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The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine
Home Where They
Belong
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November 7, 2007
|
 Struggling with finances or
the lack there of? I wish there was a quick and easy answer,
but there just isn't.
I've listened to all the
financial folks, I've listened to the frugal, coupon clipping
tips, we've made cuts in the budget and taken on extra jobs.
It's still a work in progress. But here's what I want to share
with you.
A lot of times the world will tell you that
the best thing you can do for your family if you're struggling
financially is to put the kids in school and get a job. Do NOT
let them talk you into that kind of thinking.
Remember
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." We know what
God said in Deuteronomy 6:6-7. He said that WE were to teach
our children. I think that means even when times are tough,
even when the money is tight.
If your family, friends
or church family are giving you a hard time about
homeschooling instead of helping "support" the family, just
tell them that it's non-negotiable. You're going to do what
God has called you to do even when it doesn't make
sense.
If your husband asks you to consider going back
to work - well that's a different thing. God will honor your
submission to your husband as well. The main thing is to trust
in the Lord and to let Him direct your paths - not the
financial gurus, not your family, and not the numbers on a
piece of paper.
Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing.
Even when money is tight, I'm just so thankful that I even get
the opportunity to homeschool. I know some people haven't been
as fortunate and I know others who have made much greater
sacrifices than my family just so that they can
homeschool.
Don't let your finances take your eyes off
of what God has called you to do. Staying home with your
children and homeschooling has worth beyond
measure!
THM Editor
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 Mercy Every Minute
Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor
Unexpected crises can
hit us at any time. I live in California where there are fires
and earthquakes. You can usually bet that where there are
disasters, there will be homeschool families affected.
Any kind of crisis,
not just monumental ones, usually ends up hitting us in the
pocketbook. We might need new books or supplies, gas money for
extra traveling, moving expenses, medical bills, and the list
goes on. I hope you don't feel alone in your crisis. Many of
us have been or are there now.
Financial crisis can be very
discouraging. However, if you can take the opportunity to be
thankful for what the Lord has provided and trust Him for what
He will provide, it will help your perspective greatly. We
were promised in Scripture that in this world we would have
tribulation, but that we could also, at the same time, be of
good cheer. Why? Because Christ has overcome the world and all
its disasters. John
16:33
So the focus here is
not on what is going wrong, but on Who has made it all right.
That in Him, we have the eternal victory and that is what is
important. Yes, it may hurt here for awhile, but joy will come
in the morning. May our focus turn to Him during these
times.
Let your church know
your situation. Let your homeschool group know your situation.
Most importantly, let your God know that you trust Him to
provide for you.
We here at The Old
Schoolhouse Magazine want you to know that we are praying that
you would prosper even as your soul prospers.
~Deborah
P.S. HSLDA has set up a fund for
any homeschooler affected by the California fires.
Homeschoolopoly also supports any
homeschoolers in need.
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Contest Central
November Contest Deadline - November 30,
2007
Kimberly
Garcia's classical copybooks are designed to provide writing
practice for students based on the method of copying classical
material. She has generously gifted us with two copies of her
Classical Reading and Writing
Copybook: Covering Early Modern History 1600 - 1850.
One is manuscript and the other is cursive. These are HUGE -
396 pages, 8.5" x 11" binding and excellent resources for copy
work. Read our TOS review HERE and visit www.ClassicalReadingandWriting.com to
see their other products.
TO ENTER:
Email SeniorEditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
with your name and mailing address and the subject, "Copybook"
for a chance to
win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Snow in the
Woods
 Email Deb with your name and
address for your chance to win your very own copy of First Snow in the
Woods. Contest deadline is November 30, 2007. Be sure to
put First Snow in the subject
line!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Congratulations to
October's Winner - Alissa Allen!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All contests subject to
our official contest
terms posted on our website.
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Schoolhouse Spotlight
Dena Wood, Schoolhouse Store Manager
If you are dealing with a
financial crisis you are probably looking for a way to resolve
the problem. We have some items in the Store that may
help you do just that!
The E-Book: A Homeschool
that Handles the Hard Times will tell you what you need to
know so you will be able to continue homeschooling even when
times get tough. Tammy Cardwell shares truths she has learned
through over 17 years of helping homeschoolers, as well as
homeschooling two boys of her own through
graduation.
E-Book: Jumpstart Your
Successful eBusiness will help you take an existing
business online or show you the ropes of starting an online
business using free and/or inexpensive resources. You will
find help in choosing your niche market, and advice on
starting a low-maintenance business that provides you with
residual income.
Is your family trying to live
debt free? Check out the Spring 2004 and Winter 2004 issues of
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. These issues include
a two
part series on Homeschool Finance - Living Debt Free by John
McCoy.
~Dena
|
 It's Just Common Sense
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum
Specialist
Financial crisis? The
best approach is to try to avoid one. Read books by
Ron Blue and Larry Burkett. Here is one story of
avoidance.
The parents had
opportunity to buy a car from an elderly relative. That's a
story in itself. The car was ten years old but had low mileage
and was well maintained, as cars from elderly people often
are, and they bought it for a fantastic price. They gave the
car to a son about to graduate from college and said, "It's an
old car but at least you don't have to start out life with car
payments. Pretend you do, though, and put aside the payment
each month. Then when you need a new car, buy it with cash."
That son's family, now years later, has never paid interest on
a car. That's a huge saving compared with families who
constantly lose money down the black hole of
interest.
Already in a financial
crisis? Then you have to do whatever you have to do, with
advice from people who know finances. It may include accepting
help from your church family. And be ready to help if a crisis
hits someone else in that family. Some financial writers
expect a major monetary crash that will hit us all, so work
the avoidance angle as best you
can.
~Ruth
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The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Just to let you know,
I'm late in submitting this article so let me cut right to the
chase. Most families have financial crises at some time or
another. It doesn't matter if you've got a lot or very little,
those times arise when you wonder if you'll have enough.
Questions plague us like: Will this be the end of life as we
know it? Or, what have we gotten ourselves
into?
That's OK. God is big
enough to handle any financial crisis. He said He'd provide
for his children and He will. The bigger problem occurs when
one family member (usually the wife) blames another family
member (usually the husband) for getting them into the
predicament.
Harsh words are said,
feelings are hurt, and walls are erected. That's bad...real
bad. Financial crisis? No big deal. You'll recover if you stay
on the same team. You may lose your car, your house, and your
dignity, but you'll still have a husband and the love that you
share, which can weather ANYTHING.
Now, on the other
hand, if you turn on your husband and end up losing him, then
the house, the car, and your dignity won't really matter at
all. The first one is important; the others aren't. The
problem is that during financial crisis we often lose our
perspective and make wrong choices.
So, if you've found
yourself in the middle of a financial crisis, keep praying and
keep hanging onto your husband's arm. Thank him for doing the
best he can, and keep talking to him. If you sense
defensiveness, back off, and keep loving your
man.
You may lose
everything else...but you will still have what's most
important and worth having.
I gotta go...the
editor lady is waiting.
Be Real,
Todd
|
 Homeschool Freebies
Jamin!, Freebie
Finder
We have probably all dealt with it....It is
still days to payday when wham ....something happens! A broken
leg, a flat tire, the unexpected expense can vary, but the end
result is often the same...financial crisis! It is no fun to
deal with a financial crisis, but how many of us are really
preparing our kids what to do under such circumstances?
Here are a couple financial planning and training freebies to
use with your kids.
Homeschool Helper has a FREE Money Lapbook. My
oldest son just completed this and it is great! There
are booklets on savings goals, stretching your dollar,
investments, budgeting and MUCH more! The great thing about
this lapbook is the booklets are blank leaving it up to Mom
and Dad what to put inside. There is also a great Library list
included to help you find the information you need. This
is a great tool to sit down with your children and teach them
about finances!
YoungInvestor.com is a
website designed to teach kids about money. The site is
divided up for kids, teens, teachers and parents. There
are A LOT of good resources at this website! The Teachers Section
includes resources on introduction to the Stock Market and
investing, understanding the economy and MORE! There are
also crosswords and word puzzles on charities, investments,
allowance and other topics.
Command those who are rich in this
present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:17
~
Jamin
|
Meet Some of Our Friends
Seasons at
Home
A new
Christian Homemaking magazine
Visit www.joyoushome.com for
details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christian Victory Academy,
an Accredited Private School for Homeschool Families, serving
the homeschool community since 1998. Selected Classes Offered,
high school course planning provided, "How to Homeschool" and
various workshops offered, yearly SAT (Standardized
Achievement Test), PSAT administered, monthly field trips, a
lending library. 407-281-6244; www.christianvictoryacademy.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOOKING FOR A GREAT
PROJECT for your Homeschool Group, Co-Op, or Church
Group for the Holiday Season?
Homestead Originals
offers All Natural "Make Your Own" Candle Kits! Children (and
adults!) can handcraft their own lovely soy wax candles for
gift giving! Our kits are complete with everything to create
your own candle, right down to the gift bag to give it
in! Our kits make it easy to create a nice gift, that is
simple to make, and fun to give! Order online OR call/email
Lisa for group discounts on orders of 10 or more.
360.492.5150 Lisa@HomesteadOriginals.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sherri Johnson
Ministries: Helping Women Find Their Way Home. Sherri Johnson
is a homeschooling mom, writer, and speaker with a passion for
sharing God with others, making them laugh, and encouraging
them along their journey. Find Sherri's devotional for
homeschooling moms, entitled Teach Me Your Way, and her
other titles at www.sherrijohnsonministries.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas is just around the corner, and there's no
better way to enjoy the anticipation of Christmas than by
playing "To Bethlehem". It's more than a fun game; it's
meaningful family time. To check it out and all of Familyman
Ministries' other great Christmas products, including the
Christmas read-aloud "Cootie McKay's Nativity," go to
www.familymanweb.com/Christmas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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