Pray with Kids for Libya

This morning, in an effort to combine geography, a little history, current events, and an emphasis on missions (because on the 31st day of the month we pray for our kids to have a heart for missions)--- I made a worksheet to help the girls do some research on Libya. It really worked out beautifully (though it took a little longer than I might have planned!). We used some resources online- mostly here under the "Missions Research Websites" tab (1st on the list). Especially helpful was "Operation World". Then once we've found all of the answers together, looked up some definitions (such as "insurrection"), and determined from the WHOLE sheet what their prayer needs were, we spent a few minutes together praying through that list. {sigh} Makes a mother's heart soar. Now that I have these resources, I hope to make this a regular activity! God bless you and YOUR family as seek to make the Gospel known, shape your children's worldview into God's worldview, and raise up faithful disciples to spread His love. ~Katherine Clark

Meaningful Days of Advent

I found a VERY COOL blog yesterday (by designer Ali Edwards) showing how to make a small memory book for each day in December and was inspired to make one with our family. One thing I really like about the idea is its potential for helping us to make the most of the days of Advent. As I looked through her examples and at my own inspiration books, I'd like to suggest a twist on the memory book idea. I hope to use the added incentive to make the days count- not only to do fun things- but to bring meaning and illumination to this season of preparation which is so rich with depth and meaning. An easy way to start is to find out what meaning lies beneath things you already do--- such as the Christmas tree, lights, or Advent wreaths. An excellent resource is Lisa Whelchel's The ADVENTure of Christmas. By making the memory book and journaling with the kids WHY we do the things we do, we can added another layer to the building of faith along with making memories. I don't expect that every entry in our December Daily book will have deep meaning (some may just show mugs of gourmet hot chocolate or a fun craft), but by starting to intentionally to look for the why's behind the traditions, I know we will have a rich and blessed Advent, filled with the Truth rather than just the all too familiar holiday hustle and bustle ending with the "stuff". Praying your family finds creative ways to make the most of this Advent, preparing and rejoicing for His coming~
Katherine

Raising Godly Daughters

I was recently asked for recommendations for resources to prepare for discussing "girl" topics. We have used many wonderful resources which are worthy of sharing. I have just ordered several more (which I'll try to review in the not TOO distant future) which I hope to use in the next year or two with my girls. (Raising a Modern Day Princess, Passport2Purity, Secret Keeper Girls, Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl) Below are the books we've already used and recommend. I also recommend anything by Vicky Courtney, Dannah Gresh, or Leslie Ludy. These women have a passion to see a virtuous generation of godly girls survive the bombardment of their culture and mature into godly women. For more information on this topic- check out Generations of Virtue. Do you have resources you don't see listed? PLEASE COMMENT and share them with us!!!

Helpful Resources for Character Training

I found several resources at the website which I am hoping will be helpful resources for character-training in our home. I thought I'd pass the link on before I forgot, but I hope to write an update of how we've used them and the impact they've made on our growth sometime down the road!

Doorposts appears to be a Reformed ministry for homeschooling families. They have been operating for a number of years and have developed some neat helps for families. I am always happy to support families who serve the community by working together.

Hope you find something helpful to growing the disciples in your home!
~Katherine

Am I being modest?

Check out this great quiz with your tween or teen- or consider using it to begin training a school age girl how to think about fashion. Click around the Secret Keeper Girl website for great articles and tools for keeping your girls on the path to purity!

Generations by Sara Groves

This song has been one of my favorites for awhile, and it encourages me to make good choices, make the hard choices, and to press on and do what is important now, because it WILL make a difference- not just for my family, not just for my children, but for my children's children and beyond. Here is one version- another link to a different video below. Enjoy-
katherine



Another version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVhVX9IJL4

Sermons to Aid Us in Raising Disciples

Hi friends,
I thought I would share a couple of sermons from the fall that relate to raising up disciples at home- and it's importance.

"Passing on the Faith" from Oct 18, 2009 (scroll down on that page)

and "Finishing Well" about leaving a legacy of faith, by Pastor Ray from September 27, 2009.

Be nurtured,
Katherine