Wanting What Someone Else Has (by Joe)

Coveting is the desire to get or have something that does not belong to us, it is taking someting that belongs to someone else but we think we need it. God knows what we need and what we don't need. God knows what to give and what to take away. Christian people learn to be content with a little and with a lot. One of God's ten commandments is, "thou shalt not covet." God gives this commandment, not because he doesn't want us to have anything, but because coveting will keep us from possessing what we really need most- God himself. When people covet they cannot enjoy God because they are putting something before Him, they are worshipping an idol. In their mind they are pursuing what they want, and it takes priority over God. The Bible says covetousness is idolatry. It often happens gradually and unknowingly to us.

Posted by: Joseph

How Do You Homeschool With 8 Children? (A Mom's Perspective)

This post is in response to a question by one of our faithful (3) followers. I hope it gives encouragement and helpful ideas to those who read it.

In some ways, this is a difficult post to write, because we haven't found that perfect curriculum or schedule out there yet. We are always looking for new ideas, always trying to reform for the better. It has been our experience that it isn't necessarily the curriculum or the schedule that gauges our success, however. It is if we have reached and captured the hearts of our children. This has been a process for me, as I tend to be task oriented, thinking that if I have mastered the schedule, I have arrived.

It has been our observation that there are as many reasons to homeschool as there are homeschoolers. We are of the conviction that this world is not our home, we're just passin' through. A lot of what we do is, prayerfully, preparing our children to be strong in their faith, to be able to give reasons for their faith, to make wise decisions in life, and ultimately to be prepared to meet their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 talks about teaching God's Word to our children diligently when we sit, walk, lie down and rise up. This is what we try to do.

Most of our school is done with everyone learning together. This eliminates the problem of having individualized lessons for each child. We teach to the level of the oldest, and the younger children, amazingly, learn right along with them. This helps the younger ones to learn concepts faster, and it teaches the older children to take time for their younger siblings, helping them along the way.

"But what do you do with the toddlers?" Yes, they do present a challenge and yes, we do have interruptions. What has worked great for us is to train the twins to sit on their own blanket during our school time. They are allowed a few toys (not a lot), and are to stay on the blanket unless given permission to leave. After about an hour of this, then one of the older children will give them a little snack and send them outside to play for a little while. I have found that there is a valuable lesson in serving when the older ones help the younger ones.



There are three areas that have to be in place for me to run a meek and quiet homeschool (or any) day:
1) Organization - It is difficult for me to function effectively with a lot of clutter around the house. I am at peace in my spirit when things have a place and are in its place.

2) Chores - I cannot even begin to put everyone's stuff away. Therefore, everyone has chores they do routinely, from the oldest down to the youngest. It is a rare occassion that I do laundry or even put on a whole meal by myself. I am fortunate to have children that help in almost every area of running our home smoothly.

3) Training the children to listen and obey promptly. If I am lazy in my training of the children, our homeschooling day becomes a frustration instead of a joy.

Here is a sample of what a day might look like in the Vander Vorst home:

6:30 am - Rise and Shine.

~ The 2 little girls get the twins dressed and ready for breakfast.

~ Joe does the calf/horse/dog/cat chores.

~ The older 2 girls make breakfast (Katrina & Joe take turns, too).

~ Mom is either sleeping in a little with baby Daniel or taking care of him or getting herself ready.

7:00 am - Breakfast / Bible Study with Dad.

8:00 am - Morning Chores

9:00 am - School starts. We do singing, scripture memory, studying of Proverbs and science together.

~ Individualized lessons include math, writing, and music practice. The older children listen to their math lesson, do and correct their own lesson. I have found it helpful for them to correct their problems the same day they do the lesson (it's a teachable moment).

12:00 - noon meal / Dad teaches catechism while we eat

1:00 - 2:30pm - Nap time for little ones. The older ones are given this time to read their Bibles, read their assigned book, write a report on it which they will give orally to the family in the evening.

2:30-6:00 pm - We try to be consistant in giving each child specific jobs to be done during this time, as well as having some free time that is to be used wisely.
6:00 - Supper
7:00 - 9:00 pm - Dad either does history with the children (they are reading about the Reformation right now), reads a book outloud to them(Ballyntine books, presently), answers Bible questions the children have from their reading, listen to an educational or uplifting DVD, or the children give their oral reports on their assigned book.

There you have it.

It is our goal and prayer to take every moment captive, to make the best use of our time. There is so much to teach and learn. So little time.