Pajama School Blog

Pajama School, Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate

In Memory…

by natalie

Wes Gum

He was a fixture in the neighborhood for years. Every morning, like clockwork, he ambled down the sidewalk beside our house, enjoying the fresh air and frequently stopping to visit with friends along the way. While out for my morning run several days a week we often crossed paths, and I came to look forward to our occasional chats. He filled me in on his wife and the grandson that was living with them temporarily, and I gave him the latest on my various projects. Last summer, I had a chance to share my faith with him. He listened politely, but said he didn’t need a crutch to get through life. Oh how I protested that Jesus is a crutch! I couldn’t imagine anything further from the truth. Instead, I referenced Isaiah 40:31 and told him that having the Lord in your life is more like being lifted up on wings so that you can fly in the midst of life’s difficulties! But he was resolved in his unbelief. As one might expect of an 84-year old.

I knew the day would come, but it still sent me into momentary shock tonight when my sister relayed the news that the obituaries in last week’s paper listed dear Mr. Wes Gum. He breathed his last on January 31. Only a week before, Dad and I were walking back from breakfast and I had a chance to introduce Dad to the man he had heard me speak of on multiple occasions. He looked as fit as ever and responded in his customary pleasantness when queried as to how he was doing. Little did he know that in a week he would take his final trip around the block. Little did any of us know. I prayed often for Wes over the last year, but never again conversed on matters of faith. I wish I would have. Death has such a way of bringing eternity into focus. If only I could remember every day to pour my time and effort into things of eternal value. My heart is sad. I will miss Wes Gum.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2

Bible Lessons for Preschoolers

by natalie

Julia, a good friend of mine with three young children has recently started a blog with Bible Lessons for Preschoolers. Julia is a gifted writer, curriculum developer, and mother – a great combination for this creative blog! In searching for and researching available materials to begin homeschooling her children, Julia had a difficult time tracking down any Bible Lessons specifically designed for this age. Thus was borne her blog and The Proverbs Project. I LOVE the lesson plans she has put together for this!

Each lesson plan for The Proverbs Project is centered on a specific character-building theme, and includes a Bible verse, one or two activities, and a prayer point. If you are looking for a simple, but powerful, way to begin training young children in biblical wisdom, you will love these lessons, too!

Bible Lessons for Preschoolers

I was able to visit Julia and her family last week and can testify to how much her little ones loved the lessons! Here they are pictured working their way through the obstacle course we designed to go along with a lesson on diligence.

Home Educating Family Magazine Special!

by natalie

Home Educating Family Magazine

The Keliher family has put together a gorgeous magazine for homeschool families with a variety of interesting and relevant topics and articles. Authors such as John MacArthur, Elisabeth Elliot, Jay Younts, and [ahem] yours truly are part of the latest issue. 🙂 And right now they are running a subscription special where you can get two years for the price of one – only $15.95! If you haven’t checked it out yet, I think you’ll enjoy this encouraging read.

Review of Pajama School on Homeschool Buzz

by natalie

Kathy Davis has posted a kind review of Pajama School on the Homeschool Buzz website. She says,

As a homeschooling mom to three boys, Pajama School brought me both sighs of relief and smiles. The author’s recollection of her homeschooling days gave me much needed encouragement. After all, don’t we sometimes wonder if we are doing the right thing, educating our children at home? What about socialization, team sports, band, the “prom” and high school requirements? Are they missing out? Of course my answer to those questions is a big no, but every once in a while I wonder….And then…
>>Read the rest of the review>>

Thanks, Kathy!

Win a Free Ticket to the Heart of the Matter Online Conference!

by natalie

Heart of the Matter Online Conference

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I’ve been asked to speak at the 2010 Heart of the Matter Online Conference. The conference will be February 22-24, 2010, and you can enjoy the whole thing from the comfort of your own home! Here’s a tid bit from their website:

Are your feet dragging? Do you need a little pick-me-up? Winter is wrapping up and we are anxious for spring — for green, for sunshine, for life, for a little oomph in our homeschool day. It’s easy to get bogged down and for things to turn hum-drum.

A Woman Inspired and Heart of the Matter Online are excited to bring you a Homeschool Refresher conference that is sure to give you a boost.

This conference will feature some speakers chosen specifically for their ability to revive, rejuvenate, and renew the hearts and minds of their audience. You are sure to walk away motivated and inspired to achieve great things!

Incredibly, the full price for the conference is only $12.95, but HOTM has allocated five free tickets to give away on my blog! All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter the giveaway drawing. And…if you want to earn extra entries in the drawing, just post about it on your blog, twitter, or facebook with a link back to this post and leave another comment letting me know about the additional postings. I’ll give you one additional entry for each place that you post!Thanks for helping spread the word!

(BTW, you can click here to view the page for my workshop: Everything Your Child Needs to Know and How to Teach it to Them.

Inspired by Soap

by natalie

We had some good friends over for dinner a couple of nights ago and one of them was telling me about some goat milk soap that she ordered and has been using for her family. She told me that it uses natural ingredients, smells great, and has kept their skin moisturized all winter long! She also mentioned that it is produced by a homeschool family. My interest was piqued, so she sent me the link and I’ve just been perusing the website today. Not only does the soap look like a great product, the family is positively inspiring! Check out this TV interview with their local station:

Visit their website, Goat Milk Stuff, to find out more about their company, explore the variety of soaps they offer, and check out the huge assortment of scents available! I’ve added it to my wish list and can’t wait to order some and try it out for myself!

Capture the Moment – January 17-23

by natalie

Funerals don’t fit very neatly into a schedule. Nobody sends “Save the Date” cards to give everyone advance notice so that they can block out the date and time on their calendar. But funerals are an essential part of life – worth making time for, in my opinion, because they impart a level of sobriety that is seldom experienced otherwise. The reality of death prompts introspection and a renewed sense of eternity.

Gerald Snodgrass

A dear, godly, 92-year-old man passed away last week, leaving behind his wife, daughter, two granddaughters, twelve great-grandchildren, all their families, and numerous friends who were touched by his life – including me. Gerald Snodgrass was the beloved dishwasher at the Tea Room where my Mom and sister and I worked for several years. (Those of you who have read my book may recollect him from the chapter, In which I serve tea and solve mysteries.)

And so it was that Monday of this week found us traveling across town to attend the funeral service for Mr. Snodgrass. In the midst of sadness, we also experienced the joy of catching up with old friends, the blessing of reminiscing about treasured memories, and the inspiration of honoring the incredible legacy that Mr. Snodgrass has left behind.

Gerald Snodgrass

I was asked to speak this weekend at a retreat for a group of student worship leaders from a local university. After a full week of teaching, meetings, and trying to meet deadlines on various projects, the retreat proved to be a refreshing time of fellowship and worship. The organizer did a fabulous job of maintaining a casual atmosphere even with a very full schedule, and I was greatly blessed by the biblical and Christ-centered focus of the event. All of the leaders are international students and I always love meeting Christians from around the world, learning about their culture, and drawing out their perspectives on various issues.

The verse that I used as the basis for my session was Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” A while back, in the course of our music-themed Bible study, my sister and I came up with the above diagram as a representation of God’s natural design for musical expression. I put together a larger version for the retreat and used it as a visual during my presentation. Here is a brief overview of what I shared:

1. God’s Character (“The LORD is my strength and my shield”) A right view of God forms the foundation from which our music must flow.
2. My Trust (“my heart trusted in him”) A right view of God should lead us to look to Him for guidance and help in every situation.
3. God’s Help (“and I am helped”) God wants to show Himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him.
4. Heart Rejoices (“therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth”) Experiencing God’s help affirms our faith and fills us with joy.
5. Song Praises (“and with my song will I praise him”) The overflow of joy in our heart will pour forth in praise to God.

In the course of preparing for the retreat, I came across a couple of quotes that I really liked and included in my session. The first is from the book, The Soul’s Quest for God, by R.C. Sproul:

“Nothing can be in the heart that is not first in the mind. Our hearts cannot be inflamed about something we know not of. Unless we know God deeply, we cannot love him deeply. A faint understanding of God is enough to begin the heart to stir. Emotions may be kindled by the slightest acquaintance with the majesty of Christ. But for that spark to rise into a consuming and lasting fire, our knowledge of him must increase.”

The second quote is from George Mueller, and was gleaned from a wonderful biographical sketch of George Mueller on the Desiring God website:

“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the word of God, and to meditation on it. . . . What is the food of the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and . . . not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.”

In other random news this week, I finally found a pizza sauce recipe that I really like! I made deep dish Chicago-style pizza for dinner one night and did some tweaking of another recipe to come up with a concoction that was a winner with the whole family (a difficult feat, to be sure!). Here it is:

Ingredients:
14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
14 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. dried marjoram
¼ tsp. salt
3-4 cloves of garlic, finely minced

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Allow to cook for about 30 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from the heat. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

2009 Family Newsletter

by natalie

One of my favorite things at Christmas time is receiving newsletters and pictures from other families. Some are funny, some are sad, some are thoughtful, but all tell a story and provide a brief glimpse into what God is doing in the lives of His people. Our family sent the traditional Christmas letter for years but let it slip for a period of time a while back. We resumed the practice about four years ago, but decided to dub it the New Year’s letter – in pretense so that it would arrive after the bustling holiday season, but in reality so that we wouldn’t feel delinquent for getting it out in January every year. 🙂

After many hours of designing, writing, editing, tweaking, printing, collating, stuffing, labeling, taping, and stamping, we are happy to announce that the newsletters are now in the mail and should be arriving at their recipients’ homes soon! If you are not on our mailing list, please feel free to download and read my page from our 2009 Family Newsletter.

Wickham Newsletter

My First Homeschool Convention Workshop!

by natalie

It is with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that I accepted the invitation to speak at the Heart of the Matter Conference this year. They even have a page up for me already. 🙂 The conference will be held on-line February 23-24. I don’t know all the ins and outs yet, but it looks like the organizers do a wonderful job recruiting a variety of speakers and planning an event that will be accessible, affordable, and beneficial for homeschool families across the country. It’s only $12.95, but they have given me 5 tickets that I’ll be giving away here on the Pajama School Blog in February. So, stay tuned for details on that!

Even though I’ve done lots of workshops over the years, they have primarily been in character education and music education settings, so this will be a new experience. However, the Lord has laid it on my heart to encourage homeschool families and I am trusting that He will help me know the best approach to take and what to share. The workshop I am putting together for the Heart of the Matter Conference was prompted in large part by the survey that I conducted at the CHEC conference last year and the subsequent conversations that I had with numerous homeschooling parents. Here’s the title and synopsis for my workshop:

Everything Your Child Needs to Know and How to Teach it to Them
In this encouraging and sometimes humorous workshop, homeschool graduate Natalie Wickham reflects on the four aspects of her homeschool education that she appreciates the most. Drawing on her own experiences, observation of and conversations with other homeschool families, insightful survey responses, and biblical principles, Natalie’s heart is to inspire the next generation of homeschoolers. The number one question in the minds of many homeschool parents is whether they are teaching their child everything they need to know. Natalie highlights an important distinction that must be made when asking this question, and provides practical suggestions that will benefit every homeschool family.

I’ll be fine-tuning this over the next several weeks, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know!

Capture the Moment: January 10-16, 2010

by natalie

This year, I’ve done considerably more comprehensive planning of goals that I want to accomplish, steps to achieve them, streamlining of my financial record-keeping, and re-organizing of other files. There is a certain trepidation in working quite so hard toward organization because I don’t want to feel like I have my life pulled together to the extent that God feels the need to throw in some unexpected catastrophes to remind me to look to Him alone for my security and stability. I’m not saying unequivocally that God would do this, just that I want to be proactive in maintaining a spirit of dependency upon Him and not deluding myself into thinking that I am self-sufficient. Toward this end, a line from the hymn, Be Still My Soul, has replayed itself often in my mind:

“Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.”

So, I aim this year to to be wise and prudent in planning, yet submissive and flexible in accepting whatever changes God brings my way day-by-day.

Much of my time each week is occupied teaching my wonderful music students and, by extension, serving the broader music community. For those who may not know, I run Music Matters Blog – a site replete with “creative, practical, and up-to-date resources for the independent music teacher.”

In other weekly news, I love cooking and one of my favorite things to do is experiment with new recipes. Some of my family members love this; others do their best to devise reasons to not be home for dinner on Friday nights – my designated cooking night. 🙂 One of the things I’m especially interested in is learning more about herbs and spices and how to use them effectively in different foods (the open-the-cupboard-and-randomly-add-spices-to-the-dish method that I tend to employ is perhaps a factor in the afore-mentioned aversion to my cooking experiments by some family members…?).

My good friend, Lydia, also enjoys cooking, so we’ve decided to become cohorts in the kitchen this year. We launched our endeavor at her house this week with a foray into some Chinese delicacies. She and her Mom, Sherri, introduced me to their method of making egg rolls and I took along a recipe for some almond pastries (okay, not exactly Chinese, but I’ve been wanting to make these for a long time and this seemed like the perfect occasion to finally do it!). Anyway, here we are displaying the scrumptious results of our labor.

Cooking

Hopefully I’ll have more cooking success stories throughout the year. And I’ll try to post some of our favorite recipes as well!

Those of you who have read my book, Pajama School, know that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with politics. Nevertheless, I did experience a bit of the campaign season itch when Dad, Naomi, and I attended the Great American Forum this week that unofficially launched the hotly contested race for the U.S. House Seat in Kansas’ 4th District. There are five republicans running in the primary and even though we are already supporting one of the candidates, we wanted to get a better idea of who the other candidates are and what their positions are on various issues.

Great American Forum

The turn-out for the forum was incredible! It was obvious that even the organizers had not expected so many people to attend. There are critical issues being decided in Congress that will affect our families and our nation for many years to come. We are reaping the results of years of complacency, compromise, and corruption, and perhaps the disastrous consequences are spurring more people into action. The battle must be fought on many fronts, but the choosing of our representatives should be of chief importance to every American, for there is a blessing attached to the rule of the righteous:

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

Proverbs 29:2

I’m so grateful that we have righteous men running who will represent us well and uphold biblical and constitutional principles in their policy decisions. As each of us continue to serve in the roles that God has called us to, I hope that we will also recognize the importance of investing our time, energy, and finances on behalf of those whom He has likewise called to serve Him by representing us in our local, state, and federal governments.