"As for me and my house....."

This week our Sunday School lesson is on Joshua 24. I am excited to share with the ladies and hear what they have to share tomorrow in class. Thought I would share with you also what I have learned this week.

The first 12 verses God, through Joshua, is reminding the people of where they have been and where they have come from. He starts with Abraham and speaks of how his father, Terah, served other gods. Then Isaac, Jacob, and Esau and how Esau didn’t follow the Lord and served other gods. Also He reminds them of how He delivered them from the Egyptians through Moses. Finally how He protected them from Balak and Balaam.

If you look at verses 1-13 you see the small word “I” and God is showing the people of how it was Him that delivered, protected, and provided for them. Nothing they had done it was ALL God! We can sure see that in our own lives. Everything we have, houses, bank accounts, food, etc, comes from the Lord! It is he who provides for our every need and even at times our wants.

In verse 14 Joshua tells the people to fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and truth and put away other gods. SERVE THE LORD! What are some “gods” of our day? Maybe it is sports, materialism, ourselves, family, whatever it is that we devote more of ourselves to than we do God is our god. Serving the Lord is no little matter. We are to serve Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Joshua 24:15 is a very familiar verse, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served....But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” We see that verse so often that we may have come to not really think about what it is saying. We have decisions to make and the most important decision we make is whom will we serve. This is not a one time decision but a moment by moment decision.

The people say they will serve the Lord but Joshua quickly responds “You cannot serve the LORD,...”. He did not want these people to take their commitment lightly. He wanted them to realize the commitment they were making needed to be a wholehearted commitment! Now what about our commitment to the LORD? We hang Joshua 24:15 on the wall but do we REALLY choose to serve the LORD? Are we making that commitment lightly and just saying “words”? Or are we wholeheartedly with sincerity and truth serving the LORD?

Sunday School Fellowship

I have been so excited about being in the Ladies Sunday School class. It has been a blessing and joy to serve with and along side these ladies. Last Saturday was the first fellowship I attended. It was with our spouses and we went to Nashville to play laser tag and eat supper at "The Spaghetti Factory". I have never played laser tag and really didn't know what to expect but it was alot of fun!! Supper afterwards was very delicious! This group of couples is a great group to be around. They are lots of fun and they love the Lord!

Our group picture after we played laser tag!

Eating at "The Spaghetti Factory" in Nashville.

We were right in downtown Nashville close to the Titans stadium. I had to get a picture of the stadium for Isaac.

Fun, Fun, and more fun!

Last year when Isaac played baseball we met Joel and Katey. Then in the fall Isaac and Joel played on the same football team. So we have gotten to be around Joel and Katey quite a bit and have really gotten to know them. They have been going to church with us on Wednesday nights, we go by and pick them up and then take them home. These kids are some of the sweetest kids! Joel and Isaac are the same age and Katey just turned 13.

Last Thursday night they both came and spent the night with us. We enjoyed every minute of it. Katey and Sarah play so good together and then the boys enjoy being together. Katey is a huge help with Joanna and does really good with her. On Friday another little girl that is Sarah's age came and joined in the fun. So at lunch on Friday we fed 8 kids! Loved it!!! Tonight Joel and Katey are spending the night again and are going to VBS with us this week! :)

Our prayer is that we can love, disciple, encourage, and bless Katey, Joel, and their family. We are so thankful that God has given us this opportunity to be around them!

These kids had the best time playing with play-dough. Later the girls played board games. They were having so much fun together!! :)

The boys were enjoying a game of basketball. Of coarse they rode bicycles and played on the wii too!

Joanna loves looking at books. She was taking a nap while the other kids were playing with play-dough. When she was awake she was right in the middle of whatever the others were doing! :)

Helpful Hint

Wanted to share a handy thing that we have in our laundry room. This house doesn’t have a huge laundry room and there is no room to hang up those few items to dry that don’t need to be in the dryer.

My wonderful hubby came up with the idea to put up a shower curtain rod. Our laundry room has two doors, one that leads into it from the dining area and a door in the laundry room that leads into the garage. So what we did was we placed the rod over each door face. One good thing is the rod is removable if need be. It has worked really well for us! :)

Rabbit lesson

A few months ago as Bryan was cutting the grass we found a baby rabbit. Isaac caught it and we were keeping it in the garage in a box. He named the rabbit Hippty Hop. After some research I realized that it was best that we put the rabbit back so he could find his mommy. The kids were not happy about this but Bryan and I felt it was the best thing to do. My parents were coming the next day so we decided to let them see the rabbit and then we would let it go. The night before we were going to let it go I brought it in the house and put it in the utility room in its box so that the cat would not bother it in the garage. When we woke up the next morning the rabbit had escaped! It was loose in the house somewhere! This was one of those moments when I wondered what else would happen. We looked everywhere for that rabbit and we couldn’t find him. About mid morning Elijah saw the rabbit run across the living room floor and we caught him under the couch. I was so ready for this rabbit to be released back into the woods. That night we did release it and was glad that the baby rabbit could now find its mommy.

The next day the kids and I were in the back yard playing and a neighbor’s dog was hanging out with us. The dog ran into the woods and then back out chasing a rabbit. He picked up the rabbit in his mouth and ran as fast as he could. When Isaac realized what had happened he took off after the dog and rescued the rabbit. Isaac brought home the rabbit who was missing a chunk of fur. We let the rabbit hang out in his bucket for the day and then released him again.

Now every time we see a rabbit Timothy will say “That looked like Hippty Hop”. The kids have loved watching the rabbits in the yard. Last time sweet ole Daddy cut the grass he left a strip of grass uncut so the rabbits could graze.

About a week or so after Hippty Hop we were out riding bikes and walking in the neighborhood when the same neighbor dog found another rabbit. This time it was a very tiny rabbit. The kids got the dog to release the rabbit but it was breathing its last. Our kids were so upset and sad to see this happen. Bryan and I took the opportunity to share with them that its understandable to get upset when an animal dies but how much more our hearts should be broken over those who die and never have a changed heart. Those people will be eternally separated from God unless they have allowed God to change their heart and have lived a life of doing the Father’s will.

Isaac when he caught Hippty Hop the first time.

Isn't he such a cute little rabbit! :)

Homeschool Moment

I wanted to share something I did with the little boys recently. I took a black piece of construction paper and laid some objects on it. Placed it out in the sun on the sidewalk. After it had been out there for atleast 3 hours we went out and brought in our things. Then we were able to see if they could place the right object on the correct shaded space. They had so much fun! I had done this with Isaac and Sarah when they were little but of coarse they don't remember. :)

Buttermilk Pie

Wanted to share a recipe that is one of our favorite desserts! This is my mother-in-law's recipe and is so very simple. I am so thankful for all of her delicious recipes!!

Buttermilk Pie
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup melted margarine
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 unbaked pie shell (deep dish)

Mix all ingreients well and pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. Pie is done when top is golden brown and knife inserted in center of pie comes out clean. Enjoy!! :)

Water Play

We always try and have a fun day at the end of our school year. This year it was a water play day! The kids had lots of fun and got so wet! Joanna was taking a nap so she missed out. :( Nothing fancy just water bottles, water gun, sponges, a sprinkler, and lots of FUN!!

Elijah pauses to refill his water bottle. I am sure he is also thinking who he will get with that water bottle!

We tried making our own water slide but didn't work. It ended up being something else to play with. :)

Elijah taking cover as Isaac (big brother) tries to soak him!

Watch out Elijah! Here comes little brother to get you now!

Made these sponge balls. Cut sponges in strips and then tie the strips together with string. Dip the sponge ball in water and throw at the closest person you can find!!

The rest of our week.

Wednesday night when we came home from Daddy's birthday supper the kids were catching lightning bugs. They loved being outside and playing.

My mom was helping them to showing Joanna the lightning bugs.

Elijah showing off his 3 bugs.

Joanna would rather slide than catch bugs.

Timothy just happy to be there!

Joanna having so much fun!

I think she was trying to help with the laundry.

Timothy trying to look like Maw. :)

Mom and Dad both took off on Thursday. Dad took Isaac fishing that morning and the rest of us got to hang out with mom! We had a few errands that morning. Thursday night my dad took us to a friend of his who has deer, peacocks, and turkey. The kids loved it. They got to feed the deer and make the turkeys gobble. Ha!

Then my dad is off on Friday’s so we got to spend all day with him on Friday! The kids got in the garden with him and helped pick some veggies. The weather was just right for being outside, not too hot and a little breeze.

Timothy helping Paw pick beans.

Supper! They were delicious and FRESH!

Dad and I! Mother says we are two peas in a pod! :)

Of coarse Sarah steals a moment to read!

Then she is off playing with Joanna!

We came home on Saturday and was so glad to see Bryan. How sweet it was to see how excited the kids were to see their Daddy! :)

A full week!

Last week was Youth Camp and that means a week without my hubby. I never look forward to him being gone but I see it as our family investing in eternity. These youth are not just playing games and goofing off, they are hearing the TRUTH and lives are being changed!

I also never look forward to the kids and I being here a week by ourselves. So it worked out to where we could spend the week with my parents. My parents had come up the weekend before for Elijah’s birthday party and when they headed home on Sunday afternoon we loaded up and went with them! :) (There are too many pictures for one post so I will divide this into 2 post.)

My mother was off work on Monday so we spent all day with her. We really did not do much except play and enjoy being with mom. It rained on Monday so it was one of those “take it easy days”. Monday night after supper we headed to Bryan’s mom and dad’s house and spent a couple of days there.

On Tuesday the kids got to swim. The kids LOVE being at the “Farm” and getting to ride around with Pop looking at the cows or crossing the creek. Pop has retired so we got to spend a lot of time with him. My kids so enjoy being at Pop and Gigi’s!! We also were able to spend some time with Bryan’s brother Rusty and his family on Tuesday night! We enjoyed every minute there!

Timothy at Gigi's. As always there was delicious food!

Sarah LOVES the pool! Even if it was cold she wanted to be in the pool.

Joanna is way too funny! :)

Elijah loved playing in the pool!

Isaac had a great time!

Joanna riding on the big wheel! This was her favorite riding toy while we were there.

The kids also love playing in Gigi's play room. The little boys will play for hours in there!

Joanna stops playing to pose for a picture.

These two had so much fun playing together.

Timothy is our laid back child.

Then on Wednesday we stopped and visited with some friends on our way back to my parents house. That night we took my dad out to eat for his birthday. Mother had made dad a cake for all of us to enjoy after supper. It was so nice to be there when dad got off work.

The boys!

The girls!

Dad likes to grill so mom got him some things for the grill.

Happy Birthday Paw!!