Youth Camp 2018

Our full month started off with our family attending Youth Camp the first week of June. This was the first time we all were able to attend and it was a blessing to be together. The week started by leaving our church early Monday morning and traveling by bus to east Tennessee. Bryan and our youth minister have been doing this youth camp together for 9 years! Isaac and Sarah have been attending for a few years and always look forward to camp! There were a total of 8 worship services, a breakout session each day, games, devotions, and much more! The theme for the week was "He in Me", we learned that its about daily denying ourselves and allowing Jesus to live in and through us. Galatians 2:20 Wanted to share a few pictures from our week.

 Here is a picture of Sarah with one of her friends from another youth group. These two were excited to see each other and had a hard time leaving each other at the end of the week. On the day I took this picture they decided to dress alike. Love these two godly young ladies and can't wait to see all that God has planned for them.

 Elijah and Timothy actually got sick on Tuesday and ran a fever for a couple of days. They both were troopers and I was able to take them and rest most of those days they felt bad.

 Timothy thought this rock was cool! It was right outside the chapel and it had a place in the rock that looked just like a sit. Just had to get a picture of him sitting on this special rock.

There was another family at youth camp and Joanna was able to play with their little girls. They really enjoyed the play ground. It was also great to have another family there and we could help with each others kids. 

 Here is Isaac with a buddy from church. Isaac had a great time at camp and did a great job of making the younger youth boys (first year at camp) feel welcome and apart. I can see this young man maturing.

 On Friday morning the group hiked up the mountain. It was a big hike and these two did a great job of keeping up and trucking along. Proud of how well our three younger children did at youth camp.

 Here is the view from the top of the mountain we hiked up. When everyone arrived at the top we had biscuits and then our final worship service. It was amazing!

Bryan and I start the hike back down the mountain. I think our family would enjoy hiking together often. Makes us remember all the missionaries that have hiked up and down many mountains to get the gospel message to those who have never heard of Jesus. Praising the Lord that we are healthy enough to make hikes like this.

Psalm 19

We have our family worship at night before bed. Bryan decided to let each of our children lead family worship one night. On Elijah's night he shared Psalm 19, which is one of his Bible Drill verses, Psalm 19:14. This young man is paying attention to those verses he has memorized for Bible Drills. If he ever sees one of those verses somewhere he is quick to point it out. When our children have memorized verses for Bible Drills it means more seeds being planted in their lives. For us it's part of  "training them up in the way that they should go.." Proverbs 22:6.

Why We Homeschool

It would probably be good for me to talk about "Why We Homeschool" once a year. Because its always good to remind ourselves why we do what we do. These pictures were taken a couple of years ago. When Timothy and Joanna are done with school work they have some of the best times together. Even the other children enjoy taking a few minutes in between subjects to have fun together. They are only little once. One day the older ones may be off at college and won't have this time with their younger siblings. Very thankful they get to enjoy this time now!

Our first and biggest reason is because that is what God has called us to. Bryan and I made the decision to homeschool after much prayer and seeking the Lord. It sure wasn't the popular thing to do. Matter of fact we have been the "odd" family in all of our places we have served in the ministry because we homeschool. When people first began to find out that we felt lead to homeschool their first question was usually "How long will you homeschool?". To be honest when we started homeschooling our oldest we thought we would homeschool until each child was in the 3rd or 4th grade. That oldest child is a Sophomore this year and not once has God released us from homeschooling. God has reminded us often that we are doing exactly what He wants us to do.

Another reason we homeschool is for the spiritual foundation we desire for our children to have. There are days that we struggle and it is a joy and blessing to be able to stop and pray with that child or children that is struggling. We can plant scripture in every part of their day. The curriculum we have chosen to use is biblically based and the children are even learning scripture while completing school assignments.

(Elijah, Joanna, and Sarah)

There are many more reasons why we homeschool but I will only share one more. We homeschool for the relationships it gives. How awesome it is to see our children be able to build a relationship with each other and when there is an opportunity they get to build relationship with grandparents. If for some reason we need to take off and be with family we have that flexibility.

(Isaac spending time with my dad while he was in the hospital)

Thankful Thursday!!

More to be thankful for....

8) For the school lessons we did today
9) A warm bed to sleep in
10) Birthday celebrations
11) An unsuspected package in the mail
12) The whisper of a child
13) Big brown eyes
14) A hubby that loves his family as Christ loves the church

Would love for you to share 7 (more) things you are thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

I have been challenged (through the book One Thousand Gifts) to look for ALL the blessings around me. I began to do this and of coarse wanted to share them. Let me start with these seven:

1) Thankful for a hubby who rises each morning and meets with the Master
2) The foot steps I hear each morning as the kids come down.
3) For the food that He has placed on our table for each meal today
4) For a daughter who comes to (sincerely) ask forgiveness without being told to
5) For the Sunday School lesson I am preparing to teach this week (Amos 8-9)
6) For the cool breeze that we felt yesterday
7) The voices of our children playing outside yesterday

Now I challenge you....I would love for you to share with me seven things you are thankful for. :)

Advise

I received a text from one of the students in our Youth group asking me what was the greatest advise I had ever been given. She was doing a project for her English class.

WOW.... I began to think about this and knew pretty quickly what I would say.

In 50-100 years it will not matter how much money I made, what kind of car I drove, if I had a spotless clean house, if I was famous or not, etc. but it will matter if I made a difference in the lives of those around me.

As a mom I apply this to my mothering but I see that this can apply to others (the ladies I teach in Sunday School, the youth girls in our church, a neighbor, etc.). As a Christian I see this through spiritual eyes (leading others closer to our Lord, leading others to Jesus for salvation, etc.).

I don’t want to just make a difference, I want to make an eternal difference!! Nothing else matters when you get down to it!

As I read the Bible I see over and over again that this is exactly what Jesus and His disciples did....made a (spiritual) difference in the lives of those around them. Our world is full of lies and ways that are so far from the TRUTH that as Christian’s we have to rise up and be intentional about making a difference in the lives of those around us.

I am so thankful that I was asked this question because it did make me think and realize what I need to be doing every chance I get!

What is the best advise you have ever been given?
 
 

"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?

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! :)

Grace and Mercy

God has given me the opportunity to lead a ladies class at our church. I feel very blessed to be a part of this class. This Sunday our lesson is out of Joshua 2, about Rahab. I wanted to share some things that I have learned as I have been studying this passage.

Moses is dead and Joshua is the new leader of Isreal. God has commanded them to cross the Jordan. Joshua is sending two men into Jericho to spy out the land. Jericho would be the first place they would come to when they crossed the Jordan. As the two men come into Jericho they are discovered so they must hide. Where do they hide? At a woman named Rahab’s house. Who is this Rahab? Verse 1 tells us that she is a harlot, an adulterous woman.

Our all knowing God knew about Rahab’s sin and He still loved her. This is a great picture of grace and mercy. He chose to use Rahab for His glory. She tells the spies in verse 8 all that she knows about God and all that He has done and is doing. It was her declaration of who God is. God is at work in her heart, changing her. We see here that NOTHING can prevent one from being saved. It never tells us exactly when Rahab receives salvation but it is known by her actions.

Too many people claim “Christian” but the Bible tells us we will know them by their “works” (James 2:14-26). It is clear that Rahab did nothing to be saved but because of her sanctification she is doing things for God’s glory! In verses 12 & 13 she is making plans to tell her family about God and all that has happened. Rahab is wanting others (her family) to be saved. When someone has a true heart change there will be a deep desire for others to know and follow God. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus tells us that “not everyone who says “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of My Father in heaven.”

It was Rahab’s faith that led her to salvation. She didn’t have a Bible like we do, nor did she experience first hand all that the children of Israel had, it was pure faith! In Hebrews 11 God list Rahab in the “Hall of Faith” right along side of Abraham, Moses, and Sarah. How much faith do I have? How much faith do you have? I want this kind of faith that these men and women had that are listed in Hebrews 11. I want faith that will glorify God and lead others to Him!!

Can’t stop here, Rahab is also mentioned in Matthew 1. Verse 5 tells us that a man named Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. This is the genealogy of Jesus! A harlot saved by grace is part of the line of Jesus. That is AWESOME!! That is a woman changed by God and used by God!

Just as God had grace and mercy with Rahab He gives me grace and mercy. Thank You Lord for giving me grace and mercy, for Your salvation and for sending Jesus to die for my sin. Thank You for using Rahab. I pray that You would use me to lead this ladies class, to glorify You and to lead others closer to You!

God provided a bike rack!

The kids have enjoyed their bicycles so much that we really wanted to take them on vacation with us. This meant finding something to haul them on or in. We began to pray and look into some things. Some friends of ours were moving and they were having a yard sale. We decided to join them and with the money we made we would purchase a bike rack of some sort. Bryan went to set up our stuff for the yard sale and one of the things that our friends were selling was a 4 bicycle rack! WOW!! We were so excited and got the bike rack much cheaper than we were expecting!! Isn't God so awesome!

We said a thousand times on our trip that we were so glad we had the bike rack! It was super nice to be able to take the kids bikes. They were able to ride them at the seminary alot. It gave the kids something else to do!

Here is Elijah zooming around in the parking lot.

Miss Joanna hanging out.

Sarah riding her bike around in the parking lot. Once graduation was over there was nobody at the seminary hotel we were staying at. It was perfect for the kids to be able to ride.

Mr. Cool Daddy!!

Can you see Isaac in the back? He loved riding over the speed bumps in the parking lot! Of coarse the little boys did too!

Another thing that the kids liked was being able to watch Disney Junior in the mornings! Such a treat for our kiddos! :)

Words

Saturday night we let the children go out and play for just a moment. It wasn’t long until Joanna had fallen and skint the bridge of her nose and top of her forehead (can you see her booboos in the picture?). She was crying and I was trying to doctor her booboo when I heard another cry. This time it was Elijah. He had fallen on the concrete slab out back and the side of his face was skint along with his knees and hands (see his booboos in the picture?). They were hurt and I was trying to comfort and help.

Joanna and Elijah fell and were hurt and will have scars I am sure, but those hurts and scars are not as deep as the hurt and scars our words can cause. Tuesday night at revival the Preacher was preaching the first part of Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Corrupt words are dirty words,

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Pretty point blank there, filthy language is curse words, slang words, vulgar words, etc. As Christians these kinds of words should not come out of our mouths! I fully believe that if these words are not to come out of our mouths then we shouldn’t allow them in our homes either.

Corrupt words are destructive words.

1 Timothy 5:13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

One of the ways I have noticed people gossiping is through sharing "prayer request". Ouch! If that is the case then we should know that God knows the need and all we should do is share that there is a situation that we would like others to pray for but DO NOT share ANY details!

Corrupt words are devastating words.

These words are words that tear down and destroy. Words such as "your stupid", "your dumb", "your not my child", I think you get the picture. Ask ourselves how would it make us feel if someone said these words to us.

Christians are to prevent corrupt words.

The command in Ephesians 4:29 is to NOT let any corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. God was not asking us to try or telling us that every now and then is o.k. If the words from our mouth do not glorify God or edify others then we must keep our mouth shut! If someone around you is using corrupt words in any form, walk away or let them know that you are not going to listen to that stuff.

I am very ashamed to admit it but I have been guilty of not watching my words with the kids or Bryan. There are times that I am real short in my speech, or have a rough tone in my voice, and times when I have used discouraging words. I have been convicted for some time that this is an area in my life that needs work and God is working on me. I have seen evidence of Him changing me and molding me to be the Mom and wife He wants and needs me to be. With our words we have the opportunity to mold our children’s character, thinking, how they perceive themselves and others, even the way they act. I have noticed when my words are kind and edifying that my children are more kind and edifying to one another. Same goes for our marriage or our church family, words can make or break that marriage or the church. Sarah and I were talking about the sermon on the way home Tuesday night and she said that hurtful words are like writing with a pen, they can’t be erased.

Will you commit with me today to memorize Ephesians 4:29 and to allow God to use our words for His glory and for edifying others?

Two Paths

Isaac and I were talking yesterday about "two paths". The conversation came up after he had gotten in trouble and was needing to do what was right. Instead of continuing to play with the others and make the right choices he wanted to just quit. He began to say that he wanted to choose the "safe path". The "safe path" is the path that there are no rocks to step over, no trees to move out of the way, and no broken bridges to cross. I was thinking about this conversation this morning and I realized that we all have "two paths" to take. Let me take you back years ago when I was wanting to take the "safe path" and not get married. Yes, I believed that marriage was not a good thing and instead of taking the chance of getting hurt I would just not get married. Then God changed my heart and I decided to take the "other path" and I am so glad I did. In marriage Bryan and I have had some rocks that we needed to step over, some trees that we needed to move out of the way and some bridges that we had to fix before we crossed over, BUT had I chosen the "safe path" I would have missed out on so many blessings!! I would have never seen the beautiful flowers, the awesome sunsets, the breathtaking waterfalls, and the relationship that Bryan and I have. So thankful I didn’t choose the "safe path"!

When Bryan and I first got married he was a high school teacher and a bi-vocational Youth Minister. Our first year of marriage he would have signed his tenure and would have been set with a job. That same year God called Bryan to seminary and that meant he would have to leave teaching and we would be going into the unknown. Not a "safe path", right? Bryan did leave teaching, he started seminary, and he began to pastor our first church. Again there has been rocks to step over, trees to move out of the way, and bridges to cross. Had we have chosen the "safe path" we would have missed out on so many wonderful friendships God has given us along this path, many chances for growing in our faith, and the countless times we have seen God do great and mighty things. I thank God that we didn’t choose the "safe path"!

There are other examples that I could share of not taking the "safe path" and the blessings I (we) would have missed. I won’t share details but the number of children and home schooling are two of the times we have not chosen the "safe path" and I am praising the Lord that we didn’t!! My prayer is that my children will not take the "safe paths" but take paths that lead them to a deeper walk with the Lord and causes them to have to depend on Him more.

Negative or Positive?

This has been a tough week for us. Monday night I got a stomach virus and as of today we each have had it this week. Joanna was sick Tuesday, Sarah had it on Wednesday, Timothy woke up Thursday morning with it and on Thursday night Elijah came down with it and then today Isaac has been sick. Even Bryan has had it. He left Thursday afternoon going to New Orleans for his Exit Interview (he had to have done so he can graduate in May) and he called me about 4 and said he was SICK! Not only was he away from home and by himself he also ended up with a flat tire. He put on the spare tire and as soon as he got back on the road it went flat. :( It has just been one of those weeks!

I prayed that God would not let my family get sick with this but they did. To be honest I was upset when everyone of us got it. It seemed that God was not listening to me. I lost my focus and began to be only seeing the negatives of the week. This morning God pricked me to think on the positives and write them down. As I began to really see the good things of the week the negatives seemed to not be so big. Wanted to share what those positive things are with you. In no particular order.

1) So thankful that Joanna has only thrown up once and that it wasn't all day.

2) Thankful that the little boys got it out and were done (didn't last all day with them).

3) Thankful that Sarah was so grateful for all I did for her.

4) That no one got REAL sick (dehydration, etc.).

5) That Bryan made it to New Orleans and back safely.

6) That my parents were able to come for a short time and help while Bryan was gone.

7) That Bryan passed his interview, he will graduate in May!

8) That God took care of him and kept him safe while he was fixing his flat tire.

9) That this is not something terminal we are dealing with here.

10) That I am blessed with a hubby who sees my weariness and wants to bless me!

11) Thankful that I serve a God who is with me and will never leave me or forsake me!!!

Praising God that He has showed me this and the next time I am tempted to loose my focus that I will write down the positives. Thankful that God has helped me to think on things that are true, pure, noble, right, etc. (Phil. 4:8). He is so good!!!

Singing praises!

Praise the LORD!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

Psalm 147:1

I have added the song "Days of Elijah" to our playlist on the blog. The reason I added this song is because my children have been singing this song alot!! It is awesome to always have a praise on our lips and I want nothing less on the lips of my children! My heart is full just to know that my children are singing songs of praise to God and not songs of the world. Isaac and Sarah are always singing a song that we have sung at church and how sweet it is to my ears and to the ears of our God!!

A friend of ours who reads our blog let me know the other day that she listened to our playlist while she cleaned her house. What an encouragement!! My prayer is that each song that speaks to our hearts would be a blessing to others. May the songs you hear on our blog cause you to worship the One and Only True Living God!!

Seasons of a Mother's Heart

I am finishing up this book and have been very anxious to blog about it. Of coarse I could take one whole month and blog about this book twice a week atleast! My cousin lent me this book and I am so very thankful (Thank you Dodey)!! It was so what I needed during this season of my life. I do believe that I will purchase this book to have on hand and refer back to often. The author (Sally Clarkson) does a GREAT job in encouraging Moms and especially Homeschooling Moms! She is so real and shares her own personal up and downs during different seasons of her life. I have come to realize that I am in a season of my mothering that has a wide variety. I am in a season with some older children who are needing more detailed direction. I have two younger children (boys) that need my attention pretty much all day! Then I have one who is going to be 9 months old this week! Because I have a baby who is breastfeeding, it causes me to be with her pretty much all the time....and that is OK because this is the season I am in! I am in a very busy season of mothering. There are so many JOYS about this season. These precious children will only be little one time in their lives. God has given me a great opportunity to impact their lives and point them toward Him! One day (I am afraid it will be here too soon) I will be in a new season of life. The older children will be young adults, the two little boys will be entering the teen years and the baby will be entering into the 2 digits in age. I have come to realize that to others the season I am in may look overwhelming and "NO FUN" but its not that at all! There are days that are very challenging, yes more than one day a week. LOL! But there are days (lots of days) that are so rewarding! God is teaching me to enjoy the journey and make the most of the season I am in! What season are you in?

Praying together!

Thank you to those who took the survey that I had on the side of my blog. The results were a couple who pray together often and then most of you said you pray with your spouse seldom. I want to start with sharing some personal testimony.

Bryan and I have always been consistent in praying together. That consistent means there are times that we have a regular time of prayer together and then there are seasons when we pray together but not on a regular base. We do stop and pray together if there is something going on in our lives, we pray with the children each night at bedtime after we have done family worship, we pray together over decisions that have to be made, and then we pray together just to spend time with our heavenly Father together. We recently have been in a season where it has not been a regular time of prayer together.

Recently I was reading a book about Traditons and how important they are to our children. The first of the book talks about your average and regular traditions that I am sure we all have atleast one we are doing. Then she brings up prayer. How in the world does this fit in to traditions? I would have never thought of prayer being a tradition. The writer points out that the most important and life impacting tradition we can pass on to our children is praying together as a couple. WOW! I had never thought about that. If our children know, hear or see us praying together they will take that into their marriages. They will see prayer as an important part of a marriage and family. When we pray together as a couple we are telling our children that marraige is important and our relationship with God is important. What better gift to give our children than a firm marriage (their parents) and for them to know that we love each other but even more we love and trust God!

I went straight to Bryan and shared with him these things I had gleaned from reading this book. His heart leaped and we decided that we would do better at trying to have regular times of prayer even when we are in a season when it is a little more challenging to make that time. During our 15 years of marriage we have had some really great times of prayer and seen God do great things. May I challenge you to take some time, even if it is just 20-30 minutes a day, and pray with your spouse. Think of it as investing in your marriage, children and eternity!

School Starts

Yes, school will start for the most of us, next week! So hard to believe that it is that time again. I wanted to share somethings that are heavy on my heart this morning. First of all let me express that God has called our family to homeschool and just because He has called us to do this doesn't mean that He calls everyone! We feel that in the center of God's will is right where every family needs to be and God's will for us may not necessarily be His will for you. Like every other area of our lives we should seek His face and let Him make the decision for our families. So after MUCH prayer, homeschooling is the path He has chosen for our family.

No! It is not an easy path, we have our share of bumps and bruises. Just this week I had that moment of thought (which was straight from Satan himself) "Am I truly in His will?". The answer is a LOUD and CLEAR....YES!!!!!!! I know that God has promised that if I am following Him that there will be rewards. I just want those rewards NOW! I will be reminding myself often that the rewards may come in days, months or even years. I feel in my heart that God has called us to homeschool because this is the best way I can disciple my children for His glory! Just as Jesus was with His disciples, teaching them, I am with my children. Those days that are challenging are days of opportunity to allow my children to see Jesus at work in my life. If they were somewhere else and I was somewhere else we wouldn't have as many opportunities for this training, teaching and loving them to Jesus. We are not homeschooling so that our children can be smarter, more advanced, or because we think we are better than someone else, we are homeschooling for the glory of God and for us to have a greater impact on our children's hearts. Sarah just turned 8 and Isaac will be 10 this month, our time with them is getting shorter and I feel the urgency to make the most of the years to come. I know that over the past years I have failed in many ways but my race is not over. I must get up, look to Jesus, keep my focus on the Lord and finish my race so that I can pass my baton on to my children. As school starts Monday I pray that each of us, no matter what kind of schooling, will stay focused on raising our children to love the Lord our God with all their hearts, with all their souls, with all their minds, and with all their strength (Matthew 22:37).

P.S. If you haven't taken the survey on the side bar of the blog, would you please take a moment to do that....Thanks!

Cinnamon (Humble) Rolls

For Valentine's Day Sarah got this cooking thing that has 300 recipes. Remember she is my girl that likes to cook. One of the recipes is these delicious looking cinnamon rolls. We thought we would give them a try one night and I learned a whole lot more than just how to make these things.

One of my weaknesses is a lack of self control at times. Well the night that we made these was not the best night but I thought if we don't make them now we may never get a chance. I am always looking for opportunities to spend time with the children doing something they enjoy doing. If it was up to Sarah we would try a new recipe every day! So here we go making these from scratch cinnamon rolls...I am trying my best to let her do as much as possible, Joanna was a little fussy and the little boys were wanting to join in on our cooking adventure. Needless to say there was alot going on around me. We got down to the step where you roll out the dough and sprinkle the filling on it and roll it up. Then when we went to roll it up the dough was sticking and not doing as I wanted it to (remember I am a perfectionist and I wanted every thing to work out perfect). So I threw up my hands (literally) and told Sarah that I was done and if she wanted to finish it she could do it by herself and that I just did not think they were going to turn out and we were wasting our time and had wasted our time. I know what you are thinking "She is crazy". I had lost any self control that I had. So away I went and left Sarah standing there. My daughter stepped up to bat and finished those rolls and they were some really delicious rolls. They did not look like the picture with the recipe but we enjoyed every last one of them. I did go to Sarah and apologize and told her that I had sinned in my lack of self control. The bible says that two of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self control and patience (Galatians 5:22-23) and I was bearing NO fruit! Sarah said "Mom, when you left me I wanted to cry but I just told myself that I could do this and I would try my best." My heart sank!! I was humbled, my 7 year old daughter had way more self control than I did and I was thankful for her! I pray that this is always on my heart and that God will fill me with the Fruit of His Spirit. I needed these "humble" rolls to show me my sin and to cause me to see my weakness.

"Don't Make Me Count To Three"

This book is divided into three parts. Part 1 is Reaching the Heart of Your Child. It is our calling as parents to reach the heart of our children. How do we do that? This book gives some great wisdom in how to begin and continue drawing out issues of the heart in our children. Then we can train them in righteousness. This is such a great calling to be the mother of these precious children and I know that without God I will not be able to reach their hearts.

Part 2 is How to Give a Biblical Reproof. Correction and discipline can not be done correctly aside from God's word. How do we speak to our children when we are disciplining them? I am guilty of raising my voice and being angry but that is NOT the way the Lord discipline's me. I have learned and gained so much from this part. God has revealed to me some sin in my life in correcting my children. Praying that God would change me and grow me in giving biblical reproof.

Part 3 is The Biblical Use of the Rod. Spanking is a controversial issue so I know that this part may not set well with some. This book gives clear guidelines for when to spank and when not to. Also that spanking is biblical and if we search out the word of God we will see this is something He is for. There is scripture to back up spanking and how it can be a source of driving out the foolishness in the heart of our children (Proverbs 22:15).

Once again I have so gleaned from this book. It will be one of those books that I will be able to refer back to in days, months and even years to come. I thank the Lord for placing it in my path and for allowing me to share it with you. I know that we are in this together as moms and that our hearts are for the hearts of our children.

Proverbs 14

The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Proverbs 14:1

As I read Proverbs this morning this verse hit home with me. Oh how I long to be that wise woman who builds her house. I asked myself "What can I do to build my house". I need to ask myself that everyday. It might be to spend more time with my children, pray for my children more, make time for dates with my hubby, or maybe all of the above. It might be something else that I did not list, but I need to be intentionally building my house. Oh how I DO NOT want to be a foolish woman who tears down my house. I realize that we are all capable of this and that is all the more reason to fill ourselves with the wisdom that comes from God's Word!

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;

But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Proverbs 14:4

I have come to love this verse and something I need to remind myself of everyday. A few months ago a friend of mine posted on her blog about this verse and I loved what she said. To be honest I forgot about it in the next day or two. A few days later God brought this verse back to my rememberance and I have thought of it quite often since. I struggle with my house being in order and getting my to do list checked off. This verse reminds me that if I had no family(children especially) my "trough" would be clean, in order and all those "to do's" would get checked off. BUT....I am sooooooo thankful for a dirty trough!! Those "ox" (children and hubby)bring wonderful blessings (increase).

Thank you Lord for your Word and for the wisdom You give through Your word! Help me Lord to build my house for Your glory. Convict me if I began to tear it down and guide me back to the straight and narrow path. Thank You Lord for a dirty trough! My children and Bryan are a gift from You! May we as a family do many things for You and may You be please with our family! I love you, my Father!