My boys have been asking this question for the past few weeks as I pour over our books deciding if we’ve done enough to call it a full year of school.  We finished our Algebra,  Science, writing projects, history, and fine arts.  Sadly though,  we have neglected  our  Abeka Themes in Literature book  and it sits on our bookshelves with many pages yet to read.  My friend advised me after discussing this subject with her homeschool coach  that 75% of the text is enough.    Okay….with that information I decided to work on completing  75 percent of this literature book.  (Do you remember completing all of your textbooks in public school…I never did)

Although I am bent on my children reading, understanding and enjoying this literature,  reading poetry by Robert Burns and Emily Dickinson is not especially thrilling for my young men.  And honestly,  I struggle with some of this myself.  Although I appreciate good literature,  sometimes I do not consider it  practical enough for this day and age.  Shouldn’t we be devoting all of our time to such pursuits as studying the Constitution, history, economics or necessary life-skills?  Do you follow what I’m saying?  Read more...

Check out this interview with Dr. Francis Collins who was homeschooled until 6th grade. He is an  American physician-geneticist noted for his discoveries of disease genes and also for his leadership of the Human Genome Project.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

youtu.be/Ml0FqyFYfrU

This year we are using the A Beka Themes in Literature for part of our English credit.  Although we are not reading every single story and poem in this book, so much of it is wonderful and worthwhile.  We also find it helpful to look up some of the poems, authors and stories on youtube for more information.  Using curriculum that is in Christian perspective makes all the difference and turns an ordinary assignment into a worldview lesson…or opportunity for discipleship.  A government school program (charter etc.)  would not accept this program because of the Christian bias.

Make no great account of what man is for you or against you, but mind and take care of this, that God be with you in everything you do.

Have a good conscience, and God shall well defend you; for no man’s malice can hurt him whom God wills to help.

If you know how to be silent and to suffer, you shall without doubt see the help of the Lord.

He himself knows the time and the manner of your deliverance; and therefore  it is your part to resign yourself into His hands.

It belongs to God to help us and deliver us from all trouble.

Many a time it is of much advantage towards keeping us in greater humility that others know and rebuke our faults.

When a man humbles himself for his faults, then he readily pacifies others, and easily satisfies those who are angry with him.  Read more...

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED !!!! The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, ‘GOD BLESS YOU’

And he walked off the stage… The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God’s blessing on their future with or without the court’s approval. Isn’t this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends………and GOD BLESS YOU!!!! This is a true story; it happened at Eastern Shore District High School in Musquodoboit Harbour , Nova Scotia.

I love this poem by Edgar Guest about our America. Although the progressives have been busy destroying what is good for a long time, our dear Country has changed drastically over the last 8 years or so. Read this poem…slowly….to your family….and remember what our country used to be.

If I knew a better country in this glorious world today
Where a man’s work hours are shorter and he’s drawing bigger pay,
If the Briton or the Frenchman had an easier life than mine,
I’d pack my goods this minute and I’d sail across the brine.
But I notice when an alien wants a land of hope and cheer,
And a future for his children, he comes out and settles here.

Here’s the glorious land of Freedom! Here’s the milk and honey goal
For the peasant out of Russia, for the long-subjected Pole.
It is here the sons of Italy and men of Austria turn
For the comfort of their bodies and the wages they can earn.
And with all that men complain of, and with all that goes amiss,
There’s no happier, better nation on the world’s broad face than this.

So I’m thinking when I listen to the wails of discontent,
And some foreign disbeliever spreads his evil sentiment,
That the breed of hate and envy that is sowing sin and shame
In this glorious land of Freedom should go back from whence it came.
And I hold it is the duty, rich or poor, of every man
Who enjoys this country’s bounty to be all American.