Special note from Gena:

Hey everyone, we are redesigning our Homeschool Minute signup page and we need three or more good testimonials from folks like you who read it. Would you mind telling us what you think about being on the THM list? I'd really appreciate it. You can email me direct with your quote to  gena@tosmag.com.  

Thank you and have a wonderful week!

Greetings!

Perhaps you are at a place where you don't feel like celebrating that man of yours. Maybe he wants you to do things you feel you don't have the time or energy for. Maybe he is trying to control things and people, and you are resisting. Maybe he is not involved with the children's academics. Maybe he rarely speaks or demonstrates his love. Maybe he doesn't appreciate or encourage you, and therefore you have no energy to do the same for him. You are not alone.

In order to change our hearts from a heavy sigh to actually being thankful, let's see if we can change our perspective a bit.

Does your man love God? Be thankful-many do not.

Does he love you? Be thankful-many men don't ever show it.

Is he committed to you? Be thankful-many men wander.

Does he love the children? Be thankful-many men couldn't care less.

Is he strong in his convictions?Be thankful-many men waver.

Maybe you're still not convinced. I was reading from Proverbs 19 this morning, which helped me. Let me share the following verses and my commentary:

¹⁰ Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes. 

DW Commentary: Giving a fool prosperity is as bad as having a person who knows only low-level work be put in charge of a whole nation. To apply husbands and wives-it is foolish for the helpmate to be in charge of the one who is supposed to be in charge. Are we ruling or helping? Big difference: one encourages, the other is foolish.

 
¹¹ The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. 

DW Commentary: Discretion is basically behaving or speaking so as to avoid being offensive. Being slow to anger is showing discretion. Encouraging our husbands is holding our angry tongue and our glory, or what makes us stand out differently is overlooking his transgressions.

¹² The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion,but his favor is like dew on the grass. 

DW Commentary: Husbands can roar and the sound lasts only a second, but their favor toward us is lasting and is renewed every day, giving nourishment to us like dew. Be encouraged and be an encourager. Stop roaring and let your favor be new every day toward your husband.

¹³ A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 

DW Commentary: A foolish, contentious wife is the ruin of her husband. A continual dripping is literally torture. You could encourage your husband by submissively suggesting something one time and writing it down if he'd like you to, and leave it (and him) alone. Someone who is not content can become contentious. Be content and avoid contentions.   

¹⁴ Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. 

DW Commentary: Fathers pass good things down to their sons, just as God gives good things to our husbands: a good wife. We can be a blessing if we are prudent (behave wisely). Encourage your husband by acting like that gift from God He intended you to be.

¹⁵ Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. 

DW Commentary: Are we being lazy in our duties as a wife? Your marriage may go into a deep sleep. If you are idle in actively encouraging your husband, he will suffer the hunger of respect and honor.

Just this weekend, four different women sang the praises of my husband. An older woman said what a gem we have as a husband and father, as she told me her stories of two painful divorces. A woman at our homeschool conference said what a blessing he was to our organization. Someone else said he would be a good mentor for her son. And a neighbor told me how thankful she was that he helped her get into her locked house. All these women singing his praises in one weekend-I got the picture. I should have been the first to praise him. In fact, I still haven't. I think I will now go send an email to my husband and let him know what I appreciate about him.

We have an abundance of urgent things to do, but don't let any of that take priority over the important thing of encouraging your husband.

Learning with you,

~Deborah

TOS Senior Editor 

 Two years of TOS for only $39, 19 FREE GIFTS and Teacher's Toolbox?!?

 __________________________________________

Encouraging your man. That's this week's topic. Well, I feel a little lopsided. Truth be told, Paul encourages me far more than I encourage him. I guess I'm needier that way. We moms need affectionate words and loving praises for our contributions to home and family. The dads-I guess they need it too, and I'm sure I could say more to display my thankfulness for Paul's care for our kids and for myself. But while it's true he would appreciate hearing those words, I know what he'd love more. Honor. Backing him up in front of the kids, standing by him no matter what, and showing solidarity with him before any and all. I try to remember this, although I fail at times. 

One thing I do is try to teach Julia (14) that she needs to love the Lord and practice modesty, become godly in character and lovely in spirit so that she can find a husband worthy and upright-like her father. I find myself saying to our boys during certain instances (when they are stinkers), "What are you doing?! Did you forget you are a Suarez? Don't you want to be like your father one day?" It's not a constant thing, and maybe just small seeds planted, but I try to weave recurring reminders into my conversations with the kids that their father is a good man, someone after God's own heart. I want them to look up to him with honor in their eyes, with great love in their hearts for their dad, who has sacrificed so much for all of them. So each day goes by, and sometimes I do it, other times I forget, still others I'm downright too lazy or tired (or stubborn) to try. But then I get up the next day and with the Lord's prompting, I try again. 

Honoring our husbands is so important. Doing so in front of the kids is also important-times 10. Go bake him something and tell your children stories of how you met and why you love Daddy more today than the day you married him. And may YOUR children rise up and call YOU blessed, too.

Love,
~gena
gena@tosmag.com

Here is the Familyman's Father's Day ultimate gift idea list:

• Begin the day with a favorite, hearty breakfast
• Lots of smiles
• Plenty of shoulder rubs during church
• One unexpected derriere pinch
• Whisper, "I'm so glad my children have you for a dad."
• Let Dad decide what to eat for lunch/dinner . . . with no complaints from the peanut gallery.
• Make his favorite dessert.
• Watch his favorite movie after the kids go to bed  . . . and then be creative.

I'm telling you, he's going to love it.

Love your man,

Captivating  

Math and Science Lessons!

Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist 

and

Debbie Strayer, Homeschool Consultant 

It's 4:30 in the afternoon. Someone looks up at the clock and shouts, "Daddy Drill!" From all corners of the house, everyone springs into action. Gathering books, toys, leftover snacks, shoes, and anything else you can think of, each one grabs something to return to its rightful place. With much giggling and running to and fro, this chaotic scene pays homage to the fact that Daddy will be home soon, and we want him to know how much we appreciate him.

When he arrives, he is greeted with hugs and kisses, and then we release him so he can change his clothes, grab a glass of tea, and find his favorite chair. After a few minutes of rest, we will gather around him to tell him about the events of the day. Children have already chosen some bit of work or a story to share with Dad, so when he asks the question they are waiting for-"What did you do for school today?"-they are well prepared with show and tell. The sharing is as long or short as strength or interest allow, but after the torrent of words ebbs, Dad settles in for a few minutes of rest before dinner, sports, or whatever the next event will be.

We want Daddy to know that we appreciate him. Most men work hard to support and care for their families, and the recompense they need doesn't have to be big or fancy. It just has to be heartfelt. Dad likes a picked-up living area, so we pick it up before he gets home. Dad appreciates knowing what is going on, so we keep him updated with news of our successes, both little and great. Dad needs to know that his sacrifice is meaningful, so we let him know we are grateful for what he does.

Though we all know he is the principal, his authority doesn't come just from our desire not to disappoint him, but rather from our gratefulness for his love and service. Time after time, he makes room for us and our fears, joys, and struggles, and we never want to miss an opportunity to come in, sit on his lap, and be gathered up in his hugs. There are no better gifts for our earthly or Heavenly Father this Father's Day.

~Debbie

Read more from Debbie at www.debbiestrayer.com.

This Father's Day, give your dad the power to leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren with the book, The Promise of Jonadab. Dad will enjoy reading about Jonadab, the Bible's most successful father.

Order from Amazon.com today so it arrives in time for Father's Day!

www.prekscholars.com