Domestic Adventures

It should come as no surprise that everyone around here got books in their Easter baskets (along with the candy of course). I am particularly enamored of this one Emmaline received. Psalms for Young Children is a “selection of Psalms, paraphrased for young readers, [it] uses language and imagery appropriate for children while remaining faithful to the spirit of the biblical texts.” While Emmaline certainly has a listening vocabulary for verses straight from NAS or NIV, these are condensed to a version she should be able to read in the near future. They are also on a level Micah can comprehend. I really love that the selected Psalms are not just happy joyful Psalms. They cover repentance and fear as well as thanksgiving and joy. Though the Psalms are greatly abridged, they still reflect the awesome attributes of God. Each Psalm also has a wonderfully whimsical picture conveying the emotion of the Psalm.

From Psalms for Young Children:

When I am sad,
it feels like I’m underwater, like I’m stuck in the mud,
or at the bottom
of a dark hole.
Pull me from this dark place,
God!
Save me! I need your help!
Psalm 69

God, you know me so well.
You always know what I’m thinking
and feeling. You know what I am
going to say before I say it!
Even in the night, you can see me-
you know my secrets,
you know my fears.
I praise you for making me
who I am.
Psalm 139

Hooray! We’re getting new flooring! We’ve needed new floors for a long, long time. Next week, we will be getting tile in the kitchen and wood in other living areas. By wood, I don’t mean the kind that comes from trees. That kind is very expensive to buy, very expensive to install and very complicated to install. This is a good look-alike. It’s a laminate that mimics hand-scraped chestnut. We like the look, we like the price, we like that it won’t scratch too easily. We’re happy with our “wood”.
The question, is what we’re going to put over our “wood”. We’re looking for rugs to soften the floor and lighten the look. Specifically, I’m shopping for large rug for the living room and a smaller rug for our future homeschool room. I’ve fallen in love with the top right rug. The problem is it would about double the cost of our project. The others I found at Overstock.com and I think I like both. The swirly one I thought would make a fun school-room rug, but I’m unsure about how much I need to coordinate these spaces. Also, I don’t know if I’m going too neutral. Again, I love the lavender one, but other than that, I’m not crazy about the colors available.
Advice, ideas, suggestions on how to get a cool rug for less?

Despite several sugar-induced break-downs, we did indeed have a lovely Easter. Emmie and Micah wore their Easter finery to church. We dyed real eggs and hunted for plastic ones. We read books and played with cars and tiny toy horses. Just a simple family day - and very good.

If you eat too much candy first thing in the morning, your Easter picture might turn out like this.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
A great high Priest whose Name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.

One with Himself, I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God!

Depending on where you live, homeschooling news is either greatly encouraging or greatly discouraging lately.

Homeschoolers in California are still fighting the February 28 court decision against homeschooling. According to the court’s decision, “California courts have held that under provisions in the Education Code, parents do not have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home.” The California Superintendent of Public Instruction, though, announced that he believed that homeschooling is still legal in California, and many local officials may take their cue from him when deciding whether to prosecute. The case is being brought before the California Supreme Court for appeal and in the meantime , Home School Legal Defense Association has started a petition to “depublish” the opinion. According to HSLDA, “If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers. HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California.” You can sign the petition here.

The good news, fortunately, is for us in Florida, where Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed March 30 - April 5, 2008 as Homeschool Education Week.

Whereas, the state of Florida is commited to excellence in education and to public policy that strengthens the family and recognizes parental choice in the pursuit of that excellence and the importance of parental involvement in education; and

Whereas home education has existed as a statutorily protected educational option in the State of Florida since 1985, providing parents with the ultimate authority and responsibility, under God, for the care, character development, and educational opportunities for their children; and

Whereas, over two decades of study indicate that most children who are home educated exhibit self-confidence, good citizenship, exceptional academic test scores, higher than average college attendance and success and many have proven devotion to their country by faithfully serving in the armed forces of the United States

You can read the rest of the “whereas”s here.

One final thought from HSLDA, “We have seen God’s hand of protection on the homeschooling movement for the 25 years we have been working together for this cause. There is no reason to begin to doubt God now.”

It’s spring again - time to enjoy our annual spring training game with Stephen. Our adopted team of choice is the Houston Astros, and Emmaline has declared herself “the Astros’ biggest big fan”
Last year, the kids needed almost constant attention during the game, but this year they were actually interested in the game for the first several innings. Emmaline watched raptly, then explained, “we sometimes play this game at school - except without any bats or any balls.” Even so, she was interested to hear our explanations of the plays. We had excellent seats and Micah got a foul ball to take home - definitely the highlight of his day.
I’m so glad Stephen has insisted we become baseball fans.

M: Mommy, I’m hungry.

A: Really? You just ate breakfast.

M: But Mommy, I just bursted into hunger!

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

This is the verse from our wedding invitations, March 6, 1999. I am amazingly and abundantly blessed to have a husband who loves me, and with whom I can grow in knowledge and depth of insight to the glory and praise of God. Though we have our occasional struggles over the mundane, it’s so good to know that we are headed in the same direction, striving toward the same goals, and seeking the same God. When details fluster me, Trent gently reminds, “don’t worry. We’re on the same team. I’m on your side.” Being on the same side with him is a wonderful place to be.

Happy Ninth Anniversary, Trent!