Law Abiding Homeschooler

Valerie Basham

1 comment

June 26, 2010

“Homeschooling is against the law!” These words were spoken to my children by a neighbor one afternoon a few weeks ago. My children didn’t know what to say to her, they were in shock! Of course, homeschooling is not against the law, but there are some laws that apply to me as a homeschooling parent. The laws vary from state to state. To find out what law applies to you in your state, click here.
I am so thankful that homeschooling in the United States is still legal!  I consider homeschooling to be my right as a parent, but I also realize that there are many places on the globe where I would not be able to enjoy this God given right. While homeschooling is legal in the state of Arkansas – as in all 50 states – there are some laws by which homeschoolers here in the Natural State must abide.  Here is a brief rundown of our laws.
1. Homeschooling parents must file a “Notice of Intent” form with their local superintendent of schools.
2. Homeschooled students in grades 3-9 must take a state mandated standarized test each year they are homeschooled. This test is paid for by the state and only covers math and reading. There is no penalty if your child performs poorly.  The tests are graded and the results are sent to the parents a few weeks after the test is completed. It is all organized by the state and the test only takes two hours of your time.
The deadline to file your “notice of intent” forms for this school year is August 15, 2010. It only takes a moment to print out the three forms and not much longer than that to fill them out. They need not be typed, print is fine. You need not get the forms notarized, unless your child will be applying for a driver’s permit or license this school year. If so, you will need a notarized copy of the forms. The instructions for doing this are on the form itself.
You must know the name of your school district’s superintendent and his office address. You can submit your forms in person or mail them.
I use the website for The Education Alliance to access my forms each year. If you go to their homepage, you will find a wealth of information! The link for obtaining your forms is clearly marked, “Notice of Intent”. (See arrow in screenshot, below.) Click this link and then download the forms to your computer and print them out. You will need Adobe Reader on the your computer to download the forms. (Click to enlarge screenshot)

Once you’ve printed out your forms, simply fill them out and send them in. In March, you will receive the testing information for the students in your home who are between grades 3-9.

That’s it!

Please note that there are no laws regarding the type of curriculum you use, the depth of training you as the parent have received, or any other specific boundaries to your homeschooling methods. The state would simply like to know what you’re doing in your homeschool.

Because I love homeschooling, I refuse to break the laws. I don’t mind being accountable to the state for how I educate my children because I’m doing my best. I’m not ashamed. As a Christian, I also want to keep a right testimony with my government officials. If you homeschool in the great state of Arkansas, then stand up and be counted! Be a law abiding homeschooler! 🙂

Valerie

Happy Father’s Day! {2010}

Valerie Basham

1 comment

June 21, 2010

I would like to wish the world’s best husband and Dad, Terry Basham, II, a happy Father’s Day!! We love you with all our hearts. I thank God for a man who leads our family according to God’s Word and does his best to live it out every day.
I took the photo below this morning before church. Each of our children love their Dad very much! 🙂

(Click to enlarge)

A grateful wife and mother,
Valerie

For Dad on Father’s Day

Valerie Basham

2 comments

June 20, 2010

My Dad is in Heaven. The day he left me was the day my world turned upside down. While I knew death would come to all of us at some point, I wasn’t ready for the shock, and the change, of losing someone so close to me. 


He was my “partner”. We enjoyed taking walks around the block together, riding bikes together, and especially getting hot fudge milkshakes together! He was a soul-winning, Bible-reading (and living), loving, strong, tenderhearted man. He had been out witnessing the night before he went to Heaven. 


I have so many wonderful memories of him. I remember how we would spend most evenings doing things together. Sometimes, we’d go for a walk, or I might watch him clean his trumpet and listen to him play it. We might lie on his bed, with the window open and he would read to me, with my head against his arm. Other times, we might change the oil in the car, or wash it. I remember the wistful look he would get in his eye when he talked about his own Dad. My Grandfather died before my parents were even married. My Dad said “I grew up overnight when my Dad died.” I saw the mistiness cloud over his eye, and it broke my heart. I would chirp up and say, ignorantly, “But you have ME now!” And I would wrap my arms around his broad shoulders and hug him tightly. I knew he was glad to have me – even though I was quite a handful!  But nothing could take the place of his Dad. I know that now for myself. I know what he means to “grow up overnight.”


I remember how sad he looked as he watched me go more from “partner” to “woman”. Of course, he was glad I was growing up, and he was proud of me, but our days of fun together were coming to a  close. When I  found a man who would have me, I was thrilled that he and Dad got along so well together! They could talk for hours; they truly enjoyed each other’s company. Now that Dad is gone, I see some of my Dad in my husband. I don’t know how that could happen, but I’m glad it did. I see Dad’s wit and charm in my own husband everyday. I have a man who  truly enjoys being with me, and I him – we’re “partners”. I have a man who treats our children, especially our daughters. like “partners” as well.


I could go on for pages and pages and tell you about my Dad. My Dad was a lot more Christ-like than many pastors and preachers I know. He was humble. He was wise and hard working. He wasn’t rich, but he took very good care of us. He wasn’t perfect, but he was close. 😉 I’ll spare you any more – after all, I know I’m prejudiced. But, just to prove I’m not completely off on my opinion of my Dad, I’d like to share a poem that a man in our church wrote about my Dad, my partner.

His wavy white hair

His finely honed wit,

The strength of his handshake
His encouragement to never quit.

The height of his stature
Is just but a mite,
Compared to his example
Of a man who lived right.

And, oh, to hear him pray
That’s what I loved most
He seemed as though he were best friends
With the Lord of hosts.

No thee’s and thou’s
No strain of thought,
Plain spoken words
Not rehearsed or taught.

His head tilted back
As he uttered his prayer
I peeked I suppose
It seemed the Lord was standing there.

The words that he spoke
Still ring in my ear
I want to pray like that
And feel the Lord so near.

Into God’s presence
Now he’ll abide.
For today he went home
Leaving his children and sweet wife by their side,

But don’t worry, don’t mourn, fret or despair.
Ron Courtney left a heritage…
He was a man of prayer

Now you can see him in Heaven
As he talks with the Lord.
I picture it quite the same
As it was here before.

His head tilted back
Now Glory in his eye,
Face to face, praying and waiting,
For you and me to arrive. – Jim Payte

I hate that 26 years flew by so quickly – that’s all we had together. I hate that I can’t hear his laugh or see his smile. I hate that I was such a handful. At the same time, I have no regrets. I’m glad that I apologized when I did wrong. I’m glad I listened to him, and did what he said. I’m really glad that my Dad made his children his hobby, instead of golf or hunting or anything else. He enjoyed whatever we enjoyed. He was the best, and I hope to do his name proud till I, too, depart this world. My husband recently said that he wishes he had a whole church-full of people just like my Mom and Dad. Now that’s high praise.  

Park Days

Valerie Basham

2 comments

June 15, 2010

Since our summer break began, we have been reading books, working on Fair projects and trying to visit area parks. Yesterday, we were blessed to be able to go to Arkadelphia to meet my Mom for lunch. It is such a blessing to be able to visit with her. I have lived very far away from her at different times in my marriage. This is the closest we’ve ever been able to live to her – we are only one hour and fifteen minutes from her house! Arkadelphia is only about a 40 minute drive for each of us, so we often meet there to visit. 
We found this wonderful park that has a canopy over the playground as well as some tables under a pavilion so we can sit in the shade to watch the kids. We sat and watched the kiddos and visited early in the day – before the heat and humidity got too severe.
Mitchell and Lauren are my climbers! They sometimes scare me! 
Leslie is more sedate – hallelujah. 😉
Laci said this was her “house”. 🙂
Lauren also spent some time walking around the ball fields looking for stray baseballs and running the bases! I should have snapped a picture of her, too! I guess I wasn’t thinking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About two weeks ago, we all headed over to Texarkana to visit the library and go to the park. There is a nice park next to the library, but it has very little shade or comfortable seating for parents. We stumbled on this park quite by accident, but we’re so glad we did! It had shaded seating and play areas, as well as a duck pond! The children all loved seeing the ducks, but especially my youngest. She got so excited to hear the “quack” of a duck in person! 
Not sure what kind of ducks these were, but they never moved! They let us get extremely close to them. I didn’t let the children get too close, I didn’t trust them. I thought they might snap at them. 

Most of the other ducks were these white ones. They were skittish of humans, but my kids tried to get close, nonetheless. 🙂
The little girls were fascinated!

Finally, they all decided to play. 
Laci did her climbing, Lauren played tag with some other kids that were there. Mitchell joined in the game, too. They ran and ran and ran…I wish I could have one tenth of their energy! 🙂
Leslie played on the playground the whole time. 
Each of them were exhausted on the way home! That is how I know they had fun! 
I wanted to close the post with this photo, below. I snapped this mother duck caring for her ducklings. She so tenderly kept them beneath her wings, protecting them. When in the water, the babies stayed very close to her side. I once read the quote “Motherhood is the basket in which I’ve placed all my eggs.” I thought that saying was true for me, too. I have not chosen a secular career, I’ve chosen to spend my days with my little “ducklings”, keeping them close at hand. I love watching my children run and play, I love eating around the table with them each evening, and I love tucking them into their beds at night. I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me many little ones to raise for Him, and I pray they always do His will.
And speaking of my “ducklings”, I’d better go care for them! 
A busy Mother,

Valerie

Not Even a Drop in the Bucket – My Testimony

Valerie Basham

1 comment

June 13, 2010

Seventeen years ago today, I was born into God’s family. It seems like yesterday. I was fifteen years old, struggling ‘neath the load of hormones and teenage emotions. I was trying to “fit in” somewhere. The only place I really fit in was at home. I knew my parents loved me more than their own lives. I had a best friend, but her family was in evangelism. They traveled with Evangelist Jack Parchman, heading up his tent ministry. They set up the tent and other equipment, as well as provided some special music.The best part was that they got to meet and make friends all over the country. Because they traveled so much, she was only around in the winter for a few weeks. How desperate I was for friends! My Christian school and church were not very large, and I was the epitome of a “people person.” Well, during the summer of 1993, my best friend, and her parents, offered me an opportunity that I would have never dreamed of – they invited me to travel with them for three weeks and go to two different meetings with them! One was in Raymond, Illinois, the other was in East Prairie, Missouri. My parents agreed and we were off. The closest I had ever been to a motor home was when I was little. I looked inside one that was a prize for a drawing at the Hot Springs Mall. On this trip, I actually got to ride in one!


I enjoyed getting to sing at the meetings with my best friend. I enjoyed eating three meals a day with her and her friends for three whole weeks. I loved sleeping in her camper. I loved making grilled cheese sandwiches with her and buying chocolate Zingers at gas stations. (I still think of that summer when I see those in stores!) I loved every minute of those three weeks! In fact, at the first meeting we were at, my future husband was there. He wasn’t interested in me, of course, nor I, him, but it makes for a funny memory!


I had grown up in church – I couldn’t tell you how many times I had heard the gospel by the time I was fifteen. My brother and sister were both active in church during their teen years, and I witnessed their enthusiasm first hand each day. My parents lived as much like Christ as they could. They were faithful and consistent. My sister and brother both graduated from Hyles-Anderson College. I remember going there when I was nine years old to visit for the first time. I would go many more times after that. My sister was voted “Most Compassionate” her senior year there – and that title fits her to a “T”. My brother had graduated from there before her. He was a pastor when I was fifteen and she was serving with her husband at a church. I had made a profession of faith when I was five and again at six. I remember wanting to be saved so badly – I had read and understood the verses; I had prayed, but I didn’t really believe I was saved.


That was because, I wasn’t.


This day, seventeen years ago, the Holy Spirit turned the light on for me. I had just finished reading my Bible on my bed in the camper – I remember I had just started reading Ezra – and the Holy Spirit said in my heart, “You’re reading your Bible, and you’re trying so hard to live the Christian life, but you’re not even really saved. You’re just a sinner trying to do good.” I stopped and thought about my previous professions of faith – I was never convicted of my sin! I’d never seen myself as a wicked sinner in need of a Savior.

Until then.


I went to get my friend’s mother and told her I was lost. She got her Bible out, and read a verse or two, but then she turned to me and said, “Valerie, you already know what you need to do. Do you want to pray?” I said “Yes, I do!” There, in a camper trailer in East Prairie, Missouri, a place I’ve never been back to since, I trusted Christ as my Savior. I couldn’t wait to call my parents and tell them the good news! Back then, I had to use a calling card to call home, and go through an operator. The calls were expensive, so could only talk with them briefly. While I waited to be connected, I said, “Operator “I got saved!” I don’t know her name, but she was also a Christian, and she rejoiced with me!


It was the best day of my life. The Lord orchestrated the events so beautifully. He did the convicting, He did the saving, and He does the keeping. Seventeen years seems like a long time, but when I think about how long I will be saved – for eternity – it isn’t even a drop in the bucket! 


I’m so thankful to the Lord for saving me. I am also thankful that since then, I’ve gotten to witness to many people and see many saved. One man I invited to church ended up getting saved, surrendering to the ministry, and marrying one of my good friends! What a blessing to have a part in their joy and service to the Lord! I’ve gotten to work on bus routes, teach Sunday school and Junior church, clean church buildings, lead ladies meetings, sing songs, and even play the piano (such as it was) for my Lord. The most amazing thing, is that Christ not only gave me the precious gift of salvation, but He allowed me to be the wife of a Pastor – me! I am so unworthy and so incapable of the demands of this role that I must rely upon Him for it all. This has brought me much closer to my Savior than I ever dreamed I could be, and yet I still have so far to go. I hope and pray He gives me many more years of service, but if not, I am thankful for what He has let me do thus far. I owe Him everything!


Securely in His hands,
Valerie

Never a Dull Moment

Valerie Basham

no comments

June 12, 2010

Today, our Laci was busily painting with her water colors. She came in to see me after about half an hour and looked like this:

I think she got a little carried away! One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment around the Basham household! :] I hope someone made you smile today, if not, maybe Laci’s photo will! 😉

Joyful mother of children,
Valerie

Live Right Anyway

Valerie Basham

2 comments

June 10, 2010

I have heard it said that the ministry would be easy, if it weren’t for people. Of course, that is said tongue-in-cheek. Without people, we have no need of the ministry. After all, the point of God’s ministry is to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to help, or minister, to people. Jesus died for people. I am a “people”, and I know I that there are times when others have to love me in spite of my faults. They must look past a lot of shortcomings to find the good in me, so I should certainly do the same for them.

Because I dearly love many people, it hurts when they get angry at me for something I believe. It hurts when they turn their back and walk away. My husband is a “PK” – a preacher’s kid – so he has a thicker skin than I do, not to mention a lifetime of ministerial experience that I do not have. He’s been involved in ministry work for 32 years already!

When I began this journey of service for the Lord with my husband 12 years ago, my Mom sent me a copy of a poem she read in a daily devotional booklet. She thought it would help me, and it did. I have had it on my refrigerator ever since. The devotion was entitled “Live Right Anyway!”, and that’s just what I sometimes have to do. I have to “live right” regardless of others’ opinions or actions.

People can be unreasonable, illogical, and self centered;
Love them anyway.
If you do good, some will accuse you of selfish motives;
Do good anyway.
If you succeed, you may win false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable;
Be honest anyway.
What takes years to build may be destroyed overnight;
Build well anyway.
Sinners don’t always want to hear the Gospel;
Witness lovingly anyway!

At the end of the devotional is this little saying:
“The world crowns success, but God crowns faithfulness.”

Loving my faithful Savior,
Valerie

My Quiet Time

Valerie Basham

no comments

June 9, 2010

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.


Do you ever have moments when life seems to be more than you can handle? So many things pulling for your attention, so many messes or problems to deal with, that you don’t even know where to begin? I have felt that way often, in fact, just today! I feel sure that it is the devil trying to distract me or discourage me, so that I will be useless in the Lord’s work. Sadly, sometimes he wins. I wallow in defeat and self-pity and accomplish nothing for my Lord. Other times, I cry out to the Lord and win the victory.
Today, I awoke feeling overwhelmed. We are in the middle of a revival meeting. My youngest just had outpatient surgery. I am 34 weeks pregnant. It is 200 degrees outside – okay, not really, but it feels like it to my swollen body. I have floors to mop, laundry to do, bathrooms to clean, children to care for, food to cook and then church every night this week. 
I hit the ground running – or trying to – this morning. I didn’t get very far. I’m physically and emotionally wiped out. I sat down and just sighed. My husband said that I looked like I felt bad. Boy, was he right! I felt like I needed to stop everything and spend time with the Lord, which had gotten pushed out of its usual spot in my schedule. But how? I have four children who are very young. I have a house that needs constant attention. How could I squeeze it in now? The Lord reminded me of Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. I needed that “one thing” desperately. I didn’t want it to get moved or displaced, but it did. I decided that maybe my husband could take the kids outside or somewhere for a while so that I might have some much needed quiet time. However, I didn’t have the time to even mention my idea before the Lord provided a way for me Himself! 
The phone rang and Terry answered it. It was our special speaker for the week, Bro. Eddie Kelso. He asked if he and his wife could take our kids to a local state park to walk around and play. They even wanted to feed them lunch! Terry had to run a few errands, so he took our youngest with him. This was it. The Lord had given me about 30 minutes quiet time. I got into His word, and wept at His feet. Just as I was finishing, my hubby and Laci returned. I felt renewed and refreshed. The Lord had given me peace, because I was dwelling on Him, and leaving my cares with Him.
It was a good thing that I ended up getting my priorities back in order. A few minutes after I finished up my quiet time, I went to unload the dryer. To my horror, I found most of my white clothing splattered with blue ink. 😦 Apparently, I missed a blue ink pen that someone had in their pocket. I’m sure I was able to handle this mishap much better after spending time with the Lord than I would have before!

In the Bible study I’ve been working through, the author suggests writing helpful verses on 3×5 cards and placing them throughout the house. I have read this idea and done it in the past, but it’s been a while. I enjoyed finding relevant verses and writing them out on the cards. I read them before I fall asleep at night, and sleep is usually instant, because thoughts of my Savior are peaceful, comforting thoughts.
Some of my Bible verse cards. 🙂

Resting in His arms,
Valerie

Laci’s Memory Verse

Valerie Basham

1 comment

June 7, 2010

Here is our youngest quoting our memory verse, Proverbs 15:3, at breakfast time Sunday morning. She leaves out the word “beholding”, but other than that, she does pretty well. More than saying the verse, we hope the children will apply it to their lives, by remembering that while Mom and Dad are not always around, our Heavenly Father is.

Valerie

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