HomeWorks by Precept Consultant Jennifer Lont MI

05/29/2026

You know that bluebird that I showed you yesterday? I think he and his family and friends are gone. Moved on.

Why? It’s all because of a cute little wren just like this one. I took this particular picture a few years ago, but this bird is the same species. A wren came to my backyard recently, and I haven’t seen a single bluebird all day.

I used to love the wrens. They are so tiny and so perky. And their songs are so pretty! When a wren came to my backyard, I was happy.

But then I watched their behavior. This morning I watched the wren enter the nesting box and then reappear at the hole, spitting bits from another bird’s nest into the air. He just did it again. Another beakful just went flying.

I used to think that the nest wars were amusing. But do you know what else those wrens do with their beaks? They pierce the eggs of other birds.

The storyline of the Bible is on display all around us. God created all the birds. Their varying colors, sizes, and songs were all designed by Him, and they are good! But everything has been affected by the Fall. Creation groans. However, I’m happy to say that this isn’t the end of the story. One day, Jesus will end the curse forever!

Creation. Fall. Redemption. The biblical worldview is on display all around us. Can you see it?

05/28/2026

Yesterday my son finished United States History with BJU Press Homeschool. He was actually kind of sad about it because he loves learning about history so much. He will just have to continue reading "on the side."

This morning we just checked a chapter review for Algebra 2, and my son will take his last math test for the year today.

We've taken days off this month as needed--to pick up his brother from college, for the Michigan homeschool convention, for medical appointments, and for Memorial Day. But we're still making progress and wrapping things up.

Have you finished any subjects for the year yet?

Pictured: This bluebird has been living in our backyard this spring. I used the zoom function on my camera to take this photo from where I sit at my desk. Quite a lot happens outside my little window!

05/27/2026

Yesterday I bought ferns and flowers for our front porch. I picked these begonias because I remember my dad putting begonias on our patio when I was a girl. When I clean my porch, removing dust and any dead leaves that accumulate, I think of my mother. She loved to make our outdoor patio space clean and inviting.

The things you do day after day create the norm for your family. It's not just cooking and cleaning and correcting the kids. You are creating the very atmosphere that your family breathes.

You are a culture creator.

Look beyond the dishes and the diapers. The work you do as a parent is an opportunity to nurture truth, goodness, and beauty.

The Bible lessons you teach, the way you pray, and the Scriptures you speak again and again will leave an impression on your little ones.

The sibling squabbles you referee today aren’t just annoyances to be stopped. They are opportunities to train your children’s hearts to be loving, kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Pause. Watch your tone. Speak with wisdom.

The food that your family will consume so quickly today is a gift. Whether It’s frozen chicken nuggets or a homemade favorite, it will fill bellies and be evidence once again that your family can rely on you to meet their needs.

When you do find the time to make a special dessert, play a game, or put something pretty in a room where your family spends a lot of time, know that you are making positive contributions to the family culture.

And even though your family may not be able to put it into words, they will be blessed by all you do to add truth, goodness, and beauty to their lives.

05/26/2026

We sang “My Song Is Love Unknown” Sunday morning because our pastor preached about why Christ’s love was like no other love. (John 15:13-16)

He explained that Christ’s love was so great not just because He gave all He had to give or because of His selflessness, but because of the great chasm between God and us.

The King of the Universe loved us, his creatures. He lowered himself to love us—and He loved us even when we were sinners.

We’ll never attain a love as great as His because we are equals with the people around us. Our children and friends and family are His image-bearers just like we are. We’ll never have to condescend as much as Christ did.

That one’s hard to remember because we feel offenses so easily. But Christ acted in love in spite of greater offenses—like rebellion against himself, the Maker of all.

He loves because it is His nature to love, not because we deserve it. In fact, He loves us because we need it so desperately. And what is one of the results of His love? We change. He makes us lovely.

I often tell parents to bless their children whether they want to be blessed or not. By that I mean that they need to teach their children good habits, polite manners, and useful skills like math and grammar. All the things that children don’t see a need to learn. Someday they will realize how much you blessed them by teaching them things they didn’t want to learn.

I’m going to start saying another line that’s similar. Something like “love your unlovely children until they become lovely.”

As you homeschool, you will see laziness, bad attitudes, and many other ugly things that tend to bubble up in the human heart. It’s easy to want to quit.

But don’t forget Christ’s greater example. Consistently teach, correct, and guide with love. Love those unlovely kids until they become lovely!

05/25/2026

Your child is “not a mere creature of the state.” 🇺🇸

HSLDA President Emeritus Michael Smith examines the history of the right to homeschool in the United States, and why protecting that right still matters.

05/23/2026

Does a homeschool mom get a graduation party when her last child finishes his senior year? Asking for a friend. 🤔🎓

(Congratulations! Look at all you’ve accomplished!)

05/22/2026

It's an honor that the diligent earn.

05/21/2026

I wrote about the slothful man recently. Let’s revisit the principle of sowing and reaping again, but this time, let’s look at what happens when a man works faithfully.

The book of Proverbs says the diligent man works the land and has plenty of daily bread (12:11, 28:19). He has enough to satisfy his appetite (13:25), and his soul is richly supplied (13:4). Not only does he have enough for daily needs, but by continuing to work faithfully, he increases his wealth little by little (13:11). He prudently prepares for the future (10:5). His diligence and planning lead to abundance (10:4, 12:27). He saves what is not needed for daily use, and as a result, his house is filled with precious treasure and oil (21:20).

This abundance is enough to provide for his own household and others too. Not only can he leave an inheritance to his grandchildren (13:22), but also like Joseph, this prudent man uses what he has saved up to meet the needs of his neighbors (11:26). He gives freely and doesn’t hoard his provisions for himself (11:24). He (or in this particular verse, she) gives generously to the poor (31:20).

What are the results of this diligence and generosity? Proverbs tells us that when the generous man gives to the poor, he lends to the LORD, who will repay him (19:17). When the generous man cares for the needs of his fellow image-bearers, he honors his Maker (14:31, 22:2). His good actions have good consequences (12:14). Because the man has shown wise management, God places him in positions of leadership (12:24). This man earns man’s favor as well as God’s (11:26). He who gives will not suffer want (28:27). In fact, God causes this faithful steward to grow even richer (11:24). This man will abound with blessings (14:21, 28:20). “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (11:25).

So which will you train your child to be? The slothful man? Or the diligent man? Yes, your child has choices to make about his own character. But you, as a parent, have the opportunity to train your child in habits--good or bad--that will be hard to break (22:6).

05/20/2026

Since it’s the end of May, I think it’s time to honor the grit that it takes to be a homeschool parent.

You have worked hard to provide an excellent education for your kids. You have managed schedules, corrected attitudes, and helped your kids make progress in ALL the skills.

You have been on duty in the car, the grocery store, and the dentist’s office, teaching everywhere you go.

You have blessed your kids daily, whether they wanted to be blessed or not.

You have taught lessons, corrected papers, kept the food coming, and provided clean dishes and laundry—all on repeat.

You have kept an entire household running for yet another year, meeting every need for the people God placed in your care.

You have devised ways to facilitate every kind of growth in your family—academic, spiritual, emotional, physical, relational. You helped your kids grow in character as well as knowledge.

You took advantage of every wonderful opportunity you could fit into the time you had. You took your kids to field trips, service projects, competitions, and all the extracurriculars.

You didn’t quit on the hard days.

It makes sense that you’re tired, but look at all you’ve accomplished! You are a blessing to your family. (And to our society!)

You made it to the end of the year. And I think it’s time to celebrate! 🎉

Pictured: a watercolored pot of flowers I painted for a friend. I used a paper towel to dab the excess water off the pot and got these happy little polka dots. Love it!

05/19/2026

I hosted another HomeWorks event this morning. As families came and went, moms talked to each other, and kids played together.

We had babies in our arms and bigger kids playing in the yard. Books were everywhere, and we discussed options.

One mom chose textbook kits so she could do the teaching herself. A couple moms chose online courses. And a couple others did a custom mix. All are good choices.

We figured out which of the resources would fit each family’s needs the best. We considered factors like

🔸budget
🔸time
🔸mom’s load
🔸how each kid learns best

It was a busy morning, but a good one. Maybe I’ll see you at my next event!

Pictured: My clematis is blooming this week.☀️

05/18/2026

My son and I greatly enjoyed the Governor Candidate Forum at the end of the INCH conference (Michigan’s homeschool conference).

All candidates from all parties were invited to participate. These four men were the only ones who came to talk to Christian homeschoolers.

I took notes as we listened, and my son said that the experience was like history, civics, and language arts (persuasion) combined. He shook hands with and got his picture taken with his favorite candidate, and he couldn’t wait to discuss all the candidates on our way home!

I am happy to report that these four support God-given parental rights. They also support the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children (also a biblical concept).

During the 1.5-hour question and answer session, one of the candidates referred to a verse that I recognized from our study of Proverbs for our ethics course. I’ll close with that thought.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2

Michigan Christian Homeschool Network - MICHN