Homeschool – Page 2 – Homespun Sugar

Abundance is Here!

Michelle Underwood God is Good, Homeschool November 19, 2021November 19, 2021abundance, arms wide open, harvest, surrender 0 Comment

“The secret to having it all is believing you already do.” ~ Unknown

November 19, 2021

I hear the Lord saying that we have entered into a time of abundance. What you have hoped for, prayed for, and waited for is arising like the sun with healing on its wings (Mal 4:4). You have travailed uphill. The rugged terrain will become level ground and the rough places a plain (Isa 40:4). You have now entered a place of green pastures and still waters, of restoration and overflow. A Psalm 23 season is upon you. Your cup runneth over. Abundance is here and he is Jesus (John 10:10)!

Abundance: Great plenty; an overflowing quantity; ample sufficiency (Websters, 1828)

The sun of righteousness will dawn on those who honor my name, healing radiating from its wings. You will be bursting with energy, like colts frisky and frolicking. And you’ll tromp on the wicked. They’ll be nothing but ashes under your feet on that Day.” God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so. (Mal 4:4, MSG)

The rugged terrain will become level ground and the rough places a plain. (Isa 40:4, TPT)

A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! (John 10:10, TPT)

Your birthright, the unlimited riches of Jesus’ victory on the cross, is being unveiled within you (Eph 3:16). The God of angel armies is revealing the power of Jesus’ love for you – the very essence of your victory. A love that has been there from the start, a love that has been fighting for you since before you took your first breath, a love that laid down His life so yours would overflow. Love is the root of the tree He has planted within you. What started off as a tiny seedling, has been watered, cared for, pruned, and doted on. It is now ready to yield the fruit it was designed for. The spring blossoms were abundant. The branches are now heavy with the weight of harvest. You can feel it. It is more than you can hold on your own. Your strength is not enough. His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Cor 12:8). His strength is more than enough!!

And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. (Eph 3:16, TPT)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:8, NKJV)

Alone you cannot manage the overflow. The abundance will require surrender of your agenda and to-do lists. The overflow will not fit into the gaps of your already busy life. You will need more space than you know. The abundance will require you to stand with your arms wide open – ready to receive. Lay down your agenda and follow the Lord.

He who loves abundance will not be satisfied with its gain (Ecc 5:10). The harvest is for the humble and contrite in spirit. Thus saith the Lord, “There is one my eyes are drawn to: the humble one, the tender one, the trembling one who lives in awe of all I say (Isa 66:2).” You know who you are. Yes you! Don’t disqualify yourself, simply prepare. Make way for the Lord. “A thunderous voice cries out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for Yahweh’s arrival! Make a highway straight through the desert for our God (Isa 40:3)!”

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity. (Ecc 5:10, AMP)

“But there is one my eyes are drawn to: the humble one, the tender one, the trembling one
who lives in awe of all I say. (Isa 66:2, TPT)

“A thunderous voice cries out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way[b] for Yahweh’s arrival!
Make a highway straight through the desert for our God! (Isa 40:3, TPT)

The love of Jesus is abundant! His love at work within you will achieve more than you could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). Prepare to stand in awe. The King of Glory is here! The sound of His roar is mighty in pulling down strongholds (2 Cor 10:4). The sound of His roar changes everything. Open wide you living gates – the King of Glory is entering through you (Ps 24:7)!! Yes you!!

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! (Eph 3:20, TPT)

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (2 Cor 10:4, NKJV)

7 So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you. 8 You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, Yahweh, invincible in every way! 9 So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you eternal doors! Here he comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in. (Ps 24:7-9)

Surrendering My Plans (and My Baby Clothes)

Michelle Underwood Homeschool November 4, 2021November 18, 2021baby clothes, healing, MS, Peaches, Promised child, Tabernacle, Teen Pregnancy, Youth for Christ 0 Comment

November 4, 2021 – Thursday

Today… I am surrendered!

I have a closet full of boy clothes my son has grown out of. My clothes have a story attached to them. It is not a story of nostalgia, but faith. In 2015 I was praying and asking the Lord what His plans were for our family. In my spirit I felt like there was one more child. I was praying and asking the Lord if I should be content with the two beautiful healthy babies He had already given me, as well as my two oldest (through marriage). As I sat there in the dark, I saw a vision a beautiful woman with long golden hair holding a baby and presenting him to me. He was a newborn swaddled in white, with a tiny patch of blue peeking out under his chin. After only a few seconds, the vision was gone. I had never experienced anything like that before – it was incredible. I knew it was from the Lord and that yes… there was indeed one more. What I didn’t know was how he was going to get here.

At the time of the vision, pregnancy felt like an unwise option for us due to my postpartum experience with my son. I am hoping to post the entire story soon. For those of you that may not know, I was diagnosed with MS in 2005. Up until my son was born, it was more than manageable. When he was three months old, it became unmanageable. Since that time it has been a long journey of faith, prayer, discovery and surrender. In short – God has shown up in the most miraculous ways and restored my body. I am on medication today and symptom free. To God be all the glory.

Over the years the Lord slowly revealed that the baby I saw in the vision would be adopted, and we laid down our desire to have one more of our own. It was a hard decision, but we knew God was in it. This summer we reached out to various adoption agencies to explore our options. After being told we were too old and had too many kids… we realized that we might not be able to go the traditional route of adoption either. Personally… being too old and having too many kids felt like the things that actually qualified me – so I couldn’t help but chuckle. We didn’t feel discouraged. It just puts us in a place of having to trust the Lord even more to do something that only He can do.

We have one closet fully dedicated to the baby clothes I have been saving for our promised baby boy. Each time my son outgrows his clothes, I have faithfully tucked them away for the baby I saw on that long ago night. On Sunday, October 24^th, as my husband I were praying, I heard “free up your space, you’re going to need more than you know”. I felt a prompting in my spirit to give all the clothes I had been saving away. I first heard this message as we were leaving Colorado. At that time, I cut the clothes in half, but did not fully surrender (ugh!. Yet again… I struggled in the release. At the time He was calling us to follow Him out of Colorado… that was huge for me. Leaving all my baby clothes there was more than I was ready for. I know I should have, but I also know God will put them to good use here. I do try so hard to listen and obey.

I know right where the clothes are supposed to go. The story begins early summer as our family visited the Tabernacle Experience Youth for Christ sponsored in our area. It was a full scale replica of the tabernacle from the days of Moses. It was amazing! At that time that they gave us a flyer to preorder peaches (and pears) from Palisade, Colorado. My favorite! I was wondering how I was going to get my hands on Palisade peaches this summer living in the Midwest. God is so good to me! The peaches were a fund raiser to support their Teen Parent program. As we ordered my favorite peaches… I felt the Lord drawing me into the teen parent program. Today I am more than clear that they are the ones who need my baby clothes.

Yet again, God is calling me to lay down all the treasures I am holding, so that my arms will be open to receive the good gifts He longs to give me. In order to receive, we have to release. I saved these clothes out of faith, and now I am releasing them out of faith. It really isn’t all that different than Abraham’s story when he faithfully gave his promised child to the Lord (Gen 22).

What I have learned from experience is that God’s promises rarely look like what we think they will. The Kingdom of God is so backwards and upside down, compared to the ways of the world. Really, it is right side up and perfect… and it is us who need a heavenly perspective. We can never guess how God will fulfill His promises – we simply have to be willing to listen and obey. I know I heard the voice of Lord – now it is up to me what I do with it. Listening is only part of the journey.

It is hard to lay all my treasures down. It is vulnerable to stand empty handed and let go of our good plans. Thankfully I know God’s plans for me and my family are far greater than anything I could dream up in my own strength (Jer 29:11). He is such a good Daddy. I know I can trust Him, and that is why I will obey. After all – it is His promise I am waiting for.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer 29:11, NIV)

Clothes are not the only thing I will surrender today. I will surrender my time. It wasn’t on my list of things to do today. But it was always on God’s. I feel like a yo-yo of surrender. I release and let it all go in one area, only to pick it up and pull it back somewhere else. I still have a lot to learn about standing with arms wide open. None the less… today I will lay it all down at His feet and trust Him with the rest.

We may not get to our “academic” subjects today… but what God is teaching my children is far greater. Learning to obey is caught, not taught. I know that my willingness to follow God is the most important lesson they can learn.

Victory Begins with Surrender

Michelle Underwood Homeschool November 3, 2021November 18, 2021 0 Comment

November 3, 2021 – Wednesday

Since I first felt the Lord invite me to focus on and capture the beauty in our days (August 3, 2021 – Nature, The Most Inviting Classroom), I have worked diligently to follow His lead. I laid down my plans and stood with my Arms Wide Open to receive the beautiful gifts He has for me. My children and I have been Following Jesus Outside and into Nature each week. It has been an incredible blessing. We are meeting new friends and falling in love with our new home by simply exploring the beauty surrounding us.

With that said… aside from being out in nature, nothing has gone at all like I planned. Wasn’t that the goal to begin with? To set aside my plans and follow the Lord? Yes! That was it. I have succeeded at the following. It’s the surrendering of my plans I am still working on. I laid them down, but somewhere along the way I picked them back up again. I have traded in either/or for both/and. The result… an overly busy schedule. Yes, I am obediently following His lead, but I am also pulling a huge load of both His plans and mine. Full surrender is dependent on my ability to lay down my agenda for God’s.

When God asked me to release my plans… He did so because He loves me. He knows my limitations. He knows what the year holds. He knows what we need most in this season. He also knows that full surrender is the place of greatest blessing. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt 11:30). He never intended me to do both/and. Yet here I am juggling His plans and mine, when all I really need to do is release it all and follow Him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30, NIV)

28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” (Matt 1:28-30, TPT)

The definition of release is to set free; stop holding; relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses; give up/relinquish in favor of another (Merriam-Webster). When the Lord asked me to release my plans to Him, His goal was to relieve me from my burdens. What He has is so much better – it is abundant (John 10:10)! When we hold tightly to our plans, we inadvertently BLOCK, HINDER, and OBSTRUCT the blessings, all while being BOUND, RESTRAINED, BURDENED AND LOADED DOWN. I can relate all too well. I love the synonyms for release – FREE, LIBERATE, UNBIND, UNCAGE AND UNCHAIN. Yes please!

Release: to set (someone or something) free; to stop holding (someone or something); to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses; to give up in favor of another (relinquish). (Merriam-Webster)

Synonyms: free, liberate, unbind, uncage, unchain

Antonyms: bind, restrain, block, hinder, obstruct, burden, load, weigh

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. (John 10:10, AMP)

As I first mentioned in An Invitation to Homeschool… “When I feel God’s call on my life I tend to jump in head first. Well... that is not always true, there are times when I resist and run to Nineveh like Jonah (thank God I haven’t been swallowed by a whale yet). Some things are easier to say yes to than others.” Yes, most of the time I follow God… I just bring my suitcase with me. Time and time again in the Bible, Jesus tells his followers to leave everything and follow Him (Mark 10:21, Matt 16:24-25, Mark 12:43-44). It is in the leaving our plans behind that we find ourselves most equipped.

Jesus fixed his gaze upon the man, with tender love, and said to him, “Yet there is still one thing in you lacking. Go, sell all that you have and give the money to the poor. Then all of your treasure will be in heaven. After you’ve done this, come back and walk with me.” (Mark 10:21, TPT)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways. 25 For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for my glory, you will continually discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will forfeit what you try to keep. (Matt 16:24-25, TPT)

43 Jesus called his disciples to gather around and then said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given a larger offering than any of the wealthy. 44 For the rich only gave out of their surplus, but she sacrificed out of her poverty and gave to God all that she had to live on, which was everything she had.” (Mark 12:43-44)

“It is amazing what God can do when give Him space in our lives! Busy schedules and rigid curriculums leave little space in our days, and hinder our ability to discover the gifts and beauty waiting to be uncovered with each new sunrise. What we think we are supposed to teach our children, often stands in the way of what we want to be teaching and even should be teaching (Arms Wide Open).”

For the past few months, yes! I have been following the Lord, all while attempting to squeeze my to-do list into the open space. The result – a frazzled Mama. I am aware of my need to surrender and stand with my arms wide open. So what is standing in my way? Earthy treasures (Matt 6:19). Faith in what I can see versus what I can’t see (2 Cor 4:18, Heb 11:1). Lies, deception and distraction (John 8:44). God is a God of peace. When we trust and follow Him, we are filled with His peace (John 14:27). When I am lacking peace, it is time to evaluate what I am believing, who I am following, and where my treasures are (Matt 6:21). It is imperative that we constantly check our sources. “Deception is just that… it is deceptive. We must learn to check our facts, because most of the time we are unaware of the lies we believe (Who Told You That?).

“Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. (Matt 6:19, TPT)

because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal. (2 Cor 4:18, TPT)

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. (Heb 11:1, NASB)

44 You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. (John 8:44, AMP)

27 “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous! (John 14:27, TPT)

21 For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure. (Matt 6:21, TPT)

Standing on truth allows us to advance. Believing lies results in paralysis. Victory begins with surrender. The primary reason we fail to surrender? Fear. “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is ... fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” These prophetic words were spoken by President Franklin Roosevelt at his first inaugural address in 1933. His words are timeless. Fear is our greatest enemy. It is time to advance! We can Trust the Lord with Tomorrow! Let us lay down our fears, our plans, our agendas, our preconceived notions, and the lies we believe. In the world, victory begins with taking control. In the Kingdom of God, victory begins with surrender.

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is ... fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
~ President Franklin Roosevelt

Pray this prayer with me today. Help me God to trust in you with all my heart. To lean not on my own understanding. To acknowledge you in all my ways. You alone make my path straight.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Prov 3:5-6, ESV)

Following Jesus, Outside and into Nature

Michelle Underwood Homeschool November 2, 2021November 11, 2021Earthlodge, Lazy Genius Way, Lewis and Clark, Wild and Free 0 Comment

November 2, 2021

Today we enjoyed the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center in Nebraska City with our Wild and Free group, where we wandered among the 79 wooded acres overlooking the Missouri river, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. The children used a replica Native American Earthlodge as their home base, while they discovered the surrounding hills. It was another beautiful November day! The warm sunshine, crispness in the air, and crunching leaves beneath our feet were salve to the soul.

It isn’t easy to make nature hikes a priority each week, but it is always worthwhile. It helps so much to have the accountability of our group to draw me away from my unending to-do list. I have been reading The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi as a part of the Read Aloud Revival Mama book club (with Sarah Mackenzie). One of the pointers I have taken away is to simply make a decision and then stick with it. According to Adachi, “Constant decision-making is one of the reasons you don’t have energy for things that matter to you. By discovering a few opportunities to decide once and then never again, you give your brain more room to play.” This is what I have done with Wild and Free. I knew that I wanted to incorporate more nature study into days. I found a group that would help hold me accountable to that goal and have committed to join them each week on their adventures. I don’t reevaluate my decision each week, I simply just show up to hike. There is so much freedom found in setting a goal and developing an action plan to make it happen.

Not Conforming isn’t Avoiding

Michelle Underwood Homeschool November 1, 2021November 7, 2021Candy, Conforming, Halloween, Trick or Treat 0 Comment

November 1, 2021

Halloween has once again come and gone. November is a breath of fresh air, as we shift from a national focus on darkness to one of thankfulness.

My journey of learning how to navigate Halloween began with my Daughter’s first Halloween. We took her trick or treating, because, well… isn’t that what you do on October 31st. As I described in The Power of Christmas, my Mom loves the Holiday’s and always goes all out. Halloween was no exception. We just did what we did, without ever questioning why.

A short way into my journey of motherhood, the Lord started to open my eyes and was leading me to ask why in so many areas – food, holidays, entertainment, media, education… Halloween was no exception. In 2011, when our first born was just nine months old, my husband and I accompanied my older half-children trick or treating. Our baby girl was dressed as a beautiful flower – spotless and perfect! Her sweet little eyes had only ever seen beauty. Suddenly, I was caught off guard as she was surrounded in the darkness of Halloween. All I wanted to do was shield her from the world around us. I knew I couldn’t shield her forever, but surely I could do better than this!

The following year, our second baby was born. We brought him home from the hospital on October 31^st, rejoicing in the light that God brought into our home. It was then that we knew we were being called to something different. The Lord was calling us to redeem October. How do we redeem October? By not conforming to the patters of the world (Rom 12:2). Avoiding and not conforming are two very different things. God never called us to avoid the world, just to not conform to it.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:2, NIV)

When my youngest turned two, we embraced the invitation to redeem October and celebrated our first Harvest Fest in conjunction with his birthday! As he has grown, so has harvest fest! That same year I weeded out my fall decorations and obediently got rid of everything with a Halloween theme. I had all the Halloween items boxed up and ready for the thrift store, when I felt a conviction to throw it all away. As I stood there in my garage contemplating the message I was receiving – I knew it was the Lord, and tossed it in the trash.

We managed to shelter our little ones from Halloween for many years. We didn’t live in a neighborhood that had trick or treaters, so my children didn’t know what they were missing. Harvest fest was our thing and we did it well! It wasn’t until their friends and cousins got older that they started to question us about the rumor they had heard. Could they really go door-to-door, and with three magic words (trick-or-treat), get their buckets filled with candy?

I found myself at the Lord’s feet, asking Him what to do. I didn’t get a clear answer, but I did get a clear picture of what Jesus would do. He would go out into the neighborhoods and shine light. Jesus wouldn’t conform to Halloween, but He also wouldn’t avoid it.

I never intended to shelter my children forever – just a short while. After all, they were born to shine light. I know that in order to shine light we have to be willing to go into dark places. Protecting our children from the world doesn’t teach them how to navigate it. Our job is to teach them how to be in the world but not of the world. They must be equipped!

¹⁹If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19, AMP)

My husband and I don’t want our children to avoid darkness or be afraid of it. We simply want them to recognize it for what it is, and to know that our God is greater. We want them to be confident in their identity as followers of Christ, and equip them in understanding the expansive power that is within them. I pray that they would have the eyes of Elisha to see that “those who are for us are far greater than those who are against us”.

“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16, NASB)

That first year of trick or treating, the children had fun wandering around in costumes after dark with their cousins. And to be honest – so did I. What wasn’t fun was the large buckets of candy we returned home with. It made the dietitian in me cringe. As you can imagine they wanted to go back the following year, and the year after that… But they get it. How do I know? Because they ask intelligent questions like “what do black cats have to do with Halloween?” They have learned to ask why!!

So I know Jesus would go door-to-door and shine light. What I don’t know… is what He would do with ALL that candy!?

Too Much of a Good Thing

Along with helping our children wisely navigate the darkness of Halloween, we also have to help them unveil self-control with all the candy they get. This year our batch weighed in at a total of six pounds! Six pounds of candy! Before we went they had agreed to sell it back to me for $0.25/ounce, but once it was in their sticky little hands… they couldn’t seem to let it go. Sugar is sticky stuff!

What I do know is that depriving them of candy will not teach them. Again, my job isn’t to shelter them, but rather to equip them. Halloween presents incredible teaching opportunities. What is a kid to do with six pounds of candy?! Let’s get real y’all… they certainly shouldn’t eat it all! But they do need to learn how to wisely enjoy it.

Growing up, my mom always had bite size pieces of candy in bowls on the counter. My brother and I would have a little here and little there… because it was always available. Our friends on the other hand would come over and empty the bowls, taking handful after handful. I am not looking to raise bowl emptiers, but children who wisely exercise self-control. Candy is a good warm up for the temptations of life. We can’t expect to shelter them from it, and hope that one day they will just know what to do. It is our job to gradually expose our children to the world and equip them while they are still safe under our wings.

So… what do we do?

After weighing their six pounds of treasures, I had them pour it all out and group it by type – 100 twix in this corner, 50 M&M’s in this corner, 10 Twizzlers here, 5 Sour Patch there, and so on. Then we did a taste test and ranked our favorites from 1-10. The first night we only made it through six candies before my little boy said he was gonna be sick if he didn’t stop. I didn’t have to tell them to stop – they had had enough. Today they only sampled about another six before they threw in the towel. They had found their favorites and handed all the rest over. They each got $8, and I sent the surrendered batch to work with my husband (though I must admit that the dietitian in me was tempted to throw it out with the Halloween decorations).

I still have candy in the house. I don’t exactly have it on the counter like my Mom, but it is in the pantry and they are welcome to it anytime (within reason). The candy I make available is free from food dye and unidentifiable ingredients. Yes, it is still sugar… but at least I can pronounce the ingredients. My hope is that they are satisfied and won’t be enamored by candy. I pray that God will guide them to “think clearly and exercise self-control” in all areas of their life (1 Pet 1:13). The Bible teaches us “when you discover something sweet, don’t overindulge and eat more than you need, for excess in anything can make you sick of even a good thing (Prov 25:16). This is a great scripture to memorize during the month of October with our children.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. (1 Pet 1:13, NLT)

When you discover something sweet, don’t overindulge and eat more than you need, for excess in anything can make you sick of even a good thing (Prov 25:16, TPT).

We are raising children who will learn to ask why; who will think clearly and exercise self-control; who will be equipped to live in the world, yet not be of the world; and who will shine light into dark places. If we can teach them to navigate Halloween wisely, they will learn much! Our success can begin with a simple prayer. Open the eyes of my heart and my children’s heart Lord! “A prayer for vision is where the victory begins (Priscilla Shirer, Armor of God Study).”

The Parenting to Impress website has some other good ideas on what to do with all your Halloween candy.

The Harvest is Abundant

Michelle Underwood Homeschool October 30, 2021November 7, 2021Harvest Fest 0 Comment

October 30, 2021

Today was our 7^th annual Harvest Fest and my son’s 9^th birthday! The Lord blessed us with the most beautiful autumn day. Warm sunshine, golden leaves and blue skies surrounded us, along with the fellowship of family and friends. This year’s activities included rope making, corn cob dolls, a scavenger hunt in the prairie, hay rides and a piñata. My 12 year old niece sat next to me on the hay ride and said this was her favorite party of the year! It is moments like that that make it all worthwhile. It is a lot of work to pull off… but it is the best party of the year.

In Colorado, Harvest Fest had turned into a huge event with so many families. Being new to the Midwest, we mostly invited family and a couple new friends we have made. Each year we just follow the Spirit and adapt with the changes of life. It is the Lord’s Harvest… we just show up!

³⁷ “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. ³⁸Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt 9:37, CSB)

Who Told You That?

Michelle Underwood Homeschool October 21, 2021November 7, 2021Bats, Black Cats, Fact Checkers, Halloween, Owls, Spiders, The Fall 0 Comment

October 21, 2021 – Thursday

Yesterday morning, the children were questioning me on what black cats, bats, owls, and spider webs have to do with Halloween. I have always taught them the beauty of nature, and have never labeled these creatures of the night as scary or creepy. Their foundation was truth, and this new information wasn’t inline what they knew. They were checking the facts.

The simple answer to their question is absolutely nothing. God’s beautiful creation has nothing to do with Halloween. But there is more to it than that. As I answered their questions, fresh manna fell down from heaven for me to collect. The more I taught, the more wisdom I seemed to receive.

It is an age old story that dates back to the beginning of time. The enemy of this world, the devil, has always longed to be exalted above God and to be worshipped; it is what caused his fall from heaven to begin with (gotquestions.org). He wanted what God had and was willing to do anything to get it. He is up to his same old tricks today, attempting to steal what the Lord has and turn our eyes away from God. “The enemy may be invisible but he is not fictional. He is very real, and very persistent, waging war against us constantly (Priscilla Shirer, Armor of God Study).”

Who told us that black cats, spiders, owls, and bats are creepy creatures of Halloween? God created each of these amazing nocturnal creatures. It was the devil who stole them from God, attached a new label, and directed our attention away from God and towards himself. The enemy is running rampant under the cover of these lies. Just as he always has, the enemy still longs for adoration and will stop at nothing to get it. He wins anytime we believe his lies.

“Who told you that?”

We must become fact checkers and lie detectors. The simplest way to check our facts is with one simple question – “who told you that?” It is one of the first questions in the Bible. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve are caught hiding in the garden after eating the forbidden fruit. Adam tells the Lord “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” God’s response is timeless. “Who told you that?

¹⁰He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” ¹¹And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gen 3:10-11, NIV)

There are so many lies we believe that we are unaware of. Deception is just that… it is deceptive. We must learn to check our facts, because most of the time we are unaware of the lies we believe. The enemy stays in a place of safety as long as we don’t recognize him as the source. Little children naturally ask questions? Let us learn by their example by simply asking WHY?! Why do we do what we do?!

We are a chosen generation – called to proclaim the goodness of God. We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). God encourages us to turn away our eyes from worthless things (Ps 119: 37), and think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). Let us redirect our focus and become fact checkers!

⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pet 2:9, AMP)

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. (Ps 119:37)

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8, NIV)

Apples versus Chocolate Cake

Michelle Underwood Homeschool October 20, 2021November 7, 2021Anne Shirley, autumn, Hiking, Indian Caves, Laura Ingalls, Penderwicks, Railway Children 0 Comment

October 20, 2021 – Wednesday

Yesterday we joined our Wild and Free group at Indian Caves State Park. I have good intentions of exploring new hikes in the area, but if I am honest… they are easy to put aside for more seemingly important things. I feel so blessed to have found a group of kindred spirits who help hold me accountable to my goal of being out in nature. There were tears getting out the door. Piano and math became a difficult mountain to climb for my daughter that morning. We had to lay it down and just get ready for the real hike of the day. She can sometimes make a mountain out of a mole hill. I can’t imagine who she learned that from (ugh).

We started the 1 ½ hour drive listening to The Railway Children by E. Nesbit for our Wild and Free book club. After about thirty minutes, the children started chanting in unison from the backseat “Penderwicks! Penderwicks!” The Railway Children - Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, are up against fierce competitors – Rosalind, Skye, Jane, Batty, Ben and Lydia Penderwick. It is a match I am sure E. Nesbit would have been familiar with when she published her book in 1906. She was on the heels of Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie and Phronsie (the Five Little Peppers), and only one year prior to L.M. Montgomery’s beloved Anne Shirley of Green Gables. None the less, she persevered and became a classic. Some books, like the Railway Children, are apples and others, like the Penderwicks, are chocolate cake. Our children benefit from both.

We arrived at Indian Caves, having to momentarily leave behind the adventures of Arundel. I wondered how far I had driven – perhaps I too had gotten lost in the book and traveled further than anticipated. The corn fields had disappeared. As we entered into the 3000 acre state park, the hills were covered with autumn’s paintbrush, and were breathtaking! The spectacular winding narrow road that led to the trail head was over canopied by trees and sprinkled with fall’s confetti of leaves. Much to my dismay, this narrow road was cluttered with Halloween decorations. It was distracting from the beautiful fall foliage. I adore the golden glow of October! Oh how I wish the world didn’t attempt to litter it with darkness.

With over twenty children in tow, we headed out on the trail. Trail three was a strenuous climb – and that says a lot coming from this Colorado girl. Nebraska, I was more than impressed! The children did amazing. We ended the day at the historic site of St. Deroin, where they played outside the old school house for over an hour, spinning around and around on the merry-go-round. The mothers chatted over the ringing of the school bell and laughter of our children. It is the simple things in life they truly long for. Children are happy with little. Fresh air, nature and friends go a long way. We try to give them the world, when all they really need is time outside to enjoy it.

It was late in the day by the time we headed back home. With evidence of the days warm sun still on cheeks, dirt on knees, and pockets full of treasures, we loaded back into the car. I was envious of the wise families who stayed to camp. Maybe next year. After enjoying a nourishing snack of “apples”, we finished our drive with… you guessed it “chocolate cake!” My wonderful husband met us at home with pizza takeout. I was thankful. The morning hadn’t lent itself to preparing ahead for dinner. When life’s mountains, like piano, math and even dinner prep feel overwhelming – it is always best to get out into nature for some perspective. Nature has a way of grounding us.

The Lord Will Provide

Michelle Underwood Homeschool October 16, 2021November 3, 2021autumn, Penderwicks, Spring Creek Prairie 0 Comment

October 16, 2021 – Saturday

Our journey into the prairie continued last week as we participated in a prairie immersion class at the 850 acre Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. The class is offered annually to 4^th graders in the public school system, and per my request, they generously opened it to our homeschool group. The only problem… I don’t really have a homeschool group yet as we are still new to town. Oops. I was unsure if I could meet the minimum of ten students required for the event. We did just join Wild and Free… but this event didn’t work with their schedule. I was trusting the Lord to provide friends to join us on this adventure. The truth is… this field trip is for me, and I am simply letting my children tag along. They know it is true and oblige my passion.

We miraculously had eleven children attend! God is so good! I feel especially blessed because one of the families that attended, I met through a friend, and they are just lovely. We were first introduced to their ten year old Lydia. I said… “Oh… Lydia like the Penderwicks!” You just know when you meet a kindred spirit! Books not only reveal commonalities among us, but define us. Good books become our friends, and can also reveal our friends to us. We look forward to spending more time with this family.

It was a beautiful October day. The combination of the warm October sun with the cool autumn breeze is one of my favorites. The children explored, caught bugs, drew postcards and colored them with plants, examined leaves with magnifiers, and rolled down grassy hills. It is fun to think that no matter what century we live in… the adventures to be found on a grassy hill are timeless.

The Dance of the Seasons

Michelle Underwood Homeschool October 11, 2021November 3, 2021 0 Comment

October 11, 2021 - Monday

The Dance of the Seasons

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Autumn is in full bloom on the prairie. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”. The tiny green shoots of spring have entertained us with their dazzling dances over the past months. The great Choreographer of “The Dance of the Seasons”, has yet again outdone Himself. Dance after dance, all of creation shouts His praise. It is time for the curtain call… when the world joins in with nature, under the warm October sun, with a standing ovation of praise!

Let the rivers and streams clap with applause as the mountains rise in a standing ovation to join the mighty choir of exaltation. (Ps 98:8, TPT)

Jesus responded, “Listen to me. If my followers were silenced, the very stones would break forth with praises!” (Luke 19:40, TPT)

Flowers

The Dahlia’s have wooed us with their bright and brilliant blossoms. The Canna bulbs my neighbor shared with me have gradually outgrown each member of our family, and demand our admiration with their vibrant red blossoms that continually bloom from summer through fall. The simplicity of the Soapweed yucca in their shadow, is no less remarkable. While the Canna prepare to take the summer stage, the yucca shines in the spring delicately adorned with white blossoms intentionally placed amid the thorns. Our Endless Summer hydrangeas joyfully welcome guests to our country home as they border the front porch with their unending pink blooms. The bees and butterflies that inhabit the pollinator garden, flit among the salvia, bee balm and Black-eyed Susan’s, while faithfully and dutifully collecting its veiled treasures.

The toxic milkweed leaves that once lodged tiny Monarch eggs, also sustained and nourished its hatched occupants, all while providing them with predator fighting capabilities. The lilac scented pale pink blossoms of the milkweed, supply nectar to the transformed aerial acrobats dressed in wings of orange and black. The dance of the “Monarch and the Milkweed” is spectacular and not to be missed. “The Pilgrimage” is their final dance of the season and involves 1000’s of miles of travel to the forests of central Mexico where they overwinter. Next spring we will wait in anticipation for their homecoming and will reserve front row seats by nurturing the milkweed that these weary dancers depend on.

“I love my garden and love working in it.
To potter with green growing things,
watching each day to see the dear new sprouts come up,
it is like taking a hand in creation I think.”
~L.M. Montgomery, Anne’s House of Dreams

Vegetables

Flower gardens nourish our souls and our planet, while vegetable gardens nourish our bodies. Under the warmth of the Midwest sun, our vegetable garden has produced a colorful bounty of tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, chard, beets and carrots. I have been challenged to learn the art of preservation. Fermented Sour Dill Crock Pickles have become a favorite in our home. Consuming rows of refrigerator space, they will provide a taste of summer throughout the long winter months.

In a feeble attempt at a Native American inspired “Three Sisters Garden”, I planted corn, pole beans and squash together on mounds. Theoretically, this trio dances beautifully together as the beans weave circular patterns around the corn trellis, while the squash vines cover the ground shielding the soil from weeds and decorating the stage with vibrant blossoms and fruit. Despite living in the midst of corn country, and having a corn stalk literally sprout from my bathroom sink last fall (a result of little hands that dropped a kernel down the drain) – corn proved to be among the most difficult of crops to grow, and thus the pole beans had nothing to climb. The pumpkin vines that bordered the mounds produced a handful of sweet pie pumpkins we will make into pies. I am grateful to not be dependent on the production of my garden for survival, unlike the Natives who once cultivated this land.

From summer flowers to autumn seed pods – the dancers of spring, summer and autumn, gracefully leave the stage in preparation for next year’s performance. As the dancers prepare to take their final bow before the curtain closes for the season, the final applause is saved for the prairie grass. Its magnificent dancers have whispered to us the story of their journey from expansiveness to survival to restoration. Their story echoes that of the bison and Natives it once danced with. Of all the dancers, I am most taken by the prairie grass.

Prairie Grass

We live in a place that was once defined by tallgrass prairie. It is hard to imagine a time before corn and soybeans – though I try. Oh how my heart longs to see the untouched prairie before the settlers arrived. Impossible. I know. As we wandered the historic Ingalls homestead in DeSmet, SD last month, I stumbled upon a quote tucked away in the corner of a barn that spoke directly to my heart.

“No living man will see again the long-grass prairie, where a sea of prairie flowers lapped at the stirrups of the pioneer. We shall do well to find a forty here and there on which the prairie plants can be kept alive as species. There were a hundred such plants, many of exceptional beauty. Most of them are quite unknown to those who have inherited their domain.”
~ Paul Gruchow

The wagon wheel trails that were etched into the history of the prairie, forever changed the landscape. We will never see again the tallgrass prairie of the early settlers. The prairie that once swept the plains, has now been swept away. “The prairie grasslands are now considered North America’s most endangered ecosystem (Ohio State)”. According to the World Rangeland Learning Experience, “the tallgrass prairie historically occupied approximately 150 million acres, with only 1-18% remaining (wrangle). The impact of one generation of pioneers, can be challenged by a new generation of pioneers. We should never underestimate the impact one generation can have.

One of my most relied upon scriptures is Romans 12:2 “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. It is so easy to look at the world and accept it for what it is. We may long for something better, but simply leave it at that… a longing. Pioneers don’t simply long for change, they encompass change.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and ^[^c^]acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2, NASB)

Pioneers are far from settlers. They may have settled the land, but only because they first paved it. We will never again see the tallgrass prairie of our ancestors, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up. We must refuse to settle for a disappearing prairie, and we must pave new paths.

In the quote above, Gruchow urges people to find forty acres here and there on which to plant prairie plants and take part in keeping alive this now endangered species. I feel blessed to live on five acres of land, much of which we have dedicated to prairie restoration. In conjunction with our neighbors, together we have reestablished acres of prairie grass. Between our eight homes we have found our forty to keep the prairie plants alive!

The prairie is always full of life and beauty, from grasses to flowers to animals. The four main grasses of the tallgrasses prairie are Indiangrass, Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and Little Bluestem. The tallgrasses rivals our decorative Canna for height, reaching upwards of 6 feet tall, while its roots can dig down 12 feet (FWS). I have heard the underground workings of the prairie referred to as the “upside down forest”. The dance of the prairie is a dance of intricate balance, depth and strength, reminiscent of ocean waves.

This past spring we had the honor of taking part in our first prairie burn, and were thankful for neighbors who had prior experience. The “Prairie Fire” dance is humbling and powerful, and a fast paced dance that leaves the stage charred and momentarily lifeless. By late spring the dancers peek their tiny heads from the black stage and bravely emerge to welcome the spring. Like magic the prairie returns – full of life, beauty and history, a perfect depiction of beauty from ashes (Isa 61:3, NIV). The autumn prairie is again “ablaze” as the grasses retire their summer attire of greens and blues, for autumn inspired hues of bronze, gold, red and yellow, all embellished with tiny seeds. The fluffy white downy seeds of the Little Bluestem, takes center stage as the sun sets and glowing white seeds foretell the story of winter frost on the heels of autumn.

…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isa 61:3, NIV)

Today… we are seed collectors. With buckets in tow, my husband invites us outside to collect seeds. As we walk among the grass and slide our fingers upwards over the blades, the seeds willingly surrender into our hands. There is more prairie to be planted… we will settle this land as we blaze new trails. We will take our part in history so that perhaps one day, my grandchildren will have front row seats for “The Prairie Dance”. This is life. This is homeschool.

We must always ask ourselves how to be pioneers in a world of settlers. What can we do each day to not conform? How can we stand for something that matters? Something our grandchildren will one day thank us for? The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago… the next best time is today! Let us be a generation that leaves the marks of our wagon wheels etched into history!