Quote from Forum Archives on January 17, 2004, 10:28 am

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

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THE HOPE CHEST

with Virginia Knowles

Tidbit #23b on January 17, 2004

Extras and Announcements

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Dear Hope Chest friends,

I know it's not time for another regular tidbit, but here are some "extras and announcements" that I've been saving to send your way.  In this message you will find:

• Health and Prayer Update
• Learner's Journals and Other Books by Virginia Knowles
• Christian E-Mail Groups at Associate.Com
• Starfall Web Site
• A Bible Lesson of Inestimable Value: The Laboratory of Agassiz (article web link)
• Bible On-Line
• Daniel Webster for U.S. Senate -- A Home School Dad!
• Home School Conferences in the Midwest?
• Manna for Mothers: To Make a Happy Home
• You Might Be Homeschooled If...  (humor!)

 

May God bless all of you richly as you teach and train your children for his glory.

 

In His Sovereign Grace,

Virginia Knowles

www.thehopechest.net

 

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Health and Prayer Update

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My thyroid uptake & scan are scheduled for next Thursday and Friday (1/22-1/23), and the biopsy will be on the following Tuesday (1/27).  Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.  There is a "peace that passes understanding" to those who trust in God, and I feel like he has poured it out abundantly on me, even in the face of potentially complicated health issues!  

If you would like to pray more specifically, one concern right now is that we will no longer have health insurance after April.  We had group coverage from Thad's former employer under the COBRA provisions, but this only lasts 18 months, and we cannot afford individual insurance.  We plan to sign up with Samaritan Ministries (http://www.samaritanministries.org/) which is a Christian health cost sharing ministry, but this will not cover pre-existing conditions. 

For those who are wondering what Thad is doing for work, he is self-employed as the manager for his handicapped sister's trust fund, as well as president of a small corporation that he and his four sisters own.   After their mother died last year, they inherited several rental houses near the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.   They are trying to sell all of them within the next year.  If you are interested in real estate investments in this vicinity, please e-mail me!   Their mother's home is also on the market -- a lovely 4 bedroom colonial with a pool in Maitland, Florida.  Let me know if you are interested!

I am thankful that Thad has a flexible work schedule, especially since my health could be pretty topsy turvy soon!   He works about five hours during the day, and then a few more in the late evenings after the children are in bed and the computer is not in such high demand.  He helps me in chauffeuring the older ones to their classes and motivating us to keep organized, and I help him with his administrative work.   How we manage to juggle home schooling 9 kids and running two family businesses (even though mine is microscopic) is still a mystery to me, but I know it's the grace of God!

Keep up the prayer, friends!

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Learner's Journals and Other Books by Virginia Knowles

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I don't spend much time at all marketing the books that I publish, but last week, unbeknownst to me, someone kindly spread the word about my Learner's Journal lesson planner and record keeping log.  I've had a lot of inquiries about it, and I don't even keep it in my regular inventory this time of year!  But, due to the recent spate of interest in it, I am planning to do at least one print run of it this next week.  I will take it to the printer on Tuesday.  So, if you want the Learner's Journal before summer (when I usually do publish it), now is the time to order it.  You can find more information at www.thehopechest.net/learnersjournal.html.  Please note that this web page is not totally updated.  Somehow one of the page layouts from the book didn't make it to the screen when the site moved.  Also, the journals are now spiral bound, which is much more durable than the comb binding.  The color of covers is slightly different (usually a good bit darker), due to a change in printing companies.  If you want more detailed information on the layout or anything else, please e-mail me!  The journals are still $10.  If you want to order one, please specify color so I can order the right quantities of each!

Also, you can find on-line information about my other boos, The Real Life Home School Mom at www.thehopechest.net/reallife.html and  Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Education for Preschool to 5th grade at www.thehopechest.net/cse.html.  I do have both of these books in stock right now, but e-mail me first if you want to order them!

Thanks again to Susie of True Light Creations (www.truelightcreations.com) for moving and hosting the Hope Chest web site for me!

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Christian E-Mail Groups at Associate.Com

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The Hope Chest newsletter is sent via Associate.com, a Christian ministry e-mail server.  I can't tell you how much of a blessing this is to me to be able to send you messages without offensive ads.  Glen Stewart operates Associate.com as a  service to believers all over the world -- at no charge!  Thanks, Glenn!  I wouldn't be able to do this without you!

 

Here's a note from Glenn:

 

~~~

Hello fellow Christian co-worker,
 
This message is originating from Associate.com/Welovegod.org, which is the Internet site hosting hundreds of Christian Email Groups and ministries like the one this message is being sent through.
 
The sole goal of this letter is to communicate an offer to freely host YOUR Christian ministry group at Associate.com/Welovegod.org.  If you don't have a ministry that can benefit from Group Email and web hosting, perhaps you can pass this message to someone who is in that position.  Thanks!
  
More information...
 
Associate.com/Welovegod.org operates like Barnabus did with Paul (Acts 4,9,11,13) - our ministry is to come alongside of your ministry and enrich it.  We do this by providing an environment (our web and email services) that your ministry can benefit from.
 
Email groups allow hundreds, or thousands of people to benefit from your ministry efforts, perhaps in a weekly newsletter you write.  Our new web-based Group software (MimerDesk) allows public or private Group forums, files areas, calendar, and more to go along with email sharing.
 
For us, money and ministry do not mix - there is no charge for our services.  For details on starting or moving your group here, please visit  http://welovegod.org/faq/your-list-here.shtml
 
Thanks!
 
Glen Stewart

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Starfall Web Site

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After I mentioned that Micah is learning to read, Dana in Tennessee wrote, "In your last newsletter, you mentioned that your little one was beginning to read simple words.  My 4yods loves the website at www.starfall.com  They have early reading and phonics stories there.  His favorite is Zac the Rat.  Thought I would pass it on to you. We are learning in fits and starts around here as well and Zac the Rat is a good "fit" for us to have a couple of times a week."

Thanks, Dana!  I'm glad you told me about that!  Here at the Knowles house, we've been using the Starfall web site for the past few days, and Micah, Naomi and even Andrew all love it!  It has stuff for very beginning readers up through about 2nd grade.

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A Bible Lesson of Inestimable Value:

The Laboratory of Agassiz

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When I was a student at the University of Central Florida in the early 1980s, our Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship staff worker, Paul Hughes, handed out copies of a thought-provoking article.   After reading a description of the research and teaching methods of eminent 19th century Harvard professor and natural scientist, Louis Agassiz , you will easily see how this is applicable to studying Scripture.  I always loved the article, and just received a link to it on-line.  This version is edited from Appendix of American Poems, published in 1880 by Houghton, Osgood & Co.

http://www.discipleland.com/articles/agassiz.phtml?ref=6a0104-1

 

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Bible On-Line

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Here is a great link where you can search the Scriptures in 17 English translations and 36 "foreign" translations.

http://www.biblegateway.com/

 

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Daniel Webster for U.S. Senate 

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Florida state senator Dan Webster is hoping to qualify to run for U.S. Senate.   Though he is from Florida, I would encourage all of you to read this!  Space doesn't permit me to list all of Dan's accomplishments in the state legislature, but I will say that he was elected to the Florida House in 1980, served as the first Republican Speaker of the House in well over a century, and is currently a Florida state senator.  I haven't ever met him, but since he pioneered our state's favorable homeschool legislation, he is one of my heroes!  Mardy Freeman, author of the book Children of Character and publisher of "A Mary Heart" newsletter, is volunteering in Webster's campaign along with her husband Bill.  The following comments are from my friend Colleen Finley. 

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Many of you know Daniel Webster as the legislative force behind our Florida Homeschool Law.  He is a homeschooling (ATI) father of six and was the sponsoring legislator for the Homeschool Bill for Craig and Brenda Dickinson almost twenty years ago (1985).  He was also Speaker of the (Florida) House for several years.   Dan Webster is currently running for US Senate to fill the seat vacated by the retiring Bob Graham. 
 
Dan Webster is hoping to qualify for the election by signature petition.  Since Florida Homeschoolers owe their homeschooling freedom to Mr. Webster, we should all be willing to work to gather the necessary signatures for his qualifying.  The qualifying period is January 7 thru mid April.   Signing the signature card for his qualifying DOES NOT obligate you to vote for him (although that would be great!!)  You do not have to be a republican to sign the petition but you do have to be a registered voter.  If you are not registered, you can register at our local Elections office or thru the link at the website.
 
You can obtain a petition to sign at www.websterforsenate.com  -- there is also an address to mail them to.  Click on the link in the lower left corner which mentions the petition.  If you need a hard copy, please let me know, you can contact the campaign office at 1-407-843-5127 OR you can email them from the website.  If you need more information on Dan Webster, please check out their website.  It is packed full of information.

 

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Home School Conferences in the Midwest?

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Gwen Simmons, who teaches the excellent e-mail Write On creative writing courses, would love to exhibit at home school conferences in the vicinity of Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.  If you know of opportunities in this geographic area, please e-mail her at [email protected].  You can also check out Gwen's web site at: www.writeonagain.com.  Thanks!

 

 

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Manna for Mothers: To Make a Happy Home

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Cora Knight, a missionary in Asia, sends an e-mail encouragement called Manna for Mothers.   You may contact her at [email protected]. This is a recent Manna for Mothers message. 

 

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Dear Mothers,
 
To Make a Happy Home
 
1. Learn to govern yourself and to be gentle and patient.
 
2.  Guard your words, especially in seasons of ill-health, irritation and trouble, and soften them by prayers and a sense of your shortcomings and errors.
 
3. Never speak or act in anger. Pray over your words and acts.
 
4. Remember that, valuable as is the gift of speech, silence is often more valuable.
 
5. Do not expect too much from others, but remember that all have faults, and that we should forbear and forgive, as we often desire forbearance and forgiveness ourselves.
 
6. Never retort a sharp or angry word. It is the second word that makes the quarrel.
 
7. Beware of the first disagreement.
 
8. Learn to speak in a gentle tone of voice.
 
9. Learn to say kind and pleasant things whenever opportunity offers.
 
10. Study the character of each, and sympathize with all in their troubles, however small.
 
11. Do not neglect the little things if they can affect the comfort of others in the smallest degree.
 
12. Avoid moods and pets and fits of sulkiness.
 
 
      - Selected
 
Love in Christ,
Cora 

 

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You Might Be Homeschooled If...

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My twelve year old daughter Rachel forwarded this humorous list to me:

 

You Might Be Home Schooled If ...

• you never get "snow days" off
• "P.E." includes yard work
• you've ever been in more than three grades at once
• all the signatures on your graduation diploma end with the same last name
• after your first year in college, the academic dean keeps asking, "Are there any more at home like you?"
• your extracurricular activities take more time than your academics
• your teacher has ever come to school in her pajamas
• your family has the national average of 2.5 children...in each bedroom!
• you get your high school diploma BEFORE you get your driver's license
• your 15-passenger van contains more kids than the passing school bus
• your first real date is on your honeymoon
• your Home Economics class transitions smoothly into married life
• denim is a primary color
• your grade and your age have ever matched
• you NEVER get to use the "1-10 items" Express Lane in the grocery store
• you feel sorry for the over socialized public school kids
• you consider school work after lunch to be cruel and unusual punishment
• you have to move dirty laundry off your desk before you can study
• the only questions you missed on the ACT were the ones dealing with "the late Cretaceous Period."
• your answering machine gets the phone more than you do
• the term "Anglo-Saxon" makes you think of your geometry book
• your mom can turn ANYTHING into an object lesson illustrating your current assignment
• the Home School Channel is the only channel allowed in your house
• the ACLU is considered a four-letter word in your house
• you think public school looks a whole lot like prison
• you consider loss of reading privileges to be the most drastic form of punishment
• you could win a science fair by summarizing your plenteous experience in removing stains from clothing
• you have changed FAR more diapers than the average day care worker
• your yearbook is also your baby book
• you can actually read your diploma when you graduate
• your four-year-old brother can answer the socialization question
• you have so many baby sitting requests that you form a referral company