Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U><IMG SRC="040bf930.gif" border=0 width="191" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Glance at Reading Readiness"><U>A Glance at Reading Readiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Ba"><U>A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Bark</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasing Palette"><U>A Pleasing Palette</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Treasure So Fine!"><U>A Treasure So Fine!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion"><U>Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aunt Bettys BBQ Sauce"><U>Aunt Betty's BBQ Sauce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to School"><U>Back to School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Beginnings of Habit"><U>The Beginnings of Habit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Poured Out"><U>Being Poured Out</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Broccoli Chicken Casserole"><U>Broccoli - Chicken Casserole</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Educ"><U>Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Education</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing Curriculum for the new year"><U>Choosing Curriculum for the new year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives"><U>The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dwelling in Safety"><U>Dwelling in Safety</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall: The Season of Change"><U>Fall: The Season of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promise"><U>Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For the Love of Ginger"><U>For the Love of Ginger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Covenant Journey Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Pure Vessel Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!"><U>Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure"><U>The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in t"><U>Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in the Lord</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have You Been Working Out?"><U>Have You Been Working Out?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="His Love"><U>His Love</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Educators and their Books"><U>Home Educators and their Books</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling... A New Adventure"><U>Homeschooling... A New Adventure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Shoals"><U>Homeschooling in the Shoals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Springtime"><U>Homeschooling in the Springtime</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Swamp"><U>Homeschooling in the Swamp</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How the Created Thing "><U>How the Created Thing </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Prepare a Tincture"><U>How to Prepare a Tincture</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In the Final Analysis"><U>In the Final Analysis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Joy of the Lord and His Plan"><U>The Joy of the Lord and His Plan</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just Enough Stress"><U>Just Enough Stress</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Loneliness in the Homeschool"><U>Loneliness in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Message"><U>The Message</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nature Studies Indoors"><U>Nature Studies Indoors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nursing ParkerDaniil"><U>Nursing Parker-Daniil</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Teacher"><U>Our Teacher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Relationships in the Homeschool"><U>Relationships in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S is for Skullcap and Sleep"><U>"S" is for Skullcap and Sleep</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Great Deception"><U>Satan's Great Deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Science through a Nature Club"><U>Science through a Nature Club</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sharing from My Excess"><U>Sharing from My Excess</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"><U>"Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Storms of Change"><U>The Storms of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Strength to Face the Day"><U>Strength to Face the Day</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two Moms, One Jesus"><U>Two Moms, One Jesus</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waiting excerpted from Parables from Nat"><U>"Waiting" excerpted from "Parables from Nature by Mrs. Gatty</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Water and the Blood"><U>The Water and the Blood</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Are You Homeschooling"><U>Why Are You Homeschooling</U></A></div> <div> <B>Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Your Liver loves Burdock!"><U>Your Liver loves Burdock!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3a77c420.gif" border=0 width="380" height="66" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> <A NAME="_crooked_pines_publishing___________home"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  Crooked Pines Ministries</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles by Mary E. Woodis"><U><B>Articles by Mary E. Woodis</B></U></A></div> <div> Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="05193950.jpg" border=0 width="147" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3a3fc500.gif" border=0 width="252" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Winter… Dormant? Not Hardly! </div> <div> By: Mary E. Woodis </div> <div> December 30, 2002 </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Proverbs 19:15 </B></div> <div> “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,  </div> <div> And an idle person will suffer hunger.”  </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>LA'ZINESS, n. </B></div> <div> 1.  The state or quality of being lazy; indisposition to action or exertion; indolence; sluggishness; heaviness in motion; habitual sloth. Laziness differs from idleness; the latter being a mere defect or cessation of action, but laziness is sloth, with natural or habitual disinclination to action. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Ecclesiates 10:18 </B></div> <div> “Because of laziness the building decays,  </div> <div> And through idleness of hands the house leaks.”  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <div> <B>I'DLENESS, n.</B></div> <div> Abstinence from labor or employment; the state of a person who is unemployed in labor, or unoccupied in business; the state of doing nothing.  Idleness is the parent of vice. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Beginning Thoughts </B></div> <div>  </div> <div>      As a cold wind blows over northwest Alabama I pause to consider this season of seemingly dormant life. But if you look closely you will see that life is not dormant but it is neither overt. Zoom in on the little things and you will see the leaves are swelling in their buds and the bulb flowers are already cracking the surface. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      In the life of a home schooled family this also holds true. Whereas there is not much that is evident going on outdoors, peer through the windows and you will see a veritable hive of activity. </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      Consider this: the seed that is sown in the earth is undergoing great change before it shows its first shoot of life to the forest. A great and mighty oak must first begin as a tiny acorn. So first must come the season of dark and hidden growth and there we find ourselves. If we are merely lazy or idle during this season much is lost. This season is the perfect time to knit hearts together and make precious memories that will last a lifetime. This is the season for intensive discipline. We have the time and their attention to teach them about the holiness of God, of His mercy and grace that go hand in hand and also of His righteous judgment.  </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      Three seeds have God sown into the Woodis home. Three seeds to be nurtured and trained up for the glory of their Sower. God Himself chose to sow these seeds in this home. God ordained this family to educate in the home, and so our calling is sure for it comes from God Almighty.  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Renewing Our Purpose </B></div> <bR> <div>      From time to time it is useful and good to review our purpose and the source of our calling. Looking back to remember the source of our calling, the reason for our labors and the goal of our instruction can only bring blessing and a renewed sense of purpose to our home. Our children can only be benefited by such an exercise and our minds refreshed. Take this season to review your goals for each child and fine tune them. Look over your present activities and see where the little foxes are that are stealing your time and causing stress. Weigh each obligation for its worth. Is it of eternal value and useful for their future calling or is it merely a temporal activity that is using time and resources. </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      And so our purpose is established and our goal refreshed but still we are trapped indoors with fractious children who crave time outdoors in the sun. But the sun is obscured by winter weather and today at least, outside is not an option. What are we to do? We know that idleness and laziness are to be studiously avoided, but how in the world are we to keep these children busy? We have to do something now, before they all kill each other or us! </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Where is our Focus? </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hebrews 12:1, </B></div> <div> “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of  witnesses, [who have borne witness of the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every  encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which  so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,” </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Hebrews 12:2, </B></div> <div> “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Amplified Version</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     I have often found when my children become bored and contentious they are focused only on self (that distracts them from Jesus). Whenever our children become so focused they immediately become discontent. There is no way to ever satisfy self and so the frustration only builds. Hebrews 12:1-2 speaks of this problem and tells us where our eyes should be focused. Jesus is never against us, but always for us urging us onward to the goal and purpose He has set before us. But when self takes the throne everyone else becomes an adversary and this leads to common winter or cabin fever complaints. I would encourage you to set this example before your children and help them to understand that their focus has shifted and therein lies the problem. </div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Because inactivity has led to this shift in focus, let me suggest some activities to you that have worked well for our family and hopefully alleviate some of the stress in your home. We have used these activities to keep our children happily or not so happily active while they bless someone besides themselves. When they work to bless someone beside themselves their focus is automatically shifted and the problem ceases to exist. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Fun Activities to Focus Your Children </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 1) Visit the homeschool library! The overdue fines are completely reasonable (1 cent per day!) and the choice is too fine! </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 2) Try scrap booking! Get that box of pictures out from under the bed and let each of your children choose a subject. Such as: a family vacation, the new baby, their last sport, last Christmas… Whatever they choose this subject becomes their own to design a page. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 3) A jigsaw puzzle! When was the last time the whole family worked on a big puzzle spread out on the kitchen table? Even the little ones can work to fit the straight edge pieces together. This will while away hours of fun! Shape sorting (math) and logic skills are used in this exercise. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 4) Play a board game! When was the last time you had a family game night?</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 5) Clean out the video cabinet and donate the ones you don’t watch anymore to the Pediatrics Unit at your local hospital.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 6) Go through the coat closet! This time of year local charities like Loaves and Fishes really appreciate our coats that are no longer appropriate for our children. As you shuffle through the hangers share stories with your children about the last time or the first time you remember them wearing that coat. These memories are priceless!</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 7) Bake cookies and take them to your local firehouse or police station! Consider what a blessing this would be to our brave defenders and the memories you will build with your children.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 8) Make cards or write letters to a foreign missionary or five! Your church can supply you with names and addresses or check on the Internet.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 9) While you are in the card mode, make a card of appreciation for your Minister. You will bless this man of God and your children will never forget the look on his face when he realized what they have done for him.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 10) Call a family member that lives far away just to say hello! The contact will bless you and that person. Follow the phone call up with notes from each child expressing their delight in talking with this person.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 11) Start a notebook on a new school subject and enhance it with scrap booking materials. If you need ideas for this one check out Cindy Rushton’s book “Notebooking! Yes! You CAN Be A Binder Queen”. She will inspire you to hours of fun and greatness!</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 12) Start a new high adventure read aloud. The children will hang on your every word.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 13) Create cheerful pictures for residents of your local nursing home.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 14) Go on an Internet Treasure Hunt starting at an on-line interpretive museum.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Useful Activities for Problem Children </B></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      If none of these activities suit your child because of attitude or behavior problems try some of these: </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 1) Give each of your children a cleaning cloth, some water and assign each one a room. They may not come out until every baseboard and windowsill in the room is cleaned to your satisfaction. The first to finish a quality job will be rewarded in the style most suitable to your family.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 2) Assign those cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sinks. These are notorious for clutter gathering in my home. There are always bottles of this and that with only a tad left. Give your darlings the job of cleaning out the clutter, removing everything and cleaning the shelves too! This will use up a couple of whiney hours! Again the first to complete a satisfactory job is rewarded.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 3) The next activity I learned from the Fly Lady at <A HREF="http://www.flylady.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.flylady.com"><U>www.flylady.com</U></A>. This activity is called a “27 Boogie Fling”. Assign each child to a room or closet, give them a bag, put on some boogie tunes and fill that bag with 27 things in 15 minutes. This could be trash or charitable donations, you decide. At the end of the 15 minutes the bag goes immediately to the trash or the trunk of your vehicle, never to enter your home again.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 4) Try out a new exercise video or one that you have had shoved in the back of the closet for years. This can be hilarious and they will get exercise too!</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> 5) Pull out the appliances like the refrigerator, washing machine, dryer or stove and have them clean behind and underneath. This will use up some time as they are blessing their Mommy!</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>And so… </B></div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>      During all of these activities I recommend that you put on some lighthearted music. Sometimes just the tunes will cheer your children up. The hours that seemed to drag by before will suddenly fly and the inactivity that they lamented so bitterly may become more attractive!</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Well, that ought to about do it. Have I stirred your imagination? None of this is meant to be mean-spirited, it is all meant to give your brain a break and teach your children how to use their time wisely. You never know… you may find a hidden talent in one of your Darlings that they have never exhibited before. Before you know it, spring will be here and we will all be at Park Day sharing how we entertained our little treasures through the dark days of winter.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_crooked_pines_publishing___________home" TITLE="Winter... Dormant? Not Hardly!"><U><B>Back to the top</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at </B><A HREF="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net"><U><B>jessiew@hiwaay.net</B></U></A><B> for permission and more details.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net"><U><IMG SRC="3a047490.gif" border=0 width="71" height="73" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> jessiew@hiwaay.net</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> E-mail bears from: <A HREF="http://www.graphicgarden.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.graphicgarden.com"><U><IMG SRC="3a5af4f0.gif" border=0 width="175" height="79" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Page last updated April 2003</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>