Love and Marriage: Resources for Your Children to Have and to Hold

In my interview last week with David and Carolyn and their married daughter, Michelle, in the Love and Marriage series (entitled Premarital Counseling for Preschoolers), Carolyn referred to books that she had read to her children from an early age to help them have right thinking about the subject of love and marriage.  David and Carolyn are the parents of 7 children.  Michelle, the oldest, is 26, and married, expecting their fourth child.  David and Carolyn also have a new grandbaby boy through their son and his wife, born just this last week!  Their children still at home, include their son, Michael, who is 19.  Then they have a reversal "baby", Daniel, who is 9, and they adopted 3 girls (sisters) from Liberia 2 years ago.  The girls, as far as one can tell in these cases, are about 10, 7 and 5.

We were talking about courtship, and why in the world it should be something that parents of young children need to think about!  They became very animated at that question. Go back to the link above to read the interview.  The rest of the story will be written, but had to be delayed, due to unforeseen circumstances.  So, I asked Carolyn if she would write out a list of some of her favorite books which, she believes, help to give children a right and righteous outlook on love and marriage.  At any age, but especially if you have young children, reading books which depict a loving marriage, and the kind of family interactions which you want them to aspire to, is very important.  Even in some books which are our personal favorites, sometimes children pick up on things which completely escape our notice:  Carolyn's daughter asked as they were reading a beloved favorite one day, "Where's the Daddy?"  Sure enough, come to think of it, he is never depicted.  The children go everywhere either alone or with their mother.  They eat and the mother puts them to bed at night, without ever a mention or sight of the dad.  Many other situations may establish their beliefs and desires, and cement those, in the stories they read or that we read to them. (Parents must beware, also, of the images their children see through the media of film, TV, computer, etc.)

Here is the list of resources that Carolyn recommends as excellent for young, and older, children:
(certainly at least as young as 4 years old)

• Keepers of the Faith (for boys and young men)
• Keepers at Home (for girls and young ladies)  both by Keepers of the Faith.
• Lamplighter Books:  Teddy's Button, Hedge of Thorns, The True Princess, The Three Weavers 
• The Squire and The Scroll by Jennie Bishop
• The Princess and The Kiss by Jennie Bishop
• Door Posts:  Polished Cornerstones, Plants Grown Up, For Instruction in Righteousness, all by Pam Forster
• Wilderness Wife by Etta De Gring, story of Rebecca Bryan Boone
• Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally (Go to the link, and visit Tomorrow's Forefathers, to check out the Mally Family's ministry and then go to their blog, to be inspired in your own family relationships of love.  Also check out Loving the Lord Ministries (ministry of the Vest Family) and the Loving the Lord blog.  As your girls get older, participating in Girls' Groups and attending a Purity Conference, ministries of Amy Vest and her family, can be very important in a girl's life, as to staying on the right track that God would have her travel. 

 Carolyn emphasized that the "best book" your children will ever read that pertains to marriage, is you and your spouse daily living out a Christ-centered marriage!  A challenge for all of us!

About David and Carolyn:
David,47, and Carolyn, 48, are the parents of 7 children, aged 3 to 26.  They have walked the path of courtship twice with their children. They have 3 grandchildren through these two marriages and are expecting their fourth any day their fourth, a boy, was born about a week ago!  But they can also easily identify with parents of small children, because they have 4 younger ones, as well, and their three grandkiddos, all under 5 years old, spend much time at their house.  They wouldn't have it any other way!

Fantastic Homeschooling Websites

Hello Friends!
 I just found some great links for you Homeschoolers and those thinking about Homeschooling!

Important note, though:  No matter what age your children are, or even *if* you have children, there is something on one of these sites for you!

The first website I have to recommend to you today is Design Your Homeschool. It is History-based and emphasizes the use of lots of "living books" ("living books" is defined by Carole Seid, of "Teaching History through Language Arts" fame, as a book that your kids beg you to read "just one more"--page, chapter, etc.)  This is similar to the way that we Homeschooled, but I will save that for a later post.

Design Your Homeschool

I totally believe in the premise that each family is unique, and therefore their Homeschool will be different from everyone else's to a degree.  So, this site helps you develop your individual approach.  Having said that, I also believe, as this site encourages, that "living books" and some of the approaches and methods of Charlotte Mason are valuable, such as reading living books, followed by "narration" by the child (where the child is retelling the story back to you).

What I liked about this site:
Its Biblical emphasis
Encouragement to use "living books" and the library
Many Creation resources (such as Answers in Genesis/Ken Ham books)
Much recommended curriculum which I recognized as being excellent
An encouragement to Homeschoolers to set goals and know why you were doing what you were doing, and tailor-make your teaching to your children and your family.

When you go to this site, get a cup of coffee or tea, because there's a ton of stuff and links to look at!  Some of what you will find at this site:
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Begin and how to design your Homeschool. Here is one of the most important quotes from this site, and one I absolutely agree with!

"Step Two is choosing your Course of Study or Curriculum. Perhaps, the first thing you have thought about after making the decision to homeschool is, "What Curriculum do I buy?" If you want to know how to start homeschooling, you need to take it more slowly than that. You will make curriculum decisions based on what your goals are."

I felt like she really holds your hand (a good thing when you're starting out and perhaps have some fear and trepidation) and helps you, without telling you how you *have* to do it.  I really liked that.  There is also a Q & A Forum, and opportunity to ask her questions.
Curriculum recommendations in all the subjects (I've not checked these out)
Free printables including: Copywork divided by age group (both tracing and writing/with lines/ Bible verses), Dolch sight words list, Homeschool Planner Pages, and more.
Organization tips
Links to Homeschool Resources

I loved what I saw of this site!

Keepers of the Faith

Ok, what can I say...hmmm...this is one of the best links I can give you to books that will change your life as a Christian and that of your children. You think I'm exaggerating? Try them out, read some articles, read some books--Then write me and let me know how it's changed your life:)!
(Please tell them I sent you:)

What I like about this site:
Its firm emphasis on Biblical character!
The book reviews and articles on how to evaluate reading material (which will convict you--be warned!)
The Keepers of the Faith and Contenders for the Faith program
The Emphasis on Skill-building, with help and resources on how to teach skills to your children
The Books!!! (Books which have become dear friends to me, which were introduced to me by this site, e.g. Isabella Alden books)

I am very excited about these websites and believe they will be of great help to you!  I hope you'll be as excited about them as I am!  Let me know what you think!