HEART Book Club: Chapter 2

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Liz Corson

 

Enrich Your Marriage

Over the last several years Davis and I have witnesses several marriages implode. Marriages that we thought were solid, friends we had had for years. But behind doors over time things started declining.

This last summer we had a fabulous celebration of 25 years of marriage. We had a great party with friends and family. It was our desire to set before our kids an example of what marriage looks like, to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness.

In those 25 years we have, by God’s grace, developed some good habits. We pray together regularly. We have found this to be a valuable investment. I love to hear Davis’ heart during these times. We write each other love notes and leave them for each other to find. I love to come across one of these hand-written notes from Davis. I have several boxes of them from over the years. We also still date each other. We put them on the family calendar so that the kids know we are going out together. It has been a priority for us over the years to have these times for just the two of us. We only lived near family for a couple of years when we had young children and not at all since. God blessed us with inexpensive sitters and friends who helped us get these times to recharge together.

As for interactions and habits that we are still working on, that have not to date been worthy of imitation, there are always areas to work on. 

HEART Book Club: Chapter 3

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Apologia

HEART blog-post for book club by Rachael Carman

Chapter 3

A-Accept Your Kids

It cannot be anything but providence that in just the last two days I have had conversations (and subsequently prayer) with parents who are having a difficult time accepting their children. Both wrestling with God’s plan and purpose for their kids. Both sure that God must be punishing them. Both questioning God’s ability to show them how to proceed. Both doubting they are going to survive the teenage years.

These conversations reminded me again of my own struggle to accept my own first born. I remember being shocked and ashamed when I realized that even through I loved Charles given that he was my son, I didn’t like him. He was difficult and defiant, disobedient and discouraging. I wanted to enjoy our days together, but I felt like I spent most of them disciplining him and at night I would cry myself to sleep feeling like a complete failure.

Now all these years later, I can still remember the anxiety of those days. I am grateful for those years, those battles, those trials, God’s strength, patience and mercy. I have since seen God’s faithfulness in a myriad of ways. On this side, I am overwhelmed by grace.

God taught me so many things through those trials, things about Charles, about me and about Himself. I learned that Charles is like me and not like me; he is his own person and that person is passionate and strong. I learned that I didn’t have it all together even though I thought I did. But God loved me anyway and He wanted me to want His will in my life and not my own. And I learned that God is God and I am not, that He alone is worthy, He is able and He is my answer. At the end of the day accepting my children meant accepting God as God.

Welcome to the Apologia Live Blog

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Apologia

Welcome to the Apologia Live front porch, our blog! 

 

My name is Liz and I am the Apologia Live Director.  We are excited to have you here! The Apologia Live Retreats are faith-based, spiritual encouragement and fellowship retreats for homeschool moms.We are looking forward to meeting you and getting to know you as we celebrate this journey together.  Here on the Live Blog we will have posts that relate to moms, homeschooling and homeschool moms. 

 

As I have met other homeschool moms, both in person and online, I am struck by the fact we are not alone.  There are other women struggling with the same questions I have. God has called us each to our own journey, but He has not left us there by ourselves.  He has given us community and He has given us sisters in Christ who are walking similar paths. 

 

Over the next few weeks and months we will take some time to hear answers from our veteran homeschool moms and mull them over.  Iron sharpens iron so add your own thoughts and questions as we go.  I have listed a few of the questions our speakers have answered for us below.

- Is homeschooling for everyone?

- How do you handle loneliness and find refreshment?

- How do you start you children's day with joy?

- How do you handle multiple age groups?

- What are some ways to cultivate character in your child and develop a heart for God?

- How do you handle kids who are reluctant to homeschool and feel left out of the norm?

- Can you speak to the major high school struggles including how to prepare ahead of time, dual credit, apprenticeships?

- How much time do you spend in elementary school days and when do you start grading?

- How do you get your husband involved in your home school?

 

Which answers are you looking forward to the most? Admittedly, I have a few favorites based on the season I am in with 1 toddler, 1 preschooler and a rising kindergartner in the fall.