I DID IT! Me, who has never used a sewing machine in my life, actually put together and sewed my own diaper covers. Now, these were not actually free, but that is my eventual goal, and these are significantly less expensive than purchasing them, even through used sources.
Don found me a poly blend material that is waterproof; he actually bought me a shower curtain. This is not the plastic liner or a cloth outer, but a blend that feels soft to the touch, is flexible to work with, easy to sew and is waterproof. It was not FREE or even cheap by shower curtain standards ($15), but I've made four diaper wraps from it, and have only used about 1/4 of it.
I started with a Fuzzy Buns size Medium and measured that out as my pattern, onto an opened paper bag. I cut it out and have been using that to cut out the waterproof liner.
I also used a shower curtain liner; this is a thicker, plastic material, less flexible and harder to sew, but I felt it would be extremely waterproof.
I cut the center out of an extra large sweatshirt and turned it so the inside softer part would be what touches baby's bottom.
I sewed the three layers together, waterproof fabric, plastic lining, soft cotton. I added elastic, (my daughter took a sewing class where she learned to make a skirt and then she taught me how to add elastic) and velcro. Tada, it was done. I made the first two this way, the second one turning out much better than the first. I was learning.
The next one, I made the same way, except for the inside layer I used a piece of teddy bear fleece. These are great baby blankets and I love them, but after five kids, I have about 50 in the closet. There is no way I will need this many, even for a January baby, so I figured I could spare one.
This diaper, I took my husband's suggestion and got adventurous, I sewed the three layers together, except I left a gap at the back center between the plastic lining and the fleece, which makes it a pocket diaper. HAH! I'm getting even better.
The fourth diaper, I made with the waterproof outer and the fleece (as another pocket diaper), but I left out the plastic liner to see if it would still work. That would save the cost of that layer and would save the time of sewing in the extra layer. We used it once and it didn't leak, so far so good. They are all going through the wash right now, and will get to go for another round soon.
As far as the additional costs: I scavenged the elastic from a pair of plastic pants that had worn out and were basically shredded except for the elastic; I had some velcro left over from when we used it for attaching our banner to the front of our display table (for conventions). I bought some snap tape when the local Ben Franklin went out of business; sold one box on Ebay for close to what I paid for two boxes, and so basically got to keep one for free. I am going to try adding snaps to the next one, and see how that works.
It wasn't all perfect. I broke the thread so many times on the first diaper, that it took an entire spool of thread to finish the project. I've also broken two needles so far, the first one I don't know how, and the second one I was trying to sew on the snap tape and hit a snap with the needle. My first diaper looks like a mess of thread, but it works. My second looks only slightly better, but again, it works. I'm not creating diapers that I could put on the market and offer to others for sale, (at least not yet). And, I so far have only figured out how to make one size.
However, when all is said and done, I am learning a new skill, I am making something that my family can actually use, and I am NOT spending $15 a week on paper diapers.
If I stop now, I will have four functional diaper covers for a total cost of under $20. If I continue making wraps from the materials I have, the price per cover will continue to decrease with each completed one. Maybe I'll even get good enough at it to make some that look nice enough that others would want to use, and then I would have learned a skill that could actually bring in an income.
Corinne Johnson is the author of Vacation Education Books, a Christian unit study series based on favorite vacation destinations.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
How the Pretzel Saved Christmas
This year, our church will be putting on a live outdoor nativity, and adding an indoor element of storytelling from around the world. I am in charge of putting these stories together. If you have a copy of Vacation Education destination Epcot, then this story will coincide with the activities in Germany, specifically the Pretzel Recipe on page 54. If you do not already have a copy of this book filled with cultural unit studies, Please visit Vacationeducationbooks.net to learn more.
Here is one of the stories that we will be using, and how I have set it up.
We will decorate around the kitchen window as though it is outside the monastery. Brother Bachman (a monk) is hard at work kneading bread. He will speak to the guests as they approach the window.
“I remember the first day that I imagined these little treats. It was the winter of 610 AD, and I was standing at this very window, watching the children play outside in the snow. I was sad because the children came to the church yard to play, but they hardly ever came inside to worship… and their parents hardly ever came at all.”
“I was baking loaves of bread that day, and working with the leftover dough, I began to roll it out as I prayed for these little children and their families. Soon, I was thinking of their tiny hands folded in prayer, and I folded the dough like this.”
Host will roll out dough into a snake shape, then fold over once to represent hands.
“Then, I thought of their mothers and fathers praying along side them and folded the dough like this.”
The ends of the dough get folded over again.
“Then, I thought of their parents teaching about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and soon the dough was shaped like this.”
The tips of the dough are place at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock points on the center part of the dough creating three spaces that represent the HOLY TRINITY.
“I made several of these that day, enough for all the children. When they were warm and fresh from the oven, I called out the window and invited the children to come and try them.”
“Here would you like some?” Host will offer pretzels to guests.
“The children enjoyed them so much, that I had an idea. I called my creation ‘pretiola’ which means ‘little reward’ and I told the children to go home and learn a Bible verse. If they could come back with their parents and tell me the Bible verse they had memorized, that I would make more pretiolas for them.”
“They were so popular that soon everyone in town was coming to get them, and by Christmas, the church was filled with families once again.”
And, that is the story of how the pretzel (comes from the Latin root pretiola) saved Christmas. Hope you enjoyed it. You can share it with your family, and be sure to try the pretzel recipe on page 54 of Vacation Education destination Epcot.
Corinne Johnson is the author of Vacation Education Books, Christian unit studies based on favorite family vacation destinations.
Here is one of the stories that we will be using, and how I have set it up.
We will decorate around the kitchen window as though it is outside the monastery. Brother Bachman (a monk) is hard at work kneading bread. He will speak to the guests as they approach the window.
“I remember the first day that I imagined these little treats. It was the winter of 610 AD, and I was standing at this very window, watching the children play outside in the snow. I was sad because the children came to the church yard to play, but they hardly ever came inside to worship… and their parents hardly ever came at all.”
“I was baking loaves of bread that day, and working with the leftover dough, I began to roll it out as I prayed for these little children and their families. Soon, I was thinking of their tiny hands folded in prayer, and I folded the dough like this.”
Host will roll out dough into a snake shape, then fold over once to represent hands.
“Then, I thought of their mothers and fathers praying along side them and folded the dough like this.”
The ends of the dough get folded over again.
“Then, I thought of their parents teaching about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and soon the dough was shaped like this.”
The tips of the dough are place at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock points on the center part of the dough creating three spaces that represent the HOLY TRINITY.
“I made several of these that day, enough for all the children. When they were warm and fresh from the oven, I called out the window and invited the children to come and try them.”
“Here would you like some?” Host will offer pretzels to guests.
“The children enjoyed them so much, that I had an idea. I called my creation ‘pretiola’ which means ‘little reward’ and I told the children to go home and learn a Bible verse. If they could come back with their parents and tell me the Bible verse they had memorized, that I would make more pretiolas for them.”
“They were so popular that soon everyone in town was coming to get them, and by Christmas, the church was filled with families once again.”
And, that is the story of how the pretzel (comes from the Latin root pretiola) saved Christmas. Hope you enjoyed it. You can share it with your family, and be sure to try the pretzel recipe on page 54 of Vacation Education destination Epcot.
Corinne Johnson is the author of Vacation Education Books, Christian unit studies based on favorite family vacation destinations.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
How to Make Diapers at Home Cheap, Cloth, PUL, AIO
Last year, we gave our oldest daughter a sewing machine for Christmas. I had never used one before, but think it is something that my girls should know how to do. This machine didn't get much use, until this fall when she began to take a beginner sewing class. She learned to make a skirt, a fairly simple project apparently, but impressive nonetheless.
We use cloth diapers; have you priced these things lately? They are expensive! My favorites are the Fuzzy Buns with pockets - these sell retail for about $25. I've paid about $12 for Super Whisper Wraps (these are just the outer waterproof wrap, and need a diaper to go along with them).
I know that a package of disposable diapers, yes we have used paper diapers in the past, costs about $12 and lasts about a week. We are expecting our 6th child, and they stay in diapers for 2-3 years, I'll let you do the math here.
It is much more economical for us to use cloth, and I know there are other benefits, but it is the cost factor that motivates us. So, I want to know how to get them cheap or even FREE.
We've received them as gifts, been handed down many from other moms, and I even run across them at yard sales or resale shops every so often (Paying about $1 or $2 a piece).
I know moms that make their own, and I've grilled them on every detail, and checked out many websites claiming to teach you to make your own. This does not seem cheaper to me, PUL is $9 a yard, plus the cost of fabrics and liner materials, plus Velcro or snaps, and elastic too.
So, here is my idea, and I'm putting it out there for all the criticism it can take. I have put out the word that we will take all 'throw away' clothes that people have, items that are too stained or ripped to sell or wear. We are going to pull off every possible reusable accessory that we can; buttons, snaps, zippers, elastic, etc. My cost so far? 0
Then, I am going to use an old shower curtain liner (I see these at yard sales for about 50cents). I happen to have an extra, but I'll call this a cost, it equals about two yards of material. So, 25cents a yard. This will be my waterproof material.
I'm going to scavenge any old thing that has a cute pattern and is big enough for the outer layer, the part that is seen, and plan to use either old towels or fleece, whichever is available for the inner absorbent material.
I plan to have my daughter (with her new sewing skills) sew these three layers together. Then we will add elastic and snaps (taken from the throw away clothes) and have a All in One diaper.
We have just begun to collect materials. I made one wrap this way with just two layers, waterproof and then an outer (from a really cute onesie that was damaged, I used the front and back and the snaps from the center). This wrap worked well for a few uses, but I planned poorly and it was quickly grown out of; I'm saving it for the next baby.
If anyone has done this, made diapers, covers, wraps, or AIOs from FREE materials, please comment here. I would like to know how you did it and so would other moms. Thanks
Corinne Johnson is the author of the Christian unit study series, Vacation Education Books
We use cloth diapers; have you priced these things lately? They are expensive! My favorites are the Fuzzy Buns with pockets - these sell retail for about $25. I've paid about $12 for Super Whisper Wraps (these are just the outer waterproof wrap, and need a diaper to go along with them).
I know that a package of disposable diapers, yes we have used paper diapers in the past, costs about $12 and lasts about a week. We are expecting our 6th child, and they stay in diapers for 2-3 years, I'll let you do the math here.
It is much more economical for us to use cloth, and I know there are other benefits, but it is the cost factor that motivates us. So, I want to know how to get them cheap or even FREE.
We've received them as gifts, been handed down many from other moms, and I even run across them at yard sales or resale shops every so often (Paying about $1 or $2 a piece).
I know moms that make their own, and I've grilled them on every detail, and checked out many websites claiming to teach you to make your own. This does not seem cheaper to me, PUL is $9 a yard, plus the cost of fabrics and liner materials, plus Velcro or snaps, and elastic too.
So, here is my idea, and I'm putting it out there for all the criticism it can take. I have put out the word that we will take all 'throw away' clothes that people have, items that are too stained or ripped to sell or wear. We are going to pull off every possible reusable accessory that we can; buttons, snaps, zippers, elastic, etc. My cost so far? 0
Then, I am going to use an old shower curtain liner (I see these at yard sales for about 50cents). I happen to have an extra, but I'll call this a cost, it equals about two yards of material. So, 25cents a yard. This will be my waterproof material.
I'm going to scavenge any old thing that has a cute pattern and is big enough for the outer layer, the part that is seen, and plan to use either old towels or fleece, whichever is available for the inner absorbent material.
I plan to have my daughter (with her new sewing skills) sew these three layers together. Then we will add elastic and snaps (taken from the throw away clothes) and have a All in One diaper.
We have just begun to collect materials. I made one wrap this way with just two layers, waterproof and then an outer (from a really cute onesie that was damaged, I used the front and back and the snaps from the center). This wrap worked well for a few uses, but I planned poorly and it was quickly grown out of; I'm saving it for the next baby.
If anyone has done this, made diapers, covers, wraps, or AIOs from FREE materials, please comment here. I would like to know how you did it and so would other moms. Thanks
Corinne Johnson is the author of the Christian unit study series, Vacation Education Books
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Finding Nemo Sea World Epcot Walt Disney World
Here is an excerpt from the newest book we are working on; Vacation Education SeaWorld:
A great study to go along with this trip is on the subject of the Coral Reef.
Have you seen the movie “Finding Nemo”? It’s the story of a young clown fish (named Nemo) and his very protective father. Nemo goes beyond the boundaries set forth (he disobeys) and then all sorts of adventures ensue because of this.
Devotional Lesson: All sorts of trouble comes for children who disobey their parents.
Of course, Nemo’s father who has never left their reef, braves the vast and frightening ocean, stopping at nothing, willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, to save his child.
Devotional Lesson: We also have a Father who left the sanctity and perfection of Heaven, and braved the suffering and temptation of this world, did sacrifice everything, including His own life, to save His child—YOU!
This film can be a great way to lead into the discussions above, and also an opportunity for everyone to look for marine life that they recognize. There are many varieties of creatures featured throughout the film, like jellyfish, sea turtles, clown fish, whales, sharks and more.
A similar lesson will be included in the Next Edition of Vacation Education destination Epcot to accompany the unit on The Living Seas Pavilion.
To learn more about our educational unit studies, please visit our website at www.vacationeducationbooks.net
Corinne Johnson, author
A great study to go along with this trip is on the subject of the Coral Reef.
Have you seen the movie “Finding Nemo”? It’s the story of a young clown fish (named Nemo) and his very protective father. Nemo goes beyond the boundaries set forth (he disobeys) and then all sorts of adventures ensue because of this.
Devotional Lesson: All sorts of trouble comes for children who disobey their parents.
Of course, Nemo’s father who has never left their reef, braves the vast and frightening ocean, stopping at nothing, willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, to save his child.
Devotional Lesson: We also have a Father who left the sanctity and perfection of Heaven, and braved the suffering and temptation of this world, did sacrifice everything, including His own life, to save His child—YOU!
This film can be a great way to lead into the discussions above, and also an opportunity for everyone to look for marine life that they recognize. There are many varieties of creatures featured throughout the film, like jellyfish, sea turtles, clown fish, whales, sharks and more.
A similar lesson will be included in the Next Edition of Vacation Education destination Epcot to accompany the unit on The Living Seas Pavilion.
To learn more about our educational unit studies, please visit our website at www.vacationeducationbooks.net
Corinne Johnson, author
Home Birth vs Hospital Birth my perspective
If you are reading this, you are already looking into your options, and you are probably pregnant - if so, congratulations! I've made all kinds of choices that go against the main stream; it just fits with my personality to do so. If I decide that something is a good idea; others disagreeing with me, usually just makes me more determined that I'm right and they are wrong. It's just who I am.
I use cloth diapers, I homeschool my children, I nurse my babies longer than my mother thinks I should, I leave the determination of my family size up to God, I think having a baby at home is WAAAAAAY better than having one in a hospital...
These are just some of the most obvious crazy decisions that I have made over the years. When I say crazy decisions, I mean decisions that make my family (and my in-laws) crazy.
So, with all that disclaimer said, this is my perspective from my personal experience.
I had four children in hospitals; four different hospitals with four different doctors (a hospital birth is expensive and if you have insurance, you go with whoever and wherever they tell you to, or you pay for it). Even though the physicians, the cities and the settings were different, my experiences were basically the same.
I go into labor, husband takes me to hospital, we arrive and say "I'm in labor" The nurse at the desk says, "Are you sure?" Yes, this is exactly what they said, every time, at every hospital, even on the fourth baby, when my water broke at home and I was dribbling water through the lobby, then I said, "my water broke" and she said, "Are you sure?" If there is anything that makes a young woman feel insecure, it's that. My ability to relax pretty much left the building at that point, and amazingly enough, my labor pretty much plateaued as well. Then, I got strapped down and hooked up, monitors, IV's, all the important stuff that they need to get me a baby. Sometime later, I would hear something like, "Well, you are in labor, but you are not really progressing, so we're going to manually break your water to get things moving along." With #4, my water had already broken so they skipped this step, and went straight to the next. "Well, you're not really progressing, and your water is broken, so we need to get things moving, we're going to put Pitocin in your IV." Pitocin is a chemically made substitute for Oxytocin that a womans body naturally produces, except that it doesn't if she is stressed out! The Pitocin caused my contractions to come on harder and stronger for a little while and then they plateaued again. More Pit! Same effect. More pit! Same effect. More Pit!
"Aaaaaaagh, okay, okay, I give, I can't take it anymore, give me drugs! Good ones!"
Then, I got a spinal epidural, which I now know, but did not know then, actually slows the labor down, requiring more pitocin, which causes more intense contractions, so I wanted more epidural, which slowed the labor down more, and made them give me more pitocin. See the vicious cycle here? With my first child, after 36 hours at the hospital, I was so tired and chemically imbalanced that I said okay to whatever was asked, even when a class of medical students all wanted a turn at "checking" to see how dilated I was, I was numb from the waist down and my mother and husband had to each hold one leg in the air. I couldn't even sit up on my own. I had a baby, but it was like I wasn't even there.
So, enough of my sob stories, now for the good part...
Jacob, baby #5, my first home birth. I was at home, painting my oldest sons bedroom (he wanted a fire engine mural on his wall - it turned out very cool by the way). I was due in August and his birthday was in December, but I knew that I wouldn't feel up to it once I had the new baby. I was just finishing the details, when I began to feel some minor contractions, a few hours later we began to time them. By 3pm, I called my midwife (Backing up a bit, appointments with the midwife were like having a friend over for tea. We sat and visited for hours, talking not just about this pregnancy, but all the ones before, talking about babies and children and discussing everything under the sun that had to do with mamas and babies. So, different from the in&out of the OB office). I told her to get ready, we might need her. This is the time that I would have been leaving for the hospital, but instead, I just hung out at home. I ate dinner with my family, tucked my children in bed, all the while watching the clock as the contractions became gradually more and more intense, longer and stronger. Once the children were in bed, about 8pm, we had spoken to Deb (the midwife) on the phone a few times and she was packing up her car to come over. When she arrived, I was calm, my contractions were increasing rapidly, and it was like a dear friend had just arrived. She wasn't someone I'd only seen for a few minutes here and there, she was someone I'd spent hours getting to know, and who had devoted hours getting to know me. Every step of the way, she knew just what I needed, and was able to communicate to my husband how he could best help me. Shortly after 2am, we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into this world. He was my biggest baby by 1/2 a pound; he was my fastest labor by far, and he was the easiest delivery, slid out with just two pushes. I will not lie and say it was easy, birthing a baby is NOT an easy task, but from my hospital experience (which I thought was normal), to my home experience, I hope that I never have to go back to a hospital again.
I am glad that OBs are available (they are trained surgeons and sometimes that is what a woman needs), but I pray that my labors will be natural, just the way God designed them, that my babies will present head down, and that all will be well.
We are 8 weeks away from our due date for our 6th child and I am looking forward to another wonderful home birth.
The biggest benefit of being at home? I had a baby, and I actually got to participate in the process, for the first time!
Corinne Johnson is a Christian homeschooling mother of five and a Help Meet to her husband, as well as the author of the unit study series Vacation Education Books.
I use cloth diapers, I homeschool my children, I nurse my babies longer than my mother thinks I should, I leave the determination of my family size up to God, I think having a baby at home is WAAAAAAY better than having one in a hospital...
These are just some of the most obvious crazy decisions that I have made over the years. When I say crazy decisions, I mean decisions that make my family (and my in-laws) crazy.
So, with all that disclaimer said, this is my perspective from my personal experience.
I had four children in hospitals; four different hospitals with four different doctors (a hospital birth is expensive and if you have insurance, you go with whoever and wherever they tell you to, or you pay for it). Even though the physicians, the cities and the settings were different, my experiences were basically the same.
I go into labor, husband takes me to hospital, we arrive and say "I'm in labor" The nurse at the desk says, "Are you sure?" Yes, this is exactly what they said, every time, at every hospital, even on the fourth baby, when my water broke at home and I was dribbling water through the lobby, then I said, "my water broke" and she said, "Are you sure?" If there is anything that makes a young woman feel insecure, it's that. My ability to relax pretty much left the building at that point, and amazingly enough, my labor pretty much plateaued as well. Then, I got strapped down and hooked up, monitors, IV's, all the important stuff that they need to get me a baby. Sometime later, I would hear something like, "Well, you are in labor, but you are not really progressing, so we're going to manually break your water to get things moving along." With #4, my water had already broken so they skipped this step, and went straight to the next. "Well, you're not really progressing, and your water is broken, so we need to get things moving, we're going to put Pitocin in your IV." Pitocin is a chemically made substitute for Oxytocin that a womans body naturally produces, except that it doesn't if she is stressed out! The Pitocin caused my contractions to come on harder and stronger for a little while and then they plateaued again. More Pit! Same effect. More pit! Same effect. More Pit!
"Aaaaaaagh, okay, okay, I give, I can't take it anymore, give me drugs! Good ones!"
Then, I got a spinal epidural, which I now know, but did not know then, actually slows the labor down, requiring more pitocin, which causes more intense contractions, so I wanted more epidural, which slowed the labor down more, and made them give me more pitocin. See the vicious cycle here? With my first child, after 36 hours at the hospital, I was so tired and chemically imbalanced that I said okay to whatever was asked, even when a class of medical students all wanted a turn at "checking" to see how dilated I was, I was numb from the waist down and my mother and husband had to each hold one leg in the air. I couldn't even sit up on my own. I had a baby, but it was like I wasn't even there.
So, enough of my sob stories, now for the good part...
Jacob, baby #5, my first home birth. I was at home, painting my oldest sons bedroom (he wanted a fire engine mural on his wall - it turned out very cool by the way). I was due in August and his birthday was in December, but I knew that I wouldn't feel up to it once I had the new baby. I was just finishing the details, when I began to feel some minor contractions, a few hours later we began to time them. By 3pm, I called my midwife (Backing up a bit, appointments with the midwife were like having a friend over for tea. We sat and visited for hours, talking not just about this pregnancy, but all the ones before, talking about babies and children and discussing everything under the sun that had to do with mamas and babies. So, different from the in&out of the OB office). I told her to get ready, we might need her. This is the time that I would have been leaving for the hospital, but instead, I just hung out at home. I ate dinner with my family, tucked my children in bed, all the while watching the clock as the contractions became gradually more and more intense, longer and stronger. Once the children were in bed, about 8pm, we had spoken to Deb (the midwife) on the phone a few times and she was packing up her car to come over. When she arrived, I was calm, my contractions were increasing rapidly, and it was like a dear friend had just arrived. She wasn't someone I'd only seen for a few minutes here and there, she was someone I'd spent hours getting to know, and who had devoted hours getting to know me. Every step of the way, she knew just what I needed, and was able to communicate to my husband how he could best help me. Shortly after 2am, we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into this world. He was my biggest baby by 1/2 a pound; he was my fastest labor by far, and he was the easiest delivery, slid out with just two pushes. I will not lie and say it was easy, birthing a baby is NOT an easy task, but from my hospital experience (which I thought was normal), to my home experience, I hope that I never have to go back to a hospital again.
I am glad that OBs are available (they are trained surgeons and sometimes that is what a woman needs), but I pray that my labors will be natural, just the way God designed them, that my babies will present head down, and that all will be well.
We are 8 weeks away from our due date for our 6th child and I am looking forward to another wonderful home birth.
The biggest benefit of being at home? I had a baby, and I actually got to participate in the process, for the first time!
Corinne Johnson is a Christian homeschooling mother of five and a Help Meet to her husband, as well as the author of the unit study series Vacation Education Books.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What's wrong with the Bible Bee?
More and more it comes to my attention that this is becoming a world in which everyone HAS to be exactly the same. Differences of opinion, talent, skill are just not allowed. It is happening under the premise of a movement to embrace everyone's differences, and is having the opposite affect.
We don't want to offend anyone, so we can't ever say, "This is TRUTH". We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so we can't have any competition (for there to be a winner, there has to be a loser, right?). We only want to play games where everyone wins!
I've seen it in the demise of track and field day, in the dumbing down of curriculums, and most recently in the elimination of the BIBLE BEE.
Two churches in our small community have recently decided that the BIBLE BEE should be done away with. One large church was using it as part of their youth group curriculum; to encourage the teens to spend time in God's Word, with trivial competition as a motivator and small prizes for those who were the most successful. The second church runs a Christian school, where the Bible Bee was a highlight of the year for the kids who are so academically inclined to spend time studying. It is an area where they can succeed.
As a sidenote, we often see that children who do well academically, often are NOT the stars on the athletic field (we all have different gifts, strengths and talents). The town where I grew up is a place where football and soccer stars are honored like royalty, but the child who worked her way to the state level of the Spelling Bee was virtually ignored.
But, what's wrong with the BIBLE BEE?
Why are churches getting rid of it?
The youth group program eliminated it, but a few kids thought it was too much effort, and 'not enough FUN'!
The school eliminated it, because it was 'too competitive'.
Is that where we are going as a nation? As a world?
I personally was and still am academically inclined, not an athlete. Programs like Young Authors, Spelling Bees, and Math Counts were MY opportunities to prove what I was good at. I thrived on academic competition, it motivated me to learn more, to put forth greater effort than that which was required to get by in day to day lessons. The chance to win, to be the best, isn't that what motivates so many of us?
Do athletes play just for the money? Just for the love of the game? If so, then why do we cancel every other television program the week of the World Series? Why do we give out Super Bowl Rings and Heisman Trophies? These items are the symbols of our success, the "thing" we can look on to remember how great it felt to WIN!
So, if the BIBLE BEE gets kids to put forth greater effort, to study more, to look deeper into God's Word, what's wrong with that? If a little competition gives kids the motivation to perhaps even open a Bible for the first time, what's wrong with that?
The kid who loses might feel bad, but my experience has been that a child who is not the winner this year, will try harder next year, and what's wrong with that?
I don't understand the movement to deny all opportunities for independent thinking and healthy competition in an effort to spare a few hurt feelings - we are denying those who would succeed academically the opportunity to do so, and we are denying those who would at least put forth some effort into the project (ie opening their Bible and reading it), the opportunity to do so.
There's nothing wrong with the Bible Bee, but there is something very wrong with what is happening to it.
Corinne Johnson is the author of Vacation Education Books, Christian unit studies based on your favorite vacation destinations. Visit us at www.vacationeducationbooks.net
We don't want to offend anyone, so we can't ever say, "This is TRUTH". We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so we can't have any competition (for there to be a winner, there has to be a loser, right?). We only want to play games where everyone wins!
I've seen it in the demise of track and field day, in the dumbing down of curriculums, and most recently in the elimination of the BIBLE BEE.
Two churches in our small community have recently decided that the BIBLE BEE should be done away with. One large church was using it as part of their youth group curriculum; to encourage the teens to spend time in God's Word, with trivial competition as a motivator and small prizes for those who were the most successful. The second church runs a Christian school, where the Bible Bee was a highlight of the year for the kids who are so academically inclined to spend time studying. It is an area where they can succeed.
As a sidenote, we often see that children who do well academically, often are NOT the stars on the athletic field (we all have different gifts, strengths and talents). The town where I grew up is a place where football and soccer stars are honored like royalty, but the child who worked her way to the state level of the Spelling Bee was virtually ignored.
But, what's wrong with the BIBLE BEE?
Why are churches getting rid of it?
The youth group program eliminated it, but a few kids thought it was too much effort, and 'not enough FUN'!
The school eliminated it, because it was 'too competitive'.
Is that where we are going as a nation? As a world?
I personally was and still am academically inclined, not an athlete. Programs like Young Authors, Spelling Bees, and Math Counts were MY opportunities to prove what I was good at. I thrived on academic competition, it motivated me to learn more, to put forth greater effort than that which was required to get by in day to day lessons. The chance to win, to be the best, isn't that what motivates so many of us?
Do athletes play just for the money? Just for the love of the game? If so, then why do we cancel every other television program the week of the World Series? Why do we give out Super Bowl Rings and Heisman Trophies? These items are the symbols of our success, the "thing" we can look on to remember how great it felt to WIN!
So, if the BIBLE BEE gets kids to put forth greater effort, to study more, to look deeper into God's Word, what's wrong with that? If a little competition gives kids the motivation to perhaps even open a Bible for the first time, what's wrong with that?
The kid who loses might feel bad, but my experience has been that a child who is not the winner this year, will try harder next year, and what's wrong with that?
I don't understand the movement to deny all opportunities for independent thinking and healthy competition in an effort to spare a few hurt feelings - we are denying those who would succeed academically the opportunity to do so, and we are denying those who would at least put forth some effort into the project (ie opening their Bible and reading it), the opportunity to do so.
There's nothing wrong with the Bible Bee, but there is something very wrong with what is happening to it.
Corinne Johnson is the author of Vacation Education Books, Christian unit studies based on your favorite vacation destinations. Visit us at www.vacationeducationbooks.net
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
where is the Titus 2 woman?
I am always concerned when I hear parenting advice that doesn't measure up to Titus 2; will it make me love my husband and children? does it make me want to be chaste, sober, a keeper at home, obedient to my husband?
Do you ever feel alone? Like you are the only one?
A year into homeschooling, we moved to a new community and a few years after that, my husband chose a church home for us. Our church has many wonderful qualities, and its primary ministry is Christian education. This is done through a PreK to 8th grade day school.
In an environment where my brothers and sisters in Christ often behave as though homeschooling is a personal affront to 'their school' being the only homeschooling family can feel quite lonely.
Sometime ago, I began to read Titus 2 and wonder, "Where are those women?" The older women he speaks of who are supposed to teach me to be obedient to my husband, a keeper of my home, loving to my children? Where are they? I began to search for them.
Through many conversations with many women in and out of my church, I found two very interesting things that they all had in common. First, most of the women in my church, in my generation, with or without children, single or married, have jobs. By 'job' I am referring to an obligatory location that one shows up, punches a timeclock, does work and gets a paycheck. I would be lying if I said I don't work, but I don't have a job. Learning this, made me feel even more desperate to find Titus 2 women. How could I learn to be a keeper at home if I didn't even know anyone who is?
The second thing I found is that the women I talked with love God, they love their husbands, and they love their children. They want to be Proverbs 31 women, Titus 2 women, they want to obey God in their lives...but (there is always a but...) they feel they need to work, or they need the money, or they need their job for some reason or another. I don't argue these points when I'm talking to them and I won't argue them here either. I think it is simple; we either take God at His word or we don't. It seems quite obvious to me what God intended for a woman.
Read Genesis where He creates a 'helpmeet' for Adam. Look up that word, what does it mean? Do you fit the definition? Read Titus 2; does that describe you? Read Proverbs 31, does your description fit here? More importantly, are you trying to fit these qualities designated by God, or are you busy meeting another set of standards?
The Bible doesn't say that women are not to work, or that they should not earn any money, but what is your priority? Does God come first, above all else? How much of your time, talents and money do you devote to Him? Does your husband come second? How much do you devote to him? Do your children come next? How much time do you devote to them?
Where you place your time, talents and finances will give you a very realistic picture of what your priorities really are. Measure it out - time asleep doesn't count for anyone. Who gets most of your time?
It's not too late to put your priorities into perspective, and make changes. If you have children, now is the time to give them a Godly example. I can't promise that it won't be a lonely walk, but I can promise that it will have lasting rewards. For your daughters, give them the gift of a Titus 2 woman in their lives, so they will not have to wonder where to turn when they are in need of one. For your sons, give them the gift of a Titus 2 woman in their lives; they will one day be married, and their wife may have never known any.
If you appreciated this message, visit our website at vacationeducationbooks.net to sign up for our newsletter; Words of Encouragement.
Do you ever feel alone? Like you are the only one?
A year into homeschooling, we moved to a new community and a few years after that, my husband chose a church home for us. Our church has many wonderful qualities, and its primary ministry is Christian education. This is done through a PreK to 8th grade day school.
In an environment where my brothers and sisters in Christ often behave as though homeschooling is a personal affront to 'their school' being the only homeschooling family can feel quite lonely.
Sometime ago, I began to read Titus 2 and wonder, "Where are those women?" The older women he speaks of who are supposed to teach me to be obedient to my husband, a keeper of my home, loving to my children? Where are they? I began to search for them.
Through many conversations with many women in and out of my church, I found two very interesting things that they all had in common. First, most of the women in my church, in my generation, with or without children, single or married, have jobs. By 'job' I am referring to an obligatory location that one shows up, punches a timeclock, does work and gets a paycheck. I would be lying if I said I don't work, but I don't have a job. Learning this, made me feel even more desperate to find Titus 2 women. How could I learn to be a keeper at home if I didn't even know anyone who is?
The second thing I found is that the women I talked with love God, they love their husbands, and they love their children. They want to be Proverbs 31 women, Titus 2 women, they want to obey God in their lives...but (there is always a but...) they feel they need to work, or they need the money, or they need their job for some reason or another. I don't argue these points when I'm talking to them and I won't argue them here either. I think it is simple; we either take God at His word or we don't. It seems quite obvious to me what God intended for a woman.
Read Genesis where He creates a 'helpmeet' for Adam. Look up that word, what does it mean? Do you fit the definition? Read Titus 2; does that describe you? Read Proverbs 31, does your description fit here? More importantly, are you trying to fit these qualities designated by God, or are you busy meeting another set of standards?
The Bible doesn't say that women are not to work, or that they should not earn any money, but what is your priority? Does God come first, above all else? How much of your time, talents and money do you devote to Him? Does your husband come second? How much do you devote to him? Do your children come next? How much time do you devote to them?
Where you place your time, talents and finances will give you a very realistic picture of what your priorities really are. Measure it out - time asleep doesn't count for anyone. Who gets most of your time?
It's not too late to put your priorities into perspective, and make changes. If you have children, now is the time to give them a Godly example. I can't promise that it won't be a lonely walk, but I can promise that it will have lasting rewards. For your daughters, give them the gift of a Titus 2 woman in their lives, so they will not have to wonder where to turn when they are in need of one. For your sons, give them the gift of a Titus 2 woman in their lives; they will one day be married, and their wife may have never known any.
If you appreciated this message, visit our website at vacationeducationbooks.net to sign up for our newsletter; Words of Encouragement.
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