WELCOME

The purpose of this blog is to provide an archived resource of Personal thoughts, learning resources, and parent information.

Regular postings will be added on Mondays.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Summer's Here

Summers are wonderful! The days are long, the weather’s warm, and you just want to be outside. There are so many things to do and people to see. Summers are a time for travel, BBQs, camping, laying on the beach, summer reading, and just taking time to breathe again.

You’ve done a great job of guiding your children’s education this year. Celebrate that. Take advantage of this time of year to take a break from the regimented routine and change up the pace.

If you are concerned that your kids will “lose it” here are a couple of ideas. To keep their children sharp, some of my friends would pick up grade level workbooks at Walmart, Costco, or Superstore. Their kids worked on them, at their own pace, and when they finished they got a special reward.

Reading should be connected with your children’s curiosity, and should be purely for enjoyment. Maybe reading will just be a stack of comics, like a Calvin & Hobbes or old Archies. If you’re taking a family trip let your children find out about where you’re going and the highlights along the way.

Whatever your summer plans, let me encourage you to take some time to recharge, take some time to draw together as a family, and take some time to draw close to God. Enjoy your summer.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

What Are Your Dreams?


“Predictions are difficult, especially about the future.” 
“Without a vision the people perish.” 

We all need to have hopes and dreams. We need to look past today’s challenges towards tomorrow’s promises. We need to anticipate the future. Hopes and dreams sustain and motivate us. They keep us moving forward.

What are your hopes, plans and dreams? What are the dreams, plans, and hopes of your children? When God gives us the desires of our hearts, when He puts those desires into our hearts, that’s inspirational and motivational. That’s where we need to live.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

A couple of videos that I've really enjoyed this week.

I've added a couple of thought provoking youtube videos to the "websites" bar on the right.
Check them out.

Francis Chan  Comments on the "Hell / Love Wins" Controversy
http://youtu.be/qnrJVTSYLr8

Learning to Change
http://youtu.be/tahTKdEUAPk

Monday 6 June 2011

Finishing Strong


I probably shouldn’t admit this but I’ve organized a lot of Elementary School Track Meets over the years, too many in fact!

I’ve always enjoyed the running events. You line up a group of sweaty, hyperactive ten-year-olds at the start line, fire the starting gun, and before the puff of smoke clears they are half way around the track.

No pacing, little technique, overwhelming optimism.

Running the 1500m, I’ve seen kids spring into the lead only to run out of steam rounding the first corner and eventually walking across the finish line totally out of steam. I know that my life certainly mirrors that from time to time.

“Forgetting what lies behind, I press on towards the high-calling of Christ.” Paul made that statement in regards to his life and his walk with Jesus. It’s a statement that can apply to everything from running a race to, to our relationships, to our schooling.

Spring arrives after a long dark summer. The weather warms up, the trees bud, the flowers bloom, and thoughts leave the “classroom.” It happens to almost everyone.

The challenge every year is to finish strong. It’s easy to back off on the work to the point where nothing is happening. When motivation wanes you’ve got to look for ways to re-inspire yourself and your kids. Some good ideas are to change things up. Take the lessons outside, go for a nature walk, sit outside and read together, visit the Library, get together with friends and have contests like Jeopardy, or Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.

It’s a wonderful feeling to have completed your curriculum for the year, to have crossed that “finish line”. If you’re there relax and enjoy, if you’re close hang in there and finish strong.