Both writing assignments are good, but as you will see, very different. I know that I never have to ask Abby for more detail, but Ethan and I tend to go round and round on what is missing. I am not saying one is better than the other, they are just different. Below is an example of their writing styles.

Abby
4th grade

The Norwegian Adventure
A Tale of a Child’s Bravery During World War II

Hello, my name is Ingrid, and I welcome you to our beloved country, Norway. I am happy to tell you that you have come to visit at the right time. World War II has just ended, and we were being invaded by the German soldiers. This was very frightening, but my story is quite funny. It’s a great story, would you like to hear it? You would? Ok! So, the story starts with the Norwegian soldiers trying to hide the national treasury of our gold bullion. The Norwegian soldiers saw children on sleds and stopped them to ask if they could help. Of course the children said, “yes.” I was one of those children. I was so scared, but we thought of a plan! We didn’t realize how heavy the gold bullion was, they must have been at least 50 pounds each. Some of us couldn’t even lift the bullion. We each grabbed as many as we could and began hiding them in our coat pockets and on our sleds that were all covered in snow. We started sledding down hills and began building snowmen. Little did the German soldiers know, that we were hiding the gold bullion in the snowmen we were building. We would sled by the soldiers or they would walk by us and they didn’t even have a clue! It was so much fun.

I wish you the best, and if you’re ever here again, stop by. Maybe I will have more stories for you. Now you know a little piece of history from my beloved country, Norway.

Ethan
6th Grade

Letters From a Norwegian Child
In the Times of World War II

Dear Joseph,

Today, my friends and I were sledding in the snow when we heard that the German army was coming to attack. We were very nervous, but knew that the Norwegian soldiers would protect us. We overheard our army talking about the national treasury’s gold bullion and they were scared that the German soldiers were going to steal it. My friends and I told the soldiers that we could hide the gold in all the snowmen that we built that day. They were happy to let us help. I sledded right past a Nazi with about four gold bricks in my coat and eight on my sled. We thought the Nazi’s were so dumb because they never saw that we had been loaded up with gold. We couldn’t believe we outsmarted them! We fit about 12 gold bricks in the base of the each snowman.

This was a very fun and exciting day, now we just have to pray that the Nazi’s DON’T FIND THE GOLD!!!

Sincerely,
Gunnar

As you can see, they both have a different writing style, but their writer’s voice is fun to read!

This was a fun assignment to have the children do, but it was more fun learning something about history.  This is one of the most rewarding things of homeschooling my children.  I get to learn with them!

My mind is filled with so many questions that leave me fully relying on a very blind faith. I have always hated the saying, “It’s not fair,” but to me there seems like there’s nothing to say, but that! In my quiet time with God a couple of weeks ago, I had a full out temper tantrum. I cried out to God, saying “God! How is this your plan? How is this even fair! How could you do this?” All the “how” questions you can think of, I asked. I told God that I just don’t understand why life has to be so hard, and the Holy Spirit fell on my spirit and calmed me and whispered ever so gently in my ear, “Kim, you are supposed to long for me, for heaven, for peace, for happiness and nothing of this Earth will ever fill your desires.” I was overcome with such peace. See, the thing I learned is, God is so much happier when we hate being here! We don’t reside on this Earth to fulfill any other purpose than to build God’s Kingdom, and I have been very challenged by this assigment.

Sure, we can enroll our children in the best schools, push them to be the best athletes or to the top of the class, but for what? If we aren’t teaching our children to build the Kingdom, are we even teaching them at all? People, we have a calling! It isn’t to live vicariously through our children, but rather raise bold young men who will be warriors for their family. Who will not fight with them, but rather for them! We are to raise young women who care for her family the way God instructs, to uplift her spouse and be his helpmate. Some young women today, don’t even know how to make toast. What is wrong with our world? We have simplified things so much, that it has dumbed down our society. We have people complaining about things not being fair for their children, thus building the mentality of entitlement. What happened to working hard to accomplish something?

I know I am on a soapbox. I know I am on a tangent, but we need to wake up! Our days are short! People are out in the world dying without a relationship with Christ and how many of us are just sitting by and watching it happen? Where is the passion that God so badly wants us all to have? I remember hearing a message by Tony Campolo, and he said something like this to a congregation of believers, “People are dying and going to hell and you don’t even give a damn! As a matter of fact, you are sitting there more concerned that I said ‘damn’, than the fact that people are dying and going to hell.” What is wrong with us?

Sure we want our children to be intelligent, and want to watch them succeed. We want them to have the best and why wouldn’t we? We are created in His image and he wants the same for us. Our problem is when we fail to let God receive all the glory for our accomplishments. I am not trying to bash us all over the head with a Jesus stick, but I just feel so burdened that we have dropped the ball! Instead of being weird, we have become just like the world. We are not called to blend in with the world, but rather to stand out and be a shining light.

There are simple solutions to these problems! We should always be seeking opportunities to shine God’s light and to start good relationships with non-believers, or those who’ve been away from God and the church for too long. It is our HIGHEST calling!

Listen, I am not trying to scare or even make predictions, but let me just put this out there. Since my dad’s been gone (5 months), our family either knows or knows of people who have lost their loved ones and it’s been in the double digits. Granted people die everyday, and our sensitivities are very heightened because we’ve lost a loved one, but I believe the people that God has called to be with him are about to serve a greater purpose. God is building his army for a great war, where he will swoop in and finally save us from this sinfilled world! Aren’t you longing for the day? I know I am! I wish I could join hands with everyone I love so deeply and just walk right into heaven, but I can’t. So, until then, I will do my very best to live in this world, but be not of it!

Dr. Karen Gushta

My husband and I recently attended the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.  It was a weekend jam-packed with wonderful and inspiring speakers.  I still can’t stop thinking about the session I had the privilege of attending.  It was titled “Homeschool Apologetics 101“, and Karen Gushta was the speaker.  She gave ten reasons to home school your children.  Now, I know that this is not a popular topic, but I cannot always write about what is popular.  Gushta was full of insight and a wealth of knowledge. I wish I could have spent more time with her.

My husband and I decided to take the home school plunge in 2010. It’s a decision which many feel is a weak and cowardly way of handling the “real” world, but to us has been one of the boldest decisions we’ve made as a couple. We knew there were things about the public school system that were broken.  I didn’t realize how broken it truly was until I heard Gushta speak.  She shared with us that the government controlled schools really aren’t teaching “our” values.  I used the quotes because, you may have a different value system. What I have to say may offend you, but I will not apologize for my beliefs.

Karen told us that parents are believing a myth that their children’s school is fine. In 2009, 77% of parents gave their school a grade of an A or B.  Why?  She shared that many parents really have no idea what is truly going on in the school.  There is another curriculum being taught in the schools and she called it, “The Hidden Curriculum”.  Hidden?  What could this possibly mean?  Here are three topics that if they haven’t already invaded your child’s school, they will before you know it.

1. Sex Education – Do you know that most sex ed classes are sponsored by Planned Parenthood and based on findings of Alfred Kinsey.  Here’s a link to learn more about who is Alfred Kinsey. I’m not sure about you, but I know I don’t want this agenda pushed on my child when the time comes.
2. Homosexual “apologetics” – Are you aware that many high schools around us currently have clubs that teach tolerance for homosexuality?  It is a fact that a high school just ten minutes away from our home encourages the kids to wear purple on Wednesday to show their support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.
3. LGBT curricula (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) – If this doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will. Kevin Jennings the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education is actively pushing this agenda in our public schools.

Of course this post reflects my opinions. It is up to us to do the research and to decide what is best for our family. I may try too hard to push my opinion off on others, but I also feel strongly that the Bible instructs us to be the educators of our children.  This is how I have felt God leading me, so it is very difficult for me to sit back and watch families think all is well here in the Bible-belt of America. Do some research, ask questions of your kids about what they’re learning in school. What are they hearing from friends? What are they being “fed” at the lunch table? You may be very surprised by the realities of your children hearing and learning things that you thought they wouldn’t learn for a very long time.  I don’t want my children to be naive, but I also don’t want them to grow up too fast.  I don’t want their innocence raped and I certainly don’t want their morals and values molded by the public school system.

If you’d like to hear another story of why a family decided to home school their children, I encourage you to read these two posts by my friend Heidi: Why We Home School – Part 1 and Why We Home School – Part 2

Forget just the parties though.  Tonight while at the mall with my daughter, I saw a young girl who looked to be maybe 17 years old.  She had on a low cut shirt, with a much older looking boyfriend hanging all over her.  Her shirt was so low that it was completely obvious that she had had cosmetic surgery on her breasts.  I mean, they seriously looked fake.  My first thought was, why would a parent think that was okay?  An article from Focus on the Family highlights this very thing.  Many parents don’t realize what they are doing to their daughters by allowing boob or nose jobs, immodest clothing or even recreational dating.

Recently I have felt the urgency to educate myself more on this topic, as I have a daughter who is quickly approaching the stages where many other parents check out.  I don’t want to be one of those parents.  My daughter is too important.  I want to raise her to be a pure and holy daughter for the King.  This is a very huge burden and undertaking for me, especially with the world in which we live.  I have begun reading articles and having the much needed conversations with my daughter.  I take great pride in knowing I do not have to do this alone.  I have many family members, friends and resources around to help keep me encouraged and provide me with many great ideas.  Our church, Stones Crossing Church has an annual Royal Sleepover where girls first through fourth grade learn the importance of living a pure and holy life for the King. What a blessing to belong to a church who is willing to partner with me in this responsibility.

I am willing to do what it takes and to be the outcast to dispel this misconception.  It is not okay for girls to grow up too quickly.  It’s time for all of us to put on the brakes.

So, I have decided I am going to try (try being the operative word) to be more committed to write more regularly on this blog.

Just as a reminder, the titles of my blogs are THE misconception and usually not HOW I actually feel.

Let the blogging begin.

My son is quite the baseball player and bowler.  The competition rises everytime our family takes part in a game or two.  We also sit in front of the tv and sing with the High School Musical game!  We have enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to everyone!

The Nintento Wii is tons of fun for the entire Familii, try it and you will Sii!

It is days like today that makes me proud to be a strong, feeling and caring woman.  A woman who loves her family and tries to serve them to the best of my abilities, which at times I feel like aren’t many. I had to touch base with my girl who just got back from a funeral out of state and then had the priviledge to seek council from a great friend in the morning, and right after that, my phone rang where I could pass it on to another girl friend.  I then was able to apologize for causing hurt feelings, by just being careless.  I met my friend and her little babies for lunch today and then was able to practice with the girls from worship team tonight….A busy day, but submersed in a circle of girls that are my girls!

I am quickly reminded that without my girls I would be lost–Granted, Jesus is the ultimate friend, but he is so relational that I know these friendships please him, so without His presence in their lives pouring out into mine, I would infact be lost.

Tonight on the way to practice, I stopped at Starbucks to grab a cup of coffee and I just enjoy reading The Way I See It the quote was from Madeleine Albright, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”  Now, while I don’t believe that and I’m sure she probably doesn’t either, but she is making a point that we are, as women, suppose to stick together and help each other out.

This is a long post, but it has to be said.  Friendships are golden and not to be handed out like candy.  They are special and should be cherished.  I am very excited about this weekend, as my best friends from grade school all through high school and I are going to get together.  We’ve known each other for 29 years!  I can’t believe it’s been that long, but it has and these are friendships that I NEVER want to lose.  I am very much in love with my friendships and will always thank God for them…If you have a close friend, please let her know how much she means to you!  If you don’t have a close friend, please for whatever reason you don’t, find one and cultivate a friendship!  You will be so glad you did!

Just how much is $700 billion??

• It is almost $150 billion more than has been spent on the Iraq War since the invasion in 2003
• It is equal to $2,300 payment for every person in the United States, and more than $100 for every person in the world
• It is enough to buy 233,333 Super Bowl ads
• It could build 400 space shuttles
• It could purchase 3.5 billion iPhones
• It could purchase 700 billion items from the dollar menu at McDonalds

I have a hard time believing that this bailout is really going to benefit anyone for the long haul.  This is a global issue…not just the responsibility of the current administration. 

On a much lighter note, I hear Barack Obama is a huge fan of nuts, especially Acorns!

What a Ms.Conception, It’s Not Our Fault! Both parties will not take the blame for the economic failure our nation is facing.  I am so let down by the voting public.  I know what makes America, America is the freedom to vote the way you feel, but seriously with all of the proven facts that our potential president, Democrat Barack Obama has had deep, family like relationships with some severe radicals in our own country is really troubling to me.  I can not believe it doesn’t bother a lot of people.  I know he has “denied” any affiliation with them now, but you’ll deny even your family if you want something bad enough.

My hope is that in the next 30 days, people will do their research, read between the lines and read the fine print.  If he accomplishes what his radical friends are pushing him to accomplish, we will face the biggest inner-nation battle we could ever dream of.  The fundamentals on which this country has been built will be tossed away.  We will stand in lines for our healthcare and will rely on the government to “act quickly” to give us a diagnosis, really?  This healthcare will also cost $65 billion a year.  Really?  Where is that coming from? I know we are on shaky ground, and there are many to blame, I am not disputing that, but I fully believe we are facing a Republican party who is wanting to move forward.

I love this country, I want my children to have the same things and more that we have, but if the nation continues to put a bandaid on the situation, there will be no America the way we’ve known it to be.

Sarah Palin could actually be the first woman Vice President!

Thank you Sarah Palin for puting this Ms.Conception to rest!

I have been watching Fox News Network and the footage they have been playing showing Sarah Palin in office waiting outside for her girls to get off the school bus with excitement to see them is exactly who I think she is.  She seems to have a love for her family, but also for what she’s been doing in Alaska.

Many women feel like she is a wonderful contribution to this campaign, I  am one of them.  I am a woman with traditional values and have a conservative outlook on many issues.  Does that make me a bad person?  No, but I am glad that I have a woman representing me this year.  Sadly, there are many women who have formed an opinion of Sarah Palin that is just not true.  Many of the liberal women who have been fighting for Women’s rights are the very ones badmouthing her–why?  Because it wasn’t one of them who was nominated to run for VP.  So now that she’s not a liberal, in your face type of woman, she doesn’t have the right to be the first female Vice President of the United States?  Why?  Because she’s a Republican and not liberal enough for you?  I really want to know, because I thought women’s rights were for all women, not just women of a particular party or belief system.

The thing that upsets me the most is Hillary Clinton got praises from all over, women saying, “Hillary Speaks For Me”, where did that come from?  She doesn’t speak for me.  On September 5, 2008 Gloria Steinem wrote a blog entry on www.womensvoicesforchange.org entitled “Wrong Woman, Wrong Message”.  This was all about how Sarah Palin is not the right woman and she doesn’t send the right message. So?  Who is the right woman, and what message are we wanting to send? The last time I checked, the Feminist movement was to get women out of the house, not fulfilling the sterotypical roles that were depicted in Leave It To Beaver, and to have fair treatment, the same treatment men receive.  Isn’t that what Sarah Palin is doing?  Yes! So how is she the wrong woman?  Why is it the wrong message?  Oh, because she’s not in your camp?

This is going to be a very interesting campaign year.  This could be the defining moment for the traditional woman, with good morals and values.  Please do your research and send the message loud and clear that we think Sarah Palin is the Right Woman with the Right Message!