My husband is a social marketing strategist!  Enjoy his latest project!

He has entered this video in a contest to promote Ford’s new Fiesta!

So what advice would I give to a family with lots of children, especially several daughters?  Since some have asked, I would say to begin the conversation now, between husband and wife, regarding courtship (what is it?), budget, expectations and more.   Some have lumped dating and courtship together.  But the big difference is that a man and a woman in a courtship are heading towards marriage.  Dating, however, seems to imply a lack of commitment.  Yes, some who “date around” end up marrying that one, but dating around can leave great wounds.

Why talk about the budget when your children are young or teens?  Because this is a big issue.  We know folks who have gone into debt to put on their child’s wedding.  We know folks who spent $40,000 on the wedding only to be divorced a couple years later.  A wedding is a wonderful celebration, but it can be lovely and memorable even on a modest budget.  So, set a budget now, while you are thinking clearly, and when the time comes, make every effort to stick to it.  Pray, be creative, do some research.

In our case, our daughter wanted lots of guests, 100′s in fact.  So, the sit down dinner option was nixed.  But we will have delicious food for the guests:  fruits, vegeys, crackers, cheeses, shrimp, desserts, hors de voures, etc.  The setting is our home church for the ceremony and reception.  Since children are very important to the bride to be the wedding party includes 2 ring bearers and 4 flower girls, in addition to 7 bridesmaids and 7 groomsmen, ushers, musicians, and 2 ministers presiding.

This is also a time to let go……….to realize that the couple is establishing a new home.  It’s time to say, “I’ve raised you and love you and will continue to love you.  But if you want advice from now on, you will need to come to me and ask.”  That can be a very hard thing to grasp for a parent, especially a controlling parent.  But do you really want to treat your 20 something child like he/she still has a diaper on?  Cut the apron strings, in fact, start to loosen them little by little as the years roll on from ages, let’s say 1 , until the late teens.

Rejoice with us at this time!!

Home Education Magazine says, “Lyrical Learning, a group with a solid grasp of science and a zany sense of humor….” Homeschooling Today says, “…a fabulous, comprehensive resource for teaching about the systems of the body…this belongs in the car where it can be enjoyed often. The quality of the music is exceptional and fun for the whole family.”

Each set comes with a CD of the songs that go along with each chapter, plus a textbook and a workbook. These aren’t overwhelming tomes but rather well put together 8 1/2 x 11″ bound books of about 40-50 pages for the workbook and 90-110 pages for the textbook.

The songs are very well done and help cement scientific terms and concepts. The tunes are well-known traditional, patriotic, and camp songs of long ago.

These are very reasonably priced and the 3 parts can be purchased separately or together.

Excerpt from Lyrical Learning. The Scientific Method.

The word science means to have knowledge of or to know, it also means the organized system of knowledge that comes from the observation, study and experimentation.

Many scientists spend their time making observations, asking questions and finding problems to solve.

We heartily recommend the Lyrical Life Science sets; however, we do add a disclaimer that in Vol. II about Mammals, Ecology and Biomes there is a chapter on pages 36-41 called Primates. We do not agree with the bent of this chapter; we believe humans are created in God’s image and are not offspring of apes.

Check out www.Lyricallearning.com and get your children hooked on science! That’s what happened with my 13 year old; she LOVES to study about God’s awesome creation! And Lyrical Learning helped a great deal!!

That could be a whole study in itself, and entire books have been written about covenant theology. What is important in this brief column today is the importance of family devotions. Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul…You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house.”

Having family devotions does take discipline. It means keeping children at the table in order to open up the Word. It means saying no to the doorbell ringing, phone ringing, the computer clamoring for attention, a host of activities that could usurp some time to read and pray. Forming the habit takes effort and time. But we need to take advantage of these family eating times to feast also upon our Lord, too.

1. Send a 100 or less word essay titled, “Why I Want to Win the Cello.” The cello is a 1/2 size Nagoya Suzuki , model 40 instrument with a soft case and a bow. Children and adults can enter the contest. (Cello value is $689.)
2. Postmarks accepted until May 20, 2008.

3. Send a SASE and a $10 entrance fee made payable to IX Publishing, Inc., PO Box 2578, Dearborn, MI 48123-2578.
Send cash, check or money order.

4. There must be at least 75 entries otherwise funds will be returned in the SASE you provide.

5. Winning entry will be posted on this site by June 1, 2008. (Cello will only be shipped in the continental USA.)

God has used music tremendously in my life and in the life of my family. God has used music to heal broken hearts, to awaken dead hearts, to give many families an overriding purpose. In our family, music has been part of who we are individually and as a family. The Psalms are laden with references to instruments, praising God, recounting His glorious works.

How has God blessed your life with music? Let me know.

Here are some of the items that will be reviewed in upcoming weeks:

DVD called “Rejuvenate with Serene” – she gives the 1-2-3′s of healthy eating.

DVD and book named “The Family Meal Table and Hospitality” – stress the importance of the meal table. “It will change your family life…”

Gate-Keepers of the Home – How to Guard Your Home – “This manual studies the twelve gates of Jerusalem that Nehemiah rebuilt, relating it to building, repairing and guarding the gates of your home…”

And more!

We are thankful for such opportunities where we can open our home ( which actually is the Lord’s home!) and share the love of Christ. We provide food, shelter, and opportunities to see what an American family lives like. One of the keys to offering hospitality is to be prepared (with food, a plan, etc.) yet, to be flexible. Since the students arrived last night, already some planned events were canceled (due to instruments still being left behind in Germany) and new events have been lined up. Flexibility is key!

Today, my youngest child and I will play some fiddling tunes at our friend’s 90th birthday! He is a wood carver who has a zest for life! We have friends of all ages. This friend and his wife have reminded us to be thankful for each day the Lord gives, to live life to the fullest, and to keep learning new things. Recently, this friend was given an aquarium with fish to take care of. Also, he and his wife take regular “field trips” (aka outings….and not just to the doctor’s office).

When I wrote the blog entry about swimming, my 11 yr. old asked what that had to do with being a Proverbs 31 woman.

Well, the Proverbs 31 woman girds her loins with strength, she takes care of her health by eating well, exercising, and taking care of herself. “Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.” A Proverbs 31 woman is a woman who fears the Lord; she keeps everything in balance.