Training our children, scripture, chores, etc.

* I wrote this post several weeks ago and finally finished it today. *
I have been reading several post on other blogs and gleaning from their post.  Some of them have been on training the children with chores, managing money (rewards for chores or allowances) and treasure jars (teaching the children the importance of laying up treasure in Heaven vs. earthly treasures).  My husband and I, in our efforts to change our homeschool ideas and our home, we have been re-evaluating what would work for our family.  Since, Allen Jr. cannot read, we have to look for other alternatives to training him.  We use a  program http://www.mayer-johnson.com/products/boardmaker-software/ for making picture symbols with words, so that he can see both and we do use some sign language.  We have an older program of this and several years ago we made our own chore system it has worked really well with both of the children, but now we need to change a few things and add some more in.  That will have to wait, because we cannot find the main cd for this system.  To replace it would be $200 +, to re-buy would be $400+, so we are going to be praying and looking for the cd over the next few weeks.  I will post pictures of our boards soon.

Character Qualities and Training

We have learned about different character qualities on and off, well this summer we started taking one a month and learning it.  We just finished up with Obedience and now are on Flexibility.    This is just a few things we have learned about them.  Obedience is quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction and wishes of those who are responsible for me.  The rewards of obedience are: protection, provision and direction.  Along with learning a definition, we learn five major point, a few of them are not complaining and going the "extra mile".  In addition to these qualities, we learn scriptures that go with each one.  We worked on this for about a month and the Lord has really used it in our home.  I have found that even I sometimes do not do things for the Lord with a cheerful attitude and if our children learn by example then I need to display the right attitude.
We just started with flexibility last week and by Friday, I had to be flexible with plans. Flexibility is the willingness to change plans or ideas according to the direction of my authorities.  The rewards are insight and success.  The five major points are: not getting upset when plans change, respect the decisions of my authorities, not be stubborn, look for the good in changes and not compromise what is right.  Well, my Husband, called me in the middle of the day on Friday and changed our plans for the family.  Needless to say, I was not exhibiting flexibility.  I did not get upset, I just grumbled and complained mostly in my spirit.  I'm so glad we started working on this character quality, because it showed me by that incident that I still needed to work on being flexible.  (We use the Character Training Institute and IBLP for our character qualities.) www.iblp.org
"If you want to grow, you must be willing to stretch" Anonymous