It’s summer and if you are a parent of a baby or young child, or even if you are pregnant with your first, this is the time to seek out homeschool conventions and used curriculum sales, which tend to be held during this season.  There are many reasons you should attend a Christian homeschool convention – like you don’t want to wind up “reinventing the wheel” and the more you know about biblical homeschooling now, the more confident you will be as your child gets older. 

But you should get excited about used curriculum sales, too, even if your oldest is but a baby. These are sales that are either free standing or sometimes found at homeschool conventions.  (And, of course, if you cannot find any in your area, you can always buy used curriculum and books from various internet sites.  But, I find the best bargains are at the on site used curriculum sales.

I was so blessed to attend two used curriculum sales so far this season.  These were held in churches and had many vendors – almost all of them regular homeschool families with older children who were selling books and curriculum they no longer needed, often at rock bottom prices. 

As a mother of six, I was definitely seeking used curriculum.  But, I also was hunting for stock for my “generational library” – the at-home library my husband and I are creating that is filled with character and faith-building books. I was overjoyed to find many classic and hard-to-find books at fifty cents, a dollar, two dollars. 

After absorbing the influence of several veteran homeschoolers over the years, including attending the valuable, eye-opening seminars by Carole Joy Seid (who promotes a literature-based approach to home education), my husband and I felt very motivated to create our own library of character building books. 

Our “library” consists of several tall bookshelves in the living room that are not fully filled as of yet.  Like a sculpture that gradually takes shape as your vision becomes reality, so our library started with a lone book here and there and now contains many “gems” I could not imagine doing without. 

Our four oldest children visit our “library” every day, on their own, where they find much to read in our ever-expanding home library, in addition to the items we borrow weekly from our church’s library and the town’s library.  It so thrilling to see their interest piqued in the sublime. My husband also reads fine literature to the children every night. 

Recently I showed a young mother my at-home library and advised her to start creating one now.  Her oldest is but a baby.  My oldest is nine, and I sure wish I had started earlier. 

If you are parent of a baby, toddler or preschooler who is considering homeschooling, and you like the idea of a generational library, start gathering items when your children are very young.   Why? If you are on a very limited budget for materials like I am, it will take you a few years to cheaply acquire all the unique books a wealthier person could just buy outright.  If you start building a library early, you can spread the cost out over years.  And, there exist some magnificent books that cannot be found easily as they are out of print; it takes some work to secure a copy of such works. For example, I was blessed to find a used copy of the Tales of the Kingdom series by the Mains, a fascinating Christian allegory – there seems to be few copies of the originals (which have the better illustrations) available anymore. 

Why have your own library at home when you can just go to the public library? The answer is that many of the most well-written character building books are not available at the public library. In addition, a secular library is certainly not going to stock the best in Christian adventure books or classics when they can invest in the latest humanist fare and such modern “classics” as the Hannah Montana series!

I should point out that I just don’t put just any book in our at-home library. I only keep those books that cannot easily be obtained from other sources, both those that are unashamedly Christian such as The Light and the Glory and classics that display good writing and character such as The Little House on the Prairie collection.

As an example, I would not keep most books on animals as every public library has many of those. However, I recently found the interesting Christian Liberty Nature Readers in almost new condition, for 25 cents each, which is amazing. I also have the three volume Character Sketches by the Institute in Basic Life Principles.  I got mine at a discount on eBay and they are so worth it.  Each section feature exquisite color paintings of an animal or insect along with captivating scientific details – tying it all into a character quality that God wants us to have like “courage”.  Then, this character quality is illustrated in an example from Scripture.  They are very poignantly written; the kids love them and God has ministered to me as I read them to the children.  I don’t think any homeschool library should be without Character Sketches.

Garage sales are another opportunity that abounds during the summer months in most areas.  Our family, like most large homeschool families on one income, find themselves outfitting the kids and locating a lot of the curriculum at garage sales and thrift stores.  Why buy a shirt on sale at Wal-Mart for five dollars when you can get a decent one for fifty cents or even a quarter at a yard sale?  The same goes for great books. 

While a lot of garage sales feature “junk food” or dark books like boxes of discarded Dora the Explorers and old Harry Potters, there are more and more older Christian homeschool families selling their used books.  I have been blessed to encounter a few.  

I remember once standing in awe at the Lamplighter Publications table at our state homeschool convention.  I so wanted those quality-bound, biblical values reprinted books – covered in beautiful cloth and with selections found no where else.  But, I slunk dejectedly away, unable to afford even one.  But, God is so good..  A short time later, I was almost finished garage sale hopping one morning when of my children, who was with me, asked to go to just one more.  We did and it turned out that yard sale had a book table where everything was $1 a book.  And there on that table was stack of like new Lamplighter books – some had never even been read.  I know that because the man who sold them to me said so – he was a homeschool dad who was glad the books were being passed on to another Christian homeschooling family.  We have read those books over and over again and I often think when I see one about how the Lord Jesus always provides for His own. 

This summer as I walked into a used curriculum sale in my area, the very first thing I laid my eyes on was a box full of The American Adventure Series.  This is a historical fiction series that makes American history come alive through exciting story lines, and they are written from a Christian worldview.  My children had read two or three of these, but they were selling for about $4 each in the Christian bookstore; too expensive for my budget.  I asked the homeschool mom selling them how much she wanted for the whole set.  She said $20, and I was soon carting a big box out to my car.  Praise God.  And, I was able to find several classics in boxes marked “$1 a book.”   I got a whole stack of The Sower Series by Mott Media, featuring famous people from history like Louis Pasteur.  The stories are intriguing, have lots of important details and from a Christian perspective.

My point is that if you have given up half of the household income in order to stay home with your children like most homeschoolers have, you can still put together a outstanding, unique at-home library on a shoestring budget. Instead of going broke, trust God to show you where to find some great books for less.  I have even had several veteran homeschoolers donate materials to me, like one gave me the complete 1836 reprint of the McGuffey’s Readers. 

Yes, I long to fill our library with books that are near impossible to find used, like the G.A, Henty set (I know Vision Forum sells them new.) but I will just have to wait for now.  I am interested in finding out the titles of the best character building books, some of which are wonderful but not famous.

But what if you don’t know what books are worth getting?  There are many sources for that, for examples articles on the internet like Teaching History Using Literature by Carole Joy Seid and you can find families that list the books they have read and recommend like Books That Build Character and Christian Books for Christian Homes.

If you join Christian homeschooling groups and loops, you can ask older homeschoolers and also people will send you lists.  Here is a link that someone sent me recently for Christian classical homeschooling.

Then there are books that are list of good character-building books.   I have Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt and another book of books lists is Books Children Love by Wilson and Macaulay. 

I do not always agree with all other’s selections, and depending on your criteria and beliefs about reading materials, you may not either.  So, use your own discretion and always thoroughly review any book you include in your library. 

We call such a library a “generational library” because my husband and I hope to pass the library on to the children when they are grown, although I admit that since I only have a copy of one book of each title and because we have six children so far, this might cause some arguments someday. But, then maybe they can work out an interlibrary loan system amongst each other!  When we are grandparents, we will keep the library in our home, so that visiting grandchildren can benefit from reading its timeless selections.

So, think of this – the books you gather today for your children may one day influence your grandchildren and great grandchildren – how incredibly exciting! 

Just like your job as a parent is to make sure your little ones satisfy their hunger with wholesome food, you want to satisfy their reading hunger with wholesome literature that builds up their faith in Jesus Christ and reinforces the biblical values you are teaching them. 

But, I will say that as important as such a library is, you cannot rely on Christian curriculum and books to take the place of your Christian example.  If a child sees his parents mouthing Christian words, insisting on Christian materials, singing loudly in church – yet in their personal and business lives they are dishonest, etc. the hypocrisy will likely drive him from Christ.  The bottom line is that more is “caught than taught” as they say and we as parents need to really go before Jesus each day, and we need to really be deeply in the Word and we need to have truly repentant hearts so that we can be a “living generational library” to our children and subsequent generations. 

From Considering Homeschooling.   

I felt the proverbial “butterflies in the stomach” this week as I thought of how I had agreed to play guitar and sing in public with my son.  At first, I had used my gift of persuasion to convince him that he would do much better alone in a solo than in a duet.  I was sure I had succeeded in getting out of any participation in performing in front of a crowd, but for that crestfallen look in my nine year old’s eyes... 

I enjoy public speaking.  In fact, I used to teach Public Speaking, among other subjects, back when I was a college instructor. I have been in front of plenty of crowds in the past for ministry, church, teaching and business.  But, singing is quite another story; people expect you to actually sound good.

One of the wonderful side benefits of homeschooling is that we as parents get to “learn along with our children.”  My husband and I want our children to be good musicians to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. So, not too long ago, I decided to take up the guitar, not just to learn to play an instrument, but to be right in the midst of what our children are doing.  

By learning an instrument, too, I am in the same boat as they are when it comes to the rigors of daily practice. I am convinced our children’s abilities in music have increased because they see me trying hard to learn a piece, not just telling them to do so. But, I did not expect I would have to go beyond my comfort zone.

Well, I looked into my son’s eyes and realized that while the duet represented an uncomfortable experience to me, it represented a special time with Mom to him.  We may never have such a chance again, and would God want me to forfeit it to fear?   One thing God has so impressed upon my heart lately is that our children are little such a short time, and we need not take any minute for granted. So, I agreed to the duet.  

We decided to sing and strum one of our favorite songs, I Will Call Upon the Lord by Michael O’Shields, which comes from a psalm David wrote after God delivered him from Saul and the Philistines.

No one threw rotten tomatoes, so I breathed a sigh of relief and my son was beaming. I am so motivated to practice and do better next time, because I realize that having many children means there will likely be a few more “next times” in which I am asked be the other half in a duet (unless I can persuade my husband to take up the guitar...)

I Will Call Upon the Lord
By Michael O’Shields

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised.

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock,

And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock,

And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

From Considering Homeschooling.

It is disturbing enough that the majority of Christians still have their children in public schools.  But one does not have to look too far to find a lot of “former homeschoolers” in those public schools as well.  The apparently high attrition rate of homeschoolers is an issue that those of us who homeschool, or encourage others to, need to address. 

Desiring to protect our children from the corrupting public schools or wanting our offspring to get a solid education can be motivating factors for starting homeschooling, but a homeschool built on just these will begin to collapse when the going gets tough -- and it will get tough.

When the tremendous monetary sacrifice of one parent forsaking the working world kicks in, when the hefty spiritual challenge of disciplining and discipling children in the Lord become evident, when the mother feels the serious academic responsibility that largely rests on her shoulders, suddenly sending the children out of the home may appear justifiable.

“Some public schools might be teaching that stuff, but my child will have Ms. Christian as her first grade teacher, and I am going to be a classroom volunteer once a week,” says the wavering homeschooler.  Suddenly the kids “don’t learn as well from me as from a teacher” or “I’m falling behind!”  Or the father feels no compulsion to help, let alone lead the homeschool and he may desire the financial gain and lighter responsibiiites that happen when the wife and children leave for work and school.

From looking at what kept the veteran homeschoolers zealous about being home – often against all odds -- I believe homeschool longevity for the Christian largely comes down to a matter of theology. 

That is, Christians with a vision for their family, for fulfilling God’s purpose for them to be used for His glory, is what every Christian family needs to keep homeschooling. 

Now I will preface this with I know there are Christian families who cannot homeschool --- maybe the mother suffers from mental illness, alcoholism or another serious problem where they should not be with children.  There exits a huge shortage of affordable Christian schools that could be filled with the children from such families. 

But for the majority of Christian families who can create a safe, loving, healthy home where Christ is honored – they are well qualified to raise their children at home, and they need to get that exciting, big picture vision for their family to really go the distance. And this vision should be shared with the children, too.

Recently our family was standing in front of local Planned Parenthood. Not only is it part of their education to learn how to witness for Christ and save babies there, but we point out to them that this location is a “high place”in the land.  Like King Josiah, we are to take down the high places.  “But how, Mom?” they ask.  Through doing the best they can in math, science, writing, reading, etc. – maybe one day they can become a judge who helps to outlaw child killing, or a parent who passes on a life ethic to their children. 

If our only goal is to get our children to recite the Sinner’s Prayer, and just try to survive in a world that is supposed to get worse even in areas where there are many believers, I think we have too small a goal.

Years ago, when my husband and I ran a pro-family ministry on our secular college campus, we called all the Christian groups together for a prayer time.  We then asked them to work on getting Christians elected to school government and to help us get rid of the college-sponsored pornography and homosexual movie nights.  Besides the erroneous view many of them had that Christians should not get involved in politics, many acted like trying to make the campus less evil was somehow unspiritual. 

We challenged them that a place with Christians should be different than a place without them.  And that cleaning up the place, taking dominion in the name of Jesus, was a blessing to those who dwelt there.  To make a long story short, although the movies had been shown for 20 years, God used us to get them out in a matter of months.

My point is, what vision do you have for your family and how God could use all of you for His purpose — and does this motivate you to carry on during the storms?   

If they haven’t already, your kids are going to look at their math one day and ask you, “What is the point?’ You are going to wake up to a mountain of laundry and a day of children needing you and ask yourself, “What is the point?” 

What if you saw it as taking dominion over your household in the name of Jesus.  A household with Christians should look different than a household without.  Cleaning up the place, and teaching the children to do so, is a blessing to those who dwell there. Homeschooling the children in the Lord brings souls to Him and blesses others. And a husband who catches the vision rises up to take his rightful place as head of such a  home. 

Whether you are considering homeschooling, just staring homeschooling or if you have a call on your life to encourage others to homeschool, please take this to heart.  Homeschooling is the harder, but much better road if done the Lord’s way and with a solid vision for victory in Jesus.

Over the years, I have been so blessed to be able to pan out nuggets of golden wisdom from a variety of godly, veteran homeschool moms.  The many Christian homeschoolers who spoke at our ministry all homeschooled somewhat differently, as God makes each family unique, but I always gleaned something valuable for my family from every one. (Some talks from homeschool veterans, by the way, are available free at Exploring Homeschooling.) Their advice has saved me so much grief, money and time “reinventing the wheel.” 

Often those considering or starting homeschooling want to know what it is that will make their journey successful.  Naturally, thoughts of the best curriculum, home management techniques, field trip opportunities or other aspects of home education come to mind. 

But today I want to share with the most valuable advice I ever heard from wise homeschoolers about what should top the “list for success” in homeschooling.  By far, the most essential part of homeschooling, that crucial thing you need to have in great supply in order to hold it all together is “glue” -- the divine glue of really having a close, continual relationship with the Lord Jesus.  

I have heard several veteran homeschooler emphasize that if you are having trouble keeping your homeschooling together, check your prayer life.   It would always turn out, one seasoned homeschooler noted, that a struggling, “feeling hopeless” mom was spending little or no time before the Lord each day. 

I have had to learn the hard way, so I am passing on this life preserver of good advice, to save those who are jumping into the homeschool journey from drowning.   I can tell there is a dramatic difference in the days when I have been in prayer and in the Word and days when I just roll out of bed and try to start the day cold.  Often mothers of little children will moan, “but I have no time!”  I can tell you this –that if you make time for real heart to heart prayer with Christ, He will make your day blessed with a balm of sweetness so that you will want to always find a way to pray. 

I often looked at versus like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing” and I could not understand how a single person, let alone a married lady with children could muster anything close to that.  But, I think I finally have some understanding of that verse.  We had six children in eight years of marriage (whew!) and honestly I pray much more with six children than I ever did with one child.  Right now I have twin babies, two preschoolers and two other youngsters, so hear me out on this. 

What changed?  I see prayer as the cement that holds everything together; to be communicating with and listening to the Creator all day is the most important part of achieving a biblical household.  A homeschool veteran with many kids once advised us to rise while everyone was asleep for daily prayer and devotions – this is perhaps the only quiet time in our household.  Also we busy moms can  pray when we fold the laundry, when we cook, or when we hoover over that child with the not-so-great attitude who needs your advocating to the Father right there and then. 

I believe that real, heartbroken, crying out before God prayer – not the superficial, skipped over, just-for-looks kind -- is the glue that will help hold your homeschool, your family, your marriage, and you together.  What I mean is a “glue” that will attach your heart to Christ and His ways all day, a “glue” that will bond your children to you and your husband, and ultimately to Him. 
 
Being a person of prayer means you know how wretched you are, how you are totally dependent on God for everything.  Anyone can say they pray, but if someone really comes before the Savior, they are dramatically changed.  You cannot be the striving, stressed, selfish, complaining person you were before you stood before Him.  You cannot hold anything against anyone if you know He forgave you.  You realize how blessed you are to be able to serve Him by being a stay home mom and wife, that it is the best job in the world.  Also, you get a vision of great hope for the children you only saw as impossible before you lifted your hands and heart to Heaven.  In other words, meeting Jesus changes your perspective. Having a Holy Spirit led homeschool changes you and that influences everyone you are in contact with.

Make no mistake about it -- homeschooling is the harder road.  It will try every part of you.  But, it is the best road if you are loving, Christian parent who can create a safe place of joyous learning in your home.  But I propose that the “joyous” in that last sentence can only be obtained by getting the glue and pouring it all over your household --- the glue of deep, continual communication with Christ Jesus.

This week when one of our six children was sick in bed, the other kids asked if they could make him up a snack plate.  I watched as they happily cut fruit, piled on goldfish crackers and even drew some pictures for their ill sibling.  After a bit of arguing over who would get to deliver the plate to him, they not only brought him the plate and a drink, but they spoon fed him too.  (He didn't quite need that much assistance, but he did not object, either!)  Then they took turns reading stories to their brother. 

Watching our three year old "read" a picture book to her sick older brother, inventing the words as she went along, just made my husband and I feel so blessed. Of course, children are not born knowing how to minister to one another in such a way, but through parental encouragement they can learn to "...through love serve one another". - Galatians 5:13 

Now what preschool or what nanny would have the eternal motivation or the means to teach such a powerful life lesson?

I couldn't help but think of friends and relatives who send their children off to preschool or outsource their parenting to others when they don't have to.  What they are missing is not only bonding between parent and child, but sibling bonding.  When a person lovingly helps another who is in need, there is a gratefulness that cements a friendship.

I mean, will your child really be able to call up their old preschool friends when they are an adult and in trouble?  No, it is their family you hope they will be able to lean on in dark times.  So, if you are considering homeschooling, don't put your child in day care, preschool or with a nanny while you ponder whether you can handle homeschooling – if you are a loving, safe parent, then care for them yourself, and keep them with the sibling team God gave them. Sure, serving the children in this way and teaching them to serve is the more difficult path, but the more fruitful one.