A Voice I Respect on a Subject I Love

Most of you have heard of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the radio host who takes questions from callers who have life problems or situations and want her advice. I love listening to her no-nonsense answers. I am a very black-and-white person, and I like to hear someone else say it like it is. I do not always agree with everything she says, but most of it is right on the money, in my opinion. She is fiercely AGAINST "shacking up" (living together before marriage), divorce, daycare, and self-pity. And she is enthusiastically FOR marriage, stay-at-home moms, homeschooling, and much more. What's not to like? It is nice to hear a moral voice on secular radio. Dr. Laura is Jewish, and she has been doing her radio show for over thirty years. She has also written about a dozen best-selling books, including one of my all-time favorites, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.

A few days ago I heard Dr. Laura say that she had written a piece on home-schooling in her blog. If you know me, or if have read this blog, you know that I am a HUGE advocate of home-schooling. I was home-schooled from first grade through high school, and I plan to home-school our children one of these days. I really enjoyed what Dr. Laura had to say on the subject, and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Home-schooling Does Not Hamper Socialization

One of the criticisms lobbed at the home-schooling community/movement is that home-schooled children are being shielded from diversity and a multitude of challenging influences which will ultimately handicap them in their ability to function in the “real world.” In other words, “How will these children function in our diverse, multicultural society when they are raised in a setting with monolithic views and beliefs?”

Research examining home-schooled students’ academic achievements have consistently found that they score higher than the national norms on standard achievement tests. So the only grenade left to throw at home-schooling parents is that they are hurting their children socially and emotionally. The few studies in these areas have generally found home-schooled children to have equal or better self-esteem than traditionally schooled students. Then the argument becomes one of how to truly know you are measuring self-esteem.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi recently published their findings in Home School Researcher (Vol. 17, No. 4, 2007, pp. 1-7). They decided to study home-schooled students’ ability to successfully adjust to college life as an important criterion for demonstrating a positive outcome (or not) of home-schooling.
They compared Christian college freshmen who had previously been home-schooled with a matched sample of traditionally schooled Christian freshmen on the College Adjustment Scale. The average scores of the two groups were compared across nine scales designed to measure emotional, behavioral, social, and academic problems as typically presented to university counseling centers.

The home-schooled students scored significantly lower on the anxiety subscale, while no difference was found between the two groups on the remaining scales. Additionally, there was a general trend characterized by home-schooled students reporting fewer symptoms of emotional distress and social problems, and achieving higher first semester GPAs.

The results suggest that home-schooled college freshmen successfully adjust to the social and academic environment of a Christian college with a diverse student population. The college does not require that all students attending the college assent to a personal faith in Christ. The previously home-schooled students are also confronted by many peers who make lifestyle choices different from their own. Most of the college peers of the home-schooled students would be considered less conservative in their dress, entertainment interests, moral values and behaviors, than those typically experienced in most Christian home-schooled families.
Therefore, these students are not entering a homogeneous social community that necessarily mirrors their family backgrounds.”

Obviously, home-schooled students have additional adjustments to make when leaving their homes and entering a university or college environment: social relationship, peer pressure, classroom structure, etc. They are being forced to adapt to a social environment decidedly different from their homes or home school support groups.

The results demonstrate that home-schooled students are able to successfully adapt emotionally, interpersonally, and academically to their first, and most challenging, semester in college. That is probably because, having had the consistent teaching and support of a family and a community, they have developed strengths and convictions that provide a bridge over the troubled waters of a multitude of challenges and temptations.

I personally believe that home-schooling helps students who have problems with focus and difficulties with energy control. The traditional school environment required “Stepford Child” control, and the teaching techniques required for a group of thirty do not necessarily assist the learning needs and talents of each individual student. So, instead of drugging kids to be docile, perhaps we should turn to the successes of home-schooling.

Sophie the Fierce

We like to have our cat shaved in the summer because she has such long hair. She sheds so much when it starts to get warm! So today was the day. I took her to Petsmart and asked them to shave her to look like a lion!

On the way there, Sophie meows the whole time... I have started wearing headphones because it is so sad.

She looks so pitiful!

When we get home she always sneaks around and acts a little embarrassed.

Then she decides that it feels good, so she relaxes a little.

How cute is she?? They didn't leave much of a "mane" on her, but I love the little puff on the end of her tail!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my Dad's birthday! I am so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful Dad. I am blessed beyond measure by the parents God gave me. I have learned so much from watching my Dad's example, and from growing up in his home.

Daddy, I hope your day is wonderful! I am sad that we can't be with you today, but I'm looking forward to the weekend of the 31st! I love you so much, and I can't wait to give you a hug!

Love,
Jennie

Yummy!!

Today Dustin walked in from work with his arms full of containers. Look at what his Mom did today!

My Mother-in-Law is always so thoughtful. She made some delicious foods that are soft enough for me to eat (post-surgery). She is a GREAT cook, and this was definitely a special treat for me!

Thank you Mom Harrell!!
She made Corn Chowder, Banana Pudding, Sweet Potato Casserole, and a chocolatey pie. Wow!! How exciting! It was great to eat some REAL FOOD! I am so grateful for her sweetness.

Precious...

I saw this video on one of my favorite blogs today, and I had to post it for ya'll to see!

Familiar Realizations

Here are some foods that I may never eat again after all this is over:
It has been really hard for me to stay positive this week. When I scheduled the appointment to have surgery several months ago, I thought I would be back at work the next day. On Monday I will have completed two weeks of recovery. The process has included a trip to the emergency room, and an emergency trip back to my dentist in Greensboro, both because of uncontrollable bleeding from the roof of my mouth. The result of those trips included more shots in my palate, more stitches, and having my palate cauterized (seared closed with extreme heat). So after working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, I have spent yesterday and today back at home. I am hoping that if I stay still and don't talk much the wound will finally heal.

I must admit that I have been really discouraged. I am tired of liquids and mushes. I am tired of laying around the house. I am tired of not being able to talk like an adult. And I am very tired of being constantly hungry.

Today I was thinking about all the things I love to do, and I came to some familiar realizations. They are realizations that I think about every time I get sick, but somehow they never completely sink in. Here they are, and I hope you will be as encouraged as I was when they were brought to my mind.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS! I suddenly realized that this will eventually be over! I won't be laying in bed starving with gauze in my mouth forever! Yay! Hopefully it will be over sooner rather than later, but it WILL eventually be over! That is definitely an encouraging thought!

I AM A SPOILED LITTLE BRAT! Now, this might not sound encouraging, and I guess it's not if you leave it like that. But it did make me realize how much I have for which to be thankful. Overall I am a very healthy human. I don't have many problems with my health, and I am so grateful for that! As I looked in my fridge today (for the eighth time) to find something that I can eat, I realized that many people have to live this way permanently, or at least for longer than two weeks. People with cancer feel nauseous all the time, people with food allergies have to say goodbye to many foods that they would love to eat, and people who are poor or homeless don't have food at all much of the time. I also have a wonderful husband who takes care of me, and some people are all alone through their trials. Wow... When you take time to count your blessings, the trials don't seems so terrible.

I TAKE MY HEALTH FOR GRANTED! This realization is linked to the previous one, but it deserves its own paragraph. It is probably the most familiar to me. Every time I get sick I think to myself "I am going to be so much more grateful for my good health once this is finally over!" But usually after the sickness is gone I go right back to taking my health for granted. This time I am starting in advance, and I am going to regularly thank my gracious God for blessing me with good health. It is something that I do not deserve!

GOD IS IN CONTROL! This is definitely the most encouraging realization. God knows my pain, my hunger, and my frustrations, and He has a purpose in allowing me to feel all these things. I don't know what His purposes are, but I don't have to know. He loves me, He knows the number of hairs on my head, and He provided a way for my sins to be forgiven. How can I question His perfect plan? Maybe His purpose is to make me realize these things and develop a spirit of gratefulness in me. I don't know, but I pray that I will be obedient to Him, and that He will accomplish His purposes in my life.

I Want to Eat the Grocery Store.

Since having my surgery last Monday I have been on a liquid diet. I can't eat anything that requires chewing, or anything that could get stuck to the roof of my mouth. I have been drinking, drinking drinking all liquids, which has caused me to lose some weight that I have worked very hard to gain and maintain.

Those who know me know that I eat ALOT. People are sometimes surprised that I can easily handle four or five slices of pizza... no problem. I LOVE eating and trying lots of different kinds of foods (except meat of course). So obviously this "no eating" thing has been a little tough. I am constantly hungry and wishing I had some REAL FOOD! To keep myself from getting depressed about it, I have been making lists of foods I want to eat, recipes I want to try, and restaurants I want to visit. I thought I would share a few with you... And please, eat something yummy for me tonight!

I love Vegetable Lasagna

I love Homemade Macaroni and Cheese I love Pizza, especially the healthy kind
I love Salad
I love Veggie Burgers

I love Grilled Vegetable Sandwhiches

I love burritoes
I love Cheesecake
I love Chocolate Cake
I love Peanut Butter Cookies

Every time Dustin has something yummy to eat I look at it longingly and say "yum!" He is always quick to ask "Do you want me to put it in the blender for you?" As much as I appreciate the thought, blended grilled cheese sandwhiches don't quite tempt me.

Hopefully this won't cause anyone to go cheat on their diets, but I just thought I would share what's on my mind!

Thank You Pops and Mom Harrell!

Look at this beautiful vase of flowers that Dustin's parents sent me!

I have been in the house the whole week with my pain meds and ice packs because of the oral surgery I had on Monday. It was definitely a bright spot in my day to put these flowers on the dining room table and see the sunshine light them up! What a thoughtful gift!

Thank you so much!

My Sweet Friend Brings a Sweet Treat!

I had some oral surgery on Monday. The procedure is called a "gingival graft," and it is where a Periodontist takes gum from the roof of your mouth and stitches it around teeth where the gum is receding. It was supposed to be a routine surgery, and I was planning to be back at work the next day. Well, that didn't happen. They surgery was terribly traumatic, I had to be "shot" 11 times with Novocaine (those needles are HUGE!!), and I cried through the majority of the procedure. I have not been back to work since Monday, and tomorrow is Friday. The recovery has been really painful and frustrating (bleeding, swelling, throwing up, swelling, bruising, swelling, pain, swelling, discomfort, swelling, etc.). Dustin has been so great... He has cleaned the house, driven to Wal-Mart numerous times, and he even brought me "get well" flowers! I am so thankful for such a sweet husband!

Earlier today my good friend Ashleigh called. Ashleigh and I went to church together in high school, and we were bridesmaids in each others' weddings. She is one of those friends that you can talk to after not chatting for months, and it feels like you just spoke yesterday. I was so happy when I found out that we would be moving to Kernersville because Ashleigh only lives five minutes away, and now I get to see her every week! Anyway, she called today to check on me, and to ask if there was anything she could do for me. What a great friend! I told her that I was doing fine, and that I was getting a little better each day.

I have not been able to eath anything this week except pudding, broth, jello, and yogurt. A few moments ago, just as I was day-dreaming about eating foods like cake, lasagna, nachos, pancakes (pretty much anything with more consistency than mud), I got another call from Ashleigh. She told me to go and look on my back porch. On the porch was a grocery bag with a box inside, and inside the box was DELICIOUSNESS ITSELF!

My sweet friend knows how much I love cookies, and she dropped off a mack-daddy of a cookie. I called her back and told her "thank you," and she said that she hoped I would be able to enjoy it. I told her that I WILL FIND A WAY!

I can only take tiny little bites (as you can see in the picture), I have to chew very slowly, and it may take me four hours to eat half of it, but I will enjoy it. What a great surprise, and a fun break from a lonely day.

Thank you Ashleigh!! You are a wonderful friend!

We Have CrAzY Date-Nights

We just thought you should have a glimpse of a typical date night for us. They are always so much fun!

This particular night started with a look at the cheapest gas price in town. Sad, isn't it?

Then we went to the dollar store to see what we could find.

Hmmm... How many of these to we need?I like the pink unicorn!!
We caught someone spying on us in the canned food section. I wonder how he got there DUSTIN?!
Seriously, who wants a baby that looks like this?
Peanut butter and chocolate... an amazing combination.
Obviously, Dustin was not fond of this puppy.Can you tell that I LOVE Reese's Cups?
An interesting find worthy of a picture.
We finished off the night with a delicious dinner at Denny's.
Yay for Date Nights!!