Fairy Tales

A Guest Post By Susanna

I yearn to be in lands of magical lights.

I belong where there are fairies and knights;

Where there is not only one moon that gleams so bright,

But two or three to chase away all fright.

I dream of centaurs, who study skies untold;

Trees that whisper enchanting songs of old;

Of castles and battles,

Pirates and princes;

Of hay spun to gold,

Dragon tales ages-old.

I wish to see the magic pumpkin carriage,

Or the Beast's love, ending in his marriage.

I want to be captured by a unicorn.

And rest my hand upon his brilliant horn:

We will fly. Up to the golden sun,

Down to the sea. Oh now, we have just begun!

Dreams belong to naiads,

And mine with dryads,

To the bearded dwarves,

And lop-eared Minotaurs.

Though I fear only one door to Never Land

Is found, in pages fastened by a band.

Mind you open them often, for only here

May we slip through its ink ... and disappear.

Susanna is a fifteen-year-old homeschooler and the fourth daughter in a family of six children. She loves God, animals, and gourmet cooking and plays violin and piano. Oh yes--and she just happens to be our beloved younger sister who always has a special gift for us, whether that be her entertaining tales, her beautiful music, or her behind-the-scenes service. She recently took first place in a poetry contest for this original work of art, and we could not be more proud of her achievement!

Photo Credits:
#1: ToNToN CoPT
#2: Raquel of God's Daughter

What Do You See?

Should a man see only popularity, he becomes a mirror, reflecting whatever needs to be reflected to gain acceptance.  Though in vogue, he is vague....

Should a man see only power, he becomes a wolf--recognition is his prey and people are his prizes.  His quest is endless....

Should a man see only pleasure, he becomes a carnival thrill-seeker....With lustful fever he races from ride to ride, satisfying his insatiable passion for sensations only long enough to look for another....

Only in seeing his Maker does a man truly become man.  For in seeing his Creator, man catches a glimpse of what he was intended to be.

-Max Lucado, God Came Near

Photo Credit: Seq

Concert in the Works

Although the planning and music selection began in December, with two weeks remaining before Lauren and my annual Spring Music Recital, preparations have definitely kicked into high gear. We are making a list and checking it twice, drawing on the experience of five years of past studio recitals, and incorporating the great methods and ideas of past instructors and fellow music teachers and friends. So here are the plans for this year's event--some new, some tradition, some borrowed, and some original.

Begin Teaching Recital Songs by February

We chose every student's piece during our winter break, and ordered all the necessary music. For many students, I tried to give at least two options so they could pick their favorite piece and be excited about investing four months into a piece. Many students learned their pieces by ear, and therefore will be performing songs well above their music-reading level (those kids have no idea what eighth notes are, but they are playing them in perfect rhythm).

This also gave plenty of time to emphasize good memorization--every piece must be memorized for the recital (though there have been those times when kids are allowed to play with music, memorization is still the required standard). I like to have my students memorize each hand separately and then together--it challenges them to memorize intellectually, rather than just by muscle memory. Next year, I hope to be even more organized at starting recital pieces early, because trio pieces (we have three trios performing this year) weren't handed out until April, and a few kids had to wait until mid-February for their piece because of back-ordered music.

Pick Date Early and With Everyone's Help

We weren't so good at picking the date early (it didn't get decided until the beginning of May), and consequently one family will not be able to make it. However--one family out of 37 students is not bad. Every year, we use a Google form to poll the families for dates that work best for them. It's a wonderful way to easily figure out if our favorite date will prove impossible for half of our students. This is one of the few years that one of our students won't be able to make it; we're usually able to find a day that works for everyone.

Host a Practice Recital

One year, we had a lot of new, young students. Worried about how they would react on recital day with quivering nerves, unfamiliar acoustics, a sea of strange faces, and a different instrument (for the piano students), we organized a practice recital. It was such a success, we've continued the tradition every year, choosing a date one or two weeks before the recital at the venue where the recital will occur. We review performance techniques, point out the tape on the stage for the violinists to stand on, and run through the entire program with the just the kids. But lest the evening get too boring, we break up the performances with fun, musical games to engage the kids and get them to meet each other.

During the practice recital, kids also get to vote on their favorite music-themed artwork that has been submitted by students in the preceding weeks. The winning artwork will be printed on the front cover of the recital program!

The Big Day

A CD plays the prelude music while we hustle and bustle here and there, setting up flowers picked from our yard, making punch, tuning violins, organizing our accompaniment music, setting up a table to hold everyone's violins, decorating the food tables, and setting out music programs. Ahead of time, we asked for a loose RSVP to insure enough programs and tableware. Students arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early and hand us their music and their instruments to be tuned. Much to our delight (and some students' chagrin), everyone comes in formal, dressy attire to communicate their respect for the audience and themselves; we make it very clear ahead of time that this is not a jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flop event.

This year, we had a semester-long practice contest, so our recital will not only include 36 solo and ensemble pieces on violin or piano, but also an awards ceremony for the winners of the practice contest. Every student will additionally receive a small token of our appreciation for them. Finger food refreshment afterwards is a wonderful time for the students to mingle and revel in the joys of a job well done. We supply musical cutout cookies, punch, and table service, and everyone else contributes a finger food for a fun completion to a wonderful evening!

Are you hosting or attending a music recital this year? What are some of your favorite ideas for pulling these events off? I'd love to hear in the comments!

For a wealth of information on recitals and all things piano pedagogy, visit Music Matters, one of my favorite music blogs.

Our 2009 Recital

Our 2011 Recital

Picture Credits:
#1: darkmatter
#2: Colton Witt Photography
#3: christing-O-

Three Generations, One Big Adventure!

Saturday, Sunday, Monday.  Three days.  Three generations.  You're invited along for the ride, but it involves swords, spaghetti, volcanoes, and a Bigfoot sighting, so come at your own risk! 

Micah means business...

...and so did Mikaela when she wielded an almost equally as fierce blade to chop all these pounds of carrots!

Grandma, Papa's mom, looks quite cheery as she washes dishes with a servant's heart...

...and all these gentlemen look equally as cheery as they celebrate Micah's entrance into manhood: his thirteenth birthday!  Each one of these men, young and old, have had an impact on Micah's life, and they gathered from near and far to encourage and exhort Micah as he becomes a man of God.  We served dinner and dessert on the lawn.  Outside, peace and quiet reigned and we girls felt outnumbered...

...but inside, this snapshot of chaos gives you an idea of the hustle and bustle that was going on!  Grandma and one other dear friend helped us serve the meal, and we definitely needed every one of the seven pairs of hands enlisted! 

Each of the men shared a word of exhortation to Micah--precious wisdom that he cherishes. 

The men gathered to lay hands on and pray for Micah. 

Micah closed the evening by sharing thoughts of gratitude to each of the attendees.  He carefully planned and spoke these words out of thankfulness to all these men and young men have done for him. 

Micah, Jonah, and "the gang" (which includes Darcy the furball, of course!)

The next day was Mother's Day, and we were thrilled to have Grandma and Grandpa with us on that day of celebration!  We took Grandma and Grandpa to the lilac gardens near us, and Mama snapped a picture of all of us beneath the giant wisteria.  (I couldn't resist the 60s filter on Picasa, by the way!)

While we were there, a group of Renaissance Madrigal singers serenaded us with their delightful a capella selections! 

Jonah on the left, Grandma and Mama on the right.

After a hearty lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory, we drove out to the grist mill that we love to go to on Mother's Day and enjoyed showing Grandma and Grandpa around!  It is so peaceful and beautiful there, but you have to speak up over the roaring water!

Jonah and Micah: Who's king of the hill?

 

Planting a smooch on Grandma, then giggling! 

 Aren't Susanna and Micah adorable? 

Melanie on the bridge

 On Monday, we decided to take Grandma and Grandpa up to Mt. St. Helens, since it had been awhile since any of us had gone.  The day was gorgeous, and we could see the mountain all along the drive up.  This is remarkable, you must understand, because it is usually shrouded in clouds. 

 Micah and Grandpa take in the scenery. 

We stopped at the Seven Wonders museum on the way up, a new experience for all of us.  This museum was incredible!  Run by an older Christian couple, it offers a creationist perspective on the volcano.  (You remembered that today is the 32nd anniversary, right?  I thought so!)  Mr. A. gave us an hour long slideshow presentation that was fascinating and extremely well done.  We learned all of the different proofs that Mt. St. Helens offers for creation, and much more about the volcano than we had ever known before! 

This scenic spot called our names for a picnic lunch!

 

 Of course, when it's 84 degrees outside, doesn't everyone stop by the side of the road and go sledding?  Sunscreen and snowboots--what could be better?

 What about a fierce snowball fight?  I'm afraid some of us ganged up on Grandpa, and he threatened to feed me to the chickens!  (-: 

The crater of the mountain. 

I can't tell you how powerful it is to see the volcano and all the surrounding landscape.  Some of the land around looks beautiful and pristine, but in other areas you can still see bare logs scattered like matchsticks, leftover from that day 32 years ago.  Some of the land is barren, and the very strangeness of it is provocative of memories.  My parents clearly remember the sun going dark in the middle of the day and the ash covering the streets like snow.  My mom was babysitting at the time, and her first thought was that the Lord had returned.  When she heard her mom's voice on the phone, however, she breathed a sigh of relief.  If God had come back, she knew her mom would not still be on the earth. 

The rivers were so backed up by the ash that the road that we now live on was flooded by the small creek that runs next to it.  No one could drive the road for two weeks afterwards.  Stories like these abound in Washington, and yet God's mercy can still be seen in the destruction.

 A beautiful view of Coldwater Lake, which was created 32 years ago by the volcano.  (A tidbit for some of you: yes, there is a Coldwater Creek that runs off of this lake!)

 This A-frame house was a few days away from being finished when the mountain blew and it was buried and flooded by the mudflows.  It was a total loss. 

 And who says Bigfoot doesn't exist?  My brave brothers don't seem much daunted, however!

It was a weekend of hard work, belly laughs, off-key singing, delicious food, and wonderful conversation.  What could be better?  Now I want to hear how you spent your Mother's Day, and any stories you may have to share about Mt. St. Helens!

Deadline

When I was working on the Bible portion of my degree in music ministry, Thursdays were my deadline. Some professors required assignments to be submitted by 9 PM, and so I got them sent by 8:59. Others said midnight—and with five minutes to spare, I would slide across the finish line. Now, I only have a few music classes to finish up, but guess what? No weekly deadline. And with a full roster of music students, serious health problems that Mama has been grappling with for the last year, and all the genius ideas and important ministry and necessary duties that call, finishing has been pushed to the back-burner.

Funny how life is like that.

People achieve the outlandish under a time limit. Of course, we strive for organization and shedjules: to finish things whether there’s a due date or not. Give any responsible person a task and a deadline, and it most likely will happen. It’s why music teachers hold recitals, paper mills have boiler audits, the IRS claims April 15^th, schools test, bloggers set days for blogging, and farmers get the tomatos pulled before frost. It’s why we strive for goals.

It’s the benefit of death.

Each one of us is living with an expiration date that trumps library book due dates, marathon training programs, and referendum signature-gathering deadlines. We are born with a ticking clock over our heads, and the older we get, the more we realize: this life isn’t forever. But we should be glad for death—we should embrace it. It has no sting anymore; it holds no fear for the person who has surrendered his life to Christ. When my grandma was a little girl, her pastor explained death to her in a way that resonates to this day: “Death is just coming home from the chilly winter outside. You pass from outside to inside, and you take off your coat.”

Imagine how indolent and restless our lives would become if we lived forever, or even just for the better part of a millenium. I don’t envy Mephibosheth and Seth, though I know God sovereignly planned each one of their centuries just as He sovereignly ordains each one of my decades. I will live forever—after death, in a beautiful state of glorifying God.

For now, on this side of death, I have a deadline looming above me. It’s not a dark cloud. It’s an energizing thought—one day of my calendar is circled in red, and there will be no more days on earth after that. So much to do, so little time. It’s the story of my life, and probably the story of yours. Aren’t you glad we work well under deadlines?

Photo Credit: Fulvio Bisca

Oh, Brother

Photo Credit

Can you imagine if Mikaela and I had a Jacob and Esau-esque relationship?  She would be hacking my blogger account, writing typo-ridden posts under my name just to sabatoge me.  I’d be selling her my rights as firstborn (first billing in Christmas cards, the ability to say I’m older, and other important things like that) just to induce her to edit my own posts in a reasonable fashion.  You guys would be blushing in horror. 

Thankfully, our relationship has never been like those twins, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have bouts of selfishness or blowups at siblings or episodes where I shake my head and wonder if we have any common ground.  I’ve had those moments and episodes more often than I care to remember, but perhaps because of my own weaknesses, God has taught me much about sibling relationships. 

Back in February, for our blogoversary, Shelbi asked, “I would love to hear ideas about how to connect with, spend time with and enjoy younger siblings. Especially if you have siblings who are close to your own age, but who have very different interests than you do. (As I have J.)”  Elizabeth seconded that.  I am still unperfected in this area, but my siblings do have diverse interests that are both different from and similar to mine, so I would love to share some thoughts. 

Before I jump into the very practical suggestions, here is a point to keep in mind.  Our parents’ marriage relationship is a picture of Christ and the church (Eph. 5:22-33), which is part of why the sanctity of marriage is so vital.  It gives the world a living, breathing picture of Christianity. 

In the same way, my relationship with my siblings is a picture of how relationships between believers should be.  Romans 12:9-11 says,

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

Ephesians 4:6 declares we believers have “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The words “brother” and “brotherly” are used 67 times from Acts to Revelation.  Christians have the same Father God, and the analogy of sibling relationships between believers is clearly seen in the New Testament.  How then can we defame the name of Christ by failing to properly carry out the sibling relationships upon which this analogy is based? 

My answer? I cannot! 

Here are some simple, practical ideas for developing relationships with your siblings ranging from the intensely valuable to the stuff that memories are made of!

• Take a sibling on a special outing.

Go to a concert, take a sibling to a movie, go out for ice cream, go get coffee.  This special outing will provide a perfect opportunity to engage in conversation about what is going on in his life—Ice Cream is the great tongue-loosener, after all!

• Have a special activity that you do with each sibling. 

I teach one sibling violin, I go jogging with another; I’ve worked on duets and trios with one, and decorated rooms with another.  Other ideas include reading together, or even starting a business together.  The point is to have an ongoing special connection with each sibling. 

• Invest spiritually in siblings.

Listen, give advice sometimes (I’m still working on toning down the advising!), encourage with a note left on a pillow, have a Bible study together, or pray together every morning. 

• Do something silly, spontaneous, and memory-making!

Make a short movie together, get involved in an interest of theirs they would never expect you to be involved in, have an impromptu photo shoot, throw a surprise party for someone together, have a water fight, or just say “yes” when they ask you to play with them.

• Yield your rights, especially your right to be right. 

Be careful not to over-correct them; make sure you surrender your right to your own possessions to God, because clothes-borrowing and fragile-object-breaking will occur!

• Pray for rather than worry about your siblings.

God convicted me of this recently, when I was stewing over various things going on in my siblings’ lives.  Worry is supremely useless, but prayer is supremely powerful.  Even if none of these activities are possible with your situation, pray for your siblings and watch God work! 

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Waiting Room: Part III

Until Then

In Bleak House by Charles Dickens, Richard is a passionate young man with the world in his proper top hat. Yet he goes against the advice of his wise, compassionate guardian, Mr. Jarndyce, and places all his energy and resources into a court case which may or may not promise him an inheritance. Of this and his unjust accusations about Mr. Jarndyce, he says to a friend, "See another reason for urging it on! I may find out when it's over that I have been mistaken in John Jarndyce. My head may be clearer when I am free of it, and I may then agree with what you say to-day. Very well. Then I shall acknowledge it and make him reparation."

And his friend bemoans in her head, “Everything postponed to that imaginary time! Everything held in confusion and indecision until then [1]!”

Do not put everything on hold until that imaginary time, whatever you do.

All of us have God-given callings, vision, purpose, desires, delights, and talents. And all of us are waiting on the fulfillment of these things in some way or another. As children in school, and then single young adults—indeed, in any time of life—it can be particularly tempting to view our station in life as a holding room. We are prone to fancy ourselves sitting dully in a green room, dallying for the moment when the world becomes a stage and the moment of destiny has arrived. Yet as I, and I hope you, have learned in Part I (read here) and Part II (read here) of this series, while God has us waiting in some areas of our lives, He certainly has not put our lives on hold. This is your life! Now! So live it! God has given you the hazy, azure mountain peaks in the distance, but that does not give you permission to pause and pine over them. Lace up your boots and start your hike on the path God has for you now!

The Reward of Waiting

David’s epilogue—the result of many years of tenuous waiting—is precious. “And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus (Acts 13:21-23).”

For your waiting and your work, can you imagine a better mountain peak than this? Could David have possibly imagined this when, as a youth, he was set apart by God to be king of Israel? You can be sure that there will be a mountain peak or two in your life—it just may look different close-up than it did far away. If you can wait, and in your waiting, act; if you can act, and in your action dream; if you can dream, and outside your dream serve, then you have learned indeed the lesson of waiting.

God rewarded David’s abiding with the most precious prize imaginable: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son...My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever (II Samuel 7:8b-9, 12, 14a, 15-16).”

This is the ultimate mountain peak of waiting. And it’s worth waiting for!

---

[1] Dickens, Charles. "Chapter 37: Jarndyce and Jarndyce." Bleak House. Oxford [u.a.: Oxford Univ., 1991. Print.

Photo Credit: Dave Morrow

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Beware the Take-you-for-granted-hum-drum-yawn-producing-mechanical-routine relationship

Photo Credit

Isn’t divorce heartbreaking?  Whether you have personally experienced it or simply have observed it from afar, I hope you can agree with me: it is always heartbreaking.  But it galls me even more to see in the news the tale of the latest celebrity divorce with this fraudulent tag: “We have mutually agreed to this separation and remain the best of friends.”  They might as well add, “We became bored and both agreed we needed a spice of excitement in our lives by trading each other in for the newest model.” 

I know, I know—that might be slightly unfair, but either their press release is untrue or they in fact did become mutually bored. 

The important discussion on the sanctity of marriage must be saved for another time, but the attitude that leads to such a boredom-driven divorce is a discussion for today.  The take-you-for-granted-hum-drum-yawn-producing-mechanical-routine is what kills many marriages.  Yet many people remain married because they are devoted to the idea of marriage, but not to their spouse. 

Likewise, the sin of take-You-for-granted-hum-drum-yawn-producing-mechanical-routine is what kills oh so many relationships with God.  Yet many people remain Christian because they are devoted to the idea of Christianity, but not to God.  God has been gently convicting me of this lately with some pointed questions. 

• Do I feel like my relationship with God is on cruise control?
• Is my prayer life more like an answering machine than a heartfelt conversation with my best friend?
• Do I read my Bible simply to check it off my list?
• Is God the center of my day?

These questions reveal the subtle stumbling point of viewing yourself first and foremost as a Christian rather than taking the focus off of yourself entirely and looking at God: Your loving, redeeming Father who adopted you, giving you hope when you had none.  Truly,

“We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:19)”

Ephesians 2:11-14 renews my wonder at this miracle:

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” 

I could quote the entire book of Ephesians, but I will restrain myself and urge you to read it yourself.  While you are at it, examine your heart with me: Are you in love with the idea of being a Christian, or with Christ?  Are you growing in knowledge of how to act like a Christian or in knowledge of Christ and how to imitate Him?  Are you enchanted more by conservative ideals or by God Himself?  Is your first priority when your eyes open in the morning to talk to your Savior?  Don’t let the relationship digress into take-You-for-granted-hum-drum-yawn-producing-mechanical-routine.  It’s fatal. 

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Top Five Reasons to Go to Christian Heritage's 2013 Family Discipleship and Homeschooling Conference

The 2012 Christian Heritage Family Discipleship and Homeschooling Conference is finished, but the change it has begun to inspire in families all across the state will only become manifest in the months and years to come. What a motivation to see 3,380 people eager to follow God whatever the cost all in one place at one time:

You have a year, now, to begin planning and saving for the next conference. Pull out your loose change jar, and mark April 25-27, 2013 in ink on your calendar, because this is one event you will not want to miss. And, in no particular order, here are the top five reasons why this conference should be a priority in your family's year:

1. The Preaching

Make no mistake--this conference is not a collection of motivational speakers or curriculum developers. Men of God, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preach the Word of God, and cause us to consider every aspect of life from a Biblical worldview. I hosted Dr. and Mrs. Johnson (above--that's my so-tired-it-hurts-to-keep-my-eyes-open look), who came to speak from Dr. Johnson's wealth of information on health and nutrition. 

Susanna, Lauren, Dr. Baucham, Melanie, and Mikaela

Dr. Voddie Baucham was the keynote speaker. He is fond of saying "If you can't say 'amen,' you'd better say 'ouch,'" and there were both "amen" and "ouch" moments. He drove home the points that there is no such thing as religious-neutral education, and that we should not homeschool for the wrong "why" but because we are convinced by Scripture, understand the role of parents, and desire to bless the kingdom of man. He preached on "Teaching Your Children with Your Grandchildren in Mind," "Home Education's Strain on Marriage," and more. I love this man--he is so down-to-earth, honest, and friendly, but he is also courageous and unmovable on Truth. He has a deep understanding of theology and doctrine, which he unfailingly pursues and applies to his daily life. Therefore, each one of his sermons is a call to action that he himself has applied and lives out.

Papa emceed the conference in the main sanctuary. Throughout the weekend, everyone attends the general sessions, and then has the opportunity to choose from a multitude of workshops on varied and sundry topics for every age and aspiration. The vendor hall, full of good books and information, is also a popular place during free time.

2. The Music

Congregational singing...

Chorale practice and performance under Mr. Craig...

Florence, a friend, in performance mode!

Truly, the music of the conference is always a highlight and a blessing. Singing praise to God 3,000-strong is a privilege not often experienced. And perfecting four songs in two days with 220 other young people is a recipe for concentrated effort and hilarious silliness (this year's antics involved a clown nose and a blond curly wig).

3. The People

Wherever Micah (left) was, there was Isaac (right). Where Isaac was, there was Micah!

Mama in the lower right corner helping people register as they crowd in for the first session of the morning.

Babies are in abundance, but this little friend is particularly adorable.

Melanie and Stephen worked together in the vendor hall.

More cute kids!

Mikaela, Ruth, Lauren, and Susanna--as busy as we are, we still find time for fellowship and catching up. We also got to meet blog readers--it was lovely to talk face-to-face with Bethany, Eden, Shiloh, and Shanelle!

Susanna, welcoming people as they enter.

Lauren helped run the Christian Heritage booth. Every year there are so many dear old friends to catch up with and so many new people to meet and get to know. Heart-to-heart conversations occurred often, and you can be sure that everyone came home with new friends.

4. Family Night

A dramatic recitation of events on the Titanic, an excerpt of the documentary Captivated, and lots of excellent music: family night is a highlight of the weekend! 

 5. The Vision

Mama and Mrs. Bradrick

Out of the Bradrick family's vision for family discipleship and homeschooling many years ago has come a quality conference which will not just tell you how to homeschool, but why you should disciple your children at home. The vision for keeping God preeminent and choosing homeschooling in submission to Him is effectively conveyed each and every year. This is a battery recharge, a reminder, a call to reform, a means of sanctification, and an opportunity for education.

 "These words which I am commanding you
today shall be on your heart and … you shall
teach them diligently to your sons (Deuteronomy 6:5,6)."

For more information on Christian Heritage, visit their website at www.christianheritageonline.org.