Keeping up with the Jones

Vacations are a fun thing to do. We recently came home from Iowa.

What a good time we had with my sister-in-law. It is so nice to be back home though. I think it is fun to get away but It is also good to get back home.

We can get back into the routine. I must start all over with our food routine,our homeschool routine and our chores. It always seems like so much work. I sure hope someone appriciates this someday and I hope it isn't just God. Don't get me wrong I do want to do things unto the Lord. I want my children and husband to reap the rewards and I don't want to do things in vain. I mean isn't that what we are here for? Well, aside from preaching the gospel unto others. Are we not to bring are children up in him? There are so many things on this Earth that can take our time away from our families and God. If anything we do in a day isn't the goal for the Lord and in the end we don't reap the benefits of seeing it in our homes or lives in the long run is it really worth it?

Someone told me a few months back that they thought that another homeschooling family's children were quite. As a matter a fact they classified it as being anti-social and because of their homeschooling background they were definitely not being socialized. Which I know to be the contrare. If you are one of my homeschooling friends please don't beat yourself up if you are questioning if it is you. For one thing I think phycologist have to make everyone think that there has to be something wrong with those whom want to stay home with their children and homeschool. It isn't just enough to have a normal child. In this case I beleive the child was just taking all the information in. They have been trained at home. They have learned to ask questions and listen to answers from adults. Their peers are now adults instead of children. This is a good thing. Think about it for a second. Isn't it the peers whom children hang out with that get them into trouble? When was the first time you tried a smoke? drink? or something else? was it a friend you got into trouble with? What about the childrens clothes at school? Is it not the peers who pick out what is the latest and greatest toys your child must have to be in the incrowd? Or what about those clothes that you wear ? are they name brand or do you just get any old brand? Our peers have more affect on us and our children then anyone cares to admit. How about your car? What does it say. Does it say you have to take out a large loan just to keep up with the Jones or is it paid off? possiably always being worked on but yours none the less. Some people might read this and try to rationalize their behavior. I am not here to judge just simple say sometimes we don't always look at the full picture of what people are doing and saying. Mull it over in your head. Yes, we would like that new toy, car, house, or what ever it maybe. God himself says we are to owe no man money. How hard would it be to save up for those things? Think of the intrest we pay on that loan. You could pay for your house 3 or 4 times by the time you pay all that interest. That would have given you the money to buy the car and some little goodies on the side. All that and no morgage. I am not saying that everyone should have a morgage. I am saying at what price do we actually pay for that peer pressure in the end. I do think the only thing that could be purchased without cash is your first home because you would probably be paying rent somewhere. Of course that is if our children made it a priority not to get married until they had enough money for their first home. then they could save all that money they earned for a nicer home later. Besides my wisdom on that one isn't what God says he says ,"OWE NO MAN" and he is the man



snippet for the day- Go on doing what you have been doing and you will keep getting what you have been getting.