What I Wish I'd Learned in History

I love homeschooling! One of the big advantages of homeschooling, at least in Alabama, is the freedom to choose your own curriculum. My first grader has been reading about Winston Churchhill with Daddy through a wonderful book called The Happy Warrior. He is fascinated by WWII. And Daddy is happy that he has been able to get out his WWII games from his childhood and play with all the figurines again.

We have also been studying Ancient History this year with our base of the Story of the World, by Susan Wise Bauer. This led us over the past few weeks to do a unit study on China. Theirs is a fascinating history, and we have only scratched the surface. For those interested in resources on this subject, here is what we have used:
1. The Great Wall of China by Leonard Fisher
2. Modern Marvels of China
3. The Silk Route by John Major
4. Gladys Alyward
by Janet Benge
5. Hero Tales by Dave & Neta Jackson. This is a great compilation of stories of missionaries and historical figures that are inspiring, written in a devotional format. Several of the figures are persons who lived their lives as missionaries to China.

Alongside China, although not connected, has been our study of Julius Ceasar with the Story of the World again as our springboard. We borrowed a great book that we are reading aloud from the library entitled Julius Caesar, by Zachary Kent. Next on the list is Josephus for kids. I found a resource for this which looks great, entitled Our Young Folks Josephus by William Shepard. I will let you know after we have used it for a while.

Now tell me what 1st grader in public school has been exposed to such figures already as Alexander the Great, King Tutankhamen, Julius Caesar, Josephus, and already knows why the Trojan War was fought and who the first emperor of China was? I know I didn't learn that stuff, nor did I ever find history of much value as my teachers were all non-history types brought in to read the ever-boring "Social Studies" text from a textbook that smelled - (remember that awful smell of the school textbooks??)

A Tired Mommy's Journal

This week has wore me out, and it is only Tuesday. Homeschooling my dear son has been a challenge to say the least the past 2 days. I feel like quitting. Both days, I think he has spent as much time in the "principal's" office (a.k.a. Dad's) as much as he has sitting down to do his school work. I have all these wonderful visions of how our home school should go, look and be. Problem is... it isn't much looking like I envision. Instead, the past few days have been filled with complaining, disobedience, sibling rivalry, one highly distractible child, and yes numerous spankings. Sometimes I just want to throw the towel in and say, "Lord, I am not cut out for this!" But I can't. And that is when I realize that I am in need of the Lord's grace more than ever. And that is when I come running to the cross, realizing that I am just like my precious children. I am the one with the complaining spirit, the one who isn't showing much grace to my children, the one who is impatient and critical. In short, I am just as much the problem as they are! Parenting is all about seeing our own need of the Gospel. We are in need every day, every hour of the cleansing and redeeming grace of Jesus. And my kids need to see that. They don't have to go far to see that I am not perfect. But what I do with my imperfections and where I take them is what they need to see. I hope and pray that they see me bring my sin and my weaknesses to the throne room of Jesus each and every day.

So often I lose sight of what is important. I am so overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of being a mom and a wife and a homemaker, the fact that my kitchen sink is overflowing with dishes sometimes seem more important than the emotional & spiritual needs of my children. I neglect to train them in the ways of righteousness because I am tired and would rather just retreat from the constant demands of motherhood. Yet, Christ calls me to persevere. He calls me to keep stepping forward, keep coming to him in repentance and faith, repentance and faith, that the Gospel may work in my own heart and in those around me. I am a work in progress. And so are my kids. And so are you. The good news is that He has already perfected those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). We belong to Him, and we already know the end of the story!