Changes

Well, I've changed the way the blog looks...again. :)

What do you think?

It's plain, I know. Is it all right though?

Proverbs with Covenant Life

As I've had the opportunity, I've been taking the time to make my way through Joshua Harris' series on Proverbs. Each and every message that I've listened to so far has been challenging, encouraging, and inspiring.

This evening, I just listened to this sermon. Check it out and take the time to answer these application questions - they'll help you resolve to live out whatever God has brought to your attention!

One Thing More

The following information was posted in the Drug Store.

Drug Store Rules in 1854

The following was among the artifacts donated to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum by the Wreath's Phillips Smith Drug Company.

"Store will be open promptly at 6 a.m. and remain open until 9 p.m. the year 'round. Store must not be opened on the Sabbath day unless absolutely necessary and then only for a few minutes.

Any employee who is in the habit of smoking Spanish cigars, getting shaved at a barber shop, going to dances or other places of amusement, will most surely give his employer reason to suspect his integrity and all around honesty.

Each employee must attend Sunday School every Sunday. Men employees are given one evening a week for courting purposes, and two if they go to prayer meeting regularly. After 14 hours of work in the store, the remaining leisure time must be spent in reading good literature."

Imagine if these rules were given and followed today - I think we'd have a class of respectable people and a nation to show for it! Going shopping would include meeting ladies and gentlemen rather than girls and boys who would rather be out goofing off!

Field Trips

Today I took my brothers and sisters to a living history exhibit at a nearby museum. Museums are not usually one of my favorite places to go - but if they've got living history on the menu I'm always up for it!

Let's just say, I was not at all let down by today's trip!!! I expected it to be a rather small museum, but it turns out they basically have a whole "town" on their grounds.

We visited:

Hat Shop*

Drug Store (complete with soda fountain counter*)

Dentist's Office

Sheriffs' Office

Market

Newspaper Office

Camera Shop

Blacksmith

Livery Stable

Bank

Church

School House*

Dress Shop*

Saloon*

General Store*

Barber Shop

Beauty Shop*

Train Car

Homestead*

....and more! The stars (*) indicate my favorite stops along the way! Most of these places made it on my favorites list because of the visits we got to share with the people inside. Several of the people proved to know a wealth of information about their "profession".

At the School House I met a woman who is going to be 100 years old in a few weeks. In 1928 she took her first teaching job at the age of 19. At that time, you were supposed to be 21 in order to teach highschool, somehow she got away with not disclosing her age (she said she claimed to be 108), and managed to get the job! I got to share with her the reason we homeschool and I also got to hear about some of her teaching days.

At the homestead I met a man who grew up in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. He knew just about everything there is to know about the things you might find in an old homestead! His story was especially interesting because he was raised by his grandma after being "abandoned" by his family. I could tell it was a touchy subject, but it sounds like his family felt that his Grandma would be able to provide for him better than they could so they just dropped him off. Upon reaching adulthood, he headed west and reunited with his family.

At the Hat Shop, I learned about the tricks that women used to styled their hair in those days. I saw a wreath that was made entirely out of womens' hair (and a picture of the women who donated their old locks for it). AND visited with a woman whose mother was born in the late 1800's. The mother traveled with her husband from their Minnesota home. This woman was amazed because her mother never complained about the move even though Minnesota was quite different than the land they pioneered.

I plan on posting some pictures. But before I do, I wanted to share one more thing with you...since this post is already so long, I guess you'll have to come back to find out what it is!

Homeschooling

I'm an education major with the hope of homeschooling my own children some day and lately I find myself thinking about all the methods, options, styles, etc. etc...

If you were homeschooled, are homeschooled, or are homeschooling - would you please share your experience with me? Tell me about the "method(s)" you use. Tell me what a typical day looks like for you family. Tell me what programs you think everyone should use. Tell me what you don't like or do like about your experience.

I'll share more about my hopes and dreams in this area later...For now, I just want to hear from you!

What's Next? What Can I Do About It?

Check out this post over at Abigail's Leftovers. She said it better than I could!

Dying to Give

Are you ready, willing, even eager to escape prosperity in order to live simply and give lavishly for the cause of Christ and the glory of God?

Does your heart beat to have more in order to give more?

Do you have and find it hard to give? Perhaps this thought on Luke 20:25 from John Piper will help:

Render to God what is God's, namely, everything.

Giving lavishly is not an option. Giving lavishly won't be easy. Join the ranks, do the hard thing, join Christ and die to give.

If you've been saved, the blood of Christ has done a work in you.

The world will think you're dead, but in Christ you'll know that you are living with a great abundance that will last for all of eternity.