Little Tait Update

Praise the Lord!!!

Layers of Contrast

A box of china, a piece of plywood, two dog crates with goats inside, a sleeping bag, a celtic harp, and a wedding dress laid atop it all! : ) Taking another load to Jon and Beth's new home.

Boy's Play, Man's Labor

Can any one guess what the boys were playing in the girl's dollhouse?

Help Little Tait

The Lord has greatly blessed with many people generously helping Little Tait . . . however, as of today, the Zimmermans still have $13,582 to raise by June 3rd. After that, their hospital bills skyrocket to $186,769.

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

HSLDA Thanks Missouri Homeschoolers

By God's strength, ready to stand for His truth at a moment's notice.

Missouri: Update—Army of Homeschoolers Thwarts Power Grab

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

When a last-minute legislative maneuver threatened to give the state
power to decide when a homeschooler can graduate and how he must earn
a high school credit, thousands of homeschoolers dropped everything
and rushed to Jefferson City.

Senate Bill 291 began innocently enough as a new dose of public
education reforms. But as lawmakers hurried to pass bills before the
legislature closed on May 15, a provision was quietly inserted into
S.B. 291 changing the end date for compulsory education from a child's
16th birthday to the date he had completed 16 high school credits
toward graduation. This would have given the state power to define
"graduation" and "credit" for homeschoolers, possibly with devastating
consequences.

Alert Families for Home Education's (FHE) regional director learned of
the change and put the spotlight on it. FHE and HSLDA worked quickly
and on the evening of May 13 asked homeschoolers to rally to protest
this attempted power grab. On incredibly short notice, more than 2,500
homeschoolers set everything else aside and gathered at the steps of
the Capitol in Jefferson City at 1 p.m. on May 14.

Lawmakers and reporters were astonished that homeschoolers could
organize such a large group less than 24 hours after the word went
out!

With this crowd on his doorstep, the lawmaker who had inserted the
provision in S.B. 291 publicly apologized to the assembled families.
He agreed to either fix the problem or withdraw the bill. In
negotiations with FHE's lobbyist, Kerry Messer, he agreed to include a
special definition of a "credit" for homeschoolers: 100 hours of
instruction or more in a course. With this definition in place, state
officials are blocked from imposing their own. As finally passed, the
bill also exempted any student reaching age 17.

The new law will go into effect August 28, assuming the governor signs
it. HSLDA is reviewing the final language carefully to see if any
additional changes should be sought next year. We will send out a
bulletin soon with practical guidance about applying the new law.

Thank you for your willingness to sacrifice to come to Jefferson City.
A new generation will have stories to tell about what you did to
protect freedom, and how God used one ordinary person to sound an
alarm just in the nick of time.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney

Night Out at the Symphony

Powell Symphony Hall, here we come!

Every year, Classic 99, our local Classical Music Radio Station, hosts an unforgettable concert tailored especially for the family. With musical selections treasured through the years, and a family friendly price rate (!) this event makes it on the Serven Clan calender almost every year.


The hall is so ornate, it almost takes your breath away.


Passing out tickets and checking our seat assignments.


A Symphony Tradition: running into the Burns family.


Winding up the red carpet to our assigned section.


The symphony.

Tonight's selections included:

• MENDELSSOHN Movement I from Symphony No. 4, “Italian”
• DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dances, op.46, nos. 1, 4, and 8
• MASSENET Meditation from Thaïs
• TCHAIKOVSKY Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
• BEETHOVEN Movement I from Symphony No. 5
• BARBER Adagio
• J.STRAUSS On the Beautiful Blue Danube
• SIBELIUS Finlandia

My personal favorite was the Mendelssohn. : ) Also the Dvorak was quite invigorating. We all agreed this program was much superior to last years. Any other concert goers disagree?


Shutting down the place: we are always the last to leave.


Wait. There are still people in the Grand Hall!


Andrew.


Some Zes and Serven girls.


Parents chatting.


Standing around talking while some people eat cookies.


Just one more picture of those chandeliers!


The New and Revised [read: smaller] Serven Clan out on an adventure.


Night comes to Powell Hall.


Don't you like the fog in this picture? : ) After getting a mid-night snack, we stood around again and closed down the ice cream shop!

Spring Concert Highlight Video

Covenant Family Church Spring Concert.

We were waiting with much anticipation to see our friend's video work giving the highlight's from last week's spring concert. Stephen Littmann had quite the task! Try to pare down, represent, and capture snapshots from a 2 hours concert! He did a fabulous job. : ) Thank you Stephen! Click here and enjoy some highlight's from our Covenant Family Church Spring Concert.

Report from Jefferson City

The Missouri State Capitol.

Background of Today's Rally, from the Families for Home Education website:

Details and Results of May 14, 2009 Rally and Legislative Alert on Senate Bill 291

"Late afternoon on May 13, 2009, due only to the Grace of God, FHE’s newest Regional Director was listening to the Mo House debate a bill of interest. After the debate was done, she continued to listen and learned of a change to Missouri’s “Home School” law. She alerted FHE’s Executive Director, who immediately called FHE’s lobbyist. The change would have allowed the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to monitor and regulate home schools during high school, and would have controlled curriculum and when a student was no longer under the statute.

"FHE and HSLDA coordinated, sending out alerts within minutes of each other. The alerts were forwarded and the FHE Board and many of our families changed plans and arranged to be in Jefferson City on Thursday, May 14. Meanwhile, our lobbyist (the ONLY registered home school lobbyist in Jefferson City) worked late into the night hammering out a “fix.”

"On May 14, the weather was perfect, and an estimated 2000 home schoolers were on the front lawn of the Capitol at 1 pm. (The Kansas City Star article says “hundreds,” but I guess 20 hundred is “hundreds.” The Star also misrepresents what the final bill does.) After opening with prayer, the crowd was briefed on what the current status was for the bill, then Kerry Messer, FHE’s lobbyist, explained the compromise amendment to which all had agreed. The House sponsor apologized for any problem his language caused home educators, as that was never his intent. He also promised the assembled crowd that if our “fix” was not adopted, he would pull the bill, killing it for 2009. About 1:30 pm, we began a “walk around the legislature.” Parading all 2000 home educators thru the Capitol took over one hour! About 2:45 pm, SB 291 was introduced, amended (as promised) and passed. Later in the evening of the 14th, the Senate passed it, and it is on its way to the Governor’s desk. (We also got language that clarifies that the county prosecutor is the ONLY person who can review home school records.)

"Several legislators remarked that they had never seen such a large group, and the capitol police said they had never seen such a respectful protest! Thank you to all who came, to all who couldn’t but prayed, to Sheryl Schmidt, Kerry Messer, Scott Woodruff (of HSLDA) and to all the FHE Directors, support group leaders and faithful supporters who passed the word. You made this happen, and the Lord has blessed your efforts."


Walking to the place of action.


People were already gathering when we arrived.


Some Serven and Saffa Sisters.


Congregating on the front steps and lawn.


Talking with friends from church. Probably 60% of our church families were represented.


Crowds getting thicker.


Talking with a lobbyist.

This lobbyist had tears in her eyes as she remarked, "I am so amazed!! We work for months to plan a rally, and hardly anyone attends--and this!! So many, many people! And not even 24 hours notice!! The Lord has been so gracious!! "


Getting ready to start.


Pressing in to hear better.


The megaphone wasn't cooperating, so the old fashioned method of amplification was utilized. : )

A time of prayer, explaining the bill and proposed amendment, introductions to key players in the last 24 hours, hearing the stories of the Lord's faithfulness, meeting the author of the bill who is incidentally on the 'other' side, and hearing him explain they had entirely overlooked that this could affect homeschooling, and they wanted to continue supporting this aspect of liberty.


A group several thousand strong.


Instructions from Kerry Messer, our home-school lobbyist.


Starting to move inside.


Our first view of the inside of the building.


Posing on the steps inside.


The ceiling—wow.


Friends from church.


Making their way indoors.


Columns and carvings.


Stained glass ceiling.


We were tickled to run into the Nisbett family!


Thousands lapping the corridors around the house and senate chambers.


The door to the house.


Peeking through the window. Later, we slipped into the gallery to listen.


The view from the 4th floor.


Looking down on the throngs of people.


Peeking down into the library . . .


. . . and these amazing bookcases!!!


All around the walls were displays from each 'class' [unsure of term] of senators and representatives.


The Bringe family, friends from church.


The senate was in recess when we made it to that end of the building, so the doorkeeper said we might take pictures.


The Senate Doorkeeper.

The Doorkeeper was a wonderful storyteller and told us tales of the building of the capitol in 1917, when he, umm, was alive and had definite opinions on the building of it. Our curiosity was piqued.

Turns out, the gentleman had taught school starting at 19 years of age, taught for 50 years, retired at 70, serving at some point in an appointed position working with education, then was called out of retirement back to work the floor of the senate, did that for 14 years, then 7 years ago decided he didn't want to be on his feet so often, so moved up to the visitor galleries. : )

Yes, he is 93 years old, and still going strong.


The doorkeeper told us the stories behind all the murals in the chamber.


Also, he related how the different elements were chosen to decorate the Senate Chamber.


Our friendly guide. : )


We heard the vote was called for our bill and rushed over . . . but the galleries were full!


We tried to listen through the crack in the door. Eventually we were able to acquire seats.

By the Lord's good providence, the bill was amended as we hoped!! Praise God. So, if it passes, it will be good, and if it doesn't pass, it will also be good. [Editor's Note: Update . . . the bill and our proposed amendment, all passed in good order.]


Peter Bringe salutes the homeschoolers who are now leaving with a impromptu fife concert.


The Serven Clan on the capitol steps, listening to the fife and visiting.


Posing on the steps of the capitol.


Architectural accents.


Lots of steps to carry a stroller down!


Drewster.


Heading back to the trusty ol' van.


A pretty brick church.


Explaining the intricacies of the governmental process in a hopefully easy to understand form.

Off to the Capitol!

The Missouri State Capitol City.

Please pray for an important, last minute rally at our State Capitol today. It regards laws pertaining to Home-Schoolers.

If you are a Missouri blog reader, please consider joining us in Jeff City today at 1:00 p.m.

Fencing the Table: Calvin's Defense of the Lord's Supper

A new article written by Dad on Fencing the Table: Calvin's Defense of the Lord's Supper.

"Who possesses the authority to admit a person to the Lord's Supper or to ban the unrepentant sinner from it—the civil magistrates or the officers of Christ's Church? " Read
More > >

Inspiring Children Towards Maturity

" . . . our children belong to the past that they might march into the future in the continuation of God's covenant people throughout the history of the world."

- Lawrence R. Eyres

Mother's Day Picture

Grateful for our mother, this day and always.

Practice Makes Perfect

It's that time of the year! A flurry of practicing is going on around the St. Louis Metro area.

Instruments featured at tonight's concert include:

• Pennywhistle
• Bodhran
• Voice
• Piano
• Fife
• Drum
• Hammered Dulcimer
• Mountain Dulcimer
  
• 2 Choirs
• Flute
• Guitar
• Violin
• Gaita Gallega*

*Had to look that one up!

Check back for audio clips of the performers (Lord willing, tomorrow).


Practicing for a folk music ensemble.

A Few More Wedding Things

Some of our friends have posted pictures and things from Jon and Beth's wedding that we thought you might enjoy . . .

The Erbers: Preparing for a Wedding Feast
The DeGroots: Beth and Jon's Wedding
The Reins: Jon Ten Dolle and Beth Serven Wedding
The McDonalds: We Were So Blessed to Be a Part [Hat Tip : ) LFS]

And, our friend Mrs. Schwartz highlighted Dad's charge to Jon on her blog in A Father's Charge.

If any other wedding attendees have posted pictures of Jon and Beth's wedding, we'd love to see them!! Please let us know. : )

Flute Recital

Last night we attended our sister Sarah's flute recital down at the Steinway Gallery.


During the performance of Menuet by Bizet.

John Calvin's 500th Birthday

This upcoming July 10th marks the 500th birthday of John Calvin. Always a man who incited controversy, this godly man has influenced countless millions for Christ. His life and work are worthy of careful study. With this is mind, we though we would mention a few interesting things on the subject.


Read more Genevan Foundation historical articles.

My father recently finished writing an article giving an overview of Calvin's life and ministry. My dad also put together a time-line of key dates for Calvin. We thought you might find these helpful as many people are learning about Calvin and the Reformation this year.


Waterbrook Studio's latest creation.

Last year, a good friend of ours, Elijah Brown, gave us a sneak peek at an exciting project he'd been crafting. We were so happy to see that his creation is complete and ready for enjoyment.


Join us at The Reformation 500 Celebration.

And of course, most everyone has heard of Vision Forum's Reformation 500 Celebration. But just in case you haven't, check out the link. The Serven Clan will be there en force, rejoicing in the work of God over these past 500 years, and ultimately for His faithfulness shown through out all of history.