Mountain Musings

New Audio Album Giveaway

 

We're excited to have another opportunity to host a giveaway here on Mountain Musings, featuring more Biblical worldview resources from Vision Forum. This time, Vision Forum is offering to give a copy of one of their newest audio albums to a reader of our blog. The 5 new collections of messages are:

• Let Freedom Ring! The Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour
• True Beauty: Cultivating Christ-Centered Father-Daughter Relationships
• History Has Been Made: Moments and Messages from the 2009 SAICFF
• Lights, Camera, Action! Highlights from the 2009 CFA
• The 2008 Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy

These conference CDs will help you consider topics as important as the battle for Biblical marriage, the significance of the Electoral College, an analysis of how Christians should depict violence in film, how to build the father-daughter bond, and what the Bible has to say about female magistrates.

You'll also be able to hear special event highlights such as a “Give Me Liberty” recitation by Dean Jones, dramatic performances by George Sarris, music from the Von Trapp Children, and a behind-the-scenes look at Fireproof with Stephen Kendrick and Kirk Cameron.

Go here to read more descriptions of each of the albums and determine your favorite. To enter for a chance to win the album of your choice, comment on this post with the album you would select. You have until Friday the 27th at 8 pm EST.

If our family could pick just one of these albums, we would probably want to listen to Let Freedom Ring! The Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour. We've never been to Philadelphia and would enjoy hearing on-location tours as well as talks about historic leaders like George Washington or Jonathan and Sarah Edwards.

One last thing: Our research from past contests on this blog shows that you will likely have a 2-9% chance of winning our giveaway. :) So for those of you who want to make sure you get to hear these messages, be aware that the 50% off sale on this set ends tonight!

~Hannah

Reclaiming the Culture DVD Giveaway

It's time for our special giveaway!

Vision Forum has recently released a new DVD Series for the Christian family, featuring speakers Geoff Botkin, Doug Phillips, Ray Comfort, Paul Jehle, and Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin. We will soon be reviewing this set here on Mountain Musings as part of being an affiliate, but for now, we have the chance to hold a giveaway for our blog readers!

The titles in this series include:

• The Promise: The Beauty and Power of the Fifth Commandment
• What is Biblical Femininity? 
• Training Dominion-Oriented Daughters 
• Foundational Elements of a Godly Estate
• Providential Nexus of Jamestown and Plymouth
• We Cannot But Speak
• Guerilla Apologetics for the Glory of God

More titles will be periodically added to this collection. We have heard some good things about these messages and look forward to seeing for ourselves. Listen to sample clips from the presentations here.

If you make a comment on this post, you will be entered to win the entire set of 7 Reclaiming the Culture DVDs! If you post about this giveaway on your blog and link to this post, you will be entered twice!

This contest is open to those in the U.S. and Canada, as well as members of the U.S. armed forces. Please make your entry by the deadline of Sunday, June 29, at 9:00 p.m. EST. We will post our winner on Monday, June 30.

~Hannah

Home Church & Home School Graduation

Today we traveled to Amelia Courthouse (just a little over two hours away, near Richmond) to attend a home church gathering with our friends. We had been looking forward to today as it was a special time to honor a graduating son from one of the families and also to renew acquaintance with home church friends.

First, we all gathered with our folding chairs under the big oak tree and sang several hymns. Prayer time was next, followed by a teaching time, and communion together.

During the time set aside for the graduation acknowledgment, special friends thanked the Lord for the character qualities observed in Philip's life and encouraged him to always put the Lord first in everything. His parents then came forward, and his dad presented the long-awaited diploma.

Here's a picture of Philip with Eli, the young man who brought today's teaching, which included exhortations from Ecclesiastes 11:9... "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth.." and Ecclesiastes 12:1..."Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

Delicious food, desserts, and music followed in the afternoon. Here are Tom and Jonathan playing guitar along with some of the other men.

Hannah and Sarah enjoyed conversing with some of the girls and moms and seeing a couple of new babies added to the group since we last visited. I had a fun time chatting and making the rounds snapping pictures. It was a very enjoyable Sunday! Thank you, Trent Family, for your hospitality and congratulations Philip!

~Deb

We Were Nominated!

Edited to add: We have responded to the coordinators of the blog awards after a comment was left on this post. We let them know that it is correct that we are not officially home schooling at present, and they are welcome to remove our blog from the contest. We wish the best to those home schooling blogs participating and for the remainder of the awards process to run smoothly. I'm sure the coordinators have a lot of work to do to make sure all goes well.

As stated in the original post, we are and will continue to train our young adults in all areas until they have homes of their own. Thank you to everyone who commented here in regards to the awards. We appreciate it.

We just found out this morning that Mountain Musings has been nominated for a Homeschool Blog Award! Thank you to whomever nominated us in the Best Family or Group Blog category.

Having finished our 17-year home schooling journey a few years ago, we actually rarely write on home schooling topics, although you can go to the Home Education category on our sidebar to read past posts.

The continued schooling going on in our home now is home training geared towards helping our daughters learn to be godly wives and our son learn to be a godly husband, and it involves all of life's lessons as they come along on our journey. We are enjoying this season of life just as much as the younger home schooling years!

Voting began on Monday, April 9, and continues through Friday, April 13. Go here to check out all the blogs listed in the Family Blog category, and go here to vote in all other categories.

~Deb

God's Grace

Thanks to Lydia at Renewed Day by Day for posting the letter from Chris Klicka, one of the attorneys with HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association), and his testimony of God's grace and provision. Since we are finished with homeschooling, we aren't as up-to-date on current news with the local homeschool organizations or with HSLDA, so I especially appreciate Lydia's including this on her blog. If you haven't seen the letter already, it's a good way to find out how to better pray for Mr. Klicka and his family.

~Deb

We Get to Answer a Question!

Randi asked the questions below in a comment earlier today. We thought the subject was important enough to have each of the kids weigh in with their thinking. They post their insights below.

"Did your kids ever want to attend public school? We have gone back and forth with our older girls and have explained that homeschooling is what God wants us to do. But we do not have very many homeschooling families in our area who go through high school. This means that our girls are surrounded by people who go to school--causing them to feel left out. My hubby and I still feel strongly that this is the path for us, but I don't want my girls to resent this decision. Have you had this struggle with your kids? Any suggestions?"

Sarah (19) says...I've never wanted to go to public school! :) For as long as I can remember, I've known my parents' convictions and held them myself. Added to that, I have had no desire to be in the public school atmosphere. I've seen and heard the types of things that go on there. I had to go to the local high school to take the SAT test...the desks in the classroom had stuff carved and written on them; the bathrooms were likewise defaced, and the whole atmosphere just seemed oppressive. I was so glad to get out of there - and grateful that I hadn't had to spend 4 years of school in that building.

Something that may have helped me was that I was in the same grade as my brother Jonathan. It was nice to have someone else doing the same things with me. I liked having some "competition." :) Anyway, I've always enjoyed homeschooling and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Hannah (22) says...I, too, never felt "left out" being homeschooled through high school because I wasn't attracted to what the public school experience had to offer. The benefits of being taught at home, to me, outweigh any misconceptions of losing out. For me it was especially important to enjoy and be content at home as a young lady, learning what it means to be a godly woman, instead of spending most of my waking hours around those who would not share these same goals. I'm thankful for the wisdom of my parents in following God's plan for our family.

Jonathan (20) says...Boy, I can answer that question quickly!  No, I have never, ever wanted to attend public school. Even when I was fairly young, I could see the attitudes and character (er...lack thereof) of many non-homeschooled kids. I have not been impressed, to put it simply. That feeling has only grown as I have become older. I see that my parents have protected me from the decidedly anti-Christian influences that so devastate impressionable children. 

Homeschooling acts as a strong "glue" between family members. Thus, I have grown up in a setting where siblings and wise parents were more important than peer-oriented relationships.  When this mentality was instilled in me at a young age, I had no trouble being homeschooled through high school; in fact, it was normal and natural! I had no desire to leave my family to be taught hours on end by a teacher who probably did not share my worldview. I was more than satisfied to be a part of my parents' vision to fufill God's commands in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, and I hope to do the same with my children if and when God gives me a family.

Deb says...Randi, I think most of the articles I found that write about this subject assume that the parents themselves have to be talked into homeschooling through high school. Most of what I found when I searched my files were articles dealing with encouraging parents to realize they were qualified..."yes, you can do it!" type of articles.

From your comment though, I see that's not the case. Since it's your children you need to convince, your tactic could be to get your children to realize all the benefits to them and to your family by continuing to homeschool and not to focus on what they're missing by not being with their friends. In fact, even when children are homeschooled but spend vast amounts of time with their friends and separated from you and family activities, it will affect their relationship with you.

We've seen teens who have spent time in youth groups and are constantly with their friends, and they start pulling away from their families and start trying to "fit in" with the group they're with. They are thrown into situations like boy/girl preoccupation, focus on clothes, and pressure to conform in appearance and music.

We feel that family unity is one of the most important "by-products" of home education. Teens need to feel that they are a necessary part of the family and need to support and encourage each other rather than being ashamed to be seen together as a family. Planning occasional family activities and possibly including your daughters' friends (one or two at a time) will help them to see being with a family and doing things together can be fun! I would encourage more and more "family and friends" times rather than "teens with their friends without the family" times.

3rd Degree at the Beauty Shop

There I sat yesterday getting my hair cut with no way to gracefully get out of the cross-examination. It's actually been a long time since I've had to defend homeschooling, so I was a little out of practice.

I always get my hair done in a lady's home who has a shop in her basement. So usually there are just the two of us there to converse--except when I meet the person ahead of me who is all finished and ready to leave or when the person just after my hour's appointment comes a bit early. That's what happened--on both ends.

My beautician loves to inform everyone that we homeschooled our four children. It never fails; she likes to introduce her customers, and this little tidbit of information is sure to elicit conversation--especially among her older clientele who are of the old school of thinking. Yesterday was no exception.

"What about socialization?"  "Well, we found there were so many activities in our homeschool group in which to participate that we actually had to say "no" in order to not socialize so much and to get some schoolwork done." [I left it at that--this was not the time to go into a spiel on peer pressure and age segregated type of socialization.]

"So, you're a teacher by profession?" "Actually, no, I never went to college."

"Then how could you teach your children?"  "Well, because I love them and could spend quality one-on-one time with them teaching them exactly the way each one of them could learn the best. And I used excellent curriculum throughout our 17 years of schooling."

"Did your husband get involved in teaching?"  "Yes, he taught math and science every evening."

"What educational qualifications does he have?"  "He's an electrical engineer."

"And you said you have two sons in college?"  "Yes, one is in his second year of medical school studying to be a surgeon."

"Well, that says a lot!"  [Thanks, Micah, you made me look a lot better.]

"Aren't your daughters interested in college?" "No, not for a career. They're pursuing a business from home currently and then will be wives and moms someday" [Lord willing].

"Hmm..."

Well, I'm not sure I swayed this lady at all; she had plenty of her own opinions to add to the subject. But I managed to have an answer for the rapid-fire questions she threw at me. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post on feeling a kinship with homeschooling families starting school. Now I'm right in there with them again--defending the right to do what they're doing.

~Deb

An End & A Beginning

The 22nd annual HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia) Home School Convention & Educational Fair starts tomorrow in Richmond. This year's theme is "Joy in the Journey!" with Gary Chapman (The Five Love Languages), Jeff Myers, Chris and Tracy Klicka, Debra Bell, Susan Wise Bauer, Andrew Pudewa, Jonathan Lindvall, and Vicki Caruana. Advance handouts are available here.

Since we've already completed a 17-year career in homeschooling, hearing that the Convention is going on shouldn't get me all excited. But it does somehow. Listening to all the speakers, attending the workshops and support group leaders' luncheon, browsing the vendor hall, seeing other homeschooling moms I've become acquainted with through the years from the various places we've lived throughout Virginia, knowing a high school graduation ceremony is going on in one of the ballrooms--it all brings back so many memories. I miss the excitement of all the commotion of Convention.

I will always remember 2000 when Micah walked across the stage; Tom handed him his diploma, and Micah handed me a rose. It was our first experience with having  a home school graduate--the sense of accomplishment was great.

Another couple of years later Hannah followed and felt the same thrill of graduation. Last year in 2004 Tom and I remained on stage a bit longer because we had two graduates--both Jonathan and Sarah walked across the platform and each handed me a rose. Tom presented their diplomas, and a celebration was in order.

After 17 years, we felt we were saying good-bye to a familiar old friend; homeschooling had served us well.

So I won't be in Richmond this year for the information, resources, updates on new legislation, or the hoopla of seeing friends. But we wish congratulations to all the home school graduates and pray that the Lord will continue guiding them-- enjoy your graduation day!

Best wishes, Joseph!

~Deb

Fathers & Daughters

I finally grabbed a chance this weekend to get caught up on some blog reading after getting behind last week.

I enjoyed seeing the pictures of Vision Forum's Father/Daughter Retreat held recently at Calloway Gardens and reading the accompanying article about why a girl would say 'yes' to Proverbs 31 daughterhood. We have a few of the CD's which cover the same topics and find them encouraging for single daughters living at home.

Here are five of our favorites: Victory for Daughters (three homeschooled daughters speak out about virtue, serving their fathers, and the noble call of womanhood); Sleeping Beauty and the Five Questions (a parable about the hearts of fathers and daughters); What's a Girl To Do? (how to wisely invest your daughter's time); The Promise (the beauty and power of the fifth commandment); and The Role of Women in the Local Church.

Having two daughters, we are interested in these topics and in searching the scriptures to raise them up in the way of the Lord. We would recommend any of the above recordings if you are at this same stage with your children.

~Deb

I'm not too Keane on "Family Circus"

Has anybody read today's "Family Circus" comic strip?  Billy, the 8-year-old kid of the family, is walking out of his school's cafeteria and ruefully remarks to his classmate: "I wouldn't want to be homeschooled, but I'd like to be home-fed."

Perhaps I'm overreacting, but my hackles were raised at this statement. Obviously, "Family Circus" cartoonist Bill Keane is ribbing the proverbial "mystery meat" menus of school cafeterias, not violently attacking homeschooling. However, it does reveal a flaw in "Billy's" thinking. Billy wants to eat a wholesome home-cooked meal instead of icky cafeteria food, but he is not realizing that he is being "fed" an even ickier "food." The modern school system is feeding the mind of today's children with atheistic, materialistic, and "entertainistic" propoganda. They are taught secularized versions of politics and philosophy. They are presented with revisionist "history" (see my earlier "Joy of the Lord" post). Biblical values of marriage and family are denigrated, giving a non-existent moral foundation and leading to immorality and perversity. Kids grow up in a peer-oriented environment where peers at school, not parents and siblings, are respected and admired. Evolutionary theories are presented as fact; creationism is ignored and ridiculed.

Whew, "mystery meat" pales in comparison to the school system's worldview. I thank God that my parents home-schooled me and didn't let me be fed by atheistic teachers.

UPDATE: Okay, the Georgia textbook sticker case has grabbed my attention.  I googled it and found these links.

Answers in Genesis (pre-court ruling)

AgapePress (pre-court ruling)

StreamingFaith (post-court ruling)

And that bulwark of conservatism, the New York Times (post-court ruling)

~Jonathan