Salt and Light (or Answers to Lame Arguments Against Homeschooling #1)

On the Well Trained Mind forum that I frequent, someone inquired how we answer the question of "salt and light" often posed by those who do not homeschool.  The question (or defense of one's own reason for sending their child to school) goes something like this:  "Now, if all the Christians homeschooled their kids, who would be salt and light in the public schools?  I really believe this is why Christians should send their kids to school.  I don't want to over-protect my kids...they need to know about the world.  We talk about things that happen at school when they get home."

My response to this goes something like this. 

we do not throw a pinch of salt into a swimming pool and expect it to become salty. we do not throw a candle into a pit and expect it to remain lit. children are influenced by those with whom they spend the majority of their time. children are not capable of enough abstract thought to defend their faith nor do they have the spiritual maturity to stand against the devil's schemes (which are rampant in the public schools). it is our job as parents to manage and filter the influences that come in contact with our children, and to protect their minds as well as their bodies. i am not saying to keep them naive, but rather to teach them to be wise as they become initiated to the world. i can assure you that this is not the primary goal of the public schools as they crank out their little proletariat work force who will be good citizens to the country and the world. they have an agenda all their own, and the last time i checked it wasn't to raise competent disciples of Christ.

i am working to DISCIPLE my children and TRAIN them in the truth. when this training is complete, then i must answer the call to release them into the world to be salt and light.

Best of Convention

We just returned from the annual HEAV convention in Richmond yesterday.  The whole family went, and although both kids were suffering from different stages of a cold, we made the best of it, tried not to overdo it, and had fun anyway!  Here is a list of the best of convention:

Best find overall: Calvin and Hobbes There's Treasure Everywhere in brand-new condition and snagged for $1 at the used book sale! 

Best line from a seminar: "There are only two religions:  God's Word and man's word." (Ken Ham) 

Best find at a vendor booth:  Who is God (and Can I Really Know Him) curriculum published by Apologia and written by John Hay and David Webb  and Carry on, Mr. Bowditch read unabridged by Jim Weiss.

Best toy acquired by the kids:  A kaleidoscope that has a tube of floaty colors and confetti.  If I'd had this toy when I was a kid, I wouldn't have needed any others.

Best time spent by kids:  swimming in the pool and ordering room service and being spoiled by Auntie Kate.

Best time spent with hubby:  shopping the curriculum floor while he held all my heavy books and never complained.  I was feelin' the love!

Best time spent with Kate:  talking over a glass of wine after the kids were asleep...listening to Joshua snore.  

Best feeling of the weekend:  coming home.

Worst realization of the experience:  realizing that I have to find places for all these new books and stuff.

What is it About Five?

My baby girl turned five yesterday. I hope she remembers the day for her whole life. I wonder how is possible for a child to be sweeter, more innocent, and yet so communicative and entertaining all at the same time! It is the perfect bridge between baby-hood and childhood.

It was an all-Molly day starting with presents from Matty and me as soon as she woke up. Her godmother then came at 10:00 and whisked her off to Build-a-Bear Workshop to, well, build a bear, but she built a horse. With wings. And a party hat. And a regular outfit and a dress-up outfit. And mary-janes. And blonde hair that you can comb and style. Amazing. Then Miss Kim bought her candy, which she consumed in its entirety. Then Miss Kim took her out to lunch and she chose a big girl lunch of sesame chicken and rice--definitely not McDonald's. (That's my girl!) Then when she came home we had a lovely dress-up tea party with four of her bfsf (I know you're wondering what that stands for, but grammatically it's correct!) Then, after we took the pooping cat to the vet, we went out to Panera for broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl, which is what she requested. Then home for cake and ice cream with the family and Daddy's big announcement that WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD next week!

Lettuce, aka LeTUCE

My lettuce never really decided to grow.  I'm very sad.  I harvested a meager amount of lettuce...it should have been a whole lot more, but for some weird reason my seedlings never progressed much past that...seedlings.  I had a couple of plants flourish, but they weren't enough for a salad, so while waiting for the other lettuce plants to grow, they bolted.  Huh?

I got a soil test kit.  It says my pH and my fertilizers are "ideal."  Okay.  Then what could it be?  Did the cats pee on them?  Did something eat them from the roots? (I don't think so.) I'm stymied.  So I've decided to harvest my lettuce (pronounced le-TUCE in this house) and plant something else in those squares until fall rolls 'round and try again.  hmph.

Garden Update

We have been working every weekend in the garden since early April.  I am so excited to see tiny heads of broccoli forming, cabbage looking like a cabbage plant, peas growing up the trellis, potatoes going crazy, onions and herbs and peppers, oh my! are planted and taking root...I'm looking forward to the harvest this summer!  These photos are the progress so far, as of a couple of days ago.

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  Wherever you are, whoever you are, please pray--for our world, our country and its leaders, our states and localities, our families, ourselves.

II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Few would argue that our land is in need of healing.  Few would argue that it is hard to humble ourselves. Few would argue that we are firmly entrenched in our wicked ways.  Let us turn our eyes from ourselves to our maker and use this day to cry out to God for mercy and healing.