Accountability in Homeschooling

I was once confronted with the concern of the lack of accountability in homeschooling.  It made me pause for a moment, but only for a moment. For I quickly realized the accountability I face in homeschooling my five children.

1.  I am accountable to society to create citizens that can contribute to their communities.

2.  I am accountable to my children's father to teach his children those things that will allow them to         carry the family name with honor and pride.

3.  I am accountable to our church to provide members that can serve and carry out the Great     Commission.

4.  I am accountable to my children themselves to provide them with the knowledge and tools needed to have productive futures in which they can care for themselves and their families.

5.  I am accouountable to myself to be able to look back at these years and know that I gave my children my very best in preparing them for adulthood.

If that does not seem to be enough accountablility.  Ultimately I will stand my for my Saviour, the Creator of the entire universe, and must give an account for my every moment I had with my children. This will include how and what I tought them.

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."  Romans 14:12

Tribute to my son

Here is a rare picture of my very handsome first born, Sean Robert Covey. He is 21 years old.

He is the only one of my children to attend any kind of school. He completed kindergarten at a Christian School is Southern Michigan. He was saved a week before he turned six. He is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. For the last two years he has been an MP in the National Guard, but is currently at Fort Goodfellows, in an intelligence program. We don't get to see him often, but I am very proud of him and I love him dearly.

I ask that you pray for him, both for safety in wherever this training leads him, but also for God's will in his life.

A Soldier's Christmas

Even in the Valley, God is Good

Even in the Valley, God is Good

I am always amazed at how much love God has for us. I know some say we should never be amazed by what God does, but you know what, I would much rather be amazed each and every time, then to become hard and indifferent to Him.

Anyway, I know I am behind on doing any posts, so I wanted to tell you about what has been going on in my life.

In 1994, my husband and I decided that it would be best if I stayed at home and taught the children. There were times since then when I helped out if it was needed financially, but never at the expense of the commitment we had made. For seven years I had a very small license daycare in my home. I absolutely loved doing that, but soon found that the changing requirements was not worth the income I was bringing in, so I let my license go.

Then when I found my self a single mom, I became very confused because I never felt that God was releasing me from that commitment I had made, yet I now needed to find a way to provide for my children. I began praying about how God wanted me to do this. It was a difficult time because the more I searched for what God wanted me to do, the more doors that were shut. I tried many at home career paths. I looked into renewing my license. I had promised God that I would knock on as many doors as I could find and that if He opened one I would go through. Yet I felt that none were being opened. So I finally thought that God must be telling me it was time to move. I didn't feel God calling me away from our home or church. However, I did feel that any doors that were going to open were not going to be around our home.

God, who's ways are not our ways, but who's timing is always perfect. Began opening doors. Two days after I decided we should move, I received a phone call to come in for an interview at a local fast food restaurant which would allow me to work around my commitments at home. Two days after that, I received a phone call from the Census bureau offering a temporary job with them. Ten minutes after hanging up from the Census bureau I received a call from a job I had applied for and wanted last July. This job is cleaning tour buses. Not only did I get this job, but he hired Sarah and Luke to work with me and gave me permission to bring Dakota and Hunter whenever I needed. So now we have a job that meets the needs of our family, while allowing us to be together and we can continue serving Him right here.

It is May 2010, in May 2005, I was required to drop my husband off at bus terminal and watch him walk away to take an over the road trucking job. For over five years now I have wondered in a valley. I knew God was always with me, but now, I have found the way out of that valley. The mountain is looming nearby. PRAISE GOD!

A Good Word Stays Around

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times.. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.'

Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.'

'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.



I know it has been awhile since I have done post, sorry. Anyway, this was sent to us and I thought I would share it with everyone.

Jean Covey

Formula for Living in His Glory

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 KJV)

My Last Post =`-(

Yes, this is my last post on this blog. My brother and I finally got our own blogs. Check them out!!! Luke's: Zach. 4:6...Not By Might, and mine: A Daughter of The King

"Charlie bit My Finger."

This movie is sooooo cute!!!

Rizpah

We played a game with a women's group at church recently. One of the questions was "Who is your favorite Bible Charecter. My answer was Rizpah. Now for some reason Eve, and Mary are much more well known then Rizpah. Go figure! Anyway, since then I have been once again thinking much about her. So I thought I would share why she is my favorite. I first learned of her when I heard a mother's day message about her. I was in awe of her, but it wasn't until my oldest son was in his late teens that I really began to understand how very important it is to be a Rizpah.

Rizpah
II Samuel 21:1-8



2Sa 21:1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them. 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: 13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land. "

Verses 1-7 are included just to give a point of reference to the story. You are welcome and encouraged to study this part out yourself. To begin with I want to draw your attention to a few seemingly random points. In verse 8 we are introduced to a mother of two boys named Armoni and Mephibosheth, her name is Rizpah. Be careful that you do not confuse Rizpah's son Mephibosheth with Jonathon's son, whom was spared. (Side note if you do not know the incredible story of the first bus kid named Mephibosheth, please make a point of reading II Samuel 9). Anyway, the next point I want you to see drops down to verse 11. King David takes notice of Rizpah, then at the end of verse 13, you see that not only did the king take notice of Rizpah, he met her need by caring for her sons. Praise God!!!!

Why is Rizpah my favorite Bible Character. Because I can relate to this mother's heart. You see I have five children, four sons and a daughter, and like her sons, my children are hanging out on a limb. There is a roaring lion stalking about, there are vultures flying overhead waiting to peck them off. I need, desperately, for THE KING to take notice of me and protect my children. So I want to see what she did to be noticed by the king, so I can follow her example and be noticed by THE KING.

The first thing is her determination to protect her sons regardless of her own comfort. So I have to ask myself: Will I stay on my knees for my children, all day, all night, will I go with out food, will I ignore all physical comforts to stay until THE KING takes notice? For their sakes, I must.



Another thing I notice is how she goes about her task. She is on the defensive,not the offensive. She will defend her children, that is all. I almost see her as a scarecrow. Her presence is constant, but not offensive. It is silent, yet so very loud. That is what I must find out how to do. I can not run around yelling scriptures and chasing people I don't like away, no matter how tempted I am to try. I can not play the role of a hell-fire and brimstone preacher spouting and spitting, that is not my role to fill. But, I can make sure that my presence is faithfully and constantly felt. That no matter what happens, my children know I am here, that I haven't moved from my spot. I may not be able to choose their friends, but I can make sure that they know I am here to help them find the way back to the “Friend who never fails.” when they can't find him. I can not take them over my knee, but I can make my love, my prayers known. Maybe through one letter, one “word fitly spoken” I can make a difference, and keep the beasts away.

The last thing to be noticed about this dear lady is her faithfulness She doesn't quit. Now I have not studied out the exact time span of the Barley season, I vaguely remember hearing it was two or three months, but I just don't know. What I do know is this. It did not matter. Rizpah didn't care how long she had to stay there. She knew what she had to do and she was going to do it until the King took notice.

Rizpah is a mother who truly knew what it meant to have a sacrificial love for her children. I want to be just like her.

Mrs. Jean Covey

PS It's okay, I asked Sarah if I could post this.

16 Traits of A Model Christian From I Thessalonians

Last night at church, pastor preached about the 16 traits that the Thessalonians, and Paul had. These traits are something that we should all try to attain as Christians. He talked about how these traits are just attained over night, but they are things we should work on throughout time.

1 Thessalonians 2


I. Boldness: vs. 1-3

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:


II. Dependable: vs. 4-5

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

III. Unselfish: vs. 6

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

IV. Gentle: vs. 7
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

V. Affectionate: vs. 8
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

VI. Independent: vs. 9
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

VII. Unblameable: vs. 10
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

VIII. Solicitous: vs. 11-12
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

IX. Thankfulness: vs. 13
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

X. Patient: vs. 14-18
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

XI. Hopeful: vs. 19
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

XII. Happy: vs. 20
20 For ye are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3

XIII. Fellow Worker: vs. 1-2

1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

XIV. Steadfast: vs. 3-11
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

XV. Abounding in Love: vs. 12
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

XVI. Unblameable: vs. 13
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Getting To Know You!!!

Okay, here's something I got in an email, so I figured I'd make it into a tag.


1.. High heels or boots? mostly heels, I don't really like boots

2. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I don't really go to movies... long time ago we went to see Chronicles of Narnia

4. What is your name? uhhh Sarah

5. What is your favorite TV show? Certain Episodes of Growing Pains, but I haven't watched it in forever

6. What do you usually have for breakfast? cereal

7. What is your middle name? Ilene

8. What food do you dislike? ummmm, at the moment oatmeal

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? WCBC Heart Of Compassion

10. What characteristic do you despise? stuck-up-ism

11. Favorite Clothing? dress clothing, or jeans and a t-shirt ( I know, one extreme to another)

12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? Florida!!

13. Are you an organized person? Who me... LOL

14. Where would you retire to? mmmm...don't know

15 What was your most recent memorable birthday? 16th!!!!

16. What are you going to do when you finish this? maybe go to bed

17. What is your Birthstone?

18. Person you expect to publish this first? not sure

19. When is your birthday? Nov. 17

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? night person

21. What is your shoe size? 5.5-8.5 weird uh

22. Do you own any animals? 2 birds and a dog

23. Any news you'd like to share? ohhhh, I knew something really good, but i'm totally blank right now!!!

24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? photographer, cake decorator, ohh yah I wanted to be a professional

25. What is your favorite flower? ummm I like sunflowers

26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? August

28. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Lime green...DEFINITELY (=D)

29. How is the weather right now? COLD!!! but it's warming up, groundhog said spring was coming soon =/.

30. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My bff Grace C.

31. Favorite drink? Pepsi :`-( or cappuccino

32. Favorite restaurant? MickeyD's

33. Hair color? Medium Brown (like a stick)

34. What was your favorite toy as a child? ummmm, I'm not sure.

35. Summer or winter? summer!!!

36. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate

37. Coffee or tea? coffee

38. Wish you were still young? no way!!

39. Do you want your friends to publish this? ahhhh, what do ya'll think...... duh

40. When was the last time you cried? today

41. What is under your bed? carpet

42 . What did you do last night? went to bed played wii and did stuff on my blog (but not in that order =D)

43. What are you afraid of? meeting new people

44. Salty or sweet? SWEEEEEET

45. Best quality you have? idk...probably quietness at times, and at other times, not so much =D

46. How many years at your current job?ummm 5 i think

47. Favorite day of the week? Sundays

48. What four people will you tag? Rebekah @ Living Joyfully In The Lord, Brittney @ Thanks Be Unto God... 2 Cor. 9:15, Brooke @ A Life For Christ, Rebecca @ A Rather Unusual Maiden For God.

49. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? DUH


OK, now you have to leave comments on the blogs of the people you tagged to let them know about it, and enjoy!!!

pics (*WARNING*!!!! A bit random)

Okay, so here are some pictures of my newly remodeled bedroom!!!!

This is the trim in between the two closets, and a view of my dresser.

These are my artificail shutters =D, and some of my pics!!

My dirty mirror



A sideways view of my dresser top, pics, and funny sign.
~Ahhhh, Memories. There are probobly stories for everything in this picture.~

Another sideways view of my dresser, sorry about the lighting, too.

And these are pictures of my new glasses. I found this place online, where I got both RX sunglasses and an extra pair of glasses for under $50!!!!!

These are my celebrity sunglasses!!

These are my super cute glasses, they're pinkish, and yes, that is chinese writing on the side, I wasn't sure if they were flowers, or chinese writing when I ordered them!! Oh, well.

Plainview 2008

I love the Plainview Videos, they are soooo funny!!! Can ya tell that I love anything WCBC!!