How to Pray video. [ quick and CUTE! ]

I posted this on my homeschool blog but I had to share it here as well for those of you who don't follow it. It's just too cute!!! I love scripture scouts!!

The Influence of Mothers { in the long run....}

Take a look at this and read the story below:



Sarah pierrepont was born in 1710 and wed Jonathan Edwards, a minister, when she was 17. They had 11 children together. 8 boys and 3 girls. Sarah felt it was her duty to keep her home pleasant so her husband could devote his life to God's word. His studies and prayers often took up to 13 hours a day. Jonathan was shy, moody, & unsocial. Sarah was vibrant, outgoing, and graceful. Here is a quote from an unnamed close friend:

“She had an excellent way of governing her children; she knew how to make them regard and obey her cheerfully. She seldom punished them, and in speaking to them used gentle and pleasant words. When she had occasion to reprove or rebuke, she would do it in a few words, without warmth and noise, and with all calmness and gentleness of mind. In her directions and reproofs of matters of importance, she would address herself to the reason of her children, that they might not only know her inclination and will, but at the same time be convinced of the reasonableness of it. She had need to speak but once and she was obeyed; murmuring and answering again were not known among them. In their manners they were uncommonly respectful to their parents.When their parents came into the room, they all rose instinctively from their seats and never resumed them until their parents were seated; and when either parent was speaking, no matter with whom they had been conversing, they were all immediately silent."
other quotes have been found on her parenting and all testify of her devotion to her husband, children, and God. She nurtured each child's individuality and intelligence, teaching them, loving them, and training them to be responsible to eachother, the community, and God.

In 1900 A. E. Winshup did a study on what happened to her descendants up to the year 1900. He found they included all the above mentioned (in the picture). He also found out
they had written over 135 books and edited eighteen journals and periodicals. Many had entered the ministry. Over 100 were missionaries and others were on mission boards. Winship wrote:
“Many large banks, banking houses, and insurance companies have been directed by them. They have been owners or superintendents of large coal mines… of large iron plants and vast oil interests… and silver mines…. There is scarcely any great American industry that has not had one of this family among its chief promoters….”
Out of 1,400 descendants only 2 were "black sheep" (Marriage To A Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union Of Sarah And Jonathan Edwards, by A. E. Winshup)

IN CONTRAST:
The Jukes family (Jukes & Edwards; Significant Statistics of Two American Families)
Max Jukes was born in about 1720. Very little is known of him but his descendants have managed to constantly keep themselves in the eyes of the public. After a 5 year genealogical study of his ancestors they found about 1,200 people ALL of whom were either criminals, paupers or insane ONLY 20 of the 1,200 ever learned a trade and held a job and 10 of the 20 learned jobs in a State Prison. As of 1900 his descendants had cost the state of New York $1,250,000!!! (that's around $30,000,000 in todays market) <--- This family could have used a Sarah Edwards! The story of Sarah Edwards inspired me. It testifies of what an amazing and heavy responsibility we as mothers have on our children. Our influence is far reached.... for generations to come!!

She is my Hero

Monster Bag

Repentance Bench

My Message Wall

My Message wall explained:
The 4 small dry erase boards on the top are where I keep track of my personal goals (plus scriptures, or quotes that inspire me) and the progress and goals I have for my kids. I measure them in 5 areas:

Physical

Spiritual

Emotional

Social

Mental

Every week on Sunday I evaluate each kid in each area during my "Sunday Session" (I will explain that in detail in another post but for now know that it is basically my planning for the week ahead) So, for example right now on each of their boards it says the following:

Hud-

get on regular solid food feeding schedule

practice walking with mommy and daddy

Hanna-

Remember speech therapy!

work on morning prayers

Work on letters N&A and find ABC game online

Memorize 1st article of faith

Emma-

"asking" game all week! until she gets used to asking for permission again

work on morning prayers

Memorize 1st article of faith

I usually keep each item posted for several weeks adding and changing things as they learn and grow.

Keeping these goals posted where I can see them at all times keeps them fresh in my mind. Evaluating them weekly helps me to work on their personal progression on a whole-nother level that I otherwise would not have.

Next I have my calendar in the middle.

In the corner I write our VALUE, FHE THEME, JOY, & PROJECT of the month. This Month it is as follows:

VALUE- Peaceability

JOY- Joy of Trust & Confidence

FHE- Work & discipline

PROJECT- Monster Bag & Homeschool set-up

We have CD's, stories, and lessons that go with the themes and teach them during FHE and listen to them while we are driving. I also find tons of teaching experiences in day to day life focusing on our current themes. For example this month we have been working on peace in our home. We talk about peace at church. We were watching cartoons and one was about secrets so I brought up trust... etc. our FHE's have that theme divided into 4 weekly lessons.

I'll explain more about our monthly values/joys/FHE in another post. If you're hungry for more I got all these ideas from Linda & Richard Eyre's books. You can also visit their website for more. Their website gives you the FHE themes and broken down lessons for free once you sign up. You have to pay a one time lifetime membership fee of $50 to gain access to all their stuff but it was probably the best money I ever spent. WELL worth it!!!!)

Next I have the girls Aprons. I found that when my kids "dress up" to do something they are that much more into it and that much happier to do what they need. So I made them Aprons for cooking and cleaning.

At the bottom is our "Proud Pig". This is where we post anything and everything the kids are proud of. We use this instead of magnets/fridge because 1. we can't see our fridge in our galley kitchen and 2. the kids love the pig and it looks like it's hugging their work!

THERE YA HAVE IT!

Code Words

Kid's Chronicals

Since the birth of my first baby I've kept a journal for her where I have been chronicalling her life through my eyes. When I thought of the idea I thought it was such a great original idea! Come to find out that it's not so original after all but I believe I was definitely inspired to begin it. It's just a blank journal and I've only written in it a handful of times in the 5 years she's been on this earth *NOTE TO SELF- write more often!!* But it's one of my greatest treasures. I started out with cheap dollar store books for my girls but that turned out to be a bad idea as they aren't put together very well so for Hudsen I decided to "splurge" and get something a little more time tested. I got a leather bound journal at Walmart for only $7 and will now be buying 2 more and transfering over the info of the other books into the newer nicer ones.
Here's an example of what Hudsen's first page looks like


FYI- No Empty Seats is our Family Motto
I think I'm going to give them their books as a wedding gift when I am officially "done" parenting. Well, at least they won't live under my roof.... hopefully, knock on wood.