I was perusing the internet tonight and came across Martha Peace's website.  She is the author of one of my all-time favorite books, The Excellent Wife.  As I was reading through the question and answer pages, I came across this and felt that it was very pertinent for me, and wanted to be able to refer to it regularly.  I hope it helps you too.

Q:  Sometimes I go into angry rages especially when my children are acting up.  I always feel guilty and apologize, but it keeps happening.  Is there anything that can help?

A:  Angry rages are a deed of the flesh (Gal. 5:20).  They are sin. That is the bad news.  The good news is that with God's enabling grace, you can repent.  Sinful anger is almost always a habit and will only be changed by thinking kind, tender-hearted thoughts instead of angry thoughts (Eph. 4:31-32).  For example, instead of thinking “That makes me so mad!”, you ought to think, “My child is sinning.  How can I overcome evil with good?” (Rom. 12:21).  Then come up with a plan of action based on biblical principles.  Work hard at this.  Pray for repentance.  Confess the sin of anger right when it begins, when you first begin to feel irritated or frustrated. Humbly ask for God's forgiveness and your child's forgiveness.  You do not have to stay an angry person because “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:20).

Spunky is giving away a Benz Microscope and Apologia Biology Set this week. Click Here to get the details.

I have recently discovered Spunky's blog, and have SO enjoyed it!  We definitely have the same views when it comes to educating our children. 

I have been looking into using Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation series with the kids next year anyway.  They just LOVE science, and we had so much fun when we did the unit study together, that I thought this would be the perfect combination for us to try, while not having all of the subjects on my shoulders.  Another microscope for our school room would be awesome too, as one just doesn't seem to cut it with four kids angling to see the “cool” thing going on under the scope.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know about her giveaway!

I wrote this in response to a question posted on a forum that I frequently read:

Because I don't trust my own words, I will give you some scripture to consider:

Matthew 7:6-11

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

My children are certainly my pearls, and as the previous post says, I will not render my children unto “Caesar.”  I also believe that this verse is telling us that God *will* supply our needs, especially when it comes to His little children.

People make choices.  I know of several families who hardly have any money, yet they CHOOSE for the mother to stay home and homeschool the children.  They do without two vehicles, a fancy house, cable television, etc.  They CHOOSE what is important to them!

It is not the government's business to educate our children.  EVER!  God has given that responsibility to us as parents.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

How can this be accomplished when the children are sitting in a public school room where none of this is allowed.

Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The commentary of this verse says: Train children, not in the way they would go, that of their corrupt hearts, but in the way they should go; in which, if you love them, you would have them go. As soon as possible every child should be led to the knowledge of the Saviour.

When the children are gone to PS for so much of the day, where is the training taking place?  I have a friend who puts her kids on the bus at 7am, they get off at 3pm, do homework, eat dinner, bathe, and go to bed by 7pm.  Where is the time for much training at home?  Most of the “training” is taking place at school.

One more little comment, then I will stop for now.  I took the kids to hear a lady who had gone to Africa with a missionary team.  She said that she couldn't believe that there was no public education!  She was amazed and shocked.  The only educational institutions were run by churches.  I believe this is as it should be.

If the PS system failed due to the Christians all pulling their children out, I believe that the demand for church schools would rise, and that the tuition would be lowered for those who want to hand over the responsibility of training their children to others, and we would see an amazing transformation in our nation.  Not to mention the fact that if we didn't have to pay so much in our taxes for education, everyone COULD afford to homeschool (not that it has to cost that much!), or send them to a Christian school.

I hope I haven't offended anyone, but have given you all something to think about.

On the way home from church yesterday, we saw a plethora of eagles!  One pair we saw was sitting way up in the top of a partly dead tree, and beneath them on the same tree you could see their enormous nest.  It is so nice to see them all coming back year after year to nest.  It means that spring really is coming, and the birds are beginning to start their nesting!

On Sherry's blog today, I found out about an eagle cam!  It is of a momma eagle sitting on her nest.  Pretty cool!  We have it saved as a shortcut on my desktop so we can keep an eye on her!

Today in history, we learned that Kublia Khan trained eagles to catch wolves!  Wow!  I had never heard of such a thing.  Wouldn't that be awesome to have a trained eagle!  I could trim the talons and have it watch the kids!  Woohoo!  HAHAHA!!!!!