Homeschool Update Magazine - 2018, Volume 3, Issue 103

T H E H E A R T O F H O M E S C H O O L I N G
A Generation
Who Knows
How to Do Justice
Discipling Your
Children in the
Family Economy
Keeping the
Home in
Homeschooling
Thoughts for
Homeschooling,
Working Moms
8 10 14 26
ARTICLES INSIDE THIS ISSUE INCLUDE
2018 IVOLUME 3 IISSUE 102
COLORADO HOMESCHOOL
SPELLING BEE
JANUARY 19, 2019 PAGE 9

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CHEC Homeschool Update IVolume 3, 2018 IIssue 102
INSIDE
6 Growing Together
INTERVIEW WITH THE MOODYS
8 A Generation Who
Knows How to
Do Justice
BY KRISTI BROWN
10 Discipling Your
Children In the
Family Economy
BY MIKE CHENEY
14 Keeping the Home
in Homeschooling
BY MARCIA WASHBURN
22 Slowly by Slowly
BY REBECCA THOMAS
26 Thoughts for
Homeschooling,
Working Moms
BY SHARI HOWARD MCMINN
CHEC Events
12 Rocky Mountain
Homeschool Conference
Recap
19 Father Son
Retreat Recap
Columns
4 Director’s Desk
16 Homeschool Leaders
18 Legislative Liaison
26 Best of Blog
28 Struggling Learners
30 Curriculum Review
32 Partner’s Page
19039 Plaza Drive, Suite 210 Parker, Colorado 80134
720.842.4852 I1.877.842.CHEC (2432) ICHEC.org
Front Cover: Photography by Tobias Steeves, AWAAphotos (awaaphotos.com),
CHEC Spelling Bee.
This page: Photography by Tobias Steeves, AWAAphotos (awaaphotos.com),
Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference.
Family Encouragement

PHOTOGRAPHYBYCRAIGFAMILY
My daughter
Christiana
stood perched on the
edge of the dock in
a half-ready-to-jump
position, quivering
from a mixture of
excitement, dread,
and cool lake water
chill. She was learning
to swim and was
about to jump into
water that was over
her head … without a
life jacket!
Maybe some of you can relate to the emotions
my daughter was experiencing as you prepared
yourself for jumping into a new homeschool
year. Regardless of the homeschool season
you are in, there are always unknown waters
before you.
Throughout Scripture, we find the encouragement
to “be strong” given to men and women who were
faced with significant and daunting Kingdom work.
While most of us don’t lose sight of the daunting part
of homeschooling, we often lose sight of the the fact
that the education and discipleship of our children is
significant Kingdom work. Let’s be honest, it takes an
incredible amount of strength and courage to do this
thing we call homeschooling.
Though filled with so many joys along the way and
eternal rewards to look forward to, homeschooling is
not for cowards. And we need reminders and encour-
agements to “be strong” because what we are doing
is hard and important and worth fighting for — even
laying down our lives for.
I want to give you three truths found in Scripture that
will help you to “be strong” in your homeschooling
journey this year.
1. Be Strong …
IN THE LORD!
There are 32 “be strong” passages in Scripture. The
last one is Ephesians 6:10, which is the passage that
provides us with the first truth that we need to cling
to. This verse says, Finally, be strong in the Lord and
in the strength of His might.
To be strong in the Lord means that we are not pull-
ing ourselves up by our bootstraps and determining
to muscle through in our own strength. Rather, we
are identifying with, claiming, and appropriating
the power of God. The parent who believes they are
strong apart from the Lord is in grave danger, which
is why we find a warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12
which says, Therefore let anyone who thinks that he
stands take heed lest he fall.
In reality, we are all very, very weak. So the first step
to being strong is to realize that WE are NOT strong.
WE are weak … but HE is STRONG! Only as we cling
to God’s strength will we see His strength perfected
in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
2. Reject Fear
As I surveyed the “be strong” passages of Scripture,
the accompanying command “Do not be afraid”
clearly stood out. Fear, anxiety, and worry are
sins that are as debilitating and deadly as they are
common. I know fear and anxiety are sins I struggle
with. Do you?
As I was teaching my children to swim, it quickly
became apparent that the number one danger (aside
from the water itself) was their fear of it. On one
occasion, I noticed my son swimming along just fine.
BE STRONG!BY STEVE CRAIG
C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E I Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 02 , 2 01 84
DIRECTOR’S DESK

Suddenly, he became fearful and began to struggle.
His fear would have been deadly if I wasn’t right by
his side.
Fear creeps into our lives so easily the moment we
begin to doubt the power of God (2 Chronicles 32:7-8,
1 John 4:4), the presence of God (Joshua 1:9, 1
Chronicles 28:20), or the love and goodness of God
(Luke 12:32, Romans 8:32). But there is good news!
The power of Christ can free us from the sin of fear and
its accompanying vices. We just need to repent of it,
forsake it, and ask Him to save us from it. And He will!
3. Obey
Finally, we need to obey God. The very first “be
strong” passage in Scripture is Deuteronomy 11:8,
which says, You shall therefore keep the whole com-
mandment that I command you today, that you may
be strong, and go in and take possession of the land
that you are going over to possess. Obedience is not
easy, but it is pretty simple and practical.
Scripture gives us such a clear record of the bless-
ing that God’s people experienced when they obeyed
God AND the subsequent severe chastisement that
followed their disobedience. Maybe like me, you
have thought, “Man, those dumb Israelites! All they
needed to do was obey and life would have been
so good for them! What were they thinking?” And
then you have probably thought, “Yeah, and I do the
exact same thing!” Friends, the recipe for success
is really pretty simple. It is wrapped up well in the
words of the old hymn which says “Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to
trust and obey.”
Our first and foremost reason for homeschooling
shouldn’t be because the public schools are bad,
or because we think we can give our kids a better
education, or because we think our kids will turn out
good if we do. Our first and foremost motiva-
tion should be connected to our desire to
obey God’s command for us to bring our
children up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord.
If you are obediently doing what God has asked you
to do, you can be 100% confident that He will give
you the strength to do it!
Well, I can’t end by leaving
Christiana perched on
the edge of the dock ...
I am happy to say that she did jump and she did
swim! When she needed help, I was there for her. Best
of all, she reached the shore! And so will you if you
stand strong in Christ, reject fear, and obey God as
you seek to diligently teach your children His ways! 
Steve Craig is the Executive
Director for Christian Home
Educators of Colorado. He
and his wife Tara are second
generation homeschoolers
and have a passion to inspire others toward
biblical discipleship in the home. Steve and Tara
live in Parker with their five children: Carson,
Christiana, Angelina, Jewel, and Ariel.
CIVICS
CURRICULUM
CIVICS
CURRICULUM
NEW!
A complete Colorado history and
from a Christian worldview
Authored by homeschool grad Julianna Dotten,
this curriculum is great for all ages.
Purchase now (and preview an excerpt)
at CHEC.org/civics
Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 1 02 , 2 01 8 I C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E 5
DIRECTOR’S DESK

TOGETHER
Growing
Q COULD YOU SHARE
WITH OUR READERS ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY AND HOW YOU
BEGAN TO HOMESCHOOL?
AOver the past 20 years, we have
been home educating and discipling our five
children. Two of our children have graduated
and three are currently in their high school
years. We were introduced to the idea of home
education through Biblically Correct Tours.
One day a friend of ours, Rusty Carter, invited
David to come along with him and Bill Jack on
a B.C. Tour of the Denver Museum of Nature
and Science. That tour changed the trajectory
of our family’s life. David was so impressed
with the home educated students, he thought
we should consider home educating our own
children (our oldest child being only 18 months
at the time!).
I, Jennifer, was skeptical, having only recently
recovered from a single year career in public
school teaching, and having decided I would
“Never!” teach again. However, in addition
to both of us praying about it, I attended my
first CHEC homeschool conference before
our oldest child was two. Because I was so encour-
aged by what I learned at the CHEC conference
that first year, David attended with me the following
year — and we have been attending together ever
since! God helped us to trust Him to home educate
our children, realizing that home education is not
just about academics, it is about discipleship. It is
about faith, character, and conduct, in preeminence
of academics.
Q WHAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT POSITIVE EFFECT
OF HOMESCHOOLING YOUR
CHILDREN?
AHome education has created a family
dynamic which has allowed us to have close relation-
ships between parents and children as well as among
siblings, because we get to
spend more time together than
if we had gone the traditional
school route. We have time to
build relationships, to disciple,
to work, and to play with our
children. We have time to
have in-depth discussions,
answer important questions,
and to have ‘extended’ family
field trips during the prime
seasons of our choosing.
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
Q WHAT ELSE
HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT
THE HOMESCHOOL LIFESTYLE?
AWe have found that life goes by too
quickly! We only have a brief window of time with
our children living at home to teach them, to equip
them to know and love God, to prepare them to
live on their own, and to watch them become
courageous citizens of God’s Kingdom. We came
to realize that other educational options would not
have allowed us the time and flexibility to do these
things for and with our children.
Q WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SHARE WITH OTHER FAMILIES
TO ENCOURAGE THEM?
AThe foundation of our family’s home
educational journey has been seeking the Lord
and striving to do His will in our family’s life. Do
we do this perfectly? No, absolutely not, but we
continue to persevere! Early in our homeschooling
journey, God gave us a family motto to help us in
this: “Striving for excellence, in everything, for the
glory of God.” This has helped us to remember
why we do what we do! In sharing with you, we
hope that God will inspire you to consider home
educating your children if you don’t already and to
continue the worthy race if you already do — soli
deo gloria! 
INTERVIEW WITH DAVID JENNIFER MOODY
FAMILY INTERVIEW

PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
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Presented by Kevin Swanson Generations

Weeks before
September 11,
2001, I turned fourteen.
The events of that day
are etched in my mind,
particularly because of
something my Dad said.
When he came home
from work, he sat my
brothers and me down
and told us, “Now, it’s
up to you to change the
world.”
Throughout my childhood and teen years, both
my Dad and Mom effectively communicated
the idea that God created me – and all His
children – with a purpose in mind that involves
the world at large. Simply put, we are not on
this earth for ourselves alone. We are here to
DO JUSTICEBY KRISTI BURTON BROWN
literally bring Christ to this world – and while we
absolutely do that by spreading the Gospel, we also
do it by bringing Christ-like, Christ-focused justice
to the world.
Many speak of mercy, kindness, and humility. They
are essential qualities of a Biblical life. However,
justice is, in some ways, a tougher concept. It’s not
merely limited to the judicial system or focused on
punishment. Instead, “doing justice” is personal.
It’s something we can all be involved in. “Doing
justice” includes learning God’s ideas for what this
world should look like, deeply embedding a sense of
His righteousness in our hearts, and then allowing
God to use our lives in the small and the big ways to
change people, to change systems, to change laws,
and to change cultures.
In my book, Do Justice: Practical Ways to Engage
Our World, I interviewed Reggie Littlejohn, the
founder of an organization that saves girls from
abortion in China, where they are targeted for death.
Reggie shared with me that while she worked as a
high-powered attorney who was focused on raking
in the dollars, God literally broke her heart over the
injustice in this world. In the midst of her personal
crises, God showed Reggie that He had a mission
of justice for her. She learned of the forced abor-
tion and female gendercide in China, and Reggie
founded her organization that helps mothers and
fathers give life to their daughters in a culture that
discards little girls.
Reggie shared with me that we can all “ask God to
break [our] hearts for whatever breaks His heart”
and that “every one of us is called to redemptive
work.” For Reggie, that has meant years dedicated
to work that saves children and families in a foreign
country. But, she firmly believes that every Christian
has a place. “In God’s economy,” she says, “the do-
nor (who funded the rescue work) saved that child.”
Prayer, too, can be a spiritual sacrifice for those who
have little money but are willing to dedicate time.
Brian Ivie, a film director whose story also appears
in Do Justice, shared: “This generation is obsessed
with social justice, but rarely the kind that comes
at any personal cost. Comment sections, Face-
book filters, and Snapchat stories have given the
whole world a chance to get angry, but rarely to get
involved.” He encourages Christians to “rethink why
you’re here.”
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
A Generation
Who Knows How to
He has told you, O man,
what is good; and what does
the Lord require of you but
to do justice, and to love
kindness, and to walk humbly
with your God?
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man,
what is good; and what does
the Lord require of you but
to do justice, and to love
kindness, and to walk humbly
with your God?
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
FAMILY ENCOURAGEMENT

It was a pastor in South Korea who changed Brian’s life when
he was a teen giving in to damaging secular pursuits. When
he was able to witness the pastor personally invest his own
life and resources into making a “drop box” for abandoned
babies, Brian knew he had found the real deal: a Christian
who sacrificed to bring God’s justice to those who could not
speak for themselves.
While Proverbs 31 is known for its discussion of a virtuous
woman, there’s another important verse in the passage that is
sometimes neglected. Proverbs 31:8 - 9 (NKJV) reads, Open
your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are
appointed to die. Open your mouth … and plead the cause of
the poor and needy.
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people stepping up and
reaching in — getting involved — to serve and save those
who have been silenced, those who are oppressed, those who
are literally being led away to death, and those who are poor,
needy, and downtrodden. If Christians do not bring justice,
if Christians do not set things right for these people, we risk
that secular activists will step in and rescue them with a fake
gospel. The harvest is ripe and the fields are white with har-
vest in areas we may not have previously opened our eyes to.
Christians are needed to rescue children from abortion.
Christians are needed in foster care and adoption. Christians
are needed to stop human trafficking. Christians are needed
to stop the epidemic of fatherlessness that leads to poverty.
Christians are needed to return basic human dignity to the
disabled, the sick, the prisoner, and the elderly. Christians are
needed to do justice through prayer, through money, through
time, and through sacrifice.
Our children will learn to do justice as they see their parents
doing it. “Doing justice” is a work we can model and do
together with our children. We can raise them not only as
Christians for themselves and their future families, but as
Christians for the world — Christians who will transform
and redeem our culture and our world through the justice of
Christ. 
Kristi Burton Brown is a homeschool graduate
and now, a homeschool mom. She is also an
attorney who focuses on pro-life and religious
freedom issues. Her first book,
Do Justice: Practical Ways to Engage Our World was
published in the summer of 2017 and is available through
Amazon and Christian Book Distributors.
COLORADO
HOMESCHOOL
SPELLING BEE
WHEN: Saturday, January
19, 2019
WHO: Homeschooled
students in 8th grade
or below (exception: Boulder
County residents must participate in
their county spelling bee)
HOW: Register for $25/
student today!
Winners advance to the statewide
Denver Post spelling bee!
CHEC.org/events/spelling-bee
FAMILY ENCOURAGEMENT

PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
When asked to write
on the subject of fathers
relating with their children,
I recalled the path my wife and I tried to follow.
We home educated, worked in our family busi-
ness (I like to call it our “family economy”), and
lived life — together. Now, we are enjoying the
fruit with our adult children. As you continue
reading, I hope you’ll glean wisdom from our
example of using a family business to disciple
your children. By the way, if you don’t have a
family business because you work a job outside
your home, you can help your children start a
small business with the side benefit of additional
income. Childcare, dog-walking, and lawn main-
tenance are good ones to start with as they are
service based with minimal start-up costs. This
is a short list of things to consider for working
together:
Relationship: Throughout the Bible, we are
commanded by God to engage in a relation-
ship with each of our children. It is the basis of
raising them up. It is a difficult thing because of
the transparency and honesty required from ev-
eryone. It is especially difficult between parents
and children because you know one another so
well. The deeper the relationship goes, the more
everyone’s shortcomings are exposed. Confes-
sion and repentance are then required in order to build
trust which is the key ingredient in any relationship.
Relationship has to come first. The Lord will reassure
you through the small, consistent steps of progress
you see in your children’s lives when you “do life”
together. Working together in a family business builds
relationship.
Character and Wisdom: The book of Proverbs
teaches us how to obtain both, and the consequences
of ignoring them. As you develop a strong relationship
with your children, they will heed your teaching about
character, especially when they see the good displayed
in your life. Over the years, wisdom comes.
Work and the Purpose of Work (Genesis 1 and 3):
A major downfall in our society is that work is viewed
as something we must do so that we can eventually do
what we want to do. When taught according to God’s
purpose and plan, work is restored to its rightful place
in our hearts. Teach your children that work is honor-
able, worthy, commanded by God, and even enjoyable
when done together as a family.
Work and Gathering Resources Absent the
Right Purpose (Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:22, 5:19): Mon-
etary wealth is easier to tally than wisdom. One current
source estimates the modern equivalent of wise
Solomon’s wealth to be $2.2 trillion. 1 trillion is 1,000
billions. By comparison, the net worth of the wealthi-
est living man in the world at the time of this writing
(2018), Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO, was said to be $105
billion, only 1/20th that of King Solomon! There is
nothing wrong with working hard to accrue assets in a
family business, even as Solomon did, or Mr. Bezos is
doing. However, we need to make sure we are working
for the right purpose and teach our children to do so
by our own example of seeking and honoring the Lord
with our work.
Dads, I heartily encourage you to teach your
children the blessings of work (Proverbs 20:11).
God provides the work of our hands, we are known by
how we perform our work, and work is a blessing from
God. Therefore, finding joy in the work of our hands is a
blessing from God for both fathers and their children. 
1 http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-richest-
billionaires-net-worth-2017-6. 2 https://www.quora.com/
What-is-the-estimate-of-king-solomons-wealth-in-todays-econo-
my-and-is-he-the-likely-richest
Mike Cheney and his wife, Roxie,
have been blessed with two
children, Annie and Corey. Mike is
an entrepreneur, businessman,
investor, teacher, and advocate for
the family business. He is Director of the
AMEProgram.com and of Family Economics for
Generations.org. His newly released book, One
With Everything: Anatomy of a Hot Dog Stand
and Other Great Businesses You Can Start has a
companion workbook Business Course Study
Guide for students middle school through adult.
BY MIKE CHENEY
Discipling
Your Children in a
FAMILY ECONOMY
DAD TO DADDAD TO DAD

HOMESCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY
FRIDAY, MAY 17TH IN ELIZABETH
or SATURDAY, MAY 18TH IN LITTLETON
celebrate YOUR
STUDENT’S HIGH
SCHOOL graduation
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
■ Pomp and Circumstance as graduates and parents enter
■ Special music sung during the ceremony
■ Commencement address and charge to the graduates
■ Parents’ presentation of the diplomas
WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE COORDINATION!
Your registration includes participation in the ceremony,
a cap and gown, a printed diploma and cover, and ceremony
programs. (Optional photo/video package also available.)
plan now to join the celebration!
Register at CHEC.org/events/graduation

Rocky Mountain
At the 2018 Rocky Mountain
Homeschool Conference, nearly 3,000
attendees were encouraged in their
vision of home education
through dozens of workshops,
keynotes, and fellowship
opportunities!
One of the highlights of the year was hearing from Voddie
Baucham, Dean of the Seminary at African Christian
University in Lusaka, Zambia. His humor and
engaging style had the audience riveted. In
addition, Walk Through the Bible’s Phil Tuttle
emphasized how God is using the
millennial generation.
Pilgrim: A Musical, presented by Walk by
Faith Theatre, was also packed out on both
Thursday and Saturday’s showings. The exhibit
hall was filled with a wide array of curriculum
providers, homeschool-friendly businesses,
and much more. The Thursday evening Exhibit
Hall Grand Opening Party was like Black Friday
for homeschoolers — awesome deals and
giveaways galore!
Thank you to everyone who came! We pray the
conference was a huge encouragement to
you and your family! 
RECAP BY JULIANNA DOTTEN
REGISTERNOW PLANAHEAD!
Rocky Mountain
KEN HAM
HEIDI ST. JOHN
KEVIN SWANSON
Crowne Plaza
Denver Airport
Convention
Center
JUNE 13-15, 2019
RockyMountainHomeschoolConference.com
‘
Were
moving!
[HOTOSBYTOBIASSTEEVES,AMANDAVAUGHAN,ANDSARAHBRYANT
CHEC EVENTS

Don't freak out! We're here to help.
Come to a CHEC Homeschool Introductory
Seminar and get the vision, legal info, and nuts
and bolts you need to kick off your homeschool.
▪ October 6 (Castle Rock)
▪ January 12 (Castle Rock)
Interested in helping host a seminar in your home town?
Please contact josh@CHEC.org!
NEW TO HOMESCHOOLING?
Learn more at CHEC.org/events
Office Volunteers
Do you enjoy typing, organizing, and office work?
We're in need of several volunteers who can serve at the
CHEC Office in Parker on Mondays and/or Thursdays helping
with data entry and preparing for events. Our office team is
a lot of fun to work with and there's usually some chocolate
around to snack on while you help the team!
Action: Complete form at CHEC.org/volunteer
Box Tops
Did you know that every Box Top that you submit to CHEC is
worth $0.10 and goes to support the year-round ministry of
CHEC? Simply collect then drop off at any CHEC event or at the
CHEC office.
Action: Collect, then deliver to CHEC.
Event Volunteers
Are you looking for a family volunteer project? We're looking
to build our teams (greeting, event setup, photography, and
more) for Homeschool Day at the Capitol and the Rocky
Mountain Homeschool Conference. It's a fantastic way to
build friendships with others in the Colorado homeschool
community!
Action: Complete form at CHEC.org/volunteer
Donations
Are you passionate about home education and have a desire
to help it stay free for generations to come? CHEC works
throughout the year to protect homeschool liberty, and as a
501c3 non-profit organization, we depend on donations from
families like you to continue the ministry.
Action: Make a donation at CHEC.org/donate
Want to join in behind the scenes with CHEC? We have a tremendous team of volunteers who keep
things going — and with lots of openings now, we'd love for you to become a part!
WE NEED YOU!
BIG
NEED!

Do you ever wonder,
If a woman's place is
in the home, why am
I always in the car?
Do you find yourself
hurrying children
through chores and
schoolwork to get to
lessons, co-op classes,
and sports practices
on time? Is there just
too much pressure in
your life? Help is on
the way!
We have a love-hate relationship with those
outside-of-home activities called extracur-
riculars. They really can serve a good purpose
when thoughtfully selected. They can fill in gaps
in your curriculum; many parents use piano
lessons as a music class or gymnastics for
management along the way, just as we do. Creativity
grows when a child has enough unstructured time to
get bored now and then.
In my piano studio, I’m often struck by the impact
over-scheduling has on children. These children
rush in to their lessons, often without all of their
music, giving excuses about why they didn’t have
time to practice, and then they nearly nod off on the
piano bench they’re so tired. These poor tykes are
the victims of over-scheduling or, perhaps, their
parents’ need for bragging rights. What a contrast
with the children whose parents don’t feel the need to
schedule every moment of their children’s lives. Often
students with less natural talent play better than
those with loads of talent but little time to develop it.
Here are some suggestions for making extracurricu-
lar activities work for your family.
• The younger the child, the more time he needs at
home.
• Consider activities that all or most of the family
can be a part of such as church or service activi-
ties. You will develop wonderful shared memories
Keeping the HOME in
Dealing with Extracurriculars BY MARCIA WASHBURN
physical education. Extracurriculars provide opportu-
nities for social interaction. Children (and parents!)
can develop leadership skills and learn to serve oth-
ers while participating in supplementary activities.
But every parent soon learns the challenges of
outside-the-home activities. If overdone, activities
may divide the family, stealing time and energy.
Children may form new loyalties toward peers,
teachers, and coaches, challenging the authority and
wisdom of their own parents. If an older child is on a
sports team, all of the younger ones get dragged to
every practice and game, regardless of nap times or
unfinished school work; their needs as little ones take
a backseat to the coach’s schedule.
It is easy to fall into the trap of signing up your chil-
dren for every class or club that comes along. They
all sound so interesting! And sometimes, we’re afraid,
deep down, that our children are somehow getting
cheated by not being in a “regular” school. So we
compensate by saying “yes” to too many activities.
Your children will do just fine, even if they’re not
involved in every activity that catches their fancy. No
one can do everything. Children need to learn time
HOMESCHOOLING
MANAGEMENT FOR MOMS

over the years, as well as spending less
time in the car. Whether your children
sing at nursing homes or raise money
for missions, they will learn the joy of
serving others.
• Check out 4-H with your county extension
agent. This organization offers hundreds
of projects from electricity and photogra-
phy to clothing design, public speaking,
and training service dogs. The materials
are very economical and offer many
hands-on activities; some families even
use them for science curriculum. Perhaps
other homeschoolers in your area would
like to form a 4-H club that meets during
the school day. A strong advantage: the
club meetings include all ages so you’re
not juggling separate schedules.
• If you decide to participate in team sports, try to
find teams that allow several ages together so you
aren’t racing from one practice or game to another
multiple times per week. You might choose a city
league instead of a competitive league; the time
commitment difference is huge. Our boys played
city-sponsored soccer for six weeks each spring,
but didn’t do the summer-long four-times-a-week
baseball with out-of-town travel to games. With
five sons, it would have been insane; summer
would have been anything but refreshing.
• Some large families allow each child to be in just
one activity. One may take violin lessons, another
is in sports, and another prepares for a nursing
career through volunteering at a nursing home.
Since the child has selected the activity himself,
he is more likely to be enthusiastic about practic-
ing and participating.
Life on-the-go demands strong organizational skills.
Here are some things that have worked at our house.
• Before saying “yes” to a new activity, refer to your
calendar or planner. How will it fit with what you’re
already doing? Are you and your spouse in full
agreement about it? Can you afford the necessary
equipment, gas, refreshments, time, etc., required
for this activity?
• Plan to take care of errands while you
already have everyone in the car. Many
moms make a quick trip to the library for
new books before coming to piano lessons
in my home. Everyone is eager to devour
their latest finds while their siblings take
their lessons.
• Bring along mending, crocheting, lesson
planning, or other work to do while you
wait. Or, if not all of your children are
involved in the activity, use the precious
one-on-one time to read to your little ones
or take a walk in the neighborhood while
you wait. Even though you’ve been with
your children all day, they’ve still had to
share your attention with their siblings. It
is the rare child, even a homeschooled one,
who gets the undivided attention of an adult for
even fifteen minutes per day.
There are some wonderful options out there with
support groups and service opportunities, clubs
and classes, lessons and language learning. They
add spice to your life and may even develop a career
interest in a young person. But, like the herbs and
spices you use in the kitchen, they must be carefully
selected and used sparingly. You may love oregano
in your spaghetti sauce, but you wouldn’t measure
it by the cupful! Sprinkle in just enough extras to
enhance your routine curriculum and savor the bal-
anced life you’ve created. 
©2008, 2018 by Marcia K.
Washburn who writes from her 19
years of experience homeschooling
five sons. Write to her at Marcia@
MarciaWashburn.com for a free
copy of Encouragement for Homeschool Moms
from her Management for Moms series. Visit her
website at MarciaWashburn.com where you can
read additional articles and sign up for her free
newsletter. This article was originally published in
Home School Enrichment Magazine, Jan-Feb.
2009 and is reprinted here by permission. Please
request permission from the author to reproduce.
IF OVERDONE,
EXTRA ACTIVITIES
MAY DIVIDE THE
FAMILY, STEALING
TIME AND ENERGY.
“
“
 Friday, October 19, Homeschool
Skate at Skate City Littleton.
 Monday, October 29, Tiny Tots
Inside the Orchestra in Castle Pines
 Saturday, November 3, free day at
Denver Botanic Gardens York Street
 Tuesday, November 6, free night at
Children’s Museum Denver
 Friday, November 9, free day at the
Molly Brown House Musuem
 Saturday, November 10, free art
class for kids in Parker (origami)
VIEW MORE
UPCOMING EVENTS AT
CHEC.org/resources/
colorado-events-calendar
HOMESCHOOL
FAMILY
DAYS
MANAGEMENT FOR MOMS

STRATEGIES
FOR LEADERS
Electronic media helps Christian homeschool
group leaders in a number of ways. Look at it as:
• a new platform to amplify communication
• a source of customer insight
• a way to provide exposure to the great people
who work within your group
• to have direct two-way engagement
It is essential to maintain a good reputation
– yours and your group’s – in all interaction
with digital media. This includes social media
platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+,
blogs, websites, email, and any and all elec-
tronic communication.
1. Communicate with
Biblical values
• Always express ideas and opinions in a
respectful manner.
• Make sure your communications are in good
taste.
• Be sensitive about linking to content.
Redirecting to another site may imply an
endorsement of its content.
• Do not denigrate or insult others, including
competitors.
In a real-life lesson, a worker in one company made
disparaging ‘tweets’ about a client’s headquarter
city. Needless to say, some of the client’s employees
followed the individual on Twitter and were offended.
Right or wrong, they were upset not just with the
individual, but with his company as well.
2. Be yourself —
and be transparent
The story above illustrates how difficult it is to keep
distinct lines between your personal and professional
life in the online world. Even when you are talking
as an individual, people may perceive you to be
talking on behalf of your group. If you blog or discuss
homeschooling, Christianity, or other topics related to
your group, be upfront and explain that you work for
or with your group. However, if you aren’t an official
group spokesperson, add a disclaimer to the effect:
“The opinions and positions expressed are my own
and don’t necessarily reflect those of (your group’s
name), their staff, members, volunteers, and serving
Board members.”
Also, only those authorized by your group may use
your organization’s logos and trade dress in commu-
nications, so be sure you do not include your groups
brand symbols or trade dress – or that of other
companies – in your personal blogs or postings.
3. Protect confidential
information and relationships
Online postings and conversations are not private.
Realize that what you post will be around for a long
time and could be shared by others. Given that,
• Avoid identifying and discussing others –
including customers, suppliers, your friends and
co-workers – unless you have their permission.
• Obtain permission before posting pictures of oth-
ers or before posting copyrighted information.
• Never discuss proprietary group information,
including plans, organization finances, strategies,
product launch information, unannounced events,
or anything considered “confidential.”
4. Speak the truth
If you are in a discussion that relates to your group
or its activities, don’t make unsubstantiated claims
about these topics. If you need to respond or make
a comment on something specific, verify details
through your group’s published information. Also,
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
in the Electronic Age
Editor’s Note: As leaders, we need to stay on the cutting edge of innovation to keep up with trends and opportunities that our members
utilize daily. This is certainly true with technology, in order to keep up with a new generation of tech savvy parents and our students who often
use social media as their main form of communication whether we like it or not! I hope you’ll find this article contains practical guidance.
HOMESCHOOL LEADERS

because situations change, make sure references or
sources of information are current.
5. Keep your cool
One of the aims of social media is to create dialogue,
and people won’t always agree on an issue. When
confronted with a difference of opinion, stay cool.
Express your points in a clear, logical way. Don’t pick
fights, and correct mistakes when needed. Some-
times, it’s best to ignore a comment and not give it
credibility by acknowledging it with a response.
6. Stay timely
Part of the appeal in social media is that the conver-
sation occurs almost in real time. So, if you are going
to participate in an active way, make sure you are
willing to take the time to refresh content, respond to
questions, update information regularly, and correct
information when appropriate.
7. Be careful with personal
information
This may seem odd, since many sites are created to
help promote sharing of personal information. Still,
astute criminals can piece together information you
provide on different sites and then use it to imperson-
ate you or someone you know – or even reset your
passwords. Similarly, “tweeting” real-time about
your travels may confirm you aren’t at home – letting
someone target your house. So, be careful when
sharing information about yourself or others.
8. Don’t be fooled
If you do post personal information on a site like
Facebook or Twitter, criminals can use it to send you
emails that appear to come from a friend or other
trusted source – even the site itself. This is called
“phishing.” The lesson is: Don’t click links or attach-
ments unless you trust the source. For example, be
wary of emails that say there is a problem with your
account, then ask you to click on a link, and input
your username and password. The link may connect
to a site that looks exactly like Facebook, Twitter,
your bank’s web site, but is really a fake site used to
get even more personal information. This ploy can
also be used to infect your computer with a virus or
keystroke logger.
9. Disable dangerous privileges
If a site allows others to embed code – like HTML
postings, links, and file attachments – on your page
or account, criminals can use them to install mali-
cious software on your computer. If possible, disable
the ability of others to post HTML comments on your
home page.
10. Heed security
warnings and pop-ups
There’s a reason your security software provides
warnings like:
• “A process is attempting to invoke xyz.exe. Do you
wish to allow this?”
• “The process ‘IEXPLORE.EXE’ is attempting to
modify a document ‘X.’ Do you wish to allow this?”
Never allow or say “yes” to such actions, unless you
know that they are safe.
Electronic media is growing at an amazing rate. The
ability to engage online with your members, friends,
and those homeschool organizations who are influen-
tial could be an important part of your marketing and
ministry strategy.
Following these procedures will help ensure we stay
on course as an organization, and at the same time
safeguard your personal privacy.
This article was adapted from the original, written
by the Christian Homeschool Association of
Pennsylvania (CHAP) leaders, and is reprinted with
their permission through ALLIANCE, an affiliation
of Christian homeschool organizations throughout
North America.
HOMESCHOOL LEADERS

On the
BRINKBY CAROLYN MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
On June 16, 1858, Abraham
Lincoln gave his famous
House Divided Speech at
the Illinois Republican State
Convention. The speech is
so named because of the
reference he made to Mark
3:25, If a house is divided
against itself, that house
cannot stand.
“In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis
shall have been reached, and passed — 'A
house divided against itself cannot stand.'
I believe this government cannot endure,
permanently half slave and half free. I do not
expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not
expect the house to fall — but I do expect
it will cease to be divided. It will become all
one thing, or all the other.”1
At that time, the people of the United States
were divided along moral lines. Today, we stand
divided again and some believe we are on the
brink of another civil war. During the Civil War of
the 1860s, both the North and the South claimed
that God was on their side and used the Bible to
justify their positions. Similarly, today, the church
stands on both sides of the fault lines.
One of the major dividing lines is the definition of
marriage. The 2015 opinion by the Supreme Court of
the United States (SCOTUS) not only redefined the
recognition of marriage in the US overnight, but also
moved the basis of identity from the physical to the
psychological.2
Whom do you love? Who and what do
you feel that you are? Some Christians have embraced
the fluidity of marriage and gender, while others hold
fast to traditional views. The church and the nation
stand at a crossroads. Can we stand if we are divided?
While moral issues may have been the driving
emotional impetus for the Civil War, crucial issues
concerning how our government works were also
part of the equation. In the 1860s, states’ rights and
the cohesiveness of the Union were at the forefront.
Today, we wrestle with the overreach of the execu-
tive and judicial branches and the weakness of the
legislature. The very pillars and principles that have
kept our Republic strong are being undermined.
If we were to cease to be divided, what would that
look like? The hope has been that all beliefs of
conscience could exist alongside each other with
mutual respect. With a judicial branch that no longer
acknowledges our unalienable, God-given rights
and has taken it upon itself to make law, is it even
possible that the moral convictions of each of us
can be respected? It seems clear that reformation is
needed, not civil war.
In Colorado, we have been in a battle for over a
decade but most of us don’t even know it. A group
has been working to fundamentally transform the
state of Colorado3
and this could be the year they
succeed, if we don’t stop them! Take a look at the
bills that have been brought to the legislature this
year in my end-of-session report.4
We are on the brink! It is crucial that we, the people,
vote in the upcoming election. We need to ‘vote our
values’ to make the changes we believe are needed!
Be informed on the issues and the candidates. Our
government will not represent us if we stay silent.
Voting is the first step, take it! 
Sign up for my bi-weekly email updates
at CHEC.org/Freedom!
1 https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/housedivided.htm.
2 https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.
pdf. 3 Watch the video “Rocky Mountain Heist” by Michelle Malkin
(https://vimeo.com/110204741). 4 Read my 2018 End-of-Session
Report for more information (https://chec.org/wp-content/
uploads/2018/07/2018-End-of-Session-Report-Single-Page.
pdf) and see my CHEC Blog posts (https://chec.org/category/
chec-blog/?s=legislative+updates)
Carolyn Martin, CHEC Homeschool
Legislative Liaison, and her
husband, Todd, began
homeschooling their three children
in upstate New York before moving
to Colorado in 2004. Her passion is to see
homeschooling remain free from government
intrusion for future generations.
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON

The homeschool freedom we enjoy today in
Colorado must be guarded carefully.
AND WE NEED YOU!
Every family in Colorado has an opportunity to get involved,
either onsite at the Capitol or from home. You can:
 Help read and review proposed bills for their potential effect on home education,
parental rights, and religious liberty
 Donate to help with costs for legislative liaison work
 Subscribe to email legislative updates from Carolyn Martin every two weeks
 Join the private Facebook group for live video updates and prayer requests
Learn more and sign up for updates at
CHEC.org/freedom
PHOTOGRAPHYBYSARAHLEEBRYANT(SARAHLEEPHOTO.COM)
Since 2003, more than 4,000 men and their sons have attended the Father Son Retreat. Each year,
the retreat team prays that the relationships between fathers and sons will be repaired, refreshed,
and strengthened as a result of the work the Lord does in their lives during and following this annual
event. This year we experienced the reality of God’s Word and work in our lives through the lessons
taught by Kevin Swanson, Scott Brown, Dr. Lew Sterrett, and Logan Creighton. Here are a couple of
comments we’ve received from men who attended this year:
“This retreat brought me closer to my sons and recharged our relationship. It’s a great reminder
of what is important in life: God and family.”
“I got to have some deeper spiritual conversations with my son and share with him things I see
in him that I'm proud of.”
Learn more about the Father Son Retreat at www.ColoradoFatherSon.com and stay tuned for 2019 plans! 
CHEC EVENTS

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Samaritan members bear each other’s burdens by sharing the cost
of medical bills while praying for and encouraging one another.
Members can choose between two membership options for sharing
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Find more information at:
samaritanministries.org

SLOWLYBY REBECCA THOMAS
Slowly by
It was a gruesome
scene. A lovely
bride, her gown and
veil covered in blood,
stood in the midst
of an attack by a
menagerie of evil-
looking creatures,
while her impending
doom was left to the
imagination of the
observer.
I was standing in my local Goodwill store. Huh?
Okay. So, it’s October. I get that. But still….
I maneuvered my way throughout the store,
dodging some of the most grotesque Hallow-
een costumes that I have seen this season and
finally arrived at the check-out. The checker
lady and I chatted about my purchase (which
involved neither blood nor vampires), and I grabbed
my bag to leave. But then I hesitated.
“Just as a point of feedback,” I checked to see if she
was listening. Yep. “Um … I find your entry display
to be rather … offensive.”
She stared at me blankly. I tried again.
“The display … you know, the bride, the blood ….”
Her eyebrows furrowed indicating that she could not
understand my point.
“I wouldn’t want to bring my kids in here to see that,”
I finished, looking her in the eye.
The eyebrows were really furrowed now and she was
squinting at me.
“Oh. Well, sorry about that,” came the reply. “Have
a nice day.”
Indeed. When I was young, Halloween decorations
mostly involved ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, and a
witch or two. I’d venture to say that my grandfather’s
childhood involved no Halloween decorations at
all. Now, it is nothing to see vampires dripping with
blood, decapitated victims, rotting corpses and evil
creatures — all on display at your local retail store
or in someone’s yard. Folks are loving the wicked
costumes more than the “innocent” dress-ups of
old. Children revel in the disgusting even more so
than the scary. And yet, hospital ERs are filled with
terrified individuals wringing their hands in worry,
accident scenes are approached in dread, death
is quickly shrouded, morgues overflow with the
despairing, and terrorism strikes fear in the nation.
But, for one month of the year, people celebrate
these horrors with delight!
Excuse me, but how did we become so indifferently
backward? When did craziness become accepted as
truth? Why is absurdity considered normal?
The answer can be found in a term that my Ugandan
friends use: slowly by slowly. A little compromise
here, a little subtle change there. Year upon year,
generation upon generation, every category of life is
affected …
• “Let’s just say 'Happy Holidays' at school, okay
children? It will make everyone feel included!”
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
Do you ever wonder if homeschool graduates are
successful in life as adults? Our Gen 2 column seeks
to encourage you that the answer is, “Yes!” Here is a
timely piece written by a busy mom who enjoys using
her writing skills to bring honor and glory to Christ.
GEN2

• “I’d prefer that our daycare would keep to gender-
neutral toys. Some children are sensitive.”
• “Of course, our public-school building can be
used for public events! Oh, but nothing ‘religious’
mind you. Separation of church and state, you
know.”
• “I’m sorry, but the county just passed a law that
says you cannot dig on your own property. At
least, not without a permit. It’s an environmental
thing, you see.”
• “I wouldn’t want to offend anyone in my congre-
gation by speaking about specific sins in my
sermons.”
• “Yes, we would be happy to keep a copy of
'Suzie Has Two Daddies' on our library shelf. We
pride ourselves in having a diverse selection of
books!”
• “The Biblical Days of Creation were not 24-hour
days. They were millions of years. Now the Bible
and science can agree!”
The enemy has dangled the lies, sprinkled them
with sugar, and our culture has eagerly bitten, no,
gorged itself on them! Little appetizers, tasty finger
foods, pretty dainties that have made us sick from
the inside out and blinded us from the outside in.
I’d wager that if Satan had served those lies as large
doses of foul medicine, it would have been harder to
swallow them. Or at the very least, made it easier to
vomit them up.
In [Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not (John 1:5).
America has removed Christ. By so doing, we have
removed both life and light. It has been replaced
with death and darkness, which produces irrational
thinking. So, I understand, dear Goodwill clerk. I
understand that blank stare, because it’s pretty hard
to see when you’ve been blinded.
By God’s grace, there is hope, although it is not
without challenge. As Christians, we are Light-Bear-
ers for a specific reason.To open [the world’s] eyes,
and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18). We have two
advantages in this fight: Light is more powerful than
darkness, and God always wins!
Our key to victory is as simple a plan as the devil’s:
slowly by slowly. Stone upon stone, line upon line,
precept upon precept, faithful every day to speak,
live and shine the light of Jesus Christ. Let us learn
to recognize the little compromises and reject them!
Let us be alert to the subtle undertow of wrong
thinking! Let us reject the attitude of complacency
that has turned Christians into bystanders! Let us
be faithful to disciple our children in the infallible
doctrines of God’s Word! Then they too will be able
to identify and dispel the gray shades of darkness.
The kids and I are starting our school year tomor-
row. Day-in, day-out discipleship within one small
home, within one small community, within one
dying culture.
Such a little thing. Such a big thing. Slowly by
slowly. Will you join me? Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). 
Rebecca Thomas is a homeschool
graduate, living life’s adventures in
the Pacific Northwest with her
sweetheart husband, Joshua. They
have ten delightful children and an
assortment of winged and fluffy animals.
Making Connections for Struggling Learners
303.680.5551info@connecteducationco.com
www.connecteducationco.com
We offer healing intervention to move a
child from struggling academically to
learning with ease!
LET US BE FAITHFUL
TO DISCIPLE OUR
CHILDREN IN THE
INFALLIBLE DOCTRINES
OF GOD'S WORD. THEN
THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO IDENTIFY AND
DISPEL THE GRAY
SHADES OF DARKNESS.
“
“
GEN2

“Our mission is to aid Colorado homeschool families in the
procurement, growth, protection, and allocation of the assets
and resources that God calls them to steward.”
“Our mission is to aid Colorado homeschool families in the
procurement, growth, protection, and allocation of the assets
and resources that God calls them to steward.”
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Come to the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference to learn from
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that” to make the decision a bit easier. You will get some sage advice
on the kind of house to look for, a balanced biblical approach to
financing a home, and ways to protect your investment properly.
Putting the Home in Homeschooling
Homeschooling families have special considerations when buying a home.
School room or no school room? Big bedrooms?
What about the ability to look out over the yard and watch your children playing outside?
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and resources God calls them to steward”
FOR INFORMATION, CALL US AT (303)422-6123
HOMESCHOOLFAMILYALLIANCE.COM

calvary.edu
CALVARY
UNIVERSITY
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BEST OF CHEC.ORG/BLOG
WORKING MOMS
Thoughts for
Homeschooling,
BY SHARI MCMINN
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
If you are
homeschooling,
teaching and being with
your children should be
your priority. However,
some families need both
parents to work to make
ends meet, and single
parents most likely need
to work at least part-time
if not full-time.
My late husband and I were continually
self-employed and made the decision to work
together in our family business so we could tag-
team in homeschooling our growing family. Now
that I am a widow, I continue to work in my own
home-based businesses so I can be available to
homeschool the youngest 3 of my 11 children.
In sharing my story of being a working,
homeschooling mom, I hope you will take stock
of what is necessary to intentionally parent and
homeschool, fitting work-for-pay around the
BEST OF CHEC.ORG/BLOG
main focus of a Christian home education for your
children.
As homeschooling moms, we each should: a) priori-
tize our lives according to how God leads us, b) agree
with our spouse or determine as a single parent as to
the details, and c) adjust to the needs of our individual
children. From there, each family can make their own
decisions. My priorities should not make others feel
guilty about their priorities — and vice versa! For
example, my priorities at this stage in my life are 1)
continue to homeschool my children through their
high school graduation; 2) complete my work to pay
our bills and do so in between their schoolwork and
extracurricular activities; and 3) give myself some
time off when I can.
Here are my suggestions for working homeschool
moms:
Downtime — Whether it's soaking 15 minutes alone
in a hot bath, walking up and down your block while
you watch your kids in your front yard, listening to a
podcast in your car while waiting on your students’
extracurricular activities, or enjoying a ladies’ annual
retreat, we all need to be refreshed for the marathon
called homeschooling. Plan now for daily, weekly,
monthly, and annual breaks.
Home — It’s called homeschool because we are
supposed to be home, schooling! You save both
money and time the more you stay home with your
students. If our homes are reasonably organized and
inviting, perhaps our kids might want to be home with
us more than they want to be away from home without
us?
Meals — Three per day plus a snack keeps families
fueled, healthy, and connected. Take the time to
prepare meals from scratch and have your kids help
with planning, shopping, cooking, and clean-up.
Toddlers can set the table, tweens can prep produce,
and teens can cook simple dishes to help you after a
long day of school and work. Sure, we all sometimes
eat-out while in between errands and sports, but the
more we eat-in at home, the more our family connects
with memorable routine. Mealtime is also a great time
for devotions or discussing current events.
Paying work — Schedule your work aka “job” each
day around school and other daily activities. Some
moms work at night, weekends, or the graveyard

shift when Dad is home. Others can divide their time
throughout the day as I do — I work two hours in the
morning before homeschooling, two hours in the later
afternoon, an hour in the evening after supper before
relaxing, and if needed, a half-day on the weekend.
Working on my laptop in the kitchen helps keep me
accountable to my kids while I do internet research
and remain accessible for their needs.
Visit CHEC.org/blog for
weekly encouragement,
with articles like:
 Pursue a Christ-Centered
Curriculum
 One Season at a Time
 How to Create a High
School Transcript
Routine — Adults and children, including teens, do
better with an expected routine. Your schedule might
change somewhat depending on the day of the week or
the season, but be consistent throughout the year. Day
after day, week after week, month after month, a steady
routine helps all family members know what to expect,
progressing slow and steady so we can win the race.
School — Establish when and where you will do
school. Your students should know when they start
and end their day, and where they should be for each
task. You can help them individually part of the time,
and they can learn as a group at other times. Schedule
what works for you and train them to your expecta-
tions. Once they are used to a particular pattern, they
will comply and work independently as they mature.
Having older students help younger ones is not only a
help to you but also builds their sibling relationships
and individual knowledge. Whether at the kitchen
table, on desks in the teens’ bedrooms, or the living
room sectional, school can happen anywhere it works
for your household. Having an organized storage
system for supplies and books is helpful to control
clutter and makes lesson supplies easy to find.
Sleep – How much do you need to be the glue that
holds your family together? Be sure you get a good
night’s sleep, and if you need a midday nap, take
it! Based on my experience, kids need at least 8-10
hours for optimal brain function and cheerful coopera-
tion. I know I need 9 hours!
Volunteer work — There are never enough volun-
teers in Christ’s Kingdom! Whether for church, kids
club activities, or the local nursing home, pick some-
where to serve and have your kids help you weekly
or at least monthly. Compassionate care is a crucial
thing for them to learn, and you can have fun doing it
together. Baking treats with your kids and taking them
to elderly neighbors is a great way to serve the Lord.
KISS: Keep It Simple, Silly! You can do a lot if your
priorities are in order. Focus first on Christ, second on
your family and yourself as their nurturer, and third on
everything else. The more focused your family’s life, the
more you can accomplish with a merry heart and cheer-
ful disposition. Prioritize your life so you don’t burn
yourself out. In homeschooling the precious children
which the good Lord has seen fit to place in your family,
you are laying up for yourself treasures in Heaven which
neither moth nor rust can corrupt (Matthew 6:19-20). 
Shari Howard McMinn is the staff
editor for CHEC’s Homeschool
Update magazine. Shari has
homeschooled for 25 years with 4
more to go. She is a published
non-fiction author, professional editor, and
public speaker. She can be contacted through
her website, sharimcminn.com.
This classic go-to compendium
used by countless families in Colorado is now
completely updated and streamlined for you!
Whether you are just getting started, or you have years of
experience, don’t miss out on this fantastic resource!
NEED A MAP FOR YOUR HOMESCHOOLING JOURNEY?
Get your copy at
CHEC.org!
This classic go-to compendium used by
countless families in Colorado is now
Whether you are just getting started, or you
have years of experience, don’t miss out on
this fantastic resource!
This classic go-to compendium
used by countless families in Colorado is now
Whether you are just getting started, or you have years of
experience, don’t miss out on this fantastic resource!
BEST OF BLOG

PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
charts. 'It's God working through me, Mom.' And, I
know she is absolutely correct.
Our local newspaper, the Valley Courier, gave
Amarah a weekly column called, Amarah's Corner
'Kids Like Me,' which runs every Thursday. All of
this began only when I withdrew Amarah from a
local school and began homeschooling Amarah via
the CHEC Independent School. I knew Amarah was
struggling in public school and requested a psych
evaluation. It revealed, among other things, PTSD,
depression, anxiety, and her processing ability was
'below average to far below average.' These results
put her in special education but needed services
were not accommodated by the school.
I was terrified at the thought of homeschooling but
that was when we found CHEC. Thank You, Jesus!
If not for CHEC, none of this would have hap-
pened. I still remember the first night here at home
when we had just begun homeschooling. Amarah
was sitting across the room from me with her
notebook across her lap. She looked at me with
wide-eyes and said, 'You mean my writing will
count as a grade?' I smiled and told her, 'Yes, your
writing will count as a grade!' I saw the light in her
eyes and in her smile; she has never looked back.
I cannot tell you how very thankful I am for CHEC
— you saved my baby and helped her discover her
God-given passion in the same moment.” 
Vicki White and Amara live in the San
Luis Valley in Colorado. You can read one
of Amarah’s weekly newspaper columns
at https://alamosanews.com/article/
amarahs-corner-kids-like-me-recieve-a-terrible-gift.
The CHEC office
received a note from
a homeschooling family
who has a struggling
learner.
We wanted to share their testimony of how Christian
home-based education has made a positive, signifi-
cant difference in the life of one student.
“CHEC has made it possible for my precious little
granddaughter, Amarah, to discover the gifts God
blessed her with and she has begun to develop
those passions. A man's gift maketh room for him
and bringeth him before great men. (Proverbs
18:16, KJV)
Amarah has a publisher waiting for her stories.
The first series is called, 'My World.' Each charac-
ter is based on one of her emotions — everything
she endured/survived as the child of addicts who
abused Amarah and her baby sister in multiple
ways. By the grace of God, I was able to retrieve
my little granddaughters out of foster care,
received temporary custody, and custody perma-
nency of Amarah was granted in 2012/2013.
Amarah’s birth mother — my daughter — drank
alcohol and used drugs during her pregnancy
with Amarah. This damaged the spatial area of
Amarah's brain. Anything to do with numbers is a
struggle for her. She can hardly do basic addition/
subtraction or comprehend time.
However, Amarah's creative imagination, coupled
with writing and her ability to give presentations
(about life as the child of an addict), is off the
FIND SUCCESSwith Homeschooling!
Kids Like Me Can
STRUGGLING LEARNERS
STRUGGLING LEARNERS

book Sir Quinlin and the Swords of Valor states this
passion for total surrender in this way: “Quinlin was
amazed at how simply saying yes to the Prince one
evening … had dramatically changed his life …
He was thankful to be free from the mundane walk
many knights of the Prince chose.” In the book Sir
Dalton and Shadow Heart, Dalton is being corrupted
by false doctrine, and as a result his sword breaks,
and he is imprisoned by a powerful Shadow Warrior.
The knights’ swords represent the Word of God, and
Sir Dalton powerfully illustrates the importance of
knowing God’s Word and using it accurately. But my
personal favorite book is Lady Carliss and the Waters
of Moorue, which is about a female knight who was
trained to use the sword privately at home. In other
words, she was homeschooled, and the other knights
resent how seriously she takes her service to the
King. I felt very comforted as I read Lady Carliss’
story because much of what she experienced in not
fitting into the crowd, including the religious crowd,
is something my own homeschooled children have
experienced as well.
The War of the Realms Series takes place in modern
times and tells the story of a young man who ac-
cidentally gains the ability to see into the spirit world.
This trio of books is unique in that the first book, The
their family Bible time. So, he set out to write books
that communicate the spiritual truths of the Bible in
storybook form. He hoped to inspire kids to read the
Bible for themselves through these stories.
Chuck’s second series of
books was The Knights of
Arrethtrae. This series of
six books takes place in
the same imaginary world
as The Kingdom Series, but these books focus on
knights of the realm and the battles they fight. The
knights represent the dedicated Christians training
and serving God. The battles they fight include
fighting drug addiction, fighting tyranny, uncovering
the dangers of false doctrine, and escaping from the
trap of living for selfish pleasure or worldly fame and
riches. These fictional knights show young people
how seriously they must train to serve the King
and how intense the battle really is between good
and evil for the souls of men. And these amazing
principles are woven through plot- driven books that
are hard to put down.
When I finish a Knights of Arrethtrae book, I leave
it with a renewed commitment to live my life for
God without compromise. The Knights of Arrethtrae
Finding quality
literature to give
to our children is a
challenge these days.
Finding stories that don’t defile our children’s
imaginations is difficult enough but finding
stories that actually edify and encourage is
almost impossible. This is why I am so grateful
for Chuck Black and his books in The Kingdom
Series, The Knights of Arrethtrae Series, and The
War of the Realms Series. All of these young
adult books are designed to communicate
spiritual truths in an engaging way which holds
the readers’ attention and inspires them to live
their lives for God.
About 10 years ago, Chuck
Black, a retired fighter pilot
and homeschooling dad of
6, began writing The King-
dom Series. This set of six
books tells the story arc of the Bible as a parable
set in medieval times without magic or wizardry.
Chuck had noticed his children engaged more
with the narrative stories in the Bible during
LITERATURE
Chuck Black
BY CINDY PUHEK
CURRICULUM REVIEW
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
CURRICULUM REVIEW

which have now been etched into their awakened
conscience.”
If you’re looking for literature that your kids will
enjoy reading and that will also challenge them to
live wholeheartedly for God, I recommend Chuck
Black’s books. He proves the power of a good story to
permanently impact someone’s life, and he uses this
power to encourage his readers to repent of sin, join
the spiritual battle, and live sacrificially for God. 
Cindy Puhek resides in Colorado
Springs and has been married to
Peter for more than two decades.
They are well into their second
decade of homeschooling their six
children who range in age from toddler to high
schooler. Cindy holds a masters degree in
chemistry and has written dozens of articles to
encourage others in their homeschooling
journeys. You can visit her blog at www.
homeschoolenrichment.com/blogs.
Cloak of Light, is told
from an unregenerate
human perspective. The
second book, Rise of
the Fallen, tells much of
the same story as the first book, but it is told from
an angel’s perspective. And the third book, The
Light of the Last, is told from both the human and
the angelic perspectives. These books, which are
in many ways reminiscent of Frank Peretti’s work,
vividly portray the spiritual battle taking place all
around us and illustrate the power of prayer. God’s
sovereignty in the events of history and the affairs
of men, and His calling on a person’s life are also
woven through the storylines. Once again, one
of Chuck Black’s main heroic characters in these
books is a homeschooled young woman, and it is
very encouraging to my kids to see homeschoolers
portrayed in such a positive light.
Our kids need to read stories that encourage them
to trust God. They need to know that God keeps His
promises, that serving Him is the greatest adventure
they could ever know, and that the longing they
have in their hearts for greatness is only found in a
relationship with Him. Our children also need to know
compromise is deadly, friendship with world makes
them an enemy of God, and sin always has conse-
quences. Chuck Black beautifully displays these
truths in his stories in a way that any pre-teen or
teenager will enjoy. My 13-year old son loves these
books and says what he likes best is he can learn
important things through these really great stories.
Another avid reader of the books said she finishes
a book feeling challenged to live out the principles
in these stories in the real world. Mark Hamby,
president of Lamplighter Publishing, said, “Chuck
Black is a word crafter who is able to weave Kingdom
principles into the fabric of one’s moral imagination.
The characters he has created and the passions they
exude will motivate readers to follow their examples,
Want to connect with other
homeschoolers across
Colorado? We created
the Colorado Homeschool
Discussion Group so you
don't have to take on your
homeschooling journey
alone. Join us for year-
round homeschooling
support!
www.CHEC.org/FBgroup
CURRICULUM REVIEW

C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E I Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 9 9 , 2 01732
•US
Thank you so much for
following God’s calling to start
this ministry. The Lord has
used it as a major teaching
tool in our lives, and I’ve only
listened to 3 of the videos
so far!
•Netherlands
Thank you so much for making this available — and free of charge!
My family and I live in the Netherlands…and don't have these people,
this information, or experience…. So it's a real blessing to be able to
glean from others, even across the world.
•Australia
The last few years
seem to be one foot
in front of the other.
I'm now walking on
cloud nine.... You
have no idea how
God's timing is per-
fect... The speakers
were great.
•Madagascar
I have decided to
homeschool my 3 kids.
As [a] pioneer in my
homeschooling journey, I
struggle with many social
pressure[s], and ...God [has
provided this resource] to
nurture my skills.
•Kenya
My hubby and I have
listened to two talks already,
fantastic stuff. What a great
blessing to us all the way
here in Kenya. God bless
you guys!
•England
We live in Newcastle, England, and there are not many homeschoolers over
here... [after the Summit] we feel more than ever committed to homeschool
and bring our children up in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
•Colorado
Hosts Danny Megan Craig
We decided to host a small online event or
webinar that could reach folks all over the
state. We wanted to provide immediate value
that would eventually bring families into
the community of CHEC for long-lasting
encouragement, but weren’t quite sure where
we should start.
available anytime. But now we had a rather large
difficulty: hosting an event of this scale would reach
far beyond Colorado, and we didn’t have the funds
or the staff to pull it off on our own.
Enter Generations. Generations was founded in
2007 as a subsidiary of CHEC, under director Kevin
Swanson (previously director of CHEC). God might-
ily blessed the ministry and today, the Generations
radio program, events, curriculum, and discipleship
materials serve Christians around the world! This
timely, biblical ministry addresses the needs of
Christian parents seeking to disciple their families in
the truth of God’s word and its relevance to all areas
of life. (You can learn more at Generations.org.)
Enter the virtual summit concept. Brought to
us by a founding leader of CHEC, Sandy Lundberg,
this idea seemed perfect for what we wanted to
accomplish — virtual summits would provide
free, pre-recorded video content for a limited time
period, with the option to upgrade to an “All-Access
Pass” to a membership zone with all video content
WORLDWIDE!
Reaching Families
Back in early 2016, the CHEC board, staff, and
volunteer leaders gathered for our annual
brainstorming and planning weekend. A key focus of
our discussion was how we could reach new families
with the vision of biblical, Christ-centered education
and discipleship here in Colorado.
BY KATIE WARD
PARTNER'S PAGE

Vo l u m e 3 , I s s u e 9 9 , 2 017 I C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E 33
COMING
THIS FALL!
For 28 years, CHEC has been at the forefront of the battle for home education and discipleship.
CHEC serves thousands of families every year through our events, Homeschool Update magazine,
widows fund, special needs fund, the CHEC Independent School, and more. We receive phone
calls throughout the week that give us a chance to provide advice, encouragement, and an extra
“boost” to homeschoolers when the going is tough. CHEC depends on your generous donation to
both continue and expand our mission.
Go to CHEC.org/donate to donate to any of these funds:
• General Fund
• Colorado Homeschool Freedom Fund
• Event Scholarship Fund
• Sign Language Interpreting Fund
• Casterline Single Moms
• Struggling Learners
Both CHEC and Generations share the same board
of directors, and during a regular board meeting, the
team discussed making these online summits a joint
effort between CHEC and Generations.
Thus, in May 2017, HomeschoolSummits.com was
born as a project of CHEC and Generations. This
partnership brings to Christian families the resourc-
es and encouragement they need to homeschool
with confidence as they pass on the faith to their
children. Since then we’ve since hosted three events
(with another on the way!), reaching more than
30,000 families in over 100 countries.
Evaluate your curriculum options with a
Christian worldview to identify the right
fit for every subject, for every child, so
you can homeschool with confidence.
Refresh your excitement for the journey,
equip you with practical management
tools, and transform your vision for
education and discipleship.
practical help to your own home in a personable, inter-
view-style format. Behind the scenes, the events and
website are run by a team of CHEC and Generations
staff based in Colorado, Missouri, and Washington.
As we look back, we see God’s hand on each detail of
this project, and are grateful for how He has brought
fruit that we truly believe will last into eternity —
parents being called up to raise their children to love
the Lord.
As we look to the future, our prayer is that we would
embody the calling in John 15 to abide in Christ and
see Him bring fruit: If you abide in me, and my words
abideinyou,askwhateveryouwish,anditwillbedonefor
you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:7-8).
To God be the glory! 
Katie Ward is a homeschool grad
who lives south of Kansas Ctity,
Missouri with her parents and four
siblings. She lived in Colorado
during her high school years, when
her family volunteered with CHEC, and she now
works remotely as Marketing Manager over CHEC’s
communications and publicity, including the
Homeschool Summits project. She is passionate
about encouraging families in a multi-generational
vision for loving God and others, and enjoys
working on ministry projects with her family, her
church, and the homeschool community. She can
be contacted at katie@chec.org.
Receive Christ-centered help and hope
for deciding what matters to your family,
creating a workable homeschool plan,
and keeping your path centered on the
eternal — even when life happens.
Hosted for free
October 22-27!
Each summit is hosted for free during the “live event”
dates with both live and pre-recorded sessions. After
the event, you can watch selected content for free
(plus shop the vendor hall and options), or upgrade
to a low-cost All-Access Pass to watch the videos
anytime, download audio or transcripts, and more!
Daniel and Megan Craig, homeschool grads from
Elizabeth, Colorado, host each video session with
well-known speakers, bringing biblical wisdom and
Register for free at
HomeschoolSummits.com
PARTNER'S PAGE

Visit CHEC.org/events to learn more!
CHEC BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Bill Roach, President
George Sechrist, Vice President
Brenda Kelly
Chad Roach
Ian Serff
Steven Vaughan
CHEC DIRECTORS:
Steve Craig, Executive Director
Kevin Swanson, Director of
Generations
Mike Cheney, Director of AME
The CHEC Homeschool Update is published
triannually by Christian Home Educators of Colorado,
19039 Plaza Drive, Suite 210, Parker, CO 80134.
The purpose of the Homeschool Update is to
provide information, resources, and leadership
for home educating families while effectively
communicating the activities, opportunities, and
needs of Christian Home Educators of Colorado.
The Homeschool Update is free to all who
request it. Donations are gladly accepted.
The views expressed by contributors and
advertisers in this news magazine do not
necessarily reflect those of CHEC.
Permission is granted to reprint any portion of
this magazine, except where noted, provided
the following credit is given: “Reprinted from the
CHEC Homeschool Update, Volume 3, Issue #102,
2018; 720-842-4852, CHEC.org.”
Editor:
Shari McMinn, sharimcminn.com
Creative Designer:
Sarah Lee Bryant, sarahleephoto.com
Advertising Policy:
Ads are published on a space-available, first-come,
first-served basis and are subject to approval.
Payment must be made by the deadline to reserve
ad space. New advertisers must include complete
product description. We reserve the right to refuse
any ad submitted.
CHEC’s mailing list is not sold or rented.
Advertising in this magazine provides an excellent
opportunity to reach homeschooling families
likely to be interested in your product or service.
Questions may be directed to
admanager@CHEC.org.
Circulation: V1 V3: 5,500  V2: 6,500
Next Advertising Deadline: November 16, 2018
For advertising opportunities with CHEC,
go to CHEC.org/advertising
Copyright © 2018 by CHEC
What’s NEXT
with CHEC
Visit CHEC.org/events to learn more!
October
Online Homeschool
Parenting Summit
November
Casterline Single
Mom's Banquet
January 2019
Spelling Bee
Homeschool Intro
Seminars
High School Beyond
Seminar
February 2019
Refresh: Ladies'
Encouragement Day
Meet Your Legislator Day
April 2019
Homeschool Day at the Capitol
May 2019
Homeschool Graduation
Ceremonies
June 2019
Rocky Mountain
CHEC EVENTS

www.AMEprogram.com
• Practical full year study on establishing and
operating a business enterprise built on
a biblical foundation.
• Easily teachable – just follow the steps with
simple level assignments
• Relevant – learning occurs through application
• Instruction from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
on wisdom, character, and work
• Study through the process of starting and running a business while building
an actual business plan
• Grasp and understand basic economics, money management, and personal ﬁnance.
• Use the knowledge gained to ACTUALLY start and operate a REAL family business.
• 17 lessons divided into 36 weeks at four hours per week, about 45 minutes per day
• 136-140 hours of study
• Includes reading, research, follow up tests, worksheets, and quizzes
See it at the
Generations Booth,
AME booth at the
conference, or at
generations.org or
ameprogram.com
The Curriculum/
Study Guide
for the book,
One with Everything:
anatomy of a hot dog stand
and other great
family businesses
NEW FROM GENERATIONS AND AME!
Relevant – learning occurs through application
The Curriculum/
anatomy of a hot dog stand
See it at
generations.org or
ameprogram.com

It's a free online event with videos from
top speakers to help you learn to focus
on God’s simple plan for family
discipleship, recharge your motivation,
faithfully take action to raise
children who love God and others.
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
DENVER CO
PERMIT #792
Christian Home Educators of Colorado
19039 Plaza Drive, Suite 210
Parker, Colorado 80134
Change Service Requested
Dear families: If you no longer want to receive this magazine, please contact
the CHEC office and ask to be removed from our mailing list. Thank you.
720.842.4852 I1.877.842.CHEC Ioffice@CHEC.org
Parenting Foundations • Child Training • Relationships • Challenges • Launching Young Adults
October 22-27, 2018
Register now at HomeschoolSummits.com/Parenting
THE 4TH HOMESCHOOL SUMMITS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY AND
FREE!

Homeschool Update Magazine - 2018, Volume 3, Issue 103

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Homeschool Update Magazine - 2018, Volume 3, Issue 103