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The Home Front, June 2006
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In This Issue
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Commander's Report: What's new on the Home Front
By Trish Nonaka
Welcome to another issue of The Home Front! In case you are wondering what happened to last month's newsletter, we are undergoing some changes at TOS and HSB (for the better!) and we had to publish the articles on the blog directly. Did you notice the new format this month? We believe this is going to help avoid the problem of your e-Newsletters being "read" as spam by some email programs. TOS is always working to improve what we do for you and to make things better here on the Home Front. Let us know what you think! We love fan mail! Be sure to read the letter from one of our readers at the end of this issue. We were all deeply touched by it and know you will be too. We also have two new contributing writers who joined the team last month, but this will be their first "official" debut issue, so please stop by their blogs and welcome Sheri and Jen to the Home Front.
Trish Nonaka
Commander-in-Chief/Editor, The Home Front e-Newsletter
www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/military
www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/MamaBugs
Boot Camp: Faith on the Line - Deployments
By Sheri Payne
Sheri joins the Home Front as a regular contributor this month. She is a welcome addition, and I know you will enjoy reading her first article on surviving deployments.
My husband spent seven months deployed to the war zone last year. I honestly thought that I was ready for this deployment, physically and emotionally. I had always gone into deployment periods with total confidence in my ability to weather any storm. Why, I had even gone through one three-month deployment when I had been so sick that I was directing my 7-year-old from my bedside how to take care of the other two - she even changed diapers and made lunches. Never once, however, did I feel out of control of the situation. So, this deployment would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?
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Wow, was I ever wrong.
From the moment he left, I felt everything in my life sliding uncontrollably away from me. I struggled with depression and anxiety. I couldn't seem to keep on schedule and kept forgetting meetings and appointments. I felt further away from the Lord than any time since I rededicated my life to Him 15 years ago. I was barely holding on and felt like such a failure.
Through the love of my friends, my pastors, and my children, I finally began to realize that while I had utterly failed in my own strength, God was waiting on the sidelines with strength in abundance for my journey. He was challenging my very concept of faith - that what I had thought was my faith in Him was in reality my faith in my own strength. I began to pray through the Psalms every morning, reminding myself to "cast my cares on Him."
I managed to keep things together during this time, but I can't lie; it wasn't easy. But then again, nothing in our walk with our Lord has ever intimated that our life would be without its lows. Real life will always bring us times of struggle. Jesus Himself went from the ultimate high at His baptism, when the voice of God proclaimed for all present the beginning of His ministry, right into an incredible low: 40 days fasting in the desert, enduring the devil's temptations. Think of the ups and downs in the lives of Job, Joseph, Moses, and Abraham - their lows were times of real struggle.
A few years ago I remember hearing about a pastor's wife whose husband had unexpectedly committed suicide. Friends were marveling at how she was able to worship the Lord during his memorial service. Her response was one that has stayed with me: "Right now I don't feel like worshipping, but I choose to worship Him in faith that, one day soon, I will again feel the desire to worship."
It comes down to a choice; we can choose to muddle through in our own strength, or to surrender all to Him.
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"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust."
--Psalm 40:1, 4a
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." --Hebrews 4:15-16
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for any expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, ye people, Pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us." --Psalm 62:5-8
Sheri Payne is the wife of 13 years to Jim, a Navy deep sea diver (her own man of honor), and mom to two girls, ages 11 and 6, and a boy, 9. She has been involved with homeschooling since she began researching it before her own children were born. She is currently on the leadership team of her local homeschool group and also maintains the Hawaii (Oahu) blog for Homeschool Nations. Her personal blog can be found at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/pro3128
Brat Report: Meet WK, Age 6 and a Junior Black Belt
By Cindy Burlingame
Every month, we spotlight our "experts" in this section: the "brats" themselves! This month, my "expert brat" is 6 years old. He is stationed overseas, and the military lifestyle is the only life he knows. My favorite part of this is how we can always count on children for honesty! (Note: WK's mom is reading the questions to him.)
HF: WK, how long have you been homeschooled?
WK: I don't know ... five years?
HF: What is your favorite part of homeschooling?
WK: Handwriting and learning math.
HF: What is your least favorite thing about being homeschooled?
WK: Umm, knowing numbers.
HF: What has been your favorite field trip?
WK: Driving to Grandmommy's house. Playing.
HF: What do you want to be when you grow up?
WK: Ummmm, a parent, just like you. [Speaking to mommy.]
HF: Which parent is in the service, and what branch are they in?
WK: My dad. He's in the Army.
HF: What duty stations have you lived at? Where are they located?
WK: Fort Bliss and Yongsan. El Paso, Texas, and Seoul, South Korea.
HF: What was your favorite duty station?
WK: Texas and South Carolina. It's our home.
HF: What is your favorite part of being a military brat?
WK: Um, learning Army.
HF: What is your least favorite part of being a brat?
WK: Um, learning the bad stuff. That's all.
HF: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
WK: Tae kwon do, putt-putt with Daddy.
HF: Which do you like best?
WK: Tae kwon do and putt-putt.
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WK recently found out he had earned a junior black belt! He tested at Kukkiwon, the World tae kwon do Headquarters, and also the National Korean TKD Association in Seoul. Congratulations to WK! I'd like to thank WK for his entertaining answers!
If you would like to have your child interviewed for the "brats" section, or have any outstanding brat accomplishments or original brat works you would like to share, please contact Cindy at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/cre8ivemom.
Chapel: Freedom in the Lord
By Janet Kelly
What does liberty truly mean and what does true freedom feel like? Engraved into the Liberty Bell is an excerpt of Scripture from the jubilee call taken from Leviticus 25:10: "... Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." On July 8, 1776, the bell rang out summoning the people to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of founding our country on God's laws and His Word. We are truly blessed to be able to call America our home and to live in freedom each day. How wonderful that our troops are part of bringing liberty to other nations now, so they may experience what true freedom feels like! But what is so important about having those words from Leviticus inscribed into our Liberty Bell?
The word jubilee, in its essence, means liberty. The jubilee call is taken from Leviticus 25, where God showed His chosen ones (Israel) His deep desire for forgiveness and to see their liberty. Set forth in this passage is the opportunity for all debts to be forgiven and the slaves to be set free. The Year of Jubilee was celebrated every 50 years in commemoration of the Israelites' flight from bondage in Egypt. God knew that they, and all peoples, would long to be free.
In answer to that longing, God introduced the Year of Jubilee in preparation for the Incarnation of the Year of Jubilee to come. That Incarnation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Jubilee! At God's appointed time, His desire for forgiveness and liberty for His chosen ones became Man. Galatians 5:1 tells us that "it is for freedom Christ has set us free" (NIV). We are then exhorted, by standing in our Jubilee (Jesus), to "not let ourselves [italics mine] be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
So then, if 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us "that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," we are truly free. Jesus came and became the Sacrificial Lamb so that we could be free and, He is our Incarnation of Jubilee. We can live a life of Jubilee every day! We are free from the bondage or slavery of worry or impatience or any of the other things that hinder us in our daily walk as His children and as teachers to our child(ren). I, then, exhort you to not be burdened by that yoke of slavery and live in His freedom. Live in His Jubilee!
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV): "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Janet Kelly is the wife of Army chaplain Mike Kelly and mom to one son. Currently stationed overseas, she expects to return to the US soon. Janet has just survived her first "official" year of homeschooling. Her desire is to encourage women to treasure God with all of their heart (Matt 6:19-21), and guard their heart (Prov. 4:23) by recognizing that they are the heart of their home. Visit Janet at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/theheartofthehome.
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Chow Hall: Freedom and Patriotic Pie
By Renee Giza
What do the terms independence, liberty, and freedom really mean? Are things truly free? Many have heard the widely circulated saying "Freedom isn't free." There is much wisdom to that phrase. I wonder, though, if people who use that phrase think of the depth of the cost of certain freedoms. To sincerely understand words so easily thrown around, we must first know the meaning of the words we use.
Let's look at the definition for the term independence: freedom from control, freedom from dependence on or control by another person. As a nation we enjoy many freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, thought, and choice. We are free from controlling dictators to decide who, what, where, and how. As Christians we have other not-so-obvious freedoms given to us by a loving and merciful Creator. We have freedom from the bondage of sin and the wages of that sin. We are no longer subject to the old law or to the evil one who seeks to control us and rob us of eternity. What is the common bond between these two forms of freedoms? We look to 2 Corinthians 3:17 to find that answer: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." We as a nation or as Christians cannot take full credit for securing those freedoms. However, we can be mindful not to forget who secures our freedom and the hard work that so many have fought for. If it were not for the grace, mercy, and guidance of the Lord, we as a people would never be successful in our attempts to maintain freedom and independence.
Another word I think of regarding freedom is liberty. Liberty means the right to choose; the freedom to think or act without being constrained by necessity or force, freedom from captivity or slavery. In Christ we are free to choose our salvation or deny it. As a nation we are free to choose how we educate our children, where we go to church, what we read, and so on. The two most important symbols in my life representing freedom are the cross and our nation's flag. This Independence Day, as we celebrate our nation's Declaration of Independence, let us also celebrate the freedom allowed to us by our Heavenly Father.
As "head chef" for the Home Front's Chow Hall, I have a yummy, patriotic ice cream pie for you to make for your Fourth of July celebration.
Patriotic Pie Serves 8
Crust
1 package blueberry muffin mix, separated
1/4 cup butter, softened
Filling
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened (see tips below)
1/2 cup crumb mixture reserved from crust
Topping
Can of blueberries from mix (I prefer fresh or frozen blueberries, defrosted)
1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed, drained, and sliced
2 Tbsp. sugar (optional)
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 9-inch pie plate.
For crust, place muffin mix in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives. Spread evenly in ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Do not press down. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir. Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture for filling. Press remaining crumb mixture against bottom and sides of pie plate to form crust. Cool completely. (In a hurry, put the crust mixture in the freezer for a few minutes to cool.)
For filling, spread ice cream over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Freeze several hours or until firm.
For topping, rinse blueberries from mix with cold water and drain. If using fresh blueberries, just rinse them off. For frozen blueberries, defrost first according to package directions. Combine sliced strawberries with sugar if desired.
To serve, let pie stand 5 min at room temperature. Top with blueberries and strawberries. Cut into 8 wedges using sharp knife.
Tips:
1. Ice cream can be softened by allowing it to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or placed in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Hold off on preparing the topping until just before you are ready to serve the pie.
3. A nice way to present your pie is to arrange you blueberries in the middle and sliced strawberries around the blueberries in a circular fashion.
Stop by my blog to check out a picture of the pie. Enjoy!
Renee Giza, AF wife and mom to five (two boys and three girls) has been homeschooling for three and a half years and says her interests are "devotionals, ministering to other young wives and mothers, spending time with my husband of 10 years and our kids, singing, cooking, decorating, and gardening." Find Renee here: www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/ButterFly4Him
Finance Office: Coupons and Crooks
By Trish Nonaka
Coupon Book Offer: As a "Thank You for Your Service," Nestle is giving away 5,000 coupon books to eligible Military.com members. Save on name brands like Purina, Stouffer's, Nesquik, and more. Request your free coupon book today.
On to Crooks: Now it seems it wasn't just veterans' information on the stolen VA employee computer, but active duty folks' information too. NO member of our military needs to be distracted with this preventable crime or its repercussions. This is inexcusable. Does any one else wonder what actions are being taken against this VA "employee" who took home this computer filled with OUR information? Any leads on who stole the computer? What is the VA doing to ensure our privacy? Sigh
On to the good news part...
Military.com's finance guy, Robert Maynard, writes about the latest update but also tells us about a way to fight back. Maynard was a victim of identity theft in 1998. As a result of that, he created LifeLock.
"Everyone kept telling me that there was no way I could have kept this from happening to me. I decided to bring the fight to the thieves rather than wait for the attack."
"Now up to 50,000 active members of the United States military may be experiencing the same thought. And LifeLock is providing the opportunity to do something about it: they're offering free and reduced-cost service to all veterans and active-duty, because no one knows exactly whose information has been stolen."
See the link above to get all the details. Don't be a victim of identity theft!
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Flag Pole: A Tender Touch
By Jennifer McDonald and Trish Nonaka
We have one of the sweetest photos to share with you of CMSGT John Gebhardt,
with an unidentified Iraqi baby. Chief Gebhardt is a Med Group CEM deployed to Iraq.
We understand from Chief's wife that the baby is called "Frankie" by the medics.
Please pray for "Frankie," as he sustained a skull fracture.
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Patriotic Fridays: Join Us and Show Your Pride
By Trish Nonaka
Are you proud to be an American? Do you support your military? Why not let everyone know that by way of your blog? A while back, a grassroots movement began called Patriotic Fridays.
The initial idea was to wear something red, white, and blue to work or school, etc., on Fridays in a show of support and patriotism. I would like to take this one step further - on the Home Front blog I have set Fridays aside as Patriotic Friday! Each week I post something positive in support of our troops, our country, our forefathers, and America in general. We can include poetry, photos, writings, graphics, lyrics, or whatever. If we as military families don't show our patriotism, then who will? It didn't take long before the entire Home Front team got on board, and now we want to let you all in on the fun! Each week just post an entry that shows your pride in America and support of our military troops. Then come over to the Home Front Blog and let us know where you posted so we can come see it! Or add this to the end of your entry: Patriotic Fridays brought to you by The Home Front.
This is the only way we will know you are a part of this movement! So PLEASE! Let us know!
Show your pride ... join us every Friday in a show of support for America! And check out our announcement here.
Immunizations: Summer Booster Shots
By Jennifer McDonald
This month we are introducing you to another member of our writing team, Jen. She is an AF wife and currently homeschools her four children in CA. Jen likes gardening and plays piano. Visit her at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/afjen88
Summer is here! Whether your family takes a long summer break or you homeschool year round, the arrival of summer usually signals longer, lazier days and a slower pace for many of us (unless you're in the middle of a PCS!). In thinking about what I wanted to share this month for summertime activity ideas, I considered talking about planning day trips and exploring the area where you're stationed, fun getaway times for moms, taking time off to go to homeschooling conferences, or numerous other activities with which you could fill your summer days. I'm sure most of you are old pros at all of the above! For me, summer is also the time when I'm planning curricula for my four kids for the upcoming year, getting books and resources organized, and basically trying to get geared up for the upcoming school year. But I need a reminder: enjoy my kids.
I tend to forget about the home aspect of homeschooling. It's a temptation for busy homeschooling moms to get so caught up with our activities and planning that we don't take the time to impart our very selves to our children. Remember, God gave you - not anyone else - your children for a specific reason. He has something special for you to pass on to them that only you can do! Perhaps it's a love of books, gourmet cooking, crafts, music, being into fitness, playing Monopoly - whatever! What makes you uniquely you? Take that love and share it with your kids. My 10-year-old daughter recently reminded me that I've been saying I'd teach her how to cook. We have plans to do lots of that in our slower summer month and she is already busily writing a list of recipes she wants to try. So go ahead! I dare you! Ask your kids what they'd like to do with you this summer, and tell them you'll consider anything reasonable. You might be surprised what they come up with. And I promise you will have fun in the process!
This comes from HSN Leaders Group: Curriculum Exchanges: TEACHING TOTS TO TEENS. This group is for public, private, and homeschool teachers to post their "For Sale" and/or "Wanted to Buy" ads for curriculum, resources, or other schooling materials, new or used, for Grades Pre-K - 12. NOTE: All memberships require an e-mail address other than Yahoo or Hotmail to protect the membership against scammers. USE THIS LINK to join: groups.yahoo.com/group/TeachingTotstoTeens/
Have you considered starting your own Yahoo group for a LOCAL curriculum exchange? There is a great one for Oahu that's very successful. I think it works especially well here since we don't have any real stores here except for one, which has a limited selection, and we have to order and ship so much of our stuff. Since many other military homeschoolers are in the same situation, this could be useful to many! --Sheri, HI
Recruiting: Looking for a Coastie Wife
The Home Front is looking for a Coast Guard wife to join our team. If you are interested or you know someone who might be, please contact the Editor. HomeFront@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
Final Address: Closing Comments and What's Coming Up
As we celebrate our country's freedom and independence, I hope you take time to reflect on the many sacrifices made so that we may enjoy these precious gifts. One of the biggest freedoms we have is the freedom to homeschool our precious children. Along with great freedom comes great responsibility. We hope that the Home Front is, in some small way, helping you in those responsibilities. We pray that we offer you fellowship, some laughter, and useful information. Let us know what you would like to see in future issues.
Next month we will bring you more information and encouragement. Our topic will be marriage and making it work while both homeschooling and the military vie for your time and energy. In the meantime, come visit us on our blogs and see Homeschool Nations - Military Home Front for regular updates and posts.
Until then, may the Lord protect and keep your family and God bless ~ America ~ bless God!
From our Home Front to yours,
Trish
Testimony: What Others Are Saying About The Home Front
My name is Deborah M., and I'm a homeschooling mom. My daughter is 4 and my son is 2, so we're still new to it all. I subscribed to the Home Front several months ago and I am so glad that I did. You see, I am a former Sergeant of Marines. I served in the Marine Corps for 9 years and left active duty last summer to come home and raise our kids. My husband is a Soldier and we've always known that we would be a career military family, we just weren't sure who was going to 'stay in.' After our children were born the Lord gave me an incredible desire to homeschool them, so we decided I would be the one to get out and he would finish out to retirement. The idea of getting out and coming home full-time was exciting. I believed that I was fully prepared to take it all on because of my training and background. I was right, but I was also wrong. There were a lot of aspects of stay-at-home mommyhood that I was not at all prepared for. One of them was realizing that the Corps as a daily interaction was truly, really, actually behind me and that my future didn't include it. That was hard. (I still have to swallow back tears when I think about it.) Because of this, I am grateful that The Home Front was created. It is comforting (although laced with a bit of heartache) to read about homeschooling issues and ideas in the lingo that I will never be able to remove from my own vocabulary. I also find that I am relieved to be a part of a community of homeschoolers that stand upon the common ground that is military service.
My thanks to all the staff at The Home Front. Through you my CO, the Lord, is healing my broken heart and blessing my family with this awesome gift of homeschooling. My husband is leaving tomorrow for a deployment to Afghanistan and I have my marching orders here. Reading The Home Front helps keep me centered on the objective.
Sincerely, Deborah M., AZ
Have you enjoyed this issue of The Home Front? If so, you'll want to take a look at all of the free e-Newsletters TOS offers to guide and encourage you during your homeschooling journey. Be sure to stop in to see which ones are best for you and your family! Click here for more information: www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/devotional_door/subscribe.php
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