We took our kids to the polls with us on Tuesday. We talked to them about who we voted for and why. After the results of the election, I am more convinced than ever of the need for my husband and I to continue home educating so we can teach our children absolute truth and to defend their faith. I pray for my children to love the Lord and desire to serve Him all the days of their lives. I also want them to be able to share and defend their faith with gentleness, love, and respect. (1 Peter 3:15). I am thankful I live in a country where I have the freedom to educate my children at home, the freedom to worship as I choose, and the freedom to write anything I desire here on my blog. However, we must not take these rights for granted, but pray and plead with God that these rights are never taken away from us. It is vitally important that we (Christians) remember we do live in a country where not everyone worships the Lord Jesus Christ or desires to live according to the Bible. We must always be willing and prepared to share our faith and also defend our faith.
The day of the election was a lot of fun. We all wore our "I Voted" stickers all day. I put mine in my journal and my daughter, Kaitlyn saw it and laughed because she had done the same thing. Lauren helped me make some cupcakes and Kaitlyn decorated them. Even if the election did not turn out the way I personally wanted it to, it still was a day worth celebrating because I (a woman) have the right to vote in this country and I am thankful. I want my daughters to understand how blessed they are to be growing up in the United States where they can be educated and be treated equally as all human beings should.
This week we continued studying the Civil War. We are almost done and honestly the children are ready to move on. They have read a lot and I have read a lot to them as well about the Civil War. Don't get me wrong, we have TRULY enjoyed our history studies so far this year. When we visited The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA on Thursday afternoon I heard my older two children say several times, "Oh Mom, look! I read about this!" I know I sound sappy, but it truly did bring a tear or two to my eyes because they are truly learning! With the election this week and visiting the museum helped me stop and give thanks for my freedom and I am blessed to live in the United States!
This museum we visited was one of the best museums I have ever visited and I have been to many of the Smithsonian museums in D.C. If you can't visit, then you must check out "Meet Mr. Lincoln" online. You and your child can click on questions to ask Mr. Lincoln and he will answer the questions for you.
Tyler and Kaitlyn finished their reports on Abraham Lincoln and I am so proud of them! They both did a great job! We worked together on the key word outlines as we learned about from our Institute for Excellence in Writing lessons and then everyday the children would write 1-2 paragraphs until they had completed their 5-7 paragraph reports. Once they wrote out the reports by hand I sat down with them as their editing buddy and then we typed them up to put in their history notebook. Writing these reports took two weeks. One mistake some parents make is assuming their children can write a report when simply told to write a report. I've found that children need their hands held quite a bit and if I give them bite-sized chunks of work to do then eventually they will be able to produce a nice piece of writing they are proud of.
Speaking of writing, both of the children are having a blast participating in National Novel Writing Month. Tyler is writing a historical fiction military book and Kaitlyn is writing a book set in slavery times. When I read her story I can see how much her Sonlight reading assignments have influenced her writing.
The girls and I spent some time sewing this week. Lauren is still learning how to embroider and Kaitlyn did "surgery" on some of her stuffed animals.
I am thankful for the fun week we had with the election, a trip to a museum, and learning at home. How was your week?
I am linking this post up Collage Friday hosted by Homegrown Learners. It is a fun weekly link-up where you will discover all sorts of fun and encouraging posts from other homeschool blogs. I hope you'll check it out!
2 comments:
That "Meet Mr. Lincoln" site is cool! I bookmarked that for when we get to the Civil War in our history studies. Thanks for sharing.
Our homeschools sound very similar right now. We are studying American History as well. The Civil War won't be until after the new year. I know what you mean about "needing to move on"! How cool is that Mr. Lincoln site!! And what an awesome field trip.
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