My Blog = My Life: practical help

... continued from yesterday. Read Part 1 here.
Currently, we're teaching our 2-year-old to memorize the Proverbs. Proverbs for Parenting | A Topical Guide for Child Raising From The Book of Proverbs compiled by Barbara Decker has proved to be a handy tool as each of the proverbs are organized into their respective categories.

If Charity is having a particularly difficult week with anger and temper-tantrums, we can flip to the anger section and choose a few verses from there to work on. If she's habitually stalling when we ask her to do something, we'll turn to the chapter on obedience. If she's having a hard time finding something nice to say to her brother, we'll memorize a verse on kindness.

There's nothing difficult or scientific about our method for memorization. For the most part, it's a simple process of "repeat after me." This past week, we memorized Proverbs 16:6: "By mercy and truth, iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil."
1. First, I'll read the verse through and explain any words she might not understand: iniquity, purged, depart.
2. Then I'll say the first phrase and ask her to repeat it back to me. I do this several times over with each section of the verse. That way, it gets ingrained in my memory as well as hers!
Mommy: "By mercy and truth... "
Charity: "By mercy and truth... "
Mommy: "Iniquity is purged... "
Charity: "Iniquity is purged... "
3. Once I think she's familiar with the phrases, we start combining them, two at a time:
Mommy: "By mercy and truth, iniquity is purged... "
Charity: "By mercy and truth, iniquity is purged... "
Mommy: "..and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil."
Charity: "... and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil."
4. Next, I leave out key words, and give her the opportunity to fill them in:
"By ________ and _______, _________ is ________: and _____ the _________ of the _______, men __________ from ______. Proverbs ____ : ____."
5. Once she's done the above a few time, we're down to just a few prompts until she can say it on her own:
"By _____________, iniqu... _______________; and ________________, men ____________________. _________ ___ : ___."
The whole process takes less than 15 minutes. I'll randomly review the verse with her several times throughout each day of the week until she can rattle it off and we move onto the next one. A few other things we've found helpful to aid in Scripture memorization are:

• Music. We sing a Psalm from our Church's Psalter with her before bed time. It's so fun when she picks it up and is able to sing along with us or recognizes it in a Church service!
• Regular Review. We try not to forget about a verse once we've moved on to a new one. To keep it fresh in her memory, we'll say the first word of a verse she knows when we're in the car or at dinner, and she'll finish the rest.
• Consistency. I find this to be the hardest part of all, especially if my morning is rushed by a tight schedule. However, if Charity's kept in the memorizing mode, it becomes easier for her to catch on. Once she recognizes it as part of our daily routine, she becomes the one who reminds me: "Mommy? Can we do the 'merry heart is good like medicine' one?"

It's easy to get discouraged when faced with the continual decline of our society. I'm particularly guilty of being a Debbi-Downer when it comes to current affairs, especially when we, of all people, have every reason to hope. Christians do not fight for victory, they fight in victory because Christ has already won the battle for us! (Revelations 1:18) Our victory is not only certain, but we've been provided with all the tools we need to wage battle against sin on this side of Heaven.

Some folks within the Christian community see no point in becoming politically involved. They reference God's sovereignty over cultural affairs as reason to accept whatever is dished out by the hands of diplomats. While we must submit to civil authorities (1 Peter 2: 13), we likewise must take seriously the command to "occupy" until Christ's return (Luke 19:13).

It's important for Christians to get involved in politics because, rather than "polishing brass on a sinking ship," our mission on earth is to be about the kingdom business of our Heavenly Father. Being a voice for truth and spiritual freedom in the public square is a particularly effective way for this to happen. Imagine what kind of change would occur in a society where judges made court rulings based upon God's law and politicians kept promises because they understood the seriousness of the ninth commandment!

It may feel like the worst of times, but in many ways it is also the best of times. The odds are in our favor - the rapid increase of homeschooling families - most of which are Bible-believing Christians - are not only having plenty of children, but according to Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute, are fourteen times more likely to get involved in politics than the rest of society! You do the math.

Getting politically involved within your own community doesn't necessarily mean you have to run for mayor or city councilor. There are several things a family can do together to make a positive impact on their society. Here are a few things that don't require much time or effort when compared to the return on investment:

1. Vote! Voting is a Christian's opportunity to promote, protect, and preserve godly government, and the most basic responsibility we have as citizens of our country. Those we elect (or do nothing to remove), can choose can protect our freedom to spread the gospel or restrict it. Voting is one way to fulfill our civic duties (Matthew 22:21) and encourage righteousness within our nation.

2. Write letters to the editor. Generally speaking, the most interesting part of a newspaper is the Letters To The Editor section. Along with the funnies, it'll get read if nothing else. A simple letter to the editor regarding something that has gone on in your city is a free and efficient way of presenting a counter-cultural message to a large audience.

3. Write letters to your Member of Parliament or Congressman. ARPA takes away all the excuses with their EasyMail system. They connect you with the appropriate government officials in a matter of seconds and provide you with completely customizable letters addressing the current concerns in our country. It takes less than 5 minutes to let your MP know which way you'd like him to vote concerning proposed legislation.

4. Keep the phones ringing. Similar to writing a letter, calling your local politician on the phone is a personal and effective way of sharing your approval over a decision he's made or voicing your concern.

5. Attend town hall meetings. Another great way to have an impact in your community is to let your voice be heard at town hall meetings which are open to the public. Prepare questions or comments regarding the topic at hand ahead of time and keep a friendly, respectful tone when you're given the opportunity to share your opinion. Folks are more likely to ponder your point of view when they understand you're motivated by love for your fellow countrymen.

6. Volunteer during election campaigns. Volunteering - setting up signs, calling people on the phone, and printing ads on behalf of a godly candidate is at least as effective as a financial donation. See next point.

7. Donate. Kevin Swanson nailed it in this article when he said:
"A $100 donated to a Congressional campaign for a solid candidate is 100 times more effective than a vote for an unprincipled presidential candidate! If you are first assured that the candidate fulfills the Exodus 18 requirements, then why not get the most bang for your buck? Why not put your time and energy behind a candidate who give us life and sacred honor for the cause of principle? I organized a fundraiser in my basement and raised $14,000 for a godly congressional candidate in my state who has maintained a consistent record and rhetoric for 15 years of politics in this state. If he is elected, that’s about 2-5% of the monetary influence needed to put him in office. If I place a ballot for a socialist, pro-homosexual, pro-abortion Republican for president, I have 1/50,000,000 of an impact on that election (or.00002%). That’s almost zero influence for a candidate that will almost certainly lead the nation towards more socialism, more homosexuals in the Boy Scouts, and more tax-funded abortions. Don’t waste what few resources are left for the cause of righteousness! "
To further understand the importance of getting involved politically, we recommend the following reads: God and Government by Cornelius Van Dam and The Second Mayflower by Kevin Swanson.

Does your family get politically involved within your community? How have you done so?

Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home,,Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies

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Our youngest children are a two and a half year old boy and a nine month old girl; a curious trouble maker chap with a keen sense for adventure and a crawler.

It can be a challenge finding ways to keep them occupied so I can homeschool our other daughter. I wrote down some ideas that have worked for us with hopes that you would benefit from them too. If you have anything to add to the list, feel free to share in the comments; I'm all ears!

Give them something constructive to do. Children like to feel useful. They feel empowered when given the opportunity to handle a dust pan or a rag "like a big person"! Often toddlers get into trouble simply because they're bored and lack a sense of purpose. Keep them occupied and train for future usefulness by giving them some responsibility. We let our toddlers engage in the following chores:

• Line up footwear neatly in the closet when coming in from outside.
• "When you take something out, you put it back." If they're big enough to dump all their toys, they're big enough to put them all away.
• Help Mommy put laundry in the washing machine or dryer (this works well if you have front-loaders. Top loaders are probably too difficult for them to reach).
• Sort laundry by colors.
• Fold wash-cloths, tea towels, socks, and small blankets (Our 3-year-old daughter loves to do this. Our almost 2-year-old's fine motor skills just aren't there yet).
• Dust baseboards.
• Bring dishes to the counter after they're finished eating.
• Straighten the hand towel in the bathroom after using it.
• Tuck chairs underneath the table after eating
• Use a hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs

To help make chore-time even more fun and meaningful, I recommend using The Chore Jar by Kristy Howard. It's on sale for $2.00 until January 17.

... Read the rest at Free Homeschool Deals.

Homeschooling Day By Day: $4.99
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For more ideas on how to build a homeschooling routine that works, managing multiple ages, and a glimpse of what it all looks like in reality, you might want to snag yourself a copy of the 40-Chapter thriving guide for homeschool moms: Homeschooling Day By Day. It's authored by eleven moms and is on sale for $2.00 until January 17! You can preview the Table of contents here.
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It's only natural for a parent to want to protect their children from harmful influences. We make sure our toddlers don't go for walks in the evening down the street by themselves.We keep poorly rated movies out of our house. We don't let them play with fire or knives, or experiment with drugs and alcohol. All of these things are well and good, but I wonder, how much thought do we give towards one of the most effective forces in a child's life - his friends?

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To a large degree, we become like the people we hang around with. We tend to choose our friends based on how much we have in common with them. We feel comfortable confiding in people who share the same taste in music, clothing, lifestyle, and worldview. We share our experiences and rub off on each other. The natural leader of a pair will encourage the other to go one step further, for better or for worse.

In the life of a young child who is still in the process of forming their worldview, there are few things as persuasive as the opinion of someone their own age with whom they feel a deep connection. This is why it is utterly important to teach our children what the Bible says about the kind of friends we should have, and perhaps more importantly, the kind of one we should be. The best time to instill these qualities into their impressionable little hearts is as soon as we can, before their allegiances are already concrete.

5 traits of a good friend 1. They speak the truth in love. A good friend will caution a child against something they know he/she shouldn't be doing rather than joining in on the "fun." Proverbs 27:6 2. They help in times of trouble. A good friend will not cut off ties with a child because of a crisis that leaves him disfigured, scarred, or financially incapable of the lifestyle he enjoyed before. Instead, a good friend comes alongside a fallen comrade and helps him get back on his feet. Ecclesiastes 4: 9, 10
3. They give good advice. A good friend makes himself familiar with God's Word and is able to offer a righteous recommendation or instruction when called upon for their opinion.Proverbs 27:9
4. They stand by you. A good friend is in the relationship for the long haul. They don't move on after an argument or squabble. Instead, they continue to show themselves friendly, refrain from gossiping or speaking evil about the offender, offer or receive forgiveness, and get on with the friendship - barring all grudges. Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 17:17
5. They refine you. A good friend is concerned about spiritual growth. They are not comfortable with an easy, stagnant life, but engage in discussions about things that are relevant to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom work in your life and the world. Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 27:17

God also warns us about the kind of people we are to avoid:

4 traits of a poor friend
1. They are immoral and have no regard for other. People who are living in open sin and rebellion are those that need to be ministered to, not made friends with. I Corinthians 5:11
2. They change like the wind. Be wary of those who are quick to change their minds - especially in regards to issues that serious consequences. Proverbs 24:21, 22
3. They are angry, often. Don't make friends with those who have no control over their temper or are prone to violent assaults. Proverbs 22: 24;25

4. They are irreverent toward God and His Word. A person who has no place for the Lord in his heart should not hold any sway over ours. Psalm 119: 63; 2 Corinthians 6: 14-15
What traits do you encourage your children to look for in a friend? How much involvement do you have as a parent in choosing who they hang around with? How much is too much? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic!