Viva Cuba Libre
Posted on November 5, 2009
I have been due for some good news. It is official, I am returning to the Jewel of the Caribbean in February of next year. I have been privileged to visit Cuba three times now. This trip is 9 days and we will be doing some light construction and evangelism in the evenings.
There should be time for me to work with youth workers in the church and time to share some of magic with the children. Hanging with children and talking God sized things over hand sized magic tricks is a ton of fun. There is something about spending an entire week in the service of others that really grounds you. Nine days talking God, living local and turning the cell phone off. Not too mention great food, great weather and the warmest people you will meet south of Miami.
Magic show on the back porch of a little church
I don’t speak Spanish, but those of you that know me, know that language isn’t an issue. Magic speaks volumes with little kids and I trust God for the rest. I am fluent in the language of international cuisine and my degree in recreation gives me an edge with the children. Amazing what you can do with a ball and an empty street.
The trip is expensive and I will be counting on friends and family to help me raise these funds. I will be contacting many of you soon to share opportunities of how you can support my work financially.
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Its been a tough day
Posted on November 4, 2009
Without details of why, I will share only a page from a book I am reading that has me thinking.
There are moments in life when the future pivots on the slim and critical fulcrums of gut level decisions by those possessing the power to give or withhold the things you want. That morning, as it turned out, was one of those moments for Carlisle McMillan
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Homeschooling
Posted on August 25, 2009
Yesterday began our 4th official year of homeschooling. Longer if you count the hours Melissa spent on preschool and kindergarten for both Caleb and Andrew. We have found great success in homeschooling and our boys have thrived in the close environment of a two student classroom.
But, even in today’s world of school choice and alternative education many myths surround homeschoolers and friends always have good questions. I try to never pass up the opportunity to brag on my wife and children and the benefits of homeschooling. So I have put together a small frequently asked questions section about our family and homeschooling.
Why? I always answer, why not? It has always been the parents responsibility to educate their children. The most successful students in any school are the students where the parents read to them at an early age and continue to take a large interest in their children’s education. Secondly, I answer that schools, all of them, Public, Private, Charter, Parochial and any other all suffer the same issues of over worked teachers, over crowded classrooms and the inability to give my child the attention their mother can.
Do I live in the city of Dayton? No, we live in Kettering, home to great schools and great teachers.
Do you have something against teachers? No, we have many friends who teach and administer in public, private and parochial schools here in the Miami Valley.
Do you have to be certified to teach at home? No, not in Ohio, the exact laws can be found at the Home School Legal Defense Website listed below.
What about social interaction? This is my favorite question. Anyone that asks this has never met either of my children. I first remind them of that awkward introverted kid from kindergarten. Remember that kid getting picked on in 3rd grade? Remember the same kid in 8th grade. At the dance, unfashionable and alone. Remember that same kid graduating in the middle of his class and no one remembering what happened to him. Not very social, kinda awkward, public or private school did nothing to help him be social. We all know at least one of those from our school days. My kids are in Cub Scouts, Karate, Soccer, Piano, T-Ball, Flag Football, summer Library program and YMCA day camp with your kids.
Do your kids have homework? Yes, it is all homework. We have a classroom in our house where school happens. Occasionally you will see my kids at the Y still working on assignments instead of playing in the middle of the day, but normally they are done when the neighbors get home from Kettering public and Spring Valley Academy.
How are your kids doing? My first grader tested on the Iowa Basic skills test the equivalent of your 2nd grader in the 7 month of school. My third grader tested equivalent to a normal 6th grader in the 4th month. I would say they are doing fine.
What about your poor wife, staying home with the kids year around? She likes our kids, loves them a bit too much sometimes and finds the investment in them is more important than a new mini van or larger house. I pay her only a modest salary to teach which she squanders on Diet Mountain Dew, Flip Flops from Old Navy and season passes to Kings Island for her and the boys.
What about the poor kids? They love it. They have a bit more freedom in the classroom, less evening work than their friends, the best teacher student ratio in the county and the same cool field trips to the zoo, theater, museum and they get Friday afternoons off.
Who picks the curriculum? We do, we use a blue print from a book called “A Well Trained Mind”.
Are you some crazy granola family that makes their own clothing and foodstuffs? No. We shop like everyone else.
Are you crazy Christians who hide their children from the world and teach anti evolution materials? No and No. We teach creationism and teach the THEORY of evolution. Our kids are hanging with your kids and aren’t hidden from anyone. They see movies at the theater and read books from the public library. They are just smarter than your average 2nd and 4th graders.
What about music? Art? Advanced math and science? Private piano lessons, wanna hear my boys play? Art? Most schools have ditched art in the name of budgets, we still study the masters, teach sketching and drawing. Math and Science, did I mention Melissa holds an engineering degree from a big SEC school?
The best part of all of this: we are in control of what happens in the classroom. Someday they may attend a traditional school and they will be well prepared.
Any more questions? Just leave a comment I will sure to answer as best I can.
Our resource for the legalities and procedures is the Home School Legal Defense Association.
My first video
Posted on March 28, 2009
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25 things
Posted on January 22, 2009
1. I am the son of a truck driver and a nurse.
2. I sleep on my stomach with two really flat pillows.
3. I didn’t know how poor we were until we weren’t poor anymore.
4. My first car was a ‘77 Chevy van, with one large sliding door and curtains in the windows. Green gingham, my mom made them.
5. That van had an eight track player.
6. I had 8 track cassettes that I played.
7. I was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout and raced BMX bikes.
8. In fifth grade the cool kids outed me for wearing generic knock off Reeboks. I now own over 25 pairs of shoes and could easily find 25 more pair that I like.
9. I once worked as a child abuse investigator.
10. My favorite comfort food is warm cornbread in cold buttermilk.
11. I have fallen asleep while driving two times.
12. I once sat at Senator Ford’s desk and ate some of his M&M’s to the dismay of this aides. I still remember his display of cigars, cigarettes, dip and snuf.
13. I didn’t meet my half sister until I was 16.
14. I have carried a pocket knife since 4th grade.
15. Jimmy Buffett is perhaps my favorite musical artist, have seen him 5 times.
16. I dont do wine.
17. I enjoy greasy spoons as much as a nice steak house. $5 for a burger or $50 steak. Its all good.
18. I have been to Cuba three times. Yes their cigars are better.
19. My dog is a soft coated wheaten terrier, he is pretty, but stupid.
20. My dad was 100% Alabama. You can take the boy from Alabama, but you take the Bama from the boy.
21. I can cook, I like to cook, and do it well, southern and cajun are my specialties.
22. I have fly fished for trout in Montana, shrimped in Florida, catfished in Alabama, fished for bass in Kentucky and caught my dinner in the Boundary Waters of Canada.
23. I was the first in my family to earn a bachelors degree. 16 aunts and uncles, 30 sumthing cousins, only two of us have 4 year degrees.
24. I got my first gun on my 6th birthday.
25. I once ran a half marathon. 13.1 miles.