Le vert, couleur de la paix

He's totally a genius.

2010-02-22T16:48:37.996-06:00

He's totally a genius.

I never lose the awe of how cool it is. It's one o...

2010-02-22T12:44:39.369-06:00

I never lose the awe of how cool it is. It's one of those things that I repeat in my head when I'm struggling with certain *hang ups*. It helps me to embrace the freedom.

August 27, 2006 5:04 AM

hakim baker said... > “If the Son has set you...

2010-02-22T12:44:14.216-06:00

hakim baker said...

> “If the Son has set you free, then you are free indeed.” So letting go of all of the *hang-ups* and just letting the Holy Spirit deal with my personal issues within me has been the best thing ever.

That's really cool. I'm not religious in any conventional sense, but that's really cool.

hakim

August 27, 2006 2:55 AM

~~I have to remind myself that unschooling does no...

2010-02-22T12:43:45.692-06:00

~~I have to remind myself that unschooling does not mean ignoring my kids all day except when they’re hungry!~~

YES! We pretty much spent last year deschooling and allowing ourselves to enjoy the freedoms that radical unschooling brings. It took some time to really grasp that freedom and reign it in so that we took control of it and it wasn't us just swimming around in chaos.

Your statement above is what we did a lot when my DD was in public school. We were all so pulled every-which-way and burning the candle at both ends that we just retreated to our own corner of the house when we were home.

I will just tell you all know that the Lord lead me to unschooling and the freedom of it. "If the Son has set you free, then you are free indeed." So letting go of all of the *hang-ups* and just letting the Holy Spirit deal with my personal issues within me has been the best thing ever.

August 26, 2006 6:55 AM

You know, it can be more expensive (and with gas p...

2010-02-22T12:31:27.016-06:00

You know, it can be more expensive (and with gas prices the way they are... jeez)... I suppose I wouldn't have gotten a membership to the Children's Museum prior to this way of life... and I wouldn't be planning on getting a zoo membership in April (we're just going to go on free day until the end of the season this year)... though if we volunteer, zoo membership is free.

I'm willing to give up some things (and to find other ways to make more money) to have a fuller life... and there really are tons of stuff around here (even being the small city that we are) to do that are free or very low cost.

I'm also looking to see where we can be active in the community by volunteering.

We are going to be actively helping my dad with his garden next spring. My parents had a huge garden when I was a kid, I helped pull weeds, but I didn't pick up the green thumb... so we'll be learning about gardening (science and chemistry... life cycle of plants & soil composition and pH) under my dad's vast knowledge. I'm thinking we can enter some stuff into the county fair like my parents did when I was a kid... I have great memories of the fair.

I guess it's really no more expensive then spending your money on curriculum. Like with curriculum, you can spend a ton going the easy route and getting a packaged deal, or you can make the expense next to nothing by using the library and internet and finding the resources yourself. Unschooling is the same way... you can just pay out top dollar for the easy route or you can spend a bit extra time to find the things going on that don't cost anything or volunteer some time to get involved and get free memberships. Life off the beaten path is WAY more interesting anyway. :)

Good to know your an unschooler at heart. :)

August 19, 2006 4:41 AM

I have to back Ren up here! Kim's comment struck m...

2010-02-22T12:21:30.789-06:00

I have to back Ren up here! Kim's comment struck me too but I wasn't up to the *TV* debate at the time. (The TV debate goes 'round and 'round all the time on unschooling groups... people testing the waters just don't *get it* about letting go of the issues surrounding TV)

That *dulling the interests* comment is just an old tape running through people's heads. I wonder where that came from? How can it dull interests when it brings the whole world into our homes? If you're talking more about desensitizing to issues... is that really true either? And isn't that more of an individual issue than anything else? People choose to go through the motions of life... people choose not to care about the horrors of war, crime, and child predators. People choose to let the government have control over their lives... people choose not to be proactive instead of reactive.

Even those shows that many people see as meaningless or even vulgar bring interests and learning. I think my next topic should be *What I've learned from Seinfeld, the Simpsons, and South Park.* I can pick one for sure that I've learned from Seinfeld (being of the female species)... shrinkage! lol Like Elaine, I didn't know *it* shrank either.

August 24, 2006 7:11 AM

Amanda said... Thank you so much for linking ...

2010-02-22T11:35:12.575-06:00

Amanda said...

Thank you so much for linking to me! I love your blog!

August 5, 2006 10:52 AM

Faith, You are right, I don't support Big Gov...

2010-02-21T15:14:18.707-06:00

Faith,

You are right, I don't support Big Government at all! I don't think there should be more laws! I should have clarified that in an FYI at the beginning of the post. I repost the Rod News here because more people will be exposed to what's going on out there. I don't always agree with everything I repost, and usually make it a point to say so, I just didn't take the time to do it this once.

I certainly don't think anyone has a right to hit a child EVER FOR ANY REASON. But I do believe education rather than laws is the solution there.

I thank you for speaking out and bringing to my attention my oversight in reposting the Rod News here. I will always be sure from now on to clarify when I don't agree with everything that I'm reposting here.
July 30, 2006 4:35 AM

Max said... Thank you for your kind words. I'...

2010-02-21T14:41:44.025-06:00

Max said...

Thank you for your kind words. I'm really glad you enjoy our CD so much, it means a lot to me to hear you gush so much about it!

July 9, 2006 11:10 AM

Unbelievable! Here's the link for the story... htt...

2010-02-21T13:29:21.544-06:00

Unbelievable! Here's the link for the story... http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Prison_Too_Short.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=1&cxcat=0

Disgusting! These perverts rights and safety is more important than our children!

We (the proverbial "we") put away children for adult crimes as if they were adults but do nothing to protect them from the freaks that hurt them in the first place! CHILDREN AREN'T SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, YOU FREAKS!!!!!
May 26, 2006 2:26 AM

~~~have the rhythm and flow of our day belong to U...

2010-02-20T22:32:37.779-06:00

~~~have the rhythm and flow of our day belong to US!~~~

This has got to be one of the greatest things about unschooling for me... to just be free.

Now, if I could find that elusive work from home income...
May 15, 2006 5:57 AM

I want everyone to know that your comments have gi...

2010-02-20T22:27:52.965-06:00

I want everyone to know that your comments have given me a good deal to think about. I did discuss the V-Chip with my DD and we have decided together that the only thing that will be filtered is rated R movies but that she can watch them with us so we can discuss anything that may bother her or that she may not understand. Thanks for everyone's thought provoking comments... :)

May 14, 2006 1:34 AM

In response to Ren... Thanks Ren, I'll keep that ...

2010-02-20T22:26:47.636-06:00

In response to Ren...

Thanks Ren, I'll keep that in mind. Though I don't have a problem with the way nudity is portrayed in art... it's not about the nudity (or I wouldn't get undressed in front of DD)... it's the way the girls are portrayed... as if that's the way to attract healthy men. Believe me, I don't have a problem with nudity... I do have a problem with Porn.

May 11, 2006 4:45 PM

In response to Diana... I see where you're co...

2010-02-20T22:25:04.309-06:00

In response to Diana...

I see where you're coming from and most things I don't have a problem with on TV. But my DD stays up late (no bedtime) and all of those stupid "Girls Gone Wild" infomercials (which is PORN with a few places covered up here and there but my 9 year old isn't stupid!) are on late at night... and she doesn't need to see that stuff while flipping through the channels.

And unschooling isn't letting your kids go with no supervision or direction... which is why when something that is on TV is "questionable", we watch it with her so we can discuss it. She's only 9... we (as parents) facilitate and disciple... unschooling isn't "let's go hog-wild and have no direction at all"...

And the leap has been taken here... and she very much does self-regulate... I'm sorry that you question my parenting and think that I haven't taken that leap. :(
May 11, 2006 9:43 AM

I did know about the 13 stations of the Catholic d...

2010-02-20T22:06:36.106-06:00

I did know about the 13 stations of the Catholic devotion and I'm sure that is where the Journey to the Cross stemmed from. I do have Catholic friends and I may attend the Stations at some time in the future to compare the similarities and the differences. I believe that even the most ancient practices in the Church are valuable in knowledge and understanding as long as the practices don't become the foundation of our Faith in Christ.

Thanks for your kind comments. I really do need to post more about my wonderful DD... I have a tendency to go off on rants about things and that's ok... but I need to be sure to have balance on my blog, too. :)

April 27, 2006 10:44 AM

I know, it makes me sick what parents are allowed ...

2010-02-20T21:59:47.956-06:00

I know, it makes me sick what parents are allowed to do to their children in this country under the guise of Christianity. It's sick.

There was a recent thing on the news the other day showing a dad jump on top of his teen daughter and beat her... and the people that had done the documentary on the family didn't turn the video over to the authorities after they came across the footage while editing the video.

I don't get how Christians can continue to beat their kids and be like the rest of the world instead of being stewards and sheppards of their children and reflecting Christ not only to the world but to their children. There's a big battle to face and Christians aren't stepping up to the plate... they continue to hide behind the Law and Old Testament Christianity instead of stepping up and being Christ to all.

April 28, 2006 10:45 AM

awwww.... thanks.... [[blushing]] :) April 11...

2010-02-20T21:34:49.320-06:00

awwww.... thanks.... [[blushing]] :)
April 11, 2006 2:46 PM

I moved all of my posts here from there when I fir...

2010-02-20T18:07:55.118-06:00

I moved all of my posts here from there when I first set this up. I didn't get all of my links moved but I have them saved elsewhere.

My blog wasn't on that list but that's ok... I'm not upset... I've found it quite amusing and like I said, I'm happy that my name is no longer associated with that place. :)
April 10, 2006 6:16 AM

i had no idea about this. makes me glad i didn't g...

2010-02-20T16:03:04.771-06:00

i had no idea about this. makes me glad i didn't get too involved over there. anyhow, welcome to the blogspot universe :) see you around.

Posted by jen | 3/27/2006 8:07 AM

I'm pleased to see that someone has had the courag...

2010-02-20T16:02:49.323-06:00

I'm pleased to see that someone has had the courage to make the move. I enjoy seeing real action rather than listening to/reading a bunch of whining about how there shouldn't be any action taken. I look forward to reading your blog.

contemplator

Posted by Anonymous | 3/26/2006 10:32 PM

Sunday, March 26, 2006 - Yes we should pray but......

2010-02-20T16:02:34.230-06:00

Sunday, March 26, 2006 - Yes we should pray but...

Posted by Me

I agree that we should pray for those people but I don't have to stay here and financially support those who stand behind those methods. homeschoolblogger.com is free because of advertising and each time you or I come here, we are supporting them.

Saturday, March 25, 2006 - Untitled Comment Poste...

2010-02-20T16:01:52.216-06:00

Saturday, March 25, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by ktneis

My husband is a plumber and I would never use anything like that to discipline my children. i grew up with spankings and they are degrading. i use other methods with my kids. It is disturbing but we do not live in their shoes and we need to pray for the people who choose to punish with pain instead of discipline with love.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - Good for you!~ Posted b...

2010-02-20T15:56:50.072-06:00

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - Good for you!~

Posted by leapingfroglady

I can see how we can loose focus to happiness. Death does stir that up in us. If we only have a few years or months left, what would be do? Tonight I went to a wake. Everytime I do to one, I realize how precious is life and how we need to forget the hurts and pains of life and find the joy.

Good for you,
Pat ;o)

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment Poste...

2010-02-20T15:56:31.511-06:00

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by CreativeHomeschooling

I really appreciate your frank, honesty on your blog! It sounds like your heart is in the right place, so I wouldn't fret much about the details. God Bless you.

Jennie von Eggers
www.TimesTales.com
www.CreativeHomeschooling.com

Posted by Sharon I'm Sharon in Seattle from RCU a...

2010-02-20T15:56:08.587-06:00

Posted by Sharon

I'm Sharon in Seattle from RCU and CCU! I just read your blog and I started to cry. I so know what it's like to follow your convictions and see that no one you know is coming to the same conclusions.

I can't say I'm conservative, though I hold a conservative position on a few topics. And I can't really say I'm liberal exactly either. My kids and me have been shunned from most of the Christian homeschoolers I know. So most of the homeschoolers we know are budhists, pagans, or atheists. And they know we are Christian, so they hold back from true, deep friendships.

I'd love to add you to my friend list. Is that ok?

Sharon