Yesterday we visited Colonial Williamsburg. I thought it would be croweded on Memorial Day, but surprisingly, it wasn’t! Since it wasn’t crowded, we were able to interact with all the trades people and guides. Every Memorial Day, they honor soldiers who have given their lives for freedom in American. Watching revolutionary soldiers march from the Governor’s Palace to Prentis Hall, we were able to watch gun salutes to those soldiers.

One of our first stops was George Wythe’s home. The Wythes never had children, but Mr. Wythe poured his life into men who changed the world through America. Men like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were mentored by George Wythe, one of the greatest minds in law at that time. Thomas Jefferson spent 5 winters studying under George Wythe and living in the Raleigh Tavern at the other end of town.

We learned a lot about the trades of that time. Did you know there weren’t many tradesmen in Williamsburg until the War for Independence because Williamsburg colonists bought most of their goods directly from England.? When Virginia broke away from England, they had to learn how to survive on their own, which is the time more trades people came to town. Did you know that Colonial Williamsburg has its own apprentice program with master tradesmen.

One of my favorite tours was the Capitol building…not so much about the building, but our tour guide gave a great overview of the time period. (more…)

My kids really wanted to visit Duke University. In the back of my mind, I thought, “It’s just a bunch of buildings:. Was I ever wrong?

At the hotel, I discovered they had a sports museum, so we headed to Duke before traveling to Winston-Salem for the book fair. Before we found the sports museum, we found the University Chapel. Chapel is an understatement. It’s really an awesome cathedral. We walked through it and were in awe of the beauty and devotion the builders must have to complete such a gorgeous building.

As moderns of the twenty-first century, we don’t appreciate architecture that takes more than a few years to build. Cathedrals often took 100 years to build. This tells me they had a very different worldview. These men had a multi-generational view of life. They built cathedrals, knowing it would not be finished in their lifetimes, for their great-grandchildren.

What a lesson we can learn today. We are such an individualistic society, living for the moment and for ourselves. As you consider your daily endeavors, are you taking into consideration your children and grandchildren?

Next we visited the sports museum, honoring the athletes who won national championships in basketball, golf, lacrosse and other sports. My kids enjoy watching Coach K and the Duke basketball teams as they play for championship status. I just bought a book about Coach K and his approach to coaching and leading the basketball team. The book was quickly snatched up by my son and daughter. I guess I’ll read it later this summer, after they finish it.

Coach K is a gifted leader and I hope to share lessons in raising leaders with you after I read his book. BTW, I am rewriting my Raising Leaders book series to include some all-new information I’ve discovered from wise men.

It was so much fun meeting some you last weekend at the North Carolina homeschool convention. We were all encouraged by those we met. Thanks for stopping by our booth. We will be in Virginia at HEAV on June 7-9. If you’re there, please stop by our booth.

Instead of writing an article, I wanted to let you know I’ll be posting pictures and lessons we are learning on our vacation. We were first reminded at Duke University of the different worldview we have compared to those who founded and built Duke. Read my post to see how architecture tells the worldview of the day.

Yesterday we toured Colonial Williamsburg. I still need to download the pics to get them on my blog, but I’m sure you’ll learn some history lessons from my post. You can even share these with your kids.

Keep coming back to my blog this week and next. When we have internet service, I’ll write a post or upload some pics.

Have a wonderful week,
Kerry

ps. My kids (14 & 19yo) learned alot from listening to Jim Weiss’ workshop last weekend. He is one of the best storytellers. You can use his cds to teach history and character quite easily. When you buy a cd, PLEASE tell them that Kerry Beck sent you. I don’t make any sales commission, but I’d love for them to know we told you about their excellent recordings.
http://www.greathall.com/

Last night I was awakened to a popping sound and asked Steve if it was gunfire. He said it was muffled, so he didn’t think so, but we took precautions just the same.  I wondered if it was firecrackers since it sounded like last July 4.

Before church this morning, we discovered a sniper opened fire on our county sheriff office and took refuge in a beautiful, old church across the street.  It was less than 5 blocks from our home.  No wonder we could hear the constant popping so well.

All I could think of this morning was we were suppose to be at a wedding in that stately church yesterday afternoon, but our daughter’s softball game kept us out of town.

We are okay, but as CNN reports, there are 3 dead and several injured.  Please pray for the families of the victims, as well as the opportunity to share real answers from God’s Word.  When these events happen, many ask why God allows evil in this world.  It is a good opportunity to share the truth.

Blessings,
Kerry Beck

Gentry’s team won third place in the state tournament.  Pretty good, considering they weren’t expected to win district at the beginning of the season.

Yesterday, we began softball around noon and ended about 7:30pm. Whew…it was a very long day, with very short breaks between games. It seemed like our team was always the last one to finish their game.

We lost the first game.

The second game we won in overtime. At the end of the day, our scorekeeper came up to Gentry and told her she batted 1000 in this game. For those of you not into softball, that’s a perfect round of hitting and getting on base!!! (another proud mama moment).

They had a 15 minute break before their third and final game. Gentry got on base again, giving her 5 for 5 at the plate. Her team won, so we are getting ready for another day of softball.

My middle daughter, Gentry, left this morning for the state softball tournament with the local high school.  The first game was 1 1/2 hours away this afternoon…and it was a nail-biter.  We were down 3-2 in the fifth when Gentry hit the ball and made it to first on an overthrow.  The next girl bunted and Gentry slid into third.  They overthrew third so Gentry got up and slid into home.  She tied the game.

In the bottom of the seventh and last inning, we were tied.  The first batter got on base.  The next two were out.  Our starting batter was up and they tried to walk her.  But, she hit in the winning run.

The tournament continues tomorrow.

BTW…Gentry won player of the game

From a proud mama

Here’s a comment from my FamilyEbiz Mom blog.  I thought it would encourage others who wonder why I post about home business.

Hello - I received your e-mail regarding your new product. We heard about you and your husband at a homeschool conference and I looked you up on the web. I, too, have felt a deep need to prepare my children not to just “go to college” but to get trained to run and manage a business and set themselves up for residual income. (Not simply trading their hours for dollars, as much of the world does.

They can choose books to study; they can choose topics to study. We want to develop leaders who can carry through with their decisions. As they choose a topic, they know what it’s like to read through that topic, to write about that topic, to discuss that topic and come up with their own conclusions. We want to develop leaders who have the discipline to complete their research; they have a work ethic. We also want to develop leaders who can think through issues they see in books, in newspapers, in real life situations, in their church, in their community, in their job. We want them to think and we want to give them opportunities to learn how to think.

Now, there’s a little caveat I’d like to mention about giving your kids choices. I said to go ahead and give your kids the choice of what classic they’re going to read, and I think that’s important. I think kids need to learn what freedom is. But we need to remember that God still holds parents accountable. Whether your kids are at school or at home, you are responsible. You need to make choices about your kids’ education deciding what is important and where your priorities are. That education includes biblical education, academic education, physical education, emotional education—all areas of the child’s life. You are responsible foe these. So balance between giving them freedom as they can handle it and guiding them through your priorities for their education.

Leadership Education

Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.

   Matthew 15:13-14

 

…beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
   Matthew 17:11

Will your children be wise, godly leaders?  Or blind leaders who end up in the ditch?

Will your children offer leaven in their leading?  Or wisdom to their followers?

We must prepare our children by using Scripture as our grid.  Then, our children will be leaders for Christ, ruling well.

Kerry

Leadership Training