Trading in the three R's for Sproul's three G's (This title only makes sense if you read the book)

A dear friend of mine is a homeschooler and passed on a book to me about homeschooling this past Sunday.  I read it very quickly as it is subject of supreme interest to me.  Brandon and I have been discussing how we would educate Noah before he was even born.  Sure, we have some time to figure this out still, but time flies and we do not take his education lightly. 
Brandon and I were both public schooled.  So, we don't have any real personal insight into how Christian school or homeschooling might be better or worse for Noah.  I personally received a great education from my public school, but certainly it was a secular education. 
What we want most is what is most glorifying to God and most beneficial to Noah's soul and mind.  We aren't sold that public school is the answer, but neither are we sold on Christian schooling or homeschooling. 
In R.C. Sproul Jr.'s book, When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling, homeschooling is put in a light that I have not seen any of my Pastors or Elders hold homeschooling to.  Sproul's argument is that in order to be faithful to scripture and God's commands to Christian parents, one is obligated to homeschool his children.  I know a lot of godly people and a lot of homeschoolers, but I have never heard someone put so bluntly that sending your child to public or Christian school was abdicating your responsibility as a parent.  Sproul continues to argue that it is no one's place other than a parent's to educate their children.   Sproul uses Deuteronomy 6 as his primary source as to why we are to homeschool as opposed to any other form of schooling.  Specifically verse 6 of chapter 6 is his main focus: You shall teach them [commandments] diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 
While I appreciate Sproul's vigor in making his arguments and agreed with many his points about schooling, I did not agree with his overall thesis.  The first point he argues, that character is more important than knowledge is one that I can concur.  I would much rather my son go to heaven than be smart.  I think deep down inside we all feel this way, even if we are not living this way.  But his second, more strongly stated point, that homeschooling is the only way of obeying God in educating children, goes a little off the deep end for me.  Sproul is so enthused about his belief in homeschooling, that he argues that if you are a parent that entitles you to the ability to teach your children; that if you don't understand a subject area, skip it because it's not that important; and (by way of a personal example) if a child is unable to read by the age of 9 it's not a sign of failure if he/she shows signs of godliness. 
Again, I agree with Sproul that godliness is more important to cultivate than book intelligence, but how is outsourcing my children to others wrong when I am obviously failing my child in head knowledge and others are better equipped to handle this work? 
I do give Sproul props for addressing most people's issues with homeschooling.  He doesn't avoid the common questions of socialization issues and the burden of homeschooling.  However, I don't agree with all of his answers.  Sproul addresses the question of, "what about the poor?  Don't they need access to free education?"  Sproul's answer is no, that even in tough situations and parents without proper education themselves, they are still called to educate their own children.  I think this is a ridiculous answer and a short-sighted answer.  If Mom and Dad are illiterate (assuming there is a mom AND a dad), how are they going to be capable of teaching their children.  What about mental health issues present in parents?  What about single moms who work 60 hours a week?  I know I sound like a liberal asking the specific regarding a general statement, but I found no wiggle room in Sproul's book.  To Sproul, homeschooling equals obeying God and all other forms of education fall short of honoring God. 
Sproul Jr. and I agree that God does command me to educate Noah about God.  That in all I do and say around Noah, I should be educating my son about God.  However, I am not so much convinced that word of God is compelling me to teach my son about calculus because frankly, I know nothing about calculus (sorry Dr. Saunders!).  If Noah, however, excels in math, why would I just "skip that subject?"  Isn't my ignorance hindering Noah's calling from God to be a mathematician (whether or not that his call who knows)?  Many of my homeschooling friends do co-ops or will bring in tutors to cover subjects that they are unable to teach.  I do not see a difference in this and sending them to a Christian school (or even many public schools).
I would recommend Sproul Jr.'s book to you because it is written from a perspective that I have heard few utter before.  I also suspect that many homeschooling parents feel the same way Sproul does, they just don't have the audacity to say it aloud or, more permanently, write it in ink.  Perhaps one day I feel differently about this book, maybe after making schooling decisions for Noah I will be more like Sproul, but on this day, I stand in disagreement with his conclusions.  This, however, does not mean that Brandon and I will not homeschool.  We very well may.  When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling just brings us no closer or farther away from our decision.   

How do you feel about homeschooling?  What has informed your decisions on how to educate your children?

7 days or 70 million years?

If you are like me and believe in God's word, you probably have asked yourself, "But what about the dinosaurs?  Where do they fall into place?"  Here is an interesting article that addresses some of those questions in an interesting way: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/11634409/  I am not saying I agree or disagree with the author, I just found it to be an interesting conversation on a topic that I have always wondered about.  I will need to understand this topic better in the coming years, especially if Noah is sent to the public schools where evolution is the only thing that is taught in science classes. 

Has anyone ever read the book Dragons or Dinosaurs? by Derek Isaacs.  Any thoughts on it?  Are there any other texts that you have come across that has enlightened you on how 7 day creationism and scientific findings fit hand-in-hand? 

Belles on their Toes

I have continued to read about the Gilbreth family this summer.  A while back, I read Cheaper by the Dozen and just recently I finished the next book of the family stories in Belles on their Toes.  Just like the first novel, this novel is filled with chapter after chapter of family memories.  Cheaper by the Dozen focuses mostly on the Father of the twelve siblings while Belles on their Toes focuses on their mother (for a very important reason, but I don't want to give anything away). 
I found Belles on their Toes to be even more poignant and touching as a family struggles to survive and stay together through much adversity.  Also, the mother is one of the most impressive women I have ever read about.  She was truly a great mother.  I hope I never have to face the hardships she faced, but I do hope to be as selfless as a mother one day. 
I truly recommend Belles on their Toes to you and to your family.  A great book to read together.

Cheaper by the dozen

My husband loves the library.  Actually, he would rather buy books, books on tape, and movies, but since his wife is also known as la cheapa, he loves the library.  A while back my husband found the 1950 movie version of Cheaper By the Dozen.  Remember that I am a forty-five year old trapped in a 16 year old body, but I loved the film.  I enjoyed it much, much more than the 2003 version.  Though, I am sure many of my peers would think I am crazy. 
As I announced my love to the world about this film, some of my older more mature friends suggested the book to me.  So my husband, being the sweet-hearted guy he is, went and got this book out for me at the library.  I also enjoyed the book and recommend it to you.  I think it would be a great book to read for the entire family.  
The book relays certain special memories the family had growing up.  The book, written by two of the siblings, certainly had a lot to write about since they were two of twelve and had a rather unique father and mother.
Although this book is just chapter after chapter of family stories, there is much to be learned from this book that was once common to American family life that is now forgotten.  The heritage of a large family, the devotion of a wife to her husband, the disciplining of the behavior and minds of children.  Cheaper by the Dozen makes me long for a time that I have heard so much about, but have never seen with my own eyes. 
I am very happy to have read this novel and hope that you will take the time to read it and read it to your children as well.

The Very Busy Noah Boah

Noah's new obsession is Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider (Board Book).  Even though I would consider Noah an antsy child, there is one time he will sit still without me forcing him.  He will bring a book to me out of his toy box and request, "uh!?!"  In baby language, that means "read this to me!?!"  Carle's The Very Busy Spider (Board Book) is his number one request.  We have a rule in our family that Mommy will only read a book two times during a segment of the day.  That means we read this book twice in the morning, twice after nap time, and twice after dinner.  This does not include the times that Dad will read this book (and others) to him too.
So, even though I just about have this book memorized, I am very grateful for it.  Noah loves it and thus loves reading in general.  The Very Busy Spider has taught him at 16 months of age many animal noises and he now recognizes what those animals look like.  Noah already knew how to bark like a dog, but now he knows how to neigh like a horse (that's his favorite), moo like a cow, baa like a sheep, maa like a goat, oink like a pig, meow like a cat, quack like a duck, and cock-a-doodle-doo like a rooster (sounds more like doo-doo-doo-doo-doo).  He hasn't figured out how to "whoo" like an owl, but that's the last page, so I his attention is thus spent on getting another book for his Mommy to read to him.    
Obviously making animal noises is a popular thing for a baby to do.  Does everyone else have this book too?  How did you teach your children how to make animal noises?