No T.V.? Read a Book

Since turning the satelite off over a month ago evenings at our house have been a bit quieter. Instead of fighting over the remote and arguing over what television show to watch we now have read aloud time. This week as part of our schooling we have started reading about Cameron Townsend. Until recieving the book with "My Father's World-Exploring Countries and Cultures" last month i had never heard of Cameron Townsend and had no idea who he was. So it has been a real treat to learn about the man who started Wycliffe Bible Translators. We are only three chapters into the book-reading the fourth tonight-but the children and i look forward to this time now. The question is no longer, "Can we watch Disney Channel?" but, "When are you going to read to us?". They are learning far more from this man who died in 1982 than they ever learned watching "Hannah Montana". Last night we read how Cameron Townsend started his mission work in Guatemala. When i finished the chapter, Rachel wanted to find Guatemala on the world map so we enjoyed gathering around and testing our map finding skills which we have been honing in our Geography lessons. In the 4+ years i have been homeschooling i do not remember a time when the children have been more enthusiastic about their studies. I don't remember a time that i have been more excited myself. By the way, it has dawned on me that i have not shared the title of the book we are reading. My apologies. The title is, "Cameron Townsend: Good News in Every Language" by Janet & Jeff Benge. It is just one in a series of "Christian Heroes: Then & Now". In the coming months we will be reading about others in this series. With names like Amy Carmichael, George Muller, Nate Saint, Gladys Aylward and David Livingstone i am sure they will all be good. Television? Don't miss it. Besides, we do still have the Wii. We haven't gone cold turkey just yet.