Going to College

As our oldest daughter started applying to different colleges, our eyes were opened to all of the experiences that she SHOULD have had in her life. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students that have had lots of different skills and opportunities. They want students that can handle new experiences and be leaders. As we started writing down different experiences that Sarah had had in her life, we realized that she was very well rounded and had many wonderful experiences that would add to her application. We just wished that we would've kept track all along--instead of racking our brains trying to remember jobs, service hours, leadership positions, extra-curricular, etc.

Sometimes we just need a checklist. Here is a great one for kids to help them be more well rounded and try new things--AND it's all in one place! This is a great poster to hang up when kids turn 12, and have them start filling it in! (and keep it to use for your college applications!)

GoingtoCollege.poster

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Kari

Learning Seeds

Two weeks ago, our family moved from an apartment complex to a twin home. We now enjoy the privilege of a private back yard and five garden boxes that are all our own. In anticipation for our garden, the kids and I did a week’s worth of activities on seeds.

First, we went to Home Depot and picked out the seeds we wanted to plant this year. We talked about what seeds are and how they work. Then I took some of the bigger, more easily distinguishable seeds (watermelon, peas, beans, and corn) and put them in a bowl. I showed pictures of each full grown plant with the fruit on it, and then we examined the seeds and made guesses about which seeds might go to which plants. After we determined which went with which, I spread out four different bowls and put one plant picture next to each, and let the boys sort the seeds into the bowls.

In another activity we learned about the amount of water a seed needs to sprout. We took three clear mason jars and put some bean seeds in each. (Any kind of easilysprouting plant would work.) In the first jar we added no water. In the second jar we added a ¼ inch of water, barely covering the tops of the seeds. And the third jar we filled half full. After about a week, the beans in the second jar should sprout, and the beans in the other two jars will not; showing that seeds need some water to sprout, but not too much. The kids had fun checking the jars every day to look for progress.

The boys’ favorite activity was the actual planting of the seeds. We used a seed starter kit, but an empty egg carton (which we have used in years past) could be used as effectively. The boys filled the little boxes with dirt, watered the dirt (they chose to use their sippy cups for the job!), made holes for the seeds with their fingers, dropped the seeds in, covered them up, and watered them some more. Once the seeds started sprouting, they counted the plants over and over again.

Our second experiment with bean seeds was the coolest. It's very similar to the first one, except that the focus is on observing the roots. We took three plastic baby food containers (with lids) and crumpled up enough paper towels to fill the inside. Using a medicine dropper, the boys thoroughly soaked the paper towels, but without puddling water at the bottom of the container. Then we "planted" a seed between the wall of the container and the paper towel. (So you could see the seed through the side.) We put the lids on and put the containers in a dark place and waited. Pretty soon (about 4 days) the beans sprouted, and roots shot out along the paper towel. When the roots started getting crowded, we took the bean sprouts out of the baby food containers and planted them in soil. It was fun to observe the sprouting roots, and how the plant was white while it was in the dark, but turned green once we replanted them and put them in the sun.

The best part about our seed week was experiencing the seeds using all of our senses. Instead of only reading about them in a book, we touched them, sorted them, tasted them, planted them in dirt, and watched them grow. It was fun to make guesses about what they would do. The lessons will continue as we transplant them outside, weed them, water them, and hopefully harvest their fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be). Then, using the new seeds, we can start the process all over again.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Krystal

Down to the Last...

This fall my youngest son will start his formal education. I have been homeschooling officially for 25 years and the thought that this is my last child that I will teach to read has been tinged with sadness. I can remember years when the thought that I had 5 or so left to teach to read left me with a headache! As I have contemplated this change I have reflected on those 25 years and about what has been successful and what has not, what stressed me the most and what I should have worried about and didn’t.

My fondest memories are the times when my kids and I sat and talked about life, history, the gospel, current events, or government, whatever was on our minds. In order to do that, it meant that our schedule had to be flexible. When our schedule was too rigid, then those conversations happened less frequently or not at all.

Other memories include the science experiments that worked and the ones that didn’t. Sometimes those were more exciting. I remember the history nights with the great and not so great food and costumes, field trips that seemed more battle than education and the many co-op’s and plays and other events we have been a part of over the years. These are the joys of homeschooling. But sadly it isn’t all joy.

One of the things that stressed me most was that my house was never as clean as I wanted it to be. Between moves, kids, babies, school books and projects, it was difficult to have a “Better Homes and Garden’s” look to my house. Instead we had peanut butter and jelly faux wall treatment and fingerprint texturing on the wall over every door (teen boys and their drive to see who can reach the highest!), not to mention Legos and rocks buried in every carpet.

Now 5 of my children have moved on and we are in a larger home with room for books and projects. My house is cleaner, but I miss the mess in some ways, because the mess was the evidence of the full activity of our life. We were constructively using those piles of books, papers and projects.

I stressed about whether I was teaching all that my children needed to know and whether I was preparing them for a productive future. I have learned that to prepare them for everything, I would need a crystal ball to know their future. Sadly, I don’t have one, so I must be guided by the spirit, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense. I also learned that teaching them to work, and work hard and to do service for others, including their brothers and sisters has been what has best prepared them for a productive future. These skills will be used no matter what they choose to do with their lives.

The lesson I wish I had learned earlier in my career as a homeschool mom was that if I was to truly succeed, I need to be guided by my Heavenly Father. They are His children first and He knows them better than I. I now know when I listen to Him, things work out much better than when I do things my way. He wants me to succeed and will help me. When I remember to ask!

Another lesson I had trouble learning was that the most important thing I can teach my children is the gospel and then teach how that gospel fits into the world around them, not the other way around. It is easy to get caught up in teaching math and reading and making sure that they meet these requirements and those education standards. The spirit told me those were important, but most important is for my children have a testimony and a love  of the scriptures. If they do, then they can and will weather the trials of life. But the voice of the world can easily drown out the quiet voice of the spirit. I learned that I need to be still and listen regularly, daily, to hear that instruction.

I also stressed about using the perfect curriculum, as if there was such a thing. What I should have worried more about was how the curriculum I was using was working for my children. I found what worked for us and then I changed it because something new and “better”, with more bells and whistles came alone. I eventually wised up and went back to our original curriculum. My children are a better judge of curriculum than any review.

One of the greatest gifts I have been given in this long journey to educating my children is a testimony that my choice of educating them at home was the right choice for our family. Maybe not everyone’s family, but it is the right choice for us. With that knowledge it made it possible for me to take the challenges of having my children home all day, every day and find solutions to those challenges and not give up. If I was to do this huge responsibility, then there had to be a way around the problems we faced.

People have said to me over the years that I must be a saint or have the patience of Job to be able to homeschool my children for all of these years. No, I would not say I have patience. I have more than when I started, I will say that! I don’t think you need patience to homeschool, I think you learn it as you face each quandary, dilemma and set back until one day you handle a child and his problems without major drama and you realize—I AM growing in patience. Maybe there is hope for me after all! That, to me, is a mark of success.

So this fall, as I start school, I will be a little sad, but also glad that I have one more opportunity to experience the wild adventure called Home Education.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Dana

E(gg) Mail

Originally published in April of 2009 in the Sentinel

What do you do with all those plastic Easter eggs AFTER Easter?

Around our house after Easter we have another form of email... we call it egg mail!

A big basket of plastic eggs sits on the kitchen table with a cup filled with paper strips and pencils. Nightly when we gather around the table for dinner-everyone grabs a couple of strips (papers are 1" x 4") and starts writing...the strips are so small that anyone can write that much! Pencils fly writing love notes or words of encouragement. For those who need a little prompting we have colored paper strips with phrases like:

• I remember when you...

• One of your greatest talents is:

• You taught me:

• 5 words that describe you are:

• You make me happy when...

• Let's go...

• You are successful at :

These seem to help even our most reluctant writers.

The paper notes are then folded into the appropriate colored eggs (Mom=blue, Dad=green, etc.) and dropped into a colored bag or delivery basket. Egg-mail is delivered after dinner by an eager 10 year old.

Bedroom doors in our house each have a decorated paper bag where eggs are delivered. You can also use empty Easter baskets! Empty eggshells are returned to the kitchen basket in the morning mail.

Not only does this encourage friendly feelings in the family, but boosts writing, penmanship, and spelling as well!
 

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Kari

Raising Patriots

by Michele Bolton

Originally published in November of 2007 in the Sentinel

From the beginning, I've had an overwhelming desire to instill patriotism in my children. Love and respect of our nation and how it came to be have ever been a vital part of our curriculum. Yet how do you get your kids to want to be a part of something bigger-to be proud to be an American?

The answer came one Memorial Day, when I took my kids to a National Cemetery. I wanted them to get a feel for what price had been paid for the freedom they enjoyed. Okay, my son was only six and my daughter just 6 months old, but still, it's never too early to learn.

The place was packed-we parked in a field away from the ceremonies. People of all ages were roaming around exhibits of uniforms, stands that honored units, and assembled groups of veteran buddies. The air boomed with noise from loudspeakers as the crowd remembered: Flanders Field, Iwo Jima, Hanoi, Baghdad.

Most touching to me were the bent figures wearing immaculate uniforms, caps proclaiming their service perched on their gray heads. These often sat in silence, remembering, sometimes with a tear. Many, too, would come up to me and flirt charmingly with my daughter, and pat my son conspiratorially on the head. It was if they owned a piece of my children- and they did. Their sacrifice and service had given them a claim to all of America-we are now because they did what was needed in their time.

I realized that day that patriotism comes from being immersed in the lives of patriots. It's not just in studying those who came before, though that's important, but in recognizing the men and women of today and their contributions. I get very emotional whenever I see a uniform hanging proudly on those who believe in duty to country and encourage my kids to speak to these wonderful people, to know their stories and to learn from them.

I realized that day that patriotism comes from being immersed in the lives of patriots. It's not just in studying those who came before, though that's important, but in recognizing the men and women of today and their contributions. I get very emotional whenever I see a uniform hanging proudly on those who believe in duty to country and encourage my kids to speak to these wonderful people, to know their stories and to learn from them.

And my son wants to be one of them. His great- grandfather, grandfather, and uncle have all served in the Navy. He's been on aircraft carriers, to museums and cemeteries, to shrines and presidential libraries, and he recognizes the legacy handed to him. Mind, his mother tells him to serve God first (read "mission") and then go as the Spirit guides him. But I stand proud to know that the past passes the baton to the future with the burning flame of freedom within. It is what truly "secure(s) the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." A precious lesson is learned on what it means truly to be an American.

A small group of homeschoolers in California visited the March Air Force Base where veterans talked to them about World War II.

About the Author

Michele Bolton has spent most of her life in Southern California. She served a Spanish-speaking mission in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, is married to her "young pup" of a husband, Kenneth, an RM that served in Uruguay, and has (at the current time) two sweet children, ages 12 and 8. She's been homeschooling for four years and is admittedly still a neophyte (Hey, education is an eternal principle, and she's just getting started!). She loves reading (and reading, and reading), writing, gardening, baking goodies for her husband and making her kids giggle.

LDS Conferences, History and Curriculum, Oh My!

by Heidi McFarland

In recent years I have become known as a bit of a Constitution and American history buff, and it all started when we attended our first LDSEHE homeschool conference in 2006.  Our oldest child was about to turn five that summer, I was gearing up to ‘really’ start homeschooling, and I was excited to have discovered a group of LDS homeschoolers putting on a conference.  Once I got there, I was amazed at what I discovered.

The spirit at the conference was amazing, and such a wonderful confirmation of our decision to educate our children at home.  But what really blew me away was what I learned about American history, and that knowledge ignited a fire that has only burned brighter in the four years since it began. 

I’m a public school graduate myself, and as near as I can tell I actually got a fairly decent education in my small town in Illinois, although I attribute a great deal of that to the fact that I had four years of Latin in high school with an amazing teacher and mentor, whom I now count as a friend and who also taught the one semester of American Government that was available (and required) for graduation.  I do remember my history classes – none of the content, but certainly the boredom – as resembling the classes in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: the teachers speaking in voices that make their own boredom evident, prison bars drawn on the chalkboard (I really did have a history teacher who did almost that exact same thing!), and the kids sitting in a stupor, sometimes falling asleep as drool pooled on the desk.  History classes seemed irrelevant and boring as we labored to cram dates into our heads at the last minute for tests that reflected nothing but our ability to memorize dates and names.

So, there I sat in Virginia, so excited to be there and having no idea that what I learned would be the beginning of a fundamental change in me, a passion that I’ve been blessed to be able to share with a handful of others, and one that I hope to share with my children.  There were several classes on history that year, and I remember sitting spellbound as Ron Carter began to open my eyes to what I had missed all my life about history:  it matters!  It matters not only to me, but it matters to God and it should matter to every American.  He told us about the Battle of Long Island and I was hooked – and not just because we were living on Long Island at the time while my husband attended grad school.  Before that day, I had a vague idea that God had had a hand in the coming forth of this nation, but I had no notion that He had effected Biblical-proportion miracles to bring to pass the establishment of the country that would eventually set the stage for the restoration of the gospel.  My newly blossoming testimony of the importance of American history was nurtured further that year as I heard stirring presentations by both Dan Hunter and Brent DeGraff, and discovered, much to my delight, that there are books and classes and curricula available that actually teach history – world and U.S. – from an LDS perspective. 

What could be better for our children, than to grow up with the understanding that this nation was born for the express purposes of our God, and in order that His gospel might be restored?  How unshakeable might their testimonies be if they are raised knowing story after story of how the Lord helped individuals accomplish His purposes here in America and so that they themselves would have liberty?  Might they be better able to grasp, then, that the Lord will help them when they ask?  That He will give them the tools they need to accomplish His purposes as well?  Is it possible that they’ll have a greater sense of the importance of themselves, as individuals, and that they might be more motivated to educate themselves to be leaders and to inspire others to become educated as well? 

I can’t help but think that if our last couple of generations of kids would have been raised with the knowledge and understanding that I’ve gained in the past few years – a knowledge that in fact used to be taught in our schools – then we, as a nation, could not be where we are today in terms of a federal government so far outside its Constitutional bounds, legislatures overrun with power hungry career politicians, and an economy in ruins.  If we as a citizenry were well educated about the Constitution and the importance of it, including its divine origins and the faith of those who crafted it, we would not have stood silently by – whether out of apathy or ignorance – while our liberty slowly disintegrated.  As a woman of faith, I choose to believe that my own education in this arena, as well as that which I fully intend to inspire my children to obtain as well, will not go to waste: we can reclaim the spirit of liberty and true freedom that our Heavenly Father intended when he sent his Spirit to strive among the hearts of men in those original 13 colonies.

About the author:

Heidi McFarland lives with her family in Alabama.  For the past two years, she has served on the Conference Committee for the LDSEHE Home Education Conference.  For more information about this year's conference, please visit www.ldsehe.org.

Scott Joplin, the Father of Ragtime!

Scott Joplin is an important American composer and the father of Ragtime who wrote music my kids love. His music is energetic and fun to play and you can't listen to it without tapping your toe and wanting to jump up and dance. The music he wrote ranges from intermediate level pieces to more complicated advanced levels and they can really motivate teen boys to want to play the piano. Since they are considered classical music, and a prelude for jazz, they can help kindle a desire in students who are interested in both to learn to play them.

Scott Joplin was born in Texarkana, a city which straddles the Texas and Arkansas border, in 1867 or 1868. His father was a former slave. His mother worked in a white home were he was allowed to play the piano. His talent was noticed by a local music teacher from Germany, Julius Weiss. Weiss taught him classical, European music, including opera and Joplin developed a love and respect for classical music, so much so that he believed that to be a true classical musician he needed to write and produce an Opera.

As a young man Joplin moved to Seldalia, Missouri and from there started the life of a traveling musician. He traveled far and wide, learning his craft as he went. He attended for a time music classes at George R. Smith College in Sedalia. In 1896 he published 2 marches and a waltz. In late 1898 he tried to publish his first two piano rags, but only sold “Original Rags”. He was not happy with the publishing arrangements because he was not listed as the composer.

By 1899, he had contracted the services of a lawyer and together they were able to get a better publishing deal for Joplin's next piece, “Maple Leaf Rag”. The deal ensured that Joplin received 1 cent for each copy that sold and this provided him with a steady income for the rest of his life. “Maple Leaf” slowly gained in popularity, until in 1909 half a million copies had been sold and they continued to sell at that rate for the next 2 decades. Listen to “Maple Leaf Rag” played by my son Jason, age 15.

Some of the more popular pieces Joplin wrote include “Peacherine Rag”, “Heliotrope Rag” and "Pine Apple Rag". He also tried his hand at writing opera. He wrote “A Guest of Honor” which no longer survives. He published an opera in 1911 called “Treemonisha”, though he never saw it produced, it received positive reviews as the most American opera ever composed in the “American Musician and Art Journal”.

Joplin's influence waned with the years, but in the 1970's was revived with the recordings of Joplin's music available on albums for the first time. These were released as classical music instead of jazz making it accessible to a new audience. In 1976, the movie “The Sting” made his music even more popular with “The Entertainer”. Here is “The Entertainer” played by Scott Joplin himself.

If you are interested in more information about Scott Joplin, here is a website with more about his life. If you are interested in his music and will be in the Sedalia, Missouri area the first week of June, they are sponsoring a music festival featuring Joplin's music as they do each year. To learn more see the above link.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Dana

Lessons from the Nest

Republished from July 18, 2005

This spring we moved to a new house with the wonderful front porch I've always wanted. There was just one troublesome thing about it. Ahem. Pssst -- bird poop.

I watched as a couple of 'lovebird' swallows frequented the porch, often perching on the window molding. Their excrements dribbled down my front windows, or splattered my "welcome" sign and flowerpots. Next thing I knew, they were building a nest on the eave above the porch pillar, and creating their own little sewer on my front steps.

I suspected that there were eggs in the nest so I couldn't give an eviction notice. I grabbed the hose instead. How grateful I am for that little bit of nature knowledge I had, because there were indeed eggs, and they hatched into the cutest little babies I've ever seen besides my own.

All we could see of the babies (we called them "beaks with fuzz") were their beaks sticking up over the top of the nest, constantly open. The proud mamma and papa were kept very busy tag team parenting. From morning to night, one would sit with the babies while the other flew off to get food. As soon as the one parent returned, the other took off in search of more food. This continued back and forth all day. Occasionally both parents left momentarily, and there sat the babies, beaks open and waiting.

This live and personal little NOVA episode caused me to ponder. My first thoughts were, "Wow! Those parents must be exhausted! How can they keep this up?"

Then, as I watched those open, searching beaks, I thought of my own children. Are they just as hungry? What are they hungry for? What about all children? It dawned on me that youth are all alike. They come to this earth hungry. They're hungry for knowledge and hungry for love. Those swallows aren't going to have to 'hand' feed their babies forever. It's such a short time that they have that great a need. And so it is with our children. We have such a small window of time to teach, train and nurture them in the love and safety of our own nests. What a blessing to be able to homeschool them, feed that hunger with the appropriate sustenance, and not lose any of that precious time before they get their wings!

I also learned that whatever messes these birds make on my porch, it's a small price to pay to preserve that little family. All families have their messes. All homeschools have their good and bad days. But the only thing that's forever is family. When the demands of a full nest create a little mess here and there, just get out the hose.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. I also have a Yahoo! group dedicated to incorporating the gospel into all aspects of schooling.  To join the group, go here

Thanks!

- Sasha

Scouting and Schooling

by Doreen Blanding

As the mother of five boys, I have embraced the Boy Scouts of America programs with open arms as they have helped me in my homeschooling. From the very beginning in Cub Scouts to the very end - Eagle (and beyond), there is much to learn and use in your homeschool. I will share with you examples from the different programs.
 
Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not participate in the Tiger Scouts portion of the Cub Scout program, I can not write about it, but I have read through the book and it is a great book for parents to use if they desire. The Church has used the Boy Scouts of America as their boys' and Young Men's activities for many years and I think there is a reason they have stuck with them as long as they have.  Scouts has a way of taking young boys and molding them, shaping them and turning them into responsible young men.

When you son turns eight he is encouraged to join Cub Scouts. As a parent, when they are this age you are very willing to let someone else have your child for an hour a week. If you are the leader, you are so thankful it is only an hour each week. These young boys are full of enthusiasm for life and have a strong desire to do "man" things and learn. The Bobcat is where all Cubs begin. It is very easy to earn but the things a Bobcat learns are very important. One of the most important things to read with your son is the beginning pull-out section of the book on protection. This is a perfect time to sit down with your son who is probably just fresh from the waters of baptism and talk about being safe and clean.

Once the Bobcat is earned the boy goes on to a Wolf, Bear and then a WEBELOS ("WE'll BE LOyal Scouts").

Cub Scouts 

The Wolf and Bear achievements are worked on at home as much as in the den. Parents are strongly encouraged to take an active part in their cub's learning and growing as they spend their first two years in Cub Scouts. WEBELOS is where the reigns are beginning to be turned over to the leaders. (Hopefully you have good leaders and if not, volunteer; your son is worth it!) Once they have reached the rank of WEBELOS and turn 11 they are now in Boy Scouts.

This presents a problem because in the Church we do not let our young boys join in Young Men's activities until their 12th birthday. When I was a young girl these "in limbo" boys did what was called "Blazer Scouts." Now we call it "11 year old scouts." They have their own separate leader (or they should) who should have the goal of getting them to the rank of First Class by their 12th birthday.

No ward is perfect and no leader is perfect. All of these leaders will need your help in getting these young boys and young men through the ranks. The best way you can help your leaders is by attending meetings, getting involved and listening. Get involved and help your son move through the ranks. It will bring the family closer together just as your teen is trying to pull away and it is so much fun.

Some of the things we have learned with our cub scouts:

• The pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem
• How to tie knots
• How to start a fire and how to put it out
• How to be safe while riding bikes
• How to take care of a garden
• How to use tools and care for them
• About the Native Americans
• Secret codes
• Sports we didn't even know how to play (anyone up for a game of marbles?)
• How to help the fireman
• Cleaning up our planet and recycling
• How to be safe from "bad guys"
• Orienteering (that is using a compass and map for those who didn't know that one)
• How to swim
• About music, plays and art
• How to read a bus chart or train schedule
• How to be a great family member
• How to serve in your community
• How to fix things in your home
• How to make your home safe (For the past six years we have had at least one family home evening on what to do when the smoke alarms go off. We have also had annual perimeter checked to make sure our house is safe. The smile on a young son's face when he can report to dad that the house is safe is priceless.)

And the list goes on and on; everything a young boy ages 8-11 would want to do.

Boy Scouts

The fun doesn't end when they move into Boy Scouts; in fact, it just continues. For the first while the young men are working towards advancements and doing what they call "Scout Skills" but that shouldn't stop you, as parents, from getting a merit badge book from the library or scout shop and using it as a curriculum. Our family has done the following as units while a son received a merit badge for his work.

• Environmental Science
• Aviation (we even flew in a plane)
• Swimming
• Cooking
• Gardening
• Indian Lore
• Snow Sports
• Photography
• Theater
• Weather
• Dog Care
• Citizenship in the Word, Nation and Community

There are over 120 merit badges that a Boy Scout can earn all the way from Textiles to Painting, Emergency Preparedness to Horsemanship, Insect Study to Music, Oceanography to Public Speaking and the list goes on. You need to know that there are required merit badges if your son wants to earn the rank of Eagle. Please consult with your Young Men's leaders and Scout Master so you know how the program is run in your ward, stake and scout district. I am not so much interested in getting the badges and ranks as I am the education and learning that came from getting there.

You don't have to have sons to take advantage of the great resource the Boy Scouts of America have in their little merit badge books. Girls and families can learn a lot just from reading the books (they are never long, but they are thorough) and doing a few of the requirements. In fact one of my favorite websiteswww.meritbadge.com has ready made worksheets that you can print out and use in your homeschool as you learn about the subject.

Appling to School

Let me take you through our journey while my oldest was earning his Weather Merit Badge. At this time, he was the only son old enough to earn this merit badge, but we all learned along with him. An added bonus was that two years later when son #2 came along, he just had to read the merit badge book, look at his notebook from that unit and he called the councilor and got the badge. It took him an afternoon to refresh his memory and an hour at the same house passing it off.

There are 9 requirements for the weather merit badge and none were too hard. For example:

#3 Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front showing the location and movements of the cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and types of clouds associated with the front, and the locations of rain. Tell the differences between a cold front and a warm front.
 
# 7 Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere as well as the effects such pollution can have on people.

As I read through these requirements I outlined the things that my son would have to learn in order to pass off the merit badge with his merit badge counselor. (Make sure if you are doing this for the award that you follow protocol for your troop.) After I had the list of things he would have to learn, I set about gathering books. Many were listed in the back of the merit badge book I borrowed from our local library. I also found many websites listed in the merit badge book or at www.meritbadge.com. Once I had my outline, it was quite simple to teach the whole family about weather and how it affects our lives. In the process of learning I made sure we did all the activities, performed all the experiments and wrote all the reports necessary for my oldest to pass off the requirements.

On the appointed day I took my sons (scouts have to have a buddy and we went during public school hours) to Brother Needham's house to see what we, I mean he, had left to learn. I picked him up an hour later and as I was ushering them out the door, Brother Needham remarked at how well prepared both boys were and how they really understood weather unlike many of the other young scouts who cross his threshold. Brother Needham is a commercial airline pilot and so he needs to know a lot about weather, but even better than that, Brother Needham was a homeschooilng dad whose children had left the nest so he understood and appreciated what we were doing.

Great Adventures

Three months later we were back on Brother Needham's doorstep, this time to pass off the Aviation Merit Badge. My son got to fly Brother Needham's plane! Now how fun is that?! Homeschooling and the Boy Scouts of America: one great lesson, I mean adventure, after another.

We also have visited Yellowstone National Park while a young boy was working on his camping merit badge and his cooking merit badge.  We have gone to our state capital, visited national monuments,  built park benches, held a bike rodeo, delivered wood block kits to Salt Lake City, gone on bike rides, taken a ton of pictures, put on a play, hiked, swam, raised a dog, flew a plane, learned about Native Americans and had a great time doing it.

I've had the privilege of having three of my five sons pin the Eagle Scout mother's pin on me.  Yes, it was a lot of hard work for my kids, as well as me and my husband, but we sure did learn a lot as a family while helping that young man earn his Eagle.  I'm looking forward to the last two earning theirs as well.  We still have many adventures to go on.

For more scouting information, visit:

http://www.meritbadge.com/ 
http://www.scouting.org/ 
http://usscouts.org/start.asp

http://www.waldsfe.org/Schooling%20and%20Scouts.htm

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Doreen

Holding to the Iron Rod Through the Mists of Darkness

by Juventa Vezzani

A few years ago, I went through a really hard season of life.  I had a new baby and soon after she came home from the hospital, she started screaming on and off all day.  We tried dietary changes, ambient noise, singing, reflux medication, and the like.  Although those things helped, none fully abated her crying.  In the midst of these challenges, I myself, slipped into post-partum depression.  Since I was allergic to the medication, I had to find other ways to cope and get through.  

I remember going to church one Sunday, looking around at all the members of the congregation, and wishing that I could feel the spirit and feel the happiness that comes from the gospel.  I thought that perhaps something was wrong with me.  I felt broken.  It was during this time that I pondered over Lehi’s Dream.  I had tasted the fruit of the tree of life in the past, so why could I no longer taste it?  No, not just taste it, I couldn’t even see it.  I felt like I was surrounded by mists of darkness.  I pictured myself in Lehi’s Dream, clinging to the iron rod, trying desperately to get to the tree, but unable to see it.  

As soon as I reflected upon these images, the Holy Ghost pierced through the clouds of darkness and I felt the overwhelming love of my Heavenly Father.  I learned a lesson that I will never forget.  I realized that I was not alone and that this was part of my life’s experience.  There was nothing wrong with me as a person.  Heavenly Father allowed me to pass through mists of darkness to strengthen me, give me empathy, and help me better appreciate the love on the other side.  More importantly, I was given hope that this too shall pass and will be for but a small moment.

Having gone through this, I have learned a few tips to help us get through our own “mists of darkness.”  Whether it be post-partem depression, discouragement, or just plain burnout, these tips can equally apply to our lives and help us get through to the other side.

 1.  Find a Support System.  My husband was my biggest support system during this time.  He gave me blessings, let me cry on his shoulder, made dinner, and encouraged me to get out.  My children were also helpful.  They took turns with the baby, gave me hugs, and forced me to get out of bed each morning.  I also had friends and family who were there for me, and although I tried to hide my suffering, I was often greeted with a smile or a hug just at the right moment.

 2.  Know your limits and set small goals.  With a new baby and homeschooling 4 out of 6 children, I realized that I needed to really scale back and change my expectations.  It was helpful to have a “minimum requirement” that if we completed, we were “successful” that day.  Some days it was simply watching an educational movie.  Other days it was doing a math lesson and then reading together as a family.  Sometimes it was simply getting out of bed and reading our scriptures together.  I also put my Kindergartner into public school mid year so that I could focus more attention on the older three and on the baby.  (He’s now homeschooling again.)

3. Count Your Blessings.  Sometimes counting your blessings can be hard, when you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, but it can be so powerful.  You can be grateful for a smile, for a small act of kindness, for employment, your home, etc.  Sometimes it can be as simple as being grateful for the sun shining outside your window.  Counting your blessings can help you love a child who may be giving you a hard time or help you realize how blessed you truly are.  It is also very helpful to write these blessings down and re-read them as time permits.  My journal became a wonderful source to help me sort out my feelings and to also help me count my blessings.

4. Sharpen Your Saw.  Stephen R. Covey told the story of a man working tirelessly to cut down a tree.  A farmer came out and noticed that his saw looked dull.  He asked the man how long he had been sawing and found that he had been working at this tree for five hours, and was exhausted.  He invited the man to take a rest and sharpen his saw, but the man said that he was too busy sawing.  Often we need to take a step back from what we’re doing and take time to sharpen our saws or we will experience burnout.  Whether it be to organize a room, catch up on laundry, or take a day off from school and go to a park, sharpening our saws can help us refuel and get the strength we need to move forward.  I found that some of my happiest moments came from playing with my children or being out in nature.  It is also important to take some time out for yourself.  I remember asking my oldest son to take the baby so I could exercise, shower, do my hair and make-up, and read my scriptures.  Having this small window of time helped sharpen my saw enough to make it through another day.

5. Serve Others.  One morning, it seemed that everyone in the house was in a bad mood.  There was fighting, bickering, and a lot of discord.  I excused myself from the mayhem, went to my bedroom, and behind closed doors knelt down and pleaded with my Heavenly Father for inspiration on what to do.  The thought came to me of a sister in the Ward who had just had a new baby.  With that, I packed up all my children, and took them to the store to buy a baby gift.  While there, we saw an “angel tree” with requests for gifts for children who had very little.  My children saw the tree and read some of the descriptions on the cards.  Some children simply wanted clothing while others wanted a ball or doll.  My children were touched and we not only bought and delivered the baby gift, but we were also able to help bless another child in our community.  The fighting ceased, at least for the time being, and was replaced with a spirit of happiness.  President Lorenzo Snow said, “When you find yourselves a little gloomy, look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated.”  (Conference Report, April 1899)  I can attest to the truthfulness of his words.

6. Create.  Elder Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk called “Happiness, Your Heritage” in September 2008.  In it he said, “Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things...As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.”  On many days when I was discouraged, I sat down at the piano and began to play.  I was so grateful for the ability to create something of beauty.  There are so many things that we can create and so much happiness that can come by blessing others with our talents.  

7.  Laugh.  One of the most tender moments I had during the peak of my depression happened with my six year old.  I was having an especially hard day, and found it hard to even smile.  My son came up to me, and out of nowhere said, “Happy balls!”  Then he proceeded to put out his hand and make noises that sounded like a pop gun continually firing these “happy balls” at me.  At first I cried, and then I laughed.  It is now our little game that we play with each other.  Whenever either one of us are discouraged, you can bet that we will be giving the other one “happy balls.”  Laughter can help disperse many a dark cloud.

8.  Put the Lord First.  If there is one thing that I have learned through my many times of depression or discouragement, it is to put the Lord first.  When I had my second miscarriage, I remember that I had a choice to make.  I could allow myself to wallow in my grief or I could immerse myself in the scriptures.  I chose the latter.  While studying the scriptures, I felt a closeness to the Savior that I had never before felt.  I found purpose, meaning, and hope.  I was able to put my trust in my Heavenly Father and recognize that He had a plan for me.  I learned the truth about opposition in all things.  I can attest that because of having felt loss, I have gained a greater appreciation for what I do have.  I also gained a greater appreciation for the Savior and His great sacrifice.  I learned that the atonement could not only take away my sins, but my grief, loneliness, and pain as well.  Putting the Lord first has been a life line to me, allowing me to prioritize those things that are most important.

Although going through discouraging times are not easy, they can be a refining process for us.  I remember the morning when I woke up, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breath again.  It was like a huge rush of oxygen.  I knew that I was finally through the worst of my post-partem depression and that the darkness had finally parted.  I will forever be grateful for the lessons I learned and for the blessings that came from holding to the iron rod through the mists of darkness.

About the author:

Juventa Vezzani and her husband, Dave, are the parents of six children, three boys (ages 13, 11, and 6) and three girls (9, 4, and 1).  You can hear more from Juventa at the 2011 Home Education Conference on May 12-13 in Virginia Beach.  For more info, please visit www.ldsehe.org.