tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81657611056365282492024-02-20T14:07:45.915-06:00Journeying SueLarge homeschooling family. Enjoying the journey....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25815tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165761105636528249.post-11082558764250439262014-11-16T19:40:00.000-06:002014-11-16T19:40:15.874-06:00Our Haiti Mission Trip. I didn't see that coming.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6210_yCLTVxXG-N-kg-nKCf5oSpjiCcfdUOQdq_NVjzTjAd4WtJ-pCve2wBCi7v_JXK8HgeeZQJIQsMUX8Os2wYTsQB0Cr2XhxoCUKFbWuhutiYNW6oRw9_sSEPE4ORCWwkfoEpMknh-/s1600/1899893_10202997295438620_8687888377800692230_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6210_yCLTVxXG-N-kg-nKCf5oSpjiCcfdUOQdq_NVjzTjAd4WtJ-pCve2wBCi7v_JXK8HgeeZQJIQsMUX8Os2wYTsQB0Cr2XhxoCUKFbWuhutiYNW6oRw9_sSEPE4ORCWwkfoEpMknh-/s1600/1899893_10202997295438620_8687888377800692230_n.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It smells like bug spray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must be camping, or in Haiti. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are similarities:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lack of electricity, lack
of internet connection, and lack of potable water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my first mission trip. I’ve been
involved in many ministries but never before have I <i>paid to travel to a foreign
country to help</i> others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I didn’t see it coming</b> but when my kids jumped at the
chance to go on a mission trip to Haiti with <a href="https://www.povertyresolutions.org/">Poverty Resolutions</a>, because they
wanted to help people, I was both surprised and full of joy at their desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although all of the kids wanted to go we decided that I would take Josh, our 16 year old, and Caroline, our 14 year old, since we had no idea how we would pay for it. Immediately the three of us were all-in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fast forward about two months.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Saturday and Sunday.</span></b></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>After a day of travel, we’re there.</b> The sweating began
and didn’t stop until we got back to the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Shortly
after my alarm went off on our first morning in Haiti, a rooster started
crowing outside of our bathroom window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not sure why, but he never came back on subsequent mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he was somebody’s dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was large pig that we passed every day
on our way to and from our work site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the end of the week he wasn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe he was someone's dinner too. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTwDKJtTKLlA1YGqlSn34jG058Y6F2ALIXIJyVd2udV86zEGl2XnxzK09Q05eln9p6ViL3LUkdOYVOjyhNwA0P_GslmiI0UHOSYxqvBfy05iz3tLKOl8VRBspxiTiAX2_jm-qniOgD_rG/s1600/20141110_073118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTwDKJtTKLlA1YGqlSn34jG058Y6F2ALIXIJyVd2udV86zEGl2XnxzK09Q05eln9p6ViL3LUkdOYVOjyhNwA0P_GslmiI0UHOSYxqvBfy05iz3tLKOl8VRBspxiTiAX2_jm-qniOgD_rG/s1600/20141110_073118.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirurWoD9jpEROESEVv1Xdjgeky0iiAhDpVvKdnEH4VWYAAGDP8NzPjIzMbzjADjwTinUxERjNyY3uYjC5inC20RSsLnwkEMggPE35YTnB-NoWJ6F_0VBCUBdJKswKZx1jvmv_MyMmd1gNV/s1600/20141110_142603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirurWoD9jpEROESEVv1Xdjgeky0iiAhDpVvKdnEH4VWYAAGDP8NzPjIzMbzjADjwTinUxERjNyY3uYjC5inC20RSsLnwkEMggPE35YTnB-NoWJ6F_0VBCUBdJKswKZx1jvmv_MyMmd1gNV/s1600/20141110_142603.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>While I was shopping for supplies for this trip</b> I
decided to buy some first aid medicine and equipment and throw in some of what
I had at home including: a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>thermometer, tweezers,
Benedryl, Band-Aids, bandages, Neosporin, anti-itch cream, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday, the first
full day at the resort, we were swimming in the sea during our break time and Josh Stepped. On. A. Sea. Urchin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After wiping off his foot I counted eight imbedded spines from
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in a ton of pain which,
thankfully, decreased significantly after a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josh is the one who discovered Stinging
Nettles when first moved to Germany when he was 8 years old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXnk8-3nAMpgSKOKM0tJW0AcBZtl1VQAwVlantKgwOyh2nZpBfpiZplsKX7Px0HlPVZH2_suhDiy8zzR34CXZnhF-Z48UD-y6WgHKNaUMUIgZiyXzisMplI3KJrlpH-GDiWvXJdnvCnaM/s1600/20141109_160839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXnk8-3nAMpgSKOKM0tJW0AcBZtl1VQAwVlantKgwOyh2nZpBfpiZplsKX7Px0HlPVZH2_suhDiy8zzR34CXZnhF-Z48UD-y6WgHKNaUMUIgZiyXzisMplI3KJrlpH-GDiWvXJdnvCnaM/s1600/20141109_160839.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I tried to get the Urchin-Spines out
</b>like I would a splinter but they kept breaking off and I couldn’t grasp them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>One of
hotel staff, who didn’t speak English, smashed lime guts all over the wounded
site and told us to wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No further
instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His foot started to get
red and swell so I gave him Benedryl and texted my husband to see if he could
Google whether or not I had to try to extract the barbed spines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After many texts and a phone call the
consensus was that I could leave them in but it’s recommended to use shaving
cream and a razor to smooth the tips off and then the skin will absorb
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Google said he should be fine as
long as he doesn’t get an infection. Yes, try to avoid having to seek medical care in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Got it.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt7g2C7ihwlZ3IiEYs81lrLyD-OgwgjmDenObyh_MxBaYHddq-fpdruSq4UZGmQPFJ9ss4yzDTS0J05KuhylxYLIJNky2b83Tyndy9t3vh2qA-tDexO46qZ5fAQRN5BSNxZIiTCvb8MoV/s1600/20141109_160829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt7g2C7ihwlZ3IiEYs81lrLyD-OgwgjmDenObyh_MxBaYHddq-fpdruSq4UZGmQPFJ9ss4yzDTS0J05KuhylxYLIJNky2b83Tyndy9t3vh2qA-tDexO46qZ5fAQRN5BSNxZIiTCvb8MoV/s1600/20141109_160829.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Monday.</span></b></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Monday was first official work day.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>We had a day of rest on Sunday because that’s
what the Haitians do and we wanted to be considerate of their culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volunteers either chose to play with kids at
the orphanage or help build benches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
pretty much have the whole how-to-play-with-kids thing figured out and I really
wanted to learn how to do something so I went directly to the benches to get my
hands on a drill and some screws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Our group built three eight foot benches on
the first day and five more on the second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the second day I knew the design of the bench and how to put it
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned how to use a power
drill to pre-drill holes for screws, change drill bits and tips, and screw and
unscrew with the drill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home I can <i>barely finish
chewing a piece of food</i> before someone needs me for something, and in Haiti, I.
Finished. Something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UnUVu_AajQ7Q7SqD10GFM53PpbwqiNY6nn5BJnPo-zO5HT7wCxKtMpFlc-5GdqepoAC_kF0iEwWuZKqNUEitDiXnN8J2jLRZfynpUdJbeELg6lnsaWPq7HI7L_XKWiKB5kOVzA2asBma/s1600/20141110_132329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UnUVu_AajQ7Q7SqD10GFM53PpbwqiNY6nn5BJnPo-zO5HT7wCxKtMpFlc-5GdqepoAC_kF0iEwWuZKqNUEitDiXnN8J2jLRZfynpUdJbeELg6lnsaWPq7HI7L_XKWiKB5kOVzA2asBma/s1600/20141110_132329.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Tuesday and Wednesday. </span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IisFzkDlVl1ZjeLOzn1MNPqZpjFi8RwBCb6j7ZRsYJnisVqXz4xyj7fa25rS5dv6ISAm8MrwBRF6Eg4JiCZQJN2iiSY1VPMr1m5Wa0aqC5U4V7cgyHDq-xlZjqIXmHnq5mAW7OY0hNfA/s1600/20141109_100725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IisFzkDlVl1ZjeLOzn1MNPqZpjFi8RwBCb6j7ZRsYJnisVqXz4xyj7fa25rS5dv6ISAm8MrwBRF6Eg4JiCZQJN2iiSY1VPMr1m5Wa0aqC5U4V7cgyHDq-xlZjqIXmHnq5mAW7OY0hNfA/s1600/20141109_100725.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The church/school where we had VBS.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>One of the other team members</b> arranged to have a
Vacation Bible School for the kids in the local village while we were on our
trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VBS is something I’ve volunteered
for many times and I wasn’t eager to volunteer for yet one more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I thought I could help with the intent
to learn to how to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">organize and run</i> a
VBS- something else I could learn how to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know how to pull a two day VBS for 200 kids out of a
suitcase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0ZD_C3GvBGa3AbkZdZt4V9DHBrFLM3FBRyvAgjI_dy9RlH-8YQE6KF3BW_wvJQkyoxa668vpPHNfrqUVt7iZPaRMdrqjB8iKeHpUuvn2SS78GutBb31x63Q6oLeL1aoaWSO3SIxLeQFe/s1600/20141112_165622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0ZD_C3GvBGa3AbkZdZt4V9DHBrFLM3FBRyvAgjI_dy9RlH-8YQE6KF3BW_wvJQkyoxa668vpPHNfrqUVt7iZPaRMdrqjB8iKeHpUuvn2SS78GutBb31x63Q6oLeL1aoaWSO3SIxLeQFe/s1600/20141112_165622.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJL19FYpp-lyPITWjPlnmSS5rwSrOUS7C20yKdVH9qd1ssJVwzgliiBjyVviZdF0LNJ3TBF5IbiRvCz0WV0-PWKvw_3KoLF6RXt2GcvICO3T54gquDX2VpZbXrOx97Gb5QEkzn193b_AP/s1600/20141112_165634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJL19FYpp-lyPITWjPlnmSS5rwSrOUS7C20yKdVH9qd1ssJVwzgliiBjyVviZdF0LNJ3TBF5IbiRvCz0WV0-PWKvw_3KoLF6RXt2GcvICO3T54gquDX2VpZbXrOx97Gb5QEkzn193b_AP/s1600/20141112_165634.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglps0JsxsTx0W_CGTeC3qABTjlxQiB5JbGSE7DRCaFTneMYasxRZHuBQdiOWei_mPPQwJppxYtiufHtPLZwtQm1-vN-X-2VuTh-THIPt_KjibokoP7cFpI4huyO1IaL452YYa_MGJlasRY/s1600/20141112_165610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglps0JsxsTx0W_CGTeC3qABTjlxQiB5JbGSE7DRCaFTneMYasxRZHuBQdiOWei_mPPQwJppxYtiufHtPLZwtQm1-vN-X-2VuTh-THIPt_KjibokoP7cFpI4huyO1IaL452YYa_MGJlasRY/s1600/20141112_165610.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB_MscC367If96i-eHbnUT2-0mQ54RJVz0vSQgj8KARPFNnC5xHyhFeCSCehZ8S22t2Y7Fa0CX-yplqS_MGSKrNqUl6XpjI7yO6F8LOdO2ZU3oU4VEtJQCzr1i36I9y8N6p30_AoDqnYw/s1600/20141113_131948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB_MscC367If96i-eHbnUT2-0mQ54RJVz0vSQgj8KARPFNnC5xHyhFeCSCehZ8S22t2Y7Fa0CX-yplqS_MGSKrNqUl6XpjI7yO6F8LOdO2ZU3oU4VEtJQCzr1i36I9y8N6p30_AoDqnYw/s1600/20141113_131948.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Boy Who Shared His Food</b></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The pivotal moment</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> of our trip occurred on Wednesday
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a few of us sat outside at
the orphanage one and two year old children sat at the table on the porch<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>eating their rice-and-bean lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim, a 16 year old team member, asked one of
the boys how it tasted and then <i>he mimed his question</i> hoping that would translate
to the toddler who only spoke Haitian-Creole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately
the little guy scooped up a generous spoonful of his meal and offered it to Tim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boy <i>never </i>gets seconds and he offered
some of what he had without hesitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">It was the perfect picture of heaven where there is a ton a food and everyone shares. The antithesis is a picture of hell where there may be a ton of food but everyone fights over it and no one eats. Heaven was portrayed right there in that Haitian orphanage. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG_iJaH-zBFQswq76br_tVqX6Lml81d4se_UcNm0F-fEciDVh-avXHKa7CGeGnvqbr740Q9roVCT6PnQ8U7hjFieBC7V5YWzLsE1O5JqOXQIG2mKVePS6dxctFCZoREmh_JSZa9_7YR4s/s1600/20141113_132121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG_iJaH-zBFQswq76br_tVqX6Lml81d4se_UcNm0F-fEciDVh-avXHKa7CGeGnvqbr740Q9roVCT6PnQ8U7hjFieBC7V5YWzLsE1O5JqOXQIG2mKVePS6dxctFCZoREmh_JSZa9_7YR4s/s1600/20141113_132121.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One and two year old children are sent out to the porch from nap time where they sit and wait for lunch.</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Thursday.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Thursday brought another new experience.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span id="goog_1437528871"></span><span id="goog_1437528872"></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
retired nurse I was interested in Haitian medical care so I went to the village
medical clinic with another nurse and his wife who were also part of my team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We watched a doctor treat many patients in
the tiny, unpretentious, cinder-block building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Common complaints included fever, heart burn, and high blood pressure symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One 34 year old woman came in from the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have taken her hours if she came by
foot down a rocky mountain path on the hot sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said she has six kids and her baby was at the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBhMAz1IzSqaX_i8pgyqBUaVwZAUBcnttYybPeAVHzh2dFfHilC4fjfb0BFCfk9JwDbaRrItWvpOK_aawillEnX-JcBNgfbZ_qgrVSOJ-8RLIUaSsQNJTZTYvP1oQ6NJIeADl9DkCUEfs/s1600/20141109_101510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBhMAz1IzSqaX_i8pgyqBUaVwZAUBcnttYybPeAVHzh2dFfHilC4fjfb0BFCfk9JwDbaRrItWvpOK_aawillEnX-JcBNgfbZ_qgrVSOJ-8RLIUaSsQNJTZTYvP1oQ6NJIeADl9DkCUEfs/s1600/20141109_101510.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Medical Clinic</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWG5yqWy12ASCAypHJwiE_vfSREVSZoX06ez1kW4zjnHp2coekmEX38mVBUhfiqOAsQLvI03TjwLcj_cY4yesEx3YrX6hZyS4foe881jYUdLOsEosTMHVLbvQwy7hTMDI2KSIPNiXQilS/s1600/20141113_103817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWG5yqWy12ASCAypHJwiE_vfSREVSZoX06ez1kW4zjnHp2coekmEX38mVBUhfiqOAsQLvI03TjwLcj_cY4yesEx3YrX6hZyS4foe881jYUdLOsEosTMHVLbvQwy7hTMDI2KSIPNiXQilS/s1600/20141113_103817.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Wonderful Doctor</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ43YxmD8Y5_rR-gwJGiqTY4Uxt1urFDn-ti-igAVoM6QxCmjOfkPDCOOGqOpZsp3uXmvfbqdNx_wxoD2ZmpvUwLSh4nrUU4Pu6nMJ6Ba9rc8JUwGmHOrjH9By8FS8bTPh8i3I7-2t9TY/s1600/20141113_094045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ43YxmD8Y5_rR-gwJGiqTY4Uxt1urFDn-ti-igAVoM6QxCmjOfkPDCOOGqOpZsp3uXmvfbqdNx_wxoD2ZmpvUwLSh4nrUU4Pu6nMJ6Ba9rc8JUwGmHOrjH9By8FS8bTPh8i3I7-2t9TY/s1600/20141113_094045.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Pharmacy</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNTE5RqnDTW-NDaoxpLcSj8cGRVJl572qfTIpAQ4YylRLRjZl4cLpB3kRVY48TAlXCfpWshU2dl89aX37XvGr3y79oDWu-ioxmPjk-lVhtOShdPkp3Hfg_7N_dPGzf1ardm8-mxEvU2oA/s1600/20141113_100524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNTE5RqnDTW-NDaoxpLcSj8cGRVJl572qfTIpAQ4YylRLRjZl4cLpB3kRVY48TAlXCfpWshU2dl89aX37XvGr3y79oDWu-ioxmPjk-lVhtOShdPkp3Hfg_7N_dPGzf1ardm8-mxEvU2oA/s1600/20141113_100524.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of four exam rooms.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because I have six kids I felt a connection and I
asked which orphanage her baby was in. The doctor translated that her
child was at the orphanage where our team was helping...where I was holding
babies and playing with kids the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked her what the baby’s name was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said Ashley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ashley?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful Ashley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw her <i>yesterday</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My teammate next to me had a picture of her
on her camera in her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the mom
want to see the picture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would she want
to know her baby was okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my teammate
and I looked at each other wondering, the doctor assessed and released
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxhwfOYLquLzudi7FniCs8xHv6dbgtBrKd9nNKZbZlZFrfKq3asf3pT0kyMcPvXlEpkwO-riTDucmrZRNJXKEBD9Y-ZfZCjCqZXXTuonq3jziuVIAbjX4HDBgbCXPboRFo-RkTlNU4fm_/s1600/20141113_132631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxhwfOYLquLzudi7FniCs8xHv6dbgtBrKd9nNKZbZlZFrfKq3asf3pT0kyMcPvXlEpkwO-riTDucmrZRNJXKEBD9Y-ZfZCjCqZXXTuonq3jziuVIAbjX4HDBgbCXPboRFo-RkTlNU4fm_/s1600/20141113_132631.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ashley</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The children in the orphanages are destined to spend
every day in the orphanage until they become an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nannies take care of the kids but they come
and go and they are not moms to the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i>They are care takers.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That night I found out that Haiti will start letting
Americans adopt Haitian orphans next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family went through the
entire adoption process a few years ago but we moved out of the country before
we had children placed in our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe we can adopt Ashley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we
can adopt Samuel or one of the sets of twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or maybe Baelan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the sweet 5
year old I held and played with that day who loved the attention because normally
be he just stands or sits outside <i>on a slab of cement</i> with no toys and no mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Friday.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The next morning was our last work day.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had one hour at the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited for the nannies to bring Ashley out
but they never did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a few minutes playing with Baelan and
he just wanted to sit on my lap and play with my cell phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cried when I had to get up to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that it’s possible to fall in
love with a child who isn’t yours in less than 24 hours?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Saturday.</span></b><span> </span></span></div>
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<b>After a day of travel</b> and a lifetime of memories, we’re home. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. </i> ~Mother Theresa</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">How can the poorest country in the Western </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Hemisphere
get out of poverty?<span> </span> </span></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165761105636528249.post-3993723718904085372014-07-21T09:03:00.002-05:002014-07-21T09:03:49.431-05:00Homeschool Graduation Program Template<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In my </span><a href="http://journeying-sue.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-perfect-homeschool-graduation.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">last post</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I told you that this post would be called, <strong>"The Perfect Homeschool Graduation Program Template."</strong> Ha. Wishful thinking. This is just <em>one</em> example of a Homeschool Graduation Template and worked almost perfectly for our family, but since it may not be exactly right for your family, I took out the word <em>perfect</em> in the title. We only lived in Germany for about a year and there weren't local homeschool groups having a high school graduation ceremony. It made the most sense to me to have our own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is an example of the agenda that I printed for the event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Mine were printed on my favorite color paper, <span style="color: blue;">blue</span>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Music.</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played <em><strong>Pomp and Circumstance</strong></em> and Luke
walked in wearing his cap and gown and a big grin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the close of the ceremony I played <em><strong>Free
Bird</strong></em> by Lynyrd Skynyrd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
unexpectedly got up and danced! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Invocation. </strong></span>Our wonderful, goofy, loving friend Jessie gave the invocation where he thanked God for Luke's life and the event that we were there to celebrate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Message from Mom. </span></strong>I spoke
about what it was like to homeschool Luke and then told him there were <strong>three
things</strong> I wanted him to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 1. </span><u>He is a
leader.</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> This is part of my speech: <em>Theodore Roosevelt
said citizenship in a republic is hard work, it takes strong character, someone
who is responsible, courageous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
are qualities that mark a masterful people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luke they mark you:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hard-working,
strong character, responsible, courageous, physically strong, daring, and to
quote my friend Laura, 'you have skills.'<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Roosevelt firmly believed that one learned by doing. It is better
to stumble than to do nothing or to sit by and criticize those that are “in the
arena” he explained. “The poorest way to face life is with a sneer.” It is a
sign of weakness. <b>“To judge a man merely by success,” he said, “is an
abhorrent wrong.”</b> The famous paragraph from that speech, reproduced below,
expressed the standard by which he judged himself and others: </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></em>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face
is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and
comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and
shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at
the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the
worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat.</span></span></i></blockquote>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br /></div>
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<em>Parents
commented about loving to watch you play soccer because you put your heart into
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You give your all on the field. Billy Graham said that courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. You have a heart for doing what is right for our country and for knowing the foundations and laws and continue to uphold them and challenge the wrong. <strong>Luke, you are the man in the arena. You are a leader.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. <u>I love him</u>. I encouraged him to use the gifts, skills and abilities that God gave him to do His will. 1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. <u>God loves him.</u> More from my speech: <em>I rejoice in the young man you have become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I treasure the time that we had together in school and as a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I regret the times that I yelled at you, was impatient, didn’t understand you, and when I was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if our relationship would be better if I had sent you to school and had chocolate chip cookies waiting for you when you got off the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that my failures show you that you need a Savior and that there is a God and he loves you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that through my failures you saw me relying on God to get me through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that through my failures you see that nobody is good and that we all need a savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope has always been that you would know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Father's Blessing.</span></strong> Steve spoke
about it means to be a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use the
<a href="http://journeying-sue.blogspot.com/2013/04/raising-modern-day-princess.html">Modern Day Knight program</a> with our boys and high school graduation was the next
milestone to celebrate for Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve
blessed him as he entered into manhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
He presented Luke with a REAL sword! </span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are five things that Steve told Luke a man should do:</span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Lead courageously<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Valedictory Speech.</span></strong> I really wavered on whether I would <em>require</em> Luke to give a speech. The recommendations I saw online were to either mandate it, or let the graduate choose because it's <em>his</em> day. I chose to exercise my authority, and bow to the pressure of doing what's expected, so Luke was required to make a speech. Apparently in public schools the administration must approve of the valedictory speech, but that's where I deviated. I had no idea what he was going to say. It turned out well, I think. He gave a warm, charming, short speech saying that he was glad he was homeschooled (yes!) and thanking his friends and family for their role in his life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Presentation of Diploma. </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">My high school graduating class had close to 1000 graduates so we sort of ran across the stage and grabbed our diploma. Since we had just one graduate I presented the diploma to my son and actually <em>read</em> it. Yes, I read it out loud. I think that was a result of spending 20 years in the Army and being accustomed to having military orders read at every promotion and awards ceremony. I realized later that wasn't necessary. Just hand him the thing and move on. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Benediction.</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"> Neither Jessie nor I really knew what the purpose of the invocation or benediction was. I just knew that they were customary at events like this so I asked him to perform them. He did a splendid job! He blessed Luke at the end of the ceremony using humor in a way that only he could. Thank you Jessie. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life of Luke.</strong></span> This was the <em><strong>best</strong></em> part of the program. It was a surprise for Luke. I asked some of his friends to roast him. Yes, I got the idea from my cousin. We had lived in Germany for less than a year at the time of the graduation but there were at least 4 friends of Luke's that he'd known for 3- 8 years! So, 4 of his friends and one of his brothers roasted him. It was hysterical. The level of humor and creativity was off the charts. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>Josh is our second oldest and ALWAYS has people laughing. </strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>He did a great job roasting his brother!</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Recess.</strong></span> After the program, which lasted about an hour, we had a great time socializing, eating cake and wonderful German food at the Bauhaus Kastel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before my son's graduation I searched and searched online for a template I could copy. But I couldn't find one. As soon as the ceremony was over I discovered a wonderful website with a homeschool graduation template and much more. It's another great resource for homeschooling high school</span><br />
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<a href="http://letshomeschoolhighschool.com/homeschool-graduation/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://letshomeschoolhighschool.com/homeschool-graduation/</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I would love to hear what your family does for </span></strong></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165761105636528249.post-52235261259241167102014-06-10T12:44:00.001-05:002014-07-20T13:44:25.671-05:00The Perfect Homeschool Graduation Ceremony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The only high school graduation ceremony I remember attending was my own. I don't remember most of it. After deciding to have a high school graduation ceremony for my oldest child, who has always been homeschooled, <strong>I had to come up with a plan</strong>. <br />
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We live in Germany in a military community where, for some reason that I can't figure out, there are <em>very few</em> homeschooled high schoolers. So, my high school aged children were not in homeschool coops and didn't really participate with the homeschool group that my younger children do. <strong> I had to do something on my own.</strong><br />
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Last year my cousin, who's son is <em>not</em> homeschooled, went to a homeschool graduation ceremony for her son's best friend. <br />
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<strong>She said it was awesome.</strong> <br />
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Awesome. That's what I wanted too.<br />
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I've never been to a <strong>Homeschool High School Graduation Ceremony</strong>. So, why did my my cousin say the one she went to was awesome? What made it awesome? What did they do? And, the real question was could I copy it, or some of it, and have an awesome ceremony too?<br />
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Before resorting to total copying, I Googled "homeschool high school graduation ceremony." I didn't find much. So, I tried Goodling related topics but I couldn't find anything that gave me a template for what to do. <strong>I like templates.</strong> I was getting frustrated. So, I asked my cousin to tell me what the ceremony was like that she attended. <br />
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<strong>She's a superb writer. </strong>It's what she does for a living. So she described the evening in a way that I could picture it. It <em>was </em>awesome because it was personal and shared with close friends and family.<br />
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<em>Setting was the family home. Son walked in to "Pomp and Circumstance" wearing a gown and Mickey Mouse ears. He is a "theater person" my cousin said, so The Ears were not unexpected. Mom spoke about the homeschool years with her baby which was a happy-tear jerking speech. Dad said a few words. Valedictorian spoke. Mom gave the diploma. Then the theater-friends roasted the graduate which was, of course, hilarious because...They. Are. Theater people! Then food. Families hang out and have a great time socializing and celebrating!</em></blockquote>
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<strong>Let the copying begin!</strong><br />
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I would have loved to copied the part about <strong>having the ceremony at my home</strong>. Trouble was we were moving from Germany to Virginia at the same time our son was graduating and the only time we could have the event was<em> after</em> the Army moved all of our household goods out of our home and gave us temporary mattresses to sleep on until we moved into the military Guest House.<br />
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I decided to have the event at a restaurant, have the ceremony first, and then who ever wanted could stay and eat (no-host) or just hang out. I would have preferred having everyone at our home and providing food for them. Another option would have been to have it at our church and cater the food. That just seemed much more logistically challenging and a little boring to me. <strong>We ended up at a German Bauhaus</strong> (brew pub). That was a once-in-a-lifetime setting. <em>The podium was a beer barrel.</em> It screamed "authentic-German."<br />
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We added an event unique to our family which involved my husband presenting a sword to my son. After I give you the template for our commencement program I'll tell you a little bit about what we did during each segment ; hopefully, it will rival my cousin's description. One can hope. <br />
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While it may not have been "perfect," <strong>it was perfectly extraordinary</strong> for our family.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Look for "The Perfect Homeschool Graduation Template" </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165761105636528249.post-68720398130227744322014-05-27T13:40:00.001-05:002014-05-27T13:40:13.613-05:007 Ways to Find a Homeschool Mentor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975103"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm following up my post about </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975103"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://journeying-sue.blogspot.de/2012/05/get-homeschool-mentor.html">the importance of finding a homeschool mentor</a> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975103"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>how to find</i> a homeschool mentor</b>.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>7 Ways to Find a Homeschool Mentor</b></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975723" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">1. Homeschool Groups</span>: The first thing that comes to my mind is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">local homeschool grou</span>p.
You could find out who has been homeschooling for awhile, talk to them
and then if you communicate well with her, ask if you could meet a few
times and then maybe form a relationship that way. I found it easiest
to connect with other homeschool moms when we met at a park and let the
kids play while we talked. Some homeschool groups have "mom's night
out" and that would be a great place to find a mentor. Ask if there is a mentor program. Advertise to the group that you are looking for one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975730" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">2. Churches</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> Another place would be a <span style="font-weight: bold;">church</span>.
If you attend a church you could ask the pastor or Youth Leader who the
homeschool families are - they usually know! And, then introduce
yourself to them and get to know them. Also, you may call some local
churches to see if they have a large homeschool population and maybe
they have mom's nights out for homeschool moms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975491" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">3. Businesses</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> Yes, isn't that odd? Many business have <span style="font-weight: bold;">certain days or hours set up for homeschoolers</span>.
Here are some ideas: local library (not really a business),
gymnastics, YMCA, art studios may have art classes for homeschoolers.
You may contact some of these places and check them out. Often you can
take the first class free. You may meet a mentor there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975579" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">4. H</span><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975576" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">omeschool forums</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> The forums would be online mentors, not face-to-face. I have found the <a href="https://forums.sonlight.com/">Sonlight Forum</a> to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">invaluable</span>!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975610" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">5. Homeschool Conference</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span>
When you attend a homeschool conference there are breakout sessions
where you can meet other homeschoolers...maybe the presenter would be
your mentor. Most of the speakers are veteran homeschoolers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975590" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">6. Blogs</span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span> There are a ton of homeschool blogs out there with many people who love to encourage other homeschoolers. I googled and found this <a href="http://wizzley.com/how-to-find-a-homeschool-mentor/" target="_blank">site</a> to be helpful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/top25/homeschooling-blogs">A List of Top Homeschool Blogs</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://7sistershomeschool.com/community-blog/">7 Sisters Homeschool </a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_30_1338229735975694" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">7. Homeschool Legal Defense Association</span><span style="font-size: large;">: </span> I met one of my mentors online via <a href="http://www.hslda.org/highschool/coordinators.asp">HSLDA's High School Consultants</a> and then I met her in person at a conference!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Do you have a homeschool mentor?</i></b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165761105636528249.post-89539350809323694962014-05-22T14:02:00.000-05:002014-05-22T14:02:13.283-05:00Why Would Anyone Homeschool High School?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Yds74AGB4LhD0U1DAroTE8JHL9pYcwDsheWK6Vezznt9_z-Bj-sLCDysgbtBpm9zzPJrvMMzscwTmYP5-dCIinatUTdSo8kfDMo4tsgoKMY3BlB-o3BqDK16VdxQSzWghPh0Z1k5nag/s1600/Cap+and+gown+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9Yds74AGB4LhD0U1DAroTE8JHL9pYcwDsheWK6Vezznt9_z-Bj-sLCDysgbtBpm9zzPJrvMMzscwTmYP5-dCIinatUTdSo8kfDMo4tsgoKMY3BlB-o3BqDK16VdxQSzWghPh0Z1k5nag/s1600/Cap+and+gown+original.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></div>
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<b>My oldest will graduate from high school in a few days.</b><br />
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For years I've heard other say things like..<i>.the GOAL of education is discipleship</i>, or<i> it's not about academics but about glorifying God</i>, or, more recently, <i>we're not training our kids for society but for eternity. </i><br />
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I think they are right.<br />
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Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." A writer on the Net Bible Study says that if the knowledge that our children lack is in God's word then they will be eternally lost.<br />
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<b>A speaker at the first <a href="http://www.2to1conference.com/">Titus 2:1 Confernce</a> said that we are raising world changers</b>. Our children are weapons. <i>Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth</i> (Psalm 127:4). Why outsource that? It's not whether our children will be taught. The question is, Who will teach them and what will they be taught?<br />
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When we homeschool our children in/through high school we can put them an environment that will individualize their education based on their gifts, talents and calling.<br />
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Research shows that "age/grade isolation or segregation actually inhibits socialization," says Elizabeth Smith in "Why Homeschool Teens?" Age segregation is also detrimental to teens' spiritual formation (christiannewswire.com). <br />
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When we homeschool our children in/through high school we build family relationships and strength. Satan is working to destroy this. My kids bug each other...probably every day. But, I think the best friends they have are their siblings.<br />
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There are more than enough resources for Americans to homeschool high school.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>See my</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8165761105636528249#editor/target=page;pageID=226547420835514979;onPublishedMenu=pages;onClosedMenu=pages;postNum=0;src=link">Homeschool High School Page (Tab)</a> above</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>for resources for those considering homeschooling high school </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>and those already doing it but looking for more information. </b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0