Newsletter #370
End-of-School-Year Activities.  These end-of-school-year activities will provide a good finish to this year and preparation for the next. Includes:
1. Record Your Accomplishments
2. Evaluate Your School Year/Checklist
3. Celebrate and Share

Newsletter #369
Family Day Trips.  Day trips can do much to build family relationships and memories – plus provide enriching educational opportunities. Includes Creation Science Resources for your summer trips and Travel Freebies & Info.

Newsletter #368
Nurturing Our Children.  Includes: Cherishing our children; Showing we care through closeness; Bringing up our children for the Lord.

Newsletter #363
10 Ways To Get the Most from Homeschool Events. Includes links to 2013 State Conventions

Newsletter #362
Character Development includes Freebies.

Read transcripts or listen to these 2-minute radio broadcasts online.

Michael Farris, father of 10 homeschooled children and chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association, shares practical strategies for fathers.

by Michael Farris.  Read this short online article offering ways a father can by involved in his family's homeschooling.

"A homeschooling mom has two major areas of responsibility: caring for a home and teaching academics to her children.  Her husband can pick tasks from either area and make his wife equally happy!"

Here are a few ideas for your children to show their appreciation for Dad!

 •  Father's Day Fun is a free 23-page e-book with ideas for gifts, cards, and activities.

 •  Find notebooking pages in this 22-page free e-book.

 •  See Martha Stewart's website for Father's Day Gifts and Cards that you can make, as well as Father's Day Crafts for Kids with Clip Art and Templates.

 •  Send a Free e-card.

 •  Interview Dad and listen to stories from his childhood.  See A Family History Questionnaire.

 •  See our Pinterest Father's Day Page for more ideas.

Do you like Special Offers, saving money, and learning about new and useful resources for your homeschool?

Then check out the Resource E-Mails that come to your mail box!

This free newsletter is made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the Resource E-Mails.

We trust that you find this newsletter informative and encouraging.

•  See our archives of more than 200 newsletters online.

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When our only child Bryce was 5, I gave him the job of transferring eggs from the carton to the refrigerator container. As Bryce was carefully sitting at the table doing this "big" job, he noticed that one of the eggs had bumps on it and was not smooth like the others.

With great seriousness, Bryce examined the egg with the bumps, then turned to me and said, "Mom, the chicken must have been cold when it laid this egg. Look, it has goose bumps!"

Submitted by Marcia R., Kentucky.

Send your humorous anecdote to publisher@teachinghome.com.

1.  God loves you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

2.  Man is separated from God by sin.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)  For the wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)

3.  The death of Jesus Christ in our place is God's only provision for man's sin.

He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

4.  We must personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph. 2:8, 9)

Immerse your family in God's truth through systematic reading and study of God's Word.

Listen to the Bible Online.  Choose from six English versions (plus Spanish and other languages) at BibleGateway.com/Audio.

Listen to beautiful traditional, sacred, and inspirational conservative Christian music (commercial free!) when you tune in to these online stations:

 •  Abiding Radio.  Choose from four stations: vocal, instrumental, kids, and seasonal (Christmas). Information for listening on many different devices.

 •  Old Christian Radio

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by Cindy Short, The Teaching Home co-editor

As a mother and wife, there is much you can (and should) do to contribute to the success, fulfillment, and happiness of your husband every day.

The 41 suggestions listed in this issue are practical ways to honor the Lord and your husband.

May the Lord richly bless your family for His glory.

 •  Willingly give up to Him all your desires, hopes, dreams, and expectations.

 •  Thankfully accept from Him your biblical roles and family relationships as well as any limitations and all circumstances of your life.

 •  Trust and obey the Lord in all things.

 •  Love him unselfishly and unconditionally.

 •  Listen to him attentively when he speaks, dropping what you are doing if possible, and establishing eye contact.  Try to understand his unspoken desires and check your understanding with gentle questions.

 •  Do your best to carry out his wishes faithfully in every area.

 •  Meet his needs for food, clothing, intimacy, companionship, and spiritual fellowship without waiting to be asked.

 •  Speak the truth in love.  Express your true thoughts and feelings as well as personal or family needs with humility and kindness, rather than suppressing them in bitterness.

 •  Speak of him respectfully and lovingly and require your children to do so as well.

 •  Represent him and his decisions in the best light.

 •  Teach your children that God leads the whole family through Father, so they can accept his direction, rules, and discipline as from the Lord.

Doorposts offers For This Is Right and Honor Your Father and Mother (for younger children).  Both books contain an evaluation of Scripture and practical applications of the Fifth Commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).  See free "Checklist for Sons and Daughters" and guidelines for parents.

 •  Organize and arrange the house, furnishings, schedule, meals, and chores so that your home life is convenient and comfortable for Dad when he is there.

 •  Supervise and discipline the children so that peace and quiet are the norm.

 •  Keep Dad informed of your children's progress in all areas, as well as any needs you observe.

 •  Encourage your children to go to Dad for comfort and to share with him their joys.

 •  Teach your children how to make a respectful appeal to their father when they want or need material things, privileges, or changes to rules or decisions.

 •  Preserve the times that are most convenient for him to lead daily Bible reading or family devotions, and prayer alone with you.  Make sure you and your children are ready and present on time every day, whether or not he is.

 •  Prepare for church (baths, clothes, meals, etc.) the day before and get everyone to bed and up again early so that peace instead of clamor characterizes your Sundays.

 •  Be ready and willing to offer hospitality to like minded Christians for spiritual fellowship and mutual encouragement.

 •  If your husband does not choose to participate in these things, be careful not to push or offend him, but continue them faithfully with his permission and make him feel welcome to join you and/or take leadership whenever he chooses.

 •  Pray for him alone, with your children, and when the whole family is together.

 •  Ask that God bless him, lead him, strengthen him, and comfort him.  (Do not use your prayer as a chance to preach at him about what he should do.)

 •  Be quick to repent and confess when you have sinned against your husband (e.g., anger, disrespect, negligence).

 •  Express sorrow and humility even if your fault seems relatively small.

 •  Ask him to forgive you and to tell you if he sees you going in that direction again.

 •  Freely admit you could be wrong when he disagrees with you or remembers things differently.

9.  Have a forgiving spirit when your husband
  is not at his best.

 •  Be understanding of his stress and frustration; try to alleviate these if you can.

 •  Give your hurt feelings to God; reject the temptation to be bitter.

 •  Answer softly and slowly; respond with genuine kindness to his anger.

 •  Take his concerns seriously and act on them.

 •  Write out loving and appreciative notes or encouraging (not rebuking) Scriptures and place them in lunches, on his mirror or pillow, in his pocket or wallet.

 •  Make his favorite meals or desserts often.

 •  Give him a foot or back massage when he is tired or achy.

 •  Offer to do small errands for him, in or out of the home.

 •  Watch for and buy small gifts he would appreciate throughout the year, not just for his birthday or Father's Day.

 •  Read and pass on to him articles or books in his areas of interest.

 •  Encourage your children to write thank you notes, draw pictures, and make gifts for Daddy.

 •  Make Dad's homecomings welcoming.  Smile!

 •  Say thank you often for big things like working to support the family and for little things like taking out the garbage.

 •  Tell him what you like about him; find the positive aspects of all his characteristics.

 •  Thank God for him and praise him to your children and others.