To Nag or Not to Nag ? ? ?

Let's face it women, it is quite easy to nag our husbands to get our own way. Unfortunately, this has consequences that we may not see all the way through. See if you can relate to this scenario.

You "nag" or push to get your husband to do something. After time goes by, he finally relents and says I'll do it. This "something" may even be a good thing like praying together. You realize he made this decision because you pushed him into it. But, you want him to make this decision on his own, because it is the Biblical or right thing to do. To "help" him do it with the right motive, you resist the implementation of whatever it is. This is where he just looks at you , not comprehending, even a little bit.

Nagging is never the answer to decision making in a Christian marriage. What is the answer for women who want their husband to lead? PRAY, pray and pray some more! From my own experience, I know the power of prayer for my husband. Don't expect instant answer; be diligent to pray for years. We are a society that wants instant gratification and that is not God's character. When I prayed for a specific request for Steve, it was several years before I saw God answer. It was well worth the wait because God made Steve into a leader of our home in more ways than I could ever imagine.

It sounds so simple, don't nag. But, it can be quite difficult since nagging tends to be a woman's default. When God asks you to stop something, He gives you a righteous action to put in its place. Quit nagging and start praying.

Kerry

Christian Home Business

Who Leads in Your Marriage

Many wives want their husbands to lead spiritually in their marriage . . . until they start leading. Then, the wife realizes that the husband is leading, but not the way she thinks he should lead. You know, she says, "Lead, would ya!...not that way!"

Steve & I have seen this in marriages. The wife prays for years for the husband to lead, possibly encouraging (nagging) him to lead. When he finally takes the lead, she rebels.

Of course, this is the perfect time for her to submit. But it is very difficult to submit when you don't agree on an issue. I know from my own experience. What I came to realize is agreeing is not submitting. When I agree with Steve, submission is a non-issue. When Steve wants to take me out to dinner, I don't think how difficult it is to submit. I "want" to go out with him, so submission is a non-issue.

When I think that Steve is headed in a wrong direction, that is the only time that submission (or obedience) becomes an issue. I remember telling a engaged young woman that I really didn't deal with submission. At the time, we generally agreed on most major issues. A year later God put that to the test and we disagreed how to handle a situation with our daughter's education. I vividly remember telling God that I knew more about my daughter because I was the mom, the one who cared and nurtured my daughter. Besides, I had a masters in education; I knew what was best! God did not see it that way and I learned in a matter very dear to my heart to submit to Steve. In the end, God gave me the strength to submit when I disagreed. God was gracious and a month later, Steve and I agreed with each other.

One other area that is difficult for me is submitting in the very little areas of life. Submission does not mean in just big issues; it can mean submitting in little issues (when to leave for church, how to park the car, what snacks to have on hand). After many years, I am realizing that submitting in the little things regularly makes it easier to submit in the big issues.

Kerry

Christian Marriage

A Glorious Day

Just have to share how wonderful my afternoon was!

After dropping my son at a friends to play this afternoon, I thought it is too beautiful to stay inside. So, I took my work & reading outside. Made a pot of coffee and sat outside reading my ebooks and Anselm. Who is Anselm? He is the author of the book my girls are reading for Great Books, so I am reading him too! He offers a very logical argument on the existence, mercy, justice of God.

Now, it's off to dinner. I'm making ribs for the first time in my life!!!

Kerry

Back to School Traditions Contest

Here are the results of our Back to School Traditions Contest. Julie Clark won a Ranger Press Audio CD of her choice.

Some ideas for your Back-To-School Time:

WINNER:

--Poems for Scavenger Hunt so kids can find their school supplies

(curriculum, new pens, rulers, etc and the last is usually candy)

Absolute favorite every year and they ask if mom will do it again.

Each poem is just a couple of lines…rhymes & corny…but we

have fun doing it!

--Ice Cream Sundae dinner the night before school starts

--Get school room (basement) all cleaned & ready for a new year –

could be thorough cleaning to surprise paint job. Try to change

something every year even if it’s little

--New School Year Gifts – paper, pencils, etc to new math games,

typing computer programs, play-doh with a few things thrown in like

sugarless bubblegum, scented erasers and such. Every child has

their own gift bag.

--Special meals for first day of school – something I usually don’t

serve for breakfast (cinnamon rolls), lunch (ABC soup & cookies)

and supper (blackboard shaped cake for dessert).

--First day made fun & exciting – to instill anticipation for learning,

documented by photos standing by white board with their names &

new grades posted in order to compare to previous years growth

and changes. Everyone is treated special from toddler to middle

school student!

--Scavenger Hunt for child’s books – I don’t let them see them until

then. When a box arrives prior to school, I try to just build the

anticipation, “ooooh-cool”, as I ppek in the bo. When the first day

arrives, he (9yo) runs from clue to clue to clue…until he comes to

the bag full of books. Then spread them out. He love sthem over

for about an hour or so, and then we talk about his new privileges

and responsibilities as he’s older. He is then putting his own

excitement to the year…Works for us!

--Bring out new school supplies I’ve stocked up on during the sales

(something I love to do) Kids get new notebooks, pencils, pens,

erasers, pencil boxes, pouches, etc.

Kerry

Homeschool Curriculum

Writing Helps

Writing Website with links for all sorts of info related to writing:

http://www.lauriefowler.com/writing1.htm

For more help in teaching writing, see Excellence in Writing HERE

Kerry

1000 Great Books List

Looking for the list of Great Books? Here's one just for you.

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

Kerry

In Response to Thomas Jefferson Education

In response to an e-mail asking for info about A Thomas Jefferson Education.

Actually my youngest is still in Love of Learning Phase and slowly moving into Project Scholar. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the conference. My dh and a friend both remarked last summer that A Thomas Jefferson Education is not well written. It is written on a very easy reading level. What I have learned is to take what I can from sources and apply them in the best way I can to our homeschool. I like the ideas of mentoring, reading classics, reading journals and getting off the conveyor belt. I do not let my kids choose everything they will study because there are some things they must go through because I (their parental authority) believe it is best for them. One of those is Gileskirk and the other is their Great Books class with Wes Callihan (listening to the class right now). I do let them make some choices in their studies in hopes of them remembering and enjoying it more.

Blessings,
Kerry