295 – A Trailer, a Workshop, and a Routine

May 10, 1988

Dan saw an Airstream travel trailer for $5,600. School at Elim was winding down and our missions program was ending. We were pretty sure we were moving on. We were not sure of our destination, but we thought a trailer or a motor home might be the way to go wherever we were going. So we began to pray and look around, all the while knowing that we could not afford to purchase anything.

May 27, 1988

I went to a Greg Harris workshop. He’s a famous speaker who is outspoken about the value of  homeschooling and it was very encouraging. What impacted me was his challenge to dads: would your children follow you into the ark as Noah’s children did? Noah was the head of the home. He had integrity, he related to the family in such a way that they would follow him (as adults) wherever he led them. Later at home, I was looking at Dan and thinking, “Yes they would follow their dad, and so would I.”

June 24, 1988

We were now on a summer schedule. Timmy was home and most days the whole neighborhood was over at our house. But I really wanted to have a family routine, chore time, and Bible time with the boys. I also really wanted Timmy to get back into the family loop. I felt God had given me a revelation after I had read Ephesians 5:15-16:

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Be very careful, Georgann—be wise, not foolish. Other people’s children can and should fit into your family’s lives, but carefully make decisions about when, who, how long.

So when Tina called me about watching her sons, I carefully chose 10:30 am. Then Vivian called for me to watch Darren at 8:30 am. I said yes foolishly out of peer pressure and friendship. But I decided that from now on, that early time is a priority for breakfast, chores, Tim and Steve reading to me, me reading Bible to all of them, and keeping my homeschool log daily. I am asking God to intervene this morning to help it go well.

Later: with much prayer, and with confidence, yet with trembling, I went into the day. Darren came and we continued with our schedule. I was polite yet firm to keep him from being silly and distracting us from our Bible study and our discussion of the evils of these days. It was an excellent discussion. We went to our reading of Pilgrim’s Progress. Then writing, then listening to Tim and Steve read to me. We went outside to wait for Tim’s friend and Tina’s boys. The morning went excellently—God certainly intervened on my behalf.

And to top off the day: Pastor Judy brought me deodorant!! Later we went strawberry picking—15 quarts!

Psalm 23 He has restored my soul in Livonia. Literally, green pastures and quiet waters have ministered to me. Thank You, Lord!