and join me! If you live in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and want to know what park we are meeting at, please contact me for details. I will send you the location and my mobile phone number.
Strangely enough, I’ll be the lady without any children! I only have 2 children at home now and they will both be tending to the online lessons so can’t attend.
I hope to see you there!
Help Me Choose An E-Reader
Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, Nook or Sony Reader or even another type of ebook reader? There are so many to choose from! And even though I am doing my research, I’d like to hear from my friends and blog readers. I want your opinion! Tell me what you have or what you want and why.
Why do I want it?
With only two children left at home (and they are currently 14.5 and 16.5yrs) we are looking ahead to our future. We want to downsize. We have a rather large home library that served us well over the years but it has become tiresome to lug it all around from state to state. (Remember we’re a Defence Family).
Wants:
- To read any books from any source, pdf ebooks included.
- To be able to take notes, keep bookmarks, etc
- Wi-Fi
- Easy to read
So, don’t be shy. Tell me your thoughts. Sell me an e-reader,friends.
How to Create Your Family Mission Statement
Where there is no vision, the people perish:
but he that keeps the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18
Your life has purpose. Your family has purpose. Your homeschool has purpose. You know what is important to you. And you know what is in your heart. But maybe you haven’t expressed it with words nor put it on paper. Yet doing so is a very beneficial action that will help you and your family throughout your life. A Family Mission Statement is an effort to define the vision of your family and therefore the mission or purpose of your family.
When to devise a Family Mission Statement
You can write your own Mission Statement any time, but sooner rather than later is best! You might be recently married – get started on it today. You might have just found out you were pregnant or have a new baby. Maybe your children are school aged. Or even high school aged. It’s never too late to articulate your thoughts, values and vision and put them down on paper.
Reasons and Benefits of Devising a Family Mission Statement
- reaches the heart of the family members. This is not just a formula or a bunch of rules. It goes beyond laws and touches the heart.
- a Mission Statement will keep you focussed on your goals.
- a Mission Statement will help you discern a course of action when ever you need clarification. It will aid you in making rational decisions.
- let others know your values and priorities for how you spend your time and money.
- is a perpetual reminder to the family.
- dictates your daily interactions with family members and with others.
- dictates your daily rhythm or schedule.
- dictates what you do and how you do it.
- assists with direction, focus and motivation.
How To Devise Your Family Mission Statement
For the Christian the first step is to pray. Put it before God and ask Him for revelation. Then take time to ponder the questions below and discuss them with your spouse. After awhile, grab a pen, your husband and start mind mapping.
Substitute I/we as applicable.
- Who am I/we?
- How did we get here?
- What is my reason for existence?
- What is my deepest desire?
- What do we feel strongly/passionately about?
- What is the most important thing in our life?
- What is ‘family’?
- What things are important to us, as a family?
- What abilities and interests and concerns has the Lord given to us, as a family?
- What are our strengths are as a family?
- What are our weaknesses?
- What makes our family special?
- What should we do more of as a family?
- What should do less of?
- What is the one thing we desire to see happen through us in the world?
- Can we see any specific ways of making this happen?
- What are we trying to achieve?
- Include any quotations, Bible Verses, poems that help you articulate your thoughts and/or sum up your ideas.
- What direction has God shown us:
-
- regarding our individual and our family’s ministry in the Kingdom?
- regarding the children He has given us/or may give us?
-
That seems like a lot of questions! However these are only suggested questions to get you pondering so you can devise your own Mission Statement. This list is not exhaustive and it isn’t meant to be used in a rigid manner. Rather you can use the questions to pray and meditate upon and talk with your spouse and children about. These questions are a springboard not a quiz!
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
Now what?
- Print it out. Inspire your children by sharing it with your children.
- Commit to your Mission Statement.
- Commit your Mission Statement to God.
- Be prepared to reassess your statements periodically. It’s important to examine our priorities on a regular basis so that we can pro actively work toward them.
- You may prefer to use such terms as Family Motto, Family Creed, Family ways, etc. The wording isn’t the important part. The content is.
“Education is not the filling of pail, rather the lighting of a fire.”
William Butler Yeats
Examples
Several posts can be viewed here:
- Our Lifestyle of Learning and
- Identity Directed Homeschooling and
- The Animal School Parable and
- Academics which may serve to give you an example of our educational philosophy or educational mission statement.
- Our family goals for Bible Study may also be an example of our Family Mission Statement for Bible Study.
- Although I didn’t set out to write a Mission Statement about our Family Health, this is very similar – In Our Kitchen.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-10
Have you written a Family Mission Statement? Maybe you used a different process or included other things. I’d like to hear about it. Leave a comment?
I Lost My Voice
I recently posted that I don’t parent from fear now. And I don’t anymore. But I did. And I see similar actions from young parents- tactics used to control, cajole, manipulate or micro manage their children. I see some parents who are so scared of letting their children make mistakes.
I’ve also met some adults (young and slightly older) who have been parented by these methods. And sadly, they have turned their back on God, rejecting His way and going after a life of fun and temporary pleasure.
Losing my voice
When one of my children was 14 she started to go off the rails. She rebelled against us, God and everyone else that she perceived as authority. And as is typical with this particular child when she does something she does it well – to 100% of her ability. Being such a young age, everyone (friends, church members, other homeschoolers, etc) got to see her rebel against God, family and homeschooling. Suffice to say it has been the most difficult period in my life… but God has been good (of course!) and has revealed Himself to me in a way that I needed.
My daughter did all this early and publicly, or so it felt because I was involved at church and in the homeschool movement. I started to feel like the example – what not to be or not to do. Ouch.
On a personal level, I lost my writing/speaking voice. I totally lost my confidence. I had nothing to say. I felt useless and worthless and as though I had nothing to offer anyone. I felt that people only wanted to hear of the positive, glowing success stories and my child didn’t fit in that mold. Guess what? She still doesn’t. We don’t fit in that mold either. And largely nothing has changed. People still want to hear the glowing, positive reports… until they have a child who starts to look sideways- then my inbox gets busy.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
~2 Cor 1:3-4
Back to those young adults…
Unlike my daughter they appeared to be good, Christian, homeschooled kids… until they hit about 17 or 18 years of age. Things have started to go downhill… very quickly. In fact, some of those young people are doing the things that my daughter was doing years ago. Except my daughter isn’t doing all that any more. She has learned a lot (she still has a long way to go, but that’s God’s job, not mine) and now manages her own home. But these young people I know have now gone off the rails. What’s the difference between my daughter and them? Not a thing. Except they are older and because of that, it doesn’t seem as bad. But it only seems that way because it isn’t as public. But the same attitudes are there; have fun, party hard, hate authority, parents, etc.
But God is a big God.
I was saved by grace. I couldn’t have saved myself. When (not if, but when) my child realises their salvation and has a revelation from God I want them to know the truth – that they are saved by grace, through faith. I know he has a plan and a purpose for my children and their salvation. God is a God of salvation. Redemption is His business!
What have I learned during this journey?
Heaps! But writing concise summations are not my strong point. I don’t know really but a few things come to mind… don’t be too quick to look at others and judge. Don’t look for formulas. Don’t try to micro manage our children. Don’t parent from fear. Accept that I cannot obtain salvation for my child. Accept that I can’t train them to be a Christian. Applying lists and rules and guidelines are just that – lists. Don’t micromanage their attitude but look to their heart and treat it gently, tenderly. Everything I do needs to be seasoned in grace and only motivated by a deep and sincere relationship with the Lord Jesus.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
~2 Corinthians 12:9
Oh, in case you hadn’t realised… I found my voice again!
Use a Voice Recorder for Auditory Learners
I’ve been using a nifty little tool which has helped me organise my ideas for writing and website work. It’s such a simple idea, I can’t believe I haven’t used a voice recorder before now.
Courtesy of lauraneff
I was complaining (Yes, I know you might find that very hard to believe but on a rare occasion I have been known to grumble and bemoan) about my lack of focus, how I am so easily distracted and mentally vague due to ideas buzzing in my brain. Unless I transfer those ideas from my head to something more tangible they shoot around my head like a little ball in a pinball machine. I’ve got to do this immediately else the ideas will be lost. Know what I mean?
I’ve tried writing little sticky notes but they just got lost. I tried having a notebook but I never had it on me when I needed it. So then I tried taking notes on my phone but found it too hard, too slow, too laborious with my one finger typing on the phone keyboard. Plus my mind ticks a lot quicker than I can type on the phone. I’d lose my train of thought to easily and be right back where I started- distracted.
The free voice recorder app is a convenient tool for taking notes, creating audio reminders or recording narrations.
And then my husband-who-is-very-smart, suggested I use the voice recorder on my phone. What a brilliant idea! (It’s so clever I nearly considered leaving this part out of the blog post and claiming the idea as my own.)
Yes, I am one of ‘those’ mama’s. You know, the ones who have a phone glued to their hip at all times. No, it’s not for facebook or email (Well, not ALL the time) but because I can always be contacted by Mr. Smart-Hubby and the children. However I am meandering again. Back to the point. (See, you’d never have any idea that I struggle staying focused if I didn’t tell you, right?)
I created a shortcut on my phone desktop and within 2 seconds I have my voice recorder open and ready. I can spill, albeit in my jumbled fashion, my scattered thoughts into the recorder and it’s done! No longer are the ideas roaming around in my head. They’re tucked away on my phone, ready for me to deal with at an appropriate time. Once the initial idea is out of my head I can then begin to fine tune those thoughts and / or focus on the activity I was engaged in before the light bulb moment.
I am rarely at a loss for ideas… it’s in capturing and storing those ideas that I need help. If I’m having difficulty with a website design or site issue, sometimes I’ll have an idea of how to solve the problem while I’m doing something completely unrelated; like showering or watching softball or cleaning the bathroom. Usually that idea will have to stay in my head while I’m doing the activity which causes me to appear vague at times. But not any more! I just record my idea into my phone and it’s gone! My mind is free to enjoy the task that I was doing- I can be in the moment again.
Ideas won’t keep; something must be done about them.
~Alfred North Whitehead
This hack can easily be beneficially adapted and used with children, especially auditory – linguistic learners. Can you imagine the various ways to use this trick in your family? In your homeschool?
- Try having your auditory-linguistic child narrate a chapter of his book. Have them record their key notes as they are working through a textbook. They can easily record events, dates, proper nouns, etc.
- Send a child outside to play for 20min and then hand them a voice recorder- think of the possibilities!
- Come on, brainstorm with me… share an idea or two in the comment section.
What tools and tips help you to be productive and organise your creative ideas?